Buried Treasures!

Morning all.. welcome to another of my Monday posts and weather report.. lol. I'm glad to say it has taken a turn for the cooler ..so maybe we can all sleep a little better now? Fingers crossed.. 

Anyhow... today I am bringing you a collection of photographs taken eons ago at Chesil Beach, Dorset when my dear sons were just about 6 & 8 I believe.. why didn't I write the year these were taken on the back.. I know better now! Do you do that? It's easier now because if you get them printed soon after you took them, the date is on the back- already printed for you of course..however..not so easy if you're getting copies done some time later.. that won't help at all!

I digress...first I took a look around the challenge blogs I frequent to see if there was any for July that had multiple photos on it... and I lucked out.. and found this super sketch from Paper Secrets Blog. 

In addition they asked that you used elements that were representative of the word SPLASH.. so here we have:

S for Sequins and Shells

P for Polka dots and Pail

L for Lemon yellow

A for alphas and arrows

S for Sun and Stitching (faux tho' it may be)

H for Hessian fabric

 You can see the sequins top left above the photo strip, the shells here on the left, polka dots on the alphas and the pail on the far left at the bottom of the first photo, Lemon yellow on the washi along the bottom and the yellow geotag above the first photo, the Alphas are self explanatory.. arrows drawn above the title, Sun.. (you can work that out for yourself) and stitching around the photo strip and the rub on 'Fun in the Sun' and the hessian is peeking out behind the first and the fourth photo.

I then doodled some splashes on the background too... and here, below is the finished LO. 

I do hope you've enjoyed seeing my latest LO.. if you want to comment, please do.. it'll make my day. 

Thanks for popping by!

Elaine

x

Proud Day LO

Hi all.. 

As I mentioned on my previous WOYWW post, I was busy creating last night in my ...(very hot and stuffy), craft room! 

Needless to say I wasn't hanging around in there, but I did manage to stop and stay long enough to make this LO.... (tbh I stripped my top off and crafted in my bra!) lol

I used Authentique Classique Elegance as my chosen paper collection for this photo of me on my sons wedding day... and I used the July Scrap our Stash shopping challenge to kick start my inspiration. 

In which I had to choose at least 5 elements from my stash to incorporate into my LO- I've highlighted the ones I've used...

Here is the shopping list:

Washi tape ( camera and striped heart)

Stars (3 or more)

Striped Paper (not lined) (left hand side beneath the washi tape)

Enamel Dots (3 or more) (Top right of the photo)

Polaroid Frame

Buttons (3 or more)

Flag

Dimensional sticker (above the photo)

Paper Clip

Arrows (3 or more)

Wood Veneer

Journaling card

Sequins (3 or more) (above the right hand side of the photo)

Use (2) or more types of punches 

Die cut (hat, bag, shoes cluster bottom left of the photo)

Tags (2 or more) (left hand side of the photo)

Flair button

Rub On

Transparency

Flowers (3 or more)

Cork embellishment

I used white acrylic paint, watered down to make the background and then added the papers from the pad and fussy cut the flowers on the front right, layering all the elements until I was pleased with the end result. 

I felt a little uncomfortable using the pre-printed 'beauty' labels/ tags when making a LO about myself, but if you can't say that on one of the proudest days of my life.. when can you? I hope you'll forgive me on this occasion! 

Elaine
x

WOYWW

Good morning bloggers!

Another sunny day in my corner of Kent..I just hope it's not as humid as yesterday.. I nearly roasted in my craft room last night...and that's the reason I can actually join in with What's on your workdesk Wednesday this week! Simply because I usually clear my desk after each session, but in this case I was soooooo hot that I couldn't wait to escape my room! Who wants to see a tidy desk each week?


So here goes... The remains of a LO that I made that was another for the third wedding album that I am making for my sons wedding. I made one for him and his new bride, one for my Mum, and finally I am making one for me! Why is it we always make ourselves go last? 

You will notice that I have some stickers on the left..these are from the Authentique, Classique Elegance collection.. A range I'm very fond of. I used the stickers and the papers for my LO.. But I can't share that here as it isn't the time or place. 

You will see the rest of the debris of the page too.. A water pot,(a recent purchase from Harry Potter studio tour- originally had butterbeer in it) complete with white water from where I washed my paintbrush, as I made a painty background on the LO.  Also several other things I dragged out, and I didn't necessarily use.. including the chipboard flourish I 
painted and distressed (bottom right) then didn't use...and some black sticky tape on a roll.. I still haven't used those..even though I bought them about a year ago! Lol

Behind my desk on the right on the wall is a new addition, the 'I love sewing' rack.. That's not true! I'm afraid I hate it...but the rack is just perfect for my rolls of American Craft ribbons. 

On the left you will see my brown leather sticker carousel..full to the brim with stickers in readiness for grabbing when any LO just 'needs' that little something extra! 

And the rest is the usual debris and remains from my urge to craft! 

I hope you enjoyed your visit...and maybe I'll start leaving my desk in a mess just so I can join in with this blog hop.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Elaine
X

My sunshine..and a disaster too!

Hello all

Today I'm bringing you a LO that I created today from the weekly challenge over on UKS featuring my 'men' who undoubtedly bring me sunshine is a sea of life that can, ocassionally, seem very grey! (Luckily not that often.. I'm a glass half full gal!)  

Firstly I had to use this sketch, then I had to add stitching or fabric (I used both)  and to use a colour I had a lot of in my wardrobe.. in my case..black.. (not yellow sadly..it makes me look sallow).. finally I had to use polka dots.

So.. firstly I used an entire sheet of yellow PP that I had in my July 'Just in Time' CKCB kit.. and then I added some Authentique papers from a recent purchase of a 6" paper pad..using just the black and polka dot sheets. 

I then used a negative of a heart punch out and added yellow polka dot washi tape beneath it, added some fabric strips and some faux stitching around the heart. 

I finished off with a flourish of flowers including some sequin flowers... ending up with tipping the entire box of THOUSANDS of sequins all over my craft room floor. I was distraught.. in fact I've walked away from them and will go back to it later when I've worked out the best method of clearing them all up. I figure that using a dustpan and brush will just get them to stick with static to the brush! I can't use my hands as they stick to them too and I can't get them off there either...any ideas??? What a klutz! 

Hey ho.. it didn't stop me finally photographing and loading the LO here! 

Hope someone has a good idea how to clear up my sequins???

Elaine

x

Bad hair day!

Morning again everyone... 

I hope you're visiting me again here because you saw my earlier post and you are anticipating what I'm going to be up to next! 

This LO is one I have made with elements from my Counterfeit Kit 'Just in Time' based on a Sketch from Stuck?!

I am yet to put the title on it as I don't have access to my white pen.. (it's hidden upstairs above my guests room so I can't get at it yet) - however I have decided I'm going to call it 'Bad Hair Day' as I had these photos taken by my so-called friend Heather on a trip to stay at Champneys Spa in January 2013.

My hair is usually something I take a lot of care over (even though you wouldn't always know it!)... and wouldn't be seen dead with it in a mess... so she couldn't wait to get these photos when I'd just had an Indian Head Massage.. and it was full of aromatherapy oils.. I was laughing so much because I was trying to get away from here.. so here it is in all my messy glory for all to see! 

No sniggering now!

I used a scrap from a Wear Crafts kit from eons ago and the pink striped paper is from the MME Chalkboard collection. The spotty strip is from the Simple Stories Fresh Air collection and the chalkboard elements  and brads are MME. I also added a bit of starry washi tape too.  

I used a wire mesh stamp on the left and there are tine gems scattered in amongst it... as a final flourish I added some Prima flowers and the date tab....as soon as the title is added I will be happy.

Thanks for looking.. and do pop back later.. there's more in my catch up blogathon!

Elaine

x

Love these Gentlemen

Morning all

Today I bring you a LO based on this sketch over on Scrap365.

If I'm honest, at first I looked at it and thought, even for me, it was a little too heavy on white space, but then I looked a little harder and decided it wasn't so set about making this LO.

I was quite restricted on papers from my stash as I didn't have normal access to my craft room on account that it is over the room I use for my B & B guests.. and I had some in, so I couldn't get to it all.

So... first I took a blackboard sheet of paper from my  July Counterfeit Kit, 'Just in Time' and used the reverse spotty side, which was a page from the Teresa Collins, Memorabilia collection. Then I added a selection of papers from the Glitz 'Dapper Dan' range which was perfect for this photo of my son and his besties messing about on his wedding day.

I gradually layered up the papers onto Navy cardstock, then decided I wanted to mount the entire LO onto navy CS too, so I cut that to fit too. I then added some star washi tape and a couple of clusters of embellies, finishing off with a smattering of co-ordinating buttons.

The title was cut from the paper pad too as was the little bow ties and the moustache.

Thanks for looking..and remember to pop back later as I am going too be catching up with some more LOs later too.

Elaine

x

Summer days

Hi all

These beautiful flowers deserved a LO all of their own, so I combined the images with the link to summer and made this with my CKCB Kit, Just in Time. 

I also used the first challenge on the CKCB kit which was to include triangles. Co-incidentally, the Stuck?! sketch this month also included triangles and so the two went hand in hand. 

As regular followers also know, I like to combine challenges, soooooo... I chose to make my LO to fit with another challenge over on SJ Crafts Blogspot, 'One of Five', where you had to use one of the five different types of element. I chose, arrows, the colour Mint, and the title 'Summer days' from the selection we had the option of.

As a bonus, as the challenge has been posted on Pinterest, it also counts as my SIPIDI (See it Pin it Do it) entry for July. You can find out more on Fionas Blog.. Staring at the Sea. 


I used several papers from my kit (most of which were remnants of paper) and then I added spotty ribbon, enamel dots and butterfly, two flairs and then I altered a couple of chipboard arrows I have had knocking around in my stash forever! 







First I stuck co-ordinating paper on the arrows and then I adhered them. 




THEN, when it was too late, I decided they didn't stand out enough, so I VERY CAREFULLY, had to go around the edges with a marker pen to make them pop a little more. Finally, I added accents with some Gelly Glaze pens to fnish it off.. (I think you can just make this out on the second photograph. 

What do you think?

Elaine

Just in Time

Well... life seems to have overtaken me so far this month and so I have been very tardy with making up my July Counterfeit kit.

So.. as I'm so late in joining in, I decided to make a mini kit. 

There should be just enough to create a few Lo's with this pretty kit.. that I am calling 'Just in time!' 

There are a selection of mint, pink, yellow and of course, chalk board papers and elements. 

As you can see I haven't included any card or even many embellishments..but, of course, that doesn't mean there won't be any.. I just intend to add both as I need them. 

I hope to have the first LO.. (that I've since already made) blogged later today too.. so do remember to pop back soon. 

Have a great weekend everyone. 

Elaine

We've only just begun- 34 years late!

Hi again

Today I had an unexpected day off, so I have been busy with this LO. I decided to have a go at the challenge I'd seen over on the Scrapology-adventures in Scrapbooking blog. 
In which they suggest we may be able to create a LO based on this wonderful LO by Stacey Cohen.. isn't it pretty? 

At first glance I thought.. o h this doesn't look too difficult to scraplift...  err err! Wrong! 

Firstly.. I watercolour painted some white card stock shades of pink.. then waited for it to dry...I'm not patient so this was difficult for me! 

Then I took a heart punch.. next problem... they were upside down.. and although I could put one or two sideways on.. the rest looked totally wrong.. so I then decided to use a Martha Stewart Punch 'anywhere on the page punch'.. I bought it months ago and hadn't yet used it (does anyone else do that?) So that was the saving grace. 

I then punched out the hearts and eventually cut around the remaining shapes. 

I then used a treasures proof of one of my wedding photos.. and no- I didn't photoshop it! My wedding photographer was very clever.. he used a margarine tub over the end of his lens which he had already stuck the image of the songsheet into.. wasn't that a clever idea for pre-PS days?

I then mounted the photo on pink CS and added a doily, white lacy remnant, roses and some scrolls and finished off with a scattering of pearls. 

I can't say I totally love it..but I am quite pleased with the end result.. what do you think? 

Elaine
x

My first double Lo for a while.

Hi again

For this weeks challenge over on UKS, we were tasked with making a LO with space for 5 photos on it.. well anyone who knows me, will know that multiple photo LO's are hard for me.. mainly because I rarely have five photos that go together! I am remedying that now and am starting to take multiples of things from now on. Also on the lovely Orange Paperie & Co BlogSpot they have tasked us with a double LO challenge! So here goes....

The other criteria on UKS was choose something sporty as the theme.. or something summery/foreign holiday based! Well that was a no-brainer.. I don't do anything sporty.. and so I went with foreign holiday! 

In addition it had to be patriotic! Fortunately this did not mean it had to be red white and blue as we were allowed to use the colours that represented the flag of the country featured. In this case I chose Lanzarote in the Canary Isles, Spain (as I've just come back from there) and the colours of their flag.. which, of course, is red and yellow!

Next the hunt was on for papers to use. So I had a delve and came up with this lovely Kaisercraft Hummingbird collection. It had both colours in it.. so off I went. 

I started with papers and the basis of a kit I had already opened, and I added more to it as I went along. TBH I wasn't sure the red and yellow were dominant enough, so I decided to embellish it with just those two colours.. and this is the end result! 

I fussy cut the birdcages and birds, and found this 'Paradise Found' vellum quote and decided that the name of the hotel and this quote would work as a title... I finalised with the red hearts, enamel dots, sequins and I also embossed a wooden chandelier in red to go with it. 

Finally to give it some depth, I added the two rosettes.

Do let me know what you think.. and thanks for popping by.

Elaine 

Spring in Seville

Hi all
Today I managed to complete a LO made with Simple Stories Fresh Air collection. First I took this sketch from Sues Me and Mine blog. Each month Sue sets a challenge with a sketch she's designed herself and there is a prize up for grabs too. Why not check it out for yourself.

First I took a sheet of American Craft Co..Spring colours collection. Then I used the collection to create this LO. 

Thanks for looking. 

Phase 3 Photo Scavenger Hunt

Helooooooo.. long time no speak...

Forgive me followers... for I have sinned.. It's been almost three long weeks since my last Post!

As you may know.. I have been away on holiday and since I have been back I have been strong armed into working full time.. so no time to post.. added to which I have decided to market my house again so the full scale clean up is in operation!! Here it is if want a snoop.. or want to buy a house! Lol

Anyway... while I was away..my quest to add to the collected photographs has continued and I am pleased to share a few more with you today.

The full  list is here.. and I have crossed through those I have already found.

1. A sign welcoming people to your home town (or a nearby town)
2. A garden gnome
3. Birds on a wire
4. A group of tourists (I stupidly forgot to do this while on holiday!)
5. A rack of post cards
6. An urban street scene
7. A rural landscape
8. A tattoo on a person
9. A bakery
10. A photo bomb (someone found lurking in the background of photo; the lurker may have intended to disrupt the picture or may be doing it unintentionally, but the background lurker is a surprise to the photographer)
11. A horn
12. A mascot
13. A sunrise
14. A parade
15. A juggler
16. A sign in a language other than English
17. A lamp post
18. A water fall
19. A public garden
20. A bus (not a car, truck, lorry, camper or RV) with a picture painted on its sides.
21. A photograph of you with something representing the season (recognizing that the season will be Winter for our friends in the southern hemisphere). Note: you may not use a substitute for this item.
If you find something on the list too difficult, you may substitute one of the following items for anything on the list, except for Item #21:
Alternative A: A kite, hot air balloon or blimp
Alternative B: A bird house

A Public Garden (the entrance to Tonbridge Castle)

A waterfall

 

 

A sign in another language

 

 

A lamp post

 

Birds on a wire

(sorry about the poor quality.. I had to take it through my car window with my iPhone!)

 

An urban street scene...although I think this may count as sub-urban rather than urban!

(I may do a different take on this before the end of summer...but to me... who lives in the sticks.. this is very urban!)