Grace's Memory Book - Postman Pat

Initially apologising if you have tried to leave a comment and you are experiencing problems, I am trying to fix the issue.

Thank you Sam for mailing me to advise me of this issue.

So as you can imagine I spent a good few hours this morning trying to fix the problem. I think I have done this however until some one tells me otherwise I just do not know if I have managed it.

Following on from that I decided to rid the lounge of some plants that when bought were soooooooooooooo nice however after a good few years they have just managed to grow themselves out of their prepared location so have had to go. The sun has been glorious today but the wind had a nip to it, so I did not quite manage to make it to cutting the grass.

I went into my "Beach Hut" and used up the last of the current photo's for Lindz's memory books. This one being for Grace's book.

A while ago now I used these lovely orange papers on a scrapbook page in a class and really loved the colour combo, so purchased some. I think that they are bo bunny but not a hundred percent sure. I got them from Running With Scissors. Then like most things that I buy they have sat in my draws waiting for the opportunity to be used.

This lovely photo of Grace trying to steel Pat's hat is that opportunity. So I created this with the papers, doily punch, another punch currently can't remember its name. My nesties bordabilities. I used some flowers from Running with Scissors and some eyelets from the Hobby House. Flower middles from Boys.

Well off to have a cup of peach tea and start to prepare tea for this evening.

Hope you all had a lovely day

thank you for looking

Kate xx

Faith's Memory Page - Grandad

Woke up this morning to the wind blowing through the trees, however it is currently dry and may brighten up.

Matt and I have a week off this week, to catch up on all those things we need to do and those things we would like to do. Matt is thinking of a last overnight fishing session with Mike and I am thinking - yes you guessed it - completing a few more memory pages for Lindz my work colleague. It is so good to have her back at work, we all did miss her.

So this is a page inspired by the photo. This is Grandad with Faith and Grace. Grandad was watching cricket and the girls fell asleep on him. I thought long and hard and then came up with the idea of the cricket bat and ball. The background paper the grass, layered onto the red to pick up the red cricket ball. The ball was made using my compass and then edged. The cricket ball lines using the faux stitching and my white gel pen. The bat was easy to draw but the colouring was more difficult. Started out by trying the copics out but it just did not do it for me. So I went to wash my hands and whilst doing this found my wood graining tool in the cupboard under the sink. I used my jo sonya yellow for a base and then dried this. I then used the brown and painted over the top and dragged my graining tool down the bat. Fab effect and it is textured too. I used ribbon to cover the handle.

The words were computer generated, edged and then I used the Christmas green flowersoft just to run under the words. Very simple but I thought it was quite effective.

Well off to make myself my morning coffee, watch the sun try to squeeze through the clouds and then may head off up to the "Beach Hut".

Hope you all have a lovely day and thank you for taking the time to look and read my blog.

Take care

Kate x

Grace's Memory Book - Mum and Dad's Page

Well finally managed to sort out my computer blitch, thank heavens for Mozilla Firefox. It appears that the newer version of explorer has so many problems. Identifed the problem as my normal on line banking would not recognise it. It gave me three suggestions, Mozilla was one of them. I had used Mozilla before at work to resolve some internet issues and can't think why I did not think of this sooner. So I am now able to blog with no problems. Can see everyone else's site without errors. Hooooooorrrraaaayyy ..................

Got up early this morning and cleared some of the ironing pile, located all the silver platters, plates, napkins, plastic cutlery and all important beer glasses. Cut the grass and strimmed it, weeded the big bed with Matt's help and then got down to the all important bit, crafting.

This page is for Lindz and Mike, prior to Grace. It is a favourite place they both liked to go. I located amongst my K & Co paper stacks a green paper that really picked up that gorgeous grass. I decided that I wanted to frame the page so gutted another paper that co ordinated well. I then decided I wanted to frame the photo and used my newly purchased compass to create a circular frame. I created a part artisan shape and layered this but felt it was missing something so added the lace. I lifted the point of the artisan shape over the square frame. I had used Tim Holtz and my little sponge to distress all the edges and continued this theme on the branch punch and flowers. I used the paler paper and felt it needed a little something so found a stamp with words on it and then used the second stamped image to impress onto the flowers. (Sue taught me this technique) I used the brown on the bottom larger flower and green on the smaller. I arranged the flowers and then used my new ticket stamps to add an embelishment. I used liquid pearls to edge the artisan shape.

Have been considering colours for the new craft room and think as it has a blue carpet already that I may add a cream for light and a turqoise for a flash of warmth. Can't wait till the 3rd August when I can start stripping the room. Could start really after the party on the 2nd, but think I may be a little worse for wear.

Well thanks for looking
Kate x

Grace's Memory Book - Mike and Grace

Creating pages for men I find quite difficult. Avoid the pink, flowery, pretty stuff and try to make is sort of masculine.

I wanted to use the Father paper like I did in Faith's memory book, but to try do it different. So used some grey cardstock from a stack and then ripped the paper to size. I then wet the edges and curled the edges and then distressed them. I did not want it straight on the page and it looked quite good at this angle. I placed the photo with edged ink on the page above the word "father", it makes so much sense to let the paper say it for you. I wanted to highlight the word father again, so found some little brown buttons and ran these underneath the word father. I had one little brown button left so used this as the centre of the large flower and large pearls in the smaller flowers. The pearls looked lonely so add some smaller ones just to tie it in.

Well better go tidy up before Matt gets home from work, as came straight in from a busy day and decided to relax and what better way my crafty friends than doing a little scrap booking.

Thanks for looking
Kate x

Grace's Memory Book - Mike before Grace

Oh I don't know where to start. I had the pleasure of seeing Sue's craft room. It is amazing. I came home and discussed using my other son's bedroom for a craft room. This room has a fantastic big window for natural light. An existing cupboard just ready for shelving to be added. On the Sunday Matt and I went to Tickerty Boo on Wilton Road and other than buying a rather large gazebo Matt also spotted a lovely bar chair, leather. So as Matt had said yes to the move - oh room in the lounge for the xmas tree with this idea. We bought the chair (of course I am trying it out now in the lounge as Matt says I have to wait till the Party is over before I start on the move :( ).

Well enough of my little bit of excitement. Here is Mike's page for Grace's memory book. Tracey at Running with Scissors had very kindly assisted me to locate the papers for the black, red and white theme I needed, and don't they look ace. So simply done for a masculine look. Red base layering the black spotty on top. Edging with little red triangles and a black pearl on each corner. Layering a little of the black stripy and then the photo and wording matted onto the red also. I think he will like it.

anyway off to clean up, thanks for looking
Kate x

Grace's Memory Book - Lindz and Grace

This used that Gorgeous Mother paper that I got from "Running with Scissors". I used the same paper on Faith's Memory Book. The paper speaks for itself. I placed this as the background but did not want to miss too much of it. So selected some other paper from stash and cut it slightly smaller. I used the martha steward doily punch to edge it all the way around. I then cut out a circle to show off the paper. This highlighted the word mother but not enough. I found some more left over paper and cut a strip. I used my punch and edged each corner. I then added the lace from Rui Tong (this is a lovely trade only place I visit through work - Barbara sells some amazing things. The Butterflies presented at Sue's class were bought here). The lace was slightly too big so I trimmed off the top and used this to edge the round shaped photo. Flowers and feathers (from Rui Tong) to finish the design and some liquid pearls.

Well moving on to Mike's page (dad)

thanks for looking.

Kate x

Grace's Memory Book - Sue and Grace

This page is of Lindsay's Mum Sue with Grace, having a lovely time together. I wanted to get this one done today as Sue is recovering in hospital and memories like this aid the recovery process. Get Well from us all here Sue xxxxx

The photo of Sue supporting Grace to walk those boots up a tree again just called out for the sentiment which was made by colouring those lovely letters from Running with Scissors with my E29 copic marker.

The layout is sort of a combination of things learnt from classes and dare I say it my own imagination. (yes I finally think I found it) Several different K & Co papers make up this page. With the main paper picking up the green grass. The others picking up the earthy tones. A little faux stitching and some swirls and pearls and a flower to complete.

Well off to make coffee for the guests so thanks for looking.

Kate xx

Grace's Memory Book - Lindz before children (mum)

Well with Matt on his long hours and Mike (who has not been home all weekend) I managed to scarify the lawn - oh it looks awful now. I moved all my herbs to a more convenient place and made a start on clearing the garage. I am a right busy bee I can tell you.

However I did manage to get time to create this page for the unknown at the time mum to be Lindz. This is a photo of Lindz in Whitby, it is a favourite place of hers and before Grace was even thought of she spent many a time there.


So I looked through all of my K & Co paper pads and even though I possibly did not want to actually break into one, I had too as this paper was perfect for my vision. It is from the blue stack and the bottom paper is the reverse of the top one. I created an artisan shape (like I was shown in one of my many classes at "Running with Scissors". I then cut three thin strips of the back spotty paper just to run behind the image. I then found another page within the same pack which co ordinated so will and cut out a circle frame and placed this under the photo which is layered onto cream card stock. All edges again edged with Tim Holtz denim distress ink. I added the Title which is from the remaining letters on my 12 x 12 sheet from "Running with Scissors" and then created some journalling on word and again placed these on the cream card. I added some little shells around the bottom and right side edge of the photo, some lovely pale blue/white with a little sparkle flowers with paper blue roses on top from the "Hobby House" and finally a ring of pearls on the circle.

I am sure that when I eventually get around to doing a 12 x 12 scrapbook page on my own I will find it so easy. As when your creating on a smaller scale it is quite difficult, although I do love this bo bunny book.

Well must go and water the grass if I have any hope of it looking green and lush for the 40th/21st hog roast that is up and coming.

Also must put some thought to Matt's evening meal.

Thanks for looking

Kate x

Grace's Memory Book - A Bath Moment

Well all the ironing is out the way and although it is not bright and sunny outside, I believe I may go scarify the grass shortly.

I really appreciate the comments I get on my work and would like to take a moment to say "THANKS" to you all.

This photo was just crying out. I am sure it was not her first bath time, however the facial expression says it all. The word added sentiment " Oh!! Bubbles...."

I started with a base background cream card stock and found a bluey, greeny, watery looking paper from one of my pads. I gutted the cream card stock to make the photo base (saving paper) and then used Tim Holtz denim distress ink to ink all edges. I search the internet for the bubbles and then printed them off on photo paper. I cut them all out by hand ................ I placed them on with foam pads to add the dimension. A little pearl in each corner and some diamante's to edge although I must buy some dew drops as I think these would have been better.

Well off to see what the weather is doing and see if I manage to get outside

Thanks for looking and in advance for you kind comments

Kate xx

Grace's page In Grace's Memory Book

I went to see how Lindz was holding up this morning and she is doing just fine. I got to feed Faith and watched a slug crawl in Grace's paddling pool. Grace was fascinated by it. Mother was not, and it soon left very quickly.



Whilst there I was able to gather a few more photo's for Grace's Memory Book. Here is Grace's page, this photo was used on the thank you cards that Lindz and Mike had done.



I recently saw the most amazing page and felt instantly I would like to try use the ideas at some point. The page was on Ruth's blog. Ruth creates some amazing stuff and I hope she does not mind me borrowing the main layout idea but it was so inspiring.



The background paper was from a pad of papers I had, think I got this from The Hobby House. The first circle was from paper I got from Running with Scissors - I had used it for a card and had enough left over. The inner circle which is gorgeous and was from a mixed pack of 12 x 12 papers from Running with Scissors. I used the outside of a cd rom stack base for the outside circle and then used some fancy scissors to cut the fluty bits. The inner circle I used a cd itself. I then used Ruth's technique of the tiny pearls on the join. I used word to create the sentiment and some flowers from Hobby Craft and The Hobby House to add some dimension. The It's a Girl embelishment I am not sure where I got this from. I used a corner punch to shape the photo and you can just see a little of my doily punch work.


Well must get back to some housework, so thanks for looking
Kate xx

2nd Memory Book - for Grace

Oh I am so impressed with myself, I managed to do all my ironing this week before Sunday dinner time. I also got the whole house cleaned through to a reasonable standard.

Then took some time out to start creating another Memory Book, this one was requested by Lindsay for her older daughter Grace. She like the other one and felt it would be unfair for Grace not to have one also.

So I got the little book sometime ago, but did not really get time to start on it. I have now managed to create the front page with some lovely suede paper from the Hobby House and paperflowers from Hobby Craft. I then quickly moved on to the inner front cover and located some co ordinating K & Co papers and some left over pale olive green paper from one of the classes I attended at Running with Scissors. I placed some basic cream cardstock down and then the lovely pink roses paper over the top. Used the good old nesties to create the topper and stamped the images. I then added some flowers with spacers and brads and swirls out of the left overs and used my stash of little pearls to finish the look.

Although I think the front page is quite plain, I think any more would kill it.

thanks for looking

Kate x

Father and Faith Page for the Memory Book

This is the memory book page for Mike and Faith. I think that the paper itself said enough and I did not want to cover it up too much. I love the simplicity and the effect and hope it is not too girly for Mike.





Recipe
I used a 12 x 12 father page (Running with Scissors)
A cream rose (hobby craft)
Scrolls from the impressabilities range with the cuttlebug
Some pale green card stock
Father frame hand cut and Tim Holtz distressed

well now waiting for some more family photos to enable me to finish this book.

more to follow
Kate

Memory Book Page

This is the page for Mum and new daughter Faith the inspiration came from my head for a change. Love the finished look (favourite page so far)

Recipe
Pastel textured card from card stack
Mother page (Running with Scissors)
Pink flower embelishments (Running with Scissors)
Stamped flowers out of cut offs
pink diamante (Hobby House)
shaped feathers (Rui Tong - thanks Barbara)
Distressing with Tim Holtz

Well football on so going to make some more cards.

Kate

Little Scrap book mum and dad's page

On this page wanted to show a few techniques I learnt from my cuttle bug card lesson at the Hobby House before xmas 2008. I started by measuring the blue pearlescent card to fit my card base. I then used some cream textured card and cut a square out of it. I cut the square into four and placed these into the corners of the blue card. I used my nestabilities to cut out a scolloped circle and a plain circle. I then cut another piece of paper the same size as my plain circle and used this to fold it into sections, half then a quarter then in half again. When opened up I laid this ontop of my blue plain circle and marked the sections from the template. I then used a fancy corner punch and punched out the corner impression into each of the sections marked. On doing that I used a very sharp pair of scissors to just nip at the joining sections to allow the centre waste to drop out leaving the lovely fancy centre. I placed the image between the scolloped circle and the now fancy top piece and glued it all down. I placed pale blue pearls at each section where nipped out. Finally I punched out one large blue and one small blue and one large white flower and placed these together with a pale blue brad, glueing this in place. I used some little gem wording from Running with Scissors to add the Mum and Dad words. Very complex but very simple looking and very effective.

Inner Cover Little Scarp Book

As you can see such a productive week. The front edges were wrapped in to the inner folder and needed covering over. I chose some plain cream card to do this and then layered some hand made pink thin paper over this. I used the cuttle bug to cut out the oval and embossed the edges. I used a lovely stamp to create the little feet and distress ink for the natural look. I used my gold embossing powder and raised the wording. I stole the little tag idea from Matt's easter egg along with the tag. I stamped out the little tag and cut around it. I then used my new spellbinder flourish set and the cuttlebug and some cream roses to create the vine of roses. Again another lovely page and well worth all the drying time.

Looking forward to my scrapbooking class at running with scissors today, see what other ideas I can borrow, also must make an 18th card for my son, so chat soon.

Front Page of Little Scrap Book

Wow, what a week and each night I did just a little of my scrap book as it needed alot of drying time. I borrowed this idea from another blog and love the way it has turned out. I got some lovely soft effect paper in white and pink from the hobby house, along with two types of flowers and some lovely white feathers. I started by creating a template of the front page and then used the template to cut out the white surface. I then created two templates for the pink areas and again cut these out. One night I glued the white area onto the front of the folder and the following night the pink on top of this.

Once well dry I added my faux stitching to make it look like a material front. I then cut a circle out for the base of the embelishment, I cut the feathers down and glued these around the circle, again more drying time. I then started with a large white flower, then a dark pink slightly smaller, then a pale pink the same size. I ofset them so the colours showed through and gave it the depth look. On top of this I added a smaller flower in pink and finally an even smaller one in white. Finishing off with a decorative silver and pink flower brad. I made sure that it was all dry before attaching with glue to the centre of the front of the folder. Most effective and worth all the time spent on it.

4th page of my scrap book for Lindz

Having spent ages looking for an image of the lovely Lindz, was able eventually to get one from her hubby Mike. Had decided the colour scheme a while ago, but could not really get the idea to come together until my husband Matt suggested having a handbag and this opening for the photo. So with new idea a foot, and after visiting hobby craft (forgot to remember the mental note of save) created this lovely page. I used the paper from one of my stacks and then created a template of a handbag, I cut this out once for the base and a second time with a small flap at the bottom. I put my top piece through the cuttlebug with the swiss dots folder for the texture and then glued the tag to the back of the base bag. I now had an opening handbag. I placed her photo on some darker card and placed this in the handbag on the base card. I then added a silver platinum card embelishment and a silver mobile phone embelishment as this is what she has in her handbag. I used faux stitching around the bag and some pearls. I added another born to shop silver embelishment to the front of the card. I used my cuttle bug to die cut my cuttle kids letters out and then layered these onto mirror gold card, I used my craft knife to trim around the letters. I then placed glue on the handbag and on the clasp (again cut from my die cut tags on the cuttlebug) and loaded the area with glitter. Finally and probably not needed placed a fushia bow at the top right of the page.

I am pleased with the finished look.

The Camo Page for Mike

Well after taking the ideas from my class this week and some of my own as well, this is the baby's dad Mike. He is into airsoft and spends a lot of time playing "you can't see me".

So this page is exactly that. The backing paper is from a paper stack of hobby craft's and this one was scrumpled up and then sanded to create the marbled and worn look. I then found some camo paper and using the cuttlekids alphabet cut out his name using the cuttlebug. I then used my x cut circle to cut out the photo frame and a smaller circle to cut out the peak hole (Matt suggested this). I used a small heart to make the opening clasp again a die cut for the cuttlebug. I used a punch and some leaf die cuts and then used a technique from the class to make the leaves look more life like. I used some flower embelishments to finish the look. Inside and around the photo again I used a technique from the class to show faux stiching around the photo.

Quite impressed with this one - I hope he is too when he sees it...........

2nd Page Scrap Book

This is the babies page, not sure if it actually looks as if it is for a baby? The layers are pale pink card on the bottom with the pearlescent cream on the top. I placed pink fringing under the cream layer. Again the photo is still to be taken so space allocated for it. I used a pink ribbon to edge the photo area and again my corner punch to hold the photo.

I used my nestabilities oval scallop for the name area and embossed the edges of this with my cuttlebug (love this machine). I then used a clear embossing stamp pad and some clear letter stamps to create her name tag. I used pink embossing powder to highlight the name.

I then remembered Polly and added bling and buttons etc and a nice litte bow at the top of her name.

Although nice so far prefer the 1st one for Grace.

First Scrapbook Page

Ok I finally got up the courage to attempt the first page of the scrapbook for my pregnant colleague with the support from Polly (oh and the husband).

I found a lovely backing paper from the Range in Scunthorpe it is from a pack of designer paper's called "Say it with a......SmirK" by Kyla May. They are foil and glitter and are beautiful for girlie toddlers, which is just what Grace is. As I am leaving my colleague to put her own photo in of Grace, I needed to think of a way that she could mount the photo. I decided to pick out the tiny amount of purple in the backing paper and used a pearlescent purple card stock and used a corner punch and lifted its edges to enable an example photo (lilies) to be placed in without damage to the surroundings. I used the cuttlebug and my tag diecuts to label the photo and some glitter alphabet to place her name on this. Remembering that Polly mentioned lots of bling, picked up the pink using some little gems to frame the photo and some lovely glitzy flowers (freebies from somewhere)

Thanks Polly for letting me know I am on the right track.

One down three more so far to go, well at least thanks to Polly they are small pages.

Oops forgot to mention got to go cook the sausages, as the husband forgot to get the duck out last night, so Sunday Dinner has gone so far down market, even the potatoes may be insulted.........