Wrapping Up The Year - Craft'n Around the World Design Team layout

 This month, for my Design Team layout I decided to get creative with the Craft'n Around the World Facebook challenge. While the challenge included both card and layout sketches, I decided to take the card sketch and turn it into a scrapbooking layout. It had a lovely Christmas vibe, so I chose to make a festive layout that captures a bit of our holiday cheer.

One of the reasons I love using card sketches for scrapbooking layouts is that they often help me think outside the box. With card sketches, you’re usually working in a smaller, more confined space, which challenges you to be creative and make the most of the elements. That same challenge applies when you adapt it for a larger layout; suddenly, you’re thinking about how to stretch the design, how to play with proportions, and how to balance the elements in a way that feels right for the size of the page.

The sketch had a circular element, which I replaced with a fussy-cut Christmas wreath. I made the wreath much larger than in the sketch, giving it an overemphasised, whimsical feel. It really stands out and gives the layout a playful, festive touch. The wreath’s soft greens, reds, and golds from Cocoa Vanilla’s Joyful collection added a lovely, muted tone—much more subtle than the usual bright reds and greens of other Christmas collections.

The sketch included paper strips behind the central element, which I wanted to use as a background for my photo. The last strip features a 'V-notch' which I placed so that it overlaps the wreath, making sure the detail was visible. This small touch adds some interest and balance to the page. What I love about Cocoa Vanilla’s Joyful Collection is the soft, muted colour palette. The colours are delicate and whimsical, creating a calming, nostalgic Christmas feel. It was perfect for the look I wanted—festive but not too bold or overwhelming.

 

Using a card sketch for a layout is such a great way to stretch your creativity. The compact design of card sketches challenges you to think outside the box and makes it easy to adapt elements to fit a larger page. It helped me create a layout that was both unique and fun, without being too rigid in design.

If you're looking for a fun way to jumpstart your creativity this month, I highly recommend giving the challenge at Craft'n Around the World a try. It’s a great way to create something new and get into the festive spirit!

Happy scrapping, and have a wonderful holiday season!

Scrapbook Fun with Craft’n Around the World Challenge - Untamed Happiness

Hello, lovely scrapbookers!

It’s time for another Craft’n Around the World challenge, and I’m so excited to share my layout with you all! Whether you’re a seasoned scrapbooker or just getting started, this challenge is a fantastic opportunity to get creative, try new things, and connect with crafters from around the globe. Each month, the Craft’n Around the World Facebook group offers three different categories for you to choose from:

1. Scrapbook Sketch
2. Card Sketch
3. Open Theme

This flexibility is one of the reasons I love this challenge so much. Whether you’re in the mood for following a sketch or want to do your own thing with an open theme, there’s something for everyone! The best part? You can enter up to three times, so you have plenty of room to experiment and try different approaches. And remember, with the sketches, you’re not locked into a rigid design—you can rotate the sketch, swap shapes, or put your own unique spin on it. Just like I did for my creation, I flipped the sketch on it's head which turned out perfect to captured Hunter’s wild personality. I’ve been meaning to scrap some photos of Hunter, our red Alaskan Malamute, and this sketch was the perfect excuse to do just that. 

Hunter is a dog with a lot of personality. He tests our patience, but his loving nature and hilarious antics always win us over. And honestly, there’s no better way to describe him than with the title I gave this layout: Untamed Happiness. You can see the joy on his face as he bounces around the backyard, showing off his wild side—just pure, untamed happiness!

The photos I used perfectly captures Hunter in his element—legs mid-air, ears forward, and a face that just screams fun. I wanted the layout to reflect that energy, so I chose elements that felt playful and lighthearted.

I’ll admit, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start with a layout, but this sketch made everything come together so quickly. The design was full of fun elements that I could easily adapt to fit my photos of Hunter in action. I added some layers of patterned paper, which helped add depth, and the overall layout just clicked.

One of the things I love most about this layout is the background. I used a woodgrain paper to create a natural, earthy feel, but then I added a bit of messiness to the mix. I splattered some silver and grey colour spray over the page to give it that carefree, energetic vibe. The splatters feel like Hunter’s exuberant energy spilling out all over the page, adding a fun, messy touch to the design.

For added texture, I fussy cut a bunch of stars from patterned paper and created little clusters around the layout. These stars are playful and tie in perfectly with Hunter’s fun-loving personality. The clusters help guide the eye across the page and add a bit of whimsical charm.

The sketch had a great spot for a title, and I knew I wanted to make it stand out. I used two different types of fonts to add some visual interest. The chipboard title gives the page some height and texture, while the flat sticker font adds a subtle layering effect. The title, Untamed Happiness, perfectly sums up Hunter’s spirited and joyful nature, and the mix of fonts makes it pop against the background.

