Projects Using... First Edition Grand Plans!

Hi all,


Here are 5 projects using the First Edition 'Grand Plans' papers from Trimcraft. There are instructions on how to make them below each picture.

On this first layout, the picture is of Nathan and I with our lovely friend Sam who paid us a visit. Sadly I was feeling bad that day, I had heatstroke! Doh! You can see I look a bit peaky. Didn't help that they had dragged me into the local gaming store...

1. Print your photo and mount several times onto patterned paper. Add some 3D foam to the back.
2. Fussy cut paper planes and arrange around the photo on a 12x12" sheet of kraft cardstock.
3. When you are happy with the arrangement, draw trails from each plane. Make sure you can see the lines.
4. Stitch through the lines. 
5. Stick the planes down, along with your photo and other embellishments.

1. Print your photo at 3x4" and stick to a piece of blue cardstock. 
2. Die cut a large tag and stick the photo to it, adding a piece of washi tape above it. Add a small piece of twine through the hole in the tag. 
3. Cut four 3" squares of patterned paper, distress the edges and add a doodled border to each one. Arrange on an 8x8" page and stick down.
4. Add a title.
5. Add the large tag to the page and finish with a die cut shape.

1. Cut a 14x7cm piece of patterned paper and a 13x7cm piece. Arrange onto a 6x6" card blank.
2. Cut a strip of blue cardstock and place between the two pieces of paper. Stick everything down.
3. Fussy cut three bottles and stick on the bottom right of the card.
4. Die cut a sentiment from blue cardstock and stick to a die cut doily. Stick to the card.

1. Cut two diagonal pieces from patterned paper by measuring 5cm up one side of a 12x12 piece and 10cm up the other and then join the points together. 
2. Cut two strips from blue cardstock and stick under the diagonal pieces.
3. Stick both pieces to a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper. 
4. Print your photo at 3x4" and layer. Stick on the page at the same angle as the diagonals. 
5. Add the title at the same angle.
6. Journal onto a tag and fold a piece of blue cardstock around it to create a little pocket. 
7. Add a piece of ribbon to the tag.
8. Cover the front of the pocket with patterned paper and stick down.
9. Finish with a doily.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

5 Projects Using... Dovecraft Baby Steps!

Here are 5 projects using the Dovecraft 'Baby Steps' collection from Trimcraft. Yes, it is a baby themed collection but I don't have, or know, any babies, so I had to think outside the box with these proejcts. There are instructions on how to make them below each picture.

1. Paint an area of gesso on the left towards the bottom of the page. Paint a smaller area to the far right of the page and allow to dry.
2. Use the packaging technique to smoosh yellow watercolour across the gesso.
3. Once dry, stamp polka dots in black across the gessoed areas. Take a repeat pattern die cut and use it as a stencil to add pattern to the background with a black fine liner.
4. Print your photo in black & white. Cut several rectangles to mount it on and distress all the edges and add black ink. Arrange and layer up. 
5. Cut up frames and doilies and arrange behind the picture and to the right of the page. 
6. Continue adding embellishments until you are happy with the layout, and then stick everything down. 

1. Cut a little from the edges of a 12x12" sheet of white cardstock and stick onto a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper. 
2. Fold two corners of the white cardstock in on themselves. Stick a yellow doily under the corners you have folded.
3. Using a ruler and piercer, pierce around the edges of the white cardstock.
4. Stitch through the holes with yellow and gray twine. 
5. Cut rectangles of different sizes from patterned paper. Distress the edges and arrange them in the centre of the layout.
6. Stick some of the strips down. Add 3D foam to the back of the rest before sticking those down too. 
7. Add strips of ribbon to the layout.
8. Print your photo and mount several times onto patterned paper. Stick to the layout.
9. Die cut small circles and add your title to them.
10. Finish with flowers, journalling and photo corners.

1. Paint gesso down one half of an A4 piece of quality white cardstock.
2. Once dry, use the packaging technique to smoosh watercolour paint on top of the gesso. 
3. Choose five wooden frames and back each one with patterned paper.
4. Stick the frames down the side of the layout, hanging off the edge. Once stuck down, cut off the edges. 
5. Print your photo at 2x3" and mount onto patterned paper. Add foam to the back. 
6. Stick the photo down and add some of the frame off-cuts behind it.
7. Add a title.
8. Finish with paper flowers, bows, buttons and ribbon.

1. Cut an 8" square from patterned paper, and a 2x8" piece too. Stick to an A4 sheet of white cardstock, overlapping them slightly.
2. Print your photo at 3x4" and layer.
3. Stick a yellow doily to the back of this, as well as a tag or two. Stick to the layout.
4. Add a title and stick co-ordinating stickers around the page.
5. Add another tag and some lengths of ribbon in the top right of the page, trimming off any excess.

1. Cut a 4 inch wide strip from a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper and stick along the bottom of another full sheet.
2. Add a length of ribbon to the join.
3. Cut a doily in half, sticking one bit above the join and the other in the bottom right corner of the page.
4. Cut a rectangle from patterned paper wide enough to fit three wooden frames across it. Layer up with more patterned papers and coloured cardstock.
5. Stick patterned papers behind two wooden frames, trimming off any excess. Add a small photograph behind a third frame and stick onto the layered papers. Add a tag behind the layers and then stick to the page.
6. Arrange tags and paper flowers around the page and stick down, adding an adhesive pearl to the centre of each flower.
7. Add buttons, bunting and bows to embellish.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

5 Projects Using... First Edition Floral Fusion!

Here are 5 projects using the First Edition 'Floral Fusion' papers from Trimcraft.  There are instructions on how to make them below each picture. Lots of scrapbook layouts in this post! I felt so inspired with this paper pad.

1. Print the photos and cut out, leaving a thing white border around each edge. Mount onto patterned paper.
2. On a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper, mark out lightly where you want the photos to sit using a pencil.
3. In the flowers/circles around where the photos will sit, stitch to each of the corners using thread. Add a brad in the centre of each flower.
4. Draw a line across the diagonal of the page, up to where the stitched flowers start. Cut in a straight line up to the flowers, then fussy cut around the flowers.
5. Back onto a contrasting piece of 12x12" paper. 
6. Add washi tape along the join and finish with a title.

1. Cut a 12x12" sheet of double sided patterned paper down to 10 inches square. Fold the corners to the centre, and then make another fold so the corners are facing outwards. 
2. Stick this to a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper.
3. Print your photo at 4x6" and mount. Add foam to the back.
4. Stick in the centre of the folded paper. 
5. Stick the folds of the folded paper down so they do not stick up.
6. Stick a title on a piece of co-ordinating patterned paper. Stick to the layout and use a chalk marker to colour the stickers.
7. Fussy cut a bird and stickdown.
8. Add a pennant in the top left and bottom right corners and finish with an adhesive gem.

1. Cut along the diagonal of a 6 inch square piece of patterned paper and stick in the top left corner of a 12x12" sheet. 
2. Cut 6x9" and 6x6" pieces of patterned paper, distress the edges and arrange on the layout with the 6" piece on top. Stick down lightly.
3. Stitch around these pieces, and the edge of the layout, with red thread. Fold the edges of these up a little to add some dimension.
4. Print your photo at 4x6" and mount onto patterned paper, distressing the edges. 
5. Die cut several pieces of bunting from patterned paper, distress the edges and arragne in two rows along the bottom of the layout, stick down and add twine to connect them.
6. Stick your photo down.
7. Die cut the title and stick down.
8. Finish with flowers, gems and ribbon.

1. Cut a 12x12" sheet of striped paper into strips. Save two of the widest strips and arrange some of the rest at an angle in the centre of a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper. Stick down.
2. Stick the widest strips along the top and bottom of the page. 
3. Print 2 photos at 2x3", cut apart and mount onto patterned paper, adding foam to the back to add dimension.
4. Fussy cut flowers and add to the layout, adding the photos on top.
5. Finish with a title and sequins.

1. To make the fan, die cut a circle and make a cut from the outside to the centre. Then, concertina fold. 
2. Create a tassel using embroidery floss. There are lots of tutorials on how to do this on Youtube. 
3. Stick the tassel to the back of the fan.
4. Die cut a circle for the fan to sit on and glue down, holding it in position until it sticks. Add a larger die cut circle to the back.
5. Cut 6 strips of patterned paper, 3x9cm each. Weave them together and then mount twice.
6. Cut a 14cm square from patterned paper and adhere to a 6x6" card. 
7. Stick the woven square to the right of the card, with the fan on top.
8. Finish with a sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Kiss & Makeup Birthday Card!

Hi all,

Just a quick post from me today to share a card I made using the Dovecraft 'Kiss & Makeup' collection from Trimcraft. 

Instructions are below the picture, it might look complicated but it was quite easy to make.

1. Die cut several hearts from patterned paper, in two different sizes. I did 10 of each. Stick the small on top of the large.
2. Cut a 14cm square from patterned paper and turn over. Draw across the diagonals to find the middle and pierce.
3. Cut a circle from scrap paper and pierce the centre of that too, line the holes up and adhere with tack. This will help you get the hearts in a perfect circle.
4. Arrange the hearts in a circle and stick down with glue.
5. When the glue is dry(!) go around the circle a few times using a sewing machine.
6. Mount the square onto coloured cardstock, and then to a square card blank.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

5 Projects Using... Simply Creative Sugar Rush

Here are 5 projects using the Simply Creative 'Sugar Rush' papers from Trimcraft. There are instructions on how to make them below each picture.

1. Cut several pieces of patterned paper and arrange on a 12x12" sheet. Distress the edges and stick down.
2. Cut a piece of acetate and cover in confetti glitter glue (allow a few hours to dry) and cut in half.
3. Print your photo at 4x4" and mount onto patterned paper.
4. Using the same glitter glue, cover the alpha stickers you will use for your title. 
5. In pink ink, stamp some emojis, die cut or punch them out and colour their eyes with 3D Pearl Effects.
6. Arrange the glitter acetate, title and embellishments and your photo, then stick down.
7. Punch little hearts from glitter card and arrange around the layout.
8. Spatter the layout with coloured ink.

1. Take a board (I think this one is from shirt packaging) and layer up patterned papers onto it. On each layer, distress the edges and then add ink.
2. In between the layers, have doilies and paper flowers sticking out from the edges. 
3. Stamp flowers up the left side of the piece.
4. Paint the birdcage using white paint first and then your chosen colour. 
5. Stick the birdcage to the piece and allow to dry.
6. Using a heat gun, stick ribbons to the left side of the piece. 
7. Add flowers too. To make the large flowers, cut petal shapes from foam, add a little colour and then use a heat gun to make the petals curl. Use a heat gun to stick the petals together and finish with a button.
8. Add bunting and gems to the birdcage.

1. Stamp four flamingos onto different papers and cut out. You may need a craft knife for the fiddly bits. 
2. On an A6 card blank, stick a length of washi tape along the bottom.
3. Arrange the flamingos so they are standing on the tape. 
4. Finish with adhesive gems and a sentiment. 

This card uses free printables available to download from the Trimcraft website.

1. Print and cut out your chosen elements. Cut the centre from the frame and stick the swan tag behind it, trimming off the excess.
2. Arrange the frame and 'thanks' banner on patterned paper and stick down, including a leaf in the sandwich. Cut around the edge leaving a small border.
3. Stick in the centre of a 13cm square of patterned paper. Stick to a card blank.
4. Finish with co-ordinating buttons.

1. Die cut 36 hearts from patterned paper. Arrange in a grid on a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper so there are 6 in every row and column. Stick down with glue when you are happy with the layout.
2. Using a sewing machine, sew lines down each column of hearts. You could also stitch manually and try different embroidery stitches. 
3. Print your photo at 3x2" and mount. 
4. Add 3D foam to the back of the photo and stick the the bottom right corner.
5. Add a few embellishments but use them sparingly.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

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

#Snapchat || Scrapbook Layout || Dovecraft 'Kiss & Make Up'

Hi all,

I have a scrapbook layout to share today using the Dovecraft 'Kiss & Make Up' collection from Trimcraft. It's just so cool, right? I also used some machine stitching on this. It's optional but gives such a great effect (except when it comes unthreaded and the air turns blue.... ). There's a tutorial on how to make it below the picture. 

So, the pictures. My cousin Caroline and I were messing around on Snapchat at our grandparents' house at Easter. At the time I had a Windows phone so didn't even know what Snapchat really was.... I know, right?! On the day of writing I should be getting an iPhone.... not my birthday yet but my OH doesn't want me "crying" over a glitchy phone any longer... 

Instructions!

1.       Using an old credit card or a palette knife, spread a layer of gesso across the centre of a 12x12” sheet of textured, coloured cardstock and allow to dry.

2.       Spray red ink across the centre of the page. You can use a stencil if you want.

3.       Print your photos at 2x3”. Mount them onto tissue paper and then onto patterned paper.

4.       Stick both onto a piece of patterned paper and mount onto another. Stick this onto white tissue paper.

5.       On the left side of this, stick three patterned tags so they are peeking out from behind. Stick the whole thing in the centre of the layout.

6.       In the top left and bottom right, stick lengths of washi tape and ribbon.

7.       (Optional) Using a sewing machine and various colours of thread, stitch along the ribbon and washi tape with straight and zigzag stitches. Also stitch around the photos and a zigzag down the left side.

8.       Ball up your offcuts of thread and stick behind your photos.

9.       Finish with brads, tags and chipboard stickers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx 

Castle On The Hill || Scrapbook Layout

Happy Saturday!

I have a mixed media layout to share today and it's inspired by 'Castle On The Hill' by Ed Sheeran. If you haven't heard it then a) where have you been for the past 2 months and b) go listen, now! 

When we went to Edinburgh, that song had just come out and it was going through my head when, walking to go out for a drink that evening, the sun was setting over the castle (on the hill). I took a few pictures but there were trees in the way but we got to the art galleries and there was a podium that I climbed on to take this picture (I had to be lifted down).

I still wasn't sure about the picture but I had a play around on my phone on 'Camera 360 Sight' and it has lots of effects to emphasise different weather conditions. This one really brought out the blue and the fire of the sunset. 

For this layout I really wanted to use some orange to bring out the colours of the sky. However, I am repulsed by the colour orange for a silly reason that I don't want to mention...
Anyway, I chose some paper for the background, this is a rather old 'on my desk' paper by Gossamer Blue )which I haven't heard of in ages.) I covered some parts of the paper with gesso and then did the packaging technique with spray ink over the gessoed areas.

The tags/layered papers are from the 'Happy Watercolour' 6x6" paper pad from The Works. It's a real bargain at £1 and the papers are so pretty.

The wood veneer are some form of American Crafts but I can't remember what collection. A lot of my stash is a bit older but that doesn't make it any less wonderful to work with.

The large thickers are from the Paige Evans Fancy Free collections by Pink Paislee and this is the first time I've used them and I love them. They're larger than normal and really grab your attention.

I finished off the layout with some machine stitching and some scrunched up thread.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

You're My Silver Lining || Scrapbook Layout || Simply Creative 'Sweet Dreams'

Hi all,

A new layout to share today using the Simply Creative 'Sweet Dreams' paper pad from Trimcraft.

This took a lot longer than it looks - my silver thread and my sewing machine do not get along so I had to stitch that bit by hand...

I used a picture of Nathan and I in York on my birthday last August. I had already saved it in black and white for another layout so I just had to print it out again.

Here are some close ups. 

To find out a little more how I made this layout then head over to my Trimcraft gallery (LINK).

The title is from this song.... "Walking In My Sleep" by Andrew McMahon. It goes "I'll never stop trying, you're my silver lining". I like the song very much. Here's a video if you fancy a listen...

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

'Explore' Mixed Media Layout

Hi all,

A new mixed media layout to share today.

I made the title by stencilling the letters onto the background paper (from Mr Smith's Workshop by docrafts) and colouring them with watercolour pencils. I then took some embroidery thread and stitched around the edge of the letters, matching the colour of the thread to the colour of the watercolour pencils I had used. Here's a closeup

I started off the background by spreading tacky glue across it and sticking down lengths of twine. Once it dried I sprayed the whole think with Dylusions ink spray in Fresh Lime. The glue I had used created a barrier so the ink did not make the page warp (I really ought to get some gesso but I never get around to it...). I also used a Scrapberry's stencil and used the back as a stamp once I'd done the stencilling.

I backed the paper on more Mr Smith and Country Life papers, with strips of those and odd scraps behind that. The tags are by Gossamer Blue (I think). I added some die cuts from an Xcut woodland themed set, there's also a BoBunny flourish there at the bottom. Finally I covered my picture and again sprayed the whole thing with Fresh Lime. 

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

Craft Consortium Santoro Kori Kumi Cards!

Hi all,

So you may recall a week or so ago, I posted a video announcing that I was accepted onto the Craft Consortium design team. I went through what I had been sent in my first kit and if you haven't seen that video then you can check it out here.

The following Monday I made three cards and sent them off to CC... there was a show on Hochanda the following Monday evening (September 12th) and some samples were needed.... Very exciting stuff and I didn't want to miss out....

So on Monday evening I turned on my TV... and my cards were on there! All three were used in a slideshow and then the presenter showed one of them too.

Here are the cards I made for the show and a little more about how I made them.

I'll admit I spent a few days dithering about what I wanted to make but I took a step back and did what I do best - layering and some machine stitching.

The decoupage in the Kori Kumi collection is quite large but they look great as a centrepiece for a 6x6" card.

But if you want to do a smaller card like this then why not leave out the bottom layer of decoupage and use something else like this embossed piece of textured cardstock. (The apple embossing folder is part of this collection)

This one has a hint of glitter - I used glitter glue on her skirt and on the hearts. I also used Papermania glitter pens on the wood veneer and to outline bits of the card - you know I love a bit of sparkle!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Stitch 'N' Scrap!

Hey everyone,

A little step by step tutorial to share today on how to use stitching in your layouts.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a sewing machine, you can use a needle and thread, it will just take a little longer.
Here's the layout I made (using the 'Felicity' collection by Pinkfresh Studio)

To start with I cut two centimetres off the top and a side of a sheet of white cardstock so I can mount it onto a sheet of 12x12” later on.

I then measured an inch from the edge of the paper as a guide for my stitching. I selected colours I wanted and set up my sewing machine. 

With each colour, go around the square. The line you drew is only a guide, it looks better if you wave the stitching a little, that way all the colours show up.

Now spatter inks over the paper.

I die cut some hearts for a layout I made last week and I have some left over so I stitched them onto paper.

For this layout I cut 4x4” squares from patterned paper. To save paper though, for the bits that are behind, I cut a minimal amount as this wouldn’t be seen.

The picture I’m using is of Nathan and me at Chester Zoo, I set my camera up on the timer on a sculpture and then ran to join Nathan... I figured it was a nice change from taking selfies all the time.

I added some washi stickers and ephemera...

and finally stuck the layout onto patterned paper, from the ‘Shine’ pad by Maggie Holmes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Craft Room Layout

Hi all,
Just stopping by to share a layout I made using a picture I took of my craft room - my happy place!

I temporarily secured the circles in place with masking tape and then went over them using the sewing machine, the top thread being white and the bottom being black.

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