Shine On

Yesterday, I had my last reveal for Let's Get Sketchy.  Today I'm saying goodbye to Use It Tuesday with this selfie layout.

the quote is one that popped up in my IG feed, sorry I can't remember who posted it.

I think this is my favourite layout made for this Design Team.  The challenge is called Bring On The Sunshine.  I decided to go with a layout that featured a sunshine-y feel to it.  I used a ton of hoarded stash on this one.  Some call it hoarded, some call it forgotten, either way it was just hanging around, and now it's finally being put to good use.

All those lovely fabric hexagons we giving to me ages ago by my sweet friend Tara.  I inked them up with Tim Holtz distress, and some Prima Marketing chalk ink.  

Those yellow Sassafras alphabets are my absolute faves.  I've been hanging onto them for ages.  I just love that shade of yellow, and the size of these guys.  They were a perfect match, however, so I just had to use them on this layout too.  The cardstock stickers are also old Crate Paper stash.

The masking was created using my Silhouette Cameo and some Heidi Swapp Colour Shine in Mustard.  My failed attempt at using Modeling Paste to Mask in white beneath the spray ink is still somewhat visible, but it certainly doesn't look like I had intended.  I simply used too much.   And the flower was made by cutting up a coffee filter and spraying the strips with different shades of yellow, then adhering them all in layers to a Gluber, another longtime unused item.  And that center piece, now that is something that I truly have been legitimately been hoarding for a long, long time.  I can't even remember where I got that resin flower, I think it was a freebie from a crop or something.  It felt good to actually use it up, the flower is my favourite part of this layout.

So that's it for me.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Siobhan, Heather, and the rest of the girls, especially my girl Danielle.  They were all so welcoming when I came on board, it was an easy team to serve with them.  I am thankful to have had the opportunity and look forward to seeing where the team goes from here.  I wish them all the very best.

To link up with them, by creating your own "Sunny" project using mostly items from your stash, and to see the rest of the DT projects, just jump over here.

Thanks for stopping by today friends.  Only 4 more day of school left here. The countdown is on. Pin It

I Still Do

It's the second Tuesday of the month which means it's time for another Challenge at Use It Tuesday.

This week, in the spirit of Father's Day we are challenging you to create something with a "masculine" feel to it.  I probably should have done Father's Day cards, since I need those anyway, but I opted instead to use up these gorgeous rich blue sheets of patterned paper by Teresa Collins, My Mind's Eye, and Studio Calico.

Took this photo this past New Year's Eve (aka: our 17th wedding anniversary)

Lots of hoarded goodies used up here, in addition to the papers, I have a couple of sets of alphas that I've had for quite a while, as well as the My Mind's Eye ticket tucked under the photo, and the Crate brad that is at least 3 years old, and the Studio Calico washi that is 2 years old.

The flair button is from Panda Eight Designs, and the label maker is by EK Success

I can't believe it's really been that long.  I still think we both look so young, that it just doesn't seem right that we've really been together for nearly two decades.

Love the way the lime green just pops off the page.  I also chose deliberately to print the image in black and white to add to the masculine feel of it, and allow that green to really pop.

I found that wooden star shape at Michael's and inked to with a little Prima chalk ink, then covered it with Glossy Accents to add a little shine (even though it doesn't show up so great in the pic

Even though it didn't turn out quite as nice as I had envisioned I took a close up of the hand stitching I did around the masked shapes   Because the masking wasn't as bold as I had hoped, I thought it would help add texture to them by outlining them with embroidery thread.  Next time I would use white pait rather than white Gesso to mask on such a dark background.

I am so lucky to have this man in my life.  He's not only a great husband, and father to our girls.  He is my best friend.  He's always in my corner, always supports me in all my endeavours (crafty and otherwise), picks me when he has a choice of who to go to football games with, never complains about a messy house, or breakfast for supper, and best of all love Jesus like I do.  I am so glad my girls get to see a fine example of how a spouse, and partner in life should be like

Are you feeling inspired to play along?  I sure hope so.  Check out the rest of the team's projects and find the link to add you own here on the blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  And a special thank you for your comments, they really do give me the energy I need to keep this blog up. Pin It

The Sugar Factory & Free Cut Friday

You know when you have a great idea for a layout, but then as it's coming together it's not actually looking like the picture you had in your head?  Well that's what happened to me this week.  Here is my layout.

The challenge at Use It Tuesday this week is to a 'beloved favorite'.  I have loved this sheet of corrugated alphabets by Jillibean soup for years now.  The problem is that every time I try to use them I no longer had the letters I needed to create the title I wanted to use, or that they were just too big for the design of the page.  Solution: take all remaining letters out and back with patterned paper.  All in all not a bad plan, except that the photo I chose to use was filled with colour, as was the patterned paper I used to back the corrugated alphabet.  I think overall it's just too darn much colour.  A black and white photo may have been the better choice here.  I shuffled paper around this layout for way too long.  Finally I just decided to just go with it.  I don't hate it, but it's definitely not one of my faves.  Why post it you ask?  To keep myself humble and show others that it's okay to have mediocre pages in your albums/blog posts, not everything has to be spectacular right?!  It's capturing the memories of the events that is the most important right?!  The rest of the team have some great beloved faves to share with you.  You can see them all here, and link up your own layout for a chance at a Guest DT spot on our team.

Speaking of our Design Team, we are actually hosting a call right now.  The ladies are a really sweet bunch to work with, and the requirements are very reasonable.  The term runs from July to December, and you have until May 31st to apply.  I encourage you to check out the detail here on the blog.

In case you missed it, Chic Tags posted a brand new set of Silhouette files yesterday for Freebie Friday.  Run over and check them out on the blog.

That's if for the long weekend Saturday.  I have to work, I hope you're spending it, but doing something fun with those you love.

Thanks for popping in today! Pin It

One Proud Mamma

The Challenge over at Use It Tuesday this week is called "Flowers For Mom".  We challenge you to create a mom themed project, and/or use flowers on your project.  I decided to incorporate both into my layout.

I chose to focus on my own mother's heart and document the most recent photo of my girls all in one shot.

Everything used on this layout is from my stash of 2 year old Crate Paper papers and chipboard, with the exception of the jute and that tenny tiny My Mind's Eye enamel dot.  That what I love best about this group, that the whole challenge evolves around using up your stash.  I'm pleased to say that this layout actually killed off the rest of these Farmhouse and Random collections.  Feels good to have nothing but scraps to clean up.  What collection do you still have kicking around that you'd love to kill off?  This may be a great week to make it happen.  Pop over here to see what the rest of the team created with the challenge, and link up your own take. Pin It

On Camera

It's time for a new Challenge up at Use It Tuesday.  This week we're challenging you to use up your stash, while focusing on stickers, embossing, and/or rub ons.  In my opinion the DT projects are amazing this month, and the team truly managed to pull out some O.L.D stash to create some fabulous projects.  You can see the full reveal on the Use It Tuesday Blog.

I decided to focus on stickers this week, since I own zero rub ons, and seem to be adding embossing back into my regular scrappy projects.

The photos are from our last day in Banff last week before heading back to Calgary.  We stopped at a great place for lunch, and these two were getting along just great.  Not acting like their typical teenage selves, but actually being cordial, and light hearted, no grumbling, mumbling, or complaining.  Heaven.

Most of the stickers are from Crate Paper, they are at least 2 years old, some older I think.  And that metal clip is at least 5 years old.  I love using up my stash this way.

 The circles are cut outs from last year's Amy Tangerine release.

Journaling reads "Caught this beauty while out for lunch in Banff.  Proof that they don't hate the camera as much as they claim they do."

Hope you'll come and link up with us.  You could find yourself working as our featured Guest Designer sometime soon.

Thanks for popping in today friends! Pin It

When We're Together

Use It Tuesday has a brand new challenge up today.  We're encouraging you to think Spring this week.  In most places of the world Spring is in full force, here on the prairies, however we are still waiting.  And not so patiently anymore I might add.  Thoughts of Spring led me to thoughts of flowers, so that's what I decided the theme of my layout would be

layout based on a sketch by Kristine Davidson included in her new book Creating With Sketches Vol2.

Nyah and I took these photos of us being silly together, the last time we saw each other.

There are flowers and other Spring themed embellishments sprinkled all over the page.  That accordion flower, papers, and chipboard pieces are all from last year's Random collection by Crate Paper.  Talk about using up old stash.   Using up your stash, creating a Spring themed project with it, and linking up to Use It Tuesday could have you filling an upcoming Guest Designer spot with UIT.  Pop over here to see how the rest of the DT interpreted the Spring theme, and link up your own creation.

We're actually hanging out with this sweet, and funny Nyah, and her family all this week for Spring Break vacation.  A little skiing, a little shopping, and a lot of hanging out with friends are all on the agenda.  I'm sure I'll have more crazy photos of us for scrapping when I get back. Pin It

Leaving Paradise

Another challenge was revealed today at Use It Tuesday.  This one is all about die cuts.  Whether it's the tradition die cuts that come in various collection, or even ones you've created yourself with your die cut machine, we are challenging you to use em up.

I bought a Silhouette Cameo back in October.  In November the Silhouette store put on a fabulous deal for an entire week in the name of Black Friday.  All cut files were 50% off.  Part of the deal when I purchased my cameo was that I got a $20 gift card towards the store.  The class I signed up for at Studio Calico to learn the basics of my machine also came with a $20 gift card, so I made a big dent in my credit during that week.  Needless to say more than half of my cut files have yet to be used.  I took this challenge as a great opportunity to break out a few new ones and put them to good use.

This layout boasts several new Maggie Holmes papers, combined with old items from my stash, including 5 month old, untouched cut files form the Silhouette store.

The brand new Maggie Holmes collaboration with Crate Paper is just delightful.  The patterns are so perfectly vintage girlie.  The colours matched perfectly with this photo of the gorgeous sunset our last day in Mexico back in February.  That trip still is so clearly full of sweet thankfulness for the time away just the two of us.  Four days of tropical, sunshiny, white sand, turquoise water, perfected bliss in Quinta Roo, Mexico (just outside of Playa del Carmen).

All the brand and buttons are from older Crate Paper lines.

I managed to get our hotel key card right onto the layout

Love this layout, it's the perfect blend of old meet new.  Check out what the rest of the DT pulled out of their stash to use this week.  You can even link up your own take on the challenge right here.  Use It Tuesday is all about getting us to use up all the goodies we bought but have not yet managed to use up, so just remember let us know what exactly you used from your stash.  If you're our top pick you could find yourself guesting for us down the road.

Thanks for stopping in friends.  Hope to see you link up. Pin It

Using an un-inked stamp

That is this week's challenge at Use It Tuesday.

This one was a little tricky for me as I don't own a ton of stamps and almost all of them are in fact inked.  My scrappy friend Tara, however, was a sweetheart to lend me a cute set I was drooling over a few weeks ago.  She's sweet like that, she just let me take them home to use whenever I got a chance.  This was the perfect opportunity.

Here are the hoarded supplies I used on this layout.  Only the stamps are borrowed.

Studio Calico: stamps & cardstock stickers, My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pad, Pink Paislee mistable trim, not shown

And here is the layout I created, documenting my love for Mongos, a Mongolian barbecue restaurant near our home.

 My mouth is watering just looking at the photo.  

Journaling read "Also known as my birthday restaurant.  I love Mongo Mongolian bbq.  I create the same dish every single time.  It's guaranteed to satisfy."

I stamped directly onto the photo using Ranger Archival Ink.  It has a wonderfully rich tone, and transfers easily.  You need only be sure to hold the stamp very still when applying, otherwise you risk smudging the image.

