Two Layouts {and} a Card

Today I am excited to share a card and the new Blue Fern Studios papers with you. I used the papers for two layouts. Both of the layouts are 8 1/2 x 11 and feature photos of our friend's baby that was born on Christmas Day. Both of these layouts were gifts to her for her album that includes previous layouts I have done of their daughter. So, let's start by looking at the gorgeous papers and fun chipboard pieces.

Adorable
Here is our friend's precious baby when he was 3 days old. I layered the In Bloom, Parlour, and Calling Cards papers for this 8 1/2 x 11 layout. I was able to use two of the words from the Calling Cards paper as tags on the layout.

The chipboard I used was a heart from the Eclectic Hearts set. I colored the heart with Prima Chalk Ink shabby tote and Distress crackle paint. The title is from the Good Vibes set. I painted it with a mix of modeling paste, Glimmer Mist artic blue, and Lindy's Stamp Gang bachelor button blue.

Blue Fern Studios paper: In Bloom, Parlour, Calling Cards 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Eclectic Hearts (colored w/Prima Chalk Ink shabby tote and Distress crackle paint), Good Vibes (painted w/mix of modeling paste, Glimmer Mist artic blue, and Lindy's Stamp Gang bachelor button blue) 
Stamps: Tim Holtz Ultimate Grunge, Becky Higgins date stamp 
Stamp Ink: Adirondack pebble, Archival jet black 
Embellishments: Pink Paislee Portfolio photo tab; Prima Frost Frappe VII flowers; Tim Holtz mini paper clip; Glimmer Mist riptide; Hobby Lobby doily; joint tape; cheesecloth; misc. cork stars

Love Always
And here is little baby at 6 days old. Here I used the Blue Fern Garden Parlour and Calling Cards papers. Again I used more tags from the Calling Cards paper and did lots of layering.

For the title, I used the Love Always chipboard piece. I painted it with layers of Tim Holtz Distress Paint tarnished brass, Viva crackle paint, and Inka Gold old silver. The layering of those three products gave the title a great look.

Blue Fern Studios paper: Calling Cards, Parlour 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Love Always (painted with Tim Holtz Distress Paint tarnished brass, Viva crackle paint, and Inka Gold old silver) 
Stamps: Unity Reversed Punchinella, Becky Higgins date stamp 
Stamp Ink: Adirondack pebble, Archival jet black 
Embellishments: Petaloo Large Daisies blue; My Mind's Eye Heirloom alpha and word stickers; Tim Holtz film strip ribbon; Glimmer Mist riptide; joint tape; Prima Frost Frappe VII flowers, resin pieces, and wood veneer; Probe game card

And Finally a Card
On this card I used the Circle Motif. I did not use a sentiment because I wanted the circle to be the focus.

I pulled up the layers of chipboard to create dimensional leaves on the Circle Motif. I then painted with Shimmerz Texturez gold mine.

Papers: Webster's Pages Best Friends, Memory Box kraft nc 

Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Circle Motifs (painted with Shimmerz Texturez gold mine) 

Stamp Ink: Archival viridian 

Embellishments: Prima fly away resin; Wild Orchid Crafts flowers; Hero Arts 5mm pearls; Studio Calico cabochons; hand-dyed Hug Snug seam binding; misc. cheesecloth; sewing machine

Thanks for joining me today, and stay warm and safe. I know a lot of us have had bad weather. Blessings,

Need Some Quick Cards?

The past two weekends, I have participated in online crops. Both weekends have included quick card challenges. I thought I would share them with you today just in case you need to make some quick cards to encourage someone this week.

First Card Challenge

This first challenge was a lot of fun and provided very detailed step-by-step instructions. I love how easy the cards were to make and how they can be personalized. I made this particular set as a gift for my postal carrier. Her favorite color is also pink, and I wanted to thank her for all she does for us and our neighborhood. I will definitely be making these as gift sets again!

Papers: Crate Paper Flea Market, Paper Trey Ink cardstock 
Stamp and Die set: Sizzix Hero Arts Frames with Sprigs 
Stamp Ink: Archival rose madder 
Embellishments: May Arts twine, sentiment created in Microsoft Word

Second Card Challenge

The second card challenge asked that we make a card set of any sort—2, 3, or 4 cards. No template provided just make a set of cards and vary them slightly. To me when I want to make a set, they need to be quick cards. I designed these very quick cards, and after making these two, I will probably make some more. 

Papers: Fab Scraps Shabby Blues and Shabby Mix, Memory Box cardstock, Bazzill cardstock 

Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink stormy sky 
Embellishments: Manor House Creations flowers, Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two, Kerri Bradford 'thanks' cut file, sewing machine

Here are my step-by-step instructions:

1. Cut an 8 1/2" x 11" piece in half lengthwise so that you end up with two 4 1/4" x 11" pieces.

2. Score each piece at 5 1/2" so that you have two card bases.

3. Pick 3 matching patterned paper pieces.

4. Cut the first sheet into two 5 1/4 x 4" pieces. Distress the edges and adhere to the front of each card. This is the striped paper on each card above.

5. Cut the second sheet into two 5 1/8" x 3 7/8" pieces. Distress the edges and adhere to the top of the previous paper. This is the floral paper on each card above.

6. Cut the third sheet into two banners. I cut them to 1 3/8" x 2 3/4". Distress the edges and adhere to the back of each label you will cut next.

7. Using scrap cardstock, cut two labels. I used Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two.

8. Cut sentiments or use previously printed sentiments you might have on hand. You could also stamp your sentiments. I used my new Silhouette Portrait for the first time. I love it but was having a lot of trouble with the paper tearing. That cutting mat is so sticky!

9. Adhere the label with the sentiment on top and the banner attached underneath to your card.

10. Add a flower to complete.

Note: I did sew around the edges of each layer of paper. It did take a bit longer to do that so if I am in a real hurry, I will eliminate that step though I do love the look.

I hope you have enjoyed these and try to make a few card sets of your own. Have a blessed week ahead!

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #2, Undo

Today's post will be hard for me. It's hard to admit our sin and our failings but I feel God wants me to share. Tears stream down my face as I type this. They say it takes 30 days to make a habit. Well, for two years I ate healthy, exercised daily, was a great weight, my cholesterol was great—I felt amazing. Well, two months after I turned 48, I began slacking off—the kids left for college, our 2 year old puppy was diagnosed with epilepsy (daily issues there), lots of changes. I haven't handled them well so it was easy to quit watching what I was eating and to stop exercising. Can you believe since August I have gained 40 pounds? How is that possible? I cry. I ache. I am embarrassed. How could I go from being so healthy to being so unhealthy so quickly? I kind of feel like this scripture sums up how I feel:

Romans 7:15-20 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

Do any of you feel that way? Are you frustrated with something you do? Do you feel like giving up? Do you think God is done with you and has given up on you? Absolutely not! He is waiting with loving arms for you to come to Him and rely on Him through every struggle, every shortcoming—everything. Our God is a God of grace. He is faithful. His faithfulness is not dependent our our faithfulness. Praise God for that! He fills us with His Holy Spirit when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. And when we have the Holy Spirit in our lives but don't rely on Him, we live defeated. I guess that's how I have been feeling lately—defeated. Can you relate to that? How are you feeling? Defeated or victorious? I know I want to feel victorious again! It truly is a daily choice to rely on Him and let Him help you through everything.

Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

Hosea 6:3 "Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

Luke 9:23 "Then He said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'"

Romans 8:5 "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

1 Corinthians 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."

The song we are studying this week is called "Undo" by Rush of Fools. Click here to listen and read the lyrics. You can also click here to see the band perform this song. It is so perfect for those of us that have fallen in some way whether it be with food or some other addiction or a struggle you battle daily. As believers, we will always have struggles but with Christ, we can change the things that we shouldn't be doing. With Him we have hope! The chorus to this song says it all:

Chorus
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

I have put in bold/italic what is so meaningful to me in this chorus. How about you? Read all of the lyrics in the link I posted above. Read this chorus. What touches you? What do you need to change? Will you fall at His feet and ask Him to help you?

Father, I have fallen. Most times I feel I cannot get up. But I know you are there waiting to hold me and keep me on the right path. I know there are others here feeling the exact same way. Would you hold each of us up? Please help each of us to make the daily choice to turn to You. Help us to trust You in every part of our lives and to press on with You even when we are discouraged and think we can never do it because with You all things are possible. We love you and thank you, Father. It's in Your Son's precious name I pray, Amen.

For my 6x6 page today, I used a sketch from Flying Unicorn. The scripture I chose was 1 Corinthians 16:13 shown above. I also added a part of the chorus of the song to my page because it really defines what I need each day—Him! I also have a couple of pieces on my page that have meaning to me. The key I used last week but it is so very true and applicable again this week.

*Key—He is the key to my daily life; without Him guiding me each day, I fail on my own.
*Bird cage—I am not as free and happy when I follow my own desires.

For my page, I also used the new Blue Fern Studios papers. These are actually scraps leftover from the page I shared on Friday. If you missed that page, click here. The bird cage is from the Blue Fern Studios Veranda Cage Set.

Papers: Blue Fern Garden Calling Cards 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Veranda Cage Set (colored with Adirondack ginger ink and Martha Stewart fine crackle) 
Stamps: Becky Higgins date stamp 
Stamp Ink: Adirondack pebble, ginger, and espresso 
Embellishments: May Arts twine; Maya Road vintage heart box key; Petaloo mini delphiniums chocolate and brown berry spray; Prima corine flower and wood veneer; Hobby Lobby doily; misc. brad; dry wall joint tape; sewing machine

Just a note. I had a question about keywords for each study. I will not always mention them, sometimes they will be evident, and sometimes the Holy Spirit will lead you to a word to use. Our first study could have been on the word "Lord." Words you could use for today's study could certainly include "victorious," "daily," "need," or "strength."

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings to you as your study and enjoy His word!

My {One Little} Word and New Papers!

So, how many of you have picked a "word" to focus on this year? I never have. I have never gotten into picking a word. Well, God had different plans for me. A couple of weeks ago, He gave me the word "encourage." At first I thought "I don't want a word." Then the more I thought about it and listened to the Lord, I realized I needed to follow His leading. Anything else of course would be disobedience. So, in following His leading, I have embraced the word "encourage." Well, let me tell you, I have been so extremely blessed by having this word. I look for people each day that God might have me encourage. And I also need to be able to accept encouragement too when it is given to me. It has just been wonderful. It's always awesome how God blesses me when I obey.

In dwelling on this word each day, I decided to scrap it. And what better way to scrap this then to use the new amazing Blue Fern Studios papers. Yes, they are here, and they are utterly gorgeous!! I have been so excited about these papers that in two days I have created three layouts! I never create that fast. LOL! I will share two of the layouts on Jan. 29th but today I wanted to share my "one little word" page using these papers.

I wrote a bit about my word and then I found a quote on Pinterest by Joyce Meyer.  Here is what my journaling says:

"One of the best gifts I have been given this month is the Holy Spirit prompting me to focus on the word 'encourage'. Who has He put in my path today that I can encourage? It has been an amazing blessing focusing on this every day and watching what He will do!"

"God has planted greatness in you. Let today be the beginning of a great adventure as you step into the gifts He's given you." —Joyce Meyer

And here is my 8 1/2 x 11 layout:

Blue Fern Studios paper: Boudoir, Calling Cards, In Bloom
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Shabby Brick Bits (painted with Shimmerz TextureZ crushed coral and Glimmer Mist pink taffy)
Stamps: Hero Arts Painted Circle E5784, Becky Higgins date stamp
Stamp Ink: Adirondack pebble, Archival jet black
Embellishments: Petaloo fuschia wild blossoms and large daisy; Prima liberty daisy, clock, and resin bird; My Mind's Eye Heirloom alpha and word stickers; Studio Calico wood veneer numbers; Tim Holtz mini paper clip and burlap stencil w/Liquitex modeling paste and Glimmer Mist pink taffy; Angora watercolors; cheesecloth; sewing machine

I hope you enjoy my layout and word for the year. And if you are looking for these papers, you can buy them right now at the C'est Magnifique store. Other stores should be getting them in stock soon. :) Thanks for looking, and have a blessed weekend!

{8 1/2 x 11} My Way of Scrapping Project Life

Note: This has turned out to be a rather lengthy post. So, grab a cup of hot chocolate or tea or something fun, and I hope you find this helpful.

In 2013, I really perfected how I approach Project Life or any other divided page protector scrapping. Most of you know that I do not scrap 12x12. It is just too big for me. I scrap 6x6, 8x8, 9x9, and 8 1/2 x 11. Mostly for my albums now it is 6x6 and 8 1/2 x 11. Love these two sizes. And for Project Life, I know most people choose 12x12. Again, that is just too big for me. I tried it in 2013, and I quickly knew it would not work for me. The 6x8 albums are a cute size but too small for this style of scrapping for me. I also want to be able to put in my regular, fancy scrapbook pages too into these albums. So, I have settled on using 8 1/2 x 11 albums. It is working so wonderfully for me but finding 8 1/2 x 11 page protectors can be difficult. We will discuss that shortly.

Weekly, Monthly, What?

I put photos in my album by month. I made three 8 1/2 x 11 Month-in-Review albums for my girls for Christmas. That concept showed me that approaching Project Life monthly is a great way to handle it. Basically for 2014 thus far, I am just using the photos I like for January. If it takes a 2-page spread for the month, great. If it takes more than a 2-page spread and goes over several pages, great. I am not going to be a stickler about it. It's very freeing to just print my photos, journal, and add what I want without worrying that I don't have photos for a particular day or week even.

Where to Find 8 1/2 x 11 Page Protectors

In my album, I use 8 1/2 x 11 page protectors by WRMK, Stampin' Up, and The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby). I also cut down some of the Becky Higgins Project Life page protectors. I will share that below.

WRMK Page protectors 8.5x11 Ring (9-3.5x2.625 Photo Sleeves), 10 Pack, #50030-8 

The Paper Studio 8 1/2 x 11 Album Refill (4.25 x 5.25), 15 pack, #808998 (left)

The Paper Studio 8 1/2 x 11 Album Refill (3.25 x 5.25), 15 pack, #808881 (right)

Stampin' Up/Stampin' Memories 8 1/2 x 11 Divided Pages, Code 5040-00

These particular pages I found on eBay, and I must say they are my favorite pages. They are sturdy, and I love the layout. Unfortunately, I have not been able to ever find these again. I have no idea how old they even are. I have listed the product name and number here just in case you might be able to find them somewhere for yourself.

Cutting Down 12x12 Pages

I love to use and cut down the Becky Higgins Style H pages. Once cut, they fit beautifully in an 8 1/2 x 11 album. To do this: 

1. Place bottom of page protector at 11 15/16". Trim top portion off. 
2. Turn page protector so the top is now positioned at 11 3/8". Cut off the bottom. 
3. Using your sewing machine, sew bottom portion of the page protector to close the open section. You can also use washi tape for fun.

I keep a little note of these measurements on a card on my trimmer since this is something I do often.

Adding the Months

Since I am scrapping my extra photos monthly, I went ahead and created my 2014 cards for each month. I used Memory Box distressed dots paper, a free printable calendar from Pinterest, and I cut Quickutz letters for each month in black cardstock. The printable calendar I cannot find online again. My laptop crashed before I could pin or save it. I am so sorry. Click here to see the many printable calendars on Pinterest. I am sure you will find one you love and can use.

My First Pages

Here are my first pages for 2014. Now, I don't get fancy with my pages. This is about getting the photos in and the journaling down—that's it. A few embellishments here and there but that's all I add. In the end will my family know how everyone else was adding so much more? No. I am sure it won't even cross their minds. They want the photos and the story. That's how my approach was to the Month-in-Review albums I made for my girls. And they poured over them at Christmas. One daughter even commented "Thank you mommy. I was thinking the other day that 2013 was the best year ever. Now I have it in the album." That touched me so much because that's exactly the purpose! So, that's my approach to my 2014 album.

I hope this has been helpful to you in some small way. Have fun getting those photos printed and journaling complete. And remember, to keep track of my journaling and memorabilia, I use a binder I created just for this purpose. Click here to see that post. Have a blessed Tuesday!

Organizational {Friday} Flair All Over Again

Some of you may remember my previous post on organizing my flair buttons. Well, once again, I was in need of a "make-over." I still like the old system because it did not take up much room but my flair collection grew. So, time for a change. Click here to see my old flair storage. You may find it's all you need. :)

The Carousel

Back in August 2013, zulily.com had these wonderful make-up carousels on clearance. They are called the Nifty Home Products Makeup Carousel. They come in many different colors. I purchased white for my girls and pink for myself. They are rather pricey (~$35) but on zulily, I was able to get them for $19 each. They are also available on amazon.com in various colors but still pricey (~$31). Click here to see them on amazon.com.

Anyway, this little carousel has turned out to be the best little storage piece. It has a lazy susan base so it rotates, and it is about 8" high. One downfall is that there is only 2 1/2" between the upper and lower storage areas. Thankfully the boxes I use still fit but at an angle in the bottom. This works great for me but something for you to be aware of if you buy one of these. I not only have my flair stored in here but also:

*Glossy Accents

*Scissors

*Enamel dots

*Burnishing tool

*Pencil

Storing Flair

I have a bunch of the Stampin' Up Stamp and Supply Boxes. They measure 5.25" x 4.25" and come in a package of 10 (item no. 134678). They are actually on clearance now for $1.99 for a 10 pack! These boxes are great organizational boxes, and they offer them in several sizes. Anyway, these boxes fit perfectly into the carousel so I decided they would also be perfect for my flair buttons and dividing them into categories. I ended up using 7 boxes and have divided my flair buttons into these categories:

*Christian

*Christmas

*Dates and Days

*Decorative

*Photography

*Phrases

*Shapes

This really has worked great for me. I have had them like this for several months now, and I am really enjoying them stored this way. I hope this also helps give you some ideas too. Happy organizing!

Tuesday's {Tip} Favorite Measurements

I don't know about you but there are things I cut often that I need to remember the measurements for. And most of the time, I can't remember them. I even found myself writing little notes and keeping them on top of my trimmer so that I would remember. Instead of having several slips of paper, I—

*typed the common measurements onto a Project Life card then

*taped them to my trimmer using washi tape.

Simple but so very helpful when I need it. I hope you find it helpful too. Have a blessed Tuesday!