Fangs for the Memories

Boy was I envious of other challenge entrants when I saw the photos they had used. I found it very difficult to find a suitable photo for this one. This shot was taken on a crazy trip with workmates to Melbourne in July 2006. We found ourselves at Dracular's one night and were all a bit shell-shocked after the show. We had a great time and enjoyed each other's company immensely, hence the title "FANGS for the Memories". The circle of twine represents the circle of friendship we have all shared for many years. 

My background stamping was done to reflect the diamond pattern in the paper used, with a bit of sparkle added using Viva Decor 3-D stamp paint.

The word FANGS was die-cut from the corrugated card used in the layout and then Glossy Accents was added. I used different fonts for the other words in the title to add interest and to repeat the main colours in the layout.
I really enjoy challenging myself to use the ARTastic criteria but I also get heaps of inspiration (not to mention green-eyed envy) from the many different takes on the challenge others have. Hope you enjoy my layout.Congratulations to everyone who participates. I think your work is wonderful!!
                                                                                                                Cheers, Chris.

Little Star - Chris Sexton March ARTastic

I visited my niece recently and took some candid shots of my two year old great-nephew Zavier. He was so gorgeous, a real little star.

He loved getting his photo taken (although he wouldn't smile) and I took so many it was hard to choose just one, hence my multi-photo layout.

 The layout itself is one I've used many times, although each time I use it I flip it or rotate it and use anything from 1 to 4 photos. By the time I change the colour scheme and embellishments, I manage to create a totally different layout each time.

I kept the embellishments very simple as I wanted the photos to star. I added KindyGlitz to the title to add some sparkle, which reflects Zavier's personality. I hope you like my effort for this month's challenge. I get so inspired by everyone else's layouts.There are so many talented scrappers out there.
                                                                                                                              Cheers, Chris.

Fun in the Sun - Chris Sexton

This photo of my mum and dad (taken about 1948) enjoying each other's company and the great Aussie lifestyle of sun, sand and surf felt quite iconic. I love their togetherness and their obvious happiness and love for each other. It fitted the call for February's ARTastic Challenge very well.

I had lots of beachy odds and ends in my stash, including shells, chipboard starfish, leaf skeletons, pearl beads, sequins and string which I tried to arrange artistically on the page.

The chipboard starfish were embossed with Opals then decorated with rhinestones. The little shells were Kindy Glitzed and the raffia flower was coloured with Distress Ink. The pink strip towards the bottom of the page below the photo was created by sticking some plasterers mesh to cardstock, embossing with Opals then inking the edges. It provides fabulous texture quickly and easily!

I hope you enjoy my take on the challenge.
Cheers, Chris.

Love Tag

Hi! and welcome. Today I'm showing a tag completed today as a second entry into ABAC Challenge 12: Share the Love. http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/
The photo was taken during our early dating days, in one of those instant photo booths, you used to see at malls. I only rediscovered it by chance, when tidying up a stack of papers... it fell onto the floor, put aside, until my aha.. moment.

The heart was cut from cardstock and then dressed with various braids and ribbons. This was then taped to the tags, red and black.

Edges were smooched with Inca Gold, hearts on the black tag were stamped with versamark and then dusted with perfect pearls. A hinge for the 'Love' sign was made from ribbon. Glass hearts were coloured with alcohol inks. Stamping, ribbon roses, and bling hearts completed the tag.
Memories indeed!
Thank you for visiting. Your comments are truly appreciated. Cheers. Di

It's almost time!

Time to get back into crafting.

Time To Get back into Challenges.

Time To guest blog and share your talent with the world.

Time to meet like minded crafters

And most of all

Time To have fun!

 This year I am Embracing Life.

Saying Yes 

Trying the new 

Whatever that may be 

And I trust having a lot of fun along the way.

I hope you'll like our page 

So you can be a part of 

Time To Create B Challenged

Julie

PS you do not have to come out to classes to participate.

As always - talk to me!

A Stitch in Time - Chris Sexton

My layout focuses on a longstitch tapestry I did many years ago which I had framed and now hangs in my house.

I tried to recreate the background of the tapestry for my photo to sit in by machine stitching and hand stitching contour lines of the ground, treeline and sky. I then used inks and Pan Pastels to colour the different areas.

I created the tree trunk by wet embossing corrugated card, then glued some wadding and green fabric scraps to cardstock for the foliage. I used blanket stitch to highlight the shapes.

My title is stitched, then outlined with a zig marker. "A stitch in time" refers to the fact that I did the tapestry a while ago, as well as highlighting the subject of the piece, which is an old Australian homestead.
I really like stitching on layouts. It adds texture and definition and fabric adds another dimension. I hope you like my layout. Cheers.
                                     Chris.

Wedding Arch - Naomi

For my son's recent wedding I designed and decorated many of the items that they needed, including  the arch for the ceremony.

I made the blue flowers from the fabric we used for the bridal table. The flowers were made from a long gathered strip with a paper flower and a brad for the centre. The white fabric on the edge of my layout is a leftover from the arch. The leaves were also from the flowers used on the arch.

As with all wedding this one had it's share of drama. I have included a detailed story in hidden journalling behind the main picture. The day was beautiful and the layout is the first of many I intend to create.
Naomi