Embellish

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: We made it! Final page count & winners list

Whoo hoo!!! We made it! A scrapbook spread or single page posted every day during August 2018. It was a big goal, but a do-able one. Thanks to everyone who participated, and everyone who wished us luck along the way!

Wanna hear my final page count for the month? 51 counting today!!! Feels great to have gotten SO much done!

Our final inspiration page of the series is an anniversary layout. The total WOW on this page, of course, is the new Stampin' Up Delightfully Detailed lace paper! It comes in 12x12 sheets, white on one side and vanilla on the other, and you can just trim out any size pieces you want. So it's perfect for scrapbookers AND cardmakers. I have some great cards to show you tomorrow!

Wish you could see how the lace gleams!! To get the lovely rose gold color to go with my Petal Pink background cardstock, I actually used Bright Copper Shimmer Paint in a mister bottle with 70% rubbing alcohol. It dries very quickly and since it's actually paint, the glimmer doesn't rub off on other things once it's dry. Nice! Shimmer paint is available in four gorgeous colors beginning September 5th, 2018.

My sentiments are all stamped in Crumb Cake ink and come from the Beautiful Bouquet stamp set. I went with gold for the metallic accent since I was going for elegance and a trace of vintage. It turned out so pretty!

 Ok, on to the next bit of business--our four giveaway winners! Contact me ASAP with your address, please.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS:

• Week One: paper pack & that week's class layouts, won by Alta McDaniel
• Week Two: Volumes 1-6 Scrapbooker's One-Sheet Wonders, won by Jeni Dean
• Week Three: 100 Papers Giveaway plus OSW Vol 1-6, won by Donna Chandler
• Week Four: 4 packs of patterned paper, won by Carol Hemmelgarn

Thank you to everyone who participated in our drawings and liked, shared, pinned, purchased and commented!

Well, that's a wrap! Thanks again for joining us for my annual scrapbooking immersion series. I'm excited to move on to fall and holiday cards, I have to say, mostly thanks to the amazing new Holiday 2018 mini catalog. I have lots of new toys to play with, so be watching for sneak peeks and tips for those new products and I share what's a must-have and what's a can-do-without.

What a fun and productive month! Leave me a comment if you have an idea for a blog series you'd like to see Song of My Heart work on next. I love hearing from visitors!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Thirty and final giveaway deadline

 Hi everyone! Thanks for joining us for the second-to-last day of my annual blog series, 31 Pages in 31 Days. Today is the last day to enter the final giveaway to win four packs of paper! Click here for details. I'll post the winners and the final page count for the month tomorrow!

We've had such overcast days here in WI that the colors on these pages didn't translate right in my photos, but they are very vibrant Pumpkin Pie, Blueberry Bushel and Pineapple Punch, with Gray Granite. The base pages are from the Best Route paper pack, which is a super fun blend of transportation and travel images in those colors.

 

Blueberry Bushel

 

Pumpkin Pie

 

Pineapple Punch

 

Gray Granite

 

Silver Foil

Need Craft Supplies? http://bit.ly/shopwithLyssa

I had a lot of fun arranging the elements on this page:

• splitting up the headline (something I rarely do because it's not a great design move, typically)
• creating a little fan deck for small memorabilia like ticket stubs
• arrow punches to guide the eye to objects of importance on a busy page
• the river in the map-patterned paper naturally takes the reader from the first part of the headline to the second half

Can you see how the eye would be confused if the river ran the opposite way? It's the little things like that, that take a page from amateur to professional. Directing the eye is way more important than many scrapbookers give it credit.

The other thing I did to make the headline be more readable, even though it's split up, was to use my hottest, brightest color on top of a strip of my darkest, coolest color. That accent orange color is used VERY sparingly on the rest of the spread to keep the headline totally distinguishable. Another little tip for you!

That's it for today! I'll see you tomorrow for our series finale. I hope you've been enjoying the non-stop inspiration during August, even if you're not a scrapper. All the same tools and color schemes work for any size project, after all! But we will be back to mostly cardmaking on September 1st. I can't wait for the new season to begin!

Shimmer Spray Recipe Card

Spectacular news! Shimmer Paint is back, in the new 2018 Holiday Catalog beginning September 5th. I have missed this gorgeous homemade shimmer spray we used to make when we carried this product before.

I'm so delighted Stampin' Up is offering it again, and has added a copper to the line up of gold, champagne and frosty white tones. Here's a gorgeous sample of rose gold that I spritzed using the new Bright Copper paint on the Delightfully Detailed lace paper. It doesn't photograph well, but it's SPARKLY!

Last time we had this, everyone was asking for a "recipe"--there really isn't one, but I've put together an updated card with guidelines and a few tips! There are four on a sheet, so if you want to print a page and give the extras to friends, that works! Please feel free to share.

Download Shimmer Spray Recipe

Order Shimmer Paint beginning September 5th!

Product List

Frost White Shimmer Paint

[147046]

$8.00

Bright Copper Shimmer Paint

[147045]

$8.00

Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

[147044]

$8.00

Vegas Gold Shimmer Paint

[146886]

$8.00

Stampin' Spritzer

[126185]

$3.00

Couple notes about the paint. If you're wanting to try just one color, I suggest Champagne Mist as it goes with everything--gold, silver and copper. I personally use Champagne Mist 9 times out of 10. Vegas Gold is difficult to use well because it's SO bright and brassy, so that one's my least favorite. Used super sparingly, though, it's really something. Bright Copper has a lot of pink undertone when it's diluted, so you may want to save that paint for stamping and gilding edges of flowers and frames. Frost White is also a great "beginner friendly" color that looks totally amazing on dark cardstock colors, especially for Christmas cards. It's not quite as sparkly as the others, but still has plenty of sheen.

Secondly, yes, that's a tiny bottle. Half an ounce does not seem like much. However, a tiny bit is all you need for the spray. The rubbing alcohol in the mister will disperse the particles so finely, you'll just be amazed at what one spritz can do. And the Stampin' Spritzers come in a two pack for just $3, so order a couple and plan to have a bottle of each color ready to shake and spray!

And of course--it is PAINT... so you can do all kinds of fun things with it besides just the spray, like stamping, painting chipboard or canvas, accenting page edges, custom-coloring embellishments, etc. But once you see the spray in action on cardstock, you'll be totally hooked! And you'll understand why I'm still hoarding the last of the bottles I bought back when we carried it for the first time.

SHIMMER SPRAY ALL THE THINGS!!!!

Delightfully Detailed lace wedding cards and invitations

Aren't these GORGEOUS?! I was blown away by how easy it was to make these incredibly elegant-looking cards--and how perfect they'd be for wedding invitations. Each one would be slightly different, depending on how it was cut out from the 12x12 lace paper sheets in the Delightfully Detailed laser-cut lace paper pack.

I had the idea for the backgrounds of these cards while I was spritzing bright Copper Shimmer Paint diluted with 70% rubbing alcohol on some lace pieces for the final page I'm making for our 31 Pages in 31 Days challenge. My scratch paper, laid down to protect my new craft counter, had such a pretty pattern on it after I moved the spritzed lace.

So that gave me the idea to make some backgrounds like that on purpose!

I had no intention of layering lace on top of the backgrounds, but it turned out just so over-the-top elegant that I could help but glue it down and sprinkle some sequins around for texture. What easy cards these were to make! A little misting, a little dry time, a stamp and a punch and they were done.

That was so much fun--luckily, I have more of that gorgeous lace paper, so I can experiment some more! Shimmer Paint is a returning product to Stampin' Up, and will be available beginning Sept 5th, 2018 in four colors: Vegas Gold, Frost White, Bright Copper and Champagne Mist. If you can't get all four : ) I recommend you get Champagne Mist as it goes with pretty much everything.

Shimmer Paint is real paint, so once it dries it's permanent. It adds the coolest hint of texture when sprayed on cardstock, too.

I'll share my fool-proof Shimmer Spray recipe tomorrow on a printable 4-piece "recipe card" you can keep and share with friends to remind you how to make bottles full of gloriousness. It's so easy and it turns everything sparkly with zero mess and clean up. FUN!!!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Nine

 I can't count... and this page is a testament to that fact! I pulled together this teenage boy birthday page from extra bits and pieces of which I accidentally cut or punched too many for various past projects. I keep them all in a clear clamshell stamp case and often raid it when I need a little something to perk up a project. All this stuff was in there, even the glimmer paper punches!!

This diagonal layout is a great way to get a lot of ka-pow from a half sheet of patterned paper or a couple of 6x6 pieces. Instead of using it horizontally or vertically (boring) it's at a strong diagonal, which guides the eye straight to the central photo.

The curvy swirls help soften that sharp line a little, and the brightly colored mats make sure the eye stops at the photo and doesn't continue to travel right up and off the page. Love little design hints like these!

