'No fear of depths...'

“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.” 
― Anaïs Nin

Hello my lovelies, I'm back to share with you a layout I created for

2 Crafty Chipboard using some of their new pieces.

'Anäis'

I usually feel quite overwhelmed with Graphic 45 papers, they're very pretty, but so intricate 

and finely detailed that my usual messy paints and gesso splattered style doesn't seem to work....

(well just a little bit here to look like bubbles :)

But I immediately thought to fussy cut this beautiful mermaid riding that goldfish and my idea was born :) 

I added some 2 Crafty Chipboard pieces, a vintage photograph of the author herself and away we go! 

2 Crafty Chipboard pieces used:

'Fishing Net Bits'

'Cartia's Swirl'

'Seashells'

I created this layout using my June Scraps of Darkness kit which you can 

purchase at the Scraps of Darkness online store here.

To see my 2 Crafty post, please go here.

What a beautiful quote from the author Anäis Nin, you can read more about her here.

I first discovered her and the works of Henry Miller after seeing the film

'Henry and June', the story of their affair in Paris in the 1930's.

She not only thought outside the box, but she passionately and unforgivingly

lived outside of it, damn the consequences.

I try to challenge myself to transform chipboard pieces and turn them into 

something that doesn't look like cardboard! Here I covered the starfish with

a thick coat of heavy white gesso and then hit it with high heat to make the gesso 

bubble up. Once it dried, I colored it with orange Lindy's Starburst spray.

“Do not seek the because - in love there is no because, no reason, no explanation, no solutions.” 

― Anaïs Nin, Henry And June

Kisses, Lisa xo

'Bonjour Tristesse'

Hello girls, I'm back to share a layout I created with the June Scraps of Darkness kit....

“I have loved to the point of madness; that which is called madness, 

that which to me, is the only sensible way to love.” 

― Françoise Sagan

'Bonjour Tristesse'

I love the Scraps of Darkness kits as much as I love the Scraps of Elegance kits!

This month's kit was full of Prima's 'Salvage District' paper collection, dies and flowers.

You can find our kits in the online store here.

The lovely ladies at 'OMSK Scrapclub' invited me to be a Guest Designer after winning one

of their challenges, and sent me this sketch to work with.

More about my feature and Sketch #32 here.

Here are a few close ups:

Has anyone read the novel 'Bonjour Tristesse' by Françoise Sagan?

I remember reading it in my twenties and it was a horribly tragic 

story of love and loss.

I had so much fun creating this dark and moody layout, the title came to me 

after staring at this beautiful girl's forlorn dreamy look.

“A Strange melancholy pervades me to which I hesitate to give the grave and beautiful name of sorrow. The idea of sorrow has always appealed to me but now I am almost ashamed of its complete egoism. I have known boredom, regret, and occasionally remorse, but never sorrow. Today it envelops me like a silken web, enervating and soft, and sets me apart from everybody else.” 

― Françoise Sagan, Bonjour tristesse

Thanks for looking,

Lisa xo

'Miss Potter'

Hello crafty chicks! How is everybody?

I'm so glad you have dropped by today :)

I have a brand new layout to share that I designed for 2 Crafty Chipboard.

'Miss Potter'

I love this photograph of Beatrix Potter holding her pet mouse. Her little magical animal world is loved by so many people and I remember my father used to treat me to her tiny books when I was a little girl. I was going for a romantic vintage mood with this layout so I chose to use the beautiful chipboard called 'Avery Vines' to add some elegance.

I also chose to use the 'Brick Panel' that I altered  by using some brown ink,

and I used some Lindy's Stamp Gang starburst mists on the background.

As a designer for Scraps of Elegance, I also treat myself to the Scraps of Darkness kit every month.

This layout was created with the February kit called 'Heirloom', that had some really pretty flowers and papers, for more info on where to buy our kits, please visit the online store, here.

See you soon, Lisa xo

'Blue, Grey and Silver'

Hello girls:)

....it's finally getting chilly where I live, so when I saw the icy new colors for Decembers Words & Painterly challenge, I found one of my sons winter portraits and away I go...

'Blue, Grey and Silver'

Even though I design for Scraps of Elegance, I also purchase the Scraps of Darkness kit each month, as Melinda picks out the best papers for all of our kits...this layout was created with the gorgeous wintery December Scraps of Darkness kit called 'Silver Bells'. I used this super cool BoBunny paper, the winter pinecone stencil and the little silver snowflake charms from the kit and added in my own flowers, some 2 Crafty Chipboard snowflakes, and some silver beads.

To find out where to purchase our kits please go here.

Here is the new color palette...

To see all the Words & Painterly designers take on this new challenge, please go here.

And check out our Face Book group here.

And a few details....

I love this paper!... the white birch trees matched the background in my 

little boys portrait perfectly.

I hope I have inspired you to create something a bit frosty and join in the challenge!

See you soon,

Lisa xo