Friday 5 September 2014

September scrapping

So no blogging from me for all of July and August.... there has been lots happening with summer holidays, work, illness, lots of catching up with family and spending most spare moments with my parents.  My dad's health is getting worse everyday so time really is precious at the moment.

Which brings us to September a season of new starts, a return to school and definitely more scrapping....

This week on UKS we were asked to scrap and journal about a team or group and use 6 of one element.



I have included the second photo just to show that I have really done the journalling and I used both sides of the tag!  This is the judo group from DS's junior school...seems ages ago now especially as he has been unable to do any physical exercise for such a long time.

I took inspiration for this page from the sketch at Scrap 365 which is very similar to the sketch that Miniowner/Sue made for this month too....check them out and see what I mean!

Sunday 29 June 2014

More inspiration from Shimelle

So today I managed to make a couple of cards plus 2 layouts..... there is a third but currently it lies unfinished in the craft room.... I am hoping I may find some time to finish it before Shimelle's challenge deadline tomorrow night.

So today I used the sketch found here and made this page


I added several layers, 3 different mists and flipped the sketch to suit my photo....loved using a 4x6 PL card as a mat for my photo and title and a matching 3x4 tucked behind for my journalling.

My second page was based on another Shimelle sketch found here


This page came together really quickly as it is so simple, just 3 6x6 sheets and some washi tape ..... not sure I like the patterned paper tilted to the side but I went with it and like the page overall..... loving sea themed papers and embellishments (who doesn't love an anchor..... this one is for you 'The Nonna' so you can see my fetish for anchors put to good use!!)

Saturday 28 June 2014

Shimelle's challenges

Last weekend over at Shimelle.com there were several fabulous challenges. I was away celebrating my Mum's 80th birthday with lots of family so was unable to take part at the time but have managed to join in since with these pages

Firstly there was a challenge to scrap your significant other so I used this colour combo from  SJ Crafts blog challenge ....


and combined this with the weekly challenge at UKS to use the sketch provided, ink/mist and be inspired by the word 'sun' and made a page about my 3 significant others....


I actually had a bad mist accident and as I removed the top of the ink I poured a lot straight onto my page!  Luckily I have managed to hide it and replaced some of the papers I had originally planned on using. It also fits perfectly with a line in the scrapping bingo challenge#3 at Scrap & Play (use a punch...hearts and chevrons, use mist...orange mist seen on page and chipboard....clouds)

Next Shimelle had a colour palette challenge, it had to include pink (one of my least favourite colours) but it fitted in perfectly with the UKS house challenge using this palette with the pinky coral colour.... (actually the SJ Crafts colour combo also fits the challenge rather well!)


so I used My scraps and more sketches #84


to make this page featuring gorgeous piglets from a visit to a farm at Easter.


Finally I used Shimelle's use ink/mist challenge with an old sketch from My Scraps and more Sketches to feature another pig. He is part of a pair that my friend has bought and is raising them until Christmas dinner.....she has named them Sausage and Bacon!!


Monday 16 June 2014

The Ever Expanding Blog Hop

No doubt many of you have seen the latest long blog hop all over the place! Posting on a weekly basis, I have read lots about lots of Bloggers and now it is my turn to join in.

I was 'tagged' by my dear friend, the fantastically creative and immensely talented K from K's crafty corner.

What am I working on now?

Firstly I am working on a Summer wish list.  DD finished all her GCSE's on Friday and she is now off school for about 12 weeks and doesn't want to waste all the time.  So far we have planned  a few things like.... try baking cake pops, visit a zoo, go to an outdoor cinema or theatre, go on a boat trip, visit London for the day and complete Rinda's summer photo scavenger hunt.



Secondly I am working on a layout for 'Pass the page' started by Julie I am the first person it has been passed to.  The page is kinda out of my comfort zone so it has taken me a while to try and plan what I am gonna do but it is getting there......sssshhhhhh I can't say anymore...... it is a secret!

The third thing I am working on is my crafting space, I have removed an enormous ugly computer desk and replaced it with a simple wooden table.  I am slowly working my way though all my stash, having a huge purge.... so far I have overfilled the recycling, given 2 bags to the second hand shop and I have 4 bags of stash to give away!  Yet there is still more to do!

How does my work differ?

I am not sure that it does really. I think not many things are totally unique in scrapping as we get so many ideas from pinterest or blogs or current trends or from the  products  available from the manufacturers etc etc. I guess I don't do really fancy stuff....generally I describe my style (and probably me) as simple!

Why do I create what I do?

To keep the memories alive....my memory definitely isn't what it used to be, I forget so much.  I think it is important for the older and younger generations and those that are yet to come.  My wonderful Dad has cancer as many of you know and I have been asking him lots of questions and recording some of his stories. Time is limited and I don't want to forget all the details....ever!

I have just one person to pass my blog hop baton to and that is the lovely Julie over at Letting the Days Roll by.  I met Julie a few years ago at the first Bloggers' weekend and it was a total blast! I loved looking through her album and seeing stunning patients many of her daughter the super cute Puddleduck! Luckily we met up again at the second Bloggers' weekend, sitting near each other again and getting one of my favourite photos of me and my scrapping buddies K, Julie, Jemma.


I am really looking forward to our third Bloggers' weekend in September xxx

Sunday 15 June 2014

I would happily have scrapped hundreds of teal orange and white pages for Jennifer's challenge but actually only managed 2 in the end!


This page was totally from my imagination as opposed to taking inspiration from another page or following a sketch!  I placed star stickers on the white card stock and sprayed a tealy blue mist over the page.  Once dry I took my mad photo (my sister and I in a child's rocket ride!) and a pile of white/orange and teal scraps and moved them around the page until I was happy.

I am sorry I ran out of time and didn't make as many pages or enter as many challenges at Jennifer Grace Creates as I would have liked.  Thanks Jennifer for all your hard work and inspiration it is appreciated.

Now fingers crossed I win the prize as I totally need the anchor washi and the anchor roller stamp (slight obsession with anchors has developed in the last few months lol!)

Saturday 14 June 2014

Simple layout

I am just back from a 14 hour crop.... it was great fun as always but I think I did more chatting and looking at other people's work and stash!

The first page I made today was taken from this Scrap 365 Sketch


I also took inspiration from the recent weekend of festivities over at Jennifer Grace Creates and used teal orange and white, creating this page....


I am so looking forward to the summer and sitting by a pool at sunset again (or anytime really!)  Must dash as England are in the middle of playing Italy in the world cup currently drawing one all..... are you following the football???

Saturday 31 May 2014

Happy Scrappy

I am not sure why but I am totally in the zone for scrapping at the moment, I love totally immersing myself in a page and I often lose track of everything else.... I actually think that can be a healthy diversion from some of the not so happy scrappy moments of life. The downside is I totally forget I need to cook dinner or clean the house.........ooops!

Each month over at UKS Simple Recipes suggest a palette of colours, a sketch and a technique. Thi month showcased green, grey and pink, using strips of paper, a fab sketch and dry embossing. I also combined it with another Sketch N Scrap birthday challenge this time from DT member Lisa challenging us to use 2 or more project life cards, it worked.....


I woke up thinking of scrapping this morning so got up and made another page in less than 2 hours (a miracle for me!) I used this sketch from the Memory Nest


and with a bit of twisting and turning and one photo instead of 2 I created a pretty page


Party poppers is a challenge from  Kelly, another Sketch N Scrap birthday challenge asking for confetti on the page so perfect for my Dandelion.

I wonder if I can fit another page or 2 in before the end of the day!

Friday 30 May 2014

Scrap happy!

This week on UKS we were asked to 
Firstly - Scraplift a LO from UKS gallery 

and then Select one thing from each of the following...

Main colour - Green / Blue / Yellow / Brown / Purple
Theme - Spring / May / Nature / New beginnings 
Embellishment - Ribbon / Washi Tape / Buttons / Stickers / Handmade / Fibres
Technique - Stamping / Die cutting or Punches / Embossing / Tearing 


I scraplifted Laura Godfrey, went for a brown colour scheme, May theme, Washi tape and I used an embossed stamp from the HP studios punched into a circle shape...


I added glittery gold stars by Studio Calico and this fits the Sketch and Scrap 2nd birthday challenge set by DY member Kerry on her blog to use glitter/sparkle.

Each month I try and join in with Miniowner's sketch challenge


and I combined it with another of Sketch n Scrap's birthday challenges (I have loved doing these challenges this month!) from Um blog de Scrapbook using 2 of everything.....2 bits of doily. 2 lots of enamel dots, 2 layers of matting, 2 photos, 2 word title, 2 banners, 2 mists used, 2 lines of journalling, 2 cloud stamps and just 2 colours used throughout...green and blue



Monday 26 May 2014

Getting Messy with challenges

So I got some paint, some ink and some mist out and got messy....
I took this sketchabilities sketch

and SJ Crafts bingo game (need to complete a line to win/enter!)


and using vellum polaroid frames, a metal embellishment and stamping came up with this page.... as it also because I have gone a bit mixed media on this I am entering it into Sketch and Scrap's DT member Heather's challenge


 For this weeks UKS challenge we were asked to use stamping, paint, washi and a handmade flower, I knew this would work perfectly with this Scrap our Stash challenge, where you made your own background


I used a hole punch to punch circles and then made 3 flowers, sticking them in the bottom left corner of the page, I covered them in the blue paint that forms a border around 2 edges.  The doily from the layout above was used as a stencil and I used green and blue mists over the page. I stamped the circles and added 2 different washi tapes


I challenged myself ....instead of just completing a line on SJ Crafts bingo card I was going for 'full house' and I actually managed it! Using a border punch on one edge of the torn vellum, tying a metal embellishment to the page thus creating a knot and of course using mixed alphas in the title. Along with all the previously mentioned additions I used everything.....but I don't think it looks too much do you??

with all the circles on this layout I am also entering Sketch n Scrap's challenge to use circles from over at DT member Darcy's blog

Sunday 18 May 2014

more challenges

For the monthly house challenge at UKS we had to use / be inspired by a given selection of winnie the pooh quotes..... I chose ''As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen''.  It fitted in perfectly with the story of us looking for the house in Lavenham that was the inspiration for Godric's Hollow and Harry Potters Home.

I used this sketch from Sketch n Scrap




these colours from colour me scrappy



and made this page



the journalling is now a bit straighter!!



Whilst on the theme of Harry Potter, I made another page with photo's taken at the Harry Potter Studios taking the colour palette from Jot's mood board



and using the sketch from Hilary's blog as a Sketch n scraps  DT member celebrating their 2nd birthday 



making this bright and fun page!



lots of scrapping.....

Sorry I have deserted my blog recently as I have had a few things on my mind.... my Dad is continuing to struggle with cancer and it has now spread further, DS had a bad couple of weeks and was feeling really fed up with constantly feeling unwell and then I got sick!

But I am back and I really enjoyed going to my local crop yesterday and making some pages.....

First up I used this sketch from Stuck


and I made this page featuring my 2 children


it also fits perfectly with Scap and Play's Flowers challenge (to use something on your page beginning with each letter in the word flowers)
F = flower
L = layers
O = one photo
W = washi tape
E = enamel dots
R = round sequins
S = stickers

I realised it also fits the bingo challenge bottom line from Kerry's blog as DT member  for Sketch and Scrap as they celebrate their second birthday


It also fits the bingo challenge at SJ Crafts (mixed alphas, torn paper and knots on my bunting) but I am entering another page for that as not sure if I can enter twice!

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Last few challenges for April

I recently visited Leigh on Sea in Essex and took several snaps using Instagram (I am loving playing with Instagram now that I have a new phone and my Project Life pages are full of small instagram photos!).

I saw this sketch on My Scraps and more sketches which I knew would work perfectly

  I made this page...

The letters are large spotty chipboard transformed into blue using promarkers,blue ink and clear embossing powder.  The addition of red twine reflecting the nautical theme.  I stamped and paper pieced the boat and also stamped the anchor (and embossed with silver) and the fish.  I added the silvery coloured twine to the anchor..... a different bunch of techniques using up lots of stash.

I was inspired by Relly's post over on Shimelle's blog to 'make the most of your title' so it is big and bold.


Scrap our stash #13 calls for Spring colours, a paperclip, a journal card and at least one 3 D embellishment, which worked rather brilliantly with this sketch from Sketch N Scrap...


Combining the two I came up with a Spring based Layout using pink, blue, mauve, yellow and blue.  My journal card is behind with the bird paperclip attached to help pull it out.  My 3D embellishments are punched birds  with 3D wings and a pearl eyes to give both movement and texture.


I am totally looking forward to (Inter)National Scrapbooking Day on Saturday.... I love all the challenges, inspiration and ideas....I am so excited!  Hope to see you joining in with some of the Challenges.

Tuesday 29 April 2014

More challenges

Totally loving more challenges this month.....
I came across this mood board from Jot magazine 


at first glance it isn't a colour palette I would normally use, but as usual I am always up for trying something scrappy out at least once!  I grabbed some papers and set to work....

I used this sketch from sketchabilities, but didn't actually enter the challenge as per usual!


and this was my first page


then I used Miniowner's fabulous sketch (go and visit her blog as she runs a sketch challenge each month and I love joining in!)


so here is page two... totally loving this page.....


Sunday 27 April 2014

Sharing scrapbook pages on Sunday over a cup of tea

Good evening, slightly late I know but I am hoping you have time to stop for a cup of tea whilst I show you my latest scrapbook pages.  I do have some instant coffee but we have run out of the yummy filter type (poor hubby was not impressed) so sorry but I have a great choice of teas.....



See anything you fancy?  I think I will make myself an earl grey with vanilla, it tends to be my late evening drink.  Everyone else is in bed here now so it is peaceful and quiet so we can natter away, though I do have to go to work tomorrow.....

So what have you been up to?  Did you have a nice Easter, I can offer you a cream egg if you would like one!  I have had a quiet weekend, did you?  I made a couple of scrapbook pages earlier in the week.....


The first page is for the UKS weekly challenge, we were asked to use an advert as the main photo, shaped buttons or brads, 2 colours from the photo and either a short cryptic title or a long wordy one......phew what a challenge!  Initially I thought I wouldn't manage this one but I did in the end and actually quite like the page although the photo isn't brilliant!


This is inspired by Simple Recipes I used the colours, the sketch and tried reverse resist technique to create the camera embellishment.... will definitely try that again.

Well I guess it is getting late so you probably need to get going, I always love seeing you here and hope we can catch up again soon.

This post was brought to you as part of Abi's 'let's sit and have a cup of tea' pop over have a look and a cuppa with a few of my friends (some old and some new!)

Saturday 26 April 2014

More scrapping

For the monthly/house challenge over at UKS we had to use
1 word title
2 photos
3 patterned papers
4 blue elements
5 lines of journalling

I used this fab sketch from Stuck Sketches


and took inspiration from SJ Crafts mood board...using cork board paper as the back ground, using the colours,blocks and lines, the sprinkling affect using hearts that are like individual flower petals....


The end result was this page...


another one I really like of the family about them spelling out words stood on the sea wall... the first one is I heart U...I love you and then they came up with a 3 letter word....POO!

Just realised this is my 500th post.....I should have planned something special but it is too late now!