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!

eden

This layout features papers from the Memory Works Express April kit, entitled Whimsy. It is filled with beautiful papers from a variety of lines, Basic Grey and Prima to name two, a sheet of Basic Grey stickers, a sheet of alphas and words, solid cardstock, ribbons, and all sorts of fun embellishments.

I have been following the sketch challenges from a local scrapbook store on Facebook. I didn't jump in until the 3rd or 4th week but put the sketches I missed into my idea book. When I was playing with these photos I was actually trying to make them work with another sketch. However, they wanted to come together this way. My final layout is a loose interpretation of the sketch, they usually are. lol I don't take direction very well. :)

I started with a piece of Basic Grey's Hello Luscious paper for the background and layered on a piece of kraft colored cardstock, punched to create the scalloped border. Of course I inked it, then layered a piece of pink ribbon underneath to make it pop. I matted the large photo on a piece of bazill bling that I found in my scrap bag and used snippets to create stripes underneath the smaller photos. No one will know that the stripe doesn't go completely across. That's our little secret. ;) The words describing Eden came from the alpha sheet, as did the letters on the bracket at the top of the layout, also cut from that pink scrap. I used my Spellbinders label die, but only cut a portion of the label, again because I didn't have quite enough paper to make the full label. The words are all inked as well. The bird came right from the embellishments in the kit. These photos show Eden's personality, the words create the journaling, and I have a layout of my granddaughter at 6 years old.

Enjoy!

just for fun

I have been in Michaels every week for the last couple of months, teaching SDU (Scrapbook Design & You) and would usually find myself walking through the aisles featuring the wonderful spring decor. I saw the white wire dress form and immediately wanted to take it home. I resisted her for weeks until her lure and 40% off price tag drew me in. I succumbed and bought her and put on the floor in my scrap room. Every time I'd go in there she taunted me, asking me when she would get some attention. I finally decided to summon my inner clothing designer and play Project Runway with paper. I had a blast choosing just the right papers and trims. She is finally at peace and I can enjoy looking at her. Tim Gunn would be proud of me I think and even Heidi would have a hard time auf'ing me. Michael Kors would think she was a doll in her springtime frock, yes, I had lots of fun dressing my little wire dress form. :)


I used Echo Park's polka dot paper from the Springtime line for her skirt, scallop-punched the hem and embellished with punched flowers and ribbons from my scraps. The sweetheart top is Basic Grey Lemonade and the yellow gingham are leftover scalloped circles from name-tags I made last week. I added a tulle bow and some glitter of course.

So, she's all dressed now, for a springtime garden party. All she needs is an invitation...

Enjoy!