Bee-autiful! || Scrapbook Layout || Simply Creative Country Garden

Hi all,

I have a layout to share today and it's super easy to make! I used the Simply Creative Country Garden papers from Trimcraft to make this. 

Last summer I spent an hour trying to get a decent picture of the bees in our garden... this is one of the three good ones I got....!

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

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

You Will Forever Be My Always || Scrapbook Layout || More Than Words Challenge Feb 2017

Hi all

I have a layout to share today for the More Than Words challenge. This month's theme is to be inspired by the word 'together' and include an ampersand on the project. You can find out more here.



Here is my layout. I used a picture of Nathan and I on Valentine's weekend.

The backing paper is one sheet by Crate Paper 'Heart Day'. I saw that the triangles could form a heart shape so I cut it out, flipped it over and taped it into place. As I had the heart coming off the edge of the page, I had a gap in the centre so I just filled it with scrap paper and covered it up with my photo.

The gold washi tape was 15p for a pack of two from the local supermarket after Christmas and I love it. 

Most of the embellishments (paper behind the photo, lip brad, chipboard sticker) is from the new Dovecraft 'Kiss & Make Up' collection which is brand new from Trimcraft, I got some yesterday at the Trimcraft bloggers day and it's so lovely to work with. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Trimcraft Bloggers Day!

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday I went to Trimcraft HQ along with a bunch of other lovely crafty people for a fun filled day of crafting, chatter and cake. The event was held to celebrate the launch of 'The Craft Blog', Trimcraft's new website.

I must mention that I really don't get out much so I was super excited for this day and to meet up with online friends and put faces to usernames!

I'm super shy but I was given such a warm welcome by the Trimcraft staff, they are all so lovely and I soon felt at home.

Here's my name badge and the little enamel pin we all got. It's so cute!

For the workshops I ended up sitting with my good friend Heather (we were on the Docrafts DT together in 2015, I was so glad to finally meet one of my fellow 'Rejects'!), and also Becky James. Becky designed for Docrafts magazine 10 years ago when I first got into crafting. Starstruck!

Heather will kill me for posting this but whatever we have matching dimples. :D

The first project we made involved getting messy with decoupage glue and decorating our own little wooden frame.

 Deep in concentration...!

This was the first time I'd ever used a proper craft knife (the one I use is from the £ shop!) and obviously I got it the wrong way around and pressed my thumb against the blade.. Doh!

We were about to begin when Cat (one of the Trimcraft staff) remembered that I'd commented how nice this fish decoupage paper was, and passed me a pack to use. It's even more pretty in person. I also got a pack in my goody bag at the end. Very happy crafter! 

Here's my finished frame, photographed in Trimcraft's studio. I did take a better one but my phone had a hissy fit and decided to corrupt the file... grrr! I fussy cut the fish, it took a while and I got a bit messy covered in glue but the end result is so pretty! 

Proof I was there. 

We also got some sneak peeks of some new product lines launching later in the year. 

After this we had a craft challenge. We had 20 minutes to grab some supplies from a table of papers, buttons, dies and ribbon. Here's some of the projects. Mine is the blue flowery one on the back row. 

We also made origami flowers and a keepsake for the team to keep. I made a thank you card with a dinosaur skull on it. As you do. We also made notebooks which I will do a blog post about - mine isn't finished yet! 

A gold heart balloon ended up near me so Becky stuck my name on it. It is now chillin in my bedroom. 

We had cake:

Then we blinked at it was gone 4pm - 5 hours of crafting! 

On our way out we collected a goody bag each. We had a bit of a giggle because I am tiny and the bag was very big and heavy. Cat said I am adorable. :)

Here's me and my bag and my balloon. 

 So I gave Cat and Sarah a hug goodbye and went home a happy but tired crafter! 

Here's the contents of my goody bag. Trimcraft have been very generous yet again. I'm most excited about the proper craft knife more than anything though! Ha ha... 

Right, now I need to get making! 

Thanks for reading and thank you to the staff at Trimcraft for putting on such a wonderful event.

And it was nice to meet all you lovely crafters. Sorry I wasn't better at conversation! 

Emily xx

Waxwings! || Scrapbook Layout || My Mind's Eye 'Market Street'

Hey everyone,

I have a layout to share today using some of my older stash.

If you don't know what a Waxwing is, they are birds that spend most of their time in Eastern Europe. If the winter weather is particularly harsh over there, they fly west. Occasionally, a few end up here in the UK each year.

This year, they have come over in huge numbers. I really wanted to see some, so I followed the 'waxwings UK' twitter account. A few days later I saw that some had been seen... at the other end of the village! I power walked over there with my boyfriend's camera and saw them in a tree, really high up. The only pictures I got were silhouettes. Got cold and came home. 

The next day, they were reportedly still there so I had another walk and got these great pictures. There were a few other people there with big DSLR cameras and I was there with my little bridge camera..., but when the other people got there, the Waxwings had already flown off.

I was so pleased with my pictures. First, the local park wanted to share them on their Facebook page. Then, the local newspaper asked to share them on their website! I was pretty chuffed. 

Anyway, here's my layout! 

I was really unsure what papers to use for these pictures. Anything pale just made them look dull. Then I found these My Mind's Eye 'Market Street' papers from a couple years ago and they were perfect! I have matching embellishments too (occasionally TKMaxx have some great crafty bargains). I layered up the papers (there's some Project Life cards in the mix too), added my photos and then chose red and yellow embellishments from my stash.

The date stamp is from One Canoe Two 'Hazelwood', it goes right up to 2023! 

Now... as you're reading this I'll be on my way to a very cool place to spend the day with some very cool people I can't wait to meet....! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

First Edition 'Black Out' Cards

Hey everyone, 

I have a couple of cards to share with you today using the First Edition 'Black Out' papers from Trimcraft. 

This first one uses weaving and a heart shaped aperture. It's a super easy technique and very effective.

This one uses one of the new First Edition 'Craft A Card' dies. They're super intricate and there's so many ways of using them. For this card I have cut the die twice and combined the pieces. 

To find out a bit more about how I made these, head over to my Trimcraft gallery (link)

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Flamazing! || Scrapbook Layout || First Edition 'Storyteller'

Hey everyone,

I have a mixed media layout to share today using the First Edition 'Storyteller' papers by Trimcraft.

As you know I'm obsessed with flamingos so when I saw the backing paper (Simply Creative 'Kraft Keepsake'), I just had to use it on a flamingo layout!

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

Thanks for reading!
Emily xx

Nathan's Seat || Scrapbook Layout Using An A4 Photo

Hi all,

I have a scrapbook layout to share today using my new favourite picture ever, Nathan at the top of Arthur's Seat on our recent trip to Edinburgh. 

Seeing it on the train into the city we thought it looked too big to conquer, but after failing to find the smaller looking Calton Hill, we set our sights on Arthur's Seat. 

It was a glorious day, at the bottom it was -4 degrees but the sun was on us on our climb (silly me left my sunglasses in the hotel!), and eventually we made it to the top (I had to keep stopping to get my breath back). I was a bit shaky near the top... and it was very high up. Nathan took some pictures while I had 'five minutes' (a rest!). Then I took out my phone and took this. I love how you can see the city, including the castle. And I love how Nathan is smiling at the camera. That's the most smile you'll ever get! We've never climbed a mountain before but we really enjoyed it. Next time though I think we'll need proper walking gear. I'm sure I'm not the first person ever to climb up in a skirt but I wouldn't recommend it..!

I printed my photo to A4 size (very glad I got a phone with a decent camera - It's bad at everything else but the camera is good!). The paper is 'Hike', from Shimelle 'Go Now Go' and I cut along the triangles at the top and bottom to slide my picture in between.

The embellishments are a real mix. I got the flair from a bookstore in Edinburgh. The title is from a cut apart sheet by Jen Hadfield 'Warm & Cozy', the 'hello world' is OneCanoeTwo 'Hazelwood', and then the rest are just bits and bobs I thought went well with the picture and papers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Edinburgh Old Town || A4 Scrapbook Layout || First Edition 'Black Out'

Hi all,

I have an A4 scrapbook layout to share today using a picture I took on a recent trip to Edinburgh. On our last day there we walked through the old town and I love how the streets are on different levels.

