Life's Trivialities

Hello Friend / Cocoa Vanilla Studio

 

Hiya there friends! Today's layout is inspired by a free download sketch that you can find over at the Scrapbook Generations online store. If you have followed me for a long time, you will know that I designed for the SG magazine, Create, and contributed to one of the sketch books that Debbie and Allison put out. I have LONG been a fan of SG sketches and when this one popped up on my FB feed, well! Of course I had to play along!

The sketch calls for rounded corners, I just couldn't bring myself to do that. That's not my thing. I'm the one who cuts up PL cards so that I have right angles., I'm the one who struggles with photos that aren't lined up. Yup, that's me. So, you might understand why the rounded corners were a no go!

When I saw the squares in the sketch, I just knew that one of those squares was going to have to a sequins shaker. I wanted to do something a bit different and I wanted a way to "soften" the glare that acetate often results in in sequins shakers. I found the tulle was perfect! It actually allows the sequins to move much more thus really shaking instead of being pinned down to the paper. Win - win in my book! Check out that sequins mix too! It's called Tropical Breeze, from SpiegelMom Scraps! It's the perfect compliment to this collection, More Than Words, from Cocoa Vanilla Studio. If you shop at SpiegelMom Scraps and use the code SUZANNA15 you can get 15% off.

I did pull in a few other bits and pieces from my stash; those letters for "friend" and the really old arrow from Studio Calico. I wanted a bit more of the aqua color and didn't have them available in all the goodies that were sent to me from Scrapbook Your Joy. If you are on the look out for Cocoa Vanilla Studio goodies, then be sure to check out Scrapbook Your Joy.  Sandra carries other goodies too, like the new Indigo Hills 2 from PinkFresh Studio!!

If you are of the process video persuasion, be sure to check out my video. If you want to fast forward to the shaker bit, it's at 4:10.

 

Thanks for stopping in today! If you have anything you want to see me create with, a particular collection, a particular technique, anything, be sure to leave me a comment and let me know so I can see what I can do!

 

Snow Blessed / PinkFresh Studio / Christmas in July

I have been DYING to get some Christmas in July projects completed and finally, I have had time to create. This layout is pretty cool in my opinion.

See that photo shaker pocket?! It has sequins in it! And when you shake the page, it literally looks like falling snow! It's the closest I can get to having true movement on a page and I'm thrilled to pieces with the way it turned out! What do you think?

The sequins mix is from SpiegelMom Scraps and is called Wedding Bells if you think you need to create something like it. AND if you use the code SUZANNA15, you can save yourself 15% off over at the store on anything in the store. I just up a Project Life page protector (so three sides were already sealed), added the photo and sequins mix then sealed the fourth side with my Fuse tool. Viola! Simple yet so effective!

The digital cut file is actually a #10 card with layers that I adjusted to fit on a square piece of paper. I doodled on the triangular trees and used some PinkFresh Studio to further embellish the layout. This photo was actually taken so I can work on my house in the four different seasons series that I had started. The initial hold us was lack of winter photo and now it's pondering a fitting collection that has "home sweet home" for a winter layout... Someday. Add it to the list!

 

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you are inspired to create your own snow fall!

 

Come Fly With Me / Swimming Layout / Large Photo Layout

Recently, Jody, owner of SpiegelMom Scraps, released a whole slew of new FREE digital cut files. I saw this "Come Fly with Me" cut file and immediately thought of my daughter, doing her butterfly race the night before. I know this isn't what most people think of but if you are a swim Mom, you will understand. I had to create a layout using this cut file and show you, once again, how things can be used for a purpose other than that intended. A little bit of creativity is all it takes!

My favorite way of scrapbooking utilizing the 8.5x11 or letter size format is with large photos. I can print them at home which makes it even more convenient! As you can see, I used the cut file directly onto the photo. I changed my usual 12x12 mat size to letter size on in Design Studio, centered the file and sent it to print, it was dead easy. I love this effect. Its' similar to what I did with a 12x12 layout about Sequoia NP lately.

I used rub ons on this layout too! Do you remember those things that used to be really big, way back when? I have a drawer full of them. I really need to bust into the drawer and use some of them up. These are Tim Holtz rub ons that I got on a recent trip to Tuesday Morning. They are a perfect way to add some color or visual interest to a large photo layout!

Sequins! If you know me, you know I design for SpiegelMom Scraps. And you know that I have two swimmers. Sequins and swimming go together perfectly when it comes to memory keeping. The sequins adds the perfect sparkle to water, especially if you are outdoors. I often have people ask how I adhere those pesky little disks of shimmery goodness to the page. The accompany process video shows you at the end of the video.

 

You can see that here as well as how the layout comes together. Thanks for stopping in today!

December Daily 2017 Process / Title Page, Shaker Word

I have decided to give it a go, again... I'm not sold this is a wise idea but, I am not one to give up. I got a good way into last year, perhaps this will be my year. I decided simple has got to be the way the go so I started out as I mean to move forward: with a simple yet colorful title page.

A digital template was involved in the creation of this giant shaker shape as my title page. It truly is simple. Yet effective. Or, I think so anyway. It doesn't need much more and let's the star shine!

I used "Oh What Fun" sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps and my Fuse for this along with patterned paper from the Crate Paper "Falala" collection. The "yellow" is actually a matte gold that I had. I like the yellow'ish look and will try to incorporate more of that into the book to add more than the tradition green and red.

 

The process video is a bit of a tutorial offering you tips and tricks on using your Fuse. I invested in the Fuse mat and it has made a world of difference for me! A glass mat works nicely but the Fuse mat works even better. The glide of the tool is much more even thus providing a cleaner, more consistent seal.

This will be one of the pockets in the book. As I haven't made much head way in setting up foundation pages, I don't know what day this will appear. I only today found the album I want to use. I'm bummed that Simple Stories SNAP albums aren't readily available at Michaels like they used to be. Instead I found this recipe album at TJ Maxx that has 3 rings. I will continue to use the Simple Stories divided page protectors, I am just going to have to re-punch them to the format of my binder. A good excuse to buy the WRMK planner punch board thingy, don't you think?!

The sequins I used for the "O" wreath in Noel is also from SpiegelMom Scraps and called "Shabby Chic Christmas". I love the aqua wood grain in this! Just sublime! The digital cut file is something I made myself specifically for this purpose. Come back later this week and see how I used that same file on a scrapbook layout!

If you have any December Daily tutorials or other things you would like to see, do comment either here or on my YouTube channel and I will see what I can do! I have had such fun with my Fuse and sequins lately!

Are you doing December Daily? Are you all set up, ready to go? I can't believe tomorrow is December 1st!

Thanks for stopping in! Take care!

 

Autumn Memories / Washi Technique

I have a fun technique to share with you today using a large digital cut file (or hand cut shape) and washi!

I used washi to fill in the backing of the leaves! I put strips of washi side by side on an angle on white cardstock then traced the shape of each side of each leaf and fussy cut the half. Each half was then glued to the back of the digital cut file and wham! A colorful fall leaf! Or apple, or Christmas tree or black bat for Halloween? How cool would that be?

This close up gives you a close look at the torn washi ends that add a fun organic feel to the layout. Even the distressed Core'dinations cardstock with the "veins" in it really add to the look, don't you think? And the wonderful Twinery twine!

Also adding to the organic, Fall feeling are mist splatters and some SpiegelMom Scraps sequins!! Love me my SMS sequins mixes! Jody makes the best mixes! Speaking of which, be sure to check out her November releases! There are a million new AWESOME mixes!! Can I just tell you; wood grain sequins!

I am not adverse to handwriting on a layout but I really wanted more of a camouflaged look for my journaling and something that stood out against all those leaves on that Simple Stories patterned paper. So many fun little embellies to add to the story I'm telling!

 

I think it's easier to see how the washi technique came together on my process video! Enjoy! Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you had a chance to subscribe to my YouTube, if not, join me! It's been a fun ride with lots of fun things to come in 2018! AND when I get to 1,500 subscribers, I am going to a a giveaway!!

 

Adventures @ NAG / Stash Bash YouTube Hop

I'm back with another process video! Once a month some of my scrappy peeps and I get together to try knocking out some of our stash focusing on a monthly theme. This month we are focusing on using that wood veneer that you have hoarded.

One of the things that I really struggle with with wood veneer is the lack of color. If you know me, you know that color is something I love on my pages. The more the better. Rarely do I create with browns so nothing in the realm of wood veneer works with my pages. I decided that I had to figure out a way to make them work for me. I did just that this month!

Here's my process for the whole layout I created and a mini tutorial on making those wood veneers a tad more colorful. Or suitable for more color.

Really it doesn't take much; just a bit of gesso and then some form of color to put on top; distress paint, acrylic paint, marker, mist. What ever you desire. You could even emboss, wet emboss, to get color onto your wood veneers.

Silly kids... Teens these days! It's rare that I get pictures from my son so when another swim mom forwarded me this picture that her son sent her, I was thrilled to pieces. It was even more previous to me in that Nikolas was a team travel swim meet so it was nice to know he was alive and thriving. You can see in the picture below, the star that I used Distress Paint on over the gesso on the right and the "orange" star on the left. It was as vibrant as I had anticipated but it worked. I could have gotten out more paint and painted over for a brighter pop, I was just lazy. I'm being honest.

I love the layers on this layout. It's sort of like a flip chary. You actually lift up the picture to read the journaling on the green "Our Great Adventure" journaling card from an ages old Cocoa Daisy kit. It's a very busy page but when you have busy kids, busy pages are fitting, don't you think?

That's it for me today! I hope I have inspired you to reach into that amassing wood veneer stash and take a stab at using it up. If you create something woody, do share! I would love to see how you use up your wood veneers!

From here, if you are hopping with us on YouTube today, you will head on over to Rebecca's channel, I have linked her up in the description of my channel. You will head HERE.

Family Frolic / Cocoa Daisy

The WrinkLee's (my parents) were in town visiting recently and we went on a little "frolic". Despite the rain in the forecast, Michael thought a stroll in a park we had taken the kids to years before would be a good idea. And it was a good idea. It would have been a better idea 30-45 minutes prior however. Our walk was cut very short by the looming grey clouds that grew darker and darker. We made it back to the vehicle just in time as big, fat drops began to fall! This page documents those pre-downpour moments together.

We took a lot of family pictures and I wanted to document those moments together. You wouldn't know looking that a few of these pictures the grey clouds that were heading our way, imminently about to dump buckets and release hail! The first few minutes were truly lovely - that calm before the storm. And what better way to document those early spring moments that with the March Cocoa Daisy kits. The kit comes with some wonderful fringed butterflies from Maggie Holmes. I wanted more and decided to set out on making some mock butterflies. I did a quick video tutorial that you can find on my YouTube channel. I'll link the direct video here too.

Really all you need are some patterned papers and fringe scissors. It's super easy to do! If you had a butterfly punch you could do the same thing as I did here. I just happened to want to a similar size to the Maggie Holmes butterflies so used a digital cut file instead. What the video doesn't show is that once the butterflies were finished, I used my Souffle pens on the black body to add some "body paint" for some added pizzaz!

You can see that "body paint" on the body of the butterfly much better in the pic above. If you try this, link me up and share your butterflies inspired by my quick tutorial, I'd love to see how yours turned out! If you have questions about my process, don't hesitate to ask!

The print and cut files that accompany the March kit are, as always, superb! They really are worth the subscription to the kit! The kits are fantastic but the subscriber extras truely take the kits to another level! It's so fun to have those extras! That doodles cloud from the print and cut files is my favorite! I know I will use that again and again. This is not the first time I've used it! Nor will it be the last!

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you and your family have had some fun frolics lately!

 

 

Lucky / Craftwell and Xyron

Today I have another large photo layout to share with you. I love the busy background with all the fun sayings but it leaves little room, between the picture size and the activity for journaling. So, I created a pocket for the Project Life card that I used to tuck behind the picture for journaling.

 

 

One of the things you will notice about my layouts is that I often hide my journaling. Not because I don't want you read what I have to say but merely because, even on a 12x12 page, there just isn't room for all of what I want to say. I want the pictures to be the primary focus and the story to accompany them but not be distracting. In order to accomplish that on this layout, with such a large picture, I used some Xyron 1/2 inch double-sided tape to create a pocket for the Project Life card I used for journaling.

