Star spangled celebration {bella blvd}

This week on Bella Blvd we are celebrating by sharing patriotic projects.

This first card I made is an explosion card. There is no bottom, so it isn't a box, but it folds to the left or right flat to fit into a larger envelope. The 4th of July is one of the best holidays to give an explosion card — it's like fireworks for paper!

SUPPLIES: Bella Blvd All American: (Pattern paper: United We Stand, Seeing Stars). Bella Blvd Lucky Starz: (Pattern paper: McIntosh Starz). Silhouette Online Store: July 4th box card by Snapdragon Snippets.

I love navy! Navy is possibly the best color, and when paired with red and white, it just makes me smile. This blue star paper is one of my favorites ever made from Bella Blvd, so I was very happy to use it for the base of this card. The center decoration is from a few different Silhouette
cuts on stacked together for a patriotic sentiment.

SUPPLIES: Bella Blvd All American: (Pattern paper: United We Stand, Seeing Stars). Bella Blvd Classic Calendars: (Pattern paper: Borders 2)

Thanks for stopping by here today to see my cards. Happy 4th of July to my American friends celebrating later on this week!

Challenge #10 | Gold {avery elle}

Happy Friday and welcome to another challenge for the AEI♥U Challenge blog. This week we are working with gold elements for our cards. 

This is the card I made to get you motivated to play along with us. I used AC Mustard Zing embossing powder to get the gold color and added My Mind's Eye gold Charmed enamel dots to the leaves for even more dimension and shimmer. 

Supplies: Avery Elle (Petals and Stems and Cake & Candles). 

Thank you for stopping by here today. I can't wait to see your gold accents — play along with us!

Avery Elle stamps or their free digital stamps must be used in each entry. You may enter as many times as you wish, but they must be posted to the InLinkz tool separately. Please enter a new, not previously posted project that fits the challenge theme.  Your project must fit the theme to be eligible to win. The winner will not be chosen randomly.  We will be looking for entries that include great use of color, design & creativity. You have until 12:01 AM (PT) on Sunday, July 6th to enter.  The winner will be announced on Thursday, July 10th at 6:00 AM (Pacific Time) on the Avery Elle Challenge Blog.

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.

What's New {bella blvd}

Today on the Bella Blvd blog we are sharing more of the summer collections and all that makes them perfect for this time of year.

The stickers in the newest collections are perfect for cards. They have fun, bright, happy sayings that are perfect for sending smiles to friends and family. The stars and twine had a pop of dimension to the card.

Supplies: Scattered Sprinkles: Just Write Journaling Stickers. Summer Squeeze: (Pattern paper: Summer Breeze), Treasures & Text Stickers. Classic Calendars: (Pattern paper: Peep Calendar), Just Write Journaling Stickers

The subway art-style sticker on this card is the perfect way to say a lot in a little space. The cluster of positive words is great for a card when you want to show a little bit of support to a loved one.

Supplies: Classic Calendars: (Pattern paper: Peep Calendar), Just Write Journaling Stickers. Summer Squeeze: (Pattern paper: Summer Breeze), Treasures & Text Stickers

Thanks for stopping by here today to see my cards.

Animal party mask {samantha walker}

Today on the Samantha Walker blog, I'm sharing a tutorial on how to make this animal mask for a child's party favor. 

We all have those animal cut files, here's how to alter them into masks without having to buy a separate mask file.

I hope you'll stop over and view the tutorial — you'll be surprised how easy it can be to alter files using your Silhouette software.

Supplies: Samantha Walker (Ice Skating Raccoon), American Crafts (card stock), Tombow (dots runner), Twinery (Stone).

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!

Card sketch challenge {bella blvd}

Today on the Bella Blvd blog we are sharing cards we made using the card sketch for the month of June. You can see the sketch on the Bella Blvd blog along with other card makers' cards or below at the end of my post.

I had fun making a country-style card with the Strawberries Squeeze paper from the Summer Squeeze collection. The colors and patterns on this are fun and perfect for summertime.

Supplies: Summer Squeeze (Pattern paper: Strawberry Squeeze, Daily Details), Treasures & Text stickers. Classic Calendars: Treasures & Text stickers

Scoot on over to the Bella Blvd blog to see what the other ladies made! Thanks for stopping by here.

June sketch challenge {scrapbook circle}

The June Hello There kit from Scrapbook Circle is bright, sunny and perfect for summertime photos. To get you started creating with this month's kit, we have a sketch challenge for you. You can see the sketch below at the end of this post or on the Scrapbook Circle blog along with sample layouts from the rest of the team.

This is the layout I made using the June kit and the June sketch. I just love this picture of Nate. Snapped a quick on of him one morning — before he had a chance to get silly and make faces.  

This month, one random sketch challenge participant will win this Maggie Holmes prize pack.

And this is the sketch for you to use. Only participants that have a Scrapbook Circle kit and use it to participate in the challenge will be eligible to win this month's prize.

See what the rest of the team made as well as rules for the challenge on the Scrapbook Circle blog! Thanks for stopping here today.

Challenge #9 | DIY Paper {avery elle}

Happy Friday and welcome to another challenge for the AEI♥U Challenge blog. This week, we are focusing on using your stamps to make your own patterned paper. 

For my card, I used the bubbles in the Storybook set and the circles in the Woodgrain and More set to make my pattern paper. 

After making the pattern with the Mint to Be ink from Avery Elle, I then colored in some off the bubbles with a light green color Copic Marker and some of the others with a shimmery glitter pen. 

I finished the card off with a sentiment and the adorable little goose and balloon.

Supplies: Storybook Clear Stamps, Woodgrain & More Clear Stamps, Die: Storybook Elle-ments, Mint To Be Pigment Ink Pad

Thank you for stopping by here today. I can't wait to see your DIY backgrounds — play along with us!

Avery Elle stamps or their free digital stamps must be used in each entry. You may enter as many times as you wish, but they must be posted to the InLinkz tool separately. Please enter a new, not previously posted project that fits the challenge theme.  Your project must fit the theme to be eligible to win. The winner will not be chosen randomly.  We will be looking for entries that include great use of color, design & creativity. You have until 12:01 AM (PT) on Sunday, June 22nd to enter.  The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 26th at 6:00 AM (Pacific Time) on the Avery Elle Challenge Blog.