Simple Joys with Quick Quotes!

Happy Thursday to you!  It's my day to share a project over at Quick Quotes today.

It's been a very trying winter for us here in Minnesota so far this year, so I am inspired right now by thoughts of Spring.  I reached immediately for the "Just Because" collection as it has such fun, bright and cheerful patterns!

"Simple Joys"

Designer's Tip: 

Don't be afraid to get creative with your journaling! I decided to take it around my photo mat and into one of my flourish embellishments. It keeps with the whimsical nature of the patterns and page.

Quick Quotes Products Used:

Just Because 100

Just Because 300

Just Because 400

Just Because 500

Cherry Truffle 100

PowderPuff Chalk Inks:  Limeade, Lemonade, Verry Berry and Java

Light Blue card stock from prior Club Q kit

Other Products:

Flair by Basic Grey

Acrylic Heart by Heidi Swapp

Crackle Accents and Tiny Attacher by Ranger

Tab, Flourish, Scallop Border and Round Scalloped dies by MFT

Scallop Rectangle die by Cheery Lynn Designs

Bling by Want2Scrap

Enamel Dots by MME and Teresa Collins

Thanks so much for stopping on over today!

Owl Be Your Friend with Cheery Lynn Designs

Happy Monday crafty peeps!  It's my day over at Cheery Lynn Designs blog today.

My card features some of our new release dies that I just fell in love with, the Birch Tree with Cute Critters and the Owls with Gears.  It's always fun to create cards with both masculine and feminine appeal and these dies are perfect for the task!

I added a touch of Flower Soft to the stomach of the small owl on the right for texture.  My clouds are cut from a glassine bag, then after attaching with a touch of glossy accents, I added some Picket Fence distress stickles on the two right, a touch of Rock Candy on the left cloud.

I cut some pieces of two different French Flair Silver Stackers to create my kraft "hills" for the background.  I strategically started with my tree to cover the point, then trimmed it.  I cut a small piece of glassine, then inked it and adhered to my Owl with Gears from the back.

I've inked my edges lightly of the hills and critters using a q-tip to highlight some of the notches in the sweet little birch tree for fun.

Cheery Lynn Designs Dies Used:
Birch Tree with Cute Critters - B370
Owls with Gears (Set of 2 - Steampunk Series) - B383
Sentiment Frame #1 - B189
Clouds and Rain - B320
French Flair Silver - L12

Other Products Used:
Sentiment Stamp - A Jillian Vance Designs
Pattern Papers - "The Bright Side" by My Mind's Eye
Kraft Cardstock - Bazzill
Bling by Want2Scrap
Stick Pins by Maya Road.
Biscotti Ink - PowderPuff Chalk Ink by Quick Quotes
Distress Ink - Weathered Wood, Walnut Stain by Ranger

We would love to have you join us this week for the new Vintage challenge here at Cheery Lynn Designs!  There's a $20 gift certificate up for grabs to a lucky player!!!  

Thank you so much for stopping on over today!  

Being Bold with Kiwi Lane Designs

Sunday greetings to you!  I'm up over on the Quick Quotes blog today.

As you may know, we have been partnering with Kiwi Lane Designs this month and today my project features some of their templates along with the all new "Be Bold" collection, our new Red Hot PowderPuff Chalk Ink and a new quote from our Quotes Bundle.  Let's get started!

"Crazy Summer Fun"

The three arrows on the right, they are the chipboard photo corners turned sideways.

My first step was to select my pictures. I had these two pictures of our younger sone that I wanted to use, but I wasn't sure how they might crop best... Kiwi Lane Designs Photo Templates to the rescue! Due to the transparent durable design, these are perfect to lay over your photos to determine cropping size(s).

Next, I created a few layers for my page using the Storybrook Lane:

Simply trace and trim!

A little fussy cutting on the wave pattern paper was a fun addition!

I hope you've enjoyed a little peek into how easy the Kiwi Lane Designs templates can make your project planning and design.  I highly recommend the photo templates for anyone who likes to visually plan their photo layouts in advance.

Quick Quotes Ingredients:

Be Bold Collection (Pattern Papers, Chipboard Stickers and Stickers)

Quotes Bundles (Summer Fun color vellum)

PowderPuff Chalk Inks - Red Hot, Lemonade and Baja Blue

Kiwi Lane:  Photo Mats, Storybrook Lane

Other Ingredients:  Blue Cardstock, Core'dinations, White Cardstock, Flair and Thickers, AC, Enamel Dots, MME, Tag and Acetate Strip, Basic Grey, Sewing Machine and Thread.

Thank you so much for stopping on over today! Have a super scrappity Sunday!!!

~ Rhonda

Simply Renee: 'Penny For Your Thoughts...'

I'm so excited to share with you my first project post as part of the new Simply Renee Design Team!

My project is all about upcycling which is very much on trend today.  I finished up this chai latte mix last week and could not bear to part with this cute container!  Perhaps it is the feel of nostalgia, but I just loved how sturdy it is and overall, the cuteness factor won me over.  Am I alone here?

One of my crafty commitments in 2010 is to try to journal more often and meaningfully.  I decided that I wanted to alter my little container to become a new 'home' for my journaling pens.  I really need to have my pens organized in a single place of honor in my studio.

Here is my 'before' photo so you can see where I started:

Here is what it looks like now... Penny for Your Thoughts...













I couldn't resist the sentiment and decided that this project 'needed' a wheat penny.  I added just a smudge of liquid pearls to it to soften which created just the feel that I wanted.  You will notice that I didn't just stop with the container!  I had to create just a little more eye candy for my desk.

Here are the extra details including the fun little hat that I made by flipping over that little lid:

To create the ruffled paper ribbon on the botton, I set my sewing machine stitch length to long and stitched in the middle of the double scallop punched trim. I then got the paper slightly damp and gathered it to create paper "ribbon". To disguise my stitching I applied some trim over the top.

Here are my little creations in action at my desk next to my Clip-It-Up Mini. I just love how perfectly the Mini works for storing my bling and embellishment collections. It's just the perfect size to help organize your array of embellishment goodies.

I hope that you take a look at some of the things that you recycle from time to time and see how you can re-purpose or upcycle to help you organize your craft space. Please share your fun projects, I would love to see them!

Ingredients: 
My Mind's Eye, 'So Sophie' *
Zva Creative Pearls *
Prima Say it In Crystals
Kaiser Pearls
Cricut Expression and Summer In Paris cartridge * for 3D dress form
Martha Stewart butterfly punches and scallop punch 
Spellbinders Labels Ten * and Shapeabilities Fleur De Lis
Paper Flower *
Dried flowers, thread, trims, feathers and velvet flower from stash. 
* These items from Thoughts 2 Paper

Thank you so much for stopping on over today, have a super fabulous rest of your day!

Forever...

That's exactly how long I thought I might "save" the "Bella Bella" line from My Mind's Eye!  I just love it that much.  The entire thing is scrumptious and I could not for the life of me figure out how I would ever choose what paper to use. 

Finally, after a heartfelt chat with one of my best scrappy friends, the revelation that if I didn't actually use it I couldn't really enjoy it came to light.  Enter my challenge for our weekend crop to my fellow scrappy gals at Life Preservers.  Here is what I created with one of our favorite wedding photos:

I used some Zva Creative flourishes on here and of course I had to use some Tim Holtz metal pieces.  I am so glad that I broke into my favorite line.  Now I can actually enjoy it on our wall instead of in a file folder!!!

 

Do you have something like this that you are "saving"?  I double dog scrappity dare you to break into it! 

I sure hope you are having a super scrappity weekend!!  Thanks for stopping on over and spending a moment with me!

Button, Button, Hoo's Got The Button?

Have you heard?  Life Preserver's is having a crop this weekend!  Gather up your adhesive, sharpen your scissors and stop on over to check out the awesome inspiration that is over there!   The ladies there are the nicest gals on the planet!!!

One of my Make N' Take projects is this fun little decorated pint jar.  I could not resist doing something fun with this jar after we finished off the delicious relish that was in it.  I used the May Featured Life Preserver's kit.  Those Quite Contrary papers from My Mind's Eye were calling to me, specifically those adorable little owls!!!  Here is what I did:

So simple, but just a lot of fun!  I'm so very glad that my button stash has a much happier little home now!  One of my good friends said she would need a 5 gallon pickle jar to house all of her yummy buttons.  Now that I would love to see!!! 

Thanks so much for popping on over!  Have a super scrappity Saturday and I will post another of my crop projects here tomorrow.  See you then!

ScrapFit Workout #21 Reveal!

Are you ready for the next workout over at ScrapFit?  This workout is all about Exercise Machines!  Use a machine, any type of machine, Sewing, Cricut, Sizzix, Cuttlebug, you name it!  Now I want to see what you will do!!!

'This Boy is Fun, Wild & Free' layout was created using a Pagemaps sketch by Becky Fleck:

Can you tell which machine(s) I used on this project? 

I used my sewing machine and Crop-o-dile big bite.  I also used some circle punches to provide the relief areas on the photos.  Initially I had flowers in the circular spots, but I decided to switch it up a bit.  Next, I  used my favorite Basic Grey Rub-On tool for the rub-ons.  I just love that thing!  I'd like to say a special thank you to the fine folks over at My Mind's Eye for the yummy papers on this, 'Laundry Line' and the fun rub-on's, etc.  I won that line from one of their challenges and the papers and embellishments are just fabulous!

Oh and trust me, with this little guy in our lives, we don't have much of a need for any exercise machines... he is a total moving machine himself!

Thank you so much for stopping on by and have a super scrappity happy day!!!

Life Preservers + Sketch Inspirations = 1 Yummy Prize!

Did you know?  Life Preserver's Club is sponsoring Sketch Inspiration this week, how exciting!  As part of this collaborative effort, our Design Team was asked to create a layout using this weeks sketch. I had such a great time with it and I know that you will too!  Don't forget to play along, the prize is a super yummy gift certificate to the LP Store in the amount of a Mega Kit.  Now that is one awesome prize!!!

Here's the new Sunday sketch for this week:

I have been so excited to dig into my May Featured kit with all the beautiful Crate Papers and My Mind's Eye goodness and this was just the opportunity!  Here is what I did with the sketch. The smirky 5x7 photo is by Portrait Innovations. : )   "Member of the All Boy's Club"

I used a Jenni Bowlin diecut and traced the shape onto this paper, then hand stitched it. The photo is pop dot mounted to allow for some room for the ribbon and a journaling card. I stitched my ribbon by machine and scrunched it as I went. Since I used white thread, I decided to hide the stitch marks with the ric-rak.

I used my trusty Helmar zap dots in white and clear on the word "Member" so I could obtain a variety of depths. I also used my Helmar 450 on the flowers. Next, I dug out my lonely Dymo labeler and corner rounder (thanks to Laura-Lee and Jodi for the inspiration!). The sketch was a lot of fun and I just love how the colors in the kit worked so well with this photo!

Non kit items used:

- 2 Prima Flowers

- Thickers

- Mini Alphas by MLS

- Thread

- McGill folder punch

- Dymo Labeler

- Corner Chomper

- Ric-rak

I can't wait to see your take on this sketch!  As always, thank you so much for stopping on over!!! 

ScrapFit Workout #13

Today is a super exciting day for me!  This is my first ever reveal for ScrapFit!  This month the sponsor is Tally Scrapper. 

This workout challenge is to create a bra card.  Please see the link below for the .pdf template to create this.  I think this is just the cutest little card to give your hubby/boyfriend for Valentines Day or for a friend to "show them you support them" or "thank them for their support"!

Lingerie Cards
Here is my version of this fun card using the My Mind's Eye Laundry paper.  I hand gathered the lace on this and included some pink embroidery floss stitching for fun.  The necklace charm was left over from another project.  I thought it was just the right amount of "gaudy" for this!  Ha!!

Here is Pinky's beautiful and inspirational design:

Here are Kelly's two creations:

Here is Mia's creation:

Here is Jodi's creation:

Here is Katie's creation:

Here is Laura-Jean's creation:

Here are Danielle's creations:

Pop on over to ScrapFit and play along for fun!  You could win the prize pack shown below:

I can't wait to see what YOU create!!!  Thanks for stopping on by!

My Mind's Eye: Challenge 7 - Scrap Bachelor Style!

This weekend we kicked off one our fabulous contests, "Scrap Bachelor" over at Life Preserver's.  My first scrappy assignment is to scrap one of our families favorite pasttimes or games.  Our favorite family thing to do is to hit the park!  After I selected my photos, I knew I wanted to get into that yummy My Mind's Eye, Breaking Free collection. 

I decided to pop on over to [stalk] the MME Blog to see if they had any CHA sneak peeks and discovered they were offering up a sketch challenge using 3 photos.  What a cool cooincidence, that is exactly what I had selected from  my favorite park pictures!  I loved the sketch so much I figured I would go with it. 

For this piece, I also did a little personal challenge... go outside my comfort zone.  White space, no flowers, hand written journaling, use some buttons and cardboard.  For me, pretty much everything that makes me freak out a bit.  So, guess what happened?  I actually really like it!  Here it is!

The MME Challenge 7 Sketch (by Anam Stubbington):

Non MME Items Used:
- Cardboard on Cloud Base
- Recollections bling
- AC Black cardstock
- AC Thickers alphas
- Other:  Thread, buttons

Thanks for stopping by!

MME Blog Challenge #6: Paper Flowers

Here is my interpretation of the sketch using Life Stories and my favorite wedding photo:

*Note, This layout was selected for publication in the January 24 issue of Scrapbook News and Review. 

1.  Created using cricut, cut out 3 variated sized, inked and rolled.  The brad is a metal brad that I hand covered with the matching paper.

2.  Created using cricut, cut out 3 variated sizes, inked and rolled.

3.  This is the rose taught by Tim Holtz for his 12th tag of Christmas this year. Learn How!

4.  Created using cricut, cut out 5 variated sizes, inked and rolled. 

5.  Lollipop flowers scrunched and misted.  Cut 4 circles, 3", 2.5", 2", 1".  Spritz with water, then glimmer spray.  While wet, scrunch and fold together.  Use heat gun to set this in place.  Looks like leather flowers when done! 

6.  Heart Rose technique.  Heart Rose Tutorial!  (Warning - these are HUGE!)

7.  Vintage Brad Flower.  This is quick and easy.  You just need a large brad.  I made mine using a 1/2" brad and a 4x4" square piece of paper.  I tied mine using string versus a rubber band.  I saw this on another site and thought it was a cute idea. I placed a part of the Prima bling in the center for fun. Learn How!

Non-MME Items:

- Prima Say it in Crystals

- Thickers

- Brads

- Inks & Shimmer Mist

- Thread

- Sentiment Rub-On

- Kaiser Pearls on Butterflies

Thanks for stopping by!