The Cut Shoppe: Dive In

Hello! Today I want to share a new layout using a fun title from the Make a Splash cut file.

As much as I love cutting out shapes to use on my projects, it's the cool phrases and titles that really get me excited. I sometimes feel totally uncreative when it comes to picking a title for a project and to be able to browse through the selection of cool and unique cut files at The Cut Shoppe means I am able to add some fun variety to my titles.

For this next layout, I cut out the stacked "Dive-In" title after sizing it to fill approximately half the width of my page. Since it is on the narrow side, I also increased the width to bulk it up a bit. Here's what I came up with:

When I began to work on this layout, I knew I wanted to go with minimal color-something that normally isn't my style-and this led to me making the decision to cut the "Dive-In" out of white cardstock, the same as my base. To make sure the title stood out and was easy to read, I used pop dots to raise it up off of the background.

 

Wishing you a great day!

Michelle

Celebrate

Happy Saturday everyone! I don't know about you but I have been so looking forward to the weekend! Two of my kiddos started school a week and a half ago and I have been slow to adjust to my new schedule. This past summer I gave myself permission to take the break easy-no real schedule, hanging out at home, being mellow.....and I have certainly been paying for it! And to be perfectly honest, the only reason I am able to sit down and write this post is the fact that my daughter is home sick. Having already taken my (grumpy) 9th grader to school, I am pretty much on chill status this morning and finally have some time to share a new layout! Yay!

Despite having a Silhouette Portrait, I still regularly use my manual diecut machine--sometimes when I want a simple shape it's is just so much easier and less time consuming to pull it out and cut my shapes. This is especially true anytime I want some circles, like I did for this next layout:

I went into this layout knowing that I wanted to do some sort of a grid using a mix of patterned papers and that I wanted them to be circles. I ended up going with a two by two grid. Then, to take my grid idea even further, I machine stitched a grid connecting the four circles.

To balance my layout I "floated" one of the remaining circles in the top left corner of my layout. Anytime I am working with this type of layout design-one where the bulk of the layout is either at the top or the bottom-I will usually "cut" my layout diagonally into two triangles and will make sure to fill one of them.

 

I used a mix of products for this layout that includes bright and colorful papers and embellishments from Chickaniddy, Seven Paper, Dear Lizzy, Crate Paper, and October Afternoon. 

Wishing you a great day!

Michelle

Gossamer Blue Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the August Design Team Blog Hop!

I know that the "kit world" moves pretty fast and when most of you are receiving your kits the design team is receiving the next month's kit which means sneaks of the new kits start happening.

At Gossamer Blue we know that can be pretty overwhelming, so we've come up with a solution-each month on the 15th we are going to inspire you just as you are receiving your kits!

This month the August Kits were amazing and I truly had so much fun creating with them. Today I want to share a brand new layout made with the August Kits that features a fun mix of papers from Scrapbook Kit:

One of my favorite techniques is to layer up my patterned paper simply because it means I don't have to exclude any papers--I can include any and all of the ones I want!

I didn't limit my layering to just the patterned paper either! To fill in a little bit of blank space at the bottom of my layout, I cut some strips of white cardstock and adhered them with stitching--this added a subtle bit of interest and texture in a space that I felt was too "blank."

Now as much as I hope I have inspired you to drop everything and get those August Kits out, I want to encourage you to continue on with the hop because there is an amazing amount of talent in the line up and I wouldn't want you to miss a thing! Here are the links:

Alex Hunter
  Anabelle O'Malley
  Andrea Gray
  Brenda Smith
  Brenda Weaver
Diane Payne
Emily Spahn
Erin Taylor
  Eyoung Lee
  Felicitas Mayer
  France Wisniewski
  Heather Leopard
  Jill Cornell
  Jill Keller
  Kasia Przybyt
  Kathleen Graumuller
  Kellie Winnell
  Kelly Xenos
Laura Rahel Crosby
Michelle Wedertz <----You are here!
  Michiko Kato
  Olatz Garaiyurrebaso
  Patricia Roebuck
  Rebecca Luminarias
  Sian Fair
  Stephanie Buice
  Yana Smakula

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

The Cut Shoppe: Let's Do Summer

Hello! Today I want to share a new layout featuring two fun cut files from The Cut Shoppe-the Let's Do Summer and the super new Scribble Scrabbles cut files! Here's a look at each of them:

Let's Do Summer

Scribble Scrabbles

When I saw the Scribble Scrabbles shapes, my brain instantly thought "layer" and that's is exactly how I used it. I cut it out of a fun, bright red (my fave color right now!) and popped it under the picture to bring the attention straight to this fun pic of my daughter running through the sprinklers!

