It's a Creative World

IACW welcomes CloClo....

Today we are so pleased to welcome Chloe AKA CloClo as our guest designer.

Over to you Chloe.......

First off, a little bit about myself. I’m a 25 year old History teacher living in the West Midlands, although originally I’m from London. I live with my partner and my three cats Bert, Ernie and Elmo who have their very own scrapbook! I have always been creative – I had all sorts of projects on the go when I was little. My nan taught me to knit and sew and also got me into cross stitch which I still enjoy when I get the chance today. I also did Art and Photography at school.

However, my number one creative passion is scrapbooking – it’s the one hobby which has had me totally hooked since I started and I try to do a little bit of scrapping every day if I can. I began scrapping about a year and a half ago. I graduated from cardmaking, which I enjoyed, but I love the fact that a layout requires a bit more thought about the feelings and memories that I want to capture and therefore I always try to include plenty of journaling on my pages as well as beautiful papers and embellishments.

Scrapping has been a fantastic hobby for me – I design for two online stores, Papermaze and Rebecca’s Scrapbooking Stash, and recently I was thrilled to win Best of British New Talent in Scrapbook Inspirations magazine.

Today I thought I’d share with you a layout I have made for my Childhood album, where I record all the photos and memories I have of growing up. This page is about my little brother, who was about two when this photo was taken, but is now a young man of nearly 20. I wanted to get across the sense of fun and bubbly personality I associate with my little brother at this age and so I decided to use a circle theme on the layout.

First off I made a quick sketch of where I wanted the circles to go, and then I used a template (which came with a Shapecutter) to draw circles on different patterned papers and cut them out. I drew round the inside edges with a black pen for definition.

 

I wanted to include plenty of journaling on the page, so I used a lined paper, distressing the edges with my scissors a bit before I stuck it down. I wrote all my thoughts about my brother in pencil first so that I could get the spacing right and I could always change it if I made a mistake.

I arranged the photo and the circles, layering some with foam pads for interest, and drew around the edge of the photo in places with my Uniball pen to create a semi-border. I also drew a black border around the edges of the page.

I created the title using a font on my PC called Kirsten, which I printed out and handcut (using an offcut of cardstock which I cut from behind the photo). I also raised this on foam pads to make it stand out from the busy circle background.

Finally, as a last touch I added a few blue brads and a little hand drawn motif in the corner, which is supposed to represent my brother, my sister and me holding hands – I have started to include hand drawn features in my layouts more recently, as it makes a page totally unique.

Oh wow what a fab layout Chloe! Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring the readers on

It's a Creative World!

haPPy dAy!!
Caz

xx

Because of you...

Hi all from MadDi

Perhaps you will remember these layouts from one of last year's post.  I have been inspired to scrap ME again LOL, and would so love to see all of YOU scrapping YOU!!!!

Because of you I am a mother:

Bcause of you I am a daughter:

Because of you I am a sister:

Going through my stash I found some paper that was just right for the last layout in this series. It's sort of a double layout and dedicated to the women in my life who have made me who I am...

This is a 'sort' of double laout that opens up.

I had 2 sheets of patterned paper with the same design but different colours. So I placed one on top of the other, drew a circle with a large plate,cut out the circles, cut them in half and 'mixed and matched' them!

This is the front of my layout:

This is the inside:

And another view of the inside:

I am Blessed with the Abundance of a Creative, Darling, Enthusiastic, Family!!!!

Thanks for visting IACW and I hope this has inspired you to scrap YOU with pride!!!

Love from Di XXX

Playing with Perfect Pearls

Hi, it's Angela here!

I've had some perfect pearls lying around my craft area for a while now, and have never really used them, so I thought I would have a little play around with them.

For this I used interference perfect pearls, perfect medium, a large stamp, black cardstock and 2 brushes.

First I stamped the image onto the cardstock with perfect medium, this is very like versamark.

I then picked up small amounts of different colours of perfect pearls using a thin paint brush and dropped them on top of the stamped image. I then worked these into the spaces, covering all the image.

I let this sit for a while, and then carefully brushed the perfect pearls off the cardstock, and the pearls stick where the perfect medium has been.

It leaves a beautiful irridescent image, perfect for cards and embellishing various types of projects.

You can also add some to a little water in a mister bottle, and use it like glimmer mists - it adds a beautiful shimmer to your cardstock!

Have fun playing!

~angela~

Lovely and lush

Hi, it's Maria here and I'm hoping that you're all well and enjoying the first signs of Spring.  I'm sitting at my kitchen table and I can see that there isn't a cloud in the sky.  I was tempted to open the french doors and let some fresh air in but it is a tad chilly.

I just caught sight of my girlie wirlies whizzing past on their scooters and the sound of laughter is good for the soul.  They are bundled up in hoodies and gilets with lovely rosie cheeks.

Anyhoo, that's enough about me.  Today I am going to share one of my favourite blogs and bloggers, Andrea Singarella. 

Seeking everyday beauty and velvet strawberries has been one of my daily haunts for about a year now.  I loved seeing the beautiful trinkets that she picked up in flea markets.  You can imagine my excitement when Andrea announced that she would be opening a web boutique One hundred wishes and she would be shipping to the UK.

Andrea's blog is made up of snippets about her beautiful family and some fabulous snapshots of her home.  Now, if like me you love anything vintage and girlie you will just want to move in with her.

The shop is stocked with the most amazing seasonal goodies and the necessities of life like glitter, glue, buttons, ribbons and millinery.  There are one off pieces of jewellery and decorative items that make the most fabulous gifts for yourself or a loved one.

Every purchase comes beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon and you get a big ole heart shaped lollypop as a thank you.

I've had to start hiding my parcels from Graham.  Not because he doesn't want me to buy anything but he always tries to pinch the lollypop.

So, what are you waiting for?  Don't take my word for it.  Pop over to Seeking everyday beauty and velvet strawberries and see for yourself.

Have fun and don't blame me if lots of goodies fall into your basket.

Toodle pip

Pamper yourself!

I love to sit and do my nails, but I tend to loose my 'tools', like those toe separators, or the little sticks for pushing back your cuticles.

So I dug into my altering basket and found a wooden 'suitcase' that I got in a kit many moons ago!

Firstly I painted the box with green acrylic paint. It needed a few coats to hide the original orange I painted it. (This was back when I had planned to decorate it for my niece for Christmas a few years back!)

I then cut a sheet of patterned paper to cover the front and back and stuck it on using modge podge. I then podged over the whole thing, for protection.

I used scenic route letters and some gems for decoration, oh and of course ribbons on the handle to make it extra pretty :)

I now have a handy little suitcase to keep my nail stuff all tidy and I don't loose anything!

haPPy friDAy!
Caz
xx

Growing old is NOT for sissies...

... but there is hope....

Have you read WARNING by Jenny Joseph???

You can read the full poem at http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/warning/ , but here is an extract:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

"The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next." ........

You can read how the RED HAT society started at : http://www.redhatsociety.com/info/howitstarted.html

"The standard answer to the question, "What do you do?" is... Nothing.

"Our main responsibility is to have fun! We see this group as an opportunity for those who have shouldered various responsibilities at home and in the community their whole lives, to say goodbye to burdensome responsibilities and obligations for a little while. This is the place to have fun and enjoy yourself. "

Can we learn something from these GRAND ladies? Well, would you scrap using purple and red???? LOL

Well I can, I have learnt to celebrate LIFE, that AGE is just a number and I will use whateve stash I have to celebrate that!!! 

A friend gave me some outrageous paper cos she knew I had joined the red hat society so I went to town and went over the top!!!

A challenge from me today... Lets see you use the most outrageous colours imaginable and lets see you having fun !!! Go on be iNspired and USE YOUR STASH...

Thanks for visiting IACW and love from MadDi - Happy in my skin LOL XXX

Feeling Rosy today...

Hi again from MadDi. Mad about any shade of pink today and especially for CARDS!!!

I have two cards today to share with you - both are real girly cards.

Materials for both cards:

• Kimono ribbon
• Crochet hook size 4.5
• Cardstock
• Ribbon
• Brads
• Scraps of PP and cardstock

CAZ gave me the Kimono ribbon when I was last in England and I fell in LOVE with it. You can order it here, at a very good price http://www.angelyarns.com/harding/yarn.php/yarn/1252

Card 1:

I started by crocheting my "Kimono ribbon" flowers:

Crochet Instructions:

• Make 5 chain and slip stitch into the first chain to form a circle
• Chain 3 then 15 treble into the circle Slip stitch into the 3rd of the three chain
• * Chain 3  miss 1 treble and slip stitch into the next treble *  repeat 7 times
• Break off yarn leaving about 5 inches of cotton.

I attached a small piece of cardstock to the back of the flower using a "jewel" brad, and then attached my flowers to the front of the card.

I Added some PP, some lime green meshy stuff, and my sentiment and we are DONE.

Card 2:

I started with a piece of PP and a piece of cardstock each measuring 5" by 10" (you could make this card 6" by 12").

I joined the PP to the cardstock using bull dog clips and folded half way. I then punched 2 large holes on the front of the card. (through the cardstock AND the PP). I reused the PP circles on the inside of the card. 

I have to confess that I made these ribbon rosebuds with DIFFICULTY as my left arm was in plaster cast and my fingers were a bit uncontrollable!!!

Here is one finished rosebud and and a few ready to be stitched:

Here is a closeup of my ribbon rosebud:

I attached the rosebuds inside the card on the reused circles and one on the front.

It's such fun adding different textures to cards and there are several sources available for making different flowers using ribbon. Here are some links to websites and tutorials on other ways of making ribbon rosebuds:

http://swallowhill-miniatures.com/shop/index.php?main_page=page&id=1&chapter=0

http://nostalgicneedleart.blogspot.com/2007/09/ribbon-rosebuds.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/rb_embellishments/article/0,,DIY_14218_2268357,00.html

You can also download instructions for making my ribbon rosebuds here Download ribbon_rosebud_instructions.doc

Thanks for visiting IACW, be cReative and iNspirEd and love from MadDi XXX

Garden time....getting ready

As the weather improves we find a little more energy to get outdoors and start thinking about Summer! But there is alot of work ahead of us so there is no time like NOW to actually MAKE a start :)

This is my little veggie patch, where I will grow spring onions, carrots, lettuce, radish and chives.
Last Thursday evening, as it was dry and bright, I got out there with a fork and started to turn the soil over. Luckily I had done this back in Autumn so the ground was reasonably soft and there weren't many weeds! BUT I only got half way, lol.

We also have a share of an alotment (which I have no photos of cause it is a MESS and I am embarrassed!), about 20 meters to the right of this patch. This is where we will grow the bigger crops, like potatoes, corgettes, beans, onions and tomatoes.

Deciding what to grow is a big chore and there are a few factors you must take into account.

Firstly, how much space have you got?
Now this applies to both veg and flower gardens. Some veg needs plenty room to grow, I learnt that with my tomatoes last year. You need to get into them to strip the leaves so they don't drink up all the water. If they are too bunched, this is a mission!!
In flower gardens it is pointless planting cosmos in a small bed when they can grow really big and take up too much space.

Secondly, what are your needs?
In my house I am the only one that eats tomatoes, yet I had 6 tomato plants last year, lol . If your kids like to eat fresh raw carrots, then these are great to plant as they can see the process from start to finish. My nieces where amazed to see a carrot being pulled from the ground and ask for one every time they come around now!

Thirdly, what are your garden conditions?
If you have loads of shade you need to be selective when choosing seeds, and young plants. Your garden centre assistants can help you choose plants that will suit your garden.

And lastly, how much time do you have to garden?
I am so lucky as I work 15 minutes from home and do great hours which leaves me time in the evenings as well as the weekends to tend my plants. I've got time to grow from seed too, which can be a big job.

Then of course you need the tools, no job is worth doing without the right tools :)

If you have the space, a little plastic greenhouse goes a long way to help with keeping small plants and seeds safe and giving them time to grow.

A large spade and fork is a must for veggie patches or allotments. But it you are a patio/pot gardener then a fork and trowel are all you need.

If you're growing your plants from seeds, you'll need seed trays, and I tend to buy the green trays from Wilkinsons, in different sizes. This way you can start out with the tiny trays and plant out the strong to plants to bigger sizes before planting into the garden.

And then you'll need some compost and potting soil. These come is great big bags so take a big strong boy to the garden centre with you ;)

The rewards are so worth the effort.....

 

During the next two weeks I will be gathering all my tools, seeds, trays and compost, ready to start.

See you on the 18th!!
haPPy garDEning!!
Caz
xx

What to photograph in March

As the weather, light and hours of daylight improves, we are able to get out more and take more photos.

I always find this time of year good for taking portrait shots outside. The sun is still low enough not to cause too much glare.

The scenery is changing....

And with the everchanging scenery comes wildlife....

The land needs to be worked in preparation for spring planting.....

And of course new life :)

haPPy snaPPing!!
Caz
xx

A quickie idea for scraps!

I have been finishing off a lot of projects this week and wondered what to do with all my leftovers (other than tidying them away that is!!)....I love how some people make cards every time they scrap a page but I thought I would make life a little easier for myself and make some gift tags instead.

I literally used my cardstock scraps, a pen, a few jewels and some punches. All these tags took less than an hour in front of the telly!

I used plain white luggage tags which I picked up in a stationery shop a while back but there are lots of pretty dies available to cut big tags with too.....or just as easy cut a rectangle and chop the corners off!

I added a bit of extra detail with my glossy accents and then threaded through some ribbon off cuts.

Anything to put off tidying up is good in my book :)

Happy Scrapping!

Charlotte x