Magical Messes: 2015

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

1:32 PM

I've been in FULL ON Christmas mode for weeks now. Our Christmas tree went up November 1st, along with nonstop Christmas music. We've done some festive things throughout the month, but I'm just now getting to scrapping some of the pictures! For this layout, I used a cut file from the Silhouette store. I removed the tree trunk part of the cut file and replaced it with my photo.

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Crate Paper Sleigh Ride), Embellishments (Recollections for Michael's, Studio Calico, Target Dollar Spot).

Here's a look at what we've been doing to get in the Christmas spirit!

Less than one week until Christmas! :)

Home for the Holidays

3:00 AM

Hi everyone, I have a new layout on The Cut Shoppe blog today! As soon as I saw the Home for Christmas cut file, I knew it was perfect for doing a layout about our new home. Even the name of the cut file is perfect for me! I took a picture of the outside of our house just for the layout, I wanted to celebrate that we are in our first home this Christmas! And since we're "home for the holidays", I used the Good Tidings cut file for my title.

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Lawn Fawn, Crate Paper), Embellishments (Recollections, Lawn Fan, October Afternoon), Mist (Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Cherry)

I cut out the white houses, and backed the windows with paper from Lawn Fawn. I only put adhesive on a few of the houses so they would pop up a bit and add dimension. I kept the embellishing simple to keep the focus on the houses. And no layout of mine is complete without some splatters of mist!

Be sure to stop by the store and check out all the fun new holiday files!

Happy Life

3:31 PM

Last year I received a sewing machine for Christmas! I love the look of stitching on layouts and was so excited to be able to sew on my pages! Now that I have room for my machine in our house, I've been practicing on my pages. The thing is, I don't know how to sew. Not even a little bit. So I've just been going with "messy stitching" and pretending like that is what I intended all along. Here is a prime example!

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Pinkfresh Studio Happy Things), Letters (Pinkfresh Studio), Embellishments (Pinkfresh Studio, Crate Paper, Freckled Fawn, Studio Calico), Stitching (My own serious skill).

If anyone asks, I did that on purpose.

I better get practicing :)

Hello Love

5:00 AM

Hello there! Today I have a layout to share with you using the super fun Quirky Quilts cut file from The Cut Shoppe! I love quilt patterns,this cut file comes with THREE awesome quilt patterns!

My favorite thing to do with quilt patterns is to back them with different patterned papers. A 6"x6" pad works great for this!

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Maggie Holmes Shine, Confetti), Embellishments (Maggie Holmes Shine, Confetti), Mist (Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Teal)

I love how backing a cut file allows you to show case lots of different patterns without being over the top. It's a great way to use up scraps too! I can't wait to do the same thing with the other two patterns in this set! There are lots of new cut files in the shop, so be sure to stop by. Have a great day!

A Creative Rut

12:32 PM

We all have them, right? My blog has been pretty empty for the last month or two. I was rear-ended at the beginning of October, and I suffered a concussion, TMJ, some sprains, and a few bulged disks. My concussion is primarily affecting my right brain (aka my creative side), which has left me uninspired and in a scrapbooking rut. I was also required to severely limit my screen time for a month. I am slowly returning to my normal self, and I hope to be active on this blog once more. For those who are still with me, thank you :)

The One with Our 3rd Anniversary Pictures

4:30 AM

We got these pictures back in late July, and I am just now getting to sharing them!! We've loved this tradition of getting our pictures done around every anniversary. I love have a plethora of photos of us to scrapbook! Here are ~~a few~~ a lot of my favorites.

Thank you to Haley Lovett Photography for doing our photos again this year! If you're in the Portland, Oregon area, I can't recommend her enough!

Page Maps Team Up

4:00 AM

Have you checked out the November Page Maps yet? The Cut Shoppe and Page Maps teamed up this month to combine Becky's awesome sketches with Ashley's beautiful cut files!

I was given the above 12"x12" page sketch, and here is what I came up with:

Supplies: Patterned Paper (American Crafts Autumn Crisp, Pink Paislee Cedar Lane), Glitter Paper (American Crafts POW! in gold), Embellishments (Maggie Holmes, Pink Paislee, American Crafts), Thickers (Dear Lizzy).

I used the Leaf it to Me cut file with several different patterns. I flipped the sketch and used less photos, but tried to keep the look of the smaller, square pictures. It's a lose interpretation, but hopefully you can see that it originated with this sketch!

In honor of the team up, there is a 30% off coupon code through November 8th.

Be sure to check it out! Thanks for stopping by!

Hello Kitty Festival!

11:01 AM

Way back before we moved, I convinced Michael to take me to the "Hello Kitty Super Cute Friendship Fun Festival". He was such a good sport, and I had the best time ever! And yes, I'm secretly 4 years old!

My favorite picture (besides when we met Hello Kitty), was the one of us in a tea cup! I couldn't wait to use it for a layout.

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Amy Tangerine), Embellishments (Freckled Fawn, Amy Tangerine, Heidi Swapp, Pinkfresh Studio), Thickers (Amy Tangerine, Dear Lizzy)

The happiness of the photo called for happy colors, so I used Amy Tangerine's Rise & Shine. I love the colors and patterns (but don't I say that about every collection?). I love the Dear Lizzy Documented thickers and how they said "the best", because it truly was the best!

Fall Favorite with The Cut Shoppe

5:00 AM

Today I have a layout on The Cut Shoppe blogabout my favorite season ever. I would be so happy if it were sweater weather, falling leaves, and pumpkin everything all year round! I was thrilled when Starbucks did special fall cups this year. My favorite drink (Pumpkin Spice Latte of course), in a beautiful cup to celebrate my favorite season. Life is good! Speaking of favorites, when I saw the Fall in Love cut file, I knew I had to make something immediately. It's just too pretty!

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Heidi Swapp Wanderlust), Embellishments (Maggie Holmes, Amy Tangerine, Studio Calico, Target Dollar Spot, Pink Paislee, Crate Paper), Thickers (Maggie Holmes), Mist (Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Chartreuse), Twine (Lawn Fawn), Glitter Paper (POW! by American Crafts)

It's such a beautiful cut file! I also used Love in a Cup, because Pumpkin Spice Lattes are definitely love in a cup! I used mist to accent a piece of cream cardstock, then cut the Fall in Love from a rich, jeweled toned paper by Heidi Swapp. I tried to keep the embellishing on the simpler side to let the beautiful cut file take center stage! I used glitter paper to cut out the "PSL" so it would stand out a little bit.

I love creating with files from The Cut Shoppe! Especially fall ones :)

Love Sweet Love aka Embellishment Overload

4:00 AM

Hello!! I have had the hardest time using the Pinkfresh Happy Things collection. It is just too darn pretty to cut. For real!! This paper was no exception,

This layout was simple: the patterned paper design was in a circle, so I added to it by embellishing more along the circle with coordinating embellishments.! It felt a little bare still, so I added the triangles. That's it! It took only about 15-20 minutes! And I freaking love the sequin word. It was a great way to use up some stash.

That's all there is to it! Thanks for stopping by today :)

You + Me Forever

9:01 PM

I am most definitely on a frame kick right now. Most of the layouts I've done in the past few weeks use frames! I'm okay with that.

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Dear Lizzy Documentary), Embellishments (Crate Paper, Maggie Holmes, Heidi Swapp, Dear Lizzy, Studio Calico), Thickers (Pink Paislee), Mist (Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Raspberry and Black)

I used papers from the new Dear Lizzy Documentary collection. I love that gorgeous teal! I layered my photo and added patterned paper filled frames. Lots and lots of little hearts scattered across the page completed the look. And of course, mist splatters! I'm pretty sure mist splatters are a requirement for all my layouts. I can't not put them on my pages!

Thanks for letting me share, have a great day!

You Are My Sunshine

4:51 PM

I purchased some of Crate Paper's Poolside right before the move, and never had a chance to use it. Even though I'm in a "fall" mood, the colors and patterns of Poolside are still irresistible to me. I decided to create a layout before the weather got too icky to make Summer pages!

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Crate Paper Poolside), Frames (Crate Paper The Pier, Poolside), Embellishments (Crate Paper, American Crafts, Prima, Evalicious)

I was in the mood to use some frames. and created my layout based around a circle of frames. I started with my two photos, and moved things around until I was happy with the arrangement. The middle looked pretty bare with just the title, so I added a sticker frame underneath it to give more dimension. I used gold and cork elements all throughout the layout. I love how they look together!

I think I have a few more Summer layouts in me before I move on to Fall! Am I the only one who creates layouts within that particular season?

Home Sweet Home

4:00 AM

Hello! I have a layout on The Cut Shoppe blog today using the first picture we took in our new house! I used the Tall Type Alpha and I Heart String Art to document our selfie with the keys, and I even used the actual key on the page (we changed the locks, so I got to keep the originals for memorabilia).

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Amy Tangerine Finders Keepers), Embellishments (A Flair for Buttons, Pink Paislee, Crate Paper, Evalicious, Amy Tangerine), Mist (Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Navy), Stamp (Dear Lizzy), Ink (Close to My Heart).

I mounted the key on a wood circle from the Amy Tangerine Finder's Keepers collection. I just used ATG adhesive to attack the key to the circle, and the circle to the cardstock, but if you REALLY want it secured, hot glue would be great.