Gettin' By

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!

School's Out For Summer

We have officially wrapped up the 2019-20 school year in the Dickinson household, with one finishing his freshman year of college and one finishing her freshman year of high school. And while wasn't the type of ending we ever predicted, I can say we are all happy it's in the books and we're ready to move on to a summer of good (or at least BETTER) times!

Last spring we were celebrating Hayden's graduation and even though it was a bittersweet time, I feel lucky that we got to mark such an accomplishment with a gathering of friends and family. My heart breaks for all the 2020 graduates who had that opportunity taken from them, and I only hope they can get the commencement they deserve in the near future. In honor of them, I'm sharing a layout today that I did last year for Hayden's graduation. I'm sure the sentiments in the journaling are echoed by many parents who have kids reaching milestones right now, both young and old! 

 

S U P P L I E S :
Indigo & Ivy Patterned Papers  | Gold & Blue Foam Alpha  |  Stickers  | Sewing Machine  |  Scallop Circle Punch 
 2" Circle Punch  |  2.5" Circle Punch  |  2.125" Square Punch  |  Enamel Brads |  Pacific Again font 
Date Stamp  | Silhouette Cameo  | Buttons

 

I wanted a muted but masculine color scheme for this layout and Pink Paislee's Indigo & Ivy collection was perfect. I used one of Hayden's senior portraits as the single photo, and created a mixed grid of circles and squares to fill the bottom half of the page. 

 

The blue & gold scallops around the outer edge of some of the blocks were created by cutting up small alphabet letters (I used Os, Cs, S, Qs and any other letters with the round edge). This is a great way to use up random letters left in your alphabet sets that won't ever spell out any words!

 

The title is cut from the font Pacific Again and it's a free download at dafont.com. It's a nice bold script that works great for cutting with the Silhouette!

 

So if you've got a senior this spring, give them (and yourself!) a hug from me! 

In Memory of Spring Break

Since spring break didn't technically happen this year, I've been looking through photos of past vacations to make myself feel better about missing out on this annual trip. Though technically, if you consider the amount of day drinking, napping and general laziness that has occurred around here the past few months, some elements of spring break didn't go unexperienced. Really the only things missing were the beach and a bikini...so maybe the quarantine spring break wasn't so bad after all. We got to avoid all that unwanted sand in body crevices and nobody's luggage got lost!

So in honor of the spring break that wasn't, I'm sharing a vacation layout with y'all today!

 

S U P P L I E S :

Bazzil White Cardstock |  Bazzill Turquoise Mist  | Aqua Circle Paper |  Striped Paper  |  Floral Paper  |  Ephemera  |  Journaling Card  |  Silver Thickers  |  SCT Grid Stamp (similar)  |  Enamel Dots  |   Paper Clip  |  Blue & Teal Ink  | Mini Stapler  

 

I started this layout with my photo grid that spans the two pages. Since I had lots of photos from this vacation to choose from, I knew a grid layout would allow me to fit many on the page. An easy way to figure out photo sizes and orientations is to start with scraps of paper cut to various sizes and orientations. Then just play around with arranging them until you have a configuration you like! Once I have a grid laid out with the scraps, I use them to determine how to crop & print my photos.

 

 

Since I'm a fan of non-matching background papers, I chose white cardstock for the left side of this spread and a subtle patterned paper for the right. The soft aqua circles on this paper also echoes the water theme of spring break.  For a pop of fun color, I added vertical borders of patterned paper along the outer edges, making the left one wider to balance the weight of the title block that's on the right.

 

 

The title rests on a base of a lined journaling card, to which I added a die-cut word and alphabet stickers. Bits and pieces of ephemera help fill in the space, as does stamping. I love smaller background stamps like this grid to add a subtle "filler" to spaces that just need some interest. The stamping also helps to soften the blockiness of the photo arrangement by filling in some of the corners with random pattern. This particular stamp was part of an SCT Delivered kit, but I've linked a similar one above. This KaiserCraft stamp and this Tim Holtz stamp set would also work great as "filler" images.

 

 

And now I'm craving a margarita in a hammock under a palm tree...but will settle for a beer on my patio in the company of my dogs. Wishing you all a relaxing weekend!

Happy iNSD 2020!

Hope you all are enjoying the celebration of International Scrapbook Day and doing something scrappy today...or at least sniffing your scrapbook papers, because there's no other day you can do this without being harshly judged by your family and any other bystanders who happen to notice! I'm actually planning a rare scrapping session for myself this afternoon that's not a blog or magazine assignment, but rather just a few hours of no-limits creative time. (That is if I can pull myself away from all the online fun that's happening today. Be sure and check out the SCT blog for lots of inspiration, challenges and giveaways!)

I also wanted to share a quick page with one of my favorite cut files - a patchwork heart. It's the perfect way to add lots of color and pattern to a page. I'll never be a quilter - my sewing machine and I are usually not on speaking terms - so this is the closest I'll ever get to creating something similar. 

 

S U P P L I E S :

Bazzill Ocean Breeze Cardstock  |  Bazzill White Cardstock  | BSD Heart Grid Cut File  |  Sunshine & Good Times Papers  |  PinkFresh Studio Alphabet  |  Creative Memories Punch (on ebay)   | Fun Clip  |  Ephemera  | Enamel Dots
Date Stamp  | Silhouette Cameo

 

I cut  the large heart from white cardstock at 11" wide. Then I used my square punch (which was conveniently just slightly larger than the openings!) on a variety of patterned papers to fill each space in the die cut.

 

 

I adhered each square to the back side of the heart, arranging them randomly and using lots of different colors and patterns. I used smaller, more monochromatic patterns because the spaces were fairly small. This is perfect time to pull out your 6x6 paper pads as they work wonderfully in projects like these!

 

 

After adhering the finished heart to my cardstock base (I used foam adhesive), I positioned the photo with the title below it. Epoxy letters, a stamped tag and a fun metal word clip bring lots of texture and dimension to my page.

 

 

 

 

Hope your iNSD is a wonderful, pattern paper-filled day, my friends! Scrap on!

 

Spring 2020 Looks a Little Different

Despite the fact that it snowed 8 inches last week, I'm pretty sure by looking at the calendar that it is, indeed, SPRING. Just don't ask me what day of the week it is. But crappy weather and quarantine day confusion notwithstanding, I thought I'd share a spring-themed layout!

 

S U P P L I E S :

Echo Park "You & Me" Paper Collection  |  Bazzill Aqua Cardstock  | Bazzill White Cardstock 
Bazzill Berrylicious Cardstock  | Bazzill Heather Cardstock  |  Bazzill Yellow Cardstock  | Wood Alphabet 
Paper Tassels  | Butterfly Dies  |  Sewing Machine  | Foam Adhesive  |  Silhouette Cameo 

 

I love this 4-square grid design base, especially when you have a random collection of photos that aren't necessarily from the same event. By framing them all together in a group, it visually unifies them. In this case, all the photos are things that represent our springtime, and using similar pattern papers and colorful mattes help tie in that theme (and downplay that they are different colors and locations!)

 

The layered butterfly die cuts also reinforce the seasonal theme and I love to make them look like they are really flying by adhering them with foam squares. The title is cut from the font Thirsty Script and it's one of my favorite bold script fonts to use with the Silhouette!

For a fun textural element, I create a corner banner of embellishments, die cuts, and fussy-cut elements from the Echo Park papers. They are all tied together with a bit of baker's twine for a whimsical and colorful border.

 

 

If I were to recreate this page to represent the spring of 2020, I'd have to use photos of jigsaw puzzles, Netflix binges, Zoom meetings and desperately seeking toilet paper to more accurately represent our activities. And maybe die-cut face masks and pajamas as embellishments?! But despite the fact that we are not going to the zoo, cheering at swim meets, or going out to our favorite restaurants, there's are peony plants getting ready to bloom in the backyard, and a robin family has chosen our trellis to once again nest for the season. Yep, our world is changing, but some things never change. And for that, I am grateful!

Edge to Edge: Filling Up the Scrapbook Page

Being a graphic artist, a perfectly executed page design with plenty of white space makes my heart soar and my eyes dance. But just because I love my white space, doesn't mean I don't want to fill up my page with color and pattern. But white space doesn't mean empty space! And here's a layout that proves just that.

 

S U P P L I E S :

Crate Paper Boys Rule collection (eBay, Etsy)  | Bazzill White Cardstock  | Bazzill Black Cardstock |  Silhouette Cameo  |  Foam Adhesive  | Sewing Machine  

 

This page featuring my Who-obsessed son is packed full of color and pattern from edge to edge. Yet it still looks organized and balanced, despite the quantity and variety of items. That's because the white space - the empty areas between the elements - is consistent and even. It creates a feeling that everything has a "home" and gives the eye resting spaces in between each piece.

