Hey!

Good morning good people!
It's Gretchen! I'm back for another term and I am pretty pumped about it!

I got my Beach Blvd kit over this past weekend and I couldn't wait to dig in and make something.
And since June is such a big month for weddings, I thought I would use this summer-y kit to make a sweet wedding layout.
My friend Melody got married this past April. I had a few pics from the wedding printed out polaroid-style at Persnickety Prints and I have been looking forward to scrapping them!

I got really doodle-y on this layout! It was pretty fun!

I originally learned this doodle-y border technique from our very own Virginia. I was scrapping with her once and watched her doodle a swirly scalloped border on patterned paper and then cut it out. Genius! And now I copy that idea all the time! :)

One more close up...I love the look of the polaroids! 

So there you go! It's a wedding layout with a summer-y kit! Thanks for stopping by the blog today and thanks for having me back!

Have an awesome day!!

:)

gretchen

Evening Stroll Now Up for Sale!

Now On Sale! Click here to get yours!  Evening Stroll Contents: PAPERS: 5 American Crafts Cardstock: (Kraft, Sand, Cricket, Jade, Butter)  Studio Calico Take Note (Rolodex, Spreadsheet) Lily Bee Persnickety (Huffy, Prissy) Echo Park For The Record 2 (Doily, Floral, Mini Floral, Fancy, Chevrons) My Minds Eye The Sweetest Thing (Bouquet, Playful, Smile, Everyday, Remember) WeR Memory Keepers Down the Boardwalk(Reef, Salt Water, Barnacle) Pink Paislee Indigo Bleu (Burlap) Basic Grey Clippings (Fine China, Cotton Dress, Headliner) EMBELLISHMENTS: 1 package My Minds Eye "The Sweetest Thing" Chip buttons, 1 package Amy Tan "Muse" Thickers, 1 sheet Echo Park "For the Record 2" Chipboard accents, 1 sheet My Minds Eye "The Sweetest Thing" tiny word stickers, 1 package Echo Park "For the Record 2" decorative brads, 1 Studio Calico hexagon mask, 1 sheet My Minds Eye "The Sweetest Thing" stickers, 1 sheet Pink Paislee "Indigo Bleu" border stickers, 1 12x12 Echo Park "For the Record 2" alphabet stickers, 1 Prima clear stamp set, 1 Studio Calico "scraps", 2 Etsy Milk Caps, 1 roll Queen and Co. washi tape, 2 SEI Chalk Ink Blocks (1 tobacco, 1 deep ocean), 1  My Minds Eye "The Sweetest Thing" title, 2 Jenni Bowlin Kraft Tags, 1/2 sheet Basic Grey "Clippings" flags, 1 package Queen and Co. blue goosebumps, 5 Shabby Chic Crafts tags, 5 Studio Calico wooden birds, 6 Prima paper blooms (3 yellow, 3 blue)

Best Friends Forever

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to be here sharing my first post and layout with the fabulous Boardwalk kit. From the moment I opened the July kit, it felt like it was hand-picked just for me. I love the bright, cheery colors and the fabulous mix of embellishments...perfect for all my summer photos, like this one of my daughter loving on the dog.

I love the dimensional flowers included in the kit and placed one on each side of the banner. I made a third flower to place next to the title from a piece of patterned paper and secured it together with a brad.

I wanted to use a script font for part of my title so I cut the words "best friends" from the blue cardstock using my Cameo.

I added my journaling to strips of cardstock and added a cluster of butterflies and brads to finish it off.

I'm sure you will love the Boardwalk kit as much as I do and I can't wait to see what YOU create with it!

Thank you so much for coming by! Have a fabulous day!

Orange X thingys.

I remember going to my very first crop like 8 or 9 years ago.

It was here in town and I went with my mom.

I even remember seeing the flyer for it at a local scrapbook store that I drove 45 minutes to get to because I needed to feed my habit.

**Bama Scrap Blast**

"36 hours of Non-Stop Cropping!"

Anywhoooo the crop started on Friday and went through Saturday evening.

We didn't get there until Friday evening because for some reason I did not take off work.

We were the last people to get there dangit!!

:)

As we sat there for a little while we noticed that everybody had these orange X thingys on their tables.

They were everywhere!

But not on our table!

We decided that this must have been a freebie we missed out on because we arrived so late.

So my mom, always on the look out for a deal, proceeds to ask the nice crop director {bless her} about the orange X thingys that everyone seemed to have but us.

