Family Time

The Echo Park collection Life Is Good is filled with fantastic colour combination of pinks and blues and browns.  I knew the other girls would be pulling the pinks out of this collection, and I wanted to use some winter photos so I pulled out the blue and brown from this collection.

Hexagons are very popular right now, and this sketch lended itself very well to using that instead of squares as was on the sketch.

 

The Theme this month was to use distressing on your layout, I did that in several formats, I distressed the edges of my paper with the Prima Comfort tool by roughing up the edges.  I also used the same tool's wire brush to distress the largest photo.  I used distress ink for the hexagon images in the background.  I used some Core'dinations paper and a sanding block in the center of the layout (blue). And finally I inked the edges of all the little hexagons and some WheatFields glimmer mist on the date.

I used several photos from the same day on this layout.  I apologize for the quality of these photos, as I had an unfortunately life changing event, my mother passed away on October 25th, luckily I was done my layout, however I left my husband in charge of taking some photos.  If you would like to see this layout in person it is on display at Auntie Em's.

I do hope you enjoyed this month's DT creations, it was fantastic to see how each of the girls took this sketch to a different level.  You too can play along for a fantastic prize simply by bringing your layout based on this sketch into Auntie Em's.  Remember that your materials for this project entry must have been bought at Auntie Em's to qualify.

Nat Noted - Nov. 26/12

Things are so quiet online. I blame the turkey slumber in the U.S., Black Friday and Cyber Monday! I did manage to find three online projects that I had to share with you.

1. I don't think I'm totally ready for snow so I really like this card made with the very summery Basic Grey collection Soleil. 

Photo credit: Joy Taylor (Basic Grey)

2. I love this idea for storing washi tape! (ps: they're vintage wood candle holders)

Photo credit: Roben-Marie Smith (Every Life Has a Story)

3. Check out this cool cuff bracelet made with Dylusions!

Photo credit: Kaz Hall (The Little Shabby Shed)



Have a great week!



That 70s Show

I really like Echo Park!  This month we use the Life is Good collection.  This pattern fit really well with the 70s feel of the picture that I've been wanting to scrap for some time.  I actually followed this month's PageMaps pretty closely.  I did however forget to leave room for my title...

This month's challenge was distressing, a technique I rarely use, but worked well for this month's layout.  I used Versa Color in brown around the circles and around my photo mat (but I forgot to put in on my vertical pattern band and should have put some on the light coloured flowers).

I added the large flowers, simply because I could!  I have a hard time using flowers on layouts that feature my son.  I know I can, people do it all the time and I like it, but it never looks right when I do it.  Perhaps that should be a future personal challenge for me... (not likely!!)

Nat Noted - Nov. 19/12

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Unless, you're in the U.S., then you're planning for Thanksgiving!   ;-)

The blogosphere is filled with thankful layouts and cards and banners and place holders, but I did manage to find five projets you will love!!

1. Up first is this stunning bottle cap advent calendar from Maya Road. 

Photo credit: Jen Chesnick (Maya Road)

2. Evgenia Petzer just joined Bo Bunny's design team. I love this card she made using the Love Letters collection. Can't to see what else she creates!

Photo caption: Evgenia Petzer (Bo Bunny)

3. Love this Christmas diorama that Jen Chesnick made using LYB's Once Upon a Christmas collection.

Photo credit: Jen Chesnick (Say Chez)

 4. Lilith Eckles is fast becoming my favourite designer and this layout provides a good distraction from the Thanksgiving and Christmas projects. ;-) That combination of grey and yellow is amazing. I also love the layering on this layout.

Photo credit: Lilith Eckles

5. I love coffee and bought a super cute coffee cup mini-album so I can document my love of java. So you can imagine how excited I was to see this amazing art journal page. So many great ideas here!

Photo credit: Lynn (Scrappy Happy Mom)

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Copic Techniques class ~Sepia~ Nov 24, 2012

Join Lorena on Saturday November 24th for a Copic Techniques class featuring "Sepia" colouring using the E40's series of markers.

Enjoy the look of sepia coloured images by using your copic markers. This unique approach is easier than it looks, you will be impressed with your results. You will have 5 images to colour and practice.

As always you will receive a techniques instruction sheet for your notes. Please contact the store to reserve your seat in the class and your markers, today!

Class cost is $20 (markers not included) or $70 with all your markers included! Plus HST.

Colours required:

E40 Brick White

E41 Pearl White

E42 Sand White

E43 Dull Ivory

E44 Clay

E47 Dark Brown

E49 Dark Bark

I will also be running a Copic BASICS class the same date, if you are interested in learning the basics contact Auntie Em's Scrapbooking to reserve your spot!

Nat Noted Supersized - Nov. 12/12

My life got in the way of blogging, but I'm baaaack. ;-)

For me November is all about Movember. So far, the moustaches on the dudes around me are barely visible, but I'm sure the entertainment value will grow. You can donate here to help save the other half of the species.

I am also gearing up for Christmas, of course, and even started making Christmas cards. Let the countdown begin!

1. Love this Christmas card by Andrea Budjack. 



Photo credit: Andrea Budjack (Creative Paper Trail)

2. Here's another Christmas card by Lea L. She used PURLPLE and Prima's Firefly collection! Genius!!

Photo credit: Lea L. (Lea's Cupcakes and Sunshine)









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

3. You may know that I am a big fan of Cari Fennell from Prima. She designed this beautiful card with Prima's North Country collection. Wouldn't you love to get this card? (No pressure, Cari...)

Photo credit: Cari Fennell (Prima)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. I was too young to really enjoy the '70s (and that may be a good thing), but just old enough to remember all the good parts (like the funky guitar, The Jackson 5, and the gold lamé). This may explain why I am so attracted to Heidi Swapp's disco hearts. So cute!

Photo credit: Heidi Swapp

 

 

 

5. Irene Tan aka Scrapperlicious made this awesome bracelet using Bo Bunny's Serenity collection.

Photo credit: Irene Tan (Scrapperlicious)



 

 

6. Love Nora's tealights decorated with washi tape!

Photo credit: Nora (Just Make Stuff)

7. Lilith Eckles used dark colours (and a great combination of colours) on this layout, but still managed to make it look delicate. Can you tell those splashes were made with a stamp?

Photo credit: Lilith Eckles (Lilith's scrapbooking venture)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. I think this 7 Gypsies tray would be a great gift to give to the men in our lives and all those non-crafty types who don't always appreciate all those artistic touches we lovingly apply to our projects. 

Photo caption: Angie Gutshall (My Little Blessings)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. I love how JJ Sobey used burlap from Canvas Corp as her background combined with stamping, Authentique paper and tons of great layering. 

Photo credit: JJ Sobey (One Good Thing)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Noell Hyman from Paperclipping has a great post on using the paper you have. If you have the mountains of paper collections I do, you know how important it is to use what you have. And before CHA Winter 2013 comes around! ;-) I love this tip of altering your background paper.

Photo credit: Noell Hyman (Paperclipping)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Tim Holtz announced that his seasonal colours are now available in Distress Stains. Awsome news!

Photo credit: Tim Holtz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. These words "Hello Kitty scrapbooking products" made my heart race a little. Check out this amazing Hello Kitty date stamp!!!

Photo credit: Melissa Stinson (The Scrappy Jedi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Becky Higgins posted 10 photo ideas from her childhood. I especially like her suggestion about photographing breakfast.

 

14. Pantone chose this colour, Tangerine Tango, has the 2012 Color of the Year. I love it, but I feel a little guilty because I should have used this colour more. Well, 2012 ain't over yet and this colour is very delicious.

 

15. Beautiful. Simple. Well stated.

Photo credit: Shari Carroll (Basic Grey)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you have a beautiful week!

I love your laugh



I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love Echo Park! I think their themes work really well with the type of scrapbooking that I do. This month the design team used the Life is Good collection. Usually, I have trouble using pinks when creating layouts featuring my little guy Sam. Not with this collection!

 

 

The November sketch of the PageMaps calendar was right up my alley. I use vertical bands all the time. That being said, the technique this month, aka distressing, is not my typical first choice. But I'm game to step out of my comfort zone from time to time!

 

The first distressing technique I used was Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint in clear. I used the crackle paint on the small squares and the vertical band.

 

 

Before putting the crackle paint on the vertical band, I used the flower chipboard pieces and sand paper to distress the paper. I also distressed the edges of the paper by using an edge distresser and using Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick.

 

 

The last distressing technique I used was to distress the edges of my photos by using a file.

 

 

In other non-distressing techniques: I spray the chipboard flowers and created my own small flowers using paper and a punch.

 



 

 

I said at the beginning of this blog post that I love Echo Park. Well, I love my kid and his laugh even more (obviously!). I took these pictures of Sam laughing in our backyard on a beautiful spring day. Now that the weather has taken a turn for the chilly, it's nice to be reminded how wonderful spring is and that it will be back...eventually!


Happy scrappin'!

Life is Good - Your Design Team's November Sketch Challenge

The cool weather is now upon us, so it's a great time to get some crafting done! This month, your Auntie Em's design team used the Life is Good collection by Echo Park and our layouts feature distressing techniques.

Lorena's take:

Nancy's take:

I

For the distressing I pulled out a few pages from a notebook that had a nice little bicycle image in the corner. I crinkled it and sprayed some glimmer mist on it and worked it in to give the paper an antique feel I did this twice wetting the paper as well to make it really wrinkled and blow dried it. Layered 2 of those and voila my page was complete.

Sarah's take:

I used clear Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint on all the pattern papers. I distressed the brown vertical band by using the chipboard flowers and sand paper and by distressing the edges. I also distressed the edges of my photos by using a file.

Stephanie's take:

I used brown VersaMark ink on my pattern circles and photo mat, and used a photo from Instagram that had a distressed grainy look to it.  


You too can submit your PageMaps calendar November layout for a chance to win a prize from Auntie Em's Scrapbooking. All you need to do is create a layout based on the sketch using distressing techniques with product purchased from Auntie Em's.  So, bring your layout into the store!