On Trend topic: Gold!

Over at Practical Scrappers today we were challenged to use gold in a project.  This seems easy enough, but I am not a big fan of gold so I thought I would challenge myself.  I am glad I did because I love this layout! I hope you do too!

I took a wooden frame ornament, cut off the string and painted it metallic gold.  

I used a gold gel pen to add some doodling detail and a bit of journaling.  

p.s.Challenge yourself to use a color outside your comfort zone, you might be surprised by the results!

Scrap Your Stash Blog Hop!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

We are having a Blog Hop over at Practical Scrappers using up our stash to make Valentine's Day and Love projects! You should have arrived here from Kim Ryden, if not run back here and start from the beginning! 

I have 2 projects that I am very excited to share with you! 

The first project I created using specialty papers and embellishments that I have had in my stash and I just could not bring them together in a way I liked until now.  The hearts on the background paper are flocked and I thought a little would go a long way but I finally decided to use the whole sheet and go big or go home as the saying goes. 

"Together is Best"

Used a glitter sticker and added some scrap paper flags.

I stamped the circle then placed a heart on top.  I cut the heart from the paper behind the picture...an easy way to incorporate part of the paper without buying 2 sheets!  

Added some fun fabric embellishments along side the picture.  I just love how the blue sets off the red!  

My second project is a home decor piece that was inspired by this project on Pinterest.

I saw this and thought what a great way to use up some of the scrap pieces I have in my stash! 

I used my silhouette and my daughter's arm!  

I love how it turned out!  

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to have you as a follower!  

Be sure to follow this link to the next designer, Charity Hotrum, on this amazing Hop! 

p.s.I hope these projects inspire you to take a look at your stash and use it!

Scraps of Ribbon!

Scraps of Ribbon: 

We all have them, some may have more than others...I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to certain craft supplies and ribbon is one of those items.  If the scrap is more than an inch long, I keep it for a future project and boy am I glad I do!  This project used up some of my bin o' scrap ribbon and I LOVE how it turned out!! 

  

Okay, this was not the easiest technique I have ever tried but I think I will try it again and see is I can't make it a bit easier!  Next time I will share some step by step shots too.  This time I was learning how to do it myself!  

I attached the vertical ribbons only at the top but ran adhesive along their whole lengths. I then did each horizontal  piece individually and worked them carefully along and through each vertical piece, again running adhesive along the entire piece before working with it. Over, Under, Over, Under... 

Once the background was complete I created the rest of my layout.

I made strips for my journaling because I think this is always a cute and fun way to incorporate journaling into a layout. 

I added some flowers and embellies and voila!

My finished product!  

p.s.Give this technique a shot and let me know how it turns out! 

Use those Paper Edges!

 One of the newer things the manufacturers are doing is making the edge of the paper where they place the barcode pretty! I LOVE this trend! I have started to collect these little strips of prettiness and this layout uses them to make the banners in the right hand side of the layout. 

 I adore the colors of the papers in this layout and they do such a wonderful job of showcasing this beautiful photo! 

To create the wavyh look of the banners, I used Zots and adhesive foam dots and alternated them across the paper strips. I curled the edge of them up to look like they are waving,  

My title for this layout was created with a variety of stickers and rub-ons and it hides my journaling!

I drew lines on a piece of solid green cardstock and wrote out my journling.  I used a brad to affix the title in place and the viewer can simple slide the title out of the way to read the journaling.

p.s. share your creative way to hide journaling or use those paper strips!!  

Double Layout Comeback!

 WooHoo! Double Layouts are making a comeback and I could not be happier about it! I mean what could be better than twice the beautiful creativity, Right!?!  

It is very true that the recent trends in scrapbooking have taken us away from creating double layouts.  It seems that we are headed back the way we came with this one though!  

It really creates an impression when you are looking through a scrapbook and it has double layouts throughout.  It gives it a continuity and consistency that it might otherwise lack.  

This layout has lots of fun little details:

A little paint, a little pen, and a little ink brings it all together nicely!

Next time you are sitting down to scrap, consider placing two pages next to each other and see what you come up with. you might be pleasantly surprised! 

p.s. Stop by Practical Scrappers to see what other amazing double layouts my design Teammates are sharing! 

Come on Over and Ditch Your Kicks TOO!

I created this layout and the color palette based on the colors of my girlie's Chuck sneakers!  Their Nanny bought each of them a pair and they each picked a different color, but the colors work very well together!  

You can find inspiration anywhere!

I had fun with the doodling and washi tape on this layout too!  I used clear blue letters and added washi to the back to add pattern.  My journaling is doodled around the edge of the one photo!  Lots of fun texture going on! 

p.s. Where is the most unusual place you have found color palette inspiration? 

Another day...

No such luck with the new design team but that's okay! I have had a ton of fun this weekend creating some beautiful layouts and other crafty projects!  I will share them all eventually... Today I want to talk about crops and the layouts I created at one I went to recently.  I had never been to a crop before...I still think that in and of itself is pretty CRAZY!  Anyway, went to one with a close friend who was visiting last week.  I was excited to meet some new scrappers in my new hometown area and the get some serious scrapping done...Well let's start by saying it was not exactly as I expected.  The women we sat with at our table for 4 were very nice..well, one of them was!  And let's just say I do not have the same style as either of them!  I started my first layout:

As I was creating I saw the woman next to me...The nice one, eyeing it.  She did not say anything until I began working on the layers for my next layout, the opposite page to my first:

She looks at my beginnings of the second page and says to her friend, "She's one of those scrappers" I look at her a little funny and she says, "The ones who only put one photo on a  page." Well, her friend basically goes off..."Oh my gosh, I could never do that.  I have only ever used one picture on a page once in all the years I have been scrapping. I usually get 30-40 pages done at a crop.  Tonight will be no different....."   The nice friend says "I love it, I think it is really impactful.  I do not think I would ever do it, but I do love how much of an impression it leaves."  I love my single photo layouts and it is only in the last year or so that my scrapping has evolved to that.  But, I started thinking,  if I am ever to catch up, maybe I should try to put more photos on my pages.  Maybe see what I can come up with:

 This one came out pretty cute, and another:

I like this one too.  And finally:

I think these pages came out pretty good.  Certainly not stellar or submission worthy, but I am happy with them.  The photos are on the page and the memories are documented.  I did what I could with my limited supplies at the crop and had every intention of coming home to finish them off, add finishing touches, jazz them up quite a bit more but decided against it.  I decided to leave them as they left the crop as part of the memories behind them!  

The ladies got me thinking that I need to get more photos on the page but without sacrificing my style. My friendly co-scrapper did a one photo page that night too!  So I guess we rubbed off on each other! It was fun and I look forward to going again soon.  It would be nice to scrap with someone who shares my style though:)  

Happy Scrapping!  

p.s. Share your crop stories with me! I know you have some of your own!  

Design Team Hopes!

I absolutely love the design team I am on over at Practical Scrappers. It is such a nice group of super talented ladies who I feel privileged to be considered on the same creative level with.  I love it so much that I have decided to look into other design teams who are looking to add some members. I came across a brand new blog called 2brokegirlsscrap who is looking for a design team.  I figured why not give it a shot!  They provided a sketch.:

I provided a layout:

I find that the design team I am currently on, the challenges I participate in, and the design team & publication calls I attempt really encourage me to get my photos scrapped.  And in my opinion that is what it is all about! Getting motivated to get those memories on the page for generations to share! 

The design team call ends March 9th, so why not give it a shot yourself!  

Even if I do not get on the design team, I got another page done, and another memory preserved!!!  

Christmas Decorations as Embellishments

Over at Practical Scrappers today we were challenged to use Holiday decorations on our scrapbook layouts!  Here is what I came up with but be sure to stop by and see the other creative ladies' creations!

I used ornament hooks to create the heart. (I used Gloo to attach them)

I used a snowflake ornament to frame part of the photograph

And I used these candy cane covers as embellishments

It is always a lot of fun being challenged to use items I would not typically use on my pages!

Sticky Gem Journaling Spots

Sticky Gem Journaling Spots:

We are talking about bling over at Practical Scrappers today and how we can creatively add it to our layouts!

 I thought it would be fun to use the circle gemstones as journaling spots to mimic the design of the background paper.

Again, I let the vibrant colors of my picture dictate the color palette for this layout.  

Come on over the Practical Scrappers and see what the other designers came up with!

In Mimi's Arms Layout

In Mimi's Arms Layout

This layout is based on the sketch from The Studio Challenges:

This is the first Sketch challenge I am participating in.  I have never really used sketches for my layouts and was interested to give it a try.  It was easier than I thought it would be and I LOVE the final result!

Here are some detail shots!

I love how the colors worked together in this layout.  I try to use the photo as a guide for choosing colors and the orange and green in the photo really jumped out at me.  There contrasting quality really made this page stand out!  I made the corners like the sketch by punching them off with a circle punch.  Neat effect!

Check out The Studio Challenges for more great Challenges