Favourite Ten Layouts of 2012

As 2012 is fast drawing to an end I thought I would post my usual Favourite Ten Layouts from the year. I have scaled back my scrapbookgng this year mainly due to lack of time and also due to lack of mojo. But, I did manage to create a number of layout that I was pleased with and during the year, managed to persevere with stash-busting and used up lots of older products. So, in no particular order they are:

1. A Year in Review - This was for Scrapology's January Layout Challenge and I used papers from the 'Year-o-graphy' line from Simple Stories to create a year in review layout. During the year Simple Stories has continued to be one of my favourite manufacturers. 

2. Carry on Nursing - This was an unusual layout for me. I used only cardstock and a teeny, tiny strip of patterned paper. The photo collage was made in Picasa and I cut various nursing bits and pieces on the Craft Robo as embelishments.

3. Lovely - This layout was made using the gorgeous My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart Be Happy paper collection and is a scraplift of a layout by Susan Goetter. I absolutely LOVE this collection and really enjoyed putting the layout together using one of my favourite photos of Lara and some hexagons which have been a popular scrapbooking trend this year.

4. All the Fun of the Fair - Another layout using My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart Be Happy paper collection which I created for Scrapology's September Layout Challenge. Trendy hexagons and bunting on this page and paint splatters!

5. Happy Summer Days - This was my layout for the July Scrapology Challenge. More Simple Stories papers but this time the 100 Days of Summer Collection. The 'PYO Sweet & Juicy Strawberries' picture was downloaded from the Internet and printed onto cardstock. I've done that quite a bit this year when I've not been able to find a suitable embelishment amongst my stash.

6. Bloom & Grow - My Bloom & Grow layout was created for the May Scrapology Layout Challenge. The theme was 'charms' and I used several very old plastic charms from Doodlebug. The flowers were made by layering varying sizes of die cut flowers (cut on the Craft Robo) with 3D foam. Before layering them I sanded the edged slightly and curled them. A button was glued in the centre of each layered flower. This layout was VERY bulky!

7. Time for Tea - I loved the photos of Lara that I used on this layout and had been eager to scrap them. The stack of tea cups were cut on my Craft Robo from more scraps of Scenic Route paper using a shape downloaded from the Silhouette online store. i.

8. Winter Wipeout - I was seriously stash-busting when I created this layout. The papers I used had been in my stash for far too long and it was good to use them up. I loved the candid photos of Wayne & Lara.

9. Medieval Make Believe - This layout probably took me the longest to make of all the layouts I created this year. The title posed me a real problem. I used more My Minds Eye papers and scraps from other manufacturers.

10. All Bundled Up - My last layout was my December Scrapology Challege layout. The brief was to create a monochromatic layout. Oh how I wanted to add some colour to this layout!

My scrapbooking resolutions for next year are to:

• Try and scrapbook more;
• Try and find time to attend monthly crops again. I've not been since the summer and miss the opportunity to sit and play for a whole day;
• Stash-bust. At times I am disgusted with the amount of 'stuff' I have. Although it pales into insignificance compared to a lot of people I know, I really need to continue to use it before buying more.
• Try and participate in 365 - A photo a day project. I last did this in 2009 and still look back at those photos and marvel that I managed to take a photo everyday. 

Have a great Christmas Everyone.

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

Graphics from http://thisthat2011.blogspot.co.uk/

Christmas Cards

I don't make many Christmas cards. Just a handful for my crafty friends. The cards I made this year were all very similar and were made using various papers free with magazines, some pre-made embellishments, ribbon and embossed card. I tried to give them a Scandinavian feel and made duplicates of some.

NB. Looking at the close ups of the cards I've realised how badly I need to put a new blade in my paper trimmer!

Scrapology - December Card Challenge

This month on Scrapology design team member Lou is challenging us to make a card using recycled or natural materials like packaging or dried twigs. Lou is providing a super selection of goodies as a prize for the winning card.

For my card I created a shaker box from the plastic bubble pack that some miniature battery operated fairy lights came in.

I used the packaging as a template to cut a rectangular window in some patterned paper and fixed the packaging into the window. I then attached to my background card some Papermania  Forever Friends layered stickers. Before putting the packaging on top I added some artificial snow. The card was then embellished with a sentiment, some gems and a ribbon taken from some other packaging.

Scrapology December Layout Challenge - M is for Monochrome

This month Scrapology are scraplifting a gorgeous monochromatic layout by Pam Thorburn. You are challenged to make a layout using Pam's layout, our sketch for inspiration and a monochromatic colour scheme.

I decided to use a photo of my daughter taken a couple of years ago on a snow day. 

I chose a die cut sheet of white pearlescent card for the background and added lots of die cut snowflakes which I sparkled to an inch of their life with Stickles. I also added flat back pearls, star sequins, clear self adhesive gems and Aunty Sarah's clear Dewdrops from Sarah's Cards Limited. I used some Fancy Pants filter papers behind the photo, some unbranded silver alphabet stickers for the title and machine stitched on the edge of the photo and round the background card with silver thread.

Here's Pam's original layout ......

..... and here's our sketch.

Pop over to Scrapology to see all the design team layouts and if you decide to take part in the challenge you could win a Monochromatic Bazzill Basics Pack and a selection of ribbons provided by Jill at Cardinal Colours. 

Scrapology - November Card Challenge

This months card challenge on Scrapology is sponsored by Megan K. Suarez from Dilly Bean stamps. The design team have created cards using Dilly Bean digital stamps and have also incorporated buttons and bows in their cards. 

I used a Dilly Bean image called 'Elly Framed'.

Instead of colouring the image I paper pieced it using some scraps of patterned paper and highlighted the eyes with glossy accents.

I used the same patterned paper as a background and made some rolled spiral roses too. I added metal corners, a black satin bow and some pearl effect buttons. 

Scrapology November Layout Challenge - W is for Wire

This month on Scrapology we are scraplifting one of our very own design team members, Lou Collins and we are inviting you to create a layout with our sketch and incorporate wire in your layout. The wire could be  real or faux (stamped, stencilled, paper, etc. )

Here's my layout

I chose to use real chicken wire on my chicken themed layout. The papers used were a mixture of Fancy Pants (Background), Echo Park (wood grain and title mat) and October Afternoon (newsprint). 

I also used flowers from Prima which I enhanced by adding faux stamens and leaves also from Prima. I used a few brads, some hessian and some unbranded chipboard lettering.

Here is Lou's stunning original layout.

and, here's the sketch

Please do join the challenge and pop over to Scrapology for all the details of how to enter and the super prize that's on offer. 

Scrapology - October Card Challenge

This month on Scrapology our card challenge is sponsored by Mei Flowers. The challenge is to create a card taking items from a bingo style grid - any 3 items in a line either across, down or diagonally

I decided to choose stitching, buttons and layers ... and here's my card.

I had such fun making this card. I got carried away with a sewing theme and just ran with it.

I used 5x7 card blank and a sheet of papers from the MME Miss Caroline Howdy Doody range.

I also used a lovely 'scissors' charm from Mei Flowers.

I die cut a 'spool' on the CraftRobo from some card and wrapped some thread round it and added a couple of heart pins.

I downloaded from the Internet free button card images ( found here and here ) and printed these onto plain card. I added some wooden buttons to one of the cards.

I used some Washi Tape to add a corner and also a lace doilie.

Finally I added a digital sentiment from mcmahonfivedesign.com which I printed onto card and cut with a circle punch and mounted on a scalloped circle.

Please pop on over to Scrapology and see all the teams cards and here's the bingo card grid to inspire your creations.

Scrapology October Layout Challenge - R is for Rainbow

 This month on Scrapology the challenge is to incorporate rainbow colours in a layout and the design team has taken it's inspiration from a stunning layout by Steph Devlin.

Whilst looking for a photo to use on my layout I struggled to find something suitable. I wanted a really bright photo but whilst I found lots of fairly bright photos but couldn't find any in primary colours. Until, I found a photo of Lara taken on the day her Rainbow group celebrated the Centenary of Girl Guiding a few years ago.

My layout was very simple. I used lots of cardstock. I started with a white cardstock base, matted my photo on black cardstock and then added butterflies and stars punched from coloured carstock. I finished the layout with a title made from Echo Park letter sticker in rainbow colours.

Here's Steph's original layout....

..... and the sketch.

Jill at Cardinal Colours has come up with a super prize this month and we hope you will join the fun and enter the challenge by creating a layout using the sketch and Rainbow Colours. Pop over to Scrapology for all the details and to see the team's layouts.

Scrapology - September Card Challenge

The theme of this months card challenge on Scrapology is 'An Unconventional Charistmas' and the challenge was set by Natalie O'Shea from Stampin' Up. Natalie set the challenge to create a Christmas card using products or tools not normally associated with Christmas. Not an easy challenge! 

I decided to make an easel card.

I used square card blanks, red patterned paper (unknown brand), 'Star Fairy' digital stamp from Pollycraft which I coloured with Promarkers, Queen and Co. Felt Fusion, Martha Stewart eyelet lace & branch leaf punches, paper flowers by Impex & Wild Orchid Crafts, Stickles, Hobby Craft self adhesive greeting and Hobby House self adhesive pearls.

Please hop on over to Scrapology to see all the teams cards and have a go at creating a card yourself.

With Silver Bells .......

Today is our Silver Wedding Anniversary. I can't believe it's 25 years since Wayne & I were married. We had all sorts of ideas of how to celebrate - a weekend away, a party.....? In the end because so much is going on at the moment (Christopher off the Uni in 2 weeks, Steven and Lara back to school tomorrow and Wayne facing back surgery again) we decided that celebrating in a big way wasn't a priority and decided instead to spend the day quietly, with the children and have a day at Cambridge. Cambridge is only a 45 minute drive away and we've never done the 'tourist' things so Wayne took the day off work and this morning after opening cards and presents we went off to Cambridge.

We walked round several of the colleges and the backs. We saw such stunning buildings and gardens.

A passer by kindly took a photo of us all at Emmanuel College. I think he was concentrating more on photographing the building than us though LOL!

We sat by the river and ate a picnic and watched the punting.

We were very surprised whilst eating out lunch to see this heard of cows come walking along the riverside. Cows in the City Centre! How absurd!

My parents had a lovely cake made for us so when we returned home they came round and we had some cake and a glass of bubbly
. 

Happy Anniversary Wayne. Love you. x x

Scrapology September Layout Challenge - H is for Hexagons

This month on Scrapology we are scraplifting the work of Katherine Sutton and the challenge is to incorporate Hexagons into your layout. 

I decided to use a photo of Lara taken at Weymouth. Dorset on Carnival Day in 2007. I thought the My Minds Eye - Follow Your Heart papers co-ordinated perfectly with the photo and had the added advantage of having hexagons printed on one of the sheets of paper (Follow Your Heart "Be Happy" Honey Pink).

For the layout I used  My Minds Eye - Follow Your Heart patterned papers, string, a brad, some alphabet stickers and some acrylic paint. The paint was watered down slightly and used to add some 'splatters' to the layout. The bunting was stamped using the Technique Tuesday Message in a Banner stamp onto some My Minds Eye paper and then cut out. The title was made with some tiny alphabet stickers and some chipboard letters.

Here's Katherine's original layout

Here's the sketch which Katherine based her original layout on which was drawn by Valerie Mangan (who in turn based the sketch on a page by Jules Dix)