Use It or Lose It

My choice of papers has certainly changed.  I used to buy sets particularly anything boy related that were themed.  I found that while I used some of them I found it difficult to match them with stories.  This one was an exception though.  The only problem was that I hadn't printed the photos to go with the layout.  You can see my other posts that had a similar issue here and here.  So here it finally is.

 I matched up other papers and some more recent purchases.

Definitely a story that I wanted to tell.  So much so that each of the boys who were in the story has a page.

It was interesting as I looked back to check the date on these photos that there is another story to tell.  They were from our first camper van adventure.  Must add it to my stories to tell file.

Use It or Lose It

If you think there is a theme happening here you would be right.  I have had three sets of papers waiting for photos to be printed to do the layouts.  With my latest photo prints I made sure that I included these photos in them.  You can see the other layouts here and here.

 This was the perfect story to go along with the ticket card that I had in this set.  While my photo (taken in the dark on my not so smart phone) wasn't amazing it was still a story that I wanted to tell so I used it.

With still more pieces of the papers and cards to use,  I pulled out another story that would work with them and used the last of the bits that I had.

Another kit down.  Another story told.

Use It or Lose It

As I continue to look through my old stash I find I am guilty of the sale bug.  Just because it is on sale may not mean that it is quite the bargain.  While I thought that I would use it, again I have had this kit sitting for a while in my stash having used a couple of the pieces without a story to add.  

 So I went through my stories and matched up photos.  Then I pulled apart the die cuts.  Laying out the different pages this made it so much easier to play around with the different pieces and find them a home.  I really only needed to add a few extra papers and a stamp to finish them off.

I was surprised at how much I liked how they turned out in the end.  Sometimes the very thing that holds us back is the belief that we can't make something of it.  Just start.  You may be surprised what you come up with.

Use It or Lose It

You may have seen from my Workspace Wednesday post that I have been having a clear out and looking at using up different kits that I had put together.  These were the result of the bits and pieces that I found.

 It took some time to get into it.  The papers are brighter and busier than I am currently using.  However once I got into it I actually enjoyed putting the pieces together and liked the end result.  And the best thing is now the kit isn't hanging about and I have some great cards to give away.

I had some of the pink ribbon and buttons left and while I could have put them away I decided to keep them out and designed another couple of cards to use the last of the bits.  I had matched the ribbon to my mist but when I went to spray it was more red than I had anticipated.  So I made two cards at the same time.

Farewell cards

On a sadder note.  We have been farewelling friends. Our amazing family ministries pastor at church is moving to Auckland for more adventures.  So I had the opportunity to make cards for her from our home group and for her hubby from ICONZ - the boys brigade group that our boys go to. I love being able to do cards that are specific to the person that is receiving them.  I managed to catch a photo of one of the cards and am gutted that I didn't take one of the other.  For both I started with a dictionary page word.  This one is taken from this card on my cards for him board on Pinterest.

Colours:  white, not quite navy, tangerine tango, black

Stamps:  monster mash (CDS), happy trails (PTI), notes (studio G)

Finishing touches:  dictionary page, for the record paper (EP), stitching, dimensionals, speech bubbles punch (EKS), rockies edging scissors

And another farewell card was needed for someone at my Husbands work.  I kept the same theme going with the dictionary page and was inspired by the new Stampin Up mini catalogue pg 10, to use dots and the colours.

Colours:  white, going grey, black, daffodil delight, taken with teal

Stamps:  little pieces and ciao baby (SU), happy trails (PTI),  arrow (studio g)

Finishing touches:  stitching, watercolour brush, dictionary page, washi tape, charcoal bakers twine (the twinery), petite curly label punch (SU)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Card sneak peek

My Christmas card list seems to get bigger every year. While I plan to get onto my cards early in the year so I know they are done it hasn't happened. I had an idea started from this card by Maile Belles and I bit the bullet, put aside some other things that need doing and got into it. I was pleasantly surprised to find they didn't take that long and I enjoyed putting them together.  Now to do the year in review letter that goes with it.  I will post the final result when they have been posted out.

Colours: crumb cake, cherry cobbler, always artichoke, very vanilla, early espresso
Stamps:  vintage labels and postmarks (PTI), merry christmas (kaiser)
Finishing touches:  handmade holidays papers and tags (simple stories), rhinestones (SU)

More cards - Inspiration from pinterest

I have lots of great ideas pinned.  Cards for her and cards for him.  Time to actually do something with it.  Sometimes it is just one part of the card, sometimes it is the colours and sometimes it is the whole thing that inspires.  I hadn't scrapped for over a month, so feeling rather rusty there was nothing like some inspiration to get me started.  Once I started I didn't want to stop!

This one is from a fun card that I found at Love My Tapes.  Thinking that it would have worked better using the same colours.  Love the circle stitching. 

Colours:  crumb cake, pumpkin pie, early espresso, wild wasabi, real red

Stamps:  stylish sentiments - birthday (PTI), simply serif alpha (SU)

Finishing touches:  pinwheel (kaiser), brads, stitching, toothpicks, washi tape, circle punches

This one was a simple card by Debby at Lime Doodle Designs.  I liked the clean lines and colours for a guy.

Colours: white, wild wasabi, black

Stamps: splatter background (IO), game on (PTI)

Finishing touches:  circle cutter and corner rounder (SU) tiny tags die (PTI), black pen and ruler

This card was from this card by Dawn McVey.  I love the colour combinations that she uses.  I CASED this one using things from my stash.

Colours:  sahara sand, baja breeze, daffodil delight, black

Stamps: headline alphabet (PTI)

Finishing touches:  for the record papers(ep), washi tape, vanilla flower trim and antique brad (SU), baja breeze seam binding ribbon (SU)

I discovered A Bit East-coast blog and love the colours and shapes that she uses.  These cards are inspired by this card and this one

 Colours:  basic grey, white, cherry cobbler

Stamps:  newsprint background (impression obsession), background basics - text style and retro (PTI), punctuation (KP), everyday (LYB), 

Finishing touches: corner rounder,, circle cutter (CM), maraschino bakers twine (the twinery), beautiful wings embosslits (SU), bling embellishment (recollections), paper (studio calico)

Colours: basic grey, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie 

Stamps: craquelure (IO),  stylish sentiments - birthday (PTI)

Finishing touches:  beautiful blooms die, (PTI), corner rounder, stone bakers twine (the twinery), ribbon, button, chipboard arrow (unknown), papers (studio calico), circle cutter (CM)

Just a few cards

Way back when I had an opportunity to spend time with my Mum and sister for a scrappy weekend. Usually I organise a number of pages and at least have an idea of cards that I want to do.  This time as it was short notice I threw in my bag a whole lot of bits and pieces along with stamps that I haven't used or are favourites and went.  I have started a few different layouts that I need to finish.    A little time putting together the different bits and pieces that I had brought with me and these are the cards that I came up with.

  

Colours: daffodil delight, basic grey, very vanilla

Stamps:  hello sunshine (PTI), pattern pieces (SU)

Finishing touches:  ribbons (SU), buttons, stitching, washi tape, papers (MME)

 Colours:  bashful blue, night of navy, white

Stamps:  fancy flourishes and stylish sentiments - birthday (PTI)

Finishing touches:  seam binding ribbon, square lattice embossing folder, beautiful wings 

embosslits and silver button (SU), 

Colours:  riding hood red, basic grey, going grey, white

Stamps:  lots of spots (CDS), background basics - retro and papertrey (PTI)

Finishing touches:  washi tape, buttons, maraschino bakers twine (the twinery)

 Colours:  very vanilla, calypso coral, going grey

Stamps:  background basics - retro, stylish sentiments - birthday and fancy flourishes (PTI), ciao baby (SU)

Finishing touches:  ruffled ribbon, designer frames embossing folder and rhinestones (SU), washi adhesive sheets (WAMK),   flowers (prima)

 Colours;  black, white, old olive

Stamps:  background basic - inspiration and stylish sentiments (PTI), punctuation (KP)

Finishing touches:  washi tape, domino tiles (JB), stitching, anchor and brad, charcoal bakers twine (the twinery)

 Colours:  not quite navy, old olive, very vanilla

Stamps:  background basics - retro and hello (PTI)

Finishing touches:  hello die (PTI), ribbon

Colours:  crumb cake, sahara sand, not quite navy, early espresso

Stamps:  grunge me (PTI), graph paper (verve)

Finishing touches:  rectangle rounded die (verve), button, faux stitching, alpha stickers, peg (pebbles)

Colours:  very vanilla, rose red, tempting turquoise, garden green, black

Stamps:  draft (amy tangerine) 

Finishing touches: headline alpha die (PTI), sketch papers (amy tangerine), ribbon, washi tape, buttons, stitching, anchor and brad

Colours:  tangerine tango, night of navy, very vanilla

Stamps: in the stars and itty bitty banners (SU) 

Finishing touches:  ric rac ribbon, washi tape, itty bitty banners die (SU), 

Great additions to my card stash.