February Blog Bits and Blog-a-thon

**MiniOwner** · 31-01-2016, 11:26 PM

Layouts

Sometimes you can look at scrapbook pages and know that they were not made recently, there is somethng about the layout that dates it; but not always. Back in May 2014 MaryButtons posted this gorgeous page and it looks as fresh today as it did then - I love the clever use of the photo as a background. Talking of different backgrounds, I almost always reach for plain cardstock when I'd really like to be more brave and try some patterned paper, shown by StephieBoots with great panache! Yet another background idea, this time from AmandaJane using a cut file alphabet, I think the idea could be adapted to use up part-used sticker alphabets. I can't be the only one with Christmas photos still to scrap so I was very pleased to find some super pages on Sutty's blog. I am seeing splashes of gold everywhere at the moment and I'm liking it ... a lot ... follow the link through to Hey Little Magpie (sponsor) from ScrapHappyNiki's blog to be convinced it's a great trend if you aren't already. As always, you will find a monthly sketch challenge on my blog (MiniOwner); have a look at some fab pages that used the sketch as a starting point by butterbee, Jimjams and cheekymole. And don't forget littlechubblies' Sunday sketches and sponsor, Crafty Templates Quirky Kits sketches, too.

Cards

I have been missing one of my favourite bloggers and was so pleased to find her back in blogland with some fabulous cards; the one featured here by susibee is beautifully watercoloured. I have my cards ready for this month's link up for Beat the Christmas Rush, hosted by badgerleader, after being such a light weight last year and regretting it like mad in November! This steampunk Santa card, by ~*Anna*~ will help get you inspired to join in, I am sure. Check out here be dragons' blog for some lovely shaped cards and Kittykatz3's blog for an amazing card made using the Die'Sire Accordian Rectangle Die & Daisy Overlay; we are assured it is easy to put together! And to finish our look at blogged cards this month, we have some oh-so-pretty cards by these two bloggers secretscrapper and jane3865.

Other Projects

I am fascinated by old photos and scrapdolly has shared a very interesting post full of lovely pictures, many of which she has cleverly repaired and enhanced using Photoshop; scroll down Dolly's post to see the super pages she made with them. I know it's a little late to be making a calendar but you'll only be one month behind and this circle calendar by MaryAnne would look really good on any desk. Ooh I love a photo scavenger hunt and AmandaJane is taking part in a winter one that I might well join in with. Sponsor Hey Little Magpie has blogged some fab little tags-with-a-dfference made by MysticNat and, to take us into February, some gorgeous Valentines tags by soojay.

(I have checked all the links but they do sometimes have a wobble when I copy them across to General Scrapping. Please PM me if you spot a broken link

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Don't forget to claim your 20 bonus points if you make anything inspired by this month's blog bits.

**jane3865** · 31-01-2016, 11:59 PM

Thanks for the mention Sue....feeling pretty chuffed right now.

**Algera** · 01-02-2016, 12:17 AM

Beautiful ideas and inspiration, thanks will enjoy hopping around the blogs and posts to see more

**lemonblossom** · 01-02-2016, 07:17 AM

I've made a postcard for a swap
http://http://mymuddledlife.blogspot.co.uk/

**cheekymole** · 01-02-2016, 08:36 AM

Thanks Sue - I always get a tiny bit excited when I'm mentioned in BlogBits

**here be dragons** · 01-02-2016, 09:09 AM

Thanks Sue

Today I have blogged Beat the Christmas Rush cards

Wendy

**Mystik Nat** · 01-02-2016, 02:35 PM

Thanks for the shout out for my tag project.

I've also popped this month's prompts for the 2016 card challenge up on my blog today - all the details for the challenge can be found here in the card forum - the more we have playing along, the merrier!