"It's late, my love.....

.............he whispered. That's enough scrapbooking for one night....it's time for bed."

Anyone else own this stamp? I've had it a while and it made me smile the first time I saw it.

Even though I've felt the need to scrapbook recently I haven't neglected sewing. In my January Month In Numbers I mentioned that I was awaiting delivery of Zakka Style and  when it arrived it was hard to choose what to make first as there are so many lovely projects. They aren't complicated advanced projects, as the cover says - 24 projects stitched with ease to give, use and enjoy. 



But I settled on a linen pouch bag with my own addition of using the quote stamp. I used some versacraft ink to stamp with which was then heat set and die cut with a label nestabilities die.

I really like the look of the sewing kit on the front cover so I don't think it will be the last thing I make from the book.
.....and in other sewing news. I've finished the Trapeze Dress in the sleeveless version. In fact I finished it a few weeks ago but I've been working up to posting a photograph of myself wearing it.

I'm not happy but I wanted to prove that I actually finished it so I asked my Mum to take a snap when she invited me to lunch on my birthday last month. I'm going to make a version with sleeves next, not sure I'll be taking a photo though ;-)

I can sing a rainbow

I made this card for the monthly challenge at The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog. The theme for September is rainbows. I inked the edges of my textured card with  a touch of worn lipstick distress ink and stamped the lace onto some cardstock. I then cut it out before attaching it down one side of the card.

The rainbow background in the centre was created with some watercolour paper and neocolour pastels. The frame surrounding it was cut out using a circle and scalloped circle nestabilities die. I put a few drops of watermelon alcohol ink onto some acetate and stamped the butterfly sentiment with some black stazon. The acetate was attached to the frame and mounted on some foam pads for a bit of dimension. And lastly I stamped lots of butterflies and coloured them with promarkers in rainbow colours.

The butterfly sentiment is a favourite of mine and that along with the lace stamp are both available from The Artistic Stamper

The challenge is open until the 30th September if you fancy taking part.

Scraps Galore

I had an enjoyable Sunday afternoon with a bit of alfresco crafting in my garden. In the shade of an umbrella I made these.................. continuing with the Create 10 workshop and even more scraps used up. I used my nestabilities again and some circle punches to cut out and layer up paper and felt into these pretty embellishments. Unfortunately I didn't have time to create the lovely heart wreath that was the project of the day but I hope to soon.
However, I did use one of the embellishments I made on this layout when I spotted that it was created using some of the same papers I'd picked for the layout.This project was all about using up fibres that seemed to be very popular at one time - have you got any lurking in your craft supplies? The photo is of my Nan's parents on their wedding day in 1920. Again another photo that I'd printed out ages ago, it was obviously meant to be.

Finally I used the extra project idea to inspire this card with the addition of another of the layered decorations.

There is something very satisfying about using up scraps...............especially when they are too pretty to throw away ;-)

10 days of creating.......

This week I signed up to the Create 10 online workshop over at Crafty Templates. 10 days of projects delivered straight to my inbox. I'm hoping to use up lots of my ever increasing scrap pile and use photos that I've been meaning to scrap for a while - I've made a good start........ You may recognise some of the papers used on my layout from the card in my previous post. I chose scraps that were in ice-cream colours and luckily most were big enough to die cut to make the background and matching embellishments. For this I used my circle scallop and label nestabilities die and a couple of circle punches.
The second class arrived today and the result? - yet more scraps disappearing from my bursting scrap drawer and a pretty layered effect layout.

I think this class is going to be fun and most of all achievable. The fact that I've managed to do the first two projects without spending any money is also a bonus. I'm looking forward to seeing what my inbox brings tomorrow...........

Pretty In Pink

The challenge this week for the Pollycraft Monday Challenge is Iet's have a sing song. I enjoy using song titles for scrapbook layout titles so I suppose it isn't that much of a leap to use them on cards. Once I started thinking I had a whole list of song titles compiled I think I'll have a whole series of cards soon not just this one.

More interesting than just 'Happy Birthday' don't you think? The image on this card is from Pollycraft and she is coloured using promarkers. The embossed label is using nestabilities label 1 and swiss dots embossing folder. I stamped the background paper with a flower stamp and added a couple of pink heart shaped buttons and some punched flowers.

I can't wait to get started on my 'song' series of cards :-)

Pink Gem Challenge

Today I have a card to share which I made for the Pink Gem Designs challenge blog. I used the free digi image available on the blog - meet Tia the kitten. The challenge was to use ribbon and buttons. I love the colour combination of red and turquoise and thought it would create a bright summery look for this card. I mounted my coloured image onto a nestabilities scalloped circle and I handstitched the outline for a bit of detail. The addition of ribbon and a button in my red/turquoise colour combination were the final touch.

Not So Heavy Metal

After using some lightweight sticky backed metal in a recent workshop it's really made me want to use it more in my projects. Today I needed to make a birthday card so I thought I'd try making a metal monogram. I used a chipboard alpha as a template and cut out the 'S' in lightweight card and covered in the sticky backed metal. Next I used my swiss dot cuttlebug embossing folder to give it a bit of texture and rubbed a bit of black acrylic paint over it to give a bit of an aged look. I mounted it on a large card circle backed with another large pinking circle, both from the nestabilities range.

It was quick and simple to do and ideal when you're stuck for an idea. I think I'll be using it again although I need to invest in some more manly embossing folders, swiss dots was the best I could do although it was better than roses and florals.

It seems I'm not the only one with an interest in metal this week Alana has some lovely cards and ATCs using embossing techniques at The Little Blue Shed she also shares a good tip for squishing bottle caps.

This little square birthday card is sized to fit inside the box that I made to present the minibook I shared in the previous post. Following on with the metal theme I gold embossed the sequin waste stamp, a technique I haven't used in ages. I decorated the lid of the box in a similar way. I then inked the edges of the card with distress inks as well as the stamped image.

Sorry about the poor images I'm still in scanning mode and I have a punch update - it's in bits, Mr Fixer says it's beyond repair. Do I go the expense of buying another or resort to good old scissors in the future?....

Third Time Lucky?

It's been one of those weeks where if something is going to go wrong then it has. This minibook is for a friend's birthday and was my third attempt at an idea. The first involved a square wooden box that I very nicely painted and then ruined with some over enthusiastic stamping. They say that there are no mistakes in crafting only happy accidents. Let's just say I was one unhappy crafter.

On to attempt number two which involved a circular wooden box. I duly prepared the box for painting only to discover that the hinge was less than perfect..........which leads me onto my third and final attempt a minibook with pages cut with the nestabilities large scalloped circles. I'm going to make my own cardboard box to present it in ;-)

I apologise for the poor picture I had to scan the minibook minus the bookring which was holding the pages together as it was too bulky.

The reason I had to scan rather than photograph? Oh yes, I've experienced more of those 'things come in threes' incidents. At the beginning of the week my camera decided to have a funny moment and hasn't recovered since. This was followed by my beloved flower punch. Yes, those of you with punch envy need not experience it anymore. I have the Mr Fixer of the house working on it as we speak and I have my fingers crossed that it will pull through but it's not looking good. Then to top it all I wrecked a favourite journaling stamp................these things are sent to try us.

Moving on and trying to sound more cheerful I have completed another two weeks of the 52 in 10 project I'm working on. They are a bit mixed up and out of order but some prompts take a bit more thinking about than others. On the up side they are the perfect size to be scanned as I decided to make my album with pages 8.5"x11" rather than 12x12 - result! Something has gone right.

This prompt asked how music features in your life. I think music does evoke memories and I often associate a certain song with a particular time or event. I love using song lyrics to inspire a layout. Song titles also make great layout titles. On this page I decided to feature the first record I ever bought - Dancing Queen by Abba. It also reminds me of my Nan as it was one of her favourite songs. I made and printed my own record using Says It an online image maker using my own text.

This prompt asked are you like someone in your family? Scarily I have to say yes. My Mum and I share many similar mannerisms but I think our characters differ. We do share a love of crafting though and I'm thankful for all the things she taught me when I was young like sewing and knitting. Without that I'm sure I wouldn't have the love I have today for all things crafty.

I'm currently working on another prompt featuring family heritage which I hope to share soon. If you fancy taking part in the project you can find the 52 in 10 prompts here at Dolly's Dreamings