Vacation memories

I just returned from a wonderful vacation with my husband. It was the first vacation we have taken together without children since our honeymoon. I came back relaxed, sporting a sunburn and with a camera filled with photos.

I knew I would be taking lots of photos of water, since we were going to Lake Michigan. When scrapbooking water photos, I always find it difficult to match the paper. The blues always seem to clash.

So, when I saw the new Travel Light line from We R Memory Keepers, which uses a lot of yellow, green and red, I knew they would be perfect for my pictures and I bought quite a few of the papers before I left.

Here is the first page I made from our vacation ... it features a photo of my husband and I taken by a stranger at the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The papers are all from We R Memory Keepers. I cut the ones in the middle to 8x8. Then I inked the edges of each paper with Walnut Distress Ink. For the background paper, I folded the corner and used a Craft Glue Dot to secure.

For the smaller papers, I used a distress tool to add a bit of texture and added a few tears here and there. Then, I layered them and used Ultra Thin Glue Dots to hold them in place.

I cut a piece of white card stock to serve as my photo mat and then inked it with Distress Ink and attached my photo and then attached it to the page.

Next, I added twine from My Mind's Eye. I wrapped it around the back of the page, secured it with a Glue Dot and then cut out a small piece of leftover paper and layered it over the top.

For the title charm, I attached a clear charm by Tim Holtz to one of my photos of the dunes with Glossy Accents. This takes a long time to dry -- I let mine dry over night. Then, I trimmed the charm, added a bit of twine and attached it to my page with Craft Glue Dots. Finally, I used the Zig Photo Writer Pen to write the title on top.

For the final touches, I used metal flowers by 7 Gypsies. The one at the bottom features a button from Tim Holtz, which is attached with Craft Glue Dots to the flower and then I used Craft Glue Dots to adhere the flower to the page. The top one is adhered with a brad from Bo Bunny. The little coin is also from Tim Holtz and is also attached with a brad.

I like how the page turned out ... simple, rustic and relaxed -- just like my trip!

Jamie created this adorable layout with products from My Mind's Eye and the Sew Easy Tool and Banner Attachment.

Here is a close up of the banner

And some of the details ...

For more information, visit Jamie's blog at http://jamielanedesigns.blogspot.com/

Time for Cupcakes

A new trend in paper crafting is decorating cupcakes. Candy created this one using American Crafts' City Park papers and the Scalloped Cupcake Liner from Lifestyle Crafts.

On the opposite side, Candy used the button die and threaded the baker's twine through it.

But, cupcake liners are not just for cupcakes. Look at this 12x12 layout Candy did using papers from My Mind's Eye:

The scalloped edge is actually the cupcake liner. The flowers are made from the extra dies that come in the set.

With My Mind's Eye

Jamie created these adorable cards with My Mind's Eye products ...

For more information, visit Jamie's blog at http://jamielanedesigns.blogspot.com/

Celebrate the 4th of July

From Candy ...

When this line of patriotic papers from My Mind's Eye came into the store, I knew I had to use them. Slightly softer than traditional 4th of July paper, yet not quite rustic, they have just enough vintage appeal. And, the die cut sheet that accompanies the set provides dozens of quick and simple options.

For my first project with these papers, I decided to make an entire place setting. I made a place mat, name card, and napkin ring, along with a decorated bottle to hold working pinwheels.

Here is a close up of the bottle ... I cut one piece of paper to use on it and the rest is from the die cut sheet. It has borders, die cuts, labels and more.

And, here is a close up of the napkin holder and place card. Both are made with things off of the die cut sheet.

Click here, http://candyspiegel.wordpress.com/2011/05/21/summer-party/ for step-by-step directions on all of these projects, plus the WORKING pinwheels!

The jar and pinwheels are also in the store, for a closer look.

Gone Fishing

Jess, one of our design team members, created this beautiful layout using the TPC Studio's Reel Me In collection.

The alphabet letters are from My Mind's Eye.

 

Techniques she used were stitching, computer journaling and edge distressing

 

More My Mind's Eye with Heather

Heather, one of the members of our design team, is still busy crafting with some of the new My Mind's Eye products ...

Here are two of her latest creations.

My Mind's Eye with Heather

Heather has been working with a new release from My Mind's Eye ...

Visit Heather's Blog for details.

Everything is Lush with My Mind's Eye by Candy

The new Lush collections from My Mind's Eye are in ... here are a few ideas by Candy:

Tip #1: The frames on the cards and the group that makes up the title and journaling block on the top page are actually journaling tags from this collection.

Tip #2: The flocked papers are challenging to adhere. I would recommend using large Glue Dots (Craft or Memory size) placed where there is not a lot of flock or using brads or the Tiny Attacher. The tape-type adhesives, like the ATG, had trouble staying stuck.

New from Jamie

New products from CHA are starting to arrive and the Scrap Tales Design Team has been busy creating samples to inspire you.

Not all of these products are available in the store just yet, but they have all been ordered. A mouse told me 12 boxes of products arrived last week and many, many more are on their way.

Jamie got off to a great start with these projects using the new collections from My Mind's Eye. She used the Cricut April Showers cartridge to cut out the letters and designs.

Here's a closer look at that zipper ribbon that Jamie used to make a flower!

And, a close up of this adorable embellishment.

Then, Jamie created this little thank you cone ....

And, this sweet card ...

And, finally, this adorable card.

For details, visit Jamie's blog or stop in the store and see them in person.

Christmas tags

Jamie, one of our Design Team members, came up with these simple, but adorable tags using paper from My Mind's Eye's Haunted Collection and stickers from Little Yellow Bicycle. For more details, visit her blog at jamielanedesigns.blogspot.com or stop in the store for a closer look.