If you’re not already part of the Craft'n Around the World group, don’t worry—it’s open to crafters worldwide, and we’d love to have you join us. You can find the group here. Trust me, it’s a great community for inspiration, encouragement, and a bit of fun.

I’m so happy with how this layout turned out, and I hope it brings a little joy to your day just like it did for me when I created it. Thanks for stopping by, and I can’t wait to see your creations in the group.

Happy scrapping, and remember: let your creativity run wild—just like Hunter!

Happy 50th Birthday Layout

Today I am sharing a layout I created just for fun, a special scrapbook about my Happy 50th Birthday!! This one is particularly meaningful because I celebrated my milestone birthday in a quiet and personal way, with a lovely dinner out with Adrian and the girls. I definitely didn’t want a big party, so we kept it low-key, but it was filled with love, laughter, and precious moments. I wanted to capture the essence of that simple celebration, which is why this layout is so close to my heart.

For this layout, I used elements from two Kitaholic Kits, the October and November kits, which made it so simple to pull together the design with my photo. The bright bold funky colours from the October kit balanced perfectly with the woodgrain from the November kit. I love how the patterned papers, stickers, and embellishments from each kit just worked together so seamlessly—it really made creating this layout a breeze!

Have you noticed that tags are showing up all over scrapbooking layouts these days? It seems like tags are a big trend in the scrapbooking world right now, and I’m totally here for it! So, of course, when I was working with the October kit, I couldn’t resist cutting a few tags from the patterned papers. I love how they create a layered effect and add that extra touch of dimension to the page.

One of my favorite parts of this layout is the fun and whimsical touch I added with pom-pom trim. I used the trim to hold hand-cut flags/banners, which I rolled at the edges to make them look like they were fluttering in the wind. It’s such a playful detail and adds a fun, interactive feel to the layout—like the celebration is still going on! The pom-pom trim gives it just the right amount of texture, and I think it brings out the joy and fun of the moment. I love using trim like this because it’s a simple way to add interest to a layout without it overpowering the design. The fluttering banners work perfectly with the overall vibe of this birthday layout.

Another cute part of this layout is the gold mirrored hearts from the November kit. They were just the perfect finishing touch! The sparkle of the hearts reminded me of the love and warmth surrounding my birthday celebration. And the moment I saw those hearts, I knew I had to pull out some gold paint to add a little gold touch to the title as well. The "50th" in my title was originally made up of white sticker letters, but I gave them a custom gold finish by painting over them. I love how the gold paint ties everything together, especially with the gold mirrored hearts. The subtle shimmer of the gold makes the layout feel extra special and adds a sophisticated touch to the design.

This Happy 50th layout holds so many special memories for me. It was the perfect way to document such a personal milestone. Working with the Kitaholic Kits was so much fun—I love how the October and November kits came together and inspired me to create something that reflects the joy and love of the day. 

Paw Prints on the Heart

The Craft'n Around the World Facebook page has an exciting challenge this month - a sketch challenge with two options, one for a layout and one for a card. Intrigued by the versatility of the card sketch, I decided to put my own spin on it and transform it into a vibrant layout instead. This circular elements running acrost the card immediately caught my eye as I began brainstorming ways to adapt it for a scrapbook page. Circles can be such dynamic and visually-striking design tools on a layout, and I was eager to experiment with incorporating them in a fun, creative way.

Creating this layout for the Craft'n around the World Facebook Challenge page was a delightful endeavor, especially when the focus was on my family's newest furry addition - our adorably mischievous kitten, Jinx. Aptly named for his penchant for playful chaos, Jinx has settled into our household with all the energy and enthusiasm of a little ball of fluff. 

Using the provided card sketch as inspiration, I arranged the various elements and then doodling playful lines around the circles, with a few hearts thrown across the patterned paper helping to tie the whole design together in a cohesive, whimsical manner. And to add an extra touch of fun, I incorporated the journaling into the circular elements, allowing the words to flow beneath the circles. From Jinx's crazy kitten capers to his cuddly cuddles, this scrapbook layout perfectly captures the paw prints he's left on our hearts. It's a delightful memento of our newest furry family member and the mischief-filled happiness he's brought into our lives.

Surf’s Up! Scrapbooking Fun with Craft’n Around the World Challenge

Aloha, fellow scrapbookers.

My Design Team layout for the Craft’n Around the World Facebook challenge was, an absolute wave of fun! The challenge is an open theme with the option to use a card or layout sketch. I decided to dive into the layout sketch—and I’m so glad I did! This sketch was perfect for showcasing my daughter Paige’s awesome surfing adventure on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii.

Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever tried surfing, but let me tell you, Paige’s instructor was not just any teacher—this guy had some serious Aquaman vibes! Seriously, I almost half expected him to have a trident hidden somewhere. 🏄‍♂️ With his guidance, Paige stood up on her first wave, and I was so impressed (and not a little bit jealous) of how natural she made it look!

When I sat down to create the layout, I knew I wanted the colours to reflect the vibrancy of our Hawaiian adventure—think bright blues for the ocean and sunny yellows for those endless days of warmth. The blues instantly remind me of the clear, tropical waters of Waikiki, while the funky yellow of the sun adds that playful touch of sunshine. The hand-cut sun was actually a bit of an experiment for me, but I’m so glad I took the time—it really helps pull the whole layout together!

One of the things I love about following a sketch is how quickly the layout starts to come together. The basic framework of the design gives you that wonderful "skeleton" to build on, so you’re not staring at a blank page wondering where to start (we've all been there, right?). Once I had the sketch, the placement of my photos and elements just flowed, and it didn’t take long to get everything down on paper. There’s something about following a sketch that speeds up the process, but still lets you add your personal touch. It’s like a guide that leads you to creativity—fast! At first, I tried placing the photos neatly in rows, but it just didn’t feel right. The day had been full of joy, energy, and playful chaos—not the kind of day to be captured in perfect symmetry. So, I went with a slightly haphazard arrangement, letting the photos overlap and spill a bit off the edge of the base patterned paper. It created a more spontaneous, carefree look, which is exactly what I was after.

If you’re looking to spark your creativity this month (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), I highly recommend checking out the Craft’n Around the World challenge page. Whether you pick the layout sketch like I did or go with the open theme, it’s a great opportunity to get your hands messy, try something new, and have a blast with your scrapbooking!

Happy scrapping, everyone. And remember—whether you’re surfing waves in Hawaii or scrapbooking from home, let your creativity flow like the ocean tide. 

Weekend Walks

Hi, crafty friends! I’m excited to share a new layout I created for a  Paper Issues mood board challenge. The theme focused on warm autumn tones—think orange, turquoise, and nature elements like leaves and wood textures. I chose a photo of my youngest daughter, Paige, and her pup Pip, silhouetted against a sunset during a walk in Jervis Bay.

The vibrant oranges of the sunset and the peaceful scene were the perfect match for this mood board. I used papers with rich oranges and turquoise accents and fussy cut some orange flowers, adding ttexture with a woodgrain natural vibe. I also scattered acrylic flowers and butterflies for a bit of whimsy.

The result is a cozy, autumn-inspired layout that captures the peacefulness of a sunset walk. I had so much fun bringing these colors and textures together!

Want to join the fun? Check out the Paper Issues community for more inspiration: Paper Issues Facebook Group.

Happy scrapping!

Keep Going - Sunshine!

Have you ever had one of those days at work where everything feels ho-hum, and all you can think about is coming home to do something that makes you feel alive and creative? Well, that was me the other day! After a long month of meeting deadlines and powering through the daily grind, I was beyond ready to unwind with a bit of scrapbooking therapy.

So, I did what any creative soul would do—I headed straight to my scraproom and opened up my latest October Kit from Kitaholic Kits! Talk about the perfect timing! The kit was packed with bright, bold colors and funky designs, and it was just begging to be paired with some fun photos. I quickly grabbed a few snaps from Bronte's birthday—she was having a hilarious time trying (and failing) to hit the piñata. She had the best swing, but not much luck with the actual hitting, so the photos are absolutely priceless.

The Kitaholic Kit was made for these photos—seriously, the colors and patterns were spot on. The Vicki Boutin patterned papers were vibrant and full of life, giving my layout an upbeat, celebratory vibe. And those embellishments? Perfect! The ephemera pieces, flower stickers, Bo Bunny puffy stickers, and Corbett Creations hearts all teamed together effortlessly to add the perfect touch of funk and fun. I had so much fun layering and playing around with different textures. It’s one of those layouts that just came together quickly—sometimes it’s like the design magically falls into place when the product is just right!

To tie everything together, I couldn't resist adding a few splatters of spray to the white cardstock background. A little splash of color goes a long way in enhancing the energy of the page (and honestly, a good spray session is so satisfying!).

It’s amazing how much stress can melt away when you sit down to scrapbook. It’s like the world slows down, and all that matters is the joy of creating something fun and meaningful. And this layout? It was just the creative release I needed.

I’m so thrilled with how this one turned out—fun, funky, and full of life. I hope it inspires you to take some time to unwind and create something that brings a smile to your face! 

Happy scrapping!