C.R.A.F.T. Challenge--Fantasy

Happy Thursday and welcome to another week of C.R.A.F.T. Challenges. This week, our topic is Fantasy! As always, I wanted to create a card that was quick, easy, and made a statement.

I had the perfect sticker sheet for the topic from Graphic 45 called the Enchanted Forest Collection Cardstock Stickers. I added some gold thread behind my image and then used dimensional adhesive squares to elevate the center panel image of the fairy. I added a border sticker and a phrase from my favorite Tim Holtz phrase sticker book and the card was complete. Quick...easy...unique...done! I hope that you will join us over on the C.R.A.F.T. blog as the rest of the design team shares their Fantasy themed cards. Make sure to show us your work as well to be entered to win a fun prize! Happy Crafting!!

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge--Autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving

Happy Thursday! It's time for another week of C.R.A.F.T. Challenges and this week the theme is Autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving...basically, all things Fall! As is my customary style, I like my card creations to be quick, easy, and cute. This week, I grabbed the paper pads from the Dollar Spot at Target and combined them with a few older puffy stickers and a beautiful Thickers alphabet (both cheap from Tuesday Morning) to create this fun look that is so simple to create. I cut 1 1/4 each squares from several different sheets of the 6x6 paper pads and then added black pen lining around the edges. The center of each box got a letter in my title to spell out "Give Thanks." I added a few puffy stickers and that was it!

Cute...easy....quick....just the way I like my card creations to be! I can't wait to see what amazing project you share for the challenge this week. Make sure to link it up over on the C.R.A.F.T. blog so that we can check it out! Happy Crafting!!

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge--Christmas

Happy Thursday!! Welcome back for another week of C.R.A.F.T. challenges. This week, we have been challenged to create a Christmas project. The new winter product lines are just being released and for many December Daily plans are underway so this is great timing to start thinking winter and Christmas. As is my typical style, I like to create simple cards that have an impact but don't take a lot of time or supplies. Here is my card design for this week....

This was a super quick and easy look to create using only scraps. I used a hexagon punch to create three ornaments and inked the edges with black ink. I then stuck them to my card using dimensional adhesive. I added some forest green hand-stitching for the strings as well as three adorable Maggie Holmes ribbon bows that I picked up super cheap at Tuesday Morning. Last step...add a phrase with glitter foam Thickers and some inking around the edges. Quick, easy, and adorable...my favorite type of card!

I hope that you feel inspired to create a Christmas project this week! Whether you choose to create something quick and easy or something detailed and complex, I hope that you will share your creations with us over on the C.R.A.F.T. blog! Make sure to check out what the rest of the amazing design team has created while you are there! Happy Crafting!!!

Use Your Stuff Challenge--Mood Board

Happy Monday! The Use Your Stuff Challenge Board is back from summer vacation and in full swing with new challenges. This week, we are being challenged to create with the mood board pictured below.

At first, this color combination gave me a little of a struggle but once I got in the groove, it came together pretty easily and ended up being a fun layout. I have created a process video to go with it to show you just how easy it is to create a unique and fun look with a cut file, some texture paste, and some pretty patterned papers! Please make sure to check out my process video over on my You Tube channel....

I hope that you enjoyed this layout and that you will play along with this week's mood board challenge. Don't forget to click over to You Tube to watch the process video that goes along with this layout! Also, make sure to visit the UYS blog to check out the amazing creations from the rest of the design team ladies and to show us your product using this mood board. Happy Crafting!!

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge--Easel Card

Happy Thursday!!  Today it is time for another C.R.A.F.T. Challenge and this week we were challenged to create an easel card. Now, being primarily a scrapbooker, I had never created an easel card before so I even had to google the directions on how to cut and fold the paper correctly to make it work! Sad but true...

I had recently picked up an adorable new pack of die cut ephemera pieces from my local scrapbook store called Odds and Ends: Flea Market that was created by Doodlebug Designs. Let me just say, it is beyond adorable! The colors are perfect for fall and the aqua is just the most perfect shade. It even came with 78 pieces so I have plenty more to create with....so cute!

Here is the card that I came up with this week. I used foam adhesive squares to pop up several elements including the word "Fall" which holds the card open. I even got to throw one of my favorite felties from the SpiegelMom Scraps store in the cloud at the top...you definitely wanna check out some of those! Make sure to use the code Khristina15 to get a discount on your order if you need some sequin mixes, cork shapes, or felt shapes too!

I really hope that you enjoyed seeing my very first easel card! It was a lot easier to create than I thought and I think it is just adorable. I can't wait to send it off to a good friend. I really hope that you feel inspired to create this week and I challenge you to try something new that you have never created before--maybe even an easel card for this challenge! Make sure to head over to the C.R.A.F.T. blog to see what the rest of the design team has created and to link us up to your project so that we can show you some love and support too. Happy Crafting!!!

SpiegelMom Scraps Wacky Wednesday Process Video: One Wild Ride

Welcome back to another Wacky Wednesday with SpiegelMom Scraps! This week, I am taking on Felicia's September challenge over on our 15 Minutes to Scrap with SpiegelMom Scraps Facebook Group. Her challenge for the month is to create a layout that (1) uses a combination of new and old products and (2) uses one new photo and one old photo. This was a really fun challenge and gave me a chance to play with some of my brand new Dear Lizzy Saturday collection. I have a process video that coordinates with this layout and you can find that by clicking here. My channel is really growing and there are lots of new and exciting things coming later this month so make sure to subscribe while you are over there so that you don't miss a thing! 

 

I loved being able to incorporate the acrylic "Wild" piece from one of my Ali Edwards Story Kits as well as several elements from the new Dear Lizzy Saturday collection. I added just a few sequins from the SpiegelMom Scraps store in place of enamel dots in my embellishment clusters. That is one of my favorite uses for sequins because it is subtle but adds a little extra pop! This set is the "A Mermaid's Tale" mix and can be found in the SpiegelMom Scraps online store. If you need some new fun embellishments and mixed media supplies, make sure to use the code Khristina15 to get a discount on your purchase. 

I hope that you enjoyed this layout and I can't wait to see what you create for Felicia's September Challenge. Make sure to link us to your project over in the Facebook group in order to be entered to win a fun prize this month! As always, Happy Crafting!! 

Stick It Down--September Sketch Challenge

Welcome back to another month of sketch challenges over at Stick It Down. This month, the single page design team is working with the sketch below. I really enjoyed working with this one and I know that you will too!

This sketch was a lot of fun and let me incorporate a lot of different elements including a cut file, modeling paste, mists, and several different layers of patterned paper and embellishments. You can see the project that I created below as well as a few close-up images as well.

I hope that you enjoyed this project and are inspired to create a project of your own based upon this month's Stick It Down sketch. Please make sure to head on over to the Stick It Down blog to check out what the other design team members created this month and to link us up to a project that you create with this sketch! Happy Crafting!!

For the Love of Homemade Kits: September Kit Reveal

Happy Sunday! I am so excited to be participating again this month in the For the Love of Homemade Kits Series with Hannah Lemieux, Megan Paulos Blethen, and Felicia Young over on You Tube for another round of creating. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, this series uses a recipe of items to create a kit from our stash that is based around an inspiration piece. Then, each of us spends four weeks creating layouts and process videos from the ingredients in our kits. The idea is to start digging in our stash and use a combination of both new and old products to create some amazing layouts. Each week, you will be able to see a process video and layout from each of us on our You Tube channels using our individual kits. YAY! Click here to check out my kit share for week one of the For the Love of Homemade Kits Series: September.  The first process video will be posted on Tuesday, September 6th so you don't even have to wait a whole week this time! 

For this round, we decided to include quite a few different things and even decided to start in a different place with our inspiration piece. Rather than choosing a patterned paper as our inspiration piece, we decided to start with an ephemera pack and build our kits from there. We chose to work with Amy Tangerine's Finders Keepers ephemera pack and created a recipe this month that is very much Amy Tangerine style. 

The paper portion of this recipe includes:
1. a geometric
2. a texture
3. a stripe
4. a bold Amy Tan style print
5. a freebie pattern
6. two 6x6 pieces of patterned paper

Now, for my choices....

1. Geometric: Pink Fresh Studio Happy Things: Ombre' Mosaic
2. Texture:  Dear Lizzy Documentary: Wonder

3. Stripe: Pink Fresh Studio Happy Things: Doodle Borders/Bowties
4. Bold: Amy Tan Finders Keepers: Quest
5. Freebie: Fancy Pants Millie & June: So Pretty 

6. I chose to include the Better Together 6x6 paper pad (partially used)  

The embellishment portion of this recipe includes:
1. Hand-lettering/Brush Script
2. watercolors
3. stamps
4. embroidery thread or baker's twine
5. wood veneer
6. Puffy stickers
7. Embellishment/Ephemera pack (Inspiration Piece)
8. One freebie
9. 3x4 cards 

10. Enamel Dots
11. 2 alphabets


Here are my choices....


   

1. Hand-lettering/Brush Script: various pens and markers
2. Watercolors: I have a cheap set from Michael's and the Tim Holtz watercolor crayons
3. Stamps: Studio Calico--Adventure
                   Ali Edwards--Wild Story Stamp Set  

4. Embroidery thread or baker's twine:
5. Wood Veneer: Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Shine wood veneer package
6. Puffy Stickers:  Dear Lizzy Saturday mini puffy stickers
7. Ephemera Pack (Inspiration Piece): Amy Tangerine Kinders Keepers ephemera pack
8. Freebie: Amy Tan Finders Keepers Washi Book
9. 3x4 cards: Dear Lizzy Fine and Dandy Project Life Kit 

10.Enamel Dots: Echo Park Summer Party
                            My Mind's Eye: Hooray!
11.Alphabets: Amy Tan Kal Barteski--Black Foam Thickers
                       Amy Tan Thick and Thin Foam Thickers--White 

12. Embroidery thread or baker's twine: white embroidery thread 

Here is my complete kit....

        

As you can see, I followed the recipe pretty closely this month but I included a bit more paper as it seems I need a little more selection as I include so much layering in my layouts. I am also giving myself the freedom and permission to add some mixed media elements like mists and texture paste if needed in order to complete the looks or use the elements that I chose. I hope that you will use this recipe to put together your own kit and I would love to see what you create if you are playing along with us. Make sure to stop by and check out my You Tube video showing my kit and then head on over to see the kits that Hannah, Felicia, and Megan put together as well. It is going to be a very fun month! Happy Crafting!!

SpiegelMom Scraps: Special Edition Blog Hop: Sequins

Happy Saturday! Welcome to Day Two of the SpiegelMom Scraps Three Day Blog Hop Event! Weren't the projects yesterday just amazing?!?!  You should have arrived here from Lisa's blog after seeing her amazing and colorful creation! I decided that since September is finally here, I would dig into my stash (both new and old!) to create a fall layout. I have been dying to use this amazing cut file from The Cut Shoppe and it paired up perfectly with some hand stitching and the new Autumn Joy and Falling Leaves sequin mixes.

I used a woodgrain patterned paper for the background from the Life is Beautiful collection by Fancy Pants. My next layer was the cut file from The Cut Shoppe which included the heart cut outs and the beautiful woodgrain textures. I simply hand-stitched around the hearts that were cut out and then filled in each with sequins from the SpiegelMom Scraps store. From there, the layout came together really quickly as I added a few embellishments and some patterned paper layers behind my photo. Cork Confetti hearts and a matching cork alphabet were the perfect final touches. Here are a few close-up photos as well:

This was such a fun layout to make and one that came together pretty quickly! I am so excited to be welcoming back Fall and I hope that you also feel inspired to dig into your stash of Autumn colors and create!

Make sure to continue on to your next stop on the blog hop and to visit everyone in order to enter to win some great prizes!  You next stop is with Sarah and I know that you are going to absolutely love her project as well!  Have a wonderful holiday weekend and happy crafting!!!

SpiegelMom Scraps September Blog Hop

Welcome to September! This is my favorite month of the year. I love the beginning of fall and the leaves starting to change color. I love that my grandparents were married in September and that my birthday falls on their anniversary! I love back to school and fall sports and the return of cool weather.

All in tune with my favorite month, I am SUPER excited about the new products this month from SpiegelMom Scraps. From the cork confetti shapes to the new sequin mixes and new feltie colors, it is going to be a very good month to create! Wasn't Hannah's project amazing?? Don't forget to stop by and pick up the free cut files that I designed this month and if you have a request for future designs, make sure to leave it in the comments below!

Without further delay, here is my project for today. If you are familiar with my work, you know how much I love a good grid design. Add hand-stitching and cute accents and I'm in! This layout was no exception. I think that this sequin mix is my favorite to date! Make sure that you grab some Mocha Mint Dream from the shop because it goes perfectly with Crate Paper Wonder, The Reset Girl Collection, and all of my Maggie Holmes collections (you can see pieces of all three of these collections in my page today!)

The thing that I love most about a grid layout is that each little section becomes its own canvas. I little space to create in that is its own while still being a cohesive part of the entire layout. The Mochan Mint Dream sequin mix and the Chevron and Heart Cork Confetti just added the perfect touch! The twine and doilie were also perfect to make that center box a little unique and really create a pop! Make sure to check out the close-up pictures below to see more details of some of the boxes.

The new product releases this month are just amazing and I hope that you will have as much fun using them as I am having here. Here are the products I used....

Mocha Mint Dream Mix

Chevron Cork Confetti 

Chunky Heart Cork Confetti

4inch Normandy Doilies 

Burlap String

I will be back on Saturday with another fun sequin project to share! You are now headed off to check out Beth's incredible Day in the Life traveler's notebook project. Make sure to visit everyone and enter to win this month's prizes! Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Scrap It With a Song Blog Hop

Happy September 1st and Welcome to the Scrap It With a Song Blog Hop! My blog is going to be a very busy place today as there are a few different blog hops going on throughout the day and lots of fun projects to share!!

If you've never done a blog hop before, we're happy you're starting with us! To begin, just visit SIWAS blog and you will find the complete list to follow – it is repeated here and in all the other DT posts, so you can’t get lost along the way. Visit each designer in the list, look at her project, leave her a little bit of love in the comments section of her post, and click on through to the next designer on the list. After you've visited and commented on each blog, just come back to SIWAS blog and leave a comment to win a pretty awesome prize!

Blog list for blog hop:

SIWAS - you should have started here

Giorgia 

Caroline  

Maya

Astrid

Melody

Monia

Sharon 

Khristina --YOU ARE HERE 

Marie-Christine --YOUR NEXT STOP 

Kriszti

Lauren

Elisabetta

back to SIWAS to leave the final comment

For this month's Scrap It With a Song challenge, my team used David Bowie songs of our choice and I decided to use "Changes." I was inspired by this song and its lyrics where it says "Time may change me, But I can't trace time." This immediately made me think of my son when we were reading the third Harry Potter book which included the time turner. This portion of the book made a huge impact on my son and I wanted a way to document this concept and how much of an impression it made on him. Thus, the following page concept was born!

A couple of ideas to note if you want to undertake a similar project. I used a photo from the movie that I found and printed online as well as a photo I took of the book cover. I printed the movie shot on cardstock rather than photo paper in order to give it more of a subdued look. I also punched out circles from the actual pages of the book (I picked up a super cheap extra copy at Goodwill just for this purpose!) The gold, kraft, white, and black details throughout the layout added just the right mood for Harry Potter! I hope that you enjoy this layout and will play along with us this month! Here are a few close-ups of the page elements as well.



I can't wait to see what you create this month so make sure to link up your project to the Scrap It With A Song blog. Happy Crafting!