Winter’s Done!

As I have mentioned a time or two, I like (LOVE!) to shop for scrapbooking supplies. One of the ways I keep up with my purchases and stay inspired is to change what I use right along with the seasons. If it’s summer, I use vibrant, bright papers. True confession: I think every layout I did a few summers ago was Lime Rickey by Basic Grey! I fell in love with it and couldn’t move on. If it’s fall, I use a lot of the golden yellows, reds and browns we’re used to seeing that time of year. Now that I think about it, the change from summer to fall might have been the only thing that got me off of Lime Rickey. LOL!

With this post, I’m marking my official end of scrapping winter, cold weather photos. There were so many great collections this winter. One of my favorites was Winter Twig by Little Yellow Bicycle. I used it to highlight one of my favorite photos of me with my sisters. And I was able to use that heart punch I bought for Valentine’s Day.

Friends by Moanica Caston. Patterned Paper, Journaling Card, Layered Flowers: Little Yellow Bicycle; Cardstock: American Crafts; “Beautiful” flourish: KI Memories; White flower: Prima; Bling Center: Recollections; Alphas; American Crafts Thickers.

So, if you’re normally a chronological scrapper, try shifting your focus when the seasons change. I think you might be surprised at the jolt to your inspiration.

Happy Spring!
Moanica

A Little Spring Time Card Making.

Hi Everyone.. I hope that you are enjoying your Sunday and hopefully spending time with your Family and or love ones. I can't tell you How excited I am to be sharing my first Post as a part of the DT with SOC.. I am honored to be among such Talented Ladies and Gents.

As we are winding our "National Craft Month" and enjoying all the Gorgeous weather of Spring. I thought I would share with you what I LOVE doing in my Crafty Time.. I am a Stamper and Card Maker.. I just love "Stamping both with Rubber and or Clear Stamps. I also Love making card and it's only natural when you think about it.. My other Passion is Coloring my images and that does include "digi" images too.. I just love seeing how I can make my stamped images come to life by just adding a Few colors.. 

So today I wanted to share with you "2" cards that I made..

My first card is a Standard A2 card I love making this size card, even though I have been making more and more 5x5 or 5x5 1/2 card too.. I started off with  some colored card Stock from PTI. and some Gorgeous Spring Time color DP from My Mind Eye...  I stamped my Image  (my sweet little bunny)on to White Card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored  him with Prisma colored Pencils and OMS (Oder less Mineral Spirits. After I colored him I cut him out with my "circle Nesti which I ran thru my "cuttlebug".. I used my scallop punch to add an extra layer of DP.  I Love adding embellishments to finish off my card. I used some colored pearls and my "white gel pen for a littler boarder around the edges of opposite end of my card. The Sentiment came along with the stamp, which I stamped directly on to the front of the card.

I don't think that that card is really complete until you add a little design to the inside as well.. and that is easy to do and a great way to use up some of your "scrap paper".

For my second card.. I made this one a very "Clean and Simple" card..starting off with "Kraft card stock.. I stamped my image directly on to the from of the card. I stamped the image again on card stock, then I cut it out and colored the hearts with my Sakura gel pen. I used some pop dots to make it more dimensional. I stamped the Sentiment on a piece of Cream card stock with red ink and then cut it out and used some adhesive to stick it down with.. To finish off I added some Faux stitching with my white gel pen. For my embellishments I used some Red twin and a button. Great Card for an "Expecting Mother"

Here is a side view to show how I popped up my image.

I look forward to sharing much more of what I love to do, and I hope that I can inspire some one just as I have been inspired..  

Enjoy the rest of your Week and 

Happy Crafting

Sharette

Has Spring Sprung?

With SPRING just around the corner, I'm all ready in the mood for some SPRINGY projects.

How about you? First let me admit to an addiction. I am addicted to mini albums. I love to create these little artsy creations. So with SPRING in mind, I created this mini. I always use chipboard as my base. What is a mini without embellishments? On the front cover I cut the design paper to fit the chipboard and added some pearl trim. Next, I added some feathers to mimic the bird printed on the patterned paper. I binded the mini with my Cinch binder. The back cover has a handmade rolled ribbon flower. I captured a bird in a cage as a fitting end to this mini. Do you like to create mini albums? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hello Everybody, Barb here. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I’m curious to know how many of you will be celebrating this holiday and what you do to celebrate it? My family and I always celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish-themed meal. Typically, it will be corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. I decorate the house, just as I would for any other holiday and play Celtic music. This is one of our Traditions. Something we’ve come to look forward to each year. Take a look at a layout from one of our St. Patty’s Day dinners.

Digital Kit:Kiss Me-Samara Gugler.DateIt:Meryl Bartho@DSP.GlitterStyle:Flergs.Shamrocks:Simply Sarah.WordArt:Ellie Lash.Font:Segoe Print.

I was able to pull this layout together super speedy, because I pre-made the page. Yeah. Think about it. When we scrap book the ‘traditional’ way, with paper and glue, we put together ‘page kits’ to help us complete our pages quickly. (Tiare has a wonderful video on how to put together a traditional page kit HERE.) Sooo, why not put together a layout kit or pre-make a page, when we digital scrap book?  It’s really very simple.  For my St. Pat’s Day layout, I knew I was going to use green and I knew I wanted to use a St. Patrick’s Day digital kit.  I designed a layout, and using the papers and embellishments from the kit, I put together the page. At the time, I had no photos for the page. I left those areas empty and once the day was over, I was able to just drop those photos into place and my page was done the same day! I have done the same thing with Christmas and Halloween. I even did this with my Dad’s wedding album because I knew their color palette.  I find that pre-making my digital layouts helps me get my pages completed quickly, which means they go into an album quicker so my family can enjoy the memories and relive the event.

Pre-making my pages also allows me to design my page in a relaxed, stress free way. I can take my time. I can move things around, try different techniques, or find the perfect embellishment to accent my layout.  This is our hobby; it’s supposed to be fun and relaxing. I hope that you will give the pre-made digi layout a try. It really is a time-saver.

And to satisfy my curiosity, please leave me a comment and share what you do to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It will be fun to see how we differ and how we are the same. Have a wonderful day!

Cheers!