The Good Stuff

I used Simple Stories for most of these papers and the bingo cards on this layout.  The adorable, big-eyed owls are from Echo Park.  I debated whether or not to scrap these photos, but then I thought that it's these little moments that are unplanned and "un-big" that often bring us the most joy and bond us together as a family.  So here's to celebrating (and documenting) "the good stuff!"

This layout is based on the sketch by Stuck?! Sketches.  They are celebrating some good stuff, too.

You can play along with this sketch (and have a chance at 6 different prizes) until September 29th.

Happy Scrappin'!

Wrapping Up December Daily

I wasn't sure if it would happen, but...
I'm pleased to announce that I completed my 2013 December Daily!  Whoo Hoo! Yay, Me!  That makes 4 years in a row. Phew.  I actually finished it before the New Year, but it took me until now to put a post together.  December Dailies do require extra effort during an already busy season, but I just love the idea of having this special record of December year after year.  I take a loose approach to my December album - not all my photos are taken on the exact day for each page.  I normally end up printing off a week's worth of photos.  If there is a specific event for a day, I'll typically do those days first and then fill in with the miscellaneous photos (decorations, weather, my work table, etc.).

Here's a look at all 4 of my December Dailies next to each other before they got packed away with the rest of Christmas.  Yes, I do pack them away because I love to look at them with new eyes every year when we get out all the Christmas boxes.  It's a fun new tradition to look through them when we take a break in decking out the tree and sipping on hot cocoa.

This year's album was the easiest ever with the Simple Stories Snap album.  I love how it turned out.  Here are a few of my favorite pages.

See you again next year, December Daily!

Design Team Wednesday - Echo Park Head Over Heels

I know it's still January, but I'm ready to move out of winter and on to something warmer!  "Head Over Heels" by Echo Park hits the spot for me.  This traditional color palette with a spattering of turquoise will heat up any of your "love-ly" layouts and projects.  I have two layouts to share with you today.

This first layout highlights a sweet photo of my favorite girl.  The blue papers complement her blue eyes perfectly and I love the way the arrows point towards her and the direction she's looking.  The small strips, "I just love you." were cut from a 12x12 sheet and I used pop dots to give dimension to the page.  The cluster of sentiments are from both the coordinating stickers to this collection and the sheet of 3x4 journaling/accent cards.  I also made a few heart strings to hang for decoration - just machine sewed some of those little strips and a 3-layered heart made from patterned papers. They were quick and will add a cute accent for Valentine's day decor.

My second layout also utilizes a great print - mini bicycles built for 2! So cute! I emphasized the number "2" for this layout in the papers, stickers, and mix of 3x4 cards.  I used a couple more of the little "I just love you." strips and a few stitch stickers from SRM.  Overall, I love this layout even though the photo of my husband and me is fuzzy and a bit out of focus - it's definitely a tribute to the two of us.

You can see Echo Park's entire collection, "Head Over Heels" on their site, but you really should go see it in person along with the other great Valentine's Day papers available in Scrapdoodles now.  Thanks for checking in!

Easy Christmas Countdown

Are you ready for December?  It's right around the corner so I'm sharing a couple of quick and fun projects to help you count down the days until Christmas.  Scrapdoodles has a great selection of Christmas papers and I wanted to highlight one of my favorites - Echo Park's Reflections Christmas. There are so many beautiful and versatile pieces in this collection - I love the vintage images, traditional colors, and variety of patterns.  Some of the sheets include border strips and project life style cards. Check out the collection here online and then stop by Scrapdoodles to see them in person and pick out all of your favorites.  One of my favorite sheets is the North Pole map paper.  I used it as the background for a "Tracking Santa" layout.  Did you know that NORAD begins counting down and tracking Santa on December 1st?  Check out their website HERE and add it to your family countdown activities.  All you'll need to do is snap your photo of the kids at the computer and add it to your layout with your journaling.





The second project I am sharing is a simple countdown made from a 5x7 inch frame.  To make this project, layer 3 rectangles of Echo Park Reflections Christmas papers: red base layer cut to 5x7,  then green layer cut to 4x6, and on top of that a patterned piece cut to 3 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches.  Toward the bottom of this piece layer several stickers, including letter stickers "days 'til".  Put this inside the frame.  Outside the frame I added the large Christmas tag sticker with twine.  To hold the countdown cards, attach a clothespin (dyed red and glittered) to the outside of the frame at the top.  I used foam dots to support it over the glass and hot glue to secure it to the frame. Once the frame is done, you can set it aside and work on your countdown cards.

