Free cut file for September

This month's free cut file is a title for you, designed by the lovely Emma Callagher.

You can find instructions for downloading and using the cut file in Silhouette here. And don't worry if you don't have an electronic die-cutter, we've got some ideas for using them without one here.

As always, we'd love to see what you create with the cut file so please do link us in the comments below and if you're on social media then please don't forget to use the hashtags #ukscrapaddicts and #uksacutfiles

We are already thinking about October’s cut files – would you like to see something Autumn related? Halloween inspired? Or something geometric for any time of the year?

Thanks for stopping by!

PENS

Hi there scrappy friends! Today the team are having a chat about pens...



Laura: I’m a stationery junkie ... I own hundreds of pens.  I’ll share a few of my favourites with you. Generally, for journaling, I want a fine tip.  I love OHTO Graphic Liners for a rich black waterproof ink.  I have them in every width but tend to use the narrowest nib 005 and the widest 10 the most.  I also have a fun novelty kiwi pen that writes beautifully.  For ink that is not black, I reach for my Pigma Micron in blue and brown or my Stabilo Fine Liners which I’ve had for more than a decade! I have a few more favourites too ... a Slick Writer from American Crafts for writing on photos, Pilot Silver and Gold Markers for a touch of metallic (also work well on photos), Faber Castell PITT pens for brush lettering and finally, Derwent’s Graphik Paint Liners.  These are my favourite for art journaling, they are slightly unpredictable and can be ‘incontinent’ which is great for splats and splodges and generally inky fun!

Emma: I’m with Laura, I LOVE stationery - always have, always will! Let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of writing with a good pen is there?... No?... Might just be me then - haha! For the rare occasion that I do actually journal on a page, I reach for my Uni-Ball Uni-Pin pens (a bit of a mouthful, I know!). I bought them in a pack of 5 with a range of widths from 0.1mm to 0.5mm. They’re a black, waterproof ink and they write beautifully on cardstock and on glossy photo paper - for me, they’re a good ‘all-rounder’ and I reach for the 0.1mm the most. The Holy Grail of course is The White Pen!  This is a tricky one and it depends what you’re after. I wanted an opaque, bright white pen that would write on cardstock and glossy photo paper and wouldn’t be a pain in the backside (I can say that right?) in terms of smudging. I originally bought the Sakura Gelly Roll pen because so many people had good things to say. However, I made the mistake of buying the Gelly Roll Soufflé pen which writes kind of translucent, goes bright white when dry, which takes ages, and is also kind of raised when dry too. It’s OK for some things but not quite what I was looking for. It also has quite a thick point, making small writing difficult. For a white pen, I would actually recommend the Uni-ball Signo Broad white gel pen. I bought mine from Paperchase but they are widely available I believe. The Signo Broad is the best white pen I’ve found. It writes smoothly. It dries pretty quickly. I have used it on glossy paper with no problems. Although it’s called broad, the tip isn't so big that you can't write small. It’s a nice, opaque, bright white and I would thoroughly recommend!


Michelle: It’s funny that I’m answering this now as I’ve been on the look out for a white pen to write on my photos and have been having a hard time choosing, thanks to Emma I now have a Signo Broad on its way to me which I am super excited to try out! As for what I currently use on my layouts ... I’m not really fussy about brand but it does have to be a gel pen with a fine nib, my writing is awful and that stands out when I use thicker pens. My favourite brand of pens are the Coleto by Pilot and I use a 0.4mm nib for standard journaling. However lately I have fallen in love with brush lettering and although I’ve not been brave enough to try it on a layout I have been adding it to my art journal. I use calligraphy ink, gold is my favourite to use ... it’s so shiny,  and a good quality paint brush, I’m by no means an expert but it does add an interesting dimension to the page!


