The One with May 2014 American Crafts Layouts

Scrapbooking helps me relieve stress. When I'm woken up at 4:30am, when Chris is gone alllllll day at work and doing weird random Army side-jobs, when it's too hot or too cold, when I have a million other things on my plate, etc, I scrapbook and all the weights are lifted off my shoulders. I love this hobby :) Anyway.... Here are my two monthly layouts for American Crafts:

MMM by Paige Evans

Description: I've lost count of how many layouts I've used a triangle punch on, but it's such a versatile shape! It'd be fun to line up all the layouts I've featured this punch and see how different/similar they are :) While I was making this layout Fox came and joined me and totally started playing with the cars and robot embellishments. I guess that means this line is truly made for boys!

Journaling says: You love giant German pretzels!

How to: Punch triangles from patterned papers and vellum then layer them in rows down the bottom half of a dark blue cardstock base. Sew over the triangles. Create a photo mat from a tag, patterned transparency, and more, then embellish around it with more things from the Boys Rule collection by Crate Paper. Drop white spray mist around the layout, journal on a little label, then stamp the date below.

Supplies: Cardstock, date stamp, adhesive, pen, ink, triangle punch: American Crafts; Patterned paper, acrylic stars, chipboard (arrows, letter stickers), dimensional star sticker, transparency number, vellum arrow and star, tag, label: Crate Paper; Spray mist: Studio Calico; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

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SUGAR AND SPICE by Paige Evans

Description: I think I've used this "sugar and spice" quote for at least three different layouts... but this time I wanted to try cutting the letters from patterned paper! I've had these photos of Jane printed since November 2012 and FINALLY found the perfect scrapbooking collection - Oh Darling by Crate Paper! I love when photos I've held onto for years make their way into my scrapbooks! (Or rather, Jane's scrapbooks :)

Journaling says: Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of.

How to: Hand cut letters from patterned paper. To help me figure out the arrangement without having to move every single letter around, I adhered them in words onto strips of a transparency and was able to build my layout easily. Once I had the words and photos in place I lifted up the words, painted white underneath, then peeled the letters off the transparencies and stitched them in place. Trim a vellum doily into three equal slices then adhere them under the photos. Trim chipboard banners to make three pieces of three banners and adhere them under the photos. Embellish with wood veneer and chipboard pieces. Drop white paint around the photos.

Supplies: Cardstock, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper, chipboard (banners, bow, doily, flower), wood veneer (bows, doily), vellum (doily, heart): Crate Paper; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark; Paint: Americana

And that's that!