Summer Memories Boy & Girl

These 2 projects are featured over on the Bella Blvd. Blog along with lots of other inspiration too !!!

I am always collecting pieces to alter as I see them and tucking each away until the right moment. My 7 yr. old son, Alex, is forever tucking 'special rocks' in my pockets that I forget about until they go into the washing machine!

So I have been wanting to create a little box for him to put some of his treasures and this is what I came up with. I dug some of my favorite pieces from a couple of older collections that I'd been saving for a project and layouts for Alex and got to work.  

I covered the edges of the outer piece of the box using patterned paper and then bordered it with designer tape. I added stickers, alphas and flags to complete the cover.

Using some Core'dinations cardstock I created the base to a mini album custom fit to the inside of the slide out piece of the box.

I adhered the pages together using more designer tape!

I then used more fun patterned paper, stickers, flags and a button to create places for Alex to help me add his favorite photos from our month long vacation this summer! 

A little tip: When I create a project like this, where the photos will be added later, I always use either reposition-able adhesive or only adhere in a small corner, so that photos can easily be slipped under the embellishments after. 

He loves it and I am looking forward to not finding quite so many little rocks in the washing machine :)

We were lucky enough to be able to take our daughter Emma out of province to show her horses for the whole month of August this summer! We've been having the BEST time, and of course we have taken a ton of photos. I wanted to create a place for her to have a little snapshot of memories of this great trip.

This little folding box was perfect as it already came with a kraft base for a little mini album inside.

I chose one of my favorite collections, Sunshine and Happiness, to make this project bright and fun for her. I traced out the front cover using patterned paper and sanded the edges once the patterned paper was adhered. I added cute cuts, stickers and chipboard shapes to embellish.

Once opened, I added different patterned paper strips to cover all the spaces inside as well, and designer tape around the middle of the box too. I left these places open for her to add larger photos too.

For the album I created a 'mini layout' on each page for her photos, but I left the back of each page blank so she could adhere tickets and mementos from the trip if she'd like.

A little tip: When I create a project like this where the photos will be added later, I always use either reposition-able adhesive or only adhere in a small corner, so that photos can easily be slipped under the embellishments after.

This was so fun to put together and I can't wait to see what pictures she adds once we get home !!

Talk soon.

j. xo

'summer tunes' altered CD case

For my Bella Blvd. “free for all” project this month I decided to go “old school” and make a CD full of all the summer music that we're listening to over and over in the truck right now. I have an iPhone but I am still a big fan of having CD's too. Remember when you used to make mixed tapes? Boy, thing have changed.

I dug out a heavy weight CD case and my stash of Plastino (one of my faves). I started out by covering the case with a large plaid pattern paper, cutting it big enough to wrap the edges completely to the inside. I then cut up Bits a Bella and added a couple of summer phrases along the cover, sanding the edges of course. I adhered a crochet flower and created a couple of flags using stickers from Label Additions and pins too.

I chose a blue on blue pattern for the inside cover and the CD pocket and added large polka dots for the inside pocket, along with a strip of stripes inside the spine and behind the list of music that is on the disc. I finished it off with wrapping some twine around the spine and tying it in a bow in the front.

I traced the disc onto a piece of Sophisticates, making sure to sand off the edges before adhering it to the front. I added a 'fun in the sun' sticker, a summertime phrase, the date and a little ladybug precision cut from the Bits a Bella to embellish the disc.

I am sure one day we won't have the CD player to play this music on, but at least the kids will know what we listened to this summer when they're too old to remember :)

Supplies:
Plastino: Bermudas, Forget Me Nots, Bits a Bella, Label Additions; Sophisticates: Petite Pieces, Sprinkles & Lace Ice; Crochet Flowers: Juniper

Horsin' Around

Hey there.....It's been a little more than a week since I've been here but I have an excuse....

Last Sunday (ok the one before this past :) i loaded the camper and horse trailer and the kids and i set out to drive from BC to AB for 3 weeks of horse showing !!!

.....and this is what i've been getting to wake up to every morning....

This is my horse lovin' 11 year old ready to head into the ring with her jumper pony.....

.....and this is her with her horse coming out of the ring with another FIRST !!!  yep...totally proud of her and we're having so much fun !!

Even tho we're camping with the horses, I still brought along my tote full of paper and tools ..... so I do have some projects to share in the coming days.....

it may not be tomorrow but absolutely this week so please come on back for more inspiration :))

Talk soon.

j. xo

Core Cards Creative Frenzy

I've always been a huge Core'dinations Cardstock fan and i've been playing with my faves to create a few new cards.....

For this one I used several colors of my favourite 'Spotted' core cardstock.....I added red to cover the base and stamped the same flower on (4) colors, precision cut them out, sanded the top off to show the spots and adhered them flat and raised to create a little flower garden !!!

......I added mini jems to the center of each, created a flag and added a wooden 'hello' sentiment on top....so fun !!

For this card I went with more neutral colors.  I started with brown spotted cardstock to cover the base and added Jenni Bowlin and Fancy Pants Core Impressions to create layers along with a strip of patterned paper.....

I created this fun embellishment using more spotted core and sanding off the top to make the embossed spots really stand out....I am so happy with how the cardstock coordinated so well with this fun Echo Park paper.....

I gave a peek at this card when I made it for my son's 7th birthday a few weeks back but LOVE how it all came together so I wanted to add it to this post to show more of what you can do with Core'dinations cardstock !!!

Both the blue and orange were from a solid brights pack and I ran them through my embossing machine and sanded off the top to show the images of dots and stars.....perfect for Alexander's celebration.....

I hope this inspires you to sit down with your fave Core'dinations cardstock and create something fabulous !!

Talk soon.

j. xo

Peek Pics

I've been working on some really fun fall workshops and thought i'd share some sneak peek pics with you.....

This workshop is being taught a couple of times this fall and features 'Classics' by Studio Calico.....

.........and DIY Thickers by American Crafts........

.......and some Mr. Hueys misting too !!!

The black and white photos are the perfect choice for this (2) single and (1) double page layout workshop......

You can find it first at the BC Crop for Kids event coming up October 5-7, 2012......

Hope you're enjoying your hot summer days where ever you are :))

Talk soon.

j. xo