Using my August "Faux-Kit"...

I've been making some fun stuff lately. It's almost a relief "shopping" my stash sometimes. I like seeing things leave my studio, without the receipts entering it. Here are my first three layouts using my "kit", and I'm sure that I'll have a handful of cards to finish it off. 

This first layout was pretty fun. I loved these two pic, but hadn't found the right papers or anything to use with them. I really loved pulling the pinks together with the blues, as it complemented the photos well. I also really loved this Gossamer Blue pie chart from the July 2014 Life Pages kit. Sadly, it's the only thing I've used from that month so far... The paper edge is a Silhouette cut, and the banner was just hand cut. To be honest however, the back of that pie chart is a hot mess. Thankfully you cannot see it. I totally broke out my Xyron 9" Creative Station on it though. Seriously, those intricate die cuts are killer to try to glue down all the little bits... This way, it's glued in one pass. Simple.

This layout was inspired by one of the PageMaps sketches from the August 2014 set that worked with Scrapbook Circle DT. I really loved the pie chart shape, and had to include it! I have to admit however, this layout kicked my butt. I had to put it aside and come back later to complete it. I added the title die cut and stitching the next morning. I think it came out okay in the end.

The next layout used quite a bit of the patterned papers from Authentique, My Mind's Eye, Stampin' Up and a little bit of the leftovers of that Crate Paper woodgrain. I will seriously use every last scrap of that stuff! I also used my DIY Simple Stories envelope to place a die cut with hidden journaling. And, if you want the recipe to the most amazing (gluten free) chocolate molten lava cake... It's here. You can thank me later!

I used the ScrapbookSteals Mid-Week-Mojo Pansy 4 Sketch by Brenda Smith. Brenda always does amazing work. I'm always in awe of all of the fun details she uses in her work.

Sometimes you have that one picture that doesn't go with anything else... This pic was just that. I had previously gotten my hair bayalage'd by my lovely hair stylist who works at The Parlor. This place is adorable. Like, all industrial and woodgrain and aqua. LOVE! I really wanted to "highlight" the highlights, so the woodgrain follows the streaks in my hair, along with the streaks in the sky Sass paper, and the dark cloud chipboard pieces. And those chipboard buggers, pull out your Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker on those bad boys and BAM! Done. I'm a much lazier scrapper than I appear, I promise.

I used the ScrapbookSteals Mid-Week-Mojo Pansy 5a Sketch by Brenda Smith.

Hope you enjoyed seeing a few of my latest creations. I swear I will be caught up with the Pansy Series before #10.

If you want more details on the specific papers and embellishements I used, I listed them all out on the previous post. Thanks!

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UPDATED: August Shop Your Stash Kit

UPDATE: Check out THIS PAGE on how to "Shop Your Stash"!!

While I've been making stuff off and on this Spring, I realized that I wasn't using my Gossamer Blue Life Pages kits. Or crafting unless otherwise necessary or needed. I had lost my mojo. I've been working on a ton of stuff lately, including a TON of wedding decorations (post to come later!!)... But my poor GB LP kits have been sitting. And stacking up. So I cancelled them. They are gorgeous, amazing, as in, I am kicking myself that I won't have the new stuff... But the deal that I made with myself was that if I wasn't going to use my products in that month, I had to cancel. And I gave myself a bunch of leeway while completing my National Boards, but I haven't created a weekly layout since March. Not. Good.

So, I'm back to using up all of my fun stuff in my stash. And I challenged myself to make a Counterfeit Kit that was reminiscent of August's AMAZING!! Gossamer Blue kit. I mean, bokeh, and woodgrain, and OMG that blue!!!! Seriously, Lori Gentile has an UH-MAZING eye for mixing (and her customer service is insanely awesome).

For my Counterfeit Kit, you'll notice that I pulled from a ton of different lines, companies, and seriously, two of the patterned papers are Christmas! Who knew! Rather than the bokeh, I went with polka dots, and pulled one of my favorite pieces of Sass paper that I have squirreled away for rainy days. I thought I could stamp on the kraft or even the cork sticker for a similar effect to the pieces that she put in the kit, and finally have a good reason to use up my woodgrain enamel dots! I can't wait to start using it!! (Just in case you were wondering... my craft room has a cork floor that's peeking out on both sides...)

