Using an Ad as Inspiration - Queen and Company

Ever inspired by an ad in a magazine, a graphic on the front of a box, or something you see on Instagram?  Well, I was completely inspired by a photo from the 'ohhappyday' Instagram page.  When Wendy sent me the Circle Shaped Shaker, I new exactly what I was going to do.  It also helps share how cool all the embellishments are in the Queen and Company shop.  Here is what I did....

Here is the photo that I was inspired by.  Sometimes, a piece maybe inspiring and it takes you on your own journey.  This one, I duplicated almost exactly.  

I used the circle negatives from the dies in the Circle Shaped Shaker set, and trimmed some in half.  Then paired them with an opposite patterned paper to add more depth.  I riffled through the paper pads that I had and found EVERY color I needed. Finding the colored embellishments was super easy too.  Everything just pops off the black background.  

My boys favorite color is purple!  How could I not show you a close up of that section?  Since taking these photos, I have decided that the layout needs journaling.  I may add that to the back of the layout or a little under the colorful photo.  See below for all the bits and pieces that I used.  They are all extremely reasonably priced through the Q&C store.  

Mary-Ann Maldonado

Supplies used:
6x6 Paper Pads
Lollies
Glitter Globes 
Rubber Bubbles
Buttons

Every Family Has a Story - Fancy Pants

What do you think of the new Magnolia Moments Collection from Fancy Pants?  Soon as I saw it, I went all nostalgic and homey with it.  I knew immediately, that I wanted to created a ‘wall’ with all the shelves and ephemera.  I used an old photo and some journaling, to get started decorating my ‘wall.’

My base is just white cardstock with the Shiplap FREE cut file from Paper Issues.  I used the white brick paper and left some of the openings open.  I layered the first shelf, just like I would on a real wall.  I used the Letter board Embellishments as wall hangings.  Then I kept going!  I used all the shelves on this layout!!  Oops!

You can see that it looks like a real wall!!  Or I think so anyway.  I love how it turned out.

Thanks for stopping in.

Fun Together - Paper Issues

Hey there!

I playing along with the Free File Free for All Challenge at Paper Issues.  

I used The FREE  Inner Circle Cut File (there are hundreds to choose from) and Elle's Studio.  I grabbed them all from the Paper Issues store.  If you need any scrapbooking items, Paper Issues the place to go.  She is the FASTEST SHIPPER EVAH!  Seriously!

Anywoo, here is my layout!

It is from our trip to NC a few years ago.  We had so much fun with the boys.  

You can see smiles all over their faces.  

You are Amazing - Stamps of Life

I recently played around with some fun products from 

The Stamps of Life. 

I adore their papers!  Plus, they have sent me embellishments, stamps and dies.  

You must go check them out.  

There are lots of fun things and what I have here is only a small portion.  

SaveSave

Details..... - Paper Issues

Ever need a little something something to jot things down?  Maybe a vacation journal, car notes, whatever!!  This months Swag Bag from Paper Issues is the perfect bag to create such a book.  

ALL I did was cover the front.  Leaving the inside available for notes.

I still have lots of goods left over to create cards, layouts and more.

Go grab one for only $9.99 then 20% off with my code: Mary-Ann.

You can also sign up for this bag of goodies to come directly to you monthly.  

Go HERE for more deets.  

Shaker Cards - Queen and Company

Good morning Q&C fans!
I have two new shaker cards for ya!  I gotta tell you it is really fun to be given a die set and told go to town!  There is so much versatilely to these sets.  No rules, just plain creativity.  I was assigned the Circle Shaped Shaker Set.  The set includes dies and the coordinating Foam Shapes.  9 foam shapes to be exact and 3 different size circle dies.  The Stamp Set that is included has several different themes.  Making playing with this set, super easy and fun. 

I decided to create a card based in the stamp sentiment: Something for the happy couple.  I looked through my older die/stamp stash for something I could make two of, representing the happy couple.  I found this fun Flamingo that came with a palm tree.   

After layering the papers and creating the shaker, I filled it with coordinating Jewel and Pop Toppings, Iridescent Toppings and Pearlies.  Adding a few stationary Metallic Bubbles in gold.

Supplies used:
Heart Throb Kit
Picture Perfect 6x6 pad
Metallic Bubbles - Gold
Circle Shaped Shaker
Toppings: Pops, Iridescent Bubbles, Pearlies and Jewels.

_____________________________________________________________

For my second card, I wanted to incorporate the Sunburst Die with the Circle Shaped Shaker.  I first blended my base paper with a few colors representing the sun.  After cutting out the Sunburst Die, I layered the Circle die on the Sunburst and re-cut with my Big Shot.  Leaving a Circle background, showing the pretty blended colors.  

I filled the Circle with various Confetti Toppings and Iridescent Bubbles.  Tied a yellow Sparkle String bow and that was all!

Supplies used:
Circle Shaped Shaker
Sparkle String - Yellow
Sunburst Die
Toppings: Confetti, Iridescent Bubbles, Tiny Bubbles

Thank you for popping in today.  I hope you are inspired to use other dies along with your newer ones.  It is a fun technique.

Mary-Ann Maldonado

Working with Watercolors

Working with Watercolors means just that!  Dig them out or grab your Gelatos, maybe paint if you don't have watercolors.  Ya know, you could even try crayons if you must.  

We just want you to play along with us.  

I don't normally try my hand at watercolor.  So this was a fun challenge for me.  I tried to create blocks of colors with my watercolors, that matched as close as I could get to the striped paper in the background.  I was off with the blue, so I covered that with my photo.  Problem solved!

I used MME (My Mind's Eye) Wander collection.  

It is perfect for documenting my sons Boy Scout trip from last year.  

So, to play along, all you have to do is, create a new project with watercolors.  You can find several watercolored inspired products in the Paper Issues Shop.  You have until August 5th to play along. Your entry must be new and no double dipping! 

Use code: Mary-Ann to get 20% off anything you need from the PI store!

Land of the Beautiful - Paper Issues

Happy 4th of July!

I hope you are surround by friends, fun and fireworks today.  

I am playing along with the Stars and Stripes Challenge over on PIFF.  

You can be literal with actual stars and stripes or you can be patriotic in any form.  

My photo is from a quick grocery store trip that lead to the perfect photo op.

If you read my journaling, you will see that we had quite a bit of fun in that spontaneous moment.

The perfect collection was Pebbles, Land that I Love!  

I also loosely based my layout off the Sketch for July.  

Splish Slash - Fancy Pants

Remember me saying that I was on a mission to document a fun summer day from last year?  

Well, I am working very hard at it. 

 I have got another layout with what I think is the "photo of the day!"

I used the wicked fun Poolside collection from Fancy Pants to document this photo.  

It has the perfect embellishment to accompany what I had in mind.  

I used a FREE cut file from Paper Issues called Spraying Water Background.

In the photo below, you can see the small shark fins.  I used a small punch and the sheet of paper from the 6x6 paper pad.  The details in the 6x6 are a much smaller scale, which was perfect for collection fins for this layout.