an easy gift

A very good day to you all :)

Today we are going to make a gift.

It's quick, inexpensive and pretty!!

PERFECT!!

Firstly you need to choose a few different bits of fabric (off cuts work well!).

Then you need to decide what shape you are going to use. I have chosen birds! Which I down loaded from a cool site called Kiddley!

I cut 2 birds from 3 different co-ordinating fabrics (ie 12 sides, 6 birds) using my pinking shears.

Next I pinned them together with wadding in the middle for stuffing. Oh and added a bit of lavender in each bird too :) This is particularly good if giving this to someone who likes nice smelly things! (like me!!)

I used button thread, which is nice and strong, to stitch them up, making sure I added the ribbon as I went. The top piece of ribbon is looped. For the eyes I used gold beads which I chose to stitch on afterwards and pulled them tight to give the bird a little bit of shape. In all it took about 3 hours to make, including the time on the internet looking for the bird shape. Of course this is a great project to do with the kids! You can cut the shapes out of foam or felt and decorate before stringing them together with twill, ribbon or wool!! haPPy creATing Caz xx

Mix it up!!

Hi Folks!!!

And we have another lucky dipper prize today for our Scrap Your Boobs campaign. Its an A4 sheet of Zettiology rubber stamps donated by 3D Jean and the winner is Hazel Harris. Please email us your address at acreativeworld@hotmail.co.uk and we will get your prize to you!!! And a big thanks to our very generous sponsor!!!

Woo Hoo we are giving away another prize today. It's a Scrapping Angels kit donated by the lovely Anna @ scrapping angels! There will be a draw tomorrow so leave us a comment to be eligible for the prize!!!

It's Tuesday again and today we are bringing you the last in a series of LO classes!!

Mixing patterned papers :)

We are so lucky to be joined once again by the very talented ~Angie~ who has created these fab LOs as examples of mixing different patterned paper line on a LO.

Crocs Rock I've been trying to scrap this photo since I got my first pair or Crocs earlier this year. When I started to think about how I could use a mixture of papers from different manufacturers, I went straight to my box of scraps. This seemed to be a great place to search through for papers that might go together. Having found a few different patterns I cut the pieces into strips,inked the edges, and lay them across the cardstock base. I like the way the different papers create a bold interesting background. Usually this would overwhelm a photo, but as the subject is only a pair of shoes I feel it doesn't matter in this case. The finished layout is quite layered....I used some Hambly overlay, and Heidi Swapp Ghost letters so all the time the papers can be seen through from underneath.

You Spin Me Right Round On this layout I didn't want to overdo the paper,I wanted quite a clean look, so I found 3 papers with a similar feel to them. Two of them I simply placed in opposite corners, and the third I used for the arrow and to mat one of the photos.

Sweetie Pie This time I wanted to create a vivid fun layout, using lots of bright colours and patterns. I started with the Doodlebug flowery paper, then found other papers that co-ordinated with it. I wanted to use quite large pieces which I layered under the photo. A spot of doodling around the edges of it all adds another fun element. I love this layout- so bold, and it was great fun to put together. I don't think I'll ever be afraid of mixing papers again! And Di has used different patterned papers to create this fab LO!! I hope this will inspire you to get out your scraps and start mixing papers!!

haPPy creATing!!

Caz

xx

Quick & Easy Buttons!

I love buttons, all sorts, mostly I seem to collect them (well, they do look so pretty in glass jars on my shelf!) but sometimes I actually use them too! The ones I use the most are actually the ones I have made myself, that way you can get a perfect match to your layout, and it's very easy and cheap to do. I have included a couple of examples here to help inspire you, I really hope you have a go because it is a great way to use up scraps and a nice little crafty thing to make up on one of those evenings when you don't have much time to spare but still want to get creative.

In this layout I made buttons to perfectly co-ordinate with the patterned paper using clear page pebbles. I bought a few packets of these when I started scrapping years ago but never used them, then I realised they could be used to make fake epoxy buttons! Just stick your page pebble directly on to your patterned paper, burnish the back of the paper with a rub-on stick to make sure it is stuck down properly and then carefully cut out the pebble.

