Hey, Santa - I've Been Good! Scrapping Our Stash Blog Hop with Giveaway

Hey you guys!  I'm not sure where January went, but I think it went and hopped into the past with December and November!  I went to my niece's wedding mid-January (so beautiful!), then this week I was in California for work -- buh-bye, January!  

And speaking of hops, we're back in business doing another Scrapping Our Stash blog hop.  You should have arrived here from Jennifer's blog.  She's got some lovely work to share using Basic Grey! Today I will share a layout using some of my Simple Stories Cozy Christmas stash (released last summer) using sketch 97 from the My Scraps & More sketch blog.  Take a look then scroll down to see how you can win a gift card to the My Scraps & More store and then hop a final time to complete the hop!

I adore this plaid from the collection, so I cut a frame out of it so I could use the middle for another project.  I placed the frame onto off white cardstock and then created the two layered photo areas, pretty well keeping to Audrey's sketch.  The top left has a pocket element that I used to start the layout's title.

I layered the brown woodgrain paper, the holly paper, the pocket card, and the matted photo (which is popped up with 3D tape).  I sewed along the top left diagonal to add texture and interest.

I did a similar layering for the bottom right photo area and duplicated the diagonal stitching.  I used some of the stickers from Cozy around the entire layout (including the banner that hangs in the top right) and added a few red gems as well.

For the rest of the title, I used alpha stickers from Cozy, and then I added journaling strips to each photo area.  It came together quickly!

****Giveaway Time!****

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

You can share this post on Facebook or Twitter or refer a friend who joins my blog for an extra chance at the prize (please note the action you've taken in a 2nd comment or have the referral tell who referred them in a comment on this post).

Easy peasy!  You have until Monday, Feb. 2nd 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, Feb. 3rd.  Good luck!  Thanks for hopping along with us.

Now head over to Kim's blog for the final, crafty treat (a 2-page layout)!

Have a super weekend!

Majken

To start at the beginning or if you get lost, head to Cathy's blog.

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

Giveaway! {Paradise} - A Practical Scrappers Scrap Your Stash Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Practical Scrappers "scrap your stash" blog hop!!  You should have arrived here from Patty Selah's site (her cards were lovely!).  How about a $20 GIVEAWAY to keep the fun going?  Check out my tropical project and learn more about it at the end of this post.

Today I'm sharing my "Paradise" layout highlighting some photos from a family trip a few years ago.  I used some Bo Bunny "Barefoot & Bliss" stash I saved because the colors just POP - they're gorgeous!  They also go perfectly with tropical and water photos.  I think they also do not need a lot of embellishing, so I kept my layout simple...what do you think?

I started off with my CTMH Outdoor Denim cardstock base, and I used the Bo Bunny hibiscus patterned paper as the main background.  To add dimension, I created a "header" above it.

I started the header with a 1.5" x 9.5" strip of CTMH Lagoon cardstock, and I cut along the full strip with my Martha Stewart fringe scissors.  Above that, I layered a thin strip of the hibiscus paper and a scalloped strip of misted white cardstock.  I stamped the "paradise" definition on the left and adhered it all together.  I faux stitched in white above the header, and I stamped and fussy cut some flowers to layer on the right-hand side.

I layered my two photos over the hexagon patterned paper, distressing the edges, and then layering over CTMH Outdoor Denim cardstock.

I balanced the layout with a footer on the right hand side using a scalloped strip of white cardstock misted with Juniper reinker, which I adhered and did the faux stitching in white below.  I journaled on grid paper stamped 2nd generation with a hibiscus flower stamp, inked the edges, and adhered onto the hexagon paper and Lagoon cardstock.  

I finished the layout adding a button and some raffia palm tied with ribbon to the footer, and adding some gems above the header.  I hope you felt tropical on today's blog hop!

***Giveaway!***

  

I'm giving away one $20 e-gift certificate to the Two Peas in a Bucket 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 - would love if you share your favorite spring memory or tradition :)

Easy, peasy!  You have until Monday, March 24, 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, March 25, 2014. Good luck, and thanks for visiting!

Now head over to the very talented Jennifer Haggerty's blog for your next stop.  Isn't her layout FUN?? Those glasses are a hoot!

Full Practical Scrappers Blog Hop List

Practical Scrappers
Wendi Robinson

Marcia Dehn Nix
Christine Meyer
Claude Campeau
Heather Sweet

Patty Selah

Majken Pullin {You are HERE}

Jennifer Haggerty

Erin Morehouse

Lee-Anne Thornton

Bobbi Smith

Kelly Jean
Lisa Peeples

Nicole Laha

Alison Day

{LOVE and be loved} - A Scrap Your Stash Blog Hop with Practical Scrappers -- And a Giveaway!!

Welcome, welcome to the Practical Scrappers "scrap your stash" blog hop!!  You should have arrived here from Lanette Erickson's site.  How about a $20 GIVEAWAY to keep the fun going?  Check out my project and learn more about it at the end of this post.

Grab some chocolate...today I am sharing a layout based on the theme "Love" and using my stash of Pink Paislee "Secret Crush" collection (Heartbeat and Endless Love papers) and some Glitz Designs "Love You Madly" collection.  My daughter has a February birthday, and because she is my HEART, it's very fitting to use Valentine's themed papers for a layout.

This layout was incredibly fun to pull together.  I started with the Secret Crush papers and knew I wanted to use the side with the heart banners....ADORBS!  I trimmed the bottom off to create space for a heart footer.  I framed it by first inking all edges with CTMH Hollyhock ink and then matting it with CTMH Slate cardstock, leaving more room at the bottom. 

We had two photos from Presley's birthday dinner, and they fit nicely in the gray polka dot Secret Crush frame.  I created the pink polka dot frame from the other piece of Secret Crush I had because I wanted it to stand out from the distressed brown/gray polka dot background that I took from the Love You Madly paper pack (I popped up this photo with some 3D tape).  To create the bottom layer under the photos, I took a rectangle of the pink paper and cut the shallow triangle to create a banner look.  I took the triangle piece and moved it to the right of the photos to create the arrow effect.  I inked the edges with Slate ink, and then once I had the mat down, I machine stitched over it.

I concentrated on the footer next and used the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to create the solid and outline hearts using the same paper pieces used above.  I spread them out so no two patterns were near each other, and then I machine-sewed through them with gray and pink thread.  Aren't our silly faces funny??

I had a leftover Maya Road Vintage Heart clip on my desk, and when I put it on top of the solid heart, I loved how the shapes matched so well!!!

Once I had the base down, I focused on the embellishments.  The banner on the paper was pretty on its own, but I added some Slate polka dot washi tape, a few other hearts, some Basic Grey candy buttons, some leftover Studio Calico sequins, a "love" sticker from Jillibean Soup's Wise Words, the "we are perfect together" sticker from Pebbles, and stamped hearts and arrows.

Going through my stamp stash, I came across the "Love and be loved" stamp from CTMH's C1385 Charmed set (retired).  I cut the "Love" apart from the rest of the phrase (I LOVE being able to do that with acrylic stamps!) and then stamped the "and be loved" in Slate ink, followed by the "love" using Hollyhock ink.  Love this title!

I finished with some lace ribbon and other embellishments as well as journaling on the page with my thoughts on my daughter turning 12. I hope you were inspired by my project!

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 telling me what your favorite thing is about February

Easy, peasy!  You have until Monday, Feb. 17, 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, Feb. 18, 2014. Good luck, and thanks for visiting!

Now head over to the talented Erin Morehouse's blog for your next stop. 

Full Practical Scrappers Blog Hop List

Practical Scrappers

Krissy Clark

Christine Meyer
Kim Ryden
Patty Selah
Charity Hotrum

Lissa Mitchell
Jennifer Haggerty
Alison Day

Bobbi Smith

Michelle Johns
Kerri Yarus

Cathy Harper

Nicole Laha
Lanette Erickson

Majken Pullin  **You are HERE**

Erin Morehouse

Lisa Peeples
Claude Campeau
Wendy Coffman
Lee-Anne Thornton