Picture Perfect Day! Spring Scrapbook Layouts

It is a perfect Spring day.  It's actually Easter Sunday and I am enjoying spending the day in my craft room and putting the finishing touches on some new scrapbook layouts.

Now anybody that knows me, knows vintage is probably my favorite style.  I love to grunge anything up and have a sweet, romantic vintage look.  So when I found this DCWV pad at Joanns I fell instantly in love.

I used that paper pad for these three layouts and just love how they each turned out.  It was so much fun to spray some of the flower layers with Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays.  Other layers were cut out from some printed papers I found to tie into the look.  I even cut some of the flowers and layers from vellum for this Picture Perfect layout.


Lace and butterflies add such a soft look to this Sweet Memories layout.  I actually dug thru my ribbon drawer to find the old heavier lace flowers and leaves.  Such a little bit added such a nice touch.

Now I know I could have added even more trinkets and treasures to them, but as always I find I hold back for a cleaner look.  My reasoning has always been that I want my pictures to be the focal point.  At least that's what I always tell myself.  It could also be that I am a little bit too lazy to keep rummaging thru my stash for the perfect piece to add in.  Either way, I love how these three turned out.

The last of  the three I finished up today is this "I will always Remember" layout.  Very little embellishing was done, but I really felt like the pictures and the old postcards tied in hand dyed ribbon tell the story.  So anywho, there you have it.  Three completed layouts!

Here's to a beautiful Spring to everyone and a blessed and happy Easter!
Have fun crafting!   Molly

Anna Griffin Scrapbook Layouts

With it getting closer to Valentine's Day, I thought I'd keep playing with my Anna Griffin stash.  Just had a wonderful time trying my best to use up some of those gorgeous Anna Griffin papers and embellishments I have been hoarding.  

Of course Anna if known for her beautiful flowers, so it was easy to create these bursting with beauty Spring layouts.  If you are an Anna fan at all, you might recognize that I used old and new pieces from her lines to create these.  And one of my favorite things about her line is that the colors from one to another match so perfectly. 

I created this title by teaming up my Silhouette and Cricut Design Space programs, using Anna Griffin cartridge artwork.  The "love you" was cut on the Cricut out to heavy chipboard.  While the florals and offset backgrounds were cut with the Silhouette.  ( I made a video on how I did this and have it uploaded at the bottom of this post.) 

I applied a little glue to the edges of my butterflies and title, then just pressed on some gold foil to give it just a little extra sparkle.  

Even the older embellishments, like the chipboard letters I bought over 5 years ago, still blend in so well to complete these pages.And the tags and quotes from different packages I have bought over the last several years, yes, they too helped create these finished projects.

 This 2 page spread is made using the Juliet kit I bought recently from HSN.  Just love love love the sweet look of this happy pair of pages.

 I did use some paper flowers I had bought from Michaels, Prima and Hobby Lobby on this layout. They blended in so perfectly with Anna's more casual style of these papers. Plus, I was able to layer in some of the vellum quotes I have stashed away!  All of Anna's kits come with so many pieces, but I still find myself so hesitant to ever use any of them.  I know, I know....it's a true mental condition I have here...I think I read recently it was called the SABLE syndrome...Stash Amassed Beyond Life Expectancy.  Lolololol, yep, definitely my problem...and I embrace it happily! 

Thank you so much for sharing this gorgeous obsession with me.  
And have fun crafting!

Here's the video on how I made the title on the first layout.

Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe Mini and Layout

Still working on "stash busting", having fun with my old Graphic 45 papers.  G45 just "re-released" this wonderful old collection, so I pulled out mine and got to work.

First I scavenged around and found an old book box I had bought years ago.  It was perfect!  Next pulled out the chipboards and papers I had from the collection and made a little mini to fit neatly inside the box.                                                                                        

I have attached a quick video I did of the mini and the two page scrapbook layout I just finished. And here's some close ups to showcase the gorgeous papers!

The quirky quotes I stamped, embossed, then cut out were from Dyan Reavely.  An incredible mixed media artist.  She just released a new set of stamps at the recent Creativation in Phoenix and yes, indeedy, I want them!  Wasn't this all about using what I have????  

Okay back to that "happy stash" and the fun of creating!

Anna Griffin Craftroom Fun Decor

Well New Year's Day has come and gone, and I am trying to keep a promise to myself.  Use my stash!  

HSN had a 24 hour crafting day recently, featuring Anna Griffin.  Boy oh boy, did that test my will power.  So to try to keep me from overbuying, again, I decided to play with my Anna stash all day. 

And to get me in the mood even more, I decided to quickly update my craft room look, using Anna Griffin papers and embellishments. 

Here's a quick video of how I used Anna papers to create a few fun pieces to give a fresh, new look to enjoy while I craft!  

I love the quick and easy paper quilt piece I made for my wall.  

Good news, I only bought two things on HSN that day.  Bad news, they are having another full day of crafting in March, and Anna is having an online warehouse sale January 30th.  I mean really,  can I really be expected to resist.  I am only so strong.  

Have fun crafting and using some of your own glorious stash!

Cookie Recipe Swap Mini Album

 What a blessing!  I went to a crop in Crowley, LA last month with an incredible group of ladies called "Scrapbooking with Friends".  Paula and Margie host this group and each month is a wonderful treat.  But oh my Heaven's above, November was over the top!

Several of us croppers participated in a Cookie Recipe card swap and man oh man, did the ladies out do themselves in the creativity department.

So then the burning question becomes....how do I showcase these treasures?  Need to be protected, but I definitely want to use the recipes...hmmm.  And it's got to be cute, so I can count it in as part of my holiday decorations.

Well, after a month of toying with the ideas of making a box, binding them with my Cinch, trying to find a cute 6 x 6 mini album, I got a tap on the shoulder from above.

Late one night while I was sleeping, I swear, an jolly Christmas angel tapped me on the shoulder and said....with quite an attitude..." Girl, you are trying to use up your supply stash...don't you even remember you have those 6" x 12" Bazzill albums.  You've had for years!  Use the darn things!"

So not one to argue with an angel, I got up, dug out one of those mini's and voila...it was perfect for these darling recipe cards.  

Now those creative ladies did throw a few curves in the planning in how to display these recipes.  Some had pull outs, some had pokey outey embellishments, some had decorations that went past 6".  But no worries...I just "reshaped" a few of their pokey outies.   And got out the double sided extra strong tape and taped the ones with flaps and flips and pull outs directly on the outside of the page protectors.  



A small group even made pages that both sides just had to be seen, so I made sure that happened, too.  Then I  took a few extra minutes to "compose" what pages I wanted to show in a two page spread.  Now I just love love love my new recipe book.

Lucky for me, there was even a spot or two to put pictures in to remind me of the wonderful group of ladies that come together once a month to create.  Oh, and on that note, I did make sure to rewrite the names of each lady on the front of the card or on the pull outs.  I know I will want to remember exactly who gifted me with these amazing recipes.

Now that this project is done, I just need to make my shopping list, head out to the store for all the sweet ingredients and a new pair of two of stretch pants.  

Don't you just love Christmas!  And especially sharing the joy with good friends and family.  Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to you and yours....now about those cookies....can't you just smell the vanilla in the air....

Joy to you all and have fun crafting!
Molly D

Pop Twist Cards- a quick share

Just wanted to share a quick video for two pop-twist cards I made.  To make these fun 
cuties, I used the Cricut Design Space cut file from Obsessed with Scrapbooking.

She was so generous to share this tutorial and file with us all.  I had so much fun making these quick and easy, but oh so dramatic cards.  Hope you will give it a try, after watching her video!

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to you and yours.  Now back to crafting!
Molly D

Simple Stories Santa & Co. Mini Album and Layouts

Made  a video of a quick tour thru my latest little mini album.  I used the happy Santa & Co. line from Simple Stories.  Have had these fun papers, stickers and embellishments in my stash for quite a while and was bound and determined to use them all up in projects this year.  Well, I got very close, just have 4 or 5 sheets of the paper left.  Whew!  

