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.

Summer bookmarks {samantha walker}

Today on the Samantha Walker blog I'm sharing summertime bookmarks using the Summer Lovin' collection from Carta Bella by Samantha Walker.

Head on over to the blog if you're interested in learning more about how I made these. 

Have a great weekend! I hope you have a chance to dig into a great book and sit in the sunshine at some point.

Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop {summer}

Welcome to the Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop! You should have come to my blog from Cristal (Pinky) Hobbs' blog. To catch all of the fun from the beginning, visit Samantha Walker's blog first.

This month's lucky winner will receive a Spellbinders Shapeabilities Expandable Patterns Die Fancy Lattice.

...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 7/9 until Sunday 7/13. The winner will be announced on Samantha's Facebook page on Monday 7/14.

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: Summer

For this month's hop project, I made two cards using Samantha Walker's Summer Lovin' collection from Carta Bella. I love the summer patterns and colors, and I couldn't resist playing around with the 2x3 cards and stickers to make these. 

Cards like these would be great for inviting a few family members and friends over for a BBQ or pool party. They would also make great thank you cards after spending a fun summer day at a friend's house.

Supplies: Carta Bella Summer Lovin' by Samantha Walker

Keep hopping along with us for more summer inspiration! 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

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.

Teacher gifts {simply everyday me}

My friend Michelle at Simply Everyday Me has some of the best printables for making great gift boxes. 

Today I am sharing how I used her Ice Cream / Popsicle gift box for teacher/bus driver gift boxes this year. This was the last week of school, and I sent the boy off to school with these fun boxes filled with a gift card to the best local ice cream (Abott's) and a note from him thanking them for a great year. 

I decorated one side of the popsicle box with tags using the Summer Bliss collection from Echo Park. A little washi tape helped keep the bottom of the box closed — not because it really need it, but because an 8 year old was in charge of delivery the gift cards, if you know what I mean. 

Here is what the other side of the boxes looks like. Good enough to eat, right?!

I also want to note that I used Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue to put this together. The rounded edges really need something strong to bond that edge, and Beacon's worked perfectly!

I sure hope they enjoy their treats! And thank you to Michelle for sharing these fun gift boxes with me. If you are looking for unique and fun treat boxes for parties this summer, take a peek at the Simply Everyday Me Etsy shop.

Summer Issue {scrapbook & cards today}

If you haven't downloaded it yet, the summer issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today is a great one full of summer-themed inspiration. 

Check out my pool-themed layout on page 29. I used the Fancy Pants Nautical collection and I just love how it turned out. Thank you to Scrapbook & Cards Today for printing my layout. 

Download or order your copy of this fun issue today!

Summertime Memories - Part 2 {adornit}

My Designer Spotlight with AdornIt has come to an end this week. I'm so happy with the four projects I made using the Summertime Memories collection. With winter hanging around as long as it did, it was a relief to work with such bright and summery images. 

Using their chalkboard banner kit, I made this fun summer banner for the front entrance of my home. 

The bike is one of my favorite embellishments in this collection, so I made sure to put it front and center on my banner.

With the fun pieces I had left over from making the layout, card and banner, I made this 2x3 tag mini album. Just a little something fun to hang onto that shares some photos from last summer. 

This is the front of all of the tags…

… and this is the back of all of the tags. 

Thanks for stopping here today to see my projects for AdornIt! 

You could win the AdornIt Summertime Memories collection by leaving comments on the AdornIt blog posts that share my work. Scoot on over to the blog now and leave some comments — the winner could be you!

Summertime Memories {adornit}

I am thrilled to be this week's Guest Designer over on the AdornIt blog. Each day this week, they are sharing my work with the Summertime Memories collection.

On Monday, they posted this fun summer layout of my boy. I love the watermelons and fun bright colors in this collection.

On Tuesday they shared my summer banner card. Again — loving the watermelons! I fussy-cut that banner and adhered it to the card with some enamel dots from my stash.

If you leave a comment on any of my posts this week at the AdornIt blog, you will be entered to win the entire Summertime Memories collection from AdornIt. 

COMMENT ON MY LAYOUT POST

COMMENT ON MY CARD POST

Thanks for stopping to see the beginning of my guest posts for AdornIt. Don't forget to leave comments on their site so you have a chance to win these fabulous watermelons for yourself!

CHA - Summer 2013 {imaginisce}

Imaginisce is revealing some amazing new tools, chipboard, milk paint and the fall and winter collections at this week's Summer CHA 2013.

I did some work with the Bushel of Fall collection and wanted to share it here so you can see what's coming up.

The Christmas line is amazing! I love the colors in this collection and the fun owls with scarves. Seriously, how cute is that?! The chevron paper and the ornaments are my favorites.

Keep an eye on the Imaginisce blog in case they share anything else. Check it out now to see what they have already revealed (the milk paint looks really interesting!).