Thursday, January 14, 2021

Summer - DT Layout for Paige Evans

Hi there crafty friends,

I'm stopping by to share with you my latest project I've created for the Paige Evans Design Team. I've used the awesome Go the Scenic Route collection on this layout. Apropos collection - are you as excited as me about getting Paige's latest collection, Wonders?! It's so gorgeous and perfect for spring! I need sunshine and colors! Today's page is proof of just how much I miss sunshine hehe!


I left a bit of white edge around the layout in this photo, so you can see the edges - the white is my desk, not a part of the layout :). The cropped version just didn't look right!

Anyway, I chose an orange and pink color scheme, to go with my pink lemonade in the photo. I've been wanting to use this map paper for a long time because it has such a lovely color (and I am not even a huge fan of orange!), but I just didn't get around to do it yet. In fact, I thought it looked too much on this layout too, but then I just went with it anyway. 

I chose the Summer cut file (Design ID: 272002) and die cut it in 3 sizes from white card stock. I left the smallest one as is, I just cropped the top off in Silhouette Studio. I did, however, remove all lines from inside the circle on the other two sizes, because I knew they would only serve as layers. To make my life easier, and not having to back the rays one by one, I just die cut the sun from three patterned papers. For this, I released the compound path on the cut file, then welded all lines together to create a fill shape rather than having outlines. Then I also did an internal offset a bit smaller than the original design (all three sizes), just so that they are easier to line up and there's no overhang in case I'm not precise. I hope that makes sense!


I adhered the patterned papers to the white outlines, but I didn't add glue to the rays as I wanted them to be more dimensional. I added machine stitching to the smallest sun and I also die cut the letters from a pink/orange patterned paper to place on top. I wrote my journaling inside the sun with a white gel pen.

To emphasise the sunny theme, I cut my background paper in strips that look like sun rays. Using my Tim Holtz serrated edge scissors, I distressed all edges. I then added a tiny amount of glue along the middle of each ray and placed them on a heavy weight card stock. Just so that they stayed in place while I stitched them down in the middle. Once done, I adhered the sun to the background too. 


I layered some tissue paper, die cuts, labels etc behind my photos, then glued these stacks down too. I added a clip, a chipboard sticker and some stickers to embellish my photos. I wanted to keep embellishing to a minimum since the page already had a lot going on, lots of dimension and texture. I stamped my date on one of the labels and done!


That's it guys! What do you think? Too much? These bright colors make me so happy!

If you want to see how this layout came together, you can watch my process video here:




I hope I could inspire you in some small way! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a wonderful day!

X


Friday, January 8, 2021

In the spotlight: Spellbinders Small and Large Die of the Month kits - January 2021

Hi there crafty peeps,


It's that time again! The Spellbinders January Club Kits are here! I can't quite believe it but it looks like I didn't write a blog post in December?! I have no idea what happened. I do know I had a process video with one of the kits, but why I didn't do a blog post is beyond me. I guess that's December for you :(. This month I'm a bit late posting this too; I had so many blog posts this past week, I didn't want to cram this in there too.

Anyway, I couldn't be more excited to be back with some new projects with this month's beautiful dies! As one can expect, it's all about love and hearts!

As a reminder, Spellbinders have several monthly kits, which are really great! You can subscribe to:

You can find all necessary information about these kits here. 

Let's get to it then! This month my favorite of the two is definitely the Large Die Kit and I'll tell you why! It's a slimline die and I've been quite obsessed with this format! Check it out:


I made process videos for all cards in this blog post, if you're interested how I made them, stop by my YouTube channel! I'll link the videos at the end of this post too!

But first some pictures!





Then we have the Small Die Kit, which is also really beautiful! I love the intricate background and the fact that you can create 2 for 1, or even 3 for 1 projects with it easily. I don't have any Valentine's day specific sentiments, so I just went with more generic ones on my projects. I've foiled all of them with the Crimson Stars Glimmer Hot Foil Roll using my Glimmer Hot Foil System. This is my favorite foil actually, it's simply stunning. Unfortunately winter lights were not helping my photography, so you really can't see how beautiful it is.

