We also have a chalboard vinyl, yes I said it chalboard vinyl.

I used Couture Cardstock’s Whole Grain Monochromatic Collection, in “Oat” and “Sunflower Seeds”. The background is spritzed with Glimmer Mist and I used Distress Ink to shade in the various sized circles on the page. I just adored the laned lines of the “Round-A-Bout” paper and all the little cars, arrows and fun details that “Joyride” offers, perfectly assisted me in capturing the mood I wanted to bring to this page.

(Couture Cardstock: Whole Grains Monochromatic, Black Monochromatic)

Tomorrow Jen Matott show a little Cosmo Cricket love, and Andrea Amu will be up on Saturday!

xx Heidi

I LOVE all the details in this layout.  So much sweetness in a 12×12 format.  Thanks, Nicole!

See you in the morning.

~Alyssa~

First, Basic Grey’s “Max and Whiskers” collection! What a fun set of patterned paper for all you animal lovers! I don’t own any pets other than fish, but I find myself craving to add this paper to my scrap stash.

Second, Crate Paper’s “Brook Collection” is a breathtaking palette that I think would pop against the wholesome hues of  our Whole Grains collection. (This Crate Paper collection reminds me a lot of the color palette within my own home, as a matter of fact, complete with the grainy browns, so of course I love this!)

Last, but certainly not least, Tim Holtz’s Idea-ology Collection “Lost and Found”. What an eclectic blend of colors and visual eye candy!

What colors do you like to pair with kraft flavored cardstock?

xx Heidi

The thing I love most about this layout is the abundance of details.  The layering under the title, the brads, the buttons, the little flowers, the stitching, the stamping mixed with the journaling.  It’s fabulous!

I hope you are inspired!  Thanks, Nicole, for sharing with us!    :)

~Alyssa~

Here is a little more about each of the weights.

Lightweight papers (60-75lb) are perfect for laying, altered art, paper piercing, pleating and folding. Offering plenty of pliability, contrast and texture without unnecessary bulk, lightweight papers are especially suited for delicate techniques.  I like to use them for all of my more detailed die-cutting.  I don’t have to run the machine twice, and the teeny-tiny delicate pieces cut perfectly every time.

Medium weight papers (76-90 lbs) are the “little black dress” of our product line. Ideal for paper crafters of all styles and abilities, they will be the foundation of your paper-crafting wardrobe. Whether you are a scrapbooker, card maker or altered artist, medium weight paper will ensure your designs are always on the best-dressed list.  I like medium weight papers for backgrounds, stamping, and anything that requires fussy cutting.  My choices are usually determined first by texture, but this weight is also a draw, as it works for almost anything.

Heavy weight paper (91-110 lbs) is ideal as the base for cards and scrapbook layouts. An excellent choice for adding structure to 3-dimensional projects and gifts, this product dry-embosses beautifully and stands up to the frequent handling and admiration your unique creations are sure to garner.  This is the perfect paper for anything that will be highly handled or carry a lot of weight from heavy embellishments.  This is also the weight you are accustomed to seeing in most textured cardstocks on the scrapbook market today.

This discussion wouldn’t be complete without a mention of our specialty papers.  From vellum, to shimmer, to parchment, they are all available in the store too.  There is a paper for every crafting need you will ever have.  :)  Happy shopping!

Our Columns, Linen, Texture, Lineal, Leather, and Waffle, finishes, not only give visual appeal when left alone, but when altered with paint, inks, and such, they assist in create unparalleled dimension on any project.

Our Felt cardstock is like no other, a luxurious finish for those specialty projects or simply an element to jazz up any layout or card.

Our Glossy, Mirror, and Metallic, finishes, shine in comparison to all others.

Those are just a few of the amazing textures found within our cardstock collections, each Monochromatic color family comes with different finishes and weights so that you always have that perfect color, in the style you need, when you need it.

First up, what better way to build a totally feminine layout then to start with pink cardstock and add some papers from Prima Marketing’s Strawberry Kisses collection?

Cosmo Cricket‘s NEW DeLovely Collection finds its perfect match with Young Love.

Last, but certainly not least, you just can’t miss when combining Young Love with The Girl’s Paperie!  So much fun, so many pretty possibilities.

The Young Love Monochromatic Family is available in the store now!

~Alyssa~

This week marks the beginning of summer vacation for my two daughters. It also marks the beginning of a precious two month period that I get to spend with them, basking in the warm Alabama weather, making the most of this time when they are still young. I have found that the pictures that I take throughout this time, are ones that keep me going during the dreary winter months. I take so many photos because of being able to spend all day with my children and by the end of the summer I usually have 100s of pictures for my memory albums.

Having never been much of a “theme” scrapper, however, I don’t always want to scrap all these photos in a generic summer way. Here are a few of the ways that I keep the summer photos fresh in my scrapbooks, while including my girls in the process!

1. Have your children write down what feelings they feel when they look at the developed picture, or how they felt during that picture. This can be your journaling for that page.

2. Have your children take some of the photos, so that you get a view from their perspective! (I buy a pack of disposable cameras from a party store at the beginning of the summer… these are theirs to use.)

3. Print duplicates of your pictures, and when you sit down to make a layout, have them make one alongside you – for their own miniature scrapbook of the summer. (This is great for children who are asked to share about their summer during their first week of the next school year!)

4. During summer travels, pick up souvenirs (ie, napkins, luggage tags, sand) for your creations. These free little pieces of ephemera are a great way to jazz up your layouts. (I love to mod podge them in a collage on the front of mini albums I create about these travels.)

5. Have your children take pictures of YOU doing things with them. It is so easy to stay behind the camera, but in years to come – those kids are going to want to remember you being there (and not just behind the lens) also. This is a great way to later create a BOM as well, making sure that you have some recent photos of yourself! (During the school year in my house, pictures don’t get taken as often with the kids being gone all day, so it is really difficult to remember to get a picture of either myself or my husband.)

6. Last but not least, take pictures of the little things. The lemonade glass sitting on the lemonade stand, the chalk drawings in the driveway, the barefeet dipping in the pool. These small details make the big picture even more beautiful. I am working on a project right now, in which I took many different close-ups of  “the big picture” I was seeing in front of me, and then I took one big shot. This is turning into an amazing memory, a mini album that I will share with you in a couple of weeks after completing it.

Nothing says summer like palettes  full of blue skies and waters, sunshine and warmth, and the greens of outdoor bliss. My favorite Couture Cardstock color collections, for showcasing the brilliant hues in summertime photos, are Rainy Day Monochromatic, Silk Road Monochromatic, and Spring Valley Monochromatic. For the layout below, I also used Alabaster Columns for the background.

I hope that you are able to use some of these tips, I know that they aren’t new, but it is always good to get a reminder! Enjoy the summer, and don’t forget to bring your camera. Everywhere! You! Go! (lol, no pressure though.)

xx Heidi

Deb used a Hero Arts stamp and lots of papers from A Rose By Any Other Name to create this stunning card.  Feel free to leave her a comment and let her know you love it too!