Feeling Nostalgic

Since I have updated my blog, I wanted to share my very first sketch and example layouts. Funny how the industry changes so fast, because I used to love very linear and square layouts and now I appreciate a little more depth and embellishment. Can't believe how fast the time goes...and the styles.


This is the first layout I created with this design in mind. I happened to catch this photo of my daughter on our porch after a rain storm with this gorgeous rainbow in the background. I wanted to use some really colorful papers to capture the moment and since I could not decide on just one - I used a "rainbow" palette. I had also just found these Prima Flowers at Target (can't find them anymore) and used my smallest Fiskars punch to make little polka holes for a light and airy feel. It was also a lot neater than drawing dots on the flowers...I'm all about efficiency, neatness and convenience.


I got to thinking about how much I loved this sketch with Spring and decided to create three more seasons of layouts for my daughter. I love black paper and am a sucker for stickers (well I am a teacher after all) and have to say that I still love these bottle cap title stickers...hmmm do I have any of those left??? Note to self...check for bottle cap stickers :)

MCS April Sneak Peeks

Wait until you see the April kits for My Creative Scrapbook! In the main kit, there are flowers galore, crystals, and the prettiest papers for girls. The design team has had so much fun this month. If you are new to the site or already a subscriber you might consider the album kit this month - it is all about CUTE! Stay Tuned for our Reveal on April 5th.


This is a close up from the My Creative Scrapbook main kit. Check out the gorgeous flowers and crystals, not to mention the beautiful papers from Bo Bunny!!! You will absolutely love this kit and like all of My Creative Scrapbook's kits - it's totally loaded with embellishments.


This is a close up from the My Creative Scrapbook album kit. Check out the cute scalloped paper from My Little Shoebox and awesome paper flowers - there are sooooo many in the kit. Wait until you see the whole line from MLS - it is just so girly and wonderful. I had a blast with it.

Sunday Sketch, March 29th

I'm a little early this weekend, but I doubt anyone will mind...right? I have been playing with the huge scalloped Bazzill cardstock paper and found that if you cut it up, it makes really cool photo mattes. I also wanted to use some of the many gorgeous flourishes I purchased from Niclin Designs on Etsy, so here is my sketch to include some of those little goodies you might be hoarding in your own stash. Oh...and of course there are butterflies too! Where would we be without using those on our Spring layouts?


I just found this older line from My Little Shoebox called Butterflies. Had to order it online from a little shop in Pennsylvania. I just love the richness of the color and the beautiful flowers and flourishes on the paper. It also makes a cool wedding paper (this is my husband and I 10 years ago, but we still look this young...okay maybe not so much). I added bling to the centers of the flowers on the printed paper to add more texture. The Etsy flourishes compliment the printed flourishes and add more dimension and I LOVE the little Prima Sweetheart flowers that came in the February Kit from My Creative Scrapbook. They match the paper perfectly. I also cut the butterflies from one of the other papers in this line from MLSB and am really psyched with how it turned out. I certainly had a blast playing with embellishments. Hope you will have some fun with the sketch too. Thank you for stopping by.


Check out this interpretation from my friend Lynn called Pieces of the Past! She did a fantastic job with the sketch and added so many wonderful elements. Her heritage layout of her mom is amazing and she used the gorgeous Bella Bella papers from My Mind's Eye that came in the March kit from My Creative Scrapbook. Please go to Lynn's blog Pretty Paper Swirls for more information on how she put this masterpiece together.


This wonderful layout about Paris is by my friend Pearl. She used vivid colors, large flowers and cut out vines on her interpretation of my sketch. The elements on her layout are striking and add some great texture. Wonderful work Pearl!

Punch Drunk Love

Besides being a uniquely odd Adam Sandler movie, this post is to reflect on all of the punches I have been collecting lately. Above is a photo of just a FEW of my favorites: McGill Floriano, Martha Stewart Branch and Butterfly, EK Success Retro Flowers medium and small and Photo Corner, and the Fiskars Threading Water border punch. However, the punch I am totally enamored with is the Fiskars A Dozen Roses border punch and embosser (BTW - I picked this up at amazon.com...Prime shipping is only two days). Below is an example of what this little baby can do to make exquisite and interesting edges.


This is an "old school" paper from My Little Shoebox's line called Butterflies. Isn't the color gorgeous? It's even prettier in real life. To begin, I started the punch at the edge of the paper.


Now you can see the gorgeous flower border that the punch makes along the edge of the paper, and if you look closely, it also embosses the inside of the edge with a pretty little vine which adds some interesting texture to the paper. Oh my...I knew I should have put lotion on my hands before I shot these photos. When will I learn?


I've finished a whole side and you can see how pretty the edge looks with the flourishes and flowers on this patterned paper from My Little Shoebox. But wait...I'm about to finish a corner.


The best part about the A Dozen Roses punch is that it is very forgiving on the corners. Because it has such a rich and busy texture, you can just trim the corner a bit with some scissors for a custom look that is clean and neat. Isn't that a beautiful edge for this paper? Can I just say one more time that I totally LOVE this border punch!

Sunday Sketch, March 22nd

I wanted something pretty and simple so that I could use a few of my more beautiful flowers, flourishes and fancy punches, but wouldn't require a lot of time. Please let me know what you create, so I can admire your work and hopefully add a few of your examples to my blog.


This gorgeous layout is by my friend Lynn. I really love how she kept the basic integrity of my sketch, but made a few changes like turning the direction of the photo and adding a beautiful butterfly instead of a journal card. Lynn also makes her own flowers...aren't they stunning? You can find more of Lynn's wonderful work at her blog Pretty Paper Swirls.

This gorgeous interpretation of my sketch is from my friend Luzma. Love how she used the large embellishments, flowers and flourishes to fill her page with a gorgeous design. To see more of Luzma's wonderful work, just click on her name.


This Super fun and Super cute layout is by my friend Debbie (a.ka. Delusional1). I just love what she did with the Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday papers and chipboard. So stinkin cute with the cut out photo that looks almost three dimensional. She got these little goodies in the March Creative kit from My Creative Scrapbook. What an Awesome interpretation of my sketch. You can see more of Debbie's wonderful work in her gallery. Just click on her name.

Sunday Sketch, March 15th

I found some new clip art flourishes on the Microsoft site and have been playing with them. This sketch was fun to create, especially since butterflies are still wildly popular. Have fun with those little suckers.


This is my daughter. She is such a little model and actually makes many different faces for the camera. She could give Zoolander a run for his money and is working on her "magnum" look. BTW...I may have made up my own word with "girliness", but I'm going with it. :)


This LO was done by my friend Pearl Liu. I love how formal her layout looks compared to mine and her lovely red flower is to die for. Thank you Pearl for your creativity and wonderful interpretation. You can find more of her amazing work at her blog Pearl's Paperfections.


Check out this amazing interpretation of my sketch by my friend Meg Mele! She used the new Prima Flirty papers which she received the Limited Edition Kit from My Creative Scrapbook. Meg - this is such a wonderful layout for that amazing photo of your husband. Thank you for sharing your work.

Scrapbooking and Beyond Spring 2009

It's really exciting to be part of another series at Scrapbooking and Beyond Magazine. This year it is all about flourishes and a different one for each season. The refreshing rain drops of spring just called for crystal flourishes. Stay tuned for summer with a new kind of flourish.

Sunday Sketch, March 8th

I'm working on posting an exclusive sketch each week on my blog. I'd love for artists who use my sketch to leave me a comment and a link to their blog. Then I can visit and leave a comment and post some of the layouts as examples on my blog. Look for a new sketch every Sunday night by 10:00 pm MST. Here is the first.

This wonderful interpretation is by my friend Belle*. Love how she used a scalloped border to give even more depth the sketch design. You can see more of Belle*'s wonderful work at her blog Bellescraps. Thanks for sharing your work Belle*.

March Kit Release

Another amazing reveal has been posted at My Creative Scrapbook. This month's kits include My Mind's Eye Bella Bella line and Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday line. The kits are loaded like usual. Below is a photo of the March main kit and a few examples of some of my work.

Sueded Chipboard Tutorial

If you are like me...have little time and little money, you might appreciate this easy tutorial on sueding your chipboard. All you need are a few simple items:

Chalk Sharpie Chipboard Letters

Step One - Take one of your sharpie markers and saturate your chipboard with color.

Step Two - Before the marker is dry, rub some chalk into the color.

Step Three - use the same technique on all your letters and other chipboard items for a sueded, finished look that is quick and easy.

Please see the layout below for an example of how the sueded chipboard looks on a layout and feel free to share your creations and let me know how this works for you!

Come Join the Fun

This is an example of a layout done with sueded chipboard. I also host a monthly sketch challenge at My Creative Scrapbook. This layout was done with one of my sketches. Please join us for fun and PRIZES!