Bz .. with Show Us Your Stuff

I've lost my scrapping way. 😞 Taking an essential six months off to care for our puppy with behavioural problems 'coming out the wazoo' (so to speak) seems to have killed my scrapping mojo. In my humble opinion anyways. My old 'arty farty' (again so to speak) 'mixed media mayhem style' isn't coming out and when I try to get it happening it looks bloomin' awful. I'm fast losing my confidence and don't know what I need to do to get it all back. I'm thinking maybe I should skip the mixed media stuff for a while and just focus on whatever I happen to come up with. Maybe, whilst I have the time, I should just force myself to scrap every day? Maybe I should focus on flinging as much mixed media as I like at canvases, and then keeping my scrapping clean and simple? Maybe I should toss in the towel and sell my mountainous stash? No, I don't think I should take the last approach. The husband might just kill me given the money I've spent on accumulating the said mountainous stash. lol. What do YOU think? Has this ever happened to you?

So, I'm desperate for inspiration yeah? Well first off this month I hit up a favourite challenge blog of mine, Show Us Your Stuff. They had a fun 'this or that' challenge a-happening and this is what I came up with.

Bz

A few close ups, especially of my hand made items including .. vintage and current Charms Creations, a couple of D-lish Scraps flair buttons, a crocheted heart, a chipboard arrow 'photo matt' I made with a template, thin chipboard and patterned paper, and then finally a wee circle embellishment which appears at the top left of the photo. The circle was from an ephemera pack in Photoplay's Cooper & Friends new pet collection which I mounted on some chipboard and then (very badly lol) applied glossy accents too.

Maybe I should add some journaling to my layout? Perhaps that's what's missing. Hmm I think I'll do that. Then at least I'll be happy putting it in Bear's album. Oh and heh guys I'm sorry about the pity party for one above. Yes I could delete it and start again but (a) I can't be bothered lol and (b) I think sometimes we should keep it real yeah.

This is the Show Us Your Stuff 'this or that' challenge ..

I went with the hearts, buttons, ribbon and stripes. It was actually kinda tricky. I went to add sequins then realised I had used buttons. Same same with the spots and stripes. Kinda tricky, but lots of fun. If you'd like to participate in the Show Us Your Stuff challenge you can find all the details HERE. Just don't forget to read all the details about using a hand made item on your layout.

Whatever you do, have fun!

When it all goes wrong .. SBM feature .. part 1

Unlike many of my mixed media friends, I don't have an art journal. I do my 'experimenting' on my layouts and consequently my backgrounds don't always the hit the mark. When that happens I set them aside with other botched up backgrounds for a later day.

Ordinarily that 'later day' never comes and those 'botched up' backgrounds never again see the light of day. As I cull, sort and re-organise my stash, those backgrounds needed to be 'dealt' with and here's what I did with just one of them.

Happy day

published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 17 No 12

Gotta love a can of spray gesso yes?

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post where I share another 'do over'!

This .. playing catch up

I had been determined that my 10 day road trip to South Australia in March last year to attend the e2c retreat would be scrapped before I headed back again in March this year. Like so many plans we make with the best of intentions, that didn't happen. But I'm not going to let the photos of that trip lie by the wayside so here's one of the table 9 (2014) girls.

This

published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 18 No 2

I can't help but smile when I look at this layout. The memories the photos invoke are priceless. It was so good to catch up with these girls again this year, although Janet, who's moved to sunny Queensland, and Lisa, who's teaching schedule conflicted with the dates, were sadly missed.

Have I scrapped any photos from e2c 2015? I don't think so. Will I? Before my 10 day road trip in SA photos are scrapped? I don't think so. Its now July and I've been working on a list of what, where, when, who and why needs to be scrapped to finish my e2c 2014 albums. Meanwhile, what did I do with that list of photos still to be scrapped ..

Blind scrapping with SBM .. Discover

Quite a while back when I was the Design Team Coordinator for D-lish Scraps I ran a blind scrapping challenge during one of our cyber crops. It was such a hit, and I had so much fun, I wondered if Scrapbooking Memories magazine might be interested in doing a blind scrapping feature. They were so I created a layout and wrote up the instructions and materials list. The instructions and materials list were forwarded to Belinda Spencer who did a brilliant job following my instructions.

This was my layout from which the original instructions were drawn.

Discover

published in Scrapbooking Memories magazine Vol 18 No 3

I love 'my pelicans'. Love, love, love them. They may even make it into a frame and onto a wall. Actually, now there's an idea ..

PS: If you're interested in seeing Belinda's fabulous layout, you'll need to get your hands on a copy of Vol 18 No 3, Scrapbooking Memories magazine.

Love (Bella)

A few months back I was scrapping with a couple of girlfriends (hi Cindy and Ros!). I was working on a layout when, out of the blue, I declared that I felt like working with lime green. So once I had finished the project I was working on, I did!

Love

published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 17 No 12

I've used lots of lovely D-lish Scraps products on my layout, as well as lots of mixed media and layers. It was a fun layout to create and came together quite quickly. Possibly because I limited myself to using just the lime green on white with black for contrast? 

I'm starting to get myself organised (well in my head anyways) for some scrapping over the weekend. I'm not sure that lime green will be on the agenda, but I do hope to try to obtain a balance of mixed media, pretty patterned paper, yummy embellishments and lots of white space! Wish me luck!!

Meanwhile I hope to pop back in here to share some other published work I'm finally able to share before the weekend arrives, so stay tuned!

Believe

Look what I found in the vaults of 27 or so draft blog posts!

Albeit more travel photos from South Australia, this layout is really quite different for me. Not so much mixed media but lots and lots of paper layering. Can you tell I was trying to use up some off-cuts LOL? Seriously though, having had a 'solid' Christian upbringing, it was important to me that I scrap these photos with reverence. It was really quite a difficult layout to create as I second guessed almost every decision I made.

Believe

The pink background paper is from 7Dots Studio and definitely not something I'd ever normally buy (not that I don't love 7Dots Studio). But my friend Ros Madley was here scrapping and offloading papers she wouldn't use from one of the kits between myself and another friend Cindy Porter and this one jumped out at me.

Other than a little stamping, I've only used some Liquitex ceramic stucco medium with a brick template, filled in here and there with Prima mica flakes. Then almost a tonne of layers, plus journaling and embellishing. Other than the Studio Calico doily all, and I mean all the embellishments, even the title, are from D-lish Scraps.

In the end I was really very happy with the layout and I look forward to doing a double layout of the outdoor photos of this very beautiful spot in the Clare Valley soon.

Documenting the everyday .. inspired by Rebecca Dammash

So I've been very neglectful of my blog recently and have almost 27 posts in draft just waiting to be written up and shared when I'm able. This is one of them.

Documenting the everyday

Interestingly, this is how my journaling reads ..

"sometimes I feel like I'm chained to this desk and I wonder why I'm doing 'this' to myself,

'this' being putting scrapping first instead of my health,

and I look forward to a day when my scrapping is a hobby and not a way of life,

but for now this is my life, for better or for worse,

and it gives me a reason to get out of bed, most days, which is a good thing just now,

but the times, they are a-changing .."

I say "interestingly" because I only created this layout towards the end of last month and, since then, the times have changed. I've resigned from all my DT commitments and am now putting my health first. Its something I have wanted to do for a long time but its so hard to take that first step and for me, that first step was resigning from positions I loved on incredibly talented design teams with D-lish Scraps and Scrap FX.

I know I've done the right thing for me though because that day I set myself a goal (not weight oriented because that would see me fall to the floor, curl up in a corner and rock) .. I wanted to be able to again walk 6km unaided in an hour. On the first day of working towards my goal I could barely walk 400m and it wiped me out for the day. Yesterday I walked 3km in just over an hour and was still able to do some, albeit not many, things. My goals will continue to shift as my mobility increases. This goal is important to me because after losing 40kg, it was what I was able to do, three summers ago. It felt fantastic. I felt fantastic. I want to feel that way again.

So as it turned out, this layout was a very cathartic one for me to do. It was inspired by a D-lish Scraps cyber crop challenge set by the cyber crop 'queen' Rebecca Dammash. The challenge was to scrap a photo representing 'your everyday' and that photo could not have any people in it. Such a fabulous challenge! Of course, although no longer on their design teams, my layout is positively overflowing with products from D-lish Scraps and Scrap FX! I'm certain that will continue to be the case!

Thanks a million for the nudge Bec. You'll really never know just how important tackling this challenge was for me!

Hello Summer .. with D-lish Scraps

This weekend we're cyber cropping with D-lish Scraps in The Scrap Suite and its my turn to host a challenge. We try to keep things fresh by rotating the Design Team each month and also taking it in turns to do the different challenges. This month it was my turn to do a technique challenge and, in my humble opinion, I came up with a ripper! LOL especially as it resulted in a digital freebie for our customers!!

Hello Summer

I decided to go hybrid! Something I haven't done in a really, really, really long time. Oh and I don't mean 'just' printing my journaling. I mean seriously hybrid. I'm fortunate enough to have an A3 colour printer so printed a washed out version of my photo directly onto my 12x12 cardstock. I was also really persuasive and, using all my charm, asked Amanda to design some freebie digital downloads which were beach/summer themed. I loved what she came up with and printed them both on linen texture cardstock, and vellum, so I could use a mixture. Did I say I love what Amanda came up with?

Other D-lish Scraps products used include .. Little Birdie Boutique Elements symphony flower shabby chic, Little Birdie Kraft Expressions kraft paper printed daisies, Sequins, beach themed, soon to be released, Resin Buttons and Flair Buttons, 18mm Clear Glass Cabochons, Pinkfresh Studios Colourblock Veneer Geotag, and Arrow Set Raw Veneers.

I've also used a Scrap FX Seaweed Stem (2011308) which I embossed with Lindy's Stamp Gang (my new love) embossing powders.

If you have the time to scrap this weekend and would like to join in the fun, head on over to The Scrap Suite where you'll not only find my hybrid technique challenge, but also a sketch challenge by Wendy Smith, a colour challenge by Katie Howard, a product based challenge by Anna Allan, our 'Queen's' challenge by Rebecca Dammash, and finally, a kids' challenge because we know they like to scrap along with us.

Hope to see you there!

PS: I may have found a new location to photograph my layouts which shows up the sparkly 'stuff'. Check out how sparkly those sequins are!!!

Love deeply .. with Scrap FX

So yesterday I said I felt like scrapping something travel or girl themed after the vintage, boyish charm layout I struggled with for days, or so it seemed. Well I did, and it came together, in comparison to yesterday's layout in about five minutes. Once my background was dry of course!

Love deeply

I've used one of my new favourite stencils from Scrap FX, Chevron Stencil (2012152), with texture paste and Prima Color Bloom Sprays to create the background of this layout. Oh and of course I've used the 1.8mm Chipboard Sheet 12 x 12" (2013409) sprayed with Krylon Gesso Spray for my base. I wanted to keep the focus around the photo on the delicious aqua coloured papers so used a matching embossing powder from Lindy's Stamp Gang to heat emboss a chipboard Funky Flourish, A (2010140). I cut the flourish in half and sprayed it with Krylon Gesso Spray before heat embossing, so I would get a true colour from the embossing powder. I love how it blends so beautifully with the papers but stands out at the same time.

I've also used several embellishments from D-lish Scraps when creating this page .. Flair Buttons, 3.5" Doilies, a gold Mini Wooden Peg, Traditional Tags with Jute Twine from the Little Birdie Mix Media collection, and Symphony Blue flowers from the Little Birdie Boutique Elements collection.

I have short memory loss so can't remember if I've said this before but, I love being on the design teams for both D-lish Scraps and Scrap FX. They compliment each other perfectly. All I need now is a design team gig with Krylon so I have an endless supply of Gesso Spray and, say, Winsor & Newton so I'm never short for mixed media and colour options. LOL a girl can dream!!

A good day .. with Scrap FX

The Scrap FX team has been given free rein to do whatever we want this month. Like a lot of businesses, Scrap FX closed down over the Christmas period and so there were no new releases for January. So I got to play with what I had in my, shall we say, more than ample stash!!!

A good day

Scrap FX products used include .. 1.8mm 12 x 12 Chipboard (2013409), Random Dots stencil (2013172) and Marguerite Daisies stamp (2013260) and an Underline Border (2012014).

I managed to fit in just a few D-lish Scraps products whilst I was creating this layout .. a black Paper Doily, Flair Buttons, Pinkfresh Studios Enamel Wood Drop Stickers, black Coloured Wire which a girlfriend of mine (heh Trish!!) made into some seriously cool, scrambled, circle embellishments, and black Coloured Tulle.

My next 'freestyle' layout for Scrap FX this month is going to be completely different with a boyish, vintage charm. I can't wait to share it with you. Til then happy scrapping!

Oh and PS: We have some seriously fabulous new releases to share in February, so stay tuned!!!

Blind scrapping .. with D-lish Scraps

We tried something different for the D-lish Scraps mid month cyber crop  in The Scrap Suite on Facebook. We scrapped blind!! Not heard of 'Blind scrapping' before? Its a fairly simple concept .. you're given a list of materials you'll need, along with your usual tools and adhesives, and then you follow step by step instructions on how to construct the layout. But you don't get to see what it looks like before you start scrapping. So you have to have complete faith in the instructions and your ability to interpret them. Plus you need to be able to be flexible when selecting embellishments and their placement to make the instructions work for you. It can be a lot of fun!

Sisters Friends

As the person running the challenge I obviously needed to create a page and write down the materials I used and the step by step instructions. The above layout was what I came up with.

If you wanted to replicate my layout you'd need the following D-lish Scraps products in your arsenal .. Washi Tape, Coloured Tulle, Flair Buttons, a white Bitty Bag, Pinkfresh Studios Enamel Wood Veneers, Freckled Fawn Arrow Paper Clips, Azaleas, Cherry Blossoms, Asters, small Roses, a large Shipping Tag, 3.5" Star Doilies and Scrap FX crazy circles chipboard.

To ensure my step by step instructions wouldn't lead anyone astray, I used them to create another layout. Oh and its lucky I did because a few of the instructions needed 'tweaking'.  ;)

Picture Perfect

I made a few adjustments here and there but otherwise the instructions worked to a tee. I didn't use quite so many D-lish Scraps products on this layout as the collection I was working with had quite a few elements that were already perfect. I did however use .. some of the new, completely divine, pink flowers from the Little Birdie Holiday Elements range, Flair Buttons, Washi Tape, 3.5" Star Doilies, Freckled Fawn Paper Clips. Coloured Tulle and a Scrap FX chipboard title.

Honestly? I loved the way this layout came together. Because I knew what I was doing the second time around, it was so quick and easy that I wanted to keep on using the same design all weekend LOL!

Anyways, on the off chance that you'd like to create this layout for yourself, and you're not a member of The Scrap Suite on Facebook, Amanda and I thought we'd pop everything you needed to know on the D-lish Scraps blog. If you do decide to give it a go, happy scrapping!

All you need is love .. inspired by Show Us Your Stuff

It has been such a long, long time since I've created a layout for a challenge blog but I recently found myself with a little spare 'scrapping time' on my hands and the November challenge at Show Us Your Stuff caught my eye!

Lots of fun to be had yeah? I chose love for my word, a bow for my embellishment, stitching for my technique and then mini prints for my photo size. Before I go any further I concur (LOL) that my entry is ineligible because somewhere along the way, I lost my way and ended up scrapping a 4x6 photo. Oops!

All you need is love 

Not only did I lose my way with my photo size, my original stitching idea(s) all got thrown in the bin, and I just could not get anything to work for me. In the end I resorted to raiding my D-lish Scraps stash and then spent a couple of days waiting for the 'perfect' chipboard flourish to arrive from Scrap FX.

My D-lish Scraps products include .. white Peonies, Flair Buttons, a Sequin Bow, blush monochrome Journal Its, a white Mini Wooden Peg, small white Roses, a white Freckled Fawn Paper Clip arrow, Wordfetti, and a Little Birdie strawberry Camden Cottage flower.

Ever so subtly, I've used a Scrap FX flourish (11 Swirl) which I've sprayed white, then painted with a metallic paint and finished off with a coat of glossy accents. I love these styles of flourishes so you can expect to see more of them from me in the future!!

I sooooooo wish I had the time to play with more combinations and create more of my own 'scrap adventures'! Maybe I'll use the challenge for inspiration for other layouts? But can I just say to the girls at Show Us Your Stuff I'm really, really, really sorry that I lost my way and scrapped a standard 4x6 photo! But thanks for looking at my layout anyways coz I really, really, really love the way it came together and it wouldn't have 'happened' the way it did if it wasn't for your November challenge! Thank you!!!!

PS: I've used two tiny, handmade, stitched felt flowers, and handmade flairs and journaling prompts from D-lish Scraps. Oh and a gorgeous sequin bow, also from D-lish Scraps.

Hello (from Williamstown) .. with D-lish Scraps

So whilst I was away in SA road tripping with my girlfriend and attending one of the most fabulous retreats ever (it was on my bucket list its that fabulous!!) GB took ten days off work so he could relax at home, put his feet up and not be nagged LOL! Actually it was really important for him to take that time off as respite. Working full-time, and shift work at that, and then being a carer the rest of the time isn't easy. So anyways GB and Bear were home alone for 10 days and every now and then I'd receive a text message or an email with a photo of Bear at a particular location, showing me what they were doing. I loved it. It was such an adorable thing to do but it really, really made me miss them!

Anyways this layout was created with one of those photos. I received so many of them, I thought it might be fun to scrap them and put them in my SA album in a "whilst I was here, they were there" or "whilst I was doing this, they were doing that" kind of way.

Hello

I was on a retreat when I created this and luckily for me, Amanda Lawrence who owns D-lish Scraps was also at the retreat and we not only got to meet each other for the first time but also to scrap together. Amanda was fabulous. I didn't have any expectations when meeting her but if I had, she would have exceeded all of them!

Anyways so sitting with Amanda of course I was going to use lots of D-lish Scraps products on my layout .. a large, blue Felt Doily, D-lish Enamel Dots, 12mm and 18mm Clear Glass Cabochons, navy Hand Dyed Muslin, white Wildflowers, white Azalea and Alder Flowers, a navy paper bag from the Quaterfoil Rainbow Mix Pack, an 8" Paper Doily, Journal Its including cards from an old Just Add Paper Kit, a white Mini Wooden Peg, a "hello" wood chip from Freckled Fawn, navy Mini Roses and Flair Buttons from the Washi Hearts B, Which Way Words and In the Doghouse sets. Oh and finally, yet to be released, beach themed buttons.

So that's only one layout of a handful of fun things GB and Bear got up to whilst I was away. Stay tuned for more to come, including a visit to the old morgue. I know right? A morgue??? I much prefer my destinations ..

Clare Valley .. with D-lish Scraps

I'm continuing to plough through my South Australian holiday photos ..

Before my girlfriend and I did our road trip to e2c (and back) I stayed with her family for a couple of days on their farm in the Clare Valley. The Clare Valley is a magical place, full of wonderful gems like this, so understandably my girlfriend wanted to 'show me around'.

Clare Valley

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love how the D-lish Scraps embellishments pull my layout together. I've used .. the pistachio Monochrome Journal Its pack, Washi Tape, a Pinkfresh Studio Colourblock Veneer Geotag, retro Pinkfresh Studio Enamel Brad Stickers, Flair Buttons from the apricot and kraft Monochrome Patterns packs, white Peonies, white Wildflowers, a lime Forget Me Not, Freckled Fawn Wood Chips (arrows), a white Wooden Leaf, a 4cm Metal Box Lock, and clear Motex Tape.

I love how this layout came together, especially given that it has three (and a bit!) photos, something I'd ordinarily struggle with. I shared it with my Creative Director (GB) and am thrilled to report that he really likes it too so I must be on a winner LOL! I have similar photos of, sadly, the ruins of the old post office, so think I will scraplift myself when I scrap those photos.

Stay tuned!

A laugh is .. with D-lish Scraps

As always, whenever we (D-Lish Scraps) have a cyber crop (in The Scrap Suite) I'm always too busy with other things in life to participate. My excuse this time? I'd just got home from a small break in Queensland and was sooooo tired, and had sooooo much unpacking and washing to do, that my creative energy deserted me. Oh woe is me I know LOL! But once I'd had a decent rest and taken care of everything so that it was as if I had never been away, my creative mojo returned and I got my 'scrap' on.

A laugh is

This layout was inspired by Wendy Smith's challenge to use wood veneers and to add colour to at least one piece. I used the relatively new in store Wood Veneer Arrow Set which is seriously way too funky and the word wood chips by Freckled Fawn. I used a marker to change my wood veneers to a lovely dark claret red to match the raspberry Canvas Bloom. Although they looked great exactly as they were, I ended up adding some Glossy Accents to bring out the richness of the colour.

I also used the other following D-lish Scraps products on this layout .. red Coloured Wire, Flair Buttons from the seriously gorgeous Spring Fling set, white Mini Heirloom Flowers, and the following Resin flowers .. Forget Me Nots, a Cabachon and a Large Rose.

Next month is December and unlike many, its actually something of a quiet month for me. So fingers crossed I'll be able to actually sit down and scrap the challenges on the weekend of the actual cyber crop. Like I said, fingers crossed!

Sunkissed cheeks .. with D-lish Scraps

So we're (D-lish Scraps) cyber cropping in The Scrap Suite this weekend and my challenge is a sketch challenge. Here's my sample layout ..

Sunkissed Cheeks

I've used the following D-lish Scraps products on this layout .. a 3.5" Star Paper Doily,  a teal Coloured Paper Doily, vintage pink Journal Its Monochrome Journal Pack, candy pink and white Wildflowers, a Vellum Bag, a light pink Mini Wooden Peg, forget me not Resin Flowers, coral Hand Dyed Muslin, aqua Coloured Tulle, Flair Buttons from the About a Girl pack, an aqua girl Printed Wooden Button, a hot air balloon Wood Veneer, and an aqua Freckled Fawn Paper Clip.

Oh and a close up the Wood Veneer Hot Air Balloon which I very carefully coloured in with a marker making sure to not go beyond the lines as I didn't want my marker to bleed into the other sections of the balloon.

This month's cyber crop has three other Design Team challenges, as well as the Queen's challenge and, if you have children who like to scrap, a children's challenge as well. We'll also be having some fun and games, possible new releases and maybe even some spots sales over the weekend so why not join us? You can find us on Facebook at The Scrap Suite. I hope to see you there!

Love this .. with D-lish Scraps

Whilst at the e2c retreat in SA earlier this year, I was ever so fortunate to meet my girlfriend Lisa who I have known, online, for about nine years. I've scrapped her family, we've chatted lots, shared and cared with and for each other. Finally meeting her after all these years was one of the reasons I travelled that distance to attend the retreat. Anyways enough rambling.

