we all find inspiration somewhere. we all need inspiration sometimes. and sometimes we just need to copy something and do something that doesn't require that much thought! right! i am pretty comfortable in my scrapping style, i know what i like and what i don't like, but it doesn't mean i am not going to try something else....and that is how this layout came to be. i saw a sketch by Michelle van wyk on let's scrap and thought of trying it. it took a while and many tries of cutting up papers and discarding papers until i finally just lived with this....

it's way too busy, way too full for my but i loved the outcome in the end! maybe it's the photos of my little nephew, maybe the beautiful papers, maybe the pinwheels or maybe it was just the fact that i embraced it all. who knows? so thanks for the inspiration michelle and the challenge.

teresa collins mixed with bazzill ...

pin wheels for fun, texture and pops of colour

pockets stuffed with tags, postcards and images cut from the beautiful beach themed paper

and some signature sewing that brought it all together in the end

i miss this little dude so much - but was lucky enough to see him for an hour this past Saturday. he is soooo cute and adorable, sparkling with life and full of personality! love them so much!

here's wishing you a wonderful creative sunday - mine is a pajama day - a day for reflection on what people think when they openly do something that is not honest, how people can so easily be cruel, how people so easily justify not giving credit or paying someone for work done, how people look after their own needs so easily and yet forget to see the suffering in the world.

thankful for being home with my family, thankful for work, thankful for my daily bread, thankful for talent, thankful for beautifully creative people i meet every day, thankful for support and love, thankful for peace and being able to hear the birds outside!

here's a more recent layout where i simply had to use my new dina wakley stamps. if you're a stamper and love my style then you are sure to absolutely fall in love with her stamps and style of throwing paint onto paper. i wish my personality aloud me the freedom to do more of that and that it would be more easily accepted within the crowds...i guess it is just too unorganized and free for most people who love to be in control and perfectionists.

i used some of the new glitz girls paper ranges combined with some old 7gypsies, october afternoon and mme. i loved how it turned out - the blue and yellow with a hint of pink. the photos are a quick recap of the year 2011 so far.

here's a bit of that hand coloured silk ribbon again.

paint splats with an almost dried up paint dabber from ranger - whats with that? i hardly have it for a couple of months. i think it's time to call it quits with all the other stuff and stick to inks as clearly their paints aren't working out for them. but this is just my opinion.

and here she is...dina wakley in all her glory stamped onto a piece of yellow patterned paper. it says i am uncomplicated, free, happy with myself, content in what i do, unaffected by the masses and what they think, i am me. i am just going to have to get myself some more of these beauties. thanks for stopping by.hope you have a wonderful weekend planned. my day is filled with some project deadlines, a chandelier that needs to be completed for a customer and some down time this weekend.
supplies
background cardstock by african dream house brand smooth
patterned papers by glitz, mme, october afternoon, 7gypsies
stamp by stampington for dina wakley
ink by tsukineko
stickers by glitz
paint by ranger industries
silk ribbon by may arts
distress stains by ranger industries
other postage stamp, thread, diamante,
sketch by let's scrap

i discovered a new online community called let's scrap. a fabulous bunch of girls. and this is where i uploaded this layout and was featured as inspiration of the week - i am honored! it's always nice to get recognition for your work 'cause let's face it there as such talented ladies out there! i used some stunning photos of my nephew for this layout. i am just loving him at this age (3) - really coming into his own and full of personality. so hop on over to let's scrap for some serious inspiration.

some diamante to create a bit of a corner around some of the photos.

pleated ribbon used as a fun accent and to add some colour. i love how this ribbon just picks up on the colours in the photo (his shirt and shorts) for a nice unexpected twist.