Digi Layout

Hi, Carol here and today I am going to share a digi layout I made using the Oz Digi Kit which I thought was perfect for this.

I used a cute picture of my cat snuggled into me and sound asleep and added some lovely sentiments. The kit is full of gorgeous papers, digi stamps and embellishments.

I made the layout 12x12, but the papers and embellishments resize so you can use them for PL, cards, scrapbooking or anything else you can think of.

I hope you like the page, see you soon, Carol x

Challenge 93 Winners

Hello, thank you all so much for entering June's Summer Brights challenge.

We all enjoyed visiting your blogs and looking over your colourful creations, you certainly

embraced the challenge.

So, to the winners

First - 13, La Vikinga

Second - 5, Marina

Third - 6, Henrietta

Congratulations everyone

Please email Sarah using the contact address in the right hand bar to claim your prize. 

Thank you once again to everyone for playing along. Join us again on the 5th July for our next challenge.

Time for tea ...

Hello it's Friday, thankfully. Its certainly been a busy week, with the schools finishing for summer here, and the preparations beginning to send my eldest son to secondary school.

There is nothing better than stopping for a piping hot cup of tea to recharge your batteries, and take stock. Personally, I drink copious amounts of peppermint tea (because I'm not a fan of milk), how about you?

Card Recipe

Tea cup stamp, Picnic in the Park Stamp Set

Promarkers

A wink of stella clear glitter pen

Glossy Accents

Accent Gems

Coming onto the card, I used the single tea cup stamp (from Sarah's Picnic in the Park stamp set), and stamped it nine times. Before colouring each cup with promarkers, I used a fine liner to doodle and customise each cup. I hand wrote the sentiment, mainly because I wanted to keep the card simple and the area to fit the sentiment was small. All in all, a simple card, but one that can be made unique each time, so have some fun with repeat stamping.

Enjoy your weekend, Claire N

The Sun has got his hat on…

Hip hip hip hooray!

Morning all! If you are in the UK I hope you are enjoying all this hot weather we have been having. I am, as the kids and I have been outside playing and tending to our vegetable plants…but it sure has put a stop to any crafting.

Talking of the Sunshine our theme for this months challenge is Summer Brights. I thought I would show that you don’t need to cut into a precious 12x12 page to make a card this one uses a couple of journaling cards to make the background:

Here’s what I used:

• A Few of My Favourite Things Kit (patterned papers, heart embellishment and stamps)
• Sentiments Stamps
• Scrap of lace
• Rosebud and Danube Blue Memento Inkpads
• Wink of Stella Clear Brush Pen
• Black Fine line Pen.

If you fancy joining in with our challenge you have until Saturday 28th to join in.

Thanks for stopping by

Lisa

Project Life - Stamping

Hi, it's my turn (Clare) to post today and I thought I'd share my love of using Sarah's stamps when creating my Project Life layouts.

Every month Sarah includes a stamp in her 'A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS' monthly kit which I find are perfect for adding detail on the journal cards. Here are a few examples where I have either stamped directly onto the journal card or I have made a little embellishment.

THESE MOMENTS

 CAMERA

  DOODLE BIRD

I also like to think out the box, just because the stamps set was specifically designed for a particular occasion it doesn't solely have to be used for that purpose. On a visit to London last year I went to see 'Wicked' at the theatre and I thought this Halloween stamp set was just perfect.

DOODLE DOLL HALLOWEEN

You can of course use the stamps sets that Sarah has designed specifically for the 'Documented' range or project life. 

TODAY STAMP SET

The 'FABULOUS' sentiment is form the 'EVERYDAY SAYINGS' stamp set

ARROWS

JANUARY

Thought this made a great first page

You can also find many more of Sarah's stamps here in her shop

Be sure to pop by soon for more inspiration.

Clare

The World is Your Oyster

Hello there, Claireliz here, 

How are you?

One of the things I love about living in a seaside town is that on a really nice hot day you can be on the beach within 10 minutes, it's great, grab a towel, sun cream, a drink and a bucket & spade and you're all set... fab!

The photo on this layout was from one of those days...

I was looking for some beach related stash and I came across this AFOMFT kit from last year which was perfect, the papers in the kits were 8x8 instead of 12x12 back in 2013 so I used the whole sheet of ledger paper as my central piece of paper and built the layout up from there. I used a scalloped border punch to create the scalloped paper ribbons.

The three circular embellishments were cut from the Snip & Stick sheet with a couple of sequins added above the whale for air bubbles and I added a teeny metal anchor from the kit to the corner of the photo.

I'm now on the look out for more beachy themed stash for all of this years photos.

Hope you enjoyed my post, see you soon.

Claireliz xx

A Touch of Teal ...

Hello, I'm back today with a card previewing some new stamp due into Sarah's shop soon, and also demonstrating a way to alter any chip board shapes you may have lurking in your stash.

 Although I have forgotten to include the banner in the photo, you can see the finish of the slide frame before the embossing process began. Both the slide frame and the small banner shape in the corner, were both coated in 3-4 layers of white embossing powder, with the initial layer of powder being adhered to the chipboard shape with versamark ink. The subsequent layers are layered on top of the molton powder. I stop layering when I am happy with a smooth colour consistent finish. 

To get the flower impression in the embossing powder (have your stamp to hand, inked to aid the release) and while the powder is still hot, press in the stamp, then allow to cool before trying to release the stamp. This technique I will re-visit in the future and put together a more detailed tutorial for you.

The main (circuit board) backing paper is one of Sarah's designs. The paper edged and also stencilled (with triangles)  with versamark ink before embossing with the white powder again to give a shabby chic type frame.

I prepared the card blank by inking (direct from ink pad to paper) the outside edge in a complimentary colour, before over stamping with the same colour using Sarah's large crackle background stamp. The majority of this pattern will be covered, but to be honest I was really pleased with how it looks, so I've made a note to myself to create this look as the main feature of a card next time.

The focal point of the card, the bird, is a fabulous image, from the new set of stamps soon to be in Sarah's shop. Keep an eye on the website, as this is one of many new items that are due to be launched in the shop soon.

The card is layered up with elements from elements from Sarah's embellishments range.

I hope you have enjoyed what I've shared, remember to check back in with us often to get more inspiration.

have a lovely day.

Claire x

Retro Computer Card

Hi all,

Nicole here today to share a card I made using some fun products. I made a retro computer themed card and used the really cool circuit board paper from the Sarah Hurley A Few Of My Favourite Things paper collection (Vol 1). I also used some black, grey and white card and a old floppy disk and some buttons off an old keyboard.

 I created a card base from grey card and matted the circuit board paper on some black card to make it pop. I then used the white card to make a label for my floppy disk.

 On the label I stamped the sentiment in a font builder stamp set and used the keyboard numbers for the sentiment number. I used some pencil lines to help me align everything up a bit.

 Here is the floppy disk all ready to go...

 And there is the card all put together. I left it quite clean and simple and let the background paper and the floppy disk be the main focal point. Oh and its a card for a boy to, so we know they don't notice the lack of extras on a card! :)

Thanks for stopping by today, hope you enjoyed it!

In the details, my Project Life.

As soon as I received my kit package for April I knew instantly I'd use it for a Project Life layout. I kept everything together in the plastic bag until I had my photo's ready and thought I'd share with you the process as I created my weekly spread.

This is the kit and boy was it a bumper kit this time. As well as the full sized papers and journaling cards there was a sticky backed cork sheet, photo corners and a clock face. 

There were two 4 x 6 cards so I cut another two from one of the 12 x 12 sheets and a few other 4 x 3 cards from another sheet. I rounded all my corners as I prefer that look, then arranged them how I wanted them in the layout.

I cut out the embellishments from the Snip and Stick sheet, well die cut them actually, and cut the letters and some other embellishments from the cork sheet. The dies I used for the speech bubble and lady were wafer thin but still cut through the cork sheet without a problem
.

To go with my title I really wanted a banner and had a piece of grey card to hand which matched perfectly. I have a really neat chalk board writing pen which, when used on card or paper doesn't rub off and gives a fabulous chalky finished look. I used it to draw a banner to cut out and use on my first card.

This is how my title card ended up. With the banner, the die cut letters and some stars and the 'this week' taken from a previous kit. I always add the date on the title card too simply with an office date stamp.

On this card the cloud theme fitted perfectly with what I wanted to document which was the unusual sky and rainbow during the evening.  I layered my card and embellishments from the Snip and Stick sheet on top of one another using foam pads and the clock with some glossy accents to hold it in place slipped in perfectly.  I usually type my journaling on an old typewriter as I hate handwriting anything.

 In the next few photo's you'll see that despite what I said about handwriting, I have used it as titles on the cards. Well, I'll tell you a secret. If you use a paint brush or wide pen and write a word or phrase on card, then cut it out, it'll take on a whole different look. This is how I've added my words. It's a fiddly process to cut around all of a word but it's so worth it when you do and will make any handwriting look cool.

The little flowers from the Snip and Stick card were given a coat of glossy accents to make them look shiny and dimensional but it's hard to see in the photo. I've used the photo corners and more typed journaling too.

 

So here is the finished layout.

I hope you enjoyed my process and thank you for taking the time to look. Sarah's monthly kits are perfect for PL and if you're not yet signed up to get them then you should be.

Jaine x

Phone card with a difference.

Hello, it's Carol here today, and I am sharing a card I made using Sarah Hurley Silhouette files and stamps from Sarah's Shop. 

As you know I am trying to use the Cameo more often, so thought I would make a card using one of my favourite files,  Cell phone/mobile phone file. I actually remembered to take a few quick pictures as I was doing the Cameo part of the card. I ungrouped the file and moved it about on the screen so I could cut all the bits out on different papers and card. I actually used on of the 3x4" cards from last months AFOMFT Kit to be my "screen". I popped the papers onto my mat to match up with the screen; 

Once they were cut out I popped them onto a bit of paper  just to have a wee look at them. I decided to use a bit of black Card Candi to be my "button".

