Retreat Pages | Some Favorites

At the My Scraps and More Retreat last weekend I made six layouts, a few PL spreads and many cards. Some of my favorites I can't share here because they have pictures of other people's kids in them (baseball pictures), but here are two layouts I loved how they turned out and I can post here. 

I set out to make this layout thinking it would eat up a chunk of time on my Saturday afternoon. Much to my surprise, the Cameo makes this cutting so easy that I was done with it before I knew it. I love how it turned out, and it is possibly the most cut-intensive page I have done in a long time.

I always seem to make a layout with a woodgrain background every time I get together with Audrey! So here is said layout. 

Such a fun summertime page. I loved mixing and matching multiple summertime collections on this one. 

Thanks for stopping by today! It was great to have a dedicated weekend for my crafty friends — hope to have another one sooner rather than later.

Santa Claus card {samantha walker}

Today on the Samantha Walker blog I am sharing how I made this card. I started with this cut file from Samantha Walker. 

Stop by Samantha Walker's blog if you'd like to see the tutorial.

And thank you for visiting here to see my card today!

Turkey table card {samantha walker}

Time for a well-dressed table, my friends! If you are celebrating Thanksgiving this month, get your turkey-themed items ready. 

Today on the Samantha Walker blog, I'm sharing a quick tutorial on how I put this cute guy together. Stop on by the site and check it out. 

You can find the Silhouette studio file I used here. And thanks for stopping by to see my turkey place card holder.

Halloween

I had a moment last week to create a "just-because" layout. I haven't done that in quite some time (my mojo seems to be on summer vacation still), so I'm thrilled with how this turned out. 

Each year before Halloween the boy tries on his costume and we take posed photos. This year he was Harry Potter and loved having glasses and a wand for accessories. I love how this picture of him casting a spell turned out.

For my layout, I used a Silhouette file from Lori Whitlock for the house and the Halloween Magic collection from Bella Blvd. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Chores Spinner {samantha walker}

Head on over to the Samantha Walker blog today to see how I made this Chores Spinner for my son. 

With the school year starting back up this week, I wanted to make sure that I made it easy for the boy to keep up with his chores during the school days. 

Asking him to spin the wheel is so much more fun than telling him to pick one thing to take care of for the day. 

Thanks for stopping by here today!

To Die For {fancy pants}

Today on the Fancy Pants blog I am sharing my work with die cutting — both pre-cut and also machine cut. 

And since I was using the Everyday Circus collection, I thought it only fitting to document the start of summer vacation. For those of you with little ones under foot again for the summer break, you know what I mean — these days can be a circus!

For this layout, I machine cut a large title that acts to anchor the three photo elements on the page. 

Both the "hello" and the "summer vacation" are welded words, meaning that they are connected in as many points as possible and don't require individual application of the letters. When using your dies for lettering, this is always helpful and a time saver.

I also used the pre-cut dies in the ephemera pack. These little die cut pieces are the perfect extra touch to the page. They add dimension and playfulness to the layout.

Supplies: Fancy Pants Designs (Everyday Circus)

Thanks for stopping by here to see my layout. I had fun making this one and hope you also got some ideas for using your die cut machine for lettering as well as layering the ephemera in the Everyday Circus collection.

April sketch challenge {scrapbook circle}

Scrapbook Circle has been hoppin' all month long with a fabulous April kit. Today I have a new sketch challenge for all of you to play along with. Check out the blog to get the details for playing along, or scroll down below to see the sketch.

I had so much fun making this layout. Not only do I love the girlie in the pictures with me (hi Sara!), but I also love to make new cut files with my Silhouette. Do you love the circles on this? Here is a FREE studio file download of the cut file I made. Feel free to download the file and use it as you wish on your next layout. 

I love all of the colors and patterns in this kit. The circles was a great way to use some of my favorites and make them the focal point against the kraft paper. 

This is the sketch. Make sure to see the Scrapbook Circle blog if you want to play along. We have a few rules and deadlines to make note of in order to be eligible to win this month's prize from Fancy Pants.

Thanks for stopping by here today! Have a great weekend. 

Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop {spring}

Welcome to the Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop! You should have come to my blog from Cristal (Pinky) Hobbs. If you found me first, make sure to start back at Samantha Walker's blog to catch all of the fun from the beginning.

This month's lucky winner will receive the 12x12 Giddy Up! Girl Collection from Carta Bella.

...and be eligible for the free SVG/Silhouette file for this month. Be sure to look extra closely at Step #4 below to learn how you can get this FREE SVG and Silhouette Studio file:

To enter, just leave a comment on Samantha's blog during Wednesday 4/9 until Sunday 4/13. The winner will be announced on Samantha's Facebook page on Monday 4/14.

For additional entries:

1. Receive an additional entry for commenting on each of the other blogs in the blog hop.
2. Go here and follow Samantha Walker's blog. 
3. Follow her on Facebook.

4. Sign up for an e-mail subscription to Samantha's blog and you will automatically receive a link to a free SVG cutting file that you can download and use on your personal electronic cutter. If you are already a subscriber, just enter in your information in the secure form on Samantha's blog!  The free files will be e-mailed early next week!

To receive the additional entries and get the free files, mention in your comment on Samantha's blog that you have done so! 

Now for this month's theme: Spring!

All of the designers for this hop are using the April Free File that you see above as your gift for hopping along with us. I made a card and also a small Easter treat box using pieces of the free file as well as some of Samantha's other products.

The card was pretty easy. I stamped the background, them smudged in the edges with a dauber to get a softer look on the outside of the stamping. Then, having cut the April Free File with both yellow and blue card stock papers, I layered them in the center of the card and finished it off with an enamel dot.

To make the box, I ungrouped the pieces of the file, deleted the original heart pattern that was on the top of the box, and replaced it with a flower from the April Free File. By cutting it from yellow paper and replacing the heart with a flower, I take a typical Valentine's Day file and give it a springy upgrade!

Supplies: Samantha Walker Silhouette Studio Files (Free April File from Samantha Walker and heart lace clam shell box). Samantha Walker Just Rite (Sweet Lace Background Stamp). 

Your next stop on the hop is Cathy Harper ... Click on the image below to keep on hopping!

Thanks for hopping along with us this month! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop {lucky}

Welcome to the Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop! You should have come to my blog from Cristal (Pinky) Hobbs. If you found me first, make sure to start back at Samantha Walker's blog to catch all of the fun from the beginning.

This month's lucky winner will receive the Spellbinders Botanical Swirls Expandable Pattern.

...and be eligible for the free SVG/Silhouette file for this month. Be sure to look extra closely at Step #4 below to learn how you can get this FREE SVG and Silhouette Studio file:

To enter, just leave a comment on Samantha's blog during Wednesday 3/12 until Sunday 3/16. The winner will be announced on Samantha's Facebook page on Monday 3/17.

For additional entries:

1. Receive an additional entry for commenting on each of the other blogs in the blog hop.
2. Go here and follow Samantha Walker's blog. 
3. Follow her on Facebook.

4. Sign up for an e-mail subscription to Samantha's blog and you will automatically receive a link to a free SVG cutting file that you can download and use on your personal electronic cutter. If you are already a subscriber, just enter in your information in the secure form on Samantha's blog!  The free files will be e-mailed early next week!

To receive the additional entries and get the free files, mention in your comment on Samantha's blog that you have done so! 

Now for this month's theme: Lucky

To make this card, I used the Lucky Day file from Samantha Walker and then (after cutting it on the Silhouette) isolated the word "Lucky." I also used only the grass in the Bunny Easter Banner file. 

By using only pieces of those files, I made a cute little scene for my card. A shining sun from a circle punch and some clouds finish off the card.

Supplies: Samantha Walker Silhouette Studio Files (Lucky Day and Bunny Easter Banner), Pattern paper (Echo Park Keepin' Cozy by Samantha Walker: Birds of a Feather)

Your next stop on the hop is Cathy Harper ... Click on the image below to keep on hopping!

Thanks for hopping along with us this month! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stencils and studio files {samantha walker}

Yesterday on the Samantha Walker blog, I shared a tutorial for converting a studio file into a stencil that you could use for applying ink to your cards and projects. 

Here is the card I made using that stencil. 

If you are interested in seeing more on how I made this, pop on over to the Samantha Walker blog. 

Thanks for visiting!

Today was awesome {scrapbook circle}

The Portabello Road March kit from Scrapbook Circle is a new favorite of mine. It might be this never-ending winter we are having or the lack of sunshine dragging me down, but I was more excited than usual to see the bright colors in this kit. 

It felt like an 80 degree day hit me when I opened the box. And trust me, I needed it!

I went straight for the Basic Grey Capture papers that are in the kit and started to play around with making the bright bold patterns play together on a page.

For the triangle pattern, I made it in the Silhouette software and cut it from a sheet of cream / off-white card stock. I then backed each space separately with snippets of the pattern papers.

 > YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE TRIANGLE PATTERN FOR FREE HERE <

A series of silly selfies with my boy help round out the fun on this layout. We were at Red Robin with friends after seeing The LEGO Movie for the second time and we were feeling silly. Or should I say… "awesome!"

Thanks for hanging out here today. Make sure to grab the free studio file download for your Silhouette. 

And if you are interested in purchasing Portabello Road or one of the amazing add ons, make sure to use code DIANAF20OFF for 20% off your purchase.

Anchored since 2004

Many of you that have read my blog for awhile or follow me on Facebook know that I love anchors. Heck, I even have one tattooed on my arm — so I better like 'em! 

I have been meaning to hang a picture in this space in my living room for awhile now, but I like to look for just the right piece when I add things to my home. Even if it takes more than a year, as it did in this case. 

To make this, I used three coats of chalkboard paint to cover what was previously on the wooden tray. Then I cut a 7" wide x 11.5" high anchor on my Cameo from a Silhouette studio file. I cut it out of light gray vinyl, not white. I felt like the light gray went better with the chalkboard paint and was a little more muted. 

To cut the "est. 2004," I typed it out in the Silhouette software with the font Blackjack and then applied a Weld on the word "est" so that it would be all one piece. The "est. 2004" is our wedding date. I chose that over our move-in date for the house, but you could use any important date if you choose to make one similar to this.

The whole process took two days because of drying times on the paint. I love how it turned out and it really helps tie the space together. As much as I love the snowman and snowflake candles, I am already plotting a more spring-like decor for next month. 

Thanks for hanging out here today! 

Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop {love}

Welcome to the Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop! You should have come to my blog from Cristal (Pinky) Hobbs. If you found me first, make sure to start back at Samantha Walker's blog to catch all of the fun from the beginning.

This month's lucky winner will receive the Spellbinders' Butterfly Garden Grand Impressabilities.

...and be eligible for the free SVG/Silhouette file for this month. Be sure to look extra closely at Step #4 below to learn how you can get this FREE SVG and Silhouette Studio file:

To enter, just leave a comment on Samantha's blog during Wednesday 2/12 until Sunday 2/16. The winner will be announced on Samantha's Facebook page on Monday 2/17.

For additional entries:

1. Receive an additional entry for commenting on each of the other blogs in the blog hop.
2. Go here and follow Samantha Walker's blog. 
3. Follow her on Facebook.

4. Sign up for an e-mail subscription to Samantha's blog and you will automatically receive a link to a free SVG cutting file that you can download and use on your personal electronic cutter. If you are already a subscriber, just enter in your information in the secure form on Samantha's blog!  The free files will be e-mailed early next week!

To receive the additional entries and get the free files, mention in your comment on Samantha's blog that you have done so! 

Now for this month's theme: LOVE

For this month, I made a matching card and vase set. It was pretty simple to make, but the end result is a lovely little display or gift to mark the Valentine's Day holiday.

First I cut the LOVE heart out of teal vinyl and affixed it to the vase. Then I adjusted the Cameo for card stock, resized and cut again the LOVE heart for the card. A teal enamel heart replaced the red card stock heart for just a little fun.

I cut the flower from a Samantha Walker file for a 3-D flower. It is three cuts at three different sizes, layered and glued together. I then added an enamel red heart to the center.

Supplies: Samantha Walker Silhouette Studio Files ("love heart" and "flower spiral gardenia")

Your next stop on the hop is Cathy Harper ... Click on the image below to keep on hopping!

Thanks for hopping along with us this month! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sketching with the Cameo onto fabric {samantha walker}

Any blog post that starts off with this handsome face has to be a good one, right?! But I'm pretty biased.

Today on the Samantha Walker blog I'm sharing the step-by-step directions on how to sketch onto fabric and then cut that design using the Cameo. 

I'm not going to give it all away over here, but I can tell you that it starts with the design being sketched onto the fabric…

…and then ends here with a nice, stitched-up final product. For all of the instructions and more info, visit the SW blog today.  

And because he is too cute not to share this adorable shot… the boy again — looking dapper.

Thanks for visiting here today to see my sketched and stitched Cameo project. 

Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop {snowflakes}

Welcome to the Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop! You should have come to my blog from Cristal (Pinky) Hobbs. If you found me first, make sure to start back at Samantha Walker's blog to catch all of the fun from the beginning.

This month's lucky winner will receive the French Frills Spellbinder Die Set!

...and be eligible for the free SVG/Silhouette file for this month. Be sure to look extra closely at Step #4 below to learn how you can get this FREE SVG and Silhouette Studio file:

To enter, just leave a comment on Samantha's blog during Wednesday 1/15 until Sunday 11/19. The winner will be announced on Samantha's Facebook page on Monday 1/20.

For additional entries:

1. Receive an additional entry for commenting on each of the other blogs in the blog hop.
2. Go here and follow Samantha Walker's blog. 
3. Follow her on Facebook.

4. Sign up for an e-mail subscription to Samantha's blog and you will automatically receive a link to a free SVG cutting file that you can download and use on your personal electronic cutter. If you are already a subscriber, just enter in your information in the secure form on Samantha's blog!  The free files will be e-mailed early next week!

To receive the additional entries and get the free files, mention in your comment on Samantha's blog that you have done so! 

Now for this month's theme: Snowflakes

Samantha Walker has a variety of really great single snowflake files. I couldn't choose just one, and I knew I wanted to make a pattern, so I chose three of them and alternated them at the top of a piece of white card stock.

To get the partial cut, I used the eraser tool in the Silhouette software and "erased" the centers vertically through each snowflake. You can see below what the final effect is when you do that.

After I cut them on the Cameo, I then stitched a line through them on my sewing machine. I then backed the white card stock with dark gray glitter paper but only stitched through the white card stock. I was a little wary about putting glitter through my sewing machine.

The papers on this page are from the Carta Bella Rough & Tumble Collection from Samantha Walker. The colors worked great with my snowy scene.

Because I am slightly addicted, I added some snow-stenciled embossing paste to the bottom edge of my page. 

Supplies: Carta Bella Rough & Tumble Collection (Pattern paper: Journaling Cards, Adventure), Silhouette Files (snowflake 1, snowflake 2, snowflake 3, snowflake 4), Simon Says Stamp (snow falling stencil), Studio 490 (embossing paste), wood veneer snowflakes and tag, Lawn Fawn (sequins), Webster's Pages (arrow paper clip), Pebbles (chalkboard stickers).   

Your next stop on the hop is Cathy Harper ... Click on the image below to keep on hopping!

Thanks for hopping along with us this month! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway