Today I am sharing my double page layout in the last issue of Create magazine. I used a combination of really old and slightly old patterned papers. This is one of my most favourite ever layouts simply because I could use what I had on hand instead of trying to compete with the Jones' and buy all the latest products and fancy embellishments.

How are you doing with your Christmas preparations?
And have you completed your festive layout yet - then simply add your photos from Christmas day and you are good to go.
Until tomorrow.... thanks for stopping by.

it's time for another sketch over at scrapbook challenges.this week's sketch was a single, but by now you know that my hearts lies in doubles and so i turned the single (right hand side) into a double creating my own thing on the left. i also scrapped our little puppies' operation - yes a memory and things we need to remember and want to remember - it's part of my real life! but the best thing about this layout is that i had a light bulb moment (well for me anyways) - i knew i had some stamps....that would work perfectly, so i went a digging and found the little *medicine* bottles from Graphic 45 - and i loved them on this layout....

i used a really old range from Kaisercraft and i also only had the 2 sheets of paper that perfectly complimented the blue of Jacks' blankie.

i punched some of the circles out of the paper and raised them onto the paper for some added dimension. love the look

combined some old 7gypsies stickers for the *operation* theme and then pulled the red through using more paper elements and buttons

and the bottles up close - i stamped them onto the back of a glitz paper that is cream with a bit of a texture and print. i combined the bottles and raised some of them to give the illusion of them being in the front of the others. so glad Jack did not have to have some of those medicines.

hope you are having a wonderful week....i am still fighting the bug and hope it will let go sooner than later! this week is a hectic creative week and so looking forward to catching up with some good friends - good people - special people, finalizing some business deals that can be quite exciting in the long run and scrapping loads of layouts! be blessed!

so it's time for another sketch over at scrapbook challenges. can you believe it's sketch #300. yip 300....every now and again my heart skips a beat when i see how many layouts i have done in my short life time. how about you? the amount of papers and glue used, not to mention the hours of fun i have had documenting and essentially reliving some good and some bad times in my life. we sure do have an amazing hobby (and job)! and without further wasting your time here it is...so you know i love working with double pages, but if you are looking for the single page version head on over to scrapbook challenges where you can also see what the rest of the girls have done to inspire you.

and a close up of 1 of the techniques used on this layout - the beautiful thread spool stamp set is by Prima and you can get yours by asking your retail shop to order it from from the wholesaler so you can play along and make your own amazing and fun embellishments.the patterned papers are just so beautiful together with some stamped images.

 i hope you have an amazing week - mine is chock and block full - and i can only wish for more time to get evberything done. but officially my wanna do list is still way longer than may have to do list. how is that even possible at this stage of life!

also remember that we have some more spots left for our card making convention in July. so hurry and book a spot so you don't miss out! for more information you can now visit www.cardconvention.blogspot.com

  and check back regularly for updates and some sneak peaks!

and with that being said...there's a new sketch up today and it's again a beauty. i loved this sketch so much i even managed to make a matching card using the scraps from my layout. i will have to post that later when i finally take a photo.

here's what i did with the sketch...

i used my usual white background card stock with some bright patterned papers. this is a great way to compliment the mush-mash of photos used for this layout of my niece. instead of working against the mixture of colours i embraced them and made them work for me. my title is cut using the Cricut machine with a grey shadow.

below my photos i used a strip of vellum as an added detail. instead of adhering the vellum i used my decorative sewing to attach the vellum to my background. let's face it - a bunch of glue showing through vellum is really unsightly - almost - no really just as bad as a 'thong' peeking out from under a pair of jeans! it's a BIG no-no ladies. i love how the vellum adds a beautiful and delicate touch to your layouts. a real feminine touch!
for my title i used die-cut letters as said before - i grouped them together with a stamped Kaisercraft image, some rub-ons, buttons, graphic 45 words, diamante and paint splats. o love grouped elements like this - and remember the closer they are grouped together the better it looks!

thanks for stopping by - and also to those new followers! thanks for taking the time to stop by. i wish you a creative week ahead. and remember to do what you love and make something beautiful!

and here's what i turned it into. if i can just add - my family totally doesn't get what i do creativity wise. but on this project my mom actually said she loves i, and best of all i didn't even had to explain the whole Easter egg box thing - she knew what it was. so there's still hope afterall!

the original plan was to cover the roof in moss - but since i ran out of moss on another project i decided to try and find something in the store room instead. well what would you know? the perfect alternative - some flower decorating stuff! i say stuff cause i really have no clue what to call it! but it was a beautiful grey silver colour and worked wonderfully with the prima papers and flowers.

a beautiful pink sprig of flowers from prima! yes prima indeed!

and some 7gypsies quotes! what would a project be without some 7gypsie humour.

...some inks and perfect pearl mists and ranger goodness had to follow.i also joined the prima papers on the edges using some tim holtz paper tapes. the bird card is from a sheet of graphic 45. and since my mom is a bird artist i had to add some birds to this little project.

and a whole bag full of old watch pieces found its way out of storage and i couldn't resist adding some time to this masterpiece.

 i also added a strip of Tim holtz border die-cuts coloured using the totally awesome sunflower perfect pearl mists. delicate and yet so very Tim like.

our challenge projects had to include a quote or saying and i found this totally awesome quote that so applies to both my and Jayson's moms. truly meaningful!

and another glimpse of the full gift box house.

i absolutely loved working on this project! and although it is totally not functional anymore after having hot glued the lid closed - i think it is a pretty something that can be looked at and bring a smile just because of it's prettyness. oh and did i mention that i was relieved to start using some of those flowers i have been hoarding for 15 years. and no the pink bottle has not dropped in fullness at all! mmm...a trip to woolies may be in order! hope you have a wonderful long weekend! FYI it really is much prettier than any picture could ever begin to show you :-) thanks for stopping by!