December Memories using Elle's Studio

Hello. Happy Tuesday! I have a new blog post up on the Paper Issues blog this morning, using some fun goodies from Elle's Studio.

I am working on finishing up my December Memories album from 2012. Yup, you read that right, I am working on my mini album from 2012.  We bought a new home and moved in December of that year, so I am just now finally documenting that season. That month was absolutely crazy and I did not have time to take photos every single day, but I did manage to document quite a bit, including; packing and moving into our new home, holiday preparations, and some of our family coming to visit us from Washington State. Considering we didn't close on our home until December 10th, I am considering that a huge win for 2012!

Regardless, of when you work on your holiday projects, I hope this post inspires you to dive in and have some fun during the holidays, and document what you are doing. Remember any kind of documentation is better than none. You don't have to make a December Daily album or take a photo every single day. Remembering to take some pictures and journaling about anything you do that month is more than enough!

This photo of Elliot and Isabelle is so darn sweet. When I see this photo 

I am reminded that this was the last year that Isabelle still 

believed in Santa Clause 

My mother and Isabelle love crafting together.

Games are a big part of family life, as well as taking naps. :-)

Morning messy, head cuddles are just simply the best!

For this mini album, I used many elements from the Elle's Studio Good Cheer Collection. The fun colors, stamps, wood veneer, and adorable bits and pieces has sure made putting these pages together a snap and a lot of fun as well. I also incorporated some sequins from the shop, a few elements from my stash, an some fun machine stitching as well.

If you have any holiday shopping to do, don't forget to use code "TONI" at checkout and you can save 20% off your entire order!!!

I hope y'all have a blessed and safe holiday season,

xoxox

Toni

Paper Issues: Pinspire Me Monday

Today I have a layout up over on the Paper Issues blog. I found a really fun pin that I was inspired by and am inviting others to share what they create as well.

This is the awesome pin I found courtesy of Better Home and Gardens

There were so many things I liked about this image. I decided to focus more on the strips of pattern and overall color scheme.

I used items largely from the Maggie Holmes Open Book collection, 

as well as some Studio Calico paper from my stash. 

If you are looking for some awesome paper products and need a good store to shop at. Look no further, I know of a great store, and I even have a coupon code for you to use as well! Head on over to the Paper Issues Shop and if you use code "TONI" at checkout you will receive 20% off your entire order.

Hello Flash: A Layout using Gossamer Blue's On My Desk

Happy Wednesday! I have a layout to share with you today that I created for a Product Spotlight feature over on the Paper Issues blog. I used the Gossamer Blue On My Desk supplies I  had already ordered, and I had such a great time!

I am seriously in love with this collection. The papers, ephemera, labels, and puffy stickers are right up my alley. I also adore the package of 3x4 gold foil transparencies. All of these products will definitely be making a Project Life appearance as well, not to mention some more layouts I plan on making.

For today though, I focused on a single image of our new ferret. My husband has wanted a ferret since he was a child, and earlier this month he made that dream a reality. Flash is pretty darn cute and we are having a lot of fun playing with him.

Products used from Gossamer Blue On My Desk:

• Screensaver, Multitasker, and Stargazer  12 x 12 papers
• 3x4 gold foil transparencies
• Enamel Stars
• Puffy Stickers
• Days of the Week Label Stickers

Other products used:

• American Crafts white cardstock (trimmed down to 8.25x 10.75 inches
• American Crafts shadow cardstock (trimmed down to 8.5 x 11 inches
• American Crafts dot roller adhesive
• Versafine Ink in Onyx Black
• Pebbles date stamp
• Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher
• American Crafts colored staples (I used gold)
• Needle and Thread
• Printer used for journaling (American Typewriter font)

If you would like to see what my fellow Design Team members Sherry Funk, Amy Close, and Brenda Smith created using Gossamer Blue products, please check out THIS post over at the Paper Issues Blog. They all are seriously talented and really rocked Gossamer Blue this month!

Thank you so much for stopping by today, I appreciate you being here. I will be back tomorrow with a look at my plan for making a #30DaysOfThankful mini album. I sure hope to see you back here.

xoxox

Toni

*Disclaimer: If you use my code over at the Paper Issues

store, I do receive a small commission that is used to 

purchase more crafting goodness at the shop.

Paper Issues: Witchin' You a Happy Halloween

Happy Monday! I have a layout to share with you today that was created for the new "Issue" over at Paper Issues entitled, "Witchin' You a Happy Halloween." SRM has graciously sponsored this issue and we will be giving away a goodie bag of SRM products to the lucky winner.

