Scrap Your Stash - Tracey's Pages

A while back I wanted to try to de-clutter my life, so I set myself a challenge to scrap and craft more and to use more of my stash. We had a little sketch competition here on the blog to try to help you all out there to clear your stash too!

I wanted to show you a couple of the pages (and a card!) that I created based on the sketch from the comp - hopefully you will be inspired to get more done! Leave me a comment below to tell me what you have been up to lately or what you think of the pages.

Because I was limited in what I could use (I told myself to use open packs, off cuts and scraps) I found that my pages came together quicker. NO hours of agonising if this was the right tone, or wondering if I used a different pattern would the page seem less busy. And because I had my design already done, all I had to do was work out if I was using the sketch straight up, or flipping it in some way! Easy! This also meant that I played with things I haven't used in a while, like rub-ons, letter stickers, and stamps.

The first page was a bit of a tribute to my dog Wendal, who passed away earlier this year.

Next is a page for my American Holiday album. If you've scrapped with me any time over the past few years, you will know I've been working on this album for a LOOOOOONG time, so anything to help get the pages done quicker is awesome!  I wanted this page to be all black and white, but the photos had a creamy-yellow tone so I pulled in some other neutrals to make it work. Even thought the photos are blurry and not the best, they are the only ones I have so they are still making it to the album.  I try not to limit myself to only scrapping perfect photos - I'm not a perfect photographer so I would have nothing to scrap if I did! If it captures the moment and the emotion of the event I use it no matter what. 

I'm really not a card maker, probably because I'm not much of a card user. I'm pretty famous for forgetting cards at weddings and forgetting to send cards for birthdays. On the odd occasion that I do want to make a card, I find myself in a panic, 4 minutes before we leave the house, scrambling through some papers to try to put something together that fits the occasion.  So I'm trying to get a few cards made in advance that I can have in my card box, that simply need perhaps a stamp or sticker to make them suit the need. 

Happy Scrapping!

Tracey xox 

Goodie Box Fun!

Now its my turn to show you what I have been creating from the Retreat goodie box.

It was fun setting myself the challenge of highlighting what was in the box, and I was really pleased with what I was able to create and how much I was able to get out of it! With the addition of some cardstock, some mists and inks, and the use of tools like my sewing machine, stamps, cuttlebug and some templates, I was able to create 4 12x12 pages, a card and a mini album! AND I still have leftovers for more!

Check out my creations below, and be sure to leave me a comment with what you think! (Its a photo heavy post - sorry! But hopefully worth it!)

I used Amy Tangerine and Stamping Up stamps from my stash plus Die-Namics Dies in the cluster on the right.

I just love that rolled rose die!

Another page for my travel album - I covered some chipboard circles with washi tape for the flower centers. I'm really loving my sewing machine at the moment, you'll notice it on lots of my pages!

Another travel album page, this time from my first trip to the USA in 1995. Since I never scrap anything in order, I had never done anything with this photo, so I thought some paper strips and a chevron template might jazz it up. I've used those washi covered chipboard circles again!

This page turned out to be my favourite. I misted and dropped on the background with Heidi Swapp Primrose Color Shine, hand sewed the little heart and machine sewed the border. Done!

I did a quick card, ready to be pulled out of my card box and have a sentiment added when I need it, using one of the pre-cut dies we included in the goodie box and the same chevron template from the zoo page above - yes, I hand drew the chevrons and the the little pink dots!

Last but not least I have a little clear Kaiser mini album that's been sitting in my stash waiting for me to do something with it. Now I have a gift album thats just waiting for me to add photos and a few extra embellishments and its a perfect handmade gift for Christmas or a birthday and I am already halfway there!

 

Happy Scrapping!

Tracey xo

Goodie Box Inspiration!

So here's a little share of some of the creative things I made using the treats from our November goodie box. I love the "On Trend" papers by Crate Paper - I'm sure you can guess which ones were my absolute faves!

Ok so may note that I'm using a number of pennants and flags on my work - well as I discovered they are great for hiding little mistakes :-)

I made my paper roses using the same technique as we used in the make n take at retreat for our washi tape roses. If you want a great demo of how to make these roses with the washi tape just follow this link. http://americancrafts.typepad.com/studio/2011/05/mixtape-flower-tutorial-by-pooi.html

I used a mask to get the spotty spray effect on the doiley. For my splatter technique I just unscrew the lid from the bottle and splatter using a flick of the wrist (note; make sure you do this part before adding the photo -lol).

Loving the new Amy Tangerine stamp (not in the box) - it takes the hard work out of thinking up a title and the date adds that journalling touch!

So in the chaos of packing I rediscovered my sewing machine - I think I still need to work on my straight stitching!

I used my cuttlebug to create this die-cut embellishment then just layered it up with some mounting tape. I had some odd bits of chipboard laying around and used them to give the page a confetti look. I sprayed the dots with some of the new Heidi Swapp mists and inked others using Prima Chalks. Then I used a bit of dimensional magic for some gloss accents.

Here's a perfect way to use up those scrappy bits. A couple of more cards to add to my stash!

Happy Scrapping

Fleur x