Bedroom Remodel: Hardwood Floors

You'd never know that the paint on our bedroom walls is actually a very pretty aqua...for some reason it looks VERY blue in photographs...none the less, this morning we got up early and started the flooring in the Master Bedroom... it's coming along well, although Mr. Runs With Scraps says

it would be going along much faster if the floor tool thingie (my word not his) would stop jamming.  I have no idea why I feel it necessary to take photos of each little process these last couple of days, perhaps because in the past couple of years we've not ever gotten this much done in just a matter of 48 hours.... not with this project anyhow!

Master Bed and Bath Remodel: Lots of Progress Today

Yay!  We are making progress indeed!  The floors in the closet and bathroom are in .... the tub is set...

...don't get me wrong however.  Just because I no longer have a tub and vanity sitting in my bedroom doesn't mean there isn't still lots to do.  I mean LOTS.  Electrical switches and lights...

are being installed as I speak (errr..write)....and there is trim left to put up, as well as lots of paint touch-ups, more plumbing to be done too...the list goes on and on, but at least now it is actually starting to look like a bathroom, even if it doesn't quite work like one yet! :-)

Master Bed and Bath Remodel: Hardwood Floors Installation

It's official... the installation of the hardwood floors in our Master Bath and Walk-in closet (that is connected to the bathroom) has begun.  The closet is also connected to a small space where our water heater is located (you can see it behind the guys in the above photo), an accordion-style door will separate that unsightly mess from the closet after the floor is installed).

We've already had a couple of set-backs (par for the course really) which we decided to simply cry laugh-off...  Thankfully we started the install in our closet (a great place to practice) and now that we've figured out what we are doing, we have high hopes that the bathroom will be loads easier to cope with :-).

Unfortunately I have to leave for the day (which means the guys will be unsupervised most of the day...eeekkk), but perhaps by the time I return I'll have an entire floor installed in the space...we shall see!

Cardabilities Sketch Challenge and Reveal

Today is reveal day at the Cardabilities blog and we have another wonderful sketch by Karan Gerber to get you crafting for this week's challenge too, I hope you join us!

The Sketch

The Card

Admittedly, I got a just a tad carried away with this sketch because I ended up adding some extra elements to make the card work for me.  I started by selecting a piece of pattened paper from Cosmo Cricut Mini Deck "Up Cycle" and paired it with True Black cardstock from Papertrey Ink to make this unisex birthday card.  This was a chance for me to finally use some Maya Road Bingo Motif pieces that I've had in my stash for I don't know how long to add "flowers" to the leaves.  Also used to create this card were stamps and dies from Papertrey Ink, "Ad Sense" and "Turning a New Leaf" as well as their True Black Swiss Dots ribbon.  I used the Stampin Up Window Word punch for the small sentiment by the bow and the ink used was Memento "Tuxedo Black".

Master Bed and Beth Remodel: The Latest in the Never Ending Saga...

Some of you may remember the last time I posted about our Master Bed and Bathroom remodel project right here, back on July 13 (way back when I thought we'd have a lot more done than we actually do...which has been SO TYPICAL for this project).... at any rate, we have seen progress (just not nearly as much progress as I would hope). The last time I showed off bathroom it looked like this....

Since then we have finished the drywall (what a NIGHTMARE) and I have painted and the trim is up (although it has not been caulked yet or the paint touched up).

To the right of this area in the bathroom is a short wall that provides some privacy for where the toilet will be installed and where the double shower is located (the doorway you see to the right is where our walk-in closet is located in the bathroom.

We've also finished the walk-in closet, hung up all the closet organizers dealies and yesterday we purchased the hardwood flooring that will be laid in the bathroom and eventually the bedroom as well...

We needed six boxes of the flooring for the bathroom (for a total on hardwood alone of $360.00) and my sweetie came home last night with 8 boxes for only $300.00 because he bought four boxes that were damaged for a DEEPLY discounted price (yay!)....  of course, we still have to buy more of the same flooring for the bedroom (but first things first!) and the insulation stuff we needed to put under the hardwood (to help with noise reduction from the basement family room that is almost directly under our bedroom) was yet another  $100.00, but we are getting there...................................S...L....O.....W.....L....Y. :-) 

I have also been busy painting accessories, shelves and furniture for the space, but I'll save those pictures for later (when I actually take them!).

