Do You Have a Favourite Shape?

I never knew that I had a favourite shape but it seems that I do.

When I am working with circles I go to my happy place and something comes out the other side that I love. What is your favourite shape?

Below is an Art Journal page that I created for my turn today on Off The Rails Scrapbooking. If you would like to follow my process and how I created it please follow the link (here).

Happy Creating

Watercolour Background

Have you ever created a background that you loved so much that you had no idea what to embellish it with. Well that is what happened with this card that I designed for the new challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking pop on over to the blog to see what the rest of the talented design team created.

The challenge was to use the colours from a mood palette. I found this extremely challenging as it was a mix of colours that I would not normally put together. But it works.

For this card I used all Stampin' Up products :

Inks - So Saffron, Blackberry Bliss, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi and Hello Honey

Stamps - Itty Bitty Banners, Four Feathers and Off The Grid
Punch - Bitty Butterfly.

Thank you for coming past and Happy Creating.

Dollie, a Paper Flower and A Heart

What does a dollie, a paper flower, and a chipboard heart all have in common? 

They are on a new page of my journal.

To find out how I went from here 

to here pop on over to Off The Rails Scrapbooking

The quote I used is a little hard to read but it says

'Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable'

You still have 4 days to enter into the current challenge on the blog

Happy Creating

Dont Follow - Leave a Trail

It was my turn to share on Off The Rails Scrapbbooking blog today. Please pop on over to see what other projects that the amazingly talented Design Team has created. Every day there is something new.

Sometimes things just come together without much thought and this is one of those times. Using my Golden Fluid Acrylics, left over pieces from previous projects and my Faber Castell Pitt Pens I created a new page for my Art Journal.

Happy Creating

Online Classes

I have always wanted to take part in an online class but deciding which one was always the problem until about 4 weeks ago. I was flicking through my account on twitter when I saw a tweet from Kelly Rae Roberts. This tweet caught my eye not only because it was from Kelly Rae Roberts who I have been following for a few years now, but because she was tweeting about an online course. It wasn't long before I had completed sign up for Hello Soul Hello Mixed Mantras. I was all ready to go but I had to wait a few days before the class was live. So what do you do when you are waiting? Go shopping and buy supplies of course.

Finally the day arrived that I could access the class, there and then my journey began. The fun, the playing, the getting messy and letting go is something that I just cannot get enough of.

I would like to share with you a piece of art that I have created since I began class. My start to finish I knew what it was going to be my hands did not falter and I did not think about it, it just flowed.

Before starting the course with Kelly Rae Roberts I would never have believed that I was capable of creating something like this. Thank you Kelly Rae

Paint and Hessian

It was my turn to share on the blog at Off The Rails Scrapbooking and I wanted to try something that was different for me. This included using paints and hessian to create a mixed media card. My colour palette was chosen for its simplicity, as I didn't want my card to look too messy.

I might just have to find something else to create with the rest of the hessian, as it is quite effective as a background. Will have to put my thinking cap on.

Happy Creating

Blue and Gold

Today is another reveal day on the blog at Off The Rails Scrapbooking. The theme this month is a stunning Mood Palette. 

Now with a mood palette you use what ever catches your eye. What stood out to me was the bright blue, gold and feathers, but I only ended up using the blue and gold.

For this challenge I combined two of my favourites things - cards and mixed media, and of course I had to put a butterfly in there somehow.

Please don't forget to pop past blog for more inspiration.

Happy Creating

Die Cuts

How many of us have die cuts sitting around gathering dust. I will put up my hand and say that I have waaaaay too many. Which is lucky for me because the month the challenge at Scrap It with Attitude is all about using them.

While going through my stash I came across my favourite packet of Kaisercraft Collectables (which have not been used), Pickled Pear. Now I love this range which is why it was untouched because I didn't want to use it because it is a deleted range. But use it I did. I create a card that I am extremely happy with.

Happy Creating

Song of the Heart

You never know where your creativity will lead you, so stop thinking and let it happen.

Do you want to see how I got from here

To my finished art journal page, well head on over to 

Off The Rails Scrapping Blog and you will out

I have used a heart stencil from Stampin' Up, Gorgeous Grunge stamp and Blackberry Bliss Ink also from Stampin' Up. Other products I have used are acrylic ink, gesso, water and Faber-Castell pen.

I hope this inspires you to create.

Happy Creating

The Art of Journaling

I have always loved the idea of creating an Art journal but wondered where I would start. I didn't want a bound journal as I felt for me this was too restricting, so I brought some water colour paper (300 gsm). Next time I will buy smooth finish rather than the rough but it is all a learning curve.

The A4 sheets of paper I cut into 8x8 as I have an mdf album (which needs to be decorated) that I can use and the off cuts of the paper I will save and use for something else.

My next step was to rewatch a video tutorial that Fiona from the Off The Rails Scrapbooking Design Team created. I loved watching it the first, second and third time (click here for the video).

I finished the back ground a couple of days ago but then had no idea what to embellish it with. I had created an extremely busy background. Today I finally finished it off with 3 butterflies that I fussy cut out of some paper.

Here is my first Art Journal page.

Now it's time to go and watch some more videos for inspiration and get messy. Thank you for stopping by.

Happy Creating

The Simple Joy of Card Making

When I first started creating items I turned my hand to card making and I loved it. I would stay up late most nights and then struggle to get to work on time the next morning, but I enjoyed it too much to not do it.

I have come a long way since my first card but I still enjoy the art of card making. I haven't created much at all this year there as been no joy or passion to do it, but last month I created 3 cards that I would like to share with you.

On all three I have used the new Stampin' Up 2014 - 2016 In Colour Collection. I have been using Stampin' Up products for a few years. Late last year I signed up and became a demonstrator so if you would like more info please leave me a comment.

Happy Creating

Canvas Wall Art

Sometimes your creative side has to take a back seat to your responsibilities. I have not created much this year but I did have the pleasure of creating a couple of canvases for Mother's Day.

The mother of the two children (who are very cute by the way) gave me two photos of each child and asked me to create one for her, as she was going to spoil herself and one for her Mum.

I had never created a canvas let alone two with photos in it, but I think I did quite well

Happy Creating

Up Up and Away

I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything, so thank you for still being here.

The challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking is Up, Up and Away. The first things that always comes to mind are butterflies. Butterflies are one of my favourite things.

I was asked to create a card for a friend and it fit this theme perfectly.

Would love to see you enter the challenge, so many possibilities with the theme.
Happy Creating

Stencils and Masks

I love playing with anything that is messy, in fact my hands are still purple and blue from creating the layout for this fortnights Off The Rails Scrapbooking challenge. We had to use stencils and mask, you can do so many things with them. 

The first stencil I sprayed Heidi Swapp Colour Shine through. It is there in the back ground (tiny rectangles) you might have to look closely. The other one i used my Stampin' Up ink and moved the stencil around the layout for my butterflies.

The sponsor of this challenge is 

http://www.darkroomdoor.com/Blog

And this is the prize that you could take home

Happy Creating

Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator

 Just before Christmas last year I made the descision to become an Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator. I have been using the products for a few years now and just love using them.

I created a couple of cards that I would like to share with you. All the products used to make these cards are Stampin' Up products. If you would like to know more please leave me a comment.

Off The Rails Scrapbooking Blog Hop

Hello and Welcome. Thank you for visiting and I hope you have fun on the blog journey. This hop will take you to many wonderful and talented designer's blogs.

Now for the all important part, what you have to do to play along. Each of the designers have chosen their favourite embellishments. You need to create a layout, card or mixed media project using four of those embellishments. Once you have created your project you will need to link it to the

Off The Rails Scrapbooking Blog

Within the post on your blog you will need to highlight which four embellishments you have used and the designers whose favourite embellishment it is.

1. http://offtherailsscrapbooking.blogspot.com.au/ 

2. Narelle Fasulo - http://www.enchantedcreationsnf.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/my-favourite-embellishments.html

3. Deena Otway - http://deezignerpapercraft.blogspot.com.au/
4. Erin Manz Reed - http://scraps-of-reflections.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/off-rails-scrapbooking-blog-hop.html
5. Diana Rivero Gonzalez - http://itsmylifeandimscrappingit.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/off-rails-scrapbooking-blog-hop.html
6. Carol Theng - http://www.carolpaperie.blogspot.sg/2014/03/off-rails-scrapbooking-blog-hop.html
7. Gayle Gordon - http://baggiesplace.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/hello-and-welcome-to-off-rails-scrap.html
8. Fiona Paltridge - http://pastichescrapbookstudio.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/off-rails-blog-hop.html
9. Felicity Wilson - http://herhand.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/blog-hop-otr.html
10. Sue Plumb - http://soupie75.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/off-rails-blog-hop.html
11. Rose Andrew - http://www.cardsforallreason.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/memories.html
12. Jelissa Mei - http://jelibeanz.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/blog-hopping-fun-with-off-rails.html
13. Wendy O'Keeffe - http://scrapbookingandmixedmediabywendy.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/off-rails-scrapbooking-favourite.html
14. Catie Kennedy - http://www.catiescraftcorner.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/off-rails-bloghop.html


Would you like to know what my favourite embellishment is? I will share my layout that I have create and then tell you.

My favourite embellishments are buttons. I don't think it is an obsession but it could be close I have 5 huge jars of them. For this layout I used wooded buttons that I sanded to take the varnish off and then coloured them with Dylusion - Melted Chocolate.

Off The Rails Scrapbooking is lucky enough to have Graphic 45 as the sponsor of the hop.

Graphic 45 i an award-winning scrapbook and paper crafting company. We offer vintage inspired crafting products that capture the flamboyant style of the 1920's and 30's - with vibrant colour, irresistible texture and imaginative design to create products with decades-old appreal that's both fresh and familiar. Let our products inspire your next scrapbook layout, card, album or home decor project.

To be in the running for the Graphic 45 prize you must follow Off The Rails Scrapbooking Blog and all of the designers blogs. Please leave a message on each of the blogs so that we know you have been for a visit.

Thank you for hopping along with us, cannot wait to see your finished design.

Happy Creating

It's All About Bling

I have struggled lately, well since Christmas to find my creative side. Two and a half months is a long time and to only have created a couple of pieces, it makes me a little sad and to have a lot of doubt in myself and my journey.

The current challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking is all about Bling. So the piece I created was something for me. I can hang it on the wall in my creative space and look at it and believe.

If you would like to see more from the Design Team at Off The Rails Scrapbboking then please visit the blog as they have all worked so hard and created some amazing pieces.

The sponsor for the challenge is Close To My Heart, would love for you to pop over and say Hi, either at their Etsy store or facebook page, links below.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/hobbiesfromtheheart

https://www.facebook.com/hobbiesfromtheheart?fref=ts

Happy Creating

Background stamps

Have you ever been looking for the right background stamp and just could not find it well why not create it yourself. All it takes is for you to let your imagination loose and use what ever you can find. If you want to see the full tutorial please head on over to   Off The Rails Scrapbooking.

The photo above can use see those annoying thin stringy bits of glue well I have a little secret that I am going to tell you of how to get rid of them.

Once your hot glue is dry blast them with your heat gun and they melt away like magic, see the after photo below. No stringy bits.

So after this success I got to thinking what else do I have in this room of mine that I can create another background stamp with. I opened up my cupboard and one of my huge jars of buttons caught my eye (I have 5 jars of button, it's not an obsession really it's not).

I decided that I was going to use two different coloured inks on my buttons and this is the result that I got.

All these ideas are buzzing around my head now. 

Next time you are looking for a background stamp why not try and create one of your own. 

Happy Creating

Use a photo or memorabilia of a loved one

 The new challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking is Use a photo or memorabilia of a loved one. I created a layout using a photo of my little girl. She was not yet 2 in this photo, she is now 6.

Getting messy is what creating is all about and that is what I did. I played with Dylusions, Distress Ink Re-inkers, Versa Colour Ink and Copper Leaf.

Would love to know what you think

Happy Creating

Height

I love adding dimension to my designs, so the new challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking was right up my alley. For this challenge I did create a mixed media project but it was not my usually style. Would love to know what you think

I love the colours that I used, and that little pop of red really works, now red is not a colour that I usually work with but maybe I could use a little every now and then.

Happy Creating

2013

Happy New Year,

I hope that 2014 is all that you want it to be.

2013 was a year that many things happened. My baby girl started primary school, this was not easy and I know it is not easy for any mother. My baby girl was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 2 and 1/2 so sending her off the primary school to be  cared for by someone else 5 days a week was rather stressful. The great thing about it was that the school I sent her to were amazing and rose to the challenge. She had a wonderful time and cannot wait for next year. I met new friends and caught up with old ones. Creatively I have grown and I hope to continue as it brings me great joy and allows me to lose myself.

Why am I telling you all this you wonder, well January's challenge for Scrap It With Attitude is "2013 in a Nut Shell" design a card, layout or mixed media project that best describes 2013 for you. As soon as I read what it was going to be an idea formed in my head. I am really excited to show you.

I hope that you will be able to join us for the challenge and I look forward to seeing what you create.

Happy Creating