It's the Small Things

Valentine's For Mommy

A few years ago, my kiddos made me these Valentine's. They used my scrapbook stash to do it and I was really touched.

I used the new Crate Paper Neighborhood and Toy Box collections on this layout. If you visit the link I share how I made the hearts.

Crate has a sketch challenge up, right now. If you love sketches, I highly recommend playing along. The rules are very flexible in that you can do anything you want with the sketch (it doesn't have to be a layout) and you only need to use 50% Crate Paper products on your project. Pretty cool, huh?

I have been watching friends on facebook go crazy posting "pins" to pinterest. I really didn't want to be sucked into yet another site, but I broke down and opened an account. If you love seeing collages of photos on other's blogs, then this site is for you. It's nothing but photo eye-candy. I am going to have to work hard to not spend all my free time there.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lori

New Crate Paper Toy Box

It's nearly show time. This weekend is the big show in Los Angeles, CA for crafters. Most of the manufacturers have shown their new collections for the Spring/Summer seasons. Crate Paper has knocked it out with FOUR stunning collections. Each one is unique, vintage, yet modern and oh so irresitible.

Crate Paper is generously giving you a chance to win a collection of your choice by leaving a comment on this post. You have until the end of the weekend to leave your comment and a winner will be chosen at random.

I created this layout using Crate Paper's new Toy Box collection. I adore every bit and piece and was especially pleased to see brand new buttons, trims and alphabets from Crate. It was pretty cool to open up my box and see the new product. My layout is about my son not being a rough and tough kid. He's much more into music, making movies, building with legos, than he is into trains, cars, trucks, etc. This collection works perfectly for him. I did a page previously with this pictures taken by my friend, Michelle Riddle, and that page goes in his school album. This one is going in our family book. I may even make a page next to it that will include mostly journaling about his "boy" personality. I think it's important to remember it. I, also, plan to nurture it. He told me he intends to direct Star Wars 7 and why on earth would I stop him from trying to do that?!

  

I used the new ribbon as the background for my photos. I love the layered look and it's a new thing I've been doing a lot of lately. As a quick tip, in order to adhere trims this way, you want to use a really excellent glue. One that dries clear and does not show through the ribbon. Nothing looks worse than seeing a big wet mark under some ribbon if that's not the look you are going for. I use Helmar's Quick Dry 450. It dries super fast and perfectly clear. I never worry about using this glue with ribbon.

I've been having a good week. I finished all of my show work on Sunday, after nearly two weeks of nonstop crafting, and have been doing NOTHING this week just to enjoy some free time for myself.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lori

Signs of Spring

It's nearly summer and I find myself looking forward to my son being out of school. We have a very mellow summer planned and that is just want we need this year. When the signs of Spring started cropping up everywhere, I started to get that giddy feeling. I love how fresh things feel when Spring comes around. I've decided to make a layout for each season documenting my favorite signs both nature and family tradition. I think it will be a great thing to look back upon.

 

I used the Lovely Collection from Lily Bee Design for this page, along with some Webster's Pages bloomers, trim and sparklers. I used Helmar ZapDots to pop up my photos and give them some dimension and I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry for the bloomers and lace trim. It dries clear, so you cannot see it through the delicate ribbon.

If you care to answer a question, I'd love to hear what you like to see on crafty blogs. What types of posts draw you back to a blog time and time again?

My Next Class

I have been wanting to make myself a card planner for a very long time. I am always scrambling last minute to get cards in the mail, so I wanted to organize the process and make it simple. I created a fun card planner that has tons of my favorite photos. It's for me, so I have filled it with all of my favorite photos of our family. 

It is a mini book that is broken into months and includes addresses and lists. It, also, has two pockets for cards and stamps. I love my little book! I think it would make a great gift idea, as well. Below are just a few images. The inside pages are filled with photos and lots of fun details. 

 

We will be working with canvas, luminarte, gel bead medium, gesso, micro beads and more. I went technique heavy this time around. The book features the brand new Creative Imaginations IOD Loolah collection, shipping to stores soon, Christine Adolph Chipboard and Creative Cafe! We will, also, get to play with some of the gorgeous new bloomers ribbon from Webster's Pages. 

Here are the class details:

Memories Live On
Saturday, June 5
10 a.m - 1 p.m.
$45

• Supplies needed:
• Fabric Glue – Helmar 450 Quick Dry
• Personal Trimmer
• Tape runner
• Foam dots or squares
• Scissors
• Favorite Border Punch – I used Martha Stewart “Double Scallop”
• Red ink – Colorbox fluid chalk ink catseye “warm red”
• 2 Foam brushes
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• Skinny paintbrush (about ¼ inch)
• Black Sharpie extra/ultra fine pen
• White paint
• Sand paper or nail file
• Photos - twelve 4"x6" horizontal and nine 3"x5" horizontal or vertical. 

Have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! 

Playing with Crate and Petaloo

I've been having fun creating some projects using Crate Paper and Petaloo. I'm highly obsessed with pink, orange and teal at the moment. I think these three colors together are smashing. I like that I'm not afraid to use pink and flowers with my boys. 

I love this quote by Alexander Smith; "Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition". When I saw the Crate Paper "delight" chipboard word, I was excited to be able to finally have a fun way to use that quote. 

I wanted to play with circles. I get in the rut of thinking background with strips or rectangles of paper and wanted to create a different type of background with circles to add a bit more interest. I love the teal and didn't want it to get lost behind a lot of other papers, either. 

I outlined my photograph using an extra fine point sharpie. Since, there is a lot happening on this layout, I didn't want the photograph to be lost. I wanted it to stand out and be supported by the quote. The outline really helps draw attention to the photograph. I outline everything usually, except for photographs, but it needed it in this case. I love this series of photos of my son. Our photographer, Pascale Wowak had this little teal chair and she took the most amazing shots of Brody on it. I still need to scrapbook the others, but I love this one because it's his regular expression. He's a thoughtful little dude with a big sense of humor. 

 

I used Crate Paper's Paper Doll and Pink Plum collections. I accented it with Petaloo's Tiffany's Treasures Jewel Centers and Dazzlers Sequins. I heart the little sequins running up the diagonal and on the bigger butterfly. I used Helmar's 450 Quick Dry adhesive to adhere the sequins. It sets quickly and it's clear, so it was a great choice. I used the Helmar tiny square ZapDots on the layered butterflies and on the orange die cut to give them some lift. 

I'm working on a mini book. It's a huge, emotional project for me. It's something I've been meaning to do for years, but for some reason couldn't muster up the courage to do it. I'm excited to share it when I'm done in the next few weeks. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 

Lori