Elle's Studio: Scrap Your Stash Inspiration!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for more Elle's Studio February Kit love!!!

 I'm back to share more 'stretch your kit' or 'scrap your stash' inspiration while we eagerly await our new March products! 

It's no secret that the February Kit and add on items have been firm favorites of mine - I mean, all.the.rainbows!!! La la looooooove! Seriously though, the February Kit and new releases are so good that I created up a storm and I am now truly maxmizing my 'left overs' to create one more scrapbook page for today's post! 

Here's what I pulled together with my 'scraps'....

"I {heart} U"

Oh wow! What a bright & fun page! 

You'd never know that I was struggling on a shortage of supplies! Such a clever design!

Elle's Studio Supplies Featured: February Kit, Puffy Rainbow Stickers, Be Happy Stickers, Simply Wonderful Wood Veneer Banners, Coral Puffy Alphabet Stickers, Teal Acetate Alphabet, Love Is 6" x 8.5" Paper Stack.  

Other Supplies: Bazzill Avalanche Cardstock

Let's take a closer look at  my page, 

Naww! Such a cute page for my darling boy! 

As you already know, I used all.the.things earlier in the month and didn't have much left of anything - except those Teal Acetate Alphabet letters. I had a few of those but again, I'd used all the popular letters and there were not many word options left. The solution? Use them in a random, grid order to create a fun background for this otherwise minimalist design! Not only did this add a bright pop of color to my white base, the Teal Acetate Alphabet also created the appearance of  a 'full' page design - love it! 

To add more color and interest to my design, I trimmed the left and right sides of my 8.5" x 11" layout with half inch strips of one of the Love Is 6" x 8.5" Paper Stack papers. To create the look of an 11" inch paper, I simply butted the strips together, careful to maintain the pattern design so the join wouldn't be visible. This is another great way to incorporate the appearance of more detail in your pages with only scraps of pattern paper in your stash! 

With only a few of the note cards left over from my February Kit, I decided to use one that had a bright and colorful design, which enhanced the playfulness of my page. With so many bright details on my layout, I opted to use a black and white version of my photograph so that it would remain the focal point. For further emphasis, I foam mounted the note card so it really stood out over the rest of the page. 

I raided the last of my February Kit Die Cuts and embellished my photograph and created that mini title with the purple heart and Coral Puffy Alphabet Stickers. Love it! The Coral Puffy Alphabet Stickers are complementary to the Teal Acetate Alphabet and really pop! 

To 'fill' the gaps in this simple design, I gathered all my 'left over' stickers and positioned them on and around that fun Teal Acetate Alphabet base. I used the Be Happy Stickers as both journaling spots and to cut through some of the pop color. This helped to create balance, and encouraged flow and movement into the design. The inclusion of the Puffy Rainbow Stickers really strengthened the whimsical and playful theme of my page too!

It's the Little Things, quite literally, that can make a page! 

I hope my scrap your stash post today has inspired you to get creative with your left over supplies, & that your March Kit isn't too far away ;) 

I can't wait to share more with you! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today,

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo 

Citrus Twist Kits: 3 To Inspire Challenge!

Hi Creative Friends! 

Welcome back for today's installment of the awesome 

Citrus Twist Kits: 3 - To - Inspire challenge! 

I love a good challenge, and I had such fun creating for this one that I made not one, not two, but 3 layouts to inspire you with! Lol, what can I say? I love memory keeping & crafts! 

I hope you'll find some time this week to play along too! 

All you need to do is feature the following three prompts in your creating....

1. Use alphas in your project. 

(There are a few varieties in this month's kits - plus we won't mind if you use some from last month too! ;) There are always plenty of alphas left over, right?)

2. Include some die cut shapes or ephemera. 

(Again, there are plenty in this month's kits and oh my heart, the exclusive ones in the PL Kit are divine!!!) 

3. Add a wood element to your page. 

(This could be a wooden embellishment, or even some wood grain pattern paper) 

Easy Peasy (CTK)  Lemon Squeezy!

Before you get started, here are the three layouts that I created for today's challenge.....

"Be-You-tiful"

Isn't this pretty?! 

I have used the gorgeous Little Things Scrapbook Kit, as well as fussy cut butterflies from the Pattern Paper Play Kit, the October Embellishment Kit and the Pinkfresh Studio Liquid Watercolors. I just adore the blue hues and embellishments featured in the Little Things Scrapbook Kit, and they coordinated beautifully with my sweet photograph! You'll spy lots of Crate Paper, Pinkfresh Studio  & Vicki Boutin on this layout! 

Here's a closer look for you......

Aren't those fussy cut butterflies super pretty?!!

And those Liquid Watercolors are just stunning!!! I have used Sapphire, Lavender, & Sky Blue and they're all available in the CTK store HERE. 

Lots of luscious layers of papers & die cut ephemera beneath my photo! I love having ephemera tucked in and around my layout focal points. The wood element in this layout comes from our October Embellishment Kit - the gorgeous gold foiled wood veneer from Pinkfresh Studio! 

The pretty mint alphas for my 'Be-You-tiful' title are from the Scrapbook Kit, and are also from Pinkfresh Studio - LOVE!!!

So.much.pretty in the Little Things Scrapbook Kit!!!

My next layout has a very fresh feel to it.....

"Beautiful Ordinary Life" 

Sigh! Beautiful, indeed! 

It's no secret that I heart me some Pinkfresh Studio, & this is exactly why! 

So clean, fresh & contemporary! A really elegant and beautiful page of my darling daughter! 

All the Pinkfresh Studio goodies here, plus a couple of those super cute inflatable hearts from Amy Tangerine. 

Created with the Little Things Scrapbook Kit and teamed with the fabulous phrase stickers & wood veneers from the Embellishment Kit & paper from the Pattern Paper Play Kit.  Perfection! 

Those floral die cuts have my heart!!! SO pretty! 

The mint alphas add that tiny pop of color to break up all that peach, and add balance to my design. Love it! 

And last, but by no means least, my third layout for this super fun challenge....

"Boy: Slow Down"

Such a fresh & fun page for my darling boy! 

I have opted for a 8.5" x 11" design, and used the beautiful Little Things Pocket Life Kit! I am LOVING the exclusive pattern papers & just had to make a feature of them!

I layer quite a few of them beneath my photo to really draw your eye in. You'll also spot the vintage book paper, and lots of the exclusive die cuts too! 

I use the wood grain pattern paper for the wood element in this layout, as well as the pretty blue alphas to complete the 3-to-Inspire requirements. Such a cool adventure boy page! 

Those alphas are such a gorgeous shade of blue! All the heart eyes for these!

The PL Kits are always jam packed full of exclusive must haves! So good!

And there you have it! Lots of inspirational ideas to get your creativity flowing! 

I can't wait to see what you create for this 3-to-Inspire challenge! 

***Be sure to upload your challenge entries in the Facebook Citrus Twist Kits Fan Page***

Need supplies before you begin? 

Visit the Citrus Twist Kits store HERE

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

Til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Pinkfresh Studio: Indigo Hills 2 & all the pretty things!!!

Hi Friends! 

Time for a little Pinkfresh Studio inspiration, and oh.my.heart!

When the Indigo Hills 2 collection arrived, I had so much difficulty cutting into it! 

It's that incredibly beautiful!!! 

Such a gorgeous collection to document those special moments with! 

And in my case, simply the PERFECT collection for all those divine Ballet photographs of my sweet girl!

I could type for hours about the prettiness of Indigo Hills 2,

but instead let's allow my projects to speak for themselves.....

Here's my first layout, 

"Moments Are More Important Than Things" 

Sigh! Isn't this divine?!

So dreamy, & delicate!

I was immediately drawn to the softer, muted colors and tones in this line. This tranquil color scheme, partnered with the pretty blooms and ornate frames was just an angelic combination!

So pure, and innocent like my subject in the photograph! 

You'll spy the reverse side of pattern paper GORGE as my layout base. I just adore that pretty gray color! I have layered a 10" x 10" sheet of pattern paper, RIDGE (also the reverse side) onto it. To this layer I add a 9" x 9" smooth white cardstock layer,  but before sealing the two papers together, I tuck that DIE CUT EPHEMERA bloom in between these layers on the right hand side. Such a pretty detail!

Next, I frame my photo with that divine CHIPBOARD STICKERS oval frame, and then layer it onto that amazing CHIPBOARD STICKERS wreath. So whimsical! 

I tuck a few blooms (DIE CUT EPHEMERA & PUFFY STICKER) beneath the wreath. I foam mount my DIE CUT EPHEMERA title, 'Moments Are More Important Than Things' and layer it over the wreath, so it's resting on the edge of my framed photograph. Really pretty! 

I embellish around my photo cluster with more CHIPBOARD STICKERS, GOLD FOILED WOOD STICKERS, and even some ENAMEL DOTS. 

I add a subtitle, 'love' which I also mount on foam tape and surround with a few more of the ENAMEL DOTS.  

Last, but by no means least, I add my type writer font journaling to the base of my layout & embellish with a final PUFFY STICKER & ENAMEL DOT or, two. 

 

So beautiful!

All the pretty and delicate details on this sweet page! 

I hope she'll treasure it for years to come! 

My second layout embraces the more sassy, fun & playful side of my sweet dancer.....

"Ballet Besties, Mirror Selfies"

Isn't this beautiful?!!

And with such a different look photo, I was able to draw on the deeper, richer purple & indigo tones of this collection! Purple LOVE!!!

I have opted for the very pretty, HIGHLAND pattern paper as my layout background. The striped triangle detail in this paper is so striking and really caught my eye. With this in mind, I decide to position my photo here to ensure it remains the focus of my page! 

Beneath my photograph, I layer pattern paper VALLEY, as well as the reverse side of paper RIDGE, DIE CUT EPHEMERA, PHRASE STICKERS & one of those divine JOURNALING SPOTS with FOIL ACCENTS!

Such awesome layers!!!

I surround this pretty photo cluster with a mix of PUFFY STICKERS, ENAMEL DOTS, CHIPBOARD STICKERS, WOOD STICKERS with FOIL ACCENTS, PHRASE STICKERS & even some gold asterisks from the GOLD PUFFY ALPHA STICKERS. I try to respect the diagonal flow of the striped pattern within this embellishing too.

You'll also notice that I adorn my photo with a PUFFY STICKER sentiment - cute!  

My title is created with a mix of both GOLD PUFFY ALPHA STICKERS and purple MINI PUFFY ALPHA STICKERS, and follows the movement of the laurel leaves in the pattern paper. So simple & yet, so effective!

And there you have it! 

My first play with the all.the.pretty, Indigo Hills 2, things!!!!

I hope my layouts have inspired you to get creating with this simply stunning collection! 

If you liked my projects please be sure to check out my newly created

You Tube channel HERE,

where I will be uploading lots of Pinkfresh Studio inspiration! 

Thanks so much for visiting! 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Elle's Studio: July Kit & New Releases!

Hi Creatives! 

It's time! 

The all NEW Elle's Studio July Kit and Extras are now available! 

***Shop ALL the New Releases HERE***

Here's a look at the Exclusive July Kit......



Summer Sensation!!! Loving this color palette!

And the Add-Ons....



Eeep! SO many super cute embellishments!
And last, but by no means least, our Digital Cut Files & Printables...

I say it every month, but truly, so much awesome squeezed into this kit! 

And to get you inspired,
here are two of my recent creations with this kit!
First up is this stampendous layout,

"Good Times"

Wow!
With stamps this good it's simply impossible not to create with them!
I have also cut up the journaling cards from the July Kit into small squares, as well as the July Labels to form the base of this layout. So Cool!
You'll also spy those fabulous Vellum & Wood Veneeer Asterisk embellishments, Wood Veneer Phrases and even some of the older enamel dots!
Let's take a closer look....



I wanted to share my stamped background with you - it's been created with the Highlight Stamp, and was so much fun to make!
Lots of repeat stamping in those teals, aquas and blues, and then those black inked asterisks too!
Love how this turned out! Such an effective result!



Lots of luscious layers!



More stamped details with the Let's Have Some Fun asterisk stamp too! Awesome!



Super cool in the swimming pool!
Summer-tastic!

My second layout opts for a much warmer color scheme, and features the new Noteworthy colleciton,

"Every Summer Has A Story"

Sigh! 

Such a warm, and yet so refreshing Summer layout! 

I have featured Paper 4 from the 12 x 12 Noteworthy Paper Pack, as well as the July Kit, Summer Mix Puffy Hearts Stickers, Pool Time Wood Veneers, Labels, & White Alpha Stickers. 

I also add a little peach watercolor paint and lime cotton thread from my stash to add those finishing touches. 

Here's a few close ups...

Aligning the White Alpha Stickers title onto the yellow striped paper not only ensures a well positioned title, but also adds such interest! 

The Die Cuts from the July Kit are so much fun , and layering them with the Pool Time Veneers creates fabulous embellishment clusters! 

Super cute & so much fun! 

I LOVE the new Elle's Studio July Kit! 

I hope I have encouraged you to get yours today!

Or better yet, start a subscription HERE and never miss out again! 

You can see more Elle's Studio creations from me a lil later in the month ;)

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo

Pinkfresh Studio: July Challenge!

Hi Creative Friends!

Welcome back to the Happy Arty Days blog! 

Today I am sharing my take on the new Pinkfresh Studio Monthly Challenge!

Here's what it looks like..............

SO awesome!!! 

Rainbow and our new liquid watercolors! Yesssss! 

I wanted to create something different with our watercolors for this post & use these paints to stamp with! Pinkfresh Studio have an amazing array of stamps!

 I hope you like what I've created....

"Dream A Little Dream"

Oh woweee! I just LOVE how effective this looks! 

I have used stamp set Semi Circle Pattern by Inna Moreva, and using the solid semi circle stamp, loosely created those rainbow scallops! I simply diluted our watercolors and painted them directly onto the stamp! To make them stand out a lil more, I then stamped varying semi circle patterns over the scallops in corresponding inks.  Such a cool technique to try! 

Here's a closer look......

So.much.gorgeousness!

I have combined Pinkfresh Studio: Be You and Let Your Heart Decide collections to create the remainder of this page! I am in LOVE with the Let Your Heart Decide Alphas!!! 

You also notice that I add lots of watercolor splatters to each color row too! 

I have used the following Pinkfresh Studio Liquid Watercolors for this fun layout,

Candy Apple

Clementine

Sunshine

Key Lime

Sky Blue

Lavender

You can see (& order) ALL the colors HERE. 

Here's a few close ups for you......

The color intensity of the Liquid Watercolors is just insane! Such vivid, bright color!

So Beautiful! (Perfect for my two cuties in the pic! ;)  )

And there you have it! 

My super fun take on this month's challenge at Pinkfresh Studio! 

I hope I have inspired you to play along!

(& maybe try a new technique with our Liquid Watercolors too!)

More details on the challenge HERE

Thanks so much for visiting, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Paper Issues: June Swag Bag

Hi Happy Arty Days Friends!

Time for another favourite Paper Issues share of the month,

Today I am using the super pretty May Swag Bag....

SO divine, huh?! A little bit of this pretty, and a dash of that one too! ;)

Swag Bags are the perfect sampler of all the new treasures in the Paper Issues store!

But enough chatter, here's what I've created with mine....

"This Makes My Heart Smile"

Nawwww!!! This photo and memory really does make my heart smile so very much!

& I LOVE how perfectly everything from the Swag Bag coordinates with it!

How cute are those tiny alphas too?!!! 

You'll spy bits n pieces from Dear Lizzy, Simple Stories, & MME on this layout, as well as the Heidi Swapp Shine mist droplets! Awesome!

Here's a couple close ups for you.....

Love that fun flair button & those yellow chipboard hearts!

That gorgeous floral bouquet was a 3 x 4 card that I fussy cut to use as ephemera, and it coordinates beautifully with the pattern paper at the top and bottom on my design. So Super Sweet!!!

Love it all! 

Hope you liked my layout, 

& feel inspired to get creating with your Swag Bag!

Don't have one? That's ok, you can try your luck on any left over stock here

OR if you're like me and don't want to miss out, 

you can get a 6 month subscription here.

Whichever option you choose, 

REMEMBER to use my code AMANDA & you'll receive 20% off! Yay!

See more Swag Bag inspiration here

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo