Whales and Ducks

I have been so busy this past week with Group Fitness things and many other things that I just needed time to scrapbook.  So the other afternoon I went into my craft room and put together a layout.  It was great because it was one of those pages that almost put itself together.  I knew almost exactly what I wanted it to be like.  I wanted a white layout (very strange for me, I like lots of colour) with some white on white elements.  The reason I wanted white was because the whales in my photos were white and I wanted the layout to depict more about the whales.  I had never seen Beluga Whales before.  Grace had mentioned seeing them on her last visit to San Diego.  So it was very special for me to see these normally shy creatures.

I cropped two of my photos to be 4"x 4" and placed my photos as you see.  I wanted them on white so I cut a piece of cardstock to measure 10"x 11".  I then wanted to use one of my border punches (which I had recently been reunited with after them being in storage for nearly 6 months) I also wanted another border punched out and layered above the first large border.

I adhered my photos in place then added the second small border which I punched from a scrap piece of cardstock leftover from trimming down the white cardstock.

I put this white base on some light blue cardstock.  I punched 5 circles measuring 3/4" each and adhered them in the bottom right corner being sure to have the first one hanging off the page for some interest.  Once I liked there placement I cut the excess off the circle hanging over the edge and added it to the top left corner.  I didn't want to throw away that little piece, silly, but I like the result.

I found some little light blue bling and added them to the circles.  I was going to put them in the center so that they would all look the same, but then changed my mind.  I like how they look all different and so added a couple (3) extra round the circles.

Lastly I added my title which I cut from using my Silhouette Cameo.

Well, that is my tale about my 'whale' layout.  Now to fill you in on my 'duck', or in this case duckling.

I currently have a wee little duckling living in my bath tub.  Oh, it is so cute.  It has been nicknamed "Peepers".  We have some very early duck and duckling families in my backyard.  One is a mother of 4 (now 3 but at the time of this incident she had 4).  She has been round the house for a few days with her babies so I have been feeding them some rolled oats.  Anyway, the other afternoon I could hear some distressing peeping.  I went out my front door and there was mother of 4 attacking this stray little duckling.  She was really pecking at this wee thing.  I could not stand by and see this so I intervened.  Then, mother of 4 was thinking I was going to go after her four babies so she was getting ready to attack me.  Stray duckling joined her 4 so I thought OK she is defending it, it should be OK
now.  I walked away but saw she started to attack it again.  This time I caught the little duckling, but mamma was not going to let me pass.  It didn't help that duckling was peeping so mamma defended and flew at me.  I told mamma to be nice to it and let it go, just for her to start attacking again.  This time I rescued the duckling and made it into the house.

I have a cat box set up in my bathtub with a warm heat pack for it (I warm it regularly).  There is also an ice-cream container of water for drinking and swimming.  I also have food all over the floor of the bath tub.  It seems happy enough.  I take it out of the tub now and then to let it run around (when I can make an area secure).

I am not sure how my cats are going to take to this little one.  So will need to be careful for a little while.  The cats don't care about ducklings in our backyard, but could be different with one in the house.

Sisters Layout

Over the weekend I was able to take a bit of time to scrapbook. (this is always a plus)  I looked through some photos and found one of my two daughters horsing around on a bush walk we did at the beginning of the year.  We had stopped in front of a beautiful big Kauri tree and were trying out our new camera.  My daughters were sitting across from me and I just happened to snap this photo.  I really like how it brings out the fun side of both of them.

It is not very often that I use pink on my layouts but for some reason this just felt right.  I also decided to use punched out circles from left over pattern papers instead of flowers on this layout.  I used a range of circle sizes of punches (2 1/2", 2", 1 1/2", 1 1/4", 1" and 3/4" circle punches were used)

I also used some sequins to add a little sparkle to this layout.  For the title/journaling I jumped onto Pinterest to find some 'sister' quotes.  I found about 8 quotes and then took them to my daughters and had them choose the one they felt was the most like them and would go with the layout.

This was a simple, but fun layout to create.

