Christmas Cards

I know...everyone else posted their Christmas creations ages ago...but I've been busy writing and literally posting my cards amongst other things. So here are a few cards made - some to send but some to sell in aid of our Church's Big Project.

The ones above were made courtesy of a trip to Tesco! Starting with a Papermania card blank, I used Tesco Christmas paper chains to cover a triangle of card...and a Tesco 'table scatter' snowflake as an embellishment. Very quick..and very easy!!!

Below, are a few from a set of photo Christmas cards I made,inspired by Fiona Beckman's card on page 83 of Papercraft Inspirations (Issue 80). Take a few Christmassy photos, one sewing machine and add in some dymo tape....

And talking of magazines...do check out p77 of the latest Scrapbook Magazine (issue 51)!!!

Scrap Canvas @ the Christmas Craft and Crop

At last....here are some photos of the fantastic canvases made at the Christmas Craft and Crop back in November. Sorry its taken so long to post them... but they're worth the wait. I loved how different each one was, even though everyone started with the same sketch and example (see below). Thank you to my Scrap Happy ladies for letting me photograph their work x

by Hazel Tyler

by Val Hadfield

by Suzanne McAllister

by Charm Hobbs

Rocky Road @ the Christmas Craft and Crop

Thanks to everyone who came to the Christmas Craft and Crop on Saturday. We had a fantastic day with some amazing canvases and layouts being created. I'll try and post some images over the next few days.

In the meantime...I thought I'd post my Rocky Road recipe. This is seriously yummy - enjoy!!!!

Rocky Road

175g margarine

2 tablespoons golden syrup

200g plain chocolate

200g milk chocolate

1 pack chocolate digestives

1 pack rich tea biscuits

Handfuls of chopped cherries, maltesers, mini marshmallows

Icing sugar to decorate

Crush biscuits in a plastic bag

Tip into large mixing bowl and add cherries etc

Melt margarine, syrup and chocolate in a saucepan

Pour chocolate mixture into bowl and mix thoroughly to coat everything in chocolate.

Tip into large flat tin and cool in fridge

When set, empty out, cut into pieces and dust with icing sugar

Christmas Canvas

Have a look at this gorgeous canvas made by Clare, a Scrap Happy regular. She has used the same sketch as I did for my 'Hannah' canvas - but with amazingly different results. I love the criss cross stitching  (using Bazzill in stitch'z) and the Sizzix Christmas tree.

Thank you Clare for letting me use it on my blog (and for the company whilst we made our canvases the other morning).

If you'd like to join the 'Scrap Canvas' class at the Christmas Craft and Crop do have a look here and drop me an email .

Scrap Canvas

At last! I've finished this canvas of Hannah when she was 4 days old. This is one of my favourite baby photos ever - I love how tiny she appears on Andy's arm - and I also quickly learnt to love the fact that she was asleep (a bit of a rarity for baby Hannah!). My grand plan is to make one of each of the children to put up in our bedroom - and as this didn't take too long I might even manage it!

'Hannah'

Supplies: paper - Fancy Pants, Creative Memories, The Girls Paperie; ribbon - RexHome; flowers - Prima; buttons - from an old pair of slippers; die-cuts - Sizzix 'tattered florals'; Bazzill in stitch'z;

I painted the canvas with some cheapy twinkly watercolours from the Works - I was going to use acrylics but I rather liked the sparkle from these paints and they seemed less heavy for a baby page. The rest of the layout is based on this sketch, minus the title and journaling:

I used my bazzill in stitch'z templates again to add some detail..and I'm really pleased with the result.

If you would like a chance to make your own canvas there will be a 'Scrap Canvas' class running from as part of the Scrap Happy Christmas Craft and Crop on 27th November. The 2-hour class starts at 11am and you can either come and scrap for the whole day or book for just the Scrap Canvas class. If you would like to know more please check out this page, or drop me an email .

True Stories

I've just signed up for the Shimelle 'True Stories' course :) For those of you who know me, I love the idea of including lots of journaling on my pages (and have a huge collection of journaling stamps to prove it), but don't always manage to actually do it! This is a 3 week course with daily email prompts to help with telling our stories...can't wait! If you fancy having a go, check out Shimelle's blog here .

Christmas Cards

I had a fantastic time at Ally Pally on Saturday with my friend Suzanne. We were there for the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show...and I went clutching (in cash) all my Scrap Happy money from the past couple of months.

  

Naturally we went and visited Sugar and Spice first, even though they're only down the road, and I also loved the Scrapshed and Scrap Revolution stalls. I now have lots of new projects buzzing around in my head, but the first thing I've put to use are my new 'Hero Arts' Christmas Tree stamps.

I'm not sure if its organised or sad to be making Christmas cards in September but I used one of the stamps to make a very simple set of cards.

First I stamped the two trees and a greeting on a tall card blank.

Then I stamped the same image onto patterned paper (a great way to use up scraps). I cut just the triangle shape out - nice and quick and easy ... which is good coz I hate fiddly cutting out.

Finally I stuck the patterned paper over the top of the stamped images, and coloured in the tree trunks and stars.... a very quick set of cards!!!

Birthday Princess

During the summer holidays I had a lovely couple of days (with the children at Granny and Grandad's) and managed to get a bit of scrapping done, as well as planning a new kitchen and some never ending 'sorting out.'

I made this page for the Papermaze blog 'Saturday sketches' and I'm really excited that they've used it on their blog (check out the Papermaze blog here).

The big heart shape took me right out of my comfort zone and it took me ages to find a photo that I thought would go..but I am pleased with the end result!

'Birthday Princess'

Supplies: Paper – The Girls Paperie, Fancy Pants, Bazzill  Dotted Swiss; Stickers – Creative Memories, Basic Grey; Flowers: Prima; Bazzill Basics In Stitchz; Alphabet – sizzix ‘bloom’; Stamps – Collage press (Charleston Rings), Woodware;

My Little Book of Lists

As some of you know, I have been running a monthly course called 'My Little Book of Lists'. This is basically a book of me, presented in list form. Each month we create an 8" double page about ourselves and topics so far have included our new year's resolutions, favourite foods, favourite books etc.

I am really enjoying the discipline of making a particular page each month..and this is the first time I have appeared on my own scrapbook pages. Exciting to think that in November I will actually have completed an album - a first for me!!!

..And here are some of the pages I have made so far...

'Playlist'

'My Favourite Food'

'I love books'

 

'One day in my life'

'Friends'

Starting school

Big news - Tom started school last Monday! He seems to have really settled in and is loving it so far - though he is so tired that most days he has been in his pyjamas by 1.30pm (he's only doing mornings at the moment!).

And this has left me with a little bit more time...to do housework, or shopping, or school planning, or......
I had a lovely time last week. I spent one morning making cards, another scrapbooking and another meeting a friend for coffee at Barleylands and visiting Sugar and Spice! Very little housework got done! Maybe this week....

I spent my scrapbooking morning catching up on the children's school albums. I've got a school album for each of the children. As well as the school photos, I have also included ballet and swimming and brownies stuff...and there are also plastic pockets to hold certificates and other memorabilia. This is one project I am deternmined to complete!

I had a lovely time looking back at their 'first day at school' photos - and enjoyed using these gorgeous letter stickers from Echo Park.

Here are a few of my 'school album' pages:

'Tom's first day at school'

Supplies: Paper & journaling boxes - fancy pants; letter stickers - Creative Memories, Echo Park; Stamp - My Mind's Eye

'A new rainbow'

Supplies: Paper - Kaiser Craft, Creative Memories, : Letter stickers - American Crafts 'thickers'; Dymo labeller; Ric-rac

'Back to school'

Supplies: Paper - Creative Memories, Fancy Pants ; Stickers - Echo Park;

'Friends'

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill swiss dot, Collage Press, Creative Memories; Stickers - Echo Park, K & Co; Punch - Martha Stewart; Loopy swirl - sizzix;

Scrap Happy Christmas Craft & Crop

I have got my act together and the booking forms for the Christmas Craft and Crop are now available!!

This year's 'Christmas Craft and Crop' is on Saturday 27th November at Keene Hall, from 10am - 5pm. We had a brilliant time back in May and once again, it should be a fantastic day with loads of classes, demos, shopping, refreshments etc to fit in as well as scrapping and chatting!

And we have a really exciting additional session this year. From 11am - 1pm you can book into a Scrap Canvas class where you will use scrapbook techniques and your favourite photos to create a piece of unique wall art. In this session you will use ribbons, paints and fabrics (as well as your usual stash) to create a ‘layout’ on artists’ canvas. They make great presents and I have made a few canvases as gifts - though I'm planning to keep the next one I make!

There will also be some old favourites, with a 'sketch club' challenge competition..and we will be raising money once again for Cancer Research UK.

Please do get in touch if you'd like to know more x

sketch club coming up

I'm just getting organised for next months sketch club..and here is my layout:

'Cherish'

Supplies: paper & cardstock – daisy d’s, bo bunny, my little shoebox, Creative Memories; flowers – Creative Memories; stickers – words & crafts; Silhouette words - Heidi Swapp; ribbon – from stash

....and here are the sketches for July and September. Scrap Happy sketch club starts at 8pm at Keene Hall in Galleywood on Tuesday July 6th and Tuesday September 7th. If you'd like to book a place please drop me an email....or just have a go at making your layouts at home!

Think Pink thanks

It's taken me a while to post this but thank you to everyone who supported the Scrap Happy 'Think Pink' scrapbook day. We had a brilliant time - and it was lovely to see some new faces too. We also raised £108.08 for Cancer Research UK - well done!!!

Now for a few photos...

And the next all day Scrap Happy crop is the Christmas Craft and Crop on Saturday 27th November. Do put it in your diaries now! 

Scrap Happy Think Pink Charity Crop...less than a month to go...

I've been busy preparing for the Think Pink crop on May 22nd. Less than a month to go and lots to get ready...

This will be a fantastic day and we will also be raising money to support Cancer Research UK.

There are lots of different booking options for you to get the most out of your day. Come for either the whole day or half a day… Enjoy the chance to work on your own projects or try something different and take part in the classes and demonstrations… There are also discounts available for group bookings so do invite your friends to come and make a day of it – the more the merrier!

Everyone booked will receive a ‘scrappy’ goody bag and the day will include:
• ‘Introduction to scrapbooking’ session for beginners
• ‘Sketch club’ challenge competition
• Think Pink ATC swop
• Additional ‘CD mini album’ class
As always, there will be a wide range of tools available to use (trimmers, sizzix, sewing machine, big bite etc).


If you aren’t able to come for the whole day, please do bring your friends and drop in for a cup of coffee and a cake anyway. Entrance is £1 (proceeds to Cancer Research UK).
There will be:
• A huge scrapbook shop including an album sale
• A bring’n’buy charity craft stall
• A charity raffle
• Cake stall

I hope to see you on the day x

Better late than never...

I've been making cards...and even managed to get some made for my own family, rather than just for other people. So here's one I made earlier...

Valentines card for Andy

supplies: paper - kelly panacci; dies - sizzix, cuttlebug; dymo labeller

...and in my defence, I did give Andy this Valentine's card on time - I just didn't get round to photographing it and posting it on here:)