Clique Kits' July Pep Rally

***If you are looking for the SpiegelMom Scraps blog hop, please click here.***

Hey, everyone!  Welcome to Clique Kits July Pep Rally!  This is one of my favorite events because I love to see the all the different inspiration along the way.  I am still fascinated by the concept of a kit club because I think it is SO COOL to see how many different projects are created from the exact same set of supplies.  Okay...I've rambled on long enough :o)

There isn't a theme for this month's pep rally...and that's okay because I was going to scrap this photo no matter what...ha!  I love it and the story behind it.  My 2 year old niece came to visit us at the beach a few weeks ago.  She had been to the beach once during the Winter time, so she had never been in the water.  We were all excited to see how she would react, but figured she'd be a little apprehensive...but this little one just charged into the water without a care in the world.  She regretted it a little bit later when a big wave came and knocked her down, but even after that, she continued to go for it, completely fearless.  I love that about her!

I've had this idea in my head for a while, so I'm glad I was finally able to execute it.  I am not the best with a sewing machine and was actually surprised at how easy it was to stitch around the heart shape. It helped a lot that I was purposely trying to make it sightly messy looking because I wanted people to see that it had been stitched around twice.

I loved this patterned paper and wanted to use a large portion of it on a layout.  However, if you follow my work even a little bit, you know that patterned paper backgrounds scare the crap out of me!  Ha! This giant heart was a good solution for that.  

Alright, here is the full line-up for the hop today:

Clique Kits

Annelie

Hannah

Sarah

Sandy

Mariah

Donna

Megan 

Kim

Marcia

Kat < -- That's me!

Charity 

Taina

Tyra
Karrie

Thanks for stopping in...have a lovely day!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Chickaniddy Crafts; Flair: Clique Kits; Wood Veneer: Pinkfresh Studio; Arrow Clip: Freckled Fawn; Puffy Stickers: Seven Paper; Mist: Studio Calico (yellow), Heidi Swapp (pink)

#Awesome || Clique Kits

Good morning, all!  I hope you enjoyed the SpiegelMom Scraps blog hop this weekend.  I hope you are now well under way to creating projects for all the challenges to be eligible to win an awesome prize.  If you haven't hopped yet, you still have through the 17th to do so!

Now, on to today's project.  As I've mentioned before, I really love the kit from Clique Kits this month.  The Chickaniddy 365 collection features all my favorite colors and patterns.  I love all the colors and patterns so much that I've found a way to use almost all of them on every layout I created this month.  Today's layout is no exception...I used the scraps from all my other layouts to create this one:

This layout has jumped to the top as one of my favorites for the year.  I'm not sure why.  I know I love the photos, the colors, the patterns...so, maybe that's it.  On the Clique Kits blog, I share how to make the background (hint: it's REALLY easy!) and it's a technique I often turn to when I'm in a creative slump.

I hope you can stop by the blog and check out the full post here.  Also, make sure you come back on Wednesday for the July Clique Kits pep rally - there is sure to be a TON of inspiration on that hop!

Have a happy Monday (if such a thing exists! ha!)!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Brads, Alphas, Enamel Shapes: Chickaniddy Crafts; Wood Veneer Phrase: Pinkfresh Studio; Black and White Polka Dot Journaling Card: Clique Kits; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Circle Punch: EK Success

Ms. Pacman 2015 Challenge

***If you are looking for the SpiegelMom Scraps blog hop, please click here.***

Good morning, everyone!  I wanted to share with you a SUPER FUN challenge that I just took part in - I think the concept is absolutely genius!  I ran across the challenge on Jill Sprott's blog and it was just what I needed.  My creativity has been lacking a bit recently and I've really been wanting to stash bust.

So, here is the challenge: create a kit from your stash featuring all these things and make at least 3 projects with them...

1. Eight pieces of patterned paper scraps and four specialty paper/"other" paper scraps -- no complete sheets allowed. 
2.  No more than one yard of trim, with no individual piece measuring more than 11" in length.
3. One sticker sheet, with a catch: at least one sticker must be missing from the sheet.
4. A pre-2013 alphabet set (the old challenge asked for a pre-2010 set, but I figure, three years have passed, so we can compensate for the time change).  If you don't have a set this old, aim for your oldest. 
5. One opened package/container of scrappy product.    
6.  One unopened package/container of scrappy product.
7. One roll of tape.   
8.  One item or package of product from a company that no longer makes scrappy products (the old challenge required a JBS product, which could still apply to this updated version). 
9.  Six journaling and/or Project Life cards (if you don't have individual cards, you can cut them from a journaling-card-style patterned sheet or use a printable, if you wish). 
10. Unlimited cardstock, adhesive, and "technique-type product" (e.g. stamps, stamping ink, paint, mist, stencils, embossing powder, etc.).   
11. A wild card item. Include anything you've been wanting to use (regardless of whether it is old or new, opened or unopened).  The time is now.
12.  A nearby item. Grab something from your desk or craft area that is within arm's reach. This will be fairly easy to do if you are a mess-maker like me. If you are super-organized and have no items within reach, then head for the nearest drawer or bin, close your eyes, and reach blindly. The item that you retrieve will be the final addition to your kit.   

Here is the kit I created:

I wanted my kit to be Summer-y and full of fun, vibrant colors!

And a run-down on each item:

1. Eight pieces of patterned paper scraps and four specialty paper/"other" paper scraps -- From left to right: I Lowe Scrap, Cocoa Daisy, Echo Park, Studio Calico, Elle's Studio, Teresa Collins; Specialty Paper: Studio Calico vellum, American Crafts Gold Dot vellum, Hambly Transparency, We R Memory Keepers Transparency
2. No more than one yard of trim -- don't know the brand for some of these, but the piece of twine is from We R Memory Keepers and the blue polka dot ribbon is Doodlebug Designs
3. One sticker sheet --  Heidi Swapp phrase stickers (la-la-love them!)
4. A pre-2013 alphabet set -- The Girl's Paperie ledger chipboard alphas
5. One opened package/container of scrappy product -- Studio Calico Printshop vellum die cuts
6.  One unopened package/container of scrappy product --  Simple Stories SNAP photo frames
7. One roll of tape -- Love My Tapes Turquoise Triangles Washi
8. One item or package of product from a company that no longer makes scrappy products -- Jenni Bowlin Studio Bingo Cards
9. Six journaling and/or Project Life cards -- From left to right: My Mind's Eye, MAMBI, Two Peas in a Bucket, Simple Stories, Studio Calico, Becky Higgins
10. Unlimited cardstock, adhesive, and "technique-type product" 
11. A wild card item -- Heidi Swapp wood veneers - I've been wanting to use them soooo badly :)
12. A nearby item -- Bella Blvd Star Buttons - these have been sitting on my desk forever just begging to be used! 

  

And here are my 3 projects:

This layout was created for The Studio Challenges - we were asked to use stars and stripes.  The yellow diagonal stripes on the B-side of the I Lowe Scrap paper were perfect:

This layout was created for The Cut Shoppe.  The fun, Summer-y kit colors made me want to use fun Summer cut files - "gelatoed" in orange!

And finally, I decided to use the kit in my endeavors to catch up on Project Life.  Do not be fooled by the week number!  I am still 14 weeks behind, but am just picking and choosing which weeks I want to work on based on my mood!

I still have a ton of my kit left over, so I'm going to keep using it until it's gone...and then I'm going to do it all over again!  I'll modify the paper rule a bit so I can use full size sheets of those papers that I've been hoarding.  And maybe I'll finally make a dent in my stash - even if it's noticeable only to me!

SpiegelMom Scraps' 5th Anniversary Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the 5^th Anniversary Scrap Party of SpiegelMom Scraps!!  Jody, aka SpiegelMom, brought us all together to celebrate and party with all of you!  We have some fantastic fun planned for you, including prizes for all the challenges being introduced by each blogger.  Jody has rounded up some wonderful prizes for the challenge winners from Marion Smith Designs, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, V’s Sweet Ideas (Vanessa and Nicole are with us today), Shimmerz Paints, May Designs, Willowfields Etsy Shop and American Crafts!! 

To play along here’s what you need to do:

1.  Create a project based on any challenge introduced during this hop. 

2. You may enter one challenge or do them all!

3. Link it up on this page under the appropriate InLinkz linky tool. You may link up a blog post with your newly created project (no back linking) OR use your Instagram account and link that up!  Cool right!!

4.  Have fun and share the challenges with your crafty friends.  Sharing is caring and you can win another prize just for sharing!  The blog hop and challenges are open July 10-17^th at midnight CST.

5.  Winners will be announced on July 20^th on the SpiegelMom Scraps website

Now, here’s the entire Scrap Party Line Up for you.  After you hop the blogs, there's a special bonus hop over on 3 YouTube Channels, starting at SpiegelMom Scrap's channel! Don't miss out on that, there's a fabulous prize for hopping there also!!

SpiegelMom Scraps Blog - Jody 

V's Sweet Ideas - Vanessa

Charity – SMS Sparkler’s DT

Ka – Special Guest Designer

Lou – SMS Sparkler’s DT

Nicole - V's Sweet Ideas

Kat – SMS Sparkler’s DT  < -- That's me!!

SpiegelMom Scraps YouTube

Teresa Huckle

Charity

So, my challenge to you is a sketch challenge - you know how much I love those!

Here is the sketch:

And here is the layout that I created using awesome products from the SMS store and V's Sweet Ideas:

I used the following SMS products:

-Studio Calico Printshop Wooden Stars

-White Wedding Sequin Mix

-Normandy Lace Paper Doilies

I used the following V's Sweet Ideas products:                     

-Coffee Break Stamp Set

-Lily Sweet Dots

-May Arts Slate Blue Ribbon

-White Diagonal Striped Itty Bitty Bags

I hope you can play along!  And, if you see anything that you want from the SMS store, used code KAT15 at check out to get an extra 15% off your purchase!          

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Alphas: American Crafts; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Ribbon: May Arts; Sequins, Doily: SpiegelMom Scraps; Alpha Stamps: Target; "I ♥ U" Stamp, Paper Bag, Enamel Dots: V's Sweet Ideas       

Quick & Easy Gift Wrap || SpiegelMom Scraps

God morning, everyone!  Are you tired of me yet?  I've been posting A LOT because I've had a ton of projects due recently...it will slow down...I was just booked very heavily for the beginning of the month...haha!

I wanted to share a quick & easy gift wrap tip with you today.  I wrapped my box in simple paper, created a super simple sentiment card with a plain project life card and some alphabet stamps and then garnished with a thread of sequins:

I used the Stargazer Sequin mix from SpiegelMom Scraps.  This mix is no longer available (sorry), but there are a TON of other mixes in the store here. 

I also used my favorite washi to tape my sentiment tag onto the package.

In other exciting SMS news, the store is turning 5 and we are having a huge blog hop beginning Friday to celebrate.  There will be a TON of awesome sponsors.  Get all the details on the event Facebook page here.  Also, if you use code KAT15 in the store, you can save 15% off your entire purchase!!

Thanks for stopping by...have a happy Sunday!

Clique Kits' July Challenge + A Fun Announcement

Hello, everyone!  To my American friends, HAPPY FOURTH!  I have a couple of things to share with you today.

The first is that the July challenge at Clique Kits is live today.  As always, the challenge is an anything goes challenge, so you really can submit ANYTHING.  There is also a fun sketch for you to use as inspiration if you so desire.  I had already made my layout for the challenge before I received the sketch, but I am hoping to use it later this month!  Here is my layout using the fun Carpe Diem kit:

I don't like this layout AT ALL, but I guess we all have those layouts that we aren't fans of and that don't show our best work!

And my other piece of exciting news...I have made the Pretty Little Studio Design Team!  I am so excited!  I applied last year and didn't make it, but am happy to have been given a second chance.  Here is the whole team:

You can see links to everyone's work by going to the PLS blog.

Hope you can join us for the CK challenge this month!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Alphas, Brads: Chickaniddy Crafts; Puffy Stickers: Seven Paper

Clique Kits' Project Life

Hey, everyone!  I shared one of my Project Life spreads up on the Clique Kits' blog yesterday.  I made the spread using the July Kit, Carpe Diem.  I LOVE this kit - it's so fun and colorful, has a lot of fun patterns and a great selection of embellishments.  I'm definitely a fan!

Here is week 13 of my Project Life:

If you head on over to the blog, you can see all the little details of the spread.  Also, Clique Kits is having a sale this week - use code 40JULY15 on all clearance items for 40% off.  Also, use code KAT10 for 10% off regularly priced items for a 10% discount!

Have a happy Friday!

Page Protector: Becky Higgins (Design F); Patterned Paper, Alphas: Chickaniddy Crafts; Jounraling Cards: 7Paper, Clique Kits; Cut File: Clique Kits; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps Puffy Stickers: 7Paper; Staples: Tim Holtz

Star-Studded Layout || Bella Blvd

Good morning, everyone!  I wanted to pop in quickly and share a layout that is on the Bella Blvd blog today.  I was asked to design a patriotic layout in celebration of Independence Day and this is what I came up with:

I used a ton of stars cut out from papers from all different Bella collections.  I also sprinkled in some star sequins from the SpiegelMom Scraps store.

I actually like the way the layout ended up turning out.  I love my stars!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Enamel Dots/Stars, Word Stickers: Bella Blvd; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps

13.1 || The Cut Shoppe

Hey, everyone!!  I wanted to pop in and quickly share my most recent layout for The Cut Shoppe with you.

I've had these photos of my friend and I laying around for awhile, but was having a hard time figuring out how to scrap them.  The pictures are from a half marathon that we ran last year and when I saw the "Running the Race" cut files, I knew I had finally found what I needed to scrap these photos!  I also combined the files with the new "This & That" files and some stars from the "I Heart String Art" file.  Here is the end result:

The stars from the "I Heart String Art" file are quickly becoming one of my favorite things to put on a layout - they are so versatile!  For this layout, I misted them with some gold Heidi Swapp color shine and topped them with some glittery gold chipboard stickers.

And here are the files I used:

I Heart String Art

This & That

Running the Race

Thanks for stopping in - enjoy the weekend!!!

Another Grid Layout || Clique Kits

Hey, everyone!  I know I shared a grid layout last week, but I have another one to share today - this time it was made using my July kit from Clique Kits.

Like every month, this month's kit included a variety of cut files, including an awesome calendar cut file.  I enlarged the cut file so that the squares were roughly 2" x 2" and then began filling in my squares with a variety of photos, papers and embellishments.  The grid never gets old for me!!

To add a little bit of interest I  placed my grid at an angle.  I kind of love the end result!

Hope you can check out the CK blog!  There is currently a waiting list for kits at the moment, but the store has a ton of great stuff and if you use code KAT10 at check out you'll get 10% off your entire purchase!!

Cardstock: Bazzill, Recollections; Patterned Paper, Brads, Alphas: Chickaniddy Crafts; Puffy Stickers: 7Paper; Flair, Cut Files: Clique Kits; Mist: Heidi Swapp

Project Life with SpiegelMom Scraps

Oh, Project Life how I hate you...and how I love you.  I hate you right now because I am soooooo far behind.  I love you because you really are a great project when everything is completed and pretty in an album.

Ugh.

And so begins the great PL catch up.  I am behind by 14 weeks.  This will not be fun, but it must be done.  Luckily, I have a lot of fun supplies from the SpiegelMom Scraps shop!

Today, I finished off week 8.  I had been putting this one off for the longest time because I didn't have a lot of meaningful pictures...which explains why there are 3 whole pockets dedicated to the Fifty Shades of Grey movie.  Sigh.

While the contents of the week may not be too exciting, I do like some of the scrappy stuff I got to use on my page.  Here are all the fun products I used from the store:

-Studio Calico Speech Bubbles Wood Veneers

-Dear Lizzy Serendipity Wood Veneers

-Skinny Chevron Black & White Washi

-Studio Calico Hearts & Arrows Wood Veneers

As always if you see anything in the store that you like, use code KAT10 to receive 10% off your entire purchase!

Thanks for stopping in...hopefully I can knock out another PL spread or two before the week is up!

Page Protector: Becky Higgins (Design F); Journaling Cards: Studio Calico, My Mind's Eye; Alphas: Studio Calico; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico, American Crafts, Recollections; Washi, Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps; Staples: Tim Holtz

Catching Up with Bella Blvd

Hey, everyone!  I have two new Bella Blvd layouts to share with you today.  The first one was featured in the newly released Bella Buzz newsletter.  We were given the challenge to combine the Just Add Color Collection, the Color Chaos Collection, at least 2 photos and a long title to create a layout.  Here is what I came up with:

The second was a layout created to feature the Just Add Color collection...I added lots of bright colors to showcase the photos of my little niece covered in ice cream:

Thanks for stopping in!

Layout 1: Cardstock: Bazzill; Everything Else: Bella Blvd

Layout 2: Cardstock: Bazzill; Everything Else: Bella Blvd

Working the Grid || SpiegelMom Scraps

Hey everyone!  I wanted to pop in today to share a way to work in a lot of your favorite embellishments from the SpiegelMom Scraps store: use a grid!  I love using a grid because you have little boxes to fill with embellishments.  Here’s what I’m talking about:

To make this layout, I began by creating a grid with twine.  Then I placed my pictures where I wanted them in the grid and finally I filled the rest of the squares with some of my favorite embellishments.  In this case some of my favorite embellishments included the Crate Paper Poolside wood veneers that were just recently added to the shop.  Seriously, aren’t they the cutest??

Here are some other items that I used from the store:

-Studio Calico Wood Veneer Chevrons

-Blue Lagoon Sequins

-Sunny Days Sequins

Thanks for stopping in.  Do you ever “work the grid”?

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Alphas: Doodlebug Design; Wood Veneers: Crate Paper, Studio Calico; Phrase Stickers: Cosmo Cricket; Twine: My Mind's Eye; Sequins: SpiegelMom Scraps; Mist: Heidi Swapp, Studio Calico; Plastic Word: Heidi Swapp

He's A Star || The Cut Shoppe

Good morning, everyone!  Summer is in full swing right now over here, but I did want to pop in and share my first layout for The Cut Shoppe:

It's much messier than my usual style - lots of mists and messy stitching - I really like the end result, though. Plus, the bright color palette makes me even more excited for Summer!

The files I used:

I Heart String Art

All Tied Up

Thanks for stopping in!  Happy weekend!

Cardstock: Bazzill;Cut Files: The Cut Shoppe; Mists: Studio Calico, Heidi Swapp; Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd; Plastic Stars: Heidi Swapp; Alphas: Doodlebug Design; Puffy Stickers, Zig Zag Washi: Studio Calico; Triangle Washi: Love My Tapes

Clique Kits' June Challenge

Good morning, everyone!!  There is a new challenge posted up at The Clique Kits' blog.  The prize up for grabs this month is a $25 gift card to the CK store!!  The rules are the same as always: you can create ANYTHING you want, using whatever products you want - it seriously doesn't get easier than that!!  I created a layout using this month's kit, Dream Quest:

The kit is full of fun stuff from the Crate Paper line Journey.  It's not typically my normal style, but I am LOVING it!!

I hope you can play along with the CK challenge this month!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Tag: SpiegelMom Scraps; Alphas: American Crafts; Arrow Clip: Freckled Fawn; Circle Punch: EK Success

Pretty in Pink With The Studio and SpiegelMom Scraps

Hey, everyone!  There is a new sketch challenge posted at The Studio today - I did something on my layout that I almost never do - I used a colored cardstock background.  And this wasn't some weak attempt like I normally do when I use kraft cardstock.  This time I used pink!  Here is the sketch:

Here is my take on it:

I decided to place my photo in the center of the page instead of in the upper right.  I'm really into using the center of the page right now.  

I also used a ton of goodies from the SpiegelMom Scraps store on this:

-Cork Die Cut Hearts

-Cork Die Cut Chevrons
-Flutter Cork Die Cuts

-Normandy Lace Doilies

-Fairytale Sequin Mix (My fave mix EVER!)

-Large Shipping Tags

As always, use code KAT10 at check out and receive 10% off your entire SMS purchase!!

I hope you can stop by The Studio and play along with us this month!!

Cardstock: Bazzill: Patterned Paper: Elle's Studio; Alphas: Little Yellow Bicycle; Sequins, Doily, Tag, Cork Shapes: SpiegelMom Scraps; Mist: Heidi Swapp

Jot Magazine!

Hi, everyone!  Happy, HAPPY weekend!!  I am so excited to pop in and share that I have a layout in Issue 10 of Jot Magazine!  I used a bunch of my Bella Blvd goodies and I got another wedding layout scrapped (if you're counting, I'm only three years behind!)! 

I love the punch and orange colored range of products from Bella Blvd and I just knew they'd be perfect for another wedding layout.  When I saw the call from Jot Magazine for party layouts, it was just the push I needed!

Thanks for stopping in - you should definitely go check out Jot Magazine, if you haven't before - it's chock full of inspiration and it's totally FREE.  Can't beat that!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Everything Else: Bella Blvd

Geek Chic || Bella Blvd

June?  Is it seriously June?  This year is flying by so fast...it needs to slow down just a teensy bit!!

Any ways...I'm up on the Bella Blvd blog today and this week we are focusing on the Star Student collection.  I love this collection, but it doesn't really fit into  my life very well.  I don't have kids and of course, I always scrap pictures of my nieces, but I don't have any school-themed photos of them. So, I did something a little unique and used mostly the B-side of papers and added in a pop of pink:

My favorite paper form this collection is the glasses paper.  It's called "Geek Chic" and that's where I pulled my title from.  Here are some close-ups:

Thanks for popping in!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Everything else: Bella Blvd