Stampin Up Handmade Cards with Pictures

I was working on a challenge to use Stampin Up Christmas stamps in a non-Christmas way. Vote for your favorite in the comments.

A. Dasher Stamp - Thinking Of You

For this card I used the Stampin Up Dasher stamp and the Autumn set. The paper was chocolate chip, close to caramel and some yellow and printed paper from my generic stock. For the leaves I used Stampin Up always avocado and old olive inks. Dasher was stamped in chocolate chip ink.

B. Dasher - Thinking of You 2

You can't tell because I scanned this picture but the circles are cut out of the top of the card and Dasher is stamped with Versa Mark on the inside then embossed with Stampin Up gold embossing powder. The leaf is from the autumn set and the thinking of you is from the greeting for all seasons set (both discontinued).


C. Congratulations on the New Baby

The mom and baby were stamped on glossy paper and then I used a Stampin Up blender pen to color it in. I used gold ink to mess up the edges of the chocolate chip cardstock. I stamped a flower on white and cut it out. The Congratulations stamp is from the a greeting for all seasons set, the mom and baby is from the Miracle of Christmas set and the soother is from the little layers set, I forget the name of the set the flower is from.(all discontinued)

D. New Baby Card

For this card I used painter's masking tape - the green stuff. I cut it into thin pieces and made a grid on the card. I then stamped the background using stamps from a greeting for all seasons set and fresh flowers set. I then stamped the paper with versa mark and spread clear embossing powder on the whole sheet and heated it. When it cooled I removed the masking tape and voila the background was complete. I then used the baby from the Miracle of Christmas set. (all sets are discontinued)

E. Spring Embellishment for a Scrapbook Page

This is not my favorite but I thought I'd throw it in here too.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section.

Scrapbook Embellishments - Tag ideas and Pictures

Tags always make a perfect addition to scrapbook pages. 

They are easy to make and keep on hand for future pages and use up some of those extra supplies we haven't found a home for yet. I usually sit and make a variety of tags to file away. 

The trick to tags is to layer, start with the first layer and keep adding layers until you like the end result. Most of the supplies used here will be discontinued, but don't let that stop you from using what you have on hand.

 Simply sketch out the layout and fill in with supplies from your collection.

Friendship Tag

Cherish Friendship Tag for a Girl 

Friends and Playmates tag for scrapbook

Happiness tag for scrapbook 

May you dream tag for scrapbook 

 

Folding Handmade Greeting Card / Scrapbook Embellishment

This card was hand stamped using Stampin Up stamps and cardstock. I like the center opening because it's different from the usual folded card.

Scrapbook - Pirate Layout

I finished a 4 page pirate layout for pictures of a Pirates of the Caribean's Jack Sparrow show at Disney World which my son was a volunteer. I had a 8x10 photo and a 8x10 certificate to incorporate into the layouts. The set includes: Title Page, 2 page, Last page.





For the layout I used stamps for the title and stickers for the embellishments and a tag to journal. For the tag I used the chocolate chip stamping up stamp spot to color the edges and scraped it across the outer sides to dirty it up.

I used:
Karen Foster cardstock pirate stickers,

Rock n Roll clear stamps - brand name escapes me I got them at Micheals

Distressed Alphabet clear stamps by Kaiser Scrapbook

Stamping up ink spots:Chocolate chip and ruby red,

Textured 12x12 card stock and printed 12x12 card stock

Scrapbook - Using Sandpaper to Age Scrapbook Paper and Photos

I crinckled the paper and brushed sandpaper over it lightly to enhance the creases and folds. I then used the sand paper on ripped edges of the photo to give the photo a more worn out look.

Scrapbook - Aging Process to add a Antiqued Element to Your Page

My favorite Scrapbook technique is aging to create an antique or old fashioned look. This picture was taken with a Canon Rebel 35 mm camera with black and white film. The lighting in the room created this old fashion feeling picture. In order to enhance this I took a quote on cream/beige coloured card stock, ripped the edges and then used some brown chalk to create a dirty time weathered appearance on the card stock.

There are lots of aging products on the market that make it easy to create an antiqued look to your paper craft projects. I used what I had on hand at the time and liked the result.

Disney Trip Scrapbook Title Embellishment

I wanted to make my families Disney Vacation scrapbook unique by utilizing various disney scrapbook products with stamp supplies to create titles that stand out.

Disney stickers
Cardstock
Various alphabet stamps
Stamping Ink
Versa Mark
Embossing powder
Adhesive
Gold Pen

Scrapbook Family Vacation Title

Using Vellum, Printed 12x12 paper, 3D Stickers, Paint, and stencil to create a unique title.

Scrapbook Titles Made from Scratch

Enhance your scrapbook page with letters cut from paper and enhanced with paint. Use a word processer to create a word in your favorite font. Print it out, cut out the letters and use to trace on cardstock. Cut out the cardstock letters and enhance with paint. Use a sponge and lightly scrap the front of the letters to enhance.

Spending Too Much Time Behind the Camera Perserving Memories

Last night we went to the Airdrie Festival of Lights, which was cold and beautiful. It ended with a spectacular fireworks display and as I took pictures I realized something; I spend so much time looking through a camera to preserve memories I'm not apart of. Looking at something through the lens of a camera or a video camera removes you from experiencing that which you are trying to preserve.

How much time do we spend watching those videos that we spend so much energy taking? We take video to preserve memories that we won't have. By watching something through a camera you are removed from actually experiencing it and remembering the emotion of it. You are not engaged in the event you are trying to preserve so is it really a memory worth remembering?

Personally I love taking pictures they help trigger memories later on in life. I just have to stop trying to only take pictures and try to spend more time in the moment enjoying the situation I am trying to preserve forever. Next time your child has a school play try putting the camera in someone else's hands or a tripod and just enjoy the moment of watching your child perform. That memory will last in your mind and heart longer than any you preserved in video.

The Christmas Shoes Movie - A Lesson on What's Important in Life

I am watching The Christmas Shoes Movie and it is hitting home because it parrallels my life at present. It's a story about how life and work can get in the way of what's important - family. Life is so short, when my kids were born I started scrapbooks for them not only to remember their lives, but also so if something happened to me they would know how much I loved them. I filled it with my dreams for them and my heart, then I stopped because life got in the way.

God has given me a wake up call tonight with The Christmas Shoes Movie. I'm crying so much that I have a lake of tears at the base of my neck. The movie is about two families, one a successful lawyer is too busy making money and buying things that show his affluence. He misses his daughters school performance and has grown away from his wife whom he wants to start working so they can have a larger home.
The other family is also a single income family but the father owns a automotive shop that is struggling yet he is content with the mother staying home with their son. Their lives are intertwined without the lawyer realizing that the boy he helps buy a pair of shoes for his dying mother is his wife's friend that is dying. He is too occupied to see what is happening around him or to understand what his wife and daughter need.

This story has hit home for me and has strong parallels to my present life, God talks to us in very unusual ways sometimes. My husband owns an automotive shop that is struggling, I have a son the same age as the boy with the dying mother. My son is very thoughtful, empathetic, and sensitive to my feelings and happiness, just like the boy in the movie listens to what his mom needs.

I recently went back to work and have been very very focused on work, putting in long hours and travelling for weeks at a time. I sacrifice time with my family for my career, money and me time. When I was home for the better part of 6 years, I sacrificed my career, money and me time to be with my kids. I've missed parent teacher interviews, celebration of learning, and assembly presentations in the short time I've been back at work. This week I'm out of town and lost a day due to car trouble so I was debating on whether I should go back for my son's Christmas Concert Thursday night because I'd be missing another day of work on Friday.

I am ashamed of myself, but couldn't see what I was doing to my family because I wasn't there to see it. I'm not going to tell my son that I'm coming, I want to surprise him. I can't wait to see him as the ballet dancing sheep! It also means I'll be home for 2 whole weeks on vacation, I plan on spending as much time doing things like making puzzles, playing Barbies, playing Wii and snowboarding with them.

I also want to start up my scrapbooks again, to continue recording their lives and my love for them in the pages. Life is so short and if I'm not here to tell them how much I love them, how proud I am of them, and my dreams for them - I want the books to be able to tell them for me. I pray to God that I will be around to see my children grow and have children of their own. I pray to God as much as I can that he'd send angels to my children to surround them with their wings and protect them. I know I have no control over the future and what happens to us, I pray that whatever happens though my children will feel I put them first.

Organizing the Scrapbook Stuff - I have so much Scrapbooking Supplies Organizing it is a Nightmare

I have to put together a home office in the corner of my bedroom. I need the home office for work but I was thinking of incorporating all my scrapbook, family, and business stuff into the space. Not easy considering the minimal amount of funds and space I have available.

Organizing 12x12 scrapbook paper can be tricky because it doesn't fit traditional business sized filing systems. This is why such items as 12x12 hanging file folders and 12x12 file folders are so perfect. Only thing is what can hold 12x12 file folders? How about a blue 12x12 box specifically meant to organize your 12x12 Scrapbook paper?



The 12x12 cascade folders are a handy way to organize your papers and if you have as much scrapbook paper as I do you may want to color code the paper with the matching 12x12 cascade folder color.

I have scrapbook stuff in rubbermaid three / four / and seven drawers on wheels. Not much to look at but at least everything has a place. I cover it with beautiful brown cloth I picked up from Wal Mart for .10/meter. They are great for the cutters, magazines, and various tools but aren't big enough for the paper.

I do file the 8x11 cardstock and larger embellishments in a rubbermaid file box with lid and find it very handy when I need a color or a themed embellishment. I would prefer to file the 12x12 paper the same way along with all the work and personal files. I have a cedar chest that I will have my husband convert to a very large file cabinet so the 12x12 files will fit along with the regular letter sized. This may take some creative fabrication on his part with 2 different width sizes. If I just had the boxes then I could pull out the box I wanted to find the file of. It would also be handier for work as I will be travelling a lot and will need to take boxes of files with me.



The smaller embellishments like buttons, eyelets, and brads were easy to organize in a fishing tackle box. Perfect sized compartments for them and I was able to organize the paints, inks, and embossing powders in the larger compartment. Makes it easy to pick it up and take with me when I want to work somewhere else besides home.

Trying to keep everything at hand and in order can be difficult, there are lots of organizing products out there in the market. Which works best for you?

2.Groovy Retro Theme Birthday Party Invitation Template
3.Purse shaped girls birthday card.

Blooming Flower Card or Scrapbook Embellishment

I found this great template to make a blooming flower card and created both a thank you card and a scrapbook embellishment / card. Can be used to make so many different types of cards or scrapbook embellishments.

First cut out the 4 pieces of the template and then decorate both sides of each petal with either pictures or stamps. The great thing about making a scrapbook embellishment is you can use up pictures that are hanging around.

Glue all the pieces together and fold each petal into the center and secure with either a ribbon or a piece of paper wrapped around the card.

Check out this Blooming Gift Box






1. Link to the flower template
2.Groovy Retro Theme Birthday Party Invitation Template
3.Purse shaped girls birthday card.
4.Organizing Scrapbook Supplies

Scrapbook titles made from scratch

A Summery 6x6 Scrapbook Album - A Year in the Life of Your Family

At Time Out ezine the project of the month is a 6x6 scrapbook album - a year in the life of your family. I put together this scrapbook a couple years ago as Christmas presents for the grandparents who live in another province and don't get to see the kids regularly. It's a great scrapbook album for a few reasons:

1. Makes a great Christmas present for family
2. Uses up scrapbook paper and scrapbook embellishments you have had and haven't used for a while.
3. The 6x6 scrapbook album size is perfect for a quick look at your family's life
4. It's a real easy and quick scrapbook to make
5. There are some cool 6x6 scrapbook album or accordion albums available.


This scrapbook is so easy to put together and takes little thought.

Step One:

Collect some of your favorite pictures from the year. If digital, crop them and print out the pictures in a 4x6 size. You only need one or two pictures from each event ie birthdays, vacations, sport activities.

Step Two:

Choose similar 12x12 scrapbook papers and cut them into 6x6 sheets.

Step Three:

Gather up scrapbook embellishments and a couple quote stacks or similar quote scrapbook products.


Step Four:

Add one picture to each 6x6 scrapbook sheet and then embellish the 2x6 space beside the picture with a quote or a journal comment and some embellishments.

Step Five:

Put the completed pages into the 6x6 scrapbook album and you've now completed a year in the life of your family, a visual summary.

More examples at the Time Out E-Zine Gallery. Submit your 6x6 project pages to the Time Out E-Zine Gallery detail there.