Halloween Blog Hop

Welcome to the Halloween Blog Hop from Blog Hops with Heart! You might be arriving here from STEPHANIE'S BLOG. You'll find a list of all the participating artists at the bottom of this post. Let's Hop!

For today's hop I'm using the new Cats and Bats Workshops Your Way kit. I love that these affordably priced kits include everything you need to make three double page layouts. I find it hard to just follow the directions for the kits though, as I like more stuff on my pages. I'm a lumpy-bumpy kinda embellishment crafter! Luckily there's plenty of stuff in the kit to satisfy even me! This is the first of the three pages in the kit. I did not change any of the cutting in the guides, but I did add some of the items that weren't used in the original instructions which you can view here. I also flipped some of the papers (LOVE that double sided print business), and changed the photo layout a bit to accommodate my bigger photo choices.

I added more to the title area of the kit instructions. I used one of the printed 3x4 cards included in the packet, which was a chevron print, to create the oversized teal arrow element. I stole the Halloween title stickers from another page (because I usually only need one or two Halloween pages each year, not three, so I used the last one for something special). In the bottom corner of this page you can kind of see some of the paper tearing elements I added, as well as seriously upping the amount of shimmer trim on this layout.

I did a shimmer trim "stitch" all around the layout as well. I just trimmed 1/8" strips from my shimmer trim and lined them up! I might have wondered if it would have been quicker to actually stitch the page at one point, but I love the chunky stitch effect. I also added some googly eyes to the black glitter chipboard bats. They are so sparkly and a really nice weight, too.

Next up on the hop is AMIE'S BLOG. Happy Halloween hopping!

Boo to You Blog Hoppers:

Kelly

Jayma

Stephanie

Wendy (You are here)

Amie

Katy

Birthday Cheer Cards

So I got craft-stracted and I never finished sharing the cards I made to go with my Magical Workshop next month. My version of the Magical kit makes 6 pages (3 double page layouts) and 9 cards.

I love how the bright blue of these sequins pops against the Magical papers. 

I actually made three versions of this design, one with a hot air balloon,  one with the airplane from Lifting Spirits, and one using the balloon stickers left over from the scrapbooking pages. 

I just love the little fluffy clouds! And it was fun to see how many different looks I could get using the same pieces in the same design with the same papers. On this balloon version I just used a journaling pen to outline the top of the card and add the balloon strings. Easy peasy!

The next Monthly Memories Scrapbook crop is Friday, September 9th, and we will be doing either Magical or Calypso, scrapper's choice! Space is limited (though anyone can order a To-Go Kit), and if you attend in person, dinner is included. Check out the details HERE and RSVP to save your spot! 

Day 355: Penelope WYW All Smiles Layout

I was a bit nervous when I first set out to make up this Penelope Workshops Your Way kit as designed, since the papers have a lot of pink and purple in them and I'm scrapping for three boys...would these designs work for my little dudes?

After getting my photos onto the pages I feel that the designs are very versatile. I had printed out a few sets of photos to try with the layouts, and any of them would have worked just fine. 

I really love the metallic accents on the vellum diecuts. And you can see a peek here of where I added a bit of stamping to this layout.

This is the last of my Penelope WYW projects. If you love these four layouts and 8 cards, order up your Penelope kit here. It was fun hanging out with all these spring goodies, but tomorrow I'll be headed back to Winter for Scrap Much!

Day 354: Penelope WYW Make Today Fun Layout

So this is the second of three double page layouts in the Penelope Workshops You Way guide. I went a bit more off-road in making this layout, but still generally followed the guide.

I changed the sizing on a couple of the photos, and tilted the pocket card that we are using for the title. I also added dovetail ends to the central stripe.

I also decided that I did not want that center blue gutter between the two pages, so I added some washi tape detailing along the far edges of each page to allow me to have the blue striped paper flush along the center break of the layout. 

Here's the clean and simple original layout from CTMH. I love how easy it was to make this layout more my style without really changing much about the original design.

Day 353: Penelope Workshops Your Way Spring Layout

I just realized I got distracted with all this moving and never actually posted the layouts from the Penelope Workshops Your Way kit. I finished these layouts with pictures using the free guide that CTMH has provided to go with this kit.

The WYW kit comes with paper, the sparkly silver puffy stickers, three rolls of washi tape, and a packet of the Penelope complements, which is a mix of cardstock weight stickers and vellum diecuts with metallic accents. The guide contains instructions to make three double page layouts, a pocket page layout, plus a bonus project of eight cards, so it's a lot of bang for your buck!

This tiny rainbow polka dot print is one of my favorite pieces in the Penelope line. I did some creative highlighting in my journaling using the skinny 1/4" washi tape. I laid down short bits of the washi and popped up tiny hand drawn boxes containing the highlighted words. 

This is the CTMH sample layout, so you can see that I did actually (mostly) try to follow the instructions. Tomorrow I'll share the second layout. Thanks for stopping by, Stampin' Friends!

Day 348: Penelope WYW Pocket Scrapbook Layout

Oh my golly, I wish I had already unpacked my Shot Box. Or even knew where it was. I could not get rid of the glare on these cute Penelope pocket scrapbook pages. 

I love that the new Workshops Your Way kits come with these Pocket cards to cut apart - though I do often opt to use them in card making instead of the Pocket Scrapbook layouts as intended.

I think this adorable frog is my favorite of the Penelope cards. The cards are all printed with one orientation on one side, and the other orientation on the back so you can mix them and use them in any direction your pictures require.

I take a lot of square photos, so I just cheated out the rest of the 4x6 pocket using pieces of other cards, scraps of Penelope paper, and washi tape to hold it all together!

Day 347: Penelope WYW Card 4

For the last of my Penelope Workshops Your Way cards (the kit makes 8 cards, 2 of each design), I wanted to use the giraffe balloon. I stamped him a bunch of times with a lot of rolling ink combos, but I didn't like any of them. 

Eventually it occurred to me that the reason I didn't like them is because giraffes should be spotted. I had a simple fix for that - kissing!

First I inked the giraffe in Canary Ink but did not stamp him. Then I inked the polka dot image included in the SOTM set with Thistle ink, stamped that off onto my scratch paper so the spots wouldn't be too bright, and then stamped it onto the Canary inked giraffe repeatedly until his was all spotty. You could also stamp the second generation spots directly onto the Canary stamped giraffe image if you want a more defined spot. Finally I was happy with the giraffe balloon! Next up I'll share the adorable Penelope layouts.

Day 346: Penelope WYW Card 3

Back to our Penelope Workshop Your Way kit...For the third card I wanted to change up the image a bit. 

So I got some watercolor paper and splattered a few colors of paint across the paper. Then I did that dragging the stamp across the pad thing I talked about with the yellow bunny to add some striping to the Thistle Ink I was using. 

The paint splotches shone right through the more transparent Thistle ink, and I love this effect! One more Penelope card for you tomorrow, and one more inking technique for these balloon animals, Stampin' Friends!

Day 344: Penelope WYW Card 2

For the second card design from that same Penelope Workshops Your Way Kit, I chose a slightly different inking technique for the Rock 'n' Roll bunny.

The general idea is the same, but with a yellow like Canary, if you ink a stamp and then stamp it off onto scratch paper, the second generation is likely to be almost non-existent. That's no good if you still want to keep the detail in the image.

What I like to do for very light shades like Canary is to ink the first generation on the stamp with a swiping motion, using the edge of the pad to wipe some of the ink off the image. Then I go back and roll the edges firmly into the same color, creating a more solid edge and the shading I want without losing the definition of the image. I'm sure I'm up to my elbows in green paint for Ben's room today, so I hope you'll forgive the less than stellar photos. I'll have my new studio (and my shot box!) set up for you soon!! 

