Taking Chances

This was a page I created along with the Noel Mignon design team for a scrapping challenge at Scrapping the Music. The challenge is no longer going on, but I thought I would share with you the page I created for it using the Noel Mignon Summer Wind kit. To see the song that inspired this page, check out the June Scrappin’ the Music post here.

The phrase in the song that stuck out to me was “I’m gonna go and take a chance” and that is what I wrote my journaling about on the hidden journaling card. My journaling starts out like this, ” If there is one thing I could go back and tell my young self or to teach my 3 daughters it would be to believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to take chances. The world will always make you doubt yourself, but your divine nature is that of immeasurable potential. Do the things that you love to do, that make you feel happy and fulfilled.”

I used a Hero Arts stamp set with the silhouettes of three young ladies to represent my “advice” towards my three daughters. I wanted my page to feel feminine, but then splashed a bit of black paint across it to represent the “taking chances” message of this page.

Thanks for coming by!

Brace Face

My two oldest both got braces in March on the same day. When Cricut came out with their new cartridge, Dr. Checkup, I knew it would be perfect for documenting such a momentous day! Love those cute kid faces with the shiny braces! Mine . . . and the ones on the cartridge. Hehehe!

I used the Noel Mignon Jack & Jill kit with a few blue papers from past Noel Mignon kits (Cabin Feber and Homespun). The cuts were created using scraps from my bin. I also added the candy sticker from a sheet of October Afternoon 5 & Dime stickers.

I LOVE my Cuttlebug machine! I used the Diamond in the Rough embossing folder on the circles behind the faces and the Swiss Dots embossing folder on the title.

I am loving this cartridge! I can see myself using it over and over again . . . infact, I have some pages already planned to create in the near future … Camryn with a fake toilet paper cast she created one day, more braces pictures, and a few get well cards. Here is a sneak peek at just some of the images included on this cart.

Thanks for coming by!

Scrapping with Noel Mignon Kits!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all of my bloggy friends! We have had a RAINY weekend here in Utah, but still managed to get together as a family and visit the local cemetery with a carload of flowers.

Hopefully, you’ve been able to carve out a few minutes to play at your scrap table this weekend. Here are a few things I made over the past few days using my Noel Mignon kits.

This first page is the first page I have created with the NEW June Summer Wind kit (sorry, sold out). This kit is GORGEOUS! And as I have started to play with it I can tell it’s going to be another favorite.

I used the doily from the kit to frame out my two photos, matting them with a few fun papers from the kit. One thing I LOVE about this kit is how well it works with the doodads leftover from my past Noel Mignon kits. The flower and the Jenni Bowlin Magpie Quilted Stickers are from the March Homespun kit.

I used the letters from a package of Tim Holtz Nature Grungeboard with my title . . . I was surprised at how easy it was to stitch through the grungeboard. Much easier than chipboard (that I usually have to hand-crank).

I also created a patriotic page using the May Noel Mignon Jack & Jill Kit. I created my title, the stars, the bookplate, and the silhouette parade kids using my Cricut Expression machine.

First, I used the Cricut Craft Room to create my page title using the Independence Day Digital Cartridge. I wanted my title to have more dimension to it, so I added the Amy Tangerine sparkly blue Thicker letter stickers in place of the word “of”. Next, I used my scissors to trim off the word “July” and used the red Pebbles letter stickers from the kit. I love the way the mixed fonts look together!

I have been having a lot of fun with stamping lately. I used a square of yellow patterned paper (Crate Paper) and stamps/inks from the kit to create my own journaling block that fit my space perfectly! I love the frilly edges of the We R Memory Keepers frame stamp in the kit. I turned it around and used the outside edges of the stamp to create a decorative border around my journal block with yellow ink. I also stamped the red bird using the same mini stamp set from the kit.

I used the outside corner of the same frame stamp to add some detail to the yellow die cut stars (Plantin SchoolBook Digital cartridge). I used the yellow ink again and then stamped one of the inside angles of each star. Next, I stamped the “Happy Day” phrase on a bookplate shape (Fabulous Finds Digital cartridge) created on my Cricut Expression Machine.

The parade kids were created with the A Child’s Year cartridge. I snipped off the flags from each of their hands and then added the Maya Road Kraft Flag Trinket Pins instead. The star was stamped on each kraft flag using the Jar Stamp set included with the Noel Mignon March Homespun Kit.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you will come by again soon!

Noel Mignon June 2012 Summer Wind Kit – Now Available!

The June 2012 Noel Mignon kit is up for sale TODAY! And there are only 4 more available! Eeeek! Run and nab yours before they are gone! It’s a beauty!

 Papers:

 5 Bazzill Cardstock (Sunflower, Salmon, Cream, Kraft, Blue), American Crafts “Neapolitan” (Twinkling Lights, At First Sight, Hazy Horizon), We R Memory Keepers “Anthologie” (Potpourri, Medley, Nuance), Bazzill “Wayfarer” (Wanderlust, Excursionist, Knock About, Nomad), Pink Paislee “Prairie Hill” (Kite Strings, Hilltop, Country Meadow, Flight Pattern, Spool), My Mind’s Eye “Nostalgia” (Scallop, Chevron, Random, Classic, Jacks).

Embellishments:

 1 Sheet Hambly rub ons (Up in the Air *OR* Mini Vintage), 4 We R Memory  Keepers oval doilies, 2 Pink Paislee Prairie Hill tags, 1 Sheet My Minds  Eye Nostalgia layered stickers, 1 Package American Crafts Thickers  (Sunrise Natural), 1 roll Queen and Co. orange/white/green twine, 1 roll  Queen and Co. blue/yellow/white twine, 1 Package Pink Paislee Prairie  Hill Bitty Blocks alphabets (2 colors), 1 We R memory Keepers “Noted”  tag, 1 We R memory Keepers “Be you” tag, 1 Bottle Jenni Bowlin chicken  feed paint dauber, 1 American Crafts “Sweet” acrylic stamp set (3  stamps), 2 Bazzill Basics postcards note cards, 1 Sheet Elle’s Studio  Lil’ Snippets (Summer), 1 package Queen and Co. Twinkle Goosebumps  (orange), 1 package My Minds Eye Nostalgia decorative brads, 1 Sheet  Hambly mini overlays (white/brown), 1 Sheet My Minds Eye Nostalgia die  cut accessories, 2 Studio Calico felt bow clips (colors will vary), 6  Bazzill paper flowers (3 marigold, 3 blue), 2 A Flair for Buttons metal  flair (styles will vary), 1 Sheet Pink Paislee Prairie Hill element  stickers, 5 pieces American Crafts “Neapolitan” chipboard pieces (styles  will vary), 5 We R Memory Keepers canvas buttons.

Have a great weekend!

Lazy Blogger = 3 in 1

How about a 3 in 1 post? I’ve been totally distracted this week . . . which means I have been a lazy blogger. I think I’ve just been distracted with all I need to get done within the next several days before my kids are home for the summer. Are you experiencing that, too? So here are three pages I’ve had posted recently at my usual haunts (My Mind’s Eye and Noel Mignon).

MONUMENT VALLEY

I created this one for the latest sketch challenge on the My Mind’s Eye blog. Come play along if you’d like!

Last year we took a road trip through the four corners region. One of our stops was beautiful Monument Valley. I do not have a panoramic setting on my camera, so I tried to capture the beautiful vista from our hotel room by taking three shots in a row. The sketch by Anam this month was PERFECT for scrapping my photo experiment. I left the rest of the page quite simple, without a lot of embellishments. I think because the desert is so simple. It just didn’t feel right to have lots of “fluff” on this page, ya know?

I used the Indie Chic Citron collection and added in a sheet of polka dot patterned paper from the Lost & Found Two Breeze collection. I handcut along one of the chevron designs in the Citron collection to use as a decorative border and layered it on top of the tone-on-tone green patterned paper.

I left the rest of the page quite simple, without a lot of embellishments. I think because the desert is so simple. It just didn’t feel right to have lots of “fluff” on this page, ya know? I added the green pearls (12 Days of Christmas collection) randomly on top of some of the polka dots for some dimension.

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CARDBOARD HOUSES

This next one uses a sketch (#143) from the Got Sketch blog. The Noel Mignon design team played along. You can, too, for your chance to win a $20 gift card to Noel Mignon.com. But hurry, the deadline ends Sunday, May 27th, 2012.

I used the Noel Mignon May 2012 Jack & Jill kit (sorry, sold out) for my page. I wanted to use the die cut house accent from the kit with these pictures of my kids building cardboard box houses in our basement last summer. The pictures are dark and not all that interesting, so I love that the bright colors from the kit add a bit of “life” to this page. I initially had tried to follow the sketch more closely with smaller photos, but because they were so dark, you just couldn’t really tell what they were at the smaller size. I decided to stretch the sketch across my page and make the photos larger.

I think I used almost all of the border stickers from the kit on this page! LOL! I had fun mixing them and layering them together. They were the perfect way to define each ”section” of the design.

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EASTER BAGS

And then finally, I have one more page created with the Noel Mignon April 2012 Primrose Lane kit (sorry, sold out). This is my 7th page with this kit! And I actually still have enough product for one more page! It feels so good to be able to get that much mileage out of a kit.

For this page, I had a LOT of photos that I wanted to use. I was toying with the idea of creating a two-pager, but decided to utilize the free photo templates from Scrapbooks Etc. Magazine instead (I’m still sooooo sad they are closing. ). I love that I can use the templates to arrange my photos together without looking too chaotic. I would never have the patience to figure this out on my own. LOL!

I again used the border stickers from the kit to add a bit of interest around the edges of my photo square. I also added one in the corner as a single pennant hanging down.

The torn fabric strip is from my stash and was the perfect touch to add some dimension to the photo grouping. I also added a few Crate Paper Neighborhood Phrase stickers to the photos.

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Thank you for joining me for a three-in-one post today. I’m off to pick up my Kindergartener and get ready for a 3rd grade Marionette Performance. I can’t wait!

See you again soon!

School Page

As the end of the school year winds down, I feel a panic to get my kids’ school albums updated with their yearly memories before they are home for the summer and I am distracted with all the fun that comes along with having them home. I pulled out my Noel Mignon May 2012 Jack & Jill kit, and my Cricut supplies and got to work creating this page about Jensyn serving in student government this year.

My daughter’s school mascot is the eagle. I used the eagle from the Summer Celebrations cartridge and added him to a series of layered circles embossed with my Cuttlebug Machine and the Chevron embossing folder from the Cuttlebug Starter Set . I added a kraft flag from teh kit to the eagle’s claw holding my daughter’s initial . . . a subtle way to show her that we are her biggest fans.

Next, I created my title. I used my Gypsy to elongate a banner image from the Jubilee Cartridge. I added the word “Bountiful” to the banner shape using the darling sparkly letter stickers from the Jack & Jill kit. The font for the word “Eagle” comes from the Varsity Letter cartridge. . . perfect for school-themed pages! The circle with the star image is from the Sophisticated Cartridge. I added a decorative brad, stamped camera, and a stamped cardstock strip.

I wanted a school-themed journaling block for my school-themed page. I used my Gypsy (or Cricut Craft Room), to hide the smiley face and elongate the notebook image from the Simply Charmed Cartridge. The star border and “School Zone” phrase were created using the Graphically Speaking Cartridge. I added embossing to the School Zone phrase by embossing it with my Cuttlebug Machine and the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder. Stamping, label stickers, and decorative brads & rhinestones from the Jack & Jill kit add some personality.

Finally, I wanted my photo to have a special treatment on this page. I decided to cut a lace number background using the Art Philosophy Cartridge by Close to My Heart. I am so happy that this kit had my favorite Basic Grey buttons inside! I used them to anchor my photo to the background.

Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room, Cuttlebug, Gypsy Handheld Design Device
Cricut Cartridges Used:  Simply Charmed , Plantin Schoolbook, Summer Celebrations, Varsity Letter, Sophisticated, Graphically Speaking, Art Philosophy, Jubilee
Cuttlebug Embossing Folders Used: Swiss Dots, Starter Set (Chevron)
Other Supplies: Scrapbooking Kit (Noel Mignon), Cardstock (white, gray, teal, red, kraft), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey, Lily Bee Design), Letter Stickers (American Crafts), Brads/Label Stickers (My Mind’s Eye), Buttons (Basic Grey), Pearls (KaiserCraft), Kraft Flag Pin/Red Stamping Ink (Maya Road),  Rhinestones (Queen & Company), Buttons (Basic Grey), Photo Corner Punch (Stampin’ Up), Stamps (Camera/Numbers – Lawn Fawn, Letter “J” – Scrappy Cat, Stitch Roller – We R Memory Keepers), Needle & Green Floss, Sewing Machine & Black Thread, Adhesives

How many weeks until your kids are out of school? Mind are in for three more week . . . . and I hope to get their books caught up in that time!

Have a great week!

Footloose & Fancy Free

Hi Friends! I have been busy enjoying Springtime with my family and creating lots of projects here in my happy place of a scrap room! Some of the projects I can’t share with you yet, but a few of them I can!

I have been playing a bit more with my Primrose Lane kit by Noel Mignon. This next one is the page I created for the Layout Tag game on the Noel Mignon message board. I LOVE this game! It’s a bit like “Telephone,” only with pages instead of a message. Each team starts with the same inspiration page. The next person in line creates a page inspired by the first page, and then sends their new page onto the next person to gain inspiration from. At the end, we post all of the pages in a line and see how each person takes creative inspiration from the person ahead of them. It is so fun to see how the designs evolve and change as they are passed on.

I love these photos of my Camryn just being a kid. Hanging out outside, eating some lunch, riding her bike . . . and all with two mismatched socks. Awww! Now that is living carefree!

For the banner across the top of the page, I used my Cricut Expression machine, Cricut Craft Room, and Party Picks & Pennants digital image set to cut the banner shapes. I strung them all together on a bit of blue baker’s twine.

I added the Pink Paislee wood shapes from my stash and used the Blingage alphabet stamp set by Teresa Collins Designs to stamp out my title. The wheels of bike are accented with clear Bazzill buttons from the Primrose Lane kit. I also added some color to my stamped title with the blue gel pen that was included in the kit.

Thanks for letting me share! I’ll be back soon with more!

Happy Thursday!

Smile

Jensyn has quite the little friendship with our pup, Kiki. Jensyn will stick up for Kiki when she has been naughty and Kikit runs to see her every day when she comes home from school. I used the Noel Mignon Primrose Lane kit and a Creative Scrappers Sketch as inspiration for this page.

The thing that stuck out to me most about this sketch was the fun sprinkling of page accents . . . something I really like to do on my own page designs. I created some page accents with the stamp included in the kit. I stamped a black clothespin to “clip” my journaling block to the mini envelope and then stamped the heart circle with several inks on a newspaper inspired patterned paper from the kit. I adhere the stamped circles to the page with foam adhesive to lift them up a little bit and then pierced around them for a little more fun. I also added some silver sequins from my stash.

Thanks for saying hello! Have a great day!

Jana

Meeting Rapunzel

Several weeks ago we snuck away to Disneyland for a Spring vacation. It was so much fun to watch my kids get caught up in the magic and enjoy seeing and meeting their favorite Disney movie characters. On the last day we were slammed with a huge rainstorm. We tried to wait it out, but it just wasn’t letting up. As one last ditch effort before leaving the park, we decided to go into the Gepetto’s restaurant to have lunch and see if it got any better while we were eating.

My kids were soooo excited when they found out that Rapunzel and Eugene were right next door and ran to wait in the line to meet them. Owen especially loved Eugene’s “smolder” face. The kids posed for a picture and then ran back to eat their lunch . . . but now, instead of “Gepetto’s” they call that restaurant the “Snuggly Duckling.” Hehehe!

These pictures were quite dark with the photographer’s flash and there are A LOT of colors going on with Rapunzel’s painting in the background. Usually, when I have photos like that, I convert them to a sepia or black and white, but I didn’t want to lose the cartoon-like colors of this magical moment. I decided that I would use the candy pastel colors from the Noel Mignon Primrose Kit in an attempt to do the trick.

I used my Cricut Expression machine and the Something to Celebrate cartridge to cut the hanging lanterns and hung them across the top of the page using the pink baker’s twine from the kit. I wanted the lanterns to have a bit more dimension so I used my Cuttlebug machine and the Swiss Dots and Paper Lace 2 Embossing Folders to emboss one of the layers. The word “Rapunzel in the title was also created using my Cricut Expression machine. The font is from the Botanicals cartridge. I cut the first letter a little larger to make it more of a focal point. The October Afternoon blue letter stickers are from my stash.

Finally, I added a spritz or two of blue spray ink to the background to represent all the rain we experienced that day. We actually ended up leaving after our lunch and spent the rest of the day watching “The Wizard of Oz” in our hotel room. The rain never did let up, but we still had a great time being together.

Thanks for coming by today! I hope you will stop back in again tomorrow when I share a few new My Mind’s Eye projects with you.

Take care!

Jana

Friendship

Hello, scrappy friends! I have another page to share with you today using the Noel Mignon Primrose Lane Kit. This kit is so beautiful for Spring and inspired me to pull out some snapshots of my daughter and her friend from last year.

We have a small courtyard in front of our house where we have set up a small metal table and chairs. My youngest daughter has dubbed this the “Friendship Table” because we like to sit out there in the sunshine and chat with each other. She especially enjoys eating lunch out there with her friends when she is having a playdate. I used the number two sticker to symbolize these two cute girls. And how cute is that Hanger Paper Clip by Maya Road?!

I love the coral color of the pearl butterfly from the kit and used it to frame my title.  One of my favorite things to do on a scrapbook page is to use a random color for my page title. It always helps it to POP off the page and add some energy to your design. Even if it is just one word of your title . . . it really is a fun thing to do. Give it a try!

It’s been a long time since I have written my journaling in a color besides black. This time I decided to try using the blue journaling pen included in the kit and I loved the result! The story is there, but it almost fades into the design, allowing the photos to really shine on their own.

I’ve been playing with stamps on my pages lately, and I couldn’t wait to try out the phrase stamp included in the Primrose Lane kit. I stamped the word “cute” on the journal tag, and then used it again to create a stamped border. I also used the Jenni Bowlin Ticket Please Border Punchon this page. I can tell this punch is going to be used again and again . . . such a great classic shape for all types of pages.

The sneaks for Noel’s next kit have been popping up on the message board and Facebook. Noel’s kits have been selling out within the first few hours . . . so take a peek and be on the lookout if you want to snatch up one for yourself. Check out the sneaks of this bright fun happy kit here on the Noel Mignon Facebook Page.

Have a great Tuesday!

Jana