Nichol Spohr LLC

From Start to Finish | Family Is Precious

This week I thought it would be fun to showcase some of my favorite products that I use all the time: Doodlebug Buttons and Jewels. These two products are staples in my craft stash and I use them all the time.

Because I was going for such a colorful look with bright, fun products, I chose to keep the background super simple with white and black cardstock. I machine stitched around the black cardstock border three times to add yet another "layer", if you will to the background.

I wanted the title to really "blend in" to the rest of the design so I stamped a phrase on a ledger die cut heart, trimmed the top and bottom of the heart and adhered it to another die cut patterned paper heart. All the stamps I used to day are from the September Studio AE Stamp Set: Family Is. I love this stamp set. I know I say this all the time about Ali's stamps but they are just so versatile and that makes me happy.

The larger hearts were die cut using my favorite heart die from My Favorite Things: Hearts A Plenty (linked below in supplies). This is the perfect sized heart. I love it!

I also used stamps on some Jillibean Soup sticker labels. They add a nice touch to the design and break up the heart and circle shapes that are prevalent in the design. I used a Stampin' Up clip and some ribbon to dress up this heart.

I used a Tim Holtz mini clip to dress up the other heart with a stamped sticker label. Also, the two hearts with sticker labels and the journaling circle form a "visual triangle" on the page and help move your eye across the design.

I used circle shaped photos on my page to eliminate those harsh lines you would get with square or rectangular photos. The circles are yet another way to help your eye move across the page. I also adhered all the circle photos/stickers from the bottom left corner to the top right corner of the page.

Closer look at journaling dressed up with another stamped phrase from the Sept. Studio AE stamp set.

HOW TO

 

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links)

InLinkz.com

Click HERE to view this week's layout and video at Two Peas in a Bucket.

Click HERE to view the entire 2011 From Start to Finish Series at Two Peas in a Bucket.

Links for more projects/layouts I've created using my favorite Doodlebug Boutique Buttons:

Boutique Buttons make the perfect centers for stamped snowflakes:

Scrapbook Stamping January 2011 (original post HERE)

The flower Boutique Buttons make the perfect accents with leaf accents. I stamped and colored my leaf accents on this layout:

Scrapbook Stamping June 2011 (original post HERE)

Boutique Buttons are the perfect simple page accent. I lined them up border-style on this layout:

Scrapbook Stamping July 2011 (original post HERE)

These Beetle Black Boutique Buttons easily dress up the wheels on this die cut and stamped bicyle:

From Start to Finish August 31, 2011 (original post HERE)

The flower buttons add interest & dimension to the leaf border:

From Start to Finish May 18, 2011 (original post HERE)

I love using the solid yellow Boutique Buttons for sunshine accents:

Sending Smiles Card (original post HERE)

Boutique Buttons make the perfect finishing touch on banners and labels:

Enjoy the Ride Card (original post HERE)

On the Mend Card (original post HERE)

Wishing You a Speedy Recovery Card (original post HERE)

Lawn Fawn | September Inspiration Week (Frosty Friends)

Today the Lawn Fawn Design Team is showcasing the new Frosty Friends Stamp Set on the Lawn Fawn Blog. I am a sucker for snowmen and this stamp set is quickly becoming a favorite. I love how you can create-your-own snowmen with the components of this set.

For my card, I chose to create a simple, fairly flat design but with lots of layers of paper to give it that dimension that really makes a card pop.

Card How To:

1. Die cut tree (KBD This & That: Gratitude Kit) to 5.5" tall to fit the side of 5.5x4.25" card. Stamp tree with Hero Arts Woodgrain Design Block Stamp using Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip Ink.
2. Stamp background of card with snowflakes from Frosty Friends stamp set using Colorbox Frost White Ink.
3. Die cut "snow" from PTI Rustic White Cardstock using the following design from Silhouette Online Store:     
   wave_border_C0270 
4. Distress Edges of snow with Tim Holtz Distresser. Stamp greeting on top "snow" layer using SU Baja Breeze and Real Red Inks.
5. Stamp snowman, hat, scarf and birds on Neenah Solar White Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and color in with Copic Markers. Add "texture" to scarf with Hero Arts Envelope Pattern Design Block Stamp and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.
6. Stamp snowman arms and birds (for their legs) on the card base using SU Chocolate Chip Ink.
7. Assemble cut out pieces to card as shown. Add googly eyes to finish design.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Click HERE to see another card I created featuring Frosty Friends.

Click HERE to see the Lawn Fawn Design Team's projects showcasing Frosty Friends.

Leave a comment on the Lawn Fawn Blog HERE for a chance to win all three of the Lawn Fawn stamp sets featured during September's Inspiration Week!

If you are looking to add to your Copic Marker Stash, Two Peas in a Bucket is offering 20% off Copic products right now.

Quick links:

• Sketch Markers (these are the markers I use for all my Copic coloring)
• Cio Markers
• All Copic Products on Sale

 

 

Lawn Fawn | September Inspiration Week (Ornate Ornaments)

Today, the Lawn Fawn Design Team is showcasing the new Ornate Ornaments Stamp Set perfect for all kinds of Christmas-themed paper crafting projects. I can totally see stamping a cute "hanging" ornament border on a scrapbook layout with the large ornaments in this set. They are great for coloring in, paper piecing and more. Love, love, love these ornaments.

