Last minute challenge entries... again!

Why do I always seem to leave it right up til the very last minute to complete my entry for the Sarah's Cards Sketch Challenge???

Last month I got it in on the final evening... having completed my layout earlier that day. This month I've gone beyond that... I only started my layout at 9pm this evening, and I'm posting it now... with just over an hour to go til cut-off time. Talk about last minute!

I don't even have a good reason as to why I leave it so late... I always check out the new sketch as soon as it's released! I guess I've just perfected the art of procrastination... I'm always going to do it tomorrow! Hehehe.

Anyway... I've managed to finish my layout and I actually really like it. It's very bright for me, using far more colours in one layout that I normally would. But I think it works.

I apologise for the rubbish photo... I'm back on the camera phone at the moment and it doesn't like taking pictures this late on, with no natural light. I might try and improve the photo quality tomorrow.


Thanks for looking! x

Scrappers Block!

I think I am most definately the type of crafter who hits bouts of "Scrappers Block" from time to time. There are certainly times when I find the time to scrap but simply can't find the inspiration to scrap. It's very frustrating! Possibly even more frustrating than the opposite... when I have lots of ideas and my scrapping mojo is there, but I just don't have the time!

Well... there have been a few evenings this last week where I've had a free hour or two, so I've pulled out boxes of stash and spread them out before me on the table. And then... nothing.

I stare at cardstock. Pull out different sheets of patterned paper. I flip through photos in my 'to scrap' pile. But still nothing.

Aaaarggghhh!!! Sooooooo frustrating!

Luckily today it seems to be lifting. I've had my stash out for the past couple of hours and have finally completed a page. Phew!

This page didn't come together easily, but I'm pretty pleased with the end result. It's based on a sketch from Inspired Blueprints. You can't really see from the picture, but all the blue around the edge is glittery. Looks kinda pretty when the light catches it.

I painted the edge, mixing the colour myself to coordinate with my papers, and mixed in the glitter for good measure. I masked off the area to paint by drawing around a die-cut sheet of paper, cutting it out and laying it over my cardstock. It turned out a little messy, but I think I kinda like it like that... not too perfect.

I'm really pleased with the butterflies too! I bought my first butterfly punch (a Martha Stewart one) at the recent craft show I went to. I punched the butterflies out, then used a 1inch circle punch for the backing bits and hand stitched the two together. Again you can't really see too well in the photo, but the wing tips are glittered as well, with a little bit of glitter glue.

I'm already working on another page... so fingers crossed that my block has lifted. I'll try and post photos in the next couple of days. Thanks for looking! x

Browsing around blog-land...

I've been searching all over blog land today and have landed upon Tracie's blog (http://lifeandtimesofa12x12addict.blogspot.com/) where she's having a RAK.

Now... I have to be honest in saying that I don't entirely know what RAK stands for, being new to blogging and such. (Am I being really dumb?? Is it very obvious??) However... what I have gathered is that lovely person she is, she's giving away a copy of the Pencil Lines sketch book and some gorgeous Cosmo Cricket goodies.


So... that was more than enough to get me interested! I only recently discovered Pencil Lines but love it already... and so far my Cosmo Cricket Material Girl (the range she's giving some away from) cosists of just one sheet of paper... how pitiful! So I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this RAK!

So in order to be in with a chance I'm posting about this loveliness... and I've left a comment over on Tracie's blog also. Wish me luck!

P.S. The e-mail I mentioned in my last post did arrive in my inbox today. It was the response to my first attempt at answering a Design Team call, and unfortunately I didn't make the cut. :-( However I'm not going to let it get me down... after all I'm only new to all this and there will be plenty more opportunities I'm sure. Chin up!

Lots of fun and photos but little time to scrap!

Well, it's been a lovely weekend here. We've had visitors staying since Thursday and had a BBQ on Saturday. The weather was perfect! I've even caught a little sun which is rare for me (although in all honesty it'll probably go from pink back to white and bypass any form of tan completely!).

This has meant lots of photo opportunities! And my fabulous Dad has given me his old Olympus camera to use until I can afford to buy a new one for myself. So hopefully... if I can get some time in around work... I'll have lots to get scrapping!!


I'm also looking forward to this Friday when the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Show hits Aintree (walking distance from my house!). I've never been before, but think I'll head down this year. I'm working a half day on Friday, so will probably go after I finish work. Not sure what to expect from it... but anything crafty gets my interest!

I'm nervously waiting on an e-mail too, which will most likely hit my inbox tomorrow. Be it good or bad news, I'll tell more on this when it arrives. x

Little bit different...

Just wanted to share a layout I finished a couple of days ago. It's based on a sketch from Inspired Blueprints (http://inspiredblueprints.blogspot.com/).

For those of you who don't know the site, I highly recommend it. I came across it myself recently through browsing around other people's blogs... and since I discovered it I think I've visted the site practically every day! There are some fabulous sketches.

It's only in the last few months that I've really started using sketches... and I have to say it's really upped my productivity! I've completed a good number of layouts, because some of the work is done for you in the sketch.

Anyway... this layout is a little different from my usual style. I've used a patterned paper as the background, which isn't something I often do. I tend to like a bit of white space, but on this layout I've kept it quite busy.

I've tried out using a variety of alphas, which is a look I love but don't feel very confident with.


For anyone who wants to check out Inspired Blueprints this is sketch number 45. Thanks for looking! x

Challenge time...

This month the challenge over at Sarah's Cards was a little bit different. Rather than having a sketch, the challenge was to use up old stash.

Sounds simple enough right?? Well... it's taken me up til the last day before the challenge to get around to doing my layout! What can I say, it totally threw me!

I guess I'm the kind of scrapbooker who gets all excited about new stash. When I sit down to start a layout I tend to pull out my most recent deliveries and work from those boxes.

Don't get me wrong... I have loads of old stash. Stuff that I keep tucked away because 'one day' I'll get around to using it. But in reality, I tend not to go through it very often. Maybe that's why I struggled with this challenge.

But... I have completed a layout. And I'm actually really pleased with it! So this challege must have done me good! :-)


The only thing that's new about this layout is the cardstock, because that isn't something I keep piles of... I tend to buy it and use it up fairly fast.

The patterned paper is a piece of Imaginisce 'Twitterpated' that I've had for a long time. I cut the little butterfly and bumble bee out from the reverse side. The leaves on the flowers are cut from a sheet of Papermania 'Secret Garden'... which being honest I never thought I'd use.

The chipboard piece I used for the sun is by Cherry Arte, that I bought on a whim when they were on sale ages back! The thickers are again something I bought on sale, and I have loads of sheets with just the odd remaining letters on. I'm working my way through them bit by bit.

The mini alphas are Doodlebug Design and the ribbon and buttons are just from my pile of stash, but I think the ric-rac and buttons are Doodlebug too. Even the photos are ones I've had around for a while in my to-be-scrapped pile!

So glad that I didn't shy away from this challenge! Thanks for looking. x

Long time no blog!

How on earth does it end up being weeks between blog posts?!? Time is flying by at the moment and it seems my blog is being bumped further and further down the to do list. I must try and find time to get here more often.

Anyway... the benefit of not having posted for a couple of weeks means I now have four layouts to share. :-)

Unfortunately the quality of the photos isn't great. My camera is still broken, and due to finances it's probably going to be a little longer before I can buy the pretty new one I have my eye on. So... I'm stuck with my not-so-great camera phone for the time being. Apologies.

These first two layouts are scrap lifts from layouts in the spring issue of Scrapbook Trends magazine. I'm not sure who the first one was by (and don't have the magazine to hand), but I think the second one was based on a layout by Stephanie Howell... who's work I adore!



This next layout is based on a sketch from Inspired Blueprints (sketch number 43 if you're interesed). I've only recently come accross this particular sketch blog, but I love it! I didn't get this layout into their gallery in time for the monthly giveaway (due again to the lack of camera... sob!), but I'm really pleased with it. I don't usually work with oversized photos, so it was helpful having the sketch to arrange the rest of my bits n' bobs!


I think that this last layout was again from an Inspired Blueprints sketch, but can't for the life of me remeber which number. I'm still working my way through Christmas photos... maybe I'll have them done in time for Christmas 2010!!


Thanks for looking! Hope everyone had a lovely Easter. x