Some Recent Layouts

I haven't posted any layouts in such a long time....here are a few recent ones that I haven't put away into albums yet.  When I saw the stack sitting there, I decided it was time to share them.  Next on my agenda...to put them all away!!!

I like the look of some of the single page layouts I have seen lately...but I work in double page layouts, so I tried to kind of combine the two styles here.

I decided to try tilting some photos for a change...lately everything I have made has been so linear.

I still love banners and pennants.  I listed 29 things we did on the 29th for this layout.  I typed it onto vellum using the typewriter I bought at a thrift store last month for $7!

I have wanted to try "tone on tone" titles!

This layout was fun since I only had 3 pictures but wanted to make a double page layout...so I got to use lots of patterned paper.

I got the little "beaded" bauble at a silk flower shop.

I didn't want to put the photo of this layout on the Internet because it is "potty training" pics...but I like the title and embellishment cluster, so I'll share that!!!

This is one of my favorite layouts in a long time...I think that's because I really like the photos and the supplies I used.

I like the look of these tiny bows...but it took FOREVER to tie them all!

I got a new sewing machine for Christmas...one that sews 60 different stitches.  I used my new machine for the first time on this layout.  I love this scalloped stitch!

Detail shot of the stitching.

I used an old Counterfeit Kit for this one!

I got inspiration for this layout from browsing the gallery on Two Peas---no designer in particular, just inspiration from many scrapbookers.

I love these pictures of the kids eating cookie dough...another layout with an old Counterfeit Kit.

I don't usually use these colors in my layouts, but they matched the photo PERFECTLY!!!

Detail shot of the embellishment cluster.

Oh my, a single page layout!!!  This one is for the final page of one of my albums ;)

Another layout from an old Counterfeit Kit.   I was so excited to take these photos myself of Maddy before her recital.

Detail shot of the embellishments.

I also had fun working on these pictures since I set up this studio in my house for Valentine's Day this year. This was my February Counterfeit Kit.

Detail shot of the embellishment cluster.

Another layout from an old Counterfeit Kit...using my handmade "circle" paper. 

Another layout using an old Counterfeit Kit...I believe this kit was from November 2012.  I LOVE Sassafras...it's really too bad they are no longer around.  Thankfully, I bought one of their huge grab bags before they closed their doors!

I added a few embellishments to the "cluster" that was on the patterned paper in order to make it look a bit more dimensional. 

Looking back at all of these layouts, it looks like I only scrapbook my daughter, not my son!!!  But in reality, the layouts are pretty much even ;)  Enjoy!!!

Some Fun Halloween Layouts

My October 2011 Counterfeit Kit...I made the 1st 2 layouts below with this kit.

 

I got this cool mini banner from a swap I was in last year, so I cannot take credit for designing it.  I couldn't wait to use it on a layout!!!  I sometimes find it hard to use papers with "scenes" on them (like the haunted house paper on the right), I have seen some very creative ways of incorporating paper like this on Pinterest, so I gave it a shot.

 

Another layout from my Counterfeit Kit here.  I decided to experiment with "collage" like groupings of photos on my layouts.   I think I like this look.  I used this technique on lots of layouts in the past 2 weeks. 

 

There are so many great "Halloween" Papers that seem hard to use to me at first.  They are like little pieces of artwork themselves, and I find it difficult to not cover up the important designs.  This "Happy Halloween" paper was a bit challenging to me.  I made the medallions myself, I scored the fold lines at 1/8" so they would lie relatively flat.

 

I LOVED this background paper...and I'm glad I found some pictures to work with it.  It was another one of those "challenging" pieces.

 

Not much special here, just a few simple embellishment clusters...the photos and patterned papers are already so busy and detailed.

 

More of that "collage" technique...I guess I really used it ALOT in the past 2 weeks!!!



I created the copper "pearl" flourishes with puffy paints!  I found if I gently tap the paper from the back side (while the puffy paint is still wet) it creates that rounded "pearl " top, rather than a little "mountain peak" on the top of each drop.  On a side note, I made the cape for the Beast costume, and I bought an old flower girl dress from a thrift store for $7 and dies it yellow, added some tulle and flowers, and viola...Belle!



This was a bit challenging to fit all the photos on this page.  I hardly ever use rub-ons, but the flourishes on this page are rub-ons from a kit from Basic Grey.

 

A more simple layout, I had fun using the faux "collages" on this one too!



A Fall Theme layout...rather than Halloween.  I actually used papers and stickers from this year's $1 Spot at Target!  I just love owls and had to get these.  I have been wanting to get some cloud paper too, so it was perfect!

 

Not one of my favorites...this reminds me of my older style, I think it's because of the tilted photo on the left.  For some reason, I like my photos to be either aligned straight, or ever so slightly tilted when I scrap now...so this tilted technique brings me back to my "older" days.  But I never re-do layouts...so this will just stay as it is :)

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop

This is the last stop on the Counterfeit Kit Blog Hop!  Thanks for joining us.  This month's blog hop challenge was to showcase a stamping technique.  My technique is an older technique, I wanted to share it because I had forgotten all about it, but I like the look.  I'm hoping some of you like it too!  It can be recreated with any color embossing powders and paper, I used black and white in my example. 

I, once again,  used Unity stamps for this technique.  Sherri is sponsoring this month at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.  You can be entered to win a Unity stamp set by commenting on the blog hop post for today on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.



I gathered my supplies, which include, 2 different colors of cardstock and matching embossing powder, embossing ink, stamps, and a heat gun.



First, I stamped and heat embossed the same images on BOTH sheets of paper.  I did white embossing on the black paper, and black embossing on the white paper.



Next I choose just one color of each image and cut out it out. For my example I cut the white paper with the black embossed heart image and the black paper with the with embossed stamped text. 

 

Then I cut the identical image (in the opposite color) exactly in half and adhered that half to the top of my first image (making sure the images line up create a whole image.)  Next I flipped the embellishment over and trimmed off the excess paper.

 

I matted the completed "split" stamped image onto a piece of patterned paper...and there you have it!  An interesting technique to spice up a stamped image on a layout or a card. 



Counterfeit Kit Challenge #3-Stamping Your Own Embellishments




Here is the layout I created.  I used one stamp set to create 3 different embellishments on this layout.

  

This month I used this Unity Stamp set called "Here and Now".




The first embellishment I created was a mini calendar page.  I wanted to use the large "calendar/journaling block" stamp.  "As is",  this stamp was too large for me to use on my layout, so I improvised.  I first stamped the entire image, then I cut the stamped image down to a smaller size to only include the calendar part that I wanted for this layout.

 


The second embellishment that I created was a journaling block.  The stamp I used was the "5 cent" ticket image.  It worked out great to house a little bit of journaling and got tucked neatly behind a photo.

  


The last embellishment I created was a mini banner.  I used the "ampersand" stamp to create each pennant for my mini banner, then I cut out each stamped image by hand.  Once the banner is created, the ampersand symbol looks more like a design element and less like punctuation/shorthand. 

 

A Couple More Septmeber 2011 Counterfeit Kit Layouts

For this layout I used my September 2011 Counterfeit Kit and my Unity Stamp set called "Here and Now".  I wanted to show the time line of Maddy getting ready on her first day of Kindergarten.



I also used my September 2011 Counterfeit Kit for this layout.  I have had these alphabet stickers in my stash for YEARS!  I was so excited to use them!!!

The following layouts are not from my Counterfeit Kit, just a few layouts I have worked on in the past 2 weeks...

A layout I created using a "zebra" stamp as an embellishment over the top of parts of the layout.  I also used one of those painted wooden items (the flamingo) that I found in the wooden crafts aisle of Hobby Lobby.



I just loved this paper from October Afternoon, and I decided to use it to scrapbook the photos of my kids watching one of their favorite movies, Monsters Inc.

I recently read a series of blog posts, found here, pertaining to using up scraps.  I decided to use various border punches to create border strips from lots of my scraps.  The pre punched border strips came in VERY handy for this layout.  All of the time consuming punching was done for me.  The best part is, I punch all of those border strips while watching TV with my family.



Yes, I brought my camera into Target to take pictures of school supply shopping...I bet everyone thought I was nuts!




Every time this bush blooms in front of our house I want to take pictures of it.  The thing is, it only blooms for about 2 or 3 days, and only blooms a couple of times a year, so I always miss it.  Not this time!!!  I finally got some pictures of the beautiful purple blooms!




I love when I get some photos of myself with the kids.  These type of photos are few and far between, so I was really excited to scrapbook them, even if I was in a bathing suit!!!