Sending Hugs with Concord & 9th!

Hey there, friends! Two weekends ago, I had the pleasure of teaching at Crop & Create Moncton with a lovely group of friends for my FIRST in-person card class!

I was definitely nervous, but this lovely group of ladies put me at ease as I shared my tips and tricks for ink blending, and we created three beautiful cards! Take a look!

The Concord & 9th Sending Hugs stencils are SO easy to use to create BIG, bold sentiments, in your favorite colorway! In this class, we created three different sentiments, making the ink-blending process the focus of the class.

We started out with this beauty, featuring some of my favorite Concord & 9th hues: Grapefruit, Sorbet and Peacock! Did you ever guess that this combination could be so striking together? Gotta love contrasting colors! To add a bit of something extra, we backed the big sentiment, cut using the Sending Hugs dies with cardstock strips. I love the possibilities that 1/4” strips add to your cards. Another sentiment in the center and a few hearts finished off the card beautifully.

Fun fact: Myself, along with help from the SCT Crop & Create team of Virginia Nebel and Jess Forster, cut all 40 bundles of white die-cuts for the class so that they could focus on their blending instead of die cutting. Dream team!

On our second card, I took full advantage of my love for all things teal! I used Sea Glass, Peacock and Stardust to create the big sentiment, and even showed the class how to ink-blend their white die cuts if they don’t have the same color of cardstock on hand. It’s a great tip for any cardmaker!

I also taught the class the joy of double die-cutting, or cutting the center out from your die-cut shape. On this card, we cut the smaller heart out of the center of the medium heart to fill it with a different color.

Our final card was by far my favorite, and I showed the class the beauty of blending multiple colors in one single stencil to create this rainbow sentiment using Grapefruit, Stardust and Sea Glass inks, shadowed with Peacock ink. We also did a bit more blending on our die cuts since we didn’t have yellow cardstock. How perfect did that rainbow heart turn out? This just shows the amazing possibilities using blending techniques!

As much fun as I had teaching this class, the best part was by far having the attendees come up to me afterward to show me their finished designs and tell me how much they learned. That is what teaching is all about to me, and I can’t wait to do it in-person again! Who’s with me?

Find the supplies that I used to create these cards by clicking the images below, and thanks for stopping by!

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C&9th Sending Hugs stencil

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C&9th Sending Hugs die

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C&9th Sending Hugs stamp

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Therm O Web Pixie Tape

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Gina K. Designs blending brushes

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Therm O Web Pixie Spray

How to Get Published in 2023!

Hey there, friends! It has been a while since I have stopped by this space of mine, and I think it is about time that we become reacquainted! I have missed blogging, and want to make it a goal to add updates here regularly in 2023.

Today I want to talk to you about being published! I know that as papercrafters, this is often a goal. I’m here to tell you that your goal is attainable and give you some tips for checking off that bucket-list item!

I was so fortunate to be published on the cover of the Scrapbook & Cards Today Winter 2022 issue! If you haven’t yet checked out this publication, I highly recommend you do, and it’s FREE!

Click HERE to download the Winter 2022 Issue today!

When I was assigned the task to create a cover layout, did I run out and purchase the latest collections to work with? Nope. I looked around my stash and grabbed what I had on hand. What makes a pub-worthy project? Good design! Let me break that down for you:

• Color matters: When I begin my layout, 95% of the time I choose a color scheme that ties into my photo. This will make your photo POP and helps it to become the focus of the page. On this layout, I chose the darkest color, navy, to frame my page, then filled in the background with the accent colors from the photo, pink and teal.

• Think contrast! Bold designs are what will draw your eye to the project on the pages of a magazine, so think about how you can use contrasting colors, shapes, textures, patterns and fonts.

• Titles are terrific! Layout titles are a great way to add contrast and interest and make your layout stand out. Use only 2-3 different fonts and colors and choose contrasting fonts like I did here!

• Don’t go overboard with embellishment. A clean design is often best on a magazine page, so when choosing your embellishment, select wisely. Be sure to think about contrast in shape and texture, and always take off one item before you call it done. Just like Coco Chanel said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Do the same with your layouts!

• Use lines. Last, but certainly not least, think about how lines play a role into how you look at your layout. Borders, frames and other implied lines created by embellishment or the way you cut patterned paper can all create interest and draw your eye to the photo on your page. Use lines to your advantage!

I hope you’ll use these tips when creating for a magazine submission, and great news: the Scrapbook & Cards Today Summer issue call is now available!

Click HERE to find the summer call and plan your submission today!

Find the current products that I used to create this layout by clicking the images below:

Two Ways with the Remember the Magic Collection from Echo Park Paper

Hello friends, and happy Friday! I recently had the pleasure of creating with the Echo Park Paper Remember the Magic collection for the winter 2020 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine! Because Disneyland is just about my favorite place to be, this layout came pretty easily to me, using this very themed, beautiful collection to document Christmas Disney moments:

One thing I love about this collection? The addition of kraft as a neutral with the characteristic red, black, robin’s egg blue and golden yellow hues. The one piece of paper that made this layout “click” for me was this one:

This Tickets Please paper was just calling to be fussy-cut, and I created a fun column of tickets and ribbon from my stash (because who doesn’t love a good stash-bust!?) on the right side of my layout.

Lots of dimension and texture right there! I love everything about this layout—from the vertical design, to the images I chose, and the title I created from a mix of the Remember the Magic dies and stickers from Elle’s Studio and American Crafts.

FIND THIS LAYOUT IN THE WINTER ISSUE OF SCT MAGAZINE ON PAGE 43 AND 47!

Once I created the page, I put this collection away, expecting to create another Disney layout with it.

Then, I started thinking… why can’t I use this collection for something other than Disney memories? So, I challenged myself to do just that, on my first layout of 2021, created for the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog:

Does this layout scream, “Disney!” to you? Nope! How did I take such a themed collection and stretch my stash to create a non-themed layout? Here are 3 simple tips on how to do it:

1: “Neutral” patterns & “B” side bonanza:

I was inspired by Paige Evan’s cut file (download for free at the SCT blog post!) to add a lot of stars to my page, and although the Wish Upon A Star paper shown on the left of my page may have included the Disney-friendly hues from the collection, once you took the Disney photos away, no one could tell the difference! I call this a “neutral” pattern. It can be used for anything, and you often find these in themed collections, too. This paper was the starting point for my color scheme, based on the collection. You can also see that I used patterned paper to fill in my “2021 Goals” die cut. All of these patterns are on the B-side of the paper, often the less-noticed, more low-key prints. Stripes, dots, plaids and geometrics are my preferred patterns, and they worked perfectly at the top of my page.

2. Embellish Away the Theme!

Sure, this Remember the Magic collection has plenty of castles, big white gloves, and churros (mmmm…) in it, but I chose to ignore them. Instead, I searched the collections chipboard and sticker sheets for non-themed embellishments, like the “here we go” puffy arrow, “dreams admit one” puffy ticket and chipboard camera. Plus, there were plenty of chipboard stars to accent these larger embellishments. Every themed collection will have VERY themed embellishments, but ignore those and go for the ones that fit your page. The “dreams admit one” ticket was very notable on this layout about my goals for 2021, and the “here we go” arrow was perfect for documenting this at the very beginning of the year.

3. Mix and Match to Success!

Once I had the elements chosen from Remember the Magic, I shopped my stash for products from other manufacturers that would fit the design, hues and the story I wanted to tell. I grabbed that “crafty” chipboard piece from the Simple Stories Crafty Girl collection, as well as the amazing acetate stars from Elle’s Studio, which fit with the color scheme and the starry page I was going for! To finish off the page, I used the My Star Stamp from Elle’s Studio to add uplifting phrases around my embellishments. Starting with a themed collection to create a non-themed layout doesn’t mean you have to stick to those products only! Branch out and see what other items you may have on hand that would accent it!

I hope these tips have given you some thought as to how to bust your stash of themed collections for non-themed layouts! If you’re a Disney fanatic like me, be sure to check out the beautiful Remember the Magic collection for yourself, but don’t just use it for Disney layouts! Happy creating, friends, and have a beautiful weekend!

CLICK TO SHOP REMEMBER THE MAGIC NOW ON SALE AT SCRAPBOOK.COM!

Elle's Studio December 2020 Kit Reveal!

Hello, friends, and happy December! I can’t believe we are already in the final month of the year! Christmas has come a bit early, because today I have the brand new December 2020 kit and add-ons from Elle’s Studio to share with you! First up, let’s take a look at all of the new goodies in my December 2020 unboxing video:

How wonderful are these new products? First up, the December kit contains so many different color options. With its festive tags and winter themes, it’s one that will have you documenting into the new year!

But don’t forget about the add-ons. There are a few that have me seeing stars, like the Stitched Star wood veneers, My Star stamp and My Star metal die that I know will be popular, so if you love them too, don’t delay in grabbing them from the shop!

This month, I decided to focus on the “2020 favorites” and “pause and reflect 2020” tags to record the memorable moments of our year in a 12” x 12” pocket page. I just love the blue, yellow, black and gray colour scheme that I pulled out of the kit contents.

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You can see this page come together, and how I created two shaker pockets for it in my process video:

I hope you love these new Elle’s Studio December 2020 goodies as much as I do! Be sure to shop the products that I used to create my pocket page at the gallery below, and get your 2020 wrapped up in a beautiful way in your album! Thanks so much for stopping by and happy creating, friends!

Documenting My Happy Thoughts with the Blush Memorydex!

Hello friends! Today I’m here to share a new project with you, one that is especially dear to me. This year has been rough for our family—moving and having a new little one during a pandemic has made us all look at life differently. To counter what is going on in the world around us, we try to add a dose of happiness into our lives every day, with walks, music and our favorite foods. I decided that I also needed a dose of that happiness in my crafty space, and today I’m sharing how I did that with the new Heidi Swapp Blush Memorydex Spinner*, only available at Scrapbook.com!

I’ve always loved the idea of “happy thoughts,” like in Peter Pan, the thoughts and memories that make you fly. Well, this project pulls at my heart strings, and each new Memorydex card that I create for the spinner will showcase the most special people and moments that make me happy.

I created my cards by cutting patterned paper using the Memorydex die set. On this title card, I used the Title Builder Vol. 3 stamp to add the words “my” and “thoughts,” and embellished with Heidi Swapp’s beautiful Storyline Chapters collection and the gold Thickers from the Avenue collection by Pebbles, Inc. I love the look of layered paper, labels, tags, vellum and washi tape on this card.

None of these cards are meant to be complicated: a simple mixture of patterned paper, die cuts, tags and a bit of gold thrown in highlights the photos, which are the most important part of this project.

If I choose to add journaling, I’m leaving the back of each card blank. Here I could add my thoughts, the details of the memory, or the date.

What I especially love about this project is that it is timeless. I can add a memory that makes me happy from ten years ago, or just yesterday. It’s all about how each moment makes me feel.

So, when the things going on in the world around me get me down, my plan is to just flip through this Memorydex that stores all of my happy thoughts, the ones that make my heart fly. I can’t wait to share more of my cards with you.

Find all of the products that I used in my Memorydex project below in the shoppable gallery, and consider starting a “happy thoughts” project of your own, or gifting this beautiful Memorydex to someone you care about this Christmas!

* Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you! Clicking to shop helps me pay for this blog and video feed. Thanks so much for your support!

Fun With Therm O Web's Fairytale Foils!

Hello, friends! I have a confession for you… I am not a shopper. I don’t like to buy new products that much, and would rather use what I have on hand. I’m more of a less-is-more kind of gal. I love the look of foiled projects, but have resisted the urge to spend a lot of money on a foiling machine, so I thought that I would never be able to create foiled designs.

That all changed this week when my friends at Therm O Web sent me their new Fairytale Foils and Transfer Gel Duo* to play with, and I was able to try out this new-to-me technique. Let me just say, I am in LOVE!

I had some baby-free time one evening to experiment with the Therm O Web Transfer Gel Duo, Fairytale Foils and the Vicki Boutin Let’s Wander Starstruck stencils from my stash. The results were amazing!

This technique is simple and easy! Using a stencil and my new Therm O Web Stencil Pal, I applied a thin coat of the Transfer Gel Duo to the stencil. *Note: If the coat of Transfer Gel is too thick, it will increase drying time, and you won’t have crisp, clean results when you foil. You can see the difference in my video below!

After the gel had dried overnight,, I applied the foils to the design, ran the card front through my Revolution die cutting machine, and VOILA! I had an amazing, foiled card background! No special printer, or expensive foiling machine required. I’d love to show you how I did it in this process video:

I’m not much of a mixed-media technique gal, but I am now a foiler! I can’t wait to try out the Deco Foil adhesive pen next. Oh the possibilities! I hope you’ll give these products a try, too. I promise you won’t be disappointed with the results!

Be sure to check out all of the products I used in my video, either in the video notes or in the shoppable gallery below. Thanks for stopping by today and happy creating, and FOILING friends!

* Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you! Clicking to shop helps me pay for this blog and video feed. Thanks so much for your support!

Elle's Studio September 2020 Kit and Add-On Reveal!

Hello friends! I am so excited to introduce you to the September 2020 kit and add-ons* from Elle’s Studio today! First, let’s take a look at all of the new goodies in my unboxing video:

Beautiful, deeper hues, with grateful and family-oriented prompts in the September monthly kit bring autumn to your projects in a gorgeous way!

Take a look at the add-on embellishments that coordinate with the kit, too!

These beautiful products are perfect to kick off the transition into cooler temps, warmer clothes, comfort food and more. You'll love the rich color scheme found in the kit and the amazing add-ons, which range from a new paper stack to jewel-toned puffy rainbow stickers!

This month, I used these stunning new products to create a layout that is dear to my heart, recording the day that we brought my son home from the hospital.

I loved using the My Heart metal die to create a bunch of floating heart "balloons" on the right side of my layout. Watch my process video as I record a truly special memory while creating my first layout after having my second child. I hope it inspires you to document a memory that is near and dear to your heart, too!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see what else I create with the September kit and add-ons this month! You can find all of the products that I used to create this layout at the shoppable gallery below, and happy creating with your new Elle’s Studio goodies!

Elle's Studio July 2020 Reveal!

Hello, friends! I am so excited today to introduce you to the Elle’s Studio July 2020 kit and extras! Let’s start off with my unboxing video so that you can see each new product released today!

I hope you’re as excited about these beautiful, new products as I am! The July 2020 kit is filled with gorgeous colors, fun icons and tons of opportunities for getting your stories in your album! Take a look!

Don’t forget about the add-ons that coordinate with the kit! We have not one, but two new puffy alphabet stickers, a new paper stack, chipboard stickers, labels, washi tape stickers, wood veneers AND an awesome new stamp set! Oh my goodness!

The digital files are pretty awesome this month, too! Did you know that if you’re a subscriber, you get them for free?? Yep! Just another perk of starting a subscription this month!

This month, I started off my projects with a layout that I created using the Wild at Heart printable and the new July products in a way that I love to use them—to create a layout background!

This photo was perfect for the blue, yellow, orange and lime green color scheme that I built on this layout from the new products. I loved adding the Summer tape stickers and brand new polka dot pattern to the background, and building that title with the Title Builder stamps! Take a look at how it all came together in my process video:

Be sure to grab all of the new July products while supplies last, and you can shop everything that I used to create this layout at the stoppable gallery below! Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy creating!

* Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you! Clicking to shop helps me pay for this blog and video feed. Thanks so much for your support!

The Elle's Studio June 2020 Kit and Add-Ons Are Here!

Hello, friends! I’m so excited to be with you today to share the new June 2020 kit and add-ons* from Elle’s Studio! Let’s take a look at my unboxing video, where I will show you each of the new goodies:

It’s summer in a box, right? There are so many fun products on offer this month! Let’s take a look at the kit up close:

The beautiful combination of colors in the June 2020 kit will bring summer to your workspace, and your albums—no matter if you create a layout, pocket page, traveler’s notebook, mini album or greeting card!

If you thought the kit was fantastic, just take a look at the coordinating June add-ons! A new paper stack, colorful chipboard stars, puffy banner alphas… oh my! There are so many wonderful products available in the shop to inspire you to record your summer memories, past and present!

Don’t forget about the digitals! These handy Summer Snapshot printables, June 2020 cut files and print and cut labels can fill your library with colorful designs and useful elements to create any project. I had to use all of the gorgeous colors available in the new kit and extras, as well as the “happiness” digital die cut banner to create this fun layout about a sure sign of summer:

This layout just makes me so, incredibly happy, and records my daughter enjoying one of her favorite summer treats when we travel to the UK each summer to visit family: a 99 cone! This was her first cone of the summer of 2018, and I wanted to match her happiness in the photos with my layout design, so I chose to use all of the colors available in the June kit and extras.

My BIG title, created with the June 2020 cut files and Large Jane alphabet stamps was one of the first parts of the layouts that I designed, and brought that “celebratory feel” to the page. I love how it lays on top of the colorful striped patterned paper from the Summer Fun paper stack, too!

I also added three fun groupings of small embellishments, which included Chipboard Star Stickers, Ice Cream Stickers, die cuts from the June kit and tiny stamped stars from the Summer Fun stamp.

Want to see how this layout came together in real-time? Watch my process video below!

I hope you love these new Elle’s Studio goodies as much as I do, and if so, don’t wait to add them to your cart! These colorful products are sure to be a bit hit! You can find the products that I used to create my layout in the gallery below! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy creating with your new Elle’s Studio June 2020 kit and extras!

* Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you! Clicking to shop helps me pay for this blog and video feed. Thanks so much for your support!

Elle's Studio May 2020 Reveal!

Hello friends! I am so excited to introduce you to the brand new products now available in the Elle’s Studio shop! First, let’s take a look at the May 2020 kit and extras in my unboxing video!

Wow, what an amazing array of products this month, right? The May kit is full of the most beautiful color palette, of yellow, coral, lilac, light blue and navy! Take a look at each of the journaling tags and die cuts:

Don’t forget about the add-ons to embellish! These awesome products will help you to add that special touch to your project with a wide range of product types from stickers, chipboard, acrylic, wood veneer and stamps!

Don’t forget about the coordinating digital files, which include the Eat, Sleep, Repeat printables, May 2020 cut files, and May print and cut labels! These are perfect for adding to your digital library and print or cut out just when you need them.

But wait! One more product that I had a special part in has me SO excited this month! It’s the release of the new From Sketch to Finish Vol. 5 class and exclusive stamp! This amazing class is jam packed with 50 exclusive sketches and inspiration from 10 talented contributors (some of my favorite scrapbookers!) who are sharing tips and tricks for getting your layouts completed during the busy summer months ahead. Take a look at the class cover and amazing class stamp, which is only available with the class:

I know you all will love this class—not only did I coordinate and edit the class, I was also able to contribute to it! Take a look at this sneak from one of my projects, which you will only find in the class content:

Whew! What an awesome array of products to choose from this month! I used the new goodies to create an 8-1/2” x 11” layout that records a special day shared between my daughter and my husband:

This month’s products were perfect for putting this page together, including the amazing Eat, Sleep, Repeat printables that I used to begin my layout with that fun star patterned paper background! I simply resized the journaling tag to 8-1/2” x 11” to use as my layout background.

The “Thanks, Dad” journaling tag from the May 2020 kit inspired me to share this story, and I loved adding my title to the right of the journaling tag. That Story acrylic is just perfect for building a fun title!

The Crafty stickers, acrylic stars and Currently Icon stamp added my embellishment to make this page a truly special creation! I could not love it more, and it came together so easily using these new products. Take a look at my process video to see how:

Thank you so much for watching, and I hope I’ve given you some inspiration to use your new Elle’s Studio goodies to record your memories! Browse all of the products I used to create this layout in the gallery below, and happy creating, friends!

* Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you! Clicking to shop helps me pay for this blog and video feed. Thanks so much for your support!

Spring in Pockets with the Elle's Studio April 2020 Kit

Hello there! When the Elle’s Studio April kit and add-ons* hit my doorstep, I knew that all of the lovely flowers and spring themes in it would be perfect for recording a lovely spring day at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center outside of Austin, Texas. Here in Texas, bluebonnet season is one of the best times of the year, and we took advantage of our trip to this beautiful center to take all of our bluebonnet photos! Take a look at the spread I created:

Here’s a closeup look at the left page:

And the right page:

Since my photos had a lot of green in them, this was the first color that I gravitated to, selecting the two green journaling tags from the April 2020 kit. To make the page extra sunny, I decided that yellow would also be perfect, but there were also so many different colors in my photos. To balance this, I decided to grab the multicolor stripe 4” x 6” tag from the April kit, and balance that on the other side with the same patterned Favorite printable tag, originally 3” x 4” , but stretched to 4” x 6” in Photoshop.

The first yellow tag came from the April 2020 kit. To jazz it up, I grabbed the paintbrush line from the Title Builder Vol. 4 stamp and stamped it in different colors along the base of the tag. I added my title using the new Typewriter alphabet stamp, along with the navy blue Jane alphabet stickers, and the date using the Mini Dated Extras stamp. A couple of sweet puffy flowers from the Lovely puffy stickers finished off this title tag.

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The other yellow tag may just be my favorite of the spread! I started with a 4” x 6” piece of smooth, white cardstock and added yellow polka dot patterned paper from the Springtime paper stack (now sold out). Next, I stamped “hooray” using the Typewriter alphabet stamp, adding the Jane stickers below just like on the opposite side of the spread. I painted the “spring” wood veneer word a shade of blue to match the bluebonnet photos on my spread and backed it with a label from the Beautiful Day die cuts before adhering it to the page. At the top and the base of the tag, I added flowers from the Beautiful Day die cuts and Spring wood veneers, then finished off the tag with the “oh happy day” sticker from the Life Right Now stickers.

Don’t forget that each month, ES releases printables that coordinate with the monthly kit, and this printable tag from the Favorites printables sure came in handy to balance out the other side of the spread. Originally a vertical 3” x 4” tag, I flipped it and printed it at 4” x 6”, covering up the “wild at heart” label on the right with this photos of my daughter, a label plus “hello there” sticker from the Life Right Now stickers, a Beautiful Day die cut flower and a Spring wood veneer circle. I loved having a colorful spot to add this fun photo.

I am so glad that I got to record this lovely day in such a pretty and perfect way using the April 2020 kit and add-ons! Be sure to check out all of the supplies that I used to create this pocket page spread below, and have fun using your new Elle’s Studio goodies to record your spring memories!

*Affiliate links have been used in this post at no extra cost to you. Clicking through my links is a way to say, "Thanks for inspiring me," and your purchase helps to support my work! Thank you so much!

April 2020 Elle's Studio Reveal!

Hello friends! I am so excited today! Not only is it Friday, and Good Friday at that, but the Elle’s Studio April kit and extras have just released, and I can’t wait to share all of the new goodies with you! First, let’s take a look at my unboxing video that will give you a first-hand look at everything released today!

Amazing products, right? The springy April kit is just full of color and pretty designs, to help you record your most special spring moments! Take a look at all of the tags and die cuts that I showed you in the video:

The beautiful coordinating add-ons this month include two new journaling tag sets, stickers, a huge pack of die cuts , labels, two wood veneer sets and two sets of stamps! So many amazing products to go along with the April kit!

The April 2020 digital cut files and Favorite printables are also super useful this month! I used the die cut flowers on the first project that I created. Let’s take a look:

This fun page records a Palm Sunday favorite for my daughter: petting the donkey who we follow in a procession around our church! Not only did I use the April 2020 kit and add-ons to create this 8-1/2” x 11” page, I also used a fun mixed-media technique using watercolor paint. Check out how this page came together in this process video:

I had so much fun creating this page and getting creative with paint and those pretty floral die cuts! Be sure to check out the April 2020 kit and extras from Elle’s Studio in the shop while supplies last, or click the gallery below to see all of the products that I used to create my page. Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a beautiful Easter weekend with the ones that you love, and FaceTime with those that you can’t be with!

Easter Memories in Pockets with Elle's Studio

Hello friends! One of the many “unknowns” about the times we are living in right now is how we will be celebrating Easter this year. Although our president wants packed churches on Easter morning, our family will be keeping ourselves safe, and most likely staying home. Easter is one of my favorite holidays, and this makes me extremely sad. This had me thinking about some of our past Easter celebrations, and the one at the top of my list took place right here in our home and neighborhood last year when we invited my daughter’s two besties over for an Easter play date! To brighten my week a bit, I decided to record this fun day in a Project Life Design J pocket page spread using the Elle’s Studio March kit and extras*.

This page started with my photos and my title, “Sharing Easter Memories Together,” using my new Title Builder Vol. 4 stamp set and black typewriter cardstock alphabet stickers, and I stamped it LIVE on a Facebook video over on the Scrapbook and Cards Today Magazine feed this week, in addition to a title for a scrapbook layout, and a greeting card! I hope you’ll check it out!

Once my title was complete, it was all about balancing the beautiful colors from the March kit and add-ons across the page! I focused on the colors in my title card: orchid, yellow, blue and teal; with neutrals of woodgrain and black.

I wanted to mimic the typewriter font found on the new black typewriter cardstock alphabet, but I needed a smaller size to fill out this journaling tag. The Hazel alphabet stamp came to my rescue to highlight the most important parts of the day: finding eggs, opening eggs and eating the candy inside! I used the new Word Circle stamp to add the heart bullet points for each item.

On the back of the page, I wanted to mimic that big, colorful pocket on the front with a 4” x 4” filler pocket. I created it with pretty teal paper and topped it with a journaling tag and label, which I stamped using the Title Builder and Title Builder Vol. 4 stamps! I also added “moments” below using the Title Builder Vol. 4 puffy stickers. To the left of my phrase, I added the cute acrylic Easter egg with the Easter wood veneer bunny ears on top! To the right on my photo, I added a “3” Go See Do acetate die cut. I love adding these to photos for a bit of extra, but low-key embellishment!

This sweet pocket started with the “flowers, raindrops, sunshine…” tag from the March 2020 kit, but I had to dress it up a bit using my Title Builder Vol. 4 stamp illustrations and that cute little wood veneer bunny from the Easter wood veneers!

This page recorded such a fun and happy day, and documenting it was definitely something I needed right now! Even though our Easter plans may be up in the air, I know that I can re-create this fun-filled day with our little family, and still make it special. Thanks so much for stopping by today! You can find all of the product I used to create this pocket page in the shoppable gallery below, which will take you to the Elle’s Studio store, an amazing, woman-owned small business! Stay safe and well, friends!

*Affiliate links have been used in this post at no extra cost to you. Clicking through my links is a way to say, "Thanks for inspiring me," and your purchase helps to support my work! Thank you so much!

Title Builder Vol. 4 Is HERE!

I am so excited to announce that the Elle’s Studio March kit and extras* are live, which includes the new Title Builder Vol. 4 series!

I created the Title Builder collection to make creating layout titles simple and easy for you, and we’re adding to this series with the new Title Builder VOl. 4! The 4th volume of this popular stamp series is all about spring, and with it, you’ll be able to create inspirational and uplifting titles for all of your papercrafting projects! Watch this introduction video to find out more about Title Builder Vol. 4:

Want to see this new bundle in action, along with the amazing, new March kit and extras from Elle’s Studio? Take a look at the layout process video that I created:

You can purchase the Title Builder Vol. 4 bundle, which includes the stamp and the puffy stickers, for 15% off the retail price, only while supplies last!

Also, to celebrate this new release, the three previous versions of Title Builder are in stock and ON SALE in the Elle’s Studio shop! I truly hope you love creating with them as much as I do!

Thanks so much for stopping by on this exciting day, and happy creating with Title Builder Vol. 4!

*Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you. Clicking through my links is a way to say, "Thanks for inspiring me," and helps to support this feed!

Mixing Old & New: Close to My Heart Celebrate Today and Shimelle's Glitter Girl!

Hello there, friends! I have to say, I am pretty good at purging my supplies, but I do hold onto a few cherished collections, like any that my friend Shimelle has created with American Crafts! I still have products going back to her first collection!

I recently received the beautiful Celebrate Today collection from Close to My Heart*, and when I saw the gorgeous colors in their Picture My Life cards, I knew I had to use them to document my daughter’s 7th birthday party, and add a few magical elements from Shimelle’s Glitter Girl collection! The combination of the old and new from my stash worked perfectly together. Take a look:

All of the colors! The gorgeous Picture My Life cards provided the perfect mix of colors to stand up against my colorful photos from my daughter’s painting birthday party. I absolutely loved the colorful, watercolored elements on the cards, and used them to fill pockets and back smaller photos to record the day.

Because of all of that gorgeous color, not much embellishment was needed! I simply added coordinating stickers from the Celebrate Today collection and die cuts and stickers from the Glitter Girl collection, to add the magical unicorns, border stickers and script words.

Just a few colorful stars from the Celebrate Today stickers sheet and pretty silver sequins were the only small embellishments I needed to complete my pages!

Watch how this pocket page layout came together in this quick process video:

I am so pleased that I had the Glitter Girl collection still on hand to use alongside the Celebrate Today Picture My Life cards from Close to My Heart. I hope this pocket page encourages you to mix your new stash with older product to create beautiful things! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy creating!

Document December 2019 COMPLETE!

Hello friends! I am so excited to share that I have completed my Document December 2019 project, using the Elle’s Studio Document December products*. I decided to create a 3” x 8” format this year, and I started with the Ali Edwards gold striped album (sold out). After breaking one of the binders, the awesome AE customer service team sent me the polka-dotted binder, but by that point, I realized that I would likely fill two binders, so I just kept both.

As a coordinator and design team member for Elle’s Studio, I received all of the Elle’s Studio Document December 2019 products* this year (you can see what products are still in stock at that link!) and used almost everything to complete both volumes, aside from a few stickers, acrylic and die cuts.

Here is a look at the pages from volume one. Click the individual photo to take a closer look!

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Volume two started with December 14th, and went through the end of the year:

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If you’d like to hear me talk about the album and flip through it while explaining the pages, you’re in luck! Check out my video here:

Thank you so much for watching, and be sure to stay tuned for the Elle’s Studio Document December 2020 kit and add-ons to hit the Elle’s Studio shop sometime in August! The 2019 kit sold out quickly last year, so don’t miss out on what could be your favorite December documentation project yet!

Spring Moments Documented with the SCT Sampler!

Have you heard of the SCT Sampler? It is a specially curated package of papercrafting goodness from your favorite companies delivered right to your doorstep each month! The SCT Sampler is not a kit in the traditional sense—it’s bite-sized! A hand-picked selection of new products in mini quantities offering you an opportunity to make a beautiful new discovery. Sample the newest designer trends AND have a surprise delivered to your door every month, and you must have a subscription to get it!

Take a look at what I got in my Sampler this month:

New products from Doodlebug Design, Pink Paislee, an embossing folder from Close to My Heart and an exclusive acrylic word created by SCT! The colors are beautiful, and they all work together so perfectly! Take a look at the new 8-1/2” x 11” layout that I created:

The paper that I loved most in the kit was the colorful diamond pattern from the Pink Paislee Bloom Street collection, and I started by fussy-cutting it, adding it to a white cardstock background and sewing down the center of the diamonds to add texture! This paper set my color scheme for the page. Next, I took the Bloom Street pink patterned paper and ran it through my embossing machine using the Close to My Heart embossing folder, adding some subtle texture. This created the matte for my 4” x 6” photo.

The Sampler card includes a really lovely quote each month, and I decided to do something fun with it! I layered the exclusive acrylic word on top of the card, then used colorful thread to stitch it in place. This added dimension and fun detail! After layering my photo on top of the card, I started embellishing with the fun die-cuts and stickers included in the Sampler.

I continued adding the diamond shapes across the page by fussy-cutting three more diamonds, adhering them to the background, then stitching them down. Next, I created a cluster of embellishment at the bottom right corner of my photo using a the Doodlebug Love Notes collection patterned paper strip and die cuts. I love the floral elements included—with all of the other hard lines going on on this page, they broke those lines up a bit.

A large butterfly die cut, a few heart die cuts and stickers, and a few drops of dark blue ink finished off this page, all about how much my daughter loves her daddy!

Even thought you can no longer receive this month’s Sampler, don’t miss out on the opportunity to start your subscription as soon as possible with April’s Sampler! Sign up for your subscription today for as little as $13, and find your next favorite product in an SCT Sampler!

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!

Sending Sunshine with the Elle's Studio February Kit and Add-Ons

Hello, friends! Earlier this week, I introduced you to a brand new kit from Elle’s Studio, and showed you a new layout using the beautiful, rainbow-colored supplies. Today, I’m here to share my second project, a duo of happy cards, perfect for sending to anyone that you care about! This month’s kit and add-ons* include a selection of products perfect for card making, so creating these in just minutes was simple to do!

These two cards just fill my heart with happiness, but took only a few minutes to create. Let’s talk about the birthday card first:

I started out by using a piece of the Love Is paper stack multi-colored star paper as my background, which I punched on the right side. To add some contrast to the blue, I decided to add a strip of yellow cardstock on the left, which I stamped with a column of yellow hearts using the Sunshine & Laughter stamp. I just love that pop of yellow! The card background was created with a 3” x 4” tag from the February 2020 kit, which I stamped the sentiment on, using the Sunshine & Laughter stamp, then a grouping of stars and a heart. At the top, I added two die-cuts from the kit. On the “here we go” tag, I plan on adding a number, corresponding to the age of whomever I give this happy birthday card to!

At the base of the card, I had to add a rainbow! I used the Sunshine & Laughter stamp again, inking it up with a different color each time and wiping off the rainbow rays that I didn’t want to be inked. I did this for all 6 colors, and cut my rainbow from the smooth, white cardstock. A rainbow needs a few clouds, though, so I added three white, sparkly stamped and embossed clouds, which I adhered using dimensional adhesive. After adding a few sparkly sequins, I called this card perfect!

My second card is a bit more feminine, and a color scheme that totally fits my style! I started off by using the woodgrain and three purple stripes from the Love Is paper stack as my card background, topping those with the teal tag from the February 2020 kit, which I adhered using dimensional adhesive. Before adhering, I wrapped yellow baker’s twine twice around it and tied into a knot. I topped this card with my sentiment, “so happy for you,” using the Simply Wonderful wood veneer banners and finished off the center of the card with the amazing puffy rainbow sticker.

Since my design was focused on the column in the center, I wanted to add some embellishment to the outside edges. I selected a heart die cut from the February 2020 kit, adding it to the left bottom corner. I painted three cork stars with a pearlescent yellow paint, and once dry, adhered them using liquid adhesive. Finally , stamped tiny hearts from the Sunshine & Laughter stamp, in purple, adding a few yellow sequins to finish off the card.

I just love how both of these designs turned out, and I have so many more ideas for cards to create using the February kit and add-ons! Some of these products are close to selling out, so be sure to grab the supplies that I used at the gallery links below. Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy creating, friends!

* Affiliate links used. They do not cost you any extra, they just help me pay for this blog and video feed. Thanks so much for clicking to shop!

Elle's Studio February 2020 Kit and Add-On Reveal!

I am so excited to introduce you to the Elle’s Studio February 2020 kit and add-ons* today. I’m not sure how Elle will ever be able to top this release! Take a look at my unboxing video first to see all of the lovely, new products!

Talk about a rainbow of colors, right? This cheerful selection of products first includes the February 2020 kit:

I just love each and every tag, label and die cut in this kit, and since January’s kit sold out, I know this one will go fast, too! If you are not already, consider becoming a subscriber! Subscribers get to bundle shipping their add-ons with their kit for 24 hours, and they get access to special sales on certain NEW add-ons each month! Plus, they get freebies throughout the year! With so many perks, and you are able to cancel at any time, there is no reason not to subscribe!

The colorful array of add-ons just had me at RAINBOW!!! Check out those puffy rainbow stickers! They are my favorite new product this month, and I’m sure they’ll go fast out of the shop. In addition to those, there are two new, wonderful stamp sets, my favorite being the happy Sunshine & Laughter stamp, a colorful polka dot tag set, new coral puffy alphabet stickers, and so much more!

The digitals this month: Love Is printables, February 2020 cut files, and print and cut labels are the perfect use-over-and-over-again supplies to help you bulk out your kit to document more memories! I started with the February 2020 cut files to create my new layout this month, that I just love so much:

What a happy layout to record a happy memory! This layout began with me cutting the colorful rainbow from the Love Is and Magical Memories paper stacks. which I arranged at two corners of my layout to frame the photos in the center. I loved creating this page—stamping the title, adding small embellishments to help move your eye across the page—and I’d love to show you how I created it in my process video:

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I’ll be sharing greeting cards that I created with the kit and add-ons later this week! In the meantime, don’t let these beautiful new products sell out before you get yours! Shop all of the new February release through the ES shop, or the products that I used to create my layout via the gallery links below! Happy creating!

Close to My Heart All Around Creativity Create Wreath

Hello, friends! It isn’t often that I find the time to create a decor piece for my home. Because I create and do a lot of behind-the-scenes work for a living, I typically run out of time when it comes to the fun stuff that is created just for me! Recently, my friends at Close to My Heart sent me a new box of goodies, which included their two latest collections, along with a new and fun kit, the All Around Creativity Wreath Kit!

I was pretty darn excited, since my friends at CTMH are notorious for making paper crafting a simple process. This weekend, I was determined to carve out some time to create my wreath… and it only took 30 minutes! I filmed a process video while creating, so that you can see just how simple and easy it was to create and get up on my wall in one crafty session! Grab a cuppa and take a look:

I am so excited that I have another pop of contrast and color on the wall where I work on a daily basis, and I am so glad that I took the time to create my wreath. I know that you’ll love this project as much as I did, but the All Around Creativity Wreath Kit is only available for a limited period of time! Be sure to head to the Close to My Heart shop to grab yours while supplies last! The only question is, which wreath will you choose?