 

 

So what's the trick for creating even white space borders between elements? A ruler and a tendency toward OCD? Well, both might help, but I promise you can do it with just your eyeballs  - really!  I started by positioning the four photos first, near the center of the page as a focal point. Then I designated a space for my title and journaling card. With those elements placed, I used die cuts and patterned paper to fill the rest of the page, trimming those pieces to fit in the available space.

 

 

The gutter between all the elements is approximately 1/4-inch, but I definitely didn't measure it. Just eyeball it! And don't be too worried about being exact - scrapbook pages are handmade, after all, so it's okay if they have some imperfections. To make things a bit simpler, I let all the outer pieces extend off the edge of the page. This makes trimming them to size easier - you just cut off the overhang! 

 

For the title, I found the Dr. Who logo online and traced it to cut out on my Silhouette. And then on each block, I added dimensional embellishments that color-coordinate with the paper underneath. 

 

So remember, using white space effectively doesn't mean you can't fill up your page. Use white space to structure and organize all the happy, colorful elements you want to include! 

Singing the Praises of the Silhouette

It's no secret that my most-used scrapbooking tool is my Silhouette Cameo. It truly revolutionized the way I scrap - and kept me from going mad trying to cut out intricate embellishments with mere scissors!. Yes, I did that...poorly. But then I discovered that this amazing invention would cut anything I could dream up and produce a crisp, clean result, and suddenly I was using it on a daily basis (and dropping a lot less f-bombs in my scraproom.)

 

More often than not I start my layout designs with a cut file, and my favorites are large background designs that are easy to fill with color pattern and create a base for my page elements (I have lots in my etsy shop!). This particular file however, is an exclusive  to the SCT Delivered Kit, Garden Party, and I knew it would be a perfect for a page about my daughter and her friends dressing up for Halloween.

 

 

S U P P L I E S :

  Bazzill Tutu Pink Cardstock |  Bazzill White Cardstock  |  Pink Dot Paper |  Green Triangle Paper |  Aqua Dot Paper  | Aqua Gingham Paper | Orange Floral Paper | Yellow Butterfly Paper | Floral & Tag Ephemera | Cut File & Acrylic Title - SCT Delivered Garden Party Kit  |  Silhouette Cameo |  miscellaneous buttons; twine.

 

 

 

I typically let my photos dictate which patterned papers to use and select them based on how well they coordinate. Since the photos contained lots of bright colors, I used papers with similar rainbow hues and filled many of the negative spaces in the die cut with these colorful prints. 

 

 

 

To incorporate the all-important element of journaling, I opted to wrap it around the outer edge of the cut file so it wouldn't interfere with the clean, simple design. This is a technique that’s easy to do in most word processing programs. After measuring the diameter of the cut file, I drew the same sized circle in the software and then selected the type tool that lets you enter text along the curve. Then I printed the circular text on my cardstock. (I use the discontinued Epson Artisan 1430 to print large pages, but there are many printers on the market now that will print up to 13x19).

 

 

 

 

For the title block, I mixed a bold script font, Weather Sunday that SURPRISE SURPRISE I cut with my Silhouette with the acrylic title that’s part of the Garden Party kit. It's an unwritten rule amongst all fonts that loopy scripts always play nicely with blocky sans serifs. And I think I inadvertently just admitted what a huge font geek I am.

 

 

 

To balance out the title block in the lower right part of the page, I added a small embellishment cluster in upper left. A few die cuts, tags and buttons create a grouping that helps give a “starting point” for the eye and leads it through the design.

 

 

 

So if you're struggling to start a layout, just pick out a background cut file and start filling it with happy papers! Now if only I could figure out how to get my beloved Silhouette to cut out a homemade dinner for my picky family...and maybe fold those eight loads of laundry??

 

SCT Delivered Kits | Spring Break

It's officially our spring break week and while we we were supposed to have our butts planted in the sand in Mexico, instead we are fighting cabin fever and trying not to drive one another absolutely crazy. Day drinking, anyone?! And while we can only dream of being in the sun, surf and sand right now, I do have lots of vacation photos that need to be scrapbooked, and the new SCT Delivered Kit, Garden Party is perfect for doing just that!

 

S U P P L I E S :

SCT Delivered Garden Party Kit  |  Bazzill Pink Cardstock  |  Bazzill White Cardstock  | Plaid Paper | Floral Paper | Aqua Dot Paper | Cherries Paper | Sunglasses Paper |  Yellow Dot Paper  | Colorful Text Paper  |  Striped Paper  |  Dear Lizzy Ephemera  |  Flip Flop Thickers  | Pebbles Word Stickers | Yellow Buttons |  Date Stamp |  Baker's Twine  |  Pinkfresh Stamping Ink

 

As a backdrop for my photo collage, I cut random squares of patterned paper and layered them together to make a free-form photo matte. But before I adhered anything, I used one of the kit stamps (a grouping of circles that look like bubbles!) to fill in some of the blank space around the matte and soften all the straight lines.

When I began adhering the paper squares, I used foam adhesive between the layers add lots of dimension. The papers in this kit are ideal for spring-themed layouts as they are all fresh and colorful!

 

I used several pieces from the kit ephemera pack as well, tucking them in with the papers and accenting them with word stickers and twine. The variety of shapes helps keep the photo matte from looking too block or square, and they help fill any areas that look blank!

 

A colorful title grouping and journaling block help balance the photo collage on the left hand side. The acrylic word "spring" in loopy script also mixes nicely with the simple san serif font of the alphabet stickers. 

 

And with that, I'm off to tackle a 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle and take-out pizza (it's not quite margaritas and fish tacos on the beach, but it will have to do!) I'll be back with another layout from this kit, so check back soon. And if you need a bright, happy collection of supplies for your scrap table during these crazy days, go grab a SCT Delivered kit and get creating! 

Summer Sunshine

We've had such a mild summer here in Colorado, with most days in the mid-80s and afternoon thunderstorms almost everyday that keep it nice and cool. And I totally don't hate it. My flower pots are flourishing, the air conditioning bill is insanely low, and I can still take long walks with the dogs without worrying about their big old paws melting into the sidewalk. And bonus! I have yet to have my annual sweaty lady meltdown where I declare my hatred for heat, sunscreen, and mosquitos and then drown my sorrows in giant vat of ChickFilA ice tea. But it is only July 11, so stay tuned... 

In celebration of (not-to-hot) summer sun, I have a colorful layout entitled Sunshine that seemed perfect to share!

 

S U P P L I E S :

 

I began this page by stamping circles on teal cardstock to make my own polka dot background. I used an ink slightly darker than my cardstock, but watermark ink would work great as well. This is an easy way to customize your cardstock and add a subtle texture or pattern!

 

To bring lots of vibrant color to this design, I collected several tags (these are from an older SCT Delivered kit, but I linked similar) to layer over a floral paper as a free-form sort of photo matte.

 

 

And I finished it off with a fun tulle flower and a sprinkling of stars. I don't usually try to add this many colors to one page, but I love how it turned out. And it definitely says SUNSHINE!

 

Hope your day is sunny with the perfect side of iced tea!

 

Simple Saturday | Sweet Choir Memories

I'm just now checking to see if there's a snowstorm in hell, because I BLOGGED TWO DAYS IN A ROW YOU GUYS! Just goes to show what you can accomplish when you apply yourself. And refrain from watching "just one more episode" of Parks and Recreation while finishing that second pot of coffee. Yes, POT. Never underestimate the power of caffeine to get shit done, people!

Today I wanted to share a layout using the SCT Delivered kit, Summertime Dreams. And if I can manage to type with my crazy shaky hands and racing mind, I will do just that. Right after I tell you I LOVE COFFEE! And oh yeah, HERE'S THE LAYOUT!

 

S U P P L I E S :

This is a super simple 4-square grid design that I fancied up with a decorative border. After adhering a 2" wide strip of striped paper along the left edge, I layered lots of ephemera, tags and die cuts atop it, trying to keep all the elements in the pink/aqua color palette. Foam adhesive helps elevate each layer and makes the border look more dimensional and SO FUN!

 

 

The cute bicycles were fussy-cut from the Pink Paislee Horizon Paper 13. This is such an adorable, whimsical collections from Paige Evans. Love everything she creates!

 

 

A few enamel dots and a bit of baker's twine finish off the border, easy peasy. This is also a great way to use up little bits and pieces from various ephemera packs. Just sort them into color coordinating groups and the next time you need a quick page accent, arrange them into a creative border. I'd LOVE to see what you create!

 

And before I wear out my CAPS LOCK key on this caffeinated high, I wanted to remind you that you can grab the Summertime Dreams kit (which has everything you need to re-create this layout and more!) for 10% off by using the code LISA10 at checkout. It's the perfect way to spoil yourself with some summer scrapping (while drinking coffee, of course!)