All the Essentials at My Fingertips

Oh my goodness! Have you SEEN the new American Crafts Desktop Essentials collection??? Clipboards, designers prints, pencils, adhesive, ribbon, fun little erasers, clothespins, and even more fabulous goodies.  

I have so many ideas for this new line but for today's post, I went with something a little more functional in my day to day life. Of course, now I need more of these babies for things I want to do in my bathroom, my kids’ rooms, my craft room. Sigh…

I’ve been on-the-go a lot this summer so I wanted to make something that would  be easy to grab and go at a moment’s notice. From the clipboard to the journals to the essentials needed to make lists, take lots of notes, and document my family’s adventures, this has everything I need bundled as one.

How to:

1. Select your favorite designer print, paper, journals, books, mini albums, etc. and stack them all together on your favorite Desktop Essentials clipboard. 
2. Select coordinating ribbon and 1 1/2 - 2" wide elastic. 
3. Wrap the elastic around the books and clipboard nice and tight. Subtract approximately 1 - 2" and cut the elastic.  Wrap it around again to make sure it will be nice and secure when stitched together. If it's too loose, the books will slide right out.
4. Stitch the ends together from the inside so you don't see the seam.
5. Measure your ribbon while the elastic is stretched to determine how much ribbon to use.  I wanted to see the gold elastic on each side so I cut mine shorter.  
6. Stitch the ribbon to the stretched band.  I did this by putting the elastic back on the clipboard over the books and marking each side where I wanted the ribbon to end.
7. Tip: it will look loose when you are stitching it because the elastic won't be stretched out.
8. Next, add stitching for pens, erasers, etc.
9. Once you have stitched the ribbon to the elastic band and created your spots to hold the items, wrap it around your books and/or journals.
10. Secure all the elements together on the clipboard and in your custom band.

I want to be able to journal, I want to scrap in the 52 week journal, and I want to have items for my kids to draw on so I included glue, scissors, pens and pencils, funky erasers, even confetti!

You can add additional embellishments to the clipboard to customize it even more to your liking. Now I have everything I need, along with my portable printer for all my on-the-go documenting needs.

Supplies: Desktop Essentials collection:  (340007) foil and printed erasers, (340009) boxed erasers, (340020) 7x10 journal, (340263) double-sided super sticky red tape – ¼ in, (340264) double-sided super sticky red tape – ½ in, (340268) 2-way glue pen, (340276) sticky dots 0.5 in raised, (340282) splat mat, (340440-1) premium ribbon .375in x 4 yd., (340445-1) premium ribbon .625in x 4 yd., (340454-1) premium ribbon 1.5in x 3 yd., (340532) washi tape, (370795) designer prints, (370800) craft scissors (gold), (370807) gold and mint clipboard, (370818) patterned clothespins, (370824) jumbo hearts paper clips, (370836) pattern pencils, (370837) pattern pencils, (370838) pattern pencils; Fine & Dandy collection: (370134) – Spiral Bound 52 Week Journal, (370097) – Colorful Confetti, (370096) – Plastic Bows, (370099) – Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, (370070) – Pretty Packages Paper

But first, Coffee

Hello friends!  How do you feel about die cuts?

It was Die Cuts week on the American Crafts blog so I was quite excited because die-cuts are one of my favorite embellishments. I love that you can layer them with other elements and/or use them as standalone accents to help tell the story like I did here. The coffee cups were just calling my name and were the perfect touch for this coffee loving couple.

How to: Layer strips of paper to the top and bottom of the layout. Add a 3 x 4" photo to the top center. Hand cut the letters out of the Salted Caramel pattern paper. Sprinkle die cuts around the page and stitch around a select few of them to make them stand out a bit more.  Stitch around the photo as well.  With the large hand cut letters and die cut sentiments, the title is taken care of so the last thing to do is add journaling.

Oh my gosh, I can't wait to go back to Europe. Lucky for me, it looks like it's in the plan again later this year!

Supplies: Shimelle True Stories collection: (370704) – Grey Floral Paper, (370712) – Salted Caramel Paper, (370713) – Americano Paper, (370743) – Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, (370733) – stickers, (370734) – small sticker book, (370736) – Enamel dots, (370745) – Wood Buttons

Captured Raindrops

Howdy friends! New kits, new team, new inspiration, new hop!

How to: using white cardstock, cut various sized raindrops using your die cut machine. I cut 40+ and yes, I am insane.  Machine stitch them to another piece of white cardstock.  Tedious but so worth it IMO.  Add clouds and additional tiny raindrop stickers to the layout along with words/phrases that capture the moment.  Finish it off with photos and title and journaling (not pictured).

I created this layout using the Gossamer Blue July main kit only (pictured below).

July Main Kit

The Life Pages and add-on kits are simply incredible!

July Life Pages Kit

July Life Pages Main Add-On

July Bits & Pieces

July Add-On Kit #2

Your next "stop on the hop" is Jill Keller. She is sure to wow you with her creativity!

The World is Your Playground

This is a personal blog. All editorial content and projects are intellectual property of Heather Leopard. I do receive financial compensation and material product from American Crafts to develop my craft posts, but all ideas and opinions are my own.

One of my most favorite things to use on my layouts are shapes and circles are soo fun to work with so when Paige asked me to create a layout using circles for the American Crafts blog, I decided to GO BIG! Big circles, circular title…it was FUN!

 How to:

1. If you have a Silhouette, you can download the layered circles cut file for free HERE. If you don't, simply cut three large circles and overlap them. Cut smaller pointed ovals to cover the sections of the circles where they overlap.  
2. Stitch them all together with your sewing machine or by hand if you prefer. 
3. Add a few mist splatters.
4. Add your photo to the bottom right of your page, adding layers of pattern paper, overlays, tags, stickers, etc.  
5. Stamp the date on the photo tab sticker. 
6. Next add your title along the edge of the middle circle.  TIP: adhere alpha letters starting at the end of the title so you don't run out of room when you get to the photo. That way, you don't have to worry about lifting them up and potentially tearing my paper. I started with the "D" in playground and worked my way backwards.  
7. Add journaling to the tag 
8. Finished the layout by adding enamel shapes (mostly circles of course) to the page.

Supplies: Shimelle True Stories collection: (370710) – Cappuccino Paper, (370722) – Cinnamon Roll Paper, (370736) – Enamel dots, (370737) – stamp and notepad, (370742) – photo overlays, (370743) – Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, (370745) – Wood Buttons, (370729) – Hipster Printed Chipboard Letter Stickers, Rise & Shine collection: (370028) – Alyx Printed Foil Letter Stickers

The World is a Better Place with You in it

Howdy howdy everyone!  The Gossamer Blue July kits are Ah-mazing!  Pink Paislee, Crate Paper and American Crafts travel goodies give you exactly what you need for both travel themed and non-travel projects.  The July gallery is open and there is some amazing inspiration over there. Here's a page I made using leftovers from the kit.

How to: Cut the out of white cardstock. Back each letter and cut out with pattern paper and stitch it to a 2nd piece of white cardstock.  Add your photo and embellishments and journaling.  I added my journaling between my photo and bottom of the globe after I took this photo. Add mist and additional embellishments.

How cute is this bubble shaped like a heart??? And the pearls over a maxi skirt worn as a dress?  Thsi girl....