Stash-A-Thon CELEBRATION...Starting March 1st!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

It’s been a year since Rochelle and Brenda became co-owners of Scrap Our Stash and to celebrate Scrap Our Stash will be hosting a Stash A Thon during the entire month of March and you and all of your friends are invited!!!  The party kicks off March 1st with the first challenge going live March 3rd and a challenge posted every other day thereafter.


There will be a total of 14 challenges, weekly prizes and at the end of the Stash A Thon,
the SOS March sponsors will awarding 3 BONUS prizes!!!

Make sure you stop by Scrap Our Stash on March 1st for complete details!!!!


Here is a sneak peek at my project which will be posted on March 7th!
It is a super fun idea and SO many chances to win and participate in some seriously inspiring challenges!

Hope to see you all there!

#Silly - American Crafts GDT Mini Album

Thursday, February 27, 2014

One of my favorite projects I did for the Guest Designer spot at American Crafts was this mini album!
The post on American Crafts had a collage of all the pages, but I thought I would give you a closer look!

For every photo shoot, formal or informal, that I do with our kids, I have twice the silly photos as I do serious,
or posed ones.  Sometimes these are just ridiculous and for my children's benefit only...
And sometimes, they are they better, an un-posed capture of a giggle or tiny sparkle in their eyes!

I made this little album to combine some of my favorite ones.


I decided to print all the photos in black & white to really let the smiles be the dominant part of
the photo, and to let me highlight the American Crafts 'Bits,' since that was the goal!

I used a script font and die cut this title on my Silhouette from some AC Pow! Glitter paper in black.
I love that Pow! paper...it cuts so well, and has a nice muted glitter...not too glitzy, just enough!


I tried to keep the colors to just 2 or 3 to a page and used one of the circular bits on each
page to tie them together...I love this mint acetate camera from the #Summer collection!  


Some of the embellishments I let hang over the end and some I trimmed off like this pink doily bit.


I used one of the pocket envelopes with a journaling card underneath the photo
on the right to add a little note to my kids...


I also tried to reinforce the embellishments with other pieces I added to tie them
together in a more subtle way.  For example, the vellum heart banner on the right
corner of this photo to tie in the banner on the top of the round 'Bit!'


More hidden journaling on this last page of the album.
I SO love that small camera stamp from the Plus One collection!

Thanks so much for letting me share a closer look into this little album!
You can see a detailed list of all the products I used from American Crafts on the original post HERE.

** American Crafts GUEST DESIGNER!!! **

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

BIG news!  I could not be more THRILLED to be able to finally share this news!

I am the American Crafts Guest Designer this week and have had the most fun playing
with all these lovely products they sent me!  Thanks so much to Paige for asking me!

You can see more on the post at the American Crafts Blog!

I was so excited and inspired I could have kept on creating...
I made a total of 4 layouts, 2 cards, a mini album and a treat bag!

I will probably share a few more detailed shots & explanations of a
couple of these LO's & the mini album over the next couple of days.

so many SMILES begin with you


#XOXO


Snowmageddon


 
LATE NIGHT




   


Everyday Occasion Cards

#Silly  
A Mini Album


St.Patrick's Day Treat Bag


Thanks you so much for stopping by!

You can see a list of all the products I used, as well more details
about me and my projects on the American Crafts Blog today!!

seven - Scrapbook Circle's One Item Wonder

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

This is the last assignment I had using the Scrapbook Circle February kit - 'Hello Today!'

The photos are from my son's last birthday, which is right before Christmas.  We were so busy that planning
a party along with school activities and the holidays just didn't work out this year.  So, we let me son decide exactly what he wanted to do for his day!  We went to see The Hobbit, ate at his favorite Mexican restaurant and let him choose his own birthday cake, which had more icing than really should be allowed. He doesn't even like icing!  I think he picked it with his sister in mind...sweet bot! ;)


The assignment was to use these kraft arrow stickers from the DIY Maya Road collection.   
I love projects like this to challenge me to really think outside of the box.  I decided to use the arrows in this
sort of argyle/diamond pattern instead of actually pointing at something like I would normally use an arrow.


The angles in the arrows helped inspire this idea, as well as this piece of the Scrapbook Circle printable that
is the yellow diamond pattern to the right of the photos.  I chose the papers to coordinate along with the 
candles in my son's birthday cake.  I especially loved the pop of gold from that Studio Calico Atlantic piece of paper.  I also tried to highlight the arrows by putting a piece of flair on each.  I did use one arrow to point at
my son's age in the right branding strip from an Elle's Studio piece of paper.


The new Scrapbook Circle kit for March will be revealed today and it is really good!  Full of new release products!  

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to come back tomorrow...
I will have a most excited project posted!!  Eeeek...can't wait!  Have a great day!

in the blink of an eye - Scrapbook Circle Designer's Choice

Monday, February 24, 2014

This was my LO for a DT Choice assignment for Scrapbook Circle.
It also includes one of my favorite topics for a scrapbook page using the February ‘Hello Today’ main kit. 


‘Then & Now’ themed pages has always been a favorite way to document just how
incredibly time is flying past me!  Especially where my children are concerned.
I seem to do more pages like this around my children’s birthdays and other major moments. 
Not simply to record a specific event, but to remind myself to enjoy this moment just a
little more.  With all the chaos of school activities & work, family life a reminder like
this is a pretty good thing.  That is what scrapbooking is all about, to me anyway!




This bokeh print paper from October Afternoon was an immediate favorite 
for the color and pattern, but also for the title…Focus.  I thought it was perfect 
for this page highlighting 2 photos of my husband and son sleeping together.
The first photo was my son not even 3 months old and they were napping on the couch.
The second was from just a few weeks ago and I had actually already scrapped it in
previous LO, but not with this earlier photo.  They were too perfect not to put together...




Thanks for stopping by and letting me share this special page!

We are almost into March, talk about time flying, and the February kit is
sold out, but there is always time for April...lots of newly released goodies!  
It is an awesome kit...check it out the Scrapbook Circle Site & Blog for the reveal soon! 

LOVE.THIS - Scrap Our Stash February Sketch Challenge

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Valentine's Day may be past, but I use hearts on almost every LO I do year round...
This is my take on the sketch that Brenda did for the Scrap Our Stash Sketch/Stash Challenge #12.


The Challenge is to create a layout inspired by the sketch below and to include:
A) Heart patterned paper
B) One or more premade/packaged Hearts
C) One or more premade/packaged Arrows.

The background paper that I have been hoarding for the perfect project is from the Crate Paper Flea Market collection by Maggies Holmes as well as this gold foil doilies on vellum!  Love that piece!


The rest of the LO used the newest Maggie Holmes collection Stylebaord,
which has the most lovely vellum and chipboard die cuts and ephemera.


This is one of those pages that came together so easily, which is party because of the fantastic sketch, 
but it also in part that working with one collection, or on manufacturer that makes combining collections
so effortless.  I love 'shopping' thru my own stash to pull things together, but I always enjoy how easy and
rewarding it is to create something from one collection the way it was potentially designed to do!


I am a sucker for anything with birds...I wanted this one to look like it is holding up the little heart.


This Sketch Challenge is open through February 27th 11:59 PM PST, so get busy and upload yours!
The winner will receive a $20 certificate to Frosted Designs 
and they have included a promo code to make shopping more productive ;)
Use code SOS10 for an extra 10% off your purchase, including sale and clearance items! 

Be sure to get the Scrap Our Stash Blog for the Challenge Guidelines
and the other DT takes on the sketch...a new one every day!

LOVE YOU MORE...everyday.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

This was the result of my previous weekend scrap-therapy!  My just because LO...


In this layout I was trying to convey:

I love layers...a lot of layers
I love gold
I love wood grain
and I LOVE this color palette.




Thanks for letting me share my cheap-ish version of therapy/record keeping!
Guess what day it is...???  Happy Hump Day!

ONE FOR THE ROAD...Scrap Friends New Color Challenge!

Monday, February 17, 2014

This is my take on the new Scrap Friends Color Challenge.
It is several neutral colors of krafts, browns and white with a nice muted royal blue.

 
In keeping with my original plan, I wanted to use black and white photos with the color challenges
so that the colors complimented the photo while taking center stage.  I tried a couple new techniques 
with the background stencil.


  I wanted to use modeling paste on this 12x12 stencil but wanted it in a circular shape.
I used a piece of printer cardstock and cut a rough circle in it.  I then layered the modeling
paste on, fairly thickly.  After letting it dry, I replaced the clean stencil and used my finger
to paint some watered down gelatos on top of the stencil.  I kept the stencil lined up so that the
paint would  only be on top of the raised paste and not covering it completely.  


I wanted to have lots of texture and rough edges, even though the photo is of my son 
desperately hugging his best buddy.


I loved this color palette because it is such a departure from the pink, mint,
pastel kick I am so drawn to right now!  it is great to shake it up every now and then...


Check out the Scrap Friends Blog for the challenge and all the other DT layouts,
as well as the guest designers. As usual, I am blown away by the talent from not only the
rest of the DT, but all the subscribers who submit pages!  Keep it up you awesome peeps!!


You & Me - Scrapbook Circle February Kit

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day!
In honor of this lovely day, i wanted to share one of the layouts I made using the
February Kit ‘Hello Today!’  It is filled with lots of the new collections and has
the most beautiful color palette.  In fact, it is so fresh and happy, it makes be dread
another day of this crazy weather!!  The Chickaniddy papers and embellishments
included in this kit are from their collection called ‘Date Night.’


This collection inspired to me scrap some of my wedding photos,
which I haven’t done much of, since I am still in the process of converting to digital files.
Our photos were all printed in sepia, which looked perfect with the warm tones in this kit.



One of my favorite things included in this months kit are these teeny,
tiny wood veneer hearts that are exclusive to Scrapbook Circle.
I used the glassine bag that they came in as a pocket to hide my journaling tag.
My other favorite piece is part of the Cardstock Kit and it is this piece of 
gold foil paper from Chickaniddy.  It is such a beautiful, soft gold and I used
it to cut out several with die cuts my Silhouette.  It cut SO perfectly and I loved
it so much, I had to use every piece, even the negative cut left over here.


Thanks for stopping by to let me share my page with you.
You can see all the products included in the Scrapbook Circle
February Kit HERE and check out the other DT projects on the blog HERE!  

melt my heart Challenge & Video - Scrap Our Stash S.W.A.K.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Hi all!  Here wrapping up the weekend with a page I created for the S.W.A.K. Challenge
at Scrap Our Stash!  It is one of their super clever challenges and for Valentine's, of course.
You can find the original blog post and the other DT members takes on the Challenge HERE.
The Guest Designer's LO is super awesome too!


The challenge using at least 50% pink or red on the LO & to include the following pre-made embellishments:
Stitching (machine, hand or faux)- S.
Washi - W.
Arrows - A.
Kraft - K.

So, I had this idea to make vellum look like it had covered the entire background and was
peeled apart and folded back to reveal the photos and journaling underneath...I also did a Start to Finish
video showing my process.  You can click the link below or go to my YouTube channel HERE.


I just love red and kraft with that mint color and then the giant drops of India ink.


I cut out the title using my Silhouette Cameo and then misted it,
using both the negative and positive pieces from the cut file.


This phrase stamp is from an old and VERY tiny stamp by Unity, I love what it says...perfect for the photos. 


The red background paper is a piece from Prima that I hoarded, waiting for the perfect project
and now almost 7 YEARS (yep, years) later, I found it!!  Hoarding is bad...yes, bad Jenni!


Hope you all check out the challenge and participate!  You have until Midnight PST February 27th
to upload your page to the Scrap Our Stash Blog in order to qualify for the prize this month...
a $20 gift credit to Frosted Designs (and they have included a promo code in the original post!!)
You can also check out the Rules for the Challenge HERE!

Have a great Sunday and start to a new week!



Scrapbook Circle February Sketch Challenge -- DT Reveal

Friday, February 7, 2014

As usual, Diana has come up with the most fabulous sketch for this month's Challenge!
I used the February kit 'Hello Today' with this sketch and a photo of my daughter and our dog Lola...



One of my FAVORITE pieces this month is in the Cardstock Add-On kit,
the gold foil paper from Chickaniddy, it is divine!  It is a soft, not too brassy and
bright gold and cut on my Silhouette like butter!


I cut out lots of leaves using that gold foil and used it in several projects this month.
The majority of the Chickaniddy collections included in the Kit are a lovely variety
of pastel colors; mint, peach, blue, gorgeous!!  



Check out the original post on Scrapbook Circle HERE and make sure you participate!
Share you LO with us before February 19th in the blog post comments or on the
Scrapbook Circle Facebook page for a chance to win this awesome prize!!

SC_Febprize1
Just in time to scrap your Valentine photos from this year!

Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
I am already planning to use the sketch again for a completely different project!  
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