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

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

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

First Cuddles Scrapbook Layout

Today I have another Scrapbook Layout to share with you all, this is another layout I completed while at my local monthly crop.

This layout is one of my most precious memories as it is of me and my beautiful baby niece having our first cuddles. (Lots more cuddles to come for my little munchkin and me)

This layout was created by using a piece of white 12 x 12 card stock and a page out of the 8 x 8 paper pad called It's A Girl, I fussy cut each hexagon out of the page and arranged it onto my white card stock piece until I was happy.

After this was done and all stuck down I then began to back my photo onto another page out of the paper pack and then onto a beautiful piece of purple polka dot foiled paper from another paper pad and stuck it all done, Finally I added some embellishments around the photo, added the banner in the top left corner and to finish the layout added my title.

Here is some close ups

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this layout and it has given you some inspiration to try something a little different to what you normally do for a scrapbook layout.

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Like Father Like Daughter Scrapbook Layout

Hi all

Today I am sharing a 12 x 12 Scrapbook layout with you all which I did while at my local crop.

Here is the one of three layouts I completed on the day (I will be sharing the others will you)

This layout is of my Brother when he was a baby and his daughter (my niece). I can not get over how alike they are, there is no mistaking what so ever who her Daddy is, so of cause I had to title this layout Like Father Like Daughter.

Here is a close up of the title 

When my brother sent me over the collage he put together of himself and his Daughter I knew I had to do a layout with it.

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

The Best Thing About Memories Is Making Them Layout

Welcome back to my blog today I have another scrapbook layout to share with you all.

This layout features a photograph of - From left to right - My Great-Grandmother Violet Elizabeth (my Nan's Mum), My Nan (Holding my Dad) and my Great-Grandmother Sarah Jane (My Grandad's Mum)

I have scrap-lifted this layout from one of Gold Dove Crafts layouts and I love how mine came out and if you know of Virgina's beautiful layouts you will see how different the same layout can look using different elements and theme.

The supplies I used for this layout are as follows:

July Kit Anthology from Charmed Cards and Crafts

A few embellishments from my own stash but majority are from the kit

Envelope Punch Board

Glue

Double Sided Tape

Scissors

Paper Trimmer

Distress Tool.

I did this layout on the same day I did the layout I shared with you all yesterday which were done at my local crop, as this kit was our monthly crop kit too, the lovely Karen who owns Charmed Cards and Crafts puts together a little prize for the best use of the kit but it must be done while at the crop, all of us who did had our layouts voted for on a secret ballot and this month I WON!!! I was so surprised and happy...... Here is what I won

Just look at those beauties... Prima Flowers, Die, and some metal vintage embellishments.

I hope you like what I have done and my take on Gold Dove Crafts layout, and I hope this has given you lots of inspiration.

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Darling Scrapbook Layout

Hi Lovelies

Today I have a scrapbook layout to share with you all which I created while at my local Crop a couple of weeks ago.

This layout is of my beautiful Nan and the photograph which I used is of her when she was in her late teens early 20's, this lady is my world not just my Nan but like a Mum to me.

For this layout I used some elements from the Vintage Charm Kit along with some extra beautiful papers which I purchased from Thompsons Craft Supplies. I also added some ephemera from my own stash.

This layout took me a while as I played around with where everything was going for some time until I was completely satisfied and then I took a picture of it so I would remember where everything went as I stuck each individual piece down.

As you can see on this layout I have included lace, pearls, cheesecloth, wood veneer along with the beautiful ephemera pieces from the kit and my own stash. I added the sewing machine, scissors, ruler, button and spool to the layout as my Nan worked in textiles for many years, she loves flowers and butterflies so this layout really is her.

Once everything as stuck down I finished it off by doing some antique gold ink splatters which I also used as a base behind the photograph which you can see peeking out at the top and on one of the sides.

I have decided that this piece is going to be framed instead of just going into an album.

I hope you have Enjoyed seeing this layout and it has inspired you

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

A Vintage Journey - Get Sentimental

WIN A STAMPARATUS

That is correct you are reading this right folks, WIN your very own Stamparatus from me :)

So what do you need to do to WIN?

For every £30 order placed (before shipping) gets you 2 tickets into the pot 
For every £50 order placed (before shipping) gets you 3 tickets into the pot
Join my team get 4 tickets in the pot
RUNS UNTIL - 31ST MAY 
I CAN ONLY TAKE STAMPIN UP ORDERS WITHIN THE UK!
To place your orders or to join my team go >>>> HERE <<<

I am an independent demonstrator for Stampin Up and this is not endorsed by Stampin Up. Solely run by me. Any queries please do contact me.

Love You Scrapbook Layout

Today I have a 12x12 Scrapbook layout to share with you all.

This layout is a very special layout as it is of my Grandad and a special tattoo I had done in his memory.

I absolutely LOVE how this layout came together, The paper I used to do my layout on is a Shimelle paper.

