pretty paper party catch-up

I started this post last week but realised it was little pointless given I couldn't post any pictures at the time.  So we took a pretty paper party break for a few days and now I have a few prompts to catch up on!


Prompt 4 - Dots and stripes

This photo was taken back in March at my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary.  It's the first family photo we took after finding out I was pregnant with our second child, so there are 4 of us present, even if the youngest is only 5 weeks gestation!


The background cardstock is dotted swiss by Bazzill Basics Paper and the patterned papers are from Echo Park's Walk in the Park range.  I love these papers and the elements stickers included in the collection pack.  And how fab are those glittery pink Thickers?!


Prompt 5 - Rough around the edges

Not a great photo, I'm afraid the light here isn't great.  I have a bunch of these photos of Isaac exploring the grass in our garden but haven't scrapped them yet.  Similarly, I have the collection pack for this paper range (Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, if you were wondering) and I've only made 1 layout with it.  This class is turning out great for using things up!  I also used a tag and some felt border that I've had for ages.  And that little button embellie was being saved for 'something special'.  Like my boy isn't something special!  (Besides, I have plans to buy more and I can't do that if I still have the originals, right?!)


The challenge was to do a bit of distressing, not my usual style but not completely out of my comfort zone.  I sprayed the cardstock with Studio Calico Mister Huey Dark Calico mist, distressed the edges of the papers and inked the edge of the photo matt, to help it stand out a bit more.  I also used a felt border for a different texture.  Incidentally, this is a scraplift of a layout by a friend of mine and it's based on prompt 1 - paper strips (I think!)


Prompt 6 - Print it out!

The printable elephants on this card were a friday freebie from Little Musings ages ago and aren't available anymore.  I coloured them with Promarkers (grown-up felt-tips!) and used just a scrap of some American Crafts paper to matt it.  I'm not a hydrid convert, I'm afraid; I can't be doing with all the colouring-in or cutting-out.  I also don't think it looks quite the same as proper printed papers and embellishments - unless the scrapper is really talented, you can tell what was printed out at home.  That said, I have the rest of a sheet of elephants and another of birthday dinosaurs that I would use to make cards or on the occasional layout. And it's always good to try new techniques!


Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about prompt 1 but I haven't given that card yet (and I know the recipient reads my blog) so you'll have to wait a little longer!!

document may 2011

I can't believe how quickly these 4 pages came together.  I started work on them yesterday while the boy napped, did about 45 minutes yesterday evening while he was in the bath and finished them this morning during naptime.  (I love 2 hour morning naps!)  So these are my pages for May 2011.  That was the month Isaac and all his friends started to turn 1 so that's taken up quite a lot of room.  I was back at work and so not taking as many pictures as usual or doing as many interesting things either.

May - Playground, Echo Park and Boy's Toys (embellishment kit), Make and Create Shop.  Birthday parties for Isaac's friends, 2 of which were cancelled for illness, Isaac learned to climb, things with no photos, playing in the park, 12 week scan for baby, Isaac's birthday party & Isaac's birthday.  Focus: Isaac turns one.

I love this paper range and I only once came across the problem of loving both sides of a piece of paper!  I used an embellishment kit I bought a little while ago, that's been sitting waiting for the right 'special project' to use it on.  In the spirit of pretty paper party, I just opened it up, tipped it out and used about half of it!  I love the little gingham flower and the felt car embellie the most!  Planning another order from this shop soon as their Christmas stuff looks like it will be fab!


Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last couple of posts - it's always great to know people are looking and liking!

document 2011

I'm taking a small break from pretty paper party to show you a project I've been working on since the beginning of the year.  The first thing you'll notice is that I am waaaaay behind!


Last year, Shimelle Laine launched a project called Document 2010 with UKScrappers, an online scrapbooking community.  The basic idea was to create an album documenting the big and little things that happen over the course of a year.  At the time, I thought I didn't have time to produce a set of layouts every month so I didn't join in.  And I spent an entire year becoming more and more jealous of all the beautiful projects I saw appearing, such as this one from Laura and this from Jen.


So when 2011 rolled around, I decided to make the time.  The basic set up is to take lots of photos (which I do anyway) and collect little bits and pieces from happenings throughout the month (which I also do anyway, I just didn't have anything to do with them until now!).  Then each month in the album follows the same format;

• An envelope page for storing all those bits and bobs;
• 12 mini-pages in divided page protectors, documenting all the things we've been up to;
• A focus page, highlighting something important from the month.

I've just finished April so I figure this is a good time to do a summary post.  For the most part, I've tried to stay within a paper range to make my life easier, though I do pull embellishments and things from the rest of my stash too.  Incidentally, I have the photos, the bits & bobs and the events for the rest of the months to date.  All I need to do is find the time to document them!

January - A Walk In The Park, Echo Park.  A weekend away in Wales, lots of new things for Isaac (teeth, carseat & shoes), eating out with friends and mummy & baby groups.  Focus: new year's resolutions.

February - Joyride, Cosmo Cricket.  A lot of lasts (last mummies & babies, eating out with Cathy and Kat, days at work for Andy), revising for exams, starting the Marriage Course at church, visitng my parents, a new niece (Amelie May), more teeth.  Focus: my birthday.

March - Girl Friday, Cosmo Cricket.  Full-time daddying, back to work, visiting Calke Abbey with my parents, passing MRCPCH 1b, learning new skills (climbing the stairs), my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary, a positive pregnancy test and the loss of my father-in-law.  Focus: the highs and lows we've had through the month.

April - Earth Love, Cosmo Cricket.  Easter (eating chocolate, messily!), eating outside in the sunshine, learning to stand, my first mother's day, 2 lovely weddings, visiting my parents and the return of morning sickness!  Focus: a sunny weekend with friends, including a BBQ.

I've just realised that this is a bit of a Cosmo love-in!  These are quite old ranges with lots of scraps that I wanted to use up.  I might have to find another manufacturer for May though!