Living on the Edge!

Hi There

Today I have a layout to share using the last of my Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn papers.

I have had an absolute blast with this page and I have let loose with everything grungy, inky, sparkly and sticky! And to top it all the photos are not even loved ones of my family or friends....oh no....it's just a lowly little snail who was minding his own business in our back garden!!

I only used 2 sheets of paper for this page, for the backing sheet I used the reverse side of a sheet of  'All at Once Summer Collapsed into Fall'

And for the front page I used the reverse side of a sheet of 'The Sound Of Autumn' 

I cut a random and uneven wavy edge all the way round the outside edge of the sheet and used a Distress Stain in Brushed Corduroy that I dragged all around the edges of the paper.

I also used it to dab large random splats across the page and then let loose with various Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists using Olive Vine, Coffee Shop and Walnut Gold. 

    I sprayed them randomly and also into small puddles, then I tipped the paper to create drizzles down the page.

In my DT kit there was a Creative Expressions Mini Stencil, it was the Shabby Harlequin design and I used this combined with some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam ink in Expresso Bean that I dabbed through the stencil using some sponge.

I also sprinkled lots of Gold UTEE in patches and heated from underneath to melt it.
After matting the 2 photos on cardstock I used gilding flakes around the edge and also in patches on some blossoms to make them co-ordinate.

I cut the title using the Big Shot and some Sizzlets in mixed fonts and then after sticking them on the layout I decided to use Ranger Stickles in Unicorn over the top of them.....it reminded me of the sparkly snail trails you see after they have climbed a wall!!

I added a metal buckle, some lace and a small wooden pennant.

And finished the whole page with a generous splattering of crystals, Dew Drops and blobs of Distress Stickles and Liquid Pearls in various colours.

I have really enjoyed getting messy with this page....and even though the photos were not of anything special or meaningful I very much appreciated the creative process involved. Sometimes its just nice to let loose a little.

Wishing you a super scrappy happy weekend!
Warmest wishes
Anita xx

The Pumpkin Patch .....The Sound of Autumn by Ciao Bella

Autumn is my absolute favourite time of year! I love the crispness in the air, changing of the leaves , the earthy scent and the gorgeous rich colours everywhere All the best of this is depicted in this paper collection and more besides..

I had this large photo of my youngest daughter taken back in 2014 at our local Pumpkin Patch and I am so glad I hadn't scrapped it before now. These papers are perfect for it and literally do all the work for you.

 I based the layout on a sheet of 'The Sound of Autumn' and I gutted the calendar sheets from the centre of the page to use as an embellishment on the photo. I used gilding flakes all around the edge of the photo to create a soft metallic mat and i fussy cut around the cartwheel and popped the photo in slightly behind it.

I added some cotton lace trim under the bottom of the photo and then layered the calendar pages and some fabric leaves together and held them in place with some antique copper brads and a pumpkin clip

 I added a few wooden buttons, cork washer, paper flowers and some garden twine.

and I cut out the copper book plate, added brads and raised it on foam pads to add dimension and make it look a little more real.

 The book plate and toadstools were cut from a sheet of Autumn Cards
I cut a long slice along near the base of the layout, popped a long scrap of paper behind it and gently rolled back the edges to create a long torn section and then I used garden twine to over sew along the section just to finish the page off.

I really think this has become one of my favourite collections for a long time and its been a real pleasure to create with.
You can see all the latest Ciao Bella papers here

Happy Scrapping!
Warmest wishes
Anita xx

The Sound of Autumn....a couple of cards.

Hi There

Just for a change I have made a couple of cards to share with you. I have used the stunning new collection from Ciao Bella, The Sound of Autumn 

Autumn is my most favourite season of all. I absolutely LOVE the colours and how they change, the gorgeous scent in the air and the golden haze of the sun and how it lights the trees.
I was delighted to see this gorgeous new selection of papers and as I wanted to make a birthday card for a lovely friend who also loves Autumn, I just knew that this was the perfect opportunity.

Both cards were based on ivory coloured 6" x 6" card blanks and each element was matted on gold mirri board ( something I very rarely use, however I felt it worked well with these papers)

I used some Stampendous Frantage Embossing Enamel in Gold and lightly sprinkled some loose onto a couple of areas. I then heated from underneath until the granules melted and turned to liquid gold ( it takes longer than heating normally from above, however normally you would use an embossing ink to hold the powder in place where as this is loose and would instantly blow away)

It gives a nice random effect this way and just leaves little scattered sprinkles. I chose some different panels and elements from different sheets, mounted them on mirri board and layered them up. Some were raised on foam pads to create dimension and I added a gold glittery doily in between the layers.
The card was finished by adding some gems and bow made from raw taffeta.

The 2nd card was made the same way just with different elements, ribbons and trim. And again I used the same technique with the Stampendous Frantage Embossing Enamel except this time I used Silver aswell as the Gold

Between the 2 cards I used these sheets of papers :

The Sound of Autumn - Autumn Cards
The Sound of Autumn - Autumn Tags
The Sound of Autumn - All at Once Summer Collapsed into Fall


Ciao Bella have created an amazing selection of papers and you can see the stock carried in the shop HERE

.
Happy Crafting!Warmest Wishes
Anita xxx

Life is Better With You ...........Kaisercraft Antiquities

Gosh I really have a LOT of cacthing up to do....I have seriously neglected my blog of late....
So I shall start with this one.....
Here is my 2nd offering created with the Antiquities Collection from Kaisercraft.
I used the left over bits and pieces of the sheets from the first page I made ( HERE) and added a sheet of White Canvas Bazzill cardstock

We often go for visit to our local reservoir, its such a lovey place and the walk round the outside is lovely. I took these photos on our last walk there and thought they would work well with these papers.
The page was based on a sheet of White Canvas Bazzill that I gently swiped with an old brown ink-pad around the edges.

I used scraps from a few sheets ( making the most of using the patterns on both sides) and just layered them between each other around the page.
I used Heirloom  , Beloved,  and One of a kind

 I raised some bits up on foam pads, just to give a little dimension and fussy cut a few flowers to add little clusters.

 To finish the page I just added a few little flat backed crystals here and there...I love a bit of sparkle!!

You can see the Antiquities Collection HERE and you can find the whole variety that the shop stocks from Kaisercraft HERE



Happy Crafting!

Warmest wishes
Anita xx

Antiquities By Kaisercraft

Hi there

I thought I should really start catching up on my layouts I have been making for the Papermaze DT over the last few months.

 I have a layout today using the Antiquities collection from Kaisercraft. A wonderful vintage collection combining distressed ochre and browns along with cool shades of blue and grey with a mix of floral, damask and paisley prints....just lovely.

I thought it would work well with some photos i took back in May at a motor show we attended on the South Coast, not far from where we live. And with the colours in the photo I simply had to use this gorgeous american car that we were admiring.


The layout was based on a sheet of Bazzill Mexico City from my stash and I also matted the photos on the same colour card. I trimmed 2 cms from the top and one side of a sheet of  Limited Edition and on the top left and bottom right hand corner I cut a small diagonal slice which I peeled back and stuck down, popping a small gem on each side.

The gorgeous sheet of Heirloom 
is like a blanket of quilted fabrics. I cut a block of 4 out carefully and then following the outer and inner white lines I scored and folded them gently, creating some dimension around the edges. I also cut a couple of single circles out and repeated the same process.

When I looked closely at the quilted sections I noticed that I could also cut out some propeller shaped sections too....so I cut a few and used a couple up high on the page and placed one in the centre of the 4 block.

One of the sheets , Beloved , is full of quotes and sayings so I chose a few odd bits and used them around the page. I raised some on foam pads and also made some journalling strips too.
The page was finished off with various crystals in Ochre, Denim, Bright Blue and Coffee flat backed crystals popped about in various places.

This really is a very versatile collection and could be used for any theme really.



Happy Crafting xx

Warmest wishes
Anita xxx

Friends Make the Good Times Better.... Kaisercraft Morning Dew

Hello There
I have been working with the gorgeous Morning Dew Collection from Kaisercraft, full of calm and relaxing colours, natural elements and general good feeling.

We recently spent a few lovely days away with some very dear friends of ours and had some great days out walking and exploring local beauty spots and just enjoying each others company. One of the sheets in the collection, Refresh , has some really lovely quote panels on it about friendship....so I knew it would be perfect to use to scrap a memory of our time away together.

I based the layout on a sheet of Rejuvenate that I cut down to 11" x 11" and then placed it onto the reverse side of a sheet of Serene this created a lovely polka dot frame around the edge.

Using some bubble wrap I sponged on some white acrylic paint and stamped it onto the background and I also used some 49 and Market Gabi's Line Stitch stamps with paint around the edges.
When the paint had dried I picked at the entire edge of the inner layer to distress the edges and create some texture.

 I gently sponged white paint onto the edges of my photo and then matted it on a piece of Exhale before fussy cutting some clusters of flowers from a sheet of Serene 

Using Stickles in Unicorn I added a few highlights to the flower centres for a little sparkle and also onto the wings of a couple of butterflies that I cut from the sheet of Refresh
I added some tiny word stickers from Pretty Little Studio

 I also cut some quotes and panels from the Refresh sheet and sponged the edges gently with paint before adding them to the page.
In my stash I found some metallic craft sand in colours that complimented the papers, so added this in a few areas for some more texture on the page.

 

Some crystal swirls were added beneath the butterflies to leave pretty, sparkly trails and to just finish the page off.

 I have really enjoyed creating this page , not only was it in my favourite colourway, but it also has such lovely sayings, patterns and elements in it. You can find the entire range here .

Thank you for looking today x

Warmest wishes
Anita xx

Say Cheese! Vicki Boutin Kaleidoscope

Hello,

Today I have a vibrant layout to share using the VERY colourful Kaleidoscope papers brought to you by American Crafts and designed by Vicki Boutin.

Our youngest daughter went through a phase of having the most beautiful, vibrant colours in her hair whilst she was in 6th Form at College ( infact she would STILL have her hair like it if her job allowed!) and I thought these papers were brilliant for this photo of us together playing with Snapchat filters and sporting her glorious magenta locks.

 I based the page on a sheet of White Canvas Bazzill cardstock that I had cut down to 11.25" x 11.25" and then stuck it in the centre of a sheet of Kaleidoscope, this created a lovely colourful frame all around the edge in a rainbow of colours.

There is a gorgeous sheet in the collection called Paper Hearts, its absolutely chock a block with a range of fabulous, bright hearts in every colour. I cut out a rainbow selection, however, you could select a smaller colourway instead if you wanted as there are lots of hearts in each colour.

After gently pencilling a large heart shape onto the page and popping the photo on, I stuck the cut out hearts all the way round in a graduation of colours, before gently bending up the edges to give them dimension.

The sheet of Beyond Words has a good selection of panels, words and pictures on so I chose a few bits to add to my layout and then finished it all off with some self adhesive colourful, faceted dots from my stash..... I was originally only planning a few odd ones here and there....but got a bit carried away!

Thank you for looking today, you can find these products and a fabulous selection of many others over at the SHOP.

Happy Crafting!

Warmest wishes
Anita xx