Happy 2014......maybe just a tad late!

Good morning.

I managed to fit in some happy crafting this week between snow storms......or rather 'during' snow storms!  What better way to spend those cold, dark nights than holed up in your craft room?

I really wanted to create a layout using the current sketch over at Stuck?!Sketches and link up.

I use their sketches quite often, but usually older ones so I never seem to link up to be in with a chance of winning anything.

Not today........I'm linked and in there! Lol

I do really like my page though.....it just seemed to come together really nicely. The plan in my head worked (for once!), and these days I'm really liking a carefree use of stamps on my pages.

At one time I was scared to death to stamp anything on a layout for fear that it would either not stamp effectively, or I wouldn't like the look of it!  Now, especially with the popular distressed/grunged look, and the fact that more and more art journalling techniques are settled nicely into scrapbooking, the pressure is off.  Stamp away, and if it doesn't work perfectly.......who cares, it was 'meant' to look like that anyhow! (wink!!)

Here we go, better late than never........Happy 2014!

This photo was taken a few weeks ago when my hubby and daughters attended the Mayor's levee in Cambridge and had a great time.......Mommy was at work! :-(

At the celebration, they had a photo booth kinda thing set up where you were able to dress up in various props and have your shot taken.  These were then later e-mailed out to you.......a perfect scrapbook opportunity, even when you're not present!

I wanted to focus on photography and numbers as a general theme throughout this page, hence the arrangement I cut using my Cameo, embellished with a film strip from Tim Holtz.......

I love that tape but a word of advice if you're using it.......I'm convinced it will not stick down with anything other than cement (and even then I'm not really convinced).

Having used it on a fair few pages, I now just instantly reach for the staple gun.......saves for a lot of frustration (and cursing!).

When I saw the circle on the sketch, I thought 'clock face' - perfect!  Just had to search for one in the Silhouette store and found this vintage version.

There's also some of that random stamping I mentioned and a little more down here, together with my title which actually worked out I think.  The sequins remind me of light bulbs which was sort of the look I was going for.

Finally it needed fireworks, so I got to work with the Liquid Pearls.......I don't think I've used this stuff in the last 5 years!

Papers are the 'Celebrate' collection from Authentique.

That's about all so I guess I'll be getting ready to go to work.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you next week,
Jayne.x.