Well, hello there pretties!! I have been quite silent for about a month and a half now and, to be honest, it was just a very much needed rest. I’ve also been pretty quiet on… More
In The Scrap DT| June Challenge: Scrap-Lift Steffi Reid
I am back today, friends, to share the June challenge that is live on the In The Scrap blog!
This month was a really thoughtful and unique challenge as it focused on one specific scrapper and taking her unique designs to scrap lift them. Here is the challenge this month::
It’s such an awesome challenge not only because we are showing love to this specific scrapbooker, but she also has such amazing designs every. Single. Time.
So, I chose one of her layouts that inspired me the most and scraplifted it. Here is my take on this challenge:
The layout that I scraplifted was a full sized image with gorgeous stitching and bits if embellishments scattered around so magically on the page. I couldn’t step away from this one.
So, I decided to pick out a photograph that would best match up and chose one of a photograph I took not too long ago of a precious blooming tree full of purple flowers. Here is that original image:
So, I printed it out on a full sized 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of photo paper ( I could have totally printed this out on card stock, too!) and got to stitching and decorating it to end up with this:
I feel like I really like this awesome technique of embellishing straight onto a photograph, although I didn’t have a human as my subject.
But, I still kept to the aesthetic and added stitching, tiny floral embellishments, and one circle element.
I basically added a bit of 3D pop to this amazing tree that brightened up my day through its beauty.
Here are some extra closeups to take in all the itty bitty elements I added to my photograph:
The supplies I used were a small mix of cut out flowers from the Simple Stories I AM collection. The stickers I used were from the Pebbles Patio Party collection. Both are springy and beautiful!
So, friends, will you take on this month’s challenge?
You can visit Steffi Reid’s blog here to find all of her amazing inspiration (its AHMAZING!!) and pick yourself a layout to scraplift. Don’t forget to tag In The Scrap on Instagram to be entered to win a fab prize, too!
Well, that’s it from me today. I will be back very soon with more scrappy goodness to share, but until then, stay crafty my friends! Xo
The Cut Shoppe DT | National Scrapbooking Day: Stitching With A Cutfile Challenge
Hi there! Can you believe National Scrapbooking Day weekend came and went already? Yep, this year’s #nationalscrapbookingday fell on Saturday the 5th of May, and it was amazing!
I, for one, had half of the day to myself and I literally dedicated it all to scrapping! Plus, I had the honor of joining The Cut Shoppe for a challenge! I also joined with Citrus Twist Kits and their challenges on their Facebook page. You can find a separate post sharing the three projects I made that day.
I was so excited to be participating on the fun with The Cut Shoppe team this year. The fun ran from Thursday until Sunday. I took part of Day 2’s challenge: Stitching with a cutfile!
So today I am actually going to be sharing the full spread here in my blog, but before I do that, I invite you all to visit the TCS blog first to find all of the awesome inspiration that came from this weekend. Although the giveaways are already closed, you can still try some of the challenges!
So, here is my take on The Cut Shoppe’s NSD challenge, Stitching With a Cut File:
You guys! I really hope you like my take on the challenge. I decided to go stitch-crazy and I created a full stitched background of the gorgeous cut file!
I’m literally stitched the whole background using a gorgeous cut titled, Wood U Be Mine, which you can purchase on the TCS Estsy shop. And, here is the background all stitched up:
I think it’s stunning!! It took me about a whole 6-8 hours of stitching, but I managed to finish it within two days. I really wanted to see the finished product, so you bet I hurried my little crafty butt up!
Now, here’s a look at the back, cause why not share the hot mess? Hahaha.
It isn’t perfect at all, but the results are worth all that hard work! I’m sure you can tell better on this back photo how I changed up my colors of thread to create a fun ombré effect.
It’s very subtle in the color changes, but you can totally see the shift in those pretty colors. And… So. Much. Texture.
So, after admiring the finished page I knew it was time to partially cover it. I brought out some cute Paige Evans supplies and created a fun cluster with a photo of my 3 month old son, at the time:
The big “love” word is from Dear Lizzy, but the rest of the supplies were from the Turn The Page and Pick Me Up collections. It was literally sooo easy to finish the layout portion of this layout, because the stitching was giving it so much life!
Here are a few more close-ups:
So, friends, that is it for this super awesome stitching layout share!
I hope you have enjoyed it, and that I have inspired you all to go stitch away a whole entire background!
Will you take the challenge? If you do, I would love to see your projects, so tag me on Instagram or leave me your links below!
That’s it from me now! I will be back very very soon! Stay crafty, cuties.
