URGR8 & Barb Wire Tutorial

I find it very hard to find nice teenage embellishments these days, there are hundreds out for little boys and girls, but nothing for real teenagers, so I was very excited to find some chipboard wording and pattern paper the other day that was perfect for my teenage son.

However, I didn't know what to do to finish off the layout, so decided to add some BARB WIRE... I couldn't find the rubons so I decided to create my own.

I used this SKETCH from LETS SCRAP to help me create my layout.

Photos of my son were taken by UNIVERSAL EXPOSURE in Johannesburg.

Close ups of my layout:

I was very happy with the way the barb wire came out...

Following the theme of the pattern paper (all codes).. I done the same for the title..

TUTORIAL ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BARB WIRE ON YOUR PAGES:

Step 1: Decide where you want to put it on your layout. Once you draw the lines, you cannot rub them out ! LOL

Step 2: Using a thick black marker (I used a Sharpie), draw a wavy line or lines. I went over mine twice to make it nice and thick

Step 3: Now using the same marker, make small barb wires along the length of the wavy line. Just do random ones.. Use my below picture as a guide (think of M and W to inspire you)

Step 4: Now you need a white marker. Using this marker, highlight your black line and all your small barb wire edges. Try to stay in the middle of the black line.

That is it.. all done.. how easy !! Close up of barb wire effect.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you create your own boy pages using some barb wire effects...

Hugs, Mich

Reach for the Sky

I am still trying valiantly to get through all my 1000's of photos that I took in May 2011 when we first came to Melbourne to "view" it out.. I am slowly making my way through them.. LOL.

We were lucky enough to be able to visit the EUREKA TOWER when we went to the City and done the EDGE experience as well. It is 88 stories high.. wow ! Scary but what views !!

This layout uses 2 of the Let's Scrap Sketches as I had to combine them to get my photos to work with them.
Close up of left - I kept the wristband they gave us when we done THE EDGE experience.. it was awesome.. 88 stories up and the whole things extends out the side of the building and all there is between you and the floor is a thin sheet of glass. Also added our entry tickets and the pamphlet of the EUREKA TOWER.

On the right hand page I created a flap so that I could fit in the rest of my photos.. always take much to many photos.. LOL..

At the bottom you will see I am standing at Australia's highest post box.. so cool !

Close up's of the layout open flap:

More close ups of the layout:

Thanks for looking..

Hugs, Mich

Lets Scrap Challenge 122

The DESIGN TEAM CHALLENGE at Let's Scrap this week is to create a GREY Monochromatic layout.

Wow, it is hard to find grey papers! I ended up using a mix match of all papers I had lying around. Also found a cool sheet of Tim Holtz Papers with these awesome moths / butterflies on in grey, so thought they were perfect for this layout.

The only photos I could find that were "grey" were of my mom when she was a young mom ... she was so beautiful (still is..).. the quote was from Kaisercraft "Only a life lived for others, is a life worth living".. this quote is just so appropriate to my mom as she lives her live for her family, her kids, her pets, for everyone ! She is the most giving person I know and has a heart of gold to match.

I am very happy with how my layout came out and think it does my mom justice..


I used this sketch from Let's Scrap... this is only the left side of the sketch.
Close ups of the moths and swirly bits...

I was lucky enough to find some grey half pearls in my stash, and they worked well with this layout:

My mom's name is Rosemary.. a real beauty if ever there was one.

You have a week to submit your layout for this challenge. Check out the details HERE.

Thanks for looking,

Hugs, Mich

Lets Scrap Sketch - 11-16-11

The 3rd Sketch every month is a card one created by Debbie. However, I just loved this sketch and decided to do a Layout instead. I am not that big into making cards.


I used the new range of Christmas papers from Kaisercraft for 2011... Love this range.. so soft and lovely. The photo is of my boys... not even sure when it was, they are growing so fast.. Klaven refuses to pose anymore with Santa... so sad...

Close up shots:

Thanks for looking,

Hugs, Mich

Lets Scrap Sketch - 11-9-11

This weeks sketch at Lets Scrap used a nice big photo and space for lots of small pieces of paper / photos.

I used the sketch to create photo strips down the sides (I had cut up tons of small pieces of paper, but it didn't look right, so opted to cut Tim Holtz Photo Strips instead).. nice way to use up scenery photos I had lying around of the STORMSRIVER bridge..

This is last weeks sketch:


My version of the sketch.


In December we were lucky enough to be in the Eastern Cape over Christmas Time. We visited the Storms River Mouth and the Storms River Suspension Bridge. It is a long walk to get to the bridge, but oh so pretty..

Storms River mouth is spanned by a suspension bridge (built in 1969 it is 77m long and 7m high), offering breathtaking views over rocks and coves and crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. The bridge leads to a lookout point from which sweeping views over a verdant forest and the Storms River camp reward any hike to this area.

Neville and Klaven were brave enough to walk to the top of the Hike, Brenton and I waited at the end of the bridge.. LOL.

Close up of left of page..

Close up of right side of page: (Nev: Look Ma .. no hands..LOL.. was funny as the bridge sways a lot..scary)

Close up of elements on the pages:

Thanks for looking !

Hugs, Mich

Lets Scrap Challenge 118

The Challenge over at Let's Scrap was to use another layout as your inspiration. Inspiration for this layout was found at Creative Keepsakes Blog Post: 11/09/2009 .. the original layout was created by Heidi Sonboul. i just loved these leaves and had to recreate her awesome layout:

These photos were taken at Carlton Gardens, just near the Royal Exhibition Centre in Melbourne Centre. The leaves were all falling and I loved these pics of Neville playing in the leaves.

Close ups:

the leaves were fun to make as I got to use up tons of scraps. You just punch a square and then corner round the opposite edges, and voila, you have a leaf.. so easy !

Thanks for looking.

Hugs, Mich

Lets Scrap Sketch - 11-2-11

This weeks sketch at Let's Scrap is a fun one.. I never thought to use photos as a Banner. I didn't have big photos for the right side, so I decided to cut up an A4 photo into 3 parts and raise the middle.. I like the end effect..

My version of the sketch.

Close ups of the left and right pages:

Close up of the clusters that I created using 7 Gypsey stickers

Thanks for looking !

Remember you have until midnight on the 8th of Nov to post your layout to win a cool prize..

Hugs, Mich