Valentine Cards - Free Printables

 

The source/credit for this great vintage Valentine!

 http://freevintagedigistamps.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/free-vintage-printable-sweet-vintage.html

Remember those old style vintage Valentine cards with the cherub faced kids, reminiscent of Campbell's Soup kids, all sweetness and light, with a tag line that was a very cheeky play on words.  I used to love getting those cards when I was a kid, the highlight of Valentines Day!  You could keep the candy hearts or sweethearts, it was the cards I was interested in.  See, even then I loved paper!  In the week leading up to Valentines Day in school we would spend our time making a personalised little construction paper and cardboard mailbox, decorated with glue, glitter, sequins, paint, yarn and whatever crafty items the teacher managed to have in her craft kitty.  Then on that all important day, everyone would come to school with loads of pink and red envelopes stuffed in their book bag, bulging to capacity, excited about not only giving out those Valentines but also receiving them!

 

So, my post today is in honour of Valentines Day.  I have included some free Valentine themed insert cards below.  Now I know they're nowhere near as good as most of the PL cards out there, made by numerous designers and manufacturers but sometimes I like to be creative in other ways with my PL rather than just inserting pre-printed cards or photos.  I just like to play around and see what I can create.  As sharing is another good thing, something else we learned in grade school, I thought I would do so here!

 

Please feel free to download and use in your pocket scrapbooking albums or in whatever way your crafty creativity strikes you!

 

You can download the free printable here:

 

 

I am still learning about all things technical so if the link does not work, please post a comment here and I will try to sort it out for you.

 

If  you do download them, I would love to see how you use these in your albums!

 

What are some of your memories about childhood Valentines? I would love to hear about them.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Christine x

 

January Project Life (part 1)

Well, this is my first official post for my Project Life (with Simple Stories Sn@p Albums) for January.  So far so good!!  Let's hope I can keep on top of documenting my life in a more timely manner this year.  Probably wishful thinking there on my part!  Below is my wonderful and beautiful (I jest) title page.  At this point you're thinking  - "not too exciting" this post.  Yes, I know I've only got my background paper in there so far and nothing else.  I need to get some pics taken of myself, Simon and Rupert and create what already exists in my head. 

Moving along swiftly!

 Okay, so this is my first official "completed" page of the year, walking Rupert at Braywick Park, the day after New Years day.  As I already have quite a few pictures of us walking at Braywick I wanted to capture something from a different perspective. 

Supplies | "What's Happening" sticker is by MME, Cut & Paste.  The stars are from a sticker sheet called Urban Traveller by Simple Stories. Polka dot paper is a Bazzill Basics.

On this next page is an adorable picture of Rupert desperately wanting to go for a walk on New Years day.  He has a funny habit (when we are about to go on a walk) of picking up the proper end of the lead, even when the other end isn't clipped to his collar and walks out the front door with it in his mouth, like he is taking himself for a walk.  Very cute!  And smart!  So this was his very subtle way of telling us that he wanted to go for a walk.

Supplies | 3x4 "Today" card is from the SC Double Scoop PL Kit.  The "Genuine" sticker along with the star sticker and the 4x6 "Life as we Know It" insert card are all Simple Stories. Not sure about the brand for the striped paper on the top pocket has this as been in my stash for quite some time but I believe it was called Skate Shoppe (maybe old Bo Bunny) and the cloud paper in the bottom pocket is from the SC Double Scoop Scrapbook kit by MME, Cut & Paste design by Jen Allyson.

 

This next page actually wasn't really a planned page so let me give you a bit of background. When I first moved to the UK I had to purge all my belongings (as we were moving into a much smaller house here) and surprisingly in the end I found the purging very cathartic.  Every year since then I do a clear out now at the start of the new year as I still find it so freeing.  Plus it helps eliminate clutter, or at least that is what I am telling myself.  As I was clearing out the winter wardrobe I found some old scarves of Simon's that I was going to donate to charity as he no longer wears them.  As I was putting them in the box to go to the charity shop, for a laugh, I decided to put one of the scarves on Rupert as he was sitting there watching me expectantly whilst I went about my task.  Surprisingly he just sat there with it on and as I found it so totally adorable I decided to take a quick picture of it.  Hence this page was born.  But as you can also see, moments later he was bored with the whole prospect, hence the yawning. Too cute!

