Thankful For This Ordinary Day - a Daily Stories Layout by Leslie Ashe

hi everyone!

I'm back today to share a layout I did using the beautiful line
Daily Stories by Teresa Collins.

For my layout I did a BUNCH of fussy cutting, punched LOTS of
butterflies & added a TON of embellishments for this final outcome:

I'll admit, this one took me a little bit to do, as I was cutting along the scallops
(trying to be as perfect as I could...ha!), then distressing said edges with a
distressing tool , as well as punching several butterflies as a border to go with
the Daily Stories butterflies :D

My favorite part about this layout is adding the fun things to the butterflies.
As you see, I added sequins, wooden letters, buttons, brads...

Plus I did some fussy cutting around a couple of the word bubbles
for part of my journaling about my sweet daughter

and added banners, word stickers, gems, titles from the ephemera pack, chipboard,

wooden butterflies, wooden words, washi tape...
what's funny - this layout was SO easy to make! Just add layers upon layers,
size your photo to 5x7, print in Black & White, add layers on top of it and bam...
you have a Daily Stories creation too!

I had a BLAST with this layout. I hope you have fun using Daily Stories too!

Have a GREAT day!

Love Us - A Save The Date Layout by Leslie Ashe

good morning everyone!

I'm back today to share a "Save The Date"layout I created
with all of you:

 

For this layout, I simply printed a large collage in black and white
of a recent photo I adore of my husband and I. After printing,
I knew exactly what collection would compliment our photo - 
Save The Date!

The colors in this line, not to mention the amazing details to all
of the embellishments are eye popping - WOW!

For my layout, I started by trimming the patterned papers I 
selected (3 different ones) as my main background to the following 
sizes:  10"x10", 9"x9", and finally...8"x8" and adhering to white cardstock.

From there I:

-backed my photo using patterned paper (as a matte) & using 3D dots,
 adhered to the center of my layout.

-placed a title card from the ephemera pack (You're My End & Beginning)
 to the right side of my photo, adding the chipboard "us" and "love" 

-added sticker border strips to the bottom left of my photo
-added banners (3) from the ephemera pack and stickers to the bottom of my photo
-finally, clustering embellishments is one of my favorite things to do.
 so I decided to add wood pieces, sequins, buttons, brads, enamel dots and shape,
 stickers, to the left  side - going "up" the page. I also added more enamel shapes
 to the top right of my page. 

I hope you've enjoyed my bit of inspiration. You will adore this line by Teresa Collins.
Get yourself some and have a BALL creating!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Hello My Name Is "Lucky" - A Hello My Name Is layout by Leslie Ashe

hello again everyone!

I'm back today to share another Hello My Name Is layout with you.

For this layout I used one of the amazing transparencies Teresa designed
for the top of my photo. I absolutely LOVE these!! They are the perfect
addition! They add the cutest touch to just your everyday family photo:


I actually started my project by placing my transparency right on
top of my photo and stapling it at the top left. It was a bit larger
than my photo around the edges, but I liked some of it hanging off
-so all I did was trim around the edge a bit. Not even caring if it was
even. I just wanted a jagged, fun look.

My border is created simply by:
-trimming 3 strips 3x12 inches long
-using a decorative border punch (mine is the scallop with circle)
 punch the edge and adhere directly to your background (I used white cardstock)
-punch 6 hearts using a medium sized heart punch (this one is 1.5")
-align them down the side of the decorative border

 

the rest of my layout was completed using:
-add photo (with transparency added) to the bottom of the hearts
-add sticker sentiment directly above
-using the ephemera kit, add a flourish frame then build on top
 of it using banners, wooden pieces, stickers and letters.
-finish by journaling along the right side of your page

thanks for stopping by today!
Isn't the "Hello My Name Is" line gorgeous? You need it in your life!
Your scrapbook life...it will make your pages pop!

Have a great day!

Hello My Name is Layout by Leslie Ashe

Hello My Name Is - "This Is Me" - layout by Leslie Ashe

good morning everyone!

I hope this week finds  you well & excited to start a new project!

Today I'm here to share some inspiration with a layout I completed
using the every so lovely "Hello My Name Is" line by Teresa.

I love how she incorporated the kraft, white, deep red, gray, blacks together
to form this incredibly beautiful line.

I decided a while back
that it's time to let go of the "I have to be BEHIND the camera, not in FRONT" to
capture the memories of our daily lives.
It's time to let that go and make it a habit to make myself be part
of our family history, our scrapbooks. Not in any vain way mind you -
but so my future generation can see I was real.
Real in my thoughts, beliefs, uphill battles, challenges in life, loves,
celebrations, joys, tears, goals..etc. I could go on and on with that list...
so here I am. In front and real:
"This Is Me"

I started this layout with the hearts.
I like to hand cut a lot of my shapes. It's basically "old school".
I rarely measure - I just cut away.
but for you - I will show you how I measured (after the fact, HA!) and
created this project.

What I did was:
-fold a piece of 12x12" patterned paper in half & starting at the bottom,
  cut around in the shape of a heart (like back in school days!)
-adhere to another piece of patterned paper & cut around the first heart
  making another heart. Actually - do this twice for the "triple heart" look.
-adhere to your main background, then using a black pen,
  stitch around the edges
-lay your photo down and use part of the trim from the edge of the paper
  as a border next to your photo
-use a file folder as your journaling (private if you choose)
-adhere it next to your photo

-add a wooden embellishment to the bottom flap so you can "lift" for journaling
-add wooden embellishment to the top right and cluster with epoxy and
  cardstock stickers
-add word stickers going down the right side of your page
-layer wooden embellishments to bottom left of page (I love stacking the wooden pieces!)
-stamp "here" to another sheet of patterned paper & add just under
-final step - add the gorgeous jewels from Hello My Name Is
 as your final touch.

I hope you've enjoyed my little piece of inspiration today..
thanks for stopping by!
I can't wait to see what all YOU make using "Hello My Name Is"...

Santa Love - Santa's List by Leslie Ashe

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve everyone!

Leslie here to share a little Santa's List layout with you.

Here's My "Santa Love":

I know some people either do or don't save scraps from previous
layouts, cards, projects. I sometimes and I mean SOMETIMES do.
A few months ago while creating CHA projects for Teresa Collins,
I decided whatever scraps I had left over I'd keep and see if I'd use later 
on anything I have planned for the year.
I'm SO glad I did. 
This background is the remnants of a layout you've seen recently by me, 
only you saw the circle. This is the negative of that...and turned on the
opposite side so it looks COMPLETELY different. 
(it's red/white polka dot on the previous side)

I took some extra scraps I had cut (strips of paper, etc...)
and used them as my background matting. I layered each piece
and added some of the border strips from the Santa's List collection.

What's the most fun about my Santa Love layout (to me!) is 
I placed my photo of my husband and Santa on top of the file folder
so I could journal on the inside:

I just recently purchased that reindeer punch and was DYING to use it.
Punching from some Teresa Collins Santa's List paper really made his stand
out, don't you think?

My touches for this layout are adding the twine to some of the cardstock
buttons, sequins & bits from the die cut sheet.

Thanks for stopping by today. I know this time of the year is 
quiet busy with all the hustle and bustle of last minute Christmas 
festivities and shopping.  Enjoy every second!

When you get a chance - create and keep those scraps!
You never know when you'll need them :D

Negative 40 - You Are My Happy Layout by Leslie Ashe

Good Monday morning everyone!

Leslie here to share with you a layout I made using
one of my favorite new lines:  You Are My Happy.

I used to be so hard on myself when scrapbooking my
OWN self. Why that is? I don't know...you know that
my future generation is going to wonder things. How best to
show them by sharing things about me myself that some
people in my close knit family may not know.

I finally decided - it's time to do more of me.

Especially during this milestone accomplishment I'm quite
proud of. I've recently lost 40 lbs. I'm doing Weight Watchers
and LOVE it. I am so happy with my outcome so far.
While I have just a bit more to go, I decided now is a good
time to get that part of me on paper.

Here's what I did.

This layout was SO easy to do.
All I used as my background was cardstock and...
 border strips from You Are My Happy.

After I adhered my strips, I simply placed my photos
(one on the left is me right now, the other is of a saying
I found, saved and printed.)
onto one of the You Are My Happy file folders and
adhered directly to my  page.

I added the "hello my name is" die cut just under
and the heart tag just under that. I tied my bow using jute.

I cut a flower die cut in half and placed the top half above the
"Hello My Name Is" die cut and the last one at the bottom of my page.

another favorite thing I LOVE to do is cluster embellishments together.
You can see at the bottom right of my page I did that. I clustered my title
(a negative sign and a 4 die cut, with the xoxo die cut as my "0", a heart die cut,
some stickers, buttons and sequins)

I drew lines for my journaling and then added chipboard banners as well
as small tidbits before I wrote out my journaling - which reads:
"Down 40 lbs as of 12/13!! Yay! When I saw this quote I had to save it to use
next to my new milestone.  I have more to go, but honestly? -40 is a HUGE step.
I'm happy. Content. Determined."

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope I've inspired you!

Have a great day!

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Post by Leslie Ashe using Santa's List

It's Monday, y'all! Happy Monday!

Leslie here to share a layout I did not too long ago
about my precious niece, Presley. I LOVE these photo's
I snapped of her during last Christmas for her mom & dad.
Isn't she DARLING? I know, biased...but seriously, I love to 
have her as the center of my project today!

Playing on her darling photo's, I decided to use them as 
a banner. One with no end or beginning, just the photo's 
on the page, in the center, as a banner. They're sized 3x5" 
printed and they're the perfect size to go across my page 
for the look I wanted.


-I started my layout with cutting 3 strips in 1" increments,
placing 2 at the top, 1 at the bottom. 

-Next I did some fussy cutting. I cut the doilies from one 
sheet of paper & placed them behind my photos to the right.
and also under the bottom of the very first photo.

-you might notice some patterned mattes behind my center photo.
I matted only 1 of the photo's and placed it right in the center using
3D glue dots. 

-I then took a scallop border punch & punched a few pieces to place
at the top of my layout & under a photo.

-topping this off by adding buttons and other embellishments completes
my Christmas look. I love how this turned out & love how easy 
all the papers from Santa's are to mix and match to any project!

Thanks for taking the time to visit the blog today, I hope you've enjoyed
my little piece of inspiration. Until next time!
Have a great day!

You Are My Happy Layout: Do More Of What Makes YOU Happy by Leslie Ashe

Can you believe we are in the 2nd week of November?
WHAT? Time is FLYING. 

I like to do simple things this time of year. Make simple projects,
cards, crafty things for decorations...etc.

I did that with my layout I'm sharing with you today using
the You Are My Happy line:

 

for my layout, I simply trimmed my choice of patterned paper
that I thought matched this awesome photo of  my cute cycling husband.
I love his smile here! Anyway...I decided to go with gold because for this 
photo, he's actually just about to race an event that he WON! So fun.

 

Also, I only used a TAD of pink - I mean
real guys wear pink, right? LOL! Or rather are on scrapbook pages in pink. HAHA!

To recreate this layout all you have to do is simply:
-trim your choice of patterned paper and place in the center of cardstock (I chose white)
-use 3 border strips of your choice and place to the right of your paper
-add your photo (mine is 5x7) to the right, flush with the border strips
-add a chipboard border to the left side of your photo. It's ok if it's ON your photo (seen here)
-cut apart a file folder, add to the top of your chipboard border
-tie a tiny piece of cord around the file folder & add embellishments on top
-add embellishments and letter stickers to the left side of your page
-add chipboard strip & banner stickers to the top of the file folder you've cut
-to play on the gold circles from the patterned paper, add buttons, sequins & brads in 
 various places for a fun effect.

see, that's it! So easy! I seriously created this layout in an hour. 
That's a RECORD for me. And I love it...

have a great day!
thanks for stopping by today.

The Story Of Today - A "You Are My Happy" layout by Leslie Ashe

hi Teresa Collins Designs fans! 
I hope you're having a wonderful Monday!

Today I'm stopping by to share another layout I made using
the beautiful mid-release line by Teresa Collins Designs - "You Are My Happy",
as well as a few instructions on how I created my project:

I used papers from the 6x6 paper pad as my main background 
(leaving some of the borders from the"tear off" from the paper pads.)
this is the basis of my background. I wanted to show you how
you can build an entire layout using just the 6x6 pads.

from there I:

--distressed each paper, using a distressing tool & put each layer down
making sure to see a peek from one layer to the next.

--used 3D adhesive to back my photo (and patterned paper matte)
 & placed to the right side of my project.

--picked a few chipboard pieces I wanted to use & placed one set 
directly ONTO my photo. Seeing as how it was a "frame" ,
I made the sentiment chipboard piece (this makes me happy) stand up more
by using a 3D adhesive. This gives it dimension, yet not making it "bulky" and
draws your eyes directly to our goofy photo.
I then used the "&" chipboard piece as part of my journaling/title for "you & me".
Stacking chipboard pieces together makes for an interesting, eye catching 
embellishment cluster & I did that with my heart with the days of the week 
chipboard. (I then played on the arrows from the "this makes me happy" by using
the epoxy arrows pointing directly to our photo)
Another few pieces of chipboard are banners and I've placed them at the bottom, 
under my photo.
my final chipboard piece is placed onto one of the banner flags at the top right.

--adding a few stickers makes added journaling/titles fun & clever!
I added "the story of today" (my MAIN title) to the left of one of my photos, a tabbed
"two" to the right side, spelled out "you , me" with letter stickers, the "us" at the top right
and finally - the "lucky" just to the left side of "this makes me happy" chipboard.
--the gorgeous epoxy dots, brads, buttons & sequins top it all together, as they 
are randomly placed in various spots, on top of gold misting spray.

--another thing is I took one of the border strips (copper scallop) and placed on the 
very right, beside my photo.

--my final thing I did was my journaling - which I took a ruler & drew
3 lines to write my sweet words to my husband and on our goofy, impromptu picture.

I hope you've enjoyed today's post.
Have fun creating with the 6x6 pads!