To enter simple link up any paper project (new or old) that matches our "Witching You a Happy Halloween" theme. Possible project suggestions for this link up might include; anything related to Halloween, including; spooky pictures and photos, spider webs, scary backgrounds, or flip this challenge the other way and document things that make you happy, such as; chocolate, coffee, family, your planner, paper crafting, and anything else you might think of that fits this theme. Another option would be to use any SRM products you might have in your stash. You can link your projects follow THIS link.

I had fun working with the SRM Halloween goodies and muslim bag they sent over. They went perfectly with a picture of our guinea pigs in their Halloween costumes. This was a really fun project to create, and the Halloween stickers were the perfect finishing touch!

SRM products Used:

• Stickers By The Dozen, Take 2 #69005 Halloween
• We've Got Your Border #57005 Halloween
• We've Got Your Sticker #53005 Treats
• Medium Muslin Bag

I also used some papers and labels from the Bella Blvd Halloween Magic collection in the Paper Issues shop.

Thank you for stopping by Toni From Designs today, I appreciate you being here. If this layout has inspired you to get creative, don't forget to head over to the SRM shop to stock up on some stickers, and if paper is more what you are after, why not head over to the Paper Issue shop. If you use my discount code "TONI" you will save 20% off your entire order. Until next time fellow crafters...

xoxox

Toni

*Disclaimer: If you use my code over at the Paper Issues

store, I do receive a small commission that is used to 

purchase more crafting goodness at the shop.

Introducing Sketchy Saturday over at Paper Issues

It's Saturday and the sun is shining in beautiful Rolesville, North Carolina. We just returned from a pretty great soccer game and I am now getting ready to play with pretty paper. Life doesn't get much better than this. 

I don't know about you, but I love a great sketch challenge. Guess what? That is exactly what I am sharing with you today.

We just started a new feature over at Paper Issues. The first Saturday of every month we will host "Sketchy Saturday" and we will have a sketch challenge. The winner is randomly selected from all those who link up a project to receive a $10 gift card to the Paper Issues store. *When you checkout you can also use my code and get an extra 20% off your entire order. Just use code "TONI" at checkout. What'a not to love about a free $10 and 20% off? Nothing. Nothing at all.

Here is the sketch you get to work with. It was created by my fellow Creative Team Member Jennifer Chapin.

Here is what I came up with for my take on the sketch. Believe it or not I made a 2-page layout and I really like how it turned out! I used a letter written by my daughter for the second page. To make the letter archival safe I made a copy and printed it onto some white American Crafts cardstock.

Please head over to the Paper Issues blog and check out how my other Creative Team members (Jennifer Chapin, Shannon Morgan, and Dona Howe interpreted this sketch.) You may enter the contest through Friday, October 10th. A winner will be selected for the $10 Paper Issues gift card and announced via the blog on Saturday, October 11th.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I will be back next week with some brand new flair designs for my store, two different Project Life posts, a card share, and some layouts too. It's gonna be a  good week over at Toni From Designs. A really good week.

xoxox

Toni

Paper Issues: You Are Love

Happy Wednesday! I have a layout to share with y'all today and am playing along with the current issue over at Paper Issues, "Tell Me Dies, Tell Me Sweet Little Dies." Remember that Stevie Nicks song? Here is a video of it, if you feel like being nostalgic with me.

This layout has a very special place in my heart because I am directly talking to Elliot (my son) in my journaling. I don't talk about this a lot here on my blog, but he has Asperger's Syndrome. For a long time, I worried constantly about where his place would be in this world as an adult. We had some really difficult moments from the ages of two through ten or so, but now that he is getting older, he is really managing very well, and in such a great place. That is not to say that we had many more wonderful moments, but when you have a child with special needs some of those not as fun moments really tend to escalate.

Elliot is fourteen now, and I do not have the same concerns. He is thriving here in North Carolina in every sense of the word (all 5' 11" of him.) He is quirky and kind and such a loving boy. He always, ALWAYS wants to do the right thing, and is just such a joy to have in my life. He is a great kid and so gosh darn smart, and I just love him to pieces!

Here is the layout I created for the challenge. I used new collections by Studio Calico, Pebbles, Shimelle, and Crate Paper. All of the items used and many more are available in the Paper Issues shop as well.

Don't forget to check out some of the new shop items we have in the Paper Issues shop. While your there, make sure to use the code "TONI" and you can save 20% off your entire order!

