Today Was Magic Layout by Paige Evans

 Hello hello! Here is a layout made with my brand new Wonders collection for the American Crafts blog!

To begin, I grabbed the three butterfly filled papers from the 6x8 Paper pad - two of which have gold foiling details, swoon! I sat on my bed and fussy cut out all of the butterflies on New Years Eve while watching Bosch with Chris. That's my kinda night!

Then I pulled the rainbow striped paper from the 12x12 Paper Pad and did some mixed media on the background. First I splashed watered down white acrylic paint and then came in with Pastel Dreams & Tropicals watercolors, splashing them tone-on-tone to create pops of color and interest. Once the background dried, I loosely placed all of the butterflies on top.

I found a photo of our family from last October at Animal Kingdom and I thought the colors and theme of my layout so far went together well. I added the photo to the bottom right side and then used liquid glue to attach all of the butterflies in place - I only added a dot of glue to the centers to let the wings lift and bend like real butterflies.

To continue with the tone-on-tone look, I added a few sentiments from the Cardstock Stickers overlapping the edges of the photo as well as a "TODAY" Banner Sticker and then came in with a few words from the Puffy Phrase Stickers placed on the colored stripes. For the journaling, I tore a piece of a pink floral Ephemera Die Cut, tucked it under the picture, and wrote the caption with a blue pen.

I hope you are inspired to pick up my new Wonders collection when it's available and fussy cut to your heart's content!

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, stickers, die cuts, embellishments: WONDERS; white acrylic paint; Watercolors: Pastel Dreams & Tropicals

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Welcome 2021 Planner Spread by Mik Godinho

 Hello everyone, Mik from Papermiks here! New year, new planner! Today I’ll show you the cover for my 2021 planner, which I made using the beautiful Go the Scenic Route collection and Paige's 2021 cut file.

I started by die cutting the 2021 cut file from Paper 18 on my Silhouette Cameo. Then I traced around the outer edge of the 2021 cut file twice, so I could have two different backgrounds. For these I used Paper 16 and Paper 20.

To make my cover background I cut a rectangle to 9x7” from Paper 13, then I glued a 9x6” white cardstock and a 9x5” Paper 18. To give my cover a happy touch, I used Floral Die Cuts and dots from the Puffy Phrase Stickers. I used 3D foam stickers to glue the number on Paper 16 and Paper 20 so as to give it more dimension. I wrote “WELCOME” with Foam Thickers on a piece of acetate and glued it in the middle of the cover.

I hope you’ve got some inspiration from this idea and enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by and have a creative day!

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, Thickers, stickers, enamel dots, embellishments: GO THE SCENIC ROUTE; white cardstock; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo; Cut file: 2021 by Paige Evans

Location: Bolivia / Instagram: @papermiks / Facebook: mik.godinho.papermiks

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Michaels Small Explosion Box for Fox

 Here is the 2nd Explosion Box I created for my endcap at Michaels! Have you seen all these super fun supplies at your local Michaels? You can also grab everything online - supplies are linked at the bottom of this post. I made this box for Fox, just because - he's so awesome!

Here is a video of me flipping through and talking about this finished Small Kraft Memory Explosion Box:

I covered the sides of the Small Kraft Memory Explosion Box with patterned papers from the Double Sided 6x6" Paper Pad. I added an orange striped paper from the 12x12" Paper Pad to the lid and added glitter strips from the Glitter 6x6" Paper Pad to the edges.

I embellished the lid with a Chipboard Frame Sticker, orange Heart Paper Clip, green "congratulations" Celebration Banner Sticker, blue "hooray" perforated die cut from the Shapes & Phrases Die Cuts, and three gold stars from the Embellishment Mix.

A fun thing about these smaller Explosion Boxes is the heart-shaped corners! Here's a look at the box from above as the lid is taken off.

And then here is a look at the box when it's splayed out a bit more - check out those cute heart corners! I didn't embellish those parts, but you easily could. I'm thinking this would be an adorable gift for Valentine's!

Let's go through the box flap by flap.

In the center, I added a square of green glitter paper from the Glitter 6x6" Paper Pad, silver Puffy Photo Corner Stickers, and a yellow Chipboard Frame Sticker filled with an "it's the little things" die cut from the Travel Die Cuts, blue "congrats" banner from the Celebration Banner Stickers, and a gold star from the Embellishment Mix.

On the first flap above the center, I covered it with pink glitter paper from the Glitter 6x6" Paper Pad then added a 3 1/2" square photo on top. I tied blue baker's twine through the top of a pastel striped tab from the Birthday Die Cuts and added it to the top right corner of the picture.

I covered the bottom flap of the next section with pink silver foil sprinkles paper from the Foil 6x6" Paper Pad and embellished with a mint Chipboard Frame Sticker and a "you don't look a day over fabulous" die cut from the Birthday Die Cuts. I covered the top flap with rainbow paper from the Double Sided 6x6" Paper Pad, placed a 3 1/2 square photo in the middle, and added yellow Puffy Photo Corner Stickers.

Rotating the box to the next set of flaps - I covered this flap with blue silver paper from the Glitter 6x6" Paper Pad, added a 3 1/2" square photo to the middle, and placed purple Puffy Photo Corner Stickers on the corners. The "happy day" sentiment and sun die cuts are from the Travel Die Cuts and then I sprinkled on a trio of mint enamel dots from the Embellishment Mix.

Next I covered the bottom flap with aqua silver foil hearts paper from the 6x6" Paper Pad and placed a 3 1/2" square photo on top. On the white space of the photo I added a gold heart from the Embellishment Mix, and a "ticket to fun" perforated die cut and "now" tab from the Travel Die Cuts. I covered the top section with rainbow sprinkles paper from the Sprinkle 12x12" Paper Pad and created a cluster in the middle with a "yay" journaling spot and purple tab from the Travel Die Cuts as well as a "you're a true friend" clipboard die cut from the Shapes & Phrases Die Cuts.

On the next section, I covered the flap with orange glitter paper from the Glitter 6x6" Paper Pad and added a 3 1/2" photo on top. I placed a rainbow die cut from the Birthday Die Cuts to some white space on the photo and added a green "you're the greatest" perforated sentiment found in the Shapes & Phrases Die Cuts.

On the next section of flaps, I covered the bottom with orange sprinkles paper from the 12x12" Paper Pad and added a trio of die cuts from the Travel Die Cuts: a perforated heart square, yellow "ticket to adventure", and green "document this". I covered the top flap with rainbow striped paper from the Double Sided 6x6" Paper Pad and added a photo on top with a purple "adventure calls" die cut from the Travel Die Cuts.

Onto the last section! I covered this flap with gold glitter paper from the Glitter 6x6" Paper Pad and added a round "one kind act..." die cut from the Shapes & Phrases Die Cuts to the center along with two pastel banner stickers from the Celebration Stickers on and under the round die cut.

I covered the bottom flap with yellow patterned paper from the Sprinkle 12x12" Paper Pad and placed a photo on top. On the white space of the photo I added a green/blue "here" tab and purple "every day is amazing" ticket from the Travel Die Cuts. And a tiny pink glitter enamel heart from the Embellishment Mix. I covered the top flap with rainbow confetti paper from the Sprinkle 12x12" Paper Pad and placed a rolodex card from the Travel Die Cuts in the middle as well as a green tab die cut also from the Travel Die Cuts. I wrote a message to Fox with a black pen on the rolodex card.

All done and ready to give to my boy!I hope you are inspired to check out the Explosion Box products in Michaels stores and online!

Here are the clickable product links to all of the Explosion Box supplies:

Thanks so much for stopping by today, my next post about these Explosion Boxes will be a giveaway so check back soon!

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Fish Border Layout by Shimelle

  Hello crafty friends! Shimelle here today and I'm trying my best to just keep swimmin' with Paige's Fish Border cut file and a mixed media background made mostly with watercolors. I love that I could cut something so perfectly matched to the background of these photos, but the technique would work perfectly with any of Paige's border files, so if fish aren't what you need today, you can make the same style of page with hearts, stars, or anything else you love. 

I started by looking through a variety of papers to find some candidates for the background: something white or cream, with a small and subtle pattern, so it would hold its own with plenty of paint covering up about a third of the page. There were plenty of choices and I chose this paper from Pick-Me-Up, a cream paper with a small geometric print. I covered it with a layer of clear gesso, and while it dried I started backing the Fish Border cut file, cut from white cardstock and backed with a variety of paper scraps, including some from Go the Scenic Route and a black and white stripe from Oh My Heart.

Once my fish were ready and the gesso was dry, it was time to layer on watercolor washes in orange, blue, and yellow. I like to brush on one layer to prime the paper, then dry it by pressing a cloth over the top. That layer won't keep much color on the page, but repeating the same thing a second time brings a lovely depth and a more saturated color. I also flick the brush to create movement on the page and bring the colors together. While that step dried, I could embellish my photo! I matted the photo block in white cardstock then navy, and started my embellishment at the left with Ephemera Die Cuts and Puffy Stickers from Go the Scenic Route, then added chipboard and cardstock stickers from Pick-Me-Up to the layers as well. Working from a three color set made it easier to find things that would match: orange, blue, and yellow.

Once everything was dry and glued together, I finished the page with the small blue Mini Foam Thickers from Pick-Me-Up, plus circles from the Puffy Phrase Stickers and the prettiest Enamel Dots from Go the Scenic Route.

You can watch everything come together in this video: https://youtu.be/gs2sYEJ8vkA

Do you like adding watercolor behind cut files? What's your favorite technique for those mixed media layers?

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, stickers, die-cuts, enamel dots, embellishments: GO THE SCENIC ROUTE; Additional patterned paper, Mini Foam Thickers, chipboard stickers, cardstock stickers: Pick-Me-Up; white cardstock; gesso; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo; Cut file: Fish Border by Paige Evans

Location: London / Blog: Shimelle / Instagram: @shimelle / Facebook: Shimelle / YouTube: Shimelle Laine / Pinterest: glittershim

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2021 Goals Spread by Paula Fiihr

Good morning and happy January! Paula Fiihr here and this post is all about planning for the new year.  I used two of Paige's cut files and the Go the Scenic Route collection.

The first page in my hobonichi features the 2021 Goals cut file cut from a colorful paper in the 12x12 Paper Pad. I used the inner numbers and just added a foam dot under each. I backed the word "goals" with Paper 22. I filled in some stars with scraps and added a few with more foam dots. 

On the other page I used the Week cut file cut from a floral paper in the 12x12 Paper Pad. I backed it with the same Paper 22 and glued it down. This will be used as a habit tracker so it works perfectly with this paper to have four rows to mark off each day for the four weeks in the month. I added a few stars leftover from the cut and then picked my 6 habits that I want to work on. I sprinkled some circle stickers from the Puffy Phrase Stickers and that’s it!

This is such an easy way to track and record my habits! I’ll definitely be adding one of these each month this year. Thanks for stopping by!  

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, stickers, die cuts, embellishments: GO THE SCENIC ROUTE; Die cut machine: Cricut; Cut files: 2021 Goals and Week by Paige Evans

Location: Texas, USA / Instagram: @psplannergirl / Pinterest: pfiihr / Facebook: Paula Fiihr 

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Life is Beautiful by Migbell Guzmán

Hello friends! Migbell Guzmán here! Every paper in Go the Scenic Route is beautiful, the range of things we can achieve to create beautiful memories is fascinating. To create my layout I selected the Bend Up Flower Petals cut file. I really like this cut file and the three dimensional effect of the giant flower.

On Paper 3 from the 12x12 Paper Pad, I cut the Bend Up Flower Petals cut file. I used Paper 24 for the background, it gives the feeling of a sunset and I think it contrasts and highlights the petals of the flower. I sewed with my sewing machine using white thread between the rows of each petal to create more texture.

I selected a black & white photo to stand out and contrast with the colors. The size of the photo is 3.5". To decorate my page I used a variety of flowers from Paper 9, Paper 15, and Paper 18, the 6x8 Paper Pad, and Chipboard Stickers.

Thanks for stopping by Paige's blog! I hope you liked my design!

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, die cuts, stickers, embellishments: GO THE SCENIC ROUTE; white cardstock; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo; Cut file: Bend Up Flower Petals by Paige Evans

Location: Puerto Rico / Instagram: @migbellguzman / Facebook: Migbell Guzman

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Snow Cute Layout by Maija Männistö

     Hi friends, Maija Männistö here to share a layout filled with winter and Go the Scenic Route! I created this snow filled layout with two cut files - Snowflakes and Snow Cute.

