Monday 25 July 2011

Step it up!


Bo Bunny has started a new feature on their blog called Step it Up!  There have been a few requests for simple layouts so they decided to take it a step further and start with a simple layout and then add a couple of extra steps to show how you can take your layout to the next level.  I was on this assignment this month and really enjoyed doing it!  I will admit it was actually quite hard because you have to kind of plan ahead for what you are going to do but can't do the things to see what they will look like as you have to get photos of the simpler versions first (and the fact that we had endless rain for 4 days that was making it really hard to get a good photo didn't help either lol).  So this is my take....

I chose to use the beautiful summery Barefoot & Bliss (well I have to get my sunshine somewhere right!) and this is my 'simple' version


My second version has been spiced up a little by distressing the edges of the outer papers, inking some edges, adding a couple of extra layers under the main photo, adding some ribbon which always adds texture and painting my title.  It may not show up that clearly in the photo but I painted the title blue to match the papers, added a layer of crackle paint and then added a layer of white paint to achieve the cracked wood effect, a perfect effect for beachy type layouts!

 
For my final version I took another sheet of the background paper and cut the flowers out and then layered them on top of the background sheet with foam dots to give some dimension as well as adding a few extra flowers.  I did the same thing with the dot strip under the two smaller photos and added a photo corner and some buttons under the main photo.  Lastly I highlighted the sun by adding a ring of stitching and a ring of bling!
 

And a few close ups...


 
Bo Bunny Supply List:
Patterned Paper: Beach Bag, Bubbles, Dot and Cut Out/Barefoot & Bliss
Cardstock: Double Dot in Slate Dot
Noteworthy: Barefoot & Bliss
Jewels: Barefoot & Bliss
Alphabet: Chunky Chips Chipboard Alpha in Chiffon
Buttons: Ad Lib; Bo Bunny
6" Paper Pad: Barefoot & Bliss
Ribbon: 3/8" Double Dot Ribbon in Buttercup

Well you may notice that I copied and pasted most of that write up off the Bo Bunny blog but as I was the one who did the original post anyway I figured that is not being toooo lazy ;)  

Thanks for visiting and I hope everyone has a fantastic week that just flies by to bring the weekend as fast as possible! :)

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Noteworthy

My latest assignment for Bo Bunny was to focus on Noteworthy.  I have always loved the Noteworthy pads that Bo Bunny make but I am finding the new packs of Noteworthy so versatile!  I used the Liberty line for my layout :)



Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Liberty, Freedom, Dot, Sparkler/Liberty
Die Cuts: Liberty Noteworthy
Stamps: Liberty Clear Stamps
Jewels: Liberty Jewels
American Crafts Glitter Thickers - Lax White
Raffia
Martha Stewart PATP Combo Rings
EK Success Slim Edger Punch Bracket


Well it is that time of year again, the end of the school year and the beginning of the wonderfully long summer holidays!  I have always loved school holidays because I get to have my kids home more (although not so much now that they are getting older) but also for that extra half an hour in bed and the not having to have the mad rush in the mornings whilst fighting with the kids to get ready!  
My eldest who will be going to high school next year (that one still hasn't sunk in!) has already broken up a week early as his school is merging with another one next year and they need time to move everything over, so I had to get his teacher gifts ready early.  I usually make things for the teachers but due to some things I read recently and due to my total lack of time at the moment I decided to just play it safe and did 2 small bottles of wine (one red and one white) and a little box of chocolates.  I also made these super quick cards (in the morning before school!), which I actually really like.  I always like really clean simple cards like these :)
 
I actually got a thank you card from one of the teachers too for the gifts and a letter I had written her.  I thought that was really lovely as I have only had 2 teachers say thank you over the years and 2 teaching assistants, one of which my youngest had for 3 years in a row (she even asked me for recipes!).  So then I felt bad that I hadn't put more effort in this time lo, oh well, at least I wrote her a nice letter saying thank you for all she had done!

Thanks for visiting! :)

Monday 11 July 2011

Previews and some Bounce!!

First up I have another layout for my sketch and scrap group done using this sketch from page maps.


I am not 100% happy with the layout, you know when something just doesn't feel right!  But I was working with a deadline and I haven't had the time since to try and change it a bit so for the moment it is just being left as it is. which is hard for me as I can be a bit OCD with some things lol :)

 

You may have noticed I have been having lots of fun with my mists and liquid pearls lately!  I may even be going a bit overboard but they are sooo much fun, I really neeeeeeed some more!



And most excitingly...have you seen the previews of the new Bo Bunny lines yet?!!  Bo Bunny started showing previews on Wednesday starting with one of my favourites of the new lines Forever Fall!  I am going to add a couple of papers from each line as papers are my weakness (and it makes it easier when I don't have to choose which of all the yummy product to choose) but you can see the full lines and leave a comment for a chance to win one of them on the Bo Bunny Blog. 























Which is your favourite of the new lines?  I can't decide between Forever Fall for the gorgeous colours and whimsical feel or Welcome Home for one of my favourite colour combinations, the beautiful images and just because it is home and family based!   Nope just can't do it, I love them all!!!!   The best part is there are still two more lines to preview!  Be still my heart I seriously can't wait to start playing with all this lusciousness, Bo Bunny have outdone themselves again! :)


Thanks for stopping by and I hope everyone has a great week!

Friday 1 July 2011

Trinkets!

Hi everyone!

Today's layout is focusing on Bo Bunny's gorgeous Trinkets!  These were such a beautiful addition to Bo Bunny's collections and are so fun to work with!  There are so many uses for them and you can see a few on the Bo Bunny blog.  I decided to do a layout using Vicki-B and have used four of the Vicki-B trinkets on it!

The journaling is hidden behind one of the photos and is just about how my Mom loves taking photos and me and my elder sister both hate having our photos taken!  So every time my Mom tries to take photos of us together we are always pulling faces and acting silly so it is not very often that she manages to get a photo of both of us smiling properly at the same time! (with these photos I think we were feeling sorry for her as I was about to return to the UK from our holiday to SA to visit them)  My poor Mommy!  Luckily for her, my younger sister has a really soft heart and is way more accommodating than her unruly older kids ;)
 
For the trim under the photos I wanted the top to be straight and the bottom gathered.  To do this I put a strip of double sided running below the photos and then stuck the top of the Vicki-B trim along it.  I then folded the fabric up neatly and poked two holes, one through the double sided tape and one a bit lower so I could use a large stitch to hold the fabric up.

I then stuck a piece of double sided tape under the 'hanging' part of the trim and then just manipulated the folds to sit how I wanted them and pushed them down onto the tape so they stay in place.


Then lastly of course added the trinkets with some foam dots to finish it off :)


 Supplies:
Vicki B. Trinkets
Vicki B. Stripe
Vicki B. Fabuloso
Vicki B. Wrap
Vicki B. Clear Stamp
Vicki B. Brads
Vicki B. Noteworthy
Vicki B. Jewels
Vicki B. Combo Sticker
Vicki B. 6x6 Paper Pad
Tim Holtz Ideaology regal mini mask
Prima stencils
Tattered Angels Glimmer mist Starfish
Tim Holtz Distress inks - Peeled paint, Walnut stain
Ranger Liquid pearls
Martha Stewart butterfly punch
Kaisercraft Script Clear Stamp


Oh and I have to say I got to see Bo Bunny's new releases the other day and all I can say is WOW they are all totally stunning and you are going to LOVE them!!!!!  So don't forget to keep checking in on the Bo Bunny Blog as there will be some reveals very soon! :)