2012 Top 10 Favourite Layouts

While this year was not as productive in quantity, I am exceptionally pleased with the quality of the layouts that I created.  Inspiration came from all over and I really found I played more and ventured into some new techniques and genres.

This first one is one I haven't had an opportunity to share before. It is one of my all time favs, not just a fav for 2012.  This one should really have a post all of its' own but since I have included it here... pardon me as I wax on about it. LOL!

Supplies - Cardstock: Core’dination; Chipboard, Buttons, and Trim: Crate Paper; Die-Cut Butterflies: Grant Archival; Doilie: Michael’s; Jewels and Felt Flower: Dollarama; Pen: Creative Memories

I absolutely adore the textures, the movement... oh who am I kidding... I really do love everything about it.  The inspiration for this one... the colour Pink.  I think it is fabulous how such a simple thing as a colour prompt can evoke such inspiration. Granted having great products on hand to choose from helps too.  I used Crate Paper's Random Collection, the gorgeous huge crochet doilie from Michael's and the beautiful glittery butterflies that I have had for a bit.  I lightly spot sanded the Core'dinations Cardstock base before I started to build the layout.  Then I reached a design decision dilemma for which I needed to use "a phone a friend" or rather a photograph and email a scrappy friend.

Supplies - Cardstock: Core’dination; Chipboard, Buttons, and Trim: Crate Paper; Die-Cut Butterflies: Grant Archival; Doilie: Michael’s; Butterfly Pin: Webster's Pages; Jewels and Felt Flower: Dollarama; Pen: Creative Memories

Did you spot the difference right away?  It is the jewelled Webster's Pages' butterfly pin but what a difference it makes I think to the balance of the layout.  I had put it there originally with the design purpose of a) completing the visual triangle and b) odd number of butterfly embellis but when I added it as the last item on the layout, I was like... ummm.  My friend went with the one I was leaning towards at the time which was the without. (She is not much into bling but she very much has an eye for design. Love you girl!:)

As for the rest... I like them all for a variety of reasons but I will just let them speak for themselves...

Here is wishing you much happiness and scrappiness in 2013!


TTFN,

This & That

Literally that is... of the Echo Park variety.  The This & That Graceful collection was one of my favs from this past year. A good thing too because I ended up with two packs of it.  I have been very fortunate over the time that I was a kit subscriber to not end up buying something before it happened to come out in a kit. (I can say that I have been guilty of buying some more of something afterwards because I loved it so much though. LOL!) But with this collection, I had to have it and purchased it at ScrapFest only to have it arrive in a Nook kit a few weeks later.

Thus far, I have loved anything I have made with it! The designs and colours... they just make me feel good. Definitely a bonus when one is creating.

Here is a fun whimsical layout that I made to go with the cute photo of my daughter from a few summers ago.




Supplies - Patterned Papers, Chipboard, Stickers: Echo Park Paper;  Punches: Martha Stewart, Marvy Uchida; Doilie: Today’s Kitchen; Fabric Letters: American Crafts; Acrylic Bird: Heidi Swapp; Embroidery Floss: Loops and Threads; Pen: Creative Memories

It was my Fun And Playful style take on this Jennifer Matot reverse sketch assignment:

I made this card at a crop for a dear teacher friend of mine.

Supplies: patterned paper and stickers (Echo Park), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), square punch (Creative Memories), button pins (Maya Road), embroidery floss and jewels (Dollarama), pen (Staedtler), sketch (PageMaps)

I had such a strong feeling that she was going to get a contract that I created this card and even wrote the congratulations inside, weeks before she got one.  It is funny how sometimes we just know.  I was able to give her the card a few weeks later on the day she official received word.

I have a few more This & That projects to share but I will do so at another time. Until then...

TTFN,

A Few Feel Good Cards

It is quite amazing how much a card can lift one's spirits.  I really got into making cards more this year. I like that I can use up the stash that I have and create little gems in a relatively short period of time.




Supplies- Patterned Papers and Stickers: My Mind’s Eye; Cardstock: Bazzill; Ink: Close To My Heart; Foam Dots: Dollarama;

Nothing like a little MME.  I like this one for its' distressing, the paper collection, the stars, and mostly because I was able to incorporate seven different patterned papers into it.  It was my take on this Lucy Chesna sketch:

More MME for this next one I did for a No Sew Pleated Ribbon technique tutorial over at SNR Mag. 



Supplies Patterned Papers, Trim and Sticker: My Mind's Eye; Cardstock: Bazzill; Ink and Pen: Close To My Heart; Double Sided Adhesive: Sookwang

 I love the textures, the inking and faux stitching and how backing the sticker with black cardstock tied it all together.  Here is a side view to get a feel for the dimension of it.  I had this one on display in my living room for quite sometime. It makes me think of my family every time I look at it.

This next card just makes me smile for its' cuteness factor. I won this stamp years ago in a stamping contest and finally got a chance to use it. Add in some  October Afternoon and a piece of Cosmo Cricket chipboard whimsy and viola ... cuteness! Nothing like an obscure assignment looking for fruits and veggie cards to spark one's creativity. LOL!

Supplies- Cardstock: Stampin' Up; Patterned Papers and Strawberry Die Cut: October Afternoon; Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket; Stamp: Inkadinkado; Ink: Rangers and Stampin' Up; Label Die: Spellbinders; Green Marker: Close To My Heart; Thread: Miscellaneous

Technique laden, but oh so fun, with some stamping, heat embossing, a bit of watercolouring, a border punch and a touch of Glitter Glam, makes this next card a birthday treat!




Supplies Patterned Papers: Lily Bee Design; Image Stamp, Markers, Ink and Emboss Powder: Close To My Heart; Sentiment Stamps: Studio G; Emboss Ink: Tsukineko; Punch: Fiskars; Glimmer Glaze: Tattered Angels; Pen: Staedtler

Lastly to finish off the feel good fest... a Crate Paper vacation card to send you on your way.  I was inspired by our then soon-to-be adventure to Potter World in Orlando when I made this one based on a sketch for an assignment.

Supplies- Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper and Stickers: Crate Paper; Airplane Charm: 7 Gypsies; Pen:Staedtler; Ink: Close To My Heart; Date Stamp: Trodat; Foam Tape and Twine: Dollarama

And here is the Lucy Chesna sketch that I created my take off. 

My Nook friends will no doubt recognize bits and pieces from various kits in these.  While I miss getting a new kit each month filled with luscious scrappy goodies that are the latest and greatest, I have to say that I will be able to still enjoy the years of goody packages that I have received for quite sometime.  I have yet to have used up one kit in its' entirety.  Sad but true and I am sure I am not alone (other than you past DT members).  I have come close only a few times but still have pieces.   More a lack of time on my part, not ideas and then always the next lovely to come along.  Lucky for me, I still love what I have and look forward to creating with those little bits of Nookness for many moons to come.  LOL!

TTFN,

I'm coming home!



Hello Friend card created for SNR Mag office supplies/elements article.

Supplies- Patterned Papers and Stickers: Crate Paper and Simple Stories; Cardstock Card Base: Halcraft; Brad: My Mind's Eye; Paper Clips: Acco; Staples: Misc.; Marker: Sharpie

That is what it feels like.  I have been away from all things scrapbook related since my last post at the end of August before school started. Wow how I have missed it!  It would be an understatement to say it has been a challenging bunch of months.  I have literally been living to work.  I really saw no other way to get through what I needed to do.  I do know that I cannot continue like I was again, once school starts up in a little over a week from now.  I need to somehow find a balance in the final weeks of my current assignment.  You will know that I was successful if I have things to regularly post once again past the first week of January! LOL!  Wish me luck!

In the mean time, I have the next week to do some catching up.  I have projects that I still haven't shared from earlier in the year, friends' blogs to stop by, visit with the uber talented ladies over at Scraptastic (if I can remember my user name and past word... seriously.. how sad is that? So not like me but par for the course right now), new things to create and new memories to make with my family and friends. Not too tall of an order is it?

I think the hardest part of coming home is figuring out what to do first and in what order... that is the problem with being a planner and a list maker.  I need to let loose and let whimsy be my guide. So whimsy lead away...

As to not leave you with just me musings, here is a vintage layout to share with you from a Magenta 20th Anniversary Challenge.

Supplies: patterned papers, chipboard, stencil (Magenta), cardstock (CTMH), alphabet stickers (Webster's Pages),marker (Sharpie), glimmer mist (Tattered Angels), bead gel(Golden), border punch( Reflections), lace (Prima), muslin, doilie and vintage mother of pearl buttons (Misc.)

Besides oodles of fussy cutting, I used a cool stencil technique for the flowers on muslin and I hid the journaling on the tag.   It is really uncanny how genetics work through time and the resemblance there is from this turn of the century photo to a current day family member. Funny how things work!

 
TTFN,