Thursday, March 28, 2013

Xyron and Imaginisce Blog Hop

 

Welcome to the final day of the Xyron and Imaginisce Blog Hop!  I cannot even begin to tell you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE Imaginisce.  Their designs are always so cute and bright which is totally my vibe.  And their sticker and chipboard stackers always make embellishing any type of project a breeze!

For this blog hop, I got to play with goodies from the Childhood Memories Collection to create two scrapbook layouts and two altered frames.  With the awesomeness which is Xyron, all of these projects came together so easily.  And...if you make it all the way to the bottom of this post, I promise you an AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!!

1.  Altered Picture Frame {a tutorial}.  




Using a Xyron machine (in my case, the Xyron Creatopia) is probably the fastest and easiest way to cover any picture frame.  Coupled with the awesome stickers by Imaginisce, you can create the most adorable frame perfect for any home.

For your supplies, you will need an unfinished picture frame,



...the Xyron Creatopia with Permanent Adhesive,



...Imaginisce Patterned Paper (Childhood Memories), Imaginisce Chipboard Stackers, Craft Knife.

Run your picture frame through the Xyron Creatopia.  Remember to place the front of the picture frame facing DOWN.  Also, remember to adjust the rollers to "2" or "3" to allow for the thick frame.



Remove the plastic and then the frame from the backing paper.  Place the frame sticky side down onto the BACK SIDE of your patterned paper.  Press down firmly to make sure the adhesive is secure.  Then, using a craft knife, cut off the excess paper.


You know have a beautfiully covered picture frame.  (Does anyone else get the humor in covering an unfinished wood frame with a wood grain paper??!?!)


Next, you embellish the frame with the Imaginisce chipboard stackers.


And now you have a beautiful, class, clean and simple picture frame ready for all your photos.

Supplies:  Patterned Paper and Chipboard Stickers (Imaginisce - Childhood Memories); Xyron Creatopia with Permanent Adhesive; Martha Stewart Craft Knife; Ikea Unfinished Frame.

It was so easy, that I created a second frame just to use that adorable banner sentiment, "Just be Little."



2.  Hopscotch Memories {a scrapbook layout}.  When planning a scrapbook layout, I am often inspired by the product itself.  While working with the Childhood Memories collection, I was drawn to the hopscotch image.  Maybe it was because I loved playing that as a child or that my daughter has a hopscotch rug in her bedroom.  Regardless, I really wanted to mimic the look of a hopscotch board on the blacktop surrounded by chalk drawings.  This is what I came up with.

Supplies: Patterned Paper (Imaginisce - Childhood Memories); Chalkboard Paper (DCWV); Stickers (Imaginisce - Childhood Memories); Stamps (Imaginisce - Childhood Memories, Scenic Route); Ink (Versamark); Embossing Powder (Hampton Arts); Brads (Oriental Trading Company); Adhesive (Xyron Mega Runner, DIY Foam Tape); Other Tools (Photoshop CS5, Heat Gun by Darice, Fiskars Stamp Press).

For my background paper, I used chalkboard paper from DCVW and stamped images throughout using versamark ink and white embossing powder.



The photo collage is meant to look like a hopscotch board.  I created the collage in photoshop, printed it out on my printer, and simply cut it out with my scissors.


At this point, it was just a matter of layering on some patterned paper (which I cut into banner strips) behind the photo collage and embellishing with the Imaginisce stickers and color coordinating brads.


And how fun is that, right?!?  Here are some closeups...



3.  Forever Young Friends {a scrapbook layout}.  Finally, here is a layout I created inspired by the Polaroid paper in the collection. 


Supplies:  Patterned Paper (Imaginisce - Childhood Memories); Cardstock (Neena Paper); Stickers (Imaginisce - Childhood Memories); Stamps (Lawn Fawn); Ink (Memento, Ranger, American Crafts, Uni-ball); Adhesive (Xyron Mega Runner, DIY Foam Tape).



Make sure to visit the Xyron and Imaginisce blogs for more inspiration!!! Both blogs will be featuring giveaways throughout the week!

Now, here are the details for my own personal giveaway.

XYRON CREATOPIA GIVEAWAY!!!  So, I accidentally ordered a second Xyron Creatopia when I meant to just order refills.  DOH!  Don't ask me how.  Sigh.  However, you are totally going to gain from my HUGE mistake.  Get this.  I am going to be giving away a XYRON CREATOPIA preloaded with permanent adhesive.  Did you hear me??  YOU CAN WIN A FREE XYRON CREATOPIA!!!  You want one?  You should because it's pretty awesome.  How can you win?

Make sure you are "following" my blog and leave a comment by April 7 at 12:00 AM PST and I will randomly pick a winner.  To get an additional entry, you can "like" my facebook page and leave a comment to let me know!  Because of the large size of the prize, I am only opening this to US residents.

Best of luck to everyone and as always, thanks for stopping by!!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Sweet Stamp Shop - Designer Spotlight

I am so ridiculously excited to be guest designing with the Sweet Stamp Shop this month.  In addition to the layouts I showcased in this blog post, I also made some cards using the same Calendar and Today Was stamp sets.

1.  UR So Special {a card featuring "Today Was" by the Sweet Stamp Shop.  For this stamp, I wanted to use the grid portion of the journal card stamp with a negative mask.  I also used the "special" sentiment together with some letter stickers for the sentiment.  Plastic sequins adhered using my Xyron 1.5" Create a Sticker completed the card perfectly.


Supplies:  Stamps (Sweet Stamp Shop - Today Was); Adhesives (Xyron 1.5" Create-a-Sticker, Xyron Creatopia - Repositional Adhesive); Letter Stickers (American Crafts, October Afternoon); Sequins (Doodlebug); Paper Punches (We R Memory Keepers, EK Success); Cardstock (Neena Paper).


2.  July Congratulations {a card featuring "Calendar" by the Sweet Stamp Shop}.  For this card, I wanted to use the calendar stamp to mark the recipient's actual birthday.


Supplies:  Stamps (Sweet Stamp Shop - Calendar); Adhesives (Xyron Mega Runner, DIY Foam Tape); Patterned Paper and Embellishments (October Afternoon - Sidewalks).



If you haven't already, make sure you head over to the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog to see all the fantastic March releases and the awesome projects the design team has created!  Nicole, thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to work with you, your company, and ever so talented crafty colleagues.  I am honored. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!!!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Sweet Stamp Shop - March Release


I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to be guest designing for the Sweet Stamp Shop this month!  First, I am a HUGE fan of their amazing stamps.  I'm pretty sure that "Across the Miles" is one of my favorite stamp sets EVER.  Secondly, the owner of the Sweet Stamp Shop, Nicole Rixon, is an amazingly adorable and talented superwoman who I am honored to work with!!  Plus, she lives in San Diego and you know how much I love San Diego!!!

I got to play with the Calendar and Today Was sets for this release.  O.M.G.  They are so super versatile and awesome and a must have in every scrapper's stamp stash.  They will fit perfectly in any Project Life type of layout but also work beautifully in a traditional layout. 

1.  45 Days {a scrapbook layout} - featuring "Calender" by the Sweet Stamp Shop.  In this layout, I use the calendar stamps to document a period of time.

Supplies:  Stamps (Sweet Stamp Shop - Calendar, Across the Miles); Patterned Paper (Crate Paper, Echo Park, My Mind's Eye); Sticker Embellishments/ Brads (Crate Paper); Letter Stickers (American Crafts); Adhesives (Xyron Mega Runner, DIY Foam Tape); Washi Tape (Target); Digital Elements (Splendid Fiins Faux(laroids)). 

Here is a close up of the calendar elements made with the Sweet Stamp Shop "Calendar" set.  The swirl stamp is from the Across the Miles set.


And here is a close up of the journaling.


2.  Meeting the Mermaid {a scrapbook layout} - featuring"Today Was" by the Sweet Stamp Shop.  In this layout, I used stamps from the "Today Was" set to create a background for the mermaid image (from "Under the Sea") and to create a journaling spot.


Supplies:  Stamps (Sweet Stamp Shop - Today Was, Under the Sea); Patterned Paper (My Mind's Eye); Cardstock (Neena Paper); Letter Stickers (October Afternoon); Floss (We R Memory Keepers); Adhesives (Xyron Mega Runner, DIY Foam Tape); Paperclip (Midori).

I think my favorite stamp in the set is the "special" sentiment.  It is a beautiful handwriting and is large enough to use as a subtitle.  In fact, for this layout, I used it as a template to do some hand stitching.  I LOVE how it turned out!

 
The journal card stamp also makes the perfect neutral background for almost anything, including this ridiculously cute mermaid from "Under the Sea."


Make sure you head on over to the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog to check out some other A-MAZING creations from the design team and for a chance to win some sweet stuff!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Simple Scrapper - March Blog Hop


Welcome to the March Blog Hop with Simple Scrapper!  Here are the projects that I created inspired by a template and story starter from the Simple Scrapper Premium Membership.

1.  Daddy's Lil' Buddy {a layout}.  This is a layout inspired by a Simple Scrapper template highlighting a photo of baby Benjamin.


Supplies:  Simple Scrapper Premium Subscription - Single #2 Template; Cardstock (Core'dinations); Patterned Papers (Echo Park, Scenic Route); Letter Stickers (American Crafts Thickers); Stickers (October Afternoon, Heidi Swapp); Embellishments (Studio Calico Wood Veeners, Twinery Twine; October Afternoon Buttons); Inks/ Sprays (Studio Calico; Memento); Stamps (Lawn Fawn); Washi Tape (Target); Adhesives (Xyron Mega Runner, Xyron 1.5" Create a Sticker); Punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Journal Card (Jenni Bowlin Studios).

Here are some closeups.  I love using washi tape to define my embellishment clusters.  In this layout, I placed my clusters around a visual triangle to draw attention to the main photo.


Given my extensive stamp stash, I am also trying to incorporate them more into my layouts.  In this one, I stamped some borders onto patterned paper and then fussy cut them to create whimsical embellishments to the layered papers.


2.  Hawaii Mini Album. Here is the beginning of a Hawaii mini album that I hope to keep up to date throughout our time in Hawaii by simply printing out 6x6 collages of our various adventures.  This album is inspired by a Story Starter in the Simple Scrapper Premium Membership.



Supplies: Simple Scrapper Premium Membership (March Story Starters); Patterned Paper, Stickers and Embellishments (American Crafts); Adhesives (Xyron Mega Runner); Punch (WRMK); D Rings (Tim Holtz).

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter a giveaway for a one month trial membership at Simple Scrapper. There are three ways to enter and three winners will be selected. To be eligible, you must enter by 11:59pm CST on Wednesday, March 6.


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2713b53/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway


Make sure to visit the other Design Team Member blogs for more inspiration!  Next on the blog hop is the amazingly talented and inspiring Melissa Priest!



Van Nguyen (YOU ARE HERE)
Celeste Smith


NOTE:  The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you
simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping. Each month members receive a new collection
of sketch templates and Story Starters, story-focused prompts for pages and projects.



Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Project Life 2013 - Weeks 3 and 4

Here is the layout for Week 3 (still using products from Splendid Fiins).


Digital Supplies: Splendid Fiins (January Card Kit, Script Day Stamps).



And here is Week 4 using the same supplies.

 


  Thanks for stopping by!
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