Scrapbook Socialites

So firstly sorry for the delay in this post!  I thought I had hit the publish button but I must have had one of those senior moments.   Welcome to another  Southern Girls Challenge !  There isn't technically a theme this month, so it's 'Anything Goes!' ...for me lately it's been all about Christmas and getting ready for the end of the school year coming up.  So my inspiration piece this month is a little bit of an unconventional Xmas card.  Firstly I have used a coat of Clear gesso on some white cardstock. Then I've created a few layers using texture paste, and then layering up with some chipboard, and embellishments. I've layered some muslin cloth behind my deer head, added some flowers and then splattered and sprayed on top. While things have still been a wee bit wet I have sprinkled over some fine dust glitter to add that bit of extra sparkle. Materials I have used Art Basics Clear Gesso 13@rts fine glitter Kaisercr...

And today I'm back with a reminder post for  Let's Craft and Create  - welcome :).  This months challenge is a 'Anything goes' with an option for using your favourite sketch. On days when I feel like I really want to create something but the juices just aren't flowing like they should - a sketch is a great way to help get you started.  I love going to the ' My Favourite Things ' card sketches for a bit of inspiration but there are many other sites out there that you can go to.  If you haven't tried using a sketch before I would highly recommend it, and remember you don't have to follow the sketch exactly it can just be a guide. So - here is my card for this month. We would love to see what is your favourite sketch or just a project in general - so don't forget to link up your project!

Welcome back to a Team Lou challenge, this month it is 'Stripes'!. Thanks so much to Newton's Nook for being our sponsor for this challenge. Newton is adorable and available in a range of cute images but there are also loads of other styles so be sure to click over to their shop and have a look around. So my inspiration piece this month is a Thank you card. Be sure to link up your entry! Thanks for stopping by

Welcome to the ' Lets craft and Create ' challenge!  This months theme is Friendship - something to be valued and treasured.  I love that I have a wide variety of friends and I love that I can appreciate each of them in very different ways.  Now not to get too mushy here, I have to admit that one of the things that I love the most about my closest friends is the banter that we engage in - I've been told that I can be rather sarcastic at time but my closest friends well they like it...I think lol. So with all of that in mind I present my inspiration piece for this months challenge. I've used a stamp from  aall and create  #86 by Fiona Paltridge.  I met Fiona at a scrapbooking event here in New Zealand while with a group of my friends.  So I thought this one was quite fitting :) The statement that I have used is from My Favourite Things - Sassy Pants Best Friends.   I love these statements - and this one in particular made me think ...

Welcome back to another Southern Girls Challenge!  This fortnight the challenge is to use a tag or tags...it's your choice.  I don't normally use tags so this was a good chance for me to see what I could do with them.  I opted to make a card and created a tag out of some scrap paper to use as a layer for my focal pieces. I wanted to add a bit of depth and texture to the tag so I punched a heart in the bottom right hand corner so that you would see the layers and colours of the paper below.  To add a bit more texture I added some stitch like stamping along the bottom line. Well that's my creation.....can't wait to see yours!

Welcome back to another Let's Craft and Create Challenge!  This months challenge is all about layers...a bit like an onion some might say lol.  Right sorry for the bad jokes, lets carry on.  Here is my inspiration piece 'Imagine'. I love this photo - it brings about feelings of struggle but then great achievements... So I like layers but in a flatter sense if that makes any sense to you.  I often use the colour and shapes in my papers mixed with some stamping, outlining etc to create my layers. In this particular piece I have started with my base paper layer that had an ombre effect of orange and teal, a bit like rising from the fire and up into the sunshine.  I believe it is a 7 Dots paper range Cotton Candy Dreams. (Sugar Haze) I fussy cut these fabulous circular flower kind of looking things off the Strawberry Fields paper and attached them to the top of the page - and thus our layering begins.  From here I went on to add some stamping...

Welcome back to another Team Lou Southern Girls Challenge !  This months challenge is 'Add some stamping' - I love stamps perhaps a bit too much at times. I really enjoy the versatility of them.  I have some stamps that I haven't even actually used yet but I just can't bear to part with them!  Anyway as I often use stamps in my card making and scrapbooking layouts, I thought i would do something a bit different,  Check it out...... I have used a Stampin up 'Swallowtail' stamp to create some focal points in the background. I have also used a prima brick wall stamp and honeycomb stamp to add some texture and interest, For the border I have used an Indigo blue stitched stamp to frame the piece, and finally i've added some stitched circles to bring it all together. I hope that this has helped to inspire you.  Don't forget to head on over to the blog and link up your creation!

Stars and Stripes - Red, white and blue - USA ..hmm when I hear those words for some reason I think of Captain America!  Given that my daughter has asked for a super hero themed birthday party this year maybe I just had super hero's on my brain!  Either way I had loads of fun completing this card for the latest challenge over at  Let's Craft and Create . And because super hero's have special powers and like to keep their identities hidden, I made this as a double slider card.  Boom! I'm loving this MFT stamp set - I can see it getting a lot of use! Supplies used: MFT - 'You're Super' Stamp set AC Cardstock - Marine AC Cardstock - White AC Cardstock - Crimson Red & White twine Kaiserkraft Star Die Half moon die cut Stampin-up - Stars stamp Archival Ink - Jet Black Reno Marker - 242 Ultra Blue Reno Marker - 139 Crimson Reno Marker - 3 Honey Adhesive Happy crafting everyone!

Tic Tac Toe! So many choices and ways to go...... I went with a diagonal selection for my layout - Stamp, Ink and white.  And here is my inspiration piece for Team Lou at  Southern Girls Challenge   'Picture perfect'. I have used a Darkroom Door Dot texture stamp to give it a bit more depth.  I've used two different inks for that extra depth - Archival Ink jet black and also Crisp Cantaloupe from Stampin up.  Finally for the white element.  I've used a few white flowers to help lighten the layout up but I have also white embossed the lattice chipboard. To create this layout I have used: Kaisercraft - Always and forever papers -For Keeps -Loveable -Romance -Eternal Darkroom Door stamp - Dots texture stamp Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black Stampin Up - Crisp Cantaloupe ink Medium Gel Kaisercraft -Coconut flowers Kaisercraft Die - Be yourself Lattice stencil 2Crafty Chipboard White Embossing Powder Todays challenge has kindly b...

And....welcome back to another reminder post for  Let's Craft and Create  challenge! Here in New Zealand the weather has just started to get a bit chilly - which for me is perfect crafting weather as it gives me an excuse to be indoors more often. So anyway on with the real reason you are here......your inspiration piece for challenge 138. I have a thing for all things unicorn at the moment - I just can't seem to help myself. In this wee beauty I have used: Stampin up - Boho flower punch Pinkfresh - Magical unicorn stamp set Happy creating and thanks for stopping by.

Welcome to the  Southern Girls Challenge  - Anything goes!!  The choice is all yours this fortnight. I noticed that I'm a bit behind in some of my memory pages and so for this challenge I've created a Christmas Layout Christmas in our house always seems to be split - as in part of Christmas at our house and then we are off visiting family for the other half of the day.  So I really love that special time in the morning when the kids get to open their gifts and it's just the four of us - I love watching their reactions as they can be quite different at times. I love a bit of mixed media and a bit of a grunge look so figured I'd grunge up Christmas a bit lol. I started with my base paper layer and then added my paints. After adding my splatters I have used some water on a paintbrush to spread this around a bit. Supplies used: Kaisercraft Holly Jolly Papers -      1x Hearty (Kraft paper with stars) -  ...

So the challenge over at  Let's Craft and Create  has been running a wee while now so this is your reminder post!  This month's theme is ribbons, lace or twine..use one, two or all three it's up to you. For this reminder post I have created 'Just be you' I have opted to use a fine twine to add some texture and interest between my layers. I have recently started venturing into making my own Scrapbook layout kits - so if you like what you see feel free to visit my facebook page - The Overthinking Crafter  (NZ residents) https://www.facebook.com/TheOverthinkingCrafter/ Thanks for stopping by!

Time for another Team Lou challenge over at  Southern Girls Challenge !  This month's theme is 'Sparkle and Shine'. My inspiration piece is titled ' You were born to sparkle ' For this layout I have used a Kaisercraft range called Mermaid Tails - including papers, collectables and wooden flourishes. To add a bit of bling to it I have added some sequins and some bling dots. This months Team Lou challenge has some great sponsors including: My Favourite Things       And   Sasayaki Glitter Thanks for stopping by!  If you like what you see then please also visit my facebook page ' The Overthinking Crafter ' where I have a limited number of kits available for sale. Thanks!

It's time for a new Team Lou challenge over at the  Southern Girls Challenge Blogspot  - this time we are looking at Fairies, Fantasy and/or flowers.  We have got some great sponsors for this challenge including  Technique Tuesday  and  Hannah Lyne Art . I have chosen to use a great digi stamp from Hannah Lyne Art -  Bookwork Fairy , it reminds me of my daughter, she loves to read and to write songs!  With this being my inspiration I have made a notebook for her.    This is something that I haven't done before so there was a bit of trial and error.  I used a notebook that I purchased from a store, making sure that it had a sturdy cover for my base.  I then added some sheet music and some other lightly patterned pieces of paper. From there I added my circles for the bubbles and tried a few different mediums to get them white....gesso was the winner in the end! I've added a bit of extra colour using gelatos.....I di...

Welcome back it's that time again...I'm sure you don't all really need reminding to get your work of art uploaded for this months  Let's Craft and Create  challenge, but just incase you do here is my inspiration piece for the reminder. This months theme is 'Through a window' and as soon as I saw that I thought about my dogs that sit on the bay window looking out onto the street.  They are usually there when I arrive home so it's one of the first things I see.  It's quite delightful and yes I do believe a house is not a home without a dog. Supplies used: AC Cardstock - Coffee Bean AC Cardstock - White Archival ink Stitched Square Die Reno Markers - Tonal Grey 1, 2 & 3 Reno Markers - Aqua Blue Thanks for visiting - happy crafting everyone!