Best of Times - Pretty Little Studio

 Hi Pretty Little friends!  Mary-Ann here with a layout using Chasing The Sun.  I can not embrace the cold weather just yet and thought I'd share a beach layout.  My boy was small back when we went to the beach.  It was cold but still a great time.  Definitely worth documenting.  

Missing in Action!

 Hi friends.

I have been pretty much in a bubble for the last few months.  

When I stepped down from Paper Issues, I stopped crafting pretty much all together.  I didn't realize that it kept me going with having deadline responsibilities.  But that is not all.  We have had some heartache here in our little world.  

On September 1st, my step mother Pam passed away.  10 days later on September 11th, my father passed. Most people ask if it was from COVID, but neither death was.  They both had normal health issues.  Which is terrible, but at least they did not add to the COVID count like my grandfather back in November.  Anyway, to make things more difficult, while I was in FL, taking care of Pam's arrangements, my son had an emergency appendectomy.  I know he was well taken care of by his father, but being away was very hard.  I'm his mama.  I was able have a nice lunch and visit with my father before his passing, but I was not in town when he died.  I had come home Wednesday to drive to Maine on Thursday to be with my mom for her major surgery that was scheduled on Friday.  It seemed like a month long 10 days.  

I am grateful to God.  Grateful I had a wonderful phone call with Pam on Sunday, before her surgery on Monday.  She was not strong enough to recover and passed Wednesday.  

My visit with my father at his rehab facility, allowed him to know that I was there.  That I cared.  That they were important to me.  It also gave me the chance to hear his wishes for his wife.  I was able to ask important question and have time to see him.  He seemed healthy at the time.

I am grateful my son and mom are mending well.

If you knew Pam at all, she was definitely a romantic.  Enough for both of them really.  She would have loved the ending of their love story.  I also think she would say,  'he just couldn't live without her.' 

It has been a tough month.  One thing I did not know about by father was how organized and particular he was with things.  Maybe the apple does not fall far from the tree with that trait.  I love to 'think' I am organized.  

So, bare with me.  I did craft for Queen & Co recently and will be sharing soon.  They have some super super cute new essentials for every crafters collection.  Plus, a pretty cute new Halloween release that is to die for.

Thanks for checking in!

Mary-Ann 

Favorite - Pretty Little Studio

Hey crafty friends!

I am happy to be here with you today, on the Pretty Little Studio Blog, for the fact that this gorgeous Grateful Heart collection has so much purple in it that I can document all my favorite photos of my boy with the perfect color.  Who says this fall line can't be used for things that aren't even fall?

I started with a big rectangle large enough to sew around the edges and still fit my envelope filled with ephemera from the National Honor Society event.  It is kinda hidden until you see I opened the flap of the envelope in a later photo.  

I covered the front of the paper with photos and a 3x4 block, keeping things clumped in the center of my page.  I was sure to not add adhesive behind where the flap of my envelope would tuck under when closed.  We received an invitation to the event, a certificate for the program and a letter from his Kindergarten teacher that was even read out loud that night.  Some pretty spectacular things to save.  

You can see at the end of my layout, I added Nuvo Drops in the center of my flowers for dimension and scattered around to tie all the colors together.  

Cascading flowers around the center clump filled some of the white space and gave your eyes a place to wander around.  I really enjoy creating pockets and hidden journalling on my pages.  

Hope you will give it a try.

Mary-Ann

You & Me - Pretty Little Studio

Meet me over on the Pretty Little Studio Blog today!

You & Me, drinking coffee in the shape of hearts, on a beautiful purple background!

Wouldn't this be a cute "let's meet up for coffee soon" card for your best chum?

I started with a 5x5 card base.  Then I chose 2 perfectly matched purple Oxide inks and blended my background and added water droplets.   From the Grateful Hearts Collection, I used a frame from the My Favorite Die Cuts.  Tucked in a Tag cut from the Snapshots Cut Apart 12x12.   A few more ephemera pieces and lots of foam tape and my coffee invite was almost done.  

I wanted to emphasize the hearts in the coffee so I used Nuvo Drops to accent those.

I added little water droplet bling and that is it!  

LOVE - Pretty Little Studio

Good day friends!

Mary-Ann Maldonado here with a challenge for you.  Sometimes challenges arise when you don't really expect them too.  When I placed my order for the gorgeous Grateful Heart collection from Pretty Little Studio, I didn't order enough paper.  Ugh.  Well, that's ok because this Express Thanks paper gave me an idea! 

Other than a 1/4 of that paper, cardstock, ephemera pieces, foam tape and my sewing machine, it did not take much effort or cost to compete this layout.  

Go check it all out on the Pretty Little Studio Blog!

Imagine - Paper Issues

 Friends!  

Look at my little space man!  How cute is he with his daddy at Disney riding the rides.  

I just love his little face.  I didn't want to do all Disney themes papers so I went with Bella Blvd's To The Moon collection that I bought over at Paper Issues.  Grab it for 20% off using code: Mary-Ann.

The base paper is from Vicki Boutin and is already pre-colored for me. 

It was another Live FB video if you want to watch!

https://www.facebook.com/1635582489/videos/10224008696838661/

Fiesta Time - Paper Issues

Morning taco loving friends.

I recently did a live video one on the Paper Issues Friends and Fans page with a Free Cut File and Distress Oxide Inks.  Thats about it.  I only added a couple embellishments to the side after I was done.  You gotta see how it came out.  I LOVE IT!

Watch the video here:

https://www.facebook.com/1635582489/videos/10223955773555612/

My dad and boy made a bet on eating the big Grande Taco at Margaritas.  They both succeeded.  I think Romans was less full because he took a lot of the yucky stuff off when he ordered.  Smart boy.  

Guest Designing for Whimsy Stamps!

 

Today I am guesting for Whimsy Stamps again!!

I am so excited about the way my layout turned out.  All I used was the Build-a-Fairy Garden Die Set from Whimsy Stamps, Oxide Inks, foam tape and paper!   I pretty much created my own papers with the inks and cut them with the dies.  Easy peasy!

For my last guest spot I explained that I chose practical items from the shop.  The Bold ABC Alpha Dies Set and the Checkerboard Die.  Those items are classic and totally usable over and over.  For todays post, I chose the Build-a Fairy Garden Set because it was cute, whimsical and had mushrooms!!!  Mushrooms are all the rage right now and these fungi are perfect for any type of project.  It is almost worth purchasing just for the grass die too!  It stretches all the way across a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper and can easily be maneuvered and layered to cover a 12x12 layout, slimline card and a traditional A2 card. 

I totally think I scored big with these items.  

Head over to the Whimsy Stamp Websitee and check out all the different styles. 

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Love You - Pretty Little Studio

Hey there friends!

Mary-Ann Maldonado here with a quick, easy layout combining two different collections from Pretty Little Studio to get a great masculine layout completed!   

Head over to Pretty Little Studio to get all the details.

Guest Designing for Whimsy Stamps!

 Good morning friends!

I was so excited to be asked to Guest Design for Whimsy Stamps. 

They told me to order a couple things and that was the hardest thing evah!!!

I did choose a couple things.  One, the cutest thing, will be shared here on the 13th.  

OMG. You WILL NEED it.  But, for todays post, I chose classic, reusable items.  Items that will go far in my stash as a scrapbooker and card maker.  

I chose the Bold ABC Dies Set and the Checkerboard Die.  The alphas can be used in so many ways.  I don't see them being too far out of reach for future projects.  The Checkerboard Die is a great background for any occasion.  You will see below how easy it is to change it for your needs.  

I think the best part about the Checkerboard Dies is the automatic confetti that is produced.  I think adding them to the inside of the card so when the recipient opens them, they fall all over is a grand idea!!  An extra surprise.  They may not like the clean up, but I would love the reaction!

Here are my cards that I created for todays blog post.  I hope you are inspired to grab them for yourself.  Just click on the links and you will be directed to the proper items.  

Incredible - Paper Issues

 I had another LIVE FB Video over on the PIFF page for Paper Issues.

This time, I scrap lifted Erika Breslin.  I have attached her original below mine.  I used Fancy Pants Side Kick Optional.  Grab anything from Paper Issues for 20% off with code: Mary-Ann.

Easter in NC! - Paper Issues

 Way back when my boy was itty bitty, we spent Easter in NC with our favorite people.  

Here, the boys, Logan, Evan and Roman were coloring eggs.   It was fun but messy!

I created this LIVE on the Paper Issues Friends and Fans FB page.  

I forgot to add it everywhere.  I think I meant to add journaling and still have yet to do it.  

I used a FREE cut file from Paper Issues, called Buttercup Background and American Crafts Buenos Dias collection.  

Heres a look. 

8th Grade Grad - YouTube Video

 Hey friends!  I have a new process video up on my YouTube channel. 

Thanks for popping in.

Hangin' With My Peeps - Paper Issues

Hey friends!

I am happy to be here today, showing you a layout I created with the Frosty Collection from Pretty Little Studio that has NOTHING to do with winter. Today, it is all about Easter over here.   I also used a FREE cut file from Paper Issues called Hangin' with my Peeps.  

JR Nat Hon Soc - Paper Issues

It's a great day for another Free File Feature over at Paper Issues! All of us love to show off all the incredible FREE cut files in the Paper Issues shop! Every week they are adding more!  In keeping with this months colorful theme, today they are featuring one of our awesome Rainbow cut files! A few of us are going to show you there is more than one way to use a rainbow cut file! Go check everyone out!  

Here is my take on the gorgeous cut file.  I used the new Vicki Boutin collection from PI.  Grab it for 20% off with code: Mary-Ann.