so there i was ...

CHARMing

I mentioned awhile back I just started working with Creative Charms. Last Friday I hosted their blog for the first time. I wanted to share the layout here in case you haven't had a chance to see it yet.

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper Dear Lizzy/American Crafts, Alpha Stickers, Chipboard alphas Basic Grey, Sticker accent October Afternoon, crochet flower Dear Lizzy/American Crafts, Rhinestones Creative Charms, Butterflies Creative Charms, ribbon Creative Charms, Cuttlebug Harlequin Die Cut, Pen Sharpie black, Mist Maya Road, and EK Success Circle punch)

I misted on this layout with Maya Road Mist, totally new territory for me. I admit misting can be intimidating but really it was super easy. I have several colors and you should be expecting to see it pop up more on my layouts and cards.

Happy Scrapping :)

A little something to celebrate

The save our pools campaign was a success and the voters approved the formation of the Tigard/Tualatin Aquatic District thus keeping the pools open. I thought this layout would be appropriate to share today... 

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper October Afternoon, SEI  buttons, Pen American Crafts, Stamp October Afternoon, ink Versafine black, water bubbles EK success, misc chipboard alphas from Heidi Swapp/Making Memories/Scenic Route/Basic Grey, brads Basic Grey, DMC Floss, and tiny alpha stickers Making  Memories)  

I wanted to share this layout for another reason --- it's a great reminder that layouts don't always have to have photos. Scrapbooks are about preserving the memories and sometimes a memory is made without photographs. This just happens to be just one of those times.

Thanks to everyone who filled in the yes bubble yesterday. Have a great day :) swim practice is going to be a fun place tonight.

 

Taking the day off

I thought I'd take the day off  from Tuesday Tips this week. Sorry folks it's mid May is burn out time for me. I am ready for everything to be done. Sports to be over and school to be out. The reality of it is there is about a month to go. I have the finish line in my sights just hoping I don't run out of gas before I get there. 

Keeping life simple this week I thought I'd share a project from the spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. This mini album was super fun to make and a huge step out of my comfort zone since it doesn't have any straight lines for me to work with.

 

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper My Minds Eye/October Afternoon, Stampin Up Scallop Punch, Tiny Black Alphas Making Memories, Chipboard Album and cupcakes from Maya Road, Brown Paint Making Memories, DMC Floss, Chipboard Alphas from Basic Grey, Ribbon Stampin Up/Bo Bunny, American Crafts rubon and misc buttons)

I love how this mini album turned out. It's always fun being pushed out of your comfort zone and  love the end result. I hope you have a great day!

 

Inspiration layout for Scrapbook & Cards Today

In case you didn't stop by the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog today I thought I would share my inspiration layout. You can check out my original challenge here.

 
(Supplied Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Bo Bunny patterned paper, Cosmo cricket alphas, chipboard  accents Dear Lizzy/American crafts, deco scissors Fiskars, misc circle punches, misc brads Basic Grey and font Bohemian Typewriter downloaded  from the Internet)   

My favorite element  on this layout is the bird. I have totally stepped up my sewing on my layouts and the stitched legs on this little guy were a must do. I simply stitched the legs on white cardstock then backed the small opening of the wing with a contrasting color then adhered the bird above the legs. Then I cut him out leaving just a hint of the white border. A few foam squares later and he was attached to my layout in style.

I also wanted to note a correction to Monday's post. The deal of the day being offered at Creative Charms is 25$ of product for $8.99. I am posting a project (or maybe 2) on Friday over at their blog don't forget to stop by.

I hope you enjoyed  my layout. Thanks for stopping by have a great day.

Tuesday Tips - Twill Flowers

Good Morning ... today I have a cute twill flower tutorial to share with you. This layout was published in the spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today and features one of my twill flowers.

