Remember the Moments

Hi everybody!! 

Well, we made it back safely from the Wedding of the Year in Italy and I'm slowly getting back into my routine. The cat has (almost) forgiven me for deserting him and my scrapping desk is calling.

I know, Tracy...it really IS about time!! I can't apologise enough and you have been more than patient. An angel in fact ;) 

On Sunday we finally met our very first Grandson....and he's SUCH a cutie. DH's son has been working overseas for ages and this little man was born in America. They came home for good the day before DH and I took off for Italy, so last weekend was the first opportunity for a face-to-face cuddle. I'm going to love scrapping his gorgeous face, he's so full of smiles and sunshine, and only just three months old.

For this layout I've used Illumination papers & elements by 7 Dots Studio. A sheet of the reverse of Joy on a piece of black cardstock - the cardstock only for added strength.

To that I've added some Gloss Multi Medium pushed through the Twiddleybitz Narrow Arrow Template which adds texture and a bit of shine without complicating the pattern already on the paper.

For finer detail, and to introduce some colour to the background, I used light blue acrylic paint with a Basically Essential template - also in the chevron pattern - and the checkerboard background stamp from Illuminations Clear Stamp Set 1 with various black, white and blue inks. There are also a few random pieces of sticky white plasterer's mesh.

I mounted the photo on three layers of paper - Tolerance, then the reverse of Acceptance, then Diversity. The same papers were cut into thinner strips, punched using a scalloped edge punch and added to the bottom. The three tags on the layout are from the Illumination 12 x 12 Die Cut Tags sheet. All the layers are inked just a little bit using Broken China Distress Ink and an Ink Blending Tool.

To the embellishing.... from the Illuminations Chipboard pack I chose the 'Remember' and 'Moments' tags and the checkerboard border. I painted them with the light blue acrylic paint. The '3', small heart and arrow (bottom left) are from the Illuminations Stickers and making them look prettier are two Glass Cabochons. The heart is popped up on a square of dimensional tape. The skeleton leaves are die cut from Diversity.

Between the two tags there is a length of  Ball and Chain - attached through two Silver Jumprings, but also with a dab or two of Glossy Accents on each end for added stability. Looking very cute dangling from the chain on more Silver Jumprings are four silver charms - ABC Block, Baby Feet, Teddy Bear and LOVE. They look so awesome!!

Tucked in with the skeleton leaves is a my2angels Charming Pin. This one's colour is Pewter, and I have changed the flower charm that was on the top to another ABC Block to match my theme.

Making the top corner of the photo beautiful...besides that cute smile... is an embellishment made with the gorgeous my2angels Mini Sweetheart Baby Blue kit. This time I stuck to the correct colour and only added Inkssentials Crackle Accents to the heart section and a few Crushed Ice Sugar Beads to the centre to lighten up the included Blue Lemonade ones

.

At the bottom adding balance is the third tag, with the addition of a small glass bottle filled with Sugar Beads,  Crushed Ice again mixed in with some of the remaining Blue Lemonade from the Mini Sweetheart Baby Blue kit. There are a very generous number of beads included with this kit - plenty for any additional embellishing you may need to do.

I didn't want to add any more clutter to this layout, but felt like it needed something more. My solution was to cut out several of the chevrons from Tolerance and the reverse of Joy, ink their edges with Broken China Distress Ink and pop them onto dimensional squares directly over the top of the chevrons already on the paper. This added another element, but didn't clutter up the layout. I like it :)

Back soon!! 

Planning doesn't always work...

Hi ladies! Some amazing and totally time consuming things are happening in our lives here right now, and one of them is the birth of DH's very first grandchild - a sweet little boy. I'm thinking this makes me a first time step-grandmother - a daunting thought!

It's very exciting, and lovely to have so many new baby photos to scrap! LOL! As if I've finished with scrapping the thousands of photos of my own children as babies, toddlers, teenagers and adults!!

As is so often the case, when I sat down to start this layout I had a very definite idea in my mind. The predominant colour was going to be baby blue, with some brown & beige accents, and the charms were going to be silver. I pulled out my Mini Sweetheart Baby Blue Heart kit, and some blue papers and I chose my embellishments accordingly. As is also often the case, what I ended up with was this....

OK, I know...nothing like the plan.

The background paper is from 7 Dots Studios ''Nature Walk'' - a very neutral. lightly patterned piece. 

I started by adding a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edges, then used a Basically Essential stencil to add a pattern in the same coloured ink. After that I used the same stencil with Mother of Pearl Champagne Modelling Cream, adding some texture and shine. Finally a light spray and a few flicked spots with Kiwi Perfect Pearls Mist.

That was when I decided that I wanted to make this a monotone layout and gave up any thoughts of blue. I took the Mini Sweetheart Baby Blue Heart kit, and, following the precise instructions included, changed the colour of the heart, the background, the sugar beads, the silver charm and the ribbon. LOL - luckily I have two of these beautiful little kits and so I can make up the baby blue one later! First I painted the chipboard with Antique Linen Distress Paint, followed it with a few swipes of Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the edges and a coat of Crackle Accents.

When it was dry I attached it to the background chipboard and filled the space with Golden Crunch Sugar Beads. Instead of the pale blue organza ribbon I attached the Bronze Heart Locket charm with a doubled piece of string tied into a bow. 

I did use the piece of muslin that was included in the kit under the heart, and I added a little more under the top of the photo. There are two thin layers of paper framing the photo and I die cut some scalloped strips to use. All are edged with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. A piece of twisted jute ribbon adds interest and dimension underneath the photo, and several torn strips of Idea-Ology Tissue Tape compliment the butterfly theme on  the ''Butterfly Kisses'' die cut.

This and all of the other paper elements on this layout are from the Nature Walk 6x12 Sticker Sheet, 6x12 Word Stickers and 6x12 Die Cut Elements sheets. A huge variety of gorgeous bits and pieces to choose from!

To balance the layout I added a small cluster in the top right hand corner. The elements used are the same as those in the body of the layout, with the addition of a Large Antique Bronze Spoon, it's bowl filled with Sugar Beads, and the layout's title - Joy - made from chipboard letters treated to the same processes as the now not-so-Baby Blue Heart.

Fortunately there are a few more photos of this charming young man at my fingertips, and I have another plan. There are some baby blue papers somewhere in my stash, a cute my2angels embellishment kit and somewhere on my desk there are some silver baby charms.

Nothing ever turns out as planned...but it doesn't matter :)

Michele xx

Viva Decor Modeling Creme is fantastic!

There are so many new and exciting products in the my2angels store at the moment! I want to use them all right now but there never seems to be enough time!!

This layout has it's fair share of new goodies though, starting with Kaiser's Enchanted Garden patterned papers. These are so pretty, definitely a collection for the girls. (I know you all have them since there seems to be nothing left in store!!!!).

Using a sheet of 'Fascinate' as my base I tried out my new Viva Decor Modeling Cremes in both Mother of Pearl Rose and Metallic Platin, pushing them through a stencil with an old store loyalty card to add a brocade pattern to the page. I used the two colours separately but didn't wait to dry between colours so where they touch they blend beautifully. You will need to get your stash of this product quickly before I go back to the store...I will be needing every colour Tracy has and probably more! I liked this effect so much that when it was dry I added a bit more, this time using glossy gel medium. The gel goes on white, so you can see what you are doing, but it dries clear leaving you with a subtle continuation of your pattern.

To add a bit more colour behind my photo, which is very plain, I sprayed very lightly with Vanilla Breeze and Sun Sisters Glimmermists, and stamped a few times with a script stamp (sorry, origin lost in the dim and distant past) and some Victorian Velvet Distress Ink.

To mat my photo I used two pieces of 'Entrance', slightly offset and then covered them both with a piece of white tulle to soften the darker colour a bit and add texture. The photo is placed on top of the tulle layer.

