Inspiration - make a winter journal

Hi, Leo here :)

Today I've got a bit of inspiration for you using this months Quirky Kits.
All this month I'm filling in a December Daily Journal and it got me thinking this whole idea of memory keeping as we go needn't be a just for Christmas thing. I really don't have time to do something everyday but I thought it would be nice to pre-prepare a little journal with a few pages to fill in to get a feel for the period after the holidays when one day can kind of end up blurring into another as I wish away the winter gloom. This journal is a really simple one to make. All I've done is cut out my base pages to 10x7 inches using cardstock and patterned paper. I've cut out 4 base pages then a cover piece that's a quarter of an inch bigger. Each of these pages I then scored and folded in half. I've added a couple of thinner paper pieces on top of the cardstock pieces, sticking some down and leaving some loose. Once all the basic pages were arranged all I've done is stitch down the middle with my sewing machine to bind the book together.

Next to decorate I've taken all the off cut pieces leftover from cutting out the base pages and made decorative matts by sewing together the off cut pieces and layering them up.

I've then added them to my journal pages. This is the last page in my book.

Here's the rest of the pages starting with the first inside one:

For the cover I've layered more pieces up along with a little bit of lace from last months kit. The silver liquid ribbon I've used to tie everything together.

 If you're looking for more ideas I'm filling up the Kit pinboard on Pinterest with cool ideas and inspiration as I see them. Check out what's up there so far & when you make something with your kits let me know so I can pin it up there, http://pinterest.com/craftytemplates/snow-stories-and-snow-drifts-kit-inspiration-ideas/

xx Leo

Snow Stories & Snow Drifts

Hi!
The two new Quirky Kits are now ready to go! The kits will be shipping out Monday and Tuesday next week, (28th & 29th). Here's the (almost) full reveal. The Elle's Studio Calendar cards are missing from the photos but I've included them after so you can see what they're like.

Well here we go this is Snow Stories:

I began with my base colours of pink and grey/silver then built it up from there. I was looking for some fun trendy newsprint/text patterns and some pretty snowy elements those are also reflected in the name of the kit 'Snow, Stories'. There's lots of lovely textures from the chunky crispness of the lovely kraft based patterned papers to the soft delicate silk ribbon and organza. I picked out two alphabets both with a ever so slight sheen. The Thickers have a pearl like iridescent finish and the Glitz stickers also have a pretty pearl look too. I really love that whole mix of the kind of 'heavy' kraft colours with the softer sparkly/shiny elements. It really reminds me of that feeling after it's snowed, the idea of everything around us being softened as it's adorned with a soft delicate blanket of snow.
All the patterned papers are doublesided and the reverse sides have a mix up of black, kraft, white and blue so you can trade all the pinks in the kit, (apart from the ribbon but if you're really not into pink this would make a lovely wrapping for a gift) for blue to change up the colour scheme. I've kept most of the kit neutral on purpose so it will easily mix in with supplies you already have and we have a couple of winter elements but nothing overtly themed so it will happily sit with anything you want to make.

I really love the crochet snowflake embellishments which were made by a lovely lady on etsy, (yours might not look like the one shown as they're a good mix up of different kinds, just like real snowflakes :D) and the little penguins are just a little bit of quirky fun I thought of after watching Frozen Planet, (BBC1).
Kit features:
My Minds Eye Kraft Funday 'In Print', 'Streamers' and 'Patchwork Party' patterned papers.
Pink Paislee Snow Day, 'Hot Cocoa' and 'Cozy Sweater' patterned papers.
Lily Bee Design Head Over Heels, 'Courting' and Memorandum 'Whiteboard' patterned papers.
My Minds Eye Lost and Found 2 'Favorite Dance' patterned paper.
Bazzill cardstock in Kraft, Avalanche and Smoky.
American Crafts Marquise pearl letter Thickers alphabet stickers.
My Minds Eye Kraft Funday Everyday Fun button card.
2 x penguin shaped button embellishments.
1 handmade snowflake crochet embellishment.
Glitz Design Teeny Alpha in pearl
1 x Jenni Bowlin Doily Flower embellishment
6 x pieces of Pink Paislee Snow Day Ephemera, (printed diecut card embellishments).
MayArts Fuchsia Silk Ribbon x 1 yard, (90cm)
Silver strung sequins x 1 meter
1 length of red grosgrain ribbon
1 length of silver liquid ribbon
1 square piece of sparkle dot snow organza
Elle's Studio 2012 Vintage Calendar Circle Tags

For the Quirky Kit Lite 'Snow Drifts' this month I wanted to do something contrasting but still working with the same idea of mixing in the kraft/neutral colours. For this one I started out with a teal/green and silver colour scheme and went from there. There are some Elle's Studio Calendar pennants in this kit too, they didn't arrive in time to put in the photo but I've included them bellow it.

The snowflake is a glitter paper which is really really really glittery but it's specially made so the glitter doesn't come off. One of my favorite papers from the new summer releases is that Crate woodgrain pattern from the Peppermint line so I had to throw in some of that somewhere. It's a really versatile paper either as a background or as embellishment. The main kit has the newspaper/text print element and there's a nod to that in the lite kit with the Studio Calico sheet.

Studio Calico Classic Calico 'Newsprint' patterned paper.
American Crafts Silver Snowflakes POW! glitter paper (half sheet).
Crate Paper Peppermint 'Ski Lodge' patterned paper.
Crate Paper Farmhouse 'Sunday Dinner' patterned paper.
Echo Park Dots & Stripes 'Silver Bells' patterned paper.
My Minds Eye Lost and Found 2 'Precious Motif' patterned paper.
My Minds Eye Kraft Funday 'Party' patterned paper.
American Crafts Vanilla cardstock.
Bazzill Kraft cardstock.
My Minds Eye Lost & Found 2 "Fun Day" title card.
Authentique Petite Type Square alphabet stickers.
White wool mix felt square, 9x9 inches.
1 length of silver glitter ribbon.
1 length of white velvet ribbon.
Elle's Studio 2012 Monthly Pennants.

Keep a peek on your emails for shipping notifications. You'll be able to change the date it's sent out to you too if you need to.
xx Leo

High Five!

Hi Leo here!
This weekend I've got a little challenge for you so grab your quirky kits and have a play!
I want you to make a layout or other project of your choice using a minimum of 5 patterned papers from your kits. You can use papers from one kit or mix up your leftover bits and pieces it's up to you.
Here's my go you can use this as a starting point if you like:

Everything I used here is from the Rocky Road Quirky Kit Lite apart from the mini black alphabet stickers, those are from the Downtown Tea Party kit and I added a little bit of grey ink. Come on your turn, time to cut into those papers and make those memories! Add a link in the comments if you have a go so we can come and see. :)

Have fun

xx Leo

First peeks at the new Quirky Kits!

Hi!

Nearly all the goodies for the new kits have now arrived and they should be shipping out next week. As usual you'll get your message to let you know the exact shipping day so you can change it if you need to. This time we have 'Snow Stories' which is the main kit and 'Snow Drifts' the lite kit.

Here's just a small peek at Snow Stores, lots more to come in your kit!

Snow Stories is a mix up of pretty texture with the sparkle dot organza, glittered paper, sequin trim and silk ribbon. The colours are pink, kraft and grey/silver but the pink papers can be flipped to give you a blue instead of the pink and the kraft colours also have black & white reverse sides that will mix in with anything making it really versatile. It's perfect to document all your winter stories. You'll also get a pack of Elle's Studio calendar cards so you could if you wanted to make either a calendar or a 2012 journal with a page ready to document events each month of the year.

And Snow Drifts the Lite kit for November/December, again just a small peek there are a couple of papers missing yet including one amazing glitter snowflake Pow Paper....

The colour combination here is teal blues/greens with silver and kraft. These colour are really simple to mix in with your existing supplies as well as mixing it up with the main kit to give it a different dimension. I love the sheet of felt - lots of opportunities for creating some fun textural snowy embellishments on your projects and the white velvet ribbon will also add a tactile finish. The grey dot paper is actually silver when you see it in real life it's a fab Echo Park paper, it has the dots on one side and stripes on the other, really fun! I've gone for a mini alphabet in this one which are fantastic for journalling or for adding secondary titles to your pages.

