Guest Designer Tuesday: Pamela's Express Kit Awesomeness!

I admit it…I hoard Express Kits.  When they come in the mail I dive right in to look at all the goodies.   All those beautifully coordinated items…how can I break them up?  So, in a scrap container they get neatly placed until just the perfect scrap project arrives (and it always does).  So when I got Septembers Express Kit and knew right off the bat I would HAVE to use it…yikes.  But then I pulled it all out of the box and layouts formed in my head, ideas for projects appeared before me and all was right in the world.  I only needed to find the time to actually get those things created. 

Using the cellophane the kit came in, I created a window off sorts…a way for the photo to float within the layout.    Everything is from the kit with the exception of the brown floss I used (WRMK Sew Easy).  I also stitched the journaling lines.  The tag I had originally made with a separate use in mind, but I liked the way it looked on the layout so I used it.

My second layout was created by cutting strips from the MME Mabel “Play” Silly Stripe Paper.  Love that paper.  So I used it for the banner too.  The word “springs” was made by putting the sassafras cardstock stickers lightly down on the page and sponging over them with some tan chalk ink.  I did this quickly and as a result the ink wiped off the stickers and I was able to just put them back on the sticker sheet.  Waste not, want not…right?

I was excited when I saw the chipboard banners in the kit!  I had the perfect idea for how to use them in kitchen.  The MME Lost and Found Sweet paper got crumpled a bit by an overzealous child.  To hide that…I crumpled it the rest of the way.  It gave it a rustic look which I really like.  The two end banners have pieces from that sheet that were lined.  I ran them through my laminating machine (making them dry erase) so they could be used for dessert and sweet treat ideas.  As it would happen the colors match the dry erase menu board I while back.  Bonus!

Next I made a card of sorts.  It is actually a little file folder.  I plan on putting photos of the kids in it for my in-laws.  The button flower hides a Velcro closure.  It is a pretty simple concept, but I know it will be greatly appreciated.

The last thing I have to share was what had I had intended to be a series of journaling tags…but they turned into a mini book.  I always have little random shots from an outing and I thought they would be perfect for a little book like this.  I cut out tag shapes using some leftover backings from mini pads of paper and covered them with paper.  I only had silver binder rings and wanted something more matchy-matchy so I covered the ring with little glue dots and wrapped some twine around it.  Love the way it turned out.  Maybe be doing that with more rings in the future.

The inside pages of the tag album have room for pictures or journaling.  I wanted the banner for both pages, so I cut it.  It turned out to be a cute little tag mini that I can't wait to fill with little pictures.
And I am happy to say I still have tons of paper and stickers left from my kit that I can hoard for a little while…phew!

Thanks for looking.