Kiwi Lane Blog Hop!

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today I am excited to be participating in the November Kiwi Lane Blog Hop!  I have always enjoyed these hops as a follower because I love seeing all the amazing things that can be made using Kiwi Lane's designer templates.  Now I get to show you what I made with mine! 

Make sure to leave a comment at the end of this post because one random winner chosen from one of the participating blogs (including the Kiwi Lane blog), will be given a $25 gift certificate to the Kiwi Lane Shop!!  The winner will be announced on the Kiwi Lane blog on Thursday, November 7th.  Here is the blog lineup in case you get lost or this is the first you're hearing of the hop:

Kiwi Lane

** Cristine Redmond ** You Are Here!

Joy Nielsen

Van Nguyen

Minousha Bari

Lissa Mitchell

Arin Flynn

Kerri Smith

Christine Meyer

Christina Steel

Now that all of the technical stuff is out of the way, let's get this project reveal started!  I was given the Nature template set to work with: 

Being that fall is in full swing in my neighborhood, I was immediately drawn to the two leaf templates in this set.  I thought it would be fun to put together a wreath for my front door. 

Here are the supplies I used:
- wreath (mine was a straw wreath)
- burlap (can be ribbon or fabric cut into strips)
- Kiwi Lane Nature set
- Patterned Paper
- additional embellishments as needed
- glue gun
- a bone folder if it has a rounded edge and a straight edge, or a spoon & knife
- mouse pad or other soft surface

Here is the wreath that I created:

First I wrapped the wreath using burlap ribbon with a frayed edge to give the wreath a bit of visual interest.  Then I used the templates to cut out leaves from various papers from Authentique's Gathering collection.  I wanted to make these leaves look like more than just paper, so I flipped my leaves over to the side I wasn't going to be showing and used the rounded side of my bone folder in a circular motion to make the edges of the leaves curl up.  Then I flipped the leaves over and used the straight edge of my bone folder to create lines to look like the veins in the leaves.  Sounds complicated, but it was super quick and easy and gave the leaves so much more dimension (it's hard to see from the pictures).   

I used some lighter colored burlap fabric to make the rosettes, using my glue gun to keep them together and then to adhere them to the wreath.  What is the saying?  "I craft, therefore I have no fingerprints."  Yeah, that was me last weekend.  :)

I added a couple extra leaves and another rosette to the top of the wreath to balance out the heaviness of the other side.

I am SO HAPPY with the way this wreath turned out! As a self-proclaimed "novice," I've always wanted to make a pretty wreath but have always thought it would be too hard.  This came together so quickly and easily and I am so proud to have it hanging on my front door now.

Thank you so much for hopping by!  Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a $25 gift certificate to the Kiwi Lane Gift Shop!!  Now hop on over to Joy Nielson's blog to see the amazing project she created!

Until next time,

I'm still here!!

Oh my word!  It's been quite a while, hasn't it?  So much has been happening the past couple months that I guess blogging took a back seat for a bit.  Not to worry, though.  I have been staying busy scrapping on and off during my bloggy time out.  I attended my very first crop with some friends I met in a scrappy group online.  We met in St. Louis and cropped at Archiver's on National Scrapbooking Day.  It was SO. MUCH. FUN!  I thought I would be intimidated cropping with such talented ladies, but it was so relaxing and natural.  I need to do that again!

I've also been working on some pages to help my Aunt make a scrapbook for my cousin, who is graduating from high school this week.  She called me about two months ago saying that she was going to put together a scrapbook for my cousin...using pictures from the day he was born through today!!  Nothing like leaving a project until the last minute, right?  :)  I offered to help and almost reconsidered when the stack of pictures showed up in my mail box.  No lie...it was bigger than the stack of pictures I have to scrap of my own girls.  But I have scrapped them all and I hope my Aunt and cousin like them.

Here are a couple of the last ones that I did:

For the first layout, I used Authentique's Celebrate collection.  I made the banner and the pennants using papers from the Celebrate 6x6 paper pad.

For the second layout, I used my On the Bright Side 6x6 paper pad.  (A recent steal on scrapbooksteals.com!)  I love that I was able to do a 12x12 layout with 6x6 papers.  The seams are hidden under the big banner and behind the picture.  This layout is a little plain in my eyes, but it's for an almost 18 year-old boy, so there was no need to go crazy with it.  I love how both layouts turned out. 

Well, that is all for now!  Tomorrow is my biggie's last day of preschool and I have to make a couple cards for her teachers.  I'll be back soon to show you more things I made during my time away.

Until next time...

My Uncommon Miracle

Hello, all! Happy Friday! Hope it's going to be as gorgeous where you are as it's supposed to be here!

Today is my last featured post over on the Authentique blog. Super sad, I know, but I am coming away from this experience with tons of...well...experience! I feel like I've grown so much as a crafter since being a part of Authentique's first design team (as well as my own!!). I've challenged myself to push outside of my crafty comfort zone and I genuinely feel that the work I have created while on this design team have been some of my best.

Alright, sappy stuff aside. Let's get down to business! I have a layout to share with you and then I'll get on with the good stuff...a giveaway!!

This is the layout that I created for my post today:

So pretty, if I do say so myself. :) I love how this turned out! Be sure to check out my post for more details!

If you've been following me for a while, you know that I tend to always use a sketch or some sort of inspiration to create from. Well, this layout is no different. I used a sketch from a sketch book I found at my local craft store. I can't show you the sketch because I'd be violating the copyright laws, but just know that it looks like my layout. :)

Now, on to the good stuff! To celebrate (or mourn, you're call) the end of the Authentique design team term, I am giving away one Genuine collection.

Pretty, isn't it? :)

Here is how you win: Become a follower of my blog (and Authentique's blog if you aren't already), then leave me a comment! Simple as that! I'll leave this giveaway open until Saturday, March 31st at midnight CST and I will draw and post the winner on April 1st! Giveaway is for US and Canadian residents only.

Thank you so much for following me on my Authentique DT journey and be sure to stay tuned because there's always something to scrap! :)

I've done a color challenge!

Why did that statement require an exclamation point? Because color challenges REALLY stump me. But this one was different...

I recently stumbled upon a challenge site called The Play Date Cafe. They were having a color challenge that completely spoke to me. Let's see if you can figure out why...

Ok, this color challenge just SCREAMS for Authentique's Blissful collection, right? And I'm not just saying that because I'm on the design team. These colors ARE Blissful. No doubt about it.

I was immediately inspired by a layout I made with the Blissful collection.

I have to admit...yellow is not one of my favorite colors. GASP!! But I also have to admit that this layout is one of my favorites that I've ever made. And it wasn't even for me! The picture of my friend's little girl just begged to be scrapped with Blissful and I was thrilled with the way it turned out.

Why am I telling you all this? Because this is the first time a layout has inspired me to create a card. Granted, my card turned out different than this, but the basic idea is still there...

This has to be one of the biggest cards I've ever made and probably the first square card I've made as well. I'm pleased with the way my layout translated into card form. Only thing that would have made it better? Actual stitching instead of faux stitching. My pink thread is disastrously low and I wouldn't have had enough to make it around the shape. :(

Thank you for stopping by today! I have more up my sleeves, so check back soon!

Scrapbooksteals and Authentique...together again.

Hello friends! I know I have mentioned this MANY times before, but for my new readers who might be in the dark...I. Love. Scrapbooksteals.com. I stumbled upon their site just over two years ago and I've been a loyal stealer ever since (much to my husband's dismay). :) They are my go-to place for scrapbooking supplies and even more so for inspiration.

Today Scrapbooksteals.com is featuring Authentique's Journey collection as their steal! AND not only that, today the Authentique Design Team is taking part in the MCM (Monday Card Madness)!

Here is today's sketch:

And here is my interpretation:

This collection is completely versatile. It can be used on anything from baby boy pages/cards to snow pages/cards...and everything in between!

I hope you'll all go over to Scrapbooksteals.com's blog today and check out all of the other Design Team members' interpretations of the sketch!

Until next time...

It's Authentique Sketch Challenge time again!

I hope everyone's having a wonderful weekend! March's Sketch Challenge was posted on Authentique's blog this morning. I absolutely LOVE the sketches for the card and layout. I had to take on the layout version.

Here is the sketch:

And here is the layout I created with it:

The Celebrate collection has to be one of my all-time favorite collections. It ranks up there with Authentique's Gathering collection, for sure! (And I'm not just saying that because I'm on the Design Team.) :) I love the aquas, blacks and reds together. We all know I'm a sucker for aqua...

I thought I'd add a bit of whimsey to my layout buy adding a pinwheel. I'll admit, this is the first time I've ever made one, but I love how it came out! I added a sparkly brad to the center and inked the edges in coordinating ink. Love it!

I used a lot of techniques on this layout...distressing paper, punches, dimensional adhesive, just to name a few. I love how each one of them added something to this layout.

I hope you all will head over to Authentique's blog today to check out the other creations the rest of the Design Team made!

Until next time...

A Splendid Wreath

So we all know that I like to refer to myself as a scrappy "novice." I like to say that because I feel fairly new to the scrappy world and have been s.l.o.w.l.y. trying to do things other than just scrapbook pages and cards. The proof? The project I created for today's Authentique post! Check it out!!

Be sure to head over to Authentique's blog to see how I put this little cutie together. :)

Until next time...

A Different Kind of Miracle

Hello, all! Today I am featured over on Authentique's blog. I created a layout using the Miracle collection. I wanted to show how versatile the collection is by using it on a non-baby-themed layout. For this layout, I used a sketch from scrapbooksteals.com, which was created by guest sketcher Becci Manies.

Here is the sketch:


And here is my layout:


I love the whimsical feel that the banner, pennants and rosettes give this layout. I definitely had fun making it for my friend!

Be sure to check out Authentique's blog to see detailed pictures of this layout!

A Labor of Love

Hello all! If you've been following the Authentique blog, you'll know that today February's sketch challenge went live! When I saw the sketch, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. Executing my brain child was a different story, though.

Here are the sketches for this month:


After 6+ hours of hand-stitching, here is the final product:


And here is a close-up of some of the detail work:


The picture is of my daughter with her Godparents, who also happen to be my best friend and her husband. It means the world to me that they are in my daughter's life, as well as ours. I only hope this layout shows how much they mean to me.

I hope you all will play along with this month's challenge! I look forward to see what you all create!

My two favorite things!

Happy Friday, everyone! If you've been following me since the beginning (whenever that was!), you know that I am a HUGE fan of scrapbooksteals.com. I've been avidly stealing their amazing products since December 2009 and have made many life-long friends through their facebook page.

Well, as an Authentique design team member, it makes my heart happy to know that you will be able to steal some Uncommon goodies on their website today! Hooray! If you've been having a hard time finding Authentique or are a thrifty buyer and won't spend full price on anything, then you HAVE to check them out today! Also, check out their blog today to see some examples of projects the design team has made with this collection!

Happy Stealing!

It's a Miracle!

Hello all! Just wanted to stop by and let you all know that I am featured today on Authentique's blog. Our design team is promoting Helmar adhesive products this week, so I created a cute layout with the help of their products. Oh, and I used one of Authentique's BRAND NEW collections, Miracle! This collection is a mix of new and revamped old papers from other collections. It is a gorgeous collection.

Here is a sneak peek:

If you want to see the rest, be sure to head over to Authentique's blog!

I'm still here! I promise!!

Hello friends! I'm sorry I've been MIA a lot lately! It seems like ever since Christmas passed us by, things have gotten a little hectic around here. (Isn't that supposed to STOP once Christmas is over??) Both of my girls were sick one right after the other and the past week or so I've been busy making some projects for Authentique to take to CHA. That, folks, is pretty exciting for this scrappy novice! =) I hope to be able to show you all some of my projects in the near future, but for now, I'll show you a Christmas project I did using Authentique's Wonder collection.

I found a naked wood block set at my local big box store and decided to give it a whirl. I'd never attempted to do anything like this before and there's a first time for everything, right?

I started by tracing the letters on to the paper I wanted to use and then cut them out. I also cut out the papers that I would be putting on the blocks. I used my Xyron X sticker maker to adhere everything to their respective wooden piece.

The papers on the blocks overlapped, so I used some sand paper to file it down on all of the edges/corners.

Then I used a Colorbox Chalk cat's eye ink pad (in Chestnut Roan) on the edges of the blocks and letters.

I glued the letters to the blocks, added some buttons and floss and VOILA! My project was complete!

For being a first timer at doing something like this, I'm pretty excited about the outcome. Not to mention, this is the first project that made some sort of ripple in the waters of the craft world...Xyron featured this on their facebook page and it can even be found on Pinterest as pinned by Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine. I have to say, I was pretty psyched about that. =)

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! I will be back soon with some cute layouts!

A Splendid Photo Display...

Hello friends! It is January 4th...am I the only one in disbelief? It seems like just yesterday was Halloween and somehow Thanksgiving and Christmas have zoomed past us. Where does the time go? In any event, I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season.

Moving right along, I am featured today over on Authentique's blog. I created this cute frame:

Be sure to head over to their blog to see the tutorial! Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

A Wonderful Gift Card Holder

Good evening, friends! Anyone else ready for Christmas to be over with? {raises hand} It seems like the middle of December raced to get here and the days have been creeping by ever since. Maybe it's just me.

ANYway, I thought I'd make a card to put a gift card in. We all know how attractive the card holder that comes with the gift card usually are. I decided to put a different spin on them this year. And I'll tell you something...this is SUCH an easy and cute way to dress up a gift card!

I used a craft pocket as the card holder and then decorated around it a bit using twine, an edge punch and a little tag I made.

This card probably took me 20 minutes to make. That's quite an accomplishment in this crafty novice's book. :)

I hope I inspired you to put a new spin on an old (an unattractive) idea.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Until next time...