April, 2021 MIR Layout

I'm sure like me, all of you have a board (or two) in Pinterest with layout sketches and ideas. I pulled this sketch HERE because it seemed pretty simple and allowed for four photos. I love multi-photo layouts especially when scrapbooking an event.

I've been doing Month In Review layouts for some time now and I just love the idea. There are so many times during a month that may require a photo or two but not necessarily an entire layout (I'm not much of a one photo per layout person).

This layout is just that...things that took place in April, 2021.

I pulled out this paper pad from We Are Memory Keepers because I loved the colors and patterns. I used three pieces of patterned paper and was so determined to use that 'April' calendar card (check out the video) but it just didn't make the final cut.

Watch the process video as I go from one idea to another. The final layout is definitely inspired by the sketch, but of course I made it my own.

I ended up getting SEVEN photos on this layout! I also pulled out my "Sticker Book" and used so many wayward stickers to make the embellishment clusters. 

My advice for putting together clusters...make sure some part of each piece touches or are close enough to look like it belongs there - try to cluster in odd numbers and add a variety of shapes/types to create interest. There should always be a variety of "weight" between the clusters. One main (heavy), one a little lighter and then of course the lightest. This also adds visual interest. 

Of course there are no RULES in scrapbooking so do what makes you happy and what looks good to you!

Close ups of the three clusters:

I post at least two YouTube videos a week. One will always be scrapbooking and the other will be whatever I'm creating in the Command Center. I hope you decide to hit the subscribe button!

Love To Craft Challenge Blog; June

As always, the challenge theme at the Love To Craft Challenge Blog is anything goes. This month I recycled an 8x8 canvas.  Of course I forgot to take a photo of the original canvas but it was a couple of flowers which I didn’t hate, but I wasn’t completely happy with it.

So...I covered it with two coats of white gesso.

You can slightly see the flowers still but that’s ok. It just adds interest to the final piece. I saw a step by step tutorial on how to draw a pig on Pinterest from the www.fromthepond.com site. It’s actually for school children, but I thought it was super cute!

I drew an image in pencil and then used white, lt pink and a darker pink to mix & blend to paint the details.

I used gelatos in two different teals and dark blue to add color around the painted pig.

I also used my favorite script stamp & black ink here - there and everywhere. I added some white circles on his head to prepare for some flowers.

I added some yellow splashes, white & black dots as well as some green ones around the leaves. Before I was done, I stamped “oink” in a couple of areas and the side of the canvas.

How cute is this piggy? I love the way it turned out!

Now it’s your turn. Create something...anything...and link it to the LTCCB before the end of the month.

Junk Journal Spread

Do you have favorite YouTubers that you watch? I have quite a few, but one of my favs is Inkie Quill. She has two channels, one called Inky Quill and the other Let's Get Inky. I don't know which one I like more.

She did a junk journal spread on Let's Get Inky and I drew inspiration from it. What really caught my eye, was the heart shaped page - well let's say, half a heart shaped page.

I cut out the shape on the right side and then flipped it to the left and drew the same shape. Next, I applied black acrylic paint to mask out the other half of the heart.

Both pages already had some random paint, marks, etc. The page on the left is actually a gel plate piece.

I added black acrylic paint around the cut heart border and back sheet as well.

Between the two heart halves, is a small envelope which I embellished with the left over piece from the cut out shape.

Now to find a stencil to decorate the heart. I went through my stash and found this:

Which was a throwaway piece I rescued from a friend who was going to toss it. It’s made of cardstock and worked perfectly to decorate the heart. I used red acrylic paint and a cosmetic sponge.

And the tuck in tag for the pocket between them, I used black paint.

I used a circle stencil for the left side black area & white paint

A cute quote I collect on Pinterest, some hearts & random scrap pieces and I’m done:

Close Ups of the pocket and tag:

Click on the Junk Journal label to the right for more inspiration.

LTCCB #40 Memory Bear

It's November 1st and time for another challenge at the Love To Craft Challenge Blog! As always, the theme is Anything Goes. We encourage you to create!

This month I made a memory bear for my son and DIL or should I say, my granddaughter. She's due any time and I knew I needed to make this for her. My dad passed away in 2013 and will never meet his first great granddaughter.

I'll be honest, it was tough. It took close to two months to convince myself to cut into his pajamas. But then I just took a deep breath and cut. I did a search in Pinterest that led me to PA Country Crafts.  This is a pretty basic sewing project and includes a pattern. The overall size is approximately 8" tall. Of course if you want to make it bigger, you can enlarge the pattern.

My mom will cringe when she sees the hack job I did with my hand sewing, but it's in the back so it'll be ok, right?

Here's a photo of the bear with the tag I placed on it for the gift. My parents are deaf and that's why I put the ASL I Love You sign on it.

Now it's your turn. Make a project - any project - and link it to the LTCCB before the end of the month. Have fun!

Anything But A Card; BBTB2 Challenge

The current challenge at the Bitten By The Bug (BBTB2) blog is ANYTHING BUT A CARD.

My mind started spinning with possibilities and as good luck has it, we are having a Diaper Shower for one of my coworkers later this month.  Since baby gifts are my favorite to make and give, I knew I was going to create something wonderful for them.

Diaper Showers are exactly what they sound like...we shower the new parents with diapers. Well, you know I couldn't just bring a plain ol' pack of diapers! Heavens NO!

I used my Cricut and the New Arrival cartridge to create the stork & tag. I can't take credit for the diaper bundle idea...I saw something similar on Pinterest and loved it - so much easier to make than a diaper cake.

To make the diaper bundle, you need a total of 15 rolled diapers for this project; 4 on the bottom layer, then 3, 2, 1 to build a pyramid. The pack I purchased has 30 diapers so I double rolled them. It takes 20 diapers for this bundle. I purchased some receiving blankets to wrap around the diaper pyramid and then tied it off with a ribbon.

I added additional receiving blankets to the bottom before wrapping it all up with a clear heat wrap bag from the Dollar Tree. I also bought that wonderful pink burlap ribbon from the Dollar Tree.

The stork was cut at 7 1/2" and the "it's a girl" tag at 2.5". I used a glitter pen to add some sparkle to the stork's wings and hatband. I also added an outlet to the hat so I could tie it onto the bundle without tearing it.

Now it's your turn...show us your project as long as it's not a card and link it to the BBTB2 challenge site. Be sure to let us know how you used your Cricut.

Summer Fun; BBTB2 Challenge

The current challenge at the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) challenge site is...Summer Fun! The possibilities are endless with this challenge theme. In fact, I have many summer projects on the horizon using my Cricut but I decided to chose this one since I just completed it over the weekend.

Hubby and I decided to make a directional sign for our backyard. We had a couple examples pinned on Pinterest since we both liked the idea. If you follow my blog, you know we're big sports fans so we wanted to use the team "fields" to highlight and the other four locations are special to us for various reasons; UC Santa Cruz is where one son is attending college, my mom and sister live in Tucson (and soon our favorite uncle), daughter & I love to shop at Joann Fabrics (I mean who doesn't?) and lastly hubby's favorite vacation spot...Las Vegas (also where another son got married).

I made stencils using my Cricut & vinyl scraps. I created SVG files for some of the logos but most were created using my Cricut and system fonts. Originally I was just going to hand paint the lettering, but I'm so glad I decided to make stencils instead....I mean, isn't that why I have the Cricut? To use it as much as possible?

Here are the completed slats:

And another side of the completed project:

Some process photos:

Isn't this so much fun! I love how we used different colors for each of the slats and they are so bright against the black base. 

One thing to note: my hubby is not crafty...lol...he's been working on our backyard and this definitely personalizes it. He was the one to tap my shoulder and say..."let's do this!" so how could I say no.

Fonts Used:
Shark Tank - Show Card Goth
Stadium - Bernard MT Condensed
Tucson - Jokerman
Home of the Giants - Stencil

Super Mario Kart Birthday

I made the cutest treat bags for my nephew's 6th birthday next week. He's having a Super Mario party and believe it or not, my sister actually gave me a week's notice!

Here are the treat bags:

I bought these white "lunch" bags at Hobby Lobby. They were 50% off so it was perfect. The bags are 4.5 x 9". I added the first layer of red/green and then the blue cardstock on the bottom half. The overall straps were cut at .75 x 4" and the buttons were a 3/4" circle. I only covered the front of these bags. The letters were cut with my Cricut using the Mickey Mouse Font cartridge.

I also cut some mustaches and full faces of Mario and Luigi all per my sister's request.

Happy Birthday Joey!

12 Days of Christmas Tags 2017 Day Ten & WOYWW #444

Happy, happy WOYWW! Can you believe we only have two more WOYWW until Christmas? I love peeking into craft rooms and work desk from all over. If you want to learn more about WOYWW, click on over to the Stamping Ground and visit Julia.

I'm cranking out Christmas tags for my 12 Days of Christmas Tags series. These might be my favorite tags so far! I saw these on Pinterest and since I have tons of these coffee sleeves & love upcycling things, I had to make them. They are amazing in person and are so quick & easy to make.

Wouldn't these be great for a coffee loving friend?

To make these, open up the coffee sleeve and remove the "ends" at the perforation. Cut off the "STARBUCKS" name and cut slits through the mermaid according to the photo. I inked up the edges in green ink before adhering them to a painted cardboard trunk. The trunk was cut from a heavier scrap of cardboard. I cut the stars with leftover pieces of the coffee sleeves and then glued glitter all over them. I punched a hole & attached the baker's twine before gluing the strips to the trunk. I added a little Sparkle Silk all over for additional shine (glitter mist or glitter will give you the same effect).

GIVEAWAY become a follower of my blog and leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. At the end of the 12 days, I will draw a random winner. Winner will receive one set of all twelve gift tags. Comment each day to increase your chances. Each comment gets one entry.  Good luck!

And don't forget to click on over to the Stamping Ground blog for more WOYWW fun.