I'll include a full run down of contents and a full reveal next week when we get the last box of goodies :)

xx Leo

Collectors Tray Part Three

Finally, here's the last part of the Collectors Tray project! My camera decided to pack up on me so I had to start the last part again but we've got there in the end.
So here's how we left the tray looking last time:

We've decorated each space with patterned paper and made a start filling the spaces with embellishments.

In the next step I want to add some photos but I want to add them in a non-permanent way so I can change them up every now and then, maybe depending on the season. I've picked out some autumnal photos for now and here's how I've added them.

To begin with I've measured the spaces and printed the photos at a size that will fit them. If you're using photos you have already you can cut them down instead. Next I've cut two pieces of patterned paper to a size ever so slightly larger than my photo.

Next I've cut one of the paper pieces into a frame cutting out the middle piece and distressing the edges. I've also glued the photo to the other patterned paper piece.

To finish this little framed photo I've glued the frame over the top of the photo.

Now the photo just needs to be added to the tray. To do this in a non-permanent way I've used some foam pads and fixed them to the bottom edge of one of the printers tray spaces.

Then all I need to do is prop the photo inside the space, the foam pads support it and the fit is nice and snug so it holds in place without gluing.

From there all that's left to do is fill the tray with your collected bits and pieces and some more photos. You could also leave some of the spaces blank to be able to fill with little bits and pieces you've collected through a particular month. As this is about memory keeping basically anything you want that holds a memory for you, you can collect together to fill the spaces.

Here's my finished Collectors Tray ready to go up on the wall:

I hope you've enjoyed all the collecting inspiration this month. Are you going to have a go at making some kind of collection based project or maybe you've already started? Check out the Pinterest board I've picked out with more collection based inspiration on it here, http://pinterest.com/craftytemplates/october-inspiration-a-month-of-collecting/

Have fun!
xx Leo

Collection Jars

Hi Leo here!
I've got a fun project today on the collecting theme, making 'collection jars'. You need an empty washed out jar and a few paper bits and pieces from your kit. It's a fun way to keep collections of 'chunky' bits and pieces you've collected. You can also add a photo as I've done too.
Mine has a vintage theme but you can make one to reflect a certain collection or make one like the memory jars that hold a collection from a special day or a holiday.

First start off by cutting out a piece of paper to fit inside your jar. Measure it out around the jar so you know it will fit inside. It needs to be big enough to cover half the jar so the front of the jar acts as your 'window'.

Once the paper is cut to size add anything you want to on top. You could make a mini scrapbook page, add a word or just add more paper pieces.

Roll the piece of paper up gently and pop it into the jar. If you want to make a piece of paper for the bottom of the jar you can do this just by drawing around the base of the jar. You could use something else too like sand or pebbles or shredded paper etc.
The jar's really starting to take shape now!

The next step is to fill the jar with your collected bits and pieces. My jar doesn't have a nice lid so I've decided to make a fabric lid from a piece of fabric fixed over the top of the jar with a elastic band and a piece of ribbon to disguise the band.

There we have the finished jar!

I think this is a lovely way to keep those lovely chunky little random collections that won't fit in your scrapbooks. The jars can go on a bookshelf just like a picture but a little more three-dimensional.
Have fun!

Going out for a Smoothie

Hello, Emy here for my last post this month. I have really enjoyed using the gorgeous Quirky kits and here is my last page using the Rocky Road Lite kit, with a series of photos I've been waiting to scrapbook since summer last year. I just hadn't found the right look to go with the pictures, but when I saw this Studio Calico patterned paper, I knew it would be perfect. The only extra thing I've used on my page are a few Kesi'art alphabet stickers .

I started my page by adding paint to the paper using the end of an old cardboard tube (with an idea to make it look a little like the ring from the bottom of a cup). You can see in this photo how I've folded over the edge of the cream patterned paper, which adds texture and adds a little bit of the turquoise which is on the back of the sheet.

I tore strips from the paper bag that was in the kit and made a ruffled strip across the page, sticking it down first with adhesive and then stitching it in place.

I coloured my calico rosette using Distress inks and a water spray to help the ink run. I used a blanket stitch around the edge of the rosette and used the Studio Calico die cut stickers to add "ribbons" under the rosette.

Hope you've had a great October and are having fun with your kits. Bye for now!

Emy