Make Believe | Sam Ball | Handmade Embellishments

With so many scrapbooking collections having co-ordinating embellishments, and with so many of us scrapping in and amongst other commitments, taking the time to make handmade embellishments is something we simply don’t have the time to do!

A couple of years ago, I did a fine metalworking class that I really enjoyed. I knew it was perfect for translating onto scrapbooking layouts, as it combined paper and fabric with metal, and incorporated other crafts such as crochet, to ultimately make wall art. 

Like so many of these crafts, I was smitten and bought a whole host of the necessary equipment including different wire gauges and cutters! And like so many of these crafts that we fall for, it occasionally comes out the cupboard!

So, with this months’ theme being handmade embellishments, I decided upon making a few simple shapes to complement a scrapbooking collection. For a novice like me, the shapes themselves are best suited to simpler ones, so I decided to reach for Magical Forest by Crate Paper, as it features a whimsy of cute animals, along with a good dash of make believe!

Having bent the wire into a star, moon and cloud, I bound the join using a very fine wire. Each shape was then backed with a paper, with the cloud having the additional embellishment of a buttonhole stitched edge.

I created three groupings, each incorporating a journaling card, ephemera and the wirework embellishment, raising some bits on foam 3D pads and adding chipboard pieces for extra depth.

Before sticking it all down, I used the new Tim Holtz Speckled Egg oxide spray to create splatters, then once everything was fixed in place, I mixed water with the matching oxide ink pad on my messy mat to add a soft halo effect around each cluster.

I’ve loved how it turned out and have every good intention to include handmade wire embellishments on future layouts!

Have you ever made your own embellishments… people do believe that when your mojo is AWOL, it’s a great way to kick start it!

Don’t forget to share your layouts over on our Facebook page, or tag us on Instagram if you’ve played along this month? It’s a great way to use up old stash whilst enjoying new collections too!

Here & Now | Zoe (zola28) | Handmade Embellishments

Welcome to the blog focusing this month on the theme of handmade embellishments. Making my own embellishments isn't something I do that often as I tend to love all the beautiful bits and pieces that are made for us in the collections. However this month I did have some fun with some simple embellishments. 

I created my layout with the fantastic 5th & Monaco collection from Crate Paper which I love! I wanted the focus of this page to be grass green and texture. 

To create the texture I have focused on the ruffles and banner. The ruffles are simply pleated tissue paper which I have trimmed with some pom pom trims (cute aren't they!?)

I made my top bunting using a punch and stitching the bunting pieces to some green ribbon so I could add the bunting in a hung style at the top of the page. 

Continuing with the them of green ribbon, I decorated a paper clip to go on the photograph of my son on his sister's skates. 

My last and probably favourite embellishment are the sequin tails that I made and added underneath my butterflies. These were quick and easy to make but are a nice way to add some movement to a page ( remember this in case you are ever challenged to 'create a moving part' on a page!) . I just added some knots along the way to stop all the sequins stacking up on the embroidery thread. 

I have some epoxy stickers which are also great for making your own flair type embellishment. I have added one on this page but its a bit hard to spot. (up in my top cluster for those of you with great eyesight). 

I love the texture and movement of this layout. I really look forward to seeing what you create for this months them in our facebook group, be sure to tag me if this page inspires you in any way. 

Little Stories | Kirei Baldwin | Use More Than One Collection

Hi UK Scrap Addicts!

It's Kirei here with a layout for this month's challenge which was to use more than one collection. I like many of you probably do tend to just stick to the same collection as it is easy to match up papers and embellishments so I liked this challenge!

I pulled out Pink Paislee's 'Again and Again' collection which went well with the photo of me with an owl... and then looked through my stash to see what else worked with this collection. I still had some bits left from the Crate Paper Maggie Holmes 'Heritage' collection and it was perfect as it had similar muted colours.

First I stuck three strips of papers from the two collections down the left side of the layout, distressing the edges as I went. I also used a mix of patterned papers to back my photo and then attached that to the layout using foam pads on the top edge.

Then I built up embellishment clusters to each side of my photo and above it using lots of ephemera and stickers from both collections.

To finish off I included some journaling on a couple of labels, and then added a title from the coordinating sticker set. As you can see I had the perfect ephemera to go with my photo!

Why don't you check out what the rest of the Creative team have come up with this month, there's lots of fab inspiration for using more than one collection and it's a great way to use up that stash! Also join us over on the UK Scrap Addicts Facebook page where you can share your layouts. Thanks for looking and I'll see you next month!

Happy Scrapping!

Go Girl | Zoe Hailey zola28 | Hidden Journalling

Hi Everyone, it's Zoe here on the UKSA blog today.

