Monday, June 30, 2014

The Best - My Mind's Eye

Here is another layout I created with the June Paper Camelia kit, isn't this stuff great!  
I just can't get enough of gold!


And my favorite detail


Here's a link to the Paper Camelia kits if you were interested.




Friday, June 27, 2014

Wednesday FUN - My Mind's Eye

I am joining in at the My Mind's Eye blog for the June sketch.  My June kit from Paper Camelia came the other day and I dove right in.  I couldn't resist with the beautiful colors and then I decided to try the MME sketch.  I stuck with the sketch as it was, but instead of triangles/banners under my pictures I decided to have a banner of confetti.


Here's a few close-ups of my layout (I really LOVE gold!)






Thursday, June 26, 2014

Week 42 & 43 - Crate Paper

I have a few Project Life spreads to share with you this week.  For this spread I wanted something shiny and feminine because my birthday was included during this span of time.  I hunted around for a few minutes until I found some of my Crate Paper stash and knew it was the perfect fit.  

It was actually even a better fit than I hoped, I was able to pull these pages together in less than 2 hours which is unheard of for me on my PL spreads!  Yea!

Week 42 - Crate Paper


and a close-up of my favorite piece


I cut the always word with my Cameo using the Chickaniddy paper from the Paper Camelia kit (that I am still working on, love it).

Week 43 - Crate Paper


Hubby and I (plus a few stragglers) took a ride to Disney World for my birthday, the lovely tag sums up the whole experience, even if we didn't get to stay overnight.

And since this was my birthday week, I wanted a lovely piece just because on this spread so here it is.



Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Week 40 & 41 - Bella Blvd

I was up on the Bella Blvd blog yesterday sharing my Project Life spread, Bella style.  

Because I choose to only do a page for each week I always look for an unifying element to tie my weeks together.  For Week 40 and 41 I chose to use color (green, black, yellow, red, blue) and the hand cut words from the Lucky Starz collection.

Here's a look at Week 40...

and some details...



and Week 41...

and some details...





Stop by and say HI if you get a chance!





Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Memories of Seashells - Simple Stories and Scrapbook & Cards Today

Remember this layout I showed you a few weeks ago?



If you notice I cut the center out of the stamp paper...  
I don't like to waste anything, so....

Here is the rest of the paper that I used to create this layout that is in the newest issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today!  You can download the whole magazine for free, here, and if you want you can sign up for a subscription because it is also printed in a REAL LIFE TOUCHABLE magazine!








Monday, June 23, 2014

Step-by-Step tutorial - Pebbles Birthday Wish

I was on the Pebbles blog a few weeks ago with this layout


I had a quite a few comments on this layout and so I decided to make another with a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a similar layout if you'd like.

Here is the new layout that I created


and here is how I created the layout

1.  This is how my layout started, the gold birthday seal fit perfectly in the center and I wanted our family picture to be the star of the page and the wallet size fit right into the top corner.  These were both adhered to the page using pop dots for dimension.


2.  My next step was to find pictures that fit in some of the spots - I then cut out the paper so that my pictures could show through from behind.  I used some mini wallets and wallets that needed cropping.


3.  I then added in some stickers and die-cut shapes that again fit into the spots - these were mostly adhered on the page instead of under.


4.  I added in his age and some candles to document the year in a fun way and to fill another "block" on the page.


5.  The colored thickers created with this collection work wonders on the black page!


6.  My page was finished but still lacking enough color so I cut strips of colored paper for the edges.


7.  I wanted to miter my sides for a more finished look.  I adhered all of my strips leaving the edges loose and then I cut the diagonals to give my corners.


and some finishing details



If you have any more questions, please let me know and I will be glad to answer them for you.



Friday, June 20, 2014

Silhouette cutting tips and tricks - Simple Stories

So this all began because I was given the chance to design with Kerri Bradford Studio designs through a team-up with Simple Stories.  I was thrilled and eagerly asked for my favorite cut files.  Now I have a BIG thing for words and that is why I bought my Cameo and even more than words, little words are my favorite.  So of course I had to try some of the lovely scripty words from KBS shop.  I put in a new blade, loaded up my paper, adjusted the settings hit cut and watched my beautiful words being torn to pieces!  YIKES!  So I slowed down the speed, adjusted my blade and cut again, nope still tearing.  So I contacted Kerri next to see if she could help me as this wasn't the first time my Cameo had me in tears.

Kerri gave me some great tips and directed me to this blog post that I tried immediately with great success!  So I tried again and while it was much better I still was having trouble.  So I went a reasearching and here is what I found...

Here is a post that worked wonders for me and my machine.
Problem: Paper cutting the design, but the corners of the design, where the blade turns, are “mucking up.”
Suggestion: slow down your speed, change your blade depth to cut a little lighter (if it’s on a 6 try a 4 or 5) Then make sure double cut is checked to ensure a complete cut through.
When your corners start messing up with the paper pushing up, that means that the blade is pushing too hard for the details in the design, it needs to have less pressure and cut those corners more slowly twice in order for it to go smoothly around the bends.”You can also cut your textured Card stock with the textured side down. 

If you are ready for a new solution to buying multiple Silhouette blades here's a great blog post about alternative blade choices.

Here is a great blog post about how to use/install these blades from above.

Did you know you can use your Cricut mats in your Cameo???  I sure didn't, but I had 2 brand new mats so I tried it out.  The Cameo starts cutting about 1/4 inches above the paper with the Cricut mat so other than accounting for that it works great!

So, I ordered this different blades and will let you know about my experience.  I am happy to report that using my AC cardstock (textured side up b/c I am too lazy to mirror everything), blade at 4, speed at 1, thickness at 10-15 I was able to cut all the beautiful words and NOTHING ripped!  Wow!

And since no blog post is complete without at least one layout, here is one of the layouts I shared yesterday on the Simple Stories blog and it has beautifully cut words that I didn't have to cry over, that makes me really happy!


You can see detail shots on the Simple Stories blog, I'd love for you to stop by if you have a chance!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Every Picture Tells a Story - Simple Stories and Kerri Bradford Studio

I am up on the Simple Stories blog today working with some great Kerri Bradford Studio cuts!

Here is another layout I completed using what was left of the cuts that I made


I kept this page simple as I wanted my pictures to tell the story as my title read.  I couldn't help myself and just had to cut out this banner on one of the Simple Story pages.  Everything was from the mini collection From Sea to Shining Sea.

Here are some close-ups of the details...

The title was a cut file from Kerri Bradford Studio, found here.  

Just a hint, make sure you cut out your words all at the same time and glue them down at the same time too.  I had closed my silhouette program due to some problems I was having and when I reopened I had no clue what size I originally cut my title out.  Once I had it sized correctly, I realized in horror I had already glued down my title without the red letters underneath.  That was NOT good!


My fussy cutting addiction.


Now for those of you that might be like me wondering how in the world do I get my machine to cut these so nicely... let me share some secrets that I found out.  Stop back by tomorrow where I will share all the different things I tried with my Cameo to FINALLY be able to make beautiful cuts without tearing everything.


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

You & Me - Simple Stories

And my last page that I created using the Story of Us from Simple Stories (included in the eBook).

14 years later
6 kids later
6 homes later
3 states later
TOTALLY STILL IN LOVE!


I love chevrons and couldn't resist adding them from another paper in the collection so that I could use the wood grain for our beachy anniversary picture.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Our Story - Simple Stories

Have you checked out the newest Simple Stories e-book yet?  Here is another layout I created using the Story of Us collection; this was my one traditional page.  

Someday, maybe, I might just scrap our wedding, lol!




My how the years have changed the both of us.  I wouldn't change anything, but wow!  See you tomorrow with how this collection works for our 14th anniversary :)





Friday, June 13, 2014

Happily Ever After - Simple Stories

Have you ever wondered what to do with those 6x12 pieces that Simple Stories makes?  I love to use them as a base to anchor my pictures.  I didn't have great pictures so I didn't want to enlarge them too much, but I love them just the same.  This design allowed me to use smaller pictures and lots of gorgeous embellishments to fill my page.


These pictures were taken by my sister 7 years ago; 7 years ago we still lived in PA and only had 3 kids then!  Wow, time sure has gone by with a ton of events.





Here is a link to the e-book where you can see all the inspiration for this great collection, wedding or non.  I will be back on Monday with another layout or two from this collection.  See you then!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

The Story of US - Simple Stories

It's finally time to share the projects I created with Simple Stories collection, The Story of Us!  

I didn't really have any wedding pictures (except the few I scanned) so I had to think out of the box for this collection.  But, then I saw the beautiful gold and I was hooked!  

Make sure you stop by the next few days and see everything I created, here's my first one...


The chalkboard paper and the large title on this page was the perfect backdrop for our family picture.  The quote is one that we have hanging above our bed and seemed quite appropriate for this page.




Here is the link to the Story of US e-book which is jammed packed with inspiration!  
I will see you tomorrow with another layout I created from this collection.