SOUS DIE CUT CHALLENGE: A NEW YEAR

Hey peeps!! It's been too long since I've actually made a scrapbook page. I've almost forgotten how!!

This week's challenge with SOUS is to use a die cut with the theme "a new year".

This was a bit of a challenge for me as I don't really celebrate New Year's. I'm almost always asleep long before midnight.

That being said, I have been greatly inspired by all the layouts using die cut templates lately. I used this sketch for this layout and am very pleased with how this turned out. It's a great way to use scraps!

P.S. I'm in LOVE with Teresa Collins' "Tinsel & Company" patterned paper.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

A really rare photo of my husband and I. The photo was actually
taken several years ago, but *shrugs*.

"hello" is actually a STAMP. *gasp* *choke* (That one is for my sister!)

A little close up of the champagne glass and stars.

Supplies:
Paper:
--Teresa Collins' "Tinsel & Company"
--Stickers from same line
--Echo Park - Tis the Season (background)
--AC Christmas Red ("year")
--AC Christmas Gold (stars and liquid champagne)
Silhouette Online Store:
--Stars
--Champagne Glass
--New Year title
--Circle Template
Red and Gold sequins
"hello" stamp by Heidi Swapp
Ribbon on the glass

From Santa

 I have a confession to make . . . .

Making handmade gifts for family and friends brings me a lot of joy. I do get a rush of pride seeing their reactions to my creations. It is this "fuel" I use to keep going . . . to keep making things that are lovely and have meaning.

But I don't just make these ideas up in my head. There are many crafters out there that do . . . and I am in awe of their wonderful talent. So thank you to everyone who has ever inspired me. You don't know who you are but I am grateful anyway.

Thanks for stopping by today! Merry Christmas!

I am figuring out how to not overthink layering flower clusters. Just
gather what you want to use and start gluing. The key is to know what should be the
bottom layer and what should be the top layer.

This cute (and very easy) box is from SVGCuts.

I used Graphic 45's "12 days of Christmas" for the box. It just required
one sheet of paper!!

Supplies:

Paper:

--Graphic 45 "12 Days of Christmas" (box)

--Christmas red (roses)

--Christmas green (leaves)

SVGCuts file

Ribbon

Candy Cane embellishment

Flower punch (bottom layer)

Leaf punches

Tiny bells

My Craft Spot Tiny "Christmas" stamp

SOUS: DIE CUT CHALLENGE: ANYTHING CHRISTMAS

Welcome to this week's die cut challenge with Stuck on U Sketches!  This week's challenge is "Anything Christmas". *snort* Too easy!

I would like to share with you my latest home decor with you.

It is the 'JOY' file from Scrapping Bug Designs.

I found the perfect frame for it at Michael's and voila! It's really that simple.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Since this project is in a frame behind glass, I had to make sure
to keep the letters and mice "flat".

Orchestrating the string of lights was really the only challenge with this project.

Supplies:
Cardstock:
--Christmas Red
--Christmas Green
--Blue
--Lime Green
--AC Caramel (mice)
--Black
--White
--Pink (ears and noses)
--Yellow (star)
Embossing Dots and swirls
White Gel Pen
Frame

NOEL

I got away from making cards for a while, but now that it's the holiday season all those cute critters out there just need to be made!

The mouse and ornament are from Scrapping Bug Designs' "All Wrapped Up" file.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Paper:
--MME 6x6 Christmas Pad
--White card stock
--Black card stock
Green AC ribbon
Embossing folder (ornament)
Tiny bells
Liquid Pearls
Frosted Lace Stickles (dress)

Sugar Cookies

Hey there! Today I'm featuring another box card made with various items from Scrapping Bug Designs.

I really love cute faces and box cards. So I really have to dig into the creative side of my brain to meld the two together.

The design of the box card is SVGCuts. The layers and gingerbread man is all Scrapping Bug Designs. I featured another box card a couple weeks ago with a winter theme. Again, melding the two companies together to create what I wanted.

The flaps have a shiny "Merry Christmas" on them but my speedy photo taking doesn't really show that.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies:
Scrapping Bug Designs
Fancy Pants "Home for Christmas" paper
Glue
Tiny brads (cookie dough)
Small pearls (baking sheet)
Merry Christmas Embellishment from Hobby Lobby
"box card" from SVGCuts 

Merry Christmas with red roses

A lot of creative people I know can randomly make something just from the pretty thoughts in their heads.

Me . . . sometimes my most creative moments are when I'm commissioned for a project.

A recent patron asked for a Christmas card for a relative that will be doing a lot of international traveling. In general, that's what she wanted the theme of the card to be. Different, right?!

Hmm . . . . in my research to come up with something I went many different routes, including cute bears and large die cut pieces. That just wasn't working for me.

So I backtracked and asked myself, "Does it have to be Christmas themed paper or a bear?" 

Well, no it doesn't.

After that thought process I quickly became inspired by two different cards on my Pinterest board. It didn't take me too long to find the right paper either. I used Echo Park's Recollection with the postcard patterned paper = traveling theme!

I wanted flowers and went back and forth between deciding on a large red flower or black flower.

In the end, I chose to make small Christmas red roses!

I hope you are inspired! Thanks for stopping by today!

It's not very often that I use rhinestones. Love them!

Many layers to this bouquet. I really did have fun putting it together.

Supplies:
Paper:
--Echo Park Recollections
--Black Cardstock
--AC Christmas red (roses)
AC ribbon
Recollections Rhinestones
Leaf punch
Black Twine
Silver Christmas Ribbon (craft section at HL)
Vanilla Shimmer Spritz (on the roses)
My Craft Spot Tiny Stamps (Holiday theme)
Low Heat glue gun

BAKING WITH LOVE

Hello! Welcome back!

Today I would like to share with you something very special. My sister's Christmas gift this year. A couple years ago we decided to stop "swapping money" so to speak. We are now making something for each other every year.

My sister loves gingerbread men and loves baking. I was VERY HAPPY to make this for her. You are probably wondering why I'm posting this cause she'll probably see it right? Well, she has it already cause I wanted her to be able to display it all December.

The gingerbread men are from SCRAPPINGBUGDESIGNS. That svg site makes some really cute stuff.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

This is one of those scrapping frames that should be horizontal.
I just turned it sideways.

I tried to make each gingerbread man extra cute
with embellishments. Here we have button brads and a
bow twine for the little guy.

My sister is very proud of her lime green mixer. She probably
would have thumped me if I made this little guy's mixer a
different color.

I particularly love this one. Splashing around while holding a
candy cane reminds of little boys playing in the kitchen.

Supplies:
American Craft Peppermint Pack
Scrapping Bug Designs: Baking with Love file
Candy Cane Embellishment - Hobby Lobby
Twine
Tiny Bling
Sequins
Button Brads
Flag Punch
Scallop Metal Die: My Craft Spot.

SOUS DIE CUT CHALLENGE: INTO THE WOODS

Hello! Today is bittersweet for a lot of us on SOUS design team. Many ladies will be stepping down and pursuing other adventures.

For those of us who are choosing to continue on, we hope to continue inspiring you on your scrappy journey using die cuts.

I am also entering this in the Thanksgiving and Fall challenge at My Craft Spot.

Here is my project for today. We are to use a die cut that is related to the theme "Into the Woods". I admit I really did not go "all out" for this one but my husband really likes this box card. Sometimes simple is best.

Thank you for stopping by today!!

Supplies:
Bo Bunny: Serenade PP
American Craft Cardstock - various colors
Buttons and brads
Glue
Twine
My Craft Spot: Tiny Stamp

Snowball fight!

It's holiday card season! A time to really show off your creative skills!! 

I do love to make holiday cards. I recently discovered the joy of making box cards. However, I found that I needed to create my own version of a box card in order to achieve the look I wanted.

I love the cute bears and mice with Scrapping Bug Designs. So I scratched my head a little to come up with my own box card. More or less, this is my own design.

Thanks for stopping by today!

1. SVGCuts has made several box card files in the past few months. One of them being "Christmas Box Cards." I used the "plain display" box card found in the extras of the file. I used this one because it is wider than the traditional box cards out there.
2. Scrapping Bug Designs "Snowball Fight" with the bears of course!
3. I wanted the wider box card so I could build a realistic igloo. In the end, I just started layering and stacking with the idea that it was supposed to look 3-D.
4. I did cut out a snow pile for the front. Again, it was from "Snowball Fight". That seemed to work better than more rectangles right up front.
5. Don't forget your bear throwing a snowball!!
6. A few little embellishments to add pizazz and voila!

Supplies:
Paper:
--Winter leftovers from BoBunny
--Cocoa Brown card stock  from AC
--White card stock
--brads and chipboard embellishments
--Aqua Blue chalk ink on the white snow and igloo

BLESSING

Last year my family and I took a mini trip around Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee. We had our exchange student from Germany with us at that time. 

I generally scrap about a year "behind". Meaning, I'm working on last year's photos. Sometimes even before that. Anyway, it is very bittersweet to be scrapping photos that have Tobias (from Germany) in them. We still talk to him and make plans to see him again, but we don't get to see him everyday like we used to.   

I guess it's a little like sending your kid off to college, far far away.

This page came to life on its own. I did not follow a sketch, just started grabbing some favorite scraps of various BoBunny papers. I also just piled on "boy" embellishments from various companies. Not too shabby, huh?

Thanks for stopping by today!!

This photo was taken at Kentucky Dam Village located at
Land Between the Lakes. Yep, not in the picture as usual.

I love the Tim Holtz' chains. Perfect for older boy/men layouts.

Supplies:
Paper:
--BoBunny Weekend Market and Etc. Line
Tim Holtz' embellishments
Wooden Title from Michael's
Globe Brad
Paper Clip from my sister

A Perfect Autumn Day

Hello! Dropping by today with a layout. Didn't know I could still make these!!

Most of this layout is from Echo Park's Fall Reflection line. 

I really don't seem to be in a chatty mood today so I'll leave you to it. Hope the layout is inspirational.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Photos were taken at Huber's Farm during our annual pumpkin picking.
I told the boys that if they couldn't carry the pumpkin, then we would not be
buying it.

I love layering!!

Supplies:
Echo Park Fall Reflections
--Stickers and Patterned paper
Feathers
Brads
Cool embellishment my sister gave me
Wooden embellishments
--Michaels
--Creative Embellishments

SCRAPPING BUG DESIGNS

Today is my first official post as Scrapping Bug Design's newest team member. I'm excited to be a part of the team for the next few months!

Today I'm featuring this cute little mouse from the "Happy Fall" file. The treat box is from the Silhouette Store.

Have the sentiment and critter be anything you want and you have a cute treat box for any occasion. 

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies:
Scrapping Bug Designs file
EP Fall Reflections Paper and Sticker
Embellishment from Michael's
Button Brads
Ribbon
My Craft Spot tiny stamp

SOUS DIE CUT CHALLENGE: FALL COLORS

Hello and welcome to my blog today!

Today features a die cut challenge with Stuck on U Sketches. The theme is Fall Colors - make any die cut using Fall Colors. This one was TOO EASY!!

Recently I had a week off work and I made several 3-D home projects that are now proudly displayed on my fireplace mantle. This is one of them!!

I did go shopping at Hobby Lobby for "filler" items to put with the pumpkin and acorn die cuts. All together, I'm very pleased with how this turned out.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

The pumpkin is from SVGCuts 'Bedtime Stories'.

On my mantle this is more spread out. The hay bales are the
smallest size from Hobby Lobby. The basket is a die cut too from
SVGCuts "Caramel Apple Pie" file.

This acorn is from SVGCuts 'Acorn Autumn' file. It turned out
rather "large" but you can make it any size you want.

Supplies:
Paper:
--BoBunny: Weekend Market and Apple Cider lines
--AC Cardstock: Brown Sugar, Coffee, and Sand
Hobby Lobby:
--Feathers
--Ribbon and Twine
--Pumpkin and Gourd "decor" items
--Tiny pinecones and tiny pumpkins decor
--Wheat
--Smallest Hay bales
--Spanish Moss
Low Heat Glue Gun
SVGCuts Files:
--Acorn Autumn (acorn)
--Caramel Apple Pie (basket)
--Pumpkin (Bedtime Stories)

My Craft Spot: Guest Designer

Hello there!! I am very excited to be the guest designer today for My Craft Spot. I have two projects to share with you today. Both of them feature the ribbon banners: wavy label die. I also used the Fall banners stamp set for both of my projects as well.

Lately I have been hugely enjoying making box cards, especially from SVGCuts. They are fun, extra busy and easy to create just about any way you want. They also go well with quick sentiments.

Am I giving these away or selling . . . nope. They are actually part of my fall decor now!!

Thank you for stopping by today!

Supplies:
My Craft Spot:
Wavy Banners Metal Die
Fall Banners Sentiment Stamp
AC Cardstock:
--Vanilla
--Coffee
--Caramel
--Dusty Orange
--Green
--White
BoBunny - Leftovers from Market Street and Apple Cider Collections
Distress Stickles: Antique Bronze
Embossing Folder
Orange Gems

SOUS: DIE CUT CHALLENGE - TRICK OR TREAT

Happy Halloween Folks!!! 

Welcome to today's die cut challenge at SOUS - 'Trick or Treat'. Duh? Right?!!

Have I told you lately how much I love mice and bears? I especially love them at Scrapping Bug Designs. Nearly all of this cute Halloween home decor is made up of die cuts!!!

I really can't tell you how much I loved putting it together. I made the mice and the lone cat on different days but after that was done I worked on the whole project together in one morning. I chose Doodlebug Designs "Ghouls and Goodies" patterned paper because I felt like this needed to be bright and cheerful to go with the mice.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget to stop by SOUS and see what other fabulous projects our design team came up with for you today.

I purchased the frame from Hobby Lobby. It is originally set for a project to be
horizontal, but I cheated just a bit!

Although you can't see it, I did use Frosted Lace Stickles on the title.

I came up with names for my mice using a Thesaurus. In the case of 'Snatch',
I began my search with the word "picking". My son thought I should have
used real names, like his and Daddy's. He wanted to be the mouse
reading "a little something".

The bubbles in the cauldron are actually pearls!
I thought that was brilliant on my part.

Supplies:
Scrapping Bug Designs 'Witching Hour' file
PP: DoodleBug Designs "Ghouls and Goodies"
Stickers: same
Quickkutz label
Swirl and Stars Embossing folders
Brads, buttons, pearls and floss
Frosted Lace Stickles (title)
AC Cardstock - Smoke (mice)
AC Cardstock - Dark Gray (cat)
AC Cardstock - Black
Other various card stock colors for ears, purple stuff, etc etc.
White Gel Pen
White Chalk Pencil
Memory Makers Tiny Alpha - Black on White
Halloween Washi Tape (Michael's)
Low Heat Glue Gun (to glue title to wood)
Tiny Flag Punch
Other stuff I'm sure I forgot to mention

SPOOKY DRAGON

As I was going thru my albums to display Halloween scrapbook pages on my wall, I discovered that I had not made a page of my son in his dragon/dinosaur costume when he was three.

Well, I HAD to fix that! He was so adorable in that costume.

I followed this sketch from Pinterest.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Doodlebug Designs: Ghouls and Goodies
---Patterned Paper and Stickers
Bazzil Premium Cardstock - Purple BG
Brads
Dragon Die Cut - Kadoodle Bug Designs
Washi Tape
Black Cardstock
Paper Piercer
K&Company - Spooktacular Borders
Dymo Labeler

MAN IN THE MOON

I must admit, I needed a card quickly. Want another confession? This one was SO EASY to put together. We are talking minutes . . .!

This card is from the Haunted Forest collection at SVGCuts. Yep, he's one large die cut! Have you been sensing a theme here?

The original card comes with a flower to put on it, but the recipient for this card (my 8 year old) is against flowers at the moment. So I used punched clouds instead.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies:
October Afternoon: Witch Hazel Collection
SVGCuts - Haunted Forest Collection
Black Cardstock
Vanilla Cardstock
Cloud punch
Embossing folder
White Chalk Ink
Button
Brad from somewhere . . .
glue - you knew that right?

HALLOWEEN

Hello there!!

My sister is big on redoing old scrapbook pages. Me . . . not so much. However, I was never happy with the original page that I did YEARS ago of my then two-year old son in his lion costume.

I recently bought a horde of Halloween papers of different designers. The "Masquerade Party" pack by Teresa Collins is filled with wonderful stuff and I really wanted to use it for these particular photos. I'm sure I'll use these same patterned papers for some other fabulous project . . . soon.

Thanks for stopping by today. Come back soon!

The title and cobweb in the corner are both die cuts purchased from
the Silhouette store.

Supplies:
Teresa Collins' "Masquerade party"
--Patterned Papers, Stickers, brads and Chipboard
Black Cardstock
K&Company Spooktacular Borders
Title and Cobweb Die Cuts
--Silhouette Online Store
Pop Dots
ATG Glue Gun

SOUS DIE CUT CHALLENGE: ANYTHING AUTUMN

Welcome! Our last die cut challenge with Stuck on U Sketches really challenged us to think and get creative. This week we have something super easy for you!!

Challenge: Make a die cut that represents Autumn!

I had so much fun making the teapot and Poisonous Cauldron for my home that I just kept going with the 3-D projects!!!!

Without further ado, below is my project for this week's challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

The crate is PAPER!! It is from SVGCuts "Caramel Apple Pie" file.

I wanted my apples to be really simple to put together. I found these "treat boxes"
at the Silhouette Store and they were super easy to make.

Spanish Moss, plastic gourds, and pine cones are among the few
items I used to fill out the decor.

 Supplies:
Paper:
--BoBunny Apple Cider and Weekend Market Collection
--BoBunny Dots
--Coredinations
--AC cardstock - Sand
--other paper from scraps
SVGCuts:
--Caramel Apple Pie (crate and crate face)
Silhouette:
--Pumpkin/Apple Treat boxes
Hobby Lobby:
--Spanish Moss
-Wheat
--Tiny Pine cones and pumpkins
--Gourd decor
Brad, Raffia and Stickers
Low Heat Glue gun

POISONOUS CAULDRON

Hello!! I have been off work these past few days and have been super BUSY making lots of fun Halloween and Fall projects. I will be sharing all of them over the next few weeks.

First of all, I must give all the credit to Hilary Kanwischer. She was the guest designer for SVGCuts in September and this was her project. I will not be re-writing on how to make this as she does a terrific job on her post for SVGCuts titled Spooky Pumpkin Cauldron. Her pictures are much better than mine as well. I did use my own embellishments and patterned paper so it's not an exact replica.

Secondly, there is actually a flickering, battery-operated tea light inside the pumpkin's head. It doesn't really show up here but looks awesome in my dark living room.

Lastly, I was really surprised with how little patterned paper I needed for this project. Mostly, you will need several sheets of black card stock (about 4 to 5).

More details below!! I really can't begin to tell you how much I LOVE how this turned out.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!!

The whole project is sitting on a short, wide-based candle holder.

I used Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz on the flower. The feathers are
from the Halloween craft section in Hobby Lobby.

All the patterned paper is from October Afternoon's Witch Hazel Collection.

The fence and ghosts are die cuts as well.
Love how the ghost peeks out from behind the cauldron.

The filler is Spanish Moss. I love the creepy, bony hand reaching out of the cauldron!!

Supplies: (a LOT and I'm sure to forget something)
Low Heat Glue Gun
SVGCuts files:
--Toil and Trouble
--Party on Elm Street
--Haunted Forest
--Spooky Silhoettes
Paper:
--October Afternoon's Witch Hazel
--AC Black Cardstock
--AC White Cardstock
--Orange Cardstock
--Gold Vellum (inside of pumpkin's face)
Ribbon:
--Feathers
--Rick Rack
--Web design Ribbon
Small Bell
Button (on hat)
Spanish Moss
Short, Wide-Base Candle stand