In love with PROJECT LIFE!

I've been a traditional scrapbooker for many years. I started the year by father passed away (1992) because I wanted to create a memory album for my mom for a Christmas present that year.  I started with Creative Memories all those many years ago (so sad they went out business).  Well  over the years, my style has changed from a clean & simple style to more elaborate wall-papered pages but the one thing I never thought I would do is move to a "pocket style" scrapbook page. That is until changes in technology.

That's right, now that I have an iPhone, I'm a different person.  Rarely do I ever take photos with a traditional camera.  So the question is now, "What's an easy way to get those memories in an album?"  Enter the Becky Higgins Project Life App.  AMAZING!!!!  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be excited about a  digital scrapbooking tool.  It’s ridiculously simple fast and easy.  The other part is I hate journaling.  Now the pictures along with journal card, filler cards and a little extra touch are the focus.

Besides the Project Life App (a real value at $0.99), a few other apps that are great organization tools are:

• Momento: $1.99 – a photo/journaling app that will sync with various social media
• Photo 365: $1.99 - (every day photo calendar)
• Rhonna Designs App: $1.99 -lets you add lots of creative photo frames & texts to your photos, used in conjunction with Instagram.
• Dropbox: place to store your pictures that aren't on your phone.

While I'll never totally leave my roots, now I can combine a hybrid between traditional and digital scrap-booking.   To that end, I've included a "template" PDF below of some of the most common PL templates and the picture sizes that go with it to help keep you better organized.


Thanks for stopping by!

Little Buddy Monsters

Today we're going with a kid's birthday theme!  I've seen a lot of really cool ideas on Pinterest using the Owl Builder Punch and just had to give these guys a try.  

You will need to punch the body image twice and punch the heart twice from the Owl Builder Punch.  Trim off the legs from the second punch to use as arms & adhere the hearts for their ears - it's just that simple.  I added a few googly eyes with mini glue dots, and punched out white paper for their fangs (freehand.)  Don't forget to add a couple of dimensionals behind the little guys! 

Here's the supplies that were used:

Stamps:  Little Buddy Birthday, Six Sided Sampler (for polka dot bellies), Gorgeous Grunge

Paper: So Saffron, Soft Sky, Strawberry Slush

Ink: So Saffron, Soft Sky, Strawberry Slush and Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Accessories: Owl Builder Punch, mini glue dots, dimensionals, googly eyes, 3/4" circle punch

Thanks for stopping by!

Owl Punch Monster Birthday

I'm just loving the Owl Builder Punch by StampinUp and all the cute punch art you can make with it. Here's another birthday card for that little one on your list. How cute is this "monster" when you add the face and some arms using an extra set of feet. Add a splash of color with the Gorgeous Grunge "splatter" and you're good to go.

Here's the supplies that were used:

Stamps: Outlined Occasions, Gorgeous Grunge

Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Tangelo Twist

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Tangelo Twist  and Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Accessories: Owl Builder Punch & White Signo Uni-ball Gel Pen

Thanks for stopping by!

Masculine Birthday!

Are you like me and have a hard time making cards that aren't all flowery and bright colored?  I'm always looking for masculine card ideas that aren't girly but that aren't drab either. 

I started searching for ideas on Pinterest (who doesn't love that site!) and found this layout by Christie who had used the design with different colors for a baby card.  Just by changing out the colors and the sentiment stamp, hocus pocus, a masculine birthday card.

Here's the supplies that were used:

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Sweet Essentials (retired), Simply Stars (retired)

Paper: Island Indigo, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White

Ink:  Island Indigo, Crisp Cantaloupe and Baked Brown Sugar

Accessories: Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Thanks for stopping by!

Acrylic Block Stamping with Serene Silhouettes

The Acrylic Block Technique is so easy to do.  Just ink the block on your ink pad and stamp the block to your paper.  I used the "B" block for this card.

I chose to use a few of the colors from the 2013-2015 "In Color" Collection for this project.  They are soft subtle colors that contrast nicely with the black image from  the Serene Silhouettes stamp set.

Here's the supplies that were used:

Stamps:  Serene Silhouettes and Petite Pairs

Paper: Early Espresso & Very Vanilla

Ink:  Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe and Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Accessories: Spica "Clear" marker for a dash of sparkle on the flowers

Thanks for stopping by!

Gift Card Envelopes

Looking for a unique way to package those last minute gift cards?  Look no further than your envelope punch board.

I couldn't bear to just leave these in the package they came in but I didn't want to unmount the gift card  and make a separate holder, so I came up with this cool idea!  Why not make it look like a wrapped present.  I measured the holder and used the envelope punch board from Stampin' Up to make the closest envelope to the measurement out of designer paper.  Then I added a strip of  cardstock, a belly band of the same color cardstock and a faux bow.

I think these really turned out awesome and hope you give it a try!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wedding Invitation

My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up to the rescue.

A friend of mine is planning a wedding and was in need of a wedding invitation.  She wasn't sure where to start so I volunteered to put something together for her.

Using My Digital Studio, I was able to put something together which was exactly what she was looking for.  Even though I'm still a novice at using the software, I think this project turned out really good.

Here's the supplies that were used:

My Digital Studio Stamp Set:  Meant to Be

Ink:  Night of Navy

Thanks for stopping by!

Playful Polka Dots Scrapbook Layout

I recently started using the My Digital Studio software from Stampin' Up.  I've used it for labeling my new soap packaging and for organizing my spice jars but today I decided to take advantage of a free download and create a scrapbook page.

This FREE MDS Digital Download is called Playful Polka Dots. I started with a template since this was my first try at using this software, but I didn't like the default colors.  NO PROBLEM!  With just a few clicks of the mouse, I was able to change the colors to coordinate better with my pictures. I had a lot of fun and suggest you give MDS a try.  You can download a free 30 day trial here.

Stampin' Up just recently lowered the cost of the software too, which is why I finally decided to give it try.  I can say that I've already gotten my money's worth.  I hope you give this a try too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Made from Scratch - Thank You

We had a difficult month with the illness and death of my father-in-law, but there were so many people there for us. Words cannot express how much we thank everyone for the expressions of sympathy, and all the help that was provided  to us during our moment of sorrow.  To that note, I just couldn't use the standard "thank you" cards provided to us.  I decided to make a card to let those people know how very special they are to us.

Here's the supplies that were used:

Stamps:  Made From Scratch, Wonderful Words

Paper: Black and Whisper White

Ink:  Going Gray,  Encore Utlimate Metallic stamp pad in Silver

Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You - Springtime Vintage

I needed to put together 50 cards quickly for our church card ministry. The beautiful spring blossoms on the Springtime Vintage DP (which is now retired) are an amazing backdrop for these quick and easy cards.

Here's the supplies that were used: 

Stamps:  Warmest Regards

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, DP Springtime Vintage

Ink:  Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval and Scallop Trim Border

Thanks for stopping by!

Clean & Simple - Fresh Vintage

 
While I love to embellish cards, the simple beauty of a clean and simple card shouldn't be underestimated.  These cards require no additional coloring other then your stamping, few if any embellishments, great color, good design, and they are quick and easy to make.  I hope you give this a try.
Stamps:  Fresh Vintage, Sincere Salutations
Paper:Whisper White, Black
Ink:  Black Staz-On
Accessories: Swiss Dots EF, Scor-Pal

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday

I just received my Stampin' Up! order last week and couldn't wait to use the new items.  I really LOVE the new framelit style dies introduced in the Occasions Mini . . . they bring a whole new level of crafting fun!

I'm not a big embossing fan but just had to try the new Scented Embossing Powder also in the Ocassions Mini.  It reminds me of the old "scratch & sniff" labels I used to collect as a child.


Here's the supplies that were used:

Stamps:  Imaginisce Berrylicious Collection, Stampin' Up! A Word for You
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink:  Black Staz-On, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Accessories: Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, Cherry Scented Stampin' Emboss Powder

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You

Here's a quick post.  I'm preparing for a Stampin' Up convention at the end of February and decided to do this simple card.  I cased it from a post I saw on Pinterest, but I don't remember who to give credit to :(.

The hardest part of the whole card was making the ribbon bow.  It uses a technique where you cross the ribbon into thirds and gather together in the middle and secure with a brad.  I think my brads were just too small and that was creating the frustration. Hope you give this a try! 


