Throwback Thursday - Using Authentique "Renew"

Time for another Throwback Thursday!

This week I used up a 6 x 6" paper pad by Authentique called "Renew" along with it's accompanying 12 x 12" sticker sheet.  This collection is probably over a year old, but I remember liking it so well because of the combination of the aqua and yellow:

This post is a little photo heavy, so if you want a quicker version, you can watch it here on YouTube.  Otherwise, keep on scrollin'! 

First, I'll show you the three layouts that I was able to complete. In my stash I had matching aqua cardstock, which I layered on black cardstock.  The only other items I used  from my stash were some old Prima flowers I needed to use up, brads and buttons:

With so much paper and stickers, I finished five cards as well!  Two "Get Well", two "Miss You" (those are going into the Operation Write Home box!) and one other encouragement card.  From my stash I added more Prima flowers, buttons, twine, brads and bling:

 

Time for you to "Dream Big" by digging out a 6 x 6" paper pad this week that you haven't used!  See what you can accomplish this week?

Throwback Thursday: Using Paper Loft paper

A couple years ago, I went to a CK Scrapbook Convention here in Texas.  At the time, I didn't own a lot of quality paper, so I loaded up on some muted, more masculine colors for layouts of my husband and boys from the Paper Loft booth.  Sadly, that paper has been untouched in my stash since that time!

Challenging myself with this Throwback Thursday series, I pulled out all the Paper Loft I owned to do some layouts.  I did not have any embellishments, but I did have some Paper Loft cut-aparts which I used.

For the embellishments, I went to my stash, using navy chipboard Basic Grey letters (from my last Throwback Thursday challenge), buttons and other miscellaneous pieces.

The Paper Loft papers came from these collections:  For the Record, Old Town Tavern, Back Country and Autumn Splendor.  Here is what I came up with!

This is probably the most layered and elaborate of the three layouts I completed.  You can see buttons and twine from my stash, canvas letters from Making Memories, bingo card from Teresa Collins and the chipboard pen from Basic Grey Fact & Fiction

This is my handsome hubby, incognito with his "mountain man" look.  The heart is from Glitz, "love meter" sticker from Crate Paper, navy chipboard letters from Basic Grey, buttons from my stash, and tickets from Making Memories.

I absolutely love my Hub's new boots, and he laughed when I took this photo.  However, with photo editing and these papers, I think the layout is as awesome as the boots!  Here I used some brads from my stash, another Teresa Collins bingo card and the Basic Grey chipboard letters, along with other miscellaneous embellishments from the stash.

No process videos for these layouts this time, but I will be posting a couple videos using a kit that is "New to Me" from The Memory Nest by this weekend! 

Throwback Thursdays: Basic Grey

Just like most girls, I like to get the latest and greatest, especially when it comes to scrapbooking supplies. Are you like that too?  While that is loads of fun, there is still something to be said about the many treasures that are hiding away in our stash.

This new series, "Throwback Thursdays: Using up the Crafter's Stash" is geared to give you inspiration to use up some of the older paper and goodies in your stash!  You may have some of the same supplies that I do -- and we can craft it together!

Your challenge this week is to dig out all your older Basic Grey supplies.  In the video below, you will see what items I combined for a great new layout.

After the video, look farther down this post to see the additional Basic Grey supplies I found in my stash, plus two more completed layouts and a simple greeting card appropriate for masculine birthdays!

Visit my new Facebook Page -- join this challenge and share what you created with your Basic Grey supplies!

I found more Basic Grey supplies, including some Fact & Fiction chipboard pieces (not shown here)

This layout used a combination of PB&J, Cupcake and Fact & Fiction.

This layout is mostly PB&J with Fact & Fiction chipboard.  The "Delight" saying is a G-Studios chipboard piece I got at Michaels ages ago.

Here is the masculine birthday card -- I was able to make 3 of these.  I used the "Simply Sketched" stamp collection from Stampin' Up.  

What did you create?  Go to my Facebook Page 

and show us your project!

Happy Scrappy New Year! See What's Coming!

Happy 2014!  I hope that this year brings you many wonderful memories that will fill your scrapbooks to overflowing!

The last couple weeks, I have been busy planning what the "Living a Crafting Life" blog will include for the new year. Here is what you can expect:

• Learn how to easily incorporate Faith and more of Yourself into your scrapbooking;
• Begin card making with simple, fast and cute cards from your scrapbooking supplies;
• Be inspired by many project ideas with current and "throwback" paper designs and kits;
• Have fun with unique scrapbooking challenges and techniques;
• Find shopping links to items showcased on the blog if you want to add to your stash; 
• Enjoy FREE video tutorials, sketches and printables;
• Benefit from more fun, subscriber only freebies and prizes!

So have you subscribed here yet?  Do so today so that you don't miss the exciting announcements coming later this week! (It includes the word "FREE!")  

Use the social media links on the top of the right bar of this blog to find me on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.  Let's stay in touch and have some scrappy fun together!

Throwback Thursday: Yee-Haw with Creative Imaginations!

Lately, I seem to be in a "manic" scrapping mood.  This past week has been the Fall Clean-up of my scraproom (which is also our homeschool room).  I organized many of my patterned papers with matching embellishments (actually putting together kits) so that I would be able to sit down and really get some pages finished.  (Or as some scrappers say, "Kill the Kit!")

(A YouTube video of my craft space will be coming soon!)

Today I am highlighting a couple finished pages that fit in well with "Throwback Thursday".  Both of these layouts use an older collection from Creative Imaginations with a matching sticker sheet.  I found some chipboard and brads from my stash that went well with the "western" theme, in addition to some distressed looking flowers that I made.

This first one is a Halloween photo of my boys from 2006 (they were 9 and 4 years) with special photo effects to make it look a little more vintage.  

This is definitely one of my favorite photos, and this western themed paper was perfect (which is the reason that I purchased it long ago!) 

Next is a Throwback-Throwback Thursday layout!  The photo is actually me in the early 80s, when the western style was so popular!

Because the photo was so small, I kept the area tight with the embellishments and layers so that the photo would stand out. Distressed inks were used on the chipboard butterflies and buckle.  This was the first time I have completed a layout with just one, very small photo and although it was a challenge, I am very pleased at how it turned out.  

(Check out YouTube later this month for a "Layout Share" of some of my favorite "Throwback Thursday" layouts!

There will be another "Throwback Thursday" on December 5th, with something from Little Yellow Bicycle.  Thanks for visiting!  See you next time!

Throwback Thursday: Another "Blast Off" with Bo Bunny!

Last month, I posted a two-part video series, which demonstrated how I designed two differently themed layouts from the Bo Bunny "Blast Off" collection kit.

After completing that project, I still had left over paper and die-cuts, so I was able to finish another page, with another twist:

This was a single, random photo I found of my youngest when he got his first Hot Wheels. (This bike made all the cool motorcycle sounds to go with it too!) The colors, stars and the "Dare to Dream" card seemed to be a perfect fit for this photo.  I printed the photo as a square with a white frame, which was reminiscent to photos from the late 60s, (except black and white) which was when I was Joshua's age and riding my first tricycle.  

What is your Throwback Thursday photo or layout this week?  

Throwback Thursday: Fact or Fiction by Basic Grey

More cards for this week's Throwback Thursday!

Basic Grey always seems to be my "go to" when I want inspiration for cards.  I loved the versatility of the Fact or Fiction collections!  Here are a couple cards that have color schemes appropriate for autumn occasions:

Again, I love the versatility of this paper! This first card is elegant, even though the entire paper selection of this collection may seem to have a more "fun-loving style."  

Finally, this second card is a little mixture of both, a more classic style but with some fun, modern embellishments with the "Smile" stamp and others from this Basic Grey collection.

What "throwback" collection are you using this week?  

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?