My bathtub....and the double vanity are STILL sitting in my bedroom... grrrr, but I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel, really I do! :-)

My Memories Giveaway Winner!

I was recently provided with an AMAZING opportunity to use and review the My Memories Suite version 2 software designed for digital scrapbooking.  My Memories is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a powerful set of creative tools and multiple sharing options that no other software can offer, for instance, you can even add AUDIO AND VIDEO to your layouts and other projects!  Its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features are perfect for a beginner to build an entire album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece.

With My Memories Suite you can even create and share professionally printed and bound calendars, send greeting cards to all your friends, make posters or trading cards for your child's sports team, post a movie of your scrapbook on your Facebook page-all with the click of a button. If you are serious about creating the ultimate scrapbook that preserves and shares your memories with a serious amount of "wow" factor, then My Memories Suite is the one-stop solution for you!

Now, My Memories is giving one of my readers their very own copy of the My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Version 2.0! It's a $39.97 value for FREE!  The winner was chosen from entries received earlier this week by Random.Org (see below) and the winner is... Tracy MacDonald!  I'll be contacting Tracy today via email on how she can download her new software from My Memories!

I just know you will be delighted with My Memories, so if you didn't win but still want the program for yourself, ... you can use this special coupon code to purchase a copy of the My Memories Suite for $10.00 off the retail price. My Memories loves my followers so much that the coupon is good indefinitely! 

Your special coupon code to instantly receive $10.00 off the My Memories Suite is:  STMMMS8380

BIG Giveaway: My Memories Suite Version 2 Software!

I was recently provided with an AMAZING opportunity to use and review the My Memories Suite version 2 software designed for digital scrapbooking.  My Memories is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a powerful set of creative tools and multiple sharing options that no other software can offer, for instance, you can even add AUDIO AND VIDEO to your layouts and other projects!  Its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features are perfect for a beginner to build an entire album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece.

With My Memories Suite you can even create and share professionally printed and bound calendars, send greeting cards to all your friends, make posters or trading cards for your child's sports team, post a movie of your scrapbook on your Facebook page-all with the click of a button. If you are serious about creating the ultimate scrapbook that preserves and shares your memories with a serious amount of "wow" factor, then My Memories Suite is the one-stop solution for you!

I'm still in the middle of my bathroom re-model project (yes, STILL!) and haven't had as much time as I would like to try all the great features included in the My Memories Suite.... but I did have the two minutes that I needed to create this quick and cute layout of my youngest daughter. Now just imagine how totally adorable it would be to add audio or even video to this page, or create an entire album just of that pretty face that was surely .... Meant for the Bright Lights!

Now, My Memories wants to give one of my amazing readers their very own copy of the My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Version 2.0! It's a $39.97 value for FREE! 

To Enter, it's simple: Just visit the My Memories website, check out their digital scrapbooking kits, and leave a comment with the name of your favorite kit or layout!

For Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each one you do):

Like My Memories Suite on Facebook

Follow My Memories Suite on Twitter

Consider becoming a follower of Runs With Scraps (but it's not required to win!)

(Of course, if you already do any of these things, that counts too! So please leave a comment. :)

This giveaway will end on Thursday (July 28) at 11:00pm, and I'll announce the winner on Friday!

But Wait!!

I just know you will be delighted with My Memories, so if you just can't wait to find out if you won ... you can use a special coupon code to purchase a copy of the My Memories Suite for $10.00 off the retail price. My Memories loves my followers so much that the coupon is good indefinitely! 

Your special coupon code to instantly receive $10.00 off the My Memories Suite is:  STMMMS8380

To enter the giveaway for your own FREE copy of the My Memories Suite, follow the directions I included in this post and leave your comments below.  You have until Thursday July 28 at 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter and I'll announce the lucky winner on Friday!  Good Luck!

Papercraft Star: Anything Goes Challenge

This week the challenge at Papercraft Star is the BEST EVAH... 'cause you can do whatever you want! That's right the challenge this week is "Anything Goes" and we say anything...we mean ANYTHING (well, okay no naughty stuff, but other than that...just go for it!).

With that said... for this challenge I wanted to do something BIG and BOLD so I chose some bright colors, Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy and Hawaiian Shores cardstock matched perfectly with this Crate Paper polka-dot pattern, add a extra large sentiment, and some ribbon, lace and a couple of Glam Rocks from Imaginisce and ta-da, one BIG and BOLD card was born.

You've got plenty of time to get your own project for this challenge completed too and we hope you do! You can find the link to our current challenge in the upper right corner on the sidebar of the blog! We can't wait to see what you create!

Imaginisce: Christmas in July with Santa's Little Helper Collection

Ho, Ho, Ho... it's Christmas in July time at Imaginisce and we're having a very festive week celebrating the release of our Christmas collection 'Santa's Little Helper'.


Our design team elves have been busy creating lots of goodies in Santa's workshop and over at the Imaginisce blog you can take a peek at what's been going on in the North Pole... and get in on all the fun giveaways that are happening there as well!

Here's what I have been working...

Card with Gift Card Holder

I used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and my Cricut to create the gift card holder that I attached to the outside of this card. I cut the envelope at 3 3/4 inches with the Tall Ball feature selected...which makes perfect little holes to tie the envelope closed with a sweet little ribbon bow.

Card Featuring Snag 'Em Stamps from Santa's Little Helper Collection

This card features the darling little reindeer stamp from the Imaginisce Santa's Little Helper Collection.  He's colored with watercolor pencils and a few Imaginisce Glitter Rocks embellish the card for some Christmas bling.

Clean and Simple Christmas Tag

This clean and simple Christmas tag was cut with Spellbinders dies and highlighted with a Waltzing Mouse coordinating stamp set.  The Christmas tree is another Snag 'Em Stamp from Santa's Little Helper collection by Imaginisce and is embossed with Pink Zing! and highlight with Imaginisce Crystal Hot Rocks.

Now get on your sleigh and head on over to the Imaginisce blog for more winter fun with Imaginisce and Little Santas Helper collection!

Garden Gate Thank You Card with Cheery Lynn Designs

Cheery Lynn Designs Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies paired with Scalloped Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies create the perfect backdrop for this sweet and simple Thank You card. 

For a bit of rustic charm, I cut Kraft cardstock with the darling little Garden Gate die and wrapped it up into a bow with pink and white Baker's Twine that coordinated perfectly with the pastel colors in my patterned paper.  I wanted the sentiment to really stand out as the focal point for this card, so I chose to stamp in onto cream cardstock cut with one of the larger French Flair Classic Large Stackers Nesting Dies from the set and popped it up with dimensional foam to really make it stand out against the garden gate. I love the gorgeous embossed border that is created when cutting with the French Flair Classic Large Stackers Nesting Dies, especially if you use the "Cuttlehug" Large Metal Adapter Plate.  With my Big Shot, I've found that if I use the metal adapter plate in my stack it alleviates the need to first cut and then emboss and instead does it with one easy step with most dies.

Be sure to visit the Cheery Lynn Designs blog each and every day for more inspiration using Cheery Lynn Designs Magical Dies!

Thursday Trigger for Kraft Outlet's My Favorite Things Challenge

This week as part of our "My Favorite Things" challenge, our entire Kraft Outlet Design Team is highlighting Kraft Outlet's Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeves. If you use the CD Sleeve in ANY of your projects submitted in July and/or August, you'll receive an extra entry into our random $15.00 Kraft Outlet Store Voucher drawing for those months, so buy some Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeves today and enter your projects in July and August for extra chances to win... we can't wait to see what you create using this fantastic product!


For this week's challenge I decorated a Lunch Bag Kraft CD Sleeve to create a fun and pretty way to store a CD filled with some of my favorite Summer 2011 photographs.  Other products from Kraft Outlet that I used include: a Round Metal Edge White Tag from the Designer's Special Natural Tag Collection that I first spritzed with coffee colored mist and then stamped with the word "Remember", Blue and White Baker's Twine, Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon that matches my photograph storage theme for this project, and a die cut tag that I stamped with the word "Summer" and attached at the top of the sleeve. I cut the index tab from Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock with the idea that I'll decorate more of these sleeves to store my photo CDs by season and once I put them all in a box, it will help me locate whatever CD I may wish to find later.

There is still plenty of time for you to join our My Favorite Things challenge.  You can find the link to our current challenge in the upper right corner of our sidebar at The Kraft Journal blog.  We can't wait to see what you create!

GCD Studios: Using Color Combinations to Inspire Your Scrapbook Layouts

Sometimes finding inspiration for your next layout is simply a matter of looking at a pleasing photograph and using it to create a color combination that will spark your creative energies.  I loved the bright and refreshing yellow and green in this picture combined with the muted grays and pink.

To get started, I printed the photograph and selected cardstock that coordinated with the colors in the photo then went to work selecting patterned paper from GCD Studios that matched, to create this "The Sister Bond" layout of my oldest and middle daughters.




I paired a pale gray cardstock background with patterned paper from the GCD Studios, Melody Ross Homespun Chic Collection "Vintage Birdie" with smaller cuts of the Melody Ross Soul Food Collection in "Soul Daisies" and "Soulful" to create this ultra-girlie layout. Die cut flowers from pink and green cardstock that coordinated beautifully with the patterned paper topped with rhinestones were set in the classic triangle on the layout to help move your eyes around the page.  The double-matting in light and dark grey for the photograph highlights it on the page.

The raw chipboard title sets ontop of a die cut scalloped oval in yellow topped with soft gray cardstock that was also used for the journaling strips. A simple green and cream sticker is tucked under the photograph to date the picture and a rhinestone added to the center of the letter "O" finished the project.


Other Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink: "Sweet Blush", "New Leaf", "Soft Stone", "Smokey Shadow" and 12 x 12 sheet of Bazzil cardstock for the base.
Embellishments: Rhinestones: Kaisercraft: "Split Pea", October Afternoon: "Thrift Shop Stickers"
Dies: Cheery Lynn Designs "Judy's Blooms", "Oval Stackers"
Other Tools: EK Success: Border Punch "Deco Scallop"

For more inspiration, tips and tricks using GCD Studios products visit the blog today!

Celebrate with Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

For today's "Celebrate" card, I paired Cheery Lynn Designs Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies cut from coordinating patterned paper with Scalloped Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies to create a cheerful backdrop for for the pennant banner and flower. 

To create the banner, I layered die cuts from the Pennant Die cut from cream cardstock and patterned paper and adhered them to the cardfront. As a focal point, I added a flower cut from yellow and green cardstock using Judy's Blooms die. Finally, I added a stamped sentiment onto cream cardstock cut using the Large Silver Stackers Nesting Dies.

More examples of how I used the perfectly sized Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies to create pretty and professional-looking projects are here, here and here.

Cardabilities Sketch Challenge and Reveal

I'm just delighted to share my first project as a member of the fun and amazing Cardabilities Design Team! Today is reveal day at the Cardabilities blog and we have a wonderful sketch to get you crafting for this week's challenge too, I hope you join us!

The Sketch

The Card

Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink) are at the top of my favorite color combinations list so when I found these patterns papers in the Cosmo Cricut Odds and Ends patterned paper collection I knew I wanted to combine several pieces of the patterned paper that featured these colors with the cardstock to create this bright and cheerful card.   Other supplies I used to create this card include the Border Carnival Die from Cheery Lynn Designs, JBS Antique Stick pins ordered from Kraft Outlet, Red Seam Binding from Really Reasonable Ribbons, Red Riding Hood Red ink from Stampin' Up, and Stamps from Waltzing Mouse's Rescue Remdies cut using Spellbinders Labels 4.  

...and the Master Bed and Bath Saga Continues.

Our Master Bed/Bath renovation is one of those projects that most days feels like it will NEVER (never - ever - ever) end. I can't even begin to list the things that have gotten in the way of this project since it began some three years (yes THREE years) ago.  From the whole pay-as-you go kinda budget, to design changes, design errors, and just life in general... it has certainly felt like there was no end in sight... until now.  I can see it... we are FINALLY starting to really get somewhere.  I seriously almost cried when I took this picture (even the installation of the shower unit some six months ago didn't make me feel as excited as seeing this...

The tile work for our swimming pool tub is almost complete...  and it looks like if everything continues to go well the rest of this week, I might be painting before the weekend is through!

As for the master bedroom... the paint is on the walls.... the crown molding and window trim is up too...

the room still needs flooring, paint around the windows and the doors installed to both the bedroom itself and the bathroom... but we can actually sleep in our bed now (as long as you don't mind all the construction stuff and drywall dust).

