Nichol Spohr LLC

From Start to Finish | Going Places

This week's layout features the Design Principle of Repetition as part of Two Peas in a Bucket's Design School Series.

Be sure to check out the Design Garden at 2Peas to see all the new Design School projects by the Garden Girls.

I used repeating cloud elements (patterned paper, cloud stamps and cloud punches) throughout my layout. Not only does repetition give a pleasing design but it creates a cohesive finished design.

I used this title/design from the Silhouette Online Store by Loni Stevens:

going_places_arrow_C00374_19547 

I cute the entire design from black cardstock and then used smaller 6x6 patterned papers from the coordinating Fly A Kite 6x6 Designer Paper Pad to die cut the title again to give it a bit of color.

I stamped a sub-title using a phrase stamp from Hero Arts.

The bicycle die cut is designed to work with the coordinating stamp set (linked below). I stamped the bicyle with Stampin' Up Pure Poppy Ink and added Doodlebug buttons to the center of the bicycles wheels for embellishment.

The clouds stamps are brand new designs from Studio Calico/Hero Arts that you will be seeing on everything. They are my favorites. I absolutely adore how the coordinate with the Fiskars Cloud Punches.

HOW TO

 

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

Stampin' Up Inks Used:

• Pool Party
• Pure Poppy

Click HERE to view this week's layout at 2Peas.

Click HERE to view the entire 2011 From Start to Finish Series.

***DON'T FORGET!***

Today's the last day to save up to $5 on Ella Publishing Boot Camp 2011!

The price of Boot Camp goes up from $30 to $33 TOMORROW.

Register now for $3 off plus use the coupon code SALUTE to save an additional $2 for a total of $5 off the registration price! *Please note the coupon code is good until September 24th.*

Click the banner for additional details and to sign up NOW!

I'm giving a spot away in the class. Click HERE to leave a comment for a chance to win.

If you have already signed up and paid for the event, Ella Publishing will refund your registration fee if you win a giveaway spot!

TOMORROW IS THE DAY TO REGISTER FOR...

Click on the banner above to sign up now to be notified when you can register.

17 Instructors

with instructional videos

virtual make n takes

More details coming tomorrow! This is an AMAZING event that you won't want to miss.

The Sky is the Limit Card

I am finally getting a chance to post my last Copic colored card from the October 2011 issue of Scrapbooks, Etc. This one features some Papertrey Ink stamped and colored hot air balloons and a Copic air-brushed cloud background. Super simple. 

To create this card:

1. Trim Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow to 4.25x11" and score in half.
2. Trim Neenah Solar White cardstock to 3.75x5".
3. Die cut PTI Clouds from Masking Paper. Adhere masking clouds to Neenah paper and using Copic Air Brushing system apply color around the clouds. Keep moving the dies and overlapping the airbrushing until the entire surface is covered.
4. Stamp greeting on vellum strip and staple in place using Tiny Attacher.
5. Wrap Divine Twine around airbrushed piece and tie in a bow. Slide under vellum and secure to card base with adhesive.
6. Die cut hot air balloons from PTI Up Up & Away Stamp Set and stamp with coordinating stamps using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Color in with Copics and adhere to card with foam adhesive.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

Click the links below to view the other cards I created for the article:

• Thanks So Much Card
• Wish You Were Here Card

ELLA PUBLISHING BOOT CAMP 2011

Just a reminder that the price of Boot Camp goes up from $30 to $33 on Sept. 1st. Register now for $3 off plus use the coupon code SALUTE to save an additional $2 for a total of $5 off the registration price!

Click the banner for additional details and to sign up NOW!

I'm giving a spot away in the class. Click HERE to leave a comment for a chance to win!

Inspiration Showcase Class GIVEAWAY *winners announced*

Congratulations to the following randomly selected winners for Jennifer's Inspiration Showcase Class:

TARA LIDDICOAT

Tara Liddicoat said...

I've already signed up, but would love to win my spot! Thanks for the chance!

ReplyAugust 25, 2011 at 12:24 AM

BEV LEESON

Bev Leeson said...

WOW!. What an Awesome Class and so much in it. Just what I need to get back my MOJO. I just can't believe there are so many Techniques to learn along with yourself and so many special Guests including my all time hero Mr Tim.
I would LOVE to win a spot but in the meantime i'm off to book in before it fills up. Thanks for your Generosity............

ReplyAugust 25, 2011 at 11:01 PM

DAYAMI

Dayami said...

I want/NEED this class!!!! I am soo confused with so many awesome live classes happening, I dont know which is which!!!
Thanks for the chance to win!!!!
Hugs,
Dayami

ReplyAugust 26, 2011 at 04:38 PM

I have emailed each of you. :) Thanks to everyone and if you haven't signed up but still want to, check out the details HERE.

 

Ella Publishing Boot Camp | Coupon Code + GIVEAWAY

Click the banner below to watch a fun recruitment video by Angie Lucas and Wendy Smedley:

Just a reminder that the price for Boot Camp goes up from $30 to $33 starting September 1.

You can use the coupon code SALUTE, to save an additional $2 off the price.

(This coupon code expires September 24th.)

IF you use the coupon code between now and Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 you will save a total of $5 off the price of Boot Camp!

Click the banner below to read more about Boot Camp and to sign up now!

 

GIVEAWAY

I know my blog readers know how much I love giving stuff away and today I am thrilled to give away a class seat for Boot Camp 2011!

Leave a comment on this blog post by Sunday, September 4th, 2011, 12:00 p.m. CST for a chance to win a randomly selected spot in this exciting event!

(If you have already registered for the event, Ella Publishing will refund your registration fee.)

GOOD LUCK!

Lawn Fawn Fall/Holiday Stamps IN STOCK

The new Fall/Holiday Lawn Fawn Stamps featured on the Lawn Fawn blog (and the design team's blogs) this week are now in stock at 2Peas:

The stamps are also in stock at Simon Says Stamp:

To see examples of Happy Hauning, Turkey Day and Many Thanks in use click the links below:

• To see my Happy Haunting Card, click HERE. To view the design team's projects, click HERE.
• To see my Turkey Day Card, click HERE. To view the design team's projects, click HERE.
• To see my Many Thanks Card, click HERE. To view the design team's projects, click HERE.

Kerri Bradford Designs | Fourth Grade Layout

I am slowly but surely working my way through my kids' school albums. My goal by the end of this school year (May 2012) is to be caught up or close to it. One thing that is greatly helping me with this goal is Kerri Bradford's school-themed kits and photo collages.

I am almost finished with recording/scrapping my daughter's fourth grade year of school and I always like to do one yearly page that shows several photos from the school year usually with photos that don't warrant their own individual page, those random shots that I took throughout the year but still want to include in the school album.

I used one of Kerri's Picture That [Go Long] Photo Collages for today's layout. I love Kerri's collages for a couple of reasons:

1. I can quickly and easily create an eye-pleasing design for my page without having to think it up on my own or figure out what size my photos need to be. Kerri has done all that work for us. :)
2. I'm able to include lots of photos on a layout without it looking cluttered or messy. Plus, I can print it out on one sheet and the lazy scrapper in me enjoys not having to piece my photo collages together by hand. ;)

I really wanted to jazz up my layout with a die cut title/embellishment border. I had this idea for awhile of collaging several of Kerri's designs from her School Years and This & That School Digi Die Cut Kits to create a custom border. Here's what it looks like in the Silhouette Software as I resized everything to work together prior to un-grouping the items and cutting them out (please ignore the "third grade" title. I had a brief mommy moment where I forgot what I was doing...lol):

Here's a closer look at the die cut border finished on my page.

I used the following designs from Kerri:

• apple (This & That: School)
• books (This & That: School)
• pencil (This & That: School)
• school stacked words (This & That: School)
• grade 4 (School Years)

I added lots and lots of stamping to my die cuts. Not only is stamping fun and addictive but it adds that custom handmade touch and gives these die cuts the look of depth and dimension (much like you get with pre-made embellishments). A little stamping really gives your die cuts that finished look. I love creating my own accents for my pages but I want them to look more like something I could could have purchased.

I used stamps from Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts and Technique Tuesday.

One of the best things about Kerri's kits (and especially the school designs since that is what I'm focusing on here) is that I can repeat any design as many times as I need to. I have 3 kids and instead of having to purchase 3 titles that say "Fourth Grade" or whatever, I can die cut that same title over and over. I love that. I really feel like I get my money's worth out of die cuts this way. And just because the books, apple and pencil happen to be in a school kit doesn't mean they only work for a school-themed layout. Consider die cutting a whole border of books to create a page about a love of reading (I think I should do that for myself ASAP!), the apple would be great on a card or maybe an apple-picking fall-themed layout and the pencil would be great on a page for my oldest son who loves to write his own stories. When you "break apart" the designs in the kit you get even more out of the designs. :)

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

Stampin' Up Ink Colors Used:

• Real Red, Peach Parfait, Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Basic Gray

Retired Technique Tuesday Studio AE Stamp Set:

• Summertime Tags

Be sure to check out Kerri's Blog and Website for all her digital die cutting kits and more ideas and make sure you download her school-themed Friday Freebie HERE:

Don't forget to leave a comment on THIS blog post for a chance to win a spot in Jennifer McGuire's newest class. I'm giving away 3 spots! It's going to be a FAB class!

 

Inspiration Showcase Class ***GIVEAWAY x 3***

Have you ever felt stumped while crafting? Looking for somewhere to find much needed inspiration?

This class is just what you’ve been looking for! Previously only taught in stores, Online Card Classes is happy to bring you Inspiration Showcase with Jennifer McGuire! Join Jennifer in creating a canvas featuring innovative techniques and fabulous pieces that will be sure to kick-start your creativity the next time you need it.

In this class, you will follow the creation of a 12×12 canvas utilizing over 40 fabulous techniques including tried-and-true favorites as well as new tips and techniques. This technique-heavy class will explore the many forms of resist, creative uses of distress inks, die cut and embossing techniques along with fabulous finishing touches and using your stamps with more than just the usual suspects of ink and paper.  Through daily videos, you will learn creative ways to make your supplies go farther, such as creating your own embellishments and making the most of your inks, stamps and papers. There will also be 15+ additional card ideas using techniques shown.

This class, which runs from September 12 - 23 and costs only $19, includes:

• 12+ videos and pdfs
• Over 40 techniques and tips
• 15+ additional card ideas
• 6 special guests, including Jill Foster, Kristina Werner, Nichole Heady, Nichol Magouirk, Shari Carroll and Tim Holtz.
• Prizes, discounts, sketches digital downloads and more
• Lifetime access to the class site and materials

Go HERE to sign up!

 

And I am giving away 3 spots in the class! 

 Just leave a comment here by Sunday, August 28, 2011, 12:00 p.m. for your chance to win a spot in Inspiration Showcase. (If you already have purchased a spot and end up being a lucky winner, we will reimburse your money.)

Good luck!

 

From Start to Finish | Top Ten List (and lots & lots of other stuff!)

This week's From Start to Finish layout showcases a couple of techniques:

1. I explain in a bit more detail how I print my journaling on pre-made tags or stamped journaling spots.
2. My layout showcases the design principle of Continuity/Unity as part of 2Peas Design School event that is taking place over the next few weeks. Be sure to check out the Design Garden for incredible layouts, cards and projects showcasing this design principle and others. 

I achieved continuity/unity in my design a couple of ways:

1. I used patterend papers all from My Little Shoebox which automatically gives a unified look to the design.
2. I created my layout in borders: the title border, punched scalloped borders, a border of tags/jounaling/embellishments, the photo border and finally the paper/scalloped border at the bottom of the page.

For my title this week, I chose a design from the Silhouette Store. I wanted a horizontal title rather than vertical so I cut the welded "Top Ten" apart to stretch it along the top of my page. Don't be afraid to alter your die cuts to work with your layouts.

top_ten_list_C00230_19547 

Because my title was cut from one of the My Little Shoebox patterned papers and was being layered on one of the coordinating papers, I cut the title from a solid brown cardstock to give it a bit of a shadow. I do this a lot to give my die cut titles dimension and in this case to help "pop" it off the background paper.

Stamping Bella has some great unmounted rubber stamps that are perfect for journaling blocks on scrapbook layouts. I used one of them on my page today. I love how I will never run out of these and can stamp them in any color. Plus, if I mess it up, I am not out anything other than my time to make another one!

Here are the Stamping Bella Journaling Stamps I love for scrapbooking:

• Top Ten Favorite Things Stamp
• 10 Things I Love About You Stamp
• 10 Random Facts About You Stamp

Stamping Bella also has these incredible definition stamps that make the perfect accents for scrapbook layouts. I love these:

And of course, Ali Edwards' August Studio AE Stamp Set, This One is fabulous. I  used it to create my own label accents (along with Papertrey Ink's Label Basics Stamp Set)...

... and along the bottom border of the page to support the page's theme and give that bottom border a little somethin' somethin'. :)

HOW TO

 

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

To view this week's layout/video at 2Peas, click HERE.

To view the entire 2011 From Start to Finish Weekly Series at 2Peas, click HERE.

NEW STUDIO CALICO/HERO ARTS STAMP SETS IN STOCK @2PEAS!

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned in THIS blog post how excited I was that Studio Calico & Hero Arts teamed up to created new stamp sets and background stamps and they are IN STOCK at 2Peas right now! The Hooray Stamp Set (banners/clouds/etc) is the stamp set that includes two cloud stamps that perfectly fit the XLarge Cloud Punch and Large Cloud Punch by Fiskars. I highly recommend  picking those up if you haven't already (and are as addicted to clouds as me!). SUPER fun to use on both cards and scrapbook layouts! 

