My blogging has been so neglected as has my scrapbooking, i am blaming it on the pandemic!!! for the lack of connection to the kids, not seeing them for all that time therefore not taking all those photos!!!

i think this may be the last layout i made in 2021 and this photo is during the summer when i had the kids over during the half term.

I'm determined 2022 will be different, 

I'm planning some picnics in the park , something easy that doesn't take too much planning!!

and they can drop in and out easily.

just need to get through these dark couple of months, I hate January and February and spend most of my time wishing for spring that takes so long to come, I see the signs , get excited but then it all stops, goes on hold for another month, then another one!!

it will come, it always does!!

this year we have moved our retreat from October to February, something to look forward to, 18 days and counting!! its over 2 years since the last one and I cant wait!

in the middle of  the first 2020 lock downs when we were thinking it will all be over by the end of summer to now February 1st  2022 and we are still predicting the end of it and in all that time we had managed to keep it out of our house, but it had to get us in the end and it did!! 

but today is release day, we have both been poorly, not too poorly thank fully, thanks to the vaccines I'm sure but its back to work today and then count down to retreat and then looking forward to spring 2022

bring it on!!

 

Summer Journal

 Summer Journal, 

using the Sunkissed range by Cocoa Vannill Studio from 

The Mad Scrapper

I'm getting ready for Summer, waiting patiently!

I created this fun and easy journal just waiting for all the photos and stories of our summer.

A very easy to make project.

Starting with 12x12 sheets from the range I cut them, leaving them mainly 12" wide but cutting down to 7 or 8" deep and then folding in half and using the cut off pieces too so nothing goes to waste.

 

I then placed then together, deciding which colours and designs I liked next to each other and mixing the sizes, adding the smaller in between the larger, you can even trim some off so the widths are slightly different too, to see things poking out make for a much more interesting finish.

when I was happy with the way I had the pages, I then fixed them in place with a long reach stapler and then bound with some ribbon and tied on the outside.

I decorated my cover using the cut apart sheet, layering pieces up and using some 3D foam pads to add some height, from my stash I found some bobble ribbon which I added to the edge of one of my inside pages and to my cover, tucking it under the main title cut out.

I have then decorated the inside with some of the pieces from the ephemera pack. and any leftover strips from my page cutting .

It's now ready to add my photos and journaling as we go through the summer, a great project to take away with you if you have a portable photo printer, some of the ephemera, the cut apart sheets, some journal blanks and some glue and you are good to go. 

  

using the just gorgeous Sunkissed range, I used 12x12 sheets, 

Summer lights,

Just chillin, 

Good vibrations,

 Sunny days

fun in the sun cut apart sheet 

and the die cut ephemera pack.

here is the full range.

Mini Album/Journal.

 Handmade journal/ mini album

next DT project for The Mad Scrapper

oh I love a mini album.

I love it when I get some packaging like this, it's the perfect size and already in the perfect shape for a mini album, one of my favourite things, I love them for an event when you have quite a few photos to document, there is an end to it so it becomes complete.

 

For the outside and inside I cut the pieces for the flat surface and attached them with a strong double sided tape and then cut the spine pieces, measured and scored where I needed the folds to be but made sure they were wider so they overlapped the main pieces, on the front panel I added the extra red coloured strip just to add a bit of interest, again fixing the spine covers in place with a strong tape, right up to the edges so there will be no lifting.

I distressed all-round the edges of the book with a sand paper block, it just softened the edges a bit.

I added my elastic for my inner pages by punching holes and threading the elastic through and back again, tying a knit at the bottom.

The pages are just 12x12 cardstock cut to size and folded in half, they then tuck under the elastic, you can add more pages as and when you need or add different sizes for more interest, the pages can be removed to work on for ease and then added back in when finished.

For the outside design I cut some of the pieces from the playing cards sheet and layered them up with my metal leaf, die cut flower, embellishment cluster and my title. I used 3d foam pads and gel mediums for my glues adding height to the design.

Lastly, I splattered using the oxide ink watered down and using a paint brush to splatter.

On the inside I cut a pocket and with a strong double-sided tape I fixed in place, i then did some fussy cutting from the splendor sheet and glued it in place just poking out of the pocket, i made myself some little tags and cut some elements from the playing cards sheet and tucked them in the pocket, you could add another pocket on the inside back cover the add more bits and pieces from the set so they are to hand when adding to your mini book, embellishments ready to go.

 

products used.....

