April Fool

I wanted to scrap an unusual photo - it's a photo of a screenshot my daughter posted on Instagram - so I chose to use this slightly unusual sketch from Stick it Down :

I used Pinkfresh Studio papers and embellishments , black spray ink , an arrow punch and a title cut on the Silhouette. The journalling tells the story of the April Fool's jokes I play on my daughter and I copied Michelle who was at the retreat this weekend by writing it in capitals on strips and then outlining them.

10th Birthday

This layout reminds me of a song from one of my favourite films  (Chitty  Chitty, Bang Bang ) - Up from the ashes, grow the roses of success.

I rarely make double- page spreads but I had really thought this through: the sketch from Let's Scrap , photos printed, title cut (on Silhouette) , papers chosen ( but not these ones!) .

The papers were not working .....I was using a white background and tried to watercolour it using a stencil and it just looked rubbish.  Then, to top it off, I accidentally knocked the cup of paint-water  over my desk and wet the papers and part of one of the photos. I was so fed up- I just gave up.

The next morning I decided that I would just start again. I chose some different papers and I was able to cover the water damage  on the photo by covering it with the 'high 5' card - it didn't matter as all the children who are obscured are also elsewhere on the layout. I actually ended up liking this layout a lot!

As well as Let's Scrap, I'd also like to enter the challenge at Aud Sentiments , which is to make a birthday project that's not a card. 

Mowing the Lawn

I've just got back from a lovely weekend scrapbooking with Scrapbags, my local group, so I'll be uploading some layouts I've made.  Before I went, I made a note of some current challenges and this helped me get my ideas together.

I made this for the challenge at Scrap the Boys  , which is to use photos of boys helping out their dad etc.  Here is my son, when he was younger,  helping his dad mow the lawn.  (He's ten now, and the novelty has worn off!)  I used Echo Park paper and printable elements, and I cut the sentiment on the Silhouette.

Inkspirational Challenge - Spring

Our new Inkspirational challenge is 'Spring'.

For my DT card I made a card to congratulate a couple on adopting a small child. (Friends of my daughter.)  I thought the sheep and that one of them is 'springing' over the fence fitted the spring theme.

The sheep stamps are by MFT and the sentiments are Clearly Besotted and Creative Expressions.

Our guest designer this time is Trina , and I hope you'll come over to Inkspirational and see her wonderful card, and enter your own spring project.

I'd like to enter:
My Time to Craft no designer paper
Crafty Friends  animals
Daisy Chain  spring

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Birthday Case # 1 with Prizes !

It's our birthday at City Crafter and to celebrate we'll be having CASE challenges all month with the chance to win prizes.

This week's challenge is to CASE the fabulous card by Kirsty, below:

Case this card by Kirsty 

For my DT card I copied Kirsty by making most of my card black and white, which I did by using white texture paste and a Tim Holtz stencil.  I stamped my sentiment (Waffle Flower)  on a strip across the card, like Kirsty did.

Case Kirsty's card and link up at City Crafter Challenge Blog, and then hop around and leave comments at the following blog list.

City Crafter Challenge Blog
Kirsty Vittetoe
Ros Crawford
Stella Schenkel
Marina

And here's what you could win: 

I can't wait to see what you make.

I'd like to enter:
That's Crafty  flowers
Creatalicious  flowers
Stamp Ink Paper  flowers

City Crafter Challenge Blog- In Bloom

Kirsty has chosen this week's challenge at City Crafter, and it is to create a project with flowers,

For my DT card I stamped a Hero Arts text background, and then a Concord and 9th flower stamp, which I embossed in white, I then watercoloured it with Brushos- first with random sprinkling and spraying and then , with a bit more targeted painting of some elements,


Please come over to City Crafter, see what the rest of the fabulous DT have made and enter your own blooming project. 

I'd like to enter:
Crafty Friends  b is for Brushos and blooms
Deep Ocean  flowers 
Make My Monday  white embossing 
Try it on Tuesday  botanical 

Hugs for a Colleague

Happy Mother's Day to mums in the UK, Ireland, Nigeria and Channel Islands. (Yes, I did look that up!) I am lucky enough to have two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 33-year-old girl , and it is my daughter who loves to set me the real-life stamping challenges. (I think she should set up her own challenge blog, although she doesn't craft herself!).

Anyway, my daughter requested a card for a colleague who has had a serious health diagnosis. My daughter had seen a card I made with the umbrella girl stamp (Woodware, I think) , but wanted a bigger card so all her workmates could sign.

I coloured the image and paper pieced it using papers from a magazine, years ago. The sentiment is Avery Elle and I added Glossy Accents to the raindrops and puddle.

(PS, during the writing of this post there was a slight pause, as a child turned up with a box of chocolates and we had to eat some...)

I'd like to enter:
Crafting By Designs  thinking of you
Fusion  photo
Brown Sugar  anything goes

Inkspirational Challenge - Photo

Our new challenge at Inkspirational is to be inspired by a photo:

For my DT card I adapted elements from two 'photo prop' sets of cutting files - one by Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons and the other by Miss Kate Cuttables, and cut them on the Silhouette. The sentiment is by Docrafts and I embossed the base with an embossing folder. 

We are joined by a wonderful Guest Designer Birgit  and I hope you'll come over to the challenge blog and see what she and the rest of the DT have made and enter your own project. 

I'd like to enter:

AAA Cards die cuts 

Addicted to Stamps  cas 

Car with a Clear Chevron Circle

I got a text off my daughter this evening - she wanted a card with a car on it for her friend's dad who's a driving instructor, and she wants it by tomorrow!

To give me some ideas I browsed some current challenges and this is what I came up with . I created the circle base card on the Silhouette , cut out a circle of acetate and embossed it with a chevron embossing folder. The car stamp is by Printworks and I coloured it with markers, paper-pieced it and cut it out. The sentiment is by Hero Arts.

I'd like to enter:
Little Red Wagon  clear to me
Crafting when we Can  circles
Challenge up your Life  chevron
Fashionable Stamping Challenge  transport
Retro Rubber  car stamp is probably 5 years old?

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Through the Window

This week I have chosen the challenge at City Crafter: to use a window or aperture on your project.

For my DT project I used a stamp from Paper Smooches for my outside scene, which I coloured with markers and Distress Inks. The window and shutters were a Silhouette cutting file and I was pleased to find the paper in my scraps - it already had a peeled wallpaper effect.

I look forward to seeing your window project. Please come over to City Crafter and see what the rest of the fabulous DT have made.

I'd like to enter:

Brown Sugar  anything goes 

Glitter N Sparkle  anything goes