Exciting news & a Happy Dance!!!




Hi Happy Arty Days Fans! 
A very quick post just to share some very exciting news:
I am so very thrilled, delighted and over-the-moon to announce that ......
I have made the 
WOW!
*Happy dance!*

I am so very, super, super-pleased! 
I love, LOVE, love Kaisercraft products & feel so honoured to be selected to be part of their incredible Design Team.
A big thankyou to all of you for supporting and encouraging me everyday!
And a big congratulations to all the other DT members too!  
You can see them & a quick peak at their layouts here :)
You will be blown away by how talented they are! 
(I can't believe that I will get to create alongside these superstars!)

Anyway, just wanted to share and say a big thankyou to you all :)
Please pop on your dancing shoes and celebrate with me! 
Happy Dancing!!!! 

Happy Arty Days,
Amanda xo



CMS Challenge #66




Hi everyone! Welcome to another Color Me Scrappy Challenge!
Challenge #66 / Let's have a BBQ!

Here's what it looks like......



Use the above featured colour palette & for added fun, include some food on your creation. It could be in your photo,a die cut, an embellishment etc.

I had a few creative ideas in mind, but this card was definitely the most fun & playful...

"Keep Calm: She'll be APPLES!" 

I had this cute apple paper left over from my Kaisercraft, Fine & Sunny Collection - I just had to use it!
 Isn't it so sweet?!
The frame is created from the same paper collection & die cut from Couture Creations Nesting Dies. 
The dark green stickers & title are Fancy Pants Designs: As You Wish collection and lastly, that awesome red washi tape is October Afternoon.
I love how colour challenges make me mix-up my brands and use up my stash!
Why dont you give this challenge a try???
I'd love to see what you're creating :) - click here to get started!

Thanks for visiting,

Happy Arty Days,
Amanda xo


Scrap & Play Challenge #6




Hi everyone,
Thanks for stopping by to take a peak at my take on challenge #6 over at Scrap & Play!
Here's what the new challenge looks like......



Pick one of the above listed summer songs and use the title (or lyrics) on your creation!

The Summer Hit that I chose was Summertime - Beyonce & I used it as my page title.
I had some really beautiful photos of my gorgeous two down at the beach, so naturally I did a coastal page!
Let's take a look.........


Loooooove this photo so much! How divine is that hand hold?!
He trusts her - she adores him!!!
Because this photo is deeply personal I've shared the pre-journalled version with you - but on our family copy, there's some story just beneath the photo. ;)
I wanted to keep this page simple - really let the photo be the focus - so not much embellishing. 
The shells were collected on the day that the photo was taken, so again really meaningful!
The papers are Basic Grey: Hey Girl & the title stickers are Simple Stories: Snap!

So that's my take on Challenge #6 at Scrap & Play, but I urge you to join us & submit your creation! 
There's always great prizes up for grabs and this challenge suits beginners through to advanced creators - so no excuses! C'mon - get your craft on!

Thanks for visiting, 

Happy Arty Days,
Amanda xo


Finalist Entry Kaisercraft DT 2014/15




Hi Happy Arty Days Fans! 
*Wow!* 
I am so excited! I made the short-list for the Kaisercraft Design Team 2014-2015!
Thankyou for all your support & encouraging comments!
 It would be an enormous honour, delight & dream come true to make their Design Team 
- so please wish me luck!
Kaisercraft have been so extremely generous - they sent me some exquisite, not-yet-released, paper collections to create 2 layouts from. 
The paper collections are Rustic Harmony & Yuletide.
Both are just stunning! 
Like all their collections there were no 'bad' papers either - only awesomeness to create with!
But enough talk, please enjoy my finalist audition creations........

My first layout, 'love', is from the Rustic Harmony collection.

Such divine and feminine paper! 
A really gentle colour palette which beckons to be crafted with...
Lots of fussy cutting featured here & a few Kaisercraft extra items that naturally compliment - Mini Paper Blooms, Rhinestones, Pearl Strips & Rub-Ons. 
Let's take a closer look......

Just so delicate! Look at that lovely lace finish on the background!
Beautiful Moments Together indeed!
Oh, so, very elegant -  loving this collection! 

My second layout, 'Wonder of Christmas' has been created with the rich and traditional Chritsmas collection, Yuletide.  
Isn't this just the most luxurious Christmas paper ever?! 
The gold is so pure and the reds are rich - I'm not normally a Christmas scrapper, but this paper won me over big time!
This layout also features Kaisercraft Wooden Flourishes: Fancy Hearts, Leaves, as well as Paper Blooms: Fire Red. 
Time for a closer look.....
I love the natural wood look with the muslin and paper blooms - it balances the richness of the page perfectly.
Oh, and that Holly and Berries is actually a sticker from the Yuletide paper pack - yes, a sticker!!! 
Can you believe it?! Everything in this collection is just exquisite!  
So that's my two layouts - but Kaisercraft were very generous & sent me so much paper that I just had to keep on creating....

More beauty and Christmassy goodness from Yuletide........

'Holly Jolly Christmas' layout
This was a really fun page to create! I love those everyday Christmas photos that tell you stories.
Lots of distressing and gorgeous embellishing - yes, more of those incredible stickers! As well as, Wooden Flourish: Twig & Berries, Paper Blooms: Fire Red and red pearl trim. 

Again, I chose to keep the wooden flourish natural because of the depth and richness of the paper. 
It is such the perfect match!  (Oh, and how cute is that lil cherub in the photos?!)

Now for some Off-The-Page creations.....
I love Christmas bunting - it is always such an elegant way to dress a door or wall space.

Yuletide has such a classic, traditional feel to it that it just had to put on my door........
So gorgeous!
Here's a closer peak...

Love this Christmas classic!

Christmas cards were a lil too obvious for me, so I've created a set of 3 tags.
One tag design - with 3 very different looks!
Here's the first one:
Modern, & contemporary with a burlap finish.
The second is still contemporary but a little feminine too;
(pretty, huh?!)
The final tag is an elegant, classic one...
Amazing that all three tags were created from the same paper!
All lovely but all so very different!
Just another example of how diverse this collection can be.

Now that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, let's have another look at Rustic Harmony.

First up, another fun and fresh layout, 'Laughter and Love'.....

I love that this layout uses the most delicate paper collection and gives it a modern and fresh twist!
This is such a fun page and it reflects the versatility of the Kaisercraft collections. 
This layout also features Kaisercraft Pearls, Rhinestones, & Collectables: Curiosity. 
Super cute!
And just to really emphasise the versatility of this collection, 
my next creation, is a boy layout, 'Hey Mister!'

Yep, he is toooo cute! And isn't this a fantastic page?! 
Again, a few extra Kaisercraft goodies; Wooden Flourish: Moustache, Collectables: Curiosity & Rub-Ons. 
And a lil hidden journalling from me.....
I really like to journal on my pages - but hiding it away keeps the personal stuff just for us! :)

- That Forever Kind of Love -

With such pretty paper, it was impossible to not make a card or two......
This one is really girly, pretty & I just adore it!

This second card, is really 'Wonderful'. 
It examples how very versatile the paper collection is - and still emanates beauty and elegance. 

And my final creation that I'm sharing with you today is one of my favourite projects to make;
It's a Mini Album!
I love making fabulous lil keepsakes that you can fit into a handbag, as well as display at home.
This one's a lil bit special though as it's made from a tag base and those fantastic pocket page style cards.
Take a peak!
I know, this is just beautiful!!!
Let's take a look inside.....

Yep, definitely loving this mini!

Here's what  it looks like opened.....
A clever little concertina miniatiure tag and album, made from the prettiest paper!
This is a keepsake that I will treasure forever!

There you have it! Inspiration overload! 

I have truly loved every minute of creating these finalist projects - I only wish I had more time - as I've still got plenty of this beautiful paper to use! 
As always, I hope my creations inspired, and made you smile!
Hopefully these creations convince Kaisercraft of my genuine love of all things crafty, creative, happy & bright! 
(& fingers-crossed, I will make the Team!)

Thankyou so very much for taking time to visit my blog,
I really appreciate your support and love reading your comments. 

Happy Arty Days, 
Amanda xo




Scrap & Play Challenge #3!




Hi everyone!
Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my Design Team creation for:
Challenge #3 over at Scrap and Play!
Here's what this challenge looks like..........


"Pick a row going diagonal, vertical or horizontal and use the items on your creation!"
I selected the vertical row; Buttons, Fancy Pants Designs Product & Chipboard. 
See if you can spot them, on my layout......
Love this lil boy! 
How he has grown - look at his cute feet hanging out the frame! Naawww!

Most of this layout is created from the fabulous new, 
So vibrant, fun & versatile! Love it!

You'll also spy a few Couture Creations Dies in this layout too ;)


I enjoyed creating with the As You Wish  collection so much, that I've also designed the following cards for the challenge too! 
(Same row - Buttons, Fancy Pants Designs Product & Chipboard)


My first card is a Bon Voyage! Love those frames!



My second card is a male birthday card - "Today the world is yours" :)

 & my last card is a cute lil love notelet... 
Told you this range was fun and vibrant! 

Expect to see more Fancy Pants Designs creations from me in coming weeks!

With all that inspiration, it's now time to get yourselves creating! 
Be sure to upload your entry for Challenge #3 @ Scrap & Play here!
And, of course, there's another amazing prize to be won too! ;)
Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by,
Happy Arty Days,
Amanda xo













Color Me Scrappy Challenge #63




Hi Happy Arty Days Fans!
More exciting news to officially announce: 
I am now also on the Design Team for the colour challenge blog,
Wow! What an honour! 
Thankyou again for all your support and encouragement - it means so much to me!
Such an exciting time!

Speaking of exciting times, here is the latest challenge over at CMS:

 
Challenge #63 
Use the fabulous colours featured, plus "Take 3". 
(Use 3 different manufacturers on your layout / creation)

I've been creating a lot of heavily embellished pages lately, so I needed something a bit more minimalist. 

Here's my take on the challenge.......

Love the "Everyday Moments" 
Not the most picturesque photo - but definitely one that makes me smile every time I see it!
Such a happy, joyful moment & I think this page expresses it well.
My Take 3 - Kaisercraft Cardstock, Simple Stories: I Heart Summer & Charmed Life papers, Basic Grey: Hey Girl paper, Green Tara mini roses & Couture Creations Gemstones. 
(okay, that was 5 but I had so much fun mixing and matching!)

Have a closer look.....
Sometimes it's the really simple things that make us smile most....

Yep, definitely need to celebrate the everyday more often! 
Love these two crazy characters :)

So that's my take on Challenge #63, I really hope you liked it!
For more design team inspiration & to join in on the fun, (& maybe win an awesome prize too!)
Thanks for visiting, 

Happy Arty Days, 
Amanda xo