This style was not my original idea.  I was inspired by a mini album a very talented friend of mine did from a kit from a few years back from one of the best scrapbook stores in the universe.  Treasured Memories in Lafayette, La  Janet owns the store and she and her team create beautiful layouts and share their talents during crops and classes.  And if you are ever in the market for page kits for scrapbooking, you won't find any better styles or values than those at  Treasured Memories.   

Now, as I tell about in the video, I did change up the format just a little to allow from thicker embellishments and pictures, but the idea is basically the same.  And along with the book I did a four "pocket" pages and two single page layouts from the same line.  And yes, even after all that, I still have paper left....and yes, I know I have a paper problem.  But I can't imagine having a better addiction than that!

Happy crafting to you all and Happiest of Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I love Fall Planner Stickers for November

Just a quick post to share with you, some quick and easy planner stickers I just made for my first week of November.  I made them the size to fit my MAMBI Big Happy Planner. 

Love the cute clipart I used from a font and graphics bundle from the hungry jpeg.  I just love the adorable critters and the fun color story. 

So, of course, I downloaded one of my favorite fall pictures from Pinterest of the fall trees and country back road.  I used that picture and some incredible Photoshop action tools I bought from DigitalScrapbookingStudio to make the plaid and kaleidoscope patterns.  

Enjoy and Happy Fall y'all!

Molly D

Finally Fall and Freebie!

Well, you know I am the type that is easily amused.  I find shapes in clouds, love taking pictures of any flowers I ever see, just imaging creating something to showcase a new color story I see, learning anything new relating to digital designing.  So imagine how totally over the moon happy I was to meet someone very very talented digital designer at a recent crop.  Here facebook page in named Cajun Diva Scraps by Michelle .  And she introduced me to a website that was having a kit share contest to show case a wonderful fall color theme.  Her kit was just perfect for the men in your life!



The site was Digital Scrapbooking Studio . Now you have to join they're forum to receive the free kits, but 
I had to.  I just had to.  And boy oh boy, did I find some treasures.  I bought  a few digital things to use with Photoshop Elements, One of them was a "plaid maker".  You just buy the "action", load it into your Photoshop Actions toolkit, use any paper or image you have, hit a few buttons and voila, you have a coordinating plaid to match!  Really!  Seriously!  It was that easy. Thank you so much Jilbert's Bits of Bytes for this incredible, magical tool! Here are the image and coordinating plaid I created with this wonderful tool!

Then, as if that wasn't enough fun to keep me floating for days, I played with another PSE tool from the same site and made a kaleidoscope print too!!!!  I cannot tell you how excited I am!  Just about to bust....

Yes, this kaleidoscope print was made using the vintage turkey picture above. Really! From the turkey picture.  

So the only logical next thing for me to do was to make a set of planner stickers with them.  It has finally turned a little cooler down here.  And I couldn't wait any longer to play with fall colors.  If you would like to print these stickers ( they are sized to fit a Mambi Big Happy Planner), just right click on the picture and save yourself a copy.  


I want to offer a big, huge, heartfelt thank you to Michelle for sharing her time with me at the crop.  And wish all of you and yours a very happy fall!  

Have fun crafting,
Molly D

P.S. The "My favorite color is Fall" quote is from my dear friend Charlene M.  She does fall better than anyone I know! 

Happy Fall, Y'all

Sitting here, on the first day of fall making new jewelry.   Can't wait for fall's cooler weather to get here.

Just wanted to share some of the newest bracelets.   I have made and invite you to join my new facebook page:
Escape to Inspiration

I had tried to start it up a while back and let time get away from me. But it seems I have more and more crafty things I want to share these days that  would be great on the facebook format. Just getting started now and looking forward to so much more! 

So wishing everybody a Happiest of Falls!  
Have fun crafting! 
Molly D

Huge Die Haul featuring Gina Marie Dies

Well, drat!  I stumbled upon another great online store.  And I mean great!  I linked my video below that shows you my whole huge die haul, but I wanted to share one particular new vendor I was so excited to find.

 It's Wholesale Crafting Supplies.  They showcase an incredible collection of dies, called Gina Marie Designs, that are not only well designed, but cut so smoothly and are at great prices! 

I feel so lucky to have found this great shop, run by a very very sweet young lady, named Gina!  A friend of mine, Belinda Keller, sent me a link to a fun youtube channel, she just knew I would love: PoetSpice.  And she was right.  It is a fun, funny channel.  

But, I felt I really hit gold when poetspice showed a haul she had done from this great online store.   And the very minute I starting browsing her dies...I was hooked.   




Below is one of my favorite dies, the 4 x 4" quilt block die.  What a wonderful way to use up some of those gorgeous designer paper scraps I couldn't bring myself to throw away. 

These flourish dies I bought are incredibly delicate and so intricate, but cut so well.   

And I already have had so much fun, cutting out snowflakes and wreaths, looking ahead to Christmas.  

Now I hear Gina is coming out with dozens of new designs for fall, Halloween and Christmas.   Oh for goodness sakes, I am in trouble!

And I love it!  

It is so wonderful to see a successful small business bringing us such great products at such great prices.  

I just wanted to share this link, so you too can fall in love with these dies, just like I did.  

No, I don't have any connection to this shop. Well, other than that I am a huge new fan. 

Well happy crafting everyone!

Molly D

Graphic 45 Boy Little Darling Mini Album

Just wanted to share the little boy version of the pocket page mini album I just finished.  It was made with the Graphic 45 Little Darlings collection.  While I kept it even more simple than the little girl version, I loved adding some of my older ribbons and buttons to the pages and cover.

Again, I would like to thank Ginger at MySistersScrapper on youtube for sharing her tutorial with us.  She makes it so easy to follow.  And her techniques are so clean and simple, anyone can make one of these charming minis.                                     

Now in this one, I add a 4 x 6" card I made in Photoshop Elements 14.  I used some of the vintage artwork of Bessie Pease Gutmann, whose artwork is featured in the Graphic 45 collection.  Hope you enjoy, and as always....

Have fun crafting!

Here's the link to My Video showing this newest mini album featuring the Graphic 45 Little Darlings collection.  

I am so inspired by Ginger at MySistersScrapper on youtube. She makes the most charming mini albums and shares them with us almost daily.  So I decided to root around in my hoard of papers and start making minis again! 

The goal for me is two fold.  First, try to use up as much of my stash of papers and embellishments as I possibly can.  And second, try to make mini albums I could sell.  So I am keeping them simple and easy to use for non-scrapbookers.  Every page will hold 4 x 6" photos.  No fussy measuring or sizing photos, just attach and share the album with friends and family.  Well, that's my hope, anyway.

Now I have had this collection for years. But the vintage artwork of it is just timeless.  Graphic 45 used to artwork Bessie Gutmann, who created soft, sweet images of infants.  It was these subtle colors and images that I fell in love with and just wanted to collect.  So along with making a mini album to share, I decided to use up the scraps and make a two page scrapbook layout for some of my family photos.  

 

 It was so much fun, digging through my baskets of flowers and collections of vintage laces to make this layout. I didn't pre-plan or design the layout, I just decided to jump right in.  I look at all the scraps of paper and piles of flowers left over from making the mini and just starting putting them down.  I used the edge of my scissors to distress the edges, but I kept the sizes whatever was left over from making the mini.



I used punches from Martha Stewart and Spellbinders to cut the leaves from, just using up scraps of the green polka dot paper.  And while I didn't manage to use up every little bit of scraps, I do feel good about finally letting these gorgeous, sweet pieces have a new home in this mini and layout.   

Now, I only have about 330 lbs more of paper in my stash to go through.  Oh well, it's a start! 

A special, heartfelt thank you to Ginger at: 

MySistersScrapper 

for inspiring me and sharing her gift with us all!  

Happy Crafting!