A Perfect Family Harvest

Looking for a clever Fall layout to include some fun photos and facts about your family members? Then check out this Harvest theme layout I did for Glue Arts using their adhesives, my computer for the title and journaling along with K & Company cardstock.

Here is a closeup on the title and paper piecing...

I have a template for the paper piecing and a file for the title available as pdfs. Email me if you are interested in those. You can check out the step by step instructions on Glue Arts’ website.

Who Says Dogs Aren't Manipulative?

I beg to differ with those dog trainers who say that dogs don't know spite and don't feel emotions like we do. And our Wheaton Terrier proves my point daily. Bella is as high strung and emotional as any of my teen girls. She whines when I am taking too long to get ready for a walk, pitches a fit when we are getting ready to leave, smiles when she knows a treat is coming her way and plays the funniest game of I love mommy best with my daughter Ashley, who loves Bella dearly.

It starts like this...Ashley wants Bella to come snuggle with her on the couch or wants to snatch her up to bring her in her bedroom. Only Bella has always been a dog to give affection on her terms, and watching the game is quite amusing. Ashley will call her over and Bella will leap over three people and sit practically on top of me, as if to say "protect me mommy — don't make her take me!" This often becomes a cat and mouse game with the two of them and Bella being held against her will with a look on her face of resentment. All in all, when Ashley isn't around she sometimes goes in her room and lies on her bed or looks for her. She is always ready with kisses, but no matter how hard Ashley tries, Bella wants control of the relationship and her affection. Ashley gets frustrated at times, but I have to find it humorous that they act more like siblings than a dog and a girl.

Layout notes: I cut up parts of a predesigned layout by Bisou Bzoo to create my own layout. For adhesive I used Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro with High Tac adhesive, Stampin' Up dimensionals and 2-way glue. The tiny flower and star punches were from Michaels dollar bins, purchased a while ago. The dog chipboard tags are Marcella K found at Target and I also used K& Company Carolyn Gavin Grand Adhesions stickers for the adorable You & Me heart. To personalize the journaling I added some hand doodling that I colored in with markers. Also included were some assorted ribbons in coordinating colors. Thanks for viewing!

A Touch of Vintage

I promised to share with you some variations on my Flip, Flap Purse mini album. I just love these great papers from K&Company. I combined them with a brown embossed cardstock from American crafts to give a vintage look to this fun scrapbooking concept. I added a touch of beaded ribbon to the top flap for an added shimmer of gold. The center “button” embellishment was created from punched paper and a gold rhinestone brad from Stampin’ Up!®

Have fun making variations of these using square and pointed flap envelopes. Glue Arts website will soon feature a video and instructions for creating the flip flap purse. You can add your own creativity to make a wall full of fun, decorative mini albums.

These also make wonderful gifts.

Fabulous 4th!

This layout uses embossing powder and punches with a crinkled plastic wrap technique that adds a little extra sparkle to the design.  My inspiration for this layout is the K&Co. patterned paper in the lower right hand corner with foil stamping. The glittered titled stickers are also K& Co. This photo of my daughter and niece really is one of my favorites. I chose a 5 petal flower punch to compliment the stars associated with this holiday. I used a small star punch for the center accents. The type was computer typeset, trimmed out and attached to color tabs of patterned paper from Bo Bunny. Try some of these techniques and ideas to make your 4th of July layout sparkle.

A Littlle Inspiration to Kick Off National Scrapbooking Day

With Mother's Day just around the corner and today being National Scrapbooking Day, I wanted to share with you these projects that will soon be featured in a video demo on Glue Arts’ website. I hope it will inspire you to do a little scrapbooking today.

This is a closeup view of the scrapbook page featuring some handcut paper flowers from the K&Company McKenna collection. These “Shabby Chic” layered circle flowers are so fun and easy to make! Using patterned papers and a series of circles you can make these distressed flowers in no time to enhance your layouts and projects. Below are some close up views of the flowers. And be sure to check out the folded ribbon - new sewing involved! I used Glue Arts micro adhesive squares and some gold mini brads to secure in place.

The matching trinket box, shown below, is so easy to make and no painting required! It showcases the new lace border punch from Stampin’ Up! available for purchase on my SU website as well as the button bouquet designer buttons.  I accented the buttons with gold embroidery thread or ribbons on these projects. Have fun creating your gift for mom!