Serendipity

It's Sunday, and that means it's time for a new Theme at Paper Issues!!  Today, our Team is working with the fabulous new Serendipity line from Elle's Studio...I have to admit, I'm kind of jealous I didn't get in on the Hop for this Theme!!  :)  The Serendipity line is really awesome, and I think I am just going to have to find a way to get my hands on it!!

So, what does all of this mean for you??!!  Well, you can come over to the Paper Issues Blog and link up any of your layouts using Elle's Studio products.  By linking up your layouts, you'll have the chance to win 1 of 5 Elle's Studio prize packs!!  If you don't have any Elle's Studio goodies, never fear, because you can still link up under the following themes:

Chance

Fate

Destiny

Luck

Fortune

Kismet

And you are definitely going to want to join in the Hop and see what the PI Ladies did with the Serendipity line.  Here's are the links for you to stop by and visit:

Amy

Audrey

Diana

Leslie

Melissa

Pamella

So, once you're done hopping, make sure you head over to the the Paper Issues Blog and link up, leave a comment on the PI Blog...and don't forget to check out Paper Issues and Elle's Studio on Facebook and Like both pages.  Leave some love on the Elle's Studio Facebook page and tell them Paper Issues sent you!!

Even though I just shared this layout the other day, I will post it here again, because it is my most recent using the Elle's Studio You and Me collection...and I kind of love this one!!

If you are looking to get some Elle's Studio goodies, you can stop by the Paper Issues Etsy Shop and do a little shopping.  And anytime you are shopping in the Etsy Shop, you can use the Code ASHLEY75 to save 20% on your purchases!!

And just one more peek of something FAB in the Paper Issues Shop...the Lost at Sea Kit!  You can pick it up and save 20% with my Code.  Lots of fun Nautical goodness going on in this Kit...and exclusive items only included in the Kit!

Stick 'em Up!

Nope, it's not a hold up...just a new project I'm sharing today, over at The Paper Bakery!!  I have mentioned my little obsession for the coffee stir sticks.  They are so fun to use on your layouts, and for today's project, I decided why not pair them with the Custom Flair buttons, that Sarah adds to the amazing monthly Kits.  The April Kit, Lemonade Stand, had a fun mix of Lily Bee, Dear Lizzy, awesome Printables...and of course, Flair!!  I thought it would be fun, to feature the Flair on a few pre-made stick embellishments.  Here's what I came up with:

These were easy peasy!!  You can use popsicle sticks for these embellishments, or next time you're at your local coffee shop, pick up a few of the stir sticks!  I used some bits from the Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm collection and the Flair buttons from the Kit, to create several different looks.  This is also a perfect way to use up those last little bits in your Kit.  Add in a few little extras like baker's twine or paper clips and Voila!...ready made embellishments for your next layout.  

I also used my last stick embellishment on a layout, based on our first Sketch for April, created by Juliana Michaels.  You can play along with us each month, for your chance to win some scrappy goodies from The Paper Bakery.  I'll share the sketch and a sneak of my layout, and if you would like to see the full page, stop by The Paper Bakery Blog!!

The challenge for this Sketch will remain open until Midnight tonight, if you would like to play along and link up on The Paper Bakery Blog.  If you miss out on this one, a new Sketch will be posted Sunday, April 21st, and you won't want to miss it!!

The BIG Picture!

I had a little down time on DT assignments, and found a fun challenge on the Elle's Studio Blog yesterday!.  The challenge??...Use a large photo on your layout.  I have to admit, that I don't do this very often.  My photos are usually around 4 inches or less, so it was fun to go for a larger size photo.  Here's my take on the challenge:

 
This photo is somewhere between 5x7 and 6x8.  I started it at 5x7, but made it just a tad larger.  I used a mix of the You and Me and Day to Day collections from Elle's Studio.  I love it when you can mix collections together and they coordinate so well!  And, I even used some of the Elle's Studio packaging!!  The little Pink scalloped border above my photo, was cut from the paper backing in one of the tag packages.

And speaking of challenges at Elle's Studio... I also found out yesterday, that the Elle's Team used one of my recent layouts, Sweet Dreams, as inspiration for their newest Sketch Challenge.  So very exciting.  If you would like to play along, make sure you stop by and check it out HERE.

Thanks for stopping in today, and make sure to check back tomorrow!!  I'll be sharing some projects and a new layout for The Paper Bakery, using the April Kit, Lemonade Stand!!

Supplies Used:  Patterned Paper, Tags, Stamps:  Elle's Studio; Flair Buttons:  The Paper Bakery; Punch:  EK Success; Spray Mist:  Studio Calico;  Stamp:  Dear Lizzy; Thickers:  American Crafts

You Might Want to Sit Down for this One!! :)

I am back today, with another layout for Get It Scrapped!, and just to prepare you ahead of time...my layout is Project Life Inspired and it's an 8.5x11!!  Sorry for so much shocking news, just in the first sentence!!  :)  Yes, I do avoid PL, because it just scares me, and I think I attempted several 8.5x11 layouts about 5 years ago, but you know I am a 12x12 fanatic.

If you are like me and are just a little bit terrified by the idea of Project Life, why not still play around with it as inspiration for your next layout??!!  Setting up a PL design creates a fun grid for your page and makes it quick and easy to finish a layout.

 

No matter how many times we visit Disney World, we still have to always stop for photos with the characters.  The Project Life composition worked great for this layout.  I was able to include 3 photos on an 8.5x11 page format and still have plenty of room for embellishing and using multiple patterned papers.  This format would work well for those who like to journal a lot on their pages.  Just add your photos and use tags or paper beside them and add your story for each photo.

Using the PL approach, also helps to conserve those patterned papers you just aren't willing to use full sheets of.  You can add small amounts of your patterned paper and still have plenty left over for other layouts and projects.

Supplies:  Patterned Paper, Wood Veneer, Paper Clip & Mask:  Studio Calico; Washi Tape;  Glitz Design; Flair Buttons:  The Paper Bakery; Letter Stickers:  Jillbean Soup; Font:  Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold
 

The Merge Lane

You're probably thinking "what in the world does merging have to do with Scrapbooking?'.  Well, if you check out Get It Scrapped! today, we are sharing an article for Merging your Title and Journaling on a layout.  Here is how I used the technique on my layout:

 

In the South, Spring usually comes a little early and this year, I found some beautiful Tulips blooming in February.  I used the Merge Title & Journaling technique on this page, by starting my journaling and using part of the wording as my title.  To make the title stand out from the rest of the hand-written jouranling, I used Thickers, which were in a larger Font and different color.

I also used the "comeback kid", as I like to call it, on this layout...Vellum.  Vellum was really popular several year back, but kind of went away for a little while.  It has been popping up again and I used my Cameo to cut some of the butterfly shapes in Vellum, along with the patterned paper.  Then I embossed them with the Sizzix Big Shot and added them over the butterflies cut from the Dear Lizzy paper.

Supplies Used:  Cardstock:  Bazzill; Patterned Paper:  Dear Lizzy; Thickers & Date Stamp:  American Crafts; Wood Veneers & Spray Mist:  Studio Calico; Doily:  Hobby Lobby; Flair Button:  The Paper Bakery; Vellum:  Fymark; Washi Tape:  Freckled Fawn & Recollections; Other:  Staples, Paper Clip, & Shipping Tag
 

Going Glitz!

I can't say how much I love the April Kit from Artful Delight!  It has two of my most favorite collections from W-CHA...Color Me Happy from Glitz Design and Lucky Charm from Dear Lizzy!  And this month's Kit is packed!!  For today's layout, I used the Glitz paper and then mixed in some of the Lucky Charm bits and a couple of the Maya Road embellishments.

I cut the center from the Stripes Glitz Paper and used it as a frame around the Wood Grain.  I really love the contrast of the colored stripes against the dark brown.  And I also mixed in some of the cute Heidi Swapp Memory File Acrylic Stamps from the Kit.  I stamped on one of the patterned papers and fussy cut around the image.  I added just a few extras to this one...Studio Calico Wood Veneer Stars, Flair from a flair for buttons, and a little Recollections button.

And I also thought I would play along with the newest Sketch, that Kristine has up on the Creative Scrappers site.  Even though CS is taking a little break right now, Kristine is still offering up challenges once a month and I loved the Sketch she had posted for this month.  It's one of the sketches featured in her newest Sketch Book, Creating with Sketches Volume 2.  

I stayed very close to the Sketch, because I loved the design so much.  And I tend not to embellish as much on our son's pages, as I do on the girls'.  This is actually quite minimalist for me...and I actually left some white space on this one!!

Thanks for stopping by today, and I'll be back this week to share several more projects with you!  And make sure you stop by and visit Let's Get Sketchy!  There's a new Sketch up for this week, and we would love for you to come play along!

 
 

Feathery Finds!

Today, I get to share my first layout with you, using the amazing April Kit from The Paper Bakery, Lemonade Stand!  This month's Kit has some Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm and Lily Bee mixed together, and a fun embellishment...Feathers from Bella Blvd.!  The Navy and Hot Pink feathers are perfect with the colors in this month's Kit and I decided to use both of them on my layout.

 
I layered around the feathers with some of the bits from the Lucky Charm embellishment pack and some cute hand-made flags, and Custom Flair from The Paper Bakery.  I also used the exclusive Printables that come with this month's Kit.

If you like to take a look at some of the close-ups from my layout and a little tutorial on creating the Heart stitched tag on my page, please make sure you stop by and visit The Paper Bakery Blog!