Today is a Good Day to be Happy | JustNick Studio Design Team

Hello lovelies-

I hope you are doing well and are in the crafty spirit.  We're nearly about to put our focus on All Things Christmas, but first I wanted to make sure to share this layout that is up on the JustNick Studio blog. 

Hop on over to see details and cut files used for this project.  Isn't that little rainbow dimensional sticker adorable, too??

Have a great weekend!
Majken

{That Smile} Hand Stitched Letters

Hello, hello!  So glad you stopped by.  Today I have a new page that I did hand-stitching on for the first time.  While a bit time-consuming, it definitely adds a pretty and defined texture to papercrafts.  This layout is my darling daughter when she was one and a half. And who *doesn't* unload dishwashers with their sunglasses on, anyway??  :)

I had the concept of this layout started on International Scrapbook Day, but I sadly didn't get to finish then.  But I did take the time to visualize how I wanted the page to end up, and I knew I wanted to hand-stitch on it after seeing my friend Heather's page come together during a scrappy weekend.  Isn't that gorgeous?  I love her watercolor effect with it too.

Usually I don't have a specific title in mind when I start a layout, but in this case I did.  So I used the Just Nick Outline Alpha cut file to pull SMILE into Silhouette Studio and cut it out with stitch holes (see below for instructions).  I used an embroidery needle and floss to backstitch around each letter.  What a relaxing task to do during a bit of television!

Then I used a folder file cut file from the Silhouette Store to cut out my folder "mat" on that beautiful aqua heart paper.  Isn't the Bella Blvd She Blooms paper adorable?  

After I had the basic photo area done, I placed it temporarily where I wanted it to go, removed it, and splattered a bit of white mist on the top left and bottom right areas.  After it dried, I put the photo area back on and did some embellishing.  Here's the bottom right area with a small bit of journaling.

I normally will machine sew on my layouts but because I did hand-stitching on the title, I wanted to keep that the focus.  Instead I incorporated a few messy-thread areas with my stickers and enamel hearts - and a fussycut flower.

Here's a close-up of the stitching:

And all that created layers both underneath the stitching and on top using 3D foam tape!  

Here's a quick tutorial on how I created hand-stitching holes around my letters using Silhouette Studio and my Cameo.  I found this video helpful as a start.

1. Trace your alpha cut file letters in the size you want the stitching to be.
2. Align the letters to be evenly spaced horizontally and centered, keeping a little distance between them to account for the holes.
3. Do an internal offset of the letters, and move the internal offset cut lines out of the cutting area for now.
4. Create a text box with Times New Roman periods sized at 36.  Grab the crosshair circle and drag it to your first letter and the periods will "snap" around your letter.  Fill in the remaining periods until you have covered the letter.
5. Repeat for each letter.
6. Remove the cut lines for each letter, leaving the periods.
7. Move the internal offset cut lines back to the center of each letter and send to your Cameo to cut.

I hope this inspires some hand-stitching!  I'd love to see your creations if you decide to use this fun technique, so feel free to share them with me in the comments or on social media.  If you found this helpful, I'd love for you to Pin it!

Have a super weekend filled with a bit of chocolate and scrapping time!

Majken

Pick a Pumpkin

Happy day out there in scrappy land!  Please, grab some chocolate and stay for a few minutes.  Today I've dipped my toes into fall - the weather has already started to cool just a bit here in Texas.  Yay!

Today I have a 2-page layout for you.  I haven't done one of these in awhile and I felt I had some good photos to spread out for this one.  I used the third one down from Scrapbook & Cards Magazine fall sketches for this one, stretching it into two pages, and I kept it simple.

I started with kraft cardstock and a Jillibean Soup placemat cut file which I cut using my Cameo and CTMH Cashmere cardstock.  I added a border to the left and right side of each page with some sewn strips.

I sewed around some of the circles on the placemat and also layered a green striped Bella Blvd paper behind one (with a punched star over it in a yellow stripe paper).

Over the right side of the placemat, I put black corrugate paper from Fancy Pants Designs.  It adds great texture!  I also cut a green stripe tab to tuck behind the photo of my sweet son, and added a few black enamel stars from Bella Blvd.  I also created an embellishment circle with sewing and a chipboard element from Bella Blvd.  I love my little pumpkins!  :)

For my title, I cut "PICK A" from black textured cardstock, and I cut "pumpkin" in a different font using the orange stripe paper.

I added another green stripe tab with a black enamel heart.  Another stitched circle and chipboard combo with another enamel element:

Then I added a strip of printed journaling to the side of the photo area, with a punched star on each side.

I need to go back and add the date, but this was fall 2014.

Well, that's all for me today!  I supposed we are getting close to adding hot chocolate to our evenings.  For me, that's the best part of cold weather.  :)

Have a fabulous week!

Majken

Pool Fun

Howdy and happy July, everyone!  And happy Friday!  After the recent rains, some sunshine has been welcome here in the Houston area, and with the sunshine comes the swimming.  My kids truly enjoy swimming almost more than anything.  Well, back in 2013, we went to South Padre Island, and we went to the beach once while we were there.  Once.  They had enough of the sand after one trip and begged to go to the pool instead!  And I definitely documented the fun.  :)  I used Bella Blvd Color Chaos papers and a sketch from the summer issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today.  Check it out!

I layered a few of the papers on black textured cardstock and sewed along them to create definition.  I also used black Stazon ink to define the edges of my photos.

The stickers from the collection are too fun!  I sprinkled many out around on the layout.  I had to highlight my son in mid-flight with a green arrow.  He wanted my husband to do that over and over -- and over.  :)

I cut "POOL" using my Cameo and put stars in the center of the "O"s.  Then I layered enamel stars in the center of the larger star stickers.  For the "FUN", I used the Color Chaos stickers and put some small stars between the letters.

For the journaling spot, I layered white on white but inked the edge to define the top layer.  I cut a strip to create an anchor for the journaling spot and cut stars out using the Martha Stewart Starry Sky punch.

I do enjoy working with sketches, and this one was no exception. If you use this sketch, I'd love you to share them with me.  I hope your summer is full of sun, smiles, and swimming!

xoxo,
Majken

Milestone: Kindergarten - Scrapping Our Stash Blog Hop - Giveaway Included

Happy Friday everyone, and thanks for joining us for another "Scrapping Our Stash" blog hop! You should've arrived from Sandy's blog - love that layout of her sweet grandbaby! If you've lost your way, the full list is at the bottom of this post, just after the GIVEAWAY information.  :)  Take a look at today's layout and then follow the directions for a chance to win!

Today I'm sharing a two-page layout, which I haven't done in awhile.  It was fun to do because I had several photos I wanted to include for Paxton's first day of Kindergarten. I dug into my stash and came up with Bella Blvd's Max collection.  It's so fun, and I also have used it for another layout with him.  For today's project, I used a PageMaps sketch from Scrapbooks & Cards Today Spring 2015 issue.

I blurred his teacher's face and name to protect her privacy.

Here is the sketch - I broke the 5x7 photo on the left into two photos, and the flowers became stars!

 I liked the colorful variety of the Text Me paper, so I used that across the bottom of two pieces of textured white cardstock.  I included a border that uses the striped paper as well as a strip of blue "All Boy", and then I sewed along underneath that border strip.

For my title, I used the orange stickers from the collection for "Milestone:" and cut "kindergarten" out using my Cameo.  I trimmed 3D foam tape to pop up "kindergarten".

For the photos, I inked the edges using black Stazon ink to help frame them.  Next I matted them using the grey camoflage paper and the blue robot paper, and then I sewed a border just inside the grey camoflage paper.  I matted my favorite photo of him using white cardstock to help it stand out.  And I used various stickers from the collection around the layout.

The top left corner includes striped paper, green scalloped border sticker, blue corner sticker, sewing, and stars trimmed using my Cameo.

The top right area includes blue scalloped border sticker, trimmed green border sticker, sewing, and more stars.

I hope you enjoyed my version of this sketch!  

Ready for my giveaway??  Yes??

I'm giving away one $15 e-gift certificate to My Scraps & More.  All you have to do is:

• Be or become a member of my blog with Google+, Friend Connect, or Bloglovin AND
• Leave a comment on this blog post

Refer a friend who joins my blog for an extra chance at the prize (please note that you have done this in a 2nd comment and have the referral tell who referred them in a comment on this post).

Simple!  You have until Monday, March 30th at noon Central time to enter for your chance to win.  International entries are fine, and I use random.com to choose the winner.  I'll announce the winner here on my blog on Tuesday, March 31st.  Good luck!  

Now it's time to hop to Juliana's blog to check out her adorable puppy layout!

Have a scrappy weekend!  Make it one with a bit of chocolate.  ;)
Majken

The full blog hop list if you wish to start at the beginning:

Jennifer http://livethemoment-jen.blogspot.com 

Wendy C www.stampingrules.com

Katrina http://paperscissorsandglue.blogspot.com/

Suzanna  http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Monique http://moniquesscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Charity http://menemenetekeluniversity.blogspot.com/
Kerri http://kerrikr8tions.blogspot.com/
Cheryl http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com
Sandy http://itsafamilyaffairwithscrappynana.blogspot.ca/
Majken  http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com
Juliana www.17turtles.com

{Sibling Love} | Scrapping Our Stash Blog Hop Hosted by Practical Scrappers | Giveaway!

Hello!  You should have arrived here from Erin Morehouse's blog...she does such pretty work! Are you ready to keep hopping with Practical Scrappers??  I am!  I love seeing all the different projects along the way, learning new techniques, and seeing different styles!  And in this monthly hop, we get to use our stash.  And I am *such* a paper hoarder...I love being able to have an "excuse" to use it!   Today, I'm using Bella Blvd's Snapshots collection.  And I have a GIVEAWAY, so take a look at my layout and then scroll down to enter for your chance to win.  Here's my layout:

I am using a sketch today from Creative Scrappers (#271):

I immediately thought of this collection when I was looking at my photos of my kiddos. The bright colors and my daughter's pink shirt really go nicely, but they are also not too girly.  The polka dot pattern was my favorite so I knew I'd use that as the main rectangle in the middle of the layout.  I misted the top left and bottom right with Heidi Swapp Teal Color Shine, then placed the polka dot paper and stitched along the edges.

For the main photo, I layered with a few of the Snapshots papers, matting the photo with white and distressing the edges of the yellow hearts paper.  I cut the "captured" card from the collection and cut it to look like a banner and layered it behind.  I stamped "sibling" in CTMH Lagoon ink and paired it with the Amy Tangerine "Twins" Plus One Thickers (Love).  I love those foam words!  And I added two Maya Road star pins (love them, too!) and a Maya Road sun metal clip.

I added a layer of the camera paper and the stripe paper, and then stitched along the edge to create the lower center stripe from the sketch.  I then journaled on the bottom left:

***GIVEAWAY TIME!***

  

I'm giving away one $15 e-gift certificate to the My Scraps & More online store!All you have to do is:

1. Become a member of my blog with Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin AND
2. Leave a comment on this blog post

Refer a friend who joins my blog for an extra chance (please note it in a second comment or have the referral note who referred them).

Easy, right?  You have until Monday, June 30, 2014 at noon CT to enter for your chance to win.  International entries are fine.  I'll randomly choose a lucky winner and announce it here on my blog on Tuesday, July 1st.  Good luck, and thanks so much for joining my blog!

Next, head over to Christine's blog to check out her project...she always has fun ones!

Have a scrappy weekend.

Majken

The full blog hop list:

Practical Scrappers http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com

Audrey http://audreysreflection.blogspot.com/

Wendy C www.stampingrules.com 

Erin http://girlpaperscissors.blogspot.com

Majken  http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com/    **** YOU ARE HERE ****

Christine http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com  **** GO HERE NEXT ****

Ruth  http://paperandmusings.wordpress.com/

Lee-Anne http://lee-annelovethejourney.blogspot.com

Bobbi http://vintagemusedesigns.blogspot.com/

Kerri http://kerrikr8tions.blogspot.com

Alison  http://alisondaydesigns.com/

Lisa http://www.snappinandscrappin.blogspot.com/

Cheryl http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com

Laura http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/

Deborah http://scrappinthelittlethings.blogspot.com/

Suzanna  http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Amazing * Wild * Rad

Hello everyone!

I'm back for two in a row - woohoo!  I recently completed a layout of my son's visit to the park using a sketch #75 from My Scraps & More.  As soon as I saw Bella Blvd's Max collection, I HAD to have it for my son.  It has camouflage, sharks, skulls and crossbones, and more.  And my son adores his camouflage shorts.  Like, seriously.  The other thing he adores?  His cowboy boots that recently *fell apart* because he wore them so much.  Here's my Amazing-Wild-Rad boy:

It's based off this MSAM sketch:

The grid is so cool!  As soon as I saw the sketch and looked through the Max papers, I knew the black paper with the words was going to be part of the grid and my title.  I cut out the Amazing Wild Rad section and paired it with a camouflage strip to be the other part of my grid divider.  After trimming to create arrows, I stitched along the middle in orange thread.

I had three photos, so I trimmed them and left the bottom left square as an embellishment using the star patterned paper.  I inked the square in Sunset ink and doodled along the inside edge.  I covered a chipboard star in the speech bubble paper to give more dimension.  I stamped "a good day" in Olive ink underneath and adhered some stars to the bottom left side of the square.

The top left of the grid uses the striped paper that I cut a frame from.  I inked along the inside edge of the frame to help define the photo and adhered a green star from the Max sticker sheet on the bump of the frame.  I included a black button with orange twine in the center of the star.  Next, I stamped arrows in Olive ink to the left of the photo.  I cut a square from the speech bubble paper and cut diagonally in half to use as a corner, then stitched the edge.

The photo in the top right section of the grid was inked with black Stazon along the edges for definition and layered on the orange guitar paper.  I glued a wooden arrow, the "i do love you" tab, the phrase sticker, and two stars to embellish this section.

The photo in the final section, the bottom right grid, was also outlined in black Stazon ink and matted with the blue chevron paper.  I inked the edges of the "#AWESOME" sticker and put that above arrows stamped with Sunset ink.  My journaling is below this photo.

Simple yet detailed is how I'd describe this sketch and layout.  I had so much fun creating it, and I can't wait to use more MSAM sketches!  They put out a few each month, so don't forget to check them out, use them, and link them up yourself!

Have a super weekend everyone!

Majken

I Love You More Than Ice Cream

Mike, what day is it?  Hump DAAAY!  Yes, happy Wednesday everyone.  We are now on that downward slope of the hill headed towards the weekend.  I'm really looking forward to some scrappy time this weekend - my hubby will be out of town, and the kids and I will just have a relatively quiet weekend hanging out.

Today I wanted to share a layout I created with a photo from our recent trip to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.  It's been a yearly tradition for us to take a day off (usually during spring break) and head to the show.  This year, all four of us enjoyed a day eating, riding the carnival rides, and watching Paxton in the Mutton Bustin' contest! Towards the end of the day, the boys left for home, and Presley and I headed to the Maroon 5 concert!  We had so much fun.  If you haven't been to the HLSR, you definitely need to check it out if you visit Houston.

I decided to play along with the Sketchabilities sketch this week because it was very inspiring!  Here's my full layout:

I took the base page from American Crafts Cut & Paste line ("On the Edge" paper) and trimmed just about 1/16" from each edge - I didn't want to lose the paint/washi tape effect edge.  I layered that over a piece of black cardstock and stitched along the bottom and right side following along with the sketch.  

Next, I mixed paint and CTMH Smoothie and Sorbet reinkers to create a matching pinkish/orangish color.  I painted a large area under where I knew I wanted to put the photo and embellishment cluster.  After it dried, I sewed a large heart.  You can see part of the paint and the sewn heart below.

I used some of the Bella Blvd Snapshots collection (Family Chaos paper) to bring out the colors on the page a little more.  I cut an arrow and sewed over it on the top area with a journal card "I love you more than ice cream", which I decided would be my title.  Twine, a dot, and a black epoxy heart finished the cluster.

The photo area is layered with more Bella Blvd paper that I scalloped the bottom edge of, a heart journal card, CTMH Lagoon zipper lace, a Heidi Swapp "loved" clear pop tab, and a row of fussy cut hearts from another journal tag with a large black epoxy heart on top.

Here's the sketch:

I hope you were inspired by my layout!  I think sketches are a great way to kick-start a layout.  It's just a good way for me to launch how I want to put together a page I have in mind.

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your week!  Happy scrapping!

Majken