This layout starts with a basic kraft cardstock background and all of the patterned papers the photos are matted on are from the Doodlebug Patriotic 6x6 paper pad. These photos as you may be able to tell are from when we celebrated the 4th of July this past summer. My boyfriend and I played with some sparklers and other fun novelties. I wanted to give a fun and energetic feel to this layout so I tilted the photos slightly and overlapped them. I put a little bit of mixed media onto this layout by using one of my favorite stencils which is this varying star stencil by Echo Park.


One of my favorite clusters on this layout is this one to the left of the main photo. It imitates the feeling that the sparklers gave me when I got to play with them. I used a red diagonal striped pocket from The Paper Studio and put a Recollections white tag with a little red twine bow inside. On top of that I used a Doodlebug mini doily in the color pool. Then, on top of that I used one cut apart piece from Elle's Studio and a Tim Holtz tiny word sticker from the occasions set.


My inspiration for the title on this layout is from one, the subject of the photos. Secondly, there's also a really sweet song from Taylor Swift called Sparks Fly and the lyric goes "I see sparks fly whenever you smile". I wanted to make that the full title, but I couldn't get it to work out. However, I plan on putting that in the journaling.


I have a matching cluster in the top right corner of the layout. This includes another cut apart from Elle's Studio, another Doodlebug Designs doily, some Freckled Fawn heart washi tape, Pretty Little Studio star stickers, a roller phrase stamp, and some white enamel dots. That finishes up this layout encapsulating some really great summer memories. Thank you for stopping by, I hope you're inspired!

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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Doodlebug LILY WHITE Sprinkles Assortment
from: Simon Says Stamp

Crafter's Workshop Glossy Enamel Adhesive Dots, Lily White

Echo Park RANDOM STAR 6 x 6 Stencil PS104035
from: Simon Says Stamp

Echo Park 6" x 6", Random Star, Clear Stencil

Liquitex White Modeling Paste Medium 16-oz

Doodlebug Design - Patriotic Parade Collection - 6 x 6 Paper Pad

Stocking Stuffers:

Opening my stocking on Christmas morning is always such a joy. Here's a few of my top picks/ideas for what you might want to receive or give this holiday season! (Some of the purchasing links are affiliated and I may receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you).

1.) Copic Multi-liners ($$)

These are the perfect gift for anyone on your list. The markers are great for doodling, writing, bordering, and more. There are several different copic liner sets, so be sure to compare and pick out the correct one you're looking for.

Copic Multiliner Fine A 4-Piece Set

Copic MULTILINER SAKURA Fine Nib Inking Pens Set 053829
from: Simon Says Stamp

2.) Tim Holtz Detailer Water Brush ($)

I have some off brand water brushes, but would love the one everyone raves about! This would fit perfectly into any stocking or would be a cute gift to accompany a card to your crafty friend.

Tim Holtz DETAILER WATER BRUSH Ranger Watercoloring TIP33080
from: Simon Says Stamp

Tim Holtz Detailer Water Brush


3.) Doodlebug Sprinkles ($)
               
 Enamel dots are so much fun and the perfect finishing touch to any layout. You can get them from any manufacturer, but I like how flat the Doodlebug ones are on layouts. These come in a range of styles including matte, sparkle, and normal.

Doodlebug Sprinkles Sugarplum

Doodlebug LADYBUG Sprinkles Assortment
from: Simon Says Stamp


4.) Floral Thin Washi Tape Set ($)

This is based on my personal preferences (but I know a lot of people who love floral washi), however, feel free to pick out a design you love or the recipient will love! Thin washi is a super fun thing to use to decorate packages as well!

Red Floral Washi Tape Set

Thin Vine Washi Tape Set



Gift Ideas:

1.) Hampton Arts Stamp Perfect Stamping Tool ($$$)

This is one of the biggest things on my wish list. There are several stamping tools out on the market, but I believe this one is the best price wise.

Hampton Arts Stamp Perfect Tool



2.) Freckled Fawn Embellishment Kits ($$-$$$$)

Freckled Fawn has the absolute best embellishment kits. They have unique products from acrylic, rubber, stamps, and clips! These fun kits are a perfect little item to pick up for anyone. They even have a Christmas kit which is very festive! Did I mention they all come in their own super cute and reusable storage pouch?!

Freckled Fawn Available Embellishment Kits

3.) Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Mini Kit ($-$$)

Everyone know that these inks can be used for so many techniques. Although there are several sets, you should probably ask which colors are best for the recipient or get a gift receipt so they can exchange colors!

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad MINI KIT #4 TDPK40347
from: Simon Says Stamp

Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Kits - #2


4.) Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens ($$$$$)

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens - 60 Set

Zig CLEAN COLOR 60 SET Real Brush RB6000AT60V
from: Simon Says Stamp


Dollar Value Key:
Next to each product title you will see that there's a symbol indicating how much it costs. Below is the key to those!
$       0 - 10
$$     11-20
$$$   21-30
$$$$  31+

This is a really fun list for all sorts of crafters in your life or even some additions to your wish list! I hope you enjoyed these few ideas and be sure to share this with anyone who is looking to buy you a present! Tell me what else is on your wish list in the comments below, I would love to know! Thanks for stopping by!

The two main patterned patterns on this layout are both from My Mind's Eye Sleigh Bells collection. This is such a beautiful wood grain pattern and I love the contrast the red checkered pattern brings to the page. As you'll see in the process video I give you a little tutorial on how to cut beautiful circles without any die cutting machines! I hope you enjoy the process of me putting this layout together and I'll share more details afterwards.


It's one of my longer process videos only due to the fact that my ATG adhesive ran out and my alphabet stickers were being very finicky! Now let's dive into the details, shall we? I did a tiny bit of mixed media on this layout using one of my favorite holiday-esque stencils. This geometric snowflake stencil, as I'll call it, is from Echo Park. I simply used my Liquitex modeling paste to give some texture on the left side of the photo.


My photo is of our Christmas tree on Christmas morning in 2013. It's an oldie, but a goodie and I'm glad that I've gotten back into scrapbooking so much since then. This photo gets its own page since decorating the Christmas tree is probably one of my favorite things about the holiday season. Its an emblem of Christmas spirit in my household. I mounted the photo onto some basic white cardstock and then did a slightly thicker border of a dark grey subtly patterned paper after that.


One of my favorite little pieces on this entire layout is this little die cut circle piece from Pretty Little Studio. It has a slight vintage vibe, but also mimics the circle pattern I put on my layout with the red checkered paper. Also in this embellishment cluster is a copper label from Pretty Little Studio, a Thickers chipboard and glitter asterisk and some old washi tape.



I also included a cluster in the top right corner of the layout It uses some white ribbon, a sticker from Sleigh Bells from My Mind's Eye, and another washi strip. That pretty much finishes up this layout! Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy documenting all of your holiday memories!

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
Shop through Tupelo Designs LLC! http://i.refs.cc/H3vCMoVA 

American Crafts Thickers Glitter Chipboard Letter Stickers, Roller Rink Tangerine

The 6x6 technique for this layout involves two sheets of paper. I cut both of these papers diagonally down the middle creating two even triangles. Then, I place them all points together to create a square again (as you can see in the photo). I used two papers from KI Memories, but don't be afraid to mix patterns! To dress up this layout some more, I used one of my largest doilies behind the square. It adds a little frill and lightness to the layout (even though it isn't even close to being centered).


Most of the die cut pieces on this layout are from the Oakley Avenue collection from Pretty Little Studio. This is such a perfect and fresh autumn themed collection for any photos. The second portion of my title is from that collection and the first half are from Elle's Studio Cienna sticker sheet. Before I forget, I did a little mixed media on the background on this layout. First, I used a cool leaf stencil from Fiskars and then I went a little crazy. I decided to use another stencil! I don't know if I've ever use two stencils on one layout before, but it was a lot of fun! I just used a simple polka dot stencil to add more interest and texture using modeling paste.


This is a simple one photo layout, but I wanted to use more product that I usually tend to as a challenge to myself. I created a small cluster on the left side of my photo using Oakley Avenue leave pieces and a Dear Lizzy jar die cut. Then, to balance that cluster, I created one on the opposite side. The right cluster uses a blue die cut from Dear Lizzy, a Project Life card by Heidi Swapp, some black thread, and an arrow die cut from Pretty Little Studio.


Lastly, I created a small cluster using more die cuts from the Oakley Avenue collection plus a sticker from Simple Stories, Of course I had to sprinkle my layout with Heidi Swapp color shine in gold for the final touch! I hope you enjoyed this layout for my 6x6 Fix series! 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 Core-dinations 12x12 Kraft Cardstock

Oakley Avenue - Orchard Words - Die Cuts

Oakley Avenue - Die Cuts - Feelin' Fallish

Similar: My Favorite Things POLKA DOT Mixables Stencil MFT ST68
from: Simon Says Stamp

Heidi Swapp GOLD LAME Color Shine 00791
from: Simon Says Stamp

Gold Heidi Swapp Color Shine

Liquitex Professional Modeling Paste, 16-oz

Simple Stories CARPE DIEM Word Label Stickers 4917
from: Simon Says Stamp

Simple Stories Carpe Diem Word Label Stickers 

Wilton 10 pack - 10 inch doilies

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:
*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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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*
Shop through Blitsy! http://blitsy.com/ref/z3m57
Shop through Tupelo Designs LLC! http://i.refs.cc/H3vCMoVA 

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:
*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 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:
*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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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*
Shop through Blitsy! http://blitsy.com/ref/z3m57
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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*
Shop through Blitsy! http://blitsy.com/ref/z3m57
Shop through Tupelo Designs LLC! http://i.refs.cc/H3vCMoVA