Using patterned paper with Rose Miller!

My guest today is the sweet Rose Miller of My Happy Place. Rose is really great at layering and using patterned papers. And I love how she utilizes punches in subtle but oh-so-effective ways! Her cards always radiate happiness! :)  Rose is hosting a challenge that involves patterned paper with an awesome prize for a random player! :)

Let's admire her awesome gallery!

My name is Rose and I am super excited that the MEGA talented Yvonne has asked me to be her Guest Blogger. Yvonne's work always makes me say "WOW"!!! (even when I am in "lurking mode"! lol)

I am married to the most wonderful man ever who 110% supports my love of paper and paper punches (good thing as I am obsessed with both!)
We have two fur-babies that are spoiled rotten and we live in central California.

I love using as many different pattern paper as possible on my cards. I find using a paper pack makes this super easy as every sheet in the packs will go together and look great.  Honestly I do not have an eye for color so this is the only way I can make it work for me!

So are you up to a little challenge?
Good then this is it: Make an item, card, layout, altered item, whatever and use at least 3 different pattern papers. Easy enough, eh?

And of course this has to be FUN so lets have a $20 e-gift card from Ellen Hutson.
Yvonne will use random.org to pick the winner.

Thanks for having me today Yvonne and I can't wait to see what you all create :)
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Ready to play along? Please link your newly created project featuring at least 3 patterned papers via Inlinkz [located at the end of this post] by Friday March 9, 11.59pm (GMT +8)  for your chance at the $20 e-gift card courtesy of Rose.

As always, please leave a little love for my guest Rose!

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I went for a 8.5 x 11 layout...and ended with a two-pager!

So I decided to try a 8.5 x 11 layout since I discovered a pack of A4 page protectors in my stash. But had to make it a 2-pager because I didn't have enough space for the layout I envisioned...*LOL*

I had a lot of fun using my paper scraps from My Mind's Eye and lots of stickers! :)

Some stamping and a cover-up [I blotched the stamping...so I covered up with some patterned paper and distracted with a fabulous twine action...*Did it work? ].

I scanned a map and printed it out on transparency to pinpoint the exact location the photos were taken.

 

 Check out the cute little girl that was coloured with copics and paper pieced...[aka my guest Annette's colouring and paper piecing challenge].

I was inspired by the sketch at Creative Scrappers and the 'G' challenge at Scrapbookers Anonymous [I am the girl in the photos and I also have a paper pieced little girl *grins*].

Supplies: My Mind's Eye patterned papers, Soft Pencil image, American Crafts felt thickers, SRM sticker, Sam and Lucy stickers,7 Gypsies sticker, Imaginisce sticker, Fiskars border punch, Fancy Pants chipboard frame, Maya Road mist, Technique Tuesday and Fontwerks stamps, The twinery twine, printed transparency, brads, black pen, paper doilies, wrinkle ribbon, copics.

P/s: Don't forget to play along with my guest Annette's colouring and paper piecing challenge...it ends on Friday! :)

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Have a lovely day! :)

Hello friends! A super short post...have a lovely day! :)

Supplies: Basic Grey, Lily Bee, October Afternoon and Dream Street papers, Jeni Bowlin pearls, EK Success punch, tulle.

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How to create a masked and misted custom background. :)

A lot of you have asked how I created this masked and misted grid background that I use very often in my layouts. It's actually a plastic grid used for needlepoint [similar to the ones I used for my first banner]. I love that the effect is very subtle but adds a lot of interest, especially when you use a myriad of colours. :) Today I'm sharing a tutorial for how I created this masked and misted custom background for my layout.

1. I start by laying pieces on white cardstock to form a rough layout... [you can use a sketch as a guide]. I really wanted to use the bold pink cardboard [packaging material] so I pulled pieces of scrap paper that matched that colour.

2. Then I remove the pieces and lay my plastic grid on the white cardstock.

3. Using the colours from the scrap pieces as a guide, I start randomly misting the grid.

4. And this is what I get when I remove the grid mask...a beautiful array of colours! :)

5. Then I put the main pieces back and start embellishing!

This is how I create a masked and misted custom background. What do you think? So totally doable right? :)

Supplies: American Crafts and Pebbles patterned papers, American Crafts felt thickers, badge and brads, SRM sticker, Sam and Lucy stickers, Kaisercraft rhinestones, Crate Paper sticker and chipboard, Maya mists and stamp, buttons.

P/s: Come play along with my guest Annette's colouring and paper piecing challenge!:)

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Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Hello friends! Just wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! :) Yes, the stamping frenzy continues...*LOL* This time I stamped one of my fave quotes on shrink plastic...[love that big stamps can now be used on cards too. :)]

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but instead it is by the moments that take our breath away."

Hope you have one of those breath-taking moments today! *winks*

I'm entering this card for the challenge at CPS.

Supplies: Basic Grey patterned papers. American Crafts stamp, Unity Stamp, Momento Black ink, Stazon black ink, Maya Road trinket, shrink plastic, tulle, doily, handmade felt flower.

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My limit is 3 extremely naughty kids...*LOL*

Hello friends! :)
How was your weekend? I had to babysit my 3 nephews and 1 niece [as usual *LOL*]...Turns out my limit is 3 extremely naughty kids. I did a periodic headcount and couldn't find my niece [nearly had a heart attack]...she was happily crawling up the stairs!

Today's layout features my littlest nephew J with his two grandmothers. :)

My fave misting and masking, fussy-cutting and a little stamping! :)

I was inspired by the sketch at My Little Shoebox and the rainbow challenge at City Crafter Challenge.

Supplies: My Little Shoebox papers, Maya mists, American Craft, Fontwerks and Technique Tuesdays stamps, Ranger stickles, The Twinery twine, Crate Paper stickers,  Sam & Lucy stickers. Buttons. Trim.


P/s: Come play along with my guest Annette's colouring and paper piecing challenge! :)


*Edited* This layout was spotlighted at City Crafter Challenge blog! :)

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I did some background stamping! :)

So my friend C gave me this really lovely leafy background stamp which I never got to using because

1. I didn't have an acrylic block big enough for it [yeah, a totally lame excuse *LOL*]
2. Background stamping is scary....what if I miss a spot?

Guess what? It wasn't that scary...so I missed a couple of spots [er...kind of expected *LOL*]....strategically covered by the pretty doily. And I still don't have an acrylic block big enough for the stamp - I pressed the kraft cardstock on the inked stamp. :)

Supplies: Lily Bee, Pebbles and Basic Grey patterned paper, Crate Paper chipboard, Jillibean stickers, I/O stamp, White Stazon, Maya Road ribbon, doiley, tulle, kraft cardstock.

Inspired by CPS.

P/s: Happy weekend friends! If you have time, please come play along with my guest Annette's colouring and paper piecing challenge and LESSology Challenge #11: Flights of Fantasy! :)

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I love it when kids dress up....and hold hands...:)

I love this sweet photo of my littlest nephew J holding hands with his cousin C. Especially when they are both dressed to reflect their heritage [my mother's side of the family]. :)

Woohoo...check out the stamping I did...I even stamped on shrink plastic!  *High fives all around* For some strange reason, people like to send me stamps...I love collecting them...they look so pretty in their pristine packaging! *winks* I have more stamp sets than patterned paper [insert dramatic music to emphasize shock at startling statistic!] So, I've decided that I'm either going to use my stamps OR give them away [eh...I see predatory sharks circling me *LOL*].

I went a little crazy with the clustering here...really wanted to use up my little bits of scrap...did a little handstitching too! :)

Inspired by the challenge at Scrapbookers Anonymous - hearts and stitching.

Supplies Basic Grey, Lily Bee, Dream Street, Crate Paper and Studio Calico patterned papers, American Crafts felt thickers, Jenni Bowlin stickers, Fontwerts, Technique Tuesday and Maya Road stamps, black ink, doilies, black pen, buttons, key charm, wrinkle ribbon, trim and thread.

P/s: Thank you so much for the kind words on yesterday's post. I'm so glad that you are joining me in spreading a little cheer to a sweet little boy. You are the bestest friends! :)

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How about sending a little cheer to someone in need?

Something happened to me recently that made me question my worth as an individual. A group of crafting ladies whom I worked with and considered my friends decided that they no longer wanted me in their clique. Now, people evolve and outgrow friendships. I get that. But what I didn't appreciate was how disrespectfully they did it. Just a curt email and an immediate cut to a private Facebook group. It hurt a lot. It still hurts. So when I read about this little boy Sebastian on my friend Amy Tsuruta's blog, I cried. I would never want anyone to feel like they don't belong. Or that they are not worthy of our time.

Sebastian suffers from Arthrogryposis - he has stiff joints and abnormally developed muscles which makes even picking up a pencil a challenge. Yet he is happy despite the daily challenges he faces. His mother worries that he will soon notice the finger pointing and the judgement from strangers. That is the painful reality.

On February 15th, Sebastian will go into the hospital for another surgery. His sweet teacher is organizing a card drive for this boy to cheer him on. In her words, "Maybe, just maybe, when the day arrives that he notices the finger pointing and hears the name calling instead of being sad he'll remember the day that people from everywhere filled his hospital room with love."

This is where you come in friends. Will you join me in making and sending a card to Sebastian? You can read about Sebastian's story and get mailing details here. My generous friend Amy is offering a chance at a $25 gift certificate to The Craft's Meow if you do. So link up your cards at her blog. :)


I used the sketch at CPS and was inspired by the challenges at the Kraft Outlet and Inspired by.

Supplies: Crate Paper and Basic Grey patterned papers, SRM sticker,  Maya Road chipboard, Jenni Bowlin pearls, blue paint, silver mesh.

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Colouring and paper piecing with Annette Allen! :)

Hello there friends! My guest today is the lovely Annette Allen of Clever Creations. :) Annette is an avid stamper and makes the cutest cards. She has a great sense of colour and a visit to her blog always results in a big smile on my face. :) One of Annette's fave technique is to colour her images with Copics and paper piece the outfits...which she shares in a tutorial today. She is also issuing a challenge with a chance at a fabulous RAK! :)

But first, let's check out some of Annette's fave creations!

Hi my name is Annette Allen and making cards is my passion.  I am so happy to be able to share with fellow crafters.  I am a housewife and live in California.  I have been married for almost 17 years to a wonderful and loving man.  My children are two dogs (Curtis & LoLa).  I grew up in Colorado and have been so blessed to have had the opportunity to live many fun places...My absolute favorite was Europe.  

This is where I was introduced to card-making.  Lets just say I have been hooked ever since.  I started back in 1997 and still love everything about it.  My favorite thing to do on a card is stamping images.  I love stamping, you can color, paper piece, emboss and these are just a few of the many technique you can do.  I love bright bold colors but my favorite color is Pink.  If I had to choose my favorite technique I think at the moment it would be paper piecing a fun image.  I just love how you can bring the designer paper to life on an image.  My style is always evolving and always look forward to what I can learn next. 

I am so honored and thankful that Yvonne has asked me to be a guest blogger.  I have been a follower of Yvonne’s blog for some time now and I have to say I am so inspired by her amazing creativity.  You all know what I am talking about.  Thank you Yvonne for this opportunity.

1.  Pick an image that is easy to paper piece and select what designer paper you want to use.  You will need ink, paper and snips.

2.  Stamp the image on a solid white base and also on the designer paper.

3.  Pick the color you want to color the face.  I first start with E000 and blend with E000 using R20 to add a little blush to the face.  

4.  Pick what color you want to color the hair.  I like to add a little highlights so I have chosen three colors for blending.  Don't worry if you color outside the lines, I will be cutting out the image so you will not see that color.  

5.  Cut out with small snips the outfit and adhere to image.

 6.  Cut out image entirely after you adhere the outfit or whatever paper piecing you choose to do.

7.  You are now ready to finish the card.  Create a scene that complements the image.

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Ready to play along? Please link your newly created project featuring colouring and paper piecing using Inlinkz (located at the end of this post) by Friday 24 February, 11.59pm (GMT +8) for your chance to win this sweet RAK courtesy of Annette. :)

Please leave a little love for my guest Annette!

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