Sweet **Birds of a Feather & Just Imagine & Susan K. Weckesser**

We took some pictures in the Texas Bluebonnets in March of 2014.  It was so hard to try and get Catherine to look at me and not the flowers, but I finally got one shot where she looks at me and she is grinning with a little smirk just for me, littler stinker.

I loved the June Birds of a Feather Kit.  It was packed with such fresh colors and items perfect for a vintage/shabby chic layout.  I loved all the flowers and stickers, it is all just so pretty!! 

 

Susan K. Weckesser Stamps have so many uses, especially if it has anything to do with flowers or children.  I love the phrase "Celebrate the Simple Things" along with the horizontal triangle pennant see above.  I used the pennant all around the layout for added texture and dimension and to tie the two elements of the picture and the circle title together.

I also love the stamp set above with the phrase "Earth laughs in Flowers" stamped on the blue cardstock below.  It is just too perfect for this picture of her little smirk and being the flowers.

I played with the fantastic stencil of Susan K. Weckesser's below.  It has so many wonderful lines and shapes.  I choose the hash line on the far right around the edges of my layout as seen above.  I used gesso to create the lines with the stencil, then used paint, ink, and stains to make them pop.

I used Kreaxions Punch 311, circle cutter, and positioning pieces from Just Imagine to create a 5.0 cm doily at the top and the bottom of the page.   I created one doily and cut it in half as only a potion of it popped out from under pulled paper and flowers.

I used the same circle cutter and positioning parts from Just Imagine to create a second doily of 6.8 cm under the circle sticker, but this time I used Kreaxions Punch 905 from Just imagine to create the effect.  I cut off the extra parts as I only wanted the punched filigree to show.

Don't forget to stop and take time for those small moments in life - they are so precious and go by so fast!!

Supplies Used
Patterned Paper - We R Memory Keepers/Fancy Pants - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Cardstock - We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Flowers/Butterfly -  Petaloo- Birds of a Feather June Kit
Buttons - Maya Road - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Bow - Fancy Pants - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Leaves and pearls - Petaloo- Birds of a Feather June Kit
Stickers alpha - Fancy Pants - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Stickers Other -  We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Punch - Just Imagine
Stamps/Stencil - Susan K. Weckesser
Gesso - Ranger
Chipboard - Dusty Attic
Large Flower - Zva
Script Stamp - Hero Arts
Twine - American Crafts
Pearls  - Prima
Ink/Stain/Mist - Ranger/Heidi Swapp/Prima

Enjoy!!

 

Homegrown **Birds of a Feather & Just Imagine**

My boys in the Texas bluebonnets.  One I could not stop from running around and smashing them, the other was more interested in finding bugs and pulling the "weeds" that did not belong there.  I finally got some good shots, but I am afraid to say that the flowers did not fair so well after out little photo shoot.  Good thing we had a HUGE abundance of them this year with all the freezing days we had.

Can I say how much I love this June Kit from Birds of a Feather?!?  I just screams to be used with pictures that have some sort of grown flower or plant in them, and it never hurts to throw a kid or two into the pictures as well :)  I even pulled in the library cards from the May Birds of a Feather kit because they just worked so well with this kit too!!  Plus it just screamed to use the June "Tweet" Sketch from Birds of a Feather.

 
I used Kreaxions Punch 920 from Just Imagine with inserts A and C to create the border and also the edge punching along the burlap paper.   It added so much definition  to the layout among all my other layers.

Always stop to smell the roses, or in this case the Bluebonnets!!

Supplies Used
Patterned Paper - We R Memory Keepers/Fancy Pants - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Cardstock - We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit

"Notes" Card -  We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Buttons - Maya Road - Birds of a Feather June Kit

Stickers alpha - Fancy Pants - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Stickers Other -  We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Library Cards -  Maya Road -  Birds of a Feather May Kit
Punch - Just Imagine
Twine - American Crafts
Pennants/Clip - Prima

Ink/Stain/Mist - Ranger/Heidi Swapp/Prima

Enjoy!!

Robin's Nest News!!

I am so happy to say that I made the Layout Design team for 

The Robin's Nest!!

 

Stay turned for some awesome projects with their products!!

Love **Birds of a Feather & Just Imagine**

I have had this picture in my stash for a long time, just waiting for the right inspiration to hit me to use it.  We were walking at Lost Creek park in Sugar Land (park just a mile away from our old house) with some friends in October of 2012 when my boys just looked so cute walking along the road together.  The path in the park is beautiful, tree lined on both ides creating a canopy over the path.  By a fluke they are not fighting and being sweet to each other and they both had on yellow shirts, you cannot ask for a better candid shot!!

Here Morgan is 6 and Brandon is 2, I am not sure why Morgan decided to hold his litter brother's hand, but it it defiantly made for a sweet moment!!

 

When I saw the colors of the June Birds of a Feather Kit I knew I finally had the inspiration I needed to use this cherished picture.  The colors and embellishments were just perfect to create a layout that went with the picture.

For an added bit of interest and texture I used Kreaxions Punch 905 with the A border insert from Just Imagine along the sides of the white paper.  I loved how the filigree matched with the white frame around the picture.

 

So glad to remember these wonderful moments (as few as they seem right now) of my boys loving and helping each other, there is hope!!

Supplies Used
Patterned Paper - We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Cardstock - We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Flowers -  Petaloo- Birds of a Feather June Kit
Buttons -  Maya Road - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Bow - Fancy Pants - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Leaves and pearls - Petaloo- Birds of a Feather June Kit
Stickers alpha - Fancy Pants - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Stickers Other -  We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Punch - Just Imagine
Pennants/Frame - Prima
Twine - American Crafts
Ink/Stain/Mist - Ranger/Heidi Swapp/Prima

Flower Gift Box **Susan K. Weckesser & Just Imagine**

I found this wonderful gift for my son's teacher, but I hated to just give it to her in a plain box or bag.  Why not liven it up and make the box just as much apart of the gift as the gift itself!?!  

Susan K. Weckesser's papers are just perfect of this project.  They have such fun and bright colors and just scream HAPPY!!  I used the "Live in Color" paper line and cut off the bottom left section to fit over the lid of the box (4 x 5 x 1 inch jewelry box).  A corner of the larger orange flower remained in the cut section so I turned it into the sun by adding in some Stickles.  I then added in more Stickles from Ranger to the other flowers and stems to brighten it all up. 

The reverse of the paper is this lovely green color with lots of distressing.  I cut the paper to fit the sides of the top lid, sides of the bottom, and the entire bottom of the box as well.  I then inked the edges of the box in green chalk ink soften the entire look of all the edges. 

All around the edges of the lid of the box I used a stencil made from Kreaxions punch 905 and the A border from Just Imagine.  I used my punched strip of paper and from the punch and lined it up along the edges and used a white gel pen and drew in the negative space of the stencil to create the pattern on the sides of the lid.  I then added in a little bling for fun.

Don't forget to give your teachers a little extra love, they do so much for your kids!!

Supplies Used
Paper - Susan K. Weckesser
Punch - Just Imagine
Pen - Jelly Roll
Gems - Recollections
Glitter - Ranger
Ribbon - May Arts Ribbon

Enjoy!!

Unity and Susan K. Weckesser Blog Hop Winner!!

Thank you for so many comments and for joining in on the blog hop!!

Now for the WINNER!!!

Please email me erinkreed@gmail.com with your address so I can pop your prize in the mail!!

Vintage **Birds of a Feather & Just Imagine & Robin's Nest** with button tutorial

I wanted to make a card for my father, but not in the traditional sense.  It does not say "Happy Father's Day" on it, instead it has the title "Authentic Vintage goods"  because he is.  When I saw the stickers I loved it and had to use it in some way - it was just too good.

I used the wonderful Kreaxions punch 905 with the A insert and the Star template to create the beautiful doily on the backdrop of the "Vintage" sticker.  It fit so perfectly and made this card really pop.  I also use the same punch to the horizontal strip.  I then added in the little Dew Drops from Robin's Nest to make it soar of the page!!

 

I love the look of buttons on projects, but I hate when they get rotated or move around and look wobbly.  I want them to look as though they are apart of the project, not just stuck on there.  Below are a few tips I use when I use buttons on my projects.

Button Tips

1) I love buttons, but i hate when they wobble on my projects.  My solution is to sew the buttons directly to my page so they are more firmly attached, and also so they don't pop off and as an added bonus it helps hold the project together.

2) Using a mouse pad or foam sheet below the project I place the buttons where I want them to go on the project.  I then take my needle and thread and poke holes through the paper into the mouse pad (I use the mouse pad for all my piercing paper jobs) where the buttons are going to be placed.

3)  I use plain scotch tape on the back to hold the thread, so you don't have a bumpy knot on the back, plus it helps hold the thread in place so it won't pull through the paper.  I sometimes use tape over the entire threaded area for more support so it does not pull the holes to big.

4) The finished buttons look so nice and they are firmly attached to your project.   You can leave them as is at this point, and you can use any type of color of thread you wish, or you can top them with something.

5) I chose to make little bows out of embroidery floss.  I use the two bunny ear method to making a bow (hold two loops in your hand and tie them together) so the tails end up both facing down.  The other method of making a bow has one tail up and one tail down.

6) Glue you bows to the top of your button and you are done!!

Project made the wonderful Birds of a Feather June Kit!!

Don't forget to thank all the men in your life!!

Supplies Used
Cardstock - We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Patterned Paper -  We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Stickers -  We R Memory Keepers - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Buttons -  Maya Road - Birds of a Feather June Kit
Punch & Template - Just Imagine
Dew Drops - Robin's Nest
Floss - DMC
Ink - Prima
Cardboard - DCWV
Adhesive - Scotch
Staples

Army Brat **Paper House & Just Imagine**

In 2012-2013 my husband deployed to Afghanistan and he was gone for over a year including all the ramping up and down before and after being out of the country.  It was the hardest on my middle son.  He was 2 turning 3 when daddy was gone.  Old enough to know that daddy was gone, but way to young to understand why.  He latched onto any male figure that he was around and pretended to be an "army man" any chance he got.  I got this outfit for him and he loved wearing it, and once daddy came back he gave Brandon his old hat with rank.  

At his pre-school they had a salute to workers in the community, Brandon HAD to be an army man.  He was so proud of his dad, outfit, and of himself in his parade at school.  The little guy has endured a lot with daddy being gone, but he is still super proud of his little outfit (and of course daddy)!!

I used the wonderful Military Life Collection from Paper House Production as the base for the layout.  The colors and stickers are just perfect for this picture of my little man.  So many fun elements and titles for me to use in my grungy masculine page, plus the paper is PERFECT!!

Lots of fun titles and emblems to be used from the Military Life sticker sheet including the grungy "star', "flag", "All-American Family", and "Brat" are just a few seen here mixed into lots of other fun grungy elements.

I used lots of layers of papers below the pictures and embellishments mostly coming from cardstock and the wonderful 100% Country 12x12 paper pad by Paper House.  The colors of these papers worked great for the base of the layout.

In the picture below you can see even more fun Military Life stickers from Paper House.  I used the strip of "camo and burlap" sticker and cut it up to be used as layers throughout the entire page.  I still can't get over how perfect the "dog tags" are, they look so real!!

I used Kreaxion punch 907 from Just Imagine on the borders of every paper layer with the A insert to add texture to the entire page.  I randomly punch some corners without any insert to give it an even rougher look, the grungier the better on this page!!

I created the doily below with Kreaxion punch 923, the circle cutter, and the positioning parts for a 6.8 cm circle (larger parts) all from Just Imagine.  The punched doily adds so much dimension and texture to the layout, doilies work on masculine layouts!! 

 

 Supplies Used
Patterned Paper - Paper House
Stickers - Paper House
Punches - Just Imagine
Cardstock - DCWV
Embellishments - Prima & 7 Gypsies & Tim Holtz & Maya Road
Washi Tape - Prima & American Crafts & 3M
Mediums - Liquitex & Ranger
Paints - Ranger
Stencils - Ranger and TCW
Chipboard - Fabscraps

 Enjoy!!