CARDS Magazine Publication: October

It's the beginning of a new month so I can share my card with you that was published in the October issue of CARDS magazine.  This is one of my all time favorite cards!

 

It uses patterned papers from Authentique and My Little Shoebox. The sticker is from Momenta and the twine is from The Twinery.  I fussy cut the bottom half of the diamonds and curled them up to create a unique kind of ruffle.  I was so thrilled to see this card featured also as the CARDS magazine cover picture on their facebook page!

June CARDS Magazine Publications

It's the first of the month and that means I can share my cards from last month's issue with you!  I was blessed to have two picked up and here they are!

This first one was a "monogram" card.  You never know what they will pick up and like...and this was one I was sure they wouldn't pick up.  I even said that to several people, alas and thankfully I was wrong!  It uses my favorite line from Momenta so I was super pumped that they liked it too!

The second card was a "fathers day" card.  This one is way funkier!  I'm entertained by the stark difference between the two cards (:  This one features goodies from Momenta, Authentique, American Crafts, and Cosmo Cricket!

What do you think...can you even tell the same person made these? (:

Authentique Genuine

I've been desperately needing some fresh inspiration, let's just say the mojo has not been flowing.  Over the weekend I was able to head up to an Archiver's and there was enough new CHA releases there to get me excited!  I picked up some goodies from Authentique, American Crafts, and Little Yellow Bicycle.  I've been using most of them to work on magazine submissions....but made myself sit down and do a layout just for fun today!

 

 I based the whole thing on this sketch from Liz Qulaman.

I knew no mojo time was not a time to be reinventing the wheel...so a great sketch was ideal.

 

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper by Authentique, Crate Paper

Stickers by Bella Blvd, Authentique, KI Memories

Twine: The Twinery

Flower: Little Yellow Bicycle

Big News and a Thank You Card

Let's kick things off with talking about how unbelievably excited I am to have been chosen to join the Quick Quotes Design Team.  I love my design team positions and the way they keep me constantly growing and challenged in this fabulous art.  Can't wait to get started with another one!  Here's the official announcement!

Today I've got a Clean and Simple card to share with my favorite color combination and some gorgeous Momenta and Authentique goodies!  I love that I was able to use the gray Momenta paper and let it shine, but not overwhelm my card.  And how about that pretty sentiment - beautiful script from Momenta!  

Color Combo Card

I made this card for a color combo challenge offered up by CARDS magazine using the colors Navy, Yellow, and Light Blue.  It didn't get picked up (it's okay two others did :)) so now I can share it!  It also had to have clouds on it.  I enjoy these challenges, it's fun to see what you can come up with in your stash!  I fussy cut my clouds and used the little bling dots to add some pizazz to them.  I like how it brought out the yellow too!  My sentiment comes from AC and my yellow paper comes from Authentique but everything else is Momenta!

Speaking of Momenta....Have you tried our Design Your Own Stickers yet? You can request a FREE set just by sending your name and postal address to social@mymomenta.com! 

(open to US and Canada residents).

Authentique and our Christmas card picture

Okay so this is one of few layouts ever that my colors do not match the picture.  I'm getting crazy in my mid 30's :).  I wanted to use some of the Authentique Gathering line, the colors in it are just gorgeous.  I combined it with several items from the Amy Tan line and some Momenta die cuts and paper and it all came together.  I created my patterned paper circles by using my triangle punch and putting them all together.  Definitely loving the orange, turquoise (is this the right name...maybe teal?), and brown combination!  

Vellum Card

I haven't been able to participate in the CARDS magazine challenge for awhile and knew I wanted to give it a whirl this week.  The challenge was to use vellum.  I have plenty of vellum stickers and vellum sayings...but I decided I wanted to see what a vellum base would look like.  It actually makes for a pretty cool winter look don't ya think?  

Supplies used: Authentique Journey Die Cuts, Creative Charms Pearls, The Twinery Bakers Twine

My Top 10 Projects of 2011

I have changed a lot as a papercrafter this year!  I barely made cards or altered projects before this year, now they are a big part of my repertoire.  I made my first manufacturer design teams (Momenta & Creative Charms) this year and also got published for the first time (Cards December 2011).  It's been a great year, join me as I attempt to recap my favorites :)  Thanks to each of you for all your support!

1.  Created this one just for fun using Authentiques Glowing Line.  I loved the diamonds and they fussy cut fabulously.

2. I made this card for my little boys first day of school, it's so fun and whimsical - I love what I did with teh Momenta paper and also all the doodling.

3. I made this layout for a kit feature for Burlap & Buttercups kit club. Love the patterned paper chevrons I made.  

4. I also made this card for the Burlap and Buttercups feature.  

5. This was my first layout as a designer for Momenta, plus I can't resist the pictures of my little boy in his "Son of a Scrapbooker onesie :)"

6.  Made this one just for fun this fall, love that I got so many photos on it but still have some white space!

7. I made this for the Bella Blvd feature last winter here on Practical Scrappers

8. Love all the Jillibean soup goodness and the paperfolding adding dimension.

9. Made this menu board as a project for Momenta

10. A card with a fun dimensional flower made for Momenta

AKA

It has been awhile since I just crafted for myself - I've been working hard on CHA projects and when I haven't been doing that I have been busy directing our school Christmas musical.  I finished up those CHA projects yesterday and decided I needed to do a layout just for fun and it has nothing to do with Christmas!

I've been itching to play with the freebird line from Authentique so I pulled that out and went crazy layering.

The layout focuses in on all the different nicknames we have for Cooper - I put those on different flags throughout.  I used some of my favorite Momenta letters for the Cooper title (I love how they have a childlike look to them!)  I also used some Twinery twine to make an interesting border that coordinates beautifully with Freebird.

Supplies used: Letters from American Crafts, Cosmo Cricket, and Momenta; Paper from Authentique and American Crafts, Twine from The Twinery, Circle Punch from Creative Memories, 

Washi Tape Card Challenge

I didn't think I was going to get a card done this week for the Cards Challenge...life has been busy!  But I managed to squeeze one in.   I used the brand new line "Gathering" from Authentique.  It has a gorgeous combination of colors including brown, teale, and orange...so fabulous!

The challenge was to use washi tape, not a favorite supply of mine.  I twisted mine up and then used it to form a heart shape which I echoed with bakers twine.

Supplies Used:  Bakers Twine from The Twinery, Washi Tape from Studio Calico, Kraft Cardstock, and everything else is from Authentique

Authentique Glowing Layout

Just in case you were starting to wonder if I still did layouts, I thought I'd better share one.  I made this one just for fun using Authentique's Glowing line.  I really struggle with papers like this that already have so much design on them.  I always feel like I "need" to add more but don't want to overkill.  So basically I just fussy cut some diamonds from other paper in this line and added those.  I used foam under them so they'd pop up.  I think it's enough to make the page mine without being overwhelming :)  

Supplies Used: Authentique Glowing Line, Momenta Cardstock

Happy Halloween Authentique Style

Authentique sent me some parts from the Glowing line to work with...that combined with a fussy cutting challenge led me to cut up one of the papers that had the orange and black diamonds all over it.  I used those and the reverse side to create the bottom of this card.  I curled up the edges to make them pop up.  Kind of an interesting twist on ruffles.  Topped it all with layered buttons, ribbon, and bakers twine and some sticker lace.  The sentiment is a combo of Authentique and Momenta.

Supplies Used: Authentique paper, The Twinery Twine, Hobby Lobby Ribbon, Miss Elizabeth Lace Sticker

Authentique Coasters

I was having a bad day last week and decided to spend some time with Lucy doing a fun project.  We created our own, monogrammed coasters!  We made four using Authentiques Journey Collection and four using Momentas Family Forever Collection.  I'm saving the Momenta ones for now...but you'll get to see them  in the future!  Here's how we made them.  We used regular ceramic tiles (.08 cents) and cut out squares that were 4 1/8" X 4 1/8".  We put homemade modge podge (equal parts white glue and water) on the tiles, put the paper on, and then did a top coat of the glue mixture.  Then we added the M's and put glue over them.  Once that dried we sprayed them with clear paint to add a glossy look and seal everything in (making them usable as coasters).  I wasn't sure if the M's would make them not hold up as well...so far we're good!  Even without the M's they would be a fabulous, one of a kind addition to any house!  I'm thinking these might just be some Christmas gifts this year...

Authentique's First Sketch Challenge

Even though I'm not eligible to win, I wanted to play along with the very first Authentique sketch challenge.  Here's what the sketch looks like...

And here's my interpretation...I'm gonna make it huge because I used lots of little letters on this one

I absolutely love the Journey line from them.  I knew I liked Blissful...but seriously this one rocks even more :).  Who'd of thought turquoise and grey would be so good together!  This is a pretty typical, millions of layers layout from me.  To make it different (you have to do something unique...) I cut out some of the chevrons and used them as anchors in the corners.  I love how nicely the off white works with white in this line.  It confuses my brain that they work so nicely together :)  You still have time to join in on this challenge...head on over to the Authentique blog for all the details!

Authentique Supplies Used:

Journey line:  Noteables, Promenade, Explore, Icons, Diction

Blissful line:  Petite type circle

Authentique Uncommon Card & Creative Charms

I am up today over at Creative Charms and I made a project featuring the September Kit and Deal of the Month.  I love matching up my Creative Charms goodies to some of my favorite paper lines and really love when they come together this beautifully! As soon as I knew I needed to work in that color scheme I knew I wanted to make a card with a vintage feel using some of Authentique's paper from the "Uncommon" line. The kit and deal of the month are both all about black and pink so I included some of the black gradient pearls (from the deal of the month) and the gorgeous netted flower (from the kit of the month) on my card.  Black and pink is one of my favorite color combos and has such a nice vintage feel to it.  I also used some of the Fancy Polka Dot Ribbon for my bow.  With a color combo this great these kits won't last long...pick up one for yourself!

Using Felt Coasters on a Project

Erin, Kerri, and I (the administrative team at Practical Scrappers) have been doing a monthly frugal finds feature at Practical Scrappers.  It's been fun to see the creativity that is brought out using strange products.  Life has been crazy for me...so this is not my most "creative" work but it still turned out pretty :)

The day I found out I was going to be a design specialist for Authentique I was so excited I went down and pulled out my stash from them and used it with the coaster.  I used some paper from the "Blissful" line to back the coaster.  I like the way it subtly pops out.  I also used paper from that line in a couple other spots.  I've also been incorporating machine stitching into my projects a lot more lately.  Still trying to perfect that technique, but it does add some interesting texture.  Kerri and Erin did some great projects too - here's the link for the post on Practical Scrappers.

Supplies Used: Authentique Blissful line patterned papers, The Twinery Bakers Twine, Creative Charms Vintage Poppy, Jenni Bowlin Beautiful Journaling Card, mesh

Awesome News!

The moment I layed eyes on the "Blissful" line from Authentique I fell in love.  They are a brand new company with a unique style and marvelous color combinations!  So I thought I'd take a shot and apply for their design team...I'm thrilled to announce that they chose me to be a design specialist.  I do not have responsibilities on their blog but I am responsible for creating with their products and sharing them with the scrapping world.  I was absolutely shocked to get their email and of course went downstairs and had to find a way to work them into my project for Practical Scrappers on Saturday...stay tuned :)  Funny enough my project for Creative Charms that premieres tomorrow also features lots of "Blissful"  I'm off to sleep on Cloud Nine :)

Authentique Blissful Card

I'm completely in love with this new line from Authentique!  I love the combination of the grays, browns, blacks, yellows, and a splash of red...very out of my normal color loves :).  I've been itching to try making a super dimensional paper bow and this is what I came up with for the Practical Scrapper Challenge today.