Scrapology February layout - texture paste

Hi every one and welcome to the February Scrapology challenge - to use texture paste.  This month, we are scraplifting Heather Jacobs and her particular layout on the Scrapology layout here:

Below is my interpretation.  The photo is of Henry, and is one of the series that were taken on 21st July 2011, when the boys were 15 days old. 


 

Seeing that this month's particular challenge was texture paste, I used it in the diamonds below the photo (as Heather did in her layout) and also in the leaf fronds underneath the flowers. 

 

I recently purchased both the Donna Downey Poppies and Peonies 12 x 12 mask, and the Mini Deco Doily mask by Julie Fei Fan Balzer.  I had resisted buying any doilies as I don't particularly like them, but by buying a mask, I can make one whenever I want.  I wanted a very light, monochromatic feel to this layout with the focus being on this beautiful photo - hopefully I achieved that.  I stitched this piece of Daisy D's patterned paper on the left side as I thought it matched in well with the peach of my mother-in-law's top. I then thought I had made a massive mistake by adding this in as I felt it was too distracting from the photo - I still don't know if I like it or not. 

 

The Jo Sonja texture paste is applied in a tube, so it is quite easy to control.  I didn't have a diamond stencil, so I made my own - I used my small diamond punch and punched out one diamond in some scrap paper, and then drew the grid lines from that pattern.  I then cut out every second diamond with my craft knife and then weighted the piece of paper down, using it as a mask. 

 

I did struggle a lot with this layout - I seem to say that every time. I think it is probably because of the amount of time it takes me to produce an "arty" or very technique based layout like this these days! 



Evening 1 - mist the doily (I mixed silver and teal Cosmic Shimmer mists, as either colour on their own was too dark and I wanted a very subtle finish)
Evening 2 - cut out the doily.  Texture paste the fronds
Evening 3 - make the harlequin mask and texture paste the cardstock
Evening 4 - punch the hearts down the side and cut out the fronds
Evening 5 - stitch the paper to the cardstock and distress the edges
Evening 6 - stamp the title and layer it up with foam pads; paint the edges of the plaque
Evening 7 - customise the flowers, using Rich Gold and Angel Mist cosmics shimmers.  I then chalk and distress inked them until they were the colour I wanted.  I then added more Angel Mist to the cardstock, predominantly to the right hand side over the hearts. 
Day 8 - I had the day off on this day, so had a bit more time.  I adhered every second heart on to the background with foam pads, but reversed the patterned paper so the hearts were more prominent.  I then added the other stamping elements, making the heart more dimensional by adding foam pads underneath.  Then assemble!  That probably took two more hours.  The ribbon doesn't show up very well, but you can see it more clearly on the actual layout.

So this layout has probably taken at least 12 hours.  Definitely a labour of love then - both for the subject and for the hobby and the art.  No wonder I feel that each of these particular layouts is quite a journey these days. 

 

Supplies:

Paper - First Edition "Up, Up and Away" patterned paper pad
Daisy D's Lullaby patterned paper

Bazzill cardstock

Mists - Cosmic Shimmer Silver, Teal, Angel Mist, Rich Gold

Stamps - Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz collection "Odds and Ends"

Autumn Leaves "Romance of Spring" clear stamps by Sande Krieger

Distress Stains - Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose

Colorbox fluid chalk inks - Baby Blue and Prussian Blue

Jo Sonja's white texture paste

It's a Boy adhesive ribbons

Bo Bunny Snowflake Jewels

The Crafter's Workshop Balzer Designs "Mini Deco Doilies" 6 x 6 template

Prima Donna Downey Studios "Poppies & Peonies" 12 x 12 mask

Jo Sonja's Titanium White acrylic paint and Flow Medium

My Mind's Eye "Wild Asparagus" Embroidered Brad

Small heart punch
Dies - Sizzix Framelits "Frames with Sprigs"

Funny how you can have something sitting in your stash for so many years, and then it jumps back into the foreground of your usage!  I always loved that set of Autumn Leaves stamps - just only used them once or twice.  I used them more on this layout than at any other time previously.  Guess it just happens that way.

I hope yours doesn't take 12 hours - still, it makes no odds.  A layout in the album, another memory added and preserved and my eyes saved from watching TV! Thanks for stopping by.  :)

 



Scrapology June card challenge - Vintage

This month, Hels Sheridan challenged the team to create a card based on the vintage theme.  That came quite easily to me, as I had this particular Paperstack out in an effort to use it up!

I made this particular card for my parents' wedding anniversary which fell on 27th April - their 49th anniversary! They have both had health issues over the recent period, so the message on the card was one I especially meant for them. 

The paperstack is "KOlogy" from K & Company.  I remember having a very specific project in mind when I bought it, several years ago, but then the project fell off the radar and life generally got in the way.  Years pass, tastes change, and now I am not really interested in doing heritage/vintage layouts unless it is for a specific purpose ....

The card is quite simple and came together quickly. I cut the background patterned paper and adhered it to the card.  Being a K & Co pad, it comes with lots of different tags and journalling spots.  I matted this tag onto some cream patterned paper, and then outlined the lot with green chalk ink.   The copper dots are Tulip fabric paint.  I was surprised to learn that it dots quite finely - crucial in this type of project.  I wanted something light reflective, so adhered lots of light green faux pearls onto the oval of the tag.  I stuck them on with liquid glue and used a pin to pick up a gem from the pile and place precisely onto the card.  This method is quite quick, once you've allowed the glue to go tacky, and the effect is very neat. 



April Scrapology Layout Challenge - L is for Lace

Hi everyone and welcome to April - with this amazing bout of weather we've been having in the UK, it's felt like summer, more than spring - but with the clocks changing recently, it has been lovely to have more sunshine. 

This month we have scraplifted Bettylou1 with this particular layout:

The challenge was also to use lace.  Here is my layout below. 

I am very happy to report that all the supplies used are from years ago - with the exception of the flowers.  The photo is of my husband's parents taken with my twins when they were three weeks old.  I loved that Bettylou's layout was monochromatic, but felt that I had to try to coordinate the colour of their grandparents' attire with the layout.  Luckily enough, I found this ancient piece of Sandylion "Spring Flowers" paper that went beautifully with the photo. 

I adhered the paper to a piece of cardstock behind it, in order to make the layout more robust.  The three vertical strips are Cloud 9 Design - Alyssa's Garden - Botanical Notes collection.  I also deliberately kept the strips quite long so that they also became a feature of the layout.  The horizontal strip at the bottom was kindly given to me by my friend Jess - who allowed me to rifle through her scraps bag - and the piece of Fancy Pants Baby Mine collection "Strips"  was perfect here.  The white lace was from my ribbon bag, and the lovely green ruffled ribbon was bought from Artbase, before it sadly closed down some time ago.  The cream and blue dotty paper was diecut with a scallop edge, so I just used a corner of it here.  I inked all of the paper and cardstock edges with blue chalk ink so that they blended into the background and gave a softer finish to the layout. 

My picture was a different dimension, and my flowers were much larger than the original, so I configured them differently on the page.  I added some blue chalk ink to the flowers so that they were toned down a little and blended more into the background of the layout.  Then to further blend the flowers into the background of the layout, I cut out the lace plastic design on the Prima packaging and adhered it to the layout under the flowers. 

I borrowed my friend Lisa's nestabilities dies to cut out the journalling spot for the title - the alphas are MM Noteworthy "Tara" tiny alphabet stickers which again I've had for years.  Kind of ironic, in that another friend, Tara, lent me some flowers to form this layout. 

Supplies:

Patterned Paper:

      Sandylion Spring Flowers

      Cloud 9 Design Alyssa's Garden collection "Botanical Notes"

      Fancy Pants Baby Mine collection "Strips"

      Blue and Cream spotty paper

Lace

Ribbon

Wooden Heart and Bird - Hobbycraft

Metal Flowers with Brads - Dovecraft

Prima flowers

Prima packaging

Alphas:

      MM Noteworthy "Tara" tiny alphabet stickers

A lovely prize from Jill again at Cardinal Colours awaits the winner of the challenge! Join in, have a go and get another page scrapped!

G is for glitter!

This month at Scrapology, we are scraplifting a layout from the very talented Anita MacDonald.

Her layout is below. 

I decided to use the main central square as a starting point, and incorporated a square grid on a layout about Henry. 

The patterned papers are once again all from the "Up Up and Away" range by First Edition.  The background cardstock has a pearlescent sheen which I bought in bulk for a class from Two Peas some few years ago - I love cornflour blue.  The picture of Henry was taken when he was obviously teething really badly, poor baby.  I panic somewhat that I miss the boys' milestones when you get too busy doing day to day things, so one day I deliberately took out time to take ink prints of both boys' hand and foot prints. 

I emulated the die cut Bo Bunny paper in Anita's layout with some cut out patterned paper circles and I added a whimsical element by dusting off some of my brads, eyelets and snaps, along with the Cropodile!  

Winnie the Pooh is one of my favourite books and I just adore this quote - I think it is so poignant.  I was really pleased to break out my PSX "Playful" alphabet stamps once again and stamp out the quote.  I like the handmade, folksy quality of imperfection and think that elements like this give a layout heart and character. 

Supplies:
First Edition Up Up and Away
Blue Pearlescent Cardstock
MM brads, snaps, eyelets

I am always surprised when I hear that people have given up scrapbooking - I find ways of incorporating my babies' milestones together with images of things like their hands and feet so sentimental and touching and think that every family would treasure these kind of keepsakes of their family members. I hope that the boys will treasure the stories of their earliest years and look forward to seeing their albums in the future. 

Jill from Cardinal Colours is once again offering a fabulous prize this month - just follow the glitter trail to enter this challenge!

February Scrapology Layout

Over at Scrapology, we are scraplifting SJ this month with this patchwork layout below.  SJ used a lot of inking, and some stitching to add texture.



I am really appreciating simple, clean layouts for the baby album, so decided not to add these techniques to this page. 

I did intend to duplicate the size of the squares as per SJ's version, but then I made a mistake in cutting my squares, and decided to keep it that way, as I liked the texture of the Bazzill cardstock showing on the background. 



Papers are all First Editions "Up Up and Away" with the exception of the khaki green lightly checked patterned paper - it is Kaisercraft.  The only downside of this patterned paper collection is that the green is too vibrant - normally, I would love that, but for the baby photos, I want to let them shine, and take precedence, rather than a really bright colour overwhelm some of the detail.  I also used an off-white grey sheet of Bazzill cardstock, with some white Basic Grey chocolate chip alphas for the title. 

My journalling reads "Daddy and I are very aware that your future is in our hands.  We will strive to be the best parents we can be - in order that you both grow up to be happy, healthy men who live fulfilled lives, with happy families of your own.  Until then though, it's all up to us - it's in our hands."
Photo 21.07.11
Journalling 24.01.12

January Card for Scrapology

Ali from Crafty Ribbons generously donated the prize this month - and with Valentine's Day coming up soon, the theme this month is all about love. 

As fate would have it, a friend has very recently become engaged - I really need to get my act together and post her the card!

We were challenged to use ribbons on the card and there are some very lovely examples of cards on the Scrapology blog. 

Here is my example below. 

I wanted to make the focus on the ladybird ribbon - hence the message.  

I received the Stampin' Up! scallop punch from my friend Tara as one of my Christmas presents - I know it will be a much loved tool in my edge punch library. 

Supplies used:

Cricut red card

K & Co red scrap from my scraps bag

Lined patterned paper from my scraps bag

Bazzill Black card

Bazzill White card

Martha Stewart loopy punch

Stampin Up! scallop punch

E K Success Binding Edge punch

Quickutz heart

PSX Alpha - "Playful"

Colourful peel-offs



I bought some really bright colourful vinyl peel-offs from Create and Craft probably about two years ago.  I am not normally a fan, but peel-offs do have their place - it all depends on the design and type of peel-off.  These ones really attracted me as they were such lovely bright colours and the design was of butterflies and leaves - universally popular. 

Why not join in with the challenge?  These lovely ribbons would make a great prize ...

January Scrapology Layout

Welcome to the New Year, and the start of the 2012 Scrapology challenges.  It was a push for me this month - (well, every month is now, to be honest!) but I managed to do a Christmas layout for this scraplift challenge, using seven photos on a double layout. 

I have used eight - and could have used eight more, frankly! but it gives me a good excuse to pull the Christmas stash out again, when I can find some time. 

This month, we scraplifted this layout by Stacey Hansen that appeared in Creating Keepsakes September 2011. 

The challenge was to also incorporate texture, in order to make the layout more dimensional.  This is my take on this layout.  

I am much more of a linear scrapper, and prefer straight lines.  I also prefer less pattern on a page, so decided to only use one piece of patterned paper - which in this case, of course, is Basic Grey "Jingle Bells" from the Blitzen collection.  I only had about half a piece left, but it was perfect for this double layout.  Shame I don't have more for other Christmas pages, but that's the way it goes. 

I have gazillions of Bazzill "Just the Edge" strips left in many colours, and that was just the contrast I needed at the bottom to prevent the harsh appearance of too many straight lines.  I also had some Christmas tree chipboard in drab colours that didn't match, so used them as a template for the shapes of the Christmas trees here.  Several years ago, Two Peas in a Bucket was selling off some 12 x 12 glitter cardstock by Creative Expressions, I think .. I used this card for the red background to the title, and the Christmas trees.  I then used mint Icicles (the thicker version of Stickles) around the red rainbow for some extra texture and bling.  I struggled with this sketch for a long time, but am really happy with the result - especially as it commemorates such a special event! 

This month, Jill from Cardinal Colours is offering a really special prize - every colour from the Bazzill Two Scoops collection.  You have to be in it to win it!  Thanks also to my friend Carin McDonough who was the guest designer for this month.  She always produces the most brilliant layouts!  See more of her beautiful work here.

December Scrapology card challenge

This month, the card challenge was set by Chrissy from Merly Impressions. 

My husband and my FIL have birthdays very close together.  The timing of this challenge was perfect with a theme of autumn and leaves.  I often resort to using leaves on masculine cards as I feel they are a very versatile embellishment. 

The above was the card for my husband - my Sizzix dies turned out very useful.  I have bought both the Tim Holtz labels and mini labels die and I also used some ancient alphabet stickers from Chatterbox.  I like the positive and negative images here - a great way of making the stickers stretch further on a budget.  All the leaf images are also from a Tim Holtz Decorative Strips die - Autumn Gatherings.  I used the Basic Grey Granola range of papers for all the leaf shapes.  The background patterned paper was an ancient piece of Jenni Bowlin - great to cut into some of these papers and get them used up!  I used lashings of Tim Holtz distress ink around the edge to add some depth. 

My father-in-law's card was a variation on the theme -

A few more bits and pieces gone from the mountain of stash - now, where can I buy some more time?  If you get some time, why not join with us and having a go at the challenge? 

December Scrapology Layout

I didn't think I would make it this month, but managed to carve out a bit of time close to the deadline to make the December Scrapology challenge.  This month, we scraplifted Pamela Young's layout below. 



This is how I interpreted the scraplift. 



I went with the three photos (albeit of different shapes) and the scalloped circle, so stuck to the main elements on Pamela's layout. 

The background is a very light green Bazzill cardstock, so it doesn't show up too well.  I haven't indulged in too many new scrapbooking products lately, but one thing I couldn't resist was a couple of collections by First Edition, bought to scrapbook the boys as babies.  The papers are so cute, and perfect for baby boys.  The alphabet, journalling block and patterned paper are all from the same range, called "Up Up and Away!"

You can see looking between Pamela's layout and mine that I also interpreted using the mist differently.  Rather than use tissue paper, I misted a border around the edge of the patterned paper.  I used a piece of Crate Paper as a template for the patterned paper, and then drew a border freehand using some white scrap paper to form the border.  The mist is Cosmic Shimmer "Teal Wash" and this mist really does shimmer in real life. 

The journalling spot and motif does glitter too - shame the effect does not show up on the screen.  My journalling reads:

"6 days old - 12th July.  When you were first home from hospital, we were still trying to breastfeed.  However, we were also worried that you weren't getting enough, so we were also feeding you with syringes so you weren't getting confused between breast and bottle.  Looking back almost 5 months, it is hard to believe you were both so small and we were worried about your weights!

Grandma Brierley and Lewis, Grandma Jones and Henry.  Scrapbooked November 2011."

Even though it is a very busy time of year, why not grab some time for yourself and take part in this challenge!  Thanks for stopping by.  :) 

Scrapology November card

This month, the card designer who set our monthly challenge is Joanna Sheen.  She challenged the Design Team to use a mouse image on their cards.  Bearing in mind the time of the year, I decided to try and incorporate the mouse with Christmas in the cheesiest way possible - get it!   (Hee hee hee .... )



Thanks to Linda for sending me some images as this is not really my normal style of card. 

I dug out an ancient piece of patterned paper for the background and made sure that I coloured in the image to match accordingly. 

I made it more "Christmassy" by sticking some felt snowflakes over the top and then stickled them to make them glitter.  I also glittered on the patterned paper on top of the stars to pull the card together. 

I then stamped out my Christmouse message using my PSX Playful alphabet stamps - I have several sets of small alphabet stamps.  I still consider them to be an essential part of my scrapbooking/ cardmaking tools, even though I don't use them nearly as often as I used to.  Great to get out these things from time to time and dust them off!

I then "enamelled" the outline of the flower using the Ranger white enamel accents.  It was my first time using these - they add a considerable dimension to the card, and hopefully look like snow!  The liquid flowed out of the nozzle faster than I thought it would, so I would recommend caution if using them for the first time.  Hope you join us in the challenge, and have lots of fun playing along! 

Supplies:
Patterned paper:  Colorbok Starry Sky
Ranger white enamel accents
Diamond Stickles
Make It Yourself Furry white snowflakes
PSX Alphabet stamps - Playful
Promarkers

Scrapology November Challenge

This month, over at Scrapology, we are scraplifting Hannah Young's layout below: 



The challenge this month is to make fabric flowers. 

This is my interpretation.  I decided to interpret the flowers rather differently, so had a shufty through my materials to see what I could choose from.  I had black tulle, bits of left over felt, and various bits of material.  The larger red flower is made from wide wired ribbon.

The photo is one taken at a photoshoot when my boys were 3 weeks old and is of my mother and I.  All the patterned papers have come from my scraps bag and are all ancient - how satisfying is it to use them up?



Supplies:

Bazzill cardstock

Patterned paper:  Urban Lily "Polka Dot", Chatterbox Scrapbook Walls "Stitched Ivy", Scenic Route Laurel "Sailmaker Lane", 7 gypsies "Life Blanc"

Tim Holtz:  Mini Labels movers and shapers die

Alphas: K & Company "Handmade mini alpha", Making Memories "Tiny Alphas white on black"

Stickers: Scenic Route Laurel Monogram ABCD

Wooden Heart: Hobbycraft

Buttons

Ribbon, Lace, Bonbon

Felt

Fabric

Because my target photo was a completely different shape to Hannah's, I had to reinterpret the sketch somewhat, and also decided to simplify the colour scheme. 

I am really pleased with how this layout turned out.  I shall be making a companion page for the boys' albums using another sketch challenge!  Why don't you join us - Jill from Cardinal Colours has once again donated a fabulous prize - check out the Scrapology blog to find out what it is!

Scrapology October Layout

Welcome to October!  This month we are scraplifting one of Georgia K Keay's layouts, with the theme being "B for Borders". 

I was quite intimidated when I saw Georgia's layout because I knew I wanted to scrapbook my boys, but didn't want to splatter paint or ink or make it quite as eclectic as she did, even though I greatly admire the finished product.  In the end, I went with these photos as I knew I wanted to scrapbook them, even though they weren't marvellous, and thought that I could eventually make them work on a layout. 

Here is my layout:

Technique:

The layout is all about the bibs my mum bought the boys from Brisbane Airport when she flew over to be with us for the first month after the boys were born.  One bib had a picture of a pirate kangaroo and was emblazoned with "The Wild Ride" whilst the other was called the "Happy Turtle", depicted in the aboriginal art style.   The bibs are so cute and I wanted to remember their provenance so I decided to incorporate their design into the layout.  So I picked up the aboriginal art theme and thought that the Basic Grey Archaic papers were very suitably earthy.  I traced the kangaroo and turtle outlines onto acetate with a permanent marker and filled in the detail with Promarkers.  Then once the various patterned papers were stuck on, I decided to use the dot imagery for a border around the page to fit in with the Scrapology theme this month and also use the same principle to surround the journalling shape.  I liked the naive lettering on the bibs so just scribbled out my title and coloured in the letters using the same colour scheme.  After all, I can't cut up every item of clothing the boys have ever worn (as I did with their first baby grows)!  The splotches from Georgia's page are emulated with the dots in the border to look like air bubbles from the turtle and also the same with the fish. 

I outlined the patterned paper with my black Promarker to save on black cardstock, but did matt the photos on black Bazzill to give them more stability. 

My journalling reads " Grandma Brierley bought these bibs for you from Brisbane Airport because she said she couldn't resist them.  If you were crying a lot I would say to you "come on, my wild koalas, I want you to be happy turtles".  I don't know why you were called wild koalas where the picture was clearly a pirate kangaroo... @ 9 days old.  15-07-11".

Supplies:

Bazzill Basics cardstock

Patterned Papers:  Basic Grey - Archaic collection "Passe", "Fossil"

                               Crate Paper - Crate Avenue collection "Style"

                               Scenic Route - "Background Blue Grid Worn"

1/2" circle punch

Promarkers

As usual, Jill from Cardinal Colours is putting up a prize for the challenge.  Come on and join in!

Scrapology September card challenge

In the middle of each month, Scrapology set a card challenge.  This month, Craftwork Cards requested  us to use bunting. 

Having a scrambled baby brain, I made a girly one for my niece in a panic - but ended up giving it to her four days early, without having time to take a photograph of it! So then I decided to make something quite different. 

I had only scraps left of my Basic Grey Hang 10 collection, so I cut up the appropriate number of banner shapes.  The lettering is the Sizzix "Slobbery Kisses" alphabet - I love that the extended dies cut a whole upper and lower case alphabet with only one pass through the Sizzix Big Shot machine.  I outlined everything with a fine tip black pen, and went around the edges with a brown Promarker for more dimension.  I thought this would make a card suitable for a male, so something a bit different. 

Why not check out the Scrapology blog and join in with the challenge this month? A prize from Jill at Cardinal Colours is up for grabs ...  

Scrapology September challenge - E is for Embossing

Well, I have returned from "maternity leave" :lol: and resumed joining in with the monthly challenges over at the Scrapology blog, where this month we have scraplifted a layout by Kelly Goree at Basic Grey. 

This is Kelly's layout below:

The technique this month was to use embossing, whether wet or dry.  I have interpreted the layout very simply below:

 

The image looks wonky, but it is not IRL! I cut out the kraft hearts with my Quickutz die, and then used a Cuttlebug embossing border with my Quickutz squeeze to create the embossing.  I wanted the layout to be quite simple so that the stunning Bounty photo of my boys was the centrepiece, but I did add detail by stitching around the embellishments.  Quite a combination of old papers used, which I don't think matters a jot! 

I used scalloped scissors to cut the blue dotty trim around the photo. Then I cut out one side of the border pattern from the Prima "Happy Go Lucky" patterned paper. Using a Bazzill "Just the Edge" strip as a template, I scalloped one edge of the My Mind's Eye patterned paper.

Supplies:
*  Bazzill Kraft cardstock
*  Bella Blvd Plastino "Label Additions" (family, heart sticker)
*  Chatterbox Scrapbook Walls collection "Spruce and Sky Paisley" patterned paper
*  Cuttlebug Embossing Borders "Just my Type"
*  Kaisercraft Squadron collection "Sergeant" patterned paper
*  My Mind's Eye Abbey Road Lucky Me Collection "How Fortunate" Title; Kaleidoscope Collection   Celebrate "Family" Journaling Card; Wild Asparagus cardstock collection patterned paper
*  Prima Marketing So Cute! Collection "Growing" (Apple of my Eye); Iron Orchid Designs Morning    Song Collection "Happy Go Lucky" patterned paper
*  Quickutz heart die A-SS-0001
*  Sassafras Lass Dreamy Collection "Tingle" patterned paper

Why don't you have a go and join in with us this month?  A lovely prize from Jill at Cardinal Colours is up for offer.  :)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Well, let's kick off the New Year with a scrapbooking layout - this month's challenge with Scrapology.  We took a sketch from Jana Eubank this month and created a double layout. 

The rest of the design team worked with a Christmas theme, but I haven't taken that many photos of Christmas in the past - hopefully this year, that will all change. 

