Wednesday 18 February 2015

Want to be in OUR GANG?


Fancy something to look forward to?

A little break before the Christmas onslaught?

Then why not join the fourth 
Scrapz Retreat
where anything goes.

Crab Apple Crafts, after their retreat in July, will no longer
be running crafty weekend breaks
BUT
I am!!!





      has great food, 
great customer service and great facilities.
Above all they want US back there in November
to create havoc, noise and fun!!





The aim of the weekend, November 6th to 8th, is to
scrap, card make, crochet, book fold, in fact do whatever you like as long as you have fun!
There are no hard and fast rules however the challenges will be set around scrapping
and there are prizes to be had!

So, what's included....
  • 2 night's accommodation 
  • Friday - 3 course dinner
  • Saturday - breakfast, 2 course lunch, 3 course dinner
  • Sunday, breakfast, 3 course lunch
  • Tea, coffee, juice, water, biscuits
  • Free wifi
  • Full use of pool, sauna etc


The cost....

Sharing £200
Single room occupancy £240
Optional Sunday night rate £60 to include DBB

If you are interested in joining us please send me a message and I can
let you have payment details.
I require a £50 non refundable deposit to secure your place.


Tuesday 17 February 2015

Swapsies!!!!


I recently took part in my first ever SWAP!

Arranged by the lovely Sian from High in the Sky
I was given 6 addresses to send 6 postcards to arrive on around
Valentine's Day.

I forgot to take photographs of the ones I sent but I can show
you the ones I received.

The first was this one from Lizzy Hill and although it is of one of my favourite cities 
it actually came from somewhere I have never been, Oz!!
Oh how I would love to travel around that wonderful country some day soon.
Thank you Lizzie, I could feel the sunny warmth as I read your card.


Another Liz was next and again a sunny send from Texas.
Having travelled Route 66 a few years ago we ventured into Texas for a day or too and boy\was it HOT! Oh to be back there during these cold UK days.
Liz, you brought back some lovely memories and I hope you continue to enjoy that new life.


Now the next one was very personal. 
Katie had seen my "Recycling Books" blog post
and how lovely of her to send a card to tie in with that.
Thank you Katie


And how can you not smile when you get this next one in the post.
Sonja, thank you for reminding me that the days are getting longer 
and Spring is just around the corner.


The fifth and final (so far) to arrive was from Karen.
She writes of her love of canals to explore the UK.
This one is not far from me and I've often walked along along it when visiting my sister in Shropshire.
Karen, thank you for sharing one of your loves with me.


I am not sure what happened to No.6 maybe still floating around in Postie's bag somewhere!

Thank you Sian for organising the swap.
The arrival of postcards from faraway made me smile during a hard week.



Thursday 12 February 2015

How Would You Use Yours?


Challenge #2 over at the Counterfeit Kit Blog is already here 
which means we are very nearly halfway through February already.

I'm not sure if I'm coming or going lately but one thing I know is that I need
get more scrapping done.
Time just disappears doesn't it? Or is it just me?

Anyway, I'm babbling on and I'm supposed to be showing you how I've used a date stamp in an interesting way.
Hmm, I can honestly tell you I was stuck on this one and really did not have a clue
so I pulled out my kit added some stamps and just went for it.
Sometimes it's just the easiest way!!!


I used stamps and pads that I've never used before to add days of the week and months all over the page
before printing onto my new found friend (10 sheets of self adhesive paper for a £!)
to create my title.
I added a few sequins and embellishment to finish off.



So, how will you use yours???

Sunday 8 February 2015

A Crop Works Wonders


Up until yesterday I had made only one lonely layout this year.

Yesterday at the crop changed all that.

Armed with a bag of goodies from Jen @ Wear Crafts
I got stuck in and, although I created less than usual, I was very happy with the two finished
layouts that came home with me.

Just look at the gorgeous Simple Stories Collection ...
... I was working with.
How can anyone not like this?
Jen has the FULL collection, go on, I dare you!

Here are my first two layouts...

The first I wanted to be happy and colourful.
A photo take of me and jimjams on our jaunts to Derby last year ready to sup a very
tasty cocktail or two...




and the second a thoughtful photo of The Child taken at Easter last year.
The stamp a Tim Holtz which just cried out to be used on this layout.



I hope to start scrapping more again this month.
How about you, are stuck in a rut, can't get going?

My tip would be to just take one kit and work with it - pretend you have nothing else.
Let me know if it works!

And don't forget the February Kit "Snow Fun" is (I think)
just about still available.



Wednesday 4 February 2015

Forgeries on the Fourth


The February reveal on the 1st of the month 
saw me promising I would be back with my
Forgeries on the Fourth today.

I was quite taken aback by how many of you lovely forgers said
you were looking forward to it
so thank you!!!

Firstly, remember the map paper from the kit?
This paper was probably my favourite part of the kit if I'm honest and I really wanted to get my forgery very close to the original.
I took to my cutting machine and got to work...





I applied Ferro Metal Effect Colour using a palette knife to create that raised effect through my homemade stencil.
I really am quite pleased with how it came out.

________________________________

Next was the alpha paper.
I had just received a new set of dies through the post and need to try them out.
I haven't stuck them down on the photo but you get the picture right?


Spare random alphas that you know will never get used would also work.

_________________________________

To create the ephemera I used paper scraps, punches, a printer and some pro markers.


I found some images on the internet, printed them out and coloured them in


while the rest just used punches from my stash


_________________________________
The flowers!!!
I just don't do flowers however I thought I would give them a go....
Here I used dies but really didn't like the outcome

 So I punched a few hearts, curled them and stuck them together
before adding a gem in the middle.


 Still not great but better I think.

Anyway, those are my Forgeries on the Fourth
thanks for stopping by,
what will you forge for your kit?











Sunday 1 February 2015

Feb Kit Reveal


Hello and welcome along to my part of the kit reveal for February.

Susanne should have sent you here
however if you hopped right into the middle
and want to start from the beginning you can do so
HERE
with our Guest Designer, Doris.


So onto the kit, do you like it?
I am loving it!

The kit from Scrapbook.com Kit Club: Across the Miles 


is full of gold and glittery bits to wow anyone.

Take a look at the breakdown (left) and how my forgeries compare (right)
(apologies for my awful photos - 
must remember not to wait until the last night to pull my kit together!)

 Journey Begins - Webster's Pages

 First Class - Pink Paislee

 Pure Happiness - Webster's Pages

Shine - My Mind's Eye 

Right Now - Basic Grey

Wood Veneer - My Mind's Eye

Arrows - Echo Park

Alphabet - Teresa Collins

Gold World Vellum - Chic Tags 

Wood Veneer Sequins - Chic Tags

Cardstock Stickers - Pink Paislee 

 Alphabet and Word Cardstock Stickers - My Mind's Eye

 Ephemera - Pink Paislee

Flair - My Mind's Eye

Flowers - Petaloo

 Journaling Cards - Pink Paislee

Wood Dots- My Mind's Eye



So, here it is, my February Kit (less my FOFs)
 "Stop Sittin', Get Scrappin'"
aptly named as I only created one layout last month!!!



Have fun you fabulous forgers and don't forget to pop back to see my forgeries on the fourth!!!