Jillibean Soup | Wood Heart Decor..

One of my favourite projects this year has been this wood heart home décor using Jillibean Soup products.

I just love the felt flowers! But teaming them up with a few cut files and felt leaves adds that little something extra! Don't you think?

Check out this blog post from Jillibean Soup here. Thanks for visiting..x

Bella Blvd | Lost & Found...

Looking for a different Fall colour palette? My latest project with Bella Blvd was a little experimental but I'm happy with how it turned out. *grin*

"Lost & Found"

The pink and teal with a pop of orange on a neutral back ground seems a strange combination for sure! But check out those silhouette cut file leaf clusters!

The patterned paper is a combination of Squeeze the Day and Bella Besties. The mini paper pads are awesome for cut files!! So if you are feeling the need to create a different look for a Fall layout you might want to try this colour combo! Thanks for visiting..x

Jillibean Soup | Fresh Cut Blooms...

Do you love the Jillibean Soup Silhouette Design Store cut files as much as I do?

There are so many fun things you can create. My list is incredibly long! *grin*

Here's a little project from earlier in the year using the Fresh Cut Blooms cut file.

I really am in love with these new wood frames as well!

Check out all the details here at Jillibean Soup. Thanks for visiting..x

Bella Blvd | Family Fun..

Want to create a large title for your layout? Here's a fun idea.. Check out my page created for Bella Blvd using their Silhouette Design Store cut files..

I've used the new Splash Zone collection as inspiration but the cut file is perfect for my title. To make it really stand out, go big! Check out all the details on the Bella Blvd blog.

Thanks for visiting!

Celebrate Noosa | Bella Blvd...

Hello Friends! Up on the Bella BLVD blog this week we are celebrating with the brand new cut files found over at the Silhouette Design Store. These cute little cut files coordinate beautifully with the Wish Big collection. But wait!! There's more exciting news!

"Noosa"

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Bella Blvd: Wish Big (Girl); Alphas - Bella Blvd Wonky Alphabets; other - Bella Blvd: flamingo cut file, red flower cut file, pink flower cut file, stickers & cardstock die cuts; Illustrated Faith: watercolour aquarelle paint; tools - machine stitching, silhouette portrait, type writer.

Bella Blvd will start releasing cut file designs with each new collection as well as going back to some older collections too.  I am so excited to see what amazing creations will be pulled together! If you're excited too, please head on over to the Bella blog and share your enthusiasm!

Thanks for visiting..x

Bella BLVD | Snap...

This week over at Bella Blvd, the design team are looking beyond at the Campout Collection to create projects that possibly don't match up with the Great Outdoors!  I wanted to document Liam's accident on the hockey field which ruled him out of playing for his team during the State Titles... three days later.

"Snap"

Products Used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Bella Blvd | Campout: Under The Stars, In The Woods, Daily Details, Borders, Go Jump In The Lake, Trail Mix; Alphas - Bella Blvd | Campout Treasures&Text; other - Bella Blvd: Color Chaos Clear Cut | Pickle Juice Confetti; water colour paint; tools - silhouette portrait, typewriter.

When using the Campout collection to help convey the story on my layout, I've looked beyond the normal concepts for putting a page together and refocused on the colors and patterns.  My son had a terrible accident during a sporting event leaving him unable to play for the rest of the season but even worse than that, completely eliminating him from participating in State Titles the very next week end. For a 12 year old, it was the end of the world!

I wanted to share his devastation on the page by adding sharp angles, as seen in the triangle paper sharpening the soft lines of the cut out letter 'S' and broken lines which are layered beneath the photo. The stars and spots were also added to relate the idea of what he saw in front of his eyes, at the time of the break, while the flowers signify the many get well wishes.

Sometimes I wonder if I read too much into patterned paper when I put my layouts together. But ultimately everything on my page supports the story I want to document, regardless of the specific collection I am creating with.

If you would like to see what the others design team members are creating, don't forget to head on over to the Bella blog.  Thanks for visiting..x

Jot Magazine | October Mood Board!

Hello Friends!  I am pretty excited about this month's mood board over at Jot Magazine because I had the pleasure of selecting a few Pinterest images to be brought together to try and inspire! I must of had water colour on the mind particularly as the inspiration pieces, that made it to the board, came together.. *grin*

In truth, it really was the water colour world map that started my journey through the myriad of goodness on Pinterest. I just knew that I had to incorporate the same (or similar) process on a page. Here's what I came up with..

"Happy"

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - October Afternoon; alpha - American Crafts thickers; other - water colour paint, Heidi Swapp colorshine, black sharpie pen, OA stickers and chipboard; tools - silhouette portrait, typewriter, sewing machine.

I started out by searching for a free downloadable image via Google for a "flat world map". After saving the image and converting it to a .jpg file, I was then able to trace the outside image of the map in my silhouette software.

A lot of the detail was too fine for my cutting machine, so I removed any great lakes or small islands from the image before I sent it to be cut out from sturdy cardstock.

This then left the basic outline to use as a water colour stencil directly onto my background layout cardstock.

From my collection of Heidi Swapp colorshine mist and water colour paint palette, I proceeded to lightly brush over the openings in the stencil - allowing drying time between each colour. Add some water to your mist on a separate palette to achieve a washed out look.  Tip: Use washi tape to secure the stencil/mask to the back ground cardstock to prevent movement between each paint layer. To obtain a softness between the colours, brush the cardstock with water before adding the paint.

After my background technique was completed, I started to take other elements from the moodboard. Especially the hand drawn circles with the "focus on happy" theme.

The remainder of the layout came together very easily by adding a touch of florals (fussy cut from the October Afternoon patterned paper) and grounding all the elements with the black die cut heart shapes.

If you would like to play along with this mood board challenge... (and I'd really love for you to try it out!! *grin*) Please, come and visit the Jot Magazine blog to check out the details.  Happy scrapping and thanks for visiting here today.

Scraptastic Club | Pinterest Monday...

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to share  with you a layout created for Scraptastic Club Pinterest Monday.  Monique and I are up on the blog here.

 

 

 



 "Happy Heart"

products used: Scraptastic Club Kit - This Must Be The Place; Add on - This Must Be The Place; flair/badges - This Must Be The Place; tools - typewriter, silhouette portrait.

 

Once again I broke out my Silhouette Portrait to recreate the quote.  I positioned the words on the right side and justified the edge to allow the individual words to line up perfectly. Below the cut I placed the moon phase patterned paper from the This Must Be The Place January kit and then layered the Crate Paper Open Book | Chapters patterned paper and the yellow cardstock beneath that.

If you would like to see more details, please visit the new Scraptastic Club website.

 

Thanks for joining me today.

 

Scraptastic Club | A - Z Challenge...

Hello Friends!  We have a fabulous challenge on the Scraptastic Club blog today and I am hoping you are all willing to play along.  The wonderfully talented Anna and I are challenging you to use the full alphabet on your layouts.  Quite a big ask perhaps, but for those of you in organisation and purging mode for the new year, this challenge is perfect for you!

 

What better way to use up some of your scrapbooking stash?  Anna's layout is simply stunning and I love the way she has incorporated journaling into her challenge process.  I have chosen a more subtle approach and dusted off my Silhouette to create an easy 3x4 alphabet card from plain white cardstock.

 

"Here"

 

products used: Scraptastic Club Kit - This Must Be The Place; Add on - This Must Be The Place; flair/badges - This Must Be The Place; tools - typewriter, silhouette portrait.

 

Like Anna, I have also used the Scraptastic Club This Must Be The Place January kit and have used the challenge this week to express the transitional phase my youngest son is going through right now.

 

 

At first glance the alphabet card really doesn't seem to be related to anything else on the page.  But for me, it represents an age where he is learning.  He is about to start his very first year at school and the process of getting into a new routine is very relevant.  Including having a space all of his own in his bedroom.

 

 

I've drawn out the beautiful teal blues and yellow colours in the kit and teamed them with a masculine grey. But to soften the entire look I've added the gorgeous vellum embellishments, including the flowers.  Also by using the reverse side of the vellum, see above, I've kept the focus of my layout on the photos and story, rather than the bright pop of colour.  It stood out on the page like a beacon shouting "Look at me!!"

 

 

Thanks for visiting here today and I hope I have inspired you to take up the challenge over at Scraptastic Club.  Good luck and I can't wait to see the layouts in the gallery!

----quick tutorial-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To create your own alphabet cut file, open a new file in Silhouette and using the rounded corner rectangle, create a shape at 3" wide x 4" high. This forms your background/base card.

 

Click on the text icon and type in 'a, b, c, d, e'.  I used the Aharoni font. Resize the text to fit onto the 3x4 background shape.  Continue the same process with the following text lines: 'f - l'; 'm - p'; 'q - v'; w - z'.

 

Hold the 'shift' key and select the entire cut file.  Group all the elements together by right clicking the mouse.

Now you can send the file to your silhouette to be cut out.
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17 Turtles Guest Designer | Cut Files...

Hi Everyone!  I just wanted to share with you today that I am guest designing for Juliana Michaels: 17 Turtles and her etsy store - 17 Turtles Digital Cut Files.  She has a lovely collection of digital cut files to create with and I am very excited to help her spread the word of her new venture.

 

I have been playing with two of these cut files and created a layout for each file individually.  The first layout features the "Roses" digital cut file.

 

 "Mulan"

  

products used: cs - gold glitter, American Crafts; pp - Scraptastic Club Kit (Worth Wondering); alpha - Jillibean Soup (beanboards) ; other - embroidery thread; tools - silhouette  portrait, typewriter.

Right from the start these blooms reminded me of my daughter's dance solo where she was Mulan.  Isn't it funny how certain images can trigger memories!  *grin*  I cut the "roses" from gold glitter cardstock and instead of using a traditional green leaf to go with them, opted for brown instead.  These colours not only support my photo but lean heavily towards an Asian influence.

You can find this cut file and many more over in Juliana's etsy shop.
 

 

My second layout is up, over at Juliana's blog today as well.  I think I drooled a little bit when I saw the "Pie Chart Love" cut file!!! Here's a sneak peek..  ps - I've used the Scraptastic Club Kit "The Girl" to create this layout.

 

 

If you get the chance, head on over to 17 Turtles and discover what I've created with this awesome background cut file!  Thanks for visiting...x

 

 



Bella Blvd | Coffee Date...

Hello Friends!!  Happy Valentine's Day!!  I hope this wonderful Friday puts you in the mood to grab someone close to you and give them a great big hug!  Today I have a 'love' inspired layout to share with you.  Over at Bella Blvd we have been challenged with a new Pinterest image to glean inspiration from...

 

 

 

"Coffee Date"

products used: pp - Bella Blvd (Love and Marriage/Freestyle Sophisticates); alphas - Bella Blvd; other - Bella Blvd: crochet hearts, stickers, designer tape; Kaisercraft pearls, Mister Huey's mist, vellum; tools - typewriter, hand stitching, silhouette portrait.

At first glance my layout doesn't really resemble the Pinterest image but I have taken inspiration from a number areas!  *grin*  The colour of the back ground, the heart banners, the hearts(!), the 'love' arrangement and even a little bit of the ombre, have all been used.  :)

I knew, after seeing this Pinterest image for the first time, that I wanted to use the crochet hearts.  They add such a lovely texture to the page.  I've teamed them up with some silhouette cut hearts and hand stitched them to the layout.

 

If you would like to see what the other designers have created with this image, please head on over to the Bella blog.  And while you are there, don't forget to sign up for the Bella Buzz newsletter - due out later today!

 

And as an update for everyone who just. can't. wait. to get their hands on the new CHA collections.....

 

Thanks so much for visiting...x