The One with January 2012 American Crafts Layouts

I saw Amy the other day and and she had a set of her awesome new Amy Tangerine - Sketchbook papers. When she asked if I'd like to create a sample for her CHA booth I didn't think twice - heck yeah! So here's what I made (which I'm also counting as my two monthly postings for American Crafts):

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

Journaling says: The day after Chris got home from his 2-year mission to the Philippines I flew out to Colorado to see him. Two years was over at last - oh how I had missed him! We picked up right where we left off and life was good. That same week the very first annual Evans family reunion took place. I even wore an official Evans t-shirt when we weren't even engaged! Good thing it all worked out :) We spent a wonderful week up in the Rocky Mountains at Grand Lake. It was so beautiful and peaceful and the perfect way to get to know each other again.

How to: Punch a 3" square from each of the 24 patterned papers in the new Amy Tangerine Sketchbook line by American Crafts. Cut each square in half along the diagonal. Arrange the triangles in a chevron pattern and leave a larger gap between the top sets. Trim any excess paper hanging off the edges. Sew along the chevrons using a different color of thread for each stripe. Add a pink glitter foam letter sticker Thickers title in the large gap. Write journaling on the top triangular section. Trim a photo into a triangle and glue it to the bottom triangular section. Place a blue striped heart sticker at the top of the photo. Cut a scalloped border from patterned paper and adhere it along the top left and bottom right corners; draw an "x" with a black pen on each scallop.

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, stickers (heart, letters), pen, adhesive, paper cutter: American Crafts; Square punch: Marvy Uchida; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clarks

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KISSES

Journaling says: One of my favorite "tricks" that we've taught Fox is to give me kisses on demand. Not just any kiss - big, wide, open-mouthed kisses! I'll pick him up, hold him close to my face and say, "Give me a kiss!" and he'll lean in for the kill. It's so precious and makes me laugh so hard. It's been fun to teach Fox things and see him figure life out. 

How to: Drop India ink across a gray cardstock background and set it aside to dry. Trim flowers from a variety of patterned papers from the Amy Tangerine Sketchbook line by American Crafts. Adhere a square photo to the center of the layout using foam squares then tuck and layer all the flowers under and around the photo using different levels of adhesive. Cut out a frame from the Paige's Portraits paper (this deserves a post of its own!) and tuck it under the photo; write "kisses" on the frame with a black pen for the title. Glue a sequin to most of the flower centers. Adhere a photo corner to each corner (made with a square punch and trimmed in four pieces). Sew borders around the layout using four different colors of thread. Write journaling around the inner most border.

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, pen, adhesive, paper cutter: American Crafts; Sequins: Berger Beads; India ink: Artworks; Square punch: Marvy Uchida; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

CHA-bound tomorrow!