Scraplifting

I made a scrapbook layout just for myself yesterday.  Documenting something I wanted to remember, rather than creating with a challenge in mind.

The children were making card for SMO whilst he was out on the morning of Fathers Day.  They chose a large aperture card that needed a 5x7 photo and, as we didn't have a current one, we took one there and then still wearing their pyjamas. 

It's not the greatest of photos, just one shot and that was it, but I like the spur of the moment feel to it and decided to print it twice onto an A4 sheet, one for the card and one for me.

For the layout I have scraplifted the design from a page by Jill Cornell in issue 55 of Scrapbook Magazine.  I was drawn to the uncomplicated design and the journalling around the edge to frame the page.   What's more, I cut into my new 3 Bugs In A Rug, Lazy Summer stash to make it.  The only other things I have added are Papermania kraft card, Claudine Hellmuth gesso, Pebbles letters, Jilly Bean Soup bakers twine and a Crate Paper chipboard button.

That's another one for the album done, I must make time to do them more often.

It's business as usual here today, both of the older childrens' teachers are in school (2 out of the only 4 that are not striking).  So I packed them off as usual and I'm hoping to catch up with some blog hopping whilst Branston is playing.

** Kate ** 

WOYWW #108

It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for sharing peeks of creative spaces over at Julia's blog.

On my desk at the moment is a newly arrived box of goodies from the Sarah's Cards sale.

I've treated myself to some paper lines I haven't tried much of before and I'm very pleased with my parcel of goodies.  Not sure how long it will be before I use any of it, my fellow WOYWWers will know you have to admire new stash for a while before you can bring yourself to cut it up!

** Kate **

A happy accident

I was using a blank card to swoosh up some Glimmer Mist off of a stencil and created a backgound card I just had to use.

Part of the stencil image stayed on the background, even after I had rubbed over it with a paper towel to spread the ink around.  I've used a Tim Holtz ticket and stamps to turn it into a little wish list.

There's room on the back to write your wishes down.  I've used kraft card from Papermania which has different prints on one side, plain on the other, very useful.

Lots of embellishments on the front from Sir Tim and also WRMK.  Such a little project but takes a while to make searching through all my boxes for things to add on, fun though! 

Challenges:

Sunday Stamper #160 - Words
Simon Says Stamp And Show - A word

I've got Small-N-Grubby home sick today, but no need to worry he is being kept busy...fighting with his brother!

** Kate ** 

A special birthday

Wow, what a weekend.  Very busy and very hot, I have burnt arms, ouch!

A very special little someone has turned 3 recently and this is the card I made for him.

I've used a Whiff Of Joy Oakley stamp coloured with Copics to co-ordinate with the Nikki Sivils papers that were free with issue 55 of the Scrapbook Magazine.

Challenges:
Whiff Of Joy #107 - Sketch
Fab 'N' Funky #78 - Summer loving
Daring Cardmakers - Something old (ancient chipboard #3), something new (new stamp, you can never have too many!), something borrowed (the sketch), something blue (card and papers)

Couldn't end without a picture of the birthday boy himself!

** Kate **

Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog Hop

Magnolia-licious Highlites have a blog hop until the end of the month with the theme of 'Black and white with POP' - choose one other colour.  I've gone for Kraft as my extra colour, although a couple of hints of red have just sneaked in there (shhh, don't tell anyone, as one of the DT has done something similar with her colours I think it will be OK).

The colour scheme all came about from a strange moment the other morning when I woke up a bit bleary eyed and thought I saw some white Damask printing on the edge of a box.  Well, of course, it was never there, but once the thought was in my head I had to give it a try.  I've used white Colorbox ink on an Anna Griffin stamp.

I've made a white easel card base and then covered it with black and Kraft cardstock from Papermania.

Tilda is coloured with Copics with a little white pencil added for highlights.  The other little bits of stamping are from a BasicGrey set and I couldn't resist a few black butterflies to go with the colour scheme.

For the flowers I have used a technique in the Magnolia Ink magazine Midsummer Night's Dream issue to colour and shape some old Hydrangea Prima blooms. 

Other Challenges:
Crafts & Me - Stitches
Scrapbook Sisters #41 - Anything goes
Deep Ocean #2 - Flowers

** Kate **

WOYWW #107

I am a woman with her drawers in order!  I have finally got my little set of stamp drawers all labelled up.

I did of course have to remove all manor of crap from the work surface in order to get a clear view of the drawers but that's just the way it is!

On top of the drawers you can see I have invested in a whirly desktop thing-a-me-jig to put my ink tools on.  Couldn't find the genuine Tim Holtz version for sale so I just bought a cheap Trodat one from E-bay.  Also lurking up there is the decapitated remains of Noddy, not sure if he will ever be the same again.

Don't forget to trot over to Julia's blog for a nosey into the crafting world of a plethora of others.

** Kate **

Snow Happy!

I've made a Christmas card, in June and not even for a Christmas challenge - how mad is that?

I've used the sketch from this month's CLP challenge #37 and teamed it up with lots of old Christmas supplies.  Papers from DCWV and Dovecraft, a Papermania felt snowflake and Brenda Pinnick chipboard.  The acetate overlay has been in my Christmas box so long I've no idea where it came from.  The same for most of the other supplies, apart from the 'Happy' which is from The Girls Paperie.  I really won't need any new Christmas papers this year, but don't you just get fed up with the same old ones?

My Magnolia snowman is coloured with Copics:
Shading - B60
Pinks - R85, RV13
Arms - E35
Star - YR 23

And there's lots of Stardust Stickles on there too!

Other challenges:
Magnolia Down Under #101 - Acetate 
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Buttons

** Kate **

Father's Day Treat (and a secret confession)

As yesterday was Father's Day we all took SMO to an Invasion exhibition of sci-fi costumes and props.  The exhibition was small but considering the high profile films the items came from it was quite a gathering to have all in one place.  WARNING : lots of pictures and some of them a little bit scary!

Before we even got into the room you could here Darth Vader making that 'Shhhh-fooo' kind of noise where he struggles to breath through his mask and little people were getting excited (not to mention bigger people too!)
Here's Small-N-Grubby with his favourite exhibit.

He is a big Dr Who fan, but he is looking a little nervous as a Darth Vader has suddenly started commanding people to get on the shuttle.  Lots of the full size costumes with masks looked as thought they might move at any minute and were quite intimidating.  Although not Matt Leblanc's costume from Lost In Space, it was no taller than me, bless.  

A predator's head

The way that Stormtrooper is tilting his head really made him look like he would jump off the stand at any moment.

Mar's Attacks 

The Dinky Diva trying to act scared but getting the giggles. 

SMO meets a hero! 

 Jawa

And the Dinky Diva's favourite exhibit, an Ewok.  We all had a fab time and the confession................ well I guess I'm a bit of a sci-fi geek really, mainstream stuff of course, some of the films I'd never even heard of!

Just in case anyone was worried that the Branston Pickle would be scared by all the monsters, this is what he thought of the whole thing....................

** Kate **

Doorstep Wildlife

I've decided to post my wildlife and nature photographs separately starting with my Silent Sunday entry for today.  The pictures can be found at Doorstep Wildlife.

** Kate **

The Sugar Bowl #62

This week's challenge at The Sugar Bowl is #62 a sketch with a summer theme.  I've picked out an old favourite Sugar Nellie stamp and gone for bright summer colours.

The papers are all by Amy Butler for K&Co. I'm also entering my card in the
Stamp Something with 'Pretty papers' challenge which is sponsored by Funky Kits this week.

I've coloured the 'Follow your heart' image with Copics on spare white card.  I inked the background through the aperture left from cutting a Nellie Snellen die using Distress Ink and then stamped the image on top.  I cut out my Copic coloured pieces and glued them over the background stamp.

The rest of the embellishments are punched from the same paper with the addition of a Pink Paislee ticket and a little greeting from an old Lakeland pad.

** Kate **

Clean and fairly simple Magnolia

My last make from the weekend was an almost clean and simple Tilda card for a challenge on the Do Crafts forum (as well as a few others).

I've used papers from the English Paper Company on a Bazzill Swiss Dotted, scalloped card base (few, don't try and say that in a hurry).  I've chosen Heartbreaker Edwin for the image and coloured him with Copics. 

The slider sentiment is from QVC and I've secured it with Jilly Bean Soup bakers twine.

Challenges:
Totally Tilda #24 - Red, white and blue
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Anything Goes
Lothian Crafts - Male card
Craft us Crazy #10 - Male card
Creative Inspirations #115 - Male card
Fab 'n' Funky - Male card

** Kate **

Whiff Of Joy Wedding

Another make from my crafting session at the weekend.

I've not made a wedding card using a Whiff of Joy image before, so when I saw the challenge at Katharina's blog I thought I would give it a go!

I've used a princess image with some light Copic colouring and a touch or Stardust Stickles  For the design I was inspired by the sketch at the Wild Orchid Challenge.  The papers are all from the Whiff of Joy Frühlingserwachen 6x6 pad with embellishments from Wild Orchid Crafts as well as Poppy's Cabin and others.

** Kate **

Simply Sassy tutorials

Treated myself to a couple of hours crafting over the weekend and managed to fully complete 3 projects.  here's the 1st.

Simply Sassy have a challenge on at the moment to use one of their tutorials to make a new project.  I went for a lovely tall and narrow bag made by Anita, I think.  The details are all here and very easy to follow.

I've used WRMK papers throughout for the bag and adapted the handle a little.  I've chosen the 'Spread your wings' stamp for my Sassy girl and stamped it onto the new Papermania kraft cardstock, a technique I've been wanting to try for a while.  The colouring has been done with unblended watercolour pencils.

Challenges:
Simply Sassy - Use a tutorial
Moving Along With The Times #102 - Anything but a card
A Spoon Full Of Sugar #155 - Here comes summer
Crafty Calendar - Wings
Craft Garden - Something old (my watercolour pencils), something new (stamp), something borrowed (the bag tutorial), something blue (her outfit and the little bird)

** Kate **

3 (plus more) challenges

I'd been planning a project that combines 3 certain challenges and I've noticed around the blog world that it's been a popular idea with lots of people.

Sunday Stamper #157 - Stash that makes you happy
Simon Says Stamp And Show - A Tag
Grungy Monday #10 - Distress Inks

I've used one of my favourite Distress Ink techniques (details of which I am sure you will find over at Sir Tim's blog).  I've also done all the stamping in Distress Ink too using a combination of Brushed Corduroy, Walnut stain and Broken China.  There are some stamps from Making Memories, PaperArtsy and Pink Paislee.

The Cuttlebug embossing folder is also a favourite as it means I can make as much dress makers tape as I want!  The little heart chipboard is an Amy Butler for K&Co design and of course there are lots of butterflies fluttering around to make me happy.

I'd also like to enter my tag at Crafts And Me #38 - Stamp Something.  As well as bringing to your attention a new challenge that has just launched with an 'Anything goes' theme - Deep Ocean.

** Kate **

WOYWW #105

There has been progress on my workdesk this week; I have decorated the labels for my boxes.

A re-cap in case you weren't here last week - I bought A5 files (from Rymans for those that asked) to store my acrylic stamps in.  I've sorted them by manufacturer for now and used some of my favourite stamps to for the spine so that I can see which is which.  I think this one turned out best.

It's my Tim Holtz, Paperartsy, Pink Paislee and similar file.  I already need to make some Christmas versions for some of the files and I'm sure others will outgrow their spaces, but I can just stamp another piece of paper and stick it over the top.

Last week on WOYWW it was, of course, the second anniversary PiF.  Mine went to Neil.   It left me first class on Saturday, but in case it hasn't got there yet - Neil, look away now.

I used some cream shrink plastic, which I stamped with a Papermania tag, added an Anna Griffin initial and then decorated with free magazine stamps.  That gave me the WOYWW element, which I then made into the bag charm.

I used Brilliance ink for the butterfly which gave it a lovely shimmer.

My PiF was a lovely notebook from Angela made using here WOYWW digi paper - Black and whatever.  It's a plain digi paper which just prints in black so that it can be printed on to any colour of paper.  It looks very effective and it's thrifty too, not using up all that precious coloured ink or if your printer only works in black ink.

The sun is out this morning, lets hope it stays there!  Have a good Wednesday.

** Kate **

Springwatch report

A bit of news from a busy spring/summer weekend.  Not sure if it is really summer yet, would like it to be, but it feels more like spring still.

The weekend kicked off in riot and confusion around dusk on Friday night.  I was helping with the childrens' bath and bedtime routine when I heard the dog making an awful racket in the garden.  I looked out the top window and saw she had found some sort of ball to play with bigger than the size of her head.  She was very excited and snapping at it with her teeth, it was then that I realised that it was a huge hedgehog.  We don't get much wildlife in our garden, birds I have managed to train her to tolerate but it is a no go area for mammals and reptiles.

SMO rushed downstairs into the garden and literally dragged the dog off and back into the kitchen.  We finished bathing and sorting out Branston and then I looked out of the window to check on the hedgie - it was still there in a big ball.  I found some shoes and headed out, with a camera of course.

By this time it had moved across the garden but was still very much out in the open.  I called a rescue centre who advised leaving it over night to see if it made its own way home.  I was all for moving it into a neighbours garden, but I got a stern response that I mustn't remove it from its habitat.  This didn't make much sense to me as it was going to be a dead hedgehog if it decided to nest down within the Hairy Horror's territory!  

Happily the next day it was gone and after walking the dog around outside on her lead and finding nothing she was let loose again.  Hopefully it won't come back because although I would love to have hedgehogs living in my garden I have a four legged friend who would love it even more!

As for the dog she is fine.  She had a couple of sore patches on her gum and was swiftly doused with flea treatment - serves her right really.

** Kate **    

Decorated Gift Box

My 3rd DT creation for By The Cute And Girly's June theme of 'In the garden' is a decorated gift box.

There are a lovely range of these Kraft coloured boxes at Paperchase just crying out to be decorated.  I've used Artemio stamps with a few little extras.  The sun has been masked and inked with Distress Inks.

With a bit of ribbon around the edge of the box it really didn't need anything more.  Although in the end I did add a few little touches with white pencil, I couldn't help myself.

Top tip ~ before decorating the box base put the lid on and mark in pencil how far down it comes on one of the edges.  I didn't do this on a smaller box I practiced on and the heads of the flowers were partly obscured, which I think didn't look as good.  picture of prototype box below.

** Kate **