2 Girls Going Places / The Cut Shoppe & CSI Team Up

Happy Weekend, friends!  Have you seen the Team Up going on with The Cut Shoppe and CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration?  Last week, this week and next week, the two teams are teaming up to bring you tons of fun scrapbooking inspiration.  The Cut Shoppe is playing along with Case Files 169 - 171, and the CSI Team is using some of Ashley's cut files along with the Case Files.  It has been fun, and today I'm sharing the project I created using Case File 170.  You can see all the details of the challenge rules on the CSI Blog.

Here is the layout I created using Case File 170.  I incorporated the color scheme, and I used arrows, banners, triangles and flair.  There is a big list of things you can choose from to use.  I really like how this came together.  I used the Sci-Fi Circles and World Traveler cut files.  I cut the background file on white cardstock and glued it down to another piece of white cardstock.  I covered all of that with clear gesso.  After it dried, I used gelatos and Color Shine to create the red, blue and green watercolor effect.  Once it was dry, I thought it looked a little too busy, so I used some of the cut out ovals and placed them back into some of the open oval areas.  It helped to break it up and just looked better to me.

I cut "going places" from the World Traveler cut file and used Color Shine to color it.  Very easy and fun to do!

I pulled papers from my stash (very old papers....some from 2008) to match the color scheme.  I also used a bit of tissue paper behind my photo.  I used a few flair buttons from A Flair For Buttons and some green tangled thread.

I pulled a matching green arrow from Freckled Fawn from my stash and some embellishments and die cut stickers from the American Crafts Shimelle collection.  My friend and I were starting our second road trip day bright and early, so I used this cute alarm clock as well as some of the cute suitcases in the collection.

The suitcases were fussy cut from a transparent overlay.  I colored that cute Road Trip wood veneer with Color Shine.  I used a triangle punch to create that cute banner.

Here are the cut files I used, which are available in the store HERE.

Be sure to check out the CSI Blog and The Cut Shoppe store...and have a wonderful day!

Diagon Alley / Shimmerz

Happy Thursday, friends!  I have a fun Shimmerz layout to share with you today.  I used a lot of gorgeous Shimmerz products to create this page about Diagon Alley.  If you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll know exactly what this place is.  My friend Jennifer and I went to Universal Studios a few months ago and explored this new area, and it was so awesome!  I had to scrap these pictures of the Gringott's Bank with the huge dragon on top.

I started with a chevron stencil and some Texturez in Gritty Graphite.  I came back over that with a little bit of Foiled Again Dazzlerz, which is a light silver color.  Once that dried, I used several different products in blue shades to create that watercolor look and all the splatters.  I pulled in embellishments from Elle's Studio, Freckled Fawn and A Flair For Buttons.

Here you can see all the shades of blue.  I started with Me & Blue Inklingz, which created the lightest shade.  I just used my brush and painted it on.  I also used Shimmerz in Ultra Marine and Tickle Me Turquoise, Coloringz in Heidi Ho Blue, Vibez in Blue Jeans and Jeni B Bleu.  I added in a bit of grey with Creameez in Thunderstorm.  All of those together really creates a gorgeous palette.  I added in a lot of machine stitching as well.

Here's a look at the right side.  I really wanted to pull from the pretty blues in the photos, and all of these products did that for me.  I love the touches of silver that the glitter stars give.

I pulled embellishments that accented the blue and then added a few with a bit of green.  I really like how all the shades look together.  I kept this part of the layout clean so the die cuts stood out.

I used the Inklingz to paint this wood veneer...it was super easy and fast.  And you can add even more coats if you want it darker.

Check out this awesome background!  The Texturez is perfect for this...it's really gritty and leaves an amazing texture.  The Dazzlerz are so shiny and slick...I love using them together because you can really see the contrast.  These silver Thickers remind me of the Foiled Again Dazzlerz....shiny and gorgeous!  I also used the Ultra Marine Shimmerz on that arrow wood veneer.

Here's a process video of this layout from start to finish if you're interested in watching...hope you enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Products Used:

Texturez--Gritty Graphite

Dazzlerz--Foiled Again, Gummy Berry Blue

Inklingz--Me & Blue

Shimmerz--Ultra Marine, Tickle Me Turquoise

Coloringz--Heidi Ho Blue

Vibez--Blue Jeans, Jeni B Bleu

Creameez--Thunderstorm

365 Everyday / Chickaniddy Crafts

Hey there!  I have another layout for Chickaniddy Crafts to share today using the new 365 collection.  The bold colors mixed with black are just beautiful.  I knew I wanted to start with the beautiful blue background, which is the Cloud 9 paper.  The ombre look on it is just so pretty and was perfect for adding watercolors and inks.

Here's how I created this layout:

1.  I covered most of the background with clear gesso so I could add watercolor without ruining the blue paper.  Once it dried, I added pink, yellow and blue watercolor along with some gelatos to create a messy painted look.  I also painted in some of the open designs of the stamps.

2.  The Clear Stamps in this collection are so much fun and very versatile.  I created stamped clusters on the background and used gelatos to color in part of the shapes.

 3.  After adding different papers as layers behind my photo, I embellished with enamel shapes and my title.  I added in my journaling after that.

Here's a final look at the top portion.  Lots of fun layers, tangled thread and awesome dimension.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a great day!

Splash / Hip Kit Club

Hey there, and Happy Sunday!  I have another layout to share today for the Hip Kit Club using the 2015 June Kits.  This is the fourth page I have made using them, and I still have a ton of product left.  These kits really go a long way!

I've seen the trend of really large titles lately, and I wanted to give it a try.  I started with the Crate Paper background and cut the word SPLASH really large across the center on my Cameo.  Before I pulled the paper off my sticky mat, I went to work with some paints and sprays.  Once it dried, I peeled the paper off and used other patterned papers to back the open spaces.  You can see how I did this in my process video down below if you'd like :)

I used so many bits and pieces on this page...exclusive Project Life cards, Crate Paper die cuts, stickers, and enamel dots, Fancy Pants die cuts, Evalicious wood veneer and Freckled Fawn chipboard.  These kits are just amazing and so full of fun bright things!

These pictures of Paige getting splashed were perfect for these goodies, and they inspired my gigantic title :)

I layered several Crate Paper and Fancy Pants pieces down at the bottom.  The "Splash" chipboard piece is from the Crate Paper Poolside collection, as are all of the CP pieces.  I love the color mix of all of this, and I think it looks so fun against the mixed media background.

I layered in a few things at the top...some tangled thread (as always, right?!), a CP sticker and a CP epoxy sticky brad.  I also layered some patterned paper and vellum behind my photos.

Here's a closer look at the title work.  I love these soft yet bright colors.  And it's really easy to back papers behind a die cut.  It's also a great way to get in lots of patterns without being too busy.  I did a little bit of gold stitching down below as well.

One final close up of the right of the photos...I fussy cut the "Hello June" piece out of a Project Life card.  It reminded me of a sun, so it worked out perfectly.  Those FUN glitter pieces are from the CP line, and I love the pop of gold they give here.

Here's the process video of the making of this layout from start to finish if you're interested.  Enjoy!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful day!

Guest Designing at Citrus Twist Kits!

Hey, friends, and HAPPY 4th OF JULY to all of my fellow American friends!!  America is 239 years old today!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend full of fun with family and friends!

I thought I'd pop on this morning and share that I'm the July Guest Designer for Citrus Twist Kits!  I was thrilled when Trina contacted me and asked if I'd like to take part.  I got to play with the July Main Kit, which has a great mix of products from Crate Paper, American Crafts, Seven Paper, Pink Paislee, Webster's Pages, Freckled Fawn, Evalicious and even some exclusive wood veneer and stamps.  It's fun and has a lot of variety.

Here's the first project I created using this kit.  I wanted to play off the reds in a few of the papers, and there is a pop of red in this photo.  I wanted the overall feel of the page to be light and airy, so I started with this light wood grain patterned paper.  I used my Cameo to cut a few messy circles (that's my favorite Silhouette store shape, by the way) and then drew more circles and stitched a few more.  I added in some tissue paper from my stash and then layered some patterned papers behind the photo.
The rest is odds and ends tucked in here and there...all from the kit.

I combined both the Thickers and the Webster's Pages alphas to create my title.  I also created a little banner under it using stickers, paper and a puffy sticker and then machine stitched it down.  I used the little arrow stamp here using some navy ink from my stash.  Those cute epoxy buttons are also included in the kit.

Here's another angle of the journaling area.  It talks about how we were headed to see Sara Bareilles in concert in St. Augustine last year, and when we got to the amphitheater it was full.  So they directed us down another few miles and we had to park at a ball field.  Then sent a big yellow school bus to pick us up and take us to the concert.  Then afterward we had to stand in the dark and wait for it to come back.  The moral of the story is that amphitheater needs an adequate parking lot for the number of seats it offers!  We still had fun and now have a funny story to tell :)

Layers and layers....paper, tissue paper, thread, sticky epoxy brads, wood veneer and a cute arrow paper clip.  That little green puffy heart was from last month's kit.

One last close up of the right side of the photo...the stickers are from the Webster's Pages sticker sheet.  I love how the stitching turned out on this. I'm getting better at stitching in a circle ;)

Thanks for checking in today, and be to sure stop in later this month.  I have three more projects coming up using the kit.  You can check out Citrus Twist Kits and see all the different kits they have to offer, and their beautiful blog with lots of gorgeous inspiration.

Happy 4th!!  Happy weekend!!

A Couple of Dorks / My Scraps & More

Happy Friday, friends!  I'm so excited to share my first My Scraps & More Got Talent Challenge of the summer with you all!  This is the 4th challenge that went up last Friday, and a new one was just posted by another DT member this morning.  Check in every Friday for a new one on the forum and Facebook page!

Last week's challenge was to start with any color of plain cardstock and create a background from scratch using ONLY ribbon and washi tape.  You can add mixed media and whatever embellishments you'd like, but no patterned paper is allowed.

I found this pretty multi-colored ribbon in my stash and pulled more coordinating ribbon and washi tape to start.  I decided to create a strip design and even cut some of the ribbon to make them look a little uneven and jagged.  I added a bit of torn washi tape in the center and then added in a little bit of gelatos here and there for a "smudgy" look.  The rest is chipboard, rhinestones, thread, a bit of stamping and a flair button.

I really love the colors in the the ribbon.  After I glued them down, I went over them with some clear gesso.  That helped cement them down and also allowed the gelatos to smooth over them.  I added in some  machine stitching as well as this die cut from The Cut Shoppe.

I added white and blue tissue paper under my photo instead of patterned paper and then layered some washi tape on the side.  I've had this messy frame sitting on my desk for a while, and it fit perfectly under my photo.  I also added in this flair button.

I knew I wanted the title to be "dorks".....because we totally are...haha :D  I cut it pretty large on my Cameo and just layered it on top of the ribbon and tape.

I used some of the alphas from the Basic Grey Prism Sticker Sheet here and used an American Crafts stamp.

One last close up of the ribbon and the journaling...I really loved how it all turned out.

Here's the process video of this layout being created from start to finish if you're interested.  Thanks for watching!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Be sure to check out our forums and our Facebook page to play along with the challenges!

Have a great day!

Just Plain Cute / A Flair For Buttons

Hey there, friends!  I have a fun (and just plain cute) layout to share with you today for A Flair For Buttons :)  I pulled out this adorable photo of my little Paige from a few years ago to scrap, and I used the Basic Grey Prism collection.  I started off with the triangle stamp that is part of the collection and used some black archival ink on white cardstock.  I then came over that with an American Crafts flower stencil and some shades of blue distress ink.  I added in some blue, orange and black ink splatters.  I used a few patterned papers behind my photo and pulled several coordinating embellishments for the right hand side.  I used two awesome flair buttons from two different sets, which I have listed below.



I added in some washi tape, some stamping and some tangled thread.  I love layering my flair buttons like this.  They are awesome for clustering.




I love any type of embellishment with a camera on it, and this flair button was perfect for this spot.  I rolled some orange thread into a circle and layered it under the button.  I love the pop of orange it gives, and it helps separate the white of the button from the white of the paper.

 

I cut the pink messy frame on my Cameo, and these big flowers are a Jillibean Soup stamp.  I used gelatos to color them in to match my patterned papers.  This way, I was able to get more of the yellow and royal blue onto my page to pick up the blue in her shirt a little more.




Here's a look at the top of the photo...another stamped flower that I cut out.  I love how it looks when it's layered.



And finally a look at the journaling and title area.  Those are American Crafts Thickers, and the stamps are from Simple Stories and Elle's Studio.  I added in a bit of pink machine stitching and some Tim Holtz sentiment stickers at the bottom.



I used these flair buttons from these two awesome sets:

My Life Flair Set 4

 My Life Words 4

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Be sure to check out the A Flair For Buttons shop and take a look at ALL the amazing flair buttons!!