Paisley and vine papers

Pathway https://www.themadscrapper.co.uk/products/paisley-vine-pathway

Nature https://www.themadscrapper.co.uk/products/paisley-vine-nature

Playing cards https://www.themadscrapper.co.uk/products/paisley-vine-playing-cards

Splendor https://www.themadscrapper.co.uk/products/paisley-vine-splendor

Distress Oxide , Festive Berrieshttps://www.themadscrapper.co.uk/products/distress-oxides-ink-pad-festive-berries

from my stash I also used ....

Bramble Fox Perspectives

Embellishment cluster

Metal leaf 

Flower die cut piece

Scrapbook Layout-Free Spirit

Free Spirit, Scrapbook layout.

 

 I do love flowers!

This page is of my granddaughter Mia at my son's wedding a couple of years ago, I have titled it Free Spirit because she is just that!

 For this page I just loved the main background sheet so didn't feel the need to add to it which I quite often do its beautiful.

So, I could get straight into my layout without waiting for back ground dry which I normally have to do when I have been playing and adding texture.

  

  

Lots of layering on this page, firstly I cut strips of 3 of my papers not too important on the width but ranging from 2" wide down to 1" wide and 10" long down to maybe 8" long so that they can layer at different levels.

Two of the strips I cut points in the bottom like you would on the end of a ribbon to stop it fraying. i distressed all the edges of my strips , you can use a craft knife, dedicated distress tool, or an open pair of scissors (being very careful)

From the playing card sheet, I cut out 3 of the journaling squares and distressed the edges of these too.

I mounted my photo which is 4"x6" onto one of the papers, this can depend on your photo as to which one you use.

I then played around and decided on where I wanted them all to go, using the photo to move things around and work out the spacing. at this point I take a photo so I can look at it as I stick them all down as it is so easy to forget where I wanted it all to go! you could even put light pencil markings if it helps when placing.

I then added my photo using 3d foam pads at the bottom but not at the top to level things out as the top was slightly higher off the page.

I didn't glue or put my 3d foam pads too close to the edge of the photo as i wanted to be able to tuck things under the edge of the photo.

 

I then did some fussy cutting from one of the sheets and cut some die cut leaves and flourishes, I decided where I wanted them all to go and layered them up using a mixture of 3d foam pads and gel medium as my glue, tucking leaves and flourishes behind the layers of my strips and journal squares.

My title was one of the cut apart pieces from the playing card sheet that I cut with a round punch and distressed the edges.

I then added my flowers and my title. 

Lastly, I covered my photo and splattered with the oxide ink pad watered down a little to allow me to pick it up with a paint brush.

products used.....

Paisley and vine papers.

             whimsy- background sheet- strip

             splendour- fussy cutting- strip

             nature- strip

             playing cards- journaling squares- title

49 and market flowers- scarlet

distress oxide- festive berries- for splatters

round punch 

leaves and flourishes dies 

Scrapbook Page Layout.

My First design for Janine at The mad Scrapper

Happy to be playing again and these papers are just lovely and bright, although hard to find something to match up to this set of photos, nothing is as bright as these photos!!

Using the Blue Fern Studios ,Paisley and Vine modern collection.

 

  

Sometimes I can just pick up a base sheet and go with it and other times I have to add, this is one of those times, I felt I just needed to add to it and as the photo is of making a mess, I needed a bit more of a messy back ground so I started by adding some stencilling through a circle stencil and using a green ink and a sponge.

I went over again using 2 stamps that help to create backgrounds, sort of splatter designs, you could do just the same by actually splattering, i used a

I loved the diamond sheet from the collection and used them as diamonds, I cut a strip off as a base cutting the diamond shape and also cut a few of the actual diamonds separately. I inked the edges of the diamonds just to help them pop off the page as the colours are very closely matched.

I cut some more strips from the different papers from the collection and added a little stamping for interest, used a punch for the heart circle and to make the arrows all from the papers in the collection , I made a little camera embellishment with a stamp onto a scrap of one of the papers, again I inked the edges to help them pop and make them a little grungier as it's not a clean page and it definitely wasn't a clean day when taking these photos. 

putting it all together, I layer all my elements on the page moving around until I am happy with the design, I find this is the time to take a photo to look back on as I fix everything in place because I am very likely to forget where it all goes.

I started with the strips at the bottom and then added my photo which I added using 3d foam pads so that it lifts it off the page a little and allows me to tuck bits behind so remember not to go right to the edge with the sticky pads or you won't be able to tuck things behind.

Next it was the separate diamonds tucking under here and there, the arrows, I double mounted the 2 on the left, the photo and heart on the right and the title on the left with the diamond tucked underneath.

I ended up by covering my photo and splattering with the same ink that I used to edge my pieces, I watered it down a little on my glass mat so allow me to splatter with it.

Items used....

Paisley and Vine papers - Whimsy, Pathway, Splendor and playing cards.

Distress Oxide, Faded Jeans.

Distress oxide, Mowed Lawn.

Camera stamp

splat stamps

arrow stamp

circle stencil

arrow punch

circle punch

Scrapbook Layout - Explore

Scrapbook Layout - Explore

One of my favourite photo's of Loki, I think the non posed photo's more often than not make the best photo's he was just being himself doing what he does.

The photo and the papers complement each other, the fussy cutting picking out the greys and greens from his hoody and the stencilling, and the papers picking out the the browns from the wood.

The page is made up in 3 layers, firstly the stencilled leaves, using a Finnabair Impasto paint sponged through the stencil onto the base sheet, taking into consideration the placing of the photo and embellishments so that the stencilling can be seen poking out the sides.

Then second layer is the layering of the back papers, different widths and lengths going vertically and horizontally, I distressed the edges of these strips to add more texture to the page.

The die cut leaves are are in this layer too, layered up with the strips again taking into consideration the placing of the photo so that the leaves can be seen.

I take several photo's as I go along of the positioning of things so that when I place them all and am happy I then take them apart and glue them in place but can forget where they were so a photo is great to look at for the gluing part.

The last layer is the photo and the fussy cutting plus the title, the photo is mounted and then I use 3D foam pads so that it adds some height and allows me to be able to tuck things underneath, again I have placed all my pieces on and when I am happy I take a photo to look back on. 

I have placed  a flower under the E of the title using  3D foam pad  to raise it up level with the photo to keep the title level.

Some of the flowers are tucked under the photo and some are overlapping onto the photo and overlapping each other.

Lastly I have added my flower to finish.

Kit available with full instructions and supplies to make this page ... Scrapsnscribblesuk Page Kit

 

Imagine-Mixed Media Notebook

 And again..... 

a completely different colour pallet and subject to this notebook, not one i would normally do, again just went through my drawers and picked out things .

love the result.

cogs and old leftover alpha letters are a great base for any project and just loving these mdf light bulbs, always reminds of  every time i said light bulb and i would get yelled at LAMP, i would always yell back ..... you don't go in wilkos and ask for a light lamp do you??  this was the life in a theatrical hire company full of technical people...... anyway i digress!!!

again, stencil and paste, the alphas and cogs go on first, i may add just a couple more later when the next layer go on as foundations to hold the next layer steady, when dry all is then painted with black gesso

 the title and light bulbs go on next adding a couple more cogs under the title to make sure it is attached well and secure, more black gesso, i do this on the different levels as it is easier to get everything covered, if you leave it to the end you will find it hard to get to the bottom layer,  some more texture is then added with gel medium and glass glitter and beads, when dry more black gesso and then when all is nice and dry in with the paint and wax, dry painted so pretty much get all the paint off of a stiff paint brush and gently brush over gradually building up the paint, three colours i used , going over with one colour then the next and the next then picking through the colours again until i am happy, you cansee that the black base is still very visible.

lastly i used a silver wax and my finger just picking up the details of the textures.

very happy with my finished project.

      

  

        

Blossom Notebook- Mixed Media

 when your enjoying doing something why stop, really enjoyed the way i made the last notebook, by just opening drawers and picking stuff out so i did it again......

this time a floral theme and completely different colour pallet.

using resin and moulds, stencil and heavy paste, some lace, pearl half beads , seed beads in gel medium to make more texture ,

 then white gesso all over and left to drywell,

 dry brushing with several different colours of metallic paint building the paint up until i am happy with the colours and finishing with gold wax applied with my finger to pick up the texture detail.

 

 

Holly Jolly Christmas Tag

Holly Jolly Christmas by AB Studio, a lovely christmas paper pack, part of my latest kit from 

Thompsons craft supplies

this time a christmas tag.

 

for this project i used.....

AB Studio Holly Jolly Christmas papers

Pentart glitter paste

pentart modeling paste

from my stash i used,  red acrylic paint, 3d foam pads, clear gesso, gel medium.

firstly i covered my tag with paper from the pack and then i coloured my paste with the red paint and stencilled it onto the back ground.

i  then did some fussy cutting and using the 3d foam pads and gel medium i layered up my design.

i then went over thw whole thing with the clear gesso, when that was all dry i added the glitter paste to the raised stencill on the back ground and the baubles and candy canes.

lastly i watered down some white gesso and some of the red paint separately and splattered all over with both.