February Scrapbooking Top 50 Aus challenge

Just a quick post to share some cards that I made for this month's SBT50 challenge. This month we have a pretty graphic to be inspired by.

I was inspired by the colours (pink, green and yellow), the floral wreaths and the love sentiment to make a set of greeting cards.

All the challenge details and DT examples are on the SBT50 challenge Facebook page. Entries close at midnight tonight, so there is still a bit of time to play along if you are a last-minute crafter like me :)

Kat

January Scrapbooking Top 50 challenge

This year I'm thrilled to be staying on the Scrapbooking Top 50 Aus Design Team for another year of fun challenges. For January we have a fabulous sketch challenge to play along with. You can find all the details on the Facebook page. We are also trialing loading entries to our Facebook page instead of the blog this month to see if that makes things easier for everybody.

For my Design Team example, I made a layout about the difficulties in taking photos of twin babies. I started with the mixed media background, but scraped big lines or acrylic paint rather than the splatters pictured in the sketch. I also moved the smaller cluster from the top left to the bottom right, but hopefully you can still see the bones of the sketch on my layout.

I really liked the way my background came out so I kept the embellishments minimal to let it shine. I also didn't want to take away from the photos too much - just look at those facial expressions. Priceless!

This weekend looks to be a scorcher in Melbourne so I'll be locking myself in the craft room and playing with paper - anything that doesn't involve turning on the iron. I hope you find some crafty time too.

Kat

January ARTastic challenge

I'll thrilled to be joining the ARTastic Challenge creative team for another year. I really enjoy this challenge as it is not as prescriptive as other challenges (such as sketch challenges) - we accept ALL forms of papercrafting as entries from traditional paper layouts, mixed media work, project life spreads to digital entries.

As always, the challenge is to create a project inspired by the selected artwork. Our first inspiration for 2018 is this fantastic painting by Arthur Streeton called Beach Scene. Head over to the ARTastic Challenge blog for all the details of the January challenge.

For this challenge I was inspired by the scene in the artwork and the title, to create a project life spread about a recent visit to Bribie Island with my sister and her family.

It's a quick and simple page, but I'm glad to have the memory documented. One of my goals for 2018 is to do more scrapbooking, even if it's just a quick pocket page. I didn't do much papercrafting last year, and on reflection I think it was because I felt intimidated by all the amazing work out there with lots of layering, mixed media and intricate cutting. Perhaps one day I'll have more time to create detailed works of art, but for now I'll just focus on getting memories documented (and perhaps making a dent in my overflowing stash of papers and journalling cards).

I hope you'll be inspired to play along and create a project that captures a memory from one of your vacations.

Kat

November SBT50 challenge

I'm a few days late in posting, but thought I'd share my project for the Scrapbooking Top 50 November mid-month reveal. This month we have a fun sketch challenge to play with:

Sleep deprivation seems to be killing my scrappy mojo at the moment, but sketch challenges are perfect for times like these. I stuck pretty closely to the sketch and kept it clean and simple, which I think worked well for this photo of my two special guys.

Head over to the SBT50 blog for all the details and to upload your entry. You've got till the end of the month to play along.

Kat

September SBT50 challenge

Today I'm also sharing a page I made for the September SBT50 challenge. This month we have a beautiful bright moodboard to inspire you:

I was inspired by the silhouette of the ballet dancer to scrap a pic of me from my ballet days. I used papers that included elements from the mood board (music notes, paint texture, butterflies etc.) and made a vellum pocket to hold a recital booklet that my Mum kept for almost 30 years!

It's not too late to play along - entries are open until midnight 30th September. We'd love to see how this mood board inspires you.

Kat

September ARTastic challenge

I'm quite late in posting the September ARTastic challenge, but better late than ever, right? This month our challenge is to create something inspired by our feature artwork (Peter Graham's bright and vibrant painting called Monaco Coast) and to use paint.

I was inspired by the beach scene to scrap a photo of my boys at the beach. I've used watercolour paints in the background and have chosen colours that match the colours in the painting.

The inspiration for the paint work came from a lesson in an online class by Paige Evans. I used a large star shape as a mask and covered the background with a coat of gesso and splattered lots of different watercolours.  I usually avoid adding lots of mixed-media artist but I quite enjoyed this technique and am really pleased with how it turned out.

There's still a few days to play along with the challenge, and two great prizes up for grabs. I hope you'll give it a go.

Kat

August SBT50 Aus challenge

The mid-month reveal for the August SBT50 Aus challenge is now up on the SBT50 Challenge blog. This month we have a fun sketch challenge to play along with:

The sketch can be rotated, flipped or adjusted, as long as we can see the bones of the sketch in your creation! For my DT example I rotated the sketch 90 degrees to suit the photos that I wanted to use.

Head over the the SBT50 Challenge blog for all the details and more DT inspiration. You've got till the end of the month so there is still plenty of time to play along.

Kat

August ARTastic challenge

Today is mid-month reveal day for the ARTastic challenge blog. This month we feature this striking artwork by Joshua Miels called Illustrations.

The challenge for August is to create a project inspired by the above artwork and use Black and White PLUS One (which can be any colour). For my example, I made a pocket page using black, white and gold. I was inspired by the faces in the artwork to document my children at their current ages.

Head over to the ARTastic challenge blog for all the details and lots more examples. We hope you can join in this month.

Kat

SBT50 July challenge

The July mid-month reveal is now up on the SBT50 blog. This month we have a pretty mood board to play along with.

For this challenge I was inspired by the image of the pooch to scrap a photo of my fur baby and I from when we were both quite a bit younger. My outfit also goes quite well with the other main image in the mood board - denim jeans with a black and white top.

I used mainly papers from the Kaisercraft Boho Dreams collection because they included lots of patterns present in the mood board; a nice black and white stripe, demin print and pretty florals. To finish the layout I added some black and gold glitter embellishments from the Crate Paper Hello Love collection. How perfect is that tag!

You've got till midnight 31 July to link up your entry and go in the draw to win a $50 prize from ScraphappyKat. We can's wait to see what you create.

Kat

SBT50 June challenge

It's already the middle of the month, which means it is time for the mid-month reveal for the Scrapbooking Top 50 Australia challenge. This month we are challenging you to scrap some non-perfect photos:

For my Design Team example I made a layout about our trip to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum last year. I'd been putting off scrapping the photos from this event because they were far from perfect; out of focus, taken from weird angles and had a yellowish tinge. However, I really wanted to document our visit, and these were the only photos I had.

I ended up using a sheet of patterned paper that was cream based (which helped to make the photos appear brighter) and printed the photos smaller. I also included a memorabilia pocket (to hold the brochure) and a large block of journalling to take the focus away from the not-so-perfect photos.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and am glad to have captured this memory. I hope you'll be inspired to play along with these challenge and scrap some real, not perfect, photos.

Kat

Sketchy Boards June Challenge

I wasn't sure if I would have the time to scrap after the arrival of two little babies but I surprised myself and made a project for the June Sketchy Boards challenge, which is to make a project inspired by the followings sketch and/or colour palette.

Admittedly I cheated a little and used a pre-made page kit from Paige Evans' first collection for Pink Paislee. I thought that the colourful geometric background was a good match for the colourful bricks in the second image, and thanks to the pre-made background, I managed to make a layout in the time between feeds!

Lots more Design Team inspiration can be found on the Sketchy Boards Challenge Facebook page.

Kat

Scrapbooking Top 50 May Challenge

Just a quick post today to share my DT example for the Scrapbooking Top 50 Aus May mid-month reveal. This month we have a great sketch challenge to play along with.

For this challenge, I stuck pretty closely to the sketch and made a layout using papers from the Kaisercraft Indigo Skies collection.

You've got until the end of the month to link up your entry and be in the running for a voucher from Scrapping Clearly. Head over to the SBT50 blog for all the details.

Kat

May ARTastic challenge

The May mid-month reveal is now up on the ARTastic challenge blog so today I'm sharing a layout that I made for this month's challenge. This month we are inspired by a beautiful painting by New Zealand artist Michael Sass called The Garden and the criteria is to include flowers in your work.

For this challenge, I was inspired to scrap a photo of my sister and I in a garden very similar to the one in the artwork. For the flower criteria, I used a floral paper background, flower die cuts and a floral flair. 

Head over to the ARTastic challenge blog to see lots of lovely DT examples and link up your entry :)

Happy crafting

Kat

May Sketchy Boards challenge

A new month means new scrappy challenges. This month at the Sketchy Boards Challenge we have another great sketch and colour palette to be inspired by:

For my Design Team project I made a layout featuring a picture of myself getting ready for my sister's wedding late last year. I don't normally get my hair and make-up done (the last time was for my own wedding 6 years ago) so I thought it was worth documenting.

For this layout I usedpapers from the Kaisercraft wildflower collection, which matched the colours in the inspiration image and the dressing gown I was wearing in the picture. I coouldn't find my packet of die cuts (I blame baby brains) so I added some fussy-cut butterflies to punched hexagons to create some DIY embellishments.

