Peace Love Camp

Sketch #10 from the My Scraps & More Sketch blog really lets a fun paper shine.

These cute papers from Bella Blvd's Finally Fall collection were perfect for photos from Girl Scout Camp. I added cute corrugate shapes from Little Yellow Bicycle, and chipboard words from Maya Road.

Cherish

Hexagons have been quite a trend in the past few years and they are a fun way to add dimension without bulk to a page. By breaking up the background, they draw your eyes across the page and add focus to your photos.
Teresa Collins Now & The line featured a sticker sheet with hexagons that coordinate with the papers in the line.

I used them to create a layout inspired by this sketch from the My Scraps & More Sketch blog.

I did a layout of Hannah at the Puyallup Fair when we took a break in the Great Northwest exhibit where there were fabulous chairs made out of twigs.

Snow Day

Another layout using the gorgeous Peaceful collection from Authentique this time featuring a sketch from My Scraps & More.

The blocking was a nice way to feature the snowy patterns and the strip was perfect for some felt ribbon I picked up for $.50 a roll at Michael's during their Christmas clearance! I also used a chipboard snowflake from Cosmo Cricket which I painted with some Making Memories paint in Paper Bag and used the rest of the paint to stamp shapes using a spool. I also used paper snowflakes from Making Memories that I picked up for $1.99 at Tuesday Morning that came in a cute little jar I'll be able to reuse.

Snow Happy

I love the subdued hues from this color palette used in Color Me Scrappy's Challenge #26.

It reminded me the cool winter colors in Authentique's Peaceful collection.

I also included the challenge from Child's Play Challenge using the storybook The Snowy Day, lifting the snow day theme.

I used the fun snow papers for our pictures from last winter's snowfall and added flourishes of pearls.

Try out this color challenge over at Color Me Scrappy for a chance to win!

Scrapbook Steals Monday Craft Madness

I was super excited to be invited to do a Monday Craft Madness project over at Scrapbook Steals! Kerys sent me some wonderful product to play with from Clearsnaps including their Designer Foils and Design Adhesives.

The Adhesives are basically double sided sticky designs that you adhere to your layout or project by just rubbing on with your finger. The foils are similar to foil leaf in that you apply them over the adhesive and rub over, leaving behind a sparkly shiny finish.
I used the Spots and Dots adhesives for my first layout with bold fun circles.

Adding the pink and green foils, I created some shiny background accents on my layout.

I also tried out using Perfect Pearls powders on the adhesives to make some groovy flowers on this fun summery layout.

You could also use glitter or flocking on these.
I also played with the foils using adhesive cardstock. I punched snowflakes from the paper using my Martha Stewart punch...

I then peeled off the backing protecting the adhesive side...

...and stuck the adhesive side to the foil...

I then flipped the foil over and rubbed it onto the cardstock punch.

The result was a foil covered punch with a little bit of the canvas texture of the cardstock for a distressed look.

I made several of them and flourished them across my layout.

I hope you get a chance to check out the Clearsnaps products and join in the Monday Craft Madness challenge over at Scrapbook Steals!

Baby It's Cold Outside

For this month's Scrappy Friends and PageMapschallenge, I combined the four friends challenges to create this layout of Jack at the beginning of a snow day.

GrandDiva's blog challenge was to use a sketch from December or January. I chose this sketch from PageMaps January reveal and sketch challenge.

For Kerys's Scrappin'n'Happy blog challenge, using a winter theme, I used We R Memory Keepers Winter Frost collection with its soft wintery blues.

For Kristi B.'s stash challenge, I used washi tape in green dots, chevrons in some more washi tape, and glitter by using Stickles on the snowflake tag, and glittery adhesive embellishments from Queen & Co.
And for Rochelle Spears challenge, I used the song title, "Baby It's Cold Outside."

Link to the Past

This month's challenge at Creative Scrappers included Sketch #243 with banners across the bottom of the layout and room for a larger photo.

I combined it with Color Me Scrappy's color challenge combining the following color combo along with using the word "link" in the layout.

The big challenge for me was using the word "link", then I remembered these photos I took at the Puyallup Fair where they had a window feature celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouts. Hannah was wearing one of her Girl Scout tees and we had a great time looking at how things had changed and how they had stayed the same.

I hope you get a chance to check out these fun challenge sites to play along!

Now & Then

The Paper Girls Challenge for this month challenged us to use ledger paper.

I chose this pretty line by Teresa Collins called Now & Then that included ledger paper that coordinated with the patterned florals and dots within the line.
For Paper Secrets challenge, I used their sketch along with twine for their second January challenge.

ScrapFit Workout #83

This month's workout over at ScrapFit was to create a layout or project with stars on it. While my layout is a Christmas picture I didn't use what would be considered a traditional Christmas collection. I felt like the stars added a little of the festive touch, but the simplicity of the layout lets the picture shine.

The papers I used are from Pebbles Walnut Grove collection.

Sketch N Scrap #24

The first sketch of the year from Sketch N Scrap featured a three photo layout which was perfect for using some retro instant photo cut outs from my Silhouette.

While playing with the Silhouette, I also cut out chevron shapes which I used as a stencil, which I inked over to create the chevron pattern on my kraft background.

