Tuesday 31 December 2013

Last Post of 2013

I hope you all had a lovely, relaxing Christmas.
I wish you all a wonderful New Year.
I hope you all find more time for craft in 2014.
 
I will leave you with a final design of 2013.
My forum friend, Anne has a birthday on
Christmas Day & here is the card I made for her.
 
 
Paper is Websters' Pages
Stamps - Tim Holtz - Paris to London
Die - Tim Holtz Cabinet card
Technique - Shabby Chic - from
Creative Chemistry 102
Clear Embossing ink & powder
black & pink paint


Saturday 21 December 2013

Christmas Cards


Cards made using TH CC102 technique Distress Paint Resist.
Stamp by Papermania, Stars die cut & heat embossed tinsel silver.
Backgrounds;- various inks & stains.
Carol, Karin, Kaz & Penny.
 
 

 
Pictures from my photo collection.
Scrap paper - Lemon Owl - Cozy Winter
Bauble - designed & cut by Silhouette Cameo.
Katie - Labrador, Claire - Westie
5 baubles made for train gang
3 birds in snow for my scrap shoppin' girls 



More CC102 distress paint resist using Hero Arts Music Stamp.
Card die cut on Silhouette, deer - Memory Box, & Fence - DieNamics dies
using big shot & added along with stamped trees.
Bird & cages TH die. Swirls - XCut die
Merry Christmas - Cheery Lynn designs
 

Close up of cage to show it is embossed with Papermania
Gold (shellac) & while wet some gold glitter dropped into it. 

Swirls stamped with music stamp, bird covered with paper from Lemon Owl Cozy Winter.
Birds & cages - Tracy (sister)  & Hayley (beautician)
Woodland cottage in snow - Dad, Kath (aunt)  & Craig (hairdresser)

Saturday 23 November 2013

Two Birthdays

I know it seems like I have been away a long time, but I have
been very busy creating in the background.
Some things are for others that I do not wish to blog,
others are for up & coming birthdays.
I'm also busy working on two mini-books.
 
 
Anyway here is card one,
this was made during my latest Silhouette Cameo Class,
I made both the envelope & the card using basic shapes!
 





This second card is my favourite!
It is a mixed media piece using inks, stains and paints,
with stencils, embossing folders and stamps.
This one is for Karin, a crafty friend, who had a birthday this week.


Products used;
Crimson & Blake 180gsm watercolour paper
Acrylic paints - Docraft Artiste - sea spray, baby blue, soft grey
Crawford & Black - burnt umber
Gesso
Distress Stains - Salty Ocean
Distress Ink Pads:- Tumbled Glass, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot
Archival Jet black Ink
Stamps:- Hero Arts French Writing, B-Line Stamps Paris, CI Swirl
Stencils; Prima Butterfly Floral, Stencil Girls Bird in Window
I particularly love how the swirl is the birds breast. ♥ I used burnt umber on the emboss folder
& pressed down onto the watercolour paper. Dried quickly, smeared on some gesso, dried it & then applied
the blue paints. To colour up the image I dampened some folded kitchen towel, pressed it to the tops of
distress stains bottles; seedless preserves & Victorian Velvet & applied in a dabbing motion.
I inked over the prima stencil with chipped sapphire ink using blending tool, but the final image, the window & bird,
I inked over black soot. what a lovely dramatic effect it gives. ♥ ♥

Thursday 31 October 2013

Happy Hallowe'en

Crikey, two posts in two days!!!
But, I had to share this.
It is a forum challenge and obviously aimed at today!
 
First picture is a close up so you can see the headstone.
 

This next picture shows the entire piece.
It was so hard to photograph so I had to use the white shelves.
The main piece slipped as the shutter went & it is not stood as it should.
The main skeleton is hanging freely.



Materials used;
Black cardstock
TH Cabinet card die & Mini Cabinet Card die
Skeletons - Stamped by my friend Karin
Background piece is an Urban Stamp Steampunk image
inks used - Seedless Preserves/ Dusty Concord/ Spiced Marmalade
Fired Brick distress inks
Crow Fence die cut - Loni Stevens
Tombstone & Crow die cut - Loni Stevens
Coffin die cut - Silhouette America
Leafy Branch - Kerri Bradford - part of a class kit
Cobweb - dingbat free from Dafont.com
all cut with my Silhouette Cameo - Camille (pictured in the post below)

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Page 1 of 3rd Album


This page is made using a brand new paper collection.

Glitz Design Finnley! ♥
I fell in love on sight and had to have it!
The bold colour works well with my page images.
This page is all about my love for my Silhouette Cameo.
(I have named it, Camille ♥)
The page is made using techniques I learned from Kerri Bradford's classes.
I have learned so much, I am so pleased I found her site ♥
I included photos from her website of two of the classes and they work so well
with the colours in the kit.
Die cut shapes all using cameo plus the honeycomb back.
Paper used;
Both sides of Drip
Both sides of Multi Triangle
Reverse of Stripe
journaling created as a print & cut file
file tab, created as a print & cut
title - Kerri Bradford
I cut it out twice & stuck together for depth.
 
I have had a few days off work as I was feeling tired and wanted to
work on a forum challenge piece for Hallowe'en.
The piece is complete and I hope to share photos soon :0)

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Happy Anniversary!

Tracy & Martin. xx
 

Paper is Melissa Frances, used a TH Sun Ray mask over the top  then a cut out
swirl using Antique Linen Distress ink.
Layered my elements up (clock is Echo Park)
Butterfly- Memory Box.
I designed this card & as I like it I used part of the design
on the Golden Wedding Anniversary Card
below that I was commissioned to make.

Thursday 17 October 2013

Golden Wedding Commission

This is the front of the box card.
I created it for one of my work colleagues, Dawn.
Today, 17th October is her parents (my clients)
Golden wedding Anniversary.
 
 
This is the inside.
Vanilla cardstock embossed with
Secret Garden Folder.
 

 
This is the framed window.
I used my silhouette cameo to draw & cut
the perfect oval shape.
I then cut a second oval for the words.


 
This is the card stood up so you can see
the sides more clearly.
The cardstock used for the sides was some
hammered vanilla which was quite strong.


Finally, I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut a box
& as there is no where to write on the card
I made this tag.

Materials list;
Vanilla Cardstock
Papermania Secret Garden Embossing folder
Kraft cardstock
Box - Lori Whitlock cut file from Silhouette Store
Swirl - Tim Holtz
Clock - print & cut file - Echo Park
Ornate Tag - Bird
Flowers - Prima
Frame & tab - Xcut die
Silk roses - Make & Create
Leaves - Marianne Die
Papermania Stones & pearls
Ellison Design - Big Shot
Silhouette Cameo
Words - Computer generated

Saturday 5 October 2013

Final Page of 8x8 Album 2

 
Finally completed album 2!!
Enjoyed this one. I used my new found design skills
to create my own print & cut page accents with my
silhouette studio and cut them out with the cameo.
Materials list;
 Pink Cardstock (to match flowers)
Paper - Studio Calico English
Strip brown cardstock
Mini coloured brads
Leaves - silhouette cut - Kerri Bradford Studio
Bicycle - silhouette cut - Ashley Harris
 
My Own created Silhouette Cuts;
Journal Tag
Photo Tab - Corbridge
Diagonal stripe paper strip
Min sub title banner - Tea Room
Title - Martha's - Lauren Script font


 
This next picture is a cute hand bag mirror I picked up today for 99p
I fell in love the moment I saw it.
There was a square one & a heart shaped one,
but I like the image on this one best.
It has inspired me to make a card!!!
 

 
This is inside. I have no use for
the bottom magnified mirror.
I have Astigmatism in both eyes & find looking in
magnified mirrors very uncomfortable so
I plan to do something else!!! ;0)
 

Wednesday 2 October 2013

Hybrid Layout - 8 1/2 x 11 & A Card

 
This is my first attempt at designing a layout using my silhouette
studio software, following along with a class
by the Fabulous Kerri Bradford!!!
It was designed totally on computer & then once happy
with placement the print & cut items were done
& then I printed the title directly onto the page with
the date & the splatters. Finally I printed out my photos
& then cut the word "and" out of blue cardstock to match.
 
Below is a card I made for my friend, Marion.
It is a decoupage design using Lucy Cromwell.
The label which says happy birthday was printed off & cut with the silhouette.
The label was designed by Bird. I just added
the box & wording to the centre.

 
I have my 12th 8x8 page of album two ready to share,
most of it designed & done on my silhouette cameo
using silhouette studio software, but too dark for a decent photo!!!

Saturday 21 September 2013

Designing with my Silhouette Cameo

 
As my title says, I have been crafting, just
not a lot for you to see.
I have been designing with the cameo.
I have taken a few online classes to learn some tricks & tips.
Then I decided to put some of them into action.
The first piece is a very simple digital card.
I printed off the background and then, using
some digital images I purchased online, I produced
my own print & cut files.
 
 
The paper is a free one supplied by Astrid Maclean which I then
resized to 4.5ins square and printed my two ladies onto it.
I then printed off my two ladies & cut them out
with the silhouette & attached one directly to the paper
& the other raised on foam pads.
 
This next piece I designed myself completely.
Unfortunately when you design in Studio
 it saves only as a studio file.
It has to be printed & scanned into a computer
to be changed to a jpeg.
So I apologise for the graininess of the picture.

 
I basically drew a rectangle, added the colour, flowers
& text then grouped it all together as one.
My very own print & cut design, with
of course, the truth for all to see
I truly am only at my Creative best when
wearing pyjamas!

Ladies are part of a collection called Clothier - Viva Artistry available from
scrapbookgraphics.com

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Triple Library Pocket w/tri fold flap

Thanks to a cancelled train this morning,
I got a very last minute, half day holiday!
Here is what I did with the time!!
 I saw it on You Tube
fell in love & decided I wanted to have a go!!!
 

the inside pages


the outside

 
A rather poor top shot!
Papers DCWV - Mariposa.
Two sheets 12x12 Kraft cardstock.
I have not fully decorated the book as I haven't decided
whether to use photos of butterflies or
some quotes & stamped images.
 
Not sure if this link will work;
 

Sunday 1 September 2013

Mini Blueprint Stamps Book

As you will know from my post below,
I was off work over a week quite poorly.
Obviously the only way for me to recover right was a present!
I got a Get Well Soon from Me to Me present (or two!)
 
I bought two sets of the brand new Stampers Anonymous
Tim Holtz Mini Blueprint stamps Sets 3 & 4 :0)
 
This is the mini book I made using them & a few other stamps.
Materials list at the end if you are interested.
 






Book constructed from one large tag which was cut on Silhouette Cameo
to the same dimensions of
Tim Holtz Size #12 Tag.
Distress inks used;
Seedless Preserves/Broken China/ Antique Linen
I saw these colours used by Hels Sheridan, but she used Distress Paint.
I figured the colours are the same it should work.
I quite like the result a bit like raspberry ripple ice cream
but with a spot of blueberry juice!
Bleach
All images were coloured with ordinary pencil crayons
then painted over with PVA glue to protect against colouration.
I then used the wrinkle free technique. The quotes were stamped straight
onto inked backgrounds
Book based loosely on one in CS March 2013 by Kaz Hall.

Wednesday 28 August 2013

I Love This Place


I made this layout last Sunday, just before I fell ill.
I have looked at it for a week & have decided not to add anything else to it.
 
Materials Used;
Pale Blue Bazzill Cardstock
Royal & Langnickel Rub on Film Strip
Strip of paper - ColourConspiracy - Texturise {1}
Mini arrows - reverse of Texturise {1}
Two slivers of both sides top & bottom
Main title computer generated direct onto card
I Love This Place - Computer generated & cut out.
Date Tag - Papermania X-Cut Ticket Die
Photo - St Mary's Lighthouse, Whitely Bay, Northumberland
Taken July 2012 when I went up to plan our France holiday.


Saturday 24 August 2013

Things don't go to plan!!

You know how it is (if you are in full time employment like me)
& you are also an avid crafter, there are days when you long to be at home.
The mojo is jumping and more ideas are in your head than hours in a day.
Well, I have been home, since Tuesday but not quite how I wished!
I started off with a viral cold & by Wednesday had Gastroenteritis!
I have decided I hate my bathroom, having spent such a vast
amount of time in it. lol
Of course I am highly contagious so despite it being Bank Holiday Weekend
here in United Kingdom, I am not allowed out.
 
How I have longed to be at my desk this week!!!!!
 
I had finished the layout (in the post below) and begun another plus a mini book of my week
away in Northumberland. They are still sat on the craft table untouched. But, I
hope to be able to do something other than stare at the computer by tomorrow.
 
As you will see from the post below I made a CD card for my sister Tracy, so that I could post
all the photos I had taken during my week.
I also made this card below for Dad. I could not blog it until I knew he
had received it & then by that time I was really ill.
 
It is a very simple card which I think might translate well
into part of a scrap layout.
 

Materials Used;
Papermania Urban Stamp - All Aboard - Map
Papermania All Aboard Craft Tape
Photo - taken by myself & cut into circle
I stuck the craft tape on paper & ran through computer to add text.

Sunday 18 August 2013

Page 10 & A Card

 
Here is the 10th layout of the 2nd 8x8 album.
I am pleased how this one came out although it is not how it started off!
I have kept several of the elements but ditched two as they did not work.
Most of the elements you see are die cut from vellum as I love the transparency of it.
 
Materials list;
Photo - My hand beaded bird cage ornament
Background - Dream Street Papers - Rue - Affection
Other paper - BG dot from Basics White
         Chevron - Papermania Happy days
Dies: TH Bird Cage & Bird
X-Cut - Mini Star
Other Items:
Big Shot
Vellum
Glassine Envelope
Silver Sequins
Waste Stars from die cut piece
(coloured with Scattered Straw Distress ink
so they can be seen in envelope)
Floral Washi Tape - free gift
Tulle - Ribbon Girl
Dovecraft Tea Party Mini Paper Doily
Canvas
Handstitching
Stamp - French Writing - Hero Arts
I used this on white card for the title
I computer generate the words on paper
stuck a scrap of canvas to it & re printed.
 
I do love to see stitching on layouts and I really find it therapeutic to sit
& hand stitch on my own when time is available.
I went to town here & stitched 3 pieces!!!
 
 
This next item is a card made to send a photo CD to my sister, Tracy.
It again incorporates Vellum.
I made this with a free embossing folder & a free stamp!!


Peacock Embossing Folder - Magazine Gift
Elizabeth Bennett - Cover Stamp Craft Stamper
Paper - Lucy Cromwell Design Stax
The peacock folder was chosen as the photos on the CD include a pic of a white peacock
from our recent visit to Kirkley Hall.
Elizabeth Bennett arrived at the perfect time,
as my sister is a huge fan
of costume drama, in particular the classics.

Monday 12 August 2013

Page 9 - Album 2 - Dad


I just couldn't resist scrapping this photo I took of Dad when we went up to visit Tracy.
I went with him and after he left on the Monday afternoon, I stayed on for a week.
He had just put up some shelves in her bathroom & was having a quiet cuppa in the garden.
As he is featured doing his "planning" in the garden I chose to use
this gorgeous range of Lucy Cromwell paper Home to Nest.
Dad loves his garden and also our feathered friends so it was perfect.
The colours are so muted and the images not too tacky.
The background is Papermania Happy Days
Papers & journal card all Home to Nest
Alphas - AC Rockabye - leaf
Vellum word - Chatterbox
The photo was given a Museum Mount frame in Picasa.
 
I am busy creating two mini books. One is of my Teddy, Spencer in France!
The other is of my recent trip to stay with my sister.
I also have two cards almost ready to share!!
Crikey haven't I been busy (for a change)

Sunday 4 August 2013

Page 8 of Album 2, 70's Princess!


This has come out a tad brighter than planned but I am busy playing around with my new camera.
This page was quite quick to make as I knew the exact photo I wanted to use.
It is of me taken some time early 1970's and my Aunt Cherry, mum's sister
 had come round to put my hair in a bun.
Must have been going to a party or something, but I still remember the day
because I felt so pretty.
 
Materials Used:
Scenic Route Paper- Brook-hurst Street, Garden Grove & Joy Street
(scraps left from SC Jul 2009 Documentary Kit)
TH Tag & Bookplate Die - Tag inked & then embossed Papermania Clocks.
Distress Inks; Squeezed Lemonade/ Festive Berries/Ripe Persimmon/ Spiced Marmalade.
Tickets Die - Papermania
Alpha dies - TH Chipblock
Flowers, buttons & brad - from my stash
 
I spent 10 days in Newcastle upon Tyne with my sister, been back home a week.
Washing machine blew up days before I went new one coming soon.
Camera been playing up a while so got a new one while up there.
Visited Holy Island & could not have my camera die!!!
I shall keep the old one for around the home but my new one
will take its place for photos once settings mastered!
 
Photo is quite poor as it was taken at least 41/42 years ago.
Thought how that can be I don't know with me just 21 ;0)
I took a photo of it as scans usually come out too dark.
 

Thursday 11 July 2013

Page 7 of Album 2 - Sweet


Photo is one of my favourite old ones (2006).
Max, as a kitten seeking refuge between the cushions,
while we moving my sister & hubby into their new home.
He took it all in his stride & purred contentedly.
I think it is because they smelt familiar.
 
Materials;
Background - BG Origins Sugar Pea
AC - Everyday - Long Time, No See
Chicken Wire Embossing Folder
X-cut Large Bracket Die
Spellbinders Lacey Circle Die
Spellbinders Small Circle Die
Heart Punch
Anita's Dimensional Glaze
Lined Journal Paper - free (my landlord)
Title - Sweet - Die cut using Silhouette Cameo -
designed by Lori Whitlock for Silhouette
It was a speech bubble but the oval dominated the page too much.

Friday 5 July 2013

Happy Birthday, Tracy!


Today is my sister's birthday and I made her this card.
I saw a similar design on Pinterest & loved the idea.
I coloured my piece with wrinkle free distress & used watercolour paper.
I die cut two strips for both sides & embossed purple Bazzill for the background.
Inks used - Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Shaded Lilac
Stamp - Big Gel Wild Things
Embossing folder - Secret Garden (my favourite)
Border Die - X-Cut Lace Trim.
 
Have a fabulous day & enjoy a nice weekend!

Saturday 29 June 2013

Layout 6 Cherry Blossom

It does feel a bit like cheating showing this layout.

It was made last year & could not be shared because I entered it into a sketch challenge.
I then forgot all about it until today, when I was putting away the layout I completed last week.

This page features one of my most favourite photos.
Wild Cherry Blossom - photo taken by myself in our local park.

Materials;
Pale Blue Bazzill Cardstock
Yuzen Bamboo Specialty Paper ( Past SC Kit)
Stamped Panel - Papermania Botanical Print Stamp
Title piece - Screenprinted Canvas - Prima
Distress inks; Salty Ocean & Picked Raspberry
Butterflies (layered up)  - Papermania Botanical Print
Top Border inked & stamped using Fiskars bracket punch.
Birds - Crafty Individuals
Title  "Cherry"- TH Chipblock Die inked with Spun Sugar DI
"Blossom" - Pink Vellum fed through dymo label machine.
Place label - Jenni Bowlin
Shrink Plastic token
Text - Computer generated & cut into strips.

I didn't get selected by the magazine for the sketch,
so thought it would be fine to share now.

 

Saturday 22 June 2013

Vintage Florals


Album 2 page 5. My new bed linen that my sister bought me for Christmas.
I saw a sketch in one of the French magazines I read Esprit Scrapbooking,
it was designed by Kaori Watanabe & my favourite take on the sketch was by Fati Aissat
However, sadly I can not show you the layout she did, but I lifted much of her gorgeous,
simple design.
Materials List:
White Bazzill Cardstock
Papers - Lucy Cromwell Papermania
Vellum
Darice 12in butterfly embossing folder
Glassine envelope for hidden journaling
Title- computer generated
Vintage - Tahoma size 8
Florals Love Letter size 20
Happiness tag - Lucy Cromwell
Purple ribbon & staples from stash
silver gems - papermania

Sunday 16 June 2013

Happy Father's Day

 
I made this card for my Dad as he is a wild life lover.
I used the chicken wire embossing folder
on green card & lightly inked brown over the top.
 
 
I also completed this page today which I began in October 2012!!
It is the 4th page of my second 8x8 album.
 I have also completed page 5 which I will share with you another day.

Materials used;
Papers are all Papermania Sunshine Capsule Collection
Orange Spotted card is actually thick paper by Pink Paislee Sweet cakes Collection Cutie Pie
White Felt from craft stash
Picket Fence - Die
Corner scroll with pumpkin - Silhouette Cameo
Tab punch - McGill
Pumpkin title - Tim Holtz Chipblock
Photo - Pumpkins in a French field St Mathieu - taken September 2012