Creating Just To Be Creative

I love those moments when I don't have any projects due and I can just dig in my stash and create just for the hell of it. Having the freedom to use any product that I want and scrap whatever moves me is quite liberating...and fun and I think it even lit a spark under my mojo!

I started going through my Basic Grey stash. Seeing their recent DT call reminded me of how much I love their papers and that I haven't used them in a while. I came across the Archaic line which I had been hoarding for quite some time a knew that it was finally time to dust it off.

This past Earth Day, I took the boys to the Earth Day Party at our local zoo. While searching for the bear exhibit, I happened to see the "Please Do Not Feed The Bears" sign. Of course, I just HAD to get a picture of them by the sign...as a scrapper, my mind was reeling with ideas as soon as I saw it.

This layout about my hungry boys is the result of the marriage between that photo and those papers!

journaling: Don't let those sweet faces fool you, these two boys can eat! They are always hungry! The big one more than the little one. It's funny though, they never seem to be as hungry for broccoli as they are for sugary snacks!

It's been about 10 months since I last created a 2 page layout and it feels like it's long overdue!! I really had fun with this one! I used a hodge podge of basic grey papers (oliver, periphery, perhaps, lime rickey, two scoops, and marrakech) then mixed in some stickers from BG, pink paislee, sassafras, and bella blvd to highlight some of my favorite photos that I took of Donovan during his first (and so far only) soccer season.

journaling: I was really surprised when Donovan said he didn't want to play soccer after his first season. He had a great time with his teammates and learned a lot and we had fun cheering him on. When asked why he didn't want to play anymore, he said he just doesn't want to play and he likes basketball better. Since he's into basketball and karate, we don't press the issue. As long as he's getting exercise and enjoying himself, that's all that matters to us!

Here's a closer look at the 1st page...

...and a closer look at the 2nd page...

I think I need to do 2-pagers more often...uh, but don't quote me on that! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Repetition with Cheery Lynn Dies

Happy Monday blog readers!! I'm here with a quick post to show you how to use repetition to make some of the smaller dies that Cheery Lynn Designs offers really stand out on your projects.

I used 3 die cut apples to create this A+ Teacher card. Of course the apples could be swapped out using any number of our dies.

I created texture on the front panel of this card by embossing it with the Burlap plate and embossing pad and then finished off the title using the School Days font.


Here's a close-up of the dimension created by adding pop dot to my elements. I also added more texture by stitching the Coved Rectangle stacker before adhering it to the card.


Here's another example of using repetition to increase the impact of smaller dies.

I used Little Stackers Scalloped Circle Nesting Dies to highlight 4 stamped pumpkin faces on this Halloween card. Again, any of the smaller dies in the Little Stackers Dies sets could be used in the same fashion!

Other Cheery Lynn Designs dies used:
Coved Rectangle Stackers
Border Carnivale
French Flair Stackers

I hope this post has inspired you to pull out your smaller dies and put them to work on your projects!

Until next post...happy scrapping!!

More From Cheery Lynn Designs

Happy Monday blog readers!! Today, I am sharing a card for a precious new baby and a colorful layout featuring my younger son.

I have to admit, I'm mostly a scrapbooker, but I've noticed that more and more cards have made their way into my creation zone and my Cheery Lynn Designs dies are right there to serve as the perfect accents for them!!

For this "Sweet New Baby" card, I mixed some older releases with the new to create an adorable card for a boy or girl. I added lots of texture to the background by embossing with the XL Burlap plate and then used the Border Carnivale, French Pastry Doily, and the Scalloped and Classic Nesting Circles to complete the card.


Here's a close-up of the details


I created a cheery layout about my colorful character, Xander. He's so spunky and I wanted this layout to have that same feel. I started by framing the photo using the largest of the French Flair Nesting Dies and the Grass Border.


I added a couple of fun borders at the bottom using the Scalloped Diamonds border and by connecting die cuts from the smallest of the Little Nested Coved Rectangle Stackers dies to form a ticker border. I love how versatile the dies are. Just by simply connecting die cuts together, you can form a totally different look!

I finished off my title by using the adorable Varsity font set.


Detail shots:

NOTE: the easiest way to adhere the grass border without a big mess is to use a spray adhesive.



Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Scraps Of Color Reader Spotlight

I have some exciting news to share!! I was chosen as the Reader Spotlight for the Jun/Jul 2011 issue of Scrap Of Color online magazine. I created the following projects for the feature and am so proud of the way each one turned out!!

Today Is A Gift features my little sweethearts...

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Echo Park; Border Punch: Fiskars; Misc: Button, Baker's Twine; Pen: Sharpie



Note To Self features moi, and highlights one of my 52 Week project photos.

Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: October Afternoon, Echo Park; Gems: JoAnn's, EK Success; Rub-ons: Basic Grey, Pink Paislee; Hambly, American Crafts; Stickers: Echo Park; ink: Clearsnap; Border Punch: Fiskars, EK Success



Create Art Dressform Canvas is probably my favorite altered piece right now. I went to town and used lots of Luminarte here.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Echo Park; Chipboard: Pink Paislee; Flowers: Petaloo; Rub-ons: Hambly; Stamp: Hero Arts; Shimmering Paint, Spray Mists: Creative Imaginations; Lace: SavvyNSassy; Ink: Clearsnap, Pearls: Mark Richards; Ribbon: Bo Bunny; Staz-On; Misc: Canvas



Hello Card
Supplies Stickers: Echo Park; Cardstock: Bazzill; Shimmering Mist: Creative Imaginations; Ribbon: Morex Corp; Ink: Clearsnap; Embossing Folder: Provocraft

Check out what Tiare, the SOC design team, and other scrappers created for the issue!! Thanks for stopping by!

...And The Cards Posts Continue

Just sharing a few more cards that I created for Paper Crafts Magazine Holiday Cards & More and Nov/Dec 2011 call that didn't make the cut. Luckily for me, I had 4 projects picked up for HCM, and 1 card picked up for the Nov/Dec call!!






Thanks for stopping by!!

Cheery Lynn Post Monday

My how quickly the days pass by when you're having fun!! Happy Monday blog readers!!

Today I am sharing with you a bright and colorful layout using Echo Park Papers and several of the Cheery Lynn Designs' newly releases dies.

Who says you can't use flowers on a boy layout? Certainly not me! I die cut Darling Daisies, Judy's Blooms, Sweet Williams, Fanciful Flourish, and Tropical Leaves from colorful papers to add a burst of personality to and carry out the theme of my layout.


I added a few Dimensional Butterflies and used the Varstiy 5/8" Alphabet Set and one of the Coved Rectangle Nesting dies to complete the title.

I used the Key and Scalloped Diamond Border dies to further embellish my layout.


Here's a close-up of all of the flowers I used. I just love the detail!

I found the perfect way to adhere the fanciful flourish without creating a big glue-y mess; I sprayed the back of the flourishes with Helmar's V2 Vellum adhesive and then placed it on the layout and there was no mess at all!

I also created this card using basic grey Origins and Exotic Large Butterfly #1 and the Frills and Hearts Border dies.


Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Be sure to check out the contest that we are currently running on Cheery Lynn Designs blog for your chance to win 1 of 2 shopping sprees.

Until next post...have a great day!!

Cards, Cards, Cards

Just sharing a few cards that I created for one of Paper Crafts magazines past calls. Unfortunately, they didn't make the cut, but I love how each of them turned out!!






Thanks for taking a peek!!

NSD Projects

Good Monday morning blog readers!

How was your weekend? I had a pretty busy one with Mother's Day and National Scrapbook Day falling on the same weekend!

I pulled out some of my favorite Echo Park products and scrapped the day away on Saturday, and of course I did so using some of Cheery Lynn Design's fabulous new dies! I participated in the NSD crop at scrapbook.com and even won a prize...YAY me!

On Sunday, I got up early and took an 1-1/2 hour Zumba class, then drove to South Jersey and had dinner at Red Lobster with my boys, my sisters and my niece and nephews. We wanted to dine at the Cheesecake Factory as we always have for Mother's Day, but the wait was 3-1/2 hours! I did grab a piece of snickers cheesecake, though.

Now on to the projects...I used the Fanciful Flourish die and the Darling Daisies to add some wow factor to this Mother's Day card.


I think the Fanciful Flourish may be my favorite new die...for this week! LOL! I used it here on this layout along with a couple of the Tropical Leaves. I created the rolled roses from 2 different XL Nested Circle Stackers die cuts.

Donovan's school hosts a "Calling All Women" event twice a year. Women who are involved in the students' lives are invited to come to school and have breakfast and see some of the things that the children do in school. Several of the staff members go around taking photos (seen here), so I figured I had to scrap it.

Thinking about going back and adding some journaling later...maybe. ;)

I created this layout using the Exotic Butterfly Large #2 die and the Frills and Hearts border. Once I die cut the butterfly, I matted it with a piece of coordinating patterned paper before adding it to the layout.

journaling: God, thank you for being in my corner & watching over me, especially over the past 2 years. I'm not the most prayerful person, but I know that you know my heart snd your place in it. Thank you for continuing to open my heart & mind. Thank you for continuing to protect my family & for your unconditional love. I don't know where I'd be without you!

Here's a close-up of the butterfly.

All of the projects in this post were created for scrapbook.com's National Scrapbook Day crop challenges. I had about 2 hours (1 hour for the card) to print photos, create, photograph, post each project in the gallery, and link it to the thread . It was quite intense, as it usually takes me a long time to finish a project.

I had to create a layout about a trip using 3-5 photos and this is the layout that I came up with. I took the boys to the Earth Day party at the Turtle Back Zoo last month. It was pretty chilly, but fun!


This project came from the challenge where I had to create a layout using a photograph of my favorite scrapbook tool. I also had to write 3-5 sentences about the tool. We all know how much I love fussy cutting, so my natural tool choice was my cutterbees. I have several pairs so I'll always be able to find a pair in the event that they get buried under the mound of paper on my desk. LOL!
Here's a close-up of the flowers that I fussy cut from Echo Park's For The Record line.

How perfect are these little die cut bees from October Afternoon?


Hope you've enjoyed all of these projects. I've certainly enjoyed creating them!

Have a great week!