Going Soft and Smokey for Spring! {Maja Design}

 

I don't know how winter has been everyone else out there, but here in Canada it has been extremely cold and snowy this year! I for one am soooo ready for Spring to make an appearance! So to warm myself up a little I thought I'd work on a summery photo. This is a photo I took a few years back of my oldest daughter when we were taking a summer vacation near Sable Falls in (Northern) Ontario. I've recently been putting together a color inspiration board for myself on Pinterest and I find one of my favourite color combinations is purples with greens, but I'm particularly fond of the these colors in soft smokey tones. So for this page I reached for some of the soft smokey plums in the Maja Design, 'Ska vi ta en Fika' collection and mixed it with some taupey grey and soft green from the Vintage Summer basics colleciton.

I wanted to add some 'lush' greenery to the page so I matted behind the photo with some green paper from the Life In the Country paper collection (Sowing Seeds-bs), and added a new vine chipboard design from Dusty Attic called 'Ivy Corners' adding a few Dusty Attic purple roses in as well.

I just love to add vintage style embellishments to my Maja Design layouts because the beautiful papers lend themselves so well to these types of embellishments, like vintage lace (from Tresors de Luxe), Natural floral accents (also from Tresors de luxe), chipboard designs (Skelleton clock and flourishes, from Dusty Attic Designs) and the Flowers are from a tin of blooms from Recollections.

Clocks are one of those design elements that I feel work with almost any page. So again on this page I've added in some of my favourite clock designs from the Vintage Autumn Basics collection (XVI).

 

When I get my Maja Design collections, I love to fan out the papers and enjoy how the different patterns and designs look against each other. I always want to share these pretty designs in a unique and fun way, ....here I was able to do this using a new chipboard by Dusty Attic called 'Geometric' border. I glued a small sampling of a few of the patterned papers behind the small square designs. And nope, that is not my handwriting you see above (I wish!), it's a little bit of rub-on I have from some old Daisy D's rub-ons I still have in my stash ....yep, still trying to add a bit of my older stash on each page :)

Maja Design Papers used in this project: Ska vi ta en Fika (Söders höjder - bs, En Kopp te-bs, Chaite-bs, Favoriter-bs), Life In the Country (Sowing Seeds), Vintage Summer Basics (1932-bs), Vintage Autumn Basics (XVI).

Note:  I often get email from my blog readers looking for good sources for Maja Design products and Dusty Attic chipboard.  I list links to retailers in the right side column of my blog but for a quick link you can check out these great resources.... http://www.thescrapbookdiaries.com/product-tag/maja/,  http://moments-of-tranquility-shop.com/, http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto

I hope you enjoyed my little project today using Maja Design products and hope that it brought you a little Spring warmth as well! xo

Sweet Routine **NEW** Websters Pages

 

The NEW Webster's Pages collection called 'Sweet Routine' is on the shelves now (or will be soon in your locals scrapbook stores!). I got this sweet li'l photo of my two great-nieces in their stripey pink outfits and immediately thought of lovely rose-bud paper and rich deep pinks in the Sweet Routine collection as a good compliment to the photo.

 

As always, Websters offers the cutest charms and cameo accents to go with each of their collections.  For this page I used the floral pink/white cameo (Perfect Accents) and the pink butterfly metal charm and white alarm clock charm (shown below) to add a little charm to my page.

 

I made the flowers from some of the pink patterned papers in the collection using the Spellbinders 'Rose Creations' die and the Shasta Daisy dies from Cheery Lynn Designs.  The heart charm you see peeking out beside the daisy is another cameo piece from the Sweet Routine 'Perfect Accents' collection.

 

There are so many pretty images in the patterned paper, for the circle design I cut out the pink/white butterfly image and then anchored it in the middle of a circle cut of paper (using a cup to cut out the shape).  I used the circle as a place to do my journaling.

 

 

Hear is another close-up view of the page accents.  The chipboard fence design is a favorite piece of chipboard I like to use from Dusty Attic designs (Wrought Iron Fence).  I just gave it a quick coat of bronze paint and some Distress Stickles to give it a slightly rusty look.

 

Websters Pages Supplies: 

~Patterned Paper: Sweet Routine (Peace & Friendship, Morning, Fun with Cameras, Pieces of Today, Laundry Day)

~Charms: Sweet Routine (Pink Butterfly, White Alarm Clock)

~Perfect Accents: Sweet Routine (Dark Pink/white Cameo, Aqua Heart)

~Phrase Stickers: Sweet Routine

~Blooms were made from SR papers.

 

Thanks for stopping by today, I've got another fun page to share with you all tomorrow! xo xo

Creating Recipe Book with Bo Bunny's Misc. Me

 

I just love that there are some really beautiful inserts and designs to create a beautiful Recipes Collection book with Misc. Me!   My oldest daughter Chloe has become quite the little chef, she is almost daily experimenting with cooking and baking.  So I thought it would be a nice thing to make her up a special recipe book to keep all her recipes in.  Once I was done putting the book together (most of it blank for her to work in her choices), I thought I would pop in a few recipes she's tried and add a few photos of her and her sister, baking and cooking over the years. Just a little something to get her started.

 

The above photo was taken when Chloe and Meagan went to my sisters house to make Sprinkle cookies, one of their first baking adventures.  The recipe on the right is my dear husbands favourite salad that he's always asking Chloe to make for him.

 

Chloe and I made these Bass fillet's breaded in Japanese Panko (bread crumbs), I thought it would be fun to show the photo of Chloe holding the fresh Bass fish she and her dad caught on a fishing trip they took (the fish in the photo are the fish she caught).

 

A fun trend in scrapbooking lately is to use feathers to embellish pages.  I wanted to use some natural elements to decorate with so I thought it would be nice to use feathers to accent the page.

 

Designer Tip:  I thought it would be fun to try a fun little design trick on these feathers.  I've been seeing curled feathers lately online, but couldn't seem to find any in stores.  So I decided to try curling them myself.  Have you ever tried curling ribbons with the edge of a scissor or the dull side of a butter knife?  You do this the same way!  Just loosen the strands by running your fingers down along the stem.  Then just using the dull edge of a butter knife, start at the base of the strand and run it along the strand (between the knife edge and your thumb).  Easy Peasy!

 

When I gave my daughter this book, she was so delighted to have a book she can easily keep adding her recipes to.  One of her favourite things about the inserts was the conversion table insert that comes with the recipe cards.

 

Bo Bunny Supplies:

Misc. Me Binder/The Avenues

Misc. Me Recipe Contents/The Avenues

Misc. Me Note Paper/The Avenues

Misc. Me Contents/The Avenues

Misc. Me 8x10 Recipe Protectors Pack

Misc. Me 8x10 Page Protector(full page)

Patterned Paper: Antique, Trellis, Courtyard, Clocks, Shutters, Doors/The Avenues

Brads: The Avenues

Noteworthy: The Avenues

Layered Chipboard: The Avenues

Jewels: The Avenues

Blossoms: Denim, Natural Earth/Bouquet

 

I also included a bunch of the pocket style pages available in the Misc. Me collections so that my daughter can keep some of those 'vintage' handwritten recipies that have been passed down through the generations in their original form.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today, to see more Misc. Me project ideas please take a moment to stop by the Bo Bunny Blog today!

Mixed Media Style Page (Websters Pages ~ Sprinkled with Love}

 

I have this fun photo of my two little great nieces Jade and Keira, I think they are both so adorable!  I thought I would do a mixed media style page for this one.  I was inspired by the designs and colors in the Websters Pages collection called 'Sprinkled with love'.  It's actually a pretty quick style of page to create.  I just did a bunch of spritzing and painting/coloring on a blank piece of white cardstock. (I used a Reeves watercolor crayon for the pink color by just rubbing some of the crayon on my pallete and adding water,then just splashing it onto the page....I also used a Lindy's mist in 'Cape Cod Coral' for the peachy tones)

 

Once I finished adding my color splashes to the page I did a whole bunch of random stamping (I used a few Websters Pages stamps: 'Dream Big' (butterflies), 'The Little Things' stamp set, as well as some Bo Bunny and Prima stamps (script, film strip and stitches).  I also used some Websters Pages washi tape to create some random patterns on the misted areas.  Then I layered some papers from the Websters Pages 'Sprinkled with Love' collection under the photo, tucking in a few embellishments (heart paper clips are also from Websters Pages) here and there.  The cute chipboard frame is a new design from Dusty Attic Designs "String of Hearts Frame Set".  I painted this one white, then tinted the hearts with the same mediums I used to color the background design.  Then I gave the hearts a coat of glitter (Stardust Stickles) and a coat of Gloss medium.

 

I finished the design with a title using my favourite Websters Pages alpha stickers (I can't get enough of these!) and a cameo and metal frame accent from Websters pages as well.

 

Thanks for stoppy by today and having a peek at my blog!  I hope you all have a wonderful scrappy weekend! xo

"Play" {Dusty Attic and Maja Design}

Hi everyone! It's me Gabrielle here with you today to share my latest project using some fun new chippies from Dusty Attic and some Vintage Spring Basics collection mixed in with a little bit of Vintage Summer and Autumn Basics from Maja Design. I began by first using a Martha Stewart edge/corner punch on the edges of a neutral paper from the Vintage Summer Basics collection (1899). I then did a little inking with some Donna Salazar Distress Ink (Denim) and used a Heidi Swapp stencil and homemade texture paste over the inked areas.

The photo is one of my great nieces that my nephew's wife Danielle was kind enough to share with me. I wanted to keep the design light and airy and playful like the photo of Jade and at the same time play up the blues in the photo.

To make the floral design I used some super cute Dusty Attic chipboard (Spider Crysanthemum and Flower Buds), painted white and tinted with some blue and green chalk inks (Versa Magic Inks). I punched tiny blooms using a floral punch (Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch) on some cardstock and the left over strips of paper from the background (tinted blue at the edges, ). The butterfly is from Tattered Angels, Nature Glimmer Glass (I'm trying to use up bits of old stash with each layout I create).

I just love the little strips at the bottoms of the paper collections (not even sure what it says, LOL) but I love the pretty design element they add to a page!   I just adore the new cute l'il heart arrows, they make fun accents for a page.  For the one I used above, I simply painted it with white gesso, inked it with some blue Distress ink (Denim) and brown chalk ink.  I finished the design by adding some Dusty Attic Gloss Medium to the heart to give it a glassy look.

For some reason I really love the way burlap looks with the blues in this collection. In keeping with the neutral accents, I chose a Prima flower in a natural fabric and added some smaller blooms in blue from Petaloo (Darjeeling collection...Love these blooms, I think they are a perfect match for the blues in the Maja collections). And I also used some more clock cut-outs from the Vintage Autumn Basics (I just love this paper for embellishing my layouts, the clocks seem to add a nice touch to any layout whether masculine or feminine).

Dusty Attic Products used for this project:
~ Spider Crysanthemum
~ Flower Buds
~ Heart Arrows #2
~ Hinges
~ Dusty In Color Gloss Varnish
~ Dusty In Bloom (Latte)

Maja Design products used for this project:
Patterned Paper: Vintage Spring Basics (4th of April, 4rth of April-bs, 5th of April), Vintage Summer Basics (1899), Vintage Autumn Basics (XVI)

Again, if you are looking for Dusty Attic or Maja Design Products, I have a listing in my side panel of my blog with links to online stores.  I can tell you that some great sources for these products are The Scrapbook Diaries (USA), Moments of Tranquility (USA), Vicky Alberto's Etsy Shop (Canada).  Thanks so much for stopping by today and checkin' out my blog, your kind comments and feedback just make my day! xo

Mixing Collections with Bo Bunny!

Todays assignment for the Bo Bunny team was to create a layout mixing and matching 2 or more collections.  I found this photo of my youngest daughter and me on a walk from a few years ago.  I wanted to scrap it in soft neutral colors so I chose the tan and pale aqua colors from the Woodland Winter The Avenues collections.  For the background, I did a little inking with some soft aqua chalk ink by Versa Mark ( Sea Breeze from the Spring collection).  Then I used a Prima flourish stencil with some home made texture paste (my home-made texture paste recipe is found in the right column of my blog under tutorials).

 

 

I chose the blooms from the "Natural Earth" collection of Bo Bunny blooms to keep to the nature theme of the page.  I also used some of the fun die cuts from the Woodland Winter collection (Noteworthy) to stay in keeping with the theme of my page.  I always love using the die cut pieces from the Noteworthy packages.....for those of you who don't like fussy cutting, these are the best!  Isn't that deer and owl cute?

 

 

Because my photo is from a few years ago, I wanted to incorporate the clocks from The Avenues collection to show the passing of time and also to reinforce how much time spent with family means to me.

 

 

I used a fun new chipboard piece from Dusty Attic to frame my photo called String of Hearts Frame Set.  This design comes in a set of 3 sizes....I just love them!  I simply painted the frame white with Gesso and then used some chalk ink to tint the hearts.  Then I went over the hearts with some glitter glues (Stickles: Gold and Waterfall).

 

Bo Bunny Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Journal/Woodland Winter; Antique, Clocks, Home, Stripe/The Avenues

Dimensional Stickers: Woodland Winter

Combo Stickers: The Avenues

Brads: The Avenues

Noteworthy: Woodland Winter

Blossoms: Natural Earth Bouquet, Natural Earth Dahlia, Natural Earth Zinnia

Kraft Wood Clocks/hands

 

Thanks everyone for stopping by today and having a peek at my newest project.  If you are looking for Dusty Attic chipboard, I have a listing of companies that carry Dusty Attic in the right side panel of my blog.  Have a great weekend! xo xo

 

Some Exciting News about My Video Tutorials!! {Scrapbook Diaries}

 

First off I'm so excited to share with you all my latest layout and video tutorial created for The Scrapbook Diaries (BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME HAPPY NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL REGARDING MY PAST VIDEO TUTORIALS FOR THE SCRAPBOOK DIARIES)!  This layout was fun to make and full of really fun items to use on a page!....pretty resins, mists, my favorite brick stamp, loads of Prima blooms and more!  I also LOVE the Lindy's Mists in this one!  If you are a little timid in trying out mists on your pages, you will totally love these mists, the are soft and subtle, easy colors to work with!   And while I will admit my last video was a little more challenging, this one  is a layout that I believe can be recreated by crafters of all skill levels.  As always, The Scrapbook Diaries has created a kit that is packed with all the items you will need to create this page plus a bonus page, as well as giving you full, unlimited access to the video tutorial showing how to create this page (with purchase of the kit).

 

Here is a close-up of some of the gorgeous Prima blooms included in this lovely kit, as well as the unique and beautiful chipboard, resin frame, lace, stamps etc. included in the kit.  As always the kit also includes the amazing mixed media products (mists/sprays) I used for this page as well!  (Here are a few more close-ups)...

Janene, the owner of The Scrapbook Diaries tells me that my kits have been selling out fast, so if you missed out on the last few kits, you might want to hop onto this one quickly!  You can find the kit and video information HERE.  The kit is offered as a Basic Kit or as a Complete kit (this allows you to have some flexibility in your purchase price.....sometimes you may have the extra mixed media items in your stash and just want the basic kit to complete the page design).

I've also got some other exciting news for you all!  The 4 other kits (shown below) that I created for The Scrapbook Diaries have completely sold out, but after talking to Janene, we felt that it's a shame to leave the videos created for the kits to sit idle as they have a lot of technique in them that we feel can be enjoyed by more of an audience.  So Janene has set it up that the video tutorials are now available for a small fee for unlimited viewing to anyone that purchases them for online viewing.  (We decided to put them up for a small fee to be fair to the customers that paid for the full kit and video).  Here are the VIDEO TUTORIALS that are now available.....

 

Video Tutorial Link for 'Love' can be found~~~~ HERE

 

 

Video Tutorial Link for 'Happiness' can be found ~~~~ HERE

 

 

Video Tutorial for 'Love Beyond Measure' can be found ~~~~ HERE

 

 

Video Tutorial for 'Memories' can be found ~~~~ HERE

 

As you can imagine I put a lot of work into these layouts and video tutorials, so I am so pleased that more of you will now be able to access these videos.  The one time small fee will give you unlimited access to the the videos, once your purchase has gone through, you will recieve a code that will give you access to the video.

 

Thanks so much for stopping in today, and to all those lovely ladies who are so sweet to frequent my blog and leave all the lovely comments and feedback, I just want to say a big thank-you, your kindness is so appreciated!

 

Maja Design's February Mood Board Challenge!

 

It's that time again! I know I mentioned that the new Maja Moodboard is posted the first Tuesday of every month but I have to correct that, since the beginning of the new year it is now the firs SATURDAY of the month.  That being said here is the gorgeous Moodboard for February!...

 

 

 I love that the moodboard for February is not your typical  pink/red/white color combination (although I do love to scrap pink)...this mood board has such lovely shades of violet/purple/plums with some beautiful neutrals.  The moodboard is based on colors in the 'Ska vi ta en Fika?' collection.

I used mostly papers from the above collectin but added a little bit in from the Vintage Spring Basics collection as well (striped background for the card) and a little bit of Vintage Autumn Basics (clocks).

 

The roses I used on this card are from an old package of Prima flowers I had in my stash, mixed with small white roses from Dusty Attic Designs.  The vine flourish design was cut from Maja papers using the Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die cut.

 

I created a shabby-chic frame design for my card title with a Dusty Attic Design frame and some white pearl 3D paint (I used Scribbles brand found in the T-shirt section of Michaels Craft Shop).

 

 

Here is an even closer view of the frame.  I usually like to machine stitch on my cards but I ran out of the heavy duty upholstery thread I ususally use for stitching on my cards and layouts, so I had to cheat and draw on the stitch design with a brown pen.

 

Maja Design papers used on this project:

~ Ska vi ta en Fika (Favoriter, Blommor på bordet, Våffla m björnbärssylt-bs, Söders höjder - bs)

~ Vintage Spring Basics (8th of April-bs)

~ Vintage Autumn Basics (XVI) - clocks

~ Life in the Country (Sowing Seeds-bs)

 

I hope you get a chance to play along with this months moodboard challenge at Maja Design,there is a beautiful Maja Design collection (of your choice) up for grabs as the prize each month!  You can find the challenge information HERE.  You can also see more inspiration from our talented design team there, to get your creativity going! Thanks so much for stopping by today and for all the lovely comments, you guys are the best! xo xo