Friday, November 30, 2012

Handmade Holidays Blog hop winner

Congratulations to...



Blogger Becky Dunham said...
I love this idea Megan! I have never done a smash book before, but I have a friend who wants me to make here a book like this with special photos in it and such. I never even though to use a smash book as a base or better yet a sketch pad! What a fabulous idea! I will be shopping today for one of those so I can get started! Thanks for the inspiration!
November 19, 2012 2:53 PM
 Delete
I emailed you at the address listed in your blogger profile, if that isn't correct, let me know. you can email me through the 'email me' link on the blog side bar.

thanks everyone for stopping by!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Joy's Life Box

This week Joy asked us to make bags or boxes for Christmas. I thought it was a great opportunity to try some of the cuts that came on the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge that was loaded on my gypsy. 


I used the 'Merry Christmas' and 'HO3 (Ho Ho Ho)' stamps from the Oh Christmas Puns set. I used My Mind's Eye Christmas papers from last year. All of the cuts - the flower, the box, the label and the tag - were from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. 



I stamped the sentiments and inked the edges of the papers with Clearsnap ink. The glitter is also clearsnap. I love how chunky it is. It really gives a fun look! I used a Xyron glue stick to apply the glitter. I just ran the glue stick over the edges, and in some cases put the glue on my fingers to apply, then dipped in the glitter.

I also ended up cutting a hole in the top of the box for the base of the flower. I wanted the flower to look like it was sprouting up out of the box, and the base was a little larger than I wanted.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Skipping Stones Victorian Christmas Tag Hop

Welcome to the Skipping Stones Design Team New Release Blog Hop featuring tags created (mostly) with the brand new Victorian Christmas set!


My Victorian Christmas set got lost in the mail, so I used the awesome Christmas song set for my tag



Here is my tag
I don't know why the color came out so bright on the red. The reds aren't really that day-glo color. The red cardstock base is more of a brick red and I stamped the music note stamp on it in a darker red ink. 
On the ornament, I stamped it in brown ink then embossed with an opalescent embossing powder.

You should have arrived here from the lovely Wendy's blog. Your next stop is the talented Rochelle. If you missed a stop or want to go back to the beginning, here is the lineup:


Megan Aaron (http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com/)  <-------------- are="are" b="b" here="here" you="you">

Friday, November 23, 2012

Skipping Stones Feature Friday

I am up on the skipping stones blog today with this fun card featuring the Margarita Birthday stamp set.


I used some webster's Pages park drive papers on this card. I love how it's elegant but fun at the same time! The inks are from clearsnap. The green ink is stephanie barnard dye ink in lime. I also used sketch 154 from a couple of weeks ago to create this card.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop (with lots Prizes!!)

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!! 




Calling all crafters! We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all of the thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could create for the holidays, all in one place, during our second annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!
Almost exactly a year ago (wow has it really been that long?!), I bought a Smash book and converted it into a planner. I love how free-form and fun it is. I sectioned it off to create room for all my scrap stuff and my calendars and lists. I am still using it and loving it, but it's running out of pages. I thought about buying another one, but there are a few things that I don't love about it. There aren't enough pages and while I love the pretty patterned papers, they aren't really practical for making lists and writing notes. I wanted something pretty and free form, without lines, that I could section off for myself. So, I came up with the idea to make one and since it's such a fun easy and useful project, it makes a great gift at this time of year!

Who wouldn't love a planner/art journal/etc that they can customize to fit their own needs?



I love the size of the Smash book - big enough to be useful and have room for everything, but not so big as to be unwieldy to carry around every day. So, I designed this book to be the same size. I used black chipboard for the covers and cut them to 10.5x7.5 inches

I bought a cheap sketch book with 50lb paper in it and used that for my pages because I like the thicker pages, but didn't want to add too much bulk or cost with REALLY thick cardstock pages. 

I printed 14 blank calendar pages and interleaved them with one blank page, so that I have a lot of space for my monthly notes and lists.

Click HERE to download the pdf of the calendar pages so you can print your own.

Then I made 5 more sections of about 25 sheets each.

I cut all the pages (blank and calendar) to 10x7 inches. Then I used some Bazzill Cardstock for my divider pages and cut those to 10x7.25 inches - so they would be just a little bit wider than the pages and stick out to make them easy to find.

Here's what my blank pages and calendar pages and covers looked like when I was finished with that.

Now to add some pizzazz! 

Let's start with the divider pages! I chose 6 different colors of Stephanie Barnard Dye ink that loosely coordinate with the Authentique papers that I planned to use. Then I grabbed my rollograph and used it to create some brightly patterned papers. 


The finishing touches include inking the edges liberally and one more rollograph application of the children playing in black chalk ink on the lighter colored pages.

If you don't have 6 different colors of ink, you could use 2 or 3 and alternate them. Also, if you don't have a bunch of different rollograph cartridges, you could use the same one in different colors, or even use regular stamps. I like the rollograph for a project like this because it's just so easy! The dye ink dries almost instantly, so I just flipped the pages over and did the same thing on the other side.


