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 

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

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

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

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

Sketchy Scrappers: Not London Bridge!

This months sketch on a Sketchy Scrappers was set my Alison, who chose this sketch from an Australian Scrapbooking magazine. 

I wasn't sure how to interpret this sketch at first but decided to rotate it and use three photos rather than two photos and three tiny photos. 

I did struggle with this layout and in hindsight probably should have used smaller photos, but it is what it is. 

In this layout I take the mick out of myself as when we went to London last year I kept calling Westminster bridge London bridge! The papers are all scraps I had from Maggie Holmes Flea Market. I cut the top one into an arrow to add a bit of interest and added the Found it cut apart from the same collection again to poke fun at me! The title is made with Amy Tangerine Thickers. 

This is layout 18/30 

Poetic Platform: Life.Paper.Scrapbook April Sketch

I like a good sketch as a starting point when scrapping and over on Life.Paper.Scrapbooking blogthis month they have a great sketch

I decided to rotate the sketch so the photos would run horizontally and made this layout using photos of the platform at St Pancras Station. 

Running along the platform close to the statue of John Betjamin were plaques with quotes from his poems. I assume they are from Betjamin poems having not read any I'm no expert lol! 

I trimmed the photos to be square but with at least the toes of mine and Jojo's Converse still showing. I mounted these onto a piece of Studio Calico paper I'd had in my stash for ages. It came in a Christmas kit a couple of years ago with one side being snowflakes and the other being this red colour with a snowy village scene on it. I never thought I would use it but thought it was great with these photos as it matches Jojo's shoes. The other papers are Amy Tangerine and Pink Paislee, the background is a B side of a Carta Bella paper. 

I picked up the maroon/red colour again in the title with my Thickers, and raided my die cut box to cluster some cut a parts. 

This is layout 17/30 

Purrfect Fit: Challenge YOUrself April Challenge

This months challenge on the Challenge YOUrself Blog is to use at least three trends on a layout. A perfect, or purrfect, challenge for layout 16 of my 30 layout challenge. So once again I flicked through my photos to find any with me in them and then jotted down some trends around at the moment. This is the layout I made, the photo was taken last summer in a shop on Carnaby Street

I don't know why I didn't buy these Hello Kitty glasses cos I love them! 

The trends I used were chevrons which were leftovers from a card I'd just made for Ian, sequins, cameras and a wood veneer frame all from old kits. 

The background paper is a Dear Lizzy paper with mist on it, but as I didn't do the misting I didn't include this as a trend. The other papers are both sides of a paper from Pebbles, Dear Lizzy cut a parts and a scrap of Lily Bee paper. The title is made with Authentique alphas. Title credit goes to Gemma's husband Mark who I will be calling on again lol! 

Me & my Monkey

All together now... Whoa I'm halfway there, whoa Living on a Prayer! Oops sorry but I'm a tad excited that I'm halfway through my 30 layout challenge. That's right, 15 layouts down 15 to go! In Sunday I sat down popped a DVD on and scrapped with Daniel Craig

Although if it's ever going to work between the two of us he's going to have to shop distracting me while I try and scrap lol! As you can see I decided to scrap two photos of both Ian and I with Rodgie. The inspiration for this layout came from a friend who commented on Ian's photo on Facebook with the title of a Robbie Williams song

The papers are all from Crate Paper Close Knit, I think the background paper is becoming one of my favourites for backgrounds as it's nice & neutral. I'm slowly getting through the cut apart tags which also came with the papers and used two here along with a Dear Lizzy cut apart. The material flower and wooden hearts came from a Quirky Kit. The alphas are Alison Kreft. 

Time to start the next 15! 

Big Stepper

In my quest to complete 30 layouts before stash shopping I took part in this weeks challenge on UKS. This week we were asked to use this sketch 

And to use square photos, stars & chevrons, three things I love! Another thing I love is the programme Ghost Adventures, think Most Haunted but with actual evidence and no Yvette Fielding screaming at her own shadow! One of the guys from the show has a website called Big Steppin, to achieve our dreams and goals take big steps not little steps. Anyway, while on there I saw some t-shirts I liked and ordered a couple, took these pics on Instagram and now I'm on the fan page of the website! 

I decided to go for bright papers on black card to make the photos pop. The papers are from a paper stack I had split with Gemma. I had originally planned to use my new Stampin Up chevron punch but for whatever reason I couldn't think how to make it work on this layout so used chevron Washi tape stars instead. 

This is layout 14/30

Selfie at the Palace

A quick post to share layout 13/30 which I completed over the weekend. 

This photo was taken last summer when Jojo and I went to London for the day. After going to the London Eye we wandered to Horse Guards and through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace. We joined the other tourists at the gates and took lots of photos including a selfie. 

The papers are all Maggie Holmes Flea Market, including a couple of Project Life cards which go with the collection. I had intended to add an ampersand to the heart of the title card for my title but annoyingly none of my stickers had any! I painted the chipboard camera from an old kit with Picked Raspberry distress paint and added some gold stars from another old kit. 

Perfect & Awesome

I was back in the scrapping groove on Saturday, I had the day off, Ian was tinkering with a bike, I had a new trimmer to play with, it was all systems go! Along with my layout on the previous post I managed one more, not as productive as I am at Meadow Barn but better than nothing. I think when I'm at home I'm distracted by the TV, etc which doesn't help my indecisiveness so a simple layout takes me well over an hour lol! Anyway...

This photo is of my niece wearing a t-shirt which sums her up pretty well! All the papers are from Maggie Holmes Flea Market, including some cut a parts from an accompanying cut a part sheet. I love this collection so much I brought the Project Life mini kit to go with it, and Maggie Holmes new collection is on my wish list for when I've completed my 30 layouts. Speaking of which this is layout 12, only 18 more to go. 

A third of the way there! Layouts 9&10

I can't believe that this time last week I was just leaving for Gemma's and then onto Meadow Barn, where does the time go!?! We came home on Monday and I have had the rest of the week off work to unwind. In this time I have been scrapping as time will be limited when I go back to work next week, and have made 2 more layouts taking me up to 10, which means I'm a third of the way there in my 30 layout challenge! 

Layout 9 Ugg Chair: 

This photo was taken last November when I went Christmas Shopping with my friend Nicola in London. On our way to Harrods we stopped by the Ugg store. I could have brought everything on there including this fab chair! 

Papers: Crate Paper Close Knit, Amy Tangerine Ready, set, go

Alphas: Alison Kreft Recorded

Embellishments: Cut a parts- Crate Paper Close Knit; stickers- Fancy Pants; chipboard button- Alison Kreft Recorded; Washi- from my stash 

Layout 10 Lazy Boy:

This photo was taken one Sunday when Buster curled up on his bed for his Sunday snooze. As the photo was black & white I thought it would be good to use bright colours, and when I opened the Amy Tangerine Yes Please pad I saw the dog cut a part and knew I had to use it. 

Papers: Amy Tangerine Yes Please

Alphas: Amy Tangerine Thickers 

Embellishments: sticker- Fancy Pants; doily- from my stash; Washi- from my stash 

As I said, I'm back to work on Monday so my scrapping will slow down but I will try and make 1 layout a week...hopefully or I'll be doing the challenge until Christmas lol! 

Meadow Barn Layouts: Part 2

I'm back again with the last of the layouts I completed at Meadow Barn. 

Layout 5 Family Love:

For my fifth layout I used the sketch I had myself and Gemma 

As well as the sketch we also had to use Washi 

Another photo from my brothers wedding of myself and Ian with Vincent and Penny 

Papers & cut a parts: Crate Paper Close Knit

Stickers: Fancy Pants, Lily Bee Designs 

Washi from my stash 

Layout 6 Bon Jovi Birthday:

These photos are of myself and my boss Jess at Bon Jovi last year 

Cardstock: Bazzil 

Papers: Amy Tangerine Yes Please & Ready, Set, Go

Alphas: Alison Kreft Recorded

Embellishments: Studio Calico wood veneer stars, Doily & Washi from my stash 

Layout 7 Funky Boots:

A random photo of my pink, floral Doc Martens 

Papers: Amy Tamgerine, Recollections

Alphas: American Crafts Thickers

Embellishments: Doily, buttons, Washi & star from my stash, Elle's Studio flags, Fancy Pants sticker

Layout 8 I love you always:

Ian took this photo of me having cuddles with my niece 

Cardstock: Bazzil

Papers: Crate Paper Close Knit, a scrap of Amy Tangerine Ready, Set, Go

Cut a parts: Close Knit

Doily from my stash

So those were all the layouts I made over the weekend, kick starting my 30 layout challenge. Since I have come home I have finished another two layouts taking my total up to 10. I'm a third of the way there!