Sketchy Thursdays 1.28

Spot the error with this? Oh yes, I took a picture of my shadow. That grey bit at the bottom is me taking the picture.

Anyway. These photos were taken in 2001 on a girly trip to Ibiza when we were still downing huge quantities of wine. Before the co-habitations, the weddings and the babies!

Twisted Sketches #34

The latest Twisted twist was "numbers", so I've chosen to include them in my title. I'm not 100% convinced by this layout. I wanted to use these papers, but didn't have anything to really match them. So, I matched their name to the picture instead - Manhattan by American Leaves and used JFK alphas by American Crafts. See what I did there?!

I think the main problem seems to be taking photos of white backgrounds. They either come out far too bright or dark and grey.

Crate Paper - Season

Last night I decided to attempt some layouts with the Season papers as they haven't been inspiring me. It's very unusual for me to use up a whole piece of paper as a background rather than the "normal" method of cutting the papers and putting them on cardstock. In this case I decided to be gratuitous with the patterned paper - and the flower, which is made of five flowers a brad and a pearl!

I wasn't totally happy with it, so I got out my trusty toothbrush and spattered it with paint! Then I added extra doodling and and bling to the flowers.

The picture was taken during Summer School last year at Hundale Point.

And then a detail:



These pictures are very dark, but I didn't take them in natural light and they've turned rather pixelly. Must try and take them again.

This was actually for a card sketch challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays, but they did say that the sketch is for inspiration and you could do a layout if you prefered. So that's what I did!

The photo was taken in downtown Toronto outside the Mill Street Micro Brewery.

Christmas 2009

Just a couple of layouts from last Christmas to use up some more of the beautiful Pink Paislee Mistletoe & Co. paper


This one was for the current Weekly Challenge at UKS. Had to use ribbon, bling, journalling. To scrap a picture of something other than a person and use a sketch. I chose to use the latest Pencil Lines Sketch, #171. The photo is of our "preparation" table. It held all the overspill of food, napkins etc.

This next one has nothing to do with any challenge or any sketch, which is a bit rare for me as I love to work off a sketch. What I wanted to do was to use up the large die cut without cutting it up, but it looked a little odd set on a piece of 12x12 cardstock, so I cut the card to match the diecut.


Then I just threw layers at it until I came up with something I liked! So it's still a 12x12 and I even managed to gut the paper a bit so I have some scallop edges left over after all.

Sketchy Thursdays 1.21

The journalling explains that I took the pictures of Winchester cathedral whilst I was at University in the days before digital cameras. My teeny camera couldn't handle the whole front elevation in one shot, so I had to attempt to piece it together when the pictures came back.

The photo has spent most of its life living in a clip frame with lots of my other pictures being shipped from place to place. I eventually decided that I was a bit too grown up for photo montages and since then it was just in a box. However, now I have scrapping to give those pictures a second life.

Twisted Sketches #33

This week the Twist was "envelope", so I made one and put my steam train tickets in it. Turns out I'm not good at making envelopes.

The main picture is our Third Class compartment before we were bumped up to First. See how how happy Melman is! Everyone should take a giraffe on their voyages.

Nutmeg

Week before last when I was making all those tags from scraps I realised that there was just enough Amber Road left to make myself an 8x8 of Nutmeg.

52 in 10 - Week 3

Another placeholder this week. I downloaded the prompt, but it's all about looking back and what you would tell your younger self if you had the chance. Personally, I find prompts about regrets and backward-facing rather depressing and I certainly don't want that sort of layout in my albums.

If they're all going to be like this I doubt I'll be doing them.

Twisted Sketches #32

This started off as a two picture layout, it went wrong! I did get the stamping in though.


Honestly, I'm not entirely sure I like this layout, but it did mean I finally scrapped this impossible picture of my father trading pins in Albuquerque.

Sketchy Thursdays 1.14

I'm "at home" with my parents next week, so I thought I'd better get this latest Sketch done now!


I loved doing this one, dinosaurs are so cool. I randomly bought myself the Archaic stamps in a sale (not that I stamp much, but, as I say, dinosaurs are cool) and now I've actually used them!

Get Sketchy - #20

Here's my entry to Get Sketchy Challenge #20

I used the googly eyes I had for Christmas! Yay for googly eyes! :)

Basic Grey Card Challenge

This is my first time entering the Basic Grey Challenge, but I loved the colour scheme, so I just had to have a play.


