Creativity Magazine welcomes a new Designer

Hi all 

i am back with more good news xx

           

I have passed the magazine trial and i am now part of the Creativity Magazine team

              

Here is my layout published in a two page feature, I can't believe it either pinch me. I am on pages 42 and 43. There will be more of my work to follow in future issues of the mag so keep em peeled.

I will be back with the full detail photos of my layout in a bit

Thank you

A Bohemian Rhapsody with Trimcraft's new premium range

Hi all

I am back with a new paper range to show you. This is the new Bohemian range by Trimcraft.

This card was made by covering a square card with 6x6 paper from the Bohemian pad. It was already printed with a frame on so i just applied my stamp and colored it in. The butterflies are cut from the packaging and stuck on with foam dots.

For this card i sprayed misters across the card and let them run down a bit. I used a bit of newspaper underneath so it did not  go everywhere. I then stamped the deer image over the top and a sentiment next to it.

i just splattered Misters all over this one and used the button die set with the Deer stamp set

Thank you for visiting

I have Joined the Forever Dark Design Team

Hi all

Just wanted to drop in and share some news.

I have been chosen to join Forever Dark a new challenge blog for all things a bit well Dark. Don't worry i am not going to cover myself in goats blood and run naked through a forest or anything. If you like Halloween, horror, fantasy and goth styles of crafting then this is for you. No cape or sacrificial goats needed just colouring mediums and creativity.

                  and just in case you are worried here  are few of my Darkest creations

 For some reason i cant make a cute Gorjuss Girl card, i think its the fact she has no smile that makes her a bit dark.

 

  

I still don't like the plague doctor. This is  a scrapbook layout of one of the weirdest and most haunted museums in England apparently.

See not as bad as you thought eh? the DT is still looking for one more place to fill. we are working with digi stamps that we choose, so you can decide what you are comfortable working with. I like dragons and Halloween so that's what  i am choosing to use. If you would like to join us here is a link to the DT Call http://foreverdarkchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ the challenge blog goes live in June so its brand new.

Remember to have fun

Thanks for visiting

First Edition Kaleidoscope: Life is full of Colour Layout

Hi everyone i have a new layout to share today. This is the bright Kaleidoscope paper pad by First Edition. Very arty and great for mixed media 

I didnt add too much this time as the busy patterns would lose most things so i added a bit of texture paste to calm it down.

I learned that the First Edition dies cut through foam, which means i can now create my own Thickers.

I mixed up the alphabets to create a more interesting layout that and i really like cutting things out of craft foam.

A few close ups of the layers which i keep simple by cutting various sized strips of paper and layering them over each other.

                                                       

   Thanks for looking
             You can find more Trimcraft products on their website. www.trimcraft.co.uk

A Kaleidoscope of colour with First Edition

Hi all i am back today showing off the new Kaleidoscope paper pad by First Edition. This  lovely bright paper range is very summery with lots of tie-dye patterns.

This card is simple to make. Take a piece of patterned paper and punch a fancy edge along it using a boarder punch. cover half the card with the paper and glue down.

                        

   

Take 2 or 3 mist sprays and spritz them across the card. Cut a paper doily in half and crumple up. spritz with ink and glue down to corner of card.

finish by stamping out a sentiment and butterfly on to plain card, cut out and stick down using 3d foam pads.

Thanks for visiting and you can find more info on this range here http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/products/632/kaleidoscope-travel-notes-brand-new

More Mirabelle Projects

Hi all 

i am back with some more Mirabelle inspiration.

I have another mixed media card which i started of by flicking DecoArt misters over the base layer. I used Purple shimmer and black acrylic mister. I then added more textures by cutting 3 doilies in half and sticking them together. I scrumped up the edges to add dimension.

I used the decoupage pad to make the topper and then stamped a sentiment onto a card stock sticker. If you accidentally smudge the ink you can wipe it if with a baby wipe and start again.

Here is a wall hanging i made by covering a wooden plaque with Deco Mache paper and painting with DecoArt crackle paint. I then rubbed metallic lustre over it.

Thanks  for visiting

Introducing Santoro Mirabelle

I have a card to share today. 

I used the new Mirabelle range and it is a beautiful paper range.

I started off by flicking purple DecoArt misting spray over the card. And the added a few layers.

I used the decopage pad to create the topper and the cut out a frame from the Mirabelle die set. I cut it in half and slotted it behind the topper.

This is a wooden.shape from the Me to you Christmas range. I painted it with DecoArt crackle paste and the used the petunia antiquating cream over it.

To add a shimmer to flowers i used the metalic lustre and rubbed a bit of silver paste over it

Thank you for visiting and you can see the whole range at www.trimcraft.co.uk

Tando Creative April Challenge.

Hi everyone

I am having a go at the anything goes challenge over on the Tando Creative blog. You can join in here http://www.tando-creative.blogspot.co.uk/p/april-link-up.html

I am going to share my canvas i made using Tando creative masks and DecoArt products. This started life as a canvas wall hanging i bought from Cancer Research for 50p.

 This is an old project that i have spruced up a bit starting with changing the letters so that the sentiment shows up better.

The butterfly was a bare wooden shape that i covered in modeling paste and spritzed inks over. I let the ink drip down onto the canvas for added effect.

I've painted the edges of the canvas with the Americana Decor chalky finish paint so that it blends in better.

Here i have played around with the DecoArt crackle past which i have painted over with Antiquing cream and left to dry.

Thank you for visiting

Trimcraft Scrapbook Feature April

My latest Scrapbook tutorial is up on the Trimcraft website, this month we take a look at the basics of using mixed media on your projects. The link to the article is below.

http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/articles/how-to-scrapbook-advanced-tutorial-with-mixed-media-and-inks

This photo was taken at the Stratford Butterfly farm which is located near the River Avon, Its a beautiful walk and i never get tired of photographing the butterflies.

Stratford is such a scenic town and there plenty of places to photograph.

Here are a few of my favourite photos and i often use them on my layouts. I took these in natural light using the Macro setting, which looks like a flower.

Here are a few detailed photographs of my layout. I mostly layered different types of flowers together. I love to combine different materials to build up texture.

 

i spritzed yellow-green DecoArt misters on to white flowers to get a variety of colours.

Now i will share a technique with you.

1) apply the texture paste at random to the page. There are a lot of different ones so experiment or make your own.

2) unscrew the cap on the misting spray and drop ink onto the page. The texture paste helps it run down as its smooth.

3) lift the page slightly to allow ink to run down the page.

Thank you for visiting and please comment and let me know is this tutorial helped you.

How to print off square photos using a home prnter

Hi i am back with part 2 of my tutorial on how to make your photos square shaped. Today i will show you how to print them off using your home printer.

Step 1) open the folder where you have saved your cropped square photos and hold down the Ctrl while selecting the ones you wish to print. This way you can print multiple photos in one go.

Step 2) Once you have selected your photos, continue to hold the Ctrl button and right click and click on the print option from the pop up menu.

Step 3) next you will see a box pop up with your print options. Un-tick the fit to page box so that the program does not automatically stretch the image to fit the whole page. from here you can choose how many photos to print per page. I choose the 4 photo option so that the come out about 4x4 on A4 printer paper but to get smaller 2x2 photos choose the 9 photo option. Most of the common printers will have a similar set up.

hope this helps and thanks for visiting.

Free The Chevron Collection digital download and a project to share

I am busy on the blog today and catching up with all the projects i want to share. Here is an older project i made with the Chevron collection that is available for free on the Docrafts website

i added splashes of spritzing inks over the card before adding the layers. i used Cardinal Red, Midnight and Mint green.

i have cut out the large chevrons and mounted them onto acetate so that they float above the layers. The stamps are free with creativity mag and they are one of my favourite sets.

The sentiment is from the Graffiti collection which is also free to download and print.

I coloured the hearts in with the Artiste Water colour pens which are really easy to use even for a complete novice like me.

Thank you for visiting

Docrafts Blogger Outreach Program: Mr Mister Scrapbook Layout and New Papercraft Range Coming Soon

As a member of the Docrafts Blogger Outreach Program i am lucky enough to have been give some product samples by the lovely Emma Collins. Below is a layout i made using the new Mr Mister range by Papermania. It will be here in May and is fab for all those masculine projects.

I started off with a splash of Artiste Gold stone misting spray and white acrylic paint on the background. i then grabbed some jute twine and made a rough circle and glued it down.

Here are some shots from that day

I visited the Historic Navy Dockyard in Portsmouth in 2010. there was a lot to see there and i have always wanted to go back and explore the museums. They even have old ships you can go on and look around.

        The HMS Victory is a huge and grand ship that i would like to go on next time i visit

The dock was still active and there are different ships docking in everyday. we were lucky enough to see the HMS Ark Royal

This statue used to be on the front of a ship

The layers are made by cutting the 12x12 sheets into different lengths and widths. i just inked them and layered them together and added a few stamped boarders along side them.

This is one of the Bare Basic pocket tags and is great for adding journaling to your page. i used the Denim trims to blend it into the layout.

i finished my page off by adding lots of little wooden shapes and bits  i have lying around in my stash.

Thanks for looking and i will be back with more projects and new product launches soon