Hugs and Kisses with BasicGrey

We are so fortunate to have a strong relationship with my mother-in-law.  My daughter gets to spend time regularly with her grandma and they have a special loving bond. What better collection to reflect warm loving goodness than BasicGrey's Kissing Booth?  Here I created a layout for SNR's May 2012 Change It Up sketch article capturing the feel of the photos using the papers from this line a a combination of punched and fussy cut hearts.  If you can believe it, there are actually 10 different patterned papers used in the making of this one.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Papers and Cardstock Sticker: BasicGrey; Fabric and Chipboard Letters: American Crafts; Punches: Marvy Uchida, Recollections and Fiskars; Ink: Close To My Heart; Pen: Steadtler, Sketch: Emma Stafrace

My assignment was to change the 12x12 sketch into an 8.5" x 11" version.  Here is the original rendering:

 As you can see, circles became a bevy of hearts raining love and happiness.

TTFN,

Change it up with Watermelon Gazpacho

Today I am sharing a layout that I made for SNR's May 2012 edition Sketch - Change the Orientation article.  I love the vibrant colours of Jillibean Soup's lines.  For this one I used papers from the Watermelon Gazpacho collection and their red corrugated letters. The striped paper worked well with the colours in the photos lending a cohesive look to the page. The orange makes the photos pop especially with the white sanded the edges of the photos and the green title strip.  I matted the stripe stripes with white cardstock.

Supplies: Patterned Papers and Corrugated Letters: Jillibean Soup; Cardstock: Close To My Heart; Chipboard Letters: American Crafts; Pen: Creative Memories; Sketch: Lucy Chesna

The layout features my daughter and her great uncle building or rather engineering a sandcastle.  I used the engineering term in the journaling because he really is an engineer (note the pinkie ring).  It also truly captures and evokes the moment because they really did have some serious but fun discussion in regards to engineering principles for both the design and construction.

Here was Lucy's original sketch:

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees and altered one rectangle area to accommodate my title and journaling.

TTFN,

Another Magenta Two Takes

For this two takes, I used the same card design concept but varied the card colours and stamping techniques.  One card being multicoloured (using the Magenta logo colours from one of the 20th Anniversary challenges) and the other monochromatic.

Supplies: patterned paper, stamp and chipboard letters (Magenta), cardstock (Bazzill), ink and stickles (Ranger), markers (CTMH), pen (Creative Memories)

For the multicoloured card, I coloured in both the base stamped butterflies and the fussy cut ones with waterbased markers to match the logo colours. I chose to faux stitch in black to coordinate with the inked pieces. Lastly, I used black Stickles on the body and antenni.

Supplies: patterned papers, and stamp (Magenta), ink (Ranger and CTMH), sentiment stamp (Dollarama), VersaMark (Tsukineko), emboss powder (Inkadinkado), glitter (Doodlebug Designs), Embroidery floss (Loops and Threads)

For the monochromatic yellow version, I stamped with a different lighter shade of black ink pad and the butterflies were heat embossed using white embossing powder before being fussy cut. I sewed with white embroidery floss to frame the torn paper stamped image and to coordinate with the white butterflies. I finished off the butterflies with glue and yellow glitter.

I really like how using one design, one stamp and different techniques and colours can create such a variety of looks. Another way to get more out of a stamp and design idea.
TTFN,

Believe - the Magic of Make Believe

As children grow they often leave behind the fun of make believe play as it is not a cool thing in the tween or teen years.  So when my daughter and nieces decided to play fairies and took their make believe play into the backyard, I quickly grabbed my camera thinking this might be one of my last opportunities to capture such fun joyful memories.

More often than not, I find that I take oodles of photos in the hopes of getting a few great shots out of the batch. Then I tend to scrap a few of the best or those that tell a certain story but many are left behind to go in the general photo box.  As I scrap non-chronologically, I use photos from different years as they work with certain ideas, inspirations or products. Such was the case from this summer's day photo session from a couple of summers ago. 

About a week ago, I pulled out the photos of this day and par usual, I looked them over and pulled out a bunch of the best ones.  I scrapped some fun ones of my niece in a layout entitled Fairy Fun. Then, I designated four others for two more layout ideas and the remainders were then relegated to the photo box.

A few days later, I was trying to come up with an idea for the Magenta 20th anniversary acrostic challenge, when this photo came to mind.  While it is not a particularly great photo from a photography stand point, it was perfect for telling the story and preserving the memory of a childhood make believe play moment.  Thus out it came from the photo box and a layout idea was born.

Supplies: patterned papers, stamp and letter stickers (Magenta), VersaMark ink (Tsukineko), emboss powder (Sugar Loaf Products), acrylic letters (Heidi Swapp), flowers (Making Memories), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), thread, staples, and bitty jewels (Dollarama)

Here is a closer look at some of the details and the journaling.

Journaling reads: The fun & joy of make believe.  The ability to get lost in another realm where everything is possible.  Your imagination knows no bounds.  To be free to be a fairy fluttering with others in a world all your own.

As the layout came together, I even created a tutorial to go along with it highlighting an alternative way to get more out of a stamp image. It can be found on the Magenta blog here.

TTFN,

Hello Friends

Today I am sharing another fine feathered friend but this time from BasicGrey.  Love heading back into my stash, sparked by a sketch and coming up with a fun creation.   This card was based on a Lucy Chesna card sketch for SNR's April edition. 

Cardstock: Bazzill; Cardstock Stickers: BasicGrey; Letter Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps; Ink: Rangers; Twine: Jillibean Soup; Sketch: Lucy Chesna

I used a variety of cardstock stickers from the Offbeat Elements sticker sheet and stamped the "hello" letters on each tag to form the sentiment banner.
TTFN,

Fairy Fun with MME

The My Mind's Eye July blog sketch, designed by Keri Babbitt, was full of fun layers and elements.  I went with some fun photos of my niece posing while playing faires with her sister and my daughter.  The other two girls had decided to run about the neighbourhood.  Emma decided to stay in the comfort of the backyard with me,  I was able to capture these adorable photos of her playing it up for the camera which is sooo like her. LOL!

 

Supplies: patterned papers, decorative buttons, garland, Baker's Twine, and chipboard letters (MME), glitter foam letters (American Crafts), buttterfly punch (EK Success), border punch (Stampin' Up), ink and pen (CTMH), cardstock number stickers (Jillibean Soup), doilie (Today's Kitchen), metal filigree and jewels (Dollarama), marker (Sharpie)

For my take, I rotated the design by 90 degrees to the right and elected to only border one side.  I used items from the Indie Chic Ginger collection which were featured in the Nook's July kit.

Lots of fussy cutting, following the patterned paper designs, made for interesting lines.  I recoloured a white paper doilie using an ink pad and water which worked perfectly to coordinate with the patterned paper.  (I will have to do a tutorial on this and share it at another time as it worked really well and was very easy to do.)  The butterflies are super thin and airy in real life as they too were punched from doilie paper. A whole lot of inking going on to add some depth and pop and I also recoloured the metal filigree frame with a black Sharpie.

If you are wondering what the original sketch looked like, here it is:

 

Be sure to check out Keri's and others' takes on the MME blog here.

TTFN,

A Single and a Double to Share

SNR's April edition saw me digging into my stash (yeah!) to create two of my assignment layouts.  First up is my Fun and Playful stylized take on a Carey Bridges' layout for what SNR terms a reverse sketch; where by the designer takes a layout and creates a stylized layout based on it.  For this one, I used Pink Paislee's House of Three's brightly coloured and fun Soiree Collection.

Supplies: Patterned Papers: Pink Paislee/House of 3; Black Cardstock: Bazzill; White Cardstock: Close to My Heart; Glitter Chipboard Letters: American Crafts; Glitter Sticker Letters: Recollections; White Pen: Signo; Pink Marker: Sharpie; Border Punch: Fiskars; Font: GungsuhChe

I love the pop the paper gives especially with the black or white backing in sections.

Next up is my take on a two page sketch by Lucy Chesna.  I played with this one going for a girlish grunge feel on this layout. I used gesso to alter the background papers prior to heat embossing the stars border and distressing and grunging the edges.