I can't believe we are already in December, I made this layout a couple of months ago as I knew I would be busy with festive preparations and creative projects!

Inside of page before journaling

I worked with Crate Paper's All Heart collection (one of my all time favs!) and created a flip up on the left hand side of my layout for my hidden journaling. The story in my journaling is about me being kinder to myself and learning to love some of features , rather than focusing on the bits I don't like!

Photo Flip Up

I created some simple patches of metallic background for my clusters using Vicki Boutin's Iridescent Glaze. I tore my paper to act as the base for my photo and cluster on the left hand side. I attached this to my page with washi so that the whole thing moves. I absolutely love this affect, especially as it created dimension with embellishments sitting on the background page when you flip up the photo. I added the she shines sticker to make it a little easier to lift the whole thing.

Around my title, I created a banner style embellishment using the charms and tassels from the collection and attaching them with my Tim Holtz tiny attacher. I really love that I have another moving element on my page.

Remember ladies, No One Is You, That Is Your Power! Have fun with hidden photos and journaling this month and be sure to share what you create.

April Flowers | Kirei Baldwin | Sewing

Hi UK Scrap Addicts!

Kirei here with my layout for this month's theme which was sewing (hand or machine). Now I do like stitching on a layout as I love the texture it adds so this was right up my street!

I know for some people it's a love or hate technique... but even just a little bit can add some great detail and focus to a layout. I often do my hand-stitching in front of the TV so it doesn't feel too time consuming and having your sewing machine on hand and ready to go can also help encourage use!

I wanted to do something a little different so when I was looking for a paper collection to use from my stash I found the lovely all over floral paper from the Crate Paper 'All Heart' collection that had some great hand drawn type details that were calling out to be hand-stitched. I firstly fussy cut the large floral design around the edges as I wanted to mount it onto coloured cardstock for dimension.

Then all I needed to do was prick some holes along some of the stems and other small details and I was ready to go. As I knew I was going to use a photo in the centre of my layout I focused all of my stitching to the outer sections of the paper. Once I was finished the stitching I added foam pads to the back of the patterned paper and stuck it to a sheet of coral cardstock. I then used some of the lovely matching transparent floral stickers and stuck them down just under each of the edges of the floral paper. 

I matted my photo onto five of the coordinating patterned papers and distressed the edges before sticking down. I added a few more of the floral stickers to the top left and bottom right of my photo. I actually stuck the stickers to some white card first and cut out so that you could see the detail more. I tucked in a couple of the metal star charms to the floral clusters.

I added some journaling to one of the transparent stickers that I mounted onto white card and then finished off with a title using the lovely glitter and rose gold matching Thickers.

Hopefully all of the Creative Team's layouts this month have inspired you to try some stitching if you haven't done so before.... or even try it in a different way if you do already like to stitch on a layout! Don't forget to share your layouts over on the UK Scrap Addicts Facebook page as we love to see what you create!

Thanks for looking and happy scrapping!

Love U | Zoe Hailey | Stitching

Who says a layout about a man can't be pink? Anyway, I don't follow those 'rules' as you can see from my layout for July!

This months theme of stitching was great fun, although I'll admit there were definitely times I regretted my decision to include so much chain stitching. In my head I knew I wanted to chain stitch my title as this page goes with a layout I created at Go-Go Getaway in March, which had chain stitching on the design.

I cut the LOVE U title on my cricut, mounted it on white card stock and pierced my paper to create an ombre chain stitch affect, I most certainly underestimated how much time this would take and had a mild panic moment when I thought I was going to run out of my colours.




My top tips for chain stitching (now I am an expert as I have done it twice, ha ha!) are; don't separate your strands of thread, stick to all six it is far neater and pull your chain stitch tight to create a much crisper finish. I quite like an uneven chain length and made some of mine longer and shorter, but you could use a ruler if you want a more even look. I didn't cut around my lettering, leaving my white border, until all my stitching was complete. This definitely helped as some of my stitches went off the coloured paper.

I worked with the La La La Love collection from Crate Paper and because this photograph of my partner Mark, was taken on Valentines Day, I went a little crazy and tried to use every ephemera, sticker or chipboard that used the word Valentines Day! ( You only get the chance once a year, so I went a bit over the top!)

And because I wasn't satisfied with my discrete chain stitched title, I also included running stitch hearts in the background of my layout, stitched hearts in my clusters and white cross stitched kisses on my borders.

I love how busy my layout is with paint splatters and sequins too! The texture from the stitching is definitely my favourite part and was worth the hours..... In the end!

Really hope you enjoy this months theme and I will look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Zoe x