Keeping it clean and simple

Phew! This challenge from last weekend really took it out of me! I found it REALLY difficult to do clean and simple! It took me longer to do this layout than to do some of my other ones with lots of layers and loads of embellishments! You can see Jennifer's layout and challenge here.

And here is my layout for the challenge.

I am actually quite pleased with the result, but don't think I can always scrap like this!

I did add three little gems to the centres of the flowers - couldn't do nothing lol!

Jennifer's challenges all end tonight at 10.59pm. Have you entered any?

Second post for Saturday!

Have found some time to do a quick page this afternoon I decided to go with another challenge from last weekend's blog event over at Jennifer Grace's. This time I went for the challenge to use orange, teal and white on a layout.

I am never sure if I have chosen the right colour for teal, but I held the papers against my iPad and they looked as if they matched the sample colours Jennifer had put on her blog!

I used my Big Shot to cut out the journalling card and then found some stickers and washi tape which appeared to the right colour!

I cut the arrows out, again with my Big Shot and found some little shiny star 'things' on the Thickers sheet which I liked and so added. The enamel gems were three I had left from a kit and then I decided to add a load of little white pears.

So, I think I have completed this challenge! It was fun and I got to use orange again!

Challenge to use a sketch

Still being inspired by last weekend's blog event over at Jennifer Grace's, on Thursday evening I created this page - most unusual of me to create mid week, but I was suddenly struck with inspiration! This layout was inspired by the sketch challenge.

And this is the sketch:

This was one of those layouts that just comes together so quickly. The sketch was wonderful to work with.

I dug into my stash and found this little bird, which I covered with the paper which the photos is mounted on. The hearts were ones I found in the bottom of a box and covered with Stickles. The smaller hearts on the journalling block are wood veneer ones, again covered with Stickles.

I was pleased that in the paper collection I used there was a cut apart sheet with this speech bubble on. Perfect for the challenge Jennifer set which was to do your journalling in a big speech bubble! I also dug out my Liquid Pearls and used them instead of gems, to make a change!

Jennifer's challenges all finish tomorrow, so you've still got time to enter!

My blog hop winner

Thank you so much to everyone who visited and commented on my post on Friday - part of Jennifer Grace's Refresh Your Craft and Soul Blog Event.

I had 44 comments - wow! Thank you for all your kind words. But there can only be one winner.

So I printed out all the comments.

 I cut them into strips.

I folded them all up and put them into a bowl (see the prize is there waiting to be sent!).

 And did a video of me drawing the winner! I had just come in from work, so am not looking my best - but it is a bit of fun!

So, the winner is Scrappyjacky! Please send me your address Jacky, to gotchfamily(at)btinternet.com and I will get the folder sent off to you.

 Thank you so much everyone who commented. I wish I could send you all a prize!

More from the blog event

As promised, here is the second layout I created today in response to another of Jennifer's posts. This one was inspired by her challenge 'Can you Resist it?!'

Oh my! I just LOVED doing this layout! I have never made a resist background before and I had such fun making this one! The paper is still a little curled in this photo as I wanted to get it photographed and blogged!

I used two different Amy Tangerine stamps, stamped with clear embossing powder, set it and then gave it a wash with some watercolour paints I bought years ago from 'The Works'. The paints are actually shimmery, so the effect in sunshine is lovely!

This is definitely a technique I will be using again. When I showed the paper to Hugh before sticking everything down he thought I had bought it!

I cut the title with my Cricut and I have to say that this is one of my favourite layouts this year! Do hop on over to Jennifer's blog to see how she created her layout and have a go yourself! It's great fun!

Creating with Jennifer Grace

I have had very little time to join in with Jennifer's blog event this weekend, but I have had the time to read all her posts and make notes on which ones I would like to develop and make my own over the next few weeks!

Although I have had very little time to myself this weekend (which was ok as it was very much time spent with family which I love), I did have a couple of hours this afternoon, where I managed to secrete myself in the conservatory (with the fan on as it was so hot!) and create two layouts inspired by Jennifer's event.

The first layout is inspired by this post to 'Create without Fuss'. Jennifer asked what we usually 'fuss' about on a layout and with me it is very much putting embellishments in groups of 3. The idea was to 'let go' of that and create without thinking about it.

Although there are three embellishments at the bottom of the page, they are not identical, which is what I usually go for and the jewels I dotted around the page are definitely not in groups!

Hugh doesn't want you to think he is a philistine! He was just having some fun and it stuck all holiday! I had to record it, after all, that is what scrapbooking is all about!

I will be back later this evening with my second layout. See you then!

Don't forget that the draw to win the prize from the blog hop ends tomorrow evening. If you would like to be in it to win it, then leave a comment on the blog hop post below. And Jennifer's prize draw also ends tomorrow at 9.59pm, so hop on over to her blog if you haven't entered there yet! 

Refresh your Craft and Soul Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my blog! Hopefully you have arrived here via Annie's blog as part of Jennifer Grace's Refresh Your Craft and Soul Blog Hop. Please read on through my post to find out how you can win the prize below.

But first of all, here is my contribution to the hop!

Jennifer asked us to create something loosely based on her word for the year, which is' Cleanse'. This could also include water themes, fresh air and outdoors etc. There are more details and ideas on her blog.

I decided to go on a water theme, and had the exact papers in my stash and I knew exactly which photo I wanted to work with - one from our trip to Universal Studios for Penny's 18th birthday (5 years ago now!). The papers are from Pink Paislee 'Hello Sunshine' collection.

 Having gathered all my supplies I decided that I wanted to make it a very layered layout and remembered one I had done a while ago( from a class by Heidi Sonoboul) which had triangles as a background. I decided to go with hexagons this time and cut out a load of them on my Cricut.

I then very patiently stuck the hexagons onto my background card, which I had also layered onto two other pieces of card. I left the space blank where my photo was going to be - no point in pasting them down if they are going to be covered up!

 My desk didn't look too cluttered which was remarkable!

And here is the finished layout. I love the puffy stickers which came with this collection. If you click on the photo you can read the journalling. I have to say that we were absolutely soaked through having been on this ride - very refreshing! Fortunately the sun was out and we soon dried off!

Thank you for reading this far! Before I tell you about the prize you can win on Jennifer's blog, I would like to offer you the chance to win a little prize from me. Quite a while ago I was lucky to win a prize from Sian and it included two file folders. I made one up and took it on holiday with me to Cyprus and used it as a holiday journal. I had another which I made up the same, but have never used and I would like to offer it to one lucky commenter. All you have to do is leave a comment below. All comments must be left by Monday 9th June at 10pm BST. This competition is open internationally, so anyone can enter.

And so on to Jennifer's prize. If you comment on all the blogs in the hop, finishing at jennifergracecreates to let Jennifer know you've been all the way around, then you'll be in with a chance to win a refreshing prize pack featuring Glitz 77 and My Mind's Eye Izzy items, total worth over £25!

All entries must be received by Monday the 9th of June at 10.59pm BST.

Your next stop along the hop is lil gik at 'feed your craft'. Please hop on over to her blog next and don't forget to leave your comment!

Thank you so much for stopping by and remember to keep watching Jennifer's blog this weekend for lots of 'refreshing' inspiration!

A dream come true

I created this layout last weekend, over the Bank Holiday. I am slowly making my way through my Italy photos, and thoroughly enjoying reliving my holiday, whilst looking forward to going away this year!

I have found that I really enjoy making up a kit from my own stash and have now started doing this before I start a scrapbooking session. This is also allowing me to use up papers which I have had for literally years.

With this layout I also made use of a Sizzix die and stamp set which Hugh bought me for Christmas a couple of years ago and which I have hardly used. I used it to create the butterflies.

This weekend has been a bit of a washout. It was our 27th wedding anniversary on Friday, but I had to make an unexpected trip to Canterbury to collect Penny from her flat as she had experienced a trying week at uni and had completed her 2nd year but needed a bit of support. The trip down took twice as long as usual as did the trip back - and on the way back I developed a migraine. Not wanting to spoil our planned meal out I took pills and struggled on, and Hugh and I did have a nice meal together although I didn't want to eat much! Yesterday the migraine remained with me all day, so I didn't do anything and today I am feeling very washed out, but fortunately the head seems to be on the mend.

I hope that you have had a better weekend than me!

Don't forget that it is Jennifer's blog event next weekend, starting on Friday with the blog hop.

Look forward to seeing you then!

Refresh your craft and soul

Just a shout out to let you know that I have been asked to join in with Jennifer Grace's next blog event on 6th-8th June. This time the theme is Refresh Your Craft and Soul - hop on over to Jennifer's blog to read more about it and to download the free printables and cut files.

I shall be joining in with the blog hop on Friday 6th starting at 6pm. Please come along and join in - Jennifer's blog events are always fun.

There is a prize pack to be won if you visit and comment on all the blogs:

Looks like a great prize and I will also be giving away a small prize on my blog too, to one lucky commenter.

So do join us on Friday 6th June - look forward to seeing you then!