52 Card Challenge UK Scrappers Week 15 - Make the Words the Focus

This week, Nat set the challenge as "Making the Words" the focus.  I pondered about this challenge for a while, and then took the brief literally. 

I had this glossy orange paper sitting around and rather than waste it, I backed the card with it and "patched" the background together where I had cut away from a sheet of paper.  I had previously cut an orange frame with Spellbinders, but it didn't look right, so coloured the frame and the flower with a black Promarker.

I have decided that rather than wait for the right time to cut into papers, with the amount of papers I have - just do it! So I am making cards for friends to give them messages before I move to Australia.  This one was for my lovely friend and neighbour, Roberta. 

I then coordinated the card with black and white.  I had the remainder of a Prima "Say it with Gems" black swirl, so used it here.  It adds some sparkle and dimension in real life, though you can't really spot it in the photo.  I used some black card candy in the middle of the flowers, and then covered it with orange Stickles, as I did with the word I wanted to accent, and the main flower. 

I can use the remainder of the lace paper in my Project Life pages, as we have just had the boys' second birthday party/our farewell do.  I think the message on the lace paper is pretty apt!

Supplies:
Orange glossy craft paper
ki memories black glitter lace paper
Orange Stickles
Black and white flowers
Black card candy - Craftwork Cards
Prima black "Say it in Gems"
Black button
Assorted flower

April Sketchy Scrappers Challenge

Jess posted this sketch for us to use as inspiration:

I thought it was a beautiful sketch to copy as is, but couldn't make it work exactly with the elements and the size photos I had chosen. 

This is my interpretation:

You can't see it clearly, but there is a light pink border of cardstock all away around the layout. 

Supplies:

Cardstock -

      K & Company Recycled - "Remake Berry Pinks" paperpad

      American Crafts Tropical A4

Cricut cartridge?

Patterned papers -

     Heidi Grace loving you - "Glitter circles"

     MAMBI Baby Boy

     ki memories

Quote Card - Cloud 9 Design 2 sided "Alyssa's Garden"

Stamps - Fancy Pants "Fresh Mod"

Date Stamp

I went rifling through my various scraps bags to begin with, to determine a colour scheme for my layout.  When I saw the Heidi Grace patterned paper, I knew I wanted to use it - it has laid patiently waiting for me to finish using it for many years and dates back to 2005!  Doesn't matter to me a jot how old it is - I love the fact that I am getting these things used - albeit very slowly!

Then I discovered this title in my pink scraps bag - I won the K & Co Remake pink cardstock pad at a crop 3-4 years ago, and must have cut this title out on the Cricut machine at that time.  So it incorporated the fancy die cut part of the sketch, but in a different format.  The straight line of circle elements at the right was a lateral interpretation of the middle strip and the big circle in the sketch.  I decided to swap out one photo at the bottom for some of that patterned paper.  I also had an even smaller scrap of ki memories pink and green circle patterned paper which I used to tie the bigger circles of the Heidi Grace paper together and give a bit more dimension to the layout.  So quite a simple interpretation of the sketch - I dithered for a long time before deciding it was finished as is, because I loved the swirly bits on the sketch so much! 

My journalling reads: "Thank you Life for blessing us with two beautiful boys.  In the short time you've been with us, we have already learnt so many things about being better people.  Above all, being good parents to you.  Daddy and I will love you always.  Mummy.  xxxx"

I really look forward to seeing what the other members of the group have produced!