Rik Rak Ravers Weekly Challenge on UKS

This week it’s the turn of my team The Rik Rak Ravers to set the weekly challenge on UK Scrappers. The criteria are to use this sketch, which I flipped round.

Scrap a man in your life Use different fonts/alphas Use inking/misting Use Rik Rak Here is my layout

Its an old school photo of my Dad (ringed in red) taken circa 1944 when he attended the John Neilson in Paisley. Im trying to do some layouts of him and his family as he has recently been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and will be 80 next year and Im hoping that by having an album showing various stages in his life it will help him to remember things Looking forward to seeing all the different takes on this.

A Lovely Crafty Break

Hello there. Im just back from a lovely break in the North East of England. I spent a couple of days with my lovely friend Heather and had a fab day cropping and blethering with Heather, Lesley and Julie. I managed to get caught up on my Photo Fifty pages for March which I will photo and put on the blog when I get a chance. I then had a lovely peaceful couple of days at my Mum and Dads caravan in Beadnell. Despite the dull and chilly weather I got my walks on the beach which were just blissful and peaceful. I love being by the sea and I find it clears out the cobwebs in my head which is just what was needed. I came back to work yesterday but the blow was softened somewhat by the arrival of a parcel from France. It was my matchbox Shrine from Rebecca. It is an utterly beautiful Beach hut hanging on a rope and the photo just doesnt do justice to how lovely it is. When you open the door it reveals a picture of my beloved Beadnell Bay which was just so thoughtful of her. There are also some lovely little shells in there.

It now has pride of place in my room at home. Also in the parcel was a beautiful hand crafted pendant made from Scottish Sea Glass and an altered box full of shells, little bits of driftwood and sea glass. It was all so beautiful and I feel honoured to have received it all

Matchbox Shrine Swap

When I saw this swap which Rebecca put up on UKS I just couldnt resist. I loved the idea of making a little shrine from a small matchbox. As ever though the ideas in my head took a bit of translating into practise and mine didnt turn out as I had initially envisaged it.

My swappee requested a Nostalgic/Vintage theme and I thought immediately of my Kaisercraft 6 xc 6 pad of Sweet Nothings papers which are in lovely soft vintage tones. I decorated the inside with some paper, did some inking, added a little filigree silver edge piece, a lovely little blue cameo which I got from Angela of Angel Crafts at the as I thought this would be lovely on the inside. I made a frame from the front using two nestability dies, added a three d punched butterfly and some little flowers I made from spirals with some stickes on. I inked and scrunched a length of hug snug seam binding to hung it up from and that was it done

I think Karen liked it and I hope she has a wee spot to hang it in. I loved this swap and think I will have a go at making one for myself. I am fortunate enough to know that Rebecca is making mine which is winging its way to me from France at the moment and having seen her sneak peak on UKS I cannot wait to receive my little beach hut shrine. I know exactly where that is going to live.

Mini Screen Swap

I couldnt resist joining in the mini screen swap on UKS when Karen announced it and once I saw Linda E's lovely version in Craft Stamper I knew I definately wanted to join in.

I was a bit stumped at first when I got the theme my swappee wanted which was Oriental as I dont really possess anything which could be described as Oriental. However I saw these lovely black and red Kaisercraft papers and took it from there. I covered the back of the panels with the paper and distressed and inked the edges. I then covered the fronts with red and black cardstock. I found a sheet of Oriental decoupage and set about cutting out the ladies - which was a bit of a trial for my limited cutting skills. A few little trinkets and they were done. Its quite simple but I really hope my swapee likes it

I asked for a Cath Kidston/Shabby Chic style screen for my theme and I received mine from Claire yesterday

I finished the screen off with stamped chinese writing on panels of white card inked at the edges and decorated these little Kaisercraft Chipboard lanterns finishing them off with tassels made from embroidery thread. I just hope the recipient likes it