Brothers

Another one of my twins. I am loving the Tres Jolie line by MME. This one is the "Oui Oui" set. I stamped the sides with the Lil' Davis stamps. Then I glued down my center paper and photo. Ribbon went down next and then the title. I finished it up with 2 prima petals centered with the 7 gypsies gem brads.

Memorial Day Sale

I'm having a sale this weekend (Sat-Mon) to celebrate Memorial Day! All Prima, Daisy D's and Basic Grey is 25% off. Plus all card making supplies are 25% off as well! Come on over and check it out!

Buddies

My twins in the tub! I really love the new paper line from MME. This is the "Cest La Vie" set. Other than that I used a MME title. Some Sassafras Lass stamps and red, mustard, and peeled paint Ranger ink.

1...2...3...Go!

I did this one for the Go challenge I found on Scrapinstyle.com. It is hosted by these ladies! I used MOD paper by Autumn Leaves. My embellishments are mostly from American crafts. The numbers, arrows and florals are all from AC. I used Happy Hammer brads (love these because they are shiny!). GO is from basicgrey which I inked with mustard Ranger ink. And I finished it with some stamps from Sassafras Lass.

Oh Boy!

Buttons and more Buttons on this layout! I used Rusty Pickle buttons to accent the photo, and for the centers of my title letters. The paper is from the Crate Paper Samantha Collection. I used scraps of paper to make 'ribbon'.

sweetheart

I loved Greta's "toe socks" layout so much I knew I had to scraplift it! Here is my version. I used Chatterbox papers, SEI buttons, Sassafras Lass stamps around the edge, Heidi Swapp chipboard, and ranger ink.

BFF and Beautiful

These two layouts I did last night on a whim..love when they come together just like you dreamed in your head. Makes me smile...and smile really BIG!

The first one I did was actually inspired by the Heat and Stick tutorial done here. i know it is hard to see the finished glitter and sparkly effect but BELIEVE ME..it's there and it is BLINGING on FIYAH!!

i used My Mind's Eye bohemian collection pp with the coordinating card that said Best Friends Forever and I just cut it up. i used my word windown punch to cut out some of the doodling on that card so it wouldn't go to waste and adhered it to the top and bottom of the white cardstock. I hate to waste good stuff..
I used prima flowers and the Rusty pickleSwirly Whirly chipboard.
i inked the whitecardstock edges with Ranger ink in Vintage Photo.
To learn about the how to glitter your own chipboard please visit here.

For this layout this really was just a bunch of scraps i had left over from a bunch of different paper manufacturers. I hate throwing away scraps so I decided what better way to use them. the leaves were actually inspired by my color box chalk ink container. I just traced that cut them out and voila. used the ranger ink again in vintage photo and drew my "tree" limbs. adhered it and BAM DONE. I really like the way this turned out. Seemed appropriate for the picture. My journaling is up the limbs of my "tree". Fun Times.

Heat and Stick Powder

This is some serious mad fun ladies. Break out the following supplies
(latex gloves optional) and let the glittering begin. Heat and Stick is the best thing to keep glitter in place and not rubbing off on everything that it touches, including you.

Supplies you will need:

Heat Gun
Craft ink OR Versamarker
Heat and Stick powder
Glitter, flocking, sand, or colored sand (you choose)
2 powder buddy trays or coffe filters works fine
tweezers
chipboard or cardstock

1. First you stamp your chipboard or image into pigment ink such as Stampin' UP! Carft pad, embossing pad or VersaMark Pad.


2. Then you generously apply heat and stick powder all over your chipboard, shaking off excess

*note* if using versamark you will need to move quicker than you would with the craft pad because it dries pretty fast.


3. Heat your chipboard until you see it melt. If you over heat it looses a lot of the stickiness. When the image turns shiny and clear immediately stop.
*note* if you are using cardstock heat from the underneath. The biggest problem people have with Heat and Stick is over heating, which dries out the adhesive or "tackiness" thereby rendering it useless.


4. Spoon or do like I do and just dump straight from the container your glitter, flocking, colored sand or whatever else you choose over the warm sticky image or chipboard. Tap off excess but DON'T brush off all the flakes yet.


5. You MUST do this next step: Reheat image again. This will set adhesive. There is no precise anount of time and no visble change for the second heating. Basically you are now reheating to dry the adhesive so your glitter or sand or whatever you choose will stick. If using cardstock re heat from the underneath to reduce glitter blowing everywhere. Voice of experience talking here :)


IF you are using crdstock once the adhesive is set then you can brush off the remaining on the cardstock. You can rub your finger right across the image and have to worry about whatever you applied to the heat and stick coming off.

PLEASE NOTE CONFETTI FROM STAMPIN' UP! GLITTER STACKS DOES NOT LIKE HEAT AND STICK AND WILL CURL UP AND POP OFF. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HEAT THE IMAGE A SECOND TIME WHEN USING IT.

Here's a tip:
Use colored pigment ink with colored glitter or colored ink with white glitter.
For that particular image up above I chose white pigment ink with dazzling diamonds glitter (both from stampin up) It's hard to see the shimmer in pictures but believe me it is phenomenal in person.

If anyone has any question please feel free to ask and leave you email in the comments and I will respond to you.

Happy glittering!

Cricut

Okay, I'm the first to admit it, I am a cricut freak! It is my absolute favorite scrapbooking tool! I purchased mine almost a year ago and have never looked back. The fonts available from Provo Craft are so cute and versatile and make creating a title so much easier. Each cartridge has several font options (tags, silhouettes, shadow, etc) and now some, such as Opposites attract, even offer more than one font. Gone are the days of searching through stacks of letter stickers trying to find a perfect match, only to find halfway through applying a word that you're missing a letter! With a few simple button strokes I have my title, the perfect size and color for my current project. The cricut completely takes the frustration out of scrapbooking and has considerably increased my production... and it is just so much fun to use!

***Some tips***
The most common dilemma I have hard from cricut users is how to adhere the cutouts. I have found that what works best for me is to run them through my Xyron machine. Refills are inexpensive and there is no mess! I have discovered that if you simply trace the cutout with a pen before removing the top layer of the Xyron sheet, you are able to avoid any extra adhesive that may be clinging to the edges of your cutout.

For more tips and ideas you can visit www.cricut.com. They have a great message board full of wonderful tips and ideas.

Crate Papers 8x8 Layouts

For this layout used the cowgirl kit. Also used Lil Davis crillon 1 stamps for left border. Various buttons, flowers by prima & American Craft, fabulous stamp & bling by Heidi Swapp, brads by Memory Makers and Doodlebug letter stickers

Also used the cowgirl kit, Lil Davis crillon stamps, ghost flowers & bling by Heidi Swapp, brads by SEI, Doodlebug letter stickers and an older Scienic Route paper.

Used the Twirl Kit, cardstock by DCWV, bling/photo corners, letters and chipboard flowers in pink & butterscotch by Heidi Swapp, buttons by SEI and rubons by American Craft.

WE R ...

This is one I did with the Cosmo Cricket Dutch Girl line. I love this line. SO fun to work with.
I also used the buck naked buttons and more from Cosmo Cricket as well. It is in between the WE R with a tag on top and a red foof a la button on top from the foof a la la la collection.

Other products used were a velvet flower - unknown and a brad from Making memories and the brads on the photo turns are from Spare parts.

Two Quick Layouts!

This first one is a 9x9 that I did for my "she" album:

And this second one was probably the fastest layout I've ever put together--these tags are great in place of just regular patterned paper.
Supplies: Piggy Tales Jack and Jill Kit, BasicGrey ribbon, Ranger ink (first layout), Heidi Swapp chipboard letters and letter stickers, American Crafts letter stickers, Scenic Route chipboard "@", Heidi Swapp ghost heart

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day all! To celebrate, I am putting all patterned paper kits 20% off at the store! And not only that, with every order I am throwing in a delectable little bottle of stickles! Stickles are one of the hottest embellishments right now, so why not try some for free!

I hope you come on over and celebrate Mother's Day with some new supplies!

Enjoy

A fun one I did for a challenge on another board.

Used Scienic Route Metropolis collection, Heidi Swapp "enjoy" stamp & photo corners, American Craft felt flowers & rubons, various buttons, white paint sharpie & other stamps.

Love Potion Sentiments Box

This cute little box and accordian are perfect for a quick little love note for that someone special!

The Daisy D's Modern Romance papers are perfect for this project. I also used Prima flowers and brads to accent.

Fake Smile

An older picture of my oldest daughter. She was 2 and a half years old.

For this layout used the papers from the Scenic Route Laurel collection. Cut out flowers from pattern paper and enhanced with stickles. Used "Smile" stamp from Heidi Swapp and other by Autumn Leaves. Also used frame chipboard by Lil Davis. Overlay from Hambly and dymo.

Buttons Galore

For this layout I used Bazzill Bling paper in pink. I added 90 buttons from 2 different bags of Foof a la buttons. I used La La and happily ever after.
I used glue dots mini and medium size to adhere all 90 buttons to the layout on a big chipboard heart from fancy pants. For the title I used American crafts thickers in white root beer float font with black thickers for the brackets and "dot" on the i in cream soda font. I outlined the thickers with a white gel signo pen from Stampin' Up!

5 stitches

My scanner didn't really like this one. It matches better IRL.

Paper is from the Crate paper "Brunch" set. I stamped the border with SL stamps and weathered wood ranger ink. Then I inked my chipboard 5 from BG. I really lucked out as the stars from the ki memories lab match this set perfectly! Chipboard frame is inked in peeled paint ink. And I finished it by stamping the word "stitches" with the SL stamps down the right side (I also outlined these with a marvy maker), and used some MS twine for my cross stitching.

Presents for Chris

This is a layout of my nephew opening presents on his 5th birthday.

Supplies used: Crate Paper Zoom Kit, Foof-a-la buttons, Heidi Swapp journaling spot, cricut alphalicious font. I sanded the edges of the pictures and traced the title in white to make them stand out.

Sweet Boy

I created this layout with the Crate Paper Zoom Kit, . I just can't get enough of this paper line. I love it! Other products used include: Rusty Pickle Whippersnapper sticker, Bazzill Chip topper sticker & cricut all mixed up font. I outlined the title in white to make it stand out better and inked the edge of the chiptopper.

Stupid Human Tricks

I created this layout with scenic route patterned paper and scrapboard alphabets chipboard letters. I distressed everything with sandpaper and ink. Other products used: Heidi Swapp journaling spot and Basic Grey rubons.

Aiden

I made this LO of my nephew using the Crate Paper Zoom Kit and Foof-a-La buttons. The tag is also from the Zoom kit and the ribbon is Lil Davis.

Baby Girl Sentiment Box

I used this baby girl sentiment box by Melissa Frances to write a letter to my niece for her first birthday. I decorated the inside with stickers and buttons included in the kit as well as a few thumbnail size pictures of Avery. It was very quick to put together and I love the way it turned out :)

Card Set

I used the We R Memory Keepers card set as a starting point for these quick and easy cards. Other supplies: BasicGrey undressed chipboard, Prima flowers, Crate Paper rubons, Ranger ink, Melissa Frances sticker, Making Memories paint and brads.

Buttons!

For this layout, I used some "manly"buttons to help convey the message that my son is definitely growing up. The positions of the buttons help frame the photos as well.

Supplies: Piggy Tales Jack and Jill Kit, Foofala buttons, SEI buttons, BasicGrey undressed chipboard, Bazzill brads, Making Memories rubons, Chatterbox sticker, unknown ribbon

Curious Boy

My adorable nephew. Picture taken on his 2nd birthday.

Had fun with this one used so many goodies. Used papers from both Scenic Routh collections Metropolis and Laurel. Also used the Scenic Route chipboard letters, stamps by Li'l Davis crillon 1, chipboard stars also by Li'l Davis, stickles and photo turner by 7-gypsies.

Other supplies used ghost frame by Heidi Swapp, acrylic paint dabbers by Ranger and letter stickers by Doodlebug.

BG LilyKate Collection

Products used were
BG LilyKate collection with the matching ribbon collection
SEI rhinestones in in pastel

other products used were: fancy pants chipboard painted with MM paint in manila and Spare Parts brads in the flower.

Stuck on Mod Podge

For some, the very words Mod Podge bring psychedelic visions of decoupaged furniture and ‘artwork’ from the 1970’s. But Mod Podge has made quite a comeback in the world of scrapbooking and altered art.

My first encounter with this gooey adhesive was 3 years ago, when I decided to alter an album cover. I had heard of people using Mod Podge to achieve the look I was going for, so I went out and bought a 16oz jar of Matte finish Plaid brand Mod Podge. (I am still using the same jar 3 years later…no one told me just how far this stuff will go!)

Armed with foam brushes, patterned paper, and other various embellishments, I tackled the somewhat daunting task of altering an album. After carefully applying a layer of ‘Podge to my album and adhering my first piece of paper I knew I was hooked. There is something to be said for the ability of altering a production line item to look like your own, and I loved the way the finished sealed project looked.

Since my first foray into altering, I have become a self proclaimed Mod Podge expert. This versatile stuff can be used solely as an adhesive, or can be used as a top coat to seal your finished product. I’ve used it on metal (sand first), wood, canvas, and chipboard. I’ve altered lunch boxes, albums, coasters, boxes, even a watering can! Mod Podge is inexpensive, comes in Glossy and Matte finishes, is water based for easy clean up, and is acid free so it’s safe for use in scrapbooking.

The key to using this adhesive is to keep your layers thin when using under paper, and smoothing out any bubbles. It dries fairly quickly, so you don’t have a long wait time between layers. I’ve found that when using dimensional items such as ribbons, tags, or even textured stickers, a thin top coat works great for sealing them to the project.

If you are thinking of creating any altered artwork, or just making an album one of a kind, then I would recommend investing in a jar of Mod Podge.

Your first teeth

Picture of my niece. My sister is showing me her daughter's first teeth. Isn't she cute? Had fun with this one used quiet a bit of goodies on this.

Used stickles on the center of the felt flowers and on the Scenic Route chipboard letters and to highlight the leaves a little. Also used some 7-gypsies photo turns, these things are so cool.

Other supplies used paper & stickers from the Scenic Route collection Laurel. Felt flowers from Queen & co., letter stickers from EK & Doodlebug. And some rubons from American Craft.