Lisa-Jane: Another pen hoarder here ;-)  I’m always on the look out for the perfect pen and I actually know what I want, it just doesn’t exist yet!  My favourite pen to write with is a random floral fine tip that I had in my shop last year.  I wouldn’t normally choose a thin pen because I like something more substantial to get hold of but once I used these I fell in love.  Before that I was a huge fan of the common Bic Biro for writing and I will reach for that most often for anything other than on a layout.  The pen I use most often for journaling on my layouts is a Pilot Frixion which can be erased when you make a mistake!  A pen that rubs out??!!  Yes!  Genius!  My only issue with it is that the nib isn’t fine enough for my liking, especially when you are journaling in a small space and have a lot to say.  Ideally I would have a pen that writes like the skinny floral, feels like the Biro, yet has the ability to be rubbed out - if someone could arrange that thanks (or enlighten me as to their existence!).  Colour wise for me it has to be black, I hate writing in any other colour.  I have used a white pen on a black background and I once used a friend’s grey pen on a layout but nothing feels quite right compared to black.


Sarah T: My go-to pens for journaling on my pocket page spreads are definitely my Uni-Pin Fine liners. I use the 0.1 - 0.5 tips as they're super smooth for writing with, I even use them for doodling. I also use the Stabilo coloured pens if I want to journal or doddle in a different colour.


Gemma: So I may not have the pen knowledge of the other Scrap Addicts, but I love to use pens on layouts. I like to outline, add doodle borders and faux stitching in different colours on pages. My favourite pens in my collection are the American Crafts precision pens, Uniball Eye Micro, and for coloured pens I have the Staedtler Triplus fineliners. They all sit in a pen stand on my desk, within arm’s reach.

So there you have it fellow scrappers - the Pen Queens have spoken! 

It will be OK sweetpea | Laura Rumble | Journalling

Hi there, Laura here with my journalling layout.  First though I have some news to share.

I took on the task of setting up UK Scrap Addicts in February/March of this year.  It has come a long way since then but I don't have the energy to continue the work.  The team I have collated are looking to carry on without me.  I want to say a huge thank you to each of them, and the girls who have been a part of the team over the last 6 months how ever briefly, and wish them all the best.  My priority now is my health but hopefully you'll still see me around on facebook and instagram.  It will be ok sweetpea!

I'm not the biggest fan of journalling.  I think it stems from not being very good at English at school and has just hung around and become a thing.  I worry about what people will think when they read what I write.  So I side stepped this months topic and made my journalling unreadable!

I wrote over the top of my words several times.  I got what was inside out and worked it through and I don't have to worry about being marked or judged and I created a really cool background to work on top of!

To add a little raised texture on top of the writing block I used a stencil from this month's sponsor Pretty My Page along with some texture paste.

I added a wood word, a few little wood flowers and some puffy stickers from an old Felicity Jane kit designed by Suse Fish.

You can enjoy the video here: https://youtu.be/oFKXeS1jYbw

Thanks for looking,

FUSSY CUTTING

Hi lovely Scrappers! Today the team are having a chat about fussy cutting...


Maria: Fussy cutting is awesome! I love love love it, despite not being the best at it. I love how you can get so much out of a 12x12 sheet of pattern paper by just fussy cutting the shapes out of it. Some people use huge scissors, and some others use small scissors. I am in the second group. I normally try to leave a small border around the shape that I am cutting, although it is not always possible.

Emma C: Ahh fussy cutting, labour intensive but oh-so-worth-it! Some papers just cry out to be fussy cut and one particular designer that springs to mind is ... you guessed it! ... Paige Evans. Her designs are perfect for cutting out images and layering them for something spectacular - especially the florals! Here is a prime example, created when I attended a workshop last November. Top Tip: when cutting try to move the paper around rather than the scissors, saves your hand aching a bit! Also, a good pair of small sharp scissors that cut right to the tip are a must. Happy cutting!

Jess Claire: Fussy cutting can be kind of time consuming but I love the look of it. I am a bit of a budget scrapbooker at times and I always feel like fussy cutting gets a lot of value from the paper. My tips are to start by roughly cutting out the shape; that way it's easier to move as you cut it. Depending on the look you want, you can cut leaving a border; I like to do this if the image has a white border behind it, because it then looks a bit like a die cut you might buy. Alternatively, you can cut right up close to the image; I tend to do this more just because its less obvious if you cut something off so you don't have to be as precise. I really like to adhere fussy cut pieces with adhesive foam tape, which pops the piece up and makes it look more like a true embellishment. Finally, don't be scared to use a large fussy cut piece - it can be the focal point of the layout.

