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

How To Love Your Sequins! || Flamingo Cards || First Edition 'Sweet Nothings'

Hi all,

So you know I'm obsessed with flamingos...?

And shiny things?

Here are a couple ideas for you to use your sequins. 

These cards are made using the First Edition 'Sweet Nothings' papers from Trimcraft. 

1. Cut a pink tag from the cut apart sheet in the 12x12" Sweet Nothings paper pad. Use it as a template to cut a tag from white cardstock too.
2. Die cut a flamingo from the pink tag. 
3. Using 3D foam, stick the flamingo tag to the white tag.
4. Put glue in the aperture and add sequins.
5. Add strips from the cut apart sheet to the bottom of the tag. Add twine to the top of the tag.
6. Die cut a sentiment from patterned paper and stick to the bottom of the tag.
7. Use a green gelato or watercolour paint to colour a small white doily. Stick this behind the tag once dry.
8. Cover a plain frame with patterned paper and stick behind the doily & tag.
9. Behind these stick a scrap of patterned paper.
10. 
    
11. On a 6x6" card blank, layer up a 14 and 13.5cm squares of patterned paper.
12. Stick the tag layers onto the card, sandwiching silver thread while doing so.

1. Cover an A6 card blank with patterned paper.
2. Cut a 14.5x10cm piece of white cardstock.
3. Lightly draw a teardrop shape on its side towards the bottom of the piece of cardstock. 
4. Add blue and silver sequins using glue.
5. Around the edge of this and around the edge of the piece of cardstock, odd dots of 3D pearl effects.
6. Add a die cut flamingo and die cut sentiment.
7. Finish with more dots and adhesive gems, then stick to the covered card blank.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

(Un)Lost || A4 Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

I have a layout to share today and it's quite different from what I normally do as it's clean-and-simple.

It was one I created for a National Scrapbook Day challenge, and the challenge was to be inspired by a song. The song I chose is "(Un)Lost" by The Maine and I've put it below the picture if you fancy a listen. 

Anyway, I chose to use this picture of my boyfriend, taken at the top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. At this point I was still getting my bearings, it was very high up... Nathan was already sat quite happily taking pictures. I took this one on my phone. 

I tried to come up with a clever way of having the lyrics from the song on the page - I didn't want to stamp them (too big) or die cut them (even bigger), so instead I put some A4 cardstock in the printer and printed the lyrics. 

The papers are from a... American Crafts or Studio Calico 6x6" pad called... Darling Dear! I think they're super old but they matched my picture. I cut strips the same width as my 3x4" photo and lightly stuck them down before stitching through them.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Fold Out Card Using The Dovecraft 'Kiss & MakeUp' Collection

Hello hello hello!

As you may know I'm always on the lookout for something different to try. I was scrolling through Instagram one day when I found this by jakscraft2. I thought "how hard can it be?" so out came some 12x12" cardstock and I had a go using the Dovecraft 'Kiss & Makeup' collection by Trimcraft. If you scroll down there is a video on how to make it! 

Here is the video:

The front when the card is closed:

And finally a close up:

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

LIFE UPDATE - THINGS ARE LOOKING UP

Hey gang,

These past few weeks have been super stressful. First I had uni work to finish and hand in, then there was a whole to-do which meant I couldn't exhibit my magazine project. Then I had to decide what to do with my life.... I was between applying for Hobbycraft or volunteering until I found something better. Hobbycraft would have been fab but it involved Commuting (shudder) and it wasn't enough hours.
Then I found Perfect Job.
I wrote an application.
I got an interview.
I bought Grown Up Clothing for the interview.

And now I will describe the last few days of last week.

Wednesday: Found out I had got a 1st in my magazine project, which brought my final grade at uni to a 2:1 which I am absolutely over the moon about!

Thursday: Interview.

Friday: Phone call saying I had got the job. Evening out with my parents to celebrate.


Wondering what the job is? Well, recently on my travels I had seen a shiny new building being built. For a while I was curious what it would be, until I saw the job being advertised. It is a brand new sixth form college and from September I will be the Visual Arts Technician. So basically I will be showing people how to use cameras and Photoshop, among lots of other things. It's creative but doesn't require me to actually make stuff, I just get to help other people make stuff and achieve their creative ambitions. Cool, eh? From the sounds of it, no two days will be the same. For once in my life I'm excited to do something that requires me to leave the house. And I'll be getting paid for it!

The best bit is, I can buy craft supplies guilt-free! Woohoo!

And you know what? I AM ME AGAIN! For so long I was stressed, anxious and miserable. But once I got that phone call... Now I can forget about sorting out my life and craft, which I haven't felt like doing much over the past month or so.

So my first ever job application and I got it. I still can't quite believe my luck but I'm glad to have taken another step in life.

I still hope to be designing, so this blog should still be updated, although maybe less frequently.

Thanks for reading!
Emily xx

Today || 9x12" Scrapbook Layout

Hi all,

I have a layout to share that I made for a National Scrapbook Day challenge. 

The challenge was to use a big title - either a large size or a long title or lots of journalling. 

I chose a large title and I had this piece of chipboard from the Pink Paislee Fancy Free collection. 

The picture is of the contents of my backpack on a recent visit to the local nature reserve.

I used scraps to back the apertures in the title. Most of the embellishments are from the Cocoa Vanilla Wild At Heart collection.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lighthouse Father's Day Shaker Card || First Edition Wild Flower

Hi all,

So I know Father's Day has been and gone but I wanted to share the card I made for my dad. I didn't want to blog about it beforehand and ruin the surprise as he is a good one and appreciates handmade cards.

The instructions are below the photo so you can make your own shaker card! The papers I used are from the First Edition Wild Flower paper pad by Trimcraft.

1.       Cut the thick part of a blank photo frame down so that all side are equal.

2.       Cut 2 squares of acetate and 1 of patterned paper the same size as the outside of the photo frame.

3.       Stick thin tape around the edge of one square of acetate, stick the other to it and before you seal it, fill with sequins.

4.       Stick more thin tape around the outside of the pocket and stick to the frame. Stick the square of coloured paper to the back of the pocket.

5.       Die cut a lighthouse from patterned paper and add detail with 3D Pearl Effects. Stick to the frame.

6.       Cut a 13cm square of coloured cardstock and stick to a 13.5cm card blank.

7.       Cut 2 rectangles from patterned paper, one 7x13cm and the other 7x2cm. Stick one on each side of the coloured cardstock.

8.       Stick your shaker pocket on top of the card, in the centre.

9.       Die cut three portholes, stick along the bottom of the card and add ‘dad’ on top of them.

10.   Using the inside of the portholes, stick down the left side of the card and add a small button in the centre of each with a little twine threaded through.

While I'm here, here's another card made using the same collection.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx