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

Scrappy Resolution 2013 - September

My scrappy resolution this year was to create something each month with products from an older Studio Calico kit from that same month.  I started the year out strong, but I faded over the summer.  I've decided to pick it up again for the fall as I really did enjoy the challenge. 

This month I created two cards and a layout with products from 

September kits from 2010, 2011, and 2012

This card uses four products from last year's Central High kit - the sequins, the pink paper, the ribbon and the red letters.

The stitching template and the journaling card are from this year's August kit, Marks & Co.

This card uses a patterned paper from the September 2011 Studio Calico kit, Glee Club. All other products were from this year's August kit, Marks & Co.  The photo is my hubby and I this August - I think I'll give it to him for Valentine's Day next year.

The layout that I made uses products from the 2010 and the 2011 September kits.  The photo is my dad on the day he got his new springer spaniel puppy, Duke.  I got to spend a few days with Duke and he is just the most adorable thing ever!

Have a great week everyone!

July 2013 Studio Calico kit - Valley High

I'm a bit behind in my posting again - it is time to catch up!  My excuse is kind of funny.  I spilled wine on my computer a few weeks ago and now several keys on my computer don't work.  I took it in to get fixed, but the $800 estimate  was a bit to much for me to spend on a five year old computer.  So to type, I have to copy and paste the letters that don't work from other places and it is a major PITA!!!  So typing out a blog post is not as easy as it seems!

For today's post, I'm sharing the projects that I created with my July Studio  Calico kit, Valley High.  Most of the projects that I created this month have lots of other stuff thrown in from older kits or my stash.  I also just noticed that EVERY SINGLE layout has Crate frames from the Pier collection.  I love them!

Iconic

LHR

4th of July

Lots of Crate Paper from the Pier collection on this one.  

N.E. Aquarium

I  realized that I was kind of on a grid rut when I look at these layouts, but I love grids!  

Have a great week everyone! 

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!

Gettin' Digi

I took the August class over at Studio Calico called "Toolbox."  The class had four sections - Digital, Mixed Media, Stitching, and Mists.  While I was interested in all the topics, I had the most to learn in Digital and I really tried to get a lot out of it.  I've tried to play around a bit before but I just never got the hang of it.  I have to say that I did learn quite a bit and I did create two hybrid project using the digital supplies from the class.

The first project that I created was this card.  I created the circles using the digital papers from the class.  I changed the colors of two of the papers, which was a technique I loved.  Then I just printed it out and added some embellishments and it was done! 

I really liked the color scheme of the card, so I decided to keep with the circle theme but turn it into a layout.  This is the digital background that I created.  I wasn't quite sure where I was going with this, but I wanted to create a layout for me and my husband's ten year wedding anniversary that we celebrated in August.

I printed it out on a piece of patterned paper that coordinated perfectly with the circles that I created.  Then I added a bunch of photos of us that had been taken this year.  I added a few embellishments, stamping and journaling and this is how it turned out.

I had printed the background on a piece of test paper before I printed it out on the patterned paper.  I decided to cut the word "love" out and adhered it to the background for a little dimension.

I had a lot of fun creating these hybrid projects and will probably experiment a little more.  I like that I can play around with scrapbooking even when I don't have my supplies around.

So, do you do any digital  scrapbooking?

Have a great week everyone!

June 2013 Studio Calico kit - Roundabout

I'm a bit behind in posting my projects with last month's Studio Calico kit - but better late than never!

I have only created two projects with June's kit - not because I didn't like the kit, but it has been a pretty crazy month with not much time for scrapping.

My first layout that I created was "Boston Strong."

I wanted to do something with the photos that I have been taking of the make-shift memorial for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. It has been in Copley Square, across the street from my office, since the square reopened after the bombings, so I walk by it all the time. The city took all of the items away a few weeks ago to be archived.

My second layout uses a great piece of patterned paper from the Crate collection "The Pier."  The paper really reminded me of a vintage wallpaper pattern, so I tried to think of some photos that would work.  I remembered these photos taken with my IPhone from an afternoon tea while my hubby and I were in London this May.

I added some pops of gold which has become one of my favorite things to do lately.  

Hopefully, I'll have a little more time to play with July's kit and have more to share next month.

How many many projects did you create with June's kit  - or did summer fun get in the way?

Have a good 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!

April 2013 Studio Calico kit - Spencer's

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.  This month, I purchased the main kit and SC patterned paper.  I loved the corkboard paper and I also love vellum and wanted extra of that.

This first layout is some pictures of when my husband and I were staying in Florence, Italy for a little vacation. One day we took the train to Sienna for lunch at a Slow Food approved restaurant. (Slow Food is an organization all about authentic, traditional food.) My husband ate tripe and spaghetti with wild boar sauce!  The snail is the symbol of the Slow Food organization and I was able to cut it out with my Silhouette.

This card I made for no reason other than I thought it wood be a cute way to use that little BasicGrey smily face.  Clean and simple!

This layout uses almost a whole sheet of the vellum I am so happy that I bought extra of.  I trimmed it down a bit and then backed it with a gray piece of cardstock.  I thought it was the perfect base for a guy page.

This layout I made for a NSD challenge at Studio Calico.  The challenge was to use a number on the page.  We had just seen our nephew, Paul for the first time in two years and he has changed so much!  I   thought using his age in the title was perfect for a layout about him.

This layout was made for the Week #2 challenge for the POP II class at Studio Calico.  See more about the class and the technique I used here.  

I also made my niece a birthday card with some of the leftover stars that I had from the "Paul @ 15" layout.  (Happy birthday, Olivia!)  Sorry about the bad picture, but I had to get it in the mail before I was able to take a better one. 

That's it for this month - a pretty good month I have to say!  I'm not doing so well this month making projects with the kit - only one so far.  How are you doing with Planetarium?

Have a good week everyone!

Pop Off the Page II

I was really excited when a second Pop Off the Page class was announced at Studio Calico.  I really enjoyed the first class and I knew that the second would be just as good.  I really enjoy participating in the weekly challenges.
The first challenge from Jen was this:

 For this week, we're going to start small. I want you to lift one of the layouts in the first PDF. You can choose to lift the entire page, or just a small technique or detail - it's entirely up to you!

I lifted a part of Lilleth's layout by using the heart die cut (that I really didn't like until I saw her page) and backed it with a different paper.  I still have to add the journaling to this page.  

You can see here that I cut out a few hexagons from the paper and adhered them with pop dots for some dimension.

The week #2 challenge was this:

Hi girls!! This week is all about mixed media. I can't wait to see your mixed media projects! 

I don't really 'do' mixed media, but I do have one little trick.  I actually learned this from a problem I was having  - I had used multi medium on a project and I wanted to use spray mist on top of it, but it just pooled.  I posed the question on Studio Calico and someone suggested that I mix the multi medium and the spray mist together first.  That solved my problem!

For this layout, I took multi medium, mixed it with Mr. Huey and then pressed some bubble wrap into that mixture and put it on my page.  I love the texture and messiness it adds!

Here's a close up of my technique:

Are you in class with me?  Are you enjoying it so far?

Have a good week everyone!

Mother's Day cards

I was able to make all of the Mother's Day cards that I needed this year.  I love making cards to use up scraps and this first one is a perfect example.  The different patterned papers on this were actually from one piece of paper making coordinating easy!  I used this card that I had pinned on Pinterest as my inspiration.

This next card I made as part of my scrappy resolution 2013 for April.  See this post for more information about my resolution.  

This card I made using a sketch from Studio Calico as part of their National Scrapbook Day challenges.  I used the 12" X 12" washi paper from the Crate Maggie Holmes collection.  I love the idea of the washi paper - there is only so much washi of one pattern you can use.  This gives you 12 inches each of  I think 19 different patterns.  Perfect!

Did you create cards for Mother's Day this year?  I'd love to see them if you did!

Have a great week everyone!

Scrappy Resolution 2013 - April

Another month, another post about my 2013 scrappy resolution!  At the beginning of the year, I decided that every month I would make at least one project from a prior year's Studio Calico kit from that same month.  It has been really fun pulling out three years of kits each month and finding a few products to use.

I was able to finish up the scraps of a couple of pieces of patterned paper with this card.  I made four of the same card - sometimes I think it is just as fast to make four of the same card as it is to make one!

I used some old Thickers on these next two projects although the rest of the products are from current kits.  I also used some October Afternoon labels, which seem to multiply in my stash!

I also made a Mother's Day card using patterned paper and embellishments from the April 2010 kit, but completely spaced on taking a photo of it today. (Updated to add card!)

If you made a scrappy resolution this year, I'd love to know how you are doing!

Have a great 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!

Shine

I love Crate Paper products and buy most of their entire collections and use them a lot.  I had decided to pass on getting the Maggie Holmes collection that was released at CHA this January though.  Then I went to my LSS and saw it in person - LOVE!!!  The product that sold me was the stitched fabric frames.  So adorable.  Since I had to have those, I had to buy matching papers and some stickers.  After I got home, I decided I really needed duplicates of some of the papers and added them to my cart at Two Peas.  I have used bits of the collection on my last three layouts!

I'm also excited about a second Pop Off the Page class being taught by Jen Jockish at Studio Calico.  I loved the first class and signed up for the second right away!  I created this layout in the spirit of that class.  

I started with a Maggie Holmes patterned patterned paper and stitched fabric frame.  The rub-ons and "E" are from the March Studio Calico kit.  Everything else was bits and pieces from a previous kit or from my stash.  I'm in love with gold POW glitter paper right now and used it for my title and some punched butterflies.

The photo is of my niece from France who I saw last month when I went to my husband's cousins wedding in Nice.  I love how happy and beautiful she looks in the photo and thought "Shine" was an appropriate title.

Have a great week everyone!