Creative Memories Traditional 411 Blog

Candy Shop + the NEW Shape Maker System

Hi there! Gretchen here today with a layout to share using the fun (and my new favorite!) Candy Shop line and the brand new Shape Maker System!

I used the 2" Circle Shape Maker Cartridge (it comes with the Shape Maker System, along with a 2" Square Cartridge!) to make the scalloped borders for this layout. 

I punched a bunch of circles out of a couple of sheets of red Candy Shop Designer-Print Paper.

Then I just cut each of the circles in half.

And I lined them up to create a border above and below the picture. 

I cut 2 narrow strips of yellow Candy Shop Designer-Print Paper to add across the scalloped border to hide the "messiness" of where I cut the circles in half.

And voila! That is an easy way to use circles to create a fun scalloped border!

Taking a closer look at the layout, the patterned paper around the picture is actually a couple of the Candy Shop Photo Mats. The photo mats are striped with 3 "buttons" printed on the patterned paper. To add some dimension to the page, I added round Epoxy Stickers over each "button". Fun, huh??!

Supplies Used:
Candy Shop Designer Cardstock (US/CAN)
Candy Shop Designer-Print Paper (US/CAN)
Candy Shop Photo Mats (US/CAN)
Candy Shop Epoxy Stickers (US/CAN)
Candy Shop Paper Tags (US/CAN)
Candy Shop ABC Stickers (US/CAN)
Shape Maker System (US/CAN) with 2-Inch Circle Shape Maker Cartridge 

Check out this fun video featuring both of these cool new products!

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great day!
:)
Gretchen 

P.S. The Shape Maker System is SO easy to use! You are going to love it!

Cherished Springtime Memories

Can you believe that in some parts of the US (but NOT in Minnesota!) buds are starting to pop up out of the ground? One moment it's -11 degrees or even 32 degrees and a few days later the temps are as high as 74. What is happening to our four seasons?

Even though I like a good winter season, especially when there is snow around so my kids can build snowmen or make snow angles, there is nothing like spring. It's my most favorite season. I love every moment I get to open the windows allowing for a cool breeze of fresh air cleanse my home of any toxins that's been hovering around through the winter months. Plus, I really enjoy being outside, playing with my kids and tending to my herb, veggie and flower gardens. One thing I do not like is pulling weeds, but having a little one around kind of makes that a little more exiting.

It's a time for young kids to explore, touch and feel all of what nature has to offer. Lots of questions are asked about what kind of plant or weed is growing all over the yard or flower beds. I remember back in the day when I was young, I loved playing with weeds. Blowing dandelions in the air watching the fly around me. I was even more excited to pick them when they were in full bloom and put them in a vase to give to my mom. She loved when I would give them to her, but I'm sure deep down inside she wasn't too thrilled having weeds hanging out on her kitchen windowsill either. It was the thought that counted, right?

This brings me to my layout of my baby girl getting to know her spring blooms, one in particular, the dandelion. She loves to play with these pretty white fluffy weeds that grow by the hundreds in our yard.

Matter of fact, her and her brother will have a contest to see who could blow the most of the white airy flowers in one breath. It's quite fun watching them do this and can be a disappointment when they run out of dandelions. But not for me! That means less weeding for me and more admiring my clean flower beds.

When creating my layout, I went with a simple approach in my design and added layers the same or similar elements for depth and texture. I love to use a mix of collections when I create and the flowers are a prime example of that, where I used the back of paper flowers from the Divine and Enchanted collections. I also layered in large paper flowers from the Reflections collection. I love the tone-on-tone affect of using white backed flowers, giving a subtle look to the layered flowers that also pop with the blue flower beneath.

To add more depth and texture to the page, I tucked in a bunch of green leaves from the Reflections collection to create a dimensional border. This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time and glad I did it for this page! It's a wonderful way to add dimension to a page and try something new.

I love combining the Enchanted and Reflections collections together - the patterns and color palette are perfect for spring and Easter projects.

Now, get ready to capture those spring moments with your love ones enjoying the flowers that bloom into weeds! Create something beautiful and cherish those memories as they happen.

 

Hexagon Love

Hello! Cindy here to share my love for one of my favorite shapes, the hexagon. They are easy to incorporate into just about any project. And Creative Memories has a variety of hexagon tools to make all this creativity happen, including the limited edition Hexagon Jumbo Pattern and Hexagon Border Maker Cartridge released this month.

I like to mix up patterns using shapes, and for this layout I used the Hexagon Jumbo Pattern to use as my main background design. I cut out three different sizes to fit nicely on the page, providing a nice colorful backdrop for my photo strip.

The Hexagon Place 'n' Punch is smaller and compliments the tiny hexagons from the Hexagon Border Maker Cartridge. At the bottom of the layout, I randomly punched out three shapes using the Hexagon Place 'n' Punch and backed the cardstock with pattern paper for contrast. It's a subtle use of the negative space. I also added Foam Squares to the tiny hexagons for dimension.

I really love that you get two options out of the Border Maker Cartridges! The punched border strip and the little shapes that are collected in the cartridge are both usable in your projects.

The hexagon is a nice change from the traditional shapes we're used to using. The style is fun, graphic and really adds a punch to the design.

Here are some more ideas for using hexagons in your projects:

• try layering two or more of the shapes in different sizes
• punch photos into hexagons
• create a framed background
• create a journaling box
• fold a bunch in half to use for a border
• add interest by punching another shape within the hexagon

Did I mention the Hexagon Jumbo Pattern and Hexagon Border Maker Cartridge are limited editions? That's right! So, if you're loving hexagons as much as I am, you'll want to order yours while you can. They are while supplies last, through February 2013! 

Happy Creating! Share your layouts using hexagons on the Creative Memories Home Office Facebook page. We added the instructions for my layout in the Project Center here.

Are you ready to start the countdown? Christmas is Coming!

Hello there! Cindy here and I have a simple solution to your 24 days 'til Christmas project, the Christmas Is Coming Display Accents (Canada). It comes with one sheet of 12"x12" double-sided paper, three die-cut shapes and two sheets of stickers. And it's easy to put together and perfect to use with your Magnetic Display (Canada).

Consider hosting a party this month and you could earn yours for free!

You know what these die-cut circles remind me of? Something you could view images through in 3D and it's made out of plastic. Can you guess? Oh yes, the Viewmaster 3D Viewer with Reel. Yes indeed! Talk about genius idea in creating this display accent.

As you can see, there are numbers on both sides displaying the numbers in order. A sheet of the stickers come ready for you to adhere to your die-cut shapes. When adding the stickers, be sure to have your calendar handy, as you will want to determine which activities you want to do on those certain dates. I started by filling in the dates of the weekend. These activities I know will be easier to accomplish when the entire family is home. The first few weeks of December, my kids are still in school, those dates are filled with activities that can easily be completed at home or something we can only do during the week and so on.

To keep everything in one place, I used the 12"x12" double-sided paper to store the additional die-cut shape while the other is in use. The magnetic buttons help make this happen and there is no bulk!

As you can see, once the stickers are in their place, you can piece all the elements together on the Magnetic Display (Canada). To move to a new day, all you have to do is use the activity window display to turn while keeping one magnetic button in the center of the die-cut shapes. EASY!

Here is another view with the display accent in action.

I was inspired by Ginger who had rosettes displayed on her Magnetic Display, so I created my own using the Nordic Christmas collection. The little added embellishment dresses up your display.

Adding a few of your favorite family photos is a nice touch, too. I used a photo we used for our Christmas card last year, which worked out perfectly, since we don't have a lot of family pictures together.

I can't wait for December now, I just love how It makes a wonderful addition to our family traditions. Simplified!

My Letter To Santa Simply Said Book

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Now, can you get that song out of your head? I know, it's a wee-bit early to be singing Christmas carols, but after my son completed this wonderful My Letter To Santa Simply Said Book (Canada), it has me all giddy and ready for Christmas. I, Cindy Liebel, am in love with Simply Said Books and I want them all!!! There I confessed. I have a slight addiction to these simple little albums. My kids enjoy them as much as I enjoy them adding their memories and thoughts to them.

The Simply Said Books (Canada) are wonderful for gift giving for that special love one in your life. My favorite thing about them is having a keepsake with my kids very own handwriting along with photos. When I handed the book to my almost 10 year old son, he was super excited and instantly filled it out.

There are plenty of pages to fill with photos throughout the book. I used photos from last Christmas to show it as a completed book. But as the days and weeks go by, you can easily add pictures until the end of Christmas. How about making it a fun project? Have your child use a camera during the month of December to document their holiday memories as they see it. Then all you have to do is print the photos and let them add them themselves. Kids love working on projects like this.

Yes, I even snapped a photo of him as he was writing his letter to Santa. I couldn't resist.

If you are looking for something simple and creative to involve your child in this holiday season, be sure to pick up one or two or more of these My Letter To Santa Simply Said Books (Canada). They will love it!

Also available in digital format as 11x8.5 and 12x12 Predesigned Pages.

Cheers!

Christmas Is Coming!

Hello! Aly Dosdall here from the design team to share with you one of my family’s favorite holiday traditions--the Christmas countdown. We’ve done a few different kinds over the years, and my kids always get excited to count down the days until Santa’s arrival. This December we’re super excited to try out the new Christmas Is Coming Display Accents on our Magnetic Display for our countdown.

These display accents are so versatile and easy to use. If you want something that’s quick and easy to put together then all you have to do is place the activity stickers on the number wheels, and then place your background paper and interactive countdown die cut wreath on the display with the magnets. Ten minutes, max! (Doesn’t that sound refreshing during the busy holiday season?)

However, if you’d like to spend more time and creative energy on this project you can add extra papers, photos, embellishments, journaling, or even write your own activities in the indicated spaces. Fortunately, the Nordic Christmas papers, layered stickers, title stickers, and die cut paper ribbons match these display accents perfectly so there’s no need to hunt down the perfect products to match.

For my countdown I added some green Nordic Christmas paper cut with the CCS Jumbo Circle Pattern to mat the die cut wreath and make it pop. Then I added some photos, layered stickers, a title sticker, and a computer-generated subtitle to the center of the wreath. I cut some evergreen trees from the Nordic Christmas paper and added them to the bottom corners of the display using foam squares.  

Finally, I made a paper bow using a Nordic Christmas photo mat and die cut paper ribbon, and added it to the wreath for some dimension.

This is a really fun way to get into the holiday spirit--the activities provided on the stickers are great for families of all ages. And it's something that will last and can be pulled out again next year! That's what we'll be doing!

Watch for some countdown fun to be happening on the Creative Memories Facebook page, starting in December! You'll want to stop by each day, leading up to Christmas.

Find this project, and others featuring the limited edition holiday products, on the Project Center.

Fall is in the Air

As Autumn approaches, we are slowly preparing for Halloween and decorating our home with lots of fall decor. This is one of my favorite times of the year, next is Spring. I love the cool breeze, the bright orange and deep red leaves on the trees and of course, stocking up on candy for my little ones.

Like most of you, our favorite tradition is spending an afternoon dedicated to carving all the pumpkins we've collected in the past weeks. The kids enjoy playing with all the mushy stuff inside while the husband and I try to carve a creative face on the bigger pumpkins. At the end of the carving, all the pumpkin seeds are cleaned and then roasted for snacking while watching a fun family Halloween movie.

My layout, Pumpkin Carving, uses the new Pumpkin Border Maker Cartridge and the Rickety Fence Border Maker Cartridge. I created a bit of an ombre affect using the Yellow Cardstock, Gold Cardstock and Carrot Cardstock. I love the affect it gives to the design of the page and adds a nice balance with the photos. I also used the Hocus Pocus Stack Pack.

I am utterly and completely in love with these limited edition new tools. They work perfect for every fall or Halloween inspired project from scrapbooking to decorating candles being displayed in your home.

Thanks so much for letting me share my creativity and hope you were inspired in getting those favorite fall and Halloween photos.

The Perfect Father's Day Gift

This time of year is a hectic time of year with SOL tests, planning a birthday party and preparing for upcoming summer vacations. And with that, there is very little time for creativity. With Father's Day approaching, I want my children to give a little gift to their dad that they put they heart and soul into, while keeping it simple.

This is where the Dear Dad Simply Said Book comes in. I adore the concept of the Simply Said Books and they are a fabulous way to document simple stories. It is truly a fun, easy and fast way your little one can show their dad how much they love them. Not only will they have fun picking out their favorite images of dad to showcase in the album, but they can add simple facts about their dad and say they love about them.

Your child can also add their own work of art by drawing pictures and coloring inside the book, or adding some cute little stickers for fun. The possibilities are endless!

Children love their parents and look forward to showing how much they appreciate them. So why not have them create memories in their own words for dad this Father's Day? It's something dad will truly love and admire for lifetime.

 

Circle patterns + Epoxy Stickers = One fun layout!

Hi Scrappers, Nicole here! Have you played with the Shine Collection? I love this collection because it's perfect for little boys! My favorite part of this collection is the Shine Epoxy Stickers - they are so beautiful! Having said this, I sat at my desk one night trying to design a fun layout using lots of Epoxy Stickers and I had an idea. I decided to pull out my Circle Patterns to see if they would work for what I had in mind. I used my Gray Dual-Tip Pen to trace two circles on my layout. I traced one circle using the 2-1/2" Circle Pattern and one using the 3-1/2" Circle Pattern.

After I traced the circles onto my White Cardstock, I decided to mat my photos using the Shine Photo Mats and then adhered them, as shown. Once my photos were placed down, I was able to have some fun! I decided to use my Shine Epoxy Stickers to decorate the outer edge of my circles!

After I finished decorating my circles with the Shine Epoxy Stickers, I added my title and journaling to complete the layout. I LOVE how this turned out and hope that I was able to inspire you to try something similar on your next project!

 

Pollen-Free Spring Flowers!

Happy Spring! We have been taking advantage of the amazing warm, sunshiny weather as much as possible. The bad news is, with Spring comes allergies.

I don't know about you, but my kids and I suffer from seasonal allergies in a bad way. My poor husband has to put up with our sniffles and watery eyes a lot. But I love flowers! I love the aroma they spread in the air and how vibrant their colors are. But they are not allowed in the house until the pollen reduces.

So, instead of bringing the "real" pretty flowers inside, I am making my own flower assortment to display in my home. This is a super simple project using the ever so yummy Enchanted Power® Palette. The vibrant, bold colors of this collection is absolutely beautiful, just like "real" Spring flowers.

To make the project, I simply used a hot glue gun to adhere the flowers back-to-back on skewer sticks, layered each with smaller flowers and adorned with bling.

Wrap the paper ribbons and title sticker around a small glass jar for decoration or leave blank. Fill jar up with colorful shredded papers and that's it!

It's a great way to brighten up any desk, window seal, book shelf in your home or office. Would even make a great teachers gift. Mine sits on a shelf above my computer desk. I love it there and it adds a lot of color since my shelves are dark.

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful sunshine where you live this month. Happy Spring!