Pink Persimmon NEW RELEASE - Sewing Notions & Classic Patterns

Hello friends.  Today I'm sharing a scrapbook layout with photo's of me at 12 years of age.  My mom used to sew a lot of my clothes and the dress in the photo's was for my 6th grade graduation. The photo's are really old polaroids and I had to figure out how to hide the white strips along the bottom of the photo's.   I used 2 new stamp sets by Pink Persimmon on this layout, "Classic Patterns" and "Sewing Notions".  You can check them out over at the Pink Persimmon store HERE.  

I was shopping at my local scrapbook store recently and found the Bo-Bunny "Pincushion" line (chipboard and paper embellishments).  I knew it would be perfect to pair up with these images!!   I used Pink Persimmon's "Sweetheart Silk" as well.  I think it looks cute with the lace wrapped around it.  My "Nautical Wheeler" doily die (Cheery Lynn Designs) was a perfect fit for this layout as well.  I purchased the really wide lace at Joann's.

I tucked a tag behind the photo for my journaling.  You can see the top of the tag with the little flower embellishment in this photo.   I adhered a piece of polka dot vellum over the top of a piece of cardstock and really like how it softened the color.  

Make sure you check out the Pink Persimmon blog this week for more inspiration HERE.

See you tomorrow with another new release project!

hugs, Melisa

Gingerbread House Mini-Album

Cover

So I decided to break up the monotony of all cards and post a mini-album. 

Good morning scrapbookers.  Today I'm sharing a Gingerbread House album I created a about 2 years ago .... but I enjoyed it so much .... I wanted to share it with you again since I have some new followers.

When my children were growing up we used to make Gingerbread houses as part of our Christmas activities.  Some years we used the standard store bought houses.  But we were pretty serious and some years made our own gingerbread dough so we could be creative.  My kids came up with some crazy stuff over the years (you don't want to miss the army tank my son created below.  Hard to see in the photo .... but he has a candy Santa in front of it).    

I miss doing fun activities like this with my children.  They grow up so fast.
fondly reminiscing,
Melisa

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Project Details

Gingerbread Chipboard Album Kit : Creative Cuts and More

Cover

I used a few stamps and some mini Christmas ornaments from Hobby Lobby to embellish most of my album.

The cover was stamped in snow flakes.  First with VersaMark Ink and white embossing powder.  Then with Glue Pad and sprinkled with red glitter.  Because the glitter will not stick long term, I sprayed the background with several coats of Matte Fixative Spray.  The cute gingerbread man is a cute die-cut by Creative Cuts and More.  I used white paint for the icing lines and the pepperment is my pepperment stamp with the ends cut off.  The brick on the house is Layers of Color's "Brick Wall" cling art stamp colored with Copics.  The peppermint sticks on the house corners and chimney are handmade.  I used my T-Square to draw a series of lines, and then cut at an angle to create the diagonal look. Trace the openings of the window and door on white cardstock, cut openings out, and then trim around with deckled scissors.  Adhere around door and windows.  Add glitter using a 2-Way glue pen.  The swirly on the roof is May Road, painted white and covered in glitter.  The stocking button is a Dress It Up button purchased from Michaels.  I added fabric filler/padding on the side of the roof, applied Aleene's Tachy Glue, and sprinkled with glitter.  I painted the chipboard trim with white paint, applied white glue, and sprinkled with glitter.  The candy peppermints were handstamped, colored with Copics, and hand cut.  If you do not have a similar stamp, then consider using a pattern from a coloring book off the internet.  HERE.

 Pages 1 & 2

I was able to find some snow flakes, candy cane border, and peppermint stamps in my stash. They are all old, so I can't link you. I think the candy cane border and peppermint candy stamps were inexpensive stamps from the dollar bin at Michaels years back.

 Page 1

The 2 mini gingerbread die's are from CCM as well. 

I was able to find a peppermint border stamp HERE.  But you can also consider searching for a digital stamp or coloring book image as well.  I added white acrylic paint around the edges of all photo's.  Glitter was added to each around the edges after doodling.   I found the cutest poem that a teacher used on a bulletin board HERE.

Page 2

Embellish the inside of snowflakes with red Stickles. 

 Pages 3 & 4

I used a large polka dot background stamp on page 3.  And I found these cutie patootie gingerbread buttons at a local craft store.  They are called "Iced Cookie Gingerbread Men" by Dress It Up (Michaels).  Check out the buttons I found HERE that would be perfect for your album.  And check out the buttons for sale on this blog ...  scroll down to Oct 27th  HERE.

 Page 3

Page 4

I added pocket pages in my album.  I cut a sheet of cardstock 5 3/4" x 11" and then scored at 5 1/2".  The opening is along the side with the green scallops.  So I can tuck in some tags with journaling.  So page 4 is only 5 1/2" long and therefore you can see part of page 6.  I wanted to include gingerbread dough and icing recipes.  What you can't see is there is actually a second pocket page underneath this one and on the outside of the front and backs are the instrutions for preparing the dough and icing.

 Page 5 & 6

 Page 6

Page 6 includes some mini-ornaments found at Hobby Lobby.  They have 2 sections this year including gingerbread ornaments.  One is a mini tree section and then again in the large ornament section.  There were little hooks in the top that I unscrewed and removed.

 Pages 7 & 8

More mini ornaments on these 2 pages.  The edger punch on page 8 is by EK Success. This is not a traditional border punch.  It creates a paper ribbon.

 Page 7

 Page 8

 Pages 9 & 10

I used a large background stamp on these 2 pages.  The stamp is by Inkadinkado.

 Page 9

Yes that's an army tank shooting Santa!  I really wanted my kids to create houses with traditional christmas colors, but they wanted to do there own thing, and this is just one example.  Sometimes their creative idea's worked and sometimes they didn't.  One year my son and his girlfriend decided to do a "Disney" themed house.  They tried to build a roller coaster coming off the roof!  It all looked great, except the roller coaster didn't work out.

Page 10

The holly embellishments in the corners are by Favorite Findings (Michaels).

Page 11 & 12

Page 11

Page 12

The chipboard candy canes used on the roof are from Creative Cuts and More.  I painted them white, added lines with a Micron pen, and colored strips with a marker.  I crisscrossed 2 of them and embellished with the holly button.

Scrapbook Layout using GinaK Designs "Gift's of the Sea"

My layout today was designed using stamps by Gina K. Designs.  I used up some really old products from my stash (patterned paper, cardstock sticker embellishments)!  The hemp / sea shell trim was a really cool find from years ago at a local craft store.

I created the sand using Pumice (Golden).  You can find it in the art supply section of a local craft store.  It is grey in the container but mixes with acrylic paint.

 I mixed it with a cream color and then rubbed some off white paint over it to add some highlights.  

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.
  
Hope you are staying cool this summer!
Melisa



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Project Details

Stamps : GinaK Designs "Gift's from the Sea" and "Lovely Labels 2"

Die : Tim Holtz (flourish)

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Distress tool : Making Memories

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Challenges

Scrap It Girl - Use your dies (swirlies and label with "Faith is Knowing" sentiment)
Scrap the Girls - Winter colors (blue and brown)

Bundle of Joy Layout for The Cutting Cafe

Good Morning friends.  Today I am sharing a layout designed using digital stamps / digital cut files by The Cutting Cafe.  Babies are the theme this week so you can hop over to the 

TCC Blog later today for more inspiration.  

The main focus of the assignment was to use one of the TCC baby bottle shaped cards / treat boxes or the diaper shaped card.  I used the baby bottle shape plus digital stamp images from "All About Babies" to create paper embellishments for my layout.  I also used a couple of dies by Cottage Cuts (Baby Buttons Mini and Diaper Pins Mini ) on the banner.

You can check out the digital files here :

Baby Bottle Shaped Card

Baby Bottle Treat Box

Diaper Shaped Card / Invite

"All About Babies" Digital Stamp Set

I used the PDF files for this project to create my paper piecing's.  Several images come on 1 PDF page, but I only needed to use a single image on a page.  I followed Regina's instructions found HERE.  Scroll down til you see the section for printing just one image.  My printer settings also allow me to re-size and image as well.  The only images I re-sized are the stars on each end of the banner (60%) and the words miracle / baby boy (75%).  After I click the printer setting on the PDF page my printer box comes up.  My printer gives me the option to change settings.  For my printer I went to "properties", then "advanced", then "page layout".  This is where I am able to reduce the size it will print.  

I always print the image as a draft first.  I cut my patterned paper to fit over the image and secure it with some light tack tape.  I switch the setting to print a better quality and print.  I repeat the process for each patterned paper I need for the particular image I'm paper piecing.   For example : I printed the boat on white cardstock, blue, and yellow patterned paper.  I trimmed out the outline of the entire image from the white so I would have a base to adhere the other section to.  I trimmed other pieces and adhere to the base.  I used pop dots for the sails and star at the top.  

Hope you are having a fabulous week so far!!
Melisa

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CHALLENGES

Frosted Designs - punches (scalloped border)
Scrap It Girl - dies (photo mat, buttons and small diaper pin on banner)

Created With Love - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime - use at least 2 ribbon / fibers (banner and across the layout)
The Crazy Challenge - Use sentiments (sentiments were printed on baby bottle and on banner flags)

OH SNAP!

Hello friends.  Camera's are a huge trend in paper crafting right now and I LOVE it.

So today I'm excited to share with you my first project as a member of The Cutting Cafe DT!  I used one of the sets released by TCC in March, "POLAROID AND CAMERA FUN TEMPLATE AND PRINTABLE SET". 

The Cutting Cafe offers digital cutting files / stamp sets.  You do not have to have a cutting machine to create all the fun projects.  They come in PDF for as well.  You can read more about them HERE.  Regina also has wonderful how to / tips and info HERE you will want to read over before purchasing as well. 

Starting 2013 some of the sets include JPEG files as well, which makes re-sizing soooo easy!!  On this layout I enlarged the camera, film strip, polaroid photo, and "Oh Snap" so I could use them on a layout.  I have not had good luck re-sizing images from the PDF's.  I loose some of the resolution.  Of course this could be user error, teehee

THIS set is sooo cool.  You will not only receive the files she shows you on the link I provided ... but it comes with patterns to create CAMERA SHAPED CARDS as well!

LOVIN' the Camera craze??  Well then you will also want to check out the 

"CAMERA'S EVERYWHERE BACKGROUND PRINTABLE SET" !!  And check out ALL the Camera options HERE.

HERE is the blog post that showcases the set with lots of inspiration from the DT.

You can check out inspirational projects using The Cutting Cafe files every Wednesday over on their blog HERE.

Hope you enjoyed today's post!

Melisa

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Challenges

As soon as I saw this challenge I knew which TCC files I would be using this week!

The Paper Secrets challenge is a sketch + use of a polaroid!  

The deadline for playing along is May 14th.

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Project Details

Patterned Paper and embellishments : Basic Grey "Hey Boy" (patterned paper), Fact or Fiction  "Fabric Flowers", Hey You "Toothpick Flags", and Hey Boy "Die Cuts and Transperancy's"
Stamp images : Hero Arts - Basic Grey "Lucille Be Silly" and "Guest Check".

So in case you are new to working with digital images I'm going to share my process.  I'm sure there are other ways this can be done as well.  

The first thing I wanted to do was CROP OUT INDIVIDUAL IMAGES and save them as individual files so I could re-size them individually.  I'm sure there are lots of different photo programs that allow you do do that.  I use the "Paint" program that came with my Windows Vista computer years ago because that's what I'm familiar with and I can do it quickly.

1. Open the jpeg digi stamp page in Paint.
2.  I decreased the viewing size by selecting Image, Resize/Skew, and decreased to 50%. I did this so I could see the entire page on my screen.  It does not change the size of your images, just the way you view them.
3. Use the select tool (dotted box) to frame the individual image. Crop in as close as you can.  This will be helpfull with re-sizing later.
4. Then select Image and crop.  This will eliminate all the other images and allow you to save just the one as an individual jpeg.  Save it.  It doesn't matter what size it is at this point.
5. After you are done with the first image click edit and undo.  Now do the same thing with any other images you want to use.

After you are done close out the program.  It will ask if you want to save, MAKE SURE select NO because you don't want to alter your original file.

Next I want to RE-SIZE AND PRINT my images.  I opened up a document (you can use Microsoft Works - that's what I have, or Word).

1.  Insert the images into a document.  I drag and drop mine.  The image will be HUGE in your document.
2. Grab and drag a corner and decrease the size.  
3.  After I have all the images in the document I can play around and decide the sizes I want before printing.  You can use the ruler along the top of your document as a guide, or to be more precise, select format.  To re-size using format object : Right click on the image, select format object, select size and resize.
4. Print.

PAPER PIECING

1. Print images in draft form.
2. Trim the correct size patterned paper you need and tape it over the image.  I tape mine all the way across the top so that none of the edges get caught.  Make sure you don't put the tape over the image and leave plenty of room so you will get the whole image if the printer is a little off when you reprint.
3. Load the paper and print.

I'm sure there are easier ways to do it.  This is the way I learned to do it with out having to purchase additional programs.

Scrapbooking with Elle's Studio

12 x 12 Layout

 (click on layout for larger view)

Hello friends.  I found some time to scrapbook yesterday!  It's been a month since I've done any crafting and it was so wonderful to just relax and be creative for a change.

I'm loving the trend of "clustering" in scrapbooking.  I recently discovered a company that creates lots of little paper embellishments that are perfect for clustering.  Elle's Studio carries stamps as well and that sealed the deal for me. I LOVE that the sentiments / journaling are versatile and can be used for so many different photo themes.  

There are lots of opportunities to win free stuff over on the blog HERE.  I'm not sure if you are required to use Elle's Studio products in the sketch challenges or not.  It doesn't say you have to. This project is for their April 3 challenge to create a layout "using Elle's Studio tabbed tags as a frame".

There are weekly sketch challenges on Thursday's and other challenges on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday's.

For the layout above I used the following Elle's Studio products :

The Sweet Life Tidbits
The Sweet Life Snippets
The Sweet Life Cutouts
Serendipity 3" Circles
Daily Details stamp set

Washi Tape : My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found 3".    Patterned Paper : Pink Paislee "Portfolio".  

OLD supplies from my stash - Rub-ons by Scenic Route and 7 Gypsies "Fortunes".     Flower : Prima.

Cross your fingers and toes for me .... my wish list is long!

This layout was also designed for the sketch challenge over at Creative Scrapper.

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12 x 12 Layout 

(click on layout for larger view)

I designed this one using a sketch from Delightful Inspiration.  

I used a stencil, modeling paste and acrylic paint to create the stars in the background.  Most of the embellishments used are stickers.  I did dig out some old chipboard stars as well.  Patterned paper and sticker embellishments are Fancy Pants "Park Bench".  I wish I had some of the other embellishments in this line!!  Love them!  Aren't those little paper bags / tags and buttons too stinken' cute.  But my LSS only had the paper and stickers.  

Mixed Media

I did get my March ATC's done for the 52 card Pick-up Class / group, but haven't had time to post them.  I think I took some step by step photo's so hopefully I will have a tutorial to share as well!

Cards

I'm working on some 10 minute cards for a Take Ten deadline.  So hope to share those soon as well.

Hope you have been finding lots of time to craft!  

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Scrapbook Layouts HERE.

Extreme Boy Layout

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing more layouts I created for February challenges.   This is my son, Travis when he was 14.  He made it through the skateboard phase with only 1 ER visit.  We had a fabulous outdoor skateboard park in Jacksonville, Kona, with these HUGE, steep sided, concrete bowls.  Often I find myself taking a deep breathe and holding it as he took off down the side of one of them.  

I'm excited about this one because I used a really old stamp set that I had never used, "Extreme Boy" by Junkitz.  I also used "Stars of Worn" by Unity, and a distressed tags from the "Timeless Tags" set by Stampendous.  I combined those with some fun Basic Grey "Fact" paper pad and Die Cuts / Transparencies paper embellishments (yellow and green tickets).  I used a star stencil as well.

I was inspired by a sketch over at Sketches with a Twist.

And I added orange tinted (mixed with acrylic paint) modeling paste for a challenge over at 2Peas's.

Other challenges I'm linking to :

Inspired by : (thur)

Stampin for the Weekend ( fri) : distressing.  I distressed the edges with black ink.

Basic Grey Challenges (sat) : "favorite ..."  One of my son's favorite things to do growing up was skateboarding

Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog (sat) : stars and stripes

You can view all of my Scrapbook Layouts HERE.
You can view my Mini Albums HERE.

2 Silly Girls

Hello friends!  Happy Friday.  I hope you all had a great week.  Today I want to share a scrapbook layout with you.  The girl in the blue over-alls is my very silly daughter and this was her 9th birthday.  We didn't have big parties every year ... so when we did I tried to make if fun.  We did a sleep over with 5 of her girlfriends which left me exhausted by the time it was all wrapped up.  They painted tee shirts, played games, one of them with balloons.  I'm not sure what kind of dance they were doing in the photo's.  I looked at these pictures and thought "what are they doing with balloons in their hair?? and where did my daughter get those shoes??".  That is not the pair she started out with, teehee.  They also made a music video which my daughter choreographed.  The next morning we got up and went roller skating.  I think birthday #9 was a memorable one!

I went through all of my scrapbook challenges and when I seen the My Mind's Eye challenge I had to do it.  The challenge was to scrapbook Feb 2.  Well that just happens to be my daughter's birthday!  So I couldn't pass it up.  I have some old and new My Mind's Eye paper, some 6 x 6 pads, and 2 of their stamp sets.  So while the MME challenges was really a challenge .... finding paper and embellishments to coordinate with one of her birthdays without any shopping was the challenge.

Since I didn't have a lot of coordinating embellishments I turned to my punches and made my own tags. I put 3 tags in a pocket behind one of the photo's, to add some journaling and they worked as embellishments as well.

I was also inspired by the sketch challenge over at Pretty Little Studio.  I felt a little guilty playing along because I don't have any of their product, so I'm hoping that's ok.  I LOVE their product and follow their blog.  You should see how long my wish list is.  CUTE retro styled products!  Hopefully I will win some!  They don't say there is a prize ... but they announce a winner .... so if there's a winner there has to be a prize, teehee.   Check out the store HERE.

and lastly ...

I'm playing along with the ""Topography" challenge over at "Challenge Me Happy".  I have to tell you I WORKED HARD for this one!  I picked out different fonts on my computer, figured out how I wanted the letters staggered, printed them on different colored paper, then hand cut those little letters.  And all to find out I couldn't link it up.  : (  .  To enter their challenge you can only link up to their challenge!  I was a little disappointed after all that work ... but the challenge helped me design the page the way it is, so that's good.

I worked so hard on this layout yesterday, but finished too late to photograph and once again missed out on the MME deadline!  : )  I didn't realize I had to upload it yesterday as well.  Thanks you so very much for stopping by and listening to me rant today!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Scrapbook Layouts HERE.

My Mind's Eye Layouts

I was so excited that I got a few minutes to finally do some crafting this weekend!  I created a couple of layouts for some scrapbook challenges.  The December Challenge over on the My Mind's Eye blog was a sketch.  You have until midnight January 1st to play long if you are interested.  I used My Mind's Eye "The Sweetest Thing" products for layout #1.  The doily stamps are from the " Stella and Rose " collection by MME.  The washi tape is from the "Oliver" collection mentioned below.

These photo's are of my children, myself, and my grandfather way back in 1990.

In October I won the My Mind's Eye monthly challenge and received a fabulous prize package.  Each month the winner gets to choose a MME collection as their prize!!  And they send you EVERYTHING in that collection !!!  Definitely worth playing along with their challenges.  I selected the " Lost and Found 3 - Oliver " Collection.  So over the next couple of months I will be sharing layouts using this collection.  

And this one is of my son at age 19.

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

You can check out all my Scrapbook Layouts HERE.

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Challenges

Layout #1 - "3 Generations"

My Mind's Eye Sketch Challenge

Cards Galore - anything goes deadline January 14th

Another Freaking Scrapbook Challenge - Generations
Scrappin' Happy - use a number in the title


Layout #2 - "19"
Creative Scrappers - Dec 9th sketch #238
The Studio Challenges - lots of layers

Family Tree Scrapbook Layout

Hello Scrapbookers!  I'm excited to share that I'm the guest designer this month at "Scrap It Girl" . Scrap It Girl post a challenge on the first day of the month and you have til the last day of the month to link your projects.  This month's theme is "trees".  She offers prizes as well, so hop over and check out this month's challenge HERE.

I designed my tree using wire.  I was inspired by a 3-D memory tree I had purchased from Hallmark years ago.  I did a search ... and you can still buy it!!  HERE

Mine was broken in the move to Houston : ( .  It's patiently sitting in the garage ... I keep hoping DH can fix it.

I did invest a lot of time in this one.  But I love how it turned out and how it is unique from my other layouts.  I don't want all my pages to "look the same", so I continue to try and use unique products to mix it up.

I think the brown wire is from Hobby Lobby??  or Michaels ?? sorry, it's hard to remember.  Basically you just keep twisting wire and secure the limbs to the branches with wire as well.  The little hangers were made from wire as well.  I used an old stencil to create the paper pieced flourish elements in the corners and under the title.  The title was created from chipboard letters.

So here's my problem ... I don't think I have it in me to create another one ... so which child's album is this one going in???  Probably my daughter.  She appreciates my art a little more than he does.   My son will get a much simpler version, teehee.

Thanks so much for letting me share!

Melisa

You can view all of my Scrapbook Layouts HERE.
You can view my Mini Albums HERE.