Give Thanks Project: 3D Leaf Tutorial and Thankful for Sunshine

So Very Thankful 3D Leave Tutorial
by Tya Smith

Hi there! I was so excited when we got this assignment because this is my favorite time of year. I love to look back and reflect on the things in my life that I am most thankful for. There were a lot of things that I could have made my layout about - the magical places I get to go to when I read my beloved Harry Potter, my somewhat obsessive love of Clorox Wipes (aren't they the BEST) , my Ipad, with which I get to stay connected to people around the world, I could go on and on. But when it came right down to it, all of these "things" are just that - "things". What I am most thankful for are my relationships. The kind that no money can buy. I took this photo a few weeks back and just looking at that photo  made me reflect on what I am sincerely thankful for. My kids :) I simply ADORE being a mom to these amazing little people. They are the reason I am the person that I am today. They are the reason that I want to be a good person, and make their world a better place to live in, and let's face it - they are the reason that I scrapbook. I can't wait for them to look back on the pages and things that I have written and know without a doubt that they are what I am most thankful for. Sorry Harry :)

So here is my layout - and a small little tutorial on how to make the fun dimensional leaf shapes in the corner.

Here is how to make the leaves:  Don't worry about having things be exactly symmetrical, I don't really focus on all the lines lining up equally - I think it makes for a more realistic looking leaf :)

 

Step 1 - Cut a square, the ones I used in the layout are 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches for the small ones and 3x3 inches for the larger ones. You can make them as big or as small as you'd like- just make sure that you have a square.

 Step 2- Fold the square in half.

 Step 3- Fold the tips of the square down as shown.

 Step 4- Open the square back up and glue the tips down to the back of the square as shown.

 Step 5- Take the bottom tip of the square and add a bit of adhesive. Fold this edge over and that's it! So easy, but so cute if you'd like the leaf to really pop off your project.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for Sunshine
by Sherry Cartwright

Hi doodlebugs, it's Sherry here today on the blog.   Can you believe it is already November?  I know it's cliche to say that time flies, but man --- this year is zipping by quickly.

November.

What does it mean to you?

For so many people, November is always the time we start to reflect on the things we are thankful for.  There is so many things in day-to-day life that I am thankful for, but it always comes back to my family.  My little family -- my husband, my two children and myself -- is always my greatest joy and for what I am most thankful.  

I appreciate the sunshine that these two little people bring to my life and my heart. Sure, they can argue and bicker like siblings, but together, they are such great power and joy.  

Today I feature them in this layout using doodlebug design's happy harvest collection.  

 On this 12x12 base of grey cardstock, I added drops of golden yellow ink.  Then, I layered the three photos of my children with a handful of patterned papers. I love how they all work so well together and how the autumn hues are perfect with any photo.

The sunflower yellow is an accent color I wanted to feature.  Other than the ink droplets, there is yellow in the sunshine die cut, the title letters and the layer under the photo.   By using those colors in different areas, it keeps the eye moving about the layout and keeps the design balanced. 

The sun was die cut with a Sizzix + doodlebug stamp and die set and the letter were cut with a Silhouette Cameo.

I have a tendency to cluster embellishments throughout a layout.  Let's start at the top of this layout with the grouping of doodads and sprinkles.  I love all the fall colors sprinkled about.  I used the pixie banners here as well. 

The next cluster is to the left of the photos.  I used a die cut flower from a mini kit.  To make it dimensional, I scored along the center of each petal and then again in between each petal.  Crease each score line and fanfold to create some fluffiness to the flower.  Add a button center and tie doodle twine around the button and a photo.  

I used a thin die of a tree [from the Sizzix + doodlebug stamp and die sets] to make the leaves. Cut, then crease the center and fold up paper leaves.  Add pixie in center -- one I simply used washi tape.

I am very please with this happy harvest layout, using ordinary photos of my kiddos. I am inspired by the gals of the doodlebug design team who make layering look so easy.  They're inspiring. 

I've seen plenty of posts around the internet professing gratefulness.  Jump on the bandwagon and scrapbook those things you are thankful for --- during the month of November or any day of the week.  

I am thankful for :

• my family -- my kiddos and my hub
• creativity and outlets in which to express my creativity
• a job that allows me awesome medical benefits and great pay
• good health of my family
• our old country home that keeps us warm at heart 
• and the doodlebug family that makes this such a wondramous opportunity

Be thankful and be blessed. 

Repurposed Blocks to Holiday Perpetual Calendar by Sherry

Falalalala ... lalala ... laaaaaaaaa!

'Tis the season to be ... hohoho.
Count down the days from now until zero.
Falalalalaaaaaaaaa,
Here comes Santa! 

Yes, here comes Santa ---- or me, Sherry.  I'm here today to help you countdown the days until Christmas with this cute, re-purposed calendar.   I know you'll not find one exactly like mine, but the idea can be carried over to any sort of calendar or item to repurpose.     

Oh yes, Christmas is just around the corner.

To add more excitement to our home for the holidays, we always have some sort of holiday calendar for the kiddos to look forward to.  We don't always have the traditional advent calendar of chocolate hidden behind the windows of the picture.  Instead, in the past couple years, we've opted for a holiday activity for each day of December leading up to Christmas day.
One year, the kiddos and I chose to decorate an ornament each day.

This year, though, as the kiddos are getting a bit older and are involved in more activities, we're opting for a simple countdown calendar.

This simple wooden perpetual calendar was not so cute when I purchased it at the thrift store.  When I purchased it, I had no idea what I would do with it. 

Once I  realized that it could be turned into a countdown calendar, I set out for ideas and the Home for the Holidays Collection from Doodlebug Design.  It has the perfect mix of traditional and trendy patterns and lovely shades of red and green and glittery goodness.

I covered each block with a square of patterned paper that was inked on the edges.  Then, I added numbers to each square face.  The base of the calendar was an odd shape, so I simple traced it onto the backside of the patterned paper.

Decorating the block with the tree was a bit more tricky because the is at an angle.

But, let's talk about the tree first.

I made the tree with a pixie [loooove them so much!] and patterned paper.  I cut a rectangle of patterned paper  about two inches wide and one inch tall.  On one long side of the patterned paper, snip or fringe the edge of the paper.  Glue one end in place on the pixie, then wrap around to desired look.  Trim off paper and glue end.  Once you've made as many layers as you'd like, use a stylus or paper piercer to curl the strips of paper.  Embellish with brads, pearls, rhinestones and sprinkles.

The present under the tree is a die/dice wrapped in washi and wrapped with doodle twine.

For this particular project, I had to drill a hole into the wooden block to hold the tree.   It had to be done at an angle as the base has a slight decline.

Then, I embellished the stand with glittery adhesive fancy frill border sticker and a die cut bow.  I added a cute doodad in the middle.  Perfect!

For a final countdown, what is three scrappy items on your Christmas wishlist?   What are two activities you're looking forward to this holiday?  And, what is the one ornament you have to put on your tree each year?
While you're answering these questions, I'll be rockin' around the Christmas tree and dreaming of how I'll be deckin' the halls ... red and green and home for the holidays!

Get in the Holiday Mood with Home for the Holidays Collection

Now that Halloween is finished, let's crank up the holiday music and get busy planning for the Christmas holiday. Did you know there are about 53 days until Christmas? (Countdown link here.) So three of our design team girls rocked around the assignment and came up with some fun ideas to add some holiday cheer today here on the blog!!

Polar Express Layout
by Sherry Cartwright

That motivates me to get some things done for the upcoming holidays --- mostly scrapbooking holidays past.  I don't scrapbook chronologically, but rather on a whim and when the mood strikes.  Well, the mood has struck!

The home for the holidays collection from doodlebug design is just darling! 

The collection is filled with the traditional red and green, with the addition of grey and silver.  Lots of sparkles!

I attached the sugar-coated ornament sticker with the Christmas doodle twine so it appears to be hanging.   I added a grey title to pull in the silvery glitter and the snowflake paper behind the photo. 

I don't normally gravitate to the traditional colors of Christmastime, but this year I am embracing [and loving!] the red and green combination.  I used a decorative brad from a past collection to pull in some lighter shades of color --- notice the light pink and green? 

The doodlebug design cardstock stickers and fancy frills are so much fun to add to layouts.  Here, I've clustered some stickers behind my photo.  The red stitched banner sticker quickly became a tab by hiding the notched bottom under the photo.

The ticket border stickers are just the cutest thing, but I tend to collect them rather than use them.  I tore only one off and used it in the cluster by the photo to mimic the golden ticket and add some whimsy.

To finish off the layout, I added sparkly snowflakes and rhinestones.

What is your favorite holiday color scheme?

Layered Framed Holiday Art
by Amanda Coleman

The Home for the Holidays street paper is so stinkin' cute it could be a piece of decor all on its own.  I paired the street print with some house stickers to make a custom piece of 12"x12" home decor.  Wanna know a secret?  I adhered the paper to the frame with washi tape so I could easily swap out this scene for another holiday scene.

I created the centerpiece by layering house stickers and Christmas tree Doodle Pops on a 6"x6" background.  I matted the scene with alternating layers of red and white cardstock.

The glittery rooftops and snowflakes are so fun and festive.  This happy piece of Christmas decor will grace my house for years to come.

Supplies: Home for the Holidays collection, wooden frame (Sierra Pacific)

Stitched Holiday Layout
by Shellye McDaniel

The inspiration for this layout started with two of the Simply Put cards.  I layered the two onto a piece of "O Christmas Tree" paper that I cut down to 8" wide.  Next, I centered and layered that piece onto a sheet of the "Deer Heart" paper that was cut to 9" wide and then used the "White Christmas Sugar" paper as the base paper.

After machine-stitching around all of the layers, I placed my photo and began embellishing.  With a snowflake die from my stash, I used it to cut three snowflakes from "Lily White Sugar Coated" Cardstock.

I attached the snowflakes to the layout with foam adhesive and then added a 1.5" circle punched from the "Deer Heart" paper to the center of each.  I then embellished with snowflake brads and cardstock stickers.

I placed a journal sticker at the bottom of my photo and then tied on a double bow from the Christmas baker's twine.

Pixies: Bracelet Tutorial by Sherry

by Sherry Cartwright 

Fall weather has finally hit central Texas for a few days and it has me inspired to create with the beautiful hues associated with the season. Doodlebug Design has a beautiful palette of brown, orange and gold with a pop of turquoise and lime green.  Beautiful.

Let's talk pixies first.  Have you seen the new Pixies?!   They are food-grade plastic straws similar to coffee stirrers.  But, they are sturdy enough to cut and can even be bent.  They are so very cute, are available in the Doodlebug Design rainbow of colors and can be used in so many creative ways. 

To create this bracelet for my daughter, I gathered a few supplies:

• safety pins
• pixies
• elastic cord
• button

Wrap elastic cording around your wrist to measure size, then add another two inches for knotting.  

Cut pixies into various lengths to fit your safety pins.   This creates "beads."  Open all safety pins and then add pixie beads.  Close.  Repeat oodles of times until you have enough to fit  to make the bracelet large enough to go around your wrist. 

Once you have enough pixie beads made, string them onto elastic cording --- one strand through the "eye" of the safety pin and once through the "loop."  Fasten off.  

I added a cute tree pin given at CHA, but you could turn a new doodlebug design doodad [think trendy flair or flatback pins] into a pin by adding a pin finding, available at craft stores. 

Other ideas for pixies jewelry projects:

• Cut pixies into beads and string on thin elastic cord to create single strand bracelet.  Make several and layer them up.
• Do the same thing on a smaller scale to make rings.   
• Sew Pixies onto a leather cuff.  
• String cut Pixie beads with seed beads to make necklace.  

Watch for more creative projects from the Doodlebug Design team. Be sure to share your Pixies creations with our team.  We love to see your creations!  

Shadow Boxes: Home Decor Inspiration

What a treat we have for you today! Imagine our delight when we have our design team our Doodlebug Shadow Boxes, they delighted us with what they were able to create. So we  have three adorable Home Decor projects perfect for a variety of spaces in your home.

Little Boy's Room Plaque
by Stephanie Buice

Home Decor for the Kitchen
by Sherry Cartwright

Home Decor Plaque
by Shellye McDaniel

Home for the Holidays: Layout Inspiration Day 2

More fabulous layouts featuring the Home for the Holidays Collection. We have had so much fun watching you all SHARE these awesome projects, we are talking about giving away more then a few sets...don't you think?

Remember post a link on Facebook, share on Instagram or Pin to Pinterest.

We're off to Scrapfest this weekend...so stop by and say HI too!! 

Santa Claus
by Jodi Wilton

Merry Christmas Layout
by Monique Liedtke

Home for the Holidays: Layouts Inspiration Day 1

We wanted to start off the day with some fun layouts...because layouts always inspire me to get going on my holiday crafty. Because I haven't found time to scrapbook my holiday photos yet...from LAST YEAR!! We hope that you enjoy these layouts featuring the Home for the Holidays Collection from two of our amazing Design Team members.

We're challenging you again to SHARE, share, and share some more. We pick our winners from those of you that share.

Be Jolly Layout
by Stephanie Buice

Christmas Photo Booth
by Sherry Cartwright