Week One TKS IV Two Page Layout

I feel like I've been lagging with my scrapbooking lately. I didn't even feel like it today, but I pulled out my TomKat Strut scrapbooking kit and went to work. I never thought about scrapbook kits this way before, but it's nice to have all the things pulled out in advance just in case you need a little nudge.

I recently purchased a few kits from Club Scrap because I saw an ad and the kit caught my eye. When I was ordering the particular kit, I thought why not check out other goodies. So I did. I grabbed these cut a parts because I thought they would work with the color scheme for the TomKat Strut Year Four graphic.

I was able to get ten total photos on this two page spread and that always makes me happy! Check out the YouTube process video to see how it was put together.

Super simple with the focus on the photos - just like I want it!

The TomKat Strut is a virtual marathon that my family and I started to honor my nephew who passed away during COVID. We couldn't have a service so we created this instead. During the quarantine, many marathons were switched to virtual marathons using an assortment of apps to track distances, etc. Well, we did just that. All participants upload the app on their phones and log in right before they start walking. 

The TKS lasts for the entire month of November and we have until the end of the month to walk 50k (which is a little more than 30 miles). We have challenges throughout, share photos, comment encouraging words and some trash talk all month.  

You Are Fabulous Pop Up Card

Hi there! It’s Dorlene and I’m sharing an easy to make fun fold pop up card using multiple items from the Make Up SVG collection from Printable Cuttable Creatables. You can certainly use any of the make up cut files that come with only a specific tool type but I knew I wanted to mix and match. 

After uploading each item into Cricut Design Space, I chose the make up item that I wanted to use for the front and inside of the card. (I used the same make up items for both, just made the sizes smaller for the inside.)

I played around with the placement and size for the card front. Once that was determined, I used the offset function in Cricut Design Space to add a border around the group of supplies. I did this for two reasons, 1) to separate it from the busy patterned paper and 2) to give the items a base to adhere to.

After everything was cut, I laid them out on my worktable to make sure of placement. I mention this every time since it is so important. Whenever I don’t take my own advice, I always seem to add adhesive to the wrong side of the cut and somehow make a mistake!

Once everything is in its correct position, I use my Precision Glue Press to adhere all the layers together.

To add some pizzazz, I used silver glitter paper on the brushes & lip gloss. All the bright colors look so pretty together!

Looking good so far! I used some coordinating patterned papers from my stash and added them to the card front and inside.

To make the pop out card, cut the card base at 4.25x11; score at 5.5”. This is a top folding card. Cut patterned paper at 4x5.25”.  Center and adhere to the front of the card base.

I centered and adhered the focal piece and added the stamped words, You Are, to the lower right. This was stamped on white cardstock and fussy cut.  I think this alone is super pretty!  But of course, I needed to do something to really make it pop!

For the inside. Cut a piece of coordinating cardstock (I used white) at 4.0x10.5; score at 4.25, 5.25 and 6.25”. Patterned paper is cut at 3.75x4” and two at .75x3.75”.

Fold accordion style at the score lines. (Valley fold at the 4.25 score line, then mountain, then valley fold to finish it.)

Add adhesive to the lower half of the white cardstock and center it at the bottom. Then, add adhesive to the top section and close the card for perfect placement.

Once the inside panel is adhered to the inside, add the decorative pieces as desired.

I tried to add something to each level of this pop up card but you can certainly add more or less items.

There are so many ways you can decorate both the outside and inside of these types of cards. I used foam adhesive for the front panel nail polish and the red polish on the inside.

This is the first time that I’ve tried making this type of fun fold card. It was really easy and so fun! I can’t wait to make more. Watch the YouTube process video to help you while you figure it out!

I know so many fabulous people who would love this card. I’m sure this will be one that I make often. Be sure to use my discount code 3SONS15 for 15% off your order on the Printable Cuttable Creatables website. I know you are going to want this set too!

Thankful Friday 386 and Find Your Beach Event

I am posting this as my TGIF; Thankful Friday post since these sessions were on Friday and I'm so thankful that my school district and previous employer contracts with me to do this. It's a great retirement gig!

I just finished an event for my local school district. I always include some professional development along with the art lesson and this one was about dealing with stress and finding your beach. Not in the sense of a physical place but as a state of mind.

Here's the canvases that I painted:

And some photos of the event:

There were 35 attendees per session and everyone had a great time and made beautiful canvases.

Making Sticker Sheets

Hi there! I watched some sticker making videos during a free craft sessions and I was able to use what I learned to make some stickers for my daughter.

The sessions were hosted by Mimi Jenkinson and they were all very good. Lots of great ideas, information, tips and even some freebies! The tip I used for this project was to use WASHI as the material type when cutting these out. It was perfect!

See how easy they are to create by watching my YouTube video 

Holiday Lights Layout; Jenlee Schoolcraft

Hi there, I'm using die cuts and puffy stickers from Photo Play's Mad 4 Plaid line courtesy of Jenlee Schoolcraft.  These embellishments are so cute and a great variety enough for several layouts.

And perfect to showcase this one photo of me, my daughter and son in front of the neighbor's lit up holiday home. 

This neighbor goes all out every year so we always take a selfie in front of it. It's a lot!

I used three 6x6 plaid papers and one patterned 6x6 paper to coordinate with the embellishments and I paired them with Kraft cardstock. I love the homey feel!

I kept the embellishments and journaling at a diagonal to keep the balance on the layout.

Watch the process YouTube video for my thoughts and insight for this layout.

Jenlee Schoolcraft is your go to website for budget friendly products whether you're looking for new or slightly used products. Be sure to use coupon code "Dorlene" for an additional 10% off your order.

TomKat Strut Year Four Title Page Layout

This is a fun layout since it is really just one really large cut file and a sticker! 

I saved some paper by gutting the base layer. What an easy step! Watch the process video:

There's really not much more I can say about it except this. But watch the process video to see how this is put together and if you are interested in hearing more about our family's Annual Virtual Marathon, let me know.

We designate the entire month for this marathon and we hold challenges, photo ops and even award certificates at the end. It has really helped our family take time to remember loved ones that we've lost and build on our relationships especially since many of us no longer live near each other.

I also do a quick flip to show the title pages for the other years of this annual event.

Hey Ghoul Hey Card

Hi there. I'm back sharing a fun Halloween card using Cute Monster Bride cut file from Printable Cuttable Creatables. This is one of many Halloween characters available in the Cute Halloween Faces set.

Instead of adhering her directly on the card, I thought she'd be cute in a Polaroid frame. Once I uploaded the Monster Bride into Design Space, I created the frame by stacking a rectangle and a square on top of each other and then slicing.

Before I forget, I copied the rectangle to create the base/background for the open frame.

After stacking all the pieces, I used liquid adhesive to glue the pieces together. I used thin foam adhesive to place her inside of the frame.

The sentiment, Hey Ghoul Hey, came from Design Space and I used the print then cut feature since the letters are pretty small.

Halloween patterned paper from my stash was used to add more fun to the cards.

Head over to the Printable Cuttable Creatables website for this and more SVGs. Use code 3SONS15 for 15% off your order!