Echo Park | Lucky In Love

Echo Park has adorable mini collections, and I created today's layout with the St. Patrick's Day collection.  I also incorporated one of the current trends, using metallics on your projects.  There are a lot of fun ways to use metallics on your layouts, and I used a mix of Gold letter stickers and Gold spray mist on my layout.

I kept my design simple and I loved the mix of Green with the little touch of light Blue in the St. Patrick's Day collection.  The Gold letter stickers and Gold spray mist were also a great complement to the different shades of Green.  I also used the CAMEO to add some die cut shapes to finish my layout.

Supplies:  St. Patrick's Day Mini Collection:  Echo Park; Letter Stickers:  Chic Tags; Color Shine:  Heidi Swapp; Button: October Afternoon; Enamel Dots:  My Mind's Eye; Shapes & Die Cut Machine:  Silhouette CAMEO

Simple Stories Guest Designer & American Crafts Plus One Layouts

I am excited to share, that I am guest designing with Simple Stories today!!  I hope you will stop by the Blog and see what I created using A Charmed Life.  I loved working with the mix of fun colors in this collection, and all of the great embellishments!  Here's a little sneak of one of my layouts and you can see the full projects today on the Simple Stories Blog!

 
And now on to two new layouts using the Plus One collection from Amy Tangerine!  There is also a giveaway on the American Crafts Blog this week, and you can stop by and comment for the chance to win a Plus One prize pack!!

When I start a layout, I like to bring in colors that coordinate with my photo or photos.  I loved the bright pops of Pink and Yellow in the Plus One collection, and they were a perfect match with the colors in my photo.  I balanced out the brighter colors, by using a black and white pattern for the background.

Supplies:  Duet (366817) - Plus One, Match (366819) - Plus One, Soulmate (366818) - Plus One, Accomplice (366822) - Plus One, Twins (366837) - Thickers, Flair (366906) - Adhesive Badges, Bits (366849) - Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, Remarks (366842) - Us, Elements (366852) - Fabric Brads

I love the graphic look of the Plus One collection, and I wanted to create a background for my layout, that enhanced that look.  I used my Silhouette Sketch pens to draw the word 'love" (an American Crafts cut file from the Silhouette store) on my background paper.  Then I cut the word "love" from two of the Plus One patterned papers and layered them over the sketched words.

Supplies:  Peer (366826) - Plus One, Accomplice (366822) - Plus One, Companion (366824) - Plus One, Twins (366837) - Thickers, Soul Mate (366818) - Plus One, Pair (366821) - Plus One, Bits (366849) - Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, Elements (366852) - Fabric Brads, Accompany (366856) - Stamps, Associate (366860) - Dies, Mixtape (366839) - Washi Tape

American Crafts | Bits Layouts

One of my go to embellishments in all of the American Crafts collections, would definitely be the Bits pack.  They are the perfect embellishment for your pages, but I decided to take them a step further on two of my layouts, by using them as the main design element.

I used the Bits from the Cut & Paste collection on my first layout to create a loose grid design and built the rest of my page around it.

  

Supplies: On the Edge (366043) - Cut & Paste, RiIght Now (366082) - Embroidery Stencil Kit, Bits (366068) - Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, Typed (366065) - Remarks, Bits (366071) - Stitched Vellum Pockets, Acrylic Stamps (366078) - Cut & Paste, Thickers (366060) - Cut Out Accents, Cut Out (366058) - Thickers


On my second layout, I used the Bits from the Polka Dot Party collection in a more layered design and created a mixed banner across my layout.

Supplies: Magical Moments (366169) - Polka Dot Party, Printed Chipboard Shapes (366205) - Bits, Epoxy Stickers (366198) - Polka Dot Party, Clothespins (366208) - Polka Dot Party, Wood Stamps (366212) - Polka Dot Party, Flourishing Flowers (366180) - Polka Dot Party, Accent & Phrase Stickers (366196) - Polka Dot Party, 6x6 Paper Pad (366214) - Polka Dot Party, Cheerful Chalkboard (366174) - Polka Dot Party, Large Tags (366206) - Polka Dot Party, Adhesive Flowers (366203) - Polka Dot Party, Accent & Phrase Stickers (366196) - Polka Dot Party, Adhesive Resin Bows (366075) - Details

The pieces in the Bits pack can definitely make a big impact on your layout, whether you are using a single piece or several different pieces!  And it makes it quick and easy to put a layout together, because they are perfectly coordinated with each collection...and you can also have fun mixing and matching!

Creative Scrappers | The Love of Art

Today we are revealing Sketch 263 on the Creative Scrappers Blog.  Kristine created this fun sketch, and I love the options it gives you for adding lots of different patterns.  I wanted to scrap some photos of the kids at the Birmingham museum and I thought the new Plus One collection from Amy Tangerine would be perfect for a fun artsy look on my layout.

 I "condensed" the sketch design, just a bit and adjusted the photo area to fit two smaller photos, rather than using a 6x12 photo.  I kept the same feel of the sketch, by adding the different paper strips and placing my title in the same spot.  This sketch definitely has a lot of options and can be used in multiple ways!

You'll definitely want to stop by the Creative Scrappers Blog and see the layouts created by the rest of the Design Team. And you can play along with us this month, for the chance to win a $30 prize pack from Chic Tags!!  Just make sure you link up on the CS Blog, and your layout could also be chosen for our weekly feature!

Supplies Used:  Patterned Paper, Fabric Button, Stickers, Stamp, Washi Tape, Patterned Brayer, Stitching Template, Bits & Thickers:  American Crafts; Enamel Dots:  My Mind's Eye; Spray Mist: Studio Calico; Ink:  Stamping Up

Silhouette | Just the Way You Are

Today, I'm stopping in to share a layout that was featured on the Silhouette Blog yesterday.  I wanted to create a soft look on the layout, by coordinating my paper product choice and my Silhouette shapes.  A die cut butterfly background was what I had in mind, so I searched the Silhouette Store for the perfect shape and found just the right one.  I arranged the butterflies in Silhouette Studio and used the same shape, but just changed the size of the butterfly, to give my background some variation.

Once the background finished cutting, I chose two different patterned papers to place behind some of the butterfly shapes.  And I even got my daughter involved, by letting her add the patterned papers behind the shapes.  She loves to do her own scrapbook layouts and help mommy anytime she has a chance.  She had a great time adding the adhesive around the shapes and placing the paper just right over the butterflies.

 

After we had the background finished, I added my photo, embellishments and title.  I also wanted to add some softness around my photo, so I cut a Polaroid frame from the Silhouette Store, using the new Vellum that Silhouette has available.  It cut perfectly and I attached the frame to my photo, using a tiny attacher.

I hope you found some inspiration for creating your own background, and you can also find a lot of pre-made background cuts in the Silhouette Store!  Make sure you stop by and check them out or look for shapes to create your own custom background!

Shapes:

Echo Park Butterfly

Hello, Heart This, Smile & Today Polaroids

Supplies:  Patterned Paper, Thickers, Tag, Fabric Bow, Date Stamp, Stickers, & Enamel Dots:  American Crafts; Color Shine:  Heidi Swapp; Phrase Stickers & Wood Veneer:  Studio Calico; Punch:  Anna Griffin; Vellum, Shapes, & Die Cut Machine:  Silhouette CAMEO

Hip Kit Club | Museum Maze

It's time to share a new layout and card, using the February 2014 Hip Kit & Add-On Kits!  I really loved working with the mix of October Afternoon and Elle's Studio, included in this month's kit.  The products coordinated perfectly!  And I had fun creating my layout, inspired by the February Mood Board Challenge!

The light wood grain flooring in the center photo of the Mood Board, caught my eye, and the Elle's Studio wood grain paper in the February 2014 Hip Kit-Main Kit, was a perfect match. I also drew inspiration from the frame with the Chevron design in the center. I used the October Afternoon Daily Flash chipboard frames from the February 2014 Embellishment Kit, in the design around my photo. I embellished the frames by adding patterned papers, the Elle's Studio stamps, Elle's Studio Tags, and an OA Tin Pin.

You still have a little time to play along and win a Grab Bag from Hip Kit Club!  Just post your layout on our Facebook page by the end of tomorrow, Friday, February 28th.  A winner will be announced on March 1st!

I also created an easy peasy card, using the Pink Cardstock from the February 2014 Cardstock Kit as my Card base. Then I cut a 2 inch strip of the Fancy Pants Timber Grove chevron paper, included in the February 2014 Hip Kit-Main Kit and added it to the top of the Card. I used the Elle's Studio tag as a background for my title, using the fun Silver Glitter Thickers. I also used the February 2014 Stamp Kit. I stamped the heart shape with Versamark ink, onto the Vellum sheet included in the kit. Then, I sprinkled over it with the Zing Embossing Powder and embossed it with my heat gun. I cut out the heart shape and added it to my card, using a staple.

So far, I have shared a total of four projects with you, using the February Kits, and I still have four to go!  The kits are packed with so many products that it makes creating your layouts and cards so easy.  And I even have plenty left over to use on other projects!!  If you are interested in picking up the March Kit and subscribing, make sure you stop by the Hip Kit Club website, for all of the info you need! 

American Crafts | Wheelie Love You

I am so excited to share today's American Crafts February Gallery layout with you!  I knew I just had to use the new Dear Lizzy Day Dreamer collection!  The colors are so pretty and there are so many great embellishments with this collection!

 
During some of the milder weather days this winter, we've been able to take the kids to one of the local schools and let them ride their bikes around the track.  They love it!  I snapped this cute photo of our middle daughter, and I knew the Day Dreamer collection would work perfectly with the Pink and Blue in my photo.  I decided to use pie charts in my design, because they give that look of the bike wheel.  These were easy to do, using the 6x6 Day Dreamer paper pad and my CAMEO.  I also cut the heart background on my CAMEO and then used some of the positive heart shapes to add dimension to my page, by adhering them with pop dots.

This collection can be used in so many different ways and I can't wait to share more projects with you, using the Day Dreamer collection!

I also have a sketch to share with you, based on today's layout!  Enjoy using it for any of your upcoming pages!

 

Supplies:  Cartwheels (366763) - Day Dreamer, 6x6 Paper Pad (366767) - Day Dreamer, Printed Chipboard Shapes (366789) - Day Dreamer, Adhesive Badges (366795) - Day Dreamer, Marbles (366749) - Day Dreamer, Enamel Dots (366785) - Day Dreamer, Dies (366731) - Day Dreamer, Yo-Yo (366772) - Thickers, Paper Planes (366748) - Day Dreamer, Wood Veneers:  Studio Calico; Color Shine:  Heidi Swapp