Stuck?! Sketches May 1 Reveal!

Hi friends! On May 1st a new sketch was revealed at Stuck?! Sketches! Laura did a fabulous job with it and I had so much fun using it. I decided to dig through my stash and found the Saturday collection from October Afternoon almost untouched! I also found a "swag bag" from Paper Issues I once bought, but I sadly I can't remember from which month it is (they have a new swag bag each month). 

Here's the page I created. The photos are from a while ago, when my youngest was still only 4 years old (how time flies): 

May 1st sketch:

And here are two close-ups of my page: 

If you decide to join in the sketch challenge we're having two amazing sponsors again this month: 

• The ScrapRoom, who are offering a $20.00 gift certificate to one lucky participant!

and 

• Accent Scrapbooking, who are offering a $25.00 gift certificate to a second lucky participant!

Please link up your layouts over in the sidebar on the blog of Stuck?! Sketches by May 29th 2017 at midnight EST to be in the running for one of our prizes! All prizes will be drawn randomly using Random.org to pick a number.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I really hope I'm going to see your take on this sketch!

xoxo

Monique

New Mid Month Sketch Challenge at Stuck?! Sketches!

It's the 15th of the month and that means it's reveal day over at Stuck?! Sketches! For today's sketch I used up some of my precious October Afternoon stash to scrap these photos of me from last Christmas. I'm a huge Outlander fan and my kids bought me the 2nd season of Outlander on dvd. Earlier in December I had already gotten the "All I wish for Christmas ..... " sweater and I decided I really needed to create a layout about these presents, if only to thank my kids (I really have the best kids in the whole world!)!

Such a shame October Afternoon is no more ... but no dwelling on that, on to Laura Whitaker's new sketch!

I have to admit that I often struggle with diagonal sketches. All the while when I was creating my page I had everything straight and only in the last minute did I decide to follow the sketch and to rearrange the whole pile and adhere it all diagonal (don't know if I did the right thing though, if I hadn't stitched it I think I would tear it all loose again and adhere it straight once again, lol). 

Here are a couple of close-ups: 

The flair buttons are from "A Flair For Buttons" and are the only non-OA products I used. 

Soooo loving all the vintage die-cuts and stickers!

And now onto the sponsors for this sketch: 

• Creative Embellishments, who are offering a $25.00 gift certificate to their online store, to one lucky participant!

•  and Wycinanka, who are offering a beautiful themed prize pack to a second lucky participant!

Apart from these prizes we will also be choosing one scrapbooker from each challenge to guest with us at a later date!

In case you decide to play along with us then please link up your layouts over in the sidebar on Stuck?! Sketches' blog by January 29th 2017, at midnight EST to be in the running for one of our prizes! All prizes will be drawn randomly using Random.org to pick a number.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Wishing you happy crafting!

xxx

Monique

Beautiful Banners - Scrapbook Magazine UK issue 88

For Scrapbook Magazine UK I was asked to create 3 layouts for the theme "Bright & Beautiful Banners". This feature would show readers how to use smaller paper pieces to create an abundance of colour, texture and dimension on their pages through banners.

Well, that was an easy assignment as I already have the tendency to add banners to my pages. I have to remind myself not to add them to every single layout I create. Sometimes my banners are small, consisting of 3 flags only, and sometimes they are multi layered with a lot of colours and many different shapes and sizes. Sometimes I cut or punch them myself and sometimes I use readymade banners (like die-cuts or chipboard shapes). Sometimes I use paper to create them and sometimes I use fabric. The possibilities are endless.

In the layout “Take a Break” I used flags all the same size. In the “Celebrate” layout I used flags of different sizes and some with hearts or stars punched out or with a photo adhered to it. In the “Surprise Party” layout I used 3 sorts of readymade banners, but all a different shape and size. So you see, the same technique for every layout, but all of them turned out very different. Like I said, the possibilities of banners are endless!

