Pick of the Patch

We took the girls to their first pumpkin patch this year. As my journaling states: "I'm not sure whether you both had more fun picking pumpkins or playing with the wagon. Either way, you had a grand time!" They loved it. I can see this turning into an annual event.

I created this using the leftovers I had from my Indian Summer Deluxe Kit. The design of the layout was inspired by a friend's challenge to scraplift one of three layouts. This is the original one I chose to inspire mine. Scraplifiting is a great way to get a kick start if your scrapping mojo is no where to be found. Scraplifting can involve copying a layout exactly, choosing the same color scheme or choosing certain elements and then creating your own layout. It can certainly be a touchy subject, particularly when it involves selling your creations. However, for personal scrapping when giving credit to the original artist, you'll usually find they are quite flattered.

Yes, another new flower technique. This time, I bring you the Paper Roses. The instructions can be found here. Note, after reading the instructions, if you want a smaller Paper Rose, then you can use less heart cut-outs. I used Pearl Glimmer Mist for an overall shimmer to the rose and then Star Dust Stickles to line the edges with sparkles. Beautiful, no?

You can also see some of the Faux Stitching technique around the brown paper.

Paper Pumpkins are one of the easier paper pieced items. For these, I cut out three ovals of similar size, inked the edges and then layered the middle one over the back two. I also added Rock Candy Crackle Paint for a shine and cool crackle effect. I used some of the patterned paper from the kit to easily coordinate them with my layout.

I don't often emboss over photos, but I thought the upper edge really needed something since I didn't choose to run the punched mat border all the way around. The stamp is by Bo Bunny. Note: be very careful when you are using the heat gun to emboss on a photo. Continually run it back and forth or you will burn your photo.

I have seen a lot of people ruffling ribbons lately and I just love the look of it. So I took the gorgeous brown wired ribbon, from the kit and created this border for the bottom of my photo.

And now that I've had fun scrapping as quickly as I could this weekend, I must get back to my other life. The tax world......

Heart Full of Love

There are times when a quote just says it all. "Sometimes it's the smallest things that take up the most room in your heart." Surely, it's the truth with our two munchkins. What a gift these two are in our lives.

For this layout, for Lil' Lambs Boutique, I chose the Amber Road line of paper made by Pink Paislee. The colors and patterns are absoutely gorgeous.

So, are you ready to try another new technique? This time up for me...faux stitching. In my scrap room, I work on top of my sewing machine table and it is incredibly hard to clear everything off just to get my machine out. So I couldn't have been more pleased when I saw this technique from my friend, Mireille. To create her faux stitches, she punches holes in her paper first, marks over it with a black marker and then tops it off with a white pen. You can see below some of my attempts at her faux stitching technique. If you have a chance, you should check out some of her amazing work here. It's very inspiring.

I do enjoy cutting out parts of my pattern paper to use as die cuts. Remember, they're easily turned into dimensional embellishments by popping them up off the page with pop dots.

And here's a closer look at the zig zag Martha Stewart punch. I'm sure I might have mentioned before that I love these punches.

If you try the faux stitching technique, drop me a link in the comments section, so I can check out your work. Happy Scrapping!