For the cover, I wanted to keep it flat so that it can stand up to daily use without suffering too much. Since I started with black chipboard, I decided to capitalize on that and emboss right on it instead of covering it with paper first. I used mostly Graphic 45 Hampton Art stamps with a few 7 Gypsies Hampton Art stamps. I arranged the stamps on my block in a pattern, so that I didn't have to stamp each one individually, then I inked them up with Top Boss embossing ink. Then I heat embossed with the Donna Salazar mixd media inx embossing powder in Leather. I just love how this powder turns out with a little sheen too it!



I finished the cover up with some Authentique paper and Bo Bunny cardstock that was punched with some Fiskars border punches - including the new-to-me interchangeable cartridge one that is SO MUCH FUN! I also used an Authentique die cut tag and stickers for the year. I inked the edges of the papers with some color box pigment ink in sapphire silk.

For just a little bit more fun, I inked the edges of the stacks of paper with the colors that correspond to the dividers. Note: DAB the ink pad on the edges of the paper stack, don't run it along. Learn from my mistake and don't ruin your ink pad! In my haste to ink the edges faster, I ended up taking a chunk out of my ink pad. Oops! Dabbing the ink pad onto the paper edge works just fine though.

I also added a few pages from my old Smash book that were unused. Feel free to throw in a few patterned papers for fun.

I also added some envelopes. They are just plain invitation sized envelopes that happened to be almost exactly 7.25 inches wide. After punching them with my bind it all, I trimmed the punched edge of the flap, so that the flap doesn't get bound, and will still open.


This is what the top looks like after the edges of the paper were inked. Isn't that pretty?!

I also added some Authentique details to the envelopes for a little more fun.





Clearsnap Supplies
Cat's Eye Pigment ink in Sapphire Silk
Stephanie Barnard Dye ink in Banana, Cornflower, Plum, Grape, Artichoke, and Fairy Pink
Color Box chalk ink in blackbird
Donna Salazar mixd media inx embossing powder in Leather
Top Boss embossing ink
Rollagraph Jumbo stamp wheel in Crackle, Doll Faces, Wordswords

Blog Hop Participant supplies
TomBow Adhesives
Fiskars Punches
Authentique papers, die cuts and stickers
Graphic 45 Hampton Art stamps

Other Supplies
50lb paper
Black chipboard
Zutter Bind it all and wire


Below is the line-up for today. You should have arrived here from Gretchen's blog. If not, you might want to go back and start from the beginning so you don't miss any inspiration or chances for prizes! Also, if you missed yesterday be sure to check out those posts also, which you can find on the Clearsnap blog post from yesterday. Now, it's on to Tania Willis!!!

But don't miss my GIVEAWAY below

Clearsnap – http://clearsnap.blogspot.com/
Hampton Art - 
http://blog.hamptonart.com/
Graphic45 – 
http://g45papers.typepad.com/
Fiskateers - 
www.fiskateers.com/blog
Donna Salazar Designs – 
http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/
Tombow USA – 
http://blog.tombowusa.com/
Authentique Paper 
http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/
The Twinery - 
http://www.thetwineryblog.com/
Eileen Hull for Sizzix 
http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/
Globecraft Memories – 
http://globecraftmemories.blogspot.com/
Diana Gonzalez – Clearsnap – http:// 
www.arteypoemas.com
Monika Wright – The Twinery - 
http://www.iloveitallwithmonikawright.com/
Gretchen McElveen - Hampton Art - 
http://gretchenmac.blogspot.com/
Megan Aaron – Clearsnap- 
http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com/  YOU ARE HERE
Tania Willis – Fiskateers- 
http://throughtrialsiambeingpurified.blogspot.com/
Gloria Stengel – Graphic 45 - 
http://www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com/
Suzanne Austin – Clearsnap - 
http://whatsinalousyananut.blogspot.com/
Shellye McDaniel – Authentique Paper - 
http://paperedcottage.blogspot.com/
Natasha Naranjo Aguirre – Donna Salazar Designs - 
http://www.moments-of-tranquility.com/
Jen Carter – The Twinery - 
http://jensinkspot.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison – Graphic 45 - 
www.lauradenisondesigns.com
Candy Spiegel – Globecraft Memories - 
http://candyspiegel.wordpress.com/


To sweeten the Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Use the Rafflecopter widget on the Clearsnap blog to gain extra entries each day: http://clearsnap.blogspot.com
Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov 27, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from!


Here's the Clearsnap prize pack---that's over $100 worth of swag!!!



And here is my own 


Giveaway!!! 
Today I am giving away a $10 Gift Certificate to

All you have to do to enter is 
1. Become a follower (or already be one)
2. Leave me a comment
3. Make sure to leave your email address in your comment, or have it in your blogger profile so I can contact you, and/or come back next week to see if you've won!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Joy's Life Give Thanks Card

Hello! This week Joy asked us to make cards! I just love making cards because they are faster than other projects (for me anyway) and they are so practical! I love giving out handmade cards!

