Category Archives: Cut Files

Altenew July 2020 Stencils/Enamel Dots/Creative Cutouts/Decals Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

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Hey friends! I’m so excited to be returning for Altenew’s July 2020 New Release Blog Hop. If you started the hop from the beginning then you would have come from Therese Calvird’s Blog. If you’re starting here, WELCOME! You can still make your way around the entire hop by clicking the link at the bottom of my post.

Altenew July 2020 New Release - 12x12 scrapbook layout using Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Collection & Nest Wreaths Creative Cutouts.

There are so many fun products in this new release and if you’re a cut file fan then you’re going to LOVE the Creative Cutouts. They are basically pre-cut cut files that are mailed straight to your door. So, if you don’t have an electronic cutting machine then these are perfect! I chose the Nested Wreath Creative Cutouts set which comes with 9 laser cut intricate wreaths; in 3 different sizes (small, medium & large). I ended up using the 3 smaller wreaths for my layout today.

Altenew July 2020 New Release - 12x12 scrapbook layout using Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Collection & Nest Wreaths Creative Cutouts.

I backed those 3 wreaths with photos of my dogs. These three sweet babes have all passed away, and they were my heart. I then fussy cut numerous flowers from one of the patterned papers included in the Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Collection. I tucked those fussy cut flowers along one side of each of the wreaths.

Altenew July 2020 New Release - 12x12 scrapbook layout using Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Collection & Nest Wreaths Creative Cutouts.

I then grabbed a few wood buttons from the same Reflection Scrapbook Collection and I also positioned a couple wood veneer arrows around the wreaths as well. I tried to create a visual triangle around each of the wreaths.

Altenew July 2020 New Release - 12x12 scrapbook layout using Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Collection & Nest Wreaths Creative Cutouts.

I used the Black Alphas, from the Altenew Live Your Dream Scrapbook Collection, to add each of my dog’s names to the wreaths.

Altenew July 2020 New Release - 12x12 scrapbook layout using Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Collection & Nest Wreaths Creative Cutouts.

I felt that I needed to add a bit more black to the layout since the alphas were the only black product on the layout. I cut a couple sections out on the top and bottom of the layout, and then I added a couple strips of black cardstock with stitching. I also sprinkled a few black enamel dots around each wreath. [Altenew released a bunch of beautiful enamel dots in this month’s release, and I did choose the teal enamel dots and purple enamel dots before I knew what I would be creating. Teal & Purple are colors I frequently use but I’m kicking myself for not getting the new green set of enamel dots! They would have been perfect for this layout!]

Altenew July 2020 New Release - 12x12 scrapbook layout using Altenew Reflection Scrapbook Collection & Nest Wreaths Creative Cutouts.

Now you can take a look at the process video for this layout:

GIVEAWAYS:

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog or/and Altenew Mixed Media Blog by July 23, 2020 for a chance to win.

Altenew will also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on July 26, 2020. [To leave a comment on my blog post-scroll to the top of the post and click the number next to the title.]

I love that I was able to create a layout using such gorgeous products to document this moment in time. There’s still so much inspiration to find on this hop! Next up is Laurie Willison. Thanks for spending part of your day with me!

This blog post contains affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission (at no cost to you) from items purchased from those links.

Blog Hop List:

 

 

12×12 Cool Kid + PicMonkey Tutorial

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Hey friends! It’s been a good, long minute since I’ve posted any new content. To be honest, the pandemic zonked a lot of my mojo and I was struggling to be creative. Thankfully Project Life is a pretty simple process, so I have been able to keep up on my weekly documenting, but anything other than that has been slow going.

12x12 boy layout using the Crate Paper Cool Kid and Boys Rule Collection.

When it comes to documenting, I tend to have a one size fits all mentality. By that I mean that I don’t like to document my memories in multiple formats. I was struggling to fit 12×12 layouts into my memory keeping since I started Memory Planning and Project Life. This is a rule that I completely impose on myself and doesn’t apply to most people. I’m not sure why I find it to be such a struggle?! Because Project Life comes together so quickly, I was finding myself bored on the weekends. I can get my weekly spread done in just a few hours and then I’m left with nothing to do. <<<How many scrapbookers do you hear say that?! HA! I decided that I have YEARS of memories that still need documenting and there’s no reason why I can’t create 12×12 layouts for those photos.

Face swap tutorial using PicMonkey.

I came across these photos from 2011 of when we took our son to his first movie in the theater. [I’m so impressed with how far photo quality has come in just these past few years! These pics were so washed out from my camera, but photo quality is always greatly improved by a simple switch to black and white.] One dilemma I faced with these pics was I didn’t have one where my both of my subjects [my husband and son] were looking at the camera. I used PicMonkey to do a bit of face swapping with my photos. [A full tutorial is shown in the video below.] 

12x12 boy layout using the Crate Paper Cool Kid and Boys Rule Collection.

After my photo editing was complete, I used the Super Star Alpha Cut File from The Cut Shoppe. I cut my title on kraft cardstock and backed the cut file with numerous 6×6 patterned papers from the Crate Paper Cool Kid and Boys Rule scrapbook collections.

12x12 boy layout using the Crate Paper Cool Kid and Boys Rule Collection.

12x12 boy layout using the Crate Paper Cool Kid and Boys Rule Collection.

I used my sewing machine to add a bit of texture to the letters before adhering fun foam behind each of the letters. I then grabbed numerous embellishments from the Crate Paper Cool Kid collection including cardstock stickers, vinyl/epoxy stickers and chipboard stickers.

12x12 boy layout using the Crate Paper Cool Kid and Boys Rule Collection.

Before I adhered anything to the layout I used my We R Memory Keepers Typecast Typewriter to add journaling directly to my patterned paper background. After everything was adhered I added black splatters to add a bit of a messy, mixed media touch the layout.

Now you can take a look at my process video that includes the face swap PicMonkey tutorial.

Thanks so much for spending part of your day with me!

This blog post contains affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission (at no cost to you) when items are purchased from those links.