Pinterest Inspired Holiday Cards

Merry Christmas!   I thought I'd share a few cards that I made this year to send out to friends and family.  I actually made all of the Christmas cards I sent this year - about 50 of them!  I relied on my pinterest board "card inspiration" for the inspiration for my cards, but made them each my own.

For this card, I used the phrase from a card by Lisa Spangler from Studio Calico but then cut out a snowman using my Silhouette Cameo.  The idea came to me from seeing a package of six adorable Studio Calico bows sitting on my desk and thinking that I could use them all up making six holiday cards.

This poinsettia card was inspired by this card on my pinterest board.  I didn't have any other use for the gold doilies from a Studio Calico kit from a few months ago, so I thought this would be a good way to use them.  I used the Silhouette again for the poinsettia.

Finally, I was inspired by this card to create four of these cards using different holiday words from Heidi Swapp.  I actually used bits from the Heidi Swapp "Believe" line on each of these cards.  

I hope every one has a wonderful holiday!

Halloween Cards

For whatever reason, I just love Halloween scrapbook products and making cards for Halloween!  I just don't like anything else about the holiday - I don't even pass out candy!

Here are two Halloween cards that I made recently :

Both cards use shapes cut from my Silhouette and some Studio Calico wood veneer stars that I inked black

My collection of Halloween cards from last year can be seen HERE if you are interested in a little more inspiration

Have a great week everyone!

Brenda

4th of July Projects

I thought I would sneak in these two projects before the month of July came to an end.  Craig's brother, nephew, and his nephew's friend came from France to spend three weeks in the USA during the month of July.  They arrived in Boston on the 3rd and spent the 4th of July holiday with us.  We took them to a Red Sox game, out for BBQ and to the Boston fireworks.  It was great but it was so extremely HOT! We snuck in to see a movie in between the dinner and fireworks just to cool off.

I started with the Crate Paper "The Pier" collection because I want to use as much of my supply up of that before the next collections come out.  I added a few items from July's Studio Calico kit and a few older kits as well.  One of my favorite items on the layout is the "4th of July" printable.  I had never printed or used one before and I may be hooked!  It added just the right touch to my page.  This one was a free one from the Two Peas digital store.

I made this card a while ago in an attempt to use up a huge roll of washi tape.  I put two strips of washi tape on the cardstock and then used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the flag shape.  I backed the card with the red and blue patterned papers.  Unfortunately, I forgot to send the card out this year.  

Did you create any projects for the 4th of July holiday?

Have a great week everyone!

May 2013 Studio Calico kit - Planetarium

Well, I don't know where the month has gone, but it is way past time for another "what I did with the month's Studio Calico kit from the time the kit arrived until the next month's kit arrived."  So here it is!

This first one is my favorite of the month.  The photos are from a cruise that my hubby and I went on several years ago.  

The page just didn't seem complete until I added the hemp twine across the top.  I think it looks a bit like a fisherman's net - perfect for an ocean page!

This next page documents our New Year's Eve tradition.  We always make Cioppino (a seafood stew) for our dinner.  Sometimes it is the two of us and sometimes we have a party, but we always serve Cioppino!

This next page just documents a Saturday we spent together recently.  I told my hubby that we could do whatever he wanted to do for the whole day.  We ended up going to a concert, going out for lunch, and then going to a movie.  My hubby loves to be out and about!

My last page has a lot of gold, glitter, and sequins!  We went to see the musical "Rock of Ages" when we were in London last month.  Towards the end of the production, there was gold confetti being thrown into the audience.  Of course, I had to pick some up to save for a scrapbook page!  The next day, we went back to take a few pictures of the front of the theatre since we couldn't take any pictures the night before.

I decided to play up the gold and cut my title out of gold POW glitter paper, used the gold and craft paper from Studio Calico, gold sequins and I punched out some more confetti out of the POW glitter paper.  Not my "normal" style (which I'm not sure what that is), but I think it turned out fun!

How many projects were you able to make with Studio Calico's May kit?

Have a good week everyone!

March 2013 Studio Calico kit - Neverland

Another month, another "what I did with my Studio Calico kit from the time it arrived at my door until the next month's kit arrived" post.

I got just the main kit this month, but picked up a few products from Two Peas that were in some of the add-ons.  I liked the kit, but didn't feel that the kit included enough embellishments.  There was a mask and a mini Mr. Huey in the kit, which is a fun idea (OCCASIONALLY), but I think it made the kit seem a little light.  Anyways.

The first layout is a photo of my husband's cousins daughter.  She was a flower girl at her uncle's wedding in France last month that I was lucky enough to be able to go to.

I started with the kit but then I decided I wanted to add some gold to the layout and it went a whole different direction.  I love using gold POW glitter paper in my Silhouette. 

The next layout is of my husband just after the wedding.  He was a groomsman and during the ceremony he and the five other groomsmen had to take turns holding crowns over the heads of the bride and groom.  It was not an easy task and this picture shows how glad he was that it was finally over!

I had picked up some Maggie Holmes line from Crate Paper and used some of that along with some washi from a previous kit.  I mixed some Mr. Huey with a bit of water and "painted" part of the background and then I went in and added some splatters.

"Shine" is a layout of my niece at the wedding.  Again, I started with the kit and then went a whole different direction, using more Maggie Holmes line and other bits from my stash.

The next layout is a really fun one.  There's a story behind the title that I typed out and is in the little Alison Kreft mini bags.  Basically, the story goes - Craig and I spent a day in New York City with my mom and dad and they both ordered meatloaf for lunch.  Out of all of the fabulous food that NYC has to offer, they ordered something they eat at home regularly!  This was way back in 1997 and the story has been told and re-told numerous times and my husband pretty much can't talk to my mom without mentioning meatloaf.

The photos aren't great and they aren't even at the restaurant where we had lunch that day (they are from that trip though.)  The photos really seemed to convey the feel of the story though.

So, how many projects did you get done with Neverland?

Have a great week everyone!

Easter Cards and Scrappy Resolution 2013 - March

I shared my 2013 scrappy resolution in this post.  Three months into the year and I'm still keeping up with it!  I'll admit that I did only use one sheet of paper from past March kits, but I have had a slow month creatively.

I wanted to make some Easter cards and went to Danielle Flanders' blog for some inspiration.  She had created an adorable Easter card with a bunny instead of the "A" in the word happy and I borrowed that idea.  I went through my past March kits and found a cute pink plaid patterned paper from Jenni Bowlin and used that as the base.

I made a few more with a little bit different design using some Crate Paper and Echo Park papers from my stash.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the bunnies, flowers and grass.

Have you made any Easter cards this year?  Please share if you have!

Have a great week!

January 2013 Studio Calico kit - Block Party

I've enjoyed putting all of the layouts that I create from the current month's Studio Calico kit all in one post, so I'll continue this monthly feature in 2013.  I only post the layouts that I create from the time I get the kit until the next kit arrives at my door.  This challenges me to get as much done with the kit before I put it away.  I created four layouts and one card with the January kit.

This layout is probably my favorite of the month.  I love the photo of my kitty snoozing in the sun!

I did a lot of hand-stitching on this layout which was time consuming, but a lot of fun.

For this layout, I decided to try using circles.  I had cropped with Jennifer Larson in December and she said she loved using circles on her layout. I never really do, but was inspired to try.  I did some hand-stitching on this layout also.

This patterned paper was bright and fun - I thought it would be perfect for a birthday card.  I cut a circle out of the front of the card with my Silhouette.  The word "birthday" is layered over the empty space.  The word "happy" is actually on the inside of the card.

The last layout "Best Vacation Story Ever" was picked up by Scrapbook Trends to be published in the July 2013 issue, so I can't share it here yet!  

I was pretty pleased getting these five projects done with this kit.  It has been a few months since I got this much done.

How did you do with January's Studio Calico kit?

Have a great week everyone!

December 2012 Studio Calico - 34th Street

This is my last post of the year with my monthly feature "what I created with this month's Studio Calico kit from the time it arrived until the day next kit arrived." Ok - I never actually called it that, but that is the easiest way to describe what the post is about.  I've enjoyed this feature and plan to continue it in 2013!

