Spring || 8x8" Scrapbook Layout || Dovecraft Painted Blooms

Hi all,

Spring is in full swing now, I am obsessed with taking pictures of all the gorgeous flowers in our village. There's something so uplifting about the yellows and purples, even under a cloudy sky.

Here is some inspiration for those of you who are 8x8" scrappers. I loved 8x8" scrapbooking when I first started out, the smaller size is less imposing and you can put together a page in less than half an hour, so it's great if you don't have as much time to craft.

This layout uses the Dovecraft 'Painted Blooms' collection by Trimcraft and you can find step by step instructions on my Trimcraft gallery (link)

(Top tip, little easels are fantastic for photographing smaller layouts and you can pick them up from The Works)

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Spring || Scrapbook Layout || Dovecraft Painted Blooms

Hi all,

I have a layout to share using the Dovecraft Painted Blooms collection from Trimcraft.

When I first saw the floral stamps (before I got my mitts on them) I knew I wanted to make a layout stamping them over coloured watercolour patches....

Here it is!

When I got my hands on the stamps, this project was the first thing I tried but it took three attempts to get right. The first time, I used cardstock that absorbed the water too well and the second time I used too much paint and the result was a brightly coloured Kandinsky-inspired mess.

Fast forward a couple weeks I had another go. Initially I started out using my 'Artiste' watercolour markers I have from my Docrafts days but a few circles in they decided to stop giving out ink. Instead, I bravely got my Reeves watercolour tubes out and squeezed a tiny bit of my chosen colours onto my clear acrylic block. I painted a circle of water and then dropped in a tiny bit of the paint for each circle. The paint spreads out into the wet area but you can help it along with a brush if you like. Once it was all completely dry I added the stamping.

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

Mother's Day Cards || Dovecraft Blooming Lovely

Hello crafty friends,

I am back with my final chunk of Mother's Day inspiration, this time using the Dovecraft Blooming Lovely collection from Trimcraft.

This one uses one of the new First Edition 'craft a card' dies. They are so versatile and easy to make a stunning card with.

This card uses the side fold 'card shape of the month' and you can find the tutorial here. (link)

To see my other Mother's Day inspiration, check out my Trimcraft gallery (link)

Emily xx

Fly || Scrapbook Layout || Simply Creative 'Chalkboard'

Hi all,

I have a layout to share today using the Simply Creative 'Chalkboard' papers from Trimcraft, along with a little mixed media in the form of yellow watercolour paint.

The photograph is of some waxwings that spent a few days in the area at the beginning of February. It's a bit of an 'out-take' shot but I really like it, how the camera captured details like the birds' feet and yellow tails, but blurred some of the wings.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

C

Mother's Day Cards || Dovecraft Kiss & Make Up

Happy Saturday!

I am back with more Mother's Day inspiration and today's inspiration is a card using the Dovecraft Kiss & Make Up collection from Trimcraft.

This one is for my boyfriend to give to his mum....she's just about the coolest person I know and this collection is just perfect for a card for her.

I'll be back with some final Mother's Day inspiration on Thursday but if you can't wait that long then take a peek at my other Mother's Day cards on my Trimcraft gallery (link).

Emily xx

Mother's Day Cards || Dovecraft Painted Blooms

Hi all,

With Mother's Day around the corner I have three blog posts full of inspiration to make a gorgeous card show your mum how much you appreciate her. I had five cards to make so I've been pretty busy!

These cards use the Dovecraft Painted Blooms collection from Trimcraft.

This one is my favourite and I'm giving it to my mum so shhhhh don't tell her
(Mum, if you're reading this, look away now.... Haha.... love you momma!)

It's so pretty yet it was so easy to make, stamping the flowers and colouring with watercolour pencils and then fussy-cutting them.

This one uses the Painted Blooms embossing folder. I find A6 embossing folders a little restrictive but with this one I covered the un-embossed area with shiny patterned paper.

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

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more Mother's Day inspiration on Saturday!

Emily xx