Inspiration!

SO I had this idea when I was looking for a needle! SO I decided to create a notions book to keep on my desk. I made a pocket on one of the pages and also will attach some buttons and what nots for quick access with I am out scrapping or quilting somewhere! It  was really easy-- just a simple book with felt pages.  I must give credit where it was due, my mom actually was the reason I was able to pull this off, she had the pinking shears that I needed.  THANKS MOM.. anyway here is what I made last night!

All I did was cut four pages from felt and wrapped a strip of fabric around the back and stitched them up to make the guts of the book, then hole punched and grommetted the covers and used bakers twine and ribbon to secure the book together.. I was going to use library rings to bind it but the triple twine looked cuter!

NEW Challenges!

Well it promises to be a great new year!  As I began my prep for the ISSUE Challenge this week I was given a new direction by Missy Mojo-- she totally inspired the fun I had exploring feelings.  I have had these photos for several years and while I wanted them scrapped I couldn't find the way that I felt was "right"  I wanted a light-hearted approach to my daughters temper tantrum (they all have them right)  so when I was moving through the pages of the magazine toward the page that I had earmarked as the challenge, I flipped to page 52 and it had a great "feeling" chart and list,which CK generously made a free download.(you can get the downloads here) I really had FUN creating this layout! 

I really beleive it is important to use this amazing craft of ours to record all our memories, good, bad, happy, sad, silly, or melancholy-- this weeks challenge is to get you thinking about that. It is also the FIRST ISSUE challenge of the year--I know it's not 2012 YET, but it will be by next Wednesday! 

With the challenges I have planned for 2012 NOW would be a great time to get started on some serious scrapping.. if you decide to play the ISSUE Challenge you will complete 52 layouts this year if you add those 52 to the Thanks Living Challenges (which are going to be AMAZING-- I have already planned them out and have some great stuff ready to share with you-- AND CK is supporting the whole thing! Check it out right now- the frist challenge goes live in January )  that will be 64 layouts in a YEAR... totally managable... and you DON'T really have to come up with any of the ideas of WHAT to scrap.. I mean I give you some fun challenges to get you thinking and then you can go from there!  ALSO... if you ever have questions you can email me at thinkingthroughdesign@hotmail.com

OK friends-- have a great day!  I hope you will check out the Thanks Living Challenges, I really believe it is a step in life toward real happiness in 2012. 

Blessings
e

WELL we are at the LAST ISSUE Challenge of the year! (which means we are drawing prizes next Tuesday!) BUT the planning for 2012 is already underway! I am excited about this week because it will really let the PLAYERS shine!

ALSO the other new thing beginning in January is Scrapping a Life of Thanks Living...I hope you can pop over and check it out

You will want to get on board with this one... CK and I have been working hard to bring you some great ideas and fun free stuff!  Remember, the ultimate goal here is that you enjoy the challenges, and we create a community that will encourage and support one another as we learn to live a life of  Thanks! 


Have a BLESSED week...
xoxoxo
e

FINALLY--- I can share

For several weeks now I have been working on something for my scrappy friends.  Chatting with some of my friends at Creating Keepsakes Magazine and I am happy to finally announce..... a new Challenge for all of you.. it is called  THANKS LIVING...
CK has been such an asset and have even agreed to support and sponsor this little endeavor of mine... so hop on over to CLUB CK and see what is going on!  I am excited and I think this will be a great adventure we can do together... Here is a LINK for you!

Blessings
e

So much going on... I love it

So it is Wednesday.. and everyone know what that means right?  Yup a new ISSUE challenge is up over at Club CK.  But that is not all that is going on in the scrappy world... Over at the CK Editor's Blog is a great article on a fast growing trend Chevron pattern.  It seems to be popping up everywhere and this article ALSO has an adorable card made by my friend Kim Kesti (Go-To Gal at Paper Crafts Magazine!)  The world of Scrapbooking is coming more and more ALIVE I just love it.
Here is a super fast layout I made for the ISSUE challenge.. get over to the board and play along!

Yup those are my beautiful neices and my amazing daughter! Thanks for hanging out at mylittlespot!  Blessings my friends

e

Wonderful Wednesday

SOOO I had a pretty good week.. How about you?  I have been in a scrappy mood ever since I was blessed to be the guest blogger at Creating Keepsakes Editors blog. I was just so cool to see something I wrote up on my favorite blog... ANYWAY that technically happened last Friday but hey it was exciting and a real blessing! 