Taking Time To Be Creative

With the silly season well and truly upon us, it can be very hard to find time to create.  This weekend was no exception.  Daughters needed to be here, there and everywhere all at once, which meant trucking them where they needed to go.  In between these times and giving my house a little clean (really it needs a big clean, but we won't look to closely will we ...) I gave myself permission to take time and create a couple of fun little cards.

Here is one I created using the really cool metal die set from Echo park.

I started with a very plain background cream cardstock and just went over it with the Distress Ink Broken China and the Distress ink tool.  I punched out the corners - I love this effect.

I cut all the clouds using a light blue Bazzill cardstock, then cut out the word 'sunny' and the sun from yellow Bazzill cardstock.

All these dies are from the Echo Park Sun and Clouds die set - available from our online shop

I also used some red washi tape for some fun contrast.  One of the plain clouds was adhered using foam tape seeing as it was in front of the others.  I really like adding dimension to my cards.

I also had a bit of fun with this little journaling card.  I saw an idea on Pinterest and thought I should give it a go.  I love this particular punch, it seems to be very versatile.

Basically I had two pieces of cardstock and then using this punch, I punched out a piece from the side of my lights cardstock

I matted my main two pieces of cardstock then added a scallop circle and two strips of cardstock.  I also stamped in the space that was punched out - this looks so cool.

I love getting more uses and ideas on how to get the most out of my punches.

Such a Busy Weekend - Love It!

It was the weekend of Craft Out West last weekend.  Yippeee!  Craft Out West is one of my favourite craft shows.  I think I like that it supports Hospice West Auckland.  I also really love meeting all the locals and getting to chat with lots of lovely people.

We had enough room with the wall behind us to have our sign up and some layouts and card ideas

Here is my table that I worked out.  Melissa and I made a great team!

Here is the stand for the Martha Stewart goodies and the EK Success Punches

This was the stand for the Spectrum Noir pens and lots of lovely stamps

And of course here I am getting ready for another great show!

Here are some photos of my stall at Craft Out West.  I was in a different spot this year.  Not sure if it was the different spot or that fact that the weather was so beautiful outside, but the crowds seemed quieter this year.

My daughter Melissa helped me for both days and she did a fantastic job of demonstrating the Martha Stewart Crafter's Clay and the border punches.  I on the other hand was demonstrating the Spectrum Noir pens, and the Teresa Collins modeling paste and templates.

The big surprise again this year was the popularity of the Dress It Up Buttons from Jessie James.  On Saturday in particular these just went crazy.  Mind you so many of the buttons are just too cute to pass up.

The craft show was from 10am - 4pm both days.  So after the show each day there was not much time to do much else but get ready for the following day and have dinner.  But on Sunday morning I was able to get out and water my veggie garden before the show.  Little did I know that there would be a wonderful surprise at the end of the day.

So after the pack down of the show and getting home, the front fence was completely finished and there was another beautiful looking garden bed at the top of the three I already have.  Also my bean seeds and corn seeds have sprouted - so excited.

My baby beans just starting to sprout!

On closer inspection I found these tiny corn seedlings had finally sprouted!

Colouring Modeling Paste

I wanted to share with you a project I created on the weekend where I used some more of the Teresa Collins Modeling Paste - I am really loving this and adding texture to my projects.
I thought it would be fun to add a bit of colour so here is what I did.

I started with a blank canvas - this canvas is one of those flat ones.

Next I used some really fun spray inks.  I used three different makes and colours, Heidi Swap Colour Shine, Tattered Angels glimmer mist and my own home-made spray ink.
I sprayed all over the canvas, now because the surface of this canvas has been treated with Gesso (like most bought canvas') the ink did not seep into the canvas but rested on the top, so to dry it I used my heat too.  Love the effects I got with the blending of the inks, even the splotches look cool.

Next I grabbed one of my 6"x 6" Crafter's Workshop Templates and added some modeling paste just in white.

Then I wanted to add some colour to my modeling paste.  So I added some of the paste to a little plate, then using the spray ink that I used on my canvas I sprayed some colour to the modeling paste and mixed it together a bit.  Now because I had added some extra liquid to the paste it was a big more soft, almost sloppy so be careful how much ink you add.

