I choose - a sunburst!

I’m not always a trend follower, but there are some trends I really like in paper crafting right now. The sunburst is one of them! I’ve seen bursts created with paper, ribbon, buttons, confetti, you name it! I’ve seen sunbursts behind photos, journaling, titles, on the edge of pages, even in pattern paper!

I was inspired to create my page by some triangular shaped scraps from another project. My triangles weren’t all the same size - they weren’t even similar (same angles, but different size). The irregular sunburst they created added the perfect energy to my small photo for this page.

 

 
Rather than focus on one word for the year, for 2013 I am focusing on choosing goals and priorities each month. The energy and focus this is giving me is captured perfectly in the sunburst and small journaling spots.










I double stamped the title in two different inks slightly offset to give the effect of depth. For the year, I attached number stickers, sponged in over them and then removed the stickers to create the negative effect.












 

I love this Chantilly paper from CTMH. The color combination is really working for me. Believe it or not, the pearl flourishes were left over from the same project as the triangles of paper. I just couldn't let either one go to waste!

Paper Trail Blog Hop - Claire

Welcome to the Paper Trail Blog Hop. This month we are featuring the Claire paper packet. If you've arrived here from Lynne's  blog, welcome! If this is your first stop, grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage and enjoy the art work!

I must confess, the Clair paper was the one that first drew me in when I saw the Spring/Summer idea book.The colors and patterns reminded me immediately of my mom. I couldn't wait to create something. It also doesn't hurt that Outdoor Denim is my favorite color!

As I have been doing a lot lately, I created two single page layouts that can also function as a double page spread. I find this design very flexible especially when I am working with three photos. Three 4X6 photos seem too much to put on one 12X12 page, but tricky to design on a 12X24. I have much better luck working on a 12X12 canvas with one photo and another 12X12 canvas with two photos.


My first layout (or the left-hand page if you think in 12X24) features one photo. I wanted to draw attention to the photo and the Main Frame - Details pattern from Reflections made it easy. I embellished with Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon - another product that caught my attention early in this idea book - and a perfect complement for this paper!





I also created some of my own embellishments by stamping words and images from Sightseer and then cutting them out to imitate the look of die cuts or stickers. (I love the versatility of stamps!)








The second of my layouts using this Bottom Border - Base pattern from Reflections features only paper, ink and adhesive:

I used Hooray Bouquet to add a subtle flower pattern on the geometric Sunset paper. The title is the largest font on the Trinity alphabet. The border beneath the title is from In The Background. The arrow accentuating the title is from my current favorite set, Sightseer.  I also added a few text elements as embellishments using retired stamp sets.



Thanks for stopping by! Now, head on over to Betsy's blog to see what she has created using this fun paper! Check back here on Thursday to see a fun layout using Chantilly and the trendy sunburst design.

A few two-page layouts

I've been posting many one page layouts recently. I know that I often get working on one idea - like single page layouts - and that is where I focus for a while. Sometimes, I give myself a challenge to do something different. Here are two two-page layouts from the last few weeks.

This one came together like a dream once I reminded myself to think in colors not just in themes. The greens and aquas of Avonlea were great for my dusky outdoor pictures.

A close up of the left side. I kept the design simple to let the photos shine. Some foam adhesive and Colonial White Waxy Flax were my only embellishments.

And the right.
I stamped the title with the Bohemian Alphabet and stamped a simple border at the top of the page.

This second layout uses some older and some very new products. I based my design on pattern #2 from Make it From Your Heart (new). The papers are long-retired (old).

 

The left page.
I really like the way the pigment ink makes the title pop even stamped across three different colors. (new) The alphabet stamp set is Cobblestone - retired (old)

The right page.
The pattern papers are from two different packs - Level 1 kits, in fact (remember those?) I liked the way they fit with the outdoor feel of the page. (Definitely old)

Some details:

I paired the older papers with some newer embellishments including the Epoxy Bubbles and a quote from a new set. (definitely new!)






There. I've taken my own challenge and have proven to myself that I can still create in 12X24. What's next? Maybe 12X18?

What about you? What is your go-to size for layouts?

Buzz and Bumble on the Paper Trail Hop!

Welcome to the Paper Trail Blog Hop. This month we are buzzing along with Close to My Heart's new Buzz and Bumble paper packet. You may have arrived here from Karen's blog but either way you're on the right track - this hop is circular!

Here is a look at the Buzz and Bumble paper pack:

I love the warm colors in this pack. I had fun creating some cards using these papers.

 

I thought this paper was perfect for some all occasion cards. Many of the cards I create have very generic sentiments on the front. I leave the insides blank when I create them, then I have a ready supply of cards that I can tailor to a specific event with the words I use inside.

And here are some close ups:

And I just couldn't resist one "bee" pun:

 

Do you have any card making tricks? I'd love to hear what works for you!

Thanks for buzzing by! I hope you'll check back next week to see about some classes and events in March! For now, buzz on over to Lynne's blog. I'm sure you'll appreciate her bee-autiful creations!

I've had some creative time...

One of the things I love about my day job is that I have vacations every so often. Last week was one such vacation. We didn't take any major trips, didn't plan any big events. This time we simply stayed around town and enjoyed a more flexible schedule. For me, that meant a good deal of creative time. I think I have completed 14 pages this month.

Here are a couple of pages from the last week or two. I've found some summer photos from a last year. It is a nice change from the weather we are having here right now.

Although these photos aren't obviously from July 4th, I decided to take my cue for the color scheme and journaling from the holiday I know we were celebrating. (Our most patriotic tradition is watching fireworks, and I haven't yet tried photographing them.)

 I used mostly cardstock on this page. (Only the base page is patterned paper.) I did stamp a background on the red (Ruby) paper and some details on the kraft.

When I was almost done with the layout, there was an unplanned change. Can you see where I dropped my ink pad directly on the kraft cardstock? I ended up distressing more than I had intended, but I'm okay with it.

The journaling I did doesn't focus specifically on this day or on our July 4th traditions. I've already created that layout. Instead, I wrote a bit about my feelings for my country and my hopes for my kiddos in that regard. I don't think I've ever journaled about that before.

The next page was totally photo driven. One day last summer I decided to get artsy with the camera at dinner time. I have been sorting out some old supplies recently. All three of these papers came from my "old supply" stash. Two of them are older than my three-year-old!









Flexible time, fun summer photos and supplies I forgot I had. For me last week, this was the recipe for creativity!

What has been inspiring your creativity lately?

Showering You...

Nothing gets me going like someone issuing a challenge. I love them! I especially love sketch challenges. I am excited that I had time to play along with two different sketch challenge blogs this month. I created two one-page layouts that will go side-by-side in my album as a larger spread about an event. I've been doing this frequently this year - creating two one-page layouts that work together to tell one story. 

The first sketch I used was from Stuck?! Sketches. Isn't it fun?

 I usually scrap 12X12, so I modified the sketch a bit. Here is my take:

 

I used some very old paper from CTMH (Precious Paisley). I thought it was perfect for a baby shower! I liked the circle included in the sketch behind the photos, but it didn't work with my photos. Instead I used three small circle stickers and some sparkles to add interest to the linear design of the layout.

The second page I created based on a sketch at Sketches in Thyme:

The page I created is a companion to the page above and uses many of the same products.

 

I didn't feel the need to include a title on this page since the journaling, photos and products link it closely to the page above. The photos I used were too large to be lined up across the layout. I am pleased with the way this cluster of photos contrasts with the more linear page above.

I'm finding this idea of creating companion one-page layouts is really working for me. I get the benefits of both types of designing - the smaller canvas of the 12X12 but the simplified product choice of the 12X24. The variety of sketches available in 12X12 but the ability to tell a story of 12X24.

What about you? Do you know any good challenge blogs? Have you discovered any tricks that are really working for you right now? I would love to hear from you!

Cousin Layouts

In addition to the layouts I posted last week, I created a few about my darling nieces in January.
My brother's darling Abby meeting her Great Grandma:

This uses CTMH's La Belle Vie paper packet - now sadly retired. (The tag with the heart and the frame with the flower were a make and take at the January Crop N Time event.)

I used some retired stamps, a bit of black tulle ribbon and washi tape to embellish. This tulle gives a lot of bang for the buck. The pieces on this layout are 1/4 of the full width!




Another layout using La Belle Vie. This time I used the negative space from the hearts I cut for the make and take to create the background of a layout documenting my niece Olivia's baptism:

The negative space was fun to play with. I tried many colors behind it, and settled on the pink pattern and Colonial White.

I added some stamped and fussy-cut flowers from Hooray Bouquet with clear sparkles to embellish.

I also pulled out some more retired stamps to create the borders and the title.










And finally, a layout that actually includes cousins! Near the end of the day at the January crop I wanted to continue creating, but my table was a mess. I decided to try to use the things on my table to create another page. I found two photos of my little guy with his cousin and this was the result:

I loved the bright colors of the play mat with the papers and embellishments. The supplies are a mish-mash of manufacturers. Almost all of the CTMH materials are long retired.

I'm glad to get these girls into my scrapbooks! What have you been creating about your family lately?