Circle obsessed

Ever since I got a couple of new larger circle punches for Christmas I have been quite obsessed with circles.

I've not been much of a circle person before this.
But now I am quite circle crazy!

Case in point...

I made this one with the new warm & cozy Homespun kit!
The theme of this layout was inspired by the Hambly camera transparency.
And of course I had to pull out my circle punch!
:)
Hope yall are having a great week!!
And happy LEAP DAY by the way!!
:)
gretchen

Project Life Homespun Style!

Hey there! This is Lisa today!

I knew instantly when I saw the Homespun kit that I had to get working on my Project Life album because this kit is perfect for it. This is my first actual page I've created for PL. I have been working on documenting each week and everything but I haven't actually gotten started on putting something together until now. (And don't even ask how long this took...I had trouble actually committing!) I had a ton of fun putting this together and am now hooked!!

There are so many little details in the Homespun kit that were perfect for my Project Life layout. I love all of the journaling cards. They are the perfect size for the Project Life page protectors. I had to edit the Elle's "this week" journaling card to start on Monday and end on Sunday since that's how I'm doing mine...I just can't bring myself to end the week on Saturday...for me it ends on Sunday and begins on Monday!

I love the Dear Lizzy stamp in the kit. It is SOOOO cute!

We have a weird sense of humor in our house so if you look closely at one of the journaling cards in the bottom row you might get a chuckle!

Happy Tuesday!! 

Homespun Layouts

Hi, Everyone! It's Jana Eubank here to share some tips and the first two pages I have created using the March 2012 Homespun Kit (Sold out).

The first tip I have for you is all about "coming over to the B side". Can you believe that I have combined NINE patterned papers on this layout?! (I'm counting the FabRips & polka dot butterfly accent as two of the patterns). By using the "B" side of patterned papers, or the side of the paper that has the less busy ... more subtle pattern, I am able to combine that many patterns together without my page looking too busy.

Using the B side of a paper is also great for die-cutting! Here I used the dark green graph paper from the kit to cut out this family image.

My second page is all about laying my photos out on a grid. I placed my six photos side-by-side leaving the sixth place free for a title collage. I shrunk the grid and placed this off center on my background paper to keep things from feeling too boxy.

Dimensional embellishments, such as the buttons and metal clips, adds some fun to this page.

One of my photos didn't trim down exactly the way I wanted it to, making it slightly taller than the rest of the photos on my page. To disguise this fact, and keep my grid feeling like a "grid" I covered the junctions of the photos with the Jenni Bowlin buttons stickers and layered buttons on top. See the seam to the right of the large yellow button? It's not as open as the others, but the layered button/sticker accent draws your eye away from that "flaw." Don't be afraid to go with the flow and cover things up if they aren't working exactly the way you wanted them to. :)

Thanks for coming by today! I hope you have a great week!

Jana Eubank

It's time for another Inspiration Sunday!

The most adorable stamp is in the Homespun Kit (sorry folks, all sold out!), 

and it's got me thinking of all things Mason Jar related! I have loved the homespun cozy look of these jars for a long time. I even did a blog post devoted to them a long time ago!

I thought it would be fun today to be inspired by this sweet stamp and see where it led us...

This next look is chic as is... but you could customize it depending on the mood or celebration with different papers and shapes cut out. The options truly are endless! 

(source)

These clever gift tags would be very easy to make with the stamp in the kit!

(source)

 Isn't this next image a beauty? Oh to have one of these in my own home! Swoon! 

(source)

I love this next idea... not only a feast for the eyes, but incredibly practical and clever!

(source- complete with instructions on how to make your own!)

Make sure to stop by the brand new message board to see some more inspiration today, 

and to follow us on Pinterest! :)

Homespun Kit now up for sale

Paper:
5 Card stock (White, Kraft, Butterscotch, Canary and Aqua), Echo Park This & That - Charming (Journaling Cards, Vintage Fans, Numbers, Swirls, Tickets Please), Studio Calico - Memoir (Wallpaper, Flower Bed, Love Birds, Linen, Book Jacket), October Afternoon - Farmhosue (Guest Room, Faded Wallpaper, Phonograph, Button Box), My Minds Eye - Follow Your Heart (Blue Doily, Ephemera, Geo Star, Society, Craft Unique, Honey Blue), Hambly Screenprints (Cameras Blue Overlay)
Embellishements: 10 October Afternoon "Flower Sack" die cuts, 1 bottle October Afternoon "Wheat Field" sprinklers, 1 set (30 yards total) My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart twines, 1 Dear Lizzy acrylic stamp set (7 pieces), 1 package My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart decorative buttons, 1 package My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart faceted gems, 1 package Echo Park Charming decorative brads, 7 Prima paper flowers, 3 Maya Road canvas pieces, 3 mini clothes pins, 3 My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart clips, 1 Elles Studio Lil' Snippets "This Week", 1 Elles Studio Lil' Snippets "Treasured", 1 sheet Hambly Rub Ons (Lace Borders/Teal Blue), 1 sheet Studio Calico labels, 1 sheet Jenni Bowlin "Magpie" quilted stickers, 1 sheet Jenni Bowlin "Magpie" hodge podge stickers, 1 sheet October Afternoon Grey Mini Market Stickers, 1 package Studio Calico "Fab Rips", 1 package American Crafts "Cupboard" Thickers, 1 12x12 sheet Echo Park "Alpha Stickers and more".

Please click HERE to order yours!

And here is Jana going through the kit for you!

Homespun Layouts!

I got my Homespun Kit earlier this week and somehow, in between sick kids and potty training and a bazillion other things, managed to have a little play time to myself. That's the great thing about this kit. It seems to just make layouts for itself! ;) 

If you haven't subscribed yet, make sure to check out the brand new subscription offers! It makes it so easy- and you get some pretty awesome perks! If you can't do the subscription right away, make sure to snag the Homespun kit when it goes up for sale on the 25th. This is one of the design team's favorite kits! 

Here's two layouts I made with it: 

Love the mist in this kit! And to make the little circles, I just used the cap of the mist. Easy! 

I loved creating this whimsical banner... there's so many great little bits 

and baubles in this kit to string onto a banner. 

This is the second layout I made- and I obviously just kept on going with that great mist. 

The colors in this kit are right up my alley- soft and muted and lots of green, yellow, blue, and grey! 

I hope you are able to snag one of these kits and enjoy it as much as I am! 

Have you picked up your sub yet?

It's the last day to pick up a 6 month subscription and have the March kit, "Homespun", be your first kit at the subscription price. If you order after today then the first kit will be the April kit. Head on over to the new shop to secure yours now! Subs are shipping tomorrow and the remainder of the Homespun kits will be up for sale on the 25th. Thanks so much everyone!

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!

Symbolism...

Hey there! Lisa here today!

Sometimes I add subtle symbolism in my layouts that I'm sure only I notice!

I love the little piece of fabric that is in the Charm School kit! It was the perfect addition to this page about my kids. I loved the mix of the softness of the fabric with the border zigzag's on the stickers. It sort of represents the meaning of this page, how my kids can go from fighting (the zigzag's) to cuddling on the couch watching a movie (the soft fabric) and then it's balanced out with the softness of the ribbon zigzag!

Happy Tuesday!

New site, and 6 month subscriptions now available!

I am happy to announce that we have been working on a site re-design and we are ready to launch today. It is still a bit "buggy" and I am still working on getting the full inventory up, but it is really slick and I'm really proud of it! Everything is located in one place and I will eventually be phasing out the old MB and transferring everything to the new store, so please be sure to sign up for the new community over here

6 month subs are now available and I will be including goodie bags in the first 20...so hurry and get yours secured, they are going fast!

Postmarked with Love

For Valentine's Day, my daughter's Kindergarten class learned all about how a post office works by having their own Valentine post office. They each made their own mailbox and learned how to address, stamp, sort, cancel, and deliver the valentines to each person's box. I recorded this fun memory with the delicious papers and goodies from the Charm School Kit.

First, I created my background with strips of patterned paper from my kit that I had already cut down from other projects. I added a bit of the Crate Paper lace trim and some stitching. Next I built my design on top of the background, clustering together several elements around my three photos. The overlapping elements hugging each other connects everything together.

I LOVE that Noel Mignon kits always come with more than one alphabet. I love to mix my alphabet stickers for an eye-catching title. This time, I also added a die cut word as part of the title. I also cut out an image of a postmark design to go behind my title and strengthen the theme of my page.

I also cut out a file folder shape with my Cricut die cutting machine to house the story of this page. A patterned paper strip underneath the bottom of the entire design helps it to feel anchored.

I actually had a hard time choosing what I wanted that last patterned paper strip to be underneath my photo cluster. Did I like the strong red and the way it emphasized the Valentine theme? . . . or did I want a softer, more chromatic look with the printed kraft paper? Isn't it amazing how different a layout can feel just by switching out one of the patterns you use? Which one do you like better?

Happy scrapping!

Jana Eubank

Pinspiration Sunday

You can see all the Pins this week over on our inspiration board, but here is a hint about what we are thinking about this week! **be sure to follow us on Pinterest to add us to your feed. Need an invite? email me (noel@noelmignon.com)

This or That Challenge- February!

Last month, we started a new challenge series for 2012 - a "this or that" challenge. You have to make a choice on what you use for your project. Last month, we challenged you to choice between mist or a paint dauber, and an edge distresser or a a sewing machine! We did a random drawing and message board member Annette won with this layout: 

We posted a new challenge this week. You have until March 14th to put 

your submissions on this thread. 

Now, I know some of you might be thinking we're crazy, but just try it! It's always when you're doing something out of the ordinary that you discover a new technique! :D 

Here's my example for a no paper trimmer layout; just used the ol' scissors! You could use a die cutting machine, punches, an exacto blade, tearing, masking, tape.... there's tons of options! 

Made with the Cabin Fever kit! 

Make sure to stay tuned for Monday... I think you'll be in for a big treat! ;)

How was your V-day??

Did you do anything special for Valentine's Day or get anything good??
Do tell!
We celebrate Valentine's Day every day in my house so we did not feel the need to do anything major yesterday.
{chuckle, chuckle}
But I did make some fun treats for my girls at work!
I mean, it was Valentine's day and figure it makes for a better work environment if everyone's chocolate stash is fully stocked!
So I grabbed my Charm School kit and made them a little something...

Easy peasy! And yummy!!
Well I hope you had a great Valentine's Day!
Or I hope you at least got some chocolate!
:)
Have a great day!
gretchen