Searching for answers - Ruby Rock-it Creative Team

I was inspired by the Vision Board challenge set for the team to instead scrapbook taking the first step in a very important goal I have.
The only avenue I have for finding out who my Father was and the sister I was told I have is Ancestry DNA and the possibility that someone related on my paternal side has done a DNA test.  It has been a goal for some time to do my Ancestry DNA and create my family tree in preparation for sorting through the results, but life events have often gotten in the way of my doing this and I know from being in the DNA Detectives groups and other groups dedicated to finding answers for children who need them that this can be a difficult journey mentally so I also needed to have a good therapist to support me if things go badly.  I have a brilliant therapist so it is time to do my DNA.  My husband, children and in-laws all pitched in and got me a Ancestry DNA kit as a early birthday present and today's layout is documenting the day I filled that vial with spit and mailed it back to Ancestry.

When I saw the new Wanderlust range I knew I had to use it for this layout, as well Ancestry DNA does tell you where your DNA is from and links you with relatives around the world so it felt perfect for this.  I also grabbed out ATY90 Paperworld Baby Boy Little Star as I felt it would make a nice contrast and some scraps of light blue card left over from the light blue Franceville Cards & Envelopes Pastel Pack I cut a window out of for my Frozen themed card.  I also grabbed out some SB91 Just Bead It Glass Beads in Lime and a broken family tree frame chipboard I had in my stash.






My goal was to let my papers and embellishments tell the story of what this photo was all about.
The broken family tree frame represents that I am trying to fill in missing pieces, the beads and double helix represent using DNA to fill in missing pieces and finding out information about myself via my DNA.  The map paper represents the fact that I could get answers from all around the world.  The words I wind up using represent that I am searching and hoping to discover things that are incredibly important for a person to know.

I wanted to have a double helix on my layout and I wanted it to be a similar green to the Ancestry logo so I chose this light green from the Franceville Cards & Envelopes Primary Pack, later I would realise it was perfect for the leaf hints so I cut some leaves from it too.
And I cut the word searching from the card.

I gave the edges of all my leaves and double helix a slight edging with Distress Ink in Twisted Citron.


I figured this would also make a great photo matte so I cut my photo to fit (I had accidentally order 5x7 photos so I had some wiggle room for cropping) and then trimmed the excess card away.

I then got my inks back out and edged my leaves with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.
And using a scrap of foam and a embossing tool I embossed veins on my leaves.

I then added Distress Ink in Twisted Citron over each leave to try and bring out the embossing a bit more.













To colour my broken chipboard frame I first gave it a light coat of white gesso and then experimented with my Distress Ink in Twisted Citron to get a nice green, at first dabbing it on my mat and dipping/rubbing my piece through it, then just applying it directly with a blending tool.

I then edged it with Distress Ink Vintage Photo.

While I had my inks out I edged all my paper layers that I had at that point decided to use.

As for sizes I cut my papers, I don't go for any particular size, I like to cut random pieces and play with them until I am happy with how it has turned out.  If you ever have a creative block give that a go, that is how I came to be scrapping in this way, the need to push through a creative block so I just cut things randomly and played.

I started adhering my layers together with Helmar Acid Free Glue, just putting a swirl in the middle or along the edge depending on how things were going to go together so I would have areas not stuck down for tucking things in later.

You can see how I piece the 2 blue scraps of card to look like a full piece.

I am happy with how they are looking, now it's time to get the background sorted to add them too.

I had alread cut the word Discover from my sheet of THE616 Wanderlust Labels paper and as I was looking at the chevron colours on THE593 Wanderlust Chevrons as being my main background I decided to use the B side of the Labels paper as a edge for my background.

I cut my THE616 Wanderlust Labels paper to form a 1 inch window, trimmed 1/2 a inch of the bottom and one side of my paper and adhered it to my 1 inch frame of THE616 Wanderlust Labels paper.  I then grabbed my stack of layers and worked out where I wanted them, made some marks with a grey lead so I would have a rough guide of where I could cut some more away from the THE616 Wanderlust Labels paper to save for later.

Here is how it looks flipped over.


I now had some scraps for another project or another layer so I went with creating another layer with the THE616 Wanderlust Labels paper.  I forgot to ink it before adhering it down, but that is ok.

I started building my embellishment clusters using my die cuts, broken chipboard, the word I cut from THE616 Wanderlust Labels paper.

I decided I needed a tag in my layers so I grabbed out some Fundamentals Rectangle Tags and I distressed 2 of them with Distress Ink, one with just Vintage photo and the other going in with Twisted Citron followed by Vintage Photo.  I decided to use this one.

To add it to my layout I cut it in half and tucked it into my layers.

I was then inspired by the key in the Faded Empire Stamp Set to add it to my embellishment cluster as well I am trying to unlock some mysteries, so I stamped it with Distress Ink Vintage photo on the left over piece of my tag and fussy cut it out to add to my cluster.

Once I had everything down including the SB91 Just Bead It Glass Beads in Lime I decided I should add in this random frame I had that was similar to my broken frame to represent joining the missing pieces together.  I decided to colour this one differently.

I base coated it with my Dina Wakely paint and then added some Yellow Vicki Boutin paint to my mat and sort of mixed things together until I got a more Ancestry type green.




I then decided my broken chipboard frame needed to be more green so I dry brushed some of my left over lime green I had created over it.  It blends in with the beads, etc much better now.

I then swiped the last remnants on my brush on my 2 corners of my background.

Finally I decided I needed the date I did my test somewhere on my layout so I grabbed the last scrap of my tag and stamped the date with Archival ink on it and tucked it in under some leaves.

I then decided to tuck in some green and grey ricrac I have in my stash and finally called this layout done.

Frozen Mini Album - CraftOnline Creative Team

My granddaughter loves Frozen, so much of her conversations are full of Elsa, she loves Elsa so much so with her 3rd Birthday coming up in November I thought making her her a Frozen themed mini album for her Mum to put some precious photos in would be a lovely gift she could treasure.
 
I set to work building a Frozen themed kit.  I wanted a large variety of snowy/winter items to get that Frozen feel so this became a great way to use those winter products that are geared to people who live in areas with snow.



I started by selecting a range of snowflake dies to create die cuts for my album, selecting some gorgeous Bazzil Bling cardstock and then searching for some papers in blues and that perfect shade of purple.  I added a Kaisercraft purple cardstock to my kit and then some gorgeous flowers and I called my kit ready.  Here is what I ordered (I will put a asterisk next to items I used).

Poppy Crafts Snowflake dies set of 2
Poppy Crafts 5 Different Border dies
Poppy Crafts Snowflake #6 die
Poppy Crafts Ornate Flourish Corner die
Poppy Crafts Snowflake Frame die
Find It Trading Jeanines Art Frosty Ornaments Frame die
Find It Trading Amy Design Christmas Wishes Snowflake Border die 
Poppy Crafts A4 White Cardstock (the 250gsm has been replaced by the 240gsm which will work for this project).
Bazzil Bling Cardstock Glass Slipper 
Bazzil Bling Cardstock Shimmer
Universal Crafts Teflon Bone Folder
Universal Crafts Magnets 
Poppy Crafts Ribbons Blues
Kaisercraft Jewel Cardstock
Disney A5 Build A Scene Frozen
Prima Marketing Moon Child paper flowers 12 pack First Eclispse
Graphic 45 Bloom from the new Bloom range 
Echo Park Winter Wishes Snowy Trees paper
Graphic 45 Kaleidoscope Fantastic Fantasy
My Besties 6x6 paper pack French Blue 
Bo Bunny Double Dot Lace French Vanilla 
Hambly Screen Prints Mini Brocade Overlay Antique Teal
Paper Doilies White Lace 6 inch
Echo Park 6x6 Stencil Winter Night
Fabre Castell Glass Bead Gel
Dorland's Wax Medium 4oz (I used this to seal any glitter covered items on my project)

Items from my stash used.
12 inch Trimmer
EK Success Score Mini Board
Dress My Crafts Sequins Green
Poppy Crafts 6x6 textured cardstock
Poppy Crafts Ribbons Purples
Old Fiskars Border/Edge Punch - This Martha Stewart Frame Border Punch called Daisy Petals matches the punch I used nicely, just follow the straight guide on the design plate to get a stragith edge, you will need the Starter Set to use this punch; or this Martha Stewart 2 in 1 Deep Edge punch might be a nice alternative; or this WeR Memory Keepers 2 Edge Punch Loop; or for something lovely and simple this EK Success Edge Punch Dotted Scallop.

I started by working out sizes to cut the various pieces needed to create my interactive pages, so my finished page would be 6 inches high and 4.5 inches wide.  Once I had figured this out I cut a set and assembled my prototype adjusting any measurements as needed.  I have included the measurement in the video.

Once I had my prototype page set put together I wanted to see how it would look with papers on and I had this idea of creating a journey to Elsa's castle with the Disney A5 Build A Scene paper pad.

So I started by selectively cutting the pieces for my top and bottom flaps so you would enter through them on your journey to Elsa's.
I used this winter forest paper from the pad.








