Boys cards can't be beat

As a mother of 2 boys, I always need cards for males, so I'm really happy to have 3 cards to add to my stash for later use. Each of the cards uses Basic Grey "Oxford" papers and embellishments plus kraft card blanks.

 

Challenges:

Basic Grey Challenge - anything goes

Here Come the Boys - lots of layers

Eclectic Ellapu - masculine

Daring Cardmakers - hot chocolate (totally inspired by the colour

Lollipop Ladies - nerds

Inspiration:

Card #1:  Feeling Sketchy - sketch
Card #2:  Tuesday Morning Sketches - sketch
Card #3:  Seems a Little Sketchy - sketch

Inspired By - picture inspiration (picked this set of papers/embellies because of the school supply inspiration)
 

 

Easter bookmarks

Still desperately trying to reduce my stack of supplies so that I can walk through my dining room again. I think I managed to use up about 1/2" worth of scrap paper by creating a stack of corner bookmarks (the book page slides in behind the bunny face so the ears are sticking out). These are my favourites - super easy to create, but cute as can be. I've made enough to use them for school Easter goodie bags. If you want to try making your own corner bookmarks there are a tonne of tutorials available online but my initial inspiration came from Positively Peaches Monster bookmark.

Challenges:
Allsorts - animals
One Stop Craft Challenge - for the kids
Hotshot Craft - anything but a card
Creative Belli - hearts
Deep Ocean Challenge - "B" (for bunny, bookmark & brown)

What a Hoot

Another project created from some of my BFF Jacqui's stash. This time she gave me a page kit from Lickety Split and even though the page layouts included in the kit were adorable, I decided to instead convert it into a mini album.

I included both chipboard and acrylic pages but otherwise kept the album design simple since the papers were so busy. All of the embellishments (flowers, leaves, brads, die cuts) came from the page kit - all I added was some cardstock and the album pages. Oh, and instead of binding the pages with rings, I used ribbon from my own stash.

 

I can't get over how quickly this album came together. So easy when all the papers & embellies are together. And even though I didn't use the page design provided in the kit, it really helped to give me ideas. Also so much easier when I just sit down and do it instead of over-thinking the process!

 

Challenges:

Glitter n Sparkle - anything but a card

Allsorts - things with wings

Alphabet Challenge - anything with wings

Hotshot Craft - anything but a card

 

 

Making card kit projects unique

I picked up a card kit at my LSS (on sale!) and spent an enjoyable evening putting the cards together but I really wanted to adapt the cards and make them more unique and personal to my style. I decided to take the finished card kit cards and use them as toppers on larger cards with additional layers & embellishments. This worked great since the kit cards were quite small and there was plenty of leftover paper.

The first card is based on a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches (see below). I rotated the sketch and used the kit card as the central "image". I chose to have lots of white space to avoid having the final card be too busy as well as keep it looking fresh & crisp.

Challenges - "Merry & Bright" card:

Crafty Hazelnut's  - Christmas card without snow
Pal's Paper Arts - colour combo
Tuesday Morning Sketches - sketch

The second card is based on a sketch from Cupcake Craft. Again, the central "image" is the kit card with additional paper and ribbon elements added. Instead of stretching the ribbon across the card, I tried looping it - I really like the extra dimension and interest. I added some red Stickles to the tree and the corners of the "celebrate" banner - after all, Christmas cards can never have too much glitter!

Challenges - "Celebrate" card:

All that Stickles - Xmas red stickles
Cupcake Craft - sketch

 Pretty Little Ribbon - anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - anything goes

Run like the wind

Thanks to my BFF, Jacqui, and her need to clean out some of her stash, I found myself gaining a whole pile of paper packs and kits over the weekend. I certainly don't "need" any more stuff but I just can't say no to free anything. To relieve my guilt at adding to my pile of supplies, I decided to use this new stuff as quickly as possible. Here is the first layout that I made:

The papers and rub-ons are from the Reminisce "Genuine Boy" collection and the page design is modified from a 12" x 12" Photo Express page kit (from a couple years ago when they still had scrapbooking).

Challenges:
Craft room challenge - make your own embellishments (the gears are created by fussy-cutting details from a piece of patterned paper, adding some rub-ons, then matting on card).
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - make your own embellishments