Gator Tour

I love the papers I chose for this layout! The blue wood grain looks like swirling water and the green polka dots could pass as crocodile skin.  It's almost like I planned it that way.  To be honest I didn't really.  I picked the blue wood grain because it looked like water but the green polka dot was pure coincidence.  I love it when that happens!

To add some fun to my layout I went a little bananas with buttons!  Aren't they fun looking?  Oh and that Yo-Yo flower was what I built this whole layout around!  It was just so cute, I couldn't resist it!

So, as a treat, and it something I haven't done in a long time, I created a small tutorial on how to create a Yo-Yo flower. They are so easy to do and before you know it you will be making them to go on everything. Think layouts, cards, hairbands and pins, broaches, on picture frames ... the possibilities are endless!

So without further ado, here's what you will need.  A piece of fabric (mine was 5.5" square), some embroidery thread (I found the thickness stood up better than regular thread), a needle, scissors, and buttons.  Take your fabric and fold it in half and then in half again.  Now fold it in half one last time.  It will look like a triangle.  Now holding the folded tip you want to round off the other end (in my pictures below you can see I am cutting off all the zig zag ends).  This should give you something that closely resembles a circle.  If it's not perfect, don't worry.  Thread your needle and tie a knot in the end with about two inches of excess after the knot.  You will need this length at the end.  Now stitch all the way around your circle.  try to keep all you stitches as even as possible and about a quarter inch in size and about an eighth of an inch from the edge.  Do not knot the end when you are done.  Now grab the two inch end from beginning and your end of the thread that still has the needle on it and hold them together between your thumb and forefinger.  Pull both pieces of thread bunching up the material as you go.  Once you get it as tight as you can you should have something that resembles the Yo-Yo flower. Tie your two ends in a secure knot.  Take the two inch end from the beginning and thread it up through the bottom of your button and take the needled end and thread it up the other hole of the button.  Using the needle end loop through the button and flower and couple of times securing the button the the flower.  When you are comfortable with it's stability (I did about three to four stitches), take your needle off of the thread and tie it in a bow with the two inch end from the beginning.  I have included some photos that should help all you visual learners out there!

I apologize but the one below does not have a bow on the top I just tied it underneath the flower but you a bow on the ones pictured before the instructions. And there you have it!  Sure hope you enjoyed this little tutorial!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye - Lime Twist Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: Scenic Route - Alphas and Fancy Pants - Alphas; Embellishments: Buttons, Brads, Embroidery Thread, Journalling Card, and Fabric; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking.

Beach Explorers

I saw these Post-It notes at Chapters and just had to have them! They make a perfect journalling spot don't they! And because they are a Post-It note, they come sticky back so no adhesive required!  They has different kinds so I might have to go back and pick up some more.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: ; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts - Thickers and Basic Grey - Alphas; Embellishments: Post It Notes from Chapters and Prima Flowers; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking.

Black River Tour

If you remember a couple of posts back, I mentioned my large stash of brads. They were my guilty purchase a couple of years back and now I have a jar full of them. While trying to fulfill my use the stash resolution, I have tried to find creative ways to use the brads and on this layout.

I think I did pretty good with thinking outside the box on this one. Instead of placing a couple on a line on my layout, I decided that a circle around my title would be a perfect way to use up a few of them!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: SEI; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: Basic Grey - Alphas and American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Brads, Me & My Big Ideas - Soft Spoken Stickers; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking; Tools: EK Success - Scalloped Edger Punch.

Take Flight

Whoot! Whoot! Another layout created with scraps from my scrap pile and I will admit I am loving this one! I think one of the reason I love it so much is because I used the blue cardstock. Typically I use white, it's my go to choice, but this time I decided to switch it up a bit and I find that this color really seems to make everything pop!

I really like this grouping around my journaling spot.  There are so many fun little bits and pieces that I pulled out of my leftover embellishment pile.  Sometimes I forget what I throw in this pile and then when I rummage through it I find so many fun pieces.  It almost looks like it all came together from the manufacturer, doesn't it!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Various Pieces From My Scrap Stash; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: Cosmo Cricket - Tiny Type and American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Basic Grey - Wander Journalling Spot and Various Bits and Pieces of Chipboard, Felt and Gummy Embellishments from my Leftover Pile; Sketch: Sketches for Scrpabooking - Volume 5.

Sunset Beach

Have you ever planned a layout and was so excited about the idea of it but then when you are work on it, it just doesn't seem to be working as you envisioned?  That was the case here!  It doesn't seem to have hit the mark of what I had in my head.  I can't put my finger on what it is that is off but something is.

One thing I know for sure is that my title is too close to the background paper, making it hard to see.  Normally I like my title to pop but this paper pack came with matching alphas which I decided to use.  You would think the manufacturer would make sure their alphas work better with their papers ... maybe it's just they didn't envision them being used on this polka dot background paper!  Unfortunately, once they were stuck down, I couldn't lift them off without distroying the background paper so I left them.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants - Beach Bum Collection; Cardstock: Bazzills; Alphabet Stickers: Fancy Pants - Alphas; Embellishments: Fancy Pants - Beach Bum Die Cuts and Glitter Glue; Sketch: Scrapbook Generations - Monthly Kit.