I am also in the middle of re-doing this dresser to go into the space. It's a big heavy Ethan Allen dresser that my mother found at GoodWill and I am painting white to match the cottage/beachy feel that we are trying to (ever so slowly) create for our Master Bed/Bath retreat. I am also painting an entertainment cabinet of sorts that will temporarily be in the space to hold our television and serve as extra storage until we can find just the right piece to replace it...  There are also wooden shelves to be painted for a kind of king size headboard thingie I am working on...as well as more sanding and some closet planning that I need to get done.... but, it is finally starting to come together... I think :-)

Because Mr. Runs With Scraps has been working extra hours each and every week on his real job and thus has had no real time to devote to this project, we've actually hired a young man who has been working with me to move things forward. Paying for labor is certainly using up some of the budget...but it also has moved the project along. Josiah (the guy we've hired to assist) has also provided some much-needed comic relief for me in the last few days... that alone is worth the money! :-)

Live for Today with Cheery Lynn Designs

I paired Cheery Lynn Designs Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies cut from smokey black and cream cardstock with daisies cut from patterned paper using the Darling Daisies die to create this elegant and inspirational card with matching envelope. 

The perfectly sized and beautifully embossed edge that is achieved by using Cheery Lynn Designs Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies is featured on the Vintage Cream cardstock that the sentiment is stamped on, as well as the Smokey Shadow cardstock that backs the sentiment. These dies help make professional looking cards so quick and easy that they are a must-have item for all card makers no matter what your skill level may be.

To highlight both the sentiment and the envelope, I cut daisies from the Cheery Lynn Designs Darling Daisies die and adhered black rhinestones to each for added glamour. Gently folding each petal of the daises together adds extra dimension to the flowers on this project. 

More examples of how I used the perfectly sized Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies to create pretty and professional-looking projects are here, here and here.

Supplies Used for this Project:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink: “Smokey Shadow”, “Vintage Cream”

Patterned Paper: Sassafras: “Ellie’s Tale” Wee Bundle

Stamps: Papertrey Ink: “Through the Trees”

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Ink: “Tuxedo Black”

Embellishments: Imaginisce: Hot Pack Compact “Black”

Dies: Cheery Lynn Designs: “Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies” and "Darling Daisies"

Other Tools: Sizzix: Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Imaginisce: I-Rock Tool and dimensional foam tape.

Recharging the Batteries at Lake Michigan...

Today I have a whole different kinda Saturday Special over at The Kraft Journal, than our followers are used to because I'm off with my honey doing a bit of this...

In fact, I pre-scheduled this post because we left on Thursday and headed up to the shores of Lake Michigan to spend four glorious days away from computers, phones, televisions and even grandchildren (GASP) to camp, fish, and boat with another couple... just to get back to nature a bit, recharge our batteries and spend some time with just grown-ups.

Never fear though, for those of you who follow us at The Kraft Journal, we will be right back on track as early as Sunday ('cause I pre-scheduled that post too...ah the wonders of modern technology) and we'll have a whole new challenge for you on Monday as well!  Hope to see you over at The Kraft Journal then!

Thursday Trigger for The Kraft Journal: Patriotic/Americana Challenge

Many of our followers over at The Kraft Journal must have enjoyed the long 4th of July weekend and are continuing to reap the benefits of the mostly mild summer months we are enjoying around the United States because it's been pretty quite around the blog lately (here to for that matter)!  I can only hope that the quiet means you've all been soaking up some much needed sunshine and relaxation away from the computer ... but now it's time to come back and play along with us this week for this fun challenge... am I right??!! :-)

Even though our "Patriotic/Americana" Challenge at The Kraft Journal is more than half over, that doesn't mean that there isn't still plenty of time to join us...'cause there is!! All the details regarding this challenge are available by clicking on our Current Challenge link that is located in the top right sidebar of our blog.  You have until this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time to enter for a chance to win prizes and adorable blog buttons too!

To create this Patriotic card, I started with a 6 x 6 inch square top-fold card made from Light Kraft Coverweight Cardstock and rounded the corners. I then layered that with a 5 3/4 x 5 3/4 inch piece of
Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock, rounded the corners of that and then added a layer of patterned paper to create the card base. I used the same layering of Light Kraft Coverweight Cardstock, Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock and coordinating patterned paper to create a base for white ribbon and tied it into a bow. I topped the bow with JBS Antique Stick Pins and a red button tied up with Blue Baker's Twine.  Yet another layer of die cut Light Kraft Coverweight Cardstock and Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock is the base for my stamped and Copic Maker colored image of a vintage picnic basket complete with stars and a flag, perfect for the 4th of July. A stamped sentiment on white cardstock cut with a banner die completed the project. These details are also available at The Kraft Journal blog. Now it's your turn...and we can't wait to see what you create!

Papercraft Star: Garrendeny Lane Photo Inspiration Challenge

The challenge at Papercraft Star this weeks starts with a luscious photograph from Garrendeny Lane and we hope ends with a project you create that was inspired by this fun photograph too!

Photo Credit: Garrendeny Lane

To create my project for this reveal I started with an Orange Zest 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 cardbase and added layers of patterned paper from Crate Paper's Emma Shoppe Collection 6 x 6 paper pad. Orange Zest Ribbon topped with a purple button from my stash (inspired by the purple flowers in the photo) finished this quick and easy, but oh so Orange and Zesty card! :-)

I hope you join me by entering this Papercraft Star photo inspiration challenge.  You can learn all the details and enter your project by clicking on the Current Challenge link located in the upper right sidebar of the Papercraft Star blog!

GCD Studios: Happy 4th of July!

Nothing says "Summer" to me more than camping and the 4th of July, so when GCD Studios asked the Design Team to create Summer-themed projects, it seemed only natural to combine a project that included a 4th of July theme with fun and "campy" designer papers like that of The Great Outdoors Collection by Heather Tozzi.

For this projected I used three fun red, white, blue and gray designs from The Great Outdoors Collection including "Happy Camper", "Picnic Table" and "Bandana" (even the names of the paper say "camping-fun" don't they?!). 

I totally love the grid lines and gray hues on of the reverse-side of "Happy Camper" and featured that color by using a scallop circle die cut of that patterned paper behind the image I stamped onto white cardstock. To further play up the gray hues, I then stamped the stars and flag basket topper with black ink and heat-embossed it with silver embossing powder and rubbed gray chalk around the bottom of the basket to ground the image on the circle die cut. A little blue chalk rubbed around the top of the image gives the feeling of a "wide-open" summer-sky.  I colored the basket with my Copic Markers in earth-tones and used a light hand on the flag with some pretty Spica Glitter Pens in red and blue.

Instructions to recreate this card: 

1. Create a 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 card base from white cardstock.
2. Cut piece of red and white patterned paper "Picnic Table", border punch, wrap with Baker’s Twine and tie twine into bow; adhere to card base.
3. Cut piece of "Picnic Table" red patterned paper and adhere to card front.
4. Cut piece of  blue and white patterned paper "Bandana" and adhere to card front.
5. Die cut circle from white cardstock stamp image; heat emboss and color.
6. Stamp image again on cardstock, color flag, cut out and adhere to colored image with dimensional foam adhesive.
7. Die cut scallop circle from "Happy Camper" patterned paper; adhere to back of stamped image circle and adhere to card front with dimensional foam adhesive.
8. Die cut banner from white cardstock, stamp with sentiment and adhere to card.
9. Adhere Glam Rocks with I-Rock tool.

Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: GCD Studios: The Great Outdoors Collection, “Happy Camper”, “Picnic Table”, “Bandana”
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink “Stampers Select White”
Stamps: Papertrey Ink “Vintage Picnic” (image and sentiment)
Ink: Memento “Tuxedo Black”, Stampin’ Up “Real Red” 
Fiber: Kraft Outler “Blue Baker’s Twine
Embellishments: Imaginisce: Glam Rocks “Masculine”
Dies: Spellbinders: Standard Circles Large and Scallop Circles Large, Papertrey Ink: “Double Banners”,
Other Tools: Imaginisce: I-Rock tool, EK Success Dotted Lace Border Punch, Pop Dots, Ranger: Embossing Powder "Silver", Copic: Copic Sketch Markers and Spica Glitter Pens and blue and gray chalk from my stash.

For more inspiration using GCD Studios products, visit the blog today!

GCD Studios: Stamping with Paint on Scrapbook Layouts

Acrylic Paint Stamping

You can achieve a whole new look on your scrapbook layouts with just a bit of acrylic paint and stamps from your collection. To get started stamping on your layouts, you'll need acrylic paint in the color(s) of your choice and one or two (or more!) of your favorite stamps.  Test drive your stamp and paint on scrap paper before stamping on your layout, just to make sure the image stamps as you expect it.

Keep in mind when selecting stamps to use with paint, that it's best to choose stamps that do not have a lot of detail as paint does not transfer as clearly as ink. Also, when stamping letters, like I did for the title on this layout, use clear stamps or a stamp alignment tool to ensure your letter positioning is accurate.

Apply Paint with a Paint Dabber or Paint Brush

First apply a layer of paint onto your stamp using either a paint brush or a Paint Dabber as I did here. A Paint Dabber will create a more uneven look than what you can achieve with a paint brush... I happened to like the uneven distribution of paint created from the Paint Dabber as well as the fact that I didn't have to clean a paint brush when I was finished!

Stamp onto Your Project and Heat Set with a Heat Gun

Stamp the image onto your layout and then dry and set the paint with your heat gun to greatly reduce drying time.

You can use this stamp with paint technique to add both embellishments and titles to your next papercraft project like I did for this layout.

"Home Wrecker" Layout by Beth Moore

I really like the rustic results that paint and stamps achieved on this "Home Wrecker" layout that features the youngest addition to our furry family members.

GCD Studios supplies used to create this layout include, Material Girls Collection, "It's in the Bag", "Kiss and Make-up", and "Sugar and Spice," as well as The Little Lovebirds Lace Cut from the Sweet Surrender Collection.

Other Supplies:
Paint: Jenni bowlin Acrylic Paint Dabber "Chewing Gum"
Stamps: Jillibean Soup "Home Tweet" and KI Memories "Alphabet Stamps", Papertrey Ink: 2009 Autumn Tags
Cardstock: Bazzill: "Kraft", Papertrey Ink: "Vintage Cream"
Ink: Stampin' Up: "Regal Rose"
Embellishments: Pebbles Candydots: "Brown" and decorative tape from my stash
Other Supplies: Scallop and Circle Punches and Fiskars Top Crest Border Punch

To get other great tips, tricks and techniques visit the GCD Studios blog today!

Enjoy the Moment with Cheery Lynn Designs

I'm excited to share my project with you today because it combines some of my most favorite basic (must-have) dies from Cheery Lynn Designs as well as one of my favorite color combinations... Lemon Yellow and Gray! This project features die cuts from Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies, French Flair Dies, the Dotted Swiss Embossing Plate, and a cut from the Pair of Ferns die. (I apologize in advance that the embossing is difficult to detect in this photograph - but it is there on the large piece of yellow cardstock!)

To recreate this card...

1. Create a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base from gray cardstock.
2. Cut a piece of yellow cardstock to 4 x 5 1/4 inches, emboss with Dotted Swiss Embossing Plate and adhere to card front.
3. Die cut piece of  patterned papper using Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies and adhere to a piece of gray cut from the next larger size Rectangle Card-Makers Stackers Nesting die; adhere to card front with dimensional foam tape.
4. Die cut Pair of Ferns from smokey black cardstock and adhere one fern to card front (save the other for another project).
5. Die cut piece of gray cardstock from French Flare die and stamp with sentiment then adhere to a piece of yellow cardstock cut from the next larger French Flare die; adhere to card front with dimensional foam tape.
6. Adhere Imaginisce Hot Rock with I-Rock Tool.

Hope you Enjoyed this Cheery Lynn Designs Moment....and be sure to stop back in at the Cheery Lynn Designs blog every day for more inspiration from the Cheery Lynn Designs Design Team!

GCD Studios July Kit Give-Away

This is going to be an exciting month at GCD Studios, because this month GCD will start a new kit give-away. Each month GCD Studios will offer a kit that two Guest Designers and one Design Team member will work with and all GCD readers (like you!) will have a chance to win that kit! How exciting is that??!!

Over at the GCD Studios blog, you'll find a link to each give-away every month.  All you need to do to enter is play along with that month's challenge (all the info you need will be found at the link). The link will look similar to the one I have shown below and will be located in the righthand sidebar of the blog... click here to follow the link now and get entered to win!