Some Punch-y Inspiration at SEM...

I am in charge of the technique tutorial over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles this month and decided that it would be fun to showcase some fun PUNCH techniques I've seen lately (much of my inspiration comes from Pinterest or blogs I follow).

Here are a few of the tags I created:

Head over to the SEM blog to see the rest of my creations---TWELVE total-- along with instructions.

SEM's December Sketch Challenge

This month our Sketch Challenge at Scrapping Everyday Miracles is based on this awesome sketch by Nerrida Mitchell.  The Scrap Twist was to use a Punch!

Here's my take on the sketch:

Supplies:

Gray Cardstock (American Crafts)

Patterned Paper & Stickers (Echo Park)

Border Punch (Fiskars)

A Stamped Christmas Card

Over at the "Use It Tuesday" blog (where the idea is to use "hoarded" supplies...of which, I must sadly admit, I have WAY too many), the challenge this week is All About Christmas...so I decided to dig out some of the awesome PaperTrey Ink stamps that I inherited from my mother-in-law in February this year, but had yet to use...and make a Christmas card.

And here's the result:

I stamped the "Merry Christmas to You" circle first in Red Ink on White Cardstock, and then used a circle punch to punch it out. Then I used markers to ink up the middle of the stamp again (so I could color in each item how I wanted), then stamped that on White Cardstock and used a smaller circle punch to cut out. I used foam tape on each of the circles and layered those on a scalloped circle (punched from Kraft Cardstock) to create lots of dimension. The background stamp is also from PaperTrey (stamped in Brown Ink).

Snuck in some Scrapping Time Yesterday...

Somehow, some way I managed to complete another page yesterday...ok, it was partially "thought-out" (I had started working on it at the retreat I went to back in November), but I really changed it up from what I had originally planned. I decided that with these photos of these Ellie and one of her best friends, Gabi, that I should really use the "friends" sticker packet I had gotten this summer from Michaels (from Recollections brand), and I love how it turned out. I cut the big PALS banner out and used my Cricut to cut out the letters (I then kept the reverse image instead of keeping the letters). Love how it looks. Then all I really did was add a few cute smaller banners to a couple of the saying stickers and used my scallop punch (from Stampin' Up) on one of my bottom strips and that about did it. I actually finished this one in less than a couple hours...that may be just some kind of record for me...ugh?!:)))

Joy to the World SEM Challenge

This month over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles we're having "A Joy to the World" challenge...scrapping about what brings us joy during the holidays. The scrap twist this month is to include some glimmer or sparkle on your project.

One of the things that brings me the most JOY is getting to spend time with our extended family who we don't often get to see the rest of the year.

Supplies:

Red polka dot paper (Doodlebug)

Snowman sticker/Christmas alphas (Doodlebug)

Ruler Sticker (Echo Park)

Hexagons (fussy-cut from Echo Park Paper)

Snowflakes (World Market)

Blue bling (My Minds Eye)

Joy, Wish and Fun Brads (K & Co.)

Horsin' Around...

And, drum roll please....here's my last layout from my stupendously productive (ha!) scrapping retreat (now 3 weeks ago). 

And yes, another layout made with Echo Park yumminess....love those cute little banners (some of them were stickers and others I made from the coordinating patterned paper). Have I mentioned that I love Echo Park?!:)))

Love that cool old red barn...I played countless hours in that barn as a child. <3

Love You Layout

Another layout to share with you from my scrapping productivity....

This one is of Ellie, my mom and stepdad (aka Mimi & Papa Dan).

Ellie sure adores these two! Fun times!!

Stickers, Orange paper & "Love You" die cut (Echo Park)

Rainbow Chevron ribbon (American Crafts)

Red Ribbon (BoBunny)

*Check back tomorrow for my final layout share from all my "Retreat productivity":))))

Great Catch Layout

Here's another layout I made at my scrapping retreat. I thought I was very productive with the 9-1/2 pages I got made in 2-1/2 days....um hmmm, I'm a really slow scrapper (anyone else that slow?), but hey sometimes it pays off because I was the "BIGGEST LOSER" at the retreat:))))) (meaning I got the least done and won a nice prize pack, but is it sad that I still feel I was very productive??)

This one was a little different for me because it doesn't have any pink on it at all:))) I took all the color cues from the photos...

Love these fun fishing photos (taken at my parent's property near Spokane, WA). The title is kinda ironic because I think all they caught that day was a 3" little fish (which yes, they threw back), but they had a lotta fun!!!

Most supplies from Echo Park except tall tree die cut (which is from My Mind's Eye)

 & Date Stamp (American Crafts "Dear Lizzy")

*Check back tomorrow for another Layout share

Cute Cousins Layout

I have another layout to share with you today from my "productivity" at my retreat. I love this layout of Ellie and my nephew Bayler.

*Check back tomorrow for another Layout share

A Matching Layout (to Yesterday's)

As promised, I wanted to share the layout I made to go along with the 3 Besties Layout from yesterday. I scraplifted this idea from my friend Erica (who found the idea on Pinterest). Love all these fun circles!

I also love this sweet photo of my beautiful girl taken on her 6th Birthday!

Love the fun sticker embellishments (owls, butterfly, flowers and the rainbow from yesterday) from K & Co. 

*Check back tomorrow for another Layout share

3 Besties SEM Sketch Layout

Over at Scrappin' Everyday Miracles, we're having a Sketch Challenge with this great sketch from Sassy Li'l Sketches. You have till the end of November to join in with the chance to win a great prize from Peace, Love & Scrapbooking. Don't forget to include the Scrap Twist which is to use a "number" on your page.

 Here's what I came up with:

I love this cute photo of Ellie and 2 of her best friends, taken for her 6th birthday last October. 

*Check back tomorrow to see my "Companion" page to this one

Puppy Love...

Here's another layout I created during my retreat a couple weeks ago...the photos are from Summer last year.

This one is all about Ellie and her love of puppies....

More Echo Park Paper and alpha stickers along with some American Crafts Thickers (PUPPY). I Love Echo Park!!

My friend Erica let me use some of her fun washi tape...it matched this layout perfectly!

I've Been Scrappin'...

A couple weekends ago I had the huge blessing of going on a scrapbooking retreat with two of my scrapping pals, Erica and Steph. We had such a great time staying up late and scrapping together at the Ashley Inn in Cascade, Idaho. Beautiful hotel...great food...good friends...and making progress on my scrapbooking!! I look forward to doing this every year!

Here's one of my pages from my weekend.

I wanted to share this layout of Ellie's 1st lost tooth...back in July 2011 when she was 5-1/2.  I used Echo Park's Summer Days Line.

I plan on sharing more pages with you in the next few days...:)))

Family Ties Layout

This month over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles, I got to choose the challenge and I chose something near and dear to me....my family. I would have loved to scrapbook about my extended family but with limited time and limited photos...I chose to scrap our little family instead. 

After my divorce in 1998 (and being close to 30) I wasn't really ever sure I'd be part of a family other than the one I grew up with...and, in all honesty, I never saw myself as having a child. But then God blessed me with an awesome husband and together we decided that we wanted a family...then God again blessed me with our beautiful daughter Ellie (now 7). I thank God for giving me what I wasn't sure I'd ever have...a wonderful little family to call my own.

What family has God blessed you with? 

We'd love for you to share with us over at the SEM blog today.... 

I've titled the challenge "Family Ties" and the Scrap Twist to include this month is Ribbon!

Created with Echo Park Summer Days Paper Pack

Masculine Cards

Here are the final two cards that I want to share with you from my National Cardmaking Day card-making blitz:). I readily admit that I much prefer making feminine cards, but guys need cards too. So....here ya go:

You can still make a masculine card with cute owls and a scallop punch...just choose masculine colors!

Owl Sticker (Sticker King)

Leaves (fussy cut from American Crafts paper)

Birthday Wishes Stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

Splatter Stamp (Stampin' Up!)

Yellow polka dot paper (Unknown)

 This one I made into a sympathy card...but you could easily change it into a masculine birthday card by changing the sentiment.

Trees (fussy cut from Jillibean Soup paper)

Brown plaid paper (Paper Trey Ink)

Cloud Die (Paper Trey Ink)

Copper paper (Unknown)

With Sympathy stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

Two More for You!

I have a couple more cards to share with you from all my World Cardmaking Day productivity!

I love birds and I love banners, so this one is also a fave of mine!

I fussy-cut the banners out of some cute Echo Park paper and used a little circle punch to cut the letters out of the same paper. Then I hand drew the black "string" with a black fine-tipped Sharpie marker and used some foam tape to adhere the banners. Super quick & easy!

Paper (Echo Park "Birthday Girl")

Bird sticker (Recollections by Michaels)

Birthday Stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

Corner Rounder

This was made with some older SEI paper I had in my stash--I fussy-cut the flowers out. I don't typically use a lot of purple, but I like this sweet & simple card. 

Paper (SEI)

Splatter Stamp (Stampin' Up!)

