March Challenge at Xoxo Scrapbooking

My friends Tess & Jo suggested that I head on over to Xoxo Scrapbooking and join in on their challenge for March.  My first time playing over there, and this will probably be my last challenge page for March...unless a miracle happens tonight, which isn't looking likely!

You can see the challenge page we had to scraplift over here, but the inspiration I took from the example layout was the colours, the triangles and the border around the edge of my layout.  The rest kind of just went from there.

This photo was taken when I visited Donna back in 2011 and we had an awesome scrap day with the Queensland girls - Josie, Sara, Sarah, Donna, me, Crystal and my bestie Leesh who also came up to Dalby with my family for Donna's 40th Birthday.

Scrapbooking this photo last night got me all sentimental and made me realise just how much I really do miss the friends that I made through scrapping.  Hopefully I haven't pushed too many people out of my life permanently when I had my scrapping hiatus...I know I don't HAVE to explain but I'm sure people did understand just how hard it was for me giving up my business, and that for my own sanity I had to pull away from all things scrappy and reset.  I'm not saying I did the wrong thing, I'm not saying I did the right thing...it is what it is and I can honestly say I've opened my own eyes up to WHY I scrapbook and I have finally moved past all the hurt, disappointment and regret related to the end of my business and everything else that went with it.  Sorry, I didn't mean to get so in depth...but for my own benefit on reading back in years to come, that is that.  Moving on....

Scrapping in Dalby...

(MME papers, Bo Bunny stickers, Bella Chipz, Studio Calico wood veneer, washi tape, Prima flowers)

(Bo Bunny stickers, American Crafts Thickers)

(Prima flower, Bella Chipz house embellie)

I'm really happy with how this layout turned out, and am feeling really good about sitting down and scrapping this photo last night.

Thanks for visiting!

Cheers,
Sar

March 15th Sketch @ Stuck

I was too late to upload this one to enter the challenge, not realising that Stuck Sketches had a cut off date of 29th March instead of the end of the month!  Ooops...never mind...I'll know for next time.  At least I have another layout done for the month, that is definitely the main thing.

The Pox - Poor Cooper, he got the Chicken Pox really bad, the doctor said it was the first time in ages that she had seen a full blown case on an immunised child.  He then of course passed it on to his baby sisters, who luckily only got a few spots between them.

(Savvy kit, Flair , tab & journal card by Flutterby Designs)

Closeup of my title work using a combination of Thickers and alpha stickers.

I used a big circle punch to cut out these circles from the paper in the kit, what great embellishments this paper turned into.  Finished off with some clear stars and enamel dots.

I have one more challenge to load up before the end of the month, be back later!

Cheers,
Sar

March Inspiration Board @ D-Lish Scraps

Its been really fun jumping from blog to blog and finding different challenges to get me going this past week!  The latest one was an inspiration board from D-Lish Scraps and I have used both the sketch and the inspiration board.  I have kept my layout REALLY simple and very true to the sketch, mainly because it was nearly 10pm last night when I started scrapping and I just wanted to get something done quick.  I used no ink or doodling for a change to stick with the clean look!

Pass The Parcel - I feel like I'm on a time warp with my scrapping at the moment, so many old photos of my babies!  This is what happens when you pull out old kits that you put photos in such a long time ago, and just start scrapping.  All good though, its so lovely to look back on my babies when they were little.  This is my niece Chloe, and my two Cooper & Georgia at their friend's birthday party.

(October Afternoon Thrift Shop papers, white cardstock, Rainbow Splendour pinwheel)

(American Crafts Thickers, Studio Calico alpha stickers, Flutterby Designs flair, OA journal sticker)

(October afternoon papers & journal sticker, Studio Calico chipboard heart)

The March Inspiration Board at D-Lish Scraps was called Caribbean Skies and looks like this...

Wishing you a scrappy day!

Cheers,

Sar

Scrap The Girls March Challenge

I am so happy with how this one turned out!  I had one piece left of this beautiful paper and wanted to get the most of out it, so I fussy cut out all the leaves and flowers possible!  I then added more flowers from my stash as well as some metal embellishments and brads to finish it off.  

Tutu Upgrade - Georgia when she went from her 'baby tutu' into her 'big girl tutu'.  Turned out the big one was actually TOO big and we had to put it away for a little while and buy another one...but thems the breaks in showbiz!  She is back wearing this gorgeous tutu again now in 8u Ballet solos.

A big thank you to Peta for the stunning ballerina embellishment!  She gave me this one a few years ago knowing I would use it, and it was just perfect for this layout.

(Prima ballerina embellishment, Pink Paislee sentiment sticker, ZVA flourish, BG paper)

(Green Tara leaf, Basic Grey paper)

(rhinestone brad, Basic Grey paper)

(Green Tara flower, Basic Grey paper, metal embellishment)

This layout was created from the March Sketch over at Scrap The Girls, isn't it pretty!!  

Hope you get a chance to do this challenge too, about a week left to go of March so there is still time!

Happy Scrapping!

Cheers,
Sar

Scrappy Canary March Sketch Challenge

This layout has to be one of my faves from the past week, I just love everything about it.  It is so clean, centred and everything looks like it is where it should be.  An awesome photo, glitter, little clusters...lots of my fave features.

You Make The World Sparkle - a photo of Cooper on New Years Eve in 2010, just one of those photos that turns out amazing and you have no idea how!

(October Afternoon alpha stickers, MME papers, American Crafts Thickers covered in gold Stickles)

(Pink Paislee Artisan chipboard, MME papers, Knot & Bow glitter twine, MME papers, foil leaf)

(Bella Chipz with gold Stickles, Flutterby Designs flair, Kaiser rhinestones, Tim Holtz distress ink)

And the sketch from which this layout was created was the March Sketch at Scrappy Canary, cool isn't it?!  Another great site that is new to me and I'm so happy I stumbled across.

Thanks for stopping in to visit my blog today!

Cheers,

Sar

March Sketchy Boards Challenge

This is the first time I've seen the challenges at Sketchy Boards, they are GREAT with a sketch as well as an inspiration photo.  I came across this site over on Lisette's blog, thanks Lisette!

Luv U 2 - a photo of my nephew Adam and his girlfriend Kassie, these two have been together since high school and now at 23 are living together, working hard and are planning a trip to Europe this year to see my sister Nic who is currently living in Denmark.  They are such good kids and I am SO proud of them!

I used the remainder of a class kit from a couple of years ago, which was made up of Jenni Bowlin papers and I've added bits & pieces to suit the colouring.  First time I've really used feathers as a feature on a layout.

My journalling on a tag, twine and a cute Love wood veneer piece from WOW.

Another piece of WOW in this flourish sitting above my feathers which I've covered in gold stickles.  A cute pom pom like Prima flower and a heart from Studio Calico.

And here is the sketch & mood board if you would like to play along too, the link for the entries is in this post here.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Cheers,
Sar

What do you do with your old stash?

I asked this question last night on my blog's Facebook page - Do you try to use up your old stash or just get rid of it when it is past its use by date??

Sometimes you flick past an item SO many times that you just want to throw the damn thing in the bin and be done with it.  I was feeling this way last night so decided to just start gluing some of my old journal cards on a cardstock base and make a layout out of it!

The result - Red V which is my daughter Georgia, my niece Chloe and my BFF's daughter Charlotte on Grand Final Day back in 2010 when the mighty St George Dragons took out the win.

My background is solely journal cards and one frame glue on at random on a piece of white cardstock.  I then added some texture paste through a template to create some more interest.  I did end up covering a few of the journal cards with my paper and photos, but I'm cool with that.

My title using some old Bella Blvd alphas.

A cog from A Lil Somethin together with a quote & flag banners from the Bella Blvd Making The Team range which I originally got from SFS back in 2011!  No one can say I'm worried about using old product....I am seriously overloaded with kits here that date back even before this, but I just keep adding more photos to them and using them up.  

My journaling along with another flair from A Lil Somethin, with some twine which was at the end of the flag banner.

I would love to know what you do with your old stash...do you:

a) just leave it sitting in your scrap room sad & alone until the end of time

b) donate it to a good cause like the local preschool or your kid's crafts

c) use it up...because really all scrapbooking products are equal regardless of age!

Leave me a comment and let me know your preference!!!

Anna's Craft Cupboard March Sketch Challenge

Another day, another sketch challenge!  This seems to be the easy way to get my inspiration flowing in my first week back at scrapping.

This time the sketch challenge is from Anna's Craft Cupboard and I had fun scrapping a photo of Georgia with her school friends from Kindy.  Now in Year 3, these four girls are still great friends.

Kinder Assembly using bits & pieces from my stash...

Closeup of my journalling, a cute #4 wood veneer piece from WOW and another gorgeous flair from Flutterby Designs.

My title, various tags and twine...

And the sketch in case you want to play along too!

Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers,
Sar

Kraft+ March Challenge

Thanks Mal for putting me onto the Kraft+ Challenge Blog, I hadn't even heard about it until this week but that goes to show how out of the loop I am when it comes to scrapbooking these days!  This challenge blog looks fab with lots of awesome peeps on the Design Team and so many awesome layouts being submitted.  Will definitely make this a regular challenge to play along with!

This month's challenge looked like this...

That Crazy Eye - a layout featuring my youngest daughter with that AWFUL thing she does with her left eye!  The first time she did this when she was a little girl, we panicked and I actually took her to the doctor thinking she was having a fit or something.  But nope, this kid can roll her eye into the back of her head on demand and LOVES the attention she gets when she does it.  Thankfully she doesn't do it often...however this morning on getting out of bed and seeing this layout on the breakfast bar, she immediately rolled her eye back and said LOOK MUM I CAN STILL DO IT!  Ahhhh!

A closeup of my title using some old Bella Chipz lettering and some flat alpha stickers, some WOW chevron arrows that I've sparkled up to suit the challenge criteria and of course, THAT EYE!

Cute flag banner which I think was from A Lil Somethin and another gorgeous flair from Flutterby Designs.  You can also see some of my background work here with included spraying mist over a template, painting liquid pearls and glitter glue through the same template plus random enamel dots, rhinestones and glitter glue dots to finish off.

Some journalling and gorgeous sparkly twine, I can't get enough twine!

Another shot of my background work along with a ticket & bow to the left of my photos.

Can you actually believe I've scrapped every night this week...what is going on?!

Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers,
Sar

Show Us Your Stuff March Challenge

Another one that Chloe put me onto, this month's challenge at Show Us Your Stuff was to use the following quote on your layout and  to use a handmade embellishment.

My take using an old Crate Paper kit and a background cardstock that I'd prepared earlier in one my classes last year.  I just added a bit more texture to it by painting some ink and liquid pearls.  

I have added the quote twice actually, I found this flair in my stash from Flutterby Designs so just had to add it in!  Clustered here with a Prima flower and a handmade flower from Rainbow Splendour.

And my second cluster, repeating the same elements as the top cluster but adding in a cute flair from A Lil Somethin.

Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers,
Sar

Scrapbooking Top 50 March Challenge

Thanks Chloe for sending me through this challenge, I LOVED this sketch challenge from Scrapbooking Top 50!  Looking at it the first time I thought 'oh geez, this is going to be hard!' but it really wasn't.  Chloe's sketch looks like this...

What A Pair Of Pelicans - my take on the sketch, using an old Echo Park kit on another colourful background, adding in some ribbon & twine from my stash.

My title using the Echo Park alpha stickers, together with another cute flair from Flutterby Designs...

My journalling...

And a closeup of the texture in my background.  I've layered mist, liquid pearls and texture paste again in all different colours to create some interest.  Finished off with a cute wood veneer heart from Studio Calico.

Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers,
Sar

Random Share

So many layouts, so little blog posts...I have some catching up to do!  I aim to blog a few at a time just to get them out there in the world of blogger...I for one LOVE looking back on my blog from years ago, so even if they're only for my own amusement, here they are...

Always Friends - A very colourful background using my all time favourite template The Crafters Workshop called Well Rounded.  I've used a combination of liquid pearls in different colours for most of the background, and also some mist over the honeycomb template.  This is a photo of Georgia and her little friend Charli at an eisteddfod in 2013, we miss her and her family so much now that they've changed studios!!

A closeup of my title using a Heidi Swap sticker and then the girl's initials in Thickers plus a cute flair.

At The Pool - Cooper in 2010 at our local swimming pool, he looks so little here!  Again I've used Kerryn's technique of layering my ink, liquid pearls and texture paste to create some interest on my background.

Fancypants stickers for the title, love these alpha which sit flat but make such an impact!

Boxing Day - I think this one was using a Christmas We're Savvy Kit from memory, and another gorgeous template from TCW.  A scatter of little flowers added to the liquid pearl background just finished it off.

A closeup of my journalling, I'm going back a few years here again with a photo from 2011.

More to come soon!  Thanks for dropping by.

Cheers,
Sar