Living an Inspired Life: October 2020

Oct 29, 2020

GO, SEE, RIDE - Simple Stories

Hi there Simple Stories friends!

Nathalie with you today to share a new layout using the beautiful and fun new Say Cheese Main Street Collection. This collection is perfect to document all the fun activities at the park, but how about all the memories leading to getting there? Well, the collection works perfect for all types of memories. Let me show you!

To start, I used a template to cut the outline of the mouse's ears from Grey Dots Basic set and then handstitched a border around the outline. In the meanwhile, I used an alpha digital cut file to electronically cut the words, "MAGIC" and "FUN" from a few of the papers from the collection. Using the negative outline of the cut out and a pencil, I lightly drew the image onto Color Vibe Basics - Cream paper. A bit of foam adhesive and a ruler helped to attached all the words to the inside of the pencil lines. Once all the words were attached, then I glued the stitched outline paper on the background. This creates the illusion of an outline filled with fun words.

Since the background is embellishing the page already, I simply added some of the 3x4 and 4x4 cut apart cards as layers behind the picture and then used some of the super cute die cuts, stickers, foam adhesives to create clusters at the corners of the picture. I used the small black foam sticker to add the title for this page to the left of the photo.

To balance the page, I created a small cluster at the top right corner of the large ears outline. There are so many fun phrases in the Sticker tablet and 12x12 combo sheet that it made it so easy to embellish the page. To connect the page together, I added small stars to some of the words, making sure they softly connect the clusters together.

I love how this turned out, and the look of the background of this page. Remember to check the SAY CHEESE MAIN STREET collection, you are going to love the possibilities of these designs!

Oct 22, 2020

Altenew Paint-A-Flower: SUNFLOWER & Woodless Watercolor Pencils Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hi there!

Welcome to ALTENEW'S PAINT-A-FLOWER: SUNFLOWER & WOODLESS PENCILS RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY. You are arriving from Laura Jane's blog. You can find the list of all the participants at the bottom of this post.

Today, Altenew is introducing a new flower to their popular PAINT-A-FLOWER collection. The new PAF: SUNFLOWER is beautiful, detailed, and perfect for all types of documenting. In addition, Altenew is also releasing a set of WOODLESS WATERCOLOR PENCILS ( and these are amazing!)

For my first project. I chose to create a card, using the WOODLESS Watercolor pencils to create a watery look for the Sunflower stamping.

I literally color the stamp set with the watercolor pencils, spray water on the scribbled lines and stamp the image. All the left over watercolor in the stamp creates soft puddles on the image giving it a more organic watercolor look. To finish I stamped the PAF: SUNFLOWERS with Obsidian ink on top of the watercolor ones. A simple sentiment completes the card.

For my layout, I chose to create a watercolor wash at the corners of the layout using the Watercolor pencils. I mixed a few shades of yellow with a bit of green to resemble the color of the balcony.

Once it dried, I used the PAF:Sunflower to stamp the flowers -with Espresso Ink- atop the dried watercolor. The sentiments in this new set are beautiful and created the perfect title for my page. Super easy and love how these turned out

I am sure that you are all excited to check the new releases, remember you can always subscribe to the program and secure the new PAF Releases.

Of course no Blog hop is complete without a GIVEAWAY

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 10/28/2020 for a chance to win. We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 10/30/2020.

Good Luck everyone!

Now it is time to hop onto Jennifer Colaccico's blog. You can always return to the Altenew Card Blog to start the hop. A list of today's participants is available at the bottom of this post.

Nathalie DeSousa <<< You are here

Thanks for Visiting!

Oct 19, 2020

Altenew Winter Essentials Stand-alone Dies Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hi there!

Welcome to Altenew's Winter Essentials Stand-Alone Dies Release Blog Hop + Giveaway. You are arriving from Vicki Pappaioannou's blog. A list of all of today's participants is available at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

Today Altenew is releasing a new set of stand alone dies that are amazing!! These are perfect for all sorts of paper crafting, Holiday cards and memory keeping. Let me show you what I have created...

My first project features the new LACY PANEL DIE , ESSENTIAL STRIPS DIE SET, and the LINEAR PATHWAY ALPHA SOLID DIE SET in a new entry for my Family Album. I chose a paper from the Reflection collection for the background, and used the Alpha die set to cut part of my title along the left side of my page. Once i added the picture, I completed my title with chipboard alphas from the Enjoy Your Ride collection.

I created a LACY PANEL die cut (from the same paper) and used it to create a pocket, and stitched in place. I used the Terrific Tags die set to create the basis for my picture and journal tags. Finally, I used the ESSENTIAL STRIPS DIE SET to create a small sentiment as a subtitle for the pocket.

I love the new LINEAR PATHWAY SOLID AND OUTLINE BUNDLE DIE SET. It creates the perfect title in a fun and clean way. I decided to use the die set to create the title for this new layout. To start, I pulled papers from the Celebrate collection and then used the ESSENTIAL SENTIMENT STRIPS DIE SET to cut a few of the strips and form the background for the page. I simply glued them to the edge of the paper, making sure that I centered the title in the page.

Since I had a few pictures of my son's workout routine, I decided to create a small interactive flap to house all the pictures on the page. I simply added a few of the ESSENTIAL SENTIMENT STRIPS Die cuts as subtitles for the picture. Easy peasy!

If you have seen my work before, then you might know that I do lots of daily documenting. So, I am always trying to find ways to create quick pages in my albums. So, the new LAYERED GIFT Tags were perfect to create simple one page layouts in a jiffy!

I pulled the new LAYERED GIFT TAG - PRESENT DIE SET to create a few of the die cuts from cardstock. I layered this as cascading down the page, and added the picture of my little sister's virtual birthday party. A simple title made from alphas and one of the Essential Sentiments Strip die cuts completes the page.

For the other side of the spread, I chose the LAYERED TAG - HEART DIE SET to create the background and part of the title for the spread. I cut the two tags from different shades of the same color family and layered them, so that I could nestle the picture within them. A few extra decorations complete the page. Simple, colorful and easy!

Of course, I had to create a few cards with some of these amazing dies. For this card, I glued paper strips to a piece of paper, and then used the HAPPY HOLIDAYS SCRIPT DIE SET to cut the sentiment. I created the card panel and attached the sentiment and covered it completely with glossy accents. A few jewels and a bow die cut from the MANTEL DECOR - WINTER DIE SET completes the card.

For my next card, I used the LAYERED TAGS - CAKE DIE SET to cut create the die cuts from white cardstock and vellum. I layered them together, then attached them to a card panel made with colorful paper strips. A few sequin complete my card... super CAS, and I love it!

I am not a card maker, but there are those times when you want a special card for someone, and the best choice is always to craft it. This is what I did for this card using the new LAYERED TAGS - ONESIE DIE SET .

I created the card panel with the Woven Stencil, a bit of ink and Altenew's small Ink Blending tools so that it had an ombre effect. I used the die set and cut the detailed die from white cardstock. I used a piece of yellow paper to back the letter space, and attached it with foam adhesive to the panel. I use the Layered Floral Element die set to cut a few flowers and clustered them around the onesie. Just love how it turned out! and so did my cousin!!!

I hope these have inspired you to check all the new dies available, I am yet to use the rest of the release, but there are ideas brewing in my head for them already. Now it is time for the fun part of this blog hop:

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 10/25/2020 for a chance to win.

We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 10/27/2020.

Good Luck everyone!

Now it is time to continue being inspired. You are off to visit Keisha Charles to check her gorgeous creations. Remember you can always start the blog hop by visiting the Altenew card blog. Here is the list of all the blog hop participants:

Nathalie DeSousa <<< You are here

Thanks for visiting!!!

Oct 12, 2020

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN - Simple Stories

Nathalie with you today to share a new Halloween inspired layout. Though my kids are teenagers now, and not a fan of the holiday, I still have lots of their snapshots when they were little ones and loved dressing up and going out to trick-or-treat around the neighbourhood. So, when I opened the new BOO CREW collection, I quickly pulled one of their photo session shots for this page.

I started this page by creating the spiderweb background. For this, I used the Spiderweb and Spider cut file ( #301895) from Simple Stories; I copy and welded three of the spiderweb designs. This was cut from the Happy Haunting Paper using a Silhouette Cameo.

A bit of foam adhesive behind the die cut brings dimension and interest to the background. I chose the Aspen Notebook Sn@p Basics paper as the base for the layout as it brought a soft distress look to the page.

To make the picture pop from the page, I used a few of the 4x6 and 4x4 cut apart cards as layers behind it. Then used foam adhesive to attach it to the background. There are so many beautiful embellishments in this collection that it was so easy to build clusters at the corners of the pictures.

To finish the page, I combined words from both the Chipboard and Foam stickers to create my title. Then used the coordinating stamp to add a few stamped sentiments all around the page. Finally, I added a few of the Chipboard and ephemera bats around the spiderwebs.

I love how this turned out, and how easily it came together with the fun Simple Stories' BOO CREW collection. I am sure you are going to love documenting your memories with it, too!

XO,

Nathalie

Oct 7, 2020

Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Rose Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there!

Welcome to ALTENEW'S CRAFT-A-FLOWER: ROSE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY. You are arriving from Tenia Nelson's blog. You can find a list of all the participants at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

Today, Altenew is releasing their new subscription flower. Welcome CRAFT-A-FLOWER: ROSE. This new die set is amazing, detailed and so easy to layer that will make your flowers come together in a flash. Let me show you what I have created for this hop:

I used the CAF: ROSE to create a new layout in my Family Album. I cut the flowers from light purple and pink cardstock and created about 3 roses from each color.

I used four of the die cut flowers to create a corner design on the page. The flowers are large enough to create a large cluster on the page. All that was left to do was add my lines of journal and small sentiment to this part of the spread.

I used the two left over flowers to create a cluster at the top corner of the page. I made sure to back the picture with a paper from the Reflections collection - this will make it pop from the page - and then used the Kind Reminders stamp set to add a few sentiments to the page.

I love how easy this page came together and the impact the die cut flowers create on this spread. Remember to check the new CAF:ROSE in the Altenew Shop. You can always sign up for the subscription program, which will secure you receive the new CAF die set each month.

Craft-A-Flower Monthly Subscription Plan l https://altenew.com/products/craft-a-flower-monthly-subscription

This is a monthly subscription plan for our Craft-A-Flower die set. When signed up, you are guaranteed a spot in our monthly Craft-A-Flower releases and will receive a set each month - at a specially discounted price! ($35.99 →$29.99)

And now, it is time for the fun part of this blog, GIVEAWAY

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 10/12/2020 for a chance to win.

Altenew will also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 10/15/2020.

Good Luck everyone!

It is time to continue being inspired, and you are off to visit Dana Joy' s blog. You can always hop onto the Altenew Card blog to start the hop. Here is a list of today's participants:

Nathalie DeSousa <<< YOU ARE HERE

Dana Joy