These cool scribble shapes would also work great to frame a photo. As I was working with the layers and photo, I tried that option and really liked it. In the end though, I popped it underneath the photo because I thought the red overwhelmed the photo a bit. Next time, I think a lighter color or a neutral would work great if I wanted to use them as a frame.

I thought that the Let's Do Summer title was perfect for the story--I mean, keeping cool and playing in the water is essential to surviving the summer heat!

For more inspiration, make sure an head on over to The Cut Shoppe Blog-the rest of the girls on the Design Team are always inspiring me with their creative uses of the cut files and I would hate for you to miss out on it all :).

Michelle

The Cut Shoppe & BPC

Today's a fun day with two exciting anouncements!

First, I am super happy to announce that I will be continuing on with The Cut Shoppe for a second term-yay!

I am a huge fan of all of the cut files that Ashley designs for the team and am looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us as we head into the fall and holiday seasons. Here's a look at the complete team for this upcoming term:

And here's a little peek at my next project for The Cut Shoppe (which goes live tomorrow!):

My second announcement is basically something I have been dreaming about ever since I found myself truly in love and involved with the scrapbooking community: I am a officially an instructor at Big Picture Classes and my first class-Recycled Page Designs-has went live!

The class, which focuses on techniques to get you scrapping fast, was so fun to put together and I pushed my limits by learning how to make videos! And right now at BPC we are celebrating the countdown to 100 Classes with a chance to win a free year long membership by signing up for a free trial!

Lots of fun stuff in store and thanks so much for stopping by today!

Michelle

Elle's Studio: August Reveal

Today is the 10th and that means it's time for the release of a new and exclusive kit from Elle's Studio! Yay! This month, the August Kit is packed with over 37 journaling cards and embellishment tags designed to help you tell your stories on your scrapbooking layouts, in your Project Life albums, cares, planners, and more. Here's a look at this month's kit and addons:

Just a reminder, these kits are limited and once they are sold out they will not be restocked. As a special bonus to help celebrate launch day kits are on sale for $9.99 (plus shipping) for today only!

This month I absolutely adored both the acryllic shapes and the vellum hearts and they are featured in both my layouts:

Happiness Is

 

Summer

 

Elle's Studio is also excited to introduce their very first Exclusive Kit Mini Course:

Every month, Elle's Studio will now be offering a new downloadable PDF class to go along with the monthly kit. This is the perfect addition to add to your kit purchase if you are looking for a creative jumpstart or fresh and fun ideas to use the kit!

Also, don't forget that there is a great sale going on right now to make room for new product!

Wishing you a great day and looking forward to seeing what you all do with this month's fun kit!

Michelle

Citrus Twist: August

Happy August everyone! I am not quite okay with how fast the summer is rollin' by, but lucky for me I have a new kit from Citrus Twist  to console me!  Ha ha.

The August Kits from Citrus Twist were revealed this past weekend and today I want to share those with you! This month I worked with the August Main, Embellishment, and Pattern Play Kits. Here is a look at what you will find in them:

August Main Kit

August "Go There" Embellishment Kit

August Pattern Paper Play Kits #1 and #2

 

My first layout that I want to share with you today uses a mix of all the kits:

Whenever I see stickers in a kit I get excited! They are one of my favorite embellishments and the Journey stickers (from Crate Paper)  in the Embellishment Kit are just so pretty! 

Currently at Citrus Twist, we are holding a fun #JUSTSTAMPIT Challenge on Instagram. 

If you haven't already checked out Jessy's stamps that she designed for Citrus Twist, you can check them out here in the shop.

Wishing you a great day!

Michelle

Gossamer Blue: August Reveal

The first of August means a brand new kit from Gossamer Blue is available! Yay! This month, Lori put together a beautiful kit featuring a mix of products that include Crate Paper, Simple Stories, and October Afternoon.

Today I am super excited to share two of the projects that I have made using the August Kits! First up is "Favorite Things:"

 

The colors in this kit really compliment this outdoor shot of my daughter and the fun greige grid paper worked so great as a background.

Next is "A Park Adventure:"

So much to love on this page! The colors, again, were a huge hit with me. The cloud paper just begged me to use it and the exclusive cork hearts and wood veneer were just the right touches.

 

 

I have been watching the rest of the Gossamer Blue team load their projects into the gallery this past week and I have been in awe of what I have been seeing. I am constantly inspired by the work of my teammates and I want invite you to head straight over and check it out for yourself-you won't be disappointed!

 

 

Michelle