Trimcraft Simply Creative Life's a Beach Take Me To The Beach Scrapbook Page

Hi all

I have a bright Seaside layout for you. The page was inspired by my need to get to a beach any beach and soon. I am counting  down to my holiday so crafting with this collect brought back a few memories.

Take a 12x12 sheet and cut another 12x12 sheet into a 24 cm by 14 cm rectangle and adhere to center of page.

Cut another rectangle 16 cm by 10 cm and tear down the edges, rough it up a bit more using scissors.

Adhere this down the page by the edge of the large rectangle

Mat the photo onto patterned paper and trim around it to leave a boarder

Glue a bit of netting over the layers

Cut a 4cm by 15 cm strip and place  over the net

Add a few strips of summer themed washi tape along the middle of the page.

Decorate around the photo with die-cut shells, tickets and bucket and spade

I used washi tape to add a bright pattern to the spade

           Finish off by adding the title with a mixture of Simply Creative Alphabet stickers.

Trimcraft Scrapbook Feature March Shabby Chic Layout

Hi all 

I am sharing my layout i made for the Trimcraft Scrapbook Feature. You can read the full tutorial here http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/

I used the new Dovecraft Floral Muse collection to make this layout

These flowers are from the Layered Flowers Die Set

The title was made using the foil machine by First Edition

I cut the frames in half so that they can be slotted behind things 

Thank you for visiting

Docrafts Creativity Essentials Stamp Kit Layouts

Hi all

I am back with another post showing off my layouts i made for the Home Shopping Channel. I used the Creativity Essentials Trad Flower stamp sets to create the mixed media backgrounds.

With this page i spritzed Aubergine Spritzing ink onto the background and placed the flower stamps on to a large acrylic block. I then  used the blue and purple shading pads to blend the colours

I used the Artiste Watercolour Pens to colour the background before stamping the grass texture stamp along the bottom. I then added stems and flowers before finishing off by cutting out the photo and adhering it in place. 

Here i used the lowers to create a spray across the page before adding the layers using a mixture of the Capsule Collection Eau De Nil and French Lavender collections.

Here is another way that you can use the stamps to create an interesting background.

The Memory Nest Make It Monday no 51

Hi all 

I am back with my first project as part of The Memory Nest Design Team. To join in just make a card or scrapbook page using our sketch below and link up to the challenge blog here www.thememorynest.blogspot.co.uk

I made a card using the Nature's Gallery Ultimate Die-cut pack. I layered up the toppers and added extra butterflies and gems to finish.

Thank you for visiting 

by the sea layout

Hi all

I've been playing with the new First Edition pads this week. I have another scrapbook feature with Trimcraft coming in April so keep you eye out for it on their website www.trimcraft.co.uk. I would love some feedback so please leave a few comments.

now onto the layout, i used the 12x12 The Promise paper pad by First Edition as the base and spritzed inks on to it and let it dry. I was trying out a new technique where you rub ink directly over the mask but it didn't work and i've had to apply texture paste over it.

 The layers are made by taking the 6x6 Paper Flowers pad and tearing out 3 sheets of paper. I just cut different widths of strips and layered them over each other while slotting different bits behind them.

I used textured stamps on the background and under the layers to add more texture.

Thanks for looking and a product list is available here http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/projects/117770/by-the-sea-layout

My First Scrapbook Feature with Trimcraft

I have some news to share xx

My first scrapbooking tutorial has been published on the Trimcraft website. You can see it by visiting

http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/articles/how-to-scrapbook-introduction-with-basic-layering-and-embellishments-tutorial

I will be publishing a different tutorial once a month and will be covering different techniques and inspiration on scrapbooking. For the step by step guide please follow the above link. Bellow are some money saving tips for beginners.

When looking at purchasing die cutters, i always go for things that i can adapt to use on several projects. Nesting dies are great for saving time when cutting out shapes and also means you do not need to cut them out by hand which with me usually ends up wonky. I buy alphabet dies because in the long run you save money, as the alphabet stickers eventually run out of vowels to use. You can make your stickers last a bit longer by mixing up the different sticker sets.

If a 12x12 page is too daunting you can always try 8x8 or A4 pages and build up. A lot of the paper craft ranges come in multiple sizes and the smaller pads are cheaper.

The shells are made by pressing white clay into a silicone mould and left to air dry. these can then be painted if needed.

If you don't want to purchase a lot of embellishments then you could always look at recycling packaging to use on your pages. You can always take ribbons off of gift boxes or labels off clothing.

Thank you for looking and if you have any ideas or feedback please leave me a comment. I will be back in April covering the basics of mixed media.

The Memory Nest Make it monday no 22

Hi everyone just waving hello for the first time in weeks. There is a new challenge over at www.thememorynest.blogspot.co.uk for anyone who needs inspiration. I've got a bit of catching up to do as I've been busy organizing and planning the Christmas crafting. I know complete madness !! Christmas in July but to be honest it distracted me from the heat of summer. its wonderful, the last English summer was in the 90's but we aren't used to the heat anymore so anything above 25 degrees c is a heat wave.

I am keeping in with my love for all things vintage and added another couple of vintage style layouts to the heritage album. The paper i used here is from the First Edition Bella Rose paper pad and its lovely and thick like card stock so can hold heavy embellishments. i love the patterns and soft colours as they work well with old photos.

 I used the Adhesive lace from the Eau de nil range from Papermania. its easy to use and will stick to almost anything.

The flower is made by cutting one large bloom in half and  sticking it to a full bloom. i then hot glued ribbon loops in place of the petals.

Thanks for looking and there is more to follow including Docrafts  Monday and the Trimcraft Christmas range part 1. 

The Memory Nest Make it Monday no18

We have a new sketch up at www.thememorynest.blogspot.co.uk for you today. Don't forget to link your projects up so the DT can leave you some comments.

I've recently been to Great Yarmouth and came back with loads of seaside photos, so I did a nice beach themed layout using American crafts  Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm papers and Papermania Ahoy there.

 It was a warm and sunny weekend break, I even got to use the sun cream. the thing with Yarmouth is that unless you travel a long distances it can get a bit repetitive walking around the resort. I am a bit more adventurous and like to go out and explore so I did well staying in one place for 3 days.

I just grabbed a load of bits and pieces I had hanging around and stuck them on the layout. the little shell dies are Quickutz cookie cutter dies. I've had them a while but never used them that much.

I've been trying to use that wave die for ages.

Journaling is an important part of your scrapbooks and it gives you the opportunity to talk about things you can not see in your photos. incorporate the five senses into your writing to bring those memories to life. I take an A5 note book on my travels so I can jot things down and keep things I;ve collected in it. it helps when you get back home and start putting things in to an album.

I used the Joy Crafts flags die to make the bunting which is one of my favourite dies. most of this layout was made with my older stash which I am still trying to use up. I might sneak another American Crafts paper pad in depending on whether TK Maxx has had a new load of stock in.

The Memory Nest April Challenge Crystal's Sketch

The challenge for this week is to use the sketch below with one of the phases. I choose 'Enjoy the little things' as it fits in with the nature theme. if you would like to join us and have a chance to win some goodies then look no further www.thememorynest.blogspot.co.uk. Share your projects and the team will leave some comments on your blog too.

I used a combination of Dear Lizzy with Papermania Spots and Stripe Bright's papers and embellishments. I found the colours livened up the photo which was taken on an overcast day. I just love to use lots of different colours and I just happen to have accumulated a lot of this range  of papers.

I always try to group my page elements in groups of 3 or 5 as this is the most easy on the eye, something to do with the way our brain works means that certain patterns are more appealing then others. I am no brain scientist but if it looks pretty i'm sticking it on.

These little chip board buttons are great to use if you want to add one to the page with out it being to bulky,  if your die-cut letters don't show up to well, you can try carefully drawing around the letters with a fine pen or shade around them for a more artistic effect.

I created a petal boarder using the new Xcut A5 flower die-set, I folded them in the centre to make them stand out more. I found this helped the photo blend in a bit better.

I look forward to seeing all your creations.

Guest Designer at The Memory Nest

I have been asked by Leslie from The Memory Nest to be a guest designer this month's challenge and what a honour it is and I would like to thank her for this opportunity. The theme is Autumn or Halloween so dig out those photos and play along at The Memory Nest. http://thememorynest.blogspot.co.uk.

My  layout is an autumn layout and was made during the beginning of fall when the air becomes fresher and everything is turning from green and bright to rusts and earthy tones. the photo is of
the cannel that flows through the town I live in and as I walked past it one sunny September afternoon I took this shot.

 I used American Crafts Earth Tones cardstock with Dear Lizzy Lucky charm and Create Paper Pink Plum papers. all these products compliment each other really well and I love the autumn tones of these papers. I've discovered AC Thickers I love them, American Crafts where have you been all my life!!.

I've been experimenting with stencils and used the ivy to frame my photo using gesso and acrylic paint. the die cuts are made using Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings decorative die cutter and the mini rosette die cutter and Bare Basics Christmas Chipboard Shapes from Papermania.

The Memory Nest Make it Monday Ombre challenge

I'm  playing along with Make it Monday at http://thememorynest.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/make-it-monday-ombre.html. this weeks challenge is to use the ombre technique and use water colours , sprays or mists, stamping and stencils.

I used both water colour paints and sprays on this layout of a walk on the beach on a sunny autumn day.

 I used Papermania Ahoy there with Dear Lizzy papers for this layout