Magnolia stamps

Volvo, ABBA, IKEA, H&M..and now you can add one more thing to the list of greatness coming from Sweden...Magnolia stamps. You know,Tilda and Edwin,the kids with no mouths (oboy! wouldn't that come in handy sometimes)
Wherever I turn I see these super popular stamps;
Ebay, Etsy and plenty of blogs.
They have really grown on me and I had to break down and order some;)
The Swedish website is www.magnolia.nu and from there you can go to the english web shop, the inspiration blog and the stamp club.



You can also order from www.magnoliastamps.us. They have soooo many stamps and awesome tutorials on how to paint those cute little kiddos. That's a science itself!



I have understood that the best markers to use are called Copic Markers, because they blend so good. Of course I wanted to go ahead and order those too, but the price for 36 markers was $179!!!?? I think I will start with using the kids Crayola markers..LOL! I really like that website www.magnoliastamps.us because they have an awesome selection and lots of tutorials as I said, but I didn't order from them. When I shop online it has to be easy and fast with as few clicks as possible. I don't think that website met that criteria.



I ordered my Magnolia stamps from www.hallmarkscrapbook.com. That's the site where I always order my Cricut cartridges from. They only had a handful of stamps, but it was more than enough for me. If I have too much to choose from I get indecisive and usually end up getting nothing.



So if you don't have any magnolia stamps yet and are thinking about buying some, I would recommend http://www.hallmarkscrapbook.com/.




Here are a few beautiful cards that I copied from Magnolias DT...I DID NOT MAKE THESE!

I know I will never be able to make pretty cards like that, but I will for sure try my best. I can't wait to get my stamps later this week and I might just show you how they turn out after I go wild with the Crayola markers...or maybe not:)

Tissue paper roses

I'm still sitting here in the hotel room with my fingers itching and I'm having major cutting withdrawals. So I just had to go and get myself some scissors. It was the best ones I ever had. So sharp and perfect for detailed cutting. I highly recommend Cutter Bee's scissors from EK success.

For the longest time I've been meaning to try to work with tissue paper and now was the perfect time. So with my new scissors, a glue stick and tissue paper I made some roses.

I made them exactly the same way as I did the rolled up card stock roses.

I'm almost positive that the tissue paper is not acid free so I don't know if I would put them on a layout. But they could look nice on a present.

I've been trying to find some spray that can make your projects acid free. Anyone has any idea what it's called and where I can find it?

I'm gonna go back to my scissors now and see if I can find something to cut up;)

What to do with paper scraps?

Someone once called me "queen of scraps", because I'm pretty good at using all those little leftover papers. I don't throw anything away when it comes to scrapbook papers.



Here are some different layouts where I used only scraps paper. Some of them are a little bit older and not very good, but just ignore that. I just want you to get some ideas for using all those small left over pieces.



Cut out CIRCLES ( by hand, with punches or a die cut machine)


Circles in a row:

Semi-circles:

Circles in clusters:

And then we have STRIPS.

Vertical strips:

Weaved strips:

Horizontal strips:

Tiny strips:

SQUARES are perfect for scraps. Here are first some with rounded corners:

Overlapping squares:

Color blocking:

OTHER SHAPES:

So dig out that scraps box and do a little frugal scrapbooking today!:)

Doodling

I've been bitten by the doodling bug! I can't seem to make a scrapbook page without any doodling. I think it looks so empty and bare without it;)

It does add a touch of homemade flair, don't you think?

I'm not big on swirls and flourishes: the only kind of doodling I do is more or less straight.


Here's a few different ones that I like; the top one is my favorite.



And then we have the stitching look-alike. If you want it to look more real, you can take a paper piercer and poke holes and then doodle in between. Hardly anyone will be able to tell it's not real sewing.

Here is a layout with lots of stitched doodles. I also doodled the letters. Just a few dots, but I think it adds so much.

Here are some funky looking ones;

I used the top one in this layout;

Another favorite is this one; just draw two lines and then fill in some squares in between.

I used it here around the picture. Again I doodled the letters. I love white doodling on black!

So, if you haven't tried to doodle before- go ahead and give it a try.

I use a very fine tip and usually black, but you can of course use any color and size of the marker. There is no right and wrong in doodling. Plus it's not suppose to look perfect...it's handmade! So go and doodle away!

Journaling help

I'm guessing that we all have problems with journaling now and then..we often leave it blank to be filled out later, which usually never happens. I have given myself a rule; all my scrapbook pages has to have some sort of journaling.

When I have already done a gazillion layouts about the kids, it can be tricky to come up with something new to write. That's when quotes and poems come in handy.

And who can be better to quote than Dr. Seuss. He was simply a genius!! I just love the way he puts it;simple and true!

Here's a few of my favorite Dr Seuss quotes:


“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”


“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”


"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"




“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own.And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.”


And who doesn't love this one:


"You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.”


But if I had to pick one absolute favorite it would be this one:


“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”





Here's a layout I made two years ago. A perfect Dr. Seuss quote for Elsa in deep thoughts. It's a scraplift from Memory Makers and Ginger Williams.





Here is one I did a few days ago based on a sketch from Inspired Blueprints.That quote is just perfect for Conrad. He is one of a kind.





Check out this website

to see more Dr. Seuss quotes. If you are running low on your own words, borrow somebody elses;)


Challenge yourself to use one of his quotes on a layout and then I would love to see it. If you don't think you can do it, I'll say this:



"And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!”

Brag book tutorial

I found a great tutorial for these brag books or pull-out scrapbooks over at Splitcoaststampers.

It's the first time I try something like this and it's rather easy.
They make perfect gifts! Maybe for Fathers Day.








For the first part you'll need:


a piece of 4" X 10" cardstock.
a piece of 4" X 10" patterned paper
2 pieces of 4" x 4" cardboard
about 18" of ribbon


At Splitcoaststampers they used chipboard coasters. I didn't have that so I just used cardboard.Take whatever cardboard you have; from a cereal box or something like that.




You can round all the corners of the 4 different pieces if you like.





Take the ribbon and glue it centered to the cardstock.

Then, glue the two pieces of cardboard to the cardstock as shown in the picture.

Also, take double sided tape across the center of the book. This is for the spine.

Adhere the patterned paper on top of the cardboard pieces. Now you are done with the first part of the book; the cover.

Next part is to do the pull-outs. For this you will need;

• two pieces of 3" x 12" cardstock or double sided patterned paper
• two pieces of 18" ribbons

Fold the paper in half and then half again. You will have a fold at 3", 6" and 9".

Glue the ribbon,centered, to one end of the pull-out. Do the same with the other piece. Then adhere the pull-outs with the ribbons,to your book. Make sure that they both open outwards.

Now you are basically done with your little scrapbook.:)

The fun part is left - to decorate;the cover and the pull-outs. I do both the inside and the outside of the pull-out, but that's totally up to you.

Here is one that I did with the June kit from Kraft Girl Kits:

If you give this a try, please let me know how it goes;)