ALSO, THE HA/SC STAMMPS ARE IN STOCK AT SIMON SAYS STAMP!

(both cloud punches are in stock here as well as all 9 Hero/Studio Calico Stamp Sets!)

ALL 9 NEW LAWN FAWN FALL/HOLIDAY STAMP SETS ARE IN STOCK AT SIMON SAYS STAMP...

...AND THE JUNE, JULY & AUGUST STUDIO AE STAMP SETS ARE IN STOCK AT SIMON SAYS STAMP! (and for a great retail price of $14.99)

If you love online classes, check out this special sneak peek of

The Spawn of True Scrap....

I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this event.

General registration opens on 9/1...so get ready! 

See if you can guess which project sneaky peeky is mine in the promotional video. ;) 

 

 More information coming soon!

 

 

Lawn Fawn | August Inspiration Week (Turkey Day)

I am loving this little turkey guy in Lawn Fawn's new Turkey Day Mini Stamp Set. The set includes the adorable turkey and a coordinating greeting.

I paper pieced my turkey using cardstock, added a googly eye and then stamped the greeting on a banner for a fun non-traditional bright & colorful Thanksgiving card.

Card How To:

1. Create card background from text paper and SU Lucky Limeade cardstock. Round top two corners using 1/2" corner rounder.
2. Adhere a die cut label to the card and layer SU Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon and embossed strip of Rustic Cream cardstock along the bottom of the design.
3. Die cut banner pieces from Stampin' Up cardstocks and stamp greeting using SU Soft Suede Ink. Embellish additional banners with remaining die cut pieces and sewn on buttons. Poke holes in upper corners of banners and thread together with string. Adhere to card as shown.
4. Stamp turkey on SU Pure Poppy, Peach Parfait, Delightful Daffodil, Lucky Limeade and PTI Dark Chocolate cardstock. Cut out pieces and assemble turkey. Add googly eye. Stamp turkey on card for the legs/feet. Adhere to card, lining the paper pieced turkey over the one stamped on the background.
5. Stamp greeting bubble (LF Hello Friend Stamp Set). Color in greeting with markers. Adhere with foam adhesive.
6. Add additional die cuts and buttons.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

Click HERE to see the Lawn Fawn Design Team's projects showcasing Turkey Day.

Leave a comment on the Lawn Fawn Blog Post HERE for a chance to win Turkey Day and on the Lawn Fawn Blog HERE for a chance to win all nine of the new 2011 Fall/Winter Series stamp sets!

Lawn Fawn | August Inspiration Week (Harvest Season)

The Lawn Fawn Design Team is featuring some retro stamp sets today and showcasing Harvest Season and Heebie Jeebies with some new ideas for  using these stamp sets you may already have in your Lawn Fawn collection.

My card features images from the Harvest Season Stamp Set. When I grabbed my Harvest Season Stamp Set I immediately got this idea that the pumpkin would look cute set at the base of some sort of sign with the greeting hanging from the sign post. I immediately set about finding a design to cut using my Silhouette. THIS one from Kerri Bradford was the perfect fit for a card-sized design. All the papers on this card are from one of the new MME 6x6 paper pads (6x6 paper pads are perfect for card making!).

Card How To:

1. Die cut sign post from American Crafts black cardstock using Kerri Bradford's This & That Family Just Shapes kit. Adhere with spray adhesive to a 5 1/2 x 3" strip of patterned paper.
2. Die cut flag banner using this design from the Silhouette Online Store. I used the "offset feature" to cut one flag from black cardstock and a slightly smaller one from patterned paper.                        
   set_of_3_tagsbanners_C00083_24282 
3. Stamp greeting on banner from Lawn Fawn's Harvest Season Stamp Set. I used SU Dusty Durango and Soft Suede Inks. Add punched scallop border at the top of banner and tie string around top. Adhere banner to card as shown.
4. Adhere SU Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon under the edges of the 3" wide paper. Punch 3 scalloped borders from coordinating patterned papers and adhere under edge of 3" strip. Machine stitch down sides of paper to secure as shown.
5. Stamp pumpkin and leaves on SU text paper using black ink. Color in images with Distress Inks using Ink Blending Tool. Cut out images, add detailing with white pen and adhere to card.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

Stampin' Up Retired Ink Used:

• Dusty Durango

Click HERE to see the Lawn Fawn Design Team's "retro" projects showcasing Harvest Season and Heebie Jeebies.

Leave a comment on the Lawn Fawn Blog Post HERE for a chance to win Harvest Season or Heebie Jeebies and on the Lawn Fawn Blog HERE for a chance to win all nine of the new 2011 Fall/Winter Series stamp sets!