Magical Messes: March 2016

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

9:58 PM

Earlier this month, I saw a post from Jen Schow noting that it was Cerebral Palsy awareness month. She issued a challenge to create a layout using green, which is the official color of the awareness month. Since cerebral palsy is an issue near and dear to my heart, I wanted to create a green layout in honor of this special cause!

To create this layout, I used Elle's Studio Lucky Clovers cut file! It's so awesome! I love how some of the clovers fold out for extra dimension. I used my watercolors and gelatos to paint the clovers, the backside of the paper that folded out, and the paper I used to back the cut file with. I added a photo of my favorite guy and kept the embellishing simple. The "Lucky" card is from the March Exclusive kit from Elle's Studio!

I had so much fun going outside of my comfort zone for this layout. Green is NOT a color I normally use! Thank you so much to Jen for bringing my attention to this great cause, and for creating a challenge around it!

California Adventure

6:00 AM

Whenever I'm feeling uninspired, I search through my cut file library for inspiration. This layout was the result of a library search. I've had this cut file for awhile, and was glad to finally use it!

I used the We R Memory Keepers Wildflower collection, which has a fun, travel vibe to it. I am in the mood to scrapbook our Disney Honeymoon pictures since we're going to Disneyland next month! The yellow in wildflower coordinates perfectly with my yellow shirt!

I absolutely love those gold title thickers. Such a beautiful font! I will never, ever get tired of backing cut files.

Have a great day!

You & Me

7:16 PM

I have a new Cut Shoppe layout to share today using an oldie but a goodie cut file, Counting Stars.

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Dear Lizzy Documentary), Vellum (Dear Lizzy), Embellishments (Dear Lizzy, Maggie Holmes, Crate Paper)

I had a beautiful piece of star vellum that I knew I wanted to use as a background. I thought that the Counting Stars file would be a great way to add dimension, but still keep with the star theme! I cut it out on white cardstock, and backed it with one patterned paper. Choosing just one pattern was a great time saver!

Next, I added some fun star and glitterly gold embellishments. You can never have too much gold! That completed the layout.

I love rediscovering old favorites. Thanks for joining me today!

Elle's Studio Sketch

8:15 PM

Earlier this week it was Sketch Thursday on the Elle's Studio blog! I created this layout based on a a really fun sketch.

To learn about my process in creating this layout, see the sketch, and have an opportunity to win a $10 gift card to the Elle's Studio shop, please stop by the Elle's Studio blog! :)

Have a wonderful day!

An Awfully Big Adventure

8:57 PM

I have a layout on The Cut Shoppe blog using the new Quick Quotes cut file!

I was immediately drawn to the quote from Peter Pan. We're getting ready to go to Disneyland next month, so I've been inspired to scrap more Disney pictures from our honeymoon! I have a picture of us "holding" Tinkerbell, and I thought it would be perfect for this cut file.

Products Used: Patterned Paper (Pinkfresh Studio, Maggie Holmes), Embellishments (Pink Paislee, Dear Lizzy, Pinkfresh Studio, Freckled Fawn)

I wanted the focus of the layout to be the quote, so I enlarged it and stretched it to make it a bit wider, and then used the offset tool to create a template to stitch around it. I used a patterned paper that already had a large, focal print on it, so I used that instead of layers and kept it pretty simple.

Now that I've used the Peter Pan quote, I can't wait to use the other two! Thanks for stopping by today!

March Elle's Studio Kit and Layouts

8:00 AM

Hello there! Today's the 10th of the month, which means it's the release of the Elle's Studio Monthly Kit! This month is extra special because the layouts I have to share use the Monthly Kit AND the BRAND NEW Little Moments collection!

There are so many beautiful bits and pieces, that it was hard to choose what to use! I had so much fun creating these layouts!

For my first layout, I used a grid format. I mostly used the 6"x6" pad, which is absolutely fantastic. I added lots of bits and pieces, including the new wood veneers, which are now definitely a favorite!

For my next layout, I was inspired by one of the cards in the monthly kit! I loved block design, and replicated it on my page using the monthly kit and patterned papers from the Little Moments collection. I used the stickers to write a little note to my dog. I felt a bit silly writing that, but it was just a way of journaling my feelings! I used a ruler and a pencil to keep the letter straight.

Those acrylic stars from the monthly extras are so cool! I love acrylic embellishments, and added as many as possible to my page. You can find them here :)

There are also lots of fun cut files and printables this month! I already cut out the clovers and can't wait to use it.

If you want to purchase a kit, keep in mind they are limited and once they sell out they will not be restocked! Look for a new kit each month on the 10th at 8:00 am PST, and as a special bonus to celebrate launch day, kits will be on sale for $9.99 for today only, regular price after that will be $11.99. These kits can ship first class: shipping for USA residents will start around $2.00 and go up from there, depending on the weight of what is in your cart. For overseas, it will run about $6+ depending on your location.

And, as always, please stop by the Design Team Gallery for tons of inspiration! I look forward to seeing what everyone has created each month :)

Precious Moments

3:00 AM

I was inspired by this fun yellow woodgrain from the Maggie Holmes Shine colleThction, and I knew I wanted to incorporate it into my background. I used an oldie but a goodie cut file from The Cut Shoppe (Addicted to Love), and trimmed it so it was a rectangle instead of a square. I love the way it looks as a background!

Supplies: Patterned Paper and Embellishments (Maggie Holmes Shine), Turquoise Thickers (Crate Paper Craft Market), Mist (Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Pink)

I also knew I wanted to use the "Moments" from the Shine chipboard! I built my layout around the chipboard and background. Our anniversary pictures go fantastic with the Shine collection, so that was a no brainer to use one! I added lots of little layers until I was happy with the look. I love that gold, sparkly flower chipboard!

I had lots of fun playing around to create this layout! It's fun when you don't have an idea of how a layout will turn out. Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Happy

3:00 AM

A few weeks ago I found these floral doilies in the food section at Michael's. I was immediately drawn to the pattern and colors! They are a tissue paper texture, and I thought they would be a fun way to experiement with mixed media.

Supplies: Doilies (Michaels), Thickers (Pink Paislee Cedar Lane), Embellishments (Maggie Holmes Open Book, Pink Paislee Memorandum, Studio Calico, Crate Paper Hello Love).

I primed my white cardstock with gesso, and added pink gelato and Heidi Swapp Chartreuse mist. I layered two different size doilies and added gesso over the top of part of them. Next I added a die cut flower from my Silhouette Cameo. I painted a wood veneer white to add by the title, then used frames as my layers. This is probably the only layout I've ever done that doesn't use patterned paper! It was fun finding layout inspiration in an unexpected place. Where's the weirdest place you've ever found crafting inspiration?

March Simple Stories Layouts

2:30 PM

I have TWO new layouts on the Simple Stories blog using the new Carpe Diem Scrapbooking collection!

One of my favorite techniques is fussy cutting designs from patterned paper, and the Brand New Day pattern is perfect for it! I used my trusty scissors and cut out as many flowers as I could. Next, I added flower elements from the chipboard and sticker sheets, to add variety and dimension. I arranged the flowers so they looked like they were cascading down the page.

I used the fun watercolor hearts as another accent, just because I love them so much! Another one of my favorite embellishments from this collection are the frames. They're just the perfect thickness and I love the patterns they come in. I used two of them to highlight my photos.

Since this layout had a lot going on, I decided to make it "distressed" by crinkling the edges of the layers and adding a watercolor background with gelatos.

For this next layout, I wanted to highlight the coffee themed elements, which are my absolute favorite thing about this collection. I used a heart die cut and added different patterns behind each heart using the 6"x6" paper pad. I grabbed the coffee cups (LOVE them), and added them to either side of the page. Next, I used the letter stickers to make my title!

Embellishing was so fun! I added mist, enamel dots, stickers, and various hearts from the chipboard, wood veneers, and paper clips.

To finish this layout, I sewed around the edges. I'm still learning to sew, so my sewing is anything but straight. I passed it off as messy and added corners to cover up where I tried to transition. Luckily there are no mistakes in scrapbooking!

Thanks for stopping by today!