Scrap page

I'm stealing a couple of minutes to blog this page, as it has been finished for over a week, but I haven't managed to find the time to take the photo. I am really pleased with this, as I feel I have finally 'got' the idea of layering patterned papers. I was amazed to find, after I had stuck everything down, that the photo is exactly 2.5" in from each side, so I think that means that the balance of the layers is good. I did stamp on the page, the swirl on the upper right corner of the photo/ stripy paper is a tree design from Katzelcraft. It is a pretty versatile stamp as it really doesn't look at all like a tree here! The photograph of the page isn't brilliant, I'm afraid, as the light is awful and I had to use the flash. The next sunny day we get, I will re-take the photo and change it.

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Cardstock: The Paper Mill shop
Embellishments: Wooden letters from a pound shop, Embelliscrap swirl, brads from my stash
Stamp: Katzelcraft
Colour: Brilliance Coffee Bean

P.S. I need to say thanks to a couple of people for this page. Petra sent me some Technique Tuesday scallops to use as templates, which is how I did the scalloped layer, and Vicky gave me the wooden letters, as the ones I had were too big. Vicky also told me when the page was finished; she knows that I would just keep adding things forever otherwise! Oh, and I took a class with Isa recently where we did layering, I think I it worked and I learned something, so thanks to Isa, too!

Happy Birthday, Jill!

This card is quite exciting for me, as it is the first card for ages that I have made which didn't involve colouring in and cutting out. It was like eating pie and mash after a month of gourmet meals; a total comfort! I do love all of the complicated things, but actually, I also love the simple style, too. And this was simple to make, even though there are lots of elements. This is the first card I have blogged which uses Stampin' Up stamps: this set is 'Carte Postale', and I need to say thank you to Lorna and Cliff, my Parents-in-Law (who live in France) as I bought these stamps with the money they sent for my birthday.

Stamps: 'Carte Postal' from SU (background, sentiment, tile), Hero Arts (script stamp used on flower etc)
Colour: Versafine in Vintage Sepia
Paper: Plain card embossed with Cuttlebug folder
Embellishments: Embelliscrap swirls and heart, Prima flower, Making Memories brass label holder, ribbon from my stash
Other: Ranger Crackle accents used on tile and sentiment. I highlighted the cracks using Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. Effective, eh?

I completed my scrap page last night, and I think it's one of the best I have done for ages. I always acheive a lot when I go to Vicky's to scrap, and she always does when she comes to me. I think that if you are leaving your craft room to go elsewhere, you put more thought into a project and therefore have done more of the hard work of planning before you start. So we are going to try to alternate who goes to whom, and then I'll at least have a decent finished page every other time I scrap! I'll show you last night's page later...

A Rare Photo of a Smile

Dan is always smiling, but the delay on my digital camera, plus his desire to grab the camera from my hand mean that I rarely manage to capture those smiles on film. Today I got lucky, and managed two smiles before he crawled over to his Mummy.
The reason I was taking photos is that I am going to spend Tuesday evening at my friend's house, scrapping, and I thought that a new photo would inspire me. I have hundreds of photos already, but I *still* wanted a new one- a bit like stash and stamps, really!

Two Magnolia Cards- Updated.

Sorry guys, cards now, chat later. Gotta dash!

Well, that was a hectic week, in the end. I'm finally having a rest as it's Sunday morning. Dan is happily playing with his toys and books, and I'm watching a classic Dr. Who, with Tom Baker as the doctor. Bliss.
The two cards are both made with Magnolia stamps. The top one was inspired by an Ismaki sketch, although I didn't finish it in time to post the link properly. The second card was made at a class I took with Isa Norris, and uses the new Magnolia horse stamp, which I love. It also uses a technique I have been interested in for a while, the 'Magic colouring Pencil' technique. It involves using Prismacolour pencils, which are beautifully soft wax pencils, and blending them using odorless mineral spirits, in this case Sansodor. The effect is lovely, the colours just 'pop'. I won't be investing in these pencils, as they are pretty expensive (and addictive- you *need* all of the sets LOL!) but I really enjoyed having the chance of playing with them. I also feel I was a bit more daring than usual with layering up the background papers- note the asymmetry, very unusual for me!

Papers: English Paper Company, unknown
Stamps: Magnolia, Hero Arts, Paperartsy
Colour: H20s, Prismacolor pencils, Distress Inks, Versafine, India Ink
Chipboard: Maya Road (flower), Sizzlit die (corner swirl)
Flowers: Prima

Two Months' Worth of CJs in One Post!

As usual, I have been doing and photographing, but not blogging. Life is busy, blah, blah, blah, I'm sure you've heard it all before. So I thought I would show two months' worth of CJs together, as a sort of catch-up.
The stamp for the first journal was the clock stamp. Now, the clock paper I have used for the background is one of the first scrapbooking papers I ever bought. It's K and Co, from one of their 6" x 6" books. I have stopped buying paper's en masses, as I have loads left, but for once I knew this one was the one to go with the stamp. The quote is by Virgil, and means "but it flees, irreplaceable time flees", otherwise known as "Tempus fugit". Very appropriate for many of us! The dragonfly is Non Sequitur, painted with H20s and with glossy accents over the body, and the wings are Fantasy film. The clock face is covered in crackle accents, but it doesn't show up in the photo. I had the idea that the dragonfly was flying off, holding the clock.
The second journal came with the legs. Everyone before me was inspired in a humourous way, so I had to do my bit. Anyone that doesn't get it, look at 'bingo' on Wikipedia, particularly English bingo calling. Well, I thought it was funny!
I have a couple of cards which I will try to blog later, both Magnolia, and one made in a class which I took on Friday with Isabelle Norris. I have to go and do the housework now, real life isn't always fun... ;-)