All good wishes

I hope you all had a good Christmas and are currently thinking up New Years resolutions you intend to keep. Personally, my usual one is to take up regular exercise, I have never yet managed to keep it up long. I start off with good intentions, but these quickly disappear because I can always think of so many better things I could be doing with my spare time than going to the gym for an hour of puffing and sweating. I know, I know, it is good for me, it will keep me healthy in the long run but that doesn't make it any more appealing. Perhaps this year will be different...... Yeah, right!!!!!

This layout uses the Peony range of papers by My Little Shoebox. Paper 7705 was trimmed to reveal just the green stripe with the flowers attached. Extra flowers and stalks were cut from the remainder of the paper. Two 10mm wide strips were cut from paper 7704, one was placed 11cm from the base of the white 12 x 12 card stock. The green flower stripe was butted up to this. The other 10mm strip was placed 6cm from the top of the cardstock and the extra flowers placed randomly within the area between the two strips to create balance and interest. A piece of green cardstock was cut to 5 1/4 inches x 10 inches ( I have swapped to inches as it is easier when working with a 7"x 5" photo), all four corners were rounded. Using the remaining paper from 7705 a strip 5" x 1 1/8"th was cut, two corners were rounded and adhered to the top of the green card stock leaving a 1/8"th gap top and bottom, next the photo was added. Another strip of paper 1/4" x 5" was adhered under the photo leaving an 1/8"th gap. Finally the title was added, for a finishing touch a few left over flowers were applied to the corner of the green cardstock.

Extras used from my stash

Doodlebug pink letter stickers

Annual school photo

Sorry for the lack of posting, just go very behind with creating anything new to show you.
For this layout, I created my own frame using the new Basic Grey stamps in store, I then added more colour by stamping certain portions again cutting them out and applying them over the original. The trees were made with ric rac ribbon and the leave set stamp from Daisy Bucket. The papers are both from the Kaiser - Everblooming range. The mini alphabet stickers are from My Little Shoebox and come in a range of colours.

Products used
Basic grey Stamps -
Urban Prairie Bitsy Flower (flowers)
Urban Prairie Bitsy Bug (ladybird and flowers)
Urban Prairie Wild Flowers ( bird and single bloom and large stem to make the frame)
Granola All Natural (butterfly)

Mini alphabet stickers -Mint
Paper - Birds of Paradise, Blooming

Dasiy Bucket card

This card uses mostly Daisy Bucket products. Firstly the paper was adhered to the card, then a piece of vellum was placed across the middle of the card on to this several large flowers, small flowers and leaves were placed. A scalloped circle and plain circle were punched for the sentiment. The plain circle was stamped with a repeat circle image, the sentiment then stamped in the middle.

Products used

Playful Blossoms paper - Libby

Leaf Set Stamps,

Playful Blossom stamp (large flower)

Happy Everything Sentiment stamp

Basic Grey Wild Flower set (small flower)

Basic Grey Bitsy Medallion set(repeat circle)

Firstly the paper was adhered to the card. Then a small piece of white card measuring 7cm x 8cm was matted onto turquoise card. Several small flower images were stamped in complimentary colours. Stalks and leaves were cut freehand and then arranged. A piece of ribbon was tied around the image and then the whole thing was adhered to the card. The "With much love" sentiment was then added to finish

Products used

Dasiy Bucket paper - Katy

Basic Grey Wild Flowers stamp set (small flower)

Basic Grey

This card was made using stamps from the Bitsy Bug set. The sentiment is a Daisy Bucket Stamp.

Papers used
Peach Cardstock
Fancy Pants - Aged Florals Lovebird (front and reverse side)

Pearls by Kaiser craft

Basic Grey Bitsy Bug Stamps

This is me going back and reliving my youth, showing my girls the things I enjoyed as a child.

Here I have used the stamps from the Basic Grey Bitsy Bug set. The cream and peach paper is from the Collage Press "Margot" range as are the journalling squares.

Stuff from my stash

• Fiskars - Ribbon border and Threading water punches
• Royal and Langnickel -Rub ons

Good Times

When you look back on times you had as a child at the beach, didn't the weather always seems good, the water warm and the sandwiches great - despite the sand that always seemed to get into them.
This layout honours those feelings, good times spent with family enjoying the simple pleasures of a beach holiday, digging holes and making sandcastles and friends along the way.
Again, I have used the Sugar High range from My Little Shoebox and the mini stickers. The blue alphabet card is from Collage Press (the T is cut from one too), I have layered this, top and bottom with the border from paper 3. The background paper is Fancy Pants which I have edged stamped with shells. The green ribbon is from Bella.

Sugar High

I have had this layout in mind for years, collecting strawberry embellishments but never quite finding the right paper, until now. I loved my Grandad and spent a lot of time with both my grandparents when I was little as both my Mum and Dad worked. We spent as much time in the garden as is possible bearing in mind the British weather. LOL. Every year he would grow strawberries in the veggie patch at the end of the garden and we would watch them grow and grow until at last they were ready for picking. No one but me was allowed the first strawberry of the year, even when I was at school, it was kept in a bowl for me until I called in on my way home. Special times, precious memories.

The papers, overlays (words) and die cuts used are from the Sugar High range from My Little Shoebox. The mini alphabet stickers come in 6 colours and are also from MLS. The frame around the top right photo was in fact a die cut tag - I used a craft knife to cut out the middle.

Extras from my stash:
Strawberries - Artoz
Garden buttons - Jesse James

It's that time of year again!

These two lovely Christmas combo stamp sets ( Merry Christmas and Doodled Christmas) have been released this month by Kaiser Craft. I have been having a bit of a play with them and have come up with a few card ideas.
Everyone likes to receive handmade cards, so prepare to roll up your sleeves and get to work!

Card 1 - Stamp sentiment and tree on separate pieces of white card. Trim and round edges. Single mount the sentiment on red card, double mount the tree on green and red card. Trace of the stamped tree image with a fine glue pen and add glitter. When the glitter dries add the rhinestones. The paper range used is Cheer by Kaiser. The striped paper "Good Tidings" has been edged with a Holly border punch by Fiskars and applied to the card, a smaller piece of "Season's Greetings" has been used along the spine and edged with glitter. Mount images to card slightly overlapping.

Card 2 - Stamp sentiment on white card, trim closely and rub edges with a red ink pad. Add coloured rhinestones. For this card I have used Kaiser's Sublime range of papers. Cover just under 2/3 of the card with "Outrage"

and the rest with "Majesty". To hide the join I used red ribbon. On this card I have used a die cut tree and applied coloured rhinestones but you cound just as easily use another stamped image.

Card 3 - Stamp image (snowflake from the Merry Christmas Combo) 4 times, twice each in two different coloured inks.

Layer 1 - Cut out a circle as close as you can to the whole image (in dark blue).

Layer 2 - Cut a smaller piece using the stars as your guide line (light blue).

Layer 3 - Cut out the larger inner circle of the design (dark blue).

Layer 4 - Cut out the smaller inner circle (light blue).

Add complimentary glitter to the design, when dry, apply rhinestones and pearls.

For this card I have used dark and light blue cardstock, the dark blue covers the whole card and the light blue is a small strip which has been run the through the die cutting machine using the Cuttlebug embossing folder "Swiss Dots". It is now time to layer up your images using sticky foam pads (see smaller picture above). Adhere the raised images to your card, decorate with more pearls if desired and add a sentiment at the bottom.

Oh baubles!!

Ok, I admit it, I succumbed!! Myers sent an admail announcing that the Christmas decoration were 25% off. What could I do? I had to dash down there, not enlightening DH on the purpose of my trip naturally. Oh the colours, the designs, the displays!! In a effort to be good, I did limit myself to just 3 complimentary colours. Although I still had a little splutter at the till when the total rang up, however I managed to justify it to myself with the savings I had made and how wonderful the tree will look for Christmas's to come. Just don't tell DH.

I need your input

I have been searching the manufacturers for some Christmas papers to order in, but they all seem a bit so so. If you have seen anything that grabs you, please leave a comment. Hopefully I will get some stand out winners and will go with them for the festive season. I notice the shops are getting the tinsel and baubles out already and all the delicious chocolatey goodies that the kids (and me as well) love. I am also a bauble addict and feel the need to buy more and more each year, much to DH's annoyance. It's a bit like scrap shopping, I am attracted by all the pretty designs and colours, it is the same with the wrapping paper, which must match my bauble colour choice each year. Still it all makes for great photos for scrapping later.

New in at on the website are Christmas stamps and wooden embellishments from Kaiser. I am still awaiting the Basic Grey stamps, the first lot were due in this month but still haven't arrived!! Also on order a top up of Daisy Bucket stamps plus lots of new ones, a new paper range and rub ons.

Don't forget to leave your comments.

What a hoot - Layout

For this layout I have used the smaller owl in the pack of 2 and have painted it to resemble the one in the photo. The large chipboard alphas are from Bella and come in red and white as well as the brown shown here. The branch was drawn free hand and then cut out. The photo border was created using the Kelly Panacci Borders 2 stamp set and punched leaves.

What a hoot

These cute Owls are new in from Scrap FX, along with 3 bird designs, ladybird, pawprints and much more. Click the link to the website and take a look.

More Bella

This layout is my oldest daughter now 20 with my husband when she was just 7 weeks old. I have used the Bella Me and You papers and ribbons again, the yellow paper, I have stamped with the small Dahlia acrylic stamp from Daisy Bucket. The chipboard flower and border scroll are from 2 Crafty, I have painted them first and then applied glitter.

Bella - New papers and journalling tags

This is a hybrid layout, I was having a play with photoshop elements on my pc, I have used the new range of papers by Bella - Fancy (reverse side - red, front - flowers elements cut from this).I have stamped around the perimetre of the photo with a Daisy Bucket stamp - small Aster - to form a border The journalling tags come in a set of 21 in coordinating colours, there are also 5 ribbons to match - 1 metre of each. The chipboard leaf stem is from the assorted flower set consisting of 16 botanical pieces.

The layout above - Growing up fast - uses Stripe, Together(reverse side - green), Sunshine (flower elements cut from this)and the Pink Scalloped card which comes with two rows of stitching already done for you around the edge. The ribbons come from the set of 5. The rub ons are Cherry Arte.

All these new products will be up on the website shortly. As well as pre orders for the new Basic Grey Stamps, due in September and October.

Kelly Panacci Layout 3

This layout uses the Kelly Panacci 360 Degrees papers, Border stamp set(around the edges of the layout) and Swirls stamp set. The journalling tags and letter circles were stamped using Collage Press stamp sets - Journalling Circles and Official Record and the letter rub ons are Luxe designs. The flowers and brads are available in various colours on the website.

Kelly Panacci 360 Degrees - Layout 2

This layout uses Gypsy Garden paper from the 360 Degrees collection chipboard circles and flourishes from AS4E and chipboard flower buttons from Crafty originals, flower from Bella. All available on the website.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

This is my entry for Penny Black Saturday challenge, using the layout guide on their blog. The papers are from an old SEI collection called Winnie's Walls.

Kelly Panacci Paper and Stamps

I have used the SWIRLS set of stamps and repeatedly stamped them to create the illusion of a climbing plant to encircle the photo. The BORDERS 2 set of stamps was used to create the photo frame both under the acetate overlay and on the overlay itself. I then highlighted everything with a white sharpie pen and added flowers using Tombow pens. The letters were stencilled using the PERKY LETTERS from the Crafters Workshop collection. The paper used was Dotsalot - Green.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

A friend of mine, Jackie, has joined this challenge and has been added to their design team, so being a Penny Black fan, I have decided to have a go. This week's challenge was to use brads and buttons and of course a Penny Black stamp.

For more details click on the link in the side bar.

NEW IN AT THE SHOP

These are part of the new order in from Kelly Panacci, 6 stamp sets, a set of Acrylic blocks,7 patterned papers and a 31 piece decorated chipboard medley.

Click the link for the shop now to view the whole collection.

Paper Trunk cards

These cards were made with left over bits from layouts, with the exception of the one for my daughter's 20th birthday, for which I used a new sheet of Compassionate. The "With All My Love" card was made using a Quilling tool. I cut small strips approx 5" (13cm) x 3/8" (1cm) which I snipped at 1/16"(2mm)intervals down to depth of 5/16" (8mm)making a frill. I wound these around the tool to make the flowers, two using the reverse side of Compassionate and one using the reverse side of Sassy, this one I rubbed the edges of the frill with a blue ink pad and once it was wound up I applied the pink to the centre of the flower and added a gem. I then cut some thin strips of green to make the stems, which I shaped by bending them around a pencil.

This layout uses Paper Trunk - Gigi - Graceful, Strong and Wise papers. The photos are matted on cream solid - the reverse of Sassy. Lovely from the Batik Collection is used for the two border strips. The stamped frame around the main photo is made using one of the Paper Trunk 12 inch acrylic border stamps, these come in 2 sets of 5 different designs.

Oh Happy Days

This layout used Paper Trunk Gigi Collection - Witty as the background paper, this was then covered with a sheet of vellum. Circles of varying sizes were cut to frame the photos from the reverse sides of the patterned papers - Wise, Sassy, Graceful and Compassionate. The scalloping around the larger photo was made with punched out circles cut in half. I also used some of the circles from the 2 Crafty 12 x 12 sheet (which I painted in complimentary colours) to give a raised effect. Patterned circles were cut out from another sheet of Witty, which were then adhered over the corresponding circles under the vellum.

Paper Trunk

This layout was created using Paper Trunk paper - The Gigi Collection. Blue - Gigi Compassionate, Grey and Dark Brown Flowers/Cream paper - Gigi Sassy (front)/(reverse side). Large and small Chipboard flowers from Bella 12 X 12 sheet, these have been covered with - Gigi Witty (reverse side). I have used the Fiskars Border punch to create the scalloped border on the cream paper and I have backed it with the red on the reverse side of Gigi - Witty.
Another Paper Trunk layout coming next.

RAK

Have you seen this new border punch from Fiskars?
One of my customers, a lovely lady called Chris, sent it to me as a RAK after I left a comment on her blog (a scrappers musings). You should take a look, the slide show has some fab layouts. I was so taken with it that I used it straight away on a layout (see next post).

Caramel

I thought you might like to see the puppy we adopted from the RSPCA rescue centre. She had been left in a garden, unloved and was very timid and shy when we saw her. My heart went out to her instantly and I knew she was "the one". She is gradually getting to trust us but bonded with our other dog straight away. She is a bit of an unknown quantity, the only thing we are sure about is that she is part Jack Russell. My youngest daughter named her Caramel because of the colour of her coat(her tummy is all white), you can't see it very well in this picture, but it is the colour of the tips of her ears.

School days

This layout uses the "Jades Garden" collection of papers by Kaiser craft.

For this I have used "Jamie" as the background, "Josie" for the flower element, paper on the large scalloped circle, the tag and journalling circle. The other paper used was "Jay". The metal elements were bought from a hardware store and coloured with permanent marker.

The scalloped circle is from a 12" x 12" sheet containing various sizes of circles. The sheets come in different designs and will available on the website very soon. They have already been shipped to me and I am just waiting for them to arrive.

The large rub on's used for the tag are Luxe and Cherry Arte. The journalling circle is a rub on by Kaiser craft.

I have highlighted the flowers by adding Kaiser craft pearls.

Pet's Paradise

This layout was created using the new Pet's Paradise paper collection by Kaiser Craft.

"Furry Friend" was used for all the photo frame pieces and sayings, "Pampered Pet" is the blue background paper and "Little Rascal" is used at the top and bottom of the page, a close up example of this is below.

The "friends" flower, is a Flip Flip Stcker from My Little Shoebox and the wiggly arrow is from Scrap FX.

Bohemian Threads

Bohemian Threads is a new paper collection by Kaiser Craft.

This layout uses "Poplin" behind the main photo (the edges have been sanded) and also the frame around the smaller one. "Satin" is the paper used for the letters and photo corners.

The chipboard arrow and cog are both from Scrap FX. The rub on letters are Luxe designs. The date stamp is from Collage Press. All these are available from the website.

More Buzz and Bloom

This layout uses Buzz and Bloom's new "Token's of Affection". They come in sets of 3 and are approximately 9cm in diameter.The set I have used here is "Mad about You". The other sets include "Celebrate", "Express Yourself", "Friends Forever" and "Ho Ho Ho".

The token on the layout was first painted in pale orange, then a sponge was lightly tapped onto an ink pad and then onto the chipboard token, highlighting the raised areas. In the centre of the token I have used a rub on.

The paper is Cherry Arte, Morocco-Mirror Ball. The Flourish and Arrows were from Stamps sets by Collage Press

Buzz and Bloom

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. I have had non stop visitors from 1st Dec and the last one doesn't leave until 5th March. Getting time to scrap and post has been difficult to say the least. On the plus side, I have taken lots more photos.

I will be focusing on Buzz and Bloom chipboard range for the next few posts. The first layout uses their Palm tree. They come in 5 sizes - 5cm, 10cm, 15cm, 20cm and 28cm.

Having painted the top of the tree green, I then added some punched leaves to make it look more authentic. The trunk was painted and then using coloured pencil I added some definition.

A day to remember

This third layout in the series uses the largest journalling circle and the largest Charleston Ring.

Three stamps from the Office Policy set have been used, the arrow, calendar and memorable.

The World Traveller paper in cream also by Collage Press, works well with the layout for highlighting Sydney on the map. I am planning another layout for my daughter's Uni pictures and I will be using the paper again for South Africa on that one.

The views from the top were great and the climb wasn't as bad as I thought, I'm not great with heights!! Our youngest, Holly felt very important when our guide told her she was one of the youngest to do this new climb through the infrastructure of the bridge, as they had only started using that route a week before. You did have to watch your head through some of the gaps though, but all in all it was well worth the effort.