My First Publication for Scrapbook Creations "Divine"

I would never have Said, in a thousand years, that I would have any of my work published in a Scrapbooking magazine, but guess what?     

With much thanks to Jasmine Shea and Scrapbook Creations, a dream that I didn't even know I had, has come true!!

Issue #104

"Glamour Divine"

Thank you so much for the opportunity to showcase my work Scrapbook Creations. I think I'm addicted. I would recommend that all you keen scrappers out there, give submissions a go. You just never know!

Thank you for popping in and checking out my post :)

Cheers

Fiona xx

SATW Guest Designer for June

Hello again. Here I am as promised, with my second interpretation of Di Garling's beautiful June Mood Board over at Scrap Around the World. I was so lucky to be chosen as winner of the April challenge and super excited when they contacted me to be a Guest Designer for the month of June. I got straight to work creating this piece using Di's mood board.

Again it is a photo of my beautiful sister. This is her at work!! Yep her profession is acting. She always wanted to be a Vet or Journalist until her final year in school when her passion for acting really came to the forefront. She studied an Honors Degree in Performing Arts and has never looked back. She is a very talented and beautiful actor but I may be a little biased. The life of an actor however can be fraught with disappointment as you attend audition after audition followed by one rejection after another. So I decided to use my creative ability to show her how much I believe in what she is doing and to encourage her to NEVER give up!

I definately drew my inspiration from the LOVE in this mood board but also wanted to incorporate the grey and the stiped straws as I love the contrast they bring to the yellow.

The back ground piece is a lovely grey with white writing from the current "Cheeky Smiles" kit from over at Scrappy Chat Designs and the words on it are perfect for the inspiration I wanted to give to my sister. I added some little stars covered in silver Metallic Melts to represent her reaching for the stars.

The little Potty People represent her and I. Growing up with almost 10 years in age difference. I know she looked up to me and admired my strength and determination towards life but now the tables have turned and she has become my inspiration and keeps me reaching for the stars in my creative endeavours.

I also really enjoyed pulling out my crackle paint for this one. I haven't used it in such a long time and this project rejuvenated my love of the texture it creates.

The title "Never Give Up On Your Dream" was created by lots of different alphas and I love how it became the focus point of this layout.

Thank you so much for popping in and checking pout my creation. I hope you head on over to the  Scrap Around the World blog and look at entering the challenge.

Cheers

Fiona

SATW GDT with 2Crafty Chipoboard

Hello lovely peeps. How exciting is this? My first official 2Crafty Chipboard gig and it's as part of the Scrap Around the World June Guest Design Team. I've been lucky enough this month to be asked to do two pages for Di Garling's amazing Mood Board. This is my first one.

And this is the amazing Mood Board that Di has created. I LOVE yellow so this one was really easy to play with. Especially paired with the black.

I took my inspiration this time around from the word LOVE and the beautiful yellow flowers. This is a layout of my little Sis. The background paper I have used is a piece designed by Stephanie Wheeler for Cocoa Daisy "Stardust"

It has the best yellow lines on it that complimented the mood board perfectly.

My 2Crafty Chipboard pieces include:

Assorted Arrows, Polaroid Assortment of Frames and Chevron Bits

I've covered the Chevron bits all differently. The yellow one is covered with a lovely flower patterned paper. I've used the same paper to back my photo. \It adds an element of softness to the page without actually adding any flowers. The next two little chevron bits are simply painted with black Gesso but  the third one is also covered with Tinby Designs "Metallic Melts". these melts are an amazing thick gritty embossing powder that give real dimension to the chevron.

The assorted arrows are all treated with a different medium. Some are painted with black Gesso, others are painted with white. the white ones are also stamped on using my graph stamp and Black Memento ink. The Yellow arrow is covered in modelling paste to give it a rough look and then coloured with water paint.

I loved adding these polaroid frames from 2Crafty Chipboard. they look awesome! Again I've treated one with black Gesso similar to the arrows then added Metallic Melts while the white one has a light coating of modelling paste and then stamped over while still slightly wet with my graph stamp and black ink.

