Crate is Great!

The lastest monthly kit from the shop featured papers the Farmhouse paper range from Crate Paper. The kit has now sold out but Sandra has the papers available singly as well as a cute 6x6 pad. I've made a couple of projects using the 6x6 papers, which are mini versions of the bigger papers.

On my layout I used some of the papers as a mat for my photo and some smaller squares and a punched strip raised up on scrap card to frame the edges.

I made the flowers by folding up strips of paper concertina style and then finished them off with a button. I used pinking shears on the outer edge first to give a frilly edge.

To embellish my card I made some flowers using a Tim Holtz dies, they were cut from cream card and then sprayed with glimmer mists before finishing them off with an adhesive pearl. The Happy Birthday stamp is one I've had for ages, I stamped it using Distress Ink in Fired Brick which was the perfect match for the red and orange tones of the papers and the flowers.

Very Victorian.....

Echo Park have brought out another lovely range of papers called Victorian Gardens. The papers are fresh, bright and summery - perfect for those summer photos....

With a background of kraft Bazzill (something I can't live without!) I have used lots of different papers on my layout and used punches and die-cutting on them along with a Tim Holtz die for my layered flowers. There is also a sticker sheet and journalling tag sheet available for the finishing touches.

I used the same die but in a different way for the flowers on my card, I cut them from plain cream card and then coloured them with glimmer mists, scrunched them up and then layered them up when they were dry and finishing off with a pearl. The bird and cage are another Tim Holtz die, again coloured with glimmer mists.

You can check out the Gottacraft Facebook page for more ideas and inspiration with this range here.

Thanks for stopping by, Clare x

Pink Paislee is in the house

Pink Paislee have done it again ...... their Vintage Vogue collection is fabulous, and ready to go. Oooohhh loving, loving, loving it.

Do also check out the fabulous range of embellishments that go with it ... I think my fav has to be the chipboard pop - I can see them working on both layouts and on cards.  

A Paper Bag Album

When Sandra sent me some of the Lost And Found Sunshine papers I laid them out, looked at them carfeully and wondered if I could come up with something special to show them off. A layout or two just wasn't going to cut it. So I decided on a mini album:

The front cover

The back cover

Have you ever made a paper bag album? I have a big stack of brown paper lunch bags my brother brought me home from America, so I thought it was about time I had a go. It's so easy! I just folded up the gussets and glued them together. That gave me an album about 6x7 inches, so I trimmed off an inch. Why? So I could tell you how perfect this size would be for using up a 6x6 paper pad!

After that it was quick work choosing and trimming papers to size and embellishing with all the lovely Lost And Found bits and pieces.

You can see that I chose the heavily embellished sections of paper for my covers, lining them up so they looked like a book jacket. It's a good way to showcase the "best bits". And this is the perfect way to use all the pieces from a collection you love.

I was quite happy working away on this one without even an idea of what I could use it for. As I moved the bits around, though, I could see that it had feminine and masculine elements. The sewing machine reminded me of my grandma; and the grey stripes of my Grandpa and his grey cardigans. So it will become an album about the two of them and I hope you like it.

Loving the Farmhouse

Well the guessing is over .... yup, September's kit is full of Crate Paper's Farmhouse.  Now I'm probably more of a Autumn/Winter girl anyway (I loovvee the whole warm clothes and boots thing lol) so, this collection is right up my street, with it's lovely warm tones and colours.

Anyway, not to long ago, Simon and I celebrated our 23 wedding anniversary! ...shocking to me, as it still seems, as if I'm only 23 years old myself :)  Still, it was a rare day that the sun was out - so while we were sitting in the garden - I did the ususal, you know .... hold the camera out in front and take a picture; and this was the result.

I used the September kit to create the layout... but the papers can be found here ... and also the alphabet sticker sheet to match the papers, can be found here.  I'm really loving this alphabet sheet, as not only do you get two different letter types, but also some words and tags.   Please don't forget to link here if you create anything with the kit ... we'd really love to see it.  

Sneaky Peek Time

Here it is, the sneaky peek at September's kit.

As always, it's filled with the latest gorgeous papers, and this month you'll also find some lovely die cut shapes to match the collection, a journaling card from Elle's Studio, a sheet of alphabet stickers ... as well as other goodies, which I just know you're gonna love.

The kit will be on sale Tuesday 13th September at around 7pm.  You'll also find this month some add-on sheets to make up the full collection.

A little more Authentique

I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend, maybe even with some scrapping time planned? (I know that's my plan!)

Following on from Sian's pretty layout I have also been busy with some of the new Authentique papers from the Blissful pad and this is what I've come up with.

By coincidence I have also made a background grid of the papers on my layout like Sian, there are plenty of different patterns in the pad to mix and match. I die-cut some flowers from plain card, scrunched them up a bit and then distressed them with Tim Holtz inks (I used Scattered Straw and Tea Die on mine) I then layered them up and added buttons to the centres. I also die-cut the little bird and cage from some of the papers and finished off with a mist of some glimmer mists that toned with the papers.

My other project is a card, made using the Uncommon pad. This card is definitely quite girly - but I do love a bit of pink!

It was a quick card to put together, I cut one of the papers into 3 for my background and then die cut some scallop circles and punched some flowers that I then layered up and glittered before adding Prima pearls to the centres. I finished it by adding a ribbon and a stampted sentiment.

 

Have a great weekend x

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?