template love.

so my sweet friend crystal, asked me to try out her new templates.

you know me, I kinda love crystal, and I kinda love everything she makes, so it really wasn’t hard to say yes.

I used three different templates, from two different packs.

what do I love about them? well, let’s just make it easier and list what I don’t love about them.

(insert crickets chirping here.)

see for yourself:

this is from template pack #1, and perfect to showcase some of my favorite pix from our recent lagoon trip.

I love the white background, but also the option the template gives to change that up whichever way I choose. I love to have the pop of color on the very background, but still have the clean feel of the white behind my pictures.

I used pebbles “seen & noted” paper and elements to tie this all together.

and that stitching.. perfect to pin down all of those little tid-bits.

crystal has made this so super easy, with all the shadows and overlays, even the stitching pre-set (but with the option to turn those layers off if you are not in the mood).

I love this picture, and decided that while it will definitely hold a spot in my weekly project life layout, it deserves a page of it’s own..

I used a template from template pack #4 and “chasing rainbows” paper and elements from dani mogstad. perfect to express that feel of blissful childhood I so totally see in this picture.

this was easily one of the happiest days of our summer so far..

my sister-in-law came home from her 18 month mission to nashville, tennessee!!

(totally deserves to be documented..)

I used another template from template pack #4 (guess you could say it’s my favorite pack? maybe?..) and LDS missionary sister edition from becky higgins project life designed by kimberly church.

I am so completely happy with how easy (and quick!!) these were to use.

now if you have been scrolling through, checking out what these babies have to offer, maybe even clicking on the links, following them to the stores where you can purchase them from, well, I have some completely awesome news for you..

and it really isn’t my news, it’s crystal’s news, I just get to spread it!!!.. and we all know that I am so incredibly good at that…

she is offering a 50% off coupon to purchase her templates here.

just enter the code CWTEMP50 at checkout before june 22nd.

want more eye candy? check out her blog and what she did with a layout a day with these awesome templates.

paper ball ornament

my dear friend linda (think: “in the making design”) had this pattern available to purchase once upon a time. 

(sniff..  sniff…)

so I had to make due, and figure one out with these papers, that I am, again, obsessed with!

 

so I started out, using my cricut and using some bad words, cutting 3 inch circles.  linda suggests starting with 2 inch guys, but I wanted a big guy.  so I went three inches.

you need 20 circles.  twenty.

after you have your circles all cut out, or punched, then you start to score.  the trick is to score an equilateral triangle, perfectly in the middle of the circle, with the three points touching the edges of the circle.

I would not/could not do this without my martha stewart scoring board. 

thank you george (he’s the voice in my iPhone, sometime I will tell you all of the funny things he’s done/said).

use your bone folder to make those creases SHARP.  this makes things easier later on.

now there are a few tricks to getting those darn equilateral triangles the right size for your circle guys.  you need your triangle to be about 1/2 inch smaller than your circle.  so my triangle for my 3 inch guy was 2 1/2 inches, but the triangle for my 2 inch circle was 1 3/4 inches.  see, no exact math, but wikipedia did help out, a lot.  and now I feel guilty about not donating to their cause…

linda had an awesome template that printed right out on her “be merry” papers, but like I said before,  that was once upon a time.  (why did she have to retire?  well, I really know why..  totally support and love your guts linda, just still a little sad.)

so I guess I will just make one…

 

(click on it to download.  you can adjust the opacity as needed to hide it better on your paper when you print.)

so now you have 20 cute little cut and scored circles…  or maybe 10?  why did I take that picture?

next step is to start gluing.  I like tombow mono multi liquid glue.  LOVE IT!!

start with five cut and scored circles for the top, and five more for the bottom.

you will glue them so the points all go to the middle.  it will look kinda like a lid.

(and eating white chocolate peppermint m&ms seems to help out too..)

do this for the top and bottom, and then set them aside.

you will take the remaining 10 cut and scored circles, and start gluing them to each other so it makes a band of sorts.

put glue on your tabs on one side of the band, and attach the top, then do the same for the bottom.

cute, right?

you can always add a bit or ribbon or string so you can hang them if desired.

many thanks to linda for her inspiration.

(xoxoxxooxxxx linda!!!)

I know I am not done making these.  pretty sure they will be filler everywhere around my house!

A little Spring for your Monday. *UPDATED WITH LINKY*

At my house, right this minute, it is snowing.  There is a little thunder and lightening mixed in with that snow too.  Out my front door, when I took the girls to school, there was the sun shining, but in the distance, dark, dark clouds.  We could hear the thunder and knew what was coming.  When we looked out the back door, it was so deceptive!  There was full sunshine, a little blue sky, some light, white clouds, but a totally different world out that back door.
The point in all of this..
It is springtime in Utah.
This is how I have to get my fix for Spring on days like today:
Echo Park has a new line out today, “Sidewalk Chalk”.
(Click on image for full credits.)

