St Paul's || Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

My last blog post of 2016! This year has gone by so quickly.... The tree is down - it's been a crappy December for us as a family with one thing and another so we wanted a clean slate for the new year. I'm crafting today and then going to welcome in the New Year with my boyfriend and his family.

Here's a scrapbook layout I made using the Like Forever kit from November which is called Stargazer and has lots of bits from the Pink Paislee 'Moonstruck' collection which I absolutely adore. 

We took the picture in the square near St Paul's on a recent trip to London. Nathan's camera has a flip-out screen so it's perfect for selfies....! 

There are also some bits from the Simple Stories 'The Reset Girl' collection here.

Now, for 2017... there are a lot of unknowns but my resolution is to take better care of myself and relax more...!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic 2017!

Emily xx

More Couture du Jour cards!

Hi all,

It's been a very busy Christmas and I haven't had much time to craft. We spent Christmas in Liverpool and it was fabulous. A busy week, then it's New Year,  but hopefully next week things will calm down a bit and I can get back into crafting properly!

I have some more cards to share using the Couture du Jour collection from Trimcraft.

For step by step instructions, head over to my Trimcraft gallery! (link) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Merry Christmas

Hi everyone,

A final Christmas card to share and this one is for all my lovely followers...! 

As you read this I'll probably be on the way to Liverpool. Nathan walked in one day and told me that his parents are going to Liverpool for Christmas and that we are welcome to tag along. I had a think, and then I asked his mum about it one morning and she made it sound really exciting, so it was very hard to say no to. I know Nathan would prefer that too, and we did spend Christmas with my family last year. Very excited! 

I've planned this as my last post before Christmas, so wherever you are and however you are spending Christmas, have a fabulous time!

Emily xx

Introducing Simply Creative Around The World! || A London Scrapbook Layout

Hello!

This week I received my Trimcraft DT Kit, featuring all the new paper releases. There are six new Simply Creative paper pad designs and two from First Edition. I will be very busy over Christmas! 

I have a new layout to share today using one of the new Simply Creative paper pads. This one is called Around The World and as you can tell it's all very travel-themed so perfect for documenting your trips at home and abroad. 

This layout uses a picture I took in London earlier this month. Nathan and I always have a walk by the Thames whenever we are in London; we love to explore all the little shops and galleries and of course call into one of the FOUR Wagamama restaurants along the route. (I have since noted their locations all down on the map we use...!) 

To find out how I made this, head over to my Trimcraft gallery (LINK)

I apologise for not posting much of late - I have been busy with my December Daily album and I'm loving putting it together. I will do a video walkthrough once it is complete!

Now, I have some more projects to make and then I should probably think about packing as we are going to be spending Christmas in Liverpool... exciting stuff!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

See Amid The Winter's Snow

Hi all,

A layout to share today using kraft card and an old picture...
I've a new obsession with scrapping old pictures from when my parents were young. I love hearing the stories behind the pictures.
I was looking for a wintery picture with a cold feel to it and I found this one, taken when my dad was young, on a 110 format camera, Vivitar Tele 835AW, he tells me. (I need one!) It was taken on Christmas Day and then snow was so bad the road to New Holland for Christmas dinner was impassable.

Here's the original picture, I love it. The photocopy never did it justice but you can see how wonderful the colours are in the original. 

Anywho, if you want to find out more about how I made this layout then it's up on my Trimcraft gallery. (LINK) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Life In A Snapshot - December Challenge - Snowy Sunrise Layout

Hi all,

December really is flying by.... Here is my project for the Life In A Snapshot challenge. You can find out more here (LINK)

This month we decided that we would do a moodboard instead of a sketch and the theme is winter. 

I decided to use a picture of a sunrise in the snow that I took a few years ago (from a moving car, clever me...!) 

The background paper is by BasicGrey I think, it was difficult to find a paper that matched my photo but this was perfect. I used a little gesso on the background with some spray ink on top. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

'Oh Deer!' Christmas Scrapbook Layout

Hello, lovely followers!

As it's the last week before the Christmas break I thought I'd share a festive layout with you. This one uses the Simply Creative 'Jingle Bells' paper pad by Trimcraft.

I made this in November, and I was struggling to find pictures I hadn't used before and then I found these pictures Nathan had taken for me a few years ago when there were some reindeer at the market in town. Perfect for this festive layout.

Step by step instructions are up on my Trimcraft gallery (link)

Thanks for stopping by!
(When this post goes live I'll be in Sheffield presenting a thing to some very unhelpful uni tutors... fingers crossed we'll do ok!)
Emily xx

Autumn Leaves Mixed Media Layout

Hi all,

A new layout to share today using some pictures I took a few weeks ago of the trees in our local park as the leaves were just beginning to turn. It was at this point that after having my camera for four years, I worked out how manual focus works. Ha ha ha...

This layout started when I was trying out some Nuvo metallic 'embellishment mousse' through a Prima stencil and it looked fantastic. The challenge then was, how to make a layout without covering too much of the beautiful pattern I had created. I also added light green and gold ink splatters.
I stuck my photos in a strip on patterned paper and then stuck onto vellum and ripped the edges. The large skeleton leaves are from Paperchase (note to self: buy more in London!). Finally I added ribbon, rub ons and thickers, as well as some cardstock stickers from the 'Market Street' collection by My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Couture du Jour cards!

Hi all,

I have some cards to share today using the Couture du Jour collection from Trimcraft.

For step by step instructions, head over to my Trimcraft gallery! (Link)

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Spreading Some Christmas Cheer!

Hi all,

Some final Christmas card inspiration to share just in case you've that last few cards left to make.
These cards use the Simply Creative 'Christmas Cheer' paper pad by Trimcraft.

This one used layered papers. I fussy cut along the patterned paper with bells on it and stuck behind tartan print paper. I made a shaker element using vellum and sequins, held together with machine stitching.

This one used inlaid die cutting. Sound complicated? It really isn't. There's a handy tutorial over on my Trimcraft Gallery which should explain it all for you.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Golden Days Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

A new layout to share today and it's one of my favourites ever.

The picture was taken a couple weeks ago at our local park. Nathan and I went for a walk as it was a sunny Sunday and it was an excuse for a cheeky Maccies and an opportunity to have a play around with Nathan's new camera which is like mine but with a lot more bells and whistles. It's a lot of fun to use and I got some great shots but this one is my favourite. Nathan had gone for a sit down (he had been at work the night before) and I took this. I love how the trees were reflected in the still water and how the shadows in the leaves on the floor have been captured.

Sometimes, you have to suck it up, put your big girl pants on and USE YOUR SPECIALITY PAPERS. Like seriously if it cost you two quid you need to use it and not sit there stroking it. So I did. The background is some speciality papers I had been hoarding. I'm going to say the one with the trees on is by Carta Bella and it's textured and lovely and I got it in one of those surprise sale boxes last year. The round one with the lovely rings (there is a word for it and I can't remember!) is from one of this year's collections, it's... Warm and Cosy by Pebbles/Jen Hadfield. It cost me £2 but I didn't care.
The embellishments are a mish-mash of collections. Basically I got a 12x12" plastic zip bag and filled it with all of my autumn stash. Like a personalised scrapbook kit. Most are bits from the September/October Quirky Kit, but there's also some Shimelle 'Go Now Go' love hearts which brought a little more gold to the layout. The blue domes are from The Works, they have a crackle effect and they are wonderful.

They don't show up on the picture but I also used some gold rub on leaves. I forget what brand they are but they are from this year. I took a picture from the side so you can see them. It's all in the little details.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Ombre Inlay (It's Simpler Than It Looks!)

Hello again! 

I have something of an experiment to share with you today. Yesterday I was at a bit of a loose end so I figured I would have a go at an idea I've had for a while... an ombre inlay in a pattern die.

Maybe that sounds over complicated? It's super easy (if a little fiddly), and in the end I came up with this.... 

For this card I used a First Edition repeat pattern die by Trimcraft. I cut it from kraft card. I also cut it from four coloured papers from my scraps box, and (IMPORTANT!!) saved all the little 'bits' from inside the die. I backed the kraft die cut with sticky tape, and then used the little bits to fill in the gaps. I arranged them into an ombre pattern (dark red>red>gold>yellow), with a little of each colour in the next colour (I'm bad at explaining things...) so the transition to one colour to the next was smoother. 

The dragonfly is from a mini die by Dovecraft. I did the same technique as with the pattern - die cut from kraft card and then from coloured scraps, saving the 'bits'. 

The background is some watercolour paper with a DecoArt mister sprayed over it. This was just to test the mister out (Katie kindly sent me a parcel of mixed media goodies last week <3) but it went well with the inlayed die cuts that I used it as a background. I used yellow washi tape around the edge and backed onto orange paper. 

Finally (I'm obsessed with this lately), I cut a length of gold thread and stuck it around the dragonfly, using little gems to cover up the areas where the double sided tape was visible.

Right, off to watch some December Daily videos as I'm thinking about doing it this year. I have a little 6x6" album coming, it was like £1 in the docrafts sale so I thought... why not?!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Emily xx