Tiny Dancer *Prima Fairy Belle*

 OK, I am officially IN LOVE with this range of papers from Prima!!! which is bizarre to say the least as I am really NOT a fairy kinda girl, but I really REALLY have fallen for these ones.
And I just knew straight away that I had to scrap these pics of Chloe, when she was just a little herbert bless her. She used to go and watch Lauren at her ballet class and was desperate to go to classes too but they would not allow little ones to start until they were 3! So a few days after her 3rd birthday she was raring to go and I took a few shots of her....just look at those precious little feet....so teeny awwww. This is one of the layouts I made at our recent Blossom Retreat.
I used a REALLY old sheet of Basic Grey Vagabond 'Vintage Paisley' and then a torn edged sheet of Prima Fairy Belle En Pointe which I sewed onto the BG sheet.

 I used some silver glitter AC Thickers for the title and changed the colour by gently dabbing with various colours of Alcohol inks.
I also used some teeny alpha stickers.

 The chipboard flourish is by Dusty Attic and I sprayed it with Cosmic Shimmer Mist and added a few little sparkles with Crystal Stickles.
I printed out some butterflies from Swirlydoos and used Stickles Rock Candy and Icicle to decorate them and also the fairy.

The flower was made from chiffon and I singed the edges, then added Stickles and crystals. I used a MS deep edge punch which I also sprayed with Cosmic Shimmer Mist. I used various little blossoms that were originally white, but I sprayed them with the mists too so they co-ordinated with the page.

I really enjoyed making this page so much and it was lovely to use some of my older photos that were taken before I had a digital camera.
I have DEFINATELY got to get myself some more of the Prima Fairy papers though....watch this space!


Warmest wishes Anita xxxxx

E...is for Embellishments over at Scrapology

Can you believe it November already!!!!! Well over at Scrapology our challenge for this month is E for embellishments!

This month we have been inspired to scraplift this beautiful layout by Cindy Schneider, who we found on Scrapbook.com. This is a digital scrapbook page but we have all made layouts with paper and glue!
Here is my version of the original, which I decided to take the sketch and flip onto it's side to create my page with.

Here is the orginal digital page....gorgeous isn't it
??

and here is the sketch of the original page that Lynn very kindly drew up for us to work from, thanks Lynn.

We have been making and using some of our own embellishments on the page, so I thought I would add a couple of close ups for you to see.

I cut all the butterflies from a sheet of Basic Grey Ambrosia paper. The orange flowers are made from organza and the autumnal flower in between was originally just cream in colour, so I attacked it with my Promarkers ;)



The crinkly flowers were made by using my Retro daisy punches in various sizes and then I misted them with water to make them more flexible,before twisting and scrunching them and leaving them to day.

Once dry I just layerd them up and added a crystal centre. I dabbed the white doily with my teal coloured paint and then gently sponged on 2 different mettalic paints to and some shimmer.

Not handmade I know, but I scattered several of my mountain of brads randomly all around the edge ( it felt good using up old stash that has been gathering dust and being saved for 'just the right page' LOL)

And I finished the whole page off with stitches here and there. Of course, my fave thing about the page is the gorgeous little man on there ;)

So, if you fancy a challenge this month to get your juices flowing, then pop over to Scrapology

we would love to see what you create. And whilst you are there have a look and see what beautiful examples there are from the DT.

Warmest wishes Anita..xxxx

Well here we are in November already

All About Me......

Evening all :)

I had totally forgotten to blog this layout that I made at Cardinal Colours Retreat last month, it was a fantastic class by Lovely Laura and I soooo enjoyed being able to take part in it ( thanks Jill.xx)
Laura's style is wonderful and she is a great teacher, she is full of enthusiasm and I have to say it rubs off on people. She encouraged us...nay...instructed us to use up as much of the embellies as possible ( which I found hard I have to confess, I try to stretch my stash as far as it can go normally lol)I believe I am right in saying her motto was 'Use it or lose it'.....I think I need to do that more often


We used some delicious Sassafrass papers from the Indie girl range and matching embellies, really lovely to work with. I also added some bling and some big clear buttons that I backed with some of the left over scraps.

I pinched some of the petals to give them a 3d effect

The photo was taken by Chloe in August 2006, just after I had my 2nd tattoo done. I really don't like having my photot taken and feel much more comfortable being behind the lens....however, if you place a camera in the hands of a child, it makes you feel more comfortable being the subject for some reason. I really like the photo too (thanks Chloe for managing to capture me without my 6 chins lol)

I really do love this page, I just need to get my butt in gear and do the journalling on it....now THAT is something I have a real problem with....journalling.

Truly Beautiful!

Well I think she is anyway...and I know I am biased!
We had a little stylin' session one afternoon and Chloe wanted her hair put into ringlets if possible....she sure looked cute, so we shot outside for a little photo shoot.
I thought the photos would work on these lush papers by Bo Bunny ( I just ADORE BoBunny.....I may have mentioned that in the past???LOL)






These papers are from the Peacock Lane Collection and are just sooooo delicious
! I have used 1 sheet each of Peacock Lane, Dot and Tweet...and with a little bit of cutting out, some punching ,a little sewing and a sprinkling of gems I ended up with this :)



I LOVE it....and so does my little Curly Wurly Princess!!!

Warmest wishes Anita..xxx

S....is for September, Stitching and Scrapology!!!

Hello there....well as we have rolled into September it means over at Scrapology we have also rolled out this months inspiration too! This month we have been inspired to lift a fabulous layout by Alison ( pop over to the blog and have a look, you will also find a sketch of the original for you to work from if you wish)....there are some lovely examples from the rest of the design team for you to see.

Here is my offering for Sept....as you can see I have very slightly changed it....I have a pleated border rather than circle and I am not patient enough to have done lots more hand sewing lol.... BUT the good thing is you DON'T have to do it all anyway....as you can see by looking at some of the other DT pages you can use faux stitching, rub ons and even machine stitching.

I have used papers from My Little Shoebox, Echo Park and Cosmo Cricket.

And yes....that IS a bath scrunchie( brand new and un-used ;)) that has been gathered and stuck along the bottom of the border lol ( watch this space, I have a feeling this fabby fabric will be appearing all over the place)

a few tatty spiral roses..... and below is a close up of the stitching ( I never was any good at embroidery!)

The frilled edge all around the photo was created using some 5 bladed scissors which are also sometimes known as security scissors or fringe scissors.

I like how the blades slice and then slightly turn the slices so they stand up a little.

We would love to have you come along and play with us....and to entice you even more we have yet another wonderful prize that you could win this month from Cardinal Colours that Jill has so kindly donated....thank you Jill.xxx

So, you have until October 1st to create and submit and then Alison will be choosing the best layout for the winner on Oct 3rd........go on, you know you want to!!!!!

warmest wishes Anita..xxx

You Are So Beautiful..........

This is a layout I created back in April when I went away on a fab weekend with a special bunch of girlfriends( roll on the next one eh girls ;) )
Its our eldest daughter, Lauren....and its a photo that she took of herself using our webcam. I just de-saturated the photo a bit and that was it! I really enjoyed making this page, using all the bits and bobs and ripping,distressing, inking and sewing. I was so chuffed with the result that I text her a photo of it as I couldn;t wait to get home to show her LOL.
.....and I am glad to say she loved it too! I know I am biased, but I think she is beautiful.

I hope you all have a super Sunday, whatever you are up too. Me? Well I think I shall be having a mega clear out in our bedroom, a session with the ironing board and then later on I shall be personal hairdresser to my lovely Hubby ;)..xxx

Once Upon A Time.....

..... there was a beautiful Princess. I thought I would post a couple of layouts that I made last year, at a retreat that I attend each year with some lovely friends...and we are going to all get together again in a few weeks, I can't wait!

This had to be one of the only times I have ever bought some new papers AND actually used them the day after I got them instead of admiring them and then leaving them in the paper bag they came in LOL.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this page, I think the paper is Crate Paper and then I did my normal *throw it all on and cut some bits out routine*, I love the page....and more importantly so did my beautiful little Princess :)

My 2nd page is called Melon Muncher and I just HAD to scrap these pics of Lauren and her melon munch on the beach at Pevensey. I normally steer clear of very bright colours( I prefer grungey, inky,murky colours lol). The cute bear at the top was a paper peicing I bought on ebay :) Really looking forwards to the good weather and the chance to hit the beach again this year.

Well, I know old work is a bit of a cop-out for blogging, but, I have got a couple of new bits that I am going to post on saturday, but can't before then incase someone else see's them ;).

Must dash as I am off tonight to see the closing night of a play that Lauren is in, I can't wait and have been warned to take some tissues, apparently its quite a tear jerker...and as I am soft mare anyway its pretty much in the bag that the mascara will be running! Have a lovely evening..xxxx

Simply Irresistable........

.....thats what she is! Today I came home from work, took Chloe to school, came back home again and made a cuppa and then......had the overwhelming urge to scrap!!!!! Yes, scrap! And not a class page either, nope, I wanted to actually scrap just because! I cannot remember the last time that happened.

So I pulled out this photo of Chloe from a loooong time ago and pulled out a mix of papers in teals, turq, winter white and browns and then had a good long rummage through my stash for lace, brads, leather thong, string and crystals....and the odd blossom( which I just HAD to ink LOL)

I have punched, layered, hammered, threaded and glued....stabbed my fingers on brads( being careful not to get any red on the page!) If it hasn't moved I have inked it LOL and then....

Just when I thought it was finished.....I spied my bag of lushious Ice Stickles that my best friend Sue gave me for Christmas( waves to Sue ..xxx) Soooooo I had a bit of a Stickle Fest and this page just sparkles with THE most beautiful tones now. Have you tried ICE STICKLES yet?
If not, do yourself a favour and pop over to Jill's at Cardinal Colours
where she has an absolute rainbow of them...they really are truly scrumptious.

Well, I have to say I am truly in love with this layout and I think I might even pop it into a box frame and hang it up instead of packing it away in an album.

So, what have YOU been up to today then? Anything exciting?

Warmest wishes Anita..xxx

Some old layouts revisited.

This layout is about 3 years old now, I have used my sewing machine on it quite a bit and also I made the round embellishment. It made using a hot glue gun and rubber stamp. You need to squeeze are big blob of glue from the straight onto a heat resistant surface, I used an old kitchen tile. The ink you chosen stamp, any ink will do, it just needs to create a barrier between the stamp and hot glue. Stamp into the blob and leave till its cooled down, then gently remove the stamp. I then covered the seal with acrylic paint and then rubbed off as much as possible, leaving it in the grooves from the stamp.

I finished it off by rubbing some mettallic cream over it all

LOL at Lauren, this is her doing her 'Edna'( from The Incredibles) impersonation . Chloe,My youngest girly got these joke glasses on holiday 3 years and we all had such a hoot trying them on and larking about. I have layered various papers and added a few brads and stickers. The chipboard swirl I have coated in a mix of teeny beads and I also used them in the centre of the flower

A few bits to share.

Yesterday being Halloween was also my Mum's Birthday and I thought I should really make her a card as I am trying my hand at cardmaking now! I bought some of the Magnolia Halloween stamped images on ebay and set about colouring them in, making a character to signify each of her 4 grandchildren( and as my sister is expecting then the cauldren is for her little one who is still cooking lol!) I used some of the new Basic Grey Eerie papers and also some Bazill cardstock and the end result was this, which I am really pleased with and my Mum absolutely LOVED :) The card when folded up measures 6" x 12" so is quite large but sits nicely when its opened up and stands like an easel.










And these are just a couple of older layouts with and autumny theme or colour.

Hope you are all having a nice Sunday, I am just off to do the ironing....oh deep joy! At least the rain has stopped hammering down outside for a little bit.

A few older layouts.

Just thought I would upload a few peices of my older work :)

Have a nice day..xxx

Some old favourites...

I have been looking through some of my old scrapbooks today and sorting some out and have stumbled across some of my favourite old layouts, so thought I would share. The first one is of both the girls and was created a few years ago now, infact it won a big competition in The Scrapbook Magazine and I won a huge prize box of goodies from Pebbles Inc which was fab and I was chuffed to bits....and rather gobsmacked too to be honest. I loved the layout anyway, but to win with it was just the icing on the cake. The title was printed onto vellum and then torn and inked round the edge, the metal plaque I painted over with acrylic paint and then buffed it off with tissue and then sand papered it and the small circular embellie is actually a glass watch face cover that has been filled with a teeny key, some chainlink and some clear beads and then topped up with Diamond Glaze.

My next LO was created after a day trip to port Lympne Zoo in Kent ( well worth a visit!) We enjoyed a safari trip round the grounds and I snapped this zebra as he strolled near the truck we were in. I printed the cartoon zebra onto some transparency and I painted some large white blossoms with some black acrylic paint ( since then my own blossom collection has grown and I have bought black ones!!!!LOL)

And here is the last one for now ( I don't want to bore you!) I totally fell in love with these grungey type papers when they came out, Creative Imaginations have made some lovely ranges that cover all sorts of themes but this one was my fave, also used some Basic Grey for the background. The tag was from a tshirt I bought for Lauren and the black meshy bits are a vest top I chopped up lol. Lauren went through a grungey, punky,gothy phase for a couple or so years and I enjoyed finding papers that would work with pics of her . This photo was taken at a playing field in Seaford, we found the most fabulous graffitti along a wall there and it was the perfect backdrop for some pics. I stamped her wings on and used my trusty old sewing machine to stitch a lot of the paper and the photo onto the page.

Right, that's it for me today, I need to go and collect the girls from after school netball clubs, get dinner and then head off to Jill's ( Cardinal Colours) for classes tonight. Catch you soon...x