Greatful for Family

This weekend we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States, and I know our friends abroad have a similar day in their countries. For me, Thanksgiving is a time to slow down, reflect on my life and give thanks for the blessings that God has given me.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a strong family unit. My kids and husband are the BEST! We are all so close. Do we argue and fuss? Absolutely, we are "Real, but we also laugh and play together. My husband Kenny and I have been together since high school. We married 21 years ago, and have two AMAZING children, Brittany 17 and Brighton 15.

I wanted to create a layout that shows my gratitude to them and reflect how blessed I feel. Webster's Pages' Sweet Cherry Pie Fly A Kite Paper was the perfect setting for this layout.

From Flamingo Scraps: Webster's Pages: Sweet Cherry Pie - Fly A Kite paper, Lace; Ranger: Picket Fence Crackle Medium; Maya Road: Love Mini Chipbaord Pieces, Rosette Trim; Prima: Fairy Tale Roses, Mini Roses, and Brown Trim 2

Other: I Am Roses: Sunflowers, and Wild Roses; Doily, Antique Book pages, Flower pearls; Sizzix: Tim Holtz Caged Bird Die; Felt birds.

Scattered around the paper are quotes that depict family. Like "The Secret Ingredient to good living is Family", "Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds" and "Embrace Time with the People That You Love"

I accented the photo with layers of lace and trims from some of my favorite companys, Prima and Maya Road. I scattered lots of mulberry flowers in Sunflowers, Roses and some fabric roses too. I aslo included some Prima packaging for a photo matt, Doilees, Antique book pages, Tim Holtz caged bird die from Sizzix, felt birds, and Maya Road Chipboard pieces.

I hope you have an amazing weekend and you find time to be with the people you love!

Thanks for stopping in today,

Guest DT Julie Tucker-Wolek: The Best Brother Ever

I made my latest layout for Flamingo Scraps using Emma’s Shoppe from Crate Paper! I just love love love this line!

My title reads: “The best Brother ever” and the journaling reads: “Adam made this for Brookie with her old blocks – Easter 2011.”

From Flamingo Scraps: Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe Collection patterned papers and chipboard accents

I had a lot of fun adding the alphas right into the ‘crossword’ paper like I was doing a real puzzle!

Want to see more of Julie's cute layouts and adorble pictures of her daughter Brookie?!  Go check out Julie's blog!

Guest DT Julie Tucker-Wolek: Funny Story

Today I wanted to share another layout I made using Crate Paper’s Portrait collection! I just love this collection it’s not just for weddings! I recently found some old photos of my Mom, when her and my Dad visited Niagara Falls. I thought the photos would look awesome on this paper…then I made a discovery when I turned over the photo with my Mom in it, for she had written something on the back that struck me as very funny! So, my layout took a turn and I turned this into a “Funny Story!”

From Flamingo Scraps: Crate Paper Portrait Collection patterned papers, accent cuts and chipboard accents

My journaling: “She will kill me of telling this story! On the back of this photo, my Mom wrote – “Me with a wig – when you’re camping, you have to resort to something to look good!” I LOVE this story! Must have worked – I was born at the end of the year this photo was taken!” ~~1971 Niagara Falls

Thanks again to Flamingo Scraps for having me this month!

Want to see more of Julie's cute layouts and adorble pictures of her daughter Brookie?!  Go check out Julie's blog!

Guest DT Julie Tucker-Wolek: His Photos Inspire Me

I wanted to share a layout today that I made using Crate Paper’s Portrait collection! I just love this collection and love that it can be used for more than just weddings!

From Flamingo Scraps:  Crate Paper Portrait Collection patterned papers, accent cuts, and vintage lace 

For my layout, I chose photos that my Dad took back in 1970! He is an amazing photographer, and I have always admired his work!

 My title reads: “His photos inspire me.” And my journaling reads: “No digital camera, no DSLR, no photoshop, no fancy editing programs – period. My Dad didn’t need any of that to make beautiful photos, he just made them. He has the eye for this – and for this I truly admire him. Eli Reeves – 10/1970”

 I also have recently loved making rolled paper flowers, like I have used on here! Real fun to make and they add some amazing dimension to your pages!

Thanks again to Flamingo Scraps for having me this month as their GDT!

Want to see more of Julie's cute layouts and adorble pictures of her daughter Brookie?!  Go check out Julie's blog!

Guest DT Jen Unger: Grandma

Going through my photos I found these two pictures of my Grandma Adrian. One of her in her younger years, surrounded by children and the last formal picture taken of her before she passed away. I imagine the younger picture of her was the way most people saw her with a child in one arm and several children around her as she had 16 children. She was a very creative person and did so many beautiful detailed crafts. I created this page in Basic Grey Curio with her creativity in mind as this style was very much what she loved, floral and lacy.

From Flamingo Scraps: Basic Grey Curio- Camelia paper; Prima Felt Gate; Prima Velvet Heirloom Rose Leaves, meadow; Prima mini roses and fairy tale roses; and Prima e-line pearls
Other Supplies:  Martha Stewart punch

Jen's blog showcases her beautiful work and you can also catch up with her youtube channel!

JRR Hill Family -- Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden!

I am really fortunate to have lots of vintage photographs of my family.  And when I first saw the shabby elegant Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Collection, I just knew it would be perfect to highlight some of my treasured old photos!

Supplies from Flamingo Scraps -- Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden patterned paper, Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Metal Butterfly Charms (sold out), Graphic 45 Staples Stickers, Prima Bling, Prima Bronte Blooms in Powder Blue, Ranger Black Diamond and Cinnamon Stickles; other supplies -- miscellaneous bling, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, miscellaneous glittered alphabet

The elderly gentleman with the long beard is my great great grandfather, James R R Hill.  We haven't yet figured out what the two Rs stand for!  The man in the long tie and the woman with the braid on her blouse are my great grandparents, Arthur H. and Della Dutton Hill, and the little boy standing to the left of the pram is my grandfather, Arthur Milburn Hill!  James and his wife Nancy Knowles had 12 children!  Bless Nancy's heart, I have a portrait of her and she looks like she had 12 children -- she is nicknamed the Ugly Lady!

This detail shows the double mat, inked in Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Peeled Paint and a cluster of punched butterflies punctuated with the Metal Butterfly Garden Charm.

This detail shows one of the gorgeous images from the patterned paper that I cut out, inked in Peeled Paint Distress Ink, and highlighted with Prima Bling and stickles!


I loved working with the colors and patterns of the Butterfly Garden Collection and will be sharing another vintage layout in the collection soon!

Guest DT Celina Matthews: Father & Son

To celebrate Father's Day this June (19th), I wanted to create a page of my husband with our son. My hubby is such a wonderful dad and although our son is our third child, there is a special bond between them. Maybe it's because he's our only son or maybe it's because he is my husband's namesake, but whatever the reason, they are very close.

When I saw this Webster's Pages Time of My Life paper from the Ladies & Gents Collection, I knew it would be perfect for this project. I then chose a coordinating paper (Webster's Pages Framed Beauty) to go along with it. The title letters are from my stash, which I colored with Lettuce Alcohol Ink.

I fussy cut the clocks from the paper and glued it over the second paper then added the rest of the Time paper to the other side.

That side of the paper is inked using various masks by Tattered Angels and Tim Holtz, and Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass. I then stamped clocks using various stamps from my stash and Distress Inks in Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, and Broken glass. The turquoise and green trims are from Webster's Pages as are the flowers, which I misted using homemade mist of water, Distress Ink re-inkers in Broken China and Antique Linen, and perfect pearl powders. The sparkler stones are from Webster's as well. I then finished up the page with some faux stitching with a Sharpie marker.

 
More of Celina's work can be seen here on her blog!

Guest DT Celina Matthews: Man and Wife

Hello! This is my first layout as a Guest Design Team Member for Flamingo Scraps and I decided to take it into consideration that this is the month of June; the traditional month for weddings, Father's Day, the start of summer vacation, and my eldest daughter's birthday.

From Flamingo Scraps: Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology collection patterned papers; Antique Linen Distress Ink; Prima bling flourishes and flowers

Other Supplies: doilies; lace; white Perfect Pearls powder; Recollections flowers; Petaloo flowers; Tim Holtz flowers; White Opal Liquid Pearls; American Crafts Thickers in LAX

For my first page, 'Man and Wife,' I scrapped a vintage photo of one of my great-aunts getting married in the early 1950's. I love the cut of her dress and her groom's tuxedo. I got the inspiration for this page from a challenge asking for a crème monochromatic color scheme with a twist of being vintage. When I looked for photos to scrap, this one screamed vintage and softer colors to me. The papers I used are from the Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology Collection, which I then inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I then placed some similarly inked doilies under the photo mat. The lace strips are from a roll of lace I bought at a big-box retailer that are misted with a solution of Antique Linen Distress Ink re-inker, water, and white Perfect Pearls powder.

The lace flower is also misted with this solution. The flower was made by sewing a straight stitch on one of the lace trim's edges and pulling the string to make ruffles then adding a pearl button for the center with adhesive. The rhinestone flourishes are from Prima which I cut into sections to use around the page. The other flowers are from Recollections, Prima, Petaloo, and Tim Holtz.

Here is a close up of the lace and the White Opal liquid pearls I added over the doilies and throughout the page.

The title letters are Thickers in LAX and painted with the same White opal liquid pearls to give them a softer finish. I also accentuated the oval frame on the paper with liquid pearls.

This was such a fun opportunity to create a page for my family's heritage album. I hope that it inspires you all!

 
More of Celina's work can be seen here on her blog!

Deckled Edges

I always rip and grunge up the borders of layouts. But lately, I have wanted a fresh new look. Something that is a little more sophisticated, but still gives the feeling of an uneven edge.

Once again, **DING, DING** Inspiration from Prima. When I pulled the products for the layout below, all that luscious Prima packaging and its deckled edges SCREAMED "Duplicate Me".



So I went to my tool grave yard, and resurrected these gyms.



I used the scissors around the border of the backing cardstock, and along the border of the photo mat. After looking at this layout, I’m sure you will agree, these scissors could make a comeback.

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima Trinket Collection Madeline, Flocked Rub-Ons-Reflections, Delightful DayCollection- Hush and Splash, Say It In Crystals - Vintage Rose Smoke, Accent Gem Studs, Madeline Paper Collection Beautima and STE Marie, Lace bleached Interlaced, Butterfly Kiss Collection Madeline; Tim Holtz Distress Inks Vintage Photo and Aged Mahogany; Glimmer Mist Rose Tea

Other Products: Cardstock, Deckled Edge Scissors.

Next time you are making a card or layout, and I stress ONLY IF IT IS APPROPRIATE, experiment with the deckled edge scissors in your own tool grave yard.

Layout: Almost Four

Note:  If you are here for yesterday's National No Housework Day Blog Hop.... please go here!!

Remember all those Cosmo Cricket 1934 layouts a few weeks ago?  Well, I finally finished another one that's been sitting on my desk since then!

From Flamingo Scraps: Cosmo Cricket 1934 patterned papers; Prima eline flowers, flowers, eline bling & bling swirls

Other supplies: Bazzill cardstock; black lace (unknown); Making Memories cheeky glitter alphabets; black fine point Sharpie; Font is Script12 BT; sewing machine + thread

Just click on it if you want to see it bigger!  And here's a close-up of the gorgeous Primas:

Layout: Time Flies By

Here's another Cosmo Cricket 1934 layout!  Of my cute nephew, Creighton of course :)

From Flamingo Scraps: Cosmo Cricket 1934 Collection patterned papers

Other supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; Darice red foam glitter hearts, sewing machine + thread

He's definitely growing up too fast!! :)

Guest DT Janet Zeppa: Looking at Gifts

I still had enough if the beautiful Websters Garden Gala collection to create another page about my Mom's 80th birthday party.  It's about my Mom looking at some of her gifts.

From Flamingo Scraps:  Webster's Pages Garden Gala (patterned papers); Kaisercraft Pearls; Tim Holtz Distress Ink;

Other Supplies: Martha Stewart border punch; Making Memories (stickers); Savvy n' Sassy (Ribbon); Spellbinders Nestabilities dies; sewing machine + thread

I really like how my journaling spots turned out. I die cut some of the pretty paper to make them.

More of Janet's work can be seen here on her blog!