Throwback Thursday: What's Up Collection by Basic Grey

Have you ever taken the time to go through your stash and get inspired by something that you forgot that you had?  That happens to me a lot, which is why I always tend to "play" in my supplies when I am in a creative slump. The latest result was finding a paper pad from Basic Grey, perfect for cards!

These two cards use a kraft cardstock for the base, printed patterns for the card fronts, punches and a couple gems and ribbon for the other embellishments.  The insides of the cards are also decorated with some patterned paper.  

I love how these two cards turned out!  I have so many of these vellum sayings in my stash, and I can never find a good way to use them.  Two of the sentiments were perfect for this themed paper, so I decided to go with  3-1/2" x 6-1/4" cards, layering the vellum for a special effect.  With this patterned paper, there really isn't any need for additional embellishment!  

Again, I used matching paper from the paper pad to decorate the inside of the cards to give them that extra-finished look.  These cards will fit in the #6-3/4 (3-5/8" x 6-1/2") business envelopes, which you can find in most any office supply store.  My local OfficeMax is where I purchased a box of 100, which will last me quite a long time.  Maybe I should make this size more often!

What card size do you use the most when making cards?  What size would you like to try? 

Scrapbook Process Video: Using Themed Kits Differently

In this video, I demonstrate how to use a themed kit (in this case it's the "Blast Off" collection by Bo-Bunny) and make entirely different themed layouts:

"Blast Off to Birthday" - Part 1

"Space to Baseball" - Part 2

And because I have the opportunity to be on the Design Team for The Memory Nest and have the pleasure of playing with some of the new paper lines that Leslie is carrying in her store, I wanted to share my excitement and layout process for upcoming reveals! Look for new videos on my YouTube channel starting early October (and continuing through December) as I share layouts and cards with goodies from Little Yellow Bicycle, Glitz, and My Mind's Eye!

Scrapbooking Process: More Nautical Fun with "Down By the Shore!"

It has been so much fun using the new "Down by the Shore" collection by Fancy Pants that is available at The Memory Nest store!  This week I finished three more layouts, two of which I will share here.  I used the paper, stickers and punch-out diecut banners from the collection, and added other embellishments from my own stash.

  

This is definitely a summery layout -- with all that golden sun!  I used left over borders from the previous layouts to add a contrasting topper to the page, along with some other scrap strips to anchor my photos.  I added the sun paperclip, button, brad, washi and rhinestones from my stash to dress it up.  The Thickers in the bold, bright blue should express the fact that I was so glad to be back on my hometown beach!

For this layout, I used the rest of the banners from the diecut sheet, strips of paper unused from other layouts, adding my buttons and brads, natural color crochet twine and vellum quote. Under the quote is another small photo of the same location. The layout is 11-1/2" square, matted on white cardstock.  

Again, two completely different summer layouts; one collection!

Order the "Down By the Shore" collection now from The Memory Nest so you can scrap those wonderful summer photos! AND -- save 20% by using the special code SEPTNEW20 before the end of this month!  The Memory Nest is the best place to get your scrapbooking supplies.  Great customer service, fast shipping and excellent prices.

Find more inspiration on this collection and all the other new paper lines at The Memory Nest blog.  

Scrapbook Process: It's Hip to be Square

Just one of  my many Instagram photos, with filter and frame.

For those of you who are in my age bracket, that Huey Lewis song is running through your brain right now, isn't it?

As we know from social media, there is one main reason why we are hip to be square:  Instagram.  I love (or maybe a little obsessed with) this social network, and as a result, I am using those cropped and filtered little square masterpieces of mine for many other things besides Instagram. They are perfect for blogging, sharing and printing.

But alas - even though I can crop my digital photo goodness to square formats, I find it difficult to send them off somewhere to get them printed in the same wonderful squareness. The main online photo companies do not print your square photos on 4" x 6" paper, but instead will try to enlarge your edited photo to fit the 4" x 6" format.  Why is that?  It seems as long as Instagram has been around now, there should be a slew of companies out there competing for our business when it comes to printing our Instagrams as we want them.

Recently I did find an app that is helping me out --it is through a free app called Printicular.  Upload your square photos and get them printed to pick up at your local Walgreens.  Photos such as the one I have in this post will be developed even with the photo frame, just as you have designed.  The store will even trim them for you so you don't have to do it at home.

There is also a company out there called Persnickety Prints which I just discovered on Instagram, but I have yet to try them.  I would love to hear from you if you have and if you are satisfied with the results!  Evidently, they will print in more than the 4" x 4" size.  Genius!  Just what scrapbookers want and need!

Please comment below on your favorite outlet for printing your square photos.  I want to try them out!

Scrapbooking Process: Down by the Shore with Fancy Pants

Leslie at The Memory Nest is showing off all the new lines in her store, and I got to play with the new "Down by the Shore" collection by Fancy Pants!  This was the perfect paper to use for some of the many, many photos we took on our family summer vacation to my old hometown of St. Joseph, Michigan on the lake:

   

I really like how my groups of embellishments from my stash came together with the punch-outs and stickers from the collection!

  

For this page, I included an interactive element for some of my Instagram photos.  I made photo mats and added 3/4" on the top of the mat to fold and make a hinge.  From there, I lined up and adhered my hinged photo mats to create this cascade.  Journaling is hidden under the last photo.  

Two layouts, two completely different looks from the same collection!  How fun is that?!?!

Now it's your turn -- get those summer photos on layouts using the "Down by the Shore" collection!  The best part?  You can order it now from The Memory Nest store and get 20% off using the code SEPTNEW20, now until the end of the month!  What are you waiting for?  Get your scrap on!