Fabscraps Serenity Collection

One of Fabscraps newer collections is Serenity and it's a really fun collection.  Take a look at these layouts.  They are so different, yet they were both made with the Serenity collection, love that versatility!

 My husband and I celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary; that was a while ago.  We recently celebrated out 23rd!

For This Project You Will Need:

FabScraps Serenity Collection C77:

·        005 Peaceful- 1 sheet

·        006 Peaceful 2 - 1 sheet

·        MC77 001A Journal Pack

Other:

·        1 Sheet coordinating color cardstock

·        Distress ink - walnut stain

·        Flowers,greenery of your choice.

·        Martha Stewart punch around the page punch set

·        Rhinestones

 Instructions:

1. Cut a 10" square from the center of the cardstock leaving a 1" frame.
2. Ink and distress the edges of all papers if you wish. I have inked the patterned papers with Distress ink.
3. Trim 005 Peaceful to a 11.5" square.  Cut am 8" square from the center of 005 Peaceful  leaving a 1.25" frame.  Set the 8" square aside and center and adhere the 11.5" Peaceful  frame to the 12" cardstock frame.
4. Adhere the 10" cardstock square from step 1 centering on the page.
5. Cut out the center of the 10" cardstock so that you can mat your photo with the same cardstock.  One sheet of cardstock goes a long way when you cut the centers out that don't show anyway!
6. Cut a 10" square from 006 Peaceful.  Punch a border all around the 10" square and adhere to the center of the page over the 10" cardstock square.
7. Cut a piece of 005 Peaceful to layer under your photo and adhere about 3.75" from the right side and 3.75" from the top.    The size you need and placement  will depend on the size of your photo.  My photo is 3.5 x 5".  My layer underneath is 4.75 x 5".
8. Use foam tape or cardboard to pop up your photograph.  Adhere to the layout as shown.
9. Fussy cut Always Together from Journal Pack MC77 001A.  Use foam tape to pop it up and give your layout some dimension.   Adhere to the left side of your photo.
10. Add embellishments as desired.  I have used Petaloo teal flowers and  Sugared Berry Clusters layered over Graphic 45 Metal Tags.  I added tiny rhinestones to detail the punched edges.

This paper is so fun, I went with a minimalist design so as not to cover up the patterned paper!

FabScraps Serenity Collection C77:

·        003 Harmony - 2 sheets

·        004 Harmony 2 - 1 sheet

Other:

·        1 Sheet Bazzill Red Rock cardstock

·        Distress ink - Black Soot

·        Prima Scales Mask

·        White masking paste

• Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page punches

·        Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight

·        Title Letters

·        Embellishments - flowers, cheesecloth, sea sponge

·        Gold embossing powder

Instructions:

1. Cut a 10.5" square from the center of the cardstock leaving a .75" frame.
2. Trim 003 Harmony to an 11.5" square and adhere to the cardstock frame..  Ink and distress the edges if you wish.
3. Use a Prima Scales mask and stencil on the left half of the page with white masking paste.  Allow to dry.
4. Cut a 3.5 x 10.25" rectangle from the leftover center square of  red cardstock. Round the corners.
5. Cut a 3.25 x 10.25" rectangle from 002 Harmony 2and border punch with Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page punches.  Adhere to the cardstock rectangle from step 4.
6. Cut a piece of 003 Harmony 2  1.5 x 8" and adhere to the page 2 1/8" from the top and 6.5" from the right side.
7. Adhere the layers from step 4 to the page about 1" from the left side and 1" from the top.
8. Round the corners of your photo and cut a frame for it.  I used a Spellbinders die for my frame.
9. Cut a mat for the diecut frame and round the corners.  Adhere the diecut to the cardstock.
10. Use foam or cardboard to pop up your photo and mount on the diecut frame.  Adhere to the layout as shown.
11. Add a title on the right side as shown.
12. Use ink or mist to dye some wisps of cheesecloth and dry.
13. Dab some embossing ink on metal flowers and heat.
14. Cut some thin slices from a sea sponge.
15. Use the cheesecloth, metal flowers, and sea sponge to create a floral cluster as shown.

Loving this boot with Graphic 45 Rare Oddities!

  I created this for Paper Crafter's Library and it's one of my favorite projects ever, it's just so stinking cute!  I love things that have a purpose and this boot sure fits the bill.  I filled it with chocolates and gave it to my Mom and Dad  This boot easily holds a couple bags of chocolate and yum,  wouldn’t that be fun to fill and keep on your desk and maybe share with your co-workers or hoard for yourself?  ☺  It's also a great centerpiece for this time of year.

To make the boot, I started with a Silhouette Witch’s Boot, cut file enlarged to 200%.  Then I added paper in the center such that the boot cut-outs attached to each side come together forming a boot toe.  This allowed me to add the fun lacing that really makes it look like a boot.  Now just fill it up with chocolate and you’ve got an art piece that everyone will want!

I used Graphic 45's Rare Oddities and a little of An Eerie Tale collections for the boot.

The bats are Creative Embellishments embossed with Stampedous aged black embossing enamel.

Supplies List - Graphic 45

Rare Oddities Collection Random Relics (12 x 12) 4501146

Rare Oddities Decorative Chipboard 4501154

Rare Oddities Journaling Chipboard 4501155

Rare Oddities Stickers 4501156

An Eerie Tale Collection Gone Batty (12 x 12) 4500937

Time to Flourish Collection October Flourish (12 x 12) 4501048

Other Supplies:

Silhouette Witch's Boot cut file @ 200%

Bazzill black cardstock

EK Success Pointed Flower border punch

Fiskars Threading Water border punch

ColorBox Graphic 45 Decades Antique Moss ink

Ranger Distress Dusty Concord ink

Offray Dashes, Dots & Checks ribbon

Hobby Lobby Black Large Daisy Trim

Hobby Lobby Black Bead Trim

Recollections Faux Pearl Stickers - black

Black feathers

Petaloo Botanica mini flowers - lavender/purple, black, grey,

I Am Roses small purple gardenias

I Am Roses small black roses

I Am Roses daisies

Prima Island Pastel flowers

Creative Embellishments Gone Batty chipboard bats

Stampendous Aged Black Embossing Enamel

Thanks for stopping by today, I sure appreciate it!

Grow Bloom with Creative Embellishments

My sweet little grandson helping me plant flowers on this day.  Where does time go 'cause he's a big fella now, taller than me!  This is just a simple layout that you can knockout in no time, a few layers and that's it.  I used one of my favorite paper collections, Marion Smith's Romance Novel.

I heat embossed the words with Stampendous Aged Spice embossing powder.

I used Lindy's Gator Gumbo Olive to color the leaves and vines of the sunflower corner chippy and and heat embossed the flower part, again with Stampendous Aged Spice embossing powder.

Sunflower Corner Set

Sunflower Corner Set

Flourish Word Set

Creative Embellishments has a monthly inspiration challenge that you should enter 'cause you could win a $50 gift certificate to the CE store, now wouldn't that be awesome?  The GC is awarded on a random basis so that everyone has a chance to win.  Check it out on our blog, you can't miss it, it has a bright pink banner and says, Monthly Challenge!

Be sure to visit the Creative Embellishments store and see the latest chipboard.  There are lots of awesome Halloween chippies, check them out!

Thank you dear readers for stopping by, I appreciate it more than you will ever know!  Hope your day is FABULOUS!

Maggi

Art-C's Groove Tool and Graphic 45

Art-C so kindly sent the Graphic 45 design team their new Groove Tool for a "test drive."  It's a great little tool and was so fun to use with inks and paints.  I used it on the black cardstock layer of this layout.

I started out with the October Time to Flourish collection which is my favorite of all the months.  The image with the pumpkins and crow totally speaks to me, so of course, I had to fussy cut it.  That was the beginning of the layout.  I dug around in my photo stash and found the two Harvest images and they go so nicely with these October papers so there was the foundation for my layout along with the orange print for my base.

Now there was too much orange going on so I picked up a piece of black cardstock and decided that was just what I needed to give my layout some depth.  But oh, and there's always a but, the black was so harsh.  Enter Art-C's Groove Tool.    It's a battery operated tool that applies media so neatly and evenly.  It comes with several applicators useful for applying paint or ink.  I used the sponge applicator and applied  Mix'd Media Inx in pewter over a stencil.   I love the nice even application and it softens the black without being too much of a contrast.  I did a quick video demonstration showing you how the Groove Tool works.

Here you can really see the inked pattern that I masked on with the Groove Tool.

I love this image so much!  I fussy cut it and popped it up so that it would really catch your attention.

To finish up my layout, I added some fussy cut flowers from the May Flourish and a bat from Steampunk Spells. 

Supplies List - Graphic 45

Time to Flourish Collection (12 x 12):

October Flourish 4501048

October Cut Apart 4501047

May Flourish 4501038

March Flourish 4501034

Steampunk Spells Mechanical Marvels

Art-C

The Groove tool

Other Supplies:

Black Cardstock

ColorBox Mix'd Media Inx - pewter

I am Roses Gardenias purple and green

Prima Mask

Martha Stewart Cherish punch around the page

Distress ink - black soot, ripe persimmon

Thanks for stopping in!

Quick and Easy Card Tutorial with Graphic 45 Time to Flourish

The Time to Flourish collection can be used for so much more than calendars.  I have sen the most gorgeous layouts done from this collection and it is perfect for making seasonal cards.

Today I want to share with you a quick and easy flat card that is therefore easy to mail!  I confess, I have a hard time doing flat, y flower stash always seems to be calling to me and before I know it, a half dozen flowers have landed on my project...bye bye flat!  But today I smacked those flowers back into the drawer and came up with this simple but pretty card.

I did a Snapguide tutorial for you.  How do you like the Snapguide tutorials?   Do you like these better than a written tutorial with photos on my blog?  Leave me a note in the comments section and tell me what you like best.

Check out How to Make a Fall Card With Graphic 45 Time to Flourish by Maggi HARDING on Snapguide.

The weekend is almost here, hang in there!  I think we're going to be rain drenched all weekend so it'll be  perfect stay inside and play with scissors and paper days for me.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave me a comment telling me what kind of tutorials you like best.

October challenge at Creative Embellishments

Are you scared yet?? LOL! This is the inspiration photo for the October inspiration challenge. Do stop by the Creative Embellishments blog and see the spooky projects that the design team has done to inspire you!

I was inspired by the creepy Halloween photo itself and decided to make a scene on canvas,  I'm thinking this ghoulish fellow fellow would be right at home on my canvas! I used lots of mists, chipboard pieces, and a metal fence for the twist. I used pieces from the Halloween Scene Set 1 and Halloween Scene 2 for the houses, pumpkins, title, graveyard, and bats. I also used pieces from Creepy Trees, Owl on a Branch, Seagrass, and Halloween Witches.

 The houses and are just misted with black mist and then I added a little walnut stain to them and put dark gray cardstock behind the windows.  I cut the cats from black cardstock on my Silhouette and then covered with Ranger Glossy Accents. 

And finally for the twist, I used a metal fence and painted it with a Ranger silver paint dabber as well as a few dabs of espresso and copper. Then I rubbed some black ink over it to dull the silver color a bit.

 The trees were embossed with Ranger Distress embossing powder in Walnut Stain. The owl and bats are embossed with Stampendous aged black embossing enamel. 

I used Stampendous Spice Aged Embossing Enamel on the title and pumpkins and then hit them with a touch of orange ink for good measure!

I used Ranger Antiquities cement embossing powder on the tombstones.

I used fine detail black embossing powder on the witch's dress and Lindy's Midnight Gold embossing powder on her hat. Of course, I painted her face green 'cause in my mind all wicked witches have ugly green faces!  I glued on some jute twine for her broom.

Our challenges run all month and there is a $50 gift certificate up for grabs for the challenge winner.  How awesome is that?  Our challenge is awarded by random selection so everyone has a fair chance of winning.  You can do any kind of project you like, you just need to use at least one Creative Embellishments product.  

Graphic 45's Mon Amour collection mini album

Being on the Graphic 45 design team has been such a thrill for me and it has exceeded my wildest dreams in every way possible.    Diane, Aimee and Charee have got their very classy act together as G45 is such a fantastic and well run company!

The biggest thrill so far (other than seeing my name on the design team roster ☺) was when I received my shipment of all the new collections so that I could create projects for the summer Paper Arts show.  It was so exciting to be on the "inside" and  see Mon Amour, Worlds Fair and Christmas Carol up close even before sneak peeks were shown on the blog.  Along with those new collections came the reissued deluxe versions of Botanicabella and Steampunk Debutante.  My imagination had to go into overdrive since I had around 2 weeks to get a lot of  projects done and mailed to the offices in Oregon.

One of the projects I completed during that time was this mini album.  Now you know, it usually takes me nearly a week to make a mini album so I really had to push through this but oh gosh, these papers are so divine and romantic.  I loved every minute of that two weeks and ssshhhh, don't tell, but my husband was out of town so it was perfect.  No one was home wondering when dinner would be ready;  I could just play with my glue and scissors all day and night!

I built the mini from scratch using chipboard and followed Kathy Orta's binding system.   I didn't make this mini for anyone in particular but was thinking of a wedding album.  With that in mind, I made sure there were plenty of pocket pages and tags,  perfect for storing photos and other memorabilia.

The front and back cover are coated with Matte Medium to protect the covers and help keep them clean.

 I love all the beautiful floral imagery in this collection and so I went crazy on the cover with flowers!  There's a  Prima vine and Prima roses there along with roses from I Am Roses.  I used a G45 lion's head door knocker on the spine along with roses wrapping around to the front.

