Mama Elephant Highlight: Flashy Letters

TGIF! Welcome to the last day of the Mama Elephant design team highlights of the April release. The great minds at ME have, perhaps, saved the very best for last. (Ok, not really because all of the sets are majorly awesome, but this set I'm about to show you one of my favorites and must-haves!)

I created a clean and simple card for m'dear husband. Not to get all sappy, but he is my sunshine and so inspired by golden hues, I stamped a very simple sentiment ombre style. I continued a bit of the ombre design in the stamped hearts as well as punched watercolored hearts just to add a bit of dimension.

Materials used: Mama Elephant Flashy Letters and Central Park (heart); Memento Inks, ColorBox Cat's Eye Queue Inks, heart punch

Here's a closer look at the ombre stamp job:

Now, get on over to the Mama Elephant blog and see what the rest of the design team created with this amazingly versatile set that literally lets you spell and number anything! A must-have for scrapbookers and card makers alike!

Thanks for stopping by!

- KRAFTY pearl

Mama Elephant Highlight: Bling

Welcome to day two of four days of Mama Elephant April release highlights! You saw my layout using Bling, here. Today, I'm sharing a card. The sentiments and font styles are a perfect combination to tell someone they shine or that your world is brighter because of them.

I created a soft rainbow ribbon over a scalloped sky backdrop by using white embossing powder to create a resist from the watercolor bands.

Materials used: Mama Elephant Bling; watercolor, acrylic hearts from Etsy

Here's a closer look at the watercolor rainbow created to feel like sunset on a Caribbean island.

Be sure to see what the rest of the design team created with Bling on the Mama Elephant blog.

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

SEI Spotlight: Laughter

Hi thereI was over at the SEI blog yesterday sharing a wedding inspired layout. Head on over to the SEI blog and see how it all came together.

Materials used: SEI Mia Bella, Think of Me, Field Notes, Promise Me; tissue paper, sequins

Here's a closer look at some of the details:

Make sure you stop by the SEI blog for all the details and to see what the rest of the design team has been creating!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Spotlight on SEI: Happy Valentine's Day

Dropping in to say Happy Valentine's Day!

Check out this banner I created using lovely SEI From Your Secret Admirer Think of Me Die-Cuts.

My theory about Valentine's Day is that everyday should be Valentine's Day! So show your sweetheart and loved ones lots of love every single day! :)

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

SEI + My Etsy = A Collected Look

Hiya! Here to quickly share a long overdue SEI layout. You often see me mixing various collections together for a collected, eclectic feel. The beauty of SEI designs is that it's so easy to mix and match colors and patterns!

Materials Used: SEI Desert Spring, SEI Field Notes, SEI Promise Me, tissue paper, Singer 160 sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Echo Park's Everyday Eclectic by Allison Kreft

Hi there! Echo Park's Everyday Eclectic is such an awesome collection. It has so many designs and covers an abundance of everyday facets but amazingly, it's all complimentary too!

Check out the Echo Park blog to see what all of the guest designers created with this versatile everyday collection! Here's what I created:

Photo credit: Ben Lau Photography

Materials used: Echo Park Everyday Eclectic collection by Allison Kreft

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

From My Heart to Yours

Can you believe August is coming to an end already? I have so much to share but I'm playing a bit of catch up with life moving very quickly.

I've been really obsessed with sheer or translucent materials lately. Creating pockets of sorts to store confetti and tidbits. I was over at the SEI blog yesterday sharing a simple collage card.

 

Materials Used: SEI Field Notes, SEI Cheery Brights, sheer fabric, heart punches

A perfect way to say hello or wish a friend a happy rest of the summer!

Thanks for stopping by!

- KRAFTY pearl

We Love Travel

Hello there! It's been quite hectic here with the last months of summer and wedding planning. Hence, the lack of posts around here the past few weeks. But I'm back today to share a SEI layout recently featured on the SEI blog, using 4 different collections of SEI papers! So versatile and always a great blend.

Materials used: SEI Desert Spring, SEI Mayberry, SEI Field Notes, SEI Cheery Brights, doily, gold metallic paper, ivory tissue paper, confetti hearts, heart punch

I love taking panoramic photos but they're sometimes hard to incorporate into a layout. Read more about how I made it work in this layout on the SEI blog!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

She's All Mine!

After wavering for months on whether or not I should get the beautiful Singer 160 limited edition sewing machine, thanks to my husband, I didn't have to make a decision. She's all mine!

I have sewn some cards and stitched up a dress so far. I can't wait to sew more with her. Such a smooth piece of computerized machinery. Here's a new card I made with the sewing machine. I loved it so much, I put up the design in my Etsy shop.

Materials used: cardstock, tissue paper, Singer 160 Limited Edition sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Kaisercraft Tuesday Tip: Dimensional Hearts

Here to post a Kaisercraft Tuesday Tip one week late...

As you have likely seen in many of my projects, I love using hearts in different ways to create dimension and patterns. Today, I’m going to show how you can simply use pattern paper and hearts folded in half to create a simple and sweet turning note card.

Materials Used: Kaisercraft Technologic Paper Pad, Kaisercraft Pearl Brad, Martha Stewart Heart punch, Stampin' Up Scallop Edge punch, doily

Step 1: Punch hearts right-side-up and upside-down.

Step 2: Fold hearts in half and paste one side of the base down. Alternate to create a pattern or do it randomly to create random dimension.

It's so simple! The best part about this card is that you get dimension but it folds up and mails relatively flat. You can also make this a card instead of a turning note card by leaving the pearl brad out.

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Hambly Tutorial: Layered Lace Heart

Here to share a layering technique to create a lacy heart card perfect to congratulate any couple getting married this spring. After all, wedding season is right around the corner!

You'll need:

• Hambly Little Hearts Overlay 
• Bazzill Dotted Swiss Cardstock
• Doily
• Kraft Cardstock
• White Cardstock Base
• Glue Dots Glue Lines
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Martha Stewart Crafts Studded Heart Punch All Over The Page
• Date Stamp
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
• White Opaque Pen
• Bone Folder

Then simply follow these steps:

1. Punch a heart shape on the Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock. then stamp 5 dates with one of the dates being the couple's wedding date.
2. Create banners with the message "Congrats" on one and the initials of the couple on another.
3. Using Tombow Mono Liquid glue, attach the banners to the Hambly Little Hearts overlay matching the wedding date in between the two banners.
4. Then using Glue Dots Glue lines, attach the overlay to the Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock matching directly behind the banners to hide the glue lines. It creates such a great and strong bond keeping the card together with just a bit of the adhesive.
5. Then, using Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, align a piece of doily behind the heart window to create a lacy heart.
6. Then adhere a piece of kraft cardstock behind that to give the lace dimension.
7. And lastly, attach all the layers to a white card base.

Hope you like this layering tutorial and don't forget to visit the Hambly blog for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Three of a Kind

One of my favorite photography techniques for creating a symmetrical and cohesive scrapbook layout is to use three photos with similar shapes.

Materials Used: Kaisercraft Tigerlilly Blush Double-sided 12"x12" Paper, Flamingo Double-sided 12"x12" Paper, Collectables Die-Cuts, Chipboard Alpha 1; Other: Classic Heart Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies, Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine

My fiance and I took photos of each other in front of a lancet doorway. I then snapped another photo of the green rolling hills of Napa framed by another lancet window. Put them side by side and I have myself an interesting layout using very simple design principals - symmetry and repetition!

Highlight the colors from the photos with beautiful bright pinks and oranges from the Kaisercraft's Tigerlilly collection, sprinkle some hearts, and I have a simply fun layout. If you love strong contrasting colors in classic prints, you'll love the Tigerlilly collection and it's especially perfect for the spring and summer months.

Hope you like this technique and don't forget to visit the Kaisercraft blog for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Sweet Treats For My Sweetheart

Back with another project great for any day of the year!

Materials Used: Kaisercraft These Days Ancestry, Family, Collectables Die-Cuts; Other: Whisker Graphics twine, Uchida Scallop Oval Craft Punch

Chocolates as a gift is even sweeter when it comes in handmade packaging. I created a pull out drawer box using the beautiful and romantic papers from the "These Days" collection by Kaisercraft. The red/pink polka dot design of "Family" is gorgeous and is perfect for sweet love-themed projects. I simply dressed up the box in a bit of twine and embellished with a label from the "These Days" Collectables, and other punched shapes.

Don't forget to check out the Kaisercraft blog for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Everyday Should Be Valentine's Day

That's a motto of mine. I think it's great that we have a special day to celebrate love, but I think everyday should be Valentine's Day. With that in mind, here's another project that can be made for any occasion!

Materials Used: Kaisercraft Tiny Woods Cypress, Pine, Pearl brads; Other: Whisker Graphics twine, Uchida Scallop Oval Craft Punch, doily, candle, matches, tin box

I decided to make something different from the usual. Inspired by mini survival kits in a box, I decided to create a date night theme, a candle light dinner in a box! To create the matchbook, I took apart a match book and recreated the cover using "Pine". I used a pearl brad to hold the matchbook cover and matches together. A simple and cute gift to give to your date any day of the year!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

A Valentine Meal: An Indoor Italian Picnic

How was your Valentine's Day?

Materials Used: SEI Promise Me collection, Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine

One of my favorite things to do is take photos of food. Last Valentine's Day, my fiance and I had an indoor Italian picnic. A little bit of cold cuts, meats, cheeses and fresh baked breads, topped off with one of my favorite sweets in the world - the simple peanut butter-filled chocolates, and shaped in hearts, none the less! I'm so glad I found the perfect collection to document the lovely Valentine's Day picnic. SEI's Promise Me is perfect for any Valentine's Day layout or project. The design is so sweet and romantic!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, ya'll! And if you happen to be making a last minute Valentine, here's a quick and simple card.

Materials Used: Kaisercraft Hummingbird Paper Pad, Foam Tape; Other: Martha Stewart heart punch

I love the designs from the papers in the Kaisercraft Hummingbird paper pad. Each one can be simply added to a card to have a huge impact. I created a very simple yet elegant card using the design of two facing birds. I layered on a piece of cardstock with a punched heart window. I used foam tape to to create depth in the window.

I wish you love!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

An Imprinting Valentine's Card

It's almost Valentine's Day and fingerprint hearts have been on my brain a lot lately. So I decided to give it a try but sans ink. Curious? Stop on over at the Hambly blog to see how you can make your own fingerprint hearts without inky fingers using Hambly's Wood Grain overlay.

Materials Used: Hambly's Wood Grain overlay, Spellbinders Heart Nestabilities, Inkssentials White Pen, kraft cardstock

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

"Heart-Air" Balloon Card

I love me my hearts and hot-air balloons... why not fuse the two together and make something cute! I also love dimension... but dimensional cards are hard to get through the mail without them getting crushed. So today, I’m here to share with you one of my favorite ways to create a dimensional card but still have no issues mailing it.

Here’s what you’ll need: shape punches, scoring tool, embroidery floss

My favorite part is that you can flatten the card to mail it without bulk:

And then your recipient can very easily fold the heart balloon right back up:

Here's a quick tutorial:

1. 1. Punch a few shapes (3-5) of the same size and score down the middle of each
2. 2. Attach shapes to base cardstock with embroidery floss or a strong sewing machine down the scored middle
3. 3. Fold the shapes up create dimension

It’s so easy and fun to make, so I hope you’ll try these kinds of cards too. You can use circle shapes to make circle ornaments or bubbles of all sizes. You can use square or diamond shapes to make dimensional kites. The possibilities are endless!

Materials Used: Silly Season Milk & Cookies (P728), Gingerbread (P729), Friends Rub-on (RB891); Other: Embroidery floss, Bazzill cardstock, EK Success and Martha Stewart punches

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Two Takes on Blae & Ivy

I really love the pretty Kaisercraft Blae & Ivy collection because it's so versatile.

Take 1: Elegant

The Kaisercraft Blae & Ivy has an elegant style to it in addition to its shappy-chic and romantic feel. It's perfect for an elegant thank you card!


Materials Used: Blae & Ivy Sky (P698), Mystic Cove (P697); BASICS Pearls in Snow; B/W Rub-ons Friends (RB891)

I stamped the image on white cardstock, cut and glue pennants to the cardstock in form of a banner, added pearls to tie the banner together, cut and glue a small strip of Mystic Cove pattern paper to the bottom right of the card and rubbed on the sentiment, "Thank You". I then matted the white cardstock to the Sky pattern paper and finally matted it to the white card base. So simple, yet fun and elegant!

___________________________

Take 2: Contemporary

As you may have noticed by now, I like punches of bright colors to give my projects a more contemporary look. That's exactly what I did with this frame by adding a striking hot pink color to contrast with the soft elegant Blae & Ivy colors.


Inspired by practically matching baby photos, I used the frame to compare my guy and I as toddlers and how we, at the time, haven't met yet.

Here's a more detailed look at the hearts. To create a clean collage feel, I "camouflaged" hearts in the backgrounds by punching hearts from the same pattern paper as the background, curling them and adhering in form of a banner and background texture.



Materials Used: Small Photo Display (SB2110); Blae & Ivy Meadow (P695), Mystic Cove (P697), Sky (P698), Mini Journal Tags (JT623), Sticker Sheet (SS106); Alpha Clear Stamps in Typewriter Font (CS785); Acrylic Paint in Hot Pink (KC1010), Pretty Pink (KC038); BASICS Pearls in Snow; Others: heart punch

So there you have it, two different takes on the same collection! And don't forget to continue to check out the Kaisercraft blog for more inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Good Days & Handmade Flowers

It's Sunday... and I'm wishing it's another long weekend like the last. Today, I'm sharing a layout about how I spent my long weekend... I had some really fun and good days! I didn't take any photos other than this photo of fresh, vibrant strawberries at the Union Square Farmer's Market to represent my sweet weekend with great company.

I was inspired by Crate Paper's June color challenge to use pink, yellow, and red. I love the combo because it's so fun and a summery combo. Crate Paper's Neighborhood collection was perfect for the challenge.

I was also inspired to scraplift by these two challenges:

• Creating Keepsake's challenge
  
• Two Peas In A Bucket's challenge

I decided to scraplift this layout in the CK gallery and featured on the CK blog as May 16 scrapbooking inspiration. Inspired by the stacked pattern strips, I recreated the look with beautiful patterns from Crate Paper. The strips are perfect to record last weekend's events.

Here's a closer look at one of my favorite parts of the layout, the sun embellishment:

• I cut hexagon shape from Crate Paper pattern paper
• I then cut additional paper strips in shape of ribbons and adhere to hexagon shape
• I brushed on Mod Podge on the strips and sprinkled glitter on it
• Lastly, I added a button to the middle of the sun
  

Used: Crate Paper pattern papers and cardstock stickers; Bazzill Swiss dots card stock; My Little Shoebox alphabet stickers; EK Success border punch; Martha Stewart glitter; 3-D Glue Dots; Bic Mark-it markers

Next, I wanted to share a couple of flowers I created using pretty Cosmo Cricket pattern papers for the CK Flower Fabrication Fiesta. I love that the flowers are so simply made just by using heart shaped punches.

Used: Cosmo Cricket pattern papers; EK Success Paper Shapers heart punch; Martha Stewart punch; scallop scissors; buttons from Michael's

So whaddaya think? I hope you like the layout and flowers!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl