Chanel Chic: The Studio Challenges

Over on The Studio Challenges Blog this sketch was set

I loved this sketch and was keen to join in. I chose this picture of the Chanel window at Harrods last Christmas. 

I wanted to use the black and gold colours in the photo but was worried this would be too dark and oppressive. So i decided to use them in small doses with a pop of other colours. I mounted some white card onto an old piece of Echo Park paper and then used scraps from my scrap bag. I drew around a plate a couple of times, moving it slightly each time to replicate the circle on the sketch and added some sequins to this. 

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On a roll! Sketchy Scrappers: Grandparents

I have been on a Scrapping roll this weekend as yesterday I managed to catch up and scrap Sketchy Scrappers September layout! After dealing with the seriousness of last week I needed something to clear my mind and get back to normal! Septembers sketch was set by Julia who chose this sketch

I chose a picture from Boo's Christening to go into her album and made this layout of her with her grandparents, I love the expression on my dads face! 

I went with papers from the Maggie Holmes Flea Market collection as they picked up the colours in my mums outfit. I also used bows from the same collection, probably the best embellishment I've ever brought as I only have two left now! The butterfly is Maya Road and came in a kit, as did the frame from Jillybean Soup. 

I then used Elle's Studio alphas for the title. 

UKS Summer Cyber Crop Challenge 5: I'll be yours & you'll be mine

I'm slowly picking my way through the challenges from the cyber crop on UKS. Challenge 5 was to use the below sketch and to use a Project Life card for your title. 

I started by going through the collection of Project Life Cards I have picking out any with sayings or sentiments on. I looked for any photo which would match any of the cards and went from there. 

I chose a card from Dear Lizzy Daydreamer and pulled a silly photo of me and Ian. I thought the Teresa Collins gold heart paper was not only gorgeous but perfect for the layout after being backed onto coloured card. I also used papers from Maggie Holmes Flea Market and Basic Grey. 

While choosing my papers I came across some stickers from Crate Paper I received in my very first Quirky Kit two years ago and I'm pleased I finally managed to use some on a layout. 

52 Cards Wk21: Hello Sunshine

For week 21 of the 52 card challenge Nat set us another sketch

At first I thought this was a nice easy sketch to work from, famous last words! I dithered for ages about whether to rotate it or not then faffed for ages over which papers to use, which sentiment I wanted. Then as I looked through my stash I came across a sticker sheet from Studio Calico's Sundrifter collection I received in a kit last year. On the sheet were a few sayings and the one saying "You are my sunshine" particular stuck out so I decided to use this. Cue more faffing over which papers to use until finally I made this card

I thought the orange in this paper from Carta Bella matched the sentiment sticker perfectly so went with this collection. I didn't like the idea of reading the sentiment sideways and at the same time changed my mind about rotating the sketch, so I compromised and placed the sentiment at the bottom right so you could still read it the right way. I added some heart trip I've had in my stash for ages and some stickers from the same sticker sheet to the left to fill in the gap. 

Reserved

At least with having a wet and miserable weekend, I managed to get a fair bit of scrapping done. I had intended to take part in this months Life.Paper.Scrapbook challenge, but alas time ran away with me and I missed out. However I still used their sketch to make a layout. This was the sketch for May

And this was the layout i made. The warm weather of the previous weekend had obviously gone to my head as I scrapped a very summery photo of my towel reserving a chair by the side of MIL's employers pool last year! 

Yet again I went for a card background which I had flick with Mister Huey black, shell & Seafoam mist to make it look less plain. I chose a piece of Glitz Wild & Free paper with a red and orange watercolour effect on as it went well with the photo. On the reverse were some arrows which I felt lifted it slightly. The third paper which I punched circles from is an October Afternoon paper I had been hoarding as it was so pretty lol! 

I made use of the circles i had punched by using the reverse side layered with some luggage tags and buttons

I then altered some white Thickers with a promarker for my title

This is layout 23/30. 

There for you always: Challenge YOUrself May challenge

This months challenge on the Challenge YOUrself Blog was to use the sketch below and to include a photo of not only youself but also a female in your life

This month we have had Boo's Christening and I was honoured to be asked to be a Godmother, so I chose a photo of the two of us and made this layout

All the papers used are from Maggie Holmes Flea Market collection, including some cut a parts. For the banner I used a Heidi Swapp mistable banner from a set my mum had given me some time ago. I misted it with Boss Lady from Mister Huey to show the resist pattern underneath. 

This is layout 21/30 of my 30 Layout Challenge 

Poetic Platform: Life.Paper.Scrapbook April Sketch

I like a good sketch as a starting point when scrapping and over on Life.Paper.Scrapbooking blogthis month they have a great sketch

I decided to rotate the sketch so the photos would run horizontally and made this layout using photos of the platform at St Pancras Station. 

Running along the platform close to the statue of John Betjamin were plaques with quotes from his poems. I assume they are from Betjamin poems having not read any I'm no expert lol! 

I trimmed the photos to be square but with at least the toes of mine and Jojo's Converse still showing. I mounted these onto a piece of Studio Calico paper I'd had in my stash for ages. It came in a Christmas kit a couple of years ago with one side being snowflakes and the other being this red colour with a snowy village scene on it. I never thought I would use it but thought it was great with these photos as it matches Jojo's shoes. The other papers are Amy Tangerine and Pink Paislee, the background is a B side of a Carta Bella paper. 

I picked up the maroon/red colour again in the title with my Thickers, and raided my die cut box to cluster some cut a parts. 

This is layout 17/30 

Meadow Barn Layouts: Part 2

I'm back again with the last of the layouts I completed at Meadow Barn. 

Layout 5 Family Love:

For my fifth layout I used the sketch I had myself and Gemma 

As well as the sketch we also had to use Washi 

Another photo from my brothers wedding of myself and Ian with Vincent and Penny 

Papers & cut a parts: Crate Paper Close Knit

Stickers: Fancy Pants, Lily Bee Designs 

Washi from my stash 

Layout 6 Bon Jovi Birthday:

These photos are of myself and my boss Jess at Bon Jovi last year 

Cardstock: Bazzil 

Papers: Amy Tangerine Yes Please & Ready, Set, Go

Alphas: Alison Kreft Recorded

Embellishments: Studio Calico wood veneer stars, Doily & Washi from my stash 

Layout 7 Funky Boots:

A random photo of my pink, floral Doc Martens 

Papers: Amy Tamgerine, Recollections

Alphas: American Crafts Thickers

Embellishments: Doily, buttons, Washi & star from my stash, Elle's Studio flags, Fancy Pants sticker

Layout 8 I love you always:

Ian took this photo of me having cuddles with my niece 

Cardstock: Bazzil

Papers: Crate Paper Close Knit, a scrap of Amy Tangerine Ready, Set, Go

Cut a parts: Close Knit

Doily from my stash

So those were all the layouts I made over the weekend, kick starting my 30 layout challenge. Since I have come home I have finished another two layouts taking my total up to 10. I'm a third of the way there! 

Sketchy Scrappers: Best Laid Plans

This months sketch over on Sketchy Scrappers was set by Fiona who as a recent Instagram convert set this sketch which allowed us to use two Instagram photos

For my layout I revisited my Best Laid Plans blog post & chose two Instagram pics from back in the summer. 

I decided to try and pick up on the grunge type look of the sketch by using two Glitz papers from the Finley collection with a running paint effect on them as well as spraying some pink Miser Huey onto a background paper from Heidi Swapp. I wasn't sure how to create the tab tops to the papers until I found some Fancy Pants stickers. If anyone knows of any tab punches please let me know. 

I had to add some Washi to the top of the photos as I originally placed one photo in the wrong place, tried to pull it up and ripped the paper slightly...oops! The bottom cluster is made up of an Elle's Studio banner, a Lillybee Design sticker and a resin star from my scrappy friend Julia. 

In other news, I have set myself a crafty challenge. I recently received my latest Quirky Kit and canceled my subscription as I need to catch up and use my stash up. So I have been inspired by Kitty Nancy on Instagram to not buy any more stash until I have completed 20 projects (layouts or cards), Nancy did 30 but I'm starting small lol! I'll be starting this when I go to Meadow Barn and collected stash Gemma has brought for me from TK Maxx in a couple of weeks so keep checking back on my progress! 

Kitty Heaven

Once a month, or when we can, my friend Gemma & I set each other a sketch  which should include an element of that persons choosing. This month was Gemma's turn. She chose this sketch and said we had to include some bling

I looked through my photos and decided on two photos from my pre Christmas trip to London with my friend Nicola. The photos were taken in the toy department in Harrods where I was in Hello Kitty Heaven! 

I used a piece of 7 Dot Studio paper mounted onto pink card as my base which had a cool brick and mist effect on it. I decided to draw colours from the Elton John style Kitty (which I wished I'd brought) for my layout using papers from Echo Park, American Crafts and Dear Lizzy. On the reverse of the blue Echo Park paper were some chalkboard speech bubbles so I decided to cut two to add to my clusters. 

For my title I didn't have enough letters to make the title I wanted to use so I decided to colour some white Thickers with some Picked Raspberry Distress Paint I had just brought. Even though they are a bit patchy the colour matches perfectly. 

While trying to decide what bling to use I came across a pink flourish I've had for ages. As I was holding over my paper trying to figure out how to use it I noticed a section of it resembled a heart, so I cut it apart and used this on the layout.

This is Love

Last month I set myself & my scrappy friend Gemma a challenge to make a layout using this sketch

And to use pink on the layout (well it is me setting the challenge after all lol) I printed a photo straight away but with the dramas of my car any chance of scrapping was a no no. But I eventually managed to get around to scrapping this week and made this layout

The photo is an Instagram I took during a walk a few weeks ago. For the pink element of the challenge I used an Elle's Studio paper for my background. The other papers are from my scraps. The title is made up of American Crafts Poolside Thickers and a cut apart from an Echo Park paper. As a last minute edition I added a heart button to the title just as I about to take a photo lol!