Link to my facebook album

https://www.facebook.com/belinda.ryan.589/media_set?set=a.10151260561975579.516107.538055578&type=3

Link to my Facebook scrapbooking album...

Love

My sister has had a layout like this on display in a frame at her place, for quite some time and I've looked at it many times and thought, Id like to do that.  So finally, at retreat I got on the sewing machine and sewed my (very shonky) heart.  then a few weeks later I went up to her house for a scrap night and completed my layout. I'm not sure where the idea came from- maybe a class? But this is just my version. I love matching colours/embellishments etc and bringing it all together.  Photo credit Janet Christian Photography.

Using Kits

Every now and then I treat myself to a Kit. I love A Piece of Cake Designs kits, particularly the cupcake kits as you usually get something extra special that you can keep like a spray or a mask.  This particular kit had a star and heart mask, seen below which i have used so much, not just on layouts but even to make quick DIY tshirts for my kids! Love the colour combo's of these papers. And of course the FLAIR. When i get a kit I try to make a couple of layouts just using the kit contents before mixing ti all up with the rest of my gear. Photo above Tiff Firth Photography.

I decided to have  a go at creating a real scrapbook 'found it on the kitchen bench and stuck it to a layout' kind of look. Well... I dont think i quite pulled it off as its still a bit too neatl! But hey its something different.

Life is an Open Book.....

I love this layout. So Simple yet effective. Love the colours, again no pink! (If you saw my earlier stuff you would see the pink obsession!). My photo this time!

These three layouts are indicative of my own style, when I'm not looking at other ideas or trying something new. I am a CUT & PASTE girl through and through, I cut it and I stick it. I love a quick layout that just comes together without too much thought. And i love papers and making the most of them and the beautiful variety of patterns available.  Having said that, ever since Escape to Create retreat in 2013 I love using gesso and spray in the background and this year at E2C my mission was to learn how to sew a layout (which isnt a hugely hard thing to do but it was new for me!), so youll see the Little Miss layout is my first sewing attempt! I also used a typewriter (a real old school one!) to do journalling on the Piano "True Story" layout for something different. I am LOVING Dear Lizzie at the moment and using that range in a lot of my layouts. And love finishing off a layout with A Piece of Cake Designs flair.(or two).

Mixed Media

This month I bought a Mixed Media online class from Studio Calico. I've never done an online class before so thought I would give it a go and get some more tips on how to use Gesso and my sprays. This is my first attempt at making my own piece of art in the way of a complete background. I was going for blue-green but the yellow base dominated the green but i still quite like the colours together.  I cant remember the last time I used flowers and pearls  on a layout- but they suited the colours so well I couldnt not add them. Something very different for me but I like it and making mess is FUN. Photo credit to Tiff Firth Photography, July 2013.

AHOY there!

Ahoy there! Welcome to my first blog of a layout!

Its taken me a while but i have finally worked out how to scan a layout, save it to the correct format and upload it onto the blog, jeepers what an effort!
In this layout I experimented with stamping with gesso, to add some texture to my background.  I found the idea of drawing a circle in the background in a magazine and liked the compass feel that went with my pirate theme.   Its not like me to stray from pink and prettiness so I was quite proud of myself for doing something different. Unfortunately scanning the layout doesnt let you see the layers of the page as well and the light has given my paper a shadow effect, I will work on getting this right! Photo credits to my sister Amy- the models- my two girls at the Cummins Christmas Wonderland Display, December 2013.