When you open the top and bottom flaps you find yourself at this beautiful mountain scene.
I added the snowflakes to the inside of the top flap to hid my magnet as I forgot to add them on my prototype page before adhering my papers down.






























Then when you open the side flap you find yourself at Elsa's Castle. 
I wasn't thinking at the time and I didn't cut the paper, I just spread it over the flap and scored it, this has caused the page to not open properly, so if you are wanting to do something like this I recommend cutting the paper where the page folds out from.

Here is the video showing how I created my mini album.

Some other features in my album include a Shaker Pocket, which I added to the top flap of what became the front page set.  I really wanted to include a Shaker pocket in some way into this album so that Ev would have some snow to watch fall.
I decorated the front of the Shaker Pocket with some of the gorgeous Poppy Crafts Snowflake Dies.  And I added a border to the inside with the Find It Trading Amy Design Christmas Wishes Snowflake Border die.



I love how the album looks when you first open it.  I think Miss E will love the interactivity.

Here is how the third page set opens out.  I used the Hambly Screen Prints Mini Brocade Overlay Antique Teal on the side flap, it looks pretty cool in person.

And how gorgeous is that B side paper from Graphic 45 Kaleidoscope Fantastic Fantasy?  Isn't it just perfect for Anna?











After calling my project finished I decided to go back and add some snow to the front cover using the
Echo Park 6x6 Stencil Winter Night and Fabre Castell Glass Bead Gel, I love the results.  It looks like Anna is reaching up to the falling snow now.

I hope this project has inspired you to create something.  If it has please let me know, I would love to check out your work.

Play along with our Moodboard YouTube Hop

We have another YouTube Hop for you, this one is all about play and we have a great moodboard to inspire you.  So why not grab out some supplies and play with them to create a project or create a project about play, whatever works for you.

I am not participating in this hop but I do have the hop list for you.

Amira
Farrel
Kris
Niamh
Silvia
Wendy

And to make things even easier for you to find here is the Playlist I created for this hop.






















Have you joined out Facebook Group for our Hop Fans yet?  

I hope you enjoy this Hop there are so many wonderful projects from these talented ladies, some lovely crafty inspiration in it.  If you do create a project due to being inspired by something you see in this hop please let us know.  You can either contact the creator via their social media or comment on their project in the album for the hop in the group.  You may even like to share your project in the fan group.

Thank you for supporting our Hops.

Frozen Inspired Card - Ruby Rock-It Creative Team

My granddaughter loves Frozen, especially Elsa.  She was singing Let It Go months before her 2nd Birthday so I knew I needed to make her a Frozen inspired card for her 3rd Birthday and I felt a shaker card created with Bella Glitz Cardstock and Crafter's Choice white glitters would be a perfect way to start the process of creating a Frozen card for a Elsa loving little person.

I cut a frame from some Bella Glitz Cardstock in Powder GZ29and some scrap acetate to start my shaker card.










I also die cut my granddaughter's name from the Bella Glitz Cardstock in Powder GZ29 using my Silouette Curio and a Frozen font I downloaded some time ago to put inside my shaker.

I got some glue on my acetate so I added some die cut snowflake borders I had in my stash to the front of my acetate to hide this.

I decided to cut the edges of some Fundamentals Doilies in White off the doilies to get 3 sections off each doily and create another sort of snow feeling layer.

I then cut a frame from the pinky purple shade in the Francheville cards & Envelopes Primary Pack to put on top of the edges of these to hide the edges.

I put some 1/2 inch foam tape around all 4 sides being careful to not leave any gaps.

Now it was time to place my letters inside my shaker and add some of each of the white glitters as well as some silver and navy Ruby Rock-It Micro Beads.

I pealed the backing off the foam tape and turned my card base upside down and placed it on my shaker.



















I added a pale blue frame using a card from the Pastel Francheville cards & Envelopes pack.

Next I decided to grab out a sheet of Fundamentals Vellum and tears half inch strips to create a extra border and some snowy hills and icicles to improve my scene.

I added another pale blue frame cut from the back of the card.

As I wound up with a crinkle at the bottom I decided to add some Crafter's Choice Bling Flourishes to detract away from the crinkle.









 

I added Bling Corners Blue & Clear first, manipulating the top swirl to make it go higher and trimmed off the overhang of the bottom swirl, using the off cuts to add to the existing swirl of the top swirl.

I then grabbed out Bling Flourish Clear and added the small one to my swirls, I trimmed off some of the bottom and  used the off cuts to add to other swirls.









I loved how my first ever shaker card turned out.