Waltzing Through Life

Playing with paint....

2012-01-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

... and ink and sprays...
I came across this 4 week free online course last week, and decided to join in. I'm so glad I did!! I've had so much fun this week just playing with paint and ink, and stencils and masks and crayons and coloured pencils and pens! The idea behind the workshops really is to experiments and have fun, and that's just what I did.
Week 1 was about building up layers.
Water colour sprays, and stencils:

More layers of colour and more stencils:

Extra colour:

Some acrylic paint-this is where things started to go wrong and I leanred it's not a good idea to add acrylics on top of water colours:

Finally, doodling. The white is a correction fluid pen.

I'll show the rest of the workshop over the next week.

And the winner is...

2012-01-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

Today is the day to announce the winner of my Valentine giveaway. The number chosen by
RANDOM.ORG - True Random Number Service was....

By my calculations that makes the winner Sixofone-aka Leah. Congratulations Leah. Can you send me your email address so I can get the package into the post?

Give Away...

2012-01-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

THIS GIVEAWAY POST WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP UNTIL THE 24TH. FOR MOST RECENT POSTS PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT POST.
I've had this blog for quite a while now, and have never had a giveaway before, so I though I'd start off the New Year with a wee giveaway, by way of thanking everyone who has followed this blog, and left comments over the years.

So, at the end of January I'll draw a winner from any of my followers who leave a comment. I'll draw the winner in three weeks time, that's the 24th, just in time for Valentine's day, which is appropriate since the giveaway is full of valentine'e embellishments!!

There's felt hearts, a heart banner, doilies, assorted heart embellishments, stickers, quotes, diecuts..

So don't forget to follow and leave a comment if you would like a chance to win.

***********************

Here's a layout done with ScrapaGoGo January kit. It's Jack when he was little and so very sweet.

This kit is packed with product, all of which works so well together. This is the last of the larger format kits that GoGo will be doing.

From February a new kit format is to be introduced-and guess what? It's CHEAPER!

You can read all about it here. So if you are thinking about subscribing to a kit, but want to save some pennies, then think about this new GoGo kit.

Anyway, it's blowing a gale here, and we have lost bits off our roof, but it's still too windy to check the damage. I do hope this is not a sign of what 2012 is going to be like!!

To everyone who reads this blog, I wish you all a really happy, peaceful, calm and creative year!!

Quick Layout...

2012-01-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

Recently I bought some Dylusion spray inks from Art From The Heart. They came wrapped in red tissue paper tied up with twine. As I cut the twine a scrapbook page idea came to mind, no doubt influenced by the very talented and creative Lousie Nelson. Louise often frames her photos with twine or string or wire..

This layout was so quick to make and it was fun to make a page without patterned paper for a change.

I gessoed both the cardstock and the photo. I used the Dylusion sprays for the circles and the last of my 7 gypsies gaffer tape to ground the photo.

The story is about my daughter's bargain boots-reduced from £50 to £30, and then to £18.When she tried them on she noticed they were different colours, so the assistant then reduced them to £7.When we came home I grunged them up a bit more with distress inks, so now with a bit of wear they look like a matching pair! We do like a bargain!!

A couple of cards

2012-01-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

Some time back I was asked to make a couple of cards for Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine.

The theme was 'Let's Face the Music' and the cards had to work together as a page spread. I had so many ideas for the cards, but in the end I settled on these:

The music note on the right hand card is quilled-it's a bit tricky to see that in the photo. It's my first attempt at quilling! the heart button is one I've had for ages that came from the Early Learning Centre. I really like the combination of yellow on kraft.

Collage Art Journal page...

2012-01-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

...and my very first video!!

I thought I would make a video showing my very simple and quick process for making an art journal page. I've written about this process here, and here but today I fancied making a video!

(But first I had to learn how to use the video function on my camera!!)

I do sometimes make inky, painty pages, but I do find they take a lot of time-and I'm very impatient. These glued pages satisfy my need for instant gratification!!

So ta da..without further ado..

So what do you think? (please be kind -this is my first attempt remember!!)

PS-those alpha stamps are the loyalty stamps from Scrapagogo-I LOVE them!!

Learning new techniques

2012-01-10T08:31:00.000-08:00

One of my goals this year is to develop my stamping skills, and in an attempt to learn, I've been blog hopping. I came across Roni Johnson's blog. Roni is currently blogging about different techniques and using those techniques to create a calendar, so I decided to join in. The January technique isn't stamping as such, but it looked gorgeous, was new to me and so I thought I would try it.

Here's the result:

The technique is about painted foil and embossing, to create a stunning rich glimmery background-it really is a great technique!!

The images are free downloads from the Graphics Fairy. The little snowman is a black and white image that I coloured using distress inks applied with a sponge to give a tint to the image, like an old fashioned hand tinted photo.

Hot Punch...

2012-01-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

...at the german market in Edinburgh at Christmas time. Emily and I went in one chilly evening and warmed ourselves up with a spiced wine. Christmas in Edinburgh is always magical.

This layout is another made with Scrapagogo's January kit. For this layout I stencilled a large white square onto the green cardstock which kind of anchors all the elements together.

I got a new punch in the sales and had to use it too!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T03:56:00.001-08:00

Wishing all my blog visitors a very happy christmas and new year!!

Happy Mail...

2011-12-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

Today a parcel dropped through my letter box, and boy did it ever make my day!!

A few weeks ago I won a blog prize on Nancy Burke's blog.

If you haven't visited Nancy's blog before then I suggest you spend some time over there-you're in for a real treat!!

Nancy was doing a series of tutorials making autumn tags, and gorgeous they were too.

They can be found here.

When I opened the box I found these beautifully wrapped parcels. It seemed a shame to open them.

But when I did, this is what I found:

How gorgeous is that ~~little~~ big lot!!

Distress inks, glimmer mist, fantastic vintage ephemera, doilies, tags, leaves, flowers, buttons, metal embellishments-I can't believe how lucky I am!! I am going to make something special with this lot!

I love, love, love everything in this package!!

Nancy, thank you so much-you are so generous!

Top Layouts of 2011

2011-12-11T15:10:00.001-08:00

I thought for this post I would just post my favourite layouts from this year:

The top two are a couple I did for THE SCRAPBOOK MAGAZINE about laying on embellishments to help make a dent in your stash.

This one was about using rub ons:

This one was for no reason except having fun:

And so was this:

Another for THE SCRAPBOOK MAGAZINE

Nicki Sivills:

The f=one that got me back into scrpping after a long holiday:

For SCRAPAGOGO

another for SCRAPAGOGO with the focus on using rubons creatively:

And another just because:

I'd love you to leave a comment to tell me which is your favourite!

A layout...

2011-12-07T14:46:00.001-08:00

...and lessons learned..

On the weekend I made a layout, the first I've done for a while that wasn't for a DT or magazine assignment. One where I chose all the elements, and got to play around a bit without worrying if it was good enough for public viewing. It was a very quick layout, not counting drying times, and it was looking good until I made two mistakes.

The first mistake was not knowing when to stop. I recently bought the Prima chicken wire stamp I used on the page, and have definitely over used it here. I have managed to cover up too much of the masking, and really didn't need to stamp over so much of the page.

The second mistake was stamping with Stazon ink on top of the circle rub on in the centre of the page. As you can see the rub on came off when I lifted the stamp. As a result I have one very distressed rub on, which was not the look I was after!

But not to worry, a memory is captured and I enjoyed playing around with different techniques.

More cards

2011-11-26T14:16:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple more Christmas cards. I really like the white one-I'd be delighted to receive this card! It looks simple enough but actually it has lots of lovely layers and textures.

Here are a couple of close ups so you can see what I mean:

Embossing, layering, glitter and gems:

This one has layers too, but I'm not so keen on this one:

Some cards

2011-11-20T13:30:00.001-08:00

Way back in about May, I had a commission, out of the blue, to make some christmas cards for Creative Cardmaking magazine.

It came as a surprise because I don't consider myself a cardmaker, but the editor wanted some ornate, heavily embellished cards-both traditional and modern in style. It was a bit of a challenge in that at that time of the year there was no christmas stock around in the shops, so I had to make do with old stash, and think out of the box a bit.

So here are some of the cards I made:

This one has hand dyed flowers- I think I used coffee!

Lots of layers and distressing!

The next one had a recycled thing going on-packing tissue, corrugated card and book paper:

Again, lots of distressing and inking!

And this one with a lovely cluster of flowers and leaves and wire and mesh-some of these bits came from a christmas decoration...

Only thing is-they are going to need careful packing if they are sent by post!

I did enjoy making these, even if they did take me more time than a card ever should!

Collage art journal

2011-11-14T14:50:00.001-08:00

So I'm still enjoying collage style art journalling.

This page started after a scrapping session when I randomly stuck on some papers-I did this on a number of pages. Then, another time, when I had stamps out I stamped randomly on this, and a number of the other pages too. So now I have a number of pages waiting for journalling. It's so easy to do this, as it's done in small chunks of time, very quickly, with very little thought given to what I use, or where I place it.

Then, when I'm ready to journal, I have a number of pages that I can choose from, and quickly add some words. The writing makes a big difference to the finished look of the page, don't you think? These are just random thoughts-no literary works of art here!!

And finally, a bit of colour added with my favorite journalling medium-watercolour pencils-so easy to get out and apply, so easy to add that splash of colour, and a little drop of water to blend.

See, this collage journalling, it's all about ease of use, so it's not a big creative, artistic endeavour. It's just quick, easy and fun!!

A new layout..

2011-11-12T02:42:00.000-08:00

This layout was made with November's kit from Scrapagogo.

I think there are some left for non subscribers if you are quick. The kit, 'Chic Boutique' is gorgeous.

Take a look at the gallery to see how versatile the kit is. It always amazes me all the different looks and interpretations that can come from one kit. I used to think that getting a kit would mean having layouts that looked like everyone else's, but not so. Everyone puts their own spin on the products and everyone comes up with unique layouts so that it is hard to believe that are all from the same kit!!

This layout is to celebrate how well Emily did last year coping with all the demands of living away from home for the first time, managing her money, meeting new people, passing first year at uni, and doing an independent trip to Paris. Emily was very young to start uni, only 17, but she really has managed so well. I'm so proud of her!

It must be due to excellent parenting !!

My favourite thing on this page are the Prima Tiny Trinkets-little black metal and glass charms. It is possible to disassemble them to personalise them, but I loved them as they came, so just clustered them together for impact.

Art journal

2011-11-06T14:18:00.000-08:00

I am really enjoying art journalling now that I've stopped trying to do paint, and started using paper instead!

Kind of collage journalling really!

So this is a simple page. It started out with some patterned paper, and then I found the title, and the picture in a magazine. I chose the picture because of the red hat, which reminded me of this poem:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other peoples' gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickles for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

by Jenny Joseph

And so I made it a page about age, with a quote from Samuel Ullman.

The quote really resonated with me. I still think I am a young person.
Sometimes I get a shock when I look in the mirror, and I wonder who that older woman staring out at me is!!
Sometimes I am really saddened to think that I have more years behind me, than I have in front.

But meantime, I mustn't dwell on that. Instead I must ensure that I make best use of every day, and that I maintain a youthful approach to enyoying my life.

More Stash Busting...

2011-11-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

Following on from my earlier blog post about using up your stash I am going to show you another layout which is full of layers, designed not only to create a lovely detailed layout, but also to put a dent into your stash pile at the same time. Remember that paints and inks are part of your stash and these can help create layers of interest without adding to the bulk of the layout.

For this layout I started by using a doily as a mask, and spritzing it with Glimmermists. This was my first layer.

My next layer was shaped the patterned paper, the tree sticker and the music paper.

Then came the small doilies, the diecut circle, the lace, and the cut paper flowers:

After that came some transparency scrolls, the photos, and more lace.

Finally it was time for the embellishments-the wooden bird, cage and frame, the fabric flowers, and die cut leaves, the clocks and key and transparent butterfly. Lots of layers, lots of texture, all without looking over the top, or being too bulky!

And finally, while you've got all your stash out, make a card- uses more stash, and you won't have to scurry around making a card at the last minute, some time in the future!

Do you have any stash busting tips? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Art journals..

2011-10-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of years I've dabbled in a bit of art journalling. Mostly, the inky, painty type. I struggled to keep it up though. I'd get the urge to do some of my art journal, get out the paints, slap some paint on, maybe some stencilling-you know the kind of thing. But the problem was, I was impatient. I found it hard to wait for one layer to dry, before adding the next, or before writing. Even using a heat gun to speed up the drying process, I've lost count of the number of pens I've ruined writing on surfaces that weren't quite dry, or pages that have turned into muddy messes as one colour merged into another.
And, because I work in my kitchen, getting out paints and inks was /is a bit of a pain, because I can't leave anything out. Everything has to be tidied away in order for the family to eat!

But recently, I've come across two people who have inspired me to try a different way of journalling.

One is Julie Kirk, who has written about her journalling process on her blog here.
Well I haven't recently come across Julie-I have admired her quirky style for a long time, but the post about her process is recent.

The other is Sarah Ahearn Bellmare. I saw her book on Amazon recently and decided it looked interesting enough to take a punt and buy it. And I'm so glad I did!!

The book is all about the process she uses to create paintings, and part of that process are her sketchbooks. or journals. Sarah's process is not unlike Julie's process. Both have helped me think differently about keeping a journal.

So I though I would give it a go. I bought a couple of small Daler Rowney journals. These are A6 size I think, much smaller than any of my previous journals, and I really like the size. Small enough to tote around in a handbag if you are that way inclined, but more importantly, the size of the page is not intimidating. The space is manageable, and if you're like me, not much of a writer, then you know you won't have to come up with long stories to fill the page.

So, the thing about the process, is that you don't really need to set aside time for art journalling, although you can if you work better that way. What I do, is have the journal handy as I'm working on other projects, like scrapbooking, or stamping. I just grab my scraps, or stamps, whatever, and add them to the journal, usually as part of the tidying up process. It's done quickly and freely without much thought given to what I use or where I place it.

Then I have pages all ready when I want to write something. I might see a quote I like-or even have a thought of my own I want to record,(yes, I do think now and then!), and I can go straight to a ready prepared page and get the words down. Then I can add other bits if I think the page needs it.

So let me show you what I mean.
Here is a page ready to be journalled on.

This background was made as I cleaned up after doing some stamping. I dipped into my box of scraps and glued on some patterned paper, book page and cut up some of the stamping. Usually when I stamp, I ink up the stamp, and stamp first onto scrap paper before I stamp onto my project. The scrap paper usually ends up in the bin, but instead of binning it, this time I stuck it into my journal. I have no idea how this page will turn out, but it's all ready for when inspiration strikes-with no wet paint to wait on!

So here are a couple more pages that evolved the same way-random sticking on of scraps, offcuts, whatever, then journalling added when I was ready.

I came across these lines from a poem, which resonated with me, so added them to the frame on this page. To complete the page I shaded around the frame, and added the bird stamp, and the stars.

I might even add something else to this page in time-who knows?

While I had the star stamp out I added some to this next page too-and some other stamps-which I also stamped on other pages in the journal.

This page used a book page and what was left over from punching circles from scrapbook papers.

So now, within my journal are pages with bits stuck on, and images stamped on, that will gradually be worked upon, added to and journalled on.

I'm really comfortable with this process, and can see myself working on this journal as this process makes it easy and accessible. I think it's a process that will work much better for me, than the inky, painty journals-although I still enjoy getting messy, and wouldn't rule out having a painty journal too!

Scrap your stash...

2011-10-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

We scrapbookers are a funny lot. We fall in love with lots of scrappy stash, and then we want to put it away and not use. Because if we use it, then we don't have it any more, right? Wrong! We do still have it, but we need to look in our albums to see it, instead of our stash piles.

And if we don't use it, we end up with so much stash it becomes overwhelming, and actually can making scrapping harder than it should be.

So, get your stash out and use it!

That's exactly what I did in this layout:

First, a lot of different patterned papers as the base, then building up the picture with bits cut from patterned paper-the robot, train and train tracks. And details added to those in the form of buttons and brads, cogs and eyelets. Then lots of rub ons.

And some painted chipboard frames to frame the rub ons.

The result? A fun layout that manages to make a dent in my stash!!

I hope this inspires you to be bold about using your stash!

Through my letterbox...

2011-10-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Look what dropped through my letterbox this week:

It's the November kit from ScrapaGoGo. It is a gorgeous kit, and so versatile. I've made three layouts so far, which I'll post when they've been on the GoGo blog. But meantime I can show one, as it's on the blog today:

I love the little Pink Paislee Vintage Vogue Spool buttons, which I've used here to link two tags. There's so much to love in this kit!

I've had a very creative week-the result of a week off work, combined with not very nice weather. So plenty of time for creating!!

I've been scrapping, art journalling-and even stamping. I'll post more during the week!

Journal page..

2011-10-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was a gorgeous day and I did manage to get out for a walk. I even got to sit outside of a cafe drinking a latte after the walk-which is hard to believe, since on this first day of my week off, it's absolutely peeing down outside. Honestly the weather here today would give Noah a run for his money!

And it's cold too-only 5C outside.

I made a card today, but haven't photographed it yet. so instead here's another doodled art journal page.

I feel happier that the journalling is better integrated into the page, something that has always been a problem when I've tried art journalling in the past.

I like the colours on this page too.

So what about you-what have you been up to today?

Art journal

2011-10-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

I can see myself happily sitting by the fire as winter approaches, with water colour pencils, making blended backgrounds, and then getting out the pens and doodling.

Just like this:

Aren't Friday nights wonderful?

I love that end of the week, whole weekend in front of me feeling!!

And let me tell you, when you have a week off, like I do, that feeling is magnificent!!

I'm feeling happy, and looking forward to doing some Autumn walks, photography, crafty stuff, cooking even!!

Some market research..

2011-10-11T00:38:00.000-07:00

My friens Elaine's husband made this for stickles, glitter, alcohol inks etc. Use it to store at home, or put your bottles for a crop in and take the whole block along. What do you think? Would you use it? What's a fair price?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200661934646

A wee tip..

2011-10-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

Do you suffer from squashed layouts?

If you make dimensional layouts, how do you stop everything from squashing out of shape when you put them in your albums?

In answer to a question from Angie I thought I'd share what I do.

First, before I start any layout, I always trim around 0.5cm (or a tiny bit more) from the top and one side of my cardstock. When I start a layout I have no idea where I'm going with it, whether it will be simple or heavily embellished, flat or dimensional. Trimming the cardstock means I'll end up with a layout that slips more easily into a page protector-with less flattening of elements if my layout does indeed become dimensional.

Secondly, If I'm using a postbound album I separate my pages with chipboard strips. Just cut a long strip-30cm, of chipboard about 1.25cm wide, mark off the position of the posts in your album, punch the holes and place them in your album between your pages. If your page is really bulky you can use two chipboard page separators. D ring albums are better for dimensional layouts as there is more room and less pressure on the pages.

Thirdly, I keep my albums standing up. If you lay your albums flat, especially in a pile, then of course everything will squash.

And that's it! Well there may be a little flattening, but in general my dimensional layouts remain pretty good following these simple steps.

**************

I've renewed my interest in art journalling again recently, and have been experimenting with different media, making backgrounds etc. I've made some nice pages, but then they've been spoilt by my writing.

I'm talking about my handwriting, and the placement of words on the page, but even more about what I write.

I'm either stuck for words, or else everything sounds so banal.

But in the shower this morning I had a lightbulb moment. I've realized the words on the page are the most important element on the page. more important then the colour scheme, or the stencil, or the paint, or ink.

It's the words I need to fine tune, it's language that I need to use in a more creative way. It's hard to believe that I used to good at creative writing, a long time ago, in another life.

So that's what this page is about, and actually I'm pretty happy about this page. I like the blending of colours, and I like how the writing is small and takes up the space around the doodling.

Home Comforts

2011-10-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

The October kit from ScrapaGoGo is gorgeous! It's Autumn and bonfires, apple pies, and cinnamon. It's hearth and homefires. No wonder it's called 'Home Comforts'!

Check it out here.

As soon as I saw the kit with the Crate apple paper I thought immediately of this photo of my great neice Charlotte with the big red apple. Isn't she just the cutest wee girl??

The layout also uses some of the hybrid elements that you can purchase with the kit, and of course you can use them over and over. I print mine on photo paper as it has a nicer look and feel than copy paper.

This kit will be great for photos taken this month on Autumn walks. I have a few of those lined up. I just hope there are some leaves left on the trees in a week or two, as it's very windy here at the moment!!

A layout..

2011-10-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

here's a layout I did a while ago. It was for the Scrapbook Magazine's '4 Way Challenge'. This is where 4 people are sent the same kit, and readers can see the different ways the kits are used.

This kit was from 'Quirky Kits' and was great fun to play with. So many lovely elements to the kit.

Emily and I had a lovely day out on a gorgeous Spring day. I plan to go back to Gosford house in a couple of weeks, as I think it will be just as pretty in the autumn!

Messy fun..

2011-09-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things just don't go according to plan!

Take the layout I made last night, when I was in the mood for a little messy play-ink, mists, stamping, paint and messy machine stitching. I've not used messy stuff on a layout for a longtime, and I really enjoyed the process and I also got to use up some of my stash, which is great as I do have a lot and want to put it to good use.

The check stamp, and the ribbon trim are from ScrapaGoGo kits, the rubons, transparent compass, brads and the offshore tag are Kaiserkrafts. The green background paper is Prima packaging, the spotted paper was free from The Scrapbook Magazine. The cardstock is an old American Crafts paper.

However this is not the layout I had envisioned!

I had originally planned to use the other side, and did a crackle effect using PVA glue, acrylic paint and distress inks, which you can see here:

But it just looked ugly, so I flipped the paper over and used the reverse, and I'm a lot happier with the result. I will adhere the whole thing to plain cardstock in the interests of neatness!

Art journalling

2011-09-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

I did an entry in my art journal today. I haven't actually done anything in this journal since way back in February, but today I got the urge to use some paint, and gesso, and stamps, and ink..

My journal is a book I made using wallpaper from Gauche Alchemy way back some time last year. The page is made with gesso, acrylics, watercolours, colour pencils and stamps-mostly Kaisercrafts stamps.

The journalling is in the middle between the two pages, but I have cut it out because it's embarassingly boring and trivial!! Other than that, it's a very attractive page!!

Stamping..

2011-09-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

Stamping doesn't come naturally to me.

I really admire those clever people who can take a stamp and some ink and do all sorts of clever things.

Me? I can do the basic-ink and stamp, but I reckon that has served me well in this layout of Jack on his very first bike.

All I did was used black stazon to stamp the bike onto patterned paper, and I LOVE the graphic effect.

In fact, I think this is my favourite layout from this month's ScrapaGoGo 'Curiosity Shop' kit. It's a pretty plain layout, because I didn't want anything to compete with the stamped paper. I stamped the bike wheel on the wee wooden button on the bottom right too.

And see the black line, and the spots at the top? That's the waste from the scallop sticker from the Echo Park 'For the Record' sticker sheet.

Waste not, want not!

Hybrid scrapping

2011-09-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

One great thing about Scrapagogo is that there are hybrid elements that you can buy for very little, and of course, use over and over again, making them great value!! You don't have to be a digital scrapper either. Just print out the elements, cut them out, and use as you would any paper elements.

Everything in this layout, except the background paper is a hybrid element. The background moustache paper is from Hambly.

2011-09-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

One thing I loved about my Scrapagogo kit was that the patterned papers came in a lovely big brown paper bag, which I soon put to work in this layout:

First I used half of the zip trim to make a frame for my photo of Emily and her dad.

The zip is quite versatile because it can be moulded around different shapes if you snip into the fabric part at 1cm intervals like this:

Then I cut a long strip from the brown paper bag, punched along the edge with a Martha Stewart punch, and added that to the frame. I used glossy accents to adhere the paper frill, and kept it in place with clothes pegs:

I added another piece of the punched bag across the page, with some of the gorgeous lace trim from the kit.

The bottom two flowers are spiral roses also made from the paper bag. Some buttons, charms and a little bit of fussy cutting completed the layout-all from the September kit!

another..

2011-09-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

from my ScrapaGoGo kit:

I love the colour scheme of this page.

This layout uses the Jenni Bowlin rub on clock, which I cut up and used as frames for my photos, and the roman numerals as some decoration for the page.

If you want to try something like this with rub ons, make sure you keep the backing paper on, or your

rub ons may stick where you don't want them to stick. Especially these Jenni Bowlin ones, as they transfer with hardly any rubbing!

I'd love to see how you use your rub ons in different ways!!

Been busy..

2011-09-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

...scrapping.

I've just done my first stint for Scrapagogo, and what a fantastic kit I had to work with!!

It is such a versatile kit, and I was able to make layouts that are quite different from each other. So far I have made 6 layouts-and I still have products left over for at least two more! Great value!

The first layout I made mainly used the Echo Park sticker sheet 'For The Record', and the whole layout came together so quickly:

Stickers can be a bit tricky to work with. It can be easy to adhere a sticker to the page and then wish you had placed it elsewhere-but of course by then it's too late and you have to live with the placement.

The easiest way around this problem is to cut just outside the outer edge of the sticker, leaving the backing paper on, like this:

Then you can place them anywhere, and rearrange them until you are happy with the placement.

I 'll post more tomorrow.

As promised....

2011-08-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

..Following on from this post I have done another layout of Jack.

The papers are mainly Webster's Pages, with a little bit of Kaisercrafts too. The diecut bird is a Marianne die cut, the bird mask is Tattered Angels, as is the glimmer mist. lots of fussy cutting on this page. Seeing this layout on here makes me think I should add some journalling near the frog though...

And I've just discovered how to make the photo large! I'm wondering though, if it's too big? On my laptop screen I can't see the whole layout without scrolling a bit. What do you think-should I make the photo a bit smaller on the blog?

Distressing

2011-08-20T01:20:00.000-07:00

This is another layout that was in The Scrapbook Magazine as part of my article about distressing techniques. This layout mainly uses Basic Grey papers.

So what techniques have I used?

I've distressed the edge of the base paper. The way I do this is to get something sharp, like a pokey tool, or the point of a compass and draw/scratch/gouge a line around the edge, then pull the paper edge away from the gouge line.

Then I ink the edge. For inking I mostly use Ranger distress inks, and apply with a piece of cut'dry foam.

My favourite colours of ink are Tea Dye, for lighter papers, and Walnut Stain for darker papers.

I have a ruler with a scalloped edge, and I have torn the rose patterned paper against this. If you look closely (Click on image) you will see the rough scallop effect this gives.

To make the scroll I rolled the paper ends around a pencil. You need to roll it backward and forward a few times to break the tension of the paper. I then add some adhesive to the end to keep the scroll in place.

I've used glimmer mist and a stencil also. The glimmer mist colour is Sandy Beach. This is a great colour if you want to age paper as it gives the appearance of foxing, like on old books.

The chipboard title has been crackled. I think I used Tim Holtz crackle paint, and when dry I rubbed in some distress inks to emphasize the cracks. To be honest I find the Tim Holtz crackle paints a bit hit or miss, and prefer to use a crackle medium, like Jo Sonja's.

The heart is from a packet of plain silver metal hearts bought from Ikea.

I painted it with cream acrylic paint to knock down the brightness, sanded it back to expose some of the metal, and inked it a bit to dirty it up.

And finally, I added some stickles glitter glue around the edge, and to the centre of the flowers-which were all cut out from the Basic Grey papers.

The photo is of Jack and Emily when they were young and sweet.

I miss those days so much.

Some cards, and a chance to win...

2011-08-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

I don't consider myself to be a cardmaker, but I made some anyway:

Twin baby girls card:

Thank You cards:

I really love this one:

Here's another view which better shows the embossing and texture of the card:

And over at Scrapagogo there's a chance to win some bespoke Design cards.

And why not sign up to the Scrapagogo forum?

You don't have to be a subscriber to the kits to join in the forum-it's open to anyone interested in scrapping!!

A layout...and some ruminations...

2011-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Today was a rainy, dreich Edinburgh day-more Autumn than summer, so I stayed indoors.

I decided to take a look through my scrapbook albums, something I rarely do, and actually I was quite concerned to see album after album of layouts about Emily, and only two albums of Jack.

Yes, he was there in family scrapbook pages, but not that many pages that feature him.

I got to thinking about why that was, and have come up with a reason, and that reason relates to Design Teams.

I have been on Design Teams on and off ever since I started scrapping, which is great because I get lots of yummy stash to play with-who can argue with that? I love being on Design Teams. I love the surprise of not knowing what you will be asked to design with, or about. I thrive on the challenge.

The thing is though, when you design for someone else, the focus tends to be on the products-after all, that's what designing is all about-showcasing product. And a lot of product in the scrapping world is girlie-flowers, ribbons, gems etc, so naturally I have gravitated to photos of Emily.

Additionally, I have felt obliged to use my best photographs for DT work, and those photographs have been my most recent photos. Emily will generally give me 5 minutes of her time, and I can get a halfway decent photo of her to use.

Jack, on the other hand, won't look at the camera, and definitely won't smile, and it has been like that for the past 5 years.

My kids were little in the age before digital cameras. Film was relatively expensive, and so not as many photos were taken. Plus my photography skills were nil! What this means is that a lot of my kids' childhoods is documented in out of focus photos, photos that are poorly lit, and photos where the kids are a tiny spot in a large landscape. Photos that I deemed unworthy of a place on Design Team layouts. Take a look at manufacturers Design Team layouts, and you will see page after page of photos of kids-gorgeous photos of kids, close up, catch lights in the eyes, all very pretty. And that has influenced my scrapbook pages!

Up until now!

I have decided that I will unearth all those not so good snaps-the ones that contain actual memories, and real stories, and that is what I'm going to scrap-and in doing so I'll also redress the balance between Jack and Emily's scrapbooks.

And so today, because it was such a dreich day here, I scrapped, and now there is one more layout to add to Jack's scrapbooks.

I scanned this photo to my computer, enlarged it, and then cropped a lot of the background out.

I also used up old stash including MM journalling pages, Lil Davis, SEI, Kaisercrafts, and Fancy Pants.

The background cardstock looks grey here, but is actually cream.

Wow-what a long rant!!

Twin baby album

2011-08-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I made this little album for someone who has just given birth to twin girls:

Cover:

Inside:

Here's how it's made:

Covers-I used mountboard. The back cover is about 10" x 6", and the front covers are half that.

Cover with paper and ink edges:

Make two accordian folded strips from cardstock about 5.5" by 9", like this:

Glue the 'mountains' together, like this:

Adhere the bottom flap of the accordian fold to the inside of the back cover, on both sides, then cover with patterned paper:

It should look like this:

Cover your inner pages front and back with paper:

Adhere the inner pages to the accordian spine, like this:

Try to make your patterned papers match across the pairs of pages:

Then adhere your front covers:

Lastly decorate the cover and the inside pages. I couldn't add too much to the inside as it would limit the photos that could be added.

But I did add lace strips to cover the exposed accordian spine on the backs of the pages.

If I make this type of album again, I'll add the patterned paper to the backs of the pages after the album is assembled, because I don't like the look of the exposed spine.

Alternatively, I could use pretty paper for the accordian spine as a design element.

Also, I would cut the accordian slightly shorter than the length of the page so the spine is completely covered-I think that would look so much nicer.

Another thing I did was to wrap a strip of lace around the spine. It makes it look pretty, covers up the accordian and gives a more finshed appearance.

Nearly everything used in this album is from Kaisercrafts.

Another mini...and What have I done to my blog?

2011-08-02T04:31:00.000-07:00

..I was trying to redesign my blog so that I had tabs at the top to link to different things. (I've managed to link to my flickr photo stream), but in doing so the background template no longer fits, and so the blog design is really strange.

So why is my header no longer centred, and how do I centre it?

And how can I get the background to start at the top, like it used to, instead of starting further down the page and looking really silly?

Any ideas on how to remedy this will be greatly appreciated!

*********

So here's another kit project I had stashed away.

It too is a Rusty Pickle Kit, although I have added some Kaisercrafts and other bits. All the pages are corrugated cardboard, giving the album a lovely rustic feel, perfect for camping or outdoor activity photos.

Cover:

File folder flips open for more photos:

Tags for extra bits:

It is a really cute album!

Mini album

2011-07-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

While doing my scrapping reorganisation/clean up, I came across a few unfinished, or in some cases, unstarted, projects. These are kits that I have from workshops I attended years back. So with it being rainy here in Edinburgh today, I decided I should should get to wotk putting these kits together. So here is the kit I made today.

It is a kit designed by Karen Burniston who designs engineered, interactive projects that are a lot of fun. The papers are Rusty Pickle. They are quite grungy papers-I love them!!

As yet, I don't know what I am going to use this mini album for, so there are no photos or embellishments to see, but you can see the interactive elements of the album.

The cover:

Page with two pull out tags:

Page with pull down flap....

...which reveals a file folder for extra photos or journalling:

Two more pull out tags:

This tag pulls up to reveal to space underneath, which can hold hidden journalling, or photo:

A triangular pocket containing a library pocket:

And inside the back cover is this envelope, which, when opened....

a hexagonal 3D pop up emerges:

This is such a cute album.

I don't know why I didn't make it up earlier!!!

2011-07-25T03:18:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to continue my organisation of my scrap space today, and actually to give the whole house a general clean up. Having left two young adults at home in the last week while we were in Skye has left the house a bit the worse for wear.... and piles of washing to get through. They kids tell me they did use the washing machine while we were away, but looking at the laundry basket, it's hard to believe that's the case!!

But somehow, I keep getting distracted, one thing leading to another, and nothing much getting done.

A bit like this:

And of course, the internet doesn't help!

I am going to get the vacuum cleaner out now...if something doesn't catch my eye along the way!!

I'm very lucky...

2011-07-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

.. for two reasons-well more than two reasons, but two at the front of my mind just now.

Firstly, we've just returned from a week on the Isle of Skye, where we were surrounded by the most stunning scenery, had the best weather, and NO midgies! To have good weather, and no midgies in Skye is very lucky indeed-the stunning scenery is always there, except sometime it can't be seen through the mist and rain.

We stayed in a fantastic cottage, with a stunning view from our front door:

It was just perfect, and I'm feeling relaxed and fitter than I've felt in a long time as a result of long and tiring walks!

And the second reason I'm lucky is because I'm now part of the SCRAPAGOGO Design Team, which I'm so happy about, as the Scrapagogo kits are just fantastic!! And they have their own really friendly forum and gallery too, as well as challenges, tutorials etc. The first kit I'll be working with is just the best, and I can't wait for that box to arrive on my doorstep!

And I will be working alongside these great girls:

Eileen Webdale

The Tidy up Part 2

2011-07-11T01:17:00.000-07:00

I thought I would show you a few of my drawers, and you can see how a few changes can make a big difference.

First up is my paint drawer. Before, the paints were all mixed up. By getting rid of the two big baskets, and using two smaller ones instead I've made the paints much more accessible. All the bottles of paint are standing with the paint colour dabbed on top of the lid for easy selection. It will also be easy to shuffle through the tubes of paint to find the colour I need.

(CLICK IMAGE FOR A CLOSER LOOK.)

Second up is my paint applicators. I use anything from old plastic credit type cards, all different size brushes, or sponges to apply paint. This drawer had become a real mess as you can see from the before picture. I had too many brushes, so I've thinned my collection down, so everything is now much easier to find.

And finally, for today, my favourite bit of reoganisation-the ink/spray/stickles etc drawer! This drawer previously held telephone directories and other household bits, which have now been relocated to a kitchen drawer (following my reorganisation of those!)

My sprays, inks etc were previously all housed in a variety of containers in a variety of locations. But now, here they are, all together, easy to see at a glance, and easy to identify the desired colour too. I found some sticky felt circles in my clean up. I think they are for putting on chair legs etc to stop them scratching the floor. Anyway, I've put them to good use on the tops of my mist sprays, giving each one a squirt of colour. So now I can easily find the colour I need. Also in this drawer are stickles (upside down for ease of use and colour selection), Alcohol inks (under the box of H2Os), mica powders, and other types of mediums like crackle glaze etc. I love this drawer-I know it is going to save me so much time finding things!

So, what do you think?

The tidy up Part 1

2011-07-08T00:35:00.000-07:00

My scrapping area has been driving me nuts!

Things have piled up, stuff is in front of other stuff and stuff is where it shouldn't be. I struggle to find the things I need to do anything creative. And so I've not been scrapping. I know it doesn't look that bad in these photos. Although it's relatively tidy, it isn't organised, and that's why I can't find things, and that's why I haven't been scrapping.

Well, this corner by the desk is a midden-that's a good old Scottish word for a tip!
I've just been dumping stuff that doesn't have a place in this corner, and pretending it's not there.

But, enough is enough!

So this week I've been on a mission to get it organised so I can concentrate on making things, instead of feeling depressed by it all.

The problem is I've run out of drawer and shelf space. Two drawers in this area contain stuff that's not to do with scrapping-batteries, telephone directories etc, so I figured that stuff could be relocated to the other end of this room-the kitchen end.
Only problem was, there was no space in the kitchen end. So, before I could start my craft reorganisation, I had to reorganise my entire kitchen! That took two days of emptying all the cupboards, purging stuff, scrubbing the cupboards inside and out, relocating and rearranging stuff. But I did end up with two empty drawers.
All that had a knock on effect to my laundry cupboard though, so that had to be done too!

Finally though, I was able to begin on the craft end of the room.
I started on the corner midden, and now it's looking a lot more respectable:

Mind you, out of sight of the camera is a big laundry basket containing stuff the doesn't have a home yet!

Today I'm going to start on the shelf units...although the sun seems to be shining, and in Scotland, when the sun shines, it's very wise to go outside and take advantage of it- who knows when we'll see it next?

Maybe I'll tackle the weeds in the garden instead..

2011-07-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Have you discovered Pinterest yet?
Do you have your own Pinterest boards?
If not, I strongly recommend taking a look.
I used to bookmark interesting blogs, and bits and bobs that I found when hopping around the internet. All too soon I had a long list of favourites, and could never remember exactly where I saw someting that was lurking in the deep recesses of my mind. So I would start going through my favorites, and invariably would not find said item. But pinterest solves this problem. It is a virtual pinboard, where you can pin items that you are interested in. The best thing about it is that the item is always linked back to where you found it. Bookmarking has never been easier!
It is all explained more clearly here

And if you want to see what I have pinned you can click that little red button at the top right of my blog.
You can look at boards without registering, but if you want to start your own boards you need an invitation. You can ask for an invitation on the site, or ask a member to invite you to join.

I'm happy to invite you-just leave me a message in your comment.

As promised....

2011-06-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

.....the flower tutorial:

Some of the photos are blurred-sorry about that but I think you will get the idea!!

You need scissors, glue, a cardboard circle 1"-1.5" in diameter, and crepe paper strip around 1" wide.

Apply glue to the cardboard circle. Cut the crepe paper into roughly heart shaped petals.

Scrunch up the bottom of the petals and start adding them around the outside of the circle.

Continue adding petals into the centre of the circle.

Cup the flower in your hand and scrunch the petals towards the centre. You can be quite rough at this stage.

Lightly spritz the flower with water, or if you want to change the colour, then use glimmer mist, or ink. Allow it to dry scrunched up -or use a heat gun.

Lightly tease the petals out a little and add a centre-button, gems, brad-whatever you fancy.

If you want you can add some glitter glue for some sparkle too.

And that's it. Easy, quick, and very pretty!!

A layout..

2011-06-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

Well, after receiving that box of stash, the least I could do to make a layout. And I did!!
Here it is:

So first I used the doilies as masks, to make the white space under the photo. The mist is a mixture of glimmer mists and mica mists, as I didn't have the right colour. I also used a butterfly mask. I used two shades of blue glimmer mists with the butterfly mask. I saved the doily mask and used it under the photos.The fabric flower was beige so I died it with food colouring and squirted it with glimmer mist to better suit the colour palette.

This pink flower is a handmade one. It's really pretty and if you pop back later in the week I'll show you how I made it!

My daughter took one look at this layout and told me she didn't like it, as it was too pink and I should have used more blue!

Well, what does she know?

Yummy Stash

2011-06-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

It's a long time since I came home to find a box of stash waiting for me. But that's exactly what happened today-and what a great box of stash it was too....

....cardstock, including this lovely pink spotty one....

Crate paper...

Echo Park

Girl's Paperie, Prima, K&Co and more...

and lovely handmade card that says

'I hope this gives you a lift'

Well it sure did!! A gorgeous box of stash-and all that for only £20!!! It's one of Handmade Hannah's special grab boxes, available only if you join Hannah's facebook group.

Just have to get scrapping now!!

Mimi's Bakehouse

2011-06-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

Emily and I discovered Mimi's Bakehouse in Leith last Sunday. We were going to have a drink in Cafe Truva, which we love, but then I spotted a very pretty cafe almost next door, and it was just about full, so I figured we should investigate. Wow, cake paradise-big gateaux, dainty tray bakes and pretty cupcakes. Emily had a huge slice of Chocolate Maltezers cake, and I had....a scone with jam and clotted cream. Emily thought I was really boring- all those yummy cakes to choose from and I went for a scone. The thing is, I LOVE scones and Mimi's didn't disappoint, a soft melt in the mouth fruit scone with a touch of cinnamon with rasberry jam and a generous serving of clotted cream. Delicious!!!

I took some photos-and Emily pulled faces for the camera, and today I made a layout to remember our introduction to Mimi's. I have a feeling we'll be back!!

So here's my layout:

There's mica mists, Hambly, Kaisercrafts, Pink Paislee, Dream Street, and Echo Park- a real mixture.

More Distressing...

2011-06-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

Following on from my last post I thought I would show another layout using distressing techniques. I wanted to make a modern, fun and colourful layout to show that distressing does not need to be confined to heritage, romantic or nostalgic layouts.

So let's look at the techniques I've used:

Freehand tearing of the red and brown background papers
Scratching with a pokey tool and tearing around the scratch lines on the shaped yellow paper and the flowers. This way allows greater control over tearing the right shapes.
Scrunching and smoothing-the brown paper and the flowers.
Rough machine stitching-leave threads hanging too.
Sanding around the heart and the photos.
Rough pleating of the narrow paper 'ribbons'
Painting the edges of the paper. Edges are normally inked, but I used red acrylic paint instead to add a touch of brightness.

I really like the lollipop flowers on this layout. They remind me of the ruffles of the flamenco dresses we saw while we were in Barcelona, and so they are an appropriate embellishment for this page I think.

What I think is interesting is that this layout, and the one in the previous post, both use distressing techniques AND the same range of Basic Grey papers, and yet they have totally different moods.

Distressing..

2011-06-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

I've been very busy this week, making Christmas cards-yes you heard right...Christmas cards!! I got a magazine commission to make 6 Christmas cards. It came as a total surprise, because I'm not really a card maker! But I've been cutting and pasting, and tearing and inking, and I'm nearly there. But since I can't show the cards I though I'd post a layout that was in The Scrapbook Magazine recently for a feature on distressing techniques I wrote.

Click on the photo for a closer view.

This has tearing and sanding, inking and curling, crackling and misting. The papers are Basic Grey.

I have two main ways of distressing edges I thought I would share.

The first is tearing the paper against a scalloped edge ruler. This gives me control over my tearing and gives a nice edge, which you can see on the rose paper under the photo.

The second technique I use is to get a pokey tool-paper piercer thingy- and roughly score and gouge along the edge of the paper, then tear along the scratch /score line I made. I then get a sanding block-just one from the DIY store, (not an expensive craft one), and rough up the edge even more. That's the method I used around the edge of the layout.

And the photo is of my two when they were young and sweet!!

Miss those days!!

Anatomy of a layout

2011-06-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a new layout I made. I really love this layout, so I thought I would tell you how I made it , and why I think it works. The colour is not all that accurate here-it's Kraft cardstock, but looks a little grey on my screen. First I used Tim Holtz mask and graphite glimmer mist for the scroll. I then added the Kaisercrafts rub ons to the right hand side of the page. After that came the patterned paper and the die cut fleur-de-lis (spellbinders). The photo was adhered to the diamond patterned paper before adhering, and finally the journalling spot, and the title were adhered. Oh, and the red gems on the rub ons were added!

So why does this layout work?

limited colour palette-neutrals plus red.
the colour palette picks up the colours in the photo
the patterns of the paper and other elements pick up the patterns in the photo-the lines of Emily's shirt echoed in the paper, and the scrolls and ornamentation of the Trevi Tountain echoed in the masking and the rub obs.
the layout is well balanced: the block of patterned paper balances the photo block, the journalling spot balances the circle of the rub on, and the quite dominant black of the rub ons is balanced by the white space of the layout.
the photo is clearly the focal point-but is slightly off set for added interest.
the photo is grounded on the die cut trim
matting and inking edged defines the various elements and provides cohesion between the elements.
the gems add interest and a bit of sparkle.

I hope that little bit of disection was helpful-let me know if was- and I could do more in the future!

Flower Tutorial

2011-06-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

I love the quilled flower that I made for the card in the last post so I though I'd make a tutorial showing how I made it.
Click on the images for a larger view.

1. Take your paper and score at 1cm intervals.

2. Cut you paper into strips between the score lines.

3. Join some strips together with glue. I made mine about 1 metre long.

4. Fold the strips along the score lines. Fine a thin implement-like a pokey tool, or a skewer.

5. Start to wind the strip around the tool. Try to keep it quite tight.

6. Glue the end into place and hold it tight until it has stuck firmly.

7. Cut more paper strips about 1.5 cm wide and glue together to form one long strip-but don't fold it this time. Cut 1cm into the strip, taking care not to cut through the strip-if you do, don't worry, just glue the two pieces back together. You will now have a long fringed strip.

8. Glue the fringed strip to the circle centre, and start to roll again. Glue the end when you've finished rolling.

9. Take your pokey tool and tease out and bend the fringe backwards to form the petals.

This flower is a great way of using up your patterned paper strips.

Add a centre-buttons, brad, gems-whatever takes your fancy.

I love them!!

What do you think?

By the way, I'll be doing more tutorials in the future so you might want to become a follower if you found this helpful.

Making cards

2011-06-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

I've made a few cards recently, which I'll post over the next couple of days, but for today I want to show the card I made following a challenge prompt over at Scrapping Outback. The challenge was a 'lucky dip' type challenge, and I had to use eyelets and rolled paper. That was quite a challenge as I haven't used eyelets in years. and was sure about the rolled paper either. So I did a quick google for rolled paper, and that led me to quilling. Now I'm not normally a quilling kind of girl-it always looks quite old fashioned-and not in a vintage way!!
But then I came across this. and knew I wanted to incorporate one of these flowers on my project. So having made a flower the card fell into place really quickly, and I LOVE the end result. Love the white on white.

What do you think? (Click for a better view)

Nikki Sivils

2011-05-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

I found this great sketch by Anam on the Nikki Sivils blog recently and thought I would give it a go:

This is the first time I've used Nikki Sivils products and the papers are such fun. Lots of little elements you can cut out and use on your pages to add interest. So you end up with fun pages that haven't cost the earth, just the cost of the patterned papers!

Here's my layout-Click to view larger:

I loved doing this layout and I'm really happy with the masking too. I used a Tim Holtz mask. there's lots of layering of the embellishments. Adhering elements to some black cardstock really makes them pop!!

The photos are of my son playing with his little cousins in Australia. They adored him, and it was lovely to see how patient he was with them too!

Mojo's back!!

2011-05-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

My scrapping mojo is back big time!!

I haven't scrapped much recently, as followers of my blog will have noticed. I really got into my photography and spent so much time on the weekends out and about with my camera, then editing photos at night, that I didn't have a lot of time left for scrapping. So all my stash sat there, unused. Then the other day my husband suggested that since I didn't seem to use it anymore, then maybe I should consider getting rid of it. He was right of course. The thing was though, the thought of parting with all that stash that had taken me so long to build up sent me into a scrapping frenzy!! No way was I giving up my stash, so the only thing to do was to scrap again! The hardest thing was getting started. I made one layout-it was OK-nothing to write home about.

