Stay at home with Emilie

That's just what we did. Our first retreat at home. (What a joy to not have to worry about whether we had packed this, that or the other because we were going home at night and could get what we needed for the next day. Bliss).
We had the talented Emilie Chamel come for the weekend and teach us various techniques to use on our scrapbooking layouts. Emilie is on the design team for Merly Impressions and has her own unique style. So here are the layouts we produced:

 Day 1.

These first 3 used the Maggie Holmes Collection. Most of us had time to fit it another un-scheduled one:

Day 2 was all about stamping to make our own papers.

Lots of patience required here to colour the white card and then stamp all over but extremely enjoyable.

A great time was had and I can't wait for the next time we do something like this.
Emilie, if you are reading this " Many thanks".

New Challenge

So, encouraged by Natalie I decided to take part in the latest sketch over on Punky Scraps. A sketch was provided and they wanted lots of yellow-yellow? and feathers or some other eastery embellishments. I went with chicks as I don't have anything feathery. I've used a very poor quality photo of me and my niece taken in the dark with the I-phone. If anyone knows how to get good quality photos from an I-Phone then please tell me cos I don't seem to manage it. Mind you I don't seem to get good pics from a camera either. 
Here is the sketch;

and here is my interpretation:

I actually really enjoyed doing this so thanks Nat. In real life it is much yellower and I have used a Mister Huey mask on the background. even with help I can't get the colour to show up but it is yellow-promise.

and 2/2

Same photo. Different papers. I've used the latest Kaiser papers- Elegance for this one with a bit of sodalicious thrown in for good measure. A few bits and bobs from other places were stuck on for good measure. Still cant get the photo colour right tho". Don't you just love noticing things after you've uploaded the photo? I have now moved the little flower that had dislodged itself.

1 of 2

These titles are getting exciting aren't they? The first of 2 layouts of the same photo-one for him and one for her. My twin niece and nephew before she left for Japan. The don't appear close but they are really. They just don't see it like everyone else does.
Ive used a mix of papers here: Papermania, ILS., tags from Ikea, bits and pieces from Paperchase. A real mix with a bit of Mr Huey thrown in -well sprayed on actually!!

Colour is rubbish as usual!! Thanks for looking.

3 & 4

Thanks to Chrissy from Merly for letting me blog these. Unfortunately I am too far from her crop to attend but that doesn't stop me from liking the crop layouts that are produced on the day. Thanks to her putting them on her blog I get a chance to have a go at them. Same photos as before using Kaiser Forget me Not papers.

number two....

...is for Sarah's Cards sketch challenge. 

I have used the same collection of papers as below.

Number 1...

....of what will be four layouts using the same photo. One for each of the cousins. I have taken this from Sarah's retreat layouts as I loved the version that was taught there. I think it was Tracy's class. I have used some French papers and a photo taken in Liverpool just before my niece left to go and work in Japan.