Dragons, Babies, and Cake, yippee!

June 13, 2017 · by The Morning Scrapper

Good Morning,

I finally have a layout done for my almost 4 -year old’s 1st birthday. Looking at the picture it is amazing to see how little he was, yet so independent. To commemorate his first cake moment I am using Doodlebug’s new Dragon Tails papers and die cuts for embellishments.

Having the ability to cut out many of the elements on my silhouette cameo is changing how I am scrapbooking. Having the control of size and color to fit with my layout is freeing. Besides watching these creatures with their cute little faces come to life adds an additional sense of satisfaction.

For this little guy, I did an “offset” in gray to the base image (blue) to delineate more from the patterned background. The cake and the balloons are also part of the collection but sold separately in the Silhouette Design Store.

The balloons have a little “glossy accents” to add “shine’ as does the flame of the candle. I added the baker’s twine for the balloons as well with my Xyron X sticker maker. Have I mentioned how much I love that little machine?

Tip: To keep ends from fraying put a lite layer of a liquid glue worked into the twine. Then shape it, this will also help in keeping the different stings together as well stop fraying.

The large Dragon who I am referring to as “Betsy” is popped up on foam tape and ready for fun! I can see myself using her on more layouts or cards. She is cut out at full file size which is approx. 10 inches across.

This is my completed page, The two dinosaurs, Birthday Boy title, balloons, gift, and cake are all cut on my Silhouette Cameo. The present on the bottom and “Just for you” are from the cut apart sheet. The banners are fussy cut from the side “B” of cobblestones.

Here is my supply list:

Doodlebug Dragon Tails paper: cobblestone, dragon den, dragon’s breath, friendly fleet (side B – blue cake layer) and sea serpent stripes (side B- Cut apart)
Doodlebug Linen and gingham: limeade, swimming pool, and grasshopper
Doodlebug Dragon Tails – 12 x12 sticker sheet
Silhouette Cameo
Silhouette Design StoreL: Doodlebug Cut files for Dragon Tails Collection
Bella Blvd. – Puffy Stars in blue
Bakers twine
Xyron X, 3 and 5-inch sticker maker

Thanks for dropping by, I am always happy to hear your thoughts in comments.

Until next time…

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Valentine’s DIY Frame

February 2, 2017 · by The Morning Scrapper

Good Morning,

Today I have a DIY frame to share made from scraps of chipboard and Graphic 45 Mon Amour. The idea was to make something simple I can quickly put out as a little Valentine’s Day decoration but not so intricate it is hard to put it away after the fact. What I really like is there isn’t any glass to be broken by a dog and three boys.

The Base

I started with chipboard just shy of 2 mm thick

chipboard scraps

and cut to 7 1/16 x 5 9/16 then covered it with the “True Love” sheet (black with writing) from the 8×8 pad. I then layered it with another piece of chipboard cut to 4 3/16 by 6 3/16 and covered with the flowers paper.

I had a perfect piece of chipboard that had already been scored with a 1/4 inch gusset and enough width to make the frame stand firm. I could have done a hinge but having the extra gusset gives the angle I am looking for and added stability.

The Back and Stand

I am putting this on a sofa table, so it was important to cover the back as it will be seen from all directions.

The striped stand with the gusseted top for stability.

I used just a basic black cardstock for the backside of the larger chipboard. Then I was able to use a scrap from yesterday’s treat box. On the backside of the Bella Blvd. hearts is this black and white stripe design. I thought it was the perfect addition to the blank frame back.

Trim

I have had this beautiful cream 1 1/2 inch wide satin ribbon sitting in my stash forever that was perfect for this project.

Leftover charms from making a mini album. Love the hearts and the key.

I wrapped it around, tied the bow then glued the tails down for a cleaner look. Going through my embellishments, I found these heart and key charms that seem to go nicely with the overall look of the frame. They are attached by using a light cream colored floss by Graphic 45. I gave them a little room to move but still be front and center. To add just a touch of bling I used the Kaiser Craft Rhinestone strip (approx. 12 inches) to go around the edge of the inner chipboard frame.

