Monthly Archives: June 2014

Scrapbooking ‘Older’ Photos

Scrapbooking ‘older’ photos can sometimes be a challenge- especially if you don’t want to use a paper that evokes the feeling of heritage. That was the case for me with my photo- one of me as a wee baby (super cute!) on a lovely 70’s style sofa. It was a small photo that had more couch in it then baby so the first thing I did was take it in to be resized so that I could show more of the baby and less of the couch. Since photos in the 70s were taken once (no mass photo shoots of cute babies then) I had no choice but to use a one page layout.

I cut a circle on my cricut on the ‘fit to page’ setting and used it as a template for drawing my circles on the layout- three in total slightly overlapping. I then layered my photo with bits of patterned paper and cardstock. I added a tag and some stickers and then lots of fun (and matching) accessories around the circle. I LOVE how it all came out and am excited to tackle other photos from my childhood now.

Have you scrapbooked your childhood photos?

Share them in a link in the comments below.

Until we craft again, The Brae-er

Technique Tuesday: Background Stamps

Technique Tuesday is back and today we are going to focus on using stamps but not just any stamps… background stamps. We have sold a variety of these over the years and currently have a few to chose from- they are great and are VERY versatile!! Obviously you can use them to create your own background pattern – that is what I did in this layout but I inked my stamp with a sponge so that I could get the look I was seeking.

You also may notice I did not use CTMH paper for this one- it is pretty rare that I find something else like as much as what we carry but his time I did find one. It was perfect in this layout (and I still used my CTMH white enamel marquee shapes and the Artbooking cartridge to really bring my layout together).

Until we craft again, The Brae-er

Vellum Layout

CTMH has a new Idea book coming out August 1st (and I cannot wait)!! I leave in two weeks to partake of the unveiling of new products and all the excitement that goes along with it (and I will share once I return JUST how fun convention is).

I can say that I am going to make a prediction. This one is based on our recent Free to be Me special for customers (it was a good one and the paper was yummy!). My prediction (and secret hope) is that our new book will see vellum in it. I have missed it and have noticed it featured more and more in paper crafting magazines, etc. I know that in the past when CTMH brings something out in a monthly special it is often because they are testing how that item will do. I think this item did well enough …. fingers crossed!

To create this layout I used a full piece of vellum as the base of my page and then layered pieces on it from there. My favourite part is the polaroid frames along the bottom- they turned out really nice (and were cut out using my CTMH cricut art booking).

What would you like to see in our new Idea Book? This one will be an annual book so think all four seasons!

Until we craft again, The Brae-er

Scrapbooking with Picture my Life

My daughter turns 3 in a few months (a fact she never lets us forget as she reminds us every time someone else celebrates a birthday). First of all I cannot believe how quickly she is growing and changing- everyday she seems a LOT more grown up than the day before. I decided to chronicle what she is like at 2 in this layout- just to make sure I remember the funny and sweet parts!

She is a HUGE girly-girl- loves her dresses, tries to wear makeup (thanks to my Dad for this gift) and is a fan of all things purple, pink and princess (and is pretty obsessed with Minnie Mouse).
She has a smile that can melt your heart but also has her serious look- like she can see right into your heart and soul.

To create my layout I used some of our Picture my Life cards (these are part of our pocket scrapbooking system and they have SO MANY great uses!) They were perfect in this layout for my journaling and to add some nice images and quotes to the overall layout.

In the bottom photo I cut the three hearts out of one of the PML cards and used foam tape to pop them up and add some dimension.

Until we craft again, The Brae-er

Technique Tuesday: Crush Assortments

Happy Technique Tuesday- I know that these have been a bit AWOL lately but things got REALLY busy in my business (it really is a good problem to have LOL). But, we are back on track and since summer is right around the corner (and a whole new catalogue August 1st) then you should see lots of great posts on a variety of topics!

I want to share with you- in face I want to give you permission- to use products NOT intended for your layouts ON your layouts. I don’t mean things that may not be safe or that could be harmful to your photos in future but things that you may have purchased for other paper crafts- in my layout below I use things purchased to go with one of our Crush albums (similar to Smash books). I know it may seem silly and maybe you were already using these things on your layouts but often I find that people don’t do it- they haven’t even really thought about it. Then you try it on ONE project and that is it…. ADDICTION!! Throughout the month of June you will see a theme of my projects using either the Crush assortments or our Picture my life projects within more traditional layouts and projects- seriously I just LOVE the results and cannot stop!

Check out some of the fun I had below:

You can see better in this close up a variety of fun images- tags, tickets, word bubbles and fun envelopes- all of these came from one of the Crush assortments (and these assortments are inexpensive and FULL Of good stuff!).

Of course I also added some other fun details- my title came off the CTMH cricut Artbooking – I wasn’t sure if I would like the white on white but in the end it was the perfect accent. I added some accessories- our skylark assortment, sparkle assortment and white marquee enamel shapes and a stamp (that is the ONLY stamp that I own that is not CTMH but I fell in love with it recently at a show I was at).

A quote from Cinderella herself pulls it all together for me- I just love how this all turned out in the end!

Until we craft again, The Brae-er

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