A 3rd single page layout

I am surprised by just how much I have out into the December kit and the layouts just keep coming! Here we have another single page design that features the Aged Mahogany ink pad included. I used a Crafters Workshop template and the ink to create the hexagonal chicken wire background which picks up the hexagon sticker shapes. If you would like to order one of the templates just let me know and I'll arrange it some time next week.

I glittered the chipboard using the gorgeous pewter coloured glitter (one of the 3 colours in the kit) and then added another coat of adhesive over the top. This tones down the 'bling' of the glitter and also holds it firmly in place - no puddles of glitter in the bottom if your page protector!! I added some white roses and rose buds and two 6" x 4" landscape photos and you're good to go. I may add a tag behind the left edge of the photos as I've created a journaling pocket using 3d pads. I can't do it now as I'm away for a few days and don't have my tag die with me - doh!!

And another single page

There is so much in our December kit I am rattling through the pages and don't seem to be making much of a dent in it!  I designed another single page layout for two 6" x 4" photos as sometimes we don't have loads of pictures of the same event at Christmas, I know that in our house it can be hard to remember to pick up the camera sometimes as we are just enjoying ourselves! My sister sent me these cracking pics of my brother-in-law dressed to impress on Saturday 1st December at a local charity event.  He is such an amazing man, he contributes so much to the local community and volunteers so much of his time, he deserves a special page to remember this fun day.

There are some stunning designs on the papers in the kit and it is really hard to cut some of them up which is really weird for me because I'm the queen of 'its only paper'!! You could almost drop your photos onto a single sheet of paper and be good to go.  Of course being me, I couldn't leave it at that and had to titivate.  There are lots of layers of paper and stickers plus the fab retro printed ribbon from the kit.  I added some more deep red roses and it was done!

Remember that if you have subscribed to the kits you will receive the instructions for every one of the sample designs that we are showing on the blog - thats a LOT of layouts!!

Another double page layout

We are really flying now with more layouts being completed all the time!  This is a second option for a double page layout, this time using five 6" x 4" photos.  These wreaths were on display outside a very posh florist in Prague and they just stopped me in my tracks - snail shells? wine corks? really?? I decided to reflect the shape of the wreaths on the page using the evergreen sprays, holly leaves and branch included with the kit.  There is lots of textural variety going on with glossy holly, matte evergreen and rough branch created with Distress Stickles.  A large red bow made from one of the gorgeous ribbons in the kit completed the wreath effect.

I added strips of washi tape from my stash for a bit of fun and interest and some of the darling little rose buds for tiny pops of colour.  I love the pine cones made using the Tim Holtz Tattered Pine Cone Sizzix die - they are very easy to create and Tim has made a very easy to follow YouTube video if you are not sure what to do.  Just search for 'Tattered Pine Cone' on YouTube and you'll soon be bale to create the pine cones from my page and also the roses from Claire's!!

Double page layout by Claire

Claire is on a roll now and has created this gorgeous double page layout with our bumper December kit.  I love that the papers have a traditional look but aren't in the usual traditional red/green/gold colours, it gives the pages a light and fresh look that makes a really nice change!

Claire has broken out a few of her personal dies for this page with the Tim Holtz rosette snowflake and gorgeously delicate swirls.  You can create a similar look by punching the edge of a strip of paper and concertina folding it and you could print off a swirl design to use as a template if you've spent all your pennies on gifts.

I love how Claire includes fab details - did you notice the stamping on the base card around the edge of the design?  She has used the Distress ink pad that comes with this kit to stamp a delicate pattern that adds just a little touch without swamping the whole thing.  With such a lovely rich colour it can be easy to go crazy but she's such a talented designer that she knows when to go mad and when to hold back.

Remember that instructions for all of the layouts that you see posted on here will come with this kit, you will just need to choose whether you are going to create Claire's designs or mine.  You could possibly switch between the two sets of instructions but may need to swap papers around a little, we can't make any promises about that! LOL xx

2nd Layout using the December kit

The designs using our December kit will come thick and fast now as we put the finishing touches to our layouts, photograph them and get them uploaded.  This single page is out of my comfort zone with lots of white space but it still has plenty going on.  There is a gorgeous banner cut from one of the papers, a doily cut from another and lots of punched flowers.

This design uses three 3" x 4" photos - perfect for those 'less than perfect' photos which don't hold up to being printed in a larger format or if you want to get more on the page.  I have to confess to having a wee bit of a passion for those tiny rose buds which arrived a few days ago.  At just £1.99 for a bunch they go a long way for not very many pennies!  I also added a few red roses from my stash - who says you HAVE to use poinsettias on Christmas pages? Not me!!

I've just realised that both Claire and I chose the exact same patterned paper to start with, how freaky is that?!!!

First kit design for December

Our December kit is always a monster and this year is no exception!  To go along with the larger size of kit we also offer lots more designs and here is the first layout created by Claire.  You can almost feel the cold emanating from her page and of course I'm rather partial to a bit of glitter!  

The kit contains; 8 sheets of cardstock, 9 sheets of My Minds Eye 'All Is Bright' double sided papers, 12x12 sheet of My Minds Eye 'All Is Bright' cardstock stickers, 3 packs of glitter, pack of crystal gems, Distress Inkpad, pack of My Minds Eye ribbons, length of cotton lace, length of printed ribbon, chipboard lamp post, chipboard branch, chipboard, holly leaves, chipboard Noel, chipboard '25', die cut tattered pine cones, die cut pine branches.

Claire used a Stampin Up snowflake die and an alphabet die on her page but you could get back in touch with your inner child by folding paper and cutting your own snowflake!  Her photo sizes on the sample are 4" x 5" and 3 x 4.5.

More designs will be posted here over the next few days so keep dropping by.......

Christmas masterclass

First of all a huge thank you to the fabby ladies at Moxley for inviting me up to teach for their Christmas Extravaganza - it was a blast!  We had such a crazy busy day and by the time that 6 o'clock came around we had more than a few projects that were well on the way to being finished.  I can't wait to see how they all turn out as there were some gorgeous personal keepsakes being added.

After the Christmas crop day it was straight into more Christmas projects.  First up is this Masterclass canvas with an album.  For the past two years I have done a December Daily album but it takes a lot of planning and organising never mind the time!  This year I wanted something that would be a bit more relaxed and that could be used over and over so I was drawn to incorporating a Tim Holtz binder clip.  This way we can add more pages if we do more, there aren't masses of pages crying out to be filled and we can use this again next year.  Its a win/win as far as I can see!

I chose the new Christmas Cottage line from Teresa Collins and added lots of seasonal stuff like baubles, bead chain and Timmy's tattered pine cones.  The kit contains an 18" x 12" canvas, 10 sheets of cardstock, 12 sheets of patterned paper, a sheet of printed acetate, flash cards, border strips, adhesive gems, ribbon, Tim Holtz binder clip, chip board, die cut word, die cut pine cones & leaves, baubles, jingle bell, bead chain, pegs, washi tape - plenty to play with!!

I'm so happy with the finished sample and have already got it up on the wall, its the first decoration that we have up!  I'm really looking forward to teaching this tonight x