Six Squared

I've been playing around with some of the Authentique 6x6 papers and I think I like them! Actually, I know I like them. I'm always saving up my full sheets of patterned paper because I love to use them as backgrounds - with a 6x6 bundle I can happily cut away without having to worry about spoiling a 12x12 piece. I'm converted.

I made this page with some of the pink patterns from the Uncommon bundle simply by choosing a few favourite patterns and cutting each sheet into quarters. That gave me squares of 3x3 which I arranged loosely into a grid, roughing up the edges a bit for added texture. That crepe paper flower is from Girls Paperie and if you like it, grab a packet while you still can; they aren't being made any more. The wooden butterfly and the alphabet are from my stash.

So, 6x6: have you tried them? I'm going to make some cards next.

Still Blissful

I'm still feeling the bliss from August's kit, how about you?

This page was inspired by the chipboard banners in the kit. I covered them with patterned paper and then added in a few more cut with my Slice. The buttons came from my stash and the little flashes of pink paper are from one of the new stock Authentique 6x6 paper pads. I added some punched butterflies for dimension and a few paint splatters to make my dark background a bit more lively. And at the end I squeezed in my journaling right round the sides.

Now I'm off to see what else I can make with those pink 6x6 squares. .

What have you done with your August kit? Leave us a link!

Blissful - August's Kit

You've caught me in a reflective mood today. It's all because of Authentique's beautiful yellow and grey Blissful Collection. As soon as it arrived here I looked out a photo of me in a favourite grey shirt and I made this:

These papers are so heavy and luxurious they were easy to distress, so I roughed them up a bit. I thought the raggedy edges would reflect the them of my layout which is really about how much my family means to me right this minute. And how I know they are growing up and will want to move out into the world; so my thinking is a bit rough around the edges too! The little fold up journaling card was perfect for my private notes and I added a little brad from my stash to hold it shut.

Here's a bit of detail so that you can see the little flashes of pink on some of the paper.

The colours really are lovely, aren't they? I don't think this kit will hang around for long - so don't delay, buy one today!

August Kit Peek

Here it is, a little sneaky peek at August's kit ... it will be going on sale tomorrow, Tuesday 9th at around 7pm.

Now I can let you into a secret ... Sian, has done the most amazing layout ... ok, ok, not such a secret, I know :)  But believe me, she sure has worked her magic again.

New In

A brand new company has just arrived, and that company is called Authentique .. its founders are from the likes of My Minds Eye, Girls Paperie and Doodlebug ... so you just know it's going to be gorgeous.

We're starting off over in the shop with their 6 x 6 pads, but I'll let you into a secret ... one of their ranges is this months kit.

And after seeing the amazing quality, you'll soon be seeing more of thier ranges in stock soon.

Do check out their blog for inspiration. 

I love this time of the year, just after CHA when all the new goodies are being delivered ... I'll keep you updated with what's arriving here, it's going to be so exciting, we've lots planned for you.

Facebook Challenge

I set a little challenge over on Facebook the other day, in honour of my 23rd Wedding Anniversary - but I think I'll extend it to something a little more, and also have it continue it through the month of August.

So the challenge will be to scrap a layout or project, along the lines of  "Then & Now"  - so it could be something like you on your wedding day and how you are now? or maybe you had long hair and have since cut it all - even baby photos :)  It's up to you.  But do share your links on here and over on facebook.  I will be giving a little prize at the end of the month - I'm hoping a couple of you will join in, so I can then give random generator a little play to find a winner LOL.  Anyway, the prize will be something from all the lovely brand new goodies that will be coming to the store soon :)

I've still to figure of how to leave a badge etc on here for finding Gotta Craft on Facebook - but give me time, I'll get there.

Anyway, I'll leave you with a layout using July's kit with Cosmo Crickets, Odds & Ends -oh yes, its hubby and I on are wedding day LOL. 

Facebook ... here we come

Having spent a great deal of yesterday afternoon and this morning - I think we're getting somewhere! ... and that somewhere is Facebook.

It's early days, but the plan (I hope) will be to have a couple of challenges and giveaways. I'll also keep it updated with news on what's coming to the store.  So if you have an account, do come over and say hello, search for Gotta Craft and "like" me lol.

I've also spent this afternoon playing with Twitter ....  there really is no stopping me.  And again, if you have a Twitter account you can find me over there .. only this time, it's one word Gottacraft

Seems strange to have a blog post with no photo ... so just for you :) ... here is a picture of the box of goodies that I'm uploading over the next few days - not all brand new products, but some odds and ends that were in old kits etc ... and also I'm going to be doing a little bit of re-arranging of the categories, hopefully you'll find things quicker - I'd love your comments :)

It's Just Scraps: Patchworked Papers

So I came home from holiday and I looked at the lovely bits left over from this month's kit and I thought I just had to do another page.

I gathered up the scraps and decided to make a patchwork effect to emphasize the country feel of my photo, with crumpled up edges and some machine stitching. Here it is:

While it was coming together, this is what I thought:

- the distressed edges disguise the wonky edges from the left over scraps

- this kit mixes well with Crate Paper's Emma's Shoppe. That's where my buttons came from

- to add to the scraps I placed some pages from an old dictionary. Any kind of ephemera can bulk out a page if you are running low on the patterned paper you want to use

- I cut my title from the very middle of the cardstock before sticking the rest down

But most of all I thought - doesn't Sandra put together a pretty kit! This one might be my new favourite.

Customer Creations

I've been getting myself back into the world of blogging this week, and slowly catching up with all the creative and talented people out there.  So a happy smile came over me, when I clicked into read some posts and came across you talented lot, and what you've been doing with this month's kit.

First up with have the lovely Michelle with her blog ... Scraps of Me, do visit her, the woman never stops crafting :)

Next is Jo, and her blog Buckingham's Palace... I've showcased many a layout from Jo before - she always manages to find the perfect photo to go with the kits at the crops :) and she's used all the goodies from July's kit in her entry for UKS's House challenge this month.

And lastly (for now) is Suzy, over at Sea, Glass & Sand - who although hasn't shown what she's created yet with July's kit, has done a lovely layout with the Lilly Bee one :)

I'm leaving you with a layout sent from Michelle using last months kit. Thanks guys :)

Although July's kit with its gorgeous Odds & Ends papers has sold out, you can still buy some of them as individuals, HERE.

Right, Sian will be along in a day or so with more of her amazing work :) and I'll be sharing soon with you some of the new goodies that are coming to Gotta Craft.

If you have any projects on your blog you'd like to share - please drop me an email and I'll happily do that in future posts.

Have a fun weekend ... and here's to us all seeing the sunshine. 

Cards and Tags

July's kit is so full of beautiful double sided papers that I decided the best way to show off both sides was to use little bits in a few smaller projects. So I made a set of tags:

Ribbons from my stash, but the twine is from the kit

and this card:

and then this one:

Brown button, leaves and twine all from the kit

And I still have plenty left over for more..

Odds & Ends - July's Kit

Have you ever not wanted to go on holiday? No, neither had I. Until Sandra sent me the July kit and I realised I wasn't going to be able to fit in all the things I wanted to make! It's Cosmo Cricket's Odds & Ends, and it's absolutely beautiful.

It's a kit for cutting into right away, so that's what I did:

with this page about some retro kitchen accessories from a recent shopping trip. The little paper dolls are cut from one of the sheets of paper. I cut the big doiley shape and the red numbers with my Slice and the lovely cream alphas come with the kit. My favourite piece? I think it's that blue dotted paper, but that could change, I'm not finished yet. In the shop here

I'm just butting into Sian's lovely post, to say that July's kit will be going on sale on Saturday 16th.  And to say a HUGE thank you for everyone's kind words, and cards - it's really meant a great deal to me and my family.

Out With the Old

When I get new papers I'm happy to dive straight in with the scissors and start chopping away but after that initial enthusiasm I will ususally put the rest of the papers neatly away and move on to the next exciting arrival! So every now and then I make a point of digging out papers I've had for a while and make something. So this weekend with that in mind I dug out the lovely Glitz Design Hoopla papers that came in a kit back in November (the papers are still available singly if here you missed out on the kit).

I added letters, ribbon, gems and buttons from my own stash, and used smaller bits of paper to make the flowers and the paper ruffle under my circle (thanks to Sian for the inspiration/method for making these!)

So for those of you who have half-used kits lurking in the back of the cupboard, how about digging them out and getting them used up? As a bonus I think you can definitely justify buying more new stuff if you've used up the old!!

Ok ... sorry to butt into your post Clare ... but as I adore this gorgeous layout, and if you guys want to play along - Glitz Hoopla goodies are now our weekly special and until Sunday 3rd July - you'll find them with a yummy 50% off :)

Take One Slice..

I have a quick page to show you today, one I made with my new MM Slice and my favourite sheet of paper from April's kit:

Oh, and Pinterest? I love it, how about you?

A couple of kit cards

I know I say each month, but truly I ADORE June's kit.  The papers from MME, Lime Twist are just perfect for all occasions.

This month, I thought I'd have a go with the kit, so came up with a couple of cards, that I'd like to share with you.  The first was done, using the add-on kit - which at £5, gives you papers, cardstock and fun embellishments, including the chipboard cupcake and little charm. It's perfect to just grab for a evening session of crafting or to take to a crop and have a play.

The second card is using some scraps that I had left from playing around with a layout.  The bunting stamp should be back in stock soon. 

The "Happy Birthday is stamped with these mini alphabet stamps, from Hampton Arts and then punched with this mini circle punch.

Sneaky Peek Time

I know, it doesn't seem that long ago that I was sharing with you the last sneaky peek, does it? 

Mind you .... you wait till you see the June one, it's GORGEOUS!!!!!  Here you are, here's a little sneaky peek at it.

It's due to go on sale, on Thursday 9th June at an earlier time of around 5 (ish)

Please bear with me, we have a family illness, so times and dates may well change - but I'll try my best to keep you updated.

(More) Girls Paperie..

...because we love it. I've been making cards with mine:

To make the background for this one I layered Girls Paperie stickers onto a piece of card, trimmed the edges and stuck it onto my card

These star embellishments are so pretty they almost make a card on their own. I blanket stitched round the edge and added a rub on from my stash.

Sian speaks ... I listen

Do you remember Sian's Rosette tutorial way back in March ... I know, March! Where on earth did time go?
Anyway, I've been really looking forward to giving them a go - and using papers from May's kit, Lily Bee, This & That,  I dived straight in.  Well Sian, thank you - they were so much fun to make, trust me, they'll be appearing on more layouts in future.

The picture was actually taken on Easter Sunday, when we took a trip up into London to see the flags - I couldn't believe my luck, a mini, a black cab and a bus, all in a line ... how lucky was I.  Ok, I did have to stand in the middle of Regent Street to take it, but then us scrapbookers suffer for our art LOL.

Please leave links to your creations using either Sian's rosette's or how you used the May Kit.

Your May Cheat Sheet

How's it going with that May kit?

It's so windy here today that any ideas I had for layouts about the lovely weather at the beginning of the month have all disappeared. Instead I think I'll be doing a "Cast Ne'er a Clout til May be Out" page!

I'm also thinking about:

• National Scrapbooking Day. Did you play along with any challenges anywhere? Or go to a crop? I think I'll have to simply scrap my intentions for this one! That lovely black patterned paper would make photos of any layouts you did really pop.
• The first thing I thought of when I saw that black crystal swirl was "black tie" - any May Balls or Leavers Proms round your way? I nearly used it for a page about an antique black jet evening bag.
• Of course, if the bad weather keeps up, I'll be huddling indoors " Ah! There's nothing like staying home for real comfort!" said Jane Austen and this month's kit would certainly suit a Jane page.
• Across the Atlantic it's "National Get Caught Reading Month" - I wish that would catch on here. But I'm going to make a page about books anyway.
• If it picks up, I'll be out practising a few closeup photos of the garden - the flowers in the kit have inspired me to make some more from patterned paper and I'll be adding those to a page with a seed packet I've saved.
• Bunting! May is definitely a month for bunting. my method right now is to use a small circular punch, fold the circles in half and hook them over some twine.

That's it for May. Maybe you have some ideas for June? Let me know and I'll add them to the list!

Girls Paperie

Girls Paperie have brought out some lovely ranges of papers and embellishments recently which you can find in the shop here. The ranges have a pretty vintage feel to them and they mix and match really well.

I've been busy with some of the papers, die-cut embellishments and stickers and came up with this layout.

I really like using kraft Bazzill as a background as it provides a neutral backdrop to patterned papers, and on this layout I also punched some strips from it to add to my page. I inked the edges of my papers with Distress ink  to add definition.

The flowers were made using some of the die-cut shapes from the Crafting Kit along with some other flowers cut from pages of an old book. I used the die-cuts as a template, inked the edges, scrunched them up and then layered them up before finishing off with a button from the kit and an adhesive pearl.

If you get hold of some (or all!) of the ranges on offer we would love to see what you have created with them.

Thanks for stopping by, Clare x

ProMarker Storage Idea

I think I probably enjoy the sorting of craft products, almost as much as crafting it self and I'm always on the look out for new storage ideas.   I’ll happily lose myself in re-organizing my papers and embellishments and always think …yup, that’s much better, and then only to do it again, in a few months time. 

Well my storage of ProMarkers had me stumped for a while – I’d first put them in little A5 boxes of each colour, but that was a bit of a faff to carry around – and what I really was looking for, was a way I could just pick up my pens and either take them away for the weekend with me, or just carry them downstairs, and colour to my hearts content, while watching tv.

So a big thank you, goes to Petra who while attending the Thursday crop, bought along her idea … and oh I so copied it.  She was very lucky in finding her bag at a charity shop.  Now, I love looking through charity shops, but I’m not the most patient person, so waiting to find this bag, really wasn’t going to happen.  But I did go to the local garden centre and found the same thing (ok, a little more expensive than I would have at the charity store but its such a pretty colour), and hey, beggars can’t be choosers.

                                             

I picked up a set of “dot labels” from Rymans and set about putting my ProMarkers in their place, and colouring the dots with each colour, and sticking on top.  I also, downloaded a colour chart sheet from LetraSet, and filled in which colours I have, so I know which I need to add to my collection.  I’ve put a copy of the sheet for you on the site, under Articles, should you wish to do the same.

All I need to do now, is stamp up a lot of images, and let the playing begin.

I’ve just had a re-stock of ProMarkers, so you’ll find them HERE … and don’t forget, ProMarkers are with free P&P, so you can always add the odd one to your collection, to build up.     

Please do share with us any storage ideas by leaving a link to yours and I'm hoping to build on this by giving you all the storage ideas I've found work (and maybe some that don't ... to save you the pain too LOL)