Stamps:  Sincere Salutations
Paper: Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, DSP Everyday Enchantment
Ink:  Crumb Cake
Accessories: Beautiful Wings Embosslit die, Scallop Square

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Inspiration Snowman

 Well I'm finally getting around to using a new stamp set I purchased that I intended to use for my Christmas cards this year and just didn't get around to.  What can I say, these stamps are amazing!  Can you believe a 12 year old entrepreneur is designing these stamps?  Check out this set and many more on her website.

Since we had so much snow on the ground, it gave me the inspiration to make a snowman.  Not literally of course, but what a cute idea for a card.  I also tried a technique new to me called "Double Embossing".  I finished off the look with a frame created from the Nestabilities dies.

Stamps:  Winter Wishes by a jillian vance design
Paper: Marina Mist and Whisper White
Ink:  Black Staz-On
Accessories: Stampin' Up embossing folder Snow Burst, Nestabilities Large Scallop Ovals, Watercolor Crayons, Watercolor Pencils, Spica Glitter Pen.

Thanks for stopping by!

Matted Decorative Label Punch

    I just love the Decorative Label punch from Stampin' Up.  The only problem is that I think layering gives the card more dimension and there isn't another punch that works for a mat.  What to do??  I tried several different ideas on my own and finally resorted to searching online.  I found a lot of great ideas but the one I liked the best is by Noel Johnson. Thanks Noel for this great tutorial on how to mat your Decorative Label punch.  If you follow her simple steps, you'll have a great looking card!

Here's the technique:

• Punch two labels for your mat.
• Cut as shown below.
• Use the four numbered pieces as mat gluing them on the back of your label. 

Stamps:  Four Frames & Watercolor Trio
Paper: Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink:  Soft Suede
Accessories: Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, Swiss Dot Embossing Folder

If you're in my Friday night card club (and you know who you are), we'll be making this next month!

Thanks for stopping by!

Punch Art Thank You Card

I saw this idea to create fun and quick flowers using two sided designer series paper and just had to give it a try. Check out this technique and many others here!


Stamps:  Bold Blossom (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Retired DSP  (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Chocolate Chip and Old Olive 
Accessories: Basic Pearls Jewel Accents, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by!

Ladies of Faith Craft Show

 

Ladies of Faith Craft Show

I've been extremely busy the past few weeks getting ready for the fall season of craft shows.  Saturday was the first of 5 upcoming shows I have between now and the end of the year.  Check back for a schedule of events to be posted in the upcoming weeks.

Craft show display

I will be making several items for the future shows specifically designed for stocking stuffers and gift giving ideas for co-workers, friends and family alike.  Here's a sneak preview of what's to come.

One of the hottest sellers!

Looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming show!  Thanks for stopping by!

Sympathy Card

I have had too many occasions recently where I have needed a sympathy card.  While it isn't some we like to think about, it is a natural part of life.

I put this quick card together using a couple of different stamp sets.  Sending a handmade card during a time of loss can bring great comfort to the recipient.  Take time to create some sympathy cards to have on hand before they are needed.
 
Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers, Close as a Memory (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Concord Crush, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Concord Crush, Old Olive
Accessories: Spica marker for a slight bit of sparkle

Thanks for stopping by!

Father's Day Card

Why is it so difficult to find a present for Father's Day.  What do you get the guy that has everything?   Well it looks like my father-in-law is going to be getting a shirt & tie for Father's Day . . . again!  LOL

I just couldn't resist making this cute card.   I wish I could take credit for the design, but I have to give credit where it is due.  Click here for the template and tutorial on how to make this adorable card.
 
Stamps:  Well Scripted (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy and Springtime Vintage DSP (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Buttons, brad and burgundy marker for Faux Stitch

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Layout

It's been awhile since I've had a chance to post as I've been extremely busy with my job that actually pays me.  I hope to begin posting again soon with more frequency.

I recently went to a 14 hour scrapbook crop in recognition of "National Scrapbook Day" and what fun I had.  This is just one of a few layouts I did so I thought I would share it with you all.  I saw the basic idea somewhere but I don't remember where so I can't give credit where credit is due. 

This layout uses the very cute cupcake from the "Doodlecharm" cartridge.  I also experimented with a new tool from We R Memory called the "Sew Easy".  This is a great paper piercing tool that has different design heads available for many different designs.  This is a must have tool for both scrapbookers and card makers.

Thanks for stopping by!