One of the collection sheets includes a set of numbers 1-24.  I cut them apart and used these numbers on each of my cards.  I cut apart the Echo Park 3x4 cards from the large sheets and added more 3x4 cards cut from various papers to total 24.  Then I used additional stickers and papers from the collection as well as additional items from my Christmas stash to embellish each card.  Each card is different and fun!  Now I can display the frame and put up a new card each day as we countdown to Christmas!

Invites with SRM Stickers and Echo Park

Need some cute and quick invitation ideas?  SRM Stickers has lots of fun solutions.  I picked up two sets of "We've Got Your Invite" and "We've Got Your Border" stickers from Scrapdoodles to play with and show you how easy it is to put together invitations.  Handmade invites are awesome, but making 30 or 50 or 100 is a lot of work, so it's best to keep your overall design simple.  For these baby shower invites I used the girl invite and border stickers from SRM. Begin with a couple of layers for your card base - this dresses up your invite, but it's easy to cut and layer.  (My formula = A2 base + grey/brown/black + color + white.)
For each card, I used a circle punch and a circle SRM sticker (use a pop dot to add dimension) and then added a cluster of SRM border strip pieces and a cute twine (the Twinery) bow and baby pin (from my stash).  SRM sticker sheets also include a block for filling in all your invitation information, so even the insides get handmade goodness.  I like that I can vary the main accent color (pink, yellow, green), so even though all my invites are not exactly the same, the overall design is, so it makes it easy to pull coordinating cardstock and use my supplies wisely.  For party favors, consider using a clear tube (several sizes to choose from) and applying a few cute coordinating stickers before filling it with candies.  For my tube, I also added a mini twine pom pom and a twine string with thank you banner on the lid.  I think it's super cute! And it was super easy!

The invitation stickers can also be used on a coordinating layout to commemorate the shower once it's over. If you're making the invites, you could complete the layout ahead of time and give it to the guest of honor to add photos to.  This layout uses some of the cute new paper from Echo Park's "Bundle of Joy" line.  That's also at Scrapdoodles and both the boy and girl lines are super-adorable!  I love the journaling cards that coordinate.  In this layout, I used one of the cards as the title block and the other I slipped into a glassine bag (these are so fun!), tied with more Twinery twine.

Don't have a baby shower coming up?  Here's the same idea, but with a Birthday theme!  I began with the SRM Invite and Border stickers.  This first card uses the same basic formula as the baby shower invites.  I also added a couple of pennants (the sticks are toothpicks wrapped in Washi tape!).  The large tube is topped with a big pom pom and I've added some SRM stickers and twine to it, too.

This last invite uses the glassine bag as an envelope and the SRM stickers.  Again, I love how these invite and border stickers can be used to create different looks that make invites quick and easy!  Just find some coordinating papers (mine are from Echo Park's "Happy Days" line) and you are set for an awesome, handmade party.

Stashing Through the Snow...Ornament and Card

 

My niece loves mustaches and I had the joy of drawing her name for our family Christmas gift exchange.  I've been seeing these fun ornament ideas on Pinterest, so I knew I wanted to make her a cute mustache one.  It was super easy!  I started with a plain white porcelain ball (on sale, no less!).  I penciled out my mustache and then went over it with a black sharpie.  I added the phrase "stashing through the snow".  I messed up the first time and used a q-tip dipped in alcohol to wipe it off and start over again.  I also stuck it in my oven for about 20 minutes or so at 350 to make it more permanent.  As an afterthought (and after it was out of the oven and cooled), I added some fine glitter to the bottom of the mustache. 

I made a quick card with the same theme.  I cut the mustache (Cricut - Billionaire) and added a few sticker embellishments from Echo Park, a brad from Teresa Collins, and a twine ribbon.  And that

was it.  I hope your Christmas is merry and lots of fun!

Halloween Wreath and Layout

Just got back with wonderful goodies from Scrapdoodles!  They have an awesome selection of fall and Halloween papers and embellishments right up towards the front of the store and, if you're anything like me, you will be standing there a long time trying to decide what to go home with.  :)  Oh this paper addiction!

Anyways, I knew I wanted to create a rolled paper wreath ever since I saw this video tutorial from Graphic 45, and thought a fall or Halloween theme would be great.  With that project in mind, I chose (finally) some double sided papers from We R Memory Keepers' "Black Widow" line.  You can see the whole line here, and of course at Scrapdoodles.  I picked out the "Happy Halloween" embellishment for the middle of the wreath (I added some more paper ovals to give it more "weight") and when I saw the metal charms, I knew I HAD to use them somehow, too.  I added an eyelet to the ends of some of the paper cones for strength and hung the charms with some Tim Holtz jump rings I had in my stash.  Generally, I followed the tutorial from Graphic 45 with just a few changes.  Instead of a chipboard backing, I used a scrap piece of foam board,

since I had that on hand.  I also used a bit of foam board in the middle behind my center ovals and embellishment.  In the tutorial, the paper cones are attached with staples.  I had some difficulty with that, so I ended up using hot glue more than the staples.  I love how this wreath turned out.  An added bonus is how the little charms jingle on the door - love it!

Of course I can't let a Design Team week go by without a layout.  For this week's layout, I chose a few papers from Echo Park's Halloween line, "Chillingsworth Manor."  You can see the whole line here.   Lots of cute and spooky details in this collection!  I took home a sheet with spiders and polka dots and knew I had some cute photos of Hannah with spider cookies that I could use.  My layout includes a combination of lines - Echo Park, some of my leftover scraps from the We R Memory Keepers collections, and some sticker elements from Authentique's Halloween line, "Enchanted."   Man - there is a lot of good stuff out there for all your Halloween, pumpkin, and spider photos and projects!

For this layout, I punched several circles and simply straight stitched them right to the page in a line.  It's a great way to add lots of pattern and texture to your layout.  My title was cut with Echo Park papers.  I used my Cricut and the "Happy Hauntings" cartridge along with some sticker elements from Authentique.  I also used another sticker element (the spider and the fly quote) off to the side and added some Black Diamond Stickles to the two spiders.  At the last minute I added a thin black cardstock frame with distressed inside edge.

I had a few scraps left, so I cut some 3/4 inch by 5 inch strips to make this little paper pumpkin.  I just used brads to hold the strips together and then fanned them out and shaped them into a pumpkin.  With a few more paper scraps and a leaf punch, I added the stem, vines, and leaf.  I could see several of these decorating a table this fall. 

So, while the picking is good, visit Scrapdoodles and pick up some fall/Halloween collection papers.  I hope you have an easier time deciding than I did ;)

Summer and Echo Park Layouts

Love to go into Scrapdoodles and see what catches my eye.  I knew I had some summer layouts to do, and Echo Park "Happy Days" collection caught my eye.  I created these two layouts using papers and a few layered chipboard embellishments from this collection.  For my first layout, I started with plain white cardstock.  I cropped a four horizontal photos and backed them with black cardstock, then a strip of patterned paper.  I added the three strips on the right and a few embellishments.  I cut my title with my Cricut (cousins is from "Heritage" and friends is from "Create a Critter").  I thought it needed a little more so I punched out several circles and popped them up with a foam dot.  I love the white on white dimension paired with the bright colors.

I journaled on my computer and then printed it out on cardstock to add to the page.  I normally just write, but I wanted to keep the look relatively neat.

Last summer, H. really started choosing what to wear for herself and it was (and still is) an adventure in creativity.  Here she is with a tutu and camouflage cap that says "lil' Hunter".  Definitely one of a kind!  Again, all the papers are embellishments are from Echo Park.  The title is a cut from "Once Upon a Princess".  I just love how she mixes styles.  Something to learn there.

More Christmas Projects: Layout, Magnet Clothespins, and Ornaments

Here are a few more Holiday projects for inspiration. 

I used the super-adorable papers from Echo Park's Holly Jolly Christmas line on all these projects.  Mixed in are some chipboard shapes from Little Yellow Bicycle and trims from My Mind's Eye.  I picked up all these products at Scrapdoodles in Fredericksburg.  They are so awesome there!

First, I LOVE this chevron paper!!!!  I cut it at 11 inches square, rounded the corners, and layered it on brown then white for my background.  The tree came from Designer's Calendar and my cricut.  The "wishes" title was cut using the Winter Woodland cartridge.  Then I just added layers of patterned paper and chipboard.  I couldn't resist cutting off a little pompom and tying it onto the chipboard frame with a bit of twine.  

Next, I've seen a lot of painted or covered clothespins around the blogs and on Pinterest and thought a set of them would be a cute little gift.  I made mine magnets and thought the recipient could use them to hang their holiday greetings or lists up on the fridge.  The EP die cut sheet had some perfectly sized little label/title cuts.  The labels were a bit shorter than the clothespin, so I just covered the tip of each clothespin with red glitter.  They sort of remind me of reindeer noses.  I attached self-adhesive magnet to the back of each clothespin and made a little card to keep them all together.

I couldn't stop using up all the paper, so I decided to make some ornaments, too.  I found a nice scalloped edge on the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge and used my Gypsy to weld 2 together, along with a rectangle to make it wider.  Then I simply accordion folded it and glued it all together with the help of my hot glue gun and a small circle piece on the back for added stability.  The little pompom was then attached and some more twine so it's ready to hang on the tree, or wherever you need a splash of fun color.

Spring-Inspired Layouts

I love how spring changes not only the appearance of the land - green grass, yellow daffodils, pink and purple blooms - but it also changes my spirit.   I feel more energetic, hopeful, grateful, and generally happier.  It's hard not to be inspired by the new, fresh colors that catch my eye when out and about.  The master artist puts together a beautiful palette that I cannot perfectly duplicate, but I can sure be happy trying. 
Why not try some of these color combonations?
Combo #1:  green - pink - white
Combo #2:  purple - green - cream

Combo #3:  yellow - grey or brown - green

I chose a couple of photos of our Hannah from a recent spring day and focused on my color combinations to emphasize the spring feel.  I hope you can recreate a little spring in your scrapbook, too!

Make a Lovely Card Set Gift

I'm really liking these Echo Park papers (Scrapdoodles has them in stock!) and wanted to make something special with it, but what to do, what to do....  When stuck, I browse the web or even (gasp) pull out some old idea books and magazines.  I found a photo of a cute notecard gift set in an old book and set about making my own.  It was a little bit of trial and error to measure/cut the main folder (there were no directions in the book), but luckily I had two sheets of purple cardstock :).  More fun Springtime yellows, greens, and pinks, paired with a dark purple and I think we've got something special.  The folder has 6 blank cards in one pocket and an envelope containing 3 each of 3 different sentiments: Thanks, Thinking of You, and Happy Birthday.  The lucky recipient can then use the cards any way she desires by adhering the appropriate sentiment circle.  The folder itself is made from one 12x12 sheet.  I covered a Maya Road chipboard shape with the sunny yellow patterned paper for the front.  The whole thing is held closed with a magnet (tucked under the yellow paper and the paper strap and sticker).  I can't wait to make some more.  I think they'd be great gifts. 

Fresh Spring Layouts

These two layouts were so fun to create.  They satisfied (for now) my yearning for spring.  I love the fresh colors of the new Echo Park "Springtime" line.  The coordinating sticker sheet features the adorable yellow polka-dot bicycle.  I hand-cut the tree trunk, but used a Maya Road chipboard shape for the foliage.  First I inked up the chipboard with a bit of white, then sponged on green.  I cut some simple leaves with my Cricut and inked them as well, randomly adhering them in bunches to the chipboard.  It was easy and I think it's super cute!  I love to take photos of the flowers and "creatures" around my house and I thought this layout would show some of these pics off.  I printed the photos at home at 2 x 2.5 on a sheet of letter-size photo paper.  I kept the white borders, and just had to trim a bit and cut the sheet in half to fit it long on my page.  It's a great way to add a lot of photos, but still have room to play on the other side of the layout.

I wanted to use all the awesome patterns of "Grandma's Feather Bed" from Bazzill that I found at Scrapdoodles, so I decided to try out little squares.  I punched them from the paper and lined them up to create borders around my photos (don't you love these photos of my sisters and me?).  The title was a sticker from my stash - I think it's from Me & My Big Ideas.  Now it's a little bit quilty - which makes me think of grandmas, sisters, and cuddling up under the warmth of a good old-fashioned blankie.