Everyday is a Blessing

Like most scrapbookers I find it a little bit daunting breaking into a new kit or collection to do that first layout. There are so many lovely papers and embellishments that it's so hard to choose which ones to use.

Like For Ever's September kit, which features the Cedar Lane collection by Pink Paislee, is so beautiful. The colours are stunning and are perfect for Autumn pictures. I've never really been into purple before but with the gorgeous blue thickers it's just gorgeous.

For this layout I wanted to do quite a simply design. I chose the papers that suited my photo and used an aged book page from a piano music book from my stash to back the photo stack. I love hiding my journalling in an envelope so I tucked that in just behind the photo. I really like how I didn't need to use many patterned papers to layer behind the photo. There are just the two papers and they compliment each other perfectly. I needed some texture so stitched around the purple photo matte using purple thread and again around the whole page using the same thread. I popped my photo up on some foam pads to give it dimension. Those thickers are really sticky which is unusual for thickers and I did consider stitching through the middle of them but thought it might be too much. I popped some of the thread underneath the floral piece and that has foam tabs too. This layout came together in about 30 minutes which is great for me as I tend to scrap in little segments are spare time.

I'm really chuffed with this layout. Maybe the quick and simple ones are the best. 

Spring Clean in Autumn

There's something magical about having a clear out of your craft space. And yet also a little scary. I'm sure we've all been in that moment of will I use this? or shall I throw it away? Yes it's a dilemma. Well I managed to get through the big clear out yesterday and the end result is a wonderfully clean and tidy work space to craft in. How long this will last I don't know. Probably about ten minutes.

I've got a clear desk space and my new Like For Ever kit organised into my chip and dip dish and ready to go. It's so enticing. Now I just need some free time......

Happy scrapping xx

Mrs Mojo

It's gone and come back again and then blow me it blinking went again! What do you do when your mojo disappears for a week's holidaying in Costa Rica?

Personally I used to feel cross, then sulk a bit and then hide in a cupboard for the rest of the week until my mojo made its return. I kinda felt a little bit guilty too. As though I was letting my kids down if I wasn't busy storing memories on layouts. I think that's part of the problem. Maybe we put ourselves under too much pressure with this memory keeping lark. Then we get stressed out about it and it becomes like a kind of chore.

I used to feel like this with card making. When I was selling some cards it then become a little more pressurised to get it right. It took the fun out of playing with crafting goodies.

Nowadays I try and crack on with a layout. I may not always be 100% happy with the end result but hey ho it's another memory documented. Because that's what's important with memory keeping isn't it. Getting the thoughts and memories down on paper. Job done. It is after all what we do this for.

There's something so relaxing about throwing paint and texture paste around, fiddling with and finding that perfect embellishment. Something I'm so comfortable and at ease with. I can sit at my desk and forget about the stresses of my day. That's why I love this hobby.

I've been very busy lately with Crate Paper's Wonder collection. Thankfully there was tonnes of it in our Like For Ever August kit.

I have loved these products and the whole kit was just awesome! 

Best Day Ever

Shimelle's True Stories is the line featured in Like For Ever's May kit. I really like it. I've struggled a little with all the bright colours as I usually use lots of muted Crate Paper but that's the great thing about subscribing to a kit. It forces you to challenge yourself. To combat my fear of all the bright prime colours I've mixed it with lots of white. It seems to work.

This layout was my first with the kit and took quite a while. I struggled with the title (cut using the Silhouette). I cut it twice, once on the tiny polka dot paper and once on watercolour paper. That watercolour version has been painted blue, splashed with gold ink until finally painted red and covered in glossy accent. Phew. Got there in the end. After adding the tear strips I used white gesso over the top to fade it down a bit.

I used inspiration from Like For Ever's Sunday Challenge which was to use 5 or more tear strips. It took me a moment before I realised Nichola meant the manufacture strips! Doh! Nichola also put up a sketch that I loosely followed. As I said I really struggled with all the bright but dark colours. After this layout I started to include lots of white which you'll see shortly.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sherrie

Swoon

I am in love with these Craft Paper acetate letters from the Maggie Holmes Confetti line. Love love love them! Can't decide which I love more. The minty turquoise ones or the gold. Hmmmm....

I am sooooooo happy with this layout. I love simple layouts and feel so good about the end product compared to a more detailed layout. I think this is a good style for me.

I still do quite a few layouts where I get to the end and I'm just not liking it. Hey ho. I just move on to the next one. It's another memory documented. Enough said.

I backed the letters with vellum just to fade out the floral paper behind. I probably wiped finger marks off the letters a gazillion times. Everything else on the page is from Crate Paper's Craft Market line. The cute camera sticker is from the 6x12" title sticker pack. I am going to do some stitching on the border strips at the top. Decided. Typed journaling, black Windsor ink splatters. Job done. This layout took about 40 minutes.

Nice to see ya,

Sherrie x

Scrap Scrap Away

I don't think I've ever made so many layouts in such a short space of time before! I am really enjoying my scrapbooking at the moment. I seem to have found my flow. I am getting more confident with every layout and am loving the process. Getting lots of inspiration from Pinterest lately too.

Also I am in love with my Silhouette Cameo. I find I have to force myself a bit to get it out and set up but once I'm there there's no stopping me. The possibilities are endless. I love that machine! 

This layout came together pretty quickly. I cut the leaves using watercolour paper which I just love the look of. It's just got such a lovely feel to it. I haven't used black too much in the past but I'm happy with how this turned out. Love the effect of the white pen on black paper. Most of these layouts were made using my Like For Ever monthly kit subscription and this was the Garden Party kit.

Again, watercolour paper for my title and I used my watercolour palette to give it some colour. I did that thing that lots are doing at the moment. Putting the paint onto some plastic packaging and patting it onto the paper.

This layout came from a sketch on Pinterest. I followed the sketch quite closely.

 A bit vague but I think this layout started from a Shimelle sketch that I found on Pinterest.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sherrie

He Has A Sweet Smile

Not long ago I made a layout using an idea from Jen Schow's 6x6 paper pad series on You Tube. I used Crate Paper's Craft Market line and wanted to replicate this on a layout for my son. The line is really versatile for both girl and boy layouts and I think they both worked out well.

I made such a mess with my ink splatters. My goodness. I find the technique of ink splatters a bit hit and miss. How do you do yours?  Also I had run out of e's from the thickers I wanted to use to spell out the word sweet so used the c's. I think it works? I don't mind.

I pretty much stuck to the same design as my previous layout. I'm happy with it. I love this line. It's so pretty and really useable.

Sherrie