Happy Birthday Stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

SEM's October Sketch Challenge

It's time to share my layout for Scrapping Everyday Miracle's October Sketch Challenge. 

The sketch this month is from Page Maps:

The Scrap Twist this month is to use Red and Green on your layout. 

Here's my layout using photos of my Ellie with her cutie cousin Bayler!

I've decided that one of my favorite things to do on layouts is combine patterns from different manufacturers and this layout was a prime example of that (see all those different manufacturers listed below!).

Supplies:

Green paper (My Minds Eye)

Kraft "Happy" paper, Red Star paper, Black dictionary paper,

Kraft w/black dot paper (Theresa Collins)

Stars (fussy-cut from Theresa Collins & Echo Park paper)

Red plaid paper (Paper Trey Ink)

Girl, Boy & "P" blocks (fussy-cut from Pink Paislee paper)

Numbers paper (Pink Paislee)

Alpha stickers (Echo Park)

A Couple Bright, Fun Cards

Here's a couple cards that are a bit more my style---bright, fun, make-you-smile cards! 

I made the tree from a journaling card "bubble" (K & Co.) and then a hand-cut little trunk from some brown polka dot patterned paper (K & Co.). Then I used some (Lasting Impressions) brads to add some "fruitiness" to the tree along with a die cut bird (K & Co.). Blue paper from Imaginisce, Cloud Paper from Echo Park, Kraft Cardstock (Paper Trey Ink), Bling (My Minds Eye), Happy Birthday Stamp (Target Dollar Bin) 

I fussy-cut those cute little flowers!

All paper from K & Co. except cloud paper (Echo Park)

Small cloud die (Paper Trey Ink)

Aqua embroidery floss

Happy Birthday Stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

More Cards to Share...

As promised, here are a couple more cards that I made over the weekend. These aren't necessarily my typical style (they're less "bright" and more feminine), but I still like them. Hope you do too!

Paper (Crate Paper)

Birthday Wishes Stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

Grey Patterned Paper (My Minds Eye)

Butterfly Sticker (K&Co.)

Make a Wish Stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

Whooo Had A Productive Card-Making Weekend?

Ummmmm...that would be ME!!! As some of you know, I make cards to sell at my parents jewelry store and my mom called me again to tell me they were getting low....so I felt it was incredibly appropriate that World Cardmaking Day was this weekend because I was a "card-making machine"!!:)))

This next week (or two) I will be sharing the fruits of my productivity with you!

Here are a couple of my favorites to get you started (I love bright colors--which is pretty obvious if you look at my blog---and Owls--so it was pretty easy which ones I'd be picking to show you first)!

Love using my bargain finds!

Lovin' these cute little owl stickers...they were very inexpensive...I think I may have even picked them up from the Walmart craft section. And the pink paper was a Target dollar bin find (in a pack of Valentines paper) last year. The blue paper and the leaves (fussy-cut) paper were clearance buys from Craft Warehouse. AND...the (wood) stamp was a dollar bin find at Michaels! Cheap crafting can still be cute!!!

Again....lovin' my cheapo find from the Target Dollar bin....the Happy Birthday stamp (came in a little set of 4)!

My SEM Blog Hop Prize Winner

The winner of my prize for the SEM Blog Hop is...

CONNIE! Congratulations!!

(please contact me with your full name & address Connie & I'll get this out to you)

Happy World Cardmaking Day

Yes, yes, yes....Happy World-Cardmaking Day Everyone!

Ok, I know not everyone out there is a card-maker...but I still think it's pretty cool that there's a holiday out there (always the first Saturday in October, in case you were wondering) to celebrate how special it is to make (and, of course, receive) a specially made greeting card. 

I was a card-maker way before I was scrapbooker and I still have a passion for making cards. So, I wanted to give you some inspiration. All of these cards are simple to make...I mostly use patterned paper, punches and stickers (and foam tape to add dimension!).

These first three are brand-new creations...and the last four are past favorites. Hope you enjoy...and leave inspired to go create a handmade card to send to your "someone special'!!!

 

This fun card started with the cute banner journaling card. 

Journaling Card, Bird sticker, "Happy" sticker (Echo Park) 

Aqua paper (Crate Paper)

Yellow Paper (American Crafts)

Alpha stickers (October Afternoon)

 

Pretty & feminine...and simple too! I used twine, a small circle punch (punched half-way) and a fussy-cut rose bunch.

Rose paper (October Afternoon)

Red paper (Paper Trey Ink)

Yellow paper (Lasting Impressions)

Happy Birthday stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

This one could be for a guy or a gal...I used my punches (corner, scalloped circle, and regular circle) and added a cute little owl sticker.

Aqua paper (Crate Paper)

 Happy Birthday stamp (Paper Trey Ink)

Splatter Stamp (Stampin Up!)

Stickers-owl & cloud (Sticker King)

 

 Great way to use up some scraps. I fussy-cut the stars from some Echo Park paper, but you could also use a punch. 

 

Still one of my favorite designs...especially for a masculine card! All paper from My Minds Eye.

Another one of my favorites for a guy!

All paper from Theresa Collins.

 

And my favorite holiday card has to be this cute little guy! Again, so easy with punches and this cute little elf sticker from Doodlebug.

A SEM Fall Challenge Layout

The challenge at Scrapping Everyday Miracles this month is to create a "Fall"-inspired project (and the scrap "twist" we were to incorporate was using paint on our project). 

I love Fall---it's definitely my favorite season (cooler temps--love early fall when it's in the 70s and 80s, the changing colors, getting pumpkins at the Patch), but my biggest Fall Blessing is my sweet girl, who was as a matter of fact, born today (October 2nd---Happy 7th Birthday Ellie!). 

These photos were taken by my friend Anissa a couple years ago, but they just scream "Fall" & I've never scrapped them for my own album (very similar ones...yes, but not these exact ones). I was a little scared to use paint on my project, so I took the easy way out and stamped my title with paint...I used clear acrylic stamps (from Close to My Heart) and acrylic paint. I like the effect...definitely a bit different than stamping with regular ink.

Supplies Used:

Green paper (My Minds Eye)

Orange paper (Jillibean Soup)

Yellow paper (American Crafts)

Stickers (Jillibean Soup)

Alpha Stamps (Close to My Heart)

Leaf Die Cut (K & Co.)

Red Hearts (Colorbok) 

Buttons 

SEM's "New Chapter" Blog Hop!

Hi there Fellow Scrappers! So nice to have you join us for Scrapping Everyday Miracle's "A New Chapter" Blog Hop! What a great way to introduce you to our newest Design Team members, share inspiration, and have a chance to win some AWESOME prizes!

Marjolaine, one of our new Design Team members, asked us each to create a project that represents a new chapter in our lives (and to include a "Scrap Twist" of using a book page). 

It didn't take much thought for me to come up with my project, as only this summer we've become the proud new owners of a vintage 1957 Airstream trailer, and we're officially "Streamers" now!! This is our first ever trailer, and it sure beats tent camping:).

SUPPLIES: Background paper (Theresa Collins)

Red plaid paper ("streaming"--PaperTrey Ink)

Other paper and "Adventure" sticker (Echo Park)

Cricut cartridge-Cuttin' Up

Heart Punch (Stampin' Up!)

I really hope you'll join us with this fun "New Chapter" challenge and create a project yourself! (see the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog for the full run-down!) By doing so, you'll earn yourself another chance at winning the grand prize!

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah...there are PRIZES!

For your chance to win the GRAND PRIZE, become a follower of the SEM Blog, and comment on all the blogs in the Hop, then leave a comment on the SEM Blog telling us you did just that. 

Our hop grand prize has been provided by a wonderful sponsor... 
Art Freckles!  

Our grand prize winner will win a prize pack valued at 
$25 CAD. What a fun prize pack!!

AND...I'm also offering my own PRIZE for those commenting here on my blog (that's right, just simply leave me a comment here and you're entered to win!).

-Now Closed---Sorry!-

*I will leave it open until Monday, 11:59 pm October 1st, select a winner, and post on Saturday, October 6th.

My PRIZE includes: Circles Stencil from Crafter's Workshop

(super fun to use with misting sprays!!!)

Acrylic Stamp Set from Paper Trey Ink

("Fillable Frames #6"--Sayings include "You're too kind", "Make a Wish" "Time to Celebrate", "Be Happy" & "Hey There" ---perfect set for card makers!)

Mini Acrylic Stamp Set "Buttons" from We R Memory Keepers

(fun, fun, fun....make your own buttons!)

**All Winners will be announced on Saturday October 6th, 2012

SO NOW...ON TO THE REST OF THE HOP!!!!

  SEM
 Svetlana 

  Felicity 

  Elizabeth

  Kelly 

  Nicole

  Sherri

  Marjolaine 

  Cara (YOU ARE HERE)...

 now go here-----> Einat 

  Tracey G 

Dolores

  
Make sure you also stop by the SEM facebook page for games, conversation and lots of fun!