Happy Easter Milk Carton - The Cutting Cafe

Happy Wednesday everyone! I am here with another great project for The Cutting Cafe. This week I worked with the Easter Milk Carton. Along with this template there is the option of having a window in the front in the shape of an egg or an adorable rabbit. It also comes with these sweet printable tags........

This little treat box can be filled with your favourite Easter treats and given to someone special!

Instead of using the window, I made a scalloped tag and used a sticker that matched my papers. I wrapped some bakers twine around the scalloped circle to add some texture.

I used an embossed Easter egg border sticker for the trim along the bottom of the carton.

I added a matching strip of paper to create the top of my carton and tied some more twine around the top to secure it. This piece of twine can be slipped off so the carton can be opened to fill it, or eat what is inside.

I hope you will visit The Cutting Cafe and check out this Easter Milk Carton. You can also check out their blog and see what the other members of the design team have created this week. Click here (the post will be up some time today).

Natural Beauty - Sketch Support

After last weeks break, we are back with the March Card Sketch on the Sketch Support blog. Can you believe that it is March?

As you all know, I am not much of a card maker, so I decided to make this into a 2-page layout. Here is the sketch that I started with. You can download it on the Sketch Support blog.

Using this sketch, I created my first layout using photos from my recent trip to California. These photos were taken on our second last day. We went hiking in the mountains in Malibu! It was a wonderful experience and I am so glad that I got to share it with Jason & David.

This is the part of the layout that resembles the sketch. I used a new collection from Little Yellow Bicycle called Paradise. I just love all the awesome papers that come in this line and this was a good way to get a little piece of each one. I stitched each square with brown floss (that took a little bit of time) and added some of the chipboard accents to the bottom to replace the message on the sketch.

I also stitched through some of the chipboard elements. This is easier than you may think.

I created a little banner element at the top of my page and added a zig zag stitch along the top.

The title was hand cut from one of the papers. I included a couple of the flowers from the paper as well (that's okay, right? After all, I am a girl). I added a button to the center because my BFF believes that no layout is complete without a button or two.

I kept the journaling 'short & sweet' on this page. There will be many more pages that follow this one that will tell the story of our day.

I dug into my stash of brads and added a few along the border strip. This is a great way to add some dimension to a page.

If you have some time, be sure to stop over to the Sketch Support blog and check out all the cards/creations using this card sketch.

Most Amazing Friends - The Cutting Cafe

This week at The Cutting Cafe we had the opportunity to play with the 4 Leaf Clover Shaped Card! The file comes with the template for the card and also a couple of printable images.

I decided to try to make a layout using the clover instead of making a card. The 'friends' sentiment gave me the idea to scrapbook a photo of Jay and David.....they are the most amazing friends.

I used the optional layering pieces that come with the set. I added some stitching (surprise, eh?) and added the sentiment to the center of the clover. I embellished the center with a matching brad.

Jay and David really are the most amazing friends. They are almost eighteen and I hope they continue to be the best of friends through their adult life. This title seemed appropriate.

I found matching chipboard that went with this collection (Echo Park-This & That Charming) that had the word 'brothers' on it. We include David in our family, like a son (and that would make Jay and David brothers). Everywhere they go, they are asked it they are brothers. I created another cluster to reflect that part of their friendship too.

After I was finished the layout I wanted to add some 'splats' of mist or paint. I masked off the photo area and attempted to splatter the background. I wanted to have larger spots instead of a misted look. I really like the effect it created. I also outlined my layout with thin black lines using a black marker.

I hope you will visit The Cutting Cafe blog and see what the other team members have been creating.

I Am Being Published!

I am more than excited to say that I am being published in 2 upcoming magazines! Just before I left for CHA I received an email letting me know that I was chosen to appear in the Spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today! This is a dream come true.

If that wasn't amazing enough.......a couple of weeks ago I received a second invitation to appear in the Summer issue of Canadian Scrapbooker. To top it off, Joanne will be appearing in that magazine too!

The Spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards comes out at the end of this month. I will show off my copy when it arrives.......until then, it is 'out for publication'.

Happy Easter Basket!

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a new cutting file and I couldn't wait to use it. Easter is just around the corner and I wanted to try making this Easter basket.

I was pretty easy to put together and it is really durable and sturdy.

It is made entirely of paper. I added some buttons for decoration around the rim and filled it with kraft crinkled paper.

I printed out this tag and tied it to the basket with some white floss and added a white ribbon bow.

We are going to run a class at Two Scrapbook Friends and you can make one of your own.