Designer's June Reveal

Hello friends!

This month I was lucky enough to receive the

collection from American Crafts, to play with.

i know there are mixed feelings out there about this collection, but let me tell you that i love it!  I love the retro feel to these patterns and embellishments.  It was super fun to play with, and I got more into it the more I created!


My first layout is a 'boy' page.  I love this photo of Timmy, he's "all that" !

I kept this layout fairly simple, using only the blues and greys from this collection.  The coordinating embellishments are really fun.  I add brads and gems from my stash and sprinkled them around the page.  And then I created a few of my own embellishments, the sun and the cloud.

 

Yes you can use hot pink when you are scrapping a little boy, why not? It's a fun and bright colour just like little boys are!  This photo was taken of Timmy and I as we are taking a dinner break at Disney's Animal Kingdom and trying to cool down.

 I love using several patterned papers on my layouts, at least three, usually more.  This layout also features "Sew Easy" stitching and 'lollipop' flowers.  Don't forget to cluster your embellies, the hold more attention when they are grouped. I also did a bit of doodling, albeit with a ruler!

I'm sorry the photo on this layout  is so hard to see, it is a picture of my husband and our Timmy on the Dumbo ride at the Magic Kingdom.  I really like how the retro feel of these papers lends itself so well to the retro-ness (I know that's not a workd ;) ) of Dumbo.

In lieu of a large scalloped boarder punch I punched several circles and layered them down in a row, slightly overlapping each one and also alternating colours.  I really like this effect and will use it again.  All of the little flowers are hand cut, it's not as intimidating as it looks, and a great thing to do while watching tv or chatting.  These really only took me a few minutes to cut out.  I added gems and 'blobs' of Glassy Accents to my flower centres.  And some piercing along the bottom of the layout.  All pierced holes do not need to be for stitching, some times it's just fun.

I love this photo I found while cleaning out my Mother-in-law's house.  Actually we found what amounts to 2 of the largest Rubbermaid totes full of photos.  This was taken of my in-laws in 1953, here in Hamilton, while their parents were visiting them from England.

 The old black and white photo really stands out nicely on this peach patterned paper.  Some punched butterflies, stitching and doodling, give this layout some charm and a sort of vintage feel.

This is a fun, spring-ish Mother's Day card I created using this collection.

I love these Iris fold flowers and how easy they are to create.  You can even add more layers with smaller circles.

This is a birthday card I made for ScrapMuch? owner, Anita,  I love the way my little doily die goes so nicely with these papers and that the browns makes it a little more 'now'.

This is a coordinating pillow box that I decorated to match the card, which held  a little gift I gave to her.

See doesn't this paper just make you want to create now? I think you can find creativity and a use for almost every type of paper there is on the market.  So don't dismiss something just because it doesn't speak to you right away, sort through your pictures you may surprise yourself!

Thank you for stopping by and sticking it out to the very end of this long post.
Lura
xoxo

More retreat layouts

Hello all,

The other day I showed you the layouts that owner, Elaine, crated while at the Spring Retreat.  Today, I thought I would share some of the layouts that I created at the retreat.  I still have a couple that are not complete, so I will share them at a later date.

A fairly simple and bright layout, love this photo!

I used a variety of papers from different collections to try to create the same bright, colourful feel that is present at the Animal Kingdom at Disney World.

The pool at the resort in Disney that we stayed at in 2009, was so fun, I knew I had to feature it in a layout.

This layout featured Jillibean Soup papers and the Sew Easy by WRMK.

My take on the Pagemaps sketch given to all of us at the retreat, love this colour combo of the 'Peachy Keen" collection by American Crafts.

Thanks for stopping in today!
Laura
xoxo

A BIG Happy Birthday and a special reveal!

Hello blog friends!

Elaine, Eileen and I want to send out a big Happy Birthday to Anita!  Hope you have a great day, you deserve to be spoiled!


I also have a special reveal, Elaine's daughter, Zoe, made a special birthday card for Anita.  Check it out.....

I love that this little cheerleader has pink hair!  And that she is on a trampoline, which is one of Zoe's favourite things to do in Anita's backyard!  Great job Zoe, you are one crafty girl, just like your Mom!

Laura
xoxo

Sketch-y Friday

hello and Happy Friday to all!

It's Friday, hooray!  And to go along with a great weekend, I have a sketch to share with you!
 

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!
Laura
xoxo

Tips and Techniques Wednesday

Hello blog friends!

Happy Wednesday to you all,  as always I have a new technique to share with you.  I found this tip online and have crated a video to demonstrate it to you.  Basically, I am showing how to use a border punch to create a frame / mat to use on your project, without using a corner punch.  check it out....



 Hope you liked this.  Why not leave me a comment with some ideas of techniques you would like to see?
Thanks for visiting.

laura
xoxo

Mini Album by Eileen

Hello blog friends,

We have a special treat for you today.  Eileen created a beautiful baby 8" x 8" mini album at the Spring Retreat and you know we had to share it here to inspire all of you!

I love that Eileen included letters for the 'mom to be' to alter the title for a boy or girl.

A lovely soft neutral page for a newborn, love the sprinkling f gems.

The month counter journalling spots are a great addition to this album, the new parents will be able to feature a favourite photo from each month.

I love the addition of the banner on this page.

 

 

How sweet are these little ladybugs.

Eileen created this little cupcake by hand, isn't it the cutest.

Hope you all enjoyed this special little treat!  Eileen is a gifted scrapbooker and I'm sure we'll be featuring many more of her designs here.

Thanks for stopping by.
Laura
xoxo

Owner Spotlightf

Hello all,

I have been meaning to do another owner spotlight for a while now, but have been deliquescent.  The recent Spring Retreat has given me a good opportunity to make good on this intention. 

Co-owner Elaine is a great girl, who is hardworking, has a big heart and a great sense of humour.  The "give you the shirt off her own back type".   Somehow, she manages to be a full time paramedic for one city, a part time paramedic for another city, a store owner, a Mom, a  wife,  and a great friend to many!  I know when you say it out loud, it seems impossible.  Yet she does it in such a way that makes it look seamless and easy.  Although, I am sure it is anything but.  And she is truly good at it.

As with all of us that 'worked' the retreat, Elaine was pleasantly surprised with how much she accomplished.  Here is a look at her beautiful creations......

I love that she used so many buttons to reinforce her title.

This is a great take on a Pagemaps sketch we were given at the retreat.

Love the way she used all of the little sticker captions on this layout.

A fun layout featuring Bo Bunny's 'Blast Off' collection.

This layout totally highlights the photo of her daughter reading an 'Archie' comic.  Every time I look at  it I see another fun element that I missed before.

The patterned butterfly layered over the same pattern is simply elegant on this beautiful layout.

A sweet layout of her sweet English Bulldog.  Love the studded belt on the 'Jane'.

Perfect product for these spring planting photos, they compliment one another to a T.

Elaine, from me to you.... you are awesome in all that you do and I hope all your dreams come true!  Big hugs.

Laura
xoxo