Baking Spirits Bright - PageMaps

 Hello blogging friends!

Have you seen the new December sketches from PageMaps. I love to work with Becky's sketches. Just looking at them jump starts my creativity! Here is the fabulous sketch I worked with this month.

I dragged my Christmas stash out recently and was horrified at how much there was. So this month I am stash bashing some old Studio Calico, Elle's Studio, and Simple Stories. I went through everything pulling out anything Candy/Christmas Baking related and putting a mini kit together from my stash. I really loved the reds and pinks in these Studio Calico papers and worked to keep my layout monochromatic. Here is what I ended up with.

This photo is from last year. My daughter Colette is living in Denver now and there will be no Holiday baking marathon for us this year. She cancelled her trip home for Thanksgiving and has to work on Christmas. I miss her, so that's why I gravitated to this photo to scrapbook this month I think.

If I am journaling it is most likely on a computer. I printed this out with my printer and then edged it with washi tape. It really adds to the theme.

I used sticker alphas ... no cut files on this layout at all! <gasp>

I need to make some cookies maybe to get me out of my holiday funk. These look really good.

I managed to put together a YouTube process video for this layout. Take a look. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it ...

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

~Marcia

Around We Go! - Stash Bash Youtube Hop

Hello blogging friends,

The February Stash Bash YouTube Hop is now live! This month, we are focused on using our stash of out of business manufacturers; October Afternoon, Little Yellow Bicycle, Scenic Route, Sassafras Lass, Basic Grey, Imaginisce ... 

I decided to use my October Afternoon Midway collection stash because I found these stitched pennant banners that I hadn't even touched! <GASP> Feeling guilty for buying something and not using it, I decided I had to use the banners. To create movement, I wrapped them around and around in a continuous circle pattern. It was perfect for this photo of my kids on a little kiddie ride going around and around. The idea for this came from the fabulous Missy Whidden. She created a back to school layout used the alphabet in place of my pennant banners. Thanks for the awesome idea Missy!  Here is my layout ...

I do so miss October Afternoon! Here are some detailed shots...

Want to see how I created it from start to finish? Check out my process video...

There are lots of awesome designers participating this month. Be sure to check out all the videos on the hop.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great week.

~Marcia

MLK Memorial - Paper Issues

Hello blogging friends.

I am playing along with Paper Issues Free File Friday challenge; use any Star cut file from the Paper Issues store. All the cut files are always FREE! I combined the Count Your Lucky Stars background digital cut file and the Starring You digital cut file and came up with this ...

I combined the red pattern paper from the Simple Stories Say Cheese 3 collection with the Paper Issues June Swag Bag. These Swag Bags are awesome; Full of little bits and pieces of ephemera and pieces of pattern paper! I added some wooden star wood veneers from my stash. Here are some detailed shots...

Here is my process video if you are interested in watching ...

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great weekend.

~Marcia

Pupcake Love - Stash Bash YouTube Challenge

Hello blogging friends!

I am embarking on something new ... in addition to blogging, I am going to be doing a lot more YouTube videos. A group of scrappy friends and I will be posting a series of Stash Bash videos. Each month we will concentrate on using one element we all have in our stash ... This first month we are focusing on stickers. Since it is a Stash Bash, I dug out an older BoBunny collection called Happy Tails because I wanted to scrap these photos of my dog Satchel ... and this collection has so many stickers; border stickers, alpha stickers, chipboard stickers, layered stickers ...   Here is the layout I came up with.

I love how this embellishment cluster turned out. That layered chipboard sticker over the dog house <3 <3 <3

I used a lot of these Studio Calico phrase sticker too from the Baxter collection along with some Bella Blvd yellow enamel shapes.

Alpha stickers combined with bright yellow rain slicker thickers make up my title.

Did you notice the dog, and paw print washi tape? I picked it up at the Scrapbook Expo last summer and just now had a chance to use it.

If you are interested in seeing the process video for this layout here it is ...

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I challenge you to dig out your stickers too and create something fun with them.

~Marcia

Selfie - Clique Kits blog share

Hello blogging friends. It's time for the Clique Kits March blog share! You might want to start at the Clique blog and work your way through. There is an awesome prize for one lucky commenter.

