Take One - Part 3

Firstly, apologies for the TERRIBLE photos of the layouts.

The super talented SJ at Little Musings (amongst other places) has challenged us with 'Take One', where she invites us to take a good long look at some of our previous scrap layouts, choose one element that we love and use that element on a new piece of work. What an amazing idea! Over at her blog, SJ has fortnightly videos on the Take One challenge, giving hints and inspiration to anyone who wants to play along. The thread can also be found at UK Scrappers, where SJ regularly gives us great inspiration, freebies and allround crafting enthusiasm.

I decided to join in the challenge with one of my favourite techniques. I just love laying vellum over photos and adding detail on them. The layout I took my inspiration from was one I made for an album for my aunt and uncle (who sadly died from cancer a year ago tomorrow - you'll never be forgotten Uncle Ken!). The photo wasn't the greatest quality, which is why I overlaid the photo with vellum in the first place.

The second layout features my beautiful neighbour Laraine on her wedding day. I added the sheer vellum overlay and, I don't know why, but I started doodling with the white pen (that hardly ever leaves my hand) and this was the result! I just love it! If it wasn't so weird having a photo of my neighbour in my house, I would put this on my wall.

So, thanks SJ. I have really enjoyed this challenge and hope to join in next time. I already have another element in mind, but can I cheat and use a digital next time??

Girls, Girls, Girls!

Girls, Girls, Girls! That's the title of this week's challenge on the wonderful Pollycraft challenge blog. Cazza has set this week's fun challenge and has inspired me with her fab creation (as ever!!). The prize is sponsored by Sew Sweet who have a really great online shop for those of us who love to sew as well as play with paper.

As I had to make a card for a friend's birthday this week (hi Melissa - happy 21st!!), I thought I would also use it as my entry into the challenge. I am almost twice Melissa's age, so I guess our tastes are quite different. I hope she likes it.

I have used one of Paula's amazing digi stamps from Pollycraft- Cherry Kisses Li'l Miss Attitude. Not because Melissa has attitude, but because the gorgeous Cherry Kisses girl has beautiful curls just like Melissa. I envy those natural curls!

As usual, I have made a large card - this one is 8x8. I have coloured the image with a mix of pencils and promarkers and mounted it on a panel cut using one of my new Grand Spellbinders super-large dies (thank you, wonderful husband!). The lovely bright butterfly paper is from Echo Park and the russet-red flower burst behind is from one of my favourite paper stacks - the Green Stack from DCWV. The muted green cotton lace is from American Crafts and the flowers are Primas with some glass floristry beads glued in the centre. The sentiment is based on a blank top-note shape from SJ at Little Musings, which I added my own words, texture and colour to.

These colours are far from my comfort zone, but I wanted something really bright and cheery, not pink and fluffy. Melissa has had a tough year. She is a super hard-working single mum at just 21 years old, juggling caring for her toddler, working full-time and running her houshold. She is my carer and nothing is too much trouble for her. I look forward to her daily visits, which is why I decided on a bright zingy colour palette to bring a bit of cheer and colour to her day.

I hope she likes the card and has a fab birthday.