Random Kit Release

I was very lucky just before Christmas, to receive the new mini-kit from S J Crafts as my DT package. Initially it struck me as a fairly feminine kit and with the pinks and oranges (surely they shouldn't work together but they DO).  I knew it would be perfect for the millions of photos I took of B in the leaves at Staunton Country Park.  I spent ages directing the children around shouting "Smile!" and "Don't close your eyes!" while I tried to get the perfect shot of them gazing up into the falling leaves with wonder and joy... yeah right!  It was the first time we had been able to get these sorts of shots because up until then everywhere had been so wet that the leaves were just mush!  Actually, you could say the same thing now 3 months later...

I gutted the papers and cardstock to make the most of the kit (and because I can't bear "wasting" paper where it won't be seen).  I used the pink cardstock in the kit as one of the layers and included my own kraft card for the base to add something more neutral.  I distressed and inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and layered up some of the stickers and flowers from the kit.  I used a few buttons and leaf shaped brads from my stash and some older letters by WRMK and Bella Boulevard.

So then, me being me, I wanted to see if I could flip the feminine idea a bit and show that the Portrait collection can be used for more masculine layouts too.  The denim paper jumped out at me (you know my love of Denim!) and I have so many photos that I knew I would be able to find something suitable where L was wearing jeans.  As it happened, I found some of him wearing an orange top which matched the off-cuts from the first layout.  

I used my pie-crust punch and added some raffia and another sprinkling of buttons (I am an addict...) and an American Crafts rub-on (which was awful to work with) and again I based it on some kraft cardstock.

I love the way this turned out - starting with essentially feminine collection and ending up with a layout perfect for a little boy and his Daddy out walking in the countryside.

So that's 2 layouts from a kit that is less than £5 and the best bit is that I still have some of the gorgeous rose print paper to make a lovely card with.  I'm thinking of a Thank You card for my Mother-In-Law for my perfect Christmas present - UGG earmuffs!  Photo to follow ;-)

Bye for now
xx