HK Memory Chest Kit Club - March 2014

How is it possible we are already going into March tomorrow? Time is passing much too quickly. It seems like we've only just finished one month's kit sample layouts, when the next month's layouts are being published already. Not complaining though, we've had so much fun with each kit. 

This next one for March features papers from a very new company, one that we found hidden away in the new exhibitors section at CHA. They are so different from what we've seen of other lines, that we knew we had to bring this to you. The papers show cute movie and film related images which we paired with some new Amy Tangerine embellishments.

March 2014 Kit
Monte Paper Mill “ Take2” – Love Words
Monte Paper Mill “ Take2” – Picture Start
Monte Paper Mill “ Take2” – Small Cut ‘Em Ups
Monte Paper Mill “ Take2” – Follow Your Heart
Monte Paper Mill “ Take2” – Accent Stickers Sheet
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Plus One Thickers Words
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Plus One Flair Buttons
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Plus One Destination Stickers Roll

Add-On Options     
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Plus One Die Cuts 
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Remarks Alphabet Sticker Book 
Studio Calico Wood Veneer - People

March Sizzix Die    
Sizzix Decorative Stripe Die - Chevron

Here's the sketch for this month. 

 Crete

I was looking for a new way to display multiple photos. I quite like this staggered column. Simple and shows all your photos.

I used by eClips to cut out the title, layering three of the same die cut on top of each other to make it thicker.

The chevron die cut I placed behind the photos sort of mimic the pattern of the stars on the yellow paper. That was pretty coincidental.

Extra Elements: Black Soot distress ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger, grey cardstock, eClips

Here We Go

I wanted a white background for this layout, but plain white just wouldn't do. I die cut strips of chevron and covered the page with them. It's lovely to rub your hand over the texture. The photos were taken on my first hike up to Tiger Head. It was pretty tough, but hubby wouldn't let me give up, which was good as I felt great after getting to the top.

The pops of yellow and orange spray gives the layout more visual interest. How brilliant is the Phew die cut? Ha, perfect for my photos.

I think these embellishments were made for my photos. The cloud (need more of these) with the wooden people are just too cute.

Did I say how in love I am with the foam Thickers words by Amy Tangerine? I Needed this (with a capital N) when I saw them. A must have.

Extra Elements: Yellow and Orange Ink Sprays

Seriously Cute

I've been holding on to these photos for a whole year, waiting for the right papers and I thought the film countdown paper was perfect. The photos were taken at the Coca Cola shop in Las Vegas last April. The bear is standing in front of a green screen and you were supposed to purchase the chroma-keyed photo, which we declined. I love the expression on both the bear's and Miss C's faces. So adorable.

I'm also submitting this layout for the My Creative Sketches February sketch challenge. I rotated the sketch 180 degrees, so the corner accent was on the bottom right instead of on the top left. I also used three photos instead of just the one.

This is the My Creative Sketches February sketch, which I rotated on my layout.

Absolutely love the foam words. The great thing about them is that they are flexible, so you can bend them the way you want before sticking them down.

I used an olive green cardstock for the base to match the green in the film countdown patterned paper. I then stamped on some film strips on the back to extend the film visuals. I designed the speech bubble die cut on my eClips, gluing several layers together before inking so it looks like a wood cut out.

I think this layout warranted some journaling, so I hid some behind the photo.

Here it is popped out to read.

Extra Elements: Film strip stamp from Technique Tuesday, Olive green cardstock, white acrylic paint, Black Soot distress ink, pink foam Thickers

Here are the other layouts from the rest of the crew.

Don't Let Anyone Dull Your Sparkle by Angela McDaniel

Family Time by Angela McDaniel

Kick by Angela McDaniel

Travel Is Good For The Soul by Angela McDaniel

Here We Go by Belly Lau

Love U Darling by Belly Lau

My Way by Erika Lui

Sheung Wan Crop
11th March (Tuesday)
10:30am - 12:30pm
Hosted by Grace Wong

11th March (Tuesday)
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Hosted by Erika Lui

Discovery Bay Crop
13th March (Thursday)
10am - 12pm
Hosted by Angela McDaniel

  

Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to seeing some more amazing creations with this kit.

Looking Back At Seven

It's getting to be that crazy time of year again when the hubby and child both turn another year older; all within four days of each other. Here's when the "who gets which weekend" juggling act starts. To top it all, we're off to Sydney for a few days and coming back the day of hubby's birthday, which means my planning time is even shorter. No cake for him from me as he wants a dinner that night after we get back. Trying to sort everyone out now.

For Miss C, we're looking at a Furby themed party and then a sleepover for a couple of her best friends. Luckily, we've agreed on only a handful of kids, so it will be a small and quiet party. Parties and planning aside, I'm still getting my head round the fact my little girl is turning eight in two weeks. Sigh. It's so bittersweet to see her growing up and how she can be smarter than me sometimes. I'm so happy she is still into giving and receiving lots of hugs and kisses.

In order to record this last year, I've done an @seven page. I did an "@ six" page a while back, and wanted to continue one for each year.

 You @ Seven ...Almost 8

The paper is actually part of some Valentine themed paper lines. The layout is based on a sketch that was included in my February MCS kit club package. I've never really used the sketches they include before, but I love the upside down pennant that was in this month's sketch.

They included some DIY spray flowers and I got to use my brand new gelatos. I'd been eying a set of these for ages but was put off by the price. After using them again at CHA, I couldn't resist anymore, so I ordered mine at HKMC. I am lovin' them.

This photo was taken last Sunday. I was going to leave the title at You @ Seven, but I couldn't resist adding "Almost 8".

Paper dolls!! Ever since Julie Nutting came out with the first one, I've loved them and have half a dozen in my stamp collection, but this is actually my first time using one on a layout. I was inspired by a friend of mine who put them on her last few layouts. They really add that extra something something to your page and are so much fun to piece together.

 I had Miss C's favourites typed out on a hidden journaling card. I'd love to view these layouts later on to see how her tastes change over the years. LOL at how she can't choose just one toy. She loves her stuffed toys.

Products Used

Patterned papers (apart from black with hearts), 3d stickers from Pebbles Yours Truly collection

Black with pink hearts paper from Crate paper Love Notes collection

Black acetate doily from Maya Road

Paper doll stamp and script paper for doll by Prima Marketing

Paintable flowers from Heidi Swapp

Glitter foam Thickers by American Craft

Gelatos for background by Faber-Castell

Black ink from Dylusions
Metal tab by Tim Holtz

Barn Door distress ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Inks

Paper doily from stash

Hope you enjoyed this page.

See you soon,

HKMC March Class Project

Hi there,

It's been a while since I came up with a project for classes and I thought, what better than to do a class based on what I learnt in Anaheim last month. Pass it on. For this class, I made a mini notebook based on Jamie Dougherty's Art Venture class that she taught in January.

This is the actual album she taught, based on her Bloom collection.

 

Here is the one I will be teaching at the HKMC shop.

Bloom Notebook

We will be using Jamie's new Bloom collection stamps and you will come away with a pretty flowery notebook, learn flower placement and do some watercolouring.  Hope you will join me for some fun.

Class Details
Date 20th March 2014 (Thursday)
Time 7pm to 10pm
Venue HKMemoryChest


After doing up the notebook, I was on a flower high, so here's another Prima inspired project by Delaina Burns, that I did a couple of weeks ago. I love the simple whiteness of it with just the flowers and a black/white photo in a cute mini frame.

 This is a 20cm x 20cm board canvas.

 I love the little white frame. Just the right size for this canvas.

 I love the lightbulb, one of the new Prima products.

Thanks for dropping by and hope to see you at the notebook class.

Sweet Moments

Hi there,

How has your week been?

Last Saturday, a few friends and myself joined 200 others in a four hour Zumbathon for charity, although I was only able to do one hour as it coincided with Miss C's ballet performance. Wish I could have done another hour at least, as there were so many different Zumba instructors and they all brought their own styles to the party. I hope to be able to attend more of these.
 
