Summer Days Layout

Happy Monday!

Hope you had a great weekend!  I had a fun one- spent time cropping with friends on Friday and on Saturday, I taught two classes at Scrapdoodles.  I haven't taught in soooo long and I was a little nervous to jump back in.  I enjoyed it so much and left inspired to add some more classes to my schedule!  I forgot how fun it is! :)  After my classes I cropped with another group of friends and then spent the day with my family on Sunday.  It was great!!  Seriously a fun weekend.

Anyways, enough about my weekend, right?  I bet you want to see a project!  Today I'm sharing a layout- this one features my favorite picture of Natalie from our summer break:

The picture was taken in my Dad's newest truck- an old Chevy pickup.  Natalie got to go on a ride with him which was a pretty big deal to her!  She loved it and so did her Papa! :)  Since it was such a fun memory, I went for one oversized photo for this layout.

The Summer Stories collection by Teresa Collins Designs was perfect for this picture!  The colors went with the photo so well and I love the designs.  The sequins are still my favorite, hee!

Peeking at this layout is making me want to print some more photos from our summer vacation.  We had such a great time in Washington state and there are so many good memories I don't want to forget!

Well, hope you have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my page today!

-tessa

Costume Party Layout

Hi there!  Hope you are having a great Friday!  I'm heading out to my favorite lss to crop today- I'm looking forward to some crafty down time with my friends!

I thought I'd pop on and share a layout I created this week using Newton's Nook Designs Boo Crew set.  I had so much fun with this one:

The kids were so excited on the day we had our Halloween party last year.  They loved getting dressed up more than anything and I'm so glad I got these photos to remember!

I picked out a few goodies from Teresa Collins Designs Masquerade Party Line to use with my photos.  I also stamped the adorable mummy bear, ghost kitty, and princess puppy to go along with it all.

I used my colored pencils to color my images and seriously fell in love with them again!  I love how blendable they are with Gamsol and I'm trading in my Copics! lol!  I forgot how much I liked them!

My favorite image is this cute little pup!  We had a pup at our costume party that looked just like this princess and I sooo wish I had a picture of him!  He was dressed as a hot dog! :)

I love mixing my favorite stamps into my scrapbook layouts!  The images from Boo Crew were really a perfect match for these photos!

Well, thanks for stopping by!  Maybe I'll pop in and share what I make today at the crop later this weekend! :)

-tessa

Some Fall Cards...

Hello!  Today is my turn on the Teresa Collins Designs team blog!  I thought I'd share my cards here as well!

I have a trio of cards for you using the beautiful Family Stories line!  Since fall is in the air, I thought I'd use the season as my theme.  My first card features those great sequins:

I love the Family Stories sequins!  The colors are so pretty but not fallish in any way.  To create a fall look, I used a leaf diecut in the center of the pretty woodgrain patterned paper (Noted).  Next, I created a pocket using vellum and filled it with the sequins as well as some smaller diecut leaves.  I adhered it to the back of the patterned paper and wrapped some hemp cord around it.  I adhered the focal panel to my card front using foam adhesive.  To complete the look,  I stamped the sentiment onto a pink cardstock cardstock strip.  I added it to the cardfront along with some of the glittered aqua border.  To finish off the look, I added an orange button (Decorative Brads) with a bow over the hemp cord.

The vellum diffuses the colors a little but you can still see those sequins sparkle!

For my next card, I started with a brown card base and my favorite stamp from the Family Stories stamp set:

I stamped a row of the large flower onto the card front using Versamark ink.  Next, I splattered the card front with a little brown mist.  I diecut a tag out of the woodgrain paper (Noted) and stamped my sentiment on it.  Next, I diecut the leaves using rust colored cardstock and the aqua patterned paper (Notecards). I added them to my tag popping up the aqua leaf.  I added a few of the pink epoxy dots and a bit of navy twine as well.  After my tag was done and my mist was dry, I put it all together:

I added the ribbon first, attaching it with mini staples.  Next I added a bit of aqua decorative tape (Memorabilia) and a pink striped banner from the Family Stories Diecut sheet.  I added the tag last, using foam adhesive to pop it up.

I have one more card for you!  It's a fun and simple banner card:

I love the look of banners at the top of a card!  For this one, I started with a navy card base and added a panel of the woodgrain patterned paper (Noted).  I stamped my sentiment along the bottom with black ink.  Then I started on the banner!  The banner flags and anchor tag are from the Family Stories Diecut Sheet.  I punched them out and added them along the top of my card using foam adhesive dots.  I diecut a leaf from brown cardstock and added it as well.  Next, I added some embellishments- those fun orange epoxy dots and a pretty decorative brad with a bow tied behind it.  I finished off the look by adding a length of linen thread over the top, threading it through my tags.  I attached it with just a little bit of white glue on the outside corners.

I am loving the look Family Stories gives to a fall theme!  The colors are non traditional but still so pretty for the season.  I can't wait to use this combination again!

Supplies Used:

Teresa Collins Designs: Family Stories Designer Papers, Family Stories Sequins, Family Stories Die Cut Accessories, Family Stories Stamp set, Family Stories Die-cut Borders, Family Stories Epoxy Dots, Family Stories Decorative Brads, Memorabilia Decorative Tape
Other: Cardstock by Bazzill, Stampin' Up!; Twine by DMC, The Twinery; Tiny Attacher and staples by Ranger; Denim ribbon and linen thread by Stampin' Up!; Sentiment stamps, leaf and tag diecuts by Lawn Fawn

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Smile Today Layout

Hello!  How's your weekend going?  I'm having a busy one but it has been so fun!  My husband and I were treated to a night out at the Kennedy Center last night- including babysitting!  We saw Cirque de la Simphonie which was a wonderful show!  The cirque acts made it so fun to watch- it's amazing what people can do with their bodies!  It was my first time seeing the National Symphony Orchestra and I really enjoyed it!  My husband and I don't take many dates so this was a real treat.

I thought I'd pop on today and share a layout I created using the latest Inspired Blueprints sketch as my inspiration.  I love how this one turned out:

The photo is of the girls on the first day of school!  They were so excited and couldn't stop smiling!

I used the papers and sticker sheets from the Vintage Bliss collection by Simple Stories.  I love the colors in this line!  I created a border around my page with word stickers and created my title cluster with a circle cut from the wood plank paper and stickers.  I powdered and popped up the flowers to add a little depth.

The original sketch had banner flags down the left side.  I switched them out for round tags strung onto a piece of twine.  I love how this element turned out:

This sketch was fun to play along with and I hope you get a chance to use it, too!  Pop over to the Inspired Blueprints blog to see the original sketch as well as what the other team members did with it!

Well, I'm off to enjoy my Sunday!  The girls have declared it a jammie day but I'm going to try and talk them into visiting our local state park instead- it's just beautiful outside!

Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

Inky Paws Challenge with Newton's Nook Designs

Hi there!  Hope you are enjoying your Friday!  I haven't been on my computer much this week- it's nice to take a break every now and then! :)  This week ended up being a lot busier than I was planning!

Anyways, today I want to share my card I created for the latest Inky Paws Challenge from Newton's Nook Designs.  They had another great sketch for us to work with this week:

And here is my card featuring the adorable Boo Crew set:

I added the banner stamp from the Winged Wishes set to create a Halloween party invite.  I loved coloring these images!  I recently found my forgotten colored pencils and gamsol- I am in love!!  I think I might be over Copics and moving on to Prismacolor- I ordered a new set of their pencils this morning and I can't wait to get all the colors!!

The papers I used are by Bella Blvd.  Their Trick or Treat line is one of my favorites this season and just perfect for the cute animals in the Boo Crew set!  They go together so well!

Well, I hope you have time to play along with Newton's Nook Designs this week!  If you do, be sure to upload your card over on their blog for your chance to win a stamp set!

Hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

Newton's Nook Designs September Release- Magical Dreams

Good morning!  Today is the second day in Newton's Nook Designs September release!  I'm so excited about today's card featuring the new Magical Dreams set:

Isn't that dragon fun!!  I paired him with the fun halloween line by Bella Blvd here.  I stamped him onto the green cardstock and fussy cut around him.  I used my white Signo gel pen to color in the eyes and the spots.  Once it was dry, I colored his spots yellow.

This is another set with some really cute images!  Be sure to stop by the Newton's Nook Designs blog to see the entire set.  They are also giving two sets of Magical Dreams away- here are the details:

Would you like to win Magical Dreams?This set will be given away to Two lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

1. Comment on Newton's Nook Design blog: http://www.newtonsnookblog.com. One Winner will be randomly chosen from the comments on the September release posts.

2. Comment on the Design Team Member and Guest blogs (see list below)! One winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the September release blog hop. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, September 12th at 9 pm Central Standard Time to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 13th.

Make sure you check out all the blogs participating in the Launch Party below to enter:

Tessa Wise

Jocelyn Olson

Samantha Mann

Emily Leiphart

Jennifer Ingle

Kim Singdahlsen (Guest Designer)

Didn't the team make such cute cards with the Magical Dreams set!  I love them!

Well, hope you enjoy the rest of your day!  Thanks again for stopping by my blog!

-tessa

Newton's Nook Designs September Release- Boo Crew!

Yay!  It's release day for Newton's Nook Designs!  The September releases are so fun!  Today we are featuring the new Boo Crew set!  Here is what I made:

I created my card base out of black cardstock and added the chevron patterned paper by Bella Blvd to the top portion.  I cut a panel of white cardstock and added a strip of purple polka-dotted paper to the bottom.  I matted the panel with orange cardstock and then stamped the cute bear and 'boo' sentiment.  I colored the bear with my Copic markers.

Once he was all colored, I added the yellow banner with the second sentiment stamped on it.  I added a button with a twine bow to finish off the look and added my panel to my card front using dimensionals. 

He has some really cute friends in this set- a little owl, a funny dog, and of course, Newton!  They make me smile! I know you'll love them, too!  Newton's Nook Designs is kindly giving away two sets of Boo Crew- here are the details:

Would you like to win Boo Crew?This set will be given away to Two lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

1. Comment on Newton's Nook Design blog: http://www.newtonsnookblog.com. One Winner will be randomly chosen from the comments on the September release posts.

2. Comment on the Design Team Member and Guest blogs (see list below)! One winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the September release blog hop. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, September 12th at 9 pm Central Standard Time to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 13th.

Make sure you check out all the blogs participating in the Launch Party below to enter:

Tessa Wise

Jocelyn Olson

Samantha Mann

Emily Leiphart

Jennifer Ingle

Kim Singdahlsen (Guest Designer)

The team has really created some cute projects this month!  I hope you have time to check out all of them! :)  Don't forget to leave your comments for a chance to win!!

Well, thanks for stopping by and we'll see you tomorrow with the second set in this month's launch!

-tessa

Hello Dahlia Cards

Hi!  I found some time over the weekend to create a couple of cards and thought I'd share them with you today!  I used my new Stampin' Up! goodies I picked out from the new catalog- the new Regarding Dahlia was my first pick!  Here are the cards I made:

Since the dahlia stamp is so detailed and beautiful on its own, I decided to keep my cards clean and simple.  I started out with a piece of watercolor paper and watercolored a square using my Crushed Curry ink pad.  Isn't it such a pretty yellow!  I waited for it to dry completely and then with the help of my embossing buddy, embossed the dahlia and sentiment using white embossing powder.  It looks really pretty against the yellow!

I created a card base of Sahara Sand cardstock.  For contrast, I added a bit of Midnight Muse cardstock with some faux stitching on it along with the watercolored panel to my card front.  I embellished it with one of those fun wooden buttons and some linen thread.

For my next card, I started with another Sahara Sand cardbase:

I stamped the dahlia in Midnight Muse ink towards the bottom left corner.  I added a strip of Crushed Curry cardstock and a small bit of Midnight Muse cardstock along the bottom using dimensionals.  I wrapped it with some linen thread and finished it off with another wooden button.

I splattered just a little SC Calico Shine mist over it and then added my sentiment banner just under the button.  The banner is from the gift box kit from the SU! spring mini and the sentiment comes from the You're My Type set.

I'm so happy with how these cards turned out!  I'll be grabbing these colors again, too!  In fact, I had to put in another order to get more of this pretty yellow paper! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Hello Summer Layout

Hi There!  I have a fun sumer layout for you today thanks to a new sketch over at Inspired Blueprints!  This layout was inspired by #102, a great 1-photo sketch:

I used a few different lines for this one but most of the papers come from the Lakeside line by Pebbles, Inc.  It is a favorite of mine this year!  They were perfect for this photo of my Natalie in the pool earlier this year!

I embellished my page with this fun banner cluster- the cork is from Studio Calico, the button is from October Afternoon, and the epoxy dots are from Teresa Collins Designs.

I also added a little stamping to my page- this little turtle is from the Lawn Fawn Critters in the Sea set.  I colored him with Copics.

One more embellishment cluster- the little tag is from Simple Stories. 

I truly enjoyed working with this sketch!  To check out the original blueprint and see what the other design team members created, pop on over to the Inspired Blueprints Blog!  They are such a creative bunch! :)

Well, I hope you are enjoying your day!

-tessa

Halloween Invites

Good Morning!

Hope you had a great weekend!  It's a little quiet around here since the girls are back in school today!!  They were so excited to be starting 3rd and 1st grade this year!

I can't wait until they are home so I can hear all about their day!  I am relishing the quiet though- don't get me wrong! :)  Hee!

I also wanted to share a couple of invitations I created for the Teresa Collins Designs team blog today!  I created them with the new Masquerade Party collection.  My first card is an interactive invite that features lots of their new products:

After adding the orange chevron print (Webs) to my black card front, I added one of the fun printed Treat Bags to the left hand side.  It's so pretty on its own but since I was using this as an invite, I grabbed the Masquerade Party stamps and stamped  the word Party under the printed word Halloween with a black ink.  I also stamped the You're Invited banner onto natural white cardstock and cut it out.  I added it to the top of the bag using dimensional adhesive.  Next I added a small bit of the striped Border Strip to the bottom and the 31 Die Cut circle to the top.  I added two purple Enamel Dots to each side of the circle at the top.

Since I was using one of the Treat Bags, I thought it would be fun to put my party information inside it.  I cut out one of the invite cards (Invitations) and trimmed it down to fit the bag.  I rounded the corners and stapled a bit of ribbon and twine to the top.

Interactive cards are so fun!  With all the information on the outside, there is still room to write a quick note on the inside, as well.

My next card is also a party invitation.  And, like the last, this one also features one of the great invitation cards:

For this card, I created a white card base and covered it with the bats patterned paper (Bats).  I added a strip of the words patterned paper (Bats) to the center, matting it with a piece of purple cardstock that I punched a scallop edge along.

I cut out a journaling card next and wrapped a bit of purple twine around it.  I added one of the orange Decorative Brads to where the knot was and left the strings hanging from it.  I added it to the card front using dimensional foam dots.  Lastly, I added the Oct 31 Die Cut to the top left corner.  To finish this look, I'll just have to add my party information!

The Invitations cards are so great!  They are so easy to use- all you need to do is cut them out and add your party information to them.  They come twelve to the sheet, too so you can invite all your friends! :)

I had so much fun creating these cards!  The Masquerade Party collection is a perfect mix of graphic and elegance- I love it!

Well, I hope your day is going as well as mine!  Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

Halloween Banner Class

Well, it's the last day of summer and I'm already thinking about the season ahead- fall!  Particularly, Halloween!  I love to decorate for Halloween and decided to add a banner for my mantel this year.  I was going for a simple and elegant look and love how it came out:

For this project, I used Teresa Collins Designs Masquerade Party collection.  It is perfect for the elegant feel I wanted!

Since this was such a fun project to put together, I've decided to offer it as a class or kit at Scrapdoodles later this month.  Here are the class details:

Halloween Banner Class with Tessa
September 28th, 2013
1:30pm
$15.00
Please bring regular dry adhesive and foam dimensional adhesive.  Bring scissors and a cropadile if you have one as well.

Hope you'll be able to join me!  If you'd like to sign up, you can call Scrapdoodles at (540) 548-3788.  You can also stop by to sign up and shop! :)

Well, I'm off for our last adventure of summer!  Hope you have a great day!

-tessa

Best Wishes for the School Year!

Hi!  We are busy enjoying our last weekend of summer- how about you?  My girls go back to school on Tuesday and they are so excited!  We've been picking up school supplies, getting haircuts, and purchasing fun outfits to get ready for back to school.  I've also been making cards!  These are for their new teachers:

These were super simple to create!  The cute patterned papers and owl stickers are by Doodlebug Designs!  I love these little guys!  I paired them with a sentiment stamp by Lawn Fawn and cardstock by Stampin' Up!

I'm looking forward to the school year!  The girls each got the teacher they were hoping for and were so excited to meet them last week!  It's going to be a good one- I can already tell!  It makes me a little teary-eyed to think about how big they are getting though- the time goes by so fast, doesn't it!

Anyways, hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa