Cousins

Howdy y'all!  (See, I can say that because I'm Texan).  :)  Today I wanted to share a layout I did with my kids and their cousins.  I wish we lived closer to them, but I do cherish the time when we do see them.

Isn't this Pebbles collection fun?!  I love the hexagons that make up the flowers in the main pattern of Family Ties.

Some layouts really benefit from a spritz of ink, and this layout is one of them.  I liked the white background, but after laying everything out, I felt that the white was a bit stark.  I used Pacifica re-inker from CTMH to spritz, and the Honeycomb stamp set for my big hexagons (lifted with 3D dots).    My small title was made using Lily Bee Design white letters from Autumn Spice and Echo Park's Alpha Stickers from Photo Freedom Vol. 1.

To balance the patterned paper, I used CTMH Pacifica and Outdoor Denim cardstock.  I finished the layout off with a banner spanning both pages with some letters from the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, some buttons and dots, and finally some machine stitching  with green thread just to tie it all together.

Thanks for dropping by today.  I hope your week is filled with cousins, love,  and chocolate.

Majken

Pretty, new bangs

Hello everyone-

Today I'm posting a two-page layout showcasing my daughter, who just recently got bangs for the first time.  She is so proud of them!  Scrapbook Circle's "My Favorite" kit was the basis for this layout, but I used a lot pieces from my stashes (yes, plural).  I really like Fancy Pants Design's Trendsetter collection in the kit and had some of my own pieces of that collection including the Patterned Photo Frames.  I started with some CTMH Champagne cardstock, and I spritzed CTMH Sorbet reinker and black Glimmer Mist in a diagonal and let it dry.

Next, I layered various patterned paper until I felt it looked right.  I balanced the layout by using the same paper on each page in different ratios.  I admit I used some elements from the previous Scrapbook Circle kit, "Happy Place" including AC's Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm paper and the Heidi Swapp mint alpha.

I covered chipboard stars with black cardstock and distressed the edges.  I ink-distressed the edges of some of the paper pieces.



I used some old CTMH black epoxy hearts, some gems from my stash, and the Maya Road Star Pins (love them!).

To tie the two pages together, I chose CTMH's wide Black Striped Grograin ribbon.  This was a very fun layout to make.

Thanks for visiting today!



Using some of my stash

Hello everyone-

Are you one of those crafters who can't pass up pretty paper?  I certainly am.  I have stacks and stacks of it...and I can't stop buying more (it's sooo PRETTY!).  I've run out of space - my paper area definitely is in need of some reorganization.  Until then, I've decided I need to start using some of my hoarded paper in projects.  Yes, actually USE it.  So, I glanced at my stash, and my eye went to some Basic Grey Sugar Rush collection that I believe came out in 2011. 

I decided to make some cards, and here is what I created.

The one on the left was created using the Clean & Simple stamping card sketch #137.  The card on the right was created using Pattern 24 from Close To My Heart's "Make It From Your Heart Volume 1".  I love the orange patterned paper with the kite bows, but I toned it down by using the polka dot pattern as my main background.  I also used ink to distress all my edges except for the tulip red cardstock. 

See below for a list of products used, and thanks for stopping by today!

Chocolate scrappy wishes,
Majken

Products used:
Basic Grey Sugar Rush paper
CTMH Colonial White Cards
CTMH Tulip Ink (retired)
CTMH Grey Wool Ink (retired)
CTMH D1300 Circle Around stamp set (retired)
CTMH D1475 Card Chatter - Birthday stamp set
CTMH B1362 Tag the Occasion stamp set (retired)
CTMH B1339 Topstitch Love is in the Air stamp set (retired)
CTMH D1514 Just a Number stamp set
CTMH Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy collection (scallop and heart)
Fiskars medium circle punch
Gems

Why blog?

So, here it is.  Ta-da!  My new blog.  It's not really brand new...I started a post right after my son was born in 2008 to document our family and his (thankfully, now-gone) health issues, but I never published it or created new posts.  Anyway, *this* blog is my crafty blog.  My scrappy blog.  My creative blog.  Perhaps it has chocolate smears on it (Who, me?  Eating chocolate?)  Yes, probably.  My love affair with chocolate is not a secret.  Those who know me will know my favorites: Peanut Butter M&Ms, Reese's Peanut Butter cups (refrigerated, preferably), Snickers, and pretty much anything Ghirardelli or Godiva (the two rich, chocolaty Gs).

See the proof from way back in high school?  Yup, that's a Twix that showed up in the yearbook, along with my permed hair and faded denim jacket.  The 80s were great!

So why blog?  I have learned an awful lot in my years papercrafting and scrapbooking, and I love the artistic process of creating a new layout, designing a new card, or planning a new paper creation.  And this is my way of sharing.  I hope that by sharing I will also learn.

Well, I hope you will come along and learn with me as I document my creative journey.  But grab some chocolate first, and make it the *good* stuff.  See you soon!