Christmas Crop....

Last Saturday was the last crop of the year at Papermaze.

 It's always packed with Christmas extras including a challenge kit, stash bingo and this year - 2 make and takes.

 I thought I'd be brave and have a go at the Altered art note pad as demonstrated by Carol. 

So, with kraft cardstock, paint, ink, stamps and chipboard butterflies we all set to work. I have to admit it was lovely to try something new and I was pleased with the result!

The Christmas crop kit had suitably Christmassy papers from Crate Paper and a lovely mix of embellishments. I added a few little extra bits of red and black.

I usually take some sketches with me on crop day and this one caught my eye on This Blog, designed by Sue aka MiniOwner on UKS.

and here's the layout - rotated and converted to 8.5 x 11 format.

When the girls were small we always had a family photo taken so we could put a photo in with the Christmas cards...this one was taken in November 2000 !

I'm hoping to get a group photo this year.....ready for me to scrap in a few years time!

Thanks for stopping by

Wishing you all a very jolly Christmas and a happy New Year,

Karen x

Scrapology December card challenge.....

The new Scrapology card challenge  for December is up and running...

Pop over for a look at all the design team inspiration.. the challenge is to make a Christmas card and as usual there's a super prize and entries can be emailed...you don't need to have your own blog. 

 So, what are you waiting for send in a photo of one of your "makes" and you'll be in with a chance!

Here's mine...

.... made mostly with scraps , including Jillibean Soup papers in christmassy colours and some letter stickers. Simples!

Here's the Link

Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

December Challenge at Scrapology.....

The new layout challenge is up and running over at the Scrapology blog and you can find all the details right HERE :)

As always there's a whole host of fabulous DT inspiration to get you started as well as a sketch from the original layout by Miki Krueger.

Here's my layout , using only the tiniest amount of patterned paper I think I've ever used! 

 The girls had such a great time this Summer , and literally spent as much time as was humanly possible in the pool with their holiday chums. I was put in charge of the camera - capturing all their antics, games, stunts and simultaneous jumping. At one point I think there where 12 jumping and 4 mums with cameras !

The photo I chose was 6x4  and I simply used a wave blade in my trimmer to cut between the figures, then staggered the image.

This is the sketch and original layout....

Hope you'll raid your stash and enter a layout for the challenge, it's open till 5th Jan !

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Smile please...

Every time my daughters and their cousins get together, which is only about twice a year, we love to get their photo all together. 

I think they all find it a little tiresome, but they always manage to oblige !

For this layout I followed the sketch over at Scrap our Stash challenge blog, which has joined up with another challenge blog Stuck?! sketches. 

The extra challenge was to add any type of  wood to the layout.

So I found some really pretty pink embossed woodgrain paper by Pebbles, and used some patterned papers by g.c.d - vintage charm.The wooden heart is a button.

The sketch is rotated to fit onto my 8.5 x 11 format...

 Thanks to my blogland friend Kerry  for posting the challenge....if you haven't seen her blog - pop over for a browse for some fabulous inspiration...you won't be disappointed !

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Scrapology card Challenge.... November

 The November Card challenge is up and running over on the Scrapology blog.  

The invitation is for you to create a card based on one provided by Paula Pascual.

Make sure you pop over there to check the details, as usual there's a prize up for grabs and you have until 15th dec to submit your entry!  There's plenty of super inspiration from the design team to get you started and even a sketch...so what are you waiting for ?

My DT card uses the basic grey Lucille collection with kraft cardstock and I made good use of my dotted swiss embossing folder and corner punch.

 

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

not 1 but 2 giveaways......

Hello there,  2 giveaways to share today....

Over on facebook my local Craft store Papermaze  HERE has some terrific scrapbooking /cardmaking goodies up for grabs,  but you'll have to be quick - closing on Saturday 9th Nov 

Good luck  :)

And over at the Scrapology Blog, a stash giveaway to get you in the Christmas spirit....HERE ..simply comment on the blog and become a follower and you're in with a chance!

On another note, you may have noticed I'm not a huge card maker, but do on the odd occasion like to have a go...in a scrapbooky kind of way. So here's a couple to share...

Made with a HOTP 6x6 pad that was free with a magazine!

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

November Scrapology Challenge......

On the 1st of each month the new Scraplift challenge at Scrapology is revealed.

This month the team has chosen this gorgeous layout by Michelle Logan, and the added challenge is to use chipboard on the layout.

Below is my first page as part of the design team, and I stuck quite closely to the original although as you will see it looks very different to the 12 x12 layouts since I had a much smaller space to use for my circle. 

I'm not a painty /inky scrapper so I chose an alternative way to add the circle motif to the layout.

I raided my scraps drawer and pulled out lots of patterned paper pieces in coordinating colours along with some dew drops, buttons, gems ,ribbon and postage stamps. My chipboard pieces are from a set by Fancy Pants,  and I simply coloured them with a blue pro-marker and added crackle glaze to the surface for a watery feel....

There are some lovely layouts on the blog for further inspiration for this months challenge, including 2 digital projects, so there really is something for everyone .

 Pop over to Scrapology  for details of how to enter - there's a great prize, and you've got a whole month to submit your layout :)

Don't forget to have a look at the Scrapology October Card challenge too which is  open until 15th November, and is on the theme of Autumn. 

If you have the latest copy of the Scrapbook Magazine, I have an Autumn inspired layout and ideas for making the most of your autumn projects - as a source of further inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Some news......

Hi , no layouts to share today but some very exciting news instead.....

I am proud to say that I have been invited to join the talented designers over at Scrapology . 

 If you aren't familiar with the Challenge blog, pop over for a peek. 

Every month there is a Layout scraplift challenge, which comes with a sketch and a theme to follow..not to mention a great prize too :) 

There is also a card challenge running each month too , so everyone is catered for in one place, what could be better?

My layouts will be in my usual A4 size so hopefully will provide some alternative inspiration.

The current theme is "B for Buttons"  and Laura Vegas created the layout which is October's scraplift challenge. So why not have a go, there's still plenty of time !

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Focus on Graphic 45.....

..... was the title of a recent feature for the Scrapbook magazine. 

I was sent a "Place in Time" collection, which was instantly recognisable as Graphic 45 with its retro/ vintage inspired designs.

The 12x12 pad is a calender based collection, so there are title sheets,coordinating patterned papers, alphas and tags for a whole year of layouts.

I only added a few little extras such as washy tape, kraft cardstock, crochet flowers ribbon etc.

 The designs are perfect, I have to admit, for the modular/project life style of scrapbooking and I used the American Craft photo protectors for my page.

It was challenging to create 4 layouts that didn't all look the same !

Anyway, here they are,

Thanks for stopping by

Karen xx

A new paper adventure......

There's a little shop in my home town called The Thrifty Thistle.... where I have rented a " crafter's shelf " and have been filling it up with hand folded gift boxes made from my scrapbooking stash.

The shop is full to bursting with local crafts, as well as renovated/painted furniture and is a real treat  to visit.

The shop website can be found  here.

I've had my shelf for 2 weeks now and have been busy making boxes, note pads, tags and framed pictures..it's been great !  My Stash is somewhat smaller now, but at least its all been put to "work".

I'm sure I'll catch up with some scrapbooking sooner or later , but for the time being I'm enjoying this little adventure , crafting as "Leonard and Lime".

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x 

A little bit of Mint Julep......

..Well actually its all Mint Julep by basic grey apart from the bazzill/washi and buttons! 

I absolutely love all the colours and florals in this collection so I bought the 6x6 pad, alpha stickers and sticker sheet from Papermaze and headed for the latest sketch from Scrap your story .

This is a photo of me in 1998, waiting for the imminent arrival of my second daughter. I just adore how Fay is standing next to me, she loved posing for  photos - and still does at 17! I also clearly remember wearing that denim pinafore dress ALL the time. All my (pregnant) friends had the same one, I seem to recall that not many high street shops actually stocked maternity wear , so there wasn't a lot of choice at the time .

Anyway, here's the layout and the sketch....

Thanks for stopping by 

Karen x

1st steps with Dad....

An appropriate layout for Fathers day.... 

This is one of the few colour photos I have of me as a baby.

 I was walking - but only just, so to protect my knees I had dungarees over my dress!  My mum only recently told me this tale, I honestly  thought I was simply wearing a huge nappy!!

The patterned papers and stickers are mostly "Everyday Ecclectic" and "Note to Self "by Echo Park.

 I love the retro viewmaster images and the vintage cameras are from some little cards by Sarah Hurley. 

The layout was made a while back for a feature on Dads in the scrapbook Magazine.

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Chillin'......

.......After a strenuous time at the Park in Rendlesham Forest, that's just what these 2 were doing :)

I've  had this photo in my pile of layouts "to-do" for ages and when I saw the Challenge on Scrapology I thought it was perfect , given the cargo nets reminded me of stitching......The theme for the challenge is H for Hand -stitched.. 

You can see the challenge and inspiration from the DT HERE.

I used a Pink Paisley Kit from Sarah's Cards Ltd, and some of my favourite Doodlebug letter stickers.
I tend to do a fair bit of Faux stitching on my layouts , so it was really nice to make it "real", I have tons of embroidery silks from my cross-stitch days so I have a feeling I'll do a few more now!

Thanks for stopping by,

Karen x

2 for the price of 1......

Slightly cryptic, however there are 2 challenges I wanted to create layouts for, but since the deadlines are looming I figured I would combine them into 1.

It's not something I've done before but as you can see the Scrap your story #13 challenge is to use mixed alphas, and the Sarah's Card's   sketch challenge for May is an A4 sketch !

The kraft borders are stickers by studio Calico, and the Islands of Adventures logo was cut from one of  the park maps we had when we visited Universal studios last Summer. 

It was such a hot day and it was so strange walking round a "snow " covered Hogsmead village ! ( I have some photos of that in my to-do pile :))   

 A total of 5 different fonts for the SYS challenge, Not including the Wizzardy spells on the background paper!...... and here's the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

3 more dogs......

 I was absolutely delighted to be invited to create a layout as a Guest Designer for " Scrap your story Challenge" blog.....It's sketch week....and since I have developed quite a liking for sketch challenges it was perfect for me !

Here is the sketch ......

 ....And here's what I did with it.......

 

The papers are from a totally gorgeous Maggie Holmes 6x6 Crate paper pad, and the letter stickers are Teensy Type by Doodlebug. Other than that, I used a green glaze pen, bazzil cardstock , a butterfly and circle punch.

Why not pop over to the BLOG to see the rest of the layouts by the fabulous resident Design Team,

and have a go yourself. There's a new and different challenge every week to kick start your creativity :)

The super cute dogs , Badger, Ivy and Len, are part of my sister's household in Oklahoma, see previous post for the back story. Ivy and Len were the most recent additions, having arrived from the wilderness last  summer and luckily for everyone they settled in very quickly. You can see Ivy soaking up the sun in her paddling pool!!

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Lester.....

My sister has a big heart, and luckily a big garden ! She and her husband have a  large collection of animals, most of which have found sanctuary at her house through one way or another :) . She has welcomed them with open arms and gives them all such perfect names......We visited last Summer and tried to get a photo of each and every one, not sure we managed it - some of the cats were a bit camera shy, but the dogs and pigs didn't seem to mind..too much !

This is the adorable Lester....

This layout was part of the "4 ways Challenge" in SBM recently,and uses the Kaisercraft
Secret Admirer paper and sticker collection. The chevrons at the top started off as strips of paper  which I folded over on itself twice.

Thanks for stopping by
Karen x

Buttons and butterflies...

That's what I had in mind for my layout for the " Scrap your Story" Blog Sketch challenge .

I saw a layout on pinterest  with butterflies which had been sewn on with bakers twine, made by Nicole Doiron .I thought it was such a pretty layout and the butterflies looked so lovely, I wanted to try the technique out myself.

I kept the sketch pretty much as it was designed , but squashed it all into my usual 8.5 x 11 layout.I loved the little embellishment clusters on the sketch and used the circle element as my photo. 

The papers were a mix that I had in my stash, but the washi tape and alpha letters were bought specially for the project from Papermaze..since I put the layout together at the April crop last Saturday. Its great having the shop open on crop days...for those essential bits and bobs!!

here's the sketch

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Woo Hoo ....

April 2 years ago was HOT ! I'm finding it hard to remember with this prolonged coldness.....

I took the girls to visit their friends on a farm....they spent ALL day jumping around in the haystacks . I'm only glad I wasn't there to see them - the stack was high up in the barn and looked scarily unstable to me ! Anyhow they all the best fun.

I used the current sketch #30 from the blog  sketch-n-scrap  

and only altered it slightly to use 3 photos instead of 4. 

I used Jillibean soup paper and hexagon stickers, American crafts Eric Thickers, Studio calico zig zag paper, and some washi tapes swapped with my scrappy friend Sadie. 

I used my poor neglected Crop-o-dile to punch the little holes down the sides.

Here's the sketch

This challenge is open till 30th April.

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

A quick post....

THANK YOU.......to the lovely team at sketchbook365.

 No ,

I wasn't the winner of the March sketch challenge, but I was picked out as a Super Scrapper !!

Here's my badge and L/O.

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

Another sketch challenge......

I'm really enjoying my sketch challenge phase at the moment....  :)

 This one is from sketchbook365.blog and jumped out of the screen at me...so I got my gorgeous collection pack of "Lucille" by basic grey and set to work at this months Papermaze crop. 

I didn't use much chalk ink on this page but I did spend a lot of time distressing the edges and making a right dusty  mess!

The flower embellishment was cut and layered up from patterned paper, and all the stickers are Lucille.

When we visited my sister last year, my husband had been asked to bring back an Oklahoma fridge magnet..... Now usually they are everywhere you go, but we were having some difficulty, and  made a special trip to the museum knowing they would have some....only to find it was closed !

Still it was a good back drop for the photos :)

Here's the sketch. 

Thanks for stopping by 

Karen x