#Look - and a challenge (and a prize)

I haven't been scrapping as much lately and I certainly haven't been spending my 30 minutes a day in my scrap room.  But for the last couple of days I have been thinking about scrapbooking and what it means to me.

While I scrapbooked (is that a word?) on and off starting in high school, I got serious when my children were little.  I've been playing with paper pretty seriously for more than fifteen years now.  Somewhere along the line, almost all the pictures from my childhood got lost or thrown away.  It was important to me that I preserved those memories for my children so that the same thing didn't happen to them.

When I started scrapbooking it was all about the event and big moments in their lives - birthdays, holidays, the big game, the first day of school.....But over time, and especially in the last few years, my focus has shifted to more of the moments and things that make up everyday.  And the act of creating became way more important to me.  In fact, I know - and my family knows - I am a much happier person if I find at least 30 minutes to create every day.

That focus on the everyday little things is the biggest gift I have received from scrapbooking.  It makes me much more aware of the world I live in and helps me look at things differently.  So last night I decided to try and capture that in a layout.

I found a black and white photo of a tree trunk in box of random photos.  I took it during the Snapshot class at Studio Calico last September.  I think the prompt was "Texture."

I used a grid design that allowed me to use a lot of small details that seem unrelated but really went with my theme.  Plus it was a great way to use up lots of bits sitting on my desk. I really like all the bright papers and embellishments with the black and white photo too!

So I am going to focus on the things I love about scrapbooking and hope my urge to create comes roaring back.  In the meantime, I am going to try to remember to look at the everyday things. I thought maybe you all could help me too.  So here's the challenge:

Pay attention to the things you see everyday (you probably already do this if you are a scrapbooker).  Take a photo, make a layout and link me up.  I will pick one person at random to receive a $10 gift certificate at their choice of Paper Issues, Studio Calico, Citrus Twist or My Scraps and More.  All entries have to be posted by August 1 at midnight. Your layout should be a new project.

I can't wait to see what you come up with.  And I can't wait to be inspired by you.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Splash!

I love to use a sketch as a starting point.  But recently I realized that the way I use sketches has really changed.  I used to print the sketch and try to duplicate the design.  Now I tend to look at the sketch and then go to my desk and get to work.  This way I find that I pull some key elements that stand out to me and create (sort of) my own design. 

The sketch Citrus Twist kits published on Sunday is a great example. 

When I look at this sketch I focus on the square and rectangular elements layered down the page, the tag ('cause I love tags) and the cluster at the top corner.  So I used the June Citrus Twist kits and came up with this.

My design cascaded on a more horizontal or diagonal path when I was done.  And I used one photo instead of three. It turned into my own design inspired by that sketch. And one of my favorite parts is the mix of sparkly stars, sequins, and puffy dots with gold and white ink splatters. 

I attached the sequins using a fun technique I learned on someone else's blog a couple of years ago.  Instead of attaching the sequins with adhesive under them, I placed a drop of glossy accents on top of each sequin.  When the glue dries, the sequin is firmly adhered and it looks a bit like a water droplet.  It is a great technique for beach and water pictures!

You just have to make sure that cupped sequins are flat side down or the sequin won't be stuck to your page.  (I learned that the hard way on this project.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

Kit Review: Scrapbook Circle

Prior Reviews

Citrus Twist Kits

Hip Kit Club

Felicity Jane

It's another Monday and time for another kit review.  I have been lucky enough to win both the May and July kits from Scrapbook Circle.  My plan was to work with the May kit this week, but when the July kit showed up on my doorstep, plans changed.  So I played with the July kit from Scrapbook Circle.

The kit had a great color palette that would lend itself to both bright and soft layouts.  Papers came from Crate Paper, Shimelle, Dear Lizzy and Pink Paislee.  The mix of embellishments was great too - The puffy stickers from SevenPaper are one of my recent favorites.  And I loved the Elle's Studio wood veneer pack.  (It made me wonder why I don't have more Elle's Studio in my stash.)  And the exclusive cork pieces were really fun.  The kit also came with an exclusive stencil which might help push me into experimenting with some of those mixed media supplies I've accumulated.

However, the only alphabet was the small tile style alpha from Shimelle.  I missed having a large scale alpha in the kit (although I have the world's largest collection of thickers and really don't need any more so that is really silly).  The kit does not include a stamp (important if you are a stamper)and does not include any cardstock - which doesn't bother me because I rarely use it.