I had originally thought I'd go the more traditional red/green route with this card (stamping the foilage in green and the ornaments in red but as I purused my spray inks I I came across the Tsukineko Shimmer Spritz' spray inks and thought, "wouldn't sprarklies be pretty on Christmas ornmanets?" and thus, I decided to go the more elegant route with silver and gold ornaments. ;) I could have made shimmery red and green ornaments, too, I just wanted to do something different with the set and I really, really like the results!

Card How To:

1. Trim gray cardstock to 4x5.25".
2. Stamp branches/leaves from LF Ornate Ornaments using Colorbox Frost White ink.
3. Stamp ornament "hanger" using Memories Black Ink.
4. Stamp greeting using Memories Black Ink.
5. Stamp ornaments on Neenah Solar White Cardstock using Big & Bossy Black Embossing Ink, sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set.
6. Mist embossed ornaments with Studio Calico Mister Huey Spray Inks (embossed areas will "resist" the ink). Spray with Tsukineko Shimmer Spritz Inks and let dry or speed up the drying with heat tool.
7. Cut out ornaments and paper piece together, adhering to card. Add gemstones and ribbon bows.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Click HERE to see the Lawn Fawn Design Team's projects showcasing Ornate Ornaments.

Leave a comment on the Lawn Fawn Blog HERE for a chance to win all three of the Lawn Fawn stamp sets featured during September's Inspiration Week!

 

 

Lawn Fawn | September Inspiration Week (Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum)

Happy Monday stamping/paper crafting friends!

I am happy to share some holiday themed stamped goodness today with Lawn Fawn's September Inspiration Week on the Lawn Fawn Blog. Today the Design Team is highlighting the new Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum Stamp Set.

I chose to create some sweet little gift tags perfect for any gift under the Christmas tree.

Tag(s) How To:

1. Stamp Hero Arts Large Plaid Background stamp on kraft cardstock using Colorbox Frost White Ink. Die cut using Papertrey Ink's Tag It #4 Die.
2. Stamp Lawn Fawn images from Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum Stamp Set on Neenah Solar White cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Color in images with Copic Markers. Cut out images.
3. Stamp greetings on gift tags using Stampin' Up Real Red and Lucky Limeade Inks.
4. Adhere stamped images with foam adhesive.
5. Finish tags with Divine Twine and PTI Red Satin Ribbon bows.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Click HERE to see the Lawn Fawn Design Team's projects showcasing Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum.

Leave a comment on the Lawn Fawn Blog HERE for a chance to win all three of the Lawn Fawn stamp sets featured during September's Inspiration Week!

GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Sorry I am late getting this posted. Typepad kept going down on my yesterday and deleting my post(s)! Urgh! 

The randomly selected winner for The Spawn of True Scrap event free registration is: 

Marilize Kruger said...

What an amazing series! Winning a spot would rock my world :)

ReplySeptember 07, 2011 at 07:37 AM

The randomly selected winer for the $30 Simon Says Stamp Gift Certificate from InLinkz is:

Cheryl H said...

Wow, I can't wait to check this out further. Thanks for the post and giveaway!

ReplySeptember 03, 2011 at 09:59 PM

I have emailed you both. 

Be sure to check back this week for ideas showcasing several of the new Lawn Fawn holiday stamp sets during the September Inspiration Week on the Lawn Fawn Blog!

September Studio AE from Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to the September Studio AE Blog Hop!

Today, the Studio AE team is joining up with Ali Edwards to show some projects we made with September’s Studio AE stamp set, "Family Is by Ali Edwards".

The set consists of 19 clear stamps. The set works great for scrapbook pages, cards and mini books.

The set ships to Studio AE members between the 10th and the 15th. Non-Studio AE members can also purchase the set for a limited time through the Technique Tuesday Web site. Some retailers are also now offering the Studio AE stamp sets for purchase. Check with your favorite retailer for more details about that.

Here’s my project showcasing this stamp set:

To creat the card I used designs from a couple of Kerri Bradford Digital Die Cut Kits in conjunction with this month's Studio AE stamp set. The frames, chair and sunflower are all die cuts that I dressed up with a background stamp. The background behind the chair is a piece of white cardstock repeated stamped with the "love you" greeting from this month's "Family Is" stamp set. It was still a bit intense, even stamped in the subtle Stampin' Up Crumb Cake color so I placed a piece of vellum over it to "mute" the intensity a bit. I love the look of creating your own text backgrounds with stamps.

The greeting is also from September's Studio AE Family Is stamp set. I used SU Soft Suede and Real Red inks to create the custom greeting. You could make a bunch of cards with this stamp set this way for almost every member of your family!

For the coordinating gift box (available from Technique Tuesday) I grabbed several of the stamps from this month's set and placed them on an acrylic block (shown below). Then, with the box still flattened, I stamped each side with this grouping of stamps using SU Crumb Cake Ink and then I "filled in" any open areas with additional stamps from the set. Easy. It makes for a lovely gift presentation, too!

I fnished the box with some pretty ribbons wrapped around it and embellished with another die cut sunflower and die cut tag stamped with the "love you" greeting from this month's stamp set!

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Be sure to check the blogs of all taking part in the Blog Hop today:

• Ali 
• Lynn Ghahary (our Studio AE Guest for September)
• Daniela
• Nichol (that's me!)
• Jaime
• Sharyn
• Laura
• Teri

As a thank you for all the comments received during the hop on all eight blogs, we will pick two people to win the Message in a Banner stamp set.

You don’t need to leave a comment on all the blogs to be eligible to win. But the more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win.

You’ll also want to stop by the Technique Tuesday blog. Tell TT what which of the Studio AE stamp sets this year has been your favorite.

We’ll pick someone who comments on the Technique Tuesday blog to win the Holiday in a Box by Ali Edwards stamp set. 

All comments must be made by midnight PST on Sept. 12^th.

Tune into the Technique Tuesday blog on Sept. 13^th to see if you are one of the lucky winners.

 

KBD | This & That: Autumn

I am crazy for Autumn. 

I love the colors of Autumn.

I love sweaters and boots and scarves.

I love the cooler weather, the brightly colored falling leaves.

I love Autumn home decor and pumpkins.

I love lazy Sunday afternoons with a football game on in the background.

Growing up a farm girl, I love harvest.

Kerri Bradford has come up with my new all-time favorite This & That kit:

This & That: Autumn

Click HERE to purchase the [Just Shapes] kit.

Click HERE to purchase the kit + digital elements (and you KNOW you need that to make that adorable scale!!!)

I will be sharing a layout featuring this kit on Kerri's website and also right here on my blog sometime next week. Stay tuned....

From Start to Finish | Super Hero Stuff

This week's From Start to Finish layout features the Design Principle of Proportion/Scale as part of 2Peas Design School feature. I "divided" my page into 2 halfs (each 6x12") and added the photos/journaling/title so that each side was in proportion to each other. Similarly, the scale of each side of the layout is very similar lending the layout to a nice balance. There are many, many ways to use these design principles and I chose to keep all my elements very similar in size to one another. I could have also created a bunch of smaller photos and a large oversize title or used one really big photo with a small title, etc. 

I used a die cut design from the Silhouette Online Store (by Loni Stevens) for my title:

super_hero_stuff_phrase_C01079_19547

I wanted the word "hero" to really pop so instead of cutting it from kraft cardstock like the other words, I cut it from both red and turquoise cardstocks and layered them. I used Studio Calico Mister Huey white spray ink on the kraft die cut words.Some older Cosmo Cricket rub-ons complete the title.

I love the "texture" spray inks add to plain die cuts.

I used some of the jouranling cards from the Turquoise Becky Higgins Project Life kit as "tabs" on my layout. They make great little accents on pages! October Afternoon stickers complete the little collage of accents.

I added another October Afternoon border sticker under the photo border on the right side of the page to balance the design. I also die cut a star using a Sizzix die and added a punched vellum circle over the top before finishing the accent with an American Crafts Flair badge.

Close up of journaling.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

HOW TO

 

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

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

Updates on Giveaways + Challenges

Because I have had so much going on here lately with giveaways and such I thought I would update today and give links to all the current Giveaways/Challenges that are going on for you to participate in:

The Spawn of True Scrap:

Free Registration GIVEAWAY (click HERE to leave a comment to win)

InLinkz Tool:

Watch video below to learn all about using this link manager on your own blog:

Simon Says Stamp $30 Gift Certificate GIVEAWAY (click HERE to leave a comment to win)

Lawnscaping Embossing Challenge:

Simon Says Stamp $25 Gift Certificate (click HERE to upload your embossed card to the Lawnscaping Blog for a chance to win)

Click HERE to see my embossed card for the challenge.

 

 

Lawnscaping Guest Designer | Embossing

I'm thrilled to be the Guest Designer for the Lawnscaping Blog this month!

The challenge is to use EMBOSSING (wet or dry). 

I used both types of embossing on my card.

• Wet embossing for the snowflake background, the arms of the snowmen and the greeting.
• Dry embossing on the "snow".

I used the following design from the Sillhouette Online Store and die cut it from Papertrey Ink Rustic White cardstock, then embossed it with PTI's Polka Dot Impression Plate for a "texturized" snowy landscape (dry embossing).

wave_border_C0270 

For my heat embossing: I stamped the greeting on the PTI Double Ended Banner die cut using Versamark and carefully applied both white and red embossing powders to the greeting. (See THIS layout & class video for ideas on applying more then one color of embossing powder).

I also heat embossed the arms of the snowmen and the snowflakes in the background.

I stamped and Copic Marker colored all the rest of the images, cut all the pieces out and reassembled them on the card. Diamond Stickles add sparkle and shine to the heart and pompom on the stocking cap. Black gems for the eyes finish the card.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

To participate in this Lawnscaping Challenge, please click HERE.

The sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamp!

The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to their store!

 Challenge runs from now thru September 14, 2011.