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!