Waterfall (Sketchabilities DT Reveal #68)

I can't believe that this is already my final reveal as part of the Sketchabilities Design Team.  It has been a pleasure and a delight to be part of this wonderful team of talented artists led by one of the best sketch designers i know, Karan Gerber.  Thank you Karan for such a wonderful opportunity and for inspiring me!  :)

This is the last sketch that i had to play with, #68!

I simply love every single thing about it!!!  

To view my fellow DT's take on the sketch and to link up yours, visit Sketchabilities now!

This layout is part of this double-page of which i already gave you a sneak peak a few days ago (click HERE to see the post):

 

All papers and most embellishments are from different collections by My Mind's Eye.  Chipboard is Dusty Attic and flowers are Prima.

And now for some close-ups:

I hope i inspire you to create!

You Are My Song (Authentique & Scrap It With A Song Challenges)

If you've ever had the chance to create with Authentique Paper, then you will agree that they are authentically GREAT!  Thick and textured, perfect for distressing, amazing colors and patterns...  that is what Authentique Paper has to offer.

For a while now, i had been holding on to whatever little i could buy at my LSS of the Uncommon collection, scared to use these papers on a layout that would be unworthy of their elegant beauty.  Well, i finally decided to take a creative risk, and i have to say that it worked out pretty well.

Using the March Sketch Challenge as inspiration, 

i created this pretty in pink layout:

The bird cage and the swirls are cut out of grunge board and covered with Distress Stain and black Stickles.  The bird, also grunge board, was painted white with a little touch of Perfect Pearls.  The music notes is Dusty Attic laser-cut chipboard.  The 'song' title is from Making Memories.

 

Apart from the Authentique sketch challenge , my creation was also inspired by the song "Moondance" by Van Morrison featured this month on Scrap It With a Song.  Being a huge music fan and having always been extremely inspired by music, i just adore the idea behind this challenge blog and am so glad to have found them.  I plan to participate in their challenges regularly.

" ...and i'm trying to please to the calling of your heart-strings that play soft and low... "

Aren't these lyrics beautiful and romantic, and thus perfect for my layout?

Let me know what you think! :)

Liebster Award

Since having started this blog, i have met (virtually) such amazingly talented and kind people.  I was so honoured to receive the Liebster Award by two of these people whom i truly respect and admire for all their creativity and dedication to this same passion that we all share.  Thank you so much Marcia (One Scrap at a Time) and Cindy (My Kind of Beautiful)!  Your recognition is very much appreciated!

“Liebster” is a German word meaning dearest, beloved or favorite, and the Liebster Award is sort of a chain letter among bloggers that’s intended to showcase exceptional up-and-coming blogs (typically, those with 200 or fewer followers). Now, there’s no evaluation committee or formal award process for the Liebster, but in a way it’s even nicer – it’s recognition that a peer has noticed and appreciated your hard work.

Here are the rules:

 

Choose 5 up and coming blogs of fewer than 200 followers to award the Liebster to. 

 

Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them. 

 

Post the award on your blog.  Link back to the blogs you have given the Liebster to so everyone else can pay them a visit.

So, in no particular order, i grant this award to these talented ladies for their amazing blogwork:

CARLIE  -  Carlies Scrap Life

KRISTIN  -  Kristin Wilson Handmade

MARIELLE  -  Le Scrap de Marilou

JULIE  -  See Julie Scrap

INGRID  -  Ingrid's Place

Keep up the excellent work ladies! :)

I Miss... (OUAS March 15th Challenge)

For the latest challenge at Once Upon A ...Sketch, i had to create a layout about someone i miss right now and why.  It could be about a loved one, but also about missing a special time in your life or even missing a beloved pet.  

I chose to scrapbook about my darling Buffy whom i still miss a lot even if she's been gone for almost 5 years.  This special doggy has meant so much to me and, as cheesy as it may sound, she had been my most loyal friend for 9 years before i had to say goodbye to her.  To this day, i still sometimes see and hug her in my dreams and those dreams are always the sweetest.  I know that i will have more pets throughout my life, but Buffy will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Along with the journaling criteria, Once Upon A ...Sketch provided this sketch as inspiration.

Here is my layout...

The journaling reads: "Even after almost 5 years, I still miss you so... your cute face, your furry cuddles, your unconditional love, cute Buffy girl."

I used a mixture of different products for this layout, among others, My Mind's Eye So Sophie pattern paper, Dusty Attic chipboard, Imaginarium Designs chipboard, Prima and KaiserCraft flowers, Prima Alphabet Stickers, ZVA Creative bling and KaiserCraft rub-ons.

Here are some close-ups:

As always, I'm interested in reading your thoughts on my layout and also on your special pet who's no longer with you but whom you still miss today.

Kristin Wilson Handmade $100 GC Giveaway

I came across this new blog on the weekend full of pretty handmade goodies.  Look at this nugget tin gift box!

The colors are magnificient.  Wouldn't you want to get a pretty handmade gift like this?

Anyway, to see more of her heartfelt creations, visit Kristin Wilson Handmade right now and also find out how you could win a $100 gift certificate at the Scrapbook.com store.

The Story of Us (MME Blog Challenge 33 Layout)

I am SO in love with ALL of the new My Mind's Eye collections and was over the moon excited when i was able to buy most of the goodies at my LSS a few weeks ago!  I started creating with them right away using MME Blog Challenge 33 as inspiration.

To create this layout, i used a mixture of Follow Your Heart, Miss Caroline and On The Bright Side as well as some elements from the older Lost and Found 2 collection.  You can see a full product list (with links) at the end of this post.  Also, the shades and designs of these MME papers matched perfectly with this beautiful image from the March Inspiration Challenge at Scrapbook Kits with a Difference.

 This photo is so special to me as it is one of our first picture taken together as a couple.  Can't you see the happiness radiating from both our faces.  The journaling is part of a poem i wrote for Yves which i felt was perfect to describe the emotions i wanted to illustrate in this project.

All the chipboard is from The Dusty Attic, some of which i distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Smooch and covered with Glossy Accent. 

Complete list of My Mind's Eye products used in the creation of this layout:

Follow Your Heart 

Be Amazing

Kraft Unique , Blue Doily , Be Striped , Rhinestones , Button Card ,  Twine , Paper Clips

On The Bright Side 

"Sawyer"

Miss Caroline

Fiddlesticks

Fiddlesticks "Story" Title ,  

Dolled Up

"Princess" Layered Stickers

Lost and Found 2

Sunshine

"Memories" Buttons , "Sunshine" Brads , "Two of Us" Pearls

 
This layout is part of a double-page of which you can see a sneak peak below.  

 I'll be sharing with you more information on the right side next week during the next Sketchabilities DT reveal so be sure to come back soon!

 

The Crafter's Reference Giveaway!

I have come accross a new blog in my regular blog wanderings...  and a FABULOUS giveaway!

Go visit The Crafter's Reference now and see beautiful cards and amazing stamping done by Luanne Pang.

In honor of Mother's Day coming up soon and to thank all her current and new followers and celebrate all her blog accomplishments to date, she is hosting this super giveaway:

Wouldn't you love to win all these?!

Click HERE for information right now!

Winter Fun (& Sketch Fun!)

I have a great excuse for not posting since last week!  I have been hiding in my scraproom, creating all sorts of goodies that i will be able to share with you soon.

Today seems like the perfect day to share with you this fun Winter double layout since it was as beautiful as a Summer's day in my neck of the woods!  Yes, the sun was out a-shining, the snow was all a-melting and people were out wearing shorts... on a March 21st in Canada!  That is just the kind of irony that i love!

I was inspired by sketches from 2 of my favorite challenge blogs.  I thought that both sketches complimented one another really well and comparing them, i immediately had a vision :)

The left side was based on the March sketch at Scrap with V Scrapbook Kits.  That big flag in the background is so much fun!

I used the March sketch from Artful Delight as inspiration for the right side.  It is a pure DELIGHT of a sketch!!!

The collection i used is Echo Park's Winter Park.

And now, because i am already way past my bedtime, i am leaving you with a few close-ups and a heartfelt Good Night!

Sweet dreams... of Summer! :)

So Very Sweet (Sketchabilities DT Reveal #67)

It's time for another Sketchabilities DT reveal.  This time, Karan Gerber is sharing with you sketch #67, complete with tags and banners!

Make sure to go visit Sketchabilities and see what the rest of the DT created with this fun sketch!

I decided to play with My Mind's Eye collection Stella and Rose and did a very colorful layout featuring pictures of my niece Ella when she was only a year old.

I substituted the banners for a chipboard swirl that i painted green and hand-stitched.  Once again, lots of stitching went into the making of this layout, so much that my carpal tunnel was screaming bloody mercy - hahaha

I also did some fussy cutting with the flowers and leaves taken from one of the MME papers.

I did some embossing on the tags and rubbed some distress ink on them for a little color effect.

Hope you like my colorful take on Karan's sketch!