Currently Layout

Good morning! Today I'm sharing a layout that was inspired by this acrylic word piece that came in a Studio Calico kit. I've never made a currently layout, but given that there's been a lot going on lately, and I want to remember the little details of right now. I've also been trying to use more items from my stash because nobody needs as many embellishments as I have and haven't used.

I wanted to make a 6x12 layout for this because I knew I didn't have enough currently items to make a full 12x12, and I've been wanting to make a 6x12 for a while now (Thanks again Ali Edwards). I wanted to create a haphazard grid of labels on the bottom portion of the layout and put a different currently item in each label.

I made a photo collage that fit with a few of the items on my Currently list. I decided to print it in black and white to go with my neutral colour scheme.

 I tried to keep a similar distance between the labels and decided to keep it rather neutral. I thought about adding a colourful embellishment or two, but decided on just black white and grey.

 I love the little chipboard NOW piece, and put it on foam squares to make it pop off the page. I love the variety of shape and size of labels.I love that my handwriting doesn't look the same on all of the labels, and the variety of directions of writing.

Thanks for coming by to see my spread. I hope it inspires you to create a longer Currently list. You can use items from this list, or make your own. Make a layout using the list in a way you might not normally work, or try a new technique on your page.
Have a great weekend!
-Alexandria

Black & White Mini Album | Socks

Today I'm sharing another mini album. Since I made one for Gracie, I decided that I needed to also make one for Socks. I actually made this one around the same time, but decided to delay sharing it until now. I was hoping that I'd have other projects to share in the middle, but I just ended up making more mini albums. Of course.

Originally I was going to keep this one strictly black and white (socks is a black and white tuxedo cat), but soon found that black or white embellishments were minimal in m stash, so I added a bit of gold to the mix. The white frame is from a Freckled Fawn embellishment kit, the heart in the middle is from an ephemera pack I had in a bowl on my desk. Label and alphas from my stash and Heidi Sawpp gold mist.

For the most part, I kept my pages pretty simple. Using only black and white papers and adding in little gold pieces here and there.

As with Gracie's album, I wanted to capture his personality, and a few of his favourite spots in this album. Most of these pictures are from when he lived at my moms house because I don't have many recent pictures of him.

I tried to journal on almost every page. With either a memory, or some personality quirk of his. Like sleeping in weird spots (around items on the table, on the top bunk of the bed my sister and I used to share, etc.).

I also wanted to include things he likes. On this page it happened to be that he likes to chew on things that crinkle. In this case it was a granola bar wrapper.

Socks was MY cat. I cuddled him, he sometimes slept with me, we hang out sometimes still and watch Netflix in the basement, or I read and he curls up in my lap. Unfortunately him and Gracie don't get along, AT ALL, so he's locked in the basement, and Gracie is upstairs. I keep saying that maybe one day they'll get along, but Gracie is older and stuck in her ways, while socks is very territorial. Ah well, most children don't get along either.

Thanks for coming to check out this mini album.
Have a great day!
-Alexandria

You did it!

A coworker of mine graduates highschool at the end of the month. We decided that we'd give her a card and a small gift to celebrate her achievement, and so I made this lovely card for her.

Using an additional left over piece from yesterday's Father's Day cards, stamped swirls along the edges and 'you did it!' in the bottom right corner.

Here you can see a close up of the double twine bow and the swirls. There's a piece of black and white striped paper between the flowers and the front sheet to break it up a little. I could have simply used a plain black piece. 

And a close up of the swirls. The left side was stamped once using brown and black ink to make it a little lighter. The ones on the bottom were stamped with brown over the edge and then black along the edge.

And there you have it! I consulted with Jon a lot on this card. He was more than happy to help me coordinate things and I really think this card is more of him than me. He altered my original idea, and made it better. That's why I love him!

Have a wonderful day!

-Alex

Happy Birthday

For whatever reason, when it comes to making cards lately, I get stuck. But I recently made some birthday cards I'd like to share. They were inspired by ones I saw on Pinterest, but are different in some ways.

Each card is also a great way to use up some of those scrap pieces you have from other cards. Which is what I used for every one of them! It's one way to clean out your scraps box!

This first one is the first one I've made using my bicycle stamps. I believe I got them at Michaels for those of you interested in picking up some! I also used my Martha Stewart circle cutter to cut the circle for the bike and the navy circle behind it.

This one, I hate now. I struggled with the twine because it ended up being too long then too short, then it wouldn't stay in place. I used a glue pen to secure the twine to the card. I secured it at the bows and in the middle, and now I wish I had secured it all the way across.

After I made the first one, I wanted to make more of it. but I lost my "d" stamp and birthday was too long in the capital lettters, so I had to change the bottom font (after I'd already put the happy down, of course). Then after I took this photo, I fixed up birthday and filled in all the light parts and made it look better.

With a couple of the left over banner pieces I made this card, which was inspired by a Father's Day card. They had the ties where I have the banners. I actually love this card so much! I might make even more of it!

That's all I've made recently, aside from a few failed Father's Day cards. I only need to make 2 of them by Sunday, and I can't even make one. Hopefully tomorrow goes better!

Have a wonderful day loves!