A detour into cards

I haven't found the time to scrap for ages although I keep blog hopping and seeing what everyone else is up to.  However our daughter is moving home and I needed to get a card sent to be there when she moved in.  With only half an hour to spare I was very pleased to create a card I was happy to send.  On completion I wished I had inked the edges of the papers but hey ho!  (virtual shrug)

Now I just need to get into gear to make some Christmas cards .....

Let the festivities begin

I have been particularly remiss about scrapping in the last few weeks and Christmas is looming.  As the start of our festivities we have begun our advent gifts. One present per day between now and Christmas Eve.  I am lucky to receive a gift for every 'even' day and my hubby receives a gift for every 'odd' day.  At the start of the month he is the first to receive.  For some time now he has been complaining that he cannot reach his drink from the sofa; so I found the perfect gift: a perfectly sized 'wine table' which holds a bottle and glasses to perfection and just an arm's stretch away.

 

Merry Christmas to any bloggers dropping by!

 

 

Scrapper's Retreat

I think I need to beat a hasty retreat before my husband discovers what I have been buying today.  I have been thinking about Project Life for a while now having read articles in scrap magazines and from comments made in forums by other scrappers.  Until today that's all I've done - thought about it!  The internet and cable TV are wonderful inventions and have broadened our knowledge and links ... they are also responsible for my wildly inflated bills! 

 

Now I need to devise a way to hide the entire Project Life collection that should be   arriving in 3-5 days.  I'm not planning to scrap my day to day life at the moment ... I have enough trouble living my day to day life, never mind recording it!  I'm hoping it will be an easy and comparatively quick way to catch up with scrapping my life to date.  I've been meaning to record the stories of my childhood and the momentous events before I began scrapping.  I seem to have only really done layouts of recent events; and there are piles of old photos languishing in boxes and old albums, just waiting to be liberated.

 

I am so excited to get started .......

 

In the meantime I have been thinking about my scrapping journey.  The very first layout I did was so linear and basic and I am now a little disappointed that I used the original photos that are irreplaceable.  Part of me would like to re-scrap them with the new techniques and confidence I have gained, but perhaps they should remain as evidence of my scrapping journey.

 

I thought it might be interesting to compare how my ideas and pages have changed.  I still love the photos in my first layout even if I would scrap them differently now.  My mother died when I was just 10 years old and I have few memories of her.  Those I have are very precious and these photos show us together although I have no recollection of the times.  They are poor photos but the essence of feeling is evident and I particularly love the one of Mummy reading to me at bedtime.  I do not actually remember her doing this but it feels good to know that she did.  Sometimes I have questioned if she really loved me but seeing these photos shows me that she did.

 

So for those of you that are still with me and reading this, here is my first ever layout:

 

 

I no longer like the plain presentation but I still love the photos.  Despite the darkness and lack of detail the love shines through. I still love to read and am grateful for the wonderful start in life that I had.

Somehow even my flower arrangements are boring when I look at them now ... but look at that bonny smile.  Hard to believe that it was so long ago.

 

 

For many years I had my christening gown that I dressed my dolls in but now the only remnant of it is the image in this photo.  Such a shame that my hording tendencies started later in life!

 

 

In contrast to the simplicity of my first layouts, I love the extra touches that I used when I experimented with layers.  The layout of my step daughter's wedding is a favourite.  I used papers in keeping with her colour scheme and just looking at it brings back the joy we experienced on the day ... and the tears of course; why do weddings make us cry?

 

 

The journaling strip reads: How can you give away the most precious gift you have?   

 

Thank you for staying with me on my walk down memory lane, it may be a torturous trek by the time I've embarked on Project Life so you'd better bring your walking boots next time.

 

 

Facing the challenge

The latest challenge on CSI was a challenge indeed.  Not only was it a bold colour palette, I set myself a personal challenge too.

I decided to leave my comfort zone and to try using paint, and also to over come my fear of getting messy.  I have recently bought some texture paste and gesso and with the encouragement of a crazy chat room conversation with the CSI girls I came to the conclusion that the world would not end if my layout didn't go exactly to plan ... and who's to know what my plan was anyway?

So the starting point was to gather all possible stash that matched the colours and my 'plan'; that equates to making a great mess and opening all drawers in my craft space:

The next stage was to ensure that my stencil and photos would be well placed.  I wanted the brick stencil to imply the building of ancient civilisations.  A good idea in principle but I didn't allow for the fact that embellishments would later hide it!  Previously I've always placed things on the layout in their final position before securing.  My challenge to myself for this layout was to 'go with it', so I stencilled my bricks as a photo mat with texture paste and then to add further detail used paste and a reverse chicken wire stencil in both corners.  This was going ok until I decided that to make the colour scheme I would use glitter instead of grey ink.  Good idea but not so good in reality - the glitter leapt out of the pot and landed in a blob on the stencil.  The next good idea was to rub it in with my finger.  That did turn out to be a good idea and I must admit it felt good to be messy.

Carrying on this gungho manner I splattered gesso around and was pleased with the result.  Spurred on I then thought I'd use stamps to add more detail.  Unfortunately one stamp ended upside down but who cares ... I'm an intrepid scrapper!  I am pleased with my use of new techniques although I am not so pleased with the final result but I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps it was using an old transparency for the first time which I didn't really know what to do with.  My journaling was using a rough typewriter font and unfortunately I had already stuck it in place before I spotted two spelling mistakes.  At one time I would have been devastated but my new laid back approach took it in stride and used tipex to repair it.  That is in keeping with the typewriter effect isn't it? 

So in meeting the challenge I used all colours.  As evidence I used typewriter font, sheet music, flowers, hinges, a rhinestone, transparency and paint.

The testimony was typewriter font again and I used the Inspirational Word 'remember'.  I only recently remembered that I had once wanted to be an archaeologist.  I may not have followed that dream but I have managed to visit some amazing ancient sites and so far I have been to 32 countries, which I can't really believe.  My favourites have to be the ones that I never thought I'd actually get to.  My journaling is on the back of the passport which is attached by a hinge.

If you look very closely you can just about see the bricks peeping between the photos and embellies:

Thanks so much for looking, and thank you to everyone at CSI for inspiring me and giving me the confidence to try new things.

Improving the past

As I am away from home I find myself unable to scrap and am surprised at how frustrating this is ... I guess I'm an addict.  So I have resorted to improving on what I have already done.  I created a layout for a challenge by Merly Impressions in March.  However when it was photographed the colours were not as clear as in real life.  I have now discovered online photo editing which is so easy to use and so effective I thought I'd show off the before and after shots.  The pre edited photo has a pink hue over the entire layout, which may be very feminine and in keeping with the layout but is not a true colour.

 

 

Once adjusted, the colour is much sharper and true to life.  This was a challenging layout for me as I'm never very confident at trying new techniques but successfully used stencils and stamps and distressed the edges.  It isn't easy to see the distressing but I sprayed the edges of cardstock with water and rolled the edges with my fingers.  I then lightly chalked the edges for a soft effect.  I am much more at home with inking chipboard and using Gloss effects and luckily found space for this too!  I am particularly pleased with the beautiful Kaisercraft blooms that I threaded together to underline the photo.

The whole page is one that brings a smile to my face ... as does my fabulous friend!

 



Where is home?

The Merly Impressions October Challenge is about what home means to me.  Home means many things and I've previously scrapped about my childhood homes.  I still plan to scrap about my current home but I'm waiting for it to be finished; it's currently evolving and is a work in progress.

http://www.merlyimpressions.co.uk/blog/project-portfolio/scrapbooking/merly-impressions-october-challenge/

 

So I scrapped about my second home in Australia.  I am not fortunate enough to have two properties across the world but I have my very best friend who lives far too far away in Australia.  Whenever I visit her I am astounded at how 'at home' I feel.  I am as much at home in her house as I am in my own and I am so thankful that her family accept me.  I can stay up late, I can lie in late, I can make my own drinks and cook meals and most importantly she shares her scrap stash with me (that's true friendship!)

I even enjoy chores in her house and work my way through piles of ironing and actually love hanging out the washing.  For some-one who claims to hate house-work it is a wonder that I love doing the laundry.  It seems strange to scrap about chores, but the simple act of hanging out washing brings us together across the miles. My second home, my second family ... I love them and miss them!

 

My journaling reads: I love my second home with Sue, Jim and the boys. Even the chores are a pleasure. I love to peg out the washing knowing that it will be dry in 2 hours. I love the shoes by the door. Mine, Sue's? It doesn't matter, just slip a pair on and out you go.  I always think of you when I'm pegging out laundry.  You are with me around the world under a different sky.





Feeling Blue

Looking at the latest CSI challenge I wanted to go with the 'feeling blue' theme and had some ideas, but some-how it didn't come together.  I needed to use a photo that I actually had in the house ... and that led to our new Grandson; which then led to blue for boys.  After 18 months of pink for girls it had to be blue for boys. 

That led to gathering supplies that fitted the colour palette demanded by CSI:

 

www.colorstoriesinspiration.ning.com

 

I searched my stash and laid out everything I thought might fit:

 

 

It's funny how things come together and my predominant colour turned out to be brown, thanks to Kaisercraft Praire Lane collection.  I needed to sneak in a little grey so made a heart which evolved into the title.  Not a strikingly clear title but it will suit.  Moments - the moment that we met our first Grandson Mason.

 

 

For the evidence I used flowers which I made from felt, I tied ribbon through a metal key and metal buckle.  Not sure if inks count as paint but in my world they do!  I did distress the edge of the patterned paper but it isn't very noticeable.  I wanted to tear something but am a bit of a tidy freak who struggles with tearing.  I did recycle though and used the off cuts from my border punch as an extra trim in top left and bottom right corner.

 

The journaling described the details in the photo, and is partially hidden on the tag:

Meeting Mason for the first time: my adoring gaze absorbing every detail. Beautiful lips, tiny fingers and sculptured nails.  Perfect in every way.  Our first Grandson wrapped in the blanket I knitted, wrapped in our love.

 

The rub ons add more detail and the small photo captures the magic of a newborn baby.

 

Scrapbooking gives me the opportunity to record the special moments that a photograph only glimpses.







 







 

Once Upon a Time

I have been thinking about the combined challenge with CSI and Scrap 365 for over 3 weeks and it has taken this long to come together.  Although I knew what photo and theme I wanted to use I struggled with the colour palette. 

 

www.csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com

 

Searching my stash I came across the beautiful Websters paper and then decided it all had to fit together.

 

 

A photo of my gorgeous twin granddaughters was a must and from there I cut circles from a book page and added a little sheen from pearlised mist. I used some Kaisercraft bird rub-on and a bird / heart sticker.  I used a chicken wire stencil with chalk for a little extra texture; and also added chalk to colour the tag that was also made from a book page and contained my journaling: 'When I realised I'd never have children of my own I was devastated, but God heard my heart cry and he blessed me with double the joy'.  I thank my step daughter for this wonderful gift.

 

 

I love the Kaisercraft roses and they add to the soft magic of the layout.  Who needs fairies at the bottom of the garden when you can have these beautiful creatures?





Blooming as a Scrapper

I have shared my layouts on blog challenges and with my friends on Facebook and of course in huge albums at home!  However this blog will now serve as an up-to-date record of my creations (not necessarily creativity!)  I enjoy looking at other scrappy stuff and hope that others may gain something from seeing my attempts ... even if it's a demonstration of what not to do.  I may branch out into cards and beyond the page projects but at heart I am a scrapper.  I do not have my own style and am often astounded that I manage to create anything.  As a basically messy person in life I am constantly surprised that I am naturally drawn to scrap in straight lines.  I devour other sources of inspiration in magazines, blogs and crafting sites and make repeated attempts to try new styles and techniques, and to get away from straight lines.

 

Before starting with all my new creations I am posting a few layouts that I have previously enjoyed making and which say a little about who I am.

 

 

Life makes us who we are and from my childhood to the present day I am proud to be the person that I have become.  Thank you to all my friends and family who have contributed to that process and to those that do not understand me I say that it takes all types to make the world go round.

 

 

Even bad photos can be scrapped and this was really outside my comfort zone, I don't like really bold colours and rarely stamp but this old photo of my Mummy who died shortly after the photo was taken is very special in reminding me of happy memories.  Even if it doesn't 'win' in competitions it is a winner to me and that's what scrapping is about.

 

 

So many important things in life and for me the love of books was engendered in my childhood.  I have never kept a record of the books that I read in a year until last year when I was astounded to realise that I had read 24 books. This year has been fewer ... perhaps due to the amount of scrapping I've done and also to the arrival of three grandchildren.  I am still growing and changing and hope that this blog helps the process.

 





 

Branching Out

My next discovery was the enormous community of CSI.  They provide a wealth of inspiration and techniques and are so  supportive of each other. www.csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com

If I thought that a monthly challenge was demanding, my life was set to change when I found a weekly challenge!  I started out with drive and enthusiasm but could not maintain the momentum.  However I learned from watching others, and decided to mix both challenges and this proved sooo rewarding that I won the September Challenge with www.merlyimpressions.co.uk.  Now I have a second badge to display ... just as well I've created this blog!

I can't believe my luck and the buzz that it gave me.  To play with paper and pretty things and to be rewarded is too good to be true.  The photos of my granddaughter sleeping on my lap are a reminder of the special time that we spent and now it's extra special because it is immortalised. I even moved out of my comfort zone by using pearlised spritzing mists and inks.

 

 

The journaling reads: At 6 weeks old you spent 2 hours asleep on my lap. You fitted so well and I loved to watch you.  It was fantastic to have that special time with you.  Who knows what the future will hold for you ... But I will always treasure the time you spent on Nanna's Lap!

 

This was for CSI challenge # 89, and for Merly Impressions the challenge was to use no 6x4 photos. 

 

 

Germ of Creation

The driving force to start my blog was to enter the challenges on www.merlyimpressions.co.uk  so I thought that my first entries should be to celebrate their inspiration and my recent entries.  I entered the June challenge with a collage of photos showing my godson playing in the garden.  He is obsessed with construction vehicles and can name them all ... most of which I'd never even heard of.

 

To show how many vehicles he can name I jotted them all around the layout and detailed the fun that he had on a hidden journaling tab to pull out:

 

 

And I'm thrilled that this earned me my first Top Act Award and I'm proud to display my badge

 

Virgin entry

After months of debating whether I wanted to create a blog I have finally taken the plunge ... with the help of my sister. I'm not sure that anyone will want to look but at least I now have a venue to post my scrap layouts for challenges.  I'm not that great with technology so there will be many hiccups, but here goes ...