 

 

I laid the Project Life card on the background patterned paper and put three stripes of tape for the side edges and bottom of the pocket. Peel off the top backing paper and then stick your picture on top! Viola! A journaling card pocket. Some washi folded over the card edge creates a visual pull tab.

 

 

You will see that this particular card is empty, void of journaling... It WILL be filled shortly. I have been working on my son (the boy with glasses) to begin telling his own story. He is old enough (12 years old) that he can identify his feelings and speak from the heart. He is far less intimidated by that proposition knowing that the words he shares are behind the picture and not visible to the world.

 

 

Additional Xyron products I used on this page include the 3 inch Sticker Maker and the Tape Runner. The 3 inch sticker maker is perfect for running mutliple embellishments through at once and save the waste of the pre and post "roll" tape. In this picture you will see the tag and stars that I cut using my Craftwell Cut'N Boss and Craftwell/Teresa Collins dies. One pass through the 3 inch Sticker Maker and I'm done!

 

I don't often use this combination of colors for a boy page but the setting, Sweet Frog, was full of brighter, more feminine colors and it worked perfectly together.

 

These kids are kids that Nikolas swims with and with whom he went to Eastern Zones a few weeks ago. They understand one another, these kids. They are all in the same boat; navigating the tween world, in the pool 5 times a week with many a weekend consumed as well, balancing swimming, social life and school. It's reassuring as a parent to see friendships come out of all that time spent together!

Lucky U Layout / Welding with 17turtles

Today I'm sharing with you a layout that I created for St Patrick's Day using a Christmas file from 17turtles. The file is called Plaid Plaid Christmas however, really, you can use it for SO much more. Take this St Patrick's day layout, for example.

I used the argyle part of the file and welded it together to create three "sections" of connected argyle using the one that came in the file. I duplicated the whole file twice and then lined the up where I wanted them to be, making sure that the "x"'s of the argyle overlapped. Before welding those lines, don't forget to remove the diamonds or they will weld into the pattern.

This is what my screen looked like after clicking weld. Cut these welded argyle lines in black and slide them off the cutting mat, making room for the diamonds.

And there you have it, an Irish argyle perfect for any St Patrick's day layout! You could even machine or hand stitch to take it a step further. My original intent had been to do just that however I felt like the page was busy enough and didn't need anything additional. Not to mention, I was at an away crop sans sewing machine...

Mixing and matching some old and new Bella Blvd. I love the new Color Chaos collection and the monthly pocket cards.

I hope you see how you can branch out and use cut files for a little more than their intended purpose! Even the stars of this file would be suitable for so much more than just Christmas! That is kind of a no brainer though.

 

Custom Cut Files and Offset How To with 17turtles

Do you know those brush script fonts that are all over the scrappy world that really ROCK a scrapbook page? Do you ever think, that's really cool but I wish it said "________", (fill in the blank with the title you want)? Well, have I got the solution for you!! 17turtles has custom files available for purchase, Juliana can create that custom title for you! Read on to find out how!

I used Custom Scrapbook Title No. 6 from 17turtles Etsy shop to create the title for this page. When you have custom cut files, you have up to 3 words available. I clearly have more than 3 words so paid twice for the longer title thus allowing me to add 3 additional words (of which I only wanted 2).

Here's a closer view of the title itself and that awesome brush font! The font itself is a bit more compact than what you see. I made the file longer (taller, perhaps a better descriptor) in Studio and also created an offset to pop the title a little bit more. Here's how you do that;

Click on the Offset button and the window on the right pops up. Choose the distance that you want the offset to be from the original file (I used 0.075) in this case and click on "apply". Be sure to move your original file off of the visual cutting mat in order to only cut the offset background.

This is the specific custom file that I used it this one;

The other 17turtles digital cut file I used on this layout was a freebie that Juliana has for download called Hand Drawn Circles. You can find that file on her blog HERE. The next two close ups are of two of those circles cut using the same gold cardstock as the title.

I know the date is missing a year. I had to text my Mum to see what year they were married and where. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. She didn't get back to me in time so I wrote it in after the pictures were taken. But the info it there, promise!

Another hand drawn circle just poking out from underneath the picture. They make nice subtle elements to the layout. Compliments to the gold polka dots.

Be sure to check out the six different font/script type available for custom scrapbook titles by 17turtles! You can see all six of them HERE.