Shimmer Kit...

Sandy from Key Lime Digi has just launched a brand new kit call Simmer this is a wonderful wintery kit idea for you cold photo's even Christmas.  Here's the 2 layouts I've made using this wonderful kit:

http://www.mscraps.com/shop/Shimmer-Elements/
http://www.mscraps.com/shop/Shimmer-Papers/

Have fun making your own wintery layouts...

Oh Dear Christmas is coming....

I am sitting here writing this with packing boxes all over the place I hate moving we last moved 9yrs ago and all I can remember is the mess and being bone tired all the time.  This time is a little different as we are down sizing as well as Mum had a stroke last January, and we've been offered a bungalow which has happen within the last 2 weeks.

I have never had everything just full into place like this even Social Service are on the ball and are helping all they can.  We move in on the 15th December 10 days before Christmas I am trying to be organized I have most of the gifts brought already, and I found some Christmas Cards I made last year that didn't sell so at least the people who mean the most to me will still get a handmade card I thought I was going to have to give in and buy them all this year something I haven't done for years.

Oh dear I put the gifts I brought into a box to keep them safe and now I can't find them I will just have to keep looking and hope they appear soon lol...

Just two left for now to be moved to the downstairs...

Black Friday Offers...

Here's the layouts I've done as a CT member for Key Lime Digi Design Sandy asked us to see what we could come up with using this wonderful mini kit from MScraps and her FB freebie its amazing what can be done with these kits, make sure you have a look this weekend as Sandy has a great offer on...

Kit used: We Remember

Today's the day...

Well today Sandy the designer for Key Lime Digi Design is announcing her Creative Team and is going to be doing a blog train where you will be able to down load free stacker pages from everyone who's on the team...

Here's my freebie page just click on the download link below

https://app.box.com/s/neind8udyyrzg9izj90d

Your next stop is HERE

Catherine - http://thisnthatbycat.blogspot.com/
Claire - http://saisir-linstant-present.blogspot.fr/
Lisa Marie - http://lmtroch.blogspot.be
Susan - http://gluepaperglitter.wordpress.com
Lyndee - http://wildsunshinedesigns.blogspot.com/
Sharon - http://spudtasticdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Key Lime Digi Design Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Keylimedigidesign

Please leave a comment I'd love to know what you think of my page.  Keep a look out for more freebies to come over the coming months

Hugs

Sharon xxx

All you need is love...

Here's a page I've made using Key Lime Digi Designs - French Quarter and WordArt - Sweetness by Meta Wulandari. I did a lot of work on the photo in Photo Lab as I wanted to soften the photo and make is warmer http://www.mscraps.com/shop/French-Quarter/ http://www.mscraps.com/shop/Sweetness-Wordart/

I'm now a CT on the Key Lime Digi Design Team...

Oh Wow I've just found out that I am going to be a CT on a new and up coming designers team Key Lime Digi Design.  Sandy has worked hard to get a shop going on MScraps and wants to also get a team together to help get more kits ready for the shop and to get some sample pages for the kits made up to.

So keep a look out for details of new kits, and you never know some special offers too...

http://www.mscraps.com/shop/Key-Lime-Digi-Design/

About time lol...

Sorry for not being online for a long time been a bad month for my Mum as most of you will know already Mum had a stroke in Jan this year, and I am her full time carer so life is a complete change for us both this year. So I've not had a chance to do much scraping, all I've really been doing is sorting out the kits I already have.  As those of you who own CAP 2 will know we have to import kits into our software and convert them into a kit that CAP can see.  I had hoped to have got to go out for Halloween and bonfire night, but it was rained off here, and we had no chance to take photos.  We are also in the process of moving as Mum needs to be in a more suitable home, it just a case of waiting for a Bungalow to come up that we can have then we can move.

Although we have sorted out a hell of a lot its amazing just how much junk we all have lol.  I am also in the process of sorting out all my crafty stash as I am more than ever a digital artist now and I don't need half of the stuff I have.  Anyone interested in over 1000 stamps yes it could be even more than this I have been collecting stamps for over 10 yrs but for the last few years I've not used them at all most are new never been used as you all know what its like you see a set get it then think I will play with that later and before you know it its months if not years later....

I was asked the other day how come I don't have many cards on show in my gallery and to be honest I don't know why I haven't got around to it either.  So today I've added a selection of the cards I made over the passed 15 years or so.

Well it's time for lunch so I wish you all well...

Hugs

Sharon xxx

Every photo tells a story...

Daisy Trail is running a competition for their Birthday week, they have a layout competition where you are asked to create a scrap page based on the theme “What crafting means to me…”

Here's my entry for the DT Birthday Bonanza! For me scrapbooking all starts off with the photo then you choose a kit and away you go telling the viewer who and when and what/why that photo was taken.

Serif Digikits Kits used are: Sahlin Studio - So Grateful, Blessed, Enjoy the Moment, Everyday, Rejuvenate, So This Is Love and Season of Giving xxx

http://www.daisytrail.com/scrapbook.html?uid=172388

The Studio Layout Competition Week 4 - Page 2

Week 4 Page 2 - Happiness

My second page Created with DSS March 2013 Mega: You Make Me Happy. 

I loved working with this kit so much, to get two totally different looks is amazing, and these aren't even colours I would normally used. I got to really work on the backgrounds on this layout. I wanted that stamped page look to the paper I've never been a messy crafter as I don't like getting ink or paint on my hands or on my work space. This kit let me play with embellishments that already looked like a stamped image so I got that hand stamped look without all the mess...

Designers credits: 

Laitha Designs - WordArt, blue flower, ribbon, string, papers, Feli Designs - WordArt, leafy shape, dark leaves, gold hearts, The Urban Fairy - smear, foliage stamp, flowers and BG script, paint effect, text element, metal charm, Booland Designs - Paper, leaves, double Leaf, blue cloth flower, Linda Cumberland - Papers, leaf, Digilicious - Flowers, Lynn Griffen Designs - Lace, vine, heart pendant, lace border, Design by Brigit - Blue flower, stamped scroll, LouCee - grass, flower, bow, Feli - WordArt, white flower, leafy shape with style applied, Aveziur - Flowers, NibblesScribbles - BG, JanetB - Frame, Studio4 Designworks - Paper, flowers. 

The Studio Layout Competition Week 4 - Page 1

Week 4 Page 1 - You Make Me Happy

This week is the last week for The Studio Layout Competition, the kit used is You Make Me Happy:

Link to: March 2013 Mega Kit

I loved working with this kit, this weeks colours aren't colours I would normally used, but I loved the challenge I got to really work on the backgrounds this week there are lots I've added to each background. I wanted that stamped page look to the paper as there are a lot of embellishments that already had that stamped look.

This time I have also had ago at changing an embellishment to glass something I've not done before (the heart on this page) I love the effect its given.

Scrapyrus Designs: Win "Candy Chic"!!

Scrapyrus Designs: Win "Candy Chic"!!: Do you want a chance to win this upcoming kit? You can win the elements and papers. Leave us a nice comment on this blog post and maybe...

New Blog Logo...

Well I've actually got around to designing a logo for my page at long last.  Serif has brought out some new royalty free images which is where I got the image of the dog from.  I am really pleased with this logo I've wanted something for ages that I could use, and now I have it.  I am also going to be having ago at making some scrapbook digikits both in pack and png format so keep a lookout for them in the near future...

The Studio Layout Competition Week 3 - Page 2

Week 3 - Day at the Beach

Here is my second page for the week 3 challenge.

I wanted to get a weathered look to this page so I used a chalk effect to the edges and on the title I used a texture effect and 3D effect. To get the rest of the look I wanted I had to used embellishments from a number of kits which are listed below. Thanks to all the designers who made these kits in the NDC Designer Challenge you have all done a fantastic job.

Kits used: Designs by jmck - By the Sea NDC WK 2, The Urban Fairy - Gone Beachin NDC play along, ibvd - At the Beach - NDC WK 2, Danas Footprint Designs - Beach Getaway NDC WK 2, Design by Sandra Design - Balaton Getaway NDC WK 2, Manrotka - Vacations in my Garden NDC WK 3

Template used: Big Photos Templates 2 by JanetB Designs
https://www.digitalscrapbookingstudi...oducts_id=4432

Fonts used: CK Woodbine Swashes & CK Greeting Card

The Studio Layout Competition Week 3 - Page 1

Week 3 - I'm Not Small...

Well we start of on Monday with another challenge from the Studio this week we have to produce 2 pages using a template and the kits from the NDC Designers.

Here is my first page for the week 3 challenge. 

On this page I wanted to keep it simple and have the main photo as the focus. Once the photo was blended into the back ground paper I added a paint effect to the edges. The title I used a texture effect and 3D effect. To get the rest of the look I wanted I had to used embellishments from a number of kits which are listed below. Thanks to all the designers who made these kits in the NDC Designer Challenge you have all done a fantastic job.

Kits used: Stampgram Studio - Nature Trek NDC WK 1, Prairie Song Scraps - On the Road Again NDC WK 1, Cuddlebeez Scraps - The Scenic Route NDC WK 1

Template used: Big Photos Templates 2 by JanetB Designs

Link to Template

Fonts used: Giggles BTN & CK Greeting Card

Christmas Moments - theStudio Gallery

Christmas Moments - theStudio Gallery

The Studio Layout Competition Week 2 - Page 2

Week 2 - Page 2 Lazy Days...

This is a photo of my Mum aged 17, I've been wanting to scrap this photo for ages.  The photo was black & white which I've changed to sepia I have also blended the photo into the background paper I had to make the photo about a third bigger by merging two copies together.

I have only used the papers and elements from this kit the rest I've made using CAP and this kit just goes to show how even a Christmas kit can be used for an everyday layout.

Kit used is: Holiday Hoopla Collab by Snickerdoodle Designs & Kimberkatt Scraps.  The font is: Amazone BT

Link to kit

The Studio Layout Competition Week 2 - Page 1

My first page for week 2 of the LO challenge.

Page 1 - Christmas Moments

Here's this weeks challenge: Create 2 beautiful layouts using this collab. This collection is themed around the holidays, but one of your layouts must use this kit for a layout that has nothing to do with holiday fun! The other layout can be themed to the holidays if you would like. One of your layouts must also feature a photo-treatment. This can be as simple as turning it black and white or as complicated as you want! You may combine these two tasks into the same layout if you would like. 

This is a photo of the infant's class I was in back in 1973, I have scraped this photo before but it was a very basic LO and I wanted to push myself this time. I also wanted to have a bit of fun with this lovely kit. This is the first time I've used characters on a LO and I think they work really well they just work with the photo so well. 

I've improved the photo by enhancing the colour and brightness; I have also used the dust/scratch remover as 40 years hasn't been kind to this photo. The photo has also been blended into the background paper. I have only used the papers and elements from this kit the rest I've made using the Serif scrapbook software. 

Kit used is: Holiday Hoopla Collab by Snickerdoodle Designs & Kimberkatt Scraps 

Link to kit

The fonts used are: Annie BTN and SNF Dear Miss Rose

The Studio Layout Competition Week 1 - Page 2

Page 2 - As far as the eyes can see...

Here's is my second page for the birthday layout competition, using the same kit.

In July we had a wonderful day trip to Rhyl and I have already made some pages from the photo's. But this photo of the beach I just love its my desktop background at the moment and although I have used this photo in the other pages I've done its only been used as a blend in the background. I wanted to have ago at doing a beach page that wasn't a typical beach page if that makes sense and I think I've managed it.

Week 1: Morning Memories Collaboration by Jilberts Bits of Bytes, The Urban Fairy and Nibbles Skribbles!

Link to kit

Font used: Alako-Bold

The Studio Layout Competition Week 1 - Page 1

The Studio are having a month long layout competition and I thought I'd give all 4 weeks ago and post my pages on here too.  Each week we are given a kit and have to produce 2 layouts from the kit without adding to it apart from what comes included with your software of choice.  So I have use of all the brushes, punches, fonts etc that are included in CAP 2.

Page 1 - Love Is...

This is a photo that I love of my partner Steve. I wanted to do a page that could be framed. It was quite a challenge not adding any journaling to this page. I've never been what I call a messy crafter I don't like getting paint/inks on my hands and work space, so having these wonderful masks and stamps to play with was wonderful for me for the first time my pages look like they've been stamped and inked which they have, just without all the mess lol.

Week 1: Morning Memories Collaboration by Jilberts Bits of Bytes, The Urban Fairy and Nibbles Skribbles!

Link to kit

Template...

Here's the template I made for the last layout I did I am including a link so you can download the pack file or png if you wish...

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=4CC9275E1D0EEECD!133

Zoo Babies...

Last month Steve & I went to Chester Zoo it was our first visit and we had a lovely day there. I didn't want to do a normal zoo type page as they tend to be more aimed at having kids in the photo's so using a number of kits I came up with this.

Jungle Safari by Digilicious, It's a Zoo in Here! by The Kit Cart and Always Blog Train kit, fonts used are CK Greeting Card & Mandingo BTN.

You can find these kits on The Studio web page.

Together...

Well here's another page to go with our Rhyl trip,

kits used again is 'Fishermans Rest' by Boolands from The Studio the Word Art is from a kit called 'My Beautiful Forever' by Designs by Helly brought from Scrapbook Bytes and the Font used is Freehand591 BT...

Wet feet...

Well here's page 2 I'm also including the double page...

Featured Project - Daisy Trail...

Well what a surprise I got today when I went on the Daisy Trail web site, the page I did 'to the sea' has been made into today's Featured Project, how wonderful is that, my first one too...

to the sea...

This is the first page I've done of our trip to Rhyl this year...

Kit used is Fishermans Rest by Boolands from The Studio the Word Art is from a kit called Blue Wave by JulieC Designs sorry not to sure where I purchased this from and the Font used is Freehand591 BT...

Jodrell Bank...

On August 1st this year my partner Steve and I went to Jodrell Bank, We had a lovely day and went all around the observatory and we even got to see it move when we stopped for our lunch. The weather wasn't too bad cloudy but very humid.

When I came across the Twinkle kit I knew I'd found the perfect kit to use to scrapbook the photo's we'd taken.

I used a kit I brought called Twinkle from The Lilypad and the Mounts are from a Serif digikit, the fonts used are Crazy Loot BTN Inline & Freehand891

Sorry...

Sorry I haven't been on for some weeks it has been a funny month.  To start with I got asked by Amy from Serif to make some samples for the beginning of August using the Steam Punk kits for the Germany show's, I only had a week to make them in and I'm happy with what I managed to make...

I've also taken a week off as a holiday and I will have some photo's and/or scrapbook pages to post soon. 

Fizzy Moon on C&C...

Oh just watched Hayley on C&C and not only did she show the bag I sent in but all the cards I made and the logo on the back...

I am Thankful for You...

Here's a page I made using the Sahlin Studio digikits - So Grateful, Blessed & Everyday, .

I used the pre designed layout from So Grateful as my starting point then I moved everything around until I was happy with the layout.  I am really pleased with the way the Word Art has worked with the butterfly it was one of those try it and see. I say to anyone just starting out to start by using a digital scrapbooks layout as this makes it much easier to begin with than just having a blank page.

As you can see my layout is loosely based on the original design, I also took bits from the other kits as I wanted different embellishments and the Word Art too.  So give them ago and have a play see what you can come up with.

Let me know if you'd like a step by step on how I did this layout?

Hugs

Sharon x

Fizzy Moon on C&C Monday 24th June...

Well we didn't get the number of show's on Fizzy Moon as most of us expected even Phill didn't know what was going on.  The good news is that there is a show on C&C this Monday 24th at 4 pm so hopefully we will get to see this wonderful range again not just a few 10 minute show's...

Fizzy Moon is here...

Well at long last I can now post the photo's of the samples I sent in to Serif HQ from the Fizzy Moon range. I was told by both Hayley and Phill that this was to be a POTD but its been changed to a blockbuster instead and is sharing the slot with a foiling machine that Serif are backing so might not all be lost.  As far as I know its only the 10pm show that is just serif.  I am sure that you will all love this range its a must have for crafters as you can make cards for anyone at any age.

Enjoy

Sharon xxx

Happy Father's Day...

Wishing all Dad's and remembering all those nolonger with us a wonderful Father's Day, it's a wonderful day to remember just what it means to us all to have a Dad.  Sadly both Steve and I nolonger have our Dad's around but we both hold them dear to our hearts.

A big hug and kisses for my lovely guy Steve's as he's a wonderful father and I hope he knows just how much he is loved by Elliot and me.

Here's the Father's Day gift I made for him as he insisted I wasn't to buy him anything...

I hope all Dad's today have a great day with their families.

Hugs

Sharon x

Fizzy Moon Angle Policy...

Hi just had this from Amy at Serif HQ:

You will be pleased to know these are not personal use Angel Policy

We operate an Angel Policy for this kit.

This means that you can produce items to sell with this kit, provided that:
• the item is not professionally printed or mass produced in any way
• the item is printed at home or are each individually crafted in some way
• no more than 100 of any item of the same design is produced
• the design of the item is of your own making and unique and is significantly different to any Layout or Templates which are Supplied Content.

Any commercial use that does not fit in with these terms is not permitted.

So in short you can make 100 of each design then you would have to change it to make another 100 (all hand crafted and not mass produced)

I hope this helps everyone this is a lovely range and if you like Forever Friends then you are going to love these kits too

Sharon x

WOW Serif like my samples...

Well knock me over with a feather I've just had a lovely message from Amy at Serif HQ regarding the samples I sent in.  She is that impressed with them that she's going to give me a big thank you in the Daisy Trail blog.  I never envisioned my samples would be so highly praised I'm one of those people who never thinks what I do is good enough I have got less critical over the years (comes with age I think lol) but it is still hard for me to believe what I make is good enough.

So this is a lovely surprise for me as this past 6 months have been very hard as some of you may remember my Mum had a stroke on 1st Jan and although she is home now as her full time carer it is still hard going.  I couldn't have gotten through any of this without the wonderful support of Steve and all my good friends and family, and also having the outlet of crafting it is truly the best medicine and the best thing going when you can't sleep and its 2am.

I hope you all have a good day and even if you don't remember tomorrow is a brand new day and anything can happen...

Sharon x

Sneaky peek...

HOT news the Serif POTD on the 20th June will be with the wonderful Phill Martin and it will be showcasing the Fizzy Bear range which is the kits I've just sent samples in for.  I can't post any photo's until 8pm on the 20th but I can give you all a sneaky peek (close ups) of some of the samples I sent in...

Hot news...

Well here it is the news I said I would share and also my main reason for starting a blog at long last. Well you see back in April I was asked if I'd like to be a sample Design Maker for Serif Craft Artist 2, which I was so honoured to do.  Hayley West is the designer/presenter who has given us the task and last week I sent off 15 projects that I've made with the 6 digikits we were given to play with.

As soon as I get the okay to post photo's they will be on here for you all to see.  All I can say for now is if you like the forever friends bears then you are going to love these kits. It's been so very hard keeping this news quite as I would have loved to have let all my crafting friends know much sooner than this..

My first ever blog...

Welcome to my blog I decided to start a blog as it's something I've been meaning to do for a few years now, and I have some news to share too, more on that in a bit.

I love all types of crafting but my passion now is digital crafting I have always used CD's in my cardmaking as I love the fact that you never run out of supplies and that you have the control over the size and colours. I like most of you have a room full of craft supplies yet I never really use them as its that whole thing that its the only one I have and what do I do if I mess up this project and I can't get another.  The amount of scrapbooking paper I have that I won't use as they are too nice or I only have the one sheet is silly.  So about 3 years ago when Michelle brought Scrapbook Artist to C & C I thought yes that's just what I need and I was hooked and I haven't looked back.

I used Serif Craft Artist 2 now and there isn't anything you can do in any other software that you can't do quicker in CAP 2, and I have paid a lot in the past for Photoshop and Corel Draw both I just found way too complicated to use and even Photoshop Elements which I go for free with my PC isn't any easier to use.  I have even got my other half scrapbooking using CAP 2 and he loves it, we craft via Skype and if he get stuck I just walk him through what to do and even Steve can't believe just how easy and how quickly you can produce something.  Both of us regularly post our pages the the FB Serif Craft Artist User Group its a great place to post your work and see what everyone else thinks and to get inspiration and help if you get stuck...