I've used two additional products on these cards:





The videos, as promised! 
Large Die Kit cards:


Small Die Kit cards:


That's it for today! I hope you like these cards and find some inspiration in them!

I'll be back with new inspiration for Spellbinders next month!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

X


Thursday, January 7, 2021

Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Morning Glory Layering Die Set Release Blog Hop + Giveaway


Hello crafty friends, 

Today I'm joining Altenew in their amazing Craft-A-Flower: Morning Glory release blog hop! I think this is my absolute favorite product from all the January Altenew releases. It's just fantastic. Plus I'm a huge fan of dies, especially layering dies.

You should have arrived here from the lovely Laurie Willison's blog! I'll also add the full blog hop list at the end of this post for your convenience.

Isn't this new set fabulous? I loved working with it! I created a slimline card trio:


You have a few different options to choose from:

Instead of writing a step by step tutorial on how I created these cards, I'll add some photos here and a process video at the end of this post/my YouTube channel. I hope you'll find inspiration in these!








Now for the fun part! Giveaway yay!
  • To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 certificate to 1 lucky winner, and a $15 certificate to 10 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and on each designer's blog post on the blog hop list below by Jan 12/2021 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 11 random winners from the comments left at each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on Jan 15, 2021.
GOOD LUCK!

That's it for today, I hope I could inspire you in some small way!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

X

BLOG HOP LIST:

Altenew Card Blog

Emily Midgett

LauraJane

Erum Tasneem

Terri Koszler

Laurie Willison

Zsoka Marko

Nathalie DeSousa

Seeka

Amber Rain Davis

Amanda Baldwin

Virginia Lu

Preeti Chandran

Tenia Nelson

Jenny Colacicco

Jessie Banks

Michelle Short

Teresa Litchfield

Tina Smith

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Altenew Fresh Start Stamps/Dies/Stencils/Embossing Folders Collection Release Blog Hop + Giveaway


Hello and welcome to the Altenew Fresh Start blog hop! 

Today Altenew is releasing many products: stamp, dies, stencils and embossing folders! There's something for everyone for sure! If you're on the right track, you've arrived here from the wonderful Norine Borys' blog. I'll also add the full blog hop list at the end of this post for your convenience.

I've created a few projects for today and since I have process videos for all of them, I won't be writing a long and boring step by step here. If you're interested in how these cards were made, please head to my YouTube channel, where you will also find a complete list of supplies I've used.

Alright, let's get to it then, shall we? :)

First up, a duo with possibly my two most favorite products from this release, the Grid Cover Die and the Airbrushed Flowers Stamp and Die Bundle!







Next up, a duo with the Spotted Orchid Stamp and Die Bundle where I used up the fall out pieces I had left over from the previous projects, working with the Grid Cover Die! Now, these cards are completely out of my comfort zone, I prefer lots of bold colors on my projects!







The third card duo I've created with the Airbrushed Flowers Stamp and Die Bundle as well as a fabulous new (to me) product, the Ribbon Waves Embossing Folder! Altenew has had these 3D embossing folders for awhile now, but this is my first time working with one and I couldn't be more excited and impressed! The dimension is amazing and my papers didn't tear at all. Huge fan!







With that, we've arrived to the last projects of the day! I've made these slimline cards with the super fun Illusion Heart Die Set. This heart reminded me of conversation hearts, which inspired my whole card design. The little sentiments were made with the Simple Greetings Die Set.







That's it! I hope I could inspire you in one way or another with today's cards.

Now for the fun part! 

Giveaway:
To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 10 winners - a total of $300 in prizes! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and each designer's blog post on the blog hop list below by January 11 2021, for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 12 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on January 13 2021.

Special Offers:
Altenew is running a free gift promotion to celebrate this release. There are 3 ways to get a freebie to kickstart your creativity:

Your next stop is the lovely Virginia Lu's blog!