Productive week (so far)

After feeling in a scrappy slump a couple of weeks ago when none of my photos were appealing to me, I've pulled myself together and had a productive week so far. I found two sketches I liked before going through my photos and pulling out ones I've had for ages but have always bypassed and not considered worthy of scrapping. The first sketch I chose was this one

I chose two photos taken on the lead up to Christmas 2013 when we went on our traditional visit to a local garden centre to look at the Christmas decs. 

I decided to have lots of colour on this layout to match the ones in the photos, as well as a pop of gold for the masks. Papers are Dear Lizzy, Maggie Holmes and MME. I admit the stickers below the doily don't really show but never mind. 

The next sketch I chose was this one 

I chose two photos taken during a lunch break last summer. Starting a new job in a couple of weeks I won't be seeing this view on my break and I will journal about this in the top corner. 

I used papers from Simple Stories, I thought the everyday moments sentiment was very apt. The "Bright sunshiny day" sentiment is also Simple Stories but a different collection. 

Jamie's: Challenge YOUrself Challenge #18

Welcome to Challenge YOUrself's May Challenge. This month we have a sketch challenge for you.

I chose three photos from mine & Gemma's weekend away in Milton Keynes last year which I had already trimmed down to scrap at Meadow Barn. 

Continuing my mission to stop stroking my stash and actually use it, I pulled out my yummy Stampin Up gold vellum. I outlined my card to make it pop from the My Minds Eye paper. I didn't want to over embellish my layout too much, so I just added some sequins and some Kesi Art stickers to the circle.

So are you a lover of sketched like I am? I so hop over the Challenge YOUrself blog and join us.

It's Pebbles: Sketchy Scrappers

This months sketch over on Sketchy Scrappers was set by yours truly. I went scrolling through my sketches Pinterest board and chose this sketch 

I liked the different layers and shapes and thought it would be a good challenge. I picked another Boo photo and scrapped this layout

My brother sent me this photo of Boo with an adorable Pebbles Flintstone ponytail, it was too cute! 

I used papers from Dear Lizzy Serendipity including some scraps from previous projects so I think I managed to use two sheets entirely woohoo! I then used embellishments from Heidi Swapp, Crate Paper, some buttons & washi from my stash, Dear Lizzy Thickers & a Bella Boulevard crochet heart I received in a grab box a while ago. 

And shock horror I actually journaled, something I always neglect. 

Happy Birthday Ian!

Last week I sat down and did something I never ever do, some stamping! 

I admit I have a collection of stamps which have never been out of their packaging, let alone been stamped! I like stamps and stamped images but had convinced myself that I was a rubbish stamper after a couple of attempts didn't turn out right. But like most things practise makes perfect and you've just got to keep trying! After stamping my image a couple of times to get a decent image I was happy with I got out my neglected Pro Markers and did some colouring 

I'm definitely going to do some more stamping just so I can do the colouring, it was very therapeutic lol! It put my finished image with some paper and made a birthday card for Ian. Happy birthday Ian! X

Sitting Pretty

While I have some free time before the next chapter starts I'm trying to get as much crafting in as I can. One layout I managed to complete recently was one for the challenge Gemma set us. We had to use this sketch and use either something homemade or altered, cue the huge groan from me! 

I started thinking about the circle background on the sketch and remembered I had some die cut paper I had brought when I first started scrapping, and thought it would be good to alter it with my mists. 

I have to say I'm very impressed with how it turned out especially as some old paper is no longer in my stash. As you can tell by the first photo, I picked a photo of Boo taken last summer and made this layout. 

I went for a turquoise, peach and orange colour scheme. I used the B side of a Christmas Fancy Pants paper for my background and then used some old MME papers from the Miss Caroline range. 

Daily Blessings: Challenge YOUrself Challenge #17

Welcome to another new month! It's April which means it should finally feel like spring. It's also time for another new challenge on the Challenge YOUrself blog. This month we are asking you to scrap your daily blessings or your daily routine.

My main daily blessing is being able to have Ian in my life. Yes he can be annoying at times, drives me mad and we have been bickering a lot lately but after 9yrs together I'm still blessed to have him in my life. On the flip side my daily routine starts and ends with a lovely cup of tea, with the odd cup in between! You could say they are my two loves! With this in mind I decided to make a fun layout incorporating the two. 

I used papers from We R Memory Keepers Hello Darling range to layer behind my papers. I decided to use frames from Crate Paper to add my title to, am I the only one who can never get these to look right with photos? I embellished these with pieces from Pink Paislee Bella Rouge and Heidi Swapp. 

How does your daily routine go? What are your daily blessings? Pop over to the Challenge YOUrself blog and show us.