Happy Monday Morning!  Davinie here!

For today’s project I decided to do a layout and be inspired by the actual patterns in the Spring Fling Collection.  My favorite part about this collection is that tree, but I can’t use that tree on every layout that I create.  To do something different, I decided to create my own trees.  I am often inspired to make embellishments by the actual patterns in the paper I am using.  For example, I might trim out a large flower inspired by the shape of the small flowers on the Flower Beds paper, or create a large bird embellishment inspired by the little birds in the Bird Nest paper.  For this layout I decided to make a couple of trees using cardstock for the trunk, and some scraps from the Tree House and Green Lace patterns for the leaves. 

I also used the scalloped die cut edge as a border around my layout.  I layered it over some cardstock, to add some sturdiness to the finished layout and bring out a bit of the blue in the striped Rain Showers pattern.

My challenge to you as you create your next project is to take a closer look at the patterns you are using, and create your own embellishments. 

Have a great week!  Can you believe it’s already almost May!? 

  I have to admit, I am not organized with recording my thoughts and stories…I always think that I will remember the little funny moments or the things that my kids say that tickle my funny bone, but I don’t.  Life gets in the way and trying to remember what time doctor’s appointments are and who’s got carpool tends to block out all the little memories that are so dear to my heart.  I sometimes write down things the kids say on odd scrap pieces of paper, with full intention of filing it somewhere…but it never gets done. 

  So, I have had intentions of making a little box ( I used the Maya Road Skinny Box and Cards) as a place to put little quotes and stories into.  A collecting place.  When I signed up for this blog assignment, it was just the little push I needed!

  I used mostly the Spring Fling collection.  I just love the reds and aquas.  I used the Flower Beds and Spring Flowers from the Spring Fling Collection.  I accented with Office Lingo Cubicle.  I used the Bottom Line paper from Office Lingo on my journaling cards.

For the embellishments I used die cuts from the Spring Fling Collection and the aqua alphabet stickers.  I used quite a few stamps also….Doodle Circle (on the “Today” diecut, for a cute little touch) and On Schedule.  Fun little stamps!

 I added a vintage Bingo game piece, vintage button, wire strung with pearls (for the handle), ribbon and a safety pin!  Love that shabby chic look!!

Happy Monday everyone! Mara-May* here, hoping every-one’s week has started out great. The weather over here is just gorgeous. We’ve actually hit the 90′s already! Whew. Time to go swimming. HaHaHa

For this Monday’s Muse I’d like to share a gift-bag and card I made for a friend. She’s been a big help to me in these last few  months of my pregnancy and I just wanted her to know how much I appreciate her. So of course, I could have went out and bought her a card and gift bag, but instead I wanted her to know that I took some time out just like she has been doing for me everyday to created these things just for her.

The great thing about making your own cards and even the wrapping or gift bag is that you can personalize it to suit that person. With this set I made I know my friend loves pink and black and white polkies so I went with that. Pink Paislee’s Office Lingo – “Casual Friday” paper was the perfect fit! All I did was layer a few peices of patterned papers, add few diecuts, a stamp, a flower, a few buttons, and a yard of ribbon later and I had this beautiful gift set to wrap my friends appreciation gift in. It only take about an hour and trust me it’s totally worth it!

Make sure you link us up here in the comments so we can see your cards and gift wrap or gift bags using Pink Paislee products. We’d love to see your creations! And be sure to come back here on Wednesday for “Wednesday Words” with our very own Katie Watson!

~Mara-May*

What is IT in scrapbooking right now?  I found myself asking this question as I worked on this assignment last week.  So I gathered my favorite idea books, browsed on-line galleries, and looked over all the new product releases that have found their way into my stash recently.  I didn’t realize there were so many trends right now.  There are the obvious such as birds (animals), fancy edged papers & die cuts, and anything “office”….and then the not-so-obvious.

I made a list of 16 different “trends” and then tried incorporating as many of them into my layout as I could.  I loved the challenge and it was so refreshing taking some risks (well, for me at least!)

Here is what I created, keeping those ideas in mind:

Ideas to note:

1. Bold pattern mixing (I’m a “match the paper to the picture exactly kinda girl” so this was different for me)
2. Blocks of patterned paper vs. layering
3. Detailed clusters of product
4. Texture & dimension (chipboard, felt, distressed edges)
5. Acrylic stamping (I love the Pink Paislee alpha stamps!)
6. Die cut paper with an edge
7. Journaling/Office look (die cut journaling tags, graph paper)
8. Shapes cut from patterned paper
9. Bird embellishments
10. Rounded corners (they are back!)

Now I am by no means an expert on “what is hot and what is not” but these ideas I gave you repeatedly jumped out at me and well, I just liked them.  Make some time to play this week and see what new and inspiring ideas make you happy. 

My name is Tina Albertson and it is my pleasure to bring you this blog post today!