Beaches Sandy Bay

Die cut papers ... I always have a hard time with them. Don't know why. They are just an odd shape that I have a hard time incorporating them into my layouts. I could put it on top of a 12x12 cardstock but then what do I do with the other side of my two page layout? Normally I end up cutting it in half and using it on the top or opposite sides of a two page layouts. So normally I avoid them when I buy my supplies. But this one came in a kit I bought. And I can't stand to get rid of things so I needed to figure out what to do with it. When I was looking at my sketch book I saw this sketch with a 12x12 piece of paper kind of in the center of the whole layout and that is when I thought ... why not use the die cut sheet?! Brilliant I say and I might just have to start buying more of them now!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye - Stella Rose Collection; Cardstock: Bazzill; Alphabet Stickers: Chipboard Alphas and American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Karen Foster - Travel Embellishments, Pink Paislee - Seaside Embellishments and Brads; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 8.

Dominos

So this is my style without a sketch. I didn't feel I had enough photos to do my typical two page layout using my go to Sketches for Scrapbooking, so I decided to pile it all onto one page. I think it turned out ok. I'm not in love the with journalling area, I find it looks like I just plunked it there, even after inking the edges, which usually works.  What do you think?

I wanted my letters, which seemed to be a little lost on the dominos background paper, to have more umph so I pulled out my glossy accents and gave each letter coat.  Sorry this picture does show this very well.  Be care when you do this not to put too much on or it might run.  It is always better to go back and do a second coat if you have to.  Trust me I have ruined a couple of awesome layouts by using too much at once!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Crate Paper -  Restoration Collection and Basic Grey - Marjolaine Collection;  Alphabet Stickers: Basic Grey - Marjolaine Alpha Stickers; Embellishments: Basic Grey - Marjolaine Sticker Elements and Glossy Accents; Inks: Colorbox Chalk Ink.

Buried Alive

Ok so I think I am getting the hang of this using scraps thing ... not to brag or anything. I had a bunch of odds and ends left over from my two other layouts I did with this collection from Echo Park so I looked for a sketch that used a bunch of little pieces instead of long or wide pieces. I found one in my Sketches for Scrapbooking books that had little squares along the top which was perfect. And the joy of double sided paper is that I could cut two squares out of one sheet!  I had a couple of photos that I couldn't crop down to the square size so I made them span two squares instead.  Took a little bit of math and measuring but I made it work!

I struggled a bit with the bottom of this layout though because I found there was so much white space and if I see white space I like to fill it.  I used a couple of the element stickers which helped to fill the white space and anchor my title to the layout but to me there seems to be more I could do.  But I listened to my croppin' buddy and left it alone so it is done, although I keep thinking there is still room for more!  I will admit though that I do like the multicolored title! 

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Splash Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: Echo Park - Splash Alpha Stickers and American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Echo Park - Spash Element Stickers and My Minds Eye Journaling Spot; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking.

I Wish I Was A Fish

As I stated a couple of posts ago, my new year's scrappy resolution this year was to use more of a collection instead of doing just one layout with it and then giving the rest away. So here's another layout using Echo Park's Splash collection. It was easy for me to use leftovers from this collection because I have so many beach pictures from our trip to Jamaica to scrapbook and this paper goes perfectly with them!

I chose to used a journalling card, I Wish I Was a Fish, as my title block.  I don't do this very often and I am not sure why?  I think it looks good but for some reason my default for titles are always letter stickers.  Do you find you do that?  If you don't, what do you do for titles?  I would love to know!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Splash Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills; Embellishments: Echo Park - Splash Die Cuts, Borders and Element Stickers .

Star Struck

Honeycombs appear to be this years hot trend. Many manufacturers have added honeycomb accents to their new collections. I found this doosie of a background paper in my existing stash and would you look at that ... honeycombs! I love it when I can find a trend in my existing stash!  I took out my trusty little scissors and fussy cut around the honeycombs to create my own background paper!

Like my little star fish on my title?  I love them!  I found them at Michaels in the fake flower / seashell section.  It is amazing where you will find the cutest embellishments!  What's the oddest place you have found an embellishment?  I am always curious where other people find embellishments.  Me?  The wierdest place I have found an embellishment is probably the hardware store ... see my last post about Drywall Tape!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Basic Grey - Lemonade Collection, My Minds Eye - Bloom and Grow Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts - Thickers; Embellishments: Shells, Brads, Ribbon, Tattered Angels Beach Journal Card; Inks: Colorbox Chalk Ink.

Paradise Found

Don't know what it is about going somewhere new but I always have several photos of my destination from the plane. Is it just my excitement about the new adventure that awaits or is it that I have an itchy trigger finger that I can't hold back any longer?  I don't normally scrapbook them and if I do they are part of many photos and never the sole focus of a layout.  But when I was going through my photos to print I came across this photo and I really liked it!  The sun is peaking through the clouds spotlighting this beautiful island and I just thought it was beautiful.  So I printed it in 8x10 and did a whole layout about it.

I originally placed the title on the picture itself but found it got lost so I pulled our my trusty drywall tape and ran a piece across the bottom to place my title and embellishments on.  It seems to pull it all together perfectly.  If you don't have drywall tape head to your local hardware store or home depot and get some!  You will not regret it!  I love this stuff!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye - Good Day Sunshine Collection; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts - Thickers; Embellishments: Basic Grey - Wander Fabric Flowers, Basic Grey - Wander Tabs, Brads, Drywall Tape and Prima Flowers - Flowers Sculpture Reflections Resin.

Sky High

I love the bright colours of this layout! When I bought this paper, it was one of those impulse buys to which I thought maybe someday we will go for a hot air balloon ride ... maybe. When I was hunting through my stash for paper to use with these photos I came across this and thought parasailing is probably the closet we will come so why not use it!

I really wanted to emphasis the background paper with the balloons so I started with it and built my entire layout around it going from the right side to the left side.  This might sound weird but most of the time I start on the left side and always work to the right.  It was different but I honestly can say I love how this one turned out!  I did struggle briefly with the journalling spot as I found it seemed to just be floating there but I put it on a mat which seemed to anchor it and the crisis was averted!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye - Lime Twist Collection; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Bakers Twine, October Afternoon - Fly A Kite Word Stickers, Buttons, Brads, Eyelets, My Minds Eye - Breaking Free Die Cut; Tools: EK Success - Embossed Curve Edger Punch.

Splash

Have you ever seen someone else's layout and loved it so much that you bought the materials to make your own version of it. That is the case with this layout.

I originally saw this layout which inspired me to go and buy this line by Echo Park, although if I am honest, I probably would of bought it anyways as I love most of Echo Park's collections.  I didn't deviate from Nancy's version very much except to accommodate my photos better.  I also added the water droplets but I think I might have gone overboard with them ... just a little bit though.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Splash Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills; Embellishments: Echo Park Splash Stickers and Water Droplet Stickers; Tools: EK Success Open Scallop EdgerPunch.

Under the Sea

Every time I go snorkeling, the song Under the Sea from the Little Mermaid plays through my head so I only think it's appropriate that it finally made it as a title on one of my layouts. And if you are anything like me, the song is now stuck in your head ... your welcome for that!

One of my favorite photos from our trip to Jamaica is the one of my sister in law on the left side of the layout and hence why it is so big!  I love this paper line from Cosmo Cricket because it goes so well with this photos.  I often have a hard time finding paper that goes with water photos.  Who knew there are so many shades of blue in water photos?  And why is it that 9 times out of 10 I don't have a sheet of paper that goes with it?  Do you ever find that?  My solution is to now go with complimentary colours and try not to find the perfectly matched blue!  I think it works!

I found after placing my title that there was this vast white space at the top of my layout.  I know it's ok to have that and in fact a lot of people do it deliberately but for some reason it bugs me like mad!  So I broke out my good old stickles and did some doodling.  To me, now it looks done.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket - Salt Air Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers and really old red ones from my stash; Embellishments: Cosmo Cricket - Salt Air 12x12 Elements and Stickles; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 1.

The Moment I Fell In Love With Jamaica

I hope you are ready for some layouts about our trip to Jamaica! We went to this beautiful country in January 2011 and then again this past January. So needless to say I have not one trip but two trips worth of photos to scrapbook. At least it's a break from Camping layouts for a little while!

There's not a lot on this page for journalling as I believe the picture and the title sum it up pretty good.  They really do have beautiful sunsets in Jamaica.  And there is nothing more idyllic than sitting under a palm leaf umbrella sipping a fruity drink and watching the sun dip below the horizon!  I don't think I could ever tire of it!

You can find a tutorial I did on how to make this yellow flower (or Rosette as some call them) in this post.

I love this Title.  Really I do!  Why you ask?  First of all I put it on the picture.  I don't do that very often because it seems wrong to me but for this layout it was perfect!  Secondly, it's a mixed matched title using different sets of fonts.  Different colours, sizes and textures just make it seem more fun which is what I was going for!  I have yet to be able to mix match letters in a single word ... that is still a challenge for me but mixing each word I can deal with!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye - Lost and Found 2 Collection; Cardstock: ; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers and Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type; Embellishments: My Minds Eye - Lost and Found 2 Layer Chipboard pieces, Ribbon, and DCWV Postcard Journalling Spot; Tools: Martha Stewart Scoring Board.

Wandering Elbow Falls

One of the reasons I love Sketch Support sketches is they use lots of strips of paper which is great for using up scraps. And we all have lots of scraps ... don't pretend that you don't because I know you do!  We all do!  I have a whole bin full of them ... I'll admit it!  Most of them I keep because I love the paper and can't part with it.  But to be honest most of the time I end up purging the drawer and giving them away to a friends daughter for crafts.  She loves them and I get more space.

Let's be honest, most manufacturers are getting redonkulous with amount of collections they put out every year and I just can't keep up anymore!  I never thought I would say that but it's true!  A collection now has 12 sheets of double sided paper with 3 sheets of stickers, rub-ons, and chipboard ... oh and don't forget the cutest embellishments!  It's gone from spending $10-20 to spend $50-60 for an entire collection!  And that is just one of the four collections they released this quarter!  So my scrappy resolution this year is to buy less and use more.  It's gonna be a tough one for me.  Unless I absolutely love a piece of paper/collection I used to only use it once.  I didn't want to use it on another layout (cards are an exception of course).  But why can't I?  Is there a rule that says I can't?  Nope, it was just my excuse to get rid of the leftovers so that I could buy more.  Silly really!  So brace yourselves ... you're going to see some repeating products on different layouts until I purge some of my leftovers.  Hope you don't mind!

Just look at all those little strips I got to use up on this layout!  I'll admit it takes a little more time to get going rummaging through the scraps but in the end I think the layout turned out great!  We'll see how I do!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Crate Paper - Little Sprout Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: October Afternoon Campfire Die Cuts and Stickers, Twine, Grommets, and Brads; Inks: Chalkbox; Sketch: Sketch Support Two Page Sketch #20.

Be Mine Banner

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and once again I made another attempt at a Valentine's Day Banner. Last year's didn't work out so well. A friend and I got together for a craft day, a break from our usual scrap day, and we were going to troll Pintrest for something to make but we came up with this puppy all by ourselves instead! Every step of the way through there were lots of excitement as we came up with a new idea or twist to it!  It was so much fun!

This banner was pretty easy to make using cheap felt from Michael's, a real neat kind of fat yarn for the top, embroidery floss, and various Valentine's Day embellishments from my scrappy stash! Each pennant has a pocket on the front to store a little surprise for your valentine.  You could do little chocolates or even little love notes and use it as a count down to the big Love day!

Winter Wreath

There's this little website called Pintrest ... you may of heard of it! I am super addicted to it! There are so many neat ideas and for someone crafty like me, it's an inspiration overload site! If you haven't checked it out ... do it! And if you need an invite leave your email in the comments and I will send you one.

So one day while checking out the ideas on Pintrest I found this wonderful winter wreath that I loved and decided to do for myself. It only took me a couple of hours to do and it looks awesome hanging on my front door!

Here's the link to the original wreath that I used for my inspiration if you wish to see how it's made, Snow Ball Wreath.  Now, like most things, I used theirs as inspiration for mine and added in different little things to suit my tastes and I made mine a little bulkier because I wanted that look, but other than that it pretty much the same.  Here's a close up shot so you can see all the little details I added.

And here's a little tip for you if you decide to make this wreath. Your first stop should be at a dollar store. It's amazing what you will find there. Plus it is way cheaper! For example, I looked at the Styrofoam balls at my local Michaels and for 4 balls it was $4.99 but the Dollar Store had them for 6 balls for $2.00! Sure makes this wreath way more affordable to do!

In case you are wondering, it took me 4 packages of 6-2" Styrofoam balls, 3 different designs of silver ornaments - 4 of each, 3 large silver snow flakes, 4 Skeins of Yarn in different colours, 2 packages of raffia, 1 10" foam wreath, burlap to wrap the wreath, various little items to fill small spaces (ie: small wintery ornaments, pine cones, twigs of pearls, etc) and a boat load of hot glue gun sticks - I ran out twice!

Nahani Creek Trail

In case you haven't noticed, I love camping! Even more so since we got our trailer. It is just so relaxing to get back to nature. I was so excited last year when the majority of manufacturers came out with camping lines! I bought whatever I could find from all of them ... I am not kidding! It flew off the shelves here. One of favorites was this one by American Crafts called Campy Trails! So awesome and the colours we so bright and fun (not your typical orange, brown, and green). Now usually I will do one to two two-page layouts from a line and that is it. By that point I loose interest with it. It's sad, I know. Well that was not the case with this line! I have used it on almost all of my camping photos for the last year. I am even saving small strips and pieces cause I can't stand to throw it away. I am really hoping that I see new camping lines of the same caliber this year and if I do look out LSS, I will be there on receiving day to buy my share!

Oh and looky here!  More pictures thanks to my handy, dandy Flip Flaps (by Close To My Heart).  These are so awesome for getting more photos on a layout without cluttering up the design!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: American Crafts - Campy Trails Collection and Imaginisce - Happy Camper Collection; Cardstock: Kraft Paper; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: American Crafts - Campy Trails Stickers, Brads and Tags, Close To My Heart - Flip Flaps, and Ribbon; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking; Tools: Creative Memories Corner Rounder.

Intense Focus

You can't not have any snacks around our dog. He stares you down like his life depends on it! It's hilarious really! We don't feed him people food (except the odd carrot or gold fish cracker) but we always fed him when we ate breakfast and dinner. So he now has it in his head that even if he's had his breakfast or dinner ... if we are eating he should get to eat too! Hence the stare down ... it's like he's saying Where's Mine!

I really like this background paper but I found my title was kind of lost on it.  So I dug through my clip it up and found this old Studio Callico rub on that looked like wood grain.  It worked out perfectly if I do say so myself!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd - Tail Waggers and Cat Naps Collection; Alphabet Stickers: Basic Grey Alpha Stickers; Embellishments: Baker's Twine, Jillibean Journalling Spot, 7 Gypsies 97% Complete Stickers, Studio Callico Wood Grain Rub On,