Digital to hybrid take 2

Continuing with my Oxford album and my experiments taking digital layouts to hybrid. I created the basic layout in iScrapbook and once I printed it out I set to work making it my own. I used the Stacy Marks "Courtship" papers from Two Peas in a Bucket as background and layering papers and the ticket embellishment. The first pic is the digital lo and the second shows the final lo. First I inked round the edges using black and red Stazon ink.

Yellow and red pastels were added to ink layers

Red and black ink added to edges and page

Crucial element - smudge with fingers

 Next I used pink elastic and ribbon to create a ruffle that I stapled on and then added some brads to. Finally I created a ribbon flower with a button at its centre.

ribbon and elastic to create a ruffle

Ribbon flower with button centre

Ribbon ruffle

More ribbon and metal - Rule 3 Smile whatever the weather

Back to that mini book - the acrylic is really challenging me as I am trying to find ways to respond to Shimelle's class prompts and get the album to work. Everything I read in the past suggested this type of album had to be planned like a military operation and when I am in my happy crafting place planning and organising is the last thing I want to do. Far to much planning, organising and forward thinking at work. Crafting is my spontaneous response. I had found two pics of Lens Guy and me taken about a year apart. One was taken on the ferry to spain last summer when it was hot, the sun was setting and there was that romantic glow to the whole thing. The other was taken the year before on a very wet and dreach day on Lake Windemere. We had paid to go on the ferry trip down the lake and we were determined to sit outside whatever the weather. We were absolutely soaked through but still had that feeling of closeness and romance. Therefore Rule 3 is... Smile whatever the weather.
The pics below show a bit more detail. The circular ribbon mounts I made the other day by wrapping and sticking ribbon onto chipboard. The heart came from the DCWV Hippie Chic set. The ribbon was found in eldest daughter's stash box and I used metal staples to gather it. This was a way to still keep that translucent feel to the page on both sides. The border came about as the other side of page was my paper scraps border so the ideal solution was to use the scraps of ribbon left over from embellishments. I roughly sewed the ribbons to the back of the orange ribbon and stuck down. The paper was another scrap and I just tore and teased the edges a little more.

Ribbon prompts

I did find a little time to make a shimelle rose and gather some more ribbon for a layout. But it didn't seem right for the mini book so created a 12x12 page. I also played with ribbon winding it round pieces of chipboard and creating ribbon flowers. The lilac rose was made by gathering a short length and sewing it in and moving on. It's unique as I don't think I could make it again exactly the same. Not sure what I will use it for yet. The green/blue embellishments will probably feature on the mini book somewhere. Absolutely exhausted tonight and no energy for anything but an early night. Perhaps tomorrow I can start gathering and working on the cardstock scraps...

My first homemade gathered ribbon and the best laid plans

Above is my first gathered ribbon and yes I did iron it which made it much easier to make. I tried pinning it but the pleats would not stay and I pricked my fingers - should know that Shimelle's instructions would be easiest! Youngest daughter went to party on Saturday and I bought her a new dress and jacket for the occasion as I sensed that the outfit she had originally planned was not making her happy. The ribbon should compliment the ruffles on the dress but I sense I need to make more. I am so glad that I do not have to go through that awful 14-16 phase again. I did lol when we bought her outfit as I had a similar outfit in the 80's. I had a red ra-ra skirt and with my jacket I just rolled the sleeves up - they weren't artfully stitched. As I began reminiscing about where I had worn skirt she just rolled her eyes and gave me that pitying look that only teenage girls can give their mothers. If you want to know I seem to remember it featured heavily in my first year at Edinburgh Uni but was teamed with a blue tank top. Still think 80's fashion was pretty awful. Don't get me started on the come back of shoulder pads...! The photo of the shoes is because her big sister gave her these and she had been practicing her walk all week but came home with muddy shoes and aching feet and the comment that they had been outside most of time as boys were playing touch rugby. I had today off work so I was mentally planning a few LOs for the class and some quality time with Lens Guy but as usual the 'best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley' (if you ever have to teach "Of Mice and Men" that Burn's phrase will be seared in your memory, trust me). Unfortunately  mum was taken into hospital last night - she is going to be okay and will get home tomorrow but obviously I need to visit her this afternoon and evening so my precious time vanishing. Will have to work out how we get her home from hospital tomorrow when we both working...same old, same old.