May Blog Hop with Kiwi Lane Designs

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am so excited to share a new layout I created using Kiwi Lane designer templates. I love to scrapbook but life so often gets in the way of my ability to do it as often as I like. Between work, home, and writing a novel, I have so little time to craft lately. That's why I was especially thankful for the chance to pull out my templates and actually make a layout. The templates make designing scrapbook pages so fast and easy.

My process is to first design my page by laying out my templates on my cutting mat. Next I select my paper and start cutting and inking. My pages don't always end up quite as I designed (like my layout below) but the templates provide me a great jump off point for layout. I know that if I didn't have my Kiwi Lane Designs templates I would take probably three times as long to make a single page.

On this layout I used the FLORAL template set. A great accessories set that can be used in a number of ways. I love making 3D flowers with them as well as using them as  focal points on my pages. This time I used one of the FLORAL templates as I would a doily and I really loved the result. To give my flower the full on doily look I embossed it in my die cutting machine. The embossing folder gave my cardstock flower nice detail which I further enhanced by running white ink over the raised portions.

And here is my finished layout.

Templates used: Floral3; Scallops2; Mini Strips (1/2" & 1"); Brackets3; Tiny Floral3

As you can see my complete page is not quite the same as the design I made with my templates. While my initial design had space for two vertical photos, I ended up modifying it for one horizontal photo that I liked so much better with the papers I selected. 

Thank you for hopping with us!

Be sure to check out all the awesome blogs in the hop this weekend to find so many ideas to inspire creativity. 

1. Kiwi Lane - http://kiwilane.com/blog
2. Lissa Mitchell - http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com/
3. Leslie Prinkki - http://www.scrapsofmine.blogspot.com
4. Connie Wallenbrock - http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
5. Sandi Pressley - http://lifeatthebeach51.blogspot.com/
6. Christine Meyer - http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com
7. Alicia O'Bryant -http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/
8. Suzanne - http://scrapwithsuzy.blogspot.com
9. Roselyn Riley - http://prettylittlepackages.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE!
10. Arin Flinn - http://apieceoflifespie.com

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

A random winner from ONE of the participating blogs (including the Kiwi Lane blog), will be given a $25 gift certificate to the Kiwi Lane Shop, for leaving a comment and will be announced on the Kiwi Lane blog on Thursday, May 8th.

Also if you subscribe to my blog and leave a comment below I will also choose ONE random winner to receive a brand new FLORAL template set along with another mystery set. So please leave me a comment for your chance to win two KLD template sets.

Blog Hop Time with Kiwi Lane Designs

Welcome to my blog and my last blog hop as a Kiwi Lane Designs team member. It has been a great nine months creating stuff and sharing my love of these awesome templates. They totally changed the way I craft, and I am so thankful I found them.

Okay so let's get down to business. Today I am sharing three layouts with you made with templates - from quick and simple to more elaborate. I want you all to see that no matter your scrapping style these templates can work for you. I used the RINGS template on all three layouts so you can see how one template can be used in different ways.

My first layout is super simple. I used components from a kit club I subscribed to and was able to make a nice quick and easy page that still made my photos pop. The circles on this layout were made using the interior of the  RINGS template set. I used them on the top and bottom to "frame" my photos.

(Templates used: Mini Aspen Court; Rings; Tiny Shapes)

My second layout is a fairly simple design as well, but I did a little more detail work. I used a pen to make dots around the flower template (TINY ACCENTS) and around the tag template (TINY TAGS) as well as a few dots on the border. On this layout I used the RINGS2 template with watercolor paper that I misted for a bold spot of color. I love how this layout turned out, but I have yet to decide what photo to use...everyone says it reminds them of a baby layout. Maybe I will gift this into a page for my friend who has a new baby.

(Templates used: Rings; Brackets; Tiny Accents; Scallops, Strips, Tiny Tags)

Finally in my last layout I went all out vintage style (which I love). I had so much fun creating this layout with all the details and embellishments, and my templates made it come together so easily. If you look at the bottom of the flower cluster you will see a sparkly bit of the RINGS2 template peeking out. Again I used it to add color interest to my page.

(Templates used: Rings; Scallops; Strips; Clara Lane; Tags; Tiny Tags)

Thank you so much for joining me. Be sure to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. Kiwi Lane Designs is giving away some awesome Simple Stories stuff to a lucky winner. Good Luck!'

THE BLOG HOP LIST

1. Kiwi Lane http://kiwilane.com/here/blog/
2. Staci Jones http://scrapbookingischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/
3. Tammy Smith  http://lifeupdownandsideways.blogspot.com/
4. Erin Colby: http://oursliceofcheese.blogspot.com
5. Deborah Johnson  http://scrappinthelittlethings.blogspot.com/
6. Kristy Mackeen: http://mamasanity.blogspot.com/
7. Scrappin' Madge- http://www.thescrappinlounge.com
8. Claire Heartburn http://lemonpaperdesigns.blogpot.co.uk
9. Leslie Prinkki http://www.scrapsofmine.blogspot.com
10. Melissa Dehne http://www.abitofscrappygoodness.blogspot.com/
11. Charissa Miller http://www.akihasmommascraps.com
12. Roselyn Riley http://prettylittlepackages.blogspot.com - YOU ARE HERE!

Crafting with Jinger Adams and Kiwi Lane Designs

I am featured on the Kiwi Lane Designs blog today sharing a layout and a card using the Jinger Adams Collection Sweet Tart line and the Rings, Tiny Tags, Spook Alley, and Wildflower templates sets. (The Rings and Tiny Tags sets are ones I use on practically every layout. A must have in your crafting arsenal.) I invite everyone to come check out what I made with Jinger Adam's bright and glittery collection and my designer templates. Then be sure to head over to Jinger's facebook page and see all the lovely products she has to offer.

Tuesday Tip with Kiwi Lane and Downtown Tape

Today you get to be witness to my first forays into the joys of creating with washi tape on the Kiwi Lane Designs blog. I learned a lot and by the end of it all, I think washi has found a permanent place in my crafting arsenal. The beautiful colors and patterns of Downtown Tape washi won me over. The templates I used this month were Happy Trails, Paradise, Wacky and Tiny Wacky. They worked perfectly with my summer and vacation photos. So be sure to check on the Kiwi Lane Designs blog for some scrapbooking inspiration as well as the Downtown Tapes facebook page.

Washi Tape Gift Card Holder Instructions

Super simple to make. All you need is a scoring tool, a paper trimmer, a KLD template, adhesive, and some washi. (these instructions are for a standard size gift card)

Cut a piece of card stock or heavy weight pattern paper to 4"W x 12"L

Score your paper at 1" from the bottom edge. Fold it up and seal ends with washi tape to make a pocket.

Place the paper back on the score board and score at the 4.5" mark and fold over to make a card.

Next put the folded card back on the score board and score at the 4.5" mark.

Place a Happy Trails template (or any template of your choosing) along the open 4" edge of the card and trace. This will create a decorative edge along the bottom of the card.

Now fold the decorative edge back, toward the front of the card and glue in place.

Decorate as desired.
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Be sure to check out my completed GIFT CARD HOLDER at Kiwi Lane Designs blog.

Thanks for reading!

Loving Layers with Kiwi Lane and Technique Tuesday

Today on the Kiwi Lane blog I share some quick and easy tips to create layers and clusters on layouts using  this month's featured template sets Aspen Court, Playtime and Adventure.  I am also excited to be working with some awesome stamps from one of my favorite stamp companies Technique Tuesday. So be sure to stop by the Kiwi Lane Designs blog and faceook page for some crafty fun.

It's Tuesday Tip Time with Kiwi Lane Designs and Doodlebug Design Inc

Spring is in the air outside my window and in my craft room thanks to the bright and cheery Doodlebug Design Inc Flower Box collection. Today on the Kiwi Lane Designs blog I have a couple projects to share and some quick tips for using your Kiwi Lane designer templates - Chestnut Drive, Celebrate, and Tiny Florals. So check out the Kiwi Lane blog and Facebook and then be sure to check out the Doodlebug Design Facebook page too for loads of inspiration.

Want to know how to make an easy pocket for cards and pages using your templates? I made a quick video tutorial explaining the process. Take a look.

Before & After - Collaged Photos

Another before and after layout to share. I made this one using the Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic line and a 8x10 photo collage that I made in Picasa and printed at home. I decided on a very simple design that kept my photos as the focus.

BEFORE

AFTER

Templates used - mini scallops 3a; mini paisley place 3a; rings 3 & 4; tags 1; tiny tags 1t; tiny shapes 7t

Other supplies used - Stamp - MFT; Felt embellishment - Dear Lizzy; buttons - American Crafts; paper - American Crafts/Dear Lizzy

Quick Quotes + Kiwi Lane Designs = Perfect Combination

It's March and I have spring break on the brain. I'm not hitting the beach this year, but I still can get a mental vacation by looking through some of my old vacation pictures. 

Today on the Kiwi Lane blog, I am sharing a mini album I made with the Quick Quotes Stowaway line and mini Paisley Place,Tiny Wildflowers, and Cascade Trails. Making a mini album was so fast and easy thanks to my templates and the very beach appropriate Quick Quotes papers. So head on over to the Kiwi Lane blog to see my full album and get some scrapbooking inspiration. And then don't forget to visit the Quick Quotes Facebook page.

Before & After - My Baby Layout

My mom gave me this photo to scrap of me as a baby. It is one of her favorites. I don't like how HUGE my head is in the picture. I guess it is true when they say "a face only a mother could love". LOL

So I started designing the layout like this. I like to play with my templates on my cutting mat to get my design ideas flowing.

Then I selected some papers from the October Afternoon Woodland Park line and started tracing and cutting. In the end, I changed a few things from my original design idea, but basically it came out the same as my design "sketch" I made with my templates.

Templates used - Scallop mini 3A & 1B; Aspen Court mini 3B; Tiny Sweetheart 3T; Rings1; Winter3; Bracket 3T; 2" Strip mini; Tiny Tags 1T; photo mats 5.5x7.5, 5x7, & 4x5

Thanks for stopping by the Kiwi Lane Designs blog hop.  I hope you are getting tons of creative inspiration from all the participating blogs.

Could it actually be true? Did I make a page without any flowers? Looks like I did. LOL Well almost.

I couldn't help but use the cute flower template from Tiny Sweetheart to anchor one of my stamped titles. I used my Fiskars crimper (circa 2004) to add some texture to the Tiny Sweetheart Flower then I put a Tiny Sweetheart Heart on top with a pop dot, then added a strip with my stamped phrase.

I used the 1" mini strip to create a nice even box for my stamped words. I am a bit particular about straightness and I love how the Strip template sets help me keep things perfectly aligned, whether I am using them to create text boxes or if I am laying them on a page to perfectly space my embellishments. The Strip Templates are some of my most used.

Authentique's "Renew" line combined with Kiwi Lane Designer Templates Clara Lane 2A/2B and Sunnybrook Lane 1A/1B were the perfect "frames" for this layout of my husband and his sisters. I made a collage using Picasa, and printed it out at home. I cut the pictures apart and easily pulled together this two page layout with the help of my templates. 

I know I say this a lot, but I am still so amazed at how much faster and easier creating pages is when I am using my templates. This simple layout would have taken me a week to come up with before I discovered Kiwi Lane Designs Templates.

(Don't you love the backdrop for the photo of my layout? I am at a weekend crop and I couldn't resist taking a picture against the fluffy hotel pillows!)

Templates used for creation and visualization - Clara Lane 2A/2B; Sunnybrook Lane 1A/1B; 12" Strips - 3", 1", 1/2"; Rings 1,2,3; Tiny Sweetheart 2T, 3T

Thanks for stopping by my blog, be sure to keep hopping along to the rest of the stops in our creative journey. Don't forget to leave a comment, here and on all the blogs in our hop, to get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to use at Kiwi Lane Designs. Good Luck!

BLOG HOP LIST

http://kiwilane.com/here/blog/
http://www.catscrapcreations.blogspot.ca
http://www.scrapbookingischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/
http://www.myclutteredcorner.com/
http://abitofscrappygoodness.blogspot.com/
http://errantscraps.blogspot.com
http://www.akihasmommascraps.com
http://www.sherrithompson.blogspot.com
http://www.mamasanity.blogspot.com
http://faithandscraphappiness.blogspot.ca
http://prettylittlepackages.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE!
http://scrappingobsessions.blogspot.com
http://www.scrapsofmine.blogspot.com

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Creating with Kiwi Lane Designs & Authentique

Today my first official post as a design team member is up on the Kiwi Lane Designs blog. I'm so excited to share with you what I made using Kiwi Lane's designer templates sets Paisley Park, Adorn, Winter, and Tags and Authentique "Seasons" and "Lovely" paper lines. Be sure to head on over to the blog and check out the scrapbooking ideas.

I made three projects for the Kiwi Lane Designs blog but I loved using the Authentique papers with my designer templates so much that I made another little something from the papers. Using the Adorn cardmaking template set, I designed this little mini free standing layout for my desk at work. It measures 5.5x7.5 and I decorated it up with a few stickers from the Authentique "Lovely" collection, some crystal flowers, rhinestones, and of course flowers. The heart on the layout was made using the tree template from the Winter set. Check out the Kiwi Lane Designs blog to see how I made it.

(Templates used: Adorn 1B & 3A, Rings1, Adventure4, Winter3, Paisley Place 3A)

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TIP #3

Make a tree embellishment using the points of the snowflake from the Winter template and the scalloped edges of Tags 7. Use a point from the snowflake for the branches/trunk and trace the scalloped top of Tag7 for the leaves.

HOW TO MAKE THE BOX FOR THE HOT COCOA KIT

Take one 8.5x11" piece of cardstock and along the long side (11") score at 1", 5", 6" and 10". Then on the 8.5" side score at 1" and 7.5"

Next following the scored marks cut up to the 1" score line on both sides along the 11" inch length of the paper, leaving you with 8 flaps. Fold in all the score lines. Then glue the first 2 flaps on each side to the larger flap to the right. Then glue the next 2 small flaps on each side to the same larger flap to the left, forming the base and the hinge of the box. Finally glue the remaining 2 flaps to the larger flap to the right, forming the lid of the box. 

I am willing to make a video of these instructions if anyone needs a more detailed example.

Thanks for reading!

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