Sunday, September 20, 2015

Back-to-school Scrap-a-stack time!

Once a year, I do a "scrap-a-stack" where the participants each make 5 or 6, 2 page, 12x12 layouts.  I use this opportunity to use up retired card stock and designer series paper and ribbon/embellishments I have on hand.  I usually only do five layouts, but this year I made six and couldn't decide which one to eliminate, so I gave my peeps the option of doing 5 layouts for $30, or all six for $35!  Well, all but one person chose to do all six.

Yesterday was my first of two classes.  The next group comes next Friday.  We had lunch and treats and music -- it was a fun day of crafting!

All of these pages were based from sketches or designs I saw on Pinterest.  Many of them look quit a bit different than their inspiration, lol, but none-the-less I did want to give credit where credit is due.  I also used some non-SU products here and there -- gasp!

This first layout features the SU Project Life paper clip thinlet dies.  These are the coolest little things! You can add them as an accent on any photo or card element, etc.  I used them here just to add the date, place we went, etc. Also featured, are the vintage leaves bundle.  I knew I had to get these leaves immediately when they came out.  They are so realistic, and you can die cut them with framelits after stamping them.  Such a nice, realistic touch to these pages.  Of course, the FALL title was made by adhering designer paper to chipboard, then die cutting the letters using my retired Bigz alphabet dies.  I love the dimension the chipboard gives the letters.  Colors used: Early Espresso, More Mustard, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, and Crumb Cake.





This layout, "everyday moments", was proclaimed to be the most time consuming at my class yesterday!  When I made this layout, I wasn't happy with it, so I kept adding stuff to it to try and "salvage" it.  Does that ever happen to you???  Well, if it does, take heart! it still happens to me after all these years of doing this!  I started this layout wanting to use the red background cardstock, because I have a lot of it.  I also wanted to draw out the little red pants Sabina was wearing.  The green "grass" at the bottom, is another bunch of gumball green card stock I have.  So,.... perhaps trying to use up stuff I have a lot of doesn't always work out the best.  Ha ha!  At any rate, more about the layout.  I used a 4" strip of gumball green card stock for the grass -- cut it in half on a wavy line and then used the fringe scissors to make the grass cuts.  The little trees and clouds and apples are made using the new Ronald McDonald set ($3 from each set is donated to the Ronald McDonald house by SU) -- Sprinkles of Life stamp set and the tree builder punch.  To me, this is a must have set and punch.  There is SO much you can do with this set -- from cupcakes to clouds to apple baskets to pumpkins (with the little apples) to ice cream cones.  Even my five year old loves to play with this set -- she makes nests and all sorts of things from the tree tops, as well as cupcakes, OF COURSE!  Anyways, other things featured on this layout are the Hearts border punch, retired scalloped ribbon border punch, and the new (in the holiday catalog) curvy corner trio punch.  Colors used: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Gumball Green, Wild Wasabi, and Pacific Point.





This layout was a "grid" type layout I saw that I thought would work so well for four horizontal pictures, so I pulled out these darling Alpine Slides pics.  I had this stamp that said "enjoy the ride" which was so appropriate for these pics,  I thought.  I had a whole pack, almost, of this Sale-a-bration designer paper from last year.  The colors went nicely with this retired Primrose Petals card stock I had a lot of, so away we went!  The designer paper is cut into 4x6 pieces -- simply adhere in a grid pattern and put your photos in the empty spots.  Other featured items: the retired banner punch, the retired Flower Frenzie Bigz die (which is currently in the clearance rack), the extra large oval punch, petite petals punch, and decorative label punch.





I was inspired to create this layout from a similar one I saw on Pinterest.  I loved the grid look on the second page, and wanted to do a winter layout for the class.  I had these word dies that say "winter wonderland" and thought they looked so gorgeous in the silver glimmer paper.  I also wanted to show case the new Flurry of Wishes bundle from the Holiday catalog -- a gorgeous snow flake stamp set and matching punch.  I layered the middle snow flake on top of a metalic foil doily.  Such a pretty touch.  The "snow, Brrr, and joy" words are from the snowflake card thinlet die that is on the clearance rack for a screamin' deal.  Just sayin!   Colors used: Pool Party, Smokey Slate, Whisper White, and silver glimmer paper.






For this layout, I wanted to use up some really bright designer paper that I had, as well as a ton of washi tape I have accumulated.  This is what I came up with.  I wanted to scrap Sabina's fifth birthday photos of her in her rainbow unicorn costume -- when we went to get "princess pedicures" with her little friend, Shannon.  She looked adorable sitting there getting her toes and nails done with her little costume on.  This girl is all about rainbows -- draws one on almost every picture she makes.  Products used: Washi tape assortment, Star confetti border punch, triple banner punch, and label braket punch.  To make the number "5", I covered a piece of chipboard with strips of washi tape, then die cut it with my Bigz numbers die.  Colors used: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, and Daffodil Delight.





These photos are courtesy of "Wyrick Photography" from my friend, Celeste Wyrick.  She came to visit last summer and snapped a few shots of my kids.  Bryn, especially, is hard to photograph as he hates having his picture taken, and when you do get him, it tends to be a crazy face.  She was able to capture both of them in an amazing way.  It was right around their 4th and 9th birthdays, so I put the numbers -- 4 and 9 on the pages.  I chose the title "Just Be You" because these photos are so "them" -- Sabina is always picking flowers and Bryn always has a funny grin.  The background card stock is Bashful Blue -- a long retired card stock.  I stamped a flourish from Flowering Flourishes stamp set on the corners in Marina Mist ink as well as the title.  I used Night of Navy card stock to add a little accent with the floral frames dies -- layering two of the nesting dies together and running it through my Big Shot to create that little accent for the top and bottom middle of the pages.  Other products used: Tripple banner punch, Lots of Labels framelitsHello You thinlet dies, and the retired Tasteful Trim Bigz xl die.





Ok! That's it for today, folks!  Happy Sunday to each of you and may you be inspired to SCRAP BOOK! :)

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Bottles with Sass -- my latest obsession

Happy Sunny Saturday!!!

I am currently obsessed with this idea I saw on etsy to wrap wine bottles to create decor pieces.  Of course, I added my own flair with hand made felt and burlap flowers.  I saw these cute little wreaths at Joannes a while ago on clearance for 25 cents each, and I couldn't help buying them ALL because I just knew they would make the cutest letter "O" for some project.  Well, ..... this is the project!  I have officially decorated every wine bottle in my entire recycling box.  Ha Ha.  Yep! that's me.  I get an idea in my head and kind of go over the top with it. :)  Besides these types of bottles, I have the idea to use short, stubby bottles to make darling snow men -- wrapping the tops of the bottles in black and the bottoms in white.  Stay tuned for coming attractions!

I have to say, these aren't as easy as they look.  Wherever there is a curve in the bottle, the yarn wants to bunch up and not stay nice and smooth, so you have to hot glue each strand of yarn in place where the curves are.  Sounds easy, but if you put too much hot glue, it shows through the yarn, so it is a delicate balance.  My first few bottles don't look quite as polished as these you see below. BUT the good news, is that they aren't expensive to make.  Nice plus!  I plan to sell these at my arts and crafts fair that I'm hosting in November.  If you live in Kalispell and make cute stuff, contact me to hear more details about participating in my fair as a vendor! OR, if you just like to SHOP for cute stuff, by all means COME TO MY HAND MADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS ARTS AND CRAFT SHOW on November 21st!  Here is a link to more details.  Ok, ok onto my cute bottles!



Happy day to each of you!