My Favorite Layouts of 2014

I love the end of the year because it gives me a great excuse to go back and look at all the crafty things I've done this year.  I love to wrap up my favorites and share them on my blog.  In no particular order, here are my favorite layouts from 2014:

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Yes, this one eeked it's way in after just being created a few days ago.  Original post here.

So, yes, I clearly love white backgrounds, bright colors and a "smattering" of stuff, whether that stuff be paint or sequins or enamel dots.  It feels good to have found a style that I'm comfortable with.  :O)

Do you do wrap-up posts like this?  If so, please share.  I LOVE them, so I promise I'll visit!!

For full product lists, click on the "original post" links below each photo.

Project Life GIVEAWAY!

Hey, y'all!  I haven't done a giveaway in forever.  I'm trying to de-clutter a bit heading into the new year, so now's the time.  

I currently have way more Project Life cards than I can possibly use in a lifetime, so I'm doing a big giveaway over on Instagram!  Head on over & tag a friend to enter.  Giveaway closes on Sunday night!

The Cut Shoppe December Challenge

Hi, everyone!  I hope you had a very merry Christmas (or a nice day off of work if you don't celebrate Christmas)!  

I think I've mentioned it before, but I love holiday weekends because it gives me lots of extra scrap time.  I love that I'm able to "scrap for fun."  For this round of scrapping for fun, I decided to participate in The Cut Shoppe's December challenge  I was lucky enough to win a bunch of cut files from a recent contest and I just had to immediately play.

This month they had a color challenge:

I used my favorite new cut file to create this layout and added in some buttons inspired by the challenge photo:

Love the end results!  Aren't those hearts awesome?  I need to use my Silhouette more...

What fun creative stuff are you getting up to this weekend?

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Studio Calico, American Crafts; Cut File: The Cut Shoppe; Alphas: American Crafts; Chipboard, Stickers: Heidi Swapp; Sequins: Studio Calico, Lawn Fawn; Buttons: Studio Calico

Inspired by Echo Park

Good morning, everyone!  I am popping by to share a layout that I had posted up on the Clique Kits' Blog yesterday.  It was my last project made with the December kit.  I've said it before, but I really LOVED working with this kit. I think it's my favorite kit of all time!!

For this layout I was inspired by the fun Echo Park Creative Agenda collection.  I loved the water-colored elements so I replicated them onto my layout.

For a full how-to, check out the Clique Kits blog.  Also, almost all the items in the Clique Kits store are marked down (some stuff up to 50% off!!) and if use code KAT10 you get an extra 10% off on top of that - check it out and do a little Christmas shopping for yourself ;-)

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Heidi Swapp; Alphas: Evalicious, Fancy Pants Designs; Chipboard: Echo Park; Die Cuts: Heidi Swapp

Happy Mail Monday || Purple Package

Hey, everyone!  I have sent out another happy mail package.  This week I focused on the recipient's favorite color: purple.  I had SO MUCH fun putting this little package together - plus I really love paint chips, so any excuse to use them makes me happy.

I used a bunch of fun Curtsey Boutique goodies to put this package together - that pretty stuff never gets old!

I also decorated my mailing envelope a little bit.  But seriously, I need to work on the outer packaging a bit more!

If you're interested in being happy mail "pen pals", shoot me an email at kraftykat9@gmail.com ! 

Supplies: Brown Paper Bag, Doily, Book Page Star, Glitter Star, Shipping Tag: Curtsey Boutique; Phrase Sticker: Heidi Swapp; Pink Bag: Pebbles; Star Clip: Two Peas in a Bucket; Sequins: Fancy Pants Designs; Twine: My Mind's Eye; Alphas: American Crafts

Doodlebug Design Application

Hey, everyone!  Happy, happy Friday!  I love Fridays!  Reaching the end of the work week is one of the best feelings.

I'm popping in today to share my projects for my Doodlebug Design DT application.  I didn't make the team (sad face), but I did have a lot of fun creating the projects for my application.  Here's what I submitted:

A card: 

A project life spread:

Some Christmas gift tags:

This layout (which I previously shared here):

And this layout (which I previously shared here):

I adore Doodlebug's products - the fun, colorful collections and touch of glitter embellishments fit in perfectly with my style.  In fact, I just refilled my Doodlebug embellishment stash in preparation for this application, so you will see a lot of their products showing up on my work here within the next few weeks.

Thanks for stopping in!

Card: Cardstock: Bazzill; Everything else: Doodlebug Design

Tags: Tags: Curtsey Boutique; Twine: My Mind's Eye; Everything else: Doodlebug Design

Project Life Spread: Page Protectors: Becky Higgins (Designs F & I); Wood Veneers: Freckled Fawn; Sequins: Lawn Fawn; Everything else: Doodlebug Design

Layout 1: Doilies: The Curtsey Boutique; Everything else: Doodlebug Design

Layout 2: Cardstock: Bazill; Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Doodlebug Design; Brads, Frame: Crate Paper; Alphas: American Crafts, Studio Calico; Tag, Doilies, Stars, Sequins: The Curtsey Boutique, Chipboard Stars: Studio Calico

Clique Kits' December Pep Rally

Hey, everyone!!  It's time for the monthly Clique Kits' pep rally.  I loved the December kit so much - I ended up creating 4 layouts, 2 project life spreads and a gift tag...and I still have a ton of stuff left over - that's definitely some bang for the buck!

For this month's pep rally, I went with the "anything goes" theme.  I had a picture of my Granny and I from her 100th birthday party (yes - 100!) that I really wanted to scrap.  The pretty Heidi Swapp floral paper was the perfect pattern to use on my layout:

Seriously.  This kit is AWESOME!!

Here's the full line-up for today's pep rally:

Clique Kits

Gia

Jody 

Erica

Lacey

Mariah

Alisha

Stephanie

Kat (that's me!)

Charity

Nicole

Marcia

Danielle

I hope you're able to hop and see all the awesome inspiration.  The CK team and subbies are all so talented!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Mistable Diecuts: Heidi Swapp; Mist: Heidi Swapp, Tattered Angels; Alphas: Pink Paislee, Fancy Pants; Enamel Dots: Basic Grey; Twine: My Mind's Eye

Happy Mail Monday

Have you heard of the happy mail project?  It's not an active website anymore, but it's still chock-full of happy mail inspiration.  Recently, I've become a tad bit obsessed with  happy mail.  I signed up for Bonita Rose's Happy Mail Swap and sent my very first bit of happy mail last week.  Have a look:

I put all this stuff in a boring yellow shipping envelope...I'm going to have to work on my outer packaging a bit :)  It was so much fun to put together a little package to send someone...and it's another fun way for me to express my creativity...seriously, I'm addicted.

I'm looking for more happy mail "pen pals".  If you're interested, just email me at kraftykat9@gmail.com.

Have a happy Monday!

Bags: Pebbles, Webster's Pages; Tag: The Curtsey Boutique; Wood Veneer, Stamp, Confetti: Studio Calico; Twine: My Mind's Eye; PL Card: Becky Higgins

December Daily 2014

Hey, everyone!  I'm up on the Clique Kits blog today sharing some of my pages for this year's December Daily.  I've never used a kit for my DD before, but I really should have.  It makes the whole process so much easier!!  Here is a look at some of my pages so far this year:

I've been keeping it simple this year and I'm loving the results.  My prep work in November has also made the project much easier to tackle.

How's your holiday album coming along?

The Studio || Childhood Photos Challenge

Good morning, everyone!  Hope you had a nice weekend and that you are ready to jump back in to the work week (for the record, I am not).

There was a new challenge posted at The Studio yesterday.  The challenge: scrap a childhood photo. I don't have any childhood photos on hand, but I do have a whole box of photos from high school, so I used one of those.  I have a photo of myself and my 2 best friends in high school that was taken 10 years ago.  And I paired it with a picture of us that was take just 2 months ago.  I love the comparison!

I hope you can play along with us!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Chic Tags, Studio Calico; Diecuts: Chic Tags; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Alphas: American Crafts, Studio Calico; Chipboard Stars, Enamel Dots: Studio Calico; Stickers: Chic Tags, Simple Stories; Word Stamp: October Afternoon; Doilies: Bo Bunny

Clique Kits December Challenge

Good morning, everyone!  Happy Saturday!  I'm excited to stop in and share the newest challenge that's up today on the Clique Kits blog.  The twist this month:  go mini.  Make something small, but fun!

Here is my take:

I couldn't resist making a gift tag with the December kit.  There was just too much fun, colorful stuff to work with in the kit, and that stamp from the Sweet Stamp Shop was the icing on the cake!

Entries don't have to be created using a CK kit, so it's really easy for anyone to play along! Up for grabs this month is a prize pack from Creative Retreats and Danielle Young Designs:

Hope you join us for the fun!!

Clique Kits || December Daily Update

Hey, everyone!  I was just popping in real quickly to share some of my December Daily foundation pages/filler cards for Clique Kits.

You can check out the cover of this year's album here.

Stop by the blog to check out the whole post!

Scrapping for Fun

I always love long weekends because they give me a chance to "scrap for fun."  I love my design team projects, but I also love the freedom of creating whatever I want.  Here's a layout that I completed this weekend that features my adorable niece at her first birthday party.  Pretty cute, ey?

I've been holding onto those ice cream/cupcake brads from Dooldebug Design for as long as I can remember.  I NEED TO STOP HOARDING PRETTY PAPER AND EMBELLISHMENTS!  That is going to be one of my crafty goals for the new year...it's just so hard to do!!  ;-)

Thanks for popping in - happy Sunday!

Doilies: The Curtsey Boutique; Everything else: Doodlebug Design

You Light Up my World || Clique Kits

Good morning!  If you are celebrating Thanksgiving today - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  If you aren't, I hope that you are at least able to find something to be thankful for!  I wanted to pop in and share a layout that I have posted at the Clique Kits blog today.  It was made using this month's AWESOME kit and I focused on creating a project when your cutfiles get messed up (usually due to an operator error):

I am so in love with this kit.  Everything about it is seriously awesome.  The colors, the diecuts, the printables and the stamps - I LOVE IT ALL.

In other Clique Kits news, there are HUGE sales going on right now:

You can check out all the details here.

Thanks so much for popping in!  Have a happy day!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Alphas: Fancy Pants, Pink Paislee; Patterned Paper, Mist, Transparency, Paper Clips: Heidi Swapp; Cutfiles: Clique Kits; Enamel Dots: Basic Grey; Chipboard: Echo Park

3 || The Curtsey Boutique

Hey, everyone!  I had a layout posted on The Curtsey Boutique Blog yesterday.  It was a layout that I made pretty quickly by creating a quick, messy background with my gelatos and then adding some fun embellishments on top:

See?  A super simple layout.  I really love those burlap butterflies from Curtsey Boutique.  They are so cute and add just the right amount of texture to a project.

Thanks for popping in!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Gelatos: Faber Castell; Wood Veneers, Mist: Studio Calico; Diecut: Heidi Swapp; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper;  Doily, Butterflies, Banner, Mini Clothespin: The Curtsey Boutique; Stamp: October Afternoon; Enamel Dots: Basic Grey

The Studio || Scrap Your Daily Routine

Good morning, everyone!!  There is a new challenge at The Studio this morning - we want you to scrap your daily routine!  I decided to focus on my weekend routine, since it's a bit (but not much) more interesting than the workday routine.

I used my December Clique Kit for this layout.  I am IN LOVE with this kit.  It is so colorful and fun. I am pretty sure I will have it killed by the end of December...such a great feeling!

I hope you can play along with us!

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Echo Park, Heidi Swapp; Alphas: Fancy Pants Designs, Pink Paislee, Evalicious; Enamel Dots: Basic Grey; paper Clip: Freckled Fawn; Chipboard: Echo Park; Mist: Studio Calico; Asterisk Punch: Paper Source

Clique Kits November Pep Rally

Good morning, everyone!  It's time for another Clique Kits Pep Rally...I seriously love these things! It's so much fun to see how many different projects are created from the same set of products.  

You should have arrived from Allie's blog (aren't her designs seriously awesome?!).  I usually have the whole list posted on my blog but I had to pre-schedule this post since I'm out of town for work. So, after me, your next stop will be the lovely Aliza.  If you want to see the full list of Pep Rally participants, there is one posted at the Clique Kits blog.

Okay, on to today's sharing.  We were supposed to create a layout inspired by this month's mood board:

I am still in love with the colors and pictures!  Ultimately, I was inspired by the pretty, little butterfly in the bottom right-hand corner.  I also decided to scrap another wedding photo like I did in last month's Pep Rally.  I figure if I start doing one wedding layout a month, eventually I'll be caught up! Ha!

Here is my layout:

I fell in love with the butterfly confetti add-on and the button add-ons this month and had to put them to good use.  I thought the butterflies would be perfect to highlight the hand-made butterfly bouquet I carried.

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the rest of the Pep Rally!

Cardstock: Bazill; Patterned Paper: Lemon Owl; Alphas: Basic Grey, Webster's Pages; Wood Veneers: Pinkfresh Studio; Plastic Butterflies: Studio Calico; Buttons, Sequins: Clique Kits; Cutfiles: Silhouette; Butterfly Punches: Martha Stewart; Wedding Photography: Kathy Cobb Photography

Creative Jumpstarts with The Curtsey Boutique

Hello, hello!  As you read this, I'm off on a work "adventure" for the next week.  But I've scheduled a few posts so I don't fall too far behind in blogging.  (I hate when that happens).

This past weekend was a long one for me because of the Veteran's Day holiday.  It was rainy and overcast and I was able to get a ton of scrapping done.  It was pretty much perfection!  In addition to working on some of my assignments to be shared a little bit late, I was also able to play along with the current Creative Jumpstarts challenge (run by Marcy Penner and Stephanie Bryan).  The challenge this time: use 5 patterned papers, 2 brads and 1 frame.  Here is my take:

I've had a 6x6 Doodlebug Design rainbow stack staring at me for a while now just begging to be used, so I'm glad I was finally able to.  

In creating this layout, I also used the most recent Studio Calico Sunday sketch...as soon as I saw it, I knew I need to break out some Curtsey Boutique shipping tags and doilies!

Have you played along with any CJ challenges?

Cardstock: Bazill; Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Doodlebug Design; Brads, Frame: Crate Paper; Alphas: American Crafts, Studio Calico; Tag, Doilies, Stars, Sequins: The Curtsey Boutique, Chipboard Stars: Studio Calico

December Daily 2014

Good morning, everyone!

I was up on the Clique Kits blog on Sunday with a post sharing the process for making my December Daily cover this year. Yes...I've already made my DD cover.  After not doing the project last year because of work commitments, I am too excited to get back into it again this year.

I used Clique Kit's Clique into the Holidays kit and a few of their holiday add-ons to create my cover. My plan is to use these products for the entirety of my project.  (I may throw in some Curtsey Boutique sparkly stars and snowflakes!).

Here is my cover:

I started by using a Heidi Swapp mask and white mist to create the polka dots.  While that was drying I heat embossed the Elle's Studio wood veneers.  I also embossed the Elle's Studio stamp on the cover of my album when the mist was dry.  I glued everything down, added a sweet, gold scalloped border from Pinkfresh Studios and two different washi tapes on the side.  

Simple and easy.  That's the way I plan on keeping my album this year.

Have you started your December Daily?  Leave a link...I'd love to see!!

Album: Simple Stories; Mask: Heidi Swapp; Mist: Studio Calico; Wood Veneers, Stamp: Elle's Studio; Embossing Powder: Recollections; Glitter Washi, Gold Border: Pinkfresh Studio

The Studio || November Sketch Challenge

Hey, everyone!  There is a new challenge posted at The Studio today - and it's a sketch challenge! Yay!  My favorite layouts come from The Studio's sketch challenges!

Here is the fun sketch we are working with:

And here is my take on it:

I used my November Clique Kit for this one.  The kit has a great selection of Fall colors and embellies, so I thought that it was perfect for this adorable photo of my niece.  I stuck to the sketch pretty closely - added some layers and switched the corner detail to the other side.  I layered on all the fun, Fall embellishments along the bottom of the photo.

I hope you can play along with us at The Studio this month!!

P.S.- There's a HUGE sale going on over at the Clique Kits store right now.  Use code CKNOV25 from now through the end of the month to get 25% off your store purchase!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Diecuts: Lemon Owl; Wood Veneers: Freckled Fawn; Alphas: October Afternoon; Flair, Buttons, Butterfly, Sequins: Clique Kits; Vellum: Studio Calico; Tag, Gold Foil Stickers, Arrow: Pretty Little Studio; Mist: Tattered Angels