These kits are not offered on a subscription basis - an interesting twist in a time when so many companies are focusing on securing commitments.  That's definitely an advantage in my book.  And they offer add-ons (including more pp and cardstock), cut files  and printables that coordinate with the kits.

My intention was to put together a layout that used some of the bright colors in this kit.  But I ended up with this layout emphasizing soft, pretty colors about my daughter helping me fix Thanksgiving dinner (2 and a half years ago - I might be a bit behind).

Design inspired by July 4th scraplift challenge at My Scraps and More

I added the doily, sequins and small pink alpha to the kit products for my layout. The label with the gold border made me really happy and I think I used almost an entire pack of the Elle's Studio wood veneers.  

The kit was lots of fun (the May kit is really pretty too) and I love that you don't have to make a commitment - I will be checking their website every month to see the kits and I am sure that some of them will be showing up on my doorstep in the future.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

Sunshine

My mojo is gone and I'm not sure why.  Maybe it's all the rain in Ohio this summer.  But I need to get it back.  I get cranky when I am not finding time to scrap every day.  So I went to my favorite jumpstart - a sketch - and picked a summery palette and an old beach picture to counteract all the fray rainy days.

Citrus Twist Kits publishes a sketch on their blog every Sunday.  They are usually fun and adaptable.  Here is the one from last Sunday.

What really struck me was the large vertical element, the tag (one of my favorite elements)  and the text at the bottom of the layout.  And I pulled out the June Citrus Twist kits - they have a great summery mix of products. 

But I didn't have a large vertical photo I wanted to scrap - I had this 4x4 photo of my daughter at the beach a million years ago.  I created the vertical element with some patterned papers and used embellishments to create text elements under the photo.  I loved the tag transparency from Pink Paisley that was in the kit and didn't want to waist any of it.  So I cut it in two and created a sense that the tag ran under the entire photo block. 

Then I played with bits and pieces and ended up with a simple grid (big surprise right)to finish off the layout.  I love the mix of Poolside diecuts, evalicious, seven paper vellum hearts and citrus twist puffy stickers.  The end result was a bright, sunny layout that chased those rainy day blues away.

When I'm stuck, that first layout is the hardest - now I'm ready to play.  And it's Saturday, so I should have some time.  Hope you have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by.

Kit Review: Felicity Jane

Happy Monday!  It's time for the third installment in the kit review series I am doing.  This week I played with the June Felicity Jane kit titled "I Am...."

Felicity Jane is a fairly new kit club.  The kits feature exclusive papers each month.  I would describe them as modern takes on classic patterns.  The color combinations and patterns in the kit each month are swoon worthy.  But I am a bit of a paper snob - I generally only use good quality paper that has a nice weight to it.  So before I committed to a kit, I ordered the paper pack a couple of times to try it out.  And it turned out that the papers were even more beautiful in person. 

Another great feature of the kits is the packaging.  First it shows up on your step in a bold black and white striped box - somehow that makes the mail just a little bit more fun.  Your kit is wrapped in black polka dot tissue and tied with a big black ribbon. There is a pile of white shredded paper on top. It just made it feel a little bit like I was opening a present.  And (at least in June) all the tiny bits and pieces came in a round black and white striped box.  I have visions of having a row of them filled with little bits in my craft room some day.

In addition to the six unique two sided papers, the kit included 2 sheets of cardstock (one piece was kraft with large gold dots this month) and lots of bits and pieces.  Each month the kits also include  a 6x12 sheet of exclusive cut aparts that coordinate with the papers and an exclusive stamp.

I used the kit to create a title page for my daughter's 7th grade album.  I was using a school picture and I thought the kit offered lots of bits to use to dress up that boring school picture.  Here's what I came up with.

 One of my favorite things about this kit was that it inspired me to use techniques that I don't often take time for.  I pulled out my watercolors to personalize the white foam die cut leaves and word "love."  And I used my silhouette to cut that big number 7.  I love the look I got (accidentally on purpose) by using the center of the bull's eye paper.  And I took that adorable red and white clothespin apart - both so it was less bulky and so I would be able to use it again.  The only thing I used here that wasn't is the paper tape on the bottom of the layout (my desk was so messy that I thought it was part of the kit - ha!)

So I loved the Felicity Jane kit.  It was such a unique combination of colors, patterns and embellishments (gold polka dot "sequins"?!).  I already have my eye on the July kit.  But they've been selling out so I better make up my mind quickly.

So I am still working on this series - still to come are Studio Calico, Scrapbook Circle, Scraptastic and Paper Camellia.  I also have my eye on Gossamer Blue, Cocoa Daisy and Clique Kits.  Are there any others I am missing?

And if you missed them and are interested, here are links to the first two installments:

• Citrus Twist Kits
• Hip Kit Club

Thanks for stopping by!

Kit Review: Hip Kit Club

This is the second post in my weekly kit review series.  Last week I looked at the June Citrus Twist Kit Club scrapbook kit.  This week I'm focusing on Hip Kit Club.  I had the May scrapbook kit to play with.

The kit was a great mix of products and colors from Dear Lizzy, Pink Paislee, and Chickaniddy Crafts. I especially liked the addition of the Chickaniddy Crafts papers and embellishments, because it is a line that I rarely purchase.  Its always fun to play with something knew.    The kit came with two alphas - both a package of Thickers and a Pebbles mini alpha.  Since I am something of an alpha addict, I loved that.  And this kit also included Evalicious puffy stickers and wood veneer phrases.  I'm a huge fan of including small business products in kits and Evalicious is a favorite of mine.  This kit did not include a stamp (not a big deal for me but something to consider if you really love stamping.)

So the test - could I make a layout.  Here is what I came up with using only the main kit. 

design inspired by sketch at My Creative Sketches

The mix of papers, Citrus Bliss die cut pack, and the Evalicious wood veneer pieces worked perfectly with this picture of a favorite piece of beach glass (a heart made from a beer bottle - too cool right?).  I used pop dots and inked the edges of some of the die cuts to help create interest.  The layout came together quickly and I have lots of  supplies leftover.

The kit is $29.95 for subscribers and $34.95 for non-subscribers. Subscribers get a 15% discount on add-ons which is a great perk.  If you subscribe, the initial commitment is for 3 months (which is probably the right amount of time to decide if a kit subscription is working for you).  After the first 3 months, you can cancel at any time with 30 days notice.

Hip Kit Club offers a number of add-ons each month.  There is an embellishment kit that can really stretch your kit, a patterned paper kit which provides an extra sheet of the paper in the main kit and a cardstock add-on.  (The main kit doesn't include cardstock but I rarely use cardstock so that's a win from my perspective.)  They also offer a "Color Kit" which would be a great way to experiment with multi-media products and techniques and a project life style kit.

The kit was bright and fun.  I had a great time experimenting and the pieces I didn't use moved right into my stash.  The products were things that were versatile and that I would use.  It is definitely a great kit option, especially since you only need to make a 3 month commitment to get the lower price. 

I still have Studio Calico, Scrapbook Circle and Felicity Jane kits sitting here to review.  I am also looking at adding others to my list.  I love the suggestions you all have made.  Keep 'em coming. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Inspired by Paper

I don't think it would surprise anybody to find out that my "go to" for inspiration is a sketch.  But sometimes I find a piece (or 2) of patterned paper that I love and that serves as my design inspiration.  This piece from the Crate Paper Craft Market Line  is one of those papers.

I loved that sparkly gold corner and that rich green color.  And it came is the Jupiter add-on this month at Studio Calico with these papers from Shimelle and Dear Lizzy.

Shimelle - English Breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Lizzy - Gleeful

I loved the way these three sheets worked together.  The pink really popped against the green and gold.  And the paper from Shimelle really tied them together.  But I couldn't figure out how to put to them into a layout together.  So I got them out and put them away and go them out and - you get the picture.

Then I decided to play off that diagonal design on the crate paper layout.  I cut a strip from the striped paper on the diagonal - it created a great pattern.  And I placed it where the gold and green met.  And I was off and creating!

I used the pink Dear Lizzy paper to mount my photos and built my photo block from there.  The B side of the Shimelle striped paper worked really well as I layered too. From there it was quick and easy - a couple of embellishment clusters a title and some white ink splatters and I was done.  And I love that I have a bright, fun layout that still looks a little girly - perfect for volleyball and Elisabeth.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have a great day.

Kit Review: Citrus Twist Kits

Note:  This series was in the works before the recently announced changes at Studio Calico.  

I celebrated my three year anniversary as a Studio Calico Subscriber this month.  In addition, the 36 main scrapbook kits, I've purchased tons of add-ons, card kits, and project life kits over that time.  I still remember how excited I was when that first kit showed up on my front step (it was So Cal).  And I still get that same thrill each month.  But it seems like there are many more kit choices these days.  And I have to admit to being curious about the choices out there - is Studio Calico still the best fit for me?  So I am beginning a weekly series where I will look at one of the kit offerings each Monday. This week I am focusing on the June offerings from Citrus Twist kits.

In an effort to make fair comparisons, I am going to focus on the main kit each week.  The June kit from Citrus Twist is just lovely!  The colors are bright and fresh and its a great mix of manufacturers/  There were patterned papers from Pink Paislee, Amy Tangerine, SevenPaper, and Crate Paper.  The mix of embellishments is great too - I especially loved the Evalicious puffy stickers and the frames (a partial pack from Crate Paper).  They also include exclusive wood veneer pieces and an exclusive stamp in their kits. 

For me the ultimate test of a kit is whether it is easy to work with.  Now I struggle with limiting myself to a single kit when I scrap, but I am making a real effort for this series.  Here's the layout I made - I added a piece of vellum from my stash but the rest of the supplies were from the Citrus Twist Scrapbook kit.

The kits was super easy to play with and lots of fun to work with.  And check out the glittery pink and orange stars.  They were such a fun touch!  I had tons of product left after I finished this layout too.

The pricing structure is based on different commitment levels ranging from $26 for a six month commitment to $32 for a one time purchase. Shipping is additional.

And while I'm focusing on main scrapbook kits (mostly) in this series, I wanted to mention the add-ons here.  I really loved the different kinds of add-ons and the choices it provides.  There is one traditional add-on, two different patterned paper add-ons (which I love since I am a bit obsessed with pretty paper), an embellishment add-on, a "sprinkles" add-on which is a mix of bits and pieces (often partial packs), a stamp add-on, and a couple of cardstock add-on choices.  I love that I could pick the kinds of products that would really help me stretch my kit within my style.  ( I got the traditional add-on, the sprinkles add-on, the embellishment add-on and both patterned paper add-ons).  But I rarely use cardstock or stamps, so I left those there.  Citrus Twist kits also offers a project life style kit.  (Yesterday I shared a layout mixing products from my entire CTK haul)

So I loved my Citrus Twist kits and actually made a 3 month commitment.  And I'm thinking about switching to a 6 month commitment.  Oh - and I should add - your 13th kit is free!

So I have stashed away kits from Felicity Jane, Hip Kit Club and Scrapbook Circle already.  And of course I will be reviewing a Studio Calico Kit.  But what others are you interested in or do you think I should try? There are just so many choices.  I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Sun-kissed

I love the colors in the summer themed lines this year - aqua, orange, citrusy yellow, blue and pink.  The are so bright and fresh!  So when I looked at the current sketch at Stuck!,  I knew I wanted to play with those shades. 

I was really inspired by all the vertical layers in this sketch.  I really focused on pulling those elements into my layout.  I was working with a single 4x6 picture (another old one from when my kids were small), so that element worked really well for me.  Here's what I ended up with.

I love those mason jars you fill from Crate Paper - and the way it added another vertical element to my layout.  And since I don't have a sewing machine, I used a little glossy accents to glue it closed.  It dries clear so you don't notice the glue at all.

Note:  I made this layout with a kit and add-ons from Citrus Twist Kits.  Tomorrow I am starting a weekly series of kit reviews with the Citrus Twist Kits June scrapbook kit. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Color Theory Labels

Happy Workspace Wednesday!  My real workspace (where they pay me)  is crazy busy right now, but I have dreams of spending more time in my fun workspace.  It's full of pretty things that make me happy - like this bowl full of color theory labels.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mixing Metallics

Metallics are a huge trend in scrapbooking right now.  And I'm all in - I love the shine and/or glitter they add to my projects.  But I've always used one metallic on a project - silver, rose gold, gold, bronze or copper.  I don't mix metallic when I am picking jewelry so why would I mix them on a scrapbook project?

But the challenge this week at Studio Calico was to pull together a simple project with new (to you) colors.  So I challenged myself to mix metallics.  (And as a bonus, my simple layout design was based on the Sunday sketch.)

Saturday my daughter printed some pictures from her freshman year of high school from her phone and gave them to me to scrapbook for her album.  Those photos are a gift since candids with friends are hard to come by when they are in high school.  And one of those photos were of a friend - Christian - she talked about all year long.  I am super excited to be able to incude that relationship in her album.

I had a tag from the Pink Paislee Atlas collection (LOVE!) sitting on my desk that started my design.  Then I pulled some scraps of my favorite papers from the Carolina Moon kit that happened to coordinate perfectly with the tag.  In the spirit of keeping it simple, I didn't trim a single piece of paper or mat my picture.  I just laayered the paper strips and tags one either side of hte picture.

The tag had silver accents and I attached a Heidi Swapp charm to the twine running through the tag to add  different element.  And I added some other little emebellishments, including copper hearts  (from the Galileo project life kit) and arrows (from Pretty Little Studio).  Silver stars and dots from the Bottle Toss project life add on last night added more shine.  And that big white acrylic word created a great title without weighing down the whole layout.  I really like the white on white.

I have to admit to linking the mix of copper and silver here.  Maybe I should try mixing metallics when I wear jewelry too?

Thanks for stopping by.

Pink and Yellow

I'm still spending most of my free time (which has been limited) on "The Big Purge."  But I am trying to squeeze in a bit of scrappy time too.  Yesterday I put together a quick layout pulling peices from the new Galileo kits at Studio Calico and my stash. I wanted to try a color combination that was out of my comfort zone so I pulled inspiration from the Pink Paislee Bella Rouge line - pink, yellow and black..

I pulled a piece from my stash that had all those colors and then looked for papers to add - I used the pink and gold from Dear Lizzy that is in the Saturn Add On at Studio Calico, a bright yellow sheet from the Elle's Studio Let's Eat line and a black and white stripe from my scrap pile.  I pulled a piece of white cardstock for my base.And then I was stuck - literally.

When I'm stuck I usually look for a good sketch.  I found this one at Stuck! sketches.

I cut my papers based on a loose interpretation of the sketch.  But I really wasn't loving the look.  So I switched to a subtly patterned sheet for the base - which helped a lot.  Then I shifted the design to one side and ended up with this layout.  It offered room for me to play with all those bits and pieces I love. 

Now I need to get back to my scrap room purge and reorg.

One more thing - I picked a winner for my paper giveaway a while ago. But I haven't heard from her.  If I don't hear from her this week, I will be picking a new winner on Monday.

Thanks for stopping by.


Thanks for stopping by

Two Layouts with the Same Paper

So I know you are sick of hearing about The Big Purge.  But one incentive for finishing up the project is trying to reduce the amount of time I spend choosing supplies for a layout.  Picking the paper can take longer than actually coming up with a design and putting it together. 

But what happens if you try to get two layouts out of the same papers - I almost never use a whole sheet unless it is a base for the design.  So Friday night I wandered into my scraproom to play and picked two papers.

This pretty pink from the Amy Tangerine Rise and Shine Collection - I love the way the pink shades toward peach shades.

And this yellow from Fancy Pants Office Hours (I love the texture of this paper)

Then I pulled a brand new sheet of vellum from the Crate paper Poolside collection from my stash.  It has a great weight and the glittery swiss crosses add something special.

And while I was going to embellish from my stash as it made sense, I did pull a doily and this chipboard pack from the Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss Collection.  The bluses, pinks, yellows and golds seemed to work perfectly with the papers I chose. 

And of course, I had a basket of scraps on my desk to use to add layers - and all the other treasures buried in my scrap room.

The first layout I came up with was this soft dreamy layout using an old picture of my oldest son and daughter on the beach.  The design was inspired by a sketch at Citrus Twist Kits.

I love the extra detail the patterned base sheet adds.  And then I saw a grid layout that caught my eye - and you know I love a good grid.  So I made this layout. 

I added some dear lizzy scraps and some labels and other bits, but came up with a layout with a totally different feel. But using the same papers as my starting point meant I put two layouts together in about 3 hours - super fast for me.   And there was less to clean up. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.........

So I picked a winner this afternoon, and in my experience this never happens!

There were 39 comments and the random number generator picked number 39 - that's right the very last commenter won!

