April Papermaze Kit - Part 2

Hello, Lynn here today with the last pair of layouts made with the pretty April Papermaze Kit. I have made two very different layouts, one with photos taken only the day before making the page, and the other a heritage page, with a photo from approximately 100 years ago! 

Before explaining how the layouts were made, here is what you will find in the kit:

Uniquely Creative - Floral Archives collection - Pretty Pollinators
Uniquely Creative - Ultra Violet Delight collection - Layers in Lilac
Uniquely Creative - Bohemian Escape collection - Lazy Afternoon
49 and Market - Plume & Petal collection - Joy & Bliss
Mintay Papers - Man Cave collection - #5

The photo below shows both sides of the papers:

Embellishments: Laser Cut Wildflowers, Foam Stickers Dreamer, Little Birdie Butterfly, Little Birdie Flowers, Simple & Basic Dots, P13 Word Stickers & Ribbon

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Whirlpool, Touch of Pink (included in Kit), Stonewash, Velvet, Date Swirl & Heidi.

Easter Bunny - My daughter and I set up an Easter egg hunt as a bit of fun for little 2-year-old Florence to find some colourful eggs in the garden. Catherine wore the bunny ears and got carried away with some selfies!

I started with the Velvet Bazzill, and gutted it to make a frame of about 1" deep. The Bliss paper was cut into two pieces 11.5" x 3" and 11.5" x 8.25", I placed them side by side with narrower piece flipped over to the B side. The edges were all distressed, and before sticking them down I used some left over papers from the previous layouts to make a decorative strip along the join between both pieces...

... I tore the edge of the scrap of Joy paper with the music note side up. then with A border punch I used the remainder of the Layers in Lilac paper to make a lacy trim. At this point all these pieces were stick into place.

I printed five small photos, and mounted them onto some white card, I inked the edges and arranged them across the page.

Next for the embellishments and title - I chose the Spellbinders Say Cheese Classic Mouse - Die Set to cut the title letters twice, once from scraps of Velvet Bazzill and secondly from scraps of Lazy Afternoon paper. These were inked and layered, then added to the layout. 

I used a few of the phrases from the P13 sticker sheet provided in the kit, to add some relevant words to the left of the title. From the kit, I also used a few of the Dreamer Foam Stickers and the ribbon. I tied the ribbon into a bow and attached it to the bottom of the large foam sticker with a small decorative pin.  

The Little Birdie butterfly and flowers, together with the Simple & Basic Dots, were all usde to finish off the page.

Henry Charles Edwards - I love this Mintay Papers - Man Cave collection - #5 paper, from the April kit. I wanted to use it for a masculine layout using my new Vault Watch Gears Sizzix die set. I decided to scrap this photo of my husband's grandfather.

The background for this layout is the sheet of Date Swirl Bazzill, across which I layered torn strips of the Man Cave #5 paper. Leaving the cardstock showing above and below the paper.

I cut myself some frames from card and chipboard using the Stitched Rectangles Sizzix Die Set. I covered the largest of these in more scraps of #5 paper and distressed then inked the edges. I used this to frame my photo. 

With a mix of Distress inks and water, I coloured some watercolour paper, then just before it was completely dry I ran it through the Sizzix machine in a A6 Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Folder - Numbered. Once dry, I lightly sprayed with some Distress Mica Sprays. I also rubbed in a little gilding wax to highlight the numbers. Then I cut this piece to fit into two of my frames. 

I made the pocket watch using more of the card scraps used for the frames, some black Bazzill and a scrap of the #5 paper. Embossing enamel was used to add texture and an aged metallic effect to the outer watch case. I built up the layers including the numbers and a layer of acetate for the glass. I also used a brad to hold the hands in place in the watch centre. I attached a small chain to the handle, and anchored this to the page with another brad. I placed the finished watch next to the photo, layered up with some 3D foam. 

I made a small oval frame and backed it with a scrap of Lazy Afternoon paper. Then with more numbers cut from the same die set, I added the birth and death date.

I found some elements, left over from a 49 and Market Krafty Garden Acetate Assortment. I selected a leaf branch and film strips to add to the layout. I also had some tickets and stamps left over from a previous Papermaze kit. 

The title was cut on the Cricut, from more of the card scraps I used earlier, and this was placed to the bottom right of the page.

That's all from the April kit, although I still have papers, cardstock and embellishments left to use. 
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Carta Bella - Christmas in the City - Smile

Hello!

