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Saturday 29 June 2013

52 Card Challenge UK Scrappers - Week 8 Red/Pink/Aqua

This week, the challenge set by Nat was to use a combo of red/pink/aqua ... a favourite of mine. 

I started with a Papermania aqua base.  I always buy card packs when they are on offer and this was such a time. 

 
I knew exactly where I would start, and that was with the lovely floral Alyssa's Garden sparkle stickers by Cloud 9.  I had used the rest of the sheet so am keen to use up and get rid of the packaging. 
 
The clouds were cut from a small scrap of paper and then run through the Stampin' Up! embossing folder.  I think the different dimension is really effective  and I have made a note to use my folders much more often!
 
I am really glad I decided to add the red hearts at the end - they add a much needed pop of colour. 


Supplies:
Papermania foam alpha minis
Cloud 9 Design "Alyssa's Garden" sparkle dimensional stickers
Washi tape
MS punch
Bazzill pink cardstock
Stampin Up! Perfect Impressions Perfect Polka Dots
Patterned paper scraps
Heart punch

I am really happy with how this card turned out and am so pleased I now have a way to upload photos onto my computer - Happy Days!  On to the next challenge.  :D

Friday 28 June 2013

Project Life Mini Album Part 2

I am back to share the second instalment of my mini album gift for my parents-in-law. 


 
These were some of my favourite photos of the boys - their faces were less squishy and better formed.  It was however, some of the last pages to do in the album - not my favourites, but there you go.  The Studio Calico kraft butterflies definitely didn't go, but I was rushing and down to the wire to get completed in time for their visit on Father's Day. 
 

 
Tara and I do stash swaps and she gave me quite a few 6 x 6 Amy Tangerine papers.  The speech bubble was from that.  The stars were Studio Calico rub-ons and the black stickers were Tara's, again from the Pound shop.  She does love a bargain!  My stash collection will sadly miss her input!  :lol:
 

 
My Mum came over 4 days after the boys were born and then we had a celebration for her birthday on 30th July 2011.  We went to Scotchbridge Mill for lunch, so the boys were just over three weeks old.  The party included Paul's parents below.
 
 
The photo above is of Paul's Mum and mine.  All of the above products were from First Edition "Up Up and Away" with some Studio Calico stickers and stamping.  There were quite a few pages of tags in the pad so this project was an ideal way of using some of them up.  From here on, I will display both sides of the embellishments so that the colour coordination can be seen ... I photographed the album like this on purpose, so I could present the pages back in order ... but it definitely makes more sense to display them like below. 

 
On these pages, I introduced some of the other First Edition pad I have which is Animal Antics.  I found coordinating some of the elements quite difficult.  I used some Studio Calico wooden hearts as seen above - they are not very thick, but they were still thick enough to distort the album.  I would try to go completely flat on any future project. 

 
My boys looked absolutely adorable in their Pooh suits.  It was the one day of that summer that was pretty hot, and warm enough for them to wear those suits!  You can see the difference in size between the photos above and below - we had a week of intense heat in October that year, so the boys got to weat these suits one more time - of course, they had almost grown out of them by that stage (3 months). 
 

 
Being a thrifty individual, I had painted on a previous project and had paper left over - I decided to use it here.  Lots more Pound shop stickers (the "Dymo" looking ones, "baby" and the cradle.  I also used stamping, some paper strips and other letter stickers. 
 
Well - that's the second instalment done!  Back to share more in a couple of days.  :)


Wednesday 26 June 2013

Project Life Mini Album Part 1

Hello folks -

Life is so madly busy at the moment, that it is hard to catch-up with anything, let alone technical difficulties of the maddening computer nature!

Last week, my computer did some kind of update and the Camera Launcher I received with the Canon 350D package decided to become incompatible with Vista!  I have only had both for many years, so I have no idea why they suddenly decided they no longer wanted to play together!

I have spent many many hours last week trying to find a software solution, but to no avail.  I am not the most technical person in the world, so thank goodness someone suggested getting a card reader.  I have now purchased a Compact Flash reader from Amazon and am hoping that it will arrive tomorrow, and that specific difficulty is then resolved!

In the meantime, I have been planning the boys' second birthday party and our combined farewell bash.  I made the bunting at the Bellaboo crop last night and have designed the birthday invitation this lunchtime.  Not as handcrafted or arty as I would have liked, but time is definitely not on my side!  So I resorted to knocking up one in Word instead. 

On the crafty side, I made Paul's Mum and Dad an album covering the boys' first two years.  I bought the PL mini album from a seller on UK Scrappers - it was a beautiful lime green with a faux leather cover.  I loved the quality of the album - for me, the only downside of this was the design - the pages are all landscape, and none in portrait.

I purchased it to use as an interim scrapping medium whilst we are on the move, but the landscape format only would bug me - so I decided to use it as the basis for a present.  Whew!  A much larger project than I thought. 

I am going to be sharing my pages, but I will break it down into a series of blog posts to make it more digestible, and for me to edit the photos gradually!

 
Page 1 - Welcome to the World.  I used First Edition "Up Up and Away" stack, some old K & Co letters which I outlined in blue chalk ink and added the boys' names as a banner using old rub-on circles and letters.  I ensured that they wouldn't "rub off" by covering with Glossy Accents. 

 
Even I had to look closely at some of these pictures to know which boy was which! I added some Artemio felt teddies and some October Afternoon rub-ons which otherwise won't get used. 

 
Tara once again shared her stash with me - the "2 Peas in a Pod" was an old rub-on from Poundland, I think.  I've actually used washi tape here as it was intended and some scraps of paper from the pad serve as decoration.  I have cut out quite a few of the letters from the pad; otherwise they won't get used either.  The sticker letters were actually a new purchase - Studio Calico.  I should have realised before how versatile grey is as a colour - coordinates with so many things!

 
My husband's mother and our niece meeting the boys for the first time.  The cupcakes were a celebratory gift from my lovely friend Tara and could be cut down easily.  I have also used a lot of the roller stamps - the newer American Crafts ones from Tara, and my own from Inkadinkado which I have had for a couple of years.  Very versatile!

 
Now onto my Father-in-law.  Decoration was a freebie stamp set coloured with Promarkers.  I stamped out a sheet sometime ago and had no idea what I would use them for.  They have come in very handy for this project. 
 
I think the album slots (4 x 6 inches) fit 80 photos so whilst you can easily flip through, it does take some time to "decorate!" My supplies have been a real mish-mash of things, but once again I advocate that this divided Page Protector system (albeit in a mini format) really does get the stash used up, which is great.
 
I'll be back soon with the next instalment.  :)


Tuesday 18 June 2013

52 Card Challenge - Weeks 22 Feathered Friends & 24 Children's card

I am gradually catching up with the 52 Card Challenge on UK Scrappers, slowly but surely.  Now that I have completed a major family project, I can concentrate again on going back and using up stash, and maybe getting one or two more pages completed for my Project Life scrapbooking album for the boys. 
 
Week 22 challenge was Feathered Friends.  At one time, my Stampin' Up! Bird and Branch punch was my go to item.  It has been a little while since I've used it, and I am glad I pulled it out now. 

 
One of my friends particularly likes vintage and I think she is more into the subdued heritage colours.  The Verbena Scrap pad was on my radar as I have recently used quite a bit of it in my album project.  I had already coloured some lace with a Promarker, and this was in my ribbon bag left over for a layout of Lewis I did last year.  It happened to coordinate perfectly, and was a much needed bit of texture on otherwise a very paper-based card. 
 
The card came together quite quickly and I was pleased to use some stripey paper for the bird's wings - it adds some impact.  I like the card and hope the recipient does too. 


