Recent crafting

Although I haven't been very good at this blog updating lark recently, I have been a little bit crafty ;)
I have managed a healthy turn out of pages, probably due to the now semi-organised state of the craft room. I can get to all my supplies without having to dig in cupboards, or root through a filing cabinet in the garage LOL. I have also got easy access to all the photos too, and have had a recent spurt of doing older photos - mostly of Jemma when she was smaller.

Love the photo on "wasn't me" - classic Jemma. I used a PageMap for this one, and busted out the sewing machine for a touch of stitching. I used up some of my much cherished Scenic Route scraps, it is amazing how many layouts I have managed to eek out of these papers!

Another layout of Jemma, this time when she was about 11 months old in our packing boxes in Gibraltar. I recycled a pizza box for the photo mat. Another PageMap sketch, and more paper scraps - this time Creative Imaginations.

This layout was done for a team challenge on UKScrappers - this week it was the turn of our team, the Norty Crew to set a challenge, and we set the following criteria: Use an Elvis song title or lyrics, use either black and white or bright colours, and use either silver, a crown or something sparkly. This photo is another one of my favourites, and as I looked through the long list of Elvis's songs, I was amazed to find one that fit this phot perfectly! I used up black and white scraps for this page, and a journalling page from Making Memories. The title uses American Craft Jewelry Box Thickers, and I added some stickles to the white alphas for added bling. The flowers are made using retro flower punches in 3 sizes. I love how this turned out!

It's not just pages I have been creating - it was my crafting pal Erika's birthday at the end of May, and it was rude of me if I didn't send her a handmade card! I used one of the Sugar Nellie Manga stamps, and coloured her in with Promarkers. I found more Scenic Route scraps to match, and added some ruched ribbon and a hand crocheted flower. The frame was made using my Cricut. The sentiment is from Craftwork cards. I chose these colours, as teal is Erika's favourite colour - she wears a teal coat on the school run everyday, and even her glasses are teal coloured! And I had just the right colours of Promarkers to do the trick!

Erika organised the inaugural Hopeman crop last month as well - the last Sunday in May - at the local Memorial Hall. I was well prepared, taking some page kits - much to the ribbing of my fellow crafters - and minimal tool kit. I have always been known to travel light ;)

Now although I didn't finish the 3 layouts I started, I had made a good start on them, they only really needed titles and some journalling to finish them off whe I got home. Much chat, laughter, tea and cake aswell as the odd bit of crafting occured, and I can't wait for the next one!

This is one of my Stacy Julian Library of Memories inspired layouts. Flicking through the photo albums, I found these 2 photos - one of Jemma, and one of Tom. They both had a habit of falling asleep in their bouncy chairs next to the washing machine when it was on it's final spin! As I looked at the photos, I noticed that it was the same washing machine! I used another PageMaps sketch for this one, and used up some of the scrapbook papers I found in Tesco's many moons ago.

This layout is a 6x12 landscape, again using a PageMap sketch. A lovely photo of Tom on Roseisle beach, deep in thought, I really do wonder what goes on in that head of his sometimes! I used up some scraps again on this - Love Elsie, Scenic Route, K&Co and American crafts. The border is a Martha Stewart punch. I painted the chipboard arrow with Making Memories paint and then inked the edges to distress it a bit.

Finally, another layout of the toddler Jemma! This photo was taken in The Waterfront Restaurant in Gibraltar, one of our many haunts for Sunday lunch. The restaurants were so accomodating to families, and we had a fold up seat that would strap to a chair, so we didn't have to worry about high chairs. Jemma asked for an ice cream for pudding that day, and out came a cone that was nearly as big as her!

Again I used a PageMap sketch, and I used Sassafrass papers. The hand stitching is done using a Bazzill In Stitchez template, and the title is done with American Craft Jewelry Box thickers.

Well that's my recent crafty activity recorded for posterity once more! Not alot of crafting going on just at the moment, as I have the parental units visiting, and throw in a Tang Soo Do tournament on my weekend off, well you can just imagine the chaos!!!

No football on in the house just yet - although I would if I could, but the kids are watching Dr Who... Probably better for England's chances if I don't watch...

TTFN

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