CSI Case File 162 for Creative Embellishments!!!!!

Hello fellow crafters!!  Brandi here again with another layout created as guest designers from Creative Embellishments for CSI this month!  Here's a look at the case:

And here is my take (all evidence and testimony is in red):

This is a picture of the hubs and I on our one year wedding anniversary :-)  I used the Simple Stories "Homespun" collection which matched the scene perfectly!!!

I started with a textured solid white cardstock base and lightly splattered black distress ink across the page.  I used a circle stencil from the Crafters Workshop and distress markers to add circles in random areas.  

I mixed some molding paste with Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink in "Butterscotch" until I achieved my desired yellow color, I used the paste mixture over a Tim Holtz Sunburst layering stencil to the left of my photo!

I outlined all my papers with a thin black sharpie (one of my favorite techniques) to help the colors stand out against the all white background.  I used the Circle Bokeh Stamp and Versa Ink to clear emboss the pattern on my chipboard photo frame from the Together Frame Set. After heated, I used Ranger distress ink, Lindy's Flat Black Tornado, and Black Soot distress ink to color the piece. I dried it, then misted with homemade glimmer mist (made from water and perfect pearls) for some  shimmer :-)

I used the same black ink to color the "Love" title from the Everlasting Love title set (the smaller one) and various sticker letters from the collection to make my title (inspired by the "space" theme).  

I did my journaling in the "Q&A" format :-)  

I finished the page with some flowers by Prima and Petaloo, stickers, and die-cuts from the collection! 

Well gang...  Thanks so much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

Tutorial Tuesday with Frosted Designs: How to Create a Pocket Mini Album!!!

Hello again crafters!  It's Brandi here today with a quick and easy tutorial on making a simple pocket mini album using this month's "Spring Gardens" kit for your favorite photos, sayings, inspirational quotes, etc.

Here's a look at the completed album:

And here's the tutorial:

Check out How to Create a Pocket Mini Album by Brandi Matos on Snapguide.

Well gang....  Thanks so much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

**Thrilled** to be Guest Designer at Scrap Around the World!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello friends!!!  I am here today with some very exciting news....  I was asked to be Guest Designer over at Scrap Around the World this month!!!!!!  Can you believe it?!?  I am still in disbelief!  Hahahaha!!!!

"Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful" with Authentique "Flourish" Collection

I was asked to create something fabulous (of course!) using the following moodboard:

Like all of their moodboards, this is absolutely amazing!!!  I love the colors, the pop of gold,  the stems/posts in the shoes, and well, everything!

So without further ado, here is my page:

This is an older picture of my daughter taken a few years back.  She was so perfectly posed for the pictures!!!  

To start my page, I grabbed a pice of white Bazzil cardstock and started to "build my page".  I used various gelatos, stencils with molding paste, mists, sprays, stamps, etc.  I wanted to mimic the stems/posts in the shoes shown in the inspiration photo, so I tried (my hardest) to make semi-straight lines across the page with my gelatos.  I used a bit of water to get them to blend a bit better. After everything dried, I went to work embellishing!  I added strips of paper (also to mimic the "lines") across the page, simply tearing them as I went along.

I used a gold and pink gelato to color my chipboard pieces from 2 Crafty Chipboard (Thank you SATW and 2 Crafty for my fabulous prize!!!).  I also added some liquid pearls around them for accents!  I used various flowers from my stash to add detail around my photograph.  The resin pieces are from this month's kit over at Frosted Designs and went beautifully with this page!

I finished the page with a title chipboard piece which was coated with gesso, then colored with the pink and gold gelatos, and misted with Lindy's starburst sprays!

Well gang... Thanks soooo much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

Upcycling using Heidi Swapp Collection and wood veneer trays for CMS!!!!

Hey there fellow crafters!!!  Happy August!!!  Yes, that's right... It is already August!!  And that means wonderful new challenges with fabulous inspiration for you :-)

"Beautiful New Day" with Heidi Swapp "Hello Today" Collection

First up is an altered wood veneer tray I made for this month's color combo at Color Me Scrappy!  

Here's a look at the challenge:

I recently purchased the Heidi Swapp "Hello Today" Paper Pad from the Frosted Designs Store and have fell in love!  Anyone who has seen my crafting for any period of time knows that I LOVE Heidi Swapp!!!  So, of course I had to put it to good use!  

Any who, here's a look at what I came up with:

Can you believe this is an altered wood veneer tray?!?  You know those small wooden trays your beautiful, laser cut wood veneers come in?!? Yep, that's what this is!
We had to incorporate something we "love" into our project and I LOVE life!!!  Every single day is a blessing!  So I made an inspirational wall hanging for my craft area (which also happens to be my "office") to remind me that every day is beautiful!
I started by painting my piece with a coral color, splattering blue Lindy's mist on it, then coating it with gesso to tone it down a bit!

I used mod podge (matte) to adhere my papers down, then began to embellish!  I cut the words "live, laugh, and love" using my Cricut Explore, then treated them with a coat of gesso and colored them with various gelatos.  



I grabbed one of the resin clocks from last month's kit at Frosted Designs and inked it with distress ink and a gold metallic gelato.  I also added flowers by Petaloo for added detail!



I finished the hanging with some ribbon and additional flowers!

There you have it guys!!  Upcycling can be fabulous!!!!

"Enjoy this Moment" with Heidi Swapp "Hello Today"
Next on the list is a scrapbook layout I created for the new A Cutt Above the Rest blog!!! This blog is dedicated to the ACA Store which provides all sorts of cut files and png files for your die-cut machines!
Here's a look at my first layout for the blog:

I did a simple page here using the same collection listed above!  I wanted to keep it simple to show off the amazing cut file I used!

Isn't it amazing?!?  I added some gold liquid pearls to accentuate the die-cut and make it stand out more against the background and finished the page with some flowers by Petaloo!

You can find this, and MANY more cut files in the shop here!

Well gang...  Thanks soooo much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

Summer Time Beach Totes with Prima's Seashore Collection!!!

Hello there crafters!!  It's Brandi here popping in to share some projects I recently made using the fabulous Prima Seashore Collection in store!!

Summer is in full swing here in the Sunshine State which means warm HOT weather, tons of sun, and weekend trips to the beach!!  And what better way to celebrate summer than with these fabulous beach totes?!?

This is also my second entry to the Creative Embellishments June Challenge.  The challenge is to draw inspiration from the following photo:

I just love this picture and everything about it!!  Being raised in the Sunshine State means salt water runs through my veins!! ;-)  I was simply drawn to the nautical theme!!!

Aren't they adorable?!?  I used my Cricut Explore machine and some purse SVG's from SVG Cuts to cut everything out!  Then I scored and inked all the appropriate edges and started putting it all together :-)

I added several chipboard pieces from the coordinating chipboard pack, inking all the edges along the way :-)  I also used some of the Petaloo flowers (which match this collection PERFECTLY!!) in store to add some detail!

I finished the bags with some hemp cord, and the large tote with some lace form my stash!

Easy peasy, right?!?  And perfect for this time of year :-)

Well gang...  Thanks so much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

Products used from the Frosted Designs Store:

Prima Seashore Collection Kit

Prima Seashore Chipboard

Mixed Texture Blossoms - Ivory

Mixed Texture Blossoms - Teal

InLinkz.com

Frosted Designs Friday Challenge with Prima Seashore Collection!!!

Hello all and happy Friday!!!  It's time for another wonderful Friday challenge over at Frosted Designs!!!

This challenge is to create any type of project using the following moodboard:

Isn't it lovely?!?  The NEW Prima Seashore Collection in store was perfect for this challenge!!!!

I also used the month's card sketch from Cardabilities:

Here's a look at a card I made:

I'm truly in love with the colors and soft patterns in the collection!!!  

I started with a Kraft Base for my card and began cutting up the papers I wanted to use, inking the edges of each with Prima's Knotted Wood ink.  After layering up my papers, I started adding some coordinating chipboard pieces, inking them up as well!

I used the word stickers from the collection to create my sentiment, adding various other stickers and a metal clip also!

I finished the card with a dragonfly I created using the new Prima Wire Thread in store!!!  This stuff is really fun to play with... The possibilities are endless!!!!

So there you have it!!!  A quick and easy card using nothing but wonderful products from the Frosted Designs Store!!!

Well gang...  Thanks so much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)