Beauty & the Trees + a MCS tutorial

Hi, everyone!  I hope you are all doing well on this beautiful Tuesday.  We are SO blessed to have temps up into the mid-80s this week.  The perks of living in Florida!  Today, I'm sharing another page I created using the December Main Kit from My Creative Scrapbook.  It's full of Simple Stories...lots of pretty Christmas papers and embellishments.

I really love how this page turned out.  I've wanted to try stamped embossing for a long time, and I decided now was the time.  I have had this tree trunk stamp so long, and I also wanted to add some brown into my page.  There is a tutorial further down in this post explaining how I did the tree trunk.  The rest of the page is watercolor, patterned paper layers, stickers, flowers, cord and other bits and pieces.


The corner cluster contains only a few things.  I love the OA tin pins, and I had this arrow cut from a different project, and I just painted it brown.

These flowers are so pretty, and they were perfect for this little cluster.  I love adding cord to my pages!  It creates great dimension and it just looks cool :)

I simply used a brown pen to trace these circles.  Just something different to add in...

I like the white-on-white title here.  It reminds me of snow...something we just don't get here in Florida.

Below is the tutorial that was up on the MCS blog yesterday.

If you're like me, sometimes you like to create your own unique background on cardstock instead of using patterned paper.  Incorporating cardstock into your layouts will also help stretch your kit further.  Today, I'm showing how I created an embossed stamped image to create a background pattern.  I then added some color to it by using watercolors.

I used a different stamp and colors for this tutorial.  Here's how I did it...it's fun and pretty simple!

Here is the page I created using my kit featuring this technique.  I used a tree trunk stamp and then used a few different tones of brown and some green to give it some life.

You can see it up close here.

I've been wanting to try out this fun technique for a while, and I'm glad I did!  It's really neat and it's pretty hard to mess up.  Plus, adding the watercolor is fun, too!  There were no browns in the papers for this layout, so I was able to use my paints as a way to incorporate it where I wanted it.

I hope this inspires you to give wet embossing a try!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Tuesday!

Creative Scrappers #257

It's reveal day at Creative Scrappers!!  Yeah!  Check out this awesome sketch:

Here's what I created.  Several weeks ago, I found this amazing Recollections stack at Michael's...I just love the colors and patterns!  I couldn't pass it up.  It just so happens that the new Finnley line from Glitz matches it really well.  So I combined the two to come up with this layout.

I really wanted to use those darling little owls!  And I love that the Finnley line is a baby line.  I haven't made a baby page in years....but I used some of the embellishments on this page.  Even though she's almost 5 now, she'll always be my baby :)

I LOVE this gold thread!  I got it in the dollar aisle at Michael's a while ago.  Honestly, I never thought I'd be a fan of shiny gold stuff on my pages, but I'm just loving it!  And I love that a lot of companies are incorporating it into their lines.

I added a gold bow around mommy owl's neck and a little red bow to the baby!

GOLD COLOR SHINE......YES!!  My favorite part of this page....more gold!

Head on over to the Creative Scrappers blog and check out the rest of the DT's work...it's amazing!!

Have a GREAT day!

Guest Designing for CSI: Color, Stories & Inspiration!

Hey there!  I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer for CSI: Color, Stories and Inspiration this month!  I was so thrilled when Debbi contacted me and asked me to be her guest for December.  The first Case File for the month is SO awesome...check it out!

Here's what I came up with.  Aside from using the given color scheme, I used several of the Evidence pieces.  I used frames, silver accents, circles and something transparent.  It's so fun going down the list to see how many you can incorporate!  You only have to use two.  For the Testimony, I journaled in cursive.

My circles were made using a template and modeling paste.  I outlined them with watercolor pencils and a black pen.  I added lots of layers behind my photo, including a piece of blue vellum.  I used some awesome transparent frames from Pebbles, some washi tape, and I even added green flock and glitter to an old chipboard butterfly I had sitting around collecting dust.  I haven't used flock in years!

 

I added some buttons to the page as well...they add such great dimension.

Lots going on in this corner.  That grey dotted paper is actually packaging from something.  I cut that cute frame on my Cameo.  It was actually cut for another project, but it was too small for it.  So I made it work for this one because it was the perfect color!  That green and cream button was randomly laying on my desk.  I added in some grey floss....love that stuff!

I added in some black thread.  I love the messy and disheveled look it gives.

 

Some close-ups of the modeling paste...

 

This butterfly turned out really cool.. He feels fuzzy to the touch!

 

You should check out CSI if you haven't already...every Friday there's a new Case File to crack.  I'll be back with two more throughout the month!

Have a great weekend!

My Creative Scrapbook December Kit Reveal!

Hey there, scrappy friends :)  Today is reveal day for the December Kits at My Creative Scrapbook!  Yippee!  They're overflowing with Christmas yumminess, and you won't want to miss out on them!  I got to work with the very festive Main Kit.  It's full of Echo Park, Simple Stories, October Afternoon and lots of ribbon and flowers.  It all coordinates wonderfully, and I can't wait to share the five projects I created with it.

Here's the December Main Kit:

 

Here is my first page using this kit.  I loved this red and white striped trimmed paper and knew I wanted to use it as a background sheet.  I added some interest and texture to my background with a circle template, modeling paste and watercolors.  I wanted a variation of greens, and I love how it turned out.



I love the chipboard pieces...very fun and easy to use anywhere on your page.  Also, the tin pins from are awesome!

 

I painted this wooden word red and adhered it on top of the OA twine.  I added in a flower, and I love the little cluster it created.



Here's a close-up of the paste...I'm addicted to that stuff!  You can do so much with it.

 

Another angle...such fun Christmas alphas.  I cut the word "spirit" with my Cameo.

 

There are more kits available....go HERE to check them all out!  There is something for everyone.  This definitely got me into the holiday spirit, and I'll be sharing the rest of my pages as the month continues.  You can go HERE to visit the gallery and see all my pages as well as the projects from the rest of the design team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

Who Needs Pants?

Haha!  Check out this layout and you'll see why I asked that!  This page documents my little streaker.  She ran off from me one day in the middle of a diaper change and this is where I found her...standing at the coffee table, mowing down some Cheerios!  I had to get the camera and get some pictures...that little hiney peeking out was just too cute!

I created this for a Word Up Wednesday challenge at My Scraps and More.  The challenge was to create a question for the title.  This one seemed appropriate for this page :)  I used the new Finnley line from Glitz.

I added a little bit of light yellow paint to the background as well as some gesso behind my journaling.

Lots of layers, buttons with cord and those awesome Glitz rhinestones!

Another shot at the bottom cluster...

This was a fun page to make...this collection wound up being perfect for these photos.

I hope you guys all have a great Monday!  Thanks for stopping by :)

Never a Dull Moment

Happy Black Friday, friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday.  We visited with family and enjoyed lots of yummy food :)  But instead of shopping today, I went to the gym instead.  It was the best decision, by far!  :D

Here's a page I created for My Scraps and More.  I used sketch #55 and some awesome Cut & Paste papers from American Crafts.  I love the colors!  I added in a bit of watercolor to my background, and even though my paper warped a little, I still love the results.  And I LOVE my gold Color Shine...it's awesome and shiny!  Yes!

I added in several chipboard pieces and some cord.  I think I add cord or floss to every page I make these days!

Paper layers, chipboard, watercolor and shiny gold!

I cut these fun words on my Cameo and then painted them to match.

Be sure to check out the My Scraps Sketch Blog for the weekly sketches...you could win a prize if you play along!

Thanks for checking in with me today!

This is What Matters Most **My Creative Scrapbook**

Hey there, friends!  Today, I'm sharing my fifth and final page featuring the November Main Kit from My Creative Scrapbook.  I love this woodgrain background paper, and it reminded me of being outside and getting dirty.  So I just had to scrap some pictures of my girls on the 4-wheeler!  They love riding, and these papers and colors were perfect for these photos.

This was a pretty simple page to throw together.  I kept it clean and didn't use any "wet" stuff except some dark brown mist splatters.  I get so into the modeling paste and paint, and sometimes it's nice to take a break from that and just go simple.  I added the cord into this layout...it's the only thing not included in the kit.

I broke out my crackle paint...hadn't used that in forever!  I love the look of it on this wood piece from American Crafts!

I love layering, and in this case, I also layered the cord as well as my papers.

Another wood piece that I colored with yellow acrylic paint and then inked the edges...

You can still get your hands on this kit....go HERE!  Be sure to check out the Design Team's Gallery to see even more inspirational layouts, plus the other kits that are available!

Thanks for taking a peek...have a great day!