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!

Christmas Cards

Isn't it amazing, the amount of stash you build up over the years without really trying?  I keep Christmas bits and bobs in a box file and decided that whilst I was downstairs looking after the boys, I would do a bit of crafting in between.  Cards are easy to pick up and put down, so they seemed a good choice of project.  I have no idea what these papers are called, but they were a freebie with a craft magazine some time ago - so I thought I would challenge myself to use them all up!  All variations on a theme, but they certainly got my Christmas cards started off with a bang. 

Warning - image heavy post! 

Using the Tim Holtz Elegant Flourish die and some blue glitter paper - very simple!

Scalloped scissors for the border.  Craftwork Cards "Oh my words Christmas" for the sentiment - makes card making so quick and easy. 

Using up some of my extensive Bazzill "Just the Edge" strips and a bit of left over card embossed with the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder. 

A co-ordinating frame, again with free magazine paper from a different collection.  

White peel-offs and the end of the blue swirly ribbon as a tag.  I made up my own sheet of Christmas messages and printed them off on robust card. 

I've had the dimensional snowflake stickers for years and years - you only need one!  The blue scalloped border is cut from glitter paper.  

I cut a bunch of white snowflake die cuts last year with my friend Tara's Sizzix snowflake dies.  Easily customisable with Promarkers and Stickles.

Using my Tim Holtz keyholes die and bits of leftover free magazine paper.  

Lots of scalloped circle punches and a way of using up just a left over strip of patterned paper. 

Even though the paper above is really busy, I really like this card - I think the double scallop is really effective, especially when paired with that snowflake dimensional sticker embellishment. 



And some left over handmade purple paper - again, with just a strip of patterned paper.  I used up one piece of that collection last year, but from the remainder, I have made 25 cards - a great staple if you're on a budget.  All quite easily achieved using some crafting basics - circle punches, ribbon, shaped scissors and some die cuts.  Voila!