Prima Zella Teal......... oh its yummy!!

Hello There, I have been over on the Papermaze blog with my first post of 2018 and I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year!

I am chuffed to bits to have been able to work with this stunning new collection from Prima, Zella Teal. Its a gorgeous colour palette of beautiful blues and aqua's...... a sprinkling of  browns and some truly gorgeous holographic features that are dazzling when they capture the light.

The papers are all double sided......and that is where the problem lies.....both sides ARE GORGEOUS!!   Which to choose???  Buy 2 of each sheet....problem solved ;)

I decided to use a photo from 2010....a family holiday in Buckinghamshire. We visited Windsor for the day and after a lovely walk around we went on a boat trip down the Thames. This photo is one of my eldest daughter's favourites and I felt the Zella Teal papers were just right for it.

 

I based the page on a sheet of Live Loudly, which has a beautiful spray of flowers in 2 opposite corners.

I cut a couple of posies from a sheet of Zella Teal, including the gorgeous holographic leaves and accents . They really glow when they catch the light. I raised these up on foam pads to create dimension

I normally square cut the photo mats, but I wanted a softer edge this time so I tore the cardstock mat, leaving a feathery edge. I also used a couple of different Cosmic Shimmer Mists on the page, squirting large drops, creating a pool of ink and then blowing it out in different directions.

I also used a small 6 x 6 inch stencil I had in my stash ( not sure of make or design) and spread some Sparkle Medium through it. This stays raised when it is dry and adds some texture and dimension to the page.

I finished off my page by adding a few random half pearls and gems here and there across the layout and adding some paper blossoms and also some butterflies that I had printed off the internet onto cardstock.

I think this collection will be high on my list of favourites.....I will definately be needing some more!!

Warmest wishes
Anita xx

Very Merry ......with Simple Stories.

Hello There, I am over on the Papermaze DT blog with my first posting for November.
I have used some papers from the Very Merry collection by Simple Stories this time and teamed them up with a photo taken in the lead up to Christmas 2016. (apologies for the poor quality of the photos, the lighting has been dreadful with such dreary and drab weather)
I had just got the Snapchat App on my phone and had great fun playing with the various filters on there that add some really cute and often funny features to your faces ( not to mention some random ones that are just downright bizarre!!!).
We were heading on a family trip out to do some Christmas shopping, but our youngest Daughter was busy elsewhere, so we sent her a Snapchat message of my eldest Daughter and I.

As with all collections from Simple Stories, there are various double sided sheets. Some are purely patterned each side but there are also some sheets of Journalling elements plus Vertical and Horizontal Elements and of course the various sticker sheets and Snap Cards.

I based the layout on a sheet of  Seasons Greetings
I also cut a couple of Vertical Elements out, one of which I used as a photo mat.

I then cut various flower and leaf clusters out from a sheet of Peace on Earth 
and placed them around the page in various places. I cut up a few random
rectangles and stacked them to look like presents and tied them up with some red organza ribbon.

Various papers blooms, glittered Ivy leaves, Sequins and MDF laser cut shapes were added just to finish off the page.

 I have several other Snapchat photos that I have had printed and I am looking forward to scrapping with those too!
 I will have to have a look and see what other Simple Stories Collections will work well with them.....there are so many various sets available at the SHOP covering all different themes that I am sure finding something suitable will not be a problem.

Hope you have had lots of scrappy fun so far this month and I look forward to catching up with you later in November,

Warmest Wishes
Anita xx

When you Love What You Have ......Kaisercraft Golden Grove

Hello There......I am over on the Scrap Paper Scissors blog where I have been using the rest of my beautiful Kaisercraft Golden Grove papers for this layout. This is such a lovely colour-way to play with and is perfect for both scrapping and making cards too.

I cut a large circle out after drawing round a plate and also punched out lots of small circles, which I then stuck all the way round the large circle to create a scalloped edge.

                     
                              I felt that the scalloped circle was a little plain and so I popped on flat
                                        backed pearls and crystals alternately onto each scallop.

I used a dark green piece of cardstock and tore a jagged mat for the photo to sit on and then brushed some Icicle Stickles around the torn edges to give a soft sparkle

The papers have some rather stunning flowers on and these were fussy cut and layered on foam pads in various places around the page to help add a little dimension.
There were a couple of teeny butterflies in amongst the flowers so i cut them out and added to the quote panel and raised the wings. Then popped a green organza ribbon bow on to finish.

I finished the page by adding little twinkly highlights here and there with some more Icicle Stickles......Jeez I love that stuff!! It is probably one of most used items in my stash! Can't beat a little bit of sparkle eh!....

This gorgeous collection from Kaisercraft can be found in the shop here  along with a vast selection of other gorgeous and fabulous goodies......grab a cuppa, sit down and have a good look....you will be glad you did!

Happy Scrapping!
Warmest wishes Anita xx

Sea Breeze from Kaisercraft

Sea Breeze ......from Kaisercraft

Hi There,
Anita here, kicking June off over on the Papermaze blog with a layout I have made using some of the beautiful papers from the 'Sea Breeze' Collection from Kaisercraft....and they are in my favourite colourway too!!

Kaisercraft quality is absolutely superb and each of the papers in all collections are double sided. There are several collections available over at Papermaze
I scrapped this 7 x 5 family selfie, taken on a trip on the Thames at Windsor about 4 or 5 years ago, we certainly had a chuckle that day.
I based the page on a sheet of Bazill Aqua cardstock and a sheet of Sea Breeze Refresh 
I inked around the entire edge of each using a Dew Drop Brilliance Pad in Pearlescent Chocolate , this gave a lovely shimmering tint to it all. I cut a sheet of Sea Breeze Swirl into 4 strips approx 1" wide, inked the edges and then created a rustic frame for the photo, adding brads in the corners.

I love using chipboard, sometimes I leave it naked as it is, but more often than not I like to paint it, glitter it or foil it. I had a lovely Blue Fern Studios Flourish and this time I used Glimmer Glam in Expresso Bean and sprinkled some brown glitter onto whilst still wet. I also had some lovely wood effect sequins to play with....and these were sprinkled in various places across the page.

One of the sheets in the Sea Breeze collection, Lake , is covered on one side with some lovely black blossoms. I cut a few out, layering some up and also some leaves and arranged them down the side of the frame along with some mixed blue blossoms.

I finished the page off by adding a few elements from the Sea Breeze Collectables and some printed butterflies.

 

Thank you for looking.

Warmest Wishes

Anita xxx

Puppy Love .. 'Bringing Chewie Home' .... Teresa Collins 'Life Emporium'

Check out this little poppet, cutie or what??
This is Chewie.....the newest member of our extended family.......he is 7/8Wolf Sable Pomeranian and 1/8 Bichon Frise......and 100% adorable. Lauren and Jack collected him on Saturday and bought him home and they are settling down to life as *new parents*

So I just had to scrap the occasion didn't I??

I used some lovely papers from the Teresa Collins 'Life Emporium' collection to which I added blossoms, glitter card, charms, butterflies and various Alphabet stickers amongst other things.
Watch this space as I do believe there will be more of this little fella xxx

'Uniquely You'......... Serendipity by Blue Fern Studios

 I have been playing with some fabulous papers from Blue Fern Studios. This is the first time I have worked with these papers and I just cannot get over the wonderful quality of each sheet and the stunning designs on them, what a pleasure it's been ( I can see a new obsession brewing here!)

The photo's of our youngest were taken on a sports award night that she attended and was awarded Sportswoman of the Year. The photos were taken before the ceremony and so I will now also be having to scrap the photos of her with the awards too!

I started off with a sheet of Serendipity - Chronicle as the background and took a sheet of Serendipity - Imagination which I cut a random wavy edge around and also inked up the entire edge with a dark brown ink pad.
 On the right hand side I tore a line in towards the centre of the page and then rolled the edges back.  I chopped up the sheet of  Serendipity Calling Cards, chose the ones I wanted for this page and gently inked the edges. These were then used up for layering around the photos

In my kit I had a sheet of Bazill Cardstock called Lagoon and because of the small tints of blue in the actual papers, I thought I would use the cardstock to create some flowers to adorn the page. I punched out several flowers, spray misted the die cuts with water and allowed them to soak in for a while, before then scrunching each one up and putting to one side to dry for using later.

Once they had dried out I layered them up and stuck a nice big flat backed gem in the centre ( I LOVE a bit of bling!)

I don't know about you but I really love using chipboard embellishments on my pages, they are so versatile and can be left plain as they come or can be inked, painted, glittered etc to dress them up. I took these Blue Fern Studio Berry Stems dabbed them with an Aqua Acrylic Dabber and then gently sponged some tiny patches with some gold acrylic paint. I also added some little crystal bling on some of the berries.

I quite often like to add butterflies to my pages, so I printed out some onto white card and then coated with Sprinkled Sugar Stickles. 
I also used a beautiful chipboard Romantic Page Dangle which I painted in brown and over dabbed with some gold acrylic paint. Using some jute twine I criss crossed stitched across the torn section on the right hand side of the page and layered the chipboard dangle over the top, adding crystals, a butterfly and also another handmade blossom.

 I finished the page off by adding a few crystals here and there and also using a bottle of Mercury Glass Stickles , I used various round items as a stencil and dotted the Stickles in blobs around them.

I enjoyed using these products so much and cannot wait to play with them some more, if you pop over to Papermaze you can see all the products I have used , especially the beautiful papers in the Blue Fern Studios ranges.

Thanks so much for looking at this post, I hope you have a super scrappy week.
Warmest wishes
Anita x

You Hold My Heart.......

He really does you know.....
This is a layout that I made last year, using a photo taken on our summer holiday the year before at Camber Sands, taken on the beautiful beach there one evening when we went to watch the sunset.
I wanted to have as many different textures on the page as possible so started with an embossed sheet of cardstock in the background, which I 'grubbied' up with ink.

