PAPER GIRLS CHALLENGE BLOG: Happy 6th Anniversary!

Hello! It's a Happy Anniversary to the Paper Girls Challenge Blog! They are 6 years old today. Which is amazingly exciting! They are a bunch of great ladies who are pretty darn talented. Today's challenge is all about 6's.

I ended up creating a rainbow card with 6 washi tapes and 6 enamel dots. I love how clean and simple it is. Pin It

Let's Do This (October Shop Your Stash Kit)

Some layouts are just too darn fun to not create. This one used the October Shop Your Stash kit that I had made, plus a fun sheet of Teresa Collins paper (no clue what line... I looked, but couldn't find it). I couldn't resist adding it to my layout.

I mean, if you HAVE to get older and get glasses, you might as well scrap about it, right?!?!?

PS... I'm hitting 400 posts (WHAT?!?!?!) on Friday. Check back in for a Giveaway! I'm going to celebrate! Pin It

Pocket Letters, Sending a Little Bit of Happy Mail

A few of my crafty friends and I have started a chain of Happy Mail called Pocket Letters. Pocket Letters are a fun way to share some crafty goodness, a cup of tea, some fun new embellishments, washi tape, and some details about yourself. Janette Lane created them as a way to send some love, in a way that doesn't cost a whole heck of a lot (most of mine I throw 2 stamps on and be done with it!).I grabbed these pockets from Amazon.

This first two, I created using mainly Authentique's Radiant Collection. I cut down some of the 6x6 Bundle and a few of the Authentic Life Cards to fit each pocket.

I finally found a use for a set of Pebbles Party Mermaid stickers that I grabbed somewhere for $2. Pocket Letters are a great way to use up scraps, and those fantastic deals that you find. My embellishments that I included were all various washi samples, and printables that I hand cut.

My third Pocket Letter was going to a lovely friend who loves orange. I included a bunch of various scraps and pieces from older Studio Calico kits, and some random Sassafras Lass pieces. The embellishments I included were some Elle's Studio tags and My Mind's Eye stickers.

Today's last Pocket Letter is for a lovely lady who packed up her family and moved to a new adventure. I wanted the colors and elements to celebrate her new adventure. I used a few of the October Afternoon Travel Girl stickers, some lovely washi, sequins and other bits and pieces. I HAD to include some Amy Tangerine puffy stickers as well. The cars and houses were just too perfect!

I also used the fantastic Mason Row Pegz stamps in Sorry We're Closed that were featured on HSN a bit ago. Mason Row has some amazing stamps. Want more information on Pocket Letters... Check out Janette's Blog, and her amazing FAQ's. Pin It

October's Shop Your Stash Kit...

So, as you may have noticed, I've renamed the kits that I make as Shop Your Stash Kits. There's a few reasons, and if you're a reader of my blog, you've noticed that I've been wrestling with what to call these creations. The short version is, I didn't want to use a name that I was not 100% comfortable with. There are ton of challenge blogs that all create themed kits, based on other companies' kits. I've done them, it's totally fun. But I don't want to imitate the amazing kits that others make, I just want to use up what I have. No challenges, no prizes, (unless you count all of the projects you make!) and no pressure. If you want more information on my process and what exactly I'm doing, I've made a PAGE to better explain how I go about Shopping My Stash!

Now for the pictures, and October's Shop Your Stash Kit!! Reality moment: this kit has been made for almost a month. Seriously... I'm in love with this kit, and the mood board that inspired it. I have SO many plans... But they have to start somewhere, and this is the lovely inspiration picture that started it all:

OMGoodness!! Isn't it just divine! So gorgeous, so Halloweeny without being all cheesy... I was just in love. Vanessa over at lbg studio created this amazing "Mood Board" and I swear, it spoke to me. I loved all of it from the apples (you'll see them!), to the pumpkins, feathers, woodgrain, stars, hot cocoa (which I'm totally translating into coffee...) and the patchwork. And those pocket scrapbook cards... that I may have just purchased because of this board. Look forward to a month of Halloween, Autumn and fun family pics!

Paper Top Row L-R:
Dancette (Spirited) - Authentique
You & Me (Stella & Rose) - My Mind's Eye
Remember (Lime Twist) - My Mind's Eye
Summer Dress (Indian Summer) - WeRMK
Polka Polka (Count Me In) - Sassafras Lass
Teal Large Dot (Dots & Stripes) - Echo Park
Juniper (Into the Woods) - Lawn Fawn
Clove (Nutmeg) - Cosmo Cricket
Tube Socks (Boyfriend) - Cosmo Cricket

Paper Bottom Row L-R:
Hoot of Owl (Witch Hazel) - October Afternoon
Picnic (Kraft Funday) - My Mind's Eye
Stripe (Uncharted Waters) - Glitz
Victorian (Random Collection) - Crate Paper
Big Sky (Open Road) - Crate Paper
Fun & Games (Kraft Funday) - My Mind's Eye
Grove (Countryside) - Studio Calico
Acorn (Nutmeg) - Cosmo Cricket
Fitting In (Boyfriend) - Cosmo Cricket

Shaped Paper
Smile (Lime Twist) - My Mind's Eye

Cardstock
black - American Crafts
Eggshell (Simply Spring) - WeRMK
reddish - American Crafts
light orange - American Crafts  

Embellishments:
Sculpture Flowers - Prima
Layered Stickers (Lost & Found 2) - My Mind's Eye
Circle Garland (Kraft Funday) - My Mind's Eye
Fla!r (Spooky) - American Crafts
Orange Chevron Washi (Amy Tangerine) - American Crafts
Chipboard Alpha - Sassafras Lass
Delights (Spice) - American Crafts
Dimensional Stickers - American Crafts
Word Stickers (Witch Hazel) - October Afternoon
Bingo Card - Pretty Little Studio
Various Die Cut Cards - Elle's Studio & October Afternoon
Mini Market Alpha (Pumpkin) - October Afternoon
Stickers (Hattie) - My Mind's Eye
Tickets (Kraft Funday) - My Mind's Eye
Twine (Kraft Funday) - My Mind's Eye
Kraft Borders - Anna Griffin
Happy Harvest Printable - Life Love Paper
FREE!! Back to School Printable - OneHappyMama.com Pin It

ScrapbookSteals My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack BLOG HOP!!! [Giveaway CLOSED]

Good Morning ScrapbookSteals Hoppers!! Heather here sharing with you my inspiration using the My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack from ScrapbookSteals.com. I hope that you got here from the fabulous Staci Jones, and if not... Make sure that you start at ScrapbookSteals' Blog to hit all of the stops along the way! There is a $20 Gift Card to ScrapbookSteals for one of the lucky hoppers!!

ScrapbookSteals

Kristina MacKeen

Charissa Miller 

Staci Jones 

Heather Conklin  (You're here!!)

Erin Shultz

I was so happy to spend time with my lovely ScrapbookSteals ladies last weekend, and really wanted to create some cards that I could just send to both the women that I was lucky to see, and those that were not able to make it this time. (If you get a card, just pretend you never saw it!)

The My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack was a bit of perfection, as I was able to start making easy cards for everyone by using the die cuts in the pack. If you are not a big layout person, or do not usually reach for your die cuts, you really need to. If it weren't for all those responsibilities, I would have busted out SO many more of these!

Aren't these just too much fun? Super easy too. Grab a 6x6, your My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack, your Mega Runner, and go for it!!

Make sure that you comment, I have a 6x6 pad of Christmas papers waiting upstairs for one lucky person!! 

Supplies Used: 
My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack, Coredinations Gemstones, MyMindsEye Twine, MyMind'sEye Life of the Party 6x6, Echo Park 6x6 Dots and Stripes, Signo white pen, Teresa Collins washi & sequins, Fancy Pants cork pieces, Xyron Mega Runner Pin It

Happy Birthday ScrapbookSteals! It's a July Blog Hop

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCRAPBOOKSTEALS! I seriously love both the Steals Network, and the community that they have built. I consider many of the ladies that I met through ScrapbookSteals as some of my absolute closest friends. When Melodee asked if I would help to celebrate ScrapbookSteal's 4th birthday, I jumped at the chance.

