Not happy Jan...

You know how sometimes you do a layout and it's just not working for you? Well, this is one of those. I'm not quite sure what to do with it. It's based on the October Purple Pumpkin sketch, and i'll submit it anyway, but it's definitely not finished. Never mind, here it is:

I'm struggling tonight to come to terms with the fact that tomorrow is 1st November - Scarlet was 3 months old on the weekend - where has this year gone? I'm quite happy to say that i've done a lot of the things i've set out to do this year and more - and most importantly, i'm enjoying everyday life with my 2 kiddies! Praise God!!

Kraft It Up!

The October challenge over at Kraft It Up! is to create a LO that is monochromatic, minimalist and vintage/shabby chic/romantic, so here's what i came up with:

I've used some of the new MME Lost & Found II, so technically it's not a kraft base, but it's certainally looks like kraft to me!! I just love this range - just like i loved the first Lost & Found range. So great to use such pretty, glittery papers!!! I just love the rose chipboard i've used on this LO too. I've been really into using bare chipboard lately - it's has such a nice effect!!!

I've also used some yummy My Vintage Blossoms that i got from the most recent sale, along with some Sawyers Place washi tape and some of my Olive Roses embellies :D

Scrap The Boys

The challenge over at Scrap The Boys this month is to use handmade embellishments - this is right up my ally!! I've used a mix of handmade embellishments from Purple Pumpkin (the cute monkey button and one of the cogs) and My Vintage Blossoms (one of the cogs and the hessian ribbon). The PP and chipboard embellishments are from the new October Afternoon 'sidewalks' range - cute huh!!

I've really enjoyed the Passion 4 Fashion competition that i've been a part of over at Scrapboutique over the past 8 weeks - and it's hard to believe that this week is the last week!!! The theme for this week was futuristic - so i went with some purple foil and the geometric shapes of this crafters workshop template. The cogs are a new spellbinders die i got recently and it's the first time i've used it - and i LOVE it :D I've used lots of my Olive Roses on this one, along with some old jellishments!

The Craft Garden

I recently put in a design team application for The Craft Garden's challenge blog, and to my shear amazement, they have decided to take me on board!! The Craft Garden is a UK based site that encourages crafting of all sorts (not just scrapbooking!!) with a monthly challenge. I'll be contributing towards this challenge over the next 6 months, so i hope you'll drop in and follow me over that time!!!

It's been a very busy couple of weeks for me, but in all the business i've managed to (somehow!!) do some crafting. I've been working on a crochet blanket with some yummy Noro silk garden sock yarn. It's a ravelry pattern called Sunny Spread, by Ellen Gormley, and i was inspired to do this as a throw for my red and brown lounge suite. This is the blanket that inspired me:

Isn't it gorgeous? I've been wanting to do a Noro project for a while - one that really shows off the beauty of the yarn. I think this is it!!! I've done about 25 circles so far - no where near enough. THat's just from 1 ball, so i've just ordered 2 more - can't wait to get them!! My plan is to do all of the circles before i even contemplate the outside border, though i think i'll end up doing it in a sports weight off white - maybe a Biggan or Cascade (whatever is cheaper at the time!!). Here's what my blanket looks like so far:

No much, but it's getting there!!! This hot Brisbane spring weather isn't very inspiring to make a blanket, but if i don't do it now it won't be able to be used next winter!!! It's hard for non-knitters to appreciate how we knitters like to do it all year round, even though it's too hot for our hands!!!

I've been managing a spot of scrapping too! Here's one of my recent pages. I made it for the Scrapboutique Passion 4 Fashion comp - this week was 'Grunge'. I had heaps of fun with it, creating my own background from a Pink Paisley mist able and some glimmer mist, chalkboard glimmer mist and some october afternoon sprinkles. Lots of stitching and crochet elements from My Vintage Blossoms plus a bit of doodling. Not to mention that AWESOME digger chipboard piece!!!

Speaking of competitions, remember how i was doing that sketch-a-day comp in September? Well, on top of 30 great layouts for my album, i won second place!! So i'm getting the new Echo Park range to play with :D So, a bit shout out to Scrapbooking From Scratch for hosting such a generous competition - i can't wait to get my prize in the mail and start playing with it. Thanks heaps Peta!!!

Doing a double-take on doubles

I thought i'd share a double page with you today. It's actually two separate sketches that i've matched together to make a double - i've done this a few times lately, and i'm really liking doing doubles in such a way - i really struggle when i sit down to create a double, but if i do them separately it's quite easy! I just match the PP's, colourings, embellishments, and techniques. For example, i've used a 10x10 blue spotty paper on the left page (the first), and then i've used the left overs of this on the right and added some purple spotty paper. I've also done some doodling and distressing around the edges of this on the first, so i did so on the left etc. So easy!!! And it actually makes for a quick second page because you've already done the hard work on the first page!! Check out what i've done:

Here is the first page:



And here is the second page:



And a few details:

Pretty simple, hey? Both of these sketches were for the Scrapbooking From Scratch skechaday comp. I did another double in a similar manner earlier in the month:

Here was my first page:



And here's my second page:



Unfortunately i don't have a photo of them together - must do that!! Anyway, the second page went on the left this time - a bit tricky, hey!! This time the pages were quite different too!! But i think it still works, don't you?

Don't forget there are 2 awesome sales on tonight! The My Vintage Blossoms sale kicks off at 6pm QLD time, and the Purple Pumpkin sale kicks off at 7:30pm QLD time. I've got my eye on things at both, so i can't wait!!!

Creative Scrappers

I've just stumbled across this awesome sketch blog recently, 'Creative Scrappers' and one of this month's sketches is unreal!! Check it out:

And here's my take on it:

I've used some MME Lost & Found II PP's, along with some Washi tape from Sawyers place, Prima flowers and bling and some Olive Roses embellies. The alphas are some old Heidi Swapp stamps.

A few more shares from my recent scrapping: