Smile Today// The Ink Road

Hello my scrapbook friends.  I have my first layout designing for The Ink Road.  I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity.  For my first layout I want to keep it fun and colorful which is my style.  The photo is of my sister and I on her trip to Florida earlier this month.  I took her straight for brunch on the beach in Fort Lauderdale.  It was a little chilly but it does not stop us from taking a few selfies.  

I started out with cutting out all the banners with positive affirmations on the Celebrate patterned paper from the Dear Lizzy Fine and Dandy collection.  I started off with just ten and I thought it looks too simple, so I cut twenty more.  I then layered the acetate speciality paper from the collection called Dazzling over Cheerful Chatter and the layers looked fantastic over one another.  

The layers give this layout plenty of character.  I used the branding stripes from both sheets, the hearts along the bottom of the layout and the orange circle along the photo.  The tag I made myself from the backside of Celebrate and did my journaling on it.   For the title, I used the phrase wood veneer from the Crate Paper Wonder collection.  I heat embossed it with Pink Party from Recollection.  The rest of the ephemera is from Amy Tangerine in my stash.  

The last details of the gold resin heart is from the Crate Paper Hello Love collection, and the pink twine on the tag finish off the layout.  Below I have provided the process video to watch how this layout came together.  If you want to make a purchase at theinkroad.com, use coupon code Evi10 for 10% off your purchase. 

Thank you for stopping by,
EVI 

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Beautiful Together: Mixed Media Layout

Hello crafty friends.  Thank you for stopping by for my mixed media scrapbook layout.  I am using the beautiful Maggie Holmes Shine collection.  I started out using my Cameo to cut the 2 floral pieces on American Crafts white card stock (Silhouette store Design ID #75808). I wanted to color them in with various shades of pink mists from my collection.  I reached for my Dylusions Ink Spray in Bubblegum pink, Heidi Swapp color shine in Pink and Coral, Lindy's Stamp Gang mists in Hottie Patottie Hot Pink, Magnolia Magenta gold and Raspberry Lemonade.  The colors blended beautifully together.  For the leaves, Distress Stain in Cracked Pistachio was used. 

The patterned paper is called Darling from the Shine collection.  It has a gray brushed floral design, which is simply gorgeous. The pattern was busy behind my cut files, so I added white gesso to mute the background where the dies would lay.  This worked perfectly.  

I used the ephemera pack, the phrase thickers and the dies from the collection.   The Maggie Holmes Shine dies are the mosaic heart, diamond and star are the shapes in the set.  I used the chunky gold phrase thickers for my title 'beautiful together'.  A funny story about the photo... we were arriving for a baby shower in the middle of farm land.  Parked the car off the paved road on grass and dirt.  I got out the passenger side and let me sister out of the backseat, shut the door and used the reflection of the window to apply lip gloss before we went in.  In that amount of time, I had 100s of ants all over my wedge handle and up my ankles.  I was standing in the middle of a use ant hill and was literally attacked by ants.  I screamed and ran, swatting the ants off my feet.  In the most dramatic fashion I threw my sandals.  I swatted away ants for like 5 minutes.  I was covered in ant bites all over my feet.  I wore old flip flops from the trunk of my mom's car in the photo and into the baby shower.  I must have lasted an hour before we had to go because my feet were both swollen and throbbing.  But, I smiled for this quick photo with my two favorite people in the world next to my fiancé.  My feet still have ant bite marks.  lol.
Thank you for stopping by and I've linked my process video below so you can see this layout come together.  

EVI

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Basic Mixed Media Supplies

I have been asked what basic mix media supplies do I need to purchase to get started?  Here is the answer and then it leaves room to grow.  I started out with art journaling as a way to express creativity from my normal 9-5.  I have always been a creative person but gave up a career in Advertising because I thought being creative with deadlines made me loose my creativity.  So I kept it as my hobby.  Art journaling gives me the ability to play with art supplies still.  I love experimenting and getting different results.  Like most, trial and error takes place.  But after some time you learn the best way to play.  Here are your basic supplies needed.  
First you want to start out with some white gesso.  Gesso is primer for the your page for any media work you do next.  White gesso will mute your patterned colorful background paper.  Clear gesso is also available.  
For added texture to a page modeling paste is key.  There are different version, some with a light whipped consistency and others with a heavier thicker paste form.  Both work well for my scrapbook layouts and journals.  I use modeling paste mostly with my stencils to add texture to the background.  I have used old gift cards to apply the paste through stencils and to add thin layers of gesso to prime.  Palette knives do the same thing with more control to the application. 
Gel medium is another staple in art journaling.  Its acts like our glue to adhere paper on paper, tissue on paper etc.  Apply gel medium first to the page, then to the paper you are adding and again over top to seal the surface from buckle and warping of the page.  To get the smoothest application I love the gel medium by Dina Wakley.  
To add color to my pages I usually reach for my inexpensive 36 pan watercolor set, craft acrylic paints, gelatos or my vast array of mists.  I love the Heidi Swapp color shine, Dylusion Ink Sprays, Ranger Distress Sprays  Stains and Lindy Stamp gang.  I have invested in my collection of mists for my scrapbook layouts and love the look they give.  I can use them with my stencils, to add washes, to add color to my modeling paste and to add splatter as well.  
Stencils are need to add dimension and layers to the background along with stamps.  My collection of both have grown through the months and years.  I love stencils especially florals and geometric patterns.  Background stamps like text, shapes and designs can a beautiful addition.  
A few last items to get started with would be a heat tool if you are impatient like me, in order to speed up the drying time.  A non stick craft mat to protect your desk from spray and paint run off.  
Just remember there are no rules when if comes to art journaling.  Its whatever you want to make of it.  Your creative expression.  As long as you are having fun and doing something creative it will bring you joy.  I love how my scrapbook pages have evolved to include mix media in addition to my love of patterned pages.  Once you use more than one art supply on a page, its considered mixed media.  So have some fun and mix it up.  
I have provided my talk through video as well.  

EVI

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Beginner Scrapbook Essentials

Are you thinking of getting into scrapbooking?  I have some basic questions to ask yourself before you get started and a few basic supplies.  First, what kind of scrapbooking do you want to do?  There are two choices, pocket pages or classic scrapbooking.  Pocket pages aka Project Life, is scrapbooking with formated page protectors.  The pages are made with 3x4 and 4x6 card designs.  They are meant to enclose your photos as well has decorative cards or patterned paper.   It is a simple way to scrapbook.  Classic scrapbooking is done on patterned paper in open page protector.   
This usually leads to the second question, what size do you want to work on?  There are multiple of different sizes to work on with both options.  Ring binders range from 4x4, 8x8, 6x8, 9x12 and 12x12 or post bound albums are available in 6x6, 8x8 and 12x12.  Once you have decided on the size, purchasing corresponding page protectors is the next item you will need to get you started.  
There are wonderful subscription kits available these days to get you started in either format.  I have been recommending kits a lot these days because of the array of supplies you get a sampling of to try out.  A kit for scrapbooking will usually have 5-10 12x12 patterned papers, a set of alphas, ephemera, stickers, wood veneers and more.  The Project Life kits with some with the same elements but instead of 12x12 paper its usually 6x6 paper pads.  A few that I've tried include Hip Kit Club, Clique Kits and Studio Calico.  Others that are available include Citrus Twist, Scraptastic, Cocoa Daisy, Gossamer Blue, Felicity Jane and many more.  All are the same but some offer different exclusive supplies.  They usually will be priced at about $30 not including shipping.  I think they are a great way to get started so you do not have to walk into a large craft store and buy everything individually.  
If you do not want to get a subscription kit all you are going to need is some basic white card stock, some patterned paper either 12x2 open stock or a pad and/or a 6x6 pad too.  That is all I started out with.  You can find these items at the art supply store easily.  
Some supplies include a paper trimmer, long blade scissors, short blade scissors, liquid adhesive, a tape runner adhesive.  I have purchased the Fiskars paper trimmer once and have had it for years.  Replacement blades are all that you need to continue usage.  I also love the Fiskars scissors for large paper cutting and the Cutter Bee for fussy cutting needs. 
Don't forget to print pictures.  There are applications available for send photos for print to CVS, Walgreens and Target.  Purchase a home photo printer when its a hobby you are committed too and want to do the investment.  
All of my journaling on layouts, cards or on photos is done with the Sharpie Pen or Ultra fine markers.  I have repurchased these many times.  
I would also recommend starting out with a few punches, circles in particular.  I have used my 2.5 inch, 2 inch and 1.5 inch circle punches the most and they are great for creating ephemera.  
These are your basic supplies needed to get started in this wonderful hobby of scrapbooking. I hope I have given you a few suggestions.  I have provided my talk through video below for your viewing pleasure.  

Thank you for stopping by,
EVI

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Current Favorites/ Winter 2016

Hello there crafty friends.  I thought it would be fun to start adding different topics to my blog and YT channel for more interest.  I dabble in all sort of crafty things and since my channel and blog focus on my scrapbook layouts, I thought I would share other things, I've been doing lately. 

Recently, I've jumped into the fountain pen community and have been pleasantly delighted with my purchases.  I am not a fountain pen expert, so I started out with one that is low budget and had great reviews to wet your feet in these pens.  I choose the Pilot Metropolitan as my first fountain pen, and have loved it so much I've already purchased a second one.  I have the black and a gold one.  I have both in a medium nib simply because I enjoy a thicker bolder line when writing.  The fun part about fountain pens is the ability to change ink colors.  I won't go into my favorite inks just yet, just know changing ink colors is what make having fountain pens great.  

In order to make a fountain pen look its best, it does require different paper.  Because my nib is wider, it tends to bleed or feather on cheaper paper which then does not look so lovely.  The paper has a lot to do with it I've learned from watching Goulet Pen Companies videos on YT.  They are really educational video to let you understand properties of paper and pens and their vast array of inks.  I purchased my Leuchtturm1917 journal from their website.  The paper is what makes this journal standout.  The fountain pens glide on the surface and the ink is not absorbed at all.  I've enjoyed mine without lines and have used it as my journal and memory keeping scrapbook style for the past few months.  I am able to take it with me on the go and decorate it with mostly washi tape and write in different colored inks whenever I can.  Its really been enjoyable and just another way to stay crafty when I'm not home.  Here are a few pages of my journal.  

My Smash Book is always being used to save the bigger ephemera I may not be able to fit into scrapbook layouts or into my pocket pages.  I used it to save wedding invites, thank you cards, large ticket stubs, notes and other memories.  I layered them up on each page.  This book is on going until I run out of pages to use.  But once again another pleasant way to keep your memories without a lot of photo printing.  They are available in many color bindings.  If you have been interested in this style of memory keeping I would highly recommend it.  

I have been absolutely in love with adult coloring books.  I cannot get enough of this creative outlet.  My collection is growing no doubt but I would encourage anyone to pick one up and just color.  I do my coloring before bed for some reason and find it relaxing before bed.  My three favorites at the moment are Secret Garden, Secret New York, and Animal Kingdom.  I either use the Crayola 50ct Super tip markers, my 48 count Prismacolor colored pencils or a cheap 36 count set I picked up at Michael's by Artist Loft.  The activity is becoming very popular and have been enjoying it myself. 

My Carpe Diem Planner from Simple Stories as quickly become an obsession.  And yes, I have jumped into the Pretty Planning community too.  I see it as functional as well has another creative outlet for me and my mind.  I love the color, the size, the inserts which are a week on 2 pages and I have made a few customized inserts to keep track of my channel, blog and social media accounts.  Cant say enough good things about it.  

And last but certainly not least are two books I am loving.  First is by Jane Davenport titled Beautiful Faces, which has wonderful illustration by the artist.  The book is formatted like a workshop and goes into details about art supplies to use and step by step instructions to achieve art inspired by her.  The book is an easy read and I've loved taking the lessons on how to draw faces in a whimsical manner.  The color photos are excellent and large and if anyone likes artist written books, I would recommend this one.  

The other book I am reading is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.  She is the writer to Eat, Pray Love written a few years ago.  This is an excellent motivational book for anyone who has been toying with the idea to start something more creative in your life.  Its inspirational way to look at your life and start something you have been dying to try or incorporate into your day to day living in order to live a happier more complete life.  I am reading this book again because I loved it so much.  If I read this book a year or two earlier I may have started my blog and YouTube Channel sooner.  I was scared and intimidated to start one, thinking i was no good enough.  But decided I have nothing to loose and just wanted to make a creative contribution to the creative world.  I am so thankful and glad that I did.  This book is completely uplifting, inspiring and an easy read. 

That will wrap up my current favorites and would love to know a few of yours.  Please leave a comment down below of yours.  I did a talk through video of  my favorites as well and have linked it below for you.  Thank you for stopping by.  

EVI

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My Happy Place: Clique Kit

Hello lovely ladies.  For today's layout I am using my January Clique Kit which features Fancy Pants' Happy Place collection.  The collection is versatile with its soft pastel color palette and images.  The photo I am scrapping is actually of my 'happy place' which is my craft room.  This room is my pride and joy and spend as much time as I can in here creating.  My fiancé let me get rid of the guest bedroom set we originally had in here for a office area.  I've had this space now over 6 months and its great.  