Wish the sparkle showed up better! But you can get a little idea of how the Glitter Enamel Dots sprinkled around help ground the page and dissimulate the color scheme more evenly, while adding some pizzazz (but not too much, it's a boy page!)

Goodness, Day 29 is a wrap, and tomorrow's the 30th already! It's been so fun to have you along as I scrapped my way through 31 Pages in 31 Days. Please share the final week's giveaway link with any friends that might be interested--four packs of paper is a FUN BOOST to anyone's stash!

Happy Scrappin'!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Eight

I think this might be my favorite layout of the month! It was coming along and then I added the gold foil dragonflies and some leaf punches and it just really took it up a notch. I used Layout #4 from Scrapbooker's One-Sheet Wonders Vol. 1 for the basic design, swapping the right and left hand pages for variation. Most of the layouts can be used plain, reversed, mirror-image and even upside down, fun little fact! 

Actually this layout is the sample one I share so scrappers can get an idea of what my sheets look like. Have to share a glowing review that just came in today from Jane, a scrapbooker who titled her review "Happiness Overload:"

"Just downloaded your One Sheet Wonders for scrapbookers and I love them.....scrapbooking is my passion, so when I saw your wonder sheets, I knew I had to have them. Just wanted you to know how happy I was with your sheets."

I'm so thrilled you're thrilled, Jane! Scrapbooking is my passion, too, and how I got into papercrafting in the first place.

The base pages are Mossy Meadow, with Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz making for a pleasing, nature-inspired palette. A little burlap and some Linen Thread add texture and interest.

It feels so great to use up single sheets of random, leftover papers! I am a big fan of keeping my scrap bin well under control, and it carries over to my paper shelves, too. Nothing makes me happier than to find a really good home for just the right pattern. I know you can relate!

Thanks for popping in to see what I had in store for you today. See you tomorrow for Day 29 and the first of our final three inspiration layouts!

Last chance to get Lilypad Lake with the August Class of the Month!

I don't know which image is my favorite from this set--either the beautiful heron or the little sailboats! I tell ya, it's impossible to make a bad card with this set. And that's sayin' something, because I can definitely make some bad cards, especially if I'm up too late. I just don't show those to your guys : )

Whether you go for clean and simple, or details and layers, I promise you Lilypad Lake will be a wise addition to your stamp shelves. I featured it as the August 2018 Class of the Month precisely so I could have an excuse to play with it for hours!

If you're new to club, it works like this:

• You order Stampin' Up toys whenever you want to (before the 28th each month) using a special code I share on the first.
• The code tells me you want the Class of the Month files, the sample of the month inside your hand-stamped thank you card, and your participation point for the month.
• Every time you've ordered with the club code five times, you get a $30 shopping spree--or you can wait until you have 10 points and get a $60 one!

That's IT--my club is super simple, no strings attached, just play when you want and sit it out when you don't. The code this month is 3AAEA6FR  and the order needs to total at least $35 before shipping and tax are figured. I'll start all your benefits in motion as soon as the order comes through with that code. Cool!

The deadline to play this month is TOMORROW! Hope to see your name on my list to send goodies to.

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Seven

Welcome to Song of My Heart Stampers' blog series, 31 Pages In 31 Days! Every day during the month of August, I'll be posting a single or double page scrapbook layout for your inspiration. Today is Day 27!

YOU CAN PLAY ALONG with us by challenging yourself to complete thirty-one pages, too, and posting your progress online using the hashtag #31pagesin31days. Hope to see your work out there in cyberspace, very soon!

Our inspiration layout today is a fun, nautical-inspired layout with an unexpected use of the Cable Knit embossing folder. Wood Textures paper makes the headline come to life, and the brads, burlap and twine add to the seafaring feel. What would you use this page for?

The measurements for this layout are so easy I'll just share them right now. The Night of Navy Strip is 2.5 x 11 inches and the Calypso Coral and Soft Seafoam strips are 1 x 11. The four full mats are 4.25 x 5.5 inches, and the two skinny mats or journalling areas are 5.5 x 2.5 inches. Lastly, the embossing Cable Knit Strips (Very Vanilla) are about 1.25 x 6 inches.

This layout is AWESOME for using up skinny strips of scraps. You can easily sub in patterned papers, too, and get a completely different look. If you decide to recreate this exact look, here's what we used in Scrapbooking Summer School for Week Four's kit:

Click on any link to see full product descriptions, photos and prices! Thanks for shopping with Song of My Heart and supporting blog series like these. 

• Neutrals 12" X 12" Cardstock [147003] (Gray Granite)
• Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177]
• Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100867]
• Soft Sea Foam 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146988]
• Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925]
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]
• Basic Brads [146930]
• Linen Thread [104199]
• Big Shot [143263]
• Cable Knit Dynamic Embossing Folder [143537]
• Large Letters Framelits Dies [141712]

I can't wait to post my final page count on the 31st!! How are you doing with the challenge? If you got anything done (or even just collected the ideas for later) you did better than if you hadn't followed along at all, right? Here's wishing you many happy scrapping hours in the very near future.

First Christmas card of the year

I know, I know, it's August!! But cardmakers have to start early if they're going to get their holiday cards finished in time to enjoy Christmas AND be proud of what they created and mailed this year. My Christmas Club ladies have already made their first 12 of 48 cards to the tune of carols and chattering!

This was my first design of the year. It's simple, for mass production, and the Stamparatus came in so handy for perfect placement every time. Imagine stamping all your cards without a single crooked sentiment! I sure love that thing.

This design is also flat, for mailing, with just a sprinkle of rhinestones--and it's lightweight enough with its single layer to include a family photo or a Christmas letter, too. Important to think about these things! Nobody wants to be stuck paying extra postage when they have so many to send all at once.

If you'd like to recreate this easy but elegant design at home, here's what you need to gather. Try different color combos, too--I bet this would look amazing in red and black, or purple and gold. Can't wait to play some more with this His Light stamp set this year!

Click any photo to go browse the online store! Note: the stamp set HIS LIGHT will be available beginning September 5th, 2018 with the opening of the new Holiday mini catalog. 

His Light Cling-Mount Stamp Set

[147736]

His Light Wood-Mount Stamp Set

[147739]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

Silver Foil Sheets 12x12

2 pk

[132178]

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

Star Of Light Photopolymer Stamp Set

[142110]

Blueberry Bushel Classic Stampin' Pad

[147138]

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[147105]

Stamparatus Positioning System

[146276]

 One more note before we finish out August--it's online Bonus Days through the 31st! Every $50 spent gets you a $5 coupon to use in September. So if you plan ahead, you can get your basics in August, then use the coupon for the stamp set when it becomes available in September.

Then you'll be all set to work on your holiday creation! Wouldn't it feel great to be done early this year?

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Six

Welcome back to 31 Pages in 31 Days, my annual scrapbooking immersion blog series! There is a whole lotta inspiration goin' on here during August, and if you run out of cute stuff to look at, be sure to check in the archives for 31 more page/spread ideas for each year for the past several years. I LOVE to scrapbook!

Today's inspiration layout was inspired by the wedding of my BFF Kristine's beautiful daughter Emily this month. Her reception was a dream of personalized touches, soft blooms, old wood and vintage-inspired lace and ribbons. It about killed me not to be there. : ) But I'm sending my best wishes to the happy couple, too!

My favorite part of this page was the easiest bit--the Tufted embossing folder is just so full of texture and elegance. The tone on tone pattern pairs well with a busy floral like this Petal Pink pattern from the Share What You Love paper stack.

This is one of the last layouts that my Scrapbooking Summer School participants are making for Week Four. Here's what they will be using to work on their pages:

Click any link to browse my online stampin' store! 

Whisper White 12" X 12" Card Stock

[124302]

Share What You Love Specialty Designer Series Paper

[146926]

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131202]

Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146985]

Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[146335]

Large Letters Framelits Dies

[141712]

Pearlized Doilies

[146936]

Basic Adhesive-Backed Sequins

[146933]

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

Silver 3/8" Metallic-Edge Ribbon

[144213]

True Gentleman Buttons

[145596]

 Just five days left in this year's series! Share the word with your scrapbooker friends and join us tomorrow for Day 27. You'll want to visit our Facebook group to see what everyone else has been working on towards their 31 Pages in 31 Days challenge, too!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Five with guest scrapper Penni Litwiller

My fabulous stampin' assistant Penni Litwiller is our guest scrapbooker for today's inspiration layout for 31 Pages in 31 Days! She wanted me to share a couple of things with you about this Halloween spread:

First, it's a Scrapbooker's One-Sheet Wonder from volume 6, layout #29. Penni loves using those as quick starter for her pages. It's intimidating sometimes, staring at two blank 12x12 pages and not knowing where to begin! The one-sheet wonders allow you to cut up one sheet of patterned paper to decorate a double page spread, making them not just handy but economical, too.

Second, Penni shared that the Spooky Night patterned paper and black cotton crocheted lace trim she used are currently available on the Clearance Rack! If you have not visited the online-only clearance section of the Stampin' Up store, get thee over there right quick! There are multiple bargains to be had. PS--the Spooky Night papers are the ones that coordinate with the Cat Punch (main catalog)--also a must have!

Speaking of punches, the Spooky Bat Punch is a brand new tool in the 2018 Holiday Catalog. It punches out three different bat variations and coordinates with the Spooky Sweets stamp set. Bundle them together and save 10%! Ordering goes live on Sept. 5th. It makes stamping so quick and cute that you could easily decorate all your candy items to hand out this year. I personally find punches much faster than Framelits--something to keep in mind any time you need to mass-produce favors, invitations, or treats!

Thanks so much to Penni for the guest pages! We'll be collaborating again this fall on our annual blog series with ideas for trick or treat candy packaging, quick & creepy home decor, scrapbook pages to document those costumes, Harry Potter themed projects, and more. You can see the past couple of years' worth here in my "misc holidays" category.

But first, we'll sail to the finish line on 31 Pages in 31 Days! Hard to believe that August has flown by SO fast. Join us tomorrow for our 26th page. Happy scrappin'!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Four

Sunshine is on the way! I love the theme of today's inspiration layout. We're having historic rains here in Wisconsin (in August???) and we're all praying for sunshine and some nice dry days right now. It's been pretty gloomy, so it's good to head to the craft room and play with pretty papers for a few hours...

Suggested Stampin' Up Color Combo:

Smoky Slate

Calypso Coral

Daffodil Delight

Whisper White

Pool Party

Bermuda Bay

The headline on this page uses the negative of the die-cut. Talk about efficient use of scraps! It doesn't work with all words or all die-cuts, but this one worked perfectly.

This spread also has a cute memorabilia pocket for ticket stubs or love notes or something precious to commemorate. It's easy to do with the Mini Envelopes and a couple of brads to make a French twine closure.

 Want to make this at home along with the Scrapbooking Summer School ladies? Here's what you'll need to gather: Click any link to go browse my online Stampin' Up! store!

Neutrals assortment 12x12 cardstock

147003

Subtles assortment 12x12 cardstock

147004

Pool Party 122924

Whisper White 100730

Daffodil delight 119683

Sunshine Wishes Thinlets 141489

Sunshine Sayings set 141594

Glitter Enamel Dots 146934

Crushed Curry baker's twine 134586

Basics assortment brads 146930

Scallop circle punch 146138

Scallpop Circle Punch 146139

 

Here's a fun paper-saving tip for you: the strips on the left hand page are 2 x 10 inches. So if you cut 2 x 12 inch strips to begin with, and chop off the two inches from the end, you'll get a cute 2x2 square in each of the four patterns of paper you used. Those can decorate the right hand page to bring the color and pattern over to the second layout.

Thanks so much for coming to visit me here at Song of My Heart Stampers today! Tomorrow we have a treat for you--Penni is sharing a page for Day 25! It will be a little teaser for the NEW 2018 Holiday catalog and our annual BFF blog series coming up in October. See you then!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Three and final giveaway begins!

Moving slow this morning... but I'm moving, at least! I'm paying a little for the hustle-bustle of the last couple weeks. But I still met the challenge for the day! Enjoy the inspiration layout for Day 23 of 31 Pages in 31 Days!

If you're just joining us, welcome to my annual scrapbooking immersion blog series! Each day in August 2017 I'm posting a scrapbook layout or double-page spread as an inspiration. You can copy it, swipe some ideas, or just do your own thing. Read about immersion scrapbooking and why it works for me here.

I had some great pieces of the new Animal Expedition patterned papers left over from another project, and since they all coordinate, it was easy to pull them together into a casual grouping. Doesn't it remind you of a baby blanket? It would make the most darling quilt!

I got this stamp set in April at Stampin' Up OnStage, but hadn't inked it up until now. The sayings are adorable--I'll have to put together some cards with it soon! But my favorite part of this layout has to be the new Leaf Trim.

From climbing roses to jungle vines to seaweed... that trim has been really fun to play with! And here I thought I didn't need it. Think again!

Ready to recreate this spread at home? Click any link to shop with Lyssa!

• Whisper White 12" X 12" Card Stock [124302]
• Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper [146902]
• Call Me Clover Stampin' Pad [147139]
• Call Me Clover 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146969]
• 1-1/2" Circle Punch [138299]
• 1-3/4" Circle Punch [119850]
• 1" Circle Punch [119868]
• 1-1/4" Circle Punch [119861]
• Leaf Ribbon [146905]
• 5/8" Burlap Ribbon [141487]
• Lemon Lime Twist 1/4" Ombre Ribbon [144234]
• Basic Adhesive-Backed Sequins [146933]
• Glue Dots [103683]

 Ok! we have one week left of 31 Pages in 31 Days, so it's time to open our final giveaway of the month! Are you ready to win? Enter by ordering at least $30 worth before shipping and tax at http://bit.ly/shopwithLyssa using the special code H4R6BX2R before checkout. I'll draw randomly from all entries for a bundle of 4 packs of patterned 12x12 paper! WOW! wouldn't THAT be a shot in the arm of your mojo?

Hope to see your name pop up in my inbox. I'd love to send you ALL paper, if I could! See you tomorrow for Day 24!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-Two

I guess it's fitting that today's inspiration layout for the 31 Pages in 31 Days challenge is about moms... I've been momming hard lately! Today's the first day of high school for Natalie, and even more scary than that is that Dan is now a junior.

Goodness, but I love these two. They astonish me with their humor, their sense of self, their vocabulary, their courage.... and their ability to procrastinate until the night before... and their ability to somehow manage to make two kids resemble a whole pack of puppies underfoot when they're excited.

Anyhow, that's my true August challenge! Momming in August isn't easy. I am looking forward to getting into routine (and yes, I love working from home in utter silence). But back to the scrapper's challenge, which is what you came for!

This is just a simple, lighthearted layout to celebrate mom. The intensity of the blue and yellow are similar, so the "warm" and "cool" balances evenly. Slightly darker versions of those same two colors (Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay) introduce some visual variation. Large embellishment groupings then add pockets of textural interest in several key areas. 

When the photos are in place, there will be more blue showing than yellow, so the overall effect will be calmed quite a lot.

My Scrapbooking Summer School class is making this layout in their Week Four packet. We've been having SO much fun--you should totally join us next year! Here's the Stampin' Up supplies they'll be using to complete their kit:

Click any link to shop with Lyssa! 

Subtles 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock Pack

[147004]

Tea Room Specialty Designer Series Paper

[146894]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

So Saffron 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[105118]

Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131197]

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

[147096]

Accented Blooms Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[146681]

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

[145372]

Daisy Punch

[143713]

Pearl Basic Jewels

[144219]

Pearlized Doilies

[146936]

3/4" Circle Punch

[119873]

Silver 3/8" Metallic-Edge Ribbon

[144213]

Whisper White 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

[146912]

Big Shot

[143263]

 

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who inquired about the flooding in our area. So far three of my customers have been affected (craftroom wise--many more had household damage, including my BFF and assistant, Penni). I put the word out and area demonstrators and my fantastic customer friends have conspired to replace everything that was ruined in those basement craft rooms. It has been such a blessing to see specific items being donated --sometimes before I even heard about that particular need.

If you live in WI and have been affected by the flooding, please let me know! More is coming in and we would be happy to put together a package of essentials for you. You are also welcome to my demonstrator discount through the end of December 2018 when purchasing replacement supplies. I know things may be in upheaval for a little while. Our thoughts are with you!

Thanks for dropping in today, crafty friends! You'll make my day if you leave a comment. See you tomorrow for Day Twenty-Three!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty-One and 100 Papers Giveaway winner!

I know you're all excited to see today's inspiration page, but even MORE excited to see who won the 100 Papers Giveaway, right? So let's announce that lucky lady right away!

Congratulations to Donna Chandler, who will receive 100 different patterned papers plus Volumes 1-6 of my Scrapbooker's One-Sheet Wonders to use them with! I hope this prize gives her a big, enjoyable boost in her crafting.

I'll be doing one more BIG giveaway before the week is out, so keep checking back and maybe it will be your turn next!

Ok, on to today's inspiration layout!

My Scrapbooking Summer School ladies know I love them... because I cut out over 100 of these leaves for their kits! They'll also feel spoiled because I shared my new Galvanized Metal Buttons with them, a perfect accent from the upcoming Holiday 2018 Catalog.

This layout has a fun headline technique. You die-cut your headline first, then spritz the "negative" with ink and water. Then adhere it down (when dry). Put the letters up on dimensionals and put them back into the holes, slightly offset. It really makes the headline pop! This is called the eclipse technique and you can do it with stamping or sponging instead of spritzing, too. Fun!!

I did more spritzing on the rest of the spread as well. I love how it fits in with a weathered, natural theme. Everything is softened around the edges, too. Less is more with spritzing, though--don't use too heavy a hand or it just looks messy instead of intentional.

I included the spritzers in their Week Three kits, but this is what my class participants will be using to complete their pages, if you care to follow along at home!

Click any link to shop with Lyssa and support blog series' like 31 Pages in 31 Days!

Neutrals 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock

[147003]

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[101650]

Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100702]

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

[147114]

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[115663]

Stampin' Spritzer

[126185]

Enjoy Life Photopolymer Stamp Set

[148190]

Colorful Seasons Photopolymer Stamp Set

[143726]

Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies

[143751]

Large Letters Framelits Dies

[141712]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Linen Thread

[104199]

5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon

[141487]

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

Galvanized Buttons

[147891]

Glue Dots

[103683]

Big Shot

[143263]

See you tomorrow for Day 22! We are trucking towards the finish line. Thanks for stopping in!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Twenty

Hi crafters! I hope you're having a great day. Thanks for stopping by Song of My Heart to see what's going on! Today is the last day to leave a comment to enter to win the 100 Papers giveaway (check out Day 14) so go do that pronto if you haven't already!

Today's inspiration page is the last of the three I did using the dozens of 3-inch by .75 inch scraps I had after cutting for a BIG project this month (August is the month of big projects around here, I guess!). You can see the other two layouts here and here.

I don't have room in my little house to have the sewing machine set up all the time, so it's rare that I sew on pages these days. But I love the nice tone-on-tone texture it adds and the extra emphasis it always lends to patterned papers. Also, let's face it, it's fun to sew "badly" on purpose. : ) And the worse you sew the better it looks on paper, unlike fabric!

Do you sew on pages or cards? If not, it's something fun (and cheap) to try. Sewing adds no cost to a spread but lends it a lot of life. Dig out that scrap bin from the piles on your table and start trimming some bits and pieces. I'd love to see what you come up with!

See you tomorrow for Day 21 and the WINNER of the 100 Papers Giveaway! If you're not a subscriber to my newsletter, you'll want to join that list ASAP. I never share your email address or info with anyone else. Subscribe now and get a free sample of Cheat Sheets, too!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Nineteen MYSTERY HOMEWORK

We're having SO much fun in Scrapbooking Summer School this year! Each year I run a special four-week kit class for scrapbookers to coincide with 31 Pages in 31 Days. It helps me keep MY page count up and reach the challenge--and it's a great way for the class members to up their design skills and get a LOT of scrapping done before the busy fall season hits.

Each week I post "homework" assignments that, if completed along with the week's kit, will help them complete a grand total of 31 pages for August. This week's homework assignment is a MYSTERY!

The homework challenge for Week Three is to use the extra pieces I sent in their packets to create a second page for this single layout. Not too hard, right? Except for the kicker--whoever's right hand page winds up looking the MOST LIKE MINE, sight unseen, will win a free pack of paper!

Isn't that funny? They have nothing to go on except the left hand page (above), the extras I sent them, and their "feel" for what my style is. I will be sure to share their completed pages with you, along with the "answer" page, at the end of the month!

if you'd like to challenge yourself and play along, here's what the Summer School ladies will be using to complete their layout:

  Need supplies? Click any photo to Shop with Lyssa!

Subtles 12" X 12" Cardstock Pack

[147004]

Whisper White 12" X 12" Card Stock

[124302]

Share What You Love Paper

[146926]

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121044]

Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146982]

Soft Sea Foam 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146988]

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146987]

Celebrate You Thinlit Dies

[146840]

Glitter Enamel Dots

[146934]

Balloon Bouquet Punch

[140609]

Twine Baker's Whisper White

[124262]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Glue Dots

[103683]

 See you back here tomorrow for Day Twenty! If you're not a scrapper, I hope you're still having fun seeing all the versatile ways your cardstock and tools can be used. Any of the embellishment ideas can be adapted to cards.

But never fear--we'll be back to our regular programming on September 1st! Until then, enjoy the color combos--and the giveaways--and sit tight. Thanks for sticking with me as I work on this challenge and indulge in the thing that got me started down the path into the wonderful world of papercrafting.

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Eighteen

I can't believe how fast August is flying by! This is our last summer weekend before school starts. Hard to believe now, in the humidity, that the leaves will start changing in another month. But today's page rewinds us to July, and America's birthday celebration!

This Fourth of July layout is fun and patriotic, and another page idea for using up scrap strips. I am on a roll! My scrap bin is gonna be EMPTY by the end of the month!

Just kidding... I think that's probably and unattainable goal : ) But this is a good border idea doesn't cut into your space for photos like a complete grid of strips that would shrink the area in visual size. 

I just LOVE banners and can never resist adding them to scrapbook pages. Whether they are full size or itty bitty, I just love them!

Here's the supplies my Scrapbooking Summer School participants will be using to work on these kits:

Click any link to shop with Lyssa! 

Neutrals 12" X 12"  Cardstock

[147003]

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

Whisper White 12" X 12" Card Stock

[124302]

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[102482]

Large Letters Framelits Dies

[141712]

Gold Foil Sheets

[132622]

Wood Crate Framelits Dies

[143730]

Gold Mini Sequin Trim

[144128]

Metallic Brads

[146929]

Twine Baker's Whisper White

[124262]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Glue Dots

[103683]

Ticket Tear Border Punch

[143718]

This is another fun way to break up boring journaling boxes. These are one-inch scrap strips, three in the back and two on top. Don't they make a MUCH more interesting embellishment than a plain matted rectangle? Add in the Gold Foil stars with shooting sequins and rhinestone centers, and this is a page with a lot of personality.

Thanks so much for popping in to Song of My Heart today! Don't forget to go leave a comment on Day Fourteen to enter to win my 100 Papers giveaway... and to come back tomorrow for Day Nineteen of 31 Pages in 31 Days!

31 Pages in 31 Days 2018: Day Seventeen

Hey guys! I'm back with the second of those super-scrap-user-upper layouts I was playing with last weekend. I should have taken a photo of the gigantic pile of scraps I started with! They were all 3 wide x .75 inches long. And I couldn't bear to toss them!

I out 18 of those scraps to good use with this fun layout inspired by this technique for cardmakers that I shared earlier this summer. The bright Pineapple Punch (a new In Color along with Blueberry Bushel) was perfect for the Lemon Zest stamp set and punch. Add a few "drops" of juice and the page looks yummy enough to lick!

Fun, huh? Here's the first scrap-using layout--stay tuned for the third and final one I made before I allowed myself to pitch the rest of the leftover pieces. It just might be the cutest of all three!

See you tomorrow for Day Eighteen of our 31 Pages in 31 Days summer blog series. Thanks for joining us!

Will you be getting this card from me? Lilypad Lake

I had so much fun with the upcoming Chicken Wire laser-cut elements (Holiday Catalog beginning Sept 5th) when I realized they are white on the backside! I promptly added them to my Lilypad Lake thank you cards since they look like fishing net to me. Whaddya think--does it work?

My Class of the Month club members are getting these handmade thank yous with an In Color Ruffled Ribbon share as a perk of ordering with the club code for the month! You can get in on that by shopping at http://bit.ly/shopwithLyssa and using the code 3AAEA6FR after your order hits at least $35 before shipping and tax. You'll also receive the month's class file, a full-color 6-page PDF with four Lilypad Lake projects and two bonus projects--and start earning points towards a shopping spree! 

PSST.... Bonus Days are going on this month, so if you manage to hit $50, you'll get a free $5 coupon code to use in September!

Not quite ready to hit submit?

I'm happy to answer any questions about this revolutionary "no commitment" club from Song of My Heart! Participate on YOUR terms, when YOU have the funds, and at YOUR convenience. It's different than any other online club out there! and you might as well be earning goodies with every order, right? Email me anytime at [email protected]

Already have another demonstrator?

If you already have a Stampin' Up demo friend you shop with, that's ok! You can temporarily change your "preferred demonstrator" for one order--and continue shopping with your local demo for everything else. In fact, I encourage it! I'm sure they work hard to provide you with fun project ideas, timely news, and great customer service.

If you don't have an active demo, however, I'd love to be yours! No one should be without stampy inspiration.

You can change demonstrators or set one as your preferred demonstrator at any time. Just log in and click on your online account, then click the tab shown above, titled "My Demonstrator." Your first order through me will come with some fun welcome resources, too!  Email me to request catalogs, ask questions, or just introduce yourself.

Looking forward to learning something fun together!