Scrapbook Supply Haul and New Layout

I'm a bit excited about my shopping trip a few days ago.  You see, here in Sugarloaf Key, Florida, there are literally no craft supply stores.  I have to purchase every single scrappy item online, which is no fun at all.  But, the other day, I popped into the local Bealls and found a few hidden gems.  

Can you believe it?  I know they aren't brand new collections or anything, but they are new to me!  

Here's what i found:

-Pebbles "Basics" 12x12 paper pad

-Crate Paper "Boys Rule" 12x12 paper pad

-MME Jubilee "Sherbet" 6x6 paper pad

-MME Jubilee "Tangerine" 6x6 paper pad

-We R Memory Keepers "Chalkboard" 6x6 paper pad

-MME Jubilee "Wonder" Chipboard Elements

-MME Jubilee "Sherbet" Chipboard Elements

-MME Jubilee "Tangerine" Chipboard Elements

-MME Niche "On Trend" Gold Chipboard Alpha Stickers

-Simple Stories "I Am" 4x6 Clear Sticker Sheets

Yay!

I was inspired by my new products and made a fun layout:

The photo is of me and my awesome stepmother.

I layered some patterned paper behind my photo and added a doily from my stash.

I added my title and a  few purple flower chipboard stickers and fell in love with the color combination.  I don't think I ever used these colors together on a layout, but i think they work well together

I added my journaling, date stamp, a mini gray clothespin and scattered a few purple sequins from my stash to finish my page.

Have you had a recent haul?  I would love to here about what you found.

Scrapbook Layout with a Grid Design

I'm not sure why, but I rarely use a grid design on my layouts, but always love how clean and neat they turn out.

For this layout, I used my Studio Calico February Kits.  First, I chose this photo of my son Cole from 2011.  He is always smiling and happy since he was a baby.  Next, I cut a piece of black & white striped patterned paper down to 6x12 and used this as the base for the grid design.  I went through the  cards in the Project Life Kit and found these 3 that i wanted in my layout.  One card for journaling, one for a sub-title/quote, and one with a heart that I could embellish even more.

I layered a few pieces of plain white card stock behind my photo to help it stand out from the patterned papers.  I found the Crate Paper "Poolside" woodgrain paper in my stash and adhered it behind the layered photo.  I then added my title using the gorgeous peach puffy alphas from the Scrapbook Kit.    

I wanted to layer up the heart Project Life card to make it pop.  I used a wood veneer conversation heart from the kit and glued it to a blue heart that I punched from my scraps.  Behind that, i hand cut a couple more hearts out of a glassine bag and adhered it with pop dots.  

 The gold chipboard heart arrow is from the Crate Paper "Hello Love" chipboard sticker sheet.  I stuck that to a piece of scrap paper before gluing it down.  

I added my journaling to the project life card and added a charcoal banner sticker from the Planner Kit.

I added the date to the quote card with a Studio Calico Roller Date Stamp using my favorite Studio Calico Color Theory "Mint Hint" ink pad.  

I then used the Hello Forever Stamp Set in the Kit on a piece of white card stock and cut it out and stuck it in the layers behind my photo.  I also used a few vellum heart stickers above my photo to add a bit more color.  

I scattered and few tiny wood veneer hearts, added a couple word stickers, and splattered some gray ink to complete my layout.  

I hope you enjoyed this layout and would love to here about your techniques when it comes to grid designs.  I think I'm going to try and use grids more often.  They come together so easily and turn out so great.  Have a great weekend!

Island Life and a new Scrapbook Process Video

I absolutely love living on a tropical island.  I'm originally from the Philadelphia area and my husband is from the mountains in North Carolina.  He and i moved to the Florida Keys about 6 years ago and knew it was our forever home.  We are lucky enough to wake up every morning and see water surrounding our tiny island.  We truly appreciate our surroundings.  This got me thinking........what does Cole think?

He was born here and this is all he knows.  This is his normal everyday life.  I wonder if he will appreciate it when he's older.   

I made this page for my new Youtube Series: STUDIO CALICO DAY.  Every week I will use my current Studio Calico Kits and take inspiration from the Studio Calico Blog.

This week, I used a Sunday Sketch, a Weekly Challenge, and a Tutorial.

Here's the Sketch:

The Weekly Challenge was to use a bold, floating title.   I was very inspired by a Tutorial by Marcy Penner.  She made a Confetti pocket along the bottom of her scrapbook page.  She is awesome.  

I made a video that you can check out here:

Do you shop at thrift stores?  My mother loves them.  I remember as a child, hunting through shelves of nicknacks to find a beautiful treasure to call my own, well after a good cleaning.  Even as an adult, I love rummaging threw piles of books, racks of clothing, and bins of previously- loved goodies.  I'm not a huge shopper, but at second stores I can go a little crazy and not feel guilty of spending too much money.  

In my new THRIFT STORE JUNKIE Episode, I share my DIYScrapbook Embellishments.  I'm surprised at how well they turned out.

Stay tuned for my first scrapbook process video using my thrifty finds and DIY embellishments.

Have you ever used thrift store treasures on your pages? I would love to know.

Scrapbooking from the Thrift Store with VIDEO.

My name is Andrea,  and I'm a THRIFT STORE JUNKIE.  It's taken a long time to admit this out loud.  The truth is, the thrift store calls my name.  It says ( in a spooky voice) , "Andrea, come to me.  I have beautiful, unique treasures that you can hoard in your home.  Some are sparkly, and some are dingy, but you NEED them.  You NEEEEEEED THEM!"

Seriously......whats wrong with me?  Actually, do you know what?  I don't care whats wrong with me, thrift stores are AWESOME-SAUCE!

I rarely find scrapbooking items from my local thrift store. But when I do, I add it to my stash and forget that I bought it.  A fews days ago I hit the Jackpot.   I found like 100 sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper.  I had to pinch myself.  I mean it wasn't designer paper or anything (Im also a designer paper junkie) but I liked most of the patterns, so I bought all of it for $1!   What?

On my drive home, when I do most of my important thinking, I was brainstorming how I could use my thrift store finds to create a Youtube series. It suddenly came to me.....

Introducing:
"THRIFT STORE JUNKIE"

In my new Youtube Series,  I make scrapbook layouts from my Thrift Store Kit.  My kit is limited to only items from the Thrift Store.  What I think is cool about this is that it will really push the limits of my creativity.  I'm kind of in a slump and I need to light my creative flame again.

Here's my THRIFT STORE KIT Share:

Next up on "THRIFT STORE JUNKIE"- My DIY THRIFT STORE EMBELLISHMENTS.

Do you use thrift store items in your crafting?

New Scrapbook Process Video: "Gettin' Sketchy Wit It" (new YouTube series)

I'm having some fun with my YouTube Channel.  Of course I'm completely obsessing about it too, wanting to do a new video every day of the week.  But it's so cool!  I have so much to learn and I'm challenged in the technical department, but so far its a fun ride.  

" Gettin' Sketchy Wit It" is a series with a new episode every Tuesday (hopefully).  Each week I will pick a different sketch to use as inspiration.  I'll share my creative thought process on creating a layout and manipulating the sketch without losing my personal scrappy style.  Or whatever that means.  

Here's the layout:

That's not a beer gut, I was pregnant.  But, honestly, I look thinner then than I do now.  However, I'm not at all willing to stop eating ice cream.  And I accept it.  Moving on.........

I joined in on Hip Kit Club's Facebook Forum Challenge that ended June 11.

Here's Episode 1 of "Gettin' Sketchy Wit It" (cue Will Smith):

If you have a sketch that you'd like me to feature on a future episode, let me know.  Leave a comment  on this YouTube Video or send me a message.  I'd love to hear from you.  Thanks for visiting today!  Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and never miss an episode!

New CSI Challenge & Sketch #166

I love being on the CSI Design Team.  Their challenges are so much fun and make me push my creativity.  Here's the newest Layout I made:

This is a photo of me when I was 2 years old, playing in my Grandmother's kitchen drawer.  I was even a weirdo at 2.

This is what CSI's Challenge #166 looks like:

Here's how I completed the challenge:

THE SCHEME:  Used all 5 colors.

EVIDENCE:  Used stripes, scallops, numbers, flowers, and paint.

TESTIMONY:  I journaled about a favorite childhood memory, I wrote my journaling on my background, and I used the Inspo word: play.

Have a fabulous day!