My posts have been few and far between in a long while, I have hardly scrapped unfortunately! But I finally, after years of desperately drooling over cutting machines, got a Silhoutte Cameo for Christmas! So today I sat down for the first time in months and scrapped, with the help of my new machine friend.

And this page is one of my new favourites. I'm in love with the Silhoutte already.

OUT FOR

PUBLICATION

Until next time x

A wedding Layout

We had quite a few weddings at the beginning of this year so I thought it about time I documented more of them! This one was my cousins wedding. Her Greek fiancé had only recently moved out from Greece after a long wait so it was an incredibly special day!

A little publication excitement!

Last months issue of Scrapbooking Memories included my first OTP project publication. I was super excited to see basically two pages with pics/instructions of my project. Definitely a 'whohoo' moment for me!

Here's some terrible iPhone shots of the mag the night I recieved it!

Scrap Around The World

I've been working on my Masters challenges the last few weeks so haven't done much other scrapping. I did manage the below layout for the August Scrap Around The World Challenge (check it out here: http://scraparoundtheworld.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/august-2014-challenge-16-elegant.html?m=1 )

The moodboard:

At first I wasn't sure what to do with this moodboard but I adored the top left picture, with the beautiful long, flowing, turquoise dress so I decided to start with some watercolours to create a similar effect on my page. Next I added in some cork elements as inspired by the cork board on the top right. The middle picture on the bottom row reminded me that I had some blue feathers in my stash so I quickly added that in, plus some gold accents to suit the general moodboard theme. (Oh and a handcut flowing title, no cutting machine here!)

In the end, whilst it took me a minute to decide my direction with this challenge I ended up loving this moodboard as it was so incredibly versatile yet inspiring at the same time!

Until next time 

A Piece of Cake Designs Kit Layout

Recently APOCD had a sale on so I grabbed a couple of the Cupcake kits (I was too slow for the Main kits!), love them!

I've been pushed for time lately but wanted to whip up a quick layout just for fun and the cupcake kit was perfect for that! 20 minutes, a few extra bits from my stash and I was done. Simple but cheerful!

Until next time

~ Belle x

D-Lish Scraps 5th Birthday Challenge 4

I'm loving the rainbow craze lately but didn't go with the traditional rainbow look, just a bunch of colours throughout my layout! I was also inspired by the polka dots in the image on the right of the moodboard.

My take:

(Argh so difficult photographing as you can see!)

Until next time
~ Belle x

D-Lish Scraps 5th Birthday Challenges- Challenge No. 6

Haven't done any challenges in the last couple of months but when I saw a few people I follow had been attempting them I went accross to D-Lish Scraps 5th Birthday Challenges to have a little look. And thought I should have a go, what better way to get my mojo going (so I can finally attempt this years SM Masters challenges!) than with a quick challenge right?

Loved the Scrap Bingo challenge, I used the middle row, coincidentally the same one Ros used in her example. A few hearts to be found on my layout, a fabric flower and plenty of floral paper, a pretty plastic bow as well as a twine one, an altered wooden bird (painted magenta) and of course a doily. A very feminine page.

Shame the weather has been so shocking here in my part of Victoria recently, photographing layouts is proving exceptionally difficult. (Anyone have lighting that they use to combat this, I'd love some recs/suggestions?). So you'll have to excuse the recent badly photographed layouts I've just been taking quick shots with my iphone to upload.

I love this photo of my young cousins. I took a few shots of them, including this one, during my stepsisters wedding (between the ceremony at the reception) in the pretty gardens at the venue. They're such beautiful girls, inside and out.

Thanks for looking.

Until next time,
~ Belle x

Pretty Little Girl

I tend to not scrap my Instagram photos so much since they're not great quality but they are such a great snapshot of my day to day life. I love this one of our friends little girl from her 2nd birthday party, she was just sitting staring into space. So cute.

