Gettin' By

Spring Fever | SCT Delivered Spring 2021

I'm back today with another layout using the  SCT delivered kit, Beautiful Blooms! I've incorporated one of my favorite techniques - a circle frame - using the exclusive floral cut files that come with the kit. They make it easy to create a wreath-like design that's perfect for spring layouts!

 

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill White  |  Bazzill Sparkle |  Blue Floral Paper  |  Aqua Floral Paper  |  Pink Dot Paper  |  Pink Stripe Paper
Lilac Floral Paper |  Ephemera  |  Thickers |  Gold Puffy Stickers  |  SCT Tags & Cut Files
Gold Charm  |  Twine  |  Silhouette Cameo  | Foam Adhesive  

 

After cutting the floral shapes from the kit cut files, I inked the edges of each cut piece with pink or aqua ink to create a bit of bolder edge. Then I  layered the pieces together with foam adhesive to create each individual flower. 

 

 

I arranged all the flowers in a circle on the page - I traced a 9" circle in pencil on the cardstock to help me align the florals in a perfect shape.  In between the flowers, i added puffy gold stickers that I cut from larger pieces in the sticker sheet. I love the sparkle they add!

 

Inside the circle I arranged my photos and title, as well as a journaling tag that slips behind the photos.  If you've purchased this kit from SCT, you'll have access to the full video tutorial that I created to show the process of this layout being made!  You can get more information right here.

Hope you are enjoying spring - both outside and on your scrap table!

Spring Fashion | SCT Delivered Spring 2021

The newest SCT delivered kit, Beautiful Blooms, was a welcome sight in my mailbox, with it's happy spring palette and abundance of florals! And I continue to find inspiration in it (since Colorado has decided to make May one of it's snowiest months - argh!) Here's one of the layouts I created with this gorgeous kit!

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill White  |  Bazzill Peacock |  Rose Floral Paper  |  Yellow Dot Paper |  Floral Puffy Stickers | Ephemera
Thickers |  SCT Tags & Cut Files  |  Enamel Dots  |  Twine  |  Silhouette Cameo  |  Metallic Pen

 

A simple grid of photos from my IG Stories needed to be dressed up, so I filled the left side of the page with a bold floral, stacked tags (a printable pdf from the kit!) and a border of puffy flower stickers. 

 

 

On the opposite side, I repeated the floral and tag theme with my title, using a cut file from the kit ("Spring") and Thickers. Making the connection between the two sides of the page helps lead the eye through the design!

 

So if your yard doesn't have any flowers yet (or is covered in snow like mine) be sure to grab the Beautiful Blooms and at least your scrap table will look seasonally festive! Happy Scrapping!

December Giveaway #2 | Jingle Joy

Hello friends! Yesterday I sat smugly in my studio sipping coffee and browsing blogs, reveling in the fact that MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WAS DONE! This is a feat that has never happened prior to December 24, and I was darn proud of my procrastinator self. That was, until I opened my email to discover that three of my orders placed weeks ago were being canceled due to lack of inventory and all warm and fuzzy feelings were quickly replaced with Grinch-worthy grouchiness. Sigh.

So while I drown my shopping sorrows in an egg nog latte, I thought I'd hop on and share another layout from the winter SCT Delivered Kit. Because colorful pages of Christmases past are sure to boost my spirits, right?!

 

S U P P L I E S :
SCT Delivered Winter 2020 Kit  |  Bazzill Phoenix  |  Bazzill White  |  Striped Paper  |  Green Snow Scene Paper
Pink Cherry Paper  |  Red Grid Paper  | Ephemera |  Red Thickers  |  Kit Exclusive Stamps & Tags 
Twine  |  Enamel Dots |  Scallop Border  |  Foam Adhesive

The bright colors of the Bella Blvd Fa La La collection definitely inspired this page - I love adding a touch of pink to holiday pages! I created a border on the left with the striped paper and added lots of the coordinating ephemera atop the paper.

 

I used enamel dots and some of the smaller stamps from the kit exclusive set in between the ephemera pieces. Smaller stamps are perfect for filling in areas of trapped white space and can work just like small embellishments!

 

For the title, I used the kit stamps again for the word "Christmas" and stacked it above the red foil Thickers. A few more pieces from the ephemera pack and some small star stamps complete the title.

 

To try and counter my bah-humbugs today, I'm sharing another giveaway that will hopefully brighten one of your holiday seasons! Today's package is a set of papers, cardstock, stamps & banners from the Close to My Heart Jingle Joy collection! It's perfect for December Daily projects, holiday cards or gift tags!  If you'd like to be entered to win this set, just leave me a comment today and tell me....are you done with your holiday shopping??  (US addresses only, please!) I'll announce the winner here on Friday!

And now I'm off to scour the stores (masked up and with plenty of hand sanitizer in my bag!) in hopes of finding those missing items to complete my Christmas shopping - wish me luck! 

December Giveaway #1 | SCT Delivered Winter Kit

It's the season of giving, and it's also been FOREVER since I've hosted a giveaway here on the blog, so today I'm kicking off the first of many holiday giveaways! Up for grabs today is the newest SCT Delivered Kit, Peppermint Express. It's a sweet concoction of holiday products sure to bring a festive feeling to your scrap table!

This is one of the may layouts I created with the kit and I love how perfectly it worked with our winter family photos!

S U P P L I E S :
SCT Delivered Winter 2020 Kit  |  Bazzill Starmist  |  Bazzill White  |  Red Polka Dot Paper  |  Green Snow Scene Paper
Blue Village Paper  |  Multi Stripe Paper  |  Snowflake Stickers  | Kit Exclusive Cut Files, Stamps & Acrylics
Silhouette Cameo   |  Blue Ink  |  Foam Adhesive

 

I highlighted my 5x7 photo with several pieces of the patterned papers and the kit exclusive printable tags, all layered to make a unique photo matte. I added stitching around each of the paper squares, which is one of my favorite ways to add a hand-made touch to any page element.

The kit stamp set included a snowflake image that was perfect for filling in a few spaces on the background. I also sprinkled in some of the vellum snowflake stickers and larger die-cut snowflakes that are part of the exclusive kit cut files.

 

I always love the acrylic titles included in the kits and layered the "WISHES" title with one of the kit cut files for a mixed-font title that really packs a punch!

 

So now onto the best part...the giveaway! I have one of the Peppermint Express kits ready to mail to one lucky reader! If you'd like a chance to win this it, leave me a comment telling me what you'd create with the kit! I'll pick a winner on Wednesday and announce it here. (Open to US addresses only, please!)

Stop back by on Wednesday to see if you've won and to check out another December giveaway!  Happy holidays, my friends!

 

Scenes of Fall | SCT Delivered Fall 2020

I'm a fan of double-page layouts for the simple fact that they can hold a bunch more photos (and isn't preserving all those scenes the main reason we scrapbook??) One of my favorite two-page techniques is to select a series of events over a certain timeframe and group them together to showcase memories created during that season. 

 

S U P P L I E S :

SCT Delivered: Autumn Afternoon Kit  |  Bazzill Dark Kraft  |  Bazzill Boardwalk  |  Pink Leaf Paper 
Yellow Gingham Paper  |  Leaf Pattern Paper  |  Woodgrain Paper  |  Ivory Paper  |  Square Tags  |  Ephemera 
Gold Thickers  |  Enamel Dots  |  Scallop Border Punch

In this case, I selected photos from last fall and printed each as a square. I arranged them in a grid across the two-page spread, filling in gaps with accent squares of patterned paper.

 

Layering up different textures and shapes makes each little square different and interesting! I also love added repeated stamping (the #blessed) to add another layer of detail to the square.

 

 

 

 

On the left side of the layout, I left off the last row of photos to allow room for my journaling and title. These are the easiest layouts to journal about - a simple list of the events will usually suffice. (Yay for not having to think.about.all.the.words!)

 

Seeing all the highlights of our fall together on one page is definitely a source of joy - not to mention an opportunity to be grateful for a full calendar!  Happy fall, y'all!

A New Autumn | SCT Delivered Fall 2020

I know Halloween is this Saturday, but I still haven't gotten my lazy butt in gear to decorate for fall. Don't get me wrong - it's my favorite time of year - and I actually had plans to doll up the front porch with pumpkins & mums last weekend...and then it snowed.  So I figure I can just skip right to Christmas decor at this point, right?

But here on the blog, I still plan to adorn the space with all things autumn. Because I have been creating with the fall kit from SCT Delivered which is chock full of warm and cozy patterns and colors!

 

S U P P L I E S :

SCT Delivered: Autumn Afternoon Kit  |  Plaid Paper  |  Bazzill Boardwalk  |  Bazzill Vanilla  |  Blue Dot Paper
Rust Flecked Paper  |  Ivory Paper  |  Yellow Gingham Paper  |  Gold Thickers  |  Gold Leaf Stickers 
Heart Clip  |  Embroidery Floss  |  Silhouette Cameo

 

This plaid paper from Amy Tangerine's Late Afternoon collection is gorgeous and I knew it would make a perfect backdrop for back-to-school photos of Riely. Of course, back-to-school this year looks decidedly different than in the past, but I was still determined to capture first day photos on our front porch - it's a tradition that COVID can't break!

 

 

I used the kit files for the title (the script word AUTUMN) as well as some sparkling gold Thickers. Mixing two different font families - in this case, a script and a sans serif - is definitely my favorite title treatment!

 

 

The pretty autumn leaves tucked behind my photos are also part of the exclusive kit cut files. I layered them with gold leaf stickers and they add a flowy, botanical touch to contrast against all the right angles in the design.

 

 

I typically like to print or type my journaling directly on the background, but the plaid pattern didn't allow for that. Instead, I added the story of the day to a tag (part of the exclusive kit printables!) and tucked it behind the photo matte. Using foam adhesive on the matte allows a nice space for the tag to reside and it can be pulled out to read.  I also used the printable tags as a finishing touch in the upper right corner.

 

 

If you're looking for fall-themes supplies to scrap this season's photos, be sure to check out the SCT Delivered Autumn Afternoon kit. I've loved creating with it's gorgeous contents and don't plan on putting it away anytime soon. So even though my house may not be decorated for fall, my scrap table sure is! 

Double Page Tricks | On the Court

Double-page layouts are some of my favorites to complete as the extra canvas room always sparks my mojo! Plus, I can usually incorporate standard 4x6 photos and don't have to reduce the size of my pictures to get them all to fit. One of my favorite tricks for creating an eye-catching two pager is to use different 12x12 sheets on each half. Here's proof that your page background doesn't have to be the same on both sides!

S U P P L I E S :

Bazzill Cream Puff Cardstock  |  Bazzill Admiral Cardstock  |  Plaid Paper  |  Striped Paper  |  Navy Diamond Paper 
 Ephemera  |  Woodgrain Thickers  |  Twine  |  Silhouette Cameo  |  Wood Buttons

 

I chose the bold plaid pattern on the left because the colors in it worked well with the orange basketball in my photos. I quite often use my photos to prompt product choices as it often results in combos I never would have picked otherwise! To balance the busy plaid, the right side is a plain ivory cardstock with an mixed-element title that replicates the color scheme on the left.

 

 

The four vertical photos are lined up across the layout and I purposely positioned them on the right half to help balance the weight of the plaid. The patterned side is mostly white space without many page elements to clutter it up - a great example of how white space isn't always WHITE! 

 

 

A small cluster of embellishments on the upper left edge help to create a diagonal line from corner to corner and leads the eye through the design. I love adding lots of texture and dimension in these little groupings - it makes things interesting!

 

Another fun way to add a bit of texture is stamped images. I love using small words or icons stamped repeatedly for an added detail wherever your page might need a little oomph. It adds an accent layer to the page without any bulk and is great way to reinforce your page theme!

 

So the next time you start a two-page project, try a few of these tricks to spice up your design! And definitely share them with me as I'd love to see what you create!

Hello Sunshine | SCT Delivered Kits

Well, the summer weather is definitely here and the 95º temps have me both humming Jimmy Buffett songs and wishing for a cold lime daiquiri on the beach. My threshold for heat is about 85º (if I'm not on a beach, which aren't exactly plentiful here in Colorado.) I get cranky when a walk around the block produces boob sweat and there's no frozen cocktail waiting for me.

But despite my intolerance for heat, summer does mean a bit more scrapping time (in a lovely air conditioned office - woop!). I finally got our photos from last year's spring break printed, and the new SCT Delivered Kit, Fun in the Sun was a perfect match for our beach snapshots. And I just may have enjoyed a margarita while I scrapped them :)

 

S U P P L I E S :
SCT Delivered Fun in the Sun Kit  |  White Cardstock  | Yellow Cardstock | Pink Cardstock  |  Aqua Vine Paper  |
Striped Paper | Floral Paper (Fussy Cut Flowers) |  Ephemera  |  Red Scallop Tag  |  Buttons  |  Enamel Dots 
Aqua Ink |  Yellow Ink | Scallop Border Die | Sewing Machine  | Silhouette Cameo  |  Foam Adhesive

 

I started with the colorful striped paper from Simple Stories and spanned it across the two-page layout. It had the perfect colors to set off my beach snapshots and set the palette for the page. Then I used lots of the printable tags that came with the kit, as well as ephemera and accents to create a textural border across the layout. By using a variety of shapes and placing them at different heights, the border adds movement and energy to the design.

 

 

I'm so in love the printable tags that come with the SCT Delivered kits because you can print as many as you want/need and never worry about running out! They perfectly coordinate with the kit contents, but can be definitely be used beyond kit projects. The journaling tag on this page is also part of the printable.  I print mine on this matte presentation paper and then trim them out. It's a nice weight and the colors always look amazing! 

 

 

My bold title is a combo of the kit acrylic word and a die cut (both exclusive to the kit!) that I inked for extra texture & color. A few scattered stamped images complete the look. Small word and image stamps (like this phrase & stars) are perfect for adding a little "oomph" to white space on a page that needs that extra something!

 

And with that, I'm off to research some new fruity cocktail recipes. If you have a favorite, please share with me! I'll leave you with the famous words of Mr. Buffett...sing it with me now!

The weather is here I wish you were beautiful
The skies are too clear life's so easy today
The beer is too cold, the daiquiri's too fruitiful
No place like home when you're this far away

Summer Freedom | SCT Delivered Kits

Summertime has to be one of my favorite seasons to scrap, since our schedules tend to slow down a bit and the days are longer, allowing a little more time for creativity. And of course, the bright, colorful products that release them time of year are SO my jam! The summer SCT Delivered Kit, Fun in the Sun, is packed full of summery goodness that's sure to boost your scrappy mojo. I mean, look at this happy collection:

 

Here's one of the pages I created with this kit, featuring photos of my daughter and her friends at last year's Fourth of July celebration. We are totally bummed the annual neighborhood party and fireworks are canceled this year, but at least we can look back at this page and reminisce!

 

S U P P L I E S :
SCT Delivered Fun in the Sun Kit  |  Aqua Cardstock  |  Polka Dot Paper  |  Wave Paper  |  Foam Alpha  |  Sun Clip 
 Red Ink  |  Button  |  Sequin  |  Sewing Machine  | Silhouette Cameo  |  Foam Adhesive

 

This is a super simple design, but with big pops of color and texture! I chose a whimsical polka dot pattern for the top half of the page, adding a fussy cut border across the middle. A little bit of machine stitching along the waves adds subtle dimension and helps transition the background into the solid cardstock bottom half.

 

 

The kit didn't contain red cardstock, but I knew I wanted a bold red title. The solution? Using the kit cut files, I cut the word "Summer" from pale pink cardstock and used an ink pad to turn into a vibrant red. I love this technique (just rub the ink pad across the cardstock until you get the saturation you want) because unlike paint, it doesn't cause the cardstock to warp or ripple with dampness. The result is a slightly hand-painted look that's custom colored to perfectly match!

 

 

 

If you haven't grabbed a kit yet, they are selling fast so don't wait. In addition to the contents above, there's also exclusive cut files and printable tags that coordinate with the kit. I'll be back to show you another project I made using all the gorgeous ephemera and printables, so stop back by soon!

The One That Gets Xanadu Stuck in Your Head.

One of the many events I am missing this spring is the musical theater productions with our local Arts Hub that Riely is usually involved in. She has really come into her own on stage. It's such a cool feeling to see your child do something you would never, ever in a million years do yourself. (And by that, I mean don a seafoam green dress...I could totally do the sing-and-dance-thing on stage.) NOT.

I was beyond thrilled we found out Xanadu was going to be one of the musicals she could audition for. I immediately made her watch the Olivia Newton-John movie, as it was the stuff my 10-year old self's dreams were made of...a love story on roller skates? C'mon! Riely was significantly less impressed with this cinematic gem, and almost decided not to audition. My horribly off-key version of the title track probably didn't help the cause. 

But in the end, she did indeed audition and the cast put on several magically enchanting shows. This layout documents the production and is full of all the glitter and glitz worthy of a Broadway show!

 

S U P P L I E S :

  Bazzill White Cardstock  |  Bazzill Tutu Pink Cardstock  |  Pink Heart Paper  |  Multi Floral Paper 
Multi Stripe Paper  |  Aqua Paper |  Glitter Title  |  Glitter Frame  | Journaling Card  |  Ephemera | Wood Butterflies   Enamel Dots  | Sewing Machine | Pink Ink  |  Yellow Ink  | Teal Ink

 

I love lining up photos across a two-page spread, and a typical 24x12 layout can hold five vertical photos with plenty of white space left. But on this layout I swapped out one photo for a 4x6 journaling block, and used two smaller square photos tilted on the right. The band of aqua paper beneath the photos help group them all together and lead the eye across the page.

 

 

In the lower left and upper right corners, I clustered together a bunch of different dies cuts and tags, layering them with foam adhesive. I also filled some of the background space by repeatedly stamping words behind the embellishment groupings. This is a subtle way to reinforce a theme of a page and add a textural element without any bulk.

 

Of course, the title had to be a gold sparkly script worthy of not only the spectacular performance, but the celestial references in the play. A million lights are dancing and there you are, a shooting star. . .

And now you'll be humming Xanadu for the rest of the day. You're welcome.