Category Stories February Challenge

This is my first time participating in the challenges over at Category Stories. The availability of a wide variety of scrapbooking materials makes it easy to just pile on the embellishments to make pages look pretty forgetting the actual stories behind the photos. The great thing about challenge sites is that they "force" you not only to use your stash (don't hoard!) but to remember the stories behind the layouts. I journal on every single layout. Sometimes when the design of a layout doesn't permit a lot of journaling, I write at the back because I think that the story behind a photo is really important. Sometimes when I'm lazy, my journaling's part of the title.

A picture of my sweet nephews...so hard to get them both to look at the camera at the same time, let alone smile for me...oh well, I'll take what I can get...used mostly old stash and some recycling goodness - ice-cream sticks! It's super pink and super girly and totally not me at all but I like it!


This PageFrames acrylic frame was inked with Stazon, then mounted on FancyPants felt. So cool that they go well together. Some stitching...:) Photo mounted on cardstock. White lace on edges.



Buttons, ribbons, lace and a little floral tassel from the craft store. The felt piece is from Fancy Pants. The "kiss kiss" paper is from Cosmo Cricket (came free with a magazine)...:)



I used my Making Memories magnetic stamps (there were in cold storage for a while!) with VersaFine ink and stamped on ice-creams sticks. They were adhered on lace and then added to the layout. Also used some pink brads.


Supplies

Paper: K & Co, Cosmo Cricket, Sassafras (the lace-like trim), Bazzill
Acrylic frame: PageFrames
Felt pieces: Fancy Pants
Tags: K & Co
Letter stickers: Adorn It
Brads: American Crafts
Others: Ribbons, buttons, tassel, lace and ice-cream sticks Pin It

Challenges

I decided to combine some challenges on this layout. There are really so many wonderful challenge blogs around. The pictures are of my nephew who doesn't like to smile for the camera but he was having so much FUN that day, he smiled for me and I managed to get a couple of his sweet smiles...:)



First is the challenge over at OLW where the word is FUN. The first picture is of him really having fun and being happy..:) I used the words Have Fun as part journaling, part titling.




Then, there's the challenge over at Scrapping Out Loud where the challenges were to use at least one type of lace [I used three - gray and blue at the bottom of the layout and white lace with which I used to make part of the flowers], use the word of the week - discover [which I used as part journaling, part titling] and incorporate the layout of the week [which I did!].




I also used the lyrics over at Scrapping The Music as part of this layout by incorporating the words "I love you" and "1234" into the layout.

Last but not least, there's the Dreamgirls challenge which was to use 80% American Crafts products on your layout, incorporate a heart and a swirl.

Phew! I saw several scrappers attempt this [combining challenges] and thought I would give it a try but it's really really hard! Hope I did a decent job.


Supplies

Paper: American Crafts, Scenic Route
Puffy Stickers (orange): American Crafts
Other stickers: Toga, Sticko
Ribbon: American Crafts
Blue foam: American Crafts
Journaling pen: American Crafts
Brads: American Crafts (heart), letters (unknown)
Others: Stickles in orange, felt butterfly, lace, thread, black cooker hob Pin It

Mixer # 6

Here is my take on Mixer #6. Love the color palette we had to use. A very simple layout using some Basic Grey papers, some stickers and a little stitching. A picture of my nephews with their Aunts and Uncle...love how the elder one is always posing for the camera...:)




Supplies

Paper: Basic Grey, Die Cuts with a View
Stickers: American Craft, Sticko, AdornIt
Others: Ribbon, lace, button, thread Pin It

Method Playground challenge - Photo Collage

This is my take on Method Playground's challenge - Photo Collage.


The photos were printed on transparency and adhered to white cardstock. Pictures of my nephews having fun on my bed and refusing to pose for me.

Supplies

Paper: Bazzill, scraps from Luxe
Chipboard borders: Fancy Pants (painted black with texture paste)
Duck embellishment: Hama beads
Stickers: American Crafts, EK Success
Others: Thread, twill Pin It

Scrapping the music challenge

Here's my take on the challenge at Scrapping the music.

A picture of my nephew enjoying himself at the playground, laughing and giggling away. Looks much better in reality..not very good photos..

Here are some closeup shots




Supplies:

Clear acrylic - background and photo around frame (cut with Sizzix die)
Paper: DCWV, scraps (can't remember)
Others: EK Success stickers. AdornIt stickers, thread, felt flower (cut with Sizzix die), We R Memory Keepers eyelet, Basic Grey brad, American Crafts ribbon, Stazon in Blue Teal, floral diecut (Quickutz) Pin It

The Story Matters Challenge - Struggle

The challenge at The Story Matters blog is to scrap about what you struggle with most.

Journaling is as follows:


Am I good enough? Am I stretching myself too thin? Am I expecting too much from others? Am I being too cynical? Am I being too optimistic? Am I too much of a doormat? Am I being assertive enough? Am I being overconfident? Am I being too petty? Am I being too generous? Am I good enough?

Here are some closeup shots of the layout


Supplies:

Paper: Die Cuts With a View cardstock
Ink: Distress ink in Dried Marigold, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy
Stickers: EK Success, AdornIt
Metal accents: Pressed Petals, American Crafts, Ranger, 7Gypsies
Others: Ribbon, glimmer mist in Bronze, Grungeboard, thread, lace, mask, transparency

Pin It

OLW challenge - Living

The challenge over at One Little Word is the word "Living".

And I'm reminded of this...

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."

Lewis L. Dunnington

It was a particularly hard challenge for me because my dog of 14 years passed away on the 3rd.
:( Cookie was a cocker spaniel, loved by all at home. She wasn't ill, just old. In recent weeks, she wasn't eating very well...so unlike her...she ate everything..She couldn't walk very steadily but made the effort to poop and pee at her assigned "toilet" so that we won't have to clean up her mess.. so considerate!

I remember her floppy ears and head sticking out of the gate as she watched people and cars passing by. Or how she would chase the birds in the garden. Or dig holes in the garden. Or salivate when she sees food. And of course, how she would rest her head on my thighs when she senses that I've had a bad day.

She will be missed dearly and remembered for her love of life.

Anyway, I managed to complete this challenge. With my scraps. And a lovely photo of my nephew with his current favourite toy - a Power Puff Girl doll. He couldn't decide whether he liked Blossom or Bubbles more :) In ten years, this will be pretty embarrassing for him..:)

Didn't get round to some fancy techniques. Just sprayed the quote and the chipboard letter G with Glimmer Mist for some shine. Felt flower was cut with a Sizzix die.


Apologies for the bad pics..it's been pretty cloudy these few days...

Supplies
Paper: Sassafras, K & Co, Cosmo Cricket (flourish), Bazzill , love quote (unknown)
Brad: Basic Grey
Chipboard letters: (I & V) Pressed petals, (G) Fancy Pants
Chipboard: K & Co
Ink: Brilliance in Graphic Black
Glimmer mist: Burnt red, Bronze
Stamp: Plaid Media
Others: ribbon, lace Pin It

Purple tag

Just discovered this interesting challenge blog where you are required to make TAGS! Which I try to do with my scraps when I'm done with a project. Most of the pieces already match so it's just a matter of putting them together. Here's my take on the challenge at Tag. You're it!: Purple tag.

Some paper-tearing and a lot of glimmer mist!




Supplies
Paper: Basic Grey, Bazzill
Stickers: AdornIt
Others: Glimmer mist in gold and burnt red, gold trim, Fancypants chipboard tags, paint, bird cut with Sizzix, basic grey brad, brilliance ink in purple Pin It

Method Playground challenge using mists

The challenge at Method Playground was to incorporate the use of mists in our layouts. Given my recent 'obsession' with the Tim Holtz masks (they are really easy to use and the results are spectacular!), I used one for this layout on my adorable nephews. The mask was inked with distress ink in black soot and then sprayed with glimmer mist in gold for a subtle background design.


Mimicking the mask design, I used a fancy pants swirl stamps and gold embossed on black paper which I then cut out and adhered behind the photo. The photo was matted on beige and black cardstock. The frame for the layout was painted black, heat embossed with gold embossing powder, then painted with black paint again. Afterwhich, I sandpapered it to create "an old world charm" (not exactly evident in the photos but it was a lot of work!).



To draw the eye to the photo, I tied a red ribbon around the photo, attached with a gold brad and a recycled earring. Then I added stickers for the title.

Supplies
Paper: K & Co, Bazzill
Stickers: EK Success
Others: Paint, ink, glimmer mist, ribbon, brad, earring Pin It

Goals for 2009

The challenge at Noel Mignon is to scrap your 2009 goals. I scrapped my scrapbooking goals for 2009:

1. Use my stash - I'm making a conscious effort to use up my scraps and repurposing other stuff for scrapbooking. I always look through my scraps before I start on a new sheet of paper. I try my best to make them work! There's a sense of accomplishment when scraps are used up.:)

2. Try out new techniques - Experiment with my stash and explore the possibilities.

3. Take part in challenges - A great way to keep creative juices flowing.



I used my Tim Holtz mask for this. Simple to use and great results. Especially with distress inks. Finally used my Wishblade to cut the letters...it was in cold storage for a while..:) Love this font.


Painted a FancyPants frame with Crackle paint and then used distress inks.


Another layout using mostly scraps!!

Supplies
Paper: 7G, Bazzill, others (can't remember!)
Stickers: AdornIt, American Crafts
Others: Felt (Queen and Co), flowers, ribbon
Pin It

OLW challenge - Embrace

I am starting to embrace all these scrap challenges. They are really helping me get my layouts done. A pretty efficient way to scrapbook those moments in life! And an opportunity to indulge in some 'me' therapy. This is my take on OLW's Embrace - to embrace myself, to accept that I am special and to love 'me'.

I used up my scraps for this layout. Made a little effort to use my Cuttlebug , mist, paint, stitch and inking. Embracing my new love for the colour pink.

Used Tim Holtz Mask with Ranger Crackle paint in Worn lipstick, then inked with distress inks in worn lipstick and fired brick.


Used my Cuttlebug machine to cut and emboss the love stamp, used Tsukineko all purpose ink in Champagne mist all over, then stitched all over the square in black and white all over the heart. Postmark is a FancyPants stamp which I stitched over in red thread. Added the 'me' stickers.


Used Cuttlebug embossing folder, then mist with Glimmer mist in burnt red.



Flower was cut with Sizzix. Edges were inked with Brilliance ink in Rocket Red. Pearlescent Poppy ink was added to give more depth.

Supplies
Paper: 7G, Bazzill, Prima, Cosmo Cricket
Others: Alpha brads, silver stickers, thread, crackle paint, glimmer mist, distress inks, brilliance inks, ribbon, lace, buttons Pin It

Mix it up challenge

The mixer #2 challenge over at mix it up challenges is an art inspired challenge. I just discovered this site so I missed out on mixer #1 :(








Supplies
Paper: Bazzill, Cosmo Cricket, Scenic Route
Stickers: American Crafts, AdornIt, animal stickers (unknown)
Others: label holder, American Crafts brads Pin It