I created the background using the Snowflakes cut file, cutting it from cardstock and using it as a stencil. I colored white modeling paste blue with acrylic paint and used it to create the background. The white cardstock background needed extra color so I used one of the papers from the 12x12 Paper Pad to create the borders around the page. For the title I chose the Snow Cute cut file. I backed the letters with the various blue squares on Paper 10. I didn’t want to cover the whole snowflake with patterned paper, so that the background would show through it. For parts I covered I used the other side of Paper 10, the various shades of blue on that paper brought so much vibrancy on the layout!

I focused most of my embellishments around the photo. I backed the photo again with Paper 10 and cut out some of the mandalas from the paper. I also used a few stickers from the Cardstock Stickers. For the final touch I added a Flag Paperclip on the photo.

I added another small cluster of embellishments onto the title. I cut the ‘happiness’ pennant from the 2x2 Paper Pads and added some Enamel Dots.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, have a lovely and crafty day!

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, stickers, enamel dots, die cuts, embellishments: GO THE SCENIC ROUTE; white cardstock; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo; Cut files: Snowflakes and Snow Cute by Paige Evans

Location: Finland / Blog: Mai Makings / Instagram: @maimakings / YouTube: Mai Makings / Pinterest: Mai Loves

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Colorful World Mini Album by Kelly Daye

Hi friends, Kelly Daye here with a mini album for Paige’s Silhouette Design Team. I’m still so in love with Go the Scenic Route and it was perfect for this colorful project. I was thinking about this new year and a world filled with hopefulness. So I chose to design with Paige’s Globe cut file as my base with Paper 21, then made four tags to hang on it. I wanted to focus on four aspirations this year: face the sun, make a splash, go places, and shine.

Of course, there’s a tassel or two. My ‘mini jewelry’ is a combo of an altered Bloom Street Tassel, a beaded tassel made with stuff from my stash, and a Charm from Go the Scenic Route. I seem to be really grooving on orange this year, what about you? Each tag is a reflection of one of those aspirations and hangs on the globe through an eyelet in a tab. The cover is actually two pieces. An acetate overlay provided a smooth surface to neatly hold the title, made with Foam Mini Thickers, above the chain stitched globe. I separated the globe from the stand with the knife tool in Silhouette Studio and cut it from white cardstock.

All the titles on the tags are made with the Foam Mini Thickers from the Whimsical collection. I love the colors and they fit just right. The back of each tag holds a photo to go with each design. The first tag, Face The Sun, is a shaker made with Paige’s Aztec Background cut file. The top is cut from Paper 14 then chain stitched and matted with Paper 6. It’s adorned with pretty Floral Die Cuts. To me, it’s a reminder to always focus on the positive.

The second tag, Make A Splash, features Paige’s Splash cut file. How perfect right? It’s backed with pink, blue, and yellow bits from previous projects. Then, it’s popped up over chain stitched Paper 4 and matted on a paper from the 6x8 Paper Pad. This tag reminds me to not hold back, put it out there, just go for it.

The third tag, Go Places, is wishful thinking. Jim and I love to travel and we really missed that in 2020. So I’m putting it out there, “I aspire to go places again!” That’s me on a gondola in Venice. Paige’s Sneaker cut file was perfect because I have several pairs, including pink, and they’ve been around the world with me. The cut file lays on chain stitched Paper 21, then matted on Paper 13. I’ve added another Floral Die Cut and the gorgeous globe from the Chipboard Stickers.

The final design is on the back inside cover of my album. It’s Paige’s Chandelier cut file, reminding me to Shine. Whether supporting a friend, encouraging others, or just extending kindness to a stranger, there’s always a way to shine every day. I popped it up inside a frame made from two papers in the6x8 Paper Pad. Naturally, it too was chain stitched.

Everything I know about mini's, I've learned from Paige. Like carrying a few elements through an entire mini album can tie it all together nicely. In this mini, each tag was chain stitched and matted with another paper. I used the same Mini Thickers throughout to make the titles and my photos, cut on the Silhouette, were all matted with white cardstock. Picking a theme helps choose cut files from Paige’s collection.

Happy New Year friends! I hope you found a few ideas for your next mini album.

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, die cuts, stickers, Thickers, enamel dots, embellishments: GO THE SCENIC ROUTE; white acrylic paint; white cardstock; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo; Cut files: Globe, Aztec Background, Splash, Sneaker, and Chandelier by Paige Evans

Location: Edmonton, Canada / Blog: Kelly Made It / Instagram: @kellymadeit / Facebook: Petals Daye / Pinterest: Kelly Made It

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