You should be here from Cyndee's blog. I love her work.

If you want to start from the beginning:
ScrapbookSteals: http://scrapbook.steals.com/wp/?p=18660
Cathy Caines: www.inthecatcave.com
Cristine Redmond: http://onescrappynovice.blogspot.com
Venetia Holbrook: www.atomicvenetia.blogspot.com
Cyndee Kawa: http://scrappydaylily.blogspot.com
Heather Conklin: http://goldiecar.blogspot.com   (You are HERE!)
Van Nguyen: http://likethecar.blogspot.com
Staci Jones: http://scrapbookingischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com
Charissa Miller: http://www.akihasmommascraps.com
Brenda Smith: http://theimperfectscrapper.blogspot.com
Erin Colby: http://oursliceofcheese.blogspot.com
Erica Bass: http://stampingstarlette.blogspot.com
Kristy Lee: http://lifescrapped.blogspot.com

Challenge #1: Use 4 types of products
For this challenge, I used patterned paper, stickers, Elle's Studio tags and flair. I LOVE Sanuks, and have too many pairs!! They are super comfy.


Challenge #2: 2009
I found a photo that was taken just a few months after Miss I was born. It was a rough time. Babies are a whole lot of work, and I know that we had idealized what real life with babies was all about. And now she's four and has a little sister. A lot has happened in four years.

Challenge #3: Favorite Vendor
I chose to spotlight this fantastic photo of my oldest with some of my lovely SS purchases. I chose to use the now defunct (BOO!) Sassafras Lass. My first "real" purchase of scrapbook paper was Sass, so I knew that it would be a personal thing for me to include the company that got me out of the Target scrap aisle and using really quality products, alongside the wonderful company that helped me to develop into the crafter I am today. 

Challenge #4: Washi Fever
I had this cute little notebook lying around, that I wanted to spruce up. What's better than to decorate it with a little bit of washi. 

If you leave a comment on how you follow my blog. Email, Twitter, Bloglovin', Feedly, or Google Friend Connect, I will put you in a drawing for a 6x6 card kit that I will be making this weekend. I usually combine 15 or so papers, with stickers, wood veneers, ribbon and other embellishments. All in matching color combos, so it's easy to mix and match. You can even choose the color or color combo that you would like it to be, just make sure you note it on your comment!

Leave a comment by Midnight, Wednesday (July 17th) for the card kit. Check back to see if you are a winner!! And make sure that you link up your projects to the ScrapbookSteals blog by the same time for some great prizes from the Steals Network!!

Now, head onto one of my favorite people ever: Van Nguyen!! Pin It

Inspired by AtomicVenetia...

I love finding inspiration from my local sources (meaning... snagging ideas from my lovely friends). In this case, I used a layout that my friend Venetia created. I used a few of the ideas that she had used in her layout, to inspire my choices.

I was inspired by splattered ink, floral washi, banners, little embellishments scattered and tilted journaling. Hers was hidden, but I used a tag from the Gossamer Blue April Bits & Pieces Add-On. The paper, washi tape, and frames are from the April Main Kit. I'm really loving the combo of navy and pink that seems to be everywhere now!! And the Maggie Holmes products were lovely!! Pin It

10 Minute Craft Dash... Creating Cards in No Time at All!

WOW. I have scrapped in 10 minutes before, and I thought that was hard. Making a card in 10 minutes that I actually wanted to use was even harder. You really don't want to see the first one I did. It had banners and fussy cutting, and marker. Not pretty. Created in under 10 minutes, but a total trainwreck. So... I went and looked at the challenge examples again (at PrettyPinkPosh) and kept it simple.

To make sure that I could stay within my 10 minutes, I first set out all of my supplies. Keeping everything close to hand made it easy to create without having to make too many decisions. 

See all of that stuff? Nope. Didn't use everything. I'm okay with that. Having it out gave me options. I went with what felt natural instead of forcing something that wasn't to be.

And just in case you were wondering... Here is my time left out of the 10 minutes. Seriously... It didn't even take 5 minutes!!! I can only credit that to a pre-folded card base, stamping directly onto the paper (a risk since I'm NOT a stamper... I credit some great stamping advice a few friends have given me lately), washi tape and embellishments that already have adhesive on them. The faux stitching was the most difficult and time consuming thing for the whole card.

Seriously FUN challenge. Really. I think I'm going to try it again. :) Pin It

Scraplifting with Gossamer Blue and Elle's Studio

I have blogged before about both Gossamer Blue and Elle's Studio. I L-O-V-E both companies. Gossamer Blue's kits are always so amazing and beautiful. And Elle's Studio has wonderful little tags and extras that are perfect for Project Life and Project12. (And they are LOCAL!! to me anyway!)

The two companies were having a fantastic scraplift challenge. Here is what I came up with. I used mainly pieces from my March Gossamer Blue kit, with a few additional patterned paper from the August GB kit, and some Summer Lovin' Elle's Studio pieces that I had in my stash. I also used a few of my OA Sprinklers and some Stickles glitter (I really only like glitter in liquid form!).

I combined some of the other My Mind's Eye buttons that I had, as well as a few more of their enamel dots. Lastly, I added some Cath Kidston washi tape. For all of the scalloped parts, I used my Kiwi Lane Designs Templates in Scallops.

Here is Magda Mizera's FANTASTIC layout. I just love her work. You can check out her blog HERE. She has some MAD photoshop skills. One day...

I did a pretty blatant scraplift. And I challenged myself to use yellow, which isn't my normal go-to color. I figured since it was a complimentary color to Miss R's onesie, it would make an interesting mix. Pin It

Could You Be Any Cuter?? (GB February)

I just loved making this layout. Seriously... It just came together wonderfully. I really enjoyed seeing the pinks and greys that were in February's Gossamer Blue box. The Pink Paislee flowered paper, against the Carta Bella So Loved paper was just too perfect. I added a Silhouette sentiment, an October Afternoon tag that had been lying around from the Cakewalk collection and OA sprinkles, and some AC washi tape from Dear Lizzy and Dear Lizzy Christmas.

Lastly, a couple of Basic Grey embellishments to finish it off. Such a sweet little layout of my cutest 8 month old.

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Three More Layouts, Two Kits, & One Sketch

I cannot believe that I haven't blogged for almost two weeks!! I have a couple of layouts that I have had laying around for awhile... The first two are using Gossamer Blue's fabulous December Kit. I snagged GB's first kit during their fantastic Black Friday special, and also grabbed November's Main Kit Add-On. It's super pretty, but with all of the holiday craziness... I haven't even cracked into it!

Anyway, here is my 3rd layout using my December kit. I loved how easy this came together. I just positioned my photo to allow for the date to show, circled it, placed arrows that pointed in the direction I wanted, added the mat and photo... A few embellishments and BOOM! DONE! I especially love all of the Sn@p! alphas. Using all of those colors was just too fun!

This one took a little more time and effort. I wanted a pieced heart, but hate when the pieces come up, so the pieced part is really behind the heart, which is cut with my Cameo. I used bits and pieces from random pieces that I had used throughout my three other layouts, and just made them all fit. Glued those down onto a piece of cardstock that I then glued and sewed to the background piece. Draped the fun garland on the heart, stitched that in... Then stuck the photo down, added washi, and a title. I really do love sewing, but it does take some time. Good thing I'm not a perfectionist with the stitch lenth :)

This was a super quick layout also! I used Studio Calico's Sock Hop Kit for this, with my lovely friend Venetia's Mid-Wid Mojo Guest Sketch. I love her ideas. She's also pretty darn fantastic at most crafty and artsy things.

Hope you liked the layouts! I have some more cards that I created using all of these kits too!! Pin It

Just a Couple of Layouts :)

If you've been reading my blog, you know that I love making my own kits from my personal stash. I did again for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I took this kit and created this:

Here is the first layout I made from this kit. I just loved using my stash of Sassafras papers. I can't just let them sit where they cannot be seen anymore... Plus, I got to use some of my lovely HeyDay papers!! And a super cute Hipstamatic pic of my lovely Miss R. If you cannot tell... She doesn't sleep much.

 

And this lovely and bright layout with an older pic (one of my favorites!) of Miss I. This is just the most perfect visual for her personality. I loved all of the washi and layers.

 Thanks for looking! I will upload the last of my month of Gratitude. Pin It

MWM: Coral 6

I haven't played along with the MWM lately. It's been a little hectic. We are partially packed, a lot unpacked... And I'm struggling with the want to pack everything up. There's always this question of whether or not we will need something in the next few weeks. Although, the reality of packing stuff up and not caring that it's gone is also a realization that we might have too much stuff.

Anyway... Here is this week's MWM: Coral 6. There was a lot that I liked about the original sketch, although this layout ended up nothing like the sketch. Know however, the intent was there originally.

It was important to document this event. This little house has been so great to us. And even though we are moving into a much larger (and more size appropriate) house for four people, our first little house will always be home to us. It is bittersweet to see the cuteness of our little home, and know at some point soon, it will be instead be home for someone else. Pin It

Gossamer Blue August Kit

A few weeks ago, I won Gossamer Blue's August kit from The Scrap Review. It was super fun to open, as it was even gift wrapped!!

I loved making a few layouts of my new little one. The colors were perfect for her, and the items were not what I would normally purchase, but I loved each of them. So fun, and so easy to combine all the items!! 

The second layout used strips from some of the pieces. I used the Heidi Swapp banner to mirror a few strips that I put on the bottom of the page as well. I loved mixing the different mists on the banner.

This little card was just made from a few of the scraps, with a Lily Bee card, MyMindsEye sticker and a Crate Paper button. The LB card actually has a hole in it, and it pop-dotted so that the button fits onto it (it sticks out in the back).

Here is the kit itself. There was some great Heidi Swapp Color Magic banners, washi!, my first LilyBee papers and beautiful Crate Paper buttons and doodads.

I am really going to watch the next few months of Gossamer Blue! My husband already purchased me a subscription to Studio Calico (so that we can budget my crafty expenditures each month and not go over budget). I think I really want to switch when the 6 months are over. Pin It

And Then There Was a Challenge: Counterfeit Kit

Remember that "counterfeit" kit that I created using this month's Studio Calico Summer of '69 kit as inspiration? Well, my lovely friend Brenda decided to follow suit, then challenged me (LOVE IT!) to find a layout that I wanted to scraplift from the SC. I used this opportunity to find a layout that I loved, but it wasn't my normal style.

I simply loved Geralyn Sy's layout Tokyo:

I just loved how super fun and graphic it was. I really wanted to use those huge letters in a title, include washi tape and journaling, and use ORANGE. A color that I like, but never really include in well, anything. Scrapping or otherwise (I could have purchased orange flats, but totally chickened out today!)

Here is my inspired layout:

The orange is really not my go-to color, but I really enjoy how fun this layout is. I played off of the orange with the aqua woodgrain. I just love this washi tape (Amy Tangerine), and was so happy to use it. I realize how bowed the paper looks in this photo, as the washi is actually a straight line. Oh well, I guess I need to improve my photo setup!

All in all, pretty successful by my account. :)  Now, check out Brenda's layout and see how she did!
100 Count Challenge: 5/100

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I was a MoxieFabber!!

This past week, I was featured on one of my favorite blogs of all time: MoxieFabWorld! Cath, who is also an editor for Paper Crafts saw the cute washi tape binoculars I made for Miss I and blogged about it. WOOT! Check out all of the other fantastic projects that she also blogged about. They are pretty amazing!

And, while you are at it, add your blog to the MoxieFabWorld Blog Roll! You never know when you too may get a mention! Pin It

Using Washi Tape Just for Fun!

Today I was featured on ScrapbookSteals.com for my fun use of washi tape. Miss I brought home a pair of "binoculars" that were made for someone else at school, but wanted her own set when I told her we needed to return them. This in fact is set #2. The first set got squished at some point.

You can tell they were "loved". The poor button fell of the little butterfly.

 She loves them!

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