Ho Ho Home!

My Christmas came early this year when I received a fabulous kit from AllyScraps. 

Onto my project.  I've used Very Merry from October Afternoon to create a mini-album (thankfully, Cathy has restocked this fabulous collection).  I know many people are journalling their Christmas and this album would be a great way to do that. More pages can be easily added when needed.

I am going to add photos of our christmas spent at home. I love these Silver Foil Thickers - they are super shiny and perfect for holiday projects. You can also see the lovely stickers and sentiments found on the element sticker sheet. 

The Maya Road Velvet Blossom is a great accent (I have been after these for a long time).
As I would love to keep a note of our wish lists this year, I've created a tag for each of us featuring a sitcker or journal card.  I really ought to have a very BIG tag to fit all my 'wishes' on! The simple tag pocket is created by folding paper around the bottom of the page.

I've left spaces for my photos.  I have used one of the journalling tags as a photo mat (they're double-sided). On the right hand side, you can see a lovely Maya Road Kraft Purse Envelope. This will be great to store those little keepsakes. The cute candy Cane and house are from the element sticker sheet.

The reverse of the envelope features a journal card and one of those cute little gingerbread men from the sticker sheet.

As I'm adding my photos later, I've left plenty of space to add them in.  I imagine that I'll be able to print some off over the holiday period and have a happy time pasting them in.

It's a great idea to include some shaped pages in the album - keeps things interesting.

To make the Album:
Cut out 2 chipboard covers 6x6.  Cover with Story Hour paper.  Layer those fabulous stickers from the element sheet. Don't forget to put those gingerbread people on foam tape!
Page 1: Create a concertina rosette from Fill the Stockings.  Add sticker sentiment and ribbon.
Page 3: Cover background page with Bake the Cookies.  Trim 3" of Fill the Stockings folding over the bottom of the page.  Adhere to reverse to form a pocket.  Cover die-cut tags with various papers and stickers.  Make an extra long one for Mum's wish list!
Page 5:  Decorate a Maya Road Kraft Purse envelope with candy cane and die-cut snowflake.

Decorate remaining pages with various papers and stickers.  Leave plenty of space for photos if you are adding them later this month.  Punch 2 holes throughout the book and bind with book rings or ribbons.

Thanks for popping in.

Love Notes

I often get stuck for a small gift for female friends.  Notecards are always handy  when you want to send a thank you or 'thinking of you' kind of note.  I put the Devonshire collection to good use this week to create a note card set which will come in handy even after you have sent all the cards.

I covered an old cigar box with the fabulous Victorian Rose paper.  The lid is covered with two layers (Guinevere, Clarabel), one is stuck firmly, whilst the second is peeled and distressed.  I really wanted something ancient!

The die-cuts have heaps of lovely journalling-type cards - I used mine as layers poking out under the pretty flowers and embellishments.

To add even more umph - I sprayed a mica spray such as Glimmer Mist or Maya Road - the effect is subtle but fabulous IRL.

I have made a selection of cards - very generic so that they suitable for all sorts of occasions and recipients.

The embellishment pack contains lace, a string of pearls, those pretty flowers and even lace flowers.  It was so easy to put together the cards quickly.

I hope that you have enjoyed my creations this month.

Thanks for stopping by.

Morag x

Some Bunny Loves You!

Our family has a couple of new editions - they come with floppy ears and twitchy noses!

My DD bunny is the cutest - he is just so laid back and adorable.  This photo was taken on the first day he came home.  I thought I would make a wall hanging for Lauren's room so she could see  him when she wakes up.

Bo Bunny's Sophie collection has such pretty colours which compliments so many colour schemes.  I hand cut flowers from Sophie's Boquet paper and teamed them with a stamped flourish and these fabulous silk flowers. 

To add a little oomph, I sugared the centres (snow writer and glitter) before adding the gorgeous pearl brad (Kaiser Craft) and tiny rhinestones.

The hanger is the string of pearls also found in Kaiser Craft's Devonshire embellishment pack. The sentiment is hand written and cut out in the shape of a banner.

I notice that Cathy has the latest collections in from October Afternoon and Doodlebug which I have my eye on.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Be sure to pop back in as soon as possible for more lovely inspiration.

Morag x

Home is Where the Heart is

October Afternoon has always been one of my favourite manufacturers - I love their pretty colour combinations and clean lines.

I came across this fabulous display box in the shape of a house and just had to have it!  The fresh Ducks in a Row papers and accessories will bring Spring into any home.  I wanted to display a favourite photograph as well as add some cute embellishments which could be changed at a future date.  The HOME letters were mounted onto card and secured to a 'card stand'.

I top the house off with a little tag which has been embellished using the rub-ons from the collection including those tiny little stitches!  A neat polka dot ribbon from Maya Road finishes it all off nicely.

Every home needs a pair of love birds - mine are made from Fimo which have been sparkled with glitter.  I will be adding more trinkets when I find them.

Bird cages are all the rage and Maya Road's bird cage is fastened to the side of the house dangling from a pretty length of pearls (Kaiser Crafts).  More polka dot ribbon adorns the dividers.

I always love bunting - especially the tiny sort.  I cut out tiny triangles from the various papers (which are all double-sided) and glued them to some baker's twine.  This is then draped along the house and secured with glue-dots.

I couldn't resist cutting out these birdies and flowers from Imaginisce Lucy Bird paper.  I stole the clouds from My Little Shoebox.

Thanks for popping in.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Morag x

Love Your Mum!

It is so nice to be back here as a guest artist.  Cathy always has such yummy stuff in the store.

We celebrate Mother's Day in the UK in March but it's celebrated in America next month, so now would be a great time to start making a special gift for Mum.

I created this little blackboard which will be ideal for making a note of those items which have run out or may be a note of what is on tonight's menu.

The base is a child's blackboard - an ideal, super-cute size!  The fresh spotty paper is from My Little Shoebox Bird's Eye View and the edges are covered with Imaginisce Good Morning Sunshine.

I have cut out the lovely icons from My Little Shoebox Half a Cup paper.  If you look really close at the muffin, you'll see that it's sprinkled with Stickles.

Create a lovely pleated rosette using Granny's Apron, top it off with a fabulous pearl from Kaiser Craft's Embellishment pack.  The very sweet chipboard knife and fork from Maya Road which have been coloured with silver ink.  Add a few roses for a feminine touch and voila! 

Don't forget that there is still time to enter the fabulous sketch challenge running until Sunday 11th April.  Check all the details here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Morag x

All Kinds of Love

As this time of year is a time for romance, you might be thinking that everything should be hearts and flowers.  Well it can be, but we can also create projects using the very freshest of designs.

I saw this adorable idea in a French magazine and thought I have to make me one of those.  The little 'milk' cartons can be filled with favours or chocolates for your loved ones.  Lauren is rather inclined to think that she is going to receive it full of tiny chocolates!

Those fabulous papers are of course October Afternoon's Farm Fresh collection.  Those lovely spring colours are just what we need at this time of year.

I adore the cardstock stickers which are mounted onto foam tape and adorn the simple tags.

The cute little cow was hand cut from the journal cards because he was nice and dinky.

As love does come in all shapes and sizes, how about something more romantic? 

Fancy Pants vintage papers are just gorgeous!  The pretty patterns and colours will suit all your valentine projects.

I covered my heart shaped box with papers before layering up with vairous images and stamps from Pink Paislee.  The tiny frame by Melissa Frances is one of four in the pack.

The fabulous chipboard birdcage and birdie by Maya Road needed nothing more than a little ink.  Check out Maya Road's new line of inks here.

I hope you've enjoyed these projects.  Be sure to check back later this week for more inspiration.

Thanks for popping in.

Morag x

I'm Cuckoo about Fancy Pants!

It's easy to go cuckoo over the new Valentine range from Fancy Pants which feature pretty patterns, soft colours (including my favourite duck egg blue). 

I have been wanting to make a faux cuckoo clock for ages so when my little pile of papers arrived from Ally Scraps I jumped for joy.  For there were the perfect papers and embellishments that I needed.

The house is made of sturdy card using a template.  I then covered the walls with paper and inks. I have mounted the house onto a dowel which is then pushed into an oasis in a tiny pot (hot glue is a must for this project).

I had the chipboard clock face for years so I'm glad to put it to good use.  You could stamp out a suitable clock and hands if you don't have one.  I like to 'sugar' my flowers and add a tiny stamped sentiment (Pink Paislee).  A clay bird cuckoos from his perch having popped out of the shuttered doors.

The beauty about shopping at Ally Scraps is that you can mix and match lots of different papers and embellishments.  The die-cut heart is Pink Paislee and the images on the pole are from Bo Bunny's Love Bandit. The  roof are layers of Fancy Pants paper which have been scalloped (curl the edges slightly for more dimension).

At the back of the house I have used another fabulous die-cut which is layered onto a conertina circle. That wonderful key hole is Melissa Francis

Finally a little love note on the last wall with more Pink Paislee stamping a tiny heart and birdie.

I hope that I have inspired you to make something special for Valentine's day. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Morag x

Love is in the Air

Or at least it will be soon. I'm so lucky this month to be a guest designer here at Ally Scraps when there are so many lovely new products to play with.

Bo Bunny Love Bandit is simply divine!  These sweet characters and gorgeous colours are irresistable. I have used Love Bandit background paper - how cute is that?!! (Just click on the photo for a larger picture).

I have teamed up the paper with the matching Cut Outs. Pink Paislee punch outs and stamps co-ordinate beautifully. 

The Love postage stamp has been inked and crumpled for a little dimension. The tiny Melissa Frances frame displays a stamped sentiment.

Lastly, I added a tiny bird house to hang from the tree.

Thanks for popping in.  I know Debbie and Dana are back later this week with more inspiration, so be sure to pop back soon.

Morag x

Counting the Days...

There are only 16 more sleeps until Christmas. Yikes! where has the time gone?

We've been counting down the days in our house and this year we'll be counting them down on a blackboard.

This mini-blackboard is a child's toy which I found in a craft store. I've decorated it with the fabulous Eskimo Kisses from Basic Grey. These double-sided papers are simply gorgeous! I love the colours and patterns.

I have to say my snowmen are very much inspired by the fabulous Linda Albrecht who is this month's Guest Designer. She creates such wonderful pieces that she definately inspired my snowman.

Unfortuately the light here is poor so you can't see all the sparkly glitter and glass bauble gems. They really are divine. The little dear is cut out of Dearly paper - I wish I had bought the chip stickers - the little girls and boys would have looked fabulous.

I made a clay birdie to sit on a branch. She is covered in ultra-fine glitter too.

I hope that we've inspired you to create something lovely for Christmas. Remember that there are heaps of lovely new goodies in the store to tempt you.

Merry Christmas!

Morag x