Reserved

At least with having a wet and miserable weekend, I managed to get a fair bit of scrapping done. I had intended to take part in this months Life.Paper.Scrapbook challenge, but alas time ran away with me and I missed out. However I still used their sketch to make a layout. This was the sketch for May

And this was the layout i made. The warm weather of the previous weekend had obviously gone to my head as I scrapped a very summery photo of my towel reserving a chair by the side of MIL's employers pool last year! 

Yet again I went for a card background which I had flick with Mister Huey black, shell & Seafoam mist to make it look less plain. I chose a piece of Glitz Wild & Free paper with a red and orange watercolour effect on as it went well with the photo. On the reverse were some arrows which I felt lifted it slightly. The third paper which I punched circles from is an October Afternoon paper I had been hoarding as it was so pretty lol! 

I made use of the circles i had punched by using the reverse side layered with some luggage tags and buttons

I then altered some white Thickers with a promarker for my title

This is layout 23/30. 

Free Cycle: The Studio Challenges May Sketch

I've recently started following The Studio Challenges Blog where every second Sunday of the month they set a new challenge. The first challenge for May was this sketch

I'm an over thinking Scrapbooker in that I overthink everything hence the reason why it takes me ages to do a layout! So I decided this time as the sketch was fairly simple to just go for it and not overthink things too much. I knew straight away I was going to scrap two photos I'd wanted to scrap for a while but the right occasion had never arisen, even knowing what the title would be, so I went with these

These photos were taken last summer on my day trio to London. The main routes in the city were closed to traffic for Boris's Free Cycle event to encourage people to get on their bikes. It was quite nice having to wait at crossings for cyclists to go by, watching people trying to do their best Mark Cavendish impressions sprinting across the start/finish line on the Mall. 

While at Meadow Barn in March I pinched one of Gemma's branding strips from her papers as it had bicycles on and was too good to throw away! I had thought I would use it on a card but it was great for this layout. The other papers are a scrap from my scraps bag and some cut a parts from Amy Tangerine and Echo Park. I don't know if it's just me but if I use card stock for my background I have to add ink splats to make it less plain, this is probably why I prefer using patterned paper for a background lol! 

This is layout 22/30 

There for you always: Challenge YOUrself May challenge

This months challenge on the Challenge YOUrself Blog was to use the sketch below and to include a photo of not only youself but also a female in your life

This month we have had Boo's Christening and I was honoured to be asked to be a Godmother, so I chose a photo of the two of us and made this layout

All the papers used are from Maggie Holmes Flea Market collection, including some cut a parts. For the banner I used a Heidi Swapp mistable banner from a set my mum had given me some time ago. I misted it with Boss Lady from Mister Huey to show the resist pattern underneath. 

This is layout 21/30 of my 30 Layout Challenge 

Sketchy Scrappers: Roll with it!

This months sketch on Sketchy Scrappers was set by yours truly who decided to add an extra twist. As well as setting the sketch below I also asked everyone to use a song title as their title   

I nearly asked for it to be a Bon Jovi title but decided not to be so mean! I then didn't even choose a Bon Jovi myself, instead opting for an Oasis song lol!

I had chosen my papers, photo and title a couple of weeks ago but didn't have the time to do a layout. Then last weeks events happened and I nearly abandoned the whole layout. But after taking time out and talking to Gemma, on Sunday I sat down and set to work and I'm pleased I did as it came together quickly and brought my mojo back. 

It's hard to believe that this photo was only taken last year. The first warm sunny day we had and Buster was straight out rolling around in the grass. 

The papers are all Crate Paper Close Knit with one little bit of Amy Tann Ready, Set, Go. A while ago Gemma picked up some Washi Tape from TK Maxx which had 4 or 5 different designs throughout the roll, so I used this for the three strips shown on the sketch. I then punched some grey chevrons from a scrap from my scraps bag with my Stampin Up chevron punch. The title is made using wood grain Thickers 

This is layout 20/30

52 Cards Wk20: Show me tell me

Hi all sorry for the lack of blogging. Unfortunately we lost Buster last week so I've not felt like crafting which means nothing to share. Then yesterday I needed to make a birthday card for a birthday girl today so made my way to the desk and started cutting and I have to say it felt good to be doing something again. I've said it before but crafting is definetly good therapy. 

 Once again I'm playing a little bit of catch up with the 52 Card Challenge. I'll admit it now and say I've skipped week 19 as we were asked to include vellum which shockingly I have none of! I may come back to it at a later date but for now it's straight onto week 20. This week were had the prompt of Show me tell me, where we include a new technique, product or tool we want to show off to people. At first I wasn't sure what I wanted to show off, but then I remembered the Stampin Up banner punch I received when I got my new trimmer so decided to go with that. 

This card is made using only scraps from my scraps bag, I think they are all American Crafts with a tiny bit of Glitz Designs. It's a clean and simple card but nice and summery at the same time. 

52 Cards Wk18: time for tea?

For week 18 of the 52 Cards challenge Nat asked us to take inspiration from this picture 

I decided to take inspiration from the plates on the wall. First of all I thought I would just punch some circles, but then I remembered I had the saucer paper from Maggie Holmes Flea Market. This is a lovely paper but I admit I was unsure how I would use it on a layout. Thinking then how I would use it on a card tea cups came to mind. I found a template of a teapot and cup in an old magazine and so made this card

I chose a paper which looked most like a chintz patterned teacup and outlined them with a black marker to make them stand out. I added a doily cos let's face it they go hand in hand with tea parties! 

Horse Guards

Every month myself and Gemma take it in turns to set a scrapping challenge for us to complete. This month Gemma set us the task of scrap lifting this layout and to use either rub ons or transparencies on the layout 

I had to have a major hunt through my stash to find any rub ons or transparencies, and as is normally the case I found them all together lol! I have a few sheets of transparencies I've received in grab boxes but I had no idea how you are supposed to use them so a great time to experiment. While I was hunting I came across a K & Company paper pad I again brought because it was reduced but it then sat gathering dust. In the pad are a couple of sheets of transparencies so I decided to use this collection for my layout. 

I wasn't sure if the graphic floral paper would work on the layout but I actually love it, why have I never used it before! I used the transparency as a replacement for patterned paper and love the look of it. I then used a small piece to make a banner for an embellishment cluster in the corner. 

This is layout 19/30