Too Cute To Spook! - Imaginisce

Hello blogging friends,

Even though the new Imaginisce Give Thanks collection is a Fall collection, there is plenty of orange and black to create Halloween projects too. I created a layout using my Silhouette to add some Halloween die cuts. My daughter Colette had dressed up as a black cat, so I wanted to add a black cat to my layout. This one is paper pieced and layered to give it more dimension. 

A title of white Thickers was really set off by the black cardstock base. 

These Silhouette die cuts really helped give my layout a more Halloween feel.

Clusters of embellishments include some i-Top brads I created. It's so easy to create coordinating embellishements with pattern paper and and i-Top brad daddies. 

Supplies:

Imaginisce : Pattern Papers, Phrase Stickers, Wood Buttons, Enamel Dots, Puffy Stickers, Die Cuts (Give Thanks), i-Top, small and medium brad daddies

American Crafts: Cardstock, Thickers

 Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend.

~Marcia

Blueberry Garden - Imaginisce

Hello blogging friends.

I had this layout up on the Imaginisce blog the other day. It's about my love for gardening and my latest gardening project, blueberries. I selected a variety of the blue pattern papers from the Heartland Farm collection. 

Ever since buying our first house, I have had a garden!  I sometimes have to ask myself why I bother, especially after spending 4 hours weeding the thing and every muscle in my body hurts. I could just go to the Farmer's Market after all. Like scrapbooking, I find it therapeutic though. I like seeing my plants flourish. I like being able to share my bounty with family and friends as well as feed my family well into the winter months and I know that everything I grow is organic. Over the years I have tried various different plants. When my daughter had a pet rabbit, I grew lettuce, kale, spinach, and lots of herbs. Last year, I decided to try growing my own blueberries. I bought hybrid bushes that could withstand the Minnesota cold winters, and was thrilled to see that they all survived their first winter. Now I just have to wait and see if they will produce fruit. 

To add a little more color, I mixed some Imaginisce milkpaint with a little gesso to create a paste I could use with a stencil to create my sun rays. (Note: recycle your product packaging to mix the paint and gesso. You can just toss it when you are done without having to wash it)

I am using a stencil from Tim Holtz called Rays.

Here is a closer look...

I even included a few blueberry i-Top brads :)

 

Supplies:

Imaginisce : Pattern Papers, Die Cuts, Wooden Pieces (Heartland Farm), Alpha Stickers (Outdoor Adventure) Milkpaint, iTop, Small Brad Daddies

American Crafts: Cardstock, Black Homestead Alphabet Thickers, 

Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Navy

Tim Holtz Rays stencil

Gesso

 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fun and safe 4th of July everyone.

~Marcia

Udder'ly Amazing - Imaginisce New Release

Have you seen the new collection Heartland Farm yet? So many awesome embellishments to go with the fun pattern papers. This collection makes me yearn to get my garden planted...  and I cannot wait for my local farmer's market to open up again! I couldn't wait to dive in and scrap a photo of my daughter during her first year of college. She took an Animal Studies class and was given this dairy calf to take care of and train. At the end of the semester there was a calf show. Amazingly, she took second place! Not bad for a city girl! 

I created a cluster of embellishments near the bottom of my layout using the denim pocket from the collection and filling it with a few die-cuts. I added a seed packet (cut from the paper) and then had to adhere one of the wood pieces. I think these wood pieces are my favorite embellishment in the collection. 

More die cuts and a blue ribbon sticker were added near the photo. I even used my i-Top to create a center for one of my stamped flowers. 

Supplies:

Imaginisce : Pattern Papers, Die Cuts, Stickers, Wood Pieces, Denim Pockets, Acrylic Stamp, Enamel Dots  (Heartland Farm), Alphabet Stickers (Outdoor Adventures), I-Top, small Brad Daddies, small I-Top punches, Foam Adhesive

American Crafts: Cardstock, Black Homestead Alphabet Thickers

Thanks for stopping by!

~Marcia

Go Kart Fun - Imaginisce Family Fun

Hello blogging friends! I have another Imaginisce Family Fun layout to share with you today. There seems to be no end to all the kinds of family activities that can be scrapped with the Family Fun collection! Today, I used the B sides of the papers for this layout. I was inspired by the black and white checkerboard paper. I immediately thought, that would be great paper for my son's Cub Scout Pinewood Derby pictures, but then remembered I had Go Kart pictures from a trip to Wisconsin Dells. These pictures were actually from a Girl Scout troop getaway, but fun is fun right? Either with family or friends... and Family Fun has it covered. 

This layout is based on a sketch by the talented Suzanna Lee. Here is that sketch.

I loved Suzanna's sketch, but felt like I needed more white space to suit my style. This is where a sketch sometimes makes you think outside of the box. I decided to doodle along my layout edges. This allowed me to stay true to the sketch. I settled on some straight lines interspersed with the word 'VROOM'. I am quite happy with the result. I may have to doodle on my layouts more often. I also used my Imaginisce i-Top tool to create some custom brads for my layout. The i-Top is a great way to add some dimension. Here are some detail shots.

 

I found this racing frame in the Silhouette on-line store and knew immediately it would be perfect for this layout. Some ZigZag stitching adds a little bit of a grungy feel and those embellishments in the upper corner of the photo cover up a gentleman who I really didn't care to have on my layout, lol. The foam Thickers in red add just a little bit to draw your eye in. I love those chevrons.

Supplies:

Imaginisce : Pattern Papers, Die-Cuts (Family Fun), I-Top, small and medium Brad Daddies, small and medium I-Top punches, Red Foam Alphabet Thickers, Foam Adhesive

American Crafts: Cardstock, Slick Writer (black)

Silhouette Cameo

Brother Sewing Machine

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~Marcia

Homemade - 2015 Resolutions - Imaginisce

Hello blogging friends. I have an Imaginisce layout to share with you, the first for the year as part of the new design team! Our assignment... Create a layout about "New Beginnings". I had a hard time deciding what to scrap with the Imaginisce Family Fun collection. I finally decided on one of my 2015 resolutions.

I am not one to normally make new resolutions for the new year. If you feel something needs to change, why wait for the new year. Do it now! My husband is gluten intolerant (on top of his other food allergies) and I have been preparing gluten free meals for him. But I also have been preparing meals loaded with gluten too for the rest of us. Can you blame me? Have you tasted store bought gluten free bread or crackers? Yuck! It's like eating cardboard. And anything labeled Gluten Free in the store is 2-3 times more expensive. Well, my husband has not been very good at sticking to his diet with all the temptation around. So I am trying to prepare more things that he can eat. I made gluten free chocolate chip cookies the other day and they were good enough my kids did not suspect they were gluten free! I have also been experimenting with bread recipes. I want to be able to make a decent gluten free loaf of bread in my bread machine. I had lots of success with the this bread machine mix I found at Whole Foods. Now to see if I can make one from scratch! The other food resolution I have is to eat green.... I am not talking salads here. Eating green means you are aware of where your food comes from. If your food has to travel half way around the world to get to you what impact does that have on our environment? Eating foods in season and grown locally is much greener for the environment. 

Homemade Bread and with raspberry jelly I made with berries I picked last summer....Umm Ummm! The Family Fun collection has some fabulous die-cuts and stickers for kitchen scrapping.

I used my i-Top to create my own brads and add some dimension to my layout. Super easy to do.

Supplies:

Imaginisce: Pattern Paper, Die Cuts, Stickers (Family Fun collection), 

Imaginisce I-Top, small and medium brad daddies

American Crafts: cardstock

Have you made any 2015 Resolutions? My son just asked me to make more of those gluten free cookies! Wow!!
Have a great week, its almost TGIF!
~Marcia

Mustache Valentine - Top Dog Dies

Hello blogging friends. I have lots of cards to share with you today. Top Dog Dies released 6 brand new dies and I have been playing with them!! First I have to share this adorable Valentine I created with the Top Dog Heart Mini Album Finishers Set. This set has the cutest little mustache in it. I had to make it the focal point of my card...

I used my Imaginisce i-Top to create a brad that I could put the mustache on.

Supplies:

Top Dog Dies Heart Mini Album Finishers Set

Top Dog Dies Heart Border Die

Ok.... Now do you want to see the new dies? Top Dog posted them on their blog here. I had less than a week to play but here is what I've created so far. This one uses Pink Paislee's Color Wash. 

I am in love with everything gold lately so couldn't help but add some gold embossing on the tips.

Supplies:

Top Dog Dies Feather Set

This next card uses a new border die that I absolutely love for adding interest at the bottom of my card and a new bird die set. I used some Pebbles Family Ties.

Supplies:

Top Dog Dies Little Birds

Top Dog Dies Dotted Borders

This last card uses the border die again and I paired it with one of the dotted tags. I used the Imaginisce My Baby collection.

Supplies:

Top Dog Dies Dotted Tags

Top Dog Dies Dotted Borders

Imaginisce Pattern Paper, Die Cuts (My Baby)

American Crafts white cardstock

The new dies are available in the Top Dog on-line store now! 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week.

~Marcia

Imaginisce i-Top Tutorial

Hello blogging friends. I made a little tutorial on how easy it is to use the Imaginisce i-Top to create your own embellishments with paper. I made a brad, but you can also make buttons and magnets too.

1. Punch out what you want to be on your brad/button/magnet

2. Set the button top into the tool and center the paper over the top. Squeeze the i-Top. Then flip it over. My picture shows the tool already flipped over.

3. Tuck those paper edges into the center.

4. Flip the i-Top over again and place the brad or button shank in the tool. Squeeze the i-Top again.

5. Remove your brad/button.

Isn't this guy ADORABLE!

Here is the card I created with him ...

Thanks for stopping by.
~Marcia

Princess Party Gift Holders - Imaginisce inspiration

Hello blogging friends. I hope you are enjoying your summer. We have had the strangest weather here in Minnesota. We broke records in June for the most rainfall and experienced flooding in places. Now in the middle of July when the temps should be in the 90's, we have temps in the 50's and 60's. There is a positive side... my garden is flourishing and I don't have to water :)  These blueberries are starting to ripen now. I am so excited!

 

Ok, now onto the Imaginisce paper inspiration... My niece has a birthday coming up so I wanted to create a birthday card for her with the Little Princess collection. Ok, she will be 17! But I still remember her loving to dress up in a Cinderellla costume when she was about 3 years old so the Little Princess collection reminds me of her. I went browsing in the Silhouette store for inspiration and found this cute folder. It's perfect for slipping in some cash or a pair of movie tickets. The folder would be great for party invites too. You could slip a card with the invite details inside. While browsing the Silhouette store I discovered something else too, there are LOTS of print and cut files for the Imaginisce Enchanted collection. They are perfect with the Little Princess collection! I printed and cut out the carriage, then downsized the frog and crown before printing so that I could use them with my i-Top. I love my i-Top and my Silhouette for creating my own flair to coordinate with my projects. 

Here are those gift holders....

I had to decorate the back too with these Princess die cuts....

I was having so much fun, I made another folder...

Isn't this collection adorable! Don't forget to use the i-Magicut ribbon cutter for no frayed edges on your ribbon.

 

Supplies:

Imaginisce : Pattern Papers, Cardstock Die Cuts  (Little Princess), Foam Tape, i-Magicut Ribbon Cutter, i-Top, small, large, and extra large brad daddies 

Silhouette Store: Carriage, Fairytale Creatures (Imaginisce Enchanted collection)

American Crafts: Cardstock, Adhesive

Silhouette file by Jamie Cripps

Enjoy your week!

~Marcia

Scrap Your Stash - Practical Scrappers

Hello blogging friends. We are Scrapping our Stash with Practical Scrappers today! You should have arrived here from the awesome Majken's blog. If not, and you want to start at the beginning, head to the Practical Scrappers blog. Here is the entire blog hop order if you get lost ...

 Practical Scrappers

 Christine

 Lee-Anne

Melissa 

 Bobbi

Majken  

Marcia  <----- You are here!

Suzanna  

Cheryl 

Krissy 

Wendi R  

Erin 

Kelly 

Monica 

Laura 

Deborah 

Wendy C 

I decided to use the Good Dog collection from Imaginisce to make a graduation gift for my daughter Colette. She earned her undergrad degree this Spring when she finished her first year of Vet school. (She was accepted a year early!) Only 3 more years to go now!!

I used a photo of her with one of her favorite foster dogs we kept until we found a furever home. She has her own dog now, a Great Pryenees name Sue. So this photo will be replaced soon with this one of her dog Sue.

See why I used the red on my frame :) I first painted this wood frame white and then used Mod Podge to adhere the papers and give it a nice protective coating. Ribbon tied around the entire frame gives it a girly feel.

Supplies:
Imaginisce Good Dog Pattern Papers, Die Cuts, i-Rock Hearts, i-Rock, i-Magicut Ribbon Cutter (love this tool so much!), i-Top, Large Brad Daddy
Organza Ribbon, Quick Quotes ink, white acrylic paint, Mod Podge.

Thanks for stopping by, you need to hop to my friend Suzanna's blog next lifestrivialities
~Marcia

Imaginisce Introduction and Blog Hop WINNER!!!

Happy 2014 to you all. I have a winner from my blog hop ......

OlesyaKDecember 30, 2013 at 3:32 PM

gorgeous layouts all especially the fall Thankful one - sooo terrific!

OlesyaK can you send your mailing address to me at nixshaus@comcast.net and I will get your Outdoor Adventure collection mailed out to you.


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I have added a few more bells and whistles to my blog. One of my New Year's resolutions is to promote my designs on more social media outlets. I now have buttons in the side bar so you can find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter! Another one of my resolutions is to delve more into digital scrapbooking. I upgraded my computer recently and have new photo editing software. It's taking a little while to learn where everything is. I've also been playing around with Kerri Bradford's digital 12 Days of Christmas freebies. My scrapbook room is undergoing a reorganization. I took the futon out, since none of my kids sleep in there anymore when they are home, and moved the computer in. I'll post pics soon. I still have some things to find places for and some things are being purged.

I am so thrilled to be designing for Imaginisce another year! I loved all of the collections last year and I can tell you that you are going to love the new collections being released at CHA. Sneak peeks will be released shortly. Here are my projects I submitted for my design team application ....

This layout was created with the Bushel O'Fall collection and features my sister-in-law's family . I added a strip of burlap for texture. I love the burlap with the fall colors. I used my Silhouette to cut out the flowers from the pattern paper. Let me show you some close-ups...

Here is the card I created ....

and my altered piece was a frame featuring my kiddos when they were little....

I was so glad to be able to spend some time with my kids over their Winter breaks. Not a lot of crafting time for me. Now my son is heading to Texas with the NDSU Marching Band to play drums in the upcoming bowl game. I am going to have to see if I can find it on TV somewhere. Hopefully they will show the half-time show.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope 2014 brings you health and happiness.
~Marcia

Holiday Express - Imaginisce

I am a little late in posting this... I am battling a sinus infection. Not what I needed just before Christmas. I'm drinking lots of juice hoping it passes quickly. I have a few more gifts to find so sick or not I will have to get out on Monday to finish my shopping. Thankfully my brother is hosting Christmas. I am in charge of bringing potatoes. Some crock pot cheesy hash browns were requested. 

 

This was up on the Imaginisce blog on Friday.

Are you looking for a unique way to wrap up some gifts for that special someone? I love creating shaped boxes and bags from SVG files. Take a look at my Holiday Express Train! Each piece is a gift box! I am giving this one to my husband and filling it with some candy, socks, and underwear (Its a long time joke for him to get socks and underwear at Christmas, because when asked what he wants for Christmas, he always responds with "socks and underwear"). I think a gift card or two will even find its way in there too :)  I used the bright cheery colors in the Imaginisce Colors of Christmas collection and combined it with some solid reds and greens from the Outdoor Adventure and the Good Dog collections. I love that so many of Imaginisce's collections will coordinate with each other.

This was so much fun to make. I love these SVGcuts files. Let me show you some close-ups ...

My i-Top came in handy too in creating my own brads for the wheels.

Let me show you how easy it is. I used a couple of large brads for the engine, and lots of small brads for the other wheels. Pick out which paper you want to use and punch out the tops.

Place a brad top in your i-Top and center the punched paper over it. Squeeze the i-Top handles.

Now flip the i-Top over and bend the paper sticking up into the center of the brad.

Flip the i-Top over again and place a brad bottom into the tool. Don't worry about the top brad falling out. The rubber pads hold it in there. Squeeze the i-Top again. You should hear it snap into place.

 

 

It's really easy to use the i-Top and remember, it's not just for paper.

Imaginisce Supplies: Pattern Paper, Die Cuts, Bling, Journal Paper: Colors of Christmas; Pattern Paper: Outdoor Adventure, Good Dog; i-Top; Small and Large Brad Daddies; Foam Adhesive;

American Crafts cardstock, metallic cardstock, vellum, SVGcuts file, lots of Scotch 3M glue, Glue Dots, Sequins

~Marcia