Fire Mountain: Studio Challenges June Triangle Challenge

The challenge for this month over on The Studio Challenges blogwas to use triangles. I found this a challenge as I've never used triangles on a layout as I wasn't really sure how to use them. I have nothing against triangles and think they look good one layouts, unlike the hexagon trend which I never really got. I probably cheated a little on the challenge as rather than using triangles as a shaped element on my layout I opted instead to use a piece of triangle patterned paper!

I challenged myself further by using fabric on my page. I have a few pieces of material from past kits or I'd brought to use on a layout but then had no idea how to make it work. This star piece came from a Quirky Kit and I thought it would look great with both the black card and the photo. The photo by the way is of one of the famous sunsets over the mountains at Shell Island. Looking at the layout now I probably could have used less fabric and more triangle paper but never mind. 

52 Card Challenge catch up!

As usual I'm playing catch up with the 52 Card Challenge. In fairness I had made these cards a couple of weeks ago I just hadn't had the chance to blog them! 

Wk22: 50 shades of green 

For week 22 Nat asked is to use predominantly green on a card. I went through my scraps bag and pulled out all my green paper but then I was stuck as to what to do with them. So in my normal fashion k did a lot of faffing and decided to add a pop of another colour to help break the green up. In doing so my card does seem to be more pink than green but never mind! 

Wk 23: photo inspiration 

For week 23 we were given another pin to use as a starting point for our card

I picked up on the aqua and yellow colour scheme along with the floral pattern and little birdie to make this 

The floral scallop is a Papermania die cut which came in an old kit. I also used some very old K & Conpany rub ones and an MFT stamp. 

Wk 24: Chevron, Glitter & a number 

For this week we were given three prompts: chevrons, glitter and a number. 

I used my Stampin Up chevron embossing folder on a scrap piece of card for a background. I then used scraps of Amy Tann & American Crafts paper to add to the boldness. I had intended to use a glitter number 1 from a set of Thickers where I only have numbers remaining, but when I looked at the set I had in mind the 1 looked more like an L! So back to the drawing board I used a number 1 from a Deer Lizzy set and a glittered heart button instead! 

Mission Completed: A walk in the Park

Back in March I started my 30 layout challenge. Now it's mid June and I'm happy to say I've completed all 30 layouts! 

These photos were taken in St James's Park last summer. There were deck chairs everywhere to relax on so we rested our tired feet for a while and had an ice cream. After 5 minutes a guy came along and said we needed to pay! We didn't see any signs anywhere saying this so we moved on to more a short distance away! Looking around we were not the only ones doing this as everyone the inspector went up to stood and moved to different chairs! 

To highlight the bright summery colours in the photos I used papers from Amy Tangerine Yes Please, including a tree from a cut a apart sheet (when else would I get the chance to use it!) I added a couple of Elle's Studio pennants and used Thickers for my title. 

This is layout 30/30! And not being one to hang around I placed an order with Sarah's Cards roughly two hours after I finished the layout which arrived today! 

I'm not sure if I'd do another 30 layout challenge for a while. Instead I'm thinking I'll make it a 15 layout challenge as it's good being on a spending freeze and using up my stash but let's face it 30 is a long time to wait! 

Together: Challenge YOUrself June Challenge

The June challenge over on the Challenge YOUrselfblog asks us to scrap a photo of us with the men in our lives. Flicking through my photo box I obviously have pictures of me & Ian, but then I found one from my brothers wedding two years ago, a family shot of me, my brother, my mum & dad, and Ian. All the men in my life in one photo, perfect!

I used two pieces from Amy Tan's Yes please collection for the background before layering some scraps from Crate Paper Close Knit and some cut a parts from the same collection and Maggie Holmes Flea Market on top. I was stuck for a title so used one of the cut a parts. 

This is layout 29/30, and the good news 30 has also been completed and will be blogged soon! 

Instagrammer at Work

The kit I received from Gemma in a recent swap was bursting with bright summery colours. Feeling inspired by these I went looking through my photos from last summer for inspiration. I've already made one layout with this kit so I decided to make a layout to follow on from this, using another photo taken on the same day. 

This is a photo I snapped of JoJo taking photos as we walked around mother in laws employers garden. Yes it is a cardstock background, and yes I had to do something to add some interest to it as I can't cope with plain backgrounds! 

This is layout 28/30 

Fancy Footwear

Working in a children's shop I see the vast selection of things you can buy for little ones and I have to say there is sooo much nice stuff! So much so that you'll often hear customers and staff cooing over the clothes and wondering why they don't make them in adult sizes! I also asked the same thing when I saw Boo's shoe collection, I'm not ashamed to say I was slightly jealous! So obviously I had to document this in her scrapbook

How cute are they?? I used papers and cut aparts from Maggie Holmes Flea Market collection. I intended to use the music paper for my background from the start, but a happy accident as I pulled it from the pack saw me tear the top corner so I trimmed it down and mounted it onto a floral piece and I'm happy with how it looks. 

So, which pair would you have? For me it has to be the star high tops, I love them! 

This is layout 27/30 

Is there something on my face: Life.paper.scrapbook June sketch

After missing out on Life.Paper.Scrapbook's May's sketch I jumped straight into June's as soon as I could.

I was also keen to use my prize from another blog challenge. As soon as I saw the Pink Paislee kit I knew which photo I wanted to scrap first! The kit features lots of moustache and glasses so it only seemed natural to make this layout featuring myself and fellow Meadow Barner Lee

I used a number if different embellishments to act as the horizontal strips next to the photo as shown on the sketch. 

Everything used came from the kit making this a quick layout to make, a rarity for me lol! 

