Santa was here!

My last layout of the year!  I was on a streak making Valentine cards when all of a sudden I was inspired to do a Christmas layout.  Go figure. I guess I just wanted to get the last bit of holiday in on a holiday.  Happy New Year!

Santa was here! Layout Supplies

From Digital Project Life, I used NEW Project Life Template Squared Away 10, bits and pieces from Just Add Color, and Crystal Wilkerson’s Merry and Bright Mini Kit.

I used my Silhouette Cameo with software to trace the Project Life Template. The black Silhouette Sketch Pen was used to make the dashed line around the template.  The little camera is from the Just Add Color digital kit which I made into a cut file.  Bling accents from Imaginisce were applied to the camera using their I-Rock tool.  The little camera was attached to the layout using 3D Zots. The heart is also from Just Add Color and was made into a cut file.  Glossy Accents by Ranger was applied to the heart. The “Santa was Here” was made into a cut file and adhered to the middle of the filler card using 3D Zots. The filler card is from the Merry and Bright Mini Kit.

The snowflakes are a Silhouette America file and were cut using filler cards from the Merry and Bright Mini Kit.  The buttons were sewn onto the little snowflakes using the button foot with my Singer Futura.

The red jute is by American Crafts. It was tied in a bow using Unity Stamp Company’s bow maker, wrapped around the journaling card, and then adhered using Tim Holtz’s Tiny Attacher. 

I like using the digital versions of Project Life because I’m able to fill shapes in Silhouette Studio with the filler and journaling cards from the digital kits and embellish my layouts and resize the cards to fit my needs.

Here’s a peek at the Just Add Color Edition Full Collection, Merry and Bright Mini Kit, and Squared Away 10 template that were used on the above layout.  Click on the images below to be taken directly to the product pages at Digital Project Life.

 

Just a Note

Don’t you just love that little girl at the bottom of this Valentine?  I do.  Tracey Malnofski has such a genius way with her character images.  As soon as I saw her, I had to have her on a Valentine of mine. She’s so CUTE with her little braids and bunny.

Just a Note Card

Emo Quote Digital Stamp from The Stamping Boutique.  This image was colored and paper-pieced digitally using American Crafts XOXO Collection in Photoshop Elements, traced in Silhouette Studio, and then printed-and-cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  I only used the little girl of the digital stamp by erasing areas around her in Photoshop Elements.  This little girl was applied to the base of the card using 3D Zots and Tombow Mono Multiadhesive.

This digital stamp is only $3 and because it’s digital, you don’t pay for shipping and you get it FAST!  Clicking on the image below will take you directly to the product page at The Stamping Boutique. 

XOXO Collection’s color palette was used to fill the digital stamp with color. A journaling card and patterned paper from this kit was used as the background for the digital stamp. This kit is available NOW at acdigitals.com.

The card base is by Silhouette America and was cut from Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations.

Below is a peek at XOXO Collection used in the card above.

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at acdigitalscom.

Here’s the description from acdigitals.com:

Fall in love with the darling colors and patterns of XOXO. Splashes of aqua and black accent classic Valentine’s Day reds and pinks, creating the perfect palette for playful florals, hearts, clouds and butterflies. We're positive XOXO will sweep you off your feet!

Buy the full collection and save 20%! The XOXO Full Collection includes the following individual kits:

• XOXO Element Pack #1 - includes 51 elements in PNG format
• XOXO Element Pack #2 - includes 11 borders and ribbons and 20 journaling cards & tags in PNG format. It also includes 10 brushes in PNG and ABR format
• XOXO Paper Pack #1 - includes 12 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format
• XOXO Paper Pack #2 - includes 12 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format

Tag Tuesday Challenge: Starry Night

Here’s my tag for Tag Tuesday using “Starry Night” as the challenge prompt.  Today is the last day you can post tags to this challenge at the Tag Tuesday Blog. The next theme will be posted on Tuesday, December 31.

To support the challenge prompt, I used a background patterned paper that had the look and feel of a wintery, starry night, the sentiment simply continues the theme, and the big nested star at the top of the tag serves as a guide to the theme as well.  Interesting challenge!

Interesting Pause Tag Supplies List

Art Doll digital stamp from The Stamping Boutique.  This image was colored using the Silent Night Collection’s color palette in Photoshop Elements, traced in Silhouette Studio, and then printed-and-cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  It was printed onto printable white sticker paper, adhered to chipboard, and applied to the tag base using 3D Zots.  Glossy Accents by Ranger was applied to the hearts of this image.

This digital stamp is only $3.25 and because it’s digital, you don’t pay for shipping and you get it FAST!  Clicking on the image below will take you directly to the product page at The Stamping Boutique.

Tim Holtz Tag & Bookplates Die by Sizzix (cut using my Silhouette Cameo); Black Soot Distress Ink was applied to the edges of the tag.  Mustard Seed Distress Ink and Pumice Stone Distress Ink were applied to tag topper and other bits and pieces of the tag.  OF NOTE: 

The Silent Night Collection was used for the background print of the tag, the stars, the tag topper print, and the sentiment.  These elements were printed-and-cut using my Silhouette Cameo using printable white sticker paper and chipboard to give it some added weight. This digital kit is by Nancie Rowe Janitz and Melanie Ritchie and is available NOW at jessicasprague.com.

The tag topper base is by Silhouette America.  OF NOTE:  The tag topper was printed-and-cut using printable white sticker paper and adhered to chipboard.  It was then embossed using a Cuttlebug and a Tim Holtz embossing folder.

Heavy duty jute from hardware store was applied to the tag by tying a bow.

Below is a peek at the Silent Night Collection Kit that I used in the tag above. 

Click on the collection image below to be taken directly to the product page at jessicasprague.com.

Keep Me Posted with DPL’s Love Theme Pack and TSB’s Wendy Wallflower!

Christmas is officially over.  Now what? Valentine’s Day—That’s what.  It’s not too early for me to begin constructing cards and projects utilizing my favorite theme—hearts and valentine’s.  I’m giddy with excitement!  Here’s my first card of the season.

Keep Me Posted Card

Wendy Wall Flower digital stamp from The Stamping Boutique.  This image was colored and paper-pieced digitally using Digital Project Life’s Love Theme Pack in Photoshop Elements, traced in Silhouette Studio, and then printed-and-cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  I isolated parts of the digital stamp, specifically Wendy and the hearts.  Wendy was applied to the base using 3D Zots and Tombow Mono Multiadhesive.  Tim Holtz Rocky Candy Glitter was applied to the hearts using glossy accents to give them some bling and were then applied to the base of the digital stamp after the glossy accents dried with Tombow Mono Multiadhesive.

This digital stamp is only $3.25 and because it’s digital, you don’t pay for shipping and you get it FAST!  Clicking on the image below will take you directly to the product page at The Stamping Boutique.  I LOVE this stamp—she’s so cute and edgy with her glasses.  She can be used for other projects besides Valentine’s Day.  Just remove her from the background image and the hearts and she can be used in other themes.

The Love Theme Pack color palette was used to fill the digital stamp with color. A 4-x-6-inch journaling card from this theme kit was used as the background for the digital stamp. This kit is available NOW at Digital Project Life.com.

The card base is by Silhouette America and was cut from Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations. 

Bling accents by Imaginisce were applied near the sentiment using their I-Rock tool.

The brown jute is by American Crafts and was tied using Unity Stamp Company’s Bow Maker.

Below is a peek at The Love Theme Pack used in the card above.

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at Digital Project Life.com.

Here’s the description from Digital Project Life.com:

Document the love you have for friends, family, or that special someone with the Project Life® Love Theme Pack Create a mini album or mix this pack in with a core edition to make a full Project Life® album. Any way you choose to use it, you will love the results.

The Love Theme Pack includes:

• 16 3x4 filler cards in PNG format
• 16 3x4 journaling cards in PNG format
• 8 4x6 journaling cards in PNG format
• 4 4x6 title card designs in horizontal and vertical format for a total of 8 4x6 title cards
• 8.5x11 PDFs with all of the cards for easy printing**

For a complete look at all of the card designs in this Project Life® Edition, click here and you will be taken to a card design reference PDF.

**Printing Tips: Set your printer to a "borderless" setting. If your printer has an "expansion" option, make sure it is set to minimum. If you are sending this to a commercial printer, verify that they have the ability to print borderlessly before placing your order.

Science Camp with Just Add Color

This year Gwen FINALLY went to Science Camp!  She’s probably been talking about going to Science Camp since first grade, NOT an exaggeration.  As the years, months, and weeks got closer, she just talked about it even more.  I’m so glad I got to be there with her to experience this adventure.  Our school goes to Point Bonita YMCA which is located in Sausalito, CA, which is near San Francisco.  If you want to know more information about this magnificent location, here’s a link:  http://www.ymcasf.org/ptbonita/. 

Point Bonita is pretty fabulous with an affordable place to stay when you have a big group, an organic menu (awesome coffee), and the environment is breathtakingly gorgeous with hike, after hike, after hike—near the beach and ON the beach.  Did I mention you’d be hiking? The naturalists captured the children’s attention with songs and games which made it FUN for the children to learn about the environment and the effect we all have on the environment.  I know Gwen left with a full head of knowledge, songs in her heart, and enjoyable memories to recollect.  We’re still singing “The Banana Slug” song. 

I see a mini album in the near future of this experience—I hope, I Hope, I HOPE!  If I took one picture, I took a thousand.  She needs a keepsake I think AND mommy is inspired to create one. 

I wanted this layout to have an organic feel, so I chose an awesome background from Adrienne Looman’s Honey Solids Digital Paper kit with the kraft-colored cardstock as the base.   Digital Project Life’s Just Add Color was the perfect kit to help embellish the layout. I used a sketch I found at the Studio Calico blog.  Here’s a link:  http://www.studiocalico.com/blog/2013/11/3/sunday-sketch-bernadette

Science Camp Layout Supplies

The sketch I used for the layout I found at Studio Calico (link for sketch above).

Just Add Color Edition Full Collection available at Digital Project Life.

Honey Solids Digital Paper Kit by Adrienne Looman Designs available at jessicasprague.com.

Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations.

Black Soot and Vintage Photo Distress Inks by Tim Holtz were applied to the edges of the cardstock pieces.

I used my Silhouette Portrait and software to trace the basic shapes from the sketch. The black Silhouette Sketch Pen was used with AllyFont for the journaling.  That font was purchased through the Silhouette America Online Store.  Impact font was used for the title. The little camera is from the Just Add Color digital kit mentioned above which I made into a cut file.  Bling accents from Imaginisce were applied to the camera using their I-Rock tool.  The little camera was attached to the layout using 3D Zots. The hearts were also from Just Add Color and were made into cut files.  Glossy Accents by Ranger were applied to the hearts. The little flag accents at the top were also from Just Add Color and were made into cut files. 

Buttons were manufactured by Autumn Leaves and were sewn onto the little flag accents using the button foot with my Singer Futura.

I like using the digital versions of Project Life because I’m able to fill shapes in Silhouette Studio with the filler and journaling cards from the digital kits and make them the size I need depending on the layout size I’m using.  Sometimes I like to scrap 12x12 and sometimes I just don’t, like this particular layout which is 8-1/2-x-11-inches.  I like having options, don’t you?

Here’s a peek at the Just Add Color Edition Full Collection I used on the above layout. THIS kit has fabulous stickers like the hearts, flags, and camera I used on the above layout—again options!

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at Digital Project Life.

Here’s the description from Digital Project Life:

Introducing the Just Add Color Edition! This edition has the same things that you love about Project Life® but with a twist. This collection features square filler and journaling cards in 2 different sizes as well as 4x6 journaling cards and filler cards. It is perfect for your Instagram photos or any other square photos you may have.

Buy the full collection and save 20%! The Just Add Color Full Collection includes:

• Just Add Color 2x2 Filler Cards - includes 134 2x2 filler cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 2x2 Journaling Cards - includes 98 2x2 journaling cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 4x4 Filler Cards - includes 40 4x4 filler cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 4x4 Journaling Cards - includes 39 4x4 journaling cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 4x6 Journaling Cards - includes 10 4x6 journaling card designs in horizontal + vertical orientation for a total of 20 4x6 journaling cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color Title Cards - includes 30 4x6 title card designs in horizontal + vertical orientation for a total of 60 4x6 title cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color Stickers - includes 255 stickers in PNG format
• 8.5x11 PDFs with all of the cards for easy printing** (PDFs with the stickers not included)

**Printing Tips: Set your printer to a "borderless" setting. If your printer has an "expansion" option, make sure it is set to minimum. If you are sending this to a commercial printer, verify that they have the ability to print borderlessly before placing your order.

Just Add Color & Disneyland!

This past trip to Disneyland was a blast! Not only was it Raiden’s birthday, but it was Halloween time as well.  The first night we were there was Mickey’s Halloween Party.  We all got dressed up in costume and trick or treated at the happiest place on earth.  My daughters and I were vintage mousketeers for the event.  This is something I think will only happen once in a lifetime and I’m so glad I got pictures of it.  For the costumes we wore, I found identical white tees for each of us and used my Silhouette Portrait to apply each of our names (just like The Mickey Mouse Club did) to the front of the tees.  I found the vintage logo of the Mickey Mouse Club online and applied that to the backs of our tees using my Silhouette Portrait as well.  I purchased navy blue cotton fabric and elastic from Joann’s and made each of us a matching skirt that copied the style of the skirts the girls wore in The Mickey Mouse Club.  We already had Mickey ears to top off our costumes!

Disneyland (vintage mousketeers) Scrapbook Page Supplies

Just Add Color Edition Full Collection available NOW at Digital Project Life.

The sketch I used for the layout I found at Studio Calico.

Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations.

I used my Silhouette Portrait and software to trace the basic shapes from the sketch. I used the black Silhouette Sketch Pen for the dashed border around the focal items.  I found the Minnie Mouse hat online and made it a cut file for my Silhouette Portrait and attached it to the layout using 3D Zots.

I used bling accents from Imaginisce and applied them to the layout using their I-Rock tool.

