Trendy Sentiments layout

Hi everyone

Just hopping by to share another make using the Papermania Neon collection, and the Trendy Sentiments free download from docrafts. You can download the pack HERE. It's full of funky papers and sentiments that feel so fresh and modern - great if you're a younger crafter or crafting for a young person. It works so well with the Neon collection.

Until next time...!

(P.S)... stay tuned for something VERY cool on Wednesday or Thursday or Friday depending on the post... eeeee!!!!

Docrafts Blog Hop

Hi all!

Been making some projects using docrafts products especially for the Design Team Blog Hop. Scroll to the bottom of this post for links to my fellow members' blogs!

This first scrapbook page is using the Papermania Neon Collection. With this layout I thought I'd let you all know a little more about me. 

The background is using a leopard spot embossing folder with Neon pink ink. I did one sheet and the ink pad fell apart. I did another with neon paint but I ended up liking both so ripped them up and alternated between the two as a background.

Also this past week or so, docrafts have a sale on. And I mean a SALE. If you haven't already checked it out, I definitely recommend it. My haul is pictured below and it came to just £20.74. 

I particularly wanted the A4 die cut and paper packs - they're normally £12 each so a bit much for my limit of spending £20 a month on supplies.. (not that I ever stick to that...). And of course I love playing around with frames so I got some of those too.

Here's a page I made using the Papermania Nature's Gallery A4 die cut & paper pack. My boyfriend and I often go to Lakeside on sunny days, there's a little outlet and a lake to walk around.  There's bird species there that you don't normally see such as Great Crested Grebes and Gadwalls and it's rather nice. I used the die cuts as a border, like you're seeing the birds through the undergrowth. 

And lastly a set of cards made with the Bellissima die cut & paper pack. This collection is lovely for card making, lovely colours, but it would also work on a girly scrapbook layout or something floral. I'm not really a card maker but with this set it's all so easy to put together to make wonderful cards.

Thank you for hopping by, and please check out my fellow Design Team members' blogs! 

Heather https://heathermitchelldesign.wordpress.com/

Mags Woodcock https://thetaglady.wordpress.com

Julie Wilson http://newnanny.blogspot.co.uk/

Michelle- http://scrapthology.blogspot.co.uk/

Katie http://whatkatiedid2.blogspot.co.uk/

Sarah Douglas http://stickerkitten.co.uk/

Amy Surey https://amysureycreations.wordpress.com/

Saved from the scrap pile!

Hi all
Been having a sort out this week. I'm trying to think of the best way of storing my papers.

I keep my 12x12" papers in 2 12x12" boxes. One plastic one and one cardboard one that some supplies came in.

My A4 papers used to be all in one box but I could never find anything - so I've put them into a divider file with smaller papers, arranged by brand/range.
But then it wouldn't shut. I hate those divider files anyway. They're so awkward to get into because the lid keeps wanting to shut!

So I went to the shop today and picked up a couple of 40 pocket A4 display files.

And had a sort through of my scraps.
When a piece of paper has something cut out of it, it's easy to put it in the scrap file and move on.
No, I say!

My pile of scrap pink papers

Here are some tips -

 

If it's tiny and you can't get any die cuts out of it - bin.

If it's scratty - bin.

If it's got lots of bits cut out - bin.

If it's got a few bits cut out but one usable are, cut off the hole-y bit.

Arrange by colour - one pocket for plain, one pocket for geometric, one pocket for floral/other patterns. This way they're easier to find.

If there's any almost full sheets - cut out to A4 (30x21cm) 8x8", A5 (21x15cm), 6x6", or A6 (15x10.5cm).

Put back in your 'full sheet' files.

Here's the result of me doing the above - look how much I managed to save! It didn't actually take me that long, either.

All that should be in your scrap file is bits you can use for diecutting!

Enough procrastinating for one day... I've two scrapbook pages on the go...

So until next time....!

Silver Wedding Card

Hi all

Wishing my mum and dad a very happy Silver Wedding anniversary today!
Just popping by to share the card I made for them.
They're away in Italy at the moment but I'm sure they'll love it.

A Perfect Pair

Hi all

A new layout today -
I had the idea for this page when I saw the 'A Perfect Pair' stamp on the Hobbycraft website - I instantly knew I had to make a page of Nathan and I with our specs on.
I used the My Mind's Eye 'Cut & Paste' kit that I picked up in TK Maxx in Cambridge. I love the colour scheme of the kit and wanted to use it properly.
I did add in other embellishments that complimented the colour scheme.

Now my next task is to come up with an idea for an anniversary card/something for Nathan...

Think I'll just get all my 'Gorjuss' and steampunk supplies out and play....

Upcycling a wine box

Hi all

As you probably know I've been wanting to try out some mixed media art.

Well, for their anniversary my parents received a box with wine inside and they gave me the box. It was a really nice wood and I painted it with pastel purple acrylic.

On top I've added bits of texture paste, embossed card that I sprayed with ink and painted over bits of. I did try and add a glitter word but it's not come up very well - note to self - wait for previous glue to dry before adding more..

So here it is. I've had a switch around and I'm using it to store my stickers in.

Hi all
I'm back with a little something
We're having a party in August - to celebrate my 21st birthday and my parents' silver wedding.
We've made some bits and bobs for it and this week I made a drinks menu.

Just used stencils for the background and the lettering. It's not perfect, but it's nice and bright for our summer theme. 

A Soft Craft Make

Hi all,
Something a bit different today -
I'm sure we've all got a box full of fat quarters/fabric that we don't use. With me it's because I'm never sure what to make, and it has to be something of practical use.
So I'm happy when I open Creativity magazine and there's a soft craft project in there that'll make something useful.
This time, issue 59, it's a fabric journal case.
I wanted to make it because I like my things to be organized. This is somewhere I can keep a magazine and a notebook and everything be all together.
I will admit that I received Help from my mother.
She can sew. I can botch and cover it up with something.
She can understand instructions. I just get confused.
Alas, we deciphered the instructions (though I sympathize that write ups are incredibly difficult!) and here's the finished product.

It's also going to be useful when I go away, I can put a wildlife mag and sketching supplies in there, plus my camera filters.

FYI, I bought that magazine for the Red Panda on the cover. It was between that and BBC Focus and the Panda won. Both had dinosaurs inside.

Which brings me to my final, non soft craft related, point. 

I am going to have a go at making art with mixed media. I enjoy scientific illustration and I'm thinking of combining that with mixed media. 

Until next time...

Totally Gorjuss!

Hi all,

Just popping by to share a card I made for docrafts using their Gorjuss collection.

I love the 'Wonderland' feel to the collection. Instead of going with the colour scheme on the stamp set, I chose my own colours, giving the girl ginger hair and a blue dress.

Well, secretly I wanted her to look a bit like me...

A new mixed media layout

Yesterday I made a new layout using a lovely photo of my boyfriend, Nathan.

I'm one of those incredibly annoying people who are constantly fiddling with camera settings and taking too long to take photos and then taking a lot of photos... hence why he doesn't look too impressed.

This time I was messing around with 'creative control' on my camera (most bridge cameras have something like this) and used the 'film grain' setting for this photo and it's given a really nice effect.

For this layout I wanted to make it quite vintage and steampunk, so after a base coat of white acrylic I used the gears stencil by Scrapberrys with my home made texture paste. I seem to have got the consistency right now so the gears look really crisp. I sprayed the textured areas with Luminarte spray mist in bronze.

I ripped the edges of the page and inked them with a beige and then dark brown ink for a more aged effect. 

The compass was cut from the background paper and brought forward, it really suited the vintage theme.

For the embellishments I used Kaisercraft Mister Fox and Santoro Willow pieces. 

Now... all my scrapping is up to date for the moment - ish - I'm banking on my next docrafts kit to arrive soon as I have a great idea for another page. 

In the meantime I have more blogs planned and I'll be posting some cards, too. Stay tuned!

St James' Park Layout

Hi everyone
I was busy yesterday with another layout, using photos I took in St James' Park on our visit to London. I love this park because there are lots of different species of birds, and the ice cream is lovely.

Products used:

My Mind's Eye Find Your Wings & Fly paper/cutout embellishments/layered stickers

Dovecraft Bohemian paper/buttons

Santoro Willow wooden embellishments

Papermania Bare Basics mini bunting/Neon button

Hobbycraft mini alphabet

Sizzix Alterations chevron die

Webster's Pages sticker

P.s.

I was in the craft room and missed the first 6 Springwatch Blue Tits fledging. I did manage to see two leave, though. Lovely.

Will be posting another layout later. Stay tuned...!

Flamingo Layout

Hi all,

Wanted to share one of my favourite layouts.

I made this for docrafts using their Neon collection.

I'd had this layout planned for a while after a visit to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, but waited patiently for my Design Team kit to arrive before I made this - and I'm so glad I did - the collection really complements this photo of a Flamingo.

The background is made by drizzling PVA glue over the surface and pouring glitter over the top.

Find out more HERE

I might post again today depending on the Springwatch Blue Tits fledging - I've been glued to the live feed for a good few days now... surely they've got to go soon? Can I tear myself away from them long enough to go into the craft room? We shall see...

Made some cards!

Been card making this week.

Seeing as it's my auntie's 60th birthday next month I wanted to make her a big, bright, fun card.
Because the card I'm using is A5-ish size, I chose 8x8 paper instead of the 6x6 I normally go for, and the First Edition Neroli paper pad was perfect for this project. My 8x8 papers don't get used very much but I think I'll have to change that!
The shaker element was made with plastic packaging taped together. I initially used glue but that just made a mess... the sequins are from Poundland, and there's a good variety of different shapes like flowers and stars, not just plain circles, which is nice.

The next card is for my aunt and uncle's Ruby Wedding. I used a shaker element again because I love sequins.

And a final birthday card using the Papermania Botanicals collection.