AWDML Design Team Blog

Sarah's Mix and Match Challenge

Oh my, can you believe it is September in two days? It is just crazy how fast this summer went by. Is it just me or does summer seem to go by faster and faster each year? I definitely miss the low key summer days and all the fun activities, but fall is my favorite season and I can just cannot wait for bonfires, sweatshirts, apple cider, pumpkin patches and apple picking along with about 100 other things I can think of!

As I finished scrapping my spring and summer pictures and stocked up on all the new fall lines to use soon, I noticed I had a little of this and a little of that left over from different manufacturer's lines. I hate to waste and don't want to buy new stuff to match it  (I am saving all my money for the fall and winter stuff). So what to do? Mix and match! I love mixing and matching different manufacturers. It is fun and gives the project an electic look. Sometimes when I use all one line of stuff it looks too matchy, matchy if you know what I mean.

When matching papers from different manufactures or even different lines from the same manufacturer it helps to pick a color and matc different shades of that color with paper and embellishments. For my example I chose pink and used a few different shades of pink from the Crate Paper Mia collection and the Basic Grey June Bug collection. I then added a few pink doodlebug buttons to finish it off.

  

We would love to see how you mix and match. Please upload your LO's to the gallery so we can all see!

Ribbon Flowers

Today, I am going to share a simple tutorial to make some cute ribbon flowers.  I know we all have a stash of ribbons, and I am always at a loss for what to do with them.  So, here is a fun and creative use for ribbons.

For my project, I used these Color Me Silly ribbons from Basic Grey.

Step 1: Choose 2-3 ribbons, and cut approximately 8-10 strips.  This depends on the sizes of the ribbons, (if they are really thin ribbons, you may need more), and the look you are going for with your flower.  The length of the strips depends on the size of flower you want.  Mine are approximately 2 inches.

 

Step 2:  Once you have several strips cut from your ribbons, assemble them into a flower, layering them however you'd like.  Here is my completed flower.  I added a button center to cover the overlapping of the strips in the center.

 

Here is the layout that I created using my ribbon flower.  I used Fancy Pants, Summer Soiree on this layout:

Have fun creating your ribbon flowers!  I can't wait to see all the creative combinations you guys can come up with!  If you create your own, be sure to post them in the gallery so we can take a peek!

~Crystal~

Friday's Sketch

Hello everyone. I hope you are having a great Friday night. I worked all day and am now ready to do some scrapping! Here is a card sketch I created and plan on using tonight. I hope it inspires you to create a card this weekend.

Have a great weekend! - Sarah

Ink that makes me PURRRR.....

Cat's Eye Ink Pads by Colorbox are one of my favorite scrappy items and are a MUST for almost every card and layout.  Not only are they great for stamping small images, but their unique shape make them the PUUUURRRFECT pad for inking edges and distressing! 

Check out their cool shape!  They are especially great for inking those shapes where a regular ink pad would never get!

They come in tons of colors and they come in singles and stacks.  Lisa carries 28 different singles and 8 different stacks at the AWDML store.

Here are the colors of one of the stacks-- this one is called Deep Sea.  I have several of these stacks and they are a great value, as well as having gorgeous colors!

I used the Rose Coral Cat's Eye on this layout.  I inked all of those little strips and I think it really helped to show their definition and to make them POP!  I also used the Black Cat's Eye on the edges of the photo.  It really gives it a finished edge. (This LO also features Daisy Bucket PP and Thickers.)

If you don't have any Cat's Eye Ink Pads, I would strongly urge you to get some and try them out.  They are next on the list of my "Must Have Scrappy Items" after adhesive and my paper trimmer!  Enjoy!!

~~Nicole

Color Play.

Today's tip involves color :)  The next time you are working on a layout and can't quite figure out what colors you want to use, or something just seems "off" about your color combo, try this trick:

Gallon-Quart-Pint.  This is a sure fire way to get your color combo just right without anything being overwhelming.  The idea is that you choose your main color, which will be the most prevalent.  That will be the gallon.  Then you choose a secondary color, to include a quart's worth on your layout, and finally an accent color for the pint. 

Here is my layout using this tip.  I created this layout using the Basic Grey June Bug collection.

I have a "gallon" of red, a "quart" of navy, and a "pint" of yellow.  It doesn't have to be exact, but it's still a nice guideline.

Nestie Bag!

Did You like my Nestie bag tutorial? This is the bag I made isn't it cute, perfect for a gift card or some candy or even treat bags at a party.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and seeing my bag all decorated!

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Rain Snow Shine Anya
Paper Daisy Bucket, Nestabilities label 1, Prima Flowers, Bag o Buttons,
Copics, Momento ink, White Gel Pen, Ribbon

Sunday Challenge

Lately I have really been enjoying making cards that don't open in the traditional way.  There are so many fun ideas out there and they are really fun to tweak and make them your own. 

I was inspired to make this card by a tutorial I found on YouTube and I used some Daisy Bucket papers, and and EK Success Punch!

It looks like a traditional card, but it opens like this:

Your challenge:  Make a card that opens in a "different" way. 

Be sure to share them with us with a link here on the blog, or in the AWDML Gallery!

Have fun!

~~Nicole~~

Nestabilities Bag Tutorial

Start by getting a sturdy piece of card stock, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, cut out 2 die cuts with your Nestablities. (pretty much any shape will work)

Score your piece at 3 1/4, 4 1/4, and 5 1/4 and then cut the inner scores like shown in the picture above.

Then cut off those flaps.

Apply some double sided sticky tape to one side.

Pinch the center score inside the bag and fold the the bag together.

Here's the inside.

Attach your Nestabilities evenly to each side, and Decorate. Be sure to stop by Monday to see mine fully decorated!

Your Friday Sketch

Good afternoon ladies! I was having a little trouble logging into the blog this morning, but looks like everything is ok now!

I don't know about you, but I have been super busy with school starting and haven't had any time to scrap! So if you have been busy like me and need a little inspiration to get your mojo back here is a sketch. Hopefully it inspires you.

We would love to see what you create. Link your project in the comments for a chance to win a prize from the A Walk Down Memory Lane store.

Have a great weekend! 

Oh, Thickers! How do I love thee??

Let me count the ways....Umm.....I mean FONTS!!! 

Have you noticed the fun new styles and fonts that American Crafts has been putting out with their Thickers?  Fabric Covered, Vinyl, Puffy, Glittery, Foam, Chipboard in every color of the rainbow!!!!  I am amazed at all the fun things that American Crafts has done to letter stickers.  My Thicker drawer has become two Thicker drawers and a Thicker box!!  I love to collect them, but I also love to use them!!

This font, Rainboots, is my new favorite!

And this font, Daquiri, I think I have used almost the entire package of brown ones...twice!

And, I can't leave out Sprinkles!  This font is so fun and is great for KID Layouts which I do almost exclusively!  I have them in Red (on my second package), White and Black!!  Lisa currently carries 9 different colors of this font in the AWDML Store!!

Here is a Layout I did recently that features some Little Yellow Bicycle Papers, but also THICKERS!!!

Love your Thickers, but most of all, USE your Thickers!!  And, of course, show us your work in the AWDML Gallery!  We would love to see it so we can ooohhh and aaaahhhh over it! 

~~Nicole~~

Got to love AWDML

I have been designing for Lisa for over a year and I just love the stuff that keeps pouring in her store. I am so excited that AWDML B&M store moved to a NEW and BIGGER location. It has been so crazy for Lisa and so proud of her and her success.

Just some recaps on sales thats going on at AWDML

* Save 15% off our entire stock of Daisy Bucket!!

* Clearance Center---> scrappy goodies up to 75% off

* Specials---> check out {HERE}

Here is some stuff I did with October Afternoon, American Crafts Thickers and bazzill carstock- all from the AWDML Store

 

Fun with Trims!

Today's tip is to get out your TRIMS, and find creative uses for them!  Here, I have used mine as journaling strips. 

Supplies for this page:

Flower: Basic Grey June Bug Felt stickers
Patterned Paper: Scenic Route Surprise Collection
Alphas: Jillibean Soup
Trims: Doodlebug Designs

 

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter to see some more creative ways to use paper trims!

~Crystal~