My Grandad was and still is my hero, my shining star who i miss dearly. He had Alzheimers, Dementia, and Cancer behind his eye he fought so hard and for so long but on the 29th October 2003 he closed his eyes one last time. No longer in pain but at peace but left a BIG hole in our hearts.

My Grandad held on for my Nan's birthday which is 28th October.

Here is some close up pictures of my layout.

The sentiment above which is in the middle of my photographs fits so so well and is so true as my Grandad is my sun my moon and all my stars.

Here is a close up of the picture of my Grandad, This is my favourite picture of him and one i cherish the most. That face and twinkle in his eye says it all. He was one of the most amazing gentlemen you would have ever met, a family man who adored us all. This man taught me so much as i was growing up we did everything together. Not a day goes by that i don't think about him. 

Here is a close up of the picture of my tattoo which is on my left forearm and it reads "My Guardian Angel Grandad 28.11.25 - 29.10.03

I hope you like what I have done with this layout and I hope it gives you some inspiration to scrap those photographs of your lost loved ones. These can be the hardest layouts to do but can also be the most rewarding to know you have accomplished that difficult hurdle to make these precious photographs into a work of art.

Products Used:

Shimelle Starshine 12 x 12 Paper

Shimelle Starshine chipboard stickers

Pink Paislee - Fancy Free Collection Thickers

3d Glitter Foam Star Stickers

Tim Holtz Small Talk Stickers

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

DJ Prince

Hey All

Today I have another Scrapbook Layout to share with you all, This layout is of our beautiful pooch Prince.

Yes Prince has headphones on and yes he was singing along, The other half had the wacky idea and we couldn't stop laughing hence the photograph of Prince. 

Now for some close up pictures of the layout

The sentiment fits perfectly to this layout as Prince is a Beautiful dog and sure does have his wacky moments. Prince is only about 7 Years old in the picture he is now the ripe old age of 13 years old, he is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is my shadow. Such a loving boy and so so gentle but can be rough when its play time with my hubby to be, I try and nope it won't happen he prefers to snuggle up with me and shower me with kisses, well to be honest anyone he knows gets a shower lol. I am sure he forgets how big he is as he tries to sit on my lap which is a big no no so he settles for attached to my side.

He amazes me every day and I wouldn't change my snuggle monster for the world even though he can drive me up the wall at times.

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Memory Keeping Made Easy

Memory Keeping Made Easy With Memories & More By Stampin' Up!

Do you enjoy memory keeping? Want to try memory keeping for the first time? Then this blog post is the place to be.

Memory Keeping is such an easy and fun way to document those special memories for years to come and this can be made even easier with the amazing Memories & More By Stampin' Up! 

How To Get Started With Pocket Memory Keeping with Stampin' Up!

Step 1: Choose the Album you want to use- choose from 12"x12" size or 6"x8" size.

Step 2: Choose the Pocket Page Protectors to match the album size. Each pack of page protectors contains 12 pocket pages of various layout designs.

Albums, Photo Pocket Pages, and Journaling Pens

Step 3: Choose your Card Kit to go with the theme of your album. Check out the collections below.

Color Theory Memories and More Card Pack

Petal Garden Memories and More Card Pack

Bundle Of Love Memories and More Card Pack

Perfect Days Memories and More Card Pack

Step 4: Choose your photos and add some journaling to complete the pocket scrapbook.

The card packs are also perfect for Card Making too!

So there we have the amazing Memories & More, What do you think to the collection? Will you be adding it to your memory keeping collection? The Memories and More collection is also a great way to get the kids involved in keeping their own memories.

You can find the whole collection in my store >>>> HERE <<<<<

Don't forget about Sale-A-Bration too Spend £45 and over excluding shipping and pick 1 Level 1 Free Product, Spend £90 and over excluding shipping and pick 2 Level 1 Free Products or 1 Level 2 Free Product and so on.... Only Until 31st March 2018.

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Birthday Boy

Hello All

Today is a scrapbook layout share. This is another I have been itching to share with you all as the products I have used on this piece are from the Kaisercraft Factory 42 Range.

The moment I saw this range I fell in love with it and was so happy to see that it was part of our Crop Kit for August YAY!

So here is the layout, which I did do while at the Crop. As soon as I saw what was included in our kit I knew straight away what layout this was perfect for.

This layout is of my wonderful hubby to be on his 30th Birthday, the reason I wanted to use this range for this layout is because he is a mechanic. Yes his birthday cake was a Top Gear cake :D

Now for some close up pictures of different parts of the layout

Birthday Boy tucking in to his cake, the sticker i put onto this picture fitted so well and is so true "a party without cake is just a meeting"

I have to admit this has got to be one of my favourite layouts out of all the ones I have done so far. The kit which we had at the crop was supplied by Charmed Cards and Crafts and I have to say it has been my favourite kit to date.

This really does have a steampunk mechanical feel to it and it fits my hubby to be so so well, and I reckon I will be ordering more of these papers and embellishments. Can never have enough Steampunk/Mechanical goodies ;)

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this layout and it inspires you.

Kelly

Xx The Crafty Bat xX