Miss Caroline (by My Mind's Eye) - Fun Fun Fun!!!

This is such a fun line! The colors and patterns have a kind of nostalgic feel to them, but are versatile enough that they can be used for many types of layouts. I chose to use them for two fun carnival ride layouts.

A new technique I tried on this layout was creating the string of flags at the bottom of the page. This is a pretty popular look right now, but I hadn't tried it before.  I just cut out small squares and folded them diagonally in half running a string down the middle then glueing them closed.

I was trying to mimic the lights of the ride on this layout by glueing rhinestones down in lines then coloring them with copic markers. They look dull in the picture, but in person the colors are brighter.

This mini 3x3 inch squash book was so easy to make and I love how it turned out! I also absolutely LOVE the gray/teal color combo of these papers and embellishments! I made this using some old pictures of my mom and her siblings. She's going to love it! I used my Tim Holtz die to cut out the flower and my nestabilities dies for the photos and mats. I left lots of room for journaling too!

Lastly, since school is coming to end, I thought I'd make a card that any teacher would love to get. This one is pretty simple, but has a fun twist with how it opens, and the fun notepaper look of the Dilly Dally line lent itself perfectly to this purpose. Now that I look at the pictures of this card, I think a pocket for a coffee gift card would fit just perfectly inside!

You are going to fall in love with this line just like I did! You really can't go wrong with My Mind's Eye, and Paper Pals always has the MME collections on the spinning racks in the back.

New line from Authentique - Genuine Collection

Authentique has produced a new collection called "Genuine" that is full of gorgeous blues, gold, and white.  This line is so versatile - as you can see by what I did with it in these photos.

The blue background and gold "tickets" on my "The Boys" layout really spoke "Boy Scouts" to me.  You could go in another direction completely and this lovely paper could serve as the backdrop for a date night, movie event, wedding or another party, you name it...this could do it.  Other paper in the line include more feminine motifs such as butterflies, flowers, and quotes about friendship.  The accompanying sticker page, yellow flowers, and other accessories really make this line so fabulous for layouts, cards, and perhaps a mini-album for a friend!

 

 

This star paper is from the same line and again, you could use it with this line to focus on many other things, but the stars and casual look spoke "4th of July" to me.  The accessories (sticker) sheet lends itself so well to make simple cards with heartfelt sentiments. 

 

 You really must head over to Paper Pals and check out this beautiful line of paper and accessories.  All paper is double sided (and you're only getting a sneak preview on these layouts)!  You'll love this line and Karen and Kristi will love to see YOU!

 

Guest Designer: Joan Budd

We just had to share these amazing layouts created by Joan Budd from her daughters wedding.  She used the new Tim Coffey Travel Line and the new Oceana Line from Creative Imaginations we have in the store right now!  Thanks Joan -

October Afternoon-- Farmhouse

This line conjured up memories and numerous ideas for scrapping pages!

Oh, the joy it brought me to scrap these photos. One page of my childhood home (a farmhouse)... The colors in the vintage photos just blended so nicely with the page elements and pattern papers. This one is my favorite!

And a layout with a special couple in our family. The memories of staying with them bring back great feelings! The lace/ribbon inspired a long "cluster" of elements on this page.

 

The pattern papers truly inspired several cards too.

The chipboard elements that come with this line are simply adorable! What a great product line.

I'm gushing, again, over My Mind's Eye!

Yes, I'm gushing over Rhonna Farrer's Follow Your Heart line for My Mind's Eye. These beautiful colors of robin's egg blue, golden straw, steely gray, combined with craft are the perfect blend for spring, vintage, Easter, and so many other layouts!

At first glance, Be Amazing - Soar & Fly (the kite paper) might look like a challenge. Rather than wondering what to do around the kites on the paper can be easily solved! I used my trusty exacto knife to cut around them and use pop dots to raise them at various levels, really emphasizing them and helping to create the visual triangle of elements on the layout.

This line comes with so many extras: decorative paper clips, ribbon, chipboard accents, and a transparency sheet, which I used for both the layouts and cards) which also provides an easy design element that really brings everything they touch up a notch! Transparencies are great. You can use them "as is" but you can also add colored ink, paint, or Stickles to the back side to add more dimension and colorful accents.

The patterns in this line are beautiful and can be used in large or small quantities to provide amazing background papers (such as the Be Amazing - Craft paper) or decorative strips and bits to really add pizzazz to the layouts! I even used bits cut from the paper clip packaging on one of the layouts (can you spot it?).

Don't forget to add Glossy Accents, glitter, and fibers (ribbons, twine, etc) to finish it all off! The real struggle is knowing when to stop!

Enjoy!
Anita

I am so excited about this paper! It is double sided artsy, funky, grungy, lovely, pretty and fabulous! I could hardly wait to use it. My only regret is that I only did two lay outs before I figured I better get this posted. I am planning to do so much more! The paper is so wonderful I could not stand to use it on card stock, I wanted to put all of my photos right on the paper itself. It is so easy to embellish and you can choose your theme, it doesn't have to be "gardening". It fits any kind of theme. One side has butterflies or something lovely and the other side is more versatile with paint and patches of wording and other delightful, delectable, delicious, artsy stuff that I love. Come and see the paper for yourselves, you will love it!

Bo Bunny Country Garden Glimpse

This paper is magic! Its grungy, beautiful, funky, artsy and so captivating! I could not wait to do projects with it. It was pure delight! My only regret is that I only did a couple lay-outs and a few cards and so you cannot really see all the wonderful variety that this paper line offers. Every sheet of paper is artistic loveliness, I want to scrapbook right on the paper instead of putting it on card stock because the papers are double sided and so photo friendly, they add all these wonderful, artful touches without overwhelming the page. They are also very versatile, you do not need to garden to use these papers, you can use them for anything, absolutely any theme! I love them and I know you will too!

St. Patrick's Day craft...

It's spring break for the grand girls, and I'm getting to spend a little time with them this week.  Today we had fun making necklaces, bracelets and headbands that they can wear for St. Patrick's Day.  The idea comes from this fun blog.

I got into my patterned paper "stash" and found green papers; cut the papers 1 1/2" by 1 1/2" while the girls were linking green paper clips together.  Here is the "how to."  (No picture of the glue, but we used Elmer's glue to hold the papers after we folded them around the paper clip.)  We cut 1" circles with a circle punch and glued it to a metal-rimmed tag to make the initial "accent!" :0)

Voila....a fun, St. Patrick's day necklace!!

T

My Mind's Eye

"Miss Caroline" from My Mind's Eye was the perfect backdrop for these "little girl" pictures...several shades of pink with accents of aqua, sage green and gold.  The double-sided cardstock gives you so many options, I loved it!!  The line also includes some fun embellishments: cardstock stickers and Princess pearl swirls.

s.e.i. promise me

Layout and Cards
Ingredients:  s.e.i. promise me: passion, happiness, delicacy, sweet talk and adoration papers, promise me sundries and promise me accent frames, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Silver, cream and red embroidery floss, Glossy Accents, fake diamond embellishment, ribbon stamp, Bazzill paper in various colors...

The layout was a scrap lift from Creating Keepsakes Nov/Dec 2011 issue, page 81.  I cut the paper into strips of 1/2 inch and glued them down.  I cut out the gold fancy circle from the delicacy paper. After gluing down all the strips and circle I then made a circle to fit inside the circle to use as a mask.  I then sprayed the whole thing with my glimmer mist.  I used a lot of spray so the paper curled a bit when it dried.   Then I added my embellishments, photo and ribbon stamp. I did a bit of embroidery stitching on the journal strip and in random spots.  Then I added some Glossy Accents to the word "LOVE".

The sweet talk paper had a lot of cute sayings and journaling squares that I used on 2 of the cards.  For the other cards I used some of my scrap paper and goodies from the accent frames and sundries packages.  I especially love that little key. 

This would be a perfect line for wedding, valentines or anything related to love. 

TCP Studio-- Let's Eat!

This line from TCP Studio has the most suitable title... "Let's Eat!" As soon as I saw this paper I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Our family's favorite recipes are used frequently, and I'm always fearful that I'll lose them. (I have them written up in word files too, but you know that if you lose the paper version your hard drive will crash too and then you'll have nothing... but I digress...)

So I created a mini book featuring our family favorites (along with photos). I don't think I'll lose a mini album. :)
Here's the front of the little book...

 And then the back... (TCP has the cutest cardstock stickers (utensils, etc.) for this project!)

 And inside. Each page has a photo and recipe. Some pages have handwritten notes from the members of my family to denote their favorites.

This was my first opportunity to use TCP Studios products, and I had a lot of fun with them! The pattern papers and cardstock stickers went so great together for the mini album as well as a few greeting cards, too.

What would you make with this line of papers?

Websters Pages

I love the Websters Pages New line at Paper pals! It is double sided with lots of interesting patterns! This year I had a little mini-obsession with circles. When I did my daily December book I found that I could do six little 1by 1/8 inch circles on the sides and it was really fun and really cute. I found different ways to decorate these little circles and I got a bit addicted to it. The card on top is done in a similar fashion. The "lovely" lay-out I did with a 2 inch circle punch and then with "Dream Big" I went back to the 1 1/8 inch size and used some little gear stickers from the Steam Punk sticker collection which is totally, absolutely awesome! They are also at paper pals. I used one of the Websters Pages papers as a background for it and really liked it. I love this paper, it has so many nifty patterns and possibilities. In the "Beauty" lay out I got myself a 3 inch circle punch and tried a lay-out that way. I hope I don't get arrested for having way too much fun! love, Deb

Sew Easy Stitch Piercer

Over the holidays I got to play with the Sew Easy tool.  I brought it on my trip to Canada with me and worked on a page I wanted to scrap lift.  I copied the description of the tool from the We R Memory Keepers site because they say it much better than I can.  Here is their description:

We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy makes adding stitching to your projects easy so you don't have to drag out your cumbersome sewing machine. This rotary stitch piercer creates perfectly aligned holes in over 25 designs and patterns (15 interchangeable heads available) with 22 great floss packs in 3 coordinating colors of over 26 yards of floss total. You'll love the baker's twine, glitter floss, variegated floss and the basic floss colors! Every crafter wants the new Sew Easy Carrying Case. Find out why the Sew Easy makes the hand sewn trend so popular!

Here is a link to a short video they have about the Sew Easy stitch Piercer
http://www.weronthenet.com/sew_easy_tutorial

I stitch on my pages a lot.  Usually I use a pointy tool that I purchased from the sewing section of Joanne's to make the holes in my pages.  It takes a bit of time to do this.  The sew easy tool is super fast.  I especially loved the straight stitch, which I use on my pages most of the time, the banner one and the loops.  Karen had 9 different heads for me to try and I used them all on my page.  I think they would be perfect for both cards and scrapbook layouts. 

This is what I did.

 I first penciled in a grid on my paper.  I used my Mom's quilting tool.

 Then I followed the lines with the Sew Easy using a different design for each horizontal line but a simple straight stitch for the vertical lines.

I penciled in the area where I will be placing the photo so I wouldn't have to stitch in that area.

Then I just did some stitching.  This took me a while because there is a lot of stitching but I just worked on it while watching TV and on our long drive home from Canada.  On the horizontal lines I used the We R Memory Keepers floss which is nice and thick.  On the vertical lines I used an off white embroidery floss.  I only used three strands of the floss because I wanted these lines more subtle.  Next I just added my photo and embellishments.

My inspiration for the page was from Studio Calico.  You can check out the page here: http://studiocalico.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f3181fde970b01675f74b6cf970b-pi
Thanks for looking.