DIY chevrons

Here is a little something I made for Scrapbook Express newsletter few weeks ago.A little tutorial how to make your own chevrons that are so popular now.
Start with cutting the paper into squares using paper trimmer or square punch. Mine are 1"x1". Cut them diagonally into 2 triangles using paper trimmer or scissors.

Adhere the triangles to the background paper as shown in the picture. Continue with the same color or choose another one.

After I covered 6"x7" paper with chevrons I trimmed it to 4.5"x6.5", rounded the corners and used it as a background for my simple and happy card. The flower and the label are cut with the dies from the Lifestyle Crafts Wildflower gift set.

 Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), dies and diecut machine (Lifestyle Crafts), jewel (Jo-Ann), letter stickers (Authentique), corner punch (Fiskars)

Reminder: 2 more days to enter the C.H.A. challenge at Scrap It Girl. I already saw several great entries and would love to see more! 

Three cards and then some more

I always think about myself as a scrapbooker and an occasional card maker but lately I find myself doing more and more cards. I made this simple butterfly card using the sketch on Love My Tapes blog. To make the butterfly I adhered two rows of pink polka dot tape to a piece of white cardstock, overlapping just a bit and matching the design in the overlapped part. Than I punched out the butterflies, making sure the overlapping part is in the center.

Supplies: patterned paper (My Mind's Eye), tape (Love My Tapes), stamp (Teresa Collins), punch (Martha Stewart)

Here is another butterfly card. I made this one for an inspiration challenge at Scrapbook Express blog.

Supplies: patterned paper (Lifestyle Crafts), border punch (Fiskars), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), label dies (Lifestyle Crafts), stamp (Teresa Collins), button

The last one is actually a set. My MOMS club needed few thank-you cards for our event sponsors so I made those simple cards. One design, different papers from Colorbok paper pad.

Supplies: patterned paper (Colorbok), die (Lifestyle Crafts), corner punch (Fiskars), stamp (Fiskars), stickles (Ranger)

If they look familiar, that's because I scraplifted myself. I used the same design as I did few weeks ago making these cards. When I am looking for ideas I often go back to my older projects and look for inspiration there. Who said the inspiration should come from outside?

It turned out I wasn't the only one that liked my branch cards. Few days ago I spotted them on the Lifestyle crafts blog! That was a nice surprise :)

So what about you? Do you like making cards? Do you have several favorite designs that you repeat or do you start from scratch for each card?

Winter Twig

I have two winter layouts to share today. Both are made using Winter Twig from Little Yellow Bicycle. I really liked the original Twig and I love the winter collection.
The first layout us based on the Practical Scrappers sketch. I made it for the second round of the contest but didn't pass the first round :) 

Supplies: patterned paper, stickers, chipboard, journaling card (Little Yellow Bicycle), border punch (Fiskars), chalkboard mist (Tattered Angles), stickles (Ranger), lace

I stitched around the edges and also added two rows of fancy stitching along the punched borders.

I made the second layout for the Tuesday Trio sketch 102. The challenge for this sketch was "winter" so I thought the chipboard "Winter" title was very appropriate.

Supplies: patterned paper, chipboard, journaling card, stickers (Little Yellow Bicycle), letter stickers (Authentique), vintage button, twine

I punched a hole in the center of the chipboard snowflake and threaded the twine though this hole and through the vintage button from my flea market finds.

Both pictures are from January 2005, when the girls were still excited about the snow and we spent all our weekends outside, checking the winter festivals in the area.

Just beautiful me - practical scrappers contest

Last week I saw that Practical Scrappers have a layout contest. If you read my blog for a while you should already know that I am a big fan of scrapbooking challenges. You may not know that I LOVE scrapbooking contests. I only participated in few but I really enjoyed them. It is fun to discover a competitive side of me :)

To enter the contest I only had to send a favorite layout. And I did. My layout passed the initial round and was selected as one of the 70 to participate in the first round. Today is the day. If you like my layout and want me to move to the next round you can vote here. You can vote for as many layouts as you like. Only 25 from 70 will advance to the next round. Will I make it?? We will know on Saturday.

Few words about the layout. I actually made it few weeks ago for the challenge on Scrapbook Express blog. The challenge was to use song lyrics for the title. I asked Lila to help, she checked her ipod and came up with this - "I'm no beauty queen I'm just beautiful me" from "Who Says" by Selena Gomez. I though it is perfect and I liked that it came from her. That's how my big girl looked 10 years ago.

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), patterned paper, diecuts (My Mind's Eye), label stickers (My Mind's Eye), chipboard buttons (Jenni Bowlin), letter stickers (Basic Grey), heart punch (Fiskars), stencil (Crafter's Workshop), sparkle texture medium (Martha Stewart), twine, acrylic paint

I used different bits and pieces from My Mind's Eye papers. To add more dimension to the layout  mixed acrylic paint with Martha Stewart sparkle texture medium and used stencil to apply it to the background.  I finished the layout with Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons, some twine and small punched heart.

Take Twelve - January layout

It is done. One out of twelve. I spent probably 3 hours on this super simple layout. My excuse is that I was taking decisions not just for one layout but for all 12 layouts. Yes, I am matchy-matchy girl. Here is what I decided:
1. Format - double 12x12 layouts
2. Background - white American Crafts cardstock
3. Title - cut with Diesel alpabet from american Crafts colored cardstock
4. Journaling - list of 12 photographs typed with Traveling Typewriter font, matted on colored cardstock.
5. Pictures - for this layout I used pictures that are slightly smaller than 3.5"x3.5". I will continue to do the same for some of the layouts and maybe change a little for others. I envision having 2 larger photos and 10 smaller squares.

In the end I like how it turned out and I love the fact that I actually did it.

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), patterned paper (Little Yellow Bicycle), chipboard snowflakes (Little Yellow Bicycle), chipboard buttons (Jenni Bowlin), alphabet dies and diecut machine (Lifestyle Crafts), snowflake punch (Martha Stewart), stickles (Ranger), button, twine

More cards for the teachers

Two more card sets to share. Again, all paper and dies are from the Wildflower gift set and all stamps are Fiskars.

In this set I also used the pearl cardstock from American Crafts for the branch. It has a gentle embossing of small circles.

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), patterned paper and die (Lifestyle Crafts), corner punch (Fiskars), stamp (Fiskars)

I think the next set is my favorite. The cards are smaller than the previous sets. I used the label dies that came with the Wildflower gift set to cut the label for the sentiment and added tiny jewels from both sides of the sentiment.

Supplies: patterned paper and dies (Lifestyle Crafts), corner punch (Fiskars), stamp (Fiskars), jewels (Doodlebug)

Back to the layouts tomorrow! 

Cards for the teachers

The week before winter break I was busy making cards. I made about 30 cards for a friend that gave them as gifts to family and school teachers and after I was done with them I decided to make few card sets for Eli's teachers. Each set had 6 cards, 2 different colors but same design. All sets were made with the papers that came with the Wildflower gift set from Lifestyle Crafts. Here are the first two.

Supplies: patterned paper (Lifestyle Crafts, American Crafts, Martha Stewart), dies and diecut machine (Lifestyle Crafts), stamp (Fiskars), pearl (Kaiser Craft)

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), patterned paper (Lifestyle Crafts), die (Lifestyle Crafts)

Take Twelve - January

Here is my first batch of 12 photos for 2012.
I knew it will be a busy day but it turned out to be even more eventful than I thought.

I started my morning with Zumba lesson. I took a picture of bright orange pants of Zumba instructor (I did ask permission and explained why). Meanwhile it started snowing, the first snow of the season. I picked up Eli from school, we went home and looked how the snow is piling up outside. Ofir went outside to clean the driveway and Eli joined him. Just before dinner time I noticed that the basement floor was wet. It turned out one of the valves of the water boiler failed and Ofir went to Menards to buy the replacement. Meanwhile I picked up Lila from the musical rehearsal and we went to Homestead to our first highschool registration meeting. She received her first highschool course guide. We came back to find the fixed boiler (thanks goodness!) and the boys playing with their toys - Ofir playing Resistance3 on playstation and Eli playing apps on Motorolla Android that he calls "my phone". I put Eli to bed just in time to join the video chat with Stacy Julian. What a day!  

Scrap It Girl

Kimberly from Scrap It Girl asked me to join her Design Team. I didn't have to think twice because first of all I am honored that someone thinks my projects are worth sharing, secondly I love participating in the challenges and finally, Kimberly is from Wisconsin and I love love love connecting with local scrappers!

Today Kimberly posted her first challenge for 2012 - in honor of the coming CHA trade show she asks to create a project using items that start with "C", "H" and "A".
"A" was easy for me. Gorgeous Authentique papers were begging me to put them to good use. I  picked the Blissful collection with beautiful greys and yellows to match Lila's ice skating dress. This picture was taken at ISI Synchronized Championships in Chicago last April. For "H" I picked some Heidi Swapp Ir-ressit-ible chips and misted them with grape Clearsnap Smooch Spritz. That will be "C".

 
  Supplies: patterned paper (Authentique, Bo Bunny), tags (Authentique), ir-ressitable chips (Heidi Swapp for Tattered Angels), smooch spritz (Clearsnap), daisies (Martha Stewart), jewels (Michaels), jewel swirls (Recollections)

I rolled the edges of the paper and added embellishments that have connection to the dress and to the program music. Their music was a collection of bicycle songs including "Bicycle built for two" and Queen's "Bicycle race"  The swirls on the dress are not black but dark purple. I added few daisies to match the daisies on the dress and a small bicycle tag to remind Lila about the music.

I am going to frame it for Lila's room. Should I made more for each skating season?? Hmmm, maybe.

I also made a card with same supplies. It is based on the Authentique card sketch. I didn't add a sentiment to the card, I will stamp it inside when I will decided who is the recipient.

Supplies: patterned paper (Authentique), ir-resistable chips (Heidi Swapp for Tattered Angles), smooch spritz (Clearsnap), glimmer mist (Tattered Angles), corner border punch (Fiskars), ribbon

I hope you will check what other girls on the team made for this challenge and join us!

Tomorrow is January 12th! I plan to take 12 pictures for my Take Twelve project. I have very busy day so it will be interesting! Are you doing Take Twelve? My friend Aliza is giving away the Take Twelve Guided Inspiration Kit. Stop by her blog, say hi and enter to win the kit. You will love it!

Tuesday Trio and Twelve set-up

I am happy to share my layout for Tuesday Trio challenge on Tuesday and not 2 weeks later as usual. The challenge for sketch 101 is to create a project based on the sketch without using any punches or diecut machines. For me it means only one thing - fussy cutting. I used paper from G.C.D. Studio baby paper pack and added some MME and Jenni Bowlin in the mix.  I finished with a vintage button - my flea market find.

Supplies: patterned paper (G.C.D. Studio, My Mind's Eye), bingo card (Jenni Bowlin),  tags (G.C.D. Studios), twine (The Twinery), vintage button

After I took the picture of the layout I added the date to right of the elephant.

I am trying my best to keep up with Twelve. I decided to change the colors that Stacy picked and spent hours choosing the names of the colors, the RGB values and than making the topic lists with new colors. It took forever. I am not sure it was the best way to spend my time but I love how it turned our. My 12 colors are yellow, orange, red, rose, magenta, purple, blue, cobalt, sky blue, turquoise, green, lawn green.

My inspiration file sits in a shopping basket that I was given at CHA years ago. It is not the most beautiful container my it will work. I made the dividers from the plastic Cropper Hopper dividers that I don't use and Colorbook paper pad.

The basket has enough room to hold the clipboard, the journal and the square punch.

Each topic has a matching envelope to hold the pictures and the small pieces that I will collect during the process.

I knew from the beginning that muffin tin will not work for me. I don't have enough space to store it and I wanted something that I can close. After checking my local Michael's I found those cute round boxes for 99 cents each. I plan to attach a magnet to the bottom and attach them to the magnetic board, but for now I found them room in my paint drawer.

I was not the only one enjoying the bright colors. Eli carefully opened each one of the jars, checked what is there and closed them. Hmmm,  feel a layout coming ....

A card, a layout and more plans for 2012

I had a productive weekebd in terms of scrapbooking. I finshed the new layout for Tuesday Trio that will be posted on Tuesday, another layout that I want to frame for Lila's room and a card. I need to add few last touches to the layout so I can't share it yet. Instead I am going to share my last 2 projects for Tuesday Trio. 

The first is a card based on sketch 99. I used a digital stamp from Crafty Sentiments Designs, some paper scraps from other projects and twine.

 Supplies: patterned paper(Cosmo Cricket), stickers (Crate Paper), digital stamp (Crafty Sentiments Designs), sentiment stamp (My Favorite Things), corner punch (Fiskars), pencils, twine, button

The next layout is based on sketch 100. More paper scraps and leftovers from other projects. Not my typical layout, not sure if I love it but it is a decent addition to Lila's album.

Supplies: patterned paper (Sassafras Lass, My Mind's Eye), stickers (My Mind's Eye), letter stickers (Authentique), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), circle and scallop punches (Fiskars), button, ribbon

I do like the look of punched circles and twisted ribbon

I spent a lot of time this weekend catching on my blogger reader, thinking about 2012 and things I want to do. I don't have a clear picture yet, hopefully I can figure it out before January is over.
Meanwhile I added few projects to my "things I want to do" list:
1. Creative Jump Start Summit 2012. It looks awesome, it is free, of course I signed up. I know I don't have time in January to follow but I am hoping I can save the information and watch it later. I still didn't have time to check it out.
2. Photoshop Skinny-Mini eCourse by Kim Klassen. It starts tomorrow. This is something I really want to follow. I have a little project I would love to do in Photoshop so the timing is perfect.
3. 52 Walks Challenge at Scrapbook Challenges.Each week you take a walk and look for something associated with the prompt for this week. You come home and create a layout. Exercise + photography + scrapbooking. Love it! I plan to take my first walk tomorrow. I am really excited about this project!

That will be all for now. Happy Monday!