Steampunk Mini Album

One of my dear friends, Amy Rodriguez, designs unique mini album dies and has shared her Hot Air Balloon and Dress Form Dies with me. I was so excited to get the opportunity to play with these dies. I wanted to share with you guys today the mini that I created.

From day one I knew I would use the Steampunk Debutant Line from Graphic 45 that I got from Flamingo on this mini. I wanted it to be tiered so that behind every dressform there was a hot air balloon. I also wanted the pages to be vibrant, elegant, but most of all interactive!




















Here is a video with a complete walk through of the concepts and details on each page.

Thanks for stoping by today,

Cards From Scraps

It is time to filter out the scraps again, and I wanted to share with you some of the cards that I have been creating.


I used half inch strips of scrap paper in random pastel colors to create the background of this card. It has a Pink Paislee frame on top, and the logo for my Secret Squirrel Swap that I colored with my Copic markers.



This card has a piece of scrap white card stock that was embossed with a sizzix folder. The wreath is made with crape paper, and of course MY Favorite Prima roses of all time, finish off the look of the wreath. The happy holidays is a metal brad from Making Memories (been in the stash for AGES).



This card is made similar to the wreath. For the tree, I made a huge ruffle from crape paper and snaked it around to form the shape of a Christmas tree, then added some bling rhinestones, and finished it with the Tim Holtz banner from the Regal Crest die.



This card is a nice size 6x6 card with an image from "Some Odd Girl" that I colored with my Copics. The stamp on the tag was from Stampendous.

Thanks for stopping in,

Themed Patterned Paper

I have a problem with themed patterned paper.  No matter how cute it is, I rarely end up using it.  Either my pictures end up clashing with it, or it is too theme-y for the layout, or it just doesn't work for some other reason.  And it ends up sitting in my pile of unused paper.  But there's hope for that unused themed paper!

This layout uses paper from Pink Paislee's 'Old School' line.  I wouldn't normally go for school-themed paper for a layout about a boy and his pet bunny, but the B-side worked perfectly.

From Flamingo Scraps: Pink Paislee patterned paper

Other: Bazzill cardstock, Scenic Route stickers, ColorBox ink

Check out the B-side of some of your unused patterned paper- you might find a way to use it that is much different than the intended theme!

October Cigar Box

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and this month's cigar box swap's theme is "Pink It Up".

Last year, during Flamingo Scraps Anniversary month, I won the Pink Paislee Sweetness collection. I love the warm pinks, and clusters of flowers. It reminded me of a garden view outside window. I knew this paper was perfect for the top of the box.



I removed the glass from an ornate frame and add a wedding dress applique. This offered the perfect setting for the hand painted cameo. I created a lovely pink satin dress adorned with a blingy collar for the Tim Holtz sewing room dress form. I then added clusters of Prima roses, and lots of Prima Say It in Lace bling. I think this box screams I'm a woman!


I crackeled the side of the box in small areas and framed the top in layers of lace, ribbon and pearls.



I hope my box reminds my partner to always take care of her monthly checks, and to get her Mammograms regularly.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Stash Diet

A friend of mine on Youtube, Jan - Whatyoumakeit1, has started a challenge called the Stash Diet. I thought I would try it out. Here is how it works. You list 6 things that are in your stash. for example:

• Ribbon/Trim
• Vintage Flowers
• Purple Bling
• charms
• Beads
• Scrap Paper

Then make a project using at least 3 items from the list, but for every item you use on the list, you must replace that item with something new for the next project.

I managed to use all six items on this layout of my Niece Averie. Here is the project that I created:

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima: Daisies (vintage Prima), Say It in Pearls Purple, Paper "Talavera" from the Reflections Collection, Prima Baby blue Trim; Maya Road: Journal Spot (vintage product)

Other: Lace, Ribbon, Charm, Butterflies, Die Cut.

I used some vintage Prima Daisies, Purple/Pink Pearls from Prima, A Metal Charm, Pearls on a stick pin, Maya Road Journal card (hidden behind the photo), Patterened paper from Prima, and lace/trims that I have had for a while.

The object of this game is to use up product that is sitting around, and save your shopping money for new releases. It was so nice being able to remove items from my stash, and at the same time, produce a nice layout. I am going to try this for a month and see if my stash starts to shrink!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Upcycled Packaging

I think we have a huge responsibility to protect our environment as much as possible. When I first saw Marion Smith from Prima Marketing, Inc. use packaging in her mini albums and as journal spots on her layouts a few years ago, I began saving mine for the same purpose. I want to share with you today how I have been "upcycling" my packaging in scrappy projects.

In this example I made a mini album using 4x6 photo sleeves as sheet protectors and the Prima packaging was used for photo mats.



Here I used my Tim Holtz & Nestabilities dies to turn Prima's beautiful inserts into embelishments.



Here is a photo showing one of these cuts used on a card:

I also used the blister packaging from Tim Holtz embelishments as a shaker box card.

Watch video on how I made this card

I hope this gives you plenty of ideas on how to turn your trash into keepsakes.

Thanks for stopping by today,

Lucky 7

At any given time, I usually have 4 or 5 layouts in progress.  I go through phases where I am very inspired by certain aspects of scrapbooking and not others.  This doesn't bother me- I just set the partially completed layouts aside and come back to them when inspiration strikes.  A few days ago, I counted the growing pile of incomplete layouts- there were 18.  Yikes!  It was definitely time to finish some of them.

Here's my latest layout.  Steve and I celebrated our 7th anniversary with a stay in Benicia, CA at the wonderful Inn at Benicia Bay. 

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima & Fancy Pants patterned paper, grungeboard 7

Other: Bazzill cardstock, Cloud 9 letter stickers, Folk Art paint, ColorBox ink

I'm pleased that I managed to get 12 photos on there without it looking crowded, though I do have to admit that it bothered me a tiny bit to cover up part of three photos with the focal photo!  I don't think I've ever done that before.  I like the way it turned out though.

Mini Album - 4x6 sheet protectors

I love mini albums. I love how you are only limited by your own imagination! I have a lot of people ask me – what type of photos do you put in them, because they are so small? Well, most of my books accommodate wallet sized photos. I usually select the collage printing option at my local photo processing center, and I can usually get 9 wallets on 1 8x10.

One day I was waiting for my photos to process, and I noticed a package of 4x6 plastic photo sleeve refills on sale for $.50 a pack. So I decided to create a mini – embracing the "Simple" design of traditional scrapbook pages but sized at 4x6.

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima, Marion Smith's Vintage Trinkets, all flowers in the book, Holiday Lights Glitter Spray Crystals, Butterfly, Flights of Fancy Paper; Glimmer Mist: Rose Tattered; Tim Holtz: distress inks in Broken China and Walnut

Other: Tim Holtz - Caged bird die cut and Swivle Clasp Charm; Seam binding, Script stamp, White ink.

I used Marion’s Vintage Trinkets with my “HOARDED” last few sheets of Prima’s Flights of Fancy paper for the cover. When I say hoarded – I mean have had for years refusing to use.

For the inside pages I used Prima’s Melody collection with various Prima flowers, stamps and bling. Last week I shared with you how I used the Prima packaging in this book, and I think you will agree, it turned out wonderful when I added photos.

Sorry for the glare on the following photos. I wanted to show how the pages look inside the sleeves.











I think my favorite part of this album is its simplicity. Also - I love how I can take advantage of the page protectors and incorporate larger more dynamic 4x6 photos with the smaller wallets. The paper collection also gives pleanty of journal space.

Thank you for taking the time to visit.