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

Do More with Less - Guest Design - Altered Mouse Trap Tutorial and Challenge

Hello Everyone,

I am guest designer for ‘Do More With Less’ this month. Thank you Yvonne for inviting me.  

Today, I want to share with you a quick, and easy tutorial on how to create a note or photo holder fridge magnet, using a mouse trap. Now, I do not think I need to stress how important it is to use new mouse-traps (LOL).  Recycling is wonderful, but perhaps not with mouse-traps!  These little note holders would be perfect little gifts with Christmas around the corner, and are something unique and certainly an entertaining, conversation piece. 

Altered Mouse Trap

Materials: Mouse Trap, Pliers, Paint, Misc. Paper Scraps, Quick Dry Adhesive, Lace Remnants, Silk Ribbon, Small Roses, Buds and Leaves, Distress Ink, Magnetic Strip, and Wording.

1. Remove wire catch with pliers.

2. Paint trap white as in Photograph 1.  I find it best to use spray paint, as this adheres to the metal elements of the trap perfectly, and gets into all grooves and crevices.

Photograph 1

3. Insert a small paper piece as shown in Photograph 2. This eliminates a gap of white in the centre when completed. I find it best to use a quick dry adhesive rather than tape, as glue allows for manipulation to get the paper into the correct position.

Photograph 2

4. Measure and cut 2 pieces of pattern paper to fit both the top and bottom portion of the trap, as shown in Photograph 3. Ink paper edges, and adhere into place on the trap.

Photograph 3

5. Affix wording of some sort across the top part of the trap - part without latch across it.
 6. Arrange flowers, buds and leaves and adhere into place, around wording.  Use Photograph 4  as a guide for placement.

Photograph 4

7. Create a bow from ribbon, and adhere to middle trap mechanism.

8. To complete, affix lace to outer edge, on back of trap, and adhere magnetic strip.  

See Photograph 5.

Photograph 5

I do hope that my tutorial has been inspiring and an appealing idea to some of you to make simple, adorable gifts for Christmas.  My challenge for you, is to get creative with something unusual laying around the house.  Examples:  Coffee jars, boxes, containers, old tins, plant pot, paper towel cylinder, paint brush (all the rage at the moment), chipped tea cup, anything that you can revamp, that would normally end up in the bin.  Bring new life to the piece you have picked, create up a storm and give the item a new place in your home..... I cannot wait to see what you come up with!

Upload your project to the correct post at the Do More With Less Blog to be in the running to win a RAK of a Shadow Box from Imaginarium Designs. 

Dreamy Love Layout - Guest Design for Meg's Garden

Today, I am guest designing for Meg's Garden, using the new release Dreaming In The Meadows paper collection.  Meg's Garden is an Australian, online store, specialising in unique papers designed by fellow Australian, Denise Ann.   The store itself has a wealth of wonderful products that cater for the paper-crafter.  You can also find beautiful creations by the design team on the Meg's Garden Blog,  including product updates, and new release paper collections.

I have had this photograph sitting in my 'photo stack' for some time, wanting to be scrapped.  This paper collection was perfect for the occasion.  I don't tend to work in purple hues often, even though it is a beautiful colour, I often avoid it for some reason. The photograph itself is of a vintage wedding - I purchased the original photograph of Etsy and the writing inscribed on the back, I sadly cannot decipher.  Regardless, it is a beautiful one to scrap. 

The Dreaming In The Meadows paper collection, was perfect for lots of fussy cutting - with those fussy cut elements mounted on foam to give dimension. 

Meg has a beautiful selection of lace paper doily's which are the best I have ever come across, with such gorgeous intricate detail and available in a vast amount of styles and sizes.  You can find all the paper lace doily's 'HERE'.   The doily's are a high quality, and the intricate details in the doily, can also be easily fussy cut.

 Flowers used in this layout, are from Prima Marketing and are an older stock.   They were a perfect match colour wise.  I also used a chipboard title, which has been floating about in my stash for quite some time. I have a box on my work-desk, which I throw remnants, and left over products into, and delve into it on occasion to find that 'special' piece for a layout....

I will be back 'soon', with another creation .... till then, happy creating
Sandie

Materials:

Meg’s Garden -

Dreaming In The Meadows Paper Collection

P6346A Dreaming in Duck Eggs Blue

P6349 Dreaming in Willows

Paper Lace Doily

Other: Cardstock, Stencil, Texture Paste, Flowers, Chipboard Title, Punch, Adhesive

Guest Designer Berry71Bleu and Zeus and Zoe Challenge Piece

Hello Everyone and welcome to my first post, as a Zeus and Zoe DT member, and also my March, guest designer spot for Berry 71Bleu.

This month for Zeus and Zoe, Dana has picked our challenge theme of 'New Beginnings', all the information on the challenge can be found 'HERE'. An image of the fabulous prize pack, can be found at the bottom of this post - well worth checking out!  

For me personally, this year I have started a 'new beginning' by researching my family ancestors - and what a journey it has been so far, I am amazed at where my family origins come from and find this part of 'life' fascinating.  The information, and photographs I have stumbled upon, has 'coloured my world', in ways I did not think possible.

So, today I share a layout of a photograph of my relatives from my Maternal side of the family.

This month we are sponsored by Deco Art, and below is information in regards to the product and information.  We were sent some amazing products to play with, including paint and stencils. I had a wonderful time playing with these fabulous products, and will look forwards to using a lot more of them in the future.

Product Overview

DecoArt has one of the widest selection of paints and finishes for arts, crafts, and home decorating. DecoArt has a full product line which includes over 25 brands of paint and finishes.
Our products are sold in all major craft chain stores in the United States, as well as having a strong market presence internationally in over 75 countries abroad.

Our Commitment to Quality

DecoArt assures its loyal and new customers that they can use our products with confidence.
All DecoArt products are non-toxic and user- and enviromently-friendly.
We make safe products. Our paints and specialty products are made in the USA to federally-mandated and industry-wide safety and quality standards as established by the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). ACMI employs one of the nation's top independent toxicology groups at 

Duke University. All of our formulas are reviewed and have been certified as non-toxic by this group.

To create my stencil background, I mixed Deco Art gold paint in with the texture medium forming a muted gold colour - and applied a textural background using the Deco Art Jacobean Floral stencil.  When completely dry, I applied a light brush of straight gold paint onto the textured surface, highlighting some of the pattern. 

As I am a GD over at the Berry71Bleu for March, I used one of Marivic's gorgeous hand-made tags.  The detail in this tag is amazing, and the photographs really do not do it justice.  To purchase tags - visit 'HERE'.  Also, I used a variety of vintage delights from the Zeus and Zoe Etsy Shop.  Marivic puts together the most amazing kits, full of vintage and beyond goodness. If you have something in mind colour wise or content wise, Marivic is also happy to create a kit especially to your own personal requirements.

I layered the many vintage elements from my DT kit - including writing paper, note paper, receipt, a post card, old doily, pattern paper, buttons, lace, and a large key charm. My kit contained an old pearl necklace, which I (reluctantly) pulled apart, and adhered along with other beads as a highlight to my layout. 

I do hope you can join in with our challenge theme this month, and really look forwards to seeing the entries and all the 'New Beginnings' emerge.  Shall certainly be some wonderful talking points.

Enjoy your creative journey,

Sandie

Prizes to be won for the 'New Beginnings' Challenge

Main Prize

Random Prize

My Creative Scrapbook - Guest Design - January SE Kit

The Handmade Dress

 Hi Everyone,

Pam, from My Creative Scrapbook asked me to be guest designer using the January Limited Edition Kit. You can find the Special Edition kit 'Here', and many others are available including add-on kits - so, so gorgeous!   My Creative Scrapbook has the most amazing kit contents, I was in my element creating with the SE kit, and had ample product to do 4 layouts and left overs were used to create a small mini album.

You can find the whole January Kit reveal on the My Creative Scrapbook Blog.

and there is also a sketch each month over at the My Creative Sketches Blog!!

The first layout is a photograph of my Mother in a dress that was hand-made for her when she first arrived in Melbourne to date my Father. All the elements in the Special Edition kit matched perfectly as I was able to tell the tale in lots of hidden journal areas.

The clock is from the Prima Flower packaging.

A Story

Another beautiful dress hand-made for my Mother.... and look at that car in the background. I included a real 'needle' into this project, and weaved it into one of the beautiful blossoms to hold in place.   The tiny cotton reels are just so cute!

Moments in 1975

I used Gesso on the background paper, and embellishments to bring all elements into the same 'almost shabby' appearance.  I'm not sure if the photographs show this detail very well, you may have to click on the photograph to enlarge.   A time that was very significant in my Mothers life - she is so beautiful and you know what even heading into her late 60's, she still is.

Priceless Memories

..and another of me, as a child.  I have been doing the series of this actual photo shoot of myself as a child. The polka dot background worked so well with the black and white photograph.  Various areas of the layout were coloured with Gesso, Inks, Glimmer Mist and Chalkboard Mist. 

Family Mini Album

..and with my many left over bits and pieces from the Limited Edition Kit, I created this Mini Album- making little pockets, adding left over tags from, words and flowers.  It is amazing what you can create with a few left over pieces!

 Till Next time...

Sandie

Materials

My Creative Scapbook Limited Edition Kit

Other Misc Products: Punches, Crochet Cotton, Needle, Sewing Machine, Thread, Distress Ink, Liquid Pearls, Corrugated Board, Gesso, Acrylic Paint, Chalkboard and Glimmer Mist, Zig Black Pen, Magic Mount and Adhesives.

Guest Designer for Scrap Africa - 'Our Precious Boy' Layout

 Happy New Year to Everyone!

For my first blog post for 2013, I am guest designer for the Scrap Africa.  I have scheduled this blog post in advance, due to the wonderful festive season being upon us, so I do not have the direct link to the challenge.  However, all the challenge information can be found 'HERE' on the Scrap Africa Blog.  Below is the sketch, and above...my interpretation of of the sketch....

The photograph is our beautiful son, Jesse when he was 14 months of age.  What a precious smile, even his eyes 'smile' - just melts my heart.

I love Manor House flowers, and absolutely love the Taneisha blooms.  The butterflies are fussy cut from Graphic45's 'Butterfly Specifics' paper, and I added some wire tendrils teamed with glass bugle beads.

The chipboard elements were aged using various mediums including crackle medium.  The 'Love You', was painted to match the papers with polka-dots. You can find all Imaginarium Designs chipboard products 'HERE'.

Lots of layers!!

Beneath the title, I painted the lattice chipboard (Scrap Matrix) using Espresso Bean, Glimmer Glam.  The photographs do not do the colour justice, its stunning with that shimmer and vintage 'look'.

Transparencies are fun to use in layouts and I don't use them enough...

'Mini Bricks' 6X6 template was used to add texture to the background using distress ink.

 Wishing everyone a wonderful 2013...

Sandie

xx

Materials:

BoBunny Double Dot 'Chiffon Vintage' and 'Decafe Vintage'

Graphic45, Olde Curiosity Shoppe 'Butterfly Specifics'

Black AC Cardstock 

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard 'Love You' and 'Our Boy'

ScrapMatrix 'Lattice'

Glass Bugle Beads

Kaisercraft Clock Transparency, and Cream Mini Alphabet Stickers

Manor House Teneisha and Fantasy Flowers

Espresso Bean, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam

'Suede' Tattered Angels, Glimmer Mist

Walnut Stain, Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Antique Gold, Anita's Acrylic Paint

Rock Candy, Ranger Crackle Paint

The Crafters Workshop Mini Bricks, 6X6

Wire

Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, and Premium Craft Glue

Magic Foam