School!

Yep! It's time for another challenge! Check out the Noel Mignon Challenge blog today to find out what it is . . . but, I bet you can guess by looking at my page! ;)



I created this page using the new Core Curriculum kit (sorry, sold out) and a few additional buttons from my stash. We have a tradition to take our first day photos on our front porch. I make a page of each kid for their school album of just them, and then I like to make a page with all of the kids together for our family album. My younger daughter Maryn was quite the poser this day! LOL! Check her out! Strutting her 1st-grade-stuff! LOL! Fun times! Fun times!!!

I created this next page using a sketch from the Triple the Sketch blog. This items on this page are a combination of the Five Foot Twoand Eyes of Blue kits (a few still available).



I coated the chipboard shapes with the white crackle paint and highlighted the texture with Hi-Ho Silver Blingz by Shimmerz (from my stash). I tell ya! That crackle paint is addicting! What a fun way to add texture to a page!



Well, I hope you had a beautiful end to your summer and are getting ready to enjoy the changing seasons. I know I am! See you next time!

Jana

Embellishment Storage

How do you store your embellishments?

I used to store them by the type of embellishment... you know brads with brads etc...
I have in the past couple of years decided to try the color sorting instead.
I. LOVE. IT!

Sometimes when I am working on a layout or card I realize that it needs just a bit of such and such color here or there and knowing that all my embellishments are sorted by color I can open up my color drawer and pull from an array of things, from old product to new product! I also find that by doing it this way that I use all kinds of products that I forget that I have! I used to just pull from my newest stuff and then would run across something later on and think "man that would have been perfect!"... now with them all mixed into one color drawer makes it easier to pull just the right embellishment for my project!

Here is a peek into one of my drawers... the blue drawer.. (duh! LOL) I just purchased several of the rubbermaid 7 drawer things and each drawer has a color assigned to them. The orange, yellow, and purple have the smaller drawers up top.

One year at Michael's (around Christmas.. but I have seen them for other holidays too) I found these tiny Muffin bakers for less than a $1 each and bought a TON of them... the cashier thought maybe I was channeling my inner Martha Stewart. hehe I place the smaller stuff in these little containers like brads, eyelets, and smaller embellishments... they then go into my larger color drawers. (small baskets could be used as well)
I use some of the smaller drawers up top for other things... one drawer is for "bling"... this includes lots of gems, glitter brads etc..I have another smaller drawer for my clear embellishments.

I still have a basket that gets some of my new product thrown in there, but having color drawers makes it easy to sort new product also. I just open packages and put them in the right color bin!

Other quick tips from my room:
-I have a rubbermaid box for rubons, stickers etc... that have sayings on them... stuff that is perfect for cards. I can reach right over and grab a sheet and use it quickly, much easier than looking through all my stickers/rubons to find just the right saying.

-I have all my letter stickers in a large box with cardboard between each color so they are easy to sort.

- I have a drawer for chipboard letters, one for naked chipboard letters, and naked chipboard shapes.

- I sort all my patterned paper by manufacturer in the Karen Foster 12x12 holders.

-My ribbon is in large glass jars sorted by color family, the same with my buttons.

I hope this helps ya'll just a bit.. if you have any questions feel free to contact me! :) This is no small undertaking but once you get it done it feels SO good! Let me know if you take the plunge!

-Kim

School Kicks

Good Morning Girls

This week I received my new Core Curriculum Kit and could not wait to dive into it.
I sat down and printed out the pics from the kids 1st day of school and more importantly Melana's first day of kindergarten.

i don't know about your kids but mine are all about the shoes...i felt that if it was important to them then i should scrap it. So i did.
The next layout will be a story about Melana's shoes and the hell i went through to get them...ahhhh the joys of raising a fashionista who has to have the latest and greatest when it hits the market...grrrr....


everything used on this is from the kit..be sure to check out the new challenge that goes up tomorrow on challenge blog.
Thanks for looking, see you next week.

School Tag/Envelope Booklet

Happy Weekend everyone! I had a super busy week getting all the new kits shipped out, so I didn't have much time to create, but I do have the beginning of my Melissa Frances Tag and Envelope Booklet (which is in the Core Curriculum kit) to share with you! I did add some of the blue Jenni Bowlin stickers, green gems, black thickers and ribbon from my stash. Everything else comes in the kit! I am planning on adding photos on the front, and info on the back, of each tag as the months progress.
*FYI...while I was trying to tie one of my ribbons to the top of my tag I ripped it (gasp), so I just taped it back together with clear tape and then re punched it. I think for the future pages I may add an eyelet in that hole to give it strength against rips in the future.

How About a Couple O' Cards?

In case you missed our Sizzlin' Summer Crop a couple of weeks ago, I hosted a challenge that involved using scraps of paper and your punches! For this first card I used bits and pieces of the Penny Arcade kit and my square 1 inch punch. I did add a Melissa Frances frame and rub on along with a butterfly, also cut from my die cut machine.

For this second card, my inspiration came from Michelle Lanning's back to school card. I used my circle punch and last years Homeroom kit. I love how Michelle used real crayons for her card and I totally had to steal that idea! : ) I added a 7 Gypsies journaling card behind it and a little Spellbinder's tag.

Happy Friday!!!! : )

Day By Day Planner

Today I am wrapping up my online class for the cool planner + kit combo, Day By Day (sorry folks, it's all sold out!).

I wanted to share a couple of images from my planner with you guys. I would love to see what you guys have done with the kit!

Hello there

and a Happy Tuesday to you all! Things have been pretty busy around here gearing up for the start of a new school year (no, we haven't started yet). I find myself trying to fit in crafting whenever I can - do you do that? Well I thought I would share the layout I did for the Summer crop we had on the boards.




I decided to make a layout with the newest addition to our family. Mr Jax. He is so cute -- I knew I didn't want just one photo of him because to me -- the photo itself isn't too exciting -- but when put in a 'photobooth-like' order - it worked! I also changed things up a bit and added the color shot at the bottom.

And just to show you that I don't plan before I scrap - those pictures actually have 4 black and white photos and the bottom color. But when I was grabbing the paper from the NM kits -- this design popped into my head! I cut the shaped paper and just resized it together -- fun right?


Ok - well that is all I have for now - but I will soon have some yummy things with the core curriculum kit

yummm! get yours . Dont miss out on this one - it is perfect for back to school!

Michelle

Core Curriculum Kit!

Core Curriculum includes the following:
Papers
Cosmo Cricket "Boyfriend" Collection(Double Sided)
-Art Appreciation
-Homework
-Drivers Ed
SEI "Play day" Collection (Double Sided)
-Dot to Dot
-Snack time
-Jungle Gym
-Hide and Seek
American Crafts "Junior" Collection (Double Sided)
-Yay
-Shazam
-You're Out
Imaginisce "Teacher's Pet" Collection (Double Sided)
-Number Cruncher
-Wipe That Up!
-Welcome to Room 10
Scenic Route "Background" Collection
-Blue Grid White
-White Lined
Jillibean Soup "Alphabet Soup" Collection (Double Sided)
-Beef Bouillon
-Alphabet Pasta
-Mixed Veggies
-Ground Round
-Hot Water
-White Stock
Hambly Screenprints
-Mini Bikes (Black)
Jenni Bowlin Studios
-Kindergarten Classic Labels (Die Cut)
5 matching AC Cardstock Sheets
1 matching Jillibean Soup Kraft Cardstock Sheets
Embellishments
-1 package Scenic Route Black Label Rub Ons
-1 package American Crafts Red Letterman Thickers
-2 Vintage Self Adhesive Library Pockets and Matching Cards
-6 Jenni Bowlin Star Tickets
-2 Melissa Frances Chipboard Flash Cards
-4 Shabby Chic Crafts Journaling Tags
-5 Imaginisce Paper Flowers
-1 Prima Clear Stamp (Lined Paper)
-2 Vintage Children's Playing Cards (styles vary)
-1 Melissa Frances "Tags and Envelopes" mini book
-1 Double Sided sheet Vintage "My Little Golden Dictionary" page (illustrated by Richard Scary)
-1 Making Memories Edge Scraper
-1 Dew Drop "Starlight Black" ink pad
-1 Package Jillibean Soup Ribbon (4 yards total)
-3 Imaginisce "Teacher's Pet" Large Brads
-1 Sheet Jenni Bowlin Navy Borders Stickers
-1 Large Jenni Bowlin School Bingo Card
-1 Small Jenni Bowlin School Bingo Card
-5 Basic Grey Buttons
-1 Sheet Jenni Bowlin Vintage Red Letter Stickers
-1 American Crafts Precision Pen in Red
-4 American Crafts Silver Brads
-2 Tim Holtz Silver Numbers with matching brads
-1 Sheet Melissa Frances Attic Treasures Label Die Cuts (15)
$42.99 Click HERE to purchase!

