Gettin' By

For the love of patterned paper | BasicGrey

I'm a proud hoarder of patterned paper and despite the fact that I use it on just about every layout I create, my stash is always expanding. Some of my very favorite patterns were from BasicGrey and when I came across this page using their Dear Heart line, I was reminded just how much I miss their amazing papers. They always produced gorgeous collections of papers that worked together seamlessly (and creating with them was so easy!) 

 

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So while I was lamenting the fact that BasicGrey papers are no longer available, I decided to turn to Google and see if there was any hidden stash out there on the world wide web. And while I did find a few papers still available (yay!), I was even more thrilled to see the digital collections of many BG lines available at Snap Click Supply Co. They currently carry the Dear Heart line I used on this layout, as well as many of the well-loved BG collections.

 

 

I used lots of the patterns to fill the centers of my heart cut file, and you could easily print the papers from the digital collections to re-create this look. (Tip: one of the best - and cheapest - papers for printing digital elements is Staples Basic Photo Paper in Matte!) 

 

For even more texture and dimension, I added chipboard, felt and enamel heart accents atop my die cut. This is a great way to use up little bits from your stash! I look for pieces that match the general color scheme and theme of my page and mix them in liberally.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this blast from my scrapbooking past! And now I'm off to download some delicious papers (and bonus - they won't even take up any room in my supply closet!)

 

Technique on Tuesday | Shrink That Space!

Sometimes starting a double-page layout can be a bit intimidating. I find the 12x24 canvas hard to visually organize, especially if you're used to designing 12x12 pages. One trick I love to implement when starting a two-pager is to immediately shrink the "live area" of the page to a smaller size. Confining your page elements to a specific space also leaves plenty of room for the all-hallowed white space - which is never, ever a bad thing. Today I'm sharing a layout using this technique!

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After selecting my background (a snowflake pattern + pink cardstock), I opted to focus my design on a 17.5x8.75 area in the center of the spread. While this might seem like a random size, it was actually based on my photos - three 4" square and one 4x6 (along with three smaller 2" photos I added as well). I arranged the photos in four columns, each featuring a grid of smaller elements above or below the photo. The last column features my largest photo and a die-cut title to fill the space beneath it.

 

To separate my photo columns from the background (and visually define my design area) I matted everything on cardstock and added a stitched border. The small 2" squares were a great place to add fun and festive embellishments that went along with my winter theme.

 

 

To keep the page from being all straight lines and right angles (which, let's face it - can be a bit boring) I softened the corners of my photo block by adding diecut snowflakes. Not only do they help lead the eye from the upper left corner of the page all the way through to the lower right corner, they also add a sense of energy and motion to the page that the squares alone couldn't accomplish. 

 

By repeating the shape of squares throughout the page, I was able to incorporate a lot of elements into a relatively simple design. The grid framework keeps the page organized, but allows lots of little "canvases" to showcase your story. And can I get an AMEN for all that beautiful white space?? 

Happy Scrapping!

HELLO FALL | SCT Delivered Fall 2018

Even with a crazy snowstorm last week, we're still hanging onto fall, much like the leaves are still (barely) hanging onto the trees. And I'm all for a few more weeks of this delicious season before winter comes roaring in. There's just something about this time of year  - the weather, the football games, the crisp air, the deep saturated hues of the landscape, and oh yeah - EATING CANDY CORN WITH EVERY MEAL - that just makes it my favorite.  

In celebration of all things autumn, I'm sharing a fall layout today. It was one of my projects using the SCT Delivered Kit, Autumn Splendor which manages to capture all the colors and textures of the season as well. (You should go grab one!)

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I wanted to keep this page girly, so the pink patterned paper (which I machine stitched with a diagonal grid) was perfect for the bottom half. On top, I used the exclusive kit cut files of leaf outlines to add a touch of autumn. (You can also use the negative portion of these cuts to fill the leaves in!)

 

 

 

To connect the top half and bottom half of the page, I used a visual triangle of grey circles, topped with butterfly punches (remember these??) and small jewels. The triangle helps lead the eye through the design and also highlight the photo of my cute girly.

 

 

Today we're finalizing Riely's Halloween costume (she's going as a deviled egg which is ingeniously cute) but it's going to require some serious layering as the weatherman is predicting 30º temps and possibly snow for the holiday. I'm hoping to avoid chaperone duties that night and stay safely inside with my wine. And candy corn, of course.

Summer Love | SCT Delivered Summer Kit

We're officially saying goodbye to summer as both kiddos head back to school today. I'm going to totally ignore the fact that both are embarking on significant educational milestones (Hayden - last year of high school and Riely - last year of middle school) because that is what I'm good at. Denial.

At any rate, both were excited to start a new year, and it's one of the few times they actually let me photograph them anymore. I'm excited to scrap the first day of school photos (and will soon be working with the fall SCT Delivered Kits, which are perfect for all things back-to-school!) But in the meantime, I wanted to share one of my layouts from the summer kit, Picnics & Popsicles. There are a few kits left, so if you suddenly find yourself with some extra time now that those kids are gone, go grab one! We can scrap and be in denial together. 

 

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This colorful double pager features a few random shots from our previous summer. I always end up with quite a few photos that don't have any "mates" and don't really require a whole page to themselves. So I took the opportunity to collect a few that represented some our favorite summer memories and grouped them together here on a background of punched squares.

 

 

And now that I have all this free time with the kids back in school (chuckle chuckle), I hope to start blogging on a more regular basis. Not that posting once every six weeks isn't regular. Maybe I should say "more frequently"?? Or possibly just fess up to the fact that I'm a horrible blogger. Didn't I already say it? Denial, baby!

Happy end of summer peeps!

Hello Summer!

Today is the official last day of school for my kiddos, and with all the events, activities and general craziness that end of the school year brings, I have to say I'm just as happy as Riely an Hayden that it's all over! We're looking forward to at least a few days of downtime before summer schedules begin, so bring on that three-day weekend!

To kick off the summer season here on the blog, I wanted to share one of my favorite warm-weather layouts. It packs a punch with lots of bright colors and I even got (slightly) crafty with watercolor paints!

 

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This page features older Elle's Studio supplies, but you could easily swap current collections for these (I've linked many options above!) I selected a 6x4 card as my title, using yellow watercolor paint to fill in the word "SUMMER". It's anchored on a large block of blue patterned paper. Underneath the title, I arranged lots of tags and banners to create a "clothesline" that holds my photos & summer-themed accents.

 

 

By selecting white cardstock for the bottom half of the page, it was easy to add lots of color and texture and not worry about competing with the backdrop. At the top edge of the tags, I wrapped the page with yellow baker's twine (further reinforcing the clothesline theme!) and added a few more tags and die-cuts on top.

 

 

This page is one of the reasons I love summer scrapping - it's the perfect time to incorporate tons of color! Speaking of which, I'm currently working with the SCT Delivered summer scrapbook kit, and it packs a punch with seasonal patterns & colors. They'll be going on sale June 1, but you can catch sneaks on my Instagram over the next few days, so keep an eye out!

Happy summer vacation everyone!

Taxi Cab Confessions

The last few months have seen me putting some serious miles on my car as I shuttle Riely between school, theater rehearsals, choir practice, basketball games, service projects, and the many social gatherings she and her friends plan. And while I've refrained from painting my car yellow and slapping an ON DUTY light on the roof, there are days when I think about changing my name to Mohammed and installing a sliding glass window between the seats. Because pre-teen girls can be darn moody and - in my experience - aren't very good tippers.

Which makes me all the more thankful that the boy is now driving himself around and his various activities are no longer part of the Mom Taxi obligations. Sure, his car is littered with discarded Pop Tart boxes and Monster cans, and quite often smells like gym socks, but he's solely responsible for getting himself where he needs to be on any given day. And that is totally worth the 24-pack of tree air fresheners it will take to de-stink that vehicle.

 

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This layout features the monumental moment he got that coveted driver's license. And after a few months of total anxiety every time he left the house (and nervously tracking him on GPS to be sure he arrived), I have to say this milestone has made my life SO much easier. I documented the day with a colorful page of ROYGBIV-arranged patterns from the Simple Stories Cabin Fever collection.

 

 

 

Yes, I know technically there's no orange, indigo or violet in there, but I generally followed the rainbow order of colors in this design. I also embellished in the same way, applying the accents so they coordinated with the placement of the papers. It's a little-know talent that taxi drivers have exceptional flair for color combinations.

 

 

And with that, my phone is binging and I'm being summoned to pick up the girl so it's time to start the meter. Happy Thursday!

 

 

Slightly Skewed Grid | Simple Stories Beautiful

Yep, I'm a slave to the grid layout and you can find that design framework on countless pages in my albums. And while I love using this simple idea of blocks to build a page, sometimes I don't feel like using a ruler and getting every thing perfectly aligned. (No coincidence that this usually happens late at night when I'm crafting with a glass of wine nearby). And that's when the Slightly Skewed Grid comes into play!

 

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While I'm still using a block structure composed of 16 squares, I've forgone the right angles and evenly spaced squares for a more free-form design. I'm using papers from the Simple Stories Beautiful collection, with softly muted colors of blush, mint and gray. I selected four favorite photos and applied a vintage action to the photos (The Pioneer Woman's actions are fabulous for your Photoshop arsenal) to soften the brightness and color saturation. They are printed at 2.25" square, which includes a white border to help them stand out from the other grid squares.

 

 

The patterned papers cut to 2.25" square and embellished with stickers, die-cuts & chipboard, along with some stitched edges and button adornments. I adhered them somewhat haphazardly to lend a whimsical feel. Some elements are popped up with foam adhesive to add dimension and keep the design from looking too flat.

 

 

At the corners of the grid, I added a floral accent (from white cardstock on the Silhouette) that adds to the organic, loose feel of the grid. It also helps frame the focal point of the page and set it apart from the black background.

 

While the grid isn't a typical linear layout, it still has the organized and cohesive look that grids are famous for, with just an added touch of energy and fun. And the bit of wine I might have spilled on it is nicely covered by the wonky blocks.  

Happy Friday friends! (And is it happy hour yet??)

 

 

Two-Page Tuesday | Ski SCenes

We got our first official snow yesterday - a big dumping of big, fluffy flakes that coated everything in a soft blanket of white. It was beautiful, but didn't really stick to anything except the grass and trees, and most of it melted within a few hours. It was long enough to provide a cozy view from my office window (and stomp around in my rain boots for a bit!) but didn't require shoveling or make for yucky road conditions. In other words, my kind of snow.  And since the rest of the week is forecasted to be back in the mid-60s, I think fall might stick around a bit longer. Can I get a big woohoo for that?

To commemorate the snow I thought I'd post a winter themed two-pager today. It reminds me I still haven't bought our ski passes or checked to see what gear the kids have outgrown. Because that would mean I'm actually on top of things around here. Here's hoping I have a few more weeks to keep skipping those tasks on my to-do list!

 

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This layout features four 3x3 photos and one 4x6 with a big block of journaling in the middle. I had lots of fun adding many patterns into the mix (all from the older Shimelle Go Now Go line, but one of my favorite collections ever!) I've got plaid, polka dots, stripes, wavy lines and little cloud pattern thrown in too...but I think they all work!

 

 

The bold white title and Silhouette-cut snowflakes help provide a nice resting place for the eyes amidst all that pattern. Plus they reinforce to the winter page theme. (I've got similar snowflake cut files available in my etsy shop!)

 

 

Behind my papers, I tucked in lots of the die cut ephemera pieces, creating three clusters that form a visual triangle on the page. There's also a few stickers and puff hearts thrown in for good measure.

 

 

These wintery scenes are making me excited to get back on the slopes! (But not for a month or so...do you hear me Mother Nature??!)

 

Simple Saturday | YAY! LOL!

A few months back my scrap room was packed up in boxes in our basement so we could refinish our wood floors, paint everything a fresh new color, and do a little Fixer Upper-style makeover. All that was missing was the hilarious antics of Chip Gaines, but I do a pretty good stand-in job making an ass of myself, like when I asked the contractor if I needed to vacuum the floors before they sanded (the answer is no) and if they could avoid getting any of the floor stain on my white baseboards (again, NO). So there's that.

While the home reno was in full effect I had to complete an assignment for Simple Stories, and I had very little of my usual scrap arsenal available. But I decided it would be a great time to challenge myself to make something interesting with a minimum of tools and products. And if I could figure out a way to use that huge floor sander I suddenly had access to, then all the better!

 

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For this simple striped page, I started with a patterned paper from the Simple Stories Emoji Love line:

The colors were perfect for my photos, which included lots of pink and yellow, but I wanted to some additional pattern in the design. Instead of using the paper as is, I cut some 2-inch paper strips (the pink dot, yellow crosshatch, and aqua dot) and layered them over the solid stripes. In between each of the strips, I sewed a zig-zag seam, which is a great way to add texture and a handmade feel to your design. Though the sander would have been more fun to use.

 

 

To add a simple page title, I selected a 3x4 journal card and layered die-cut speech bubbles atop it.  These are part of a Simple Stories decorative brad set, but you could also fussy-cut small elements from patterned papers or use die cuts + brads to achieve the same look.

 

 

I enjoyed the challenge of creating simply and it was surprisingly easy to do with limited supplies. And while I'm excited to get my scrap products unpacked again (it's a slow process that I'm procrastinating on, but since I can't spend afternoons riding around on the sander anymore, I guess I'll find the time) it's always nice to get back to basics!

Have a great weekend friends!

 

CALI CAMPUS | SCT Autumn 2017

Ah, October! As much as I love fall for the cooler weather - yay boots & scarves! - it also makes me want to hibernate. And by hibernate, I mean eat lots of pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and snuggle up on the couch while watching old episodes of Will & Grace (and waiting for my DVR to fill up with the new episodes - woop!) Yes, these are the lofty aspirations I have for autumn. Hayden, on the other hand, is busy blazing trails through his junior year and getting psyched to start the college application process. Part of which I am documenting with today's featured layout!

 

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I've done many versions of this stitched circle design before, but this one might be one of my favorites. I lightly traced a small plate onto my grid background and added machine sewing (3-4 rounds) in brown thread. Then I used lots of little bits and pieces from the Simple Stories Cabin Fever line to adorn the frame. This is a great use for those smaller pieces that might otherwise get lost in a design. When adhered as a group (that in this case, creates a nice frame for my photos & journaling) they have much more impact than they could alone!

 

 

Inside the circle, I added two smaller photos (3.5" x 2.5"), a typed block of journaling, and my title, which is a mix of alpha stickers and a die-cut word from the Breeze font. It's a nice bold script that works perfectly for Silhouette-cut titles and is a free download at dafont.com.

 

 

And now, despite my couch yearnings, I'm off to finally get my office and scrap stash organized and put away. It's been in disarray since we moved everything out to refinish the wood floors and despite the fact that they've been finished for, um...6 weeks? I still haven't put my space back together. Procrastination is my superpower. But maybe just to hold myself accountable, I'll do a Workspace Wednesday post with the final results when I'm done. You'll just have to ignore the pumpkin muffin crumbs that will likely be present. 

Happy Tuesday!