Practical Scrappers May Card Sketch

Hello everyone! There's a new card sketches up at Practical Scrappers for May, and I have a new card to share with you to go with it. I have been making more cards lately, which has been fun -- and handy to have around when I need one! I'm also sorry to say that this is the last sketch from Practical Scrappers, as the site is shutting down this month. The team has done such great things at Practical Scrappers, but it's time for them to do other things.

Here's the Practical Scrappers card sketch for May:

And here is the card I created:

I was determined to create this card with scraps, and I kind of did. :) These are papers from a DCWV mat stack that I had put into my scrap drawer a long time ago when I used up most of the pad. They are a set of beautiful glitter papers, and I thought they would go great with this sketch. I layered the papers together and used a printed sentiment. I then punched out the butterflies with two different butterfly punches, bent up the wings, and added a yellow pearl. Super quick and so pretty.

Be sure to head on over to Practical Scrappers for the rest of the card sketch reveal projects -- the design team always does such a great job with their cards and I love to see all the different variations. And be sure to wish everyone well since this is the last month Practical Scrappers will be around. I will miss working with this team...

Until next time,
Stay crafty!
Lissa :)

Practical Scrappers May Sketch

Hello everyone! It's time for a new monthly sketch at Practical Scrappers. If you know me, you know I love working with sketches. And this month's sketch is no exception -- very fun with lots of possibilities:

Here's the layout I created based on this sketch:

These photos are from a trip I took with my mom to visit my grandparents before they moved back east. My aunt and cousin were there too, and it was a wonderful trip.

I have decided to work on a "kill the kit" project for May, which means I'm using up a monthly kit from my stash. This month, I'm working with the March 2013 kit from Studio Calico. A beautiful kit with lots of awesome papers and embellishments to play with. And the sketch had that lovely swirly border element, so I decided to use my Sizzix Swirly border die to create several pieces that I layered and tacked down with tiny, tiny glue dots.

I used the Amy Tangerine rub-ons in the title and as accents around the page. Love the sideways title.

I love how this came together -- all thanks to that awesome sketch. Be sure to head on over to Practical Scrappers to see the rest of the design team layouts for this month's sketch. They always have such creative ideas!

Until next time,
Stay crafty!
Lissa :)

Practical Scrappers April Card Sketch

Hello everyone! There's two new card sketches up at Practical Scrappers for April, and I'm excited to say this is the first time I'm doing this challenge. I have been wanting to try my hand at making more cards, so this was a perfect opportunity.

Here's one of the card sketches for April:

I used this sketch to create this fun birthday card:

I always need birthday cards -- so this was a great sketch to use. I used a 6x6 paper pad that I got from Archiver's several years ago. I'm not sure who makes it, actually. But it has a bunch of fun summer prints, so this is a great for a birthday card. I also used chipboard banner pieces by Fancy Pants Designs, baker's twine by American Crafts, and a sentiment sticker by Pebbles.

Be sure to head on over to Practical Scrappers for the rest of the card sketch reveal projects -- the design team always does such a great job with their creative projects!

Until next time,
Stay crafty!
Lissa :)

Practical Scrappers April Sketch

Hello everyone! It's time for a new monthly sketch at Practical Scrappers. This one is created by the ever-talented Christine Meyer. I love it -- there are so many creative possibilities:

Here's what I created based on the sketch:

I love it! These photos are from a girl's-only trip to Florida a few years ago. I used mostly papers from the Wave Searcher collection by Fancy Pants Designs. I added in a few beachy papers from my stash too. I cut the border strips with a chevron edge die by Spellbinders, then layered the pieces together to create an awesome layered background. I then added in random embellishments from my stash to finish off the page. So fun!

This makes me totally ready for some warmer weather! Be sure to head on over to Practical Scrappers to see the rest of the design team layouts for this month's sketch. They always have such creative ideas!

Until next time,
Stay crafty!
Lissa :)

Rainbow Loom Layout for Practical Scrappers

I'm super excited about today's project -- it's a fun outlet for my latest "other" obsession -- Rainbow Loom bracelets! I bought my boys each a Rainbow Loom for Christmas and lots of band colors and an organizer case. They did have fun with it for a bit -- but I must admit, it was me who was the most excited to play with it. LOL.

