Ship of Dreams

Its Sketch and Scrap time – well it was last week, Im just a bit behind uploading to my blog!

This months sketch was chosen by Jo and had lots of layers to work with which I like:

I wanted to use up the Bo Bunny Etc. papers that I got in a Scraps of Darkness kit and found this photo from back in 2006 when Eugene and I visited The Titanic Experience while we were in Las Vegas. The famous staircase has been replicated and we couldn’t resist a photo opportunity.

One of the papers had these faux postcards printed on them so I decided to cut one out as a mat for the photo then do my journaling on the back.

Since being introduced to the Dusty Attic products in a recent My Creative Scrapbook kit I am hooked. The two ornate corners were embossed with copper to coordinate them with the papers.

Thanks for stopping by,
Hugs
Dee
xx

Getting Ready for 2012!

While most people at the moment are preparing for Christmas Im preparing for 2012. Im not a great fan of Christmas and therefore I dont do any Christmas crafting, although I have been know to make the odd Christmas card for a select few!

This time last year I was scanning the internet for projects I could do / follow during 2011 and I found the likes of Project 12 and Photography A-Z both of which I started and then failed miserably at finishing. I was so disappointed in myself for not keeping up with these but life never ever goes the way we think it will and I just didn’t have the time or the heart to complete them.

This year I have decided that for 2012 I am not taking on any projects. I am going to do what I can when I can that way I put no pressure on myself to complete things. That said I do want to record my family’s year somehow and while blog-hopping recently I found this inspirational post from Emily Pitts.

The overall size of her album was too small for what I wanted so I adjusted things slightly to suit and so my finished album measures 6¼” x 6¼”. The paper range I used is Crate Paper Farmhouse which I got in my My Creative Scrapbook kit back in October. Its a fabulous collection and lends itself to so many uses.

I started with some kraft cardstock and a few brown cardstock scraps and made the accordion pages:

This is the front of the accordion insert which I decorated:

Next I made the wrap-around cover. Now for the confession!  I actually stuck the cover on upside down so that the larger flap was on the wrong side  but by the time I realised it was stuck firm and I was not about to try to rectify it! So the cover unfolds from the wrong side – but hey, variety is the spice of life!

Here is the finished front cover. See what I mean about opening the wrong way ?  I still think it looks fabulous though.

A cute little 2012 tag attached to the ribbon with a jump-ring:

Inside on the left hand flap is the quote ‘Don’t forget the little things, they’re the one’s that mean the most’

Another pic of the front of the accordion section:

Each month of the year is allocated a double page. On one page the pocket contains two tags which I will stick snapshots to. On the other page the pocket contains a 5”x5” card which is my ‘Graffiti Wall’ this is where I will record the goings on for that month, things I want to remember (or forget as the case me be!) and stick ephemera to.

I have kept the inside quite plain and simple. I want to be able to record each month quickly and easily without too much need for decoration and embellishment which I have done in previous year’s albums.

And finally the back cover:

So I am all set for 2012 – bring it on!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Hugs
Dee
xx

Photo Finish!

Im currently taking a class with the very talented Elisha Snow on Big Picture Classes which is all about the post-processing of our photo’s. I use Photoshop Elements to tweak my photo’s but the program is so intense and capable of so much that its great to have someone show you the basics and the ‘how to'. Elisha has also introduced us to Adobe Lightroom and shooting in RAW format and I am already hooked!  On our walk yesterday with the dogs I snapped a few photo’s to play around with for my week 1 assignment.

The photo of Mia on the left is the original photo I took and the one on the right is the result of some basic editing in Lightroom and Photoshop to give the photo some warmth and correct / improve the lighting.

Here are some more shots from the walk which have not been edited:

And finally another comparison set, this time featuring Amy & Miley:

Its only week one of the class so I’ll be posting more updates and assignments as I go along.

Thanks for stopping by,
Hugs
Dee
xx

Adorable Smile

 

This week I played along with the Bird is The Word challenge  for the first time.  The challenge word is ‘Adore’ although I lengthened mine and went with ‘adorable’ instead.

The papers are Crate Paper Farmhouse and yes, I know I have been using them a lot lately . . .lol.  They are fabulous and so versatile.

This LO is also for last week’s weekly challenge on UKS. The criteria there was to use Autumnal colours, a cut out photo, glitter and/ or bugs and finally paint.

I distressed the yellow paper with 2 different shades of acrylic paint dabbers as well as using paint on the ‘honeycomb’ chipboard. The flowers and chipboard were glittered with stickles and I added a dragonfly for my bug. The photo is of Joe back in 2000. It was perfect for cutting out as there was a lot of background featuring other child from the park.

Over the past few weeks I haven't felt like scrapping much at all but thankfully that feeling is starting to turn and in fact I could quite happily sit in here and scrap all day at the moment!

Thanks for stopping by,
Hugs
Dee
xx