Kraft it Up - June

Before the madness of end-of-semester marking and reporting hit with a vengeance, I took some time out over the long weekend to have a go at this month's challenge over at Kraft it Up. This month, the criteria was to create a layout using the supplied sketch, the colour pink and paint/mist splatters. Here is the sketch:

And this is what I came up with, using a photo of two of my nieces - such beautiful girls. 

Close-ups: 

Used some texture paste mixed with some pink paint smeared onto a mask for the background. 

I had a blast creating this layout and was the perfect way to relax before the busy week that awaited.
Thanks for stopping by.
S xoxo

Scrap the Boys and Jot Magazine

June's challenge over at Scrap the Boys would have been my favourite challenge so far while being a member of the Design Team. The challenge was to scrap a photo that is at least 5 x 7. When I discovered that my local Big W store can print 12x12 photos, well that sold it for me. What was even more exciting was that Kim Archer, one talented lady and editor of Jot Magazine, selected this layout to be a part of Issue 6, their first birthday issue - talk about WOW!

And some close-ups of the two embellishment clusters: 

I was also fortunate enough to have two of my Project Life inspired creations featured in the magazine with a little snippet on how I use the PL style to document the boys' sporting activities. Very humbling indeed. Thanks for the offer Kim.
Don't forget to upload your challenge to Scrap the Boys by midnight, June 30 for your chance to be in the running for some awesome prizes - remember entries have to be exclusive to STB. Come and let me know, so I can leave you a link.
Thanks for stopping by.
S xoxo

White with One - June

Life has been full of mixed blessings of late. After a few hectic and emotional weeks, I have taken some time out to catch up on blogging layouts I had created but not posted, as well taking some time out to sooth the soul by creating some more. My first share today is for the June White with One Challenge. This month's challenge is to use Pomegranate as the feature colour. This was definitely a challenge indeed as I wasn't 100% about the colour. After seeing all the different interpretations by the design team, this is what I came up with using a photo of my beautiful niece:

And some close ups: 

As I said, still not 100% sure if the colour falls under the pomegranate 'shade' but I love it anyway.
Thanks for stopping by,
S xoxo

My Sports Mad Boy

Both of our boys are just mad about sport, Mitchell especially. That child would play sport from sun up til sunset if we let him. He is keen to give anything a go but his favourite sports are swimming, tennis and soccer (football). I used photos from the past 12 months to capture his love of all things sport.

And some close ups: 

Thanks for stopping by.

S xoxo

Stuck?! Sketches

The first sketch for May is a single image layout and I found the perfect photo of my brother, sister-in-law, nieces and nephew at our sister's wedding last year. This is the sketch:

And this is my take on it:

And a close up of the photo cluster: 

I can't wait for the 15th to see what the second sketch for the month is.
Thanks for stopping by.
S xoxo 

White with One

The colour to match this month's challenge over at White with One is Gold. While I love adding touches of gold to my layouts, I had never based an entire layout around it. I loved this challenge and this would have to be one of my favourite layouts I have ever created.

And some close ups: 

I used my VersaMark ink pad to run along the outer edges of the cardstock before adding gold embossing powder. I also sprinkled embossing powder at various parts over the layout before heat setting it. One of my favourite new additions to my stash are rolls of metallic thread which I just had to use on this layout.

I loved pulling bits and pieces of my stash together for this, even some gold foil wrappers from our Easter Egg stash which I used behind the layout and to cover the 3.

Definitely a simple layout but one that I will treasure for a long time to come.
Thanks for stopping by.
S xoxoxo

Getting Messy and Grungy ...

... on my layouts is not something I am entirely comfortable with. Splatters of mist, distressing the edges of papers and a smear of gesso across the page is about as 'out there' as I get. When I found out this month's criteria for Scrap the Boys, I knew this would be my most difficult challenge. It took an attempt or two and I know, compared to creations of the other awesome DTer's, my layout is still pretty simple. At the end of the day, at least I can say I embraced the mess and grunge ... I just did it my way ;)

And some close-ups: 

So that's your challenge this month - to get messy or grungy. Remember to create a layout specifically for this challenge. Can't wait to see you over at Scrap the Boys.
Thanks for stopping by.
S xoxoxo