Getting scrappy with it

Helloooooo Blog land.  Long time no blog.  The last twelve months have brought with it a lot of adventures, but I am glad to be back here.

Back when I first started paper crafting (about 13 years ago), I first learned how to do scrap booking and then moved onto card making.  There are some ladies in my craft group on Facebook who are interested in giving scrapping a go, so I thought I would type up some thoughts, tips and ideas.

Okay, so what is scrap booking? 

My explanation is this: It is a way of preserving photos and telling a story.  Pages (like the one seen above) can be and often are called layouts.  You can make single or double page layouts.  We will get to double page layouts at a later date.

I was lucky enough to teach a bit of crafting a few years ago and in the workshop where we did a layout, I explained that Scrap booking is like making a big card.  The photo is your focal point or topper, the title is like your sentiment and the rest is just decoration.

You can add a section for journalling (writing about who is in the photo and what is happening) if you like.  Not all scrappers do it. 
I have learned some new info about journalling so I am going to follow this section up in a later post.

Sometimes I see a photo online that screams "do a layout" at me.  I do a little research to see if I can trace the originator so that I can credit them.  It's good manners, just like if you copy or are heavily inspired by someone else's layout.

Do I have to use 12x12" paper?

NO.  I started with 12x12" and it is my default out of habit, but you can make 8x8", 6x6" or even A4 layouts.  Work on the size that is comfortable for you and that suits your purse/wallet.

What do I do with my layouts after I make them?

This depends.  Some people frame them and put them on the wall and some like to put them into special albums.  (I will cover this at another time).

Knowing what you are going to do with your finished layout ahead of time will help you to decide what to put on it.  If you are going to put it into a scrapbook album, you will want to keep every thing you put on it fairly flat, but if you are putting it into a frame, especially a deep or box frame, you can go a lot more 3D with your embellishments and the number of layers that you add.

I plan for this to be an ongoing scrappy series, so if you have topics I can try to cover around scrapping, please leave me a comment or contact me via facebook.

Please remember that I am no expert and that scrap-booking isn't my main type of paper crafting.  (I'm more into mini albums).  I can only give you my take on it and how things work.

Topics I hope to include in this series include:
Double layouts
Scrapbook albums
Working with sketches
Tools
Styles
Creating your own back grounds.

I hope that this has all made sense.  There is so much I want to say, but I don't want to bore you silly or go one for hours.  So until next time...

Ny x

Please be seated

This may come as a shock to some of you, but I made a card AND I made it using bright colours.  Yes ME!!!  The queen of grunge made a card (it's been a few years) and with bright colours and NO distressing <gasp>. I honestly don't know what happened.  There was even patterned paper involved.

Well I guess I had better show it to you.

I don't know the correct name for this card.  I call it a flip top card.  I made my first one years ago.I will put the items used at the bottom of this post.

This card will lay flat in the envelope and then you just open up the sides so that it is free standing.   I have made a number of versions of this in the past.  Some die cut, some with lace to name just a couple.

The top flips up so that you can put a message there, but if you want to add an image, the message could just as easily go on the back.

 I hand dyed a white butterfly applique and added 2mm and 3mm AB rhinestones.

I flattened out a love slider to add to the card and dyed bakers twine using Melon mambo ink refill to match.

Items used
Stampin' Up
Color theory A4 cardstock pack - Item code 144195
Color theory designer series paper stack - Item code 144193
Very Vanilla solid bakers twine - -Item code 144224
Tempting Turquoise Ink refill- Item code 101041
Melon Mambo Ink refill - 1item code 115662


XCS (Xanderous Crafty Stash)
White butterfly applique - Item code ND123
2mm AB Rhinestones - Item code ND114a
3mm AB Rhinestones - Item code ND114b
Love slider - Item code ND068

Thanks for stopping by

Naomi x

Busy busy busy

I'm so sorry that it has been so long since I last posted, but life has been so busy.

Life is still busy, but so much fun now.

I'm still running Xanderous Crafty Stash.  It has grown from 25 lines to over 300.  I'm now stocking metal embellishments, rhinestones, flat backed pearls and so much more, but there was a gap in what I was able to provide so in addition to XCS

This allows me to share so much more.  Quality card stock and papers, stamp sets, coordinating dies, embellishments and all manner of crafting goodness.

If you would like to to see the complete range of Stampin' Up products available, you can find them here .  To chose me as your demonstrator, please follow these instructions.

Thanks for visiting.  I have a few projects planned to share with you.  Keep a eye on this blog to see more.

Naomi x

Face of time

 Long time no blog.

Getting my business running right and life in general has gotten in the way of my crafting, but I did make time to make this piece.

I call it Face of time.

I have used a lot of different products to make this canvas and had a really good play, trying out colours and textures and techniques that I have never tried before.  I pretty much just winged it and let what happened happen.

This is one of my  favourite parts, the appliques I have been hoarding with the cogs.  I lean towards Steampunk and try not to just stick cogs any where, but they really seamed to fit with the piece and the theme  TIME.

I was so happy that this crackle effect worked.  I wasn't sure it would or if I had used enough of the Decoart Media Crackle Glaze.

Loving the textures here.  My first time using clay balls, which I made myself a while ago.  A lot of the colour here comes from the DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold paint that I used.

I was inspired to make this canvas by a challenge over on Andy Skinners blog The theme for which is time.  I have incorporated time with the use of a Tim Holtz weathered clock die cut and gears.

I want to make another one that is some how flower themed.  Not sure how that is going to look yet, but I am sure I will have fun finding out.

Happy crafting to you all.

Naomi

P.S  I created a video showing the process of how this was made

Getting up to date

I'm such a bad blogger.  I'm trying to Blog or Vlog or both at least once per week in 2016 and so far I haven't managed it.  I will keep trying though.

I ended up creating a separate Blog for my Vlogs to go on as not all of them will be craft related.  It is called The Serial Camera Dodger if you want to check it out.

So far this year I have managed to make 3 tags.  One paper and  two MDF and I have started on a new project called He-Bot and She-Bot.  I'm doing a series of videos on the building of the two of them, so I will be creating a new tab on here so that you can find them easily.  I will turn them into a play list when they are completed, so that any one who wants to try later on can find all of the videos easily.

 

What else do I have going on craft wise?   Tina and I have planned out a number of videos showing you all a bunch of different things that you can do with pieces from Fernli Designs in the form of tutorials.  Some will be experimental like our first video, so keep an eye out for the Ti-Ny Crazy Crafters :D

I'm itching to make mini albums.  I have at least 3 in my head along with some beginners videos that I want to launch. So many ideas right now and so little time.

So that is what I have managed so far this year.  Hopefully I can keep up the pace and have plenty to show you.

Time to get back to it all

Laters

Naomi x

Facing fears

I have always done my best to avoid being in front of the camera, but I plan to change that this year with a series of VLOGs

Welcome to my first one which tells you a bit about me and my crafting.

Thanks for stopping by.

Laters

Naomi xx

Snow cube

It's that time of the year again where a lot of us are running around trying to work out what to buy as gifts.

This year I am going to try to make as many as possible and some of my friends and family might be getting their gifts a little early as I will be making them decorations and I would like for them to get some use this year,

The first gift that I made is this one.  This tag binder can be used for so many things from to do lists, to a calendar, to a mini album.

Here is a tutorial on how to make it.  You can get the tag and the embellishments (but not the ring binder) that I used from Fernli Designs.

The second gift that I have made is also my latest DT make for Fernli Designs.  This is the Snow Cube.  I love this project and I have ideas for loads more.

Here is a video explaining how to make one yourself and showing more views.

I hope you like them.

I'm off to play some more.  Thanks for looking.

Laters

Naomi x

Sharing some love

If you are a follower of my blog you may have seen me mention Fernli Designs a time or two.

Fernli Designs are a family run business that offer a gorgeous range of laser cut MDF embellishments and storage options.

Their products are beautifully cut and they offer such a wide range, that there is bound to be some thing for every one.  I'm quite an eclectic crafter, but I still find myself using their products on pretty much every thing I make, from mixed media, to scrapbook layouts, to cards and my construction pieces.

Fernli Designs has a great Design Team and Guest Design Team.  So if you get stuck for ideas of how you can use items that they sell, take a look on their  Facebook group  where there is also a monthly give away or visit their blog for more great tips and ideas and information on the current challenges that they have running.

Now for the LOVE

If you place an order with Fernli Designs that is over £25 not including the P&P you can use my special discount code to get 10% off of your order.  You can only use one code per order/basket.

NY10OFF

I will put this code in my side bar so that you can find it easily in the future.

Time for me to go get crafty :)

Laters

Naomi x

Five layer chocolate cake

That got your attention didn't it lol

This post isn't about cake I'm afraid, but it is about layering.  WARNING lots of photos.

When I first started crafting, money was tight and I was always conscious about how much each of my cards or layouts were costing to make.  As a result I don't think my makes were very remarkable.

Well now it is going on for eleven years later and I have amassed a fair amount of stash and learned how to improvise when I don't have what I need, but the main thing I have learned in the last year is to layer.  To make what my heart tells me to make and since I don't understand the word minimalist, that now means that my makes tend to have a whole bunch of stuff on them.  Even layouts turn into a mixed media project these days.

Layering is my new best friend.  I'm still learning how to do it right.  There are so many examples out there but I am starting to understand that I need to find my own way of doing it and I think I am starting to develop my own style.

This was my first big layering project using lace and MDF embellishments, frames and flourishes from Fernli Designs

I'm not good at leaving things as they are.  I feel a need to explore the possibilities of a thing, so I end up fussy cutting and layering and looking at how to colour in order to find some thing new.  I'm inspired by things that I find flexible.  So MDF embellishments and lace that I can fussy cut are my two current favorites.

This one is fussy cut lace and flowers with lots of Fernli Designs pieces.  Chicken wire, flourishes and frames.

This is a piece that I have just finished.  

Anyone that knows me knows that I love my cogs.  They are so versatile and they layer up lovely.

I still have a lot to learn and a lot to try when it comes to layering.  I'm still finding myself and working out what goes together and what just looks a mess.

I have learned not to have chocolate cake near my crafty stash though.  Leaves a mess :)

I'm off to play.

Laters

Naomi x

I just can't get enough

Hi

My name is Naomi and I am addicted to ATB's  (Artist Trading Blocks)

I blame a fellow crafter who introduced me to them and the possibilities that exist from playing with them.

After our chat and a bit (okay a lot)  of pinning on Pinterest, I just had to give it a try.

This is the first one that I made.  I will add the video to the My Fernli Designs page so that you can get a better view.  This is actually 4 ATB's stacked together.

As soon as Fernli Designs showed the new 4 inch ATBs with cutouts I knew exactly what I was going to make.  The two inch ATB inside spins.  Again, I will add a video to the My Fernli Designs page for you to get a better view.

And that brings me to my latest make.

Fernli Designs is running a Halloween competition. All you need to do to enter is to create something that is halloweeny (yes that is a word)  that includes at least three Fernli Designs pieces on.

You can enter by joining  Facebook page and then joining the Halloween Challenge

Check out the My Fernli Designs page to see this one all lit up.

Thanks for stopping by.  

Laters

Naomi x

Ally Pally Fun

Any one who has been to Ally Pally with me knows that it takes me all day to spend my budget. Not today. I made a B line for the MDF man and was walking back out the door to the coat store so that I could drop off those bags till later. Then back I went. 

This is what I got from them. They are quite big.

Then I went back in for some bargain hunting.  I was disappointed as pinflair and decoart were not there.  Decoart was one of my main reasons for going after the MDF man.

I love sprays and gilding wax.  I haven't got any blue or brown spray so that had to be done and the gilding waxes are antique green and the other one is teal.

I now have all of the 2015 colours of distress inks in mini form.  I didn't have any of the new colours until today.

I love mixed media as you know so I got black gesso (never had that before) and white gesso and my first ever pot of multi medium in matte.  I need to learn how to use that properly.

This was a bargain and too good to pass on, so there is a mini album in  my near future.

It was a good show, there were loads of sellers  there, just not the ones I specifically went to see.  I will probably again next year, but I also want to branch out and try some new shows.

Catch up with you soon hopefully with what I do with this lot.

Laters

Naomi x

Back in my onesie

I have given the blog a fresh new look in the hopes that I will finally get blogging again.

A lot has happened over the last few months.  Nyron Designs is closed after a year of trading and I am going it alone with a new venture called Xanderous Creations.

I am still making DT projects for Fernli Designs and here is a video of my latest DT make for them.

I have so many ideas in my head.  My biggest hurdles are time and being able to stick to a project long enough to finish it instead of jumping on the next idea I have come up with.

There are still too many unfinished pieces on my table, but I am getting there.

Hopefully I will be blogging at least once a week from now on.  That is the plan  any way.

TTYL

Laters

Naomi x

Hoarding tendancies

I'm  a bit of a hoarder.  I keep things "just in case" and since I learned that I can make something out of most things I had hoarded even more.  This year I promised myself that I would start using some of that stuff up.

I bought 3 sets of wings a couple of years ago.  They are Christmas decorations.  I think I paid about 50p each for them and when I saw them I just knew they would work on some thing at some point. They were in the drawer so long that I forgot they were there.

This is what the bottle and wings turned into.

I have used an applique, lots of flowers, pearls and a Fernli Designs frame and heart on the front after painting the bottle (labels removed of course).

Side view

The lace on the back is part of a larger piece that came from a wedding dress (not mine) and the pearls down the back worked perfectly with it.

I made this one for myself, but I am considering making another so that I can do a tutorial.

I'm just putting together ideas for a DT make.  I will keep you posted on how that goes.

Laters

Naomi xx

Back in the game

My mojo has been  a bit flighty of late.  Sometimes I have so many ideas I don't know where to start and some times I can't think of anything remotely crafty.

On Sunday I had a weird idea, so  I ran with it.

At this point I only had half an idea. To make an angelic type piece.  I had no idea about colours or embellishments or any thing, but once the gesso went on, the ideas started to come to me.

This is what I made.  (Sorry lots of pics)

Lace appliques, a Fernli Designs frame and pearls

Flowers and a gem stopper sent to me by Louise Greenwood.  Thanks Lou x

The wings are a Christmas decoration bought a couple of years ago.  I have also added a wedding dress applique and pearls down the back

I'm really pleased with how she turned out

Thanks for looking

Laters

Naomi x