It is that time again!

Yep the February workshops are done and ready for you to see! Again there are only 2 this month. Totally my fault, but this is due to my work commitments over the coming months.

The first one i want to show you is the saturday workshop. Saturday 28th February.

This is a layout but with a difference. The page is not based on a piece of 12 by 12 cardstock, it is done on a clipboard, just to shake things up lol!!!

It is done with the new Little Yellow Bicycle line, paper layering some butterflies and a transparency. It is done with valentines in mind but you dont have to centre your page around that if you dont want to.

Here are a few peeks at the clipboard. It is a class for all levels and as with most classes bring yourself, lunch and your general cropping tools.





The next workshop is a wednesday class. Wednesday the 12th Febuary.

It is based on a page that has been up in the Papermaze shop for a few months. The aim of the class is to show you how an idea if of how to use this pattern paper



or others like it, as these can be very daunting when you first see them. So if you want to learn how to use these gorgeous kraft papers come along and have ago.
Again bring yourself and general cropping tools. Tea and cake will be provided!!! lol.

The classes will be up on the website to book in the next week, and i hope to see you there!

Scenic Route Sonoma

Last month, my parcel from Papermaze contained some beautiful papers from the Scenic Route Sonoma range. I have always been a fan of Scenic Route, but with this range they have surpassed themselves. The designs are stunning, and they look even better in the flesh than they do in an online shop! The papers I was sent from the range featured mainly the red and brown tones rather than the pinks which make up a large proportion of the papers. They immediately set me in mind of a layout I wanted to create using a photo of my Great Grandad. Its the only photo we have of him as he was killed in 1918 in the trenches, and I recently managed to get a copy of the photo at my Grandad's funeral. Heritage layouts can tend to be a bit 'chintzy' so I wanted to add a splash of bright colour to give the layout a slightly fresher feel.

I took some Kraft cardstock and layered a slightly smaller piece of the yellow dotted paper on top (I inked around the edges using distress ink first). Next, I added a strip of the reverse side of the paper which I tore along the bottom to the left hand side of the page. I cut a strip from another paper in the range with a red pattern and used scallop edged scissors on the bottom edge - you could also use a craft punch for this. I adhered it horizontally, just off centre. Next, I layered a page from a Making Memories Noteworthy journalling book to the right side of the page, before placing my photo on the top.

To add a bit of interest, I used my Autumn Leaves flourish stamp - this is a really versatile stamp which I use all the time. Just ink parts of it if you want a smaller design, as I have done on the top and bottom of the page.

I added my title using Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers and American Crafts Thickers, before writing my journalling on the notebook page above.

As embellishment, I stapled a ticket stub to the bottom right-hand corner, adding a Scenic Route sticker. On the left hand side of the photo, I added some more stickers in the shape of hole reinforcers.

This range is so versatile, while the tones are suitable for old photos like this one, the colours are bright enough to prevent the pages looking dull and old-fashioned, which is perfect for my idea of a heritage page.

Fairest of Them All...

The Imaginisce Fairest of Them All paper is a total girl-fest, and I decided to use some of it to commemorate the arrival of my new pink Ipod Nano this Christmas - its fab!

I cut a sheet of white cardstock to 8.5 by 11 and the Crowning Moment paper to just less than this, sticking it to the centre of the white cardstock to leave a border all round. I then took a piece of the reverse side of the paper and tore a strip off, adhering it towards the centre of the layout. I cut a two inch strip of pink cardstock, and used decorative scissors to cut scallop along the edge. I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch small holes above each scallop. I adhered it just above the torn edge, and then stapled a piece of spotty ribbon on top.

I created my title embellishment by punching a scallop circle of book paper and inking the edges. I stuck it to the right hand side of the layout, then added my title using Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers and American Crafts glitter thickers.

I positioned the photo on the left hand side of the page. The rest of the embellishments on the page are a collection of flowers - some chipboard ones I covered with book paper and inked with distress ink, others I left raw. I also punched small flowers from book paper and created centres with small pink brads. I finished off with a few prima flowers. The resulting page is simple but pretty:

I liked to watch her dance...

Recently I've been enjoying experimenting with different page sizes, and have particularly been drawn to the 6x12 format. This size forces you to think in different ways - you can't fit so much on the page, so you have to be selective and include only elements that will add to the design. Its also great for showcasing the little things that might not warrant a whole 12 by 12 page but are just as fun to look back on.

While cleaning out the spare room ready for decorating I found my old childhood jewellery box in a drawer and decided that I had to do a layout about it as it was so special to me at one time. It was looking a little old and stained, so I decided to focus on one element of it, the dancing clockwork ballerina inside. The Imaginisce Fairest of Them All range was perfect for this layout with its girlie colours and princess themes.

I started by cutting the Magic Meadow paper to 6 by 12 and used the reverse side as the base of the layout. I then cut a 10 by 4 section of the Back By Midnight paper, inked the edges and adhered it slightly to the left and side of the layout. I cut a small rectangle of the Crowing Moment paper and stuck it to the bottom right of this.

I cut thin strips of the reverse side of the Back By Midnight paper and adhered this towards the top and bottom of the layout (as shown) and then fixed my photo just on top of the bottom strip.

I used an oval scallop punch to cut some book paper, inked the edges and adhered this just over the bottom corner of the photo. I added my title using Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers and some American Crafts glitter sprinkles letter stickers.


I stamped the pumpkin carriage onto another offcut of the reverse side of the Back By Midnight paper and added this to the page using foam pads. Just above this, I added a line of gems as a border to the photo. Finally, I added some gingham ribbon to the top and bottom of the layout using staples.

The result is a beautifully girlie layout (apologies for slightly dodgy scan!):

An October Afternoon Retreat

The first range of papers I was sent this month were the October Afternoon Hometown range, a gorgeous set of papers with an autumnal feel. They were perfect for scrapping a photograph I had of me and some friends at a scrap retreat last October.

First, I cut a sheet of the October Afternoon Woolworths paper (using the flowery side) to around 11.5 by 7.5. I inked the edges and stuck it towards the centre of a sheet of Kraft cardstock and sewed around the edges with blue embroidery thread.

I then cut a piece of the Main Street paper (stripy side) to about 6 by 10 inches, inked the edges and adhered this towards the bottom of the first square of patterned paper.

I cut a 2 inch strip from the edge of the Norms News (houndstooth side) and used decorative scissors to scallop the edge. I punched a small hole above each scallop using a Crop-a-Dile tool for interest, then adhered this across the page over the striped paper. I stuck the photograph on top of this.


I inked the edges of several diecut shapes and layered them to create an embellishment, using foam pads for added dimension. I also added an arrow to the left side of the photo using foam pads and a file tab to the upper right of the photo.

My title was created using American Crafts Vinyl Thickers in cricket, and the Making Memories tiny alpha stickers.

A final touch was to add several buttons in contrasting shades to the bottom left of the stripy paper, threading them with blue embroidery thread before sticking down.

Here is the finished layout, a fitting tribute to a fantastic scrap retreat!

MY MINDS EYE PATTERNED PAPERS

I was sent these awesome papers and basic grey rub ons to play with I started off by cutting my patterned paper 20/10 cms then using a compass measuring 6 1/2 cms once glued into place using two different colour card stock the pink card stock measures 18/10 cms and the blue at 23/4cms. I then glued my photo into place then using transparency I transferred the rubons onto it and cut them out to overlap my photo at the bottom.
Before gluing this into place cut four strips of ribbon to fit across the blue card stock once glued into place cut another strip to fit at the side of the photo and cut a strip of patterned paper the same size leave about 1cm between to add stitching. Cut out two flowers out of the patterned paper tuck behind the ribbon add a flower and button to Finnish it off.
add preferred embellishments and rubons to Finnish the layout off ...

Something for the teacher...

I know that valentines day is for couples, secret crushes etc, but i like to send my son's teacher something just to say 'thankyou' and that we really do appreciate everything that she does for my son.

This year i am being organised enough to actually have it all made already! go me!!! lol.

My first project is not really original and has been done for a few years now, but it was on amongst my 'saved favourite things to make' so i though i would give it ago. (please forgive the funky colours on the photos the day was really dark when i took the photos) To see the images close up please click on the photos.



For this project, i recycled a prima glass bottle.

Step one: Clean all the bits of stickers off the outside of the bottle. I did this by soaking it in hot water to get rid of all the stickers.

Step two: i chose my paper. It was a toss up between Basic Grey Bittersweet and the new 'little yellow bicycle'. In the end i chose the 'Little Yellow Bicycle' line as the colour of the sweets went better with that line.

Step three: cut out a strip of white card, about 8.5 cm from top to bottom. Before you stick it down make the edges scalloped. I ink the edges before adhereing as well, with brown ink.

Step four: Cut out a strip of this paper called kiss notes...


I adhered this so it sat on the white card so the scallops can just been seen at the top and the bottom.

Step five: Cut out a strip of this pattern paper - Love letters. The size for this strip is just over 5cm and adhere round the jar leaving a little strip of the kiss notes showing on the top and the bottom.

Step six : Cut out a strip of Kiss dots paper.

The size is 3cm up and down. The length of all these are depending on the size of the container that you use.

Adhere this to the centre of all the other papers around the jar.

Step seven: Wrap around the centre of the jar some string ( i get mine from the local garden centre and it is really cheap). I wrapped mine round 4 times and secured it to the back of the jar. I pushed the ends of the string under the wrapped string to hide it.

Step eight: I cut out a small butterfly shape using this as the template out of the paper called Love Letters, I inked the edges of this and then added small gems to the tips of the wings.


Step nine: Using a transparency stamp and cut out a butterfly shape. Add to the paper butterfly pulling up the wings a bit for some dimension.


Step ten : using the dotted pattern paper cut out a small triangle and roll up start the roll from the big end and secure the little end down at the end. Adhere to the middle of the two butterflies.

Step eleven: Using the making memories little letters add the words for you. I inked the edges of the letters before i stuck them down.

Step twelve: i added a butterfly trail with some gems for a sparkle effect.

THE LID.


I punched out a small circle from the dotted paperand adhere it to the top of the lid. THen punched out another circle but smaller and adhered with foam dots to raise it up a bit. I punched out a small flower and added a little gem for the middle.


The band.


I like to seal something if i make something like this. I cut out a thin strip of brown ( kraft) card to the size 1cm in width. Secured it under the smaller circle on the lid and then pulled it down and adhered it to the bottom of the jar. Use a flat glue for this or the bottle will not sit flat ( yep found that out the hard way lol!!!)

I filled this jar with little heart chocolates. Incase you wanted to buy them as they fit really well into the jar they come from Marks and Spencers. When i was there i picked up two packs, both where heart chocolates but one was bigger than the other. You want to buy the smaller ones as the biggers ones get stuck when you try and get them out.



THanks for looking.

Using up some Scraps

A little while back I asked Wendy to send me s packet of rub-ons to use, and told her I would use them with leftovers of other papers etc that I had previously used for layouts I have created for this blog.

So she sent me a packet of Rusty Pickle rub-ons, and a sheet of white card.

Now what?
What would I do with, and use with these?
So I dug out the pizza box that has my scraps in from previous projects, and came up with this little lot.

Then I found a photo to match.
Now it was time to play.

The white cardstock would be the base of my layout.
I chose two of the patterned papers to make blocks to form the base onto which everything else would be built.
One of these papers is from the Birdie Bits range by Dream Street; and the other from the Sweet Spring range from Fancy Pants.

Next I took a large border piece from the rub-ons packet, and applied this to the vertical block.

On Monday this week I showed a layout on here using papers from the October Afternoon Hometown range.
From creating that layout i had a shaped section left over- I now cut this in half, and then cut it down to about a 3/4 inch wide piece.

I attached this section of frame in the bottom right corner, I stuck a Doodlebug frill across the page,then added some more rub-on flourishes at the bottom edge of the horizontal block of paper.

The photo I matted onto a piece of leftover Scenic Route Metropolis from Wednesdays layout. But whilst I had cut the mat to size, I didn't actually stick it down yet.

Using some chipboard circles, and some more leftover scraps of Metropolis paper, I cut out two circles.

One I stuck onto one of the chip circles, the other I cut in half.

Now I stuck the photo mat in place, slipping the two halves of the cut circle in slightly behind at the top right and middle of the left side.
I then applied another rub-on flourish- this time a corner ornament, to the top left corner of the mat.

After sanding the edges I stuck the photo in place.

Onto the paper covered chip circle, I applied another rub-on. It was too big for the circle, but I rubbed it on, roughly cut the excess to size, then rubbed the rough edges around the sides of the chipboard.

I had quite a few different sizes and colours of blossoms...

....so I assembled them together to make a nice bright embellishment for my page.

Lastly I added the title- for this I used a large metal Book Plate,(I'm not sure what make this one is, but the papermaze shop have a selection HERE) backed it with a small piece of patterened paper...

.... then added a small title using Making Memories Tiny Alpha Stickers.

And here is the completed page.

It was lots of fun to make- I do tend to make most of my pages from single ranges of paper.
But to mix it up, and create a page from a mish mash of assorted items made a real change.
Why not have a go and see what you come up with?