Whew, April was a looong month! For more reasons that one – huh? But we made it through 5 weeks of self-quarantining and scrapbook challenges! I’ve really enjoyed our Home-Bound Throw-Down, and I hope that you have also. I’m a little sad to leave it behind, but I’m looking forward to new scrapping events and opportunities. Please follow me on Facebook at Karyn’s Croppers to participate in my new Zoom classes on Thursdays in May and also our Karyn’s Croppers Virtual National Scrapbook Dayworkshop on Saturday, May 9th.
My 9th challenge for the Home-Bound Throw-Down features a way to use up scraps of paper and have with a combo of border punches and Border Maker cartridges. I’m still using the Spring Medley collection from Creative Memories, and I must say that it’s one of my favorites from the past year.
To make my layout:
1. Cut strips of paper in varying widths and 1″ high.
2. From cardstock, punch a variety of borders using border punches and the Original Border Maker System. I used Navy, Cloud, Peacock and Deep Sea Green Cardstock with the Cable Chain and Spring Leaf Chain Border Maker Cartridges and the Flower Child, Songbirds, and Lace Trim Border Punches.
3. Triple mat your photo to give it extra depth and dimension.
4. Adhere Spring Medley Stickers and Embellishments with Foam Squares.
For my 10th and final Home-Bound Throw-Down challenge, I created another layout for my Covid-19 project. This layout will feature a photo of my husband and me on our front porch. As you might be aware, there is a movement that is encouraging folks to have family photos taken on front porches to document their experience sheltering at home. Neighbors are taking photos for neighbors, and professional photographers are offering this service. If you search Facebook and/or Instagram, you’ll find heartwarming to creatively hilarious family photos that document this time. I haven’t yet decided what our pose might be, but I plan to ask our neighbor to take our photo soon.
This layout features the NEW 12″ Trimmer Stamping Blade. I can not sing enough good praises for the 12″ Trimmer from Creative Memories! I’ve been scrapbooking for a long time, and this is the BEST trimmer that I’ve used. If you haven’t yet seen the trimmer, please click on this link to view a video that describes it’s features and benefits. In addition to a straight blade, we have currently have 7 specialty blades that cut a variety of patterns. The new Stamping Blade cuts a postage stamp edge.
To create my layout:
1. Cut a variety of Spring Medley Designer Paper to 2″ x 4″ and 2″ x 1-1/2″ sizes using the 12″ Trimmer with the Stamping Blade.
2. Decorate a 6-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ photo mat with punched pieces from the Branch Border Punch. Adhere the branches with small Foam Squares cut in half.
3. Create a bird’s nest by layering two pieces punched with the Pine Cone Punch and trimming with scissors to shape. Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch two birds, cut apart with scissors and adhere inside of the nest.
4. Add a Spring Medley Variety Mat for journaling and Spring Medley Stickers with Foam Squares. (I LOVE how the sentiments on these stickers are perfect for my porch photo!)
You may purchase any of the tools and/or materials that I used on my Creative Memories website. (Please note that the Branch Border Punch and Pine Cone Punch are retired items. But please contact me if you would like to purchase them as I have a few in my personal inventory.)
Hello and welcome to ourCreative Life Scrapbooking 2020 Winter Blog Hop! Eight of our nine members are sharing a variety of scrapbooking layouts and ideas today, and I’m excited to be the first stop on our hop! Just follow the links at the bottom of my post to continue on our 2020 Winter Blog Hopto see more great ideas.
I used the Winterberry Collection from Creative Memories to make some winter layouts to share with you. This collection is full of pale blue and muted purple tones and was perfect for some photos from a winter photo shoot of my son and his family.
My first layout is a double-page spread that is based on a sampler grid pattern. The first page of my layout is hanging in my kitchen on my old Everyday Display Frame, and I enjoy looking at each day. I used the Platinum Shimmer Cardstock as the base of this layout and a variety of punches that Creative Memories released this winter.
To make my layout:
1. Cut twelve 3-1/2″ x 2-1/8″ pieces of Navy Cardstock.
2. Cut twelve 3-1/4″ x 1-7/8″ pieces of Winterberry Paper.
3. Cut four 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″ photo mats from Navy Cardstock.
4. Cut two 2″ x 6-1/4″ pieces of Navy Cardstock.
5. Cut two 1-3/4″ x 6″ pieces of Winterberry Paper (I used the tree print paper.).
6. From Navy Cardstock, use the Pine Cone and Pine Tree Punches to punch 8 pinecones and 8 pine trees.
7. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Crystal Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch 2 borders from Navy Cardstock. Cut apart into four 3-1/4″ pieces.
