Nov 28, 2016

Christmas Card #1



Card created for Scrapbook Nerd's Countdown to Christmas  series





Hello there!

 Today is my last post for the Scrapbook Nerd's Countdown to Christmas Series.  Though I am a scrapbooker first and foremost, I do enjoy making homemade cards.  This year was my first time taking part of the Scrapbook Nerd card swap.   I did enjoy making the 18 cards needed, I think  only a few were repeated, the rest were all a one time design.  And in following my theme of making things in a short period of time, I will share with you all one of the designs, I used for the swap.



 
For this card, i cut  white cardstock to  fit into a 6x12in rectangle, I folded it in half, and marked the edge with a bone folder.  Using the Comfort and Joy collection, I cut a square of one of the papers to fit to a 5 & 7/8in square.   I looped twine (this one has a silver strand in the mix), and passed one of the large tags from the collection ad-on through the second loop of the twine.  I simple tied the tag to the paper, and used some foam adhesive behind the tag to add dimension.  I used foam adhesive behind the plaid paper to attach it to the white card stock.  






I always complete all my cards by creating a personalized envelope for the card.   I use the We R Memory Keepers envelope and bow punch to create the envelope from a patterned paper from an old MAMBI Christmas collection.  

In total, this card took less than 10 minutes to put together from start to finish.  It is a simple design, but i used striking colors to complement my idea. I hope the lucky recipient of this card likes it as much as I do.

Let me know  if you have any questions.

Thanks for visiting!



Materials used:
Smooth texture white card stock - American Crafts
Chartruse and silver twine - American Crafts
Patterned paper , and tag - Comfort and Joy collection - My Mind's Eye
patterned paper -envelope-  Christmas collection - MAMBI

Nov 26, 2016

The Magic of Christmas


Scrapbook layout created for Scrapbook Nerd's Countdown to Christmas  -  THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS -





Hello friends,

I am back with a new entry to the Scrapbook Nerd's Countdown to Christmas series.   Since we understand that many times the holidays are a never ending list of to dos; one of them being buying presents for family and friends.   I am sure most of us have had to visit the mall during those busy hours, trust me it happens to me every year!  So we  (my kids and i) make it a date, which usually includes visiting the Christmas tree display in the mall, and taking a few snapshots.  I used one of this snapshots to create quick layout  for the series.








For the background of this page, I am using this beautiful sparkly paper from My Mind's Eye's Sugar  Plum, collection.   Since it had a large church image on it, I decided to cover it with different Christmas tree cut-outs.  I used the So Very Merry cut file designed by the Cut Shoppe for Scrapbook Nerd.   All the tree cut-outs were then backed with papers from Snow and Cocoa collection, and some white vellum.  A few machine stitches secure the papers together, and adds interest  to the page.  I simply lined the trees along the lines provided by the designs on the page,




The title was created using the Cut Shoppe's Christmas Magic cut file.  To maintain uniformity on the page, I cut the title in white cardstock. and used a gold marker to color the edges of the cut-out,  The title was then placed covering the church image on the paper.






Since the picture was taken with my phone (an old blackberry), the quality is very low, but the colors in the tree are the same as the ones in the paper, so I just kept the picture in color, and chose to keep it small (3x4 in) to avoid noise.  I layered some papers from the Snow and Cocoa collection, and used pieces from both collections to create small clusters around the picture.   I added a few lines of journal in a small space under the title.  Here is the complete layout:




I believe this page took no time to come together, and i was able to rescue one of my phone pictures for this project.  I hope this serves as inspiration to document all your pictures from the holidays.  We are almost at the end of the Countdown to Christmas series, make sure to check Scrapbook Nerd to see all the entries to the series.

Thanks for visiting, and see you all around!


Material used:

Patterned paper and chipboard sticker - Sugar Plum collection - My Mind's Eye
6x6 paper pad, cardstock stickers, puffy stickers, ephemera, glitter card stock snowflake stickers - Snow and Cocoa collection - Crate Paper

Nov 24, 2016

Happy Camper


Scrapbook Layout created for Scrapbook Nerd  -  HAPPY CAMPER  -

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Hello!,

It is almost the end of my reveal week at Scrapbook Nerd.  This month I used a lot of different products for my projects,  but I was most excited about Fancy Pants's Golden Days collection.  I love how it matches perfect to the fall colors i so much love.






The background was created using the Retro Rounded Corners cut file from the Cut Shoppe, I simply backed the small spaces with papers from the collection, glued them to the page, and use the sewing machine to secure them to the layout.



A close up to the cut-outs in the layout






I kept the clusters around the picture very simple, as i just wanted to complement the picture.  For the title, I pulled a leatherette badge from Pink Paislee's Outfitters collection.   After a few ink splatters, and some journaling, the page was finished.  Here is the completed page:





This layout was put together in very little time,  here is a small video showing how it was build:





I hope you enjoyed the video, and find inspiration on how the page was built.  You can check all the material used at Scrapbook Nerd (the nerds are super nice!).  Let me know if you have any questions on how this came together.


Thanks for visiting today!




Materials used:
Cut file - Retro Rounded Corners  - The Cut Shoppe
Patterned papers, cork stickers, die cuts, flair, tags, and puffy dots - Golden Days collection - Fancy Pants designs
Leatherette badge - Outfitter's collection - Pink Paislee
White card stock - American Crafts
Color shine ink - gold - heidi Swapp


Nov 23, 2016

Perfect!


Scrapbook Layout created for Clique Kits   - PERFECT!  -





Hello there!

It has been a busy week here in my blog, once again today there will be double duty as it is reveal week.  But we can complain when we are creating beautiful memories in paper.    In this case, this month i have been lucky to play with the beautiful Swan Lake from Clique Kits (and the kit is gorgeous!).  It was so versatile that i created a variety of projects, and a few that will be coming to the blog next week.






I started by using the Cut Shoppe's Oodles of Doodles to create a stitching pattern for this joint heart image.  I used 4 different hues of teal floss to stitch the edges of the cut file.






Once finished stitching, I went and used some shimmering watercolors to add pink and light teal to the image stitched on the page.





I used the papers from the Maggie Holmes's Gather collection (featured in this month's Swan Lake Kit) to layer  the picture of my sister and my daughter during our Thanksgiving weekend.  I fussy cut a few of the teal roses and added them to the clusters of ephemera, and exclusives around the picture.  To create the title, I simply used one of the exclusive printable tags, "Perfect".






I struggled with the placement of my journal lines, but found a solution by using a simple tag, and hiding it behind the picture (I simply used the glassine bag that contained this month's flair).  Here is the final layout:






I love the color combo, the simple but detailed designed, but above all I love the papers and ephemera  from the Swan Lake Kit that just enhanced the beautiful picture of my two girlies.   Don't forget to visit the Clique Kits website to see what the DT has created with this kit, or to obtain a  kit of our own,

Thanks for visiting today!





Materials used:
Swan Lake Kit - Clique Kits
Cut file - Oodles of Doodles - The Cut Shoppe



Listen!



Scrapbook Layout  created for Scrapbook Nerd  - LISTEN! -






Hello there,

My blog is pulling double duty again this day.   But i had to share this layout that has been sitting on my pile for a while.  There is something about simplicity  on design that had been my inspiration for this month's reveal for Scrapbook Nerd.   With that said, I was inspired to create this layout by the  papers in the Alex collection from Bella Blvd.






I used the Cut Shoppe's Inner Circle cut file to cut this pie circles in three different sizes.  I used the 6x8 in paper pad to back the cut out leaving a few empty spaces in the circle.  I glued the circles to the mat using different sized foam adhesives so that there will be dimension on the piece.







I cut this picture of my teenage son to fit within the biggest cut-out circle, and layered a few circle papers from the 6x8 paper pad..  I created just one cluster on the page using all the add-ons that are included in the collection.







I used the card stock stickers in the collection to create the title of the page.  I centered the title, and then added a large amount of journaling about how my son is probably (not bragging here!) one of the best listeners in the world.  He is in fact a sweet, and very caring teen.   Here is what the project looks like after the journal lines were added:





I love,love this layout, and the subject of it even more.   It was so easy to create this page, and it came together in no time at all.  The Alex collection from Bella Blvd.  available now at Scrapbook Nerd is so beautiful to document the boys in your life.

Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

See you all soon!



Material used:
Cut file -  Inner Circle  -  The Cut Shoppe
Patterned papers, die cuts,  tabbies, paper clips, washi tape, card stock stickers -  Alex collection - Bella Blvd.
White card stock - American Crafts.

Nov 22, 2016

Family, you are completely adorable!



Scrapbook Layout created for Scrapbook Nerd's Silhouette Savvy Series  - FAMILY -You are completely Adorable!  -





Hello there!

It is my turn to post my monthly Silhouette Savvy entry at the Scrapbook Nerd blog.  This time, I wanted to share with you all on how to layer cut files to create dimension on a layout. In the blog post you will find an illustrated step by step on how I create the foundation for this layout.  Here is the link to the blog post:
http://scrapbooknerd.com/blog/silhouette-savvy-series-layering-cut-files/


To build the foundation of the layout, I used the Midnight hour cut file from the Cut Shoppe, and welded two Silhouette Cut files to create the heart and word piece.  A little bit of handstitching to add texture to the page; the stars were backed with a combination of vellum, and papers from two Simple Stories collections.







To achieve dimension, I simply glued the star cut out to a paper from the Reset Girl collection.  I used a pencil to mark where the word "Family" will be sitting, and cut glued a small piece of patterned paper on the location.  Fun foam was then glued to the heart and word mat, and then glued to the star background.  









I kept the picture embelishments very simple as the background is full of details.  I love this picture of all my fraternal younger cousins at one of their weddings.






Here is the entire layout:




I love the dimension without bulk in this layout.   Cut files are an easy way to add interest, and dimension to any project.  If you are interested in seeing the step by step on the creation of the cut-outs visit the Scrapbook Nerd blog.

As always I am welcomed to answer any questions you might have on this layout.

Thanks for visiting today!



Materials used:
cut file - The Cut Shoppe



Nov 21, 2016

Thanksgiving Memories



Scrapbook Layout  created for Clique Kits  - THANKSGIVING MEMORIES -






Hello there,

I am on double duty today!! I have revealing two projects for different design teams on the same day.  It is all good, though!   
Today in the Clique Kits blog, my post is all about marking a holiday memory.   I am using the beautiful Swan Lake Kit to highlight a picture of my kids during our Thanksgiving walk, and just like the weather and nature changes, so have my kids.  So i wanted to also change the look of a fall layout to match them (newer, cleaner, and modern).  Here is a small video on how this came together:








As you can see, I am still working a fall motive layout in a more modern way by using non traditional colors, and cleaner lines.  
I started by using a large black and white picture of my teens (they have taken this picture since they were small kids), and surrounding it with a leaf wreath from the Clique Kits' exclusive April cut files.  I worked clusters of ephemera and embelishments along the  wreath, here are some close ups :











The corrugated cardstock behind the picture adds dimension to the layout, while the stitched paper strips create a visual triangle that frames the picture and brings the eyes to the wreath.  







For the title, I used the Clique Kit's April cut files to cut the word,"Memories".  A little bit of machine stitching adds texture and secures the title to the page.  Finally, I added a few sequins and ink splatters to the page before calling it done.  Here is the final layout:






I love how the beautiful Swan Lake kit, and the exclusive cut files are the perfect complement to a newer version of my kids protraits.  Don't forget to check CLIQUE KITS for this month's Swan Lake kit, cut files and all the materials used in this layout>

 Please do not hesitate to contact me with any question.

Thanks for visiting today!



Materials used:
Swan Lake Kit - Clique Kits

Cut files - April 2016 exclusives - Clique Kits

Die Cut pieces - Posh Collection - Simple Stories
Chipboard stickers - Indigo Hills collection - Pinkfresh Studio