I don't know for sure what she said to my mom, but I am pretty sure she nicely told her that she was crazy, go get your own orange X thingy at Wal-Mart, and leave me alone because I have some wacky crop games to play!

And then the nice crop director proceeded to demonstrate how the mysterious orange X thingy was, in fact, a super neat sticker maker and all cool kids have them.

We couldn't wait to get one!

Sooooo we proceeded to scrap as late as we could stay awake.

Then we stopped by Wal-Mart on the way home at ~3:00 in the morning to purchase our very own orange X thingys!

When we got back to the crop the next morning after very little sleep, we were totally in the IN crowd with our brand new orange X thingys!

*****

Now that story was all a lead in to this layout.

{and if you are still reading this, bless you!}

I still have that orange X thingy we bought at Wal-Mart that night.

And, yep, I still use it!

So I thought I should make a layout to preserve that fun memory!

I used my "Summer Wind" kit to make this...

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!
Have a good one!!
:)
gretchen

Sketch challenge!!

Hi again!

Every good crop needs a sketch that you can play with, right??!
Well I've got one for you today!

This sketch is kind of my "go to" sketch when I need something to jump start my creativity.
It is also a good sketch to use for a single-picture layout where you have a lot of journaling you would like to get on the page.

Here is one of the first layouts I ever did with this sketch...single picture, title under the picture, big embellishment over to the left of the layout, and plenty of room for journaling under the title.

Here is another one where I stayed pretty close to the sketch.

The background patterned paper is just a lot busier so I used black cardstock to help set the picture, title, and journaling apart from the background.

Here is an example where I used 2 cropped pictures instead of a single photo and then I moved the title and journaling more toward the left side of the page.

And then I used this sketch to help me create my layout for the Scrapping the Music challenge!

I did change the sketch up a little bit though on this one.

I moved my picture where the large embellishment usually is and moved the title more toward the bottom of the page.

{kit used: Summer Wind}

I love that sketches are versatile enough to change and manipulate so that you can make them work for whatever you need!

*****
You have until June 11th to make something with this sketch!

Post your layout on this thread over on the message board so we can see them and for your chance to win!

Happy scrapping!!
:)
gretchen

*****

Don't forget to play the Blog Trivia game on the post below!

Playing with Summer Wind

I am lucky enough to already have my Summer Wind kit!

And it's a good one...trust me!!

I've made a couple of things already and I hope to get a chance to dive into it a little more over this long holiday weekend!

Here is a pretty simple layout about the minor league baseball games that my husband & I go to on Thursday  nights in the summer and fall.

I just kept the chipboard Thickers raw and used them as is-no ink or paint or anything!
And I like them that way!
:)
Here is a fun card using mostly Pink Paislee stickers and patterned paper from the kit.

That's all I've got...for now!
:)
Have a great week and enjoy the long holiday weekend!
gretchen

My Got Sketch? layout

I love a good sketch!
So I was pumped to be able to team up with the girls over at Got Sketch? and make something with their newest sketch!

{you can see the sketch here}

I used my Primrose Lane kit to make this sweet baby layout using Sketch #143.

Here are a few close up pics of this layout...

{I grabbed those stitched Thickers out of a previous Noel Mignon kit}

You can check out the Got Sketch? blog to see what the rest of our team made and also what all the Got Sketch? girls made!

There are some fabulous layouts using this sketch!!

Don't forget that you have until May 27th to link up a layout of your own using this sketch for a chance to win a $20 gift card from Noel!
Link up your layouts {here} over on the Got Sketch? blog!
Happy scrapping!!
:)
gretchen

Bringing tearing back!

OK now sing that to the tune of Justin Timberlake's
"Bringing Sexy Back".
:)
I used to do a lot of paper tearing.
I think I liked using that technique so much because I have trouble cutting straight lines.
But with paper tearing you get to celebrate messiness!
:)
I did a little tearing on this layout using the fabulous Primrose Lane kit!

So what do you think??!
Can we bring tearing back?!
:)
Thanks for stopping by and
have an awesome day!
gretchen

6x6

Hi!
Happy Wednesday!
I've got a simple layout to share with you today using the Primrose Lane kit.
A couple years ago I started a 6x6 mini album for some of my running stuff.
It is a 2-ring binder from American Crafts with page protectors so I can keep adding to it as I do more races.
Well I ran a half marathon here in town back in February that I need to add to the album.
And that is where the Primrose Lane kit comes into play!
:)

Voila!
Another page to add to my album!
*****
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!
:)
gretchen

Making some stuff with my Homespun Kit

This past weekend I had time to play around with my Homespun kit.
I love this kit!
The first thing I made was a little journal.
I found a 5x7 chipboard album in the $1 bins at Michaels a few weeks ago.
The album had 4 chipboard pages and came with 2 jump rings.
To make this journal, I took 2 of the chipboard pages, covered them with patterned paper from the Homespun kit, and used them as the front and back covers of the journal.

Here are a couple close up pics of the front cover.
The Homespun kit has some fun small embellishments that I used to decorate the cover!


Here is the inside of the front cover.

I cut down plain sheets of copy paper to make the pages for the journal.
{I like unlined journals!}
After I had the pages cut, I just used my Crop-a-dile to punch holes in the cover and pages.
I used the same patterned paper to cover the inside of the back cover as I used to cover the inside of the front cover.

And then here is the very back of the journal!

After I finished the journal I was on a roll so I made a couple of cards.

I'm telling you...I love this kit!
It is gorgeous!
*****
Have a great day friends!
gretchen

2 kits, 2 cards, NO tape runner!

So have you heard about the This or That challenge for February??!
You have to either give up your paper trimmer or your tape runner.

Tough one, huh??!
Well I didn't get a chance to do the challenge in January so I definitely wanted to this month's.

I just didn't realize how tough it was going to be!!

After much deliberation I decided to give up my tape runner.
Even though I don't absolutely love my current paper trimmer, I figured my infatuation with brads and my stapler would make the no tape runner thing do-able.

So here is what I made and the proof that I did it honestly!
:)

Card #1 using the delightful Charm School kit...

The hearts & the "hugs & kisses" sticker are adhered with foam adhesive.
The striped paper is attached brads.
The cardstock matting the "hugs & kisses" sticker was stapled to the card first before I added the sticker.

Here's my proof...

And card #2 using the Cabin Fever kit...

The brown cardstock and the green/blue paper were stapled to the card very strategically.

Then the "baby, it's cold outside" sentiment was adhered over the staples using foam adhesive.
And here's the proof again...

(sorry for the poor quality of my "proof" pictures. i decided too late to take those pictures and had no sunlight at all!)
*****
You still have time to play along with us.
You have until the end of the month to make something without your tape runner or without your paper trimmer!
*****
Happy Wednesday!

Do you have 30 minutes??

Then join me in making a few Valentine's cards with your Charm School kit!
3 cards in 3o minutes to be exact.

With Valentine's Day less than a week away, there is no time to waste!
I've got a supply list for you and some instructions to walk you through 3 easy cards in no time flat! ****
Here is what you need from your Charm School kit:
-pink and red cardstock
-the sheet of Crate Paper "love" worded patterned paper
-the sheet of Pebbles patterned paper with red pattern on one side and subtle kraft hearts on the other side

-My Mind's Eye die cut sheet
-My Mind's Eye buttons

-the 3 Pebbles layered heart embellishments

-Crate paper phrase stickers

-Crate Paper border stickers

Also grab some brown or black ink and a sanding block.
*****
Now let's get crafting!
On your mark.
Get set.

GO!!

1. Cut red cardstock 4” wide x 11” tall. Fold in half to create a card 4” wide x 5.5” tall.
2. Cut red Pebbles paper 3.5” wide x 5” tall. Sand the edges. Then adhere to the center of your card.
3. Adhere Crate Paper pink scalloped border sticker across the center of the card.
4. Adhere a ~3/4” strip of Crate Paper “love” patterned paper above the scalloped sticker.
5. Punch out the “L” card die cut from the My Mind’s Eye die cut sheet. Ink the edges. Then adhere with foam adhesive to the center of the card.
6. Punch out the small “love” die cut from the same MME die cut sheet. Adhere it over the “L” in the center of your card.

