My Little Man - Let's Get Sketchy DT

This is one of my favourite photographs of Harrison. I just snapped it while he was playing on the lawn next to me as I hung out the washing but his smile is perfect and the colours really pop. I couldn't wait to be able to scrapbook it and I'm really happy with the end result of this layout.

 

 

I took some inspiration from the amazing Linda Eggleton for my embellishment clusters. I've pulled out some very old chipboard frames and paired them with some awesome new D-lish Scraps flowers, washi and flair. Chipboard circles and title word are from Scrapmatts.

 

This is my DT project for Week 2 over at Let's Get Sketchy using this fantastic sketch. It is so versatile and easy to work with. Head on over to see what the rest of the DT created and please share your own creation with us.

 

The High Line - Let's Get Sketchy DT

The Gold Coast Show has released their competition list for this year and I was sad to see that EVERY scrapbooking category requires a double page layout. I'm really not sure why they feel the need to restrict page design, I think you could compare doubles and single page layouts against each other given their is set scoring criteria. Anyway, it means I have to get my head around creating doubles for the next couple of months and I can't use any of the layouts I had already created this year. Here is the first of (hopefully) ten doubles before the end of August.

 

 

I have used some photos I shot whilst walking the High Line, a tourist attraction in New York, in late 2012. It was a fantastic place to visit and I got some really good photos. I love that I finally got a chance to use these Basic Grey papers why have been in my stash for YEARS.

 

I used the current sketch over at Let's Get Sketchy for this left hand page. Even though I turned it into a double I think you can clearly see the sketch in the layout. The patterned on the cardstock uses a home made mist, hence the slight differences between the two pages.

 

 

The second page has some more of the scenery shots I took to show off the views and the beautiful gardens. I really liked that they left some of the track there so you were reminded of the original purpose.

Lori's Hens Party - Let's Get Sketchy DT

I've never been a big drinker or big partier, in fact both of my hen's parties (yes, I had two for the one wedding) ended around 10pm because I wanted to go home to bed. As you can imagine, I didn't really feel constrained by the restrictions imposed by pregnancy and then breastfeeding. However, it was nice to have a chance to go out partying with the girls for a colleague's hens party recently, even if I was the only sober one at 10pm when I went home and they moved on to the next club. :) 

 

 

This was one of those layouts that didn't turn out how I was expecting, mainly due to issues with the background. I wanted to create a background of drips running down the page, but the Dylusions ink soaked straight in instead. Despite backing the cardstock with extra paper it still warped. The black ink flicks were not what I was after at all. I actually thought I was finished with this layout but decided to rework it two days later because it had been bugging me. I like the end result better, you can see the earlier one of the Let's Get Sketchy page.

 

This was created for the Let's Get Sketchy reveal. It's a great sketch and we would love to see your take on it.

 

Puffing Billy - Let's Get Sketchy DT

Since I'm on maternity leave at the moment I'm trying to scrapbook on a budget. I've found the best technique is to not go into any stores, as my willpower once I see all the pretties is non-existent. The benefit of this though is that I'm going through all my old stash and finding things I'd forgotten I had purchased, like the circle alpha stickers on this layout. Combining this with scrapping older photos has given me a real sense of nostalgia.

 

 

This layout features photos taken during a trip with my mum and dad on Puffing Billy, a steam train through the Dandenongs in Victoria. It's such a fun ride and everyone sticks their legs out of the windows as they ride. On the day we went we hadn't realised it was the last day of school holidays though so it was PACKED!

 

When I first saw this weeks sketch for Let's Get Sketchy I thought 'that is so busy!'. But the good thing about sketches is you don't have to follow them exactly, so I skipped some of the details and focused on the paper background shapes instead. I'm normally not too good at picking sizes for multiple background layers so I cheated and just used up my Vintage Rose Garden scraps by Couture Creations. Keeping the photos and title placement means you can still see the bones of the sketch in the finished layout. Hope on over to the blog to see how the rest of the design team interpreted the sketch.

 

My Little Dude - Let's Get Sketchy DT

I was looking through my paper stash and I discovered that I had purchased a whole bunch of possible baby-themed papers whilst pregnant that I had then forgotten about. The 'Boy Crazy' range really jumped out at me, with it's bright colours and bold patterns, so I decided to create this layout with it. The photos are from VERY early Harrison, with his dark hair that all fell out and came back blonde, his jaundice skin and the hospital supplied wraps.

 

Chipboard is by Scrapmatts. Sketch inspiration is from Let's Get Sketchy, who have a great sketch up for this week. Check out the rest of the Design Team's work, there is a great mix of graphic and arty interpretations.

Better With Friends - Let's Get Sketchy DT

Have you ever had a layout that just didn't want to work for you, no matter what you did? This was the problem I faced for this week's DT sketch over at Let's Get Sketchy, with the added complication that Harrison had been sick all week so I was already late with my submission. In the end I just chucked it in and started from scratch, first time I've ever completely given up on a layout. I'm much happier with the end result though.

 

 

Lots of fussy cutting in this layout. I don't know why my brain gets fixated on fussy cutting whenever I have a close deadline, it seems the closer it gets the more fussy cutting I want to do! Some gesso swipped over the background for a photo matt. I meant to do some stamping then but forgot. Made it much harder as I then had to add it after the flowers and photo were added. :( I like the way the flowers all blend into each other and the background. Ben thinks they would have looked better if they stood out a bit more. What do you think?

 

 

Here the sketch number 4 over at Let's Get Sketchy. Check out the post to see the amazing work of the rest of the team. We'd love to see what you can create with it.

 

Want to see the layout that defeated me? This is how far I had gotten before giving up. If anyone has tips for how I can save it I'm all ears. :)

 

 

Easter Bunny - Let's Get Sketchy DT

I am very pleased to announce that I was successful in my application to join the Let's Get Sketchy Design Team! This great sketch site has a new sketch up EVERY WEEK. This is my first reveal and I've used a photo I took of Harrison on Easter Sunday, which also happened to be the date he turned 8 months old. He doesn't look very impressed in the photo but he was actually puffing out his cheeks to blow me a raspberry, which is one of his favourite things to do at the moment. I'm so happy I managed to capture it on film. :)

 

 

I found this Kaisercraft background paper in my stash and it matched the chevron pattern on the bunny perfectly (it is a bunny, the ears have just flopped backwards). I didn't want all the square elements from the sketch to just be floating on the page, so I laid down some cream paint and added some stamping and paint splatters to the background to ground and centre it all.

 

 

Here is the sketch for April Week 2. I know it might look a bit scary (I had a choice of this sketch or another one for my DT application and avoided this one because I didn't think I could make it work), but I've ended up with a layout I love by playing around with the sizes and placements. Check out the blog to see the work of the other DT members too, there are some amazing layouts to inspire you.