Creatively Yours: Sketch #43

Finally, a project I can share with you! LOL. I have been busy with DT creations lately, so I've not been able to share anything & I know it's been a few days since I last blogged too ... so much for blogging every day in December - I didn't even last a week! LOL. I have some plans for January tho' so expect to see a lot more blogging from me then.
In the meantime, I'll struggle along ... trying to fit a bit of crafting into the manic Christmas prep - just wait 'til you read what I haven't done yet!!!
Right, back to the layout: My very good friend Nina got married on November 28 & this is the first layout I have done from the photos I took at the evening reception - I left the journal panel blank for Nina to finish off when I give it to her. I used Noella's sketch #43, from the Creatively Yours Challenge Blog - & although I'm on the DT, I haven't done my first 'official' assignment yet ... so this week I'm playing along for fun! Pop over to see the sketch & maybe join in ... we'd love you to play along too!
What I love about Noella's sketches most is the level of detail ... I have tried that whole minimalist style that seems to be trendy right now ... but I have to say I'm definitely a shabby-vintage-throw-it-all-at-the-page-and-see-what-sticks sorta scrapper: I like to distress, ink, layer & I like my pages embellishment-heavy. So I followed the sketch almost without deviation - & this is the result.
I'm playing with Prima right now (did I mention I love shabby/vintage?) & have mixed a few different paper ranges together here (Whisper, Angelique, Rue 88). I didn't have a suitable corner swirly embellie, so I cut a long scroll & combined it with a fleur de lis type thingy to custom-make one - & I matted the crystal bird to make it pop! All the supplies here are Prima Marketing, save from the brads, pearls & the plain cardstock (click on the pic to get a better look at the detail!).
I hope to be back again tomorrow with another project ... but don't hold me to it! LOL

Well That's A First!

I went to Bury St Edmunds last weekend with my Mum, stepfather & some of my ladies (on a coach trip) to the Christmas markets ... sooooooo much shopping! Mum took these photos of the stiltwalkers & I have actually scrapped them - within a week!!!!!
Before you start thinking that I've gone all super-organised, I should say that this is my 1st December layout for Deanne & that I have only just got it to her - so actually I'm late & not at all organised. Go visit to see what the rest of the DT did ... fabulous pages!
What can I say? it's been a manic couple weeks but the webstore finally went offline this morning - & with it went all the stress & irritation it has been causing for quite some time. The MISI store makes me happy ... & the group of friends I have made over there keep me laughing too - life is good!
Today I'm thankful for:

• Deanne's understanding of my missed deadline ... she didn't sack me yet!! *must try harder*
  
• Online friends ... sometimes it's difficult to find the block of hours to actually visit friends but online you can snatch a minute here & there ... even if it's at 2 am! LOL
• My folks for taking me to Bury with them - had a fab day out!

I'll be back later on with my winners announcement as I promised yesterday!!

I came across this challenge blog just a couple days ago, via Vanessa's blog I think, & they had a DT call on. Noella has some fabulous sketches & I thought I might quite like to be on the DT there ... so I applied at the 11th hour.

This is the layout I created for the call, using Noella's 6x12 sketch #3. Sooooo difficult to choose just 1 sketch to use! LOL. This is a total mix of old stash well past the time to use it up & the newest ... Basic Grey, Wassail papers that Auntie Jane brought for me on her visit last week ... she always brings the best goodies with her from the US!
I have a whole bunch of DT applications to make thru December ... sure, I probably won't get them all ... maybe I won't get any but it certainly keeps me on my toes & ensures that I keep creating!!
6x12 Santa Layout Supplies: Textured cardstock: DCWV, Patterned papers: Basic Grey, Wassail; Journal Spot: Handmade; Pearls: Kaisercraft; Pinwheels, white brads: HOTP; Holly Leaves: Prima Marketing; Crackle Paint: Ranger; Snowflake eyelets, chipboard star & brackets, cream fibre: unknown from stash; tiny pinecones: from a local park

Deanne's November 15th Sketch

Loved working with Deanne's new sketch ... although it did take a li'l while to get everything to come together. I really wanted to shabby everything up for this one, so I had a bit of a play with some different techniques.

