My Mind's Eye Blog

Pinspiration Friday

2013-05-17T10:00:00-04:00

We are so glad you stopped by today, it's Pinspiration Friday!

Every day, we scour the Internet for inspiring MME projects. We find your work on your blogs, through our FB page,and in online galleries. We pin the ones that inspire us most!

Then once a month we challenge our designers to use one of your creations as inspiration for a layout or card.

This month Danni ,Tina and Tonya are joining us. Here's what they came up with. Enjoy and have a lovely, creative day!

Inspiration Piece:Melissa Priest

Tonya's version:

Supplies: Boy Crazy- Word Play paper, Geared Up paper, Seeing Stars paper, Tags paper, Felt Stickers, Decorative Buttons, Decorative Tape, Decorative Brads, Sticker Accessory Sheet

Tonya says:I was really drawn to the clean and simple design of Melissa's layout. I simply decided to use her layout as a sketch and then added a few little extra details. As you can see I kept her grid of four squares. Loved the way that she had the photo just a touch bigger than the other three squares, I just placed my photo at a bit of a slant so that it coordinated with the strips at the bottom that I also placed at a bit of a slant.

Instead of the little banner piece that she placed in the upper left hand corner I used the felt rocket. For the vapor trail on the rocket I simply stitched it with my sewing machine and then embellished it with little tiny die cut stars. Just as Melissa did I cut my title out of one of the squares, I then backed my letters with glitter to make them stand out against the busy zigzag paper.

Inspiration Piece: Danielle Higginbottom-Brown

Danni's Interpretation and Thoughts:The design of this layout is so eye-catching and fun and I was instantly inspired. She is incredibly talented and there are so many details on this page while still looking very clean and beautiful.I was inspired by Danielle's design on her layout. From the circle elements, to the separating of the top and bottom panels, to the positioning of the title, it is just a fantastic design for layouts and cards alike.

I decided to interpret her layout design into a card sketch in Photoshop and love the results. This will be a go-to sketch for me in future designs, I just love the many possibilities.

I could not stop at one card with this fun design and know that you, too, will be inspired to pull out your supplies and create.

Find Your Wings & Fly: Up & Away :Paper Kit Strip (top), Big Top and Smile patterned papers, decorative brads, layered stickers, enamel dots, Alpha & Word stickers;MISC: Papertrey Ink Scallop die, Bazzill cardstock, hand stitching

On my first card, Fabulous, I chose to cut the Find Your Wings-Up and Away Paper Kit Strip to create the little quilt swatches. I love that there are strips of the patterned papers in the kit altogether right on the front panel, swoon!

After cutting the quilt swatches I layered them with enamel dots, stitches, brads, and layered stickers. The new Alpha and Word stickers in this line are so fun and I loved the fabulous sticker for the sentiment on this card.
Find Your Wings & Fly: Up & Away patterned papers: Krafty Floral, Smile, Carousel, Admit One, layered stickers, enamel dots;MISC: Papertrey Ink scallop die, Martha Stewart butterfly Punch, Bazzill cardstock

On my second card, Ticket No. 3, I chose to interpret the circle elements as butterflies. I tried to stay true to the design using an upper and lower block of patterned paper separated with scallop trim. I chose to use the beautiful enamel dots in this line as well as hand-stitches to embellish the butterflies.
Find Your Wings & Fly: Up & Away patterned papers: Carousel, Be Awesome, Smile, Admit One and Krafty Floral, decorative brads, enamel dots, Alpha & Word stickers;MISC: Papertrey Ink scallop die, Bazzill cardstock, hand-stitching

On my last card, I chose to be a little more liberal with my interpretation, only creating 3 circle elements in a row. I wanted to create a card to layer the cute Admit One ticket paper in this line. The flowers were cut with my Cameo and then I layered them on tickets. I layered the tickets with scallops, leaves, and enamel dots.

All three of these cards were completely inspired by an incredibly designed layout. The next time you like the design of a layout, try sketching out the elements that inspire you and use them to design a card or two after your layout.

Thank you so much Danielle for the amazing inspiration!

Inspiration Piece: Missy Whidden

Tina's version:

Supplies:Boy Crazy:Mechanical paper, Geared Up paper,Diamonds paper,Point the Way paper, 6x6 Paper Pads,Decorative Tape,Felt Stickers,Sticker Accessory Sheet,Chipboard Elements,Decorative Buttons;Misc:Paperclip: Office Max,Die Cut Machine: Silhouette Cameo,Adhesive: Tombow (tape runner), Scrapbook Adhesives (foam tape)

I loved this layout by Missy Whidden. I loved the fun colors, the great photo, and especially the Sunburst design element.

I really wanted to take the sunburst design element and expand on the idea for my layout. I started by cutting a large Sunburst shape with my Cameo and adhering it to my background. Next, using a diagonal design 6x6 paper sheet, I placed the paper with the diagonals going in the same direction as the Sunburst shape. Lastly, I digitally cut a smaller Sunburst shape and placed it on top of the diagonal paper. With these 3 elements, I created movement on the page to create an overall Sunburst design.

Thank you Missy for your fabulous inspiration! We look forward to seeing you in the MME Inspiring Pages and Cards board again!

Spring+Kate and Co with Tonya

2013-05-16T10:30:17-04:00

Supplies: Kate & Co- Cambridge Court: Chevron Paper, Stripes Paper, 6x6 Designer Paper Pad, Decorative Tape, Decorative Stamps, Decorative Brads, Enamel Dots, Chipboard Elements, Sticker Accessory Sheet

Tonya says:Kate & Co. Cambridge Court is such a fun collection. It really has a modern vintage feel to it with stripes polka dots, florals and gingham. I couldn't wait to use that ornate pink frame on the sheet of chipboard elements and thought it would be the perfect way to help frame my photos in this layout.

I picked some of my favorite pieces of paper from the 6x6 pad and paper pieced some strips around my photos and then hand stitched them together.

I have a feeling that stamp is going to get a lot of use from me, it is so versatile! I dressed it up just a smidge by using a glitter pen to color in that border area. There are many beautiful floral papers that to me just say "spring" so this layout came together so easily!

May Sketch Challenge!

2013-05-15T10:00:00-04:00

Hey everyone! Ronda here with your May sketch.

This fun sketch can be used for a layout or cards. Start off with scattering scraps or tiny shapes in the background and then stitch some lines both vertically and horizontally. Frame your photo, object, or saying on a piece of patterned paper to ground it. Add the title to the bottom right of the photo and then journal around the outer edged of the page.

Supplies: Find Your Wings and Fly-Sky’s the Limit :Layered Ephemera Paper; Find Your Wings and Fly-Up & Away: Be Awesome Paper, Krafty Floral Paper, Admit One Paper, Mixed Media Paper, Quatrefoil Paper, Sticker Accessories, Enamel Dots, Alpha/Word Stickers; Misc: black pen, vintage thread, American Crafts Thickers, Maya Road Spray ink, Liquitex Gel Medium

I was so anxious to play with the new lines of Find Your Wings and Fly that I had to use bits & pieces on my background. I started off with cutting out the tickets found on the Admit One paper. I placed them on the nice neutral background from the Sky’s the Limit Layered Ephemera Paper. I love how compatible these lines are to use.

After placing the papers around the page, I added stickers to fill in the gaps. I then stitched three vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines. I then sprinkled some spray ink over the papers and the background.

I added some matte medium onto the page and placed my vintage thread on top of the patterned paper. I love leaving it loopy.

You can stitch through the stickers too! I added the enamel dots to complete the page and to add pops of color. Lastly I journaled around the edge of the page, telling my story.

This month I asked Danni to join me in the sketch challenge. I thought it would be fun to show all of you how to easily translate the sketch to a card!

Here's what Danni came up with. Enjoy...can't wait to see what YOU do!

Danni says:I chose to create my cards with the new Kate & Co. Oxford Lane line of papers and embellies, and it was so fun to play with different interpretations of the sketch.

Supplies: Kate & Co.-Oxford Lane: patterned papers: Floral Burst, chipboard, stickers, designer tape, layered stickers and enamel dots;Misc: Papertrey Ink tag die, Bazzill cardstock

On my first card, So Much Fun with You , I was excited to play with the chipboard glasses and mustache. These are so cute and so much fun and this sketch proved perfect to pair the two together.

Supplies: Kate & Co.-Oxford Lane: atterned papers: Handsome, 6 x 6 patterned paper pad, stickers, enamel dots;Misc: Cuttlebug Dry-Embossing, Stitching, Bazzill cardstock

On my second card, Hello, I dry-embossed the background, stitched the lines as shown in her sketch and used these cute stickers as my focals.

Supplies: Kate & Co-Oxford Lane: patterned papers: Polka, 6 x 6 patterned paper pad, stickers, decorative brads, chipboard, enamel dots;Misc: butterfly punch, Bazzill cardstock

On my last card, Oh So Sweet on You, I chose to use the pinstripe patterned paper and cute a block for the focal with enamel dots and brads for the scattered blocks.

Please share your sketch via the InLinkz tool below. One entry per person, please.

A random winner will be chosen and shared with our next challenge on Monday, June 3. You have until the end of the day on Sunday, June 2 to share your project.

The winner will win the collection of their choice.