Friday 30 April 2010
Gone Fishing, Well Camping Actually!
Wish this not at all experienced camper, who really is quite fond of the comforts and mod cons of home, luck for a dry and not too cold weekend!
Hopefully I will get some good photos and when I come home i can scrap the weekend maybe with some of the totally sweet Camped Out range from Bella Blvd as featured in the picture above.
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Thursday 29 April 2010
Love These!
I had been sorting out the childrens clothes and came across a t shirt that was stained and no good but it had some great applique butterflies on it. I started trying to cut them out a while back and got no where fast. The fabric wouldn't cut easily and the results were not as i had hoped. Fast forward to the parcel arriving and my need for "product testing." I used the Tim Holtz Tonic Studio scissors and they really do cut BEAUTIFULLY!
Love them! I have also used them to cut metal items including bind it all wires and removing the shanks from metal buttons.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Dawns Take On The UKS Cyber Crop Classes
With the kind permission of the class designers she has sent them to me to share on the blog. Here you can see her interpretation of several of the classes and Dawn was very happy to let me know that she used lots of the stash she bought at our recent retreat!
First up is "Best Friends" a layout based on the Fleet Street class by "Anythingbutordinary" AKA Karen Moss. Dawn has used Prima Flights of Fancy papers for her version.
Next is "Family" which is based on the Oxford Street class by "Bexter" AKA Beckie Dreyer. For her version Dawn used the Green At Heart collection from Basic Grey.
"Fifteen Years" uses Fancy Pants Rough & Tough papers and is based on Sarah Youdes class The Strand. You can see more of Sarahs work on her blog."You Mad Lot" is Dawns layout version of the Home Decor class Pall Mall by Angela Matheson. Dawn has used Fancy Pants Arctic Chill papers for this layout.
This layout was based on the Bow Street class by "Gertie" AKA Sarah Palmer. Dawn has used a selection of Sassafras papers and stickers on this layout.
Finally we have "Precious." This layout is Dawns take on Mayfair by "Crafty Pants" AKA Sharon Sim. You can visit Sharons blog to see more of her work. Dawn used Webster Pages products from the Lullaby Lane range and added Prima flowers to the page.
I hope you have enjoyed browsing Dawns Cyber Crop layouts, a big thanks again to her for sharing them here and to the class designers for providing such inspiring classes.
Tuesday 27 April 2010
Giveaway Winner
The trusty Random dot Org number generator has been enlisted to pick our winner and the result is as follows:
Number 11 is the comment that was posted by Jo:
jo said...
My most recent LO was The Angel, Islington class over on the UKS cybercrop. Great to try something different and I'm so pleased with how it turned out.
http://mrsbeee.blogspot.com/2010/04/more-cybercropping.html
25 April 2010 21:18
Jo, drop me an email to Mel@atripdownmemorylane.co.uk with your address and we will get your goodies out to you.
Sunday 25 April 2010
Sunday Night Giveaway
Those of you who are not UKS members, I hope the weekend has been enjoyable for you and that there has been a little time to papercraft.
We donated a prize for the Cyber crop and thought we would also offer a little giveaway to our lovely blog readers. So to enter, just add a comment below telling us either what your most recent layout was (add a link if you have one as we would love to check them out) or if you haven't had chance to scrap recently tell us what you are planning for your next layout.
Add your comment to this post before tomorrow evening at 9pm and we will use random dot org to select the winner tomorrow. The winner will get a nice surprise from the ATDML store - retail value no less than £25 :)
Saturday 24 April 2010
Monster Cards - Watercolour Step By Step Guide
Next you are ready to create your design in each box. Remember that your finished piece will be slightly smaller than the box so don't put the important features too close to the edges.
I used Ranger Archival Jet Black ink to stamp my images and sentiments and a fine slick writer to add my doodles and freehand drawings.
For the card with the number 5 on it I folded a scrap piece of card in half and drew a 5 on it. I then cut around it so I had two duplicate pieces. I used the one with the pencil marks from my drawing of the number as a mask so that I could stamp monsters coming from behind it. The second clean number can then be painted separately and put on foam pads to raise it up or used on a different card.
The next task is to apply the masking fluid over the drawing covering all the features which you do not wish to be the same colour as your background. The fluid will protect the white paper underneath when you apply your colour wash and when you remove the fluid it will leave you a pristine white surface to add further colour to. This will allow you to get clearer more vibrant colours as even painting over a pale wash will dull and change the colour on top.
Finally trim the picture so it is a little smaller than your card (mine is 1/4" smaller overall giving a 1/8th" border all around) I inked the edge of my picture then adhered it to my card.
Friday 23 April 2010
Challenge Winners
Take A Look Here
For more inspiration using My Little Shoebox Products check out our April DT Gallery.
Back later...
Thursday 22 April 2010
Creating your own Unique Backgrounds
Wednesday 21 April 2010
3 Playmates, A Class By Debbie Jewell
I hope you enjoy the class!
Tuesday 20 April 2010
New Stuff on The Way
...Keep your eyes peeled and keep checking New Products to see wha is landing here shortly!
Monday 19 April 2010
In Search Of Scrappers...
On the same lines we are looking for more scrappers to take part in our Ingredients challenge. Over the past few months we have had several sets of intrepid scrappers who agree to take possession of a page kit (all identical) and work with just the kit and a small list of allowed additions, to create their master piece. A poll then selects a winner for a shopping voucher.
If you would enjoy this kind of challenge please email me: Mel@atripdownmemorylane.co.uk with Ingredients Challenge in the subject line and I will get back to you.
Sunday 18 April 2010
Challenge Reminder & More Photos
***As Requested, some more retreat photos below***
For those who don't know the ladies on either end of the line up in this photo they are Elizabeth (on the left) and Helen (on the right)
Finally (for now) I *needed* to show you a close up of the altered boxes for our Alter This challenge. The winner, as you know from previous posts was Janes jaw dropping wardrobe but in the photo you can also see a beautiful spotty red and white box, a little chest with a nest inside complete with bird and egg and a sweet little box with A Trip down Memory Lane on it! All fab creations along with Janes wardrobe I hope Jonathons cuff links are very happy in their new home AKA Janes wardrobe!
Saturday 17 April 2010
Two Of The Retreat Classes
Thursday 15 April 2010
Sketch Winner For March
I have a couple of these first day at school photos waiting for me to scrap and I might just be motivated to get on and scrap them now!
Jackie, keep an eye on your inbox for your e mail voucher.
Here is Jackies lovely layout:
Wednesday 14 April 2010
Ingredients Challenge for April
Hi, I'm Jude, an obsessive scrapbooker who lives in London with husband (very tolerant) and 2 kids aged 12 and 5 (very patient recipients of many many photos). I've been scrapbooking for about 5 years and if I don't partake in something scrapbooky at least once a day, I feel a severe deficit! It is my creative outlet and I find it very relaxing and fun. I work in mainly 12x12" format and produce mostly clean and uncomplicated layouts where the photos are the main focal point. I love pretty papers and HATE messy things, in particular detest glitter with a vengeance. I love scrapbooking not just for the completed pages but also the process that goes into it, and also the social side of things. I have made wonderful friends from this hobby, friendships which have developed way beyond the scrapbooking. I have many other hobbies and am NEVER bored. My mum used to say to me when I was young, "only boring people get bored!" and I concur with that. Life is so exciting and there are so many things for me to learn and experience. I also enjoy taking part in the odd scrapbooking competition and challenge.
I'm 27 and I live in Scotland with my partner and our 18 cats. I have been scrapping for 5 years and am currently on the Design Team for Scrap Tiffany. I have been published in various scrapbooking magazines and I recently taught a class at my local scrapbooking crop!!!! Apart from Scrapbooking I also enjoy reading, writing to my penpals and spending time with my nephews. I really enjoyed working on this challenge, and I cannot wait to see what everyone else does with the ingredients.
I live near Edinburgh & am a student. In September I will begin studying Product Design at university. I have always enjoyed being creative from a young age and started scrapbooking in 2003. It's my favourite way to relax and get my thoughts written down. I enjoy scrapbooking holidays & events, but my favourite types of pages to create are the ones about relationships and little, everyday things. I enjoy stitching on my layouts and rarely complete a page without using my sewing machine. Creating my Ostende & Bruges layouts was a real challenge for me as the colours & patterns weren't what I'd usually select myself but I really enjoyed working with the products and trying something different.
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Design Team Gallery & News
What a weekend indeed!
Monday 12 April 2010
What A Weekend!
On Thursday mid afternoon we were allowed to start dropping boxes off at the hotel which made a huge difference as usually we are doing this late evening in the dark. It meant that we were able to finish delivering shop stock to the hotel by mid evening and could start organising where things would go although we couldn't have our tables until later that night as there were meetings and weddings going on in all the other function suites.
Rather unusually we then had a leisurely Friday morning setting up the crop room and classroom and I snapped this photo of one of the cropping tables before its occupants arrived!
I didn't quite remember to take the shop photos before any shopping had taken place (the early arrivals swooped in and started shopping straight away!) so Jill has already commented that the paper stands aren't quite as neatly displayed as they were at the beginning of the weekend but you get the picture!
I couldn't resist taking a photo of part of the lunch buffet on Saturday as it all looked so pretty and it was very tasty too.
Sunday 11 April 2010
Wish you were here
The weekend kick-started with a stunning Chatterbox Artylicious wall hanging by Clare Brown which was simple to create and yet beautiful in it's every handmade detail. Mel was next up with her vintage Prima layout of which the delegate layouts created in the class are simply beautiful! The very arty Debbie Jewell then had a class full of creativeness as we each made our own unique watercolour and hand-doodled layouts, getting a chance to play with masking fluid (which was especially fun!)
I am sure Mel will share some photographs from the weekend in the coming days, but for now, we wish all our blog readers/shoppers were here scrapbooking along with us, surrounded by inspiration, friends, laughter and an arty project or two!!
Until then I shall bid you a good evening/morning and go catch some zzzzz's.
Wednesday 7 April 2010
A Bonus Class
I have now finished all my class samples. Usually that is done way before now but due to late arrival of supplies it has been later this time. I am really excited about the classes I am teaching, I have two layouts and a mini book and am using MME Life Stories from Summer CHA 2009, Fancy Pants Rusted Sun from Winter CHA 2010 and Prima Pastiche also from the recent show.
Obviously I can't show you my projects now but I will post them after the retreat.
Instead here is one of my classes from the last retreat and as always you can download the PDF HERE for free
Tuesday 6 April 2010
New Arrivals...
A carton of lovely Pink Paislee arrived here today - it WILL make it's way onto the website ASAP but not tonight as we have been kit packing and making and taking again today.
Don't forget to check New Products for it in the next day or two. :)
Monday 5 April 2010
Sketch Inspriation Number 7
Sunday 4 April 2010
5 Days and Counting...
After a small disaster last Thursday with an incorrect kit product arriving in a shipment from America we managed to source the product in stock and available to get to us in tme so the disaster was averted! Phew!!!
Last night we had our now traditional Make & Take play evening where we sit down and all learn to do all the Make & Takes. From experience we have learned that it is far better to have at least two if not three of us who can run the Make & Takes so that if one of us is needed elsewhere the Make & Takes can continue.
Today, while I was enjoying lunch at my Mother in laws in Lincolnshire with Darren and the children, here there were kits being packed and Make & Take boxes being checked off.
This evening we have been sorting out some of the challenges and preparing some more kits to be packed.
On the "To Do List" for tomorrow is to start the mammoth printing session that is required for each delegate to have their assorted bits of paper ready with their goody bag to give them all the information they need for the weekend. Answers on a postcard about ways around this as I ALWAYS feel guilty about the vast quantities of paper that are used in this process!
Because i like to add a few photos to my posts I am going to leave you with a few pictures from our FIRST retreat back in 2007. Next weekend will be retreat number 6 and we are so lucky that we have some really lovely groups of ladies who come back time after time. Some for both retreats and some come once a year but we consider it a HUGE compliment to have so many repeat guests.
The first photo is one of our challenge winners. This challenge involved altering an Urban Lily Secret Keeper and Nicki Harvey created this beautiful house shaped project, I am just sad to say I can't show you a photo of the inside too!
Every retreat we seem to change the shop layout a little to suit the room we have and the different display stands we are using. This was part of the shop at retreat number one and it took a lot of working out how to set it up to get as much stock out as possible without making it too cramped! I will try to remember to photograph the shop this time and see how it has changed!
Below are photos of my lovely friends Annette & Sue who were in the first ever class i taught which was on using paint and transparencies. They were of course excellent and patient students and I hope they enjoyed the class. It seems a long time ago that I was standing in the front of the classroom feeling nervous. My job before I had the children involved teaching five days a week but it was way more intimidating standing in front of 20 women rather than 30 5 - 7 year olds!