Supersize!

Welcome to the last day of 2012, which also happens to be my turn to host the final Crafty Challenge over at the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum.

For this one I'd like to see something on your card, scrapbook page or any other creation that is 'Supersized' meaning something of above average proportions.

You may choose a large photo, or a particular embellishment such as a large flower, button etc, or what about some huge alpha's on there?

Doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's enlarged to a size more than what would be considered average.

For my sample, I created a layout and chose to supersize a banner.

As you can see, other than the solitary photograph, the banner with it's over sized pennants, provides the main focal point for this page.

I also love the rather large Mason jar, cut from one of the patterned papers (Dear Lizzy 'Neapolitan' collection from American Crafts) to hold the title, and set on a lightly misted background.

A few more feminine embellies......

and a scattering of pretty buttons, finish the page.

Inspiration for today's layout was provided by the July sketch in Scrap 365.

So it's a fond farewell to 2012 and a warm welcome to 2013.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to visit my blog this year, especially those leaving comments or links to various forums.......I really do appreciate every one of you.

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you in 2013.
Take care,
Jayne.x.

Us!

Welcome back after the Christmas festivities!

I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday, although I'm thinking it pretty much passed very quickly in some kind of blur.  Thankful as always though for lots of food, gifts and good company, but now that things are almost back to normal, it's time for a layout.

At last my final page from my Two Scrapbook Friends DT Kit, using Authentique's 'Original' collection.  I guess I subconsciously saved the best till last because for some reason, this is one of my favourite layouts from 2012.  Not sure why really.........maybe it's just fitting that it's a simple, fun and maybe a little crazy page about US!

I love everything about this page, it's just........Fun!

The whole idea came about, when a few months ago I discovered a new App for my phone called Pocketbooth.  It replicates a circa 1950's photo booth and enables your phone to snap shots in this style.......all I can say is pretty cool, you'll be seeing more of it around here I'm sure.

The photo strip provides the main focus of the page, and the title using a combo of denim, washi tape and teeny word stickers, matches perfectly.

There's an eclectic collection of embellishments throughout, and the main elements are framed by a 'rustic' painted border.........cardboard dipped in paint!

I saw this idea of inky 'pawprints' in a magazine and knew it would be great for leaves along the flower stem on this page......how cool to have your family's fingerprints recorded on a page for posterity!

That's about all from me but hopefully I'll be visiting a little more regularly next week.

Till then, have a great weekend,
Jayne.x.

Butterflies in December!

Good morning.

Every now and then I realize I still have projects to post from my last Two Scrapbook Friends DT Kit, from waaaaaaaay back in October!

So here I am again, remembering such projects.

This one's the penultimate.....still one more to be subjected to after this I'm afraid!

No, it's not a scrapbook page, or a card, it's everyone's fave.....the altered item, although there's nothing 'altered' about it really!

I saw the idea for this in a scrappy magazine (Scrap365) earlier in the year and knew I would have to tuck it away in that part of my brain which gathers cobwebs, then dig it out when I would feel inspired enough (or rather brave enough!) to attempt it.

That day must have finally arrived in October because here we go.....the first day of Winter here today, and we have butterflies!

Like I said, I can't lay claim to this idea, however I am really pleased with my version.

The cage is made from one sheet of white cardstock and decorated with vines and an abundance of patterned paper flowers, all using Authentique's 'Original' collection of course.

 

A couple of jewelled butterflies peek from behind the bars................

The cage is finished with satin ribbon, and the perfect sticker, found on the 'Original' collection sticker sheet.

 

Sweet!

Enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend.

A few more Christmas preparations left for me to do, then it's Jingle All The Way!

See you soon,

Jayne.x.

Happy Memories.

Well I'm so glad I've finally made it to my blog this week......... I just don't know where the days are disappearing to!

It's my turn to host the Sketchy Challenge over on the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum, so I'm jumping right in.

Here's my sketch for this week:

I tell no lie when I say this sketch was drawn at 1.00am in the evening in the morning, so please excuse any 'not so straight' lines!

However you can't have a Sketch without a sample, so here's my scrapbook page:

Also telling no lies when I say this page was completed shortly before 1.00am in the evening in the morning!  Not even sure if I'm happy with it yet........too tired to examine it closely.

Papers are from My Minds Eye 'All Is Bright' collection and I couldn't resist testing out my new 'starburst' stencil/mask.  The 'rays' are cut from vellum and scattered with teeny wooden veneer stars.

Talking of teeny, the scissors made an appearance again for some  fussy cutting of the cherub here........

........and the birdie here..........

A collection of burlap, ribbon, corrugated cardboard and washi tape create the layers.

Hope you're able to use the sketch.......drop me a comment/link if you do, I'd love to see the results.

Time for me to go.......things to do, starting with work!

Have a great day and I'll see you soon, I hope!
Take care,
Jayne.x.

100% Unique!

Well I didn't quite make it here yesterday as planned......work kinda got in the way, but at least I'm here now!

A scrapbook page today for you, another reveal from my last Two Scrapbook Friends DT Kit, remember.........Authentique's 'Original' collection?

More fun to be had here......how could I not when it involves Authentique and 'messy' stuff, always a great combination!

Here's 100% Unique.

This page is all about texture.........fabrics, texture paste, metals, fibres.........a real mix of natural and man-made.

I used a stencil and texture paste to create the starburst patterns in various places, and the mannequin, fussy cut from another sheet of patterned paper, works as the perfect addition of shabby chic.  The pinned sticker gave me an opportunity to use some of the teeny word stickers Authentique are well known for.

I embellished using a variety of flowers made from denim and cheesecloth, together with buttons, a stickpin and twine.

The title is cut and stitched from canvas (yes I know the 'n' looks rather like a 'h' which has irritated the heck out of me since I stuck it on there!), and this collection has an abundance of stickers which work beautifully with the title and theme of this page, so there are numerous dotted around.

Remember those jean pockets I mentioned in this layout?  Well the butterfly here was created from an element, fussy cut from one of those pockets.

I think that just about covers everything so till next time, have a good one,
Jayne.x.

You Are My One And Only.

Good morning.

I hope you've had a good start to the weekend.

We have a busy, happy, family kinda thing going on today and tomorrow.......the only down side is that I have to go to work shortly for a few hours!
Tomorrow is the big day........The TREE!  Numerous hours of everyone getting the decorations on there (then me secretly following, re-arranging everything.....shhhh don't tell, they think it's looks perfect every time. Little do they know about my anal behaviour!)

Anyhow I thought it was about time I revealed a little more from my last Two Scrapbook Friends DT Kit.  This was using Authentique's 'Original' collection, if you can remember that far back to my first layout.

So today, we're going with a card.  This one uses a few of the papers and a sticker as the focal sentiment.......You Are My One And Only.

I love my new Mini8 punch from We R Memory Keepers, so that's what I used to create the 'envelope shape.  I also dug out the cheesecloth again and a few tiny fabric roses.  A gathered crepe paper flowers fits in nicely.

I bought a new 'doily' die too and the suggestion on the packaging was to sandwich a layer of waxed paper between the die and your PP to aid in easy removal.  When I cut it, I found the waxed paper was far too pretty to throw away, so that's the white, shadowy pattern you can see overlaying the stripes.

A sampling of jute/natural hemp and lace add to the shabby chic feel.

Done.

I hope you have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday,
Jayne.x.

A little more 'Peaceful'.

I'm guessing by now you know how much I like my 'Authentique', so after I posted this layout the other day, I couldn't bear to even throw out the scraps.

So I made a card.

Although, it didn't start as a card.......it began as a tag!

I also mentioned the other day the fun Online Christmas crop that's occurring this week over on the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum.  Joanne happens to be hosting a challenge to create a tag, so I finally found a little time to play along and off to work I set with my valuable little scraps to create a tag.

10 minutes in I decided it was far to elaborate for a tag, and I could never bring myself to stick it on a gift, only to be torn off and thrown into the garbage 30 seconds later..........as I mentioned previously, I'm a little attached to my 'Authentique!

 So, out came more cardstock and a card was born.

Here's the tag card (which I might bring myself to part with.......eventually!)

 

Definitely much prettier irl, honest.

This one has a few layers going on,

and although the sentiment looks silver in the photo, it is actually an embossed pearly white.

I always forget how cool crepe paper is till I remember to dig it out again.

That's it for today so thanks for stopping by.

I'll see you again in a couple of days,
Jayne.x.

S is for Snow!

It certainly is and boy, did we get a nasty little dump of it on Friday!

Fortunately we're now coasting with our 9 degree temperatures and the white stuff has melted nicely......till next time!

So, there's a fun Online Christmas Crop happening this week on the Forum over at Two Scrapbook Friends, and that's the reason I'm here today.  Each of the DT plus 'the Friends' host a challenge for anyone to join in with, and there are always fabby prizes to be won.

For my challenge, I decided to deliver a sketch to help the creative juices flow.

So here goes, Sketch #11

I hope you can use it or even join in with the crop if you get a chance.

For my page, I may have mentioned previously once or twenty how much I love Authentique papers, and today's offering is no exception.

This one's using their 'Peaceful' collection.

This photograph was from the our weather the previous weekend......our first snowfall of winter 2012.

The page has a fair bit of texture going on with the cheesecloth, my favourite Martha Stewart texture paste and a doily die cut.

The teeny scissors came out again to fussy cut a little birdie from another sheet of PP.  I also couldn't resist some of the Tim Holtz 'film strip' ribbon.......I love this stuff but hate the fact that it's so difficult to get it to stay put.  I think I've tried practically every adhesive out there (including a hot glue gun) none of which are very successful, so this baby's held down with a couple of small star brads.

The trusty Dymo labeller provided strip journalling.....perfect for the colour scheme on here.

In fact this page has quite a few of my favourites on there.........stitching included, to hold back the torn paper edges at the top right there.

That's about it from me, but I'll be back in a couple of days.

I'm intending to participate in the December Daily festivities this year, but as we're on December 3rd already and I haven't made a start, I'm already playing catch up!

My house is a little crazy right now with one sick kiddo, and preparations well under way for the arrival of Nanny and Pappy, flying in for the holidays later today.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Have a great day and I'll see you soon,
Jayne.x.
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Challenges entered:
Artistic Inspirations - #18 Anything Goes
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Winter
Craft Your Passion Challenges - #139 Snow
Crafty Boots Challenges - Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft Challenges - #221 White
Lets Create Anything But A Card - #7
Creatalicious Challenges - #40 Winter
Natalie and Amy's Challenge - Winter
Really Reasonable Ribbons Ramblings - #61 White on White
The Cupboard Trliogy - #6 Frosty Winter 

The first Christmas card!

Hi there, just stopping in with a card today.

Believe it or not this is the first Christmas card I've made this season!  Definitely playing catch up otherwise I'll be occupying the naughty list this year.

Not a surprise really that it's using another Saturated Canary image, Krista's gorgeous images get me every time.  This was one I actually purchased last Christmas but have only just gotten around to putting some colour on there.

Anyhow here goes.

Sorry for the poor lighting but it's attempting snow out there, so we're struggling for any sunshine.

I thought I'd dig out the pencils for this one, so colouring is with Prisma's, blended with OCMS.

It just so happens that the challenge over on the Saturated Canary Blog this week is a sketch, and as my cardmaking mojo has hit a bit of a slump recently, there was no way I could turn down a good sketch.

Almost forgot.....papers for this one are from Bo Bunny's winter collection from last year - Snowfall.

Well that's all for today, hopefully there will be a few more Christmas cards turning up over the next couple of weeks.
Take care out there and have a great day,
Jayne.x.

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Challenges entered:
Saturated Canary Challenge Blog - #31 A Sketch
Creatalicious Challenges - #40 Winter
Natalie and Amy's Challenge - Winter

I Am So Lucky To Have You!

I think it's time I revealed some of the projects from my last Two Scrapbook Friends DT Kit.

I can't tell you how pleased I was to be blessed by 'The Friends' with one of the recent collections from Authentique.....'Original'..........what more could a 'crafty' girl want?

Not only did it mean I got to play around with Authentique's superb quality papers and stickers, but my creative juices were moved into overdrive by this versatile collection..........it has so many possibilities!
It was easy to become inspired and I thoroughly enjoyed the creative process, so let's share the goods shall we?

First up today, a layout.

I Am So Lucky To Have You

Another page for my hubby!  He's definitely had more than his usual quota of one page per year, for this year.