Terri-Ann: I absolutely love fussy cutting! My GoGo Getaway nickname is 'scissor ninja' because I love to cut shapes from patterned paper. I find it relaxing to sit in front of the TV with a crazy busy pattern and cut out all the images. If it's super intricate I will leave a slight border but prefer not to. I also like to get my craft knife out to cut out the inner pieces from designs such as between flower stems and leaves.

Lisa-Jane: I'm quite partial to a bit of fussy cutting - like stitching, it can be a lovely way to pass the time while chatting with friends or watching your favourite programmes, etc. Like many others, I like to cut things out of my patterned papers to use in place of die cuts or to layer up on top of each other to add some dimension. Despite having a Silhouette and quite a few sets of Thickers, I do sometimes fussy cut a title, like I've done here. We have a few sets of alphabet templates between our local groups and I used them to trace the letters onto a coordinating design for this layout, then stitched around it to add some texture.

You don't have to stop at titles or flowers though, try things like ticket stubs, etc. I've also been known to cut out images from Project Life style cards such as cameras, hearts, and frames. The layout below is quite an old one now but I wanted to show an example of another different kind of fussy cutting. I've used chipboard shapes as templates to trace onto thick card stock, cut them out, then applied Mod Podge to some old jeans to make it stiff enough to adhere the card stock shape onto and trace and cut out. They make really unique embellishments and are worth the effort I think.

Pol: Fussy cutting is one of my Favourite Things Ever! I used to hate it because I cannot cut a straight line to save my life, but it turns out that makes me ideal for fussy cutting! LOL!
I like to leave a border around whatever I'm cutting out, and I love to make little scenes for my pages. I will purposely choose papers that can be fussy cut, and I enjoy fussy cutting while I'm watching TV in the evening. I'm really rubbish at sitting doing nothing so I'm often doing several things at once! Fussy cutting is a great way to make your papers go further if you're on a budget.

Susan: I too am a fussy cutting fan. I especially like to do it at crops when I can sit and chat and keep my fingers busy at the same time - it helps to keep them out of the chocolate, too! Any papers with large images are fair game; I sometimes wonder if I cut out just for the sake of it as I seem to be sticking the pieces back into the same place as they were originally! LOL! Seriously though, if you put the pieces back with dimensional sticky dots under some of them it gives your page some nice height and texture. I always cut close to the edges of an image not being too keen on white borders. I will even cut off the border from a ready made sticker. Occasionally I will fussy cut a photo if there is too much distracting background. I don’t like the white edge you get when cutting into photographic paper; a good tip is to gently edge the cut image with a dark ink.

Gemma: I agree with the others in that I love fussy cutting! I love doing it to create extra embellishments for a page. My favourite would be a fussy cut floral, and I love to fussy cut a whole 12x12 paper leaving a small border around the shapes. By leaving a border you get some of the background colour come through, in this layout I liked how the green broke up all the pink.

I like to fussy cut my own free-hand shapes as well, like I did in the moodboard challenge layout, where I used coloured raindrops. Also in this layout you can see that, like Susan, I will even fussy cut a photo to help create the scene on my page.

Laura: My tip for fussy cutting is to keep the scissors still, only moving the paper and to experiment with different scissors. Personally I fussy cut best with my largest pair as they are more comfortable to hold.



Michelle: It looks like l might be the only one on the team who doesn't love to fussy cut. I love the end look of it but I’m just not very good at it, although I have been incorporating it into more layouts, especially in my Traveller's Notebook. I now have some super sharp scissors to make the job easier. I may even get round to using some of the many cut-apart sheets that I have collected and stashed over the years. I agree with what others have said in that it is much easier to move the paper and not the scissors.

I do hope we've inspired you to crack out your sharpest scissors and get snipping!

