Paradise...

After trying to find space for some beautiful new designer papers I bought this week I thought it might be an idea to do some 'real' scrapbooking for a change instead of using Serif Craft Artist and having the whole page printed.

Typically I ended up not using any of my patterned paper at all, but two plain blue sheets of 12" x 12" card by DCWV and a amazing sketch from Sketchy Thursdays.

It was quite nerve wracking to cut my 6" x 4" photos down to just the 3" x 3" that eventually turned out to be the right size for the layout, but I'm glad I did now as I love they way they turned out.  After trimming I matt and layered each photo on to white and the same navy paper as my base colour. 

The title and journalling, which if you look carefully at the sketch, had to include a list, was planned on Serif Craft Artist (hmm still ended up using it for one part of the page after all) and then printed on Inkjet Acetate before being laid over the light blue.  Then I attached the photos and strip of embossed card on top.

I didn't add any extra embellishments as I really liked the simplicity of the page.  Hope others do too!

My page is also for the challenges at...

• Crafty Ann's Challenge - Monochromatic (eeeeek well it is apart from photos)
• Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes

Wow - three posts in one day!  I'm on a roll which is about to come to an end as I am working all weekend.

Ah well needs must have a good weekend everyone.

Ann xxx

Bags and Boxes...

Oh my doing 24 hour shifts can really tire you out!  Having said that I really should do my design team projects earlier than the day before.  Hmmm, less grovelling and trying to make excuses for a very quick effort for this week's  Bah! Humbug! project on the theme of bags and boxes.
My bag is a recycled one from last year.  I don't know about you, but I always save pretty bags as with a new tag they can look as good as new.
My tag was created using a computer generated label and sentiment.  Then using a clear Santa stamp which I've had some years and absolutely love I stamped Santa in the correct position, coloured using Promarkers and then glittered to add some oomph.  Then I cut into a tag shape and mounted on to a snippet of red card (yes Jules I'm really trying to not break into new card when I only need a tiny bit) before mounting on white again so that the back could be written on easily.  A very simple project easy enough to do even when you just want to curl up and go to sleep.
Alongside Bah! Humbug! my project is also for the following challenges...

• Jules Crafty Snippets - use your snippets
• Crafty Ribbons Challenge - anything but a card
• Crimbo Crackers - make it sparkle
• Creatalicious - make something for Christmas that sparkles

Maybe I'll get round to doing some boxes when I'm fully awake.  We'll see and in the meantime do pop over to Bah! Humbug! to take a look at the fabulous work of my team mates.
Have a great day.
Ann xxx

Variations on a theme...

Rather than put away the images left from the sheet of Kanban toppers and then not be able to find them ever again I decided to use up both the toppers and the remains of the red gingham paper.  I used the sketch from The Sweet Shop - love their sketches - to create a card for Gran to give Eli at Christmas.  The papers are all the same ones as I used here and the personalised sentiment was created using my Xyron Design Runner.

My card is also for the challenges at...

• Make it Monday - Anything goes
• Designed to Delight - Baby

Card number two was made using the last of the toppers and the snippets of red gingham I had left.  I'm really trying to use things up these days instead of storing or throwing away.  Thank you Jules for keeping me on track with your Crafty Snippet Challenge.  My card is also one of the ones I will be sending to St Luke's Charity Cards for their fundraising sale.  

Back to work tomorrow so I may be quiet for a few days.  Enjoy your week everyone.

Ann xxx