Bloom Where You Are Planted

When I saw Hip Kit Club's May kit, I was smitten and had to have it. Computer photos don't do it justice; it's absolutely gorgeous and I was instantly inspired to create with it. This year has been a year of learning to be still, learning how to handle things that are out of my control, and most importantly, learning how to thrive under those circumstances. It wasn't easy (at first), but once I "let go" my attitude shifted and I started focusing on things that bring me joy. This layout represents this little chapter in my life.

May's cut files (designed by Ashley H.) were the perfect starting point for my layout. I cut the bloom cut file from the She Blooms paper and also from Bazzill ombre' cardstock. For the background, I created a cut file with the phrase "Where you are planted", and used it as a stencil with Ranger Texture Paste. I love the light and airy look of it. I layered the bloom cut file with some of the die cuts from HKC's exclusives and some She Blooms chipboard. I really love the end result of this layout and I love the reminder, to myself, to focus on good things and something wonderful can happen.

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you've been inspired to bloom where you are planted! ♥

My New Favorite Layout

This layout was inspired by the fall Starbuck's cup and a cut file from Hip Kit Club (designed by Kim Watson). Instead of creating a cut file, I used a Faber-Castell Artist Pen in my Silhouette Cameo to sketch the layout. I then used Distress inks to paint the wreath; using colors inspired by the collage of fall photos. I love the light and airy look this created. The Starbuck's cozy is the perfect embellishment to finish off the layout.

Inspiration is all around us, we just need to take the time to notice it! For more information about this layout, be sure to check out my YouTube video here. As always, thank you for stopping by my blog!

Listening to Your Scrappy Voice

Hello, friends! I know it's been a long time since I've posted on my blog. We have been consumed this summer with house projects and I haven't had much time to scrap. Last week (in the middle of total chaos during this project), I woke up with the urge to scrap. For a few minutes I squelched my scrappy voice and told myself to focus on the job at hand. I finally caved and entered my craft room and I knew I was a goner.

I started with the "Leaf It To Me" cut file from The Cut Shoppe and the weekly challenge from the Hip Kit Facebook group. Fall is my favorite time of year so the beautiful leaves instantly spoke to me. I had taken several Instagram photos of some of my favorite fall things and thought it would be fun to document them. Once the over-sized leaf was cut using my Silhouette Cameo, I grabbed some Webster's Pages (Family Traditions) from my stash and backed the cut file with an assortment of the papers. The Dear Lizzy wood-grain paper, from my Hip Kit, is the perfect backdrop for the leaf; the colors just pop off it. Part of the challenge was to use embellishments around a large cut-file, so I used various stickers, enamel dots, and wood veneer to surround the leaf. The title, "FALL" is also from the cut shop (The Tall Type Alpha).

This is definitely my new favorite layout; it may even crack the top ten ever! I'm so happy I stopped in the middle of a busy time and listened to my scrappy voice. Sometimes you just NEED to create! Autumn begins this week; take time to enjoy this beautiful, colorful season! ♥

Officially Ready for Summer!

Wow, school has been out for a month and I still haven't relaxed much! I haven't been doing as much scrapping as I would like, but I have been busy with fun projects. First up are some rusty chairs that I spray-painted. It's amazing what a little paint can do! Check this out...

When our daughter was away at camp, I completely transformed her room. It was lots of hard work but so worth it, seeing the look of joy on her face when she walked into her room. The chandelier used to have pink flowers and green leaves, it was transformed with spray paint! I'm trying to figure out what else needs an update around here. lol

I have managed to squeeze in a little scrapping, too. Here are a few of my latest layouts.

Now that summer is officially here (tomorrow), it's time to kick back and enjoy. Thank you for stopping by my blog, wishing you a fun-filled summer!

NSD 2015 Recap

NSD 2015 has come and gone, but I must say it was AMAZING! Hip Kit Club hosted a three day extravaganza with fun chats and fabulous challenges. I actually completed 7 layouts! Today's post is just a quick recap of the challenges I completed.

I will admit that I had a scrappy hangover for a few days after the crop. :) Yesterday I received the May kits and I'm getting ready to open them - perfect for Mother's Day. Even if you missed out on the NSD celebration, you can always find inspiration on the Hip Kit Facebook forum. Happy Mother's Day and happy scrapping! xo

Masking Magic

A few weeks ago, I watched a Kristina Werner YouTube video with masking and stamping. I was instantly smitten with the design concept and knew I wanted to replicate the look on a layout. I gathered several botanical stamps and a few photos and got started. The concept is that you make a shaped mask (circle, square, etc.) and stamp along the edge of the shape. When you remove the mask, you are left with the most beautiful image. This photo is was taken after I removed the mask. This technique is so fabulous and the options are limitless.

Here is my completed layout. I have decided this is one of my all-time favorite layouts. I can't stop looking at it. :)

Even though this technique was geared for a card, I love that I can use it for scrapbooking. If you'd like to see my process video for this layout, click here. I encourage you to act on the things that inspire you, I'm sure you'll find the magic in the process. Thanks for stopping by, wishing you a blessed and creative day! xo

Squeezing in Some Creative Time

Spring is in the air and I'm loving it! We are getting into a crazy-busy time of year, with both kids in soccer and all of the end of school year madness. Thankfully, next school year, both kids will be on the same schedule! I'm still trying to squeeze in a little creative time in between all the craziness. Today I'll be sharing a few of my latest layouts.

In case you missed it, I now have a YouTube channel. Here is my latest process video, if you'd like to take a look! https://youtu.be/vSCVsmBCRrw Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! ♥

Random Layouts and Process Video

Now that I've started creating process videos on YouTube, I've been neglecting my blog. It's hard to find the time and energy to do it all. Today will be a quick post, sharing several of my latest layouts to prove to myself that I haven't been a total slacker. :) Most of the layouts were created for challenges on the Hip Kit Club Facebook forum.

I do have a process video for the first layout if you'd like to check it out. https://youtu.be/5YLtbDMYdzY

We are officially on Spring Break and Mother Nature is being a little obnoxious; we had a hard freeze last night. While I'm waiting for it to warm up today, I think I'll do a little scrapping! Happy Spring to you all! xo

My First Process Video

I'm so excited to be sharing my first process video with you! It took some time to work out the kinks, but it's finally here! A special thank you to my friend, Sheri, for some much needed information to get started. :)

Snow/Ice Week = Scraptime!

This past week has been brutal weather-wise! A little snow, ice, and FRIGID temps have caused school to be cancelled all.week.long. Yay for sleeping in, boo to air so cold that you can't breathe. Of course I always look at forced down-time as a gift from the Scrap Gods. :) Today's post is just a few of my recent layouts using Hip Kit Club kits.

I must take a break from scrapping now and do some chores. We have another Winter Storm Warning in effect, starting late this afternoon, please pray for our sanity. :)

Waiting for the Perfect Paper

In 2008, a friend took my daughter to a local museum and captured some adorable photos. Although I love the photos, I could never get inspired to scrap them. When I received February's kit from Hip Kit Club, the Webster's Pages Beautiful Chic (Swatches) immediately caught my eye. I love all the gorgeous circles of color. It reminded me of the buttons on my daughter's headband in the photos. Because I love the paper so much, it took me a few minutes to get the courage to start cutting the circles out. I thought originally I would do a straight line of circles, but decided to just cut a bunch out and then start playing.

Once I cut all the circles out, I decided on a heart shape around the photos. I laid it all out being careful to mix up the patterns and colors around the shape. I then took a photo with my iPad so I could replicate it when it was time to adhere it.

I wanted the background of the heart shape to be a contrasting paper to the white cardstock. I placed tracing paper over the heart shape and traced over the heart. I cut out the heart from the tracing paper and then had a template to use on my patterned paper.

I grabbed some coordinating buttons to match the buttons in my daughter's headband and added those around the heart. With just a few embellishments the layout is complete. I can honestly say that I am so glad I waited to scrap these photos because I LOVE the completed layout. ♥

We've finally been having some winter weather around here, so we have another day off school tomorrow. Of course I'm thrilled, because I will have time to clean up my space. I'm a hot mess when creating, no matter how hard I try to be neat about it. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Embossing with a Stencil

This month's Color Kit at Hip Kit Club included a Dear Lizzy stencil. It's such a lovely design, full of flowers/leaves and I knew I wanted to individually paint them. Typically stencils are used with paints/mists over them. To enhance the design of the stencil, I used VersaMark on the back side of the stencil and placed it on watercolor paper. A brayer was used to ensure even coverage of the VersaMark. I then poured Zing embossing powder (white) over the image and heat set it. The result is stunning. I almost didn't paint it because it was so pretty with white on white.

The next step was to have fun painting. I used Gelatos and NeoColors to watercolor the image. Since it's white on white, it's initially hard to distinguish the flowers from the leaves. Keep the stencil close at hand to help see the design.

Since the painted page is so colorful, I decided to use minimal embellishments on the page. Watching the pattern come alive as I was painting, was so exciting. That is how I emboss with stencils, you can get a completely different look this way, and the end result is amazing!

Matching Photos with Patterned Paper

Call me old school, but I still love to match photos with patterned paper. This layout is a perfect representation of that. I had a lovely vacation photo of our children at a marina. The soft peachy-pink hue of the sun setting in the sky was absolutely gorgeous that night. When I received Hip Kit Club's January kit, it had lots of the peachy-pink color which made this layout come together so easily.

I wanted to use the green and white paper, but it was a little too green for the photo, plus I wanted a touch of blue to compliment the clothing. I went over some of the v-shaped design with a blue Faber-Castell brush pen and placed vellum over the top to soften it. Vellum is my scrappy friend; it's amazing how it can transform the look of a paper.

We survived January without much winter weather (thankfully!); here's hoping February is the beginning of an early spring!