Element challenge from Jane

The lovely Jane had her turn to issue a challenge at SBO and this is what she said...

My CHALLENGE to you this week is to create a layout using squares or rectangles or a mix of both. You can have them any size you like BUT you must have at least 8 squares or Rectangles and 2 Photos.You can keep it simple or add embellishments its your choice.

I had two square photos sitting on my desk so worked with them to create this layout using scraps from an older SBO kit. The heart was made using an even older coluzzle template and the flourish was handcut based on a chipboard flourish which I think was from a Maya Rd pack. The photos are circa 1996, it feels great to get some more of Alyse's 'first five years' photos scrapped.

During my weekend of internet surfing I found a sketch here and used that for the above layout using rectangles. I am especially proud of my handcut leafy element. I have used foam dots under the leaves for some dimension. I know I am going to use this sketch again and again (great for bigger scraps of patterned paper).
These photos are circa April 2010! LOL

Jane's sketch challenge

Jane gave us a versatile sketch this week over at the SBO forum...This is my layout...

I flipped the sketch as I had landscape orientation photos and in this case I omitted the embellishments as I felt my patterned paper was too busy. It felt good to use up older stash and older photos of Alyse at her guitar lessons in 2003.

The last couple of days I have been cutting flannel and denim fabric for a couple of raggy throws (one for each of my kids) and can't wait to catch up with my friends this weekend to sew them together.
For Alyse I am using denim from recycled jeans and skirts with a nice flannel backing and TJ's quilt I am using some of the metres and metres of flannel fabric that my Mum bought to make workshirts for my Dad years ago.
I need to create a couple of quilt labels too as I hope these quilts become heirlooms and it would be great to have the date they were created on them. (I intend to sew the labels into a pocket on the back of each quilt). Will share photos when the quilts are finished.
The quilt I made at our last weekend 'sew-in' is so cosy for snuggling under while watching TV

Paper piecing

Some of my first layouts (back in 2002) included paper piecing...

I generally use pics from a colouring book and cut my shapes from cardstock or patterned paper scraps, or I find some suitable clipart on the net and work from there.

this one from my second ever layout (first layout was created at a CM class), very very basic but I did think I was very clever putting the text on there and by popping a photo of my DS in the window LOL

this paper pieced embellishment had a bit more definition with the outlining and was created not long after the first one. (I even created one eyed Mike cupcakes for this birthday party).

I have used this chicken design twice, once in the early days with cardstock and punched out spots (for a chicken pox layout) and here just two years ago...

this time the chicken pic was enlarged and I used patterned paper and pen lining as opposed to printing the pic onto the cardstock scraps and cutting it out as with the first chicken

and for the latest mini challenge at SBO I created this paper pieced sun. Quite simple really but have added dimension with the pen lining and pop dots.

I have quite enjoyed revisiting some of my paper pieced embellishments and think I really like the pen lining.

One of my favourite Aussie scrappers, Penny Hackney is the queen of pen lining and one day I may just get to do a class with her, dreams are free right?!