More Journal Swap Pages

Hi, here are my latest journal swap pages.

The birds are just so funny.  They came from a Halloween set that I just couldn't resist (even though it was February at the time!)  The leaves are from my favourite Dylusions set, the grass is PaperArtsy and all the rest are Inkadinkado.

I used Dylusion spray inks for the background with an iridescent glimmer mist through a flower stencil on top.  I also stamped a butterfly over the background, but it's difficult to see as I used pink ink on the pink background areas, purple on purple etc.  The leaves and birds are stamped in black on scraps of scrapbook paper and then paper pieced.  I used my memories black ink that I have had since I started stamping in 1998 and it's still my most used stamp pad.

I made a simpler version of the bird page using scrapbook green paper as the background and colouring the leaves with pro markers.  They made fun birthday cards.

Anne x

LOAD 512

I signed up for LOAD (layout a day) May 2012.  Last time I only made about 4 pages as I had a really busy month.  Yet again it's fallen on a busy month so I will see how it goes.  This is my first page - all about me - and shows photos from 2006 when I was on my way out for a night out with the MBA crowd.  The small title 'Learn Discover Grow' is very apt for everything I learnt and experienced during the time I studied for my Masters Degree.

The page is based on a Shimelle.com layout.  The journalling is on the light brown stripes.  Not the best balanced page but I didn't want to cover up all the sayings on the background paper.  The papers are mainly Simple Stories with Making Memories flowers and brads.

I've also finished another two journal pages so will share them on Wednesday when they have reached their destination.

In case you are wondering the shield is for hubby's car winning the concurs competition (overall winner for the fifth time) at the annual sunbeam alpine owners club yearly get together.

Have a lovely day.  Anne x

Deco Swap

I used to like making tiny things, then I discovered scrapbooking and now feel at more home making 12 x 12 scrapbook pages.  Trouble is now tiny things are difficult! 

The pages below were made for a deco swap on the theme of summertime and are both just 4 x 4 inches in size.  The top one is coloured with copic and pro markers and has 4 layers of decoupage.  The decoupage just shows as a thicker black line on the scans below.  The black dot in the sky is just on the scan - I hope!

The beach huts were watercoloured using aqua markers.  On both pages the deck chairs are paper pieced and raised on 3D foam.

All the stamps are from Hobby Art.  With the exception of the sun they are all from the same rubber stamp sheet.

I hope you are having a lovely Easter.  Anne x

Journal Swap

I made the pages below for the first round of a journal swap.  The flowers and leaves are paper pieced.  The flowers are made with a rose scrapbook paper and the leaves from a painted background I made. 

Stamps: Dylusions, Stampotique and Hero Arts

Paint/Ink: Dylusions, Golden, Ranger and Stampin Up markers

It took a while to get started as I couldn't be as messy and carefree as usual.  Also I found it difficult to get a background card that didn't go all bobbly when wet.  I ended up taking pages from a 7 Gypsies journal.  Overall I'm pleased with them and will be sorry to see them go.

I need to get a move on as my next swap is due to be with the recipient on 6 April - good job I have an idea.  Now I just need to get off this pc and get started.

Hope you are having a lovely week.

Anne x

Better Late Than Never

Here are a few other layouts that I don't think I have shared on my blog.

This is my favourite photo of when I was little.  I must have been distracted by the camera and missed my mouth!  No idea what I was trying to eat.  The papers are from an old We Are Memory Keepers kit from QVC and are more pastel in real life.  The Sketch is from a Page Maps book.

Not sure where this sketch came from, though I remember turning it on it's side.  The papers are 12" x 2" and I added the fancy border as it seemed a bit plain without.  This was our cabin on the Cruise Ship Aurora.  Papers are from my scrap basket.

This layout came from a Shimelle Starting Point.  I have loads of paper so I'm not sure why I decided to use two papers I don't like much (they came from a bargain random mixed box) I used the A and B sides of each piece for the squares.  The papers and stickers are from Cosmo Cricket and I really like the finished layout.  These photos are of everyone watching the band playing at the start of our cruise.

This layout is based on a class in Shimelle's fab Hitchhickers Guide to Scrapbooking Class.  Great way of using up scraps of pretty paper.  Whilst on our Cruise we visited St Petersburg.  You can't tell from the photos but it threw it down.

The classroom and bedroom at the Crab Apple Crafts Retreat in November.  I think this is another Shimelle layout.  Papers from the February Scrapagogo kit.

This photo looks like I am protecting the guilty by blurring their faces :-D  but in reality it is the just the camera flash refusing to turn off.  I think this is another layout from the fab Hitchhikers class at Two Peas in a Bucket.  Check out their video classes as many are free.  Papers are from Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer range and the stickers are from October Afternoon.

Last one.  This needs some heartfelt journaling which I think I may hide on the back.

Have a lovely day.  Anne x

Another Starting Point

Below is an older one of Shimelle's Starting Points.

This is my version.  Very pretty girly pink papers that reminds me of when I used to quilt.  The papers are all from Authentique with Tim Holtz and My Minds Eye letters.  I fussy cut the flowers from a sheet of paper.

For my birthday we had afternoon tea in Stratford followed by a mooch around the shops.  There was so much cake that I couldn't eat it all, which was just as well as there is a limit to how far Weight Watchers points will stretch.  Must be working as tee shirt is now too big and when I first saw this photo I thought 'who stole the mellons'!  Not sure I should write that on my layout just in case it is saved for future generations. LOL!

Gosh two blog posts in one day.  Think I need to lie down in a darkened room to recover :-D

Love Anne x

Shimelle's Starting Point

I was really pleased to see Shimelle had a new starting point.  Even though I usually use completely different papers starting points just seem easier for me than sketches.

Here is Shimelle's starting point and below is my layout.  I may make it again using a square photo on the left.

I thought I would stuggle with journaling on such a big area, but in the end I wished I had a little more space.  Sorry about the rubbish photo but the inside of our house always seems dark even with bright sunshine outside.

Anyone know who made the background papers?  I bought the only two sheets in the shop and got a bit happy with a friend's punch on the B sides so the green, yellow and patterned papers are just scraps.

I hope you had a lovely relaxing weekend. Anne x

Deco Swap

I joined a deco swap thinking I could do some messy inky journal type pages.  Then I got the themes.  I was expecting vague themes like 'happy' or 'flowers' but instead got 'a stamped background with a flower in the middle inking the edges for a vintage look' and another theme is oriental!  Yikes not inky mess grungy then!

Took a while to do these but I am very happy with how they turned out.

Next theme is a bit easier but my oriental stamps haven't seen ink for years so the third one will be difficult.

I have been mainly doing pages for round robins so I can't share my pages until the books are back with their owners.  I have also done some scrapbook pages which I will share in the next few days.

Have a lovely weekend. Anne x

Flag Card

I adapted a paper strip idea I saw in a magazine to make a flag card.  It's a great way to use up scraps of scrapbook paper.

Use one inch strips for the blue area and half inch strips for the cream.  I drew a rough pattern of the blue cross on the card so that I could make sure the other strips went underneath to cover up the loose ends.  Trim round the edges at the end.  The triangles are slightly bigger than the half inch strips.  All pieces have been edged with vintage photo distress ink.

Anne x