{Egg Hunt Layout}

~ Spring Stash Project #2 ~

Since my first project wasn't very Spring related I decided to use the Jenni Bowlin Bingo tag I recieved in my bonus goodies from Alicia at Down A Dirt Road Scrapbooking and use it for part of my title. I needed to gather products to use that went well with the tag so I chose to use some Lucy paper from Close To My Heart.

I grabbed a sheet of Lucy cardstock and started to plan my layout. I somehow thought argyle and cut out an argyle pattern with my Cricut and Art Philosophy Cartridge.

 I decided I haven't stitched a layout in a while and so I started to stitch a zig zag pattern in pink and green embroidery thread. Now I had to decide on how to use my bunny stamps. I stamped them and colored them. I added Liquid Glass to add texture and a glossy look to each and topped them up onto a scallop circle.

Now I decided spring and Easter needs flowers and I'm so over winter and snow I started stamping flowers and then instead of coloring them I added pastel vellum that was also stamped and adhered over the flowers. I started to add jewels and placed them onto the layout.

Only thing missing was a photo...

Hurry up E.B. (Easter Bunny) we need some eggs to hunt!

Head on over to the forum at:

Products Used
Jenni Bowlin Bingo Card
Handmade With Love pink flower (See Facebook)
Close To My Heart Lucy Cardstock
Bunny Love Stamp Set (B1324)
Friendship Blessings Stamp Set (D1191)
Cricut
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
Close To My Heart 2" Scallop Circle Punch
Close To My Heart Watercolor Pencils/ Waterbrush
Close To My Heart Liquid Glass
Unknown Pastel Vellum
Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles
Unknown Embroidery Thread
DCVW Adhesive backed Cardstock
Close To My Heart Chipboard Tag and E
Close To My Heart Brads
Martha Stewart Glitter

Beauty

I recently applied for a couple of design teams. Now, I accepted a position over at

I was checking out the forum and the galleries of other members...

Well, I was inspired to try to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone.

I don't k=normally create using purple. Not sure why but I don't. I have purchased beautiful paper and never touched it...until now!

So after checking out my Pinterest boards I had decided to use one of my pins for inspiration.

I found this to be such a great inspirational piece. If you click on the picture a link will take you to the original source.I used the picture to form my illustration on the dictionary page I used to be the background to my layout.

I had wanted to be able to add this layout to several challenges on the DADR forum. I used brads and decided to cluster them to add some bling and character ~ Challenge #1


I used an old dictionary page and some Christmas bulb hangers. Unique recycling options ~ Challenge #2


I used a scrap piece of pink lace ribbon on my layout to accent the photo - imagine that - a photo on a layout I created... crazy idea! Lace used on a project ~ Challenge #3


Ribbon had been laced through the border I had punched with my new punch I bought on clearance - yay! Two border punches now - hope to add more... Punch used for border ~ Challenge #4


Personal Challenge to Self ~ Step away from my comfort zone... Success! I love how this worked out.


Products Used:
Bohemia MME Cardstock
Webster's Dictionary
Smooch Inks
Ribbon
Thicker Letters
Lush MME brads
Tim Holtz Word Bands
Tim Holtz ChitChat Stickers
Unknown Chipboard Shapes
Unknown Paper Flowers
Close To My Heart Pink Lace Ribbon
Close To My Heart Liquid Glass
Close To My Heart Smokey Plum Ink
Close To My Heart Desert Sand Ink
Close To My Heart Edge Distresser
Christmas Bulb hangers
Martha Stewart Border Punch
Uniball Signo gel ink pen - Black
Harmonie Stamp

{It's A Bird...A Plane...A Superhero...}

Who doesn't remember wanting to be Superman or Wonder Woman???

As a child I remember wanting to be the Invisible woman or a princess...well not that either of those has come true, but I found that sense of nostalgia when I saw Close To My Heart's Superhero paper pack...I knew I needed to have it.

 Page 1

Page 2

I decided with no boys in my immediate family that I was not going to be needing a lot of the stamps that coordinate with the theme and I wasn't a huge fan of the new alphabet that coordinates with the theme either...so I decided to just buy the Workshop On The Go kit. (G1037)

The Workshop On The Go kit contains:

• Superhero Paper Packet
• My Acrylix® Superhero Workshop Stamp Set (C-size)
• White Daisy Cardstock Sheets (2)
• Comic Badge Buttons
• Dimensional Elements Stars
• Instructional Guide
• Featured Colors: Cranberry, Moonstruck, Sky

I looked at all the papers used and decided that I really did not want to use the patterned pages for the base and wanted the layout to stand out because the paper was vibrant and bright...so I used some Outdoor Denim Cardstock (1275)

I kept everything that same as the instructions stated until I got to the part of the title...I didn't want to buy a stamp set that I would not use often so I used my Cricut and cut out my letters for the SUPER title... I sponged them Cranberry Ink (Z2116)

Now I wanted to try a new technique so I stamped the back of my layout base and using my Dry Embossing Stylus (Z608) I pressed out the pattern and created a raised design on the front of my base. Once this was done I used my sanding block and gently sanded over the raised design to expose some of the white core of my cardstock...a favorite feature of the Close To My Heart cardstock...

I continued to sand the edges lightly of the layout and expose some of the core to add a nice distressed edge to the layout.

I hope that this inspired you to want to try this paper out...

Let's Live Inspired!

{Glass Slippers}

A while ago I created a beautiful layout for Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Challenge. Well it works so well for Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week ~ Add a Photo Challenge

I really loved my photographer for my wedding Nancy Schaeffer. She was amazing and managed to get some fabulous photos that I will cherish now and forever so... I decided to take one of the more obscure and not sure where it fits in photos and create this awesome layout.

I used the Roxie paper and love how it worked so well with the photo.

I added some hearts and some random stitching to one of the hearts...

Hand stitched some lines using the CTMH Ruler and black embroidery thread to add some texture and interest to the page.

The scallopped circle is a shape cut out using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. I cut it out and added Bronze Glitter Glitz to each of the cut out circles...Love Bling!!! For the title I chose Glass Slippers and colored the color-ready Hodge Podge Adhesive Letters with Cocoa and then I Liquid Glassed them to give them a glossy look...one of my favorite techniques to use Liquid Glass!

A few Bling Jewels and you have a beautiful layout to compliment a beautiful photo!

I have submitted this layout for the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog.

Let's Live Inspired!

{Sneak Peek ~ Calendar}

For all those who have read through my 5 post series on how you can create layouts that use the same pattern but look different, I have a special treat for you...Call it a bonus or maybe a sneak at an upcoming post (or series of posts...leave your input in the comments of your preference)

I have been busy creating lately and really trying to try to create a variety of items. I decided to try the CTMH 12 Month Calendar. I didn't think it would be what it has become...lol!

With the special Dotty For You Paper, I decided to create a calendar using the dotty paper and sticking to a rather non themed calendar... So I got my How To Books and started picking my layouts...I thought that would be the best route for the calendar...

Well... not really... Hindsight being 20-20 I quickly realized that a calendar of layouts was not exactly what I wanted and didn't work well for my main concept for the calendar...So I went another way with the general design...

I really went my own way with this and here is a sneak peek of the calendar...

Behold...April...

 Look familiar?!?

 
 I stitched the squares with baker's twine and just a word of advice...It was not as easy for some reason to stitch with the twine as it was with the embroidery thread, but it was a unique way to utilize baker's twine into a page.

Once I decided what I was going to do for embellishments I added them to the page and really kept it simple on this page. I used the Keepsake Alphabet for my title and that was enough to anchor your eye to it. No need for any banners or ribbon...a few pearls might have been acceptable but ultimately, I really liked how this page came out.

Well that definitely concludes this series...{1 Layout, 5 Ways}

Let's Live Inspired!

{Crops of Luv Challenge}

I have had the pleasure to create a layout for Spellbinder's Crops of Luv Challenge...

Let me explain a little bit of how I came to participate in this amazing challenge...I had my friend Karen tell me about this great opportunity to help make documenting the memories of a child and his/her wish come true...I love being with CTMH for just that reason... we make documenting those special moments possible and we help make a child smile! So this was a no thought necessary decision...I was making a layout and kinda knew what I was going to do...OK...I knew what paper I was going to use...lol!

I started with Footloose and was making a beach/tropical themed layout...

I needed to pick a layout that would allow for at least 5 pictures and they had to be movable...I am the queen of adhesive and the one time I need a temporary adhesive...I have none! So after missing out on a great deal on Blitsy...I ventured into Michaels... I got my adhesive and I was ready to assemble my layout.

I will post the pictures and a brief description of the picture and features of this layout...

My main idea for this layout was to have the ocean and the beach represented on the layout...I wanted to add a frame that could flip up to reveal another place to put a photo. I added a pocket to allow for a spot to place journalling.

The pocket is stitched together and arched to add some dimension. I used Liquid glass and my Smooch Spritz to give it a golden sheen...some gold micro beads and nothing says beach like a tan and glow...

