RESOLUTION NO. 2

If you read my last POST, you know that it included a list of New Year's resolutions.  What is Resolution No. 2?  It is to apply for manufacturer design teams.  And a favorite manufacturer of mine just happens to be having a DESIGN TEAM CALL right now.  If you guessed I am talking about LILY BEE, you would be correct!  I am a girl who loves to layer patterned papers - the more the better - and Lily Bee makes that super easy for me to do.  And the different collections always seem to work well together, which makes it easy to use up leftover scraps - something that appeals to my frugal little heart!  This layout is a perfect example of that and it represents everything that I love about scrapbooking - fussy cutting, sewing, using leftover bits and pieces off my worktable, and recording an everyday memory with one of my children that makes me happy!

As soon as I saw the patchwork pinwheels, I knew I would be cutting them out and sewing on them.  Some of the pinwheels just have sewing around them (directly on the paper).  But I wanted more depth to several of them so I cut out additional pinwheel shapes and used pop-dots to attach them over the pinwheels already on the paper.  

I also added a little doodling because...well, I couldn't resist!

Do I find it scary to apply to a manufacturer design team like Lily Bee?  Well, maybe not scary, but certainly 

intimidating!  After all, nobody likes to be told they aren't good enough for something - especially by a company whose products they like so much.  BUT - like my grandmama used to say, "you know for sure the answer will be no if you don't try."  So I am going for it and adding a checkmark to my 2014 checklist at the same time.  Wish me luck! 

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  If you are like me, you have been working on your list of 2014 New Year's resolutions.  Well, what better way to document them than to include them in a scrapbook layout - which is exactly what I have done here!

I love the bright colors of the LILY BEE papers I used, which are perfect for this layout full of optimism for the brand new year.  And the Lily Bee papers from the Pinwheel Collection and We R Family Collection coordinate beautifully with each other, don't you think?  

Are you wondering where my journaling is with my 2014 resolutions?  It's right here, written on the back of the journaling card with arrows, which is sitting in a simple little pocket that I made:

I l-o-v-e to fussy cut, and the patterns contained on the papers and journaling cards of the We R Family Collection had me in fussy cutting nirvana!

Have you made any 2014 resolutions?  If so, how are you recording them?

More Woodland Christmas and a Winner

First, I want to thank everyone who left such lovely comments.  They were much appreciated!  Using my random number picker (a/k/a asking the Hubster to pick a number between 1 and 21), the winner of the free Pretty Little Studio flair is Jenny Kozar!  Jenny, if you will send me an email (send to krissy.clark@comcast.net) with you address, I will get your flair sent to you post haste!

Now, on to a little layout I recently finished using one of my new favorite Christmas lines - that's right, it is Pretty Little Studio's WOODLAND CHRISTMAS COLLECTION.  

Let me tell you, the second I saw the Fir Tree paper which is covered in the stars you see on my layout, I knew I would be fussy cutting and using them on a project.  Then, when the Huntress decided she wanted to go out and gaze at the stars a day or two later, I knew my layout was meant to be! *smile*

My heart-rate also increased a little when I saw all the yummy vellum that is included in this holiday collection.  Seriously, big festive stars and vellum - my perfect scrapbook supplies cup runneth over!  Just look how cute these are together:

I outlined my stars so they don't blend in too much with my white background, and I tilted up the corners to give them a more three-dimensional appearance.  

I added a couple of clusters around my photo along with a little journaling to complete my layout...

and, voila!  I was done.  What Christmas collections are your favorites this year?  Have you used your holiday papers for non-Christmas layouts (such as I have done here)?  

Getting Fussy with my Scissors (Practical Scrappers)

 

Today at PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS, our On Trend team is showing everyone how we get fussy.  No, we aren't having a rant over there, we are showing off our layouts and cards in which we used a technique called "fussy cutting."  What exactly IS fussy cutting?  I think the best, easiest way to describe it is how diecuts are made without a diecutting machine - like a Silhouette Cameo.  You see an image or shape you like on a piece of paper and you cut it out to add to your layout or project.  It's that simple!

Often, when crafters think about fussy cutting, we think of projects using what I call "image rich" papers (yes, I just now coined that term - feel free to quote me!) - Graphic 45 and Websters are two of the big names who design these types of papers.  But fussy cutting isn't only limited to cutting out elaborate, detailed images; it can be as simple as cutting out chevrons from a patterned paper you like to make and accent your embellishments, like I did in this layout using a combination of AMERICAN CRAFTS papers from the Yes, Please and Lucky Charm collections.  I took this paper:

...and I cut right outside the outline of several chevrons to create my arrows.  I then cut out individual chevrons and layered them on top of matching ones on my arrows by machine stitching them along the center line so that I ended up with this:

And, as you can see, because I loved my chevron arrows so much, I also used them as accents to draw attention to several of the individual photos - quick and easy embellishments that only required scissors and paper!

Of course, I did use my Silhouette, too, to make this adorable bicycle (which I embellished with buttons, a fabric heart sticker, and my bicycle flag made from twine and a hand made pennant).

...and to make this frame.  It was originally a polaroid frame that I elongated to fit my 4x6 photo.  I adhered different scraps of my AC papers behind each of my letters to make it extra-colorful.

