Best Tradition

Hi there. I know it's the wrong time of year, but I was searching through my embellishments box when I stumbled across a Prima wooden Chinese doll that I forgot about. Of course, I then had to find my Chinese New Year photos to do the layout. Non Chinese papers, but I think all the reds pull the layout together to give it that festive vibe.

Best Tradition

 I love all the reds in this layout and the grey stripes that break up the redness so it's not too over powering. Chinese New Year is all about flowers, so I got out all my red flowers for this page. I love the festiveness of the photos, especially the bottom one with the lion.

 I love the clusters of different flowers and textures. I also had some vellum phrase stickers and used them as the title.

I bought the Prima doll primarily for a CNY layout and used Zig Clean Color markers to colour in the doll and other wooden accents. I stenciled in red molding paste on the background before placing my photos. I kept the resin butterflies neutral so it wouldn't be too distracting.

Products Used

Papers from Kaisercraft Storyteller collection

Lace stickers from Kaisercraft

Wooden doll set, large flowers with yellow centers, resin butterflies and flower stencil from Prima Marketing

Red velvet flowers from Petaloo

Title vellum stickers from Momenta

Other flowers brand unknown

And now it's off to Macau for the weekend. Bon Jovi is playing and I can't wait to see them. It's going to be a trip down nostalgia lane.

Thanks for dropping by and happy weekend,

Coolest Manicure

Hi there. It's been a return to hot stickiness here after a couple of weeks of glorious fall weather. I am so ready for winter to come already. Thank goodness for air conditioning, that's all I say.

Anyway, enough of my griping. Here's my layout, done this Thursday.

Coolest Manicure

I love the white brick paper which came with pre-printed hearts in the corners. I based the layout on a sketch I found on Pinterest, which I can't seem to find again. For some reason one of the gold foil hearts turned up black in the photo, but you can see the gold colour in the middle photo. I captured the pictures just before I had to take the polish off and Miss C was being silly about it.

I die cut the polka dot blue hearts and placed them around the page. I also fussy cut the flowers as accents.

For the left side, I cut out some phrase tickets and also added a gold phrase sticker to balance out the gold on the right side. A simple page to highlight the cute nail photos.

Products Used

Papers and title stickers from Simple Stories I Am collection

Gold phrase sticker from Heidi Swapp

Gold polka dot vellum paper from American Crafts

Pink arrow washi tape

Thanks for dropping by,

A Day of Frolic

Hi there. How was your weekend? Saturday, Miss C went for a sleepover with her good friend while hubby and I celebrated two separate birthdays in one night. Today Miss C competed in a swimming gala - no medals but she did her best and enjoyed it. That's all that matters.

I completed this following layout on Thursday but didn't have time to post it.

A Day of Frolic

The papers in this collection are so exceptionally gorgeous, it was hard to choose which one to use but I finally settled on this blue bird paper.  I added a subtle texture with clear gloss gel with a chain link stencil. I then added a flower stencil pattern with molding paste for a second dimension. I then brushed on some water colours to make the flowers pop a bit more.  The photo is one my favourites, taken at the Vancouver picnic. I love how her eyes and just a bit of smile shows through the pom pom.

 I think I used up three packs of flowers for this layout - roses, hydrangeas and an assortment pack. Just couldn't stop.

 I fussy cut some tea cups for this corner. I love using bling swirls around the page.

 For the chipboard filigree on the left of this picture, I gessoed and then added layers of water colour and distress paints. I also brushed some gesso on the flowers to mute the colours.

Products Used

Papers from Blue Fern Studios Frolic collection

Chipboard flourish from Blue Fern Studios

Flowers from Prima Marketing and Marion Smith Designs

Bling flourish and stencils from Prima Marketing

Distress paints, various colours from Tim Holtz for Ranger

Gesso, gloss gel and light molding paste from Golden

Water Colours

Thanks for looking,

Dream Big

Hi there. It's time for another My Creative Scrapbooks sketch challenge. This month my kit came a lot earlier than usual and it always comes with a preview of the sketch for the month, so I was able to get an early start on it.

Dream Big

 I am absolutely in love with this kit and had been eagerly waiting its arrival since I saw the sneak peeks. The patterns, the colours - all so pretty. The photo was taken in Vanvouver this summer.

 I love fussy cutting and this was a nice flower to cut. I added some pretty lace to soften the separation of different papers.  I also fussy cut the gold title from a journaling card.

I fussy cut some banners from one of the patterned papers for the banner details on the sketch. I love the stack of books and the typewriter button is just too adorable.

I made up some sentiments with the word stickers that came with the kit and added a little bit of whimsy with the cute little bird perched on the title.

Products Used

Papers, die cuts, flair buttons and stickers from My Mind's Eye My Story collection

Lace and twine from stash

Antique linen distress ink from Tim Holtz by Ranger

Thanks for looking,