The background paper used is All Positive and used Dina Wakley gel medium to attach the multiple tags you see softly in the background.  Once they were dried I used white gesso to prime my page for some mixed media.  I used the packaging technique to apply Color Shince mists in peach, coral and butter.  I love the look of those three colors together.  Then I mixed mint acrylic paint into some modeling paste and used a Heidi Swapp Stencil with the 'plus' signs or added color to the background.  I think my layout became a bit busy with this part.  

The emphemra layered around the photo are all from the same collection and came with the kit.  I used 3 wood veneers from the Type Set collection by Basic Grey.  I colored the light bulb in Distress Paint Cracked Pistachio, the scissors in HS Color Shine in Butter, and the Happy in HS Color Shine in Coral.  I set those aside to dry while I worked on the rest.  

 I added strips of Here and Now patterned paper as book ends to my layout.  I also used this paper to tight mat my photo. The red alphas are from Studio Calico Red Christmas Alphas for my title.  I added some light journaling to the page and that finished it off.   I have my process video to see how this layout came together. 

Thank you for stopping by,

EVI

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2 Fur Babies

Hello scrappy friends.  I am still loving the We r Memory Keepers 'Wildflower' collection.  I have completed a few layouts featuring this jewel toned collection on my YT channel as well as here.  This collection has these vibrant deep jewel tones that I simply love.  I made sure to print my photo in black and white so that it did not compete with the layout.  I started out with cutting the navy floral patterned Sketchbook and altering it over Botanical with its beautiful painterly stripes.  I knew where I wanted to place my photo so I added white gesso to the area.  Gesso is used to prime the paper for another medium to use.  In this case I went in in Distress Paint in Tarnished Brass and colored shimmered mists from Heidi Swapp Peacock and Tattered Angels.

I used the packaging techinque to apply the mists and paints to get this lovely watercolor effect.  The colors blended with each other beautifully.  The detail appearance of these colors peeking out from behind the cluster of embellishments is fantastic.  The embellishment are from the ephemera pack of the collection.  The photo is matted with scraps from the collection as well as tissue paper for added texture.  

It was a fun photo to use.  My face gets blocked trying to take a few selfies with both my dogs.  The bits of ephemera are also from the collection.  I have been loving adding tangled thread underneath the photo or threaded around flair button on my layouts.  I just like to add more interest to each page.  

Some light journaling is added and the title is the Desktop font by Dear Lizzy.  I finished off the layout with more splatters in Peacock from Heidi Swapp.  I have filmed a process video on the layout.  

Thank you for stopping by,
EVI

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YouTubers

YouTubers
by Life With Evi
Scrapbook.com

OMG ladies!!!  I have an IRL (In Real Life) scrapbook buddy/ YouTuber living close by.  I have been a subbie to Katty Miranda on YT and IG for months now.  And we only recently figured out we actually A. Live in the same state and B. Live about an hour away from each other.  How amazing is that.  She was gracious enough to invite me to a Crop down in Miami that she RSVPed for.  Of course I went and of course we got along just perfectly.  And we scrapbookers, we take pictures, so out came the selfie stick and a few photos were taken in remembrance   LOL.  She has her layout and process video here too.  

 So I started out with white American Crafts card stock and used a recent Heidi Swapp Stencil with the plus sign and texture paste on the background.  I did not want to add color to the paste, I simply wanted the texture to the layout.  I then cut stripes of patterned paper from the Amelia collection from Studio Calico and black and white pieces from my stash.  The decorative element came with the use of crape paper that was laying around.  I used my ATG and created pleats with the crape paper and it made a ruffle edge to the layout.  I absolutely love how this turned out.  Will have to do this again.  

 The few bit and pieces of ephemera are from Heidi Swapp 'Favorite things' collection from my stash as well.  I had the red glitter paper in my stash as well and add hot pink thread for a touch of messy.  The alphas are from My Minds Eye Niche collection.

I finished off the layout with some black ink splatters and was satisfied with the turnout.  Katy and I are trying to get a series going in the new year where we can get together and scrap our little hearts out together, and post fun videos for all our subscribers.  I can't wait for us to brain storm together.  If you want to see how to create the ruffle edge please watch my process video I have provided.  