I attended the wedding reception of a friend in October this year, and was really startled by her colour theme - so different and original.  Her main colours were black and orange - the bridesmaids were in orange with grey accents - but her flowers were beautiful, being in tones of orange, red and yellow - real harvest colours and so rich. 

I toned my layout accordingly.  One of the things Fran did which I loved was have a photo booth at the back of the room, so everyone could go in and get photos done in groups, individually or however they liked.  We were each given a copy of the photos, and one copy was given to Fran and Lee as a memento of their special day, with all their friends and family.  I had never seen that idea before and thought it was perfect for scrapbookers and people in general who cherish their photos and their memories.

Supplies:

Bazzill cardstock (black and red)

Patterned papers:  Daisy D's "Atelier Toile" (yellow), K & Co "Wild Saffron" (red swirl)

Alphabet stickers:  American Crafts Sixth Avenue "Kennedy Black"

Prima Marketing:  "Urban Cosmos" transparent scrapbooking tape

Martha Stewart decorative punch and butterfly punch

Stickles

You will see I varied my interpretation of the sketch in order to fit the photos I had chosen.  The group of 4 booth photos were originally landscape in dimension, being two wide - but I placed them on top of one another so I could fit all the photos across the page.  I also varied my layout by getting my photos to fit within each separate page.  I am not a real fan of cutting into photos so they stretch across both pages - but I don't mind doing that with titles or embellishments, as you can see above. 

So the placement of my photos was different, which meant also that I had to adapt the circle embellishment, as it didn't fit my layout.  So I had a scramble through my stash, and substituted with the lovely swirly paper instead, which I felt coordinated perfectly. 

I wanted to take the theme colours from the wedding and went mainly from the colours of the flowers.  So I dug around in my stash and pulled bits and pieces out.  The Daisy D's paper, despite being years old, I picked up fairly recently in a sale for about 10p a sheet! I originally bought two sheets, but had cut into one for cards, so I only had one sheet of the paper left.  I started by cutting it into four, and stretching it across both layouts as I knew I could cover up the gap with something else.  That is why the orange strip is a bit wider than I would like, but that width is minimised when I used the scrapbooking tape across it.  The tape is VERY sticky - just like sticky tape - and you have to lay it down precisely.  I got into a bit of a mess with it, but finally got it sorted. 

Cutting out the swirl from the Wild Saffron paper took a solid couple of hours - I haven't done so much handcutting in ages - but I think it was worth the effort. 

I covered the alpha stickers and the butterflies with stickles, not only to add some sparkle, but also to cover up a dirty little secret - both "e's" in "Lee" were cut from Bazzill, as I used up all my "e" stickers!  I took the negative outline of the sticker, and cut around it with my craft knife.  I hate wasting anything, and this way, you can't tell the difference.  One way of making alpha stickers go further, if you don't want to use a mixed or altered alphabet. 

Here's another tip - I printed out the journalling on white cardstock, making the alpha "white" with the background fill in orange.  You can't read the journalling clearly from the picture, but it looks okay on the layout.  In order to make my journalling box fit the dimensions exactly, I use a table in word, and make sure the outer dimensions of the cell fit with the space I have. 

So here's to kicking off a new year with scrapbooking!  I hope you join in with our double layout challenge. 

Scrapology December Challenge

Each month we scraplift one layout and I am continually surprised by how differently our layouts turn out!  December's layouts are no exception.   Here is a link to Scrapology, with all the layouts. 

This month, we have scraplifted a fantastic layout by Wendy McKee.  I love all her elements - the different colours she has used which all coordinate beautifully and the linear but complex design, and this layout showcases what a character her son is. 



My photos tend to be more of holidays and events, so doing this type of layout I usually find a struggle.  However, after an obscene amount of procrastination and undue faffing about, I eventually pulled together this layout of my lovely niece, Asha. 

Once I'd gotten over the fact that one photo was a different orientation and I was still going to use it, I think it made it easier to break away from the strict grid idea and get a bit more free form movement into the layout.  All the papers and chipboard embellishments are Crate Paper, Brook - which is my favourite range to come out in the last year.  So much so - I believe I bought every matching doo dad and frippery in the range, which is very unlike me.  

It is also very unlike me to use so much product on a layout, as they are usually more technique based.   But now that I've bought all the furbelows and doo dads, I had better use them, and I really like how this layout turned out.  Why don't you go check out Scrapology and join in?  Once again, Jill has a fabulous prize on offer - a little something for you this Christmas, instead of the rest of the family?  Join us.  :)

Scrapology November Challenge

This month our challenge was set by digi-designer Cindy Schneider from Canada.  Oh my, we are getting intercontinental! 

That is the marvellous thing about digi - so many beautiful layers and extra delicate accents.  Cindy's layout is so beautiful and delicate, but I tried my best with paper.  My layout weighs a tonne!  I did a right hand layout to a left hand side page here. 

The photos are of our family mucking about in the resort pool last January at Caloundra, Queensland (Aust). We had such a lovely time, just all being together. 

Supplies list:   Making Memories Turquoise Cardstock

                        Bazzill Dotted Swiss White cardstock, pink and
                        emerald green

                        Fancy Pants Summer Soiree stamps

                        Fancy Pants 12 x 12 chipboard

                        WRMK Sew Easy Scallop stitcher

                        Colorbox pigment inks

                        Stickles

                        Patterned Papers:  Rouge de Garance "fleur di tiare no5" ,
                        Sassafras Lass Pocket full of Rosies "Li'l Brudders",
                        unknown

                        American Crafts Thickers

The American Crafts Thickers title colour altered with pigment ink, embossing powder and Glossy Accents.  Some of those big splashes cover some other people and different distractions in the photos and is a trick I use quite often.  Every splash is handcut and outlined with Stickles, so it glitters a lot IRL. 

This layout took quite some time to come together and I am still not quite sure of it - I just loved the delicate colours of the original. 

Why don't you go check out what everyone else on the Scrapology team has come up with from this sketch?

Blog Candy!

Win some fantastic blog candy here!  Just go over to the Scrapology blog and comment on the Halloween Blog Candy post, and become a follower of the blog - simples! 

It contains papers from Basic Grey's Eerie collection, Making Memories, Karen Foster and Reminisce. Cardstock form Coredinations and Bazzill. Stickers from Jolee's Boutique, Doodlebug Design, EK Success, Sandylion and Bo Bunny. Various ribbons, some themed, some plain, black lace and fibres. Buttons, themed and plain. Charms, brads, and eyelets. In addition Halloween die cuts from QuicKutz and Cricut, with words numbers and images.  Wow! 

A is for Apertures ....

... namely, Starbursts!  That is the first monthly scraplift challenge over at Scrapology, with a layout by Anita. 

I don't tend to do as many people focused layouts so this WAS a real challenge!  I have also done very few Christmas layouts, but I came across these photos of my mum and my niece celebrating her first Christmas.

All my Christmas stash is very old and this is the most ancient!  I was working my way through it for Christmas cards, but here it is, used on a page.  Someone kindly sent me a RAK of Christmas papers and bits many years ago, so it turns up here! 

I decided to keep the background simple as the photos are busy enough - I really should have made the circles bigger.  My niece grabbed the Santa hat off my mum's head, so my journalling reads " It has been Santa Grandma for many years now.  Seems like there has been a turf war, and the leadership has changed!" 

Papers, letters and stickers - Doodlebug, 2003.  I matted everything in that Kelly Green to give it some definition.  The "Baby" is using my Autumn Leaves freestyle alphabet, which was stamped, then embossed - some of it is coloured in white pen, and I stamped again onto scraps of patterned paper and used the inserts on the letters to give them a bit of impact.  Stitching done in the form of scrapper's floss round the edge of the baubles.  I even used the Christmas ribbon that was in the pack, too!

I do like the layout - it doesn't compare to some of the other stunning creations - but I strongly believe in using everything you have - even if it is out of fashion!  (Other personal references really not necessary, :lol!)

Till next month from Scrapology. 

Announcing ....

Scrapology - Adventures in Scrapbooking!  How exciting to have been invited by Lynn to join - a site for monthly scrapbooking inspiration.   I am very honoured to have been asked, pleased to be in such great company, and quite frankly, scared too! 

We go live from tomorrow, and are hoping to have you play along too.  Ready - let's go!