Scraps of Darkness July Release & 12 Layouts of Alice #5 & Punky Scraps Challenge 22

Hello, all! It's the 15th of the month today and you know what that means! The release of this month's Scraps of Darkness Kit. This month's kit takes us to an exotic destination and is called Marrakesh Express. The kit is full of Christine Adolph papers and rich jewel tones. The kit is filled with luscious colors and textures. It will certainly inspire creative pages. The second layout that I completed for this release is also number 5 in my 12 Layouts of Alice series (I know it's taking me a long time to finish these up but I have a lot more on my plate this year than I did last year). Here is Marrakesh Express, including all of the optional add-ons and this month's sketch:

Scraps of Darkness July Kit - Marrakesh Express.

Marrakesh Express Paper Add On.

Marrakesh Express Card stock Add On.

Marrakesh Express Romance Add On.

Marrakesh Express Color Add On.

Marrakesh Express Flora and Fauna Add On.

Marrakesh Express Sketch by Suepup aka Charlotte.

Natural Beauty. Here is my take on July's Scraps of Darkness Sketch. This photo is one I was lucky enough to shoot from my backyard. I love the way the sunset plays off the shadows of the tree branches. Everything but the Thickers title, gold embossing, and the liquid pearls are from the Marrakesh Express Kit.

Natural Beauty Close Up 1. This is a close up of what will be my journaling spot on this layout. I wanted to show how the liquid pearls look close up.

Natural Beauty Close Up 2. Here is a close up of some of the gold embossing I did on the background paper with Lindy's Stamp Gang gold embossing powder.

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas Tag #5.

2 Sides 2 Everything - 12 Layouts of Alice #5. When I saw these exotic papers the Caterpillar's Hookah came to mind. So I used the Caterpillar for my inspiration for this page. I used the Sparkling H2O watercolors from the Color Add On to add color to a stamp that I used on a die cut tag. I used Distress Inks in Dusty Concord and Broken China. I also used some Ranger Gold Embossing Powder on the edges of the page and on the numerals. The die cut shape behind the photos and the title letters are grunge board coated with Broken China Distress Crackle Paint. The photos are of my dog before and after he had a run in with a major amount of burrs and had to be shaved.

The leaves are covered in Lime Green Stickles and the tag is edged with Adirondack Gold Paint.

Paradise Found Layout. This page was inspired by the beach. I tried to simulate the sand, water, and sun with the shapes I cut out of the Marrakesh Express Kit papers. I also added some Thickers and Liquid Pearls to this page. I fussy cut some flowers and the bottom border, and used my Cricut Expression and the Mother's Day Bouquet Cartridge to cut out the sun.

Punky Scraps Challenge 22: Use the above sketch.

Spice of Life Layout. Okay, I went a little crazy with the stitching on this one! Lol! I even stitched the title. I created this page with the Scraps of Darkness Marrakesh Express July Kit and using the sketch for Punk Scraps Challenge #22. This has to be my favorite paper from this kit! The photos are of my kids playing around. I host a challenge over at Scraps of Darkness  called the Darkest Side Challenge and this month the topic is to scrap what puts spice in your life. My family are what do it for me!

12 Layouts of Alice - Layout #4

Hello, all! I am here to share with you a couple of layouts I created for some challenges; the Skeletons in the Closet challenge over at Scraps of Darkness, which was to listen to the song "Iris" and scrap whatever you felt while listening to it; and my very own Steampunk challenge over at scrapbook.com (This one is barely on time since today is the last day of the challenge but I really wanted to share it.) This page is also for my series of 12 Layouts of Alice - Layout #4, based on Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas.

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas 2010 - Tag # 4.

Good To Be Queen Layout. This is my layout based on Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas 2010 - Tag #4. I found the image of the Queen of Hearts on the Internet by an artist called CVY. The throne is from a stock photo. I added lots of glam and glitz for this one, along with the gears and jewels.

Hidden Layout. This page is for the Skeletons in the Closet challenge at Scraps of Darkness. The challenge was to scrap what I felt when I listened to the song "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls and we weren't allowed to use a personal photo. This image is by an artist called ScarletGothica. The song reminded me of all the hidden feelings I had as a child and how someone can have something tearing them apart from the inside. I used my Now and Zen kit from Scraps of Darkness and some flowers I had in my stash, along with liquid pearls and Scarlet Glimmer Mist.

Stalker Challenge and 12 Layouts of Alice #3

Hello, all! I've finally had a little time to sit down at my desk and scrap! And here are a few layouts I want to share with you for various challenges. This first page is for the Stalker Challenge over at Scraps of Darkness. The challenge is to scrap your favorite artist and I chose Katy Perry. She is ONE of my favorites because her songs are so much fun. It didn't hurt that this photo of her went perfectly with this month's Scraps of Darkness kit - Now and Zen! Lol!

Katy Perry Layout. I completed this page for the Stalker Challenge over at the Scraps of Darkness forum and this is the artist I chose. I find her songs fun to listen to. Everything on this, except for the Thickers title, liquid pearls, leaves, and Stickles are from the May Scraps of Darkness kit - Now and Zen. I went Mist Crazy with this one and used Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists in Alpine Ice Rose, Delphinium Turquoise, and Witch's Potion Purple. I also used Shimmerz paint in Wed Wagon. The purple flowers are form Petaloo and the purple crystal trim and the birds are from Prima. The leaves were cut out from cardstock from the kit, misted with Ranger Perfect Pearls green mist and had Stickles dots placed on them. This page is also for the Alternative Challenge over at scrapbook.com which had a twist of using paint.

Seafaring Layout. This page is for the Monochrome Challenge at scrapbook.com for Ruby Week this month. I chose this awesome paper from the DCWV paper pack - Nantucket. I used some flowers, brads, and Thickers that I have had in my stash for over 6 months. The photos are of the lighthouse in my home town and a pirate ship that docks near there.

Jabberwocky Layout. This page is for the Darker Side Challenge I host over at scrapbook.com. This month's theme is poetry and I used the Jabberwocky poem from Alice in Wonderland. This is also for my 12 Layouts of Alice and based on Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas 2010 Tag #3, the Monochrome Challenge Emerald Week, the ABC Challenge, and the Technique Challenge. The flowers are made of vellum using the Tim Holtz Tattered Roses die. The tree is cut out using my Cricut Expression and the October 31 cartridge. The moss is from a previous Scraps of Darkness kit.