Before I go, I wanted to leave a few tips for fussy cutting:

1.  Sharp scissors are an absolute MUST.  If your scissors aren't sharp, you will often end up with a frayed edge that looks a little "chewed up" by your scissors.  Fraying and distressing are good but NOT when you are fussy cutting!

 

2.  Maybe it's because I have small hands, but smaller scissors generally work better for fussy cutting.  They allow you to maneuver your scissors more easily when cutting out a shape, especially more intricate shapes.

 

3.  To keep your fingers from cramping and feeling like you will never be able to fully straighten them out again (especially if you are cutting out an intricate shape or lots of shapes), I highly recommend getting spring-loaded scissors, such as these, which can be found in most craft and sewing stores. 

 

 

That's it for me today.  But you know I'll be back - I've got some Pretty Little Studio and a blog hop in the works, so stay tuned!

A New Challenge for Me (Play Date Cafe)

By Krissy Clark McKee

Well you know how much I love sketch challenges, but today I decided to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my gray matter a little and try something different.  What did I try?  I found a new site (through my newest obsession Twitter) called THE PLAY DATE CAFE, and they post a new color challenge every Thursday.  When I saw this week's colors, I couldn't resist and had to play along - see...

Bubblegum, Tangerine, and Pear - who could resist???  Not me!  So I pulled out my (ever-growing stash) of my AMERICAN CRAFT papers (along with one teeny tiny piece of Jillibean Soup because it was just the right pear-ish color), and I spent the next few hours happily cutting, gluing, and inking.

 

I did add some darker shades of green and orange as accents, which I think is okay as far as the challenge because the bubblegum, tangerine, and pear colors still retain the focus.  And - even if I failed the challenge - I LOVE my layout!

 

I had waaaaay too much fun playing with the different layers I created on this layout.  I inked my pages with similar colors of ink, but then I sewed (and doodled) on them using contrasting colors of thread.  That's right, I partied hard with my sewing machine and things got a little out of control - oh yeah. Here are a few close-ups.

 

I took a "chicken wire" mask and quickly (and messily) inked over it in several colors.  I like the way it connected the main grouping of papers to the small cluster of flowers at the top of the page. 

 

 

Another small cluster by my title just to add balance and, of course, dooding on everything that wasn't already stitched. 

 

That's it for me tonight - I've got a hot date with Pinterest before beddy-bye time.  Hope you liked my layout and hope it has inspired you to try a color challenge yourself. 

 

Unti next time, happy scrapping!

Sketchy Fun with Fancy Pants

I have always had a special place in my heart for Fancy Pants papers.  First, because I love the name - Fancy Pants.  You can't say it without smiling juuust a little.  Second, because I was using Fancy Pants papers when things first kind of "clicked" for me with designing scrapbook layouts.  So, needless to say, when I saw a package of papers from the Good Life Collection at my favorite LSS, it quickly went into the basket without a second thought.

I love the mixture of bold bright colors and cool pastels in this collection.  And I loved the different patterns, which were just the right scale to look good when used on shapes cut by my Silhouette Cameo.  The only thing better than my Fancy Pants purchase was logging onto the Fancy Pants BLOG and finding out they had a sketch posted that I could use!  So....guess who squealed like a little girl, completely ignored housework for a couple of hours, and instead sat down and played with her papers, sketch, scissors, and glue?  Ahem...yes, that would be me.

Here are a few close-ups:

 

This little row of paper dolls was cut out using my Silhouette Cameo.  As you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed sewing and misting everywhere on my layout.  And where I didn't sew, I doodled.

 

 

My sunburst was also cut out using my Silhouette Cameo.  I surreptitiously took the pictures during a wonderful conversation between Sweet Lula and me.  I loved capturing all the expressions on her face almost as much as talking with this little girl, who has an active, fabulous imagination!

Finally, I added some twine, another fussy cut flower, and a banner because...well, why not?

That's all for me.  Be sure to check out the Fancy Pants blog and give the sketch a try yourself.  And, if you want to share your take on the sketch or see other people's ideas, be sure to check out Fancy Pants on Facebook.

Until next time...

Echo Park Sketch Challenge

I have been enjoying a few days of "me" time (which has been pure Heaven!), and I actually had enough spare time to play along with this fantastic Sketch Challenge over at Echo Park's BLOG.    I love Lori Whitlock's Hello Summer collection and have been waiting for the opportunity to break it open and play with it.  And this seemed to be the perfect time!

After spending a good 30 minutes sorting through the papers because I had such a hard time limiting myself to choosing just a couple of the uber-adorable sheets of paper, I decided on the patterned papers you see with an orange background.  And after being absolutely, positively sure I had exactly the papers I wanted and gluing everything down, I came to the conclusion that, while cute, the orange background didn't give me quite the crisp summer look I was going for.  So....I ripped and cut the patterned papers away from it and put them against the white cardstock that you see.  Perfect!  Sadly, the lovely orange paper from the Hello Summer collection became a casualty - there wasn't enough left in good condition to save - but I think the end result made the sacrifice worthwhile!

Of course I HAD to fussy cut these wonderful flowers from the paper they were on and use them in a cluster.

I also fussy cut these little bees, and I doodled on just about every piece of paper and embellishment on this layout!

What kind of journaling would a dog have about summer?  Well, I think it might look a little bit like this...

That's it for now.  Stay tuned - Let's Capture These Sketches, Lori Whitlock projects, and Practical Scrappers fun coming soon!!!