My Girl Layout - Shimelle Sketch Challenge

Last weekend Shimelle set several challenges!

I really liked the look of this sketch and here's my layout based on it.

I kept quite close to the original sketch with the photo, title, journalling and embellishments all in the places indicated by the sketch.

In this post Shimelle challenges us to use ink and in the video she demonstrated a technique for adding mist using a piece of cotton wool. To date I had only "spritzed", "misted" and "made little droplets" with ink mists so I was keen to try this. 

I used Mister Huey First Kiss (Pink) and spritzed a little onto my craft sheet and using a cotton wool pad to pick up a little bit of the ink I swiped it over the background white cardstock.  I really liked the effect.

 Those of you that read this week's WOYWW post will know that I had a few problems with the journalling card but as you can see I got a new one made and in place!

My supplies for this layout included: 

Echo Park Here & Now 6 x 6 papers and stickers

Mister Huey First Kiss and Honour Society Ink

Simple Stories Stamp Set

Heidi Swapp Glitter Alphas

Studio Calico Wood Veneer Arrow

Stucio Calico Enamel Dots

Amy Tangerine Pink Word Stickers

Teresa Collins Tag (cut down to make the journal card)

WOYWW #264

Wednesday again? Really? Already?!

Must be time for WOYWW then!

Here's how my craft desk table was looking this morning for you to have a nose at:

Last weekend Shimelle set a few scrapbook challenges and so this morning I have been finishing off my layout for one of her sketch challenges. So, on my table there's an assortment of embellishments (scattered across the table or in their storage boxes which I've been rummaging through!), various sheets of stickers and 6 x 6 pads (I'm trying to use these a lot more at the moment!). The box of enamel dots is spilling over as I had just been going through it trying to find the right colours for my layout. 

Do you spot my cat looking out the window?!

A closer look on my table will show you the complete mess I made of my journalling! I didn't like the way my writing sloped on the journal card (which you can just see at the top of the pic!) so I pulled it off but as it had been stuck on a while it didn't come away very well and has left a bit of a mess! Oops! Don't you hate it when that happens?!

Anyways, I've found a nice new journal card, added the "Write it down" sticker and wood veneer arrow and I'm ready to re-write it and stick it on once I've done this blog post and had a nosy at the other WOYWW desks!

Thanks for visiting today!

Greedy giraffes

So, this post has been sitting in my blog "draft" folder for ages so I thought I'd better get on and finish the post!

I made this layout a few months ago and it's another one from our weekend away to Centerparcs last year where we spent one of our days in Longleat Safari Park which is right next door to the holiday park.

For a lot of the Safari Park you have to stay in your car as you drive round in amongst the wild animals but some sections you can get out and walk about, like this area by the giraffes.

Longleat sell bunches of lettuce leaves which you can then feed to the giraffes from a raised up platform - the only way to be at the right height to the giraffes mouths!!

The papers, washi tape, buttons and stickers are all from My Minds Eye Cut & Paste collection and  I added in the "Today Was" Sticker, enamel dots and the green Thickers.

One particular giraffe was very hungry and cheekily followed my hubby and daughter as they moved along the platform waiting for another lettuce leaf to be held out to munch on!

Have you ever been up close to a wild animal to hand feed it?!

A Challenge - Orange, White and Teal

Last weekend my lovely friend Jennifer hosted an online Blog Event called Refresh Your Craft and Soul.

If you've never joined in her events you really should look out for the next one as they are great fun.

Anyway, she set a number of challenges over the weekend and I picked out a couple I liked the look of to have a go at. The first one was the Teal (or blue), Orange and White Challenge.

This is a really unusual colour combo for me - I rarely use orange but I had a hunt in my supplies and found a few bits of stash in the right colours.

Here's my layout:

I hope the yellow/orange sunshine paper is allowed in the challenge!

I love these glitter blue thickers

I created two clusters of embellishments with some circle stickers from the Simple Stories "Words Stickers" Pack, buttons and enamel dots and added the orange "Happy" sticker from the same set to balance the page.

My journalling reads: "It was a hot Summer's day and after a long day at school, Hannah was happy to come home and find the pool up in the garden all ready for her to jump in and cool off!"

Thanks for visiting today!

Pancake House Layout

Hi everyone

So where did May go to? Sorry, it's been a while since I blogged anything here .... I seem to say that at the start of each blog post!

Around this time last year we went to Centerparcs for a long weekend and I've recently been scrapping some of the photos I took!

This layout is about our visit to the Pancake House on our last morning before our journey home.

They didn't just serve pancakes there were all sorts of yummy dishes to choose from. Miss H had chocolate brownies with ice cream. Yummy!

The papers and stickers are mainly from the Echo Park Capture Life collection with my current favourite cork thickers for my title. I added a fabric tag, a few enamel dots, chipboard arrows, buttons and brads to finish it off.

Hopefully we'll get to viist Centerparcs again soon as it was such a fun, family weekend!

Thanks for popping in today!

Hellooo ... it's been a while!

Hellooo ... I know, I know, it's been a long time!

This blog has been a little quiet this year ..... But that's about to change!!

So far in 2014 I've been to several crops, a whole weekend scrapping retreat and an all day Charity crop as well as some scrappy sessions here at home, so it's fair to say I have a few layouts to show you.

I'll kick off with this one for today:

This was a layout I made for a commission for Scrapbook Magazine which appeared in issue 78 back at the start of the year for a "New Beginnings" feature.

I created a page about how we gave a new home to Lola, one of the two young kittens who had been rescued by our local RSPCA after a member of the public discovered them abandoned in a park in a cardboard box.  We actually ended up bringing both kittens home and the two sisters are now very happy with us.

The papers, stickers, fabric frame and resin flowers are from the Crate Flea Market collection. I also used some Studio Calico wood heart and arrows, Mister Huey mist, enamel dots and some of the lovely hearts washi tape.

It's good to be back on my little blog and I'll be back soon to show you another layout or two!!

Thanks for popping in!

A Sketch Challenge

The 2014 monthly challenges launched over on S J Crafts yesterday.

For our first challenge, Jennifer came up with this fab sketch:

and here's the layout I made based on the sketch

My main supplies were Simple Stories Daily Grind papers and stickers, Glitz hearts washi tape and a sprinkling of enamel dots.

A couple of close ups:

I also made a divided protector page to sit next to this one in my album - I'll pop back and show you that here soon!

We'd love you to take up the challenge as well and play along .... all the details are in this post , along with some fab examples from the rest of the Design Team. You have until the end of February to link up your layout/cards over there.

Thanks for popping in today!

Just another day at the beach

Every few months I take the shop to a lovely crop held at Littlegreen School near Portsmouth/Chichester and run by Sue. I'm usually lucky enough to fit in a little scrapping time in between running the shop.

 

This is the layout I made last time I went!

Living quite close to the beach we are lucky enough to be able to visit fairly often and when H was small we would often go and let her play in the sand with buckets and spades and paddle in the sea.

 

I have lots (and lots!) of photos of her playing on the beach and lots of scrapbook layouts of beach photos!!

It's actually getting tricky to come up with different titles for my "beach" layouts ... the title for this one is taken from this layout which I had pinned.

 

The background paper and the pink diamond pattern paper are from the Crate DIY Shop collection kit and I've used some pink polka washi tape, Studio Calico Aqua Thickers and a few tiny alpha stickers and brads from my box of stash!

 

I will add some journalling and the date to this layout.

 

I hope you've had a lovely weekend .... it's the last day of the school holidays here so after a walk along the beach and ice creams this afternoon we are back home to preparing uniform and school bags!!

WOYWW #201 ~ Unfinished Layouts!!

Apart from last Saturday when I had a fabulous time cropping with my lovely friends Lisa-Jane and Paula at a 12 hour All Day Crop and helping to raise a few pennies for breast cancer, I haven't had the chance this school holiday to get scrapping! Last week we had some work done on our kitchen (new worktops, sink, tiling etc!) and there was a lot of dust (how does it travel all over the house?!) so all my crafty stashed stayed carefully packed away and protected from the mess!!

 

My Dad very kindly offered to look after H for the day today so after dashing around like a mad thing this morning catching up on jobs, errands and just a little bit of housework I have settled down at my table this afternoon for a little creative time!

 

As it's Wednesday I also thought I could join in with the weekly blog hop, WOYWW where we all get to have a nosey at each others desks. If you have no idea what I'm on about take a look at Julia's blog to find out and join in!

 

So, on my desk is a pile of half done layouts.

 

Actually there is 10 in total!!

 

I've taken the photo so you can also see how I use the floor and a chair beside me to pile my boxes and bags on so they are near at hand! I craft at my dining room table and hate getting up and down to get stuff from my storage unit.

 

Some of the "unfinished pages" just need dates or journalling .... others need titles and some like the one I'm currently working on (with the banners & pic of H sat on my knees) need just about everything!! I matted the photo and cut the banners last Saturday at the crop but got no further!

 

Do you always finish layouts or do you have a pile of unfinished pages too? I'd love to know!

 

Anniversary Weekend Layout

This layout was another I made on my weekend away and  is a scraplift of this Pin on my Pinterest board. I've only recently started to use Pinterest but already I'm loving it as a great source of scrappy inspiration.

 

I've used just a few strips of patterned paper and the cluster of embellies keeps the focus on the photos! I do need to add the date to the tab on the top right corner.

 

The photos were taken on a weekend away last summer in the New Forest.