The Chevrons help to draw the eye around and down the page. Here I've made them stand out with standard black Gesso but covered the last one with the flowered yellow paper, tying the whole page in  together.

I really enjoyed putting this page together. It's the first time I've had a chance to play with the 2Crafty Chipboard and I think I'm addicted!!

I hope you join in with the challenge over at Scrap Around the World and I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I've used the  2Crafty Chipboard. 

Thanks for popping by.

Cheers

Fiona

OUAS and 13@rts June Challenges

Well what a jam packed, scrapping, long weekend I've had! I think I broke my record. I completed 7 layouts and a card! None of which I can reveal just yet except for this one.

Once Upon a Sketch is an awesome challenge that I try to enter at least every second month. I'm not the best at following sketches or at adding journalling to my work so this challenge is really good in stretching my skills! Nadia always creates a fabulous sketch for us to follow and a beautiful theme that really gets the mind thinking. This month it is "The best things in life are often not things". So true.

And I've never entered a 13@rts challenge before but this one sounded like it was right up my alley!

I decided that because it was such a beautiful sunny winters day that I would video the process for this one. The sun comes in my studio window and lights up my table perfectly. I've added it below or you can view it via my You Tube page which you can access easily by clicking the tab at the top of my blog that says "My Tutorials".

Here are some close ups.

 My journalling says "The best things in life are not things, we have things but ...... it's who we share these things with that really matters". We all have things. We live in a society where things are readily available to most of us so the things lose their meaning. But then there are the things that enable us to share precious time together with the ones we love.

I've used some 2Craftry Chipboard, water colour paints, Kaiser Craft tiny dot stamp and some papers from Cocoa and Daisy on this layout.

I really love the way it turned out. It's not like most of my layouts. The colours are a bit bolder than I would normally use but they complimented the photo perfectly.

You can follow me on Face Book or Tumblr to get my latest blog posts.

Thank you for popping in.

Cheers

Fiona xx

SIWA Monthly Challenge - Your Favourite Quote

Hi. Sharing with you another of my DT pieces. This time it's for the FaceBook based challenge group Scrap It With Attitude. The theme this month is "Scrap your favourite quote". This was hard because I have many so I decided to scrap the one I felt was inspiring me the most at the moment.

This is what I created.

I've used some of the papers and embellishments from the Cheeky Smiles Kit from Scrappy Chat Designs.

The chipboard letters I covered with white Gesso and then painted with the colour spray from the kit. A beautiful Jade colour that matched the background paper from the kit perfectly.

The paper frames I fussy cut out of one of the 12x12 papers in the kit. It was a little time consuming but worth it. For more inspiration on using the kit, head on over to the Scrappy Chat Designs Blog.

I backed my photo with a "pull off" tab made from some of the kit papers. You know, like the ones you see on message boards in Supermarkets. I tore one of the "chance" words off to represent that I was taking a chance. 

The word today is also fussy cut from the kit papers. I felt it just finished off the layout perfectly.

I am taking chances a lot now days. I suppose I always have been a bit of a chance taker but usually only within my comfort zone. Since blogging my scrapping, I've been very much out of that zone and so taking chances in my scrapbooking life has been a little daunting, but ........ So far ......... I'm loving the chances I've taken!!

I hope I can inspire you to take some too.

Don't forget you can follow all my chances! (LOL) on face book HERE

Cheers

Fiona xx

Off the Rails Scrapbooking June challenge "Use Material"

Hello all. Just popping in quickly to share with you the new challenge over at Off the Rails. This month it's "Use Material" in any way you like on your project.

I chose to do a layout and I created my background by adhering Tulle to my paper with PVA glue and white Gesso. Once it had dried, I added some watercolour and my embellishments. The colours in this layout are a lot richer than I'm used to using but the photo dictated the colour scheme and it all came together not too badly.

I added some black highlights including a piece of 2Crafty Chipboard painted black. It's one of their whispy flowers. I love how delicate these are.

I've also used some of my currently favourite Kaiser Craft collection "Kaleidoscope". The bright Red colours from these papers suited the layout perfectly.

Thank you so much for stopping by. If you want to keep up to date with my posts, you can follow me on FaceBook HERE or follow me on Tumblr HERE.

Cheers

Fiona xx

Scrappy Chat Designs DT announcement

Hello Scrappy friends.

Well it's been a very busy month for me. I've been a tad quiet because I've been busy behind the scenes.
I have been asked to join the amazing Scrappy Chat Designs team headed by Beck Beattie.

I will be doing video tutorials every couple of months for members and contributing on the off months as an "Arty Chic" with step by step layout instructions that include tips, techniques and tricks i've used to create my layout with the monthly kit.

So I wanted to share with you my first creation as a new member of the Scrappy Chat Designs Team.

When I received the May "Cheeky Smiles" kit from Beck in the mail, I couldn't believe all of the fantastic bits and bobs that was in it. I couldn't wait to start creating!

As most of you know by now, I'm a bit of a sprays and paints girl so the "Tumble Dye" in the kit got me very excited. I jumped straight into my crazy thinking zone of "What can I do with this?" I wanted the teal colour to dominate the Layout so I decided it needed to be a background feature.

Head on over to SCRAPPY CHAT DESIGNS for all my tips and techniques on how I created this background.

I'm totally addicted to Scrappy Chat Designs. If I've left you wanting more, then full techniques and more detailed pictures are shared with our members. Simply email orders.scrappychatdesigns@gmail.com if you would like to sign up. All of our members, for a three month period for only $135, receive a full kit every month including postage along with 3 video tutorials showing you how to create 3 layouts every step of the way as well as written instructions with photos. But wait .......... there's more! You also receive email technique sheets from the Arty Chics! showing you how they have used the kit and sharing their techniques, tips and tricks with you.

You can also check out more Scrappy Chat Designs on the book of faces HERE and the Scrappy Chat Designs Blog can be found  HERE 

Thank you for stopping by xx

Scrap Around the World May Mood Board

Happy Birthday Scrap Around the World!

It's been a little while since I posted, been a tad busy this month ;) But I always have time to join in with the Scrap Around the World monthly challenge. Seriously ...... this month, if you don't get on board you're NUTS!!! The prizes are astronomically amazing and Helen Tilbury, has created the best Celebratory mood board EVER!.

So this is what I came up with.

And here is the Mood Board that Helen created especially for the 1st Birthday Celebrations over at Scrap Around the World

Love the colours, love the glitter, love the macaroons, love the balloons, especially LOVE the SHOES!!!

 I WANT THEM!! 

So seeing the shoes were definitely an influence for me (I would SO wear these to a party!!) I decided that the shoes would be my inspiration. I love the bows on them and the colour is stunning. I've always loved that soft pastel vintage mint (I have a whole board dedicated to it on Pinterest!!)

The background paper is from "Glitz Design" it's simply called Polka Dots and it has these little tiny black polka dots over the whole page. it's adorable and perfect for the 1950's vintage theme I was hoping to create. I used Gelatos on the background and added water. So easy to achieve a beautiful water colour background using this technique.

I painted some Word Circles Set 2 and Circle Revolution Frames from 2Crafty Chipboard with black Gesso and punched out some circles from coordinating paper scraps. The little bows I made from material scraps. I also decided to use circles for the main feature of this layout to represent the balloons from the mood board and because you can't have a celebration without balloons!!

I added the word "Seriously" from the Amy Tangerine "Plus One" twins Thickers. The two together created the title "Seriously, Tons of Fun" which is exactly what should be the priority of any party! The photos I've used are of my daughters table setting for her 18th birthday last year. Her theme was "High Tea" and they had such a great time.

You know I could go on forever describing what I did and the stamps I used but luckily ....... I made a process video. LOL

Sit back with a cuppa and enjoy. I think it only goes for a little over 12 minutes but it shows the process I've used and some of the products and techniques incorporated into the layout.

Thank you for popping by and checking out my challenge entry.

Cheers

Fiona XX

So excited to announce joining the 2Crafty Design Team for 2014/2015

AMAZING! That's the word I'm using to describe the feeling I got when Di and Vanessa told me I'd been accepted onto the 2Crafty Chipboard Design Team for 2014/2015. I can't believe it's actually happened and I can't wait to get started.

CONGRATULATIONS also to ;
Annie Carignan - Canada (Design Team Member) Maiko Kosugi - Japan (Design Team Member) Marilyn Rivera - USA (Design Team Member)
We join an already established sensational line up that includes some of my favourites when it comes to inspiration.

Di Garling – Australia (Design Team Coordinator) Debbie Tehrani - USA (Design Team Member)
Helen Tilbury – South Africa (Design Team Member)  Janice Nicholls – Australia (Design Team Member)  Nicole Dioron - Canada (Design Team Member)  Stacey Young – Australia (Design Team Member)
Along with an incredibly talented Resident Guest Design team that includes;
Anita Rodway - Australia  (Resident Guest Design Team Member)     Ebony van der Starre - Australia  (Resident Guest Design Team Member) Jennifer Olek Snyder - USA  (Resident Guest Design Team Member) Margaret Mifsud - Australia  (Resident Guest Design Team Member) Melenia Agapides - Greece  (Resident Guest Design Team Member) Stephanie Papin - France  (Resident Guest Design Team Member) Wilma Voermans - Switzerland  (Resident Guest Design Team Member)
I can't wait to start sharing my creations with you all from the 19th July.
  Hope you will come along with me for the ride. 

Off the Rails Challenge "Polka Dots and Stripes" DT work

Polka Dots and Stripes

Once again, over at Off the Rails an awesome challenge has been created. This time it's Polka Dots and Stripes. I never normally give these two elements much thought but when I needed to for this challenge, I found I really enjoyed it. I had heaps of fun rummaging through my collection of "stuff" looking for anything with spots or stripes on it. I discovered I have heaps of spotty designs to choose from, stamps, stencils, papers but when it came to stripes ........ all I could find was some paper.

So I added it as a photo matt and stuck some out as a feature piece. I wasn't happy with this minimal addition so I cut up some washi tape I have that is actually a tyre print pattern and made "stripes" shooting up and down on the left hand side of my photo.

This photo is my beautiful and crazy daughter. She has the most beautiful red hair (that she insists on dying at least monthly! I think currently it's half brown and half yellow). Both of my babies are little gingers. I love it ....... and of course they don't! Their hair has always glistened in the summer sun so brightly and so this page is titled "You are my Sunshine". The background paper is from the Kaiser Craft collection "Take Note". I've combined that with another of their collections "Kaleidoscope".

  

 The butterfly's are stickers so I placed them onto some white card stock to strengthen them so I could sit them up on my page giving it some dimension. I'm really loving Kaiser Craft papers at the moment. There is so much to choose from and all the new papers are beautiful.

Along with the kaiser Craft embellishment pack, I've used  a Studio Calico die cut set. Again they are stickers but I didn't necessarily use all of them in that way. I'm not usually much of a cut outs user but I won this pack and it suited my layout perfectly. I think I could get used to these little add ons!

I used some of the ombre arrow heads, feathers and tags but the feature is the "You are my sunshine" tag. I couldn't believe it when this little pack coordinated with the "Take Note" paper that I used as my background piece. Along the bottom of the "Take Note" 12x12 was the words for the song "You are my Sunshine". Some things are just meant to be!!!

I had a field day adding polka dots! Firstly the background paper was covered in them. then I added with Distress Ink "Gathered Twiggs" a Tim Holtz  stencil "Dot Fade" then in black ink his background stamp "Mini Dots" then over the top Kaiser Crafts clear background stamp "Tiny Dots". Such fun!!

I finished the piece off by adding some coordinating paper flowers and other retro embellishments like one of Tim Holt'z bronze arrows, a kaszazz flower embellishment and a shrinky dink I made of a hipster guy, because Kaity's a bit hipster herself lol! She would hate me saying that.

So that's my piece. I hope you join in with the challenge over at Off the Rails Scrapbooking Blog. They have some awesome prizes on offer and your piece could even be featured on their Face Book page.

Cheers

Fiona xx