This is us, at the moment!

 Hello,

Today you can find me over on The Mad Scrapper Blog with another holiday layout featuring a family group shoot on holiday this year. As you can see this adorable family will soon become 5.

As soon as I was given the photographs I knew the pink and the blue needed to be my choice of paper colour. So I grabbed a few different ones and played about with them

I took the staples paper 1 and gutted out the centre distressing the outside edges, then I trimmed down to 11 inch the exquisite specimen paper distressed the edges and added a cross stitched element to the top right corner. The main photograph is at 4x4 which I gave it a thin black mat and then on to the other side of the pink paper and then on to a Bahamas blue. I gave the layout 2 flower clusters using Green Tara and a couple from 49 and market. A full list can be found below.

On the main paper there is this beautiful bird and I didn't want to cover his face so I went in with a sharp blade and fussy cut around him pulling him up on top of the edge of the photograph.

This next photograph shows the 2nd cluster and this time I made a bloom from the mat paper adding others on top and around. I also cut out 2 leaf sprays which I added to the top cluster.

This next photo shows a few other images taken at the same time, with these I used postage edge scissors to cut the black mat and tumbled them down the left side. To finish off I just added pink rhinestones around the page.

Thanks for stopping by again today, I hope I have inspired you to pull out some of your more vibrant papers because they will probably work perfectly with holiday/summer photographs. If you need any help with matching papers to photographs pop in to see Janine at the store or go to The Mad Scrapper | and look at your leisure.

Sue.

Supply List:

The Flower Emporium Staples 1 

Kaleidoscope - Exquisite Specimen 

Bahama/Canvas 

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue 

CRYSTAL RHINESTONES 

PINK RHINESTONES 

Rustic Flowers - Pink

Botanical Garden - Pink

49andmarket - Royal Spray - for tubers

Tiny cream flowers - stash

Be Fearless

 Hello,

Today I am adding my 3rd card to the October 2025 Challenge  by Pinkfresh Studio. The theme is texture and shine.

Today my texture is added from the Petal Trellis cover plate which I dry embossed on to some Stampin Up pattern paper. However before I did that I stamped two different images on to the paper first in eucalyptus and then ran around the edge of the paper too.

I have used the Be Fearless collection of stamp, stencil & die to make my flowers on to white cardstock and inks used were Peach Fuzz, Apricot, Persimmon, Sage, Eucalyptus and Black. After cutting them out I decided to add a little frame underneath cutting 2 which I stacked from the same Stampin Up card I used for my base and then another smaller with a top of the paper to tie it all together, the frame is Elegant Circles.

Here is a closer look at the embossing and to finish off I added some Champagne clear drops.

Thanks for stopping by again.

Sue

Twilight Tales Birthday Card

 Hello, 

Today I’m putting my second card in the mix for the Pinkfresh Studio october-2025-challenge which is all about texture & shine. 

This second card I have made for my son who is rereading the Harry Potter books but also is an amateur magician so this set from the Fables and Forest collection fits perfectly for him.

I have used the Twilight Tales suite of products coloured in with Pinkfresh inks after I embossed the image in gold to give me than shine. I used the sentiment from the set but I could have so easily used one from the Rooted in Wonder set. I stacked 2 extra layers behind the image for stability and adhered it to a piece of acetate. 

Then I dry embossed the Petal Trellis and using a green and a blue ink from my images I inked on top. After trimming it down I added it to a satin gold and placed that on to a 5 x 6.5 card blank. I took my 3d foam and added it to the back of my image so it couldn't be seen then before adding it to the cardbase I attached some flat backed sequins in green and blue, then I added my acetate over it.

This next photo even though dark it shows the acetate and gold up a little better.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Sue.

Uniquely Creative Christmas Cards

 Hello, 

Today I can be found over on The Mad Scrapper Blog sharing a few Christmas cards I have made using the new Uniquely Creative Home for Christmas collection of papers and Creative Cuts. Here is a quick overview of the cards but I went on to make a further 6 cards from the offcuts and ephemera. I can not recommend enough these packs in fact I used one of last years collection, these are much better because there is no white boarder around the image which I find off-putting.

As always I gather all the papers, ephemera, flowers etc I think I may use and I scatter it over my table so I can see what there is.

For these 3 cards I brought out 3 different Dutch card shapes I have had for years. I cut the base out of smooth Bazzill in white and then chose the first plain layer distressing all edges and stuck it down. Then using 2 pattern papers I added another layer but this one had foam underneath for dimension and stability. Then the fun begins choosing which images to add, some I lifted by adding a bit of card others had foam.

This first one has used an image off the paper itself then I added the bauble string and 3 baubles along with the star, reindeer and pile of packages to enhance the scene. This pack has sentiments in it too and I have used 1 on each card.

A little closer look at the dimension.

For this next card I added the layers the same way then through the centre I added some ribbon, on top of that I stacked 2 identical flower clusters one had card under for slight lift. The second reindeer and smaller stack of gifts were added to the righthand side. The sentiment was added to 2 discs of the plain cardstock.

Here is a closer look, I also added a tree under the flowers along with some berries and a bauble

This 3rd card is a real cutie and on top of the papers I added a doily and then stacked the images this time I used the mouse carrying a gift, more gifts and a cupcake along with another flower cluster.

Here's a closer look and you can see the beautiful sentiment which I stacked some card under the Christmas so it would be flush with the flowers.

Thanks for stopping by today I hope I have inspired you to crack out some of those Christmas papers to make cards with. To finish off I added some gems in red and crystal but I could easily have chosen green or even gold. Now I will make stands for each card and pop them in envelopes ready.

Why not drop in to see Janine who would love to show you around the different collections available, if not then grab a coffee and do what I do and type in   The Mad Scrapper  and look at your pleasure.

Sue.

Supply list:

Coconut Swirl/Smoothies 

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS 12 X 12 COORDINATING CARDSTOCK BUNDLE 

Home for Christmas - Holly in the Hall 

Home for Christmas - Little Traditions 

Home for Christmas - Where The Heart Is 

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS CREATIVE CUTS 

CRYSTAL RHINESTONES 

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue 

Art Foam A4 Sheet - White 

Side Stepper Card

 Hello,

Today I am up on The Mad Scrapper Blog using a new in to store Side Stepper Card Die from Uniquely Creative. It allows you to make card blanks in whatever colour you want. This time I decided to make a black blank.

After cutting the card out give every fold an extra press down with a bone folder to make sure of their crispness. Do read the instructions 

Once happy I gathered my papers and added to the inside back and I added it to the backside too. I will add my verse to the back of the card.

I added a piece of pale blue to the front and two strips to the side wings. I felt the front needed extra so I added the stripe on top of another strip of black.

I took an image from the cut apart paper and added it to the inside cutting to size and inking with tea dye before attaching. I added a chipboard phrase to the bottom corner.

I chose a birthday sentiment and inked with black stamping it on to white then I matted on to black and added to the pale blue front panel. Another couple of chipboard shapes were added to complete the front. Here you can see how it stands.

To finish off I added some dots of tea dye ink to lessen the whiteness of the front panel and another chipboard piece was added to the right panel.

Thanks for stopping by today, pop in to see Janine and she will show you all of Uniquely Creative goodies if not sit back and go to The Mad Scrapper  and check them out at your leisure.

Sue.

Supply List:

CENTRE STEPPER CARD DIE 

Blackberry Swirl/Smoothies 

Monochromes - Seaside - Breeze 

Seaside papers by Maja Designs

Serenity Chipboard - 49 and Market

Bright Beautiful Birthday

 Hello,

Today I am joining in with the Pinkfresh Studio October 2025 Challenge  with this birthday card.

The challenge is calling for texture and shine and I knew I wanted to use this rose gold foiled cardstock which I had picked up at a craft show last month.

Other items I have used are the Elevated Rainbows and Rainbow Sentiments collections and the Cheerful Blossoms collection.

Inks I have used are warm buff for stamping, then the flowers are coloured in with coral reef, passion fruit, candy apple, peach, apricot, grassy knoll and key lime. The blues are GinaK sea glass and ocean mist. To finish off I added iridescent dew drops.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Sue.

The Simple Life.

 Hello there,

Today you find me over at The Mad Scrapper Blog with another holiday layout. This time it is my son when we were on the hotels private yacht day cruise back in 2015.

Of course it had to be 49 and markets Summer Porch collection for this one. I only have a couple of full sheets left along with some cut offs and because I bought the collection of papers you get an extra sheet which is the reverse side of the cover and that is what you see there the darker blue with cross hatch design. I also knew there were some great pieces in the chipboard pack and I knew I wanted to use what I believe looks like a ships wheel from Vintage Artistry Christmas ephemera pack.

I trimmed down the page and distressed the edges then to the left I used the manufacturer strip which I had cut off because of all those cute images, I distressed its edges and stuck it on top. Then I added the ships wheel piece. I trimmed this photo and matted it on to a cream colour and then to the blue distressing its edges and adding foam tape below to give dimension, I adhered it to the page and then I tucked that strip from the Christmas pack ( I just love how all the colours match).

I added a little chipboard piece over the edge of the strip and I added my journaling. I've taken to hand writing my journaling now it makes it so much more personal. I also added the yacht because it was so similar to what we were on.

As I said in a previous post never through out those manufacturers strips this came from a Kaiserkraft paper years ago and it was perfect. I had 3 I could use but I let my son choose. The chipboard lighthouse brought in some red and the name tag is from the Christmas ephemera set. As you can see I did the same layering to this second photo but it went on light blue first before the darker.

Another chipboard and a added seagull perspextive.

This little green dot paper is the reverse side of the main paper, I thought it lifted the photo from the blue. I added a couple of light blue stars to finish off.

Thanks for stopping by again today. Pull out those holiday photos no matter how old they are and use up your papers and stash.

Stop in to see Janine and she will love to show you collections to suit your photos/destination. If you like me are not sadly close enough to do so then The Mad Scrapper  is the site to visit.

Sue

Supply list:

Summer Porch Collection Pack 12"X12" 

Individual papers available

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue 

FOAM MOUNTS - STRIPS 

Adore You.

 Hi,

Today you find me over at The Mad Scrapper Blog with this layout I made for my friend of her son and his two children at a recent family wedding.

I have chosen to use a not so recent paper but matching it with some new to store flowers. Janine has so many to choose from you are bound to find some to match your paper or the colours within the photographs.

I took my inspiration from his waistcoat and her dress (don't they all look lovely). I started by taking the Sweet nothings paper and cut it down to 11 1/2, then I tore down the paper removing the right side which I fussy cut around the flowers and then I used the stencil and watercolour ink to add hearts along the right side of the Ledger paper 1. Then I added foam pads under the flower paper and added it to the top right. The left hand side I distressed and stuck it down flat. I used a twisted vine die on pink pearlescent paper to make a feature mat for my photo to sit on.

I matted the photo on to plum card then on to some glitter card before adding it. Then I gathered together all my flowers and leaves I thought I would use

Here you can see the dimensions you get using the foam pads, I stacked that lattice 3 times and it's still under the flowers. Having this amount of hight on the right offsets some of the hight of the flowers used.

I have quite a few different packs of flowers some which only have one or two left but I never would discard them not even the leaves because there is always somewhere you can tuck one in to fill a gap.

On the actual paper there are some what look like fluffy pompoms on branches so I added a few white ones from my stash.

To finish off today I added blue rhinestones and a perspextive title. I hope I have inspired you to use some of your paper stash if nothing else to make room for more beautiful papers that Janine has in store. If you live close pop in she will be pleased to show you them if not sit back and check out The Mad Scrapper  at your leisure.

Sue.

Product list for today:

Vintage Artistry Tranquility - Sweet Nothings 

Nature Study - Ledger 1 

Candy Floss/Smoothies 

Pink Cloud/Canvas 

Tim Holtz- Heart Attack stencil

Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - clear for Embossing 

NAVY RHINESTONES 

Royal Spray – Ocean Jade Paper Flowers 

Galina Paper Flowers - Fairy Garden 

Micro Jeweled Florettes - Pearl Pink 

Lotus Paper Flowers - Ice Blue 

Mini Flowers - Bright Blue Tones 

Beached.

 Hello,

Today you can find me over on  The Mad Scrapper Blog with this layout of my son and husband on a family holiday in Oludeniz Turkey back in 2015. We came here 3 times and stayed in the same beautiful hotel Montana Pine Resort. Whilst there we took ourselves out for the day to visit a lovely private beach called Sun City there you could lounge in the sun or under the shade of the trees. It had a fabulous bar and restaurant which is where this photo is taken while waiting for it to arrive.