This is layout 26/30

Pool Time: Scrap & Play Challenge #3

This months challenge on the Scrap & Play blog is a bingo challenge where we can choose any three items to use in our layout so long as they are in a line horizontally, vertically or diagonally

I decided to opt for the first column on the left using fibre in the form of twine, floral patterned paper & a punch. This is also my first layout using the summery kit Gemma had sent me. 

Bright, summery colours call for summery photos. This photo of JoJo and myself was taken last year when we had a pool day at mother in laws employers home. 

The background paper is from Studio Calico Sun Drifter i recieved in a kit last year. It makes and ideal background paper and the subtle ombré effect of the grid from red to yellow match the papers from Gemma's kit perfectly. I used a neglected X-Cut large scallop punch to make a border for the top and bottom of the page. The title is made using American Crafts Poolside (perfect for the layout) Thickers. 

This is layout 25/30

52 Cards Wk21: Hello Sunshine

For week 21 of the 52 card challenge Nat set us another sketch

At first I thought this was a nice easy sketch to work from, famous last words! I dithered for ages about whether to rotate it or not then faffed for ages over which papers to use, which sentiment I wanted. Then as I looked through my stash I came across a sticker sheet from Studio Calico's Sundrifter collection I received in a kit last year. On the sheet were a few sayings and the one saying "You are my sunshine" particular stuck out so I decided to use this. Cue more faffing over which papers to use until finally I made this card

I thought the orange in this paper from Carta Bella matched the sentiment sticker perfectly so went with this collection. I didn't like the idea of reading the sentiment sideways and at the same time changed my mind about rotating the sketch, so I compromised and placed the sentiment at the bottom right so you could still read it the right way. I added some heart trip I've had in my stash for ages and some stickers from the same sticker sheet to the left to fill in the gap. 

Expanding blog hop!

Last week my friend Gemmainvited me to take part in a blog hop tour. As part of this blog hop I need to answer four questions allowing you to get to know me better and then nominate three (or in my case two because I'm a rule breaker lol!) fellow bloggers to take part. So, if you are siting comfortably I shall begin:

1. What am I working on?

30 Layout challenge- back in March I started my 30 layout challenge where I'm challenging myself to complete 30 layouts before buying any stash. As I work full time it's taken a while but I'm currently up to 28/30 layouts completed although I've not had the chance to blog my four most recent layouts so here's a sneaky peek

52 card challenge- I joined in this challenge at the start of the year with the hope of becoming a better card maker. I'm a couple of weeks behind and have skipped one week completly so not doing too badly! 

Boo's Scrapbook- in October I became a proud first time Auntie to Boo (not her real name don't worry) so of course she has to have her own scrapbook as she grows up! 

2. How does my work differ from others of the genre?

Er... I don't think it does. I've said before that I'm a procrastinator scrapper in that I think about and faff around with things for ages before even sticking anything down! As a result I often feel my pages are not as detailed or embellished as other peoples but there's nothing wrong with that, there are no rules to scrapping! I've recently brought some paints and watercolours as I like seeing how people use them on their work so I'm looking forward to experimenting a bit. 

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

Mainly because now we are in the digital age photos are staying on cameras or computers, and not being seen. I use my scrapbooks as a photo album in a way only prettier, so we can look back at them read the journaling (which I have to admit I'm terrible at doing) and enjoy the photos and memories rather than looking at a screen saver and trying to remember where that castle was or who I was talking to there. If you ask Ian it's also a way of keeping me quiet, he's obviously never seen a group of crafters together in a barn in Herefordshire lol! 

4. How does your writing/creating process work? 

My process starts in one of two ways, either I pull out a photo and find some papers to match and go from there, or I go on Pinterest and look through my boards at other layouts or sketches then decide on photos and stash.  

I also enjoy watching process videos on YouTube, there are so many talented Scrappers out there that there are always new things to learn and layouts to inspire (be warned though you will have serious craft room envy and are serious enablers for stash buying!). I've started to take part in more challenges since starting my 30 layouts to help keep my mojo flowing, as they often get you looking at things differently or using stash, techniques or photos you've not used for a long time or have never tried or that you're not keen on.

I hope my answers make some sense and I've answered them correctly. If you'd like to know anything else leave me a message and I'd be happy to answer. Now that you've read my blog please go and check out these two lovely ladies next week:

Karen- a brilliant scrapper, talented cardmaker, Marrilion fan, Penny Black addict and fellow Meadow Barner. Her blog shows off her beautiful creations from layouts to cards and sometimes jewellery making. 

Sheena- as a member of the Scrapology Challenge blog & ScrapaGoGo's design team, where she had designed & taught classes, Sheena's blog shows off her amazing layouts, beautiful cards & her third year of Project Life. 

One Last Selfie: The Studio Challenges Selfie Challenge

The second May Challenge on The Studio Challenges Blog is a selfie challenge. As many of you probably know I'm often taking selfies, I'm not vain it's just so easy to do with forward facing cameras. So I went through my photos and pulled out my selfie pics, asked those around me which they thought I should scrap and two out of the three people asked chose this photo of me and Rodgie at bedtime

Having a black & white photo I could go mad and choose any colour scheme I wanted, so I went completely mad and chose a very bright colourful palette! The papers are from a Recollections pad I had split with Gemma earlier in the year.

The star embellished frame came from a pin I'd pinned on Pinterest. I've got a couple of the Crate Paper chipboard frames and in all honestly had no idea how to use them. This was a great way of also using my wood veneer stars to make a pow embellishment. I also used up the second half of the Heidi Swapp banner is sprayed for a previous layout. 

The title was originally just "One last selfie" but after seeing the layout my mum thought it sounded as if I was dying lol! So I added the z's so you knew I meant before bed without adding the actual words to the title & cluttering it'.

This is layout 24/30