The Bramford challenge and tando creative challenge

This months challenge was to alter a children's book and was given to us by Janina and the idea was from one of the new scrap 365 magazines. I have to make a confession though, i started my book some weeks ago and it was very different to the finished product below, and after much deliberation i started again. So off to the oxfam shop i went and picked up another ladybird book for all of 49p.

so the papers used were from websters pages and there probably 2 yrs old, i had then stashed away and pulled them out for this project. I took of the cover of the book with a craft knife. Stuck my first page of the book with the second, the third and forth page together and the back page is all of the pages stuck together.

The cover and the back were covered in patterned paper, T/H book plate added and flowers cut from the patterned paper and adhered with 3d glue (which i adore at the moment)

the first page is another 2 pieces of P/P cut and stitched and adhered to the pages. The house is cut from P/P and inked and embellished with copper wire and a butterfly. The next page i rolled over and laced with ribbon, and finally i found words to a butterfly poem on the net and used my alphabet stamps from Making Memories, stamped on to paper and adhered them to the page with 3d glue.

My final pages finishes of the poem and again a flower and butterfly cut from the P/P . The back page i have turned in to a niche. Basically i adhered the rest of the pages together and cut out rectangle with my craft knife. Cut out a piece of P/P for the front and back. Applied terra by viva decor through a mask and layered my photo and on top of hessian and P/P. Added embellishments to this page and some more copper wire and a tag. I love how this has turned out i must just say i started with the back page first.

This is also my entry for this months tando challenge

attempting a new style

I have to this is my favourite i have done so far. One because it a completely different to the layouts i normally do and because i challenged my self to use so many different techniques.
I have used my minds eye lost and found 2 papers and layered gesso on the page along with a viva decor mask. Drips of brown studio calico ink. The window is a memory box die. The flowers are made from T/H min tattered floral's and the pine cone die to make the rose. The bling i have coloured with alcohol inks Other embellishment include, buttons. tags, mini Melissa Frances frame and finally tearing paper and stitching

Recent layouts

here are some recent layouts i have been working on. The first one uses some old echo park papers that i have made in to a patch work and stitched , Used maya rd transparent doilies and stickers from the same paper collection. My title is made with the new T/H word play die and i splatted the page with dylusions ink A vellum pocket placed behind the photo and a tag. Still have journaling to do and decorate my tag

second layout is my interpretation of the papermaze crop kit. When i clapped eyes on the papers i knew the photos i wanted to use. Instead of 4 photos on the kit instructions i used 3 and snowflakes instead of stars and stitched around the edge

Scrapagogo altered xmas gift

I have been recently attending the scrapagogo crop as is only a few minutes away from home and goes on till late in the evening anyway at the December crop they gave us this naked wall hanging to alter. As you can see from the picture above it comes in 3 parts. A rectangular shape and 2 oval shapes with a perspex dome. As you know i just love the lost and found papers from My Minds Eye and s i have used these again for this piece. I had some great pics of our little one and hubby on our holiday in Norfolk. So i printed them on canvas paper and used an oval template to cut my photo's. Added metal embellishments in the frame and on the edges, paper flowers and leaves plus a Melissa Frances rub on and little frame. To attach the pieces together the kit came with rings but instead i used the tim holtz ones and his extra long brads and used his texture hammer to give them a battered look. Love the way its turned out just need to add some beads to the bottom of the piece.

I hope to show you a couple of layouts iv'e been working on soon. One being my interpretation of the papermaze crop kit and the other again using the lost and found papers and flowers ( which is unusual for me) plus i have used gesso, a mask, ink and my sewing machine - I'll promise to show you this soon.

unfortunately i didn't take a pic of last months challenge as i was in a rush to get it done. It was 11/2" cube given to us by carol, and i have to say i found it a really difficult challenge. Anyway this month i gave everyone a frame from poundland. I'm glad i found these, plenty of space around the edge to add elements and a square in the middle to add a pic or image. Firstly i sanded down my frame so that i had a key for me to apply the white distress stain. I then layered it with paperartsy paints, primarily the blue shades, Used a mask and stamps to add texture. The stamps used were from paperarsty as well. I then used portfolio pastles to color in the image building up the colours and using a water brush to blend the colours together. The letters are from tim holtz and then i finally used my new sewing machine to add texture to the centre image

Xmas layout

The December crop kit at otley is always a challenge. Papers and embellishments provided, but no sketch. Once i saw the bakers twine i knew exactly what i wanted to do. Firstly i watered down Jenni Bowlin red paint in a mini mister bottle and sprayed on the 12x12 sheet of cream card stock. Put two eyelets on the page and strung through my bakes twine. There was a mix of authentic and my minds eye papers alongside some T/H kraft paper. So i used the strips and made a banner, punched out circles, used two papertrey ink stamps and happy die. A small Melissa Frances frame, tag, bingo card and red bakers twine i had in my stash added to the layout. The photo is of our little boy opening his presents that were in his stocking, and the sheer excitement all over his face

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I know i haven't posted anything for ages, but with Christmas and the family catching the dreaded cold and the D and V bug there hasn't been alot of time to craft or blog. I have rushed to get things done which meant some of the family missed out on handmade cards - note to self start Xmas cards early. Amy way i thought i would show you what i have done. First of all the bramford challenge. We were given blank door hangers from Tracey and then we picked a name. So my hanger is for................. (not telling), But I'll give you a clue - she totally loves anything Tim holtz and even has his signature.
I started by using distress stain and inks to colour the front of the hanger, Stamped a background from waltzing mouse stamps, made a frame from chipboard and covered in MME papers. Made a grunge board flower and two buttons for the centre. Leaves are a stamp from wendy vecchi as well as the sentiment. Bottle is from maya rd and accented with lace, ribbon and bead.

The back was painted and distress inked, Tim holtz stamp used, leaves and button as embellishments I hope she likes it

I made this for my friend at work. It was a secret Santa. Bought the frame from the range took the glass out and embellished it with MME papers and butterfly cut from a sizzix bigz die and a paper flower

And i place the frame in a Kraft gift bag to which i made a wreath using T/H tattered leaves and mini tattered leaves, buttons and stickers