Blogtober Day 3: Wands

The final layout made during my week off was go a challenge I posted on Sketchy Scrappers. Whilst looking through my stash I noticed I had a number a shaped papers I brought when I started scrapping. For some reason I went mad and brought a sheet whenever I saw a sheet I had to buy it but then left them sitting in my stash untouched! So my challenge was to make a layout using these papers. 

One sheet I found had a ledger paper pattern printed on it. As soon as I saw this I immediately thought of Harry Potter and of Hogwarts, so I dug out some photos from when I went to the studios. 

This is one of those layouts I started one day and then left it a couple of days before I went back to it. As a result I think I lost my mojo with it so I'm not completely happy with it but it's done. 

The background paper is from MME and the others are from Carta Bella & Crate Paper. As it was Harry Potter I added some pops of black & gold. 

Blogtober Day 2: Home

The second layout I scrapped during my week off was another Sketchy Scrappers catch up. Septembers sketch was set by Natalie who created her own sketch. 

I picked out two photos I'd taken last year during my morning walk to the train station while I was doing jury duty. Being morning not people were about and it was nice to capture some photos of a peaceful Stamford. 

As the sketch was quite minimalist I opted to use a background paper with a fairly large pattern to fill up some of the white space so I chose this paper from MME. I finished by using another paper and stickers from Simple Stories, along with my favourite tiny phrase stickers from Crate Paper. 

Blogtober Day 1: The Barn

Phew bit late in the day I know but I'm here with my first blog post for Blogtober! While I was off work last week I managed to catch up on some scrapping. The first layout I scrapped was for the August Sketch over on Sketchy Scrappers. This was the sketch set by Alison. 

I was initially unsure how to interpret this at first but eventually my head saw the sketch as being in a grid format and this was the layout I made

I used a selection of photos taken during one of our scrappy weekends to Meadow Barn, including one of our guard dog Merlin (sorry Karen!)

The background paper is from Bella Boulevard and I used a selection of project life cards sent to me by Gemma. For embellishments I used some puffy stickers from Heidi Swapp, stickers from Simple Stories and Thickers from American Crafts. I plan on adding some journaling to the pink chevron card at some point. 

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.