I enjoy reading the many comments that are posted on my blog. I know there are a lot of talented people that visit and leave comments. Sometimes, a viewer will leave a comment with a link to their blog. Because I'm an avid blog addict like the many of you out there, I visit these links whenever I get a chance. Yesterday, Aida Haron left a sweet comment for my last post. I went and checked out her blog and immediately fell in love with her work. I also noticed she designs for Luxe Designs & Cocoa Daisy Kits (and a few other companies). Why is it I didn't notice her sooner? She's another layer & detail scrapbooker. Thank you Aida for leaving me a comment. I'm so glad to have found your blog. Your work is beautiful! So, if you're leaving a comment and you have a blog or a gallery, I'd love to see it. Leave me a link and I'll be sure to visit..In the coming months, I'm going to be sharing other scrapbook blogs I enjoy reading. There's a lot of inspiration to be had and stories being told that I visit on a regular basis. I want to share some of those here..
If you would like to share a blog that inspires you creatively, please post the link in the comment section. Maybe it's your own site or someone who lives on the other side of the world. Whoever it is, share it here below.
From Aida's blog, I navigated my way to a Singapore scrapbook store called "Made With Love". They have a blog and they update it with photos of new, incoming product (by the way, the store looks sooo inviting). While checking out the photos, I noticed a photo of wood mounted stamps. I hadn't seen them before (and maybe it's because I live a sheltered life..laugh.), but the manufacturers name was familiar to me - "Memory Box". They're a stamp/paper manufacturer and their stamps are adorable. I realized after much thought that the reason I may not of remembered this company is because I'm not a "big stamper". I don't do a lot of stamping (even though I enjoy collecting them) and Minnesota doesn't have a lot of stamp stores. When I saw the photo of stamps, I immediately went searching for the company. I also found a great online store to buy them from called "Stamping Cottage". My fave so far our their "swirl" style stamps. Very pretty. I think I might get a few of them. I also noticed a few more lines coming out from K & Company. You can see photos of the product at "Made With Love". It's a fun place. Go visit.
This is what I've been working on for the last week. I created the three layouts using the "All Moments Remembered" May Kit. I believe it's sold out already. I was late on turning in my layouts, so that would explain the delay and "sold out" part. I had a wonderful time putting these layouts together. I really pushed myself to do some different things here, including using Tim Holtz Crackle Paint, which I've not used before (and now I'm addicted).
The large newsprint scallop circles were sent to me as part of the kit. I distressed and layered with them to create the large circle flowers above. First, I crumpled each of the scallop circle into a ball. I opened them up and used a Ranger Distress Ink Pad to distress them (pad to paper and swipe). When I glued each of the scallop circles to the layout, I left the edges unglued. I didn't want the edges lying flat on the page. I like the dimension of them coming "off" the page. I freehand cut imperfect orange cardstock circles. I curled the edges of them and distressed them with ink. I then adhered them to the scallop circles as shown. I cut out more circles from various kinds of paper and used Creative Imaginations circle frame cardstock stickers to further embellish the flowers. I added glitter using Diamond Glaze and Martha Stewart glitter to finish the flowers off.
Crackle Paint. I had to prepaint the oval chipboard and let it dry for a few hours (if you have a heat gun, you can get it dry and crack faster). I distressed it with Ranger Distress Ink (Walnut). I attached a Making Memories white metal tag to the chipboard, which was distressed with Ranger Distress Ink and Making Memories Chocolate acrylic paint, using a brad. I punched a 1.5" scallop circle using Marvy's Scallop Circle Punch from a pattern piece of paper. I distressed it, cut it in half, and glued it behind the chipboard Oval as shown above. These are some of the simple details that are a part of this layout.
The cut-out butterfly and twig was adhered to the page using Foam Core Pop Dots, providing depth to the layout.
This is a very simple layout for me. Only a few small details and the photo says the rest. The black flowers are a Bo Bunny rub-on that I used on a cream color pattern paper. I placed the rub-on on paper first and then I trimmed it to size to fit on the page as shown.
Can you tell that I love the Uchida Scallop Circle Punches? They're an economical way to decorate and embellish flowers. They're also great for doodling on and using as frames for plain circles and buttons.
That's all for today!
