Embrace Life || Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

I have a layout to share today using a watercolour background.

I had just bought the Pink Paislee 'Fancy Free' chipboard sheet and I wanted to use them to make a layout. I grabbed a piece of 12x12" white cardstock and mixed up watercolours to match the colours in the chipboard sheet. Then, I painted circles in each colour, making sure the layer below was dry so that the colours didn't go muddy. Once that was all dry, I stitched more circles using the sewing machine.

The picture is of Nathan and I in York recently. It's our go-to place if it's a lovely day and we fancy a walk around and a nice burger. We like the Slug & Lettuce as it's right by the river, and we always make sure we get a window seat.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Suits You! || Scrapbook Layout || Pink Paislee 'Moonstruck'

Hi all,

I have a layout to share today using the Pink Paislee 'Moonstruck' collection. It was made for a National Scrapbook Day challenge (yep, I completed 12 of them!) and the challenge was to use leftovers - so what I used here was what was left over of my November Like For Ever kit. 

The picture is of my super handsome boyfriend taking his first changing room selfie... The purpose being that he was trying on a suit and wanted to show me what it looked like. It was student night at our local shopping centre so he took the opportunity to get a nice suit with a discount. I felt very proud. I enquired for permission to scrapbook the picture and to my delight, permission was granted. Oooh.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Love You || Scrapbook Layout || Pink Paislee 'Moonstruck'

Happy Saturday!

I have a layout to share today using my favourite sheet of paper EVER. Yes, you heard me right. I have a favourite sheet of paper. It is from the 'Moonstruck' collection by Pink Paislee, I got it in a 'Like For Ever' Kit last year (I don't know if that still exists?) and I had been hoarding it.

Hoard it no more, I said! I chose to use it to scrap this picture of my boyfriend in the pub on our trip to Edinburgh.

I didn't want to cover the paper up too much though as it is so gorgeous so I opted to paint a small area behind where my picture and embellishments would sit, with gold acrylic paint. I covered various pieces of wood veneer with the same paint and arranged them in a diagonal across the layout. I then added some Pusheen stickers (why not, eh!?), more Moonstruck bits and pieces and gold word stickers. The title is from a rub-on sheet by Jen Hadfield. I finished it off with some spatters of gold ink - I can't find the docrafts gold spray ink any more and it's a real craft staple for me, but thankfully my friend had some spare so sent me it - forever thankful!

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

'Strike A Pose' Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

So I'm still trying to finish off my 2016 scrapbook. I've been holding off because I'm a magpie and I'm waiting for all the new goodies to come out at Creativation (big trade show in Phoenix, AZ where anyone who's anyone in the crafting world is currently at and of whom I am currently extremely envious).

Anyhow, here's a layout I made using some bits I got at the end of last year - there's We R Memory Keepers 'Urban Chic', Pink Paislee 'Moonstruck' and Cocoa Vanilla 'Love Always' on here. 

The picture was taken on Christmas Day during lunch, we were being silly, pouting for the camera in our posh party hats.

I really enjoyed making this layout, my mojo took a hike over xmas and then I've had lots of projects to make for Trimcraft so it was nice to try and get back into scrapping.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

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

Sunny Selfie Layout

Hi all,

A new layout to share today using a selfie we took in Whitby outside St Mary's Church in early September when it was 30 degrees! Hard to imagine now isn't it.

Here's my layout. It's dull and cold outside so I really wanted to make a nice bright layout to cheer myself up.

I used a double sided sheet of Crate Paper 'Poolside' paper, cut diagonally down the middle, one side flipped over and attached back to the other side with washi tape (and sticky tape on the back for extra support). The washi tapes I chose from my stash to complement the colours of the ice creams (?) on the patterned paper.

I mounted the photo onto white cardstock and then onto this awesome metallic polka dot print vellum from My Mind's Eye. I used more on the bottom right corner.

The embellishments are all from the Pink Paislee 'Fancy Free' collection designed by Paige Evans.

I really enjoyed making this layout, I think I got too caught up in Christmassy things and autumn layouts I don't know how to finish and then forgot how to scrapbook! All better now. I love bright layouts! 

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 - 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

Pink Paislee Fancy Free 'Today' Layout

Hi all,

Another layout to share today using the second of the two 'Paige Kits' from the Pink Paislee 'Fancy Free' collection designed by Paige Evans. I got them as part of a bundle on the Hobbycraft website which consisted of 2 of these kits, a set of thickers, puffy stickers and an ephemera pack.

As I said before, I LOVE these kits because they come with large die cut sheets just like we'd be able to cut if we were lucky enough to own a Cameo. 

The picture I used I took last week on a visit to The Deep in Hull. When you buy tickets there, they're valid for a whole year, great value and Hull is only a 30-40 min drive away so it's a good place to go if we're looking for something to do. After we looked around, we walked across the bridge and took some pictures of the building itself, I took this picture as Nathan was looking the same way the building is pointing and it looked cool. 

When I use a really colourful background like this I tend to print my picture in black and white - that way there's less deliberation to what colours to use in the layout. 

I used most of the elements from the bundle in this layout, except the thickers. I thought they were too bright to go with the background so instead I used the 'Today' chipboard that came in the page kit as my title and it looks great with my black and white photo.

I really enjoyed using this kit and I hope that all these papercraft companies take note and bring out MORE.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Pink Paislee Fancy Free - 'Love You' Layout

Hey guys,

A layout to share today using the one of the 'Paige Kits' from the Pink Paislee Fancy Free collection designed by Paige Evans. I got it as part of a £15 bundle from Hobbycraft (they had other bundles too), there are 2 page kits, a set of large thickers, stickers and ephemera. If you want a closer look then there's an unboxing video here.

The picture I used is of Nathan and I at the weekend... we were just about to head out on a date to our favourite restaurant... Wagamama! He is too gorgeous for me, I know... anyway...

The 'Paige Kit' (as it says on the packaging - clever!) includes a 12x12" sheet of printed paper, a large die cut piece, 3D foam and a sheet of die cuts. These are great, more companies should sell these or just packs of large die cut geometric patterns... I'd buy them all, large die cuts are such fun to work with and as I've said before, Silhouette Cameos are eye wateringly expensive...

I wanted to do something a bit different with this kit rather than just copy what is on the packaging so I set up the sewing machine with some silver thread. The trick with this is to set the tension to 0 and it should go through without tearing the thread. (I only found this out when I was nearly done!) My little tag here is a bit wonky but once I thought to change the tension it stitched through the acetate just fine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Hello, Handsome! Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

A layout to share today using the July/August embellishment kit from Quirky Kits
I love the kit this time, there's lots of different elements to choose from. My favourite thing is the pink Nuvo Crystal Drops I ordered from the subscriber extras shop. I used it to outline my title (little messy but I still <3 it) and add dots on the page.

I took the picture of Nathan in York on my birthday, he said he owed me a picture, so I took the opportunity... 

The background, backing to the picture and little houses are all from Pink Paislee 'Take Me Away'.

I feel like this layout is a bit messy for my liking but... bit late to change it! 

Here's a close up of the crystal drops.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Hey Little Magpie Haul - Unboxing - August 2016

Hi all,

I treated myself this week with my birthday money and placed an order from Hey Little Magpie.

Here's my unboxing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

You Light Up My Life - Stitched Layout

Hi all,

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day and Santa brought you what you wanted! I'm now chillin' in the jammies I got in the sales today with a glass of Bailey's.
Here's my latest layout. For our photography project at uni, one aspect was portraits so I wanted to have some interesting lighting going on so I got Nathan to hold some Christmas lights, in the garage with the lights off.
The lightbulb paper from the Heidi Swapp 'September Skies' paper pad was perfect for this layout!

Lately I've been inspired by circular layouts. I always enjoy a bit of stitching too so I got my compass out and drew two circles, one a little smaller than the page and another inside that. I started by stitching around the outer circle in orange but I pulled it out because I didn't like it. Instead I stitched between the circles for part of the way around. I just pierced the paper at points along the outer circle that intersected with the edges on the lightbulbs on the backing paper. I then stitched towards the centre point. For the outside edge I did the same, finishing each stitch 1.5cm from the edge. 

A close up of the title, stamped using the Traditional Alpha stamp set from docrafts. I lined the letters up on the layout before pressing the clear stamp block onto them so they were in perfect alignment with the curve of the circle. 

We're going to the pantomime (Snow White) in Grimsby tomorrow afternoon.

We went every year when we were little, and back in October my cousin said how fun it would be to go again... the next day, my grandma rang to see how many tickets to book...

Also it'll be my first time driving on the motorway... luckily so far my dad has been a good teacher so I can't see there being any problems. I drove to the outlet today with Nathan and it all went fine and we got some things from the Next sale. Super pleased with myself :)

Until next time...!

Emily xx