July Reveal for A Cut Above Blog Challenges

Welcome to my July reveal for the Creative Team of A Cut Above Blog Challenge. At A Cut Above, the theme is always "Anything Goes," but there’s a catch: you must include at least one die cut in your project. This can be from either a manual or electronic die-cut machine, meaning no prefabricated die cuts allowed. Challenges are posted monthly on the first Monday at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) and run until the 28th at 8:00 PM. Winners are announced on the 30th, showcasing the incredible talent within our community. It's a fantastic way to stretch your creative muscles and explore new ideas while sharing your work with fellow crafters.

This month, I created a fun and funky layout to celebrate my baby turning 15. Time flies, doesn’t it? For her birthday, the theme was Stitch, which suits her vibrant personality perfectly. Stitch is quirky and a bit odd—much like my Paige. I chose bright rainbow colours paired with blue to complement the Stitch theme.

I used a double balloon metal die for this creation, cutting it out from two blues and a rainbow pattern paper. For this creation, I reached for my leftover scrap paper to cut the die shape, breathing new life into bits and pieces that would otherwise go unused. Using scraps not only reduces waste but also allows me to create tailored embellishments that perfectly match my project’s colour scheme and theme. It’s become my go-to method, turning leftovers into something special that truly enhances my designs.

From just one die, I crafted a bunch of balloons, attaching them to a three-dimensional sticker of Stitch, giving the illusion that he’s floating away. To add depth, I used three-dimensional tape on the balloons, layering them to create a big, cheerful bunch. I also lightly inked the edges with black ink to make them pop off the page.

I encourage you to join the fun at A Cut Above. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting, this community welcomes all skill levels. Share your projects, get inspired, and connect with other creative minds. I can’t wait to see what you create.

July Reveal for Craftin' Around the World

Welcome to another reveal for the month of July for Craftin' Round the World Blog Challenge. Each month, there are exciting challenges, including a sketch (both for cards and scrapbooking) and every other month you can choose from a Tic-Tac-Toe; where you pick a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of use the prompts to inspire your creation or an inspirational Moodboard to inspire you. This month, I’ve tackled both the scrapbooking sketch layout and the Tic-Tac-Toe challenge, but today I’m thrilled to only reveal my creation based on the scrapbooking sketch. You’ll have to stay tuned for my Tic-Tac-Toe layout later in the month. 

Using sketches as a foundation for your projects is incredibly versatile. They can serve as direct inspiration, or you can modify them to suit your style—flipping or rotating them as needed. This flexibility allows for endless creativity and personalisation. Here is this month's sketch; I hope it inspires you to be creative. 

I had a fantastic time with this month’s sketch. The moment I saw the round element, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: I had to include a wagon wheel. As I didn’t have one on hand, I decided to hand-paint one using watercolours and then fussy cut it out. It turned out beautifully and adds the perfect touch to my photos of the girls having fun with a big old Clydesdale horse.

Another element of the sketch that caught my eye were the tags. Lately, I’ve been incorporating tags into just about every layout I create. There’s something about them that gives the perfect finishing touch, whether for journaling or hidden journaling or just as an embellishment—perfection.

Fussy cutting out the florals from some beautiful Cocoa Vanilla patterned paper was such a therapeutic experience for me. There’s something calming about the process, and it allowed me to immerse myself in the intricate details. Once I added those pretty blooms to my layout, they brought a stunning vibrancy that truly elevated the overall design.

I can’t wait to share more of my creations with you and I hope you feel inspired to jump into this month’s challenges. Be sure to check back for my Tic-Tac-Toe reveal later on.

Craftin' Round the World June Creative Team Reveal

 Welcome back for my second reveal for June for Craftin' Round the World Facebook Challenge Group. Just a friendly reminder: we have two challenges each month—one sketch and either a colour moodboard or Tic-Tac-Toe challenge. Join us in sharing your creativity, we would really love to see how you use these challenges:

For my second creative team reveal this month, I took on the sketch challenge and created a layout from Adrian and my recent outing to the Red Hot Summer Concert. It was a fantastic day spent enjoying live music under the sun, just Adrian and me, while the girls had their own adventures.

I stayed quite true to the original sketch, making a slight adjustment by sliding the paper strip lower on the page to preserve the record image on the backing paper. I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I love how scrapbooking allows us to capture and celebrate precious moments like these. I can’t wait to see your takes on the challenges this month.

Happy scrapping

June A Cut Above Creative Team Reveal

 This month for A Cut Above, I have created a layout that is bright, bold, and bursting with fun—perfectly capturing the spirit of my two daughters when they were younger. They were the cheekiest of partners in crime, filling our days with what I like to call Wonderful Chaos.

To bring this lively energy to the page, I reached for a collection of flower metal dies and cut a range of blooms in every colour of the rainbow. I wanted to create a cascade of flowers down the left-hand side of the layout, a playful tumble of colour that would balance against the structure of the folded rainbow fans on the right.

The folded fans are a little nod to my own childhood. I can still remember making them during primary school art classes—folding paper back and forth to create simple, joyful decorations. I thought they would be the perfect addition to this page, adding not only a pop of colour but also a lovely sense of nostalgia.

The juxtaposition between the flowing cascade of flowers and the crisp, structured fans brings a dynamic feel to the layout, mirroring the mix of energy and sweetness that defined those younger days. Whether it’s the rainbow palette, the playful shapes, or the memory of folding fans as a child, I hope this page brings a smile and maybe even a few happy memories for you too.

Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to sharing more creative adventures with you next month.

June Creative Team reveal for Craftin' Round the World

Popping in to share my first creation for the June challenges at Craftin' Around the World Facebook Challenge roup. Just a quick reminder: each month features two unique challenges: a sketch and either a colour moodboard or a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge. We love seeing how each of you brings your own flair to the challenges so please, if you get some time, pop in and give them a go. The link is on my sidebar on the right to this post. Here are this month's challenges:

For my first creation for June, I opted for the colour moodboard, and it was the perfect opportunity to showcase Bronte’s birthday celebration. The moodboard featured an exciting array of colours, including two shades of green, purple, pink, and a bright blue, all of which reflected the vibrant atmosphere of the day.

The photos I used are of Bronte and her friends enjoying a buffet dinner—what a treat for them to sit at a table just for the "kids". To enhance the festive vibe, I included pink glitter paper, hand-drawn borders, mists, and splats, along with some funky buttons and tassels. In an attempt to give my button collection a fresh twist, I adhered them down and wrapped interconnecting strings between them, resulting in a fun, dynamic element.

Can’t wait to see how you all interpret this month’s challenges.

Guest Designer for Paper Rose Studio – A Wedding Joy

I was asked to be a Guest Designer for Paper Rose Studio, an I was so excited to take up this opportunity.  Getting the chance to play with gorgeous products and share a bit of what I love—it’s always a treat. The collection I was assigned? Wedding Joy. And what a joy it truly was.

This collection is just divine. It’s the perfect pick for documenting all things wedding, from the big day itself to those quieter, candid moments that mean just as much. The papers feature subtle hues and gentle tones that bring an understated elegance, with accents of roses that are just perfect for fussy cutting. You know when something just works together effortlessly? That’s this range.

To add a bit of sparkle, the die cuts and metallic foil paper in the collection bring in that shimmer and shine without going over the top. It adds versatility too—you can go minimal or really lean into the glamour, depending on your style.

For my layout, I created Making Memories Together, featuring a photo from my brother’s wedding. The collection felt like it was made for these moments. One of the things I really appreciated was how well the soft colours and beautiful designs elevated the photos, even this slightly imperfect one. We’ve all got those, right? The kind that capture the feeling but might not be picture-perfect. This collection helps bring out the best in them.

A special mention has to go to the Wedding Joy Basics C paper. The roses on this sheet are ideal for fussy cutting, and paired with the foil touches, they add lovely texture and sophistication to a page. 

Whether you’re layering elements or highlighting a special photo, it all comes together beautifully.

Thanks again to Paper Rose Studio for having me—it’s been an absolute pleasure.

Crafting Around the World Creative Team May Reveal

Today I am excited to share my second Craftin' Round the World Creative Team reveal with you. Just a reminder: each month we have two challenges—one sketch and one colour moodboard or Tic-Tac-Toe challenge, where you are free to interpret them in your own creative way. Here are May's challenges:

Using the Tic-Tac-Toe inspiration, I went for a diagonal line from bottom left to top right: paper tearing, my favourite colour (which I optimistically interpreted as "rainbow"), and florals. I absolutely love using paper tearing to add texture to my layouts—it creates such an organic feel. Choosing my favourite colour was a delightful challenge, but I decided to embrace the whole rainbow spectrum; after all, who doesn’t love all the colours?

I chose a vibrant photo of Paige enjoying her favourite drink—Dragonfruit Mango Lemonade—while we were in Hawaii. It captures her sheer joy and is the perfect focal point for a cheerful layout. As always, I incorporated florals, which naturally fit into my style.

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of the challenges!

 

May A Cut Above Creative Team Reveal

Hello, friends. I am so excited to share my Creative Team Reveal layout for May at the A Cut Above Challenge Blog. If you haven't checked out the blog yet, head over here for all the crafty inspiration. The theme for the monthly challenge is always Anything Goes, but the twist is that at least one die-cut needs to be included in your project. So, whether you’re a seasoned scrapbooker or just starting out, this is the perfect opportunity to explore the wonderful world of die cutting.

For this challenge, I wanted to create something truly special to showcase two of the most important people in my life—my daughters. The photos I chose were taken when they were just a few days old, and when I looked at them side-by-side, I couldn’t help but notice how similar they looked at that age. It was such a sweet and precious moment, and I knew I wanted to capture it in a meaningful way with a scrapbook layout.

The first thing I decided on was the theme and colour palette for the layout. Since this page was going to feature my two little ones, I wanted to keep the colors soft and gentle—think light pink, peach, and a soft minty green. These colours evoke the softness of newborns and add the perfect balance of calmness to the page. However, I didn’t want it to feel too plain, so I decided to incorporate a pop of darker purple / blue for some contrast and visual interest.

I wanted to draw the eye to the photos of my daughters while also creating something visually captivating. My solution? A lovely, eye-catching floral arrangement that would lead the viewer’s eye down the page and direct their attention toward the precious photos at the center bottom of the page.

Here’s where die cutting came in! For me, die cuts are the magic behind transforming a layout from “okay” to “wow!” With just a few simple steps, you can create beautiful embellishments that add sophistication and dimension to your work. The best part? You don’t need to be an expert to get stunning results!

For my layout, I used die-cut flowers, but I wanted to make sure they didn’t just look flat or boring. To add dimension and make them truly pop, I made the flowers 3D. I die-cut multiple shapes of flowers and leaves and then assembled them by layering them on top of each other. But, instead of leaving them all flat, I used a few fun techniques to add shape and life to the flowers.

If you’re new to die-cutting or want to improve the dimension of your embellishments, here are a few tips that I swear by:

* Layer Your Die-Cuts: Start by cutting multiple layers of the same flower shape. Layering the pieces will give your flower height and fullness.

* Curl the Petals: Before assembling, curl the edges of each petal using a pencil, paintbrush, or bone folder. This gives the petals a natural, lifelike curve that makes them stand out.

* Add Water for Extra Curl: For an even more dramatic curl, lightly mist the cardstock with water before shaping the petals. The water helps the paper hold its shape, and it adds a beautiful texture to your flowers.

* Mix and Match Colours: Don’t be afraid to use different shades of cardstock. By layering petals in varying shades, you create depth and dimension, making your flowers look more realistic.

* Assemble and Attach: Once you’ve curled your petals and layered them together, attach the layers using foam adhesive or pop dots to create the illusion of a 3D flower.

For my layout this month I used the simple curl method for the large flowers, where after I cut them out of the cardstock I wrapped the petals around the wooden handle of a paintbrush so that they curled up and around. These simple steps transformed my flat die-cut flowers into vibrant, dimensional elements that draw attention to the photos and bring life to the layout. The flowers not only add interest but also help tie the whole page together beautifully.

If you're a beginner scrapbooker and haven't yet explored die cutting, let me tell you—it’s a game-changer. Die cuts can take your layouts from flat and plain to dynamic and eye-catching without needing too many extra supplies or tools. All you need is a die-cutting machine, dies, some cardstock, and a bit of creativity, and you’re on your way to creating incredible pages.

Once you get the hang of it, you can start experimenting with different dies, colors, and textures to create endless embellishments for your layouts. Whether you’re adding flowers, shapes, or even intricate backgrounds, die cutting is an essential technique that opens up a world of possibilities for scrapbookers at any skill level.

I hope my layout has inspired you to try your hand at creating beautiful die-cut embellishments for your own pages or cards. Don’t forget, you can join in on the A Cut Above Challenge this month; it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase your creativity.

Thanks for stopping by, and until next time, happy scrapping.