I used papers from Fancy Pants Crush line & the ledger paper is Holly Jolly. I sanded the edges of all the papers & for the journaling mat I used a distressing tool (remember the Making Memories distressing kit???) to shabby up the right hand edge - I created the torn notebook effect on the left edge by making holes with a cropadile & then tearing out from the holes to the edge ... then I inked it all up!
The photos were cut leaving a white border, roughed up with the distressing tool & then inked. I machine stitched the ribbons in place ... check out the printed leaves twill - it's Cosmo Cricket ... from the Mr Campy line.
I inked the chipboard flourish with olive pastel chalk ink (love chalk inks) & then aged the edge with chestnut roan chalk ink. The 'stems' were painted with crackle paint & then aged with chestnut roan too. I added a twist of rusty wire (scrapbook safe stuff that I've had lying around for 3 years!!) & the blossoms are made up from Prima Artful Collage, Kaisercraft (taupe)& self adhesive pearls (I used Blush)
I broke out the acrylic paint & my old foam stamps for the title ... haven't used them for ages either! If you got the september embellie kit, you'll have one of these fabric tabs (to the left of the bottom left photo) too - i just swiped with a bit of ink to make it look less 'new'

Deanne's November 1st Sketch

Here's my DT page for Deanne's current sketch - I'm just loving being a part of this team. The other designers produce such awesome work for each & every sketch - go check them out. I've used We R Memory Keepers Promenade papers, Prima Artful Collage flowers & a bunch of odd bits from my stash!

Deanne's Mid-Month Sketch

Loved Deanne's latest sketch! You might have noticed that I haven't been crafting much for some time & when I have, maybe it's just a quick & simple something. I get absolutely no satisfaction from that! LOL.
Since I stopped taking part in so many challenges & have just stuck to my DT projects, I have been having more fun with it. Sure, it might well take 3 hours to make a card (yes, really) & I spent waaaaay more than that on this page ... but I'm finding that I really like what I'm doing that way. So now I'm gonna focus on quality, not quantity.
This layout (like most of them) doesn't look particularly complex ... it's the li'l details that take the time. Each piece of paper has been carefully sanded (including the handcut lettering) & the machine sewn elements are a bit of a challenge on a mini sewing machine (that would be why I don't often sew on layouts, only cards! LOL) & I am currently crafting with a broken thumb - but then I like a challenge! LOL
The papers are Bo Bunny Teen Chic, die cut elements are Making Memories 5th Avenue (who knew those 2 ranges would work so well together?), MR chipboard & odd buttons, blooms & fabric from my stash.
Be sure to get over to Deanne's blog, check out the DT layouts & grab the sketch!

Strangely Disturbing ... But I Love It

Jorunn had to do a layout with this image for a challenge someplace & shared the result over on the APAAT Forum. It seems that I was the only one that liked the pic (or the only one to say so, at least), so she challenged me to do something with it! LOL.
I have to say that I really do like it!
The 'journaling' is part of the lyrics from 'Every Me, Every You' by Placebo ... again, slightly disturbing but I love that song. & yes, I did set light to the notepaper - easiest way to get a burnt effect is to burn it! LOL. It did raise an eyebrow or two as I stood in the kitchen setting light to things - they think I have finally flipped.
Feeling lazy again today, so if you want to know about supplies n stuff - you'll find it in the APAAT Gallery.

Deanne's October 1st Sketch

Deanne's 'Am I A Scrap Addict' sketch just went live ... & here's my take on it. I have had these lush Autumn Leaves papers in my stash for quite some time now & have been looking for the perfect opportunity to use them - d'ya think this is it? I have also used the matching alpha & journal stickers & a small piece of a lace cardstock panel - they are such great value - you get 6 pieces (4"x12") in each pack - that's 2 designs in each of the 3 colours & they are great for card making too (check out my DT card for Di Hickman next week for an example).
The buttons, flower & thread are all from my stash, so I'm still working my way through it! LOL.
Don't forget to check out Deanne's Christmas Cards All Year 'Round blog too - the first challenge is up! Woo-hoo!!

Is This Noteworthy?

I guess it is quite appropriate to have used Making Memories Noteworthy for this page. It is my first DT layout for Deanne Burton's Layout Sketch Design Team. & in true 'Crafty Moments' style, it also doubles for my Pen Pals Challenge layout this week ... to use numbers as the focus of your journaling. If you want to read the journaling, you'll have to check it out at Pen Pals.
We'd love to have some new visitors ... & some more entries to the fortnightly challenges, so do please feel free to pop on over - there's tons of inspiration each week as we publish all the entries that we receive (we will remove them if necessary, should they later be accepted for publication!) - so it's a good bit of exposure for your work too! & if its our favourite, you could also be chosen as our next Pen Pal Of The Week & have your own guest spot alongside me & Colette! Go on! You know you want to! LOL

Day #33 - 40 Days Event

Here's a bit of a peek at my first layout for the new Pen Pals Challenge Blog, who are also today's 40 Days Event organisers (yeah! Ok, it's me & Colette really! LOL). You'll have to pop over to pen pals for the full layout, deets of the challenge & fabulous prize but for those that want supply lists etc (with handy links to my webstore for those in the UK ;o) )... here ya go!
Supplies: Papers: Cloud 9 Design (Sunrise Smoothie); Flowers, velvet trim: Making Memories; Orange Ribbon: American Crafts; Buttons from my stash.

