The finished chipboard album

This is the finished album, 

I added ribbons and danglies to the rings, several dangly bits with initials and name on. I didn't do a back page. I think I might do an acrylic back page like the front cover just to protect it. All in all I'm quite pleased with the overall album,for my first try I am satisfied.

3rd page

The next two pages

Here are the next two pages plus a re-work of the acrylic cover for the front page.
I had to redo it as....erm.... I spelt the persons name wrongly.! but I think it may look even better than the original. sort of running out of ideas for something different on each page, but I think if I repeat the odd one or two it won' make an awful lot of difference.

Here are the next two pages. ( I seem to have put these wrong way up. you need to scroll down the the end to see the first pics) .

The next step was to design the front cover. I thought of an acrylic cover with metal pendants spelling the persons name. I laid them out in a flower pattern, distressed the edges and embossed with clear embossing powder. On the reverse side I made a large flower on the cricut to cove the back tape etc.. (2nd pic) I placed a large brad in the centre on front and back. on the small holes in the pendant i stuck tiny flowers. (not on the pic) this was an afterthought as it looked odd. The 3rd and 4th pictures show the first two pages, I just sort of 'winged it' really, thinking of little bits as I went along.

The first steps of my chipboard Mini Album

Here are some of the papers I used for my album. I wanted a flowery feel to it, it's for a birthday gift for someone who loves flowers. I started by cutting out circles on the cricut, then painted around the edges of the chipboard, when they were dry I distressed to edges by inking with a dark chocolate ink.

Chipboard Mini Album

Today I got a mini chipboard album. I've never made one before so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it comes out ok. I've been watching quite a lot of tutorials and am toying with the idea of painting and papering the pages.I'll put a few pics on here when I start them and we'll see how it all looks at the end. I'm thinking lots of ribbons and pearls. and some distressing of course!

The world's untidyest craft room

This is my craft room. unfortunately it's also our utility room. it houses a spare fridge a freezer and a tumble dryer. There is a cupboard on the other side of the room full of books, fabric,paints, brushes and patterns. I also have scroll saw which I use for woodcraft, it's a small bedroom, (without any trace of bedroom at all!) I am in it most part of the day. If I'm not painting, I'm scrapping, or sewing, Oh and there's the sewing machine and boxes full of threads, on top of the paint/book cupboard are storage boxes full of stuffing, batting, calico, fabric scraps, lace and ribbons. Under the craft table is a chest full of paper, card, button, tools (for the woodcraft) and a folder with all my photo's ready to be used. Hanging on the shelves you see are, scissors, clamps,hot glue gun, glues, inks, tissues, a lamp, more ribbons, pencils all my punches and embelishments are stored in a two drawer plastic holdall on the right. so as you see, there is barely room for me. It's organized chaos. and it's mine and I love it.

The Face.

This is a picture of me in the 1970's I printed it on vellum and used Tim Holtz' Idea-ology paper as a backing the roses are my own, the pearls are 'say it with pearls' flourishes.

Fathers Day

I saw this today, it brought a lump to my throat. although I'm not a religious person I love it. I would like to add it on my page for MY Dad.....

Father's Day:


White roses grow in Heaven,   Lord, pick a bunch for me~

Place them in my dad's arms and tell him they're from me~

Tell him that I love and miss him and when he turns to smile ~

place a kiss upon his cheek and hold him for a while ~

Because remembering him is easy ~I do it everyday ~ 

There's an ache within my heart that will never go away.

I love you dad!

Done with Tim Holtz' paper.... Susan's 21st Birthday Party with her Dad Mike.

 
This was done with Tim Holtz's idea-ology paper, distressed with Tea Dye ink, the pearls were 'say it with pearls'  flourishes. the flowers were my own, the border was cut with Martha Stewart's deep edge punch - floral vine.  The picture is of Mike and his daughter Sooz at her 21st Birthday party. in June 2010. I loved doing this LO, it felt really 'girly' and the paper is just awesome to work with.

Tim Holtz paper

Today I receivd my package of Tim Holtz 'Idea-ology' Vintage shabby paper. I Absolutely LOVE this paper, there are 12 x 12 double sided, 6 x 6 , small 2 x2  and strips for border or ribbons included. there are 3 shades, pink, grey and blue, all fabulous vintage shabby looking.  I started on a birthday card today, I've never made cards, and I don't intend to, but his is just an 8.1/2 x 11 black cardstock with a few embellishments from this range on it. It's for a 21st birthday.  The paper is so wonderful it just begs to be ripped, torn, gunged and scrunched! but it still looks really pretty!!

Beautiful paper......

I bought this beautiful paper, it's so elaborate and full of embossed elements, I don't know what to do with it, I don't want to cover it up!! there's a blank-ish corner on the bottom left for journalling, but I need ideas as to where to put a photo! 

Experimenting with the Cricut

Today I have been experimenting with the cricut, i am trying all sorts of flourishes, I've found a few i really like. that little machine is amazing. I found the svg files and used them with 'surecuts a lot' program. you just load it up and off that little bug goes, whizzing around - and hey presto a beautiful swirly flourish. I'm always amazed how well it cuts. I am going to do another vintage lay out next, I'm really getting into  the distressed look, I bought some old paper flowers from a flower stall in my town, they were in a bargain bucket, 3 bunches for £1.  not bad eh? so I bough a variety and stashed them away for future use.  I am now looking around for a suitable subject for this LO.  I think it might have to be my daughter or daughter-in-law, they are both pretty photogenic. and ladies do look better in a vintage layout, unless I can find another photo like the one of my Dad and his family in the music pic. that was a gem and led itself so well on the vintage page. 

My First School Photo

All things sheepish

I have a weakness for sheep, I find them adorable, the faces always seem to be trying to tell you something. subsequently I get bought gifts of sheepy things and cards sent to me with sheep on.  Over the past few years I collected all the cards and scrapbooked a selection of them as a keepsake. I particularly love the one in Baaa code!!!

How can I store so many ribbons?

I am looking for a ribbon holder at the moment, after collecting so many ribbons, I'm finding increasingly awkward to store. at the moment I have them on a mock-up holder made from a wire coat hanger but I know this looks a bit naff. anyone got any good ideas how or where I can get one in the UK ? the only good ones I've seen are in the USA and postage is expensive.

Always sad to see the vey last rose in your garden fade away
. I loved this baby pink rose in my garden, it even looked beautiful
covered in misty dew on a chilly autumn day.

Hi there, today I thought I'd mention to anyone who is interested in scrapbooking layouts. I found a great little website in the UK called 'The fruit pixie'  it has some interesting little bits and bobs you can buy for quite a reasonable price, and small amounts too, no having to buy great loads of stuff and get literally mounds of 'stuff' hoarded away.  It's worth a look. www.thefruitpixie.co.uk

  Have a good day.

Susie. 7/6/10

This is My Dad and his brotherwith two friends, this picture was taken around 1936

when he was a teenager

This is my dog Jaz

We like to walk in this park, especially in the spring when all the blossoms are out on the trees. She loves to run around off the lead and pretend she is a greyhound!  This park is also beautiful in the middle of winter when all the trees are covered with snow.  There are so many trees I can't begin to name them all, I did get a book and try to identify them, but they look so different in real life. One thing I do know is that they are magnificent. Long may we walk amongst them.