Spendid Fiins has Baker’s Twine, new in store today.  I love the stuff already!!
(Click on image for full credits.)

Hope you have a little Spring wherever you are!
(Hope you can find some if you are in the same boat that I am..  or sled.)
Just for kicks and giggles, here’s the templates I made for these layouts, for you, for FREEEEE!! 
If you use them, link up to this post, show me what you did with them.
Swooshy squares template.
Simple Circles template.
**I wasn’t sure how difficult/time-consuming it would be to add a linky to this post, to, you know, link up what you did with the template, but turns out it’s not so hard!
So link away ladies…
Link away.**

More in Store Monday.

Just a smattering of the new goodies available today at Jessica Sprague.

First up, “Essential Masks v. 3” from Carina Gardner.

Other credits for this page:

Papers & accents:  Carina Gardner “Affection: Mega Kit”.

Font: Antipasto.

New from Splendid Fiins:

“Think Spring Borders”

 

Other Credits for this page:

Paper: “Brilliants” Splendid Fiins.

Staple: Crystal Wilkerson

Photo Frame: Brush from Deviantart.

Font: Firefly Castle.

(I just discovered some awesome staples, and other office supply essentials of Splendid Fiins here.  Love these!)

This layout features products entirely from “In The Making Design”.

“Moments” papers and elements.

Template: “It’s a Start – Templates 2”.

quite excited to get started on my new class this week too.  I got my kit in the mail this last week..

Look at how fun!

All tied up with that darling welcome tag..  all of that fun stuff!  Who wouldn’t be excited?

Did you sign up for Mouse, Paper, Scissors?

Strictly for fun.

It is nice to have a reason (motivator) to scrap, but it is even funner to just do it for fun.

My friend Mandi created this template and I couldn’t wait to play with it.

I am learning a few things about myself as I scrap..

1- Music really influences the choices I make as far as style is concerned.  (That should be a no brainer.)  The pink was added in as the music I was listening to became a bit more gentle.

2- Scrapbooking pictures of Peyton is difficult for a plethora of reasons.  Besides the obvious (baby hungry, will be forever!!), I can see flaws in the way I was taking pictures before.  (Thanks education.)  Not to mention the quality.  The quality of the cameras I was using is not quite the quality of what I use now.  (Darn those megapixles!)  Some pictures are more pixilated than others, I can tell I was zooming way in.

3- I get to know my stash so much better when I am not focusing on must one designer.  It’s quite fun to hunt for the perfect elements for a page, from all over my hard-drive. 

4- I also know I need to get better organized.

5- I also want more “stuff” to play with.  But when don’t I? ;)

Credits:

Papers:

- Cream, Charcoal, and Mustard papers: Splendid Fiins.

- Pink: Jessica Sprague

Lace:

- Kitschy Digitals

Buttons:

- Small grey, white and yellow (I did change the hue & saturation on this one a bit): Kitschy Digitals

- Large grey button: Queen of Quirk

Fabric Flower:

- Kitschy Digitals

Stitching:

- Splendid Fiins

Staple:

- Crystal Wilkerson

Frames:

- Carina Gardner

Overlay:

- Queen of Quirk

Font:

- Firefly Castle from Kevin & Amanda

4..

You know, I really should catch up my little count going on (not really) over there ---------------->
2010 is well on it’s way out (already) and I have been lacking in my counting and recording skills.
(Blame it on the fact that math and I don’t usually agree..  or that I am just usually really, horribly wrong.  I blame it all on Roy High.)
I did manage to get FOUR layouts done, in TWO days.
Yup, I am pretty cool!
(Not really, it is just cool by my standards lately.  I’d be REALLY cool if my Christmas cards were out..  it would be even better if I had the pictures taken for aforementioned cards.  I do have the clothes picked out!)
Anyway (after a lot of distraction on my part..), here they are!
(New products will be released this upcoming week!)
This is a printable kit from Kitschy Digitals, but I used it for a layout all about Lynnie-lou and her summer reading goal.
Isn’t that gnome cute?!

I also used Kitschy Digitals Vintage Photo Frames, Crystal Wilkerson’s staple and woodgrain paper, rick-rack and stitching from Splendid Fiins.
(Kitschy Digitals also has a darling die-cut kit that matches this stuff..)

This is a template and quick page from In the Making Design.
I was looking for an excuse to use her “Sassy Season” papers and elements (they are cute!), but also relied on some of my favs..Crystal Wilkerson’s staple (told you I loved it!), and that stitching from Splendid Fiins.

Liv has come up with this incredible template to help showcase your photos.  They really take center stage here.
I got sucked into all of my summer pics (cold it be because of the cold?), and wanted some fresh, calm colors to go with.  Crystal Wilkerson’s “Sweet Summertime” papers, elements and label fit the bill.  Splendid Fiins stitching (heart) also helped to finish this one off well.

Last, but not least, Carina Gardner has an awesome kit coming out this week as well.  I have learned one thing about her: she does what she does well!  Her kits are incredible!  They have so many pieces, totally worth it.  Then there’s the same old stuff I love..  that same staple from Crystal Wilkerson, from my splendid friend, the rick-rack and the lovely stitching!
Don’t forget that the WHOLE STORE in on sale for this month, not to mention, if you spend more than $20 you will get the collaborative kit for FREEEEEE!!
(Did you hear Adam Sandler’s voice in that?)

How did I forget?!?

I posted all of my latest layouts, and left out one of my favorites!
Merrill…

This is from the pics I took from my latest assignment, and I loved this one.  I am so thankful for him!
Supplies:
Template from In The Making Design, “Thankful” (available Wednesday).
Papers also from In The Making Design, “Classic Budiour”, and “Lastoria”.

Latest layouts.

Here’s the latest creations for Jessica Sprague product releases this week…
More In Store Monday:
- Carina Gardner
“Haunted” paper collection and stamps.

I also used the staple from Crystal Wilkerson: Crystal's {PLAYGROUND} Element Pack
Splendid Fiins (Orange rick-rack, orange stitching, and photo corners): feedsack element pack 1 and feedsack element pack 2.

Black stitching from Katie Pertiet.

- Elle’s Studio
Vintage typewriter Christmas journaling tags.

I also used product from Echo Park’s “Sleigh Ride” Paper collection (coming Wednesday).
Template form Miss Jessica Sprague herself: Jessica Sprague Template+ 1.15
Staple from Crystal Wilkerson: Crystal's {PLAYGROUND} Element Pack

One Buck Wednesday:
- Carina Gardner
Daisy Jane papers and paper bits.

Stiching from Splendid Fiins: feedsack element pack 2

Staple from Crystal Wilkerson: Crystal's {PLAYGROUND} Element Pack

Stitching from Splendid Fiins: feedsack element pack 2

Photo frame and mask from Kitschy Digitals: Vintage Photo Frames
- Echo Park
“Sleigh Ride” papers and elements.

Stitching from Splendid Fiins: Sew Crafty Messy Stitches vol. 1
Template from Jessica Sprague: Jessica Sprague Template+ 1.04

Ello!

I am in household project mode..
Again..
Peyton will soon have a "big girl" room.
Cribs are for the birds when it comes to children this age in our house.
While I am waiting for paint to dry, thought I could get one in!
I do have a post a-brewin' as far as digi scrappin', resources and fun stuff.. I have had a few e-mails with questions. :)
I used a template on this one from Chrissy W. at Elemental Scraps.
I also used a kit by the same artist..
The rest of the makings are from things I have collected, already.. because it is so totally addicting!! ;)

Sweet 16..

I do love digi scrapping, but I think this little late-night crop has more to do with the feeling of fullness that remains after a late-night visit to Village Inn and the strawberry crepes that were introduced to the inside of stomach.
Yum.
(The crepes were delicious too! ;D)

loving the templates!!

i do have a few traditional ones in the works (need titles and journaling done..) and some digi ones too.. darn me for burning the pics to CDs and not keeping them on the old computer to digi scrap them.. now i gotta re-load them..

Air Show...

Thanks to my best friend Christie, I learned and now appreciate, the template.
These are awesome!! Ctrl G my friends.. Ctrl G..
Guess what I will be doing the rest of tonight..
Downloading templates.
I think I have come to the conclusion, if I make a layout, and it goes into 4 albums (family, Lynn's, Ashley's, and Peyton's..) then I get to count it as 4 layouts... that's how it would work doing this the paper and glue way.
Good plan, eh?
I will be caught up in no time!! ;)

Same 3 pics..

Same 3 pics.. same quote.. 3 different layouts..
I had a few good ideas (inspiration) I wanted to use, but not all on the same layout.. so I did three, one for the family album, one for Lynn's, and one for Ashley's.
Sooo much fun!!
Quote from February CK, a layout by Ria Mojica (page 97). Hers also features a pic of her girls holding hands.
This one was inspired by half of a layout by EKartch (my made-up nickname for Elizabeth Kartchner), love her stuff! The layout is also in the February CK (page 94).
Lastly, I hunted for a top note template for my journaling spot.. came away from Google tonight highly disappointed.. so I made one up! It's at the bottom of the post..
Patterned paper: Making Memories; Embossed paper: KI Memories, Love Elsie; solid papers: Bazzill, Die Cuts With a View. The swirl stamps are another latest fav by Autumn Leaves.
Watch for a Valentine's Day give away tomorrow!!