Life's Trivialities

Fun & Adventure / Elle's Studio Sketch

I hope you are all back into your routines after the long holiday weekend. I don't know about you but Tuesday's are always brutal for me when we're had Monday's off... Yes, the long weekend is nice! Agreed! The day confusion the day after is not...

I played along with Elle's Studio Sketch Thursday challenge this week. It's been a while since I've done one of these. Have you noticed that a lot of the sketch challenges lately are rather geometric? Perfect for my type of scrapping!

I adjusted two of the "squares" thus enablingn me to use two of the Polaroid frames. Love these pictures of my daughter at the carnival. She just loves doing the line dances but doesn't know the moves and tries keeping up.

Not a new collection but the colors from Saltwater and Cameron went perfectly with the brights in the clowns outfit and the blue sky of the dancing picture!

A few through back OLD elements in there too! Had to go with the theme rather than fresh and new.

Thanks for the inspirations Elle's Studio and thanks to you for stopping in today! Happy Tuesday and here's to hoping the short week passes quickly. My baby turns 8 (yes, EIGHT!) on June 1st. We're celebrating with her friends on Friday!

 

Easter Card / Pebbles Inc & Elizabeth Craft

I created this Easter card for Scrapdoodles today using two Elizabeth Craft dies, some Core'dinations cardstock and Pebbles Inc's "Garden Party". It's festive, interactive and fully loaded with Spring goodness!

The die that was used to create the card base is a single piece of the accordian that one cuts with repetition. I have a tri-fold card here and thus cut three 'bases"; one in yellow, light blue and then pink. There are fancier dies that you can buy to overlay the base but I went with just trimming down a fourth cut from cardstock and trimming it down for the middle panel.

The flowers shown above were created using another Elizabeth Craft die and a Shimmer Sheetz for the turquoise layer of the flower. All the patterned papers are from the wonderfully Spring-y Pebbles Inc "Garden Party" collection. The Shimmer Sheetz was embossed using an embossing folder with a small texture. I will caution you that they do not cut very well, if at all, using an Evolution, without or without the metal adapter that is available or a shim... Big Shot, no problem, came out dazzling! Just be forewarned about the Evolution with this product.

The third panel is a bit of an Easter egg montage with the Peep bunnies, flowers and oval layers. All wrapped up nicely with a bow!

The folds and joins go together very nicely, especially if you use a liquid glue. I made another of these for Core'dinations as home decor that you will see at a future date that I put together with two types of roller application adhesive; they didn't stick as well. I had to go back and apply liquid adhesive. Once you do, there is a nice strong bond that creates a fun interactive and dimenstional card that the whole family is sure to enjoy!

 

My Favorite Things Layout / My Mind's Eye

Scrap Now and Then reveal in the wonders of your work! It's so easy to do both with this latest collection by My Mind's Eye! I picked up the "Mildred" collection to work with and created this layout to share with you. If you were at the Scrapdoodles retreat this past weekend, you might have had a sneak preview of this sitting on my desk!

Creating this layout was a tad different for me. First of all, that white space on the right hand side of the page is unusual for me. It is also not customary for me to do a page that isn't about the picture, especially when you have such a sassy little poser to write about! I also usually base my layout colors on the colors found in the picture(s), with a complimentary color or two. Um, nope! Neither are related in this case!

Each of those flowers is fussy cut from a sheet of paper... they are not die cuts!! As quickly as the layout concept came together, the fussy cutting took a bit of time. It's difficult to appreciate in the pictures but a few of the smaller flowers are pop dotted and raised a tad higher for some depth and dimension to the layout.

I can't honestly say that those are the words out of the babes mouth, per se. I created this layout for a design team assignment for my local scrapbook store, Scrapdoodles, and wanted to get it up to the store along with the manager with whom I was scrapping, so I took an educated guess. When I asked her on Sunday night, I was pleasantly surprised to learn I wasn't far off!

