Lily Bee Finds

Digital Download | Gift Tags

Hello, Diane here! I've been busy preparing for the holidays and came up with a few gift tags that you can whip up in a snap for your last minute gift wrapping. Two are specific to the holidays and the other two can be used year round! All the files work wonderfully with the We R Family collection and We R Family digital files. You can find the link to the free digital files at the end of this post.

Supplies: We R Family collection (Family Tree, Mother, Daughter, Wood Veneers, Sweet Spot Enamel Stickers).

I created the saying for the tag with the wood veneer people in mind. You could also use the We R Family people cut file instead of wood veneers, both are equally cute!

Supplies: We R Family collection (Sweet Spot Enamel Stickers, Wood Veneers), Urban Autumn collection (The Village Park).

The green wood grain paper in the Urban Autumn collection makes an adorable Christmas Tree. I embellished the tree with We R Family Sweet Spot Enamel Stickers and a Wood Veneer heart.

Supplies: We R Family Collection (Family Tree, Wood Veneers), Sweet Shoppe Collection (Embellishment Bundle).

Not only is this tag great for the holidays but it would also work well for a hostess gift or welcome to the neighborhood gift. The wood veneer house can easily be substituted for the house cutting file.

Supplies: We R Family (Family Tree, Wood Veneers).

This last tag is perfect for attaching to those special handmade gifts for your loved ones. The wood veneer heart can be substituted with the We R Family heart cutting file, if desired.

All these tags can be put together quickly. You can download all the Lily Bee cutting files HERE, or you can download the ones I used by clicking the direct link below.

Christmas Tag Cutting Files

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy holiday to visit today...enjoy the free cutting files!

Challenge on Tuesday | 2 page layouts

Good morning Lily Bee fans!!! Today is the first Tuesday of the month, which means it's time for a new monthly sketch!

This week, the Design Team will be sharing some 2 page layouts and keeping that theme in mind, this month's sketch is a 2 pager!

Here is the sketch:

 

Truth be told, it has been YEARS since I have sat down to scrapbook a 2 page layout. I was suprised it didn't take too much time to get back into the swing of it and I do like the result!

Here is my take on this month's sketch:

Supplies: We Are Family (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Mother, Daughter, Family Tree, Sibling Rivalry, Game Night, Daily Deck cards, Metal Badges, Washi Tape, Wood Veneers); Urban Autumn (Wood Veneers); Pinwheel (Letter Stickers)

Once I got over my initial fear - I realized - 2 pagers are a great way to incorporate a lot of photos and I tried to do just that, using 5 photos and a daily deck card, instead of a photo.  It also gives you a lot of space, perfect for larger titles, like this one I cut from my Silhouette Cameo out of some paper from the We Are Family collection.

I dove into the Tiny Tablet and punched a lot of circles and stitched around them, instead of using a sheet of patterned paper.

Now, it's your turn to give this 2 page sketch a try!! If you use this sketch, we'd love to see it! Share your work on our Facebook page!

 

Tuesday Challenge | October Sketch Revisited

Hello Friends!  It's Wendy Sue here today, revisiting the layout sketch for this month.  Here's another peek of this month's sketch:

And here's the layout I created based on the sketch:

I combined the sketch with this week's theme, "Everyday Life."  I took this photo of my four kiddos earlier this year.  It wasn't a special occasion...it was just a Sunday afternoon after we got home from church - we were sitting outside just enjoying the nice warm sunshine - something we had been longing for after months of cold days.  It was just a regular "everyday" moment that I captured with a single photograph.  I love photos like this - when there's nothing special to celebrate, but the photo stirs up emotions anyway.  I love these kiddos and I'm grateful for the regular "everyday moments" we share!

Here are a few details of my layout:

I had fun adding buttons, stickers, and chipboard pieces - placing them according to the sketch.

And of course, I always love adding machine stitching to my projects - and when I have the perfect colors of thread to coordinate with the products I've used, I love it even more!

