Find Inspiration Everywhere!

Good evening bloggers! Today I am going to get you up and going on creating an inspiration journal. Everyday I see things that inspire me or intrigue me--tv commercials, blogs, nature, magazines, etc, etc. I always "think" I will remember these things later, but inevitably I forget. So, I created an inpiration journal to help me remember all those fabulous ideas that come up at odd times of the day.

Go out and purchase a small inexpensive notebook. This should be easy since school shopping has already started! You can do a standard size notebook or a smaller notebook--you pick! Now it's time to get creative. Cover your notebook inside and out with patterned paper, embellishments, and stickers to your liking. Viola! You have a creative inspiration notebook! Now all you need to do is fill it! Keep this notebook with you at ALL times. Write anything and everything that strikes you at the moment. Cut pictures out of magazines. Color in different color combination's you see. This journal is just for you so do whatever you like with it! When you get ready to sit down and scrap---grab your journal. All those wonderful ideas will come rushing back to you and in no time you will have created a fabulous layout (or two!).

Design Team Challenges

Hi! Debbie here! The month of July has always been one of the busiest months of the year for me. In my home town we have a huge Old West celebration complete with a rodeo, carnival, parades and so much more!! The Design Team has been working hard to come up with some great challenges to inpire your creativity! Shannon has inspired the challenge for this week here it is in her words.

We're going exploring......locally -- what can you do around town? The zoo, the park, waterpark, flea market, a farmer's market, the library, local festivals? Let's see 'em!

Here is what she inspired me to create.




Stop by the boards and join us in some fun and inspiration!!!

Debbie

Technique Tuesday!

Today I'm going to show you how to make your own Dew Drops, I call them Skittles. This is a very inexpesive way to add embellishments to your layouts and flowers. They are easy to make and less expensive than buying them at the store. The bag of filler will cost around $5.00 and you willhave enough Skittles to last you forever!!You will need to make a trip to your local Michaels for the vase filler needed to complete this project.

Making your own Dew Drops (Skittles)
Supplies needed
1 bag of vase filler – can be purchased at Michaels in the floral section
Alcohol inks in various colors
Zip lock baggies



Pour a handful of skittles (or however many you want to color) in a baggie.




Add about 5 drops of Alcohol ink into the baggie and shake until all of the skittles are colored. Add more ink if you want them darker.




Leave baggies open to dry skittles. (about 5 minutes)




Organize in a container.




Use on your layouts!


Have fun with this!!

Debbie

*{Technique Tuesday}*

Reduce, re-use and recycle......so we're all tightening the belt a bit and well it's tough these days to justify spending money on extra supplies and stuff so I have been trying to come up with ways to use the stuff I already have.....and here's a quick way to make a background.....so here we go.....

You'll need:

A scrap of paper, paint, paint brush, and left-over foam dot sheet with all the holes punched out.....remove backing from one side and press it over a dish towel or your jeans to get rid of most of the stickiness -- that way it won't stick and rip the paper once you remove it.



You'll want to line up your foam sticker sheet with the scrap however you like -- if you want a continuous design or a random design, it's all up to you.

Then you will need to apply the paint to each hole.....the foam makes a great masking because it's thicker and there's less bleeding.....

Once you have applied it, give it a little time to dry and then remove....you can add stickles, trace around each dot with a pen, add some bling in a pattern or randomly.....I chose to use mine as a card.

Thanks so much for checking out my tutorial and I can't wait to see what you come up with! XO, Shannon

Reveal Day!!!

It's here!! Reveal Day for Moments 2 Remember July kit "Summer Splash"!!! I loved working with this kit and you will too!! It's puts you in the mood for those fun summer layouts with bright colors and some great coordinating embellishments! Fancy pants is one f my favorite manufactures and this Summer Soiree line is fabulous! It's loaded with everything you will need to create and embellish several layouts and still have leftovers for cards and more! Here is what you'll get with this kit. For $22 you can't go wrong!




Kit Contents:

Patterned Paper (double sided--2 sheets of each):
Fancy Pants- Summer Soiree: Destination
Fancy Pants- Summer Soiree: Lounging
Fancy Pants- Summer Soiree: Glimmer
Fancy Pants- Summer Soiree: Wave
Fancy Pants- Summer Soiree: Sunkissed
Fancy Pants- Summer Soiree: Beach House

Embellishments:
Fancy Pants- Summer Soiree Paradise Transparency
Thickers- Patchwork Fabric Letter Stickers
2 Yellow Bazzill- Just the Edge Cardstock Strips (various styles)
2 Blue Bazzill- Just the Edge Cardstock Strips (various styles)
20 Blue Basic Grey- Bling It Rhinestones
4 Sassafras Lass: Sunny Day- Self Adhesive Blossoms
9 Fancy Pants: Soho Swirls Chipboard pieces (various sizes and styles)
2 Small White Scalloped Journaling Circles
2 Large White Scalloped Journaling Circles
6 Mini Circle Brads (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
6 Medium Circle Brads (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
4 Large Square Brads (assorted colors)
1/2 yard Green Ric Rac
1/2 yard Red Ribbon
1/2 yard Yellow/Orange Ribbon



I was so excited to play with this kit! It's perfect for all your summer fun layouts!!

Just a few more layouts from our M2R Team, Shannon, Valerie and Sarah.
Sarah

Shannon

Valerie


Be sure to visit the gallery and message board for challenges and on Tuesday we will be starting a something new her on the blog. It's called Technique Tuesday and each of our fabulous design team members will be posting a technique for you to try out on your layouts. Be sure to check back on July 7th for some fun!

See you soon!!

Debbie