8. Use the Charming Village Border Punch to punch a border from Navy Cardstock and cut apart into two 1-3/4″ pieces. If you don’t have this punch, you could substitute with the Original Border Maker System with Evergreen Border Maker Cartridge.
9. Assemble onto Platinum Shimmer Cardstock as shown adding Winterberry Stickers with Foam Squares.
For my second layout, I created a frosty scene with the lovely tree print paper, a combination of punches, a laser border piece and the unexpected use of Brown Cardstock – and I’m quite pleased with the result! The Branch Border Punch and the Pine Cone Punch were limited edition punches that were only available through a promo this fall and then later available to purchase for a very short time. If you missed out on these punches, please contact me as I have a few in my personal inventory. I’ve gotten a lot of use out of both of these punches and shared a variety of borders made with them in my December blog posts.
To make my layout:
1. Cut the tree print paper to 11″ x 11″ and adhere onto a hollow frame of 12″ x 12″ Brown Cardstock.
2. Adhere a 12″ x 1-1/4″ strip of blue dot paper to the top of the layout.
3. Use the Branch Border Punch to punch two borders from Brown Cardstock and use the Silver Dual-Tip Pen to add ice to the branch pieces.
4. For the top border, adhere the icicle Laser Cut Border Embellishment to the branch piece and adhere the completed piece to the layout with Foam Squares. Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch birds from Crimson Cardstock, cut the birds apart with scissors, and adhere the birds to the branch.
5. From Brown Cardstock, cut two 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″ photo mats.
6. Trim the second branch piece to 9″ and adhere to the bottoms of your photos. Use the Pine Cone Punch to punch pinecones from White and Brown Cardstock. Layer and adhere to the layout with Foam Squares. Add a punched out bird piece.
7. Add title sticker.
My next layout is super sweet but yet easy to assemble and shows off the incredibly beautiful Winterberry Laser Cut Border Embellishments. I also used the Dazzle Border Punch which depending upon how you use it, can give you a sweet, elegant or playful look to your layout.
To make this layout:
1. Cut a 12″ x 3-3/4″ piece of white cardstock, and punch one end with the Dazzle Border Punch. Adhere two Laser Cut Border Embellishments to the top of the border.
2. Cut two 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″ photo mats from the blue dot paper.
3. Use the Custom Cutting System with the large and small hearts from the Gemstone Cutting Patterns to cut hearts from white cardstock and a Winterberry Variety Mat using the Red Blade on the outside edge of each cutting pattern.
4. Using the Songbirds Border Punch, punch birds from light blue paper.
5. Assemble layout as shown adding stickers with Foam Squares.
6. Add blue dots and journaling to the large white heart with a blue pen.
The Winterberry Variety Mats are especially lovely, and I used one on my layout below. On top of the mat, I layered some Winterberry Stickers and songbird punch-outs to create a beautiful focal point.
To make my layout:
1. Cut a 5″ x 12″ piece of the light purple paper and layer on the right side of the botanical print paper.
2. Use the Dazzle Border Punch to punch borders from light purple and light blue papers. Trim to 2-1/2″, layer the pieces, and adhere to the left side of the layout. Add a Winterberry Laser Cut Embellishment piece.
3. Cut photo mats to 3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″, and use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch one bird section and adhere with Foam Squares.
4. Add a Winterberry Variety Mat and layer with a photo and photo mat cut with the Custom Cutting System with the smallest Circle Pattern with the Red and Green Blades.
5. From a dark purple variety mat, use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch a bird piece. Trim to 4-1/2″ and adhere with Foam Squares. Add stickers with Foam Squares.
You may purchase the Winterberry Collection and most of the tools that I used on my Creative Memories website. Please note that the Branch Border Punch, the Pine Cone Punch, and the Charming Village Border Punch are retired items. If you would like to purchase a Branch Border Punch or Pine Cone Punch, please send me a message as I have a few in my personal inventory.
Thanks so much for visiting with me today! I hope that I provided a little inspiration for your winter photos. Please follow the links below to continue on our Creative Life Scrapbooking 2020 Winter Blog Hop and enjoy!
Hello! Today I’m sharing a double-page layout that I created with the Genuine Paper and Stickers from Creative Memories. I originally shared this idea at our Creative Life Scrapbooking PJ Party (virtual crop) last week. This new collection is great for your masculine and outdoor photos. It features shades of green and blue but also has pops of ivory, burnt orange and poppy red. The paper consists of small neutral prints along with plaid, stripes, houndstooth, and wood-grain prints.
The tools that I used mimic the forest background of my photos and really brought my layout to life. CM’s new Timeless Tweed Border Maker Cartridge is obviously great for masculine layouts and coordinates nicely with the Genuine Collection, but I also envision using it for playful layouts featuring my grandchildren. I also used my current favorite CM tool – the Pine Tree Punch. This punch sold out quickly when it was first introduced in October and is now back in stock. This is a must-have punch for outdoor and Christmas layouts. Please order it sooner than later as it will likely sell out again.
I designed my layout to conserve paper, so the backgrounds consist of strips of the green print paper and the wood-grained paper that have been taped together to create 12″ x 12″ sheets.
1. Cut 2 pieces of the light green paper to 12” x 9”.
2. Cut 2 pieces of the wood-grained paper to 12” x 3” and two more pieces to 12” x 1-1/5”.
3. Adhere the wood-grained pieces onto the light green pieces making two 12” x 12” pages for your backgrounds. Use your cutting mat to help you line-up the strips making sure that they’re straight and also that your finished piece measures 12″ x 12″. See photo below.
4. From brown cardstock, use the Original Border Maker with the Timeless Tweed Border Maker Cartridge to punch 4 borders and adhere as shown using the Repositional Tape Refill.
5. From the dark slate paper, use the Pine Tree Punch to punch 16 trees and adhere across the tops of your two pages. Use CM’s Repositionable Tape to help you get your trees in a straight line.
6. Cut a piece of dark green paper to 8-1/2” x 6-1/2” and adhere to your first page.
7. Cut 2 pieces of dark green paper to 12” x ¾” and adhere behind the tops and bottoms of photos on your second page.
8. Add a journaling box, Pine Cone punch-outs, and stickers as desired.
Thanks much for visiting with me today, and please let me know if you have any questions. You may purchase the tools and materials that I used on my Creative Memories website. (Remember to include the Pine Tree Punch in your order.)
I’ll be back at the end of the month with some winter layouts for our Creative Life Scrapbooking Winter Blog Hop. See you then!
Hello! I’m back with some layouts that I created using the Merry Little Christmas collection from Creative Memories. I had good intentions of getting this posted right around Christmas, but whew – life got busy! Better late than never – but I hope that you had been able to purchase the Merry Little Christmas items a few weeks ago before they sold out. This was a hugely popular collection for CM. Both of the embellishment packs sold out in October and were later re-introduced only to again sell out with the rest of the collection. The traditional red and green colors along with playful and trendy gnomes and traditional Christmas icons made this collection a sell-out! (If you don’t have the Merry Little Christmas items, you can still create my layouts using other materials.)
For my first layout, I used my favorite sheet of Merry Little Christmas paper – the mistletoe print. I also used our discontinued cranberry cardstock, but other shades of red would work. My layout is adorned with photo ornaments highlighted by pieces created with the Petal Frame Punch. Click here to view a video on how to use the Petal Frame Punch. To make my layout:
1. Cut a hollow frame from cranberry cardstock and adhere a piece of 11″ x 11″ mistletoe paper. Add faux pen stitching around the cranberry frame.
2. Punch two 4″ x 4″ and one 6″ x 6″ pieces of cranberry cardstock with the Petal Frame Punch.
3. Use the Custom Cutting System with the Circle Patterns and Red, Green and Blue Blades to cut photos into varying sizes. Mat photos with slightly larger white cardstock circle mats.
4. Add faux pen stitching to some of the photo frames.
5. Adhere some of the photos with Foam Squares.
6. Add Merry Little Christmas Stickers and Embellishments with Foam Squares.
For my second layout, I was again inspired by CM’s Petal Frame Punch but this time to create packages with bows. The present print paper is fun and playful and works well on this layout. I also used the Present Border Punch that was a promo item from CM last year. If you don’t have this punch, just substitute another punch such as the Dazzle Border Punch or the Lace Trim Border Punch that will create the look of bows across your layout. To make my layout:
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1. From black cardstock, cut 2 partial 1″ hollow frames. See photo below.
2. Cut a sheet of white cardstock into 2 pieces that measure 11-3/4″ x 6″ each.
3. Cut a sheet of present paper into 2 pieces that measure 11-3/4″ x 6″ each.
4. Adhere the pieces onto each other and the black frames to create your backgrounds.
5. From black cardstock, use the Present Border Punch (or other punch) to punch 2 borders. Adhere these pieces onto the center of your layout as shown in the photo above.
6. Add faux pen stitching to the white cardstock as shown.
7. From red cardstock, cut four 4″ x 4″ squares and two 6″ x 4″ rectangles. From black cardstock, cut four 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ squares and two 6-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ rectangles. Adhere red and black pieces together to make double-photo mats. Crop photos to 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and 5-3/4″ x 3-3/4″.
8. Cut variety mat to 4″ x 4″ and mat.
9. Punch around 4″ x 4″ squares of black cardstock with the Petal Frame Punch. Trim pieces with scissors to create bows for your packages.
10. Cut small squares from red cardstock to stack and use as journaling boxes.
11. Use the new 3-in-1 Scallop Tag Maker to make small 1″ tags to use as journaling boxes.
12. Add Merry Little Christmas Stickers and Embellishments using Foam Squares on some.
CM’s new 3-in-1 Scallop Tag Punch has been a popular seller. It creates tags in a variety of sizes that can be used as journaling boxes, photo mats, or embellishments. (For a fun activity with your kids and grandkids, use it to punch old Christmas cards to make tags for your presents next Christmas.) This layout can easily be adapted into a double-page layout. To make my page:
1. Cut the white print paper to 11-1/2″ x 3-1/4″ and 11-1/2″ x 1-1/2″. Cut green print paper to 11-1/2″ x 6-1/4″, and adhere the three pieces onto a sheet of 12″ x 12″ black cardstock. (I really liked using black cardstock with this collection.)
2. Use the 3-in-1 Scallop Tag Punch to punch two 2-1/2″ tags, and tuck them under the top edge of the green paper.
3. Add photos, embellishments, and stickers as shown adhering some with Foam Squares.
I really love the saying on the variety mat that I used on my layout above and knew that I had to use it with one of our annual family Christmas photos. To get a better view of everyone, I always enlarge my big group photos to 7″ x 5″. It’s not often that we get a complete family photo, and this photo from a few years ago is no exception. Quite a few family members are missing, but it still helps to commemorate our Christmas Day spent together. To play with the saying on the variety mat, I created a Christmas Tree from paper squares. To make my layout:
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1. From black cardstock, cut a 8-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ square, and then cut the square in half on the diagonal.
2. Cut 1″ squares from the mistletoe and tree print papers and adhere to the black triangle. Cut some pieces in half on the diagonal to fit on the ends of the rows.
3. From black cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch (also sold out) to punch 12 pine cones, layer pieces and adhere.
4 From red cardstock, use the Medallion Punch to punch 6 medallions and trim with your scissors. See photo below. Adhere top pieces with Foam Squares and add a black dot for the center.
5. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Ornaments Border Maker Cartridge to punch a border from red cardstock. (This cartridge sold out quickly when it was first introduced and is expected back in stock in mid-February.)
6. Use the Original Border Maker System with the (retired) Frame Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch a border from black cardstock and adhere the pieces behind the ornament border. If you don’t have this cartridge, you may use CM’s old Small Circle Maker to punch 3/4″ circles to place behind the ornaments.
7. Adhere the ornament border with Foam Squares.
8. Cut the variety mat to 4″ x 5″ and adhere to a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ black cardstock mat.
9. Mat photo with a 7-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ black cardstock mat.
10. Add Merry Little Christmas Embellishments with Foam Squares.
I had created my little gnome as a Make-N-Take item for my annual Holiday Open House in November and knew that I wanted to use him on the darling gnome print paper – my second favorite sheet in the paper pack. Although I created this as a single page, you can easily adapt into a double-page layout by duplicating the pieces onto a second sheet. To make this layout:
1. Cut white cardstock to 10-1/4″ x 9-1/4″”. (I cropped my photos to 5″ x 4″. If you use 6″ x 4″ photos, you may wish to cut a larger piece of white cardstock.)
2. Use the Dazzle Border Punch to punch the top edge of the white cardstock.
To create the gnome:
1. Cut the hat by using the Green Blade on the inside edge of the Diamond Cutting Pattern. Cut in half. Embellish hat with narrow strip for the rim and a punched piece of greenery.
2. Use Petal Frame Punch to punch three 4″ x 4″ pieces of grey cardstock. Use dark and light grey cardstock, and use the Metallic Silver Dual-Tip Pen to add dimension.
3. Cut the nose using the smallest oval pattern and the green blade on the inside edge, and chalk edge of nose with brown pen.
4. Adhere gnome with Foam Squares and add Merry Little Christmas Embellishments.
I hope that I’ve given you a few ideas for your Christmas photos and for some of CM’s newest tools! You may purchase most of the tools that I used through my personal CM link. I’ll be back again next month with some winter layouts. Take care until then!
Hello! Today I’m sharing a series of scrapbook borders that I created as a display at my recent Holiday Open House. I always say that Creative Memories has the best paper crafting tools on the market, and I believe that these borders are excellent proof. The one tool that I used in all of these borders was our new rotary 12″ Trimmer. In my over 20 years of scrapbooking, this trimmer is the best that I’ve seen. It is larger and more sturdy than most and has some handy and unique features. If you haven’t seen it yet, click here to view a video demonstration.
The borders below offer combinations of some of my more recent favorite stand alone and border punches.
Top Border:
1. Cut a 12″ x 3-3/4″ strip from White Cardstock and punch both sides with the Lace Trim Border Punch.
2. Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from Dark Green Cardstock.
3. Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from White Cardstock and punch both ends with the Petal Frame Punch. Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from Bronze Shimmer Cardstock and punch both ends with the Petal Frame Punch. Layer the pieces.
4. Punch a row of birds from Crimson Cardstock using the Songbirds Border Punch.
5. Cut a 12″ x 1/4″ strip from Brown Cardstock and layer over the birds.
6. From White and Brown Cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch to punch pine cones and layer.
7. Use the Winter Vine Punch to punch a border from Dark Green Cardstock and cut apart with scissors.
8. Adhere the pieces as shown.
Middle Border:
1. Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from Red Cardstock.
2. Cut 12″ x 3-1/4″ strip from White Cardstock.
3. From Brown Cardstock, use the Branch Border Punch to punch a border.
4. From Dark Green Cardstock, use the Winter Vine Border Punch to punch a border and cut apart with scissors.
5. From Bronze Shimmer and Brown Cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch to punch pine cones and layer.
6. Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch a bird from Red Cardstock.
7. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Bubble Border Cartridge to punch dots from Red Cardstock.
8. Assemble pieces as shown using a Foam Square to attach the bird.
Bottom Border:
1. Cut a 12″ x 2-1/2″ strip from Dark Green Cardstock.
2. Cut a 12″ x 2-1/4″ strip from Bronze Shimmer Cardstock.
3. From White and Brown Cardstock, use the Branch Border Punch to punch two branch pieces and layer.
4. From Dark Green Cardstock, use the Winter Vine Border Punch to punch a border and cut apart with scissors.
5. From Brown and Bronze Shimmer Cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch to punch pine cones. Layer and cut into bird nest shapes.
6. Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch birds from White, Gray, Red and Black Cardstock. Cut apart the bird pieces and assemble as shown.
7. Assemble border as shown.
Tags:
1. Use the new 3 in 1 Scallop Tag Punch to punch 2-1/2″ x 4″ tags.
2. Arrange a variety of pieces punched with the Branch Border Punch, Pine Cone Punch, and Songbirds Border Punch onto the tags.
3. The pine needles are the relief pieces punched with the Original Border Maker System and Simple Leaf Border Cartridge.
You may purchase the cardstock, 12″ Trimmer and most of the punches used on my Creative Memories website. For my customers in the Champaign/Urbana area, I have a limited number of Branch Border and Pine Cone Punches available for purchase.
Thanks much for visiting with me today, and check back as I’ll be sharing more border ideas soon.
