~ Fabulously Festive ~

I have had a fantastic Christmas period and only had to do a couple of shifts at work. As it was our first proper Christmas in our new home we stayed here and cooked for family on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. One of the best things has been having time to get in my craft room and play with the festive Like For Ever Kit called 'Wish List'.

This Christmas has seen lots of 'firsts' in our household and I didn't have photos to document them all so I used some generic Christmas décor photos and added a list of 'firsts' as the journaling. I was playing around with the settings on my camera to get these monochrome photos just right.

I have had this photos for years! It is a photo taken of my cutie pussy cat called 'Millie' when she was a kitten. This was her first Christmas and she was such a poser! I used a couple of the Coco Vanilla 'Tis the Season' collection die cut embellishments as my title. This is a really simple page and I'm not entirely happy with it. I feel like there is just something missing but can't put my finger on it

I can't resist my layers and the next layout has even more! I found some old yellow/gold star gems that worked perfectly with the embellishments on this layout.

This is another photo that has been around in my craft room for a while. It was taken by my cousins wife in 2013 when we were down for our annual Christmas visit. I absolutely love Christmas and we look so happy here I thought it would be a good thing to document.

The 'Wish List' Kit has been amazing! I have managed to get 7 layouts, 1 décor piece and some handmade embellishments for gift bags all from the kit.

I have a couple more layouts to photograph but the light over the last few days has been awful. The weather tonight is very stormy but thankfully I'm tucked up in the armchair under a fluffy blanket.

Happy Crafting!

~ Merry Christmas ~

Enjoy your Day!

~ T'was the night before Christmas ~

I must admit that Christmas Eve is one of my favourite times of the festive season. I'm trying to create a bit of a tradition with my partner where we buy each other new pyjamas and watch a film whilst having a couple of drinks (I would live in pyjamas if I could!).

So back to the Christmas crafting. I have managed to create a few layouts over the month so far. All using the Like For Ever 'Wish List' Kit. I have pretty much fallen in in love with the beautiful colours of the Coco Vanilla 'Tis the Season' Collection.

Last December we went to Berlin for a few days for the Christmas markets and then proceeded to move house a week after we got back. This has meant that I had not scrapbooked a single photo from that trip yet. So I dug out the prints and made a start on at least getting a few memories down on paper.

Both these layouts were inspired by ladies over on the Like For Ever Kit Subscriber Facebook group. One had some teared paper across the page she had made and another had used the die cut embellishments to create a garland. I love how inspirational all the ladies are in the group.

As per usual my love of layers has prevailed and I have lots of paper and pieces around my photos.

As you read this I suspect I will be knee deep in vegetable preparations ready for the big day.

 

Merry Christmas!

~ MIA in December ~

Ok so I think I need to apologise for my lack of posting over the last few weeks!

All the fun of Christmas seems to have taken over! I am hosting Christmas dinner this year for the first time so finding menu planning and table decorating quite time consuming. Plus I have struggled to get decent photos of my crafty creations due to dull and miserable days here in the UK.

But hopefully I can get back on track a little before heading off on my winter holiday to Thailand and Laos in January.

So I thought I would kick off the festive posts I have planned with a couple of Christmas cards made from the 'Wish List' Kit from Like For Ever. Now this kit mainly features Coco Vanilla 'Tis the Season' and Pink Paislee 'Yuletide' Collections and I wouldn't usually have chosen the pastel colours found in the Coco Vanilla collection but I must say I love it!

Pop back tomorrow as I hope to have a couple of layouts ready to show you. 

Happy Crafting!

~ Twenty Sixteen ~

My new Like For Ever Kit 'Twenty Sixteen' has just arrived in time for Christmas thanks to the Shop's fantastic owner, Nicola. It looks amazing! I can't wait to get creating with it today.

Below is a selection of some of the products that can be found in the kit. This month includes a Heidi Swapp Shine mist, so if you've wanted to try and give misting a go this would be a great co-ordinating starting kit.

Nicola has created an absolutely stunning inspiration post over on the Like For Ever Blog with a beautiful layout. I think I am now in love with the washi tape in the kit.

There are some fantastic subscribers who use the kits to do allsorts including scrapbooking, card making, project life, home décor and to embellish planners. It really is that versatile.

Unusually there are a few kits up for grabs this month so if you want to give it a go head over to the Like For Ever shop to get your hands on one or o find out more details about subscribing.

Happy Crafting!

~ Stick It Down - December Sketch ~

I'm a little late posting this month as the Christmas preparations and festive fun has overtaken slightly.

Here is my final project for my Stick It Down DT term for 2015. I'm pleased to say that I will be continuing with my role on the design team for the next 6 months.

 Why not head over to the blog and join in with this month's sketch.

This layout shows me with my guiding friends at a her wedding in August. I absolutely loved using the Maggie Holmes 'Confetti' collection. It worked well with this theme. This page used up the last of my patterned paper and embellishments from the collection. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next year.

Here's wishing everyone a fantastic Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~ Stick It Down Blog Hop ~

Welcome to Stick It Down's November blog hop! Several of our design team members have created projects to share with you using any of our past SID sketches. If you've never participated in a blog hop before, you'll "hop" from blog to blog to visit each designer's page and project. You'll leave a comment at each stop along the hop. The hop will end right back here where you started, where you can comment to let us know you've completed the hop and you're entered to win the grand prize. You have until Monday November 23 at 11:59pm to complete the hop. The winner will be announced on or before November 25.

We have several prize packages and one grand prize lined up! Paper Wings Productions is generously sponsoring our blog hop and is offering a $25 gift certificate to the online store!

Paper Wings Productions is owned by Carrie Edelmann Avery. All of the PWP stamps are produced in the USA and are made using the highest quality of materials. You can check out the PWP online store to see the red rubber cling stamps and the clear photopolymer stamps!

Are you ready to get started? Here is the order of the hop, in case you get lost:

Marci

Irmeline

Lore

Hanne

Amanda

Terri Ann

Alison 

Evelyn

Ronna

Ali

Ashley

Katy

Stick It Down 

Hi there! Terri-Ann here.

I looked back at previous sketches and picked one which I hadn't used before. Much of my scrapping is around my travels and this layout is from our trip to Tunisia.

I love how this sketch has 4 main square elements offset to the bottom left corner of the layout.

This actually turned out to be quite a simple layout once finished and I managed to use up quite a few different bits from my stash!

(Apologies for the poor photo quality, the weather here in the UK is currently bleak and dull!)

I used a flare badge from Hey Little Magpie and a few 'Hello World' collection die cuts.

I picked up these cute Studio Calico wood veneer aeroplanes from TK Maxx. I rarely drop lucky and find the crafting bargains that can be found in store.

So now why not hop on over to Alison  to see what she has created...

Happy crafting!

~ Stick It Down - November Sketch ~

Wow, don't the month's just keep coming round so quickly! It's that time of the month where I reveal my Stick It Down Design Team entry for their monthly single page sketch.

So here goes!

I impressed myself this month by using some patterned paper that has been sitting in my craft room for longer than I care to admit. I love patterned paper but sometimes I just can't decide what to combine it with.

P.S I've no idea why this photo is blurred as the original is in focus.

So this layout documents our trip to London for my partner's birthday. He tried Dim Sum for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it (I think!). I love asian food as I find it much lighter on the stomach than British/French/American styles.

I hope to see your creation over at Stick It Down.

Happy Crafting!

Terri

x



~ Hello, I love you ~

Good morning, I'm looking forward to a few days off once I finish nights at the end of this week.

 

I'm not usually a fan of the rotary word/date kind of stamps as I often find them difficult to use but I'm loving the Maggie Holmes 'Shine' one which came in this months Like For Ever kit. The sentiments are perfect for lots of different layouts.

 

 

I absolutely love this photo of me and my fella on the beach at Southport Air Show in September. The weather was lovely and we enjoyed sitting around watching the planes go by.

 

 

I'm back to my old ways with my layers and I love it. In the kit we got some Amy Tangerine vellum pockets. I slipped the 'hello' card in to the pocket which has grey strips and a plain heart in the centre.

 

Happy crafting!

 

Terri

x

~ Not a favourite ~

So I've been in two minds as to whether or not I should blog this layout as I'm really not sure about it. It was my original attempt at the Like For Ever Scrappy Sunday Challenge 'To go as big as possible with your title'.

 

I knew what I wanted to do in my head but it didn't really come out on paper how I had imagined. But I thought, what the heck here it is. The only bit I really like is the little cluster of embellishments in the top right corner.

 

 

This beautiful tree was in the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden in Grasmere, Lake District.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

Terri

x

~ Such a perfect day! ~

Well, here we go, first I started with a few mists and gesso but now I've dripped my little toe in to some texture paste and stencils. I wasn't sure about this layout when I created it but I must admit it is growing on me!



 

 

I love my layers and this seems to be a great way of adding more to my layouts. The only problem is I have no patience to wait for the texture paste to dry so I have to have 2 pages on the go at the same time.

 

I cut up the Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Shine collection paper called 'Treasures'. It had lots of black and white frames on it and as soon as I saw it I new I wanted to cut it up. I have an idea of what I'm going to do with the left over piece too.

 

This layout documents the day out to Alexandra Palace during our trip to London. They had the largest beer garden in Britain. There were loads of amazing food stalls, we chose the Greek street food vendor. The weather was amazing and we spent the day lazing on the grass in the sun.

 

I've got a very busy week so thinking it's unlikely that I'll get any crafting done. Might squeeze a quick layout in on halloween depending how many Trick or Treaters we get.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

Terri

x

~ Like For Ever Scrappy Sundays ~

Happy Sunday!

 

As you read this I will be half way through a 12 hour shift so I hope you enjoy your day and manage to join in with this weeks Scrappy Sunday Challenge of on the Like For Ever blog.

 

The challenge was to go as large as you can with your title.

 

I actually found it really quite a hard challenge and don't really like the first attempt with last month's kit so I redid the challenge with the new kit and looked at the challenge from a different angle.

 

 

So I decided to go for a large long title as I really wanted to scrap this quote which sums up my feelings about travel. It is one of my favourite things to do and I aim to get in as much as possible whilst I'm reasonably well at the moment. Out next adventure will be to Thailand/Laos in January! I'm on count down already.

 

I'm loving this month's 'Hello, Beautiful' kit. It's filled to bursting with the gorgeous Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Shine collection.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

Terri

x

~ An Autumnal break ~

I've had a week 'mostly' away from Facebook and Instagram, apart from 'checking in' and adding a few photos I haven't been actively reading group posts or other people's status updates. I must admit that I have missed some bits such as looking at people's lovely Instagram photos and chatting with the other ladies in the Like For Ever subscribers Facebook group.

We have had a beautiful week in the Lake District, visiting National Trust properties and enjoying the amazing scenery. Here is a snapshot of what we got up to:

A scenic walk from Wray Castle.

A day dedicated to all things 'Beatrix Potter' including Hill Top Farm (Beatrix Potter's Home and inspiration for Her stories), an Art gallery of her work that used to be the offices to her husbands solicitors and finished off with the 'World of Beatrix Potter' attraction. All of which were amazing and made me want to be 5 again!

Allan Bank and a lovely woodland walk with this stunning view.

A tapas meal with sombreros at Pedro's in Kendal.

A very friendly Robin at Townsend.

Finally a walk up to Aira Force waterfall near Ullswater.

As you can see we had a non stop week and have come home for a rest! We have had fantastic weather which is unusual for the Lake District as it is known for its rain. This doesn't document the very large quantities of cake that have been consumed over the week, my favourite was the Apple cake with toffee sauce.

Can't wait to get back in my craft room and get scrapping our adventures (especially as I dropped lucky on some fab supplies in TKMaxx this morning). 

Happy Crafting!

Terri

X

~ The Gourd, the bad and the ugly! ~

As you read this I should be winging my way up to the Lake District for a break with my partner and friends. I've never been before and am hoping for some nice weather. I feel like a big kid, can't wait to go to the Beatrix Potter Museums.

 

Last year we visited Clumber Park which is owned by the National Trust. Not only did they have a kids pumpkin trail they had this art display of Squash and Gourds, aptly named 'The Gourd, the bad and the ugly'.

 

 

I loved the ombre style papers in this month's Like For Ever kit and knew that the green one would work perfectly with this photo.

 

 

I used the die cut frame to highlight me in the photo against the squash. I found it quite hard to match the embellishments witht he green as most of them seemed to be pinks and purples. Although I got ther in the end.

 

I will hopefully have loads of fabulous photos to start scrapping when I'm back.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

Terri

x

~ A little bit of Vintage (and cake!) ~



Hi there, This is one of those layouts that you aren't sure about. It seemed like a great idea in my head but once it was down on the paper I'm not so convinced. I have had these photos a little while and was looking forward to scrapping them.

 

These are the last few pieces of Crate Paper 'Confetti' collection that I had left so I was trying to use it up. I don't dislike that layout I just feel like somethings missing from it. Although I have managed to get my layers in and my new favourite thing 'mists'. You'll see more mists on my layouts as I don't seem to be able to create one without a little spritze or flick on the background.

 

My friend and I went out to a local vintage tearoom for Afternoon Tea. It seems to be becoming increasingly popular here in the UK. I love to bake and eat cake so it's the perfect thing for me really. I'm loving watching the Great British Bake Off at the moment. It's getting close to the final now so the pressure is on. Team Nadiya all the way!

 

Happy Crafting!

 

Terri

x

~ Stick It Down - October sketch ~

It's that time of the month again! Over on Stick It Down there is another sketch challenge posted. Hop on over to see for yourself and show us your interpretation.

I love both my cats but Oscar my male is much more loving than his sister. Oscar's place in an evening is asleep curled up on my knee. I have taken numerous photos of him like this and this month's sketch was just what I needed to showcase them all on one layout.

The papers and embellishments are mostly from the Shimelle Lane 'True Stories' collection and the bright bold colours was just what I wanted to contrast the black and white of Oscar's fur.



Hope to see you over on the Stick It Down blog, linking your own creation.

Happy Crafting!

Terri

x



~ New Home ~

It's over 9 months since we moved in to our new house and I realised that I haven't actually documented the move. It all happened very quickly and just before Christmas. We made the decision to move in to a new build and part exchanged my house. This meant that we moved in 2 weeks later on the 19th December. I found it so stressful as we also went to Berlin for 5 days in that 2 week period.

 

I knew as soon as I saw this patterned paper with the houses on it that I wanted to use it to scrap this photo. I'm really pleased with how it turned out especially the kraft corrugated thickers as I was worried they weren't going to show up against the busy background. The cute little house paperclip is oh so cute!

~ Like For Ever - Acorn Avenue ~

Good evening! I'm sat watching the celebrities shaking their stuff on Strictly Come Dancing. It can only mean one thing - Christmas is on its way!

 

*WARNING LONG POST ALERT*

 

So on Friday I was fortunate enough to have a whole day and evening to myself with no plans (this makes a massive change as usually I am running round doing jobs on my day off!). I decided to have a PJ day and spend my time catching up on trashy TV and scraping.

 

 

I managed 3 layouts using the Like For Ever 'Acorn Avenue' Kit. I'm absolutely loving this kit. It is very much my style and colour palette. The blue glittery thickers are AMAZING!

 

 

I remembered pinning a layout on pinterest which used lots of strips of paper attached to one side of the page. However, when I looked back it turned out nothing like that layout apart from the strips. I'm a massive fan of Pinterest and love searching it for ideas.

 

 

This layout shows me doing one of my other favourite hobbies. I love to read a good book. I always used to read crime & thriller but have recently taken a liking to easy reading chic lit type novels and stories based in India.

 

 

I would never have bought puffy stickers if it wasn't for the kits I have been getting but I now love them. This is another of those Pinterest layouts that don't really turn out like what I originally saw.

 

 

I'm back with my layers and this time I pulled out my distress tool to add texture and then inked them with distress ink 'Pumice Stone'.

 

I struggle to get a decent photo of my partner as he is either pulling a funny face or has a stupid big grin. Despite this I sometimes manage to capture fun photos of him larking about. He might annoy me but always manages to make me laugh and smile.

 

 

The die cut embellishment pack in the kit had quite a few acetate elements which I wasn't sure I particularly liked but they have created lovely subtle layers around my photo.

 

 

I love the blue transparent words and phrases that are part of the Cedar Lane collection. The words are easy to use in lots of different themes. I can't stop raving about this month's kit, I LOVE IT!!!

 

This layout was inspired by a fellow kit subscriber who created a layout with a photo of herself which showed her 'perceived' flaws. She then inspired the owner of the blog Nicola to do the same by blogging a photo where she had originally been critical of herself. I wanted to capture this in a layout by highlighing that 'the key to happiness' is how we feel about ourselves. We should be less critical and just embrace the life we have and the people we choose to spend it with.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

Terri

x