Paper Top Row L-R:
Love Letters - Amy Tangerine for American Crafts
Be You (Lime Twist) - My Mind's Eye
unknown - Stampin' Up
Foundations Two (Classique-Elegant) - Authentique
Family Ties (So Sophie) - My Mind's Eye
Winter Wonderland (Sleigh Ride) - Crate Paper

Paper Bottom Row L-R:
Robust (Suave) - Authentique
Twinkle (Glistening) - Authentique
Friends Forever (Stella & Rose) - My Mind's Eye
Textile (Random) - Crate Paper
Playhouse (Emma's Shoppe) - Crate Paper
Golden Hour (Sunshine Broadcast) - Sassafras Lass

Embellishments:
Star Stick Pins - Maya Road
Layered Clouds chipboard - UmWowStudios
DIY Envelopes - Simple Stories
woodgrain Enamel Dots - Studio Calico
Cork Label Sticker - Fancy Pants
Hey You Vintage Buttons - Basic Grey
Decorative Stickers, Label Stickers, Tiny Word Stickers (Collectable) - My Mind's Eye
Assorted die cuts - My Mind's Eye & Crate Paper
Everywhere Thickers - American Crafts
Wish You Were Here Stamp Set - Lawn Fawn Pin It

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaack!!!! Xyron Announces it's Fall/Winter 2014 Design Team

EEK! When I completed last Fall/Winter's Xyron Design Team session, I had to make the decision to step down from applying for Spring/Summer to complete my National Boards for Teaching. I knew that I needed to give those my all, and simplify a few things... So I took some time off, asked Beth and the lovely Julie to think of me fondly, and shared that I would apply again in the Summer. When Beth asked me to make sure that I applied, of COURSE I got that application in.

I am happy to share that I will be crafting my heart out for the next six months alongside with my fellow Xyron team members. Make sure that you check out their Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Scrapbook.com Gallery and Blog for all the new information and ideas!

New Design Team Members:

Pam Bray

Gretchen Brittain

Stephanie Chan

Heather Conklin

Marcia Dehn-Nix

Joy Dickson

Rachel McAffee

Alexia Misso

Linda Neff

Returning Design Team members:
Sharon Callis

Karen Jiles

Angela Holt

Shannon Morgan

Stacy Rodriguez

Yvonne Yam

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Mason Row PEGz Stamps Projects!! (As Seen on TV!)

Sometimes, you just have to know the right person to learn of some fun new products. In this case, Ms. Beth Kingston had asked me to create a few product samples for a new stamp set by Mason Row that was going to be showcased on HSN. The PEGz Clickable Letterz set was really fun to use, and I had fun using them all in some very different ways.

 (Lawn Fawn-Happy Trails, Silhouette cuts, Echo Park Paper-Happy Camper 6x6 pad)

 (My Mind's Eye-Market Street Papers, Spellbinders-Feathers on the Wind die, button & twine)

 (Crate Paper-Flea Market papers & Resin Flower, American Crafts Thickers & Flair, enamel dots)

 (Crate Paper-Flea Market papers & Resin Flower, American Crafts Thickers & Flair, enamel dots)

 (Authentique Paper-Harmony Collection)

(Authentique Paper-Splendid Collection)

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Happy Anniversary Card using Lawn Fawn!

My husband and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary. 10 years!! It was important to come up with a special and fun card, and I really loved the sentiment from the Lawn Fawn Love You Tons stamp set. I paired the elephant stamps with the coordinating Lawn Cuts in Love You Tons as well.

I then colored them with Spectrum Noir pens. Layered some stamped hearts with die cut hearts using the Lawn Cuts Hearts set. The papers are both 6x6 papers from Authentique's Suave Collection (teal) and Studio Calico's Darling Dear (blue patterned paper).

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Kid Birthday and Birthday Cards!!

With Littles... You get Little Kid Birthdays, which of course always need cards. Sometimes, I let the munchkins help out, sometimes, they direct what the subject of the card is. Anyway, here are a couple of fun kid-friendly cards. 

The dinos are from a ColorBox set, and of course some Lawn Fawn (Critters Ever After, Say Cheese, Say Cheese Lawn Cuts)

You can't stop smiling when you see these little hearts peeking at you!!

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Happy Birthday from Authentique and Avery Elle!

Good afternoon! I just wanted to share with you a sweet birthday card that was up on the Authentique Blog last week. I didn't share it on the day it went live, so I'm sharing today!! I used the Avery Elle Cupcakes set and Authentique's Radiant Collection.
I'm especially proud of the fussy cutting! I'm not a huge fan of it, but I'm getting there... I just loved the Avery Elle Cupcakes set, as I am able to create SOOOO many combos for cupcakes! EEK! The sequins are a mix of random ones I have in my stash: Teresa Collins, Neat and Tangled, and some that are sewing sequins.

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