This is Me !

I was supposed to be getting on with DT layouts today but I had an idea inspired by a challenge over at Scrap The Girls and created this page all about me. I never do pages about myself and this one is pretty  straight forward, a collection of things I love and things I love to do.

I started with a Cut File which I have adapted slightly from the original, backed each 'Polaroid' with patterned paper, filled one with a selfie, one with my star sign and the others with things that I love.

The images are all cut on my silhouette too and I have heat embossed the Gemini symbol and music swirl with glitter embossing powder, coloured the paint palette, coffee and ice cream with distress inks and added Nuvo drops.

 As well as Scrap the Girls I'm, also sharing this over on 'Lasting Memories' where the challenge is to use at least four patterned papers (I've used six). Thanks for stopping by...Happy Crafting...Esther xx

Be Inspired by GoGo Getaway....

My GoGo Getaway Team mates have just returned from another fabulous weekend retreat and while I couldn't join them I was inspired by the challenges they set for the delegates over the weekend and was able to make some of my own layouts and here they are - 

Inspired by Lorraine's colours - the bright, gorgeous colours chosen by Lorraine were just perfect for a Gelatos rainbow background behind my black and white photo.  

 Inspired by Niki's scraplift - I added fussy cut butterflies over a mixed media background for these cute photos of my nieces (now grown up and mummy's themselves!!) in their ballet costumes ready for a performance !

Inspired by Nancy's quote - I used my new sketch pens to write the quote around the edge and draw the camera, which I then coloured by hand - I love vintage photos and thought Nancy's quote was perfect for this of my mum and Grandma and their friends.  

Inspired by Lisa's Shape (House) - I back filled a cut file before layering onto some background paper and adding embellishments to the photos we took of our house being built!

Here are the Be Inspired by challenges I used - the rest of the team also set some great inspiration, keep an eye on the GoGo Getaway blog this month to see their layouts. 

Thanks for stopping by...Happy Crafting...Esther xx

Christmas catch up

Well - I have some years worth of Christmas photographs to catch up scrapbooking so I took a break from December daily today and used a couple of challenges for inspiration to create a layout using a photo of my family at Christmas in 2003.

First of all I grabbed the five items listed in the online Scrappy Advent over on the For the Love of pretty Paper Facebook group. These were - Flair, Ink Spray, 6x6 paper pad, Glitter Washi, Black Thickers, and the technique is stitching. I've used the 6x6 paper pad to cut down pieces for my layering and used the ink sprays with some plastic packaging to smoosh over the background. I then and added some more items from the tic tac toe challenge at Lasting Memories choosing the right column -  Glitter/sequins, stars, wood veneer.  The wood veneer didn't look right in it's natural state but I really wanted to sue the word so I embossed with silver embossing powder to alter it.  I also took the sketch from Stuck?!

   

 After smooshing the background I layed down strips of washi tape before applying texture paste through a word and then a star stencil. Over this I layered my papers and photo, added my title and some pretty sequins and stars to finish off. 

Thanks for stopping by - Happy Crafting..Esther xx

Big girls shoes

I had an amazing time at the GoGo Getaway event recently and taught two classes - this weekend however I took some time away from DT jobs and created a layout for a couple of current challenges and just for me. I have a love/hate relationship with social media and the sharing of photos - I worry about children being plastered all over the internet but I do love it when my nieces share photos of their children so I can 'borrrow' and scrap them. On this layout my great Niece is strutting her stuff in mummy's shoes.

I was firstly inspired by the current challenge over on 'Scrap the Girls' 

And then I followed the sketch at 'Stuck?!

and finally I loved the pretty colours on the mood board at JOT and thought they would work perfectly with my photos.  I used pastel Gelatos to add washes of colour in Yellow, Pink and Aqua.

After adding texture paste through a stencil onto top of the Gelatos, I layered up my photos and added fussy cut feathers from Shimelle's little by little paper, embellishments and Nuvo drops.

 

Hope you are finding some creative time...thanks for looking...Esther xx

Back Filled Back Ground

Hi - I'm over on the Go Go Getaway Blog with my take on the technique taught by Kirei on back filling a cut file. I have only had my Cameo Silhouette for a few weeks so am still learning but managed to create this hanging hearts design which I have used for a photo of my niece on her wedding day.

I used a variety of textured and foiled papers to fill the hearts and added stitching for extra detail. Thanks for stopping by - Happy Crafting...Esther xx

Go Go Colour challenge

Hi - over on the Go Go Getaway Facebook group we have a Colour challenge, set by the lovely Jo. I have to admit they were colours I wouldn't usually use much of but I had some silly snapchat pics that I wanted to use with my fab NSD stamps from Shimelle and I thought they would work well. 

I started by creating a mixed media background of spray inks and crackle paste and then layered up my photos with flowers cut from some really old patterned paper, stickers and stamped phrases. 

Every entry to our challenge gets entered into a draw to win 1000 reward points to spend at Hey Little Magpie, we'd love for you to share your layouts with us. 

Happy Crafting...Esther xx

Go Large

I was really excited to be asked to guest design for UK ScrapAddicts in July and even more pleased when I heard the theme was big photos. I love using larger photos and have combined it here with my love of mixed media.

I first placed the photo which is 8x6 on the background paper and used my fingers to smudge a frame of gesso around it. Over this I added texture paste and bead gel - you can see the texture better below.

Once this was all dry I used Gelatos to add some colour before going in with my stickles and mica flakes for some bling.  I kept it minimal with the other embellishments, just some hearts, a simple title a few lines of journaling and I was done.  I have loved being a guest, thank you so much for UK Scrap Addicts for having me...Esther xx

Double Stick It Down

I am so excited - I am joining the Stick It Down, Double Page Team and it's time for my first layout using the July challenge sketch.

 And here is the sketch

I've used a mix of all sorts of papers from my stash and fussy cut some of the elements to use as embellishments. 

I also created my own mixed media background with texture paste through a stencil and spritzing with Heidi Shine sprays.  The photos were taken when we completed the purchase of our new house, and I've added some quotes that a friend had written in the New Home Card she gave us.

 I had a fab time using the sketch and am really looking forward to seeing what you come up wiht, so please pop over to the Stick It Down Blog and join in ...Happy Crafting...Esther xx

Birthday Girl

I've played along with a couple of challenges today to create this layout of my great Niece on her 3rd birthday.

I combined the sketch from Stuck?! with the gorgeous mood board from Lisa @ Go Go Getaway.  

This is not my usual style of layout, there is not messy ink, paint or other mediums, no stamping either and I rarely use pink.  I probably wouldn't have made it this way if I hadn't been following the mood board, so it just shows you how good it is to use prompts sometimes and step out of your usual comfort zone. Thanks for stopping by - Happy Crafting, Esther xx  

So Go Ombre

Wow- July already, and I (Esther) am back on the Go Go Getaway blog to share my version of the fab Ombre technique that Terri taught at March 2017 Go Go Getaway. I created a panel across the full width of my page. I started with white at the top then mixed some Gelato stick with the texture paste to create the colour,  gradually adding more as I moved down the page. I didn't want to cover up all that yummy texture so just used a few bits and pieces around the photo. 

I love this look and will definitely be using it again. I'd love to see your layouts if you have a go so please share on the facebook page - and don't forget you can also enter out monthly challenge on the page too.

Thanks for stopping by...Esther xx

Pretty Things

I took some time out from Design Team work yesterday to create a scrapbook layout inspired by a couple of current challenges. We have recently moved into a new build home and I have loved starting with a blank canvas and planning how I'd like the rooms to look. It's a gradual process time and finance dependant but we're getting there.  I've scrapped a couple of my favourite buys for Hey Little Magpie's Facebook group challenge which is to scrap our favourite things, but not people or places.

 As well as this theme I used the sketch from Stuck?! as a starting point. 

I started by smooshing inks to my cardstock, then applied texture paste through a script stencil in a heart shape. Unfortunately the heart shape got lost once I started adding photos and layers, but the script is still there. I added a glittery tag, die cut flowers backed with Tim Holtz tissue wrap, Nuvo drops and sequins. 

Right, better get back to work !! Thanks for stopping by, Happy Crafting....Essie xx

GoGo Glitter

Hi - I'm over on the GoGo Getaway blog with another technique re-make. I've used Glitter Paste techniques which Kirei taught in March 2017. Kirei used the paste on her layouts with a brush on the beautiful flower elements of her page and to create glittery backfill shapes.

I've used a stencil to apply Glitter paste to my background to create the hanging stars. I've layered up the photo (of my gorgeous great nephew) very simply with vellum, Navy and Silver cardstock.

I've then also used the glitter paste as Kirei did to 'paint' my cut file title.

I love a bit of sparkle and bling don't you ? Don't forget to have a look at this months challenge over on our Facebook page - it's a recipe set by Kirei and of course you could be in wiht the chance of winning a fabulous prize. Looking forward to seeing what you create - and do share your layouts in the group if you feel inspired to get out the glitter paste too.

Thanks for popping by...Esther xx

Double Trouble

I'm well and truly set up in my new craft room now and beginning to work on my old photo stash again. I chose some photos of my Niece and Nephew from 2004 when they came to stay over and we had a trip to the zoo. I have used both the sketches from Stick It Down (love that I finally have time to join in challenges again!). 

First the Double Sketch - I used some artistic licence and rather than paper panels for the edges I created colour blocks with Ecoline Water Colours. 

 Here's the original sketch -

As well as using the watercolours on the edges I added splatters and splodges, some stamping and lots of layers.

 Still using Ecoline inks for the background I also made a page using the single sketch. 

Loved using these sketches - I was struggling with these photos as the colour combinations were outside my comfort zone (bright red and blue!) so having the sketches as a starting point really helped me focus on the layout design first rather than getting hung up on the colours.

Thanks for stopping by...Esther x

Masked Distress for GoGo

HI - I've found time amongst the madness of preparing to move house to post a layout using one of the fab techniques taught at GoGo Getaway October 2016 retreat.

You can see more details plus other gorgeous layouts from my design team mates here -  do pop over and have a look...Happy Crafting Esther xx

GoGoGetaway excitement

It's been  a very exciting couple of weeks - not only did I teach my first scrapbook classes at the October GoGoGetaway retreat but yesterday the official announcement was been made for the 2017 team and I'm on it !!! It's been amazing to be part of the team this year and I can't wait to continue the journey. I've put together a couple of layouts from the Oct retreat - we were really busy so I didn't get round to taking many pictures, but I wanted to keep a record of my first teaching experience. I apologise that the photos are not brilliant - I struggle to get good lighting this time of year. 

GoGoGetaway retreats are held in the lovely Theobalds Park hotel and the photos in this first layout were taken in the hotel lobby where delegates were greeted by a beautiful welcome board and for parts of the weekend the bookings table was set up to take bookings for our 2017 events.

I created this background for my second layout - using lots of Heidi Swapp colour shine, torn strips from the written instructions for one of my classes, stamping and texture paste through a stencil.  I then added my photos and embellishments. The blanked out picture was taken during my first class and a couple of delegates asked me not to share it online. 

As well as three residential weekend retreats a year GoGoGetaway also run day events and non-residential weekends. Our classes focus on technique based teaching, large class kits, including exciting mediums and tools to use in class.   You can find all the details on the website here - we are also on Facebook and Instagram @GoGo_Getaway. I've some more photos to scrap from the October retreat and I'm so excited about making more memories and sharing my love for this craft with the rest of the team.  

Thanks for stopping by...Happy Crafting, Esther xx  

Lasting Memories - Guest designer

I was very excited when the girls from Lasting Memories asked if I wanted to be guest designer for one of their challenges. Of course I jumped at it and have been busy creating layouts for November's challenges which start today. The first week's theme is 'Squares' - use primarily squares.

I've used the gorgeous papers from Pink Fresh Studios 'Indigo Hills' collection on a background of Gelatos with some stamping thrown in for good measure.

I had great fun creating my layout and am looking forward to a month of fab challenges with the Lasting memories team.

Steampunk Scrapping

I Tried a different style for a new scrapbook page today - Steampunk. I had photos of The Porterhouse, Covent Garden from a trip we took for our 40th birthdays and they were perfect for this theme. I started by using light brown Brushos watercolour crystals to create two circles on my background paper, once dry I added some texture past through a stencil (I meant to take step by step photos but got carried away creating and forgot). 

Once the paste was dry I added some stamped cogs/wheels (Artistic Stamper) and embossed with kettle copper EP. I used the sketch from Stuck ?! for my layout. 

The Steampunk theme was inspired by the challenge over at 7DotsStudio.  I've used paper and a couple of tags from 7Dots illumination collection, plus some scraps from my stash.  

 I love the interior of The Porterhouse lots of copper pipes and steampunk style decor. 

I'm also sharing over on The Studio Challenge blog where the Sept 25th Theme is Watercolours.