That night, I proudly watched my little girl on stage for her dance school's 30th anniversary performance, twirling gracefully in her blue tutu and ballet slippers. The next day, I very ungracefully stepped off a pavement and sprained my ankle. Not too badly, luckily; three days of recuperation and I was gagging to get to a zumba class again. Nothing like a good sweat to make you feel good.

While resting the foot, I was able to finish a few more layouts. Two of them are for the HKMC March kit club, so I won't be able to show you those until the reveal early next month, but here's one that I finished yesterday.

Sweet Moments

Such pretty mix of colours and patterns on these papers. I love the doily paper and obviously had to fussy cut them out and stagger them on the left side of the page. The photo was taken in Sicily last year.

I still love banners and there were lots in the paper collection for me to cut out. Also love the quote.

You can't really tell from the photos, but there are multiple layers all propped up with foam dots, providing the layout with lots of dimension. I added stickles to the centre of the flowers.

The tickets are too cute and I just love the row of banners.

Products Used

Patterned papers, chipboard and stickers from Echo Park Beautiful Life

Icicle stickles by Ranger Ink

Pumice Stone distress ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

OK, onwards with the scrapbooking. Need to get some more layouts done.

See you soon,

Wonderful Vatican

Hi there,

Here's a layout I did a few months ago but never got around to posting. For some reason I felt like it was still missing something but after squinting at it for ages, I can't put my finger on what, so I guess I have to consider it finished.

 Wonderful Vatican

This paper line is so elegant and gives off a "European" feel and I felt it fitted this photo well. One of my favourite dies is the roman numeral clock die and love how it looks in this layout.

I layered lots of different labels and banners under the flowers to give more details.

I love, love, love this arched doorway die cut. This was the piece that inspired me to use this exact photo. I embossed the peach patterned paper to give a little more texture.

Products Used

Patterned papers, die cuts and brads from Bo Bunny The Avenues collection

Beaded white peony fabric flowers by Petaloo Flora Doodles

Rose flowers from Prima Marketing

Weathered clock die by Tim Holtz Alterations

What do you think? Does it need something else? Maybe a bit of gesso on the background? Hmmm...

Anyway, thanks for dropping by,

 

 

Oh Sweet Darling!

Hi there,

I am on a roll this week with another layout. I have a bunch of lovely ladies that come over every Thursday and we eat, gossip and manage to finish a page (usually). It took me a while to get inspired yesterday until I spotted one of my MCS kits from last September. I still have so many kits I haven't used or opened yet. I have my work cut out.

So, straight into tackling this gorgeous Prima based kit.

 Sweet Darling!

I love the colour contrasts of aqua, pinks and black. I did feel that the background paper needed a little injection of mixed media to make it stand out a bit more. The photo was taken last summer by the River Wey in England; a river which has burst its banks today and is causing floods all over Surrey. Hoping the rain will back down so all the water can drain away soon.

I love the little dress chipboard and the pink variegated flower is just too beautiful. I coloured the wooden heart red and then added clear crackle paint on top. I finished off this accent corner with some wound up twine.

For the background, I mixed some blue and green paint with gesso separately and spread it on the paper with a spatula, marbling the two colours together. I then stenciled white gesso through a chevron stencil in random areas before adding some stamped flower images all over the page. For the edges of the paper, I diluted more gesso and used my finger to smear it unevenly around the border.

Finish the top right corner with some extra cut out flowers, tickets and dresses.

Products Used

Patterned papers, chipboard, wooden heart, tags and tickets from Prima Marketing Anna Marie collection

Pink flower from Prima Marketing Bel Canto-Dark Pink

Sea Breeze and Marine Blue acrylic paints by Kaisercraft

Gesso by Golden

Floral stamps

Chevron mask by Prima Marketing

Fired Brick, Pumice Stone distress inks and Rock Candy crackle paint by Tim Holtz for Ranger Inks

Brown twine from stash

It's amazing how the colours make this layout pop so much and it really catches my eye when I walk past it.

Thanks for looking and Happy Valentine's Day!