Pick of the patch

Probably one of the biggest reasons our family loves September is because, towards the end of the month, the pumpkin patches open up! The kids always want to be some of the first visitors there, so we can get the best pumpkins they have for sale, and we can leave our treasured pumpkins around for decorations all through the fall.

I absolutely love this color combo, but I challenged myself to make the colors work for a more masculine layout in one of my boys' albums by using more of the oranges and yellows and just a very subtle splash of the pink. After all, who says there can't be any pink on a boy layout? :)



Our pumpkin patch pictures worked perfectly with these colors! I used the yellows and blues in these patterned papers from the Homespun Chic collection:







and cut out pieces of these patterned papers from the Fun House collection.





Combined with some embellishments that give the layout some dimension, the moments of fun at the pumpkin patch with my sweet, eager little boy are now forever documented.







Supplies Used:
patterned paper, embellishments - GCD Studios
alphabet letters - Making Memories
ink - Zig, Color Box
buttons, staples - misc.

Fun painting, misting and glamming up

Seriously, aren't these colors gorgeous? I just love this photo! When I first saw it, I couldn't take my eyes off of it... then after I managed to pull my eyes away from the photo, I got to thinking, "what on earth am I going to scrap using these colors?" and then I realized that I have a great fall photo of me that I love...

I bet you've probably wondered how to use these plain papers by Donna? I know because when I first came across them, I thought to myself, "there's no way I can use these papers... they are just too plain... they need color!" But no one said you couldn't mess these papers up! I had so much fun painting, misting and glamming up these papers to make them work for me!

Here's my inspiration to help me select the colors for my layout.
I coated the papers with mists and chalkboard mist and then created little buds with orange glimmer glaze. I also painted my tags orange and cut them in half for a fun border.

Hope you've enjoyed your stay. Please come back to visit!

Supplies used:
Papers: Tags: Antiquities Line by Donna Salzar

Other: Stamp: Pink Pasilee, Mists: Chalkboard mists: Glimmer glaze: Tattered Angels, Stickers: Crate Paper, Mini sticker alphas: Cosmo Cricket, Mini tag: S.E.I, Punches: Creative Memories, Martha Stewart.Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you have a fantastic rest of the day!

And the winner is...

Kate Vickers

Congrats Kate! Send me your info and I'll mail you the Aug kit of the month :)

Thanks to everyone that played along for Aug.

Now onto our September Kit of the Month.

I hope you love this months kit as much as we do! It's packed with school themed papers and happy bright fall embellishments. To enter into this contest, simple create a back to school project. It can be a layout, card or even a gift for a teacher. Please use 50% of GCD Studios product to enter. Then email your project to me at Hsonboul@gcdstudios.com by Oct 5th 2011.

The top 3 projects will be posted here and the voting beings (just like last time :). The winner will have the kit of the month sent to her or him and will be featured in our next months news letter. Plus we will bloggit blog about you them.

Good luck everyone.

Tomorrow I will announce our new Guest Designer of the month :)

~H

I'm prepared!

"Mom, I lost my pencil!"
"Mom, where are the scissors?"
"Mom, can I use your scrapbooking glue? I can't find a glue stick."
Are these phrases familiar to you? Do you hear these same words when it's time for your kids to get their homework done? Do you find yourself fumbling through the junk drawer for a pencil sharpener or an eraser? I have personally experienced all of these homework hang-ups, but this school year will be different. I'm prepared!

A clear box with large sections and some school-inspired GCD Studios papers have me saying bring on the backpacks! I kept the design fairly simple because this box is going to see daily wear and tear.

Last year each of my boys had their own pencil box filled with the same supplies. It didn't work very well, and I'll tell you what I learned. Without a specific home for everything within the box, it was hard for my boys to know what was actually there. Scissors can drown in a sea of coloring crayons, you know. They could leave a glue stick out one afternoon and not realize it until the next day (after little brother ran away with it). The compartments in this particular box will help my boys to see all of their supplies at a glance. If a compartment is empty, something must still be out.

I backed the design on the front with a patterned paper featuring positive, encouraging phrases. As the lid is open, my boys will see things like "Wow", "Well Done", and "Outstanding" - great motivation for slaving away on that daily homework.

Aside from homework boxes, these altered containers make great gifts for all kinds of occasions. For teachers, try filling one with chocolates as a "school day survival kit". Organize desk supplies and personalize the box with his/her name and classroom number. What would you do with a box like this?
GCD Studios Materials Used: Elementary My Dear Collection (papers)

Cute trees

As much as I complain about having to go back to school, I do love the colors of fall. It's one of the most beautiful seasons here in Michigan. It almost makes up for winter. ALMOST.

So here was my inspiration:

And here is how I used the color combo on a layout:

Supplies include:

• Elementary My Dear by GCD papers
• The Great Outdoors Woodgrain Alpha from GCD

CUTE TAG!

Hi there! Jennifer here, and today I'm going to show you a cute gift idea you can tuck inside your kids' lunchbox or backpack. Maybe they're just starting back to school, or maybe they have a big test coming up. Whatever the occasion, this will be sure to cheer them up :)

To start out, we'll make an embellished tag out of patterned paper strips. If you're like me, you have a hard time throwing scraps away. this is a great way to use them!

Gather up some strips of paper and a tag.

Adhere them onto the tag, then turn over and trim the excess off.

You can add a little stitching if you want, too!

I embellished the tag with an apple die cut, pencil and punched star. These papers are from the upcoming "Elementary My Dear" line by GCD. I tucked some oatmeal scotchies into a little glassine sack and clipped the tag on top.

And here's a fun shaped card to go with the treat ;)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a good one!

Getting crafty with numbers

Hi everyone,
I hope that your fall season is off to a great start. Every year I look forward to the fall season. I love the crisp autumn air, and the perfect fall temps (not to hot, not to cold).
There are so many things that I look forward to in September, so I thought that I would do a two page layout
following this fall color scheme...

I love the crisp red, mixed with blue and gray...

I thought that these papers from the Material girls line would be perfect for this color pallete.
I chose the B sides of Kiss and Makeup paper

and the B sides of Hugs and Kisses paper


I chose my grey's from the Sweet surrender collection
I love these cute little buttons

and I thought that these numbers were just begging to be fussy cut...
aren't they fun?

Here is my two page layout:
September Days...

I thought that doing a two page spread was a perfect way to show what our favorite things in September are. And to use up lots of fun photos that I have been taking lately using Instagram.

Here is a closeup shot:

I also used several chipboard pieces from Melody Ross' chip art collection
I wrapped some of the chip art pieces with twine for a quick and easy embellishment. TFS!


My Blog

"washi tape"

One of the hot new trends out in the scrapbooking world is "washi tape". Have you heard of it. It is so much fun. It's a quick way to add photos or embellishments to a layout, journal, or even hang a photo on the frig.
Well, I have a quick tip today on how to create "faux washi tape" using your favorite patterned paper.
For my sample today, I used the Salon Stripe, Red & Green - Scandia Jul Collection by Rob and Bob. Cut a strip...

Run it through your Xyron X...

Tear it by hand to give it a "natural" look. {This also allows you to create whatever size you need.}
And, attach your photos to your layout!

So simple and inexpensive!



Megan Klauer
meganklauerphotography
meganklauerdesign

Vote for your favorite- Aug Kit of the month

Welcome Sept and thanks for stopping by!

It's that time again when we show our top 3 favorite projects for our Kit of the month give away. I think the projects are so beautiful this month and I'm so over joyed to share them, but first... here is the kit of the month for August. Just so you remember what it looks like.

Now for our top 3 girls

1) Nicolle Kramer

2)

Catherine Oakley

3) Kate Vickers

You have until today -Sept 5th (Man) to vote and the winner will be announced on the 6th :)

Today I also have our new Kit of the month-for Sept to share. It's pack with delightful fall colors and school papers+ a few cute embellishments.

To win this kit come back tomorrow to learn more.

Good luck to our 3 girls!

~H