Layout day!

Hi there Bloglanders

I have so many crafting products lined up to share that I start to forget about some!  Today I'm sharing a layout that I made for a challenge that Scrap It Girl had last month. I made mine a while ago, took the pictures, got it blog ready, filed the original away in my album and then forgot all about it.  Now the challenge is done, the winner was announced and I'm still the proud owner of a memory preserved for years to come.

After all, it is not about the challenge, it is about trying out something new, thinking out of the box, using what you've got and getting it done.  Most important - getting it done!!

For this challenge the recipe was: 1 stamp, 2 die cuts and 3 papers and this is what I came up with:

I loved the calm and serene feeling of these papers and pictures and didn't want to clutter the layout.  So I added a mini book with the rest of the pictures.  On the right you can see how it opens up and on the left it is closed in a vellum pocket sewn onto my layout. For the mini book I used paper that I recycled from the inside of gift wrap rolls.  It works very well and I love the natural color.

And a close-up:

And I couldn't resist a picture of the butterflies - 1 stamp and 2 die cuts:

The paper that I've use is mostly from Kaiser Kraft's Pickled Pear Collection and I even used the strip at the bottom of the cardstock because I just loved the little pears and butterflies on it. The stamp and die is from Papertrey Inc. (I think it is the Love Lives Here collection)

That's it!  Thanks for visiting my blog and please check back as I'll be sharing a sewing cum storage project tomorrow. DIY and use what you've got at it's very best. Have a Wacky Wednesday!

Some Bunny Loves You birthday card / mini book

Hi there Bloglanders

It's a Marvellous Monday here in Sunny SA!  I'm back after a week at the West Coast and can't wait to get crafting.  I have a BIG birthday coming up - no, not mine but girlfriend #1, the princess in turning 25 next week. I love her to bits and decided to make her a special birthday card / mini book.

Here it is:

And this is how I did it: (Picture 2)

After last week's Wacky Washi all around Blogland I couldn't help myself but try it straight away.  I've never used it to bind a book but it works very well.  I actually recycled packaging from my Cropper Hopper files, cut the carton into five 2x2 inch squares and covered it with scrapbook paper. Out came the Washi tape to bind the squares together. I've used coral pink on the inside and banana yellow on the outside.  My color inspiration came from The Color Throwdown.

Just a tip: Leave at least a 2mm gap between the squares before adding the Washi - this makes folding the card flat much easier. Sort of a "washi hinge".  I've cut a scalloped circle into the middle block for a peek-a-boo effect.  Also, before I covered the recycled carton, I sewed 2 pieces of ribbon on the left block as I wanted a vibrant ribbon to close my card / mini book. Inside I've added my stamped scallop - "Some bunny loves U" from Papertrey Inc. (Right bottom of  Picture 2) You can also see the details of my front cover in this picture. (Left middle Picture 2). 

As easy as that!

And some more pic's: Back of closed card:

And what I love most about this card /  mini book - it stands up all by itself!!! Here you can also see the dimension on the stamped scallop peeking through the peek-a-boo. Oh!  Forgot to mention - I've put a foam square underneath to make it pop out more.

When I saw this bunny stamp on Alexandra's blog (Art, Scrap and More) last year on Valentine's day, I knew I just had to have it. The Princess has 8 bunnies but that's a story for another day.  Remind me to tell it to you - it is really a great story and I've captured it more than once on a layout. Will take a picture and come back to share.

Back to my "Some Bunny Loves U card / mini book".  I'm adding stuff to the inside of this card cum mini book but I couldn't decide what to do - something like: I love U, Wynand loves U, all your friends love U, Princess Cinnamon Boots (that's her cat) loves you, 8 x Bunnies love you, but most of all - my son loves you.  I'm still deciding if I'm just going to journal or if I'm adding pictures.  If you check back here, I'll share my finished project with U.

Confession time!  I know I make a lot of spelling / grammar mistakes but I hate reading through my post after I've written it. So, I just don't do it! IMPERFECT ME.

Thanks for looking at my blog. I'll be back. Have a Marvellous Monday and please come back to play at Play as U Go.

Inspired by an Angel

Hi there Bloglanders

I hope you are having a Wacky Wednesday!  Remember I said that my friend's angel inspired me? Well, here she is: Annie Angel.

And my inspiration: Anel's Angel.

I told you so!! IMPERFECT ME gets inspired - I don't normally copy and if I do - it turns out IMPERFECT like ME. Much more interesting.  My Anny angel was done by punching out the body with a Papertrey Inc die.  I've sewn around, added "hair" (actually, unravelled string) and a bead.  The wings were made by a sandwich of transparencies on the outside and silver tulle on the inside. Everything is held together by Sizzex's adhesive sheets.

You might think that this sounds easy. Think again!

You wouldn't believe what I'm going to tell you now!  I'm making 6 more. Stitching around the angel is pure hell but it is so worth it. And I have a huge plan for Annie Angel (and her family) but you will have to wait for my reveal. So, I'm off to do some more Angel stitching. Please check back to see where my inspiration  leads me.

Enjoy the rest of your day and remember to Play as U Go.