Meredith245@yahoo.comMay 25, 2015 at 7:57 AM

I have built in cabinets to keep my stash under control. Thanks for the chance to win paper!

Meredith, please send me your mailing address at juliee181 at gmail dot com.  

Thanks everybody for the great tips and for playing along.  Me - I'm still purging (though I've been playing a bit too).

The Big Purge - Chapter 2

Stamps are purged, patterned paper is purged, and I am half way through my stickers.  I am really proud of the way I am cutting back the size of my stash (which will still be huge when I'm done).  I even talked my husband into putting up a folding table in the living room so I have a place to sort and organize.

So I think its time for a reward for a job well underway.  And that means one for me and one for you.  Me - I am going to break down and order the WRMK Fuse.  I'm dying to have it so I am going to use some of my sale proceeds on a new tool (which is better than a box full of new stuff for my stash, right?)

And for you - tonight I filled 9 flat rate boxes with 100+ sheets of patterned paper each.  Each box holds a random mix of manufacturers, collections, and patterns.  There are even Studio Calico kit exclusive papers in those boxes - like that navy with gold stars from Blue Note?  I had a ton of that in my stash so some it if went in my purge pile.  I'm selling eight of the boxes for $35 shipped (US only).

But the ninth box is looking for a good home.  So if you would like me to send it your way, leave a comment telling me one trick for keeping my stash under control when I finally, some day get the purge done.  I will pick one commenter at random on Memorial Day and ship the box their way.  (US only please for the giveaway just because shipping costs would be so high.)

Oh - and a second reward for me - tomorrow I am going to clear off my desk and make something!  I am really missing my time to create and am hoping that a break from the big purge will help keep me focused on the end game.

The Big Purge

It's Workspace Wednesday - and mine is a mess!  Last week I took a few days off.  My plan was to spend the time in my scrap room playing and on the deck relaxing.  And then on Day 1 I went into my craft room and was overwhelmed by the size of my stash.  So not much creating has happened here.  Instead I started The Big Purge.

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My stash has grown to ridiculous proportions.  I blame the demise of the local scrapbook store - I used to buy the pieces of collections I love, but now I can't see it so its harder to be selective; plus I am a sucker for the free shipping offers.  And I don't ever seem to finish anything - I have part packages of tons of stuff - and they take up just as much room as full packages.  But back to the purge, because the why doesn't much matter.

I started with stamps - I am not much of a stamper so I thought they would be easy.  And since they come in just about every Studio Calico kit, they accumulate quickly.  My goal was to go from two overflowing baskets to one that is not overflowing.  It took about 5 days, but I'm there.  And I am slowing selling them at the Project Life Shop & Swap Facebook Page.  

And now my goal is to keep my stamp collection to what fits in that basket.  That means thinking hard about which kit stamps to keep each month.

Then I moved on to paper.  I love patterned paper - and I hoard patterned paper.  But I have way too much.  I forget what I have or can't find what I want.  And the newest additions to my stash are most likely to get used because they are on top.  I am about a third of the way through - and so far this much is finding a new home.

Embarrassing right?

Oh - and if my scraproom isn't a big enough mess right now - this is hanging on to the edge of my desk.

It's "Happy Tape" from my daughter's school play - she saved it so I could put it in her scrapbook.  But how do you save sticky tape til you are ready to make the layout?

I do have a few projects I'd like to share from the last couple of weeks, so keep an eye out.  It can't all be about reorganizing right?

Today I go back to work, so my destashing will slow way down.  I'm a little bit bummed about that.  My motivation was already slipping and I am afraid this will make it worse.  Please hare your tips for de-stashing and managing your stash.  I need help!

Oh - and with destashing comes the possibility of a giveaway or two or three, so check back once in a while.

Thanks for stopping by.

Small Business Saturday - Feed Your Craft

I love all the beautiful products made available by manufacturers.  After all nothing makes me happier than pretty paper.  But finding unique products made by other crafters that I can incorporate into my projects is so much fun.  And those special items can really make a project stand out.  Today I want to feature one of those fun small businesses. 

Feed Your Craft is a fun Etsy shop featuring mini flair.  I love the size of the flair Elise sells.  It makes a fun statement without being too big and bulky.

One of my favorite sets is the gold letter dip dyed mini flair.   You pick the letters and the color (black, pink or teal).  The effect is so striking.

I used a teal "E" on this layout.  It worked perfectly with the colors in the Carolina Moon scrapbook kits from Studio Calico and just filled in an empty space on my grid.  It was a quick and easy way to add dimension and a fun element.

Another favorite is the book paper flair - it is made with real dictionary and book paper.  It is such a fun and unique take.

Elise has so many fun patterns and themes.  Several sets feature doodling by another Studio Calico member.  But my very favorite is the 50/50 mix.  You can make your own set of 6 by picking 3 each from two different sets.  Its a great way to get lots of variety without a big investment.

So who are your favorite small online businesses where you find special pieces for your projects?  I'm always looking for new supplies.

Thanks for stopping by.

Patterned Paper

One of my favorite things about scrapbooking is all the pretty patterned paper.  And I love mixing patterns and colors to create unique looks.  In fact, I often pick a paper combination and then go look for a photo that works with those papers.


And birthday layouts provide a great opportunity to go all out.  A mix of papers can really create a fun, celebratory feel on a page. This layout mixes 8 patterned papers and 1 patterned vellum.  The end result is bright and fun.

Here are some things that help me mix papers:

• Use a patterned paper with lots of colors as your inspiration for the papers you choose.  (I started with that great striped paper.)
• Mix patterns - all stripes are hard.  But stripes and dots - really cool!
• Make sure your patterns are in different scales - it creates balance
• Don't forget to think about a patterned background - the tiny stripes here add a lot of interest without distracting from the photo.
• Lots of different patterns may mean fewer embellishments or more neutral embellishments.

And most importantly, don't be afraid of changing your mind.  If you cut a piece of paper and it doesn't work, just put it in your scrap pile.  It's only paper and sometimes a little experimentation will create a beautiful, unexpected mix of papers.

Hook me up with your patterned paper projects.

Thanks for stopping by.

3 Cards

I'm a scrapbooker, but I really love making cards.  For me they are super quick and easy - and a great way to use up scraps.  So I took a few minutes to make some mother's day cards - for my mother-in-law, for a special aunt, and of course for my mom. 

The first one uses some paper from the Studio Calico Lisse Street 4x6 pad, a scrap from my scrap basket, a piece of doily, a sticker, and a dear lizzy thicker word.  I used pop dots to add different pieces so the card has a lot of dimension.  That meant stacking popdots in some cases so that pieces were supported as I overlapped layers. And that glittery tag - it's from Ashley Calder's etsy shop.

The next one was even easier.  I used no tools - not even scissors.  I just dug for scraps that worked together and were the right size.  The flower was from an old Studio Calico cut file and was just hanging out on my desk.  I think the pink ink inkspatters pull this all together - especially the way that some landed on top of the flower.

The third card was super easy too. The three patterned papers came  right from my scraps and needed just a little bit of trimming.  That big gold rose was on a Crate Paper sticker sheet that is almost used up.  And the rosette was left over from another project.  And that label - it is from Studio Calico and was perfect for this card!

So dig into your scraps and put together some quick cards.  And link me up so I can see.  I always like some new inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by.

Trying New Things - Silkscreen

Did you have a chance to play this week in celebration of National Scrapbook Day?  I love all the challenges that get posted around the world - they tend to push me out of my comfort zone so that I try new things (or at least experiment with products and techniques I rarely use.  Silkscreens are a great example.

I have a few silkscreens - mostly from Studio Calico kits - but I rarely use them.  I love the thought of them and I love the look you get, but I'm not very confident with them.  And I rarely want to take time to let a project dry.

But this weekend, I got those babies out - twice.  I use done with acrylic paints here and it was super easy.  I figured out approximately where I was going to put my photo and then laid the silkscreen down next to it.  I put little dabs of color theory blush crush and 24K paint on the silkscreen and then smeared it around so the colors blended and I had a random mix of pink and gold.  The only problem I had was that my silkscreen was small and I had to reapply it several times to cover enough of the background for the look I wanted.

The second time I got out my silkscreens, I used them with watercolors. I used a small piece of watercolor paper and adhered my silk screen.  I then applied different yellow, orange and pink colors across the silkscreen to create a title block for a simple grid layout.

Oh - and those clouds - a stencil with gesso.  And I painted that veneer butterfly.  I was using those supplies.  Now the trick is to keep the momentum going.

So did you try anything new this weekend?  Link me up.  I'd love to see.

Thanks for stopping by.