Some torn corrugated card was the next thing I decided on and again I grubbied the edges, I also cut the word HEART from it.
 I took some chipboard and covered it with adhesive backed foil and ran a large piece through an embossing folder with cogs/gears on. I also die cut some cogs too. I then totally covered them all with black acrylic paint. When this had dried I used a washing up scourer/sponge and gently buffed quite a lot of the paint back off. I also added to jute twine in a criss cross stitch around the frame for a little more texture.

Thanks for looking xx

Single moments make great memories.

Last year I used these gorgeous papers from the Bontanica collection by Kaisercraft, apologies for the photos, they are not very sharp and really do not do the layout or the plaque justice. Lots of fussy cutting on the layout and the addition of lots and lots of Crystal Stickles ( such a shame you cannot see the sparkles in the photo)

The photograph of me and my lovely Hubby was taken whilst on holiday in August 2015 and we visited the Norfolk Lavendar Farm....what a beautiful place. And at last it gave me chance to use my rainbow umbrella that I purposely bought as a phto prop about 3 years ago LOL!

I used the left over peices of paper to cover and decorate a wall hanging plaque and I added a photo of some pretty special ladies I know and have the absolute pleasure of calling my friends xxx
I added some paper blossoms and raised the oval section with the lovely saying on up on foam pads and then liberally used the Crystal Stickles again.....I LOVE Stickles!!

A Little bit of Lemoncraft

Hello :) I thought I would share a layout that i have made using some gorgeous papers by a company called Lemoncraft. They have released some beautiful ranges and they are all very much in the shabby chic range of designs. The papers are all double sided and this presents the problem of which side to choose??? They are all gorgeous! I thought they worked well for me to scrap this photo of Chloe and a friends lovely little dog, Dylan, taken in the summer of  2014.

I used a sheet of card-stock to back the layout on and cut away a border from the paper of about 1cm.
I am a bit of a magpie and love all things of a sparkly nature, so this heart shaped dazzler was perfect for popping on the page....along with some small doilies, paper hydrangeas and flat backed crystals

I used a 12 x 12 harlequin mask to make a pattern on the page with some homemade texture paste ( made from baby powder, PVA glue and water) This smells soooo good and I always love a bit of texture and depth on my pages. Sometimes i add a bit of acrylic paint or glitter into the paste too.

I also popped some small pieces of cheesecloth onto my layout, tucking them under flowers and torn edges. Again this is another way to add some dimension, but without actually really adding any bulk.

I am looking forward to playing with some other ranges from Lemoncraft, they all look beautiful.
Thanks for looking xx

X is for (e)Xplosion.....Feb challenge at Scrapology

My goodness.....February already!!! So here we are with another super challenge from the DT over at Scrapology! This month we have lifted a fabulous and fun layout by Corrie Jones, whose blog you can visit here!
So....the challenge is to create an explosion of embellishments.....it can be any kind of embellishments you like .....I chose sequins, crystals, glitter domes and wood veneer hearts.
I scrapped 3 pics of my eldest gorgeous girly at her prom ( I shall still add some journalling at some point)

I inked and painted through a mask to create the background behind the photos and coloured in a beautiful stamped image by Saturated Canary using Promarkers and added Stickles and Liquid Pearls and then just added a splattering of embellies and finished with a title od AC Thickers ( in my fave colour lol)

Here is Corrie's original and inspiring layout that we lifted...

and here is the sketch that our lovely Lynn created for following .

So....there you go....a fun new challenge to join in with and if you visit the Scrapology blog you can see all the beautiful and varied DT examples....plus see the lovely prize up for offer this month.....what are you waiting for????? Go *explode* everywhere :D

Two Hearts.......Scrapology January Challenge.

Happy New Year to you :) And what a fab way to kick off the new year...... with a super new challenge from Scrapology This month the DT have been challenged to create layouts using Badges ( button badges) after being totally inspired by a fab layout by Michelle, you can find her blog here http://momma-paparazzi.blogspot.com/
Here is my DT offering....in my favourite colours of course LOL!

I used various papers, texture paste and a mask, acrylic paint, wooden hearts, bling, blossoms, stickers....and of course a couple of button badges.

I really REALLY enjoyed making this page and hope you would like to enter the challenge. If you pop over to Scrapology you can see my fellow teamies DT stunning creations.....such talent and such lovely ladies xx
This is Michelle's original layout that inspired us.

And here is our lovely Lynn's sketch for you to go by.

So....there you go. If you would like to play along and be in the running for a wonderful prize, then pop over to the blog and please use the sketch as inspiration....good luck everyone xxx

S....is for Starburst.......Sept at Scrapology

This month over at Scrapology we have scraplifted the talented Sandie Edwards. Sandie's blog 'Delightfully Crazy' can be found HERE.

Here is my entry for the DT this time....please do pop over to the Scrapology blog and have a look at all the fab examples by the DT once again

  

Here is Sandie's beautiful original page......

                                           and here is the sketch that we all had to work from.

Lynn and Linda have offered a super prize of a kit.....so why not have a look at the DT ideas and hopefully they might inspire you to have a play and enter the challenge....if you do GOOD LUCK!

Warmest wishes Anita xxx