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!

Cat Nap

Once in a while, a question will pop up on a scrapbooking message board asking if people create projects specifically to fit a particular call or if they just submit what they have already created.  It usually seems like it is looked upon negatively if you create pages specifically for calls - like somehow it is not as meaningful or something.

I do both - if I happen to have a layout that I have already created that fits the call, I'll submit it.  But lots of times, I'll read the call and it will spark an idea and I'll create a page specifically for that call - and I'm not afraid to admit it!  Some of my most favorite layouts have been created specifically for calls!

The latest call for Scrapbook Trends totally inspired this page.  The call reads:  

Real Life: I Love My Pet - Our pets become members of the family so create a layout to detail your pet's place in your home. Does he/she have a special place to sleep or eat? Any funny quirks? Get them down on paper!

The call made me think of my silly cat Sumner and how he loves sleeping in a sunny spot on the chaise lounge in our dining room.  He will keep moving closer to the edge to follow the sun as it moves and more than once has fallen off of the edge!

I used mostly the January Studio Calico kit on this page, but just a couple of bits from older kits such as the wood veneer "S."  Studio Calico recently stopped giving store credits for getting published in Scrapbook Trends using their kits, and I'll admit that it is kind of freeing!  Even though my main purpose  for getting published was never the SC credit, it was nice.  But now that it isn't an option, I have been finding myself digging through other supplies for something to add a perfect touch.

I put the journaling on a hidden journaling card - I loved the little Pebbles envelope that was included in the kit! 

I love this page to bits even though I created it specially for a call! (Wish me luck!)  So what do you think - is there anything wrong with creating a layout specifically for a call?  What do you usually do?  I'd love to know!

Have a great week everyone!

Happy Birthday (to me!)

I have a birthday coming up this Saturday, so I thought I'd share a few birthday cards that I have made recently.

I found this adorable piece of paper at my LSS from the KaiserCraft collection, "Save the Date."

I've made three cards with it so far and have a few scraps left to make a few more.  I cut a couple of balloons out on this one and adhered them with foam dots.  The "HAPPY" stamp is from a Studio Calico kit (April 2012) and I use it all the time for cards.

The next two cards used a sketch by Paper Crafts Magazine.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

October 2012 Studio Calico - Roller Rink

My November 2012 Studio Calico kit arrived on my front porch Thursday night, so it is time for another blog post featuring all of the projects that I completed with the previous month's kit.

In October I got the main kit and two add-ons (kind of by mistake - I had a code for $25 that expired at the end of the month and forgot to use it when I purchased the first add-on - opps!!)  I have never bought two add-ons before and won't anytime soon - it is WAY too much for me!  I got a total of four layouts and two cards created with the kit.

This layout is my favorite of the month.

I call my little kitty by many names - and usually not by his real name!  I just thought this was a fun way to use the MME "Hello My Name Is" tag.  I cut the tag in half and used the bottom half at the top of the page under the banner.

This page I created with a photo I took of Craig's grandma Mayme on her 92nd birthday this summer.  

I thought the combination of colors and patterns had a very "antiquey" feel to them - a perfect look to scrapbook a layout about her age!

This layout I scrapbooked after Hurricane Sandy.  

My sister has pointed out that I printed "Irene" instead of Sandy - I'll have to fix that at some point!  We were lucky and didn't even lose power or anything.  We did have lots and lots of twigs and branches that we had to pick up this weekend though.

This layout is about my Grandma and Grandpa Booth's kitchen.

I usually ask for my mom's help when journaling about something from a long time ago, but this time I didn't.  I wanted to write down what I remembered without having my memories confirmed or denied.  

My last project was a card for my dad for Veteran's Day.  I was going to make a few 4th of July cards to use up some of the red/blue lined washi in the kit and I realized that the same card could be used for Veteran's Day.

This isn't the card that I sent to my dad - his was on kraft cardstock.  After I sent it, I wanted to see if it would look better on white and I think it does.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy your Veteran's Day holiday!

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!

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!

Happy 43rd Birthday!

I had to bring my husband to the airport today for a flight to San Francisco for a week and then on to Tokyo for a week.  I'm really sad that I won't see him for 15 days!  I'm not used to the fact that he has to travel for work now.  We got to spend some quality time together this week though, going out for dinner for his birthday on Wednesday and then cooking a nice meal together on Saturday night and watching a movie (although a bad movie!.)  I thought I'd share the card that I made for his birthday.

I made the card with the April Studio Calico kit, City of Lights (with the exception of the yellow dotted paper.)  The three different colored washi tapes that were in the kit went together perfectly and then the ad card from the kit just happened to have the same colors.  This card is really liftable - please feel free to borrow it!  Just grab three coordinating washi tapes and find some scraps of paper to make into pleated folded flowers.  I think I'm going to lift it myself and make a card for my niece who has a birthday coming up!

Have a great week everyone!

Happy Birthday to Me!

November is my birthday month, so I thought that I would start out the month by sharing two birthday layouts that I created recently.  The first one I made using an older Studio Calico kit, Paper Moon.  I had never made the folded pleat flowers before and I LOVE THEM!  I went out the next day and bought the Martha Stewart scoring board, which I didn't know that I needed until I discovered these flowers. Honestly, I had to watch a video on how to make them several times before I could figure them out, but now that I have the technique down, I will be making them often. 

For this next layout, I used the most recent Studio Calico kit, Field Guide.  I used lots of blue and yellow on this layout to match the shirt that I was wearing that was blue and yellow and a big '9' on it.

I did some sewing and stamping on this layout and I used my Slice for the 'happy birthday' and the '9.'

I never use original photos on layouts if they can not be replaced.  I scan the originals and print them out, which I did for both of these layouts.  I have a super cheap scanner and I have to say that the scans come out great, so I'm happy about that.

Have a great November everyone!

Welcome Baby

I created this layout for some friends of ours with the birth announcement that they sent to us when their son, Cooper, was born.  The birth announcement was so cute, I just couldn't throw it out.  We finally got to meet Cooper last weekend (what a sweetie!) and I was able to give this layout to them.  I realized that I had never shared the layout here, so here it is:

I used the July Studio Calico kit, Mind the Gap, along with some letter stickers from an older kit.  I used a lot of Zing! on this layout!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Christmas in September!

I know, it is only September, but I was soooooooooo inspired by this video by Jennifer McGuire that I drove to my LSS, bought some metallic green ZING!, and came home to make Christmas cards.  What inspired me about the video was using the banner stamps from Studio Calico as Christmas trees.  How clever!  (I also was inspired to put some Mr. Huey Shine in my shopping cart!)

I used the same sketch for my cards as I did in this post last week.

This sketch offers so much variety - I loved using it for pinwheels one week and Christmas trees the next.  I made a set of four cards.

Here's a close up of the stamping:

The background paper that I used is from a company called Memory Box.  You don't hear of it that much, but my LSS carries it and it is beautiful paper.  I had a 6X6 collection pack of their Christmas line from a few years ago.  The various greeting are from Making Memories - I received a package of them when my Slice was broken - they send you some supplies to make you happy.  I used some Cosmo Cricket and some Jenni Bowlin stickers for the borders.

Anyone else starting their Christmas cards early?

Have a great Saturday everyone!