{So blessed} | Practical Scrappers Scrapping Our Stash Blog Hop

Hello fellow papercraft-y people!!  Welcome to the October blog hop for craft hoarders!  :)  I adore using up my stash, and this month's hop is all about fall or Halloween.  You should have arrived here from Bobbi's blog.  Her tag is amazing!!  For this hop I'm sharing a fall layout called "so blessed" -- and I have a giveaway!  First up, the project:

I used Little Yellow Bicycle "Acorn Hollow" stash.  I started with the light brown paper with the striped edges and misted it with Heidi Swapp Bronzer Color Shine.  I fussy cut my own large tree in the style of the collection, inked the edges of the treetop, and sewed along the tree trunk.  I then stamped "give thanks" in the tree.  

I fussy cut a small tree and heart for the bottom part of the large tree.

Next I matted my 5x7 photo with canvas and distressed paper and framed it with a few border pieces including "Today is a gift...be ever thankful".  I tied bronze and hemp twine around my photo and included a button and wood heart.

***GIVEAWAY TIME!***

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

• Be or become a member of my blog with Google Friend Connect (I think I figured out how to fix the widget if you had issues last month!) or on Bloglovin AND
• Leave a comment on this blog post

Share this post on Facebook or Twitter or refer a friend who joins my blog for an extra chance (please note it in a 2nd comment or have the referral tell who referred them in a comment).

Easy!  You have until Monday, November 3rd, 2014 at noon CT to enter for your chance to win. International entries are fine.  I'll ask random.com to choose one lucky winner and announce it here on my blog on Tuesday, November 4th.  Good luck, and thanks so much for hopping along with us!

Next up is Lyne, and I know you'll enjoy her super-cute Halloween chipboard album.  If you lost your way or want to start from the beginning, here's the full list:

Practical Scrappers http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com

Monica http://scrapinspired.com/

Wendy C www.stampingrules.com

Wendi http://scrappydayinparadise.blogspot.com/2014/10/hallows-eve-practical-scrappers-use.html

Laura http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/

Christine http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com/

Suzanna  http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Bobbi http://vintagemusedesigns.blogspot.com/

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

Lyne http://lynnseverydayideas.blogspot.com/  ***GO HERE NEXT*****

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

Cheryl http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com

LeeAnne http://lee-annelovethejourney.blogspot.com

Giveaway with Scrapping Our Stash Blog Hop with Practical Scrappers! {Sweet Taste of Summer}

Hi everyone...I'm back today to participate in the Practical Scrappers monthly Scrapping Our Stash blog hop.  I love these hops!  You should have arrived from Bobbi's blog.  Isn't her fall card amazing?

Today I'm sharing a layout of my son enjoying some watermelon this summer...he was so cute eating it while it dripped down his belly!  This is why he got to eat it outside.  :) Take a look and then scroll down to enter for your chance at a $20 e-gift certificate!

For my layout, I used the Simple Stories Summer Fresh collection and kept it simple.

I used the denim sheet as my base and then trimmed the sunshine rays just above the sentiment because I wanted the rays and an area for journaling.  I cut the green polka dot paper at an angle to create a pocket look.  I used the yellow polka dot paper to anchor the photos, and included a chevron border trimmed from another sheet of the collection.

I sewed along the top of the sunshine ray paper to help frame the page.

For my title, I sewed several lines along the top left to create a "mat" for the "Sweet", which I die cut using my Mama Elephant alpha dies.

For the bottom part of the title, I used the same die cut alphas to create "Summer" and then punched some banners out for each letter.  Then I sewed along the bottom of the yellow polka dot paper to help tie the banner in.  I used green Simple Stories alpha stickers for the middle part of the title.  I used the red gingham check paper to mat the photos...what a fun pattern!

To create interest along the top, I created a small embellishment area using ribbon, a yellow sticker, and a button.  Then I journaled in the sun area in curved writing to mimic the curve of the sun.

On the bottom, I included a red sticker and some Studio Calico cork arrows...they are so cute!

I know soon enough we'll be missing summer and those sticky days of eating watermelon in the back yard.  :)

***GIVEAWAY TIME!***

  

I'm giving away one $20 e-gift certificate to My Scraps & More online store!  All you have to do is:

1. Be or 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 2nd comment or have the referral tell who referred them in a comment).

Easy!  You have until Monday, September 29, 2014 at noon CT to enter for your chance to win. International entries are fine.  I'll randomly choose one lucky winner and announce it here on my blog on Tuesday, September 30th.  Good luck, and thanks so much for joining my blog and referring your scrappy friends!

Next up is Ruth sharing some Basic Grey, and I know you'll enjoy her project.  If you lost your way or want to start from the beginning, here's the full list:

Practical Scrappers http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com

Wendi http://scrappydayinparadise.blogspot.com/2014/09/love-practical-scrappers-use-your-stash.html

Cathy http://alteredplayground.blogspot.com

Christine http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com/2014/09/scrapping-our-stash-blog-hop-september.html

Suzanna  http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Bobbi http://vintagemusedesigns.blogspot.com/
Majken  http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com/  ***YOU ARE HERE***
Ruth http://paperandmusings.wordpress.com/  <-----GO HERE NEXT
Kristy http://alwaysworldaway.blogspot.com
Jennifer http://livethemoment-jen.blogspot.com 

Cheryl http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com

Sandy http://itsafamilyaffairwithscrappynana.blogspot.ca/

Laura http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/

Alison http://alisondaydesigns.com/

{Believe} - Practical Scrappers "Scrap Our Stash" Blog Hop with Giveaway

Hi everyone and welcome back for another Practical Scrappers Scrapping Our Stash blog hop!  I love the blog hops -- there's always so many lovely projects to see.  This month is no exception with our Christmas in July theme!  Visit the Practical Scrappers page if you want to start at the beginning or you've lost your place.  You should have come from Brenda's blog.  See my project below and don't forget to enter my giveaway!

My project today is a Christmas layout.  I loved the Fancy Pants Designs "Tradition" collection when I purchased it back in 2010, and I still love it!  Such rich colors.

To create my layout, I was inspired by the My Mind's Eye June sketch.  I knew my layout background would be the distressed dark brown paper (Tradition Cards)....so beautiful!  To create a nice shimmer on the paper, I mixed CTMH Create-a-Shade Pearl paint, some Heidi Swapp Color Shine Bronzer, and some CTMH Chocolate re-inker to shade the pearl.  Then I just painted some on.

Next I chose the red "Holiday Sentiments" paper to use as the background for my photos.  I distressed the large rectangle, and then trimmed and matted the photos with green "Trim the Tree" paper.

Next up was "trimming" my rectangle with various Christmas-themed shapes and papers using my Cricut and CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.  You can see the shimmer paint and some of the trimming below.  I decorated the ornaments with gems, gold twine, and sequins.

Then I created a journal area to include below the trimmed area.  You can really see the shimmer below.

To complete my layout, I placed gold alpha stickers to create "Believe", framed it, and popped up using 3D tape, and then created a paper "bow" to put in the top left corner to balance the layout.

I hope you are enjoying a touch of Christmas in July!

***GIVEAWAY TIME!***

  

I'm giving away one $15 e-gift certificate to A Cherry on Top online store!  All you have to do is:

1. Be or 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 2nd comment or have the referral tell who referred them in a comment).

Easy, right?  You have until Monday, July 28, 2014 at noon CT to enter for your chance to win. International entries are fine.  I'll randomly choose one lucky winner and announce it here on my blog on Tuesday, July 29th.  Good luck, and thanks so much for joining my blog and referring your scrappy friends!

Next, head over to Lyne's blog to check out her project...I know you'll like it.

Have a fun, scrappy weekend.

Majken

{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/

Who's Who? | Giveaway! Practical Scrappers - Scrapping Our Stash Monthly Blog Hop

Hello and happy weekend-eve to you!  It's that time again....Practical Scrapper's Monthly "Scrapping Our Stash" blog hop.  You probably arrived here from Bobbi's blog and project. Keep reading to see my project today, then enter for your chance to WIN a $20 giveaway, and keep on hopping!

My inspiration for this layout are my kids.  How cool to find two near-identical photos of them in the same bathtub with the same shampoo curl around the same age, but seven years apart?!  So....who's who?  There are some clues...

I dipped into My Mind's Eye Cut & Paste collection using the "Presh" papers and embellishments....such a fun collection!  And, yes, I have *much* more MME paper where this came from.  Houston, I have a problem.  ;) 

I used the lined neutral paper from C&P "Charm" as my base and splattered some Indian Corn Blue ink around the edges.  I chose the polka dot paper as my large photo area base and layered the diamond, hashtag, and multi-patterned paper until I liked how it looked.  I inked the edges of all but the diamond, which I distressed instead.  While the photos weren't yet on there, I sewed in blue around the edge of the polka dot paper, over the multi-patterned paper just underneath my photos.  I chose the pink paper to mat Presley's photo and blue paper to mat Paxton's, but I left a spot to insert tags behind each, which has a strip of the inked paper and two brads as toppers:

Clever, yes?  

At least, I felt clever. :) Next I used the arrow card to draw attention to the kiddos.  I snipped a few of the hashtag words, inked them, and popped them up.

Next I created my title.  My alpha stickers sadly didn't come with punctuation <queue sad trombone>, but I was clever again.  Cleverness prevails!  I cut the bottom of a number 2 off to make the question mark and used the small cut piece to fashion the dot for the question mark and an apostrophe!  #winning!

I felt that the top was a little bare after putting my title down, so I created a little embellishment spot using a strip of inked paper, a vellum heart, another brad, and an arrow stamp.

To complete my layout, I wrote the journaling, stamped a few more spots, and voila!

I hope you liked my layout, and I truly hope it inspires you to get into that paper stash you have and use it!  Ready for the giveaway?  Yay!

***Giveaway!***

  

I'm giving away one $20 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

Easy!  You have until Monday, June 2, 2014 at noon CT to enter for your chance to win. International entries are fine!  I will randomly choose one lucky winner and announce it here on my blog on Tuesday, June 3rd.  Good luck, and thanks for hopping along with us!

Next, head over to Marcia's blog to check out her project.  

Have a scrappy weekend!

Practical Scrappers http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com
Christine http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com

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

Melissa http://theprofoundbrunette.com

Bobbi http://vintagemusedesigns.blogspot.com/

Majken  http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com/           ***  You are here ***

Marcia  http://www.onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/

Suzanna  http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Cheryl http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com

Krissy http://krissyclarkmckee.blogspot.com

Wendi R  http://scrappydayinparadise.blogspot.com/

Erin http://girlpaperscissors.blogspot.com

Kelly www.kelsterjean.com

Monica http://scrapinspired.com

Laura http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/

Deborah http://scrappinthelittlethings.blogspot.com/

Wendy C www.stampingrules.com

Happy Bird-day - Practical Scrapper Card Sketch

Happy Tuesday fellow chocolate-lovers and scrappers!  Today I'm popping in to show you a quick card that I created for the last Practical Scrappers card sketch (all but the monthly blog hop will go away after this week).  ((Waaaah!))

I went all the way back to 2010 in my Basic Grey stash for these materials!

Here is my card:

And here is the sketch by Christine Meyer that inspired the card:

All materials used are from the Basic Grey "Life of the Party" collection (with the exception of one yellow Maya Road star pin and a strip of CTMH Sunflower organdy ribbon).

I hope you have a fun week!  

xoxo,
Majken

Mister Carwash

Hello everyone and welcome May - National Scrapbooking Month!  So many fun things happen in May - Mother's Day, my husband's and my anniversary, Memorial Day, our neighborhood swimming pools and water parks open...and the sunshine is usually here to stay in the Houston area.  :)

Today I'm sharing my take on the Practical Scrappers May sketch, and it's focused on my son, Paxton.  Our favorite car wash place is Mister Carwash, and it has a water gun that the kids can spray at the cars as they go by!  So fun for him.

Here's my layout:

And it's based on this Practical Scrapper sketch created by Christine Meyer:

Because of how I wanted my photos to appear, I flipped the sketch like in the mirror.  I love the boyish patterns and colors of the Echo Park "That's My Boy" collection.  My base is the dark blue patterned paper.  The photo base is white cardstock with different colors of paint spattered on it, and I also used some of my favorite Studio Calico Darling Dear chevron vellum.

I applied the plaid strip at the top and sewed along the top and bottom of it.  My bottom strip is the blue patterned paper covered with a strip of the patterned white and light blue paper, which I also stitched through the middle.

One of the shapes in the collection is a slightly elongated hexagon (you can see a small strip of this paper in the top left of my layout under the "Car"), so I found and used that shape in my stash as a journal tag after inking the edge in dark blue.  I grounded the layout by cutting a corner of orange and stitching to the bottom right, and then I added a few embellishments from my stash as well - a vellum star, a button, and a badge.

For my title, I used a retro-looking font and cut "mister" using my Cameo and the white and light blue patterned paper.  I inked the edges in red.  For "Carwash" I used a different font on my Cameo, and because I wanted to use the same dark blue patterned paper, I also cut a mat for it in the white and light blue paper.

A few staples and the layout was done!

I hope you were inspired by my rendition of this sketch...I certainly enjoyed capturing this memory with my son.  :)

Have a wonderful week!

Majken

Scrapping Our Stash - Practical Scrappers Blog Hop {Giveaway!}

Welcome to the Practical Scrappers "Scrap Your Stash" blog hop.  You probably arrived from the blog of talented Alison Day.  Please enjoy my layout and then scroll down for a chance to win a GIVEAWAY! -- I'll also tell you where to hop to next.

This cool blog hop is all about using up our scrapbooking stash.  Which is AWESOME because I have collected enough paper to start a small store!  It's kind of neat, but also overwhelming because I want to buy all the new, cool collections.  

I am participating in the My Scraps & More April Sketchathon (so many sketches, so little time!) so today I used Sketch #8 created by Audrey Yeager.  With it was an additional challenge to use a 3x4 or 4x6 pocket-type card.  Here is my take on the sketch:

Here's the sketch:

I have been wanting to use a specific sheet of the American Crafts Dear Lizzy Day Dreamer collection ("Flying Kites" paper) for awhile.  I love the hearts on it, and it immediately came to mind when I saw this sketch.  I started with a base of textured white cardstock and splattered some gray paint on it.  Next I cut a large heart in Indian Corn Blue cardstock and a slightly smaller heart in vellum.  I layered them, trimmed the parts that were beyond the edge of the page, and stitched around the edges of both (leaving the trimmed side bare to include a hidden journal tag which I'll show you shortly).  

I layered my photo using some October Afternoon Sidewalks collection ("Paper Marbles" paper) and AC Amy Tan "Yes, Please" collection ("Commit" paper) as well as more ICB and white cardstock.  I distressed a couple of the pieces, and then I included a small embellishment cluster on the right bottom of the photo area.  (Presley's chubby cheeks make me smile *every* time!)

Next I fussycut some of the hearts from the Flying Kites paper to line up along the left of my photo.  I purposely left a couple of them inverted like they were in the paper, and then I stitched down the middle.

Next I cut two banners, layered them, and stitched a few times horizontally:

Finally, I created the title area using a 3x4 pocket card left over from a previous Scrapbook Circle kit.  Adding a small piece of the "Flying Kites" paper and the "Paper Marbles" paper, I stitched several times vertically along the edge and then adhered my title on top -- I stamped "forever" and cut "my girl" using my Cameo.  A few blue rhinestones were added at the end, too!

Here's my journal tag using another 3x4 pocket-type card with a pull-out tab made from bending some gray polka dot washi tape over the edge:

I hope you will share this if you were inspired by my rendition of the sketch.  :)  

Giveaway!

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

You have until Monday, April 28, 2014 at 9am CT to enter for your chance to win. International entries are welcome. I will randomly choose one lucky winner and announce it here on my blog on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Thanks so much for visiting!

Now head over to your next stop on the list, Cheryl Wegener Freet.

The full blog hop list if you'd like to start at the beginning.

Practical Scrappers http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com 
Jennifer Haggerty http://livethemoment-jen.blogspot.com
Audrey Yeager http://audreysreflection.blogspot.com/
Lee-Anne Thornton http://lee-annelovethejourney.blogspot.com
Suzanna Lee http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/
Monica Bradford http://scrapinspired.com
Brenda Ragsdale:  http://granddivasscrappyplace.blogspot.com/
Nicole Laha http://www.shezigzags.blogspot.com
Susie Bentz  http://mytime2play.blogspot.com/
Wendy Coffman: www.stampingrules.com
Erin Morehouse: http://girlpaperscissors.blogspot.com
Bobbi Smith: http://vintagemusedesigns.blogspot.com/
Wendi Robinson: http://scrappydayinparadise.blogspot.com/
Lisa Peeples: http://www.snappinandscrappin.blogspot.com/
Alison Day: http://alisondaydesigns.com/

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

Cheryl Wegener Freet http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com
Laura Cox:  http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/
Christine Meyer: http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com
Kerri Yarus: http://kerrikr8tions.blogspot.com