Look What I Can Do! Scrapping with a 5 Year Old

His Interests
My 5 year old nephew had the flu so I babysat him for a week until his fever rescinded. So amidst the sword fighting, Transformers, paper airplanes, naps and reading of books with 3 letter short vowel sounds, I snuck in some scrapbooking and card making for him.

Re-enacting the final battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan on rocks in lava, dressing up as a knight king

My Interests

I remember reading a blog post on Sketch Support, which has since closed, where the designers used sketches and had their kids make layouts or cards. I thought I'd try the same technique with him. I had him look through an Allison Davis sketch book, and he picked out this 5 photo sketch. 

He chose 5 photos from one of my digital files and I printed them out in the various sizes. He chose his background and matting papers. Here he is positioning his photos. 

He used a tape runner for the first time and was wondering why the glue wasn't wet. The only thing I did was trim the two blue rectangles for him. 

He chose his own embellishments and adhered everything onto the background page himself. We used Best Creation's Loops and Scoops collection. I had won that collection but never used it and it was a perfect all inclusive pack which matched the amusement park theme of the photos.

He wrote, "I had a fun day" on the journaling tag and I added the location and date.

That was Isaiah's first layout and it took about an hour including choosing and printing the photos. After we showed his mom, she wanted him to make a Valentine's Day card for his kindergarten teacher. 

The next day, we worked on a card using Sketches for Cardmaking. Here is the sketch with the completed card. We used Basic Grey's Blush collection. I gave him an assortment of A2 sized cardstock and he chose the pink. He looked through the Blush 6 x 6 pack and chose the flower patterned paper. I asked what complementary cardstock did he want for the vertical strip and he said brown. I asked what color ribbon and he said white. Lastly I had a kit of Valentine embellishments and he picked out the finishing decorations. He had no problem choosing what he wanted. 

Here he is adding on the embellishments while dressed as a king that day. We also added a lollipop on the envelope for a finishing touch, as that is his favorite candy. 

After we showed his mom the Valentine, she hinted that she wanted one also. So the next day, Isaiah picked out this card sketch. 

He said his mom's favorite color was blue so he picked the blue cardstock background. For the patterned papers we used My Mind's Eye six by six Happy Day collection. He chose the hexagons which I told him were very trendy.  I asked him if he knew what hexagons were. He said no, only octagons. 

He used a T Square ruler to draw the line on which he adhered all the buttons. He also used a paper trimmer for the first time to cut the patterned papers. He liked choosing the buttons from my stash. He also wanted to add one extra pink one as the focal point.

The inside sentiment reads, "You are the best Mom in the world Isaiah."

The cards were a lot quicker, about 20 minutes each. If you pick out a collection or kit for the materials, then it isn't too overwhelming for the child. If you use a sketch, then they have a starting off point and can deviate from there. It was pretty fun and now he understands a bit more of what I do. 

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

Paper Made Bakery: Would You Like a Spot of Tea

The Reveal
With this month's stamp set at PMB being beverage themed, I had tea on my mind, so I decided to make a tea packet card. The envelope is the tea packet which you open by lifting the front panel upwards to reveal a pouch inside, in which the tea bag shaped card rests. For more info. and photos about this project, please see today's post at Paper Made Bakery.

Monthly Summary
I made 7 projects this month using my Warms Your Heart Kit. Here is a look at my previous 6 projects.

If you want further details on any of these projects, click on the title below.

• Love Potion #9
• Wine Bottle Topper
• Sweethearts Candy Card
• Always Tag and Envelope
• Dog Layout
• Valentine Spinner Card

My double term with Paper Made Bakery ends today, so these will be the last of my PMB kit projects. I've really enjoyed working with this company and design team, and highly recommend their kits. It has been really fun and a great challenge for me to use a card kit in different ways, beyond just card making.

Stay tuned to see what other endeavors I'll be tackling in the future. 

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

Paper Made Bakery: You Spin Me Right Round

I have my second to last reveal with Paper Made Bakery today. Contained in this month's Warms Your Heart kit, is this set of coffee/tea themed stamp set. I thought the coffee stirrer was just so cute and would make a perfect game spinner. I incorporated this idea onto a Valentine's Day card. 

To see the whole project, please see today's post on Paper Made Bakery. You don't have to use your stamps in the intended ways. Just have fun with them.

Thanks so much for droppin' by,

Paper Made Bakery: Love Potion #9

I only have three more projects to reveal with Paper Made Bakery and my term with them will be completed at the end of this month. Let the countdown begin...

For my reveal today I made two versions of Love Potion #9. I was trying to think of something else besides candy to put in those clear plastic tubes. The sneak peek above is the child version with some juice inside. There is another adult version that contains a different beverage. To see the both projects, please see today's  post on Paper Made Bakery's blog.

Thanks so much for droppin' by,

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: A Moose for all Seasons

The Stamps

For my final December guest designer project with Fresh Squeezed Stamps, I'm working once again with the woodsy themed stamp set entitled, "Winter Wonderland." I thought the moose stamp was super cute so I wanted to feature him on a card or two or four. 

The Reveal

I ended up designing a series called, "A Moose for all Seasons". I drew out a simple sketch for the card layout and kept the placement of the embellishments, sentiment and background in basically the same place, but just changed up the themes with a few modifications. You can easily use the moose and create a card for any other occasion that you'd need. 

The Details

I started by creating the woodsy background on all my cards. I used the reverse side of the tree stamp. The front side of the stamp will give you a tree outline, but if you use the reverse side that normally clings to the block, then you can get a filled stamp. Here is the same tree stamped using the reverse, front and combined sides of the same stamp. 

Next I colored in all the moose using Copics in the same color scheme and added some black enamel on the eyes and nose. Now come the variations on a theme. 

For my Father's Day card, I hand drew a tie and mustache on the moose. I wrote in the sentiment because I didn't have a stamp for that holiday. I wanted more of a summertime look since Father's Day is in June so I dabbed on some blue ink in the sky and yellow on the ground. I wanted more of a masculine feel so I added some black and white buttons and natural jute for the final touches. 

For my Valentine's Day card, I drew a dotted bow tie and added some Stickles heart garlands on the trees. I wanted a more feminine look so I added a ruffled border strip, rounded tab, twine bow and rounded one corner to soften the look.

For my birthday card, I wanted a more playful tone. I drew a little party hat and hung it on one antler since the moose couldn't get it onto his head. I used some Sassafras felt stickers I had for the embellishments. 

For this winter card, I added some liquid appliqué for snow on the trees and a red Stickles nose reminiscent of Rudolph on the moose. This Christmas card is actually the genesis for the entire series. I was imagining a string of Christmas lights intertwined among the moose's antlers. Then I started imagining what else he could hang, like shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day, and that's how I ended up with "A Moose for all Seasons". 

If you could only have one stamp set, Winter Wonderland would be a great one since it is so versatile and you can adapt it for any holiday.

The Fun and Games

Fresh Squeezed Stamps is hosting fun games and contests with free stamps as prizes all month long. This week's game called "Christmas Bingo" is to pick 12 words from a list of 30 words. This game ends at midnight tonight and is the last one for the month. But don't worry if you can't participate in this one, there is still Squeeze-A-Palooza to look forward to on Sunday. If you want to keep up with the latest news, check out their Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Thanks so much for droppin' by,

Happy Valentine's Everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you will all have a lovely day. I was so surprised to receive a box of chocolates in the mail today. Thanks so much kind friend!

News to Share:
I made some scrapbooking resolutions in January 2011 and I have been working on trying to achieve them. One of my goals which I thought was elusive was to get published in a magazine. I've been featured on some blogs and online magazines, but was wondering if I could ever get published in a handheld, physical medium. I made a wall hanging which will be featured in "Create: Idea Book Series" in the July 2012 Home Decor issue. So I guess technically I'm in a book, which is even better.

Chadelier Wall Hanging

I can't believe my wall art was chosen, because that is something I usually don't make. I usually make cards and layouts. I can't post any photos of my project until August. If you just can't wait, it will be displayed at Pages from the Heart after I get it back from being professionally photographed. So fancy!

Valentine Card:
I made a Valentine's Day card with Kevin in mind, so I kept is no frills, and tied it in to his favorite pursuit, technology.

Masculine Valentine Card

This also got picked up by a magazine, Cricut Magazine: Card Idea Book, August 2012 edition.

He really likes all things Mac so I cut 24 little apples with my Cricut (Plantin Schoolbook cartridge). The apples are round, but on the one red one I hand cut out a bite, so it looks more like the Apple logo and also because he got picked. I typed the sentiment and ran the patterned paper (Authentique) through my printer. I don't like my handwriting so I try to think ahead and type the sentiments and arrange it in the right place. If you like your own handwriting, it'd be easier to just write it after everything is glued in place. I drew in two tiny apple seeds to continue my apple theme. I drew in some lines and a frame using a pen and ruler to finish the card. I kept everything simple and streamed line, and tried to refrain from the extra layers and embellishments that I'd normally want to add in there.

We actually celebrated Valentine's Day one day earlier since Kevin had Monday off from work. Guess where we went before the secret restaurant he chose? The Apple Store! He wanted to see the newly remodeled one in Pasadena. I usually obtain a glassy stare upon entering, but I have to say one new thing to note was that the usual typed display tags were replaced with iPads. Each piece of equipment had its own iPad detailing its features and functions. Can you believe we have devices that seemed so far fetched in Star Trek? The point is, the card was perfect!

Come by again on Wednesday to see my new Paper Made Bakery reveal!

Thanks for stoppin' by,

Paper Made Bakery: February Kit Reveal + Blog Hop + Giveaway!

The Hop:
Welcome to Paper Made Bakery's February release blog hop! If you've just arrived from Ryann's site, then you came to the right place. If you would like to start from the beginning, please hop on over to Paper Made Bakery's blog. If you are lost, this the blog hop order:

Paper Made Bakery
Stephanie
Savannah
Ryann
Michelle (←you are here)
Lisa
Ashley

Here is my creation for the blog hop, called, "A Penny for your Thoughts."

A Penny for your Thoughts card

The Kit:
I would like to introduce you to Paper Made Bakery's Fresh Baked February kit! I had the pleasure of receiving this kit early and working with the contents. I have to say it was deliciously good!

Paper Made Bakery's February Kit

Everything is perfectly coordinated with the base set of 10 notecards and envelopes. I didn't have to spend time and energy assembling my own materials, but instead could focus on just utilizing them. It actually helped me be more creative. I can't wait to show you my four projects this month! Look for me each Wednesday as each designer has their own day of the week for a reveal.

Unopened Splendor

If you would like to order a kit before they are all snatched up, please visit here.

The Process:

I went to bed one night thinking about what to make from the kit. I woke up with numerous ideas and quickly sketched them out in my notebook. Later I digitally recreated one of them in Adobe Photoshop. 

My Card Sketch

I was inspired by the branch in the Avocado Arts stamp set and thought three hanging hearts would be cute for a Valentine's Day card. I stamped the branch on white cardstock, but thought it looked a bit stark. I stippled on some ink using a dry brush and changed up the background color.

Changing the cardstock color

But sometimes an idea takes on a life of its own. I decided to change the hearts into coins. That way, if the recipient doesn't like the card, they would at least have 16¢ in their hands.

Dangling Coins

I wanted a way to attach the coins to the branch so I handstitched lines using the twine that is included in the kit. It is much coarser than stitching with floss, but it gives a more rustic look. 

Stitching with Twine

I matched each coin with lyrics from the 1982  Tavares song, "A Penny for your Thoughts" for the sentiment. 

Matching Sentiment

The Giveaway:

There is a prize to be given by Paper Made Bakery to one lucky participant. Here are the different ways you can win:

1. Comment on each blog with an original comment.  The more you comment, the better chance of winning!  

2. Share this hop on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or in an email.  

3. Be sure to comment on Paper Made Bakery's Facebook wall and let us know you've shared.  Deadline is Sunday, February 5, 2012.

Good luck to all! Your next stop is Lisa's blog.

Thanks for hoppin' by,

Pages Reveal: Cute Lil' Heart Window Card

The Assignment:
Part two of my assignment this month at Pages from the Heart, was to make any type of card I wanted using papers from my kit, which was Authentique's "Gathering" collection. I wanted to play with a different type of fold instead of the standard fold. I saw a card a few months back from Kristina's Werner's blog that used the two halves of the negative space to form the whole shape that I thought was totally adorable. I used that idea as the inspiration for my card.

Heart Window Card

Supply List for Card

Featured Collection: Authentiques’s “Gathering” Collection

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Patterned Papers: Authentique

Stickers: Authentique

Ink: ColorBox Chalk

Pen: Pentel

Brads: Making Memories

Other: I hand cut out the hearts

The Details:

This card is made from a base piece of 4 x 12" cardstock. I covered it with a strip of 2 x 12" piece of Authentique's patterned paper and a thin piece of coordinating cardstock. I decorated it with a sticker, a die cut and some brads. I only glued half of the die cut sentiment on the front of the card so that it could still open up. 

Opened View of Card

The fun part is how you fold this card. Going from one edge to the other, I folded the card at 2", 4", 8" and 10" marks. I drew in half a heart along the 2" and 10" folds and cut it out, which opened into a whole heart because of the fold. You can try using a punch also. 

Negative Space Heart

When you fold it back together, the two halves also form a whole heart. This is a quick card to make and you can change it up for other occasions, for example Valentine's Day is coming up. You can also change the shape of the cut out, like into a square and make that a present for a birthday card. The possibilities are endless. I like trying out new shapes and folds for cards, so this was a fun departure from the norm for me. 

Thanks for stopping by and I wish you much scrappiness in your days,

Last ScrapFIT Reveal: It's the Simple Things

The Workout:
Here are the guidelines for January's second workout on ScrapFIT.

Workout #60- It’s The Simple Things

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that mean the most!  Show us what simple little thing means so very much to you!  Is it a picture your child drew, a family heirloom,  a special recipe or a book? We are dying to know! Join us for this "simple" workout by linking your creation to Mr. Linky at the bottom of today's post by January 31st.  


My Reveal:
I wanted to show that taking time out of the day to stop and spend time with a loved one was one of life's simple pleasures.

Workout #60 - It's the Simple Things

Sometimes you have the photos that match the topic, but this time I had to recreate the moment. Kevin and I took these photos on the front porch using a ladder and the camera's self timer. 

The Details:
Since this was about the simple things in life, I decided to also keep the page relatively clean and simple. This was difficult for me and I had to keep stopping myself from adding more elements and using more colors and patterns. I started by using white as the background and not misting that blank canvas or adding larger patterned paper pieces.

Title Block

I  used pieces from Pebbles' Happy Go Lucky collection, so everything would look cohesive. For the title, I chose a sticker from the collection for a simpler look, instead of having a long multicolored title made from alphabet stickers that I would normally be inclined to do. 

Flower embellishments

I used some flowers from the collection along with some rhinestones that I placed throughout the layout. 

Bird embellishments

It still looked a little barren to me at this point, so I cut out some birds from the patterned papers and place them in three different places along with the rhinestones.

 I stitched a large heart to anchor all the elements together so it didn't look like squares floating in space.

Journaling

The Prize:
Hope you enjoyed my simple little layout. If you have something you want to document, link your creation to this post on ScrapFIT by January 31st, and you just might win the following collection from this month's sponsor, Boys Rule Scrapbook. 

The Sponsor

The Prize

Thanks for stopping by,

Valentine Love

     I wanted to post some of the items I made and received for Valentine's Day and some other occasions.

Valentine Projects:
  
     I decided I wanted to use craftiness for good towards others and not just for my own pursuits. I thought Valentine's Day was a perfect opportunity to spread the love around. I altered some little containers in an eight hour period and gave them out to some friends and family members.

My Valentine Creations

   

Valentine Labels

   

   Here are some close up shots:

Valentine Candy Holders

The genesis of this was I had some containers that I liked the shape and thought I could extend its life capacity. For example, this was a camembert cheese spread container. I made this for Jenn. I filled the inside with pink, red and white M&Ms. Enjoy!

This one's for you Jenn.

Homemade Cards I Received:


     On Facebook, there was a scrappy game being posted, where if you leave a comment and you should receive something homemade from the person who posted. Then you repost it and you give out something homemade to 5 people who leave you comments, and a chain reaction occurs. I signed up on Jenn's and Becky's posts. Becky sent me a card and I'm still waiting on Jenn, nudge nudge wink wink say no more. I didn't repost the game myself, because I don't like bothering people on FB, but didn't want to just be a slacker, so that is another reason I made the Valentine projects, to give out some homemade items to people. This is the homemade banner card I received from Becky, you can take a look at her blog here.

Becky's card

    Kevin's grandmother also sent us a card for Christmas and Valentine's that she drew (the same one who painted the corn husk dolls). She also wrote a poem inside. We sent her a care package that included chicken noodle soup and biscuits which you can order here.  She said she ate it for supper.

Kevin's Grandmother's cards

     You might be surprised by this next one, this is from Kevin, and he even made a pop up sentiment.

Kevin's card

He snuck around using my stash before I woke up, hoping I wouldn't hear him. Isn't that totally cute! I hope you had a happy Valentine's Day.