It's All About the Number 3

Yep...that's the challenge on the BasicGrey blog today. Use 3 photos, 3 different patterned papers, and 3 brads. This was actually a tough challenge for me because I like to use more then 3 pieces of patterned paper.

Anyways...so I started of with this:

And we were allowed to add more as long as it wasn't more photos, paper or brads. So I added this:

And came up with this:

Before I started I cut the butterfly out of my grid paper, then I started layering pieces of the other 2 papers along with my photos. I wanted lots of layers, like my typical style so I added a bunch of strips. I added my title using two different alphabet sets. After I laid it all out, I decided I wanted a piece of paper behind my Inviting sheet for a border but didn't have a full sheet of paper left so I pieced parts of two papers behind my layout. My brads are in the center of the right butterfly.

Here are some close up's:

Please come play along with us! Visit the BasicGrey blog for all the details!

Have a wonderful day!

Mish Mash Layout

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping in. :) Today I have a layout to share. It uses papers from Authentique, but it's a mish mash of collections...a little bit of Blissful, a little bit of Journey, a little bit of Uncommon and even a little bit of Glowing. Here it is...

That black part with the holes is from this. It's a sticker sheet containing the letters that I used to spell Eryn. I simply peeled off the negative part and used it on my page, all the letter stickers are still on it, well without the e, r, y, and n...but you know what I mean. :) So I can still use the letters and didn't waste anything.

I also used stamps from Unity Stamp Company...it's one of my favorite stamp sets: She Said. I couldn't find it listed on their site though so maybe they don't have it anymore. And then that chipboard window tab is from Magistical Memories.

Here are some close up's:

It's been a busy week for us here. Austin has a school music concert tonight, but first piano lessons for the boys. You probably know how it is when you run from one thing to the next...well that's our day today. While I will enjoy it, I also look forward to that moment when the kids are all in bed and I can actual sit down and relax. :)

Have a wonderful day today! Take time to relax.

Making a Stitched Grid :)

Hi everyone! Happy hump day (Wednesday)! :) My mom always called it that since it was the middle of the week and we were heading over the hump. Today I have a layout to share with you that uses the gorgeous The Bright Side of Life collection from The ScrapCake.

Before I started my layout I created a grid on my paper using a pencil and a ruler, like so:

Then I built my layout on top of the grid. When it was how I wanted it, I went back and added stitching on top of all the remaining lines of my hand-drawn grid, whatever was still showing. I think it looks pretty cool.

Here are some close up's of my layout:

I used chipboard from Magistical Memories on my layout. I used one of the Biplane pieces and one of the Window Tabs. The chipboard letters are from My Little Shoebox.

Well I've got a busy day, so I better get started. Hope you have enjoyed my post today! Thanks for stopping in. :)

Have a fabulous day!

Gettin' Cozy!

Hi everyone! Hope you are having a fantastic day! Back in June the lovely Deb asked me to design for her company Say It With Letters. I LOVE Say It With Letters so of course I said yes! :) If you haven't heard of them, check them out here. I've done several other projects using her stuff, you can find that all here.

I was thrilled when I received her new 8" Cozy letters in the mail.

Here's what I did with them:

I used the fabulous Autumn Splendor collection from We R Memory Keepers on my letters.

Now...

Let's break it down

I started with my bare letter.

I covered it with adhesive.

I turned my letter over and laid it on the backside of the patterned paper I wanted on it.

I like to turn it over after that and use my brayer to run over it all to make sure it all gets adhered down, with no air bubbles or lumps.

Do this to each of your letters with 4 different pieces of patterned papers. :)

Depending on what adhesive you used, you may want to allow it to dry some at this stage. It's up to you...I don't always. ;)

Then I turn my letter over and I take my craft knife and cut the paper off around my letter.

Then you should have something like this:

I like to sand my edges some just to make it look smoother.

And then another thing I always like to do is paint the edges of my wood.

All of mine:

Then you have the base for your projects. You could leave it at that and it would look beautiful, but I am an embellisher. :) So I took each letter and added a few things to it.

Here are my letters embellished:

I added two chipboard photo corners. Those leaves are hand cut and stitched around, and I added a chipboard tag on top.

Wasn't this tag just perfect to use with this project? I placed it over the middle (popped up) and added ribbon.

On my z, I decided to change it up and add some patterned paper behind the wood (you can cut holes for the mounting holes on the back of the wood). Then I added another one of my leaves and some chipboard that I again popped up.

And finally, for my y I added some more chipboard photo corners. Then I wrapped some ribbon around the y, twisting and knotting. Then I printed the words for "a cozy home is a happy home", layered them on paper and popped them up on my y. :)

Now for those of you who don't know how to do a blanket stitch, I thought I would share that as well.

Blanket Stitch Around A Shape

Step 1:

Start your stitching by coming through the back.

You want to leave a tail on the backside.

Step 2:

You want to take your thread from front to back in the next hole over so it looks just like a normal stich.

Step 3:

Take your needle and go UNDER the stitch you created, like so:

The first stitch will look weird right now, but it gets fixed when you come to the end.

Step 4:

From the front, you go through the next hole, like so:

I KNOW IT STILL LOOKS WEIRD....just wait! :)

So repeat steps 2-4:

And keep repeating...

Now...when you come to the end you should have something like this:

Keep going as you've been going...

And then take your needle under the first crocked stitch you had, and now is when you will be making that look right.

And pull your two tails out.

And then you can tape them behind or tie them off. I tape. :)

And there you have it....a lot of pictures, but hopefully that all made sense.

Here's my Cozy letters for you one last time.

Thanks for stopping in today! Have a fantastic day!