I used two different templates with the coloured modeling paste, I used the Teresa Collins Scallop 12"x 12" stencil and a small journaling stencil for a last bit of interest in the bottom right corner.
Before drying the modeling paste with my heat tool, I went and washed all my templates, just with cold water and my fingers.
When using your heat tool to dry modeling paste be careful as some heat tools are too hot and can cause modeling pastes to start to bubble.  I also left this to dry overnight.

The following day I added some punched shapes using my Martha Stewart layering punches and a little bit of bling.  I am really pleased with the results.

I would love to see what you create with colouring some modeling paste for your next project.  Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think of this fun wee project.

Finally Finished

How many have projects that you were meant to complete ages ago and just haven't gotten around to it yet?

I will admit I have a few of those.  But this past weekend I was able to cross one of them off my list and completed it - yahoo!  And much to my daughter Melissa's delight as well.

I couple of years back Melissa and my husband Brad redecorated her room.  The paint was chosen and applied, new curtains and nets were found and put up.  Melissa even found some awesome wall stickers of owls and trees and also added them to her room.  I promised I would make a lovely 'Dream' banner for her room.  I found some 4"x 6" chipboard and painted it with the accent paint used in her room.  I even die-cut and glittered the letters for the word Dream and that is were it stayed at for awhile.

I had planned to finish it for her birthday that year and then for Christmas, but it just didn't happen.  I could not find the accents and elements that I wanted for the banner.  I was also having issues with the glitter, in that it kept coming off the letters.  So it was put aside in my craft room.

We over the weekend Melissa went to a friends for a girls night sleepover.  This was my chance to do something with the banner.  I felt inspired.  It was the perfect opportunity to also have a play with the new Teresa Collins Modeling Paste.  Oh I had so much fun.  Firstly I fixed the glitter problem.  I matted the die-cut letters on some more cardstock, then added a bit extra glitter in areas that looked a little sparse.  To affix the glitter so it would look pretty and yet not fall off I covered the letters with Dimensional Magic - perfect.  You could use Glossy Accents and get the same result.  I put these aside for the rest of Saturday.

In the meantime I took the chance to play with the Teresa Collins Modeling paste and some stencils.  Firstly I used the Teresa Collins Scallop stencil and covered a 12" x 12" grey cardstock ready for a layout.  Maybe not the greatest idea for a first project, but it came together well (I will show you the finished result later in the week).  The paste is so easy to work with.  So next I grabbed the painted chipboard and a variety of stencils and went to work (OK play).  Working with a smaller area was a lot easier.  As soon as a background was done that stencil went straight to the laundry sink and cleaned so the modeling paste did not have time to dry on the stencil. (unfortunately I did not take photos as I went, only the finished project)

On Sunday I was able to put the whole thing together and I am really pleased with the results.  I added some die-cut doily bits as well as some butterflies and flowers punched using the Martha Stewart Layering punches.

I suppose this winter it is time to work on some of my cross-stitch projects that need finished from previous years (shhhh ... I rather be scrapbooking LOL!)

Making Spiders

Well with it being Halloween shortly I thought it would be fun to show you a fun we embellishment you can create for your layouts, cards or even your windows.

You Will Need:

Black cardstock
White cardstock
1 1/4" scallop circle punch
 photo corner punch
1/2" circle punch
Black bling or pearls


For each spider you will need to punch:

1 black 1 1/4" scallop circle
4 black photo corners
2 white 1/2" circles

To create the legs of your spider, firstly cut any decorative piece away from your photo corner punches

Now cut each photo corner down the middle so you end up with 8 thin corners

Adhere these to the back of your scallop circle.

Once yours legs are adhered in place you may wish to trim them down slightly.

Add black bling/pearls to your white 1/2" circles

Adhere the two white circles with bling/pearls for eyes to the front of the scallop circle.

Add your finished spider to your project.

Have fun creating and displaying your cute little spiders.  If you play around with the placement of the bling for the eyes you can get some really funny expressions for your spider.

Happy Scrappin