29 January, 2011

Cave Man Ways

I'm a little late with a post this week - seems there are never enough hours in  a day.  I thought I'd share a layout I did from our last Disney trip.  I've been trying to scrap some photos which I find terribly hard to scrap.
This rather cave-man boy is my DS.  I think the big turkey leg looks more like a club the cave man swung around.  He obligingly acted out a cave man for me.  Or at least I think it was acting.

Lovely papers are from My Mind's Eye and I've used a sketch from Page Maps. 


Quite liked the curled paper which gave the border a little definition. 



Also, while I think about it, Queen Kat Designs are looking for 2 more DT members to join the team. Take a look at the post on the blog for more info. Good luck!

Thanks for popping in.  I'll try and catch up with a few more posts this week.

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21 January, 2011

Have Stash Will Travel...

I realised that I seem to be having a bit of a boy-fest on my blog recently.  However, rather than going pink, I thought I'd share a layout I did recently of our trip to Epcot.

I have been trying to scrap our Disney photos from last year - especially as we're about to go again this year.  I haven't scrapped all that many.  Better pull my finger out!

I've used the lovely kit from December Studio Calico. 

Just love the travel stamps from SC - they do travel so well.

My favourite item though is the long title (KI Memories).  It was a real pain to stick own straight but boy it is gorgeous.  I have cut my cardstock behing my title (not the easiest thing to do).


Thanks for dropping in.  I'm back with a layout for Pencil Lines this weekend.
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19 January, 2011

My Mind's Eye Challenge

I thought I'd enter MME sketch challenge this week as I needed a challenge.

I used some Dreamy papers which I absolutely adore although I guess they've been out a few years.  You just don't get enough cool boy papers.  I added some stripe paper from I Believe which is actually sparkly.

I pretty much kept with the sketch cutting out the stars and layering them up.


I used my favourite brick wall mask to decorate the background paper.  Not quite got around to adding my journalling yet but the deadline is today.

By the way - did you see all the fabulous papers that they are releasing?  Be still my beating heart.  You can see them here.

Thanks for popping in.
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16 January, 2011

Pencil Lines Sketch 221



Now it isn't even my week for Pencil Lines, but as I was on a roll with my scrapping, I thought I'd do an extra layout with this week's sketch. Hop on over to Pencil Lines if you would like to see the original sketch (it's so pretty).

For my layout, I swapped those pretty butterflies for stars.  I punched out stars from a card to make a stencil so I could ink them here and there.


Those lush papers and title are Autumn Leaves.

Thanks for poppin in.
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14 January, 2011

Scrapfest!

I'm on a bit of a scrapfest at the moment - I have done almost 10 layouts this month already (quite a record for me).  So nice when you're on a roll.


I technically did this one last month but who's counting?  I love the Wintertime collection from Echo Park.  Absolutely perfect for the big dollop of snow last month.


I included my favourite elements (just love pocket watches) as well as stickers from the paper pack.


Cute sledge huh?


I particularly like the mitten stickers.  Those October Afternoon letters are just lush.

Have loads more to catch up with so check back soon.

Thanks for popping in.
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09 January, 2011

Pencil Lines Sketch 220



Just a quick post with my layout for Pencil Lines. I had to do a simple LO this week as I was a little strapped for time.

I changed my layout slightly from the original sketch by spacing out my squares a little.  A bit of a challenge for me as I find it difficult to get things straight.
All stickers and papers are from Echo Park (sigh).  Just love their gear.

Thanks for popping in.   I have lots more projects that I unearthed while reorganising my directories.  It's amazing what you can find when you tidy up!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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08 January, 2011

Queen Kat Designs

So I was browsing through Scrapbook Calls and Contests the other day, when a call came up for Queen Kat Designs. Now, not one to go past a stamp store without looking (well it doesn't hurt to look does it?)  Wow, was all I could say.  They have the most b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l stamps hiding in there.  If someone is looking to buy me a present, don't hesitate to go and look here for some grunge or here for some fab fantasy stamps.

I don't know about you, but I do find male cards a bit of a challenge, especially if the recipient doesn't have any particular hobbies.  For this card, I wanted to make it grown up and have included a favourite stamp of mine from Paperartsy - Clocks Plate 5.  You can create this card for any occasion and the faux 'rusty' texture makes it very tactile.
Faux Rust Technique

The gears and chipboard gears are embossed with Distress Powder to give a lovely rusty texture. Firstly, stamp using Black Soot Distress Ink. Cover with Vintage Photo Embossing powder and heat set. You may need to heat it for a very long time but you should get a lovely dark rust texture. You can scratch at the rust when cold to reveal the darker crystals.


To Create the Card:
  1. Stamp and emboss the gears on the left hand side of the cardbase as described above. Ensure that some of the stamp hangs off the page.
  2. Stamp and emboss more gears across the base in a loose diagonal.  Be sure to turn the stamp to avoid repetition. 
  3. Using some sequin waste as a mask, apply Broken China Distress Ink in a circular motion using cut and dry foam.  Tip: use a light touch to avoid lines and streaks.
  4. Mask around the stamping leaving plenty of space.
  5. Using cut and dry foam, apply more Distress Inks to fill in the gaps created above.  Tip: start on a craft mat and move sponge in a light circular motion.  Practise on scrap paper first.
  6. Apply 2-3 colours in this manner until you get the blend you're looking for.  I used Faded Jeans, Marmalade and Shabby Shutters.
  7. Using a collage stamp, stamp a square panel of card (2 1/2" square).  Colour with inks as before.
  8. Mount collage square onto card stock mat and adhere to card base as shown.
  9. Stamp script text lightly onto small shipping tag.  Colour with Distress Inks. 
  10. Crumple tag and colour again to highlight creases.
  11. Emboss chipboard gear (Maya Road) using faux-rust technique above.
  12. Attach gear to tag using twine. 
  13. Emboss message using a Dymo (you can use cardstock with a white core.  Cut 9mm strip and sand after embossing).
  14. Assemble as shown.



I hope that I've inspired you to create a card for the man in your life!















For a change of style, I couldn't resist this Tilda card I made for my friend Nicki.  She loves everything pirate - it's so easy to see why.

Tilda is perching on a treasure map (distressed with inks).  This is laid over an old map page.  I added some tiny shells, beads to the corner before adding copious amounts of glitter.  A tiny string of pearls finishes off my treasure.
Tilda is coloured with Copic Markers.
Hat & Boots: C-3, C-5, C-7
Skin: R00, R11, R20
Top: R81, R83, R84, YG11, YG03, YG67
Jeans: B91, B93, B95, B97


My last card accompanies a project that is is this month's Craft Stamper Magazine. I created a travel wallet to store all those lovely tickets and ephemera as well as a notepad for those reminders or your journey.

I love old books and maps and they look wonderful on vintage cards.  This card features stamps from 7 Gypsies (travel), Tim Holtz (Car, tickets and Message).

Thanks for popping in. 

Morag x

TGIF

The kids went back to school this week thank goodness.  I love them to pieces and all, but I think we were all a little stir crazy after two and half weeks at close quarters.  I spent the last three days cleaning and tidying.  Finally today, I could say it was all clean.  Now to mess it up at the weekend!


Just a quick post with a layout I did at the weekend.  The photo is from Warwick Castle - we visited it last summer.  DD was looking like the castle princess with her crown.  The papers are all Webster's Pages - Hollywood Vogue
The frame is cut out of Feather Fashion and layered with the flowers from around the edges of the paper. I added a couple of my favourite chanelier stamps (Inkadinkadoo).

I laid Tulle across under the frame and used a diamante ribbon slide to gather it together. The stamp is my favourite one from 7 Gypsies.




I love the drama of these papers and especially the peacock.

Thanks for popping in. 
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03 January, 2011

Photo Holder with a Difference

Happy New Year to you all!  I hope you've made some new resolutions that you've managed to keep for more than a day!  I am going to try and be more organised and keep my scrap room tidy.  Unfortunately, I will need to get it tidy in the first place.  This may take some time...

By way of distraction, I wanted to create a photo holder, but do something different.  I have had these beautiful Seaside Retreat papers from  Websters Pages for a while, but as usual, they were too nice to cut up.  I took the plunge with some layouts and had some left over for this project.


I covered a chipboard box with Reader's Paradise and Underwater Oasis. The photo is held in place by two large shells, this means I'll be able to change the photo for another holiday (or if I get bored of looking at the kids!) (Only Joking).

I then layered elements from Reader's Paradise and various other papers including the reverse of Far and Away.  Layering some elements with foam tape helps add dimension not to mention being able to tuck in other ephemera here and there.

I curled some pearls around the bottom as well as adding seashells, glitter and rhinestones.
I also added stamped images from various sets for even more detail.

The top is decorated with seashells and tiny bottle (including a message), more glitter and rhinestones. 

The lighthouse was made from a template downloaded from the internet - not as hard as it looks!  The template can be found here. Incidentally, if you fancy building your own Chicago, apparantly you can from this site!

Thanks for popping in!
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