My hubby and I rarely get any time away on our own due to the difficulties of finding a babysitter (not sure baby sitter is the right term for a 9 year old but you get what I mean!!) so two days away in a hotel to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary was a wonderful treat!

 

In other news .... It's still the school holidays and I'm enjoying spending lots of time with H ... the non-spring like weather has meant trips to the cinema, shops, library and activities at home but she seems happy with that. We went out for lunch today and to visit a local museum tomorrow.

 

Those of you on school holidays with children ... what activities do you do when the weather is not great? ... I'm grateful for more ideas!

Away She Goes Layout!

Just popping by very quickly to show you another layout from my scrapbooking weekend away!

 

This one uses a real mix of papers and collections. There's some AC Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic, October Afternoon Woodland Park, Echo Park So Happy Together, MME label stickers, washi tape, Studio Calico wood stars and chipboard arrows.

The journalling reads: "We took your new big bike out to the New Forest. You really got your confidence and enjoyed cycling along the paths. Up until this day you liked to have one of us alongside you for reassurance but today you were happy to go it alone!"

My daughter had outgrown her old bike and we had got her a new one but she found it so much bigger than her old one and it took a few outings on it to get used to it and get her confidence.

I'm loving the current scrapbooking trend for arrows!

 

 

I included the little "Goals" tab on this page as she had definately set herself a "goal" that day and didn't stop until she had acheived it!!

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Rain or Shine

I've finally managed to photograph my layouts I made on my scrapbooking weekend retreat!

 

This was the first page I made and was based on Shimelles sketch two

I used some Simple Stories Vintage Bliss papers and stickers and had lots of room to journal the story of a day trip to a local country park when H was small and Daddy took her on the little steam train. They bought tickets and hopped aboard, all smiles in the sunshine (left hand photo on the layout). Within a few minutes of the train moving off, the grey rain clouds that had been threatening couldn't hold off and it began to rain. It was only a short shower - but trust the good ol' British weather to choose that moment to rain!!

 

For the rest of the journey, H had her little hood up and snuggled into Daddy. She still loved her train ride!

 

I love how cute she looks, sucking her thumb and just look at Daddy's sad face 'cos he got a little bit wet!

 

I sheltered on the platform keeping nice and dry, waiting for the train to return!!

 

I'll be back to share a few more of my scrapping weekend layouts soon.

 

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

 

 

S J Crafts Kit Layout

Oh hello blog!! So sorry I've neglected you a while!!

Once again everyday life caught up with me and "hogged" my blogging time!!

 

A few weeks ago I launched the new kits in my shop and of course it was only right I should have a play with it.

 

Here's the layout I came up with ...

The girls were enjoying "deer spotting" in the New Forest Bolderwood Deer Enclosure and spent ages gazing through binoculars to see them close up!

 

I wanted to make a quick and easy page as I currently have a BIG pile of photos I want to scrap and I need to make a dent in the pile!! I'm on a bit of a mission just lately to make quicker layouts as I don't get much scrapping time these days and need to be more productive in the time that I do have!

 

 

 

I matted the grey cardstock onto the pink leaving just a small border and cut the floral paper into a banner to echo the journal card I knew I wanted to use top left. I used my new scallop border punch on some more paper strips and just tucked the "So Happy Together" card underneath.  A few small embellishments (some raised up on pop dots) to finish off and another page is done and in my album.

 

Do you sometimes make quick and easy pages in an attempt to get through the pile of photos and memories you want to scrap or do you prefer to make less layouts but spend more time on each?

 

Sarah x

The Lost Village

I realised I didn't show you the other layout I made at the crop a few weeks ago.

Tyneham is a Dorset village which was evacuated in the second world war, but the residents never returned and it's remained deserted ever since. It's now known as the "lost Village"

Many of the building are now ruins but there is loads of information about the  village and the villagers. The school is particularly interesting - as you enter the door you feel as you've stepped back in time - all the school books are laid out and name labels still sit above the coat hooks.

If you want to know more check out this website.

Last Summer, when my in laws were here visiting, we took a trip out there. 

The old phone box was a great background for a few photos with the grandparents.

From the village we walked out to Worbarrow Bay where the photos on this layout were taken.

I layered up patterned papers and washi tape and created my title with my favourite Wood grain Thickers.

I hope you've had a lovely weekend ... thanks for stopping by today!

What's on Your Workdesk 189

I haven't joined in with WOYWW for quite a  while so I thought it was time I dropped in for a  little snoop around the desks to see what you've all been up to!

But it's only fair that before I go see your desks, I show you mine!

Just before I took this photo I had been adding a few final touches to the two layouts I made at the crop last weekend - they are over on the top right of my table. Over on the left is a lovely pile of some new stash ... Crate's On Trend papers! I think I will use some of these for a layout to record our trip to see Wicked in London last Summer. The photos are right there ready to go!

In the front is a selection of photos and papers .... the very beginnings of another layout ... once I decide which pics and which papers to go with ... which is what I was doing when I paused just long enough to grab my camera and snap this photo.

Before I go visit all the others crafty desks, here is one of the finished layouts.

Worbarrow Bay, one of my favourite places in Dorset.

Look at the beautiful colour of the sea! 

It really is a beautiful beach, quiet and peaceful even in summer as not many people are even aware it is there. 

It's a 20 minute walk down a track through the woodland to reach it but it's well worth it.

Thanks for stopping by and do please take a minute to leave me a comment so I can come visit you too!

3 Little Explorers

One of my "aims" for 2013 is to do more scrapping for me!

Last year I seemed to spend a lot of my scrapping time making layouts for challenges, on line classes, blog hops or for magazine work, so this year I plan to do more "Just For Me" scrapping alongside the "work" stuff!

I started off with this one!

A layout to record a lovely day out to a local farm last summer with one of my best friends and her two daughters. The girls all get on so well, despite the age differences and had lots of fun running about, playing and exploring the farm.

I used some white mist on the background, washi tape, various stickers, punched butterflies and a few brads!

I love days out like this ... being with friends ... enjoying the outdoors & having fun!

I had a fab day at the crop yesterday, catching up with scrappy friends and even managed a couple of layouts so I'll show you those just as soon as I can get them photographed.

Tree Decorating!

Hello Sunday!

A very quick post from me today - whilst dinner is cooking - to show you another Christmas layout!

*Tree Decorating*

I used lots of pop dots to give some dimension!

It's tradition in this house that we all help to decorate the tree and H loves to carefully hang the decorations! I love the look of concentration on her face in these photos.

They're not the best photos but I think they capture the moment perfectly!

The papers and stickers are a mix of Simple Stories and This & That Christmas. The tag is Jenni Bowlin and I've used my gorgeous woodgrain thickers for the title. I added a few Jenni Bowlin red rhinestone stars scattered across the page to finish.

Very simple page!

Right, must go and check on that dinner!

One Girl and her DS - Shimelle's Starting Point

I based this layout on Shimelle's Starting Point. I wanted to document my daughter's love for her DS and record some of her current favourite games!

This was how I started:

And my finished layout

I'm still stash busting and using up paper scraps and old "stuff" including this Girl's Paperie flower embellishment and a "cool" chipboard piece (I've no idea of the manufacturer) that have been in my stash for years!

I'm really enjoying mixing up my old stash with some newer products at the moment.

New Challenge at S J Crafts

Hello 

I hope your week is going well!

It's time for a new monthly challenge at S J Crafts and this time the theme is SCHOOL And/Or LEARNING

More details and Design Team samples are right here.

This was a fairly easy one for me. I wanted to make a layout featuring two photos taken 5 years apart. Both school photos. Both taken on my daughter's first day of a new school year. One when she started in Reception and the other taken just a couple of weeks ago!

She's hardly changed has she? Well, apart from the fringe is gone and she's a little taller! Note how her socks are falling down in both photos - her socks are forever "half asleep"!! 

Still aware of my stash busting promise I used up more scraps. I did use a whole sheet of blue bazzill cardstock for the background but I had a piece of white that was just the right size and I punched the scalloped border with my favourite Fiskars punch. The red gingham and the flower paper is Fancy Pants Childish Things and just about everything else is scraps of Note to Self papers and stickers. I rounded the corners with a punch similar to this one.

I hope you'll enter the challenge  - you have until 17th October!

You Can Sit Up!

I'm continuing with my stash busting and using up my paper scraps and half used sticker sheets.

Also, still working through the baby photos of H. This one was taken in 2004 on one of the first times that she sat up for more than a minute or two without support. Up until then she had been supported with a cushion or had fallen over within 20 seconds or so.

It is very similar to the "You Are One" layout I did last week, with lots of white space and a cluster to the top right of the page but as the pages will be away from each other in my album it doesn't matter to me that they are similar.

I used a full sheet of So Happy - criss cross paper for my background (which I flicked some red paint onto) and the blue chevron paper,  stickers and journal card are all from the same collection. The cute little clip on the jouranlling card is a SMASH flag clip. I used up some old Jenni Bowlin circle stickers that I've had for years and added a few more stickers from Little Bo Peep.  The title is a real mix of Studio Calico thickers, a Dear Lizzy word sticker and some tiny alphas. A few pearls and gems scattered around to finish off.

The journalling reads "This was one of the first times you sat up on your own, with no support for more than a minute or 2!! The photo was taken when you were 6 1/2 months old and I can remember just after it was taken you toppled over!!" 

Thanks for stopping by today!