Until next time

~ Belle x

'Not my style'

Tonight I was inspired by Scrapbooking Memories Magazines call for 'Not my style' submissions this month and decided to have a go at a very messy mixed media style page. I have attempted some recently but this time I actually used paper I had used as a backdrop when painting some words so it was very messy! Paint, watercolours, stamps, doodling, gesso, mists, glitter, inks, you name it I threw it on this background!

All things considered I'm pretty happy with how it turned out but I think I'll go back to a slightly more simplistic style next time! 

Until next time 

~Belle x

A quick share

I've been busy with a few projects lately including magazine ones etc and have been super busy so haven't had a lot of time to scrap for no reason, hence no blogging. But I have one quick share and will hopefully have more soon!

Just because layout: Love U (Not So Little) Cousin

A just because layout from the weekend.

Until next time
~ Belle x

Scrap The Boys April Challenge

How ditzy am I: I posted this earlier today thinking to myself I'm sure I created this for a challenge but couldn't think what so I posted it as a general one. I've just realised what it was for so reposting. Scrap The Boys April Challenge: to use flowers on a boy page! I decided to go all out with touches of femininity including flowers of course plus hearts, touches of pink, glitter, bows and a doily!

Until next time

~Belinda

Scrap It Girl April Challenge

I've been perusing challenge sites the past few days, thanks to Scrapchallenge.com and saw this challenge to use tags over at Scrap It Girl. Since I just happened to buy a bunch of cute tags recently I thought what better challenge than this!

Love how this page turned out, nice and simple but the gold font and sequins therefore stand out!

Check out the challenge here: http://www.scrapitgirl.net/index.php/2014/04/01/tags-bags-april-challenge/

Until next time
~Belle x

Scrap The Boys March Challenge

Just in the nick of time for this one! Not a colour combo I'm used to and I rarely scrap pure boy layouts so thought dj give this a go this month. Actually love the way this turned out! Started with white cardstock and used a roll of washi tape to create the background, then lots of gesso/paint/mist/ink over the top in parts.

Love this photo of my brother in law and nephew. 

Check out the challenge here:

http://scraptheboys.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/march-challengecolour-combo.html?m=1

Until next time

~Belle x

Scrap Around The World March Challenge

This month's Scrap Around The World Challenge is a super pretty, soft pink moodboard. I decided to keep this pretty much monochromatic apart from the neutral whites (still trying to really challenge myself this year!). The ruffles in the dress on the moodboard inspired my ruffled washi tape strips. And I purposely left the watercoloured paper loose and crumpled to add to the texture, again inspired by the pretty ruffles!

And here of course is the moodboard:

For those who also want to play along, check it out here:

http://scraparoundtheworld.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/march-2014-challenge-11-pretty-in-pink.html

Until next time

~ Belle x

Scrapbook Creations March Inspiration Blog Challenge

This months inspiration is just two photos, I chose to work off the left: I love a good sketch!

I took this selfie of my nan and I at a wedding recently and knew I had to scrap it straight away! Other photos I've scrapped of Nan have been heritage style pics so I've kept the layouts soft, in this case being a selfie I decided it needed to be a bright, fun layout! I actually started with the watercolour circles: painted them on white cardstock then cut them out to use as embellies. THEN I found papers, etc to go with them! I really wanted the circles to remain the feature so used washi tape instead of more patterned paper behind the photo to keep it flat. Also love the way the word 'love' turned out: I drew it onto the white cardstock with a Copic marker then cut it out so it would match the page border. This page turned out just as bright and fun as I intended thanks to the sketch!

Check out the challenge here:

scrapbookcreationsmag.wordpress.com/?s=Challenge&submit=Search

Until next time

~Belle x

Another card for a wedding!

It wasy beautiful best friend's wedding day yesterday, I was honored to be her maid of honour. So of course I had to make them a card!

Couldn't find any matching mini alphas in my stash so decided to paint on the rest of the title, I usually don't like my own writing but it worked out ok this time!

Until next time

~ Belle x

Kaisercraft Saturday Sketch March #3

Hi again!