As part of the Graphic Design Challenge at A Cherry On Top, I cropped the title which describes the photos which were taken at a painted maze at the Seattle Center.

The Magic of Christmas

I am still working on Christmas photos, which I figure is okay since it had to happen before I would have pictures! For this layout I used a sketch from Paper Secrets to inspire my layout...

I loved the bracket shapes and used my Cameo to cut some fun Poinsettias for the flower elements.

The papers are from Authentique's Wonder collection from their 2011 releases.

The Sampler Kit club December Challenge

I loved how this month's sketch at The Sampler Kit Club was simple and symmetrical, allowing the photo to really shine!

I used scraps of paper from Echo Park and popped them on each of the corners. I punched a snowflake from a cup cozy for the corrugated look, and added little stick pins for a bit of dimension.

Echo Park Winter Wishes

While working on winter pictures from this year, I figured I would catch up on last year's too! With all the fun winter collections out there I had plenty of paper to choose from!
For this layout I used the Winter Wishes line from Echo Park with fun blues and purples!

For the Go Fish Challenge I did this winter layout from our hunt for our Christmas Tree:

I added sparkly glitter brads and rhinestone swirls for Scrap It Girls challenge to use bling, glitter, and shine  on a layout.

Authentique January Sketch Challenge

This month's sketch challenge at Authentique featured strips behind photos, a great way to use a variety of patterns or scraps of a collection.

While the sketch is a fun pre-February look, I used it for a fun Christmas page using the Wonder line.

I used
Surprise 12X12 paper
Curiousity 12X12 paper
Icons die cuts

I used a pendant punch to create the banner, with heart shaped brads between each of the banner pieces.

Good Clean Fun with Pebbles

Color me Scrappy's Challenge #23 featured bright primary colors with the twist being to use a black background.

Pebbles Fresh Goods line features these bold primary colors.

I love the clean crispness of Pebbles papers and the Fresh Goods line seemed just perfect for these fun bubble bath pictures of Jack.

As part of Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge, I used the recipe ingredients, misting, punches, stickers, and brads.

Scrapbook Steals January Blog Hop

 I hope you're enjoying the January Scrapbook Steals Blog Hop featuring Kiwi Lane Designs! I love Scrapbook Steals for their blog full of scrapbooking ideas and the deals on scrapbooking supplies!

 I had checked out Kiwi Lane's booth at the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Seattle and was blown away by the number of creative layouts and uses for their versatile templates! If you have not checked these out before, I recommend watching tutorials on their websites and picking up some of the border strips like I used. I was given the Clara Lane set to work with which is one of the Kiwi Lane Design Borders sets.

For my first layout, I used the templates in a traditional manner, using Kiwi Lane's framing technique. I loved their ideas for using these to maximize your paper and create two page layouts. While typically I am a one page layout scrapbooker, these templates made it easy for me to create a two page layout with balance and unity.

 
I created waves on one side with patterned pieces of cardstock, and flipped the shapes on the other side so that they balance each other without being completely symmetrical.

I found that inking the edges gave dimension and allowed the layers of paper to really pop. Some simple buttons and stickers were all I needed to add finishing touches to my page.

 

The wavy templates reminded me of snow and so my next project featured some fun snow pictures with the templates creating banks of snow on my layout.

Layering various patterns of cardstock I created hills of snow and one piece I cut out and then ran through my embosser to give it dotted texture for dimension.

I punched mittens which I strung across my layout with twine and clipped them on with mini clothespins. To emphasize the curve, I journaled along the curve of the snowy hill.

I also punched snowflakes which I also embossed with dots to add some interest.
The templates come with an eyelet enforced hold punched in the corner so the sets are easily held together by a ring. It was nice to keep them together and pull them out as needed to use them.

 The shapes were so versatile even beyond the simple forms they come in.
I took one shape that had a pointed wave and traced one side...

 Then flipped it to trace the same shape on the other side, to create a bracket edge.

 Again, I found that inking the edges added nice dimension and definition to the shapes.

 I was able to use even scrap strips that I might have otherwise thrown away or not thought of to use. By tracing the curve down the middle, I was left with two interesting strips that added life to my page.

I also found the templates useful for tracing stitching. On this page, the stitching makes a trail of the snowflakes falling on the page.

And finally, another fun technique...

I used the border template to cut two complimentary shapes, punched holes and reinforced with eyelets, and laced the pieces across a coordinating piece of cardstock.

These templates are so much fun, I hope this gives you some ideas of what to do with the Kiwi Lane Templates!

I would love if you became a follower of my blog and left a comment along with the other blogs to be entered to win a $20 gift card to Scrapbook Steals!
Don't forget to check out Kiwi Lane Designs after you've hopped where they will be giving away a prize as well!
Here is the list of the talented ladies blogs to visit on the Scrapbook Steals hop...
Lanette Erickson
Jennifer Blomquist
Rochelle Spears
Laurie LaRiviere
Marisa Torp
Andrea Eason --- You Are Here!
Amber Sheaves
...and don't forget to leave a comment at Scrapbook Steals!
Happy Hopping!