The One with the Elle's Studio September 2015 Layout

Monday, September 28, 2015

My September Elle's Studio step-by-step layout is up! Here is the page in its entirety and then visit the Elle's Studio blog for the complete how to!

WE ARE FAMILY by Paige Evans

DESCRIPTION: I had fun turning the trio of hearts cut file from the September digitals into an entire heart background!

JOURNALING SAYS: These pics of you two are some of my very favorite! I just love everything from head to toe and I love you both so much!

SUPPLIES: Cut file, patterned paper, printables, die cuts, tags, journaling spots: Elle's Studio; Cardstock, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo

I also used patterned papers and die cuts from the new (and ADORABLE!) Thankful collection.

Visit the Elle's Studio blog to see how this layout came together in 7 easy steps!

The One with Ebernscrappt 9.26

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Yesterday I had the opportunity to teach again at Ebernscrappt! Here are some pictures from the day and the layouts we made:

I was stopped at a light and looked over and saw some pretty flowers.

The cute town of Ebern!

I set up a "flea market" and displayed a few mini albums, coptic books, and a scrapbook filled with layouts for class members to flip through.

At 10am sharp (cuz that's how Germans roll, and I like it!) we began!

There were 17 attendees and each one created a pair of lovely layouts!

Here is the first page we made:

STORY by Paige Evans
DESCRIPTION: I made a similar layout in Paige's Pages 04 at Big Picture Classes and wanted to try the technique again, adding a few more embellishments.
JOURNALING SAYS: I love taking pictures of you when you're not looking. We were in Bruges waiting for a bus. Love you!
HOW TO: Trim (17) 2” squares then adhere them to the back of a die cut floral cardstock base using foam adhesive. Use watercolors to outline each flower – matching the color of paint to the color of the patterned paper. Layer a photo over gold polka dot paper (tear off the bottom edge) and adhere it to the bottom left corner. Tuck a piece of wreath chipboard and doily transparency under the right then a flower and journaling spot die cut under the left of the photo. Place a chipboard “story” on the bottom right corner of the photo and journal with a pen below the title. Tear off a piece of gold glitter tape and place it on the top right corner of the layout then embellish with a wood veneer arrow, chipboard sentiment, flower die cut, and a chipboard banner. Embellish the inside of the die cut flowers with badges, chipboard stickers, and flower die cuts.
SUPPLIES: Cardstock, adhesive, pen: American Crafts; Patterned paper, badges, die cut flowers, journaling spot, wood veneer arrow, gold glitter tape, doily transparency: Heidi Swapp; Chipboard: Crate Paper; Watercolors: Loew Cornell; Die cut machine: Silhouette Cameo; Floral cut file: Paige Evans
Sometimes the room would get completely silent. I'm used to it by now - they concentrate very hard on the task at hand!

After lunch we started on the second layout:

EAT ANDREAS by Paige Evans

DESCRIPTION: I love layering color-on-color in a 2x2 grid so that's what we learned how to do!

JOURNALING SAYS: Our food was so incredibly delicious, I want more!

HOW TO: Trim all of the die cuts from the patterned paper and sort them (along with the package of “Let’s Eat” Elle’s Studio die cuts) by color: pink/red, blue/green, yellow, and gray. Using a template, cut a polaroid frame from pink, yellow, green, and gray patterned papers then adhere them in a grid on a blue striped background. Add a photo inside two of the frames. Embellish each frame with the same colors of supplies – die cuts, enamel dots, wood veneer buttons, etc. Place blue letter stickers in the blue frame for a title and journal on the gray frame. Splatter watercolors over the frames to finish.

SUPPLIES: Patterned paper, die cuts, wood veneer: Elle’s Studio; Wood buttons, enamel dots, adhesive, pen: American Crafts

The final step: splattering watercolors!

Little Lina perfecting her splatter :)

Group shot!

Hope to be back at Ebernscrappt again soon!

The One with Quirky Nook

Friday, September 25, 2015

I have a thing with bracelets lately... could be worse things right?! Just wanted to give a shout out to Christine Middlecamp - the talent behind Quirky Nook.

As soon as I saw this bracelet on Quirky Nook's instagram I fell hopelessly, deeply, and irrevocably in love.

Two weeks later, well, here she is :)

Christine updates Quirky Nook often with beautiful and uniquely individual necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. I only wish money grew on trees so I could buy every single thing :)

The One with Pages from Paige's Pages 02

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Hey, howdy hey, hi, and hello! Today I'd like to share the 4 layouts that I created for Paige's Pages 02 at Big Picture Classes! The start-to-finish videos plus cut files, tips, techniques, and more, can all be found on the class website, so take a look at the layouts here then head over to Paige's Pages 02 to watch and learn more!

PRINCESS PAIGE by Paige Evans On this layout I went with a monochromatic theme: all things PINK! It's funny because when I was younger I made fun of my mom for loving pink. 90% of her clothes were pink. Now I'm the same way! Like mother like daughter :) It's really fun to use the same color and bring out the textures by using different products like paper, die cuts, stickers, buttons, and more. ******************************

SWING AWAY by Paige Evans On this layout I shared how to use my favorite technique: die cutting background shapes then backing the sections with patterned papers. This process is made easier by die cutting the inner shapes instead of hand cutting them! ******************************

LISBON by Paige Evans Here I share how to use a square punch and make creative layouts by cutting the squares into triangles. I love using basic shapes and altering them to make even more possibilities. I was inspired by a quilt too. ******************************

JUST THE GIRLS by Paige Evans Flying on an airplane or going on a road trip? Pass the time with hand stitching on a layout! I use a cut file to create the basic shape and then share how to use a back stitch to create this fun textured and eye-catching layout!
All of these layouts (plus 12 more in Paige's Pages 01, 03, and 04!) are available in start-to-finish videos at Paige's Pages 02 at Big Picture Classes! Join me in the fun - see you there!

The One with Heidelberg, Germany

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Last stop of Labor Day weekend: the historic town of Heidelberg, Germany! Not too long ago there were US Army troops stationed here, but no more. How cool a post would that have been?

Heidelberg remains one of the best-known and most visited cities in Germany. It has graceful baroque towers and the majestic ruins of its red sandstone castle. The local university was founded in 1386 and is Germany's oldest, so above all, Heidelberg is a university town. Students make up 20% of its population lending a youthful spirit to the old city. In 1930 the university expanded rapidly and now its buildings dot the entire landscape of Heidelberg. Also from this grand city, the narrow and quiet Necker Valley makes its way east and south eventually to Stuttgart.

Käthe Wohlfhart store sighting.

Rick Steves doesn't even cover Heidelberg in his book (whyyyyyy ever not?) so we had to resort to a Fodor's guide.

In its heyday, scores of poets and virtually the entire 19th century German Romantic movement sung the praises of the city. Goethe and Mark Twain both fell in love here: Goethe with a young woman and Twain with the city itself.

As we wandered down Haupstrasse I saw the coolest pasta bows ever. I couldn't eat them! They are too beautiful.

Flowers out the wazoo!

On Marktplatz stands the Heiliggeistkirche, the Church of the Holy Ghost. The foundation stone of this gothic church was laid in 1398 but it wasn't totally finished until 1544.

The Hotel zum Ritter on the square is the only Renaissance building in Heidelberg, built in 1592. It was built as the private home of a wealthy merchant and is charming and elegant.

I'll never get sick of the views down any random street in Europe. Beautiful.

Quaint cafes e'rywur.

The Holländer Hof Hotel is in an ornate 19th century building.

Then we headed out onto the Alte Brücke. Framed by two Spitzheim towers, this bridge was part of Heidelberg's medieval fortifications.

Looking back on the lovely town from across the river.

From the old town we spied a pathway winding up a hill which I was sure would have great views of the city, so up we went.

Europe is often not stroller friendly. The path was steep and super bumpy and broken up with long stretches of stairs. Chris and the kids finally gave up about 90% of the way to the top and stopped at an overlook point.

I couldn't stop this close to the top so I persevered by myself. Selfie time!

Great views of the city were indeed to be had! You can see the beautiful ruins of the castle on the left of the photo on the hill above the old town.

Back near the river we got a stroller selfie. Here is the Evans Family in Heidelberg, Germany on Saturday, September 5th 2015.

It was the first football game of the season for BYU and for the past couple years as we've traveled around Europe Chris has worn this BYU shirt on gamedays and snapped a picture. Go Cougs! They won on an incredible last second "Hail Mary."

Beautiful houses on the far bank of the river.

The castle with its striking architectural variety. The oldest parts still standing date from the 15th century, though most of the castle was built during the Renaissance in the baroque styles of the 16th and 17th centuries. There's even an "English wing" built in 1612 for one of the residents Scottish bride.