Layout Share - Solar Eclipse

I almost never use black as a background on my scrapbook pages, but for this story about my husband and I having a picnic during the solar eclipse, that heart print seemed the perfect pick, especially since it's been in my stash for quite awhile.

Even better, I was able to use my Cameo to cut the title out, using an old Stampin' Up! marker to color the edges of the large letters and color in the smaller pieces and the date.

I went through all my supplies for anything yellow or sun-related, and I loved getting to use the sunglasses.

I die cut pinked circles out of patterned paper scraps and punched stars out of gold glitter paper scraps. I used an old 3x4 card, cut to fit, for my journaling, and finished it all off with enamel dots and some word stickers.

The 2017 album is coming together, and I'll have more to share soon!

Creative Play - Tags

Since the pandemic became our new reality, I've been doing a lot of creative play with Distress inks and stains. This past week, I created several tags that I'm sharing today.

First, my least favorite:

I've had these pre-printed text tags from American Crafts for a long time. I used a Tim Holtz stamp and heat embossing with extra thick embossing powder to create the heart pattern. My first inking attempt went awry, so I sprayed over it with Distress spray stain in Festive Berries and added just a few embellishments to finish it off. I don't love it, but it's not the worst thing I've ever created.

Next up, another of the four I did with the text-printed tags:

First, I heat embossed with extra thick embossing powder the flower image and applied three colors of Distress ink with a blending tool. A sentiment and a few embellishments finished it off.

This one, the same concept with a different stamp (from the same set as the previous tag) and ink colors, and I added more embellishment, including some fiber.

Here is my favorite of these four:

I wanted to use some of those butterfly stickers that I've had in my stash awhile, and I let those inform my color scheme. Again, I used stamps and extra thick embossing powder, then blended Distress inks, and added embellishments, including a little more stamping. This one turned out better than I expected. I'd forgotten how much I like the look of blended inks.

This next tag was inspired by a stamp set I bought at a local shop earlier this year. I had a basic color scheme in mind, and I wanted to use these stamps, but I kinda made it up as I went along.

One of the stamps is a cluster of hexagons, and I stamped in a repeating pattern over a Distress background in a similar color. I added the focal point image at the bottom and heat embossed the bee images in copper. More stamping, the leaves and text, in green and red, added some contrast, and I stamped the sentiment in black with a couple of black glitter enamel dots as embellishments. A bit of honey-colored ribbon tied to the top of the tag was the finishing touch.

This tag was a pleasant surprise. I started it just playing, basically creating backgrounds, which I've been practicing for weeks, now. I love how the colors all blend together, and there are a few stamped images that blend in, as well. The sentiment was stamped in an a waterproof ink, and I ended up using some water to lighten the background behind it, so the words would show up better. The cork butterflies, and just a few enamel dots and sprinkles of gold spray, are the perfect amount of embellishment, I think.

Next, my second favorite tag, which took a lot of time, but I had a blast!

I started with blending some of my favorite watery colors of Distress inks and layered some background stamps on top. I then heat embossed the mermaid image, a stamp I got at a garage sale several years ago, and colored in the tail, hair, and shell, with ink and water. Adding water, then dabbing it away, I removed some of the ink of the torso, arm, and face to lighten the color, and I added some Wink of Stella to the shell to make it shimmer. I tore the bottom of the tag and added embellishments, then tied several coordinating fibers to finish up the tag. I really enjoyed making this, and I want to do at least one more, maybe using the same image, but with some different colors.

Here's a detail shot:

Last, my very favorite, another tag that took quite awhile to complete, but I loved every minute of it. I had so much fun!

There is a lot of layering on this tag, a stencil and several different stamps, both background and images. I chose several favorite Distress colors, as well as two I rarely use, Tattered Rose and Stormy Sky. I was able to use some very old fibers and trims, as well as some buttons, and I absolutely love how it all works together. I may even frame this tag and hang it up somewhere in my house.

Here are a couple of detail shots:

Working on these tags has been so good for me, providing me with distraction from the difficulties I know we're all experiencing right now, as well as creative practice, and a whole lot of happy.

Now...I think I'd like to get back to some regular old scrapbooking!

Snow in April

Yesterday, my husband came downstairs from his work-from-home spot and exclaimed that it was snowing. Having lived in Michigan (this time) for almost 14 years, now, neither of us really hates snow, but by April? Especially in the middle of a global pandemic? We're kinda done with the white stuff.

Still...I went out on the front porch to take photos of the fallen snow on our azaleas. If I'd waited even a little while, I would've missed the chance. By the time Daniel's work day was done, the snow was gone, as if it had never been there, and the sun was out.

This Michigan weather...

Layout Share - Remembering Mom

I had so much fun creating this page about remembering my Mom on her birthday in 2017. She loved flowers, so I chose this bright, happy floral print from  Carta Bella as a background, adding some chipboard stickers and fussy cut flowers from the same collection as embellishments. I also used puffy hearts and little tiny enamel hearts as accents, and I was able to use some very old October Afternoon letter tile stickers as part of my title.

For part of the journaling, I was able to utilize a favorite technique--writing directly on a photo--using the "blank" space on the lid of my Starbucks cup, and the rest of the journaling went on two die cuts.

My favorite part of this page was incorporating a photo of my Mom from 2006, cut to fit a die cut frame. I really love this story about the way I honor my Mom's memory every year, and I like how this page came together.

Blooming

As Daniel and I went out the front door to go on a short walk on Sunday, we saw this:

Soon, the bushes alongside our front porch will be covered with these breathtakingly bright pink blooms, which I'm pretty sure are azaleas.

While our world is still falling apart because of COVID-19, Nature just keeps doing what she does.

Layout Share - Celebrate Together

The poor quality of the photo aside, I enjoyed making this page with some supplies that aren't my usual style. I don't have a lot of birthday-themed supplies, but awhile back--you know, when we could safely shop--I bought a sheet of chipboard stickers by Crate Paper that coordinated with some card stock stickers, and those were the style inspiration for this layout about my sweetheart's birthday back in 2017.

I used a variety of embellishments, a scrap of patterned paper, and some stamping to tell this happy story about celebrating Daniel's birthday. I even dragged out a border punch! I like how it came together. This was one of those pages that I didn't think was going to work at first, but in the end, it made me happy.

Daffodils In Our Yard

Yesterday, after Daniel wrapped up his work day, we ventured out for a walk in our cul-de-sac, but first, I noticed these beauties blooming in our front flower bed. They are almost too bright to look at, but oh-so-lovely.

And just a few feet away, another cluster, not quite all-the-way open, but still shining so bright in the Michigan sunshine. (Yep, you read that right--the Michigan SUNSHINE!)

Maybe I'll cut a couple of these and bring the brightness of spring inside...

Layout Share - Summer 2017

Hello! Lately, I've been working on pages for my 2017 scrapbook, and here's one I created last week, featuring a story about going to a local fair with my friends.

Hashtag Summer

I bought the background paper a long time ago to document a different story, and I forgot to use it for that, but it worked really great for this companion page to an 8.5x11 pocket page I used for the rest of the photos from this outing.

I included a piece of memorabilia, the wrist band I got for being able to purchase beer, and I used some chipboard pieces by Crate Paper, as well as patterned paper scraps, some puffy stickers and enamel dots by Elle's Studio, and a foam hashtag by American Crafts. I love the wide-open-ness of this layout, how the faded image of the ferris wheel evokes our experience, even though we didn't actually ride the ferris wheel or any other ride. Simple pages like this make me happy.

Layout Share - 4th of July

In a previous post, I shared the backgrounds I've been making with Distress spray stains, and last week, I used one of those backgrounds on a page about me, my husband, and my nephew celebrating the 4th of July back in 2017.

Here is a photo of the background I created with Distress spray stains in Festive Berries, Salty Ocean, and Black Soot.

I used my trusty circle dies to cut several different sizes of circle from the 5.25 x 4 background, using those as embellishments on my page.

For about a month, now, I've been trying to get older supplies onto my scrapbook pages, and with this layout, I was able to use some patterned paper I've had a long time, a film strip print from a Shimelle collection, which I cut into strips to border my three photos, since the story is about going to see a movie. I also used older star embellishments, including stars and enamel dots. For the title, I used a cut file from Silhouette, which I cut out on my Cameo, and some letter stickers from a Shimelle sticker pack.

As the pandemic crisis continues, I expect scrapbooking supplies to become more difficult to acquire, and I like having the ability to create embellishments from things I have on hand.

Spring Unfolding

While the global pandemic has draped a heavy pall over our everyday lives, Nature continues awakening from her winter's nap. Daniel and I have gone on a few walks in the past few days, and here are three photos of spring unfolding in our neighborhood.

Any second, those daffodil buds are going to burst forth into a yellow so brilliant, it's almost hard to look at. These are in a neighbor's yard, but I noticed we have some in our front bed, too.

This leaf caught my eye as I walked past, the way the light caught in its gossamer surface. I don't know if this is a new leaf or an old one, but whether it is forging awake or lasted through the rigors of a Michigan winter, it looked like hope to me.

My sweetheart Daniel, with trees that look bare in the background, but there are thousands of little buds on them that will soon become leaves (some maybe flowers?). I must also note that sunshine, so rare where we live, and so, so welcome.

I look forward to seeing what other delights spring has to offer in our little corner of the world.

Color Combination Play

Last week, because I was inspired by a Tim Holtz video, and to distract myself from all the bad news in the world, I started creating backgrounds with Distress spray stains and watercolor card stock. After a few, I realized that I was using the color palettes I usually go for, my favorites, so I decided to create a way to vary my color combinations.

First, I wrote the name of each of the spray stains I have on slips of paper. (There are still 22 spray colors I don't have!)

Next, I put the slips into a container, so I could draw three or four at a time to create color combinations I wouldn't normally use.

It was fun! (And don't we all need a little of that right now?)

The first combination:

Ground Espresso, Picked Raspberry, and Cracked Pistachio. I'll admit, I didn't think this combination was going to go well, even though I think each of these are great colors on their own. But...a challenge is a challenge, and there was not much point creating this little game if I wasn't going to follow through.

