You Are Fabulous PLUS Exciting News

Kristen, the owner of Lily Bee Design, designed some exclusive papers and a stamp for Gossamer Blue's June kit and Lori, the owner of Gossamer Blue invited a few of the Lily Bee designers to design with the kits. You can see my 1st 2 layouts HERE and HERE.

This 3rd layout was created based on a day at the park with my little fashionista daughter, swinging on the swings. She just wanted to go higher and higher and higher.  This is one of those layouts that I look back on and just LOVE. Like I seriously fell in love with it. I put a lot of heart into it with lots of measuring, cutting, re-cutting, distressing, punching, sewing, layering, etc. Most of all, though, I love how the focus is still on that cute little girl, flying high on the swings.

My title could be any of the statements in the layout but I intended the title to be the one you see below, "You Are Fabulous". I used the Lori Whitlock file she created for this GB kit and added a pre-printed sentiment from the kit.

Mitering these prints together should have been an easy task. I cut them and then lined the paper up over the 2nd cut where I wanted it to be positioned, cut it and somehow, they didn't line up when I tried to adhere them to the background paper. Like, one side was even skinnier than the other in some places and they were cut the same size. I am sure some math whiz, like my hubby, could tell me why but I made them work.

I punched an edge using my American Crafts Knock-Out punches and then cut it off and flipped it over onto itself to give a tone on tone look. I did a simple side by side stitch to adhere it to the page. The rest of the page was a lot of tucking and layering and popping and stamping.

I hope you enjoy this page as much as I enjoyed creating it! Thanks for stopping by today.

Okay, before you go, I'm exciting to tell you my exciting news. Lori has invited me and a couple of others to join the Gossamer Blue Design Team. I am so thrilled to be among such amazing talent!  I'm busy right now creating with the August kit and the new Life Pages (AWESOME!). HERE is the new Design Team announcement details and the August LookBook. Now head on over there and leave some love!

Spring Has Sprung Home Decor

Okay, so it's officially summer now but I just realized I never shared this fun Spring project I made for the American Crafts blog. No idea why I didn't share here but anywho, here goes.

I added a piece of pattern paper behind the glass as my foundation.  I then ventured outside and found some twigs lying on the ground because I wanted to re-create a little cherry blossom tree in my own house.

I downloaded a cutting file from the Silhouette store and went to town cutting and cutting and cutting and cutting. Oh my goodness, it was a lot of flowers to cut and peel. And then I had to share the inside pollen bits, glue them to the flowers and then shape the cherry blossoms. Phew, I am tired jut thinking about it.  I then tied the twigs in a bundle and hot glued them to the frame. I did that step before adding the blossoms to the twigs so that I could adhere them exactly how I wanted them on the frame.

Then I made a paper bow, also cut with my CAMEO and used it to complete the blossom bouquet.

Lastly I made my own cutting file and made banners that say Spring Has Sprung.  You can download them HERE.

If you are like me, sweating up a storm here in my little suburb of Houston, this might be a welcome reminder that it's not always this hot. Yeah, that's why I chose to wait to long to post it. That's right.

Alrighty now, thank for stopping by. Now go on and get crafty!

Can I Get a Woohoo? I Made the American Crafts Team Again!

I have to say, I was just as nervous re-applying to the team this year as I was last year and I was on pins & needles waiting and watching for that glorious email from Paige. My heart actually skipped a few beats when I saw it ping my Inbox and I was so elated, I might have actually told Paige that I love her. LOL

Anyways, I am proud to be joining the American Craft Design Team for a 2nd term! Thanks to the American Crafts team for the wonderful opportunity!

Look at the amazing team of scrappers I get to design with:

Allison Waken from Phoenix, AZ

Angie Gutshall from James Creek, PA

Ashley Horton from Spanish Fort, AL

Becki Adams from Blackfoot, ID

Corrie Jones from Dallas, GA

Davinie Fiero from Redmond, OR

Diana Waite from Gilbert, AZ

Elizabeth Gardner from Lexington, KY

Erin Stewart from El Paso, TX

Gina Lideros from Elk Grove, CA

Heather Leopard from Cypress, TX

Janna Werner from Oldenburg, Germany

Jill Cornell from Windsor Heights, IA

Katie Ehmann from Bloomfield Hills, MI

Kelly Goree from Shelbyville, KY

Lilith Eeckels from Bertogne, Belgium

Madeline Fox from River Ridge, KA

Meghann Andrew from Katy, TX

Paige Evans from Grafenwoehr, Germany

Patricia Roebuck from Mandeville, LA

If you are new to my site, here are some of my most recent layouts created with American Crafts products. If you like what you see, I'd love to have you as my newest follower!

So Lovely

Beautiful Little Butterfly

Drum Baby

Exotic Wildlife Zoo

Baby, You're a Firework

Thanks for stopping by today! Make sure to check out the new American Crafts releases - Peppermint Express, Polka Dot Party by Dear Lizzy, and Cut & Paste by Amy Tangerine.

Beautiful Little Butterfly

We surprised our girls with a trip to Galveston over Memorial Day weekend. I suggested to my hubby that we spend a day at Moody Gardens and he went even further and planned an impromptu overnight. We got to enjoy 3 full days exploring a tropical rainforest, aquarium, water park, Dinosaurs, several IMAX movies and a very crowded beach.

Anywho, we saw many wonderful things in the rainforest, including a sloth, one of Reese's favorite animals (thanks, Dora the Explorer). I'm sure I'll scrap that another time. There were butterflies flying all around us and you had to be extra careful where you stepped.  I snapped this photo of my daughter checking out a butterfly who was feasting on some fruit.

I used American Crafts Dear Lizzy Neapolitan to create this layout. 

I choose to focus the photo on my daughter watching the butterfly but I also wanted to include a close-up so we could see just how pretty the butterfly was. I printed it in a smaller circle and just popped it up over the photo.

I just couldn't resist cutting all the butterflies out with my cameo. Oh my, what a job that was to put them in the perfect pattern but not identical pattern. Plus I didn't want any two solid cut or multiple cut butterflies to be next to each other.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it. I put a lot of time into it, which just makes it all the more special to me and I can't wait for my daughter to see it.

Thanks for stopping by today! Now go on and get crafty!

Tiny Dancer

My youngest daughter was recently in a dance recital. I took so many photos but this one stood out to me. I snapped this photo of her backstage after she put on her costume. She was sitting there looking so sweet and excited to perform. She wasn't nervous at all.

I used the Scrapbook Circle  July "Let's Chat" kit, which is full of Crate Paper, Fancy Pants, Jillibean Soup and Scrapbook Circle EXCLUSIVES, like stickers, tags and more! I got the add-on too  'cause I just had to have the 6x6 paper pad, flair and mask. Check out  preview of the kit below and go scoop one up before they are gone!

Isn't she just so cute? Yes, I know I am biased! I pulled the title from a song again and layered paper, tags, stickers and more. I did add some black glitter paper that my friend gave me so it's not in the kit but I just had to use it!

I cut strips to journal on and faux stitched around one of the layers. Lots of foam dots and stickers and borders here.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget to head over to Scrapbook Circle to get more info on this kit and check out the Idea Gallery to see what the design team has created with it. It is soo fun to create with!

Everyday Happiness

Here's a little snapshot of a typical day with my daughter, racing around the cul-de-sac. 

I love it when I layout comes together quickly, like this one did. I simply placed my photos (printed by Origrami) over each other and the way they were placed just worked. I added the title around it and embellished with a few bits & pieces. 

I aligned my journaling all the way to the left of the layout and decided it needed just a bit more to the layout so I pulled out my xacto knife and cut triangles here, there and everywhere. Lastly, I backed them with coordinating pattern paper and I was zip, zap done!

I hope you have all enjoyed your weekend. Thanks for stopping by. Now go on and get crafty!

Baby, You're a FIREWORK Layout & Have a Blast Card Project

Happy Birthday, America!

I had some fun projects up on the American Crafts blog yesterday and today's the perfect day to share them with you here on my blog, we my family is off to celebrate the 4th of July, America's Independence!

Baby, You're a Firework

When I was designing this page, I wanted to show my daughter how much she means to me and the song lyric, Baby You're a Firework, seemed a perfect fit!  

I cut the title out with my CAMEO and then backed it with American flag colorsfrom the American Crafts collections, Mayberry & Lucky Charm.

.I added random stitching to the page and left the thread ends sticking out to kind of resemble fireworks.

American Crafts Supplies:

Huckleberry Pie Paper (36019) - Mayberry, Miss Betty Paper (36020) - Mayberry, Strawberry Lemonade Paper (36018) - Mayberry, 6x6 Paper Pad (36026) - Mayberry, Sweet Tea (42398) - Mayberry, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42400) - Mayberry, Cherry Cola Puffy Stickers (42397) - Mayberry, Lemon Fizz Cardstock Sticker Book (42396) - Mayberry, Pretty Poppies Paper (35966) Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm, Starlight Paper (35981) - Dear Lizzy Luck Charm

I also created a card. Since it was a Patriotic card and most people watch or pop fireworks on the 4th of July, I wanted to create a 3D card. 

It's the perfect size to hold a little note and a gift card and/or sweet treats.

American Crafts Supplies:

Huckleberry Pie Paper (36019) - Mayberry, Strawberry Lemonade Paper (36018) - Mayberry, Sapphire Cardstock (AM710-74), White Cardstock (AM710-81)

Thanks for stopping by today! We're off to the beach to shoot some fireworks and watch the city's fireworks show.

Drum Baby {Don't Stop Beating}

Hi friends! I spent all weekend crafting with family and friends at a staycation/scrapcation. We got a 2 bedroom suite, brought our tables and craft supplies and scrapped away the hours with VERY little sleep. Even so though, I got my craft on and completed so many fun layouts. I thought I'd share this fun one with you today!

We went to the zoo on Mother's Day and they had several drums in the Monkey Exhibit for the kiddos to play with. Reese had a blast making up her own beat! So fun!

 The title is from a Phillip Phillips song I heard when he opened for Matchbox Twenty in January.

 I used a circle background from the Silhouette store, made it larger and altered it just a tad. Instead of using it as a background, I glued pattern paper to it, used foam dots to pop a pattern or sticker behind it, added embellies on top of it and placed other items inside the inner circles. I left a few open and then added journaling and details in others. I them popped it over the background pattern paper so it'd be really 3D. The title was a perfect fit for the larger circle.

I used American Crafts Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic for this collection. I'm starting to run low on it and that makes me sad.

So whattaya think?   Let me know and then go on and get crafty, y'all!