This is my third layout with the Hell Yeah Clique kit. I really wanted to use the Clique exclusive Blah Blah Blah paper (which by the way is available for anyone to purchase in the Clique Store. Coupon code Marcia10 will save you 10% too). I paired it with this hilarious selfie that I found on my iPad last Christmas. It's rare that I can get all 3 of my kids in a photo, especially now with two of my kids working nights and weekends. They will probably never leave me another selfie after seeing I made this one into a layout, lol. I really needed to scrap something light. The last few months have been brutal. I lost a dear friend and coworker to brain cancer March 9th. It has been a struggle every day to make myself go to work when I have constant reminders of her there and people asking me how she was doing. I was the one to clean out her desk. I had to wait and do it one evening so when I cried the cleaning crew were the only ones there. Friday was her "ceremony of life" service... so much better than saying funeral. I did a eulogy reading for the ceremony at the bequest of her family. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I so did not want cry in front of all those people. I managed to hold it together almost until the end. I attended another funeral visitation on Sunday night for a favorite Uncle of mine. I am so emotionally drained. I think a weekend of scrap therapy is needed very soon.

Sorry for getting off tangent... I used some fun Word Bubbles and Hashtags from the JustNick Store to complete my layout. Here it is ...

Did you notice the "No Filter" word phrase under the photo? Perfect right!  I added some watercolor behind the hashtags... things were looking too white for my liking. I like the splash of color even though it is subtle.

This flair is from a previous Clique Kit, but I thought the colors were a perfect match for the Goldie papers.

I have a quick card to share as well from the Spring Clique Kits Card Kit. This kit is so gorgeous and features the My Minds Eye On Trend 2 papers and embellishments. I used another JustNick cut file on this one too for the geometric overlay.

I will be sharing more cards in next few days, so stop on back. The Spring Card kit is available in the Clique Store. Use coupon code Marcia10 and save 10%.

Ok ... here is the line-up

Clique Kits 

Gia Lau 

Erica Thompson 

*Melissa Vining 

*Leeann Pearce 

*Carolina Schulz 

*Kat Benjamin 

*Marcia Dehn-Nix 

*Maryam Perez Osorio     <---- Go Here Next

Elsie Robinson 

Sandy Gonzalez 

Taina Cortes (Evi) 

Kim Allen

Hannah Lemieux 

Charity Feit 

Mariah Hechler 

Leigh Ann Odynksi 

Head on over to the very talented Maryam's blog now. Thanks for stopping by!

~Marcia

Bunny Cuddles - JustNick and Clique Kits

Hello blogging friends.

I am so happy to be back designing for JustNick Studios! I love the awesome digital cut files Nicole Nowosad designs. Today, I created a Spring layout using my March Clique Kit. This fabulous kit features the Studio Calico Goldy papers plus tons of Clique Kit exclusives. Check it out ...

I really wanted to use this Heart Explosion cut file on a layout. With Easter coming, I chose to scrap this photo of my daughter's pet rabbit and one of our cats. This rabbit was litter boxed trained, so he was allowed to run when we were home. These two loved to cuddle.

Now the March Clique Kit included this gold lame crepe paper that I used to create that fringed heart. Here is a closer look at it...

I chose these Handcut Letters to use for my title ... they are very similar to the Studio Calico stickers included in my Clique Kit.

I went for a BIG title. Inking the edges of the letters with some matching ink helps them to pop from the white background.

Here are a few more close-ups ...

New digital cut files are added to the JustNick Studio store every week so be sure to check them out.
Lots of new product is available in the Clique Kits Store as well. Use coupon code Marcia10 and save 10%!

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your week!
~Marcia

J'aime Paris, Oui Oui - Clique Kits and a Free Cut File

Hello blogging friends.

The March Clique Kit has a decidedly international flair. It is full of Studio Calico Seven Papers and a few Clique exclusive papers and ephemera die cuts designed by Clique Kits own Inna Moreva. Here is a look...

I set aside some of the French elements and dug out a photo of my daughter and a friend from their trip to Paris last summer. Then I created a cut file, text in a circle to frame the photo; "J'aime Paris, Oui Oui" ( "I love Paris, Yes Yes" ). The script font is called Lobster and is one of my favorites. I am sharing my Silhouette cut file J'aime Paris with you! Just in case any of you want it :) Sorry, I haven't yet mastered how to convert files to SVG. You can download it from Box here. 

The paper with the eyes was one that Inna designed. I guess it could be interpretted as "Go, See, Do". This die cut Eiffel Tower was perfect...

I love this little macaron cookie flair button. Fitting, as I know they ate some macarons there. I also learned something... Macaron cookies and Macaroon cookies basically start out with the same dough... they are baked differently. Macaroons usually will have coconut added while the French add color and roll their dough to create wafer discs.

Be sure to check out the Spring Card Kit available for Pre-orders now! Use coupon code Marcia10 and save 10% off anything in the Clique Store ... like the new PinkFresh Felicity!!

Be sure to check out the Clique Kits March Anything Goes Challenge too. Butterfly Reflections is the sponsor and as always there is a fabulous prize! You DO NOT need to be a Clique subscriber to participate either.

Have a great week!

~Marcia

At the Zoo - Imaginisce

Hello blogging friends. I have another Imaginisce Family Fun layout to share today using the adorable zoo papers. This collection is so fun for all kinds of family outings but I especially love those zoo papers. Imaginisce recently sent me some Milk Paint. Have you tried out the Imaginisce Milk Paint yet? I thought it would be fun to paint a little greenery on my zoo layout. First I had to select my photos and come up with a design so I would know where to start painting. Once I was satisfied with a rough layout idea I starting mixing up the green Milk Paint with a little water. I love that I can control how much paint I mix up at a time. I painted the green on my background and set it aside to dry. While I waited, I added a little blue Milk Paint to some of the green paint I had already mixed up. I wanted my leaf branch to be a little darker green. Then I dug out a stencil with some leaves and laid it on my green background and started painting. A paper towel comes in handy for blotting the paper if it gets too wet and wiping off the stencil if you want to move it. While this was drying, I mixed up a little yellow Milk Paint adding just a touch of my original green so I could add some spatters. When it was all dry I outlined my leaf branch with a colored pencil. Here is the final result.

These sticker stackers make such cute titles!

Supplies:

Imaginisce : Pattern Papers, Enamel Dots, Sticker Stackers (Family Fun), Milk Paint (green, blue, yellow)

American Crafts: Cardstock

Silhouette Cameo

17Turtles cut files (from the November Clique Kit)

Studio Calico roller stamp

Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo

Derwent colored pencils

Thanks for stopping by!

~Marcia

XO - Creative Scrappers Reveal

Hello blogging friends. It's time for another Creative Scrappers Reveal! This one, by the talented Jenny Evans, does not disappoint!

I actually scrapped a layout of myself this time (*gasp*). This was taken last Christmas in front of our Christmas tree. I converted it to a black and white photo so it doesn't look too Christmassy. I had to photoshop the photo to switch the heads. Yup, I couldn't keep my mouth shut when the photo was taken (why do I have to talk?) and in another shot my hubby closed his eyes! Has anyone else tried the photomerge faces? Thankfully it was relatively easy to do and it looks so much better without my mouth open :)

I used the gorgeous Maggie Holmes Styleboard papers from Crate Paper with a mish mash of embellies from Studio Calico, Crate, Fancy Pants, Maya Road, and American Crafts. I've had these gold doilies for about 6 months now! Gold is so trendy right now, why did I wait so long? I love the look with the gold vellum and gold rub-ons. As much as I love those triangles in the sketch, I had to replace them with hearts. I especially love that love paper clip from Maya Road! Here are some close-ups...

I hope you will join us. Our sponsor this month is My Creative Scrapbook.

Thanks for stopping by.
~Marcia

Sweet Dreams - Creative Scrappers and The Cut Shoppe reveal

Hello blogging friends. I can't believe how fast August is slipping away! Pretty soon my youngest two kiddos will be back in college. My son is already busy with drumline, training for another marching band season at NDSU (North Dakota State University). GO BISON!!!  The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing now and I am hoping hubby and I will be able to make it this year. And.... my oldest daughter finally started a real job!!! She will be managing a group home of teenage girls! Get this, on her second day on the job, she got two other job offers!! Months of searching for work and when she finally lands something then everyone else wants her too, lol. I seriously love her corporate work place though. They have real functional swings in the office area, and a foam pit on the first floor so you can literally throw yourself off the second floor landing into the pit. I hear they have a Velcro wall too. What fabulous ways to relieve stress.

But onto scrappy business now, you might want to consider joining us at Creative Scrappers for the latest sketch reveal. Check out this fabulous sketch by the talented Kristine Davidson...

The other really fabulous thing about this reveal is that Creative Scrappers teamed up with The Cut Shoppe. 

The Cut Shoppe has some truly fabulous SVG files you can use with you Silhouette or other electronic die cut machine. I used the Counting Stars and Sweet Dreams files for my layout. I really loved how the stars coordinated and immediately thought they would be perfect with the My Baby collection from Imaginisce (just the cutest, most adorable baby collection out there!). So..... Here is my take on the sketch.....

I shrunk the grid in the sketch so I could use those fabulous stars for my background. Take a closer peek...

What a great team up, right!!  I hope you join us.  

We still have our Sponsor PinkFresh Studio with sketches 274-275 due by August 31st so don't forget those ;-) For Sketch 276 Ashley from The Cut Shoppe will be offering a $20 prize to her shoppe to one lucky winner who participates with sketch 276 and submits it by August 31st.  

Have a great week
~Marcia