Snow Cute

I'm not sure how many of you read the UK's Scrapbook Magazine, but this is one of the LO's I designed for the scraplift feature in the Decembers Issue. I got sent the Bo Bunny papers to work with, and found this photo that our eldest DD had taken of her and little DD many years ago. It was a nice surprise as it was on a CD that she was going to throw away - purely because she couldn't be bothered to sort out her pile of stuff/junk she'd left here before going off to Uni 3 years ago......


So this is made with: Bo Bunny papers, Scrap FX title, Inkadinkadoo stamp, Prima flowers, Marianne designs chrismas tree branch die, Martha Stewart loop corner punch and Snow tex, which I love adding to snowy pages!

My Last Class at Paperarts before Xmas

This was the class that I taught just before Xmas, not a lot of cutting out again,(I didn't want people to have blisters for Xmas, might interfere with basting the turkey or something). But I think people are missing it, so they'll probably be lots of cutting out on my next LO, which I believe is the 21st Jan at PaperArts. I'll put up a sneak peek when I've actually done the lO.


I'm thinking I need to have a good old tidy up of my 'craft room', especially all my patterned papers. I end up with lots of baggies full of scraps that I've used for each page and try (usually unsucessfully) to sort them out and file them back in colours...I've lots and lots that need doing at the moment, so as all the children are occupied I might have a sort out.... Or I might just do some more blogging as I'm so far behind !!!

A whole Lot of LO's

Todays Class

This was todays class at PaperArts, I think everybody had fun, not too much cutting out, but obviously inking everything !!! Its interesting to find out that several DH's are liking the LO's I do too....

We used some Authentique & Cosmo Cricket papers, marianne dies & MME stamps. I also brought in my old, old typewriter to encourage more journaling.....I've now got orders for old typewriters if I can find them !!

Next weekend at PaperArts

A little sneak peek of next weeks class at PaperArts, lovely yellow and orange, autumn colours, 2 7x5" photos, a little cutting out, stamping and inking....and cake of course...

Here is what we did on Saturday.

This is what we did at PaperArts for this weeks class, it was inking and water distressing. I was pleased to see that people are relaxing a little, and getting happier to spritz water over the gorgeous papers and then crunch them up......I love the linen texture it produces.....I did add some journalling with my ancient typewriter, but haven't been able to photo it, as I left it in the shop. I think the LO was up on the wall before I even left !!!!


Next class I believe is Nov 26th, but I will be at Paperarts for their open weekend, doing some demos, so please come along and join in the fun and laughs and eat cake !!!

Some new Sneak Peeks for the class at Paperarts

For my next class - this is the really distressed look - water and screwing up paper, I know you like it really, I love the way it creates a look like material. Again there is no fussy cutting, just punching and water mainly and inking of course !! They've still got the class down as Rachels but I'm afraid its really going to be me....book here !!

A little Sneak Peek for Scrap365 Magazine

I can only show you a couple of sneak peeks for a LO I was asked to do on behalf of PaperArts for the new Scrap365 Magazine, thats out soon.....this Lo won't be in for a couple of months, but I thought I'd let you have a sneak peek...I used the new Authentique 'Gathering' papers - these papers are so thick and lush...and they love the Tim Holtz distress inks !!! They are instore now at Paperarts, best get in the shop quickly......

Ooops forgot to post these !!

These are the pages I did at the Swindon 48hr crop....I did teach 2 classes too, but even then my efforts are pretty useless for 48hrs of scrapping.....I'll have to go again and try harder next time !!!

I was practicing trying to get the 'blur' with my new, 2nd hand lens, a Sigma 24-60mm F2.8. Ds4 was a very willing subject luckily...its nice to have loads of photos of them at the moment ! I used an EK sucess punch, some assorted stamps and a scrapfx chipboard key.

This was paracticing with my other new 2nd hand lens a Sigma 70-200mm F2.8, again trying to get the 'blur'. Dd3 was only willing if she could keep hold of her phone and wear her flip flops. I used a Marianne die for the leaves, Petaloo for the flowers and a Martha Stewart punch.

Another page of practicing, I've taken several hundred photos lately of the children - well those that don't mind having their picture taken - this is dd3 playing in the woods and stream near our house. I used a Martha Stewart corner punch on the inside of the circle on this LO, a Tim Holtz mask, Marianne leaf die and some Prima flowers.

This was the PaperArts class

I'm still lovin' those authentique papers, this time we went with the autumn theme, with photos taken in the park with two of the girls playing around.... I loved the Marianne dies too, it was a bit of a pain to do 4 sets, 15 times, but I did want some for myself. Sue sold out, so maybe next time she has some in !!!

Sneak Peeks for my next PaperArts class.

Here are some peeks of the next class I'm doing at PaperArts. I've used Authentique Papers, Marianne dyes, some lovely coloured cardstock and ribbon.
Its a real Autumn theme, but then again it doesn't have to be, the dominant colour is mustard yellow, with brown, red and orange.
I think you'll enjoy it, and honestly there is no fussy cutting at all on this one !!! Really I'm not lying....

The LO's I taught for the Swindon 48hr Crop

These are the finished Lo's from the 48hr crop Near Swindon....I had such fun, it was a brilliant weekend and very well organised...Sue from PaperArts brought her mobile shop along, and it was hard to resist...another event has been organised for the 24th - 26th Feb 2012, so I'll definately be there.....

I'm the replacement teacher !!!

I've been called into Paperarts as the replacement teacher this weekend as Sandie has a trapped nerve in her shoulder - hope it gets better, by next weekend Sandie !!! So this is the page I've come up with at short notice....its not girly colours, more masculine and features shoes.....So come along and join us at Paperarts...

Scrapbook Magazine Art Deco Article

These are the 2 Lo's I did for an article in Scrapbook magazine....I found them very challenging, I don't do straight or symmetrical pages, so It was soooo hard....I do like them, they just don't look like I did them...but I suppose its good to be challenged occasionally, it just confirms I like the distressed, shabby look better !!!
I was really fortunate that Dusty Attics design team had just released some LO's using the new chippies, I spotted the 'Art Deco' frame, and wrote to Jen@dustyattic in Australia asking if anybody in the UK had them, she replied and said she'd sent me some straight away - what service !!! They really made the page......

Authentique Sept Sketch Challenge

I thought I'd enter the Authentique sketch challenge, this make of papers has only just come to my attention, but I already love them....they are a thick paper, so ideal for distressing, they soak up the distress inks beautifully, and the colours & design are just gorgeous....I'm looking forward to using the 'Glowing' collection with DS5 and his shining orange hair !!!

This Lo was made with the 'Blissful' collection, which went perfectly with DD3 and some yellow Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' in our garden. It was a blustery day, so she was having trouble keeping her hair out of her face...

Latest PaperArts class

This was the class I taught at PaperArts this weekend. There was quite a bit of cutting out to do, but I really liked this page, the Authentique papers were lovely to work with and absorbed the distressing inks beautifully. The american crafts rose ribbon added the finishing touch... I hope everybody enjoyed the class and the lovely cake..

A Country Girl

I loved this lost and found range from PaperArts and had some ideal photos to use with it. We often go for walks in the evening when its still light, so its ususally a good time to take my camera. The flowers are some Petaloo and Prima basics, I used a sizzix die for the leaves, and a new bird stamp that I got from PaperArts, and a Tim Holtz flock of birds stamp. I also made the little triangle banners. Of course I inked everything first !!!

More Sneak Peeks for Swindon

Another Sneak Peek for Swindon, this is going to be on the Sunday morning I believe...This will be a little bit easier and less intricate cutting out, as I'm sure lots of you will be feeling tender then.....I have more boys than girls, but seem to do more feminine LO's than the masculine ones, so I thought I'd best do one of each this weekend - keep it even.....this is my DH the morning after his 50th Party....not one of his best looks (& I don't think he was too happy I was taking photos)....Colour scheme is bright but fun from Basic Grey and Crate paper...

From this to this:

Sneak Peeks for Paperarts 10th Sept Class

Here is my latest sneak peek for my class on 10th Sept at Paperarts I think there is plenty of room at the moment, but I'd be quick, my last class sold out by the time I taught it....I really enjoyed doing this one - its a 'girly' one !!! Its actually become one of my favourite LO's of all the ones that I've done...I think its the new authentique papers, I think they were made just for me!!!

Sneak Peek Swindon 48hr Crop

This is the sneak peek for the Saturday Afternoon Crop, I was going to do it on the Sunday morning, but decided your cutting out fingers may be affected by the Saturday night hotel Party!!! Price for the class is £8.50 and if you'd like a kit please let Rachel know via FB...

I have also added this photo to show you which papers I chose and which Picture, perhaps it will help you choose a suitable photo ?

The Pits

This weeks http://colorcombosgalore.ning.com/ challenge has some very interesting colours in.
The added challenge was to show some weaving or mesh..
My take on the colours and challenge is here. The winding gears up at the Pits were the perfect colour, and luckily Miss A, had a blue top on (not quite the right blue, but reasonable). I had fun making the cogs with my Tim Holtz die and used a spellbinder leaf die too. The chicken wire stamp is from Studio Calico, and its getting better to use.
The tickets are another Tim Holtz die and stamps from creative expressions. Hope you have a go at the challenge too...it gets you out of your comfort zone !!!