Jun 27, 2012

Simple Stories Shaped Edge

I have a layout on the Simple Stories blog today. I made this shaped edge by placing a border sticker at the edge of cardstock and trimming the cardstock away:
As you can see, I am still totally in love with Summer Fresh.
I used Therm O Web Memory Tape Runner and 3D Zots to adhere it all.
For close ups and product details, head on over to the Simple Stories blog!
♥ Rebecca

Jun 26, 2012

Continued Catch Up

Since, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, I had taken a short vaca from blogging, I have a bit of catching up to do. Today I would like to catch up on the amazing June Scrapbook Circle kit Field Notes. Sigh. LOVE. I don't know how many are left. Less than 5 I am thinking. The add on already sold out. Yup. It is GOOD. Here are the layouts I have not shared here yet:
For this one, I cut the cardstock out with a sunburst shape with my Cameo and backed each with patterned paper from the kit:
 I focused on the American Crafts stamp set and the Studio Calico cameras for my photo shoot layout:
 This one shows another way to use the Heidi Swapp File Folders, oh and THE Heidi Swapp posted it on her FB page HERE. I kinda hyperventilated when I saw that ;)
 Another file folder. I stitched right on the folder to make this one a pocket. I laid some chipboard stars over it and then misted, so I had the stars masked AND the resist in the folder itself.
 Simple, but fun to use an enlargement....
 Paint, messy stitches, circles and one of the cutest boys ever (IMO)...
and with that, I am all caught up. But I also can't wait to show you what I've been working on for July's kit. YAY for awesome kits.
Have a great day!
♥ Rebecca

Jun 25, 2012

Hiatus

So I took a much needed, even if unexpected, break from blogging. We were thoroughly caught up in the whirlwind of end of the school year, beginning of summer, birthday, holiday activities. Seriously it has been Cuuuuuuuraaaaazy. And now I am in the heat of summer activities and madly creating for CHA. Yay! All good fun stuff :)
At the end of May, the little Dude had an end of the year carnival party.
Then Little Miss lost a top tooth:
next, they added a weekly private lesson to their karate schedule--check out that high leg kick!
In June, Little Miss turned SEVEN. Eek. Seven sounds so big!
They went to Build a Bear (thanks to Nona and Pop Pop!)
Nona came out for a visit:
 Little Miss tested for her blue belt and passed!
and the little Dude graduated from Pre-K! (oh and wore his first tie ;) )
finally, just yesterday, Little Miss had her best friends over to swim and celebrate her birthday.
Phew! Now I am ready to sleep for about 100 hours straight. Just kidding, now I am ready to burn the midnight oil getting all these photos onto layouts ;)
But before I go, I do have some big exciting news. Starting in August when both kids are in school full time, I will be working at Scrapbook.com! I will be doing lots of cool behind the scenes stuff and I get to design with their Kit of the Month. This month's kit is called Noteworthy and I LOVE it:
Scrapbook.com has some fun challenges for using the kit. One is to make a monochromatic layout, here is my blues:

and this one is based on the sketch they provided:
For this one I really wanted to use the cute fireworks stamp. So I stamped using Tim Holtz ink multiple times and poured embossing powder over each image. I heat embossed them all and I love the look in real life:
I believe some kits are still available, so go check it out!
Thanks for stopping by and making it through all those photos! Hope you and yours are having a happy summer!
♥ Rebecca

Jun 7, 2012

Imaginisce i Magicut

Imaginisce has the cool gadget called the i Magicut Ribbon Cutter.

Now, I know what you are thinking--I already have a favorite pair of scissors, what do I need the i Magicut for? Let me tell you...the i Magicut cuts and sears the ribbon all in one quick motion so you will not have any frayed edges! I especially love this for cutting ribbons into pennants. You know when you use a scissor and cut an angle into the middle of ribbon and try to get it even on the other side and then have to cut a little more off one side and then a bit more off the other and before you know it you have a frayed mess? Well, no more wih the i Magicut. Check out the perfect ribbon pennants I was able to make:
No frayed edges!
You can also cut straight across (like I did for the bow at the top) and at angles like I did for the "grass" in this layout:
I'll say it again--no more frayed edges!!
And another little banner because once I realized how easy it was and how perfect they came out, I got a bit addicted to making them ;)
Now you need to run over to Imaginisce blog and comment. This month they are giving away 3 awesome prizes and all you have to do is comment on the posts all month long--3 random winners will be chosen at the end of the month. So get your comment on today's post in now!
♥Rebecca

Jun 4, 2012

Simple Stories 6x8 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Simple Stories 6x8 album blog hop! 

You should have just come from Guiseppa's blog, but if you just happened here you will want to start at the beginning which is at the Simple Stories blog. Comment there and along the way for a chance to win a fabulous Simple Stories album assortment prize!
Now let me just say, I am not a huge mini album maker. I tend to have a hard time designing in such a small scale when I am used to being a 12x12 scrapper. But let me tell you----the Simple Stories 6x8 album has made me a believer! I love the concept and all the products that Simple Stories has available to make designing an entire album fast, easy and fun. And the outcome is something I adore!
Last year the kids and I made a list of 100 fun things to do over the summer. We had a blast making and crossing off and obviously doing things on the list so we decided to do it again this year. This time I am using a Simple Stories 6x8 album to document it:
Of course I HAD to use the wonderful Summer Fresh collection! The cover was Kraft, but I decided to cover it with  patterned paper and use a journaling block for the title. I love the little book plate on the binding and added some mini stickers and summery ribbons:
The inside cover has a large Memorabilia Pocket to hold the actual list:
The album includes dividers and I used one for each summer month. Again I used a Memorabilia pocket adhered to the month dividers to store tickets or other, well... memorabilia!
Inside each month I will have a mix of pages. Some will use the divided page protectors...
 and include smaller photos and journaling blocks:
Others will utilize the Journal/Scrapbook Album pages and look more like 6x8 layouts:
Of course we probably won't complete all 100 things on the list (we actually carried several items over from last year's list to this year's). And I know I won't take pictures of 100% of the activities, but this is a great way to remember a large majority of the fun things we plan and do this summer. I already have dividers made up for July...
and August. The dividers are made of thin chipboard but I had no problem using my sewing machine to add stitching to them:
That is as much of the album as I have completed for now, but I love how easy it is going to be to add more divided page protectors and full album sized pages to each section! I may even pre-make pages and just add photos as we take them. I will definitely post the album again as it develops. This is absolutely the most fun I have ever had with a mini album and I can't wait to come up with a different theme for another! So if you want to try and win the Simple Stories prize be sure to comment here before you go and comment on the Simple Stories blog too!
Here's to a fun filled summer!

Jun 2, 2012

Simple Stories Summer Fresh

I LOOOOOOOVE Simple Stories Summer Fresh line. LOVE LOVE LOVE. You know when a collection feels like it was made just for you? Well I love it that much. The colors--yellows, reds, light blues, then add burlap and denim patterned paper, faux stitching, polka dots and gingham.
I added some of my own stitching to coordinate with the faux stitching:
And aren't those little tape stickers the best?
If you haven't had a chance to play with this line yet I can't recommend it enough. I love every little bit of it! You can check out my post on the Simple Stories blog HERE.
♥Rebecca