Unordinary Happiness

Happy Birthday!

2010-02-13T09:36:00.002-05:00

It's February 13th, so...Happy Birthday To Me!! I celebrated with my family last night and my mom got this cute picture of me and my fiance! My mom surprised me with a new 12 x 12 We R Memory Keepers album as well as the crop-a-dile big bite! I was really jazzed about my new supplies! Hope everyone has a great day, I can't wait to post all my new layouts!

Tear Bear Mini Album

2010-02-02T20:05:00.002-05:00

So...even though I find Tear Bears to be a little strange and odd, scrapbookers all around are always wanting to learn how to make them. When I was at scrapbook mania, we made these creatures all the time. I have to admit that after I made one, I would look back and say "aww, it looks so cute" but after a few days I wouldn't look at it again.

I find this album very cute because of the paper and embellishments used! hope you enjoy!

Solid Cardstock Layout

2010-01-30T21:57:00.004-05:00

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever, and sure enough, it's been almost 20 days!! I got a jump of inspiration last night after a delicious dinner when I watched Julie and Julia with my fiance. So in order to keep up with my crafting blog, I have decided to post my favorite layouts without worrying about judgement. This layout below was created entirely out of solid cardstock with a "Katie" twist.

I choose the color pallet of dark brown, light pink, and earthy green. I usually love using brown with just one color, but I decided to take a risk and try using 3 solid colors to spice it up a bit! I used Bazzill bling (sugar daddy), COREdinations white wash, Bazzill embossed, and the Bazzill die-cut tag cardstocks.

My first favorite element in this layout is the use of various cardstocks together. I layered Bazzill embossed with rounded corners on top of Bazzill bling (sugar daddy) then tore two strips of COREdinations white wash green. These strips added dimenstion to the layout and helped tie in the white wash style. The letters (LOVE) were also made from COREdinations white wash light pink, on a simple accucut machine. My second favorite element in this layout is the use of the ribbons and flowers. I think I brought the colors together in the use of the embellishments. I used pink, green, brown, and ivory (chalked pink) flowers. I used three bunches of flowers throughout this layout. I also used pink, green, and brown buttons to bring the colors together.

Hope you enjoy this idea of using only cardstock for a layout.

Project 365 Cover Page

2010-01-10T22:08:00.004-05:00

This is the cover page of my Project 365 album. I am going to use a 12x12 We R Memory Keepers album with We R Memory Keepers page protectors. The page protectors have 6, 4x6 slots. By using these I will be making the project easier for myself because I won't have to make full 12x12 layouts. I will also be cutting down on the amout of paper I will be using, and also cutting the total cost. I am so excited to start scrapping my pictures!

Products used: We R Memory Keepers page protectors, fancy pants designs pattern paper, bazzill buttons and ribbons, and glue dotts.

Altered Canvases

2010-01-09T11:05:00.003-05:00

As being a member of the Design Team at a scrapbooking store, we always entered art fairs in our community. At the fairs we sold mini albums, pre-made pages, DIY kits, wooden frames, and other home decor including altered cancases. These were one of my favorite things to make.

The canvase above is a 13.5 x 6, perfect for displaying a few images in a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. I used American Crafts (blue Skies) pattern paper, bazzill cardstock, KaiserCraft olive paint, American Crafts Thickers, and American Crafts ribbon.

Steps to create

1. Paint all sides and 1 inch around on the face of the canvase. If you covered the whole canvase with paper, eventually, the paper will begin to peal at the edges making the canvase look worn and old.

2. After the pain dries, use one pattern paper as the background, cut paper to 13x5.5, to show the paint on the face of the canvase.

3. Cut 4 strips of pattern paper of various sizes, place two vertical on the canvase, and two horizontal.

4. Cut cardstock for your photo's. I used a double mat to make the images pop more and to add some white space to take away from the various patterns a bit.

5. Mat your title on cardstock as well for the same reason. By matting your title, it will make the title pop and others will really be able to see what the title is.

6. Add ribbons and buttons in various places. Other embellishments can also be used such as, 3D stickers, rhinstones, flowers, etc.

Hope you enjoy this canvase. The above directions can be altered to fit a canvase of even frame of your choice!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-02T00:00:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year Scraps!!

For 2010, I decided to take up a huge challenge and participate in Project 365, or as others call it, Project Life! I've heard of this project a few years ago but never had the courage to begin it, but this year is different. The above picture is the first picture for this project, my soon-to-be brother-in-law took the first picture today at a motorcycle show I went to with him and my fiance.
Please let me know if you have any tips or suggestions for this big challenge!!

New: Display-it-all

2009-12-29T22:02:00.005-05:00

I just found a new tool that I just have to HAVE! I create mini books often for gifts and for myself, but find that I have no possible way to display my creations! While on the Zutter site, I found the new Display-it-all! As you can see from the pictures, you are able to display your mini books for your friends to see. It really makes all the work, time, and creativity worthwhile by being able to display your work. I can't wait to pick one up for myself...and maybe one for others too!!

A Year In A Mini Album

2009-12-29T10:10:00.005-05:00

I made this mini album for my fiance for our 2 year anniversary. Instead of adding on to a 81/2 x 11 album, I thought a mini book would be nice for a change. This book is my original design, I cut the acrylic so each page was 1 inch longer than the previous, except for the cover. Each page represented one month in our previous year together. I chose my favorite picture from each month, then found a way to journal on the page.

I love this album because I was able to capture our second year together in a more creative and cute way. This album was also very embellished, maybe over-embellished with flowers, buttons, and ribbon. The embellishments made the album look like a true "scrap" book. The edges of the acrylic were also outlined with white paint to add something to the outside, plain acrylic. This mini album was fun to create and even more fun to give to my fiance.

Products used in this mini album include: Bazzill Cardstock, KaiserCraft pattern paper (Hideaway line), buttons of various colors and sizes, Bazzill Ribbon of various colors, KaiserCraft white paint, white pen, KaiserCraft flowers of various colors, and acrylic.

Christmas Cards

2009-12-28T21:48:00.007-05:00

Every year I help my mom and future mother-in-law create their Christmas cards. Although these cards are very simple compared to my other work, I like them because of this. When making multiples of one card, I find that I use a simple design because I am making so many.

To make these cards, I used all bazzill cardstock, a round-it-all tool by zutter, buttons of various sizes (red, green, or gold), a zig writer, and glue dots. I also used an accucut die cut machine with a cursive font die-cut. The hook for the ornament (the "o" in the word "joy") was hand drawn.

My favorite part of doing this project was using my new favorite tool, the round-it-all by Zutter. It's a hand-held corner rounder and is very easy and fun to use. This tool can also cut through fabric, chipboard, and acrylic. It's definitely one of my favorites!

Hope you like the idea!

Welcome

2009-12-28T17:27:00.000-05:00

Greetings Scraps!!!!
My name is Katie and this is my first blog. I was previously employed at a scrapbook store in Canton, Michigan and unfortunately due to the economy, the store closed. In order to keep up with the scrapbooking world, I decided to start blogging and feature project ideas for beginner and expert scrapbookers. While working at the store, I was able to work with new and upcoming products including electronic machines, papers, adhesives, stickers, etc., as well as build relationships with people who share the same passion as I do!

On the personal side, I am 23 years old and reside near Detroit, Michigan. I currently gained my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan and recently started working in a grant-funded, after school program teaching elementary school students how to scrapbook. I also got engaged to who I believe is the most caring individual I've ever met this past June in Mackinac Island, Michigan.