Monthly Journal Album Book by Cheri Piles using "Hello My Name Is" collection

Hey everyone, Today I wanted to share this fun journal book! On the cover of this pre-made chipboard album I stamped along the top and bottom using the damask stamp and just repeating it. Using the new Basically Essential Modeling Paste and alpha stencil I created the words "GOALS, DREAMS" The "&" is a the new Decorative Wood Pieces and I just colored it with ink to make it black. I layered the red and black sequins in the center of the damask stamped borders, added the chipboard "journal" sticker. The red word strips are from the 6 x 6 paper pad and I cut the page apart using the words in my book. 

Each of the months I cut out from the months paper in the 6x6 paper pad, then I added words into each of the open spaces on them using the new Basically Essential Alpha's. You will be shocked how many words you can create from just one sheet (there are 6 sheets per package!!) On this page I used one of the new tags from the package of Basically Essential envelope and tag package. I have loved playing with the new modeling paste and here you can see I only covered part of the tag then I stamped on it. The typewriters on the top of the tag is one of the four rolls of washi tape. 

I created all of my non chipboard pages with white cardstock then cut apart the 6x6 paper pad into 4x6 sheets. All of the red word strips in this book are from one of the sheets of the paper pad - it really gives the book some POP and is so inspirational and quite perfect for my journal book! I also added the new "TAGS" throughout the book. I love that there are places to journal but are also quite decorative too!

This is another chipboard page that is just decorative. I loved the stamped border and quotes!

I layered the sticker quote right over the top of the journal tag, it makes it look like the "This is me" is a separate piece but it's part of the tag.

I love LOTS of layers!!

You might not consider this but it's going to be ok with me to write all over the "LUCKY" card, you will still see it when I journal over it in black ink. 

I loved playing with the new library card - it comes in the "envelope and tag package". I added the vine stencil and modeling paste image to the front.

The "life" is another tag. I am LOVING them, can you tell??

This is probably my MOST FAVORITE!!! I love the STAMP and matching STENCIL on the tag together. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the look of it!!

One thing I love about using the modeling paste and stencils is that there really are not RULES, just play with them and use as little or much as you want!!

I love this circle tag - I think I'm just going to write one word in each of the circles!

And last but not least - a good quote. I LOVED being so inspired to create this journal album. I hope you have been inspired to create one too!!

~Cheri

Be sure to check out my {NEW} blog post today using the new alpha stickers and how many inspirational words I was able to make: http://cherinspirations.com/blog/

No. 16 Mini Album by Dedra Long

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a mini album today featuring a mix of the Memories and Stationery Noted Collections. This binder clipboard album was perfect for documenting Shelby's 16th birthday.

I still love the file folders that come with every collection. This one from the Stationery Noted collection became the base of my cover page. Super fun! Oh, and product packaging is so cute these days, don't be afraid to use it when you like it.

We handmade all of her invitations and I had her fill them all out in her handwriting. I know my handwriting has changed since I was 16 and I think she will love seeing her invitations when she is my age. Enamel dots....be still my heart! Who thought this little embellishment could be so awesome!

I'm going to be completely honest here, every time we see a new collection from Teresa I can't wait to see the stamps she designed. It is my most favorite thing. I gotta get better at embossing with stamps like Keisha.

I had her friends write notes to her (the notes turned out to be mini novels).

I loved that this album turned out to be a little more interactive using file folders, pockets and envelopes to hold extra photos and to incorporate memorabilia as well.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

Hope your "hump" day is fabulous.

Remember This, Layout by Dedra Long

The day after Thanksgiving our family puts up all of the Christmas decorations. It takes a full couple of days to get everything in it's place and this has been the tradition since the girls have been born.
One of the things Ellie loves is to put the star on the top of the tree and since she is not tall enough Daddy always has to help her.
This year I was able to catch these two in the act. Usually I turn around and the star is already on, but this year I was ready and waiting for these two and the magical moment they share.

Get more from your masks! Usually a "mask" is used as a misting template but for this layout I used it as a stencil. I traced the sunburst mask onto the patterned paper and cut it out. I then re-assembled it onto another patterned paper.