Sadly I got carried away with the next bit and forgot to take pictures!! I got a 6x6" card blank and stamped rows of speech bubbles in colours that corresponded with the "screen" the stamp came from a previous AFOMFT. I then stamped random sentiments from the Everyday Sayings Stamp Set. These stamps are great for funkier cards maybe for friends or teenagers, they are clear so ideal to stamp within something else, like the speech bubbles on the phone or the stamped ones. 

I popped some 3d foam under the green and pink speech bubbles and under the phone, just to give the card some dimension.

 I really hope you like the card and will join in with our Summer Brights Challenge this month. And remember there are goodies up for grabs with Sarah's fantastic new World Of Imagination Blog Hop!

Paper Piecing Doll

Hi all, 

are you having a fab weekend so far and enjoying some sunshine? I know I am despite it being super busy one!

So today I'm (Clare) sharing with you my card for our summer brights challenge. You can check it out here. I'm a huge fan of Sarah's 'A Few Of My Favourite Things' monthly kit and when I saw this 12 x 12 bright patterned paper I knew exactly what I was going to use it for. The only trouble I had was plucking up the courage to cut it up lol. Anyone else guilty of hoarding beautiful  papers?

Sarah's Doodle Doll stamp sets are another love of mine, having recently added The Princess set to my collection. For my card I used the doll image stamping her on to white smooth card along with the fence from my very own Garden Fairy set. I also used the two different sized flower stamps from my Woodland Fairy set. 

Next I stamped and cut out the crown front the Princess Doodle Doll then created a couple of shpes from varies dies.

I then stamped the doll onto the patterned paper and coloured the crown using Promarkers. Both were added to my card using foam squares once all the images were coloured in.

There are several sentiments to choose from but this one in particular seemed fitting for my card.

 I also added foam pads to the back of my die cuts again creating some depth. Here's the finished result

 

arty view

Just before I go don't forget that our blog hop for Sarah's new World of Imagination ends tonight at midnight, starting at Sarah's blog and ending on this blog here!

Thankyou for stopping by and be sure to pop by again soon to see more inspiration from the fabulous design team.

Clare x

Confession Time

Morning All. 

It's Lisa here and I have a confession! I made a Father's Day card for my Dad, another for my Father in Law but I completely forgot to make one for the children to give Hubby. As you read this we are away visiting friends and will be for the rest of the weekend so I needed to make a card quickly. 

In a hurry I turned to Sarah's fabulous papers from the A Few of My Favourite Things kit. The papers are so gorgeous you really don't need a lot else to make a great card.

You can tell I was rushing as really the sentiment should read 'Daddy' (my children are only 4 and 1) but by the time I realised I had already stuck the letters on :-( I'm sure Hubby won't mind though as he will be more pleased with my eldest's writing on the inside.

The small star stamp is from one of the exclusive stamps included each month in the A Few of My Favourite Things kits.

Here's what I used:

• A Few of My Favourite Things Kit

• 'Stream' Adirondack Inkpad
• 6" Square White Card Blank

• Wink of Stella Clear Brush Pen
• Viva Decor Pearl Pen Black
• Alphabet and Star Dies

Thanks for stopping by

Lisa

Stamp storage

Hi, Claire N with you once again.

Don't forget we still have our BLOG HOP running where we are introducing you to Sarah's new products launch in her 'World of Imagination'

 I wanted to pick up from a previous post, where I altered the way I store the 'AFOMFT' kits Sarah sends out monthly. The next thing I wanted to tackle, and share with you, was storage of the little exclusive one off stamps Sarah includes with the kits. You may recall that I have previously shared with you how I have begun storing my clear stamps. So what I have done here is to take all the individual stamps, stamped them for reference on a piece of card (labelled the month they were issued, can't help a wee bit of organisation!) and then placed them on the plastic page of my stamp binder. I now have an easy visual prompt card, to sit along side the page in the binder, and ready to choose to use for the next project.

It is a method of storage I have adopted for all of my clear stamps. You can see from the photos, that as wonderful as the pages are for storing the stamps, because they are clear, it is not that easy to see the detail.
What I have taken to doing, as soon as a new set of Sarah's stamps are delivered, I stamp them directly onto the backing card that is part of the packaging. It recycles and makes use of the gorgeous duck egg compliment sheet that will remind you of all Sarah's details.

One neat tip is that I don't even remove them from the backing plastic, this way i know that they will fit exactly onto the card. Just ink, pick up the whole sheet and place gently on the card, use you r largest acrylic block to ensure a good impression, then gently remove the whole sheet.

I have catalogued all of Sarah's stamps in one of these folders, it is so easy to flick through the double sided pages. You can see above how I have managed to arrange the stamps on the page in relation to the reference cards I have prepared.

I even have a page dedicated to Jaine's special edition sets, and set aside a page for Clare Browns robots & fairies too.

If you have any good storage ideas, I'd love for you to share with us (plus we always love a bit of a nosy into other crafters craft paces too don't we :-)

Take care, thanks for visiting.