Scrapology - February Card Challenge

This month on Scrapology the sponsor of our monthly card challenge is Amy from The Crafty Purple Frog. The challenge is to use Layers and Amy kindly provided the design team with digital decoupage sheets created from fantasy artwork by Ching-Chou Kuik.

I used a sheet called 'Dreamy Moon' to make my card.

I used papers from BasicGrey's 'Green at Heart' collection and Hot off the Press (I think) as well as quote a bit of black Bazzill card stock and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

It doesn't really show very much in the picture but the decoupaged image was stickled to an inch of it's life to make it sparkle. (I think I may be addicted to Stickles because recently everything I have created has had to include some Stickles!)

Please pop along to Scrapology to join in with this months challenge.

Valentine's Day Baking

"Happy Valentine's Day"

This morning Lara and I continued our tradition of baking some sweet Valentine goodies. This year we made mini heart shaped iced cookies.

Echo Park Birthday Layout

It was my daughter's 9th birthday in December and I am quite chuffed that I have already scrapbooked photos taken at her party. I struggle with birthday layouts so for me to get one completed within 2 months of the big day is quite an achievement.

I used Bazzill cardstock, papers from Echo Park's 'Playground' and 'Walk in the Park' collections and cardstock stickers for Bella Blvd's 2009 'Sweet Celebration' collection. I used a white cardstock background and I matted all the photos, patterned papers and elements on black cardstock to make them pop and hopefully create a bright, fun layout.

Scrapology February Layout Challenge - P is for Patchwork

This month on Scrapology we are scraplifting a layout designed and created by SJ for the Cardinal Colours Retreat last autumn and this month our technique is to use your papers to create a "Patchwork" background.

Some of my readers may remember this layout that I created last year using BasicGrey's Offbeat collection. I really liked the colour combo and the papers were perfect for a series of photos I took of my daughter playing in the snow, so I decided to use the scraps of paper I had left from my original layout to create this challenge layout.

Just as scraps of fabric are perfect for patchwork quilts, etc. , scraps of paper are perfect for patchwork layouts. I used a square punch to punch my 'patches' but could have easily just measured then and cut them with a paper trimmer. After sticking the patches to my background card (which I had punched a fancy border round) I machine stitched over the joins. I used snowflake embelishments from K&Co and felt snowflakes from Papermania. I added some unbranded silver alphabet stickers for the title, tiny alphabet stickers from Adornit and metal corner embelishments.

To add a bit of sparkle I sprayed the whole layout (except the photograph) with 'Spray and Sparkle' glitter varnish from Crafter's Companion. It really does Sparkle & Shine in real life.

This was SJ's original layout ....

... and this is Lynn's sketch.

Pop over to Scrapology to see all the design team Layouts and maybe have a go at the challenge yourself. There is a great prize on offer and as they say, "You've got to be in it to Win it".

Quick Birthday Cards

Last week I suddenly realised two of my design team co-members on Scrapology were celebrating birthdays, so I quickly made a couple of very simple cards using some Craftwork Cards supplies that I had had for quite some time and not used..

I think the papers were from the Yummy Scrummy Range and I added some Card Candi and a sentiment also from Craftwork Cards.

Very quick and simple cards and not an original idea but I hope the girls liked them.

Scrapology - January Card Challenge

This month on Scrapology, Ali from Craft Ribbons has sponsored our monthly card challenge. The team (and readers joining in with the challenge) are challenged to "Say it with Ribbons" by creating a 'Love' themed card incorporating ribbons - very apt with Valentine's Day just a month away.

I created a cute little square card with a 'Me to You' image.

To create the ribbon heart in the centre of the card I fixed pieces of ribbon to a piece of cardstock which I had cut roughly to the size of the finished heart. The size of the heart was the same as a White heart shaped paper doilie from The Hobby House which I trimmed to create a frame for my ribbon heart. The doilie edged heart was mounted on a square piece of red and white spotty paper which I edged with white lace. I finished the card by embelishing it with red Card Candi from Craftwork Cards, a ribbon bow and a pre-made 'Me to You' topper and tag from DoCrafts.

The prize for the winner of this month's challenge is a set of 16 'Valentine' ribbons so pop over to Scrapology and have a go.

Puppy update

A friend asked me how Millie our Labrador puppy was doing so I thought I would post a few photos here.

The first couple of photos are of Lara with Millie and were taken a few days after Millie came to live with us. Lara absolutely loves Millie and to see them running and playing together in the garden is so sweet.

Christopher took the next few photos. Back in the summer my brother passed onto me a camera which he no longer used. It's an SLR and whilst I, much to Christopher's disgust, have only been using it on auto, he has been playing around with apertures and shutter speeds, etc. I must agree the photos are lovely and I really should be brave and take the camera off auto but that's so scary!

These last few photos were taken just last week in the back garden. Millie has learned that if she finds something tasty in the garden (ie, a leaf or twig) and takes it under the trampoline to munch on it is very difficult for us to get to her to take the tasty morsel off her. These photos were taken in that spot.

Tomorrow she is due to have her final injections and next week we are off to a puppy party! Oh happy days.

Scrapology January Layout Challenge - T is for Texture

Over on Scrapology we have started the New Year with a challenge to use 'Texture' on your layout and also a double page sketch based on a layout by Stacey Hansen

I decided to use papers from the 'Year-o-graphy' line from Simple Stories to create a year in review layout. I am loving the collections from Simple Stories and they are fast becoming another of my favourite manufacturers.

I used 8 photos on my double page layout taken during the year on various occasions. Usually I find it difficult to use photos from different events on one layout because often the colours clash, etc but on this occasion because of the muted background I think the layout worked.

To add texture I embelished the page with buttons, machine stitching, stickers and created bunting along the top of the page with punched circles and scalloped circles which I stapled onto some bakers twine.

Looking at the layout I realise what an eventful year 2011 was for my family.

Here is the original layout by Stacey Hansen.....

........ and here is the sketch with Lynn created.

Pop along to Scrapology to see all the teams layouts and to find how you can win an amazing prize of one of each sheet of Bazzill Two Scoops - extra special, 12x12 premium cardstock!

Favourite layouts of 2011

Last year I did a review of my favourite 10 layouts of 2010 so I thought I would do the same this year now that its the eve of 2012. So, here they are:

1. Snow Day - I was able to incorporate Echo Park Journalling Cards in this layout I created for Scrapology. During the year Echo Park has firmly found its place in my list of favourite paper manufacturers.

2. c1915 - I rather surprised myself with this layout created for the March challenge on Scrapology. It was the first time I had scrapped a heritage layout and I was really pleased how the layout turned out, especially since I used very old supplies and handmade all the flowers.

3. Family - More Echo Park paper in this next layout. I love the photo and the bright zingy colours.

4. Sweet Child of Mine - I turned to my old favourite 'BasicGrey' for this layout of Lara. The photo were taken when she was really little and I just love the look on her face and the crochet flowers on the layout were gorgeous.

5. Flying Teddies - I rarely create layouts with card stock backgrounds but this year I have created quiet a few and actually like the look. More Echo Park papers on this layout - told you they were one of my favourites!

6. Ice Queen - Not an obvious choice of paper for this snow themed layout - BasicGrey's Offbeat. The colours in the papers matched the photos perfectly and were perfect. (Watch this space for another snow themed layout using those papers soon!)

7. Lets Go Fly a Kite - This year I became aware of Canadian Scrapper Stephanie Klauck and she inspired me to upgrade the software on my Craft Robo, get a new cutting blade for it and start using it again. This layout was inspired by one of Stephanie's layouts.

8. When Life Gives You Lemons - I think this layout is my absolute favourite layout I created this year. Inspired by Georgia K Keays and created for Scrapology I love the colour scheme and the doodling and was pleased to be able to use the crochet doilies bought on a greek island holiday many, many years ago.

9. Fishing With Dad - another Stephanie Klauck inspired layout using more Echo Park papers and a photo collage created in Picassa.

10. Flower Girl - This last layout was also created for Scrapology and I used some beautiful paper from Prima. The flowers were handmade as was the dress embelishment. I had an idea for making the dress in my head and managed to replicate it.

Happy New Year everyone. Hope 2012 is good for you and your families.

Lots more layouts (and cards) hopefully to come next year.

Introducing Millie

Yesterday we collected our new puppy 'Millie'. She was very timid last night when we got home but after a good nights sleep (no whining or crying) she has really come out of herself today and is a welcome addition to our family.

Millie is an 8 week old yellow Labrador and has the sweetest, gentlest temperament. So far she has shown no interest in our cat Tux and whilst Tux is obviously curious about this new bundle of fur that has suddenly appeared he seems quite happy too.

I've lost count of the number of times the family have told me that Millie will be a good subject for my scrapbook pages so I guess she may well appear on a page (or two) in the future. Watch this space LOL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Have a great Christmas Everyone.

I hope that it is happy, relaxing and peaceful and everything you wish for.

Christmas Eve Baking

On Christmas Eve Lara and I usually do some Christmas baking. This usually means making mince pies. So this afternoon out came the ingredients and mince pies were made.

By the time we had finished it was starting to get dark so the colours in this photo of the finished mince pies is a bit off - they weren't this dark, honest.

The homemade 'Jammie Dodgers' that we also made using a recipe from the Morrisons magazine were also not as dark as they look in this photo either. Don't you just hate trying to take photos indoors at this time of the year when the sun keeps disappearing???

Handmade Christmas Cards From Friends

I have received some beautiful handmade Christmas Card from my crafty friends this year and they have pride of place on display in our living room.

Alison (Ali) sent me this lovely monochromatic card. I'm not sure what she used to give the snowy effect on the strip near the bottom of the page but it's really effective.

Anita sent me this cute snowman card - such a clever idea. Unless I'm mistaken the background paper is a piece of Scenic Route (Loooove Scenic Route and really wish it was still around)

Deirdre sent me this lovely rustic style card. Spookily when I opened the envelope having not looked at the postmark, recognised the handwriting or read the inside of the card I instinctively knew it was from Deirdre. Deirdre's stamping is amazing and so precise.

Jackie sent me this stamped snowman card. Love that sentiment!

Joan who runs the monthly crops I go to gave me this lovely little contemporary card. I think it may be made from Stamping Up supplies (although I may be wrong).

Linda sent me this Forever Friends decoupaged card. Impressed by Linda's decoupage. I always struggle cutting out the intricate bits of designs but Linda has done an excellent job with this card.

The other Linda gave me this pretty little card. I told her at our crop in November when she was making cards that I liked it - so at our December crop she gave it to me. LOL.

Lynn sent me this gorgeous turquoise card using a Lili of the Valley stamp. It is absolutely stunning in real life - so beautifully embellished. Lynn, your cards are always beautifully made and must take you ages.

Marian gave me this very sparkly stamped card. It is very glittery and perfectly purple.

Maria sent me this sweet little gingerbread man card and a tiny handmade felt gingerbread decoration to hang on my Christmas tree. It is so sweet and now hanging on the tree right at the front where everyone can see it.

And finally Sandra sent me this cute teddy card. The background has been embossed and then highlighted in gold.

Thank you everyone for my cards. If I haven't thanked you personally I apologise. I love them all and it's nice to have such thoughtful friends.