In between and on top of these layers I have tucked in a die cut from the Collections pack and few appropriate sentiments which came from the 12 x 12 Sticker Sheet. 

Taking centre stage at the top of the layout is a gorgeous Love you to Infinity Pink Charming Key Chain. I confess to adding a bit more Stampendous Shabby Pink Embossing Enamel to the key so that it looked as luscious as the chipboard word,  'love', and the chipboard flourish framing the photo. I love the way it looks up there in the corner, with the dangling end seeming to link the two sections of the layout together. Very happy with that!

Another gorgeous my2angels embellishment (and one that I've had in my stash since way before I became an angel myself) is the pink Memories pin tucked in behind my Pink Mini Gardenia. A little touch of Victorian Velvet around the edges and it blends in to this layout perfectly. 

I die cut some leaves from the same paper that I used as photo mats and added two shabby cream flowers from my stash. The other flowers in my clusters are my favourite Pink & White Cherry Blossoms, tiny Light Pink and White roses and some Pink and White Rose Buds. My two sweet fairies and the sparkling butterflies scattered around are fussy cut from the Enchanted Garden specialty paper 'Faries'. (Can't understand why Ngaire hasn't snapped this paper up yet...but glad I got a piece before she does...shhhh).

There is also a tiny chipboard heart in there - embossed to match of course, with Stampendous Shabby Pink.

Finally, I thought I'd try to take a photo showing how the clear Gel Medium and the gold flecks in the Stampendous Embossing powder pick up the light and shine....not a great photo, but I think it gives you an idea...a pretty, subtle sparkle on a pretty, girly page.

Pop over to the store with me and get yourselves some Viva Decor Modeling Creme...awesome stuff!

Michele xx

From weddings to babies

I finally have made a start on my brothers wedding photos (he was married in 2003!)

The base for my layout is Core dinations Scarlett Cardstock, covering my homemade chipboard frame is Teresa Collins Mr and Mrs Stripe Pattern Paper and framing the photo is our Black Scroll Felt Frame

Before I go on, as my daughter and mother pointed out the large scrapware audrey mannequin with wedding dress (a silk camisole I picked up from lifeline specifically for this layout) is facing the opposite way to the photo I know I know but I didn't start this layout intending to use this photo! Mothers & daughters I tell ya!

Anyhow moving on ...



Precious Moments cut from Teresa Collins Chic Bebe Girl Mini Tags and foam taped for dimension (and to cover the staples behind - staples are the only thing I have found that will attach tuelle to paper! So plan your layout ahead if using tuelle, unlike me who decided to add the tuelle to mimic my sister-in-law's veil AFTER I had completed the layout!!!

Our mini white gardenia, red stemmed flowers, love engraved felt heart and our large silver heart locket charm. The word love is cut from the Teresa Collins Mr & Mrs Labels pattern paper



and stamped flourishes (using Stampology Double Scroll Clear Stamp which will be in stock by the end of next week) embossed AC black glitter embossing powder with red rhinestones.






And from Tracey ...

Here is a super quick layout I did using the black felt scroll frame.



Black and White Mini Gardenias - their tips highlighted with Kindy Glitz Black
23mm White Mulberry Flowers
Mulberry Paper Leaves - Green Brown and Rose
Circle Pendants
10 Large Journalling Tags
Buzz and Bloom Chipboard - that 70s alphabet



Other shop Products used:

1 Black Scroll Felt Frames
Websters Pages Life's Portrait Love Yourself
3mm Black Rhinestones Flourish
Black Flowers Acrylic Chain strip used on the photo
Distress Crackle Paint - Picket Fence White
Dimensional Magic - Clear
Versa Color Cube Ink Pad - Black
ICE Stickles Glitter Glue Silver Ice

Not sure how much creating I am going to get done in the next few weeks with the school holidays starting this Friday YUK
Anyone got a spare room for me?
I am house trained and it will only be for a fortnight! LOL