Oh You Beautiful Doll

I was lucky enough to be given the brand new Hidden Treasures collection from Kaisercraft to play with this month :)

It is primarily a blue/green palette with hints of mustard but then I saw this dark brown paper and took a leap of faith!!

The colours in the photos of DD#1 couldn't have been more perfect. Admittedly, had it not been for the bright photos I would have been using a white background! I am really pleased with the end result......having such fabulous products to work with certainly helps :)

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

It's Challenge Time at Merly :)

Hello, hello lovely peeps!!

We have another challenge for you over at Merly Impressions. It's all about 'Home' and what it means to you. Lovely, eh?

So here is my take, using the delicious Hidden Treasures collection. I don't know what is going on with me at the moment but I see these papers and choose to go with them rather than my beloved white!! They are simply stunning and I just can't bear to cut them up :D

So let's not shock you too much and start with the details:

What a dear little wooden veneer of a Babushka Doll. I cut a 'man' out on the Silhouette to represent DH and actually it's worked perfectly...he is tall and thin and I am short and rotund!! LOL

Gorgeous Mini Alpha Stickers and some customised chipboard letters.

Bits and Bobs from the Collectables pack

Lovely lace, stickers and a tag and a butterfly die cut from one of the 6x6 papers. I have used the gorgeous Kaisercraft Pearls all over this layout.

See what I mean about the 12x12 papers? Why wouldn't you want to use them?!!

Thanks for popping in today, hope to see your take on the Merly blog.

Ali x 

Toblerone Inspired Banner

Alright, it's triangular!! But it does have lots of loveliness layered up....much like the honey, almond nougat and chocolate of the aforementioned confectionery delight :)

Here's a little peep of the banner using the fabulous new Hidden Treasures collection:

Want to see the rest? Hop on over to the Merly Impressions blog and I will show you, not only the whole thing, but how to make it too!!

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

Taking the Roy

Hello, hello!!

It's another Merly Impressions Blog day for me today, so hop on over and see what I have been playing with this month!

Yup, you're right it's not a white background!!!

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x

**** LOL, this has already been published once!! Sorry for the mix up but I am now in line with the Merly blog ;)*****

Love Your Laugh

I have had so much fun playing with the Lulu and Roy Collection from Kaisercraft that I had to make another layout!

I just love the diversity of the colour palette. On this one I have picked out pink and apricot, with a little dash of grey to cool it down.

I used Glossy Accents on the letter stickers to give them some dimension.

There are so many gorgeous little diecuts in the 6 x 6 pad....perfect for finishing touches :)

I love the 'dictionary' paper...how sweet to do it in pink (there's a foiled version in the 6 x 6 pad!) 

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

It's a Challenge!

We have this month's challenge up at Merly Impressions blog to use different photo sizes, other than 6 x 4.

Now for most of my crafty friends this will not phase you in the slightest as I know that you do already!! So, go on, get cracking :)

Here's my take with an Instagram photo (taken off FB)

Yummy Yummy Lulu and Roy collection used here. There are so many beautiful papers to use, so I layered them up! You will notice that I was so excited I couldn't be bothered to cut them square!! LOL

Just look at the finish on this paper....AMAZING!

Kaisercraft Background stamp.....lush! 

Beautiful little detail stickers and, of course, Kaisercolour paint flicked in wild abandon!

I know I say it every month, but this collection really is a beaut :) I was lucky enough to be able to choose Lulu and Roy to play with and I think I made the perfect choice!! The colours are perfect for everything :)

Thanks for popping in today and don't forget to play along with us,

Ali x 

Pretty Little Things

Hello my friends :)

It's time for another little tutorial over on the Merly Blog.

So pop on over and see what I have been up to with Lulu and Roy!!

Ali x

Baker Fun with my little Sweetpea

Hello, hello, I'm here with you again to share another layout with the beautiful Sweetpea collection and my very own li'l sweetpea :)

I have had a bit of a rekindled romance with Distress Inks of late!! It is all your fault Sanna Lippert, ever since your brilliant tutorial I just have to keep playing :)

I picked out Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters and Scattered Straw to use as the colours are perfect with Sweetpea.

I used the Collectables, and the gorgeous rub ons, they are super sticky so make sure you put them where you want them! As you can see I didn't, but, I quite like the look....so I am going to tell you it's part of the design ;)!!! I am in love with the banner stamp from the set, I can see it making many appearances!

I also used diluted Peacock Feathers and Spiced Marmalade to 'flick' some splatters onto my page. I am in love with tags at the moment and made some with the 6 x 6 pad. I cut them free hand and then punched a little circle in a coordinating paper, another punch with my crop a dile and a little bit of twine....et voila!! The gorgeous little bird comes from the Collectables and the 'confetti' is the waste from a punch!

A  Collectables banner, cut up and stitched this time.

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

Desktop Mini Album

Want to know how to make this little cutie??

Then hop on over to the Merly Impressions blog and follow my step by step tutorial ;)

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

Sketch Challenge at Merly Impressions

This month at Merly we have a smashing sketch challenge for you to play along with.

 
perfect no matter what your style is :0)

I have turned the sketch 90 degrees, mainly because I had a landscape photo!

I have used the fabulous Sweet Pea collection......sigh...I just love it!!!

As you would expect this collection has amazing 12 x 12's but the 6 x 6 pad has both shrunk down versions and additional speciality papers....so I used a bit of both :0)

The collectables and rub ons are gorgeous.....evidently!

 My Silhouette loves the Kaisercraft card stock!! I cut the title on white and then decided to Pro Marker it. See that little bird stamp, that's in the collection too :0)

A little bit of Color Shine Tinsel, some lovely Kaisercraft pearls in 'Chino' and some of the fabulous stickers and the job is complete :0)

Do pop along to the blog and see what the other girlies have been  up to and whilst you're there have a play!

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

Special Friend for Merly Impressions

I was lucky enough to be given the Sweet Pea collection to play with this month.....honestly, I don't think Kaisercraft have ever made a more beautiful bunch of stuff!!

I have a little layout over on the Merly Blog today. I would love for you to pop on in and let me know what you think of it :0)

Here's a little peep:

Tempted now???? LOL

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

Blast Off mini Mini Album

Here's a super quick and easy little album.

I still have loads of my Blast Off collection left, so thought I would use some of it to show of my DGD :0)

Cut your papers the same width but different lengths, score them so that when you fold them they layer up nicely eg. score a 12" length of paper at 7"

Stitch or stick them together at the crease (remember if you are sticking to use very narrow tape or your pages won't lift!)

I die cut a star aperture on my front cover.

the monster tag pulls out for journalling

I also covered a wooden peg with washi tape and glittered a star from The Collectables and stuck it on.

A little month by month (enough for his first 6 months) book to document the rapid changes :0)

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' for Merly Impressions

Hello, hello!!

I was delighted to be given the Blast Off collection to play with...absolute perfection for someone with a new little man in her life! However, I wanted to show you all that this collection is soooo versatile! 

Today I wanted you to see how it can be toned down with a photo of DGD in her pink pyjamas :0)

 I have used the Kaisercraft number background stamp and a pale grey ink...really subtle but gorgeous! The title was cut from the Gravity paper and I punched out the orange star and replaced it with a metal one from my stash. I layered up border stickers and strips of paper from the collection and dotted some of the blue Kaisercraft rhinestones around.

The moon circle is from the Collectables pack, so many lovely bits to choose from! The 'R' is from the letter stickers.

I hope you'll agree, that for a collection that is mainly primary colours and aimed at boys, this has worked perfectly for a sweet little miss :0)

Thanks for popping in today, looking forward to sharing more Kaisercraft goodness with you soon!

Ali x 

Tutorial for Merly Impressions

Oooh two posts today!!

You know I love layering and bits and bobs right?

Well, today over at the Merly Impressions blog I have done a little tutorial showing how I created a layout from start to finish :0)

Here's a little peek:

Do go and take a look, I would love to know you have visited :0)

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x

'Sweet' for Merly Impressions

Hello, hello!

I am back with another layout using the fabulous Blast Off collection from Kaisecraft :0)

This challenge is all about Summer Times.

I love a picnic, especially on the beach. Who cares about sand if you have the sea within paddling distance?? Perfection :0)

I took this photo on a recent expedition to the beach. It sums up what Summer is all about for me......delicious fruit, beaches, picnics and happy times :0)

The Kaisercraft card stock that Chrissy sent me is a dream to cut  on the Silhouette

I had fun going through the Collectables and finding ways to include the phrases on a layout about fruit!

don't these colours just scream happy Summer days?

Thanks so much for popping in today. I hope you will play along with the challenge.....looking forward to seeing what you come up with :0)

Ali x 

First One for Merly Impressions

At last I am able to start sharing some of the layouts and things I have been working on for Merly Impressions.

Here is a sneak peek of my first layout:

Hop on over to the blog to see it in it's glorious technicolour :0)

Such a sweet collection....a total Blast Off!!

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x 

Today is Your Day

Another FAB-U-LOUS challenge over at ScrapFriends :0)

This time I am playing along with their colour challenge.......and it's a good 'un!!

I have had this old photo of me, DH and DD#2 hanging around since I brought it down from the loft to repurpose the frame...I know it was taken on one of my birthdays...I think around 1993...hence the hair...both DH and me!!!

Papers are scraps :0) Background stamp is Kaisercraft

Check out the fabulous texture rub ons from Christy Tomlinson...yummy!

Lovely flair badge from Stash Panache :0)

So the challenge is:




and I used this week's sketch from Let's Get Sketchy



go and have a play here

Thanks for popping in today,

Ali x