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!

Grey Hair Don't Care | Amanda King (Guest Designer) | Sewing

We have a new guest designer this month, Amanda King, and we couldn't wait to see her take on this months theme of sewing.

Over to you Amanda....

When I read that this month's theme was sewing, I immediately thought of hand stitching a cut file. However, I had no idea how to get my Silhouette to cut the template so I decided to go old school instead. I decided on a Spirograph style pattern which I printed from online and started to punch the holes by hand using a paper piercer. I chose a subtle marbled pattern from DCWV's Romantic Life stack for my background and used a variegated embroidery thread.

The stitching took forever, and after four evenings of hand stitching I wondered if this had really been a good idea, but it's just one continuous line of backstitch so wasn't particularly difficult and I could watch TV whilst stitching.

Obviously after all that work I didn't want to cover up much of the stitching so I printed my single photo as a 7cmx7cm square (which is quite small for me). I layered it on a couple of papers from Hot Off the Press and some Pink Paislee Moonstruck which I tore on the top and bottom edges for a softer look. I then tucked various scraps, stickers and labels in on the left edge and cut pieces from another Pink Paislee paper to form a little cluster in the empty space at the top of the photo. I added a Maggie Holmes "Smile" sticker below the photo and cut my title on the Silhouette.

I'd originally placed my Spirograph pattern off-centre, and that gave me a wider space on the left of the page for my journalling, but I wondered if it might look a bit lost there, disconnected the photo, so I added a torn strip of washi tape to the left edge to anchor it and stop it floating off the page. Finally I repeated the washi by tucking a couple of pieces in above and below the photo block.

We love showcasing Guest Designers here on UKScrapAddicts and would love it if you would go and follow Amandas personal blog too - https://amandas-scrapbook-pages.blogspot.com/

Simplify | Di Willcox | Sewing

Hello there scrap addicts! It's Di here today :)

Has anyone started, or even finished, a layout involving sewing yet?! And if you have, have you shared it with us in the Facebook group?

For my sewing layout I've created a 'quilted' background by using a triangular quilting template, I was given, to shape the papers. I used papers from Pink Paisley 'Indigo and Ivy' and OneCanoeTwo 'Saturday Afternoon' to reflect the muted colours in the photo, which was of one of our rural accommodations in Italy.

I used some embroidery thread in complimentary colours and sewed around a selection of the paper pieces in different stitches, just because I felt it would add interest to the overall layout!

I love the rose gold foiled elements that feature in the 'Saturday Afternoon' papers so fussy cut some flowers to fill the bottom left hand corner and a single one in the top right corner, along with a journalling card.

I finished off the layout with a few embellishments, the name of the place we stayed and a foam backed house that is also foiled.

 This whole layout surprised me in the fact that I chose to hand sew the quilted pieces, when I usually reach straight for my sewing machine when stitching is mentioned! 

Hopefully this has inspired some of you to give it a go, it doesn't have to be anything complicated, and enjoy the challenge ;)

Di x

Goldies | Amy Kattenbelt | Sparkle

Today I'm sharing with you my take on a layout that has lots of Sparkle! I've used a mix of different sequins, glitter paper and glitter thickers to make my page stand out. I've also tried a new to me technique that involved sewing directly onto my page protector to create a sort of pocket border that encases a double sided 8x8 layout.

To see how this layout, or should i say layouts (as its actually double sided), was created pop over to our UKSA You Tube channel and watch the process video.

The photos don't really do the layout justice as the pocket border is obviously transparent with the sequins that move around freely when the page is turned. I love how different this looks in my album. Here is the front side...

And here is the reverse...

 Close up of the shiny glitter paper (From Shimelle's Box Of Crayons Pad...it doesn't shed glitter so isn't at all messy!!)

 And a close up of the sequins in the border shaker pocket...

Thanks for taking the time to come and look at my layout. I encourage you to give this technique a go...it really isn't as scary as you might think and creates a very special sparkly look!

Smile | Sheena Rowlands | Grab 5

Hi there Scrap Addicts x Sheena here again.

This month we have all been set a "Grab 5" challenge. To be honest I wasn't totally sure what this was but after watching a few youtube videos I started gathering my supplies together.

For my Grab 5 I chose - patterned papers, Vicki Boutin art crayons, embroidery threads, some Bramble Fox perspectives and finally  a selection of mini embellishments.

I chose the patterned papers as I tend to hoard pretty papers rather than use them, the crayons as I'm keen to find ways to use them in my scrapping since meeting Vicki Boutin earlier this year, the threads as I used to be a keen cross stitcher many years ago, the perspectives as I like trying new products and the sequins and drops as my collection of mini embellishments never seems to go down regardless of how many I use.

Smile.

I started off by mixing some of the art crayons with water and painting circles on my cardstock by hand and leaving them to dry.

Over these circles I hand sewed in a petal stitch in  co ordinating colours. This took me much longer than I anticipated but I was pleased with the finished result.

I matted my photo on a selection of the Paige Evans patterned papers and cut flowers from the leftovers to arrange around the circles to soften the look. I finished with adding sequins in the flower centres and a perspective as my title plus a couple of butterflies.

We would love for you to try this Grab 5 challenge and share your what you create over on our FB page.

Till next time x

Embrace Life / Sheena Rowlands / Stamping

Hi there Scrap Addicts x Sheena here again.

This month we have been challenged to create using stamps. I don't know about you but I tend to collect stamps rather than use them! So I had a look at the ones I'd most recently purchased - they were Vicki Boutin stamp & die sets & challenged myself to use them on a layout.

Embrace Life.

Back in August I'd visited the Frida Kahlo - Making Herself Up exhibition in London. It was a fabulous collection of photos, artefacts & clothing telling her story but photography were prohibited. Luckily they had this sculpture there & I took advantage for a few quick photos.

To recreate her flower head dress I water coloured paper using Vicki Boutin  Art Crayons to get a range of different shades of yellow, orange and pink.

Once dry I stamped flowers over this with similar coloured inks picking the parts of the water colour paper I liked the most. Then using the corresponding dies I cut them all out. I got a little carried away & made over 50 flowers!

Next I set about arranging the flowers to create a Frida type head dress, then sticking them down some on foam pads around my 2 photos. 

I kept the rest of the page quite simple just adding a little machine sewing, chipboard title and journalling. All papers used & title are from various Paige Taylor Evans ranges.

I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed stamping out these flowers & I need to try and use more stamping on my pages & have a good look through the stamps I own.

We look forward to seeing what you create with stamps over on our FB group.

Till next time x

The smallest things.../ Sheena Rowlands / Choose a shape

Hi there Sheena here again x
This month on the blog we have been challenged to choose a shape and use it as a focus on our pages either in a large way or as embellishments.

The smallest things...

I decided to use one shape to make another on my page so using scraps from Pebbles Lullaby paper range I cut 2 inch squares which I then halved diagonally and arranged in the shape of a heart.

If you try this just be aware of the direction of some of your patterns as initially I had stocks flying upside down on one of my triangles!!

When I was happy with their position I machine sewed them down to add texture. I then embellished with die cuts and stickers from the same paper range and matted my photo on papers from the 6x6 pad and added to the right of the heart. I tried not to cover too much of the stitching as it was a bit of a labour of love!

I finished with a few splashes of watercolour paint onto the cardstock.

I hope you get chance to try this for yourself x

Till next time.

Guest Designer - Jen Hart

I'm delighted to share todays guest designer is Jen Hart... 

Thank you so much UK Scrap Addicts for the opportunity to be a guest designer this month I love your ethos of showcasing UK Scrapbooking

My name is Jen Hart, I live, work and scrap in and about, very gratefully and happily, beautiful North Devon. I am a single mum of three amazing peeps: Lauren 19 at University in London, Louis 16 working as an Apprentice Painter and Decorator and Alex navigating Year 7. They simultaneously fill me with love, fascination, utter surprise, sheer terror and did I mention love  

I have an amazing friendship group that I met through UKS and have become my very best friends and we try and meet up at least once a year to retreat together, we chat every day, they have taught me nearly everything, I love them and they inspire me no end

At work I lead a brilliant team in a Tesco Express store and they simultaneously fill me with love, fascination, surprise, terror etc  I am very fond of them all

I love to scrapbook, i'm a newbie stitcher, i'm a proud weightwatcher, i'm a newbie gardener, i'm a keen diy'er, I love to walk (I am currently walking the Somerset and North Devon parts of the South West Coast Path). My Cup Is Full. 

I loved both the mood boards that are being showcased this month but this one is my favourite as it is full of my favourite colours and sparkly stuff.

I used a sketch from Creative Scrappers to start me off (no 305) and decided to swap out the stars for flowers and see where that took me. I love sewing on my layouts so I decided to do that first for the first layer of texture, I've put some of the photos and a couple bits of video of the steps together on a video to watch here: it's my first video like this, I've learned loads and would like to get good at it.

I used Kaisercraft Wildflowers paper collection from Merly Impressions in the UK, some Ali Edwards Craft The Story stamps, a Cathy Zielske Fit stamp and Cardstock, Nuvo Drops and general supplies from Hey Little Magpie. I also used Lucy's patterns from Attic 24 to crochet the leaves and hydrangea petals.

I also often make a companion project life page and sometimes a journaling 6x12 page to pop in between. The big hike that I did warranted a few more details for my album so I did...

I added in a QR code to link to some video footage as all my family love coming across those in the albums

Some of the journaling, I will have more I think.

And the reverse of that page; I generally add in another photo or two and use up some embellies and fave paper.

Thanks very much for looking at my scrapbooking

If you haven't already had enough, the video of my walk along the coast path is here:

Thanks for sharing with us Jen.  To see more of Jen's workvisit her here: Blog Instagram Pinterest YouTube