High Voltage Smile - July Sassy Scrappers moodboard

Have you seen the delicious moodboard Anita has put together for us this monthat Sassy Scrappers? I couldn't wait to play!

Instantly inspired by the striking makeup, this pic I snapped of my youngest was perfect for the challenge. I'm not sure where she gets the obsession with red lipstick, but a part of me doesn't mind, as it was my Mum's signature shade, and it reminds me of her beautiful smile.

 

For the background, I created the text on my computer and printed it onto kraft stock, using my laser printer. (It's an absolutely bog-standard one btw, cheapest I could find at Officeworks.)

As you can see from the pic above, I covered a section of the text with some red foil and then ran it through my Heidi Swapp Minc machine. The foil really makes the title pop and adds a special touch.

The lower half is totally busting with blooms, just like the moodboard! I've used some Maggie Holmes floral ephemera from the Open Book collection as well as some ones I created myself.

Some of them are just straight black StazOn ink I used with a Kaisercraft stamp on acetate and others are the same stamp, on acetate, using VersaMark and heat set with gold embossing powder. The acetate did warp a bit, but I didn't mind too much, as it gave the flower a bit of character. 

Before and after heat setting the embossing powder

 Tiny details include machine stitching, some rhinestones, adhesive sequins and a Heidi Swapp stamp from the September Skies collection.

I hope you will play along with us!

May Sassy Scappers moodboard inspiration

Hello again! Have you seen the new Sassy Scrappers moodboard for May? It's so gorgeous. Anita does an incredible job!

That amazing heart and the phrase stood out immediately! So I decided to create a crazy puzzle of my little girl's face. To be honest, I wasn't really sure how it would turn out, but that's half the fun!

I printed off the photo onto an A4 piece of photo paper. I then measured it exactly and set up the rectangle in Silhouette Studio. I went about placing loads of butterflies in various sizes all over to fill the space.

 

I cut it with blade set to 7 and a slowish speed of 3. Ta da! It worked (this is where I did a little dance!) I very carefully pulled off the negative of the cut and left the butterflies on the cutting mat.

It took about an hour, but I transferred each little butterfly into place, glueing as I went with Glossy Accents. Half way through I was really not convinced, but as soon as I had finished and took a step back, I was pretty chuffed with the outcome!

It was at this point that I decided I would frame it. I wanted to have some sort of title and then I remembered that a few years ago, I asked Heidi Swapp to write my kids names on a piece of paper. How perfect for the title! I scanned the paper in and then converted it to a cut file for my Silhouette Cameo.

I liked the paper cut but I really like the subtle shadow effect of her acrylic words, so I figured I'd add some! Again, this was an experiment, cutting an acetate sheet. I gave the cut file a small offset and sent it to cut....

How cool does it look once the two are layered!

If you decide to give this a go, please show me! I'd love to see. You can tag me @chantallemcdaniel if you have an Instagram account, or link it up on the Sassy page. The April winners will be announced this week. I hope you will join us!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great week!

Simple Stories & Page Maps

All through the first week of April, the Simple Stories DT have been in collaboration with Page Maps to create with the awesome new April sketches.

I was lucky enough to create two layouts. I have rotated the sketch 90 degrees anticlockwise.

I have used the totally gorgeous new Simple Stories 'Happy' Sn@p Pack. These new packs contain 131 pieces - 4x6, 3x4, 4x4, 3x3 and 2x2 cards as well as Bits & Pieces!

I've chosen a selection of the cards which feature a plain colour on the B side and arranged them in a kind've ombré effect.

Over the top I have layered more of the smaller cards and rounded the corners of one of the 3x4 cards to look like a polaroid.

For the garland, I have used my sewing machine to stitch together some of the Bit & Pieces that come in the pack, including a die cut word for a bit of fun.

Bits & Pieces raised on foam tape give a printed card some dimension.

My next page was created using the following sketch

For this one, I have used the 'I AM' collection, perfect to express the relief of a safe delivery and the love I felt for my newborn Miss E.

Using three shades of the I AM basics, I used my Silhouette to cut out the large 'E' out of a strip of 'Unique' then backed this with some 'Strong'. Over the top I have heaped a load of Glossy Accents, being careful to stay within the cut area. I love the deep gloss it gives the letter!

Over the larger image I have used a photo overlay, some stickers and a wood veneer from the Enchanted collection.

For the tag in the sketch, I have used one of the new 'I AM' interactive elements. This pack is full of surprises! And for someone like me (who loves to hide my handwriting) they are perfect!

