Spritz, Glimmer, and a Mid-Month Challenge

Have I ever been having fun with KnK's September kit! The uber-cool Krafty Collection from Paper Trunk just begs to be sprayed and colored with just about anything you can think of! With these layouts I used Smooch Spritz (which I am told will very soon be available in the KNK Shopping Mall) in Emerald and Glimmer Mist (already available) in Frosty Nights. Now, you can see that I may have gotten a bit carried away on this first one... see where my paper wrinkled? I didn't really take into consideration the weight of the paper, as I should have, before I started spraying. The Kraft papers aren't super-light, but they aren't as heavy as say, Bazzill might be. So if you've never really gotten acquainted with sprays and want to give it a try, keep this in mind before you start spritzing away on a favorite piece of paper! Especially if you are a perfectionist (which clearly I am not LOL) Here's a close-up of one of the fun flowers I made with the Crafty Chronicle...
For this next layout I really wanted to think of a different way to showcase my photos. I happened to be looking through one of my old albums... an 8x8 one that I did when I first began scrapbooking. While most of the pages were filled with a picture, a title, and a couple stickers, one caught my eye in which I had taken a photo of my daughter and created a sunflower around it. I remember being particularly proud of that page, too! While it lacked any kind of technique or finesse, the idea itself was exactly what I was looking for. So instead of layering a bunch of different patterned papers behind my pictures, I made a template for two different flower petals and began tracing and cutting.... and tracing and cutting.... and tracing... and cutting...
... ok, yes it took forever to get them all cut out! But once I did the flowers went together pretty quickly. The only thing I would have done differently is to put my photos on after the flowers were assembled. I ended up with quite a few fingerprints on my photos.

The quote and dictionary text were both cut from the Crafty Chronicle, and I used a few of the Paperie die-cuts for the date-tag and in the banner at the bottom of the page.

So, I know you are all waiting with baited breath to see if I will have a mid-month challenge, aren't you? LOL If you're not, that's ok, if you are, here it is:

Go back through your old albums and recreate something. Not like scraplifting a whole page, but just some element on a page that you really loved then, and make it new with your experience and different techniques you've learned since. Clear as mud? And naturally, I want to see the "THEN" and the "NOW". Post a link to your pics in a comment to this post! You have til the first of the month. Happy scrapping :)

Peacock Lane & Mid-Month Challenge

I know the August kit has been revealed (have you seen it?? WOW!) but I really can't get enough of this paper in the July kit! So, I have a couple more layouts to share with you using BoBunny Peacock Lane:
I hope you have enjoyed working with this kit as much as I have!

Your mid-month challenge for July is naturally summer-related (it's HOT outside!) Let's cool things down with a water-themed layout. It can be any size, with any number of photos, with any kind of embellishments as long as it emulates a water-theme. Post a link to your creation in a comment on this post by August 1st to be eligible for the RAK drawing. I can't wait to see what you create, so go get scrappin'!

Summer Sun & A Mid-Month Challenge

It's finally summer! Is it just me, or is it easier to create a summer-themed project when the sun is shining and it's warm outside? (This may not be relevant for all of you, but us Pacific North-Westerners are finally seeing some temps above 60 degrees LOL.) I used up what was left of my KNK June kit to create this layout, and finally felt inspired to use some of those popscicles that came with it....I was due for a good good glitter mess, so I cut my popscicle sticks into various lengths, put a layer of Glossy Accents on them, then dumped Doodlebug Sugar (Bumblebee) over that. I also mixed a little chunky orange loose glitter for a more textured look. The resulting sun-accent for my page worked really well with some photos of one of our trips to the coast. This would also be a great way to simulate sand on a project.

Finally, with a few leftovers, I made this Encouragement card. Inside reads "You'll feel better!" with plenty of white space for a hand-written sentiment.
Are you ready for the challenge? I know we are slightly past mid-month, but this is an easy one (and I will give you a few extra days, too)! Create your own summer sun accent. You can use anything as long as it is hand-created by you. How do you make sunshine on a page? Link a photo of your own creation in a comment to this post by July 4th, and there's a RAK up for grabs :) Keep in mind you don't have to create a whole layout or other project, just the sun embellishment. Happy scrapping!

Mid-Month Challenge

It just wouldn't be right if I didn't put you to work this month, would it? But instead of a sketch challenge, let's do a scraplift challenge! I'd like to see what kind of inspiration you can glean from this layout:It could be the colors, or the flowers and trims, or the design in it's entirety. A single-page or double-page layout, it doesn't matter, as long as your inspiration comes from this layout! Complete your layout by June 1st, provide a link to it in a comment on this post, and also tell me what aspects of my layout you lifted for yours. I can't wait to see what you create! Each entry gets a chance to win an awesome RAK from yours truly :) and, if you happen to use a KNK kit to create your layout, you get entered twice. Have fun and go get to scrappin'!