Just Keep Swimming

I can't resist a good movie title, quote, song title or lyrics for a layout title!  :)  I've had so many Summer layouts this year, that I am starting to run out of choices!!  But I realized I had not used one of my favorites yet, from Finding Nemo.  So "Just Keep Swimming" worked out perfectly for this layout.  This page wasn't for DT work, so I spent a little longer on it, than I would a typical layout.  I thought it would be fun to stitch a sunburst...but three hours later when I finished the layout, I wasn't still so sure that was a good idea!!

To create the sunburst, I drew a line across my page about 4 inches down.  Then I used the ruler to draw several rays from a center point.  I alternated Pink and Yellow embroidery floss, by back stitching it on each of the rays.  I also wanted to add a little more detail to the burst, so I mixed in some of the wood grain and Yellow sequins from the Studio Calico Atlantic collection.  I also wanted to use the awesome cut file, that Heather Leopard used on one of her American Crafts layouts last week.  I purchased it in the Silhouette shop and used it in a smaller capacity, compared the way Heather used it on her page.  But I love that it gave a wave effect, under the photos.  

Supplies:  Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper, Basic Grey & My MInds Eye; Wood Veneers & Sequins:  Studio Calico; Washi Tape:  The Paper Bakery; Printable:  Chic Tags; Tags:  Elle's Studio; Button & Mini Market Stickers:  October Afternoon; Star Paper Clip:  Two Peas in a Bucket

Soak Up the Summer

Last week was slow scrappy week for me.  I was caught up on all of my current assignments, and didn't have anything motivating to work on a layout, even though I was dying to do something.  So as soon as the new Sketch Thursday challenge from Elle's Studio popped up in my Blog reader, I knew I wanted to get to work right away!  This is the second time I have played along with an Elle's sketch, using a large photo, and even though that's not my norm, I really love the look once it's finished.  And another great thing about this type of sketch...you can get done fairly quickly, since the photo is a large portion of your layout.

The sketch was based on a layout by Jen Chesnick, and I loved that it made the photo front and center.  I used some of the papers from the Saltwater collection, and mixed in the frame from the Cameron collection, and several tags from various other collections.  I wanted to add a fun touch to my page, so I created a pinwheel to go in the center of the Polaroid frame.  And since I had room for a longer title on this page, I mixed Thickers, OA Mini Market Stickers, and stitching using one of the Amy Tangerine stitching templates from the Yes, Please collection.

Supplies:  Patterned Paper, Tags, Frame, & Vellum:  Elle's Studio; Thickers:  American Crafts; Mini Market Stickers & Button:  October Afternoon; Stitching Template:  Amy Tangerine; Flair Button & Washi Tape:  The Paper Bakery; Enamel Dots: My Mind's Eye; Wood Veneer:  Freckled Fawn

Anything Goes!

It's the 5th Monday in July...and who can believe, that it's already the end of July...so we are sharing our Anything Goes layouts today, at Let's Get Sketchy!  And yes, it is exactly what it sounds like, you can link up any new layout this week!  I searched around for a sketch I wanted to use and I actually ended up coming across two that I really liked!  The first layout is based on a sketch from one of the past challenges at Life.Paper.Scrapbook and it is the one that is on the Let's Get Sketchy Blog today.

 
Supplies:  Patterned Paper, Vellum & Tags:  Elle's Studio; Mask:  The Paper Bakery: Spray Mist & Wood Veneers:  Studio Calico; Buttons & Letter Stickers:  October Afternoon; Washi Tape: Pebbles; Other:  Sequins

Since I also really liked the second Sketch I found, I decided to do a second layout.  This Sketch is an older one from Creative Scrappers created by Nicole Nowosad.  I changed things up a little bit on this one, but you can definitely still see the Sketch in my layout.

 

So, make sure you come over and play along with us this week and link up your Anything Goes layout, on the Let's Get Sketchy Blog!

Supplies Used:  Patterned Paper, Wood Veneers & Spray Mist:  Studio Calico; Tags:  Chic Tags; Washi Tape:  Pebbles; Letter Stickers:  Jillibean Soup; Color Shine:  Heidi Swapp; Other:  Shipping Tag & Staples

Um, WOW! We Love Chipboard!

We have a new Issue today at Paper Issues, Chipboard!!  Some of the Design Team had the chance to play with some chipboard from UmWow Studios!

Make sure you head over to the Paper Issues Blog, and Hop along and leave a little love for each of the Ladies who created for this Issue.  UmWow is giving away 7 prize packs! SEVEN!!!!! Leave a comment on each blog on the hop for the chance to win a $5 GC! PLUS use the handy dandy Rafflecopter widget on the Paper Issues Blog to be entered to win a $20 GC to the PI store!  Also, don't forget to link up your projects using UmWow Studio or Chipboard!

And make sure you like UmWow Studio on FB and tell them Paper Issues sent you!

You Are My Sunshine

I have loved the mix of Nautical and everyday inspiration, the July Scrapbook Kit, Boardwalkfrom the Paper Bakery has provided our Design Team this month!  So many fun layouts and projects.  Today, I am here to share a fun and easy altered project that makes a great home decor piece.  I created an altered frame using some of the patterned papers, cut files by Juliana Michaels and embellishments included in the Kit.

I purchased the White frame for less than $3 at a local craft store, and then I used the cute Washi Tape included in this month's Kit around the inside edge of the frame, to dress it up a little bit.  I removed the glass, because I wanted to add dimension to the frame.  I layered a couple of the patterned papers and cut the sentiment "You Are My Sunshine" on my Cameo and backed it with the dark Blue Cardstock, that is now a new Add On that you can get with each monthly Kit.  I finished decorating my frame, using a couple of the cute Nautical by Nature cut files by Juliana and the Green ribbon and Studio Calico wood veneer, that comes in the July Kit.

These kind of projects are always fun and who doesn't love having their own hand made decor around the house.  The frame made a great addition to our son's bedroom!

CropStop | God Bless America

Hi everyone!  Today is my last Guest Post for the month of July with CropStop.  I would like to say thank you to Vicki and CropStop for inviting me to design this month and to all of you for stopping by each week to see my projects.  Last week, I shared a layout from the 4th of July and I worked on today's card at the same time, so it took on a Patriotic look also.

I used the Taylor Embossing Folder from the Elegance Collection and covered the backside of the folder with a Red ink pad.  I placed a piece of White cardstock in the embossing folder and used it to do a reverse emboss, where the texture is recessed, rather than raised.  This also allowed the ink color to stamp onto my cardstock, creating texture, color and pattern.  Since I wanted the embossed cardstock to be the main feature on my card, I kept everything else on the simple side.  I used my Cameo to cut the title letters and a shape of the United States and I used the negative piece, which allowed part of my embossed cardstock to show through.  I finished off my card, by adding some ribbon that Vicki included in my goodie package and added one of the CraftWorkCards Candi Dots to the center of the Star. 
Make sure you stop by the CropStop store to purchase any of the items I've used on my projects for the month of July!

Four Favorites @ 4

 ***NOTE:  Sometimes because of scheduling the articles at Get It Scrapped!, get rearranged at times.  Even though I had this layout ready for auto post today, the actual article will be split into two different articles for this topic...one posting tomorrow and one posting next week.  This layout will be shared in the article posting next week.***

Do you like mixing Alphas and Fonts in your title?  I love to use different Thickers, stickers, or Cameo cut words, to add some variety to the title of my layouts.  Today, at Get It Scrapped!, the Creative Team is sharing inspiration for Mixing Alphas & Fonts in Your Title.  Here is the layout I created for the assignment:

I did this layout, to record some of our son's favorites at the age of 4, using a photo taken on his birthday.  Mixing fonts or alphas in your title can add an interesting touch to your page.  You can use this technique to give emphasis to certain words in your title, to add a touch of whimsy to your page, or set the tone for the theme of your page.  When mixing fonts or alphas, I like using letters that contrast, which I did on my layout, by using the larger Thickers as a dominant part of my title and then adding in the smaller, round letter stickers.  Mixing the size, shape and color of your alphas directs the eye to your title and helps it stand out among the other elements on your page.

I used the new Cameron collection from Elle's Studio on this layout, and I cut apart one of the Tags from the Large & Medium Journaling Tags for the journaling spots on my page.  And I incorporated a lot of arrows and Chevron on this page, to create motion and energy, because our little definitely has A LOT of that!!

Supplies:  Patterned Paper & Tags:  Elle's Studio; Wood Veneers:  Studio Calico & Freckled Fawn; Thickers:  American Crafts; Mini Market Stickers:  October Afternoon

Brave New World!

Today, Team B is sharing their layouts on the newest Sketch at Let's Get Sketchy!  I had some photos of our little guy, at one of his most recent haircuts that I wanted to use...for a special reason!  I know I've mentioned the humongous fit he throws every time, he gets his hair cut.  Well, we finally made a break through this time, and it was his first time to actually sit in the chair by himself.  Up until this point, he had always sat in my lap.  So these photos, definitely needed a layout, to document the occasion!!

  
I used the MME Boy Crazy collection for this page and mixed in some of my favorite Tags from Chic Tags!  And I finished everything off, by adding some buttons, stitching, wood veneers, and stamping!  I kept the basic idea of the Sketch, but just pulled everything in a little bit closer.

Come over to the Let's Get Sketchy Blog to see how the other Designers used this week's Sketch, and make sure you play along with us!

Supplies:  Patterned Paper, Buttons, & Brads:  My Mind's Eye; Wood Veneers:  Studio Calico & Freckled Fawn; Color Shine & Stamps:  Heidi Swapp; Thickers:  American Crafts; Tags & Printables:  Chic Tags; Cardstock:  Bazzill; Washi Tape:  Doodlebug Design; Ink:  Stampin' Up; Font:  Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold 

American Crafts 2013-2014 Design Team

AAAHHHHH!  I seriously cannot believe that I am posting today, to announce that I am one of the new Design Team members for American Crafts!!  I have been in shock most of the week, and I have checked my inbox several times, to make sure I didn't just dream that I received an email from Paige.  I cried, freaked out like a teenage girl, and had a holy heart attack Batman!  There is an amazingly talented group of Ladies, that will be a part of this Team, and I just can't believe that I will be working with them!

I am looking forward to designing with the new collections, that AC will be bringing to Summer CHA!  They were revealed this past week on the AC Blog, so make sure you stop by to check out Polka Dot Party by Dear Lizzy, Cut & Paste by Amy Tangerine, and Peppermint Express.  There are lots of fun patterned papers, cute embellishments, and of course new Thickers!!

And while you check out all of the new collections, I'll just be over her pinching myself!!  :)

Same Kit, Different Look!

The July Scrapbook Kit, Boardwalk, from the Paper Bakery  is definitely filled with lots of Nautical themes, and most of my projects using this month's Kit, all have a Nautical look.  But I was able to squeeze in an extra layout, this month and it took on an everyday look...totally different from all of my other Nautical projects.  So today, I'll be sharing this everyday themed layout, as well as another Nautical layout using the Kit.

I used the Pink cardstock included in the Kit...we have NEW add ons for cardstock now!!  YAY!   And I used the cute heart patterned paper from Lily Bee, as my background.  This layout actually started out with a totally different photo, but it wasn't working, so I decided to change it.  Voila!  The creative juices started flowing and it turned out, just the way I wanted it to.  I used the fun Triangle border cut file, that comes with this month's Kit and one of our new Stamp sets!  I stamped the 100% Loved stamp on Vellum and stapled it to my page.

The second layout goes back to the Nautical look and I used our newest Sketch #8, to create this page.

I made a few changes to the Sketch.  I only used one photo and used the Triangle patterned paper from Studio Calico, in place of the second photo.  Instead of adding the circles, I fussy cut some of the hexagon pieces from Crate Paper's The Pier paper and added those in place of the circles.  I also added in some more of our new Stamp sets and I used some of the Nautical by Nature cut files, created by Juliana Michaels.  Don't forget, that you can play along with our Sketch challenge!  Just link up your entry in the Sidebar of the Paper Bakery Blog, by Saturday, July 27th by Midnight.

I hope I have inspired you to look at your products in different ways, and maybe use your next Kit out of context, and see what fun layouts and projects you can come up with!  And don't forget if you sign up for a Subscription, you get exclusive Cut Files and Printables that rotate each month!  Here's a look at the fun Cut Files that came with this month's Kit!