Crafting with my November Counterfeit Kit

Can I just tell you how much I'm loving my November Counterfeit Kit.  Before, when I would start a scrapbook page, I would spend a long time (sometimes hours) just thinking about what papers worked together, playing with color combinations, and rummaging through my boxes for the perfect embellishments.  (Yes, sadly, I have THAT much stuff.)  But now, with the Counterfeit Kit, I already have papers and embellishments preselected from my stash and can get scrapping almost immediately.  Just yesterday, I *nearly* finished an entire layout during Charlotte's nap time (which, for me, is unheard of).  So, with that, I wanted to share with you some layouts and a card I made with my counterfeit kit.

1.  January 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.  

I used this fantastic sketch  by Kristy Lee over at Scrapbook Steals (Opal #2) as my starting point.

Inspired by the shape and movement of the photo placement, I fussy cut some Studio Calico paper to create a frame around some photos.  

I then made my journaling spot by cutting out a circle, stamping it with a Hero Arts ledger stamp and stitching around it with some embroidery floss. 

2.  February 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.

 

This was another layout using a Kristy Lee sketch from Scrapbook Steals (Opal #3).

I'm in love with the Sassafras various blooms and in stitch blossoms.  They are super cute and make embellishing so quick and easy! 

To frame my photo collage, I cute apart a die cut sheet from Studio Calico.  I also cut out some banner pieces from Studio Calico Fabrips to embellish the top corner of my photo collage.

3.  March 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.   

If you haven't noticed, I'm trying to get caught up on our 2011 family album and these month pages with the photo collages make it a lot easier.  :)  I'm also trying to catch up with all the Opal sketch challenges at Scrapbook Steals.  So, as expected, my starting point was another Kristy Lee sketch (Opal #6).

My newest obsession has been these candy dots by Pebbles (which are just adhesive little button dots).  So cute!  I'm also trying to incorporate more washi tape into my layouts.

In trying to add some pops of color to the layout, I did some random blue stitching around the flower cutout.

And I am kindove in love with these Jenni Bowlin Studio stick pins (which are just decorated needles/ pushpins).  Sadly, I just don't know how to use them.  So I just stuck it with the flowers here.

4.  Wedding Wishes {a card}.

For my final November Counterfeit Kit creation (well, for purposes of this post at least...), here is a wedding card I made.  

I cut out the circle card and scallop shape using my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software.  The sentiment and banner stamps are from Lawn Fawn.  And aside from that, I used American Craft Thickers to spell out the names and added faux stitching with a black Sharpie around the circle.

Whew, that was a lot!  :)  

As always, thanks for stopping by!!!

We Are Finally There {a scrapbook layout}

For those that have been following this blog, you know that we recently completed a cross country adventure from San Diego, California to Newport, Rhode Island with a two week stop over in Dahlgren, Virginia.  The photo in this layout was shot minutes after we unloaded our car and checked into our hotel.  This hotel room would be our home for two weeks and we were so excited to finally be done (for at least a little bit).  Just like the little sticker says, "Smiles All Around!"

Since this layout commemorates our trip across the United States, it's my play on stars (see that blue star paper) and {chevron} stripes.  But I do know that there is a lot going on that probably needs some explanation (for better or for worse). 

First, I used this amazing sketch from the 10.27 Sketch Thursday Challenge as my starting point.  I've watched a LOT of amazing scrapbookers play along each week.  I finally took the plunge and decided to play along too.

Second, the title.  "...we are finally there."  I swear I speak good English.  :)  

It's a response on the age-old whiny road trip question: "are we there yet?"  Every time Charlotte got fussy or angry during our drive, I imagined that if she could talk, she would be screaming:  "GET ME THERE ALREADY!" 

Third, check out this banner. 

I used map paper from the American Crafts Amy Tangerine collection.  Amazingly enough, the paper actually includes a large chunk of the route we drove through Arizona to Virginia.  The little blue brads are actually placed to mark some of the cities we stopped to visit (like Albuquerque, Amarillo, Memphis...)

The bottom of the layout includes another portion of the map tracking some additional cities we visited through Virginia (highlighted in the orange brads). 

What I initially hoped was to create a layered look of banner pennants.  However, the map pennants effectively covered the bottom layer of kraft pennats that I stamped with Lawn Fawn Teeny Tiny Backdrops.  Since they were so cute, I wanted to show you anyways.

Fourth, I added some hand stitching to incorporate more of that orange color.

And finally, for the journaling, I used Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type to write out the following along the perimeter of the layout: 

"We left San Diego bright and early on September 20.  After 9 states, 14 days of travelling, over 2800 miles of driving and only 1 mommy meltdown...we are finally there."

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Update 11/3:  Thanks for all the lovely comments!   Happy to say that this layout was chosen as a Sketchy Thursday Fave!  Aw...it's the little things that totally make my day.  :)

Guest Designer at Scrapbook Steals

I was this month's guest designer over at Scrapbook Steals.  It really was quite the honor and surprise to be asked given how relatively new I am to scrapbooking.  In explaining this to Justin, I told him it was like being asked to drive the boat in a race.  He was only slightly impressed.

Using primarily products from the "Hello Sunshine" collection by American Crafts, here are the projects I made. 

And here a close-up:

Here is the second layout I made using the "Hello Sunshine" collection.

And here is a close-up of the lanterns along the top.

And finally, this is a card I also made for the blog post. 

More details on these projects can be found on my post over at Scrapbook Steals.  

As always, thanks for stopping by!