It's Time for a Throwback Thursday(An Evolution in Scrapbooking)

Just for today, I thought that it might be fun to re-share the first layout that I shared on my blog. It was an 8x8 layout, that I shared in February of 2009, and I am not really sure where it is now.

I still think that I like it, even though my scrapbooking style has taken many swings in many different directions since then.

I went through a diecut heavy phase, back when I used to scour the internet searching for hours for the perfect free file:

(I posted that one in May of 2010) Which also was the beginning of a flowery phase-I didn't like a layout unless it had some sort of flowers on it!

October 2010:

February 2011:

April 2011:

During April of 2011 sometime, I realized that bigger pictures=a good thing on my blog, so my pictures got bigger, and my layouts just kept getting heavier. 

I still love this page, though!

September 2011:

(more flowers)

November 2011:

(My layouts for that year or two were very heavy, and filled about 2 scrapbook albums very full each year!But, that's what I loved right then, and I didn't care)
After that, I went through a phase for about a year where I used a sketch for nearly every layout or card that I made. Partly because I wanted to enter a bunch of the contests that the websites ran, partly because I felt that I could scrap more quickly that way. Until I discovered Shimelle's classes/Glitter Girl videos on 2Peas, and I finally started to find a style that just flowed for me. I loved layering, I loved using up my bits and pieces, and she was just so easy and inspiring to listen to. Here is the first Glitter Girl inspired layout that I shared on my blog:

One from Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party class:

One of several that I made inspired by her Scrapbook Remix Class:

One of many inspired by Shimelle's Return to the Collection class:

Shimelle got me interested in watching all of the other garden girls videos on two peas, as well, and then I fell in love with Wilna's dreamy, artsy style.
Here's one of my favorite pages inspired by her Art and Design class:

And finally, one of my most recently completed pages, using my April Fantastic&Fabulous kit:

I definitely used bits and pieces of inspiration that I have gathered from both Wilna and Shimelle in this page, but it just sort of flowed out for me. No sketches, just me, some fun products (the flowers were printables from Wilna's Art and Design Class, and the lightbulbs on the previous page were cut files from that same class-so I guess this falls in the "sharing my homework" category as well).

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you have been inspired as I have reminisced through at least my online scrapbooking history today!

Sharing my homework...Wilna's Art And Design Class

This class was one of my favorite classes related to scrapbooking that I have ever taken! For any one that missed the original run of it on Big Picture Classes old website, she is now offering it in her shop, iheartstudio . I felt it was well worth the cost of admission, just for the cut files, much less the wonderful inspiration and instruction! Here are a few more of my pages inspired by the class, click on "Wilna's Art and Design" in my category tab to see more:

I fussy cut the "Primeval Whirl" title from an actual photo that I took of the sign. I painted the smear across the page with Gelatos, and the "Awesome" was a cut file from the class. I know that every time I use Gelatos, I think of Wilna, and her videos for 2Peas, because I never would have discovered them if not for that.

A couple of embellishment close ups:

The "windows were also a cut file offered up in the class, and I had such fun scrapping once forgotten photos from my honeymoon, and filling the grid up with little bits of loveliness from a past counterfeit kit, such as these fun stamped and painted mixed media embellishments:

I love the tiny textured treasures on this page. The stamped cork and canvas really adds a fun bit of texture to the page!

Inspired by Jen Gallacher

Earlier today, I saw a new video series, Seasonal Cards by Jen Gallacher, and I was inspired to make this card:

See It on 2Peas

 

Supplies used: I cut out the file folder shape with my Cricut and SCAL, ribbon from WM, punched circle that I corrugated myself, stamped the inside with a Glitz Designs grid stamp, Tim Holtz journaling tag stamped with a stamp from Inkadinkado, paper scrap from Cloud9 Designs that I machine stitched, stickers from Heidi Grace, Thickers holly leaves, gems from the Paper Studio and K&Co.

Back 2 School with Jenni, Crate, and WASHI!

I have been soaking up lots of back 2 school inspiration from bloggers for the past few weeks, so I decided that I should take a swing at a back to school page myself! The Jenni Bowlin Studio inspiration blog has been inspiring me for a while now with lots of back to school pages, and I knew that this stencil paper was perfect for the theme! I tried the "washi tape behind the letters" technique that I scraplifted from Shannon Tidwell, a Garden Girl at Two Peas (in response to the "Scraplift a Pea" challenge). I used this sketch from Artful Delight, turned 90 degrees on its' side:

 

And I came up with this page:

 See it on 2Peas

Close up look at the title:

 A look at the stencil with the washi tape:

 And the "books" I cut from the the Crate Paper patterned paper and inked with Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress ink:

 

Most of the supplies for this page came from my CKC kit for this month, and I also added little droplets of sheer white homemade shimmer mist and tiny stars that I punched from red and yellow woodgrain paper. I love how it turned out! What do you think? Drop me a line and let me know!

 

Autumn Love

Just sharing a quick and simple layout that I made with some fun Jenni Bowlin digi products!
My layout:

Supplies used:
Co'ordinations cardstock, Jenni Bowlin Mercantile Mix 4 digital papers (I printed the yellow out on watercolor paper), Jenni Bowlin Printed Tickets Stars and Stats (also printed on watercolor paper and handcut), yellow-orange Target washi tape, Wasau cream cardstock,Studio Calico Mr. Huey's Mist, a scrap of fiber that had the warm, fuzzy "Fall Feel" to it that I wanted, and Jenni Bowlin's digital leaf die cut freebie:

 

(Click on the photo to be taken to the Jenni Bowlin Studio Inspiration blog to download)

Thank you for visiting with me today, I hope you enjoyed my quick and easy LO!

A Master Forger's List Swap and a sketch from Basic Grey

We were challenged by Beth, Meridy, and Crystal from the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog to swap lists with each other, and make a page based on at least five of the other person's favorite things to scrap with. I was excited when Lisa's name was drawn to give me a list, I love her style!

Here is the list she gave me to work with:

1. White cardstock

(Got it!)

2.  patterned paper with a gorgeous mix of soft aqua and coral colours - perfect for summer layouts - and an on trend design. Something like hot air balloons, clouds, maps or chevrons. My favourite right now is BasicGrey's What's Up.

(I used Basic Grey Paper Cottage)

3.  A chipboard alpha. I just purchased an Amy Tangerine Thickers alpha - Goodness in white and I love that one too

(I used a pink Making Memories chipboard alpha)

4.  Some pearls or bling. Loving this yellow pearl swirl from Lost and Found by My Mind's Eye

(I added pearls to some of the flower centers)

5.  Flair buttons/badges. I don't know if you know how much I love maps and anything with maps on them so these badges from Studio Calico are high on my list right now

( I used a BG wooden button from the Paper Cottage collection)

6.  My go-to supply on my table is white or cream twine. I buy it at the haberdashery and love it. I use it on everything. Or kitchen string :-)

(I used it to tie the center of the button, and to make the banner)

7.  Stick pins - I have a collection of assorted pins to use

(I used a couple of pretty vintage stick pins that I received from a swap on 2 Peas)

8.  Tape of some sort. My collection is growing!

( I used washi tape to make the mini banner, and under the title)

9.  Assorted die cut shapes - I have this bag from the What's Up collection but it could be die cuts in any form.

(I die cut the borders from scraps with my Cricut and SCAL)

10.A stamp or stamped image of some sort. I'm including this as it's something I have to remind myself to do more often! I have a small but growing collection of stamps but I forget to use them! :-)

(I used Basic Grey stamps for the leaf flourish and the cream colored flower, and heat embossed both for texture)

I based it on this week's sketch from Basic Grey:

 A closer look at the embellies and stamping:

All of the patterned papers are from a 6x6 Paper Cottage pad, the flowers are all handcut from the pad as well, with the exception of the cream flower.

Masterforger's 3-2-1 Challenge

We were given this challenge by the Counterfeit Kit challenge blog: 3-2-1
Use only 3 Embellishments, 2 Patterned Papers, and only 1 photo. Here is my layout:

It was really simple to put this page together with the limited supplies. 3 Embellishments: the tag, the handmade flower, and the journaling card from a Smash pad; 2 Patterned Papers, the pink backgraound from Crate Paper's Pretty Party collection, and Pink Paislee's London Market border strips paper; and 1 photo from my little sisters' wedding.
All of the supplies were taken from my May kits, with the exception of the handmade flower and the ribbon on the tag.

Case Closed!

For today's layout, I played along with a fantasic and fun new color challenge with a twist:
CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration:

It is such an interesting and unique twist on a color combo challenge! I love it!
My layout:

I had the colors in my "Cozy Christmas" kit already, so this was a great way to use them! Evidence I included:bow and lacy (the snowflake under the rosette) element. For the Testimony:I journaled a rhyme on a tag.
Patterned paper is Basic Grey, die cut paper is from Target $1 spot, die cut tag and snowflake using my Cricut and SCAL, red&white twine, green and black ribbon, and my favorite element is the rosette I received in a 2 Peas swap:

Sketch Challenge at Sketches 4 All

Good morning! I hope you all had a great weekend! I did! I had some time to myself to scrap this past weekend, and it was such a treat! I have to say, this month's Counterfeit Kit really seems to suit my style, because I am really enjoying scrapping with it, and the pages just seem to flow so easily! The page I am sharing with you today is one that I did for a sketch challenge over at Sketches 4 All .

