Journal Decorating

Hi friends! I have a non-brand specific post for you today. Quite a while ago I ordered a bulk set of kraft cardstock journals. They’re simple but I really wanted to decorate covers and share them with people. I have done a few but not many, today I’m sharing a new one I created.

These journals measure about 8.25×5.5 and the pages are lined. There are probably 60 sheets per notebook so they aren’t huge but enough to make them worth collecting thoughts on any given subject.

This one started by me playing with an array of blue distress oxide and spritz sprays on the cover. I just went to town spraying and splattering, drying in between, all over the course of a couple of days. I would splatter some water and blot it dry in between some layers too. I even tried some white splatter at one point. Just playing until I was done. Then it sat there for a few weeks, until inspiration hit.

I went digging in my stash of paper pads (I know you have one of those too…don’t deny it.) and found an old one from Simple Stories that played off of the blue I already had going on. I started cutting and tearing pieces, layering them together, gluing them down and popping some up. I roughed up some edges with my scissors, used the Spellbinders banner punch to create a couple of those.

Then I pulled out the Mama Elephant Postage Frame dies, purely for the strip of hearts you can cut at once. You get two sizes and seven hearts total with one pass in the die cutter.

I added the hearts with a combo of liquid glue and foam squares so they are at different levels all over the cover. Then, once the cover sufficed for me, I went to the side and thought it would be fun to create dividers. This took me a while to figure out because I don’t have a tab die or punch. After digging, I landed on a pull tab from the Lawn Fawn flippin awesome die set. It’s got a fun shape and wasn’t too long. In fact, the math worked out perfect for eight tabs perfectly.

I cut out a patterned paper front with a white cardstock back for each one, gluing them on the front and back of the paper. Once they were all glued I pulled out a real oldie but goodie – my crop-a-dile and added rivets to each divider. I love the detail this gives!!!

Now I just have to decide the fate of this wonderful notebook. Do I keep it or do I share it? Do you journal at all? I would love to hear about it in the comments.

Products used:
Journals (Amazon)
Simple Stories (paper pad retired but so much cute available now)
Lawn Fawn Flippin’ Awesome dies
Mama Elephant Postage Frame dies
Spellbinders Banner punch
Foam squares
Liquid glue

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Hero Arts – Ghouls Just Wanna Have Sun

Hi friends! I’m back with some more Summerween fun with the Hero Arts collection. It’s just endless fun and is completely filling my heart with joy every time I pull it out to create. I haven’t even scratched the surface of ideas I have, isn’t that great!?!

This time I really wanted to create a scene with my beachy ghosties so that’s what I set out todo. I stamped a bunch of images from Beach Boos and colored them with copic markers. I used the coordinating dies to cut them out, including the hand slots for the ghosts so they can hold their treats.

For my background, I trimmed a piece of white cardstock down to 5×3.75 inches and heat embossed my sentiment with yellow embossing powder. Then I inked up some sky and sand using salty ocean and brushed corduroy distress oxide inks. I buffed the ink off the embossing and splattered the panel with water, blotting it dry to remove some of the color for more vibrant distressing.

Now, I arranged my images how I wanted them, adhereing them with a combination of liquid glue and foam squares. Aren’t the too stinking cute?!? You know they’re spilling the tea to each other!

Finally I popped the panel up on a white card base with foam tape. Then for finishing touches I added glossy accents to the beach ball, cherry, lemonade and strip on the hat and sand pail. Little bits of shine when the light hits the card make it so much fun!

Products used:
Hero Arts Summerween Collection
Glossy accents
Anti-static bag
Embossing ink
Pink & Main ray of sunshine embossing powder
Liquid glue
Foam squares and tape

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Mini Note Cards Always Win

Happy Mix it up Monday everyone! Today I’m sharing a mini note card mixing my favorite mini card die set from Pretty Pink Posh with a few things from Mama Elephant to decorate the front. These cards are so quick to whip up and sometimes all you need to share a little sentiment with someone special.

These are my favorite “lunch box” type notes to create and leave for my family; usually in a lunch box or on a keyboard or something. Another way to extend the use is to punch a hole in the corner and tie them to a gift bag as a card/tag combo.

To create this card, I cut the card and front layer using the Pretty Pink Posh Mini Note Card die set and glued them together. Then I pulled out a couple of Mama Elephant die sets to create my polaroid frame and kitty. These are the Mini Photo Frames and Teeny Notes dies, then my sentiment came from the Mama Elephant Simple Friends Bubbles stamps and dies set.

For the kitty, I cut him from white cardstock and ink blended with orange and then added detail with copic markers. I colored a little scrap of white paper with nose and eyes and glued it to fill in those spaces – sometimes this is the answer over keeping track of the tiny pieces that pop out.

I happened to create this on the fly for my daughter to let her know I am proud of her and the hard work she’s been putting in but they are great for any message you want to share.

Products used:
Mama Elephant Simple Friends Bubbles stamps and dies
Mama Elephant Teeny Notes dies
Mama Elephant Mini Photo Frames dies
Pretty Pink Posh Mini Note Card dies
Liquid glue

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Fabulous Halloween

Happy Mix-it-up Monday everyone! I’m here this week with an all out Halloween card featuring this year’s Mama Elephant Halloween goodies which I cannot get enough of! They’re SO CUTE!

I actually stamped and colored all of the images in the Mama Elephant Boo Crew set and die cut them out. Things got full and I saved what I didn’t use for another card – translate to “oh darn I have to create with this set again”.

Once the images were paired down and glued together how I wanted. I switched gears to my background. I had lots of ideas but landed on the largest die in the Mama Elephant Frilly Window Frame set from peach cardstock. I inked up the edges with Lawn Fawn carrot ink and then added the Pretty Pink Posh Sunburst stencil to the center with Lawn Fawn ballet slippers to pop the pink from my images. I splattered the panel with pink watercolor paint and let it dry.

Once that was dry, I stamped my sentiment with Lawn Fawn guava ink (the ballet slippers wasn’t bright enough for me – disappointing). Then I popped the panel up on a white card base with foam tape. Next I added foam squares to my images and popped them up right above the sentiment.

For finishing touches today, I started with just glossy accents on the critter noses and the fox’s hat band. Then I wanted more so out came the stardust Stickles for the “B” and candy shaped “O”. Extra sparkle is never a bad idea.

Products used:
Mama Elephant Boo Crew stamps and dies
Mama Elephant Frilly Window Frame dies
Pretty Pink Posh Starburst stencil
Lawn Fawn ink – guava, ballet slippers, carrot
Blending brushes
Foam tape and squares
Glossy accents
Stickles – stardust

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Hero Arts – Summerween Fun

Did you all see that Hero Arts had a Summerween release?!? I’m still squealing and so excited that my complete order hit my mailbox last Friday so I could play over the weekend. Below is my first card straight out of the package and I can’t wait to play so much more!

My main die cut image is the We All Scream die set which is SO FUN! I cut the layers all from white cardstock and ink blended each to give them color; then liquid glue to assemble the pieces together.

Now for the Ghoul Summer stamp and die set which has the coordinating awesome mini image to compliment my large die cut plus an array of fantastic sentiments to stamp and die cut! I went with teal cardstock for that pop of contrast.

Then I repeat stamped the popsicle image all over my pink background before ink blending the edges for a little depth and splattering it with pink ink and white paint. Now for assembly!

I glued the pink panel to a white card base with liquid glue. Then I added the popsicle and sentiment with foam squares. I glued the melting ice cream with liquid glue. Then I finished the design off white glossy accents on the ghostie eyes and white gel pen highlights on the ice cream. Finally, I tied some pretty ribbon from my stash around the top and tied it in a bow.

Products used today:
We All Scream die set
Ghoul Summer stamps and dies

OR you could get it all…

Want It All Bundle

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Ranger Ink – Christmas in July Release

Hey friends! Ranger Ink had a fun release with Simon Hurley Create this month with a Christmas in July theme. I’m here to pop in with some sweet inspiration using a couple of those new goodies that I can’t get enough of!

The punny sentiments always get me and the images they tie to are always the first ones I just have to play with. So this sweet kitty was top on my list with that great Season’s Treatings sentiment. They’re too good for each other not to! This all comes from the new Christmas Pets stamp and die set. Don’t sleep on this one – It’s super fun!

The background is from the new Candy Canes layering stencil set. I love how you can add the stripes separately but then it’s a whole new level having that awesome shadow layer too! It’s so cool and gives such great dimension to a flat base layer.

For assembly on this card, I glued the stenciled layer to a card base and simply popped up the image and sentiment with foam squares. In between that I did splatter the stencil layer with distress spray stain in pewter for a silver shimmer in the splatter. Then, finishing touches were just stardust Stickles on the wreath berries and some white gel pen highlights on the bow.

Be sure to check out this whole release. There are other stamp and die sets, plus a background stamp and stencil combo that’s AMAZING!

Products used today:
Christmas Pets stamps and dies
Candy Canes stencils
Blending brushes
Stellar Inks – fore!, bee sting and woof
Distress Spray Stain – brushed pewter
Stickles – stardust
Foam squares
Liquid glue
Distress Embossing Ink
Anti-static pouch
Embossing powder – white

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Much Love Flamingo Style

Hey friends! I’m back with another Mix-it-up Monday post for Doodlebugs. It’s been a while and I’m happy to be back. Today I have a fun summer-themed card featuring some new and older Pretty Pink Posh and Concord & 9th goodies today.

This card started because I just had to build that awesome flamingo from Pretty Pink Posh as soon as it hit my mailbox. He hung out on my desk for about a day just being cute and eventually I figured out what I wanted to do with him.

I trimmed down a piece of yellow cardstock and inked up the Pretty Pink Posh seashells stencil using darker yellow ink and a tinge of orange on the edges for depth. Next, I cut the Concord & 9th Circle Sayings die from white and teal cardstocks.

I figured out placement of my sentiment and flamingo, then popped them up with foam tape. Before adding the whole panel to a card base, I wrapped the bottom with jute twine and tied it in a bow. Then I could carefully add foam tape to the back, avoiding the twine which helps it all lay flat.

Once that was all assembled, I added some stardust Stickles to the starfish and flamingo beak for a little sparkle. Last was a dab of glossy accents on the flamingo’s eye to help it pop too. Isn’t this just giving so much summer?!? I love it!

Products used:
Pretty Pink Posh Flamingo Holder dies
Pretty Pink Posh Seashell Background stencil
Concord & 9th Circle Sayings dies
Foam tape
Blending brushes
Lawn Fawn inks – peach fuzz, sunflower, bubblegum
Stickles – stardust
Liquid glue
Glossy accents

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Newton’s Nook 13th Birthday Release Day

Yippee!!! It’s release day for Newton’s Nook’s 13 year mini celebration. We’re over on Instagram having an inspiration hop – head there to comment as you hop along for a chance to win. But for now, details on my card today.

Once again, I stamped and colored Newton and used the coordinating die to cut him out. I also went for the cute balloon in the set this time. I glued that to his hand and set it aside to dry.

For the background, I pulled a piece of patterned paper from the Fireworks pad and trimmed it to A2 size and glued it to a white card base. Then I die cut the Card Layout 5 die from teal cardstock. I glued the frame to the card front and took half of the inserts to splatter with paint and distress spritz sprays.

Once those were dry, I stamped my sentiment on one panel and popped them all up within the frame using foam tape. Last, I added Newton with foam squares, doubled up in some places so he laid flat among the popped up background pieces.

For finishing touches today, I just added another dab of glossy accents to Newton’s nose and then stardust Stickles to the highlight on the balloon.

Please be sure to head to Instagram and hop along with us! You’ll see fun inspiration and have a chance to win while you’re at it!

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Newton’s Nook 13th Birthday Release

Hey friends! Today we’re celebrating Newton’s Nook’s 13th birthday! We have a little mini release featuring Hula Hoop Newton stamps and dies to share with you!

Isn’t it adorable!?! Today I have a simple card to share featuring this new set and a steadfast favorite, the Bokeh Balloons stencil set!

I started by stamping and coloring Newton, then cut him out with the coordinating die. Then for a simple background panel, I taped off the top portion and inked up the layers of the Bokeh Balloons stencils with like colors – blue, purple and green. I splattered the panel with pearl watercolor for a little sparkle and shine too.

Next, I took a light green ink pad direct to the card front to instant color and texture. When the watercolor splatter dried, I stamped my sentiment along the break and popped Newton up with foam squares.

Finally, I popped the panel up on my card base and finished the design off with a dab of glossy accents on Newton’s nose.

Be sure to check out the design team blogs for more inspiration today!

Newton’s Nook Designs
Larissa Heskett
Donna Idlet
Rosie Lopez
Samantha Mann
Diane Morales
Amanda Wilcox

Come back tomorrow for more inspiration with this cute little set!

Happy SUMMERween!

Hi friends! This is Amanda from Twiddler’s Nook. I’ve got a fun summerween card to share with all of you spooky lovers out there! Any excuse to pull out my Halloween goodies is a good day and now that we’re past 4th of July, it’s all fair game for me.

Today I started by creating my stenciled background. I inked up pink and orange pumpkins using the Jack-o’-lantern stencil set on peach cardstock. After stenciling, I splattered the panel with pearl watercolor for some texture and sparkles.

Next, I stamped and colored my image from Newton’s Boo-tiful Night with copic markers. I used the coordinating die to cut it out. Then stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from the same stamp set on a banner from the A7 Frames & Banners die set. To alter the sentiment I stamped “summer” from Newton’s Happy Hour in orange ink and trimmed it out with scissors, gluing the two together.

Then, I die cut the smallest scalloped oval in the Oval Frames die set from vellum cardstock and started assembling everything together. I glued the stenciled panel to a card base, then popped the Newton image and sentiment strip up on the vellum oval with foam squares. Finally, I hid another layer of foam squares on the back of the oval behind the image/sentiment banner and popped that up on the card front.

For finishing touches, I added glossy accents to the jack-o-lantern faces, the crow beak and Newton’s nose.

I hope you enjoyed today’s summerween fun! I’d love to know if you celebrate at all. My daughter and I have at least one movie night during the summer watching our favorite Halloween movies with themed treats galore.

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!