Heavenly Crafts

This is my son's school this morning:

Thieves tried to remove metal from the roof over the weekend and then the high winds did the rest of the damage.  I don't think anyone was hurt but it could have been so much more serious.  The school is closed today and will, apparently, be open tomorrow.  So I have one happy son, who now has an unexpected day off school. He is, of course, putting this day to good use and is on his computer.  not, needless to say, studying, but playing Counter Strike or Dawn of War or some such bloodthirsty and brutal game..........


As for me, well I have to spend the day working although I did get chance for some crafting last week and over the weekend.  This is what I made:







This is another calendar I made using Nibbles Skribbles 2012 Calendar Templates and Early Morning Light by Piggy Scraps (which I absolutely love!).

The calendar templates and kit can be found in the shop here:

http://www.digitalscrapbookingstudio...oducts_id=8564

http://www.digitalscrapbookingstudio...oducts_id=5662

Fonts used: Traveling Typewriter and LD Remington Portable

This time, I put all the months on one A4 file, added the "month" headings and the year. The "2012" was created using the LD Remington Portable font and then one of the kit papers was clipped to this and embossed slightly. The background scene was created using the kit and then printed it off. The only trouble I had was in trying to get the printer to print the right colours as it kept making everything yellow!

I reckon this just shows how adaptable the calendar templates are, as you can use them to make a variety of calendars, and they are a definite must have item as far as I am concerned! 

Anyhow, why not give it a go yourself?  These are so easy to make, although it does take time getting the dates and everything aligned correctly and making the background layout.  I always have a one page calender stuck on the side of my desk for easy reference, and I also give them as Christmas gifts.  Much better than the ones you buy in the shops!


Well, I'm off to tweak a set of accounts and do a tax return, so have fun whatever you are doing!


Happy scrapping!

I have completed my first project for The Studio Hybrid CT and here it is:

I used Nibbles Skribbles 2012 Calendar Templates which are so easy to use!

All I did was create a 6x4 portrait file and put a guideline half way down the page. I then used the calendar templates in the bottom half (resizing them slightly) , and inserted my photos in the top half. I didn't use any of the backgrounds, or anything else from the templates, just the dates and days.  I had to add the months myself, and the description for the photos.

The back cover was made from two pieces of card (A6 size) trimmed to 4 inches wide. I then scored each piece of card at 6 inches for the base. 

I used my Bind it All machine to bind it together, and stick the the bottom of the back cover together using foam pads.

Font used: Traveling Typewriter
Supplies used: 6x4 photo paper, card, binder wires


I plan on printing out several more of these for Christmas gifts as they are so easy to make - it just takes time to sort out the photos really.  So why not give it a go yourself?  You don't have to do anything fancy, just copy and paste with maybe some resizing!


I'm also planning on making a more detailed/fancier calendar using scrap kits.  Have you seen the calendars by Shabby Princess and The Shabby Girl?   Well i want to make some like that.  I reckon I may have just about enough time between now and Christmas to get them all done as it effectively means 13 different layouts (one for each month plus the cover page).


Let me know if you make one yourself - I'd love to see what you do ;).


Happy Scrapping!

Well, whilst I didn't make it through the Design contest, have no expectations of being a winner in the Layout Artist Contest (although I did actually make it through to the finals!!!!), I did become one of the winners in the  Hybrid CT contest and am now officially one of the first three member of the Hybrid CT team!!!!  Woohoo!  I found out on Sunday and have had a big grin on my face every time I thought of it :).

The first challenge was to create a layout using a digital kit but to add other elements to it:

For the second challenge, we were given a gift bag template (basically to use as is, with no changes, although we could have changed the design on it if we wished).  Of course, we all added little extras!



Then we had to create gifts or goodies (party favours and so on):


And finally, an item of home decor or a decoration of some sort:


We're just finding out what being on the team involves but I have to say that everyone at The Studio are just so lovely.  It is such a friendly place and I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone there and to get down to work.  I love getting messy with glue, papers, scissors and so on.  I actually think, though, that the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die is becoming my best friend - I seem to use it on just about everything at the moment as you can see form all of the above!

Overall, I reckon being on the Hybrid CT will make me more creative (no bad thing!) and inspire me to do more as the kits that will be available are so adaptable.  I have started work on my first one, so just watch this space.  I am hoping to get it finished in the next day or so and will post photos here as well as at The Studio.

Happy Scrapping!

Well, we went away to the Lake District last weekend.  As might have been expected, we didn't get there until late on Friday evening and then it rained most of Saturday, which meant that the walk in Grizedale forest never actually took place! Of course, we might well have braved the rain if hubbie had brought a coat along, but he actually listened to the weather forecast (you know, that forecast which he is always telling me they never get right!) which said it was going to be lovely and sunny.  Well is was lovely and sunny - but back home, not the Lake District!!!!

This weekend should be fun though.  I am off to Carnarfon for a line dancing weekend.  I've never been on one of these weekends, although I am, sad to say, a keen line dancer, so I am really looking forward to it.  Of course, I will have to take my camera with me, for all those photos of the castle, the sea, and maybe the line dancing, plus my laptop for all the photoshopping I could be doing in the free afternoons!

You may recall that I mentioned a while ago The Studio were having a design contest.  Well, I never got through many rounds, but the final round has just been completed.  If you fancy picking up some free kits, why not go and take a look:

http://www.digitalscrapbookingstudio.com/gallery/g1322-ndc-2011-3a-round-4.html

The kits in the final round are really something and well worth downloading :).

As for there Layout Artist contest I entered, I actually made it by the skin of my teeth into the fourth round!  Wonders will never cease!  We were given a really spooky kit to work with, Midnight from Deli Scraps by Min which can be found HERE.  This is what the kit looks like:

and this is what I came up with:



Whilst the kit has some lovely papers and amazing elements, it was totally not my style at all as I never, ever do anything spooky, or Halloween, no ghosts, goblins, witches and stuff  So the dry bones in Ezekiel came to mind and so that's what I went with.  Please take a look at the layout gallery and see what everyone else came up with and it would be really good if you would vote for me ;).

The gallery can be found here and the voting poll is here.  You do have to register in the forum to vote and voting is only until midnight EST tonight.

I;m in the process of designing a kit for The Studio Megakit challenge and so far, I have six papers finished.  I still need to get some elements done and also come up with a name for the kit (which I find the hardest thing to do!) but watch this space as it will be offered as a freebie in the next week or so.

In the meantime, happy scrapping!

Well, here I am , back again with another post, wonders will never cease!

Unfortunately, I didn't get through to the next round of the Designer contest, but I did get through to the next round of the Layout Contest and here is my layout for this week's entry:

I was actually really pleased with this but as to whether it gets through to the next round?  Who knows!  The voting poll is now up so if you are able, it would be really good if you would click on a couple of buttons and go vote for me!  The link is here so why not go along and have a look?  Even if you don't vote for me, there are some stunning layouts over there.  If you haven't already registered at The Studio, you will have to register in the forum to vote though.

Anyhow, I then decided to enter the hybrid contest, which is something new for me, never having done a hybrid layout before.  Mind you, I suppose making cards is, to a certain extent, somewhat similar, although I tend to do more stamping/punching/die cutting and embossing than using digital items.  I ended up using the kit we were given for the layout challenge, Early Morning Light by Piggy Scraps Designs, and this is what I came up with:


Everything except the brad was from the kit.  The layered flower was made using my Tim Holtz tattered florals die (which I love).  The photographs were taken at Wightwick Manor, about 25 miles from us, although I have just realised I have mispelt Wightwick in the layout.....Well, as long as no one knows where it is, nobody will spot this, right ;) ?!!!  The funny thing is, it looked like the wrong spelling when I made the layout, I checked up and it said it was ok.......I guess my brain must have been asleep at the time!

Finally, I have also continued with designing in the Second Chance contest, which is for those who didn't make it through the previous round, and this is my kit below.  I had yet another mental block when posting it to the gallery, so never mentioned exactly what was in the kit.  You know, if I had a brain, I'd be dangerous!  Anyhow, here is the kit:


It contains:

• 6 papers
• 4 flowers
• Plastic flower
• Tattered flower
• Stone ornament
• Flower overlay
• Flower scatter
• Tag and staples
• 2 Staples
• 2 ricrac
• 4 brads
• Vellum
• Cluster
• Circle Frame
• Rectangle frame
• Grass
• 2 leaves
• Ladybird (two colours)
• Cloud
• Sun

You can find it in the gallery here and the download links are:

Paper


Elements

If you do download it and make anything with it, I'd love to see it :).

Happy scrapping!

Well, I did mention these in my last post so I suppose I had better tell you all about them!

Firstly, the layout contest.  Well, we were given a kit to work with, and it was gorgeous!  It was Early Morning Light by Piggy Scraps Designs:

You really need to go check it out as it is beautiful and is currently on sale at $2.50 as well!  I've linked the preview to the shop so you can have a look ;).

Anyhow, all we had to do was create a layout, so this is my effort:

The posting deadline was midnight last night (EST) but because we went to St Andrews, I managed to get mine in on Friday.  Voting is now taking place, so if you would like (and you know you want to!!!), please go to the gallery and vote.  If you vote for me that would be even better, as currently I only have one vote and that was mine!  The gallery is here, and the voting poll is here.  I probably won't even get to Round 2, but I know I always learn so much by entering these contests, and it is fun, albeit stressful when I can';t decide what to do or keep changing my mind!

I have also entered the Designer contest and for this,we were give a swatch to work with:



I love the colours but found the fact that there was no green a real hardship - I ended up with blue leaves instead as you can see!!!




My kit is previewed at The Studio here where you can also find the download links, but you can download it direct by either clicking on the preview above or here.  Go check out the gallery as there were lots of entries to the contest which means lots of freebies!

I'm not expecting to get any further in the contest (although it would be really good if I did) but I always learn so much when I enter design contests.  This time, for instance, it was a case of playing around with brushes to create the patterned papers and to  make some of the elements.  I also played with the filters in PS CS5, which is why one of the flowers is slightly different from the others as I applied a filter to it.
Happy scrapping!

Well, I know I am always saying this, but time flies, doesn't it?  You try and get yourself organised, you blink and before you know it, over half a year has gone by and it's nearly Christmas again.....

What has been happening since my last post?  Well I've done hardly any designing (apart form a mini kit - see below for more details!), although I have been making lost of bible verse tags and really started making cards in earnest.  Here's a quick peek at some of them:


That was a new home card for my son and his girlfriend as they moved to a new flat a few weeks ago.  I'm developing a passion of Tim Holtz embossing folders and dies, as you can see!

Then lots of families form church have been having babies, so of course, that means a baby card (or two)!






And then a few other cards:




Sorry for the poor quality and the unusual background.  I put the cards on a wicker chair in my office meaning to get around to extracting the card from the photo but just haven't had time.

I've made lots of other cards too, but haven't photographed them yet.

Anyhow, we have been having a busy time of it recently.  Our daughter is off to Plymouth University so we had to dash to Plymouth the weekend before last, having only received final confirmation of her place on the Thursday evening, in order to go flat hunting,  We booked an appointment to see one from the motorway services and four hours later, she had signed the lease!

Then last weekend it was back to St Andrews to take up clothes, computer, books and so on for my son who is returning for his third year.  He's actually not going back for another 2 weeks, but he got the keys to his flat at the end of last week and wanted to get all his stuff in so al he has to do is go back by train in 2 weeks time.  We then had a very eventful journey back with a tyre blow out on the M6, a very friendly AA man and an emergency dash to a tyre place to get three new tyres!  Definitely one of my most expensive weekends away!

Then when we got back, I had to finish my kit for the "Next Designer Challenge 2011" at The Studio.   I;ve also entered the Layout contest as well, but more on both of these in my next post!

Well, a new year and maybe a new year resolution to blog more frequently?  Who knows?!!! I just don't want to make any promises I can't keep ;).  Anyhow, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that the New Year will hold all that you hope it does.

At the moment, I am right in the thick of accounts and tax returns as tax returns have to be filed by 31 January here in the UK.  As usual, this has meant I haven't been able to take much time off over Christmas but I really want to have time to spend in photoshop and get some designing done! I actually did manage to open photoshop yesterday to finish making calendars for my mum and eldest son's girlfriend.   I used the Shabby Princess' one page calendar:

She makes some amazing calendar kits and they are so easy to use.  The problem I find is actually choosing which photos to use!

I then used another template, this time from Shutter Sisters:


If you click here or on the calendar photo above, it should take you straight to the Shutter sisters' blog where you can find links to the calendar download.

I ended up changing the template to a 6 x 4 calendar, and this is what I came up with:

The cover photograph is of Ironbridge, Shropshire and the other photos have the place names on them..  All the photos were taken by me and are all either here in Shropshire, or elsewhere in the UK.  If you would like a copy of this, then feel free to download it here.  Please bear in mind it is only 6" x 4" and I don't know how well it would stand up to being resized to a larger size.

Now, due to work commitments, I don't know when I will next be able to blog (probably not until February unfortunately), so in the meantime,  Happy New Year and happy scrapping!

Well, September has been a busy month!  I'm managed to scrape through to the finals of the Digiscrapaddicts designer contest (by the skin of my teeth) and the experience has been amazing.  I always find when I enter things like this that it stretches me and I learn new techniques which is no bad thing.  I mean,  I learnt how to make vellum paper for this contest as well as how to make staples, although to be honest, my attempts are not exactly the best.  I do have a little freebie for you but more on that in a bit ;).


The big news is that my son has almost got my website up and running!  He needs to finish the shop part of it, and I have to give him info for the home page and so on, but it is looking like it could be active next month!  It seems to have taken eons to get this far, so I am really excited and will definitely let you know when everything is live.  Of course, you will undoubtedly find out as the blog will be transferring over too ;).


So, what has been happening here since I last posted?  Well, our middle son has now gone back to University in St Andrews, and of course, I took my camera along for the trip (have you ever known me not to do this?!!!) and just look at what we saw.


This is walking up from the harbour towards South Street:

A view of South Street:




The harbour, taken from the pier:




And another shot of the harbour!




The pier:


By tradition, the students walk down the pier every Sunday after chapel.  There are various explanations for this tradition, but my favourite is that the students used to accompany the visiting preacher back to the harbour where he would get in his boat at the end of the pier.  The students, in the main, wear their red gowns (or at least we used to when I was at St Andrews ;) ), walk down the pier on the right hand side, climb up the ladders at the end of the pier and walk back along the top of the pier.  I'd never do that now as it seems an awfully narrow path and such a long way down to the rocks and the sea beneath!


Then there is, of course, the castle, where if you wear your red gown (students in St Andrews wear red undergraduate gowns) you can get in free!




And finally, my son's room!




He reckons it'll be a good room to have a party in!


So, I believe I mentioned a freebie, and here it is.  It's a very rough and ready grab bag containing:

• Vellum notepaper;
• Rose overlay;
• Rose paper (pink);
• Chick;
• Ribbon wrapper; and
• Rust effect paper

Like I said, it is very rough and ready and is just odds and ends I have lying around on my hard drive! There are no TOU's in there or anything other than the six items.  There isn't even a preview!  So feel free to grab it by licking HERE.  Hopefully you will find it useful.


I do intend to start blogging more frequently from now on,  but don't hold your breath!


Happy scrapping!