I was working with the Green at Heart Class Kit from Basic Grey.  They always come up with wonderful layouts that you can create, however, I also like the challenge of using the kit to come up with a new look.  Here, I took half the elements in the kit to create this page about Sisters.




I used a stencil to create the die cut background and inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The edge of the circle photo mat is the patterned paper, cut into strips and folded into pleats.  The Take Notes circle tag was perfect for my title. Each Take Note tag has an optional overlay (such as the flower pattern below).




I used the Pink Paislee 365 Degree Deluxe Kit to create this fun Fair page below.  The colors in this kit are so fun and bright.  I created a 12" swirl as a background for my photos.  After printing off the photos, I cropped them and added them to the swirl background, letting the edges of the photos overlap the ends.  After fixing all the photos to my template, I trimmed the edges into the swirl pattern.  I added a title, journaling a few embellishments and my quick and easy page was complete.   

 I used the Cricut Create a Critter to cut the frame, bee and hive.



I took all the left over bits and made this card.

Pink Paislee really went for the vibrance this release.  Today, I'm working with the Bayberry Cottage Deluxe Kit from the Shoppe.  The purply-pink, blues and lime greens just scream Spring to me.  


I decided to scrap the wonderful joy of having a digital camera and using some of those well...oops photos...that we can see right on the spot and immediately keep clicking that camera til we get just the right picture.  Anatomy of an Easter photo came about due to the fact, that it is almost virtually impossible to get a 4 and 5 year old to smile AND look at the camera at the same time.  "Look up please...both of you look up...now smile...um, eyes open?  Both of you, look right here at this little circle and on the count of three, open your eyes and SMILE!!!  Are we done yet???  I give up!"  Here is the result:

What's a layout without a Martha Stewart border punch.  Here I used the Layered Arches combo set to create the photo mat.




And then to complete the layout, I added lots of beautiful embellies from the kit, including those gorgeous Say it in Pearls and Roses mini swirls.  The shoppe is carrying lots of the beautiful Prima flourishes and swirls in several colors.


So, before you just gloss over those "mistake" photos...why not create a fun layout using them instead.

Check out this great video tutorial we found by Pink Paislee showing different ways to use their new Artisan tape!




You can find the Artisan Tapes in our new Pink Paislee Deluxe Kits.  It's always fun to play with something new!

Pink Paislee has come up with some beautimous papers in their 365 Degree collection and the 365 Degree Deluxe kit available in the Shoppe just makes your mouth water.  I just received some of the new kits in the mail yesterday, started and finished this up today. 

The porch scene (stamp by Inkadinkadoo) is colored with Copic markers that I also found in box yesterday.  What a happy mail day!! 




The envelope was made using one sheet of the double sided paper from the kit, along with the lace and Prima blossom.  I added shimmer to the flourishes and blossom using Frost Sheer Shimmer Spritz also found in the kit. Information on the envelope tutorial can be found here, on my blog.




Now Mom-in-Law's card is done and complete. 

Aside from the fact that the color combination is gorgeous in this Amber Road paper kit by Pink Paislee, look at the patterns and designs. I love the look of the red damask patterned paper, the shape of the die cut paper and incredible journaling cards. It has it all.

Before I used the vibrant, red flip side of the jouranling cards sheet, I made sure I cut out all the cards I would use first. After doing that, I didn't need to worry about how much of the red paper I used. Strip piecing on your layout gives you the ability to use many of the patterns in your paper kit, without using a lot of paper. More paper equals more layouts and that gives you a nice return for your dollar!

I frequently choose a lot of my embellishments straight from the patterned paper itself. The tree blossoms were easily cut out with my exacto knife (I highly recommend a Swivel Exacto Knife). I popped up about 3/4 of the flowers with pop dots to give nice dimension to my layout.

If you are not a fan of the one picture per layout style that is out right now, then add additional "sound bytes," as I call them. Choose several photographs and crop them into 2" squares. They are an easy addition to your layout without significantly changing your design.

Happy Scrapping!

Have a great weekend!
Tammy