That Swap of Very Small Things...

My packet of Very Small Things arrived this week, courtesy of the gorgeous Jen Hart.  I think she picked up that I like turquoise and this is what she sent me.

She even made a cute box and matching card to go with my gift. I can't wait to use my new supply.  Oops, actually, Jen, I've used all the star wood veneer already. Thank you lovely Sian for organising this swap.

Reminiscing Kenya - High in the Trees at Treetop

When the gallery call "Animals" for Scrap365 went out, I knew I would like to use some photos from our Kenyan safari. I went through a period of producing a large number of layouts from our trip soon after we came back. It is nice to return to the unused photos and reminisce about this trip several years later. The additional benefit is I get to used a brand new range of products.

This is the layout that featured in The Magazine this month.

 I love that animal print background...even if it is a little wild.

BadgeIt Badges

I took my BadgeIt machine to The Retreat to make some badges in class. Unfortunately, the BadgeIt is intended for the toy market and did not stand up to heavy use in class, what with the heavy MME patterned paper we were using.

Sarah very kindly replaced my machine and now I am more cautious as to what I stick through my machine.  Actually, I was so cautious I have not made any badges since The Retreat LOL until I saw a mention of it on Facebook by Debbie and Ruth {hello wave}.

I pulled out my machine and made these "Birdie" badges. 

I was so cautious, I grabbed some graph papers from J for the base of the badges. I started by typing up some "bird" text before stamping a little bird. What do you think ? Quite a restraint and neutral look for me ? 

What badges have you made ?  I would love to see.

Rediscovering my Paint Brushes

I used to use a lot of water colour on my layouts a few years back.  Then mist appeared and the trend was towards misting and splashing. Last week, I was working with American Crafts Amy Tangerine Yes Please range. Amy Tan uses a lot of water colour which persuaded me to dig out my paint brushes.

I made this for Sarah's Cards.

There's me on the Segway in Paris, the Golden Dome Church in the background, waiting to cross the road. I painted some water colour circles on white cardstock that I outlined and cut out.

 

 

The Paris was hand written and cut out...alas, I don't have one of those fancy cutting machine.  Want to see it close up ?

Actually I think the background paper is Dear Lizzy but then her ranges use water colour effects too. I think with the soft colours of water colour, it is easy to mix and match. Now, if only the water does not wrinkle the paper so...

Loving the Pink and Pretty

I usually go for bright and bold colours but right now, I appear to be gravitating towards pink and pretty.  Ooops! 

It started with this.  I was given a colour palette to work with by Scrap365 for the Shake It Up challenge.  Yep, you've guessed it.  It had pink ( but also blue which I already love ).  I made this.

 

This layout appears in the recent edition of Scrap365. It was about a camel ride we had in Morocco many years ago.  It was a short ride in a patch of dessert.  The reason I said patch was because I don't think it was the Sahara proper.  We would have to drive many hundred miles more to reach The Dessert when we had already driven what felt like a hundred miles to reach this small patch.  The tour guide/camel owner called it The Sahara ( remember to roll the R when you say Sahara ) so who were we to dispute it LOL.

What do you think ? Do you think the boys would mind ? There might be a few more pretties to come...