Sweetheart | Laura Rumble | Clustering

Hi Folks!  Laura here today with my clustering layout.  I'll admit that this is my least favourite topic so far!  I pulled out my current favourite papers from Kaisercraft to ease myself into this challenge... you can pick up this collection from this month's sponsor.

I fussy cut a few flowers from patterned paper and used these as the base of my cluster.  I then threw in some lace, sequins, enamel dots and leaf die cuts.

To me the definition of a cluster is a few different materials/shapes/colours very close to/layered on top of each other.

I popped up my large heart background on some foam squares.  I love that this leaves interesting shadows on the patterned paper behind.

When I was finishing off with some splatters I only covered the important part of the photo and let my mist droplets fall on to the background.  What do you think of this effect?  I'm still on the fence about the geren drops on the photo!

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/fk6s_rzCkh4


Thanks for looking

Destintion: Seagulls Fan | Laura Rumble | Large Photo

Hi there, Laura here today.  I planned to make a 9x12 layout with a 9x12 photo... basically just embellishing the photo.  It ended up a little wider but I'm happy with it.

I designed a cut file using the emblem on my nephews shirt.  

I added a cluster to the bottom corner of the photo.  I've used labels, a tag and some Bramble Fox goodies.

The gulls were getting a little lost so I backed them with vellum.  You can still see through to the photo and card underneath but it doesn't detract from the gull.

Here's the video:

Thanks for stopping by!

SOLID MEDIA

Hello scraptastic friends! Today the team are having a chat about solid media...

Jess: I started out scrapbooking using Project Life and my loyalties still lie with pocket pages. I liked the simplicity of slipping in cards and photos and not having to do anything too artsy. I've always believed I am no good at art but I am learning lots as I go. Saying that, I refuse to use chalk, that stuff goes through me, especially when used on paper. I am actually tense just writing that. Does anyone else feel that way about certain textures? Anyway my chalk hating aside I do sometimes use solid mediums to add colour. I have used wax crayons but mostly I like pencils. There's just something kind of comforting about colouring in with coloured pencils. So much so that I own about 3 different packs of Crayola pencils even though they rarely get used. My favourite way to use them is to stamp images on to white card using black ink and then colour in with pencils or crayons. I can then cut the shapes out to use as die cuts. I've done this a few times, especially with floral stamps. I love it when creativity can be money saving.

Sue: I’m not really one for experimenting with media in my scrapping but I have always had a weakness for pens. I own way more than I will ever need! I use them on my pages for journaling, doodling, frames. My handwriting is large and bold so I almost always write with a Berol fine nib Italic pen - they are available in Ryman’s or, if you go through them as often as I do, buy in bulk from Cult Pens (a VERY DANGEROUS website for pen addicts!) My number one favourite for journaling on dark cardstock is the white pen made by Signo - the broad Uni-ball - try one from Paperchase then hop over to Amazon and buy in bulk from omghowcheap  or Cult Pens have them, too. Oh and a final tip - never leave your Sharpies in reach of a toddler!!

Emma C: Oooh OK, solid media is a bit of a tricky one and, honestly, it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. The one that I use most often is texture paste, which is also often called modelling paste or holding paste depending on the manufacturer. A lot of scrapbookers use the Ranger Texture Paste and have great things to say about it, it’s thick and holds its shape well. I currently have some Pebeo Modelling Paste which is great but a little runnier than I would like sometimes. Texture paste is great for putting through stencils and giving a subtle pattern or element of interest to the background of your page. If you want to have a play with mixed media, texture paste is a fun one to try! Another solid medium commonly used is Faber Castell Gelatos, a kind of soft pigment stick that is creamy and smooth and reacts with water. They can be purchased online or Hobbycraft carry some too. I must say, I have only played with Gelatos once, at a retreat where I borrowed a friends, and I think they must take a bit of practice to achieve your desired effect. They tend to work better on a surface that has been primed, or Gessoed, and when applied direct to paper I found they take bit of work to get them to blend. However, many crafters really like Gelatos and love the effects they can create - check out Missy Whidden on YouTube as she has many videos using them to great effect!

Lisa-Jane: I'm experimenting a lot more with mixed media of various sorts but as usual I'm pretty late to the party. When masks etc came out a few years ago I bought a nice selection that could double as embossing folders in the Cuttlebug and I purchased a small pot of expensive texture paste. I'm always keen to try cheaper alternatives and I came across several blogs and YouTube videos showing DIY versions by mixing pva glue, acrylic paint and talcum powder. I tried it out myself and was pleasantly surprised! Much much cheaper, keeps for ages and you can make it as thick or as runny as you want depending on your needs. You can see how I've used it here through a Happy Scatter stencil to start building up a background. The great thing about the home made version is that you can add coloured acrylic paint to give you different shades of paste without making it too runny. My children have really gotten on board with getting different effects in pastes and paints and I'll often go into my studio to find a random bottle top or toy car tyre on my desk!

Roxy: Ah solid media. One of my favourites. Since I was little I have had a love for pencils, pens, paint pens. Basically anything in a stick form that I could create with. It took me a while to put two and two together and realise I could actually use all my arty products in my scrapbook layouts! I haven't looked back since. To this day my favourite solid media are Gelatos and texture paste. I find Gelatos the easiest to work with, just draw on some scribbles and blend out with my finger or a little water and voila, it looks pretty! I also have various other solid media such as Derwent Artbars and Derwent Inktense blocks, however, I mostly don't use these in stick form. If like me you find them a little overwhelming, I found the best way is to use them like watercolour paints! They blend well and are very pigmented. They create wonderful backgrounds or project life cards.

Pol: I really don't get on with Gelatos. It's probably lack of use but I just don't seem to know what to do with them! I used to use a lot of chalks in my early scrapping but I haven't used them for years now. I do like texture pastes used sparingly, they really give interest to a plain background. My favourite solid media though is my Pilot V5 black pen! I use it on nearly every single layout for journaling or adding hand drawn borders. It's also wonderful for creating zentangle backgrounds. However, I have also been known to steal my youngest son's crayons to use on a layout!

Laura: When I think of solid media I think of my lack of success with oil pastels (one big muddy mess) chalks (coloured dust everywhere including up my nose) and Gelatos (I just can't get the hang of them!) Then my eyes start twinkling as I think about my Inktense pencils. I love them. I even have a custom made roll so I can take the whole set away on holidays with me. Here is why I love them: their versatility is second to none.
I use them as regular colouring pencils in colouring books and fussy cut out the designs. They blend nicely as dry pencils. Then you can use them as watercolour pencils, the only difference being that they are permanent when dry. With lots of water you can get that soft watercolour effect but use them stronger for amazing intense colours. I also use them as I would inks/mists. Pop a little water on some packaging and scribble the pencil in. You then have colour that can be smoothed on to the page or picked up with a brush and flicked.
I have them all and the colour range is great, every colour is catered for BUT should you need another shade they mix beautifully.  Have I convinced you?!

live in full colour | Laura | Moodboards

Hi Laura here with my take on the rainbow moodboard.

I took most of my inspiration from the zebra and went for drippy rainbow watercolour...

Here is the process video: https://youtu.be/lRQn_pOhFuE

When it came to embellishing I used enamel dots that matched the colour of the paint beneath.

And added a small loop of rainbow washi tape too.

Thanks for reading!

MOOD BOARDS

Our monthly theme for June is mood boards. We will all be working with these two gorgeous mood boards over the next few weeks...

In today's joint post we'll talk you through our individual experiences with mood boards and how we use them...

Maria: Mood boards are a brand new discovery for me. I had never used one until just a couple of weeks ago! I had seen them around, especially on challenge blogs and in Facebook groups, but I just never knew what you were supposed to do with them. Now that it has been explained to me and I know what they are, everything is clear and I love the concept. So with a mood board you get a few images that you can take inspiration from. Imagine you have an image of a pink bird, a rainbow and a ballerina ... you could create a layout with birds on it, or feathers, or anything that reminds you of a bird. From the rainbow, you could be literal and use an arch with the rainbow colours, or just be inspired to use the colours in some other way. With the ballerina, you could use a photo of your daughter dancing, or perhaps give your layout lots of texture using fabric or ribbons that resemble a tutu. So there you go, quite easy, as you can make anything you want from it and make it suit your style. I will definitely play along more often with mood boards as it is difficult not to be inspired by them.

Susan: I'm not sure when 'inspiration boards' became 'mood boards' but I do think the former term is more descriptive of the way I like to use them. The first thing I notice when looking at a ready made board is the overall colour scheme and that is the element I am most likely to pick up on for my inspiration. If I don't like the colour palette I probably won't look further into the board. I know some of you will be saying as you read our joint post, "Oh mood boards aren't for me." but I bet you use Pinterest? Pinterest is one huge reference for inspiration and from it you can easily make your own boards. I like to set up boards on Pinterest for different palettes and as I browse I pin things that take my eye - absolutely anything, flower arrangements, postcards, advertisements, room settings, clothing, you name it. I then have ready made inspiration when I need it for my scrapbooking. I noticed recently I have a bit of a stockpile of yellow cardstock, so I've got a yellow inspiration board on the go. Expect a rash of yellow layouts very soon!

Lisa-Jane: As a recent convert to mood boards I am really loving the inspiration they give. When I initially look at the set of pictures, I will usually be drawn to one or two things first and this drives the rest of the inspiration for me. I will probably decide at this point whether the board will be for me or not. You can really quickly get an overall feel (or mood!) for the board just by a quick glance at the colours and textures. Then when I know I definitely want to use that board I will look in more detail at each of the pictures and see what sorts of things I can incorporate and which elements speak to me. I never feel like I have to use all or even most of the elements and I'm happy to add in a rogue colour or texture etc, whatever makes it work for me. There are so many ways to be inspired by the same mood board over and over again by taking the inspiration in different ways and letting the different elements lead you down alternative avenues, for example a single white feather can inspire you to use white, feathers, make you thinking of sleeping on feather pillows, inspire you to scrap about birds, inspire a light and airy feel to your page, encourage you to use fringing, or even to journal about tickling! :)

Jess: I don't often use mood boards as I am more likely to create based on whatever supplies I have available. I have a fairly small stash of products so I go with whatever I have at the time until it's all used up. Saying that though I did create my own mood board on Pinterest. I was falling in love with spring time and spring colours and I wanted to put together a colour scheme to work with. In all honesty it was totally based on some enamel dots that came in a past Studio Calico kit that I loved and couldn't find anywhere again. Pale blue, peach, pink and yellow. All the heart eyes! Putting it together helped me to use products I already had and to choose new products to buy that had the colours that made me happy. When I used a mood board recently for a challenge I found that the finished layout didn't look much like the colour scheme however using at it for inspiration gave me an idea for the layout, a photo I knew I wanted and colours to start with. I still used those colours in my embellishments though and the layout would never have come about if it wasn't for that mood board.

Vicci: mood boards are literally my fave thing to draw inspiration from if I’m feeling I’m out of ideas. I love them because they allow your full creativity and interpretation to roam free but still help to get the creative mojo going. I haven't got a specific thing I always take away from them because each one is different. Sometimes a certain element reminds me of a photo I want to scrap or a story I’d like to tell. Other times it's the colours because often there are colour schemes I would never think to put together myself. More often than not I choose a mixture of the elements and the colours but I also dig deep within the mood board because sometimes there are ‘hidden’ elements that don't always jump out at me straight away. I always draft my layout whilst looking at a mood board for interpretation and I always make notes! Then I go ahead and create my layout!

Laura: I work with mood boards very loosely! Sometimes I get a general overall feel for the board or focus in on just one image; sometimes I'll go with two or three things from a board. This board is lovely, and you'd think you would have to use mint colours. Not so! You could focus in on other things... there are two lots of confetti to inspire you; there are flowers and flowing fabric; there is ombre colour (remember you don't need to use the same mint colour); there are curvy glass vases that could inspire shapes in your layout. Look a little deeper and go with the less obvious choices ...

Sarah: I do love a mood board for inspiration. I was first introduced to them while doing GCSE Graphic Design. We had to produce an A3 sized mood board as part of our coursework; it was my favourite part. I have a board on Pinterest dedicated to mood boards, and often look through the pins to spark some inspiration, be it from the colours or from the images. I find them really useful.

CARDSTOCK

Hi there, today the team are having a chat about cardstock and what we prefer to use when creating...

Claire: I like to use a mixture of sizes when it comes to scrapbook layouts. Although the traditional 12x12 is a favourite, I also use 8.5x11 (A4) and even 6x12. I use a mixture of textured and smooth cardstock and it really depends on what my layout contains as to which one I use. I tend to find you get better adhesion when using smooth cardstock so any heavier embellishments such as resin pieces or metal charms would better suit a smooth piece of cardstock. Using textured cardstock gives different media different effects. So when using Gelatos on textured card it will give an almost patterned look, whereas you don't get that on smooth cardstock. I use Bazzill Marshamallow cardstock for any heavier mixed media work, especially when using lots of water for things like watercolours or using the packaging technique as this gives less warping of the card. I like to use a higher gsm cardstock so generally 250-300gsm as I scrap a lot on white and use the patterned paper on top of this. This helps to keep the layout rigid and buckles less when putting on lots of paper layers or heavier embellishments.

Pol: I usually use a 250gsm smooth white 12x12 cardstock for my pages. It's strong, and is perfect for hand stitching as it doesn't warp. For cutting in the cameo I use a 160gsm smooth white card, as it cuts much better than a higher gsm. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for with cardstock, and the higher quality the more you'll pay, but it's one of those things you can't skimp on. Some things you just can't get away with buying cheaply - like toilet roll, and baked beans! Base cardstock is one of them!

Susan: To be honest I'm not too fussy about my cardstock, tending to look for the right colour first and foremost, I do agree with Pol however, in that you get what you pay for. I always scrap using 12x12 but that's really my only stipulation. Smooth or textured, I don't mind unless I am stamping directly onto the base card then it needs to be smooth. American Crafts cardstock tends to be slightly cheaper than Bazzill but I like them equally. UK shop Hey Little Magpie offers a super matching service with the patterned paper collections they sell. The other place I buy 12x12 is Paper Mill Direct - they have considerably increased their colour range in this size and are a great supplier if you want a lot of cardstock in one colour. And last from me a tip - beware the cardstock with a bar code strip! If you don’t spot it until it’s too late to chop it off it won’t fit in your album!

Maria: I used to scrap in 8x8 pre-bound scrapbooks so for a long long time I never bothered about cardstock. When I finally moved to 12x12 a new world appeared in front of me. I could use pretty much anything as my base! I was not tied to the pre-bound pages any more! I love using textured Bazzill white cardstock, as it gives so much interest, even if you are leaving it like it is without adding any media on it. At the same time, if I don't have textured cardstock I don't mind that much. I bought a pack of economy smooth cardstock a couple of months ago and I must confess that I love it. I don't know why it's called ‘economy’ as I believe it is great quality! White backgrounds are all the rage at the moment and I am guilty of following the trend. However, I also love using other colours as my backgrounds. There are tonnes of manufacturers and suppliers out there to suit every taste!

Lisa-Jane: Cardstock has a bit of a chequered past with scrapbooking doesn't it? When I first started scrapping coloured card stock was all the rage and patterned paper was only for using on top of it, never as a base layer. Then they started playing with the core of the paper so you could emboss or tear or distress to reveal a different colour. Then kraft cardstock was the only ‘thing’ to use. Then cardstock of any colour seemed to be old hat because the weights of the patterned paper were heavy enough to use on their own. Now it's all about white card stock! I do use mountains of white myself because of my die cutting. I use a lower weight smooth cardstock for most of my cutting unless the customer requests the heavier weight for stitching or mixed media. I only use smooth cardstock because that way most of the designs can be reversed/flipped etc. I really like to have a mixture of patterned paper and solid colours for my backgrounds so I tend to use a lot of borders at the moment. This is where my ‘oops’ pack comes in ... if I have cardstock that has been damaged by light or dirt or is just a hideous colour you can't imagine using ever, then I keep them in my ‘oops’ pile. If I'm building a page from a 6x6 pad or using strips or gutting some precious patterned paper etc, or if my base layer has got warped then I'll use stuff from my ‘oops’ bag as a backing. It can help to keep your designs to 12x12 when you are piecing together a background and it provides stability because it is a solid piece. I also use a piece from the ‘oops’ bag when I'm using the apertures of my die cuts - I draw through the apertures onto the waste cardstock, remove the die cut, cover the individual shapes that I've drawn with patterned paper or Washi etc, and then replace and adhere the die cut on top. I rarely throw anything away, even if it is the ugliest shade of purple! (Ed: Oi!  I've just made a purple layout!! x)

Jess: I'm predominantly a pocket scrapbooker and more recently a Traveller’s Notebook scrapbooker so I have very little experience with cardstock. I use Project Life cards or patterned paper in my scrapbooking. I have only just started doing traditional scrapbook layouts and using mixed media so I'm kind of learning as I go along with some help from the subscription kits I am a part of. I recently created my first 8.5 x 11 layout and commented on social media that I didn't have any pockets or an album in that size. A helpful UK scrapbooker suggested I create A4 layouts that fit in basic folders and plastic wallets. Since then I have done a few layouts in that size and the card I have used for my white background has been from Poundland. See, you can tell I am no expert in this particular field. It is the cheapest place I've found that does A4 card and the quality suits my purpose. The page warps slightly when I add acrylic paint but once the layouts are in the folder they straighten out. Maybe if I start creating more of these traditional layouts I will purchase good quality card stock. For now, though, my Poundland stack suits me well.

Laura:  I think everything I have to say has been said already... textured, smooth, heavyweight, cheap and premium all have their uses.  I can only add that watercolour paper is fabulous for taking lots of wet media and rarely warps.  I find it hard to get 12x12 which is my preferred size, but I've found 16x12 cuts down to one 12x12 and two 4x6 postcards.  I prefer Winsor and Newton Cotman paper for scrapbooking.

Your First Photos | Laura R | Sketch

 I'm not one for double page layouts - I struggle with them immensely!  But I did like the double page sketch so condensed it down to fit a 12x12.  

You can see my process here: https://youtu.be/oE1kf2XDtNM

I kept my 'false start' in the video.  I tried to use a different background but reverted to white card stock.

I went with a circle of loose thread tacked on to the page with some decorative stitching.

And I followed that circle with my journalling.

Thanks for stopping by,

FTLOPP Blog Hop | Laura Rumble

This post is part of the National Scrapbook Day Blog Hop hosted by

the Facebook Group “For The Love Of Pretty Paper”

 

If you are following the hop you should have arrived here from Susan.  To be in with a chance of winning the Blog Hop prize you will need to comment on this post (and on all the blogs in the hop) and when you have completed the hop, return to the Blog Hop thread on “For The Love Of Pretty Paper” and leave a comment to let us know you have been all the way around the hop. Visitors who leave the same (or seen to be the same by the Organisers) comment on all the blogs will not be eligible for the prize. The Closing date for Blog Hop entries is Monday 8^th May at 10pm. Only UK addresses are eligible for the prize due to postage costs.  Good Luck!

The theme for the Blog Hop is “Favourite Technique” 

My favourite technique is to gather random things from my desktop and use them up rather than tidy them away!  

It's a good excuse not to tidy!

As you can see in my video I just gathered things from pots and piles, and a few pieces from my Silhouette Cameo cutting binge.

I find wood veneer tricky when it looks like wood so I often colour it.  With a coat off gesso pretty much anything will stick on a wood veneer.

This is one of my favourite techniques because nothing is wasted, every tiny scrap can find a home on a 'desk layout'.  Also, your layout is not expensive!  I feel guilty if I use lots of expensive embellishments on one layout.

After your visit here please hop on to Amanda and if you lose your way or you want to start at the beginning of the hop you can find the complete list on the Facebook page here or on Fiona’s Blog.

Happy Hopping!