Guest Designing for Noor! Design

I am delighted to have been asked to guest design for Noor! Design UK this month. I was sent some lovely goodies and I started out with some seasonal makes with the Let It Snow Paper Pad.

Details of the card are on this post and details of the scrapbook page can be found here.

Below are links to all the lovely Noor! goodies I used in my creations.

Katy x

0708-Let it Snow Paper Pad

Cardboard Art A5 Hats and Gloves

Distress Inks

0085-Rustic Wood Paper Pad

Circle with Flower Die

0051-Vintage Flourish Snowflake

Scrap Around the World September Challenge

I've never entered the Scrap Around the World challenge before but I could not resist this time because (as you can see) the mood board for this month is soooooooooooooo me!

I created a 12x12 layout for the challenge and had fun using up some really ancient random papers - that always feels good! I think it's fairly obvious how the mood board inspired me - the colours, the roses, the woodgrain, the handwritten text, the book pages, the twine, the vintage feel... yep pretty much all of it (I DID say it was very me!!!).

It's not a complicated layout in technique terms but it has lots and lots and lots of layers (I do love my layering). There's some stamping in the background and the roses are spritzed with Tattered Rose Distress Spray but otherwise it's pretty much just paper - inked and distressed and layered up.

I really enjoyed making this page - partly because it's not Christmas stuff!!! Bah humbug ;0).

See you soon,

Katy x

A Little Bit of Layout Love

Oh my, it's been a while since I did any scrapbooking! But I do go to a crop once a month (hello Moxley mates!) and I thought it was about time that I used that time for the allotted purpose! I created two layouts in a day - which for me is pretty good going. I am not the world's fastest crafter!

My first layout is a romantic wedding layout. I used some very old papers by BoBunny called The Avenues. This is a simple LO but has lots of layers. Firstly, spray ink flicked onto the paper, then texture pasted stencilled and highlighted with ColourArte Silk Glaze in Golden Monarch. Then I added torn paper and corrugated card (the card also has a swipe of the Silk colour), various fussy cut elements, twine and trim and brads. The last layer has the photo and some flowers. My word is painted with the Silks again to tie it into the page. I love the subtle colour and sheen of the Silks - goes well with my romantic feel.

In contrast my second layout is much more contemporary in feel. Again I used spray inks (Distress brand), creating the background by applying the inks loosely with a wide brush. Once dry I added a load of splatters (fun!!!). Colours are Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers and Evergreen Bough. The stamps (pilfered from my fellow Moxley-er's - as I had not packed any. WHAT???) are Hampton Art and IndigoBlu. Then I just layered up some die cuts, tags and elements cut from paper.

This is the first layout I've done of our new fur baby, Jet. He is very smiley :).

I enjoyed this change of scene and hope you do too :)

Katy xxx

Happy Days for Rubber Dance

Something a bit different for Rubber Dance today - a scrapbook layout. One of their recent releases - Round in Circles (pic below) is totally ideal for scrapping. Here I've used the set on each of my tags to create backgrounds in keeping with the fun feel of my page. I used yellow and pink Archival Inks to complement the papers. The papers are Amy Tangerine - love her papers! This is one of all time fave pictures of me and hubby - it makes me happy :).

Just a little bit of stamping can really elevate a layout - I try to use stamps on most of my pages.

Thanks for your visit today :)

K x

I used these Rubber Dance stamps:

Round In Circles

Me & You Layout

Quickie today - been a while since I posted a layout. This is one I made at a recent crop, using Teresa Collins papers. These are the last photos of me and Leo before we lost him but I love them because he looks happy and smiley. Hope you like :)

Katy x

I'm back!

Goodness me what a neglected little bloggie. I'll be honest. I got tired of it, it can be like a hungry mouth that wants feeding constantly... So a new phase of blogging begins - a pressure and hassle free kind of blogging. If I've got something to share, I'll share. If not, the thing might go unloved for months once again. In the words of the wonderful Doris Day - que sera sera.

So what brings me here today? Well I've started getting Quirky Kits and my first one landed last week. So I've been scrapping (for no other reason than fun, it's been a while since I did that...). And here's my page featuring some silly photos of my nearest and dearest. Liking this kit lots.

Latte Love

My first LO with my new monthly kit from Gotta Craft, celebrating my love of the Gingerbread Latte! In the winter I crave visits to Starbucks for my fix. Gingerbread Latte's may be the most utterly scrumptious thing known to man.

I was not sure at all about this kit as it's very bright AND very pink, neither of which is very me. However, one of the purposes of getting a kit was to try to get outside my comfort zone colour wise. I do gravitate towards blue and brown almost all the time!

So this is the result of my first encounter with the kit and I have to say I am pleased with it. I used the reverse side of some of the papers as they were more muted (the polka dots) to balance the busy shaped paper. The kit is Lime Twist from MME in case you were wondering.

After making this I have decided I may be rather partial to baker's twine...

POTD for Banana Frog

This is one of two 'back to basics' layouts I've created for Banana Frog this month.

If you'd like more info or want to see my other LO, pop over to the Banana Frog Blog :).

I am trying a more minimalist scrapbooking style and loving it! It's so quick to do pages!

UKS Weekly Challenge

With apologies to my very dear friend Paula for a slightly unflattering photo of her pouting (she has seen it and, yes I have been told off LOL), here is my weekly challenge LO for UKS. The leaf sprays (Cricut) have a smattering of PP Mist in Heirloom Gold. This may be my new favourite product. It is to die for, so much sparkle! The title is on my new TH die - this is what happens when I don't get crafting stuff for Xmas - I feel the need to shop in Jan... The new Bubbly Funk shop is soooooooooooooo not helping me to cut back! The papers are very old, might be Scenic Route I think.

In line with the challenge (use ribbon but not in the form of a bow) I have attempted to make my own 'rose' embellishment using running stitch to gather a piece of sheer ribbon and a piece of crochet ribbon and layering them. Not sure how well it worked but it is a darn sight better than my last attempt which shall never be spoken of again (Sue, I am looking at you!).

Simply Create DT - Glitz Designs kit

Finally got cracking on my Simply Create kit that I am ashamed to say came well before Christmas... All the bits and bobs are Glitz Designs (apart from the title) - when I saw the faux book page embellishment I knew what I had to scrap!

The background cardstock is inked with Distress Inks and stamped with one of the images from the Glitz Designs Distressing set. I had cut and doodled the hearts and there isn't much else to it. I wasn't sure about this kit at first but have grown to love it :). More creations tomorrow.

Bye for now x

Return of the mojo???

Has the mojo come back??? I've literally not been in the craft room since I last posted in November until yesterday. My LO is for a UK Scrappers challenge and is based on a sketch by Karen AKA Scrapdolly (see UKS homepage for details).

A few thank you messages: to MJ for the spotty brad, and to Claire for the button and word stickers used in the journaling which were in my Christmas parcel :).

I have also sadly left the Gingersnaps DT recently - too much life getting in the way of crafting. Sad to leave but enjoyed my time with them lots.

Lots of stuff to share - shall attempt to post semi frequently in 2011!

Thanks for popping by.

Simply Create DT submission

Today I thought I'd share a layout I entered for the Simply Create DT call. The photo is of our favourite beach in Cape Cod - it was literally deserted and so peaceful.

Papers are quite old Kaisercraft ones; the beach grass/words are stamped using stamps from the Tattered Angels Coastal set. I've added my journaling on a little tag behind the photo. Quite a simple LO but that's how I like 'em!

Thanks for popping in,

Katy x

Me & my Dog

This is a layout I started an age ago. I was a class from the last UKS cybercrop (can't for the life of me remember which one) and I just didn't know how to finish it. Am still not totally happy with this but at least it is done now.

Love these papers - they are MME. The pics were taken at Brockhampton by my other half - some quite nice pics of me for once!

Thanks for popping over.

K x

More Create 10

Busy week but managed another Create 10 layout class, again using up scraps. I made the page almost entirely from bits and pieces left over from a class I did last year, which feels good! I even used the printed manufacturer strips to make a small border.

I have to confess that although I'd kept these papers I was not at all keen on the pastel colours, but I am actually quite pleased with the finished layout. This has encouraged me to try ways of using up papers I am not so keen on.

My mission for August is to use up lots of my existing stash, so I am making a rule - no purchases until I've created at least five pieces of work of some kind. Will I stick to it??? Well, I'll try (willpower never was my strong suit).

Love this pic of me and the other half; it makes me feel happy just looking at it (although have no idea what's going on with his hairdo!!!).

Thanks for popping over.

K x

Create 10 - day two!

The technique for class two was to use scraps of paper in long strips to create a layered effect - again I've not exactly followed the class but have rather used the technique. I've used the last of my BG Mellow (boo hoo, love that paper) as all I had left was one piece (background on the page) and a few scraps. The leaves are Stampin' Up stamps which I've scrunched up in my hand to make them look more autumnal.

Next class is flowers so that will be much more of a challenge as I rarely use floral embellishments!

With apologies for the dodgy photo!

Katy x

Create 10

My first layout for the Create 10 classes (Fri class). I didn't exactly follow the class, but did apply the principles of using leftover scraps of paper and die cut shapes to create my page. The butterflies are chipboard die cuts; I painted them white, then added some red Versamagic ink to the centres, working it outwards with my finger for a graduated look. I then over-stamped with an Inkadinkado cherry blossom stamp. Papers are Kaisercraft.

If you want to see what everyone else has been doing for Create 10 go here.

Thanks for visiting :)

Katy x

Exhall workshop classes

I finally finished two of the projects from the crop at Exhall I went to a couple of weeks ago. It was organised (very effeciently too I must say) by Claire Wheatley - thank you for your hard work Claire :). Me and my crafty chums had a fabulous day and really enjoyed the classes.

This first layout was my favourite of the classes, which was by Ifa Zainon. I thought the class was really beautiful, and showed me that cost effective crafting (it uses on sheet of card, and literally a tiny part of a 12x12 sheet of patterned paper) can be gorgeous! Of course I changed the class a little to suit my photos (I never was good at following instructions). The pics are of Painswick Rococco Gardens in the Cotswolds. Ifa's blog is here but unfortunately she doesn't seem to have put up a picture of her original LO. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice - it really is pretty, and delicate, and sparkly.

This second layout was part of a class by Jemma Sharrock. Again I changed the layout somewhat, but the basic arrangement of elements is the same. Jemma doesn't seem to have a blog but if you use UKS you can see the original LO in her gallery (username Jimjams). I used my brand new sparkly Cricut Create to make the letters, which I then ultra thicked to make them all glossy like epoxy stickers. Jemma did this technique in her class - I'd not done it for ages and it reminded me how useful my UTEE is!

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by.

K xxx

Paperbag album

Today I am sharing a paperbag album I made recently. My dear friend Sue showed me how to create the book on our weekend away - really easy to make but very effective. It's basically three paper bags stuck together and then trimmed to make the staggered effect. I NEED to make more of these so paper bags are now on the ever growing 'must buy' list!

The decoration is my own work. The only change I made to Sue's construction was to make the closure on the book magnetic instead of using a ribbon tie; I wanted the cover design fairly minimal.

The pictures are of Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd-Wright's winter home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, which I visited in 2005 and absolutely loved.

The papers are MME So Sophie, I didn't use a lot of embellishments as you need to keep the pages relatively flat to allow the book to close properly.

It's my turn on Gingersnaps this week so I'll be back on Wed with a card I made :).

Thanks for popping over,

Katy

Parrot Fashion

A few weeks ago I had a lovely little getaway with some of the girls from my UKS team. A lovely bunch they are too. We had one or two classes during the weekend, and this layout is from a class by the lovely MJ (who runs Every Moment Matters). I adapted it somewhat, as MJs was a double page (I never do those) and I had more photos to fit on. However the brilliant touches with the stiching, squares and tied ribbon border are all courtesy of the lovely MJ :).

The picture is one of many from my visit to Birdland. Trust me you'll be sick of seeing birds soon enough!

Secondly, I've been CASEd in this week's challenge on Gingersnaps! I am feeling very honoured that two very talented ladies chose my work to emulate. Pop over to the Gingersnaps blog to have a look at what they did :).

That's all for now, thanks for stopping by.

Katy x

UKS Challenge

My scrapbook page for last week's UKS challenge.

The challenge was:

-Scrap something you love (my beloved pooch)

-Use something old, new, borrowed or blue (my papers were my latest purchase - BG Max & Whiskers - and I used blue cs)

-Write journaling (yep)

-Use stamps, inks or paint (lots of stamping here - the journaling block is a Hero Art stamp, the box with the date a 7 Gypsies stamp, the small letters are alpha stamps and the big Thickers are stamped with a Prima stamp that looks like a newspaper sheet, the round circle is a stamp too.)

I like this one; that's a well cute pic of my dog. The journaling is about how he chunters on all the time!!! He makes an amazing range of odd noises.... bless him!

K x