Scrapaholix Monthly Crop

It was our monthly Scrapaholix Crop yesterday at Birstall, it lovely to meet up with the regulars and as it was the last one before Christmas it was a bit of a party theme with nibbles and secret Santa.  This months kit was made up with papers from the My Minds Eye, Lost and Found Collection, such beautiful papers it was hard to cut them up.

The first layout I did was based on this months sketch from Sketchabilities
http://sketchabilities.blogspot.com/2011/11/sketch-60-design-team-reveal.html

As well at the Lost and Found papers I used my new Tim Holtz die for the holly spray, 2010 cut using cricut



















2nd Layout was using one of this months sketches from Page Maps http://www.pagemaps.com/

and I've still got lots more of the papers to play with.

Hope you like them as much as I enjoyed doing them, your comments are appreciated

21st Birthday Card

Its Cara's 21st Birthday on Friday (my youngest daughter's girlfriend) and a surprise party has been arranged, I have been helping my daughter with a card for her and also doing some photo boards and very nearly forgot to do her a card myself. 
Anyway just managed to finish one which I've based on this weeks sketch from Promarker Challenge Blog http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com/

The papers are from My Minds Eye Lime Twist collection.

I really love the bright colours of this collection

Molly Bloom stamp coloured and  highlighted in areas with glossy accents

Gems from my stash  (I just need to add a 21)

Daughters Birthday

Its my eldest Daughters birthday next week and as she is away at University we have arranged to meet half way this Sunday and have a day together, we are going to visit Trentham Gardens in Stoke on Trent and no doubt she will be treated to a birthday meal as well, as the day is looming I thought I had better get on and do her birthday card
I've based it on this weeks sketch from Paper Take Weekly http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/

The papers are from Basic Greys Porcelain collection with bazzill cardstock embossed using an embossing folder on the big shot.

Molly Blooms stamp coloured with Copics and parts highlighted with glossy accents , ribbon and card candy from my stash.

I'm also going to post this on
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/

Merly Crop

Phew what a busy last few weeks, what with working extra hours and getting ready for my craft fayre at Countesthorpe College on 12/11/11 which went very well, I dont seem to have had time to do any paper crafting.

Anyway last saturday was the bi monthly crop run by Merly Impressions www.merlyimpressions.co.uk  held near Bedford.  What a lovely day, the kit was made up of the new Kaisercraft Collection called Madame Boutique beautiful vintage papers of brown turquoise and green.  The kit also included the new Kaisercraft Botanicals Stamp and some bakers twine and there were lots of lovely goodies on sale.

Chrissy had kindly done us some instructions for a couple of layouts and here are my attempts :-

The first one is titled "Me" which was great as its very rare that I scrap any pictures of me on my own.

The second one is titled Daughters and the photo is of my three rebels taken a couple of christmas' ago.

I printed both my photos in sepia as I thought they went better with the papers.










The challenge given to us before the crop was to make a name badge as it is a new crop and Chrissy thought it would be a good way for us to get to know one another.  There was a good selection of badges and I was so pleased to have been voted the winner and was awarded with a lovely Kaisercraft 25 drawer chest to make up.

Here is my badge, I used a die cut shape and covered with patterned paper, a smaller shape covered with a matching patterned paper, Molly Blooms stamp coloured with copics and highlighted with Glossy Accents.  Finished off with punched flowers with a gem in the centre and then glossy accents applied.

Scrapaholix Crop

This weekend was the monthly Scrapaholix crop at Birstall, the kit this time was made up of papers from the "Simple Stories Generation Collection" and consisted of
1 x Always & Forever
1 x Home Sweet Home
4 x cordinating plain cardstock (2 x lemon, 1 x dark brown & 1 x burgandy)
a doily cut on a die cutting machine and a chalk inkpad

I made two layouts from the kit, the 1st one using a sketch from one of Novembers Page Maps www.pagemaps.com

 this was actually a 8.5 x 11 size but I altered it to a 12x12

My 2nd layout is based on this weeks sketch over at Sketchabilities

http://sketchabilities.blogspot.com/2011/10/sketch-58-design-team-reveal.html

 

Hope you like them, I look forward to reading your comments

Molly Bloom Workshop at Sir Stampalot

What a terrific day I had yesterday, went to my first ever workshop at Sir Stampalot in Peterborough www.sirstampalot.co.uk,

It was a Molly Blooms day with Clare Rowland (creator of the Molly Bloom range of stamps)
http://mollybloomdesigns.blogspot.com/

Had a wonderful day, everyone was friendly and we did two terrific cards :-

The first one was done on an easel (new idea not done before) and we used the scarecrow, pumpkin and sign stamps, all coloured in with copics and embellished with a Doohicky Cutting Die Fence and woodware punched tiny leaves.  Button and ribbon to finish.  Isn't it adorable.

The second one was a pop out scene card, we covered the base card using Magnolia papers, stamps used were Molly Blooms - Fireplace, Sweet Dreams Molly, Molly in Dungarees and sentiment "The stockings were hanging ....", the holly is a Magnolia stamp, all coloured with copics.