Happy Scrappin'

xoxox

Toni

Paper Issues: Tell Me Dies, Tell Me Sweet Little Dies

Happy Monday! Today I have a card to share with you that I created for Paper Issues. Our newest Issue, "Tell Me Dies, Tell Me Sweet Little Dies is sponsored by the fabulous people over at Jillibean Soup. If you guessed our theme correctly, we are focusing on dies this issue. Think pre-packaged die cuts, manual die cuts, and Silhouette cuts ( to name a few.)  I was sent some goodies from Jillibean Soup's fabulous Sightseeing Stew product line as well as these awesome mini placemats . Head on over to the  Paper Issues blog and be sure to link your current (or past projects) for a chance to win an awesome Jillibean Soup prize pack.

This card was made to give to my son Elliot. I am just so darn proud of this kid. He started high school this past week, and I know he will appreciate knowing that I am thinking about him.

I really enjoyed working with the mini placemats and fun patterned paper on this card. To create

 this project, I first cut patterned paper to size and adhered to my card base. I used pop dots for 

added dimension for the mini placemat. Next, I added a star die cut and placed a star sticker 

on top using pop dots (my favorite.) Some green twine tied loosely around the mini 

placemat finished off this card and added some fun texture.

Thank you for stopping by today and don't forget to check out the current issue over at Paper Issues and check out the projects made by our very talented Design Team Members.

I will be back tomorrow with a Project Life post, and until then...

Happy Scrappin'

xoxox

Toni

Paper Issues August Swag Bag Kit

Alright I will be perfectly honest, this post is all about enabling you to buy an awesome kit. I give you permission to fall in love and just order it. I mean it's only $9.99 and is definitely my favorite little kit EVER to date. Yes. I just put it out there...Boom!

Navy. Check. Gold. Check. More gold...check. What is not to love...even some vellum, wood veneer, and sequins too.

So what does this awesome kit look like, well if you are not following me on Instagram here is a photo for you...and seriously follow me on Instagram. I have lots of fun over there and would love to connect with you.

I can't wait to dive into this kit. It is super versatile and could be used for Project Life, scrapbook layouts, cards, planners, and just about anything. I will be putting mine to good use very soon. Right now just picture me petting it and whispering sweet nothings. Yes, I just confessed to talking to pretty paper.

If you do decide to pick this up, there are a very limited quantity left so order yours today. Use code "Toni" to save 20% off your order everyday. Here is a direct link to this kit at Paper Issues.

Until next time,

Happy Scrappin'

xoxox

Toni

Using a Mix and Match of Scrapbooking Supplies

Hello fellow scrappers and Happy, Happy Saturday!  I realize that I have really neglected my blog this summer, but I promise that I have new things on the horizon, and lots of work has been going on behind the scenes. I have a lot to announce on September 1st...stay tuned for all of that excitement. At that point I will be back to regular Monday-Thursday blog posts and some extras thrown in there as well. :-) Thank you for sticking this out with me, I appreciate you being here.

I don't know about all of you, but I am so excited for all of the new scrapbooking releases to arrive. I still have quite a few items from the last release that I love however, and I decided to make a layout using up some of those supplies.. This layout is getting linked to the current Mixed Tape Issue over at Paper Issues. I interpreted this challenge by using a mix of products from a variety of product lines. You can still link up your new or older project to this challenge and you might even win an awesome prize sponsored by Hazel and Ruby. You have until tomorrow night to link up your projects, I can't wait to see what you come up with!

If you are in the market to buy some of these great older products or need a great shop to purchase some of the newer lines that are coming in any day now (eeeek,) head on over to the Paper Issues shop HERE and use the code "TONI" to save 20% off your order, every single day. Yup, I just saved ya 20%.

Products Used:

• Heidi Swapp Favorite Things Seeing Stripes 12x12 paper
• Heidi Swapp Favorite Things 6x6 paper pad
• Pink Paislee Hello Sunshine 6x6 paper pad
• Heidi Swapp Favorite Things Ephemera
• Pink Paislee Color Wash Tags
• Pink Paislee Hello Sunshine Puffy Stickers
• Pink Paislee Hello Sunshine Ephemera
• Pink Paislee Hello Sunshine Alphabet (black and white stripe)
• Pink Paislee Sentiment Series stickers
• Studio Calico Wanderlust wood buttons
• Studio Calico Essentials gold camera
• Studio Calico Essentials pink flags
• Studio Calico Mister Huey in Taxi
• Studio Calico wood veneer stars
• American Crafts Precision Pen .03 nib
• American Crafts dot runner
• Tim Holtz tiny attacher
• White shipping tag and white twine from stash
• American Crafts heart acetate

I hope y'all have a great rest of the weekend and thanks again for stopping by!

Happy Scrappin'

xoxox

Toni