A place to showcase my crafts and talk about it...what's better than that? I hope to inspire and encourage others to create things for themselves, friends and family.
I posted this card on my IG on Sunday, June 7th because apparently it was National Donut Day. This card went through some "I don't know if I like it" moments but I kept going and eventually ended up with a card that I loved.
These faux postage stamp collection cards are so fun to create. I used my Cricut to cut the base and all the mats & pieces needed to complete the card. I went ahead and cut pieces for three cards even though I only used one set (for now).
You can find the Design Space file HERE. *This is going to give you the paper portions but not the stamped images.
I may go back and add some sprinkles but as of right now, it's done.
Be sure to watch the process video to see all the steps.
Hello and Happy Friday! Another week has passed and another week to be thankful. This week, I'm thankful for unexpected visits.
My niece and family came to visit on Sunday so we decided to partake in a little county adventure. We went to a local apricot orchard and picked some apricots. It was a beautiful day and quick trip but the time we shared was great.
I have to tell you, this U-Pick thing has really hit our family. I was always so against it, but my granddaughters love it and I think we eat more than we actually put in the buckets.
We picked blueberries the week before and it was like eating candy. So good!!
By the way, our town is the Apricot Capital of the World so of course we had to pick apricots. Honestly, if someone would challenge us now, they'd win because unfortunately, most of our orchards have been replaced with homes.
So what are you thankful for this week? Let me know in the comments!
Apparently today is National Red Rose Day and I wanted to create a beautiful stamped card. I found a Altenew layered flowers stamp set on the Trash/Treasure table at a crop. I KNOW! I couldn't believe it either!
I only have one red ink pad so I used generational stamping to create shades of red for these roses. Some turned out better than others but they are all so pretty.
It's hard to see in the photos but there is some dimension on the middle front rose that was fussy cut from the sheet that I stamped.
Watch the process video to see how this card comes together. I used the MISTI for the sentiment and swirly lines. I wasn't going to take any chances with the stamping after all the work I did!
It's time again for another Rainbow Crush YT Hop. Each month, Tara selects a color and we create a layout with at least 70% of that color. This month, the color is blue.
Here's my layout:
The collection I used is a 6x6 pad by Authentique called Felicity. I focused on the butterflies for this fun layout.
Since I only used items from this paper pad, I'm calling it a Paper Pad Party.
The strips on the bottom are 2x6" each and the horizontal strip is 1". Watch my video and then continue watching all the other participants!
Check out all the hop details below: ********************************************************************************************************
Welcome to Rainbow Crush – a Social Media hop where we share projects that feature a color of the rainbow each month! This hop is hosted by Tara on her Facebook Group. This hop takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of the month! The color for June is BLUE!
You can sign for the next month’s hop over on the The Paper Snob Community Facebook group:
I received the cutest stamp sets from Jenlee Schoolcraft called Minnie & Marmalade from Tonic Studios. For my first June project, I created a beautiful card using the paper piecing technique using Minnie and a purse accessory.
Minnie's dress was pieced by stamping and fussy cutting the dress with paper scraps from Echo Park Our Story Matters 6x6 pad. The technique is pretty simple since this was a simple design. I used alcohol markers for her skin, hair and shoes. Colored those in before adhering the pieced dress.
To finish off the card, I used more paper scraps from the same 6x6 pad, a white arch and an enamel bow from Eyelet Outlet.
How sweet!
Watch how it's put together on my YouTube video:
(I had an ink oops on the bag label, but watch the video as I just color right over it!)
If you're not already a subscriber, I'd love for you to subscribe. I have many different playlists so go ahead and check them out!
If you are interested in budget friendly new and/or slightly used crafty supplies, look no further than Jenlee Schoolcraft website. There are so many different supplies that you'll need to add to your stash. And if you use my first name, Dorlene as a coupon code, you'll receiving 10% off your total order.
Happy Friday and it's another week to be thankful! This week I'm thankful for books.
My daughter and I have been challenging ourselves to read as many books as possible during the summer months. We're in our 26th year. It started on May 29th and will end the day before the first day of school.
So far I have read three books! Once I complete the books, I write a book review. If you're interested in reading those reviews, follow me on IG @retir_edmd.
I love playing in my junk journal because it has many functions and styles that fit my mood. This time I really dug into my art supplies to make this spread.
Sometimes it looks like a hot mess but I always trust the process!
I pulled out a bunch of mark makers and supplies to create a colorful background. And then added a simple statement using black acrylic paint.
Questions on what or how? Be sure to watch the process video!
When I couldn't find anything to embellish my layout, I created my own. Cricut Design Space has thousands of images, I knew I'd be able to create something!
I searched tattoo and ink for these images. I used Basic Shapes hexagon as the base for the images because the sketch I used had them. I think they gave them an edgier look too!
Added an offset to the hexagons and then flattened them to create print then cut images. I also cut hexagons in cardstock for a variety.
Watch the process video on my YouTube channel. If you're not already a subscriber, I'd love for you to subscribe. I post two videos a week. One is always scrapbooking and the other is whatever else I'm creating in the Command Center which you know is my craft room.
Scrapbooking With AnnMarie or Scrapbooking The Day Away is a great site if you love scrapbooking. It's an all things scrapbooking community! There are two memberships available, one is free and the other is a small monthly fee. AnnMarie is a wonderful person and she provides tutorials, challenges, sketches, chat area, etc. It's worth checking out!
We have an annual event in our town called the Apricot Fiesta. It's a ton of fun and the whole town gets together for a lot of local entertainment, food, games, parade, fireworks, booths, rides, drinking, an arts and crafts show and so much more!
I've entered the show multiple times and have been fortunate to win a ribbon on all my entries. Well this year didn't disappoint.
Second Place:
Honorable Mention:
I love this picture I took while in Morro Bay. I was a little disappointed that I didn't place but when I saw the ones that did, I was ok with it. LOL
If you live in CA, have you been to Morro Bay? It's crazy, you drive into town and all of a sudden this huge rock is in your face. We're a ways away from the rock, but you can see how it's sorta magical. Wow, it's worth it if you can get there.
TGIF and happy thankful Friday. This week was a weird one since Monday was a holiday. We didn't do anything different except my daughter was home from work.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to submit two entries for our Apricot Fiesta Arts and Crafts contest and Photography contest.
Hopefully I'll have a post celebrating a new ribbon to hang!
What are you thankful for this week? Let me know in the comments.
It's time for another YouTube hop hosted by Tara of the Paper Snob. Scroll down for all the details.
Here's my layout using Echo Park School Rules stickers. When Echo Park had a big warehouse sale, I decided to purchase a bunch of their stickers versus collections. If you're like me, we already have tons of papers that coordinate with these stickers even if they are not from Echo Park. I used a big paper pad called The Basics. You know, the one you bought because you were going to use it for everything? LOL
I haven't...but they sure did coordinate with the School Rules stickers I pulled out for my granddaughters' first day of school. It's a simple page but I love how colorful it is! I followed a sketch by Scrapbooking The Day Away.
Here's a closeup of the title/journaling part in the lower left corner:
Check out my YouTube video and follow the other scrapbookers.
Join a fun group of creators each month as we take on the Designer Deep Dive Hop! Each month Tara from @thepapersnob will select a designer or manufacturer to use on a layout. There will be some alternatives for some of the designers just in case you don’t have this designer or manufacturer in your stash. You are not required to use 100% of this designer! This hop goes live on the FOURTH THURSDAY of the month. We will have a hop on YouTube and Instagram to show how we each used the designer for the month.
The designer/manufacturer of the month is: Echo Park or Carta Bella!
Is it too early for Red, White and Blue card? I used a striped embossing folder and Sparkle & Shine die cuts all from the Jenlee Schoolcraft website, to create a July (patriotic) birthday card.
There's plenty of sparkle since I used clear glitter glue to really jazz this card up and some star shaped enamel dots to add more fun!
Overall an easy card since my Big Shot did most of the work. And I'm ok with that!
If you're looking for budget friendly crafty supplies, look no further than Jenlee Schoolcraft website. She has lots of supplies both new and gently used to make pretty, crafty things. Use my first name, Dorlene for 10% off your order.
