Me?? Scrapbooking???

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.

Well, this is a post I never thought I would be writing ... I actually did some scrapbooking today!!  What!!!  You say??  Scrapbooking  ... You????  Yep!! Me!!

We had our 11 yr old Granddaughter Melanie here for a sleep-over last night.  Because of the heat ( it was over 40 degrees here in Adelaide for the fourth day in a row) we decided to stay home today and create a scrapbook page of their dog "Sully" (Short for Sullivan).
It was the greatest fun.  I absolutely loved it and I think she did too.
So, here is our page!!

 The photo was taken not long after they brought the dog home which was about 6 months ago.  He's a lot bigger now, and I mean a LOT bigger!!  Anyway I showed my DGD (Darling Granddaughter) some layouts on my Pinterest Board and she chose a design made by Di Garling.  Di creates the most amazing pages.  This one is from a couple of weeks ago and, If you would like to take a look, HERE is the link to her blog.  Mel absolutely loved the tears in the paper and that is why she chose this particular page.

So the papers were chosen from the limited stock of 12 x 12's I have in my stash (I have no idea where they are from) and we used black cardstock as our base.  Melanie actually did the ripping of the paper and I really think she thoroughly enjoyed that too. So then we did some spraying with diluted 'Broken China' Distress Ink and some stamping, this time with 'Faded Jeans' Distress Ink, added a bit of Washi Tape and also splashed a bit of diluted "Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink around the page.

The flowers are a mix of Dusty Attic, Prima and Kaisercraft and the chippies are from Little Birdie.  Simply coloured them with Versa Magic "Cloud White' and Versa Color "Lapislazuli.

The clock is from Scrapbook'n'Craft and was coloured with Versa Color "Lapislazuli and then mounted on some paper coloured with the same ink.

Our page didn't turn out anything like Di's original  but then it was never meant to.  We just used the basic design and I am happy to say that Melanie was very pleased with the result and was very proud as she showed her Mum and Dad after we took her home.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time to do the Title which will simply be the dog's name but I will get that cut out some time at a later date and then Mel can add it to the page.
This may be the only Scrapbook page I ever create and the fact that it was done with my Granddaughter really makes it very special for me.  It was a really fabulous day!!

Thank you so much for visiting and hopefully leaving a little comment so I can pass it on to my Granddaughter.   We both would love to know what you think.
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Christmas Cards # 3

Hi everyone!!!  Welcome to my blog ... so pleased you came for a visit.

I'm back to share with you the last of the Christmas Cards I made for this year.  These are the ones I made for close family and some special friends, although I must say, all of my friends are special.  They must be to put up with me!!  hehe!!

As with the other cards I've shown you, these are all basically the same card just made with different papers.   They are Easel Cards and all of the base papers are from Meg's Garden's 'Musical Christmas' and 'Christmas Time' Mini Packs and the trees were made with a number of different Kaisercraft Christmas papers.

 Construction of the tree is simple.  You just cut a triangle to whatever size you want from chipboard or some other type of stiff board, glue a small frill of border punched paper along the bottom and then fill the shape with leaf diecuts from different papers.  It is a little time consuming but I thoroughly enjoyed making these, they are a lot of fun.  You could add some glitter here and there or maybe a few small gems to represent lights or even use some white puff paint or embossing powder to represent snow but I left these plain.  I felt the different colours of the paper was enough.

The star at the top of the tree is a plastic snowflake which I painted with gold acrylic paint.  The label is from Kaisercraft to which I added the greeting sticker and the diecut is the 'Virtuoso Music' Die from Memory Box.

 The inside was decorated with more of the papers from Meg's Garden and I just added a diecut oval shape with the sentiment and also a Kaisercraft 'Holly Border' flourish.  The flourish was coloured with Versa Color in Scarlet and Green  and I also added a few red gems to represent berries.

 Here is how the card looks standing up ...  

 ... and here are a few pics of some others made with different papers.

On this one you can see the little bit of border punching I did on the paper.  It doesn't show up quite as well on the others.

Once again, this is just a sampling of the cards made.  

Not sure if I'll be back here before Christmas so I would like to wish all of you a wonderful and joyous Christmas.  Hope you all have a fabulous day and many Blessings to each and every one of you.

Thank you so much for visiting.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Christmas Cards # 2

Hello everyone!!  I hope you are all well and enjoying your day.

I'm back again to share with you another Christmas Card.  This one is actually the template for most of the cards I've made for Christmas this year.  To make things a little easier on me ( and I'm always looking for ways to make things easier on me .. hehe! )  I usually decide on a design for my Christmas cards and then make them all pretty much the same except for the papers I use.  Actually, I use two designs.  One for the general cards for close friends and distant family and another for my immediate family.  This card is the one I used for close friends.

I love the traditional colours for Christmas and the papers I've used are from small pads of different Kaisercraft Christmas Collections.  I had bought so many pads last year that I felt I'd better use them up.  I simply layered a few mats cut from different papers in different sizes ( one of which was matted on some cardstock ) and then also added a little banner which was matted on cardstock.  Added a frame cut out with Marianne Creatables Frame and Swirls Die and then placed a greeting label over the top.  Added another die-cut  in between the frame and the label to add a bit more interest.  This die is the Snowflake Sprig die from Memory Box.  I simply cut the piece into three and spread them out under the label.

The poinsettia was cut out from different papers with my Silhouette, and the leaves were also cut with my Silhouette and then slightly shaped and edged with gold Versa Color. 

The inside was decorated with some strips of the paper which were edged with Martha Stewarts Doily Border Punch.  The sentiment was cut out with Couture Creations Victorian Square Die.

Here are some pics of a few of the other cards made.

This is just a small sampling. I won't bore you too much by showing all of them but I think, from these piccies, you get the idea.

In my last post I complained about leaving all my Christmas preparations to the last minute, which is what I always do, but now I can report that I am finished!!!   All cards made and posted, all presents purchased and ready to be wrapped!!  I can't believe how easy it all was this year.  Took a while to get the cards done but the pressies were all over and done with in one shop!!!  I really amazed myself!!  Hope all your Christmas preparations go as well as mine did.

Thank you so much for visiting.

Take care, be safe, and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Christmas Cards - #1

Hello everyone!!  A very warm welcome to my blog!

So, I guess everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas.  Life is starting to get quite hectic around here.  Shops are chocka-bloc full of people every time we go and it's getting more and more difficult to find a parking space!  I know!! I know!!  If I had been better prepared I would have done all my Christmas shopping ages ago and had all my cards made!!  I say that every year and every year it's a last minute rush..  Don't know why I just can't learn from past mistakes!!  Ah well!!  Maybe next year??!!!

Anyhow, I have a card to share.  One of the Christmas ones I've been busy with.

The papers I've used are from Meg's Garden's Christmas Time Collection Mini Pack. Distressed the edges and added some hand sewing.

 The gorgeous ribbon also is from Meg's Garden.  It was ivory originally but I coloured it with Fired Brick Distress Stain.  Simply sprayed it onto my non-stick mat and then ran the ribbon through it. I love how it turned out.  

 The wreath was cut from cardstock with my Silhouette Portrait.  I simply tweaked it a little and added some small branches to fill it out a bit.  Added the small gems for berries and the 'snow' is white puff paint.  

Some closies.

 On the inside I used some Kaisercraft papers but I don't know which collection they are from.  The border punch is Martha Stewart's Doily Lace. 

 Found the little verse on the net, printed it onto some cream cardstock and cut it out with Couture Creations Victorian Square.  The sprig was cut from another Kaisercraft paper with Memory Box's Snowflake Sprig Die.

 I used Versa Color  'Olive' and 'Scarlet' for the stamping but don't actually know where the stamp is from.   I know it looks light and uneven but that was actually the look I was going for so I'm quite happy with it.

 The die cuts underneath the wreath are Couture Creations Crystal Star and Memory Box's Tiffany Frame.

I haven't finished all my Christmas cards as yet but I am getting there.  Luckily the overseas ones have already been posted so hopefully they will get to their destinations on time.  

Thank you so much for visiting, I know how busy everyone must be at this time of the year and I really appreciate you taking the time.

Take care and God Bless.

Marg oxox

... and More Art Journalling!!

Hello everyone.  Hope the weather where you are is as lovely as the weather we've got at the moment.  After days of wild winds and stormy conditions we have got the most glorious sunshine  out there at the moment.  I had every intention of getting into the garden and putting in some new plants but  fate conspired against me because someone lost my garden gloves!!  Cannot find them anywhere and I cannot work in the garden without them. 

So here I am to show you my latest effort at Art Journalling.  I made a double page spread this time.  I had intended this to be quite minimallist but got carried away a bit I think. 

 I used watercolour paper as my base this time.  For both sides I just glued on some random strips of paper and a piece of burlap to start off with, gessoed over the top of that and then coloured where I wanted with Distress Inks.  Colours used are Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Walnut Stain.  I splattered a bit of the Walnut Stain randomly and let it drip.  Unfortunately it did bleed a bit but I'm just telling myself that it adds to the 'Arty-ness' of it. LOL!

The chipboard clock is from Imaginarium and was coloured with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and randomly brushed with a bit of gesso.  The chipboard stickers are from Cheap as Chips were also lightly brushed with gesso.  The bulb is a small typo bulb from Prima.

Stamping was done with Versafine  Vintage Sepia and the stamps used are one of the Stained Texture stamps from BoBunny but I have no idea where the diamond shape stamp is from.

The printed clock is a free image from the net and the wording was simply written on plain paper, glued to some pasteboard and inked with Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade.

The page below is basically the same but of course with different elements.

The ruler is from Prima's Engraver Collection and I believe the postcards are from Prima as well but I'm not 1oo% sure.  The flourish is from Little Birdie, the small chipboard clock is Imaginarium and the printed clock is another free image from the net.  The flourish and the little clock were both coloured with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and lightly brushed with gesso.

The wording was done in the same way as the previous page and the chipboard stickers are also from Cheap as Chips.

  I thoroughly enjoyed working on these pages.  Got into a heck of a mess but loved every minute of it but now I really need to get back to making my cards and have to leave the Art Journal alone for a while.  
Thank you so much to all the lovely people who share their gorgeous works out there so that people like me can be inspired.  Love you all!!!!
I also want to thank all the lovely people who leave me such heart warming comments.  I love to know what you think and you have all been very generous.  Thank you so much!!
Please take care my friends.  God Bless!!
oxox Marg

 

Lots of Layers

Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to my blog.

Just a quick post this time I think ... I have a card to share with you today.  It's very similar to one I made not long ago but there are a few differences.

 The papers I've used are from Kaisercraft's These Day and I've done a little doodling around the edges.  It saved me getting out the sewing machine although I think proper stitching would have looked better.  Never mind ... next time perhaps. 

Used lots of diecuts for the layers.  Although they are not easy to see I've used Marrianne Creatables Frame & Swirls and Swedish Snowflakes, Couture Creations Victorian Square and Dienamics Duo Doily Die.  I've torn one corner from the top paper mat, glued the torn off piece straight to the cardstock and then curled the corner of the base paper mat to reveal the piece torn off before.  Does that make sense??  Hopefully the photo below  gives you a better idea of what I mean.  

 All the edges were distressed and then inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  The rolled corner was inked with Versa Color Bronze.  The flower is from Prima and I've lightly painted it with some Gesso.  The leaves were cut with my Silhouette and I've incorporated a small piece of gauze in amongst the layers.

 The wooden flourish at the base of the cluster is Kaisercraft's Fancy Border which was left raw. 

I decorated the inside with a few Kaisercraft Stamps and printed the sentiment with Word Art.

 You can see the layers a bit better here.

I have entered this card in Challenge  #29 at  Challenges 4 Everybody
 
That's it folks, hope you like it!!
Thank you so much for visiting and I would really love it if you could leave a little comment to let me know what you thought.  
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg