Paper Secrets Guest Designer

I am thrilled to be chosen as this week's guest card designer at Paper Secrets.  I got to play with their newest card sketch early and I thought I'd share it with you.  Here is the sketch this week by Kelly.  Isn't it cute.  Anything with a banner is a must create for me.

 

And here is my take on it. I used the MME Kate & Co. to create a layout kit for my esty store and when I saw this sketch I just kept thinking about this line.  So I pulled it out and had some fun. 

 

Be sure and stop by and share your take on it.  I look forward to seeing what you create!

 

3 Scrappy Boys Kit Layouts and a Challenge

It's Thursday so it's my day to post on the 3 Scrappy Boys blog.  I got a fun kit from Heather to play with this month.  I got a chance to play with the August Trio Kit and if you're interested, it's on sale.  What a fun kit!  In case you haven't seen this kit, here is the photo of it. 

I really had fun with this kit and will have many more projects to share.  For today I'm sharing 2 layouts I created.  The first is using October Afternoon Travel Girl Papers.  When I saw these papers I noticed right away the fun circle letters that created travel related words.  So I thought it would be fun to use my small paper punch and create part of my title with the letters.  And I am loving these cute arrow stamps too.  I fussy cut a few elements, added in the cute house die cut and created a little collage.  Here is what I came up with  Note: The only thing I used on this layout that's not in the kit is the cream& red cardstock, mists, and buttons. The yellow is from the Kate & Co papers in the kit and the black stars paper is the Fancy Pants.
 
This second layout I created a much simpler style using the Fancy Pants Memories Captured papers.  I cut my papers in 2.25" squares and created a quilt type style grid and then added a few border strips to anchor my photo.  With the fun kraft house dies I knew  just what I wanted to title my layout. I took the cream flower and misted it, which worked perfectly, using some homemade coral mist.  I then took the green polaroid frame and created a few green leaves and just stitched down the middle.   The little black letters that spell "grandma" are Webster's Once Upon a Halloween stickers, available in the store and even better, they're on sale.  I just love the script font and knew I needed these.  I took the little metal roses in the kit (which I used in the center of the coral flower and by my title) and layed the petals out flat so they wouldn't be as thick in my book and added a tiny brad in the center.  I think a little pearl would be cute too.  Here's what I came up with.

You'll find I use mostly neutral backgrounds.  I did mat my photo with the turquoise in the kit.  The only thing I added not in the kit is the mist, the cream and black cardstock and the script alpha I mentioned but you could easily duplicate this with the cardstock in the kit. 

Now...for those of you who enjoy challenges.  I'll issue a Trio Kit challenge today. 
My challenge to you: I challenge you to create a layout using an older kit.  Anything past September works.  And there's one more twist.  Like I did on my Vegas layout, I challenge you to mix the paper lines in the trio kit.  I want to see at least one part from each of the 3 lines in your kit.
That's it.  Post your layout in the post on the Message Boards and in our gallery by November 14 for you chance to win a $20 prize pack from 3 Scrappy Boys.  So pull out those older kits and get them used up.  I can't wait to see what you create. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I'd love to have you, my scrappy friends, come to the Message Boards at 3 Scrappy Boys and join us there.  So far we have 3 challenges going on and we'd love to have you play along.  That $20 prize is up for grabs and you could win it!  Come see us!

The Memory Nest Basic Grey Persimmon

I'm excited to share with you what I've been working on with the Basic Grey Persimmon line I got to play with this month from The Memory Nest.  This line is a fun line!  I really enjoyed the navy and orange throughout the line and loved the mix of patterns in the paper pack.  I pretty much stuck to fall photos but know that with the remainder of my pack I'll be able to use them for everyday photos as the patterns aren't fall specific, which I love.  Here are the projects I created:

This first one was a lot of fun.  It was inspired by a sketch at My Scraps and More but it ended up a bit different.  I really wanted to use the stars but I had used them on a previous layout so I was bummed.  Then I remembered a technique I used to use when all the alpha stickers came in flat sheets and that was to cut around the part that's left over and the gently peel it off.  So that's how I got the stars to work on this layout.  I pretty much used everything on this from the kit and brads except my patch letters and the gold mist. 

Here's a closeup.  You'll see that I also used a label from the Heidi Swapp Color Magic Ephemera pack I got from The Memory Nest, which btw is amazing!  It's got tons of shapes!  The package is deceiving.  So I spritzed the label with gold and added the blue letters. 

 

 

This layout is of my ds and his friend on Halloween night last year.  The colors were perfect for this photo with that gold.  All products are from the kit except the mists.  But the navy mist is from The Memory Nest(and I LOVE it!).  The gold is Heidi Swapp. 

 

Then I had tons leftover and I made this card.  I loved that floral sticker and knew it would be cute on the center of a card.  I did emboss the orange paper in the kit to add some texture.  But that's it. 

 

And just to remind you, I did create this layout earlier in the month with this line as well. 

 

Be sure and stop by and visit The Memory Nest!  There are quite a few specials going on right now. Plus on the blog you'll find some fun challenges.  

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

Come Play Along with Me

I am thrilled to be able to share my first blog post and issue a challenge over at 3 Scrappy Boys!  I'm a huge challenge girl and love to create with a challenge in mind.  So I thought it would be fun to issue my first challenge to you. 

But before I do, I want to share with you some of my favorite technique and items I use when I scrap so you can get to know me a bit better.  Here are some of my favorites:

* Sketches - I {heart} sketches and commonly have a sketch in mind when I sit down to scrap.
* mist/paint splatters - I got addicted to these several months ago and use them on almost every layout
* Sewing.  I love my sewing machine and use it even more than I do the mist splatters.
* wood veneer - can't seem to get enough
* patterned papers...and I mean several on one layout.  I usually use at least 4 patterns/prints but sometimes even more
*  Banners and pennants. It's funny because when these first came out I resisted using them.  I just didn't "get" it.  Then I was challenged to use them and I got hooked.  Now I use them in some form or another on most layouts I create.  I'm also hooked on cutting the ends of my pp strips in a V notch similar to a pennant.  Let's just say I'm addicted.
* circles - I do enjoy having a circle or 2 or 3 on a layout.  I just love how it fills in the gap and seems to be perfect for my layout
* pearls - I know these aren't new.  In fact they are probably a bit dated but for some reason I love them
* distressed edges - I use my edge distresser all the time.  Definitely a favorite technique.  I just love the way it looks!
* flowers - And I have a ton of them.  But not the big fancy new flowers that are bulky. I guess I'm old fashioned and though I love the beauty of the newer flowers they take up way too much room in my scrapbooks.   I love the good 'ol prima flowers that can be layered.  Again, they might be a bit dated but I love pairing them my deco brads. 


So I've share 10 of my favorite scrappy items. Of course there is so much more I could add but I didn't want to overwhelm you. 

 Now I want to issue you a challenge:

Choose at least 5 of these items to incorporate on a layout.

I know it's card month but I want to see your layout.  You can use any papers, themes, designs, but you must incorporate at least 5 of my favorites.  Since I've used all 10 on a layout I'm sure you can use 5.

Here is my take on this using Fancy Pant's It's the Little Things. 

When I saw this photo this line came immediately to my mind.  And the good news: it's available and  a fabulous price over at 3ScrappyBoys.  Here is the link to the papers I used.

Here is the sketch I used from Paper Secrets. 

 

Now it's your turn.  I'm very excited to see what you come up with.  Be sure and add your layout to the 3scrappyboys gallery.  And then go to the blog or the post in the forum and let me know what 5 items you chose to use.  If you use a sketch, please share the original so we can see where you got your inspiration.  Layout is due October 30th.

Oh, and as an added incentive I am giving away a RAK of a few of my favorite things and it might even include a few more favorites.   I look forward seeing you over at 3 Scrappy Boys!

 Thanks for stopping by.

My fun news and a card

I have some exciting news to share today.  I was chosen to be on the 3 Scrappy Boys Design Team.  I'm thrilled and honored to have been chosen and am excited to get started with them. 

So with today being National Cardmaking Day, I was inspired last night to work on a card sketch over at Paper Secrets. I've been trying to slash my stash of Echo Park Here & Now too for a challenge at My Scraps. 

Here is the sketch:

   

 

And here is my take on it:

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend!

 

The Memory Nest with Basic Grey Persimmon

At The Memory Nest I got the chance to work with Basic Grey's Persimmon line.  Here is what I got to play with:
 

I thought this line was a ton of fun to play with! To be honest, I was unsure of this line until I got it in person.  I loved the shades they used for this line.  I loved the navy in it and add that fun metallic gold..so fun! The orange is a perfect shade for my photos! In the kit you get the papers as well as a full sheet of alphas and the fun element stickers.  You'll have plenty to create many, many layouts. I am excited to share more of what I created with it later this month but here is one layout I created for our October reveal using a sketch from My Scraps and More.  Be sure and check out all of the other amazing inspiration! 

 

I hand cut a bunch of the leaves and used my embosser to follow the stems of the leaves.  The strips at the bottom I just cut out and then added orange and gold mini brads(which are the only things I added not in my kit).  Then add some of the navy mist from the Memory Nest and my Heidi Swapp gold.  And look at these specials this month:

 

I have to say I'm loving my mist from Heidi Swapp so much I had to go and buy the other colors from Leslie.  Love the quality of them.  And that Navy mist I got from The Memory nest is my most used color lately.  It's a great shade of navy!  Ok.the rest of my layout:  I did cut the circle number to fit on my tag, added the fun gold star stickers, the Fall title and the cute sticker tags.  I'll say it again..I was pleasantly surprised with this kit!  I highly recommend it!!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll share the rest of what I created with this line later this month. 

 Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

The Memory Nest Heart Nest Challenge

I thought I'd share a fun challenge that is going on over at The Memory Nest. Danielle from Little Bit of Scrap and Leslie from The Memory Nest have issued this challenge.

 

The Challenge:

Scrapbook one or more summer photos 

Theme: Water in any form

(beach, pool, drinks, ice-pops, rain, dew, creeks)

Twist: include an interactive element 

 

It's due October 7th and you could win these:

 

Laughing Lola Paper Pack               Lucky Charm Paper by Dear Lizzy

                                      Close to My Heart                                The Memory Nest

 

Be sure and click here to share your layout.  I look forward to seeing what you come up with! I'll be back tomorrow with my newest layout for The Memory Nest using Basic Grey Persimmons