Blogtober

While catching up on my blog reading I came across a great idea being organised by my friend Karen. The past couple of year she has taken part in Blogtoberfest where you blog everyday during October about whatever you like. Sadly this has come to an end this year but Karen has taken over the reins and renamed it Blogtober. I'm always wanting to blog more and I think this will give me the kick up the bum I need so I'm going to give it a go!

I'm not going to promise that all of my posts will be remotely interesting but I'll try my best! I hope you stop by and read what I've got to say! Look out for my first post tomorrow!! 

Birthday Surprise

This week I've had a much overdue week off work which means I've managed to get back into the scrapping groove with four layouts completed.

One layout i scrapped this week was for this months ScrapMuch? Challenge. This months challenge was to use this sketch. 

I decided to scrap two photos from my birthday this year. I wasn't looking forward my birthday this year after last years being a disappointment, so I was pleasantly surprised when my work colleagues who I'd only known a few weeks surprised me with a giant cookie and badge! Last year I complained about not having a birthday cake and this year I started Slimming World the week before so I could only have a small piece of cookie! 

I used papers from Dear Lizzy Neapolitan collection and embellishments from her Fine & Dandy line as both scream birthdays to me. 

I'll be sharing my other layouts over the next few days. X

Birthday Cards

Now that the birthdays have passed I can share two birthday cards I made at the beggining of the month. The first card was for my mum. 

I'm pleased with how this turned out but it was definitely a task, this was my plan D after plans A, B & C didn't work out! My mum is mad on butterflies, so I pulled out some Heidi Swapp acetate butterflies from an embellishment pack. I also used papers from Heidi Swapp. 

The second card I made was for my Sister in law. I brought some Gorjuss Girl stamps a while back but had not used them so I thought it was time I had a play. 

I have to say I'm rather chuffed with my colouring in this. I found colouring her skin and hair fairly easy but struggled with the shading of the mug which is why it looks a bit flat. I've got a couple more images stamped out so I'll have to have a practise. 

Note to Self: Challenge YOUrself #22

Welcome to a new month. It's starting to feel as though summer is over, did we actually have one, and the nights are starting to pull in slightly. A new month means a new Challenge YOUrselfchallenge. This month the challenge is to use this sketch and the words "Note to Self"

As soon as I saw the challenge I was reminded of a photo I accidentally took at Santa Pod earlier this year

This photo was taken after taking the obligitary self in front of the Santa Pod sign as I was putting my phone back in my pocket.

The title made me think of adding notes to a memo board so I used a cork effect paper from Crate Paper Journey for my background. As my photo was black & white I went mad with my colours picking papers from my scraps pile. 

I love these gold Thickers from Dear Lizzy, they look as though they should be chipboard but as they are foam they are so easy to add to layouts! 

I added a couple of camera and photo themed embellishments and my favourite Crate Paper phrase stickers to finish off.

So what is your note to self? Pop over to the Challenge YOUrself blog to join in with the challenge and check out the rest of the DT's layouts.

Anniversary Cards

Just as July is a busy month for me in terms of birthday cards, August is my month for anniversaries with my brother & Sister in laws anniversary four days before mum & dads! 

First up the card I made for my brother and sister in law. I have to thank Pinterest for this card as while looking through my card board I found a card using a mason jar stamp and remembered I had some jar embellishments I had brought at Hobbycraft. 

I used papers from Fancy Pants Beloved and a stamp also from Hobbycraft. 

Next up mum & dads card. For this I actually used a stamp from a Stampin Up set I recently brought and some distress inks I'd had for a while but *cough* never opened. 

This time I used a sheet of 6x6 paper from Crate Paper along with hearts cut from papers in my scraps pile. The inks I used were Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers & Picked Raspberry. 

Let's go back to the beginning

It always amazes me when I look through my albums how my scrapping style has evolved, especially as I don't see myself as the greatest scrapper in the world! I've been embarrassed to show them in the past, but then last week my friend Julia shared her first layouts and inspired me to share mine with you.

I started scrapping back in 2009 as a way to document our holiday to Wales when we climbed Snowdon for Ian's 30th birthday. Sadly these are the only photos I have of the climb as the digital copies were lost on our laptop after I had them printed, but somehow these have disappeared into a black hole somewhere lost forever! Trust me I've looked everywhere! Anyway this was the first layout I ever scrapped 

I remember the first products I ever brought was a Laura Ashley paper pad and some American Crafts flair and a box  of chipboard letters from QVC! The arrow and little journaling spot were from some free papers which can from a Scrapbook magazine.

This was the second layout I ever made featuring Ruby as a baby, back in the day when we insisted on cutting our photos into shapes! Another sheet of Laura Ashley paper, more free papers and another appearance of those chipboard letters!

I'd obviously been stash shopping by this point! I either used a sketch or scrap lifted this from a magazine.

Even more stash shopping plus some papers and chipboard "borrowed" from mum!

Keep Calm & Be Silly: Challenge YOUrself #21

Welcome to another Challenge YOUrself challenge. This month we are asking you to use the saying Keep Calm &... For my layout I decided to scrap a silly photo of me after a few "fizzy pops" at my Sister in Laws hen party 3 years ago. 

I decided to use a sheet of Fancy Pants paper for my background as I liked the idea of it framing my layout. As my photo is fairly dark with a pop of pink with my fairy wings I decided this would be my colour scheme. I found a sheet of Bella Boulevard paper with strips of different patterns including the peace strip with went great with my photo. The same paper has the saying on which I cut into parts and added to the bottom of my page. 

For my title I used Crate Paper Craft Market & Dear Lizzy Serendipity Thickers. 

Pop over to the Challenge YOUrself blog to check out the DT's layouts and enter your layout for a chance to win a prize.