Claire here today and I've been using up the last bits of my Christmas in the City collection from Carta Bella. 

I quite enjoy this time of year from a create perspective, seeing how versatile a Christmas collection can be and this one did not disappoint.

I've opted to scrap a picture from one of our walks over the festive period. It's was very cold and frosty and although we definitely weren't in a city, the papers still worked fantastically well for my photo and I love how they could be adapted for my layout theme.

So to start, I cut varying widths of papers using the mustard cardstock from the Matchmaker Pack, Merry Snowflake Sky (red) and Christmas Tree Cab (green b side). 

I began layering them vertically and horizontally but wanted to add extra framing. To create this, I cut two triangles from a square of the blue b side of the Merry Snowflake Sky paper, and layered this underneath my red paper to frame the corners. I love this bold edge - I think it helps the red paper to pop off the page. 

I also opted for a small splash of mixed media, adding dry Distress Oxide with a brush to extend the grass colours of the photo. 

I really love the Peace on Earth Pines paper - it reminds me of beautiful festive foliage so felt very  fitting as the border for my photo. I added this to my other papers with foam for extra dimension. 

Next, I raided my stash of dies and chose some snowflakes which I cut from plain white cardstock. There's an amazing choice of dies in the shop, and they're such fun to incorporate into your project. I'd highly recommend you take a peek! You can find loads of snowflake dies here. 

To the centres of each snowflake, I added a small sticker from the Element Stickers which echoes the colours of the paper into the snowflakes, making it feel more cohesive. 

I also chose to use the little pennant stickers to create a small banner cluster to the left of my photo along with the December sticker to note the month of the photo. 

I pulled some Thickers from my stash to create my Smile title, and lightly added some green watercolour pain to each letter to pull in the green colour. 

To finish, I added a small sprinkling of Pinkfresh Studio Crystals which give the slightest sparkle and help bring this frosty page to life! There are some Pinkfresh Jewels in the shop here.

I hope you've enjoyed this layout and are inspired to stretch your own Christmas collections. 

Until next month, happy scrapping! 

Claire

@scrappysoulmate

Sizzix - Eileen Hull Collection - Colour Wheel, Swatch Cards and Rainbow Wheels

I recently purchased a set of Sizzix products designed by Elaine Hull from Papermaze. They included: A5 Clear Stamps Set 24PK - Swatch Cards, Thinlits 9PK Die Set - Rainbow Wheels and Layered Stencils 3PK - Colour Wheel. This collection together with my Distress Inks gave me a variety of possibilities. There are plenty of ideas on the Sizzix web site including links to some You Tube videos. 

Here is a selection of things I made using these new tools:



First of all I made a layout, based on an idea by Jess Jones of Sizzix and changed to meet my plans. 



I cut some scrap paper down to 11" x 11" and placed it in the centre of the 12" x 12" Smooth White Bazzill, I had selected for the layout. I used the smaller piece as a mask, and with a blending tool I inked Distress Inks around the edge of the layout in a rainbow sequence. I removed the mask and flicked some of the colours over the page.  

I stamped the above image onto watercolour paper, and  cut it out with the largest circle die. Then I used Distress Inks, watered down on the craft mat and painted the segments. 

With the stencils I created the colour wheel above onto watercolour paper, then covered it by cutting the overlay from white cardstock and sticking it in place over the top. I trimmed the stencilled wheel from under the die. I stamped the small wheel with 12 sections (also watercolour paper), and cut it out with the smallest circle die. I painted each section with more Distress Inks.  I cut three silver arrows using the dies, and attached them to the colour wheel centres, with small brads. 

I stamped the swatch card onto watercolour paper, and painted each panel as before, I stamped the 'colour swatch' phrase into place. I cut the card out with scissors. I also stamped three paintbrushes, painted them and cut them out. 

With a set of alphabet dies I cut my title from more watercolour paper, and painted each letter with a different colour of Distress Ink. All the elements and the photo were arranged onto the page and stuck in place. I added the date with some Doodlebug Designs Rubons. 

Next, I made a set of three Birthday cards using similar techniques to the layout, various card blanks and some scrap patterned papers. 

I decided as the small colour wheel has sixteen little pallets and the Distress Ink and Distress Watercolour Pencil tins each hold the same number of inks or pencils, that I would use the stamps and dies to organise and label my tins.

The pencil tins already have an acetate sheet to protect them, so I attached the colour wheels to this, so it shows through the lid. I wrote the initials of each colour over the inked colour. For the Distress Inks, I cut a piece of acetate to fit over the inks, and rounded the corners with a punch. I used this to attach the colour wheels.

I hope this has been useful and interesting. 
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

August Papermaze Kit - Part 2

Lynn here today with the bright, summery August kit, which has been great fun to work with. Here are the first two layouts I have created with this kit. The kit is now available in store and online. Two more layouts featuring my granddaughter, one with all four generations and the other from a few weeks ago, washing her favourite soft toy. 

Before looking at how the layouts were made, this is what you will find inside the kit:

Patterned Papers:
Doodlebug Designs - Butterfly Kisses collection - Happy Thoughts & Garden Party
Echo Park - Have a Great Summer collection - Best Life Butterflies
Lawn Fawn - Bitsy Blooms collection - Begonia
Photoplay - This Happy Life collection - Sweet Hello
Simple Stories - Crafty Babe collection - Live. Love,.Scrap

The photo above shows both sides of the papers.

2 Doodlebug Designs cupcake doilies, Pretty Little Studio Berry Sweet Word Stickers, flair button, strip of jewels, 6 SS Simple Vintage Flower Shoppe Sentiment Bits & Pieces, Pretty Little Studio Word Cut Aparts You Are My Sunshine, Rosie's Studio 2 chipboard pieces Born to Bloom and 6 Doodlebug Designs All Aflutter stickers

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Fussy, Aqua (included in kit), Granny Smith, Tangelo, Pollen and Coconut Swirl (in extra pack).

It's a Girl Thing! - This layout is for my sister's album and shows her with Florence, with all four generations. 

I started this layout with the Coconut Swirl Bazzill, then built up the design with several other papers from the kit.

The edges of all cut papers were inked with Distress Inks. I cut a 3" x 11" strip of Best Life Butterflies paper, and placed this to the left of the page. Then layered an 8.5" circle of Garden Party paper on top. 

I gutted the Begonia paper and saved the 1" frame for the next layout. The photos were then mounted onto the grid side of the remaining paper. I placed the photos onto the layout. One of the cupcake doilies from the kit was positioned under the left side photo. I cut a 2" white card circle to place over the centre of the doily, and wrote my journalling onto it. 

For the title I used a set of Doodlebug Designs Foam Stamps 'Simply Sweet' and some black acrylic paint to stamp the word 'Girl' onto the green side of the Garden Party paper. I cut these letters out and placed them onto the layout. Then with Doodlebug Designs Rub-ons 'All Mixed Up' Large Beetle Black, I added the rest of the title. 

Using more Doodlebug Designs Rub-ons 'All Mixed Up', this time small and Medium in Beetle Black, I spelt out the date and the subtitle. Also, from Doodlebug Designs I used some Sew-Easy Rub-on Stitches.

I created a large and small cluster of flowers to reflect the flowers on the papers. I used Bazzill cardstock from the kit and a few other shades from my own stash, and some old leaf and flower dies from my stash.

Bathing Bea Bee - My daughter decided Florence's soft toy bee needed a wash, so decided rather than take it away from her to do this, she involved her in the process of washing and drying the bee. She had a lovely time!

I made a frame for the layout using Begonia, before starting the first layout, and I'm using it here, daisy side up. I trimmed some Coconut Swirl Bazzill to 10.5" x 10.5" and heavily inked the edges with Distress Oxide Ink in Speckled Egg, as this is a great match for the paper.

I used the second doily from the kit over where my smaller photos will go on the right of the layout, and inked through and around it, to create a lacy pattern. With more ink mixed with a little water, I flicked more ink over the page.

Using various patterned paper scraps from the kit (Live. Love,.Scrap, Garden Party and Begonia), I cut some strips and placed them, overlapping one another to the left side of the page. My large photo was placed in the centre of the layout, with two smaller photos to each side.

The title was cut from Black and Pollen Bazzill, using the Spellbinders - Simple Stories - Say Cheese Classic Mouse Alphabet Die Set. These were mounted over one another, to create a shadow, and then arranged on the layout using 3D foam pads of alternate letters to add some texture.

I embellished the layout with items from the kit -  Pretty Little Studio Berry Sweet Word Stickers, flair button, strip of jewels, 6 SS Simple Vintage Flower Shoppe Sentiment Bits & Pieces and Rosie's Studio 2 chipboard pieces Born to Bloom.


This concludes the August kit, although there is still plenty of papers card and embellishments to create another layout.

I'll be back with the September kit very soon.
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x