Spread Your Wings & Fly!

Today I'm super excited to be Guest Designing for Top Dog Dies.

Top Dog Dies is a new online store that offers their own brand of wafer-thin and steel-rule dies, along with dies from brands you already know and trust, including My Favorite Things, Lawn Fawn, Taylored Expressions. Savvy Stamps and Cheery Lynn Designs. Top Dog Dies is also the leading U.S. retailer for Tattered Lace, a new line of intricate dies designed by British designer Stephanie Weightman.

Top Dog Dies is also doing a GIVEAWAY for the whole month of April. Everyone who comments on my blog will be entered for a chance to win! The winner will receive $50 worth of exclusive dies from Top Dog Dies (their choice!). 

All you need to register via the Rafflecopter app on the page to enter. Deadline to enter will be Wednesday, April 30 at midnight Central Standard Time.

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Ok, onto my project!
Top Dog Dies sent me 3 different dies. (shown in picture below).
Steel-Rule Die (Circle Mini Album) and 2 Wafter Thin dies (butterfly and Bella Doily Die)

At first glance I was all set to create a mini album because, after all, that's what the die was intended for.  But I decided that was too simple and expected to I decided to use it on a layout instead.

So here's what I created.

I cut out 3 of the doily shapes from white card stock and layered them on the background papers.

I cut out the butterfly shapes from some Imaginisce patterned paper (Welcome Spring) .  I added some rhinestones to the centre of the butterfly bodies.

I cut out 2 of the circle mini album shapes from patterned paper and used them to create a 'flap' to reveal another photo below.  (you could easily add more photos & journaling here). (on the Top Dog Dies I'll share I attached the layers together).

If you hop on over to the Top Dog Dies blog I have a tutorial of this project posted there.

Supplies used:
Top Dog Dies (Wafter Thin Dies: Butterfly & Bella Doily; Steel-ruled dies: circle mini album)
Imaginisce: Welcome Spring collection (patterned papers, die cut tags, rhinestones)
Core'dinations Colorcore Cardstock (white)
American Crafts (White Thickers, Slick Writer marker in black)
Maya Road (twine)
Xyron (Megan Tape Runner)
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (foam squares)

Thanks for stopping by today.

Don't forget to leave a comment her on my blog for a chance to win $50 worth of TDD exclusive dies!

Wanna win something???

Yes! I'm sure you do!! We all like to win something.

Well, all you have to do is hop on over to Core'dinations blog and leave and check out all the wonderful layouts that the design team has created with then new Stacy Julian collection of cardstock. These colors are so invigorating and fresh. I really like them a lot.

Here's a layout that I created using some of the new colors.

Supplies used: Core'dinations cardstock (Stacy Julian collection), October Afternoon patterned paper, stickers (my happiness & smile), journal tag, American Crafts Thickers, buttons (My Little Bit of Whimsy), Prima flowers, Imaginisce's i-rock tool and white studs, Fiskars border punch

So, head on over and leave a comment for your chance to win a package of this new collection.

Imaginisce' s August Sketch

Ok, it's that time again. Yes, I can't believe it either. I'm sad that July is over and that means 5 weeks left of summer break for my kiddos. Hopefully they will be filled with lots of fun things to do and great weather to enjoy.

Anyways, on to the new sketch at Imaginisce. Sarah Guzman designed this one and it's fabulous!

Here's my take on it.

Supplies used: Imaginisce (Scooter's Vacation papers, i-rock tool and white/pearl studs), Core'dinations Cardstock, twine, American Crafts Thickers

So, if you've particpated in these monthly sketches before then you know the drill. But if you're new to them then I can't wait for you to play along.

1. First of all head on over to Imaginisce's blog. Leave a comment on the blog there for a chance to win a great prize. Then check out the list of design team members that particpated in this month's sketch and leave a comment on each of their blogs for an extra chance at winning.

2. Then participate in the sketch using at least 75% of Imaginisce product and post a link to the Imaginisce blog so that we can see your creation.

Hope everyone has been enjoying the long weekend and can't wait to see your takes on this sketch!

B&W and color photo challenge

I love using black & white and color photos together on my layouts. So this month, my challenge for The Inspired Scrapbooker was fun! Well, ... they always are! ;)

Instead of having my larger photo being colored I decided to make it black & white and the smaller photos I kept in color as they had so much visual interest to share.

Here's my layout for the challenge.

Supplies used: Jillibean Soup (papers, stickers), American Crafts Thickers, buttons, Fiskars border punch, Prism cardstock

Did you know that Canadian Scrapbooker has a blog now? Yes, it's true! And you've got to check it out because there's a great contest going on right now & you have a chance to win a prize package from Spellbinders! The contest closes April 11th so don't delay! Here's a link to the blog.

Well, it's the weekend again. I love weekends ... 'cause it means Saturday is sleep-in day for me. Yeah!

So, have a great weekend!!!

So exciting!

We had an exciting day on Monday afternoon!

The Olympic Torch made it's way through our town. There were so many people but it was very exciting ... even if it happened in a blink of an eye. We couldn't really see too much that happened along the street because we had a spot standing in front of the Cloverdale museum where we were able to get a few good shots of the torch bearer.

JJ enjoying the little flags (we managed to collect a few of them! ;))

I loved seeing all of the Canadian flags everywhere! It was just so festive and Canadian - especially with everyone dressed in red too!

This is the guy that carried the torch by the Cloverdale Museum. They had just passed it on before he came to the entrance - we couldn't quite see that happening though.

And the weather was just amazing too! Felt like summer (no, seriously our legs were burning from the sun shining on our jeans - we could have worn shorts!!)

Before I leave I'll share another layout that I made a few days ago about my monkey boys.

Supplies used: Imaginisce (Scooter's Vacation papers, rub-ons, stickers), American Crafts Thickers, Bazzill Basics Cardstock

The Inspired Scrapbooker

Morning! It's Friday! Yeah!!! I love Fridays. Always haved.

"Love is in the Air" is the theme for The Inspired Scrapbooker this month (as I'm sure that's the theme for many places! ;))

My challenge this month was to use a love-themed quote on my project. So here's what I came up with.

Supplies used: Core'dinations Impressions (Jenni Bowlin Brown & Cream collection), Jenni Bowlin paper, Basic Grey chipboard alpha, Fiskars border punch

Oh, and here's a mini album that I made yesterday. I wanted to make a simple album about why I love my family so much.

Supplies used: Core'dinations Impressions (Cosmo Cricket Classic Collection), Imaginisce Sweet Cheri collection (papers, chipboard, rub-ons), American Craft alpha

Thanks for stopping by & have a great weekend.

Scrapbook Steals

Have you heard of them? This site has great deals all the time!!! You have got to check them out. Here's a link to their site. SCRAPBOOK STEALS.COM

I was thrilled when Kristy asked me to be guest designer for them. And I was even more excited when I found out that I was going to be working with American Crafts! The kit was so full of amazing product I couldn't believe it!!

I had a blast creating stuff and here's a look at what I came up with.

So, if you haven't checked them out I recommend that you do. New products are posted daily and the kits are packed with "goodness"!! You just have to check early otherwise you miss out 'cause it goes fast!!

Have a great weekend!

Cosmo Cricket sketch

I had so much fun with this sketch!! Thanks Cosmo Cricket!

In fact I had a fabulous time playing with this sketch because the other day I received my package from Core'dinations with the new cardstock - and the stuff designed to go with CC papers. So I couldn't resist the urge to create! This new cardstock is just fabulous!!!! It's the perfect thing to go along with the amazing patterned papers. They just match perfectly!

Here's the sketch:

and here's my take:

Supplies used: Cosmo Cricket patterned paper& chipboard, Core'dinations Cardstock, American Crafts Thickers, Fiskars border punches

Have a great day!!