Make It Sunday

Hey everyone!

Today I am on the Elle's Studio blog with my layout for Make It Sunday. (For those unfamiliar with Make It Sunday, past design team members of Elle's Studio have taken over the blog on Sundays to share a layout we have created.)

And as an added bonus, the layout that I created shares some sneak peeks of the new summer themed tags being released this week. You're gonna love them!!

Summer Vacation

For a fun little tip on layering tags with other embellishments, make sure to visit the Elle's Studio blog for the full post.

Happy Sunday and Happy Memorial Day to all my US friends. :-)

Be back soon -
Steph :-)

Happy New Year & A Layout

Happy New Year everyone!!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday and got to relax a little. We had a really nice holiday break that involved lot's of pyjamas! :-) It was really hard to have to get up and dressed for work today. But I have to admit that getting back onto schedule is always nice.
I love the start of a new year - I am so looking forward to seeing what 2012 has in store!!

I created a layout the other day to hold some of the holiday cards that I received this year from friends and family. Opening the mailbox everyday and receiving those handmade cards is one of my favourite things about the holidays. And a layout with a pocket is the perfect place to store them and keep them safe. I am thinking I might create an album specifically for the holiday cards we receive because the pages end up pretty bulky once you stuff all those cards in the envelope. And I usually need extra space to store them since they don't usually all fit on one layout.

Anyway, here is the finished page for this year:

December 2011 Christmas Cards

I used a KI Memories calendar page and pocket to create the page and then added odds and ends from my Christmas supplies. I cut squares to fit into the calendar part at the top out of My Mind's Eye and Echo Park patterned paper and embellished them with Elle's Studio tags and Jillibean Soup & Echo Park stickers. I also added an Elle's Studio tag to the envelope stamped with Ali Edwards / Technique Tuesday stamps.
The envelope is pretty stuffed with cards so I added some Tim Holtz clips to the sides to help hold it closed.

I hope everyone is enjoying their start to the new year -
Be back soon!

Steph :-)

Elle's Studio December Gallery & Other Randoms

Hi!!
Can you say complete blog slacker?!?!
I knew it would happen...in December it always does. Life is just so crazy busy with work, home, kids and preparing for and enjoying the holidays.
And I openly admit that I am currently a December Daily failure - I have photos and notes and memories all tucked into the album, but nothing has actually made it into the pages. And I am completely OK with that. I was hoping to assemble the pages each night or at least every couple nights but it just didn't turn out that way.
My plan now is to just keep saving the memories and maybe put the album together in the new year. And if that doesn't happen then I will just create a few layouts, save the foundation album for next year and call it a day!! :-)

In other news:

Today the Elle's Studio gallery went live for December. Yes it is earlier than usual to allow for the holidays. And this month the design team worked with the special edition kits that Elle's Studio released last month. I worked with the Jack Frost kit and created a layout and a card:

Snow Day

 

Winter Wonderland

 

And I am sad to say that this was my last gallery contribution for Elle's Studio. December marks the end of our 6 month design team term. I am so sad to be leaving as I have really enjoyed working with Elle and the other girls. Elle is seriously one of the nicest most generous people I know. I can't thank her enough for welcoming me to the team.

Be back soon!
Happy Friday Eve!

Steph :-)

December Daily: Foundation Pages

I figured since tomorrow is December 1st (where did November go?!?!) I should share the foundation pages of my December Daily album before I start filling it up. (I apologize for the long post!)
For more information about December Daily and what it is, check out this post here by the amazingly talented Ali Edwards.

I loved a lot of things that people did with their albums last year, so I saved some of my favourite ideas so I could incorporate them into my album this year. :-)

For the actual album, I am using a We R Memory Keepers brown leather album. I picked it up at Archivers when I was in Ohio a couple of months ago and tucked it away until it was time to start the album. :-) I love love this album. I want to replace all of my albums with these in the 12 x 12 size as well as more of the 8.5 x 11 ones. So classy and well made. :-)

For my page protectors I am using one of my favourite ideas from an album last year... Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology Album refills like Nichol used in her album. (a huge thank you to Nichol for always being such an amazing inspiration!!) I immediately fell in love with all the fun sizes and knew I wanted to do the same for my album. I have been hanging onto these page protectors just waiting for December to get here! :-) In addition to those page protectors, I am also using We R Memory Keepers full 8.5 x 11 page protectors and the 3 pocket ones as pictured in the photos below. I really love the fun mix of all the different sizes together.

For papers and embellishments I am using a whole mix of stuff. Lots of patterned papers from Jillibean Soup, My Mind's Eye, Echo Park Paper, and Making Memories. The numbers for each day as well as a lot of fun tags are from Elle's Studio. And lot's of Technique Tuesday Ali Edwards stamps will be incorporated throughout.

So the photos below show my foundation pages. Definitely going to be adding lots of fun touches as I go and may move them around a bit depending on how much space each day needs.

So excited to start working on this tomorrow. I am so into the holidays this year and I am really looking forward to the memories that will be made over the next few weeks! I hope to share completed pages a couple times throughout the weeks ahead!!
Looking forward to seeing everyone's albums as we progress through December - let the holidays begin!!

Steph :-)

Elle's Studio November Inspiration Gallery

Hey everyone!

Today the November Inspiration gallery went live at Elle's Studio so I wanted to share the projects I created this month. I did a layout and a card both Christmas themed. I love love love the new holiday tags that Elle designed this year! So perfect for holiday projects and cards and layouts. Oh and great for December Daily albums too!

Christmas Tradition Layout

Merry Christmas Card

And as always don't forget to check out the full design team gallery here, including some great projects from November guest designer Nichol Magouirk.

In other crafty news, I finally completed my foundation pages in my December Daily album tonight. So excited for the holidays and to document our family memories in December. :-) 

I'm hoping to share my foundation pages on my blog next week as long as I get a chance to photograph it this weekend.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Steph :-)

Elle's Studio October Inspiration Gallery

Today is the 22nd which means the Elle's Studio Inspiration Gallery went live today. Every month the design team and guest designer amaze me with what they create using Elle's tags. And this month's guest is Jennifer McGuire and her cards are so awesome! This months projects include a card, a layout about my niece and a layout about my dad and Ryan:

Welcome Baby

Elle's Studio Product Used: Pieces of Life Note Tags, Forever Grateful Project Kit, Vintage Note Journaling Circle Tags (used to cut out the butterflies)
Other Products Used: Studio Calico 'Mind The Gap' kit


Day At The Beach

Elle's Studio Product Used: Handmade Layers Notes Tags, Handmade Layer Circle Tags, Handmade Layers Tiny Tags
Other Product Used: Studio Calico 'Boardwalk' Kit


Thank You

Elle's Studio Product Used: Lil' Snippets: Thank You, Summer Memories Journaling Circle Tags
Other Product Used: Studio Calico 'Field Guide' Kit

Don't forget to check out the rest of the October Inspiration Gallery here.

We're off to the pumpkin patch today. One of our favourite family activities every year. I love the sites and sounds and of course the pumpkin donuts ;-) ;-) Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

And make sure to join me next week here on the blog for a Technique Tuesday / Ali Edwards Inspiration week. Lot's of projects featuring the awesome stamps that they create together. And of course we'll end the week with a giveaway!!
See you then!

Steph :-)

Elle's Studio - Sketch Thursday

I played along with the sketch this week on the Elle's Studio blog. The challenge was to work with this sketch based off of Susan Weinroth's layout from the October gallery:

I created a layout of Caitlyn from her school play last year. The photos aren't the greatest due to horrible lighting in the school, but it was important to me that it be included in her album. She loves participating in the school play and she is soooo good at it. So proud of her every year she does it! :-) Anyways, this is the layout I created:

I kept the basic design of the sketch and just changed out some of the elements. You can see a full supply list at the Elle's Studio blog here.

And make sure to check out the rest of Susan's gallery here. She is the guest designer for October and her projects are amazing as always!! :-)

Steph :-)

Elle's Studio September Inspiration Gallery!!

The September Inspiration Gallery at Elle's Studio went live today and I wanted to share the projects I made for this month. I had a lot of fun with the tags as always and love how easy they are to incorporate into my projects!

Fishing In Style

Elle's Studio Product Used: Lil' Snippets: Beach, Everyday Tiny Tags, Everyday Journaling Circle Tags, Summer Memories Circle Tags
Other Products Used: Studio Calico 'Glee Club' Kit


Sweet Dreams

Elle's Studio Product Used: Handmade Layers Pennants - Inspiring, Handmade Layer Circle Tags, Handmade Layers Tiny Tags

Other Products Used: Studio Calico 'Paper Moon' Kit

Hello Friend

Elle's Studio Product Used: Lil' Snippets: Summer, Handmade Layers Pennants - Blank

Other Products Used: Studio Calico 'Glee Club' Kit, Hero Arts Sentiment Stamp

Make sure to check out all of the rest of the projects in the September gallery. Such amazing work by the design team as always!!

Steph :-)

More Inspiration Showcase Cards

I wanted to share a couple more cards I created based on techniques Jennifer has shared in her online class Inspiration Showcase.
The first is a card that focuses on the trapped embossed resist technique. I stamped the Hero Arts large fabric stamp over a favourite piece of Authentique patterned paper and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then covered the whole piece with Faded Jeans Distress ink. Love love the look of the two blues together. This is definitely one of my favourite techniques.

I'm Always Here For You

(Supplies Used: Worldwin Papers & Neenah Cardstock, Authentique Patterned Paper, Hero Arts Flowers, Gems and Stamps (Large Fabric Design, Thank You For Being My Friend, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, American Crafts Clear Embossing Powder, Hero Hues Black Ink)

The next one actually has a piece with the same trapped embossed resist paper from the first card. I didn't get the whole image the first time I embossed it so I decided to cut the piece down and use it on another card. And I love the look of pink and blue together so this card worked perfectly for it.

Hello

Aside from the embossed piece, this card also features a rosette I created with a Tim Holtz die. I added Tim Holtz decorative tape to the rosette for added interest as Jen did in class and inked the edges with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. I then diecut the butterfly from Hero Arts paper and adhered it all on a card base also covered with Hero Arts patterned layering paper (the rosette was made with the Hero Arts paper as well).
The colours on this are so much prettier IRL.

(Supplies Used: Neenah Cardstock, Authentique Patterned Paper, Hero Arts Patterned Paper and Stamps (Large Fabric Design, Essential Messages), Hero Hues Black Ink, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Decorative Tape and Rosette Die)

I'll be back later this week with my Elle's Studio September Inspiration Gallery projects. And speaking of Elle's Studio, did you see that they just launched their newest project kit and their newest tag release! Loved working with this kit...I should have some photos of my completed tray later this week. Once it's sold out it will be gone forever so make sure you don't miss out. The exclusive tags are so awesome!!

Steph :-)

Elle's Studio August Inspiration, Sale and Winner!!!

Hey everyone!
Today is the 22nd which means the Inspiration Gallery went live at Elle's Studio. I had a lot of fun creating my projects this month with lot's of the new tags that recently came out. Here are my projects for this month:

Toronto Zoo

Elle's Studio Product Used: Lil' Snippets: Notes, Summer Memories Journaling Circle Tags, Everyday Tiny Tags

Other Products Used: Studio Calico 'Mind The Gap' Kit

Big Fish

 

Elle's Studio Product Used: Everyday Large Journaling Tags, Lil' Snippets: Beach, Handmade Layers Circle Tags, Summer Memories Journaling Circle Tags

Other Products Used: Studio Calico 'Boardwalk' Kit

Hello Sunshine

Elle's Studio Product Used: Lil' Snippets: Summer, Lil' Snippets: Beach

Other Product Used: Studio Calico 'Mind The Gap' Kit

And if you haven't heard, Elle's Studio is closed this week as they move to a larger space to accomodate all that awesome product! But to make up for the wait on shipping, Elle is running a great sale this week:

(click here to go right to the site and shop during this great sale!)

And last but not least...I never heard back from the winner chosen for my favourite Elle's Studio product so I picked a new name at random and the winner is:

Amy

congrats on the dt ! and love your scraproom!

August 12, 2011 7:36 PM

Congrats Amy!! I'll email you the specifics on how to get your tags sent to you. Hope you enjoy them! A huge thank you to Elle and everyone at Elle's Studio for the awesome giveaways!!

Check back tomorrow for a new layout!
Steph :-)