 
(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper Jillibean Soup, White Corrugated Alphas, Paint from Making Memories, Scallop Punch Stampin Up, small sticker alphas from  Making Memories, Twine Jillibean Soup, Twill Jillibean Soup, Button Jillibean Soup, DMC Embroidery Floss, font Traveling Typewriter)

Supplies needed to make twill/ribbon flowers: 

• Approximately 10" of twill
• Button
• Twine
• Needle and thread
• Thin strips of green cardstock
• Pencil or Paint Brush

  

Run a basting stitch along the edge of your ribbon or twill.

Pull thread to create a ruffled look from your ribbon or twill.

Turn your flower over and stitch the ends together.
 

The hole in the center of the flower all depends on how tight your pull the basted thread and how long your piece of twill is.

Layer button over the center of the flower and top with twine.

To make dimensional curly accents for your flowers coil thin strips of green cardstock around a pencil or paint brush. Tuck under flowers and adhere with glue dots or your favorite adhesive. Think of all the different materials you can make flowers out of. The flower possibilities are endless.

Here is a close up look at a completed flower on my layout.

Thanks for stopping by today and happy scrapping :)

 
   

  

Happy Mother's Day

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday. I started the day off a little early by staying up late to watch Betty White host Saturday Night Live. If you missed it you can check it out commercial free on Hulu.com. Jay Z was the musical guest and he was fabulous, I loved when he dedicated Forever Young to Betty. After my late night I slept in and enjoyed a breakfast of smoked salmon benedict courtesy of my hubby.

So how about a few more Mother's Day inspired layouts ...

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill/Jillibean Soup, Patterned Paper Jillibean Soup, Alpha Stickers Jillibean Soup, Circle Punch EK Success, Pen American Crafts, Stick Pin Fancy Pants, SEI buttons, Basic Grey Brads, Twine/Ribbon Jillibean Soup, and font downloaded from the internet Traveling Typewriter)

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper Jillibean Soup, Alpha Stickers  Doodlebug, Corrugated Alphas from Jillibean Soup, Paint  from Making Memories, Vintage button from Making Memories, Stick Pin/Flower Making Memories, Twin Jillibean Soup, Felt Frame Fancy Pants, misc corner rounder, Stampin Up Punch, font Traveling Typewriter downloaded from the internet)  

Remember last week I announced I am now working with Creative Charms. Each month they offer a kit. Each kit contains over $30.00 of product for only $9.99. The May kit contains the following ...

• Green Gradient Brads
• Sage Green Vintage Brads
• Black & Green Shimmer Flowers
• Green & White Shimmer Flowers
• Black & White Shimmer Flowers
• White 3D Sparkly Garden Brads
• Green Gem Garden
• Green Fancy Polka Dot Ribbon
• Large White Sparkled Butterfly
• Large Green Sparkled Butterfly
• 2 Small White Sparkled Butterfly
• 2 Small Green Sparkled Butterfly

Later this week I will be hosting the Creative Charms blog featuring some projects I completed with the kit. Make sure you stop by I will be posting on Friday.

One last thing before I sign off for today go check out my designer challenge at the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog. I created a fun color challenge inspired by fashion. Have a great day!!!

   

Feeling Retro

I love scrapbooking old photos. With programs such as Photoshop Elements old photos can be transformed flaws can be wiped away with a single click.

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Kraft paper Jillibean Soup, Patterned Paper Jillibean Soup and Jenni Bowlin, Felt numbers/alphas  Creative Cafe,  journlaing card Jenni Bowlin, misc gems from Darcie and Recollections, pen American Crafts,  Cricut Opposites Attract cartridge, Stampin Up scallop punch and font Traveling Typewriter)

This layout was published in the  Mar/April issue of Creating Keepsakes in the Hot Spot column. The gems all came from Micheals. To create my look I simply played with the gems, moving them around on a blank piece of cardstock until I got a pattern I loved. Then I simply transferred the gems to my layout. The reds, yellows and oranges take me right back to the 1970's and I love how they work with my childhood photos.

