The blue, yellow, and black color scheme was basically on accident. I started with the background paper and while shuffling through my embellishments I found the yellow looked really nice as a pop next to the blue. This photo is from another time my boyfriend and I went to the zoo. I'm not 100% sure if this photo includes a male or female giraffe, so I just rolled with Mr. Giraffe as part of the title. The photo is matted on white cardstock and then on to some gray patterned paper from Prima's.


I made a small cluster around my journaling spot on the left hand side of the photo. The journaling spot is from a Dear Lizzy ephemera pack. The little polka dot heart clip is from Simple Stories. I have never really used clips on my layouts before but this one work perfectly! I used a label from Pretty Little Studio and stamped with Staz On ink the date of the photo. I used a new roller stamp to stamp those little hearts and I included a Heidi Swapp Saturday sticker.


I wanted to balance the left cluster, so I had to put one on the right side! I often find that I gravitate towards embellishments that have words on them. I don't know why, but they always appeal to me. The yellow piece is actually a vellum die cut from Heidi Swapp. Since it was vellum, I used my scalloped circle punch on some white cardstock to back it. To the right of that piece I placed an Elle's Studio die cut.


I absolutely love the way this title came out! The hello die cut piece is from the same Dear Lizzy ephemera pack. The die cut clouds are from Jillibean Soup and I like how they match the paper layer behind the photo. The itty bitty alphabet stickers are Teresa Collins. I hope you enjoyed this bright layout! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
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Carpe Diem Decorative Shaped Plastic Clips 16/Pkg

A very simple layout in a way, but you may be thinking, "where on Earth is her title?!". Don't worry friends, the title is on the accompanying page which will be up on the blog next week (or right now if you're reading this after 2016). Yes there's a lot of white space and yes, I'm still working on filling up my pages with content so there's strategic white space and not just leftover spots. Anywho, let's jump right into this fun pick 5 process video!


The five items that I had picked from my stash as a challenge to use on both of these layouts included a giant DCWV Christmas & Winter 12x12 paper pad, a DCWV Mat Stack of Christmas Cardstock, wood veneer snowflakes, a Studio G sticker pack, and lastly, a sleigh punch from EK Success. This was a fun combo of things to work with and I enjoyed making both layouts. I can't wait to show you all the accompanying layout next week!


One of my favorite things about this layout are these adorable present wood veneer pieces. I have no clue where these are from as they were a part of a RAK I received. I layered two together using some foam adhesive under the right side of the top present to make sure it stayed flat. I paired the wood veneers with a couple stickers from the Studio G pack. You wouldn't be able to tell if I didn't tell you, but the candy cane sticker you see peeking out is actually a to and from sticker for a package! Think creatively when looking at your supplies, you may just surprise yourself! :)

I did a little bit of mixed media on this layout using a stencil from Echo Park. I really like how this stencil gives me Nordic pattern vibes. This little touch of gold modeling paste adds just enough sparkle to this layout. The layers behind all of my photos are a great way to use up colored cardstock, plus it adds a punch of color.


I did a triangular style placement for my clusters on this layout. The cluster on the left side is a great mix of textures. I think that layering things besides papers together is a great technique as well. This wood veneer, sticker, and paper layers adds a lot of interest to the layout.



My last bits on to this layout is a teeny tiny cluster in the top right corner. As you probably heard in the process video, I may go back and add a title to this layout as it does seem a bit empty still. However, there is a title on the accompanying layout, so don't worry, it's not completely without. I hope you all really enjoyed this festive layout! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
*Purchasing through these links is part of an affiliate program and I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you*
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Heidi Swapp GOLD LAME Color Shine 00791
from: Simon Says Stamp

Darice Core'dinations Smooth Cardstock, 12 by 12-Inch/80-Pound, Kraft, 10-Pack

I created this little journaling spot using a Project Life 3x4 card from the Man's World collection and cutting one edge down so it would fit properly in the space available. I couldn't leave the poor card there all by itself, so I embellished just a little. The heart sticker and phrase sticker are both Elle's Studio while the pink label is We R Memory Keepers. You'll see these little gray enamel dots all over the layout and they are from the Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby. This photo also really captures the metallic foiling of the papers.


This chipmunk is so cute! I can't get enough of this little fella! Although I don't often use realistic looking items on layouts (as opposed to cartoony or doodly type die cuts) this one fit in so well. The word and the chipmunk are both from Pretty Little Studio. The floral paper that the photo is on is from Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic 6" x 6" paper pad.


Since I don't seem to throw anything away, you knew that I would use the other piece of that Project Life card from the bottom right portion of the layout. I created a fun word cluster up here on top of it. All of these die cut pieces are also from Pretty Little Studio. This layout is actually perfectly fitting for these tiny word phrases because it was from July 4th when we went on a hike to the top of a waterfall. It was absolutely hot, but absolutely beautiful as well.


As you probably expected from my style, the title came last on this layout. Maybe it's the McGuyver "s" that I tried to make work or all of the different fonts that I pulled together, nope! I am just not good at knowing what title I want ever! It's so hard to get the letter stickers to work in my favor. There will never be enough of a, e, or t! That wraps up this layout pretty well. I hope you all enjoyed this new type of layout for me. Do you find that you use paper layers more often than not? I have never been too great with the layering, but I'll still give it a shot! Thanks for stopping by everyone!

Supplies:
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All of the foiled flowers surrounding the photo I had cut out of a piece of patterned paper from the same paper pad. This is a great way to make your papers go an extra mile. I used some foam adhesive under some portions to add even more interest and dimension to the floral cut outs. This adds a ton of detail into your pages without doing a whole ton of work. I used a lot of different mediums on this page to achieve the multitude of textures and dimension variation that I wanted.


In this little snippet of the layout, you can see that I have cork, cardstock, foil, puffy stickers, and chipboard. This adds so much detail and it's so easy! Mix and match textures and you're half way there! Layering the elements is also important so they meld together and seem cohesive.


I did a teeny tiny bit of mixed media on this layout using an Echo Park vine stencil with some modeling paste from Liquitex. Stenciling is a great way to add some fun to your layout if you don't have a lot of die cuts or just want some organic shapes on your layout. The one thing I don't love about stenciling is I always have to plan where to put it. So, I usually make my photo base and then plan out where to stencil and make small marks on the layout. What is your stenciling process?



Supplies:
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This mini album is from Basic Grey and it's in the color milk chocolate. This is a waterfall album where the pages are not all the same size, but they have a cascade sort of effect. Making any type of mini album for friends or family is a really great and sentimental/thoughtful gift! I have a full flip through video below, but I will go into some more details and tips about giving a mini album as a gift down below!


Although I named most of the products in the flip through video, I'll also have some links to where you'll be able to purchase those or similar products at the end of this post. Now, I'll discuss the method I used for creating an album for someone else.


As for the inside of the mini album, I decided to keep it super simple. I mainly did a couple paper layers with the photos and then washi tape to add more color without adding dimension. As you might've been able to tell, this mini album does not lay flat. It's actually quite thick. This was due to the fact that I used a lot of wood veneer, chipboard, resin flowers, and more that caused so much dimension. I really enjoy dimension on my projects to add interest, but you don't have to add dimension. Washi tape and die cut pieces can add a lot of interest without having to get a lot of dimension.


One way to get an interesting look without a lot of bulk is to use different textures. In this example here, I used tissue paper, foiled polka dots, glittered pieces, and even the washi tape patterns add extra interest. Since you are making this for someone as a gift, be aware of their favorite colors. If you are unsure about their favorite colors, then maybe experiment with different color schemes on different pages.


I didn't want this mini album to be too photo heavy. I wanted there to be photos, but also the possibility to include fun and motivational spots for my niece to read. There's parts that say be brave and other parts that leave room for journaling. Don't be afraid to add fun interactive elements like pockets and tags that can be used to include more photos.


Treat each set of pages as if it is its own layout. This will help you experiment with new designs without getting stuck in a rut. However, if you're more comfortable sticking to one template, you go girl! This mini album should reflect your hard work and not just stress you out with being unique. As you saw in the flip through video, this minimalistic mini album took me two days to complete. I had an idea in mind and gathered supplies, then ran with it. It was freeing to work on a layout that was not 12x12 for once! I really enjoyed experimenting with a new shape and type of memory keeping and hope you all will try it too.

Supplies:
*Purchasing through these links is part of an affiliate program and I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you*
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Classic Calico 2 Laser-Cut Wood Veneer Shapes-Tiny Stars

Carpe Diem Stickers 4x6 8/Pkg-Word Label

For my card, I started with the typical A2 sized card. This is a piece of cardstock that is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" that is scored at 4 1/4" and scored. I use 110 lb. cardstock to ensure that there is a sturdy base. Then, I took this patterned paper from Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic 6x6 pad and cut it down to 4" x 5 1/4".


Now, we can move onto the shaker portion of this card. This card was made for my boyfriend to celebrate our 26th monthaversary. I don't make him cards for every month, but I like to surprise him every few months with a cute card. I created two frames from some kraft cardstock. Each frame is a 1/4" width around. My Fiskars trimmer is perfect for this technique because of the markings it has on the grid lines. Once you've cut two identical frames, you'll want to make these the bread of your sandwich. Your sandwich insides will consist of the transparency that you're using for your shaker window.



Next, we'll want to take the foam squares and lay them on the back of our framed piece. Be sure to place them super close together, we don't want any of our shaker bits to escape! Don't peel off the other adhesive side quite yet. I think peeling the little backing off is the hardest part of this tutorial, so it is really easy overall. Next, you'll want to fill your frame component with your shaker bits. For my shaker, I used a ton of Darice and Kat Scrappiness sequins. I'll attempt to link all of the supplies at the end of this post, so you can find these lovely sequins! Once you've filled your frame to your desired amount with your shaker bits, you'll want to use your grid mat and lay your frame down centered onto it. Next, peel off all of the adhesive backings, then place your card base on top of that and glue it down. Make sure to use the grid mat to line it up perfectly!



Once you turn it over and are all sealed up, we can add the sentiment! My sentiment is a stamp from Michael's that I stamped on to some white cardstock and then cut out. Lastly, I added a little wood veneer heart to add some more love. Then, that's it! Another super easy way to create shaker cards without any super fancy tools. I hope you all enjoyed this project. Thanks for stopping by!
Supplies:
*Purchasing through these links is part of an affiliate program and I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you*
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I used one floral piece of the patterned paper cut down to 3 3/4" x 5". If I had those lovely die sets that make little stitching lines around I would've loved to use them on this card! Don't worry though, they're on my wish list! Maybe some day soon they'll be in my collection! I stamped the image and sentiment in Staz-On ink and used my basic watercolors to color my image. The image is layered on top of a plaid patterned paper cut to 3 "x 3 1/2".


The sentiment is stamped on a predesigned tag that came with the paper pad. It also came with other bits and pieces that can be cut out. I always love when paper pads have cut apart sections. Do you like cut aparts in your paper pads? I think that it's nice to not have to use punches or my die cutting machine to get a little extra something from the papers. Plus, it already coordinates!


On the right hand side of the card I used another one of my Wilton doilies. Will I ever run out of doilies?! Probably not if I'm being honest with myself, but I'll buy more if I see them on sale. To complete this card I used some silver twine from Spritz from Target to add a small bow. Then, I added a few gray enamel dots sprinkled around. That is my first ever finished set of enamel dots! Woohoo for bashing stash! I hope you enjoyed this card and feel inspired! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
*Purchasing through these links is part of an affiliate program and I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you*
Shop through Blitsy! http://blitsy.com/ref/z3m57
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Hot Off The Press Acrylic Stamp Butterfly Girl

Tsukineko Full-Size StazOn Multi-Surface Inkpad, Jet Black

Prima Marketing Paper Pad - 6x6 inch Hello Pastel

This is a layout that mixes fall color schemes with summer vibes. I really like the way it turned out in the end. The five items I decided on for this pick 5 are the following: 2 really old papers from Close To My Heart (no idea what collection),the die cut pack from Pretty Little Studio for the Oakley Avenue collection, Heidi Swapp Color Shine in the color Tea, a half use pack of Prima flowers, and a roll of green washi tape from Michael's.


Ta-da! I hope you enjoyed the process video, but now I can dive into some more things I wanted to mention. I hope you stick around for some great tips, product links, and close up detail shots of the layout! Let's jump right in!


The background and border of this layout are made from two pieces of Close To My Heart patterned papers. I truly adore the color scheme that these papers have! The blues, yellows, greens, browns, and grays are fun to play with. The yellow paper and floral paper are actually the same paper just different sides of it! This is a great way to use up all of those pretty patterns on both sides.


I did a little something different with my title for once. I used a die cut to create part of it, but made it personal by adding more with letter stickers. This is not only a great way to use up some letter stickers, but it also adds visual interest when mixing the fonts.


The clusters on this layout in particular are absolutely filled with different textures and heights. I used die cuts, flowers, chipboard, wood veneer, and puffy stickers just to name a few! These are the point on your layout in which you can be really creative. I find that this often times one of my favorite parts because who doesn't love adding a little bit of embellishment?!


 To help balance the layout, I created a small cluster in the top left of the layout. It's a simple way to create more interest, but also point the eye in the right direction. I hope you all enjoyed this pick 5 layout! If you have any questions or you want to share your own pick 5 creations with me please leave a comment down below! I love hearing from you all. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
*Purchasing through these links is part of an affiliate program and I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you*
Shop through Blitsy! http://blitsy.com/ref/z3m57
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All of the pocket page cards on this particular page are from We R Memory Keepers. I truly enjoyed working with the fun yellow and blue color scheme. It really does scream summer to me. I also enjoyed how the cards come with premade title cards. I seem to always struggle with making up titles, but I loved how this title summed up the day pretty well.


The bottom center filler card is a pungent blue. I kept this card simple, so that the color would shine. I used some grid diamond washi tape from Freckled Fawn. On top of that I layered a chipboard chat bubble from BoBunny's Modern Miss collection. Lastly, I layered an Elle's Studio cut apart piece on top of that! Layering is so much fun, but can be intimidating. I promise you that you'll love it if you just give it a chance!


My favorite clusters on this layout occur on the bottom right corner. This photo was cut down to 4x4 so there was some room for embellishing. In the top cluster of this section, I used a small doily from Wilton and a Tim Holtz tiny word sticker to create a focus. It adds a neutral quality to such a color busy layout, but still adds interest. I finished this section off with some gold pearls from BoBunny and a tiny wood veneer heart!


The title card was slightly plain before I added some decorations. The three dimensional floral sticker is from Michael's. Then, I also included a tiny word sticker from Simple Stories Carpe Diem collection and a puffy owl sticker.


I journaled about our day using my Micron Pen and that pretty much finishes up this layout! I hope you enjoyed this simple pocket page! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
*Purchasing through these links is part of an affiliate program and I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you*
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The patterned papers on this card are both from My Mind's Eye. The blue swirl is cut to 4" x 5 1/4" and the red strip is cut to 5 1/4" x 2 1/2". The red piece is on a piece of foam to help create the shaker window. The window itself is made out of some leftover packaging from some goodies that I had used.



I featured another stamp set from Lawn Fawn for this simple card. The stamp set is called Get Well Soon. I stamped the images and the sentiment with Staz-on jet black ink to make sure that the watercolor wouldn't run with the outline. I did simple watercoloring on the chick, medicine bottle, and the band aids and then cut them all out. For my shaker element, I used the watercolor band aids, gold, white, and clear sequins from Darice. Again, shaker cards are a great way to use up all of those sequins and they are super customizable.


To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment onto a white banner and glue it down. Then, for a last minute addition I put a few pearls along the card for more interest. Shaker cards can make anyone feel better faster! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial for a simple shaker card. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
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Once all of my mixed media work was completed, I moved on to layering and placing my photo. My photo is layered upon a piece of white cardstock, a patterned paper from Pebbles, and a piece of foam (to give it height). After I established where I would be putting my photo, I played around with where to place the title. I ended up using this pre-made title from Doodlebug Designs with my photo nestled in between. I used a blue doily under the first half of the title so it didn't get lost in the white behind it.


I did some embellishing towards the bottom of  my photo. I used the green circle die cut from October Afternoon's Cakewalk collection and some black thread to create a good visual point. I also used a bunch of the Doodlebug Designs flower stickers about the layout. Lastly for this cluster, I used a Tim Holtz phrase sticker.


I needed a little something to help balance out the right side of this page, so I turned to this really stark journaling spot from Studio Calico. I had to cut it down, but it helps balance the layout beautifully. I used some stickers from Doodlebug again to keep it cohesive and I also used tiny heart stickers from Studio Calico.


That pretty much sums up this layout! I hope you enjoyed this extra video/post for this week! I had a blast making this and excited to try out new techniques that I'm learning from this hop! If you'd like to hop along, hop over to YouTube using the links below! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
*Purchasing through these links is part of an affiliate program and I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you*
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Darice GX-2200-18 20-Piece Card Stock Paper, 12 by 12-Inch, White

Tim Holtz Distress Paint BROKEN CHINA Ranger TDD36319
from: Simon Says Stamp

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint, 1-Ounce, Broken China

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint Dabber - 1oz - Broken China
from: Blitsy

Similar: Tim Holtz Distress Paint MOWED LAWN Ranger TDD36388
from: Simon Says Stamp

Similar: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint Dabber - 1oz - Mowed Lawn
from: Blitsy

Similar: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint Bottle, 1-Ounce, Mowed Lawn

Heidi Swapp SILVER Mixed Media Metallic Texture Paste 370581
from: Simon Says Stamp

Heidi Swapp Metallic Texture Paste 3oz Tube - Silver
from: Blitsy

Dual Duty XP Heavy Thread 125 Yards - Black
from: Blitsy

Similar: Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements 015274 Craft Thread 50yd Spools
from: Simon Says Stamp

Sew-All Thread 110 Yards-Black