My American Idols Scrapbook Page

These are pictures from last Christmas - 2006. That is the year we discovered Karaoke Revolution. We started with Singstar but it is a little more difficult - not as much for getting the right notes as getting the right rhythm. I always have difficulty finding red and blue paper without it being a patriotic theme. I love that paper but it was not really appropriate here. The stripe is from the textiles pack from Creative Memories. It comes in handy for me because evidently I love to buy red and blue clothes for my boys :-) The red paper has a splatter print that really does not show in the pic. I stamped a mixture of Real Red and Charcoal gray ink using a Fancy Pants stamp from Bella Brush. I love these stamps because they are so substantial. They are kinda' pricey but worth it. They do require a larger acrylic block. I did not have one that large so I ended up using one of my Cuttlebug plates. It was just the right size. They will also work with that Fiskars stamp press. The blue paper was from a paper Stack and the black is Bazzill.

Thomas and Mary at Homecoming

This is my oldest son in 2006. I did this layout for our family book. Thomas had long hair back then. It is very short now and he looks so different. They come over just before going to homecoming so I could take pictures. The stripe is Basic Grey paper as well as the grey and beige so called solids. Black and red is Bazzill. The flourish red paper is by Lasting Impressions. I bought it to make Christmas cards but fell in love with the retro pink Anna Griffin paper instead. I inked the chipboard flourish from Maya Road and added some vintage buttons and a Bazzill flower. The fibers are Basic Grey.

Bible Drill Layout

Samuel was in Bible Drill in 6th Grade and went to state and made a 24. That is a perfect score so he got to keep the Bible he used to Drill with. This page uses Creative Memories paper from the textile package. Also used was paper from a Paper pad by DCWV. The script paper was made with the Stamp Up! Script stamp. These pictures were not very clear because they were from a phone camera but it is better than having no pictures. I always use Creative Memories Albums because I like the way the edges of the pages have that strip for protection. It is a pain the cut the paper since they are a little smaller than 12 x 12, but it is worth it. The only time I use a different brand is for Disney trips. I love the covers of their albums but I don't like the post bound pages. Sometimes they look crooked in the book.

Back to Scrapbooking

I have said before that I LOVE BASIC GREY! Nothing has changed. In fact, I think I use it more now. I have changed a lot as a scrapbooker. I started with some minor decoration on the edge and maybe a box with a sticker or two. My first CM Rep liked to do "naked albums" with almost no embellishment so the photos would stand out. I have learned over the last few years that photos can still stand out with a lot of embellishment.



The Basic Grey paper I used is from The Pheobe Collection. I thought it looked like bubbles. The solid paper is Bazzill. One of the problems I have with my journaling on the computer is that I cannot fit the 12" paper in the printer. A couple of weeks ago I read some tips on a scrapbooking website called ScrapFriends.us. I bought some full sheet see-through labels on ebay. You can get them at the office supply store. Now I can journal on them and stick them anywhere I want them. I am going to add some flourishes next time I try this. The trick is to really burnish them down on the page so the edges don't show. I also inked the edge of the solid green paper and the bubble print. Sometimes this helps the paper to blend in and not look so stark against the contrasting paper. I don't know if you can tell but there are three different print papers on each page.

The story of these pages is the conversion of our pool. We bought a home with a pool that had not been used for a while. We drained it, cleaned it, patched a couple of deep damaged spots and painted it with pool epoxy paint. It was an experience! But worth the work for the savings.

Thank You Card

This is a card I made for a friend that had a Christmas party and invited me. She is very encouraging when she gets handmade cards so I love to send them to her. The paper is Daisy D's that I got on sale from 2 Peas in a Bucket. I couldn't remember who made the paper so I went over to the site and saw a huge sale. I am going to have to go back there when I get done with this post :-) I inked the edge of the background paper with a turquoise ink and the edge of the sentiment with a lime green. The sentiment is by Printworks from a acrylic scripture set and the corner stamp is by Paper Salon - Tailored tins, Fancy Flourishes. I am a sucker for flourishes. I just bought some flourish die cuts and chip board flourishes. My favorite flourishes are by Fancy Pants - Bella Brush Stamps. Right now I am trying a new set of stamps by Fancy Pants called Simply Stated. I hope to post that card soon. Anyway, this card is 5 x 6 1/2". I like to make larger cards even though it takes so much more paper.

Paper Trey Stamps Card

I love ladybugs and now I can make them any color I want to make them. We always seem to be finding ladybugs around our home and garden. When I had a vegetable garden I found out that ladybugs eat aphids and all kinds of bad bugs so I am happy to have them live with me :-) I ordered several sets of Papertrey stamps a while back. This stamp is from Little Lady. The sentiment stamp is from a clear set I got at Hobby Lobby. The printed paper is from a Sharon Ann Paper kit by Deja Views. It is vellum. The background paper is from a DCWV Paper Stack. I antiqued the edge of the white and the dotted paper. I love this stamp but it is hard for me to get it to line up. I have to stamp about 5-6 to get a good one. If you have any ideas that would help me please leave a comment!

More Encourager Cards

For this first card I used a CTMH Hydrangea stamp. SU has a set almost like this so you could use that instead if you have it. This little 2-step stamp comes in handy for backgrounds and filling white space. I think the yellow dot is Memory Makers paper. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

This next card is my favorite. I cased it from a Christmas card in red and white. I would have made it the same color but I could not find red and white floral paper. This patterned paper is Anna Griffin. You can hardly see it but I stamped the purple paper which is Creative Memories with Autumn Leaves Swirls stamps. The SU set I used is Gentler Times. I antiqued the edge of the large floral stamp and used a Paper Salon "friends" stamp. These are rubber but backed for an acrylic block.

For the next card I used SU Polka Dot Posies. This was a stamp set which I searched for quite a while. The green polka dots paper and orange cardstock is from Creative Memories.

For the last card I bought this stamp set just to use with this ribbon. I bought the ribbon for a dollar at Michael's but the fruit stamp set cost about $10 with shipping from Clear Dollar Stamps. The flower stamp is a Paper Trey stamp. The funny thing was that the ribbon only had 3-4 feet so I already used it all. Sometimes that $1 ribbon is not such a deal :-)

Encourager Cards

My church has an Encourager Conference in the Summer for pastors from all over the US. Two weeks before the conference we send cards to each pastor and his family - one each day. These are some of the cards I have made for the conference. For the first one I used SU Bitty Backgrounds and an old wood mounted CTMH flourish stamp. The Happiness Always is from the SU Happy Harmony Set. The patterned paper is by Paper Adventures and a little bit of Basic Grey!

This card was made with Anna Griffin patterned paper and the Classic Rose Wood Mounted CTMH Stamp Set. I got this set on Ebay and I think it was my first stamp purchase.

This card was made with the SU Delight in Life flower. This little flower comes in handy on a lot of projects. I put some tiny self adhesive "jewels" in the center of the flower. I made a birthday card for my 13 yo to give his girlfriend. It looks a little more like a teen than most of my cards.





This card also used a SU Delight in Life flower. The sentiment is from SU Mixed Greetings.



These last two cards use Best Blossoms leaves and more Anna Griffin paper.

Quickutz and the Cuttlebug

I got a new die from a great seller on Ebay - brredr1234. I got it for about half price. Revolution Flourish by Quickutz. It is $18.00 at my LSS and I got it for $8.50 plus $1.87 shipping. I love bargains.

It came with the foam separated so you can add the foam if you are using thin paper or not add it if you are using thick cardstock or chipboard. I added the foam and it would not cut all the way through Bazzill cardstock so I peeled off the foam around each image and used it with A, B, & C mats. It worked great.

The thing I love about the Cuttlebug is that you can use so many different brands of dies and I got mine for about $50.

These layouts are from our 2005 Disney trip. I leave the vacation pictures until last to scrap so I can keep up with my boys individual albums. Patterned cardstoack is Basic Grey (of course) Infuse.

Getting addicted to making cards has definitely put me a little behind.