"Our Stories" Mini Album

Mini albums.

I remember a time when they intimidated me. I mean, how in the world do you FIT everything into such a small space??

I've always been a really "full" scrapper...so being forced to hold back a little and focus on just a small handful of things per page was really tough for me. Since that time, I've made quite a few minis and though they are definitely one of the more time-consuming projects, they are now some of my favorites to do.

They are the type of project that can be set out, displayed, and enjoyed over and over again.

I recently created a mini to be used as a sample for a mini album kit offered in my shop. It's simple, pretty, uncomplicated, and allowed me to record some of my favorite memories from the past year.

Can I admit that I ALWAYS struggle with covers? Whether to title them or not? Photo or no? Always having to resist the urge to PILE on flowers and other stuff? Ugh. Keep it simple, Erin. It'll be fine.

I'm obsessed with gold foil- anything. Obsessed.

Well, obsessed with gold in general. And the itty bitty die cuts that come with the new Prima "Tales of You & Me" ephemera pack.

And tassels! Adorable.

Did I mention the collections used in this mini album? I combined Prima "Tales of You & Me" and Blue Fern Studios "Blush" & "Timeless", all new releases. They all went together so well :)

New chipboard birdie, also from "Tales of You & Me". I want to squeeze him :)

I had so much fun with this mini.

How about you? Minis- love them? Hate them? Somewhere in between? I've gone back and forth between my favorite type of project to do...for the longest time, it was layouts. Then it was tags. Now I'm not so sure.

What I do know is I'm loving being able to create for myself. Relaxed. Take my time. Although I am quite excited that I will soon be doing some new projects for Webster's :). I've had a bit of a break and I'm now ready to get back to it. Webster's has always had my heart :)

Anyways, I'll see you guys soon okay?

Take care.

NEW from Webster's Pages: Dream in Color!

Good morning! I hope the new month is off to a great start for you :) I'm checking in today with a couple of projects using the brand NEW "Dream in Color" collection from Webster's Pages! This one just couldn't get any more brighter or happier. What I love so much about Webster's is how their collections always reach my heart. From the images to the phrases to the colors. 

"You're My Favorite Work of Art"

I love that realistic imagery like the flower field of this "A Great Pair" paper is mixed in to this collection. It created the perfect backdrop for my always silly little girl :). I toned it down just a bit with some gesso before starting on my layers behind the photo.

The "Tag & Prompt Stickers" are always just what I need for my titles. I've never been good at constructing long titles, so to have one compacted in a pretty little way like this one here is right up my alley.

The mini banner was cut from the "Dream in Color" paper and paper punched.

 The "Storyteller Card Sheets" are great for cutting apart and adding to your layering. I also like to cut apart the paper straws like I did here.

Other Products Used:

Blue Fern Studios: chipboard doily

Prima: Flowers, Crystals

Next up, I've got a tag featuring the "Dream in Color" Collection as well!

"Make Today Pretty"

I may have mentioned previously that I'm really in love with purple at the moment- which is weird, because just a couple years back I remember chatting on a scrappy forum about our "nemesis colors"- and for me they were purple and orange. But nevertheless, I really love purple right now. So the "Field of Bliss" paper in this collection was the very first thing I grabbed when setting about making this tag. I love the gorgeous purple flowers with the golden hues against them- simply gorgeous.

I always endeavor to create the perfect bow treatment for my tags to suit the overall look of it. Here I've used some vintage lace along with some gold trim and purple jute twine. The owl charm is an old favorite from Webster's that I've been holding on to for quite some time :).

Again, the Tag & Prompt Stickers came to my rescue for the sentiment on this tag. And this one just so happened to perfectly match this paper ;). 

For the backdrop, I used a stunning chipboard piece from Blue Fern Studios. It was first primed with gesso before adding some embossing ink and then embossing powder from Shimmerz. Finally, some favorite new crystals from Prima.

Thank-you for taking a look at my projects today! If you haven't yet, be sure to check out this entire new collection- as well as the other new releases- from Webster's Pages. 

Take care!

Prima "The Archivist" Layout

Good morning! Hard to believe we're already half-way through January...although, being the first of the two coldest months of the year, I'm happy to see it go quickly :)

By now, you're well aware of the fabulous collections that Prima released for Winter CHA. "The Archivist" is one of them, and I'd like to share with you a layout that I created for CHA using this awesome new collection by Frank Garcia.

"Love"

Neutrals just simply do not go out of style! I love how versatile they are, especially for a rustic boy layout. My little guy Wyatt is simply in love with our many chickens, including this little girl who we affectionately call "Butterstuff". The vintage imagery available in this collection like the typewriters and clocks meld beautifully with the various florals, making it a range suitable for all styles and subjects!