Layout: Take A Break (October Afternoon)

 Here I used banners of all the same size and just layered them all on top of each other:

Supply list: patterned paper, die-cuts, letter stickers (red), flair: October Afternoon; letter stickers (grey): American Crafts; wood veneer, stamp: Scraptastic Club; wood veneer (been there): Pink Fresh Studio; tag: Ruby Rock-It; twine: Hemptique; enamel dots: My Mind’s Eye; color mist: Studio Calico; Pen: K&Company; tiny staples: Tim Holtz; stamping ink: Stampin’Up. Tools: Aigger sewing machine, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher.

Layout: Celebrate (Pebbles)

For this layout I used flags of different sizes and some with hearts or stars punched out or with a photo adhered to it:

Supply list: patterned paper, die-cuts: Pebbles; cork butterflies, flair: Simple Stories; wood veneer: Studio Calico; twine: My Mind’s Eye; washi tape: Jillibean Soup; pen: K&Company; staples: V&D; stamp: Trodat; stamping ink: Ranger; digital cut file: Kerri Bradford. Tools: Silhouette Cameo, Aigger sewing machine, V&D long reach stapler.

And last but not least layout: Surprise Party (Pretty Little Studio)

And for this page  I used 3 sorts of readymade banners, but all a different shape and size:

Supply list: patterned paper, bingo cards, polaroid frame, picture card, tags, stickers, journaling cards, flags, paper ribbons:  Pretty Little Studio; buttons: Jenni Bowlin; twine: Hemptique; stamp: Trodat; stamping ink: Ranger; pen: K&Company; color mist: Studio Calico. Tools: Aigger sewing machine.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Have a fab weekend!
Monique

Saturday Morning Rituals - October Afternoon

For the Scraptastic Store I did this October Afternoon "Saturday Mornings" layout. I love October Afternoon so much, I have to have all of their collections and if possible twice! (so I can use one and safe keep the other, lol). This collection is no exception … I have two of it!

Because on the Scraptastic fans facebook page people asked for more layouts with multiple 4"x 6" photos I used two on this layout. Here’s what I did. I used these photos of my youngest: it’s Saturday morning and he’s watching his favorite television series (Phineas & Ferb), while eating his breakfast, snuggled up on the couch under his blanket and with the teddy bear from school, who was staying over for the weekend. Are these photos perfect for this collection or what??

The use of the two 4″ x 6″ photos is a bit of an exception for me, but I really ike how it turned out.

And it's so fun there was a die-cut from a teddy bear in this collection as Mats had the bear from school staying over (de "logeerbeer")!

 

Supplies: October Afternoon – Saturday Mornings: Collection Kit, Syrup Paper, Grapefruit Paper, Crepes Paper, Omlette Paper, Bacon Paper, Word Stickers, Shape Stickers, Journaling Cards Tin Pins, Doo-Dads. 

If you're looking for this collection, then hop over to the Scraptastic Store because it's still available!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today! Hope you’ll have a fab weekend!

xoxo

Bold-Line Embellishment Christmas Layouts - Scrapbook Magazine UK issue 86

For the December issue of Scrapbook Magazine UK  (number 86) I was asked to create three layouts with a bold line of embellishments. 

And here's what I made!

"Merry Everything": for my “Merry Everything“ layout I covered an entire strip of patterned paper with embellishments. I started with some cardstock shapes and layered chipboard and die-cut elements, buttons, stickers etc. on top. I ended with small elements like stickers to fill the “holes”. 

and some close-ups: 

Supply list: patterned paper, die-cuts, stickers: October Afternoon; cardstock: Bazzill Basics; chipboard, button, acetate snowflakes, wood veneer : Studio Calico; paper clip: Webster’s Pages; spray mist: Prima Marketing; pen: Stabilo; photo overlay: Ali Edwards; cut files: Totally Jamie; adhesive: tape runner American Crafts, 3D Foam Squares Scrapbook Adhesives. Tools: Silhouette Cameo, Aigger sewing machine.

"Naughty": for my “Naughty” layout I created a bold-line with embellishments horizontally in the middle of my page, except on top of the photo. To give the impression the line continued across the photo I added some wood veneer to it. 

And some close-ups: 

Supply list: patterned paper: Teresa Collins, Crate Paper; cardstock: Bazzill Basics; overlay: Webster’s Pages; die-cuts: Crate Paper, Studio Calico; Chipboard: Crate Paper; wood veneers: Studio Calico; sticker: Pretty Little Studio; cut files: Silhouette store; adhesive: tape runner American Crafts, 3D Foam Squares Scrapbook Adhesives. Tools: Silhouette Cameo, Aigger sewing machine. 

And last but not least this Bella Blvd layout: "Celebrate"

For my last layout “Celebrate” I started with the shape of the Christmas tree and covered one side with fun embellishments. 

Close-ups:

Supply list: ”: patterned paper, chipboard shapes, die-cuts, stickers: Bella Blvd; cardstock: American Crafts; pen: K&Company; sequins: Doodlebug Design; spray ink: Prima Marketing; cut file: Kerri Bradford; adhesive: tape runner American Crafts, 3D Foam Squares Scrapbook Adhesives. Tools: Silhouette Cameo, Aigger sewing machine, V&D long reach stapler. 

These are only three examples of "bold-line embellishment" layouts; the possibilities are endless!

Scrapbook Magazine UK #86:

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

xoxo

Reveal Day at Creative Scrappers - Sketch 281

Hi everyone!! It has been 2 weeks since the last new sketch at Creative Scrappers and that means it's time for a new one!! Sketch #281 already!

Here's the page I made for it using October Afternoon's Public Library collection. It think this must be one of my all time favorites .... every single sheet of this collection is awesome and I have such a hard time using them! I made two layouts so far and have a lot left, but maybe it's better to safe keep the rest! lol! The title is another cut file from Kerri Bradford Studios. 

The photo was taken at the library. I own enough books for a library of my own, but I love to spend time at the local library. Drinking a large Latte and reading bits and pieces in books of my favorite authors (like this one by Felix Francis .... I am/was a huge Dick Francis fan, his father, but when he passed away his son Felix took over and I love his books a lot too - but not as much as I love his father's books). 

And a few close-ups:

Love the cardstock stickers in this collection!

These tickets are a cut file from Juliana Michaels from her 17Turtles shop.

And now on to the sketch: 

The sponsor for this sketch and the next is Paper Camellia. To Win the November Main Kit from Paper Camellia create a layout and enter the challenges use the inlinkz widget at the end of the reveals for Sketch 281-282 on the Creative Scrapper's blog. Deadline to submit your layout is November 30th at Midnight EST. 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! 

Have a fab week!!

xoxo

Creative Scrappers - Creating With Sketches Volume 3

I'm super excited to share that I've got a layout in the brand-new Creative Scrappers Creating With Sketches V3 book!

I just had a peek at this book, and it's fantastic! So many talented scrappers in there, along with 120 fab sketches! Let me show you the page I contributed to this book:

I used October Afternoon's "Public Library" and a cut file from Kerri Bradford for the title. The sketch I used can be found in the book, it's not available elsewhere, so I can't show it to you on my blog.

The book is currently available for purchase in digital format for only 10$. If you'd like to purchase this book, you can get a 10% discount by using my coupon code: V3MONIQUE

The Printed Version is also available for sale 18$ plus shipping.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

And now some detail pics of my layout:

Isn't this collection fabulous?! I love everything from October Afternoon, so much so that I have trouble actually using it. As I know that's pretty daft I make myself use it and this was the result!

In the photo you see my youngest reading his very first "real" book to us!

Thanks for stopping by and I would really appreciate it if you would use my code if you decide to purchase a copy of this sketches book!! V3MONIQUE

Hugs,