Challenge # 18 - Celebrations!

Welcome to our lastest challenge!
Shary has kindly agreed to post this up for me as it's my birthday tomorrow, so I'm out on the town tonight!!
And, coincidentally, my birthday has prompted the theme for this week's challenge - CELEBRATIONS!
So we want you to create a LO, card or whatever else you want on the theme of celebrations - so a nice big scope this week!

Don't forget to leave a comment, so we know you've completed your challenge and email it to sales@croptilyoudrop.co.uk for inclusion in our gallery. This week is your last chance to enter November's challenge competition - you may win a fabby prize!!

A couple of ideas to get you going:

For this LO I used the Bo Bunny Homespun holiday papers. The Christmas tree was cut from Friendly felt (this amazing stuff is pre-stiffened so it cuts like a dream!) I then added a friendly felt star and some Bo Bunny ribbons and some buttons. I painted these mini cotton reels with red acrylic paint and then wrote the letters on them to spell Christmas. I threaded them on to ribbon, set some eyelets into the tree and threaded them through.

This card was made using the HOTP Citrus Creative Pack and Instant card art and Ribbons. The parcel was cut from friendly felt.








Enjoy the challenge - can't wait to see what you come up with!

Looby x

I love using pink!!!

Having two boys it's not that often that I use pink, so I had lots of fun working with these papers. I turned the Sarabinder into an address book, as it is nice and sturdy so will withstand being used regularly. The envelope inserts are perfect as a safe place for all those loose business cards you aquire over the years... you know the ones.... need to call the plumber... damn!!! can't find his card...LOL!!! I know this is the case in our house... problem solved!

To cover the Sarabinder I weaved strips of the pink patterned papers together (inked the edges first for extra definition). I cropped the detail from one sheet and matted it onto coordinating cardstock, adding a spiral clip to the corner before attaching it to the binder. 'Address Book' was stamped and matted and glued into place.

This project is far from finished... I need decorate and add more pages...

Jacobs Ladder

I have been playing with the lovely papers Beverley sent and made this wonderful Jacob's Ladder. Now if you haven't made one of these, you really, really NEED to... they are sooooo much fun!!!
You don't really see them to their best effect through photos, but basically you hold the first block, then with a flick of the wrist the blocks fall down with a lovely click clack sound to show the reverse side.

This JL hasn't had any photos added as it is 'cheer you up' gift for someone who has had a tough time recently. I know, how mad am I giving away yummy things like this?!?!? I just think how pleased I would be to receive handmade gifts, and it makes me smile to think I might be putting a smile on someone elses face.

The basic structure has been made up using beer mats covered with coordinating cardstock and 3 metres of ribbon. I cut the pp into 3 inch squares, rounded the corners and attached them to the coasters using double sided tape. I used the diecuts to embellish the JL, and stamped/hand wrote a couple of inspirational quotes.

Go on... have fun, make a Jacob's Ladder, and why not make someones day and send it as a gift...

Does my doggy look cute in these papers?

Have been away to stop at my mum's for a few days, and had loads of ideas buzzing around in my head as to how to use all the goodies that Beverley sent. Isn't it funny how you 'feel' most creative when you are not with your stash...LOL!!!

Anyway, I got back last night and decided to scrap this piccie of my cutie little dog!!! Makes a change from scrapping the boys.

I used HOTP masculine papers and Bazzill cardstock. The diamond paper had its edges torn and was then machine stitched to the cardstock. I tore the paisley paper and dry brushed white acrylic paint across the background. This makes the colours more subtle but doesn't totally mask the pattern. I tore and inked a spare piece of card and stuck at an angle overlapping the paisley paper. The photo was placed into position and the flower (which had been painted and inked to give a distressed look) was tucked behind the top corner and stitched into place with a coordinating button.

I cut a pattern out of scrap paper using a chipboard shape as a template. This was used as a stencil to create the subtle pattern in the bottom left corner. This is really easy to do... just stipple over with a hard dry brush in a downward stabbing action. The lines above the photo were going to be for journaling, but I like them as they were so left them as a feature. I created them by inking the edge of a ruler and stamping down with it...

The title was stamped using A Muse clear alpha stamps... they are yummy to work with. I pinned the title to the LO with the silver T pin provided by Beverley... don't know what they are really for but I like the way it looks on here...LOL!!!

I am really pleased with this LO.... I didn't want to create anything to busy as I didn't want to detract from the lovely photo.

So if you think my dog looks cute in these papers, why don't you go and get them too... how cute can you make the masculine folk in your life look???

Guess what my postie brought this morning???

My design team goodies..... and I have already had a play!!!

I decided to use the papers from the March Personal Shopper to do this LO. It was quite a challenge for me as I don't 'do purple/lilac', or so I thought...LOL!!!

I inked the edges of the background cardstock and gutted the middle... The red paper was cut to size, inked then stapled to the background. The lilac patterned paper was trimmed to size, and had the bottom corner rounded. I ripped the pattern from another sheet of paper and machine stitched it down the left hand side. I used a corner stamp to make the patterned square, and added alpha stickers to the centre. The word 'camera' was stamped on to the reverse of the spare card gutted from the background, and the remainder was used to mat the photo.

The journaling was hand written onto the lilac patterned paper then cut into individual words and inked.

This is one of those photos that needed to be scrapped... one of those everyday moments that would otherwise be forgotten, but now will be remembered and laughed about for year to come. My eldest DS has seen me turn the camera to take photos of us both when there has been nobody else around... and on this day he decided to take a photo of himself with his baby brother...kids eh, you gotta love 'em..... LOL!!!

I also had a play with the 'Let's make cards' products. This party invitation was made using only products supplied. The word party was handcut, and doodled stitching was added for added interest.

The second card (blank from £1 shop) used paper from the March personal Shopper kit as well. I handcut the frame and large heart, added the small heart shape, and stitched on a couple of buttons I found in my button pot... easy peasy, and so quick to do. Now there is no excuse for not making your own cards...

Hello from me too...

I was chuffed to buttons to read the email inviting me onto the DT, and look forward to sharing my work with you.

A little bit about this Louise then...

I am 30, live in Manchester with my DH and our two beautiful boys, Oliver and Harry, our westie with an abnormally long neck, a hamster and a fish!!!

I am an art teacher currently on a break whilst baby is an ickle pickle.

I have always been obsessed with everything arty crafty, and discovered scrapbooking about 3 years ago. It became the perfect hobby/obsession for me, as I had a way to showcase the hundreds of photos I had stored on CDs. Obsession is not an over exaggeration either... I really do live and dream 12x12...LOL!!!

This is my latest LO.

DH asked why I used a flower on it... well as the only female in a house of male peeps and animals.... I have to indulge my girly side somehow!!! Wait until the pink papers come out, let's see what he says then....LOL!!!