Just popping back with another challenge from the weekend. Kaisercraft Saturday Sketch #3 (I'm a little confused by the #3 but that's the title on the blog so I'm rolling with it!).

My take:

And the sketch for comparison's sake:

 In case you can't tell I'm in love with woodgrain paper! My favourite thing on this layout though is the little poloraid frame (cut from a Kaisercraft paper) wrapped with twine.

***DONT FORGET THE GIVEAWAY BELOW!***

Until next time.

~ Belle x

March 123 Challenge- 'Dream Big Sweet Girl'

***DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE GIVEAWAY BELOW***

When I saw this month's 123 challenge I decided to give it a go: even though pastels aren't always my friend! But I happened to have purchased this pretty peach/lemon/blue floral paper just days before and immediately knew I wanted to use it.

My take:

 

Washi tape covered wood elements are one of my favourite things at the moment, the little arrow just worked so much better on the page when covered in the peach washi! Also loving handcut script words, the word 'girl' tortured me for a little while being so small but we got there in the end.

And the challenge criteria:

I really wanted to keep this layout simple, soft and feminine to showcase the photo and sentiment and fit with the challenge. I LOVE how it turned out, it's a little hard to photograph all the layers so it's prettier in real life but I've posted a close up to show some of the dimension. It sure helps that my little cousin Maddie is such a beautiful girl!

Anywho, if you want to check out the challenge yourselves head over to: http://123-challenge-blog.blogspot.com.au/

Thanks for looking!
~ Belle x

Scrap The Girls March Challenge

Hi all,

*** DONT FORGET ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY IN MY PREVIOUS POST***

I had a big scrap session yesterday since it was a public holiday here. Completed four challenges, here to share the first today. Scrap The Girls challenge this month is to use hearts and/or doilies so of course I used both!

I love these photos of my beautiful cousin, Katie. I took them just the other day at my stepsisters wedding. 

If you want to check out the challenge yourselves head over to http://scrap-the-girls.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/hearts-and-or-doilies-here-in-march-at.html?m=1

Until next time

~Belle x

Hi All!

Just a quick card today, made for my beautiful stepsister and her now husband. They had a wonderful wedding on Sunday that we were lucky to be part of.

Love how the card turned out, especially the glitter border: loving my new Ruby Rock-It glitter!

Thanks for looking
<3 belle="" br="" x="">

Finished version of 30 min layout

So Friday night I sat back down with my 30 minute layout just for another 10 minutes or so and added lots of little bits: some paper triangles, butterflies, diecuts, stickers, bling etc and now that layout feels much more 'finished'. 

Here's the 30 minute version again for comparisons sake:

And the final version:

Amazing the difference a few little details can make.

~Belle x

30 minute layout

I always take a long time to finish layouts, I just love to take my time and fiddle around! So today's self imposed challenge was to complete a layout in 30 minutes. It doesn't quite feel finished so I'll probably add to it tomorrow but I thought it would be interesting to post to show the result of the timeframe and then I can compare when I finish it off!

Who doesn't love naughts and crosses right?! Love these bright straws so thought I'd make a bit of a grid to resemble the game. 

I adore this photos, it's the most natural photo of my brother I have <3

~ Belle x

'Love the history' & 'Day in Sydney' Layouts

These would have to be two of my current favourite layouts. The first is a fave partly because I was really happy with how it turned out (long time since I've used non-white card stock as a base, it's usually white or patterned!) but mostly because I adore the photo of my Nan and Great Grandmother circa 1940! 

And the second just has a simple fun summery vibe to me so it felt finished much sooner than most of my other layouts!

Thanks for looking. And if you're thinking of following my blog nows the perfect time - I intend to have a giveaway fairly soon!

~ Belle x

Scrap Around The World Feb Challenge

I've only recently found this fabulous challenge site, love this months challenge to use the following moodboard as inspiration. 

