Jan 31, 2020

DIY MEMORIES - Simple Stories




Hi friends!
Nathalie here with a new layout all about my crafty life.   I have been blessed to be part of the Simple Stories Creative Team for the past three years and are delighted to come back for  a new term ( so happy to have been invited back.  So, what better way to celebrate this new term than documenting the moment with the new Hey Crafty Girl collection.



I started this page by creating a very colorful background.  For this i reached for the Sky Dots basic paper as the background for the page.  Then added a bit of mixed media just to help me add a touch of art to the page.



My design choice was to create large triangles of paper on the top and bottom edges of the paper.  I layered the Happy and Crafty paper on top of the Create Beauty.  These were then glued to the background forming the large triangles you see in the page.




Next, i backed the picture with the So Artsy paper and then glued it on to the top left side of  the page.   Then started using Bits and pieces, Journaling Bits and Pieces, stickers, chipboard stickers to create clusters around the picture making sure to stretch them past the triangle shape.  So many cute embellishments made this so easy to put together.




All that was left to do was add a large title to the page.   I started with the large crafty girl image on the chipboard stickers - this helps balance the page- and then used the Bits and Pieces to add the title next to her.   A few extra embellishments complete the title.  All that was left to do was add my lines of journal and a few sequins all over the page.




I love how this page turned out!  The colors and designs in the collection are so cute and versatile.  What better way to document the start of this new term with Simple Stories than to use the new Hey Crafty Girl for it.  Remember to check it out, you are going to love it!
XO




Jan 29, 2020

REMEMBER - JustNick Studio




Hi there!
Nathalie with you today bringing you a new layout that is all about spring and new life.   My hubby and i are so blessed to be Godparents to my cousin's ( she is like a little sister to me) two daughters.  The littlest one just turned one a few days ago, so i used her birthday portrait to create this page using some of the JustNick cut files.





The inspiration for this page was her outfit, so i set to create a background that will make the picture pop.






I used a bit of Vicki Boutin Watercolor markers for the background and created a soft watercolor frame.  A bit of gold ink just adds pop of shimmer on the page.  Once it dried, I cut a few of the REMEMBER FLORAL cut file images from white cardstock and set them on the background.


 


To create the title of the page, i used the REMEMBER cut file to cut the word from white cardstock and backed the spaces with a paper from the Dear Lizzy She is Magic collection.




I set the word on the left side of the page on top of the floral die cut pieces. I used a piece of the floral cut out to add an extra accent to the left of the title.





I used the other piece of the die cut to add as a layer behind the picture.  All that was left to do was add a few embellishments throughout the page (all from the same collection).





I love how soft and vibrant the page turned out, and i hope  it inspires you to document some of your memories.  Remember to check the JustNick Studio shop for these and more beautiful cut files.

XO

Jan 27, 2020

HELLO BEAUTIFUL - Scrapbook Nerd



Hi there

I love paper, and usually Heidi Swapp collections are my favorite, so i asked my friends at Scrapbook Nerd if they could order the collection, and i love how they are able to accommodate your preorders.  So i am using it today to share this page on their youtube channel.



I started with a cut file from Handipaper, and cut it three times from white cardstock -making one frame larger than the rest-.  I used the papers in the collection to back the frames.




I backed the larger polaroid with a picture of my daughter, and used the specialty paper to back the frame picture spaces.   Before setting on the background, i added a bit of white paint  to haze the background.




The images are set on the background with foam adhesive.  Since the frames are delicate, i wanted to keep the decorations to a minimum, and just added a few details around them.





I used the vellum foiled pieces to create the title, and then added a few stars around the page.  The background was trimmed and then framed with a paper from the collection.





The final touch were a few sprinkles of white paint and copper color shine.  I love how this turned out, and how easy it came together.  You can see the entire process in the following video:




Don't forget to check Scrapbook Nerd for the materials used in this page, they are amazing at ordering your products.  If you have questions on how this came together, please do not hesitate to contact me!

XO


Jan 24, 2020

ALTENEW JANUARY 2020 STAMP/DIE/STENCIL RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY



Hi there!
Welcome to the ALTENEW JANUARY 2020 STAMP/DIES/STENCIL RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY. You are arriving from Nicole Watt's blog  ( a list of all the participants is available at the bottom of this post).



I am so excited to join in today's release as there are a new set of possibilities being open with these Altenew goodies. With so much to chose from, i created quite a few projects, so let's get started:


Sweet Golden Hour




The new Wild Flora Stamp and Die set were used to create this layout about that magical hour of the day.   The delicate and intricate design in the flowers is just precious, so i decided to stamp a few of the images onto white heavy cardstock using Black Obsidian Pigment ink.  






To emphasize the details of the Wild Flora stamped images, i used my blending brushes to add a few touches of Sugar Plums and Fall Harvest mini ink sets on the background of a 8.5x11 paper.  I attached this to a 12x12 piece of fuchsia cardstock, and then added the picture and florals to create a diagonal design on the page.





To finish the page, i added a few touches of gold around the picture, and a title made with the Script Words 3 die set and plum cardstock.    The small gems and sequin on the page help to guide your eye through the simple but gorgeous flowers.  Just love how this came together.


Plant Lady




As soon as i saw the new Bold Drape stamp set and the Mod Vases Stamp/Die/Stencil set, i knew i can easily combine them to create a layout about my plant-loving-mom.     I started by creating the background for the layout using the Bold Drape Stamp set and Silverstone crisp ink.




To make the color of the flower pot stand out, i stamped the single floral images with Spring Bouquet set inks, and fussy cut them out.   I used the Mod Vase Die set to cut a few of the vases out of white cardstock.    I aligned the Mod Vase Stencil set on top of each of the vases, and mask an area with washi tape, then added a bit of Industrial Diamond ink to the vases.   All that was left to do is add foam adhesive and complete the page with them.  Simple and colorful!


He is Nine





Who doesn't love a versatile background stamp!   The new Tartan stamp set is amazing and gives you so many options to customize your one-of-a-kind background.  I decided to combine two layouts into one by combining the colors in the tartan print and decorations.




I chose Lapis Lazuli and  Red Sunset mini ink sets as well as Black Obsidian ink to create the first Tartan background on white cardstock.  I used the print to back the picture and cut the large heart (using the Halftone Hearts Die set).  I set all of this on gray cardstock and added embellishments to match the colors.



For the second page, i chose to vary the colors of the Tartan design, and used Limestone ink for the background of the background.   This time i cut the heart from the same cardstock as the background of the first layout, and added blue behind the picture.  I chose to cut the Congrats Frame die four times from white cardstock.  The newDie Cutting Metal Shim is perfect to obtain a crisp image of the frames.



I cut the word  out of the frame stacked them together, and used it as decoration for the layouts.  The Tartan stamp set is so versatile, a real must have!


Hello 44





I love simple large outline stamps, as you can customize them to create your own designs, so i pulled the new Incredible Stamp/Die set to create this page about my latest celebration.




The flowers in the Incredible Stamp set are amazing, but there are no leaves to match the set, so i decide to use the Retro Plantines stamp set to white emboss a frame all around the layout.     I added a soft color background using  inks and my ink blending brush, and then added the embossed images,  These create a soft textured background for the page.





While the background set, i used Enchanted Gold Ink and Crystal Clear embossing powder to create the outline of each of the flowers.  Though Alcohol markers are not my favorite way of coloring, i decided to detail each of the flowers with the teal markers from Altenew Artist Marker set D.  





I used the cake toppers to create the title of the page, and then used the Hello sentiment from the Retro Plantines stamp set to complete the title work.


Remember That Day





This is probably my favorite layout of this release.  I combined the Rounded Rectangles Die Set and Simple Beauty Stamp and Die set to create this page about a very special soul, Brandi Kinkaid.





I used the Rounded Rectangles die set to create all the wonky frames that form the background from a Our Family collection paper.  A bit of foam adhesive help to keep them in place.   The color in Brandi's shirt was the inspiration for the page  and the colors in the flowers ( Sweet Dream and Summer Afternoon Ink sets).    The following video will show you how this page came together:





Oh, how i love this page, and Brandi, too!   I think the new releases are some of my most favorite stamp sets.  There is such versatility and variety in design that i cannot wait to see how you all will use the sets in your projects.


Now,  it is time for the  funnest part of this blog hop:  GIVEAWAY TIME!


To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or Altenew Scrapbook Blog by 1/30/2020 for a chance to win.

We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $20 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 blogs on 2/2/2020. 


Good Luck everyone!


 This is all for me!  It is time to hop onto Amber's blog to see her gorgeous work.   You can always return here to complete the loop, or stop at the Altenew Card Blog  to start the loop,  Here is a list of all the participants - for your convenience-






Thank you so much for visiting!

XO

Jan 22, 2020

ALTENEW PAINT-A-FLOWER: POPPY RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY


Hello everyone!
Welcome to the ALTENEW PAINT-A-FLOWER: POPPY RELEASE BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY!  You are arriving from the Altenew Scrapbook Blog ( a list of all the participants is available at the bottom of this post).



Today, i am so excited to take part of the first blog hop for Altenew's new subscription program, PAINT-A-FLOWER.   This new subscription will provide you with a monthly stamp set (delivered at your door step) that you can customize using your favorite color techniques or practicing new color techniques. 



Though i love making cards, my favorite way of using Altenew products is to document memories in my scrapbooks and Life Crafted albums (Citrus Twist kits).  So, i used the stamp set to create this new entry.



I used Vicki Boutin Foundation paper as the base for the flower.  These were stamped with Altenew's Antique Gold Pigment ink, and heat embossed with Crystal clear embossing powder.  I created a mask of the image so that i could combine the three images on the page.




I used the Altenew 36 Watercolor pan set to detail/color each of the poppies.   I started with a color wash in each petal,and then  build up the color by adding more pigment to the nooks and crannies, making sure to pull the color to the center of the petal.



Though the coloring of the flowers took time, i enjoyed relaxing and coloring away.  Once this was done, all i added was a soft black watercolor wash to the entire page (making sure to puddle extra pigment under the leaves and flowers) and completed the page with a sentiment from the Fancy Greetings stamp set - that serves  as a title-.  The following video will show you how it all came together:





I love how this page turned out, even after a bit of commotion here at home.   Now it is time for the best thing about the blog hop: GIVEAWAY TIME


  • To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or Altenew Scrapbook Blog by 1/28/2020 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 Card Blog on 1/30/2020.



Good Luck!





Before you hop until the next stop, let me just show you the advantage of subscribing to the new Altenew PAF system.  This is a monthly subscription plan for our Paint-A-Flower. When signed up, you are guaranteed a spot in our monthly Paint-A-Flower releases and will receive a set each month - at a specially discounted price! ($15.99 →$12.99)


It is now time to hope onto Laura Jane's blog to see how she color her images.  You can always return here to start the loop.     A list of all the participants is available for your convenience