Birthday and New Years eve ..............

My youngest son turned 16 today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ash!
As ever the time is flying by as we head rapidly into 2012!
I would just like to thank all my blog subscribers for following my crafting journey and wish you and your family all a Happy and more importantly a Healthy New Year!
hugs Alyson x

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry as I have been missing yet again! Finally seeing the christmas plans comming together so I thought I'd have a quick catch up while I had a few spare moments before the big day!
Yesterday evening we made our "traditional" visit to the winter wonderland, trouble is this year it seemed to have lost its magic! Last year there was snow on the ground and temperatures of about -2 degrees c which added to the christmas feel, however it is mild here in the uk at the moment so with a temperature of about 11 degrees c it wasn't quite the same! We still ended the evening with a hot chocolate topped with cream and a chocolate flake!
Tomorrow, christmas eve, I'll prepare as much of the christmas dinner that I can ready for christmas day, the in the afternoon we are going to see a pantomime, this year is Aladdin. then its back home for Sausage rolls and Mince pies!
So all thats left is you wish you all a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and thank you for all your support and good wishes!
Hugs Alyson x

Christmas Is Comming and I am so NOT READY!!!

Sorry I haven't posted for a while but life has just got in the way! Those of you who have been following my blog for a while will know we sadly lost my mother in August of 2010. Since then my father has been living alone some 2 1/2 hrs away and has been very lonely. Well we have finally moved him into a property in the next village so we are at hand when he needs us. I won't bore you with all the details but just to say he was stopping with us for the last 3 weeks!
Anyhow amongst all the upheaval I have managed to make some christmas organisers for the classroom assistants at my daughters school. I downloaded the pages from: Organizedchristmas.com and think they will make a useful present to use in next years christmas preparations!
Now to catch up on the christmas shopping, decorating the tree etc!

Poppy Journal

Thought I'd share a few pictures of a journal I have created.
You can see more details here

Halloween In Wonderland Album

The winner of the 300 subscriber giveaway...........

Christmas Organiser

Another Christmas Journal, this time an organiser to carry with you. Divided into 6 tabbed sections: wish List, Card Tracker, Gift Ideas etc.
You can see it in our shop here !

December Daily Journal

Here are a couple of the latest Journals that have been added to our etsy store here:
The first is a December Daily. I have made these the last two years and have had fun adding to them in the lead upto christmas!

Don't Forget.....

If you follow this blog you also need to leave a message under the giveaway post below to be entered into the draw!
hugs
Alyson x

300 Subscribers on my You tube channel GIVEAWAY!!!!

For 3 chances to win you can:
1. Subscribe to my youtube channel and leave a comment on the video posting
2. Follow my blog and leave a comment here
3. Spread the word about the giveaway and post a link for me to see!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Shabby Chic Journal

For sale in our etsy shop

Giveaway Time!!!!!

Visit here for details how you could win this gorgeous Freshwater Pearl and Sterling Silver Stacker Bracelet!
Thanks for your support and GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!

Sophie's Stacker Bracelets!

Please visit here to see Sophie's new Stacker Bracelets and also find out about a chance to win a Freshwater Pearl Stacker Bracelet!
Thankyou!

New Blog and New Etsy Store!!!

Hi Guys,
Here is a new project I have been working on and I know it is a diversion from papercrafting but I hope you will find it of interest and be able to support us!

New Blog: http://dragonflygemsforyou.blogspot.com/

New Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/houseofcommons2?ref=seller_info

Thank you for looking it is much appreciated!
Alyson x

My Smash Book Tutorial Video

This is the first tutorial video I have done so it is not great but I hope it gets across how to make the smash book. Unfortunatly half way through the sound goes so if you have any questions I will be happy to answer them and don't forget all the other details are in the post below!

Thank you for watching!

My Smash Book Tutorial

A Video will follow but I wanted to post here in more detail sizes of paper, chipboard etc so that you can refer to them without having to watch the whole video over again!
So to make a smash book like the one previously shown you will need:

Sturdy Chipboard:
2 -off 9 1/2" x 6 1/2" for front and back covers
1 -off 9 1/2" x 1" for spine of book


Patterned Paper:
Preferably from a 12" x 12" sheet that is the cut into
Approx 35 - off 6" x 9" for the pages
2 -off 6" x 12" for the cover ( I cut a 12" x 12" sheet in half vertically to get a continuation of pattern on front and back of book)
2 -off 9 1/2" x 3" strips to cover outer and inner spine (I used offcuts from the pages)
1 -off 12" x 9" for inner covers and binding ( scored vertically at 6" along the 12" length the again 3/4" either side of the 6" score line)
2 -off 9 1/2" x 3" for inside covers pockets

Bind It All:
Wire size 3/4" (17 coils)

The of course any envelopes, tags etc that you want to add!
As I said video will follow so please keep a look out for it!
Thank you
hugs Alyson x

Another SMASH BOOK!

I've not had a lot of time for crafting this past 6 weeks with the school holidays but I did get time here and there to put together this SMASH style book to use for pictures of my daughter that get sent home form school! I was fun to make so here is the video:

Missing In Action....

Hi Guys, Sorry I haven't updated my blog for a while but with the kids being off school for the summer holidays life kinda takes over! We had a lovely week away in the Lake district. Never been before but the scenery was stunning and we were lucky as we had gorgeous weather with no rain what so ever, a rarety with it being the wettest part of the country and in fact they had flooding the week before we went!
On our return it was full steam ahead for the preparations for my eldest son, Sam's 18th birthday. We went for a meal on the day and had a Hawiian themed BBQ for family and friends last saturday. Yet again we were lucky as the weather held out with just a few spots of rain that didn't come to anything!
Hope to catch up with you all again soon with some crafting! Until then enjoy what is left of the summer!

My Version Of A Smash Book using 7 Gypsies and a Zutter Cover-All!

See photo's below!
Thank you for looking!

My Version Of A SMASH BOOK!

Like lots of people I was wanting to get my hands on a SMASH BOOK by K & Co. But my search showed it was not going to be easy as everything was selling out fast. So I decided to make my own using some stash that I had hoarded a couple of years ago! Well you will see form the video that I was lucky enough to get my hands on not 1 but 2 Smash books (one is to record my son's 18th birthday!). However I thought I would share what I made using a Zutter Cover All and a 7 Gypsies Journal Pack along with some extra 7 Gypsies Papers.

Altered Journal for a swap on the Scrapbeach

Another fun swap hosted by Lori on the scrapbeach!
Thanks for watching.

Shabby Chic Garden Coffee Sleeve Album

This was another two part swap hosted by Irene over on the scrapbeach. Once again we put together a set of kits to make a page (this time using coffee sleeves).The kits were then distributed so each person in our group had a set of parts to make the final album, that is then sent to a nominated partner.
The above video is what I created with my kit!
Thank you for looking, please leave a comment!

Shabby Chic Album Kit For Sale!!! ** All SOLD!**

This kit is using the Kaisercraft Chanteuse Collection.
This collection is absolutly gorgeous and perfect to make a shabby chic style album!!!!!

This is another huge kit and here is what you will receive:
18 off 6 1/2"x 6 1/2" Single sided patterned papers (inc. 2 spot varnish,
1 flocking and 3 foil)
2 off 6" x 6 1/2" double sided papers
1 off 5 1/2" x 12" double sided paper
2 off 6" x 12" Co-ordinations sand it, tear it card
1 off 6" x 12" white card
2 off A5 pearl card
1 0ff A5 Velum
6 off 6 1/2" x 5 3/4" thick white cardstock for album covers and pages
1 off pack Rub on's to match collection
2 off pieces of Tulle ) to make your
1 off piece of Voile ) own flowers etc.
3 off pieces of lace
2 off pieces of organza ribbon
1 off length of leaf trim
1 off 6" pearl strand
1 off 6" white blooms
2 off lengths fibres
1 off 6" large green blooms
17 off assorted die-cuts and chipboard pieces from collection ( will vary each kit)
6 off tags from collection
Large collection of die-cuts from Tim Holtz dies and martha stewart punch
2 off cream skeleton leaves
2 off large wild orchid crafts flowers
5 off cream kaisercraft flowers
5 off pink kaisercraft flowers
1 off Leaf
2 off Crystal sprigs ( 1 pink and 1 green)
3 off small white blossom
1 off Pink Cherry blossom
3 off white Rosebuds
3 off Pink tipped Rosebuds
11 off assorted small roses
2 off book rings
1 off ribbon clip
2 off Small swivel Clasps
1 off Crystal topped Pin
1 off Pink topped Pin
5 off Headpins
5 off Jump rings
3 off Flat backed Dewdrops
Assorted Beads

SORRY ALL NOW SOLD!!!!
There are just 3 kits available and they will cost £25 each plus post and packing.
If you are interested in a kit please email me at:
houseofcommons2@hotmail.co.uk
Title the email "Shabby Chic Kit" so that I won't miss it!
Please let me know where you want the kit sent to so that I can do a postage quote. I am happy to send international. Payment by pay pal please.
Thank you for looking!
Alyson x