I added some stitching to represent the waves of the ocean and to add some uniqueness to the layout...I really wanted someone to smile when they see this and to know that it was made with care...

I layered strips of paper and used the edge distresser to distress the edges and give it a wavy appearance.I took some of the embellishments from the Footloose Dimensional Elements and added them to the layout...

When I got to the frame, I took some wood grained paper I purchased and I painted it with my pearl paint and white paint...I wanted it to look like a distressed beachy frame...I added a wooden clam shape and painted it with some teal paint and added Liquid Glass and glitter... As the Liquid Glass started to dry I ran my Xacto knife edge through the indentations to allow for some texture to form. I love how this turned out!

In addition to submitting this layout for the Crops of Luv I am also submitting this for the Heart 2 Heart Challenges ~ Distress Challenge.
I hope that you will hop on over to Karen's Blog and check out the layout she has submitted! If you are a scrapbooker, please consider entering too...You would be making a child smile!

Let's Live Inspired!

{1 Layout, 5 Ways ~ Layout 5}

Last day of the series comes with a touch of sadness and a pinch of relief...

I ask myself if I want to do more of these series and I can honestly say yes! I challenged myself to craft more and I did! I wanted to test my limits for achieving new looks and really figuring out what my style is...This is something I still do not really know...

I'm sure time will tell...until then here is the layout for today!

I know this picture is not the best but I think it is because I used a Grey Flannel cardstock base and with the white photo mats and the Lucy B&T paper pieces...It really worked!

I decided to use some rolled roses created with the Cricut Art Phiolosophy cartridge and made them in Colonial White and Creme Brulee. I placed them in threes and stamped some flourishes in Creme Brulee... I have to say that creating these flowers has improved so much since the first time I tried to create one...It took me 45 minutes and a couple youtube videos before I had something that resembled a flower...well I eventually went and purchased a quilling pen and life and flower making has never been the same...It makes creating a flower so easy and fast like under 1 minute if you really push yourself!

Anyways....

 I decided to add a title by stamping it onto a piece of cardstock and cut it out...It had to be simple after I added the bulky but fabulous roses!

Where my banners were placed... I added delicate zig zag stitching in a baby pink embroidery thread to the pink B&T paper. Once again I have added stitching but on all 5 of the layouts they have been done in a different manner. I went from not ever sewing to rapidly becoming a master of paper stitching!

Well for all those who are reading these posts...

Stay tuned for a special treat!

Let's Live Inspired!

{1 Layout, 5 Ways ~ Layout 4}

So we are onto the second last day of this series and I have another beautiful layout that I would like to share today. I have spent time crafting with Pemberley and Lucy, and I will continue as I have really come to like using them both. I am working with Lucy again today and sharing with you one of my favorites of these all.

OK, I was not a fan of Creme Brulee but when I saw it paired with the pink and the Colonial White, it became a fabulous color. I have recently become a fan of bright and vibrant colors, opting to wear (against my husbands' urging...lol!) bright fuchsia shirts and dresses, florescent pink shirts (Did you know that florescent is back...Time to get the hoop earrings and plastic bracelets out...lol!)

On with this post....

I used the stamp that came with the Lucy Workshop On The Go kit and my Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge and made my little flower embellishments. Since I kept the layout to a very clean and simple pattern with no extras I wanted to keep the focus on the layout design, the color blocked squares and the flowers, I was able to use more of them...

I added Bitty Sparkles to the centers of the flowers using either 1 or 2 in each. It is a great way to add some dimension and sparkle without it being overwhelming. I have just recently learned how difficult this really is to accomplish. I thought that making a simple layout would be so easy but this really is not as easy as you would think.

First you have to have a solid plan and try very hard to stick to the basics. You can not over embellish (Something so easily done and very popular with many!) You have to try to make a layout beautiful and striking without it seeming bland and boring. I have noticed that sometimes I see layouts (mine included!) and think that it is missing... This is the tricky part with any layout. You want it to invoke emotion and thought from the person viewing...Sure pictures would make these all that much more interesting but as I want them to speak for themselves and to show you all the layout I leave pictures out...and... I don't have any picked out for them either... My big shortcoming...lol!

So I opted for a single banner to anchor my title area and stamped my title. I added some Bitty Sparkles and this is my layout.

Thanks for stopping by and if you are wanting to participate in this little impromptu blog hop leave a comment and link to your blog post. I will post a list for all to hop to on the last day! Hope you join in on the fun!

If you could please go check out the great projects that so many talented people have linked together on Craft-O-Maniac's Blog today!

Let's Live Inspired!