Using up my Echo Park 'For the Record'

I was putting away my recent haul and as the new Echo Park goodies were being stashed I spotted the remaining sheets of the For the Record papers and stickers. Now I don't know about you but as soon as I get a new collection that is the one that I hone in on. As soon as I have done a couple of layouts, it gets put away for fear of all my layouts looking the same.......and that's where it stays.

So my challenge to myself is to use up a collection in it's entireity........can I do it? Well let's see!!

OK, so I did do 3 layouts previously using this collection and here is what I have been doing this weekend to use up the rest (still got quite a bit more to go!) I stumbled across this lovely blog
 http://wingsofabutterfly-vanessa.blogspot.com/2011/09/echo-park-projects-including-tutorial.html
searching for some inspiration. I have totally lifted the idea...I love it! Instead of seed packets I have made cards to go in the pockets. I shall probably give this to my Mum :0)

Before I go any further, apologies for the photos, unfortunately I have left it a bit late in the day :0(

I also made this card for the Frosted Designs card challenge but by the time I wrote this post the challenge had closed, lol!!!

I have used cardstock and a topper from Hunkydory a UK based company, thought I would give them a go and I am pleasantly surprised!! The flower is from iamroses.com, the hat pins were from ebay and the stamp is an old Hero Arts one from my stash.

I am hoping to get a chance to complete some layout challenges this week but life is a bit full on at the moment so we'll see :0) I am definitely going to do some more projects with the rest of the 'For the Record' collection and will post them soon. I think it will be pretty cool to see how much you can do with a handful of papers and a couple of sticker sheets!!

Thanks for stopping by

Ali x

Sketch Along Tuesday #25

Morning all,

I have been so excited to tell you about my news!
I got an email from Debbie at http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com asking if I would like to be their guest designer for October for their Sketch Along Tuesday challenge.

I have had to keep it under wraps for what seems like an eternity and can now reveal the sketch and my take.



The subject for my layout is my beautiful GD (as usual, I hear you cry!) I decided to give this buff, almost kraft coloured cardstock a go, and I really like how the colours 'pop'. I shall definitely be buying more of this :0)

Paper is October Afternoon Thrift Shop, the circles are punched from OA 5 & Dime papers. The stickers are OA Thrift Shop and Report Card. The trim is American Crafts, the yellow resin flower is Prima and the daisy is from iamroses.com. The yellow tape measure twill is from Michelle's Etsy store Little Red Barn.

I am so looking forward to seeing what you all do with the sketch. A massive thank you to Frosted Designs for this fabulous opportunity.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ali x

Sketches in Thyme Design Team Call

Morning,

I was super excited to see that  http://sketchesinthyme.blogspot.com/ are looking for some new Mavens to add to their very talented team.

I love doing their challenges and have been lucky enough to win :0), so I thought the time was right to give it a go!!

So, here are the rules:

1-Create a new layout based on our sketch below.

2-Post about our DT call on your blog, along with your take on our sketch.

3-Leave a comment here telling us that you would like to be considered for the DT, along with a link to your blog post!  

Here is my layout:

Teresa Collins Transparency 'Crush', Tonic Studios Ribbon Punch, Ribbon from my ever growing stash!Circles, heart and strawberries are all cut from October Afternoon papers: 5 & Dime and Fly a Kite.

I am the first to admit that my photography leaves a lot to be desired, which is a shame because in real life this layout is lovely and light and bright :0(

Still, I am pleased that I have used bits that I had forgotten I had bought and ooze enthusiasm if nothing else! I may well try with another layout as I am just not sure that this one is as good as I would like it to be!

Thanks for stopping by,

Ali x

Sketches in Thyme Open Challenge

Phew last one for today, I really do need to iron!

I love the open challenge as you get to see where the DT go for inspiration and I always find a new place to play! This time it was a blog called http://sketchsavvy.blogspot.com/ who provided this one. It's really unusual for me to choose something so 'busy' but I really liked how it turned out.



The photos are of DH and DD#2, birds of a feather these two, and great mates :0)

The papers are from Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby, the squares were all inked with Tea Dye. The 3D sticker is Anna Griffin. The border has been punched with a MS Deep Edge Punch and then run through the Cuttlebug with a flourish embossing folder. I used Coredinations Black Magic card so that I could sand it back. The little black circle has had a similar treatment except I punched the circle and then ran it through with the TH Bingo folder. Everything else is a stamped image from Pink Paislee's Daily Junque collection. A little bit of misting and some Stickles.

I like that it looks a little bit masculine but not so much that DD#2 looks out of place.

Thanks so much for stopping by, coffee now and then ironing............????

Ali x

Thursday Takes # 55

Sketches in Thyme always deliver and this sketch was no exception!



My take is with photos from a trip to the Zoo, you can't see from the pictures but DH and DGD were watching the elephants :0)

The papers are Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe. I cut the background shape on my Silhouette. The circle/flower at the bottom is a Marianne D die. The elephant has been stamped and then cut out (sorry I have no idea who  made the stamp!) The circles are all punched from the paper.

Thanks for looking,

Ali x