52 Sketches ... 52 Weeks

This is my layout based on Julie's #27 sketch - it's only the second one I've done - how lame is that???? The photos are from 'the stack' (YAY!!) & the papers? Cosmo Cricket! LOL. I'm on a 'use my stash' mission again at the moment (have to make way for all the new yummies I am expecting to arrive shortly!) & these are 'Be Good' - last Christmas's collection (& a sheet of random kraft cardstock - no idea what manufacturer!). I'd already used the 'a' from the button fashions sheet - so I used the negative as a stencil to cut a new one!! The papers are already distressed but I inked them up a bit more with Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink (I use this ALL THE TIME!) - I keep a pad just for inking edges - it's really dry, so gives a really soft finish - useless for stamping, so I have a nice juicy one for that! LOL
I stamped the journal block & added Making Memories (5th Avenue, Elizabeth) Die Cut Brackets ... these are a brilliant buy - there's about 100 die cuts in a pack - I'm nowhere near using them all yet! LOL.
The embellishment in the sketch had me stumped for a li'l while ... I just didn't have the perfect thing & didn't want to cop out & just use a flower - so I made a li'l embellie collage with a Heidi Swapp chipboard clock, Tim Holtz game spinner, adage ticket & trinket pin, a li'l bit of American Crafts ribbon & a Petaloo blossom. Let me know what you think, won't you?

Life Is A Bowl Of Cherries

I noticed today that with all the '40 days' blogging, there has been a distinct lack of eye candy, inspiration, creativity ... call it what you like - there hasn't been any 'stuff'! LOL
This layout is a real mix of product ... really working on using up my stash! And it's a double challenge layout too! I've been missing my play time recently &, taking my cue from Di Hickman (as I often do!!) I have decided to create one thing every day ... if I'm pressed for time, it might be a card or ATC or something - but I will make stuff every day ... even if I can't share it!
So, Color Your World set the challenge to use green & brown (OK, I had to pink it up a li'l bit! LOL) & I just found this new challenge blog today 'Say It In Scrap' who set the challenge to create a layout with something you haven't seen before - I dunno ... does anyone else scrapbook fruit???
In case you want the details - I have a whole bunch of manufacturers here ...
Supplies: Papers & Numeral Stamps: HOTP; Buttons & Paper Flowers: Making Memories; Fabric Flowers: Petaloo; Journaling Ticket & Game Spinner (for clock hands): Tim Holtz; Flourish Stamps: 7Gypsies; Acrylic Letters: Queen & Co.
Chipboard: Letters (Cosmo Cricket); Glittered Cherry (Creative Imaginations); Hearts (Maya Road); Clocks (Heidi Swapp).
Ribbon & Cardstock - unknown

Wanna Swapp?