Larkindesign CT | Using Digitals: ONE Template, TWO Projects
Welcome, everyone! I sent out a post on my Instagram asking my followers what kind of tips and tricks they would like to learn when it comes to using digital scrapbooking products in hope of starting a short series here on my blog to teach the tips and tricks of Digital/Hybrid Scrapbooking. I have yet to read your responses, but I am here to launch this series and share how I came up with TWO awesome projects using only ONE digital template created by Theresa Moxley of Larkindesign.
So, as some of you might know if you visit my blog often, that I am currently on two teams where all I receive are digitals. I mentioned this in my Insta post, I had to be honest, and that was the fact that I never imagined myself taking this road in the many many roads to choose of paper crafting. I always thought that I would stick to my paper loving projects, and even though I still do, I have been loving this new phase of my paper experiences and that it DIGITALS.
You guys, I can’t rave enough about the amazing flexibility that comes from digital scrapbooking products. You can use it all on your computer OR you can print it all off in the comfort of your own home and get crafty with it physically. It’s all up to you and you don’t just get one option, nope, you always have those two to choose from.
So, today I am here to share with you some awesome templates that will be releasing at Larkindesign and how I used them to create a digital layout and then how I printed that one and created a final physical project. These are the templates available for purchase at Larkindesign here:
These templates were created by Theresa to create awesome and simple layouts straight on your computer using Photoshop!
If you are interested in viewing a whole process of how you can use them on your own computer, I would highly recommend that you watch Theresa’s full tutorial here.
This was the tutorial that I watched before getting crafty on my own digital project. So enough teasing, here it is:
As you can see, this is definitely a digital layout. The photos, the text, and the numbers were already placed there as part of the design. All I had to do was come in to add my own personal touches like the colors of the numbers, the text explaining my story, and the photos. Now, it’s not exactly perfect, as you can see my photos are a little wonky and seemed a little too stretched.
However, I am still so happy that this could be quickly done! I also love the fact that I was able to add text, as I normally don’t include much journaling in my normal layouts. I think I would love to keep creating these digital pages when I feel like including more stories to go along with my photos.
So, once I was finished with this layout, I decided I would print it out. The template itself is formatted to print on 12×12, but I simply changed the settings so that the full image would print on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet. Once I had the physical printout of this sheet I cut out the objects to add them to this awesome striped paper from the April “Sweet Chicks” collection.
This paper, also a digital, was simply printed on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of card stock in my own home printer. Once I knew I wanted to use this as my base for the layout I wanted to create, I added stitching to each of the lines and even included some pieces from the cut apart sheet (also part of the April collection!) to add a little bit of interest and dimension.
So like I said, I cut the photos from the digital printout and the numbers and turned them into a physical layout! Here is the full spread:
It’s the same photos, and numbers, but done up! I used a cute “Good Vibes” title from some of my Dear Lizzy stash, and added the Easter word which I also cut out of the main template.
I added the photos together and didn’t even have to back them because they were already sitting atop the pink from the template.
Finally, I added to numbers to the same bottom corner after I stitched around them and added a few more embellies all around my page using whatever fancied me at the moment. Those penants, tho!
TWO layouts, ONE template!!
So now I want to challenge you to give these awesome templates a try! Whether you’ll keep them just as is digitally and print them to add straight to your books, or you print them and redecorate as your heart desires, these templates are the perfect tool for that!
Now I will ask you the same question I asked my followers on Instagram, what other things would you like to learn about digitals?
There are so many ways to work with them, and I would love to be able to guide you all along the way. If you have any questions or topics you’d love for me to touch on, leave me a comment below!
As for now, I will leave you with this and I will be back very very soon! Stay crafty, cuties.
In the Scrap | May Challenge: Bows
Welcome! I am here today to share this months challenge for In The Scrap.
It’s a great one this month, with so many ways you can accomplish it! Take a look:
IN THE SCRAP MAY CHALLENGE: BOWS
Bows! How great is that? There’s nothing bows can’t make 10x cuter! Plus, there’s an endless amount of ways that you can make bows.
I decided to bring out my We R Memory Keepers 123 Punch Board to make the easiest bows ever!
These were a different, quicker version of the bows you can make using the instructions on this board.
I simply cut some 2×4 inch strips of patterned paper and use the center punch to create the curves in the center of the bows and at each end. Literally the same punch formed the bow! I layered two of the punched bows and added a center strip to connect them. Then popped some dimensional adhesive in between and stuck them a bit off center to give them that awesome layered dimensional look you can see below.
I didn’t even know what kind of project I wanted to create when I first started, so I made a bunch of these cuties!
After making these and brainstorming, I went my favorite route, and I decided I would make a 12×12 layout using my Paige Evans goodies. I used a mix of all her collections and ended up with this layout:
It’s literally full of so many different elements and layers!
I started off by creating the layered strips on the two thirds bottom half of my page. I tore my strips against a ruler for the added texture, yet they were kept straight. And then it was time to embellish!
I brought out some puffy stickers, card stock stickers, and finally some Paige Evans cut files I had cut in smaller dimensions and used all of these items to create my bow clusters along the strips of papers.
Here is a bunch of close ups of my pretty bow clusters:
I chose a photo of myself and my husband and cut it into a circular shape so that it would fit inside three awesome cut file wreaths layered on top of each other. These are also Paige Evans cutfiles!
Finally, I added my title which is the pretty pink sticker you see next to my photo, “Life Is Always Better Together.” And, again, one more bow!
I added a few splatters and a few extra layers to the right of my photo… and butterflies!
And that is how I finished off this layout! It has so much to look at, but the colors make it all so gorgeous!
I love my bow clusters and the way I used so many different textures and elements all around my page.
Now, are you ready to take on the bow challenge?? You still have plenty of time to enter your take by tagging In The Scrap on Instagram! I hope you have enjoyed this layout share and that I have inspired you to get out there and make some bows!
I will be back very soon! Stay crafty!
Larkindesign CT | May Release + 12×12 Layout
Welcome back everyone! I have realized that my supposed one week break off my blog has turned into 21 whole days of not posting anything. So I’m back today, and I will also be back everyday this week through the end of the weekend to share and catch up on all the stuff I want to bring here for you all.
Today I am here to share the May release at Larkindesign, titled “Ordinary Moments“, and a 12×12 mixed media layout I created using the papers and cut file for this month. Here is a quick look at the collection, which you can purchase here. Plus, I must mention that the cut files are available for FREE all month long!!
This months collection has such fun, yet unusual colors, like the maroon reds, corals, light minty blues and awesome pops of blacks and whites. There’s so much variety to this collection that it can be used for both male or female layouts. I love having that flexibility and I loved having different colors other than pink to add to my projects.
And did you see that floral cut file? No words! Seriously.
So, for the layout I am shearing today I am using the patterned papers and two cuts of the Poppy cut file. Here’s a quick look at it before I go into the details:
You guys, I love this layout so much!! It’s definitely got my personal version of mixed media, which I am not an expert at, but the background is still light enough to make the cut file pop off the page.
To add that texture below my photo I started off by splattering some mists in a few matching colors: mint, yellow, pink, and silver. I then went in with one awesome stencil with gorgeous vines and leaves and used some white modeling paste and some of my Vicki Boutin Silver texture paste. These elements helped my cut file have some dimension under it, since I didn’t back it with patterned paper.
After finishing off my base, I went in and added ripped strips of some of my favorite patterned papers around the entire edges of my page to create an awesome textured “frame” and added stitching all around the edges.
I love how my cut files sit on top of those edges as it makes them almost pop off! Haha
Once my base was done, I got right to the fun part of picking my photograph and embellishing. I picked a photo of myself that I had recently taken while working on a birthday book project.
And like I mentioned before, I used two cuts of the cut file to cover such a broad area. The cutfile was half the size and before I stuck them, I just layered them so that one end showing would be the opposite of the other, at each corner. I didn’t back my photo, either, so I just kind of tucked under the cut file. So. Many. Layers.
I was trying to figure out how I could add some embellishing without bringing in other products and I decided that I would go my favorite route and fussy cut the floral elements that were in the patterned papers I was using. There were two cute versions of poppy flowers, so I cut the maroon ones and the blue ones. And in order to add some matching contrast, I cut up some vines and leaves off a Crate Paper Good Vibes patterned paper.
I just created three clusters around my photo with the delicate-looking fussy cut elements. Here are some close ups of those:
The very final touches were some punched and layered butterflies using the patterned papers. I mean, you can’t have florals without butterflies, riiiight? LOL. And my title was also from Vicki Boutin’s Thickers.
I love this title: Happy Is Good. Those are words to live by and it’s so much fun and therapeutic to scrap something like this for myself.
So, that’s how this layout same together! It took me about 3 days to finish it. At one point I called it done, but little did I know I was only halfway done with it, haha.
I urge you all to take time to create a beautiful therapeutic version of scrap by picking a photo of yourself and making an encouraging layout!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, that’s all from me! If you are loving this collection stop by the Larkindesign website to purchase it. I will see you all very very soon!