The sketch:

(Isn't it gorgeous?)

My Layout:

 A Close-up of my embellishment cluster:

Everything I used for this layout came from my January Counterfeit Kits. The background, photo mat and paper strip under the Mistables trim is Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper, along with a piece of diecut paper from Target's $1 spot, and I added a piece of light green swirl print paper tilted under the photo mat. The snowflakes were cut from a transparency, using my Cricut E and SCAL (still love what my baby does for me ;-) ), and then I dabbed it with a pearl paint dabber to make it stand out. The title is made up of Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type Stickers and Basic Grey letter stickers, which outlined with a thin black Sharpie pen to make them stand out. For my embellishment cluster, I covered a large white chipboard snowflake with glue, then silver mica flake, used a ZVA crystal swirl, then layered the glittered snowflake with light blue chipboard snowflakes, an embellished button, and a little eskimo girl from the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Chip Sticker pack. I added a pink "ticket style" journaling spot, some {crooked} hand-journaling, and I was finished! I have to say, that since I had that moment of self-discovery when I was sharing my favorite layouts from last year, it feels a bit easier to scrap! I don't feel like I am "wandering without a map"-I know my style now, and what I like in a finished layout, so it helps me to make decisions much more easily as I am putting my pages together. I have been inspired to find my style ever since I read about how Melissa found her style-and it was refreshing to find mine!

Now that you've seen my take on the sketch, won't you come and play along for a chance to win a 6x6 Echo Park Happy Days paper pad&Thickers? And while you're there, check out our guest design team call for February?

12 Days Of Christmas Tags, Day 9

A short and sweet post to share my tag for day 9, based on this fantastic tag by Tim Holtz:

 Here is my tag:

I used the rusted enamaling technique that  Tim shared on his blog, using a bold flourish stamp from my stash, some dark green Colorbox chalk ink, UTEE, and Barn Door Distress Ink, Die cut the word, "Peace" from black cardstock with my Cricut and Winter Woodland cartridge , and the flourish candle, and greenery using SCAL. I coated the flourish and "Peace" with Glossy Accents, and distressed the candle and added Stickles, rhinestones, and pearl "berries".

12 Tags of Christmas, Day 4

Have you been following Tim's Tags? I have to say, this is my favorite tag so far-but it was definantly the most time consuming one that I have done!

Here is Tim's Tag:

And here is mine:

There were ALOT of steps in this tag :-) I only have 2 Distress Stains, So I used Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans) which I rubbed in different spots on wax paper, then homemade marshmallow shimmer mist, Sapphire and Sea Glass Glimmer Mist which I misted onto the wax paper and rubbed the tag through, adding more as needed, then misted the whole tag with my marshmallow mist.I partially dried with my heat gun, then left it alone for a while to finish drying while I worked on the other stuff. After it was dry, I stamped various snowflakes from several different sets in a random fashion with the Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans, and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks. I stamped a flourish in Moonlight White Momento Ink up in the upper right hand corner, cut a snowflake edge that I designed in Sure Cuts Alot to look similar to Tim's, which I dabbed with a Pearl Adirondack Paint Dabber. I cut the snowflake and snowman out of chipboard with my Cricut, Deep Cut Blade, and Winter Woodlands cartridge. I cut out the "25" from a little piece of Christmas sheet music from Tim Holtz's Seasonal Paper Stash, also using the Winter Woodlands cartridge with the font set on blackout. I coated the snowman and snowflake with my pearl paint dabber first, dried with my heat gun, then coated with Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint. I had to let this dry on its own. I then coated the "25" with Glossy Accents and let it dry again. I misted the snowflake with Sapphire and Sea Glass Glimmer mist, then wiped it off. I added 3 clear/white/greenish buttons tied with tulle, tied a tulle and shabby seam binding "scarf" around the snowman, added some pearls and rhinestones to his hat, along with a tiny feather. I tied the tag with more tulle and shabby seam binding, adding a "joy" charm and a snowflake button at the top for decoration, and topped the die cut snowflake off with Stickles.
 I am linking this tag up with the Simon Says Stamp Challenge of "Anything Goes", and the Sir StampAlot Challenge Bingo :Pearls, Stickles, Ribbon