Life is Beautiful with You in it – Mini Album - Guest Designing for Meg's Garden

Hi everyone,

Long time no 'see' ..... I will still be quiet for now, till my creative side bounces back into gear.  Life has had a few hurdles..(too many obviously), but the road is smoothing out again 'now'. Just know I have thought of everyone and miss you all very much .....and in time, I will be back...

Love to all
Sandie

It was a pleasure to do some guest design work for Meg’s Garden back in Sept.  I worked with the beautiful paper collection called ‘Dreaming in the Meadows’, and due to the size of my project, included some card papers from previous collections of when I was a DT member.  The papers all matched perfectly.  

Did you know that Meg's Garden is an Australian business, located in Adelaide with an online store?  The papers are designed by Denise Ann, an Australian designer. 

I have been pondering over Christmas gifts for my family, (this was written back in Sept) and know my Mother just loves my Mini Albums.  I was inspired with this album, by two clever individuals – Kathy Orta, and Ginger from My Sisters Scrapper on YouTube.  Both make the most stunning of albums, and I have been itching to make one for some time.  Kathy Orta has created the hidden hinge system which I applied to this particular album, and I used Kathy’s tutorial for the album.

You can find Ginger’s YouTube Chanel 'HERE'...

and Kathy Orta’s Chanel 'HERE'...

These albums do make perfect gifts, and Meg’s Garden stocks the perfect paper sets, and embellishments for such creations.

The album itself has many hidden pockets, including side opening panels, which are held in place via magnets – ample room for photographs, and journaling and even mementos.  The photographs do not do the album justice, and do not show enough of the details, but certainly gives a good indication of what can be made. 

I also used the Leafy Foliage die throughout the album for all my foliage requirements, it was perfect and a leaf shape to match each flower size.  I so love that die, and it is available at Meg’s Garden!!!

 

 

Materials:

Dreaming in the Meadows – Meg’s Garden paper collection

Leafy Foliage Die

Chipboard

Cardstock

Dusty Attic Chipboard

Prima Flowers

Vintage Blooms from my own personal collection

Manor House Flowers

Stamens

Seam Binding

Butterfly Printables

Diamond Stickles

Tim Holtz Knobs- Idea-Ology

Metal Corners and Flourishes

White Paint

Bling Pieces

Silk Ribbon

Kaisercraft Mini Alphas

Hat Pins

Metal Frame

German Scrap

Eyelets & Crop-O-Dile

Silhouette Cameo and SVG Files

Lace Paper Doily

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard ‘You’

Guipure Lace

Score Board

Adhesives

'Forget Me Not' Accordian Album - Meg's Garden - Aust Scrapbooking Creations Magazine

 Hi Everyone,

Today, I want to share with you a project I completed for Meg's Garden back in April, 2012.  It was published in Australian Scrapbooking Creations several months ago now, in Issue #95. 

For April my challenge from Meg's Garden was to create an accordion album.  I have wanted to create one of these for quite some time.  Now I have made one, I am 'seriously' hooked. What a fantastic way to hold keepsakes and memories!!  There is a lot of creative scope with an accordion album.  

For this album I wanted to showcase the gorgeous paper collection, 'Forget Me Not', designed by Denise Ann.  The papers are truly beautiful, gorgeous colour hues, with dainty flowers, garden settings, birds, nests and gorgeous vintage pictures of children. You can find the paper collection 'HERE'.

Meg's Garden has a beautiful range of paper roses, the above picture shows off a small portion.  Also, there is a new range also available which no doubt you will see in upcoming creations!

I aged the box board frame by using Gesso, crackle medium, and ink. The lace beneath the frame is several pieces of a German Scrap border, which was gold.  I was not too keen on the brightness of the gold, so I turned the German Scrap upside down and lightly inked the pattern.  Very pleased with how it turned out, considering it is reversed.

Each page of my accordion album hosts one of the papers from the 'Forget Me Not' cardmakers paper collection.  The first page, I placed a velum saying, the rest I have left blank for photographs, and/or journaling.

The reversed side of the album I used the 12 X 12 'Shades of Blue' paper, die cutting elements for either photographs or journaling.  Enhanced with little ornate flower corners.  

The wire flower curls are the stems of the flowers - I just wind them around a skewer to create the swirls.

Meg's  Garden hosts an amazing collection of charms, they are the most highest of quality and really are 'all' gorgeous! I used one of the many key's available, and attached to the album through an eyelet hole, and chain.

Meg's Garden Products:

'Forget Me Not' Paper Collection - Cardmakers Pack

Forget Me Not Collection - 'Shades of Blue' 12 X 12 

Accordion Book Kit

Ribbon

Key Charm

Box board Frame

Paper Roses, Buds and Misc Flowers

German Scrap Border and Keyhole

Other:

Cardboard,Gesso,Crackle Medium, Walnut Stain Distress Ink,  Chain and Link, Eyelet, Crop-O-Dile, Pearl Pieces, Vellum, Cheery Lynn Designs 'Olive Branch' Die, MPress Nesting Dies 'Peaked Squares'.

Meg's Garden Card - "Dream" - The Color Room #95

I created this card using January's Design Team Paper and Embellishments from Meg's Garden, as part of The Color Room challenge this month - Palette #95.   I used the new release, card makers pack of papers called "Le Belle Jardin". The title, "Dream" and "Tag" are from the transparency sheet called "Le Belle Jardin" Labels.

The frame of the card was created using the Cheery Lynn Designs, French Flair Classic and Silver Stacker series of dies.

 

I fussy cut some flowers remaining from the 12 X 12 papers, adding some pearls to the centres.  The lace flower is so pretty and can also be purchased through Meg's Garden.

The German Scrap border on the base of the card was inked with distress inks, and framed with velvet ribbon.

Meg's Garden Products Used:

Le Bell Jardin Card-makers Paper Pack

Le Belle Jardin 12 X 12 (flowers only)

Floral Lace

Velvet Ribbon
Charm

Pearls

Other:Cardstock

Distress Inks

 Cheery Lynn Designs - French Flair Series

I am entering my card into the challenge on the "Card and Scrap Challenge Blog"  with the theme being Shabby Chic - Challenge #25.  It looks like 'my style' of challenge, so had to enter.  Pop over and have a peek - you'll have to use the translation button half way down the page.

Meg's Garden - The Color Room Palette #95

For the month of January, Meg’s Garden has sponsored ‘The Color Room’.  Each week during January, one of the design team members will each be featured, as ‘guest designers’.   The design team members were sent an amazing selection of the new collection of papers designed by Denise Ann, called “Le Belle Jardin”. Also, included was the most elegant selection of 

 embellishments.    I am the design team member being 'featured' this week in 'The Color Room'. Do call on over and view the other Design Team members blogs, and view their interpretations of palette #95 - Gayle, Adriana, and Denise. ...and, do not forget to call on over to the Meg's Garden Blog to see other beautiful creations and interpretations...or join in the fun yourself, by joining 'The Color Room" challenges each week...

 

Meg’s Garden of papercraft delights is a dynamic Australian Internet based company which thrives on providing a unique product range of papers, accessories & ephemera to its customers.  The philosophy of the company is to be a trendsetter with new & gorgeous products; to make the store an inspirational haven, by creating an image so that the customer can come in, stroll through the garden & fill the garden basket with ideas.

The papers are Australian designed & Australian printed by Designs Galore (a wholesale company owned by Meg’s Garden).   The embellishments & ephemera are sourced from local & overseas markets in order to provide a fabulous range with which to accessorize & complement the papers for collage, scrapbooking & all other papercraft projects. 

The new Collection, just published this January, is The Belle Jardin Collection of papers. It is designed by Denise Ann & this Collection reflects the aim of the Company – ‘the papers are just gorgeous & so elegant’.  The accessory pack of Elements has been carefully chosen - it is a pack of ‘loveliness’.

Come Stroll through the Garden.

My layout this week is inspired by the beautiful "French Bird Cage" paper from the "Le Belle Jardin" Collection.  The photograph is the last 'family' photograph taken of us three children together, and of course has special meaning to me.  

The "Special Memories" (IDP0013) chipboard sign is from Imaginarium Designs - which was inked in black distress ink, and then a nice coat of Glossy Accents added.

I fussy-cut the flower elements from the paper, inking all the edges and rolling into shape using a skewer - including the leaves.  I really enjoy doing my fussy-cut elements like this as it leaves a realistic dimension.  Tiny pearl beads were added to the centre of the flowers.  Other flowers which came with my DT pack, were glimmer misted, and inked.  Pins of Jewels (make your own variety from Meg's Garden) were also added.  The lace border around whole layout is a pretty German Scrap border, which was coloured using distress inks. The guipure lace around the outer edge of the photograph mount is also coloured using distress inks.

Products Used:

Papers: French Bird Cage 12 X 12 & Card Maker Pack

Le Belle Jardin Labels
Pins of Jewels

German Scrap
Pearls
Tassel

Charms

Flowers - Roses Lge, Med, Small

Lace
Ribbon

 All available from Meg's Garden Website

Other:

Distress Inks

Glimmer Mist

Wire

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard

Thread

Cardstock

K & Co Butterfly

Meg's Garden - The Color Room, Palette #93

 

For the month of January, Meg’s Garden has sponsored ‘The Color Room’.  Each week during January, one of the design team members will each be featured, as ‘guest designers’.   The design team members were sent an amazing selection of the new collection of papers designed by Denise Ann, called “Le Belle Jardin”. Also, included was the most elegant selection of embellishments.  I really should have taken a photograph of the box of goodies when it arrived - it was to 'drool' over - yummy, yummy, yummy!

Meg’s Garden of papercraft delights is a dynamic Australian internet based company which thrives on providing a unique product range of papers, accessories & ephemera to its customers.  The philosophy of the company is to be a trendsetter with new & gorgeous products; to make the store an inspirational haven, by creating an image so that the customer can come in, stroll through the garden & fill the garden basket with ideas.

The papers are Australian designed & Australian printed by Designs Galore (a wholesale company owned by Meg’s Garden).   The embellishments & ephemera are sourced from local & overseas markets in order to provide a fabulous range with which to accessorize & complement the papers for collage, scrapbooking & all other papercraft projects. 

The new Collection, just published this January, is The Belle Jardin Collection of papers. It is designed by Denise Ann & this Collection reflects the aim of the Company – ‘the papers are just gorgeous & so elegant’.  The accessory pack of Elements has been carefully chosen - it is a pack of ‘loveliness’.

Come Stroll through the Garden

You can find 'The Color Room' ning site "here".  Come over and join in the fun of the challenges, and see all the 'other' beautiful interpretations of the colour palette's, and sketches.  There really is some seriously wonderful inspiration to be found on 'The Color Room' ning site..

My layout for palette #93 is of my Mother when she was 20, taken in Sydney on her honeymoon.  For the life of me, I cannot remember the entertainers name, but he was and still is quite a well known/popular person for that era.  I will update this once I get the name from my Mother.... :-)

The papers used in my layout are from the "La Belle Jardin" collection - in particular, I used "Rose Collage" and the "Eau De Cologne" papers - this was perfect for the palette colours this week. Lots of fussy cutting of the pretty flowers, leaves and other elements to bring my page to life.  I layered the flowers, curling the leaves after using "Victorian Velvet" distress ink around all edges.  The middle of each flower, I added pearls of varying sizes and teamed with some miniature beads - this was 'very' fiddly, but I love the results.

Small portions of a pretty "German Scrap" border was placed in areas around the distressed paper, framing the photograph.  The photograph is nestled upon some guaze which I inked with various colours to age it a little.  Pins of Jewels (The green heart pin in below photograph) added a little more character to the page.

Denise is the design team member being 'featured' this week in 'The Color Room'. Do call on over and view the other Design Team members blogs, and view their interpretations of palette #93 - Gayle, Adriana, and Denise. ...and, do not forget to call on over to the Meg's Garden Blog to see other beautiful creations and interpretations...or join in the fun yourself, by joinging 'The Color Room" challenges each week...

 Products Used: 
Papers:  Rose Collage & Eau De Cologne
Tule
Pins of Jewels
Pearls
German Scrap
All available from Meg's Garden Website

Other Products:
Chipboard
Cardstock
Distress Inks
Chain
Tiny Beads

Megs Garden - "Summer Rose Garden, Book Card"

I loved creating this... “Summer Rose Garden, Book Card” for Megs Garden, as part of the November, ‘summer challenge’.  For some time now I have wanted to make something from an old book, but just cannot fathom the idea of cutting into one of my old books.  Any book to me is a treasure!  So, I created one instead.  It’s only a basic book card, with a few ‘pages’ so to speak, but it is a book nonetheless.

Of course the beautiful products from Megs Garden’swebsite just brought the whole creation together beautifully.  The products I used are listed below...

I will not explain how I created this card book, as I am in the middle of writing up a tutorial for Megs Garden.  As soon as it has been completed, I will let everyone know via my blog. 

Megs Garden Products:

German Scrap – French Flourish, Key Hole Lge, and Corner Decorative.

Embossed Silk and Satin 12 X 12 Paper

Lace L28970 and L29220
Paper Lace Doily

Time Zones 12 X 12 Paper

Travel Mini Paper Pack

Tim Holtz Journaling Tickets

Other Products:

Prima Rose and Leaves

Hand-dyed Silk Ribbon/s

Cheery Lynn Designs die “Spider-web”

White Cardstock

Gold charm “spider” & Key
Pearl String

Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Walnut Stain

Megs Garden - "Summer Memories Layout"

My next project for Megs Garden is my “Summer Memories” Layout.  The papers are so nice to work with, do call on over and check out the various collections that are available “here”, there are plenty to oogle over. 

This photograph is of my younger brother (Paul – now deceased) and me - a memory I still very much treasure.  I can still remember the day the photograph was taken; it was so hot my hair kept sticking to my head!!  I of course, did not mind the attention of the photographer fussing about over my hair!  I do vividly remember the both of us fidgeting a lot, and alas, why we have toys in the photo with us....

I remember, that pretty pink dress – it was something my Pop brought for me, though I never wore it again.  I also remember after the photo session was over, Paul and I both jumped into our paddling pool to cool off...somewhere in my photo collection there is even a photograph of that..... LOL

Sadly, my photographs (no matter how I tried) would not show some of the detail.  Around the edge of this layout is a gathered ruffle of tulle, and also beneath the photogrpah - it looks so pretty, and certainly compliments the papers I’ve used.  The edges of the paper were distressed/inked, and torn in places - hand-dyed laces were placed beneath each tear.

German Scrap border originally arrived in my DT package as white – I used distress inks to colour the border, placing it on 3-dimensional foam pads around the outer edge to add a different element of dimension. 

Megs Garden has a wonderful, large collection of paper doilies and I just had to add one beneath my photograph.  Again, the square doily was coloured with distress inks.  Some Cheery Lynn Designs die-cut flourishes, leaves and borders were added, with more coloured lace poking out beneath the borders.   

The papers I used – Embossed Silk & Saturn, and Time Zones, I fussy cut different flowers and elements from each paper, inked and curled up edges, before adding the cut elements using dimensional foam, to the flowers on the original paper.  Megs Garden roses were scattered ‘here and there’ and a pile of die cut leaves were added.  I did not adhere the leaves totally down, but left areas that curled upwards.  Pins of Jewels were added to the large MegsGarden rose, which I added some stamens too, and coloured using glimmer mist.

Do call over to Megs Garden and check out the huge range of delightful products there are on offer... and also to the Megs GardenBlog, to see what the other Design Team members have come up with for their challenge of “summer’....

Megs Garden Products

Time zones 12 X 12 Paper

Embossed Silk & Satin 12 X 12 Paper

German Scrap - Fleur border

Off White Open Rose

Ivory Paper Roses

Time Zones A4 Paper

Travel Labels A4 Paper

Pins of Jewels

Lace L28970 & L29220
Paper Lace Doilies: Square & Circle

Other:

Tim Holts Distress Inks: Forest Moss, Victorian Velvet, Walnut Stain

Cheery Lynn Designs dies: Olive Leaves, Lace Rose & Flourishes, Border Carnival.

Tim Holts Alterations: Vintage Market Alphabet

Tulle & Stamens – Spotlight

Tattered Angels glimmer mist: Pink Bubblegum & Suede

Cardstock

Megs Garden Gate-Fold Christmas Book

When my parcel from Meg’s Garden arrived, I was so amazed at all the beautiful papers and products.  After several days of procrastination (I could seriously win a procrastination award) I opted to create a “gate-fold” Christmas book.   The Christmas book was a wonderful way to showcase the many gorgeous products.

The Meg’s Garden website has a massive array, of truly unique and gorgeous products.  The website is well worth investigating, you’ll get lost in a maze of wonderful products that will literally have you drooling in creativity.

With my Christmas book creation, I went on an amazing journey.  I will admit the book itself was a bit of a brain teaser, but once together ‘every’ little detail, and product used just fell into place without an effort.

“Pins of Jewels” – each piece is amazing, and include the most delicious crystals.  Meg’s Garden has a range of “Pins of Jewels” in a variety of sizes, including different elements – all just totally eye-catching and the highest of quality.

The smaller vintage pictures within the ‘papers’ I used in nearly all the tags. I ‘fussy cut’ finer details such as the roses or intricate pattern pieces and used these portions throughout the book pages and tags.   

The lace in my package, I hand-dyed myself and lightly inked the edges with Tim Holtz “Walnut” Distress Ink. 

Stickles was used throughout the book and tags, to add a Christmas-y sparkle!!

“Meg’sGarden” products used are:

The papers used in this project are all 12 X 12 – “Compliments of the Season”, “Vintage Santa’s”, “Red & Cream Lace”, “Victorian Santa’s”, “Santa’s Garden”, and “Christmas Morning”.

Green Holly

Lace (L29220)

Lace (L28970)

Lace (L2920)

German Scrap: European Flourish (g8610) & Corner Decorative (g64)

Jingle Bells

German Flitter (Gold Leaf Flakes)

Pins of Jewels

Other Products Used:

 chipboard “Merry Christmas”

Miscellaneous Laces from personal collection

Tags

Hand-dyed silk ribbon (no brand) & other

Tim Holtz “Walnut” Distress Ink

Stickles

Cardstock

Prima Flower

For further inspiration of Meg’s Garden products, please call on over to the blog which can be found “here” and don’t forget to visit the other Design Team ladies blogs to see some truly amazing works of art!

I seriously had so much fun creating this book, but somehow have to also give credit to the ‘products’, which were certainly my inspiration.  I am so looking forwards to seeing what arrives from Meg’s Garden next and ‘what’ my next creation will be ....

Hope this has inspired those that read my blog ..... till tomorrow,

Sandie