The first color combination result:

I used the Ground Espresso in a limited amount, and while this isn't my favorite of the backgrounds I've made, I thought it turned out pretty good.

Next, color combination number 2:

Another challenging one, Festive Berries, Salty Ocean, and Black Soot!

But look how great the result turned out:

I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised, and I've already used this background on a scrapbook page! (details in a future post).

I was starting to hit my stride, and for my third color combination, I chose four colors:

Two greens this time, Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron, along with Squeezed Lemonade and Rusty Hinge, a little less of a challenge, but I didn't like the result as much as I did the previous one.

On another day, I played some more, though I confess I did remove Black Soot, Ground Espresso, and Hickory Smoke, simply because I find those colors a little dark for the kind of backgrounds I'm creating.

Here are the rest of my color combinations:

Four: Aged Mahongany, Shaded Lilac, and Peacock Feathers.

Admittedly, Aged Mahogany is a dark color, too, but it's oh-so-yummy, and I think the result REALLY works.

Five: Twisted Citron, Broken China, and Wild Honey, which is starting to become a favorite of mine.

The result:

If I did this combination again--and hey, why not?--I'd use the Wild Honey as more of an accent, and let the Twisted Citron and Broken China stand out more, as I love how those two colors work together.

Last, the sixth combination: Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, and Salty Ocean.

The result:

A definite success! I love how these colors blend together, turning coral and blue into a shade of almost purple, and turning blue and yellow into green. I can't wait to make something out of this one. It's so bright and interesting to me!

I have so enjoyed playing with these Distress sprays, challenging myself to include different colors, and seeing how they play together. Give it a try! It doesn't have to be spray stains; it could be inks, watercolors, even a box of crayons. Have fun with it!

Layout Share - March 2020

During late February and early March, I was taking part in some Use Your Stash challenges, and I created some layouts from supplies I set aside to hopefully use up.

Here are some of those layouts:

Secret Pal Gift

I've been working on pages for my 2017 yearbook, and this is a layout about a secret pal exchange I participated in for Valentine's Day that year.

The challenge I followed for this page was from Crafty Jen Schow and involved using something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. So, here's the breakdown:

Old: patterned paper scraps I've had in my stash a long, LONG time.
New: the puffy letter stickers that spell "Secret Pal Gift."
Borrowed: the butterflies were made with a stamp I borrowed from my friend Cathie.
Blue: it's in the background and on several stickers.

Initially, I intended to add some color to those butterflies, but I think they work so much better black and white.


Happy Day Together

For this page, I used some Simple Stories stickers that were given to me by my friend Shirley quite awhile ago, paired with some other supplies from the same collection that were still available at my local scrapbook store, Scrappy Chic Livonia. (They're still doing online orders, so check out their website!)

I used some cut apart cards from a piece of patterned paper and did some fussy cutting, and I used two different sets of Thickers, along with chipboard and card stock stickers to embellish this page that makes me wistful for happier times when going out for brunch was de rigeur.


Celebrating the 2nd 14th

When I first starting to put this layout together, I wasn't sure it was going to work, but the end result? I love it. This is the story of celebrating our second fourteenth wedding anniversary with a simple date night at California Pizza Kitchen, and it took me awhile to find a background paper to work with the colors in the photos, particularly the orange in my sweetheart's shirt. I think this gorgeous Pinkfresh Studios one works great, even though I was skeptical at first. Adding all the other elements, the stickers, the punched borders, the stamped faux stitching, the stickers for the title, even the journaling, made it come together so nicely.


Sweet Sunday

Finally, this page about the last day of the first Awesome Ladies Project retreat, Awesome Ladies Live. I've been wanting to use that background piece of patterned paper for quite awhile, and this page got that done with all kinds of lovely accent colors from several different collections, including several patterned paper scraps. I also used a lot of Jilliebean Soup die cuts and stickers and some puffy stickers from Freckled Fawn I've had for awhile. A happy layout from a very happy day.

Creating Notebook Covers

Lately, I've been doing a lot of journaling, and just before the COVID-19 crisis reached the level requiring quarantine at home, I bought two packages of my favorite Moleskine journaling notebooks from my local Barnes and Noble.

With a slight adjustment, these notebooks fit inside my traveler's notebook covers by Echo Park that I bought a couple of years ago and change out seasonally. I have to cut the covers and pages of the notebooks down about 3/4 of an inch, and I always make covers to adhere to the front.

Last Saturday, during an online Simple Scrapper crop, I created these two covers:

Using a patterned paper scrap from my stash as background, I played with an adorable mermaid stamp set I bought as part of a card kit from Simon Says Stamp well over a year ago and some Distress inks.  I colored in parts of the mermaid with shimmer pens, and I used Sticko foam letter stickers, adding extra adhesive to make sure they stay put.

For this one, I used more patterned paper scraps, fussy cutting one image as a focal point. After adhering everything, I used shimmer pens to outline some parts of some flowers, though it's not even slightly visible in the photo. (I swear, the sun DOES sometimes shine in Michigan. Just not very much in March.)