Big Sketch Contest - sketch 3

Time for the third and final sketch in our big sketch challenge over at My Creative Sketches which means another chance to win some absolutely amazing prizes!!
Just to wet your appetite here is the prize for the winner voted on by the design team.....

I have to tell you about the GRAND PRIZE too, one extremely lucky scrapper will win a 3 month subscription to the Limited Edition kit!!!!! Definitely a prize worth winning!

Ok so on to this months sketch.....

Here is my interpretation of the sketch, I have used some of the gorgeous Crate Farmhouse papers that I had left from Octobers main kit from My Creative Scrapbook.

To create the misted rectangle I made a mask from a scrap piece of paper and then stuck it to my page using repro herma which is really easy to peel off again, then I simply sprayed the mist onto the page.

You have got until the 28th Dec to get your entry in, you can find all the details over on My Creative Sketches.

Tips and Techniques

Over at My Creative Scrapbook every month we have a "How Did I Do That" thread where all the design team share tips and techniques that we have used creating with the kits. The girls come up with some great ideas each month, I love looking through all their posts and picking up a few new ideas.
I thought I would share a few of my tips from the November kits...
I used this technique when I taught at Scrapstars back in April and I loved the look so I used it again with the gorgeous Glitz Peek A Boos. I love the Glitz transparencies but sometimes they can get a bit lost on a page but there is a really simple tip to really make them the focal point of your page.
1. Place your transparency onto a piece of kraft paper and draw around it in pencil including the middle.

2. Carefully cut around the pencil line and then add distress ink to all the edges, make sure you cover all the areas that can be clearly seen through the transparency.

3. Stick the transparency back on top of the kraft paper, only add glue to areas where it won't be seen ie directly underneath the printed pattern. I used glossy accents to secure mine into place.

 I love how the inked kraft gives the transparency a really aged look.

I have got a bit of a thing about edges, when I started scrapping I just cut and stuck, then that progressed to cutting and inking, then I added a bit of distressing and now machine stitching. I have to hold myself back from doing it to every edge! It does make a huge difference to a page though and I just wanted to show how by adding a bit  more to the edges you can achieve so much more depth and definition on a layout..
1. This photo shows the papers that have simply been cut.

 2. Cut and inked.

 3. Cut, inked and distressed.

4. Cut, inked, distressed and stitched!

If you are looking for a few new ideas then it is definitely worth popping over to the My Creative Scrapbook forum and checking out the "How Did I Do That" thread, there are so many inspiring posts!

Last Of The Backgrounds!

I thought I would share the final two pages that I put together for my article on creating your own backgrounds.
To create the background on this layout I used some bubble wrap as a stamp and then added interest using stamps and distress ink. I tried not to worry about stamping over images that I had already stamped even if it meant almost covering them up.

I painted all the chipboard stars and then highlighted the edges using distress inks. I kept the Dusty Attic chipboard clock really simple and just painted it with acrylic paint the same as the title.

Linds (the editor of Scrapbook Magazine) sent me some papers to create a page for this article, when I opened the box it was full of American Crafts goodies. Now those of you who know me know that I really don't do American Crafts but I got stuck in and was actually really pleased with the end result.

I love ledger paper and I love adding stitching on my pages so I thought I would combine the two and create a stitched ledger background. This was very time consuming but I love the finished result, I simply drew out the design onto the cardstock in pencil, stitched over all the lines and then very carefully rubbed out any pencil marks that were showing.

Thank you for all the lovely comments that were left on my last post I am still on a high! lol My nephew has had a look at his photo on the banner over at inspireME and was so excited. He asked if he was famous now!
TFL
xx

So Chuffed!

I just had to tell some people who would understand my excitement, I have just popped over to inspireME and seen that one of my pages has made banner of the week for the second time in three weeks! I feel so honoured especially with all the amazing pages that are posted their.
This is the page that has been featured, it is one that I created as part of my article for the current issue of Scrapbook Magazine on backgrounds.
The little boy is my nephew Josh, he is always so chuffed when I scrap photos of him especially when the layout is for the magazine, he usually takes it into school for show and tell bless him.

To create the background on this page I used some texture paste, a prima mask and some distress ink, very easy but effective.

TFL
xx

Craft Room Storage

For a long time I have been trying to find some suitable storage for my mists, paints, embossing powders etc but there just didn't seem to be anything on the market. Justin said he would make me some (he is very capable but absolutely hates DIY so this was a momentous occassion! lol) so we bought the wood, he cut it all up and I spent hours painting every little piece. That is as far as that project has got!
So last week I was browsing Ebay and came across a gentleman who was selling spice racks that he made himself. They looked like the perfect storage solution except that the space between each shelf was only 4.5inches, not high enough to accommodate mists. I contaced the seller, Duncan, and asked if he could make one to specific measurements which he did and a few days later it was delivered. I am so pleased with the result and it is perfect for what I want and at £25 a bargain! I think it might have to get altered but for the moment the bare wood is fine.

(Rebecca wrote me the I love you note so I had to stick it in pride of place.)

I might even have to buy another one as I have just bought a load of new mists and paints from Papermaze in the 50% off sale!

I have just had my first copy of Scrap 365 drop onto the mat, I have to say on first glance through it is looking good! Off to have a proper read now.
TFL
xx

My Creative Scrapbook part 2

As promised here are my final creations using this months stunning Limited Edition and Main kits from My Creative Scrapbook.
Limited Edition kit......

I think I have probably scrapped this photo before but I absolutely love it! It is my Grandma aged about 12 back in 1921, I am sure I will scrap it again in the future!

Main Kit....

TFL
xx

Full Kit Reveal!

Today it the day that the full kits are revealed over on My Creative Scrapbook, Pam always manages to put together such amazing products for each kit and this month is no exception!
I worked with the main and limited edition kits....
This months Limited Edition kit has been my favourite so far, the paper collection featured is Glitz Beautiful Dreamer, it is a collection that definitely lives up to its name and is so easy to work with especially with all the transparencies and what nots. Pam teamed the Glitz with a stunning array of embellishments.

This was the last page that I created using the kit and I think it is my favourite, I absolutely love this photo of Emily. Justin managed to zoom right in on her face as she arrived at her prom back in July, she looks so radiant.

The Peek A Boo transparencies can easily be cut up and used, I loved the image of the little girl on the swing but as a rectangle it just didn't work on my page but cutting it out worked a treat.

This was the first page that I created, I wanted the transparency to really stand out on the page so I backed it with kraft paper. I also trimmed the white edging off the floral what nots which gave them a more defined edge on the pale background.

The Main Kit is packed full of gorgeous goodies including papers from Bo Bunny and MME along with embellishments from Dusty Attic, Prima and Petaloo to name but a few!

I loved the Dusty Attic ornate frame that came in this kit, I coloured it by misting it with Tim Holtz Espresso colour wash spray. Whilst it was still wet I dry brushed white paint onto areas of the frame that I wanted to highlight and kept building up the layers until I was happy. I added a few blobs of Espresso dimensional pearls to finish.

I added some distress stickles, liquid pearls and glossy accents to embellish the chandelier.

I will be back tomorrow with the final instalment, if you would like to see the stunning creations that the other members of the design team created then head on over to My Creative Scrapbook, there are so many examples in the gallery!

Thank you so much for the lovely comments that have been left on previous posts, I really do appreciate every one and it is such a lovely feeling to know that other scrappers like what I have spent hours creating. Thank you :)