Nichol Spohr LLC

KBS | Halloween Mini Album

Happy Halloween!

A couple of years ago I began a mini album to hold photos of our family's Halloween costumes every year. I used a Making Memories 9x9 album and did about 5-6 layouts, plus the title page and cover and that was that. I ran out of 9x9 sheet protectors that fit the post-bound sytle album and I set my album aside and didn't work on it again. 

Since then, 9x9 doesn't seem to be a very popular mini book size anymore plus the 3-ring binders have made a come back (I am so glad. I have no patience for post-bound albums!). I still absolutely loved the concept of the Halloween mini book so I set out to create a new one using a more popular (and easy to find) 8x8 style album.

I created a bunch of 8x8 photo collages using Kerri's photo templates and uploaded them to www.scrapbookpictures.com to have them printed. Easy peasy.

Then I set about adding some cover art: 

I created this 4x4 piece to fit the insert in my Doodlebug album using an assortment of Halloween themed patterned papers and cardstock I had on hand to die cut this awesome image and title from Kerri's new This is Halloween Kit. A bit of vellum with a sub-title printed on it, a bit of stamping and some bat mini brads finish this spooky cover!

I am creating 2-page spreads in my album so I needed a bit of title page art to fill in the first page of my book. I used this background design from Kerri's new Foundations: Trick or Treat Kit, cutting it from black American Crafts cardstock. Then I used Studio Calico Mister Huey White and Shine to give my die cut background a distressed feel.

The star from This & That: Freedom and pumpkin from This & That: Autumn perfectly coordinate with the designs in the background piece. I simply resized them in my Silhouette software, cut them from patterned paper and layered them over the background for interest and color. 

Metal embellishments, rustic twine, vellum, stickers and pins finish off my title page.

I added a bit of journaling on vellum and layered it over some patterned paper near the bottom of the page.

I cut the shank off the back of this Tim Holtz button so that it would lay "flatter" on my page and secured it with Glossy Accents.

Here's a page example from my mini book showcasing an 8x8 photo collage from Kerri's Feature It Kit. I added some simple stamping over the photos for a more interesting presentation.

I used several designs from Kerri's kits to create the background, embellishments and title on the left side of my layout.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Be sure to go HERE and download last week's Friday FREEBIE that Kerri created. Love this one. Could be used on anything.

Also, Kerri has created this fabulous little how to video showing how to import multiple shapes/files into the Silhouette software. Check it out! Good stuff.

 

 

December Daily 2011 | Preparing

I know several of you have been asking me my plans for this year's December Daily.

I am happy to report (finally) that I have started pre-planning.

First up, I ordered THIS from Studio Calico:

I love the binder size and the products included in this kit. And let's face it, Ali is awesome, right? Why not let her choose the products to get me started? ;)

In addition to the binder and supplies here I have to include some die cutting. I have to. It's a rule. ;)

I'm going to be using these kits to create additional elements, backgrounds and dimensional layers for my pages:

InLinkz.com

And stamps? Yes, I will be stamping with this:

You won't want to miss Ali's Studio AE November Stamp Set. Perfect for December Daily and so many other holiday projects!

Be sure to check out the cover of Ali's December Daily album HERE. I simply adore it. Adore it. Want it. Must do something similiar.

I can't wait to start the 2011 December Daily journey...

 

Scrapbook Stamping | November 2011 *Sneak Peek* @2Psinabucket

Be sure to check back on Tuesday, November 1st, for the latest free Scrapbook Stamping class lesson at Two Peas in a Bucket. This month's layout is Christmas-themed and is sporting a lot of some glitter. ;)

In the meantime, check out the past class lessons and guest designer layouts HERE, if you haven't already for lots of scrapbook stamping inspiraton.

 

Scrapbook & Cards Today | Happy Thanksgiving Card

I have one last card to share from the Fall 2011 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today issue and I think it just may be my favorite. If you took part in The Spawn of True Scrap event and listened or read the transcript of my classroom chat you know that I am a huge fan of the Papertrey Ink Friendship Jar series. Huge fan. I adore the entire series and try to find as many ways as possible to use the cute images from it in both my scrapbooking and cardmaking projects. On this card I incorporated both the original Friendship Jar stamp set with the Fall Fillers set for this sweet Thanksgiving card.

Download the Fall 2011 Issue HERE

I colored in the stamped jar and fillers with Copics (listed below) and used lovely autumn-colored inks to stamp the leaves and greeting. A woodgrain embossed background complete this lovely card.

Click HERE for complete instructions on how to create this card.

... SUPPLIES (click on photos for links) ...

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies Used:

• Stampin' Up Inks: Crushed Curry, Kiwi Kiss, Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip
• Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set

Want to see more projects I've created with the PTI Friendship Jar series? 

• My Friend Card
• Spooky Sweets Gift Box
• Happy Anniversary Card
• Layout using Friendship Jar series (lots of the sets used) from my Scrapbook Stamping Class for The Spawn of True Scrap 

Ella Publishing Ezine | Christmas Cards

Today, I have the Ezine article over on the Ella Publishing website. Check it out HERE. All details on how to create each card will be available in the article. Supply lists for each of the cards can be found here below each project.

I don't know about you but I am starting to get the holiday itch to make holiday cards. Between these projects, December Daily goodness from Kerri Bradford and Ali Edwards/Studio Calico and the Holiday Card Boot Camp I am starting to feel a little holiday spirit!

I created 5 cards for the article.

A simple single layer card with mittens dimensional embellishment:

... SUPPLIES ...

InLinkz.com

Playing with SC Mister Huey Spray Inks and stamps for a custom background:

... SUPPLIES ...

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies:

• Stamp Set by Jane's Doodles
• Schoolhouse Mister Huey Ink

A fun little snowman/critter family with googly eyes:

... SUPPLIES ...

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies:

• Googly Eyes

Shaped cards are super fun to make and display:

... SUPPLIES ...

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies:

• Flocked Paper (Doodlebug)
• Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set
• Stampinn' Up Punch Potpourri Stamp Set
• Felt Leaves, Ribbon Trims

I always need a thank you card or two during the holidays:

... SUPPLIES ...

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies:

• vellum

All of these cards have got me in the Christmas spirit. I love holiday crafting. I am itching to start my December Daily. I ordered the new kit that Ali Edwards put together for Studio Calico. Make sure to check it out tonight on SC's reveal at 12 p.m. EST. To see what I did last year for my December Daily, click HERE. 

Have a good one!

 

Guest Designer | Basic Grey (Picadilly Collection)

Hello Wednesday! I did a couple of projects as the Guest Designer over on the Basic Grey Blog today and even made a little video to go with!

I think the new Picadilly Collection from Basic Grey is my new favorite. It's super colorful (which as you know, I love) and the patterns are incredible. The smaller print on the "B" sides are perfect for die cutting into small pieces. 

My entire layout was inspired by the chipboard pieces that I made into "signs". When I looked through the chipboard embellishments these jumped out at me making me think how cute they would be mounted on signs like in a garden. From there, I remembered these photos I took a couple of summers ago and I built the entire scene around the "signs" to go with my photos.

To make sure that I could fit my backyard scene on my layout, I first opened up all my digital die cut designs in the Silhouette software and sized everything accordingly. I used designs from the Silhouette store (picnic table, tablecloth, sign, grass) and designs from Kerri Bradford Studio (fence, tree).

These are the designs I used from the Silhouette store:

checkerboard_tablecloth_1738 

picnic_table_1749 

 
directional_wood_sign_1_C00536_21585 

Grass_0116 

I've linked the designs from Kerri Bradford Studio below in the supply list.

I combined die cuts, stickers and chipboard embellishmnets to create the scene. I love how the elements all work together to make the finished piece.

When laying out my page design I noticed that I would have open space in the top right corner of my page that would be a perfect spot for journaling. I printed my journaling prior to assembling my page.

Close up of journaling:

To add interest to the photo collage and bottom half of the page, I added the title using Picadilly Alphabet stickers right to the large photo. Additional stickers finish off the page.

I decided to create a quick card using some of the leftover scraps from my layout. I added a googly eye to the sticker bird for a whimsical touch. The branch is a die cut design from the Silhouette Store:

2_branch_options_C00652_19210 

HOW TO

 

... SUPPLIES (for Nature's Best Layout) ...

InLinkz.com

... SUPPLIES (for card) ...

InLinkz.com

Scrapbook & Cards Today | Turkey Card

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. I bought the Papertrey Ink Gobble Gobble stamp set and coordinating die(s) last year and absolutely love them. For whatever reason I just love this little turkey. He is too cute. And made out of felt? Absolutely adorable. I think my niece needs a first thanksgiving onesie with this little guy sewn on the front. I better get on that. STAT. ;)

Download the Fall 2011 Issue HERE

Because this turkey is the star of the card, I kept the background of the card simple. Simple, but not boring. I used my favorite Colorbox Frost White Ink with a couple of Staz-on Metallic Inks to stamp and layer doily stamped designs on the card base. Subtle and oh-so-pretty!

Clikc HERE for full instructions on the creation of this card.

... SUPPLIES (click on photos for links) ...

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies:

• Googly Eyes
• Stampin' Up Sweet Little Sentiments Stamp Set

Click HERE to see another project I created with the PTI Gobble Gobble Stamp Set (scroll down a bit).

Scrapbook & Cards Today | So Very Thankful Card

I'm sharing another one of my cards from the Fall 2011 Scrapbook & Cards Today issue today featuring autumn colors and greeting.

Download the Fall 2011 Issue HERE

I layered lots of stamping for the background of this card. I colored on the stamp using Memento Markers (I used colors: Rhubard Stalk, Bamboo Leaves, Desert Sand and Potter's Clay) and then stamped the design on my background. Then I stamped the text background over the design with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I stamped the greeting on vellum using Stampin' up Chocolate Chip Ink. The greeting is from a discontinued Studio AE Stamp Set, Sentimentally Ali.

For complete instructions on how I created this card, click HERE.

... SUPPLIES (click on photos for links) ...

InLinkz.com

OCTOBER STUDIO AE ***IN STOCK***

The October stamp set, Give Thanks, is in stock at Simon Says Stamp HERE and Two Peas in a Bucket HERE. I have two layouts I'll be sharing using this set either this week or next. Love this month's stamp set. Click HERE to see 3 cards I created using the October stamps.

KERRI BRADFORD STUDIOS ***DECEMBER DAILY***

If you're like me and love creating a December Daily album, check out this amazing new kit that Kerri has designed specifically for December Daily Albums!

December Additions: The Dailies

And because this kit is so versatile and can work for so many things in addition to December Daily, check out the accompanying kit,

The Dailies: Month Add Ons

 

Scrapbook & Cards Today | How I Missed You Card

Thought I'd pop in here today between The Spawn of True Scrap festivities and my daughter's 11th birthday slumber party tonight to share another card from the Fall 2011 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today.

Even though the feature is all about autumn-themed cards, I threw in this missing you card using fall-ish colors.

Download the Fall 2011 Issue HERE

Lots of playing with heat embossing and spray mists on this one. Addicted to Studio Calico Spray Mists.

I heat embossed the background stamp on Neenah cardstock using white embossing powder and spritzed the Mister Huey Inks over it to blend the colors. I removed the excess ink with a wipe and let the piece dry. I also used the white Mister Huey on the PTI Fine Linen cardstock for a bit more distressing. To make the die cut butterflies sparkle, I used Tsukineko Sparkle Spray Ink. Love the look of sparkly die cuts! 

For full instructions on how I created this card, please download the Fall 2011 issue HERE.

... SUPPLIES (click on photos for links) ...

InLinkz.com

I'll be back with another card share tomorrow. Have a good one!

Scrapbook & Cards Today | Grateful For You Card

Today, I thought I'd share one of the cards I did for Scrapbook & Cards Today's Fall 2011 issue's Autumn Greetings article.

I am a sucker for all the super cute animals and critters in the Lawn Fawn family of stamps and thought it would be fun to create a "stack" of critters for this fall-themed card.

Download the Fall 2011 Issue HERE

I made sure to color my critters to match the more autumnlike papers I chose for my card. Subtle tone on tone stamping and distressing keep the focus on the critters. Stamping the greeting in Versamark and heat embossing with white embossing powder make the sentiment pop off the background.

For full how to instruction, please see the article download HERE.

... SUPPLIES (click on photos for links) ...

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies:

• Stampin' Up Dusty Durango Ink
• Googly Eyes

The Spawn of True Scrap is underway!!! There is still time to get in on the fun. Everything is being recorded so even if you can't participate "live", you will be able to view at your own leisure! 

Don't forget to come chat with me at 1:00 p.m. EST tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait!

And if you have signed up through my affiliate link here on my blog and have not received an email from me in the last 24 hours regarding the bonus class, please email me again at [email protected]. Thank you!!!

I also wanted to share a little sneak peek of my project for Online Card Classes Holiday Card Boot Camp:

This is going to be an amazing class to get your motivated for all those holiday cards we love to make! Click HERE to register today!