Meeting Les Twins

I am sharing the tutorial on how I created this layout up on the Paper Camellia blog today.

Théa was so stoked to have taken a last minute class last summer with 4 of Beyoncé's back up dancers.  Les Twins are HUGE, in the dance world, seriously look them up on Youtube, they will amaze you with their mad skills.

I will never know how the last minute class was arranged with this generous group of dancers the night before Beyoncé's big concert here last summer, but it was pretty exciting to watch my kid moving and grooving right along with the challenging routines she was learning.  Watching the freestyle portion at the end was a blast.

Everyone was kind enough to hang around after the workshop for photos and autographs. Les Twins said she had skills, and loads of talent.  Pretty amazing of them to say being who they are and who they work for.  Can't believe it's taken me so long to document the event.

Hop over to the Paper Camellia blog to get the basket weave tutorial and see close up shots.

Hope you're in for a great weekend friends.  Thanks a bunch for stopping by today! Pin It

Pink Paislee & Pagemaps Partnership

The lucky girls of Pink Paislee had the opportunity to partner up with the super talented Becky Fleck this month for the June Pagemaps sketches.

Here is the sketch I worked with:

Here is my take on the sketch, created using the Pink Paislee Atlas Collection.

These photos were taken just before these girls took the stage for their Hip Hop Duo.  They looked amazing, and so much stronger than last year, that I really wanted to document it.  It's fun to look back, and see how much how girls grow in their dancing skills from one year to the next.

 I just love the look of typewritten journaling on vellum.

 Just because a collection is travle based, doesn't mean that it cannot be used for everyday type projects as well, this layout is a perfect example.  The puffy stickers and ephemera packs have plenty of versatile pieces in the collection.

I have been loving playing with the Insta Kits as part of my regular layouts.  One of these days I'll have to actually try using it as an actual kit for this super adorable Atlas Mini album I have been hoarding.

Cute right?  And I just love the cover of it.

I would encourage you to pop over to the Page Maps blog to see how the rest of the team knocked it out of the park with Becky's sketches, and the Atlas Collection.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

Pin It

I love this Smile

I've got the spotlight on the new collections by Crate Paper on the Paper Issues blog today.

My layout, is based on top of one of my favourite types of cardstock.  The Tinaldo woodgrain is so luscious, I reserve it for only the best patterned papers.  Craft Market is one of those collections.

I used my silhouette to cut both my sentiment, and the petals out.  The über talented Paige Evans is the brain behind that fun flower design.  I used it to built my layout around using several items of the ephemera package.  The chipboard numbers on my page are from this package, are yet another thing I am going to have trouble using, once again it's the floral pattern that's getting me.

I promise you really should pop over to the Paper Issues blog to see what some of the super talented DT put together using some of the other collections, you will not be disappointed! 

One manufacturer, so many beautiful options for all your crafting.  It's time to pull out these gorgeous papers you've been hoarding and get crafting.  If you're still looking to get your hands on some of these beautiful papers and embellishments hop over to the Paper Issues store and get yourselves some.

Happy crafting friends! Pin It

On Pointe

I have been holding onto this photo that my daughter snapped one day while watching her friends practice before Pointe class.

This photo perfectly sums up why it is that so many little girls want to grow up to become ballerinas.  There is just something so attractive about pretty, pink pointe shoes.  Pair them with a beautiful tutu, and we're sold.

The colours in the Paper Camellia March Kit are so soft and feminine it was finally time to scrap this memory.  I used some 3D adhesive to pop the tiny close up photo off the page, and added a little chipboard butterfly and gemstone to embellish it, making it stand apart just a bit.

I am a sucker for seam binding , and love the Ria includes it so frequently in her kits. Here all I did was weave a piece of thread through it with a needle and gathered it a bit creating a pletes.   I used my sewing machine to stitch it down.  I am only sad that I did not place it a little further down from the base of my photo, I miscalculated how much of the pointe shoes would be covered once the ribbon was stitched down.  Live and learn right?

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

The Perfect Day

Hello friends, in case you missed it I wanted to share with you my latest post for Pink Paislee.  The soon to be shipped Citrus Bliss collection was a fun match for a photo I managed to get of just the hubs and I at Seaworld (photo credit to the teenager in our home).

When our family enjoyed it's most recent vacation to Orlando, I was determined to get a photo of the hubs and myself.  If you are anything like me you have thousands of photos of your kids, your pets, landscapes, random everyday images, and only a handful of you with your significant other.  I noticed this fact recently and am determined to change it.

I believe that when we're old and grey, looking back over our life together will be even more enjoyable if we are able to look back and laugh at photos of ourselves together, taking in how much will have changed or remembering what may have been going on in life during that chapter in our lives.
 

The photo really doesn't do them justice, but the flamingos at Seaworld in Orlando were such a vivid orange/pink I just had to get a photo in front of them, thankfully the hubs obliged my request.

When I saw this gorgeous flamingo transparency in the Citrus Bliss collection, I just knew I'd have to scrap 'flamingos-on-flamingos'.  You'll notice that I layered the transparency onto the pixelated look ombré patterned paper, giving it a little more depth, and support knowing that I would be layering and stitching onto the transparency.
 
I believe that journaling is an important part in my memory keeping.  That said, I don't always manage to create a design that allows for it to be exposed.  The solution: shipping tags in all sizes.  If you don't own shipping tags, no problem, as even just a scrap of cardstock will serve the purpose.  Here I have used a tiny glassine bag to hold my tag, but you can achieve the same effect by strategically placing your adhesive behind your photo, creating a pocket to hold your journaling.

 

I love that the chipboard flamingo from the sticker pack is the exact same size as the one printed on the Insta Kit card from the same collection, perfect for layering.  I have a sneaking suspicion that the Insta Kits from both the Citrus Bliss and Atlas collection are going to be BIG this summer. So easy to put together a mini album with these little cards and frames.

 

Ever finish a layout and feel like it's missing just a little something?  The multitude of pieces in the ephemera packs help to solve that problem in a pinch.  Choose a few coordinating pieces, add a little 3D adhesive to the bottom piece, and layer the second piece directly atop.  Create a cluster by adding some enamel dots, mist drops, or paint, and a veneer piece or two in the corner of your layout and voilà, layout complete.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

Pin It

Our Summer Thing

The March Kit from Paper Camellia was full of the fabulous new I AM collection by Simple Stories.

I just love the colours and the textures of the chipboard elements. The journaling in the layout pretty much says it all.  I love musicals, and we are lucky enough here to have a fantastic amphitheatre that draws world wide talent to the city every summer to perform 2 different musicals over July and August.  I am thrilled that my girls (and even the hubs for the most part) love the singing and dancing as much as I do.  We try hard to make it to at least one show of the summer.  It's a little on the pricy side but so worth the money for a musical filled family night in Winnipeg.

I don't know about you, but I am still a sucker for banners, and this chipboard banner is no exception.  To prevent the adhesive from wanting to lift I added just a little machine stitching to the white portions of the pennants.

It was way to perfect a match to not add this gold doily from my stash to the chipboard cluster at the top of the page. And I kind of wish I had a lifetime supply of those perfect gold sparkly Heidi Swapp alphabets.  That way I could hoard some and use the rest.  I know you know what I'm talking about.

The March Add On Kits may be sold out, but there are still a few March Main Kits available in the store, you can get your hands on one right here.

This layout was based on the March Sketch.

Did you know that you can play along for a chance at a $10 gift certificate to the Paper Camellia store?  Link up your take on this sketch in this blog post.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

Pin It

The Many Faces of Belle

The Paper Camellia March Kit is full of the beautiful I Am collection by Simple stories, complemented by some of the brand new Jen Hadfield accests.  For my first layout of the month, I chose to shine the spotlight on this funny kid.

I loved all her whacky faces while capturing her beauty the last time she let me take photos of her.

I layered a few of the chipboard pieces here to create some dimension and balance out the layout somewhat.

Once again I created a design that didn't allow for me to journal anywhere.  Hence the journaling down the side.  It actually worked out nicely, as I was going to put a thin piece  of cardstock there anyhow.  The ink worked nicely as a substitution.

And there you have it.  The March kits, and my girl, with her multitude of faces.  If you have yet to get your hands on one of the March kits, both the main and the Add on are still available right here in the Paper Camellia store.

Thank you for stopping by today friends! Pin It

The Beard

My husband has never been able to grow a full beard.  Ever.  This year, much to his surprise he was actually able to start a pretty decent one, there were still some bald spots but it was filling in nicely enough for him to want to give it a real effort.

Me, I am not a beard girl.  I don't love the scratchy-ness of it.  And the fact that it's not even a real beard, makes it somewhat pathetic, in my opinion.  Needless to say he couldn't go more than 4 weeks, it just kind of stopped growing, much to my delight.

This scruffy looking face is now my clean shaven hubs once again.  It's a win-win situation really.

I love the look of these We R Memory Keepers cork embellishments on the Hall Pass wood grain paper by Webster's Pages.

Hop over here to the Paper Issues store and have a look at all the coordinating elements, of the Websters Pages Hall Pass, and Beautiful Chic collections.  The We R Memory keepers goodies can be found right here, many of the pieces work so nicely with one another.  

There are a TON of new goodies in the Paper Issues store, including Simple Stories I Am and Say Cheese II, Heidi Swapp Memory planners goodies, and Lawn Fawn dies.  

Feel like a little retail therapy?  Use my code at checkout and save 20% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

Pin It

Breaking News

I have been keeping a secret....

I have been asked the joing the Fancy Pants Designs team.  I cannot believe my good fortune to have been invited to 2 of my most favourite teams.  Would you believe I got one invite the day after receiving the other?  I will be joining them in showcasing their gorgeous and fun to work with products over the next year.

I was able to jump in right away as we teamed up with Pagemaps for their March release.  I grabbed the newly released Flutter collection, and a few photos from our recent trip to Disney and set to work on the sketch Becky sent me to use.

Although we do not watch the Simpsons in our home the girls of course recognized Wiggum, and wanted a quick pic with him.  I just love the fun summer colours of Disney World, they go perfectly with this collection.

So many great elements in the ephemera packages.  Great value for your dollar with plenty of die cuts, including gold foil.

Gotta love a collection that includes flair buttons!  If you hop over to the Pagemaps blog you can enter to win this entire collection.

Here is the Pagemaps sketch I worked with.

I don't often work with sketches, but when I do, I am always happy with the way they make my work look new, and different, but yet still me.

You should keep you eye on the Paper Issues store for Flutter and Office Suite, the 2 new collections by Fancy Pants designs.  I know they'll be available in the shop soon, possibly even by the time this post goes live.  Don't forget to use my code:SHERRI to shop, and save yourself 20% off your order.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by today friends!

Pin It

My Canine Assistant

Meet my office buddy, Cybil.

She's more of a nuisance, than an assistant, but it's all in love.  My office is also the home of my boss (office on the main floor, living quarters on the second floor), so we get the constant company of this female Great Dane all day long.  When she's not following us around the office, she is either gazing longingly out the window at the passersby, or sitting near us, like this.  That teddybear is her most prized possession, she just loves to cuddle with it, sucking on the ear, lolling herself to sleep.

I created a little pocket backing a piece of cardstock against this gorgeous piece of Crate Paper patterned paper to hold my journaling tag.

 Isn't she cute?  Perfect way for me to use up more of these ephemera pieces from the Crate Paper Oh Darling collection. 

Those little Maggie Holmes Open book bows were too cute to not include on this girl themed layout.

 I am playing along with the Hip To Be Square Issue over at Paper Issues.  The Issue is being sponsored by the lovely Shelley Haganman.  There are all sorts of way you can link up I went with square photos, and a square design, as well as using {a flair for buttons} flair pieces.  Hop over to the Paper Issues blog to check out the Issue details and link up your own creation.

Thanks so much for stopping by today friends!

Pin It

My Birthday Boy

Have you worked with a Paper Issues Swag Bag yet?  I like to call them fantastic little bags of gorgeousness.  Several 3x4 patterned paper pieces, stickers, buttons, sequins, and coordinating little embellishments of all types are packed into these bags making is super duper easy to pull together a layout in well under 60 minutes.

I made this layout, which documents this wonderful guy on his last big birthday.  We celebrated true to his low key style.  Dinner and a movie for all 5 of us. 

(just the resin hearts and the alphabets were from my stash)

I used the hidden tag to hold my journaling.  Isn't that Maya Road deer the cutest.  Had to MAKE myself use that little guy up, really just wanted to keep it on my desk and stare at it for days, and days. 

The Swag Bags, really are chalk full of so many fun little embellies and cards to create whatever type of project your heart desires.  My Paper Issues buddy Melissa wrote up a great post showcasing just a few ways other DT members have used these bags.  Hop over here to the Paper Issues blog to have a look.  Interested in starting up a subscription to receive your how bag of gorgeousness every month?  You can get your name on the list right here in the Paper Issues store.  And as with all your purchases in the Paper Issues store, use code:SHERRI at checkout to save yourself 20% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

Pin It

The Month of Love

It's reveal time at Paper Camellia.  February is of course, the month of love. Filled with products from Crate Paper and WeR Memory Keepers, this month is sure to offer many options when documenting the many loves in our lives.

It was obvious that the number 1 person in my life be the one first documented.

I love being married to this man.  We are far from perfect together, and still have the odd mis-communication here and there, but there is no one I'd rather journey this life with than him.  He keeps me sane, he makes me laugh, he is a wonderful dad to our girls, and he's such a great example of the man we hope our girls end up with someday.

I just love ephemera and sticker packs, they are perfect for popping off the page, or layering into your mix of patterned papers.  And how gorgeous are those gold foam stickers?

 That sweet little tag came in my kit already dressed up with those teeny tiny hearts, all I did was use the ribbon from the kit, add a glue dot, and voila, super cute embelly.

See how much depth you can get just by adding a little bit of 3D adhesive?  I kind feel I may need 1 or 2 more packages of those alphas, they are the perfect size and font for my style.

The Main Kits are already sold out (only took 1 day), but the Add On Kits are still available for purchase right here on the Paper Camellia blog.  If you're interested you should hurry as these will soon be gone also.

I promised you a winner to the giveaway I posted a couple of weeks ago.  And I have one for you.  I asked the hubs to pick a number between 1 and 25.  Lucky #3 is the winner of all the embellishments goodies from the January Main and Add On kits.  The colours go perfectly with this months kits also, making it a double win.

Congratulation to Charlotte Brochu!  Please contact me with your snail mail, so I can get your goodies out to you asap.  Thank you to all those who entered.

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

Paper Camilla *Buddies* & A Giveaway

I have my last layout January Kit from Paper Camellia to share with you today.

This little guy managed to make it onto 2 of the 4 layouts I created with this kit.  Not sure if that means I'm loving hem more these days or I'm simply running this on photos to scrap.  He's so darn cute though, that scrapping his photos are pretty easy.

The January kit with all it's sticker sheets, especially the gold puffy words was such a pleasure to work with.  In order to not distract from the perfect colour combination of the papers and embellishments, I decided to print my photos in black & white.

That wood veneer frame was so cute, but I found the little sentiment just didn't work with where I wanted to place the frame on my layout; easy fix: flip it over.  Notice that gold polka dot paper?  It's a piece of the Webster's Pages Beautiful Chic vellum that was included in the Main Kit.  I loved that it was split up into 8 different designs on one 12x12 sheet of vellum.  It would be perfect for cards.

I added a mini supply tag from my stash, to record the journaling, and used a little strip of double sided tape to embellish it.

Interested in seeing what the January kit included?  Check out what you missed here.  And if you don't want to miss out on one more gorgeous kit (and we know they're gonna be awesome given all the goodness we've been seeing revealed at CHA2015).  Hop over here to get yourself signed up for a monthly subscription.

Today, as a little extra bonus, in celebration of my first official month as a Paper Camilla girl, I have a giveaway happening on Instagram and here on my blog for some of the embellishments included in the January kit up for grabs to one lucky person.

All you have to do is leave a comment here to be entered.  Be sure to leave me your contact info so I can be in touch if you win.
I will post the winner right on my blog on February 2nd, so be sure to pop back to see if you're the lucky one.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me, otherwise a new winner will be drawn.
Due to steep international shipping this giveaway is open to North America residents only please.  Thank you for understanding, and good luck to all who enter!

Thanks for stopping by today friends. Pin It