American Crafts | Year In Review

This is a personal blog.  All editorial content and projects are intellectual property of http://americancrafts.typepad.com/.  I do receive financial compensation and material product from American Crafts to develop my craft posts, but all ideas and opinions are my own.

Hi everyone!  It's Year In Review week on the American Crafts blog.  I'm sharing a clip it up frame that I created using the Dear Lizzy Documentary and Jen Hadfield DIY Home collections.

Supplies:  Dear Lizzy Documentary (340200) - Foiled Stickers Accents & Phrases, Dear Lizzy Documentary (340204) - Ephemera W/Gold Foil,Dear Lizzy Documentary (340205) - Dimensional Cork Bows, Dear Lizzy Documentary (HS340217) - Watercolor Tags, Dear Lizzy Documentary (340293) -Foiled Acetate Heart Of Gold, Jen Hadfield DIY Home (JH732941) - Minc Cards

1.  Print out some of your favorite photographs from the past year and clip them to your desired frame.

2. Choose your favorite embellishments and add them to your frame in between your photos.

3.  Once you get all of your desired photos and embellishments sorted and clipped to your 

frame, move them around as needed until you get your desired look.

4.  Display your frame in your home and enjoy!

How are you documenting your photos from the past year?

Scrapbook Circle | Planner Addict

Have you all jumped on the planner craze yet?  I bought this awesome Hello Beautiful planner month's ago, and up until now I haven't done much with it.  My assignment at Scrapbook Circle this month encouraged me to jump in and get planning!  I used their July You Are My Favorite Kit and added a few pieces from the add-ons.

I love the bits and pieces included in this month's July You Are My Favorite Kit and Add-on's, they are perfect for adding simple touches to my planner.

On my calendar page for the month, I write out ahead of time, things that we have scheduled, and then as things come up and we do them, I add them to the calendar.  Bits and pieces from the main kit (July You Are My Favorite) and the July Let's Do It add-on and That Was Fun Add-on helped me to really make my pages stand out.

I hung Crate paper confetti Tassels from the binder rings on my pages.  I used a fine tip pen and Jillibean Soup Mini Alphabet stickers (included in That Was Fun Add-On) to document our plans.

The washi tape and wood veneer shapes (included in the That Was Fun Add-On) helped

bring life to my pages.

I also used a lot of the Confetti Ephemera pieces through out my planner and tucked them in here and there using pockets and paper clips (not included in kits).  My planner is now set, and ready to document lots of memories!

Heidi Swapp Minc project

Hi everyone!  I recently picked up the new Minc machine by Heidi Swapp and couldn't wait to dive in!  

 I instantly started playing and fell in love right away with this machine!  I found it to be very user friendly and fun to play with!  

Once I started playing, I found it  hard to stop.  I just wanted to foil all the things!

I recently picked up this antique looking burlap frame and thought that the Minc embellishments would look awesome pinned to it!

I absolutely adore the 3D Minc butterflies, I foiled them in gold, mint, and light pink, and then stitched them together using my sewing machine!

I added a photo of my daughter and foiled the letter "K" for her initial using gold foil.

I even managed to sneak in a xoxo clear frame from the Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss Insta Kit, behind her photo.

I layered some of the pieces, added an antique flower and pinned my pieces onto my frame using pearl stick pins.  

This frame will make a great addition to her room, or I might just keep it for myself because I love it that much!  If you haven't picked up a Heidi Swapp Minc machine yet, run don't walk.  Joann's has them on sale right now for 25% off!  

Grateful | Scrapbook Circle

Hi everyone,

I have a layout up on the Scrapbook Circle blog today that I would like to share with you.  Every month at Scrapbook Circle they do a "lifting you" feature.  They chose a layout that was shared on their Facebook page and designate a Creative Team member to "lift" this page.

The layout that I was given to "lift" was from featured member Rebecca.

I liked the layers of the pattern paper to anchor the fanned-out pictures and the strip of embellishments along the bottom edge to hold them all together.

I used the November main kit Little Moments and the Sweetness add-on.  Instead of using paper strips of various lengths behind my photo, like in the original, I used feathers.  I also grouped embellishments around my photo and added a border around the layout.

I added a few drops of spray mist and some stitching.  The whole layout came together fairly quickly.

If you haven't already - stop by Scrapbook Circle to pick up this great kit!

Scrapbook Circle | One Item Wonder

Hi Everyone,

I'm sharing a layout that I made today for Scrapbook Circle using their November kit: Little Moments.  For our One Item Wonder assignment this month we were asked to create a page focusing on the Bella Blvd. sticker sheet included in the kit.

I kept the overall design simple and used large chevrons on the right side of my page as a design element.  I used the Bella Blvd.  sticker sheet to create my title.  I used several of the caption words (included in the sticker sheet) as a way to document and describe my photo.  I also added in a few other stickers from the sheet (blue star & November arrow).  I used both November add-ons on this page (Sweetness and Home Sweet Home).

I really enjoyed working with the November kit this month.  To get yours, stop by the Scrapbook Circle store.

Designer's Choice | Scrapbook Circle

Hi everyone!
I have a layout to share with you today that I made using the November 'Little Moments' Kit from Scrapbook Circle.  When I first saw the papers and embellishments included in the November kit, I was so delighted.  This kit is perfect for documenting your Fall photos and memories.  Fall is my favorite season.  I love the warm colors, the cooler weather and of course - all things pumpkin!  I decided to document my love for this Fall favorite on my layout, featuring a simple grid design.

To create my layout I first started by using a punch to punch out 9 squares from pattern paper.  Then I lined them up on my page to create a grid design.  I used the Little Moments Digital Cut Files and the November  Sweetness and Home Sweet Home Add-on's to embellish my page.  I added small photos and digital cuts (yes, no, and maybe) to complete the look.

One of my favorite embellishments to play with this month were the  Heidi Swapp Sept Skies Color Magic Resist Die Cuts included in the Sweetness Add-on.  I experimented with different shades and brands of spray mist to personalize them.  I love the way that the resist works and the way they pick up color.  I misted several pieces and then added them to page, along with other fun embellishments from the main kit and add-on kits.

I hope you are inspired by my layout today.  If you create a project with one of  Scrapbook Circle's current kits, we would love to see it.  Be sure to share it with us on Facebook.

*American Crafts Spotlight and Winner Revealed*

Hi Everyone,

I am back today to share my first American Crafts DT layout for the new DT year but first, I need to announce the winner of the American Crafts 2014 - 2015 Design Team Blog Hop! 

The winner is..........

Amy, please contact me so that I can send out your prize.  Thank you to all of those that took the time to leave a comment on my blog, I truly appreciate it!

and now on to my Spotlight layout.

Using repeated patterns on my projects is a signature style of mine.  

I loved the lovely word die to create the perfect background for my photos.

Supplies: Cardstock (AM710-81) - 12x12 White, Shimelle (368179) - Globe/Lovely/Banner Dies, Shimelle (368171) - Photo Overlays, Shimelle (368160) - 6x6 Pad, Shimelle (368175) - Wood Veneer Shapes, DIY Shop (366900) - Mini Stapler, Homemade (732621) - Glitter Stickers, Heidi Swapp (HS00793) Color Shine Bronzer, Adhesive (AM617-13) This To That Dispenser

How to:  Using watercolor paints, color a light pink line across the top of your white cardstock background page and set aside to dry.  Next, splatter gold misting spray on top of white cardstock and set aside to dry.  Use "lovely die" from the Shimelle die set to die cut title.  Die cut the 'lovely' title 15 times with various pieces of paper using the 6x6 Shimelle paper pad.  Print two wallet sized photos and cover with overlays before adhering down.  Finish layout by adding gold glitter stickers, wood veneer hearts and mini staples.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Today Layout *The Cut Shoppe DT

Hi everyone,

I am so excited to share my first official The Cut Shoppe DT layout with you!  

Today Layout

I love using big bold statement pieces on my layouts.  Once I enlarged the Going In Circles cut file and backed it with different pieces of coordinating patterned papers, it became just that :)

For my first layout this month I used the Going in Circles cut file (enlarged) and the Say Anything cut file to create the title.

I am having so much fun with these cut files and can't wait to share more upcoming projects with you! 

You can see all the other amazing files in The Cut Shoppe Store!

Don't forget to play along with our monthly challenge for a chance to win a $10 GC to the store!  Here are the details! Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

pinterest inspired week

Hiya friends,

We are having a Pinterest inspired week over at Epiphany Crafts. We were challenged to find a project on Pinterest that we could draw inspiration from and then recreate a similar project.

Here is my inspiration photo:

button frame by Jen Jockisch for American Crafts
link: http://pinterest.com/pin/256423772504204797/

and my recreated Pinterest project -

Heart button frame:

supplies:
Epiphany Crafts: round 14 button studio tool, round 14 acrylic buttons; round 25 button studio tool, round 25 acrylic buttons; flower 20 button studio tool, flower 20 acrylic buttons
pattern papers: Heidi Swapp (sugar chic collection)
frame, burlap: craft supply
adhesive: Helmar's: quick dry 450 (liquid)

I chose bold pattern papers (Heidi Swapp) to match the bright pink paint color of the frame. TFS!

Life with a teenager...

Hi friends,
I hope that you had a great Memorial Day weekend. I am still recovering from a fun weekend of camping, boating, paddle boarding and a night out with my girlfriends (ladies night - Ya!)
We do an annual camping trip every Memorial day weekend and Labor day weekend with some of our closest friends. It is always a blast and I always have a ton of laundry to do when I get home. Thankfully I finished the mountain of laundry yesterday, so now I can play.

I have a fun layout to share with you using Studio Calico's 35mm kit.
Life with a teenager layout:

journaling reads: "is a camera attached, photos snapping all day long."

I loved the kit this month from Studio Calico. I had a blast playing with these Heidi Swap Color Magic Letter Box Alphas
and watercolor paint.

supplies:
all supplies from
Studio Calico May 35 mm kit (unless otherwise noted)

pattern paper: My Mind's Eye (On the Bright Side "Turquoise Wood")
die cuts: Studio Calico
Heidi Swap Color Magic Letter Box Alphas (Pink Paislee)
Style 308 Washi Tape (Freckled Fawn)
Vintage Camera Badge (Marcy Penner Exclusive)
Tiny Flag SMASH Clips (EK Success)
not included in kit:
watercolor paint: Michael's
pen: Zig
tag: Staples
template: chicken wire reversed (Julie Balzer designs - The Crafter's Workshop)
spray mist: Studio Calico (Mister Huey's - Calico white)
Staz On ink: Timber brown
stamp: Studio Calico (woodgrain- from you are my happy stamp set)

Thanks for stopping by!