She scrapped, she did!

I almost can't believe it....I scrapped again - after a seven month break!

As soon as I finished my greeting card the other day I had to get stuck in and create a layout, just to see if the creative spark is still there.

First I started with the textures and after die cutting my title from some corrugated cardboard, I distressed the letters with ink and mists. Oh, the joy to get my fingers all sticky and grungy again :)

Needless to say I simply had to have one of my beloved butterflies plonked somewhere on the layout, right?

My black outlining still worked a treat as well which gave the die cut some added dimension.

The layout itself was created for the recent {Donna Salazar Girlie Grunge Challenge} and was also inspired by the sketch of DT member Mistra. My non-scrapbook items are the bits of punchinella tucked underneath the paper and bits cut from my English dictionary (you can see one line with the explanation of the word "rejoice" to the right of the butterfly)

Of all my old scrapbook supplies I kept all my Donna Salazar stuff because I am still a massive fan of her and her products - pretty much everything else had been given away but not Donna's products, no siree.

So, you wanna see the complete layout?

It is not 100% up to the standard I would like it to be, but I am nevertheless pleased with how it turned out.

**click on image to enlarge the view**

Materials used:

Papers: Donna Salazar for GCD Studios

Cardboard: Donna Salazar for Zutter

Inks/Mist: Donna Salazar for Clearsnap Inc

Die Cuts: Donna Salazar for Spellbinders

Gel-a-Tins - February DT Pt I

Lately I have been in the mood for very Clean and Simple (CAS) cards, so for February I am going to continue with this technique. Odd thing is that sometimes I find a simplistic card can take you so much longer to finish than a layered embellished card.

Have a guess how long it took me to complete the following card?

Did you guess two hours? Yup, that's right it took me a whoopin' two hours to complete this card, crazy!

Making use of the PEACE ON EARTH stamp set I wanted to create a card to welcome a baby boy into this world.

First I hand cut a tag from plain cardstock and stamped a pair of feet on the bottom

I then added a sentiment, which comes from the FANCY DOILY set, fussy cut around the outline and adhered it to the cloud for dimension.

And there it was - a simple card which took forever to complete :)

But the outcome was so worth it, don't you think?

Supplies used:

Cardstock - Papermill

Paper - Donna Salazar for GCD Studios

Ink - Donna Salazar Mixed Media Inx for Clearsnap

Pearl, Chipboard Cloud - unknown

Where oh where has the wonderful spring/summer-like weather gone?

I guess I shouldn't complain, after all I don't really want it that nice when I work...leave the sunshine for the weekends :)

Now that the clocks have gone one hour forward it is really nice that I get home when it's still light in the evenings - it makes me happy but causes my sleeping pattern some havoc. Good thing that there is CSI on back to back episodes every night.

I leave you with another {{GCD Studios}} layout - I just love their papers and cannot wait to see the selection of their papers which we receive in our {{Donna Salazar}} DT pack

WIP - Sunday

Another busy week for me and my hook - I just love that you get almost instant gratification when crocheting.

As for this weekends' work in progress let me show you a peek of my almost finished pillow case. I haven't made up my mind yet if they will a present or if we keep them for the bedroom. Right now, they make me happy whenever I look at them :)))

I actually finished a wrap-around-case for my hooks and wee scissors, but I messed that one up completely when I started sewing it together...so I have to have another bash next weekend.

Again, I have not neglected my obsession with paper and glue and been busy getting some of my DT assignments done through to April (yay me) and did a few cards and tags along the way too.

The first one is a tag I created with some left-over papers from my GCD Studios stash - after my unsuccessful attempt in 2009 I tried out for their DT again, but didn't get picked. No big deal, I just carry on regardless.

This tag was also created for the wonderful BUTTERFLY BLOG LINK PARTY, which one of my online buddies {{Eva}} is holding. Click on her name to get taken to the post where you can link your own creation using a butterfly  

Actually I am quite surprised at myself: I got knocked back from Sassafras Lass, GCD Studios AND I totally blew my interview for a new position within our company, but I am still in a good mood and worry more about my next crochet project rather than being upset. 

And here is a card I created for the current challenge over at {{Kenny's Krafty Girlz}} where the theme calls for ribbons, lace and bows.

I am so in love with this month's Freebie...another thing that makes me happy just looking at it :)

And clever me, I made use of my {{March Kit}} for the card, which means I now have my total goal for the cards achieved for this month. Now to focus on the remaining three layouts :)))

WIP - Sunday

I can't believe another week has just seemingly whizzed by again...on the other hand, I seem to be whizzing through all my projects too :))

Since last week I have finished three layouts, two cards and crocheted two pillow cases...oh yes.

Here is what I am working on right now - you may recognise these blocks from my last week of February {{WIP post}}. 

Once a month I order a selection of my fave yarn (Patons FAB DK) from {{Purple Linda Crafts}} and I was waiting impatiently to place my March order so I could continue with the above blanket. The squares you see above hooked up a total of 300g of Patons. Now I have another 300g here and can continue :)

Once I finished this lot of squares I decide if I want to make the blanket larger or if that is it - so for the time being, the blue blanket will remain my WIP.

But I finished two pillow cases...yay!

I am not 100% sold on them but for my first two attempts they are not too shabby 

(and they fit with our couch)

And here is one of the layouts I finished up

Cardstock: Poundshop ** Papers: GCD Studios ** Tag: unknown ** Journaling Spot: Collage Press ** Other: Bakers Twine, Cosmic Shimmer, Masking Taoe, Deco Tape, Embroidery Floss

Please keep you fingers crossed for me and send my good vibes if you have some spare time on Tuesday morning. I have an Interview lined up - same company I work for but a different department.

Happy Sunday everyone

GDT Spot and WIP Sunday

Yay, the day is finally here and I can share my GDT card for the {{Kenny K's Krafty Girlz}} challenge.

I was so over the moon excited when I was invited to play along with the girls and it was REALLY difficult for me to choose one of the images. I really love them all and right now, I add to my "selection" one new one each month. 

So, for the recent challenge, following the wonderful sketch by {{Rach}} I took  the {{Metal Drummer}} home and had some wicked fun with him...**sniggers**

Cardstock: Mad About Cards, Stampin' Up ** Papers: GCD Studio, Making Memories ** Stickers: Jenni Bowlin ** Deco Tape: Pink Paislee

I followed inspiration by {{Caz}} who loves to print her digi images on Kraft Cardstock before she colours them. It gives them a softer overall look and I really think it worked well here. Thanks Caz, for the idea!

On to my current Work In Progress - I actually have two things on the go right now:

I had a great vision about these circles being turned into a poncho, but somehow that did not work out. So I started combining them to form a scarf, which also didn't work out a planned. Right now, I have put these aside and wait for a brain flash :)

And as I was stuck with what to do with the circles, I figured may as well start something new - that's where these hexagon wheels come in

They will be turned into a cushion cover and hopefully I can show you the completed projects next week.

Have a great Sunday everyone

Re-cycle

Some of you may know that I tend to re-cycle previously scrapped photographs if I really don't like the look of the old layout anymore.

Last weekend I took two old layouts apart and had another go at them - watcha think?

Bacharach Babes

created in 2006

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Chatterbox ** Chipboard: Magistical Memories ** Rub Ons: Making Memories

Bacharach Babes

 now

Cardstock: Bazzill *Papers: GCD Studios ** Stamp: Hero Arts ** Stickers: Rusty Pickle ** Other: Cosmic Shimmer, Anita's acrylic paint, Pearls, Rhinestones, Embroidery Floss 

Family

created in 2006

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers, Rub Ons, Paperflowers: Fancy Pants

Photo Shoot

now

Papers: GCD Studios ** Tag, Stickers: Rusty Pickle ** Other: Cosmic Shimmer, Anita's acrylic paint, Pearls, Rhinestones, Emboridery floss

On another note, I have finished another one of my{{Art Tags}} 

D = Distress

I love distressing my craft projects - whenever there is something missing or hasn't quite the "ooomph" factor, I end up tearing/sanding/colouring some elements to add a further point of interest. 

Tag: WHSmith ** Papers, Stickers: Sassafras Lass ** Other: Cosmic Shimmer, Embroidery Floss, Pearls, Staples, Uniball Signo Pen

And to round this post up, let me share another tag with you which I created for the recent {{Kenny K's Krafty Girlz}} challenge. This week the requirements is "all about R's"...so I figured the Roller {{Skate Chick}} and my papers and embellies based on the colour Red would qualify :)

Cardstock: Poundshop, Stampin' Up ** Tag: handcut ** Papers: GCD Studios ** Other:  Cosmic Shimmer, ProMarkers, Embroidery Floss