Gone But Never Forgotten

Today's scrapbook layout is one that I have wanted to do for a long time, a memorial one of my late Grandad who passed in 2003 it has taken me a while to be ready to do this layout as I needed to be mentally ready to do it and I wanted to find the perfect papers and embellishments for it....... So here it is 

I have used a paper and a cut apart from a lovely collection called Remembrance by Colorplay I purchased this collection from The Scrap Lab and you can find it

 >>> HERE <<<

The gold and silver glitter stars I punched out using a number of different star punches, the moon and 2 stars are Perspectives from Bramble Fox. I also included a few wood veneer stars.

To accompany my favourite photo of my Grandad I also added in the Poem I wrote for him when I was younger, and one of the cut apart pieces.

I hope this layout has given you some inspiration.

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

INSD 2019 - International Scrapbook Day

4th May 2019 is International Scrapbook Day and I attended a class at the INSD Retreat ran by Cal Summers to do a scrapbook layout, so I thought I would share it with you all 

Here is the layout 

I absolutely loved doing this class and I am so pleased with how my layout turned out, I used a photo of me and my hubby to be which was taken at Alton Towers a few years ago. 

The layout consisted of lots of fussy cutting, getting some of the paper wet and then scrunching it all up :O :O noooooo, but the effect it gives the paper is worth it, even when holes and tears appeared in it, and adding dimension to it, the papers we used in this class were 13 Arts, there is even some chipboard hidden in the layout which we painted in colours to compliment the layout, to finish the layout off we also got to pick some die cut words from the Happiness collection.

I absolutely love taking part in the crop, classes and retreats ran by Cal, she is amazing and has become a wonderful friend who has helped my confidence so much you can check out Cal's classes and more on her website >>> HERE<<<<. I highly recommend everything Cal offers.

 Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Besties Scrapbook Layout

Hi all 

So today I have a scrapbook layout to share with you all, this one is my first one using a cut file.

So here it is 

The photo on this layout is of me and my bestie Laura, when we attended The Super Sweet Craft Retreat in October 2018 we had an absolutely amazing time, it was our first retreat too which was organised by Cal Summers and we are already booked for this year YAY!!!

The journalling says "Just a normal day at the Super Sweet Craft Retreat 2018. Me and Laura were feeling a little loopy this day, we blame lack of sleep"

Now for some close up's of the layout to show off the detail as I did make one of the butteflies a shaker using sequins from Spieglemom Scraps, and of cause I had to include some of the Tim Holtz Snarky.

I loved creating this layout with the cut file Butterflies Border from Paige Evans, it sets this layout perfectly.

I hope you like what I have done here and it inspires you :)

Kelly 

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Memories Captured Scrapbook Layout

Hi all

So another scrapbook layout to share with you all today :), this one is another of my late Grandad and it does have the same photograph on as the last layout but this layout is two photographs of him.

Here is the layout 

The reason I chose to use his army photograph again is because I wanted to do a layout of him in his Army days and then years later.

I love both of these photographs of him, and they fit so well together especially on the paper I used which is a Scrapberry paper, behind each photo I have used a another paper sorry I don't remember the name of it, I tore the edges to give it a a bit of texture and added some ephemera peaking out from behind each photograph. To finish the layout off I added the Memories Captured chipboard piece.

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Love Scrapbook Layout

Hello Crafters

My next layout to share with you all is a standard 12 x 12 layout and this one features a photograph or my late Grandad when served in the army in the 1940's 

Here is my layout

Close up of the wording at the bottom of the page 

I always knew my Grandad was in the army and he drove the tanks but I never knew there were any photographs of him in his uniform etc, until we had to empty my Nan and Grandad's house a couple of years ago, I was going though some old photograph's and came across this one and another which I have yet to do a layout of, I have not used the original's but scanned them in and re-printed them.

I kept this layout pretty simple as I wanted the photograph to tell the story, I think my Grandad was only in his early twenties in this photo.

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Our Boy Scrapbook Layout

Morning/Afternoon/Evening all 

I am sharing with you al y second 6 x 12 layout with you all and this one is all bout me, my hubby to be and our pooch Prince.

Here is the layout 

Our boy is such a softy, he loves his cuddles, kisses and snuggling in to go to sleep we couldn't ask for a better dog, doesn't have a vicious bone in his body he prefers to lick you t death than anything else hehe. Prince has been with us sine he was 6 years old he is now 15 years old and still doing well although a lot slower than he used to be and loosing his sight :( BUT that has not changed him in the slightest.

Prince is my shadow, he knows when I am not well, he knows when I am due a bad Fibromyalgia flare and more, he has never been trained to be a service dog or anything along those lines but the bound we have is amazing and he just knows and all he wants to do is keep me warm and relaxed.

For this layout I used the following:

Thickers

13 Arts - His and Hers 

Docrafts - Folkland (used to back my photo's)

Stickers from my stash 

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Abstract Painting

Hey Hey 

Today I am sharing with you two small abstract paintings I have done, these came about as I have been wanting to get into abstract art more.

So here they are

I had a blast doing these abstract landscapes, but will admit prefer the purple one over the pink and yellow. These were the first time I had attempted something like this before and it was so much fun, I am hoping to do more of them in time and build up to doing a big piece.

Supplies:

8 x 8 Canvas

Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint

Brushes

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Best Day Ever Layout

Hey All

Today I have a scrapbook Layout to share with you all, but this one is a 6 x 12 layout and is the first one I have ever done at this size and have to admit really enjoyed it.

Here it is 

I love how this turned out, the picture is my Niece when she was born, so of cause the title of the page had to be Best Day Ever.

For this layout I used Papers from First Edition -  It's A Girl I also used the stickers and cut apart from this collection, the main backing paper is one from Simply Creative - Stargazer and to finish the page off I have used some Flair from The Scrap Lab, the flair reads " Oh Deer I Love You So"

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Waterfall Canvas

Hey Crafters

Today I thought I would share with you one of my recent messy day creations, For days I have been watching you tube for inspiration as we all do and I knew I wanted to paint but what was the next question..... After watching to many you tubes videos and searching I finally found something that gave me that spark to try.

Here is what I did, It is very simple and very different for me it was a out of my comfort zone but something I wanted to achieve...

A very simple piece but I enjoyed every minute of it, all i needed was a canvas, acrylic paints and some brushes and of cause the video that started it all.....

I followed along with the amazing The Art Sherpa - Cinnamon Cooney, even though she made it look sooooo easy I was so nervous but I just went for it and I am happy I did and happy with the outcome.

So if you think you can't do something or you daren't push yourself out of your boundaries and TRY you may be pleasantly surprised what you are actually capable of.

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Family Scrapbook Layout

Hi Crafters

Today I have a scrapbook layout to share with you all, thus is one of many new layouts I have to share :)

This layout was done following a scrapbook sketch as I was struggling with my mojo at the time and now and then I like to use them for inspiration and to help get my juices flowing.

Here is the layout

This is a 12 x 12 layout and instead of using a full patterened papers my background I decided to go with plain white. The photo is of me with my Dad and two of my brothers.

The papers I used on this layout are from Dovecraft Folkland, and G45 - Midnight Masquerade, I have also used some Tissue Paper behind my photo, a frame from the Folkland collection, flowers, flair from The Scrap Lab which reads Love and at the bottom of the layout my title was done using Thickers.

Here is the sketch I used is from Sketch Savvy - Sketch #125

I hope you lie what I have done on this layout and the sketch gives you some inspiration

xX The Crafty Bat Xx

Steampunk Commission

Hey Crafters

Today I thought I would share a commission piece I was asked to do for a customer before Christmas 2018, this piece was done for the customer who wanted it as a Christmas gift for a family member and I was honoured to make this for them.

The customer had seen my Steampunk Jewellery Box and asked If I could create something similar but for a Male, I was so happy and excited to take on this commission and bring it to life, after we discussed all the details I set to work and here is what I did.

Steampunk Stacked Trays with Compartments and Mini Top Hat

Now for lots more photo's of this piece

I am super chuffed with this piece and so was the customer, It was given to the recipient on Christmas Day and I am pleased to say he was over the moon with it, I was even sent some photo's of it in use which I have been given permission to share with you all.

So here it is in it's new home

Doesn't it look great with all of the watches and pocket watches inside, I hope you have enjoyed seeing this piece as much as I did creating it.

I am hoping to do more pieces like this so keep your eyes open for those.

xX The Crafty Bat xX

Where have I been and what have I been doing?

Hello Everyone.

Firstly I would like to apologise for my absence and for how quiet I have been and with not posting on here for a while.

I thought I would update you all.... Well where do I begin..... Firstly I have been back and forth with Hospital appointments as I have been getting tested for Sleep Apnea as I am not sleeping when I should be so this is having a big knock on effect on my every day life. 

Today I had my final appointment and thankfully it is not Sleep Apnea but Insomnia which I already had a gut feeling it would be so it has been a waste of time really, but I am glad to know for sure and can now go back to my G.P and see what the next step is.

At the beginning of this year, my Nan was rushed into hospital with what was suspected Sepsis, thankfully it turned out not to be that BUT she had suffered a severe heart attack which had caused a blood clot which was in her neck (we didn't know) to travel into her head and split into two and she also has one in her leg. My Nan has Dementia and brittle bones so is very fragile as it is, this had been a big knock on effect on her to the point of we were told to prepare for the worse as she may not make it as she was bed bound, not eating, drinking or being able to talk....... I am thankful to say she is still with us and is fighting very hard and is not in hospital but back in the care home where she is getting all Palative care, yet she is still fighting and is slowly getting there but as we have been here before when it was my Grandad we know that anything can change at any time again. But for 87 years old she is doing well considering and is a tough cookie.

So as you can imagine with that going on and Christmas being a hard time for me my mojo had upped and left and it has only just started to slowly come back when it comes to my papercrafting, mixed media art etc........ BUT I have not stopped crafting altogether I have actually been really busy with my crochet business since all this with my Nan it gave me that push to get that business out there as it is something my Nan taught me to do.... My crochet can be found on Facebook, Conscious Crafties, and Instagram just search for

 Nana's Precious Stitches.

ANYWAY enough of my blabbering on and probably boring you all but if you have got this far thank you so much for taking the time to read this post and I hope that you will continue to follow me on crafty journey. I have a commission piece to share with you all and some new Scrapbook layouts :) 

Xx The Crafty Bat xX