Supplies:
Stampin' Up! Bird and Branch Punch
K and Co K'Ology Verbena Scrap Pad
Lace
Promarker
Foam Pads
Pinflair Silicone Glue
Prima "Got Flowers"
Colorbox Fluid Chalks Warm Brown
Papermania Capsule Collection Gems


Week 24 - Children's card/young at heart

 
This card was even quicker and more last minute - the third boys' second birthday card I have made.  The tiger cub was a perfect colour for this background paper from Animal Antics.  Amazing how I like this paper pad for young boy cards, but can't see myself using it on a scrapbook page.  (But you should never say never ... things have a habit of popping up!)
 
I bought two small punches from Tesco many years ago - a star and a heart one - amazing how versatile and well used they have been over the years.  And at about £1 each, good value for money, too! 
 
Supplies:

First Edition Animal Antics
Woodware Scalloped Circle Punch
Star Punch
K and Co Juliana Letter Sticker
Poundland Baby Stickers
Elizabeth Crafts Designs Die "Happy Birthday"

10 cards to catch-up - let's see how long that takes! :)

Saturday 15 June 2013

June Scrapology card challenge - English Country Garden

This month, it was Karen's turn to set the challenge - she chose English Country Garden, which I thought was an inspired and original choice.  I debated what type of card to do - I could have got out some stamps and very laboriously created an elaborate and time consuming card, but there is also merit in making a quick one, too! :)

I found this perfect paper in my stash - which funnily enough, turns out to be Australian! :lol:  That tickled my funny bone, so it did. 

 
No need to really explain anything by way of technique - so simple!  I guess the hardest part was marrying up the colours from the paper to the embellishments.  I made another one first, but I don't like it nearly as much - with such a gorgeous paper as this, I think simpler is better.  :)
 
Supplies:
Print Blocks Australian Scrapbook Pages "Field of Flowers"
Elizabeth Craft Designs die "Friends"
Bazzill Just the Edge strip
My Mind's Eye pink bloom
Making Memories flower brad
Making Memories green felt ribbon


Wednesday 12 June 2013

UK Scrappers 52 Card Challenge - Weeks 12 and 23

Week 12 - mini card/go miniature

Well - this challenge is probably a bit of a cheat, as I don't really go miniature!  The card that I made is actually smaller than I normally do, and what is also different about it is that I decided to use a shaped card. 

Someone sent me yonks ago a pack of freebie shaped novelty cards.  I have made a couple of them and the fact is that I do like them, but usually find them quite time consuming to do.  This one was no exception!

 
 
Supplies:

Shaped cards - Future Publishing Ltd
Patterned paper scraps BG, First Edition, Elsie Flanagan, Sassafras Lass, MME
Brad
Making Memories Tiny Alphas Small

I like how it turned out -  very worth the effort for a special friend! 


Week 23 - manly card

Again - I turned to my supplies, and something I bought way back in 2005 on my trip to America - plain square punch-outs, in a variety of colours.  Goodness knows what I was thinking to have bought them - but I like the challenge of using up something for which I now go "what on earth was I thinking?"

 
Probably a more "arty" card than I have done for some time, but I like it! I made a mistake in the orientation, and wanted to do a masking effect that went wrong.  So I had to turn the card around the right way, and cover up most of the masked design. 
 
So I decided to use an ombre effect. As well as misting up the squares, I used the mists like a paint, and coloured in one of the Doodlebug paper fringes from the white pack. 
 
Supplies:
Grey Punched cardstock squares
Cosmic Shimmer mists:  "Teal Wash", "Aqua Lagoon", "Peacock Green", "Midnight Blue"
Dew Drop Versa Magic chalk ink "Ocean Depth"
Stampin' Up! "Moving Forward" stamp set
Patterned paper scraps
Various buttons
Doodlebug Design Inc "Expressions" Alphabet rub-ons "Swimming Pool" medium
Doodlebug paper fringe
 
I think the dark blue paper pleat on the bottom looks like a stormy sea!  It was way too uniform when I first stuck it on, so I gave some of it a darn good crumple!  Cathartic, if nothing else.  :D
 
I've got another "manly" card to make for my husband for Father's Day, and I am going to use some of the black squares similar to above.  Not quite sure yet what I will do with them .... all part of the creative journey, I guess! :)


Tuesday 11 June 2013

UK Scrappers 52 Card Challenge 2013 - Week 3 Colour Inspiration

Hello folks -

Catch-up mode again here. 

Week 3 - colour prompt by Nat was this lovely bright palette:

 
 
And here is the card I made from this! 
 
 
I had intended to do something quite different, but couldn't go past this paper when I found it in my scraps bag. 
 
I thought it was quite amazing that one piece of paper from ki memories precisely contained all those exact colours!  I pulled out some of my favourites to use as accents.  That background paper is so old, but the lovely bright colours never date, in my opinion. 
 
Quite a simple card to pull together - I found the colourful circles on a piece of BG "Romani" paper that was in my scraps bag - funny, I had forgotten how they renamed the range half-way through!  I still remember it as Gypsy.  I just punched out the circles with my 1/2 inch circle punch, dusted the insides with Stardust Stickles, and then added some extra gems afterwards. 
 
Supplies:
ki memories "Colourful Simple Stripe"
BG Romani "Bohemian"
Coredinations cardstock
Framelits "Zig Zag Circles"
MFT Die-namics "Leafy Flourish"
Watermelon fabric flowers
1/2 inch circle punch
Stardust Stickles
Papermania



Simple, but lovely and cheerful!

Monday 10 June 2013

UKS Scrappers 52 card challenge - Weeks 5 and 19

For this challenge, Nat asked us to use this sketch:

 
 I took the snowflake literally and made a Christmas card:
 
 
I think there's a vintage, grungy vibe going on! I embossed the snowflake and the greeting with Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid ink, and then sprinkled pink glitter over the top.  To stop it shedding, I coated everything with Glossy Accents.  It does end up making the image look a bit clunky, but I would rather have that than glitter falling everywhere!
 
I layered up some of the small stars on the Cuttlebug die and using them as accents.  I layered up a star on top of the snowflake and adhered over the ribbon strip. 
 
Supplies:
Basic Grey Granola "Wholesome"
Pink Patterned Paper - ?
Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid Pigment Ink
Pink Glitter
Glossy Accents
Inkadinkado Peppermint Twist clear stamps by Brenda Walton
Cuttlebug dies "Winter"
Black lace
Stardust Stickles
EK Success corner rounder
Papermania Capsule collection "Red Hot" pink gems
 
The challenge for Week 19 was to make a card with texture.  I found this sample of a 10 Second Studio make I had done a good long while ago at LB Crafts - stamping onto foil with Stazon, and then embossing the metal using the various tools and wheels. 
 
Again - good to get all the little bits and bobs out of the way, so I decided to make a card out of it!
 
 
You'd think I would have checked if the foil was square before sticking it onto the card! The scrap of patterned paper brought in the grey colours successfully and married together the colour scheme.  I should have also used a grey ribbon, but the black and white one was to hand.   A very simple card - I bolstered the raised texture of the foil by adhering some pinflair glue behind it so it wouldn't get squashed flat. 
 
Supplies:
Bazzill flat black cardstock
10 second studio sample on foil
black and white spotty ribbon
Craftwork Cards sentiment
Black and grey patterned paper - HOTP?
Martha Stewart iron fence punch
 
Thanks for stopping by! :)




Twenty Three month update

Tuesday, 7th May - Lewis, you are really interacting more now and do nearly all the actions to "Wind the Bobbin Up" and try to sing too.  It is so adorable!

Henry - you LOVE books - you always have.  Sometimes to quite deplorable consequences for the poor book!

12th May - Henry, you clearly said "bum" today which may not be a good thing!  Still, it was quite entertaining whilst you were on the table getting changed. 

13th May - Lewis, you have been shadow dancing and following the patterns from the sun around the room.  You are quite fascinated by your shadow and watch closely as it changes when you move around.  The series of photos in this update were taken today, when we visited Hodgemoor Wood in Chalfont St Giles to see the bluebells. 



