Friday 23 November 2012

Scrapbooking layouts

I've been busy trying to get to grips with Adobe Lightroom programme so no time for any challenges. Hoping to craft this weekend. I have however photographed a couple of layouts i recently completed. I started them months ago but needed to complete them. Some it was just the journalling that needed to be added. Although it looks like the layouts have no journalling it is either under the photograph or simply added to the back of the layout.


Love my daughters to bits and we've been very lucky to have two gorgeous, kind, hardworking girls. Yet, they do both have their moments!


Our youngest daughter though quiet at first is a very social person. This photograph was taken in the last few weeks at her school, when they were all very aware of how quickly they would all be going in different directions. With their GCSE's fast approaching, they were determined to make the most of the short time left to them including taking hundreds of photographs. Fortunately they still made time for revision and did well in their exams. She is of course texting. I love the angle of this photograph with the lovely blue sky. 


Lost and Found paper-My Minds Eye,  i bought a pack and love it all. Prima flower, gorgeous as always and die cuts by Colorbok-Antique paperie.


Lost and Found papers again and a few more of the glitter cut outs by Colorbok. Not sure whether my daughter and husband will be impressed with my posting this one. 


Love these photos taken in Epcot and the sunset colours echoing the colours of the dress my daughter was wearing was a bonus. Still trying to use up bits and pieces i have had for years. I yearn for the minimalist lifestyle but still want all my crafting stash!

These were all started at different crops hence why they were all waiting to be finished. Though i love going to crops i scrap better at home, looking at these i want to start again and tweak them a little. Still done is better than perfectionism.



Tuesday 13 November 2012

Altered metal fun. At first i couldn't think of any projects involving metal. Eventually looking all around i spotted a small plain metal litter bin i keep on my worktop for tiny scraps and waste and decided it would be good to pretty it up a bit.


I stamped the bird from Stampers Anonymous Urban Tapestry and the plant from Nature's Discovery in black Stazon on the front and back of the bin. Added black stazon ink to the MM "Create" metal word and glued on with glossy accents. Then added the "Collections from the journey" ribbon which i believe was an old 7 Gypsies make. Stamping on the metal was tougher then it sounds as too much pressure made it slip but i was happy with the look in the end.


I then spotted this small round plain tin with a glass top. I coloured the side with denim alcohol inks then stamped all over with the crackle stamp from Stampers Anonymous Ultimate Grunge set with black stazon ink. I stamped a La Blanche design onto Rangers Speciality paper with black archival ink and coloured in a tiny bit with the denim alcohol ink. Attached it under the glass with glossy accents unfortunately a bit showed through on the edge so i hid it by going round the edge on top of the glass with a pearl pen by Viva Decor. Then added some ribbon around the edge of the top.



The final thing i found, at least so far, was an ATC tin by Woodware Craft collection. This time i wanted a really vibrant look so went for my new Dylusion ink sprays, just love these. Sprayed glossy paper with London Blue and Bubblegum Pink. Stamped Stampers Anonymous main image from Classics 7 for the front and SA compass from Classics 1 for the back. Silver embossed the edges of the paper and glued to tin. 





Sprayed some of Tims tissue tape with the same Dylusion inks and placed on the sides of the tin. Love how you can easily manourve the tissue tape around until its in the exact position you want. Finally added the ribbon and key on top.






Absolutely love the vibrant colours on the ATC tin.

Monday 12 November 2012

I didn't get time to make anything else for the Simon says Stamp and Show challenge on Saturday. But whilst checking out some Crafty Individuals products i discovered they had a  blog and found a lovely challenge. Its all about festive sparkle which is a difficult one for me as i don't really make "holiday" items and i only have a few Crafty Individuals stamps which i want to remedy as i love the few i have, hence why i was looking at their products. Go take a look at their blog here, lots of fabulous projects to see.

So i came up with what i hope can be considered "festive sparkle" by decorating a little gift box.

I sprayed the box inside and out with Melted chocolate dylusions ink spray and then some irridescent gold Tattered Angels spray for sparkle, but this doesn't really show in the photographs. Gold embossed all the sides of the box with a stamp from Stampers Anonymous classic 7. 




Cut two squares out of some pink paper from the Tea Thyme collection by Prima. Both spritzed with the Tattered Angels irridesent mist. One for the inside of the box and one distressed and glued to the top. 

I stamped part of Crafters Individuals CI-228 stamp on to sticky canvas and again spritzed with the Gold mist. Glued to the patt paper and added extra sparkle with cinnamon stickles by Ranger. Finally added a rose charm to the top.

It was only after i had completed it that i realised i was still following a french theme.

Friday 9 November 2012

Finished off and photographed the ATC's this afternoon for the Simon says Stamp and Show challenge. This time i was inspired by the romance of France. A good excuse for going a little girly.



It was only whilst taking the photographs that i realised i'd only stamped on one of the ATC's, the one with the crackled heart.



For each of the ATC's i mounted the pp on chipboard for extra strength and inked with frayed burlap distress ink around the edges. This one has a sticker by 7 gypsies, adhesive faux beads by Recollections and two rings coloured with alcohol inks as the gold was just too bright.

Stitched on the splatternet, added the rose and pearl heart button and a rectangle cut from pp i bought possibly eight years or so ago. So good to be using up some golden oldies.



This is my favourite of the three, it pretty much made itself. A scrap of a gorgeous paper that i bought years ago. A chipboard heart covered with Rangers clear rock candy distress crackle paint coloured with tarnished brass, old paper and tea dye distress stains. Sweetheart and the banner stamp are both by Technique Tuesday.

I just love the clear rock candy distress crackle paint and pretty much covered everything with it after seeing it in Tims chemistry class. I now keep a box of chipboard shapes ready crackled, ready to be coloured with the distress stains so i don't have to wait around for the crackle to dry.

Off to think of something else to try with a french influence.


Another one for the Simon says Stamp and Show french inspired challenge. The Eiffel Tower must be the most obvious icon for France but its the innovation of it that really appeals to me. I'm pretty sure there were many naysayers at the time, saying it couldn't be built, it was far too costly and whats the point anyway! So yes i think it took courage to design and build but can you imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower.


I used several Stampers Anonymous stamps- The Eiffel Tower, Every possibility, and one from Classics 7. The ruler stamp is by Technique Tuesday and the french one on the background is made by Paperbag Studios.

I used Tims perfect splatter distress technique as the background. Stamping on Rangers speciality stamping paper, love that stuff.

Next up will be a couple of ATC's.

Thursday 8 November 2012

After seeing Simon says Stamp and Show challenge, i realised i had far too many french inspired stamps and bits and pieces to do just one item. So i decided to have a french inspired week.

First is a simple envelope album which may not actually count for the challenge as i started it months ago. However the challenge has inspired me to finally finish it. I made it to remember a day in Paris booked as a treat for my daughter and her friend after completing their GCSE's. Unwittingly we booked Eurostar for Bastilles Day. Fortunately it was a beautiful sunny day and the crowds just added to the atmosphere.










I haven't shown several of the pages as they include my daughters friend and i don't like to upload photographs without permission

The paper are "Paris Nights" by GCD Studios. Apart from that i've used soot distress ink and just a few bits and pieces from a box of leftover bits waiting to be used.