Show Your Space post

Greetings! Happy hump day and Happy last day of July!

It's my turn over at Scrapbook Challenges to share a Blog post about my work space...it's current condition is a little on the messy side as I'm working through some projects and upcoming classes but it's always fun to share with others the state of your creative space!

Head on over to Scrapbook Challenges now to see my post...leave a link in the comments section to your post or a photo of your scrappy space just for kicks if you'd like...I always like to see that I'm not alone with my messy chaos corner!

Double-pager anyone?

Happy Monday! 

It's a double-pager here from Scrapbook Challenges! We don't always have double page sketches so this one's a treat...and the design is both simple and super versatile!

Got scraps??!!! well pull them out and get busy! You don't even need to cut your photos...slap it all down and move onto the next project :)

Here's mine:

As you can see, the photos I've used of my daughter's recent trip to Thailand didn't work exactly as the sketch was laid out but it still all flows well enough...

I have so many great small stamps with arrows that I wanted to use them here. My main reason was I wanted to add more black to the layout...the black strips in the tiger's coat needed more black to be added to this page...instead of using paper, I've added it with my stamps and ink.

The title 'explore' was cut from my Cricut using our new CTMH Artbooking cartridge! There are so many fantastic images in this little cartridge that you are going to be seeing plenty more creations with it in weeks to come ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Up for some Challenges?

Every month over at Scrapbook Challenges we like to mix things up with different ways to inspire you or to get your creative juices flowing! Typically we, the Design Team, offer our members challenges meant to get you thinking and imagine that 'challenge' your creativity!

While I am more of a traditional scrapbooker in my style, I LOVE all the creative digital scrapbook layouts in the Gallery over at SBC too!

This month I've hosted a challenge to 'Scraplift' a digital layout from our gallery...I've already chosen the layout I want you to use, you just need to get creative using Jenny's layout as inspiration...easy right? Now seeing as I am just getting to this post on my blog here...you haven't got much time...but luckily the sketch design is so easy, all you need to do is dig into your bin of strips and scraps and start gluing them down!!!

Now here's Jenny's layout:

Click on this image to view Jenny's Gallery

Now here's my scraplift of her layout:

This one came together super easy only because I tend to keep little bits of this and that stored in this old embroidery floss storage container...all of my Project Life embellies get thrown into this container and it comes in handy when I want to add a little of this and that...

All of the little wood veneer bits fit well in here as well as those odd die cut bits and button badges...you get the idea!

Using the Echo Park Paradise Beach sticker sheet and some little bits of leftover paper strips...add in some washi tape and random stickers and embellies...

I had this 'today' cut out from my Silhouette machine for another project but didn't use it, so after coming across it in my hunt for embellies, I figured it worked well for my title :)

Something I like to do is have a bunch of pre-cut clouds in different shades of white and creme, cardstock and patterned paper as well...I toss them into a little pouch of die cut bits and have them handy when creating...I love to use the die-cut bits in my layouts and sometimes having to take the time to pull out my machines to do so is a deterrent...seeing as I'm on the road and didn't bring my machines up with me to the cabin for the month...having these bits ready to use in my pouch came in handy ;)

Did you notice that lovely bright yellow 'moments' circle? It's from Elle's Studio...haven't heard of it? Well I had the pleasure to meet her at the Crop and Create event in Burnaby a couple months ago, she is such a lovely lady and has a super line of products, be sure to click on the link above to check her line of products out! 

As you can see, having all these great little bits laying around from various companies, in an orderly fashion, make quick work of creating layouts...this page has lots to entertain you but the photo of my son is still sitting centre stage!

Thanks so much for stopping by and following me!

 

Lakeside Scrapbooking...

Well I've had a great break away at the lake for July...still enjoying a few more days before I need to pack up and head back home. While here I've been plugging away on finishing up projects and completing sketches. The sunshine and lake are a big distraction during the daytime but the evenings once they cool down, make for a nice scrapbooking setting.

This is the view from the porch and front windows of the cabin we've been nestled in for July...as you can see we have been spending most daylight on our dock and evenings around the campfire...we are lucky there aren't any fire bans here just yet.

this is the sketch from Scrapbook Challenges for this week...I figured the dock was a great place to take some photos! This was from our Christmas last year in Hawaii...all the kids got some lessons in surfing!

These flowers were fussy cut from a sheet of Fancy Pants Down by the Shore...it was time consuming as opposed to stickers but worth it in the end :)  The surf board paper is from EP Paradise Beach collection and the camera and sentiment stickers are from the EP Urban Traveller collection.

My Project Life cards works very well to add a journalling spot or titles and sub-titles to any project...the colours were a great match too.

As you can see I'm still enjoying all my wood veneer bits on my layouts! The arrows are from Close To My Heart and the speech bubbles are from Studio Calico! Love them!!!

SBC sketch#354

Lately, I've been trying to keep it simple with my layouts and also incorporating the Project Life sleeves in amongst my albums...getting holidays completed and into albums for everyone to enjoy is the main goal and while I love to embellish and create little pieces of goodness throughout my albums, I want to have more albums completed and more photos printed out...scrapbooking every moment in a holiday isn't realistic and will lead to frustration instead of enjoyment in this fun hobby! 

Thanks so much for stopping in!

Let's talk about July's Specials!

For this month only AND while supplies last...we are offering our Canvas art kit for 50% off!!!

Now what you don't see in the artwork below is that there are two different colour schemes you can go with when you get this kit...the one below is highlighting red and blue with brown but with my kit I used the yellows and greens and as you'll see, the end result looks completely different!!!

Now I want to warn you all that last months special sold out before the end of the month, so if you'd like to take advantage of this special you might want to let me know or visit my website now and grab this while you can! Make sure you check out all the 'While Supplies Last' section while you're there for ongoing awesome deals on products on their way out!

Every month we offer an exclusive stamp set...this July we've got the 'Sweet Life'...cherries, apples and peaches, very realistic looking and some great sentiments as well...click on this LINK to see the stamp images or to place an order. Get the 'stamp of the month' for $5 with every $50 purchase or order it on its own for $17.95...but remember that they are only ever available during the month they are featured!

I have orders going in every month, so you can easily message me with what you'd like and I'll be happy to add your order into my current order to save you on shipping costs ;)

Would you like a sketch...or two, or three???

It's been just over two weeks now since my Father-in-Law passed away. We are all plugging away in my household with all three of my kids working for our family business during the summer break, helping my Mother-in-Law with lots of details and my husband dealing with all the  Estate and financial business that comes when there is a death in the family. All new to us, luckily, but all needing to be dealt with! 

I honestly just haven't felt like being too crafty...I've had lots of fun ordering product from the new CTMH catalog but haven't yet stepped into my workshop to create...first order of business will be to tidy it up so I can walk in there! and then get serious about some fantastic sketches I've been wanting to play with...perhaps today's the day for that!???

In the meantime I want to share with you a couple great sketches I missed working on these past three weeks due to our family's loss...I am super grateful for my fellow Design Team ladies at Scrapbook Challenges for their support and for continuing to provide inspiration to all of you!

Make sure you pop on over to the Scrapbook Challenges Blog to see each of these sketches and what the Design Team created with them too! I am always impressed with all the different looks created from the same sketch...just another reminder that sketches are meant to inspire you and spark your creativity!

Happy Summer Days to you and I hope you have a chance to get crafty this week!

No babies here...

So for those of you that know me, you know that I have a house full of teenagers and young adults...no babies! I hope not for a while yet either!!! So when I saw this new collection in our Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book called Babycakes I thought I wouldn't be playing with this paper line...but I have to say that the colours are fantastic and after looking at both sides of these papers I thought, why not?

This paper collection features Buttercup, Chocolate, Colonial White, Slate and Sunset. You can see by the artwork below that you don't need to be limited to these colours...by adding Lagoon here it totally compliments the page as well as adds another colour to the mix.

You may have noticed the new Bronze Shimmer trim in this layout? We've added a Red and Bronze to our line which is an exciting colour addition and I LOVE that it is adhesive...so fast and easy to add to our projects and now more colours to choose from!

Now check out this adorable mini-album that's been created with this Babycakes line and our NEW My Creations Kraft Pocket Album! L.O.V.E this new Kraft Pocket Album...just sayin'...can't wait to get it...8 pages plus front and back covers giving you 18 pockets total!  I'm gonna say it again...L.O.V.E it!!!

It measures just over 6" x 8" and not only are you going to want to create a fun mini-album but this would make the perfect gift or brag book for friends or family...you could even play around with pull tags and make it a great little interactive book for kids...at $6.95 each you're going to want to grab a few!

Did you notice the fancy badge buttons on these two projects? Well add the Babycakes Assortment to your order cause these embellies are gorgeous and a great price at $4.95...12 wood-rimmed badge buttons with adhesive backs...they look just like brads but are a lot simpler to add to your projects!

So much more exciting stuff to come...I sure hope those Idea Books of mine make it here this week...I am beyond excited to flip through the pages...are you???!

Second and Third favorite things...

Welcome Back! You are going to be seeing more posts in the coming weeks from me mostly because I want to show off some of the awesomeness coming to my customers August 1st with the release of our Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book!!!

Yesterday I shared the super big news of our newest Cricut Cartridge addition to our Close To My Heart Cricut Collection, ARTBOOKING.

See the post HERE if you want to view the images.

Today I want to show you a couple of Home Decor items that not only caught my eye but after flipping through the pages of the new Idea Book...got me super excited with the possibilities for both of these items ;)

First up is our Designed Decor Colonial White Frame and as you can see it makes a fantastic background to display any number of things! With an interior dimension of 12" x 13-1/2" this wood frame with honeycomb wire will be perfect for displaying artwork, photos, accents and more.

This great frame is $26.95 on its own or you can purchase it as a kit.

This Designed Decor Frame Kit (photo below) contains:

1 - Designed Decor Colonial White Frame
1 - myAcrylix Frame Kit stamp set
33 - Kraft paper die-cut shapes
6 - mini wooden clothespins
1 - Baker's Twine Hemp (1 yard)

Purchase this kit for $35.95 (retail value $43.85)

This second item is called the Designed Decor Flip Stand Album and it is a clear acrylic stand with rings for displaying photos up to 6-1/2" x 5-3/4". This stand has a slot for inserting a background image. Instant photograph frames from the Cricut Artbooking cartridge works great too!!!

I already have a couple ideas for this little item and can't wait for my shipment to arrive so I can start creating!!!

All of my creations will be on display for my Open House at the end of this month so if you live in the area make sure you stop by so you can see all this goodness up close!

Thanks for stopping by today, I appreciate your visits and your comments! enjoy the sunshine whenever you find yourself today ;)