So this month's Frugal Finds feature for Practical Scrappers is Rainbow Loom bands. I love the monthly Frugal Finds challenge, because you get to create something awesome with items you probably have around the house. Luckily, I have a ton of Rainbow Loom bands...

For my project, I created a super, super long Rainbow Loom bracelet in colors to coordinate with the Our Lil Monster collection from Bo Bunny. Then I used the bracelet to create a fun page border for my layout:

Isn't it bright and colorful and awesome? I used the original weaving pattern and just used jump rings to attach each bracelet to each other until I got a long enough bracelet (I created six bracelets total). Then I just stapled the bracelet right to my page using my Tiny Attacher.

Okay, I love this technique -- and I love this new collection from Bo Bunny! What a fun combination. I hope you are inspired to try using Rainbow Loom bands on your next project. Head on over to Practical Scrappers to see what the other designers came up with for their Frugal Finds projects.

Stay crafty!
Lissa :)

How To: Create a Background With Tags and Cards

Hello all! I'm so excited to share a fun project with you today. It's a layout for the March Sketch Challenge at Practical Scrappers. I love this month's sketch, designed by the oh-so-talented Christine Meyer.

Those circles are so fun, and they inspired to me to put together a background pattern created from cards and tags. You know how you get those packs of journaling cards and tags with paper collections and there are so many that you aren't sure how you'll ever use them up? :) Here's a great way to use a lot of them on your page at once...

I love how this page turned out! I used the Boys Rule collection from Crate Paper. This line is amazing and has lots of boys elements mixed with trendy patterns and colors.

To create a layered background with cards and tags:

1. Just like the sketch, layer the cards and tags around your background until you get a look you like.
2. Adhere the cards and tags down. Use just a strip of adhesive in the middle of the back of each tag or card, so that you can easily layer other cards or tags under if you want to.
3. Keep layering and arranging, adhering as you go.
4. Place your photo on top (with a fun frame or mat background to help it stand out).
5. Finally, layer on the little pieces of bling or embellishments to give your page that special touch.

I love this sketch! What a fun way to feature a photo that you love and want to showcase in your family scrapbooks. Thank you, Christine, for an amazing sketch!

Until next time,
Stay crafty!
Lissa :)

How To: Cookie Cutter Background

Hello all! I'm here today to share a quick tutorial for making your own unique background papers. This is part of the Frugal Finds feature this month for Practical Scrappers. I love this monthly challenge -- to use something you probably have around the house to create something beautiful for your scrapbooks or home.

This month, our theme was cookie cutters. There are so many things you can do with cookie cutters -- I decided to use a star cookie cutter to create this beautiful and unique background paper:

Creating this background is super easy, even if it is a bit messy. :) Glitter does tend to get everywhere, but it's a small price to pay, right?

1. To get started, choose your cookie cutter, background paper, glitter, and an acrylic paint that will match your glitter. That's right -- instead of using glue or tape to hold the glitter, we're going to use acrylic paint.
2. Make a small pool of your acrylic paint, then dip your cookie cutter into the paint, covering all the sides. A small paintbrush can help get the paint onto your cookie cutter.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Stamp your image. This can take some finagling and practice, depending on your cookie cutter. And it won't be perfect -- but that's part of the charm.
4. Sprinkle the paint-stamped image with glitter, then shake off the excess.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Admire your work. :)
   
   
   

Super easy! Now, just repeat the design across your background paper. I love how it turned out -- just the right amount of glitter with a shabby chic look.

With this paper as my background, I put the rest of my layout together, using papers from Webster's Pages and bits and pieces from my stash. I also cut out the Christmas title with my Silhouette Cameo, using a word from this cut file set from Miss Kate Cuttables.

I encourage you to try this technique -- it's fun and easy, and I love that it uses items you probably have at home. If you create something with cookie cutters, be sure to link it up over at Practical Scrappers. We would love to see your projects.

Until next time,

Stay crafty!
Lissa :)

Practical Scrappers February Blog Hop

Updated 2/20/14: Congratulations to Kim -- you're the winner of my giveaway for this blog hop! Email me at MightyCraftyATgmailDOTcom to claim your prize. :)

 It's time for the February blog hop for Practical Scrappers. I'm so excited to be a part of it! There is a huge group of awesome and talented designers for you to hop around to. This month, our theme is Valentine's Day in honor of the holiday today and have great projects for you to see. It's a big, big list -- and you can enter for a giveaway back on the Practical Scrappers blog.

Here's where we are on the blog hop list right now (head back to Practical Scrappers for the full list):

• Charity Hotrum **You should have come from Charity's blog
• Lissa Mitchell **You are here :)
• Jennifer Haggerty **Go here next**

A lot of the designers are doing their own giveaways too -- including me! It's just a fun way for me to say thank you to all of you, my new readers and long-time readers. Read on to find out how to enter my giveaway...

For the blog hop, I created a set of Valentine's Day cards.

I used my February kit and my Kiwi Lane designer templates to create these cards -- so quick and easy!

I started by framing out a sample card with the templates:

Then, it was just a matter of tracing, cutting, and inking my border strips from the patterned papers in my kit. Super easy! I added a big heart or flower from the Kiwi Lane Tiny Sweetheart accessory set and a heart rhinestone from Freckled Fawn. I love how they turned out!

These cards are already on their way to their intended recipients. I know they will be appreciated on this special day. :)

And now for the prizes...I'm giving away this awesome group of fun scrapbooking supplies.

To enter to win, just do one of these:

• Subscribe to my blog and leave a comment on this post telling me you're all signed up.
• Like my Facebook page and leave me a quick post there telling me you did it. 

I'll announce the random winner on Feb. 20, 2014. So be sure to enter before midnight MST on Feb. 19. (I can only ship to United States -- thank you for your understanding.)

Now, head on over to the next stop on the blog hop. Have fun!

• Charity Hotrum **You should have come from Charity's blog
• Lissa Mitchell **You are here :)
• Jennifer Haggerty **Go here next**

Stay crafty,
Lissa :)

Sketch Layout for Practical Scrappers

Today, I'm super excited to bring you another design team project for Practical Scrappers -- a layout based on this great sketch.

I love the big heart on this sketch! I copied the sketch pretty closely for my layout...

So fun! I love how it turned out. I used my February kit to put it all together. I cut the large heart out with my Silhouette Cameo and then just pulled out all of the heart elements in the kit and started layering them down the right-side in a loose border, just like in the sketch. I don't normally get to use these fun colors with my boy layouts, so this was an awesome project for me.

I love these boys so much -- I love that this sketch and layout let me show them that. :)

Be sure to head over to Practical Scrappers to see all the other designers' versions of the sketch. You will love the inspiration you find over there. Until next time...

Stay crafty,
Lissa

Frugal Finds for Practical Scrappers

I have a fun project to share today as part of the Frugal Finds feature at Practical Scrappers. This month's theme was book pages, and the designers have lots of great ideas about how to use book pages on your crafty projects.

For my project, I decided to keep using up my January kit and create some handmade paper snowflakes, just like the ones we used to make when we were kids.

Aren't they pretty? I love the texture these book page elements bring to my page. And, really, they're super simple to make:

1. To start, punch a circle from your book page. (I used a 2 1/2" circle punch.) 
2. Fold the circle in half, and then in half again, and then one more time (or more if you can manage it).
3. Use your sharpest scissors to cut little notches out of the edges of the folded circle.

4. Unfold, and voila, a lovely snowflake. Pretty soon, you'll have a little pile of them...

5. Then, just use your mists and glitter glue to give them sparkle and shine...

To add them to my page, I lined them up and sewed them down, cutting a few in half to let them float right off the page.

The papers and stickers on this layout are all from the Winter Wishes collection by Echo Park, except for the white woodgrain background which is from TPC Studios. I used my Kiwi Lane Designer Templates to create the vertical layered border (Chestnut Drive 1A and 2B). I also added a strip of icy blue polka dot washi tape as another border layer.

I love how this layout turned out. Those book page snowflakes are one of my most favorite things I've made so far this year (okay, it's on January, but still!). And these photos are precious to me -- we still have that sled and my boys are 10 years old! This was one of the first times they were out in the snow.

I hope I've inspired you to try using a frugal find on your crafty projects -- book pages can be made into almost anything, and they add such great texture to your projects. Be sure to head over to Practical Scrappers to see lots of other ways to use book pages...

Until next time,
Stay crafty!
Lissa :)