You are both getting ever more interested in body parts and love to poke your fingers into belly buttons and other areas - Lewis, you seem obsessed on poking people in the eye.  Henry, you have been coming up and ruffling my hair, which is exactly what I do to you. 



15th May - Henry, today you blew off.  First, you said "ooooooohhh", then you said "bum!" This has been your favourite expression ever since, much to our amusement and embarassment.  I am now referring to your behind as your "bottom" and saying "oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!" whenever you say it.  "Ooooooh, bum!" was your favourite expression for about two weeks and whilst you do still say it, I heard you say "oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!" the other day.

20th May - Lewis, you were humming a new tune that I didn't recognise today.  Maybe the piano that we bought you might mould you into a musical genius!



Friday, 24th May - Today we had the viewers around (with their builder) who ended up buying the house today.  Weirdly enough, our house is for the elderly Asian couple who made an offer on the very second viewing! The family have visited the house a total of FIVE times in the run up to the final negotiation. An hour after the two daughters had left, they came back to negotiate in person without the agent. Your Daddy proved what an expert negotiator he is when he also sold them the curtains and the fairly new mower for £100!


 

Saturday, 25th May - It was quite sunny, though blustery and a bit chilly.  I added layers in the form of tank tops and caps, and let you play in the garden for a little while.  Lewis, you were just interested in playing with the gravel and the dirt.  I am sure quite a lot made it into your mouth without me noticing!  Henry, you were just interested in tearing about the garden. 

Sunday, 26th May - Daddy and I took you to visit Next and Boots in Watford.  They are virtually next door to one another, and it was the first time we took your out in your harnesses!  Lewis, you were generally pretty good except very uncertain when we rode the escalator up in Next.  Henry, you were continually straining to get out - and at one stage, Daddy took you outside where he sat on a bench.  You climbed up and sat next to him too!



Bank Holiday Monday, 27th May - I got up into the loft today and got down your pop up play tent.  I thought I bought a pop up tunnel, so I was a bit surprised when I opened it up!  You both loved playing in it, as one of your favourite games at the moment is hiding under the table and weaving in and out of the table and chair legs. 



Tuesday, 28th May - I gave you a metal spoon to eat with for the first time.  I also started to give you small toys whilst sitting in your high chairs, trying to get you a bit more used to sitting in the same spot for a longer time, in preparation for the long plane journey.  "Operation Aeroplane" had begun!

Your language is clearly your own, which you do share. 
"Atar!" means "All done" or finished, when you hand me back your plates. 
"La La!" means planes, helicopters or lights (or things in the sky). 
"Ra Ra!" means cars, buses or bikes. 

Henry, you will often point and say "doo! dooo!" which means "Henry wants to do it!"

Every day there is something new to discover.  I love to see you both growing in skill and confidence and getting taller each day!  Love always, Mummy.  xx


Thursday 6 June 2013

FOR SALE!

I am going to try and direct traffic to here, so that I can just list everything substantial for sale in one place. 

Add on paypal, postage/courier charges to all prices:

Woodware trimmer, plus 8 blades plus storage case - £25
  • Clip it Up System by Renee -  Basic Tier plus Upper Tiers, plus loads of swivel clips and some plastic embellishment wallets - £40
Dies For Sale

Ellison Design Extended Cuts Dies - £4 each - (12 inch)
  • February
  • March
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • November
QuicKutz Cookie Cutter Die 12 inch Border BN - £4
  • Sunburst

Sizzlets Decorative Strip Dies - 12 inch
  • Border Forest £5
  • Dena Designs - Stars with Swirls BN £5

  • Dena Designs Baby Cars - £5
  • So Girly! Bikinis BN - £5
 
  • In Bloom Flower Bouquet BN - £5
  • MAMBI Flowers BN - £5

  • 
    
    Tim Holtz Alterations Movers and Shapers -
    • Mini Bird and Cage BN £9

    Sizzix Red Die -
    • Pine Tree £4

    Ellison Thick Cuts -
    • Flower, Daisies  £5

      Sizzix Bigz Die -
    • Flower, Daisy #3 BN - £5
    
    Sizzlets Framelits Hearts - £10 (used once)
    http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/221230916697?var=gv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=65&ff19=0

    Cuttlebug Dies: I bought these from Papermaze in the fire sale, so do be aware that they will smell of smoke. 

    Winter (used the snowflakes) £5

    

    Birthday (never used) £5


    Garden Creatures (never used) £5

    
      Stamps for Sale

    Banana Frog - Funky Paisley, Perfect Paisley, £4 each
    Stamps Away - Very Punctual £3
    Mo Be - Beatnik (alphabets on red rubber ) £5
    Personal Impressions - Frames and Swirls by Kirsty Wiseman £3
    Little Yellow Bicycle - Christmas - a beautiful set, but rather snowy! £4
    Hero Arts - Buds & Stems BN £7
    Judikins (I think) 6 sided collage vintage buttons and sewing stamp - lovely, but not what I am into any more  £6

    Beatnik - http://www.craftfairy.co.uk/mobe-unmounted-rubber-stamps-beatnik-letters-5201-p.asp

    Hero Arts - http://www.stampeezee.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2499

    Stamps Away - https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=stamps+away+very+punctual&rlz=1T4DKUK_enGB321&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rqCrUZ-bHeis0QWL5oCgDg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1050&bih=602#facrc=_&imgrc=DDCORP_v2_unYM%3A%3BX5-3VGWWSmvGNM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbubblyfunk.typepad.com%252F.a%252F6a00e54ece13f58833010536871fd6970b-400wi%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbubblyfunk.typepad.com%252Fbubbly_scrumptious%252F2008%252F12%252Fblog-candy-7-8-and-9.html%3B400%3B502

    Personal Impressions - http://ariescrafts.com/manufacturers/Personal_Impressions
    Please get in contact if any of these are of interest .... x  Other things being added soon ....

    Monday 3 June 2013

    52 Card Challenge - UK Scrappers Week 6 and 7

    Continuing with making cards for all the two year old birthdays coming up, it has proven useful to fulfil more challenge aspects of the 52 Card Challenge for UK Scrappers. 
     
    Week 6 - loving old stash - using up the Daisy D's Lullaby range of papers and embellishments kindly given to me by Heather Bee when the boys were born.  Used here for a vintage girl's card:-

    
     
    I dug out some old stickers too.  I do find it difficult to use stickers effectively but I did like them when I bought them - they are very cute - I even bought two packets!  I've used one, but still some left on the second sheet.  I would have also liked the banner better if it had curved - but it didn't, so I was a bit restricted in it's use. 
     
    Now that I look at the image of the card on the screen, I should have trimmed down one of the edges of the photo corners so that the sides were even.  On a 12 x 12 scrapbook page, you probably wouldn't notice - but the large scale of them means that they're quite prominent.  Oh well - too late!
    

    Supplies:
    Daisy D's Lullaby Patchwork Yellow Patterned Paper plus photo corners
    Woodstock Creative Stickers
    Sizzix Framelits "Frames with Sprigs" die
    Kaisercrafts Basics Pearls Denim
    Prima "Got Flowers"

    Week 7 - feature a heart on your card

     
    I used large squares for the card above, but small squares on this card.  I've still got nearly half a sheet left!  Amazing when you love something, there is never enough, but when you are trying to use up, it lasts for ages and ages.  Bear embellishment had a pink heart on it, so I coloured it in with a blue Promarker and outlined everything with a stone coloured chalk ink. 
    

    Supplies:
    Daisy D's Lullaby Patchwork Yellow Patterned Paper
    Sassafrass Lass patterned paper
    Creative Memories Square Punch
    Elizabeth Craft Designs die - "Happy Birthday"
    Spellbinders Nestabilities "Labels Four"
    Colorbox Chalk Ink
    Handcrafted Everyday Gift Stickers

    Not my favourite cards that I have ever made, but more stash used and two more weekly card challenges completed! What's next?