Scrap the Boys August Challenge

I really enjoyed doing the Scrap the Boys Challenge last month, so I thought I'd do it again!

STB AUGUST CHALLENGE - 

This month we want to see a piece of your childs artwork on your layout and then have your layout inspired from that artwork!

This was so timely for me as I've been having a big clean out and had found these cute little pictures my youngest son had done for his dad. I can't throw things like that away and have a special file for each of them but I loved the idea of scrapping with them so here's what I came up with.

Aren't they adorable?!! 

I haven't done much on this page because I wanted his pictures to be the star. I found I had a small photo of him drawing (in his pj's) that fitted perfectly and also linked in with the colours he had used. I used my heart punch to make a stencil and paint on hearts to copy his hearts he'd done. It's hard to see but I have sewn in green, aqua and black to separate the notes. 

Great challenge, loved it! Might have to do some more with my other kids drawings!

Waste Not Challenge No 1

Its been a terrible few weeks for illness here in Perth. Everyone you talk to has been sick or had sick kids. We've also had it, my poor husband has been very sick with the flu and just gone back to work today. I've also had each one of my kids home, all on different days, with different bugs going around. So this is my first day home alone for a while!

So back to my "Waste Not" Challenge. My last post was showing my number 2 item I haven't used, today I'm sharing number 1- Transparencies & Vellum. I had to skip No 1 last time because I went to take the photo of my layout and 3 of my Thickers in the title had disappeared! I searched everywhere and they have vanished!! Thankfully it was a new set so I had more but I thought I'd post No 2 while waiting.

No1. Transparencies/Vellum

I loved these Hambly Screen Prints when I bought them (on sale). I've seen so many people use them on their layouts beautifully, I couldn't wait to try them. But then something happened. They never seemed to work, I couldn't seem to make them fit my style so they've just sat there.

Here's my try. I wanted to use feathers on this page and I thought the Peacock Feather Transparency would look great as it toned in with the sheet in the cot. I had a beautiful Webster's Feather Floral to add to the softness. I also used some Vellum which wasn't originally part of my challenge because I forgot I had any! A friend gave it to me and I've never really used it. I only stumbled on it looking for the right colour purple/mauve for the page. I have a circle of it behind the Transparency and I've used it to punch out butterflies and flowers. I'm really pleased with the end result. 

I've still got 3 more pieces to use but I feel like I've broken the fear of using the transparencies now. The main thing stopping me was I loved them! I thought they were so beautiful it seemed a shame to cut them up. Have you ever felt this way about a piece of paper or something? I struggle with that sometimes. It's because I feel like sometimes what I produce isn't as good as the idea in my head. And I don't want to wreck the paper, flower, transparency etc... on my substandard layout. Silly isn't it?! I have improved in this area, I remind myself that it's all fixable and that there are no mistakes in art. 

 I think often these things hold a lot of us back from having a go. That's why I started this blog & scrapbooking, I just want to keep blossoming! xx

My "Waste Not" Challenge

As I mentioned in this post I have been guilty of buying items that I've thought would be fantastic on a layout at the time and then promptly packed them away and never looked at them again! I really want to challenge myself to use these things and not just have things sitting around cluttering up the place!

So here is my list of TEN THINGS I BOUGHT & HAVEN"T USED

1. Transparencies/ Vellum
2. Big Chipboard pieces
3. Hessian/ Muslin
4. Ribbon
5. Die Cuts/ Tags
6. Net
7. Brads
8. Fozz Felt
9. Pins
10. Bottle Tops

Now I have used some before but not often so my goal is to challenge myself to try them or try them in a new way. Number 1 is Transparencies or Vellum, I have done a layout but can't show it at the moment (I explain later) so I'll move on to Number 2- Big Chipboards.

I love chipboards and use them a lot BUT I like my photo to be the focus on the page. I've pulled these out often but just found them overwhelming on the page I was doing at the time. So they've been sitting in my chipboard box along time getting slightly bent. 

I'm so pleased with how this turned out and I don't think it distracts from the photo. This is a chipboard tree is from Leann Pearce's Etsy store "The Chip Chop Shop". It's so gorgeous I had to have it and then left it to get slightly bent in my box. But now it's the star of the page! I have sprayed with "Coffee Shop" Glimmermist and then cut some leaves from Prima's "So Cute" paper. I added a little bird also from So Cute.

So what have you got that you've never used? Challenge yourself to try something new. I don't believe scrapbooking should ever be boring.... keep blossoming!