Please welcome new design team member Leslie Ashe!

I am so excited!! Last month we asked Leslie Ashe to be a guest designer on the team and her work was so well received that we asked her to be a part of the team and she accepted!! Welcome to the team Leslie, we are so excited to have you!! If you missed her guest spot from May you can see it here: http://bit.ly/Z0iCCC

Leslie creates layouts that have a fun and unique look! You can see in her layout below where she matted her photo on one of the new mini file folders that she unfolded! I love how she drew on the heart! 

I love all of the textures Leslie created using the Summer Stories collection! So Pretty!

Thank you Leslie and congratulations!! We are all so excited to have you on the team!

You can see more of Leslie's work on her blog here: http://leslieashe.blogspot.com/

Smile, Layout by Jamie Harder

I love my daughter's smile.  But lately, I love it even more.  Both of her front teeth are wiggly and I KNOW it will not be long and they will fall out.  So now I find myself feeling like every smile she gives me, might be the "last".  She is my baby and I know how growing in those new front teeth will change her look....she will look older...more grown up.  Beautiful just the same; it is just another milestone her mother is not ready for!

I just ADORE the Summer Stories collection and for this page I had fun creating a banner using the diecuts, chipboard and brads.  Making the banner was easy!  First I adhered some twine across my page so it had a bit of slack to it.

Next, I adhered the "today" chipboard piece - eyeballing it to be somewhere in the middle.  I then used dimension adhesive and placed the diecuts on either side of the chipboard, keeping them somewhat even apart.

It makes me so happy to see so many beautiful embellishments on my page!

Summer Stories Meet Project Life with Suzanne Sergi

Happy Wednesday!

If you have been scrapbooking for a few years, you have probably heard of Project Life. I have been wanting to try this new format in my own scrapbooking. However, all I kept doing was thinking about, and not really having a plan to get started. I decided to begin my 2013 Project Life Album at the beginning of June. I had great intention of designing my cover page, prior to the 1st of June. However, June 1st came, and went. So, this week, I decided to bring out two page protectors, pair it with the gorgeous collection of Summer Stories, and begin documenting the new chapter in my family's life.

The past week was a perfect opportunity to document, and  it was a week of celebration. With a bit of renewal, thrown in for myself. My approach is simple, and simply chose the photos that were of the most significance of the week's events. My oldest daughter graduated from Junior High, so I included lots of photos from this event. I also documented a personal first moment for me.

Luckily, for me I had these page protectors in my stash. My process was simple, as I have been documenting each day with a photo. I also have been jotting down notes of the day's events in my calendar. I tend to forget what happened yesterday! 

Here are a few details of my week in review:

One thing I love are the assorted envelopes found in Teresa Collin's collections. Here I simply adhered to the outside of the page protector. The envelopes are perfect for including journaling or memorabilia. I covered the inside flap with another patterned paper. I pulled out some of Teresa's metal hardware to add more texture to this pocket. I love dimension on my projects, and although, Project Life has a more simplistic approach, there is not any reason to add your own creative touches! In this decorative envelope, I added movie ticket stubs. This was a simple moment, but one worth remembering! I pulled in some twine, and chipboard  elements from Summer Stories on the top.

Here is a pocket that I chose not to tuck in a photo. I decided to simply embellish it, using the large chipboard element frame. I also pulled in the 6x6 Summer Stories designer pad, and cut the mini story bingo card, to place inside the frame's window. It fit perfectly! 

You can also add detail to the outside of the page protectors by using the border strips found in this collection, too. They are 12x12, and add a nice decorative border underneath the photos.

 Here is a closer view of the 4x6 pocket on the right hand side of the page. I added patterned paper to the bottom of the text background. Created a pocket, that I stitched with my sewing machine. I tucked in another photo of my special graduate. I added one of Teresa's pre made flowers, and a decorative brad for the center.

Above you can see a snapshot of our week, and love that the 4x3 journal cards were a perfect fit to add into the page protectors. I used them primarily because I love the quotes found throughout this collection, and they are perfect to include journaling tidbits of the week.

A final detail of a photo of the special graduation blessing read by me to my daughter.  I rarely have photos of myself, so nice to see at least one snapshot of me. I am beginning my new chapter, and I cannot wait to use Project Life, and Teresa Collins collections to help me document them in the weeks ahead!

Thanks for stopping by the blog, and have a fabulous week!

Guest Designer Alissa Fast with a great altered box album project!

I'm Alissa Fast and I live in Ferndale, WA with my husband of 26 years and our sweet little cat, who happens to be a Hurricane Katrina Survivor from New Orleans. I work full time for a wireless carrier and in my spare time I scrapbook and dabble in photography, I'm working to build up a small client base in my area.

I created this project with the new Summer Stories collection from a framed box at Marshell's. The pages are 6x8 to easily add photos. There are bags to hold "stuff" and I included the stitched journal from the collection to write things in. I see this as something I can just drop photo's and stuff in during the summer and can come back to finish the pages later. It's like a loose leaf mini book!

I have been on the Cocoa Daisy Design Team for just over 2 years and joined the Evalicious Design Team in January this year. Most recently, I have joined the new Life Documented Design Team at Simple Stories.

When I'm not scrapbooking, or working, I enjoy spending time with my husband or my mom or my sweet little great niece and nephew.

I loved working with the new Summer Stories line. The colors and designs are beautiful and work well with many themes. Thank you, Teresa for having me as your guest designer.

To see more of Alissa's work please check out her blog: Www.alissafast.typepad.com

Thank you so much Allisa! What a pleasure to have you as a guest designer, Your project is very inspiring!!

Wedding Cards Using Summer Stories

Wedding season is upon us and if you're like me, you have a ton of weddings to go to this summer. I LOVE weddings and equally LOVE to make wedding cards. Here are a few ideas for making cards the new couple will always treasure. 

For the "Mr. and Mrs." card, I used a sheet of pink polka dot paper from the Summer Stories 6x6 pad and layered a couple cut out cards (from the 12x12 sheet "cards") and adhered them to the top of the base. I then traced the people silhouettes, cut them out and attached them to the card. Using my cricut machine, I cut out a few balloons in the "dots" and "filigree" paper and glued twine to the back of the balloons. I attached the balloons on the card and embellished with die cuts and ribbon. 

Tags are always quick and easy and look adorable tied to any gift.

Make a tag out of the gold glitter damask paper, punch a hole through the top,  lace your ribbon through and make double bow. Attach three die cut banners to the front of the tag and adhere the "Always and Forever" die cut on top of the banners. Embellish with enamel dots.

If you're the bride to be, this card could be given to the maid of honor to thank her for all she has done to help you with your special day.

 For this card, I used the same basic theme of a silhouette cut out holding balloons like I did with the wedding card.  I embellished with a few die cuts, stickers and enamel dots.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

Supplies used-

Pattern paper  "Dots", "Filigree" and "Cards"( damask and papers from the 6x6 pad) enamel dots, border strips, chipboard buttons, die cut sheet- Summer Stories

Summer Stories layout by Keisha Campbell

Hello, Keisha here today sharing a layout using the Summer Stories line. This page features my two youngest girls-Mikiela & Lulu. The two that are my biggest trouble makers! When they are together it may seem sweet, but there are times when they are up to no good-especially at bedtime.

OK, so this page is easy as pie! Just some dies for all the pattern paper shapes using a pretty simple & common page design.

A Few Cards by Tessa Wise

Hello and happy Tuesday! I love making cards and lately, I've been making even more then usual! Today I have four to share with you. For these cards, I mostly used the He Said She Said line, adding in a few bits and pieces from other lines here and there. Here is my first card:

I started this card by cutting lengths of the garland and adhering them to the left side of the card. Next, I stamped my sentiment onto vellum with Versamark ink and heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I adhered it to the card front using the green washi tape and to add a little stability to the vellum, I added the scallop and red patterned strip to the edges. Lastly, I embellished it with the pretty red enamel dots.

I am such a fan of white heat embossing- especially on vellum! Just be careful when you're heating it up- it melts so much faster then on regular cardstock!

My next card is a clean and simple design. I used the banners from the She Said die cuts sheet to draw your eye straight to the happy sentiment:

To create this card, you'll need a white card base. Cut a white panel of cardstock the same size as your card front (5.5x4.25") and emboss it. Cut a bit off the top digagonally and adhere it to your card front. Add your banners next, overlapping them just a little. Stamp your sentiment on to gray cardstock with Versamark ink and heat emboss it using white powder. Add it to your card over the seam between the embossed panel and smooth card front using dimensional foam dots. Last, add a length of twine, finishing in a bow directly above the sentiment. Let the tails hang underneath the sentiment strip.

This one may be simple but I love how it turned out! The twine and embossing add texture while the banners and diagonal lines add interest.

Card number three has a modern shabby chic look to it. I've added a little garland from the Memories line on this one:

For this card, I started by stamping the hearts from the She Said stamp set onto the kraft background using Versamark. Next, I splattered some shimmer spray over the top of them. When it was dry, I adhered a doily folded in half to the front. I stamped the sentiment in brown ink and added two banners from the He Said She Said- She Said die-cut sheet. Next, I added the garland, adhering it only on the two aqua pieces so that it hangs loosely on the card. I finished it off with the linen thread, wrapping it around the card front twice and finishing in a bow.

The best part of this card is the movement of the garland- it hangs over the edge and is such a fun element!

I have one more for you! For this one I used the He Said She Said- She Said die cut flowers as my focal point:

To recreate this card, start with a textured white card base. Cut a panel of the black print from the Summer Stories 6x6 designer pad and matt it with yellow cardstock. Adhere it to the center of your card front. Create your tag out of the blue flower journaling card found on the He Said She Said- She Said die-cut sheet. To make it into a tag, just cut off the top corners. Add a strip of patterned paper over the words and adhere the tag onto the card front. Choose a flower from the He Said She Said-She Said die-cut flowers and adhere it to your card using dimensional foam adhesive. Punch a circle out of a coordinating patterned paper and add a brad to it before adhering it to the center of the flower using another dimensional foam dot. Finish it off by embellishing with green epoxy dots, a pretty coral button, and your sentiment.

I love how the tag and flowers look over the black patterned paper. They really pop!

I really enjoyed creating these cards! The best part though will be  sending them in the mail to a few of my favorite people! I don't always send my cards out but I don't know why- I love getting cards in the mail!

Supplies Used:

Teresa Collins Designs:
He Said She Said- She Said 6x6 Designer Pad, He Said She Said- He Said 6x6 Designer Pad, Summer Stories 6x6 Designer Pad, He Said She Said- She Said Decorative Brads, He Said She Said- She Said Epoxy Dots, He Said She Said- She Said Die Cut Accessories, He Said She Said- She Said Decorative Tape, He Said She Said- She Said Clear Stamp Set,  He Said She Said- She Said Decorative Buttons, He Said She Said- She Said Die Cut Flowers, He Said She Said- She Said Garland, Memories Garland
Other:
Sentiment stamps, ink, cardstock, doilies, scallop punch, embossing folder, linen thread by Stampin' Up!; Mists by Studio Calico; Baker's twine by The Twinery; sticker sentiment by SRM Stickers; sentiment stamps by Lawn Fawn

Thanks for joining me today!

Crafty Girl Designs Blog

Today Layout using Summer Stories by Dedra Long

Today my oldest turns 17 and she always manages to surprise me, usually without even trying. I'm sure if you have older kids you have experienced some of these same things. Let's picture it for a moment. You're in the mood to scrapbook, you have your favorite beverage (and sometimes, your favorite snack) beside you. You sit down, you log into your computer and open iphoto (or whatever photo program you use on your computer). You have a particular photo that you are looking for. You're wading through your photos and then, all of the sudden you come across a series of photos, that were not taken by you, but by your teenager (or younger). You can't help but smile. You have found these little treasures of them being themselves. Silly, funny, full of life, spunky, etc.

The Summer Stories Collection matches Shelby's personality perfectly. Here is what I came up with to showcase the series of photos that have now become so important to me. 

I'm still in love with buttons, enamel dots and bling.

Here's to hoping that you too find some hidden treasures the next time you are looking for photos.

Thanks for stopping by!