I like using the digital versions of Project Life because it gives me more bang for my buck.  I’m able to fill shapes in Silhouette Studio with the filler and journaling cards from the digital kits which will shape them into other elements I may need to supplement a more traditional look on my layouts.  Sometimes I just want to step outside the basic shapes of project life and the digital version allows me to do that.

Here’s a peek at the Just Add Color Edition Full Collection I used on the above layout.

 

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at Digital Project Life.

Here’s the description from Digital Project Life:

Introducing the Just Add Color Edition! This edition has the same things that you love about Project Life® but with a twist. This collection features square filler and journaling cards in 2 different sizes as well as 4x6 journaling cards and filler cards. It is perfect for your Instagram photos or any other square photos you may have.

Buy the full collection and save 20%! The Just Add Color Full Collection includes:

• Just Add Color 2x2 Filler Cards - includes 134 2x2 filler cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 2x2 Journaling Cards - includes 98 2x2 journaling cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 4x4 Filler Cards - includes 40 4x4 filler cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 4x4 Journaling Cards - includes 39 4x4 journaling cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color 4x6 Journaling Cards - includes 10 4x6 journaling card designs in horizontal + vertical orientation for a total of 20 4x6 journaling cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color Title Cards - includes 30 4x6 title card designs in horizontal + vertical orientation for a total of 60 4x6 title cards in PNG format
• Just Add Color Stickers - includes 255 stickers in PNG format
• 8.5x11 PDFs with all of the cards for easy printing** (PDFs with the stickers not included)

**Printing Tips: Set your printer to a "borderless" setting. If your printer has an "expansion" option, make sure it is set to minimum. If you are sending this to a commercial printer, verify that they have the ability to print borderlessly before placing your order.

Unity Friends Blog Hop—YEAH!!!

I’m SUPER elated for you all to join me during this Unity Friends Blog Hop on a crisp November Sunday morning. This Thursday will be Thanksgiving!  I am very thankful for you all and for the creative drive I receive from using stamped images made with love by the people at Unity Stamp Company.

Below are some projects I made using some of Unity’s Brand NEW releases. I hope they inspire YOU!

For the cards, I used Alyssa Bennett’s charming new releases. The cute little elephant on this card represents the BIG love I would have for the person receiving the card—isn’t that elephant SO cute.  The wordart is equally AMAZING. To give the little elephant some dimension, I created a cut file to use in Silhouette Studio.  Once it was cut, I used pop dots to adhere it to the card and applied glossy accents to the little heart. You can see these effects a little better in the picture below.Digital Kit Credit:  Maggie Holmes Flea Market Mini Kit available at digitalprojectlife.com.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner (believe it or not). I could make Valentine’s Day cards all year round. Candy hearts are a favorite around this house in February and we stock up on them.To give my heart some vintage flare, I inserted a vintage-looking element from Crate Paper’s Fourteen digital kit to the middle of the heart and used pop dots to pop the image from the base of the card. I applied some glossy accents to the candy hearts.  You can see these effects a little better in the picture below.Digital Kit Credit: Fourteen by Crate Paper available at acdigitals.com.

It’s been a little while since I made a custom tee using an iron-on transfer with my Silhouette Portrait.  This is a project that is both FAST and rewarding. These images were a perfect fit for a toddler t-shirt!  Again, I used some of Alyssa Bennett’s darling new releases.  This little tee is hopefully going to make a little girl I know BEE Happy!  She and her mother are a big fan of bee images and colors. Digital Kit Credit:  Storyteller by Crate Paper available at acdigitals.com.

Next is a tag I made using the NEW Lasting Thoughts Quote kit. This quote reminds me of an experience I had with my daughter at Science Camp this past week. We all hiked down to Black Sands Beach for some activities and WAVE tag. We had to hike back up from the beach to our next destination when Gwen, all of a sudden, became afraid of heights. REALLY afraid of heights. She refused to go a step farther unless I held her little hand all the way up.  I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to be there to hold her hand and will never forget it as long as I live. 

For the tag, I added coordinating color to the parts of the wordart in Photoshop Elements that I wanted to stand out on the tag. I applied a shadow to the text.  Once it was printed, I applied some Perfect Medium over the top of the words I colored using a Perfect Medium pen, sprinkled some clear embossing powder over the top, and embossed these parts with a heat tool.  I love how this turned out! 

Digital Kit Credit:  Autumn Foliage Wall Art by Nancie Rowe Janitz available at jessicasprague.com.

The picture below of Gwen petting the horse was the destination we were hiking to after the beach. I think she surely enjoyed meeting the horses and became instantly captivated. And now . . . something fun and wonderful for YOU! LEAVE a comment on my BLOG Post and you have a CHANCE to WIN a GRAB BAG of 20 STAMPS from Unity! :)  Winners will be picked and ANNOUNCED on the Unity Blog and FACEBOOK PAGE on Tuesday Morning!

Below are the Unity Friends you’ll get to know along this blog hop. Aren’t they impressive?!  If you belong to the Unity Show & Tell Facebook page, and I DO thankfully, they should look very familiar to you. I’ve admired quite a few of the creations they’ve posted on the Unity Show & Tell Facebook page.

I’m very pleased and honored to be a part of this UNITY FRIENDS HOP.  I hope my projects have inspired you to create something wonderful today.  If not, these lovely ladies will do the trick, I’m sure.Now it’s time to head out to Kassi Hulet’s blog:  http://kassicreations.blogspot.com.  She is both clever and dreamy. Take it away, Kassi!

AND

Happy Thanksgiving!

Print-at-Home Fabric for Holiday Pillows!

This is the last of my over-the-weekend projects.  It’s been quite a little while since I made a pillow.  This past week, I was lucky enough to get a peek at Nancie Rowe Janitz’s upcoming workshop at jessicasprague.com.  I can’t spill the beans too much except to add it’s a home decor series with gorgeous wordart like the one above on the pillow and the matching card/tag I added to the zipper for gift giving this season.  Inspiration OVERLOAD—I had to make a pillow using one of the graphics from the workshop.  What do you think of this festive, cozy gift? 

Printing your own fabric at home is very rewarding and really gets you motivated to create.  I printed the wordart onto Fabric Stick and had my Silhouette Portrait cut it perfectly! I was thrilled with that. Then I zigzag stitched it onto a square piece of cotton fabric a bit larger than the graphic, and then I blanket stitched that to the middle of what was the body of the pillow before constructing the pillow case and installing a zipper. It's approximately 12-x-12-inches.  From computer to real-life pillow, this project took me less than two hours.  During that time, I even had to dust off my sewing machine AND re-familiarize myself to installing a zipper (it’s been a while).

TSB PARTY! Sketch!

Tonight was The Stamping Boutique’s Holiday Party.  There were lots of prizes to be won and lots of fun conversations to be had, that’s for sure!  Challenge #2 for the party, used a straightforward sketch by the talented Pam Nezrick Loris.  Go here to see the other contributions for this sketch as well as the actual sketch itself—they’re fabulous!

Merry Christmas HO! HO! HO! Card

Reindeer Train digital stamp from The Stamping Boutique.  This image was colored and paper-pieced digitally using Crate Paper’s Peppermint Kit in Photoshop Elements, traced in Silhouette Studio, and then printed-and-cut using my Silhouette Portrait.  I isolated parts of the train applied them to the base using 3D Zots and Tombow Mono Multiadhesive.

This digital stamp is only $3.25 and because it’s digital, you don’t pay for shipping and you get it FAST!  Clicking on the image below will take you directly to the product page at The Stamping Boutique.  This little cutie can be used for all kinds of holiday projects for years to come.The Peppermint Collection by Crate Paper was used to fill the digital stamp and the other layers of the card.  This kit is available NOW at acdigitals.com.

The file card base is by Silhouette America and cut from Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations.  The font, scalloped border, and layers of the card are also bits and pieces from the Silhouette America Online store as well as the 3D bow and pennants which were filled with prints from Crate Paper’s digital kit.

The buttons are from my scrappy craft stash.  I believe they were manufactured through Autumn Leaves quite a while back.  These were sewn onto the bow and tab of the card base using my Singer Futura and embroidery thread with button attachment.

Below is a peek at Crate Paper’s Peppermint Collection used in the card above.

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at AC Digitals.

Here’s the description from AC Digitals:

What is the holiday season without peppermint? The Peppermint Collection is full of traditional holiday elements and patterns with a distressed trendy feel. It is perfect for documenting your precious memories while you drink some peppermint hot chocolate.

Save 20% by purchasing the entire collection! The Peppermint Full Collection includes the following individual kits:

• Peppermint Element Pack #1 - includes 50 elements in PNG format
• Peppermint Element Pack #2 - includes 39 elements and 11 borders in PNG format
• Peppermint Element Pack #3 - includes 50 journaling cards and gift tags in PNG format
• Peppermint Paper Pack #1 - includes 10 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format
• Peppermint Paper Pack #2 - includes 10 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format

Merry and Bright with Blythe

This fully grown woman has been wanting a Blythe doll for quite a little while now, but I just can’t justify the price. I did find this cute ”Littlest Pet Shop” version of a Blythe doll locally for a great price and thought she’d be the cutest prop for some of my holiday projects—she even comes with a little pet, stand, comb, and that hat and scarf are adorable!  Once I brought her home, I still had Blythe dolls on my mind!  So, to help alleviate the pain of not owning a full-size Blythe doll, I went in search of Blythe coloring pages online that I could make into cut files with my Silhouette Portrait.  I found the one on the above tag at hellokids.com.  I saved her to my computer, cleaned her up in Photoshop Elements, filled the image with digital patterned papers, saved her as a png file, retrieved her in Silhouette Studio, traced her, and voila! She’s a cut file and I can use her over and over again for different themes, different sizes, and whatnot.

Merry and Bright with Blythe Tag Supplies List

The Merry and Bright sentiment is from the October 2013 KOM and is available at Unity Stamp Company.

Tim Holtz Tag & Bookplates Die by Sizzix (cut using my Silhouette Portrait); OF NOTE:  The tag was cut from cardstock and chipboard to give it some added weight.

Pretty Party prints were used for the background and top layer of the tag, the tag topper, filled the scallop borders, and filled the Blythe image. Blythe was cut from cardstock and chipboard for dimension and attached to the top layer using 3D Zots.  This digital kit is by Crate Paper and is available NOW at acdigitals.com.

Scalloped border and die cut eyelet lace layer is by Silhouette America.  OF NOTE:  The tag topper was cut from cardstock and chipboard to give it some added dimension.  I thought adding some holiday props would help with the holiday cheer.  The antlers and holly were files from the Silhouette America Online store, also.

Heavy duty jute from hardware store was applied to the tag by tying a bow.

Believe Dec 25 Card with Unity/Silent Night

This weekend I’m getting my craft-on with the holiday season in mind.  This is my first post of the weekend with more to come, I’m sure.  All I need now is some Christmas tunes to continue the momentum and hot chocolate to keep my hands warm.

Believe Dec 25 Card Supplies List

All patterned papers and sentiments used on this card are from the Silent Night Digital Kit by Melanie Ritchie--available SOON (November 29) at jessicasprague.com.  YOU are going to love this kit, especially the color combination and prints, wordart, and journaling cards!

The holiday themed mittens on the cute little string that’s on the front of this card is a stamp from the October 2013 Kit of the Month at Unity Stamp Company.  I stamped this image onto white cardstock, scanned it into my computer, filled the image with color and digital patterned paper in Photoshop Elements, converted it to a png file, and then traced and cut it with my Silhouette Portrait from Silhouette Studio.  The image was then mounted to the top of the card using 3D mounting squares on three of the mittens.

A2 Seasons Greetings Christmas Card shapes and base by Lori Whitlock available at Silhouette America Online Store.

Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations.

The zigzag stitches were stitched onto the card using my Singer Futura CE-250 using brown embroidery thread.

Tag Tuesday Challenge: All Stitched Up

Here’s my tag for Tag Tuesday using “All Stitched Up” as the challenge prompt.  FUN-tastic Challenge!  You can post tags to this challenge at the Tag Tuesday Blog from Tuesday, November 12, up to and including Monday, November 18.  The next theme will be posted on Tuesday, November 19.

I used a zig-zag stitch to stitch the areas between patterned papers of my tag to give it the look of seams.  The sewing machine stamp (with button sewn on top) was used to further support the challenge as well as the sentiment and the choice of patterned papers.  I hope you enjoy this challenge as much as I did—so Fun!

Sew Sew Sew Happy Tag Supplies List

Sew Sew Sew Itty Bitty stamp and sentiment available at Unity Stamp Company (scanned into my computer, filled with color and patterned paper in Photoshop Elements, converted to png file, and cut with my Silhouette Portrait)--Image mounted to tag using 3D Zots. Then I sewed a button to the top of the sewing machine. I altered the sentiment to make it different sizes for interest and wet embossed it by using a Ranger Perfect Medium pen and applying and melting clear embossing powder.  OF NOTE:  The sewing machine was cut from cardstock and chipboard to give it some added dimension.

Tim Holtz Tag & Bookplates Die by Sizzix (cut using my Silhouette Portrait); Black Soot Distress Ink was applied to edges of tag and tag topper.  OF NOTE:  The tag was cut from cardstock and chipboard to give it some added weight.

Altered Fashion prints were used for the background of the tag, filled the scallop border, and filled the stamp image.  Fall Word Strips were used toward the bottom of the tag, “soul” and the rectangle including the heart.  Both of these digital kits are by Nancie Rowe Janitz and are available NOW at jessicasprague.com.

Tag topper and scalloped border by Silhouette America.  OF NOTE:  The tag topper was cut from cardstock and chipboard to give it some added dimension.

Button is from Autumn Leaves.

Glossy Accents by Ranger was applied to the heart in the sentiment.

Heavy duty jute from hardware store was applied to the tag by tying a bow.

Below is a peek at Nancie Rowe Janitz’s Altered Fashion, Bountiful, and Fall Word Strips kits I used in the tag above.  I printed the background for my tag from the Altered Fashion kit and added the above distress ink to edge it once the tag was cut.  The tag topper and strip at the bottom was a print from the Bountiful kit.

Click on the collection images below to be taken directly to the product pages at jessicasprague.com.

Tag Tuesday Challenge: Proverbs

Here’s my tag for Tag Tuesday using Proverbs as the challenge prompt.  FUN Challenge!  You can post tags to this challenge at the Tag Tuesday Blog from Tuesday, November 5, up to and including Monday November 11.  The next theme will be posted on Tuesday November 12. 

Home is Where the Heart is Tag Supplies List

Valentine House digital stamp from The Stamping Boutique.  This image was colored and paper-pieced digitally using Nancie Rowe Janitz’s Bountiful Paperset in Photoshop Elements, traced in Silhouette Studio, and then printed-and-cut using my Silhouette Portrait.  I isolated the house, tree, and one of the clouds, cut it with my Silhouette Portrait, and applied it to the base using 3D Zots.

This digital stamp is only $3.25 and because it’s digital, you don’t pay for shipping and you get it FAST!  Clicking on the image below will take you directly to the product page at The Stamping Boutique.  This little house can be used for themes other than Valentine’s Day. 

Tim Holtz Tag & Bookplates Die by Sizzix (cut using my Silhouette Portrait); Black Soot, Broken China, Forest Moss, and Pumice Distress Inks applied to edges of tag and tag topper.

Bountiful Paperset prints were used for the background of the tag, filled the sentiment, and filled the digital stamp image.  Fall Word Strips were used toward the top of the tag “sweet memories treasured”.  Both of these digital kits are by Nancie Rowe Janitz and are available NOW at jessicasprague.com.

Tag topper, scalloped border, and Home is Where Your Heart is sentiment by Silhouette America.  The sentiment was outlined using a black Silhouette sketch pen and then filled in with a white gel pen. 

Glossy Accents by Ranger was applied to the heart in the sentiment.

Heavy duty jute from hardware store.

Below is a peek at Nancie Rowe Janitz’s Bountiful and Fall Word Strips kits I used in the tag above.  I printed the background for my tag from the Bountiful kit and added the above distress inks to edge it once the tag was cut.  The tag topper was also a print from the Bountiful kit. 

Click on the collection images below to be taken directly to the product pages at jessicasprague.com.

Nine Candles at Disneyland

Our family’s favorite place in the world to celebrate their birthday is Disneyland.  We can’t do it every year, but when it happens, it brings us ALL together, near and far.  This year we celebrated Raiden’s 9th birthday at Disneyland!  We all had a wonderful time getting together as a family, even waiting in line, and battling the crowds at times.  Seeing all of my children together, hugging and wishing Raiden a happy birthday warms my heart and makes me proud.  Raiden appreciated it and enjoyed his magical day.  The picture of him above really caught my eye when I went back to look at our Disneyland pictures.  At first, he looks as if he’s not having a very good time at all, but I assure you he definitely was having the BEST time.  Saturday evening, we took a break from walking through the park and wading through the crowds to sit and watch the Pixar Parade at California Adventure.  This little guy had been up and out everyday when the parks opened and wouldn’t go back to our Hotel until after closing time.  I think the look on his face is sheer exhaustion AND happiness rolled into one.  The watch he is wearing is a Mickey Mouse wristwatch he wanted on Main Street in Disneyland for his birthday.  He wears it everyday and will randomly let me know what time it is throughout the day.  I’m glad he does—it reminds me of his magical birthday at Disneyland!  EVERYONE should have a birthday at Disneyland at least once in their lifetime.

Nine Candles at Disneyland Supplies

Celebrate Theme Pack available NOW at Digital Project Life

Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations

Black Silhouette Sketch Pen for dashed border and various files from Silhouette America Online Store:

Jess Font

scallop border strip

banners set of 6

3D layered bow

Instant photo frame

journal card

5 tabs

Buttons by Autumn Leaves

Twine by My Mind’s Eye

I like using the digital versions of Project Life because it gives me more bang for my buck.  I’m able to fill shapes in Silhouette Studio with the filler and journaling cards from the digital kits which will shape them into other elements I may need to supplement a more traditional look on my layouts.  Sometimes I just want to step outside the basic shapes of project life and the digital version allows me to do that. 

Here’s a peek at the Celebrate Theme Pack I used on the above layout.

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at Digital Project Life.

Here’s the description from Digital Project Life:

Document your celebrations with the Project Life® Celebrate Theme Pack Create a mini album or mix this pack in with a core edition to make a full Project Life® album. Any way you choose to use it, you will love the results.

The Celebrate Theme Pack includes:

• 24 3x4 filler cards in PNG format
• 24 3x4 journaling cards in PNG format
• 12 4x6 journaling cards in PNG format
• 6 4x6 title card designs in horizontal and vertical format for a total of 12 4x6 title cards
• 8.5x11 PDFs with all of the cards for easy printing**

For a complete look at all of the card designs in this Project Life® Edition, click here and you will be taken to a card design reference PDF.

**Printing Tips: Set your printer to a "borderless" setting. If your printer has an "expansion" option, make sure it is set to minimum. If you are sending this to a commercial printer, verify that they have the ability to print borderlessly before placing your order.

TSB Birthday Fairy Card using NEW Princess Theme Pack

NOW available at Digital Project Life are the Project Life Theme Packs that debuted at the Summer CHA--Boy, Girl, & Princess Theme Packs. These theme packs are not only adorable but are perfect for documenting the milestones and precious memories of your little ones. These new releases are 20% off the regular price until Sunday November 10, 2013.

Supplies for Best Wishes Card

Birthday Fairy digital stamp from The Stamping Boutique.  This image was colored and paper-pieced digitally using Digital Project Life’s NEW Princess Theme Pack in Photoshop Elements, traced in Silhouette Studio, and then printed-and-cut using my Silhouette Portrait.  I also isolated the fairy herself, cut her with my Silhouette Portrait, and applied her to the base using 3D Zots on her wings only.

This digital stamp is only $3.25 and because it’s digital, you don’t pay for shipping and you get it QUICK!  Clicking on the image below will take you directly to the product page at The Stamping Boutique.  Isn’t she adorable!  Any little girl (or little girl at heart) would love to get this on a card or project you’ve handmade with them in mind.

3x4 Journaling card (and other bits) from the Princess Theme Pack available NOW at Digital Project Life

Card base by Silhouette America and cut from Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations.  The oval in the middle was sketched using a black Silhouette sketch pen.

Tim Holtz Wild Honey & Vintage Photo Distress Inks were used to edge and shade the journaling card.

Below is a peek at the Princess Theme Pack used in the card above.

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at Digital Project Life.

Here’s the description from Digital Project Life:

Document the special moments of your sweet girl with the Project Life® Princess Theme Pack. Create a mini album or mix this pack in with a core edition to make a full Project Life® album. Any way you choose to use it, you will love the results.

The Princess Theme Pack includes:

• 16 3x4 filler cards in PNG format
• 16 3x4 journaling cards in PNG format
• 8 4x6 journaling cards in PNG format
• 4 4x6 title card designs in horizontal and vertical format for a total of 8 4x6 title cards
• 8.5x11 PDFs with all of the cards for easy printing**

**Printing Tips: Set your printer to a "borderless" setting. If your printer has an "expansion" option, make sure it is set to minimum. If you are sending this to a commercial printer, verify that they have the ability to print borderlessly before placing your order.

Digital Project Life Merry & Bright Mini Kit

I couldn’t resist pairing this Unity stamp with Crystal Wilkerson’s NEW Merry & Bright Mini Kit NOW available at Digital Project Life.  Such a perfect match!

Supplies for Hung by the Chimney Card

Hung By The Chimney Stamp Set by Angie Blom available at Unity Stamp Company (scanned into my computer, filled with digital patterned papers and color in Photoshop Elements, converted to png file, and cut with my Silhouette Portrait)--Image mounted to card using 3D Zots.  The sentiment from the kit was placed in the label of the Project Life title card.

Title card and other prints from the Merry & Bright Mini Kit available NOW at Digital Project Life

Card base is by Silhouette America and cut from Krafty premium cardstock by Core’dinations.  The scalloped frame around the card is a journaling card file from Silhouette America filled with a coordinating color and printed on top of the life card.

Below is a peek at the Merry & Bright Mini Kit used in the card above.

Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at Digital Project Life.

Here’s the description from Digital Project Life:

Deck the hall with the new Project Life® Merry & Bright Mini Kit! This kit, designed by Crystal Wilkerson, is full of festive patterns and word art in a jolly, bright color palette. Make a fun mini album to document your holiday memories or combine it with a Project Life® core kit. You can even use these cards to design your holiday greeting cards and tags. The possibilities are endless!

The Merry & Bright Mini Kit includes:

• 40 3x4 filler cards in PNG format
• 40 3x4 journaling cards in PNG format
• 20 4x6 journaling cards in PNG format
• 10 4x6 title card designs in both horizontal and vertical format for a total of 20 4x6 title cards in PNG format
• 8.5x11 PDFs with all of the cards for easy printing**

For a complete look at all of the card designs in this Project Life® Edition, click here and you will be taken to a card design reference PDF.

**Printing Tips: Set your printer to a "borderless" setting. If your printer has an "expansion" option, make sure it is set to minimum. If you are sending this to a commercial printer, verify that they have the ability to print borderlessly before placing your order.