Lasting Memories

Another Sunday is here and that means another scrapbooking challenge from Lasting Memories.  This week's challenge was to use 3D on our page.

I have had a scripture album on the go for the past two years now so I thought it might be nice to do another page to go in it.  It's designed with an easel opening to sit open in a 'portrait' style so I have it on display on one of the end tables in the sitting room and every now and then I change the view by flipping over to another page.  I store all the spare 5" x 7" photos in the last pocket ready to use when I feel like creating another page and this time I chose a shot of my eldest daughter and the kiddies.

I always try to pick papers and a verse of scripture that I think suits the photo.  I had to work clever to ensure that words like 'us', 'daughter', 'faith' & 'love' could still be seen and even the word 'always' sits nicely right before the text I added that says 'honour one another'.

Since the idea was to add something 3D this week I used foam pads on my text strips (above).  In addition I layered up my embellishments with foam pads and 'popped' them out even more when I added them to my page.  Sorry you can't see this from my photos - you'll just have to trust me!

 I love the colour combination on this paper.  I have no idea where I got it from or what it's called (part of my old stash) but I just love how this turned out.

Finally I added more 3D elements when I added the layered corners at the left hand side of the page.  I ran all of my embellishments through my Big Shot machine using an embossing folder and then inked them up.

I now have this page proudly on display so I shall enjoy looking at it for awhile.  Doing this week's challenge reminded me how nice it is to add to this album so I hope it won't be so long before I do the next one!

Stop on over to Lasting Memories, check out the other DT creations for inspiration and then get scrapbooking.  We'd love you to join in the fun this week.

Enjoy!



Getting back to Lasting Memories

Sad circumstances forced me to take a break from my DT work for Lasting Memories but it's high time I got back to it.  Karen - you have been super patient with me so a big THANKS to you m'dear :-)  Your support was very much needed and appreciated. It's good to be back even if I am dreadfully dis-organised and out of the routine right now.  And just when I thought I'd cracked it our computer went belly up!  Thankfully we know a very sweet gal who is a whizz with this kind of thing so here I am.

Well less chat and more posting I think.  This week's project had to feature punches and I was glad of a chance to finish one of Maddy's baby pages.  I needed some embellishments in the lower right hand corner so I grabbed me some circle punches. 

I started by cutting me some circles and snipping away here and there to create funky kind of flowers.  Then I punched out several circles to add centres to my blooms.  I finished them off by adding pen details everywhere and layered them up surrounding my title tag.

Here's a shot of the finished page and just for balance I added an extra flower in the upper left. It's a nice way to draw the eye across the page diagonally.

I've used this 'faux frame' technique before and it's a super way to create a clever effect and a really quick page all at the same time. 

Apologies that I'm late in posting this but if you haven't yet checked out the other DT creations hop on over to Lasting Memories and check em' out!  I'll try to be on time with the next one I promise.

Lasting Memories Clean & Simple

This week's challenge for the design team at Lasting Memories was to create a scrap book page in a 'clean and simple' (CAS) style.

This was ALWAYS gonna be a real struggle for me.  I adore this style but I can't make myself do it and it really frustrates me.  My page is as CAS as I could possibly make it - and believe me I desperately wanted to keep adding to it so I'm lucky it's as simple as it is!

I decided a white background would help me with this challenge since everything I put onto it really stood out.  I figured that way if I put too much on I would immediately notice it.

I knew I wanted to just throw together a photo and a few strips of pretty paper and these papers by Imaginisce were perfect.  I have been meaning to do something with this larger photo for some time now too.

I wanted a small amount of journaling but still needed to keep the page simple.  I settled on a single sentence (broken down) plus a name and date.  The embellishments and theme do the rest of the talkin.  I picked these up on sale over the weekend - they're also by Imaginisce so they match my papers perfectly.

My white background page is embossed with pretty flowers and I love the subtle detail it adds.

And I finally used some of that pretty scrunched ribbon I got from Sherry.  I love the 3D element it gives my page and looks just lovely!

I like how this turned out but I have had to hang it up straight away for fear of 'tinkering' with it.  I do that you know - leave a page out for several days and add or remove bits and pieces until I'm satisfied!

Why not stop on over to Lasting Memories to check out the other DT gals creations.  Then if you've been inspired to have a go yourself why not upload it and share!

Happy scrappin!

Lasting Memories Stamped Layout

Hey there!

Well another DT project has rolled around and this time it's a scrapbooking one from Lasting Memories. We were challenged to create a page using stamps in any way shape or form. I absolutely LOVE using stamps on my layouts - whether it's to add pretty swirls and subtle details, create embellishments and backgrounds, dress up designer paper even more or just plain and simple stamped lettering or text! It's ALL good :-)

I was so inspired by the Waltzing Mouse sketch that I posted earlier here that I just HAD to do a page and I just HAD to use WM stamps. Since I had used the sketch I entered it into the challenge but quickly realised that would mean posting it here on my blog too early for Lasting Memories. I decided I would just have to do another page for LM - gee what a shame. LOL! I have done more pages since joining Lasting Memories design team than I did the entire last 6 months - I am lovin that!

Here is my finished page. It's so bright just popping out from the black but it's a different kind of bright than I'm used to (it's NOT pink) so I already enjoy looking at it.

I loved the element of 3 in the WM sketch and I loved how I had used it to arrange my photos on my earlier page so I was pleased to use it again. While I was sorting through photos I ran across these of my grandson Kaleb that were taken on a family day out last summer. I have pages of the other grandkids up in my craft room right now but strangely none of this little guy. Well I fixed that right away!

I always think my pages are busy and to me that's how they seem. It's a style I lean towards and I guess it must be pleasing to my eye cos I keep doin it - even though I admire CAS scrappers a great deal. Despite that I still like my photos to be central and to stand out from all the busy-ness of my pages.

I don't use any fancy kind of camera - I just 'fill the frame' when I take my shots (unless of course I actually want a ton of background). For me the trick to taking half way decent photos is to first 'see what your camera sees' and NOT what you see and then move it around until what you 'both see is just what you want to see' - if that makes sense. Or did that just sound like gobbledy-gook? Sorry! I'm no photographer so it's hard to expain I guess.  I actually don't know what half the buttons on my camera do so maybe you don't need to be an expert!

Our challenge was to use stamps and I wanted to know if I could use these same WM stamps on a masculine page. I had used them to make pretty scallops and flowers for Maddy's page and they worked a treat but could they still work for a boy - hhhmmmmm?

I went looking for papers to compliment my photos and came up with these yummy ones from October Afternoon called 'hometown'. I just love the green, blue, yellow colour combo and when stamped on yellow this circle stamp made me think of 'sunshine'. NOT flowers at all! I debated about whether or not I could get away with a stamped scallop on this page but once I started mixing up the papers and adding extra stamping it became less and less obvious so I think it works.

In the end I stamped the row of small circles (blue dog-tooth paper) top and large circles (yellow floral paper) bottom from WM 'rescue remedies' set and the word 'enjoy' from the co-ordinating set. I stamped the words 'YUM' from an old alphabet set I have (would've used the WM alphabets but wouldn't ya know it I DIDN'T BUY THAT ONE - aaarrrggghhhhhhh!! happens to me every time!!) . I stamped the basket weave border stamp from WM 'pic-nic patterns' onto the bright yellow and also used straight and zigzag stitch stamps - one from PTI 'faux ribbons' set and the other I have permanently out so I can no longer remember who it's by?

I stamped up some extra bits as embellishments, cut just the ONE flower from my DP - but even then I added a small stamped circle to the centre to tie it in - what can I say I love to co-ordinate everything! And finally I created a chipboard sun using a positively ancient Sizzix die which I covered with DP and then added a bunch of black buttons and gems all over the place. I seriously cannot be parted from these black gems for very long LOL!

Oh and if you think this one is crooked - it is. I arranged my strips of paper at slight angles cos I didn't trim one of em up too neat - so this is how I chose to fix it! Take that as a 'top tip' why don't ya? Now get scrappin' and get stampin' and go load up your page over on Lasting Memories.

 

Happy stampin'

Lasting Memories Buttons & Bows

This week over at Lasting Memories we were challenged to use buttons and bows. I kinda knew I wanted to have flower stems with bows as leaves and had a few pictures of Maddycakes in mind. I have actually used the best shots already but no reason why you can't still scrap some of what's left huh?

Here's what I came up with this week:

I'm thinkin VERY busy, VERY bright!!! (this is Madyson holding out a delicate daisy for Grandma to see). I had intended to try doing a CAS page but something in me just won't go in that direction. I bought these new BoBunny papers at YTOC for another project and they just kept callin me! Does anyone else hear those voices or is it just me?

Anyhow the beginning of my page was the white ruled paper that had pretty swirls of flowers so I just built it around this. The sewing machine was still out so I stitched here and there and even zigzag'd a black and white stretchy ruffled trim down one side. Before I knew it I was merrily busying up my page - see I just can't help myself!

And of course the theme was buttons & bows right? So I added buttons to the flowers - they were just crying out for button centres (those voices again I swear!) and instead of bows I used knots. Bows just looked too much but my ribbon is still tied so I'm guessing it counts - all part of that creative license thingy trust me.

Lastsly I knew I had picked up some cute felt letters in Tesco's of all places would you believe? I nabbed them last summer but hadn't used them (like most of my stuff). They were brightly coloured and had button embellies so I knew they'd add even more to the theme.

I added black gems for fun and mounted the whole thing on black so I could pull the black throughout the design.

I am seriuosly considering framing this page and giving it to Maddycakes to hang in her bedroom. It is certainly bright enough for a little girl's room (and far too bright for me). Next time I see a nice square frame at one of my local charity shops I'm in there! I love giving framed pages - so personal. Now let's hope they still have some of this fab BoBunny paper left when I can get into Your Touch of Craft next.

Get yourself over to Lasting Memories blog and check out the other DT creations.

First Ever Blog Hop!

Ok ladies here goes with my first ever blog hop!

Well actually it's Karen's blog hop but as part of the new DT for 'Lasting Memories Layouts' I get to participate in the hop. First let me share the deets with you all. There are 6 members on the new design team (and 1 guest designer for July/August) - all taking part in the blog hop to launch Karen's new scrap booking challenge blog .

PLUS there is blog candy up for grabs so you don't want to miss out!

Below is a list of all the other DT gals participating in the hop and if you are reading this then you should've come to me via Priscilla and the next stop on your hop after me is Lasting Memories so be sure to stop there and leave a comment for the blog candy entry. You gotta be in it to win it right! If you have lost your way (or have come here first) you can go back to the beginning at Kelli's blog.

PLUS if you leave a comment on each of the blogs in the hop you just might be the winner of some mystery blog candy too!

Kelli

Kristi (Guest DT)

Mandy

Melly

Nancy

Priscilla

Suezie (me)

Lasting Memories (Karen)

And finally here is my page design for the hop. We were challenged to create a layout using red, white and blue. My first thoughts turned to the American flag, 4th July and then finally pictures of Idaho since we have so many photos from over the years. Yes ladies - I too have a major backlog of unscrapped photos!

I couldn't narrow my photos down to just a couple so I decided to do a 2 page spread. When I think 'Americana' I always think 'patchwork' and 'folk art' so I decided to piece my photos and 'scraps' together in a technique known as 'blocking'. My title was spread out across the pages and reads 'Home is a Place in the Heart'.

I stitched around each 'scrap' for added detail and then used my scissors to distress up the edges - couldn't lay my hands on my distressing thingy so scissors worked just as well. I decided to use some WM stamps to add stars plus the heart stamp in the lower right corner too (see below).

These photos were taken a few years back around August time so the sky was an incredible blue every day of our visit and made for great photos. I take pictures of lots of weird stuff like road signs and even make hubby double back or park across the street so I can get a better shot. Good job he loves me!

The letters are made using good ol' fashioned Sizzix dies and the photo anchors using a Quickutz die. These days I use my Big Shot for nestabilities mostly but I try to drag it out now and then for other things too.

Be sure to stop by the other blogs to see what the new DT have come up with. Hopefully you'll be inspired to do a page yourself. Now I'm off to see what they've done too!

Design Team Announcement!!!

I just want to share some cool news with you all. I made it onto a new design team called 'Lasting Memories Layouts' which is a scrap booking challenge blog. This is a totally new challenge site set up by Karen Wilson so if you're into scrap booking you might want to CHECK IT OUT over the coming weeks. Karen is a rep for 'Close to my Heart' (or CTMH) which is a US stamp company. I'm sorry to say I don't think we have CTMH here in the UK (someone correct me if I'm wrong!) but that's ok cos the challenges will be using lots of different things so we can all play along.



I have been working with Karen over at Project Tuesday for a few months now so it's great to be working with someone I feel I know a little bit and I'm sure I'm going to get to know her even better as we work on her challenges.



I don't get near as much time to scrap book pages as I'd like to so I'm hoping this DT will encourage me to do more PLUS I'm looking forward to being challenged and inspired by all the lovely crafter's out there that join us for each challenge. I love to see what everyone comes up with and have really learnt to appreciate the diverse styles of fellow crafters. Thank goodness for 'variety' - it would be sooooo boring if we were all the same huh?



I hope you'll join me (and the rest of the team) along the journey. I have added a 'linky' button to my blog to make it easier for you to check out the challenges. And can I just say I wish Karen and all my new DT buddies all the best - hope you have a blast with this! We will be having a blog hop real soon - my first ever - so be sure NOT to miss it!










And finally this was my entry page submitted with my DT application - hope you like it. I used some simple strips of pretty DP which I stitched and distressed, some flourishes stamped into two corners using grey ink, with a smattering of paper piercing here and there for interest and a few diamantes to mimick my mother's necklace. I finished it off with a scrap of lace and ribbon, a few prima flowers and some strips of text to tell my story. Although the photo is black and white (well kinda grey looking) mum was wearing a pink cardigan which you wouldn't otherwise know so I chose pink as my feature colour to remind me in years to come.

This is my scrap booking style and it's taken me several years to perfect it. I don't do 'clean & simple or minimalist', don't like 'busy or OTT' just somewhere nicely balanced in between the two suits me just fine.

Well I have my first challenge to create and post for the blog hop so watch this space!