All the details and more DT examples can be found on the Sketchy Boards Challenge FB page. We hope you'll join us this month.

Kat

SBT50 April challenge

The mid-month reveal is now up on the SBT50 challenge blog. This month we have fun moodboard challenge to play along with.

For this challenge I made a pocket page featuring some photo booth pics from my sister's wedding last year.

I've added sequin bows, star-shaped paperclips and wood veneer shapes including an anchor and an arrow. If you look closely at the background paper you'll also find the word "LOL" and some diamonds.

As always, you've got until the end of the month to enter and can make a layout, pocket page, card or OTP project as long as it meets the challenge requirements.

Head over to the SBT50 blog for all the details and lots more Design Team examples. We can't wait to see what you create.

Kat

March SBT50 challenge

The March mid-month reveal is now up on the SBT50 challenge blog. This month we have a fantastic colour challenge to play along with.

For this challenge I made a layout about our visit to Disneyland last year. The colours and fruity elements reminded me of the Bug's Life part of the park, which was one of my little man's favourites.

I used papers from the Dear Lizzy Happy Place collection, which I though was a perfect match - not only because of the colours but because the fruity and floral elements matched the moodboard image.

I also took inspiration from the layers in the image and used scraps of paper to create a layered background.

Head over to the SBT50 blog for lots more DT examples and the challenge details. There are still a couple of weeks to play along and we'd love to see your take.

Kat

SBT50 February challenge

I'm a little late in posting but thought I would share a layout that I made for February's SBT50 challenge. This month we have a great sketch to play along with.

For my DT example I made a layout about our holiday last year to Hamilton Island. I stuck pretty closely to the sketch, except that I swapped the mixed media for a quilt-inspired background.

I used papers and stickers from the Pink Paislee Atlas collection, including some fabulous cork stickers with flecks of gold. I also incorporated a few pieces of memorabilia, which I always find fun to look back on.

There's still over a week left to play along so we hope you'll give it a go. Head over to the SBT50 blog for all the details and lots more examples.

Kat

February ARTastic challenge

The February mid month reveal is now up on the ARTastic challenge blog. Our inspiration for you this month comes from this quirky painting called Carousel Delight by Karen Pierce.

The challenge for this month is to create a project inspired by this month's artwork, and to include the additional criteria of BUTTERFLIES.

For this challenge I chose to make a birthday card. I included lots of patterned paper inspired by the carousel theme, such as music notes, tickets and a marbled paper with lots of movement. I also chose papers in colours that matched the artwork.

I used my electronic cutter to cut a butterfly background cut file from vellum and a larger butterfly for the centre of the card. I stitched down the centre of the butterfly and folded up the wings to give the card some dimension. For embellishments I added a butterfly sticker, a tassel and some gold enamel dots - all inspired by the artwork.

Head over the the ARTastic challenge blog for all the details and lots more DT examples. We hope you can join us this month.

Kat

February Sketchy Boards challenge

Today I'm sharing the layout that I made for this month's Sketchy Boards challenge. As usual, we have a great sketch and/or colour palette to be inspired by:

For this challenge I made a layout about a holiday in Bali quite a few years ago. I used the recent Kaisercraft Ubud Dreams collection, which is a perfect match for the colour palette.

I fussy cut some squares from one of the sheets of pattered paper and added some glossy accents over the top to make them look like glazed tiles.

Head over the the Sketchy Boards challenge Facebook group to see how the rest of the design team was inspired. We hope that you'll get a chance to play along this month.

Kat

Scrap the Girls January challenge

Today I'm sharing a layout I made for the January Scrap the Girls challenge. The challenge for this month is to make a layout inspired by this beautiful mood board.

The images and quote remind me of a holiday we took to Bali about 7 years ago so I scrapped a photo of me taking a break during a white water rafting adventure just outside of Ubud.

I've used papers from a few different Heidi Swapp collections that match the colours of the moodboard and added a large foiled doily in the background using a Kaisercraft stencil, some minc reactive paint and blue foil (to match the foil blue of the tealight holder in the mood board).

I found some large metal mandalas that I thought were a perfect match for the designs in the henna and lanterns. These embellishments have been floating around in my stash for ages so it was nice to put them to use. I also fussy cut some flowers from a another sheet of Heidi Swapp patterned paper, which I thought were a good match for the lotus flower candles.

For the title I added a glitter covered wood veneer which nicely sums up how I felt at the time - happy, relaxed, enjoying the moment. I'f love to go back there and do it all again someday.

Kat