*****
One card completed!
Now on to your next one!

1. Cut red cardstock 4” wide x 11” tall. Fold in half to create a card 4” wide x 5.5” tall.
2. Cut a piece of Crate Paper “love” patterned paper 3” wide x 5.5” tall. Sand the edges. Then adhere to the center of the card.
3. Adhere the “Happy Valentine’s Day” sticker from the Crate Paper sticker sheet over the bottom half of the card. Adhere with foam adhesive.
4. Using the My Mind’s Eye buttons, adhere the bigger red button under the sticker. Adhere the smaller red button above the sticker.
*****
One more card to go!
*****
OUT FOR

PUBLICATION
*****
1. Cut pink cardstock 4” wide x 11” tall. Fold in half to create a card 4” wide x 5.5” tall.
2. Cut Pebbles kraft/hearted patterned paper 3.5” wide x 5.25” tall. Ink edges. Adhere to the center of the card.
3. Grab the 3 Pebbles layered hearts embellishments as well as the larger pink button and the “i.love.u” die cut from the MME die cut sheet.
4. Starting ~1” from the top of the card, add one heart embellishment. Then ~1/2” below that heart add another heart. Then add the 3rd heart embellishment ~1 inch up from the bottom of the card.
5. In between the bottom 2 hearts add the “i.love.u” die cut. Adhere the pink button to the left side of the die cut.
*****
Done!!
3 cards completed!
:)
And plenty of your Charm School kit left to make more!
Have a great day!

And happy (early) Valentine's day!!

9 years later...

Good morning folks!!

Today I am sharing another layout I made with the Charm School kit!

It took me a little while to get started on the layout though.
I had a single picture (that I stumbled up while cleaning out our guest bedroom) and a bunch of journaling that I wanted to put on the layout.
But. I. just. could. not. get. going.

So I started looking through some recent layouts to see if anything sparked my interest.
That is when I came across this page I made with the Hudson Valley kit.

Inspiration gained!
I used that layout to jumpstart my creativity, and I ended up with this layout using the Charm School kit...

Have you made anything with the Charm School kit yet??
I am loving it!!
*****
Have a great day!
:)
gretchen

A couple things to share...

Good morning good people!
*****
I have a couple fun things to share with you today.

First up, here is my first layout with the all new Charm School kit!

This is a great kit!
Of course I am a sucker for hearts and just about all things red so I love this kit!
BUT it is not so theme-y that it can't be used for things not so lovey-dovey!
You can check out the kit and everything in it (here).
Get yours while you can!!
*****
OK here is another layout for ya!
I made this one as part of the winter layout tag game we did here at Noel Mignon.
{Sign ups for the newest tag game are going on now! Check out this thread on the message board.}

I used the Bees Knees kit to make this layout.
But I did steal the alphas from the Study Hall kit to make the title!

OK that's all I've got!
Have a great day!!
*****
P.S.
Did you see that Noel is going to start offering subscriptions??!
You can save money on kits, get a lower free shipping minimum, and have your kits shipped first!
More details are coming but check out this thread to learn more!
:)

Now I've got CABIN FEVER!!

Now that the holidays are over, I have finally gotten a chance to play with my Cabin Fever kit!
Poor kit was stowed away in my scraproom all alone for the past couple of weeks!
:)
I've got another layout in the works, but here is one that I have finished.
I was inspired by the fun tickets in the kit to make this layout about all the tickets we have accumulated by going to a state park near our home to ride our mountain bikes.
These are just some of the tickets I have saved since we started going regularly in September!

I do think it is time for that annual pass!!

:)
Everything on this layout is from Cabin Fever!
Go get yours while there are still a couple available!!
And have an awesome day!
:)
gretchen

Let's ride

Happy Tuesday afternoon!
We are still Christmas-ing around my house today.
I've got a house full of food and inlaws!
:)
*****
Even though it is not officially Christmas anymore you can still get plenty of use out of your Mistletoe & Holly kit.
I made this not-so-Christmasy layout entirely out of Mistletoe & Holly!

And I've got a few more not-so-Christmasy ideas that I would like to do with this kit too!
OK gotta run!
Don't want the inlaws thinking I am trying to avoid them or anything!
:)
Have a good one!
gretchen

Real tree

Merry Christmas!
I am just scrapping away with the super fun Mistletoe & Holly kit!
*****

OK so what does your family do?
Do yall have an artificial tree or do yall get a real tree each year??

Both Lee and I grew up with artificial trees so as adults we go for the real thing!

:)

I hope you are having a great holiday season so far!!

:)
And happy scrapping!
gretchen

Have a holly jolly Christmas!

Happy holidays!!
Merry Christmas!!
Feliz Navidad!!
It's starting to look a lot like Christmas around these parts!
Be sure to check out the message board for many more great Christmas ideas to inspire you!

*****
I went a little card crazy when I got my Mistletoe & Holly kit the other day!

I love the mix of "vintage" with fun, brightly colored Christmas stuff in this kit.
Very cool!!

It is not to late to make your own Christmas cards.
There are still plenty of days left to get them in the mail!!
Hop to it!
:)