Here are a couple of closeups:

Prima Products Used:

990220- Archivist Collection "Les Facons Dont Je T'aime"

990275- Archivist A4 Paper Pad

579524- Archivist Tag Me

579036- Archivist 4x6 Journaling Note Cards

578978- Archivist 3x4 Journaling Note Cards

579272- Archivist Clear Stamp

579395- Archivist Say it in Crystals

579586- Archivist Wood Icons

580469- Archivist Flowers

580506- Archivist Flowers

580476- Archivist Flowers

573836- Color Bloom Spray Mist- Tea Stain

573805- Color Bloom Spray Mist- Gold Foil

573829- Color Bloom Spray Mist- Worn Leather

961503- Art Ingredients Texture Paste- White Crackle

961596- Art Extravagance Glitter Set- Luminous

962562- Art Ingredients Micro Beads- Silver

962579- Art Ingredients Micro Beads- Copper

580001- 6x6 Stencil- Young Spring

962326- 7x9 Elementals Stencil- Dots & Stripes

 

 Thank-you for coming on over! I hope your week is off to a good start- take care of yourselves! :)

NEW Prima Winter CHA 2015: Bella Rouge Collection {Layout}

Good morning everyone!

As most scrappers know, Winter CHA is just around the corner. Which means all of our favorite companies are showing us their latest must-have collections and goodies! Prima, as always, has a fabulous lineup of products for us. They've been previewing over the last few weeks, and today I'd like to share with you a layout that I created featuring the new "Bella Rouge" Collection.

"Natural Beauty"

Not only is this collection absolutely classy and beautiful, but it's incredibly versatile too. And I am in love with the rich, warm color palette! On this layout, I started by toning down the background just a bit with some gesso. I then watered down some gesso a bit and used a paintbrush along with some very high tech flinging motions {insert sarcasm here} to create the random splatters. There are some new Color Bloom sprays released this time around as well, one for each collection. I've used {2} of them here: Empres Gold and Deep Teal.

Each collection offers a range of new flowers too- including these roses. I LOVE roses- they are always my favorites of the Prima flowers- and you get such a great selection of them here. I've dressed these ones up a bit with some of the new Prima Art Ingredients: micro beads, seed beads, and glitter. 

I may have mentioned in the past how much I love that the new wood icons are printed. This mirror piece here was great for adding my own touches to :) Behind the lovely lady you see one of Jamie Dougherty's new Bloom Collection stencils- isn't it awesome?! And some "Empress Gold" Color Bloom spray.

 More new flowers and leaves, as well as one of the new collection brads. Perfect for that extra special little touch!

Prima Products used:

847111- Bella Rouge Collection "Les Amours"

847319- Bella Rouge A4 Paper Pad

579487- Bella Rouge Tag Me

579357- Bella Rouge Say it in Crystals

579296- Bella Rouge Brads

578930- Bella Rouge 3x4 Journaling Note Cards

579111- Bella Rouge Cling Stamps

580582- Bella Rouge Flowers

580537- Bella Rouge Flowers

580575- Bella Rouge Flowers

580513- Bella Rouge Leaves

579548- Bella Rouge Wood Icons

580315- Color Bloom Spray Mist- Empress Gold***NEW

580322- Color Bloom Spray Mist- Deep Teal***NEW

962579- Art Ingredients Micro Beads- Copper

962586- Art Ingredients Micro Beads- Bronze

962623- Art Ingredients Micro Beads- Grass

961596- Art Extravagance Glitter Set- Luminous

980429- Bloom Collection 6x12 Stencil- Circles

573584- Trim

Thank-you for visiting today! I hope your weekend is off to a great start :)

Life is Full of Wonderful: A New Layout for Webster's Pages

Good morning! It's been a busy behind-the-scenes month of creating for me as CHA is just around the corner, but I am here today to share with you a layout and a card that I made for Webster's Pages using the "Nest" Collection. This collection has rapidly become one of my all time faves! Bold colors, an array of patterns, motifs, etc- all come together for one versatile collection that easily suits every style!

First up, I have my layout which features my sweetheart of a daughter:

"Life is Full of Wonderful"

I wanted a sugary, frosted feel for this layout :). A bit of gesso toned down the background before I applied some masking with modeling paste and a sprinkling of microbeads and Prima glitters. Layers of cards cut from the "Nest" collection created the base for my photo.

I've used some of the collection cardstock stickers like the vintage telephone one here, as well as a jewel from a Webster's Pages bookmark.

I love the variety of paper straws- such cute, fun additions to any project!

This resin cameo is perfect for accenting a sweet little girl layout :)

Another resin piece from a Webster's Pages cameo set, I love the pennant shape and cute font :)

A Blue Fern Studios chipboard frame pulled the whole photo grouping together. I painted it white and sprinkled on some Prima glitter to give it some shine.

Webster's Pages Products Used:

Nest Collection Paper: Home With You

Nest Collection Paper: Special Places

Nest Collection Paper: Tickled

Nest Word 4x8 Sticker

Nest Memory Pockets & Labels

Love Bundle of Straws

Party Time Bundle of Straws

Chipboard Sticker Board- Our Travels

Cameo: Pink Party Gift

Charm: Camera

I also have a card that I would like to share with you, also using the Nest Collection. This one is a bit more tame :)

"She Follows Her Heart"

As mentioned, I just love the diversity available in this collection. I love the chevrons, feathers, bold colors, etc and lots of white too! I tried to contrast them here with just enough layers to create a simple yet fab card :)

I'm a bit obsessed with tulle lately :) I've tucked in a classic Webster's Pages ruffle ribbon trim to pull together the pinks. 

Webster's Pages Products Used:

Nest Collection Papers

Ruffle Trim

I hope that you are all doing good and that life is treating you as it should ;)

Take care,

A Touch of Gold w/Webster's Pages

Good morning!

Today I'm going to share a tag that I created for Webster's Pages using their brand new "All That Glitters" collection, designed by Brandin O'Neill. Though this is a holiday line, I chose to create a non-holiday project, focusing on GOLD! I love gold, don't you? So I added some bits of glitz and glam to make this layered tag extra pretty :).

"Love" Tag

Clearly, this collection has plenty of awesome golden details as you can see from the papers and motifs. I love the contrast of pink with gold, so I added just a touch of that in there as well.

As usual, I include plenty of layers in the bottom portion of my tag, alternating between paper and gorgeous trims like these from Webster's Pages. I've also sprinkled on some glass beads and glass glitter from Prima.

This classic tinsel trim is also From Webster's. I love including multiple trims in my bow topper treatment and I like them to be a little bit messy, too, for a pretty shabby chic feel. My flower cluster includes all new flowers and leaves from Prima's Summer CHA release.

The framed "Love" motif was given dimension with foam adhesive to not only allow the flowers to be tucked behind but to really make it the centerpiece of my tag.

Webster's Pages Products Used:

Glitter 12x12 Paper Pad

Loved Vellum

Reflect- All that Glitters

Deer Ones- All that Glitters

Our Traditions- All that Glitters

Thanks for visiting!

 

Prima: Featuring NEW Wood Icons!

Today's post is all about the new release wood icons from Prima! I must say I am absolutely in love with the fact that some of these come printed. If you're short on time (as I am MOST of the time), this is an absoulte time saver when it comes to wanting to dress up your wood icons. It's already done for you!

"Fall Tag"

I've used lots of "Cigar Box Secrets" goodies here! The "Special" sentiment is one such printed wood icon- isn't it awesome? I love it so much! The crown wood icon a little further up was actually flipped to the backside for the raw look :)

Hand-cut details, tons of new release flowers, and bling went into this tag. I really went for a blend of colors that would compliment the change of seasons here...

Prima Products Used: 847012 Cigar Box Secrets A4 Pad, 846824 Epiphany- Striking Appearance, 576066- Cigar Box Secrets- Wood Icons, 576370- Forever Green- Crochet Icons, 577049- Lace Trim- Champagne, 578596- Cigar Box Secrets- Humidor, 578602- Cigar Box Secrets- Maduro, 578633- Cigar Box Secrets- Volado, 577742- Rodanthe- Sand Bank, 578275- Providence- Paprika, 577506- Melbourne- Rainforest, 577537- Melbourne- Outback, 578220- Capri- Merlot

Follow along on the Prima blog all week for these fabulous embellishments and more!

Have a wonderful day!

Prima: August PPP!

Good morning :)

I'd like to share with you today the card I created for this month's Prima Product Picks :)

"Daydreaming About Us"

I've combined lots of new products on this card; papers from Coffee Break & Epiphany collections, Color Bloom sprays, lots of beautiful new flowers, new trim, and a sweet 3D embellishment from Epiphany for my sentiment.

Such a stunning pastel palette and so many goodies from which to be inspired!!

Here are some closeups of my card:

I'm so pleased with all the glitter available in the new flowers! Who doesn't love a little extra sparkle?? And all the roses...roses are my favorite Prima flowers :)

The jute trims are awesome for getting that unkempt look on your projects!

Prima Products Used: 846701 Cofee Break Collection "Coffeeology", 846732 Coffee Break Collection "Fill it to the Rim", 846862 Epiphany Collection "Words to Live By", 576257 Epiphany 3D Stickers, 573782 Color Bloom- Soft Teal, 891725 Chalk Edger- Pastel Pink, 577070 Weave Trim "Buff", 576875 Jute Trim- Wheat, 577612 Manhattan- Times Square, 577957 Sarasota- Peaceful, 577711 Winthrop- Tourmaline, 577759 Rodanthe- Esplanade, 578596 Cigar Box Secrets- Humidor, 573157 Cartogra

I hope you get the chance to join us this month! Hope to see you there :)!