CKCB Challenge 1 ... make a Pinterest inspired LO

Morning all..

Welcome to the Counterfeit Kit November Blog Hop. If you have found your way here you will have come via Suzanne's blog.... I'm sure you've been inspired by her creativity. 

For this challenge the idea was to create a layout taken from an idea from the amazing source of ideas that is.... Pinterest.. well this was right up my street! I spend far too long on Pinterest, pinning things and rarely getting around to trying them out...but in this case I was determined to put one of them to good use. 

Here is the idea I decided to try.

I had pinned this tutorial some weeks ago and had intended to try it out quite soon, so this was the prompt I needed. The idea is to use your hot glue gun to create a stencil.. so I chose to write the title of my LO.. in this case the word 'together'..

I tried both clear glue and white glue on a non-stick craft mat, (I personally preferred the clear glue)... and a second glue gun.. the first one was too slow!. It took a bit of practice, as you can see here, but now I have lots of word stencils I can use! Happy days!

This is the LO I made with it... after laying the 'glue word' stencil I spray misted the background card stock with dark pink and pewter and then gently lifted it off to reveal the title.. its the first time I've started with the title in the layout and made the clusters 
around it, so it was quite refreshing. I'm really pleased with the end result and I am 
sure I will be doing this again. 

I hope you've enjoyed my Pinterest inspired LO.... And you enjoy the rest of the hop. If you get lost along the way, here is the list of wonderful entries to find your way again... enjoy! 

CKCB       http://www.counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com

Lisa          http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de

Tina          http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Susanne   http://snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com

Elaine       http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk

Julie         http://jsquaredscrapspot.wordpress.com

Janine      http://rachauscratchpad.blogspot.com

Julene      http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au

Kate         http://www.kateblue.blogspot.com/

Leslie       http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com

Elaine

x

November kit layout

Hi all... Here is a LO I made with my November kit, Leaf it up to Me!

I chose this sketch here from Stuck?! Blogspot...

 I used three photos in place of the one photo and chose to punch them out hexagonally instead... I then chose several papers from my kit and added some Teresa Collins, Far and Away stickers together with some washi and some small embellishments.

My husband and I went to London to see the poppies at the Tower of London and we spent a really pleasant couple of hours walking around London and seeing the sights too.

Just a quick post from me..but I wanted to share this with you.

Elaine
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Altered/ mixed media items including Christmassey birdhouses

Hey all... Well here I am again.. This time with something quite different for me! 

As some of you may know, I recently went on a scrapbooking retreat weekend.. And two of the ladies there are in to altered items and mixed media art... So they provided us with a giant clothes peg (pin) for us to alter and they also gave all of us a papier mâché initial for each of our names. 

Well... I think it's safe to say.. I'm hooked! I just love taking something quite plain and boring and turning it into something so different from what it started out as. 

Here are those two items.. I'm really pleased with them for a first attempt at altering something! 

The peg (pin) I painted with turquoise chalk paint by Paper Artsy and then whitewashed dry acrylic paint over it. I then stamped some paisley shapes and silver heat embossed it. I added a cluster made of embellishments, which I added on top of a rectangle of plasterers drywall tape as the base. I added Prima paper roses and painted them to co-ordinate. I finished it off with a stick pin with made with beads and crystals.

I am going to use this peg to hold my take away menus... when I move that is.. I live so rurally that no-one delivers to me out here! Lol!

Below is my initial... I covered this with dictionary paper, painted it thinly and then used script texture paste with a mask then rubbed Treasure Gold around the egdes. Again I made a cluster of embellishments and added pearls all over..but I realised it was a bit unbalanced so I added a smaller cluster at the bottom. I'm pleased with the end results. really.. for a first attempt!   

Tell me what you think.. And be honest, I'm learning here so any tips would be gratefully received! 