This spread of my granddaughter's first birthday includes punches, a pocket page and the Fuse Tool! Oh my!
I printed a lot of 4x6 photos for this event and instead of creating lots of layouts, I decided to use a pocket page and some flip flaps. This definitely saved time and space in my album. I also like doing this to add interest to my albums.
Check out my YouTube process video to see how to use the Fuse Tool and to see what else I did to make this spread special.
This video also talks about using flip flaps, paper scraps and/or ugly papers. Did you learn anything new from this video? Let me know!
Hey there. It's Friday and another week to be thankful. This week I volunteered at my daughter's work during the Book Fair. I am tired!
Tired but thankful for the time spent. It's pretty cool to see her in action. The way she interacts with the kiddos and the way they just love her is pretty cool.
She was made for this job and I'm thankful she has a job that she loves.
So yeah, that's what I'm thankful for this week.
How about you? What are you thankful for this week? LMK
I just got back from a quick trip to New York and of course had some great "junk" for a spread in my junk journal.
I wish more places had things I could gather but the map was a great find!
I added some old, old New York stickers that I'm not even sure why I had them but definitely came in handy!
The glue that I used is from The Paper Source which is a Hobby Lobby brand. It was a great gift to receive a container of glue assortments from my friend.
This video is a little less talking and more cutting, tearing and glueing sounds. It's actually kinda soothing! Watch it here:
Let me know what you think about it! Do you like the audio this way or do you prefer more talking?
With graduation ceremonies right around the corner, I decided to add some graduation cards to my stash. There are quite a few cut files available on the PCC website (and some are free) but I decided to use the You Did It file.
Once uploaded into Cricut Design Space, I changed a few areas to customize the tassel, diploma ribbon and one of the offset layers to match school colors.
As always, I stack the pieces before adding adhesive. This helps visualize the project and avoids a gluey mess. With some small cuts, it was great to use my picking tool and fine tip adhesive.
I used both black and white markers to add highlights and don't you just love the red glitter paper to add sparkle!?
Watch the process video on YouTube:
Card Cut Measurements:
Base 5.5x11"; scored at 1.75, 5.5 and 9.75"
Patterned Papers:
Two at 3.5x5.25"
One at 1.5x5.25"
Two at 1x5.25"
Band 1x10"
White cardstock (optional): 4x5.25"
I mentioned above that there is a Spring Blog Hop going on at the PCC Blog. The Hop goodies and offers are active from May 15 through May 22nd.
There is a free file available for everyone who has the secret code (the code will be hidden in one of the participating blog posts) and one lucky hopper will win a Virtual Wallet prize.
To be eligible for the Virtual Wallet Prize, viewer must leave a comment on the main blog post telling us their favorite blog post of the hop.
There will be discounts and specials too. Be sure you visit the main blog for all the details! You don't want to miss the hoopla!
Blog Hop main link HERE and here's the other blog posts:
413 divided by 52 = 7.92 which rounds up to EIGHT years of this TGIF; Thankful Friday series! Wow! This is actually really cool. I'm glad I continued this series even when it was extremely hard to find something to be thankful.
This week I'm thankful for surprise texts and/or messages. I love it when someone reaches out just to touch base and say hi. It's so important and means so much.
What are you thankful for this week? I'd love to hear about it!
It's that time again for the Crush the Rainbow YT Hop. The color for May is YELLOW. I had the perfect photos for this challenge and the layout turned out so cute. I mean...how can it not when the photos have these two cuties?
Be sure to check out her website if you're interested in all things scrapbooking including a great community of scrapbookers. There's a free and paid subscription available.
I also used my Cricut and SVG files from Printable Cuttable Createables for the embellishments and title. Can you believe I also did a little mixed media?
Watch the YT process video to see how it was created.
Welcome to Rainbow Crush – a Social Media hop where we share projects that feature a color of the rainbow each month! This hop is hosted by Tara on her Facebook Group. Anyone is welcome to play along. This hop takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of the month! The color for May is yellow!
You can sign for the next month’s hop over on the The Paper Snob Community Facebook group:
