Paper for another purpose

On my desk today:

I'm crafting a shadowbox to keep mementos of our beach trips. Each year we come home with shells - or bits of shells - and tuck them safely away. This year, my kids inspired me to do something with them. This project was born.

I used the Display Tray, Seaside Paper Packet and Seaside Complements. Bonding Memories glue was perfect to adhere the paper to the tray.

All in all, a quick project that will help me - and my family - remember our beach trips!

A summer challenge for you

As the school year was winding down and my family was thinking about summer plans, I made a summer bucket list. It wasn't long. It didn't include everything I hoped I'd do this summer, but it did include the things that were really important to me. (I did add one more item after this photo).

I made the list in June when I started making my summer plans. As we do all of our adventuring this summer, I’m recording memories and taking photos, and then in the fall, I’ll create a layout or three or maybe a mini-album!

Here's a photo of me and my cute nephew Henry - one item on the bucket list accomplished! 

I challenge you to do the same. Create a bucket list - even now partway through your summer - and then make your summer memories! When you’ve made your memories and printed your photos, create a layout about one of your summer adventures or your whole bucket list!

Share your list, your photos or your layouts on my Facebook page. There will be prizes this fall!

Beach Baby

We have just returned from a week at the beach. This trip has been our family tradition for seven years - more summers than my youngest has been alive. This year we reminisced about his first trip, and he didn't remember the stories. When we got home, I dug out some photos from that year and put together a layout to capture these memories for him.

I found the photos with a whole stash of old beach products. I don't always organize by theme, but it sure made this layout quick and easy!

To fit with the beach photos I used three different types of distressing as you can see below:

• on the kraft paper I used the ink pad directly on the paper
• on the blue pattern paper, I applied the ink with a sponge
• on the Bamboo cardstock I sanded the edge to reveal the white core.

The journaling isn't fancy, but it captures the highlights of his first beach trip.

He was excited when I showed it to him this morning. Memory captured (six years later), story preserved. Scrapbook win!

I Scream, You Scream...

We all scream for ice cream!

CTMH's June stamp of the month, Ice Cream Dream, celebrates one of my favorite treats.

I couldn't wait to use it!

Here's the first layout I created:

I used the ice cream cone to random stamp on Pacifica cardstock and the ice cream sundae to random stamp on Honey cardstock.

I love this sentiment, and I really think it says it all!


Remember, this stamp is only available during the month of June. Regular price $17.95 or just $5 with a $50 order! Check it out!

Happy Halloween and happy stamping!

Yesterday I shared some ways to get more color onto your stamps.Today I promised a layout that used these techniques. Here it is!

I used two-tone stamping with this stamp from In the Background.

And I used rock 'n roll stamping with this image from Pefect Fit Halloween.

Why not try this technique today? Share a photo of your creation using this technique and earn two extra entries into this month's contest!
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Stamping 102 - Getting More Color

Do you love color? There are some fun ways to get more color onto your stamps! Check it out.

I experimented with this Perfect Fit Halloween set and have three different techniques to show you today.(Know why it is Perfect Fit? Leave a comment. Don't know? Check back tomorrow!)

 

1. Generational Stamping  

First, I played with getting more than one color from an ink pad. This is called generational stamping. I created all three of these images while only inking the stamp once! This simple technique can yield a lighter shade of the same color. To achieve this, ink your stamp well and then stamp the first generation image onto your scrap paper. This takes much of the ink off the stamp, but there is still some left! Stamp again - without reinking - and you get a second generation look.With some colors it is possible to stamp again - still without reinking - and get a third generation look.

2. Two-tone stamping
Another technique allows you to use two colors on a stamp at one time!
**With this technique always use the lighter ink first!
I inked this entire stamp well with Pear ink.

When you are done with the lighter color, without stamping off ink with the darker color. Ink carefully and only over part of the image. I used black on the top portion of the stamp.

After you have inked both colors, stamp the image onto your project and get a two-tone effect!

Here's an example of two-tone stamping on a recent layout. Check back tomorrow to see the whole thing!

3. Rock 'n Roll Stamping
Rock 'n roll is very similar to two-tone stamping. Begin by inking the entire stamp. Again, I used Pear.
**With this technique always use the lighter ink first!

 

Without stamping off, carefully rock 'n roll the stamp around the ink pad so that only the edges of the image pick up ink.

 

After you are done rockin' 'n rollin', stamp the image onto your project.
Images that are circular tend to work very well for this rolling technique. In addition to circles, consider flowers, gears, clocks etc.

Here's an example of rock 'n roll stamping on a recent layout. Check back tomorrow to see the whole thing!

These are a couple of my favorite techniques for getting more color on to my stamps. Do you have a favorite of these? Which one do you want to try? Do you have a favorite that isn't here?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Ohlala - Christmas Eve Dinner with Yuletide Carol

Sometimes the best way to use a stamp is to cut it! On this two page layout I stamped and cut both the title and part of the cluster of embellishments.

All of the stamps are from the Yuletide Carol Workshop on the Go.

The title stamp is a simple tag shape that was easy to cut around.  I loved the shape, but I wanted to use my own title so I did some fancy stamping. Check back later this week for instructions!

The embellishment tickets are from the same stamp set. These ticket shapes coordinate with a shape on our Artbooking Cricut Collection so you could cut the images with the Cricut or by hand.

What tools do you use to cut your stamped images? What would you like to try that you haven't?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!