Life's Trivialities

Guest Designing for Pebbles

I have the honor of guest designing for Pebbles Inc today! I used to design for Pebbles and so when the call came out to apply for the design team, I thought, what do I have to lose?! I really love the fresh product and bright colored collections! I was offered the opportunity to guest design, which, honestly, is perfect for me right now. With the kids getting older, our schedules fill up too.

I'll share some close up here but be sure to check out the Pebbles Inc blog HERE or Instagram for the full layouts. I have two layouts to share today. The first process video is up on my YouTube channel and the second video will come next Tuesday.

 

Fitting given that Mothers Day is tomorrow, don't you think?

There is some stamping on this layout that is NOT a Pebbles Inc stamp. This layout was inspired by a graphic design piece that I saw on Pinterest and, of course, cannot find again, unfortunately.

Thanks for stopping in today!

 

#Create - Quilt Inspired

Hi friends! I hope my American friends had a lovely time with family and friends for Thanksgiving! We certainly has a lot to be thankful for! I enjoyed a delicious meal with my sister and her family and my parents. It was a blessing to have my Mum and Dad here as usually they are home in Indy with my brother and his family.

Today I'm sharing with you a layout inspired by a quilt pattern that I saw while browsing Pinterest recently. I actually think I was pinning my layouts as I don't really use Pinterest much these days. Either way, I loved the pattern and thought it would make a stunning layout! So, I set to work in Silhouette Studio and created myself a digital cut file.

I have grand ideas of how I can use the negative of this same file! There are so many possibilities! The stitching is a tad wonky as I didn't draw the lines ahead of time. It doesn't bother me, surprisingly. I might have to do a part 2 to this video and show you how I use the same cut file multiple ways.

The Heart of Home collection from Pebbles Inc was just perfect for this layout! The flowers fussy cut and poking out from a trio of diamonds are like flowers growing in the cracks of a garden wall to me! They are just lovely! And really, other than the fussy cut flowers and paper layers behind the photo, there isn't much more to this layout. The patterned papers are decoration themselves used this way in the windows of the cut file.

The Thickers are from yet another Pebbles collection. I wanted something darker than the accompanying Thickers. The photo is very soft and needed something bolder that would pop the picture. These foam words from the Girl Squad collection and do just the trick!

The dimension on this page just makes me happy! I was tickled pink with the way this one turned out! I hope you are too!

 

The initial process of this layout is missing as it was too dark to record but I do talk you through what I did to get the ball rolling. Be sure to come back and see how I use this file again. I know at least once more, possibly as third time! Take care scrappy friends!

 

Fall Fest / SpiegelMom Scraps

I have been really enjoying the arrival of Fall here in our neck of the woods and it has made for SO many wonderful memories! I have worked hard to preserve the story of those memories this season and thus, have another Fall themed layout to share with you.

I used yet another Paige Taylor Evans cut file (shocking, I know! LOL!) and used it as a mask to create a more organic background for the layout. Additionally, I flipped over the mask and fussy cut out a few of the leaves to use to embellish the layout thus tying in the background to the embellishment clusters. The fine spray of mist was supplemented with larger droplets to add additional color and more visual interest.

There is a mix of Fall embellishments from Cocoa Daisy, Simple Stories, Carta Bella, anything fall to build up the three clusters. The blue foam of the gold Thicker letters from 1Canoe2 worked perfectly with the bluey-green fleece Mia is wearing as well as the more teal hues in the sequins and patterned papers I chose to use.

Two of the leaves which I cut apart from the digital cut file were backed with vellum and stitched down the center vein to add an opaque look to the leaves. You can see in that close up the lovely simmer of the Puppy Dog Tails sequins mix from SpiegelMom Scraps. These sequins tie the bottom of the layout to the top as the colors are repeated top and bottom.

To add to the organic feel of the layout, the edges of each square have been "quilted" and distressed a little bit. You can see one of the two quilted shaker pockets I created using SpiegelMom Scraps sequins mixes. They add a fun element to the page and mimic the movement of falling leaves.

 

Sometimes it is easier to watch the process come together than it is read it, especially for those of you who are more visual! Enjoy the video!

Thanks for joining me today! Take care!

 

Prickly Abt Math / ScrapMuch / Cocoa Daisy

I was surfing around the ether yesterday in search of something, I'm not really sure what, when I came across this sketch from Laura Whitaker at ScrapMuch?

I love Laura's sketches as well as her scrappy style! This sketch really appealed to me with the square divided on the diagonal and the layers behind multiple pictures. I decided to play along and this is what I created;

I used my March Cocoa Daisy kit in the creating of this layout. The black and white picture of Nikolas and his math tutor was a tad washed out due to the light pouring in the window behind them so by converting to black and white, I was able to still use the picture. I toyed with true black and white and sepia so that it would match the kraft colors I used on the patterned papers. I decided I liked the contrast of the black and white better.

A close up of my title work for you. I used all the letters that came with the kit. In order to get the word "about" to fit, I used the abbreviation instead. The word prickly was chosen to go with the cactus down below. Nikolas is not a fan of math - an inherited trait from his mother. He has really struggled with the consistency and practice that are a necessary component for success in algebra. Given that algebra is the foundation of many things to come in math, we decided, like it or not, he would have a math tutor. And, while it's not his favorite place to be, it has made a world of difference! And, while it has helped, he's still rather prickly about math!

The symbolism of the lightbulbs was another fun play I was able to capitalize upon on this layout. The fact that the light bulb is finally going off and he's getting the concepts and mastering them, not just occasionally chancing upon the correct answer is HUGE!

The cacti from the We R Memory Keepers collection really stumped me. At the time that I was designing with the kit for my Cocoa Daisy work, I just couldn't find a way to incorporate them into my creations. I managed to find the perfect solution here however!

As you can see, I adapted the sketch to suit my needs using only two pictures and converting three large banners to a string of light bulbs. Between the kit and the sketch, this layout came together in a cinch! Love when that happens!


 

Cake or Death / The Project Bin / Cocoa Daisy

I promised you another layout using The Project Bin stamps and that's what I have for you today. Not only did I use another foody related stamp but a Cocoa Daisy kit again. This stamp comes from the Bazinga! stamp set that you can find HERE.

I used the "Cake or Death" sentiment/saying on a Cocoa Daisy DITL card as the center piece of the layout. I pondered eliminating the cupcake and skull so as not to have them overlap with the swooshes that topped and bottomed the pocket card but decided I really liked the icons. I'm still contemplating cut two little bones to put below the skull. I can't decide, what do you think?

I love how crispy and clean these stamps stamp. The image is just perfect! I did heat emboss this too as I pondered adding some extra color. With the dark contrast of the black and white patterned paper behind the card, I opted to leave the matching white and black card. The pink hand doodled line worked well for a splash of color.

Bits and pieces of the Pebbles ephemera scattered into nooks and crannies of the layout really add to the festiveness of the layout. Kelly and I made this chocolate torte for her birthday to celebrate! It is truly one of the BEST cakes I have ever made and had. The sweetness of cooking with my friend and sharing this special treat together made it that much better!

 

 

Happy Layout / Cocoa Daisy / Sketch Inspired

Hello! Hello to you and hello to a "happy" layout! LOL!

Today's layout was created using my March Cocoa Daisy kit based on this month's sketch inspiration. Be sure to check out the Cocoa Daisy blog HERE to see the sketch and see how you might win a $5 gift certificate to the Daisy Boutique!

When sorting through these embellishments, the first thing I did was intertwine those giraffe necks! They are screaming for a cuddle and a little heart above them! I did have to add my own little add on with that wood veneer... While there many hearts in the kit (like the blue sticker below), I really wanted the depth and the gold emboss. Thank goodness for scrappy friends who happen to be gold embossing their own embellishments and were willing to through my heart into the mix!

The two banners you see there (I love us and the wood banner under happy) are from the print and cuts that accompany the March kit. I used just about all of them on the layout I created this month. Two of the banners in the upper right hand corner as from the cut aparts as well. As I've said before, there are always some great exclusives that come with these kits! This month's Cocoa Daisy kits have FLOWN from the store. The colors are sublime with lots of masculine and feminine options, there is a great mix of manufacturer's and as always, the add ons to take your kit to another level are amazing.

 

 

It's reveal night tonight over at Cocoa Daisy and I would love for you to join us! There are two $5 gift certificates good to use at the store up for grabs! You do need to be a member of the forum to participate. Subscribers get to shop tonight while the store opens to the general public later. Most kits sell out quickly, subscribing is truly your best option!

I used the whole color palate of the March kit here on this layout in addition some of the lovely packaging that the Day In The Life kit is nestled within. In uploading my layouts into the gallery, I found that most of my layouts used primarily the cooler colors in the kit with very little of the pink and rarely all of the colors together. This was a nice change, refreshing! Spring-y!

The Day In The Life kit includes that AWESOME roll of washi from Freckled Fawn! I have used various bits and pieces of it through out a numner of my layouts! "So Fun" indeed! Nestled in behind the picture is one of the pocket cards for another layer. I love the mix of both the Pebbles and WRMK ephemera in this kit. Be sure to pick up the Pebble's embellies as part of the Add On collection.

I spy a Cocoa Daisy sticker on that little cluster! The soft yellow fit in perfectly with the color palate of this month's kit and screamed to be used with this picture as I was welcomed to the team. The pink, black and white strip along the vertical length of the layout is one of the exclusive patterned papers that accompany the kit. It is full of fun doodled arrows that dance across the page, you wouldn't know that judging from this snippet. I love how you can make something look so uniquely yours with just one snip!

Thanks for stopping in today! Be sure to come back and visit as I have lots of Cocoa Daisy goodness to share with you this month!

 

 

Splash / Pebbles

Hey there! Just dropping in today to share a summer layout with you. I know the dog days of summer are behind us and Fall is upon us. I love Fall, it's my absolute, hands down, un-arguably my favorite season. But it has rained. And rained. And I feel like I need to build an Ark. So to lift my spirits, this fun summer layout was created!

This whole layout is based on the background sheet from Pebbles Inc "Fun in the Sun" collection. I fussy cut each and every wave and "ruffed" up the top edge. Each wave is glued to a coordinating aquamarine piece of cardstock underneath so as to "reconstruct" the patterned paper. I just love the dimension and movement that this fun technique gives to the page!

This upside down close up gives you a better sense of the ruffled edge and how the waves literally stick out/up from the page.

For a little pizzazz I added Distress Stickles to the die cut star fish shapes! Journaling was printed on vellum and adhered directly to the page. Some sequins make great water bubbles.

I just love the bright patterned papers from this collection as well! They made a fun celebratory banner across the top of the page to support the Back to School party theme. Another small touch are the eyes of the fishes; Hot rocks (gems) adhered with my Imaginisce iRock.

I just love the simplicity of the layout that makes you want to take another look at it and see how there really is more to it than first meets the eye! Have you done something like that lately? I'd love to see it!

Fish & Chips / Pebbles

Yes, shame on me. Yes, I've been incredibly neglectful of this lovely little space here. No, I can't promise I'll be better about posting. But I will do my best. Summer vacations closed out our summer and some personal/family stuff happened. We are trying to find our "back to school" and "back to swimming" groove and with no carpool for Nikolas who goes 5-6 times a week to the pool, that's a lot of groove to find!

Anyway, a layout! On to scrappy goodness!

I had to have this collection from Pebbles! It's not often that I scrap food outside of Halloween and Thanksgiving but this was a momentous occasion that required a layout. Michael and I have had a deep fryer FOR.EVER. We don't use it much. Evidenced by the 6 inch layer of dust we had to clean off before being able to use it! We finally pulled the fryer out and made real, proper, honest to goodness, homemade Engligh fish and chips. All prompted by the cod I bought at CostCo!

It was a joint effort this meal. I did all the shopping and prep work but Michael took over the deep frying. It just kind of happened that way. It was really nice to work together in the kitchen again. Once upon a time we cooked together a lot. Back when we didn't have kids and we had time to spare. Back when it was fun to try new recipes and food was about experimenting rather than fortifying hungry little people.

These cork letters from AC were just the perfect accompaniment to the colors of the kitchen themed papers from this collection. And, of course, my Simple Stories. Coordinates so well together!

LOVE this stamp from Chic Tags. I have never used it before but THIS was the layout that I was waiting for!

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope it was worth your effort. I have a bazillion layouts that I've finished and would love to share with you. It's the photo editing and blogging that I really just don't have time for... I will make the time, bit by bit. So please, stop back in again!

 

Scrappin' Our Stash July 2015 Blog Hop / Pebbles

Hey there! Welcome to another edition of "Scrappin' Our Stash"! You ought to arrived here from Sandy's blog. Should you have come via another route, be sure to start at the beginning and work your way back here. The whole list is a bit further down in the post.

Today I have a Christmas in July layout to share with you! 6 months from today is Christmas eve! Can you believe it?!

I used the "Home for Christmas" collection from Pebbles for this layout along with a few other goodies. But the bulk of the content is "Home for Christmas". Just love me my Pebbles collections!

The die cuts or "Chips" are so adorable! And just perfect for this moment between Granny and granddaughter. Every year that we are together for Christmas, it is tradition for my Mum to assemble and decorate the gingerbread house(s) with the kids. Nikolas has deemed himself too old for such a thing so just Mia participated. She didn't mind as it meant more alone time with Granny and less fighting over which sweeties she would have to decorate with!

American Crafts foam dots are behind the top candy cane to add some dimension to this duo.

While I absolutely LOVE the candy candy stripped Thickers that accompany this collection, they were a bit big for the space I had remaining for a title. I opted for some very stash busting Sassafrass Lass green letter stickers and some equal stash busting Cosmo Cricket. They are smaller and fit better.

Here's this month's line up;

Christine Meyer 

Katrina Hunt

Majken Pullin

Wendi Robinson

Sandy Ross

Suzanna Lee <---- You are HERE!!

Laura Cox

Lyne Schnable-Blodgett

Audrey Yeager

Wendy Bergeron Coffman

Charity Hotrum

Lee-Anne Thornton

Alison 

And because it's Christmas in July and there are always presents for July, I have a little something this month to give away. I have a complete set of the latest Imaginisce collection, Heartland Farms, for one lucky winner!

To be eligible for the prize which will be determined by random drawing you can get one entry for each of the following (please leave one comment for each entry completed);

- leave a comment telling me how you have busted into your stash lately

- follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/suzlee72/

- like my scrappy page on FaceBook  https://www.facebook.com/SuzannaScraps?ref=hl

Drawing will close at midnight EST on Sunday, July 26, 2015. I will announce the winner here on my blog on Monday, probably sometime in the afternoon. I hate to exclude, but with shipping being as it is, I have to limit to shipping in the US and Canada please.

So, Merry Christmas in July! Thanks for stopping in to see how I busted my stash this month! From here you are hopping on to Laura's blog! Thanks for stopping in this month!