1 Collection, 3 Ways / Studio Calico Storytime

I'm up over at the Scrapdoodles blog today, sharing with you some projects I created with the Storytime collection by Studio Calico. This is the second of three baby line that my design teams are having me work with, incidentally, all three of them American Craft affiliates. Knowing that I have worked with Imaginisce's new line and that Pebbles' is on the way, I wasn't all that thrilled to begin with. Three projects later, I'm glad she pushed me to do something I wouldn't have done otherwise!!

My "baby" girl using mostly the pinks and girlie goodies with the boy clouds thrown in for some contrast - my anti-pink. I like that the pink is really more of a salmon color. In order to be able to use this picture with the subdued color palate, I had to manipulate the picture some in PhotoShop to tone it down a tad.

I have "done" Mia's baby album and a good number of baby layouts of her, I don't need anymore. But the plethora of clouds that were in this collection were perfect for my theme and title "Head in the Clouds". This child is a dreamer!! And it's not that she is a dreamer in the true sense of the word as that she lives in her own little world. What goes on in her head, in her world, is so much more exciting than anything any of us have to share with her!

I wanted a few more clouds. Something would create a visual blending with the tranparency clouds on the grey Core'dinations cardstock. The grey mist and Crafters Workshop mask were just the thing. Interestingly enough, this is not how the layout started out. It began as a 8.5x11 with the picture being on the right hand side. However the misting dictacted a bit of an adjustment! Funny how things happen, isn't it?

Now this layout began as an 8.5x11 and remained as such! Beginning to end, it followed the path I envisioned. Although, that might not quite be the whole truth. I originally had pictures of Nikolas playing the Horton Hears a Who game with the Horton hat on now that I think of it. But once that soft scene was created up top with the clouds and the moon and stars, it just didn't seem fitting. The setting called for a sleeping child.

My one complaint about these transparent embellishments; why is the moon sliver not just cut as a sliver? It looks silly with the whole circle!! I contemplated finishing off the job myself but thought better of it knowing my cut wouldn't be as clean as the rest of the edges...

Lovely little giraffee! I covered up a word with him!! I didn't the whole phrase so I just hid part of it. My layout, my perogative! Love that power!! LOL!! There's something about a baby page that needs that zig zag.

A card! I know, crazy, right? You can pick your jaw up from the floor now! I re-purposed that format of the Veteran's Day card that I made for Imaginisce and used it again here with some of the left over goodies that I had. Knowing that there a plethora of baby things in my stash, I know I won't use the left over on another project unless I make a card. So there you have it. Dead easy with the re-sed format, leftovers and some 110lb Core'dinations cardstock (great for card bases and stamping!). The worst part was the fussiness of lining up the letters to create my phrase and even that wasn't half bad!

 

In addition to the Lawn Fawn letter stamps, I also used one of the new stamp sets from Heidi Swapp. Those little banners are THE BOMB!! I foresee they will be getting a lot of mileage!

My sewing machine stopped cooperating halfway through... Trying to fit the heavy cardstock through the opening in the arm of the machine with wet ink and not mangling the card resulted in tight tension and funny stitches... Ah well, I still love the card! Live and learn!

I have a little something to share with you too! I really like this card with 3 circles down the side and created a sketch from it. I would like to share with you the sketch based on this, my signature card!

If you create a card (or layout!) based on my sketch, I would love to see what you made! You can share here in the comments or over on my Facebook page.

And that, my friends is how you make the most of a baby line and turn it around! Be sure to check back in a month when the Pebbles baby line hits my desk and see what I have to say about that one!! LOL!!

 

Shrek the Halls Layout / Studio Calico Magical

I created this two page layout using Studio Calico's Magical collection for Scrapdoodles! If you haven't seen this collection or grabbed some of it yet, you're missing out. I had grabbed a lot of the embellies and papers before Cheryl asked me to use it and I'll tell you, I'm looking forward to using what recently joined my stash! This collection is definitely unique! The color combinations are definitely bright and the colors rather traditional but there are a lot of unique supplements that separate it from the rest.

Please pardon the glare on the pictures. I did my best with the editing however when one creates at a crop and has to the leave the layout at the store and it's pitch black outside, cell phone pics with indoor flourescent lighting is as good as it gets!

Do you ever look at your layouts photographed and think, I could do this and this and this to the layout? Then you look at the pictures you have just taken and think, nah! It's good as it is cos otherwise I'll have to fight with the cat to get those pictures ALL over again? :) Well there is one slight change to this layout; the deer is now Rudolph, he has a red epoxy nose. And I do think that some of the words in the patterned paper up top with a shot of green here and there would look pretty nifty... But as the layout is already hanging up at Scrapdoodles, it will have to remain as is for now.

This two page layout came together lickety split! I am beginning to become increasingly fond of two page layouts... Something I never thought I'd say.

These pictures were taken at the Gaylord Hotel at the National Harbor in DC. We took the kids there last year and had a blast!! It was so amazing to see the indoor light show, dancing fountain, indoor snow and then enjoy the ice sculptures. Definitely hoping we can make it back this year! Perhaps we'll see you there?

Galette des Rois / Scrapdoodles Sketch

Some of you might recall, I went to Paris last year to celebrate my Birthday with my sister and my parents. While there, I had the fortune of being there for Ephiphany, or Three Kings day. One of the BIG parts of the tradition, is the Galette des Rois, the King's Cake. Accompanying the cake is a crown that is bestowed upon the lucky recipient of La Feve or the bean. This "bean" is now a ceramic trinket that is hidden in the cake. I found the trinket and was Queen for the remainder of the evening!

Scrapdoodles, my LSS in Fredericksburg, Virginia, has been hosting a sketch challenge. I based this layout on the latest sketch created by Karen. Be sure to check out the sketch (HERE) and play along! I am known for using sketches loosely, wanting some personalization. Rather than the second picture, I used that spot for the journal card and glassine bag.

I brought my paper crown home with me, knowing I wanted to use it on a layout. I love incorporating mementos into the layout. I spy some Imaginisce!! Be sure to check the Imaginisce blog next week as we release this new winter/Christmas line!

I just love that little child on the sled from Authentique, couldn't resist. I mixed in buttons, the wreath sticker from WRMK, the number 6 for the date and other fun tidbits into the circles that Karen used.

Of the millions of journal cards out there, some free, some paid for, some Project Life, some knock off, I think these have got to be some of my favorites, from Michael's. There are 5 different packs to choose from. And the glassine bags! Again, there are different sizes and prints to choose from. LOVE, love, love. And the gold works just sublimely with the paper with I based my layout on from Chic Tags!

I think I'm going to have to make my own Galette des Rois and crown for the King or Queen this Christmas and begin a new family tradition! It was such fun! What are your family traditions for the holiday's?

December Daily 2012 / Basic Grey 25th & Pine

I will be at Scrapdoodles up in Fredericksburg today teaching this mini-album! I have never taught before so I'm a little nervous but optimistic that it will go well! The album is a coordinating "Capture" spiral journal with pockets and fun journal spots. The remainder of the contents are from the 25th & Pine coordinating waterfall pack and Jumbo Die Cut numbers

Some of the days have a single page while others are double. When teaching the class, you will leave the picture spots blank to fill in as the month progresses. I created this album utilizing last years pictures so you could have a complete visual of what this will look like.

This is the intro page. Every good book has an introduction! So too should your December Daily!

As you can see, a lot of the pages are interactive; journal cards to lift, doors to open, tags to remove. Lots of nooks and cranny's for lots of little detail.

When I was creating the class, I flipped out a little because I wasn't sure how I was going to utilize all those 4x6 journal cards that came with the waterfall pack as the spiral journal wasn't really big enough to fit them all! I found ways! I found ways!!

There is a glassine bag at the end of the album that you can save tickets or other memorablia in.

Have you thought about your December Daily this year? Have you started the creative foundations of it? There are some amazing options out there! Scrapdoodles has extra kits if you're interested!

Catching Up

I've been a bit negligent of the ol' blog lately, sorry.

Be sure to check out my Gratitude layout up on the Pebbles blog today! I used The Front Porch collection and all of it's wonderful gratitude sentiments to create this thank you for all the little things.

I had a card up on the Imaginisce blog on Monday. Imaginisce is celebrating Veteran's Day all week. There is no job like that of our service men and women past and present who risk their lives daily for our protection. Men and women who serve with pride and honor. They deserve this day in recognition of the sacrifices that they have made personally and that their families have made for us. Thank you! This simple card is a small token of my thanks for all that you have done to keep us safe.

In keeping with the gratitude theme, this layout was up on the Coredinations blog the other day. This child... Fall, autumn, whatever you call this stunning season of changing colors and cool, crisp air, is HER season. She is such an easy going kid and truly, is happy all year round. But there is a unique glow to her during fall. Coredinations cardstock at it's best here too!

Detail pictures available at each of the respective blogs. Thanks for stopping by!

AND, if you're local, I'm teaching this weekend. My first class ever!! It's a December Daily using Basic Grey's 25th and Pine. $27 at Scrapdoodles. It's not too late to sign up. Call (508) 548-3788. You can see the cover and few of the inside pages of the book HERE.

Chalkboard by WRMK

I have a post up on the Scrapdoodles blog today featuring one of the latest (and greatest) chalkboard collections! I just had to have this collections, especially the Project Life cards! Swoon!! The design and coordinating patterns and colors are just stunning!

I have two projects using this line to share with you today.

First up, a gift box created using the yet to be released gift box punch board!! While at CHA I was fortunate to have it demonstrated for me. Not only was I fortunate to see it "in progress" but I had my very own piece of paper pull for me to create this box for this very blog post!!

 

I used a cut file and my Silhouette Cameo to create the bow on top. The heart has a couple of slits through which the lollipop stick (aka arrow) travel. A chevron from one of the sheets of patterned paper serves as the "quill" while a simple triangle makes the arrow head.

I used the same collections to create this layout. Have a million Project Life cards and don't know what to do with them all? Step out of the box (ha ha!) and use them on a layout. They don't have to be reserved for those special plastic page protectors!

I used two 4x3 and a 4x6 project life card from the collection here. I personalized the teal card by inserting black dots along the scalloped edge. I wanted a bit of contrast in the card. Worked well, don't you think?

I wanted to highlight Mia on her ice skates in this Instagram picture. I cut the phrase out of the inside of this sticker and just used the outer edge.

A fussy cut zig zag, a banner sticker, a banner and some thread wrap things up!

So what do you think of the gift box punch board? Pretty nifty, eh? I know they aren't in the store (Scrapdoodles, of course!) yet but they ought to be arriving soon! I think they would make Christmas gift giving quick and easy this year!

 

MME Kate & Co for Scrapdoodles

 

I have two layouts up on the Scrapdoodles blog today! Be sure to swing by and check out the challenge that I've posted too! You could be eligible to win a $5 Scrapdoodles gift card.

I have two layouts which I created using Kate & Co from My Mind's Eye. One of which, is a boy layout!! Even with the teal and hot pink and girlie embellishments, I was able to create a boy layout! Do you remember the Project Life layouts I have shared recently? Yes, well, Scrapdoodle's has created a monster out of me. I have a yet another Project Life inspired layout to share with you!

Thanks to the hot pink in the picture of the boys' names on their dorm room door, I was able to incorporate the pink of the collection into this layout! Each collection comes with plenty of bits and pieces that aren't overly floral or girlie that you can make it work for a boy.

One of the instructor's, Tessa, recently taught a class with a chalkboard technique at the store. This is my title block of the layout, inspired by Tessa's chalkboard effect. I even used chalkboard cardstock for the added effect. Thanks Tessa for the inspiration!

Kate & Co has a lot of great embellishment's that accompany the patterned papers.

Up next, an 8.5x11 inch layout. Again using Kate & Co by My Mind's Eye. Lots of layers here.

Patterns galore! It's okay to use lots of patterns in one small space! By using small snippets of each pattern, you calm things down and contain the busy-ness of each individual pattern. The solids of the yellow and teal of the title help tie everything together.

A small detail featured here is the use of jump rings to hang the banners from twine from The Twinery.

Share your creation inspired by my challenges in the comments of my Scrapdoodles blog post (link to a blog or gallery) and maybe, just maybe, I might find a $5 Scrapdoodle's gift card for one lucky random poster. Have fun creating! I can't wait to see how you step up to the challenge!