Scrapbook Layout Background Idea - Adhesive Sheets

Creating unique backgrounds is a fun way to put your own stamp on a scrapbook layout!  It is a technique that I often employ!  

**I receive products from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and The ScrapRoom for use in my projects. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and doing so I can share what I personally love to use.**

Today I am bringing you a sneak peek of one that I have up over at Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L that employs their Adhesive Sheets.Be sure to head on over to their blog to catch all the details on this fun process!

Additionally I have a video tutorial for you to check out.

This layout also showcases a page kit and sketch from The ScrapRoom Kit club - love those kits that are SO perfect for little boys!  

Using Mists for Stamping & Giveaway

It's time for another monthly Stash Bash and this month we are focusing in on using mists on a project. I decided to try my hand at using mists for stamping.  And not just any stamping, but stamping using real live leaves!  I used my The ScrapRoom kit from this month - one of the page kits was a beautiful fall collection from Echo Park Paper.  I definitely wanted to use it before Thanksgiving, so the timing was perfect!  Here's the layout I created!

As always, I have a process video to go along with my project, join me for this walk-thru!  And bonus - there's a giveaway with this one!

What I love about this technique is that it is one that anyone can do with their mists!  No fancy tools necessary!  You can check out any of the supplies for this project by clicking on the affiliate thumbnails below - and as always thanks for your support!

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My Creative Scrapbook - Exclusive Cut File Layout and Process Video

I am so excited about the new Exclusive Cut Files that My Creative Scrapbook is offering each month!  I used a couple of them on this Main Kit Layout!  They just add something different to a layout don't you think!?!

There are so many beautiful colors in this kit - lots of Echo Park and some Simple Stories in there too! Curious how it all came together? You can check out the process video and see how I put it together.

Scrapbook Layout Photo Editing Tutorial

I have been wanting to share a simple tutorial of how I use Picmonkey to edit my scrapbook layout photos! Picmonkey is a free web based photo editing software.  It works really well for editing layout photos and I think it's pretty easy to navigate too!  

When I start I always pick out which of my photos is best (I usually shoot 3-5 of a layout) and load that into Picmonkey.  My first step is to resize it to size that will look good on my blog (or whatever size is required for my design team work).  For my blog I usually do 600 X 600.

Next I work on the colors.  Whenever I shoot my pictures it is always in indirect sunlight.  If you do full sunlight you will get shadows.  I don't want any shadows and can easily correct my colors to be true using Picmonkey!  Weather permitting I shoot on my front porch - if the weather is bad I get close to a window that has lots of light shining in.  Outside is definitely my preference!  

The first thing I do for Color is Click on "Neutral Picker" and click on a part of my layout that is White.

When you do that it attempts to correct your White to be more White and take out the yellow or blue tones.  I find it works pretty well.  Sometimes it goes a little too yellow - but I wait until I am all done with colors and exposure before I decide that!  At this point you can also correct Saturation - I was happy with mine here (and usually am) so I didn't mess with that!

My next stop is Exposure.  This is the one time I usually pick Auto Adjust!  I find it to do a pretty good job of automatically adjusting things.  If it doesn't you can always adjust that a little more.  This step is also really important for brightening your layout up and getting those whites white!.

My last step is to Sharpen.  I rarely adjust the Sharpness beyond 3 - it gets too pixelated if you do that.  Clarity is something I don't mess with a ton either - but if I do I don't go above 10 there.  As you can see here I did some adjusting on both of those here!

So for comparisons sake here's my original layout:

Not terrible - but after all the work I put in on it, I want it to look as good as it does in person!  Here's where it ended up after editing:

Much, much better!  Now I also of course have to share a little about this layout!  This is part of my Treasure This Time Tuesday weekly feature!  Every Tuesday I try to share a new layout about one of my four kiddos that documents little things about them Right Now.  I had noticed that time was getting away from me and I was losing the little memories.  So this is my attempt to change that.  It doesn't happen every week - but I get pretty close!  

This week is my sweet 11 year old son!  This is probably the best picture I have taken of him in a long time.  He is in that awkward tween smile stage so if I can capture him naturally smiling, it's a win!  I created my title using my Silhouette Cameo and placed that surrounding the picture.  I also used my half circle as a base for adding some other words that describe him.  My journaling is where I get more into some details of the past month.  I asked him what he thought I should talk about and also just reflect on some things in the last month that have happened.  I love how it turned out and that we will be able to look back and remember this month!

Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: Echo Park

Stickers: Echo Park

Enamel Dots: Recollections & My Mind's Eye

Hello Spring - My Creative Scrapbook Layout

I thought Mother's Day was the perfect day to share my last layout from My Creative Scrapbook this month.  Why!?! Because it has all four of my kiddos on it!  For this layout I really played with all the elements in the kit including a lot of embellishments and patterned papers!

The pictures are about two years old so I was glad to finally give them a home! I knew I waned to use the stripes of patterned paper down the middle and just built from there.  The pictures had homes and then I built clusters and banners around them.  I love the banner stickers and the way they add both color and a linear element keeping with the pictures and stripes :)

One of the very best things about this kit is that it includes brads and chipboard.  I love all the extra texture and dimension these add to the already fun stickers and papers.  I also love that the colors work well for boy and girl pages!

If you haven't had a chance to order your kit yet this month - hop over to My Creative Scrapbook and snag one before they are gone!

I hope all you moms out there have had a wonderful day celebrating or relaxing (or both!)

Hello Sunshine - a Rainbow Layout

As I have mentioned earlier this week, the colors in this month's Creative Kit from My Creative Scrapbook are just awesome!  I had so much fun focusing in on how I could use the colors in a variety of ways.  Today I used them to create a rainbow effect on the layout!

I will have a full process tutorial coming up soon on the My Creative Scrapbook Blog so I am not going to talk too much about that today!  I do love how perfectly all the stickers and embellishments come together on this to help focus the eyes in on the picture.  I also added in some of my own personal doodling  to reinforce the scallops and add some extra interest into the whole thing!

I will be back tomorrow to share a layout with all four of my kiddos on it!  Perfect for Mother's Day!

Summertime Layout & Giveaway Winner

Creating summer and spring layouts is always so much fun because of all the vibrant colors.  This month's Creative Kit from My Creative Scrapbook is full of those great colors!  Today's layout focuses on the colors and embellishments with a monochromatic feel.

I created a grid using four different monochromatic papers as a base.  I then added the picture I wanted into each one.  I used a one inch punch to add circles in the same patterned paper but then also added a splash of another color as well.  I then went thru and added coordinating stickers, chipboard and brads. I also added some black outlining to make things pop more.  

I think the yellow box is my favorite :) I have a thing for Sunshines lately!

Now on to the Giveaway Winner!

Thanks so much to all of you entered the giveaway for the Paper House Production 3D stickers - the winner is Lissa Crane! Please email me at practicalscrappers@gmail.com and I will get your stickers sent off!

Treasure This Time Tuesday & My Creative Scrapbook Kit Reveal!

It's going to be a busy week here at Scrapping with Christine - I have lots of fun projects coming your way!  On Tuesdays I try to focus on a layout that tells a small memory about my kids and who they are right now and I call it "Treasure This Time Tuesday".  I have always said it's easy to focus on the big events - but it's the little moments that I want to remember.  That is my goal for Tuesdays (at least as many of them as I can get it done on!)

As I worked on my kit projects for My Creative Scrapbook this month, I knew the reveal day would fall on Tuesday!  So I made sure to have a layout that fit my "Treasure This Time Tuesday" theme! It was Bo's turn in the cycle so here he is being Bo.

My rule is that I have to use a picture from that month of the child. I did not however have one of Bo that worked well with my papers in the kit - so it was the perfect chance to take his picture!  We shot these last week in one of his moments of 2 year old cooperation.  My focus on this layout is that he LOVES to be outside!  Being spring in Illinois, it's not always great weather for being outside.  On those days when it's not, he looks out the window and stands at the doors and  says "Bozer wants to go outsiiiiiiiiide."  And if he can find any way to sneak out, he will, so I have to keep a very close eye on doors being locked and shut tight!  

The Creative Kit from My Creative Scrapbook this month contains pieces from the Echo Park Line "Sunny Days Ahead" and is full of goodies that are perfect for spring and summer. I love that it combines both seasons as there is definitely some overlap.  There are all kinds of fun papers, great stickers, chipboard pieces, and brads!  

After creating my background of just a diamond shape, I added the center piece that is also usable for a pocket page piece.  I then hand stitched colorful rays coming out of it.  It mimics the look of sunshine but adds in some extra color.  I used stickers, chipboard, and brads in a diagonal line running from one corner up to the opposite one.  I then used little letters from the kit to add in the words that Bo says so often.

I will be back to share more layouts over the next several days but in the meantime you can check out the entire design team gallery on the website anytime!

Treasure This Time Tuesday - The 4 year Old

This week's edition of Treasure This Time Tuesday focuses on a very specific part of my four year old's life.  As I document each month, I usually cover several things that they are excited about and experiencing in that month.  But after having a real breakthrough month with this guy, I focused on just one.

For several months Cooper was really struggling.  He was grumpy, mean, and full of tantrums.  In the past he had been arguably the most easygoing (especially at that age) of all my kids.  I was beyond frustrated, we were all beyond frustrated.  I tried every trick in the book.  And finally I went to the store and got some new games and puzzles thinking perhaps a change of pace would help.  We started doing puzzles together and from that day on he was back to my normal Cooper! So now every day we do puzzles, some days we do a lot, some days we do just one or two.  Something about that time to sit, think, and accomplish something does what his brain needs. I will take it!

So after that very long explanation, here is this month's layout for Cooper!

Isn't he a photogenic little guy? He isn't into posed pictures and will goofy smile there but if I catch him playing like I did here, perfection!

I cut the square pieces out of patterned paper and then cut a smaller one to apply on top using foam adhesive.  I did the top ones in different directions to add some interest.  I die cut the puzzle pieces simply to go with the theme!  My title was kind of a play on words.  I started with "You Puzzle Me" and decided to add & time to make it "You & Me Puzzle Time." 

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park

Stickers: Echo Park, Recollections, Bella Blvd

Scrapping My Story - March Layout

In January I set out to create a layout about myself each month. So this month was tougher - it is really hard for me to put down stuff about myself!  Not sure why I feel that way but I pushed thru it anyhow!  If you want to check out the past two months, you can find February here and January here.  This month I did another - 10 Things I love right now.  Or as my silly title says "I Kinda Love" :)

So what's on the list right now -

1) My Young Living oil diffuser - seriously, that thing is amazing!

2) My curling wand - I just got this and Lucy and I have been having fun playing with it!

3) New tv shows - there's a bunch of them and I have been trying some out to see what I like.  I'm pretty picky about violence, sexual content, etc - so we'll see if these last but I am enjoying American Crime and Secrets & Lies so far...

4) Sweet Cream Creamer for my coffee - I have tried a lot of different things but it always comes back to that one.

5) Key Lime Pie - having recently "celebrated" Pi day - this was fresh on my mind

6) Lent Hymns - I love the pensive hymns of this season of the church year.  My favorite is probably "Glory Be to Jesus."

7) Chex Mix - Cookies n Cream Muddy Buddies variety

8) Playing Mancala - I taught my older kids this game a couple weeks ago and we've been playing it a lot.  It's nice because it's short - quality time without the commitment of monopoly :)

9) White Angelica - this is one of my favorite oil blends from Young Living and it just smells like spring.  I like to diffuse this one because it lifts my spirits and just smells heavenly.

10) Sleeping in - this isn't anything new.  I pretty much hate mornings.

My layout this month again uses the Through the Year collection from Echo Park.  I added some sticker stitches in from SRM stickers to do some embellishing!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park, My Mind's Eye, Paper House Productions

Stickers: Echo Park, Bella Blvd, SRM Stickers

Enamel: Pebbles Inc

Tags: Core'dinations

Scrapping MY Story - February Layout & Sketchy Saturday

Last month I started a new monthly series where I do one layout about myself each month.  I have rarely scrapped much about just me and decided it was time.  I'd like to remember who I was at this time in life too and I am sure it will be fun to look back at.  I am definitely making 2015 a year of being more intentional about scrapping the little things!  Using the Through The Year Collection from Echo Park has made it an easy start.  

One of the topics I have wanted to record for a long time is television shows that I like to watch.  I tend to spend my late evenings cruising the internet and catching up on shows that don't involve cartoons.  Now as I look at my list I already realize a few I forgot :). 

Since it's Saturday and Saturday here is usually Sketchy Saturday I am also sharing a sketch that I created and based my layout around.

I'm not usually a one picture on a layout person - but that's the way things have been shaking out a lot lately and it works on these kinds of layouts!

I stuck with the Valentine's theme of February for my design but obviously strayed from that topic in my actual topic.  I also added some gold pieces from Teresa Collins and some aqua pieces from Teresa Collins & Core'dinations.  Changes up that traditional color scheme a bit from just red and pink.  I also made sure to have a new picture from the month of February of myself.  Don't think I've changed too much from last month :)

If you want to check out the start of this series you can find the January post here.  If you are scrapping about yourself too or use today's sketch I'd love to have you share them with me either here or on my Facebook Page!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park, Core'dinations

Die Cuts: Teresa Collins

Chipboard: Teresa Collins

Stickers: Echo Park

Enamel Hearts: Teresa Collins & Pebbles Inc

My Creative Scrapbook Kit Layouts - One for a boy & One for a girl

As promised I am back today to share additional projects I made using the Creative Kit from My Creative Scrapbook this month. I had so much fun playing this month and I think that probably shows in the projects!

This was actually the first layout I made from the kit.  I was definitely focused on bringing out the boy colors here.  I also loved the diamond shapes in the light blue paper and decided to build an argyle style embellishment into the background.

I love the color combination that came out of the picture and kit colors combining - very unique but perfect for boys!

 

This one actually falls into the category of my "Treasure this Time Tuesday" feature but I am going to share it today anyway. The numbered journaling cards were perfect for documenting three special things about my daughter this month as well as snagging some pretty pictures of her. Since it is February I aimed to make this one have a Valentine's feel to it.  This kit isn't geared towards Valentine's but the Main Kit is so if you are looking for that - grab the Main Kit ;)

I used different heart punches and metal dies to create my cascade of hearts.  Adding faux stitching and outlining to them helped to bring out the black in the journaling words too

I'll have one more card from this kit to share with you on Sunday!

My Creative Scrapbook Guest Designer - Creative Kit Layouts

I am so excited to be guest designing this month for My Creative Scrapbook Kits!  I had an absolute blast working with their kits and have some great work to share with you over the next couple days!  AND I have some even bigger news to share with you at the end of this post so keep reading!!!

I worked with their Creative Kit this month and it is a fun, colorful kit that works great for projects of all kinds!  

 February Creative Kit

Echo Park, Heidi Swapp, Kaisercraft, Bella Blvd, Prima, and more!

 

I thought I'd share my favorite of all the layouts I created first!  I hadn't yet created a layout about my youngest sons first ice cream cone on his birthday.   Later this month I will be sharing a tutorial on how I made these little ice cream cones!  I love how this kit works so beautifully for little boy layouts!  I don't think you'd think that upon first look - but it definitely does!

I love the Kaisercraft sentiments from this line too!

My second layout for today shows the more feminine side of the kit!  I'm kind of crazy in love with using geometric shapes for designing and I really pulled a lot of that into my kit designs!  To help make the colors pop more I did a lot of outlining and faux stitching.

The pen work also helps tie in the black word stickers!  I love the silver accents And what can I say about my sweet daughter and nieces - love them so so much!  

Make sure you head on over to the My Creative Scrapbook blog and check out the reveal of all the other kits. They are limited in number so snag the ones that you like quickly!  You can also see a lot more examples for all the kits in the design team gallery!

And now for my even bigger news! 

 I am guest designer this month but....

I have officially been asked and accepted as a regular design team member at My Creative Scrapbook so you will be seeing a lot more of their gorgeous kits in the upcoming months!!!

A New Monthly Installment in my Scrappy Routine

Every year around my birthday I think about how I really should scrap more about myself.  I am in lots of pictures and layouts - but I don't do a lot about who I am.  Well today is my birthday so it is the perfect time to finally follow through on that thought!  Each month around this date I am going to try to scrap a page that tells a little about me.  I want something that I can look back at in ten years (and beyond) that shares a little about my day to day life and the things that I do and love.

I recently picked up the collection Through the Year Collection from Echo Park by Jennifer Gallacher.  I decided to make this collection my base for this monthly series - it's perfect because it has stuff for each month!  So without further adieu, here's January!

I fussy cut the diamond shapes from some patterned paper in the collection and used those to create my background.  I then simply added some stickers, enamel dots, and wood.  For the journaling/topic this month I just decided to do things I Love.  

I wanted to do day to day things that I love, not like the big obvious things like God, my hubby, kids, family, etc...but more the stuff I might forget :)  Here's my list: hot baths, good devotions, cookie butter, silly kids (those giggles from my littlest boys are the best), cheese pizza, Forever (the tv show), hazelnut coffee, popcorn, loud music (in my car by myself ;)), facebook, Bible Study, Fitbit, IPhone, and Daniel Tiger (not looking forward to the little boys outgrowing that show).  

Do you scrap about yourself too?  I'd love to see how you are documenting your own history!  

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park

Stickers: Echo Park

Wood: Cosmo Cricket

Enamel Dots: Simple Stories

Christmas Publication - Noel Embroidery Hoop

Earlier this year I was privileged to have a Christmas ornament published in the Holiday Cards & More special edition from Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine.  I love playing with embroidery hoops and paper but this was my first one on a smaller canvas!

Here's the basic directions as to how I did it:

-Take the embroidery hoop apart and using the inside circle.
-Add a quick drying glue or hot glue along the top rim.
-Attach the paper of your choice to it and allow that to dry.
-Trim it down so that you have a circle slightly larger than the hoop.

-Going around the circle - trim notches so that you can easily bend the additional paper onto the side of the hoop.

-Add quick drying glue to the side of the hoop and fold all those pieces down.

-Add your top hoop and your paper should now be secure!

Decorating these is super fun and nice change from the quadrilateral shape we are used to working in!  For this one I added a bold burlap bow and I really liked the effect it had!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Samantha Walker for Echo Park

Stickers: Samantha Walker for Echo Park & Imaginisce

Gems: Imaginisce

Button: Imaginisce

Burlap: May Arts

See You Later (Card)

Today I start off vacation and our first stop is the zoo!  So it's the perfect time to share this fun animal themed card from the Echo Park "Day at the Zoo" line.  I made this as a sample for The Scrapbooking Studio.

I fussy cut the alligator and quote out and then added a couple of layers of different patterns behind it.  A quick little banner, some extra animal stickers, and enamel dots pull it all together to make a quick and cute card.  I am not sure how often I will have blog access over the next week so my posts may be scattered (or may not :)).  But I will definitely See You Later Alligator :)

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park

Stickers: Echo Park & Simple Stories

Enamel Dots: My Mind's Eye

Day at the Zoo - Echo Park - The Scrapbooking Studio

This month I am playing with the mini theme from Echo Park called "Day at the Zoo" for The Scrapbooking Studio.  I have gobs of zoo pictures so this was a perfect collection to create with!  

I created a grid for my base and then added layers of stickers and fussy cut pieces on top.  To personalize it more I added my own title: "7 loud Meyers at the Zoo."  Using a variety of stickers for this added to the fun of creating it!  On this particular day we were visiting there with a whole group of Ben's family.  There were more than 7 of us - but the group of cousins in the picture has 7 of them!  

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park

Stickers: Bella Blvd, Echo Park

Enamel Dots: Studio Calico

Frozen Party Theme with Samantha Walker and Sketchy Saturday

***If you are looking for the Kiwi Lane Blog Hop it is the next post down or you can click here***

Happy National Scrapbooking Day! Let's go back to winter for a little bit today!  I hear the collective sighs....but if you have a child in love with the movie "Frozen" you are probably still seeing winter type things around right???  My sweet daughter wanted a "Frozen" birthday party last month.  Newsflash...there is not "Frozen" party decor to be had yet.  If it exists, I could not find it.  So I had to get creative.  And in came Samantha Walker with her gorgeous winter files to the rescue.

Now, we're talking about a 7 year old here.  So I wasn't going to go overboard with decorations.  But I definitely wanted a banner and snowflakes.  I got my Silhouette cranking and cut full size snowflakes on 12 X 12 cardstock and then also some reduced size ones.  

I like to create a backdrop for her parties that we can take pretty pictures up against.  I started with an aqua blue colored fabric (could be a cheap tablecloth too - I just happened to have some shimmery material on hand.  I draped twinkle lights behind it.  I then taped the snowflakes at varying lengths to the the ceiling making use of some bakers twine. 

 Next came the banner.  I used Samantha's Par-tay Thyme Font to cut out her name.  The L in Lucy just has to be in a script font right!?!  

I simply attached those to some metallic cardstock (yay for shimmer) and punched a cute border along the bottom. A hole punched in each top corner allowed me to string it up and space it out easily.

This all took me about an hour and the personal touch I was looking for.  Beyond creating those special decorations I added some of my Christmas winter decor in coordinating colors and of course Olaf!  Finding him was a pleasant surprise and a perfect decoration addition since I had little else.  I was really pleased with how it came together and satisfied that I was able to make it work for her even without a party store's help!

Doesn't it look just beautiful!?!  I should mention that I created a couple of tissue paper pom poms (you can see them in the upper corners) those were also very easy - think back to your elementary art class days and making flowers!

I came up with games to go along with several of the songs and the girls loved it!  

Here's what we did:

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?: For this I gave them toothpicks, big marshmallows and little marshmallows and told them to build snowmen while the song was playing.

Fixer Upper: They used toilet paper rolls and fixed up one of their friends as a lovely snowman.

Let it Go: This one was the most fun...I gave them big marshmallows and they had to stand behind a line and throw them at my hubby's head trying to knock a cup of it (yes he's that good of a sport).

In Summer: We did the traditional "hot potato" game but used a chunk of ice instead of passing something else.

Now of course I had to document the party and share that with you today also!  It is National Scrapbooking Day after all! First off I am going to share the sketch that coordinates with this as my Week 9 Sketchy Saturday!  I still have a giveaway going for those who participate in my Sketchy Saturday and you can find the details on that here!

I used Samantha's Par-tay Thyme Font for my title but other than that I stuck to using her Keepin' Cozy line from Echo Park.  The colors in it just worked perfectly!  I did lots of fussy cutting and then topped it off with stickers!  

Now, let's get back to spring!

Samantha Walker Supplies Used:

Par-tay Thyme Font (57535)

Snowflake (38926)

Snowflake (38924)

Snowflake (38922)

Snowflake (38919)

Snowflake (38921)