I am so excited to share this post with you. I was so thrilled when I was contacted by Ashley Horton asking if I would be the Guest Designer for May for The Cut Shoppe. Needless to say, I was jumping up and down with excitement! You know how much I love using cut files and The Cut Shoppe is my favorite resource for fun, cute, fresh designs.
Ashley is just a sweetheart and she is quite the scrapbooker in her own right! I drool over her layouts and love watching her create on her You Tube channel. But.... this is about The Cut Shoppe! If you haven't checked out her designs, you must! You can check out the guest design post on their blog here.
Here are the two files I used on my layout. The first one is a background file called Spin Cycle. I enlarged it for my layout and only used a portion of it.
I also used the Spring Fever set for my title.
Here's my layout.......
You can see here how I enlarge the background cut file so that it would fit photos in the circles. I cut it on white cardstock, then recolored using gelatos. I wanted it to be a bright colorful layout and I think I achieved that!
I added some colorful embellishments....
And here is the title using a cut file from the Spring Fever set.
I just want to thank Ashley for the opportunity to guest design this month. I had a blast! Head over to The Cut Shoppe to see all the new designs she has available!
I do have a process video for this layout if you'd like to see more of how this layout was created.
Happy Monday!!! Today I am participating in a video/blog hop called "But...it's so pretty". The theme of this hop is to pull an item or items that you have been hoarding because they are just too pretty to use and actually use them on a layout.
Oh, I'm amazed at how many things I do have like that! Embarrassed to say but I think we all have a few. The first things I pulled out are some beautiful papers that I have had for years! These papers were all designed by Karen Russell...yes, the Karen Russell who has the awesome photography classes now. Some of you may remember her when she was in the scrapbooking industry. She designed these gorgeous papers with beautiful edges. I had to have them! However, they have been hoarded by me and never used because...well, they were just too pretty! So, I made myself pull them out and use them for a layout.
I also pulled out the Heidi Swapp Project Life kit with all the gorgeous gold, white and turquoise elements! Swoon worthy! So pretty!
I decided to use this cream color patterned paper with the swiss dot edging. It's beautiful paper and I thought it would be perfect to use for these photos. I opted to go with a softer feel than my usual bright colored layouts. I wanted this to be girly and feminine. I love these three photos! They are of my nieces who are all sisters. They live across the country from me and I miss them so! They are beautiful girls and so sweet. I'm so proud of them.
You know me and cut files....I love them! I used a few from The Cut Shoppe. These are from the Funky Florals set in the shop.
Here you can see all the Heidi Swapp embellishments from the Project Life kit. The arrows are from The Cut Shoppe set called Target Practice. I love them! I've used these on so many projects. They are perfect for my Project Life layouts too! For this layout, I misted them with Heidi Swapp's gold lame mist.
And more of the Heidi Swapp embellishments. I love how the layout turned out! I think its the perfect amount of feminine for my lovely nieces!
There are many stops on this video/blog hop that you won't want to miss! Many great designers and some really great prizes too!
Here is my video from the hop. For the complete video/blog hop list and how to win some great prizes, check out the information box on my video.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you've enjoyed seeing some things from my hoarded stash! ;)
I hope you're having a wonderful weekend! I wanted to share another layout today that I created but haven't shared on the blog yet. It's one of my favorites! Maybe its the subject...who knows?
Maybe its because its a lot of mixed media? Maybe the cute cut file? Whatever the reason, I still love it!
I used some watercolors on the background. I then layered some texture paste that I colored with gelatos. Another layer of white texture paste and some stamps created more layers of texture. I love texture!
I just had to use this photo of my grandson, Audio. I was taking his pictures and I started playing with him just to get him to be natural in the pictures. Well he started laughing so hard, he was bending over putting his hands on his face....just like he's seen grown ups do apparently! Too cute!
Here you can see some close up shots of the layers and textures. The "Love" cut file is from The Cut Shop. I cut it in white cardstock but misted it black. I love the way it pops off the page.
I hope you've enjoyed a peek at this layout. If you'd like to watch, I have a process video posted of the complete process.
Be sure and stop back tomorrow! I have a surprise and another fun layout!
Its a day I always look forward to every year because there is so many fun things to participate in. I try to set aside the day just for that (although that doesn't always work out).
This year, I'm so pleased to participate in a You Tube blog hop. There are many different people involved in this hop so there is sure to be a lot of inspiration.
The theme is "My Favorite Things". On the layout shown below, I share some of my favorite things I use consistently.
In the video I share five of my most favorite things that I am always using and gravitate to on most layouts. Here they are:
It's no secret that I use kits from kit clubs on most all of my projects. I have subscribed to different kit clubs for a few years now. I usually only sub to one at a time because that's just about all the product I can get through and don't like to have a lot of excess just sitting around not getting used. (Learned that the hard way!). I am currently subbing to The Hip Kit Club. I love kits! I love that they are all coordinated so well. Everything is planned to work together so I don't even have to think about it when I get started. I pull out my kit and I'm ready to go! I can just add a few other things from my stash if I like, even though I get more than enough product in my kits to do what I need to do.
Being a busy wife, mom, grandmother with a full time job as well, I don't have a lot of time to think about shopping for supplies or putting things together when I get a little time to create. That's what I love about kits. The thinking is done for me!
This should be no secret as well! I love mixed media! I love to get messy when I create layouts. I've stated this before but when I create layouts, they are primarily for the creative process mostly. I do Project Life which allows me to capture much of the day to day stories. So I love that when I am creating my layouts I don't have to be to concerned with getting much of the story (although I do on some, as I did with the layout above). I love that I can just get creative with my mixed media supplies. You'll find me with gesso, texture paste, watercolors, distress inks, gelatos and...well, you get the idea! I love it!
One of my most recent addictions, in recent months anyway, is cut files. I am using them on almost all of my layouts lately. I don't know what I'd do without my Silhouette! Cut files are just so versatile. You can do so much with them. You can resize them to make them larger or smaller, you can recolor them, use them as embellishments or whatever you desire! You can also use them as stencils. They add so much to a layout. I'm hooked on cut files!
This little beauty came into my life a few months ago after a viewer suggested it. I guess I had been complaining on one of my videos about the new tip on the Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive bottle. They had changed to tip and it was just awful! I felt so strongly about it that I even emailed the company and voiced my opinion. Apparently it wasn't enough because they have had no complaints and had no plans to change the tip. Boohoo for my voice! LOL Well a viewer left a comment for me suggesting this refillable bottle so I ordered them. Well my life changed! (Ok maybe not life changing but pretty close). The best applicator bottle ever! It has a super fine tip so it's great for fine applications like on wood veneers or thin line items. It has a long needle nosed tip and in the cap there is a long needle that fits inside the tip so it never clogs! Hello???? Is that not awesome? I hope you're as excited as I am because that was just what I needed! Now I can have my Quick Dry Adhesive and a decent bottle to use it from. Since I'm sure you'll be equally excited, I'm sharing the link to Amazon which is where I purchased mine from. I've heard recently that you can also find them at Hobby Lobby now. Here's the link: Fineline Applicator Bottle
This one isn't exactly earth shattering or life changing and is nothing new but I do love date stamps! There is something about having the date of the photo on my layouts that I just have to have. There is nothing worse than looking at a layout in a few years and not remembering when it was taken. To avoid this, I always have the date stamp somewhere on my layout.
Here's a couple of close ups of my layout. I used all my favorite things on this layout.
I cut the title with my Silhouette just using a font on my system. Again, love my Silhouette!
I hope you've enjoyed hearing about just a few of my favorite things! I have a video posted of my process if you're interested. In the video description on You Tube, you'll find links to all the others who are participating on the video hop. There are some amazing designers on there so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!
Hey hey, it's Friday! Are you ready for the weekend? I know I am! But first, I have a layout to share today! I'm using bits leftover from my January Hip Kit.
I began with white cardstock and created a mixed media background using watercolors, texture paste and stencils and mists.
Look at that texture! I love texture!
I layered several pieces of the patterned paper that came in the kit along with a transparency under the photo. Then added embellishments as you see here.
I also used a small white paper bag behind my photo layers for more interest and texture. You can see here the layers of watercolor on the background in concentrated areas. I love the mist droplets seen here too!
If you'd like to see the whole process, here's a video:
Hey guys! I wanted to share a layout with you that I made some time ago but haven't posted it on my blog yet. It's one of my favs so I had to share!
This was created for a Saturday Stash Dive so all the elements are things I've had in my stash. It felt so good to pull things out and just get them on a layout!
Of course, a layout wouldn't be complete from me without a little mixed media! I applied some texture paste over a star stencil for the added heart confetti. I love the effect it gave on the red background.
I also used a couple of cut files from The Cut Shoppe. I absolutely love Ashley's cut files! You must hop over and check out her Etsy shop for some amazing styles. The "Smile" polaroid is from her shop. Also, the heart background is from her shop as well. Honestly, it was a scrap piece I had left over from another layout and I just couldn't let it go to waste. It was perfect for a layering piece.
Mmmm...just love all those layers of goodies!
I love the look that texture paste adds to the layout.
I do have a process video up for this layout if you'd like to watch the process. This is a video response to the design team call for SNL Saturday Stash Dive. Here it is!
I have a layout to share today for the SNL Design Team. Saturday was my day for stash diving and the topic was about stencils! It was a perfect choice for me because I love my stencils.
If you're not familiar with the SNL Saturday Stash Dive, it's just that! Every Saturday, two of the design team members post videos for whatever that particular topic is for that Saturday. I am loving it because it is getting me into my stash and using up all those things that are just sitting unused!
Although, I have to say my stencils are not one of those things! I use them all the time but the the thing is to inspire others to get theirs out and use them. There are so many ways to use stencils!
1. Mist them
2. Ink them
3. Use texture paste over them
4. Trace around them
5. Paint over them
6. Use them to cut shapes out of paper
They are a really versatile tool and can be a lot of fun to use!
I created my layout using several stencils.
Here you can see the layers just from using the various techniques on my stencils. The background sunburst was misted. I layered another stencil over the top and inked the stars. Then another stencil over the top with texture paste.
Here you can see more of those layers.
Stencils are so easy to find. They are readily available in most scrapbook stores, online and even art supply stores. You can also make your own by cutting cardstock or using stencil materials.
If you'd like to see more of my process, I have a video for you!
I hope this encourages you to pull out those stencils, dust them off and put them to use! They really are fun and can make some great texture on your projects!
Happy Friday! Don't you just love Fridays? Its the weekend and everyone is ready to play!
I'm back today with a project I shared for the SNL Design Team 12 Days of Spring. This was 12 days of spring projects and crafts. It wasn't all scrapbooking and layouts. We could choose whatever kind of spring project we'd like. If you haven't seen the projects, check out You Tube by searching "SNL 12 Days of Spring". You can also checkout the SNL Fanpage on Facebook here.
For my project on Day 11, I thought it would be fun to create something for spring that would make a great gift. My project is creating flower pens! These are perfect gifts for Mothers Day (Grandma's just love them!), great for teachers, hairdressers and just any place where pens are used a lot. It's much prettier to have this by the phone that a plastic cup of plain pens, don't you think?
The supplies are minimal and very inexpensive. Some may be things you already have on hand.
Here are the supplies needed: one pack of inexpensive plastic barrel pens, flowers, rice or beans, a small flower pot, green washi tape or floral tape, snippers and hot glue. For this project, I already had on hand the green tape, snippers and hot glue. I purchased the flowers, pot, pens and rice at my local Dollar Store and spent $5 for the supplies (and that's because I bought two bunches of flowers for variety).
STEP 1:
Begin by snipping off the top of the flower or by just pulling the top off. Keep the main stem just under the flower in tact as this is what you will be placing in the barrel of the ink pen.
STEP 2:
Using the snippers, carefully remove the stopper at the top of the barrel. It pulls out fairly easy. Just pull the tip out, not the ink barrel.
STEP 3:
Place the stem inside the plastic barrel of the ink pen. I then ran a bit of hot glue around the rim to secure the flower and keep it in place.
STEP 4:
Set your pretty pen aside and continue the rest of the pens, doing as many as you like.
STEP 5:
Fill your flower pot with the rice (or beans). This will keep the pens upright and in place in the pot.
Next, begin wrapping the barrel of the pen starting from the top and going down. Continue until all the pens are completed.
STEP 6:
Arrange your pens and enjoy!
This is a great project to do with kids too. Its quick and easy! I completed this project in about 20 minutes!
I do have a video showing how to create this project as well! I hope you enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back tomorrow for my Saturday Stash Dive layout!
