Scrap365 Blog Party Starts Today!

The week-long blog party starts today on the Scrap365 blog with giveaways all week!

But before you go, I thought I would share some inspiration with you.

I did this layout at our crop on Sunday - one of those rare occasions where I have started and finished a layout at a crop!

I love the combination of these arrows and Boutique Buttons to make a title.

 

This buttons is from the To the Point set (just loving these).

Papers and die-cuts are all Pink Paislee.

A button from Day to Day

I tucked in various tags into a pocket behind my photo mat. I borrowed some stamps (Studio Calico?) to decorate the them.

Boutique buttons are available in sets of eight buttons complete with reusable packaging. You can see the full range here and stockists in the side bar >

Thanks for popping in.

Guest Layout and New Buttons!

I am almost keeping up with one of my new year's resolutions - blogging more frequently. Ha! Who said that I couldn't do it?!

Firstly, I will share some gorgeous layouts from Riikka Kovasin who has been a busy bee in December not only scrapping but pulling together inspiration from around the world with guest artists. Go check out Riikka's blog for her own inspiration and scroll back to see projects from all over!

Boutique Button: The Great Outdoors

Boutique Button: The Snap! Decision

Boutique Button: The Happy Traveller

I love the variety and texture that Riikka gets on her layouts.

Onto new designs. I have just finished two brand new sets that will be available in stores soon. 

Arrows are such big news at the moment and I continue to adore those pointy hands. This set is a mix of fresh blue, lemon and lime with a splash of red. 

And for all you guys doing Project Life or even if you don't, this daily set adds a great touch to a page when you don't know what to say! Mainly pastel colours with a splash of red, orange and yellow to brighten your day!

I hope that you like the new designs. There are plenty more in the pipeline. I am also sponsoring a prize on Scrap365's Blog party so look out for some ways to win some of your own!

Thanks for stopping by. 

Pickled Pear

Normal service will be resumed....

I hope you have had a lovely Christmas. I got sick before Christmas so the best laid plans all went by the wayside. Still it was out of the way in time for the big day.

Last month I got to play with the Pickled Pear Collection which is a fabulous mix of vintage images in grown up colours.

I went to a craft show last year with Jackie & Julie - boy we really know how to shop till we drop! 

For this layout I wanted to experiment with some textured layers so I created an aperture down the middle of the page and went to town with layers of distressed papers an lace.

 You may have noticed that I love envelopes so I created an envelope using a simple template before tucking in tickets from the Collectables

 The Boutique Buttons is from the latest Collection The Vintage Garden featuring a mix of vintage images with a modern twist.

Products Used:
Pickled Pear - Quince, Apple, Sticker Sheet, Collectables, Stamps
Number Stamps
Lace Trim
Boutique Buttons - The Vintage Garden

You can check out all the details at my blog post over at Merly Impressions.

I'll leave you with an experiment I did of our tree lights.

Welcome to the Party!

Today, I'm joining in on the Papercraft Inspirations Blog Party and sharing a simple technique that can be used on scrapbook pages, mini books and cards. I will show you how to create a simple spinner journal card that add a lovely interactive touch to your pages.

For my page, the journal spinner is a fun way to document the characteristics of my DD. You can simply turn the spinner to reveal a new trait. Here is how I made it:

Firstly, die-cut or cut out your circles. My patterned paper was a little thin, so I cut out and additional cardstock circle for the back of the polka dots. I also cut out an additional circle from scrap paper.

Glue the polka dot paper to the cardstock. Using the scrap paper circle, fold this in half and half again to create a quarter. Align this over the polka dot paper as an easy way to find the centre of the circle. Pierce the centre ready for later.

Fold your scrap circle in half again to get a wedge (one eighth). We'll use this as a template to cut out the window. Flip over the patterned circle. Now mark around your paper wedge as shown. I used a Nestability die to give me a nice edge around the outside, but if you hand cut your circle, then try using your scrap circle as a template.

Now cut out the window just inside of your markings as shown.

Now place your top circle over the remaining bottom circle and set a brad through the middle. Just move the window around and write in your journal word. I used simple one-word descriptions, but you could have other fun words or stickers. These spinners are great on cards too.

To complete the layout, I trimmed down the main paper to 9 1/2" wide and added patterned papers strips to either side. Add on stickers or punched borders along the joins for extra interest.

Layer lots of patterned papers and scraps in the middle of the layout. 