The tag slides out to reveal journalling. I have altered it by adding some stickers.

I thought a nice way to keep my tag tab from flopping around, would be to adhere an 'I AM' decorative clip to the page and tuck the tab inside.

The page is finished off with some stitching, enamel dots, brads.

Thank you so much for popping in. I hope you will give the sketches a go!

This is what fun looks like - Kraft+

Sheesh, it's been a while between drinks! 

I have loads to update, but before I do, I want to tell you all about the new March challenge at Kraft Plus!

If, like me, you have a bit of a penchant for all things sparkly, you are going to love it! A fabulous sketch, plus something glittery. Include whatever catches the eye, be it metallics, sequins, glitter... enjoy!

 

Here is my page, using a kraft base and the new Simple Stories 'Say Cheese II' collection, which is available in the Sassy Scrappers store now.

I have been waiting to scrap this photo for ages and the sketch (which I've rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise) with it's strips, has finally granted me my wish! My kids were going stir crazy during a couple of days of wild weather outside and so we took to some shredding (which makes them ridiculously happy!) They had the best time just covering each other up with the shreds and throwing it - crazies!!

I've trimmed lots of little strips of paper and lined them up, imperfectly on my page. I've included some gold foil spotty kraft as well as some textured gold glitter cardstock. These were then machine stitched down. The paper ruffle was created by punching along the length of a strip of paper, then gently folding it by hand, into the ruffle shape. I then machine stitched along the top bit to secure it down and popped it behind my photo.

I have a bit of a habit when it comes to covering a dotted pattern with enamel dots or something similarly circular! On this 3x4 Sn@p card, I have added some gold rhinestones to the letter 'U' for some fun.

Lots of little details finish the page, like sequins, rhinestones, my fave glitter enamel dots, glitters stickers and rub-ons. I am sure you will have lots of fun with this challenge - we are all looking forward to seeing what you create!

Thanks so much for popping in!

Let your light shine - Jan moodboard Sassy Scrappers

All things 'new & shiny' were on my mind when I designed this month's moodboard for Sassy Scrappers. 

I hope you will find some inspiration from the imagery and join us for some fun!

A bit of an introspective page as I contemplate the possibilities for 2015...

It's a bit of a mix and match page. It's not often that I'm smitten with flowers... but the Maggie Holmes Open Book blooms, ephemera and chipboard frames have me seriously weak at the knees. 

I need another pack of the flowers just so I can hoard them!

 

This little blue rose and the stamp are from Heidi Swapp September Skies

On the background, I have used one my favourite rose 'Words or Whatever' 

stencils and mucked around with some ink and glitter glue.

I used a dauber to apply first a pink, then a red ink through the stencil.

On top of that, I used some silver Glitzin' Glamour in parts of the stencil. It was quite a thick application. If you are going to try it, remove the stencil very carefully so as to avoid it spreading in to other areas.

As a final flourish, I have given my page some major bling factor, by pretty much using a whole sheet of silver rhinstones. I absolutely love the effect!

Here is the moodboard. The winners of November and December will be announced on the Sassy blog tomorrow and then the linkup tool should be active.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Done like a dinner!

Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy roundup to a fabulous year!

My album is looking swell over on the Sassy Scrappers blog today. Cover to cover, you will find everything you need to get yours done and dusted.

Till next time!

December Days foundation pages: part 2

I'm going through more of my December Days album foundation pages on the  Sassy Scrappers blog today.

Some more snippets... lots more on the blog!

December Days foundation pages

If you are thinking about doing a December album this year, now is the time to get everything ready for the busy days ahead!

It just so happens that Sassy Scrappers has an absolutely stunning album kit available in store now and I am sharing my page prep work on the blog.

Here is an idea of how it's coming along... lots more on the blog.

Have a great weekend!

Eat Cake - November moodboard Sassy Scrappers

The new Sassy moodboard is up and I'm sure you will agree, it's jam-packed full of inspiration! I have taken cues from the wedding cakes and created this page about my own cake (which caused me a bit of grief! hehe)

Literally drawing inspiration from the beautiful blooms in the board, I have used my Silhouette to draw these flowers directly on to my page with the silver metallic sketch pen. I went over parts of the flowers with a bronze pen by hand. The flower can be bought in the Silhouette store (Design ID #9217)

I have stitched a Heidi Swapp Project Life photo overlay onto my photo.

This is the board. Head over to the blog to check out the DT girl's beautiful pages!