I've used some of the cream paper from the Cupcake collection for the backing paper and the buttons are also Basic Grey. The butterflies are chipboard and from my stash, the other paper is by Autumn Leaves, Manhattan collection.

Old Cyber Crop Layouts

UKS appear to be having a pruning session of their Gallery next month, so I thought I'd better move a few of my old layouts over here:

Tags - Pink Paislee, Amber Road, A-side

In the end I managed to squeeze a final 8x8 layout from the papers
(I'll take a proper picture of that) and had enough leftover to make
one tag.

There are still some journalling blocks and large sentiment blocks
left over and they look rather like the base of a bunch of cards, so
we'll see. They're all autumnal so i'll save them until closer to the
time and see if I feel inspired to make seasonal cards.

Tags - Pink Paislee, Amber Rd, B-side

Tags - October Afternoon, Cherry Hill, B-sides

I loved these papers so much that there was barely any left to make
tags from.

Next batch of offcuts is Pink Paislee, Amber Road. Oh dear, I love
them even more than these papers. I want to see if I can get one very
minimal and rather "White spacey" layout from them before condeming
them to be just tags.

Tags - Pebbles, Linnie Bell, B-sides

Ok, these are really A- sides, but it doesn't really matter!

Tags - Pebbles, Linnie Bell, A-side

Actually, these are B-sides, but I mucked up their pictures with the
iPhone and will have to come back to them.

Tags - Paper Trunk, Maybe Baby, B-side

I wasn't keen on these papers, but I think they've come together well
enough as tags.

Tags - Paper Trunk, Maybe Baby, A-side

Using up some more scraps!

Tags - October Afternoon, Cherry Hill, A-side

Using up scraps of various kits.

52 in 10 - Week 2

This week's prompt is New Year's Resolutions, which I've already covered in other layouts. So I won't be participating this week. This entry is just a place holder to remind myself that I was organised enough to check it out and have a genuine reason to not be playing along. ;)

WC - Jan Week 2

Our final day in America and we were unable to find the beer we wanted, so we settled for some Arrogant Bastard, which was pretty good in the end. The label is actually readable in the picture, but in case you're wondering here is their website: "I am not a fizzy yellow beer drinking ninny here under false pretenses"

The challenge was to scrap Forbidden Fruit (I really shoudn't be drinking beer) and to use ribbon and bling. All bases covered.

Sketchy Thursdays 1.07

I've been oddly uninspired by the Crate Paper - Season collection that came as part of a kit, so for this Challenge I made an effort to use it, although I'm still not convinced by it. I chose a picture of my Father and I in Zion National Park during our 2008 Road Trip. Nearly filled three albums now with Road Trip pictures and I still have many pictures left.

In order to jazz it up a bit I added some paint to the background, doodled on everything, stamped and hand cut the title and stitched round the circle. I had assumed, when I was planning it out, that it would be a speedy scrap, but it took me hours in the end.

Nerdy Note: The doodling on the title is the ornament used for cross stratification on a graphic log. One of the most dramatic parts of Zion are the cross bedded Navajo sandstones.

Twisted Sketches #31

This time the challenge was "White", so it just had to be Frosty Mk 1. Although, at the time the photo was taken he was just "Frosty" as Mk2 had yet to be created. I've been thinking about experimenting with inking techniques and was under the impression that in order to get that splattery/inky effect you had to use inks in a mister.

Obviously I wasn't thinking it through, and my Teamies were quick to point out that paint on a toothbrush would achieve the same spattered result. This layout features my first attempt to toothbrush spatter acrylic onto a layout - just don't tell John that I stole some of his posh gold acrylic to do it with (and to paint the snowflakes and some of the paper edges...), really should get some of my own!

It doesn't show up terribly well as I was a bit nervous about really going for it and coating my entire crafting space in gold speckles, but text time it'll be more dramatic.

Wrapping paper?

The idea was to make a layout that looked as though it was made from the paper, tags and ribbons that are left once all the presents have been unwrapped. The tag actually is a leftover from a Christmas present.

Sketchy Thursdays - Card Challenge

Finally decided to enter some card challenges. I may as well start making cards for birthdays and things now that I have so much stash. Why fork out extra money for cards if I can make them myself?



This one features a lot of plant life and will probably end up with my mother.

UKS Monthly Challenge

For this month we had to scrap about our habits and how we would change them in the New Year. Every challenge I've seen this year so far has been about New Year's resolutions, it's getting ridiculous! Anyway, here's my monthly challenge:



Have used the Colorful Christmas again, but this time on a non-Christmas layout. Trapped in stocks at Sherwood Forest. All those rotten tomatoes were awful until Robin Hood came along and saved me.

Basic Grey - Sultry Cards

Finished off these cards today. All pretty easy, although some of the
pieces don't fit as well as they should. i had to adapt sone of them
as the sentiments weren't in keeping with birthdays.

Still, it has encouraged me to make more cards from scratch.

Posting from Blogger App

Just seeing whether it's easier to post via app or via Contacts by email. All this work so I can post iPhone pics to my Blog!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Snow at Home

The view from my Parentals house!

Doctor Mario

John actually beat me yesterday at Doctor Mario! So I took a picture to prove it.

Joy

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Group shot from Christmas Day. Parental Units together. My Mother and I in matching slippers. Me in a skirt. Christmas miracles!!!

Sketchy Thursdays 12.31

Just managed to get this done in time as it's Thursday again tomorrow!

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I bought myself some Pink Paislee Mistletoe & Co. for the sole purpose of scrapping photos from Christmas 2009. The idea being that they'll all match in the album.

Have also decided to take some of my layout photos using John's painting easel. This at least keeps them flat when I'm taking their pictures, especially in the awful light that we're getting at the moment.

The Studio - Jan 1st Challenge

This is my entry to The Studio's January 1st challenge.

I've not entered one of their challenges before, but I'm going to try and get more scrapping done this year and will therefore need all the challenges and mojo boosting blogs I can get hold of!

This challenge was to create a layout with plenty of white space, three photos and to scrap your fears. The journalling might not show up terribly well, but the basic gist is that I had such a happy childhood that I cam afraid I may never get to be a mother and therefore, have a second happy childhood. All the pictures are of me as a child and they're taken from scans of slides - hence the poor quality of the photos.

Sarah's Cards Challenge

My entry for the December Sketch Challenge on the Sarah's Cards Blog. The pictures were taken at Niagara on the Lake, overlooking Lake Ontario and out to America on the far side.

All the papers and embellies came from my Teamie Sue in our Secret Santa last year.

Christmas 2009

Took this picture during the December snows. Made for the lastest Twisted Sketches. The twist was "glitter", which doesn't show up here at all well, sadly. Still, I used a glitter button, some gems and the chipboard elements are all very glittery.

This week's UKS Challenge entry.

The challenge was to use the sketch, ribbon and a celebration theme. So I chose a photo of my Dad celebrating Christmas with some Leffe.

The January Dip

My January Mojo Jar dip was a sketch by Susi. This is the result, using titles from Sue!

My Dad in the Valley of Fire State Park.

Tree Down

The tree is down for another year. Oh, hang on a sec. We're already in a New Year. We'll soon be out buying another tree. I suppose we'll have to start thinking about Xmyth and trees in about 10 months time. Just after Halloween is over. The year is only made up of Eggs. Pumpkins. Trees. That's about it.

I Can Haz Eester Eg Nao?

EDIT: Before the tree came down, John took this final picture of his favourite reindeer.

52 in 10 - The First Entry

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I hope I can manage to keep this one up, rather than the Scrap Like You Mean It thing!

Stacey Towers 2 Hearts kit

Risby Barns

Went antique shopping at Risby Barns, which was beautifully covered in snow. John failed to find anything, but I scored very well on the books. None of the Oxenhams were new, but they were all in better condition than the ones I currently have, all with DJs. Besides, I have a policy where none are left behind. If you're an Oxenham you have to be in VERY bad nick for me to leave you behind. I also found a Chaundler and a Talbot. The second barn had some Famous Five that I was missing.

Really need to update the lists.

Pole Dancing Santa For The Win!

I gave up on the whole Holidays in Hand thing, but I did get this final layout out done of my new Santa Marionette dancing around our kitchen tap!



Happy New Year!

New Year

As we waited for midnight we played with the Host's wooden puzzles. John was helped by a three year old who thought the solution involved a carrot stick...

WooHoo. Midnight. Hurrah.