Soft Pastels for Christmas..

Hi everyone,
I am supposed to be working on those "have to get done" layouts with a deadline quickly looming but I just can't seem to find the mojo needed for these sorts of projects. Do you ever find this happening to you?
So I find sometimes it is better just to move away from those projects and create something completely unnecessary or even a challenge.
So this is what I did! I saw this gorgeous ( yep I know not me at all) pastel mood board on the Jot Magazine blog. So I gave it a go and  yes this is  my first layout done for christmas!

So I have been inspired not only by the christmas theme but the circles of colours, the sparkles and the prettiness.

So now it's back to try and meet these deadlines!!! Thanks for stoppping by!
Eb x

Nearly here...

Well I know it is nearly Christmas and finding time to get messy and creative can be tricky, but I really wanted to share one of my layouts I have created using this month's "A piece of cake designs Cupcake kit". I LOVE this kit...the colours the patterns and especially the gelato and spray bottle. What awesome value this kit is and so versatile!

I wanted to show you a layout using the gelato and the misting bottle. I apologise that I didn't take any progressive photos but here is my layout and an idea to use the gelato and water.

One way you can create interesting backgrounds with gelatos is o use them like a crayon and scribble onto some white cardstock. I use one colour at a time and then with the spray bottle apply some water. You can use your finger or a brush to slightly blend the colour, but still leave enough of your scribbled lines showing. I also often tip my page up so that some of the wet colour dribbles down and around my cardstock.

You can see here the different gelato scribble lines.

Now I have to admit that I am lucky to have a few different gelato colours in my stash so I have also used "snow cone" which is an aqua colour gelato and I have also scribbled with it .

Once you have done this effect with two or more colours you can then spray and dribble some yellow mist over the top randomly. I have used a Tattered angels "Twinkle yellow" mist and then I have used a "Mr Huey's" custard mist  and a Tattered angel Patina mist to draw lines amongst my gelatos using their nozzles.

The rest of the background is using various stamps and masks and some doodling with a permaball pen.

Once my background was done I cut up some of the awesome papers in the kit into various sized squares.

I then added some strips of the papers ( which are actually the cut off strips from the papers!) and some washi tape, some from the kit and some from my stash. I added some of the awesome sticker elements and word stickers from the kit and then coloured the alphabet black with a sharpie for my title! 

One boyish layout complete but you could easily do a feminine version with the other papers in the kit! 

Have fun creating and I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!!!

Eb x

I told you....

Well I did tell you that you would start to see some "2Crafty Chipboard" on my layouts so here you go!
I decided to give this month's challenge at "Scrap the Girls" a go which was to create a multiple photo layout using at least 3 photos. ( sorry photo  bit blurry :( )
So here you go! 3 photos...check!

                                 These gorgeous leaves and circles are both made by "2 Crafty".
                                                   You can find them here and here....

I will be back again tomorrow with a layout created using the latest "Cupcake kit" from "A piece of cake designs".

Eb xxx

New DT!

Hi everyone!
I just popped by quickly to share some news with you.
Earlier this year I was asked if I would be interested in being a resident guest designer for 2 Crafty Chipboard!
You can read the announcement here!

I am very happy to be working alongside some extremely talented ladies!

      So you will be seeing lot's of their awesome designs popping up in my creations very soon!

The best things in life are free

Hi again! I'm back to share another layout using this month's 'Cupcake kit".
I took this photo of my children one spring day playing in a handmade, thrown together cubby at the front of our house! They spent hours out there together, listening to music, chatting and laughing! It really did remind me that it is the Simple things in life that are often the most cherished moments but we sometimes forget to just scrap these times. So this layout is about doing just that.....

