SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY - First Year Patchwork

Drumroll please...........

Today's post was a labor of love. I have spent more time on this 2-page scrapbook layout than I have ever spent on a layout before. I love how it turned out. (Half of the time was probably spent admiring my baby, who is now a high school senior!) I used miscellaneous baby face photos from baby's first year.

Color selection was important for this layout - I chose 4 colors to compliment my photos & cut small same-sized squares for the "patches" in this patchwork layout. Arrange the squares on the base cardstock. Choose a neutral color for the base - I have used Creamy Caramel.

Photos are cropped smaller than the squares so the cs squares form a mat for the photo. I added photos to every other square & added embellishments such as ribbon, eyelets, complimentary patterned papers & brads to empty squares.

I added titles at an angle, some of it on a ribbon, to add interest.

A few people have asked me why most of my Scrapbook Saturday posts are of one particular child when I have more than one child. Well, that particular child will be graduating from high school soon, and I am attempting to create a scrapbook of his life. So, his pics & pages are more relevant for the next few months. No, I do not have a favorite child! lol

Linda :)

FAST FRIDAY - 3 apples

I just love paper punches for making quick cards! Here I've paired the Summer Picnic dsp (retired) with the little apples in the One Smart Cookie stamp set. The message stamp in the same stamp set, "sweeter than apple pie", would look terrific on this card too!

Though today is not Think About Color Thursday, take note of this color combination too! Bashful Blue, Real Red & Old Olive

Linda :)

THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Pacific Point, Rose Red, Going Gray, Whisper White

Believe it or not, college and then high school graduations are only a few months away. Why not get a head start in making your own graduation cards?

Today I felt like putting together a card that was something absolutely different - including some colors that most of us wouldn't ever think of putting together!

Pacific Point, Rose Red,

Going Gray, Whisper White

Supplies:

cs: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Going Gray

dsp: Cutie Pie

ink: Classic Stampin' Pad - Basic Gray, Pacific Point

stamp sets: Great Grads, Itty Bitty Buds , non S U

punches: corner rounder

I used the corner rounder punch (take the guard off before punching) to make the scalloped edges on this card. Stampin' Dimensionals add dimension to the flower and graduation cap.

Linda :)

WHATEVER WEDNESDAY - SNEAK PEEK

SNEAK PEEK AT TOMORROW EVENING'S CAMP!!!!
Here are 3 of the 6 cards that we'll be creating!

Nothing else for today - have a great day!

Linda :)

TUESDAY TIPS - Top Note Baby Blessings

Today's Tuesday Tip:

Try the Top Note Die for cardmaking!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Top Note Sizzix Bigz die that Stampin' Up is selling. Today's darling card is made by running Certainly Celery cs & the Top Note die through a diecutting machine. The Top Note die is meant to fit in the Stampin' Up Big Shot diecutting/ embossing machine by Sizzix, but I already have a Cuttlebug diecutting/embossing machine, so I played with the "sandwich" recipe until I found what works for my particular diecutting system. If you've never used a diecutting machine, you may not know what I'm talking about. I would be happy to let you in on the big secret - just ask.

Anyway, score one of the top note cuts about an inch from the top edge & adhere the two top notes together by applying adhesive just above the score line & press the two pieces together.

The background is scrapbook paper that I had on hand. Run the paper & Top Note die through your diecutting machine, & then cut all the way around on the scored line that the die creates on the diecut paper. Doing this creates a slightly smaller version of the Top Note shape!

I stamped my baby angel image, colored it with Stampin' Up Certainly Celery & Mellow Moss markers, tucked some folded ribbon undermeath, & then adhered it to the card front with dimensionals.

The diecutting only takes a few minutes, so this card actually was a quick one. If you don't have a diecutting/embossing machine, check this out!

Linda :)

MAP IT MONDAY - Sale-a-Bration swirly

I used the stamp set called Live Like You Mean It and the flower from the Sale-a-Bration stamp set called Polka Dot Punches. Instead of pairing the flower stamp with a Stampin' Up scallop circle punch, I just cut it into a square.

Stamping: The flower is made with the faux silk stamping technique and Mellow Moss ink. Punch a hole in the center of the flower. "Life" is stamped with Mellow Moss & punched with the curly label punch.

Swirly: Run the Bravo Burgundy cs through your diecutting/embossing machine for a swirly dry embossed look. Then, use a corner rounder punch.

Ribbon: Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon is knotted at one end & threaded through the flower. The flower is matted in Mellow Moss cs, then the ribbon is adhered underneath the Burgundy cs.

Just a few days until Stamp Camp!!!!!! Can't wait!

Linda :)

WHATEVER WEDNESDAY - Breezy Thoughts

Cs: Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow
Inks: Brocade Blue inkpad, Stampin’ Write markers – Yoyo Yellow, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Brocade Blue
Stamp sets: Thoughts & Prayers, Life’s a Breeze
Other: Old Olive Ribbon, Diecutting Machine, Top Note die

Here I’ve used a Yoyo Yellow Top note negative “frame” & tied some ribbon onto it.

The flowering branch from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set was inked up using Stampin’ Up markers. I colored directly onto the rubber. Begin with yellow, then move on to darker colors. Dab the brush end of a Brocade Blue marker into the middle of each flower.

Linda :)

SCRAPOOK SATURDAY - Birthday Stamping

Whisper White was the foundation for this layout. I used some scrapbook paper from my bottomless paper stash & pulled in the Tempting Turquoise blue & Yo Yo Yellow as matching colors.

I decided to do some stamping - I used the B is for Birthday stamp set & Sock Monkey stamp set. I added some yellow accents in the form of photo corner punches and flowers. A chipboard number "one" served as a pattern for tracing my number onto patterned paper. It was perfect for a first birthday, and I also drew dots around it with a fine line marker.

I have to remind myself from time to time that stamping is fun to do on scrapbook pages as well as on cards!

Linda

FAST FRIDAY - Tiny Bubbles

I ran a stylus across the card in my paper trimmer to crease a line across the bottom. This creates a dry-embossed straight line. I added some purple cardstock above the embossed line.

Next, I stamped a tiny "thanks" on white cs, punched it out with a circle punch & punched out some other circles from patterned cs. I overlapped & popped up the circles with dimensionals. Done in record time! Phew!

Linda :)

THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Cameo Coral & Really Rust

Today's post is a card that I really poured creativity into. Nearly everything is heat embossed, which adds such depth. The Cameo Coral cs "bubble frame" under "really do come true" is heat embossed & then hand cut. The brads add a unique touch to the flowers.

RECIPE:
cs: Whisper White, Old Olive, Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Really Rust
dsp: Design Series Patterns Paper - Tempting Turquoise
Inks: Classic Stampin' Pads - Tempting Turquoise, Really Rust, VM Inkpad
Stamp Sets: Inspired by Nature, Frames With a Flourish, other non SU stamp
Punches: Ticket Corner, 1/2" & 3/4" circles
Other: Hodgepodge Hardware brads, clear EP, push pin

Linda :)

WHATEVER WEDNESDAY - Tic Tac Heart

This card is one of the cards from the Valentine's Day Stamp Camp. Since I had enough Valentine's Day cards, I reworked the card into a baby girl card. I discovered that there are countless ideas for this tic-tac-toe set besides Valentine's Day!

RECIPE

cs: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion

inks: Classic Stampin' Pads - Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion; Stampin' Write Marker - Pretty in Pink

stamps: A Happy Heart

punches: 1 3/8" circle, designer label, key tag, scallop edge, 1/2" circle

other: mat pack paper piercing kit, dimensionals

Tic-tac-toe: This image is stamped in Chocolate Chip & then again in Pink Passion. The pink hearts are punched out, cut out, or markered, & one is adhered with a dimensional. The piece is layered on Chocolate Chip cs, Pink Passion cs, then a scallop-edged Chocolate Strip is added underneath.

Finishing: I layered everything onto the large Pink Passion cs, then paper pierced it & also pierced the pink layer on the "Feb. 14" image. Everything is layered onto Chocolate Chip cs & then adhered to the card.

Linda :)

TUESDAY TIPS - Tag, You're It!!!!

Use small and large tag punches to make little tags to keep on hand!

If you want to relax & create, yet you don't have time or aren't inspired to make cards from start to finish, why not make a tag or two?! Tag making is a perfect way to try out new techniques. You can practice on little pieces of cs, punch out tags, layer & set aside for another day.

The tag for today's card was created with the "Direct-to-Rubber Shading" technique (see my January 6, 2009 post), but a tag can be made fun with so many different techniques, including watercoloring, faux metal or silk, and embossing, just to name a few.

When it's time to create cards, pair your tag with a Map It Monday layout, or keep it simple with one complimentary cs on a white card like I've done here. I added piercing to spice it up a bit.

Tag, you're it! Try it yourself!

Linda :)

MAP IT MONDAY - Hi Ski Slope

RECIPE:

cs: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

dsp: Ski Slope

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pad - Old Olive
Stamp Set: Say It With Scallops

Punches: Scallop Square, Ticket Corner

Other: brads, mat pack & piercing tool, dimensionals

The "hi" image is stamped with Old Olive ink onto white cs & punched out with the scallop square punch. I love how stamp sets are perfectly matched up to punches! Consider squirting your Old Olive inkpad with an Old Olive reinker before inking up bold solid image stamps such as this one. You'll get a more solid, bold stamped image.

linda ;)

SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY - small papers

How are small scrapbook papers (6" x 6" or 8" x 8", for instance) used on 12" x 12" scrapbook pages? There are plenty of things you can do with them. Use them to mat a photo or create layers on a page. Make embellishments or small elements for your pages with them. Design a page on the small paper, then adhere it to a 12 x 12 page - it gives a simple, uncluttered look.

Here's another idea: "block" your layout. In other words, adhere the small papers (or cut them even smaller) to divide a 12" x 12" page into sections, squares, or quadrants - perfectly square or varied. In today's blog layout, I adhered an 8" x 8" paper in the upper left corner & trimmed another small paper to adhere in the lower right corner of the neutral base.

Try this idea with Stampin' Up designer paper! Choose 1 or 2 sheets from your package & a matching solid card stock to adhere them to! Our designer papers are double-sided, so you'll get 4 mix-&-match prints from just 2 papers. What an easy & quick page!

Here's another great idea! I have whited out the faces and names on this page for privacy, but you can see where I've journaled the names of the children at this birthday party inside the balloons. Those kindergarten friends' names will never be forgotten.

Linda :)

Fast Friday - Put a Smile in Your Heart

ANOTHER FAST ONE FOR FAST FRIDAY.................


Maybe you are on the way out the door to bring dinner to a sick friend or a friend is having a bad day & you want to drop off a little pick-me-up card while running errands. This card is so fast that it literally can be done on your way out the door! AND, it'll make someone SMILE!

RECIPE:
cs: Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery
dsp: Patterns Designer Series Paper - Certainly Celery
stamp set: Bitty Basics
ink: Classic Stampin' Pad - Certainly Celery
other: Heart to Heart Punch, dimensional

Just do repeat stamping of the heart all over the front of the card, add a strip of patterned paper, stamp a mini message & then punch it out with a heart. Use a dimensional to pop up the heart & you are done!

Linda :)

Think About Color Thursday - Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Whisper White

Here is a terrific, bright color combo.....

CAMEO CORAL, TEMPTING TURQUOISE, OLD OLIVE, WHISPER WHITE

The flowers AND the "note of love" message were both embossed with VM & white EP.

Have a great day!

Linda :)

Whatever Wednesday - Embossed Tin

Did you know that you can emboss metal tins? One of the things we made at last week's stamp camp was this Valentine's tin gift. Isn't it beautiful? It's a CD tin that can be used for CD's, little gifts, or anything. We put candy hearts inside. The hearts bag was topped with a matching paper topper. The tin is heat embossed with VM and silver embossing powder.

The "belly band" on the tin has a wide oval adhered with a dimensional. I punched the oval from paper that I had dry embossed. The hearts were punched with the new Heart to Heart punch. The ribbon is threaded through pairs of Crop-o-Dile holes.

Don't miss the next Stamp Camp on Thursday, February 26 in my home studio! There are just a few spots left. Email lahinks@gmail.com to register - see the sidebar on my blog for details.

Linda :)

Tuesday Tips - Patterns Designer Series Papers

I just love the Patterns Designer Series Papers! They are packages of designer paper that are totally monochromatic. The packages come in specific Stampin' Up colors, so they match the inks, ribbon, card stock, etc. Each piece has a printed pattern on it - the little strip at the bottom of this card uses a polka dot pattern.

The Good Friend stamp set I used on this card is officially my new favorite stamp set (until I come up with my next favorite)! It has a cute little bird & birdie parts, flowers & flower parts, & "good friend" - but there are ingenious ways to use each stamp, not just for the obvious bird & flower. On this card I used one of the flower parts & combined it with punched circles. Love it!

RECIPE:
CS: Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Kraft Brown
Inks: Classic Stampin' Pad - Basic Black
dsp: Patterns Designer Series Paper - Certainly Celery
Stamp Set: Brand New "Good Friend" Stamp Set!!!!
Other: 1 3/8" circle punch

C Ya.

Linda :)

Map It Monday - Celery Life

I never got around to posting yesterday, so I'll post two for you today!

The map for this card is basic, but this card can be as simple or as intricate as you want it to be, depending on layers & embellishments. It's much easier to line up images for this stamp set with a stamp positioner.

RECIPE:

CS: Certainly Celery, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

dsp: Wintergreen (retired)

stamp set: Live Like You Mean It

Inks: Classic Stampin' Pads: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Sage Shadow

Other: Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig stamp positioner

Linda :)

SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY - pull colors from your photos

Today's post reinforces a simple scrapbooking tip that is often overlooked - choose paper by pulling a color or 2 from your photos.

The colors in this patterned scrapbook paper are not among my usual favorite scrapbooking color combinations. However, my photos & the paper shared some of the same colors. The paper was quite busy, so I toned it down by pairing it with sold colors found in the patterned paper. It works. Going out of one's "color comfort zone" sometimes pays off.

The "r" in "roo" (kangaroo) is from Stampin' Up's Lots of Letters chipboard package.

Linda

Fast Friday - Free Form

This card is a 5 1/2" square. I added four squares from patterned paper in the same pastel hues. Then, I cut a free-form retro flower, added a matching brad, then adhered the flower to my card. I drew faux topstitching with a fine-line marker on the flower. Love it!

Linda :)

Think About Color Thursday - Pretty in Pink, Taken with Teal, Barely Banana

This 4" square card uses the Sale-a-Bration stamp set called Polka Dot Punches AND the Sale-a-Bration stamp set called Congrats. The Polka Dot Punches set has images that match up to several Stampin' Up's punches perfectly! I chose the 5-Petal punch & 5-petal flower stamp for this card. How cool!

I adhered everything onto the Barely Banana cs & then adhered that Barely Banana piece with dimensionals to the card. The flower is also adhered with a dimensional. I adhered pink polka dot ribbon (flat) around the cs.

I almost forgot ---- I also used the new Eyelet Border punch in the new catalog! I absolutely adore this punch. I had thought that the scallop border punch introduced in the last catalog was my favorite, but this eyelet border punch has topped it!

Linda :)

Whatever Wednesday - Faux Metal Rimmed Tag

Try making a tag just like the ones you buy with the metal around the edges. Here I have used it to embellish this card.

Supplies:

1 1/4" & 1 1/2" circle or square punches

velum card stock or regular cs

inkpad & stamp

Stampin' Up 2-way glue pen

Stamp your image: Use either cs or velum. Be sure there's room around the edges of the image. If using cs, punch out image with 1 1/2" circle punch & set aside. If using velum, you can either punch it out now or trim or punch it out when the tag is finished.

Make the Rim:

1. Punch 1 1/4" metallic cs with circle punch, leaving room around the edges.

2. Now, take the metallic cs that you just punched the circle from (not the little circle you just punched) & align the hole so it is evenly centered inside your 1 1/2" circle punch. Punch out the center so it becomes like a frame. Here's one done with a square punch.

3. Make another metallic frame so you have two of them.

Assembly:

1. Glue one of the frames around the punched shape that has the image, lining up edges evenly & centering the image inside the 'frame'.

2. Turn the tag over & glue the second metallic frame onto the back.

3. Let glue dry completely. If you haven't punched out the image yet, either punch around the tag again or trim around it with scissors.

Here are 3 examples of faux metal rimmed tags that I made. The one on the right is velum.

Linda :)

Tuesday Tips - Feature the Paper

Do you have a scrapbook paper that has a cute pattern?

Tuesday Tip: Make patterned paper the featured element on your card.

The monkeys on this paper were so interesting that I decided to feature them instead of stamping a main image. The only thing I stamped was "happy birthday".

I created interest all around the patterned paper with paper piercing, tabs, brads & a scalloped edge.

The card is a brown kraft cs. The scalloped cs is adhered with dimensionals to add depth.

Linda

Map It Monday - Hoppy Birthday

Today's post is a little ditty using one of my old standby stamp sets, Unfroggetable. I cuttlebugged the Bravo Burgundy cs, stamped the frog with Always Artichoke & colored him (or is it a her?) with Stampin' Write markers of Mellow Moss & Sage Shadow.

The little dotted stripes are actually from my bottomless embellishment box. They were left over Simply Scrappin' Kit border stripe stickers - there are so many stickers in those kits that I always have leftovers! They sure come in handy!

"Hoppy" is popped up with dimensionals.

Linda :)