As we roll into summer, I’ve been playing with some of the Creative Memories collections that are great for scrapbooking vacation memories. We have a general travel collection (Wanderlust) but also many specific collections that cover so many different destinations.
Water: Serene Waters Tropical: Tropic Time National Parks: Leave Nothing Behind Amusement Parks: Sparks of Magic Camping: Set Up Camp Zoos: What a Zoo Too! U.S. Regions and Cities: Wide Open Spaces, Florida, New York, Washington DC, and New Orleans International: United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico and Canada
We even have a collection if you’ll be staying home this summer (Staycation)!
For my first layout, I used the Tropic Time Collection to preserve memories from a Florida vacation. I also used the Monstera Leaves Border Punch and the Original Border Maker System with the Ancient Key Border Maker Cartridge.
I used the 12″ Trimmer with the Perforating Blade to score my paper at 3″. I turned the paper on it’s side and scored it again at 3″. I then folded the paper on the perforation marks and used the Original Border Maker System with the Ancient Key Border Maker Cartridge to punch borders on both folded sides.
I used the same technique to create a second layout with some photos of hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I used the Set Up Camp Collection and the Chevron Arrows Border Maker Cartridge for this page.
This technique will work with any knock-out style border maker cartridge. Please see my video for instructions. I would also appreciate your subscription to my YouTube channel! If you click on the bell icon, you will receive a notification whenever I add a new video.
You may purchase all of the tools and materials that I used for these layouts through my Creative Memories website link. I appreciate your purchases and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program!
Although it was late coming this year, I’ve been enjoying our spring weather and the spring blooms in my garden. My peonies just finished blooming, but I can enjoy photos of them year-round in my scrapbook album!
And I also used the Painted Garden Collection to create the two layouts below for Creative Life Scrapbooking.
To embellish my first layout, I used a mix of the Painted Garden Embellishments, Stickers and Variety Mats. I also used the Rustic Fence Border Punch and the Floral Peaks Border Punch. I used the Original Border Maker System with the Citrus Slice Border Maker Cartridge to create the wheel for my garden wheelbarrow.
For my second layout, I created a beautiful border treatment by creating tiny envelopes and filling them with embellishments. The Painted Garden Embellishments are my favorite item in this collection. The pack is full of flowers, berries, butterflies, bees and humming birds! I used the Envelope & Bow Creator from Creative Memories to create my envelopes. This is a nifty tool for creating envelopes of all sizes and also bows!
My instructions include a video demonstration of how to use the Envelope & Bow Creator to make the envelopes and also written instructions for creating the envelopes with our 12-Inch Trimmer instead.
I offer a generous Customer Rewards Program and appreciation your purchases through my Creative Memories website link!
Yay, it’s May – one of my favorite months of the year! I love the beautiful weather and the early summer blooms in my garden! For my monthly Technique Layout and Challenge, I’m featuring an adaptation of a layout that I created for the Creative Memories Blog in 2016! For that layout, I used punched pieces to decorate circles to create a swirling pattern across a double-page layout. For my new layouts, I punched circles with the Original Border Maker System with knock-out style cartridges to create a swirling pattern.
Did you know that Creative Memories offers three kinds of border maker cartridges?
Chain Style: Punches out a chain pattern that falls off of your paper when punched. Edge Style: Punches the edge of your paper. You can use your punched paper or cut off the decorative edge to create a border. Knock-Out Style: Punches a design from the paper that doesn’t extend to the edge.
To create my layout, I used the Custom Cutting System to cut three different sizes of circles, and then I cut those circles in half. I used the Original Border Maker System with the Zebra Stripe Border Maker Cartridge to punch around the edges of the smallest semi-circles.
For this layout, I used the super cute What a Zoo Too! Collection. The What a Zoo Too! Stickers are especially adorable, and I also love the coordinating What a Zoo Too! ABC Letter Stickers!
For my second layout, I used the lovely Painted Garden Collection with the retired Butterflies Border Maker Cartridge and the exclusive Ladybugs Punch that was part of a recent promotion by Creative Memories. I added a journaling box to this layout and also a border punched with the Original Border Maker System with exclusive Woven Scallop Border Maker Cartridge. (Please contact me if you would like to purchase the Woven Scallop BMC.)
To see a step-by-step demonstration of how to create this layout, please see my YouTube video. If you subscribe to my YouTube Channel, you’ll receive a notification when I post a new video.
You may purchase most of the tools and materials that I used through my Creative Memories website link. I so appreciate your purchases and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.
For an entry into my Monthly Door Prize Drawing, please use this technique to create a layout and share a photo of your layout in my private Facebook group, Karyn’s Croppers. Please ADD your photo to the #TechniqueTue 47 Album where you’ll be able to see versions shared by other croppers. While you’re in the ALBUM section of Karyn’s Croppers, take a peek at the 46 other technique albums!
Today I’m sharing two layouts that I created with the Maple Leaf Recipe Template from Creative Memories. The recipe templates are so versatile and can be used to create many different patterns and layouts. For my layouts, I selected not to use the diagonal sections around the outside of the template but rather just the center leaf.
For my first layout, I used the Croptoberfest 2022 Project Recipe Kit and 2022 Croptoberfest Mini Pack Embellishments. If you love these materials, please consider joining me for my Virtual Croptoberfest Workshop on October 15th. We’ll be live on Zoom, but the page classes will be recorded, and I’ll provide printable handouts for the 6 exclusive original layouts that I’ve designed for this event. Please click here to register now.
I used the Maple Leaf Recipe Template to trace my large leaves, and I used the Custom Cutting System with Oval Patterns to create my fun acorns. I used the Pure Brown Dual-Tip Pen to ink the edges of all of the paper pieces of this layout.
For detailed instructions and a step-by-step demonstration on how to create the acorns and this layout, please view my video on YouTube.
Please share your version of this layout to my Facebook group, Karyn’s Croppers for an entry into my October Door Prize.
I created and shared my second layout with Creative Life Scrapbooking on Facebook. For this layout, I used the Maple Leaf Recipe Template and the new Golden Harvest Collection from Creative Memories. This is a gorgeous fall collection with beautiful, foiled embellishments and fun layered border embellishments. For instructions to create this layout, please see my original post to Creative Life Scrapbooking.
All of the tools and materials that I used are available to purchase through my Creative Memories website link. I appreciate all of your orders and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.
Today I’m revisiting an old layout that I shared here a few years ago. I’ve created a demonstration video, and I’m using this technique for my monthly Technique Tuesday layout and challenge. I challenge all of you to use this technique to create a layout and share a photo of your layout into my #TechniqueTue 30 Album in Karyn’s Croppers on Facebook.
For this layout, I used the lovely Serene Waters Collection and paired it with Dark Sea Green Cardstock. I used the 12″ Decorative Trimmer to cut my photos and paper pieces and added border pieces that I punched with the Friendly Fish Border Punch. I finished the layout by adding some stickers, embellishments and pen details. All tools and materials are from Creative Memories.
Now is a great time to make a purchase as Creative Memories is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $80US until noon CT on September 9th.
To create my layout, you’ll need:
(2) 12″ x 12″ sheets of tonal paper for your background (2) 10-1/4″ x 9-3/4″ pieces of Dark Sea Green Cardstock (2) 1-1/2″ x 6″ pieces of designer paper (2) 1″ x 4″ pieces of designer paper (2) 2-1/2″ x 4″ pieces of designer paper (2) 6″ x 4″ photos (4) 4″ x 6″ photos 12″ Trimmer 12″ Decorative Trimmer Friendly Fish Border Punch Repositionable Tape Runner Foam Squares Dual-Tip Pen
I appreciate your orders on my Creative Memories website and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.
For step-by-step instructions, please view my video on YouTube. I also appreciate your subscription to my YouTube channel.
Above is the layout that I created and shared in 2020. Please click here to view more photos of this layout and also some technique photographs.
I hope that you give this technique a try and share it on Karyn’s Croppers!
Each month I share a scrapbooking technique on my YouTube channel and challenge all of my Facebook followers to use the technique to create and share a layout. When they add a photo of their layout to the appropriate album in Karyn’s Croppers, they are entered into my monthly Door Prize Drawing! These layouts feature the technique that I’m sharing for August.
I’m calling this a Puzzle Piece Technique as we put the punched pieces back together again to create a striking visual effect. Leaving a gap between the punched pieces creates a new secondary pattern and also creates depth on the layout.
I used the Treeline Border Punch and materials from the Leave Nothing Behind Collection for my first layout. This is a retired punch that Creative Memories brought back for its Tool Time Buffet that is happening August 1-9. When you purchase 3 of 9 designated tools, you will receive a free pack of exclusive embellishments. For this promo, CM brought back two additional retired border punches and also introduced two new border punches and a new border maker cartridge. These items are only available until noon CT on August 9th or while supplies last. They will not be available for purchase otherwise.
For more info about the Tool Time Buffet and to purchase, please visit my Creative Memories website. I appreciate your orders and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.
For my second layout, I used the Dollop Arch Border Punch which is a current tool in our product line. I also used the super cute What a Zoo Too! collection. I love this collection and highly recommend all of the pieces!
For step-by-step instructions on creating these layouts, please visit my YouTube channel. I would also appreciate your subscription to my channel.
For an entry into my August Door Prize Drawing, please use this technique and share a photo of your layout into the #TechniqueTue 38 Album in Karyn’s Croppers.
Once I started playing with the beautiful It’sFall Y’all Collection from Creative Memories, I couldn’t stop! I created a versatile double-page layout to share during our Creative Life Scrapbook PJ Party and continued to create a few more. If you love my PJ Party Demo Layout that featured the Wheatfield Border Punch, you’ll likely also love the layout below.
Read below for information about Creative Memories 2021 Black Friday Promo and how to get FREE products with a purchase!
After punching my designer paper with the Wheatfield Border Punch, I cut the border apart to create individual stalks of wheat that I gathered together to create a fall sheave. I completed the wheat bundle with a hand-tied raffia-style bow. Please view my video on You Tube for a demo on how to tie the bow. Please note that the Wheatfield Border Punch was a promotional punch offered by Creative Memories earlier this year and is no longer available.
However, Creative Memories is offering three new exclusive punches as part of our 2021Black Friday Promotion! With a purchase of $160, you can select one of three FREE bundles of product that include an exclusive collection of paper, stickers and embellishments, an album and also a unique exclusive punch. Click here for more information about our Black Friday Promotion.
To Create My Layout:
1. Cut a 1-3/4″ “L”-shape from a piece of the plaid designer paper. 2. Place a sheet of the ledger print paper on top of the “L” piece at an angle and adhere. Use the 12″ Trimmer to cut off the excess paper to create a 12″ x 12″ piece. 3. Punch gold designer paper with the Wheatfield Border Punch. Use the 12″ Trimmer to cut in-between the individual wheat stalks. Use the sight guides on the 12″ Trimmer to help you align the paper.
12″ Trimmer Sight Guides
4. Layer and adhere the individual wheat stalks into a sheave. My stalks are 6-1/2″ – 4-3/4″ in height. 5. Cut a 1/8″ strip of Hot Fudge Cardstock, and tie into a raffia-style bow. Attach the bow with a small Foam Square. See my video for a demo on how to tie the bow. 6. Complete the layout with photo mats, embellishments and stickers.
My second layout will be great for some photos that I took while my husband and I took a drive to view the fall color. I really love the color palette of the It’s Fall Y’all Collection! I also love the ledger and grid prints in the It’s Fall Y’all Tone on Tone Paper Pack. They provide a fresh contrast for the designer prints. I used the Five Leaf Punch to create a cascading border of fall colored leaves to accent the layout.
