Friday 30 October 2015

For the LOVE of Doodling~

I am ready to admit it, I am a doodler. I have been a doodler for as long as I can remember.
I thought I would share a few peeks at my doodling life.
Throughout my life, I have doodled what inspired me. Music, love, great movies, fantastic moments. These first few images are from my art journal. For now they remain simple black pen drawings, but at some point I would love to have some of them copied to create colouring book pages. Then I want to add the colour that I envision myself.





I will doodle on anything I can get my hands and pens on!
This is my ATG tape gun, it is what I use for all of my crafting. Since it was such a huge part of what I do, I wanted to make it a little more special.



Autumn Page Title & Font Ideas~

I love to play with fonts and colours, so I thought I would share some title and font ideas for the season.

For my first example I used a white opaque marker to create this spooky calligraphy title. Then using the fine tip white opaque pen to add some little details as well as the spider webs in the corners. I love the look of chalk or opaque pens and markers on dark cardstock.



My second "Autumn" sample is created using 2 brush tipped markers. By simply pressing the end of the brush tip, kind of like a stamp you can create that teardrop shape over and over. It's a nice leafy organic shape, so I used that to create this entire title. I added the second colour in just a few spots.


My third "Fall" title is just a simple fun doodle title. Creating a wide letter gives lots of room to fill with all sorts of doodles for any occasion. Of course for Fall, I chose cute little leaves.
Then I filled in with lots of fall coloured brush tip pens.


Finally, "Happy Haunting". A mix of fine tip pens and pops of brush tip colour creates this fun little title. Mixing fonts in a title also adds great interest for the eye.


Thanks so much for stopping by! Remember, if you don't have the right stickers for that seasonal title...you can just make it yourself!

Thursday 29 October 2015

I am Thankful for "Tracy" Writing~

From a very young age I have LOVED to draw, doodle, play with my writing and making different fonts. Over those year I developed MY personal printing style.
In my paper crafting circles they call it "Tracy Writing". Which really is the best name to call it, as it's just a fancy version of my own printing.
At crops and classes, time and time again I'm asked to do writing on people's layouts and cards. Because I've done it SO long, it comes out quickly and easily for me.

Thankful....is a dressed up version of "Tracy Writing".


Below is a sample of my regular printing.

Then I drew around that simple printing, to show how "Tracy Writing" is formed.


I use my own writing on scrapbook layout s often. Dressed up or dressed down, I think it's important to journal on scrapbook layouts. It's a personal signature of the people creating the layouts. Sure, stickers or typed journal blocks seem easier or sometimes cleaner looking, but has very little personality.


In journaling and handwriting classes that I have taught in the past, I have tried to come up with new concepts on incorporating handwriting into layouts easily.
Which is welcomed, but probably the best advice I have ever given in classes are these simple few steps.
  1. Find tools that work best for you. It is important to find pens or markers that feel good in your hand. If the tool that you are using feels good, then the work that you create will show that.
  2. Practice, truly does make perfect. I wasn't born writing like this, no one is. This comes from YEARS of doodling in school books, making fancy grocery lists and writing letters in old english calligraphy to my aunt on a weekly basis (true story). Take every moment you can to practice, and it will get better.
  3. RELAX! If you are stressed out about making a mistake as you are about to write...then it is not going to work out well in the end. Picture being stressed, your hand is tensed up and you are holding that pen with something like a vulcan death grip. How is that supposed to turn into beautiful flowing handwriting? It's not. Loosen up that grip, and just go for it. If you make a mistake, it's not the end of the world....just try again.



Writing, calligraphy and doodling has been a passion of mine from before I can remember. I took that into my paper crafting world.


Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that one day you can give handwriting a chance in your own paper crafting!

Tuesday 27 October 2015

In Case You Missed It with May Arts Ribbon~

I thought I would do a little round up of some of my most recent May Arts Ribbon projects.
Just in case you missed it!

So here is what I've been up to with Ribbon.
Each project title above each image will take you directly to the original post.
To purchase any of the ribbons you see here directly, click HERE.

















Thanks so much for stopping by!

Monday 26 October 2015

Sketches In Thyme: October Reveal~


It is Reveal Day at Sketches In Thyme!!
I am a part of the week 3 Creative Team, and it is my turn to show you what I have created based on this week's sketch!


I chose to work with the Life Emporium collection from Teresa Collins for this layout.


This was a pretty fun sketch to work with!



Thanks so much for stopping by!
I hope to see some of you play along with Sketches In Thyme soon!

Thursday 22 October 2015

My Creative Scrapbook: October Sketch Challenge~


Another Sketch Challenge at My Creative Scrapbook is live, so today I am sharing the layout that I created to play along.


This is the Sketch for October that I based my layout on.





Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my Sketch creation. I hope to see you playing along with the sketch challenge too!

My Creative Scrapbook is now currently accepting new members!
Subscription information can be found here:

We would love it if you would follow us on Facebook:

Sketch Contest Reminder:
The deadline for submitting your sketch contest layouts is the 14th of every month. Don't miss out on your chance to win the fabulous prize package. The details can be found on our sketch blog at:

We are now on Instagram!
@MyCreativeScrapbookOfficial

Thursday 15 October 2015

May Arts Ribbon: Halloween Blog Hop~


It's time for some Spooktacular fun!!
The May Arts Ribbonistas have come together to provide some fun Halloween inspiration. I always love to browse through design team hops to see just what everyone else did creativly with the same theme!

Halloween is our inspiration....here is what I decided to create.
I went for Halloween decor, some decorative jars that would make great candle holders for a Halloween party or to have by the door with the candy.
You could use the jars themselves to hold candy or other goodies.
Or do you need something to put a spooky little Halloween gift in, try a decorative jar!


I pulled out lots of coordinating ribbon for this project. Here is what I used:



I added some coordinating flowers and feathers.




Thanks for stopping by!
For a chance to win one of two $20 Ribbon Resource Gift Cards, pop by the Ribbon Resource blog!
Be sure to check out what the rest of the May Arts Ribbonistas have come up with for this Halloween Hop!

My Creative Scrapbook: October Reveal Day #3~


Today I am back with the third and final Reveal Day of October for My Creative Scrapbook.
I loved working with this kit, I worked with some of my favourite photos.



This kit included so many great bits and pieces.





Main Kit:
Simple Stories- Pumpkin Spice Collection: patterned papers, Bits & Pieces and chipboard stickers
Simple Stories- We Are Family Collection: patterned papers and chipboard stickers
Carta Bella- A Perfect Autumn Decorative Brads
Prima Flowers
Buttons Galore & More- Wooden Buttons
 Ribbon, Burlap and Twine


This layout was the first that I created with this kit. I thought this series of sweet photos would be perfect with the patterned papers in the kit.


I started with a simple splatter of gold and dark green dimensional spray.



My Creative Scrapbook is now currently accepting new members!
Subscription information can be found here:

We would love it if you would follow us on Facebook:

Sketch Contest Reminder:
The deadline for submitting your sketch contest layouts is the 14th of every month. Don't miss out on your chance to win the fabulous prize package. The details can be found on our sketch blog at:

We are now on Instagram!
@MyCreativeScrapbookOfficial