Practical Scrappers Blog Hop

 Welcome to the Practical Scrappers/Paper Secrets Blog Hop!  We are so excited to have you here today!  For this blog hop we are featuring the Ten Things Team from Practical Scrappers and members from the Design Team at Paper Secrets. Our topic for this hop is a fun, trendy one that will definitely catch your attention: wood! We have a collection of wood goodies from Paper Secrets to give away and you can get all the details on that below, but first here's the list for the hop!

Blog Hop List

Practical Scrappers

Charity Hotrum

Lisa Moen

Jessica Arrant

Kristi Biesel 

Stephanie U

Patty Selah 

Karen Sessions

Kelly Holfield

Wendy Coffman

Deborah Johnson

Krissy Clark

Rochelle Spears

Kerri Yarus  

Lee-Anne Thornton

Leslii Wagner

Kelli Fortier

Kim Ryden 

Lucy Kelleher

Sue Kithcart 

Brenda Ragsdale

Charissa Miller

Christine Meyer

Sarah Clark

Kelly Jean Guzlas

Paper Secrets

I decided to make a plaque for our house.  We have a lot of weathered red wood from a deck that we had to tear down.  So, I thought this beautiful wood would be the perfect back for the plaque.  I then cut out the letters in "Family" using my Silhouette.  I decided to use three different papers just to make it more interesting.  I finished it off by making an offset mat for the word.  To go with the rustic feel, I just stapled the word onto the board.  Now I have a very simple plaque for our house!

Three More Layouts in the 50th Anniversary Album

This first layout is based off of SWAT Drill #14. 

The second one is based off of KiwiLaneDesign DT Doodle #32

And the last one is based off of Paper Bakery sketch #10.

Using one paper pack is definitely making these go fast!  Now to get the others done ASAP so it can be ready for their party!

Paper Secrets Sketch (Anniversary Album)

Yesterday I got another page done in my parent's anniversary album.  This time I used the Paper Secrets AUgust 1 sketch.  Again I used the Simple Stories Documented papers with MME for a little punch of color.

Here is the sketch it is based off of:

I don't have a true word embellishment yet since I don't know what pictures are going to be on the page, but I do have the ampersand brad :)

Ink It Up for Use It Tuesday!

I know you have them - uninked stamps in your stash WAITING to be used.  Well, the new Use It Tuesday challenge is just for you!  Pull out those un-inked stamps, and put the to use on any kind of project.  Mention the hoarded supplies and UIT, and then link up!  We can't wait to see what you create.

My parents' 50th anniversary is coming up, and my siblings asked me to make them an album.  I don't have all of the pictures yet, so I am just making pages without any of those details.  Then, I will add the photos, titles, and journalling later.  I bought a Simple Stories Documented paper pad at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago just for this project.  I thought the simple monochromatic papers would make a good base.  Then I can add pops of color using items from my stash.  This layout is based off of KLD's DT Doodles #31 (I used scallops and tiny bracket templates for this one).  Other than the SS paper pad, I used a boarder strip from MME Oh La La that I have been hoarding for over a year.  The other pop of color is MME as well (I think it is Lime Twist) - cut using one of my 8in scallop templates.  As for the stamp - that square embellishment is made from clay I bought almost 2 years ago!  I bought it with the idea of making these embellishments, and I just never did!  So, I pulled out another MME product - a Stella and Rose stamp I hadn't used - and stamped it onto the clay.  Then I inked it before baking it.  This made the ink permanent (if you try inking after, it tends to rub off).  And guess what - the stamp is still technically uninked :)

I will be back soon!

I can't believe it has been almost 2 weeks since I Have blogged!  And honestly, it has been that long since I have crafted.  The end of July/beginning of August is also a BUSY time for me with VBS, work, and my youngest's birthday (which this year will only be a family party thankfully).  But, I have projects on the brain, and they will be coming!  Expect lots of posts for the rest of August!  I have a mini album I need to create for my parents by the end of the month plus some design team work that may or may not be included in those pages.  Hopefully my first crafty post will be up on Monday.  If not, it iwll be up on Tuesday with some DT work!

Cute Card Thursday - By the Seaside

Well, today is the last Thursday in July, so it is my last guest design post for Cute Card Thursday.  This week's theme is "By the Seaside."  I bought a Fiskars wave border punch a few years ago for our Pacific Coast trip layouts.  I thought it would be good to pull it out again for this card.  I used some papers I got from Hobby Lobby years ago (seem to be a version of MME with a Hobby Lobby exclusive color palette) to make this ocean themed layout.  After following the OWH Sketch #181, I realized the card was just too plain.  So I remembered how to origami fold a fish to add to the card.  And I think it adds the perfect touch.  Now jump on over to Cute Card Thursday to see the other great projects from the design team!

Cute Card Thursday - Oranges and Lemons

Time for another Cute Card Thursday challenge!  This time it is "Oranges and Lemons."  I decided to go with the colors orange and yellow for this one.  I found another fun OWH sketch to use, and then I went digging through my orange and yellow papers.  I found a nice variety that I thought would be perfect for a sunburst look.  And then there was the yellow and orange grid that was perfect for the background.  Next was to find what to put in the middle of the burst.  And this Hello Sunshine sticker from Echo Park fit perfectly.  The pop of blue makes it stand out a little with all of the yellows and oranges elsewhere.

You Are A Cute Above the Rest Card

Scrapbook Steals celebrated their fourth birthday last week.  So on Thursday, they issued four challenges to help celebrate the occasion!  I have not had a ton of layout mojo lately, but I have been doing well with card making.  Most of the cards I have been making will go to Operation Write Home, which is giving me even more inspiration I think.  So, I thought I would share the card I made yesterday for the SS Birthday Challenge #4 - Washi Fever.  Our challenge was to use four different washis on a project.  When I saw that this week's Kiwi Lane DT Doodles was card sketches, I knew I was going to use one for this challenge.  I decided on the first sketch and picked out my ledger paper washi for the wave spot (using a Spooky Lane template).  Once I had decided on the "school" paper look, I went with my WRMK kit I won over at SS.  Since I don't have many shape templates, I went with the triangles to make sort of a star shape.  I used two different washis - one on each triangle - to add some color and interest.  The tag is also washi covered cardstock - this time with a blue stripe and then more of the ledger paper on top.  I finished it off with a sticker from WRMK.  I love how simple this card was to make!

Use It Tuesday - Birthdays!

Well, I am now starting my third term over at Use It Tuesday - one week late!  Due to travels and activities, I didn't get my project done on time for last week's reveal.  But, that is okay, since my projects won't be a part of the blog reveal anyways!  And why is that - well, because they will be on Facebook instead.  I am now the Social Media Coordinator for UIT.  That means I manage our Facebook Page as well as expand our social media presence (plans are in the works for Pinterest and Twitter!  

The change this time was birthdays.  I decided to go with the birth part and made this cute care for a baby boy.  I have a few friends at MOPS that are expecting baby boys in the fall, so I thought I would get started on cards for them.  I used the Paper Secrets sketch and some Creative Memories papers.  I was given these when my son was born - over 3 years ago - and I haven't touched them!  They just aren't my style, but I think they are great for cards.

Now it is your turn to create something related to birthdays.  Make sure you mention UIT in your post as well as your hoarded items!

Cute Card Thursday - Good Luck!

Here is my card for this week over at Cute Card Thursday.  The theme is good luck charms.  Since i didn't have anything western in my collection (for horse shoes), I did a little googling to find other good luck charms.  And I came across the lady bug.  I thought a lady bug card would be so easy and cute to do.  I decided to make it a little more mature by using some WP papers in red and black.  I made the bug by cutting two big circles (one in red and one in black) and then a little black circle piece for the head.  The hardest part was the antenna!  I knew without them it wouldn't look right.  But, they are so small it was very hard to do.  I free cut them and glued them, but i am not perfectly happy with them (although it is still cute).  And once again I used a OWH sketch for this card, and I will mail all of them out probably next month.

Now it is your turn!  Create a card (or other paper craft) with some sort of goog luck charm and link up!

Perfect Peridot

Amazingly I was able to get all 10 layouts done for the Peridot series.  All started out well with the first 6 done on time.  Then there was a week and a half of "vacation" followed by catching up from that and a sick kid.  Then it was a week long missions trip (with a sick kid) and another sick kid this weekend.  But, I made it.  Some still need journalling, but otherwise they are done :)

Peridot 1

Peridot 2

Peridot 3

Peridot 4

Peridot 5

Peridot 6

Peridot 7

Peridot 8

Peridot 9

Peridot 10

Cute Card Thursday!

I am the guest designer over at Cute Card Thursday this month!  Thanks to a sick kid and then travels, I forgot to get my post schedule for the first reveal (oops).  Cute Card Thursday has fun challenges every Thursday.  Although card is in their title, they welcome any projects that fit the theme for the week.  So, you should definitely join in!  The challenge for this week is Stars and/or Stripes!  And here is what I created:

I used one of the Operation Write Home sketches for this card.  Since I am not great at sending cards, I wanted to make cards that would go to a good use.  So each card I make this month as a guest designer will go to OWH!  For this card, I used some EP Ties and Seasons papers.  I wanted something that was a little patriotic with blue and red without screaming Americana.  And I think these papers worked perfectly for that.

Now it is your turn!  Don't forget to link up by Wednesday night for your chance to win a fun prize!

Fluffy

Last week over at Practical Scrappers, the Tuesday post was on using washi tape.  So, I created this layout using the sketch over on Brenda's blog for this month.  It also fits the requirements for Kerys's challenge (3 patterned papers, washi, and twine).  The photo is of my youngest in her first cloth diaper - when she is just under 3 days old.  I used Authentique Uncommon with some MME Indie Chic washi for the layout.

Bring on the Sunshine - UIT Reveal

Now that it is summer, it is time to bring on the sunshine.  Well, for some of you.  For others like me, we have had sunshine and warm weather for a while.  I guess that is the "advantage" of living in the southern part of the US!  But regardless of where you live, we want you to pull out your hoarded supplies and create something with related to sunshine for Use It Tuesday!  Maybe you want to use yellows, oranges, and red in a project.  Or maybe use a sun shape.  It is up to you!  Just make sure to mention Use It Tuesday in your post as well as your hoarded supplies used and then link up!  We can't wait to see what you create!

I few weeks ago a shared a beach card I made for my kids.  Well, for this challenge, I decided to make another similar card - with the word SUN.  Again I used my KLD templates for the background (Spooky this time).  The papers are all scraps that I have had for a while.  Most are over a year old, and some are probably older!  Then I cut the sun out of another KLD template (nature tiny shapes).  This is another scrap of paper - probably almost 2 years old!  I finished it off with another Silhouette cut letter and a frame.  I definitely don't use my Silhouette or my KLD templates as much as I should, so these projects were great for using those hoarded tools.

A Manly Layout!

With Fathers' Day this weekend in many parts of the world, the new challenge over at Use It Tuesday is all things masculine!  

Your job is to use something in your stash to make a masculine project.  It can be a card, altered item, layout, etc.  As long as it is masculine and included hoarded items, it counts!  Just make sure to mention Use It Tuesday in your post as well as your hoarded item(s).

I decided to make a layout this time around of my son, husband, and father-in-law.  I used some OLD WRMK Out and About papers and embellishments for this layout.  I have had them for at least 2 years, and I still have a ton!  I don't think I had touched them in almost a year, which is kind of sad because they are so fun.

 I used the current Paper Bakery sketch for this layout.  With all of the flags, it was easy to use a variety of papers.  I used some of the embellishments from the line as well as fussy cutting to decorate the page.

Now it is your turn!  We can't wait to see what you create :)

Bow Tie Card

Today on the Kiwi Lane blog, there was a tutorial on how to make ties using your templates, and since I had 2 more Fathers' Day cards to get done, I thought I would try my hand at it.  I took the traditional black colors from the Cute Card Thursday challenge (ebony and ivory) using a piece of Echo Park Times and Seasons for the bow tie.  I think finished it off with some square brads.  The card is a pocket card - so it doesn't open up.  I chose to use a kraft insert so it looks a little more like skin colors.

Beach Wall Art

Today over at Practical Scrappers, we are showing off ways to use scallops.  So, I pulled out my Kiwi Lane scallop templates and created this cute wall art for my kids' room.  I used some scrap 6x6 papers in blues, yellows, and tans, and created a beach-y background.  Then I used some kraft paper and my Silhouette and cut out the letter B and the frame.  I wanted something summer-y for them, and this turned out perfectly.

I am also entering it into the Paper Girls Challenge #33- The Beach!

Father's Day Card

Here is a Father's Day card I created for the Practical Scrappers Tiny Things post.  I used the Paper Secrets sketch although with Bo Bunny Grease Monkey papers.  It isn't a perfect picture (it was windy the day I had to take it, so it kept blowing over), but I think you can see the detail anyways.  My tiny things on this one were the brads I used under dad to give it a little extra interest

Here is the sketch:

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Anything Goes Cards for UIT!

Well, with the busy-ness of summer rolling in, the new Use It Tuesday challenge is perfect.  It is Anything Goes!  So, as long as you use some hoarded items (that you mention), mention Use It Tuesday, and link up, you are in!

I decided to pull out some My Little Shoebox (Green) stamps that I have had for probably two years and hadn't inked up.  I then pulled out my Webster's Pages Petite Papers that I bought last June and had barely touched.  I decided to go with some bright and colorful papers for these birthday cards.  I started with this first card, which is based off of the Artful Delight's May sketch.  But, since that challenges was over last week, I decided to make another one just for the Use It Tuesday challenge - and it isn't from a sketch :)  On both of them, I added some of the mushrooms that I colors with my Stampin Up pencils.  One of these days I will work on my coloring skills and get some shading going on.  But, with the bright colors of the paper, I think the elementary school coloring works just fine.

Now it is your turn to create!  We can't wait to see what you make.  And don't forget the design team call!  Applications are due on Thursday - May 30!

Share Everything Except Bad Ideas

So, I think I hit a challenge max with this one, but I LOVE how it turned out.  And since three of the challenges are "supposed" to be combined, I don't feel so bad about having 5 challenges complete with one layout.  It started with the sketch from ScrapbookSteals - Peridot 4.  When I saw the three photos in the sketch, I quickly decided on these photos of my kids sharing the tricycle.  All three of them get to enjoy playing with it at once - although probably in different positions than most would expect.  Then I thought about Kerys's challenge.  The layers were obvious in the sketch, so it was easy to add the stars and stamps. Since some of the papers I chose already had stars, it was even easier :)  Then it was time to think about the title, and Rochelle's word art challenge along with Scrap Your Story's font challenge worked perfectly together.  The Share Everything was just perfect, and of course with the five words, I would use 5 alphas probably anyways.  Last is Kristi's logo challenge.  I wasn't sure I was going to include it, but when I had the spot on the bottom left that need an embellishment, the Radio Flyer logo was a perfect fix.  

For the details:  Papers are all 6x6 from MME, WP, and CP.  I used stamps twice - for the stars (I think they are Imagenisce, but I am not 100% sure) that I fussy cut and the word cute (MME Collectable).  The alphas are Thickers, Silhouette cut, and MLS tiny alphas.  I finished off the pinwheel with a Oriental Trading button and some Twinery Twine.  I have decided I need a date stamp after this layout, and I will add that to the bottom left.

Mother's Day Card - Paper Secrets

I made this card last week for my mom.  I used the same flowers as I did here and the same paper.  I just used the sketch from Paper Secrets instead :)  I loved the simplicity of their first card sketch!

Here is the sketch:

Use It Tuesday Design Team Call and a Layout

Use It Tuesday Design Team Call!

This will be Use It Tuesday's 5th Design Team call and we encourage people from all experience levels to apply.

Term: July 1 to December 31st, 2013

Requirements:
- have an online gallery and/or a blog
- if you have a blog, you need to be a follower of Use It Tuesday to apply  

- have a Facebook account or a willingness to make one
- be able to work with deadlines
- make and post 2 inspiration projects per month
- comment on players’ projects
- be a team player
- have a positive attitude

Interested? Please email the following completed application to UseItTuesday@gmail.com by May 30th.

1. Name
2. Links to your online galleries and/or blog
3. Your previous DT experience, if any.
4. Please tell us a little about yourself.
5. How did you hear about our DT Call?
6. Have you played with us previously?
7. Please tell us why you would like to be on our team.
8. Please share one fun fact about yourself.

I have REALLY enjoyed the two terms I have served on the Use It Tuesday design team.  It is definitely a great team to work with, and I recommend anyone with stash they want to use to apply!

And now for a layout!

 A friend on the Practical Scrappers design team let me know that they might need another project with water colors Monday (for a post on Tuesday).  So, I got to work on Peridot 2 over at ScrapbookSteals with the plans of using a lot of water colors.  The strips on the layout made it easy to use lots of techniques.  On the bottom strip, I lightly watercolored the paper and then stamped with numbers - something I love.  On the second layer, I used texture paste and then water colored on top of that.  I just used my kids' Crayola water colors, and it came out so fun!

 On the third layer, I doodled using my Stampin Up water color pencils.  I drew little clouds and then muted the drawing with my water pen.  On the "top" layer I used some more stamps and my water color pencils.  Since I had a little more room at the top, I finished it off with some blue paper and twine.

The theme of the layout is based off a challenge by a friend to scrap myself.  I had to use my favorite color(s) - which are blues and purple - and something I love - the numbers.  I haven't don't the journalling yet, but it will be on the black tag that can pull out.  I think I am going to journal about being content with here I am.

Can't Touch This - UIT Reveal

Our challenge over at Use It Tuesday is to use something that you have been afraid to touch - something you have been "saving" for the perfect time.  And we all know we have some of those in our stash!

I decided to use a mini album that I got over 2 years ago.  I got a set of three, and quickly used two for Christmas presents for my mom and MIL.  But the third I stashed away for the perfect use.  And the perfect use showed up recently!  My daughter is in a children's choir, and her age group is the Sparrows.  The bird on the cover was perfect for a mini album for their director from all of the kids.

I used my trusted Silhouette (which I haven't been using as much as I should because I also am "afraid" to waste the blade and mat) to cut out the "title" for the album.  And I used some hoarded ribbon to decorate the binder rings too.

Inside, each child gets a 2 page spread.  At the top, I am going to put pictures of them in their choir "uniform" matted on some layered papers.  And then their names are going on the right side.  On the bottom, I am putting a picture each child drew for their director.

At the end of the book I am going to add more pictures, but I haven't gotten the pictures printed just yet.  I hope she enjoys it!

Now it is your turn!  Pull out some of those "cant' touch this" items and create something!  Let us know what was hoarded, mention Use It Tuesday in your post, and link back up.  We can't wait to see what you make.

(I am entering this into the ScrapbookSteals MCM #25 - Layering)

Smile

The fabulous Kristy Lee challenged me to create a layout with the following "rules:"

• 1 page
• 1 4x6 photo + 5 2x2's
• Banner
• Washi
• Journaling in a circle
• Misting

That day my oldest lost her first tooth, and I decided photos from that would be perfect!  I knew I wanted to do the filmstrip for the 5 close-ups.  And I figured out the journalling and misting quickly.  But the rest sort of just mulled in my head for almost 2 weeks.  The colors, papers, etc weren't so easy since her outfit was just a white shirt (and black skirt that you can't see).  Last night I finally decided on black, white, and pink.  I got the film strip done, and then was stuck again on the papers to use.  This morning I decided to go with washi tape, but then I got stuck again thinking the layout was boring after getting the "basics" on.  So, I turned to some of my other favorite challenge sites - SWAT and TPGCB.  Over at SWAT, the challenge is a tic-tac-toe board.  Of the nie squares, I used 6 of then, but I only got one line (And that one is a little stretch).  I have 3 buttons (the little hearts below the title), stitching (at the top right corner of the photo), and 3 manufacturers in the washi (Downtown Tape, Freckled Fawn, and MME).  I also have doodling, which is also the challenge over at TPGCB, misting, and skip the pattern paper.

The best part of the challenge for me was creating a layout on y own without a sketch.  I so often use sketches, that I am starting to like the challenge of doing it on my own :)