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Monday 30 June 2014

Good Luck and Farewell Amanda!

The lovely Amanda is leaving work to relocate with her family back in Ireland where she first came from. We are really going to miss our Medical Secretary, but wish her well in her chosen new life.
I made a card for everyone in our office to sign - it's A4 and has several pages full of signatures and good wishes inside.


I decided to use my new Cricut Explore and the Word Collage Cartridge, together with the 'Draw Image' tool and a gold gel pen on dark green Bazzill cardstock.

The Shamrock was made with eight hearts punched from a lighter shade of green Bazzill cardstock and the Stampin' Up heart punch.

The font for 'Amanda' was 'Billionaire' from a selection on my computer and in gold Miri card. I welded the letters so they were joined. The letters for 'Good Luck' were cut with the 'Boys will be Boys' cartridge in white Bazzill cardstock.


I added a green heart button, some baker's twine and a rainbow of colours created with flat-backed pearls.

I wish you all the best Amanda, and hope to visit you one day.

Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Monday 23 June 2014

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 24

Back again with this week's Christmas version of the challenge over on Kool Kitty Musings Blog.
Just a quick reminder that the challenge is to include specific elements on your card, and they are:
  • Zigzags/chevrons
  • Sparkle
  • A number
Here's my interpretation of these three elements:



I used:
Patterned Papers and die cut elements -My Mind's Eye - 12 Days of Christmas collection
Adhesive Badge - Crate Paper - Bundled Up
Ink - Distress Ink - Forest Fern
Card Blank - Craftwork Cards
Stickles
Gems

Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Sunday 22 June 2014

Happy Birthday Robert!


Today is my brother's birthday and as we have been working on boxed cards for the June Challenge on Scrapology, I thought I would make him one too.


The measurements for this one were take from an article in Making Cards Magazine.
My papers are from Magnolia (footballs) and Chatterbox. The Card stock is all by Bazzill.


The stamps are from two different sets, one from Stampin' Up 'Goal', and the others are from a set by Little Claire Designs. Claret and blue for West Ham.

Hope you have a fab birthday Robert, sorry we can't be with you today.
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Thursday 19 June 2014

Freda Edith

Following on from yesterday's post and the layout featuring Winifred, I am back with this month's Papermaze crop kit and Winnie's daughter - Freda. This layout was designed by Lou Collins.

Freda Edith Williams was born in 1916 to Henry David Williams and Winifred Freda Holder (My great aunt). Freda married Sydney Kingswood in 1946 and they had one son, John born 1949.

The kit includes:
Simple Stories - Hello Baby - Wood Veneer/Music paper
October Afternoon Daily Flash 'Snapshots paper
Dotted Swiss Grey Bazzill Cardstock

Available to use: 
Kaisercraft Postal Clear Stamp
Tattered Angels 'Seven Seas' Chalkboard Mist

I added a title cut on the Cricut using the Billionaire cartridge. 

Great to catch up with good friends and have the day crafting - I actually managed to completer two pages and start a third.

Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Winifred

I went along to the Papermaze Crop at the weekend and was able to complete this months crop kit and to catch up with last month's kit as well. So first up is the May kit designed by Vanessa.

My photo is of Winifred Freda Holder born 1889 (one of 14 children) to Frederick Henry Holder and Emma Jane Florence Williams. (My great aunt Winnie). Winnie married Henry David Williams in 1915, and they had one daughter Freda Edith in 1916. (Freda is featured in my next Papermaze crop kit layout).


I really enjoyed making this with the beautiful colours, papers and embellishments.
The kit includes:
White and Straw Bazzill
Prima Marketing Inc. - Something Blue Papers - Announcement and Enchanted Blooms
Prima Marketing Inc. - Paper flowers
Doily, buttons, lace, hemp, gem brad, green bling gems, clear dewdrops, tuille

We also used embossing powder, punches and dies available at the crop.
I added Liquid Pearls, Stickles, American Craft foam Thickers letter stickers.

Here is Vanessa's pretty layout designed for the crop 'Under My Umbrella':



Thanks for looking - back with Freda tomorrow!
Lynn x

Tuesday 17 June 2014

52 Card Challenge 2014 - Week 24

This week challenge over on Kool Kitty Musings Blog is to feature 3 specific elements on your card, and they are:
  • Zigzags/chevrons
  • Sparkle
  • A number
Here's my interpretation of these three elements:



I used:
  • Zigzags/chevrons - Washi Tape - from 12" x 12" sheet by Crate Paper 
  • Sparkle - Stickles
  • A number - Cricut 'From My Kitchen' Cartridge
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Papers - Echo Park
Cricut Cartridges - Classroom June & July, B is for Boy
Ink - Distress Inks
Card Blank - Craft Creations
Other - White Gel pen, 3D foam tape

Thanks for looking - back tomorrow with the Christmas version of this challenge.
Lynn x

Monday 16 June 2014

Father's Day

I made another box card for the Scrapology Card challenge for June.
This time for my lovely Dad for Father's Day.


Not sure why the dark brown card stock I used to mount the checked paper shows navy blue in these photos!!


I used:
Label punches and stamps from Stampin' Up


Cardstock by Bazzill

Tim Holtz Cling rubber Stamps Mini Blueprints 3 Stampers Anonymous

Patterned paper - Basics by Basic Grey

Distress Ink - Vintage Photo

Letter stickers and acetate from my stash



Thanks for looking
Happy Father's Day!
Lynn x

Sunday 15 June 2014

All Boxed Up!

This month over on Scrapology we have been inspired by the work of Tina Weller and challenge you to create a Card in a box. Tina's blog 'The Serene Stamper' is HERE



Here is my design team card - like My card I made to welcome Jason Durr to the cast of  - Agatha Christie's Black Coffee. as Poirot, This box card used some of the same digital designs and cricut cartridges. Like the previous one, this card was commissioned by my daughter Catherine (DSM) to say good bye to Robert Powell who had just finished in the role as Hercule Poirot.




 This is it folded down ready for the envelope.

Back view showing signature panel.



I used:
Painting Fairy moustaches ClipArts & Digital Papers Lips Kiss Glasses Party Hat Pipe Bow Label Straws Fun papers paper pack DIY Photo booth props for my background papers

Cricut and the Billionaire (for the tiny glasses, bow ties, moustaches and top hats) and Lacy Lables (for the greeting label on the front and another blank label on the back for signatures) Carts

You tube demonstration by Brianna Thompson - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dXZFeFMPsw

Colorbox chalk ink - Charcoal

Cardstock - Bazzill and Miri Card

NOUVEAU Font


Other - Acetate



Tina's video tutorial can be found HERE

Please go to Scrapology to see details of the challenge and prize. You wil be inspired by the cards made by the design team too. 
Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Saturday 14 June 2014

52 Christmas Crackers -Week 23

Back with my Christmas card for week 23 - inspiration comes in photo form- direct from Pinterest. I found these old Echo Park papers from a crop I attended a few years ago, and they were perfect for the challenge.


I used:
Cricut Explore and the Winter Woodland Cartridge
Patterned Papers - Echo Park - Everybody Loves Christmas
Cardstock - Bazzill (for snowman and card blank)
Ink - Distress Ink
Other - gold and black  nail heads, white and black gel pens, 3D foam pads

Here is a reminder of the inspiration image:
Week 23 - photo prompt
{Pinterest pin}

Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Friday 13 June 2014

52 Card Challenge in 2014 - Week 23

This week the inspiration for the card challenge is in the form of a photo prompt chosen from Pinterest. For details please see Kool Kitty Musings Blog.

Week 23 - photo prompt
{Pinterest pin}

Her is my interpretation:


I kept with the colour scheme as far as I could. Using this teapot image from the Everyday Pop-up Cards cartridge and my new Cricut Explore. I made a big gold rimmed label shape for behind my image rather than in front as in the photo (The First Few Years Cartridge). I have access to a lot of cartridges I don't own as a free trial on the Cricut Design Space programme.

I used:
Patterned papers - Basic Grey - Nook and Pantry
Cardstock - Bazzill and Miri card.
Punches - Stampin' Up - large oval and scalloped oval
Stamp - Stampin' Up - Tea Shoppe
Card Blank - Craftwork Cards
Ink - Memento and Distress Ink
Other - Gems, 3D foam pads

Thanks for looking.
Lynn x


Tuesday 10 June 2014

New Toy and a Card

For my birthday I was lucky enough to be given a Cricut Explore! It arrived last week and although I haven't had a lot of time to play with it, I did try a basic card and was impressed with how easy it is to set up and use.I had the bundle from Crafts U Love which included some accessories

My package being unpacked
 

Lots of places to store spare blades and tools (above and below).
 

Some of the materials supplied with the Explore
I set it up and made a card for my nephew Simon. It was not a complicated card - I tried out functions I have used with the Cricut Craft Room before, and they are easier with the Explore and the Cricut Design Space.


Simon is scientific so I chose this paper with periodic table symbols on it.
I used Bazzill cardstock, Miri card, October Afternoon patterned paper. The greeting is a rub on.

I made a pouch inside to contain a voucher. 

Happy 16th Birthday Simon.
Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Monday 9 June 2014

A Different Kind of Blog Hop

All aboard! Grab a cuppa and join me for a blog hop tour. My Scrapbooking/blog friend Karen (aka Scrapdolly) invited me to take part. It’s a little different to others I've followed or participated in. The idea is to answer four questions and pass the baton on to fellow bloggers (see end of post for my victims/bloggers). Karen's answers from last Monday are HERE.  Thanks for asking me Karen and here are my answers:

What am I working on? 
I always have something on the go, usually a layout or two for Scrapology. As these are usually a surprise, I can't share. I’m often working on a challenge several months in advance. 

The most recent Scrapology layout to have been posted,
scraplift of Gabrielle Pollocco's work.
I’m currently working on a birthday card for my brother, a 21st for my nephew, a Fathers' day card, an 80th birthday card and two thank you card commissions.

I have several UFO's, especially cross stitch projects. I've been sorting out my charts and kits, and passed on those I know I will never do. What possessed me to buy them in the first place is a mystery! I do plan to complete this one which I've been working on it for years - A converted painting of Marjoline Bastine’s, an artist I admire.

I have a crochet scarf on the go. It lives in the car for long journeys – only when Alan is driving! I have already made two - one for my mother in white, and this one for my sister in pink. I am working on an aqua one now - Linda gave me the wool for my birthday. I've had a few requests to make these scarves for others.

How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
This is a difficult one to answer. I asked my daughter (and biggest critic) what she thought, so I could add this to my comments. I'm not sure I have a style, I like to try out different things and I think each layout or card reflects this. I will then repeat those ideas that work well and leave others for those who do them better!

I don't work on one particular album at a time - I have a stack of photos I still want to scrap and will dip into them if and when I have a brain wave, find an ideal paper, or it works with a challenge or class I am attending or teaching myself.

In the mean time I scrap some events as they happen, and work on other albums as gifts for significant birthdays, most recently I compiled a selection of layouts for my father's 80th and created a few new ones to fill the gaps of significant events.



Being part of the design team for Scrapology means I have to try my hand at a lot of different styles and techniques - quite a challenge! What looks like a simple design often turns out to be quite difficult to reproduce in my own way.

My Great Great Grandmother Charlotte Allen
I have been very fortunate in having a vast treasure trove of old family photographs, so I scrap a lot of heritage pages. I don't feel these need to be dark and dingy in appearance. I love colour and try to make these layouts with touches of the period while using more modern papers and techniques along the way.








Why do I write/create what I do? 
I have always been inclined to write things down and record the events of my life, either for myself or to share with others. While I was away doing my nurse training I would write long letters home which Mum and Dad kept for me and I still have now - they are a lovely record of the time I spent studying. Before I had the children (back in 1992) I had kept a diary for most of my secondary school days until Andrew, Catherine and Emily were born. Then things got a bit too busy and as we were taking so many photographs of them (pre-digital cameras etc.) I would put them in an album, and write a lot about the events on the album pages, adding other memorabilia along the way.




One day in 1999 I found the first issue of a magazine called 'The World of Photo Memories' with some interesting ideas - including scrapbooking. (I don't know why but the second issue never came to life.) There were no magazines on the subject of scrapbooking at the time in the UK. This made me more thoughtful about preserving my photos in an interesting way. I started making some A4 pages and stored them in a basic ring binder. Later in 2003 I discovered UKScrappers and this is where made lots of scrapbooking friends and started going to crops and retreats and joined groups on the forum. It was interesting to see a photo from a Scrapaholic Retreat Annijo put up on facebook a few weeks ago. It certainly got us all commenting and sharing stories from that event in 2004.


I still meet regularly with many of the friends from our group the Blossoms in Eastbourne monthly at The Cardinal Colours Crop, and we go away for a retreat once a year.
I have also made a new set of friends at the Papermaze crop in Otley more recently.

How does your writing/creating process work? 
I can't believe I have created over 1000 blog posts since I started blogging back in 2009. I had been reluctant to start, wondering if I would have enough to say or be able to keep it up.







When my triplets were small I wrote for Cross Stitcher magazine, reviewing charts, then later added kit reviews for Cross Stitch Collection magazine. Then a few years on I designed cards for Quick Cards Made Easy magazine from it's beginning for several years. I was also involved in many of the early issues of The Scrapbook Magazine including launching the publication at Ally Pally.

Most of my writing now is based on what I want to record on my scrapbook pages, sometimes visible on the page and other times hidden away. I feel this is especially important for future generations when scrapbooking the family heritage photos. For many of these hours of research has gone into finding out more about the ancestor either by contacting family members or using websites such as Genes Reunited.
A recent Scrapology project with a photo of great Aunt Rose

Then of course there is my blog, where I like to share what I have created and give a little detail on how things were made and what I used to make them. If I have time I like to add some tutorials as well.

I'm passing this particular blog hop torch to other bloggers now ... friends both real and virtual ... they'll be posting next - Monday 16th June.

First up is Heather Jacob in Australia, I have admired her beautiful work for years (scrapbooking and OTP) her attention to detail is amazing. I follow her blog with interest - it never fails to be inspiring. You can find Heather on 'Art and Life' and she has written a few words for me to include here:

"To me this craft is the perfect combination of art, photography, beautiful paper, and glorious words. I have been playing with scrapbooking since 2003.
I am inspired by colour and texture and I draw inspiration from Nature, and to me it is all-consuming, inspiring and a natural expression of my inner self, which I love to weave into my works.
I love to include stitching, chipboard, journaling, muslin, fabrics, metal elements, inking, masking and texture paste, getting all messy bringing out the kid in me. OTP projects and altered art are faves of mine. I see my style as EARTHY with large amounts of layering and attention to detail
I tend to lean toward monochromatic themes with a little shabby chic/grunge thrown in ... My work has been widely published, including Somerset Memories, Studio, Apprentice and all the Australian magazines."

Second is Sheena Rowlands, We first 'met' as fellow members of the Mojo Blog design team a few years ago. Sheena has an inspiring blog called 'Sheena's Scraps and Scribbles' where you can enjoy reading her blog - and learning about her beautiful creations and well as family news.

Sheena is a married stay at home Mum to 3 teens. She grew up with the philosophy of make it, sew it, grow it, cook it and has been creative one way or another though out her whole life including; salt dough ornaments, jam making, stained glass lamp shade making, card making, curtain & children's clothes sewing... She discovered the joys of scrapbooking in 2006 & after joining a local crop in 2007 her scrapping  really took off. As a member of ScrapaGoGo's Design team since 2009 Sheena has designed & taught classes at numerous events & retreats, she loves the buzz & enthusiasm this brings. Currently she also creates for Scrapology Challenge blog providing bimonthly inspiration to crafters. When there is time Sheena also loves to quilt & crochet.
The photos & memories Sheena records are usually of her family or her travels with her husband and she has embraced the concept of Project Life & is currently recording their lives for the third year.

Thanks for reading this through to the end and I value your comments.
Lynn x