I knew it had to be the Beach Vibes by Dennis Bruton for 49 and market for the papers and because I had a few other collection pieces in my stash I pulled them out as well, but Janine has the full collection including stickers, rub-ons etc. I grabbed some plain colour cardstock. I always gather all that I think I could use on a layout first before I start.

   

So today as almost always I started by trimming and distressing my main paper and then I choose a plain to add it to, this time I chose a orange because it warmed up the page better than the blue. My photo is 4x6 and I added it to a Spectrum Sherbet postcard and then on to a piece of hessian fraying the edges giving it a holiday feel ( you know what I mean I'm sure) then I placed some foam underneath for dimension also allowing me to tuck things under. As you can see I added some leaf and flowers from I believe Beached collection.

On this side I added a surfboard which I fussy cut from a journal tag and popped a bit of card below to raise it a touch. The shells and Beach are also from the older collection. Just look how all the colours still work together because they are atleast 3 years apart.

The hello summer is from the same journal tag and the sun drenched is from the manufacturer strip at the bottom. Never through them out because they almost always have cool sentiments on them.

Here you can see the sun drenched in full and a little sail boat which I added just for my husband because that's his hobby.

To finish off today I added a few black rhinestones, a pair of flip-flops and an extra seagull.

Thanks for stopping by I hope I have inspired you to pull out some old holiday photographs and put them on a layout. Check out the full collection from 49 and market with Janine in the shop or go to The Mad Scrapper  and browse at your leisure.

Sue.

Supply list for today

 but do please remember that I have used some stash from a while back Janine has the full collection of Beach Vibes in store.

Beach Vibes - Seashells 

Beach Vibes - Driftwood 

Beach Vibes Solids 2

Beach Vibes Solids 1 

Carrot Cake/Grasscloth 

BLACK RHINESTONES 

FOAM MOUNTS - STRIPS 

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue 

Memorable Day

 Hello again,

Today I am sharing this wonderful layout made for The Mad Scrapper Blog of my Brother-in-Law at his niece's wedding earlier this year. This is a wonderful photograph because the other gentlemen are his brothers and they do not live close to each other at all in fact one is over in Dublin.

I started by choosing my papers and possible flowers and inks to be used. Because the photograph is taken at a wedding I knew it would be 49 and Markets One Perfect Day collection. A full list can be found below.

I chose a solid paper and to that I added 2 further papers flipping one after tearing to reveal the core and inking to imitate the colours in the flowers. I tucked another paper between the two which was more prominent in the reverse side. This collection of papers screams luxury wedding vibe in my head and I know this occasion certainly was that.

Here you can see that I have matted the photo on to cream and then on to a piece of hessian just leaving a tiny amount showing. I then added foam underneath for dimension to allow me also to tuck underneath. I have taken a journal frame to add that little bit of text and the gentleman you can see is in fact the brides father. You can also see my large cluster of gorgeous flowers available in store.

 

In this next photograph you can just see that I added a lazier cut lace strip from another 49 collection and to that I added some cream lace which I think pops the hessian under the photo. The title is from my stash and fits perfectly with the event.

Here is another close up of the flower cluster, I like to add some muslin under flowers as I think it softens the area first. The little snippets are from another shop collection. 

To finish off the layout I added pearls in soft pinks and creams you can also see I have added a couple of hat pins in there too.

Thanks for stopping by today I hope I have inspired you to do something with maybe a photo from a wedding you attended recently or even years ago. If you need papers and ephemera you know where to go The Mad Scrapper  or if you are lucky enough to live close pop in.

Sue.

Supply List:

One Perfect Day Solids #4 

One Perfect Day - Eternity 

One Perfect Day - Desire

Royal Spray Paper Flowers - Bashful 

Rustic Flowers - Coral 

Pastel Flowers - Cream/Peach

Cherry Blossom - Ochre

Daisy from stash

Starlight Dreams - Tranquil 

Distress Ink Pad - Tea Dye 

Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Dried Marigold 

GYPSY HEART CREATIVE CUTS 

Hessian, hat pins and pearls from stash

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue 

FOAM MOUNTS - STRIPS