Friday, December 31, 2010

Last Challenge for 2010

Hello!!!

Well, this is the last challenge, and my last post for 2010!!!  Where has the year gone!!!

The challenge for this week was to use just black and white....it is often a challenge to use a single color when scrapping, but I think the look and feel of black and white is so timeless...and it gets you to use your gray matter :D

Here is what the lovely ladies on the design team have come up with...


Heba



Boo



Riri




Jo



Happy scrapping my friends and I will be in touch again next year :D

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Jo




Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Punky Scraps Posts

Hi!!

Well, the first day of school holidays have started with a bang!!!  My kids have had friends over today and they have provided an endless source of entertainment....every game they have played has been an adventure and I love their imagination!!!

I seem to have forgotten to post the Punky Scraps DT Layouts I have done this month, so without much ado.....

Challenge 1

This challenge was a recipe challenge, whereby we had to use 3 or more of 5 items listed.  I chose to use paint, cardboard and ribbon on a white cardstock background...I LOVED this challenge :D


Challenge 2

This challenge was "So What is so Special About You".  It was fun having to think of something about yourself that makes you special....I believe that my endless patience is something that is special about me :D



Don't forget to go over to Punky Scraps by clicking HERE to see out what the other DT members have created!!

Happy scrapping :D

Jo

Sunday, December 19, 2010

SCNTS Week 4 Submission

Hi Ladies

This is my fourth and final submission for the SCNTS challenge!!!  It is a little heart sore, as it marks the end of a wonderful challenge and getting to know the other contestants through their pages....

This challenges was to propose a challenge and submit an example of it.

My challenge was 8-ributes, whereby you select a subject...a loved one, the city you live in, your cat or the city you live in and journal 8 reasons why you think they are GR8 (oh, I had to :D).

It is often the things we love most that go by unappreciated and are the things we need to acknowledge...

I used this opportunity to use my wonderful hubby as my subject...he is fantastic and I wanted to have record of it....



I am very pleased to have made it this far, to the FIAL FIVE, and wish luck to the other 4 ladies submitting layouts :D

Will keep you posted on the outcome of the challenge :D

Until then....scrap your heart out :)

Jo

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper - TOP 5

Wahoo!!!  I made it to the TOP FIVE of the SCNTS!!!  I am so excited to have made it this far, as the ladies entering are all so very talented!!!!  Now lets see if I can make it into the TOP TREE!!  Oh my gosh, if my tummy was in knots and my nerves shattered before, you must see me now :D I am a wreck!!!  Just kidding, I am definitely nervous, as is normal when being judged by your peers, but I am loving having my creativity being stretched in new directions, I find that once I have done something like this, it almost resets my mojo, and it flows fast and furious for a while after!!!

I am working on the final challenge and really hope my ideas are liked enough to make it to the top 3 :D :D

Holding thumbs, toes, and every lucky charm I can get my hands on....:)

Find inspiration in every day :D

Jo

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Look What Amy Did!!

Hello!!!

I let my 5 year old daughter have a little play in my craft room the other day.  She is always hovering around, asking questions and very often crafting away next to me at my desk.

Last week-end, I had to leave her merrily playing with "our" scrapping stuff while I took care of lunch.

I was still busy in the kitchen when she came to me and proudly said "Mommy, look at this card I made"  When I turned around and took the card from her, I was speechless!!!  Holy crow!!!  It was amazing (I am so totally going to scrap lift this idea from her!!!!)

Here is her card...done on quarter folded computer paper, splattered with brown and black ink and she punched out the butterflies from a piece of white card I was doodling on with my copic markers (yes, I am leaning strongly towards spending a small fortune on some copics and seeing what I can do with them, which will be a blog post for another day!!).

Here is my little princesses AMAZING card....


I know she is my child, but really...from a 5 year old, this is really, really cool :D

Seek inspiration everywhere!!

Jo

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of Christmas

Hi!!

If you haven't been following Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas this year, all I can ask is "WHY NOT???"  What a truly inspirational man he is, with such awesome ideas....

He really inspires me to think out the box.

I have been really snowed under with a lot of scrapping "got-to-dos's" which is never a problem, because hey, who doesn't want to be forced to scrap????  My brain is fried and my nerves are shot, so just spending a bit of time with Tim (yes, we are on first name basis here, I spend many hours with him on YouTube :D), I feel that I am once again inspired!!!

Click HERE to see Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas.

I will leave a little teaser from his site here, jut to wet your appetite :)


Never stop playing :D

Jo

SCNTS Week 3

Hello!!!

I am so chuffed to have made it through to the Top 10 of the Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper competition currently running on the site.

Here is my WEEK 3 layout submission!!!

Fingers and toes all crossed!! :D :D




Revel in your creativity!!!

Jo

Thursday, December 9, 2010

December Challenge

Hello!!!

This months challenge for the DT team was to use the following quote as inspiration:

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else;
And for everything you gain, you loose something else.


It's about your outlook towards life.  You can either regret or rejoice.


Here are what our totally awesome DT girls have come up with!!


Heba




Riri




Boo



Jo



Thanks for stopping by....hope you will play along with us and post your pages using the quote as inspiration!!

Be Inspired!!

Jo

Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper - Round 2- I MADE IT!!!

Hello!!!

So I made it into the top 10 for the Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper Competition!!!  Yes, I am still doing the jig of joy, and now cartwheels too!!!!!!!

Keep a look out for my take on the challenge...it's a goodie!!  You can take part too and upload your images to their site.  CLICK HERE to check out the site and keep tabs on the layout submissions!!!

Come back later today and I will post the latest DT challenge!!!  This one was a tough one, and we had to use our grey matter!!!!

KEEP CREATING!!!

Jo

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper - Round 2 Update.

Hello!!


I have been a busy bee today!!  Scrapping my fingers to the bone, and loving it :)

I have got a couple of the upcoming challenges under my belt for Punkyscraps and also for the challenges coming up right here!!!

This is the layout submitted to Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper for Week 2.

The challenge was to "Makeover" a page you weren't particularly happy with.  I generally don't revisit old pages, so this was a nice change....

I pulled this layout from the archives....


and overhauled it, and ended up with this...


I am crossing my fingers that I make it through to the next round, there is serious competition out there :D. 

Keep creating!!

Jo

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper - Round 2!!

Holy crow!!!

I am so excited!!  I made it through to Round 2 of the SCNTS competition!!!

This post is short because I am dancing the jig of joy and can't sit still long enough to write more :p

Keep Creating!!

Jo

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper Submission

Hello

Scrapbook Challenges is looking for their "Next Top Scrapper" and today is the deadline for Week one.  It is open to everyone for the first challenge, and thereafter it is worked by process of elimination.

I would like to share my submission with you.


Please stop by the blog to see the awesome pages being submitted for consideration.

Keep creating :)

Jo

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Punky Scraps Design Team Blog Hop Week-end



Hello!!!

What an exciting week-end.  Punky Scraps has kicked off with an awesome Blog Hop Challenge!!!  If you are looking for a Challenges Blog with a difference, this is the blog for you....Here, we like to get dirty ;)

The theme of this Blog Hop  is "fave layout of all time" 

This layout is my fave of the year, I love the chunkyness of it.  It incorporates using most of my best messy mediums.


I am Jo from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  I am originally from South African and have been in the amazing city of Dubai since 2007.  I am a mother of 2, Matthew-8, and Amy-5.  I am a total scrapaholic and have to discipline myself to NOT sit at my desk ALL day scrapping :)  I love to experiment with paint, mist, dyes, inks....anything that will make my paws grubby.

Mariannes wonderful creations are the next stop on your blog hop.....ENJOY!!

Become a follower and leave your comments :)

Stay creative!!!

Jo



Thursday, November 25, 2010

November Scrapbook Challenge



Hello scrappers!!

We have all all lost our mojo at some stage or another....I know it happens to me a lot.  Or perhaps you have seen a layout on your favourite site or scrapping mag, and totally fallen in love with the layout or an element thereof....

This is when we turn to scraplifiting.  No, it is not a swear word, it is totally acceptable to lift ideas or the entire layout from another resource, there are just some etiquette rules to follow when you scraplift.

I found the information below about scraplifiting on the following sites:



Scraplifting (skrap-lift-ing) – The act of copying ideas and designs from another person’s scrapbook page to use in your own pages. Designs or ideas can be copied in whole or in part and is largely subjective.

1.         Do use layouts in magazines and online galleries to expand your scrapbooking horizons. I know for a fact that there are certain color combinations or picture taking techniques that I would never have tried on my own if I hadn’t seen them in use elsewhere. Scrapbooking is a creative activity, and sometimes we just need to be inspired by others. Seeing different techniques, arrangements and creative ideas can help you stretch your wings a bit and work outside of your comfort zone. And when you do that, you’ll be surprised at what you can create!

2.         Don’t copy outright, especially if you are entering a contest. This is the scrapbooking equivalent of cheating. Use a simple rule…if you are borrowing more than three elements directly, then you are in danger of being seen as a copycat. If you like the title font, color use and cropping of the pictures, try using a different layout arrangement and title. If the paper catches your eye, do something completely new and different with it. This may not seem like a big deal if you don’t plan on entering a layout in a contest or displaying it online, but practicing adaptations like these will make you a more creative (and more confident) scrapbooker.

3.         Do give credit where credit is due. If you are posting your page on an online forum, and were inspired by another person’s layout, let the community know! As long as you haven’t outright copied, the original person is sure to be flattered. Who doesn’t like a little celebrity?

4.         Don’t scraplift until you’ve asked yourself a few questions. Analyze the layout and ask yourself what you really like about it. What draws your attention to the page? Is it the contrast between the size of the photo and the title? Is it the additional touches like rivets and ribbon? If you can identify what elements are speaking to you, you might not need to copy at all. In the past, when I’ve taken the time to analyze why I’m drawn to a particular layout, I’ve discovered a way to make that same element totally me and totally original. It’s worth a shot!

I found myself in a "scraplift" situation recently when I was on the SwissgirlDesigns blog and totally fell in love with Rahel's "Cookie TV" layout.  I loved the paper monsters she made, and I also liked the look of the layout.  So I used inspiration from her page, and did a page of my favourite little man.  I then posted the challenge to scraplift to the very talented ladies on the JoSoCrafty DT.

Feast your eyes on these!!!

Boo

"So Happy" inspired by the layout below from
Australian Scrapbook Creations - Vol No: 68. The pic was by Julianne McKenna-DeLumen




Riri



"2008" inspired by the layout below from




Heba

"My Family" inspired by
Scrapbook Challenges by Pamela Young





Hana

Inspired by
Pinkpaislee - Leena





Jo

"With All My Heart" inspired by
Swissgirldesigns by Rahel Menig




Please share your scraplift page with us by mailing a low resolution picture to jobrown0@gmai.com.  Please include either the link to the page you have scraplifted, or a copy of the original.

Keep Creating

Jo

Punky Scraps

Wahoo, it has finally been announced :)  Punky Scraps has announced their Punky Rebels team.  Check out this up and coming blog here.

Happy scrapping:)
Jo

Swissgirl Designs

Hello friends:)

Swissgirl Designs has released their Winter 2010 stamp range, and it is stunning:)

Be sure to check out the blog to see the new range!!!

Here is a peek at one of my fav's - it was a hard choice:)


Happy Scrapping:)

Jo

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Peek Into My Craft Space

When I started scrapping in 2002, I was able to stash ALL of my scrapping supplies, including my album in an A2 Storage box, which I could comfortably store in the cupboard, until I was going to scrap, in which case I would haul it out and scrap on our kitchen counter.

Some things have changed since then as I am sure many of you will understand.  My "more than adequate stash in a box" has grown into a "not nearly adequate stash in a room"  *SIGH*.  How on earth did that happen????? Well, I am not ashamed to admit that I am an addict.

We have recently moved house, and for the first time, I have my own craft room.  I have had my own craft space ever since moving to Dubai in 2007, but I have always shared it with my husband, who had a tiny part of the area for his desk and computer....(There was no more space available to him :D), and them some shared storage areas....

Moving and having my very own room came with a complication.....storage.  Having my own space that I can make girly, has also left me with a master design scheme....black and white fleur de gris, with a touch of turquoise to add colour!!!  So, I repurposed our old food store cupboard and turned it into my scrapping stash storage unit.  I really disliked the opaque insets in the cupboard, so I decided to cover them with wallpaper.

Here are the before and after pics....I am so happy with the results:D





As time goes on I will keep you posted on the developments in my attempts at interior design :D

Happy Scrapping

Jo

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Upcoming giveaway

Hello!!!

I have been busy over the last few days on a special little project....

Annais from Creative Hands has kindly sponsored a giveaway gift for the blog!!!  I will reveal the giveaway along with a youtube photo tutorial in the next few days :)

Here is a peek at one of the JoSoCrafty DT's layouts....

Hana Khan


Happy Scrapping!!

Jo

Monday, November 15, 2010

Happy Days!!!

Oh My Gosh!!!

What an awesome day!!  Not only have I been lucky enough to be featured on the Scrapbook Challenges "Featured Photos" page, which you can see here BUT I have also been selected to be on the Punky Scraps DT!!!   How totally awesome!!!  Punky Scraps is a new blog on the block (say that 5 times in a row :D) and I can feel it in my bones that it will be VERY successful!!!

Visit Punky Scraps on http://punkyscraps.blogspot.com/ and watch it grow :)

Happy Scrapping!!!

Jo

Saturday, November 13, 2010

This and That

Hello!!!

Last night I got a bee in my bonnet and instead of going to bed at a respectful hour, I came to my craft room, intending to tidy things up a little...BUT, I ended up throwing out a couple of pages instead!!!

I would like to share them with you:)


I picked up this fun Halloween die cut set from Creative Hands.....it was such fun working with it :)


I used some of the items from the Lil Bees Exclusive kit for November in this layout, as well as a couple of Prima goodies from my stash.  The stamps from the November kit are totally awesome....


Keep Creating!!!

Jo

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

November DT Challenge for Scrap Inspire Create

Hello!!!

The November DT has been published on Scrap Inspire Create.  I LOVED doing this challenge.  It has been years since I have incorporated an accordion album into my layout!!

This is my DT submission:




Be sure to check out the site here for the other DT's submissions!!!  What a bunch of talented ladies!!!

Happy Scrapping!!

Jo

Sunday, November 7, 2010

DT Call

Hello!!!

Thank you so much to all of you who submitted layouts for the DT Call, it was quite a job...Luckily I was not the one to select the final 4!!!

I will be posting a challenge soon for the DT team and you will get a chance to see these amazing ladies in action!!

Happy Scrapping

Jo

Friday, November 5, 2010

New Layouts

Hi

I have a few new layouts to show you....


I created this layout using elements from a Karen Foster Halloween pack.  I used old school paper piecing to make the two jack-o-lanterns on the page.


This is a layout I did earlier in the year.  It is of the sunset from Barasti's on Christmas Day

I have been given my second assignment from Scrap Inspire Create and it will be posted on their blog next week some time....I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge this month and had to think outside the box, as we were requested to add an element to the page which I would normally not do!!!  I will let you know as soon as the challenge is posted on the blog :)

Happy Scrapping

Jo

SwissgirlDesigns Feature/Think Smart About Your Stash

Hello fellow addicts :D

As you all know, I am crazy about the stamp sets from SwissgirlDesigns.  Rahel has kindly put up a feature  of my work in which I have mostly used her stamps. Thanks Rahel, it is an honor!!!

I am totally inspired by Rahel's layouts.  She really goes back to the core of scrapbooking, by using bits and pieces of "free" treasure in her layouts, or making her own embellishments using her amazing creative talent!!

She recently did a layout called "Cookie TV" and she made the cutest little monsters using dollar store wiggly eyes and creatively cutting out paper into little shapes.  Check it out here.

Over the last few months I have done a serious sort out of my scrap stash, and have found that I have embellishments that I bought on a whim, and years later, are still sitting unused in my stash.  Our TT (Tuesday Therapy) girls have recently decided to thin out our personal supplies.  We have marked the complete and partially used goodies we are no  longer using with a small dirham price (between Dhs2 and Dhs5).  The goodies are then taken along to all of our copping sessions and our fellow scrappers can rummage through, see if there is anything we like, and then buy the item.  We work on an "honesty box" system, where each of us has a little jar with our names on, and it is up to the "purchaser" to ensure they pay for the items taken.

As far as I am concerned, this is such an awesome idea, as we have all found something in the other persons stash box that we love, have managed to get it for a steal, and then the recipient ends up with a little bit extra cash to spend on more scrapping supplies...

In today's economy, there are VERY few people who can afford to spend piles and piles of cash on unnecessary items, and why should our scrapping suffer the consequences.  This brings me back to Rahel, her layouts are totally stunning, always different, and if you watch her video about her scrap space here, Rahel uses a small amount of choice items and creates her own embellishments, by thinking creatively and using what she has (punches, stamps, paint, paper) along with some main stream store treasures to create awesome, inspiring layouts!!!

I have found myself recently buying scrapping stash that has multi use, for example, if I cannot resist a book of tags, I make sure that they are either conducive to being altered, or are neutral enough to be used over and over.  And don't forget to look at the packaging your goodies come in, most of the stuff now comes with beautiful packaging, that can be cut, punched or torn to be used in your layouts.

Even from up on my soap box, I must admit that I am addicted to acrylic stamps, and very rarely can resist a purchase....but I now do it with slightly less guilt, as I know that they can be used over and over, in so many ways and I am not taking home things I do not necessarily need.

At the end of the day, I am not saying that you must stop buying your special goodies, just think smart and make sure you are adding creatively to your stash, rather than just adding "white elephants" to your stash :D

Please share your ideas on saving money while still creating stunning layouts by posting on this comment.  All ideas are welcome!!!

Happy Scrapping!!!
Jo

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Upcoming Events on JoSoCrafty

Hello Scrappers!!!

Just to let you know a few things that are on the cards for JoSoCrafty.

I will announce the DT soon.  My judge extraordinaire  has been out of town, so I will get him to have a look today.

I will be getting the awesome giveaway sponsored by Creative Hands today....watch this space.  I will post it once I have completed the tutorial that goes with it.

I have been selected for another DT....I have not received any gen yet, but will let you know as soon as I do.  The site is new, but holds TONS of promise, I think it will be fun!!!

I have become a member of Scrapbook Challenges....What fun, you can find lots of inspiration from the site, and they have a lovely bunch of scrappers who are eager to give you positive feedback regarding your uploaded pages....check them out at this address http://scrapbookchallenges.ning.com/

I have sorted out the problem I was having with pictures to upload, so layouts coming soon.....

Happy Scrapping

Jo

Saturday, October 30, 2010

DT Call & Giveaway teaser

Hello scrappers!!!

I am pouring over all your fabulous layout submissions.  Thanks to all of you who have sent in your WONDERFUL pages, there are some super talented people out there.  I can tell you, I will be hard pressed to choose :)  I am taking my personal favorite layout from all the submissions, and getting a third party to choose their favorites....it is the only subjective way I can choose DT members.  (I cannot choose, as all of them are fantastic, so I am giving the job to someone else!!!)

I have just received great news!!!  My next giveaway has been kindly donated by Annais of Creative Hands.  I like it sooooo much, I may just have to keep it!!!  (Nah, that would be way too rude).  Watch this space for a video tutorial and the giveaway reveal.

I have had a little snag with uploading pictures, so I will be slowly adding new layout ideas over the next few days....your patience is appreciated :)

Keep Scrapping


Jo

Sunday, October 24, 2010

DT Call Reminder

Hi!!

Just a reminder regarding the DT call for JoSoCrafty.  I have received so many wonderful layouts, it is going to be sooooo hard to choose:) Call closes on 25th September and the DT members will be announced by 1 November 2010....Good Luck!!

Happy scrapping

Jo

What Riri did.....

Hi!!!

Last month I had a giveaway, which consisted of a chipboard mini album and some bits and pieces to go with it.  Riri won the package, and look at what she did with the stash!!!!

Wow, oh wow!!!  I am totally blown away!!  Riri is a beginner scrapbooker, but oh my gosh, what a talent she has!!!

Feast your eyes on these pics of the mini album...












Well done Riri!!!  What an inspiration!!!

Happy scrapping!!

Jo