Carpe Diem Planner | Simple Stories

Are you like me and go crazy for planners and accessories? I have probably 4-6 calendars on the go - 2 for family and bills, 1 for work, 1 for scrapbook projects that are due and 1 on my desk for misc stuff. Crazy! I love calendars but I also love planners. I do have a few planners and have experimented with quite a few.

If you haven't been online in the past few weeks I am here to tell you that Simple Stories has just released a new CARPE DIEM planner collection. YUP! This includes the planners and really awesome extras!

The Planners come in an A5 size which is smaller than a 6x8". They come in a variety of colors such as Black, Platinum, Coral, Aqua, Robin's Egg Blue, Coral and Pink.

I got the Aqua Planner - it is soooo beautiful! Yup, my favorite color ;-)

TheA5 Split Leather Planner includes: (1) metal charm, (12) monthly calendar pages, (12) monthly tabbed dividers, (72) weekly inserts (1) A5 Tablet and (6) assorted inserts.

Everything you need is in this planner! Of Course anything like stickers, bits & pieces and all kinds of accessories come separate.  

Amazing right?!  I have been playing with my planner for a few weeks now and really enjoying the decorating aspect of my pages. 

here are a few pictures of the planner pages. 

FUN or WHAT?! 

Here is a short video about the SImple Stories Carpe Diem Accessories 

Interested in a purchase? you can check your local scrapbook store or visit the simple stories website and click store locator . 

Black Friday Sale | Jillibean Soup

Cute & Cuddly | Jillibean Soup

My little cuties! These 2 little furry kids have been a blessing in many ways for my husband and I. They've helped us calm down, made us laugh, purr when we needed extra hugs and so much more.

This is a pocket page layout I created for Jillibean Soup using the Fur Fusion Collection. Tons of bright colors, and adorable diecuts!
This is so easy to make and a great way to add extra pics to a layout !!!

Supplies:
Jillibean Soup

Patterned Paper: Fur Fusion / Dancing Dogs, Fido Fun, Wild Whiskers,
Coordinating Stickers: Fur Fusion
Pea Pod Parts: Fur Fusion
Mini Placemats: Fur Fusion
Wood Veneers: Fur Fusion

Other:  Pocket Page Protector, Twine, Sewing Machine

Visit Jillibean Soup for more great projects!

School's Out | Jillibean Soup

I must admit, fewer than 2 years ago I was almost terrified to create cards. I found it intimidating at times, or maybe I just wasn't comfortable creating them. Since being on the Jillibean Soup design team I have literally loved making cards. It has allowed me to rethink in the card making process, and add something extra to my cards.

Are you a card maker? Do you use sketches? Where do you find inspiration? are you intimidated!? Care to share your thought on card creations?

Supplies: Jillibean Soup Alphabet Soup II 

Visit Jillibean Soup for more great projects!

You Are My A+ | Jillibean Soup

I'm sharing a card I created for Jillibean Soup today! It's a sweet back to school card - great for teachers!
I used a mini placemat and added a few diecuts - it was so easy to make!
You could have your kids create their own version for a teacher's gift!! right?!

Supplies:
Jillibean Soup

Patterned Paper: Alphabet Soup II / Spicy Vegetable Soup
Pea Pod Parts: Alphabet Soup II

Mini Placemats: Favorite 

Other:  Cardstock, Twine,  Glimmer Glaze

Visit Jillibean Soup for more great projects!

Christmas Cards | Just Nick

I am sharing a few cards I created for Just Nick this month as a Guest Designer.

I really loved this Holiday Tree Background file and wanted to create a layout with it but after i looked at it a bit more i thought a card would be perfect! I sized the background to measure 4"x4" and cut another tree to layer it.

Adding a few embellishments such as stickers and enamel dots helped me create this cute card!

Here is another example of using a background file to your advantage! I cut this file using green patterned paper and kept the JOY part to create my card. It measures less than 6" wide and it was perfect to create a great holiday card.

Visit Just Nick Studios On Facebook & Instagram !!

Life Documented | Simple Stories

I'm sharing a Life Documented spread for November with a " thankful " theme. I used the Simple Stories collection called Pumpkin Spice. It was perfect for my fall themed layout.  

These are photos of my family and taken last season and a picture of my parents with grandkids that was taken this past July. The orange shirt my dad was wearing worked great for this Pumpkin Spice collection! Yes, I love it when a shirt matches the paper I'm using ;-)

I kept the same theme throughout my spread using yellow, pumpkins, a few flowers to decorate my filler pages.

Here is the left side of my spread;

I did't have a lot of pictures that are " fall " themed. I always love to include my cats in the mix cause they are family too right?! A Thanksgiving dinner, and my dad walking in the woods with my niece.

What is something I did differently on this page, can you tell?  

Well, I actually added some embellishments ON TOP of my page protectors! Something different for me and I actually enjoyed it. I was able to overlap from one pocket to the next and also add dimensions to my page. It is a great way to add texture as well.

Here is the right side of my spread;

I added a bit more journaling on this right side, nothing planned it just happened that way. I cut the pumpkin from a larger 4x6 journal card and added it to a 4x4 piece of paper to create my own journal card. 

this next photo shows the diecuts on top of my page protector.  I added foam dots to make it more dimentional.

as you can see, adding some extra stickers and embellishments adds a bit of interest to a page. 

Hope you can give this a try !

For more great Simple Stories projects please visit 

https://www.simplestories.com/blog

Guest Designer | Just Nick Studio

I am a guest designer for Just Nick this month! I love Nicole's cut files and often use them on my pages. I especially love background cut files but also enjoy something different.

I was given a few cut files to play with and the first one is the FREEBIE for November -

To get this file for FREE - just add this file to your cart and use the code LEAVESFREE at checkout and it's all yours! This offer is valid until November 30, 2015 at midnight.
Here is the layout she created with it!

Cut Files used : LEAVES and GRATITUDE 

It's fall and all the leaves here on the east coast have pretty much fallen off the trees but adding them to a layout is a great way to add dimension and details to a layout!

I cut up the leaves and added them with pop dots under other embellishments to create a focal point. I also used the word THANKFUL from the Gratitude collection for my title. The possibility with these leaves are endless; such as a background, adding pattern papers to the empty spaces, watercolor and so much more! 

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Nicole's Cut Files this month and I hope you find the time to cut a few patterns and add them to your cards or pages!

Visit Just Nick Studios On Facebook & Instagram !

Life is Purr-fect | Jillibean Soup

Yes! I am sure Archie sits in his comfy bed and thinks... this life is PURRR-TY good! He's fed twice a day, fresh water, so much love, and way to much attention!!! He doesn't mind a little belly rub and just a little spoiled come bed time when he's given 1/3 of the King Size bed!

I created this layout for Jillibean Soup and used the Fur Fusion collection as well as a cut file from Just Nick - I used her cut file for the background. It makes creating a page SOOOO much easier and I can use up tons of scraps!

Supplies:
Jillibean Soup

Patterned Paper: Fur Fusion / Dancing Dogs, Fido Fun, Wild Whiskers,  Krazy Kitty
Coordinating Stickers: Fur Fusion

Mini Alpha Stickers: Fur Fusion
Pea Pod Parts: Fur Fusion

Other:  Cardstock, Twine, Sewing Machine, Just Nick Studio Cut File, Enamel Dots

Link To Just Nick Studio Cut File 

Have fun creating your own version using this cut file!

Adorable | Bella Blvd

The Bella Blvd designers are super excited to be teaming up with Kerri Bradford Studio for the week! So many of us own digital die cut machines, and if you happen to own a Silhouette, you've most likely heard of Kerri Bradford. She has been creating shapes to use with the Silhouette (they can be used with other die cut machines as well) for many years now, and has a fabulous collection of kits to choose from in her online store.

What a great collaboration with Kerri Bradford this week. I've been a long-time fan of her cut files and I was super excited to be working with Bella and Kerri - a great match up!

 I wanted to use the awesome Riley Collection for my cat Archie this week. I used a plus background in white to add details to my background and also the title in black cardstock to match the pattern paper. I used an overload of die cut stickers but it seems to work well with the design of the page. The cute cat wasn't hard to work with either ;-)

Supplies:

Riley Collection: Friendly Felines, Soxie, Borders, Treasures & Text, Trinkets, Little Bits; Rover Collection: Dog Show, Trinkets, Treasures & Text;
Enamel Dots: Oreo Black;

Kerri Bradford Cut File :
Background Basics: Background Plus; Here Kitty: Really Adorable;

Bella Buzz | Bella Blvd

A new issue of the Bella Buzz will be available for a free download on Monday!  Until then, here is a sneak peak of all the goodness!

http://bellablvd.typepad.com/

All You Need Is Love | Bella Blvd

The Bella Blvd designers are super excited to be teaming up with Kerri Bradford Studio for the week! So many of us own digital die cut machines, and if you happen to own a Silhouette, you've most likely heard of Kerri Bradford. She has been creating shapes to use with the Silhouette (they can be used with other die cut machines as well) for many years now, and has a fabulous collection of kits to choose from in her online store.

I am sharing a layout with the Bella Blvd Valentina Collection today. When I first saw this collection i thought of fun loving stories. 

For this layout, I first started with the background and really wanted some black highlights on this page. I selected the Background Basic file from Kerri Bradford and this shape was perfect. I was able to use the See You Soon patterned paper with different hues and of course a little sewing to add more texture. I added the title, from Kerri's the Seasonably Said kit, in black and added fun stickers to add details. I love the picture of my niece and I and it is a reminder that All We Need Is Love!

Supplies:
Valentina: See You Soon, Borders, Treasures & Text, Little Bits,
Enamel Dots: Oreo Black

Kerri Bradford Cut File : SEASONABLY SAID, BACKGROUND BASICS

for more awesome pages visit Bella Blvd!

Crop & Create | Moncton

It's time to register! 

Back at the beautiful Delta Beauséjour Hotel, in Moncton, NB for the 5th annual Crop & Create Moncton event! It's 3 days of inspiration, education and best of all, great memories and a whole lot of laughs too!

Instructors coming to Moncton this year are Vicki Boutin, Nicole Nowosad and Angie Blom, along with special guests BoBunny and Jess Forster!
Come join these amazing instructors for inspirational classes that are full of tips, tricks and techniques for EVERY level.

Crop & Create Moncton will be the 27th Crop & Create event and will be an unforgettable weekend.  

Registration for Crop & Create Markham sold out in under 36 hours. Set your reminder to register for Crop & Create Moncton!

REGISTRATION: Wednesday, November 4 - 8PM EST

Advance registration for Alumni: Tuesday, November 3 - 8PM EST

Alumni is any person who has attended any other Crop & Create event across Canada!

See You There!

We Are ... Family | Simple Stories

Hello Friends!

I'm  happy to share a Life Documented spread about my sister and her family featuring the new collection We Are ... Family.

First I would like to say "YELLOW!" I love this bright yellow that's included in this collection. I really don't use yellow very often in my pages but this color just made me happy!

These are photos of my sister and her children. The picture were taken from this past summer while they were all playing in the backyard.   

In this spread I wanted to showcase a Life Documented page but include a layout on the left side. I created a simple layout as to not overwhelm the simpler, colorful side of my pocket page on the right.

I really like this format since it gave me the opportunity to create a layout but also with a pocket page it allowed me to add more photos and extra journaling.

  and here is a close up pictures of the layout details.

I really enjoy creating with pocket pages and I find that sometimes I have too many photos to just put away in a box somewhere or create a few more layouts about this one event.  I added more photos of the day and little extras with embellishments.

As you can see the theme is pretty constant on both pages, lots of yellow, a little bit of red and the pictures are all from the same day.

If you have a family event to document, I would highly recommend trying a pocket page with a layout and don't be afraid to add some color !

A few close up pictures of my pocket page;

Thanks for coming to visit today, and I hope you feel inspired to create and try something new in your Life Documented Album!