I really struggled to make anything today - seems my Mojo has left the building. I was reading Heidi Swapp's blog yesterday & realised I'd yet to use the Runway collection. She also reminded me about using 'the stack'. I guess we all have one - that stack of photos (or in my case, 2 A4 boxes) that are sitting, taunting us & waiting to be transformed! Yet still we print off a new batch every time we create a page! LOL.
Now many of you will have read about my PC crash ... & my complete failure to save anything to disk ... so in my case 'the stack' (as it will forever more be named) contains many photos for which I have no other copies!
Anyway, I'm not entirely happy with this page - I smudged ink, got my letters wonky etc but the basic principle was, I think, sound. Did I mention my Mojo is missing? But I guess Friday's class will be happy with it - & they have the option not to smudge ink & do wonky lettering! LOL. I'm thinking I'm gonna use 'the stack' for all my class layouts in future ... until I come across an event that has to be scrapped right now!!
I also used a a couple of Heidi Swapp stamps. I knew that the ink would 'pool' a bit on the 'imagine' stamp - always does with new stamps (you can lightly sand them before first use to prevent that) - but I kinda like that & I'd intended outlining in black anyway, so that was OK. The other stamp is the clock face peeking out from behind the photo mat. The flowers are from a mix of several Dahlia Box blends. My journaling is written along the top of the branch.
I half thought it would be a good idea to stop while it wasn't really working for me - but looking at the leftover papers, I had a couple of card ideas I wanted to try - & you know if you leave it 'til later, you just forget what you had in mind (or is that just me??)
These papers are soooo lovely that you don't really need to add much to make a pretty card. For the second one, I thought I'd try something other than black for the accent colour - love this kinda duck egg blue. The buttons & blossoms were from a Making Memories selection box - the rubs I've had for aaaages! Oh! & the li'l flower gems are also from the dahlia box blends.
By the third card, I think my Mojo was about to make a comeback - I have a huge box of manilla tags (luggage label size) & decided to make a clear pocket with a corner from the Runway Clear Extras. This is soooo thick that my li'l sewing machine's motor (I have one of those mini machines) couldn't cope. So I had to manually operate it (or handsew - didn't fancy that AT ALL! lol.) The tag is covered on both sides, sanded & inked at the edges. The felt flower is from that same Making Memories selection box, layered with a trinket pin (love Tim Holtz for metal stuff & unusual embellies!) & some ribbon (the perfect colours in an old Personal Shopper kit). The rub on alphas I've had forever!
So just as I'd got into 'the zone' I had to stop for family stuff. This evening I'd have preferred to craft some more - but there's much online stuff to be done! LOL
Back soon with a prize draw winner & more bloggy stuff!

Scraplifted!

On one of my recent blog-hops I read somewhere about scraplifting one of your own layouts (so if it was your idea ... thanx! LOL). I have never done that before, each layout is totally from scratch (or sketch if it's a sketch challenge - obviously!) so I thought I'd give it a try.
This layout is a lift of the 'Summertime' layout on this post - Hmmmm, I think I like it better than the original. All the deets are over on the Crop 'Til You Drop Blog!

It's almost 30th June!!!

Hello Sunshine!

This layout was really quick to put together using fabby 'Hello Sunshine' by Cosmo Cricket ... and it is just the perfect colours to go with some more of my real ale ephemera.
A few weeks before Sean's birthday bash, he picked up a bottle of Badger's 'Long Days' ale for me to try ... they bring out a new summer ale each year. Obviously, you have to check out the label first! LOL. I knew I'd be saving this one to use on one of Sean's birthday layouts - so that gave me a starting point. The bottle tops squash fairly successfully in the Big Shot - with much less effort than on my old Sizzix machine ... I think it's about time that found a new home! LOL
The journaling reads: Forget the solstice, for us summer officially starts with Sean's birthday barbeque ... The weekend closest to 9th June. Sometimes we'll celebrate ALL WEEKEND!
And as I've used the beer labeles and bottle tops - this is another one that qualifies for the Arty Girlz ongoing Recycling Challenge!

A Funny Story.

Back in April, Cosmo Cricket were the monthly sponsor over at the Journaling Junkie blog & I had the chance to work with the 'Be Good' line - all for free. The down side of this is that I was instantly hooked and needed more! I kept my cravings under control for a li'l while (OK it was a couple of weeks, max! LOL) and then the Cogsmo line became available. Before long I'd acquired several other yummy ranges and decided to stalk the Cosmo Blog ... so that if a design team call came up, I'd be ready & if not, I could always contact them when I'd a few more samples to show!
Within a week or so - Jon from the warehouse had leaked the news - there IS a DT call ... how spooky is that???
So obviously this is a sign, a twist of fate, divine intervention perhaps? Whatever, it is definitely meant to be!! LOL
The call ends today but I just had to finish this one last layout first. I'm going for quirky & fun (if it backfires I shall look scary & desperate instead!!!) so I hope the guys at Cosmo Cricket have a really good sense of humour (have you ever read their blog - it's hilarious!!)

So - my layout: I'll Just Die (if I don't Make The Cosmo Crew)
The journaling (hidden in the pocket on the left) is on 2 journaling cards. The first is a li'l poem:
I wanna be on Cosmo's Crew
There's nothing I would rather do
Oh! Think of the projects I could create
(I promise submissions will never be late!)
I'll give it my best, I'll give it my all
If you grant me a place from this DT call.
I may be a 'Brit' but I have English style
Give me a go, it'll be worth your while
I'm soon to be 40 and there life begins
So give me the chance (it's the win of all wins!)
I'll cut & I'll stick to inform & inspire
I'm the latest, the greatest, fab scrapper for hire!

The second is inspired by the barcode strips on Hey Sugar! & Cogsmo cardstocks (Hello Sunshine didn't have them), which read in addition to acid & lignin free, 'fat free, sugar free, high in fibre'.
So funny! My version reads:
Hassle Free, Worry Free, High in Energy, Low Maintenance, 100% Committed: Potential Cosmo Cricket DT Member.

I had hoped to finish a few more projects before the deadline but a girl has to sleep sometime. So I still have a whole bunch of Cosmo Cricket stash ... and a whole bunch of ideas, so even tho' the call is over I'm gonna be posting more projects real soon.

Reminiscing ...

That's the challenge over on the Journaling Junkie Blog this week - & for me it took a surprising turn. While I was looking for a particular photo (which has thus far eluded me!) I came across this piccie of my cat sleeping in a pizza box! Seemed worth scrapping to me! LOL
I've used the Cosmo Cricket 'Honey Pie' 8x8 paper pad & the journaling is on the back. Pop on over to the Journaling Junkie Blog to see the rest of the team's work & hook us up in the comments too - we'd love to see what you've come up with.

Hey Sugar!

Absolutely fell in love with these papers: Hey Sugar! by Cosmo Cricket. Although they have love-themed journaling cards & Strip Tease titles, they are sooooo pretty you could use them for anything girly ... So I Did - & just in time for Arty Girls 'Hint Of Pink' challenge this week!!
I bought one of the American Crafts D Ring albums a while ago, as I wanted something in which I can house layouts of varying sizes (rather than having an album for each size) - It's the 6x12 layouts that are my biggest problem ... they make no sense as an album purely by size. Anyway, I've been wondering how to alter it & so haven't actually started using it - as soon as I got these papers I knew they were the ones! I had the 'Hey Sugar!' Paper Crafting Kit & I've also used a Buck Naked Button; Nursery Trim Trimmerie, Victoria Ready, Set chipboard & Doodle Rub Ons. & I LOVE IT!!
Next up, another recycled project for Arty Girlz ongoing Recycling Challenge. I bought a couple of slatted, wooden picnic tables & these li'l .75" cubes are the spacers supplied for keeping the slats the right distance apart while you screw them into place. So I made these li'l inspiration cubes for my scraproom. I used some tiny scraps from the Hey Sugar! kit, Elementary & Fleuriste Rub ons. The words I've used are: Love, Life, Idea, True, Play & PINK!!

Back again tomorrow with more!!

Gotta Lotta Bottle?

This weekend was DS1's birthday bash, which means a big BBQ & has done for the last 9 years or so! As the guys are older now, it does tend to mean copious amounts of alcoholic beverages! LOL. We somehow managed to stretch the festivities over two days this year (hence a lack of crafting ... & blogging too!)
So this yummy li'l Cogsmo number is the layout for Friday's class ... I love when I get a chance to scrap my recent photos straight away. Check out the pull out journaling to the right of the photo collage ... & I don't know whether the picture picks it up but most of the blackboard shapes there have been coloured with Inktense pencils (more vibrant than watercolours). Lots of soft inked edges again - Has to be my absolute fave technique I guess! LOL
The best bit of living in the UK has to be the easy access to real ales - my guys are only too happy to drink them, just so I can have the labels ... aren't they just too good to me? Seriously tho' real ale artwork is the best free scrapping ephemera ever (the bottle caps too - & the guys do their best not to scratch them or bend them as they open up!) so look out for some of that coming up soon.
I've been neglecting the blog a li'l bit of late ... it went kind of pear shaped mid-may & posting became kinda sporadic. Thing is, I love having a blog & sharing stuff with you guys ... & I have soooooo many things still to blog about! So this is the month that I'm gonna make a real effort to post EVERY DAY! & If I can do it for a month (or the 19 days that remain!), then I guess that makes it a habit & I can keep it up permanently. All the comments you guys make on my posts make it so worthwhile - so keep 'em coming & I promise I'll post more often! Deal?

Bad Blogger

Forgive me readers for I have sinned ... It's been 11 days since I last blogged! I've been struggling a bit to keep up with all that life throws at me this last couple of weeks - I've barely scrapped, which makes me VERY crabby; household appliances are dying left, right & centre; marital relationships have been a tad strained to say the least ... & it's half term, which means I have both Fish & DH at home ... We are working simultaneously on the house & garden this week - major works are underway & the second skip arrived this morning.
Apologies to those who are expecting DT work from me - I'll be playing catch up at the weekend (again!!!) but from next week I expect normality to reign once more.
I had a li'l play with my alphas & the lush Bo Bunny Ella papers for today's class - see you there ladies!!