Nat Noted - April 29/13

So many great ideas floating online this week. I was drawn to five tutorials on five amazing techniques. It looks so simple. The results are beautiful. I think I can try these! I hope you do too!

1. Kimberly Crawford posted a great tutorial for stamping with watercolour markers.

Photo credit: Kimberly Crawford (For the Love of Paper)

2. Watercolour seems to be a little trendy right now. Over on Shimelle Laine's blog, the amazing Lilith Eckles created a watercoloured look using gelatos and sprays. Very good step-by-step instructions.

Photo credit: Lilith Eckles (pretty paper.true stories)

3. Lisa Dickinson has a nice tutorial on how to add embroidery to your layout. 

Photo credit: Lisa Dickinson (Basic Grey)

4. Tina Walker from My Mind's Eye created a very cool mini-album. She used plastic bags on her pages! Although there is some ironing involved, it looks super easy to make and the end result is super beautiful.

Photo credit: Tina Walker (My Mind's Eye)

5. I am using more and more mixed media elements in my scrapbooking these days. They're so much fun to play with and you don't need to be perfect to create something beautiful. Mixed media includes gesso, modelling paste, acrylic paints, sprays and other art mediums. Prima has an excellent post on how to use some of these elements, but I suggest you try just one on your next layout. Careful! They are addictive! ;-)

Photo credit: Louise Nelson (Prima)

I hope these posts have inspired to get creative.

Have a fabulous week!


Find more scrap happiness at mamanhall.blogspot.ca or follow me on Twitter @mamanhall.

Nat Noted - April 22/13

I took three classes with the amazing Cari Fennell from Prima on Saturday. I'm totally inspired, energized and motivated to scrapbook.

It seems the blogs are full of tips and cool projects. I hope you enjoy these!

1. Over on Shimelle Laine's blog, Melissa Stinson posted five ways to use your scraps. I love this idea of creating an eclectic border.

Photo credit: Melissa Stinson (pretty paper.true stories)

2. It seems rainbows are a bit of trend in scrapbooking right now. Debbie Hodge from Get It Scrapped! posted 9 ways to incorporate this trend, including using washi tape in a rainbow of colours or adding a row of chevrons in these colours to your page. I really love this layout by Marie-Pierre Capistran because it incorporates the trend, but doesn't overpower the layout.

Photo credit: Marie-Pierre Capistran (Get It Scrapped!)

3. I'm always amazed when paper is transformed into something beautiful. Like this boat by Thienly Azim which is so wonderful!

Photo credit: Thienly Azim (mod paperie)

4. Lots of techniques on this stunning layout by Kelly Foster. I love how everything about it!

Photo credit: Kelly Foster (all the pretty things)

5. This is a great canvas by Leah Farquharson. The title, the colours and that tree -- all amazing. Plus, it makes me long for Spring!

Photo credit: Leah Farquharson (American Crafts Studio)

I can't wait to get to my craft table and I start creating something handmade and beautiful! I hope you have a wonderfully creative week.



Find more scrap happiness at mamanhall.blogspot.ca or follow me on Twitter @mamanhall.

Nat Noted - April 15/13

I feel very inspired right now. Maybe because it's Spring (even though Ottawa got 15 cm of snow on April 12th). Maybe it's because we're getting more sunshine. Maybe because I'm now using the new products released at CHA Winter 2013.

While perusing the blogosphere, I was drawn to tutorials where I got even more inspiration. These four blog posts have motivated me and make me want to play with my supplies in craft room. I hope you like them too.

1. Angie Gutshall has a tutorial on layering over on Shimelle Laine's blog. I love the look of layering, but it always looks a little complicated. I like how Angie broke it down and showed pictures of the process. Doesn't seem so complicated now, does it?

Photo credit: Angie Gutshall (pretty paper.true stories)

2. Corrie Jones is one of my favourite scrapbookers right now. I love how she made her own background for this layout using tags, badges, paints, mists and Thickers. Pretty cool!

Photo credit: Corrie Jones (You, Me & Crazy)

3. I think it's amazing how Jodi Baune transformed crepe paper into a cool embellishment. Her tutorial makes it look simple too.

Photo credit: Jodi Baune (Dancing in the Rain)

4. Again over at Shimelle Laine's blog, Meghann Andrew posted five ideas for using tags. I love this layout where Meghann used tags to replace patterned paper.

Photo credit: Meghann Andrew (pretty paper.true stories)

I hope you have a week full of inspiration and find time to make beautiful things!


Find more scrap happiness at mamanhall.blogspot.ca or follow me on Twitter @mamanhall.

Nat Noted -- April 8/13

Shhhhh...it's very quiet on the blogosphere.

There does seem to be a bit of chaos with Spring cleaning, planning for summer holidays and getting ready for National Scrapbook Day (it's May 4th and already in my calendar!). This may explain why my favourite bloggers have not posted much this week.

I did manage to find three posts to inspire you.

1. One thing you need to know about me: I love purple. When I saw this layout by the great Czekoczyna, I was immediately drawn to the colour. And look at those layers! I can't stop looking at the layering and the texture on this page. It's so beautiful!  

Photo credit: Kazia Krzyminska (Czekoczyna)

2. Irene Tan aka Scrapperlicious calls this card simple. I call it stunning! Don't you just love the dark colours?

Photo credit: Irene Tan (Scrapperlicious)

 3. Ashley Calder at Scrapbook Update has a great post on how to combine gold (which is trending now) with other colours. I love this combination of grey, light pink, dark pink and chalkboard. Very girlie and very glam! 

Photo credit: Scrapbook Update

 I hope you have a wonderful week!



Find more scrap happiness at mamanhall.blogspot.ca or follow me on Twitter @mamanhall.

Nat Noted - April 1/13

It's April Fool's Day! I hope you have a day full of laughs and fun.

I found five great blog posts that I wanted to share with you.

1. Becky Higgins posted 10 reasons to start Project Life on her blog. You'll have to scroll down in this blog to read her reasons, but if you've been thinking about this, this will push you to do it.

Photo credit: Becky Higgins 

2. White space defined by American Crafts:

White space is an important principle of design. White space is nothing. White space is the absence of text and graphics. It breaks up text and graphics. It provides visual breathing room for the eye. Add white space to make a page less cramped, confusing, or overwhelming.

Frankly, the idea of white space is confusing and overwhelming to me! ;-)

They have a whole week devoted to white space. The layouts *are* beautiful and inspiring!

Photo credit: Allison Waken (American Crafts)

3. Guest blogger Julie Kirk posted 5 ideas on how to use pages from old books on Shimelle Laine's blog. My two faves: as definition or as a background. 

Photo credit: Julie Kirk (pretty paper. true stories (and cupcakes)

4. Julia Stainton created a beautiful mini-album with tags. I've seen this idea before, but I love the colours and how Julia has layered her embellishments. Gorgeous!

Photo credit: Julia Stainton (Belle Papier)

5. Cool technique with a tutorial up on the Basic Grey blog: mix paint and water, apply to bubble wrap, and create texture on your page.  Genius! This is a must try (if I can stop myself from popping the bubble wrap....).

Photo credit: Basic Grey

 I hope you have a fabulously creative weekend.


Find more scrap happiness at mamanhall.blogspot.ca or follow me on Twitter @mamanhall.