Happy Friday :)

Tuesday Tips - Scallops

If you take a look at my work you will notice one constant ... scallops. I just adore them. I have been having a love affair with my Stampin Up scallop punch for at least a year now. Besides using a punch there are many other ways to work scallops into your layouts. I offer up this example ...

 

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, KI Memories Patterned Paper, Alphas from Scenic Route, Doodlebug and K&Co, MM accents, Basic Grey Brads, Fancy Pants Stick Pins, Doodlebug scallop border, Technique Tuesday chipboard circle, and MM paint)

• Use a circle punch to make a scallop border. Punch any size circle either cut them in half or tuck half the circle under cardstock/patterned paper on your layout.
• Use a premade scallop border as a pattern. Punch holes and hand stitch a scallop border. Simplify this technique and trace the border with a pen.
• Add premade scalloped products to your layouts. Like frills from Doodlebug or borders from Bazzill.

  
(Supplies Used: Bazzill cardstock, Doodlebug frill border, MM tag rims, Alpha stickers from Arctic Frog, Thickers from American Crafts, Karen Russell journaling spot, stickels, and Technique Tuesday chipboard circle)

• Try the unusual as your inspiration for your next scallop border. This layout is a few years old (HOF 2007 to be exact) but the technique could still be used today. The scallops are made from empty Making Memories tag rims. I cut empty tags in half with my Tonic trimmer. Then I adhered them to my layout with gluedots to create a unique scalloped border.

 

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Tinkering Ink patterned paper, Jenni Bowlin butterflies, alphas from Scenic Route and Doodlebug, American Crafts chipboard brackets, Imaginesce Easter brad, Doodlebug Frill, and SEI button)

• Try grounding your title with a scalloped border. Check out these previously posted project showing this technique - Destination 2009 and Travel HWY 101. Add extra dimension by pop dotting a scalloped border.

Happy Scrapping Enjoy :)

and the winner is ...

I know it's a hour early but I have to get to a baseball game so let's get this part started.

and the winner is ... 

love your work

Posted by: Christine VandenBroek | May 01, 2010 at 12:20 PM

Christine look for an email from me. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog over the weekend your wonderful comments humble me. Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for Tuesday Tips.

   

Happy National Scrapbooking Day !!!

Thank you for blog hopping with the Scrapbook & Cards Today team today. For your chance to win a one year subscription to SCT from this blog, please leave a comment below. Be sure to visit the other SCT team member's blogs mentioned today on the SCT blog for more chances to win a one year subscription. You have eight chances total to win! Winners will be selected Monday at 6:00 PM.

The secret letter you are looking for is E. Be sure to visit all the other blogs and unscramble our newest advertising partner's name. Once you've got your answer email us at [email protected] for a chance to win a great prize package from this company.

Check out the Becky Fleck Page Maps sketch we all tackled  this week ...

Here is my take on the sketch. Sketches are wonderful inspirational tools for scrapbookers. As you can see I made a few modifications to fit my style. I just can't seem to tilt photos to save my life.

(Supplies Used: Cardstock by Bazzill, Patterned Paper from Basic Grey/My Minds Eye/Sassafrass Lass, Sticker Border Sassafrass Lass, Label from October Afternoon, crochet flower from American Crafts, Buttons from Fancy Pants,  Chipboard accents from Cosmo Cricket, brads from Basic Grey, DMC yellow floss, alpha stickers from Heidi Grace, chipboard alphas from Cosmo Cricket and font Bohemian Typewriter downloaded from the internet)

And on another note I was recently asked to work with Creative Charms. I thought I'd put together a little card featuring a little of their product. You can check out the new team at the Creative Charms Blog.

(Supplies Used: Cardstock by Bazzill, Patterned Paper from Jillibean Soup, Cricut Plantin Cartridge, Fiskars Scissors, felt accents from Creative Charms and font Traveling Typewriter downloaded from the internet)  

Enjoy your day scrapbooking.