One of the main elements on this page is the 'harlequin' pattern, which is fussy cut from a sheet of the patterned paper.

I applied Glossy Accents to the rivets to make them appear a little more realistic, and I really like how it 'pops' against the KraftCore background.......the sanded edges of which give that masculine/rustic feel.

I also added a border stitched in orange, to maintain the 'denim' theme which is predominant in this line.

I knew as soon as I saw one of the papers contained a whole collection of jean pockets, my scissors would be put to work and more fussy cutting was on the agenda.

I cut and stitched one of them to hold a handmade note (using notepaper and a border punch) and all lettering was provided by this collections co-ordinating alpha sheet.

A 'matt' of denim, and a key (thanks Carola!) tied within a little burlap, provide cool masculine embellishments.  A few more stickers complete the page.

I did joke with my husband that the burlap turned out looking more like a bale of straw, and if you knew my hubby you'd know this is the closest you'll ever find him to bale of straw!

So that's about it, but it just so happens that this layout works perfectly for the November colour challenge on the Authentique blog, so this baby will be heading over there.

I'll be back in a couple of days with something else I'm sure.
See you then,
Jayne.x.

A 'Fussy' kind of challenge.

Happy Monday.

Did ya get snow over the weekend, did ya, did ya, huh?

This is a slight under exaggerated impression of my kiddo's who were pretty thrilled to see a covering of the white stuff over the last couple of days.........me......not so much!

Looks like it will be a long winter....yay!

Anyhow happier thoughts.

Today I have a Crafty Challenge for you, which I'm hosting over on the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum this week.

I thought we'd get a little fussy.......with the scissors that is.  Grab your patterned papers, stamps, digital images or anything you might have a slight grudge against, and cut the heck out of it.

Doesn't matter whether you create a card, scrapbook page or anything else which takes your fancy, just go for it.

I have a scrapbook page for you as an example, another showcasing one of our summer family activities earlier this year.

Awesome Niagara Falls.

So here's the fussy cutting we've mentioned, not in the least time consuming I know, but usually worth the end result.

A collection of flowers, punched butterflies, die cuts etc.

And a few more, together with lace and alpha beads, for a little added texture.

Papers are from My Minds Eye's 'Indie Chic' and the layout was inspired by sketch #51 over at Sketch Savvy.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in a couple of days.
Jayne.x.

Big Hugs!

Good morning.  Bet you didn't plan on seeing me here today huh?
I have to head into work in a little while.................needed something to brighten that thought so here I am.

It's a card today.  Much needed hugs for a dear scrapping friend who's been under the weather a little recently.  So glad you're feeling a little better Dee.....things have been much too quiet around here without you!

Here goes...........

The digi is from Bugaboo Stamps and colouring is with.....wait for it.......Promarkers!
Haven't quite got the hang of these things yet, but it was fun to change things up a little.

Papers are from Authentique's 'Fresh' collection.

Enjoy your weekend, hope the stores aren't too crazy, but with the weather forecast for this weekend, I think I'd rather stay home in my jammies.

See you soon,
Jayne.x.

A double!.....yes you read that correctly.

Good morning and the start of a Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends out there, I hope.

Today I have a slight variation in my normal programming.........a double layout!

Yep I can hardly believe it myself......this girl does NOT do doubles!  Not that I don't like them, I think they're awesome if they're done well, but I unfortunately don't usually do them very well!

They just don't come very easily to me and I find them a little restricting.......everything has to balance out just so.  This is my way of saying that when I create a single page, I throw it on there!

Anyhow, today's page is another result from my scrappy weekend a little while ago, and for once I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

The Distillery.

I think I might have discovered my remedy to making my doubles look at little better........matt everything!

Only problem there is ........5 sheets of cardstock for this one!  So there we go, my excuse for not creating doubles......far too expensive!

There's quite a bit of fussy cutting going on with the layered flowers, and a few die cut elements.

Also lots of layers here and there.

 And of course more fussy cutting and die cuts together with a Thickers title.

This layout was inspired by a sketch from Sketch Savvy and papers are from the Teresa Collins 'Everyday Moments' collection......love the colour scheme in these papers, very clean don't you think?

That's it from me for today but I may be back tomorrow......I'll see how the mojo moves me!

Have a great day,
Jayne.x.