Two Travel Layouts with Imaginisce

I just finished these two fun layouts and am loving the classic color scheme - deep blue, burgandy, tan, yellow.  All the patterned papers are from Imaginisce's new line, Bon Voyage.  I picked up four sheets of this double sided, glossy accented paper from Scrapdoodles.  When I saw these little airplanes, I knew just what photos of H. I would use.  We just returned from a family trip to Wisconsin and she had such a great time "flying in the clouds."  I wasn't thrilled with my photos from inside the plane, so I turned them black and white and printed the three of them out in a strip.  Even though they aren't great, I think it still shows the feelings of fascination in Hannah's face as she looks out the window of the plane.  The tags are cut from on the paper sheets and the fun font was cut with my Cricut and the Printing Press cartridge.

The second layout features a compass motif in that gorgeous dark blue background.  These are also glossy.  The cute stamps are another sheet and make a nice little banner when sewn together with some floss.  I also used the little coordinated stamp from Imaginisce.  Don't you wish stamps were still 10 cents?  On this layout I used more of the tags as layers and journaling spots.  My title can be found in the Gypsy Wanderings Cricut cartridge.

If you've done any traveling this summer, a few of your layouts deserve these great Imaginisce papers - find them at your local scrapbook store!  If you're in Fredericksburg, stop by Scrapdoodles soon and check these layouts out in person.

Family Fun and Birthday Layouts

Just catching up on some scrapbooking.  I am into January on Hannah's album.  Here's some of the layouts I created over the last week or so.  The first two are essentially the same design.  They are both based on this month's sketch at the DCWV blog.  Other than that challenge, I was just trying to get some pages done.  Enjoy!

 Papers: DCWV 

 Papers: DCWV  Cricut: Jubilee font, Kate's ABCs hat and flowers

 Papers: DCWV  Cricut: Graphically Speaking, All Mixed Up

 Cricut: Once Upon A Princess

 Cricut: Graphically Speaking

Some Creative Memories stickers and papers, Cricut: Birthday Bash

Thanks for looking!

Advent Calendar Giveaway Winner

Congratulations, Jennifer M. - you won the Giveaway.  I'll be in touch soon to get your Advent Calendar to you!

Christmas Countdown / Advent Calendar Ideas

Here's a few different countdown or Advent Calendar ideas for you.  The little boxes I found at clearance at Target several years ago.  It came colored, but without the numbers and embellishments on.  I used what came in a coordinating kit, including the paper flowers and rub-on numbers.  I added the deer (cut with Cricut).   For those of you who signed up for the Christmas in July e-course with me, this is the project you have a chance to win!
Last year I made the envelope countdown banner.  I think this one's my favorite, but it was definitely time consuming.  The envelopes and all the embellishments were cut from my Cricut and (mostly)the DCWV Christmas stack from last year.

This year I made a clipboard countdown.  We'll be making the clipboard version for one of our fall FaithKeeping projects at Redeemer.  If you are local, it will be sometime in September or October and I would love for you to join us.  Watch this blog for upcoming announcements. Blessings! Karen

Authentique Paper Projects

I am loving the collections by Authentique Paper!  I found all their new papers and accessories at Scrapdoodles here in Fredericksburg and was able to pick some up for myself as well as for Design Team projects.  (Check out Scrapdoodle's new blog look, by the way - so cute!)  The color combinations are beautiful and it's hard to decide which are my favorite.  I do like that the Blissful (more yellow) collection is very versatile in terms of whether you create more girly or boyish layouts - I created one of each and love the results.  To celebrate my 40th birthday, I used mostly the Blissful collection and added a bit of the pink from the Uncommon papers.  The black swirl is felt border from my stash.  I also made my own flower accents with black twill.  I used my Cricut, of course, for the writing, butterflies, and the large shape at the bottom of the page.  Cartridges: Gypsy Font, Once Upon a Princess, and Graphically Speaking.  I think the layout reflects my "40's" style: sophisticated, but still playful.

Our family was recently blessed with a new addition - my new grand nephew, Brennan.  Again, I mixed a little from the Authentique Blissful and Uncommon collections.  I also got a chance to break in my new Cricut cartridge, Sophisticated (designed by Teresa Collins).  All the cuts on this layout (except for the shape on the left - it's the cut off piece from the previous layout and came from Once Upon A Princess), are from this new cartridge.  I also ended up covering the pink stamped images on one of the squares with pieces of yellow or grey paper to create a more boyish look.  I love this layout and think I might have to scraplift it off myself :) 

In addition to these 2 layouts, I made a few more projects with this paper collection.  I had a few things bought for a friend and thought I would recover them to create a more cohesive gift.  I used Sophisticated again to cut her initial for the cute tag and a large damask design to decorate the gift bag.

I covered a little candle and a dark chocolate candy bar, made a tag for a couple of tea bags, and used more scraps to create a mini book.  The mini book has some uplifting quotes and scripture verses inside.  I used my Cinch to bind the pages together.  It was a fun gift to put together and I know my friend will appreciate it.

 One more project made with Authentique - a shadow box frame.  I used various pieces from the Blissful collection to made the dimensional flower.  Each layer is attached with foam pieces, so it sticks up pretty high from the paper.  The flower cuts are all the same, just different sizes (from Walk in My Garden).  I inked up the edges a bit before sticking them together.  I also added some pearls and a bird cut from one of the papers.  And of course a super cute pic of our super cute girl.

 Well, that's all my Authentique projects - for now!  I still have paper left and lots of photos!  Stay tuned :)

Noel Chipboard Door Hanger

I've had this shaped chipboard in my stash for a while, just waiting to become something special, and now, it is!  I used My Mind's Eye papers on this project.  They are so beautiful in person - a little glittery and shimmery and wonderful frosty colors.  I really like the pairing of browns and blues. 

I used the chipboard to outline the shape onto my papers and cut out by hand.  I ran the pieces through my xyron for a really secure adhesion to the chipboard.  I also did a little shaving and sanding on the edges for a clean fit, then inked all the edges. 

Next, I cut the letters with my Cricut using the Winter Woodland font and adhered those also with my xyron.  For the "flowers", I cut several styles and sizes of snowflakes from various cartridges - just filled up my Gypsy mat - and then layered 4 or more together and secured them to each other and to the chipboard with a brad.  For each, I also inked and then curled up the edges and added some more sparkle with crystal Stickles.  The two birdies are chipboard pieces from My Mind's Eye.

The chipboard pieces came with two holes in the tops and I just flipped them to mark the holes for the bottoms to be sure it all matched up.  I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch the holes.  I connected the pieces using small metal jump rings and short pieces of ball chain (all parts from Tim Holtz).

I added a longer length of ball chain as the hanger and tied on a ribbon.  I can't wait to enjoy seeing this each day when winter and Christmas are a bit closer.