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!

White with One - Letters and Numbers Cybercrop

Hey there, fellow crafters! I recently participated in the White with One (Facebook Challenge Page) Letters and Numbers cybercrop and let me tell you, it was a blast! Just the thing to get the old mojo working. There were some awesome challenges but with being so busy with the girls I only got around to doing three of them.

Challenge Four: 50 and Awesome!!

For my first challenge, I dove into Challenge four, where the goal was to create a layout highlighting a significant birthday using a large number. I decided to take a playful approach, using pink as my one colour and the oversized 50 in celebration of my dreaded milestone. I pulled out some patterned papers in various shades of pink and layered them to form a fun background. The key was trying to make the 50 pop so I teamed it with some large letters too! And because I didn't have any paper with 50 on it I decided to hand-draw onto the white cardstock.

Challenge Two: Paw-some 6 Pack

 Next up was Challenge two, where the goal was to create a layout making numbers a significant part of the design.  I decided to create a layout dedicated to a litter of six adorable Malamute puppies. Each photo of the pups was numbered using a fancy font, giving them it playful touch. To add a bit of flair, I hand-painted bold stripes across the background with a few splatters for some fun.  

For embellishments, I included cute vellum-printed animals that added a whimsical feel to the layout. I also adorned the top and bottom of the page with a fun border of stickers, bringing everything together in a cohesive design. To really highlight the number of pups, I circled the number six in a prominent spot, making it a focal point of the layout.

Bonus Challenge: Mermaid Mischief

Finally, I tackled the Bonus Challenge, which required using at least ten small photos. I created a delightful layout featuring a stack of tiny photos of my daughters at the pool, learning to swim while wearing adorable mermaid tails. The entire design embraced various shades of blue and white, perfectly aligning with the mermaid and water theme.

I used glitter foam letters for the title, which added just the right touch of sparkle to the layout. To embellish the page, I incorporated cute stickers of mermaids and seashells, enhancing the underwater vibe. To complete the look, I finished it off with a border of scalloped paper running down the right side, adding a whimsical touch.

This layout was a departure from my usual creations, embracing an understated elegance. I was pleasantly surprised to fit 14 photos onto one page, capturing all those precious moments of my daughters’ swim adventure. It turned out to be a charming tribute to their fun-filled day in the water!.

I'm happy with how all the layout turned out and am looking forward to White with One's next cyber crop.

  Happy crafting!

Gotta love a Public Holiday

 What a fantastic weekend! With markets, food festivals, and plenty of scrapbooking, it was just the refresh I needed. Celebrating the Labour Day Public Holiday here in Canberra really brought the essence of spring to life.

Between all the activities, I carved out some time for crafting and created two vibrant layouts that I'm excited to share. I had some photos from Floriade printed, and the Rainbow Twirl collection from Paper Rose was just calling out to be paired with them. The stunning colors in this collection complement the bold, bright hues of the flowers at Floriade perfectly. I can’t wait to show you all what I came up with!

Blooming Buddies

A fun layout featuring Paige and Beet during their time at Floriade! They truly enjoyed the fresh air and the stunning flowers around them. These two ragga muffins are inseparable and complement each other perfectly.

I had a blast using vibrant color mists to match the bright rainbow hues of the fussy cut flowers I incorporated into the layout. To capture the story of Paige and Beet, I created a hidden tag that tucks behind the photo—such a fun way to add a personal touch!

Paws and Petals

On the same day we visited Floriade with Beet and Paige, we brought along Nova, who absolutely thrived in the sunshine! She has a special way of attracting attention wherever we go—maybe it’s her loving nature or that bright, happy smile of hers!

I started with a vision for this layout, but as I dove deeper into the creative flow, it took on a life of its own. I found myself tearing, stitching, fussy cutting, and using dies to bring my ideas to life. The florals in the patterned paper were just perfect for fussy cutting and layering, creating beautiful backgrounds that really captured the essence of our day. 

I've still got a few more hours left in the last day of the long weekend .... so I wonder what I will create now? 

Craft'n Around the World

 While I have a moment to spare, I wanted to catch up on the layouts I’ve created for the Facebook challenge group Craft'n Around the World. I’ve been on the team for five months, participating in both the layout and card sketches. Since I don’t make cards often, I usually adapt the card sketches into layouts. Sometimes it works out beautifully, and other times, it doesn’t quite meet my expectations.

Anyway in reverse order my Design Team creations.

September

August

July

June

May

Scraptember - Day 18 - Multiphoto

Day 18 - Multiphoto

I’ve done it again—jumping ahead in the prompts! With limited time over the weekend, I chose to create a layout based on the vision I had in my mind. I wanted to feature lots of photos and hanging tags, and since I still had the Paper Rose collection papers on my desk, I knew they’d be the perfect fit. I’m thrilled with how it turned out!

This layout captures the fun we had swimming in the cool, refreshing waters of Berry Springs, right in the heart of the Australian bush. The Paper Rose Nature Stroll collection was the ideal choice, featuring beautiful bush florals and animals that perfectly complement our adventure. 

A large photo alongside three smaller ones was the perfect way to incorporate multiple photos into this layout, enhanced by hanging tags for a playful touch.

Scraptember Day 16 Cutfile, Punch or Dies

Day 16 - Cutfile, Punch or Dies

I know I have jumped ahead three prompts and skipped days 14 and 15 but I promise I will catch up.... my excuse is that I just had to scrap this photo of the girls that I forgot I had in my pile of photos. It's not often these days I get photos of the girls being nice to each other (typical teenagers) so I just had to use these beautiful papers from Paper Rose. A lot of fussy cutting teamed with the required die-cut leaves and title as the prompt inspiration. 

I thought I would add a few close up shots so you can see the detail of the die-cuts and how perfectly well they match the patterned papers. I love using double-sided patterns with the dies as they give you two colour or pattern options to use on your layout. For something a bit different, I decided to try the dies with some vellum and created a few extra leaves and vines to include in the clusters and then I did a word for the title. 

I really love how the layout has turned out—soft, feminine but also outdoorsy (is that a word?). The added touches of tiny gems and spray splatters finish it off. 

Scraptember - Days 11, 12 and 13 - catcup

 It has been so busy here that I have fallen a bit behind but I am committed to doing all the Scrapbtember prompts!! Here are a few that I have done so far.

Day 11 - Long Title

I wanted to try something a little different for this layout of Bronte in her peach dress, I wanted to use angles to create a dynamic and visually engaging layout that draws the eye, after all as Life is about how you look at things. It’s all about perspective and the angles you choose to see and Bronte certainly sees life differently. 

Day 12 - Holiday

I really didn't need a prompt to scrap any of our Hawaii Holiday photos (which there are many) but seeing as Holiday was the prompt, how could I say not! A bit of mixed media and doodling, with some simple embellishment to create a fulfilled page, that goes along with the topic of learning to surf on Waikiki Beach!! 

Day 13 - Mixed Media 

For the prompt of Mixed Media I wanted to create a complete layout using just mixed media, so I pulled out my Colour Blast Colour Pastes and Shimmer Sprays, with stencils and then some stamping. A lot of messy fun but I love how the layout has turned out, pretty and delicate. 

Thanks for stopping in and stop back in soon as I have a few layouts that I am putting the finishing touches on.