I used the 'give thanks' stamp from the It's All Fall Puns set and some Clearsnap ink for the sentiment.


Everything else on this card is My Little Shoebox Oh Deer! collection! Isn't it adorable! I just love this collection and it made this card come together so fast! The sticker tag was just the right size for the sentiment and isn't that deer cute!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Skipping Stones 154

Check out the skipping stones blog today for another fun sketch challenge featuring sketch 154!

Here's the card that I created with the Christmas Song stamp set, using this sketch.

Papers are MME, ink is clearsnap - archival dye ink in pinetree and stephanie barnard dye ink in chocolate, and cat's eye ink in chestnut.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Joy's Life Tags and Bags blog hop




In this hop we'll each be making a bag and a tag to go with it. You know what is great about this hop? We can use the bags and tags for our own gift giving! YAY!




I cut this bag with my cricut using the tags bags boxes and more cartridge. I cut it from two sheets of My Little Shoebox patterned paper, which I then glued together to provide stability and a contrasting color on the inside. 

I used the 'Hello Sweetie' stamp from the Joy's Life Yummy Puns set. I also used the To: and From: stamps from the Tag You're It One set. 





The Tag is also cut with the same cartridge. The inks are clearsnap. The twine is the Twinery. Everything else is My Little Shoebox.

You should have arrived here from Jennie's blog. If not, you might want to go back and start from the beginning since there is lots of inspiration and prizes to be won. Otherwise, you are heading onto Lori's blog.


BLOG HOP ORDER

Megan: http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com <---------------you are="are" b="b" here="here">

Saturday, November 10, 2012

My Little Shoebox and Vintage Shop

Today I want to share with you some projects that I created last month for the My Little Shoebox blog. I worked with the Vintage shop line to create this altered birdhouse. This line is sweet and pretty and so much fun to work with!



I also created this layout, using the Vintage Shop papers and the matching Unity stamps. I embossed the stamps with clearsnap embossing powder. For the background I used a crafter's workshop plastic template and misted over it.


Thanks for looking! Be sure to check out more details on my post at the My Little Shoebox blog.



Thursday, November 8, 2012

Joy's Life Tag

I don't make a lot of tags, partly because I never think to use them, and partly because the small format always seems difficult for me. This one was so much fun though!  The stamp is from the Joy's Life It's All Fall puns set. I love every single one of the stamps in this set and can't wait to use them all!
I used the Oh Deer! collection from My Little Shoebox. The tag base was Ranger Inkessentials that I covered in papers from the Oh Deer collection. First I used my craft knife to cut the little circle around the hole off so I could ink it and cover the tag more easily. The inks are clearsnap. Everything else - stickers, die cuts, even the ribbon- is My Little Shoebox.

Monday, November 5, 2012

My Little Shoebox and Epiphany Crafts!

This week My Little Shoebox and Epiphany crafts are teaming up and I can't wait for you to see the inspiration we have to share! I have been quite curious about the products at Epiphany and I have to say that they did NOT disappoint!

I received a shape studio star tool and got right to work using it! I was worried that it would be difficult to get the epoxy part directly onto the spot that I wanted, but it totally wasn't! I am a stickler for things being perfectly straight and lined up just right and this tool delivered!

Here's the layout that I created with the epiphany star tool and the Oh Deer! line from My Little Shoebox.




Thanks for stopping by! Check out the My Little Shoebox blog for more inspiration! And also don't forget to stop by the Epiphany Crafts blog!



Thursday, November 1, 2012

I'm back, and a Joy's Life card

You may or may not have noticed that I've been a little MIA around here lately. Fall is just such a busy time for me! But, I think things are going to settle down now. Ellie's parties are over, and I have a 7 year old in the house!! Can you believe that?!  I sure can't. Halloween is almost over. Comic Con is over. So, yeah I hope to be able to start getting caught up this coming weekend, instead of hanging on by my fingernails as I have been for the past couple of weeks.

On that note, here is a poorly photographed Joy's Life card. Joy gave us the choice this time and I, of course, chose to make a card. I wanted to use this cute saying and had a card all planned out... and then I lost my gypsy cord. So, I ordered another one and had to wait for it. By the time it arrived, so had Hurricane Sandy and the due date for this card. So, I had to use the best lighting available and let's just say, it's not ideal. Still, I think this card turned out super cute!

I used some papers from Teresa Collins. the chipboard is from Want 2 Scrap. The stamp is, of course, from Joy's life. This one is from the 'it's all fall puns' set, which is currently my favorite.

I cut the acorns with my cricut and gypsy using the B is for Boy cartridge.

So, I will be back soon with some photos from halloween and Ellie's birthday. I am also going to get to work on cleaning up my scrap room - maybe I will even find that lost cable - and getting caught up on my assignments because I really hate doing things at the last minute.

you know what? here's one photo from her Halloween parade at school. Thanks SOOOO much to my friend who took this for me.