The bunting was cut using a Doohicky die and the ribbon border was cut using the new Woodware Cartridge system. 

I also spent lots of money stocking up on the Molly Bloom stamps and of course I had to have the woodware cartridge system as it cuts so lovely and was so easy to use.

Family Addition

What an exciting but hectic week with the highlight being a new addition to the family. Hence the reason for not getting any crafting done. Brandy arrived on Monday 24th October 2011, Boxer puppy aged 6 weeks, she is so cute and already becoming the boss of the house

Brandy aged 6 weeks

She's settled in really well and so I have managed to do a little crafting today.

My Daughter's best friend has just had a new baby so I needed to get a congratulations card done ready for visiting
I've based it on this weeks sketch from http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/

Patterned paper from Craft Creations, Die cut Teddy and Banner, ribbon and gems from
my stash.

Monthly Crop

Yesterday was our montly crop at Church, this time I decided to use papers from Bo Bunny's Timepiece Collection (purchased from Crafts U Love www.craftsulove.co.uk

Here are two sample layouts that I did as inspiration for my ladies :

In the first one I used a paint dabber (snow cap) for the stamped image in the corners, I thought it gave a nice texture, rosettes done using Tim Holtz Sizzix die and I made some paper beads and amalgamated them with seed beeds, 4 generation family photograph.

In the second one I used my Tim Holtz Time mask and spritzed using a copper colour
Martha Stewart border punch and ribbon effect made from paper strip and machine stitched down the centre.  Picture is of me with my 3 girlies

Papers were lovely to work with and I've still got plenty left.

Staying Awake for Charity

This weekend I did a 24hr craft-a-thon at Church, from 6pm on Friday evening until 6pm on Saturday evening raising money for Aigburth House which is a Methodist Homes Association residential home for the elderly in Leicester, they are building a new wing especially for Altzimer sufferers.  As I had already done a full day at work I was actually awake for 39 hours.  Good nights sleep last night but feeling very tired today.  Think it will have to be an early night again tonight as back to work tomorrow.  We had great fun doing it and I did 4 scrapbook layouts as well as some cards and raised lots of money for the cause.

The theme this week over at "Less is More" is Hearts and must be a one layer card
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/10/week-36.html
Funnily enough only last weekend I purchased a new stamp from Indigo Blue which was ideal

The image is called
"Love Is" very appropriate
I thought.  Inked with
momento chalk pads
in various
shades of blue
The love stamp is one
i've had for a long time
dont know the make.
I then masked and spritzed
the image with
tattered angels glimmer mist
dazzling diamonds

Close up view of the image


Hope you like it, comments much
appreciated.

Crafting Weekend

What a fabulous weekend, I went with my Mum and Sister on a crafting weekend away, we booked a beautiful cottage in Lincolnshire, packed all our craft stuff in the car and off we went, Friday to Monday spent scrapping and cardmaking with no interruptions, what bliss.

Here's one of my completed cards, the background was done using Alchol Inks and then image (Crafty Individuals) stamped with black versafine and heat embossed with clear powder. Sentiment from Stampin Up and ribbons and gems from my stash.

I'm going to enter this in the following :-
Less Is More - this weeks theme is colour and they've chosen colour of your eyes and as mine are blue thought this fitted perfectly
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/10/week-35.html

Make It Monday - anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/

More pictures of my finished work from the weekend to follow

Birthday Card for Dad

It seems ages since I posted anything or made anything for that matter, been a really busy couple of weeks getting my two daughter ready for university, Laura off for her final year and Rebecca for her first year but they've both finally gone so its very quiet (and tidy) at home with just one left.

Anyway its my Dad's birthday tomorrow so thought I'd better get cracking, I always find mens card difficult however here goes I think he'll like it.

The image is a digi stamp from Cuddly Buddly, coloured with Copics.   Papers are from Papermania Hampstead collection which I've had in my stash for ages but think the colours are just right for male cards.  DAD cut using sizzix dies and big shot.

I'm going to enter it in the following :
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/ - Men Only
http://www.doitwithdigischallenge.blogspot.com/ - Lots of Layers

New Layouts

I'm not at work at the moment as not been feeling too well so the Doctor has given me a few days rest,  thought I would use the time to get ahead with my layouts for my Scrapbook group at Vanilla Crafts as I find crafting very theraputic.


I'd got some papers from the Kaisercraft Secret Bird Society collection and the clear stamp set that goes with it.

Here's the first layout completed :-

I've used the Mystery and Conceal papers and a sheet of brown bazzill cardstock.

Stamped images done on scraps of cream cardstock

Letter stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry

Photo's were taken last Christmas when we visited Bradgate Park in Leicestershire (not far from where we live) walking off all the Christmas goodies that we had consumed over the festive period.

The park was lovely with the snow on the ground but all the lovely colours of nature peeping through.

Second Layout completed :-

I've used the Shh and Disguise papers together with a sheet of blue and a sheet of rust bazzill cardstock

Stamped images done on scraps of  cardstock

Letter stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry

Photos again of Bradgate Park

I've based this layout on this weeks sketch from Sketches in Thyme
http://sketchesinthyme.blogspot.com/2011/09/team-thursday-takes-55.html

Seeing Double

The theme this week over at Less Is More is a one layer card -"seeing double" and here is my take on the theme

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-32-one-layer-seeing-double.html

I've used the Kaisercraft Secret Bird Society stamp set for the main image with a sentiment from Hero Arts
Momento teardrop inkpads and a little bit of clear stickles

I look forward to reading your comments.

Scrapaholix September Crop

It was my monthly Scrapaholix Crop last Saturday and I've finally got around to finishing the two layouts which I started.
This months kit contained :-
2 x Patterned papers from Fabscraps Heritage Range
4 x Matching Bazzill Plain Cardstock
Metal trinkets

Delight in the Beauty....

Another card completed today, back to work tomorrow so unfortunately won't have so much time to craft.  I've based this on sketch 69 from Sketch N Stash
http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/sketch-n-stash-challenge-69.html

Tilda image coloured with copics, papers are from Kay Miller Designs, Simple Pleasures and were free with my this months Scrapbook Magazine. 

More Cards Completed

Still fired up with enthusiasm and not having anything planned over the Bank Holiday which is a good thing considering the weather, a couple more cards completed.  I've followed the theme for this weeks CES Challenge which is Pink, Brown and Aqua.  Hope you like them.

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-51-brown-pink-aqua.html

Both are done using tilda stamps, coloured with copics, papers are from Daisy Bucket Magical Moments Collection and Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime Collection.  Flowers made using woodware punches and sentiment is a Molly Blooms mini and gems from my stash.

Inspirational Visit to Sir Stampalot

I felt more in the cardmaking mood this weekend after a visit to Sir Stampalot on Saturday, wonderful demo's by Clare Rowland on the new Molly Blooms Christmas stamps,  anyway I felt quite inspired by what I saw so when I got home I set to.

Here is a card done using the sketch from Cute Card Thursday
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-179-sketch-time.html

Stamp is tilda and coloured using Copic's
Papers are ones which came free with this months Scrapbook Magazine and are from Kay Miller Designs. Simple Pleasures

Ribbons and button from my stash and sentiment is a Molly Blooms minature.

Hope you like it

Show Off

Had some great photos of the peacock at Abbey Park's pets corner when it was being a right show off and wanted to do a layout using them.  I thought they went great with the colouring of the Kaisercraft Utopia Collection papers.

I based my layout on the August sketch from The Scraproom Blog
http://thescraproomblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/july-sketch-winner-and-august-sketch.html

Things That Move

The theme this week over at less is more is "Things That Move".  I wanted to give this a little thought as there are endless possibilities and wanted something a little different.  I finally decided on this ....

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-29-theme.html

 I've been wanting to use this embossing folder and die for ages but couldn't think what to do, obviously cogs are used in lots of things to make them move so thought this very appropriate.  Think it makes a great mens card.

Tim Holtz Sizzix Embossing Folder
Tim Holtz Sizzix Shapers and Movers Die
Cardstock from my stash

I look forward to reading your comments.

Greetings from Twycross

I've been busy trying to get some samples done for my weekly scrapbooking group at Vanillacrafts and decided to have a go using the formula over at the scraproom blog:

http://thescraproomblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-freaky-fast-friday-2-and.html

The formula for August is :-

1. Cardstock Background
2. 5 1/2 X 9 1/2 patterned paper
3. 2 1/2 X 10 patterned paper
4. 1 1/2 X 11 patterned paper
5. 1-2 1/2 inch diameter circle patterned paper
6. 1-5 inch diameter circle patterned paper

And here is the steps to completing your layouts using the August formula...
1. Collect a few pics.
2. Cut your patterned paper to the dimensions stated above.
3. Push the paper around your cardstock till you achieve the look you want
4. Adhere and EMBELLISH! It is that easy!!

and using the info above my creation was born

I've once again used the Utopia Collection from Kaisercraft with matching Bazzill cardstock (all purchased from Merly Impressions  http://www.merlyimpressions.co.uk/ )

I just love the colours of this collection

Title cut using the Jasmine Cricut Cartridge
Postcard stamp from Lily of the Valley

I hope its up to scratch and look forward to reading your comments

Sample Layout - Twycross

Sample layout ready for my crop tomorrow, based on this weeks sketch from Sassy Lil Sketches

http://sassylilsketches.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-week-3-layout-sketch.html

Papers are from the Utopia Collection from Kaisercraft, matching Bazzill cardstock which I stamped using flower from Hero Arts CL496 set and then clear embossed.  Title cut using the Don Juan Cricut Cartridge.  Photo is of my youngest daughter Amy on a recent trip to Twycross Zoo.