Fiesta Parade Layout Using Flip Flaps

Parades are so fun and of course we take lots of photos but how do we incorporate all the photos onto one layout? Flip Flaps!!

I was able to get 13 photos on this one 12x12 layout because I used an 8x12, 4x4 and 3x4 flaps!

The paperline I used is an older Stampin Up! line that is circus theme. I used my Cricut for the title letters and the Print/Cut embellishment, journaling strips for the journaling and sticker labels to add some more journaling to the photos.

Check out the YouTube process journaling to see how I created this layout!

TGIF; Thankful Friday #334

Happy Thankful Friday! This week I'm thankful for the opening of the NFL season and a Niner win! That's always a good thing in our household.

We have a tradition of preparing and eating football munchies on Sunday and on Monday (only if the Niners are playing on Monday night). I have lots of football themed platters and bowls and we use all of them to hold our munchies.

Last year we added charcuterie boards to our selections and I'm sure that will continue! What are your game day munchie favs?

Share in the comments.

Hummingbird Layout

I used three wallet size photos for this layout. To be honest, the photos weren't really that great, but I needed to do a layout of this event. We had a hummingbird nest and eventually babies in the summer of 2022. 

It was so cool! Mama made her nest and laid her eggs in our gazebo. It was absolutely crazy and mama wouldn't let anyone go into the gazebo while she was protecting her babies. 

Every day at the end of the day, we would go out there and just check to see how they were doing. We would talk about how mama was feeling; how the babies were doing, etc. 

Mother Nature at its finest! We loved the experience and were so excited when the babies finally flew outside the nest. The sad thing is there were lots of predatory birds just waiting to get to the babies. We're pretty sure one of them was taken because we only really saw one on the fence with mama.

Back to the layout. I used some beautiful paper from 49 and Market for no other reason than I wanted to use this paperline at some point. I added some stamped images of hummingbirds and some inking on my page but otherwise, it's pretty simple. I used a sketch from Sketch n Scrap for the layout. It was perfect for my three small photos.

I love how the purple and green stripe just pop off that neutral background! And I created a pocket that I plan on putting more details of the event.

Watch the YouTube process video for all the details!

Groovy Baby Cake Topper

Check out this fun project I created using a couple of cut files from Printable Cuttable Creatables. One is called Retro Rainbow and the other Groovy Retro Flowers. Folks, the Retro Rainbow cut file is FREE and if you use the code 3SONS15, you'll get 15% off your order.

I made a cake topper for a different type of cake - a diaper cake! We were invited to a groovy baby shower and decided (last minute) to make a diaper cake. 

I found the sentiment "groovy baby" in Cricut Design Space. I added an offset to the sentiment for the letters to rest on.

Check out the YouTube process video as I put this cute topper together from beginning to end. This is probably the smallest cake topper I have made so far! It's 4" wide and about 3.5" high.

I didn't film the diaper cake, but basically you roll each diaper up and tighten with tiny rubber bands. Use a larger rubberband to group the rolled diapers into a round shape. We had three layers so each layer was a little larger than the next one.

Since we decided to create the cake at the last minute (the morning of the shower), we didn't decorate much with the exception of ribbon around the layers and of course the cake topper.

It still turned out super cute and matched the party decor perfectly!

STAMPtember Project 2: Split Image

I'm not exactly sure what this technique is called but I'm calling it Split Image because that's exactly what I did. I took a full background stamp and stamped it in three different coordinating colors and then split it into three pieces. Took one of each of the three different color images and combined it into one for the front of the card base.

This project is Project 2 of my STAMPtember series. I hope you're watching the process video on YouTube!

I love starting series because it takes me out of my comfort zone and allows me to try new techniques or grab stamps that have been sitting too long (or honestly, never used). I was gifted this beautiful background stamp from my friend, Mia after her mom passed away a few years ago.

What do you think? I'm a little unsure of the lighter purple coverage on the sentiment tag, but it still works well with the color scheme and adding those matte gold sequins made a huge difference. Swoon!

You're Outta This World Alien Card; Printable Cuttable Creatables

The theme this month for the Printable Cuttable Creatables Design Team is SPACE and I knew exactly what I was going to do! My daughter-in-law's birthday is coming soon and an alien themed card will be perfect.

This card was so fun to create. First, I love the alien cut file from Printable Cuttable Creatables. There are so many new space-themed cut files added to the website. I not only used the Alien Cut File, but also Planets since I needed something for the alien to stand on (or float off of).

White enamel spray and sparkly spray was splattered on the front of the card to create a simple space background to the card front. 

Be sure to use 3SONS15 discount code for a 15% off your purchase on the PCC website!

After cutting the pieces for the alien and planet, I cut a strip of acetate at 1x4". I scored that strip at .5", 1.5", 2.5" and 3.5". I used clear acetate since my alien is not solid on the bottom and I didn't want colored cardstock to show through its legs.

I had these tiny stars on my desktop that came from another project and they were perfect to add to this background! This is why I keep everything folks!

Be sure to watch the process video to see how easy it is to create this pop out card. 

Final project photos! Isn't this great?

Don't forget to check out the Printable Cuttable Creatables blog for inspiration and the website for super cute cut files!

TGIF; Thankful Friday #333

I can't believe I skipped a week! Oh well, happy Thankful Friday. These past two weeks have been busy. My mom was in town and then she wasn't. I'm thankful to find out that we can get a pass to enter through security to the gate at the airport. That made it so easy to get her home without a long drive.

I'm thankful for the time spent with her but also thankful that she arrived home safely. 

My sis is home from the hospital and so thankful that she's still determined to get better! I'm thankful that my son was home for a long weekend and to be honest, thankful that hubby drove him home so it was girls' night for two nights.

I also attended an uncle's 80th birthday and super thankful that many cousins attended. I told ya, I have lots of things to be thankful for this time!

I feel like I cried a lot these past two weeks and I know it is always going to be but I'm thankful for all the support we give each other when any of us are having hard days, hours, moments. We miss Tony so much and with the start of NFL season, I feel his presence so much because he was so passionate about the 49ers. Ugh, here I go again.

I hope you have lots to be thankful for and take time to recognize how blessed you are!

Time To Strut Layout

Lots and lots of photos on this two page spread. I love using sketches to create the background of layouts and then completing the layouts with photos, embellishments and a title.

I realized as I was going through these photos is that I probably made a lot of them too small and maybe don't need to print ALL the photos submitted during our family's virtual marathon. But I really do like reliving the memories and it's hard to weed out some of them.

This two page spread started by using a sketch book by CTMH. I really like these sketches because they give the cutting dimensions so there's no guesswork. The vertical strips are 2.5 x 12 and 1.25 x 12" and the horizontal strips are 9.75x6 and .5 x 9.75". Easy Peasy!

After adding all the photos and a couple of embellishments, I thought I was done but then my daughter said it needed something else. Hmmm, probably a title.

So I created a simple one using the Cricut. I added a skinny bar across the bottom of the letters so adding them to the layout would be easy - it was!

Be sure to check out the YouTube process video

STAMPtember Project 1; Layer Stamps

I'm starting a new series this month for STAMPtember. I'll create new stamped projects throughout the month showcasing different techniques. 

The first project is layered stamp sets. I've had this three layered rose stamp set since 2003 and I still love it!

Watch the YouTube process video to see how I created these Thank You tags for my sister's therapists and nurses.

I used three different hues of yellow and two of green. I also combined two different sentiment stamps!

To create the tags, I used the We R Memory Keepers Tag Punch Board to make the tags easier to create. Assembly Line people...that's all I have to say!

Be sure to come back often this month to see all the STAMPtember projects!

LTCCB; Birthday Girl

Hey there! It's September 1st and time for another six week challenge at Love To Craft Challenge Blog (LTCCB)! This time, I'm working with a digi stamp from All Dressed Up Stamps. Oh boy, talk about cute digi stamps! I had so much fun with this image and made multiple cards in multiple colors and sizes.

Be sure to check out the shop in Etsy to see this Birthday Girl digi stamp and so many others.

I used some painty papers and random scraps from my junk journaling stash to make this unique and fun birthday card. Alcohol markers were used to color her in.

I even tried using gray markers for a "black & white" vintage feel. I love the contrast between the gray image & the bright painty paper background. What do you think?

Be sure to link your crafty project at the LTCCB site. Remember, this can be ANY crafty project. We want to see them all!