Day 343: Penelope WYW Card 1

Last week before the packers came I managed to fit in a bit of crafting with my friend. I did not have the bandwidth to manage single parenthood, an interstate move, plus designing a ton of stuff from scratch, so I ordered up the new Penelope Workshops Your Way kit, added the February SOTM (sneak peek!), and that's all I brought with me. In two short sessions I made 8 cards, a 2 page pocket spread, and three 2 page layouts WITH PICTURES! I even (mostly) followed the instructions.

This is one of the cards I made using the kit instructions. CTMH used a super cute Spring Critters stamp set on their version, but I opted to use the February SOTM called Balloon Animals, just because I love it. 

I did a Rock 'n' Roll technique in inking up the monkey balloon to give the solid shape a little extra interest. First I inked the monkey in Thistle ink, then I stamped him off onto some scrap paper. I inked the image again in the same Thistle ink, being careful to roll just the edges into the ink so when I stamped him the image would be shaded. I also really liked the effect of adding the striped washi tape over the striped background for a bit of a plaid effect!

Day 323: Charlotte Workshops Your Way Layout 3

Here's the third layout we completed from the Charlotte Kit. Look how cute that title sticker treatment is!

There's also a bunch of PML cards to make pocket scrapbooking pages! I couldn't believe how many projects we made out of just the one kit. Don't forget, you can download the free instructions and cutting guides for this kit HERE by clicking "Download Guide"!

Day 322: Charlotte Workshops Your Way Layout 2

Here's the second of three double page layouts we made from the Charlotte Kit.

I think this large black PML card is my favorite piece, though the scripty sticker words are pretty awesome too. Also please note that I'm pretty sure that I've assembled this picture collage with the page order reversed...but I'm not able to redo it right now, so can you please flip flop them in your head for me? I've got pictures coming for this one so I'll share it correctly once I get the pics on!

Day 320: Charlotte Workshops Your Way Layout 1

Now were are down to the meat of this Charlotte kit - the scrapbook layouts.

Please excuse my crooked photography. My new Shotbox has shipped and you should see a marked improvement around here soon! In real life this lines up perfectly across the break, and how adorable are the new Charlotte Complements stickers and chipboard pieces? That Happy oval bit is a shiny gold foil - adoooorable! I need to get my pics printed and on here, but since I'm traveling in Portland right now, you get empty pages today. Wish me luck on our house search!

Day 318: Charlotte Workshops Your Way Card 2

I was impressed with how much awesome bling comes with this Charlotte kit.

Besides all the paper and a full pack of the Charlotte Complements, the kit also has a full roll of this black and gold ribbon, extra cardstock, and these gold puffy accents stickers.

For the flowers we painted washes of watercolor onto watercolor paper, and then used an iron to flatten the paper. I sprinkled water droplets on my watercolor wash after it dried a bit to lift the color and add some texture. Then we die cut the flowers with the new Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts dies, which perfectly match this adorable Springtime Wishes stamp set. I really enjoyed working with the thin cuts - not that I'm giving up my Cricut mind you, but it was nice to have shapes to coordinate with each stamped image, plus the handy magnet sheet they come on makes storage a snap!

Day 317: Charlotte Workshops Your Way Kit Card

In November I was lucky enough to attend a CTMH event to introduce the new Workshops Your Way line of kits. At the event we put together this adorable Charlotte Kit...well, lots of people did. I made some of it and chit-chatted with my Portland peeps until I ran out of time. Whoops!

The kit wasn't hard to do - I was just too busy snacking and goofing off to finish the cards or the pages. As you can see, tonight I finally finished off this sweet kit.

The Charlotte Workshops Your Way kit makes 3 double page layouts, a pocket page layout, and 3 sets of 3 lovely cards. You can grab the free instructions (and order this awesome kit) HERE, just click on Download Guide.