New Year ...New Challenge....

Happy New Year everyone!

What better way to start 2014 than with a new Layout challenge from the Scrapology blog.

As usual there is a Layout and sketch for the starting point and an extra challenge of including a 

tin badge/flair button on the layout.

My layout features a photo I love, taken of me with my sister in the Summer of 1971 !

I chose blue and yellow patterns, mostly from October Afternoon paper collections, with grey cardstock and accents.

The gorgeous resin flowers are from an embellishment  kit by Claire Salisbury which she sells on Etsy Here.

Pop over to the Scrapology blog for all the details of how to enter a layout, the Fabulous design team examples and of course the Original layout from Michelle, otherwise known as Momma-paparazzi :)

Thanks for stopping by

Karen x

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