Throwback Thursday: More Reflections by Echo Park

During this month of May, I am scrapping with the Reflections kit by Echo Park, courtesy of The Memory Nest.  This kit has been a fabulous way to start scrapping some of my "heritage" photos!  Because the photos I used for my pages are "throwbacks," I decided that I would include these next two layouts from the kit to my Throwback Thursday Series!

For this first layout, I used an April PageMap -- it caught my eye because of the wood grain background paper and the use of an envelope for memorabilia:

This is what I came up with, after a lot of adjusting and changing:

The only items I used from my stash were gems, a button with twine and a paper clip.  Oh, and the background paper too.  Originally, I used a sheet from the kit with a wonderful wood grain effect to it (you can see it in my video HERE).  Unfortunately, I messed it up when I tried to add mist to it.  Ugh!  This paper in my stash (from Pink Paislee) worked just as well so that I could redo my page.  

There is a pocket to hold some special memories, and the photo (which is of my grandparents) is paper clipped to the pocket, since there isn't a copy of it yet.  I like the look -- I may just leave it that way!

When I started this layout, the paper in the kit was getting to an end.  From these patterned papers, I punched several squares and pieced them together for a quilt-like effect.  (The chipboard letters for the title are from the Basic Grey PB&J collection.)  Again, the gem and the button with twine were the only things pulled from my stash. If I would have had more patience with my sewing machine, I would have added stitching too.

I hope you picked up some ideas and inspiration for your own layouts!  If you are interested in this kit, head over to The Memory Nest.  All kits are 30% off right now!  Click the graphic below:

Scrapbook Process: RSVP by Basic Grey!

If you find yourself behind in your Birthday layouts or cards, Basic Grey has once again made a versatile kit that is perfect for both. It's the RSVP paper line, and this week I am highlighting this lovely kit, courtesy of  Leslie at The Memory Nest Store and the Blog.

 

Papers included, Side A

Love these B sides!

Here is how I started my layout:  The left of this next photo shows previous 8-1/2 x 11" pages that I wanted to redo in 12 x 12 size, along with the reprints of the focal photos that I want to use this time around.  

I chose this combination of paper for the page:

Oh, and check out January's Pagemaps at pagemaps.com; their sketches this month are SO fitting for this paper kit!  This is the one that I selected:

Here is the start of the layout process incorporating three photos instead of just the one as shown on the original sketch:    

Normally I don't utilize stamps for layouts, however, I had a Hero Arts stamp set with a cupcake motif that was perfect for this particular page! It was time to practice with my Bic Mark-Its (plus a Copic blender pen). I am not a alcohol marker pro whatsoever, so in this case I stamped the image three times so that I could practice color combinations and choose the one that worked best. 

The complete layout:  This page also includes items from the RSVP Mixed Brads, available separately from the paper kit (but a must-have!):

Here are some closeups of the embellishment areas. Aren't the pinwheels cute? Oh, and notice what I did with the title - I was out of "E's" so I substituted with "3's" turned backward.  It fits the whimsical feel of the layout, don't you think?

This is a closeup of the finished cupcake, colored in with Bic Mark-It markers.  The Copic blender pen was used to soften the lines of the two-toned chocolate frosting. As a special touch, the frosting was highlighted with a Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll Pen.

Have you had a chance to use this paper kit yet?  If so, leave your blog page link in the comments below so that we can see your creations!

Come back tomorrow for a special announcement and on Saturday to see a super simple birthday card that was created from the RSVP kit!  

Card Making Process: Use Sketch; Repeat!

Okay, Card Makers -- did you have a productive Saturday for World Card Making Day?  I feel as though I did, even though the day afternoon was broken up by having to drive to an away game for my youngest son's soccer league. However, I didn't mind because it was a beautiful weekend here in Texas!  We are finally cooling off so it can feel like fall.

Although I was productive with card making on Saturday, the day didn't start out with much creativity.  My goal was to make several cards to keep in my stash that was depleted, but the ideas just weren't coming, despite the fact that I pulled out several different 6"x 6" pads and other printed paper that I wanted to use.

After some time of fussing, I looked at Pagemaps.com.  Becky's sketches always seem to create a spark, and I hoped it would this time too.  This is a sketch from the September 2013 Cardmaps:  

Because I had so much pattern paper I wanted to use, this sketch offered ideas for layering different paper.  

The first card with this sketch turned out well.

After this card, I was stuck again.  Instead of looking for another sketch and starting over, I decided to reuse the sketch since I was pleased how the first card evolved.

Now I was on a roll, so I completed a couple more:  

And finally, one more with a twist:  

Even though I used the same sketch, with a variety of paper and stamps, I was still able to complete five different cards.

Do you use the same sketch more than once? Leave your comments below!

Scrapbook Process: More from "Feels Like Home"

Happy Friday!  Leslie from The Memory Nest revealed some great design team creations yesterday on her blog using some of the newest collections that you can find at her store.  You can see two more examples of layouts using the new "Feels Like Home" collection from Little Yellow Bicycle from Kelli (Use It Scrapbooking) and myself.

Now is a good time to check out the store -- Leslie has a great Croptober deal at The Memory Nest store!

For more details on the papers, stickers and chipboard pieces that I use from this collection and a look at the page layout process, you can check out my newest YouTube video:

This is the sketch from Pagemaps that I used for this layout:

Tomorrow is National Cardmaking Day!  Are you going to spend some time making cards?  If you want more inspiration, stop back here tomorrow when I will share FIVE sweet and homey cards that I made with this same Little Yellow Bicycle Collection!  

Scrapbook Process: Austin is Home with Little Yellow Bicycle

The new fall collection,"Feels Like Home" from Little Yellow Bicycle, is such a wonderful color scheme and so versatile. This collection is one of the new lines that is now available at The Memory Nest store!  Using this color combination made these fall family photos (taken in October in Texas) really seem homey and cozy (even though we were still in shorts and t-shirts!).

To complete this page layout, I "sorta-kinda" went by this sketch by Becky Fleck, from the August Pagemaps:  

Maybe you can tell that I turned AND flipped the sketch for my page . . plus added banners! With the LYB matching chipboard shapes and cardstock stickers, it made this page come together quickly. (There are also wood shapes available that are really fabulous!)

Here is a closer look at one of my embellishment clusters.  Pop dots were used for the chipboard and flower stickers for dimension, plus enamel dots were added from the Family Stories collection by Teresa Collins, also available at The Memory Nest store!

Now is the time to check out this collection and other new additions at The Memory Nest store where you will get fast and friendly service!

Scrapbooking Process: Using up Stash!

This past week, I have been going through all our digital photos, making sure they were organized properly and saved all in one place.  The process included going through various CDs, my hubby's computer files, my computer and our external hard drive.  It was quite the job, but I have now compiled what I figure to be all the important family photos in one spot on our external hard drive, by year and by month, with all duplicates and renegade photos accounted for.  The phone photos were the hardest -- before owning an iPhone, the dates were not recorded on the photo files, so I had to match those photos to others where clothing and haircuts were similar!

Now that this job is finished, I feel as though important photos will no longer be missed that need to be scrapped.  Not that I will scrap all of them -- but I knew there were some random shots that told fun and interesting stories that needed to be in our albums.

Here is one of those stories:  My husband took our oldest son, when he was 5, for a very short, shaved, barber shop haircut that nearly gave me a heart attack at the time.  Looking back now, he was stinkin' cute!  

Here is my thinking process for this layout.  First, I decided to really dig in my stash and use only "old" stuff.  There is way too much paper in my paper box, so I need to get into it and start using it up.  I pulled some Paper Loft papers from different collections that meshed nicely together, plus a little bit of this and that from all over my scrap area:

Next, I chose a sketch.  Most of the time, I will start with Pagemaps.  This sketch from October 2012 looked promising and I thought it could develop into a two photo layout:

As you'll see from the finished layout, things didn't go quite as planned! First, I ditched the second photo. Since one photo was portrait and the other landscape, I couldn't find a way to bring good continuity to the layout using both.  Second, I turned the layout so that the long border grounded my focal photo better.  A switch of Paper Loft paper from greens to blues were brought in as well as a chipboard set from Basic Grey that I bought awhile ago at Big Lots and never used.  Since frames are making a big comeback, the rust colored frame from that set worked extremely well with my chosen papers.  

Finally, I brought in just a couple new items (I couldn't resist) to rev up the final layout:  a wood veneer and title letters from the Basic Grey "PB & J" collection.  Journaling will be added on a tag and tucked behind the photo later.  

Notice the Urban "tag" that I used on my layout? Rummage your home for things like this for your own ephemera.

Hope this gives you some inspiration as you scrap this week! What's your page layout process??

Scrapbook Process: Dots and Stripes with Basic Grey

Today's layout is the result of inspiration from two sources.  First, I found a great layout on Pinterest that originally came from pagemaps.com:

Secondly, I wanted to enter a project on today's Whimsical Wednesday post at The Memory Nest blog. I learned of Leslie and The Memory Nest through Twitter; she has a great blog and online store. If you are looking for some challenges, she has a color and a sketch challenge posted right now at her blog.

Yesterday, her blog post showcased layouts by her Design Team using the Basic Grey collection, "Paper Cottage." The layouts were great, and it inspired me to use these sheets of Basic Grey "Bow Ties" that I randomly purchased on my last visit to Archivers:

At the time, I didn't know if I would use this paper for a layout or card.  However, I love Basic Grey, so I got them, and now I'm glad I did, since I was able to do this layout with a couple miscellaneous photos from 2004:  

"Did we catch you in the act?"

I used all three patterned papers, with the reverse of the small dotted paper, which was this blue background.  I used orange Basic Grey letters from the Fact and Fiction collection and punched the hearts out of Fiction paper.  I used Doodlebug twine to make the stitches (albeit, messy stitches) along the side.  It only took me about 30 minutes to complete this layout; I like the simplicity of it, and it's another one for the book.  

If you want to find out more about The Memory Next, her blog is HERE and you can visit her store HERE if you want to check out all the goodies. (And yes, she sells Basic Grey too!) 

Hopefully you can take this sketch and use it to do your own layout today. Let's get some of those photos scrapped!