Summer || Scrapbook Layout || OneCanoeTwo 'Hazelwood'

Hi all,

Summer is here and I have a layout to share using a very summery picture I took on a recent visit to Potteric Carr, our local nature reserve. It's a beautiful place with a huge variety of habitats and wildlife and a great place to go to get away from everything.

I mostly used the OneCanoeTwo 'Hazelwood' collection (my favourite collection ever!) for this page. 

The layout was created as part of the National Scrapbook Day challenges over on the For The Love Of Pretty Paper Facebook group, this one was to make a spring or summer themed layout.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

On Fleek || Scrapbook Layout || Dovecraft 'Kiss & Make Up'

Hi all,

I have a scrapbook layout to share today using the Dovecraft 'Kiss & Make Up' collection by Trimcraft.

I know it may seem narcissistic to use selfies on scrapbook layouts but this collection really lends itself to scrapping selfies.

This layout got a bit messy, I made the mistake of spattering drawing ink onto the page and it went everywhere and looks a bit messy. I'm not that happy with it but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

I made this layout as part of the National Scrapbook Day challenges over on the 'For The Love Of Pretty Paper' group on Facebook, the challenge was to make a layout based on this sketch, designed by Laura Rumble for UK Scrap Addicts:

The challenge has ended now but there is no reason why you can't use this sketch for inspiration anyway. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Birb Watching || Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

Here's the first of a series of blog posts that come under the umbrella of 'Emily Loves Scrapbooking Again!!'. There'll be a new layout comprised of non-design team products every Saturday for the considerable future. 

"You stopped loving scrapbooking?!" 

Well, not exactly. But I overthought every single layout I made. 

I'd love to be on a scrapbook design team so I could concentrate on scrapbooking but this is the hand I am dealt right now and I am very grateful for my current opportunities. 

Another problem for me was and is, dolla. I've finished uni and haven't worked out what I want to do with my life yet. So I'm saving what I can and that means I can't justify a scrapbook kit subscription. 

But then National Scrapbooking Day happened.....

I am a member of the 'For The Love Of Pretty Paper' UK scrapbooking group on Facebook. Over that weekend they posted 12 challenges and during the weekend and following week I completed every single one and loved it! I really enjoyed getting stuck in with my stash and not having to stick to any particular brand. I even got completely caught up with my 2017 scrapbook. 

Here is a layout I made for a 'tic-tac-toe' challenge, to pick three items from a table of nine. My choices were fussy cutting, die cut and ink spatters. 

The picture I used is of my boyfriend on a recent visit to the local nature reserve. We had heard a 'birb' (what he likes to call a small bird, it's very sweet), but couldn't see it. Here he is looking for it, camera at the ready.

To make the layout I chose to use my Heidi Swapp 'September Skies' paper pad. I picked it up a couple years ago in TKMaxx before they made the ridiculous decision to stop selling scrapbook supplies.
I fussy cut the floral paper and layered behind the photo, adding die cut birds on top and finally my title, journalling and ink spatters.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Bloom & Grow || Scrapbook Layout || Life In A Snapshot Challenge || March 2017

Hi all

On the Life In A Snapshot team we've had a little break over winter but now we are back with our first challenge for 2017. However, sadly this will be our last challenge. Thank you if you have played along with it. To see everyone else's makes head to Katie's blog http://whatkatiedid2.blogspot.co.uk/
 Here is my layout:

The challenge was to follow a color scheme and we chose this one by Seeds.

I chose to make a spring themed layout using the 'Take Me Away' collection by Pink Paislee/Paige Evans. I ended up weaving strips of the striped paper from the 12x12" paper pad (it took a long time to get it right!).

The puffy stickers are We R Memory Keepers 'Flower Girl' and the bird and quote are Pinkfresh Studio 'Felicity'.

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

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

More Than Words Challenge November 2016

Hi all

Here's my entry for the November More Than Words challenge and you can find out more and enter HERE

I used the November Like For Ever kit for this layout. I'm not currently a subscriber but I saw the kit on instagram and it looked awesome so I ordered it and I love it!

I also used watercolour on this layout and I love the effect it created.

I also made a lil' process video for it. I've had scrapper's block for a while and it's only today that my mojo has really come back so I was excited to make this.

Here is the challenge the folks at More Than Words set:

I chose the photo because it's SPECIAL. We hardly see Sam any more so when we do get to see them it has become tradition to take lots of selfies. I love our friendship because even though we cannot be together often, when we see them it's like we have never been apart.

I also chose the picture because of Sam's BLUE hair. (It's also incredibly soft...). I'm not sure about 'old', but the camera was BORROWED from Nathan, it's his new one and he let me take it around the convention all day to try it out. The screen folds out and flips over so it's perfect for selfies! Something NEW is the supplies I used, from the Pink Paislee Moonstruck collection which is my favourite ever scrapbook collection to date. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

PS excuse my terrible handwriting...

Life In A Snapshot Sketch Challenge - November

Hi all,

A new layout to share today for the Life In A Snapshot sketch challenge. You can find out more and enter here 

The backing paper is Mr Smith's Workshop by docrafts (Probably should have chosen something less busy!) covered with various washi tapes and the other papers and embellishments are from the BoBunny Enchanted Harvest 6x6" paper pad that I got last year and never used as much as I'd've liked.

Here's the sketch for this month.

You could use four embellishments if you're making a card or ATC, or if it's a layout you could use four individual pictures or do what I did and cut up one picture into four bits.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll join in with us!

Emily xx

More Than Words October Challenge

Hi all

Here's my entry for the October More Than Words Challenge. You can find out more and join in here.

Here is the October mood board.

I wanted to do an autumn layout as I've not had much chance to make one so far this year. 

I decided to do an ombre of orange-yellow-green like the colours in my photo and I did this by covering a sheet of 12x12" cardstock with gesso and then used watercolours once the gesso was dry.

I tried to keep the ombre going through my embellishments - these wooden stickers by BasicGrey were perfect and I'm so happy I could finally use them - they've been in my stash for a while now. I painted them in the same colours as my background so they blended in. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Life In A Snapshot Sketch Challenge - October 2016 - Summer In The Square Layout

Hi all,

My friend Katie has set up a brand new sketch challenge. You can find out more on her blog. All you have to do is follow along with a sketch.

I am a member of the Life In A Snapshot Sketch Challenge Design Team and here is my project using the sketch. 

I used a picture I took on a very hot day in Nottingham. Summer seems so long ago now on this foggy, cold October morning, hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we were covered in sun cream and buying iced coffee. 

I used a lot of elements from Pink Paislee 'Take Me Away' on this layout - I love cut apart sheets! I also used chipboard stickers from My Mind's Eye 'Jubliee' and Simple Stories 'Carpe Diem'. 

Here is the sketch if you want to play along.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Scrapped! Sketch Challenge - September 2016 + Tour De Yorkshire Layout

Hi all,

Great news - the first Scrapped challenge has begun over on Facebook!

So if you're a card maker, scrapbooker or any other type of papercrafter, come play along with us!

Anything goes and our challenge this month is to be inspired by this sketch by DT member Michelle Gower

To play along and see what our DT made, head over to our Facebook page now! 

What are you waiting for? Get inspired!

Here is my first project I have made for the challenge and it uses pictures I took when the Tour De Yorkshire ended Day 1 right here in Doncaster. I've been waiting to make this layout for ages and the sketch we are using this month was perfect!

At the event there was a little fete(?) going on with lots of different stalls, food, emergency services giving out free stuff, and the Yorkshire Bank. There was so much going on on the day and me and my dad had a lot of fun looking around and taking in the atmosphere.

Here's a close up of all the embellishments I clustered in the middle. I had so much fun arranging them all and it looks so good!

Thanks for stopping by and I do hope you'll join in with our challenge - it's not just for scrapbookers, anyone can take part, you just need to make something following our sketch. It's just a bit of fun if your mojo has taken a hike!

Emily xx

Scrapped Papercraft Challenge!

Hi all,

Just a quick post -

My ex-Docrafts PDT pals and I have started our own challenge blog.

The first challenge goes live on September 1st and it's all via Facebook.

It's for any type of papercrafts, so if you're a card maker, scrapbooker or anything else and you want some inspiration... anything goes and there's a sketch or a theme or mood board to be inspired by each month.

To find out more and 'like' our page ready for the first challenge to be announced, head over to https://www.facebook.com/scrappedchallenge/ now!

More Than Words Challenge July 2016

Hey everyone,

My mojo has come back and so I thought I'd have a go at another mixed media layout and join in with the More Than Words Challenge.
The picture I used is of me and my mum at Hardraw Force in the Yorkshire Dales. You might recognise it from the film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, where Kevin Costner washes under the waterfall. (Well, that's what my dad says, I wasn't born when the film came out!)

The theme this month is...

I had wanted to scrap this picture anyway, it makes me SMILE because my dad took the picture, of me taking his picture. My mum is laughing at us being silly...

(I also used 'smile' in little letters on the layout... extra points? :P )

I tried to incorporate the sketch as best I could but I wanted the picture nice and big to show the waterfall behind us. 

The background was actually really fun to make. I don't have many stencils so I had to think outside the box to include some sparkle... so I grabbed my bottle of PVA glue and loosely drew big flower shapes on top. I sprinkled the glitter on top and let it dry...

The square clusters are by Things To Alter, it was a pack of two and I cut them both up to make four. I painted them white and tucked them into the layout.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

More Than Words Challenge June 2016

Hey everyone,

Just stopping by to share my entry for the June 'More Than Words' challenge and you can find out more here 

Here's my entry:

The theme this month was...

I was inspired by a picture I took (but can no longer find!) at the Beatles exhibition in Liverpool when I visited a few years ago. The word 'imagine' was tiled on the floor surrounded by red, orange and pink flowers.

I wanted to try something different this time so instead of making a conventional layout I threw some paint and spray ink at a (just over A4 size) board and worked from there.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

More Than Words Challenge May 2016

Hi all,

A new mixed media layout to share today, for the May More Than Words challenge.

The challenge this month is to use the word 'moment' and to include some form or part of clocks on the layout.

I had this pocket watch Nathan didn't want any more... I recall I bought him a nicer one for an anniversary, so he gave this one to me and it's been sitting in a box for a while... this challenge was the perfect opportunity to use it. I chose a picture of him and our friend Sam in their steampunk costumes I took at the comic con in Manchester a couple years ago.

The background was painted with white paint. I used modelling paste with a gear stencil on three areas of the layout. I cut up a postcard and stuck it down and then cut up a sheet of deco paper that had lots of labels on and stuck each label down individually using gel medium (I hate PVA glue!)

Thanks for stopping by, and why not have a go at the challenge yourself? You can find out more here

Emily xx

More Than Words Mini Challenge 'Fly'

Hi all

Just a quick post to share my entry for the More Than Words Mini challenge this month. Entry is via their Facebook page but I wanted to share with my blog followers too as this make is probably my favourite thing I've ever made - before my mixed media pieces have fallen short of my expectations but this piece is everything I intended it to be.

The word that had to be included on the piece is 'fly', so to start with I chose this chipboard sticker by My Mind's Eye. I had originally die cut a cardstock tag but I wanted some extra dimension and texture so I also die cut the tag from adhesive cork board and stuck this to the cardstock. I die cut a birdcage from kraft cardstock too and stuck this half- onto the cork.

Then I used yellow, blue and viridian green acrylic paint on the tag. 

I painted a MDF geocluster (from Things To Alter) in yellow, several layers so it was nice and bright. Once this dried I added metallic blue and green areas of gelato, plus some on the background too, before stick down the shape. 

I added flowers, an owl charm and the sentiment before flicking watered down white acrylic paint across the whole tag. I finished it off with three areas of glass beads stuck down with matte medium.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Orange Is My Least Favourite Colour

Hi all,

A new layout to share today (and a little challenge too if you feel like playing along!)

I was originally going for a brown theme, but I wanted a pop of colour in there...

For some reason I chose orange. I hate orange!

My challenge to you is to use your least favourite colour in a project. Link me to what you make!

Once I'd picked orange the next challenge was to find other elements in my stash the same colour. I found buttons and gems and glittery borders, and I added some yellow in there to balance the orange.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

More Than Words Challenge March 2016

Hi all,

Today I've been busy making my entry for the March 'More Than Words' challenge. You can find out more here . The challenge was only announced today but I was in need of some inspiration so I got going!

This month's word is 'Bliss' and the creative challenge is to use some gesso.

When I think of the word 'bliss' it takes me to sitting somewhere in the sun where it's quiet and peaceful. I took this picture at Cusworth Hall, a manor house a couple of miles outside Doncaster. There's a country park around it as well which is lovely to walk around. At the top of the hill where we were sitting next to the hall you can see into town and for miles around. After this I may have rolled down the hill when no one was looking and got mud on my dress and legs but it was worth it!

Here's my layout:

I had a square of map print vellum that worked well with my picture. It didn't stand out well so I used gesso on the area around where the vellum would sit so the background was toned down. (I made my own gesso using PVA glue, white acrylic paint and talcum powder. The talcum powder is scented so now my layout smells gorgeous! Haha). I also covered a chipboard flourish with gesso to match. The layout looked a bit bare on each side so I added buttons and skeleton leaves.

Thanks for stopping by, why not play along? I find this kind of challenge so inspiring!

Emily xx

More Than Words Challenge February 2016!

Hi all,

A brand new layout to share today, my entry for the February 'More Than Words' challenge.
This month's word is 'Wonderful' and the creative challenge is 'sparkle'. You can play along here 

Here's my layout:

I love flamingos. Any excuse to include them in a layout. This picture was taken at Chester Zoo.

I'm loving bright colours lately so I wanted to create a tropical theme to match the hot pink of the feathers.

I have lots of bits of 'sparkle' on here - glass beads, embossing powder, glitter pens, glitter Thickers, and some die cut glittery feathers (my favourite part of the layout!)

The other day I went to Hobbycraft and bought some mixed media supplies - Gelatos, modelling paste, embossing powder and a heat gun. I (loosely) followed a Finnabair tutorial, adapting it to my layout and I'm quite pleased with the result - not the neatest layout ever but I had so much fun making it!

....also, flamingo washi tape and it's the best thing ever....

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

More Than Words Challenge January 2016

Hi all,

I've been busy today making my entry for the first ever More Than Words Challenge.
This month's theme is 'Personality & Selfie'

You can find out more about the challenge here 

Here's my layout.

Yesterday I ended up with lots of new supplies - I found a My Mind's Eye 'Jubilee' kit in TKMaxx, and my sale hoard arrived from Crafty Templates - a box of papers and embellishments. Most of this layout uses those products. 

When coming up with ideas for this layout I was drawn to the Simple Stories 'I Am' sticker sheet. 'I am' fitted the theme of this challenge perfectly!

The subtle colours on the background as made by scribbling watercolour pens onto an acrylic block and picking it up with a brush with a little water, and painting it onto the page.

Then I included some vellum in the shape of paint strokes. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll play along too

Emily xx