Yes, I'm still on the layering mission. I bought a Scrap 365 magazine from Scrap Delight yesterday. What an amazing magazine. On the front page is a layout by Tomoko Takahashi. I have been admiring her style for a while on several web sites and blogs. She's all over the place. I was really inspired by this layout and decided to try “lifting” it by using my own colour schemes and embellishments. I reckoned by copying a layout I could get a feel for proper layering and hopefully next time be able to do it on my own. (It worked with the very first layout I ever did.)
I must say I'm very happy with the result. It doesn't have as much detail and dimension as Tomoko's layout but it is still my current favourite. At first I thought some of the colours might be too bright but in the end everything blended together very nicely.

The photo is of my brother and I on a wine farm 2 years ago. The title says it all: You will always be my baby brother. He is 11 years younger than me.
Here is Tomoko's layout on the front page of Scrap 365. Note all the liquid pearls accenting her frames and embellishments. (I ordered some last night )

Thanks for the inspiration, Tomoko!

Wow! I have forgotten how much work a double page layout can be. Because I've been working mostly with sketches lately all my layouts have been single pages. Needless to say, this layout was quite a challenge and took me a few evenings to complete.
I loved working with this sketch.

And the best part is that I had the perfect Enmarc goodies to match the photos! The dress form, corset, flourish and mini scalloped oval frame are all from Enmarc. The title was made with my new best friend, Silhouette.
I thought outlining the various sizes of paper pieces with gold would add some dimension and separate them from each other. I think it came out okay.



The journaling strip to the left of the large photo pulls out to read:
10 Feb 2012 - Die laaste keer wat ek jou sover kon kry om enigiets anders as 'n rokkie te dra, was voor Desember 2011. Links: 1 + 2 - 2 van die rokkies wat jy vir Kersfees gekry het. 3 - Jou huidige gunsteling uitrusting. Regs: Jou eerste reaksie toe jy hierdie foto van jou by Wacky Wine 2010 gesien het, was: “Aah cute!” En 'n oomblik later: “Maar dit sou nog cuter gewees het as ek 'n rokkie aangehad het.”
10 Feb 2012 - The last time I could get you to wear anything other than a dress was before December 2011.
Left: 1 + 2 - 2 of the dresses you got for Christmas. 3 - Your current favourite outfit. Right: Your first reaction when you saw this photo of yourself at the Wacky Wine 2010 was, “Aw cute!” And a moment later: “But it would have been even cuter if I had been wearing a dress.”

Okay, so I am finally scrapping some old photos. These are from a live performance by Louise Carver (another one of my favourite South African artists) at Van Loveren Wine Estate during the 2010 Wacky Wine Weekend.
I used this week's sketch from Sketchabilities.

My favourite part of creating this layout was definitely playing with my new Silhouette, cutting the banners and photo frames. And of course distressing the photo frames. I love the Making Memories edge scraper.
The ticket and felt strips at the bottom as well as the buttons and other small embellishments are from My Mind's Eye and the big flower and butterfly are Prima.

My dream has come true and I have been elected to create for Enmarc Crafts.
When I got the email on Thursday night I had to read it a few times to make sure I was understanding it right. Me... on a Design Team? But... here's the proof...

Come join me on the Enmarc web site.

A friend contacted me a while (like almost 2 years) ago to find out if I was interested in buying her Silhouette (that has never been used) from her. I wasn't in a position to do it then.
About 3 weeks ago I decided to pay her a visit and see what this wonder machine looks like. I took it home to play with and was instantly hooked. When I saw all the goodies you can purchase for $0,99 at the Silhouette online shop I had to stop myself from drooling.
Here's my new baby.

These are just some of the items this baby can make. These were made for a layout I created this afternoon.

The Silhouette is was one of the originals and not the brand new Silhouette Cameo but it is still the best cutting machine I have worked with. No dies or cartridges needed. The only problem with it is that it only cuts paper, cardboard, vellum, etc. No chipboard or other thick mediums. I'm still in love with my Silhouette