So ... after I got home, I decided I would make some more things..this time I though I'd make them Christmassey    (as it's that time of year again)... and I was challenged to do so by themirrocrack1d blog here ... and as you probably know by now, I'm always up for a challenge!

so.... First I took these little wooden birdhouses... 

Then I covered them with yellowed pages from an old Thesaurus. I used PVA glue (and got in a right mess too!) to stick it all together. Once dried I took a dry paintbrush and dry brushed acrylic white paint all over them.. After allowing them to dry again, I then added pale gold acrylic paint. 

Once I was satisfied with the finish of them, I stamped small snowflakes on the roof of each and then I added fold embossing powder and heated it. Then I added pearl 'runs' on the top of each roof too. 

 When they were completely dry ( which took some time because of the Viva Decor pearl pen) I then made a decision to add a row of crystals across the ridge of the roof, and added thin lace to the apex of the roof too using a hot glue gun. 

Finally I chose the embellishments for each house, making each slightly different, and I stuck them all on with the same hot glue gun. 

Mainly I used pearls and silk roses, but on a couple I have used old broken jewellery to add a different element. 

Overall I'm very pleased with them, and I have a few new decorations for my tree this year.. So I'm a happy girl. 

So pleased you've joined me in my journey into mixed media art.. Do pop back soon.. You never know what else I may get up to! 

See you soon! 

Elaine

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CKCB November kit

Hey all.. its been a while since I blogged...don't know where the time is flying by to? Hey ho... I'm back now and here to share with you my take on this here CKCB kit from Crop and Create.... which is awesome and still current if anyone wants to buy the original!

When I first saw this kit coral, taupe and the rose patterned paper jumped right out at me... then I set about watching the video that comes with the kit... and then I realised there were quite a few woodland elements with it too and leaf stamps and lots of other lusciousness... so I set about making my own kit up.. which I am calling: 

'Leaf it up to me'.

Unfortunately, I don't own any leaf stamps, so I am going to have to get creative whilst using this kit.. but for now..here is my take on it so far.. I reserve the right to 'make' more items and add plain CS where I need it. 

First I chose some Kaisercraft rose paper and picked the colours from that for my cardstock.. which included, coral, aqua, taupe and pinks.

I then selected all my other patterned papers and came up with these below. 

I then picked out some alphas.. I don't have canvas ones so I chose corrugated card and cork and some sage alphas too

and I finally picked out my embellishments and washi..because I just have to have washi in my kits!

So here it is.. a photo heavy post, but I think the pictures speak louder than words... 'Leaf it up to me' to make some awesome LO's this month.. 

Before I go though.. I must just say I really hope a few more people get on board with this kit this month and join in the blog hop on the 24th as last month there were literally no takers which is so sad as this creative team work so hard and this idea is so great that we shouldn't just look and not join in... so go on, take the leap and join in too. 

Have fun all.. 

Elaine
x

Life is good

Afternoon all

Here is another of my latest LO's that I completed this weekend on my retreat.

This is another for my Uncles 80th album, the photo was taken at my sons wedding last year. 

The papers are from Teresa Collins, Urban Market collection.. which I absolutely love! Can't wait to make more with it now I've actually broken in to the pack. 

The sketch I used was this one from Sues' Me and Mines blog.  

She designs all the sketches herself and there are a lot of one photo sketches on there for others to use if you fancy a look see?

Anyway.. my take on it is above.. a fairly faithful replica.. hope you like?

Do pop back soon!

Elaine
xx

Two LO's from my scrapbook retreat this weekend

Morning all.. here I am back from a busy weekend away scrapbooking. 

Apart from enjoying being looked after by the wonderful B & B owner, I managed quite well with my wounded 'wing' (some of you may know I'm recovering from shoulder surgery). I mow, more or less, have full use of my arm for crafting, but I still have a way to go for full recovery! 

Anyway.. here are the first two LO's I made.. one for the Mixed Media layout that was inspired by the Studio Challenges inspiration to create a mixed media LO using two or more mediums. 

So.. first I painted a rough background with gesso then I mixed pearlescent paint in with some texture paste and used it with the honeycomb stencil to create the basis for the LO. I then waited for it to dry before stamping lots of background script stamps all over it. Finally I added lots of drips and drizzles of Paperartsy Fresco Turquoise chalk paint over the rest. 

Then I distressed several pieces of MME papers and arranged beneath the photo mat. The photo is of my Mum and her brothers at the D-Day street party in 1945. I then finished it off with some altered chipboard photo corners, some buttons and beads and a sprinkling of striped yellow resin dots. 

I'm pleased with the outcome so I hope you are too?

Then.. onto the next LO. 

This time a simpler affair... inspired by this sketch from Lets Get Sketchy blogspot holiday challenge.. by Laura Whitaker. This time I'm not entering it in their challenge as the idea was to create a winter/ holiday LO.. which mine isn't but I liked the sketch so I wanted to use it anyway. 

I also combined it with the monthly challenge over on UKS to use the colours above as inspiration.

I do hope you like? Remember to pop back soon to see what else I created during the weekend. 

Have a good day everyone!

Elaine

x

A quick Christmas card

Hi all...

Unusually for me, I've made another Christmas card.. Which is not something I do much of.. But as there is a good challenge over Scrapology-adventures in Scrapbooking.. I thought I'd give it a go... It was quite simple really... Make a card in blue and silver... So here it is!

Thanks for popping by... Do let me know what you think... Especially as I'm new to this cardmaking lark! Lol

 Elaine. 

Lovely day

Hi all

A week has passed and I'm getting more movement each day in my arm.. the shoulder is stiff but all looking good so far.. of course..it take more than shoulder surgery to stop me crafting though! 

So here is my latest LO that I made using a mixed media style with lots of lovely layers..as per the Craft Hoarders Anonymous October challenge. 

First I used white acrylic paint as the background, then I added turquoise shimmer paint and several layers of other colours including silver and blue stickles. I drew several circles, which are below the clusters, but to be honest I wasn't really pleased with the colouring.. so I added the doily in two areas and clusters of embellishments to finish it off. I added touches of paint to each of the flowers so it all flows together. 

The inspiration  I used was this one here from Scrapsuffz Inspired By challenge blog.. which gave us this wonderful mood board to inspire me... so much to choose from.

Then I picked a sketch.. and I chose this one from Creative Scrappers, sketch no. 280. 

The photos are of my Uncles wedding day back in the 1970's.. another one for his 80th birthday album. 

To be honest, I used this as an entry into the UKS challenge this week too.. however, the task was to use a number in the tile.. so originally I used 

'1 Fine Day' as the title..but I wasn't at all happy with it, and I changed it to this instead.. better all round in my opinion! 

Thanks for dropping by and do pop back soon.. I've decided I am going to go to the retreat I was booked to go on Friday (thanks to a dear friend who has agreed to drive me).. so I'll have plenty more LO's to share soon. 

Have a good day all. 

Elaine

White and one

Hi all

Here is my latest LO created with the blog White with One in mind..in this case White and Radiant Orchid!

Co-incidentally on UKS today, the weekly challenge asked us to use Purple as a colour, so I was able to combine both with a sketch that was combined with the UKS challenge too which came from the Sketchabilities blog too.. how about that for challenge combining?

Anyway..here is the sketch.. No. 99.. they are on no. 124 now..but it is still a lovely sketch to use so even if it isn't a current challenge, it is worth using.

First I used texture paste with a retro block mask and allowed that to dry. Then I used a pale orchid watercolour wash over the dry texture paste. I then stamped some circles over the background and added a doily and some cheesecloth over the paste. Then I laid a sheet of purple tissue paper over the top and set the photo on top of that. 

I then added several embellishments, flowers, die cut leaves and swirls, some chipboard elements and a Prima pearl border. I also cut up the packaging for the pearl border and used the words printed on it for the three small text banners on the right of the photograph. 

Finally I cut the title with my Slice and cut a shadow border on it too so it made it more prominent. 

As I can't use my paper trimmer while I don't have the use of my left arm after surgery on Friday, I am finding ways of getting round that by using a mixed media style instead. I do hope you like!

Elaine

x

One armed bandit!

Hi all

As some of you may know I had surgery on my left arm on Friday which has meant that it is very difficult for me to do much in the way of crafting because it's surprising how often you need your left arm to hold things steady etc while still working on a layout.

So therefore I stuck a piece of card stock to a lap tray and held it steady that way instead. I then set about doodling some elements for my page because using a guillotine to cut patterned paper would be quite tricky with only one arm. I then did some fussy cutting with a Fiskars blade to cut out the title and the longest doodle. I then tucked the photograph underneath the cut out elements and secured it in place with washi tape and added some stars to finish it off...

Another page for my uncles 80th album completed.

Thanks for stopping by...

Elaine

x

Cool cousins

Hi all

Here is a quick post from me to showcase my latest Lo made for my Uncles 80th birthday album. It depicts him with all his cousins at my Mums 80th birthday party four years back... it was lovely to see them all together.. in fact I then decided to make another LO depicting them all way back in the 1930's on a 'charabang' (bus/coach) outing with their Grandad...how lucky I am to have copies of both of these photographs...particularly the one from the 1930's. 

I'm currently loving the Teresa Collins 'Hello My Name Is' collection..which is perfect as the basis for one or two LO's for his album.

So here they are.. the first one based on this sketch here from Stuck?! blog challenge  for October. 

I used a Stamping Up 'ink splat' stamp on the background patterned paper and then used a selection of other papers from the collection and added some embellishments. It al came together quite quickly as these papers are so beautiful. 

Here is the first LO

The next Lo I based on the sketch below from Sketch Savvy. 

In this instance I used another Teresa Collins collection, Far and Away.

I used  a random, un-named piece of paper for the background and added my collection of papers, a PL card as the title 'Are We There Yet' 

I then added a selection of wooden embellishments in place of the 'wheel' shown on the sketch and finished off with a flourish of gemstones. 

The photo depicts my great grandfather, my great grandmother, my grandmother, tow great-aunts, my Mum and her two brothers and their cousins... what a lovely day out that must have been.. and such a luxury for that era. The van in the background of the photo is actually 'the charabang'.. so not strictly a bus..but they couldn't be choosy in those pre-health and safety days! 

I hope you like my LO's... do pop back soon for another look see. 

Take care.

Elaine

x

Wonderful news

Good morning all

As a few of you will already know, I am to be a first time Granny in March! Now obviously that is special news and I am, of course, thrilled to bits!

However, despite knowing for quite some time that I was to be a Granny, I had to keep everything a secret until  the 12 week scan gave us the good news that all was OK.. then of course, they wanted to announce to the world themselves through social media!

So these photos are what my dear son decided to post on Facebook to announce their news... so...needless to say, I did no more than pinch the photos to scrapbook... and these are the results. As you can see, I've broken away from my usual style of paper based layouts and gone more 'mixed media'. The one of my son 'pregnant' was based on some bright acrylic paint which I then inked over and then layered the photos over the top. I based it on a sketch from Stuck?! blog, but I ran out of time to load it to the link before their deadline... doh! I did, however see a challenge over on Another Freaky Scrapbook Challenge where we were encouraged to scrap about what makes you happy...and of course,this does! So here it is. 

The 'Life Inside' was a slightly different technique.. first I took some more acrylic paint, white silver and taupe and then I brayered it to spread the paint. After allowing it some drying time, I then used home made texture paste through a bubble stencil. Then I matted the photo onto some cheesecloth and layered it on to the background, added some doilies and embellishments and here it is..

These were two of the most special photos I ever wanted to scrap, but I have several more layouts to follow, so do remember to pop back soon to see what else I've been up to.