Supplies: Patterned Papers, Phrase Stickers and Pen: Creative Memories; Cardstock: Bazzill and Close to My Heart; Gesso: Golden; Paint: DecoArt; VersaMark and StazOn: Tsukineko; Emboss Powder: Stampendous; Stamps: Close to My Heart and SandyLion; Tim Holtz Grunge Board Stars: Rangers; Chipboard Letters: Lil Davis Designs; Cardstock Letter Stickers: Webster's Pages; Toronto Maple Leafs Sticker: SportStar Decals; Eyeletz: Provo Craft ;  Sketch: Lucy Chesna

Apparently shinny is primarily a Canadian term.  It is an informal pick up game of hockey with no set number of players and does not require regulation equipment.

Here is a look at the original sketch:

Other than using a larger series of three photos and stars in place of scallops, I stuck fairly close to the sketch as it suited my photos well.


TTFN,

Two Takes On One Stamping Idea Give Away

In April, I had this card stamping idea for a Magenta Design Team project which was to appear with a series of cards on the Magenta blog.  The thing was I had two idea versions for this card...one vertical and the other horizontal with essentially the same design elements just some material differences.  Today, I am sharing both versions with you here.

The first card version is the horizontal take.

Supplies: patterned paper and stamps (Magenta), Ink (Ranger), watercolour pencil crayons (Reeves), cardstock and liquid glass (CTMH), letter stickers (My Little Shoe Box), Baker's Twine (The Twinery), pen (Creative Memories)

On this card, I stamped the images onto cardstock and then coloured it in with watercolour pencil crayons and a blending pen. I highlighted some coloured areas with liquid glass too.

The second card version is the horizontal take.

Supplies: patterned paper, stamps, and cork sheet (Magenta), ink (Rangers), watercolour pencil crayons (Reeves), Pearl pen (Viva decor), cardstock and liquid glass (CTMH), pen (Creative Memories)

On this card, I stamped one image onto cork and coloured it in with a VivaDecor pen.  The bunny was done the same  manner as the card above. I pieced together and hand drew the sentiment sign.

On both cards I used a different green background paper and I added a doodled border to compliment the doodle nature of the stamps.

So how did I chose which one to use for Magenta?  I couldn't decide so I asked my daughter to choose.  She is such a dear thoughtful girl and after examining the cards, she told me which one to use and the rational behind her chose.  She thought the second card because the cork looked more like earth in the garden.

TTFN,

Indie Chick with Indie Chic and PageMaps

I have been waiting for just the right paper to come along and do justice to these fun first day of school photos of Alex in 2010.  She definitely has her own individual style which includes a hat thing. That was the year that started her fedora collection. LOL!

The My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Ginger collection, which was in My Scrapbook Nook's July kit, was not only inspirationally title apropos but also colour wise, it works beautifully with my daughter's style colour choices. Add in the awesome July PageMaps Challenge sketch and it makes for one fun layout that is coordinated and gives a whole feel that fits the story.

Supplies: patterned papers, sticker, metal flowers and Baker's Twine (MME), doilie (Michael's), cardstock (Bazzill), foam and glitter letters (American Crafts), emboss border punch (Fiskars), tag die (Sizzix), thread (Coates), ink and flower jewels(CTMH), marker (Sharpie), jewels and small metal filigree (Dollarama)

I also added a little sparkle with the title as a tie into Alex's outfit. For if you look closely at her top, you might be able to see some of the black sections are sequenced

Here is the original sketch that was my starting point inspiration.

I rotated and then flipped the sketch to have the banners running down and to accommodate my photos.  If you are interested in learning how I do this in a word document to make it easier to change up the sketch and then work from it, check out my tutorial here.   

TTFN,

Off the Page with OA's Sasparilla

One of my favourite SNR Mag features is the Sketches - Take It Off the Page article where we take the assigned sketch and make a card, ATC or tag from it.

Supplies Patterned -  Paper, Stickers, Die-Cuts, and Journal Card: October Afternoon; Cardstock and Bitty Brads: Close To My Heart; Eyelets: Making Memories; Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps, STudio G; Ink: Rangers, Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Watercolour Crayons: Reeves; Embroidery Floss and Star Clip: Dollarama; Pen: Staedtler

I used the Nook February 2012 kit featuring October Afternoon's Sasparilla, some old denim, and this assigned sketch by Emma Stafrace.

Such a great source of inspiration and an easy trick to use if you are stuck for a card design idea... simply use a layout sketch and make a card with it.

TTFN,