The Story of Her New Do

I was super-chuffed to have this layout requested for the Imaginarium Designs blog before it had even dried on my scrap table! I shared a little sneak on my Instagram, and apparently that was enough to convince them ;-) The post with this layout and another card went live earlier in the month, and you can see it here.

It's true that the fabulous Imaginarium Designs chipboard feather became a focal-point of my layout embellishment. It's quite something isn't it? I absolutely adore it, but if I can be honest... it actually wasn't planned for this layout at all. It was destined for a card project that just wasn't working for me, so off it came.

There it happily sat on my scrapbook desk in a pile of similarly (discarded) embellishments waiting for the perfect project to come along. It experimentally made it's way onto many more layouts, trying it out this way and that way to figure out where it would fit but to no avail. And then in a frenzy of creative passion I started piecing this layout together with all that was surrounding me at the time, and the feather found a home at last.



Does it represent anything in this layout's story? Nope, don't think so. It's just pretty. Same with the deers. I really like deers, they're definitely my Christmas icon of choice, but for this layout they really have no clear purpose or direction, apart from the fact I like them! Perhaps it would be easy enough to suggest they represent a mother and her offspring, or that I think of my daughter as my 'dear-est'.
Yeah. Let's go with that!

The story of this one is how my youngest insisted on getting a hair cut recently. It's only the second one in her 4 years so as you can imagine her hair was quite long. But without hesitation when the hairdresser asked her what she wanted she replied, "I want my hair all cut off like Mummy". Well we didn't quite go as drastic as that and settled on this cute bob-cut instead, but I was rather chuffed at the idea she wanted to emulate me :-)

The Story of Never Enough Stash

Sometimes it doesn't matter how much product you have in your stash, you just can't seem to find the perfect embellishment that you're looking for. And it's the mere fact that you've got piles upon piles of unused product in your drawers and upon shelves that you really can't justify going and buying something new, so you know you're just going to have to customise something you've already got.

That's what happened here. I had visions of using the Pink Paislee Photogram as a frame for some giant birthday numbers. But the biggest numbers I had (with the appropriate degree of funkiness) were some lovely green/blue patterned ones by Sassafras. Fabulous.... but didn't match the look I was going for.

So here's what I did.....
I coated them in gesso twice so they were now a blank white. Lucky they were a sturdy chipboard and took the gesso well. I used a waterbrush to pick up the Raspberry Distress Ink and painted back in the numbers. A black felt-tip defined them once dry, and I added some final touches with Liquid Pearls. Hope you're as impressed as I was with the result?!!! LOL!

Since I was now in the mood I went and added a few more doodles, this time with my white gel pen. And some bling never goes astray. Never.

I tell you - by this time I was on such a roll of customising my embellishments that I even went to town on the envelope that I put the card in too. I painted and glittered my Imaginarium Designs chipboard phrase and cut some October Afternoon paper pieces to make it all pretty. It was all worth it of course. The recipient was pretty pleased I have to say :-)

 

Supplies:

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard: Just You Pink Paislee Portfolio Photograms Pink Paislee Portfolio Tiny Tabs Pink Paislee Portfolio Stamps Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pickled Raspberry Ranger Liquid Pearls White Opal

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Evalicious blog hop

Hello and welcome to the first ever Evalicious blog hop! 

We're so glad you've joined in the fun and I'm sure you've been getting plenty of eye-candy and inspiration along the way. You should have hopped over from Michelle's blog but if you've just stumbled here by chance then I recommend you click to the Evalicious blog and start there. Eve has the most amazing grand-prize on offer for one lucky winner who signs up to follow the Evalicious blog and posts a comment. But some of the other stops have prizes along the way too so you need to do the full circuit (look below for your chance to win a prize from me!)

As February is the month of love in most countries we thought we would celebrate romance and share with you some love-themed projects along our blog-hop. Eve has a variety of products that are suitable for the occasion, and I've chosen to work mainly with the Love You Lots collection.

I used one of the Love You Lots 3x4 Tag as the base for my embellishments, and layered things up from there. Both the gold circle tag and the grey "this is awesome" are from the Love You Lots Miscellany Tags. I just love the typographical appeal of these.

In my opinion, a project is never complete without a badge button so I've added one from the older Vintage Valentine collection. This card is going to my daughter's school teacher whose name is Miss Peacock so now you know why I've decorated it this way!

And just while I'm on the subject of real-life, you should know that I have my fair share of craft fails. The first card I attempted (with the same basic products) for this blog hop really didn't quite come up to scratch. But because I'm feeling very honest I thought I'd give you a quick peek of that one too. This one just might have to go to my husband because he'll tell me he loves everything I do ;-)

Now here's the fun bit.... Since I'm also going for a bit of a school-theme I'm offering one of our lucky hoppers today the chance to win your very own set of Evalicious School's Cool badge buttons!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and I'll draw a winner next Saturdray the 16th and post it here on my blog. That gives you one week to get your entries in. Internationals are very welcome. I'm very likely to throw some extra goodies in your parcel as well ;-)

Your next stop along the way is the fabulously talented Theresa's blog (well.... Theresa's dog does the writing actually... don't be alarmed!) and don't forget to visit the Evalicous blog to win the grand prize! Happy hopping!

PS. Evalicious is now on Facebook and Twitter! You can like Evalicious on Facebook or follow Evalicious on Twitter (or both) to get the latest products, inspiration, and tutorials from Evalicious!

PPS.  shopEvalicious.com is taking a shipping break between feb 10 - march 2 so if you've been eyeing something in the shop, go and order it RIGHT NOW!



Supplies:

Evalicious Love You Lots Tags Evalicious Love You Lots Miscellany Tags Evalicious Vintage Valentine Badges FWAB Jasmine Laser flourish: Teal FWAB Jessie Flourish Cherry Red Imaginarium Designs Peacock Feather by Louise Nelson

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The Story of the Marcus Aurelius Quote

Oh yes... I did warn you didn't I about using those die-cut stars on everything lately? I adore them. And what I love most is that I just cut a whole sheet of them at once, and now I'm slowing using one chunk at a time for my layouts. Saves all that Silhouetting every single time :-)

But there's quite a few things I love about this layout actually (can I say that and get away with it?!) I adore the colour scheme for a start. I love all the muted colours but still with the rainbow of embellished chipboard squares painted with the spectrum of JBS paint dabbers.

Which contrasts nicely against all the other white embellishments like the FWAB Grace Pearl Flourish, and Imaginarium Designs clouds and feather.

The idea for this layout came from the Marcus Aurelius quote I've used here as my title. I saw it Pinned and immediately got inspired. It says "the soul becomes dyed with the colour of it's thoughts" and my brief line of journaling follows this up and says "so it's lucky all your thoughts are sunshine and happiness".

Which is true. I've scored myself one happy-go-lucky chirpy little cherub. Who just celebrated her 3rd birthday today. Happy birthday Moodles.
xx


Supplies:

Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Bailey's Brush	October Afternoon 5 and Dime Lemondrops	Glitz Design Dance in Sunshine Polka	FWAB Grace Pearl flourish: Pearl
Imaginarium Designs Skeletal Feather	Imaginarium Designs Clouds	Gesso	JBS Kit Cuts: Backdrops 1
Kim Watson Today Cards	Teresa Collins Tell Your Story Flash Cards	Cosmic Shimmer Glitter: Iced Crystal	JBS Paint Dabber Chewing Gum
Jenni Bowlin paint dabber Chicken Feed	Jenni Bowlin paint dabber Lemon Drops	Jenni Bowlin Paint Dabber Stick Candy	JBS Paint Dabber Speckled Egg
JBS Paint Dabber Lavender Sachet	JBS Paint Dabber Brown Sugar	Pink Paislee Portfolio Photo Tabs	October Afternoon Sidewalks Miscellany

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