Scrapbook & Cards Today - Summer Issue launches TODAY!!!

Hello, everyone!

Yes!!! It's that time again! It's the launch of the AMAZING Summer issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today! I know I brag about this magazine with every issue, but this one truly does stand out. It's spectacular! There are so many awesome things packed into these pages AND if you didn't already know, the amazing ALI EDWARDS is joining us as a contributing writer. Her article for this issue is nothing short of amazing and 100% pure Ali-goodness! 

It also contains my 2nd installment in my Patterned Paper article series. This one about using color and pattern to enhance your photos! I think you'll love it! Below is the project from that article - my sweet Turner on his 10th birthday (he just turned 11 the other day!)

SHIP AHOY by Kelly Goree. Supplies: Fancy Pants patterned paper, chipboard elements, banners; BasicGrey alphabet stickers, brads; PageMaps for Spellbinders die; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L adhesive; Bazzill Cardstock; Pentel pen; Montana Misfits paper twine; EK Success circle punches; Fiskars star punch; Stampin' Up Scallop border punch; Colorbox(Clearsnap) ink.

And one more - this project was for our using Numbers article! Let me tell you, the eye candy in that article was over the moon! My personal fave was Summer Fullerton's - check it out! I know you'll think it was amazing too!

 Supplies: WeR Memory Keepers Paper, diecuts; BasicGrey buttons; Montana Misfits Twine; Pentel Pen; Colorbox/Clearsnap ink; Silhouette Studios electronic cutting; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L adhesive.

And finally just a few more highlights I sent to our publisher after I devoured this issue yesterday:

I ADORE Kim Hughes' summer card set with her Paper Smooches stamps. The "Oh Crab" one seriously made me LOL.

Ali's "Dear Mom & Dad" layout is pure, total, 100% Ali and total eye candy. LOVE this and so want to do something similar. It has totally inspired me and it's totally spectacular!

Summer Fullerton and both her layouts - the ombre one for the color trend and the one for the number column are both abso-stinkin-lutely amazing. I'm a huge fan.

But I'm even a bigger fan of Jen Gallacher's. LOVE her EasyDetailedExpert. LOVE.

Becky Fleck's Something special? Her Garden Shed! Seriously?! SERIOUSLY?! I die. I want. And I die.

And here's the fun part - we're going to be celebrating ALL DAY!! Giveaways, prizes, fun and more will be happening on the blog! Please visit us here!

Have an awesome day and let me know what you think about this issue! I can't wait to hear!

xoxo, 

k

Simple Stories - Life Documented

Hey guys!

I just wanted to share with you a bit of my very first post over on the Simple Stories blog today! I'm so excited to be a part the Simple Stories team and am beyond excited to be working with these stunning products. 

As I mentioned when I first announced I was joining the Life Documented team, I only had one concern - would I be able to incorporate the Life Documented approach and philosophy into MY personal scrapbooking style.

And very quickly I arrived at the one word answer: YES!!

I already knew I'd loved the Simple Stories concept and the products! That was a no-brainer! Then I saw the new designs for the Pocket Pages and I was sold! I loved the idea that I could incorporate some of these new divided pages with my traditional scrapbooking pages for a whole new look that was still "me" but gave me so much more versatility! I've always been a fan of all scrapbook sizes so now I just have tons more to play with!

As a quick introduction to my project, I have to put out a disclaimer and tell you that for Mother's Day I got a brand new iPhone 5. Can you see where this is going? I have been wanting an iPhone for forever, mainly because of the quality of pictures it took...not to mention ease of Instagram-ming! (It's the little things, people!) To say I went on a photo taking spree with my new phone would be an understatement! I loved being able to take photos of things I might normally miss if I didn't have my big camera around. 
And guess what? Simple Stories had just what I needed to share my Instagram photos with ease! 

I {Heart} Summer Products Used: Expressions Cardstock Stickers, Chipboard Stickers, SN@P! Cards, SN@P Pocket Pages, 6x6 Paper Pad, Flair Badges, SN@P! Cuts, and 12x12 Collection Kit. 

Check out my right side using the SN@P! 12x12 Pocket Pages! Oh yeah! Those 4"x4" slots were perfect! All I had to do is print my photos, slide them in and my page was almost done for me! Plus using the I {Heart} Summer line made me completely happy! I adore the colors and um, hello - the CAMERAS and HEARTS on all the embellishments? I die!

One of my favorite product elements I used for the above pages (and yes, I know I used MANY!) were these awesome SN@P! Pages!! They are traditionally designed for the SN@P! Binders, but I couldn't help myself! The cutout pages were screaming to get on my page! I simply trimmed the edges of the punched holes, added patterned paper behind the cut-outs and instantly I had a new layered element that really made my photos stand out. Whats more is you can even draw attention to specific details simply by changing the color of paper that you choose just like I did with the hearts and clouds above. It's so fun using product in non-conventional ways and I really encourage you to try it! You'll be thrilled with the results!

I hope this post inspires you to branch out a little and try something new! I can never get enough different ways to scrapbook and this is just one more for me to try and fall in love with! I bet you will too!

xoxo, 

k.

PageMaps June - Flag Retirement

Hello, there!

Today I want to share with you my page for PageMap's June newsletter. I always love doing Becky's sketches and I especially love when it presents me an opportunity to scrap photos I've been sitting on forever. 

These photos make my heart stop each time I look at them...and I've had them for almost 2 years! It was time to get them on a page. If you've never seen a flag retirement ceremony, I strongly urge you to find one in your area (summers are a really good time for them with VFWs and Boy Scout Troops) and participate. It is truly humbling and a brings about such a feeling of patriotism. 

Supplies: Fancy Pants PP, alpha stickers; BasicGrey alpha stickers; Fiskars star punches; Montana Misfits twine; PageMaps for Spellbinders dies; Pentel & Uniball pens.

I love how the Fancy Pants Trendsetter line lends itself to photos like these. It's a great all- around summer line. And let's face it - as a mom of boys, i just can't get enough stars!

And just a few detail shots showing the awesome PageMaps for Spellbinders dies. This set is the "Charmed I'm Sure" set. Aren't they adorable?

Have a wonderful Tuesday!
xoxo, 
k.

Simple Stories - Life Documented.

And yesterday I was speaking a little of secrets - here's one that I've been dying to spill! 

I've been asked to be a part of the brand new Simple Stories "Life Documented" design team along with some other absolutely amazing & talented ladies. I'm so excited to be affiliated with this incredible company and will be bringing you my very first post on the SS blog on June 6th! Yes, this THURSDAY!!

The great folks at Simple Stories are super excited about this brand new launch of Life Documented, too, so they are dedicating this weekend to sharing all about it! I hope you'll travel over to the SS blog and see what exciting stuff will we'll be offering!

And for those of you that might be worried that I am totatlly changing my style to a more Project Life style, don't you worry! My plan is to completely incorporate my pocket pages into my regular albums along with all the other styles I've always done like 8.5x11, 12x12 and double pages. For me, this will just add another fun element and allow me some great versatility! I can't wait!

I hope you'll follow along with me!

xoxo, 

k.

ONBC: Retro-Rad Super-Star Dad + Tutorial

Hi there!!!

It's the 1st of June and you know what that means! It's time for my monthly edition of OLD NEW BORROWED COOL for the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog! The premise for this blog series goes like this: each month I'll bring you a new post that incorporates something OLD from my stash, something NEW that I might have just picked up and something BORROWED from wherever I can get it to create something COOL to share with you! It's just that easy. 

AND I happen to be super excited about this particular post. There's just something about this project that makes me smile! Tell me if it doesn't do that to you, too!

For a little back story, I'll start by saying I love the month of June for many reasons most especially as it’s the month that my middle son was born. His birthday is always right around Father’s Day so I jokingly tell my husband that since he already got the best present I could give, there’s no need for anything else!  Of course I don’t really mean that as my husband really is one of the most hands-on, involved dads I know. He does so much with our boys, loves that he gets to and as such totally deserves to be celebrated.

So for this month’s ONBC, I thought I’d do just that and make him an extra special Father’s Day card. The "special" will be the surprise element of a gift card holder perfect for tucking in a little extra something on his special day!

Supply List: BasicGrey Hipster PP, brads, chipboard shapes, wood veneers, chipboard alpha; Studio Calico wood veneer; Core’dinations cardstock’ Fiskars star punches; EK Success circle punch; Colorbox chalk ink; Hero Arts ink; Stampin’ Up! ink; Zig pen; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Now here's how it broke down this month:

OLD: These ancient but sturdy circle punches. I think they were the first punches I ever bought. They don’t look pretty anymore, but they sure do the job and I love them for that! And then of course my Fiskars star punches. While not as old, they are still a staple of my scrappy arsenal, especially being the mom of boys!

NEW: The gorgeous BasicGrey HIPSTER line! You can’t get more masculine than this line and it’s so groovy with its retro hip vibe! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! (See above reference to ‘mom of boys.’)

BORROWED: I snagged this fun gift card holder-making technique from my talented friend Kimber McGray’s book 175 Fresh Card Ideas. I have had the pleasure of working with Kimber on a couple of her books and I always credit her with the fact that I make cards at all! The book is uber-inspiring and full of fun tips and tricks just like this one I’m going to share with you today!

COOL: That super-fun, retro rad gift card holder just waiting to give to Dad for Father’s Day!

Here's how you can make one of your own for that special Dad in your life:

I like standard card sizes so this will fit into your A2 envies with ease and make a 4.25”x5.5” gift card holder. 

You will need:

Cardstock

Scoring board

1.5” circle punch

Craft knife

Adhesive Tape

Trim piece of cardstock to 12”x5.5”. Score at 4.25”, 6” and 7.75” mark.

Fold cardstock as shown along the scored lines.

Holding the center fold together, punch a half circle from the center of the fold using the 1.5” circle punch.

Open the card back up and cut as shown along the center fold to create enough room to slide in a gift card.

Apply strong tape adhesive along the three sides of the center fold as shown (making sure to leave the area containing the circle free). Seal the fold up so it can securely hold the gift card.

And all that’s left is inserting the gift card! 

There you have it! Easy, right?! I hope my husband loves the card as much as I do come Father's Day. (I'm trying to save it but it's hard for me to keep it secret - well...as secret as between you, me and the internet!)

As for me, I'll be holding a yard sale a good part of this weekend. Wish me luck and good weather!
Have an amazing weekend!
xoxo, 

k