a beautiful life

I created this layout for the May MemoryWorks challenge, Beauty in Bloom. We were challenged to create a layout that depicted beauty and included blooms. It took me a while to decide on the photo. I kept going back to the idea that beauty and life were connected. I finally decided that beauty is found in a well-lived life. This photo of my mother & father in law surrounded by their grandchildren, two grandsons by marriage and two granddaughters is proof that their lives are full and blessed.

I started with some of my favorite colors, blue and green, featured in this Basic Grey Marjolaine line. I used journaling pieces and pops from the Marjolaine accessories and Sassafrass glitter alphas. I started with layering a solid piece of cardstock on top of the patterned paper and then free-handed some flowers. I pierced holes and then pulled out needle and floss and sewed the flowers into the background. Once I hadded the matted photo I layered in the journaling shapes and popped up some of the flower stickers to finish off the layout. I really like how this layout turned out, and how it celebrates beauty.

memoryworks express

MemoryWorks offers a monthly kit, full of papers, embellishments, cards & envelopes from different manufacturers, papers that coordinate and work together to create layouts, cards and other projects. The May kit included papers from the Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer line, My Mind's Eye (MME) Limeaid, wooden buttons, bakers twine and other fun goodies.

My pocketbook planner was sitting on my scrap table and felt like it needed some updating so I pulled out some of those papers and created a new cover. I painted the wood buttons with Smooch paints, and used the flower die cuts included in the kit to embellish the cover. This layout features Eden and four of her best friends. I loved all the double sided papers and thought the pinwheels showed off both sides. I loved the way the colors all work together.

Enjoy!

springtime cuties

I altered/embellished acrylic frames to hold Easter photos of my granddaughters. I have a winter frame on my mantle and wanted to change it to reflect the current season. I made two, one for each cutie.






I started with basic acrylic frames. I used Basic Grey Hello Luscious paper and chipboard, and American Crafts solid pink paper. I inked everything as usual and created the flowers by cutting circles, crinkling them, inking them and layering. The butterflies and leaves are punches, Martha Stewart and McGill, and after punching I embossed them with clear powder to make them shiny and more substantial. Everything is glued down with Glossy Accents.

Enjoy!

scrapping with grammy

Instead of scrapping the day away on Saturday, checking in with the online crops, creating layouts and a banner, I ended up spending most of the day in bed, and on the sofa. National Scrapbooking Day came and went with me feeling like I couldn't keep my eyes open, let alone make decisions about papers, photos, placements, and pretty embellishments. I did manage to complete one layout. I had the photos chosen, and patterned papers in place--For The Record, from Echo Park--but it took almost an hour to choose the solid colors. That was my first clue that something wasn't quite right. After a 3 hour nap I finished up the layout, and headed to the sofa for another rest.
In addition to the For the Record papers I used the sticker elements from the line as well. I used solid papers from American Crafts (the creamy white) and Bazill (red). I punched small hearts from the red scraps to make the flowers.
I punched a circle from the scraps and put some wet glue down. I then laid the heart punches, overlapping them slightly. After completing one circle, I put more wet glue down and layered on another circle of hearts, more wet glue, and another layer of hearts. I put it aside and let it dry before piercing a hole through the center and adding a brad.


I decided to use journaling strips to list the supplies Eden is pictured using, or seen in the photos. I think that the list really sets the tone for the title, "scrapping with grammy." She had a great time making that scrapbook and ultimately gave it to her Aunt Jessie & Uncle Geoff for their birthday.

Enjoy!

new class

I am so excited to share this new class with you. I'll be teaching at Creative Inkling in Peddler's Village on May 21st, 10am-12pm. This two page layout features patterned papers from Sassafras, BoBunny & October Afternoon and die cuts using those papers and creating burlap flower embellishments. The cost for this class is only $15.00. Call Creative Inkling @ 215.794.1477 to register today.

I loved playing with the papers from Sassafras. I like the vintage feel I get from them and I like how the colors work so well with this layout. You'll learn how to match patterns and colors as well as how to make the most of that paper using your die cut machine, whether it's old school or latest technology.

Enjoy!