Backyard Treasure

About a week and a half ago we had a crop here at Noel Mignon. I realized I hadn't shared my page with you yet here on the blog, so here it is! :)

I decided that I wanted to do a page using all of the bits & pieces from previous Noel Mignon kits that I just can't let go to waste! :) So this page was born.

I found an inspiration piece in the pages of the Pottery Barn catalog. Aren't these quilts amazing! I love their friendly, eclectic nature. :) That circle pattern called to me right away and I decided to use it as a page element.



And here is my page!




Thanks for taking a look!
Happy Monday!
Jana

Love is Friendship Set on Fire

I read that along time ago and it stuck with me. So i finally decided I would do something with it.

This is an 11x14 canvas. The picture is 8x10 and everything else is the Rise and Shine kit (sold out). This was for my Yo Yo challenge for the sizling summer crop we had on the message board last week. I combined my challenge along with a few others. One was a lift of a gallery member. I chose Aphra. Head to the boards and if you are not a member please sign up. We would love to have you and we have LOADS of fun.




If you don't know how to make a yo yo you can see my video tutorial here

Have a great week.

Only a Couple of Days Left...

.......until my card's class starts! Woohooo, I am super excited! I hope you can join us Monday August 24th-28th, for a week of fun at NoelMignon's Message Board. The class will be held in a separate forum, so you will be able to ask questions and upload your work. If you would like more info about my card's class you can go to my blog for further info. If you are interested in purchasing the class, it is available either on the right side bar of this blog, or my personal blog. Hope to see you Monday! : )

Sweet One

This week's challenge was to lift a LO from the fabulously talented Tara Van Moorsel. I chose to use her LO as a sketch for mine. I had this sweet picture of my husband and his Godchild in a quiet moment together. I used Noel's Rise & Shine kit. The butterfly is by Sweet 'n Sassy stamps and it was stamped on a transparency with Staz On ink.


Make sure you head on over to the challenge blog to see Tara's fabulous LO as well as the other gorgeous LO's by the DT!

Just the 2 of Us

I love love love looking at message board member Tara's layouts. She has such great design sensibilities and creative details. I was super excited when our challenge was to lift her layout because I knew I would have fun lifting it!I used Lily Bee papers and Primas, including my newest addiction- er favorites- from them.

My Lil' Mermaid

Well this weeks challenge was a fun one -- I love Tara's layout and was wxcited to get going on it -- but it wasn't that easy - LOL! But I still had fun with the twists and turns of it -- that's what scrapping is about right?

You can kinda tell but the circled paper is really Hambly trasparency -- it gives it more of a water feel (if that is possible)





And going along with the mermaid theme I added some fishes -- my daughter was very proud - LOL!

Well I can't wait to see what you create - click here to go to the challenge.
Michelle

Princess in Training

We have a new challenge up at the Noel Mignon Challenge Blog today; scraplifting Tara Van Moorsel! Wow! She is amazing! I love everything Tara creates, so this was a treat to lift her page. :) Here is my take on it using the Five Foot Two kit (sold out).






I love the texture that Tara puts into her pages. I tried to pull that into my layout by using the handcut leaf border, Sassafras Layered Blossoms , and the Blue Prima Cherry Blossom Branch . I loved that she used a variety of butterflies (stamped, punched, etc.) and copied that idea on my page as well. Thanks for the inspiration, Tara!

Have a great week!
Jana

A Slight Delay.....

I just wanted to let you know that my card's class has been pushed back one week to allow more time for people to sign up! The class will start next Monday the 24th. I hope you decide to join us for a fun filled class!!!! : ) ( If interested you can purchase the class in the right side bar.)

A Couple of LO's, and the Last Day of the Crop!!

Here's my first LO for the week....I did this one for our Sizzlin' Summer Crop over on the message boards! We have 6 challenges, plus games, prizes, make and takes, and other fun stuff going on. There is still time to play, as the challenges aren't due until the 19th. So pop on over and join in!!
My challenge was to browse the gallery (on the MB) and find a member you would like to lift. I chose to lift Deanna Misner. Her original can be seen over there...and here is my take. I used the October Afternoon Road Map Collection.



Slip Slidin' Away
I did this one with leftovers from about 4 kits I think.



Hope you all had a great weekend! Don't forget to sign up for Michele's class...it starts tomorrow!! :)

YoYo's coming to you via video

okay girls...now i know there is alot of subscribers to this t and t blog so you can learn something as well :) if you don't already know. This video was made for our sizzling summer crop.

Have fun!

Yo Yo Tutorial from Greta Adams on Vimeo.

Fish

My niece, Hannah, loves to come to my house and swim in our pool! She is a bit tentative about the water, but once she gets going with her big cousin, aka, Kyle, there is no stopping her! I adore the action shots of her legs and feet up in the air! : ) I used bits and pieces of Noel's Five Foot Two and Eyes of Blue kit!
Just a reminder that my on-line card's class over at Noel's MB, will start this coming Monday! It is going to be such a fun class that will include some fun techniques and some of the basics of stamping! If you want to join us, you can purchase the class in the right side bar! : )

Don't forget to join us too for our Sizzlin' Summer Crop over on the message board! Lots of chatter, games, challenges, and some prizes!

Have a FANTASTIC Friday and rest of the weekend!

Wish You Were Here

We've got an awesome online crop going on this week on the message boards; make sure to come over and check it out!

Yesterday was my challenge (and you have time to play with it all week- your version isn't due until the 19th!)... it's called the "Wish You Were Here" challenge. To read more details about it, go to the "Sizzlin' Summer Crop" in the forums and look for the thread.


Oh and hey- if you've seen this blog for even one week, you'll know that our Michele Kovack is an amazing stamper. She's offering a class for all of us to learn cool techniques! I've seen a few of the things she has in store for us and it looks really cool. I can't wait! To sign up, just click on the paypal widget on the right side of the sidebar!

Stamping Techniques with Michele Kovack!

You have all seen Michele's *AMAZING* stamp work/ techniques...and she is now offering a 5 day workshop to share all of her knowledge and tips with you! Make sure you sign up...you won't want to miss it!!! It will be offered over on the MB frm August 17th-21st. And even if you can't make those days it will be up for you to study and ask questions about for months after...so don't hesitate. :)

Stamping Techniques Class with Michele Kovack!

You have all seen Michele's *AMAZING* stamp work/ techniques...and she is now offering a 5 day workshop to share all of her knowledge and tips with you! Make sure you sign up...you won't want to miss it!!! It will be offered over on the MB frm August 17th-21st. And even if you can't make those days it will be up for you to study and ask questions about for months after...so don't hesitate. :)

Some Cards

Since I have been under the weather for the past few days I have not created much at all --but now that I am starting to feel much better I sat down and made some cards using what was left of my Rise and Shine kit - and here is what resulted...

For this card I used my Hero Arts Cloud Stamp on top of Pink Paislee paper. I used a PP rub on on white cardstock and adhered it to the card with pop dots.

And yet again for this card I used a Hero Arts butterfly stamp on top of some MME pattern paper. That butterfly underneath is actually a rub on by Pink paislee.

So now that these got me my creative juices going -- I am off to get ready for the crop that is starting today!!! Yippee!
Michelle