Getting sketchey

As you know i'm a huge fan of sketches, they always get me inspired. Luckily for me two of my favourite manufacturers are now running sketch challenges on their blogs so i have even more of an excuse to play along with them! i worked on a few over the weekend.

First up, this sketch from the Sassafras blog designed by Marcy Penner.

All products: Sasafrass

i scaled this one down to 8 1/2" x 11" and i mixed 3 different lines from Sassafras, which just goes to show how easily their lines work together!

Next up this sketch based on a layout by Lory Bucaria for the new weekly feature on the Elle's Studio blog.

Papers, Butterflies, Sticker, Pin: Jenni Bowlin Studios, Glassine Envelope: Pink Paislee, Alpha Stickers: Cosmo Cricket, Cardstock: Core'dinations, Tags: Elle's Studio, Other: Twine, Pearl Stickers, Tiny Attacher. 

i flipped the sketch for this one and did my own thing with it. To get those sanded squares on the grid, i created a mask using my square punch and a scrap piece of card so that i could control where i was sanding. Then i hand stitched around them with twine. 

Be Gentle

i'm currently taking Jenni Bowlin's class over at Big Picture Classes. Jenni has always been a bit of a scrap crush of mine, way back when she used to appear in magazines frequently and desiging for Lil'Davis Designs. When she started her own line of products i was over the moon and i have quite a hoard of them. So taking a class with Jenni is a delight and it's inspiring me to use more vintage stuff on my layouts. This is a layout i created for our first Creativity Challenge, to use vintage millkcaps on a project.

Cardstock: Core'dinations for Jenni Bowlin, Buttons, Paper, Alphabet Stickers: Jenni Bowlin, Other: twine, vintage paper, vintage milk top, crepe paper. Tools: Sandpaper, Tiny Attacher.

Core'dinations is just about the loveliest cardstock out there, i always lightly sand it to highlight the pattern. Speaking of which, have you seen the latest Core'dinations line for Jenni Bowlin? It's soooo pretty! And completely different to anything they've done before.

i had some fun playing with crepe paper for this layout. i used my trusty scalloped scissors (yes, the ones i have had about 8 years and hardly ever use!) to cut the crepe paper and folded it around the punched cardstock. i also twisted it so i could use like raffia and tied it on the buttons, as i would with regular ribbon.

Remember to be gentle with yourself, and others too!