Shabby and Oh So Chic!

I was on such a roll last week with the two page layouts, it just kept going!  I put a few more together and just loved the results.  This page is called "I adore you" and it's both shabby and chic!

I used K&Company paper from their Margo line, hand punched the flowers, cut the leaves on my Cricut using the Zooballoo cartridge, and inked it all up!

The title is a bit of a hodge-podge.  The "adore" is straight out of the package of K&Co chipboard embellishments that match this paper line - I simply added a little bit of brown ink around the edges.  The letter "I" is from the same pack.  However, it was in a print that didn't coordinate with these particular papers.  My green chalk ink wouldn't cover the shiny print, but because it's a symmetrical letter it didn't matter which side I used.  So I flipped the letter over, wrong side up, and peeled the adhesive backing off.  Then I took my olive green ink pad and saturated the exposed chipboard and VIOLA!  A matching letter!  :)  The Y, O, and U letters are from a package of lime green letters.  I applied chalk ink directly to them and it covered the lime quite nicely.

After machine stitching my photo mats, I added some ribbon, put some olive green pearls in my flower centers, added a couple little touches and it was done.  I love the colors and think it's got a great vintage style.

Back to the Basics

Hi everyone,

Well it's been a crazy summer for me.  Crazy in a good way, but still crazy nonetheless!  Between summer camps, day trips, paperwork for my fiance's business, planning our summer vacation, building up my etsy store, and trying to keep things posted on eBay, it's been busy.  Oh, and don't forget doing the laundry, making it to twice weekly yoga classes, walking the dog, and whipping up all those homemade meals, too!  LOL!

Anyways, last week I got the inclination to put aside the album I was working on and have my go at a 2 page layout.  Not a far stretch, I agree, considering that's what I normally make for my local scrapbook store's design team.  But putting together a layout once a month for a store display isn't quite the same as making one that will actually end up in a scrapbook.   Once I got myself going, I couldn't stop!  I think I'm up to eight since last Thursday, which is pretty impressive considering my schedule.  So here's a look at some of them, let me know what you think:

Just one photo on a two-page spread - Say What?!

If someone gave you one 5x7 photo and told you to make a two page spread without using any other photos, do you think you could do it?

Of course you can! ;)

Check this out...  Everything Scrapbook & Stamps, the LSS I design for, gave me these super cute Easter themed papers and big ol' sheet of giant sticker embellishments by Reminisce.  You can visit the Reminisce blog by clicking here.

At first I had no idea what to do with the gigantic stickers... then it dawned on me to use those in places where I might normally have placed a photo.

So there it is:  A full two page spread using nothing but one 5x7 photo.  You don't need to have this particular paper, or these particular stickers... just start thinking about using your embellishments as a feature on your page instead of just an accent.

As always, thanks for reading ~ Happy Scrappin'!

March Paper Collection of the Month

For March, I chose to showcase the "Nana's Nursery: Baby Boy" papers by DCWV.  It is readily available and is more versatile than you might think.  :)  I love to use button accents with my baby projects so you'll see lots of them.

But I think my favorite part of this paper line is that, while geared toward boys, if you are selective with the papers, you can even get it to look totally girly!

Use the papers with the purple accents to do just that - you'll be surprised how much it changes the look of your project.

Here are two paper bag albums - from the same paper stack.  One is undoubtedly BOY and one is definitely GIRL - just by selecting a few of the sheets of paper.  Use the purple accents for the girl album and leave purple completely out of the boy album and Voila!  See how easy?

Thanks for looking!

I hate being late!

Okay, so it's March 2nd and I'm just now posting my February projects.  I'd love to have some radical, excellent excuse, but I guess I'm just slacking!  :)

February's Paper Collection of the Month was Wild Saffron by K & Company.

This paper collection is available in a 12x12 paper stack, which is what I used on these projects.  You can see that by limiting the papers used on each project, you can vary the look.  Use just blue, green and one... use all the colors on another one... I still have a pile of papers with just yellow and brown that I plan on turning into an album at some point.  I love that I can get so many projects out of one simple stack of paper - so much fun!

This "Family Photos" album got a sophisticated look from beads and fabric flowers.

For a less formal look, a square album and fun picnic table accents were used in this Summer BBQ album.

A mixed shape album gets a warm feel with soft brown accents inks throughout the pages.  By keeping the color palette limited, a completely new look is created.  The pearl accents contribute to the worn and well-loved look of this "Home Sweet Home" album.

And for fun, this two page layout makes use of the mostly blue paper (for sky) and the mostly green paper (for grass) to give this an outdoorsy vibe.  Flowers and a happy sunshine complete the look.

Thanks for looking, and I'll try to be on time next month!  :)

WISTERIA by Basic Grey: January Paper Collection of the Month

Here are FOUR projects I made using Basic Grey's Wisteria line of paper.  The lilacs and the soft green are just stunning together, and every time I used this paper I had to stop myself from drooling!

You can see how easy it can be to make unique projects, even using the same paper line.  In this case, to give each album it's own look, I varied the album base.  This first album is made of 7 chipboard panels (each measuring 7"x5") that I hand cut from 12x12 chipboard sheets.

It gives a nice work surface if you are new to albums, since each page is the same size. 

If you want more of a challenge, and a completely distinct look, I recommend using this multi-shaped album base by Basic Grey.  It consists of a variety of shaped panels and you can rearrange them to completely customize your album.  Here I added TONS of primas and leaves, along with a stunning beaded butterfly to give the album cover a wow factor.  Do you see the butterfly charm dangling from the top binder ring?

Finally, my fourth project to share is a tabbed acrylic album.  Acrylics are FUN!  I hesitated to try one for so long, but now I can't stop making them!  Half the fun is planning how each page is going to look... you can leave spaces on each page if you want to see the next one through the acrylic.

I have uploaded detailed photos of each project to a Picasa Web Album.  And I do mean DETAILD photos... I think there are 108 photos of these four projects, LOL! Simply click here to be taken to the web album.  Remember that I'm happy to provide you with inspiration and tips, and you may scraplift for your personal use, but please don't copy my work for resale. 

Before you go, be sure to become one of my Followers.  Next month I'll be sharing my projects using Wild Saffron by K&Company, which is another drool-worthy paper line.

Thanks for reading,

Erica  :)

Merry & Bright

It's November! The holiday season is officially upon us, can you believe it?!? Well, my most recent project for Everything Scrapbook & Stamps has certainly put me in the holiday spirit! I got to work with the new Bo Bunny "Tis the Season" collection of patterned papers.
The papers are colorful and fun, in true Bo Bunny style! I loved the bright green color - such a fresh take on the traditional forest green we usually think of at Christmas.This is a two page 12x12 layout using the Bo Bunny papers, red and light blue Bazzill cardstock, Poinsettias and leaves (also by Bazzill). I cut out a couple of cute snowflakes with a Kiwi Lane Designs template, which then I inked in a soft blue and accented with silver glitter. The title is cut with a Cricut using the Zooballoo cartridge.So now that I'm in a festive mood, it's time to start thinking about holiday shopping, LOL! With two little ones to buy for, the shopping can be really fun. :)I hope I've helped get you to start thinking about the holidays. Always remember to take LOTS of photos this time year ~ We couldn't be scrappers without them!

New Layouts

I admit that I've been skipping the scrapbook layouts in favor of albums lately. I just love making albums and altered board books, but I had to go back and make some layouts just for fun.

This first layout is titled "Sweetness" and it's perfect for photos of a little girl, favorite cuddly pet or even as an homage to your favorite sweets (cupcakes, anyone?). The patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye and the metal clips are by Making Memories.



The next two layouts are essentially the same, but done in different colors. I used the blues and greens for the Boy Version, and deep pinks and chocolate brown for the Girl Version. These are both titled "Welcome to the Jungle" and are the perfect way to showcase photos of your favorite little monkey child in all their silliness. The papers, rub ons and 3D embellishments are all from DCWV's Animal Crackers line. The vines are cut with my Cricut using the Zooballoo cartridge.


I posted these layouts (and others) for sale in my etsy shop, www.cherishpaperart.etsy.com. I'm also running a special through 10/31/2009: Buy 2 or more items from my shop and your entire order ships for FREE! What a great way to get a jump start on your holiday shopping or to fill up that scrapbook you've been meaning to work on.

Thanks for looking!

Time for Spring!

Living in south Florida, I don't see much of a change in the seasons - it's just hot and hotter. Today it was 83 degrees and it's only the first of April! Even though I don't see the same spring time changes that you might, I get the joy this year of having a new neice. She was born in October so this is her first spring! Thinking of her inspired me to create a page to celebrate a first spring. The page is being auctioned off on eBay through April 8th. See my listings here.

The little paper pieced bears are always fun to make and I used my Cricut to cut the title. Machine stitching, coordinating ribbon and some flowers finish it off.

I wish you a wonderful spring filled with all the beautiful things it brings!

Love is in the Air!

Valentine's Day is coming and I've had LOVE on the brain! Here's a peek at two of my eBay auctions that run through January 29th. Click here to see the full listing, which includes TONS of close up photos and the inside of the album.