SO everyone that knows me knows what WEDNESDAY means.. not only is it hump day, but it is ISSUE CHALLENGE DAY!!! so here is the layout I made for the challenge get over there and check it out!

WINNER!!!!!! of the New Magazine

Here is the random.org chosen winner *drumroll please*

Number 9: Joni Parker is our winner.. Please send me your contact information at thinkingthroughdesign@gmail.com

Thanks everyone that played!
Blessings
e

OH be sure to come back soon.. I have some stuff I will be working on.. and I will be trying to update the blog at least once a week with the ISSUE challenge!
HAVE A great THANKSGIVING.. and be sure to try thanks living! 

Have you NOTICED?

Well, I drove down my street today, and GREAT SCOTT Christmas lights are being strung.. and the holiday season is on its way!  SOOO what better thing to do but GIVE AWAY another great SPECIAL ISSUE OF CREATING KEEPSAKES Yup!  that is right I get to give away another new issue... this one is called Scrapbooking Holidays and Celebrations  Check out this SNEAK PEEK.

So HOW do you win?  Easy!  Leave a comment telling me your FAVORITE Holiday Tradition!  That's it!  I will then pick a RANDOM WINNER (via random.org)  and post said winner on Sunday night

I know this special issue is on MY Christmas Wish List and IF YOU want to order a copy or two for some scrappy friends or use as a personal stocking stuffer, here is the LINK so you can order it!

HERE IS A LINK TO MY FRIEND'S BLOG DLEEBUG -- SHE IS ALSO GIVING AWAY THIS ISSUE SO LIKE A SECOND CHANCE TO WIN!

WINNER! for the Fabric and Notions!

Sooo I went to Random.org to pick the winner... and that is.....MANDI  CONGRATS Mandi send me your address so I can get your FREE copy of CK's Fabric and Notions Special Edition out as quick as a cricket... OH and tomorrow I will be giving away ANOTHER fun thing. SO come back for a chance to win a different prize!

Blessings!

THE MONTH OF GIVING!

Well thanks to the amazing PEEPS at CK (Creating Keepsakes Magazine)I get to give away ANOTHER fun Special Issue!   I am so excited to share with you  a chance to win this FANTASTIC new Special Issue from CK 
HOW to win:
Simple...
Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about CK!  It can be an article the awesome ideas you are inspired by every month, or even the great prizes they give away EVERY week! 
Here is a preview of the new issue so check it out :  SNEAK PEEK!

If you don't want to take a chance you can order one here:  Scrapbooking with Fabric and Notions

SOOO lets have some fun.. PLEASE tell your friends and scrapbuddies to come on over to win a FREE issue! 
Blessings
Erika

Be sure to check back on Sunday for the winner...AND then MONDAY I will have another give away  :) 

OHHH GOOOD news is coming!

SO I have been a bad blogger... BUT the GOOD news... I am going to make up for it.. Next week on the 7th and then again on the 14th I have cool BRAND NEW goodies to give away... Sooo be sure to check back I love when I am blessed and can give stuff away!  SO I am also going to scrap this weekend... AND I am still working on a project for my bloggy friends!  SOOO hold on tight.. the planning has begun and I am FINALLY getting things in ORDER! 

I've been a BAAAAAD blogger...

Well I am trying to get back to blogging.. I took a little time off because school and other responsibilites were pulling me.. but to get started, I wanted to share this weeks ISSUE Challenge.  Yup still doing those.. we are over a year old now!  THAT is exciting!  I have done this layout based on the article on retrospection in the current NOV/DEC 2011 (digital edition available here) issue of CK... SO thanks for peeking.. OH and I have something I am cooking up.. I hope you all will stick with me as the term is coming to an end and I have a plans I am trying to put into place ...

AND THE WINNER IS…

I am so excited to announce the new owner of Creating Keepsakes AMAZING new Special Issue. If you did not win, you can order a copy in the Creating Keepsakes Store just follow this LINK.

THE WINNER IS….

 

This is what Moongirl said!  What a great reason to win!

Moongirl Please send me your address at ThinkingThroughDesign@hotmail.com AND CONGRATS!!!!

 

I am so happy all of you joined the fun and would encourage you to hop over to CLUB CK and join in the fun there are TONS of Challenges (like the ISSUE Challenge) AND lots of CK sponsored contest on the Club Blog. The PEEPS over at the Club really are some of the best people in the scrappy world. They are helpful, talented and best of all INSPIRING!!!! The CK gallery is also a great way to get published! Many layouts are chosen right from the gallery postings for publication!

Join me over at the Club sometime. Make sure you introduce yourself on the Scrapbook Board!

Hope to see you there

OH and one last time… THANKS TO CREATING KEEPSAKES for allowing me to give away this wonderful special issue!

Sneak Peek + a Give away!

DRUM ROLL Please!!!!!!!!

Well Ladies I promised you fun!!

SOOO I found out last week that Creating Keepsakes Magazine was going to let me (I am so excited) share a SNEAK PEEK of the NEW BUDGET FRIENDLY SCRAPBOOKING!

You gals know I am not THIS a flip the pages girl, I look at all the details. This is a very special issue and it is FILLED… literally filled with amazing ways to stretch those scrappy supplies and to make beautiful pages on a budget!

Ok so just take peek at this page by Kim Watson (ohh I just love her style) Did she really make that tree from left over stickers? YEAH she did.. and it looks aaaaamazing! SO here is how I see it, we get great pages from experts and we also get amazing ideas on how to stretch our dollars.. (doesn’t CK rock).

Oh and look at this page from Cindy Tobey.. puffy flowers that work on all kinds of pages! I am so excited about this book. I really believe it will be an absolute MUST have for every scrapbooker from the "this is my first page" scrapper to the highly advanced, there is something in here for everyone.

DO yourself a HUGE favor and order a copy today! Check out this LINK to order your own copy.

SOOO want to know MORE GREAT NEWS? CK is letting ME give a copy away! REALLY I felt so honored! Here is the way to win a copy of this great special issue that is so hot off the presses, that CK is shipping it to the winner!

Simply leave a comment on this thread, and I will do a completely random drawing on September 5th to announce THE WINNER!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY! And don’t forget to check out the ISSUE challenges over at ClubCK we have a lot of fun with those challenges… just ask any of the players!

Blessings

E

OK I admit it....

I took a few weeks off... I know I had BIG plans to get all this great content I have written up on the blog.. but I only had two and a half weeks of summer break and I took it... DO YOU FORGIVE ME?  OK well I have something FUN coming up on AUG 29th MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE BLOG-- I will have a special treat (including a GIVEAWAY) for you... SO hold on to your socks, I have a lot planned over the next few weeks..
and I am VERY excited about next week.. LIKE it's killing me to share.. but I promised I would wait until the 29th!
Blessings
E

My Night Class is OVER + I need your help

OK well the good news, MY NIGHT CLASS IS OVER.. so my schedule has opened up some so I will be able to get back to the blog...
 SECOND, I need some help.. do you have a layout that has stamping on it?  I am looking for some layouts that you are ok with me using in an upcoming blog post. If you do, email me at Thinkingthroughdesign@hotmail.com

there may be a prize for you if I use your layout!
Thanks
Erika

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th to all my friends and family... and thank you to all the men and women that have served to allow me to post this!
GOD BLESS AMERICA....LAND THAT I LOVE! 

a little thought: Thinking Through Design -- the power of lines

Welcome back! I am happy this week to present to you : Thinking Through Design… principles of the power of lines.


Let’s talk about lines…. I am not talking the rule of thirds lines… which we can always discuss later, but most people know about the rule of thirds… I want to talk about lines… plain ole’ lines. The power they hold and how you can use them effectively.

LINES are funny little things, they really can create havoc if you don’t pay attention to them. SO let me share with you about lines.

Here is some basic information about what LINES convey: (for this post I will primary discuss vertical and horizontal lines. I will later share about curved lines.

SO when you are using lines it is vital, yes vital to understand that you are going to direct the viewer’s eye to the elements you place on a line. Often when coupled with good color choice, a paper artist can very effectively create a balance on his or her work by “working the lines”

In the layout you notice a great deal of lines are in play. Remember horizontal lines are peaceful and grounding. I maintained visual consistency (see previous post) with my choice to keep my horizontal lines in play. All the elements are grounded with a line. This brings up the “Z” form of design *which is a simple principle that most artist use unknowingly and effectively*. In English, we read from left to right, this creates a power of line, by using a natural eye movement; you can manipulate the lines they create to your advantage. By recognizing that I want my reader to READ my quote prior to really viewing the photos, I have placed it before the photos on the “Z” the quote gives a tickle or feel about what my “secret” may be. I placed the journaling under the photos on another line that is “grounding” those same photos. That line is very important so it stands alone. We will discuss the typography another day but there is a major purpose behind the size of that font.

IF you want to emphasize a photo or a journaling section, or the title is what you want to POP place it on a line. Literally, use your patterned paper, or trim of some sort to draw the eye right into your element. REMEMBER: vertical and horizontal lines create stability, BUT you must use them in equal proportion correctly apply that principle. In other words, don’t use a fire red,thick vertical line and a soft, thin pink horizontal line… that will cause the vertical line to take even MORE dominance!

little thought on symbolic photography

Do you ever have more story than photo? Or WORSE yet, NO PHOTO and a story that is determined to be told!… well this week we are going to look at a fun way to use your layouts when you may be less than happy with your photo… or if your photo doesn’t really tell the story.

This layout (LOST) is a photo of my son, he is about 11 years old in this photo. I remember the night I scrapbooked this photos, like it was just yesterday. I was at a crop at my church, and I was skimming through a pack of pictures and this one stopped me.. not because the day at the park playing was a huge monumental event… we had fun sure and I got great pictures of my kids.. that is not what called me….

I sat there and I had a fleeting thought… “how blessed are we that he is here!” see when my son was but two years old we lost him at a school fun festival… I was working the Bake Sale, my hubby was taking the kids around to the rides and activities… As I sat there (at this public crop) tears welled up in my eyes and I just gazed at what a handsome young man he had become…. And I could not stop myself from documenting the terror of those excruciating minutes of my life when I thought I would never see him grow into a man….

A photo of Brad as a two year old would have been great, BUT it was seeing him as an eleven year old that prompted the feelings. The story was several years old, and I used my photo to help show how blessed I am to know that little boy was indeed safe with his family. Of course I don’t have any photos of that night, and I am glad…if I had photos I may have missed out on this layout… This is an example of symbolic photography… I used one image to tell a story of another event.

Here is our tip : Symbolic Photography often is more powerful than a photo of an event. Using symbolic photography strengthens emotions that are brought to the story. Try a new angle by using symbolic photography. Remember, symbolic photography does NOT have to be of a person, it can be a flower, an ocean shot, it can be a can of soda… but use it not to talk about the ocean or soda, but the memory … that can of soda may remind you of a day you took your child out for a date, she drank 3 cherry sodas and was acting so silly and got the giggles and cherry coke shot out of her nose… (see this triggered a memory too) and now, every time you see Cherry Coke you are reminded of how blessed you were to have that date with your child.

Thanks for hangin' out. Be blessed today... as alway feel free to leave any questions or comments!  I will do my best to answer them toot-sweet!

a little on design principle

GOOD Mornining Friends --

Well this morning I want to put a little thought into a design principle that may help bring together those layouts that seem to be fighting you. The ones that you say... I like it but I just don't LOVE it..  A principle that is often seen but not heard about.  It actually has a name it seems so simple yet many times we overlook it... Viusal Consistency. 
When you round the corners of your paper and photos you create visual consistency. While layouts rhythms change from page to page, one of the most powerful things you can add to your work is visual consistency. Your layouts main purpose is not to DAZZLE but to communicate; from the colors we chose to the use of a line, or curve we are communicating to our readers.


This means, we apply uniform styling to our work. When using rounded corners we soften the hard lines that may convey a more direct or hard feeling. For example in my layout from the ISSUE CHALLENGE, the images in the photo are round. Adding the scallop border to the bottom of the layered paper reinforces the feel of the photo. If I had left the brown pattern paper hard, it would create a harder look. The feeling I was conveying was one of softness in a harsh environment. By adding a rounded corner, I am helping to convey that uniqueness that I noticed in the harsh roadside environment. When I rounded the corner of my papers and added the scallop boarder, I am adding visual consistency to the feel of my layout – softness.

You will hear a lot about visual consistency in design because it is vital to creating visually pleasing layouts.

There should be an overall visual system to the layout, carefully considered in the first stages of design, that brings together the elements into a coherent whole. In the above layout you can see I used the power of the round flowers from the photo to dictate the overall feel of the page. Note: I have not included the embellishments, in the discussion, but clearly they are reflecting the same feel of softness through the curved edges. I really hope this little tip helps! If you have any questions feel free to contact me!
Please hop over to Club CK and join in the ISSUE CHALLENGES!  We have a lot of fun!

a little thought on the mood of color

WEDNESDAY—Yeah… I love Wednesday! One it is hump day... which means we are on our way to the weekend. ALSO today I start my “Art of Storytelling” class today. (I know it sounds like a weird class, but I speak publicly often and I am way excited on learning to communicate better!) One thing I love about scrapbooking is the communication. I always look at the fun exciting ways I can communicate my feelings and ideas in my pages. The ISSUE challenge today is a color challenge so check it out... ANYWAY...

So here is my sample: notice I the use of the lime green brings a youthfulness to the layout... when I added a hint of orange it really reinforces the excitement I remember of my kids creating this game.  The chatter as they made decisions and the joy of playing a game they had created!

  

SO here is a little thought on the mood of color:

  

Understanding the feel of color can help you to convey your story. Here are some things to think about when choosing a color:

Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.

• • Light red: represents joy, passion, sensitivity, and love
• • Pink: represents romance, love and friendship. It also denotes feminine qualities of passiveness
• • Dark Red: represents vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice and wrath
• • Redish-Brown: associated with harvest and fall

Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.

• • Dark Orange: deceit or distrust
• • Red-Oranges: desire, passion, pleasure, aggression, and thirst for action
• • Bright Orange: excitement, joy, fun

Yellow is the color of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.

• • Dull yellow: vintage, or caution
• • Light yellow: intellect, freshness, and joy
• • Bright yellow: joy, happiness, energy

Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money.

• • Dark Green: ambition, greed, jealously, outdoors, freshness
• • Yellow-Green: (dull)- Sickness, vintage or retro (bright)- excitement, joy fun
• • Aqua-Green: emotional healing, protection, action, excitement, calming
• • Olive Green: traditional color of peace

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE COLOR GREEN: Green is the most versatile color on the color wheel. It moves from calming to excitement with great ease. If you are struggling to “blend” colors on a layout, try adding a little green.

Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.

• • Light Blue: health, healing, tranquility, understanding and softness
• • Dark Blue: knowledge, power, integrity and seriousness
• • Bright Blue: excitement, fun, energy

Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.

• • Light Purple: romantic and nostalgic feelings
• • Dark Purple: sad feelings, frustration (can be felt), seriousness, importance, regal, dignity

White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the color of perfection.

Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.

 So  that is just one little thought on color.  I didn't even go into ways of picking color.. I will do that in another little chat. Today, the next time you are choosing colors for a project, reflect on the story you want to communicate... is it exciting, or somber, is it romantic or silly?  When you use color to help tell your story you will find an ease about choosing embellishments and papers!  Good luck and let me know how things go for you. ALSO please do pop in over a Club CK and join the color challenge we have for this weeks ISSUE Challenge!  

See you there!

A little idea for your border punches

Let's talk straight! I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT using this blog to share scrappy ideas...OH if you gals have any tips or fun stuff you have posted on your blog let me know and I will link to it!  Just give me a little heads up... my plan is to post on Tuesdays I have been working hard the last few days trying to get content for my blog all scheduled – this information will also be posted at Club CK on the ISSUE Challenge when it is applicable. I think you gals will be happy with some of the stuff I have come up with. There is just so much stuff out there for the paper artist. I want to be 100% straight up a lot of this stuff I have learned along the way, or in classes (both scrapbooking and other classes from school) I was going to try and credit everyone I have ever taken a class of gotten an idea from but that is impossible… SOOO I will simply be posting information – I am not taking sole credit for anything, it really is just for sharing—so that is my official disclaimer…


I like the texture border punches give. I usually punch “test strips” on paper and I had a light bulb go off...

SO HERE IS MY TIP FOR THIS WEEK : when you have many border punches, make a few test strips from neutral colors such as, black, Kraft or white. These can be a great way to test if you like the way a punch look on a layout. You simply place them down on the page where you may like to see a border and see if they will work on your page –I made a set of my border punches from a few colors so I can see if the shape works before I punch my papers.

TOMORROW I WILL POST A DESIGN TIP THAT GOES WITH THE ISSUE CHALLENGE(I don’t want to spoil my challenge so I will post it tomorrow), SO CHECK BACK FOR A FUN DESIGN TIP WITH BORDER PUNCHES!
SO here is my little DESIGN TIP FOR YOU:

 When I punched  on the test strips of paper I liked how it looked when it was monochromatic ( I happened to make them from grey cardstock); so I stuck with it!  That was a fun way to add texture without taking away from the busy photos.  If I had added more pattern paper, it may have pulled away from the photos.  Busy photos work really well when you do not over use pattern papers, so you can give this a shot next time you need a little boost of texture without overpowering your photos!

Here is my sample from the ISSUE Challenge...

A close up of the texture 

Pretty Flowers-- easy and they look expensive

OK I am a BAAAAD blogger.. WHERE have I been? Well school for one thing but that is NO excuse for not blogging.. SO as I am trying to find and maintain balance in my life, and blogging is going to be part of that balance. I am going to try to begin putting more crafting content.. like how to's and understanding design concepts and color understanding.. NOT that I am an expert but I have done a lot of reading and application of these concepts... sooo please feel free to stop in and see what I am up to!
SO here is the flower that I featured over at Club CK's ISSUE challenge this week...  Here are the steps

Step 1: Punch 7-8 scalloped flower circles

Step 2: Ink both sides of each punched paper

(note: if you use pattern paper you will still want to ink the edges)

 

Step 3: Spray with glimmer mist

(or any mist) NOTE: You can also use plain water

Step 4: Crumple each of your flowers up while they are still moist

 

Step 5: Uncrumple each of the 8

flowers and stack on each other

Step 6: Use a paper piercer and poke

 hole through all eight flowers

 

Step 7: add a brad to the center

Step 8: taking each flower (pedal) individually crumple

 it back up around the brad.

 

Step 9: (optional) Spray the flower again to

 give a finished look  

And here is a card made with this fabulous flower and a few color variations

Check back soon for more ideas!



The little things

This weeks ISSUE challenge is to scrapbook the overlooked, sometimes unnoticed things in our lives -- so I did these cute little bears carved into a rooted tree. I wondered when I saw them the first time, did people drive by and wonder what is that person doing? Did locals drive by and comment on them as they slowly took form into the three little bears? Did children giggle with glee.. did parents then tell them the story of Goldielocks? What amazing thing I may have missed, when I drove by and saw the three little bears rooted in someones front yard... amazing isn't?

Just take a moment to enjoy the little details around you.. a favorite pair of shoes, a pencil that you love... it is the little almost unseen things I want you to scrapbook! 

OUTSIDE the box

As a scrapbooker, you should, in my opinion, constantly challenge yourself to try new things.  I do that as often as I can.  So one thing that bugs me about my self, is I tend to stay true to the BRIGHT colors mixed with a nice neutral....
SO I get a couple kits everymonth one of which is Scrapbook Circle. I find Lisa has similiar taste as I do, BUT she keeps great balance.  IN this months kit are some more "vintage" looking colors (not only vintage) but she mixed in a line I have been drooling over (Hopscotch- Basic Grey)  NOW when I set out to create this layout, I was all about highlighting the Hopscotch,what happened is because I challenged myself to use products from the KIT, I ended up with the fun layout. I love it because I was able to scrap a photo of me when I was little... SO enjoy and step outside your normal choices-- colors, style, whatever, OH and check out Scrapbook Circle right here

NEW STYLE for a new year

Sooo CK is hosting a style switch and I am hosting a Style Switch Challenge for the ISSUE Challenge this week so here is my style switch layout and card. I am a pretty clean and simple scrapbooker, so I tried my hand at Shabby Chic... this was the result!  Come on over to CLUB CK and join the fun... there are A LOT OF PRIZES being given away this week!

Here is the card I made from my scraps from creating the layout!  SOOO much fun!

Super easy Pleated Flowers!

So my ISSUE Challenge has a fun pleated challenge and I really like this fun easy way to make them.. so first, here is the layout and card from the ISSUE Challenge this week and then you will find the "how-to" make the flowers.

How to make a pleated flower (the lazy way)


On this week’s ISSUE challenge, I made a paper flower. I was inspired by Scrapbook Circle’s photo of January’s kit. I then went on the internet to find how to make the fun paper flowers. The instructions were a bit difficult for me… I have big hands so holding little tiny things and gluing them all at the same time can be let’s say, difficult. SO I made my paper pleated flowers a in a little different way. They seemed easier to make them this way so this is how I made mine!

1. Cut a strip of paper about anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 x 10 inches(depending on how big you want your flower)

2. Mark every .5 inches and score

3. Accordion fold the scored sections

4. Using a paper piercer, make a hole in the center of your strip ( I wiggle it around a little to make the hole a little larger – Beware: you don’t want the hole to be too large)

5. Using Floss or Invisible Thread, secure the center of your flower by stitching through the hole and around the folded flower

6. Add adhesive to both sides of the strip

7. Adhere sides to one another

8. Fluff your flower pleats.

9. Add a brad or button or whatever for the center of the flower

10. Optional, you can always lay your paper flower on a “paper flower” and get great definition.


Well I hope that was easy peasy lemon squeezy for you!  They sure are easy and a lot of fun!
Be blessed!