Living an Inspired Life: July 2021

Jul 29, 2021

CREATE COLORFUL MEMORIES - Doodlebug Design

Have you heard the phrase, "The Happiest Place in the World"? Well, mine doesn't have an amusement park, instead is filled with paper, glue, paint, dinner plates and lots of pictures. We are talking about my dining room table, aka my crafting table. So what better way to document me in my happy place than using the gorgeous Cute & Crafty collection.

I started with the Bright Ideas paper as my background, and added a bit of color with inks and paint. I chose a soft rainbow for the background colors.

I simply framed my photo with a 6x6 paper, then placed it on the right side of the page atop the mixed media. Then it was all about using all the cute icons to embellish the page.

My idea was to at best color block the icons to the background. There are so many details in all the pieces, and it was hard to not choose all of them.

I used Chit Chat pieces and Abigail Alpha Stickers to complete the title, and tied all the page together with a small cluster of flowers from the new Bits and Pieces set. Don't you just love them all!!

The new Cute and Crafty collection is just perfect to document me at my happiest place! Remember to document you at your happiest place, especially if it has pretty paper, photos, and glue around!

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Supply List:

CUTE & CRAFTY collection

ABIGAIL Alpha Stickers -Beetle Black-

Jul 25, 2021

GAME NIGHT! - Simple Stories

Hi there!

Nathalie with you today to bring you a bit of inspiration featuring the new FAMILY FUN Collection from Simple Stories. I am sure that all of you have many memories of you and your family spending time together. Whether at the mini golf course, playing video games, or in my case laying on the carpet for long Scrabble sessions!, we all have those lovely memories to document. This new collection is so fun, it will make it so easy to bring those memories to your album...

Since, we love the tile look of the game, I decided to use the Simple Pages Template - Design 2 as the starting point for the page.

My idea was to create a frame out of the Page Template! I used a pencil to mark all the corners of the template and photos, and cut it from the Your Turn paper. I used a bit of foam adhesive to back each of the photo space ( this brings dimension to the layout) with papers from the collection. This was glued to an 11" Warm White Color Vibe basic paper framed by the Game Night paper ( I am continuing the frame look of the page this way!)

Next was all about filling the small frames. For the top 6x4 frame, I am using a 3x4 photo, and a few embellishments from the collection to fill up the space. All the embellishments fanning from the photo help to fill up the space and bring a bit of movement to the page .

For the bottom two spaces, I chose to use one to house a second photo. I made the image smaller, and used a bit of foam adhesive to attach it to the page. Then used the second open frame to add my journaling using embellishments from the collection.

I love the foam stickers, they are always the perfect way to create a title for any project. I chose the Game Night pieces and placed them along the vertical line of the design. Just love having the perfect space for the large title!

Just love how this page turned out, and how easy it came together once I pulled the Template as the base for my page. Remember to check the collection in your scrapbook store!

Jul 22, 2021

Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Fashion Monger Dahlia Outline Stamp Set Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there!

Welcomet to ALTENEW PAINT-A-FLOWER: FASHION MONGER DAHLIA OUTLINE STAMP SET RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY. You are arriving from Sandhya Yyer's blog. A list of all the participants is available at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

Today, we are celebrating the release of the new PAINT-A-FLOWER: FASHION MONGER DAHLIA Outline Stamp Set. This new stamp set is amazing. The flower design is perfect for all types of coloring mediums and paper crafting projects. Here is what I created with the stamp:

Of course my first thought is how can the stamp be incorporated into memory keeping, and this time it was all about fussy cutting it!

I stamped the outlines on heavy white cardstock with Obsidian ink, then used the Artist Quality Watercolor palette set to detail two of the bloom clusters.

I fussy cut the clusters off the cardstock, and placed them on its side on the top and bottom corner of the spread. This creates a nice diagonal design. Then it was all about adding my photo and journaling. I used the sentiments in the stamp set to create the title and add a few more details around the photo.

I love how this turned out, the design in the new PAF: FASHION MONGER DAHLIA was just perfect for this memory. Remember you can always receive the stamp set at your doorstep as part of the subscription program, just click here:

Of course we are celebrating the release with a GIVEAWAY:

Altenew will draw 7 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 07/30/2021.

Good Luck everyone!

Now it is time for your next stop: Terri Koszler's blog Remember you can always return to the Altenew blog to start the hop. Here is a list of all the participants, for your convenience:

Nathalie DeSousa <<< YOU ARE HERE

Have fun!

Jul 12, 2021

Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Seasonal Blooms Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hi there!

Welcome to ALTENEW CRAFT YOUR LIFE PROJECT KIT: SEASONAL BLOOMS RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY. You are arriving from Tenia's blog. A list of all the participants is available at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

Introducing our first-ever Craft Your Life Project Kit an exciting monthly package that is sure to get the creative juices flowing! Featuring a 6x8 stamp set, coordinating die set, as well as a stencil and embossing folder to fit the theme, this project kit has almost everything you need to start crafting. Just add ink and cardstock, and you'll be good to go!

This project kit contains the following exclusive products:

- one 6" x 8" clear stamp set containing 13 stamps made in the USA from high-quality photopolymer

- nine coordinating dies

- one coordinating simple coloring stencil set containing 3 stencils

- one 6x6 3D embossing folder

Such an amazing new kit that Altenew is releasing today. Its versatility is just perfect for all sorts of paper crafting. Let me show you what I have created:

I used the Layering stencil, stamp set and die to create the cover page for my May journal. It was so easy to just stamp the image, add ink and have it all done!

The design of the stamp set is so perfect to create cards with dimension, and very different from each other.

Following the same idea as for the cover page, i am using the stamp set and layering stencil to create a card. I chose yellows, and magenta for the colors of the flowers. The stamped sentiment in the center of the card just brings it all together.

For my last project, I am using the stamped outline image along the small floral images in this card. I chose to add the color to the background, and showcase the beauty of the design with the black and white stamping.

I just love this new CRAFT YOUR LIFE PROJECT KITS -Seasonal Bloom. You can also secure the kit, by subscribing to the program:

We are celebrating this release with prizes and a GIVEAWAY

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 07/18/2021 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 07/20/2021.

Good Luck everyone!

Now it is time to continue the inspiration hop. You are off to visit Verity Biddlecombe's blog. You can always return to Altenew Card blog to start the hop Here is a list of today's participants:

Nathalie DeSousa <<< you are here

Thanks for stopping by!

Jul 7, 2021

Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Daffodil & Glitter CardstockRelease Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there!

Welcome to ALTENEW CRAFT-A-FLOWER: DAFFODIL & GLITTER CARDSTOCK RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY. You are arriving from Terri Koszler's blog. A list of all the participants is available at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

It is the 7th of the month, which means time for the newest CRAFT-A-FLOWER: DAFFODIL Layering Die Set, but this time we have a new set of GLITTER CARDSTOCK also making its debut ( be sure to sign up for notifications of the restock of the cardstock!!!)

How awesome is today's release... Let me show you what I have created:

The new CAF: DAFFODIL is gorgeous!, and the movement on the stem and leaves was perfect for a slim-line card.

I used the Slim Rectangles Nesting Die set to create the card panels; then followed the CAF layering guide to build my flowers. I am using the new GLITTER CARDSTOCK SET( Ocean Reflections and Dazzling Diamonds) and the All About You words Die set to build the sentiment of the cards.

Of course, I couldn't resist all the GLITTER CARDSTOCK, and decided to use it all to create these rainbow cards along with the Color Bands Die Set.

For the first one, I used a periwinkle card panel and a sentiment from the Sisters of The Heart stamp set. I scattered clear sequin throughout the entire rainbow, too!

For this card, I am using a white card panel, and a sentiment from the Goals Stamp set. Just a few clear sequin were added to complete this card.

I love this new release, and I am sure you are going to do so, too. Remember to sign for notifications, so that you are informed when any new product arrives or is reordered. In addition, you can also subscribe to the CAF program to have the die delivered at home.

Of course we are celebrating the release with a GIVEAWAY

$200 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 5 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 07/13/2021 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 7 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 07/15/2021.

Good Luck everyone!

Now it is time to continue the hop. You are off to visit Svitlana's blog. Remember you can always return to the Altenew Card blog to start the hop. Here is the list of today's participants for your convenience:

Kelly Griglione

Linda Westfall

Natasha Davies

Thanks for stopping by!