Finishing and Other Idea Options

I finished the project with a black and white photo of my youngest. I was thinking another option would be to not use a photo but really go town with tags, flowers and maybe a stamped sentiment. Another thought, instead of using a stamped sentiment maybe cut out Happy Valentine’s Day in one of the popular fun handwriting fonts.

Hope this gave you some ideas for your scraps of projects past, I would love to hear about them.

Until next time….

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Doors, Little Fingers and Surgery

November 28, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

I had hoped to have a project ready to post today, but over the weekend we were all traumatized by my little one getting his finger slammed in the bathroom door. He can get a strong scream out, but nothing like the blood-curdling scream of his finger caught to make your spine ache.

We spent Saturday in the emergency room waiting for the plastic surgeon to come in to reattach the top joint of his middle finger. (it was cut through the bone). My little guy was a trooper even though he received numbing shot between the fingers while strapped down.

After having received prescriptions and instructions on aftercare, I am convinced the ER Staff have no idea what is to be a parent of a 3-year-old. They not only prescribed codeine in his Tylenol (thank God for a pharmacist who knows better than to give a class 1 drug to a 3-year-old.) But fully expected us to change his bandage three times a day. Three times a day! Is that the plastic surgeon getting even with us for being called in on a Saturday during Thanksgiving Weekend?

I would not be surprised if the neighbors called the police to investigate us after the screams that came out of that little body to change the dressing. Did I mention they had it wrapped with an antibacterial strip? Why put us through all that? Given there is no guarantee the re-attachment will take hold why expose it so much? Seeing all his stitches in such a tiny area along with his cries of “I am done!” just about had my husband and me in straight jackets. I spent the next hour or two( I lost track) repeating and muttering to myself “that was awful, just awful!” I think it took a good 2 hours after that before my muscles finally relaxed to their normal state.

As if that is not bad enough there is the dead of night when your child is yelling out in his sleep ” No Doctor! No Doctor! I am fine! I am fine!” you find out the depth of his trauma. Once again reminding you how helpless you are as a parent as you sit in the dark trying your best not to say “It’s ok.” to which he will adamantly tell you “No! It’s not mom!” Did I mention he is 3?

As I sat there wide awake at 2 in the morning I couldn’t help but think as awful as this was, there are parents in way too many places with much worse to deal with than what has happened to us. If I had one wish granted this holiday season; it would be that no parent ever has to hold a child in pain, traumatized or hungry in the dead of night telling them it will be ok, when it is not!

I know, not the most cheery of posts, I will be back with something more fun later this week when the body starts to loosen up again. Until then watch the little fingers and doors. If anyone knows of a good organization, that helps families in need; please share in the comments.

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Trying New Approaches for Page Design

November 23, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

Good Morning,

The quest to finish the 2015 pumpkin patch pictures continues with more of the Simple Stories “Hello Fall” Collection.

This picture of my littlest one was my favorite of all the photos I took that day. He was exploring this huge tractor tire and looked up to tell me about it; luckily I was fast enough to catch it. Normally I do not like to do one small picture (4 1/2 x 4 1/2) on a 12×12 scrapbook page, but I wanted this one to stand out plus as a bonus, I was able to journal about the day.

The inspiration for this layout design came from the large “Fall” letters on the chipboard sheet. Using large letters with all the color seemed like a fun change up for me to design around instead of the paper approach. To create the page I utilized the 4×4 cut a part paper along with the 6×6 pad. I seem to be having an attachment to that plaid paper, can you tell it is my favorite? The blue goes perfectly with his clothes and his eye color. Finally, the wood grain paper pulls everything together giving that “farm” feel to the layout.

I am developing a fondness for these cut apart pages; it was something I used to overlook since I am not a “Project Life” Scrapbooker. However, through my work with mini albums I have a new appreciation for them. I like the themes and color they bring to this layout in particular. Cut A-parts, they are not just for pocket scrapbooking anymore! 🙂

To those who are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I wish you a fun, happy day with your family and friends. I am sure I will end the day with mashed potatoes in my hair, a new burn scar from rushing around and passed out on the couch from exhaustion by 6 p.m.

Until next time…….

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Organizing for Christmas with Doodlebug “Here Comes Santa Claus”

November 18, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

Good Morning,

I can’t believe how fast the holidays are coming this year. While I love this time of year, I also struggle to get everything I want to do finished. Those of us here in the U.S. have Thanksgiving coming up next week. For me that means doing all the cooking, then we start our Christmas prep but at the same time plan for my son’s and my husband’s birthday within the first two weeks of December then jump back into Christmas prep. Every year I have big plans to stay organized, do more fun events, etc., etc. The past few years with the addition of the little one, I just can’t seem to stay on top of things. I sometimes feel like I am the only Mom who can’t get it together.

This year after admitting the problem I came up with what I hope will be a solution. I thought if I create something that colorful and fun by the door then perhaps I will have a fighting chance. Doodlebug’s countdown paper from the ” Here Comes Santa Claus” collection inspired me to create a box with 24 file folders so each tradition and event can be planned ahead. I will know what is happening for that day and if I need to prep ahead of time instead of the usual mad dash.

Here is my crafty solution:

I used white card stock cut to 6 1/2 by 9 then did an offset fold. I used the rest of the collection papers, stickers, and Doodlebug’s new Silhouette cut files to decorate them.

For me, color and fun design make me happy which means I am more likely to stay on track. I tried to do each file a little different to keep the interest up. I used the border scrapbook paper on all the files then decorated the front with 4×4 and 4×6 cut-a-part sheets, 12×12 stickers and the icons stickers.

Some of the folders depict actual events that are part of our family traditions such as writing a letter to Santa, getting the tree, looking at lights and of course baking. Please understand I am not any way shape or form professing to be good at baking. It is more about spending time with my boys in the kitchen. I am happy they still like to help out with the cookies. For the set above I used their cute mail truck border along with the letters to Santa stickers. Given my new love of interactive elements, I had to make a belly band and a pocket out of the heart paper both with removable tags.

This set and the one below shows some of the silhouette cut files. I love the milk and cookies, it was so easy to piece together. The gifts on the gingham paper are also part of the cut file. Of course, I had to use the Tim Holtz “dripping” die to give that snowy feel with a little bling.

Speaking of bling, I found these clear stars in my stash that worked well for the ornament string.

To hold all of these cards I made a chipboard box. I thought at first, I could do it on the silhouette, but the chipboard was too thick for the machine. After sitting there staring at my machine willing it to take the chipboard, I finally accepted I would have to do it by hand. I struggle enough with getting things straight with my trimmer; now I am adding super thick chipboard. UUGHH! A couple of different tries and a now dull blade later, I came up was this chipboard box covered with a white card stock base for extra support. I finished it with the red snowflake and the hearts scrapbook paper from the collection.

I wanted to give the look of the snow dripping from the eves of a house. I pulled out my trusty Tim Holtz “dripping” die to create the snowy border then used my new Wink of Stella Pen in silver to add some subtle sparkle. I then worked on decorating each side with some gems, the large sticker sheet, and Icon sheet from the collection.

While I figure there is probably a better method for constructing the box, I have to say I feel pretty good for my first time out. All I have to do now is plan out this month’s events and then it is just a matter of each day going through the box. I think I can..I think I can..

I am interested to hear how all of you stay organized during this busy holiday season, please share in comments your best practice. How do you fit everything into your schedule? Or maybe you are more like me which I would be thrilled to know, perhaps we can develop a support group. (FYI-“Support group” is code for sharing chocolate or about finding good chocolate) 🙂

Thank you for stopping in and I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next time….

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