Jillibean Soup, and My Mind's Eye label stickers.  Journal spot is Echo Park

Pop over here to see what the rest o the team created using an un-inked stamp.  You have until the end of the month to link up your own creation, and get a shot at being our Guest Designer in an upcoming challenge.

Thanks for popping in today! Pin It

Brads, Buttons, and Fasteners

This week's challenge over at Use It Tuesday is all about these.  I decided to stick with brads.  They were the perfect embellishment to use on this lifted layout of one I found on Pinterest by Kinsey Wilson.  You can see her original layout on Pinterest here.  I just loved the rainbow idea, and thought it would be great for this challenge.  I can't wait to try it again with a different design I've got floating around in my head.

Here's my finished layout

And here are some close ups

Gorgeous Cre8tive Cre8tions flair, and chevron stamp, and Studio Calico wood veneers 

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut into the 4x12 card stock then backed it with patterned paper

Tab:Chic Tags, #3:My Minds Eye, Star Maya Raod

I also had the chance to break open my brand new stamps from Cre8tive Cre8tions (they arrived that same afternoon).  I used Versamark, and American Crafts Zing to emboss the wood veneers, add a few embossed stamped chevrons right over top of the stitching.

Hope you feel inspired to pull out your brads, buttons, and eyelets to create something wonderful.  You can get more inspiration, and link up your own creation (using your hoarded stash) right here.

Thanks for stopping by friends.  Have a wonderful day! Pin It

Warm It Up

Today at Use It Tuesday that's exactly what we are challenging you to use.  Using your hoarded stash, we are challenging you to create a project that uses red, and/or yellow, and/or orange.

Here is the layout I created using our little Wilson as inspiration.

Mask is The Crafter's workshop

The Crate Paper Story Teller papers, and embellishments, the red trim, and this gorgeous Evalicious flair badge that I've had forever were my hoarded items used on this layout.

You can see what the rest of the DT did to warm up their projects, and link up your own creation here. You never know, doing so may just get you into our Guest DT role somewhere down the road.

Enjoy your day friends, and thanks so much for stopping by! Pin It

Make It Sparkle

The Use It Tuesday announcement came out yesterday.  You can see it here.  And, today is is my first post with them.   I am thrilled to be a part of this team,  and am really looking forward to inspiring others to use of their scrappy stash, as twice a month we bring you fun challenges to help with the process.

The challenge this week is to "Make It Sparkle".  I chose to use these photos of the girls and my mini Christmas shoot in front of our tree.

Part of the stash I've used up on this layout is this felt Making Memories embellishment is from two years ago.  The song book page, and Studio Calico are also "old" items.

The sparkle I've added is some super old Pink Paislee alphas (those flourishes were also from the alpha package), and some new sequins that my sweet friend Tara gave to me recently.

I would love for you to pop over to the Use It Tuesday Blog and see what the rest of the dt created for the challenge.  If you decide to play along, please link me up, I'd love to come by and leave some love.

Thanks for stopping by today friends, I sure appreciate it.  And a special thank you to those of you who left comments on my "sad moments" layout from yesterday.  Yes it was a little difficult to scrap, but I am thankful that I was able to use the experience to encourage some of you that things don't always end up the way you think they're going to.  God is good! Pin It

Happy Friday

A new year, and endless possibilities for Chic Tags inspired layouts.   Here are some sneaks of the layout I have up on the blog today.  Hope you'll pop over to have a look.

Everyday Life ATC, Autumn Days mini tags

A Camping We Will Go Bunting Alphas

25 Days Tabs

I created this layout to document the fact that even though my brother and I did not have the best childhood we managed to become really good friends in spite of it.  I am so proud of my baby brother, and so thankful to have him in my life.

Journaling reads: "I look at these sweet babies and feel such sadness at knowing the life they had in wait for them.  So much drama, and heartache mixed in with the few real moments of joy and carefreeness.  These little ones heard a lot of negativity in their childhood and experienced a lot of disappointment.  But the Lord is good, and they grew up to lead blessed lives surrounded by people who love them.  Praise the Lord for His loving kindness."

There are some fabulous new Valentine's Day goodies in the shop.  It won't be long before we're caught up on our Christmas photos and ready to move onto all things pink, red, and white.  You can see it all right here.

On another note I am happy to be able to finally let the cat out of the bag and let you all know about a fabulous new opportunity that I've been offered.

This month I will begin a six month DT term with Siobhan, Heather, and their fabulous team of designers from all over the world.  I love what this team is all about.  The second and fourth Tuesday of every month there is a new challenge.  The challenges vary from colour challenges, to product specific and everything in between.  The most important part of each challenge, however is to use your hoarded stash.  We are all guilty of buying goodies, that we forget about, or flat out hoard, and keep around so long that it becomes harder and harder to use.  This challenge blog is a great place to find the inspiration to use it all up.  The announcement, and my first project will be up on the blog next week.

That's it for today.   Thank you so much for popping in.  I'll be back on Monday with a new Challenge for Scrapping Everyday Miracles.

Have a safe, and fun-filled week end friends.

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Guesting at Use It Tuesday

I won a guest spot with the girls at Use It Tuesday a few weeks ago.  You can see the layout that won the spot here.  Today is the day I'm up on their blog.  I love what their mission - to encourage scrappers to use up their hoarded, or simply forgotten about supplies.

The challenge they have for you today is to use a stamp that has never been inked.  I'd be willing to bet you have one, or two, or 5 kicking around too, just like me. 

This Jillibean Soup Travel set came in a Scrapbook Nook kit two summers ago.

I loved that globe, but somehow just never got around to using it.  I had only used 3 of these 9 stamps in fact. 

This challenge combined with our recent trip to Las Vegas provided the perfect opportunity to ink it up.  I decided to emboss it so I could set it on top of a few layers.

I used the October kit from Scraptastic to complete the layout, along with a sheet of Studio Calico paper that I've also been hanging on to for months, and months also.

The painted background was done using a Pink Paislee mask

Hidden journaling exposed

more horded product: Sass letter, MME brad, and SC arrows

I am so happy with the way this layout turned out.  I always enjoy adding several bits and pieces to my layout, but often forget that stamps can get the job done too.  Please hop over to the UIT blog to see what the rest of the team pulled out of their hoarded stash for this week's challenge.  Perhaps we've inspired you to pull out some of those stamps and get 'em dirty.  If so please link us up.  You have a week and a half to link up.

A huge thank you to Siobhan and team for having me today!

♥ S. Pin It

In Real Life

My friend Danielle is part of the Use It Tuesday Blog.  It's a challenge blog where whole idea for the challenges revolves around using up your stash.  Great idea for those of us with more product than we'll ever use in this lifetime.  Truth be told, I actually purged a ton of scrap supplies at the beginning of summer.  Entire collections, that I was just done working with were given away to a friend.  I like new.  I like only focusing on collections/items I have a plan for.  No more buying anything just because it's cute, and I think I may use it one day.  I did, however manage to hang onto a few things that I just couldn't get rid of.  Like this fabulous orange chevron paper by My Mind's Eye.  It's about 2 years old and from their Lime Twist collection.

Lucky for me Challenge  #42 is to use the colour orange.  As it turns out I had several "old" items that I held on to that were in fact orange (I must really like that colour, who knew?!)  I decided that I would go with an all orange and white design.  This photo of my scrappy girlfriend Carol, and me was perfect for the page.

The Amy Tangerine tag, and brad, Jillibean Soup sprouts, Prima sculpture flowers, and that fabulous doily (my last one that size, sniff), were all items I had been hoarding saving.

Journaling reads: Getting to meet Carol in real life, after chatting online for several years was one of the most fun things ever!  We met up when D & I went to Vegas.  A few hours over shopping and lunch was the perfect way to really get to know each other.  She is awesome!

Carol - this layout will always bring back sweet memories of meeting you in person and our wonderful time together connecting over all things scrappy, happy, and everything in between.

Thanks for stopping by today friends.  If you're interested you can check out the Challenge #42 here.

♥ S. Pin It