Technical Error No. 2!!!

Yes, I know! I'm on a roll today, lol! Oh well, these things happen (usually because someone lets me near a computer!!!). I have found two more layouts for the 15th August sketch. This means I'll be giving out another RAK. Stay tuned...winners announced in a couple of days.

Pam Casey

Gillian Hume

Technical Error!!!

Due to a technical error (namely me and a computer), we have found several more entries for the 1st August sketch challenge. Guess what this means? I get to give away a RAK!!! Yay!!! Here are the entries and I will announce a winner in a couple of days.

Linda

Gillian Hume
Amanda

Pam Casey

Challenge Layouts to Share...

My apologies that these have been posted so late. Life has been a little crazy and hectic since I broke my finger. The doctor says the swelling should disappear in a few months (oh, joy!!!). But I've finally managed to share these layouts from our August and September challenges. Rita Rusello - September Inspiration Challenge
Amanda Taylor - August 1st Sketch
Amanda Taylor - 15th August Sketch
Lynn Shaffer - 15th August Sketch

Ladies, thank-you so much for participating. I really enjoy seeing what amazing creations you can create with our sketches. These are fantastic, and I just love the colour combinations that you have used.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of entries, there will be no RAK awarded for our August sketches. So, come on everyone, let's see what you can do with out September Sketch and Inspiration challenges!!! There's still time - it doesn't close until the end of the month.

Reverse Applique Technique

This is what is called a reverse applique where you sew around the negative space of a shape that you've punched out instead of adding a shape to your layout and sewing that on. This is a technique that I learned from Davinie Fiero on the Studio Calico blog! I used this technique on my "a good day" layout around the star shapes!
First I pre-punched the shapes that I wanted to use on my layout to see exactly where I wanted the real punches to go on my layout. I used the Martha Stewart anywhere star punch for this:
After figuring out the general area, I lined up the punch and punched the stars out of my layout

For filling in the star shape I wanted to use brown paper bag that I had, so I punched out some shapes that were large enough to cover the stars on the backside of the layout. I used a punch, but you could just as easily just cut a piece of paper out with your scissors.

I crumpled the punched shapes up, then straightened them back out and lightly spritzed them with some Maya mist.

I then attached the shapes to the back of the layout so that the star holes were completely covered.

This is what it now looks like on the front of the layout.

I then used my sewing machine set on a tiny zigzag and sewed around the edges of the stars. You could also handstitch around the edges if you preferred. (Click on photo to see sewing up close!)
Hope this inspires you to do some stitching on your layout!! Have fun creating!!

Circles and Sewing

Hey ladies and welcome to my first ever post here, I'm so excited.

Today i wanted to just talk about one of my favourite things right now and that is circles, mainly stitched circles. I never used to sew on my layouts but now i just think that a simple bit of stitching can add so much dimension and really just change a layout so much.

When i saw this inspiration picture for September i knew straight away that i would be using sewing in there, though please don't tell anyone that it took me two attempts before i liked it lol, I'm not kidding i did all my stitched circles then decided i didn't like where they were and chucked it in the bin (i do this a lot lol) Another thing that i love about stitching is that it is so relaxing, i tend to mark it all out then sit in front of the TV and just work away while i watch a fave show, honestly try it out.

To get my perfect circles i use my Fiskars circle template and i just hold it down on the paper and take my paper piercer and poke holes all the way round, remember not to do them too close in case they rip but i normally do every 5mm. Now if you don't have a template circles are so easy to do as our house is full of them, just grab a cup or glass, or if you have a circle punch just use the cut outs. so easy.



Next stage is to dress the circles up and this is fun too, i normally use stamps, patterned paper, embellishments, for journaling or just leave them empty. Just choose whats good for you.

So here is my finished layout and I'm really happy with it

Here is another one slightly different that i did last month, this one i decorated the circles by wrapping mini alphas around the circles, I really think this is a fun touch.

So go on go get your circles out and have some fun!!

happy scrapping
Caz :)

Dress it up

Sometime when I have made a layout I find it a bit boring and so was the case with the original layout I did for the September 15 sketch. I decided to dress it up a bit.

This is the original layout:


I wanted to add some paint stains but I did not want to get paint on the photo and decorations so I made myself a simple mask:


I then cut down the size of the page and rounded the corners, added a frame , moved the mini alphas and added some machine stitching. I like it so much better dressed up like this:

What do you think?

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September Inspiration Challenge...

We have a new monthly inspiration challenge for you. (-: Something a little different. I have an addiction to Pinterest, and thought I would share a favourite photo with you each month. Use the photo as your basis of inspiration - colour, design, ideas, themes, shapes.

Anything is possible. Here's the photo for our first Inspiration Challenge. I hope you like it as much as I do. Are you inspired by the colours? The round shapes? Maybe a vintage theme? The flowers?

(Found on Pinterest via girlyme.tumblr.com).

Let me share what our design team came up with:

Caroline Hancock

Petra Offrell

Lisa Kamphuis

Annette Gearside

Holly Connors

Juanna Sia

Kirsten Casey

Kristie Taylor

Now, it's your turn. How does this photo inspire you? Please send your layouts to Julianne at scrapbookkitswithjules@gmail.com. You have until the end of the month to get your entry in. A winner will be randomly drawn and will receive a RAK prize.