Bluegrass Farm Reveal

Bluegrass Farm is the April set of Studio Calico kits and they've just been released to the general public. Like right NOW! So perhaps you just want to pop over there straight away, and then come back and read this?! ;-) 

But if you're still reading then let me share with you what I've made with the Bluegrass Farm Scrapbook Kit and it's three Add On Kits which are cutely called Bessie, Clover and Pip.

Supplies: Bluegrass Farm Main Kit, Card Kit Digital Stamps & Cuts, Printable Labels, 

Hello Forever Printables, In a Creative Bubble Printables

"Awesome" came together quickly and easily once I spotted the red, navy and yellow combination available within the Main Kit. I knew it would work perfectly for the Superman/woman photo I've been holding onto for such an occasion! The abundance of star embellishments were a bonus hit too. I made my title by converting one of the Card Kit Digital Stamps into a cutting file on my Silhouette.

Supplies: Bluegrass Farm Main Kit, Printable Labels, 

Hello Forever Printables, In a Creative Bubble Printables

"Dear Mum and Dad" was created when the kits hit a sentimental note in me. I grew up on a farm until I moved out of home at 18, so the rustic homespun vibe of these kits instantly reminded me of my family. I took this photo of my Mum and Dad at Christmas, and when I noticed the colours in it matched perfectly with the Main Kit I knew it was just meant to be :-)

Supplies: Bluegrass Farm Main Kit, Printable Labels, Hello Forever Printables, 

In a Creative Bubble Printables, Card Kit Digital Stamps & Cuts, 

Evalicious Exclusive Digital Stamps

"The Good Life" was my third Main Kit Only layout (all the other supplies are digital) which I think is testimony to the versatility and breadth that just one kit can encompass. Once again inspired by homegrown fresh produce I wanted to scrap this photo collage of my kids picking strawberries with their great-grandfather recently. That lead me to using the Silhouetted (I'm sure that should be a verb!) strawberries as my focal point. And well... it was just plain fun!

Supplies: Bluegrass Farm Main Kit, Bessie Add On, Project Life Kit Digital Stamps & Cuts, 

Printable Labels, Hello Forever Printables, In a Creative Bubble Printables

"You Got This" is probably my favourite layout of the bunch which has something to do with using my favourite Add On (Bessie) and something to do with the memories this photo conjures up. Nervous about going on and teaching at the Escape 2 Create retreat a couple of weeks ago, my fellow teachers (Celeste Vermeend, Kim Archer and Gina Rogers) played a big role in making it such a memorable experience. I'm so lucky to now be able to call these girls my friends.

Supplies: Bluegrass Farm Main Kit, Clover Add On, 

Printable Labels, Hello Forever Printables

"Epic Weekend" is all about a family weekend adventure to see the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour. I was able to even incorporate the ticket into my layout which I think is pretty cool 'cos I like the addition of real-life memorabilia on my pages. To a certain extent I think it makes it more meaningful? The itty-bitty stamps in the Clover Add On are just perfect for putting some finishing touches of scattered detail around the page.

Supplies: Bluegrass Farm Main Kit, Bessie Add On, Clover Add On, Pip Add On

Printable Labels, In a Creative Bubble Printables, Circle Cut Files by Paige Evans

"Live in the Moment" was created with the desire to use all my favourite embellishments from the Pip Add On mixed together with the best bits of all the other kits! I think I succeeded! Still too scared to try my hand at the cross-stitching on the wooden heart... I'm waiting for the Stitched class to begin ;-) Inside the pocket I'm including more details and journaling about these photobooth pics of me and my crazy eldest daughter.

 (Image courtesy of Anna Maria)

On my shopping list this month I've also remembered to stock up on new supplies for the upcoming Mixed Media class. I'm incredibly excited about being a contributor to this, but I'm even more excited to be a participant. I can't wait to learn all the secrets that Celine and Anna Maria have got to share. I can only dream of being able to scrap like them! If you've ever wanted to learn how to include techniques or use mediums such as Watercolours, Neocolours and Gelatos then this is the class for you! It starts on April 1st.



Bluegrass Farm Supplies:

Bluegrass Farm Bessie Add On Kit Clover Add On Kit Pip Add On Kit Bluegrass Farm Printables Labels Bluegrass Farm Printable Journal Cards by IACB Bluegrass Farm Hello Forever Printables Bluegrass Farm Circle Cutting File by Paige Evans Bluegrass Farm Evalicious Digital Stamps Bluegrass Farm PL Kit Digital Stamps and Cuts Bluegrass Farm Card Kit Digital Stamps and Cuts Grid Paper Color Theory Ink: Clean Slate Color Theory Ink: Deja Blue Color Theory Ink: Emerald City Color Theory Ink: Something Blue Color Theory Ink: Sunny Day Color Theory Ink: Orange County Color Theory Ink: Blush Crush Tiny Attacher This to That: Foam Circles More Gray More Vellum Precision Pen Glue Glider Pro

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The Story of Scrapping Someone Else's Style

There's about a million things I loved about Escape 2 Create. I loved meeting the people, the amazing food, the free time, the new products, the constant inspiration, the scrap-til-you-drop attitude of everyone there! But one of the things I was most looking forward to was taking the classes from the other 3 amazing teachers; Kim Archer, Celeste Vermeend and Gina Rogers. So today I thought I'd share the layouts I made during their classes.

On Day One it was myself and Kim who taught our classes. Kim didn't teach a layout (.... but she did blow my scrapping mind! So I'm saving that for another post). The layout you see here is what I put together following Celeste's instructions for her happy bright summery page.

It was layer upon layer of Studio Calico goodness, who not only provided most of her kit supplies, but a truck-load of donated stash as well. Thank you Studio Calico for your immense generosity! It meant I had plenty to choose from when putting together this page. Most of it (at least the papers) is from the new Lemon Lush collection.

But there's lots of tags and buttons and clothespins and bows and sequins too! So many embellishments that I don't normally think of, but which created layer upon layer of colour and texture... which is definitely what I'm about when I scrap. It was insights like this which made me want to do the classes in the first place!

Overall, I really just enjoyed the fun bright frivolity of this page. Perfect for my summer time photo of the girls enjoying their new outdoor pool.

Then there was Gina's class, who taught us her layout (very similar to this one here). And above is my attempt at it. Gina has quite a unique style where she manages to pull together seemingly disparate scraps of paper and embellishments and form it together in such a way as to create a piece of art.

I am not that bold or clever! If I attempt those things it just ends up looking like a hot mess! So I took her papers and her design but added my own spin on it. I reverted back to my own basics, and that was to stick with a clear colour scheme and keep straight lines.

Oh, and I also needed to keep enough space for the necessary journaling ;-)

So here's what I learned: it's really awesome to take a class and try a layout in a different style. You'll probably discover more about your own style in the process as you figure out what bits you like and which bits don't quite fit you as well. It's really fun to scraplift someone's design but add your own spin on it. Thanks so much Celeste and Gina... your classes absolutely ROCKED!!