R & R | Sheena Rowlands | More than One collection.

Hi there UK Scrap Addicts, Sheena here again x

For our challenge this month we are using more than 1 collection on our layouts. In my craft space I keep some types of supplies together my theme rather than collection - Travel, Love / Valentine & Halloween. I decided using one of these would be a good way to mix collections.

R & R.

I started my layout by choosing an old patterned paper by Making Memories from 2008 !! and added Distress Oxide to this using the packaging technique.

I started with 3 tags as my base, one of which I created as odd numbers always look best. I printed the photo of my Daughter recently on holiday 4x3 inches and used that as a colour guide to choosing my embellishments.

I rooted through my travel storage box and pulled out more ancient Making Memories supplies plus more recent collections from Pinkfresh Studio - Out and About, Crate Paper - Here + There, Crate Paper - Oasis and Crate Paper - Wild heart.

I layered up stickers, chipboard, stamps, tags, ribbon, acetate and puffy stickers onto each tag until I was happy with them and stuck them down.

I hope this inspires you to mix up your collections when you scrapbook. Do share your creations with us over on our FB group.

Till next time x

Together | Sheena Rowlands | Sketch

Hi there UK Scrap Addicts x

This month our challenge is to use a fabulous sketch created especially for us by Laura Rumble. I love a good sketch so was well up for this challenge.

Together.

When I first looked at the sketch I turned it around a few times but in fact I settled on using it exactly as it was.

I'm not really a star person but a sketch is just a guide or starting point so I thought about layering hearts instead I had a good look through my stash and dug out any ranges with hearts on including Pebbles - Forever my Always, Crate Paper - Main Squeeze and Heart Day.

I picked out stickers, chipboard pieces, fringed and tasselled hearts and then cut a few more from patterned papers then layered them together on foam pads up the left side of my patterned paper background. I added in a few sentiment banners in between.

I only wanted to use one photo so I added a couple of journalling cards to help balance it & give me a small place to write on. I found a padlock stick as I was finishing this page so added a cluster around my title so I could use it on here.

I finished up with a Perspective title and mini hearts to add another pop of blue.

I hope this sketch and my layout provide some inspiration to get scrapping. Please share your creations with us over on our Facebook group page.

Till next time x

Sweet | Sheena Rowlands | Sewing

Hi there UK Scrappers x Sheena here again x

This months challenge is sewing. I know this isn't something everyone likes to do but it can be a great way to add some texture and interest to your scrapbook pages.

Sweet.

For this page featuring my new Nephew and a crocheted horse I've just made him I decided to use both machine and hand sewing as I know not everyone has access to a sewing machine.

I used the sewing machine to firstly sew my cardstock to a patterned paper border leaving enough of a gap to bend the cardstock edges slightly. Also for the first time I stitched my photo to the matting layers behind and I really like how this looks so will probably do it again.

From the Pink Paislee - Little Adventurer range I die cut a number of circles of different sizes. I added interest to some of these using complimentary coloured thread, either by chain stitching around the edge or by adding french knots to the circles with animals on, adding to the border that was already there.

Adding sewing to embellishments in this way is less scary if you are new to sewing than adding directly to your layout. If you are not familiar with some embroidery stitches there are some good you tube videos you can watch whilst you practise. 

I finished my page with a die cut title and some wood veneer from the Little Adventurer range.

I hope you feel inspired to try sewing on your creations and please do share them with us over on our Facebook page or if you have any sewing related questions we would be happy to help x

Till next time x

#26 years | Sheena Rowlands | Mixed Media

Hi there UK Scrap Addicts x  Sheena here again.

Our challenge this month is Mixed Media.  In case mixed media is not something you are familiar with here is a definition ...
Mixed media is a termed to describe artworks composed from a combination of different media or materials.

This got me thinking that I wanted to create something a little different for this challenge .

#26 Years.

I wanted too make my own college paper.

To start off I gathered lots of patterned papers from Love themed ranges in shades of pinks, reds and blues. I tore them into small pieces and glued them on to a piece of cardstock in a random way.This is very therapeutic and a great way to use up scraps. I added pieces of doily and after letting it dry I added machine sewing to add texture.

From this college paper I then cut a series of hearts to use on my layout. I have plenty left over & I'm already thinking of how I can use it on another layout. I then added a circle of watercolour paint on my background cardstock, added a few splatters and then machine sewed on top of this once it was dry.

I used a sketch by as the basis for this page by Ashley Horton. I finished my page with a Thickers title, stamped sentiments and a few heart embellishments.

I hope you feel inspired to try some Mixed Media on your next layout.

Please share it with us on our UK Scrap Addicts Facebook group.

Till next time x

Smile, Laugh, Play | Sheena Rowlands | Fussy Cutting

Hi there UK Scrap Addicts x Sheena here again.

Our challenge this month is Fussy Cutting. When I think of fussy cutting I think of cutting flowers from patterned papers so I wanted to do something different for this challenge.

I had a root through some of the patterned papers in my stash and found this one by Pink Paislee for Paige Evans and felt it had potential so I got fussy cutting.

Smile, Laugh, Play.

From the patterned paper I cut out all the 5 full scalloped circles with a little white border to help them stay whole.I tend to do this type of fussy cutting in front of the TV but with a tray on my lap to catch the bits!!

Once cut I positioned them one at a time on the patterned paper background machine stitching them down. Once they were all sewn down I curled the scallops a little.

I added a small photo and embellished around it with Paige Evans die cuts from a number of different ranges.

I hope you are inspired to do some fussy cutting and please share with us on our UK Scrap Addicts Facebook group.

Till next time x

Happy | Sheena Rowlands | Sparkle

Hi there UK Scrap Addicts x Sheena here again.

Our challenge this month is to use Sparkle on your scrapbook page. This challenge can be interpreted any way you like and I chose to use sequins on my layout to create some Sparkle.

I used a cut file as the basis of my page, I added foam pads to the back of the cut file to add some depth then I used Simple Stories Forever Fall paper to back all the leaf cut outs. Before I stuck them all down I added acetate behind 8 cut file leaves and built them into mini shaker boxes with foam pads. I chose the sequins for each shaker box depending on the colour of the paper below them. I really like the delicate effect this creates.

Once I was happy with the cut file I mounted it onto my layout base using foam pads. I trimmed my photo and matted it on various scraps of Forever Fall papers and attached it with foam pads just overlapping the cut file.

I tucked in leaf and flower stickers and die cuts either side of my photo then added a Perspective over the photo after I'd added some thread to it in complimentary colours. My title was also off the sticker sheet.

I hope you are inspired to add a little Sparkle to your pages. Please share with us over at the UK Scrap Addicts Facebook page.

Till next time x

Love | Sheena Rowlands | Punches.

Hi there Scrap Addicts x Sheena here again.

This month our challenge is to use punches to create our page. I have to confess to having plenty of punches that never see the light of day! So I had a look through them and chose an old favourite to use for this page.

Generally when I use punches I tend to use papers from my scrap box so as you can see I went through and picked all the blue scraps and starting punching heart.

Love.

I started arranging all the punched hearts into a heart shape but also trying to create an ombre effect.  I only used the 2 bigger sizes of hearts I'd punched and included them in a haphazard pattern mixing the papers.

When I was happy I stick each one down using foam pads to the cardstock which took longer than I'd thought it would! I really didn't want to cover them over so I added my matted photo and a few clustered flowers to one corner plus a couple of butterflies. Finishing off with a few splatters of paint, a machine sewn edge and a Perspective title.

We would love to see you layouts using punches on our Facebook group.

Till next time x

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

Lets Explore / Sheena Rowlands / Small Photos

Hi there Scrap Addicts x Sheena here again.

This month we have been challenged to create using small photos. Generally I tend to scrap with just 1 photo on a layout so I also challenged myself to use more than 1 photo.

Lets Explore.

Once I had decided to scrap photos from a recent road trip to France I printed 5 photos all 2 1/2 inch square, in fact only 4 made it on my page in the end. I keep all my travel themed papers and embellishments together just to make it easy when I scrap. I loved the map paper from Crate Paper Here and There range & had to use it as my base.

Originally I cut my title on the Silhouette with the intention of backing it with patterned papers but I loved the base paper so much I decided to leave the title unfilled but elevated on foam pads.

I gathered my photos plus some papers and postcards to layer with and added them across the bottom of my page & adhered them when I was happy with how they looked. I then added 3 clusters of embellishments plus a few hand written details.

I love how this came together & we would love to see your pages featuring small photos over on our FB page.

Till next time x