Thank you for stopping by,

EVI

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Lucky Dog/ The Cut Shoppe

Lucky Dog
by Life With Evi
Scrapbook.com

Good afternoon all my scrappy friends.  Thank you as always for stopping by and visiting me here in my little world.  I have another layout using a cut file from The Cut Shoppe that I recently purchased.  I am in love with my Silhouette Cameo and can't get enough.  This file is called Heart Felt.    I used American Crafts white textured card stock to cut it out and then went nuts on my mixed media background.  

The card stock was first primed with a thin coat of white gesso to avoid warping.  I then had fun using Delusion Ink Sprays in Vibrant Turquoise, London Blue and Fresh Lime.  I used the effortless packaging technique and it was completely random.  I stayed in the same color family so that the blending areas would still make shades of blues and greens.  The background is super bright it the white cut hearts popped against it.  

The large text on the left and top aspect of the photo are from an old SNAP collection with a dog theme to them.  I cut out the WoofRuffBark from a 4x6 card and the Lucky Dog too.  I love scrapping photos of my dogs since I do not have any children yet.  They are my fur babies and I love them dearly.  The clear stickers used along the right side are from Hobby Lobby.  In order to stick with my dog themed page I also used some dog printed washi tape.  

Lime green tissue paper was layered behind the photo among other black and white scraps.  I finished off with some black ink splatter and some journaling at the bottom.  This was a happy layout to make.  I have the process video below so that you can see how this layout came together.  

Thank you for stopping by,
EVI

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Silliness/ The Cut Shoppe

Silliness
by Life With Evi
Scrapbook.com

Hello everyone, I have a fun bright layout using a cut file from The Cut Shoppe.  Its my first time playing with cut files with my new Silhoute Cameo I purchased over the holidays.  The Cut Shoppe has tons and tons of files to choose from for purchase.  I choose three files and this is the first one I am playing with.  It is called Preppy Plaid on her Etsy webpage.  I cut it out on American Crafts textured white card stock.  I used a combination of Delusion Ink Sprays from Ranger in Bubblegum Pink, Funky Fuscia, Post box Red and Sunshine. The colors blended together beautifully and I set it aside to dry before I touched it again.   

 I am scrappy three silly selfie pictures that I would normally have deleted but I thought it would be silly to do a fun layout with them.  Hence the titled worked out perfectly with these watercolor paper words from Heidi Swapp.  I used Staz-on black in to color it in.  

 

 I have used a collection of ephemera from my stash that I just wanted to finally use.  Like this infamous Giraffe from the 'Confetti' collection by Maggie Holmes, or the goregous bright flowers from the 'Fiesta' collection from KaiserKrafts, and the gold foil ice cream cone from Crate papers 'Poolside' collection.  All of theses have been sitting in my stash waiting to be used.  A few pieces from Heidi Swapp 'My favorite things' collection and I cannot remember where I got the flair from.  

I finished off my layout with a lovely quote that read "Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself."  I think this quote worked perfectly for a layout using silly photos of myself that I am totally comfortable using because its just true me.  I have provided my process video on how this layout came together.  Please take a moment to watch. 

Thank you for stopping by,
EVI 

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Mixed Media Scrapbook Layout: He did good

The Wildflower collection from We r Memory Keepers was featured in the November Clique Kit.  I was inspired by one of their design team members layout by @abcdeli.  She did a similar layout cutting out these gorgeous butterflies from a patterned paper in the collection.  Of course I added my mix media twist to the layout and used Texture paste from Ranger with the "Weaving" stencil from Prima marketing. 

 I went in with Heidi Swapp color shine in Gold and a few colors from my Artisti Loft 36 color palette.  The Texture paste from Ranger absorbed some of the color I used in the background, the stenciling does not stay white.  I love the worn look of the background.  

 I then fuzzy cut out the butterflies from "Butterfly Garden" patterned paper from the collection.  The gorgeous colors of emerald, merlot, indigo blue and the golds make this layout stand out. The picture I am scrapping is from my Engagement weekend in Las Vegas.  I did a selfie with my new ring in frame.  I love my engagement ring, hence the title "He did good" using the gold Desktop collection from Dear Lizzy.  

The flair button used is exclusive to the Clique Kits and the colors worked well for this layout.  I added coral and teal thread around it for it to pop.  I layers other patterned  papers from the collection behind the photo.  Finished it off with some black ink splatters and light journalling.  Here is my process video for this layout.  Please take a moment and watch.  

EVI

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