~ Scraplifting ~

Happy Sunday! Its a lovely sunny day here so I'm taking the opportunity to photograph some of my recent layouts.

Now I'm not one to normally scrap lift other peoples layouts but I saw two striking pages created by ladies over on the Like For Ever Subscribers Facebook group and I knew their designs would fit my photos perfectly.

First up I used this page by Natalie Gibbons as my inspiration for a Vietnamese layout.

(Natalie's original page)

My page uses much brighter colours and I chose to use three black and white photos.

What I have enjoyed about this process is seeing how different a page can be because it has used different products and photos. I've used the June Like For Ever Kit 'In Bloom' for both my layouts and tried to embrace the bold colours. I've used this method of putting 3 6x4 portrait photos together across the page before but what struck me about Natalie's was the use of the cluster of frames in the bottom left corner.

I'm trying desperately to finish scrapbooking my Vietnam/Cambodia 2012 trip before heading off on our next adventure to Uzbekistan in September. I very much doubt I will get it finished but I will at least be closer.

The next layout I took inspiration from was this layered page by Christina Howard.

 

(Christina's Original Page)

I chose to use three photos instead of the single one on my page as I wanted to capture the different aspects of the story.

I already love layering paper & embellishments behind my photos but this took it to another level as there is just one area of decoration and a lot of white space. I love the concept and the final page but for me there needs to be a few more elements outside of the single cluster.

Again I used the Like For Ever 'In bloom' kit but I also added in the Ali Edwards 'Reading' story stamp set. It was also the stamp set that was the original inspiration for telling this story about how I decided to lay on the floor of our conservatory (before we had furniture) and read because the weather was so nice.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Crafting!

Terri

x

~ {Inter}National Scrapbook Day Round Up! ~

Happy Monday!

Well I hope you all had a fun filled {Inter}National Scrapbooking Day, I certainly did. I managed to get 6 layouts completed using the online challenges over at Like For Ever & For the Love of Pretty Paper (UK scrapbooking Facebook Group).

The first challenge over on Like For Ever was to scrap lift yourself. I chose a layout from my India 2015 album and scrapped photos to go in my Vietnam & Cambodia 2012 album. I'm impressed at how different they look.

I used papers from the January Like For Ever Kit 'Twenty Sixteen' along with embellishments from my stash. Love that I'm starting to use some of my papers up.

If you've seen any photos from my recent trip to Latvia over on my Instagram account you will note that I do like a good cocktail. That certainly hasn't changed since these photos were taken.

The next challenge I attempted was this lovely sketch created by Laura from Beads, Buttons & Birds Blog. I had a great time looking back to my birthday in March for this one.

I used the current Like For Ever Kit 'Live out Loud'. Before I received this kit I wasn't excited by the Pink Paislee Paige Evans 'Fancy Free' Collection. But in real life it is super gorgeous!!! I am a total convert, just wish I had more of it!

I wouldn't usually use a mix of colour and black & white photos on a layout but I didn't have the colour version of the pic I wanted to use. I'm actually really pleased with the result. I'm hoarding the pretty 'Fancy Free' papers so this was ideal for only using the branding strips.

Ironically, when looking at last years album I noted that we had Pizza on my birthday last year too!

This next challenge used both the Mood Board over at Like For Ever & a scrap lift challenge from the Facebook group.

Below is Beth Moloney's layout which we were challenged to scrap lift.

This was the very pretty looking mood board by Elsie over o Like For Ever. As soon as I saw this my brain was shouting COCOA VANILLA STUDIO 'FREE SPIRIT'.

So I obliged and created a very pretty, girly page about me and my friend's love of hot chocolate and cake!

The next layout I did was for the 'Coffee' Challenge over on the facebook group. The challenge was to use coffee as inspiration, whether it be colour or content.

I had this photo of the cute spring Starbucks takeaway coffee cup that I had been waiting to scrapbook and then I remembered some Stampin' Up stamps which would fit in perfectly too! The new textures set even has a coffee ring stamp which I used on the background.

Nicola over at Like For Ever gave us access to this 'Just Smile' cut file and asked us to use it as inspiration. I have again used the lovely May 'Live out Loud' Kit and there will be a process video for this layout in the next week.

I was clearly enjoying outlining my layouts this weekend as I've done it to quite a few!

My final layout was for the Like For Ever challenge to scrap a selfie & use a song on the page.

I used the Silhouette Cameo to cut out this background (which I love!) and added selfies from different times over the last few months. They all show me looking happy and enjoying my life. So I used some lyrics from Avril Lavigne's song Innocence as my title. The Little Things that make Life Great.

Thanks for stopping by today and having a read. Over the next week I'm hoping to be able to blog my 'Week in the Life' as I join in with Ale Edwards documenting class.

Happy Crafting!

Terri

x

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~ Oh So Lovely! ~

On my return from London I found the most gorgeous kit from Like For Ever full of Crate Paper Wonder collection. I have found this collection so inspirational. I have managed to creat 3 layouts that I'm really pleased with.

The papers really worked well with a couple of my photos from a trip to Vietnam a few years ago. I'm desperately trying to finish this album.

Whilst in Vietnam we did a cookery class. We made lots of lovely food, including these gorgeous summer spring rolls. The kit had some cute puffy stickers which aren't really my style but look really sweet on the layouts. I love how the kit makes you use things you wouldn't normally buy.

Whilst cruising down the Mekong Delta during our trip we stopped off at a lovely hotel for lunch. It had gorgeous gardens that we were able to walk round. There was also traditional items for us to pose with. I fussy cut all the flowers out from one of the patterned papers.

I'm completely amazed at how a collection can create completely different types of layouts. This is so cute. Oscar spends most of his evenings laid on my knee snoozing. I love the cat related embellishments in this collection. They are cute and not over the top.

Happy Crafting!

Terri

X

~ Post night update ~

This week seems to have flown by but it always does when I'm on nights as I literally just have time to sleep and go to work. I'm looking forward to a good couple of weeks off especially as I'm bridesmaid for my friend next week. 

This layout was treated using American Crafts Shimelle 'True Stories' paper and embellishments. I stuck with the triangle theory for focal points on this layout and the diagonal lines directing the eye to the photo as main focus.

I'm not keen on this photo but it was great for documenting the effect the humidity had on my hair. I can't believe I was actually that blonde! It was awfully frizzy!

I'm hoping to get some more crafting done this weekend. We are praying for good weather this weekend as we are BBQing.

Happy Crafting!

Terri

X

~ 427 steps ... ~

This is another photo from Halong Bay. This photo shows me about to walk up the 427 steep, uneven steps to the viewing point at the top of the island.

There is some hidden journaling behind the photo which documents the medical emergency I was involved in at the top.

Yet again I've used a Scrapagogo kit. I absolutely love these papers from Amy Tangerine. I just added a little washi tape and abit of ink from my stash.

I normally have my layouts with straight lines but tried something new with this one. I have also tried to embrace the sketch style of the papers by adding my own borders in pen.

~ Halong Bay ~

Something a little different for me. I've seen shimelle do this kind of layout a few times so thought I would give it a go. I thought it would be a quicker layout but it actually took me longer.

Again another Scrapagogo kit used. I absolutely loved this kit, think it was March 2012. Lots of layouts have already been made with this kit.

The photos show how people live on Halong Bay.

~ Mother and daughter ~

Well yet again I have managed abit of scrapping. Mum and I had a day together on Wednesday, I always seem to get more done when we are together.

I love this photo of us both whilst away in Vietnam. Again I am trying to use up my Scrapagogo kits. I used this month's blueprint to go as a sketch idea for this layout.

~ Tailor made ~

This is another layout from Vietnam, this time documenting the purchase of a tailor made dress.

In Hoi An they have streets full of tailors, however Yaly is an internationally acclaimed shop and we were encouraged to look there due to the quality of their work . I had a long dress made and it cost $75 which didn't seem bad.

I have used another Scrapagogo kit for this page. I absolutely loved this kit, it had all cute little sewing related embellishments and the beautiful lost and found paper. Hopefully I'll get some time this week to do a bit of crafting.

~ I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle ... ~

Good afternoon, I've been on nights and really don't want to get out of bed.

Whilst in Vietnam we chose to do an optional bicycle tour of a local village. You cycle round and stop off at various people's homes to see the traditional crafts they do. I hadn't been on a bike for over 10 years, so that and the fact that it was raining made it interesting.

I have used yet another Scrapagogo kit for this layout.

~ Long time no blog! ~

It's been a long while since I posted anything remotely crafty so with my new iPhone at the ready I'm aiming to get back on track.

With a new fella to keep me busy I haven't had much crafting time but plenty of photo opportunities.

So while the weather has been awful I have managed to get a few layouts done which I will share with you over the next week.

This is the first layout of my trip to Vietnam last year. I'm trying to use up some of my ScrapaGoGo kits which seem to be taking over my craft room.

This photo was taken after a very long flight from the uk. We went to a local restaurant with our guide and had a traditional Vietnamese breakfast - chicken noodle soup.

~ Hoi An - Part 1 ~

A little behind but desperately trying to catch up with myself.

 

On Sunday we had a morning walking tour of Hoi An. This is a gorgeous old town with architecture from french, chinese, japanese and vietnamese influences. The main centre and aroundthe dock is pedestrian, cyclo and motorbike only so the bus dropped us on the outskirts and we walked in.

 

 

Firstly we stopped at Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall which is a Chinese Temple used by the local community. Above is the gateway in to its beautiful courtyard. Inside the temple were tens of spiral incense sticks which hang fromt he ceiling, each one has been donated by a family and has a message hung in the centre.

Unfortunately due to a tropical depression which has been affecting Vietnam's weather it began to drizzle with rain during our tour. Second on the sightseeing list was the Japanese Covered Bridge, only 1 of 2 in Vietnam.

 

 

We then visited Phung Hung which is a house of architectural importance as it contains French, Chinese and Vietnamese designs. I was abit disappointed as it was more like a selling opportunity. The lady of the house was more interested in showing us table cloths than actually showing us the house's features.

 

We then walked aside the river where the dock was. All along the riverside were brightly coloured lanterns hanging in trees.

 

We stopped at a local restaurant for a drink and then some lunch. Mum and I shared White Rose Dumplings and a chilli and gorgonzola pizza (not very vietnamese but very tasty!).

 

In the afternoon we took a boat trip across the river to one of the islands. The inhabitants have set up a co-operative to give cycle tours of the are to the tourists. I hadn't really been on a bike properly for about 12 years.

 

The bikes were rickety and rusty but worked well. I really enjoyed the tour even though it was raining and we got very wet! On the tour we stopped off at a Conical makers house (local fishing boat), a bed mat maker, a mandarin's house and a woodcarvers. In total we covered about 12km. It was a nice ride as most of the journey was flat.

 

In the evening we visited 'Morning Glory' for our evening meal. It was a lovely meal although some bits were abit greasy for me. I loved the BBQ chicken with lime leaves. Above I am eating the local speciality of crispy pancake wrapped in rice flour pancake.



~ Ha Long Bay ~

A bit behind time but here we go! Our next part was an overnight trip to Ha Long Bay which I must say is breath taking. So after a 3.5 hour bus journey we joined a boat for 2 days.

 

 

Unfortunately the weather on the first day was a little hazy so the islands were not clealy seen by the camera. We had a fantastic 3 course lunch before heading off to Luon Cave. We went via a small wooden boat through a cave in to a small lagoon.

 

After this we sailed for a little while before going to Tiptop island, which has a man-made beach and the opportunity to walk up 427 steep steps to reach the summit and its amazing views (unfortunately this was hampered by being involved in a medical emergency, thankfully someone took some photos with my camera for me!)

 

The views from the top were stunning and you could see for miles!

 

I was fortunate to catch a quick glimpse of the stunning sunset over the bay.

 

One of the chefs showed us how to create decorative objects from food such as tomato roses. We had a leisurely evening of food and a lovely massage.

After getting up at 5.15am to see the disappointing sunrise (as it was too cloudy!) we had a session of Tai Chi on the deck of the boat. This was highly amusing and certainly woke us up.

 

The final part of our trip to Ha Long Bay was to visit the Surprise Cave which is a hugh cave system containing 4 very large spectacular caves. We then had breakfast and set sail for the mainland and Hanoi Airport.

 



~ Hanoi - A day in the Capital ~

An early start today to beat the crowds at the various monuments we were visiting. First up was a short bus journey to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. It was an amazing building in beautiful grounds. (Although I have to say visiting a dead person was not what I would call a holiday attraction!). 

 



 

The mausoleum, palace and house on stilts are all governed by the Honor Guards, who were rather scary with their bayonets.

 

We had lots of insight in to Vietnam's history today including Uncle Ho's huge role in Vietnam's independence from the French. We visited the service quarters which Ho Chi Minh used instead of the Presidential Palace and then the house on stilts which was built for him by the people. After this we briefly stopped by the one pillar pagoda.

 

 

This beautiful archwayis at the Temple of Literature which is where Confucious lived and taught his disciples. This is a very important place for Vietnamese people and many try to follow in Confucious' teachings.

 

 Many people visit the Confucious Temple to worship his statue and ask for assistance in exams. Many people come here to have photos taken when they graduate from college.

 

We then had some free time where we had lunch (Hanoi spring rolls and Beef fried rice), a leisurely coffee and wrote postcards home.

 

The evening was taken up by a walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter to the Water Puppet Theatre. The show was interesting but once you had seen a few of the sketches I had had enough. Luckily it only lasted about 45 minutes.

 

Tonights group meal was at 'Little Hanoi' and consisted of a 4 course banquet. Pumpkin soup, Spring Rolls, 5 spice chicken, catfish with dill, Caramelised Pork, Grilled aubergine and steamed rice. Dessert was a selection of fresh fruit. All of which was washed down nicely with local beer.

 

All packed and ready to set sail in Ha Long Bay tomorrow!

~ Cha Ca ~

Tonight the whole group (14 of us) went out to a local fish restaurant which serves only one dish - Cha Ca. Which is a speciality of Northern Vietnam.

 

 

It consists of fish that is fried at your table, then you add vermicelli noodles, peanuts, chilli, spring onions and dill. Then finally add a dash of fish sauce to the mix.

 

The restaurant was recommended by our tour leader and was well worth it. We enjoyed ample food and a drink each for the measly price of 170,000 VND (Approx £5). It was abit of a DIY meal as all the ingredients were in individual bowls, but that was ideal for me as it meant I didn't end up with too much green stuff!

 

Mum and I then enjoyed a cocktail and a milkshake in the hotel bar (which cost nearly as much as the meal!)

 

Busy day with an early start tomorrow so off to bed now and hoping the jetlag doesn't affect me too much.



~ Good Morning Vietnam! ~

Hello there ... it's been a long while since I used my blog, not sure where the time has gone. I have just arrived in Vietnam for a touring holiday and am going to use this as a travel journal to try and jog my memory for when I scrapbook the photos. So if this is not of interest to you then please bear with me.

 

We traveled to Gatwick via train on Monday 12th November 2012 and stayed overnight at the Hilton. We then boarded a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 777 at lunchtime on the 13th November. The journey took around 11 hours and the highlight was the Vietnamese 'pot noodles' available.

 

On arrival at Hanoi we were met by our tour leader, Long and after a short bus journey we arrived at our first hotel. As the rooms were not ready to check in we all went for a traditional Vietnamese breakfast of Chicken Noodle Soup - I have to say it was gorgeous even though I wasn't hungry.

 

 

We checked in and settled in to our rooms. I checked the wifi connection was working. The hotel room is beautifully decorated.

 

After a short break we decided to go for a wander around Hanoi, starting with the Truc Bach Lake. It was very hazy and humid here. 

 

After we wandered the streets, practising our road crossing technique, as you simply have to walk out in to the traffic and keep going at a steady speed. So far so good.

 

Throughout the streets are little bird cages with finches dotted around on shop fronts and across pedestrian walkways. Not sure of their significance at the moment.

 

One thing is for sure, if living in Hanoi you must travel by motorcycle. Everywhere you go there are hundreds. You can't even walk on the pavement as they have them parked all over it.

 

Off for a traditional fish meal at 'Chaca' tonight.