Cardmaker Magazine + Riley & Co. Blog Hop

Good morning, everyone!  Welcome to the Cardmaker Magazine + Riley & Co. blog hop!  You should have arrived here from Sharon's blog.  If you just happened upon my blog first, then head over to the Cardmaker Magazine blog hop to start the hop.

I was absolutely delighted with the fun assortment of Riley & Co. products that we received.  Since I have a few birthdays coming up soon, I decided to use some of their funny word stamps to create my cards:

I used some older patterned papers from an assortment of Bella Blvd's collections mixed with some embellishments from their newer Addison collection.  I think they mixed well and complimented the sentiments on the stamps perfectly.

I also NEED some more of Riley & Co.'s stamps...since my dog's name is Moose and they have multiple "Moose" pun stamps calling my name....

Your next stop on the hop is the lovely Terri!  Thanks for stopping by...happy hopping!

Card 1: Cardstock: DCWV; Stamp: Riley & Co.; Ink: Versamark; Embossing Powder: Recollections; Journaling Spot: Chic Tags; Patterned Paper, Tabs, Enamel Hearts: Bella Blvd

Card 2: Cardstock: DCWV; Stamp Riley & Co.; Ink: Versamark; Embossing Powder: Recollections; Staples: Tim Holtz; Journaling Spot: Chic Tags; Buttons: Studio Calico; Patterned Paper, Tabs: Bella Blvd

Paper Issues' January Issue

Good morning, everyone!  I am so excited to share my first issue as a Paper Issues design team member!!  You can find today's take on the January Issue on the Paper Issues blog here.

This month's issue is all about stash-busting...a few ideas for this issue include: 

"It's a new year, so make a dent in your stash! What are you hoarding? Is it an old collection? Is there a paper you think is too pretty to cut into? Do you have embellishments you haven't even opened? Get to work creating a project that includes something you haven't used yet or finishes off a collection by using up the scraps."

"Show us anything about your New Year's celebrations."

"Scrap a photo of yourself."

I went with the obvious take on this issue...I used up some stuff I've been hoarding...Dear Lizzy's Happy Place collection! The colors in the papers I chose were absolutely perfect for scrapping photos of my adorable niece from last Summer;

Most of the Happy Place collection is sold out of the PI store, but you can still find some of it and the rest of her products here. Also, if you use the code KAT20 at check out, you can save 20% off your order...woot woot!

We hope you can play along!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Staples: Tim Holtz; Typerwriter: We R Memory Keepers Everything Else: Dear Lizzy for American Crafts

Handsome Lil Man || Pretty Little Studio

Good morning, everyone!   I am excited to share a layout with you that was on the Pretty Little Studio blog yesterday.  The layout combines an older PLS collection with some bits from some of the newer collections.  I loved the bright colors and patterns found in the Baby Claire collection and I've been hoarding some of the paper for a long time.  When my sister-in-law sent me a photo of my nephew in the Lily Pulitzer store, I knew that paper had finally found it's layout!

I also based my layout off of a sketch that I pinned on Pinterest.  Unfortunately, the link to the original website does not appear to work anymore, but you can see the sketch here.

I finished off my layout by adding minimal embellishments from the Here Comes the Sun collection and the Wonderland collection.  I think they all go together well and the end result is a colorful layout highlighting my adorable nephew!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Date Stamp: American Crafts; Washi Tapw: Unknown; Everything Else: Pretty Little Studio

Paper Issues' January Pawsitively Pets Challenge

Hello, all!  I am here with a fun challenge for you!  Paper Issues does a series of challenges every month and one of them is called Pawsitively Pets!  Every month there is a different set of criteria for scrapping those wonderful furbabies in your life (or lizards, snakes, etc!).  This month's challenge is a simple one: A layout about an animal in your life with 3 or more papers (patterned paper and/or cardstock), 3 or more embellishments, and 3 or more enamel dots, puffy circles, etc.

Easy enough, right?  I used Bella Blvd's Alex collection for this one and whipped up this page:

You know I couldn't skip a challenge where I get to scrap my Moose Dog!  :)

I hope you can play along!...And if you see any goodies in the store that you'd like to snag, including the Alex collection, make sure to use code KAT20 at checkout and you'll save 20% off your purchase!

Some Scrappy Shares...

Good evening, everyone!  I have 2 projects that I wanted to share with you tonight.  The first was a layout I created for Paper Issues.  I'm so excited to be a member of their new design team!  The challenge given to us was to create a layout using the Joy Parade line from Fancy Pants.  This line is my jam.  I love it so much:

My second project was created for Jillibean Soup.  I had so much fun putting this together.  And hte colors in the Hardy Hodgepodge collection?!?!  Swoon.

Thanks for popping by tonight...happy weekend!

Layout 1: Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Date Stamp: American Crafts; Everything Else: Fancy Pants Designs

Layout 2: Cardstock: America Crafts; Everything Else: Jillibean Soup

Pretty Little Studio || Shine

Good morning, everyone!  I wanted to pop in and share a layout that I have on the Pretty Little Studio blog this morning.  We were asked to create a layout inspired by this photo:

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As soon as I saw the photo, I knew I needed to break out last year's Wonderland collection and go to town!

I began by cutting out a bunch of snowflakes from the Silhouette store.  Once they were cut out, I backed the negatives of the cut with patterned papers from the collection.

I layered on my photo, sprinkled some sequins around and added a title from my stash.  The layout was complete in under 30 minutes!  Thanks for stopping by!  

Cardstock: Bazzill; Cut Files: Silhouette Store; Stapless: Tim Holtz; "Shine" Word: Heidi Swapp; Typewriter: We R Memory Keepers; Everything Else: Pretty Little Studio

First Post of the New Year

Well, 2017 has arrived!  Crazy!  2016 was a good year for my little family and we're hoping that 2017 is even better!

I wanted to pop and share the very last layout I made in 2016:

I made this layout with the November kits from Hip Kit Club.  Every single item on this layout is a Hip Kit Club exclusive item (except the mist).  I am so in love with the colors they chose for their holiday kit.  I am SO TIRED of red, green and random metallic...lol.

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy the week...and the year!  ;-)

Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Everything Else: Hip Kit Club

A Few Jillibean Shares...

Good morning, everyone!  Happy New Year's Eve!  I know everyone is saying it, but where has the year gone?!  It flew by crazy fast...

For my last post of the year, I wanted to share a few projects that I had on the Jillibean Soup blog this past week.

My first project was a birthday present for my Mom.  It actually coordinated with the card I shared here last month. I've missed making pretty packages, so I'm going to focus more on that in this coming year, since it makes me so happy:

My second project is this layout made with the Chit Chat Chowder line.  I LOVE how colorful and happy it is.  It was perfect for scrapping these adorable photos of my nephew:

That's it from me, folks!  Have a safe New Year's Eve!!

Gift: Doily: Speigelmom Scraps; Everything Else: Jillibean Soup

Layout: Cardstock: Bazzill; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Everything Else: Jillibean Soup

2016 Top Ten Blog Hop + A Little Prize :)

***UPDATE: Winner of giveaway was selected from Instagram and blog comments.  The winner was randomly selected and was an Instagram commenter.  The winner info was announced on original Instagram post.  Thank you!***

Good morning everyone!  Every year it has become a tradition of mine to share my top 10 layouts from the year.  I adore going back and looking through my layouts and I love seeing others' favorites, as well.  So when Christine Meyer  asked me if I wanted to participate in her annual Top Ten blog hop, I said "yes" without hesitation.  

Without further ado, in the order they were created, here are my top 10 favorite projects from the year.  Click the link below each picture to go to the original post and find the supply list.

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Some trends...white backgrounds, vertical and horizontal strips across pages and lots of mist drops!  :)

Here is your full list for the hop today:

Mendi Yoshikawa
Audrey Yeager
Christine Meyer 

Juliana Michaels  

Wendy Antenucci 

Suzanna Lee 

Karen Hunter

Monique Liedtke
Kat Benjamin (you are here!!)

Jennifer Haggerty
Jen Matott
Missy Whidden

Marcia Dehn Nix 
Heather Leopard

Rebecca Keppel 
Traci Penrod

Melissa Elsner
Monika Wright
Laura Whitaker 

Chantalle McDaniel 

And...if you'd like to win a prize, please leave a comment here or on my Instagram account.  I'll be providing one person with a grab bag of fun stuff! :)

Something Different with Pretty Little Studio

Good morning everyone!  I am up on the Pretty Little Studio blog today sharing a layout inspired by this Pinterest image:

Source

Even though I am a little bit tired of scrapping Christmas, I ended up having a ton of fun with this picture challenge.  I decided to do something a little bit out of my comfort zone, but drew on the red, green and Christmas theme from the picture.

I've been seeing a lot of minimal layouts recently that I also use paint as a grounding element for the layout.  I decided to play around with that and create a layout that fit the bill.  I had a lot of fun with it, but it's not in keeping with my normal style, so it's not the best work ever :)

I do think it's fun to experiment and I actually think it's important to scrap outside of your comfort zone every once in a while.  It helps you figure out what you like and evolve a little bit.  Have you gone outside of your comfort zone recently?

Cardstock: Bazzill; Paint: Jillibean Soup; Mist: Heidi Swapp; Typewriter: We R Memory Keepers; Everything Else: Pretty Little Studio

Merry Christmas!

Good evening, everyone!  Merry, merry Christmas!  I hope you've had a wonderful and happy day.

I wanted to share a Christmas layout that was recently on the Jillibean Soup blog.  I don't own any Jillibean Christmas lines, so I had to get creative with this one.  I kept my token white background, but added a little bit of Ravishing Red Happy Hues, then layered a bunch of neutral and red elements on top of that.  Finally, I added a tiny sliver of green across the top.  I think it ended up fairly festive:

I'm off to enjoy the last few hours of Christmas...have a good night!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Date Stamp: American Crafts; Everything Else: Jillibean Soup

My Creative Scrapbook December Guest Designer Work

Hello, hello!  Are you almost ready for the holidays?  I know I'm ready for a vacation !  ;-)

I wanted to pop in and share the layouts I made for my guest designer work using the December kit from My Creative Scrapbook:

This kit had a ton of the Christmas Delivery line from Carta Bella.  While I didn't think I'd like the collection very much, I was pleasantly surprised by the happy feelings the plaid patterns gave me...lol!

Make sure you stop by My Creative Scrapbook to subscribe to their cute kits...and I'm so thankful to them for having me as a guest these past 2 months...it's been a blast!

A Jillibean Christmas (Card)

Hi, all!  I had a card up on the Jillibean Soup blog last week that I completely spaced on sharing!  I used some of the great stamps from the Shape Shakers line and made a little banner out of the stamped sayings.  I topped with twine and sprinkled some adhesive sequins around.  The card came together really quickly, which is always nice.

My Christmas color scheme is slightly untraditional, but I'm totally digging it.  I love that a lot of the Christmas/Winter lines that are out this season have bright color pallets as opposed to the traditional red and green.

Thanks for popping in!  Happy weekend!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Ink: Versa Mark; Embossing Powder: Recollections; Everything Else: Jillibean Soup

Scraplift Saturday

Hello, everyone!  I wanted to pop in and share another installment of Scraplift Saturday with you...it's certainly been a while :)

Here is the layout that I decided to scraplift today...I actually made it for my Jillibean Soup application a few months ago and then shared it on the Jillibean blog last month:

Here is my lift of the layout using Pink Paislee's Fancy Free collection:

Layout 1: See supply list here

Layout 2: Cardstock: Bazill; Patterned Paper, Wood Veneer: Pink Paislee; Enamel Hearts: Bella Blvd; Chipboard Alpha: Jillibean Soup; Mist: Heidi Swapp

Christmas Tags || PLS + The Cut Shoppe Team-Up

Good morning, everyone!  On Monday morning I was on the Pretty Little Studio blog to kick off the first day of our week-long product swap with The Cut Shoppe!  

I decided to go in a different direction with my project.  This time of year is so busy, so I try to combine as many tasks as I can.  For example, I needed some gift tags for presents and I thought this team-up would be the perfect opportunity to create them!

I selected 2 tree cut files from the Cut Shoppe: the brand new "Tree Farm" file and the older "Trimming the Tree" file.  I really love the graphic trees and thought they would be a cute way to dress up my tags.

I selected a variety of papers to cut the trees from and then happily embellished!

I'm excited for the opportunity to dress up my gifts!

My Creative Scrapbook Guest Designer

Hi, everyone!  I am so excited to have the opportunity to guest design for My Creative Scrapbook for a few months.  My Creative Scrapbook is a monthly kit club that offers a wide variety of kit options to choose from.  For November's projects, I worked with their main kit, which was chock full of fun Fall-themed products from companies like Echo Park and Simple Stories.  I was asked to create 4 projects with the kit.  Here's what I came up with:

I'm guesting for My Creative Scrapbook again this month and will be back later in the month to share my December projects with you!  Thanks for stopping by!