 Some of the pages are pocket pages that load from the sides and some load from the top.  I included G45's large tags in the top loading pockets.

The right page features waterfall photo storage and on the left is a pocket with a Graphic 45 regular sized tag.   You could put photos and/or journaling on the tag as well as tuck photos and notes in the pocket.

"Girly" pages for photos of the bride or maybe the bride's maids.

These pages are a bit more masculine for the groom's photos.  The page on the right has a little mini booklet with pages to store photos and journaling.

The page on the left opens up to reveal two large pages where the bride and groom can record their story and memories about their special day.

I always keep the backs of my minis simple so that they can store flat if desired.  This paper needs no decoration, the script writing on the black background is so elegant on the white cardstock binding.

Supplies List

Graphic 45 Mon Amour collection (12 x 12):

Mon Amour 4501203

Dearest Darling 4501204

One and Only 4501205

True Love 4501206

Heart's Desire 4501207

My Beloved 4501208

Precious One 4501209

Forever Mine 4501210

Graphic 45 Ornate Metal Key Holes

Graphic 45 Door Knockers

Graphic 45 Regular and Large Tag Albums - ivory

Graphic 45 Artist Trading Tags - ivory

Other Supplies:

Bazzill French Vanilla cardstock

Paper Studio black cardstock

Core'dinations G45 Signature Series cardstock Precious Pink, Vintage Rose, Spring Green

Grafix medium weight chipboard

Prima Le Mia flowers

Prima resin cherub

Prima vine - Divine

I Am Roses pink and white roses, carnations,  gardenias

Wild Orchid Crafts pink salmon seam binding

Zva pearls

Kaisercraft pearl strips black and white

Liquitex Matte Medium

Spellbinders Nestabilities Opulent Ovals

Martha Stewart Flourish Lace punch

EK Success Pointed Flowers

Colorbox Ink - Fireberry, Rose Coral

Distress Ink - Black Soot,

Scor-tape

Zip-Dry Glue

Foam tape

I hope you are inspired to create a project with these fabulous papers!  If you know me at all, you've heard me say that my favorite colors to design with are black, cream and red.  True, there's a lot of pink in this collection, but really it's a peachy pink blending with a lovely red.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I loved sharing this project with you.

Fabscraps Country Kitchen card

Country Kitchen, one Fabscrap's newer collections, is such a fun collection and it's perfect for making cards, tags, cookbooks, and other homey kind of projects.  I sized this card so that I could write a recipe inside.  I love to cook and share my recipes with my friends.

 I popped up the layers to give the card some dimension and interest.

For This Project You Will Need:

·    FabScraps Country Kitchen Collection C76:

·        1  Sheet C76 001 Hot Chili

·        1 Sheet C76 002 Food & Friends

·        1 Sheet C76 007 Pomegranate

·        DC76 011 Die-cut Gray Rooster

·        Journal Die-Cuts Pack MC76 001A

·         

·    Other:

·        1 Sheet ivory cardstock

·        Embellishments of your choice, flowers, etc.

·        Border punch, I used Martha Stewart's Fleur de Lis

·        Spellbinders Decorative Labels 27

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of ivory cardstock 6 x 10" and score at 5".  Make a card by folding at the 5" score line.
2. Cut a piece of 001 Hot Chili 5.75 x 4.75" and adhere to the front of the card.
3. Cut a strip of 002 Food & Friends 5.75 x 1.75" and border punch both edges.
4. Cut a strip of 007 Pomegranate 5.75 x .625 and adhere to the strip in step 3, then adhere both to the middle of the card.
5. Cut a shape approximately 4 to 4.25" square from 007 Pomegranate.  I used the largest die from the Spellbinders Decorative Labels 27 set.  You could cut a square and punch the edges or leave it plain if you do not have a similar die.  Adhere to the left side of the card, centering on the center strip.
6. Cut another shape approximately 3.25" square.  I used the 2nd largest die from the Spellbinders Decorative Labels 27 set.  You could cut a square and punch the edges or leave it plain if you do not have a similar die. Cut a piece of cardboard or use foam tape to pop this up and center on the shape from step 5.
7. Remove one of the rooster die-cuts from the Country Kitchen Journal Die-Cuts Pack MC76 001A and adhere it to the corresponding rooster, DC76 011.  Attach this over the layered squares from step 6.
8. Cut out a sentiment from 002 Food & Friends.  I chose the words "Food & Friends".  Use foam tape or something similar and adhere to the bottom right of the card.
9. Now add flowers or other embellishments and that's it!  You have a pretty card all ready to give to a special someone.  I'm going to make a dish for a friend and  add this card with the recipe for the dish inside!