Gossamer Blue: Swim Style

One of my favorite pieces of paper in the June Main Kit from Gossamer Blue, is the hearts and graph paper combo from Pink Fresh Studios. I really like the rainbow colors on the bright white background along with how the graph paper creates a natural spot for photos and embellishments. When I cut this paper down to 9x12, I decided I didn't want to go for my usual paper layering. Instead, I wanted to fill the blank space with the cute frames and square stickers from Simple Stories using a grid design.

As I was working on the grid using my photos and frames, I did not like the weight of the classic 2x2 grid and how it was "overfilling" my page. My solution was to modify my grid and only include 3 squares. After making this change, I felt much better about my layout and it reminded me that it's okay to let go of ideas that just aren't working for you.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Michelle

In The Scrap: June Challenge

Hello! This past month I officially joined the design team at In the Scrap--a challenge blog based in Spain!

This invitation came to me at a really good time-you see, I had been feeling a little lackluster creativity-wise. I wanted to scrap, but my brain felt a little dried up.  What I had been doing just wasn't working anymore for me. Surely, I am not alone with this feeling?? This little slump really had me thinking that maybe I needed to revisit some of the things I used to do, such as participate in online scrapbooking challenges--something that I used to do on a regular basis. I Then along came the invitation....Funny how things work out sometimes!

Like I said earlier, In the Scrap is a great place to find lots of scrappy inspiration. For example, on the first of the month a new challenge is issued and the design team provides their takes on it. This month the challenge is a mood board type of challenge:

When I saw the "My Celebration" themed images I was excited! There were so many ways to take the theme and I was super excited to look through my stash to find products. When I create a project based off of this type of challenge I always start with making a list of all the things that stand out to me and here is what I wrote down:

Celebrate; gold foil; lights, wood grain; pink thread; ballons; 

blue, ruquoise, and pinks; banners; string lights; hearts; and arrows.

Having a written list really helped me zero in on specific products as I was looking for things to use. It's always nice to shop your stash!  Here is what I came up with:

When it came down to putting the inspiration from the image to use, I really embraced the whole theme of celebration. From my photos of my daughters on the youngest's birthday to the birthday themed embellishments, it's is obvious I went pretty literal. 

I love the little details that this challenge inspired, such as the addition of the pink thread and the foil hearts. These were two things that I probably would not have thought to add if not for the challenge and I just love what these minor details brought to my page!

One of my favorite parts about scrappy challenges is seeing what others do. There are just so many possibilities and I invite you to head on over to the blog to see what the rest of the design team did with the challenge :). 

Michelle 

The Cut Shoppe: The Sweet Life

Hello! Today I want to share a new layout featuring the A Way with Words cut file set from The Cut Shoppe.

This cut file set has to be one of my faves for the simple reason that I love cursive writing. This set mimics a natural written alphabet and it is just plain pretty.  When I sat down with these two pictures of my daughter a lady bug, I thought this cut file would be a good compliment to this sweet story. Here is what I did:

When cutting out words and phrases that are in a thinner font, I find it almost imperative to cut it out of a bold or dark color. Something light could have definitely gotten lost on this busy layout, but since I chose a black polka dot paper the title is able to stand out.

I really had a lot of fun putting this layout together. I went and pulled out some "older" papers and mixed them with some newer embellishments. I so enjoyed this that I am going to double up my efforts to use more of my stash. 

Wishing you all a great day!

Gossamer Blue: June Kits

Hello! Is anyone else completely confused about how we ended up in June so fast?? Really, it feels like time fastforwarded three months! My brain is still in March! Ha ha.

One of the only benefits of time moving fast though, is that it always seems like I am getting a new scrapbooking kit and today I am wanting to share my latest creations with the new June Kits from Gossamer Blue.

This month the kits are a mix of Simple Stories, Fancy Pants, and Pink Fresh. The products in the kits had me creating in no time and even though I am finished with my DT projects, I still have loads leftover and am looking forward to getting back to kits:).  Here are a few of my projects:

This is my FAVE. I was one of those confused people who really did not see the potential or relevance of pie charts when they started making an appearance in scrapbooking supplies. Now though, I am a believer! First off, they are circles which I am pretty comfortable with and second, they are a good medium for displaying all the beautiful patterned paper. Yup, I will be using pie charts again.

This black floral paper from Simple Stories is the BEST. It is so pretty and I refuse to part with the little scraps I have left of it! I also love the bits of green in this layout. Lately I have really been drawn to this color and I was so happy to find lots of it in the June Kits.

As I was creating with these kits, I found that they were really working well as a kit that will lead you from Spring to Summer. I scrapped photos from this spring, but I also was able to feel in some gaps in photos from last summer. I love it when a kit does double duty like that!

Wishing you a great day!

Michelle

Gossamer Blue: Here + Now

Hello! Today I want to share a new layout featuring the beautiful May Kits from Gossamer Blue. Before I can go any further though, I must admit that when it comes to my creative process, I am very happy working inside my comfort zone. I know what I like and I like what I do, so why try something new, right?? Every once in a while though, I actually get the wild idea to go a little outside my box and create something that isn't quite so typical of my usual projects and today's layout is a such an example.

Circles. I am a little obsessed with this fabulous shape and it makes regular appearances throughout my scrapping. However, despite my love for all things round, I have NEVER once cut a photo into a circle. Now, this certainly isn't a ground breaking technique, but it definitely requires a little more thinking than just printing the photo as a square or rectangle.

When it came to cutting my photo into a circle, I went with my manual diecutter. My first thought was to use an app to make my photo into a circle and then cut it out with scissors after printing. However simple and quick this method is, I don't have the greatest scissor skills. Using a metal die would guarantee a perfectly round circle, so this was the method I went with.

To continue the circle theme of my layout, I cut two similarily sized circles out of patterned paper from the Bit's and Pieces Add On Kit and used them to create a visual triangle. Using the triangle as a guide is a simple, surefire way to get good placement. With the bigger elements in place I went to work on the embellishing.

Cutting my photo into a shape was a pretty simple technique, but I sure felt bold doing it! While it's certainly okay to hang out in your comfort zone, I really believe we need to push our limits a little from time to time. Anytime I try something new, I never have regrets for doing it even if things don't turn out as planned. 

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope I have inspired you to try something new!

Michelle

Gossamer Blue: May Reveal

Hello and Happy May!  The beginning of the new month at Gossamer Blue brings the reveal of new kits and projects. This month the kits are full to the brim with new products from Pink Paislee and Simple Stories--products I have been waiting not-so-patiently to get my hands on.  When I opened my packages a few weeks ago I gasped! Really, these kits are literally what my scrapbooking dreams are made of! LOL.

Here's a look at my projects:

The diecut heart from Pink Paislee's Fancy Free, found in Add On Kit #2, was one of my favorite pieces. The heart comes with an already made background, but I altered it a bit by adding in a few pieces of patterned paper from the 6x6 paper pad in the Bits and Pieces Add On.

The glassy "shine" acrylic word really made this layout! 

This layout set the personal record for scrapping multiple pictures. I fit seven pictures on this "year in review" layout for my youngest! One of the things I have learned when scrapping these types of photos, is to use a patterned paper that features mulitple colors and the circle paper from Pink Paislee was just the ticket. 

To see even more projects made with May's kits, make sure and head on over to the Gossamer Blue Gallery!

Michelle

Gossamer Blue: October Reveal

Good morning! Today is reveal day for the newest scrapbooking kits at Gossamer Blue and I want to share my first two projects with you!

This month the October Kits are super versatile and I was able to scrap a range of photos. First up is Apple Season--my first official "fall" layout of the season-yay! I used a combination of both the Main Scrapbooking and Main Life Pages Kit:

I was so excited to receive the cork Thickers and bows from Dear Lizzy's newest collection Documentary and was happy to find a place for them on this layout. Another fave are the magenta alphas from Simple Stories because I think they are such a cool and totally underrepresented color in scrappy supplies. I am already wishing I had more of them.

 

Up next is Lucky Us, a layout I made using Add On Kit #2 that features a great mix of We R Family from Simple Stories, Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane, and some more Dear Lizzy.

I went with a simple grid design because I wanted to highlight the journaling cards I cut from a piece of the Cedar Lane paper that is in this kit. I loved the little saying "everyday is a blessing" and the mix of little acorns and leaves was just too perfect. The chipboard pieces from Simple Stories were a great choice for embellishments!

Well what do you think?? I don't know about you, but I think fall kits are my fave. Certainly I am always excited to see what every new season brings to scrapbooking, but the colors and the motifs in fall are always just so beautiful. Also the whole vibe of gratitude and counting your blessings that comes with the fall months makes me all warm and fuzzy inside, not to mention the hot drinks, falling leaves, and sweaters! Now if I could just channel these fall feelings into the middle of winter when I am cranky and cold ;).

Will be back soon to share more projects!

Michelle

The Cut Shoppe & Simple Stories

This month I had the pleasure of working with the Pumpkin Spice Collection from Simple Stories for The Cut Shoppe and Simple Stories Product Swap Week!

For both of my layouts, I used newly released cut files from The Cut Shoppe. This first one features the fun Leaf It To Me cut file:

In my opinion, fall scrapping isn't quite complete without my annual falling leaf layout. There is just something so fun and whimsical about leaves floating down a page. Mix those leaves with the autumn colors of the Pumpkin Spice patterned papers and you have a recipe for a delightful fall page.

I like to layer my leaves to mimic how you would find them outside. To keep them from looking flat I use a minimal amount of adhesive-just enough to keep them from falling off the page.

For my second project, I wanted to feature the fun new I Heart Plaid cut file. 

I decided to use the heart as a focal point to bring the attention straight to this photo of my little daughter. To do this, I resized the cut file in my Silhouette so that it was roughly the size of my 3x4 photo. By simply layering it under my photo the eye is drawn straight to where I want it to go.

Besides the fun colors in Pumpkin Spice, I really enjoyed using the co-ordinating stickers and die cuts, particularly the pretty vase and flowers.

In celebration of this fun team up with Simple Stories, both The Cut Shoppe and Simple Stories are having a giveaways. Yay!

To participate make sure a visit each blog-Simple Stories Blog and The Cut Shoppe - and leave a comment on one or all of the posts from this week and you will be entered for a chance to win some great prizes! 

Also, in celebration of this fun team up, you can save 30% off your purchase at The Cut Shoppe through next Tuesday! Just use the code FALLFINDS30 when you check out!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Michelle

Gossamer Blue: August Reveal

The first of August means a brand new kit from Gossamer Blue is available! Yay! This month, Lori put together a beautiful kit featuring a mix of products that include Crate Paper, Simple Stories, and October Afternoon.

Today I am super excited to share two of the projects that I have made using the August Kits! First up is "Favorite Things:"

 

The colors in this kit really compliment this outdoor shot of my daughter and the fun greige grid paper worked so great as a background.

Next is "A Park Adventure:"

So much to love on this page! The colors, again, were a huge hit with me. The cloud paper just begged me to use it and the exclusive cork hearts and wood veneer were just the right touches.

 

 

I have been watching the rest of the Gossamer Blue team load their projects into the gallery this past week and I have been in awe of what I have been seeing. I am constantly inspired by the work of my teammates and I want invite you to head straight over and check it out for yourself-you won't be disappointed!

 

 

Michelle

Hip Kit Club: Buddies

For my son's fourteenth year, I decided to switch his album up and go with a 6x8 Handbook. The last few years I had been struggling a little bit with having enough photos of him to fill a bigger album. I am always camera ready, however due to his relunctance to let me take photos and the fact that he is rarely home, my camera roll has been a little light on photos of my favorite guy. The smaller sized album seemed like an easy solution and now that I am halfway through the year I am confident I made the right decision. Today I want to share how I created a two page spread using a combination of the Hip Kit Club June Kits for his Handbook.

   

I use a combination of pocket style and traditional layouts for documenting his teenage adventures and when I am doing this I like both pages, even if I am telling two different stories as I am here, to be cohesive in color and products. This means that I will often pull out a kit and work on two pages at a time. For these layouts I used pieces from the June Main, Embellishment, and PL Kits.  Here is a look at each individual page:

 

 

One of my favorite parts about working with pocket pages, is that I get to customize the 3x4 cards with embellishments. Below you can see that on the left card, I simply  layered two of the Poolside diet cuts from the Main Kit and added some machine stitching. On the right, after cutting down a 4x6 card from the PL Kit, I adhered a wood veneer that I had sprayed with gold mist.

 

Thanks for stopping by today and letting me share a few thoughts on how I went about changing up my memory keeping to better work for me and my camera shy teenager.

Michelle

He Loves Adventure

I'm at it again, stealing photos off of my husband's phone ;). This time I took pictures of our dog from one of their recent hikes.

 

No one can get my dog to sit still like my husband. If I had attempted this, it just would not have happened! 

 

 

As I worked on this layout, I really fell in love with this color combo--navy blue, turquoise, and pink. They really are so pretty together and sort of compliment my dog's fawn colored fur :).

 

Wishing you a great day full of adventure!

 

Michelle