Family | Amy Kattenbelt | No Cardstock

Over on the UK Scrap Addicts this month, you might have seen we have been challenges to create a layout without using any cardstock. Now, this was quite a challenge for me, as recently i have been enjoying using white cardstock to create mixed media backgrounds. Let me share a few ideas I had about this challenge....

So I decided on picking a patterned paper to use as my background in replacement of a mixed media/cardstock combination. By picking this ledger style paper, that has a lot of detail and faux stamping on, i really feel that it made what was a very quick and simple layout look effective and interesting. This would also work well if you are yet to dabble in the world of mixed media (I totally understand its not for everyone, in fact I used to say it definitely wasn't for me at all until last year!...so do think about giving it a try...but i digress...). I also used a large photo to help cover up more of the page to make this challenge less daunting....and if you look at my paper choices carefully you will see that several of the papers have a very subtle pattern (watercolour wash effect) which helps stop the page being overly busy.

Other methods i had thought of using was that i could pick a very neutral plain (maybe a small repeating pattern) background and simply treat it as if it were white cardstock...maybe adding some white gesso to the centre and then working from there.

Or I thought i could create my own pattern using patterned paper if that makes sense. Using stripes of paper to create layers, or using 4 papers (maybe in 6 inch squares or 4 triangles) to create a complete 12x12 background.

Or i considered using two or three patterned papers layered horizontally. I do this a lot...i like to have 4 inches of paper at the top, then a 1 inch strip of a contrasting paper followed by 7 inches at the bottom of yet another paper.

I've done all of these ideas in the past. Please do pop over to our Facebook group and share your No Cardstock layouts with us, I would love to see your ideas.

And finally, I will leave you with my completed layout and close ups. Do also check out the process video, its only a few minutes long and you can see for yourself just how easy this type of page comes together.

Pocket Page Layout | Sarah Toward | Large Photo

Hi There

Sarah T here today sharing how I used a large photo in my Pocket Page scrapping.  I'll be honest I've never actually used a large photo in my Pocket Page layouts before this one.  I've wanted to, but my weeks are usually very photo heavy, so to take up multiple pockets with one photo wouldn't really be an option.  That is until I went back to finish some of my 2016 Pocket Page album and I came across a week where I only had photos available from two days of that week.

The photo I used needed to fill four pockets totalling an 8x8" area.  I don't have any fancy editing software, so I just used the iPhotos program on my iMac.

In iPhoto I was able to go into the print section, here I was able to choose the size of the photo paper I was going to print on, and then choose a custom size for the photo.

I printed the photo and trimmed it down, and then cut it into 4x4" squares.

Here you can see the photo cut into the four individual sections to go into the pockets.  I chose to embellish the top two sections, including that gorgeous flair from Bramble Fox.

And this is the final layout, featuring the large photo.  These five photos were the only ones I took this week, without the large photo there would have been a lot of empty pockets.

I will definitely use a large photo again in a Pocket Page layout, especially if I don't have a lot of photos available for that week as its a good way to use up pockets.

Here's a few more close ups of the spread.

I used last years Fancy Pants, Millie & June collection to create this weeks layout, along with some Kaitlin Sheaffer free printable labels and Shimelle puffy hearts from the Go Now Go collection.

Thanks for stopping by UK Scrap Addicts again today, don't forget to stop by the UKSA Facebook page where you can have a go at our challenge of using large photos in a layout and be in with a chance of winning a stash of goodies from our sponsor this month Bramble Fox.

See you all again soon.

xoxo

There is Sunshine in my Heart | Niki Rowland | Large Photo

Hi everyone, Niki here with you today with my take on the large photo theme this month. This pushes me way out of my comfort zone as I love to use little photos. But I have embraced the theme and gone for a 6x8" photo and have coupled it with a large title too.

I've used Papers and stickers by Echo Park called Summer Dreams. The title is from the Silhouette Design Store. I applied some ink in the area that the title would sit on so that my white title showed up. I did this using the packaging technique. I also added flicks in the same colour by mixing my ink with some water and flicking it on using a paintbrush.

I've put together a process video for you to watch. The layout came together really quickly - mainly becuase the photo and the title were both so big that there wasn't much room for anything else!

I hope you enjoyed the video and also are inspired to use large photos - the design team have certainly made some beautiful layouts with big photos.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I'll be back next month

Happy scrapping 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

Guest Designer | Bramble Fox

Along with their sponsorship Bramble Fox are also lending us their designers this month!!

 

I'm Christine Beuzit, I'm 48 and I live in France, Britanny.  I've got 2 kids, a cat, Sardine and a hen, Plumette.  I've been scrapping for 10 years now, and if I had to describe my style, I would say clean and simple with a touch of inks and stamps. Here are my social media links: Facebook Instagram Blog

First, I chose a picture of my kids which I particularly like and which I knew would fit the challenge of using a bigger picture than usual.

Then I worked on my background. I used some Stabilo Pen 68 added with water to make stains in colours which matched my picture. So I chose some blueish and greenish colors to match with the sea. I also used some texture paste and stamps in a diagonal, and colourful paper in the other diagonal before sticking my picture on its background.

Around the picture: I then added tags, stickers, stamps, sequins, various embellishments coordinated to the different colours already mentioned all around my picture.

To finish,I decided to add some embellishments ON the picture itself since it is a big picture. I chose a tag, some stickers and the "Hello Life" Bramblefox perspextive. I also added two Bramblefox flairs on the colourful stripes of paper.

I think working with diagonals and adding touches of colours make the page more dynamic.

Thanks Christine and Bramble Fox!  Don't forget to give @bramblefox a follow!

Beach Boys | Sheena Rowlands | Large Photo

Hi there Scrap Addicts x

This months theme of large photos had me looking back through my scrapbook albums. I realised over the years I've been scrapping with smaller & smaller photos. So maybe its time to challenge myself to go bigger with my photos.

The photo I've used for this page is an old one which I'd wanted to scrap but never got around to. I printed it A4 size which is as big as I can print at home.

Beach Boys.

I've used the Prima St Tropez range mainly to scrap with as the colours & beachy ephemera fit perfectly with my pic.

I've grouped my embellishments in 2 areas and overlapped the photo but tried to keep the feel that they were the only ones on the beach which was true as it was dry day in March when it was taken.

I added 3 inked wood veneer boys under my title and  then adhered random dew drops to add watery splashes.

Please show us your large photo layouts & share them with us on our Facebook page.
Happy Scrapping.

Guest Designer | Bramble Fox

If you were losing sleep wondering if it's possible for one of the UKSA team to guest blog on the UKSA blog you'll be happy to know it IS possible.  We welcome our Jackie, who is also on the Bramble Fox design team.

Hi, I’m Jackie, I live in Birmingham, I’ve been scrapping since 2008, you can find some of my layouts on my instragram pages - @jackiescraps, and also on the Hey Little Magpie blog as well as here at UK Scrap Addicts.  I’m also a partner in Birds of a Feather UK, which organise workshops and retreats in the West Midlands.

This is one of my current layouts for the CT for Bramble Fox.

For this layout I’ve used a 8 x 5 landscape layout, on a 9 x 12 page as this page will be added to my Paris Travel Album.

I’ve used the lovely perspextive ‘today’ and two of the flair badges.

I’ve kept the layout very simple, as I wanted the photographs to be the main focus of the page. This page will be on the reverse of the title page and will accompany a pocket page with some more photograph and journalling.

Bramble Fox have generously given YOU a code for 10% this month!

Our Getaway │ Gemma Summers │ Large Photo

Hello, Gemma here with my first layout for UK Scrap Addicts!

This month we are focusing on large photos in our layouts, and so I decided to challenge myself with a large 8x12 photo. I went with a big landscape view of our trip to Scotland last year, so the large photo could reflect the beautiful scenery.

I started by cutting into the photo! I trimmed the mountains edge because I had an idea to add to the scene by creating a cloudy blue sky. On some white cardstock I used some distress inks to create the bright blue backdrop. I fussy cut some clouds from Pink Paislee 'summer lights' paper no.05 and also used my cloud die to cut out clouds using paper scraps. I doodled round the edge of them with black and grey pens to help them stand out. 

Once I had stuck my photo on top of the sky layer I began to work on my title, which I placed on the photo. I used the chipboard 'Getaway' from Crate paper's 'Oasis' collection and kept the cluster simple with black enamel dots.

I used the white globe perspextive from Bramble Fox, who is our sponsor this month!

The Layout was looking very blue and green at this point and I love colour so wanted to add some accents in. I went with some small bright buttons, which I glued down and drew lines up to meet the clouds. I think this added some whimsy to the page and worked on a diagonal with the title.

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

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you enjoyed this layout.

See you next month!

Best View Ever | Polly's Papercrafts | Large Photo

Hi lovelies, 

It's Emma here with you today with a layout using a large photo. For my large photo I decided to make use of a panoramic shot that I took in Barcelona. 

Most smartphones will have a Panoramic mode on the the camera, which while they look amazing, don't print so well in a normal format. 

I popped my photo in to Pages on my Mac (you can do the same in Microsoft Word) and resized it to fit the page. I then just printed at home on A4 glossy photo paper - easy! The final print was about 4"x11.5". 

For the background I used a die cut heart 12x12 piece that I bought from Like For Ever a while ago and backed the open spaces with squares of pattern cut from the Pink Paislee/Paige Evans Oh My Heart collection (Paper 24). 

Then came the fun part of embellishing! A large photo doesn't leave a whole lot of room for embellishing, but in my panorama I had managed to capture a random man who, while I'm sure he was very nice, I didn't want in my photo - so I covered him up with a tag and a cute camera from Crate Paper's Oasis collection.

Of course you can see the full process of embellishing and title placement in my YouTube video here.

Thanks for joining me today, I hope you manage to make use of some of those photos that deserve prominent placement in your albums. Remember to share on social media using our hashtag (#ukscrapaddicts) so we can find you! 

Until next time...

Beautiful You | Pol Prince | Large Photo

Hi lovely scrappers! It's Pol on the blog today with a new layout featuring a large photo; July's theme of the month.

I don't scrap very often with large photos, but when I do, I really enjoy it and I vow to use them more often! I love the impact that large photos have on a layout, especially a black and white photo. 

I love the photo I have chosen for this layout, it was taken at my friend's wedding last year, and is a beautiful photo of us girls (and one honorary girl for the day, Shane!). I have been meaning to scrap it ever since. When I got the new Cocoa Vanilla collection, Wild At Heart, I knew the colours were perfect for this photo. Everything on my layout is from this collection.

I normally stick a large photo to one side of my page, but this time I decided I wanted some space at the top for a cluster, to balance the page out. The three clusters I have created around the photo draw your eye down and around the page whilst keeping the large photo as the main focal point. 

We'll be talking more about clustering in our second joint monthly blog post in a few days.

I chose this background paper as I loved the watercolour effect round the edges without being too busy. The navy colour crosses gave me the idea to do a few matching hand stitched crosses of my own, to 'anchor' my photo to the page.

The basis for my 3 clusters came from the small chipboard frames in the collection, and I added some cut up pieces of the paper die cut frames along with a die cut doily cut in half.

There were sooo many of the chipboard words, stickers and die cuts I wanted to use with this photo, so I really had to limit myself to just a few!

The wooden title 'Beautiful You' really was perfect for the gorgeous bride, and I tried to get it as close to her on the photo as possible, whilst trying not to cover up her beautiful dress too much!

I added some of the navy thread I used for the cross stitches underneath the flair buttons and the circular sentiment die cut.

I then chose a few simple small die cut flowers and butterflies for the clusters, in order not to overwhelm the page. The great thing about using a large photo on a layout though, is that you can really go to town on the embellishments if you want, as the photo will never look overwhelmed!

Finally I popped a few glittery enamel dots in and around the clusters to finish them off. Voila, one large photo layout finished, with a renewed resolution to create more! 

We'd love you to have a go at our challenge this month, to use a large photo to create a new layout. We're defining 'large' as a 6x8 size photo as a minimum, so even larger if you'd like. Don't forget there's a great monthly challenge prize to be won, so add your layouts to our UK Scrap Addicts facebook page.

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!

Guest Designer - Essie Peck

The first of our July guests is the lovely Essie...

Hi, I'm Essie (Esther) and I was so pleased to be asked to guest design for UK Scrap Addicts, thank you for having me!  I have been crafting in one form or another my whole life and discovered scrapbooking in about 1998 through Creative Memories.  I live with my partner Pete in a small rural town in Suffolk.  We have recently moved house giving me a bigger craft space, luckily Pete is very tolerant of my paper addiction and messy spare room!  I design and teach for Go Go Getaway and my favourite things are messy mixed media techniques and rubber stamping. 

I started with an 8x6 photo taken on our recent holiday to Benidorm, having decided on where I would place my photo on the background paper I applied some gesso with my finger over a slightly larger area, and once dry stuck down the photo.  I then applied more gesso overlapping the edges of the photo.  I applied Ranger texture paste (opaque matt) through a stencil along three edges of the photo and then also added Golden Glass bead gel randomly.

Once dry I used geletos to add colour to the gesso/paste/bead gel, trying to co-ordinate with the colours in the photo and blending with a tiny amount of water and my finger.  Over the gelatos I applied generous amounts of stickles in matching colours - can never have too much sparkle!  Before the stickles along the bottom edge dried I added some mica flakes.  I then splattered some gold and white ink (white was Dylusions, gold was borrowed from a friend and I can't remember the brand sorry). 


Once all this was dry it was a case of adding the title, journalling strips, heart embellishments and a few Nuvo drops. 




Thanks for joining us Essie!  You can find more of Essie's work here:
blog, pinterest, instagram.

If you fancy guest designing for us drop us an email to ukscrapaddicts@gmail.com!