Mr Taz

This is my final layout for this month using the Authentique & sketch combination for Ann at The Scrapbook Garden. I've used cream Bazzill as my base, and I've mounted my photos on a piece of Bazzill Two Scoops cardstock, which is embossed with a lovely floral design. I've sanded the area around the photos to emphasis the embossed pattern, and to make the photos stand out more.

I used some of the elements from the Authentique Icons sheet around the photos, and layered three together as a base for my title. I also used the last of the Prima flowers that Ann sent with the papers, and added adhesive pearls to the centres. The title uses K&Co and Authentique alphas - I was running out of those lovely K&Co alphas, so I did a bit more doctoring and converted a 'V' and part of a 'J' into an 'A'!

I used a Technique Tuesday banner stamp on some scraps of the patterned paper, and cut the stamped images out to create the banner across the bottom of the page. I made this element slightly bigger than in the sketch, and curved it slightly. I also curled up the bottom points on each piece, to give more dimension to the page.

This is the sketch that I used, from Sassy Lil Sketches.

Time For A Sneaky Cat Nap

I've got a couple of layouts over on The Sampler blog today, so I thought I'd show one here too. I used the August kit for this layout of Donnie in one of his favourite outdoor sleeping spots - on top of our garden table!

I thought the Websters Pages paper was perfect for my title, so I've gone with a 'white space' style to show off as much of the background paper as possible. The two small photos are mounted on a couple of small pieces of the other papers from the kit, along with a strip of ribbon, a couple of bird embellishments and some Hambly rub ons. 

I love the Sassafras Lass alphas that came in the kit, and I've used plently of them on this title! i wanted to balance out the pattern on the left of the background paper, so added my title down the edge of the right hand side. 

Thanks for stopping by :D

Are You Comfy Little Kitten?

I had fun with this one! This is my third layout using the Authentique papers combined with a sketch, for Ann at The Scrapbook Garden. 

I love the circles on the Sketchy Thursdays sketch, so I thought I'd continue the theme in the background. I used a Tando Creative mask and some acrylic paint to create the blue circles, and then doodled around them with a black pen. I used some dotted swiss cardstock as the base, so the dots are highlighted within the blue circles.

I then cut several different sized circles from the Authentique papers, plus a couple of strips, and adhered these to the page along with the photo. A few alphas (Authentique, Sassafras Lass and Pink Paislee) and some doodling and it was done! Another quite simple layout, but I love it - hope you do too :D

The Cutest Monster

It's sketch time over at The Sampler! I love this month's sketch,  but since I struggle with wonky pages I decided to straighten it out. I also kept it quite simple - not intentionally, it just seemed to turn out that way and I think it works.

This is the sketch:

I used my August kit for this layout - if you fancy winning one why not join in? Link up your take on the sketch to the Sampler blog to be in with a chance :D

The Best Things About Being Mojo, by Mojo

It's time for a new Sunday Challenge over at The Studio, and this week Valerie has challenged us to create a layout with a list. When I first saw the challenge I thought about creating a layout with a list of some of my favourite things, but then I decided it would be more fun to create a layout with a list of my dog's favourite things! It's easy to tell when Mojo likes something - those of you who regularly read my blog will know all about her tendency to smile a lot, but she also has the waggiest tail to match :D

I started off with a Kraft background, and misted over some number templates using Dylusions spray ink. I know I've seen this somewhere before - it's not my original idea - but I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it, so if anyone knows do let me know so I can give proper credit!I layered up lots of Crate Paper 'Toy Box' papers and alpha stickers, and embellished with bakers twine and a Jenni Bowlin rosette. I added some definition to the edges of the page with a Hero Arts border stamp.

I hand wrote the journaling to the side of each number, it reads: 1. Morning cuddles are the best! I love snuggling between my humans before they get up; 2. My yummy food is the best! I love crunching my biscuits down as fast as I can, even though it makes me burp after; 3. Walks are the best! I love running through woods or playing fetch on the field; 4. Swimming is the best! I love walks that involve water - pond, lake, river or canal, I'm there!; 5. Bones are the best! I love chewing on a good bone, even though my ears get in the way sometimes; 6. Posing for photos is the best! I love it when my human gets her camera out and I pretend to be a model; 7. Bedtime cuddles are the best! I love snuggling between my humans before they go to sleep at night.

In other news, the 7Gypsies mini book that I created for the Art From The Heart blog hop has been featured on the 7Gypsies blog, how chuffed am I?!

The Road Less Traveled

This is my second layout combining the Authentique papers with a sketch, for Ann at The Scrapbook Garden. 

I absolutely love these papers, they're cardstock weight and have a lovely texture to them which makes them really easy to work with. 

It took me a while to come up with this title, as I was desperately trying to use the K&Co letters but couldn't come up with a suitable word with the letters that I had left. So I reached for my scissors, and a little bit of doctoring later my 'B' became an 'R'. The letters didn't show up very well on the papers that I used, so I backed them onto a paler piece. 

I loved the quote on the barcode strip at the bottom of each paper, and it seemed to fit very well with the theme of this layout, so I decided to use it as an embellishment.I used this sketch from Pencil Lines for my layout. I stuck to the basic sketch, but altered a couple of details - I didn't like the background piece that was at an angle so I made mine straight, and I also moved the title to the other side of the photo, and made it horizontal rather than vertical. I love using sketches as a starting point, but I rarely stick to them exactly. 

Just The Cutest Face

Recently I decided to join in with the 'So You Think You Can Scrap' challenge over at Colorful Creations. 20 of us started off last Monday with the first challenge, which was to use two different types of handmade embellishment on a layout. Each challenge lasts a week, and each contestant who manages to fulfill the criteria will move on to the next round. The idea is that challenges will continue to be set until there's just one scrapper left. 

I used the August kit from The Sampler for this one - my July and August kits arrived together a couple of weeks ago, and I've been flitting from one to the other ever since! 

My two handmade embellishments are the paper roses made from the dictionary paper that came in the kit, and a rolled ribbon flower which I've topped with a rose embellishment.

I love that there are three different types of alpha sticker in the kit, I'm liking mixed alpha titles right now so it's perfect for me. I was also really pleased to see the Ranger paint dabber in Eggplant - I love purple but there aren't that many scrapping supplies that come in that colour. I used it on this layout by stamping circles with the lid from the dabber - another favourite technique at the moment!

My two handmade embellies got me through to round 2, so best get my thinking cap on for the next challenge!

Be yourself. Be amazing.

It's my turn to post on The Sampler blog today, so I thought I'd share this layout that I made with the July kit.

I'm really pleased with how this layout turned out, I just love the colours in the kit against the Kraft background, and that floral ribbon is just amazing!

I'm slowly getting to grips with my new camera lens - I think my close up shots are looking a lot better, but I need to work on the overall shots. I've taken some of Mojo that I'm really pleased with though, so I'm sure they'll be featuring on layouts soon!Don't forget, if you're looking for the Art From The Heart blog hop that's here, and my giveaway is still open, details are here.

Speaking of AFTH, can I make a little admission? You won't tell anyone will you? I wasn't sure about my project for the AFTH blog hop, I'd started on a second one but ran out of inspiration, so decided to post my original project after all, even though I wasn't completely happy with it. And oh my word am I glad I did! I can't believe how many people commented, and said such lovely lovely things about it, so if you visited for the blog hop and left a comment, thank you so much, you really really made my day :D

Smiler

This is my first layout from my latest kit from Ann at The Scrapbook Garden. Ann sent me some gorgeous Authentique goodies from the 'Journey' collection, including papers, headlines, icons and alphas. I've used some of the papers here with Bazzill Kraft cardstock. 

The DT challenge for this month is to use sketches. The sketch that I used for this layout is taken from Shimelle's blog. Shimelle runs a 'Scrapbooking Sketch of the Week' which is great for inspiration, particularly as she often includes a video showing how she's put her layout together. 

 

Ann also included the lovely K&Co alphas that I've used for my title. I love these, I just wish there was more than one of each letter, as I'll use them up very quickly!

The journaling reads: When I flick through my scrapbook albums it seems that every other layout featuring Mojo has some variation of the word 'smile' in the title somewhere. At one point I decided to stop using the word altogether. I challenged myself to come up with titles that didn't use the word 'smile' or anything vaguely resembling it, like 'chuckle', 'laugh' or 'grin'. But it was hard, very hard. I couldn't think of good titles, nothing felt right. Because at the end of the day that's what Mojo does. She smiles. She poses for the camera and she smiles. Cos she loves it. She loves being the centre of attention, she's the happiest dog I know. Her tail never stops wagging and her mouth never stops smiling. And you know what? I wouldn't have her any other way. She'll always be my Smiler :D

School Days

*If you're here for the Art From The Heart Blog Hop, click here*

The latest layout challenge is up at The Studio Challenges, and this week the challenge is to scrap something school related. I dug out this postcard, which is of a painting done in the 19th Century of the building that I went to school in - isn't it gorgeous?

I used the July kit from The Sampler for this layout, which I absolutely love! I think it's the best kit I've had from The Sampler so far :D

The sponsor for The Studio this month is Ella Publishing, so make sure you join in the challenge to be in with a chance of winning the great prize on offer! 

My Sassy lil Sketches eBook giveaway is still going on - see this post for details :D

Art From The Heart Birthday Blog Hop!

Welcome to a very exciting blog hop in Celebration of 10 years of Art from the Heart!

Lots of exciting things happening at Art from the Heart next weekend where the big birthday bash is happening. Want to know more? Then just click here!

So in Celebration we are having 5 birthday blog hops; Dylusions, Ranger, Stampotique, Tim Holtz and 7Gypsies.

You should have reached my blog from Cath on the 7Gypsies hop. 

Here is my project: 

I used the gorgeous 'Lille' book covers and made up my inside pages and tags with lots of lovely 'Lille' papers from 7Gypsies. I've also used photo turns, apothecary labels, index tabs and stamps from 7Gypsies. There are some more detail photos at the bottom of this post.

Before you move on - you will need to collect a letter from me which is I

This is part of an anagram of a 7Gypsies product.

Once you get back to Dy's blog please email your answer to Ben - you have until 6pm on Sunday 11th September to email.

So, after leaving me a comment you need to move on to Liz.

Have fun hopping!

The Sampler September 2011 kit

Is gorgeous and available here :D

Fingers crossed I'll get to create with one soon, but in the meantime my July and August kits arrived a couple of days ago, so I'm off to get stuck in to those!