Life just seems so full on at the moment, really and truly blink and it's Friday blink again and it's Monday which means Christmas is hurtling towards me and I'm not at all prepared, added to that that I need to slow the season down to enjoy it and I'm unsure of how I'm going to manage that, thankfully my Journal Your Christmas is right around the corner, so hopefully that will allow me to take stock a little - we shall see!
So I'm sharing layouts at the rate of 2 to 3 a day - you may ask if this is a never ending pile - I shall answer - nope the end is in sight which is worrying as I always have some 'in stock' as it were. Might have to head off to find me a challenge to get me going again on the scrapbook layout it isn't as if I don't have enough photos to scrap now is it!
So first up a layout of the one and only time I've ever been published, it was in the now defunct Scrapbook Magazine and was organised in its entirety by Jen at Wear Crafts (she is a star). I obviously had to capture this moment in a scrapbook layout!
Next up the aftermath of a weekend retreat in the Peak District for said 15 year old, we did have to wonder whether he would cope with the 20 day expedition to Lesotho if this is what he was like after a weekend, but we needn't have worried he managed just fine!
And the two of them stood by a giant tree when we went to Bodnant Gardens, a fabulous day out and a stone's throw from where we were staying!
I hope Monday finds you positive and happy and that your day is kind to you and that the weekend arrives quickly!
Earlier in the year I managed to get hold of a gorgeous mini book kit from Jen at Wear Crafts and I dutifully made the mini book (which I love so I've made loads more since). However, I did have a bag of leftover bits of paper left and I really couldn't throw them away, being a Yorkshire lass you don't waste when it comes to scrapping.
So after I'd moved them around my desk a few times I thought it was time to use them up. The background papers were from my stash, the leftovers created the embellishment.
Photo of hubby when we were on holiday earlier this year.
I put my heart die to good use and managed to create lots of mixed hearts, which I added to the layout below, I think they draw the eye to the photo, taken at the grotto at Chatsworth!
I also decided to go very geometric with this layout, creating lots of squares to highlight the Instagram photo and I also enjoyed putting the pieces onto a black background to really make it pop!
This one helped me document some fabulous photos of the oriental room at Harewood house, the wallpaper with its none repeating pattern is gorgeous and doing the three strips across the page allowed me to include more than one photo despite none of them being the same size.
So my question is - do you have mini book spares lurking somewhere and if so - what do you do with them?
Good morning lovely people, here we have another layout using the 'A charmed Life' bundle kit from Jen at Wear CraftsI've said it before this kit just keeps going on and on and on - fab stuff!
An assortment of the papers, a bit of plain co-ordinating cardstock, hand stitching and glossy accents, using the large title and adding some hand journalling.
Photo taken in the summer when we went off along the Wenlock Edge in Shropshire searching for a geo-cache, can't believe when I see these photos how much said 14 year old has grown this last year - crazy stuff!
Morning all, well I'm back with another Simple Stories 'A Charmed Life' layout using the bundle pack from Jen at Wear Crafts, this kit just goes on and on (and apparently there are a couple of bundles left so contact Jen if you want to know more - link to Wear Crafts here )
This was the carved figure at the head of the ship, I loved the colours in the photo and thought they blended well with the papers - so away I went, using some of the journal type pieces of paper, some chipboard pieces, a bit of hand stitching you know the drill!
This was a replica of the original, the ship Trincomalee can be found in Hartlepool's historic quay and we were amazed to find the original ship (most of which is still integral to the refurbished ship) was built in Bombay in India!
I've been sharing some layouts I created using a selection of the Simple Stories DIY Boutique range from Jen at Wear Crafts - check link here
They have been so much fun to play with and are just a selection from the main paper kit available - I kid you not.
This one I built up blocks of the paper on a plain pink cardstock to marry in with the busy picture.
This was documenting the second scrapbook day, me, my Mum and my sister and my niece had and we had loads of fun. They are holding the layouts created on the day - not bad going to say it was my sisters second time of proper scrapbooking!
I stamped the title and added journalling to the strip on the right and it was done. It really is a versatile paper pack!
I've got one more to share with you tomorrow if you fancy popping back, until then happy scrapping!
Good morning, lovely people, fellow crafters, how has the week been treating you? I hope it's been a good one up to now.
Now the lovely Jen at Wear Crafts recently provided me with a few sheets of the beautiful and gorgeous Simple Stories DIY Boutique range, I'd already had a huge amount of fun playing with the bundle of Simple Stories 'A Charmed Life' goodies that I bought earlier in the summer, so she wanted to see how I got on with these.
Oh my - they are gorgeous, modern bright fun papers - seriously.
So this one was made blending some of the mini journal like cards with some fairly plain cardstock - the backing cardstock being bright pink with a touch of orange card stock into the mix.
The photo is of me and said 14 year old on board the Trincomalee ship at Hartlepool's Historic Quay.
We had a fab day out.
For the layout I've added a touch of bright washi tape that I got as a birthday gift into the mix and hand stamped the title - Ship. These really are fabulous papers to play with so if you fancy having a play check out the Simple Stories range on Jen's website here
Morning all well it's a lovely Saturday morning here in Yorkshire and I'm here to share my first layout with the brand new 12 Pledges Kit for March 2014 from Wear Crafts - Jen has put together a fantastic kit using MME Dorothy papers with beautiful spring like colours.
You can currently find the main kit - here if you fancy getting your hands on one. The normal monthly kit retails for £5 but the one I've linked to is the additional kit for £15, however, if you want to know more about the 12 pledges for 2014 then let Jen know over at Wear Crafts she's always happy to help!
This photo was taken when we visited Wentworth Castle last year, the last remaining tower of Stainborough Castle has a spiral staircase which is adorned with this gorgeous dragon, starting from the top and running all the way down to the bottom.
If you want more DT inspiration then check out Lesley's blog!
Oh Jen's just updated her blog with all the necessary links March Kit Info
Morning all 'tis Friday which means it's Rocking Your World time, ready to take stock and look back over the last 7 days!
Top of the list - my amazing hubby - he is amazing, I don't know if I tell him often enough but he is. He is currently having to 'put up with' the "why don't I have a new job yet" attitude which he keeps getting from me. Thankfully he keeps telling me to calm down and stop applying for random jobs I don't technically want, apparently there is a perfect role just around the corner or so I've been told by him on several occasions this week. So here is to hubbies who 'get' who we are! In fact here's a layout using my CKCB kit of hubby!
Up close you can see one of the mini cards I created inspired by a post I saw on Lesley's blog as part of the counterfeit kit ideas. In turn I used it as an accent to the page as well as somewhere to add a bit of hand journalling!
Next up said 13 year old, he really is so very grown up, he doesn't throw strops or have moods (yet), he is kind and considerate and happy to help. He still occasionally asks for a hug (which is lovely) and he has an awesome sense of humour. He doesn't moan about homework but has come to realise it's easier just to get on with it. Watching him chatting with his cousin recently made me realise that these two young people really are turning into awesome young adults! Long may it continue.
Next up blue skies - shall I say that again BLUE SKIES - yes I went out for a walk this week and this is what I saw apparently that huge ball of fire in the sky is apparently the sun and that blue stuff around it is the sky - haven't seen it in a while, wasn't sure if it was still there!
Then there is my walk, from my house I can do a nice 1.5 mile circular walk which takes me about 30 minutes, it has been lovely this week to put my headphones on, grab my keys and my phone and just walk.
On this circular walk I can see the Church in the next village
And two of the follies linked with Wentworth Woodhouse. This is the one closest to us called Keppels Column
So here's to more blue skies, more crafting (mine is still out of hand but I like it that way).
Next up parcels from Jen at Wear Crafts, I was so giddy to pick this up from the sorting office as I bought two add on kits this month. I got home, made myself a cuppa and then opened the box up. Ooh my the kits for February, March and April for the 12 pledges are beautiful, the add on kits are amazing!
Fun family nights out, we went out on Valentine's Night (now before you all say ahhhhhhhh - it's my Mums and hubbies birthday on Valentine's Day). We booked for a local pub which has a lovely conservatory attached to it but you know when it's going to be 'one of those nights'. We got there to see a guy setting up his guitar and speakers - mmmm doesn't bode well. Live music on a Valentine's night out? There were quite a few couples in there that were trying to go for the romantic edge - not likely with him strumming away over the top of pre-recorded music - I think it was the point when he started singing "Morning Has Broken" that we really started to lose the plot! Although my sister sat singing along and embarrassing her daughter was highly amusing, the fact my sister new most of the tracks from films like the Wedding Singer, can only lead you to imagine the hysterics she had us in!
They didn't have any soup for starter or any of the other starter we wanted so we abandoned that idea, the meal was OK, but apparently there was only one dessert left to fight over so we declined. Then the icing on the cake was when we were told at 9.15pm that kids had to be out by 9.30pm - welcome - not really LOL, but it was a lovely night with family which is the main thing and well we can laugh about it now!
Right my lovely people you must be bored by now of me waffling on, if you fancy join in pop a blog post together, pop back link up with Mr Linky at the bottom and leave a comment, we'll come and visit.
I'll leave you with another counterfeit layout that I've created using my kit. This one of sister, niece and said 13 year old on the Japanese Bridge at Portmeirion.
Good morning fellow WOYWW - hope you are all well, I've seen a few posts this morning which prompted me to join in for a change.
First up my desk (which is it's usually untidy affair if I'm honest). You can see the last layout I squeezed out of my counterfeit kit this month on my desk from last nights scrapping. My favourite heart hole punch, my tally sheet for my UK Scrappers layouts. My diary, my pink foam pad I use behind my layouts when I'm punching holes ready to stitch, the TV remote control, a huge box of photos I'm still working on and this mornings parcel that I picked up which is in the blue paper from the lovely Jen at Wear Crafts!
Through in the pool room a much more sensible usage of the pool table don't you think, paper pack after paper pack lined up together with a few layouts, an unfinished jigsaw and said 13 year old's cycle helmet!
Finally a glimpse of my paper problem!
I won't show off my rather untidy craft cupboard this morning as they make me want to 'run away run away!' Happy WOYWW people!
Fancy joining in check out Julia's fabulous blog - click here
Good morning, well it's Friday which means one thing - Rocking Your World post but I've also got the final instalment of the Wear Crafts layouts I've been doing using the first of the 12 pledges kits. If you don't fancy reading the Rocking moments from the last 7 days then simply scroll down until you find the layouts.
It's a while since I've spoken a little more deeply around the rational for Rocking Your World. In a world where we have 24 hour news which is normally negative, where we are constantly bombarded by opinions and judgements through social media, it's very easy to fall into a mindset which leaves you feeling somewhat down and fed up.
That's how Rocking Your World was born, thinking about the last seven days and highlighting the positives really made the world of difference. We are all dealt a different hand when it comes to life, however, how we choose to deal with it can be of our choosing, don't believe me then give it a whirl.
I'm currently on garden leave with the final redundancy date looming, I could sit and wallow in it, but I now accept this is how life is, so my grateful is that this time is allowing me some thinking space, I'm grateful that it's allowing me time to sort the house so that time with my family of an evening and weekend is even more precious. Its allowed me to have discussions with hubby about 'what if I don't get a job' and come up with some contingencies, I'm not shying away from the future I'm now shouting "bring it on...!!!"
I'm grateful that I'm relaxing a little more and connecting mentally with said 13 year old, he's got some big choices in the way of his options and spending time discussing things with him and taking an active role in the options evening means he has the information to aid him make the right choices.
I'm grateful for hubby who having been awake since 4am, been to work from 6am, shopped for his Mum, picked his Mum's tablets up came home and had tea, then didn't bat an eyelid at going over to my Mum's house to help build some Ikea furniture until 10pm at night.
I'm also grateful that he's already accepted that we'll be back again helping out to get the job done, making her life easier, although it requires time on our part means we are all doing a bit and this I like. We came together as a family, we chatted on the phone with loved ones and then got on with the task in hand. It made me happy!
I'm grateful for the gym and the conversations I've had with both my brother and sister recently on the positives of utilising a gym, it's true that time there has lifted my mood.
I'm grateful for the blue skies on Monday - where oh where have you been.
I'm grateful for a warm house
I'm grateful I got to see the first snow medal that Great Britain has ever won, made me grin from ear to ear.
I'm grateful for my lovely WW girls who keep me sane.
I'm grateful to Lesley and Jen who are a constant source of inspiration!
I'm grateful for my UKScrappers group and Suzy for asking me to join, it made me feel wanted!
I'm grateful for every single rockette that's joined in, whether you've joined in once, whether you have only recently joined, whether you used to join in, I hope the Rocking posts have made a difference.
So let's hope this next 7 days proves just as positive and as fruitful!
Mr Linky as always is at the bottom of the post, if you fancy joining in so we can come and visit! If you don't have the time (or don't have a blog) just try and note those positives as they occur, it really does alter your perception of life.
Wear Crafts
Over the last couple of days I've been sharing with you layouts created utilising the Wear Crafts 12 pledges kit for January together with an add on kit. Now unfortunately the kit is now sold out, however elements of the range and add on elements to the kit are still available from Jen. So if you fancy giving them a whirl head over to the Wear Crafts website (see top right hand side of my blog for the Wear Crafts button which will take you straight there).
The little wooden elements available in this range really are gorgeous, I used some pink card stock I had in my normal supplies, added strips of paper and some of the turquoise diamond paper as a start to this layout.
I then added some handstitched arrows and little crosses on the page. Next up was the title and then I matted the photo and added to the layout.
A journal block sticker was added and the page was done. This one documenting a gorgeous scarecrow that we found when visiting Alnwick Gardens last year!
The final layout I'm sharing is of a beautiful evening sky photo that we took one evening, close to our home. I had lots of small elements left from the kit and add on kit and wasn't sure at first if I'd be able to create a final layout. But I need not have worried because with a sheet of plain blue card stock I had to hand, I started to build up the remaining elements onto the page, it's a great way to 'use up' elements. With the off cuts of paper I had left I just cut into squares and rectangles and added to the page. I used one of the 'empty' frames to document my journalling
Up close you can see the layered elements and the hand stitching!
Don't forget to find out more head over to the Wear Crafts website.
Good Morning, well second installment of the beautiful January 12 pledges kit from Wear Crafts, as mentioned yesterday the kit is sold out, however, Jen still has plenty of the same range available, so if you want to get your hands on some head over to the Wear Crafts website (click the button on the right to go straight there).
For the next layout I used some turquoise cardstock and some coral cardstock that I had in my supplies and added to the gorgeous papers.
I know I'm sometimes known as the frugal scrapper as I try and squeeze as much as possible out of every paper that I have, this kit was no exception. Do you see the two vertical strips on the left hand side, those were from the cut off element of the papers, you know the bit that normally tells you the make and the range well at one end it gave you the blurb at the other end it gave you elements of the papers, so I cut those off and used them on my layout.
I punched out the hearts and tried for a confetti effect. Apparently you are supposed to drop them on the page and attach them where they fall rather than going for strategic placing. I quite like the eclectic feel of it.
Now you may be asking what on earth is the layout of! It's actually of a sphere that was at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park last year (alas last time we went it was no more). It appeared to be 'stuck' on top of a shed type structure and had us very confused when we first saw it.
However when you went inside the shed structure you could actually go up some steps and stand with your body part way into the sphere, the acoustics were crazy in there and you also got an inverted view of the outside landscape on good days!
Up close you can see a hand cut zig zag border, the heart confetti and some glossy accents.
Next layout documents said 13 year old having a 'go' at diablo when we went to Harewood for their Play festival last year.
Having some great journal and title elements meant that the background noise (also known as people we don't know) could be obliterated out of the photo!
I attached the central paper to the busy border and hand stitched around the element. I then added a strip of white cardstock and some of the diamond green to the bottom, placed the photo over the top and then added a felt border below the picture to finish the layout off. I love the watercolour effect of the paper!
I have two final layouts to share with you if you fancy popping back tomorrow, they'll be at the end of my Rocking Your World post if you want to have a nosey!
Good morning one and all, well the lovely Jen from Wear Crafts sent me her most recent kit linked in with her 12 pledges, not surprisingly the kit has now sold out however, she still has plenty of elements of the range to go at on her website. If you want to know more about future 'pledge' kits and ways to get your hands on them, then click the Wear Crafts link on the top right to find out more.
This kit contained some beautiful Basic Grey papers from their Fresh Cut range, I can't remember the last time I had the opportunity to play with Basic Grey papers so it really was a treat!
First up is a page I did for a UK Scrappers challenge using the colour coral, you can see the papers really lend themselves to blue sky type photos. I added the pink cardstock to the kit and then played with torn elements. I also handstitched around the edge of the pink cardstock with some of the never ending supply of embroidery thread that I still have from my old cross stitch days!
This page documents the village of Portmeirion; we got the photo when we set off along the coastal walk looking back!
Next up said 13 year old and a 'new' sculpture at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park that we discovered last year. The papers have so many gorgeous colours in them that matching in the bright orange sculpture and the turquoise jacket he was wearing, really wasn't an issue!
I added some plain pink cardstock to the top and bottom edges, rounded the corners to the photos and the layered elements, used one of the gorgeous titles that are part of the same range and a journal block too.
Up close you can see the handstitching and journal block. I loved the turquoise diamond paper that came with the range and as the papers were double sided extra versatile for layouts!
Check back tomorrow where I'll reveal more pages that I've recently completed with the same kit!
Hello there, well this is the second installment in the layouts I've created recently using a selection of a an Echo Park kit sent to me by the lovely Jen from Wear Crafts (click on the Wear Crafts button top right to find out more).
This has to be one of happiest photos that was taken last year in Llandudno during our first visit there. Said 13 year old tried his hand on one of those 'grabbit' machines, I told him it was pointless and that he'd spend a fortune, so you can imagine his utter delight when on his second attempt he got himself a Minion! Honestly I couldn't believe it. I kept the layout quite simple (I'm attempting to embrace 'white' space at the moment) as I felt the photo itself was busy enough, I didn't actually have a sheet of paper that was just the right shade of yellow so imagine my delight when I opened these papers from Jen, not only did the papers include this yellow sheet, but also the blue denim looking sheet too. I added the pool ball sticker, used the All About a Boy sticker as my main title and hand wrote the journalling - quick and easy!
Next up the birthday lego layout, I added some hand stitching to the background turquoise papers, I used some gorgeous little wooden cloud like embellishments. Next up I grabbed one of the title style pieces and cut out the central piece, thus allowing me to layer up on the white cardstock and create the journalling 'art journal' style in the bottom right side of the page!
Up close you can see that hand stitching!
Last but certainly not least is this little layout, rounding the corners on the photos makes such a difference, I based this one on a sketch but now can't find it to provide the details, drat, I'll update when it turns up on my craft desk!
Adding simple elements to your layouts really does make all the difference, the little star stickers came from the pack. I added an orange brad I had to hand to the compass point and layered up on foam pads ensuring it was pointing towards the birthday boy!
So there you go an amazingly versatile pack of papers that I've had such fun playing with! Fancy getting your hands on some head over to the Wear Crafts website!
Well the fabulous Jen from Wear Crafts, sent me a selection of the gorgeous Echo Park 'All About a Boy' papers recently with some of the sticker elements. She must have known that they were just up my street, my normal taste in colours these were fantastic to work with!
Now I started off by making the most of these gorgeous papers, cut out elements from some of the other papers, the rik-rak style blue sticker on the left hand side!
Large alpha letters to create the LOL title! Can you see said 13 year old photobombing this photo of my niece last year when she decided to order the world's smallest dessert! I didn't catch it on my camera, but my sister managed to and let me have a copy of it recently so I could get it printed.
Up close you can see elements of the torn paper, the sticker and the hand cut element below the photo.
One of the papers has some gorgeous circular style elements and I couldn't help but hand cut them out to create this next layout, I was going to use square photos but decided it might be fun to layer up circular photos.
I then used some distressed ink to create some subtle circles in orange on the sheet of card stock.
I layered up the stickers to create the title. Up close you can see the layered title and the cut circles.
Next one documents said 13 year old discovering that when he sieves icing sugar it sometimes ends up in the air above the bowl which he can then 'catch'in his mouth - honestly (she says rolling eyes!)
Pop back tomorrow to see the remaining layouts that I made using the gorgeous papers! Fancy getting your hands on some, then head over to Jen's blog and have a look! There is also another kit from Echo Park called "That's my Boy" - Jen's got that one in stock as well!
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