Supplies:  Sweet Shoppe Collection (Patterned Paper: Lollipop, Salt Water Taffy, Jelly Bean, Candy Stick; Chipboard Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Letter Stickers, Chit Chat Stickers, Circles and Tags), Pinwheel Collection (Patterned Paper: Lime Rickey; Embellishment Bundle, Chit Chat Stickers, Circles and Tags)

I hope you're inspired to play along with our sketch challenge for the month - and maybe you'll even be inspired by the "everyday life" theme too!  Don't forget we are going to pick one winner from all of our challenge entries this month to win a Lily Bee prize package (details are here).  Good luck!

 

Focus on Monday | Use it Two Ways

Hi Lily Bee fans and welcome to a new week and theme.  We are calling this week’s theme “Use it Two Ways.”  Think using patterned paper two ways, using embellishment two ways, very open to interpretation and a fun way to get you unstuck and scrapping again.

Here’s how I applied this theme to my layout.

I started with the floral Cotton Candy paper by cutting out diamond shapes from the pattern paper.  Then grabbed my scallop punch and punched from the same paper, but used the reverse side of it to adhere on top of the clustered diamonds.

Next, I used twine from the Embellishment Bundle both horizontally and vertically, and then used it again to thread through my button and tie a bow (that was 3 ways, but if you are on a roll, go with it).

I used the chipboard, brads, and stickers two ways as well.  The brads leading down the page, and the chipboard and stickers as clusters to frame the photo.  “Use it Two Ways” really helped keep the supplies limited and made this page come together quickly.

Supplies:  Sweet Shoppe (Cotton Candy Paper, Pink Mint Paper, Embellishment Bundle, Label Stickers, Circle & Tag Stickers, Chipboard Stickers), Pinwheel (Ice Cream Truck Paper, Chipboard Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Circle & Tag Stickers, Destination (Passport Paper, Circle & Tag Stickers)

Be sure to check back this week for more inspiration on how to "Use it Two Ways".

Cards on Wednesday | Repetition

Hello Lily Bee Fans! Today, my friend and the talented Becky Williams and I are stopping by the blog to share a few quick cards with the theme of "Repetition" in mind.

Becky and I have two completely different takes on this theme.

Here is what Becky had to say about this theme:

There are so many ways that you could interpret the theme "repetition." I chose to do so with the shapes on my cards. Triangles are such a big trend in scrapbooking these days so I decided to jump on the bandwagon and use some on this first card. 

Take a look at what Becky came up with:

Supplies: Pinwheel (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Label Stickers, Chipboard Stickers, Embellishment Bundle), Sweet Shoppe (Embellishment Bundle). 

 I used some metal dies to cut the triangles in the front of the card base and backed each one with papers from the Pinwheel collection. I continued the repetition of shapes by adding a few circle accents. 

Butterflies are one of my favorite shapes so I chose to feature them on this card. I used multiple punched butterflies (Fiskars) as well as creating a border of sentiment and heart stickers to continue the "repetition" theme. 

Supplies: Sweet Shoppe (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Chit Chat Stickers), Pinwheel (6x6 Tiny Tablet), Destination (Embellshment Bundle, 6x6 Tiny Tablet). 

I took this challenge a little differently and decided to put my papers to work. I chose the same patterns from the three newest Lily Bee collections and mixed them each on different cards.

I cut papers from the Sweet Shoppe and Pinwheel collections into triangles for this card, and used a repetitive pattern when laying them on the card base.

Supplies: Sweet Shoppe (Tiny Tablet, Chipboard Stickers), Pinwheel (Tiny Tablet, Letter Stickers, Label Stickers)

I added some fun Lily Bee chipboard flowers near my sentiment.

Next, I made this card by combining Destination, along with the Pinwheel collection.

Supplies: Destination (Tiny Tablet, Embellishment Bundle), Pinwheel (Tiny Tablet), Persnickety (Clear Stamps)

To create the background of this card, I took the similar patterns and punched them with a tab punch and then layered the papers over each other. 

 My last card was created by mixing the mini chevron patterns in Pinwheel and Sweet Shoppe.

Supplies: Pinwheel (Tiny Tablet, Circle & Tag Stickers, Label Stickers, Letter Stickers), Sweet Shoppe (Tiny Tablet, Chipboard Stickers)

For this last card, I simpy cut blocks of paper the same size and layered them over the card base and stitching them down. I added a chipboard banner piece and label sticker along with my sentiment!

Becky and I hope you have enjoyed the cards today - we hope you will share your "Repetition" ideas with us in our Lily Bee Flickr group!

Cards on Wednesday | Splashes of Color

Good morning, Lily Bee friends!  Summer and I are back together again today sharing some fun cards featuring this week's theme of "splashes of color!" 

Summer created two beautiful cards based on the theme.  Here's what she had to say:  "I did 2 cards that really are not  connected but I designed them with the splash of color idea in mind. My original  thought with this weeks theme was use a lot of neutrals and add little bits of  color to add pop to my cards. My neutral of choice was grey and white. In You’re  so sweet I think the splash of color is really obvious with the flowers I made  from a few Lily Bee embellishments. While Howdy Sunshine use of color has a more  subtle feel the fan effect of the design is my modern take on the idea of a  splash of color."

Howdy Sunshine Card Supplies Used: Pinwheel (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Letter  Stickers & Chipboard Stickers)

 

You’re So Sweet Card Supplies Used: Pinwheel( 6x6 Tiny Tablet,  Embellishment Bundle & Chipboard Stickers), Destination (Embellishment  Bundle) and Sweet Shoppe (Circle & Tag Stickers)

I also created two cards based on the theme.  The first card, "you're so sweet" is mostly black and white with pops of red.  I also added stitching with red thread around the banner shape - just for an extra little pop of color.

Supplies: Sweet Shoppe Collection (Licorice Whip Paper, Embellishment Bundle, 6x6 Tiny Tablet, Circle & Tag Stickers, Chipboard Stickers)

For my second card, I mixed black, gray and white as my neutrals and added a few pops of green - including green stitching around the perimeter of the card.

Supplies Used: Sweet Shoppe Collection (Licorice Whip Paper), Pinwheel Collection (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Chipboard Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Lable Stickers)

We hope you've enjoyed our creations and find yourself inspired you to add a "splash of color" to your next project!

Cards on Wednesday | Sunny & Bright

Hi Lily Bee fans! This weeks focus on is all about having fun in the sun, something I hope to be doing with my little ones later this afternoon, if the weather permits. Today, I have three sunny and bright cards I created to go along with this weeks focus on theme.

For each card, I used my Cameo die-cutting machine and embossing folders to add additional texture and depth to the cards background. My color scheme here is yellow and I used plenty of it for each card with touches of gray, black, greens and blues.

My first card, "Fun in the Sun" uses papers and embellishments from the Pinwheel collection. I love how the green text and grey floral patterns add a subtle touch the bright yellow and how it all pops. Kept it simple with little touches of chipboard and chit chat stickers for more depth.

Supplies: Pinwheel(Lime Rickey, Flip-Flops, Chipboard Stickers, Chit Chat Stickers)

The second card, "Hello Sunshine", was created using only papers from the Destination collection. This cards was kept simple with little touches of embellishments to compliment the bold mix of geometric shapes.

Supplies: Destination(Atlas, Port)

Lastly, my "Hello, You Are Sweet" card showcases goodies from the Sweet Shoppe collection. I adore how big and bold the sunshine anchors atop of the card. It pops nicely against the zig-zag black pattern and polka dot backgrounds. Very simple and striking at the same time.

Supplies: Sweet Shoppe (Lemon Drop, 6x6 Tiny Tablet, Chipboard Stickers)

Thanks so much for hanging out with me today. I really enjoyed making these cards and hope they inspire you to add a little more sunshine to your next card project. Cheers!

Challenge on Tuesday | Sketch

Hello Lily Bee fans! This month, we partnered up with Becky Fleck from PageMaps!

Today, Christine and I are here to share some fun takes on a sketch, with a sketch provided by Becky Fleck from Pagemaps!

Here is the sketch we used:

 

Take a look at what Christine created, with lots of fun details from the Sweet Shoppe collection:

Supplies: Sweet Shoppe Collection (Lemon Drop paper, Pink Mint paper, Cotton Candy paper, Marshmellow paper, Letter Stickers, Label Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Chit Chat Stickers, Circle & Tag Stickers)

Christine had this to share about her page:

I love the sketch and the idea of the library card. But I wanted to use one photo, so I condensed everything horizontally, instead of having my layout stretch all the way across the 12x12 paper. I love the idea of a
center row of photos, journal card, and other rectangular elements/cutouts.

I love how Christine's title pops, even though she used the smaller letter stickers!

For my page, I used mainly the new Destination collection for my page:

 

Supplies: Destination (6x6 paper pad, Interstate paper, Label stickers, Letter stickers, Chipboard Embellishment stickers, Circle & Tag sticker, Chit Chat Stickers, Embellishment Bundle); Autumn Spice (Index journaling cards, Clear Stamps)

Instead of adding a title in the middle of the photos, I added an additional photo and an embellishment cluster with lots of stickers and badge from the Embellishment bundle.

Hope you are inspired by these projects - when you are looking for some scrappy mojo - grab a sketch from PageMaps and get to work! It makes getting creative really easy :)

Thanks again to Becky Fleck from PageMaps for providing us with inspirational sketches this month!

Check out the PageMaps site for tons of great sketches!

June Card Sketch Challenge

Good morning and welcome to the Lily Bee blog today as we continue our feature on the Dads in our lives. Today we will share with you some cards inspired by our June sketch and hope that you will feel inspired to play along with the challenge. I really like sketches because they take the guesswork out of scrapping and make completing a project so much easier!

Are you ready to see the sketch for this month?

It is a simple sketch which leaves lots of room for interpretation and for you to add your own creative touches. You can add as much or as little detail as you want as you adapt this sketch to your cards. The squares in the sketch can be any shape you would like to use. Feel free to switch things up!

The very-talented Adrienne Alvis is here with me today to share a couple of cards inspired by the June sketch. Here is her first card: 

Supplies: Destination (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Label Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Letter Stickers, Chipboard Stickers), Pinwheel (6x6 Tiny Tablet) 

Adrienne shares, "I kept a cluster of embellishments in the middle of the card like the sketch, but used circle elements instead of squares.  I also added an extra cluster at the top left to draw the eye across the card and to help balance out the circular elements."

Adrienne's second card is just as fantastic as the first. I really like her color combination for this card perfect for any father:

Supplies: Pinwheel (Lime Rickey, Chipboard Stickers), Sweet Shoppe (Circle & Tag Stickers, Letter Stickers), Destination (Tickets, Port, Embellishment Bundle, Label Stickers, Letter Stickers)

About this month's card sketch Adrienne says, "I really liked Becky's sketch and thought it was perfect for a more "masculine" themed card.  I was instantly inspired by the center square and used a cut-out photo frame from the Port patterned paper.  I added my embellishments on top of the photo frame and kept the same lines as the sketch for the sentiments."

Adrienne and I were very much on the same wavelength in our product selection for these Father's Day cards! The Destination collection is great for not only travel/vacation projects but any masculine/everyday project as well. 

Supplies: Destination (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Label Stickers, Circle & Tag Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Letter Stickers). 

I also chose to use circles in place of the squares in the sketch. I simply punched circles of a mix of sizes and layered them, then added a couple of tag stickers to finish it off. The new Alphabet Stickers are just the right size to fit on the label stickers. 

For my second card I was inspired by the globe shape from the Destination collection chipboard. From that I got the theme for my card, the "You are our world" sentiment. The shapes on this card aren't in the same placement/sizing as the sketch, but, as I said, feel free to change things to fit what you are inspired to create based on sketches you use. 

Supplies: Destination (Chipboard Stickers, Label Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Letter Stickers, 6x6 Tiny Tablet)

The new chipboard and other embellishments are such a fun addition to the already-great line from Lily Bee. Here I used some chipboard and just a bit of twine to add texture to the card. 

We hope that you have been inspired to create some cards and that you'll play along with our sketch challenge this month. 

We'll pick one winner from all our challenge entries this month to win a Lily Bee prize package. Here's a few things to keep in mind:

- Your card must use mainly Lily Bee products (approx. 50% - 60% older or newer lines to showcase Lily Bee Design).
- Post your layout to our Facebook Page or Flickr Gallery to be eligible for monthly challenge prize. 
- Title your post "5/14 Card Sketch Challenge" so we can find it easily and then leave a comment on this blog post letting us know you've entered.
- Deadline is June 30, 2013, Midnight CST
- One winner from all the challenges will be announced in next month's Kristen's News feature. 

Thanks so much for stopping by Lily Bee today!

 

 

 

 

 

Focus On Monday | Fatherhood

Good Monday morning!  Welcome to another week full of inspiration here on the Lily Bee blog!  This week we'll be focusing on all things "Fatherhood."  Our team has a great line-up for you - lots of fun layouts, cards, and more! 

Today I wanted to share this layout I created featuring my husband.  He is the best dad to our four kiddos - always ready to "go, go, go, see, do!"  He is lots of fun and he's always game for whatever the kids want to try out.  This layout features one of those days - it was so cold outside, but the boys wanted to set up the slip & slide.  It was supposed to be summer, but the temperatures just weren't there yet.  The cold didn't deter Brad though - he put on his swim suit and got soaked with the boys.  He didn't care that he was freezing.  He was making his boys laugh and smile, and that's all that mattered to him!

Supplies: Destination (bon voyage, letter stickers, chipboard stickers, circle & tag stickers, label stickers, embellishment bundle); Pinwheel (apricot tree, letter stickers, chit chat stickers)

Stacy also has a great layout to share!  Here's what she has to say:  I wanted to convey how joyous my kids feel when they are with their dad.  There is a tight bond between these three as you can tell from their smiles.  I often forget to take photos with Steve or me in them so when we are out on a day trip or vacation, I make it a point to catch at least one.  I used the large, circular chipboard piece to ground the cluster and draw the eye right next to the photo.  I cut out small circles from the Pink Mist paper and added it as confetti.  I also cut the banner from the Jean Bean paper and added the twine and button to the top.
 

Supplies:  Sweet Shoppe (Paper:  Licorice Whip, Gumball, Pink Mist, Jelly Bean, Strawberries and Cream; Chit Chat Stickers; Alphabet Stickers; Chipboard Stickers; Circle Stickers; Label Stickers; Accessory Bundle:  Badge, Twine)
 
I bet you have a special dad in your life as well, whether it's your own father or the father of your children.  How about pulling out (or taking) some photos and creating a layout to honor him?  Be sure to check back each day throughout the week to see what we have to share with you! 

Focus on Chipboard Stickers | Tutorial Friday

Happy Friday everyone!  Today I have a quick and easy way for you to dress up a title for a layout using chipboard stickers.  

First, you'll want to choose as many chipboard banners as needed for your title.  I used four because I wanted to put the four-letter word "TRIP" on mine.  

 

Next, use a small hole punch or paper-piercer to punch out two holes at the top of your chipboard banners.  

 

Then you'll want to thread some twine from the Destination Embellishment Bundle through the holes in the banners. I used a paper-piercer to help thread my twine through the holes, but a sewing needle would also work.  Once you string all your banners together, just make a small knot for the holes on the ends to finish it off.  

Now you can add some letter stickers on top of the banners for your title.

I also used the middle "leftover" piece of the camera chipboard sticker (also from the Destination Collection) and layered a Circle & Tag Sticker on top of it for some extra dimension. 

I replaced the back of the camera hole with some patterned paper to coordinate with the color scheme of my layout and added a label sticker on top of it to house the first part of my title.  

Supplies Used:  Destination (80 Days, Landmark, Embellishment Bundle, Letter Stickers, Chipboard Stickers, Circle & Tag Stickers), Pinwheel (Lemonade Stand, Kite Strings, Picnic Basket, Jump Rope, Chipboard Stickers, Label Stickers, Letter Stickers), Sweet Shoppe (Chipboard Stickers)

Now you have a couple extra quick and easy ways to dress up your title for a layout or a card using chipboard stickers!   Thanks for stopping by! 

 

 

Trendspotting | Sketch Challenge

 

Hello, everyone!  Wendy and I are here today with a sketch challenge for you using this week's theme, Trendspotting.  The nautical theme is hot in the trendy world right now and here's a look at how we incorporated it into our layouts...

I created this sketch so multiple photos could be used and also because I wanted to incorporate some circles into my layout because for some reason or another, I tend not to use them enough in my creations.

 I absolutely adore Wendy's take on the sketch and how she interpreted the large circle element with stitching!  Wendy said, "It was a fun sketch to work with!  I decided to make the circle portion a bit more subtle so I added circle stitching around the photo collage with white thread.  The nautical theme is a bit subtle as well, but it's there!  I cut three anchor shapes with my Silhouette Cameo and placed them around the layout to form a visual triangle.  Of course the overall theme of my layout is completely nautical, as the photos of Meagan were all taken on our boat :)  

Destination (Interstate, Atlas, Passport, Chipboard Stickers, Circle and Tag Stickers, Label Stickers, Letter Stickers), Sweet Shoppe (Lemon Drop) 

 

I was a bit less subtle with the circle element on my layout.  I cut out a large circle in the black and white chevron patterned paper from the Sweet Shoppe collection.  I stitched along the outside edge of it using white thread to give it a more "handmade" feel.  

I also decided to swap out one of the photo spots in the collage for a place to hold my journaling.  I created anchors with my Silhoette Cameo and used both the postitive and negative space when I placed them on my page.  I liked using the anchors to incorporate the nautical theme onto my page, even though my photos were from Easter :)

 

 Sweet Shoppe (Licorice Whip, Marshmellow, Chipboard Stickers, Embellishment Bundle, Chit Chat Stickers, Label Stickers), Pinwheel (Flip Flops, Sprinklers, Chipboard Stickers, Label Stickers, Embellishment Bundle), Destination (Tickets, Chipboard Stickers, Label Stickers)

 How will you interpret the sketch?

We'll pick one winner from all of our challenge entries this month to win a Lily Bee prize package.  Here's a few things to keep in mind:

- Your layout must use at least 60% Lily Bee products.

- Post your layout to our Facebook Page or Flickr Gallery to be eligible for the monthly challenge prize.

- Title your post "4/23 Sketch Challenge" so we can find it easily and then leave a comment on this post letting us know you've entered.

- Deadline is April 30, 2013, Midnight CST

- One winner from all of the challenges will be announced in next month's "Kristen's News" Feature

The more you play, the better you're chances are of winning!  Good luck!

 

   

Focus On | Trendspotting

Hello Lily Bee friends & welcome to a brand new week here on the Lily Bee blog!  I'm Wendy Sue and this is my first time hosting on the blog - I'm excited to introduce this week's theme - Trendspotting!  Our team has been busily tracking down the latest trends and working on fun projects to share with you throughout the week.  Today, Nicole and I are teaming up to share a couple of trend-infused layouts with you!

First up, here's Nicole's gorgeous layout:

And here's what she had to say: 

I’m not gonna lie - I spend way too much of my time on Pinterest.   When looking for inspiration for this project, a few things popped out at me -- neutral p allette pages, metallics &/or ombre designs. I love the look of  each, so why not combine them into one!

I gathered some of my favorite Lily Bee  papers, using the 6x6 Tiny Tablets, and punched some circles in varying degrees  of color and them layered them onto cardstock. I added in the metallics through  stitching and some sequins from my stash and voila! the page was done !

Supplies: Sweet Shoppe (6x6 Tiny Tablet, Chipboard Stickers), Pinwheel (6x6 Tiny Tablet), Christmas Cheer (Mini ABC stickers), Stationery (Oatmeal paper), Persnickety (6x6 Tiny Tablet), Autumn Spice (Clear stamps, 6x6 Tiny Tablet)

I've been loving all of the unique takes on projects using the triangle trend that is so popular right now!  I decided to incorporate a slew of triangles onto a layout and this is the outcome:

I didn't start out with much of a plan - just started cutting triangles and arranging them on the background until I came up with a pattern I liked. 

I also added some circle elements just for fun (you might notice they are arranged in a "visual triangle" which is another fun triangular design element!)

I added some word stickers with little staples, and even added machine stitching to some of my triangles.

I completed my layout by adding a photo strip and a bit of hand journaling.

Supplies: Pinwheel (Cherry Blossom, Lemonade Stand, Picnic Basket, Lime Rickey, Jump Rope, Flip Flops, Cart Wheels, Chipboard Stickers, Label Stickers, Chit Chat Stickers, Circle & Tag Stickers)

I love following the latest trends and watching to see how the trends can be incorporated into any person's projects, regardless of their personal style! What are your favorite trends - have you tried them out on your projects yet? What are you waiting for?!?

   

Autumn Spice Week / Inspiration Day 2

Can't get enough of Autumn Spice can ya?!  I'm certain you can't because it is simply beautiful and it's hitting stores now!  The rich colors and patterns are absolutely perfect for fall themed projects but can mix equally well in everyday types of themes.

Patricia and I took totally different directions with our projects.  Have a peek and let us know what you think in the comments below.  

Patricia shares that 'this collection lives up to its name. There is something about the colors of Fall.  They are so striking and colorful, and that touch of country blue adds to the cozy look of this line. I chose a non-Fall photo taken at Easter time, but the colors of the line went perfectly with the restaurant's country theme, and I really wanted to show off the gorgeous colors from this line. I mixed both the 12x12 patterns and the 6x6 tiny tablets. I also mixed some of the stamps into my design, using "details" as a border under the photo, using "2012" on one of the pointed stars, the arrows at the bottom, and the heart on the cut out circle.'

I love that Patricia allows the ABC stickers to remain slightly lifted, giving texture to her layout.

 Her stitching adds both color and detail.  She's created a wonderful stamped border using the 'Details' stamp that adds texture but still remains subtle.

In contrast to Patricia's layout, I'm (Ursula) sharing a very scaled down version in terms of details.  While I absolutely adore adding lots of little touches, for this page, I really wanted the photo to be the shining star (or leaf as it were).

I used my Silhouette SD to cut out several different leaf shapes in the Red, Orange and Yellow papers to mimic the color and feel of fall as well as to cut the word 'changes'. I cut the word 'fall' from one of the journaling cards to fit with my title. (Love cutting premade elements up and making them my own.)

I wanted to create a small banner using twine,which always feels like fall to me.  I even got to break out some copper toned brads that have been in 'ye olde stash' for a good 8 or 10 years!

I am loving adding pop-up adhesive dots to the back of lots of elements so they will fairly jump off the page.

If you've got a photo that you really want to allow to shine, just choose a few simple embellishments and print that thing as big as you can.  In my case, I printed on my home printer using 8.5x14 paper and printing at 12 inches wide.

Make sure you check back tomorrow to see what new Autumn Spice inspiration the design team will be sharing.

 

Smart Cookies

With summer fast approaching, it's not too early to start thinking about end-of-the-year gifts for your favorite teachers. This week happens to be Teacher Appreciation Week at our school, so I thought I'd share a little project I made for the fabulous people that enrich my kiddos' lives on a daily basis!

I started with this .svg file that I cut on my Silhouette. (You can download it here!)

I cut the shapes from Lily Bee patterned papers (Victoria Park and Buttercup lines) and then backed the pennants with white cardstock:

I used the coordinating ABC Stickers to add sentiments to each banner, so they read "Thanks to you teacher...I'm a smart cookie."

Then I added some Mixed Cardstock Stickers and shapes from the Bag of Bits, along with some ribbon and twine and attached the pennants to (what else?!) a package of cookies. (Store bought. I'm not as handy in the kitchen as I am at my scrap table!)

Lily Bee Supplies:
Pattern Paper: Victoria Park - Wortley Village; Buttercup - Rainboots, Blossom

ABC Stickers: Buttercup, Victoria Park

Mixed Cardstock Stickers: Buttercup, Victoria Park

Bag of Bits: Handmade

And in no time, I've got a sweet little treat for the kids to give their teachers. Hope you're inspired you to do something special for the educators in your life!