Growth LO

Wow, what a creative start to 2015 it has been for me! Between layouts, cards, ATCs, art journals and off the page projects this is my 14th post for the month. I'm even ahead on design team projects. I hope I can keep this up all year. This layout is a challenge layout rather than a project for a specific commitment, just because I could! :)

I keep alternating between thinking I like the clean look so it's done and wanting to add a bit more to it. Does it need some sewing, does it need some ink splashes? For now I'm just going to leave it like it is.

Challenge YOUrself has set their January topic as choosing your One Little Word. I think OLW is an interesting concept but have never previously taken part. I chose Growth as my word and journalled about why. I think it's important to not lose sight of all the components that make up me while I'm focusing on helping Harrison grow.

I thought Stuck?! Sketches didn't let you combine their sketch with other challenges, so it has been a while since I played with them. However, I was re-reading their rules and they do, so I used their January sketch as the basis for this layout.

First Christmas Photo - Scrapmatts DT

Continuing on with the Christmas fun, here is a layout featuring Harrison's first Santa photo! Harrison is very social at the moment and just likes being around people so he really wasn't too fussed by meeting Santa. Ben and I stayed with him just to be safe, plus we used to get Santa photos with just the two of us so this is a nice transition.

 

 

While my cards used older Christmas releases, this layout features two new release chipboard packs from Scrapmatts: CB1228 Christmas Ornaments 14 and CB1224 Holly 03. The Christmas tree charm in the top right is also from Scrapmatts (CH041 Christmas Trees #1).

 

 

Challenge YOUrself requires you to create a layout featuring a tradition. I know this is the first photo with Santa for Harrison but it will probably be the start of a tradition for him. I used the current sketch at Let's Get Sketchy as my design inspiration for this layout.

 

 

My Baby Boy - Scrapmatts DT

Following on from the 10-day old photos of Harrison I shared yesterday, here is one taken last week. My journaling describes some of the early challenges we faced with breastfeeding, how we're working to overcome these and how much I enjoy post feed cuddles (which is when I took this photo).

There are so many different ways you can use chipboard but sometimes all it needs is a quick coat of paint like I've done here.

Scrapmatts used: CB5106 Chevrons 01; CB8001 Circles 01; CB4055 Assorted Words 09.

I was inspired by the sketch over at Challenge YOUrself this month. It's a fun challenge site which requires you to include yourself in the photo. 

ARTastic has set the challenge of doodling for November, I've doodled borders on all my papers and the chipboard circles.

So Happy Together

So the first class I took at the Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo over the weekend was titled On This Day and the tutor was Angella Peardon. The class was sponsored by Scrapmatts and yes, I still love taking their classes ever after having been on their design team for 1.5 years. You always get to play with new release chipboard, the instructions are very easy to follow and the project is specifically created to be completed during the class.

 

 

One of the features of this LO was the tag we created. It was optional as to whether it was included in the layout or not but I liked the look of it so it's stuck down now. I didn't make too many changes to this layout as I really liked the way it all came together. Only things I added at home was some red ink to the chipboard hearts, the alpha stickers to the tag and glued down the arrow charm which came in the kit anyway.

 

Here you can see Angella and I with the layout as created in class. Angella is only around 145cm tall and I'm 176cm so I've had to lead down quite a way for this photo! :) Unfortunately, Angella has decided to step away from the Scrapmatts team to focus on some other projects she's working on. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she's been cooking up in the background.

 

 

Lastly, this is a quick snap of part of Angella's tutor display at the Expo. There's a reason when she's known as the Off-The-Page queen! :)

 

 

This layout also fulfils the criteria for the current challenge over at Challenge YOUrself, which is to include the men in your life.