Always Be A Queen

So, I'm totally in love with this layout! I decided to try a new scrapping style, and it worked! That's what I love about scrapbooking - the playing and experimenting. 

I created "Always Be A Queen" as part of my DT commitments for D-Lish Scraps. It went live on the D-Lish Blog on the 26th June. The papers are the Rossibelle range from Prima (which I have been hoarding for way too long, lol!). Disclaimer: the photo is not mine. It was found on the internet, and I do not know who's it is.

 I have splattered a mixture of Glimmermist and Heidi Swapp mists to create my splattered effect. 

And of course, a Queen must have a crown. Preferably pink and sparkly. I have used Opal Dust to create the glimmer and sparkles. 

Lots of flowers, roses, fussy cutting and layers, with cute little details such as a veneer owl. Isn't he just the cutest? And a texture paste background using the brick wall stencil (found in the D-Lish store). 

Thank-you for stopping by and joining me. I hope you are having an awesome scrappy weekend.  Cheers and hugs, xxx

D-Lish Designs April Challenge...

Hello everyone! Welcome to April. Do you realise we are now a quarter of the way through the year...OMG!!!!! I think this year is going to be one of those "blink and you'll miss it" years. So, before time gets away from me anymore, I wanted to share some news with you. I am proud to announce that I am now a Design Team member for D-Lish Scraps and today, I am sharing my layout for the D-Lish April Challenge. You can find all the details right here, and the sketch and inspiration board is at the bottom of my blog post too. 

I don't scrap boy layouts (very, very rarely) so when I saw the colours for the challenge, I thought tis would be an interesting challenge for me - to create a feminine layout using primary colours. Well, I think I succeeded. :) I'm really happy with the finished product. 

The bonus with creating this layout is the amount of old product I was able to use from my stash - old Crate Paper, old felt alphas from Making Memories, and old Prima chipboard. 

Can you see all the beautiful D-Lish goodies that I have used? Flowers, sequins, wire, doilies, flairs, and punchinella. All these products can be purchased in the D-Lish Scraps store. 

So, who's going to join me for this month's challenge? Come on, I dare you! ;-)  

Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward seeing you again soon. 
Happy scrapping!!!
Cheers and hugs, xxx

Prima Design Team Application

I guess I'm a sucker for punishment, lol! Every year Prima announces it's Design Team search, and every year I apply (except last year - I was busy getting a separation and divorce). After all I have been through in the past 12 months, I was hesitant to apply this year, but a certain Stephanie Devlin kicked my behind, and told me to get my act together. Lucky I love that woman, lol!!! 

So, this one's for you Steph! Let's keep our finger's crossed. :)

And before we go any further, I'd like to wish all the Prima DT applicants the best of luck. Putting yourself out there isn't easy, but for a select few, the reward will be worth it. 

PROJECT 1: STEAMPUNK MINI CANVAS

I have always loved creating canvases, and this is one of my all time favourites. Mixing chipboard and metal can create some amazing effects. 

PROJECT 2: WISHING WELL

This project was a huge learning curve, and extremely fiddly, but the end result was completely worth it. This was a project I created for the Australian Scrapbooking Ideas magazine, using a Pringles can as the base. 

PROJECT 3: DREAM CATCHER

I have recently started creating dream catchers. This is the very first one I ever created, and it now hangs proudly in my youngest daughter's bedroom. I must have done something right, as she is not a fan of anything pink, but she couldn't wait to claim this as her own.

PROJECT 4: PRECIOUS FRAME

I have recently started buying old and unwanted frames, and repainting and decorating them. This was my very first attempt with an old brown and boring frame. It now has a second lease of life. 

PROJECT 5: HAND-MADE BRACELET

A girl has to make a living somehow, so I decided to learn how to create bracelets (and other jewellery items), and I now sell these items in my Etsy store (Jules & Bling). 

PROJECT 6: HAND-MADE BRACELET

Here's another of my jewellery creations. Have I mentioned how much enjoyment I get out of creating these? I love playing with the colours and embellishments. 

PROJECT 7: LAZY SUMMER DAYS LAYOUT

What can I say? I love colour!!! Mix it with some texture and layers, and the results can be spectacular. 

PROJECT 8: LOVE... LAYOUT This one is all about the softness and femininity. 

PROJECT 9: ADORE LAYOUT

There's something addictive about layering flowers in-between layers of paper. I think it's the illusion of depth that makes it truly magical.

 PROJECT 10: SHINE BRIGHT LAYOUT This one was all about the gold and glitter. And using stamps to create a background. Throw in some spray droplets and hand-written journaling, and what do you have? FUN!!!

PROJECT 11: WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL LAYOUT

Sometimes, it's the border that makes and determines the layout. Finish with spray mist, flowers and bling, and you have a gorgeous feminine page. 

  PROJECT 12: I SMILE BECAUSE OF YOU LAYOUT

I have always been a fan of colour, and unusual colour combinations. This layout was no exception. I tend to gravitate towards bright and bold.  

PROJECT 13: FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS LAYOUT

Sometimes, less is more. White space will never go out of fashion. :)

PROJECT 14: HAPPY BIRTHDAY EASEL CARD Easel cards are truly special. They create such a beautiful 3D image.  Seriously, who wouldn't want to receive one of these on their birthday???
Like all artists, I have second guessed myself so many times in choosing which projects to show case. Are they my best projects? Do they look good enough? Should I add more? Should I add less? And you know what - the worry isn't worth it - I'm letting it all go and leaving this one to the universe. I love what I do, and I'm just thankful that I get to share this amazing hobby with other crafters. 
So I will take this moment and say thank-you for joining me, and thank-you for taking the time to view my projects. And regardless of the outcome, it has been a huge honour to share these projects with you. 
Cheers and happy crafting, xxx

Cotton Spools and Bobbins...

Sometimes it may seem that I am quiet, and not creating much. But it usually means I am working behind the scenes, on something that I can't yet share. And this is the perfect example - three beautiful creations that I can finally share with you - all published in the current Australian Scrapbooking Ideas magazine (Issue 31).  If you would like to recreate these projects, you will find the step-by-step instructions in the magazine, pages 70-73. 

My first creation is a sewing display decor item. 

I really enjoyed creating this project because I got to use up a lot of bits and pieces that I have been saving forever. 

These pretty babies, are photo holders. :)

The dress form shapes can be found on Pinterest. 

And finally, a pretty wreath for my daughter's room. She loves sewing and creating, and her favourite colours just happen to be black and red. :) Thanks for stopping by. Cheers and big hugs, xxx

Mix and Match Layout Tutorial...

Hello everyone!!! I'm sharing my April Imaginarium Designs project with you today. And as a bonus, I've done a step-by-step tutorial on the Imaginarium Designs blog, to show you how you can create this wonderful layout for yourself. 

This project was all about colour, fun, and experimenting. Sometimes we all get so tied up with deadlines, that we forget to create for fun. :)

Gold has been the big trending "colour" of choice in recent months,  with so many companies producing gold accents and products. So, I decided to make the most of it, and add a little shimmer, shine and sparkle to my layout. 

I love, love, love crackle mediums. They produce such a beautiful texture and visual imagery.

Thank-you so much for stopping by and joining me today.  Don't forget, if you'd like to create this layout for yourself, just visit the Imaginarium Designs blog for full details. If you do decide to create this layout, I'd love to see your masterpieces. Just leave a link here on this blog post, and I'll come and share some love with you.  Hope you are all having a wonderful week. Cheers and hugs, xxx:)

Sweet and Simple Card...

I found this sweet, little wooden bird when I walked into a clothes and home decor store a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't resist grabbing it and adding it to a card. 

This was one of the quickest cards I think I have ever made, lol!  Papers are from My Mind's Eye (one of their older ranges if I remember correctly). And the tassle is Prima. :) Thanks for stopping by. And wishing you all a Happy Easter. xxx:) Cheers and hugs,  

November Projects for Imaginarium Designs...

I was recently asked if I would like to donate an item for a charity auction to raise funds for bowel cancer research. Having lost so many of my relatives to cancer, I said yes. So I created a canvas using Imaginarium Designs chipboard, and made it part of my Design Team commitment for November. (Don't laugh, I kind of did the same for the rest of my November projects too, lol!)

I seriously had so much fun creating this canvas. I think I should find time to make some more (especially since my eldest daughter was NOT impressed when I gave this one away). 

I have used Marion Smith's Motley paper range, along with lots of Prima and Kaisercraft flowers, ID chipboard, sequins, glitter, beads, texture paste, rubons, copic pens, and stamps. 

I don't have a lot of experience playing with copic pens, but I think the finished result was passable. 

This canvas was all about the details, sparkle, and bling. :) I wanted to create something with lots of texture and depth, and something that was very bright, colourful, and feminine at the same time. 

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Earlier this year I was asked if I would like to do a commissioned piece for the Australian Scrapbooking Ideas magazine. Of course I said yes, and it has just recently been published in Issuue 29, pages 24-26. The article was about scrapping layouts in an Art Nouveau style, using a sketch designed by me (which you will find below). I was asked to create three layouts using Meg's Garden papers, and as much Imaginarium Designs chipboard as I liked.  

 "CHERISH"

This layout is based very close to the original sketch design, and was all about highlighting the layout and photo with soft, pastel pinks. I have included lots of punchwork to add details and depth to the design. Most of the chipboard has been heat embossed with embossing powders and glitters.  

 "LOVE, CHERISH, ADORE"

Again, I have used lots of punchwork to add to the design, and lots of fussy cut and layered flowers to help add depth. 

"TRAVEL SNAP SHOTS" This layout is a little more vintage and masculine compared to my usual style.  And if you would like to see more photos about these projects, or details about the products and techniques used, you can find my full post on the Imaginarium Designs blog. 

If you would like to use this sketch, please feel free. All I ask is that you give credit to me, for this design, if you post it anywhere (Facebook, blogs, galleries, Instagram etc.). 
Thanks for stopping by. :)
Cheers and hugs, xxx

Imaginarium Designs October Projects...

It was my turn on the Imaginarium Designs blog a few days ago. (It's amazing how quickly this comes around every month!). If you would like all the details of what I created, and how, please visit the Imaginarium Designs blog. 

I've had this heart shaped metal container in my stash for at least 4 years, maybe more. Anyway, I finally dragged it out of my cupboard, and created this. Isn't it cute! :) (My daughter's are NOT impressed that I only have one). 

I've used Marion Smith's Motley papers for this creation. 

My second creation was this layout, created using the Madeleine papers from BoBunny. I just love the softness of these colours - so romantic and girly. The layout design is based on the BoBunny October sketch (I've flipped the sketch over). 

As you can see, there was lots of fussy cutting involved for this layout. (But it was worth it!!!).

And of course, I've used lots of Imaginarium Chipoard. :) And I think I am in love with these Prima roses - I might have to purchase some more for my stash. They are just divine, and so pretty in real life.  Anyway, I hope you are having a wonderful week - it is school holidays here so I am trying to stay sane. Yeah, I don't think it's working, lol!  Thanks for stopping by, Cheers and big hugs, xxx