New Year Layout

This is my first lay out for 2011. One of my friends set us a challenge to scrap our aspirations for 2011. I'm not one who makes New Year's resolutions, but had a go at this challenge. Some of the things that I hope 2011 will be is less stressful than last year and that we are all healthy & happy. I used Crate Papers from the Prudence collection that I bought while we were in Canada last year. The title was cut using Cuttblebug Harmony font. The journaling was all done by hand. I used my new book "The Scrapbooker's Handwriting Workshop" by Crystal Rieger that was given to me by my good friend Pat as inspiration. It was very adventurous of me to do so much journaling and in my own hand. I'm so pleased with the results, it's encouraged me to do more. I hope it will encourage others to do the same. I finished off the layout with Basic Grey Popps 3D elements, ribbon and buttons. I hope that you all have an amazing new year and all the best for 2011.

December Birthday Cards

I couldn't post this until my Mom received it, but now I can. I made this card using a using an image from Digital Two for Tuesday blog and printed it out twice. I coloured them in using ProMarkers. I used Bazzil dotty cardstock and My Minds Eye's papers. The scalloped circle was cut using a Nestabilities die in a Cuttlebug machine, embossed using Snowflake Dots Cuttlebug Folder and then inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. The card was finished off with gingham ribbon and Basic Grey letter stickers.



The next card was for a good friend and was done using Crafty Individual stamp, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Basic Grey papers and Cuttlebug embossing folder. It was finished off with paper flowers, leaves and a button.



The third card was for my brother in law. I always find it hard to make cards for men. I did this one using a Paper Artsy stamps, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tim Holtz die cut, Time Holtz Tissue ribbon, EmbelliScrap swirl shape embossed with Cuttlebug Snowflake Dots folder, ribbon and scraps of paper.

Three more birthday coming up soon in January, so I best be getting on with making some more cards.

Latest Scrapbook pages

Here are a couple of layouts that I've been working on. I finally finished them off today. Together the two LOs will sit side by side to make a double LO. The first LO was done using My Minds Eye papers and Bazzil card stock. The flower embellishment was made with paper scraps and a Stampin' Up scallop punch. The LO was finished off with an acetate flower, buttons and ribbon.



The second LO is done using scraps left over from the first LO and other matching papers. Again I've used the Stampin Up punch and made different sized scallops which I distressed by crumpling up and inking with Tim Holtz distress ink. The LO was finished up with buttons and ribbons.

Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show

Last week was the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show at Alexander Place in North London. I've gone every year now for the past four years. I was almost tempted not to go this year, just because I already have so much craft things and have not been using them very much, BUT I just couldn't not go this year. So Peter drove me up so I could shop for a couple of hours, while he sat outside in the park in the sunshine reading his book. I think it was the quickest I've ever been around the show, but I had a list of things I wanted and tried to stick to that. I ended up getting a 7 Gypsies photo box frame, 2 Tim Holtz new dies, 1 Tim Holtz mask, more alcohol ink felt pads, Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Spellbinder nestabilities die cuts frames, Basic Grey journalling notes and flowers, 4 packs of ProMarkers in the NEW colour range, Crate Paper collection, 10 sheet of Fancy Pants papers, ribbon, a poky tool (not shown) and a Wiffs of Joy stamp (not shown). I was so excited with all my purchases that I came home and made this card with some of my purchase for a friends birthday.



The stamp image is the new Wiffs of Joy stamp coloured in with the new spring coloured Promarkers and finished off with Ranger Rock Candy Distress Stickels. The frames were cut using the Nestabilities in a Cuttlebug. The papers used are Crate papers edged with gold perfect pearls. The card was finished off with ribbons and a croched flower.

April Cards

At the beginning of April there are quiet a few birthdays that I needed to make cards for. The above was done for a good friends birthday. The image was a free download from Digital Two for Tuesday blog. It was printed on Stampin' Up cardstock and coloured in with ProMarkers. The image was mounted with 3D foam onto card stamped with Crafty Individuals Friends stamp inked with Ranger distress inks. The background on the card stock was done by stamping with embossing ink and then bushing it over with Ranger Perfect Pearls medium in gold. The background paper is Create Paper Static Collection inked with Tim Holtz distress ink. The "Happy Birthday" sentiment was glazed with Sepia Accents to give it a more muted antique look. The card was finished off with ribbon, a Prima paper flower and a brad.


The next card was done for my sister. It was done using another free digital image I downloaded, but I can't remember from where. The image was coloured in with ProMarkers. I just love the way this one turned out only using a couple of colours, but they build up and blend so well it makes it look that I've used more. The papers are My Minds Eye Bloom and Grow collection, and the edges were inked with ProMarkers. The card was finished off with a sisters quote sticker and some ribbon.


The last card is for my brother-in-law. It's always hard to do cards for men. This one I have used a Paper Artsy stamp on top of some cardstock that was blended with Ranger Distress Inks. Then the image was covered with Ranger Rock Candy Crackle paint and left to dry. The background was done using Tim Holtz gear masks that were again inked over with Ranger Distress Inks. The background paper is My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus"Our Family" collection stripe paper. The card was finished off with ribbon with brass rivets and metal establishments inked with Ranger Alcohol Inks.

Back to Scarpbooking

RIMG5631, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

I had a great time on Friday night when some friends came around and we scrapped together. I managed to do this LO of my Great Grandfathers Clog dance group the Eight Lancashire Lads. It was done using Stampin' Up cardstock and Basic Grey Mellow Taper paper. The title was cut using a Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet dies and matted on cardstock. The LO was finished off with ribbon and brads. It took a long time to get back into doing scrapbooking, and although this is a simple LO it wasn't quick to produce. Must have been all the cutting out of the title. In the time it took me to do this one, my friend did 3 LOs.

Earlier in the year I also did this LO of my Mom as a young child. It was done using Bazzill swiss dots cardstock and My Minds Eye BellaBella Bellezo paper and Basic Grey Blush collection paper, felt letter stickers, fabric flowers, brads, ribbon and Hero Arts stamps for the journling. The design was based on a layout in a Scrapbook Trends magazine.

Belated Birthday, again!

Well it's been ages since I've blogged. I can't believe this is my first entry for 2010! I'd like to wish everyone lots of Blessings for 2010 and hope you all have a great year. I was so busy before Christmas making cards, that I never even took any photos of all the cards I did. Then I got sick just before Christmas, but I'm feeling a lot better now.

This is another belated birthday card. I haven't started this year off any better than last year, already behind with my cards. This one is done using a wonderful free digital download stamp from Mo Manning. The stamps was printed out onto Stampin' Up card stock and coloured in with ProMarkers. The background was stamped with some wonderful new stamps Basic Grey stamps I got for Christmas (thanks Mom, they finally arrived). I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Broken China and Spiecd Marmalade. The rest of the card was made with Prima Artful Collage Flower, button, left over scarps of paper and ribbon.

Thanks for looking and I hope to be more active!

Sketch Saturday Happy Birthday

Here is a card I've made this week for an upcoming birthday. It was done using this weeks sketch on the Sketch Saturday blog. The main image is Wiffs of Joys "Willow with hot chocolate" stamp coloured in with ProMarkers. The papers used are from the Infuse collection and are Extract, Invest and Salt. The Fancy Pants chipboard pieces were painted with Ranger Acrylic Dabbers and Tim Holtz Distress ink "Peeled Paint". The sentiment stamps was from the Papermania Sweet Nothings set and was stamped with Distress Ink and coloured in with a marker. The card was finished off with ribbon (although you cropped in the photo).

CPS 140 Birthday Card

RIMG5444, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

It seem I've not made very many birthday cards this year, but as it's a special friends birthday this month, I just had to sit down and make one. I made this one based on the CPS sketch #140. I used Whiff of Joy "Willow with hot chocolate" stamp and coloured it in with Promarkers. I'm just loving using my Promarkers these days and seem to spend more time colouring in images than making them into anything.The papers are Basic Grey Wisteria Cornflower and the brads are also from the BG Wisteria range. The backing card stock is Bazzil Swiss Dots. I inked the edges of the scallop and the paper with Tim Holtz Dusty Concord Distress Ink to finish it off.

Anniversary Card

This is the card that I made for Peter for our anniversary. I couldn't post it before, as I didn't want him to see it. The card was made using a Nellie's C. Smookie stamp that was coloured in with Promarkers. Off cuts of papers were used for the background that were inked with Tim Holtz distress inks. The text is a fabric tag. The card was finished off with ribbon and sticky gems. I gave the card to Peter yesterday morning and it went down very well. I have yet to receive any card from him as yet!

Long Time No Scrap!

RIMG5355, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

Well I finally got some scrapbooking done today. Although it was just finishing off the journaling on a couple of LOs that have been sitting around unfinished for a few months.

This LO is for my personal album and is of me when I was about 2. The papers I've used are from the Create Mia collection and I've embellished with felt and paper flowers and brads.

Belated Birthday

I made this card while I was on holiday in Cornwall. It's for a friends belated birthday. I took my Letraset Promarkers with me on holiday to practice using them. I was very happy with the results on this Magnolia stamp, that I decided to make it into a card. The basic lay out was based on an example in the latest issue of Stamp Crafter magazine. I used My Minds Eye Bella Bella Bellezo paper, MME Wild Asparagus die cut, organza, ribbon, alphabet stamps, Prima Artful Collage flowers, Prima Daisy Crazy Mackenzie flowers and a brad.

Digi Layout

Greetings from Cornwall! We are on holiday and I just couldn't have had a week away from my crafts, so have brought my laptop with me and done a digi layout. The photo is of a drink we tried while on Rock called 12" of pleasure. Which is a hot chocolate with mini marshmellows, whipped cream, two chocolate flakes, a huge meringue and topped off with even more whipped creams. Pure indulgence! Pure Pleasure! The LO was done using free digi kits downloaded from Shabby Princess. I used a mixtures of Happy Go Lucky, Delight and Sun Pourch. Well back to our hoilday, keep a look out for more entries when we get back about our time away.

This Week's ISMAKI Challenge

RIMG5006, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

Wow it's been ages since I've made a card, but with a special birthday around the corner I just had to make one. I also have some nice new Penny Black Hedgehog stamps to use. So I headed on over to ISMAKI and was pleased to see it was my friend Isa who did the sketch for this week. I first coloured one of my new Cuttlebug Embossing border folders with Nick Bantock ink using a brayer. Then embossed onto my card. I've used my new Promarker to colour in the stamps and built it up with 3D foam. The papers are some left over pieces of My Minds Eye and Sasserfrass papers. I finished off the card by stamping the sentiment using Studio G alpha stamps.

Scrap Like You Mean It Week 17

RIMG4993, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

It's been awhile since I've done any scrapbooking and I've missed about 2 or 3 weeks of the Scrap Like You Mean it challenge. So this morning on my day off I took the plunge. this is my LO for this weeks challenge to use layers and lace. I also did it this morning, so it also works for last week challenge which I didn't get done in time to scrap in the morning. The LO is based on PageMaps Apr sketch and was done using My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus Grandpa Plaid and Grandpa Floral papers. Also used MME paper establishments. To give the LO depth and layers, I first started by using Tim Holtz new masks on the background paper and inking with Ranger Antique Linen. I also added layers by using 3d foam to raise bits of the patterned paper that I cut and layered in the corner of the LO. More layers of two buttons on top of each other were also added. I added grunge board elements painted with Ranger dabbers to add texture. I used a piece of lace at the top also inked with Ranger distress ink Antique Linen. Other embellishments used were staples, brads and shimmer dots.

Another Year, Another Ally Pally!

Yes, it's that time of year again. The Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show was on at Alexander Palace which ment more stash shopping. Although I didn't really need much, there is always lots of things there to tempt you. I was very good this year, and mostly stick to items on my list and manage to walk away without spending all the money I had budgeted for the event. I even managed to pick up a few bargains. Like 3 new Penny Black hedgehog stamps all from their bargain bin for just under £15. I also got a new Chatter Box album which I thought I was getting a good deal on, but then found out another supplier was sell it for £5 cheaper. Oh well, I still got a deal on it and also got some extra page protectors to go with it. I also picked up a few multipacks of much needed Bazzill card stock. I also got a few sheets of the new Polka Dot Embossed Bazzill card stock. What good is card stock though, if you don't have some beautiful papers to use with it, so I picked up a few sheet of Cosmo Cricket from the Girl Friday and Lil man ranges as well as some My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow kit, Penny Lane shaped card stock, Bella Bella and a few old Wild Asparagus pack with paper, die cuts and alphas. I also found some cute Sassafras paper with hedgehogs on it, can't wait to use them for a layout about my pet hedgehog "Tiggy" who I use to have. Of course I wouldn't be me if I didn't get some Basic Grey. I bought a wonderful Wisteria collection pack along with some matching glazed brads. Some of the other things I got was, a couple of Nick Bantock inks, Tim Holtz timeworks mask, Tim Holtz Grundgeboard dots elements shapes, Cuttlebug Just My Type embossing border folders, Fancy Pants rub-ons, new acrylic blocks (because I still can't find where mine when to), a set of Promarkers plus a blender pen, two small Studio G alphabet stamp sets, thin ultra adhesive tape, self adhesive shimmer dots, felt & button embellishment pack, crochet flowers, Prima artful collage flowers (because I'm a Prima Diva), card envelops (of which I was right out of) and Hero Arts Arigato Sparkle Clear stamp set.

It was a great day, and I was happy to share it with my hubby aka my scrapbook roadie! I hope that all this new stash will help me get some inspiration back and do some more crafting. Watch this space!

Scrap Like You Mean it Week 12

RIMG4827b, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

As you know from my other post, I've not been too well this month. This has meant that I've not been able to keep up with the Scrap Like You Mean it challenges on UKS. Some of the ones that I have missed have been, "cut a photo", "use paper punches" and "use fabric". I will keep these ideas in the back of my mind and try to fit use them at some point. This weeks challenge however was to use a sketch. I always love a sketch and find them a great place to start for inspiration. Shimelle's sketch was a nice simple one, which I've expanded on slightly. Papers and die cuts used are from Crate Paper Mia Collection. The title was done using Basic Grey letters stickers and letters cut with a CraftRobo using "Storybook" font. Also used velvet ribbon and Ranger paint dabber in Jasper. The photo is of my sister feeding a horse oranges in Florida while we were there visiting my Grandparents one winter. I will never forget how messy a horse eats oranges and it's a memory that will always bring back such joy.

Cupcake Card - CPS 107

Cupcake Card, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

This is my first attempt at using Letraset Promarkers to colour in a stamp. I just got these markers last weekend from Hobbycraft, but haven't tried them out. I needed to make sure I had the right type of stamping ink before I could proceed. Luckily I already had the ink I needed so I didn't need to get any extra supplies before I started. I decided to finally use my wonderful Shimelle Banana Frog "That Takes the Cake" stamps that In won from UKS. I stamped the images on Stampin' Up white card stock with Impress Jet Black Ink. Then I coloured them in using the Promarkers in Apricot, Terracotta, Blush, Pastel Pink, Ruby, Maroon, Sky Blue, Gold, and Grass. The finished result was better than I thought my first attempt would be and even thought that I could get away with making it into a card. For the card I followed the CPS sketch 107 and printed out some Rhonna Farrer Magic Rainbow digital papers, which were free downloads from Two Peas in a Bucket. I finished the card off with some free ribbons I got from a magazine, Flowers, Basic Grey glazed brad and a Crate paper rub on.

Thank You Shimelle!

Oh what a lovely surprise came in the post today. As you have seen on my blog I've been doing scrapbooking layouts for the "Scrap Like You Mean It" challenges over on UKScrapbooking by Shimelle. On last weeks challenge I won a prize for showing off the "Scrap Like You Mean It" logo in my signature and it arrived today! So I just wanted to show you the lovely goodies that I won. I was sent two sets of Banana Frog stamps designed by Shimelle. I'm really happy because I already have her Greenwich Park set and now I can add the "That Takes The Cake" and "Backgrounds" set to my Tim Holtz stamp binder. She also included a set of Jenni Bowlin Journaling Cards. She must know how much I struggle with journaling and thought they would come in handy. I'm just finishing off the journaling now in the latest "Scrap Like You Mean it challenge" to use a old photo. So keep an eye out for my next entry.

SLYMI Week 6

This week Shimelle's Scrap Like You Mean It challenge on UKS for week 6 is to use ribbons. I think I've covered the requirement well and have used ribbon not only on the LO but also to make a sun/flower type emblishment done with a paper tag, ribbons and staples. The photos in this layout was of a day out in Westminster with my nieces. The layout is based on a PageMaps sketch. I've used Bazzill cardstock, Create Samantha collection of papers, Prima flowers, Making Memories crochet flower, Basic Grey ribbons and Paperminia brads. I also managed to do some hand journaling on this lay out which I really am not very good at doing.