Be You But Be Nice

Hi everyone!  Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  

So Eryn tells me all the time that she is silly.  

And she is.  

I love it when she gets a bit goofy, though sometimes it can be a bit tough to get a photo of her just smiling at the camera...especially lately, she's always wanting to make a funny face at the camera.  

And then the other day she said something to me...she said "I'm not weird like Hayden, I'm silly."  I thought of these pictures and I knew I had a page in the making.  I decided to leave the "like Hayden" out though, as to not start a fight.  Sisters....

I guess I should have told her to be nice.

Anyways, here's the layout I made: 

I used the fabulous Be You collection from Fancy Pants Designs for this layout.  I can't get enough of this fun line.  I decided to make a large heart with the ribbon, and then I stitched a heart over it too.  I am really happy with the way it looks...just something a bit different.  I also love the rub-on on top of the black and white photo...so fun!  

Here are some close up's of my layout:

So, what are your plans for National Scrapbooking Day tomorrow?  I know there are activities and challenges all over the internet as well as crops and fun stuff going on for NSD.  I myself will be doing a giveaway on my blog.  :)  So make sure you come back tomorrow!

Have a terrific day!

Thinkin' Summer.

Since we have already established that I am dreaming of Summer...how about we make it worse by posting pics of summer?  :)  A while back I was asked my Creating Keepsakes to do a special assignment for them, which of course, I jumped at the chance.  Not long ago, they released a special issue called Scrapbooking Ideas For Every Season.  In it you can find this layout:

Yep, it screams summer!  Which was actually the assignment.  All the papers, chipboard and rub-on's are from Fancy Pants Designs.  

Design Notes:

*  Use your scraps and create two strips of 2 x 2 squares, add 2 x 2 photos in as well.  

*  I created a red scallop border to go under my strips of paper and photos, but to break up the straight linear feeling, I tilted them!

*  When I hand cut the scalloped border out of the red paper, I used both sides (top one looks more like waves and bottom like scallops)

*  Try making a large sun and building your page around it! 

*  Add your journaling in the form of a wave, then add stitching in between for a fun look. 

*  Try adding rub-on's directly to your photos, like my "Hello Sunshine" on the pool pic. 

Here are some close up's:

I really had a lot of fun with this 2 page layout.  :)

But it does make me long for summer even more.

Oh well.

:)

Thanks for stopping in today!!!  Have a wonderful day!

Spellbinders Series: Embossing

Hello!! Welcome to my third post in my Spellbinders series. If you missed the other two, you can find them here and here. Today's post is all about embossing with the Grand Calibur.

Keep in mind that I am just learning this machine and in the beginning "playing" stage. I have no training with the machine and definitely don't know all the tips for doing things right...I am just a crafter with a new machine and I am sharing with you what I am learning along the way.

So I knew I wanted to make this post about embossing. It's very easy to cut and then emboss a shape with the Grand Calibur, but what I was wanting to do was ONLY emboss. I learned that was not as easy as I expected. I wanted to stick a piece of paper through and emboss three butterflies, at one time. I tried once, and it actually did cut my butterflies out. I tried a second time and for some reason my paper got all warped in spots. So I ran my embossing pad and plates through the machine with no paper or dies in it, to straighten out my pad. Then I tried a third time and got something I was ok with.

Here's the layout I made with the paper I embossed the butterflies on:

See that pink piece of paper? That is what I was talking about. I also cut out some more butterflies (these are cut and embossed) to add to my butterfly design. On this layout I used the Wonderful Wings dies and the Creative Book Pages dies (the postage stamp piece behind my photos over the banner strips).

The gorgeous papers are all from Pink Paislee, from their Butterfly Garden collection (I thought that was very appropriate for this layout!). I also used their rub-ons, charm and letters.

Here are some close up's of my layout:

And then, using the same supplies, I also made a card:

This time I added a bit of chalk on top of my embossed butterfly.

I'm gonna have to play a bit more with embossing with the Grand Calibur. :)

Thanks for stopping in today!!! Hope you have enjoyed my post.

Have a WONDERFUL day!

Fancy Filters

Have you guys seen all the Filter Flowers that Fancy Pants Designs makes? I LOVE them!!! They started off white and then they added printed filters to all of the lines, starting with Baby Mine! You can find them in the following collections: Baby Mine, Off To School, Oct 31,Summer's End, and Saint Nick. I think they are FANTASTIC!!! So much fun!

Here's what the filters from the Oct 31 line look like:

And here's a layout that I made that uses several filters.

Would you believe that this layout uses Fancy Pants' halloween collection, Oct 31! Not halloween related at all. :)

I took my three large filters and folded each in half and then in half again creating a triangle shape. Then I added them around my photo so it looked like they had made a complete circle. I stitched circles on them and then trimmed down the filters with scissors so you could see the layers. It looks like I had more filters then I had. :) I then scrunched up a small filter and kind of centered it over the large embellishment and under the photo. I also folded a small filter at the top of my page, adding stitching and buttons on top.

Here are some close up's:

Those white flourishes and the banner like triangles are FP rub-on's. :)

I hope I have inspired you to try the filters if you haven't already. They are fun! :)

Have a wonderful day!

Real Scrapbookers...

make layouts that they don't love...from time to time.

Here's a layout I made last night:

I am just not too happy with it. I feel like it looks cluttered and busy. I think I personally would have liked it better if those two bird's (rub-on's) on the large orange heart were in the bottom left hand corner instead. Oh well.

The layout uses the awesome Summer's End collection from Fancy Pants Designs. That cardstock in the back is a collaboration between Fancy Pants and Core'dinations.

Here are some close up's:

Just thought I'd keep it real today. :) I know we all do it...make layouts we are not entirely happy with.

Hope you have a FANTASTIC day!!!

Fifteen!

Today I am sharing a layout with you that I made for the Fancy Pants blog last month. It was for a post about rub-ons. And I used FIFTEEN rub-ons on my layout! :)

Here's the layout:

Can you see all fifteen rub-ons? Here's a picture of the rub-on's to help you find them all on my page:

I used the AWESOME Off to School collection from Fancy Pants for this layout. I just LOVE this collection!

I created a grid of patterned paper and rub-ons. I also added some rub-ons on the photos. Here are some close up's of my layout:

Well, thanks for popping in today! I hope I have inspired you to pull out those rub-ons...or at least some scrapbook supplies. :)

Have a wonderful day!

My Favorite Journal EVER

I used to journal when I was growing up.

A lot.

But in my adult years, that is simply something that I never really had time for I guess. But with my world being turned upside down this year, I am finding the desire to start journaling again. I am wanting to be honest, real and raw...and a journal is an excellent way to do that. So I made it my project this week to create a journal and start journaling again.

Enter the fabulous Artist Edition Brag Book from Fancy Pants Designs:

This book is seriously amazing! It was designed with the busiest of scrapbookers in mind. This book has everything you need to store your most cherished moments. With a customizable cover, 50 scrapbook/journaling pages, 15 - 2 slot photo protectors (holds up to 60 - 4" x 6" photos), and 15 pocket folder pages for storing your favorite memorabilia, you can't go wrong. You can buy the book at Scrapbook.com here or at 2 Peas here.

But instead of using it as a brag book...I am using it as a journal. A fun...totally my style, personal journal. In it I WILL include some photos along with some Bible verses, art, scrapbook layouts in the size of 4 x 6 and more...whatever I am feeling at the moment.

Here's what I made:

It uses the AWESOME It's The Little Things collection from Fancy Pants. It includes lots of layering and fun...and a bit of artsy-ness. :)

It uses a lot of rub-on's too. I love rub-ons. Always have.

Here are some close up's of the cover:

And inside this book you find several pages already ready to journal on. I threw in a few rub-on's or embellishments just to add a little to the pages, like this:

And I wanted to make several 4 x 6 cards with Bible verses on them that I could stick in the photo pages. Here's some:

And finally...I altered ever so slightly the folder pages, with a little bit of rub-ons...

I actually really like how the journal turned out. And I am excited to start journaling and getting personal.

Don't worry...I won't share it all with you. :)

And before you ask...because I know someone will ask.

HOW I MADE THE BACKGROUND FOR THE COVER OF MY JOURNAL

What you need:

* Journal

* Gesso

* Lid or Random Object to make circles

* Ink or Paint (or both!)

I slathered on Gesso all over my cover.

I got messy.

I didn't care.

Then I took a lid (happens to be a lid to one of my Glimmer Mist bottles) and made circles in my Gesso before it dried.

THEN I ALLOWED IT TO DRY.

After it was dry, I covered it with ink (Pink Glimmer Mist). Then I took a wipe and wiped off much of the ink.

It looked kinda like this afterwards...

I went a step further and added a bit of pink paint...

And totally got carried away. I was trying to take a picture of my putting on the paint and ended up putting WAY too much paint on my cover...so don't worry...you don't need to waste that much paint.

Anyways...then I took a baby wipe and wiped off a bunch of paint.

Leaving it looking like this:

As you can see...when I was putting on my Gesso, I also splattered some to give it a bit more of a messy look.

Sometimes I just like being messy. :)

And before you leave I do have one other quick thing to share with you. :)

Yesterday on the Fancy Pants blog, they shared a bunch of projects using the new Baby Mine collection....here's a sneak of another new layout from me...

So check out that post HERE to see the full layout as well as what others did with the line. :)

Ok...

That was a long post.

Hope you have a FANTASTIC week!