You aren't required to use every image so I focused on the top left, the colours just immediately caught my eye! I also adore chevron so used a little on my page. I created my page without a single piece of patterned paper (an aim I had this month, I usually use so much PP!), it's all washi tape! I was going to use it to create a chevron pattern but instead decided I wanted the pattern to go diagonally across the page so the small triangles worked best! The end result is my husbands fave page I've done, think he just loves the craziness to it! 

If you want to play along too head over to their blog http://scraparoundtheworld.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/february-2014-challenge-ten-deliciously.html?m=1

Gosh I can't wait to have our internet connected, these iPhone quality pics are driving me insane!! 

~ Belle x

'This Moment' Layout

Still no internet so relying on iPhone pictures, thank god for iPhones at least right?! 

I had a whole bunch of bright pretty paper scraps lying around my desk when I cleaned up last week so thought I'd use them up in a layout. Loving the end result!

****IMAGE OUT FOR PUBLICATION****

~Belle x

Wedding Card

Today my beautiful cousin and her fiance are getting married! I'm not much of a card maker but love to do them occassionally and what better reason that a wonderful wedding.

~Belle x

Scrapbook Creations February Inspiration Board Challenge

This year I have a number of scrapbooking goals: be on a new design team, get published more than last year (which means 4+) and to really challenge myself with new techniques and styles/colours. 

So when I saw this Scrapbook Creations mag blog challenge   (http://scrapbookcreationsmag.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/inspiration-board-challenge-february-2014/) I thought what better way to really challenge myself than a colour scheme completely out of my comfort zone! Golds and browns are colours I barely use at all these days let alone base an entire page around but I had fun doing something different. 

This photo was a quick Instagram pic I took of our dogs first time at the beach. As Daniel and Siyah were the main subjects of the photo I wanted them to stand out but also wanted the entire beach to show. I didn't want to frame the focus so instead decided to cut around them then use foam dots to raise this part of the photo up, it worked perfectly for what I wanted: they stand out a little more but the entire photo remains intact.

Thanks for looking

~Belle x

Photobooth

I decided to have a go at doing a layout where the background actually looked like part of the paper so essentially I felt like I was creating my own patterned paper! I bought some very thin post it notes for $3 (72 in the packet) and used modge podge to stick them all over the wood look paper. Because the notes where so thin they blend in enough to look like part of the paper. It resulted in a very busy layout which was exactly what I was going for!

One Fine Day

I adore this photo from our wedding, has a bit of a vintage feel to it. I wanted to keep the soft, vintage feel flowing through the layout and think the greens/teal and pinks do this perfectly!

Thanks for looking! (Disclaimer: still crappy iPhone photos for now).

Belle x

Scrapbooking Memories Masters 2014 Entries

This was my favourite of all my entries. Unfortunately the iPhone photos terrible but still no internet at our new house yet!

And there's a few more of my calendar pages: I must actually set it up and use it, don't want to waste it!

~Belle

First Layout of 2014

I'll be back to share more of my Masters projects later in the week/month but for now here's my first layout of 2014: a just because layout! I just sat at my desk and played, first time in a long time it's not been an assignment, for a call, challenge etc. 

Excuse the not so great iPhone pic, we're yet to get internet connected in our new house!

Thanks for looking!

~Belle

2014

Well last years blogging efforts were completely dismal, thanks mostly to the fact that I barely scrapped. Blasphemy, I know! We moved house once again, I started a new ( much busier ) job, etc. this time I won't promise anything but my intentions are good: let's hope I can keep motivated. 

Although I barely scrapped I did tick off one major milestone in my scrappy list last year: after many years of 'I will one day' contemplating entering Scrapbooking Memories Masters I finally did! Nothing came of it but I was quite happy with my projects and glad I finally bit the bullet and at least gave it a try. I'll show off my projects over the next couple of weeks, for now here's a very quick phone snap of one month of the 2014 calendar I made for the comp:

Thanks to my one reader if you're still around after all this time! Haha. 

~ Belinda