 I began this layout with machine stitching . I sewed a circle and lots of random lines beside it but it is hard to see now as I ended up covering most of them up !!!
I then used some watercolour paints from a previous kit and some water to create a watermark effect on my cardstock which I covered with gesso first. The Gesso stops the paper warping as much I have discovered and the paint sits much better on it rather than soaking straight into the paper.
This layout would be great for using your off cuts of papers or your little scraps as I just used different squares/rectangles of the different patterned papers in the kit. No real pattern or theme in mind!

Once my background was done I added in some white patterned tissue paper form my stash ( it is a Christy Tomlinson Pink Paislee one).

I then added my squares and rectangles of patterned papers and also some sticker elements from the "Pebbles Inc" sticker sheet. I rubbed a light coat of gesso over these as well just to give it a worn look. 

Once again I have used the splatter stamp with the grey  and aqua chalk inks to add some stamping to my page, as well as the "glitz Design" roller stamp from a previous kit.

The frame was painted with watercoloured paint to match the colours in my layout and placed over my photo. 

I have used some sticker words from my own supplies and the "Heidi swapp" buzz word is too from my own supplies. 

Add in some doodling. some washi tape and some wooden veneer stars and you have another layout!

 Thanks for popping by. Hope you are enjoying your kit and looking forward to the next one!!!

Eb xx

Exclusive APOCD wooden veneer frame :)

 Back again to share a layout with you once again using this month's "Cupcake kit".
This layout features the exclusive wooden veneers that Raquel was clever enough to design exclusively for "A piece of cake designs". I love it!!!

I have used it to add extra layers behind my photo but you could also use it as the photo matt itself.

I have also used from the kit a variety of the patterned papers which I have torn into various sizes and shapes and adhered to a white background mixed with some old dictionary paper and some white patterned tissue paper.. I then covered with some gesso.

Next I have added in some stamping with the awesome splatter stamp in the kit with the gorgeous grey chalk ink pad also from this months kit. I have also used the aqua chalk ink from a previous kit with the same stamp!. Other stamping includes some hearts ( hero arts Stamp) , the arrow by Technique Tuesday and the circle one is a cocoa daisy stamp. 

Once this was done I took some element stickers from the "Pebbles Inc" sticker sheet in the kit and added  as embellishments on my page.

Add in some washi tape both from the kit and my own supplies and splatter some paint and there you have another layout created with an awesome , versatile kit!!!

I have added in some wooden veneer shapes and some sticker words from my own stash too!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Back soon! Eb x

A Piece of cake November Cupcake kit...

Hi everyone,
Yep it's been a while again! But I am here to post a layout I have created with November's "Cupake kit" by "A Piece of cake designs".
I must say I LOVE this kit! Really my colours and I am finding it so easy to play with!

                                                                 Here is my layout!

To create this background  I first covered with gesso and then I took the newspaper type paper from the kit by "Pebbles Inc" and cut it into a few small, uneven pieces and glued to my cardstock. I then used watercolours to paint over each of them.
I then, instead of using a sewing machine I just doodled in some faux stitching!

I then cut various elements that I liked from the various papers like the numbers and the speech bubble and used as embellishments. I also used the "Pebbles Inc" cardstock stickers from the kit and the cool large red sequins!

The alphabet is also from the kit and I LOVE these!!! Add some doodling to them and voila!

Thanks for popping by, Eb xx

Only a couple...

Well only a few challenges achieved this month :(..........

I seem to have time at the start of each month and then it just gets harder and harder to find the time!!! I created a couple of layouts for various challenges at the start of the month and am only finding time to share now!!

This one I loved......It is the quote for "Scrap the girls" this month.

                   "Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things."  Author Unknown

I have used lots of paint and mists mixed with some gesso and book paper and these totally awesome chipboard film strips by

"2 Crafty".

This next one is for the sketch over at "Scrap Friends".

The chipboard feathers by "Imaginarium designs" were perfect for this sketch!!!.

Until next time! Eb xx

Just a couple of challenges...

I have just got a couple of layouts to share with you today that are based on a couple of challenges for the month. I love doing the various challenges each month when I find a spare moment to scrap.
Here is my entry for "White with one" . The criteria this month is to use white of course! with watermelon.

 This layout is again of my dearest friend Marelle Jackman. We both had a photo shoot done while at "Camp mojo" with the talented Jen Hall.
I pulled out all my watermelon coloured inks, paints and mists and embellishments to create this!

Next is my entry for the "Scrap the boys" challenge! This month the challenge is to use blue and green on your layout! Check!!

The awesome title was cut out by "Flutterby designz". Cool isn't it?!
I have also used a "cherry flair" as always!!
Thanks for stoppping by and for all your kind comments on Maya's layout!!!
Eb xx

I love that she loves to create!

I love that Maya loves to create as much as I do! I love  listening to watching her as she creates and listening to her ideas. These holidays she decided to give the "Kids Mood board" a go on the "Jot Magazine" blog.

She often sits while I scrap and paints and draws and when it came to doing this layout she asked if she could paint like me on her page to make a rainbow......so sweet!!! She also LOVES washi tape and knew she needed to use some on her layout.
The cutest thing was she said, "Mum it needs sparkles......every page should have sparkles!!'. She is a girl who knows exactly what she wants!! LOL.

Thanks for stopping by. I have been creating too so have some to share!

Eb xx

Just squeezed this one in...

I managed another layout last night! Think I needed some "me " time away from panadol and vomit!
So I played along with the "Kraft it up" challenge this month which is this sketch.

  And here is my interpretation of the sketch.......

I had fun with this one. I have trouble using kraft at times but I was happy with how this turned out. I think it's actually more clean and simple than my normal style. What do you think?

I have used some cute products from flutterby designz too! Thanks Anita !

Anyway, I'm off to complete my last unit for my certificate while we are resting with my little poppet.

Thanks for stopping by and for all your kind comments!

Eb xx

Skissedilla sketch #226

Well I have a poor sick little poppet today who has slept on and off most of the day and another son who was more than happy to play with his lego and xbox all day so I snuck into my scrap space to scrap this layout based on the sketch at "skissedilla".

I decided to create a crazy, colourful background using gelatos, mists and stamping.

I have scapped these photos before but I love them so much i scrapped them again! Do you do that too?
Anyway, better go and check on my poppet, Eb xx

Bright and fun....

I loved the colours that were part of the "scrap the girls "challenge this month! And as I LOVE bright colours I used fluro versions of these colours! I have to apologise as in my photos my fluro green which is a SEI neon spray looks more yellow than green but I promise it is green! it shows up as green on my butterflies but no where else...weird...anyway here is my layout!

Lot's of machine stitching and bright sprays to match the colour combo. I stamped my butterflies onto book paper and then painted them with the same mists I have used on my background.

I used an extremely old Making Memories rub on as part of my title! I love how after even 6 years or so they rub on perfectly!!!

Anyway, off to get ready for the big AFL grand final this afternoon! GO HAWKS!!!!!!
Eb x

Anyone for pie or should I say a cupcake!!

I am back to share another layout created with the latest "cupcake kit" from "a piece of cake design kits".
This time I wanted to use the gorgeous patterned papers in the kit so I used the old fashion design of a pie graph!

 To create my background I decided to experiment with the gorgeous colour in the fluid ink chalk ink pad. I rubbed the pad over my craft mat and sprayed with water. I then took some white cardstock and placed it over the watery substance now on my mat! I loved how it turned out! So many ways to use those type of ink pads!

I used these 2 awesome "cherry flairs" and added in a title sticker from my sticker book from Mambi.


This layout I created last night in an attempt to have some "me" time. I'm struggling to get any time for myself at all at the moment and although it's school holidays and I do not have to go to work I seem to be always trying to entertain my children. I feel like they have forgotten the art of just playing on their own. Is anyone else having this problem? Add in study to finish , the million and one jobs that I need to get done while I have time at home and a massive ironing pile....no me time:(
So I decided to take an hour before dinner last night and I created this based on the challenge at "scrap the boys". The challenge is to use an outdoor activity photo.

This photo was in one of our local papers of Will competing in a soccer competition representing his school, so yep it passes as an outdoor activity!!

Thanks for popping by, Eb xx

More mojo shares....

Yep, I know!!! Bad blogger!!!! But I am back to share some more layouts that I created at camp Mojo and better still two layouts that were created for me by two amazing people :)

So here are some of my layouts first!!!

Before I went to camp Mojo I decided to do some crazy machine stitching on some white cardstock. Just random with no real plan for the page! I LOVED how it worked for me! I used these backgrounds to create nearly all of my layouts on while i was there and I found it both challenging and fun!!!
Here is a layout of Will 10 pin bowling!!! I printed the quote from the Rhonna Farrar app!

 This one I created for a challenge at the retreat! It was to use envelopes on a page! Thanks Tarrah McLean for giving me these cool envelopes to play along with!!!
Once again lots of stitching and watercolours!

Another with stitching and some misting! Our trip to watch the Hawks play at the MCG!

This was my first layout of the retreat. More stitching this time in a checker pattern and some watercolour paints! 

( and no the embroidery cotton isn't meant to be over her face!!! LOL! I realised while editing !! Oh well you get the idea!)

 I LOVE when there are photo booths set up at retreats!!! I love being able to print photos of my gorgeous scrappy friends and scrap them while i am there!! Thanks to Peta for printing them out for us all!!!

Now as you all know I am blessed to have Marelle as my dearest friend. She is always my rock and I love her to bits! She organised a photo shoot with the talented Jen Hall while at Camp Mojo and then secretly had a pic printed and scrapped for me. Yep, I cried  xxxxx

Another aspect of retreats that I love is creating for other people. I created a layout for Lisa Oxley and she created a beyond amazing layout for me!!!

Here is my layout for Lisa first!

 And the awesome layout created by Lisa!! Thank you so much Lisa!!!

I also created one for Sherry Mendoza. ( sorry about pic quality. I only had one on my phone!)

I also created a layout a layout for Peg Hewitt but I need to track down  a pic of it!!!

Well I'll be back soon with another layout using the cupcake kit from "A piece of cake designs".
Eb xx

Peek a boo!

I love scrapping a funny photo!!! One that tells a little story!
This layout is one of those layouts! You see i found this photo and first glance I thought it was just of Maya with some of our close friends. But then I had a closer look and there he is!!! Master Will's little head peeking around the corner!! This made me laugh!!!!

  So I created  this layout using the latest cupcake kit from " A piece of cake designs!"
I am loving these kits so much!! The smaller 6x6 paper pads work well for me ( when I use patterned paper lol) and it is so full of cute embellishments!

Once again I sewed some messy stitching on my page and then with some glimmer mist and a spray bottle I created the blue effect on the background but dropping droplets of the mist into water on my cardstock.

                                     

 I LOVE these new "Real life " cherry flairs too!!!!!

I have added a few wooden veneer items once again saved from previous kits but I love how you can use the minimal of items from the kit and still create a fun layout with still HEAPS of product left over!!!!

ITEMS IN KIT USED:
Real life cherry flair
Jilliebean soup alphas
Teal damask fluid chalk ink pad
Glitz design roller stamp
Echo Park patterned paper and journalling card
sequins
washi tape

Be back soon! Eb x

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Hi again!
I'm back to share a layout created with this months "CUPCAKE KIT" from a "Piece of cake designs"

Once I again I loved this kit!!! You will see in my first layout that I haven't used any of the papers , just the embellishments.
To create this layout I used white cardstock and sewed some messy stitching in the form of two rectangles. I then misted with yellow mist. I then used a small dot template with chalk fluid ink pad from the kit and dabbed it onto the template.
TIP: I found the ink pad very wet to begin with so go carefully and I think it would work better with a larger mask or stencil. But I love the colour!!!

 Another TIP: When using your roller stamp only roll one way. Don't go back and forth!
So I then added my two photos and underneath I drew some hearts in black pen. I used various colour mists with a paint brush to colour mine in but you could also use your watercoloured paints from a previous kit :)
I then used the various washi tapes from the kit and some from previous kits.

I then cut out the "ONE WORD" speech bubble from the patterned papers in the kit and added a gorgeous flair from this months releases! 
The title is using the funky alphas from the kit too!!!

Throw in some sequins and some stamps and there you have it! Ans still HEAPS of supplies left over to create many more layouts!!!

ITEMS IN KIT USED:
Chalkboard camera flair
Jilliebean soup alphas
Washi tapes
sequins
Teal damask fluid chalk ink pad
Glitz design roller stamp
Echo Park Journalling tag

I will be back soon with another share!
Eb x

Camp Mojo Creations...

So recently I attended Camp mojo 2013 and I had a blast! Amazing people who are all so friendly and inspiring! I actually managed 12 layouts plus a class layout which was taught by amazingly talented friend Louise Nelson.I think the fact that there is an entire tressle table for each person really helps the creativity as I was able to set up all my supplies so they were easily accessible!

So I thought I would begin sharing a few layouts with you.

This one is based on the latest sketch over at "Scrapfriends".

                                               And here is my layout based on the above sketch.

  This is just a layout I had fun creating for no particular reason! Crazy stitching, Mr Huey's neon mist , Ali Edwards stamps and some washi tape!

 This one I created based on the challenge over at "Scrap the boys" this month.
The challenge is to create a monochromatic layout with twine and chipboard! Check to all three!!!
I used teabags to create my background along with some machine stitching.

And I will just share this last one today which I created for a challenge at Camp mojo. The challenge was a chalkboard challenge!

I just received the latest "Cupcake kit" in the post today so I can't wait to share some of my creations using it soon!

Eb xxx

Oh my gosh!

I can't believe it has been that long since I blogged!!!! Well I can really! I have now gained 2 jobs in the field I have always wanted to work in! I am now an additional assistant in two awesome kindergartens! I am SO happy!!! BUT it means I know work 5 days a week....eeek!!!
I wasn't really after 5 days of work but these amazing opportunities fell into my lap , so of course I will take them on!
But it has meant a HUGE decrease in my scrapping time. I find I am SO tired at night and obviously not home during the day so that doesn't leave any time to escape into my scrap room. This has meant I have lost so much of my mojo lately :(  When I do sit down to scrap I'm not in love with my work and then I just walk away and it all seems too hard :( I have actually never felt this bad before , to the point of thoughts of giving it up all together going through my mind. I never thought I would say that !
But I am hoping that once I settle into my new roles and it all becomes a little easier, and my study is complete ( yes I am studying as well!!!) my mojo will come back.
I have even cleaned out and decluttered my space to see if that helps. So fingers crossed.

All is not lost! I still created this layout for "A Piece of cake designs". I LOVE the new cupcake kits! They seem to suit my style!

So with the weather being so miserable lately I pulled out this fun , summery photo to scrap! 

I used a Heidi Swapp mask and colour shine to create the heart background and then used the small Heidi mask in the kit to doodle in some smaller stars, hearts and circles!
I added a few of the paper strips for some colour and of course the paint dauber was perfect to add a dry brush paint effect!

You can see I have added a few bits of washi tape from my stash along with the cute little sequins from the kit! LOVE sequins!!!! It's about as sparkly as I get!!! LOL!


I also have some layouts I have done about a month ago that I haven't shared and a layout I created of Maya a few weeks ago  that was for 123 challenge last month that I didn't have time to upload :(

Anyway I have another layout I created using a Piece of cake designs " cupcake kit" so I WILL be back soon!!!
Eb x