I wanted to add subtle touches, a finished effect to the "rays" and inside the banner stamp so I used a lot of stitching in order to make everything stand out. Using the amazing chipboard, stamps and rhinestones gave it the final "magical" feel and the ribbon tied around the photo just like a present!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.
Thanks for stopping by!

Vintage Finds "traditions" layout by Dedra Long

Hi everyone! I'm so ready for fall, cooler temperatures, more friends and family time and the holiday season in general. At the end of September every year I pull out the tubs of Halloween decorations and I get started laying out various bottles, potions, rats, spell books and I get a good idea of the direction I want to go, as far as decorating the house. By October 1st, the house is always ready for our enjoyment.
This year that was not the case. We had so many things going on, it just didn't happen. For me, Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season. Little did I know our girls felt the same way.

So, when October 1st came and went, then a few more days passed and there was no sign of the Halloween tubs, our girls grew concerned. They decided to have a chat with me, expressing how important my decorating was to them (I do tend to go all out during the holiday season, making the house as festive as I can). I really didn't know that they love the house being just a festive as I do. In years past they would make little comments to me about how they loved our house during the holiday seasons, but I didn't realize that I have created a tradition every year that they look forward too. It also occurred to me that when they have families of their own, the decorating tradition will be passed down to other generations of our family.

Usually I create Halloween layouts and they are about Halloween costumes, trick or treating, the pumpkin patch. The general stories, the basics. This year I wanted to tell the story of our girls and how much they love tradition. How they told me the things I do as a mother are important to them, even if I don't realize it. This year, this is the story I wanted to make sure to document. Not just the Halloween costumes, trick or treating, etc. but the story I might have missed. Be on the look out you might have a non-traditional story this holiday season you might want to document. Here is a layout I created using Vintage Finds, I still love the versatility of this collection.

I can't get enough of the well coordinated embellishments Teresa designed for this collection. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessed card....by Julie

Julie's list of 5 things she doesn't like:

1.  SNAKES.
2.  Taking the elevator to the tops of tall buildings.
3.  Costco parking lot.
4.  When I get a mocha instead of hot chocolate at Starbucks, and I don't realize it until I'm 5 miles down the       road.
5.  Making cards.

Let's talk about #5.

I don't know why I have this thing about making cards.
After all, they're just teeny little mini books without insides, right?
So.  In an effort to take number 5 off my list.....in an effort to EMBRACE my inner card maker....

My Blessed card:

I mixed Vintage Finds with Teresa's Giving Thanks line (one of my all-time favorites!)
I love cutting up those Bingo cards.  I admit to being something of a Bingo card addict.

The pumpkins in the flower centers are from the free September stamp download.
Available here.
Look at all the cute templates:

Miss Cheri...you did an awesome job designing these! :)

I used the baby pumpkin stamp for my card.  I stamped on the Vintage Finds Black Damask paper (text side) and then cut them out.

I'm not totally sure if I should take card making off my list for good.

Maybe I'll put it on my 'Things that don't scare me as much anymore' list.
Have a great Wednesday!

my blog :)

Vellum Postcard Pockets...Tell Your Story

Hi, everyone! Suzanne here with you today, sharing vellum postcard pockets I created. I used the Large Journaling Cards from the Tell Your Story Collection as the base for my project. 

I cut the paper into six, and today I have two to share with you. Originally, I was going to tuck the postcard inside the vellum pocket. However, after adding all the fun embellishments from this collection, I thought it would be perfect to sit on the outside. Then I could tuck in a special note, candy, pictures,or a gift card. I also think the vellum pocket would be a great idea to share a recipe with someone, too. I need to write that one down, before I forget. Fabulous idea with the Christmas Cottage  line, right in time for the holidays!

Here is Postcard 1:

On this card I used library card from the Cards paper on top of the large journaling card. Then I layered two flowers together from the assorted flower pack , and used the metal oval embellishment in the center. This embellishment can be found in the Fabrications line. 

A little bit of stamping, using the acrylic stamp set from this same collection. I inked on the library card, and the ticket peeking underneath the flowers. You can also see a layer of vellum underneath the glittered border. I love the look of vellum, and the softness it adds to your paper crafts.

Here is a peek at Postcard 2:

On this postcard, I rounded the corners to soften the look. I also added a bit of tulle underneath the flowers. Pulled in some of the beautiful brads from the Tell Your Story collection. Love how everything coordinates so well! 

Thanks for taking a peek at the postcard pockets! These were super easy to make, and I am not a seamstress! I will be working on making more to have in my stash! They will be great to have on hand for any occasion! Have a great Wednesday!

Vintage Finds large-ish mini book by Cheri Piles

Did someone say Vintage Finds, special moments and lots of layers? 

Well, that's exactly what this 7 x 12 hardbound book is all about. 

Lets talk about layers, on the cover of this book I cut out three flowers from the flowers paper, added the layered sticker frame in the center and the chipboard word "Cherish" in the center. Then the clocks (SWOON)!! I love them! You can see them in this collection on paper, brads, stickers, die cuts, chipboard and tape!!

You can see the flower in the upper left is also cut out and has another layered sticker "Good Times" on it. Also cut from the same Flowers paper are the music notes flowers and they are adhered using pop dots to give more depth and a button in the center. Layers, Layers, Layers... I LOVE them!

Again more layers, I love the glitter banner and I cut words out of the word labels paper and layered them onto black card stock to match the black titles borders. I love the chipboard clock under the word "time".  Can I just say love one more time... but really what is not to love about this collection?

This is a glimpse of two pages, on the left you can see the bingo number die cut border and then the new decorative bingo number tape next to it. I love those bingo numbers!! The ticket #53 "blessed" on the upper right used as a tab is also from the die cut borders. Isn't she funny, I love her funny faces!

This is a great journal page, I love the stamps! You can see the "love" - I love that one HA!

OK, so THIS was a FUN page!! Anyone notice the TC Bling in E's hair??? Check out how the titles were cut in just a way that they overlap the photos, that took a little planning... knowing which title I wanted to keep and cutting around it. The "happiness" is also cut around then layered again with pop dots from one of my scraps that had happiness. In real life it looks like another layered sticker and doubles as a page tab. Oh, and notice the large pearl in the center of the clock on the left? It's so beautiful I had to leave that page blank, a "simply stated" page...

Again, another layered flower cut from the flowers paper, they are so much fun!!

Other details - From the music notes paper I punched photo corners for all of the pictures. I love the look and that it is uniform on all the pictures. They are simplistic and don't take away from the page or photo's but add just that little touch.

The book, Yes, I better tell you a little about it. It was a 12 x 12 "Your Story" book that you put into a the your story thermal book binder. I cut it down to the width I wanted and then set my pages into it and it "cooked" the binding and voila personalized book.

Thank you so much for looking, I hope this inspires you to try something new!

out of my box ( a tiny little bit.) By Julie Jacob

It's not that I like being in a rut.  Or that I don't necessarily like trying new things.
It's just that when I find something, or a technique that makes me happy...I tend to stay there.
Hence, my box.  I like it.  It's comfy, and they know me there. :)

I get the same Chinese food every time.  The lady who works at Dickies knows exactly how I like my gigantic baked potato before I even order it.  I don't have to even give my drink order at Starbucks...they know what I want (and order EVERY time).
Same.  Same.  Same.

So.  You all have to know how completely out of the box it was for me to do a (deep breath!) 8 1/2x11 layout instead of 12x12.  There.  I said it.  (I'm such a dork.)
And do you know what?  I LIKED IT! :)

Ta-Dah! :)  I used the Tell Your Story Ledger paper as my base.  Then I adhered my 5x7 photo to a block of butterfly paper (dot side).  I added a ticket, a tag, flowers, butterflies...you name it.  

I punched the butterflies from scraps of Tell Your Story paper...and then stitched through the middle of them.

It's fun to add bling too. :)  I kept going with my sewing machine, and stitched around one of the bigger flowers.

LOVE those flowers.  I finished it off with the twine...wrapped it around twice and knotted it off.  Add more bling...Oh, and I borrowed the stamps from Sweet Afternoon.  

I am liking this 8 1/2 x 11 thing.  What could possibly be next for me?  Sushi?  Ballroom dancing?