AE Digital Projects | May 2017

For some reason May always seems to be one of the busiest months for me. So glad I was able whip out a couple of simple, story-filled, hybrid layouts in under an hour using some of the Ali Edwards May digital releases.

The first uses the May Digital kit and I was so excited to see a bit of a self-care theme running throughout the cards and stamps. I've been walking almost every day since it's been warm enough outside and it has been a true escape for me. I can think, or clear my head. I notice the beautiful things around me. It's good for me too. Based on my shoes it's obvious I'm not doing this for cardio but it's the best thing I can do for myself right now and I'm loving it.

I printed my photo at 6x8, but before I did, I added a digital stamp and some journaling in Photoshop.

I gave my photo a white border, trimmed my patterned paper down to 6x8 and added a date, a chipboard circle from a past Story Kit™ and a few florals from Maggie Holmes.

One down.

The next layout uses the new Pets Digital stamps. I had to tell the story of my finding out my boy kitten was a girl and that she got knocked up. Haha.

Again, super simple, but the story got told. I created an 8.5x11 canvas in Photoshop, used a digital stamp for my title (I added the color using the paint bucket tool), added my journaling to the bottom and printed it out on white cardstock.

I printed my photos in black and white at 4x4, added a strip of patterned paper and a chipboard circle (again, from a past Story Kit™) and called it finished.

I seriously love the layouts these products inspire me to create and I'm grateful to be on Ali's design team because it gives me a gentle push to tell stories that matter.

You can find these products on Ali's website here.

Elle's Studio | May 2017 Release

Hey friends! I am excited to share another round of fun products coming to the Elle's Studio shop this month, as well as a few projects I created using them. :)

Lots of fun sunshine-filled products to brighten your day. I really love the additional coordinating products this month as well, specifically that awesome Today stamp set and the Fun Outdoors wood veneer words.

So far, I've created two projects using these new products, and I'll have another one + a process video later in the month.

First is a layout using the May products + some of the new Live Laugh Love collection. Kind of loving this yellow + orange + light blue color combo.

I also completed a spread in my 6x8 Project Life album. Love the way the days of the week from the Today stamp set look on the sun card! I also painted one of the wood words white to add to a 4x6 photo and I'm digging that look as well.

If you want a bit of a closer look at all of the new stuff hitting the shop, check out my unboxing video!

Thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to head over to Elle's Studio to do some shopping!

AE Digital Projects | April 2017 Digital Kit

Hey friends! Today I wanted to quickly share a couple of projects I created using the fun April 2017 Digital kit from Ali Edwards. It's full of printable journal cards, digital stamps (great for putting on photos or cutting on your Silhouette), and digital embellishments!

I created two projects. The first is a spread in my 6x8 Project Life® album. Kept it super simple. Mostly words + photos. I added a few digital stamps and some journaling to some of my photos before I printed them.

This week was full of gorgeous photos of blue skies! It makes me happy to look at it. I stamped the date directly below the April Stories digital stamp and love the way those large Elle's Studio stamps turn out every time.

I needed just a bit of extra room, so I added a flip up pocket from Simple stories to include another photo and more journaling.

The second project was super fun to create. It's an 8.5 x 11 hybrid scrapbook layout where I incorporated a fun technique using a floral wreath included on one of the digital journal cards.

I have a tutorial on how to separate the wreath from the card and add a photo to the middle in the video below!

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I added some stitching around the wreaths and used the Easter Joy digital stamp as a cut file for my title.

I added a little word sticker to each photo and some handwritten journaling and called it done.

I hope that you'll check out this digital kit - it's been one of my favorites so far!

Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

Elle's Studio | April 2017 Release + New Live Laugh Love Collection

Hey friends! So excited to share the April releases from Elle's Studio, including the brand new Live Laugh Love Collection!

I love the bright springy feel of this kit and I always love the super neutral cards as well. My faves from this month's releases are actually some of the extras - especially more puffy hearts and puffy alphas! Yay!!!

I created this layout focusing on the "Sights and Sounds" stamp set and the Puffy Heart Stickers.

I cut up a few of the cards from the kit for my title and a pop of color and kept it very simple. I was also super happy to use that grey striped paper from the new Live Laugh Love collection which is also available now! So many good things about this collection. These are a few of my faves - 6x6 Paper Stack, Puffy Stickers (always with the puffy stickers), and the Bits & Pieces.

I have an unboxing video of the April kit, all the extras, AND the Live Laugh Love Collection! 

I'll be sharing a process video later this month on my YouTube channel using more of these cute releases, so be sure to head over to my channel and subscribe if you haven't already and you'll definitely want to head to the shop at Elle's Studio to check out all of these pretty new products!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tim Holtz + Tonic Studios Stamp Platform | Product Review

Hey friends! I was lucky enough to receive the new Tim Holtz + Tonic Studios Stamp Platform this week to test and try out (sent from Tonic Studios and Scrapbook.com, but the opinions are my own).

I was super excited and immediately said yes because I've been eyeing all of the stamp presses on the market and really liked what I saw demoed by Tim at CHA (I watched this video and this video on YouTube).

I had lots of fun playing with it and made a little video showing you all the details + a layout that I created using it.

I decided that the ways I will use this tool most is when I want to...

• Double stamp - This could be to get a more solid image, to get a darker ink color, or for when I mess up! When using fineline images, it's really hard to get them lined up if you need to stamp it twice, so this tool will save you if you find you do that a lot!
• Blend dye inks - I often stamp the same image in different colors on top of each other to create a shade that matches my embellishments or patterned paper, as shown in the video.
• Stamp on the background of a layout - This is especially important to me when I decide to add stamping when a lot of the page is assembled already.
• Ombre effects without ink contamination - I show this in the video as well, but it's really easy to ink up half the stamp with one color, stamp it (multiple times if needed) and then clean your stamp and ink the other half of the stamp with another ink color. 

Here is the layout I created using these techniques.

First, I created several flowers and leaves using a Hampton Arts stamp set (all available products linked below) and a few different ink colors to get the color I wanted.

You can get a good look at the fineline stamps on top of solid images. I stamped them three times so they would be dark enough and the lines are still clear. Love that!

I also decided to stamp my title on the background of my layout using an ombre technique. I also stamped the title several times and the lines are still crisp. The best. And I wasn't worried about messing it up on my half-completed layout.

Here's what I love.

• The platform is 8 1/2 inches square with an open edge so you can definitely stamp anywhere on a 12x12 layout. Which is awesome for me.
• The clear stamping swing arm thing is easily adjustable for clear stamps or rubber mounted stamps. Although I don't have any rubber mounted stamps in my stash anymore, I can see how this tool would be invaluable for double stamping if you use them often!
• It's slim and fits on my desk easily!

If you're in the market for a product like this, I definitely recommend it! As I'm writing this blog post, it's not in stock on Scrapbook.com, but should be soon here and you can click "Notify Me" so you don't miss out!

Thanks so much for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions!

Tonic Studios - Tim Holtz - Stamp Platform	Hampton Art - Clear Acrylic Stamps - Layer Flower Joy	Crate Paper - Chasing Dreams Collection - Thickers - Chip Accents - Collect - Gold Foil	Advantus - Tim Holtz - Idea-ology Collection - Clippings Stickers	Hero Arts - Dye Ink Pad - Shadow Ink - Mid-Tone - Fresh Peach
Sunny Days 12 x 12 Paper Collection

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AE Digital Projects | Eat Story Kit®

Sometimes you just have to tell a story about who you are. Or who you're not. And it doesn't have to be complicated. This month's Eat Story Kit® inspired me to tell a story about how I'm not a baker. Or a cook.

I thought it would be fun to use the "Food for the Win" digital stamp (from the digital Story Kit®) on my photo and crop it into a circle. I also made it look like the words from the stamp go behind the rolling pin by strategically erasing portions. (shown in the process video!)

I cut some of the cards from the physical kit into circles and mixed them in with other circular elements of the kit. Love bunches of circles. Always.

I also added in a few word stickers from the Word Sticker Bundle in black and white and then put some drops of black ink as a final touch.

You can watch the whole thing come together in the process video!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I've linked to all available products below, except for the Ali Edwards products which are linked throughout the post.

Happy weekend!

Crate Paper - Gather Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Thankful Heart	Crate Paper - Chasing Dreams Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Lovely	Fiskars - Border Punch - Notebook	Heidi Swapp - Color Shine Iridescent Spritz - 2 Ounce Bottle - Black Velvet	Kaisercraft - Decorative Dies - Nesting Circles
Sizzix - Framelits Die - Circles Set	Moma Muji Gel Ink Ball Point Pen, 0.38-mm, Black, 10 Pcs	Peel & Stick Foam Sheets 5.9-Inch-by-4.43-Inch 65-Pack, Rainbow Colors

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The Ink Road | Layout + Process Video + Giveaway!

Hello! I'm happy to share some fun new stamps from The Ink Road with you today. This is their first stamp release and it's super fun and snarky - which I love!

I used my favorite set from this release, Meow Mix, to create a layout about our naughty little kitten, Crookshanks.

I used some fun new stuff from Pinkfresh Studio + some scraps for my background. I used some watercolors on scrap cardstock, stamped out some cute/silly cat faces, and die cut them into circles.

I used some of the Crate Paper Cool Kid collection and it worked perfectly for this story. I added some cat word stickers from Seven Paper (no longer a thing) and love the silly cat phrases.

I added a little bit of detail with a black pen around my die cut cats and the outer edge of the page to finish it up!

If you want to check out the entire process, watch the video. ;)

Now for the fun stuff! Lara Smith from The Ink Road has generously offered to give away a $15 gift certificate to one of my readers/subscribers. Please watch the video below to learn how to enter and leave a comment on the video, not on this blog post to be entered to win!

Good luck! I have linked to all available products used in my layout below. Please let me know if you have any questions and thanks for stopping by!

Ink Road Stamps - 6x8 - Meow mix	Pinkfresh Studio - Dream On Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Wish	Pink Paislee - C'est La Vie Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Paper 06	Sunny Days 12 x 12 Paper Collection	Crate Paper COOL KID 6 x 12 Stickers 680484
Pinkfresh Studio - Dream On Collection - Puffy Stickers	Crate Paper COOL KID Thickers 680481	Staz On Ink Pads - Jet Black	Sizzix - Framelits Die - Circles Set	Kaisercraft - Decorative Dies - Nesting Circles
Diamond Press Die-cutting and Embossing Machine with Dies - 8179493 | HSN

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