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

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

 

  

My Art Journal

Hi everyone and welcome to my blog.

I have an Art Journal page to share with you today.  Actually, this is my very first Art Journal page so  I must admit it's fairly simple but hopefully, as I get a bit more experienced at it, they will get better.

The background was created by just pressing a Distress Ink Pad in Faded Jeans onto my non-stick craft mat and then spraying with water and pressing the page onto that.

 

 I didn't realize at the time that there was also some Walnut Stain left on the mat so, of course, that also ended up on the page.  I really loved how it looked so I knew I had to do something with it.  Well, it sat on the edge of my craft desk for weeks because I had no idea how I was going to decorate it.  Until one day, I was looking through the few rolls of Washi Tape that I have and came across the birds and the music.  So a couple of strips of each went onto the page ...

 and then it sat for another week at least.  

The next step was the texture which was done with TCW's Mini Grandma's Doily in the bottom left corner and along the right side.

 Then came the sprays ... Sugar Plum Fairy Glimmer Mist and two I made up myself from some Distress Ink mixed with water.  One was Walnut Stain and the other was Mustard Seed.  It turned out a bit dark so I dry brushed over it with a bit of Gesso.   

Stamped the tea cup ring using a BoBunny texture stamp and found some Kaisercraft labels which were placed down the right hand side ...

and then the quote.  This is one I've used before but I thought it was fitting because I'm sort of spreading my wings out into the world of Art Journalling!!  I think??  Anyway, printed the quote onto some plain paper, cut out the strips and inked the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink.

The bottom left corner looked a bit empty so I filled it with a couple of white Prima flowers.   Used Tea Dye Distress Ink on the flowers and around the edge of the page as well.

So, there it is ... my first Art Journal page but, hopefully, not my last.  Hope you like it.

Thank you so much for visiting I really do appreciate you stopping by. 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your day and I would be so pleased if you left me a little comment.  Thank you.

Take care and God bless.

oxox Marg

 

My First Challenge !!!

Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to my blog and a special welcome to my new followers.  So pleased you've decided to join me.  

I have a card to share with you. 

Whilst I was making the box I showed in my last post I was also making a few cards that I need for some upcoming Birthdays.

I've been trying to incorporate lots of layers on my cards lately.   In looking at other peoples blogs, the cards I loved the most all had lots of layering on them.  Even the Scrapbook pages I like best all have lots of layers.  So with this card I went all out.  There's about 6 or 7 layers on this card and that's without counting the flower and leaves.  

 This card is actually a bit of a steal from Heather Jacob.   She made the most gorgeous card (you can find it HERE) and when I saw it with all the layers and all the die cuts I just had to try it for myself.    Thank you so much Heather for the inspiration and the design. 

The papers I've used are from Kaisercraft's Miss Empire and Take Note Collections.    I've also used some brown cardstock in between the different die cuts for contrast.   The Dies used are Couture Creations Scalloped Oval, a Marianne Creatables Frame, Die-namics Decorative Doily Duo and the Honey Blossom Sprig from Memory Box.  I've also used a Wooden Flourish Border from Kaisercraft. 

The wooden heart  is also from Kaisercraft.  I left the wooden flourishes raw with just a little bit of Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the edges.  I also used the Mini Circle Explosion Template from The Crafters Workshop and the Walnut Stain to add a little more interest to the paper.  The flower is from Prima and the leaves were cut with my Silhouette Portrait.

I do usually decorate the inside of my cards but I don't think I've every shown that in my posts because, when I print the sentiment I also print the name of the person I'm giving it to.  In this case though, I haven't yet decided who is getting this card so I can show you the inside.

The paper I've used for the inside came from my stash.  I've had it for quite some time and have no idea of where it's from.  The decorative strip on the side is from the Miss Empire range.

The sentiment was printed through Word Art.

    

 I'm actually going to enter this card into the ABC Challenge.  The criteria for their current challenge is lots of layers so I thought this would be ideal.  A bit nervous here, I've never entered a challenge before so I hope I can get the Linky thing right.    So, please wish me luck.

Thank you so much for visiting today.  I hope you enjoy the rest of the week.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Tags in a Box

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.  

I would especially like to welcome my new followers.  Thank you ladies.  Totally stoked to have you join me.

I would like to share a little tutorial with you.  Actually it won't be all that little, there are a lot of photos.  LOL

A little while ago I posted about a box I had made to hold a mini album and smash book on our New Zealand Cruise and I said I would show you how it was put together.  I needed another box to hold the tags I have been making and I took photos along the way so I could show the process.   You're probably thinking  'Well, that's  bit silly, we all know how to make a box".   I just hope I'm not wasting your time, but I was amazed at how simple it was to put together and you can use this process to make any  size and type of box you need.  So I hope you will stick with me to see the finished product at the end. 

To make this box I used 2ml paperboard which I purchased from my Newsagent.  You can get a huge sheet of it for only a couple of dollars.  Then you need to decide on the measurements.  My box had to be 3.5"  x  4.5" on the base so that my tags would fit inside and I decided to make it 4" deep with a 6" back.  

 Here are the pieces already cut out and showing the measurements. 

The base and the front ...

 ... the two sides ...

... and the back.

Next come the joiners.  I need to tell you that these are not my own idea.  I actually saw this on The Gentleman Crafter and they are brilliant and so easy to make.  HERE is a link to Jim's blog.

You can use any cardstock you want.  Colour doesn't matter because they get covered with paper.  You simply cut as many 1" strips as you want ...

 ... score them down the middle ...

 ... and attach double sided tape on both sides of the score line.

Cut them to length and attach to all four sides of your base piece.

 Then attach the front, sides and back leaving a small gap so that there is room to fold each piece up.

 You then need to  attach a joiner to one side of each piece as shown ...

 ... adhere the sides together ...

... and then the back.

There you have it.  Now all you need to do is cover with paper and decorate any way you like.  If you want a box with a lid you just need to make all sides the same height and then make a lid exactly the same way but make the base or top piece just a bit bigger so it will fit over your box.

How easy is that?  I actually found this a lot of fun and have thought of a lot of different boxes I wish to make.  I've also made heaps of the joiners so I've got some handy whenever I need them.

Here is the finished product.

I rounded the corners on the back and covered the box with Prima's Nature Garden papers.  I've inked all the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

 Used one of the Nature Garden Tags on the front along with a Prima flower.   The title was cut using my Silhouette Portrait.

 I decorated the back with a chipboard button on which was mounted a metal butterfly.

 The box with the tags inside ...

... and with a tag pinned to the front.   I can easily attach whichever tag I'm in the mood for.

I hope you've enjoyed this post and I haven't confused anyone too much.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you take the time to leave a comment.  I'd love to know what you think.
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Just a Card

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to my little blog.

I have a card I'd like to show you.

It's fairly plain and simple with not a huge amount of work done.  I took some plain pale grey cardstock, used a border punch on one edge and then a template and a Versa Color Stamp pad in Cinnamon to add a tiny bit of colour in the middle.  Then did a little doodling around the edge with a felt pen.

 Made a slit close to the top right corner, curled  the edges, added a small piece of dp and curled that as well.  Tucked in some leaves, a couple of Kaisercraft flowers and some tiny pearl beads  and attached a small key underneath.

 Created this flower cluster with Prima and Kaisercraft flowers and then attached a few pearls around it for a bit of bling.  I did a bit of doodling on the leaves and gessoed the edges of the flowers as well.

 I stamped the sentiment on a piece of  cardstock and attached it to the back of a small Imaginarium frame.  The frame was lightly coloured with Versa Color Cinnamon.

 This card is going to a friend of mine who sort of likes girly things but doesn't really like them to be too fussy so I hope she likes this card. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg