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Showing posts from 2018

Birthday Cake TN: 3

I'm starting a Traveller's Notebook documenting all the birthday cakes I had as a child. In true Laura-fashion, I have started at 3 and will go back and do 1 and 2 later.  (I've left the pages blank so it will read as in order when finished!) I used a sheet of paper from a Quirky Kit to cut out my 3 cut file.  I've designed 0-9 in matching styles all sized to fit in a TN.  They will be available to download and use soon - I just have to save them in the correct format first. I've kept things simple with a water colour-y background made with Distress Oxide inks and Shimmerz paints.  I want the pages to go together so it reads well as an album.  I've decided the constants I want to run through every spread are: watercolour background, cut file design, stamped date, square photo.  I hope this will lead to a cohesive album. Here is the process video...

Christmas Cards

For this week's StickerKitten post I have made a quick batch of cards.  I find it easy to do a batch and vary the theme and design ever so slightly as I go. Here come the close-ups...  Thanks for looking!

Brothers

I'm so pleased with this one... The cut file is called Twisted Square from Pretty My Page.  You can download it to cut on your own machine or buy it pre-cut . I've actually only used half of the cut file on this layout. I had cut the file out to make a bookmark but it didn't quite go to plan and evolved into a layout.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who starts out with an idea and ends up with something totally different?!  I backed the cut files with squares of papers; there are all sorts in here - Doodlebug, Bella Blvd, Freckled Fawn - I just matched what I had to the photos. My trick for backing this cut file is to use squares instead of fiddling around with the little individual triangles.  Starting from the middle adhere the smallest square to the cut file.  If we use the bottom tile on the layout as an example this is the navy one.  The next, the palest blue is rotated slightly and stuck to the back of the navy one.  Following that the grey is adhere

Guest Designing for Quirky Kits

I was struck by the gorgeous autumnal colours featured in the Quirky Kit I was sent to work with.  What better way to show them off than with leaves and acorns?  It also meant I got to play with my new toy, a Gemini Junior.  It turns out I quite like die cutting!  I also fussy cut a few of the leaf sprigs from the Pink Fresh Mesa paper. I based my layout on a sketch I had drawn up earlier this year. I fixed the leaves in place with a little glue and then ran the layout through my sewing machine using a couple of different coloured threads.  My favourite part of my guest designer package was the Custom Cards - so much so that I have signed up.  I pulled a few of my favourite cards to layer behind my photo and to cut into a heart shape embellishment. In the Pink Fresh Mesa paper there are a few pops of acid yellow that really zing amongst the other colours.  I added in some tangled thread and a few sequins from my stash in the same colour.  To finish I added a title with th

Skull And Cross Buns week!

I've got another Skull and Cross Buns layout to share with you today.  This one has no stamping though... The trees are made using Distress Oxide inks and the Stars And Sparkles stencil. I added had sewn trunks and a wobbly title. Thanks for looking!

Skull And Cross Buns week!

This year I want to make my own wrapping paper for Christmas.  I have a big roll of kraft paper, distress oxide inks and Skull And Cross Bun stamps on hand so it shouldn't be too hard.  If I can wrap using small pieces of tape or just ribbon and string it will be easy to recycle rather than use the foiled or glittery shop bought papers that can't be recycled. I've made a start with these two sheets...  I've used Merry Christmas , starburst and heart drops all from Skull And Cross Buns.

Skull And Cross Buns week!

I love this penguin stamp !  I had no idea where I was going with this creation - I just started stamping penguins... I've used Versafine in black and the Altenew Cool Grey ink collection to do my stamping.  I also embossed a few white penguins on different shades of grey cardstock and fussy cut them out.  Where images overlapped I used post-it note masks. I snugged in a photo huddled amongst the penguins.  The title is added with foam alphas. I've added a few snowdrifts and clouds in a palest blue chalk pencil.  They show much better in real life than they do in the photos. There'll be no SACB post tomorrow as I have a StickerKitten projec scheduled but the stamping goodness will continue on Tuesday...

Skull And Cross Buns week!

I didn't realise how many SACB creations I had waiting to be shared.  I guess that is the sign of a good DT package - I just can't stop making! This layout uses the Bauble Stamp with clear heat embossing.  After melting the powder the paper beneath is trapped.  Any wet media you put over the top will be resisted and the paper will remain white.  I've used some Shimmerz sprays this time. I've added a touch of red with sewing and enamel dots. This is my favourite little touch.  I'm not really a bow person in general but thread end bows do something to me. Stand by for another SACB share tomorrow...

It's beginning to look a little like...

CHRISTMAS!! Sorry, but it is November now and if you are going to be making decorations, presents and wrapping paper like me you need to get going now. I've made this sign for my door using Cocoa Vanilla's old Tis The Season along with cut files from Paige Evans ( deer ) and Pretty My Page ( Make It Merry ).  You can buy the deer and the words as pre-cut files in white, cream or black from Pretty My Page , as well as a downloadable Make It Merry file if you own your own cutter.  I added a bunch of sequins because I am still a firm believer that sequins make everything better! Here's the process video...

SpiegelMom Scraps Guest Designer

I was over the moon to be invited back as a Guest Designer for SpiegelMom Scraps .  SpiegelMom took such a huge chance on me a few years back when no one had heard of me and I am forever grateful.  I think the opportunities that have opened up for me since then are because of the experience I gained with SMS.  Anyway, soppiness over, let's get to the scrapping! For my first layout I've used Mistletoe Greetings sequin mix and a Christmas tree cut file. I cut the tree on white card and used a selection of Shimmerz paints to colour it up. I've also used Shimmerz paints on the background and layered in a giant doily from SMS.  For all the little shakers I discovered covering craft foam with double sided adhesive and cutting in to thin strips was easier than faffing around with the 10mm foam tape I own.  It seems to bend and manipulate much more easily. On to project number two... hand made embellishments. For these I've used Easy Breezy Beautiful se

Pretty My Page Acorn Mesh Cut File

This layout uses Pretty My Page's Acorn Mesh cut file.  I adore the cut file - you can download it here or have it cut for you here . I cut it on kraft as I was trying to do something different.  That was my first 'mistake' - I don't really like kraft! I painted through the cut file with Minc Reactive Mist and added different colour foils to the leaves and acorns.  Second mistake - it needs quite a thick layer of mist to get a good foiling (presumably the Minc paint would work better for this... must buy some!) Mistake 3 for me is it is a whole page design.  You know I like my white space! But I look it this layout and I can see there is nothing wrong with it, it is just not my style.  I can also see what I can do to make it more me so I hope to do another version soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Update and Recap

All sorts of exciting things are happening lately and I've gotten a little behind with sharing them here.  So here is a recap of my last couple of weeks... I am guest designing for White With 1 this month.  It made me chuckle as they have teamed up with Stick It Down this month so I ended up working with one of my own sketches! On the subject of sketches I now have a dedicated Instagram account for my sketches. I've blogged about stashbusting your sequin stash over on the StickerKitten blog . I'm also guest designing for Quirky Kits this month.  You can check out my first blog post here .  There is more to come from my Quirky DT stint and there will be a dedicated blog post here soon.  (I got "kit buzz" again!)  And I was on the Pretty My Page blog sharing this layout... I tend to keep my Instagram more up to date, I guess it is easier than writing a blog post, so be sure to follow me @beadsbuttonsandbirds Thanks for stopping b

New Release

I've been having fun with the new stamp set from Skull and Cross Buns along with their Stocking Stencil ... I've accessorised some Christmas cards with lace from Crafty Ribbons. The bulk of the cards came about from my initial play with the stencil... I just grab some ink and card and played with no pressure.  I tried spraying ink through the stencil, stamping the stencil, filling the stencilled image with stamping... As seems to be my current 'thing' they all feature foam tape for added dimension. ...which also creates wonderful shadows. And there is a layout too... I added a bunch of machine stitching on this layout to pull it all together. Here are the process videos: Thanks for stopping by!