Love this

I had so much fun creating this layout. The background came together in a totally unexpected way LOL and making the feathers with a Close To My Heart stamp was great fun. I also used a heap of D-lish Scraps embellishments to pull this layout together .. black and mint Coloured doilies, Fabric flowers, Wood veneer, retro Pinkfresh Studios Enamel dots, black Pinwheel blooms, a Freckled Fawn paper clip, Flair Buttons from the 2014 Script Words in White and, a yet to be released, Sweetly Scripted in white, Kraft Shipping Tags, a natural Mini Wooden Peg, a black, heart Glitter patch, and black and wood panel Washi tape.

That's it for me today. I hope wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you're having a great day!

Picking flowers .. with D-lish Scraps

I felt the urge to scrap with yellow and to do something 'girly pretty', but no photos came readily to mind. So I did what I would ordinarily do and rang (well texted) a friend (hi Margaret!) and I'm so glad I did. She gave me these adorable photos of her daughter picking flowers with her 'nunnu Joe'. I had told her I felt like doing something flower-y, she was certain she had the perfect photos, and she did!

Picking flowers

published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 17 No 11

I've used several items from an old D-lish Scraps Just Add Paper Kit when creating this layout .. Flair Buttons, Journal Its, Resin flowers, Washi Tape, Bling, a Mini Heirloom Flower and pink Cherry Blossoms. I added a few additional D-lish Scraps products from my stash to pull it all together .. Corbett Creations Ply Icons (people), Pinkfresh Studios Enamel Love Brad Stickers (retro), additional Resin Flowers (forget me nots and a large rose), a yellow Bitty Bag (polka dot rainbow mix) and Heirloom Flowers which I cut down to size.

Don't you love how by using a 1.5" Ply Icon man and a 1" Ply Icon woman I've created the illusion of a man with his daughter, or in this case, grand-daughter? I so can't wait to do that again!

Thanks Margaret for yet again letting me scrap your gorgeous daughter whom you know we simply adore! I can't wait to see you guys again, oh and 'Mr Bear' says hello!

That's it from me today. Don't forget you can also read about this layout over on the D-lish Scraps blog where I'm sure you'll find loads to inspire you.

Wishing you happy days.

Ply People .. with D-lish Scraps

If, like me, you love your wood veneers, then you really need to check out the range at D-lish Scraps. Not only will you find Freckled Fawn Wood Chips and Pinkfresh Studios Colourblock Veneers, you'll also find wood veneers from Corbett Creations and other designs in store here.

I can't share my full layouts with you just yet, but I love my Ply People so much I just had to share a sneak peek of them! In the top layout I've used a 1.5" female to represent my girlfriend (heh Midnite!) and on the second layout I've used a 1.5" male and 1" female to represent a grandfather and granddaughter. Seriously, aren't they adorable? I love my Ply People and look forward to 'introducing' more of them to you over time!

Hmm .. I'm wondering if I should start campaigning for wood veneer dogs?

She is Mia .. with Pilot Pens

Eons ago, well it feels that way LOL,  Scrapbooking Memories asked me if I'd be interested in participating in one of their product challenges. Of course I said yes!

She is Mia

published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 17 No 3

It was a doodling challenge and somewhat naively I didn't think about the pens we would be receiving. If I had given it some thought I imagine I would have received various black and white pens. So you can imagine my surprise when I received a packet of five, colour Pilot Pens!  :O  The colours were bright and bold. At a time when I was working with soft, neutral colours, this was indeed going to be a challenge.

The layout I ended up with was layout #2. I had created the most sensational background with the purple pen for layout #1, and then I went and destroyed it all by keeping on adding and adding, when I should have stepped away.

I was so frustrated! Especially as I didn't have the time to recreate layout #1. The deadline was looming. Praying that I still had enough ink left in the purple pen, layout #2 is what I came up with, and I like it! Not only did I use the purple pen to doodle, I coloured my wood veneers with it before adding glossy accents to them, and I created my own 'enamel dots' by doodling filled in circles and applying glossy accents to the top of them. I'm now looking at, and using, my coloured journaling pens and markers in a whole new light! Thanks Pilot Pens!

PS: Aren't my handmade, vellum flowers just adorable?