Then I had a commission for The Scrapbook Magazine-so three more layouts made. I'm happy with those, but can't post them here until the magazine is published.

Then a scrapping challenge started at Scrapping Outback, so I joined that, and have made two layouts.

Here's the first:

For this challenge we had to fussy cut patterned paper-I cut the large flower, two paper lace strips, the hankie corner and the butterfly. Then we had to use a cut up some chipboard and use the pieces. We also had to use a distressing technique, and use at least three handmade flowers. Mine are the spiral roses, and the organza flower.

The current challenge is to use some kind of liquid medium-I used glimmer mists, layers, at least three patterned papers, die cut patterned paper, spiral handmade flowers and other flowers. Actually, the layout above just about fits the criteria for the second challenge, but for this one I didn't want to do the soft, romantic thing. So I tried to do something s bit more fun, bright and modern-even though I was using old papers.

Here's the result:

So in the last week I have made some cards, and 6 layouts!!!

Altering photos

2011-05-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my photo files recently and realised I had lots of scrappy stuff that has never made it to this blog so I thought I would post some. Last year I did a few scrapbook pages where I altered the photos. I love altering photos. You can give your scrapbook pages a whole new look. The photo I chose to alter was an old one, taken with a film camera, before I had any clue about how to take photos. It has a boring background that adds nothing to the photo, so I scanned the original (NEVER USE ORIGINALS!!), and set about getting rid of the background.

CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR A CLOSER VIEW.

Here's the scanned photo:

First, I sanded the background and added painted on a coat of gesso:

When the gesso was dry I got out my water colour pencils and roughly coloured around the image, and the edge of the photo:

Then I blended the colours using a brush and some water:

I like the way this effect focuses the eye on Jack looking very cute, instead of the extraneous household bits.

What do you think? I know it won't be to everyone's taste, but I love it!

Here's the layout I made with the photo:

Forgot to say I added rub ons to the photos too!

Layout

2011-04-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

A while back I was asked to do a layout for The Scrapbook Magazine using the free papers in the mag. I made this layout:

I love thise photos of Abbie and Jethro-too cute!!

But stupid me forgot that I had to use a photo sent to me, so I ended up having to do another layout, using the same papers.

So here is another layout using the free papers:

Scrapping again..

2011-03-04T11:40:00.000-08:00

,,,well one layout anyway.
I haven't felt like scrapping for about 9 months now. I'm not sure why I lost my mojo, but it definitely went AWOL. I know I spend a lot of time learning about photography these days (the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know!) Also with the kids all grown up, and Emily living away from home I don't seem to have a lot to scrap. But I do have a lot of stash and I feel bad having it sitting around unused. I have done a few comissions for The Scrapbook Magazine, but no scrapping purely for the pleasure of it since before last summer.
But then a couple of nights ago, out of the blue, the urge came back, and I decided to scrap!
Here is the result:

The papers are Kaisercrafts, and the embellishments are just all pulled from my stash.

I wanted to make a busy layout because I really would like to make a dent in my stash mountain!

It's quite a dimensional layout-lots of lovely layers!

I was pretty happy with this.

What do you think?...that's if anyone out there reads this sadly neglected blog!!!

Happy Birthday Emily

2011-02-17T12:03:00.000-08:00

Emily turns 18 tomorrow, so in honour of this momentous accasion I've decided to trawl through years of scrapbooking layouts of her. These are not in chronological order-either of her life, or of my scrapbooking-but my early scrapbooking efforts will be self evident!! There are many more layouts of Emily, but this is just a flavour..

The Creative Type is back...

2010-10-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's been a long summer break, but The Creative Type is back, with new challenges with an emphasis on words, and typography, fonts print...
We have some new Design Team members and we are on the lookout to extend our team too.
Do you love typography, and journalling? Then you might be interested in joining our team.
Keep your eyes on the blog for further information.
The challenge that is up this week is all about inspiration.
Why not go over to the blog and check it out. We'd love to have you play along.
My layout was inspired by my fellow DT buddy, Dani, and here it is:-

I had fun with this layout, stencilling with distress inks, adding some glimmermists, and using rubons.
I'm on a mission to use my rubons before they stop working!!

Fabric layout

2010-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

recently made a layout for The Scrapbook Magazine. We were asked to make a layout using something which we normally avoid. For me, this was fabric. I have quite a bit of fabric hanging around my house but I have never used any on a layout-well apart from ribbon!

So I decided not just to use fabric, but instead to try to make the entire layout from fabric.

I started with a 12x12 piece of canvas as my base. I distressed the edges of the canvas, then sewed some patchwork squares to the canvas. Then I sewed a square of lace over the top, and inked the edges of the canvas.

I printed my photo onto organza fabric and stitched it onto a canvas matt. This was sewn to the base, leaving an opening at the top to slip a journalling tag under. Then I began embellishing the layout. I used various trims-lace, leaves and sticky back felt flowers.

I painted some leaves and prima flowers to knock back the colour a bit.

I think my favourite bit is the tulle overlay, which I melted holes in with my heat gun.

The butterflies and some flowers have been cut from old net curtains, and the round flowers were made from the same net curtains. The pearl and gem flower centres are from Kaisercrafts, as are the flourishes.

The title is not fabric-The chipboard letters have been painted, stamed and glazed with Glossy Accents.

I added some gold stickles around the edge for a bit of a lift.

Here are some details-you can click on the images for a closer view.

I am pretty happy with this layout. It has a lovely dreamy quality, and is so very tactile too!

Hot Hot Hot-Blog Hop

2010-08-24T23:30:00.001-07:00

What's hot?

Gauche Alchemy and Bombshell Stamps are having a blog hop!!
That's what's hot- and if you join in and leave comments on the blogs you're in with a chance of some hot prizes!
Follow the link at the bottom of this post to hop from blog to blog to discover lots and lots of creativity! It's a bit like a magical mystery tour-you never know what you might discover!
*********

What else is hot? Robert Maloney-that's what! Well I don't actually know if Robert Maloney is hot-but his art certainly is!
In a recent edition of Cloth, Paper and Scissors, I came across the work of Robert Maloney. Robert is a digital artist and his work just blew me away! Take a look at his web site.
There is a lot to love about his work-the complex layers, the colour palettes, the texture and the strong horizontal and vertical lines within his work.
Robert's work inspired me to experiment with a small canvas for my wall. I am no digital artist-I like getting messy with ink and paint too much to go digi!

So here's what I did:
1. Mask off areas using masking tape and plasterer's tape.

2. Spread texture paste over surface. When dryish remove the tape.

3. Paint over using watered down acrylic paint. The texture paste stripes can clearly be seen.
4. Collage on some paper. I chose a vintage advertisement and some strips of braille print from Gauche Alchemy.

5. Spread on a layer of gesso, and when dry add some stamps using Stazon ink.

6. Spread a thin layer of cream coloured paint. When dry add some colour using a texture background stamp (I used a brick pattern stamp) and Stazon ink. I used three colours-mustard, olive green and rusty brown. Just stamp randomly , and quickly to add some hints of colour. I then stamped some lines in black.Now, here's a dilemma- When do you know your piece is finished? I rather liked the canvas at this stage, and thought it was finished-a bit like a Rothko painting-it's all about the colour

But the next day I looked again and felt it needed something more, so I decided to add an image.

7. I printed out one of my favorite photos-a derelict factory, and made an image transfer, using acrylic gel medium. You can see how you need to rub quite hard to get rid of all the backing paper.8. So after that, I decided to add even more images-a gel transfer of a birdcage; some olive branches, and the small swallow cut from a paper napkins; the egg and yellow bird image just cut and pasted to the canvas, and some random stamped foliage in the bottom left corner.

Then I added some shading around various elements.So now I have a canvas, inspired by Robert Maloney, but looking nothing like his work!

So that's my canvas-only problem is, I'm not sure if it's finished! I do like it as is, but am wondering if maybe it needs some words.....mmm...

What do you think?

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll hop on over to the next blog on the blog hop!

Meredith

Don't forget to leave comments on all the posts for a chance to win some great prizes!

Back again..

2010-08-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my 5 weeks in Australia, and keen to get scrapping some of the many holiday photos I took.
Also keen to get going with Gauche Alchemy, as I am now on their Design Team. GA produce very quirky kits with lots of different bit and bobs that you wouldn't normally think to use on scrapbook pages. They have a great blog, with lots of inspiring idea, so do yourself a favour and take a look?

It will be so different to designing for Kaisercrafts, with their beautifully coordinated ranges.
GA is really going to challenge me creatively-let's hope I'm up to it!!
Meanwhile I still have lots of Kaisercrafts project that I didn't upload before I went on holiday.
Here's a couple:
First a layout using KONSTRUCT-a great range for the the budding builders and decoraters in your life.

Secondly, a minibook using LE CHATEAU- possibly my favourite range from Kaisercrafts

Le Chateau..

2010-06-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

....of all the collections Kaisercrafts produced this last year my favourite is this line. Le Chateau-the colours are so subtle, the designs are elegant and the papers are so versatile. Combined with the new wooden flourishes, designing with these products really is a breeze.
This layout is about Emily about to leave home in the Autumn to go to university. The birdcage motif was the inspiration for this page:

Here are some details:
The large flower is simply made by cutting some circles (of decreasing sizes) from chiffon. Heat the edges with a heat gun. The edges will crinkle up giving the circles some dimension. Sew the circles together and add a button, brad, or pearl centre. Easy-and so pretty!

And how do you get a bird rub-on to soar above your page? That’s easy too! Apply the rub on to a piece of acetate-I used old clear packaging. Cut out around the bird. Now cut a thin strip of acetate about 0.5 cm by 6 cm. Fold this acetate strip to form a Z shape. Cut a slot in your page and feed one end of the strip through to the first crease mark, Adhere to the back of the page. Glue the back of the bird to the other end of the strip, using clear adhesive like Glossy Accents.

And add a bit of colour to the wooden embellishments using watercolour paint and some Stickles glitter glue.

Here is a card I made for a friend's daughter's graduation.-Note a floating butterfly!
The 6x6 paper pads make card making a breeze!
This would make a lovely wedding card, don't you think?

I'm really gonna miss designing for Kaisercrafts!

This is my last post until who knows when. I leave tomorrow for 5 weeks in Australia!
Going home to see my mum, and sisters, and brothers, in laws, cousins, neices, nephews, friends...

My year...

2010-06-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

...designing for Kaisercrafts is over, which is very sad. I've enjoyed designing for this company so much. They have been so generous with their product, and so easy to get along with. I'm really gonna miss those packages coming through my door-the anticipation as I rip open the packages to see what delights are inside. I'm gonna miss the other DT girls too-they have all been so friendly and supportive over the past year.
SO I wonder who will be on the new DT-if it's you, then you are one lucky ducky!!

Anyway, here's a layout using the Jungle Bug collection-a great collection for all things boy and all things outdoorsy! This layout features the scalloped circle paper adhered down towards the bottom of the page, rather than centrally like my previous post. I love the shot of colour provided by the orange in this caollection.

Hey Birdie...

2010-06-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

....is one of Kaisercraft's latest releases. It is a fantastic range. the colours are great-pink, nicely balanced with creams, olive greens and browns. And the design is so cute, with trees, leaves and birds. These designs are so easy to use and lend themselves beautifully to cutting out and layering up.

Here's a layout I made using this range.

Don't you just love the circle paper? As well as papers the range includes stamps, rub ons and felt embellishments.

Back with a 'How to'...

2010-06-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

....I was asked to make a layout for the 'SCRAPLIFT CHALLENGE' in the latest edition of The Scrapbook Magazine. I wanted to do a layout that require people to look quite closely to work out how to copy it, but for all you blog readers I have broken down the process a little.

1. Swipe a round the edge of cardstock with acrylic paint and allow the dry.

2. Tear 4 strips of patterned paper about 2" x 10". Ink edges and machine stitch to the page.

3. Tear a large rectangle of patterned paper, ink edges, machine stitch to the centre of the page.

4. Doodle around the edge of the photos and work out photo placement, but do NOT adhere yet.

5. Add stamped design bearing in mind the photo placement. Start to build up page elements-rub on journalling, stitch banner across the page.

6. Add photos

7. Continue to add elements-doodled bracket, title. This title is painted chipboard, doodled with a uniball signo white pen. Embellishments include rub on flowers, felt flowers, chipboard buttons covered with patterned papers, ribbon, tag, brads.

Here is the completed layout:

I really love this page-it's so busy, bright and cheery-very appropriate for a kids page!

There are two design element that tie this page together-Firstly, the paper-although it's all different colours the papers are unified by all being spotty.

I LOVE spotted paper!! These are all Kaisercrafts.

And, secondly the black of the stitching, the journalling, the title and the doodling around the photo.

I loved..

2010-05-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

....making this layout:

It was for The Scrapbook Magazine article on Challenge blogs. This challenge came from Scrapjacked. Scrapjacked is a scraplifting challenge site, but this was not a lift of a scrapbook layout, but of a piece of street art, which you can see here. So I had a lot of fun interpreting this street art and reinventing it as a scrapbook layout. And I really enjoyed using paint and ink and NO patterned paper! Most of the stamps are from Kaisercrafts, as is the metal embellishment, and I've also used some Hambly transparency.

Back on track.

2010-05-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

..well nearly. It's quite amazing how much behind I am because of our unexpected, extended stay in Madrid. Since I got back I feel like I've been chasing my tail. Firstly, trying to sort out receipts, scan them and make claims to try to recoup at least some of the money we had to shell out to stay in Madrid, and to get back to Britain. Also been playing catch up at work-fortunately I will still get paid, but I do have to make up the time somehow.
I missed a couple of my Kaisercrafts commitments too-and my parcel of new products from Australia was held up due to the volcanic eruption. BUT it has arrived now, and the new ranges are lovely-'Tea at Elsie's' and 'Utopia'. I love both collections, but most of all I love the 'Tea at Elsie's' clear lace stamps!

Anyway, I don't think I've posted since The Creative Type moved to a brand new site!! This is a NING site so it's like a forum. You can start your own gallery, add your entries to the challenges, and chat. Please feel free to go and register, have a chat-and hopefully complete some of the challenges too!
The new prompt is up, and it's all about using stamps. If you've been scrapping for some time, like me, you are bound to have any number of alphabet stamps hiding in the back of your cupboard. Well it's time to dust them off and get scrapping!!
Here's my take:

I will..

2010-04-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

update this blog soon, I promise. I was caught up in the volcanic ash situation last week and our 4 day holiday in Madrid turned into 13 days-and a lot of expense, so I am chasing my tail this week, trying to catch up at work, at home etc. But hopefully I'll get everything under control and will get scrapping and blogging soon.

As promised..

2010-04-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

...some more of the festival journal published in the latest edition of Somerset Memories. Someone asked where I get my Somerset magazines from- well I buy direct from Stampington and Co. I don't know how the price compares with buying them in the UK, but since I don't know where in the UK I can buy one from, then ordering direct is the only option for me.

LOOK.....

2010-04-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

...What came through my letterbox today:

I LOVE Somerset Memories.
It is full of amazing layouts and art work,
by exceptionally talented artists and scrapbookers,
which is why....

I am beyond thrilled....

to have been published there:

Some of the pages from my festival journal of last year. I will upload some of the other pages tomorrow, as I need to trawl through my photos to find them.
Sorry about the quality of these photos-I didn't want to bend the magazine and break the spine.

In print..

2010-04-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

The new prompt at The Creative Type is up, and has been for a week now-I can't believe I forget to blog about this last week, especially because it connects to an article I wrote that was published in the latest edition of The Scrapbook Magazine!!
The article was about Challenge blogs, and I chose very different challenge blogs to focus on:

and of course my favourite challenge blos is THE CREATIVE TYPE. Why not go and check it out (There's big changes afoot there too, coming soon....)
Here's my layout;

I'm on holidays...

2010-04-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

...two weeks off. And much needed too! Yes!
I'm planning to do some spring cleaning-whoopee!! OK it's not fun, but I know I'll feel so much better for it. And I intend to clean my scrapping space too, and that can be interesting, rediscovering long forgotten stash! And I'm also going to Madrid, so that'll be my reward for all that cleaning!
Anyway, here's a layout:

This is the La Di Da range from Kaisercrafts-perfect for handcutting and layering-and great for Spring photos. But would you believe, here it is, April 1st, and there's snow on the ground outside-and that's NOT an April fool's joke!!!

Happy Birthday

2010-03-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

to my boy.
Look what a handsome young man he is too!

Both the card and layout were made with the 'Shaken Not Stirred'range from Kaisercrafts. I used Tim Holtz masks and glimmer mists for the background.

I'm back...

2010-03-26T04:04:00.000-07:00

Wow, that's nearly a month since I last posted! I have posted on my photography blog though, and I guess that reflects my growing desire to take really good photographs, and also to learn how to process the images to make them the best they can be. I'm loving photography so much just now!!
Anyway, I have been scrapping too.
I've been using the Devonshire collection from Kaisercrafts, and I've got to say these papers are just wonderful-very versatile, which is always a bonus. So for my layout I went for a heavily distressed look.
The way I distress my edges is this- I lay my paper onto a craft mat, then take a pointy paper piercer and 'draw' a wiggly line around the edge of the paper, pressing quite heavily so I can just tear away the excess. It's an easy way of tearing the edges while at the same time maintaining control of the tear line. Then I ink the edges.

Here's close up of the paper roses:

And here's how to make them:

Finally, while when you finish a layout it's a great idea to make a card with your leftovers, before you pack your stash away.
Here's a card I made for Emily's birthday:

Honestly...

2010-02-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

... I have been scrapping-rather a lot actually, but since it is DT stuff I can't show it for a while. I've also been doing some more work for The Scrapbook Magazine, and I can't show that either. But I can show this layout which I did for Angelcrafts, using gorgeous Prima. The prima paper is so easy to use. The design looks layered so really, one piece is all you need to make a layout that looks more complex than it is. The flowers were all cream or brown, but I changed some by giving them a squirt with some Glimmer mists. And the green mat under the photo is actually some of the Prima packaging-far too pretty to throw out. And isn't that gathering lace gorgeous? And so are you Maddie!!

The Creative Type

2010-02-19T04:17:00.000-08:00

The new prompt is up at The Creative Type. I love being on this design team because the prompts inspire me to try different styles and techniques. This is a good thing-BUT it also means taking risks-this is also a good thing-BUT taking risks means you don't always produce something you are happy with. This week's prompt has been like that. It's a great prompt, but I'm not happy with my page design. However it does tell a story, and I'm pleased with that aspect of it.

You should see the work of the other designers though-FAB!!!
Here's mine-Can you guess what the prompt is?

Somethings I'm lusting after at the moment are the Martha Stewart border punches-and some butterfly punches. So if I don't win the giveaway here, I think I might just treat myself..

Kaisercrafts Sketch Saturday

2010-02-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

This is a layout I did for the Saturday Sketch at Kaisercrafts.

These pictures were taken at Woburn Safari Park on the way to France in 2008.

The photos are quite dark, and of course three of them are small, so I've kept the page quite plain so the photos are not overwhelmed. I also chose light, bright papers to lift the layout. The papers are from the Spirograph range.

Meanwhile a parcel arrived today full of Kaisercrafts goodies. I just adore the new Devonshire range. The colours are gorgeous, the papers are subtle and the embellishemnts are gorgeous-and so are the stamps!!

And today I did a layout using the La Di Da range-this is a bright fun range, great for layouts of your girls.

The Creative Type...

2010-02-04T15:14:00.001-08:00

the new challenge is up at THE CREATIVE TYPE-

Here's my take:

The background is one I made a while back using paint, and stamps, and napkins, but I wasn't happy with it, so I didn't use it. However I never throw anything out, particularly mixed media attempts because sometimes they get better with more layers added, but actually, it looks OK as is in this layout. Click on the image for a closer view and you can see some of the techniques I used.

Kaisercrafts Sketch Saturday

2010-01-30T11:56:00.001-08:00

If you are a fan of using sketches as starting points for your layouts you might want to check out the Kaisercrafts blog. Saturday is sketch day and that's when a new sketch is uploaded (but no new one today-they are away at CHA in America.) If you use a sketch don't forget to upload it to the Kaisercrafts gallery and you could win the monthly prize.

here's a layout i did using the last sketch:

Those wee cakes are very cute!!

Getting organised..

2010-01-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

So this year I am hoping to become a more organised person- a 'place for everything, and everything in it's place' person. I have made some small inroads- found this flickr group for a start. It's pretty inspiring! And I have tidied my cutlery drawer, and my 'electrical' drawer where I keep bits and pieces to do with cameras, and computers etc, and a couple of other drawers etc. But the truth is my least organised space is my scrap space. So I thought I would organise my stamps-again! About two years ago I organised my stamps into CD boxes-you can read about it here.
However this system stopped working for me as I acquired more stamps. I found I was upending the whole box trying to find the CD box I was looking for. So last weekend I stamped and laminated and now most of my stamps are in this ringbinder.
Now I can just turn the pages until I see the image I want-and I can find the stamp on the back. Each laminated sheet is kept in a plastic pocket-the kind with the side opening, so nothing can fall out of the top! I think this is a pretty neat system, don't you?

Wanna win...

2010-01-19T08:13:00.001-08:00

...this fantastic prize?

Then head on over to THE CREATIVE TYPE and take part in Challenge #24.

These two fantastic colour kits from Gauche Alchemy can be yours simply by taking part in the latest challenge at The Creative Type!

Here is my take on the Challenge:

I love doing layouts for The Creative Type -I can have fun, muck around and get messy! What you can't see in this photo is that the whole layout is covered by a piece of acetate that has been sprayed with glimmer mists, so the whole thing looks misty and rainy!

Another Christmas Layout...

2010-01-11T14:03:00.000-08:00

Yes I know Christmas is over, but that's when we have all those Christmas photos to scrap, right?
So here's a simple layout using Graphic 45 papers from Scrapbook Sisters. I think this is my favourite of the Graphic 45 layouts.

The Creative Type...

2010-01-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

...is back. Prompt #23 is up-the first for 2010. There are two fantastic books as prizes for this prompt, so why not join in -they could be yours for the taking!
Here's my layout:
:
I wonder if you can guess what the prompt is?

Christmas Layout

2010-01-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas layout using Graphic 45 papers from Scrapbook Sisters. I really should get some more of that blue paper-it'd be perfect for scrapping all the pictures of snow I've taken recently. The snow has ben unbelievable -today it was thigh high in some places where I walked. Have a look at some of the photos on my photo blog-the link is on the right hand side bar.

Gingerbread House

2009-12-28T05:01:00.000-08:00

Each year I buy a Gingerbread house from Ikea, and Emily decorates it-with a little help from me. So I decided to do a layout to record this tradition, using the wonderful 'Christmas Past' papers by Graphic 45 from Scrapbook Sisters.
That cute little date stamp is from Kaisercrafts.

This year Ikea had run out of gingerbread houses, and after searching around, I found a different style at Lidl.
It turned out pretty cute I think:

Happy Christmas...

2009-12-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

...to everyone who comes by this blog. I hope you all have a lovely festive season filled with peace and happiness.
Here is a mixed media canvas I did for Scrapbook Sisters' using Graphic 45 papers, Kaisercrafts stamps, and other bits and bobs. I loved making this.
Click for a close up.

See you all after Christmas!!

Christmas is coming...

2009-12-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

... and I'm getting busy-well aren't we all? We have had gorgeous snowfalls over the last couple of days, and it's so pretty! Getting around is not easy though. We are lucky we live on a bus route, so out road is regularly cleared and gritted, but the pavements are lethal! I would love it to keep snowing so we have a white christmas, but I don't think that will happen.

So here are a couple of Christmas layouts just to keep with the spirit of Christmas.
This one is using the 'Dear Santa' range of papers from Kaisercrafts-great for traditional christmas layouts. These pictures were taken at the Christmas market that takes place each year here in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is just wonderful at Christmas time.

The next layout uses the fabulously cheery and bright 'Christmas Carnival' range from Kaisercrafts. These are great for scrapping pictures of kids-they are so colourful and modern. I think they would be great for aussie christmas photos.

Last Lily Bee

2009-12-13T12:27:00.001-08:00

This is the last of the three layouts I did using Lily Bee 'Vintage Poppy'. Again I used one of the large diecuts for a photomat. This was a nice quick layout with just a bit of lace, some chipboard and rubons to embellish. I covered the chipboard flower with paper, and glimmer misted the chipboard leaf/flower.

More Lily Bee

2009-12-10T11:28:00.000-08:00

Here's another layout I made with Lily Bee 'Vintage Poppy' papers from Angelcrafts. The circle is one of the big diecuts from the range-there are four of these in different shapes and patterns on one 12x12 page, and they make really nice mats to sit a photo on. The butterfly rubons are from Kaisercrafts, as is the wooden flourish along the side of the photo. I LOVE those wooden embellishments. You can paint, ink or cover them in patterned paper, but I love them in their natural state best of all!

Lily Bee

2009-12-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

Recently I did some layouts using Lily Bee papers from Angelcrafts.
These papers are Vintage Poppy, and I love them. The colours have a retro fifties feel to them and the designs are modern. This layout is about Emily's excitement at getting her Standard Grade Maths results back when she was in Third year.
I have a couple of more that I'll upload over the next few days.
Right now I should be writing some christmas cards. Having actually made some, I really should make the effort to post them!!

Pack Your Bags....

2009-12-05T14:41:00.000-08:00

...is the name of one of the latest paper ranges from Kaisercrafts. This is a lovely range of papers in subtle, blues, creams and brown. It comes with travel themed diecuts, transparencies , brads, tickets and other lovely bits and bobs.

I have used it here for a travel layout, but I it is such a versatile range that it doesn't necessarily have to be used for travel layouts. The papers are quite masculine so I reckon they would be great for boy layouts too!

Layout

2009-11-30T11:58:00.000-08:00

I have actually done quite a bit of scrapping recently-mainly DT projects which I will put on the blog after they appear on the Dt blogs first.
Meanwhile, here's a layout I did a few weeks back using 'Lilac Ave' papers from Kaisercrafts.
It's Emily taking photos on a walk in the Trossachs last year.
It's funny that this range of papers was voted most popular of the new Kaisercrafts ranges on the KC blog, yet I find it the hardest of the new ranges to work with.
Much of the range is Lilac (the clue's in the name!) and it's not a colour I particularly like. However the reverse sides (if there is such a side with double sided papers) are green and yellow, and I am more partial to those.

The Scrapbook Magazine

2009-11-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

I have an article in this month's edition of The Scrapbook Magazine.
It's about the process of creating layouts from one of the Gauche Alchemy kits. I LOVED that kit-it was full of things I would never have thought to use on a layout, and so I needed to stretch myself considerably to come up with my layouts. It was great fun!

Sadly, The Scrapbook Magazine is now the only UK magazine left, since the demise of Scrapbook Inspirations. It's the only showcase for UK scrappers, so I do hope scrappers will get behind the magazine, and that it goes from strength to strength! Speaking of which, there is a great subscription offer on just now: Save 40% on the subscription price. Go here for details.

And if you live on the other side of the pond you can buy a downloadable version too!

Advent calendar

2009-11-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

Tonight I thought I'd share the Advent calendar I did for Kaisercrafts.
The calendar comes flat packed and has to be assembled before decorating-and let me warn you -that takes some time (Well it did me!)
Mine was made using the 'Dear Santa' range of papers. These are gorgeous-very vintage, very nostalgic papers. As you can see I made a kind of scene for the centre of the calendar using the postage stamp paper cut into pictures for the wall. Don't you love the nutcrackers? I do!!

Paper Roses

2009-11-16T14:06:00.000-08:00

I just though I'd share the class I designed for Angelcrafts for the cyber crop on UKS this last weekend. it was a technique class, the technique being making paper roses. These are so pretty-really lovely for a romantic, or heritage layout.

The class seemed pretty well received, although some people seemed to have trouble forming the paper roses. You need to play with the paper a bit to break the tension of the paper, and

when rolling the spirals just show the paper who's boss! Don't be afraid to roll, and bend and squash the paper into shape!

So here's the layout:

And here's some step by step photos:

Problem Solved...

2009-11-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

I have a new printer! I cancelled the order for the printer that was taking so long and ordered another instead- a HP C8180. I got a great deal and it arrived the day after I placed the order. I am so pleased with it-it's so sophisticated compared with my last one. It can scan negatives and slides, it has a slot for a memory card, basic editing facility, but best of all-it's wireless!! No more unplugging and moving my laptop-and the kids can print directly from their computers too! Well, actually, the best thing is the quality of the prints-thay are great-so clear and the colours are true.

Now I can start scrapping again!

Meanwhile, I have a layout published in the latest edition of The Scrapbook Magazine. This was a comissioned layout on the theme of 'first'. And here's Jack in his first ever football strip. Wasn't he cute?