To mark the holes it is easiest to draw round your shape on a piece of scrap paper and cut that out, then fold that template into quarters to give you some guidelines. If you then punch circles out of the template you can check if you like their position and go ahead and mark them onto the back of your button.

You can punch the holes with a cropadile or a normal eyelet punch, it's much easier than you think! I made this pile of buttons in less than half an hour, they are now all ready for me to start scrapping! I bought a pack of Basic Grey papers ready to scrap last years Christmas photos, and it came with a sheet of tags which knew I wouldn't use, so I cut up the tags and covered some Bazzill chips with them to make co-ordinating buttons. You could just as easily cut your own shapes out of cardboard, or use one of the larger die-cut machines like a Big Shot. To finish them off I sanded the edges which went well with the vintage papers, but inking them also looks really effective. You can also set eyelets into the button holes for a really clean look.

In this layout I used Bazzill chips again but painted them with acrylic to give a perfect match to the cardstock I used and then drew on some simple detail using a white marker pen.

I really hope you have a go at this, a great way to add some fun to your layouts and use up those scraps :)

Charlotte x

Working from a sketch

Welcome to another Octobers Tuesday LO class!

Today we are going to be looking as scrapping from a sketch.

Sketches are very versatile because you can use as much, or as little, of the elements on your page, or turn it any which way you want.

The IT place to find sketches is Pencil Lines. An inspirational blog run by a FAB group of ladies who create the most awesome work every week to inspire their readers.

And here at It's a Creative World we are very honoured to have been given an exclusive sketch for our class by the lovely Anna!!

Hi , my name is Anna Bowkis, I live in a small village in Cambridgeshire with my hubby and two girls. I have a very fond love for sketches and a year ago I came up with the concept of Pencil Lines, the sketch challenge blog. Every week we have a new sketch for our readers and a guest designer. Our readers gallery is very popular, and one lucky reader each month recives a RAK form one of our sponsers. This month is our first anniversary, and we have lots of sketches, prizes and RAK’s to give away. I have made this sketch especially for “It’s a creative world” readers and hope you enjoy creating. Thanks for having me as a guest this week, its been such fun! Hugs Anna x

And this is what we have done with it.........

Charlotte!

Andrea!

Angela! Caz!

And here are a few more examples of LOs using PL sketches from the lovely Joy!

And of course it wouldn't be IACW without a great prize giveaway! Today we are offering you a gift from the amazing collection over at A String Of Beads. All you have to do is leave us a comment before midnight tonight and we will do the prize draw tomorrow :)

haPPy creATing!!

Caz

xx

Thanks for visiting!!

WOO HOO, we have reached our fundraising target!!!!! You ladies are just awesome and the support you have shown for a great cause is just amazing. Keep those donations coming in and get you BOOBIES SCRAPPED!!!!!!

There are still loads of prizes to be won this month so visit often :)

In the Doldrums ???

Hi again from Di with another idea to get the creative juices going.

I have been through a real “mojo less” period, and sometimes I just want to play. Because I am retired, I am on a pension, and therefore a BUDGET. Like you I have stash that I have actually FORGOTTEN about. So this is also an oopportunity to "Use Your Stash". Cheap and Cheerful Décor: Sometimes I just want to sit down and play, with no expectations of what I am creating. That’s when I create stuff to adorn my “studio”. So get some old cardboard, patterned paper, as many embellishments as you feel like and play. My Studio Just some patterned paper, paint, chipboard letters brads and ribbon.

About me:

And more just about me!!! And finally a little "welcome" I treat these as ’throwaways”. If they adorn “My space”for a few months, that’s fine. But they are in my face reminding me of who and what I am. They contain some positive thoughts that I can focus on whilst working. I used some paper that I have loved for a long time but have probably “over scrapped” LOL. You will find that you are not inhibited by the colours of photographs. (If you decide to include a few photographs, print them in black and white, sepia or antique.) This works for me. We would love to hear how YOU approach kindling your inspiration (We hope you come to IACW!!!! LOL.) a BIG Thanks for your very generous donations to our breast cancer awareness campaign. A special thanks to the folks who accepted my little challenge and donated this weekend. You will see that we have almost reached our target!!! And a reminder to get your "Scrap your Boobs" layouts in before the 31st October. Please email them to us at acreativeworld@hotmail.co.uk THANKS!!! Thanks for visiting and love from Di XXX

Nude words....inside and out!

Ooh doesn't that title sound a bit naughty {lol}

Today we are looking at decorating wooden letters and I want to extend a huge IACW welcome to the lovely SCRAPDOLLY who is sharing her stunning project with us today.

Karen has decorated the word TRAVEL beautifully using themed paper and embellishments.

And a little detail...

My project is a little different...

I have used the Creative Imaginations bare elements word CREATE and have decided to start off decorating the NEGATIVE or OUTSIDE part first. (the insides are still waiting for their turn!!}

Firstly I painted the whole thing blue, including the inside bits for the R and A.

Once dry I used a sanding block to give it a shabby worn out look.

A few bits of ribbon and a clear jewel were the only decoration I wanted.

For the backing I used Cosmo Cricket, Dutch Girl: Audrey paper attached with modge podge.

And a little detail...

A huge thanks to the lovely Scrapdolly for sharing her work with IACW readers

and as always...

haPPy creATing

Caz

xx

Stitch mania

Good morning to you all!! Caz here, with another LO class :) And we are so honoured to have the lovely ~Angie~ as a guest DT member today!!

Stitching on layouts, whether by machine or hand, seems to come into fashion so often and it is one of the most effective ways to add dimension to a LO. In the layout below Angie has even added some hand stitched doodling which looks great and of course you can make up your own designs. She has also stitched around each square of patterned paper which gives the LO a quilt effect and around the photograph which frames Emily beautifully :)

~Angie~ says.....

I have been scrapbooking for nearly 2 years now. My children Emily and Adam are the main things that inspire me to scrap....I love to capture moments in my photos and on my layouts that otherwise may get forgotten. To capture little details of everyday life, to keep to look back on in the years to come. They love it when Mummy has made yet another page about them- I'm not so sure they'll see it the same way when as teenagers they look back at layouts with them having a strop! Currently I'm going through quite an experimental stage with my scrapping. I don't think I really have a style as some scrappers seem to do, but there are various elements and techniques that I use over and over again, and nearly all my layouts have some if not all of these included. What do I like? Chipboard alphabets, inked edges, buttons, ribbons, stitching- mainly by machine (as I'm generally too lazy to hand sew!! lol) I had great fun creating these two layouts, I find stitching adds great extra depth and texture.

Machine sewing around the edges of your cardstock also frames the LO, and I just love how Angie has stitched around each felt flower.

Our own lovely Joy has also contributed to this project with a totally different style of stitching. Joys stitches are randomly placed and hand done, she has also used fabric, ribbon and bits of a real pattern to match the theme of her 'handmade with Love' LO.

Aren't these just the MOST beautiful photographs!!

A massive thanks to both Angie and Joy for sharing their stunning work with IACW today.

And remember we love to see our readers layouts so please leave us a link to your gallery/blog so we can drool, lol.

haPPy creATing

Caz

xx

Size matters :)

A big Tuesday morning hello to you all from Caz!!

Today on IACW we are going to be looking at 6x12 layouts. And hopefully once you get to the end you'll be itching, if you've not tried it yet, to have a go :)

We also have some wonderful layouts to share from the very talented Anna, thanks so much Anna for sharing these with the IACW readers.

Now the biggest advantage for me to scrap this size is I get to use some of my photos that I love but aren't very good.

For example, the photos in the two LOs below, cats in boxes, had so much other stuff surrounding the subject of the photograph, the cats, that they got a bit lost. So I just cropped them in and they were perfect for this smaller format but unlike 6x6 layouts it also meant that I had room to add some embelishments and their names. Like wise I totally love this photo of my sister playing 'tennis' in the park years ago, but it was such an awful photo with so much wasted space all around my subject. I chose to only crop the top and bottom as I wanted to keep a certain amount of movement to the photo. And now this special memory is scrapped and safe in an album :)

Of course another huge advantage is you can get two pages out of one 12x12 sheet of cardstock! And what a great way of using up your scraps.

And finally here is a page that Di has done which shows a great example of a themed album idea. You could fill up an album with seasons, or even a page a month for a year, using tiny photos that you have taken each month.

The possibilities are endless!

haPPy creATing

and lots of love

Caz

xx

PS I am typing the post on Monday evening and we have reached 50% of the amount we wish to raise for breakthrough Cancer research. Thank you so much for all your donations and support of this worthy cause! Don't forget every penny counts so £1 and £2 donations are most welcome. And of course you get yourself entered into a lucky dipper prize draw for donating this month :)

Because of you - Just a design...

Hi all from Di. In support of breast cancer awareness month I have a very simple project dedicated to the special women in my life, and to ME; because of them, I am who I am. This design is dedicated to Caz, Linda and Mags “Caroline (CAZ)” is my dearest darling daughter. She is my reason for being. She is beautiful. She is funny, creative, adorable, loving, gentle wise and kind. She is everything I could have hoped for. I am soooo proud of her. Linda is my sister. She is my wings and the wind beneath them. She is a jewel. She glows from an inner beauty. She brings laughter to my life. She inspires and encourages me to reach for the sky and soar. ‘Mags’ is my mother. She was spontaneous, impulsive, generous, loving, inspiring and creative. She has been my inspiration for almost 60 years. I love this photograph taken having tea at the Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town. It was her best treat whenever she visited me. We had a glorious happy day together. She died of a cancerous brain tumour over 2 years ago and I miss her every day. The design uses cardstock and a little patterned paper. Photographs are inked with charcoal and matted onto plain black cardstock. Add a few embellishments and the title and you are done. So, go on find the special people that have made YOU what YOU are and celebrate their life!!!

Don't forget our scrap your boobs challenge and just a little encouragement from me:

Thanks for visiting us. And just a reminder that you can make a donation to breast cancer awareness on our Just Giving page. Your donations are so appreciated :D. Love always from Di XXX

Memories of......

Hey from Caz!! I hope you have all had a good week and have an exciting weekend of crafting planned!

In todays post we are going to be looking at a themed mini book. And it's in a format I totally love to do....envelope books! They are seriously so easy and quick to put together, and of course you can make the book as small or large as you need it. With the added bonus of ready made pockets!

As we near the end of 2007 I am amazed to think back at how eventful this year has been for us so far. My DHs son came over to live with us for 6 months, going from 0 to 13 in no time was a shock to my system but has also been a massive learning curve for me. It snowed, heavily, for the first time since moving to the country and that brought with it some very interesting experiences. We got married!! That was a great day, and one I will never forget *heart*. Very good friends of our left to return to NZ for ever (!!) to start a family and settle down, very sad for us :( but FABBO for them. DHs daughter has returned to live in the UK, which we are very happy about. And finally we have 2 new babies in our family which is just too flippin' exciting!

So without further delay, here is the cover for my Memories of 2007 'book' and below it is open showing January to June, July to December are on the other side.

And some close up details photos :)

I have used 7 envelopes to make 12 'pages' plus the front and back cover.

To make up an envelope book all you need to do is adhere the envelope 'flap' to the body of another envelope. You can either lay all the envelopes the same way ie all the 'openings' facing up, or alternate them, so you have openings (ready made pockets) at the front and back of the book. Concertina it and use ribbon to tie it closed.

I have used different papers throughout to represent the theme of the month and photos. And of course it's a great way to use up your off cuts and scraps :)

Print smaller photos so you have loads of room to journal.

I do hope this project has inspired you, and don't forget you can adapt this to use as gifts too.

Grannys would love an envelope brag book of their grandchildren ;)

Ciao and haPPy creATing!! Caz

xx