Tuesday 31 August 2010

Delicious DIY


The cybercrop is in the dim and distant past already and I'm preparing for my return to school next week, but there was still time to finish off the last of the cybercrop classes before that happens :) Here is my take on Anna's Delicious DIY class. I made the flowers out of the same fabric as I used in Tessa's fabric class and I like the flowers but not the LO. The journalling is hidden behind the photo on a tag. Anna has kindly asked me to be her guest designer for her 'Make and Create Shop' and I'm really looking forward to doing that next month :)

Sunday 29 August 2010

What I love about Summer


This week I received two pizza boxes full of DT goodies. The first was from Caroline at Bubbly Funk and contained lots of new Prima. Check it all out here :)

My next cybercrop LO was inspired by Audrey's class and Becky Fleck's sketch. 'What I love about summer' uses the new 'Road Trip' range from Prima. You can see all the details on the Bubblicious blog tomorrow morning, along with another Road Trip LO.


The Sunday Challenge on 'The Studio'

Today's 'The Studio' challenge really really challenged me:
'This is something that everyone will be able to join in with! Hopefully this will encourage you to go out with fresh eyes to take in your surroundings. Even if you can't get out and about at the moment, you can search online for a picture :)

Scrap about a local landmark, and what it signifies to you. Maybe it's the first thing you see when you step out of the house, maybe it's a monument in the centre of town. It doesn't have to be something that other people would consider significant. Enjoy!'



I live in a town just outside Reading and it's fairly leafy and non descript with no major landmarks. There is a nature reserve where we walk the dog, but that's mostly grass and trees and I don't really see it as a landmark. I absolutely love living here but clearly it's not for the landmarks ;) What we do have in one of the parks is a graffiti wall. I actually love grafitti when it's controlled and there are some really talented people out there who are pretty nifty with a spray can. My fiance captured a part of the wall when he took Bailey's photo last week and I thought it would work well with this challenge. I lifted the LO from Jules the bling princess and I love it!

Saturday 28 August 2010

Anna Bowkis' Challenge

During the cybercrop on 'The Studio' my class was followed by another sketch challenge, this one from Anna Bowkis.
It was a double LO but I really wasn't in the mood for a double LO so I shruck it My LO uses photos of our trip to Spain in July: 'Lovin' Summer'

Friday 27 August 2010

Valerie's Challenge

Valerie's Challenge for 'The Studio' Summer Cybercrop was to scrap “only in the summer….” She said:
"With summer winding up in the northern hemisphere - let's make a layout about something you only do in the summer (it can be an old tradition, or something simple – like something you eat, or wear, or a ritual. Or even something brand new you just discovered, but it needs to be a summer-only thing.)"I wear flipflops all day, all summer even if it's raining :) I love how easy they are and how pretty they are. And I usually have a pedicure too or at least do a french polish on my toes so here's my LO 'Flipflops and a pedicure'. I saw a LO online a while back with butterflies all over, which I loved and since my flipflops have butterflies on I decided to use the idea for this LO.

Check out the original post on 'The Studio' to see what everyone else did with the challenge. Hope you enjoy it!

Giveaway Scout and other news :)

This week I've had two invitations. The first is to add my blog to giveawayscout.com who publish giveaways from blogs around the world. Check it out and add your blog if you like a good giveaway.

The second very exciting invite was from 'The Craft Garden' to join their CHA product Design Team and play with their prima flowers :) I am really excited to be joining the team and can't wait for my goodie box to arrive in the next few days.

Talking of goodie boxes; Caroline at Bubbly Funk is also going Prima crazy this season. Check out the shop for all the new stock. Beware though! There is *whispers* Christmas tando * there!! I'm going to be playing with some 'Road Trip' so watch out for that very soon.

Thursday 26 August 2010

Fabi's misting class

Another of my 'The Studio' summer cybercrop inspired LOs today. This time it's Fabi's misting madness, which inspired me to have a go at this 'The 3 amigos' layout using lace as a mask.

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Tessa's Fabric Class

I love the idea of using fabric on layouts but never really do. Tessa's class on The Studio cybercrop weekend really inspired me to give it a go. I really enjoyed tearing up this black shirt and flicking paint all over it :) I lifted Karen's 'The White House' layout for my Chinese Whispers CJ entry for group 2 this month:

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Lisa Saunders' class

Next up was Lisa Saunders' class 'In the Frame'. She showed us three ways of framing photos and I decided to give the painting a go. I used some Basic Grey cupcake paper 'cake & icecream', lace and thickers sprinkles to finish off the LO. I did make a bit of a mess with the paint by not letting it dry so I had to keep adding embellishments and paper to cover it up ;)

Monday 23 August 2010

Becky Fleck Sketch

If you missed it, where were you? This weekend was 'The Studio' Summer Cybercrop. There were classes and challenges every hour and hopefuly something for everyone. You can still join in and you can still win prizes right up until 4th September so do have a look over there :)

The first challenge was a Becky Fleck sketch with a prize from Apron Strings.
I really enjoyed it :) I used some chipboard men from Bubbly Funk, a doily and some glimmer mist for the background, and some yummy prima.

Sunday 22 August 2010

Sunday Challenge

Amanda's challenge this Sunday is this:

"Right people, no cheating with this one!
Step 1: First of all, go and pick the 2 ugliest, most mismatched papers in your collection, that you honestly can't ever see yourself using. Take a photo of them.
Step 2: Yes, you saw this coming, didn't you?! Make a page using those papers. You can add any other embellishments you like, but those 2 papers must play a prominent role in your design! Take a photo of it.
Step 3: Upload your layout AND your horrendous papers 'before' photo.

The papers must be obviously ugly to begin with - no choosing something you secretly like! Good luck!"

Here's mine :)
I was sent this Dr Seuss paper by mistake when I placed an order and the seller told me to keep it. I never thought I'd use it. And when I was in America about 5 years ago I bought the geometric paper in multi colour. It's awful!!!

I cut the butterflies out of the geometric paper and made flowers from them too. I decided to use the Dr Seuss paper because Connor is really really in to rhyming at the moment. There's a rhyme in practically every sentence he says. He even greeted my neightbour with 'Morning Fred, red, bread'. LOL.

Saturday 21 August 2010

Cybercrop Saturday


It's the Summer Cybercrop on 'The Studio' today and there are hourly projects to get the creative juices flowing :)

I hope that you'll join in with some of the classes and hop over at 9am as I show you how to make these frames with a difference from a pizza box :) AND as my class is sponsored by the lovely Caroline at Bubbly Funk, you could win yourself a prize too! What are you waiting for???

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Chinese Whispers August

My chinese whispers CJ offering this month is 'Egg & Spoon' :) I used Bo Bunny papers from Craft Island. And my dictionary got an outing for the first time in a long time too.

Monday 16 August 2010

Steam punk!

I've spent the weekend looking at wedding jewellary and tiaras and the like and I came across a style that I've never seen before- steam punk. Heard of it? It's not at all the sort of thing you'd wear at a wedding, or at least it's not the sort of thing that I'd wear at a wedding, but the style intrigued me. I decided to make an enlarged version for my Bubbly scrumptious project this week: I used a Maya Road Butterfly and Rik Rak designs cogs from the Bubbly Funk shop along with some UTEE, blooms and Tim Holtz metal pieces. I think I captured the style and it's a bit of fun anyway. What do you think?

Sunday 15 August 2010

Sunday Challenge day

It's challenge day on 'The Studio' blog today and I really really enjoyed this one. Use at least 5 different patterned papers on you page. You can choose your own theme, but get as many different papers on there as you can!

There's two ways of winning some Cosmo Cricket stash so make sure you check out the blog :)

Here's my take on the challenge with a little bit of 'My Little Bit of Whimsy' as promised:
I love the Cosmo Cricket 'Delicious' papers. They are so bright and summery. It's not often you'd get away with flowery paper for a boys LO but I figured that since Connor's in a pool with some bright trunks on, I could here :) I added an icecream pin from 'My little bit of Whimsey' and some chipboard pieces from 'The Range' (absolute bargain- 6 flowers for 99p). Love the way it all turned out.

Friday 13 August 2010

Cybercrop shopping list

The shopping list for the cybercrop on 21st August is now on The Studio blog :) One of our sponsors, Craft Island, is offering 15% off until end of August too so check out how to claim that on the blog at the same time! And here is a sneak peek of my project...

Tuesday 10 August 2010

My Little Bit of Whimsy

I was introduced to My Little Bit of Whimsy by Kathleen Glossop during my Birthday blog hop last year and I love the shop. I just realised that there's a blog too AND there's a giveaway right now! I've included some whimsy on my LO for The Studio this weekend so check back to see that on Sunday won't you?

Monday 9 August 2010

Bubbly Monday

My Bubblyfunk blog offering this week combines my chinese whispers CJ with some chipboard use :) The LO I received from Debbie in group 1 is this one:
I like the design :) I used some lace tape, some stamping, lots of prima flowers and a chipboard riff raff designs chipboard ring from Bubblyfunk. I added platinum UTEE to the ring and then used some glossy accents and sugar dust for the diamond.

Sunday 8 August 2010

The Studio Challenge: Storage Idea

This month we're being sponsored by Cosmo Cricket over at 'The Studio'. Amanda says 'This challenge is for those who fancy creating something a little different! I don't know about you, but I'm always on the lookout for inventive and pretty ways to store crafty items. Your challenge this week is to alter or create from scratch a pretty storage item for your craft space.'
I used the cosmo cricket photo box and the 'delovely' range to make a little storage house for my coloured pens. The roof is made from folded scraps and the little birdy is hanging from the flower by a thread.

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Wedding Gift Ideas


It's my turn to bring the Wednesday extra to The Studio this week so I thought that since the wedding season is upon us I'd have a go at some personalised wedding gifts. Pop over and have a look :)

Tuesday 3 August 2010

The Make and Create Shop

Oh, I also meant to tell you about my DT pal's venture: The Make and Create Shop. It looks like an interesting venture and they kits look fab so head over and have a look at how you can win one or buy one :)

Elle's Studio giveaway


Want some free stash?? Just head over to the Elle's Studio blog and pick up a blinkie for your blog :)

Monday 2 August 2010

The Studio Summer Cybercrop

I am delighted to give you more information about 'The Studio' Summer cybercrop today :) We thought that since the summer holidays can sometimes result in a dry patch scrapping wise we'd have a bit of the get together on 21st August 2010. All day there will be classes and challenges all with a summery theme. We have sponsors galore with some great prizes and stash at bargain prices. I can't wait!


And just in case you're not as excited as I am yet, how about some sneak peeks???





Sunday 1 August 2010

'The Studio' Sunday Challenge

It's challenge day on The Studio today and it's a good one as per usual :)

Masking! Find something creative from around your home to use as a mask for misting, inking or painting on your layout.

I used a knife to get the wave line splitting the page up. I couldn't fit it in the pizza box though so my desk is now mottled again :) The first of many engagment LOs!


It's amazing what you can find about the house to use for this challenge. Just have a look at The Studio blog to see what the design team found at home :)