This month, I only created two layouts with the kit.  I'll use Christmas as an excuse, as I really did like this kit!  I will definitely be using it more.

The first layout I created using a photo I took using instagram.  We have a hibiscus that we bring indoors every fall and it had a gorgeous bloom on it a few weeks ago.  I added a few bits from the Studio Calico "Pop Off the Page" class kit.  I am still loving sequins! I also can't get enough of the American Crafts POW glitter paper that I used for the word "hibiscus."

The next page that I created I used a photo of my kitty Sumner laying in front of the fireplace at our cabin in Vermont.  He just LOVES laying there and being all warm and cozy!

I used more of the glitter paper on this page and my Silhouette to cut the title.  

I'm excited to pull out my January kit and see what I can do with it.  I've had it for a few days already, but I've been working on a couple of other projects, so I haven't had the chance to play with it.

Have a great week everyone!

Doors

I seem to take a lot of photos of my husband in front of cool looking doors when we are traveling.  I don't know  when I started, but when I look back through vacation photos, there are always photos of him in front of doors.

 Craig in front of an old barn door at his grandparent's farm when we were on vacation in Wisconsin.

Craig in front of a door in Florence, Italy.  He doesn't always cooperate when I'm taking photos.

In front of a door in Barcelona, Spain (yes, that's a cigar in his mouth - yuck!)

I decided to create a layout with this door vacation photo after looking through my November Studio Calico kit and seeing the woodgrain paper.  There were enough dark colors in the kit to make a masculine layout.  I added the sticker letters from a different kit because they were the perfect color.

The stars were cut out with my Silhouette Cameo with a design from the "Cut it Out" class from Studio Calico.  I used a few wood veneer stars now that I safely have a package on its way to me from Two Peas.  I didn't know how much I would love them!

Have a good week everyone!

Crate Paper "On Trend" Collection

Way back in August, I won the Crate Color Challenge (yay!)  You can see my layout here.  As the winner of the challenge, I got to choose a Crate collection as my prize.  Since I pretty much had almost every other collection, I chose one that was just being released "On Trend."   I had to wait for a while to get my prize as it was still being manufactured at the time that I chose it.

The package finally came last week and I couldn't wait to open it - it was much heavier than I expected!  Crate was so generous!  Not only did I get the collection pack, but they also sent a sheet of chipboard stickers, 3 packs of Thickers, a sheet of mini alphas, tape stickers, vellum garlands, brads and buttons, and a 6" X 6" paper pad.  WOO HOO!!  What a haul!

I wanted to create something with all my goodies and knew that this picture of me that my husband took last weekend would be perfect.  I had gone to my salon to have an "up-do" for a wedding that we went to.  I loved the way my hair turned out and the picture turned out really good, too!

I'm taking the "Cut It Out" class from Studio Calico this month and I used the POW glitter paper and the vellum from the class.  The tissue paper came in a package that I ordered from Etsy and I used it as part of the matting to add some texture.

Have a great week everyone!

Grandma Mayme @ ninety-two

My husband and I drove home this afternoon after spending a weekend in Sturbridge, MA for Craig's cousin's wedding.  We were lucky that it was only an hour drive for us.  The rest of the family flew in from all over - California,  Texas, New Hampshire, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Switzerland.  We had a great time relaxing and spending time with our family.  

At the heart of the Ledvina family is Mayme - Craig's grandma.  She turned ninety-two this August and is looking as good as ever.  We are so lucky that she is able to fly across the country and attend special events with her family still.

Here is a photo of my husband, Mayme and I from the reception this weekend.

She's the shortest thing ever - so cute!

We were able to be with her on her 92nd birthday this August.  We had a cookout at Craig's parents cottage in Wisconsin.  I created this layout of a picture that I took of her that day.

The layout was created with the October 2012 Studio Calico kit, Roller Rink.  The kit included gold washi, which I didn't initially think I would use.  On this layout, I ended up using it as a border for the photo, the border for the layout, and then I punched flowers out of it and surrounded the photo with them.  I love when I end up using something I normally wouldn't because it came with a Studio Calico kit.

Stay safe for those of you that are in Hurricane Sandy's path!

October Crate Color Challenge

I've been playing along with the monthly Crate Color Challenges from the Crate Paper blog for the last several months.  I'm finding that it is a great way to use up my enormous supply of Crate products.  It is also a fun challenge - the color combinations are a lot of fun, but not always very easy.

This month's challenge can be found here.  The colors are Dove Grey, Peacock Blue, and Gingerbread Brown.

The colors made me think about last weekend when we spent the weekend in Vermont.  We drove to Brandon and the whole town was decorated with "Leaf People."  It was a very fun, festive look.  I had taken several pictures of them and printed out a few for my layout.

I used paper from four different Crate collections - Pretty Party, Paper Heart, Farmhouse and Portrait.  The only non-Crate items are the white cardstock and the letters "VT" were both AC supplies.  I used my Silhouette Cameo for the title and for the leaves.

The winner will be posted on the Crate blog tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

Have a great week everyone!

July 2012 Studio Calico - Elmwood Park

Today I'm sharing all of the layouts that I created with the July 2012 Studio Calico kit, Elmwood Park, from the time the kit came until I received the August kit.  This post is a little late this month due to a vacation last week and really bad internet connection in the woods of Wisconsin!

I absolutely loved Elmwood Park and created seven layouts with it!  In addition to the main kit, I also got the add-on Monkey Bars.

My first layout, "I Took Shorthand," is the second in my random fact series.  The October Afternoon paper from the 9 to 5 collection couldn't have been more perfect for the layout, especially since I didn't really have a photo to go along with the topic.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the circle/bubble cluster out on the layout "The Look of Terror."  It was time consuming to back it with different patterned papers, but I love the way it turned out.

"Laurie's Pond" has some fun misting and I used the Silhouette to cut out some cattails to embellish the page.  The photos are some really old ones of my parents.

I did some fun layering on my layout "Kitty Love."  I loved the Basicgrey paper with the big letters on it and cut them out for my title.

This next layout "The Ledvina Farm" is pretty much a scraplift of "Kitty Love."  I received the cow stamp from a RAK from a SC gal and put it to good use right away!

I used the stamp set in add-on #4 to create a word border on my layout "Topsfield Fair."

My last layout "Quebec City" was spotted by the team at Scrapbooking Mag and will be published in an upcoming issue of their new Ipad only magazine.

I've been on vacation since the 17th and haven't had a chance to do anything with the August kit!  I'm hoping to play with it tonight!

Have a great week everyone!

August Crate Color Challenge

The color palette for the August Crate Color Challenge was posted here just over a week ago.  The colors for the month are:  vintage linen, pear green, and sea glass blue.

I started by going through all of my Crate products and pulling out the papers and embellishments that I thought might work.  Then I peeked through some recent photos of mine and found one that I could use.  My husband and I spent four nights in Quebec City this July and I had taken this photo of the outside dining area of the restaurant that we ate at.

I ended up using patterned papers from three different lines:  Pretty Party, Emma's Shoppe, and Portrait.  The embellies were all from Pretty Party, with two OA buttons and a couple of Prima crystals added.  I also added a little strip of Freckled Fawn washi.  I did just a bit of misting with Studio Calico's Mister Huey in Dewey.  I had kept the receipts from the restaurant, so I tucked them in behind the photo and stapled them with my tiny attacher.

The "flower 4-petal square" design from Silhouette that I used here may be my new favorite design.  I think it is fabulous for layering!

Have a great week everyone!

Laurie's Pond

Laurie's Pond was a pond on my great uncle Laurie's property.  I don't remember much about it except that we swam there occasionally and there was a little cabin there.  I don't have any pictures of my family there except these two pictures of my mom and dad that were probably taken in the late 1960s.  They aren't great photos, but sometimes we don't have perfect photos for a topic that we want to create a layout about.

The denim colored paper in the July Studio Calico kit made me think of pulling these photos out.  The wood veneer birds were perfect, too.  I used the Silhouette for the cattails behind the photo matt.  I used passport Mr. Huey for the misting.

I asked my mom for help with the journaling.  I love seeing what story or memory she comes up with.  Thanks mom!

Have a great week everyone!