Scrapbook Studio Design Team

So many cute things....

  ....to make....so little time lol!!

I love blog hopping around this time of the year...soaking up all the cute, clever things people create!! Sort of second best to actually making it yourself however...but I live in hope of finding some time...one day!! and diligently add them to my faves!

Here are a few cute Christmas decorations I have found and would love to try...

I love the modern airy look of these, perfect Summer Christmas decorations...click the pic for the link to the tutorial...they are quite big but I'm sure it would be easy to scale them down to a size suitable for hanging on the tree also...

Design sponge has lots of great ideas...just check out the DIY section.

Now I am a star addict so when I saw these little cuties from The Purlbee I knew I just had to make one or two for the tree....I even have the felt, the beads and the thread to hand so am hoping to get started tonight! Again click on the pic for the tutorial

 

And while you are digging out your felt stash to make a star check out this simple idea for a christmassy garland I saw on Still Dottie...again I feel the leaves tie in well with a summery Christmas theme...click on the pic for instructions

Ok so my final cute blog find  are these little stacking Christmas trees by The Small Object...how great would some of the fabulous fabric from the Scrapbook Studio shop look made up into these sweet little trees, and you wouldn't have to be worried about being tempted to make more than one cause they look even better grouped together in a little forest!!

yep..you know what to do...click the pic for the how to!

Have a great weekend everybody...don't you love being able to keep the kids in check by saying if you don't be good Santa won't come....mwah ha ha!!!

Meek

Don't panic but....

the deadline for international post is 29th November!!!

Better get those cards and parcels sorted this weekend to all the overseas rellies and whanau!

 

Enjoy the silly season everybody....stressing not allowed lol!!

Meek

feeling the spirit tooooooooo....

Hi everyone...I'm joining LIsa in a little Halloween spirit too...I'm definately not for sending the kids out door knocking but we are always up for a little home made fun when the occasion calls for it!!

Only thing is I don't like to sacrifice my own scrap supplies for something the kids are just going to rip into and ultimately destroy to get to the booty below so I found the perfect solution for such times as these...digi downloads!

I found these gorgeous booty bag toppers here...simply fill a bag full of halloween goodies (don't forget something tricky as well as something treaty!), print out the toppers and attach to the top..how easy is that!

 

Here is the end result along

with the wicked chocolate cupcakes I have hidden away for dessert! Rustle up your edmonds cook book for the Queen cake recipe, top with choc icing and sprinkles... print out some spooky clip art, attach to toothpick and pop in the top....your little ghouls will be delighted I'm sure!

 

Have a fun weekend everybody and keep scrolling on down and check out Lisa's awesome Halloween layout....

Meek xxx

How much fun is...

....this wallpaper!

 

The Scrapbook Studio Art Room will be full of inspiration as the DT add their work from their October DT kits over the weekend so be sure to pop in and check it out...mmmm prima paintables and new Tinkering Ink papers....yum!!

oh and I found some very cute labels for free download at this lovely blog called Fog and Thistle check out her cut paper work too, very cool!

Have a safe and fun Labour weekend everybody!!

Meek

Do you think she scrapbooks?

 

I love it when art is accompanied by music...see Lenka's fun myspace page here and sample her lovely voice....make sure you scroll down to the video of her song'The Show'...you can also find her here on her official website

Ok so if you are here it probably means you are not at SENZ this weekend lol! But don't worry there is lots  of STAY AT HOME SENZ WEEKEND CHALLENGES to keep you busy over at the Scrapbook Studio forum to keep you from moping about missing all the fun in Wellywood!

If you feel like a chat...pop by the chatroom from 8pm and catch up with the SENZ girls at Sundays Bossy Scrapper and find out what they got up to...

See ya!

I'm in a....

...less is more mood today! So I challenged myself to use only one of everything...one piece of pattern paper, one piece of cardstock, one embellishment, one journalling spot and one sort of Alpha.....

  

The gorgeous paper is Scenic Route from my September DT kit and that fun flower is cut from a piece of Tinkering Ink paper...super simple.

I thought you might like to give this little formula a try too so have set up a 1+1+1 challenge over on the Scrapbook Studio Forum

and don't forget Lisa's new ATC dare #2 goes up tonight....congrats to Roo and Janine for the previous dare...your cards were wonderful ladies!

and don't forget your Sunday night date over in the chat room for The Bossy Scrapper at 8pm...Liz will be in full form as Boss!

No longer an....

ATC virgin!!!

lol!

 

Thoughts after making my very first card for Lisa's clown theme ATC challenge...

Whoa...after being used to working on 12x12 layouts....2.5cm x 3.5cm is really small!!!

...But I was delighted to find that I connected with my tiny card! lol that probably sounds weird but I was afraid of  feeling like I was just putting stuff on a piece of card for the sake of it if you know what I mean.

When I sat down at the computer to look for a clown image to use on my card I realised I couldn't just use any old clown, it had to be the 'right' one/s, they had to speak to me somehow...Yeah now you think I'm crazy! But I spent several frustrating nights not connecting with the multitude of clowns out there...even attempted drawing my own...but we won't go there heh, heh...not pretty....until I found this sweet pair...the minute I saw them I knew they were the ones... .and my card came together in a flash once I knew the feeling I wanted to portray.

I used a cardstock base, covered it with a page from an old story book and brushed some white acrylic paint lightly  over the top..found some pretty pp to layer up along the bottom half, brushed a wee bit more paint over and popped my clown couple on top..happily I after I had stuck down my story book page I then  discovered by chance I had included the words head over heels which just added to the little story I had going in my head about my sweet 'in love' clowns...so I simply highlighted the words with a pen...then I punched some pink polka dots to add to the background for a whimsical touch.

The only problem I forsee is loving my creations too much to be able to give them away lol!

Have a creative weekend everybody...maybe you get the kids making their own ATC cards during the holidays...give them some old magazines to cut up and a few art supplies and they are away!

 

Teetering on the edge....

of the ATC world!!

Have you seen Lisa's new Artist Trading Card blog? http://www.atcdares.blogspot.com/

tempted to join in? I am!

I'm always amazed at those tiny works of art.. and there are some very clever techniques used to create them! I can imagine it is so good for the creative soul just to sit and put together these cards completely for the sake of creating something wonderful to look at...

But having never tried making any before I am also a little nervous! Where do I start?! So I needed to find out a little more about it...what are the rules for making ATC?

Basically as Lisa explains on the blog the only rule is the size, they need to be 2.5 by 3.5 inch size (64 x 89 mm...cool! I can handle just one rule!).

Next what do I make my card out of?

Typically it seems cardstock is the safe road to go...especially for a beginner like me...but it seems you can really think out of the box and use all sorts of material like acetate, leather, cardboard, plastic, stiffened fabric, wood, standard playing cards...I read that playing cards are the right size but havn't rushed to measure one with a ruler yet to check lol!

Now comes the fun bit and you go for it creating your artwork straight onto it with a mix of art mediums...hmmm like what exactly I think...I am a scrapbooker who thinks mainly in paper with sometimes a little ink or paint thrown in, I need more ideas here!

A definition for Mixed Media...An artwork in which more than one type of art material is used to create the finished piece...so any sort of art materials mixed together would be good, textiles, pencils, paints (watercolour, oils or acrylic) collage, digital art, calligraphy, beadwork, ephemera, stamps, pen and ink, metal, embossing powders..the list goes on..

Ok so I have materials and size of card covered...now what! I need a theme to get me started! Thats where it is good to join in a challenge or a swap which has a theme to guide you and give you a starting point. Lisa's first challenge is up she has chosen a 'Clown' theme to get us started.

Now I wonder if I join a swap what should I put on the back of my cards? It seems after a little search that most people put Title: (of your Art) Artist:(Your Name), Details:(Paint, Collage) Date: and No.....

Also the rule of thumb for swaps is if you are asked to make 15 cards then you send them all in and don't keep one back for yourself. This makes it easier on the person who is collecting them in and swapping them out to just put one of each back into your envelope including one of yours.

I went for a little search on Flickr for some ATC inspiration and what I loved was the huge variation of styles and techniques so it seems there is no certain way they have to look..have a look here

..but be warned don't forget at some stage you need to stop looking and sit down at your own desk and give it a go!

Have fun and hopefully like me soon you won't be just teetering at the edge but diving in head first to give it a go with me!!! and I'll leave you this bit of clown fun i found by Artist Maria Lamb...too cute! 

Wheeeeeeee!

 

Don't these colours just make your heart sing! Whenever I'm feeling a little jaded, blame it on the Winter SAD's and the lack of sunshine lately...I like to head to flickr and soak up some of the magic that can be found there! This one is by mactastic and makes me want to create a layout using all these colours! Maybe I'll just go and do that right now....

PS....Don't forget Photography prompt #5 share a photo interpreting the word FRESH...and bonus points if you create a layout using one of your Fresh photos...I have a fun Spring RAK to give away!

Have a happy and colourful weekend everybody!

Meek

DT kit love....

From my August DT kit....

 

Bazzill scalloped cardstock

Sweetwaters and 3 bugs in a Rug pattern papers

3 Bugs in a Rug Rubons - Boy

Bazzill cardstock Brads to which I added a rubon from the 3 bugs set.

Thickers

and the swirls are painted using The Crafters Workshop template

Have you seen what the templates look like, a great little tool to have in your stash and very versatile..

   

I also used it along with a 3 Bugs in a Rug boy rubon to whip up this very easy fun card...

 

Those round holes would make a great template for stitching a circle too.

I also created an adorable little house with the Collections set...the 3 Bugs lined paper was perfect for the weather board look I wanted!

 

and this last one I put together based on Kelly's Bossy Scrapper 9 instructions from last Sunday...again using the template to create my little date journal spot...

   

We will be meeting in the Chatroom this Sunday at 8pm for our 10th Bossy Scrapper and Heidi (Pher) will be presiding! see you there!

Meek