Gorgeous Girl

I really love it when manufacturers make collections with papers that tone beautifully, but can also be used to create layouts that look completely different. You wouldn't think that the layout below used papers from the same collection as this layout - but it does! I'm still working my way through the latest parcel of loveliness sent to me by Ann at The Scrapbook Garden, which included the Crate Paper 'Portrait' collection. 

My parcel from Ann also included the Tando Creative chipboard banner which I've covered with one of the Portrait papers. The stamp which I've used with black archival ink on the banner, and white acrylic paint (I used a Ranger paint dabber) on the background cardstock is by Autumn Leaves and is also from The Scrapbook Garden, as is the gorgeous scalloped cardstock - I absolutely love that yellow. 

I added some American Crafts Thickers for my title, as well as Adornit alpha stickers. The memories transparency and black applique flower are from the April Sarah's Cards kit (both are in the embellishment add on). The butterflies are punched with my trusty Martha Stewart punch - you're not surprised though, are you?! I can't seem to make a layout these days without a butterfly on it somewhere!

I love this shot of Mojo - I know it's not technically perfect but I love the way the sun is shining on her face, showing off her lovely glossy coat. As the journaling says, I know I'm biased, but I really do think she's gorgeous!

The Sampler's May Kit Sneak Peak

Check out the sneak peaks for The Sampler's May kit! Can't wait for this little beauty to be delivered, hope it comes soon!  

If you like the look of the Prima baubles, head on over to Holly's blog as she's got a little giveaway going on :D

'CRAFT' banner

When my latest parcel came through the door from Ann at The Scrapbook Garden, I was immediately drawn to the Tando Creative chipboard banner. I knew that the Crate Paper 'Portrait' papers that she had included would be perfect to make a banner to hang on the wall in my new craft room. 

In its raw form the banner is in 10 separate pieces, five scalloped banner pieces and five straight banner pieces. I painted the scalloped pieces with acrylic paint, choosing bright colours that toned in with the Portrait papers, and then covered the straight pieces with five of the papers. Once the paint had dried I adhered the straight pieces on top of the scalloped pieces.  

I decided that as I was hanging the banner in my new craft room, then 'craft' was an appropriate thing for it to say! I used Scenic Route chipboard letters as they were nice and big, and inked them with dark brown chalk ink. I then embellished each of the banner pieces using the Crate Paper 'Portrait' collection 'Phrases' and 'Border' stickers, a Tando Creative chipboard bird, Prima paper flower, Pebbles metal flower, a Tim Holtz memo pin and Adage ticket, and of course one of my handmade crochet flowers!

I can't wait to move house so I can actually hang this on the wall :D

A Day in Photos

See more photos here

Perfect Wedding Dress

I was lucky enough to have my wedding dress designed and made for me, and I've been wanting to scrap this series of photos which show various stages in its development. When I got the October Afternoon 'Modern Homemaker' patterned papers in my March Sarah's Cards kit, I knew I'd found the perfect collection to go with my perfect dress! 

I thought I'd make a double layout, as it would allow me to use all of the photos at a size that would do them justice. I used the Sarah's Cards March kit, along with Kraft cardstock, Thickers, October Afternoon rub ons and alpha stickers, and a Hambly transparency. I've done lots of doodling to outline the photos which I think works quite well. Thanks for stopping by :D

Canvas for Alana

I thought I'd share an altered canvas that I made to go in my friend's little girl's room. I made it to match an altered item that was a commission for Scrapbook Magazine, which is also destined for Alana's room. The canvas is 12"x12" and covered with a single sheet of paper from the Basic Grey 'Hopscotch' collection. The large butterfly is one page from a Maya Road chipboard book which is covered in paper from the same collection. I then went to town with the sheet of cardstock stickers that came with the collection pack, a brown American Crafts journaling pen and some Woodware chipboard alphas.

My friend was pretty pleased with the canvas, so I hope she likes the altered item just as much! She hasn't seen it yet - it will be in the next issue (55), and then will go to her once I get it back from SBM, so fingers crossed!

That's Captain Seagull To You

This is my latest layout for The Scrapbook Garden. Ann sent me the gorgeous Crate Paper 'Portrait' collection, along with a pack of 'phrases' cardstock stickers. I decided to use a photo that was taken last summer - DH and I were sat enjoying a drink in Helston harbour when we spotted this seagull perched on the prow of the boat. He looked so proud just sat there, and we could just imagine him with a captain's hat and jacket on. What you can't really make out in the photo are three other seagulls in the bottom of the boat - obviously his crew!

I based this layout on the April sketch from the Crate Paper blog. I turned it on its side, and used two photos instead of three, but I think you can see it!

I used one of the phrases cardstock stickers to frame my title - I cut out the centre of it which said 'just married' as it wasn't appropriate to my layout. I used two lots of October Afternoon cardstock alpha stickers, and the tiny alpha stickers are Adornit. 

I chopped up another sticker to frame my journaling, using the top and bottom pieces. The middle bit didn't go to waste though, as I've used that in the bottom corner of my layout, as the bottom layer of the butterfly embellishment. The butterflies were punched from offcuts of the patterned papers using my Martha Stewart butterfly punch, and embellished with small pearls. I also used a Martha Stewart border punch on one of the strips of patterned paper.

Hope you like it, thanks for stopping by!

If you go down to the woods today...

I'm feeling very pleased with myself, as I made a dent in the stash that's piling up around me and dug deep into an old kit for this layout. This is the November kit from Sarah's Cards, which featured the 'Maple Grove' collection from We R Memory Keepers. I thought the papers went perfectly with these photos, which were taken at a local wood. 

I layered up the papers, cut and then stitched the circle and then added the journaling spots and kraft tickets. I finished off with a punched circle topped with a jewel button, stick pin and some twine. The title is made up of Thickers and Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers.

Me & My Sisters

This is the layout that I did for the latest Scrap Whispers team game. 

I used lots of Crate Paper on this page, some Lily Bee chipboard buttons, October Afternoon rub on alphas and some Thickers for the title. I tried to stick quite closely to the original layout - I think I managed it! 

Congratulations to Team Two, who were the winners!

Always So Happy

I love trying out new ideas and techniques, and have seen some fabulous layouts recently using mists. I've had a bit of a play with mists, but haven't really used them to their full potential yet I don't think. So I thought I'd push myself out of my comfort zone, and challenged myself to do a layout with no patterned paper but lots of misting. 

I used some old Basic Grey alpha stickers for my title, which I stuck onto the white cardstock and misted over with Dylusions Spray Ink. Once the mist had dried I peeled off the stickers and outlined the shapes with a black journaling pen. 

I used three big photos to form the focal point for the page, and then added interest with rub ons and doodling. I also added some Pink Paislee artisan tape and Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers. 

I punched the butterfly shapes with my Martha Stewart punch, doodled on them and then stitched them to the page. The butterfly trails are a stamp, aren't they cute?!

The finished layout is very different from my usual style, and I like it, but then I don't at the same time... what do you think?

Photo Frame

I used the leftovers from the Echo Park 'For The Record' papers and more of the Tando Creative chipboard from Ann at The Scrapbook Garden to create this altered photo frame. The frame is a gift for a relative who was unable to attend our wedding last summer - my parents are visiting her at the moment so I thought I'd send this along with them.

I loved using the neutral paper as a background and then adding a splash of colour by covering the Tando Creative chipboard bird and butterfly with one of the brighter patterns from the 'For The Record' collection. I added the lace across the bottom, and what seems to be turning into my trademark crochet flower! The relative in question has crocheted all her life, so I hope she's pleased that the craft is being continued in the family :D

Thanks for stopping by! Head on over to The Scrapbook Garden blog to see what the rest of the DT have been up to.