A4 scrapbook layouts are so on trend right now, they're so quick and easy to make and you can display them anywhere.

I used the First Edition 'Black Out' papers on this layout as well as a few bits from Dovecraft's 'Couture du Jour' collection, all by Trimcraft.

To find out how I made this, head to my Trimcraft gallery now (link)

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

I Don't Think You're Ready For This Jelly || Mixed Media Piece...

HAPPY SATURDAY

I got a couple bits of happy mail this week, yay!

Firstly I caved and bought the new jellyfish stamp set by Visible Image. I didn't think they were released until the 13th but I placed an order and it was shipped the next day. Woo!
The evening the set arrived I spent an hour in the craft room and, in the time I wasn't supergluing my ink pot lid back together I was playing around with my mixed media stash and I came up with this and I'm so pleased with it.

I'm not great with mixed media - I'd like to do it more but things are expensive so.... I started off with some gelatos on a scrap strip cut from A4. I painted water onto them, starting from the top (green) to create an ombre effect. Once this was dry I added gesso (the cheap stuff from The Works is great for this type of thing as it's practically clear) as nothing likes to stick to gelatos.
I used the lid of my foot cream to dip into water and stamp on the page, then dropped in a little blue ink. I also sprayed some ink through a Prima stencil.

Then I just stamped the images across the page. Docrafts ink pads aren't very good but it at least shows up on here and in this case the faintness works. The only good ink pad I have is black (versafine) so I used that for the jellyfish. The little dots on the jellies are made by using 3D pearl effects by Dovecraft.

This week I also ordered some of the new scrapbook products from Hey Little Magpie. There really are some stunning products out of late. Here is my unboxing video, let's call it my pick of the best products and papers from the new collections on a budget!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Krafting Cards Is Fun!

...That's a pun 'cause the three cards I'm sharing today are all made using Kraft patterned paper.

They are from the Simply Creative 'Kraft Keepsake' paper pads by Trimcraft. There is so much you can do with kraft papers - pair them with bright colours, colour in the patterns, fussy cut designs... and with these I've done just that. 

This first one uses lots of layers and some stitching.

I've coloured in the mandala paper here and fussy cut out. I paired it with the First Edition 'Storyteller' paper pad here. This card was really easy to make and looks so fancy. I love it! 

Finally, some fussy cutting a a chance to use the 'Couture du Jour' leather stickers that I love so much.

To find out how I made these and more, head over to my Trimcraft gallery. (link)

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

#excitedscrapper

It's Wednesday...

And (most of) the new scrappy releases became available online yesterday...!

So obviously I am already looking out of the window for the postman though nothing has even been dispatched yet.

I AM SO EXCITED

Haven't bought anything since November (thanks to boxes of Trimcraft stuff keeping me occupied) so I'm glad to be able to start scrapping my 2017 adventures.

Spent the morning sorting out some things for a new venture and I think I might sort out the craft room this afternoon.

What new products are you most excited about?

L.O.V.E || Scrapbook Layout || We R Memory Keepers 'Urban Chic'

Hi all!

Funny time of year. Still waiting on the new collections to come out from every single company there is so in the meantime I've been catching up on my 2016 scrapbook and using up some things I bought at the end of last year.

We spent Christmas in Liverpool and I have made a layout using a picture I took of the huge Christmas tree at Liverpool ONE.

I mostly used We R Memory Keepers 'Urban Chic' on this layout, it's one of my favourite collections from last year - so bright and funky.

The title is die cut and I used Nuvo Crystal Drops on them to look like they are lit up.

Thanks for reading!

Emily xx

First Edition Storyteller Valentine's Card

Hi all

With Valentine's Day around the corner there's still time to get a card made.

On the Trimcraft DT we have each made a Valentine's card. Here's mine, using the First Edition Storyteller papers.

The stampsare by Dovecraft and the flamingo is my favourite.

Check out how I made this, plus see what my fellow DT members made here (LINK)

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx