Top Ten: Using Staples {Practical Scrappers}

Here's something quick and simple for you today:

Using staples on a project is rather trendy right now and the Top Ten Team at Practical Scrappers is ready to share with you several different ways to incorporate staples into your projects.

On this card, I used staples to secure my banner as well as create a bit of design interest along the top of the card.  

Materials:  Stampin' Up! stamp and cardstock

Practical Scrappers Blog Hop

Welcome to the Practical Scrappers/Paper Secrets Blog Hop!!

We are so excited to have you here today!  For this blog hop we are featuring the Ten Things Team from Practical Scrappers and members from the Design Team at Paper Secrets. Our topic for this hop is a fun, trendy one that will definitely catch your attention: wood! 

Blog Hop List

Practical Scrappers

Charity Hotrum

Lisa Moen

Jessica Arrant

Kristi Biesel 

Stephanie U

Patty Selah 

Karen Sessions

Kelly Holfield

Wendy Coffman

Deborah Johnson

Krissy Clark

Rochelle Spears

Kerri Yarus  

Lee-Anne Thornton

Leslii Wagner

Kelli Fortier

Kim Ryden 

Lucy Kelleher

Sue Kithcart 

Brenda Ragsdale

Charissa Miller

Christine Meyer

Sarah Clark

Kelly Jean Guzlas

Paper Secrets

Here's what you can win from Paper Secrets!

We have a collection of wood goodies from Paper Secrets to give away and you can get all the details on that below, but first here's my project!

How about a ray of sunshine, too?

Materials used:  Stampin' Up! papers, Studio Calico tiny veneer stars and Across the Miles stamp set from Sweet Stamp Shop

You can do any or all of the following to get entered:

1) Be a follower here at Practical Scrappers

2) Be a follower at the Paper Secrets Blog

3) Like our Practical Scrappers Facebook Page

4) Like the Paper Secrets Facebook Page

5) Leave us a comment here telling us which of those you did :)

You have until 11:59 PM CST on Sunday, August 25th to enter.  A winner will be announced early next week!

Next up on the blog hop is 

Krissy Clark  <<<< - hop on over there.

This is Life {S.W.A.T. Drill #14}

Today’s S.W.A.T Drill #14 is to use stickers and NOT Thickers - that would be too easy - AND to use our sketch.  Use stickers on a layout or card and then post them to the S.W.A.T website - share your memories and those crazy stickers that are just sitting there not being used.

This is Life!  No matter what is going on in our lives - family is the so very important and they are what makes our life so great.  We had a memorable time hiking in the Big Basin Redwoods - it was a 12-mile hike and took us 6 hours.  To say we were exhausted is an understatement but we persevered and had ice cream as a reward when we were finished.

I used Simple Stories Life Documented.  The sticker sheet that comes with this kit is fantastic and really helps to accent the photos.  I did turn the sketch on its side so that it worked better for the photos I wanted to work with.

The sketch:

You're Juuust Right {Storytime Collection}

Good morning - here I am at We R Memory Keepers as their August Guest Designer - Yup - PINCH ME!!!!

The gals over at WRMK sent me a sample of their Storytime Collection and I'm excited to share with you what I've created:

Here's the full 12" x 12" layout.  I cut down the "Jack" paper to 11" x 11" so that I could distress the edges and then stitch it onto my background.  I don't have a fancy scoring tool so I just use my kraft knife or scissors (carefully!) 

Here's a close up for you ... and the cute title "You're Juuust Right"

I cut triangles and then overlapped them to point the way to her sweet smile and then I added a cute arrow paperclip accent piece from Stampin' Up! 

 I did a bit of layering both under the photo and on top of the photo.  Here you can see a sweet humming bird hovering above rosettes that I created.  To make the rosettes, I use a 1" circle punch, then cut a spiral into the paper and very carefully roll the paper onto itself and finish it off with glue and adhere with a glue dot.  The banner strips here are from "Frog Prince" and is just delightful!!

The rhinestone trim is from Webster's Pages and is self-adhering - thank goodness!!

 With the leftover product, I made this layout using a sketch from S.W.A.T.

The 12" x 12" paper is Rapunzel from the same collection and you may notice some sparkles, those are Stickles (one of my favorite go-to products).

 But wait, there's more!!

I still had some left-overs and created this cute 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card out of black card stock, kraft card stock, left over "Frog Prince" and a "My Dear" tag.

That's it!  I do hope that you are itching to get some of this line (or ALL of it!)

Have a terrific, scrappy-happy day!

Paint on a Layout {Practical Scrappers}

Do you ever have those layouts or cards that you just have to step back and admire?  I hate to admit it - but this is one of those layouts.  I immediately had to send a photo of this to my sister and one of my dear scrappy gal pals because I was just amazed at what I had created.

To create this layout, I began with a bit of gesso that I spread on with a paintbrush and then smoothed out in some areas with a piece of card stock.  Once it was dry, I placed the photograph onto the layout and sketched with pencil around it to extend the photograph.  After removing the photograph, I inked my outlines and then began adding layer after layer of misting ink with a paintbrush - just uncap the bottle and be careful - 

I hope that you are inspired by this layout to create something similar or even more amazing!!

Have a Scrappy-Happy Day!

Border Punches {Composition Notebook}

Today at Practical Scrappers, we are sharing different ways to use border punches - I can tell you that this is a very creative group!  I am planning on making a couple of the crafts that the other gals came up with for this challenge.  What challenge?  Why - to use those border punches that you had to have and well ... if you are like me ... they are still sitting in a drawer or nook waiting to be used!

While playing around with my border punches, I decided to cover my boring composition notebook.

Composition notebooks updated and ready to give to my team of teachers.

 Isn't this paper fun??

Not too difficult to create and really makes that boring notebook look fun!  Cannot wait to use it (starting Wendesday???!!!).

Have a Scrappy-Happy Day!

Contemplating the Beach {Drill #13: Trendy Triangles}

While on vacation this year, my sweet husband took several photos of the kids as they roamed the beach.  It was a tad chilly when we started our adventure, but then the sun came out and we were amazed at all we could see in Monterey, CA.

I adore photos of the kids when they don’t even know we’re taking photos - my son looks like he’s really contemplating the ocean and its hidden treasures possibly even mapping out his day of discovery.

Using triangles on layouts helps to highlight or point the way to a focal point on your layout and I’ve added a bit of machine stitching to the triangles - I think it gives them an “arrow” look.

Be sure to upload your layouts, cards or other projects to S.W.A.T’s Drill #13 - Trendy Triangles.

Materials:  Simple Stories 24/Seven and Mr. Huey's Mists

Sketch is from:  Me!

Summer Banner with Flowers {Practical Scrappers}

Today at Practical Scrappers, we are sharing several ways to use pre-made flowers.  I decided to create a banner - this, by the way, is my first banner!!! - and I really love it.  I used Tag Templates from Kiwi Lane Designs along with Simple Stories' I {heart} Summer collection.  The flowers are from Hobby Lobby and I don't recall the manufacturer.

Enjoy!!

Have a scrappy-happy day!!

Color Combo: Emerald Green, Royal Blue & White

Today's challenge over at Practical Scrappers is to use Emerald Green, Royal Blue and White on a layout, card or other crafty project.

Here’s a layout that I created using a sketch from ScrapbookSteals.com. % The photo in one that my honey took while we were on Cannery Row in Monterey, CA.  $ 

While I tried to read the novel, Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, I made it only through the first six chapters.  A little too much for me while I'm on vacation.  I'll have to come back tot he novel.

Left Overs for Journaling {Practical Scrappers}

Today’s assignment is to #use those left over sticker letters in a new and creative way.  On my layout using Simple Stories’ “Take A Hike”, I used a smattering of letters from a variety of paper companies.  I think that this is a fun way to use up those letters and show off your photos.

And a closer look at the journaling:

Have a Scrappy#Happy day!

Best Day Ever {Drill #12: Use Only Patterned Papers}

Welcome back to S.W.A.T. where we are having a sketch challenge for you today.  While I was waiting for my son to finish his music lessons, I stopped in at a local coffee shop and pulled out my Simple Stories 24/Seven collection and just went to work on this layout.  I also used my mists for this layout with a few drops splashed here and then and then I drew the circle.  This is a new technique for me and I found it to be very easy!  Just take the dropper out of the misting bottle and then draw with it like its a quill pen.  This technique gives you a messy, grunge look and I just love it!

Don't forget to link up your project so we can drool all over your interpretation of this sketch plus you can win a prize from our sponsor Boys Rule a $15 gift card. 

Have a happy scrappy day!

Endless Possibilities {SS Birthday Challenges #1 - #4}

ScrapbookSteals.com is celebrating their Fourth birthday!  To celebrate, they hosted an online chat with four different challenges.  The first challenge is to create a project using only four different types of materials.  I used FOUR:

1. patterned paper
2. tuille
3. pre-made flowers
4. ribbon

Now on to the rest of the challenges ...

The second challenge is to scrap an event from 2009 - that was the year that we visited my parents outside of St. Louis, MO.

The third challenge was to create a project using your favorite vendor - My all -time favorite is Stampin Up!

The fourth and final challenge is to use four different washi tapes on one project - I created this "Thank You" card.

Have a Scrappy-Happy Day!!

Gift Tags {Practical Scrappers}

I’ve always loved how crafty some people are; they put cute gift wrapping and tags on just about anything.  Today’s post shows you a way to put a crafty spin on a wine bottle.  More and more wineries are creating some very eye-catching labels but I wanted to personalize my label to celebrate a special date.

I used Maya Roads canvas, chipboard numbers and velvet flowers along with some burlap that I purchased at my LSS.  This is one of those projects that does not take a great deal of time - except for letting glue dry - and creates a very special feel to a gift.

Then I also created this gift tag with a much more clean and simple look to it to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

And here is my final offering for today - a Christmas in July gift tag.  Yes, our family celebrates Christmas in July.  We put up a small tree, outdoor lights, send Christmas cards, make cookies and we even give gifts to one another.  This is a tradition we started four years ago and the kids really look forward to it - helps to break up the heat of the summer.

Have a scrappy happy day!

Genuine Memory {Aquamarine #1}

Here’s a layout that I created using a sketch from ScrapbookSteals.com. %  Aquamarine #1 ... The girls at ScrapbookSteals.com have a new sketch each Wednesday and they group 10 sketches at a time.  I've tried many times to do the entire series but I think that's only happened once or twice.  $ The photo in one that my honey took while we were on Cannery Row in Monterey, CA.  $ 

While I tried to read the novel, Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, I made it only through the first six chapters.  %A little too much for me while I’m on vacation.  I’ll have to come back to the novel # its interesting # and I need to read it. $

Summer Fun {PGCB #35}

Challenge #35 at the Paper Girls Challenge Blog is to use at least three journaling cards on a layout, card or project.

I didn’t use a sketch for this but I think that “Summer Fun” speaks for itself!