Beautiful Smile | ScrappyNerdUK (Claire) | 6x4 Photo

Hello ScrapAddicts,

Its my turn on the blog today with my layout based on a single 4x6 photo. This seems pretty easy to work with for me and so I really concentrated on making a big bold title to fill a lot of the space on the page. 

I used the Glitter Girl collection from Shimelle for this layout as in the paper pack there was a 12x12 paper with all of the letters from the alphabet on it and I knew that I wanted to cut these apart to form the basis of my title. 

Once I had cut the paper up, I then had to decide on a title. 

Now, I struggled with this as it was a photograph about myself. I decided to embrace it and call the layout Beautiful Smile.

I only added a couple of areas of embellishments which were located at the top left of my photo, the bottom right of my photo and the bottom right of the page where the title ended. I wanted to maintain a lot of white space on this layout to keep it looking clean and I was happy with the balance of embellishments v. white space on this layout.

You'll see that I tucked in a mixture of die cuts and stickers to each cluster and added a few enamel shapes to finish the page. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my layout and be sure to head on over to our Facebook Group here to share what you have been inspired to make.

The process video for this layout is linked here for you - https://youtu.be/kpeNNlyWrX4

# Elfie / Sheena Rowlands / Christmas Scrapping

Hi there Sheena here again x

Today I'm sharing with you my take on Christmas scrapping here on the blog.
Most of my creating is 12x12 scrapbook layouts plus my Project Life but as I tend to work on that a month behind I made this layout to share with you.

But first let me take an #Elfie.

This photo is a selfie I took this time last year in a Christmas jumper!! I loved this Elf jumper & it even had a hood!! When I saw this phrase on the Silhouette site I just had to cut it for this layout. I tend to keep my Christmas supplies together so it was easy to find scraps to back the cut file with, they are from a selection of manufacturers. I trimmed the cardstock down a little & backed it with patterned paper similar to the sleeves of my jumper.

I added a pocket and tag behind my photo so I could document my love for this jumper & the popularity of Elf on the Shelf without affecting the overall design. Then added my photo and a few layers over the top.

I was thrilled when I stumbled over some Elf pin badges in a £1 store and after removing the back it made a perfect embellishment for my page. I chose my embellishments by colour rather than manufacturer.

 I hope you all have a Happy Christmas & get a chance to take a breath & maybe get a little time to do some crafting too xxx

Mud will wash off.../ Alpha Stickers / Sheena Rowlands

Hi there x Sheena here again x

Here is my layout for the Alpha Stickers theme. Since I purchased a cutting machine I tend to use alpha stickers less often so this challenge was great at getting me rooting through my stash looking for different letters.

I decided as I was going to use Alpha Stickers I should make the feature of the page & found this quote on Pinterest which fits perfectly with my Daughters Festival photo!!

I chose my colours from the photograph when sorting through my alphas & I tried to find different size & textures to add interest. I mixed upper & lower case letters to make use of the letters I had.

I added splats to the ombre cardstock using Tim Holtz Distress stains, which is loads of fun before layering my 6x4 photo on the Creekside range of papers from One Canoe Two.

I finished the page by clustering elements on either side of the photo using chipboard, ephemera & word stickers.

How about making a long title with different alphas on your next layout.

Till next time x

Summer Lovin' | Laura Jane Thomson | Clustering

As you have no doubt realised if you have been following our blog and social media, this month our topic is 'Clustering' in scrapbooking - something which I am not totally comfortable with as I never feel that they look the way they should do.  

As crafters we see the work of so many other amazing crafters and it is so easy to compare ourselves, for example I see some scrapbookers who create layouts with the most beautiful clusters at the points where they want to draw your eye around the page so when I create a layout using clusters of embellishments I then look at it and think 'YouTuberA' does it so much better, mine look rubbish in comparison.  

For this months theme I ended up creating three different scrapbook layouts with embellishment clusters before I finished this one that I am remotely happy with - I'm sure if I saw this layout on someone else's blog then I'd no doubt think it was lovely!

When I read through the blog posts and watched the process videos on 'Clusters' by some of the other wonderful UK Scrap Addicts Creative Team, I looked back at this layout and thought the clusters were rather minimal and perhaps not enough but I am quite happy with this layout, as this month is the first I have actively tried to add embellishment clusters to my layout.  

I have only been scrapbooking for ten months and I am still learning so much from fellow crafters, so I know I am nowhere near the level of scrapbooking talent as some of the other incredible people who share their work online, but I also know the progress I have made over the past few months and am slowly accepting that learning these new techniques takes time and to stop expecting instant results.

I would challenge you to try something new or out of your comfort zone the next time you decide to work on some scrapbooking or memory keeping... perhaps clusters are new to you to?  Why not give it a go and share it on our UK Scrap Addicts Facebook page or tag us (#ukscrapaddicts) on all the other social media platforms.  I cannot wait to see your creations. 

Enjoy the rest of your week. 

xx Laura xx

Layout | Jackie Ashton | Clustering

Hi everyone, Jackie here with my layout featuring one simple cluster.  

For my layout this month, I’ve continued with a 9x12 layout that will be included into my Paris album and added a cluster of embellishments to the lower part of my page.  I used this cluster as a place to add  the date and location, as this layout is one of several taken whilst at the Efflel Tower, I didn't add any journalling.

My cluster includes several layers - dollie - tag - vellum - wood veneer - puffy stickers - heart shape, all layered together to make a beautiful cluster on my layout.

Hope you like how I have showed that a little cluster can help bring the page together.

Pocket Pages | Sarah Toward | Clustering

Hi there.

It's Sarah T back today sharing a Pocket Page spread featuring this months theme of clustering.  Now if I'm honest every one of my Pocket Page layouts feature clustering.  It's something I do on all my layouts, it helps to tie together all the individual photos and cards and gives it a cohesive look.

As you can see my colour scheme for this layout was red, blue and yellow as well as some pops of black which I added with enamel dots and hearts.

For this insert I actually used a plain white piece of card stock that I embellished.  I used some washi-tape in red, blue and yellow, along with one of the enamel hearts and clustered them together.

I was really keen to use this 3x4" journal card on this layout.  So to tie it in with the other colours I added the washi-tape and enamel hearts again in a cluster.

Here I clustered together a die-cut piece and enamel heart, and added some staples.

This Pocket Page layout features really simple clusters and a look that anyone could achieve easily.  If you head over to my Instagram account @lookwhatsarahcreated, you can see more example of how I use simple clusters across my Pocket Page layouts.

For this layout I used supplies from Elle's Studio, some washi-tape I'd recently picked up from Flying Tiger Copenhagen and some Illustrated Faith enamel hearts.

Thanks for stopping by again today.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join in on this months Clustering Challenge with a chance to win a fab prize from this months sponsor Thompsons Craft Supplies.

Hope you can manage to squeeze in some scrappy time today.

xoxo

Cool as Ice | Niki Rowland | Clustering

Hi there! Niki here with you today with a new layout to share. I was delighted to hear that the theme for August was 'clustering'. This was super easy for me as I pretty much do clusters on every layout I make!

There is a free cut file this month to help you with clusters. This file was designed by me and I hope you enjoy it.

I cut the cut file in grey card and then backed each gap with patterned papers. I've used the Summer Dreams collection by Echo Park. The layout has turned out super bright and a bit crazy but I love it!

The cut file above was designed to give you three obvious and ready-made areas to add your clusters. I usually place my photo on my layout and then choose two or three areas around my photo to add my clusters of embellishments. The general rule is to create three areas in an approximate triangle around your photo - this draws the attention of the person looking at the layout to the most important item on your layout: your photo.

I usually attach one of my clusters to my photo itself or very close to it.

As for the actual clusters themselves and what they are made of...I start with something 'big' perhaps a die-cut or shape that is big-ish. If you have something really big then really you need to start the whole layout with that in mind for that to work. I use the larger items from ephemera packs for example, get those down first and then add more and more layers on top of it with smaller embellishments wuch as stickers, shapes, tags, clips etc and gradually get smaller and smaller until you are adding the little things like sequins, enamel dots or gems.  Quite often it ends up that you can't see much of the first 'big' shape I put in place but that's ok becuase it means the cluster has depth, dimension and interest. It also meas that I can use those slightly obscure items from ephemera packs as they are mostly covered up!

 I have put together a process video of me making this layout - enjoy!

I hope you enjoy the video and will give clustering a try on your next layout!

Happy scrapping, Niki xx 

Find me designing for Freckled Fawn, Just Nick, Hey Little Magpie, GoGo Getaway, Silhouette UK, Stick it Down, and UK Scrap Addicts. Also on my own blog: Being Scrappy and on Instagram as @nikiclaire

St Tropez Summer | Sheena Rowlands | Clustering

Hi there x Sheena here again x

The focus for us this month is to use clustering on our pages.

This was perfect for me as I love using clusters on my pages as I tend to hoard embellishments so need to get them stuck on a page.

St Tropez Summer.

For this page I've actually created a line of clustered embellishments running above & below my photo which also includes my title.

 Some of the embellishments are from the same range as the paper, Prima St Tropez but by clustering embellishments in this way also gives you a chance to use up odd bits & pieces, from old & new collections by tucking them in.

Also adding in different textures adds to the overall interest too. Here I've used stickers, wood veneer, chipboard shapes, epoxy shapes, flair...

I hope you get a chance over the summer months to getting some scrapping time for yourself x

Happy Here & Now │Gemma Summers │Clustering

Hello, Gemma here with my layout based on our theme for this month, which is Clustering.

I love clustering because I like to use a lot of embellishments on a page as you will see from my layout this month! Having clusters of embellishments helps your eye travel round the page, and I have used them to surround my photo, with one cluster on each side. I chose to base my layout on a selfie of me at my craft desk, which I printed in black and white so I could chose any colour palette for my layout.

I started with a lined paper (I used a lot of the Pebbles 'girl squad' collection for this layout). I went with my photo central and decided to ground the clusters with some mixed media first.

I went with pinks, peaches and coral made using some distress inks and the packaging technique. I then added some splatters and crayon marks. I knew most of this would be covered up but some would still peak through for colour.

Next I could focus on my clusters.

I started by fussy cutting the speech bubbles, trees and raindrops. These elements were all from pattern paper, individually cut and arranged. I backed the speech bubbles onto craft foam to raise them and give the cluster different dimensions. I always start with the bigger elements, then move onto details like the puffy stickers, buttons and roller stamping.

I worked on both clusters at the same time, so they looked balanced and both had all the same elements in them. I stuck to coral, turquoise, black and white.

As the layout is about me, I chose stickers that match me like the backpack, headphones

and the girl puffy sticker even has my hair cut :)

The title was made from turquoise glitter words from Paige Evans, as I like the script font and the colour fits perfectly. It's a recent photo of me so really is 'here and now'. I used stamping in diagonal corners and added a doodle border round the entire page, with black pen.

Don't forget we would love to see your layouts using clustering this month
on our Facebook page and Instagram using #ukscrapaddicts

I hope you enjoyed this layout.

Is your craft desk your happy place too?

See you next month!

Sea Sun Fun | Polly's Papercrafts | Clustering

Hey Scrap Addicts! 

It's Emma with you today and, unusually for me, I don't have a video for you unfortunately. My tech decided it no longer liked me and gave up. It's in for repair though so hopefully I'll be up and running soon. In the meantime, we are talking clustering at Scrap Addict Central. 

Clustering is a technique of its own, and some people find it really tricky. I'll be honest, at times, I find it tricky. Mainly because usually with embellishment clusters, it means using a lot of ephemera or stickers or enamel dots or, in short, a lot of the pretty stuff we like to hoard. Am I right? 

For my layout this month, I'm using Crate Paper's Oasis collection. I had received some things in the last Like For Ever kit (no longer running sadly...I'm still sad about that, but I digress...) and I'd also picked up some extra bits in Hobbycraft, you know, as you do!

I'm using a photo of my brothers' adorable pooch, Ace, who's totally soaked from a lovely dip in the sea. Not only is the photo 'totes adorbs' but it also had some nice empty spaces where I could begin to build my clusters.

I made use of both the chipboard sticker sheet and the cardstock stickers, by first removing the stickiness on the back with talcum powder so I could move the pieces around like ephemera until I was happy with the placement. 

Toward the top of the photo is the heaviest cluster. Making use of smaller occurs if ephemera pieces and tucking them behind the photo to create layers. A couple of tags and the larger chipboard camera piece made the cluster look a bit more balanced. Later I added the flair and messy thread, to offset the heavy, blackness from the 'swim' piece in the other cluster.

The second grouping is lighter in terms of the number of pieces, mainly because they are larger. The 'Sea Sun Fun' Polaroid sticker becomes my title and I added the chipboard 'Swim' because, let's face it cute as he may be, the pooch looks something akin to a drowned rat (a happy one though!)  - haha! To finish the glittery frame just groups it's all together, making it slightly more cohesive, rather than a 'just-been-plonked-here' look.

At the bottom of the page, I wanted a small little 'something' that would really drawn your eye down over the last part of the page and would actually end up framing the journaling strips. I kept it simple with just the chipboard caravan (they had gone camping when this photo was taken) and a 'Let's Get Away' word sticker. It's simple but effective and brings the page to an end. 

Things to consider: 

✏️ Consider all types of embellishment when building your clusters i.e. Chipboard, cardstock die cuts, stickers, flair, puffy stickers...the list goes on. 

✏️ Visually, they tend to work better in 3's. They don't all have to be big focal points but the eye tends to rest in 3 places on a page. 

✏️ Don't be afraid of using your stuff - that's why you bought it right? 

Happy clustering lovelies, until next time (hopefully with a video!)