Supplies | Blue Chevron paper is from the SC Double Scoop Scrapbook kit by Teresa Collins, Stationery Noted. Light blue enamel dots are from the SC Double Scoop PL kit.  The yellow "Oh Snap" and the camera are actually cut off of an Echo Park 4x6 insert card. The dark blue lettering spelling out "New Years" are by Simple Stories, Urban Traveller as are the gray letters spelling out "Clearout".

Close up of the detail on the upper right hand corner (I splattered the page with some metallic blue misting ink). The sparkly blue brad is by Papermania from their Capsule Collection Embellishment Set.

 Close up of the detail on the lower left hand corner

As we got a lovely note from our landlord the day after Boxing Day that the rent was going up, much to our surprise, we have simply decided that we no longer want to continue to live where we are (as well as for other reasons).  So by January 3rd we were already looking at new houses.  With the house pictured below I had thought, based on the ad and the location, that we had found a hidden gem.  Boy, was I wrong.  This place was like something out of the 70's - décor, smell and all.  Yes, I said smell.  I found it surprising as they had listed the house as "with all mod cons" & "newly renovated".  If this was newly renovated and they only brought it "up to date" (which by their standards, "up to date" was the 70's) I can't imagine what it looked like before - post war maybe?? Don't even want to think about it! Let's just say it was not the place for us.  So disappointed and let-down.  To cheer me up Simon bought me a Ho-Cho at Wild Bean Café.  Always a good pick-me-up!

Supplies | 6x8 page is cardstock page that comes with the Simple Stories Sn@p album. The lettering in the upper corner is by Simple Stories as well as is the orange "No Way" sticker. The brown "Home" & "Zero" embellishments are old American Crafts products which have been in my stash for years. The wood grain stars are from the SC Double Scoop PL kit. The "Right Now" sticker is by MME, Cut & Paste stickers by Jen Allyson. The red circular tag in the middle of the page is Simple Stories as is the arrow at the top of the page which came from The Daily Grind cardstock die-cut bits and pieces pack. As for the chipboard button this is by Webster's Pages, Trendsetter.  I know buttons aren't really popular anymore but I still love using them in my layouts!

 

 Close up of detail on upper right hand corner of page

 

 A mini page dedicated to Fish & Chips Friday,

a big thing in the UK!

(These page protectors are my "custom" made page protectors for (2) 4x4 inserts)   Link to that post is here:http://scrappysnapperck.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a-bit-of-late-night-crafting.html

Supplies | The green arrow and the "January" sticker are from the Echo Park Photo Freedom core kit and the "Look" sticker is by Simple Stories.

Back side of the (2) 4x4 custom page - yes, another goofy picture of Rupert.  I take way too many pictures of my dog, I'm aware!  All items used here are by Simple Stories.

 Another (2) 4x4 page. The pic was taken using the InstaFood app and the M&S insert card I created in Word.

Back of page.  Another "Insta" app - which I am obsessed with now.  I am an Insta-Geek!  This one is for Insta-Weather.  Insert card is my own.

"Coming to London" - this page was created using the heavy cardstock pages that come with the Simple Stories Sn@p albums.  I simply cut off the bit that had holes punched in it and inserted it into a 6x8 page protector.

Supplies | 6x8 page is cardstock page that comes with Simple Stories Sn@p album.  Puffy stickers used for "Coming" & "London" are Thickers from the SC Double Scoop Scrapbook kit. The letters spelling out "To" are Echo Park photo freedom core kit letters and the red "True Story" sticker is from Simple Stories.

 

This page reflects my journey up to London to see my long-time childhood friend, who to my surprise, was coming to London and was going to be staying at Leicester Square.  Even though I have been here eight years in the UK I still find taking the Underground such a novelty.  I guess because we just don't have anything like that in L.A and plus you really get the true feeling of London on the underground.  I thought this paper by Simple Stories was perfect with the different coloured lines as it is a good representation of the colours used for the different tube lines in the Underground.  Included my actual train ticket, a pic going down the massive escalator on the Underground and a copy of the tube map along with two tube stop signs.

Supplies | Simple Stories paper from the original Sn@p Life core kit. The "Click" speech bubble is a chipboard embellishment by Simple Stories.  The "Urban Traveller", "Go.See.Do" and "Happy Travels" stickers are all from the Simple Stories Urban Traveller kit. As for the "Ride Boarding Pass" green sticker I am not sure what brand this is as I have had it a while.

 

 Close up of detail on upper right hand corner

I do have a couple more pages that I need to put the finishing touches on; details, journaling and such but as this has been sitting on my craft table the past week, waiting for me to do so I just want to get this off my craft table, figuratively, and posted!  Rather than stressing about it and having it have to be perfect (am allowing myself not to think that way this year) I will just include those additional pages in my part two.

I am happy to have started on January (although it is now February - not gonna go there!) and hope you have enjoyed this post.

 

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

 

Christine

 

(to be continued...)

 

A Bit of Late Night Crafting

I should really be in bed at this hour but as I have been stressing lately over looking for a job and now on top of that, moving house I have had the desperate desire/need to scrap but just haven't found the time.

 

Well tonight I was sitting in bed, trying to unwind from the day and a thought struck me like a thunderbolt.

 

Recently I have joined a group on Facebook called Pocket Scrapbooking UK & Europe. On this site one of the members, I believe it was the lovely Karen Spreckley turned me onto Insta Place, Insta Weather and Insta Food and I am obsessed now.  I am always and forever taking pictures of my food and had mentioned this when she suggested I download Insta Food. When I told her that I had not heard of this app (but always taking pictures of my food nonetheless), she also said, well if you like something like this, then you will probably also like Insta Weather & Insta Place.  It only took mere moments after that to find them in the play store and download them!

 

I wanted to start including these pictures in my "Project Life" album (via the Simple Stories Sn@p albums) but there wasn't really a pocket page that seemed to work properly.  The pictures print out quite square so I didn't want to cut them down to 3 x 4 or alternatively put them in a 4 x 6 and then fill the left over space with something else.  I typically don't use the pages by Simple Stories that have (2) 4 x 4 pockets and the one 2 x 8 strip as I find the 2 x 8 difficult to fill.  I have used them on occasion but not regularly. I am more of a 3 x 4, 4 x 6 or 6 x 8 girl!

 

So I got to thinking, what if I cut the 2 x 8 strip off and then attempted to sew the (2) 4 x 4 pockets back onto the plastic strip with the holes punched into it.

 

Well, it might be a harebrained idea and it did take a few attempts to sew them back together (as I only just got my mini Hobbycraft sewing machine for Christmas, so sewing is a new "craft" for me), plus I did cut up more than a handful of pocket pages to boot but I got there in the end.  I finally made one that seemed sturdy enough to hold together and for good measure I put some washi tape over the seams in the hopes this will help keep the page from falling apart.  I will let you know how it goes!

 Here's a pic (not a very good one) of the custom pocket pages.  I have to say that I am pleased as punch!

 

Once I got in the crafting mood and the creative juices started flowing I also found myself pulling together a sort of "traditional" page for my Simple Stories album. Granted it's not complete yet as I still need to do my journaling but at least I go to bed and feel like I have done a bit of scrapping.  These pages (the insta pages & the other one below) are the first pages for January 2014.  

Yes, I have yet to create my title page like many others I find but that's simply because I need to sweet talk Simon into letting me take a few pictures of him for the title page this year. He's even more camera shy than me, although I do say he is by far more photogenic than I.

 

Well, as I did say it is quite late I really should go to bed now, considering that it is now 2:30 in the morning.

 

As it is late, apologies if there are any spelling errors or glaring mistakes, I'm probably a bit punchy at this point.

 

Good Night!

And thanks for stopping by.

 

Christine x

Crafting with a Friend

Hello All!

It has been a while since I have been on the blog.  This year I would like to try to be more consistent with my posts, which means making more time for crafting.  I love crafting and wish I could do it 24/7 but sometimes life and grown-up responsibilities, like work and such, get in the way!

I am trying to start on January, have yet to do my title page but today I actually did get a chance to do a bit of crafting with a friend!!  Which is always enjoyable for me.  Even if I am not feeling my scrap "mojo" I seem to find that once I am in a creative environment and talking with someone, excitedly and passionately about scrapping, it just seems to help get the juices flowing.  

So today life didn't completely get in the way and I was able to get together with Cat for some quality scrapping together whilst listening to the Studio Calico play list. 

It was a brilliant afternoon! 

(If you want to see what Cat is working on, you can check out her blog over here: http://decisioninspired.com/)

 At the moment I am working on finishing a chipboard "Mother & Daughter" album for my sister-in-law, that is a belated Christmas present.  I have most of it done, I just need to complete two last pages and put the finishing details on it. 

The picture above is from this album as is

the last picture in this post.

This page here (the pink polka dot page) is a page that I am including in my "Project Life" mini album.  Besides doing the pocket pages I also like to include full size (6x8) pages when I feel the need to be a bit more crafty.

 As mentioned above this page is from the "Mother & Daughter" chipboard album.  Once completed (hopefully this week), I will post the entire album here for all to see along with the supplies used.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you fellow crafters out there have had a chance in the new year madness to find some time to get crafty and creative as well.

It would be great to hear your comments or feedback!  I know people are stopping by as I can see the "posts viewed" numbers but it would be great to hear from you all!

Christine x

Studio Calico December Scraplift Challenge

Hello All!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  As well, I hope that you all found a bit of free time to do some scrapping too! 

 

I have recently become a member of the lovely online community over at Studio Calico.  This month I joined the December "Scrap the Person Above" Challenge as it seemed like a fun way to push me beyond my comfort zone or normal style of scrapping and as well to take inspiration from a fellow scrapper.

 

My challenge was to lift from fellow SC scrapper Rowie.  This is her layout titled "What's the Word" that I used for inspiration.

http://www.studiocalico.com/galleries/102361-whats-the-word-girl-hearts-boy

 

 My layout is titled "My Cracker King".  I really enjoyed creating this layout and taking inspiration from a fellow SC scrapper.

 

Journaling reads| "Simon really is a good sport.  Not only did he drive me all the way to the craft store in Long Crendon but then allowed me to put the paper hat from the Christmas cracker (that the shop keeper gave me as it was the day before Christmas) on his head as we were goofing around in the car on the way home.  This is one of the reasons I love him, his good natured spirit!  

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!  Please do feel free to leave comments as I would love to know what you all think!.

 Supplies used|  I wanted a colourful paper to mimic the playful mood and as well something that would imitate the points on the paper crown, so I chose Scenic Route Paper designed by Sarah Milne.  A lot of the supplies used came out of my stash. Paper used for the title "My Cracker King" is Chatterbox Scrapbook Wall Light Tangerine solid. The green paper for the journaling is just Bazzill cardstock. In the upper right hand corner the red chipboard button is by Terera Collins from her Stationary Noted collection, Decorative Buttons. The ticket stub underneath that is by Recollections, Signature Embellishments. The Simple Things is a Dymo style label is an embossed sticker by Marcella by Kay. The green polka dot paper (with the three brads) comes from the Simple Stories line for Snap albums, one of their 3 x 4 pads. The red chipboard photo corner is by K & Co Kazoo Kids.  The "Peace, Love, Hope" cloth brad is by Kaisercraft, Belle collection. The two Christmassy brads are by Dovecraft, Victorian Christmas collection - Funky Brads. On the lower right corner the small red brad as well as the green polka dot brad is by Simple Stories, Snap Brads "Life". The sparkly brad is by BoBunny. The "Joy" button is by Fashion Sense "Tis the Season" buttons. The "Smile" and "Heart This" chipboard tags are by Simple Stories, Snap Studio - "Hello" collection.

"Christmas" Supplies

Hello All!

 

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and are enjoying a Happy New Year!

 

I was very pleased to get a few supplies for Christmas and over the moon to get a Hobbycraft mini sewing machine.  Have never sewn before, except by hand when I was a teenager (needlepoint to be exact-I think for a Girl Scout badge, maybe) so don't know how well I will do but hopefully I can start incorporating some of it into my scrapbooking.

As most will probably be out partying tonight and drinking in the New Year I will more than likely be home, watching a few classic films and scrapping!

 

 (Supplies received:  Thickers "Eric" 224 printed chipboard letter stickers, La De Dah Polaroid Photo Frames, Set of three pocket notebooks, Hobbycraft Clear Acrylic Stamping Block & a Hobbycraft Clear Stamp (dog paw print), American Craft Slick Writers, K&Co Smash pockets and Thickers "Kitten" 201 printed chipboard letter stickers).

 (Supplies received:  My Minds Eye Kate & Co "Cambridge Court" paper kit, Teresa Collins "Stationary Noted" chipboard elements, Teresa Collins "Stationary Noted" decorative buttons, some Tim Holtz distress collection cardstock, Simple Stories, "I Heart Summer" Sunshine & Laughter chevron paper, Teresa Collins "Stationary Noted" Journaling Cards Paper, Teresa Collins "Stationary Noted" Ledgers Paper, Dear Lizzy "Neapolitan- Dreamy Days" paper and Amy Tangerine Sketchbook "Padma's Pattern" paper.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by to have a look!!

Happy New Year!!

 

So Inspired!

Hello All!

 

I am slowing working my way through October, in the monthly format.

I was lucky enough this weekend to meet up with a fellow scrapper here in the Berkshire area who I found on the Studio Calico website. Some of you may be saying, "why is this so lucky?"  Well, for one, scrapbooking is not as popular in the UK as it is in the US, by far.  Much to my frustration, I have come to discover this in the past eight years since I have moved here. To give you a for instance I have yet to find a decent brick & mortar scrapbook store as they just don't seem to exist here, unless you live up north or in Ireland. Go figure!?

 

I have been a member of Studio Calico for about 6 months now, only just discovered them and was more than pleased to notice that a fellow member, whose work I liked, also lived in the Berkshire area.  I reached out to her in the hopes that she would like to get together to scrap, or even help organise a crop if we could find enough people to join us.

As it turned out it ended up just being the two of us for now.  She generously offered the use of her home for the afternoon so I went with my numerous supplies in hand to meet a new scrapping friend and I have to say that I was simply delighted.

 

Cat is an incredible scrapper for someone who has only delved into the scrapping world over just a year and a half ago.  I honestly think that she doesn't even know how good she really is!  She is so extremely creative and talented, using mixed media to produce her artistic creations.   I know everyone has their own style and I would probably consider myself a traditional scrapbooker - originally using 12 x 12 for all my layouts and albums in the past, with only quite recently venturing into other sizes and other formats after many, many years scrapbooking. 

I know for some scrapbooker's there can sometimes tend to be "guilt" associated with scrapping as we tend to want to keep on top of everything.  This is something that I can relate to and as a result of this we unknowingly place a lot of unnecessary "rules" on ourselves as to how we have to scrap a certain way when we do eventually get around to scrapping.  But with Cat there are no rules, anything goes - paint, ink, watercolours, tape, vellum, fabric, sewing, embarrassing shots, glitter, ridiculous photos, brushes, die cuts, bad photos, sequins - (again I know some of you may be saying, but this is what scrapbooking is all about anyway) but I still have to say it again, literally everything and anything goes with her!! And it's brilliant!!  Like I said we unknowingly put restraints on ourselves, not just in our normal day to day lives - you can't eat that, it's not good for you; you can't do that, people won't approve; you can't say that, what will people think; but sometimes we allow that to carry over into our artistic creative parts of live, even though this completely goes against what being creative is all about.   

 

With Cat, that's not the case.  She initially started out with art journals and altered books, then tried Smashbooks and has now ended up creating some incredibly fabulous Project Life pages as well as traditional layouts.  (I use the word traditional very loosely here as the only thing traditional about them are the size - 12 x 12).

 

I really felt very inspired by her and was probably gushing over her like an excited child at Christmas would over a new toy as it has been so very long (probably ten years) since I have had a friend that I can discuss scrapbooking with.

 

I truly think everyone should see her work as it's so inspiring, so I have posted a link to her blog below, Decision Inspired, as its worth having a good look round her site http://decisioninspired.com/. You just might find a bit of inspiration yourself!

Thanks for looking!  Please feel free to leave comments as I would love to know what y'all think.

 

\Supplies used for this layout\ The background paper is one of the cardstock pages that comes with the Red Simple Stories Snap album.  Starting along the top the black letters spelling out "Bath" are Thickers and the letters spelling out "Time" are from my stash - very old stickers by Karen Foster Designs (Alphabet 10476), the "Priceless" tab is by Pink Paislee-portfolio phototabs, the Dymo style "Moments" is by Simple Stories-Chipboard 24/7; on the bottom from left to right, the camera sticker is by Echo Park from Everyday Eclectic, the "All Boy" chipboard is by K&Co. chipboard - Kazoo Kids, the "details" sticker is by Simple Stories "Typeset", the red button by Websters Pages - chipboard sticker buttons "Trendsetter", the circle tag behind the love heart is by Jillibean Soup, Journalling Sprouts, the chipboard Love Heart is by Simple Stories chipboard 24/6 and the letter R chipboard is by The Girls Paperie by Margie called Tinsel & Twigs.