Bird is the Word Challenge - Moment

Hi Ladies,

I thought I would try something totally different whilst creating this LO.  Normally, I start creating with a photo in mind, then choose papers which I think will suit the photo I have selected and let my ideas flow from there.  This time around I started with one piece of pp and decided to just have fun playing with some mixed media on my background, then introduced another pp and layered a bit more mixed media.  Once I was happy with the background, I chose a photo, a few more pp's and some embellishments and trims from Craft Queen.

I checked out the current challenge at Bird is the Word and saw that this fortnight's word was Moment... a nice and easy word to incorporate into my LO.  On the bottom of my banner is the quote "Everything beautiful has its moment".

The mixed media background was created with a piece of MME pp which has a overall tiny blossom pattern.  I used some pva glue to adhere some tissue paper and paper doilies over the top of the pp.  Next, I spritzed and dripped some blue mist over the tissue layer.  When it was dry I fussy cut some Bo Bunny hexagon pp on the corners and smudged some gesso around the edges to soften.  Masks are one of my most favourite things to use at the moment.  I used a Crafter's workshop chicken wire mask randomly placed around the edges with some green ink and I have a new Christy Tomlinson doily mask which I have been dying to use, so I added another layer with the mask and some gesso, then applied the gesso around the edges of the paper with a few smudges here and there.  To finish off my background I splattered some glimmermist in lime and blue.  I really enjoyed the process of building up all the different mixed media layers... drying time takes a while, but it is totally worth it!!

Everything Beautiful Has Its Moment

Craft Queen Product:  white satin seam binding, turquoise check washi tape, white lge flower pearl trim, ivory narrow pearl ribbon, Pink Paislee doily mask, Chicken wire mask,  EK success abstract flower punch, Martha Stewart doily lace punch, Ranger gesso,

Other product used:  Bo Bunny, MME pp, paper doily, tissue paper, MME tag, Prima lace and flowers, Kaisercraft rubon quote, Tim Holtz butterfly stamp, Stampendous flower stamp, black Stazon ink, acetate, LYB canvas diecuts, Fancy That leaf flourish die, lime glimmermist, Lindys Stamp Gang blue mist, Versamagic tea leaves ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

BITW & Scrapmatts Challenges

Hi Girls,

Well I have two challenges to share with you today.  First up is the new word for Bird is the Word which is:

Journey

To play, all you have to do is use the word somewhere on your creation.  There is also an optional sketch from the talented Mary Thomas to inspire you.  Pop on over and check out the gorgeous creations from the DT to get the juices flowing.

Family: A journey to forever

Here is my take on this fortnight's word.  I have used it in my title and my journaling to convey how this old pic taken of my babies when they were just 2 & 4.  This pic just melts my heart and is one of my favs, as I don't have many of my children when they were young.  I used some Simple Stories - Generations and some old Scenic Route for my pp's.  Went for a bit of an old world feel with some antique lace, a couple of crochet doilies and my fav Martha Stewart butterfly punch with some bronze filigree butterflies from my2angels and some pretty micro chippy flourishes from Scrapmatts.

Sketch created by: Mary Thomas

Scrapmatts February Challenge

It's All About LOVE
Well this month is my turn to host the challenge, and I am hoping you will be inspired to play along and get the chance to win a fabulous prize of a $25 Scrapmatts gift voucher.

How to Play:
As February is the month of love, I decided to have a word challenge. Use the word "LOVE" anywhere on your LO, card, ATC or OTP. The word can be in your title, journaling or on an embellishment. You don't have to create a romantic page, as you could use the word to convey something you love to do, to eat, to wear... the ideas are endless!!

I also have 2 other criteria for this challenge which are:

1. Have a heart (can be more than 1) somewhere on your project
2. To use some paint on your creation also.

To be eligible to win the prize, your creation MUST also use some Scrapmatts.  Members need to upload their entry into the gallery by the end of the month and call it 'February Challenge'.  Check out the gorgeous examples from the DT girls HERE for some inspiration.  Can't wait to see how you all interpret the challenge.. good luck!!

Cherish

I went for a very feminine LO (surprise surprise) and decided to use a pic of me and my DH taken when we were dating and I was 19... OMG, such a long time ago!!  I used quite a few different Scrapmatts chippies on this page... Heart Frames 01 and 04, Keys 01 and Assorted Words 03.  The word love was used on my heart embellishment and I used paint on my masking and to alter my chippies.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave some love.  Your comments really make my day!!

Cathy :))

Bird Is The Word - Remember

Hi Girls,

This fortnight's word at Bird is the Word is "Remember".  Just use the word on your LO, Card or OTP creation in your title or journaling.  Pop on over and check out the amazing creations from our super talented Design Team for some inspiration, and you also have the option of using a fab sketch designed by Mary Thomas.

Remember, You Are My Most Favourite Memory

When we were overseas recently my SIL pulled out some old photos of the kids I had sent to her years ago.  This was one I just had to copy, and I couldn't wait to scrap those cheeky little faces.  I think the kids were 4 and 6 years old here and so darn cute.  I have used some gorgeous Crate Paper pp's which of course I had to fussy cut and the background is an old Bo Bunny paper.  The little chippie hearts are from Scrapmatts and I just left them raw and backed them with some pp.  I have been seeing the torn and folded edges on some gorgeous creations from Melinda Thompson and Julie Winks for a while now and was inspired to use this technique on my LO... I love how it came out!

Designed by Mary Thomas

(Use of sketch is optional)

Guest Designers

BITW will now have guest designers!! I think this will be a super fun opportunity for all of us to meet some new people and get some fresh ideas.  The winners will get to be a guest designer for a word to be announced one month from their winning entry....this means the guest designers will get one month to work on their layouts or projects. We are also going to have a random guest designer position as well. I will randomly choose a winner from the ended challenge to be a guest designer too!! Being a guest designer is optional and is not a requirement, so if you do not have time or do not wish to participate, feel free to say no.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving some love.  Your comments really make my day.

Cathy :))

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! - I'm Back

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break with your families and a fantastic New Year and I hope 2012 brings you all everything you wish for.

We are back from our overseas holiday.  The weather in New Zealand was quite wet and fairly cold for the middle of Summer, but we had an amazing time, and even though the weather wasn't the best, we were still able to see some of the sites and spent some time totally chilling out at my SIL's gorgeous property in Keri Keri.  The only bummer is the LCD screen on my Canon camera was damaged on the way home and my little pocket camera's lens is all bent and won't focus, so I am totally without a camera until my Canon is fixed.  Might have to go shopping for another pocket camera in the meantime.

My Final LO with KIU

So sad to say this my last layout for Kraft It Up. I have had a fabulous time in the past year designing for Kraft It Up and would like to thank Mel for making it so easy and a pleasure to be part of such an amazingly talented Design Team.  Congratulations to the new DT girls for 2012!!

Let Your Light Shine Brightly

The challenge this month is to use this colour palette (some or all of them) in a layout, using kraft as your base.

Normally, I find working with vibrant colours quite easy, but found myself at a loss as I think my mojo decided it was already on holidays.  Anyway I managed to get something together in the end, but it was a bit of a struggle.  Pop on over and check out the site for some inspiration from the Design Team.

BIRD IS THE WORD - PROMISE

As I have only just returned from holidays I missed the most recent challenge at Bird is the Word which is to use the word  PROMISE - anywhere on your layout (on your title, or in your journaling).  Pop on over and check out the gorgeous creations from our amazingly talented Design Team for some inspiration.  There is also a fabulous sketch for to use designed by Mary Thomas if you choose to use it for even more inspiration.

Use of sketch is optional

Submit your creation before the 15th January 2012 for a chance to win a kit from Tidbitz in Time.

A HUGE THANK YOU

I wanted to thank all you lovely ladies who have taken the time to leave such gorgeous comments on my blog throughout the year and for inspiring me with all your amazing creations.  Every time I go visiting I am truly blown away with all the fabulous talent and artistry and I can't wait to see what fantastic new creations 2012 will bring.  Lots of love.

Cathy :)))

Bird Is the Word - Wonder

Hi Girls,

Well our family is currently on holiday in New Zealand, so I have timed this blog post and I'm hoping it goes to plan.  If I manage to get some computer time while I'm away, I will try and pop around and leave some love.

This fortnight's challenge at Bird is the Word is to use the word WONDER on your layout, card or OTP project as your title or part of your journaling...when you have your project complete, please link it up over on the right side of our blog and give credit back to Bird is the Word on your blog. The design team will vote at the end of the challenge. Five layouts will be chosen and the final winner will receive a prize kit from Tidbitz In Time. Pop on over to our blog site and check out all the gorgeous creations from our talented Design Team for a bit of inspiration.

There is also a sketch designed by the talented Mary Thomas (which is optional) to get your creative juices flowing.

The Beauty and Wonder of Nature

I was inspired to used another beautiful butterfly pic taken in my garden earlier this year.  After the floods, there were so many butterflies fluttering around, and I spent the whole week running around the garden trying to snap pics of them as there were so many different butterflies, that I hadn't seen before and this pic is one of my favourites.

I used the gorgeous Crafter's Workshop blossom stencil with some mauve paint and gesso for the background to tie in with the flowers in my photo.  I just love the doily chippies from Scrapware and used one to frame my photo, then trimmed it with some lace for a little texture.  I found a beautiful purple & beige doily a while ago at my local op shop and thought it was perfect colour for my LO.  Couldn't resist adding some Collections butterflies and paper blossoms, with a little muslin under the flowers to create a bit of softness to finish my page.

Sketch designed by Mary Thomas

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving some love.  I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and wonderful New Year :)) 

Bird Is The Word - Time

This fortnight's challenge at Bird is the Word is to use the word TIME on your layout, card or OTP project as your title or part of your journaling...when you have your project complete, please link it up over on the right side of our blog and give credit back to Bird is the Word on your blog.  The design team will vote at the end of the challenge.  Five layouts will be chosen and the final winner will receive a prize kit from Tidbitz In Time.  Pop on over to our blog site and check out all the gorgeous creations from our talented Design Team for a bit of inspiration.

There is also a sketch designed by the talented Mary Thomas (which is optional) to get your creative juices flowing.

Celebrate The Good Times

As time is a bit limited for me with Christmas and our trip just around the corner,  I chose to make a quick and easy card using a MME 6x6 paper pad and some stamps also from MME.  The MME paper pads are gorgeous and fantastic for making cards... I'm totally addicted to them at the moment!!

Sketch designed by Mary Thomas (optional)

Kraft It Up Creative Team Call
It is that time again, we are on the look out for some talented scrappers to join us here on the Kraft It Up Creative Team...

The CT Term will be from February through to the end of July with the option of a further 6 months.

DUTIES: You will need to create one layout per month based on specific criteria which is always emailed in advance, you are required to comment on some users entries, I realise that we all have busy lives and it may be impossible to comment on 40+ entries each month, you are also required to vote for the previous months challenge entries and promote Kraft It Up on your blog and facebook page and anywhere else that is allowed.

To apply for the KIU CT Call please read the below information....

Firstly you MUST LOVE KRAFT, you will need to create your layout examples on Kraft Cardstock or Kraft Patterned Paper.

You need to email me 2 layouts, ONE that best showcases your style and the 2ND using the following sketch....

* Please feel free to interpret the sketch to how you see it, remember your layouts MUST be on Kraft CS or Kraft PP..

** Sketch provided by the wonderful Page Maps website: http://pagemaps.com/

You then need to email me your two layouts, a brief bio and headshot that you would be happy to see posted on the KIU blog if you were successful.

Applications close 20th December with the successful applicants notified by the 1st January, you will then be issued with your first challenges, February's being due at the end of January.

Email the above to: kraft.it.up@hotmail.com

Good luck to all the ladies who are going to take the plunge and apply!!

Kraft it up is having some technical difficulties at the moment so bear with us while the problem is being attended to and fingers crossed the new challenge should be up soon.


Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving some love.  Your comments really make my day :))

Bird is the Word - WISH

Have been a bit absent of late as my mojo has been very low and I spent most of last week at the Craft and Quilt Show in Brisbane doing demonstrations for Sofie and Andrew at Scrapmatts.  Had a lot of fun and met so many lovely ladies, and I was able to see all the gorgeous creations from the Scrapmatts Design Team up close... they are such an amazingly talented bunch of girls!!

The new word is up at Bird is the Word which this fortnight is WISH.  All you have to do is use the word WISH on your project somewhere in your title or journaling and link it up at BITW for your chance to win a gorgeous kit from Wendy at Tidbitz In Time.  All featured winners will receive a special badge for their blog.  There is also a fab sketch from Mary Thomas (optional) which you can use to get the creative juices flowing.  Pop on over and check out all the gorgeous examples from the Design Team for some inspiration.

The winners for the YOU & ME challenge will be released next Sunday.

You Are My Wish Come True

Used some of the yummy MME Lost & Found II papers for this LO and made a cluster with some Prima flowers which I jazzed up with some raffia to add a bit of texture and the most gorgeous little glass ladybird pin from Tracy at my2angels.

(Sketch use is not required to win the challenge)

I'm off to catch up on a some DT work which will keep me busy for the week, but I promise I will be taking some time to stop your blogs and leave a little love during the week.

Cheers

Cathy :))

Bird Is The Word - TODAY

The new word challenge is up at Bird Is The Word and this fornight's word is "TODAY".  Just use the word in your title or journalling.. how easy is that and you could win a fantastic kit from "Tidbitz in Time"!!  There is also an optional sketch created by the lovely Nadia if you need a little inspiration.  Check out the gorgeous DT creations HERE.. truly inspirational work!!

I decided to create a card this challenge and used Nadia's fabulous sketch for inspiration.  Used some lovely pp's in pastel shades from Websters, Fancy Pants and  MME and of course had to fussy cut and layer the Websters paper.

For the title I used some Basic Grey alpha stickers and  a script computer font which I printed on paper first then attached my cut out on top with magic tape.  You can peel this off without it tearing the paper, but don't press the tape down too firmly,  just enough to keep it in place.  I use the glass on my window like a light box so I can see where to position my cut out.

To add a little detail to my strip of pp I used a Martha Stewart corner punch on the ends.  A touch of lace and a beautiful butterfly diecut to add a little softness and a bit of distressing and inking for some definition and to finish it off.

Remember you still have at least 2 weeks to enter your "Hope" challenge.  The "Amazing" challenge winners will be announced  tomorrow!!

My2Angels - Ideas With Felt

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Felt frames on SALE until 20th July).   

Don't forget till the 21st July there is 30% off felt at my2angels

  

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This week at My2Angels there are some fabulous ideas on how to use felt on your creations.  Check out these out and also pop on over to the blog site for more detailed information on how these were created.

Geli came up with this fab idea of covering Tracy's felt frame with some felt ribbon and using the left over pieces on a scrap of ribbon.

On this LO Tracy has used one of my favs felt products which is the scroll felt frame.  This matches perfectly with the Scrapware flourish frame.

Another gorgeous LO from Tracy using the new Websters "Let's Celebrate" papers which are IN STOCK NOW!!.. pop on over and have a looky loo, they are gorgeous.  Tracy used the felt ribbon and cut pieces to use as flourishes.. don't they look beautiful!!

Another idea is to use your felt ribbon as a mask to use with glimmermist.  Remember to place felt side down, so that when you spray on the paper backing it can be wiped off and you still get to use your felt.

HURRY YOU STILL HAVE TIME!!! 
Hope this has given you some ideas of creating with our felt trims and also our felt frames (which are on special until the 20th July).   

Don't forget till the 21st July there is 30% off felt at my2angels.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving some love :)))