Happy Thoughts | Amy Kattenbelt | Stamping

Hi, I'm here today to show you my layout for November, with the theme of stamping.

This month I decided to scraplift myself as I had had so many comments about my original layout and requests to make a process video to show how it was created.

Please do check out the You Tube video to see how the layout came together.

I used a stamp set from Crate Paper called Wild Heart which has lots of different leaves. This technique would work well with lots of different stamp sets though...a floral selection in bright colours would be perfect for summer photos! 

Once my stamping is finished I add a layer of paper behind my photo, a few carefully chosen stickers and ephemera pieces, some enamel dots and a date!

We are looking forward to seeing your layouts using Stamping over on our facebook group, so do come and join us if you aren't already a member!

Great Memories | Terri Morris | Tic Tac Toe

Hey guys how are you all getting on with this summer heat? My craft room is on the top floor of our 3 storey house and is crazy hot during the day. I’ve managed to do a little scrapping in the evenings with a fan on. I love this month’s theme of using the Tic Tac Toe as inspiration for a layout.

I chose to use the middle horizontal line, so focused on using arrows, circles and washi tape. I have so much washi tape it was great to get some used!

I used gold texture paste through a Dylusions circle stencil to create the background on kraft cardstock. While also adding some circular embellishments such as stickers and a flair badge.

The three strips of pattern under and on top of the kraft cardstock are all washi tapes. Those 3 phrases under the title were also cut from a roll of travel themed washi tape.

I combined the arrow and washi tape by adding a washi with arrows on as a strip across the middle. I used a Bramble Fox arrow perspextive and some arrow stickers.

This layout came together really quickly and is one of my recent favourites. The photo is from our trip to Jordan and I love how they have road signs warning about camels! 

We would love to see your Tic Tac Toe layouts so don't forget to share them in our Facebook group and also tag us on Instagram.

Happy Scrapping!

Magic | ScrappyNerdUK (Claire) | 6x6 Paper Pads

Hiya Friends,

This months theme was always going to be one of my favourites. I love working with 6x6 paper pads and find them so versatile. However, I know many people really struggle with using them. I'm hoping you have found lots of inspiration so far this month to get those paper pads put to good use...The ladies on the team have created some fabulous layouts this month!!

So I started with my photo and decided on a Disney one (because I love scrapping my Disney memories!!).

I used a white cardstock background as I really wanted the 6x6 papers to pop and using white will certainly help that.

I used a piece of A4 white cardstock and traced around a plate and sectioned this circle into 8. All of the sections were then cut out and were used as templates for my patterned paper from the 6x6 pad.

I arranged these circle pieces back together on my 12x12 white background and used double sided adhesive runner to glue them down. From the off cuts of the 6x6 papers, I used each of these as layers behind my photo - what a great way to use up 4 sheets of paper with very little waste!

So next came the embellishing. I went through my Disney stash and added on a whole load of stickers into 3 sections of the circle. I used a die cut word "Magic" as my title and added in pops of gold foil in the 3 embellished areas. I used a mixture of stickers, ephemera, chipboard and even used a heart paper clip that can be seen in the photo to the right.

There is something magical and tingly about scrapping Disney memories.


And here is the finished layout. I love how this turned out. I'm sure I say that every time but I really do. I hope that this has bought you some inspiration for diving into those 6x6 paper pads. They need some love and this is a great way to get them used.

If you want to watch the process video for this then you're in luck - you'll find it over on Youtube by using the following link - https://youtu.be/LsMnhidslHc

Fresh Start | Laura Jane Thomson | Journaling

Hello UK Scrap Addicts!  Hope you're all having a scrappy week and are enjoying the selection of journaling ideas for your memory keeping that our creative team have been sharing throughout the month of September. 

This month I have decided to incorporate a cut file which was issued by UK Scrap Addicts for National Scrapbooking Day 2017 alongside a beautiful stencil from Pretty My Page, to show case a photograph taken on a day where my life took a turn for the better and we had a fresh start.

This is my completed layout and I will explain the stages throughout this post:

I started with using the Fleur De Lys cut file which was a UK Scrap Addicts exclusive for National Scrapbooking Day 2017 and is available to download HERE.

I had this cut file in the centre of a sheet of white 12x12 cardstock and in each of the four corners of the white cardstock I used Wilted Violet Distress Oxides using a sponge blending tool through this beautiful Fleur De Lys stencil from Pretty My Page.

Next I layered my photograph onto a couple of pieces of patterned paper, and matted onto a piece of patterned cardstock which I had cut into a banner shape, before adhering to the page.  

Using embellishments from my stash I added floral pieces to two corners of my photograph and a flair badge to the top right cluster, to complete each of these clusters I added some gorgeous enamel dots which are also from Pretty My Page.

I decided to add hidden journaling to this layout by adding a folded piece of cardstock to the bottom left quarter of the page, the front of which is also decorated with the Fleur De Lys stencil, after stenciling the main page I flipped the stencil onto a second piece of cardstock and using a baby wipe to 'clean' the stencil achieved this faded effect.  

Lastly, I added my title "Fresh Start" using yellow Thickers to co-ordinate with my background paper. 

Using cut files in my scrapbook layouts is not something that I am overly familiar with, however I am quite happy with how his page has come together and I personally think that the colours work well together.  

Pretty My Page have recently re-launched their website with more of a focus on Mixed Media products to compliment the beautiful products Lisa has spent so long working on, so to celebrate this launch Lisa is offering our wonderful UK Scrap Addicts readers a 10% discount on purchases made through her website by using the code: UKSA10

Don't forget to check out our September 2017 challenge by visiting our blog here.

You can show your support for Pretty My Page's business by visiting their Facebook page or shopping on their website.

Thank you so much for popping into our blog and reading my post, and I hope you'll pop back soon. 

Laura xxx

Hello Adventure | Gemma Summers | Journalling

Hello Scrap Addicts!

Gemma here with my layout using our theme for this month ... Journalling.

Journalling is something I have recently been adding to my layouts and I can now see its importance to me, in it helping to record my memories and story. I chose to base this layout on my love for walking and a new hobby, geocaching. 

I started by creating a mixed media background. The inspiration for this came from a rainbow stencil and enamel dots I used from 'Pretty My Page' our sponsor this month!

As I love rainbow colour the rainbow stencil was perfect. I used texture paste through the stencil, then added watercolour paint over the top, blending the colours together. I then sprayed extra water to help the paint run down the page. With my photo being black and white I went for a colourful background and I like the stencil's texture.

Once I had added my photo, the layout came together quite quickly.

All the embellishments I have used came from my 'Mind the Scrap' September subscription scrapbook kit. This included my title of the large 'Heidi Swapp' wood veneer 'Adventure'.

I created 3 clusters which were coloured according to the mixed media behind it, for a tone on tone look. One in pink, blue and yellow, which worked perfectly with the enamel dots. Each cluster also has a star in that colour too.

I always like to do my journalling last and I hand write it.  I added this onto a speech bubble die cut. To continue the colour on colour, I wrote this in pink pen to help it blend in. I like the personal touch the handwriting adds and the coloured pen makes it not too bold.

Don't forget we would love to see your layouts using journalling this month
on Instagram using #ukscrapaddicts

I hope you enjoyed this layout!

Always | Polly's Papercrafts | Journalling

Hey Scrap Addicts, 

It's Emma here with you again, and my sincerest apologies as still no video from me (blame PC World! The less said about them, the better!). 

As you know, we're talking journalling this month. Honestly, I suck at journalling. I can't seem to get past the basics of where, who, when and, if you're lucky, why. Maybe that's enough for most people but I do feel like I'd like to be able to dig a little deeper. I just really struggle. Anyone else with me? 

The layouts I really struggle to journal on are the ones about me. The ones where the 'who' aspect is totally redundant. Do I write on every layout, "This is me...obviously!" 

So my tip for this month is: where journalling feels like a struggle and you can't find the words, use a quote. Use someone else's words to perfectly convey your meaning. 

In this layout, a photo of me at Harry Potter Studios, I used the quote from J.K.Rowling that is up on the screen as you walk out. For me, it perfectly sums up the reason I go back and read the books so often. (Every year, in case you're wondering!) 

My base is white cardstock at 8.5"X11". I cropped my photo (originally 4x6) into a square and fussy cut some of the squares from a Pink Paislee Moonstruck paper. I always think of the Moonstruck collection for Harry Potter pages. Must be the colours.
For a bit of background interest I used a chevron stencil from Pretty My Page, our sponsor this month, with some grey Kelly Purkey ink. I just used the Tim Holtz mini distress tool to lightly blend through the stencil.

With my photo off to the left hand side, it gave space for me to position the design squares on the right. Some of which I popped up on some foam, just to add a little something-something.

The florals used were fussy cut from another Moonstruck paper and I think they frame the space below the photo perfectly, giving an excellent space to write my quote.
Full disclosure: I cannot write in a straight line to save my life - so I lightly pencilled in some lines and erased them afterwards.

Wood veneer finished the little pieces of embellishement and I almost forgot the title, so I picked the word 'always' out of the quote (which HP fans everywhere will know the significance of too) and used the Moonstruck Thickers to spell it out under the photo. Job done.

I'm really happy with how this one came together. Remember; if you can't find the words to journal, use someone else's (just make sure you credit them somewhere!) 

Until next time... 

Summer Lovin' | Laura Jane Thomson | Clustering

As you have no doubt realised if you have been following our blog and social media, this month our topic is 'Clustering' in scrapbooking - something which I am not totally comfortable with as I never feel that they look the way they should do.  

As crafters we see the work of so many other amazing crafters and it is so easy to compare ourselves, for example I see some scrapbookers who create layouts with the most beautiful clusters at the points where they want to draw your eye around the page so when I create a layout using clusters of embellishments I then look at it and think 'YouTuberA' does it so much better, mine look rubbish in comparison.  

For this months theme I ended up creating three different scrapbook layouts with embellishment clusters before I finished this one that I am remotely happy with - I'm sure if I saw this layout on someone else's blog then I'd no doubt think it was lovely!

When I read through the blog posts and watched the process videos on 'Clusters' by some of the other wonderful UK Scrap Addicts Creative Team, I looked back at this layout and thought the clusters were rather minimal and perhaps not enough but I am quite happy with this layout, as this month is the first I have actively tried to add embellishment clusters to my layout.  

I have only been scrapbooking for ten months and I am still learning so much from fellow crafters, so I know I am nowhere near the level of scrapbooking talent as some of the other incredible people who share their work online, but I also know the progress I have made over the past few months and am slowly accepting that learning these new techniques takes time and to stop expecting instant results.

I would challenge you to try something new or out of your comfort zone the next time you decide to work on some scrapbooking or memory keeping... perhaps clusters are new to you to?  Why not give it a go and share it on our UK Scrap Addicts Facebook page or tag us (#ukscrapaddicts) on all the other social media platforms.  I cannot wait to see your creations. 

Enjoy the rest of your week. 

xx Laura xx

Happy Here & Now │Gemma Summers │Clustering

Hello, Gemma here with my layout based on our theme for this month, which is Clustering.

I love clustering because I like to use a lot of embellishments on a page as you will see from my layout this month! Having clusters of embellishments helps your eye travel round the page, and I have used them to surround my photo, with one cluster on each side. I chose to base my layout on a selfie of me at my craft desk, which I printed in black and white so I could chose any colour palette for my layout.

I started with a lined paper (I used a lot of the Pebbles 'girl squad' collection for this layout). I went with my photo central and decided to ground the clusters with some mixed media first.

I went with pinks, peaches and coral made using some distress inks and the packaging technique. I then added some splatters and crayon marks. I knew most of this would be covered up but some would still peak through for colour.

Next I could focus on my clusters.

I started by fussy cutting the speech bubbles, trees and raindrops. These elements were all from pattern paper, individually cut and arranged. I backed the speech bubbles onto craft foam to raise them and give the cluster different dimensions. I always start with the bigger elements, then move onto details like the puffy stickers, buttons and roller stamping.

I worked on both clusters at the same time, so they looked balanced and both had all the same elements in them. I stuck to coral, turquoise, black and white.

As the layout is about me, I chose stickers that match me like the backpack, headphones

and the girl puffy sticker even has my hair cut :)

The title was made from turquoise glitter words from Paige Evans, as I like the script font and the colour fits perfectly. It's a recent photo of me so really is 'here and now'. I used stamping in diagonal corners and added a doodle border round the entire page, with black pen.

Don't forget we would love to see your layouts using clustering this month
on our Facebook page and Instagram using #ukscrapaddicts

I hope you enjoyed this layout.

Is your craft desk your happy place too?

See you next month!

Sea Sun Fun | Polly's Papercrafts | Clustering

Hey Scrap Addicts! 

It's Emma with you today and, unusually for me, I don't have a video for you unfortunately. My tech decided it no longer liked me and gave up. It's in for repair though so hopefully I'll be up and running soon. In the meantime, we are talking clustering at Scrap Addict Central. 

Clustering is a technique of its own, and some people find it really tricky. I'll be honest, at times, I find it tricky. Mainly because usually with embellishment clusters, it means using a lot of ephemera or stickers or enamel dots or, in short, a lot of the pretty stuff we like to hoard. Am I right? 

For my layout this month, I'm using Crate Paper's Oasis collection. I had received some things in the last Like For Ever kit (no longer running sadly...I'm still sad about that, but I digress...) and I'd also picked up some extra bits in Hobbycraft, you know, as you do!

I'm using a photo of my brothers' adorable pooch, Ace, who's totally soaked from a lovely dip in the sea. Not only is the photo 'totes adorbs' but it also had some nice empty spaces where I could begin to build my clusters.

I made use of both the chipboard sticker sheet and the cardstock stickers, by first removing the stickiness on the back with talcum powder so I could move the pieces around like ephemera until I was happy with the placement. 

Toward the top of the photo is the heaviest cluster. Making use of smaller occurs if ephemera pieces and tucking them behind the photo to create layers. A couple of tags and the larger chipboard camera piece made the cluster look a bit more balanced. Later I added the flair and messy thread, to offset the heavy, blackness from the 'swim' piece in the other cluster.

The second grouping is lighter in terms of the number of pieces, mainly because they are larger. The 'Sea Sun Fun' Polaroid sticker becomes my title and I added the chipboard 'Swim' because, let's face it cute as he may be, the pooch looks something akin to a drowned rat (a happy one though!)  - haha! To finish the glittery frame just groups it's all together, making it slightly more cohesive, rather than a 'just-been-plonked-here' look.

At the bottom of the page, I wanted a small little 'something' that would really drawn your eye down over the last part of the page and would actually end up framing the journaling strips. I kept it simple with just the chipboard caravan (they had gone camping when this photo was taken) and a 'Let's Get Away' word sticker. It's simple but effective and brings the page to an end. 

Things to consider: 

✏️ Consider all types of embellishment when building your clusters i.e. Chipboard, cardstock die cuts, stickers, flair, puffy stickers...the list goes on. 

✏️ Visually, they tend to work better in 3's. They don't all have to be big focal points but the eye tends to rest in 3 places on a page. 

✏️ Don't be afraid of using your stuff - that's why you bought it right? 

Happy clustering lovelies, until next time (hopefully with a video!)