Challenge Me Wednesday: EXTRA

I'm so glad there's an extra Wednesday in the month of May! We've had great inspiration all month, and it's nice to have a chance to send a little more your way. I have three projects for you--a pop-up card and 2 altered frames--so let's take a look.

For Mother's Day this year, I made a pop-up card for my mom. I used Echo Park's Graceful collection for the patterned paper. 

If you pull the little tag at the top, here's what happens:

Here's a close-up of the tag:

And here it is with the envelope (it fits a standard A2 envelope). 

Next up are two inexpensive craft frames that I altered. In addition to the Graceful collection, I also used Echo Park's Charming collection. (This and Aweso{ME} by Simple Stories are my favorite boy collections.) The buttons on the "Daughter" frame are from a retired Echo Park collection. The beauty of many of our new collections is that they still coordinate very well with previous collections you might still have in your stash!

I hope you enjoyed a bit of mid-week inspiration. Don't forget to give yourself time to create something this week!

Express Kit Monday, Part 2

Can you believe another week has gone by? And here we are the end of May.

As promised, this week's projects are altered projects.

I did some thinking "outside the box" for this next project. The lid and the ribbon hold the project together.

Once you remove the lid and the ribbon, voila! The box comes apart, in a good way, displaying 3 layers of mats for your 2x2 photos.

Lacey took her express kit and created a beautiful mini album. Don't you love the cover with the "LACEY" embellishments? She took the "Odds and Ends" memorabilia pockets from Simple Stories and took them to the next level creating her KeepSakes mini book. LOVE IT!

If you don't already know this, I have been working on a pet project this year called Focus: Me! Every month, I take a photo of myself and scrap it, hoping to have a bunch of photos and pages about the most important person in my life.

In that vain, I created this altered project using the Simple Stories Memorabilia Pockets. I don't know about you, but sometimes I need positive reinforcement to get me through a particularly bad day. I deocrated the pocket using Vintage Blooms and then filled the pocket with words and quotes that remind me that I matter and that I am important.

If you don't need the reminders for yourself, then share it with a friend who is a little down and out to show her you care and to remind her how great she is. This is called "Memo 2 Self: UR Great."

I hope I have provided you with plenty of inspiration with this month's express kit. Can't wait to see what June has in store.

Creative Card Saturday - Part Two

Hi everyone and thanks so much for joining me again this week for another installation of "Creative Card Saturday".  This week my challenge was to find a card in the Memory Works Inspiration Gallery and "scrap lift" the design and create my own version of the card.  I had a really hard time picking just one card because there is so much talent among the Memory Works Consultants but I was inspired by Janey Pumphrey's beautiful birthday card that she created for her twin daughters.  Thanks Janey for letting me use your card. Below is Janey's card.

I loved the layering of this card and the simplicity.  I decided to try my hand at making a round card and made a simple "just a note" card that can be used for any occasion.  I used cardstock and elements from the May Memory Works Express kit for this card. 

I actually use an old CD as a pattern for my card shape.  The large flower is one that I hand cut from cardstock the the smaller layered flowers are elements from the Express Kit.  Again, I can't express enough how simple and quick it is to make cards and layouts with the monthly Express Kits.

Thanks for stopping by again and I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day. 



Inspiration Friday

Another week gone by and another year older already!! The only thing I look forward to any more for my birthday is the ice cream cake.;) I also can't believe it has been a week (almost) since my parents 50th anniversary party last saturday. Wow! Time flies when you are having fun.;) The nice thing about the party for my parents, was to see some of our relatives we haven't seen in so long. And of course, I (gasp!) forgot to take my camera with me.:0 Well, it inspired me to make a couple more layouts for this weeks blog post. The product I am highlighting this week is BasicGrey's Plumeria Collection. I love the colors of this line and they go great with old photos. I used this line for our blog hop we did last month and figured I would use the other 2 layouts I didn't get done for that, to use here. So without further ado.............. ///////////////// BasicGrey Plumeria Collection: ////////////// Theme Set 6x6 Paper Pad Accordian Stickers Chip Sticker Shapes Die Cuts & Transparencies Mixed Brads //////////////// "Hill Family" Layout by Sharon Hill ///////////////// "LaBarre Family" Layout by Sharon Hill ///////////////////// I hope I inspired you to dig out your old b&w and sepia photos and scrapbook them. As with last week's post, I will post these layouts on my personal blog with the list of products and techniques used. http://ascrappersmemoir.blogspot.com/ I hope everyone has a safe memorial day weekend and don't forget to take time out of your day on monday at 3pm, to stop what you are doing and take a moment of silence in memory of all those men and women who lost their lives for our country. Hang your flag, if you have one, and hang it at half staff until noon if your flag can do that. Have a nice weekend! Until next time................... ////////////////////// Happy Scrappin'!

Guest Designer Thursday - Erica Thompson

I would like to share with you the technique i used to make my confetti tag!  I made one using the May express kit and now I am going to show you all how to make one and i will be using some of Amy Tangerine Sketchbook collection.  I really love this collection!  So many fun colors and the chipboard shapes are all so cute!  You will need a tag to trace, some paper of your choice, a transparency or any clear packaging,  I used my packaging from my pebbles dimensional stickers for the may kit,  a circle punch or whatever shape punch you would like and some confetti!  I made mine with a hole punch and some more Amy Tangerine paper!

First you will want to trace two tags out of your favorite paper.

Then go ahead and cut your tags out.

Using a punch of your choice cut out a shape toward the bottom of only one of your tags. 

Next you will cut your transparency or clear packaging to cover your tag you have just punched out. 

Apply some adhesive around your cut out carefully and place down your clear window.

Place your confetti on the clear window.

Apply some adhesive around the edges of your other tag and on the top of your clear window and attach the two tags together.

Now you are ready to have some fun finishing off your tag with all kinds of beautiful and fun embellishments.  I used Amy Tangerines Sketchbook Chipboard Shapes!  So many fun pieces!
 

I hope you enjoyed this confetti tag and that you all try to make a tag or card using this technique!  I would love to see what you all can come up with too!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Challenge Me Wednesday - Consultant Projects

This month's challenge was "A Mother's Love"...and the projects about moms were SO inspiring. Have a look for yourself:

Caroline Piercy

I love how Caroline's 2 pager includes 8 photos.  

Jade Wilson

I love all of the white space on Jade's adorable baby page.

Jenn Bidwell Edwardson

 Jenn's priceless photo stands out from her monochromatic page.

Lacey Igo

Lacey used fun cheerful colors, and also has a lot of crisp white space.

Lynn Darda

Lynn chose perfect papers and embellishment for a very pretty mother/daughter page.

Penny Nichols

Penny made a very beautiful mini album...there are more photo in the MW Studio challenge thread.

Tessa Oxford

I love this adorable page from Tessa, that big gorgeous flower is just too perfect!

This is it so far! There is still time to get your projects done. You have until the 30th of this month to submit your projects on the studio to qualify for a prize from the home office.