The Butterfly Hunter

During the weekend I spent scrapbooking with friends last month, I made this layout. It was originally inspired by this layout by Kelly Goree but ended up very differently to Kelly's layout.

I used papers from My Minds Eye's Miss Caroline collection and also a sheet of Scenic Route grid paper. 

The mason jar was cut from a sheet of paper from the American Crafts - Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm Collection. A really useful sheet of paper and I can see me using lots of those little jars on layouts and cards.

I punched the butterflies on my layout from scraps of paper and added gems to the bodies of each for added sparkle.

For the title I punched lots of tiny tags and added alphabet stickers. The tags were then hung from bakers twine.

My journalling is hidden behind the photo on the spotted yellow piece of paper and pulls out to be read. It says "Armed with an old fishing net and a jam jar Lara had been running around the garden trying to net a butterfly. She'd been after the orange/brown ones but they are a little too quick for her. She did manage to catch a few white ones which were put in the jar for a few minutes so she could look at them. I was quite pleased when she told me that the best bit was setting them free again and watching them fly away. I snapped this photo of her showing one of her catches to Grandad who was taking a break from cutting the grass. I think they were plotting the best way of catching the next one. August 2009"

My Minds Eye

Last weekend I scraplifted a stunning layout made by US Scrapbooker Malika Kelly for Bella Blvd and Epiphany Crafts.

Malika used a cutting file from the Silhouette Studio and as I had that cutting file I was drawn to her layout.

To match the colours in my photo of Lara I used papers from a 6" x 6" My Minds Eye's 'On The Sunny Side' collection paper pad but the layout would have worked equally well with paper scraps. Cutting and backing all those circles was quite therapeutic.

          

I also added some acrylic dome stickers which I backed with more patterned paper and also some brads. The layout was finished off with a title using Basicgrey stickers.

  

Anyone wanting to create a layout similar to this can get the cutting file from the Silhouette Studio or Jillibean Soup produce a similar die cut sheet called a 12x12 placemat diecut

(Ooops Just realised the date is missing from this photo of the layout. It has now been added to the layout.)

Scrapology - May Layout Challenge

This months layout challenge on Scrapology went live this week. We are challenging you to take inspiration from a gorgeous layout by Delaina Burns and include some HAND STITCHING in your layout.

I decided to use a photograph of my daughter taken last year on the beach for my layout and really enjoyed putting the layout together using zingy citrus colours. 

I used Bazzill Cardstock and a mixture of patterned papers from My Minds Eye, Dream Street Papers and Fancy Pants. The word strip was cut from a sheet of Echo Park patterned paper. I also added part of a transparency from Hambly and made some windmills from more patterned paper and brads. For my hand stitching I used embroidery silk. I drew the frames on the cardstock in pencil before making the holes to sew.

Here's Delaina's original layout and Lynn's sketch.

A Quick Birthday Card

I made a quick birthday card for a friend last week.

I used patterned papers from a 6"x6" paper pad from the 'Summer Breeze' collection by First Edition Paper and a pre-coloured digital stamp from http://meljensdesigns.com . I printed the image on photo paper and then layered it on the patterned paper. The card was finished off with some self adhesive pearls and a sentiment.

I have just spent a lovely weekend crafting with a group of like minded friends. We meet up once a year and traditionally we exchange little gifts. This year I put together some acrylic pillow boxes filled with Skittles sweeties.

The Skittles are so bright and colourful so after filling the boxes I wrapped them with rainbow ribbon and added a scalloped cardstock circle on which I printed a digital rainbow stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps.

Today a new card challenge set by Design Team member Sue has gone live on Scrapology. As April's birthstone is the diamond Sue is challenging you to make a card featuring BLING.

For my card I choose some patterned paper from My Minds Eye and added lots of sparkling gems to it. 

I used a 5"x7" card base and added some black satin ribbon, a silk flower, a round cluster diamante buckle ribbon slider from Mei Flowers and a sentiment printed on acetate.

After making the card I felt inspired to make something else with the patterned paper so I made a little handbag which opens up to be used to hold a little gift. The bag was made from a folded 6" x 6" square of the paper. There are lots of instructions on the internet for making such a bag including this You Tube video.

I put some nail polish inside my handbag but you could also fill it with sweets, a lipstick or some others little gift.

I decorated the outside of the handbag with sparkling gems and a 'friends' charm hung on chain.

Pop over to Scrapology to see all the teams cards and to find out all about the challenge.

Scrapology - April Layout Challenge

This month the Scrapology Design Team chose to scraplift a layout by Morag Cutts and this months technique is ripped paper.

For my layout I used paper and a sticker from BasicGrey's 2008 release - Euphoria. I still love that paper line. The colours are so fresh, girly and Spring-y.

I also used Bazzill cardstock, a crystal swirl from The Hobby House, some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, a heart shaped paper doilie, ribbon, button card downloaded from the Internet, buttons, silver charm, butterflies downloaded and printed from www.swirlydoos.com , re-coloured unbranded alphabet stickers and Provo Craft alphabet stickers. The little envelope was made with more of the Euphoria paper.

Here's Morag's original layout and Lynn's sketch.

Morag has given a super prize for the winner of the challenge of lovely Stash Panache Boutique Buttons. I wouldn't mind winning those myself. Shame I can't enter! Pop on over to Scrapology for all the details. 

Anita's Card

It was my crafty friend Anita's birthday recently and I made her a card. The idea for the card came from a card designed by Gail Owens for Kiwi Lane Designs. Like Gail I used lots of patterned papers from My Minds Eye, some bakers twine, gems and some alphabet stickers.

Scrapology - March Card Layout

This month's card challenge on Scrapology has been set by Jill from Cardinal Colours. Jill challenges you to make a card for St Patrick's Day which falls on March 17th.

For my card I found a free image on the Internet. I layered up various scraps of green patterned paper and as well as the downloaded picture I also added a paper doilie, some flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts), some heart pins, a shamrock metal charm, gems and a big green bow from seam binding to echo the bow in the picture. I was really pleased with the way the card turned out and after using seam binding for the first time I'll definitely be using it again.

Please pop on over the Scrapology to see all the design teams cards and have a go at making a card for St Patrick's Day yourself.

Scrapology - March Layout Challenge

This month on Scrapology we are scraplifting a layout by our own team member Lynn Cooper and for the technique we invite you to have some elements which peek from a hidden place on your layout. These could be peeking out from a corner, the side, from under the photo or somewhere else.

For my layout I choose some older papers. Can you believe this paper is from Prima? It was part of their winter 2009 release - 'Mommy and Me'. I cut up an extra sheet of the paper to have some elements to peek out from the corner and top edge and whilst the papers were glittered I added lots more stickles to really add some sparkle. The honeycomb photo mat was cut on the Craft Robo. I also added a paper doilie, buttons and ribbon.

Pop on over the Scrapology to have a look at Lynn's original layout and sketch and to find out full details of the challenge.

Scrapology - February Card Challenge

The Scrapology Card Challenge for February was set by team member Lynn and is to make a card using or representing something transparent.

For my New Baby Girl card I used a piece of Papermania's 'Sweet Nothings' Printed Acetate which I cut and creased to make a 5"x7" landscape card. The acetate is nice and thick and perfect for a card base. I embelished the front of the card with some adhesive pearls, a cute chipboard dress from DCWV's 'Nana's Nursery' collection and a printed sentiment from a kit I bought from QVC years ago. I added a piece of pink paper to the inside for somewhere to write although this could have been left off and the sender could write directly on the acetate with a permanent marker. 

Please hop on over to Scrapology for details of the challenge and prize.

Scrapology - February Layout Challenge

This month on Scrapology the design team have taken inspiration from a layout by Heather Jacob and as an added challenge we are challenging readers of the blog to use Texture Paste in their layout. 

Shhhh ........ don't tell anyone, but I failed and didn't use texture paste on my layout. Shame on me! 

For my layout I used a couple of photos of my daughter and my Dad taken at my niece's wedding in 2011. I love the photos and have meant to put them on a layout for some time.

The papers I used were from Prima's 2011 Madeline Collection. I also used a paper doilie, leaves and title cut on the Craft Robo, a handmade flower, some self adhesive gems and a scrap of pre-printed transparency. 

Pop on over to Scrapology to see everyones layouts. We hope you will enter the challenge by creating a layout using the sketch and some texture paste and Jill at Cardinal Colours has come up with another fabulous prize this month.

Scrapology - January Card Challenge

This months challenge on Scrapology was set by design team member Linda. Inspired by a colour wheel app she I found online the challenge is to make a card using the colours Purple, Lime and Silver.

For my card I used a die cut image from Lili of the Valley and various scraps of patterned paper from my stash. The sentiment was a freebie from a recent magazine, the silver stars and lines were good ol' peel-offs and the ribbon was re purposed from some packaging.

The lime paper doesn't look very lime in this photo but in real life its much more vibrant.

365 - A Photo a Day

I have decided to take part in the 365 - A Photo a Day project again this year. The last time I did this was in 2009 and I thought it was time to have another go. Once again my photos will be of everyday life - what we do, where we go and who we see. Some days I will just post one photo but on other days there may be several others in addition to my photo of the day. My photos can be found on my photography blog here. 

Happy New Year Everyone.

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.