I like to tuck in tags behind my photos for the journaling.

The title was created on a Silhouette, but you could always use letter stickers and a hand cut arrow instead.

Finally add little details such as the journal tags and of course a Boutique Button. These buttons are a fab way to add a finishing touch to a page. I like to glue mine directly on to the page so they're nice and flat and secure. This button is from The Sn@p Decision collection.

The Boutique Buttons have been designed to versatile and co-ordinate with lots of different papers and styles. This buttons is from The Daily Grind collection.

If you would like to win some buttons hop on over to the Papercraft Inspirations Blog Party where I'm giving away 2 sets to 3 lucky winners!

If you are not lucky enough to win a set then why not visit one of the stockists (see the right hand panel).

Thanks for popping in today. I hope that you will pop back again soon or pop in and say hi on my Facebook page.

Morag x

Guest Layout from Emma Trout

I adore Emma Trout's distinctive style. She has a totally unique way of creating her pages which I love. I am so thrilled to share a page that Emma has done including some Boutique Buttons

I love this layout which features triangles and the unusual crop to the photo. How cool?! Emma mixed buttons from The Happy Tourist and The Office Gossip. Both of these buttons have a grey background which is perfect for co-ordinating with any colour.

Thanks Emma for sharing your lovely layout!

Be sure to pop back tomorrow as I join in a blog party!

Hello World!

I don't think I appreciated life so much when I was younger. In the words of Robbie Williams - 'youth is wasted on the young'. Sometimes I wish I had some of life's knowledge that I have gained over the years and go back to my DS age. I think I would appreciate just what I had and what opportunities were ahead of me. That life isn't so tough at twelve and that in the years to come there were far bigger things to think about.

I am trying to convey these snippets to the kids - that enjoy life right now and make the most of the simple things in life. I think pressure on the young is far greater than there were in my childhood and that children grow up too quickly. Crikey, I'm sounding like a grown up!

I have no idea why I've gone off on a tangent, but I think that was my thought behind this layout. That there is a big world out there and you should find you place in it. To carve a place for yourself and be happy there.

I have finally found my place and I hope that my DS finds his.

I have totally forgot to mention that lovely Riikka Kovasin who is on the design team for Scrap365 has organised an amazing advent blog this year. She has got together some amazing artists from around the world to share a project. Hop on over to Riikka's blog everyday to see a new project. My project will be up in a few days together with a giveaway!

Only 22 days until Christmas! 

New Buttons!

I have two new releases for you.

Firstly, a little break from the norm - festive penguins with a very cute demeanour. These guys are going to look uber-cute on a card for a loved one (I really must get around to making the cards for my family). You can currently find them over at Angel Crafts and Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn at the moment or in my Etsy store.

And this beautiful new set of vintage inspired buttons. Although they feature vintage images, they have a lovely modern feel about them, making them truly versatile. You'll be able to find these babies over at Merly Impressions from next week.  Here's a sneak of a layout I did  using the Pickled Pear collection:

Thanks for popping in.

Yikes! Only 36 Days until Christmas

How did that happen? I would probably say I am as organised as usual (which very disorganised  but I have managed a few tasks that I wouldn't normally do by now. I spent the whole day yesterday making a special Christmas present which I won't share because it's a surprise. I have also made a December journal for Merly Impressions which is super-organised huh?

I created my own chipboard book but obviously a ready made book would make it much quicker to make.

The Turtle Dove Collection features loads of beautiful images in traditional festive colours.

The collection has a beautiful die-cuts and stickers which are perfect for this type of project.

If you click on the images to see a larger version, you will see that many of the pages are shaped. I had bought a Basic Grey chipboard album years ago which I use as a template. I often will buy a chipboard piece with a view to using it as a template only (saves lots of money!)

As I have never made a December journal before, I kind of went with a page to cover several days (I wouldn't be taking photos and journaling every day as I don't have time).

Most days I left a spot for journaling but I can add extra tags later if needed.

I think in hindsight I would put the numbering on later but the Sticker sheet has such cool numbers to choose from I had to use them straight away.

I tucked in Boutique Buttons here and there from The Vintage Christmas.

I have left space near the end to allow me to add anything I missed out during the month.

Products Used:
Turtle Dove Collection
Turtle Dove Number Stickers
Turtle Dove Collectables
Turtle Dove Clear Stamps
The Vintage Christmas Boutique Buttons

Thanks for popping in!