To Create My Layout:
1. Cut 1″ hollow frames from two sheets of Navy Cardstock. 2. Cut two sheets of green leaf paper to 11-3/4″ x 11-1/2″. Attach the leaf paper pieces to the navy frames abutting the right and left edges together to create a double-page. 3. To create the border, cut a 1-3/4″ x 11-1/2″ strip from Navy Cardstock. Cut a 1-1/2″ x 11-1/4″ strip from grid paper. Layer and adhere the pieces. 4. Use the Five Leaf Punch to punch leaves from a variety of designer papers. Working from the bottom of the border, attach the leaves with small Foam Squares under the single leaves. 5. From Navy Cardstock, cut the following pieces: (4) 2-7/8″ x 1-5/8″; (1) 2-7/8″ x 4-1/8″; (1) 6-1/4″ x 1-5/8″; and (1) 2-1/4″ x 4- 1/4″. From grid paper, cut the following pieces: (1) 2-3/4″ x 4″; (1) 6-1/8″ x 1-3/8″; and (1) 2-1/8″ x 4-1/8″. From navy tree paper, cut (4) 2-3/4″ x 1-1/2″. Layer and adhere pieces. 6. Cut 5 photo mats that measure 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″. 7. Arrange pieces on the layout and adhere. 8. Add stickers, embellishments and additional punched leaves as shown using Foam Squares to adhere some.
FREE WITH PURCHASE!
If you like these layouts and would like to create them, you may purchase the It’s Fall Y’all Collection, 12″ Trimmer, Five Leaf Punch, Foam Squares and Navy Cardstock through my Creative Memories website link. If you make a $160 purchase, you can select one of three FREE Black Friday Bundles! Each bundle has a retail value of $86 and contains an exclusive punch with an exclusive product collection. These punches and materials will not be offered for purchase otherwise. Please see below for the available Black Friday Promo Bundles that you can get for FREE with a $160 order.
Happy Spring! It’s my favorite time of the year! However, the spring weather draws me outside and competes with my time to scrapbook! I love working in my garden and watching new things bloom daily. My lilacs – one of my favorites – are in full bloom right now. I also love spring hikes to hunt for the changing blooms of wildflowers. The lovely Spring Cottage collection from Creative Memories is perfect for of all of my spring photos!
The layout above is ready for a photos of my spring garden blooms. I adapted the stick tree layout that I created this past winter and turned it into a spring tree full of visiting songbirds. (Please scroll back through my blog or search for two more versions of this layout using the Merry Blooms and Winter Woods Collections.)
To create my layout:
1. Cut a 1″ hollow frame from Charcoal Cardstock. Trim yellow print paper to 11-1/2″ x 11-1/2″, and adhere to the frame. 2. From three different designer print papers, cut the following strips: 6″ x 3/4″, 6″ x 1/2″, 5-1/2″ x 3/4″, 5″ x 3/4″, 4- 1/2″ x 1/2″, 4″ x 1/2″, 2-1/2″ x 1/2″. 3. Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch two borders from Charcoal Cardstock and trim to: 6″, 5″ and 3″. 4. Cut a 3/8″ x 9-1/2″ strip from wood patterned paper to use as the trunk of the tree. 5. Adhere strips and border border pieces to the trunk piece. 6. From Charcoal Cardstock, cut two photo mats that measure 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ and 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″. From Light Gray Cardstock, cut two photos mats that measure 4″ x 4″ and 4″ x 6″, and adhere to the charcoal mats. 7. Add Spring Cottage Embellishments and Stickers as shown adhering with Foam Squares. 8. To make the raffia-style bow, please view my YouTube video.
You may have already seen my second layout on the Creative Life Scrapbooking Community Group on Facebook. Please join me and my scrappy friends in that group to see the instructions. Also on Friday, April 30th, the Creative Life Scrapbooking team will be hosting a PJ Party Virtual Crop. To register and for more information, please click here.
Again I used the Spring Cottage Collection for this layout. In the instructions, I demonstrate how to create the fancy layered frame with mitered corners. I also included another raffia-style bow.
You may purchase any of the tools or materials that I used through my Creative Memories website link. Please note that beginning at noon CT on Monday, April 19th, CM will be offering a free punch promotion! It is likely that these punches will run out before the end of the promotion period, so please order early if you’re interested.
Wow! This month has flown by, and I just realized that I hadn’t yet posted this month. I took a little break from scrapbooking and my business during the holidays and then spent some time organizing at the beginning of the year. Below is a layout that I created a week or two ago and shared on Facebook with Creative Life Scrapbooking. If you would like to see a second example of this layout, please join the Creative Life Scrapbooking Community. We share weekly ideas on Mondays and Fridays and host specialty events.
For my layout, I used the very lovely Winter Woods collection from Creative Memories. I absolutely love this collection and wish that I had more photos to use with it. I especially look forward to using the beautiful Winter Woods Laser Border Embellishments. I also use the new Dotted Leaf Circle Punch to create a giant snowflake photo frame for the center of my layout. I’m finding this punch to be very versatile, and it’s currently one of my favorite tools. You can use this technique with any of our circle punches. If you don’t have a circle punch, just use the Custom Cutting System with the Circle Patterns. Please see the instructions below for other substitution suggestions.
To Make My Layout:
1. Cut designer paper to 11” x 11-1/4” 2. Cut two 4” x 4” photo mats from Rich Brown Cardstock, and arrange on the lower left of the designer paper. 3. Center the largest Circle Pattern from the Custom Cutting System above the two photo mats leaving enough of an edge to cut around. Use the Blue Blade on the outside edge to cut-out a circle. 4. Use the 12” Trimmer to cut the designer paper vertically from the center of the cut-out circle. 5. Adhere the two pieces of designer paper to a sheet of Rich Brown Cardstock. Position the pieces 3/8” from the outside edges and ¼” from each other. 6. Use the Dotted Leaf Circle Punch to punch a circle from a 6” x 6” piece of White Cardstock. You may also use the Floral Circle Punch or the Ornate Arches Circle Punch. Substitution Idea 1: If you don’t have a circle punch, you may use the Custom Cutting System with the largest Circle Pattern and Red Blade on the outside edge to cut a circle instead. Substitution Idea 2: You may also use the Custom Cutting System with the medium Circle Pattern and Blue Blade on the outside edge to cut a circle from White Cardstock. Use the Baroque Border Punch to punch around the white circle. 7. From the cut-out circle of designer paper, use the Custom Cutting System with the medium Circle Pattern and Red Blade on the outside edge to cut a circle. 8. Use the Custom Cutting System with the smallest Circle Pattern and Green Blade on the outside edge to cut a circle from Rich Brown Cardstock. Use the Custom Cutting System with the smallest Circle Pattern and Red Blade on the outside edge to cut your photo. Adhere to the brown circle. 9. Assemble layout as shown.
Here’s a peek at a second layout created with this technique. Please see Creative Life Scrapbooking on Facebook for the full photo.
If you enjoy virtual crops, you may wish to join me and my scrappy friends at Creative Life Scrapbooking for our January PJ Party virtual crop on Friday, January 29th. This is the beginning of our 6th year of hosting virtual crops, and we’re excited to incorporate a Zoom component to this event! During the PJ Party, we’ll be sharing 8 exclusive double-page layouts with printable handouts and live instructions on Zoom. The sessions will be recorded, so you’ll be able to access the materials later if you’re not able to crop along on the 29th. Please see our registration form for more info.
On February 19-21, I’m hosting my own Virtual Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat. As “The World Awaits” for the pandemic to end and get back to “normal”, grab your passport for fun and join my Virtual Scrapbooking Weekend Retreat! We’ll have fun with a travel themed retreat as we daydream and plan the first trips that we’ll take after the pandemic ends. The virtual retreat will feature live page classes and Scrap & Chat sessions on Zoom, video demos, product sales of discontinued and discounted CM items, challenges, door prizes, and a few fun games. All page classes will be recorded and include instructional handouts.
I will be using the new Boho Escape Collection from Creative Memories for my sample layouts that I share during our page classes. I will use this collection to create some general/everyday layouts and also some vacation layouts. If you would like to also use this collection, please order the Boho Escape Decorative Bundle through my Creative Memorieswebsite link. You may use other materials if you like.
There is a $25 fee to participate. Please pay using my Pay Pal link, or please contact me to mail a check. To Register To Pay
Thanks so much for visiting with me, and I’ll be back soon with more new layouts!
I LOVE the first snowfall of the year! We typically don’t get much snow at our home, so we’re always excited when it falls. We live in a wooded area, and the trees in our yard are so beautiful with a dusting of snow. The snow usually doesn’t last long, so we need to be quick with the camera. The very beautiful Winter Woods Collection from Creative Memories is perfect for creating lovely winter layouts! I love the woodsy theme and the soft shades of green, brown and white. The Winter Woods Stickers, Laser Cut Borders and Foiled Embellishments are absolutely gorgeous with winter greenery, woodland creatures with touches of gold foil. You can see and purchase the Winter Woods Collection through my Creative Memorieswebsite link.
For my first layout, I created a mason jar snow globe to use as a decorative embellishment piece. I used a Winter Woods Variety Mat for the center of my snow globe and a Winter Woods Laser Cut Border for the title across the top of my layout. If you like my mason jar snow globe, you might also like the mason jar layout that I created for National Scrapbook Day this year. Please see my post from August 7th for that layout.
To Create My Layout: 1. Cut a hollow frame from a sheet of Brown Cardstock for the background. 2. Cut a sheet of Winter Woods Paper to 11-1/2″ x 11-1/2″ and adhere to the background. 3. Use the Custom Cutting System with the smaller of the Rectangle Cutting Patterns and Green Blade on the outside edge to cut a rectangle from White Shimmer Cardstock. Use the same pattern and the Red Blade on the outside edge to cut a Winter Woods Variety Mat. Outline the variety mat piece using a Brown Dual-Tip Pen. 4. Use the Custom Cutting System with the smaller of the Rectangle Cutting Patterns and Red Blade on the outside edge to cut two partial rectangles from White Shimmer Cardstock. Tear the tops of the cardstock pieces to create snowdrifts for the inside of your snow globe. 5. To create the lid, cut a 2-1/2″ x 1″ rectangle from Platinum Shimmer Cardstock. Use your scissors to slightly round the corners. Draw lines with a Brown Dual-Tip Pen. 6. Create a raffia bow by wrapping a very thin 1/16” strip of Brown Cardstock around two of your fingers to make loops. Using another thin strip of paper, carefully tie a knot in the center. Pull as tight as you can without tearing your paper. You will have better results with thinner paper. Adhere the bow with a Foam Square. Add Winter Woods Foil Embellishments to the snow globe. 7. Tie thin 1/16″ strips of Brown Cardstock through the holes in the Laser Cut Border title piece and adhere to the page. 8. From Brown Cardstock, cut 6-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ photo mats. 9. Cut a Winter Woods Variety Mat to use as a small journaling box.
My second layout is a new version of a simple tree layout that I shared earlier this week with Creative Life Scrapbooking on Facebook. My first version was a Christmas tree in bright colors. I loved the layout so much that I wanted to recreate it as a woodland tree. This is a quick and fun layout, and you can use a variety of different papers, Border Punches, and Border Maker Cartridges for different effects. You can also use stickers for some of your strips!
To Create My Layout: 1. Cut a hollow frame from a sheet of Brown Cardstock. 2. Cut a sheet of Winter Woods Paper to 11-1/2″ x 11-1/2″ and adhere to the frame. 3. Cut a 3/8” x 10-1/2” strip from Brown Cardstock to use as the tree trunk. 4. Cut strips from a variety of designer paper in varying widths and heights. My strips from top down are: 2-1/2” x ½”; 3-1/2” x ½”; 4-1/4” x 6/8”; 5” x ½”; 5-1/2” x 6/8”; and 6” x ½”. 5. Punch borders using Border Punches and the Original Border Maker System with a variety of Border Maker Cartridges. My borders are: Songbirds Border Punch 3-1/2”; old Winter Vine Border Punch 5-1/2; and old Winter Vine Border Punch 6”. 6. Punch and add a star with a Foam Square. 7. Wrap a very thin 1/16” strip of cardstock, around two of your fingers to make loops. Using another thin strip of paper, carefully tie a knot in the center. Pull as tight as you can without tearing your paper. You will have better results with thinner paper. Adhere the bow with a Foam Square. 8. My photo mats are 4-1/4” x 6-1/4” and 4-1/4” x 4-1/4”.
You may purchase the Winter Woods Collection, the Custom Cutting System and Patterns, and the Songbirds Border Punch through my Creative Memorieswebsite link.
I hope that you’re able to experience a beautiful snowfall this winter! Thanks much for visiting with me today!
