Playing with Serendipity & Free Cut File

It seems like forever since I've played with Dear Lizzy, but the Serendipity collection was beckoning to me with it's pastels and soft happy tones.

The colours work so well for these engagement photos of my niece and her now, husband. I can see them working well for birthdays, and other celebrations also, with all the goodies included in the ephemera package.

I used the 6x6 pad for both of my layouts.

I then pulled out my Silhouette Cameo to do most of my work for me.

  This cut was created by Jen Chapin, I used my sewing machine to attach it to my layout and create a little dimension to the cut itself.

This next layout is a simple design using mainly layered two sized circles.

I created a tag trio to use with these layouts, and thought some of you might appreciate having them in your stash also

You can get this file for FREE in the Paper Issues Shop under free files.  If you fancy a little shopping while you're there you should use my code at checkout, it will save you 20% off everything in your cart.

Hope you've been inspired to create something beautiful.

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Triangle Love With Bella Rouge

The Bella Rouge Collection has got to me one of my favourite most recent collections. The colour combo and patterns are perfect for all my girlie photos, but I can see the black that's mixed in offering excellent options for more male themed layouts also.  I was excited to to combine several of the patterned papers with the Rad Triangles free cut file created by fellow DT member Jen Chapin.

You can grab the FREE Rad Triangles Cut file here in the Paper Issues shop.

The die cut ephemera packs have become my new favourite embellishments.  Such great value for your dollar with over 80 pieces in a package, and so much variety with both cardstock and acetate designs included.

I am thinking that it's time to put together a mini album documenting my baby girls emergency surgery a couple of months ago, and this collection should be the perfect for it.  The circumstances may have been scary and emotional, but the bright cheery colours of this collection will help to highlight all the positive that came out of the whole drama filled week.

Speaking of the happy collections of Pink Paislee have yu seen that they are having a DT call?  I've gathered my courage and finally applied.  Every year when the call comes around I chicken out of actually submitting my application.  Well this year that all changed.  Would love for some scrappy friends to join me in the nerve wracking process of putting it all on the line and waiting the long torturous wait :)  Good luck to all those who apply.

You can still get your hands on much of this collection in the Paper Issues shop.  Use my code at checkout and save yourself 20% off everything in your cart.

Thanks for stopping in today friends, have a wonderful weekend! Pin It

Paper Issues Sketch Saturday

Did you know that Paper Issues not only has bi-weekly scrappy issues to join in on, but there are now also sketch, and die cut issues also.  Jen Chapin has some great designs, they always catch my eye, and are very easy to play along with.  When I saw her post this one I knew I had to finally jump in.

This seven year old photo of the girls popped up in my Timehop feed recently, and I feel in love with them all over again.  I loved this age.  I remember it so well.  The youngest two, albeit cute as dolls use to fight like crazy, every single day.  And Belle, my sweet first born was such a little mama always ready to lend a hand and try to be the peace-maker between her sisters.  I just had to scrap it, and the sketch proved the perfect opportunity.

I grabbed a few sheets of patterned paper from my stash and got to work.  

Here is Jen's original sketch:

The circles beckoned to be made into a cut file, so I did just that. I backed the centers and used my sewing maching to add a little detail to each of them.

I pulled out my old Recollections heart punch, layered a coupled together, and once again used my sewing maching to adhere them to my page.

Would you like to try your hand at this sketch?  We'd love to see what you create. And if you'd like to use the cut file I created you can grab it right here in the Paper Issues shop, at no charge.

If you decide to do a little shopping while you're there, enter my code at checkout to save yourself 20% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

She's A Star (and a free cut file)

For weeks I had this idea for a welded start background in my head.  It took an evening to finally figure out exactly how I wanted it laid out, and then another few weeks to actually use it.  It's kinda how it goes during Dance Competition/Recital phase of our lives.

I do love the way it turned out, and as I was creating it, I knew this would be the photo I would use it with, backed with some Doodlebug vellum.

The photo is of Théa at the end of one her days at the Canadian National Dance Championship. She won a few things that day, including a judges choice award for her Hip Hop Solo, 2nd Place for said solo, and 2nd place for her Hip Hop Trio.  It was a good day for this kid.  The hidden journaling says all that.  The title is less of a quote of my personal opinion, and more a direct quote from none other than Mr Sean Cheesman himself when we attended a Dance Conference where he taught last november.

I thought perhaps some of you may like access to this fun background too.  Here is the background.  

I've also created the internal offsets for you too if you're interested.  You can find both here in my Dropbox.  Please use to your heart's content, I'd love it if you would simply link back to me though.  Enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping in today friends!

ETA: as requested here is a V2 version of the file (I hope it works, as it was created in V3).

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A Great Grid & A Farewell

Creative Scrappers Sketch #269 is live, and it's a really fun grid design, one of my favourite "go-tos" when stumped for creativity.  I decided to use the design to create a layout celebrating our family members.

I used the Apri Swag Bag from Paper Issues to create this layout.  Everything except for the cardstock came in the swag bag, so many funny little bits and pieces to incorporate into your project.  I especially love the the #5 wood veneer, and #18 plastic bingo chip came in my bag as both numbers have significance to me.

You can see that this layout would also be perfect for pocket style scrapping, especially if you use the Simple Stories page protectors with all the 2x2 pockets.

The cut file is perhaps one of my favourite freebies I've ever discovered through Pinterest.  It is a print created by Vanessa Brady, and you can find both the print and the Silhouette cut file here on her blog.  And how awesome is that ampersand wood veneer?  I used gold embossing powder to add a little bling to mine.

See that little embellishment pocket.  I created it by simply taking the spare plastic from an empty embellishment package, cutting it to size and then using my sewing machine to stitch the pocket closed.  The #5 represents the 5 people in our family, and the #18 represents the number of years we have been married.  Pretty cool, that those are the numbers I ended up with in my Swag Bag.
I was initially stumped on how to use this multi-quadrant grid design, but now I'm so happy with the way it turned out.  Love seeing my girls each in their own place.

Wanna play along with us this month.  Link up and you'll be entered to win your chance at a kit from My Creative Scrapbook.  You have until May 31st to link up a new creation.  You can get a little more inspo by hopping over to the Creative Scrappers blog to see how the other designers used the sketch.

This post, is also is my farewell post to Kristine and the crew at Creative Scrappers.  It has been a really delight working with Kristine.  Being a part of this team was the first ever scrappy goal I ever set for myself.  It's kind of surreal that now the dream has been fulfilled, and I'm already moving on. I want to say a huge thank you to Kristine for believing in me, and my talent.  It was a real pleasure working with yours and Jenny's sketches month after month, they have really helped me to push the limits and see outside the box, to create something wonderful.  I wish you and the new team a very fun term, and look forward to new reveals, each Sunday. Pin It

A Creative Scrappers reveal & a freebie

This week's sketch is one that I know I want to use again.  I loved it, and know I would never have come up with the idea on my own.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again Jenny is a sketch queen!  Between her and Kristine, I've created layouts that would otherwise have gone un-scrapped. I am so thankful to both of them for the chance to work with sketches that, at times take me out of my comfort zone.

(please excuse the poor lighting, without the right equipment getting a great photo of a white background can be tricky this time of year here in Manitoba)

I used BasicGrey's RSVP collection, and several pieces of the February Paper Issues Swag Bag to complete this layout.  The Swag Bag is a monthly embellishment bag that Cassie puts together filled with fun little, currently hot & trendy bits and pieces to add to all of your crafting projects. It's only $10, even less if you use my code: SHERRI.  Speaking of the Paper Issues shop, have you seen all the great new goodies Cassis has loaded into it?  All the 2014 CHA goodness is starting to arrive.  You can use my code to save 20% off everything you order. Check it out for yourself here.

I just love the Maya Road love paper clip.

How cute is that mini bingo card?

Here is Jenny's fabulous sketch.  

I loved the background so much that I created a cut file to go along with it. If you have a Silhouette Cameo, and would like to use my cut file also you can download it here.  I hope you'll enjoy it.

Remember, if you play along with us this month you will earn yourself a chance to win a kit from Paper Camilla Kits.  You have until Feb 28th to link up a new creation using either one of the February CS Sketches.  You may link up as many times as you like, as long as long as each project is a new creation.

Now hop on over to the Creative Scrappers site to see the rest of the DT creations.

Happy Sunday friends!

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Library Pocket Cut File

I had this post up on the Chic Tags blog the other day, and wanted to share it with you too.

I downloaded this Freebie library pocket cut file from the the Chic Tags store to use on a layout.

Have you had trouble trying to figure out how to download freebie files for your own use?    I've created a little You Tube video to help walk you through the process. Click here to view the video if you'd like a little tutorial on Trace & Cut for the Silhouette Cameo.

I also created a video to show you how to add perforated lines to the library pocked for easier folding, like this.

You can check out that video here.

Here is how I used the cut file on a layout.

Stopped in a farmer's field on the way home from the lake the other day to grab a few photos of the girls against the giant hay bales.

Like that cute little star cut tag?  It's another Chic Tags freebie, you can grab it here

The colours of the new Echo Park Hello Again collection worked so well with Chic Tags products.

Lots of layering of the tags as usual.

I hope you've felt inspired today.  Lots of freebies to add to your collection, a couple of tips and tricks, and a little eye candy to boot.

Thanks so much for stopping in today friends.  Leave me a comment letting me know if there's anything you'd like to see covered in a Silhouette video and I'll try to make it happen for you.  

Have a great day!

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Sunshine Fun

A little something I'm sharing with Chic Tags fans.

I've had these freebie cut files that Albert created exclusively for Chic Tags sitting in my Silhouette library for sometime now.  This week I was determined to use them on a summery layout.  My oldest daughter was done school earlier than the younger two this year, as exams start about 2 weeks prior to the last day of school for Elementary school kids here.  One afternoon she decided to give a Pinterest idea.  She surprised her sisters with an afternoon snack of homemade, all natural popsicles.  It's not often that she's so thought ful with them, so of course I needed to document the occasion.  Here is how the cut files look on my page.

In case you haven't seen them yet, these are the freebie files I used.

Grab your free files here

I chose three of the four 3x4 cards to cut directly into the background sheet of my layout.  I then created my design around those two cuts.  

I actually used the sunshine card as part of my title, and backed  with a scrap piece of My Mind's Eye paper.  I used yellow on side A to fill in the rays of the sun and the grey on side B to back the word "sunshine"

These Bunting Alphabet is one of my favourite Chic Tags sets .  Here I used them to create the second part of my title, stitching them down with my sewing machine.

I backed the "love this" card with the same yellow piece of My Mind's Eye paper.

Once I was finished adding all my bits and pieces to my layout I felt it was still missing something.  To add one final touch and ground the layout I went back to my sewing machine and added a small frame to group everything together.   And voila, a fun little summer memory captured and added to the books.

For those who are not sure how to cut a 3x4 card directly into the background paper of your layout.  I've put together a very simple, and short video for you to follow.  You'll see it's rather simple to do.  You can check it out here.

I hope you've been inspired to go and create something beautiful today. Pin It

Goodbye Let's Get Sketchy

These photos are from our trip to Disney World last February.  Seems like a lifetime ago now.  Here is my layout for this week.

I used one of the free cut files from Chic Tags, you can download it for yourself here.  The other cut files  are from the Silhouette store.  The rest is pretty much all older product I've had hanging around.

Here is Bev's sketch that we were to work with.

I haven't scrapped two 4x6 photos in ages, and ages.  This sketch was perfect for these photos that I had printed out shortly after our return to put into my Project Life pages (the album that was not to be, haha).  I made a joke to the girls on the DT that this layout is proof that they really have rubbed off on me in the past 6 months, notice the lack of white space.

This will be my last reveal for Let's Get Sketchy, there is a great new team in place, but I am taking this opportunity to say goodbye.  It is a bittersweet thing, as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the team with these ladies, they truly are some of the sweetest girls I've met in the online scrappy online community.  I will miss keeping up with their day-to-day lives, and seeing their creations long before reveal, and especially hearing all about their scrappy secrets.  I will be forever grateful to Brenshevia for giving me the opportunity to design for her.  It is because of her that I leave here with a handful of wonderful memories, and some great new friends from far and wide.  I hope to still play along with the team from time to time, and invite you to do the same.  In the meantime hop over here to check out how the rest of the the team was inspired by Bev's sketch. Pin It

A Scraptastic Challenge and a Free Cut File

I'm up over at the Scraptastic Blog today with a Thursday Challenge.  Here is a little sneak for you...

Can you guess what the challenge is?  Enticed to see the rest of it?  You'll have to pop over to the blog to see the completed layout, and get the scoop on how to join us in our monthly challenges.  There is a $20 gift certificate to the Scraptastic Store up for grabs for those who play along.

I have also made the background file I created with my Silhouette Cameo available for you to download today.  It may look complex but it all began with one little row of 3 triangles, flipped around and copied here and there on the page.   

You may download the file here.  

This is my own personal creation made available for your own personal use only.  I would very much appreciate it if you would please respect that, and link back to me if and when you use it.  

Hope you'll play along with us.  And if you haven't yet you really should check out the kits.  Every single month Jessica knocks it out of the park, and with Kaitlin's fabulous custom flair, and now entire Project Life kit you can't find a better kit out there for the price.  This month's Funk Town kit that I used here is currently sold out, but there is a whole store full of goodies to check out.  And while you're there you may want to get yourself on the Member's List for July.  Sneaks are going out right away.  It's a great kit club with kits selling as low as $28/month, and no commitment, meaning you may skip a kit for a month or two, or cancel at any time without penalty.  Great deal right?  Check out the amazing kits here.

Thanks for stopping in today friends.  I'll be back tomorrow with a just for fun layout using the luscious Cottage Farm line by Pink Paislee.

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Sunday Challenge & Free Cut File

Good Morning friends!

We have another Sunday Challenge for you over at Chic Tags today.  We challenge you to use washi tape.  I have never really gotten into the washi tape craze, as it kind of scares me to be honest.  I have received a few rolls along the way through different kit clubs and/or prize packs.  I decided to use washi in place of patterned paper.  

I actually quite like the result.  Because of all the colour it added to my layout I decided to use a black and white photo.  I think the combo really worked.

I've used a few Everyday Life II tags on this layout (the Snip'em Tags, the A/B tags (my favourites in the collection), and a Month Tag).  The wash is a combination of Glitz Design, Doodlebug, and Tim Holtz.  The flair buttons are by Cre8tive Cre8tions.

Those Cutie Pie Polaroid frames are my own Silhouette Cameo design.  And I'd like to share them with you.  Here is what the collection the collection look like.

All you need is a Dropbox account and you can download the files here.  These are my gift to you, for use in your personal crafting.  I would be very thankful if you would kindly link back to me if you use them, giving me credit for my hard work.

You can see more amazing washi inspo on the Chic Tags blog.  Be sure to link up if you play along, as you could be our random winner of a $25 gift card to the Chic Tags store. Pin It