Sweet Disarray Backgrounds & Overlays

"Sweet Disarray." I love the sound of that, especially since "disarray" usually has a negative connotation. In this case, "Sweet Disarray" is a wonderful blend of grunge and vintage artistry against vivid combinations of color. And, if you follow Crafty Button Designs, you know that this is Amber's trademark style. All this makes for some fantastic foundations for art journaling. Sweet Disarray consists of four background packs and one pack of overlays:

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

As you can see, some of the overlays are blended into the backgrounds so you don't have to mix your own colors. If you'd prefer to "personalize" the backgrounds, though, the Sweet Disarray Overlays are a great addition to your art journaling basics stash!

The Crafty CT created wondrous designs with the Sweet Disarray Collection. (Please note that some of the following layouts include other Crafty Button Designs collections.) 

By Karine for Crafty Button Designs

By Beth for Crafty Button Designs

By Chantal for Crafty Button Designs

By Susan for Crafty Button Designs

Add these sensational basics to your stockpile for 20% off today!

The Key To Papers

Watercolor backgrounds call to me. I think it's the softness and subtlety of the colors when they are watered down just a bit. The Key To Papers, a new release from Pretty Dutch Designs has a medley of purple, yellow, and orange. Blended into this base of colors are splatters, brushes, and text to build layers for your art journaling creations. 

Courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

See what I mean? And there are many ways to artfully use these background papers, as the Pretty Dutch Designs CT demonstrate here:

By Lindy for Pretty Dutch Designs

By Chantal for Pretty Dutch Designs

By SoPitiscrap for Pretty Dutch Designs

Stunning, right? It's amazing how these photographs are blended into these papers! Pick up these soft, yet bold, papers at 20% off this weekend! 

Scrappin' Salmagundi Thursday

I have a new Word of the Day: SALMAGUNDI.

Salmagundi means miscellany. Yes, it's a mouthful, but still, I think it's a fun word to play around with. And, how many of you have heard of it before? ;)

So today, I have a bunch of odds and ends - all scrapping-related, of course!

First up, a freebie that I found just before Valentine's Day. It's still available as of today, so move fast!

Courtesy of 2 Curly Headed Monsters Designs

I like that this freebie has sassiness and vintage all in one!

Saw this last night on Facebook - Sesame Street character cards! You can read all about it on the Paper Ecstasy blog. I showed my little guy the photos, and he got very excited. I guess we'll have to make these soon.

Courtesy of Paper Ecstasy

Have you seen the new "I Am" line from Simple Stories?

Courtesy of Simple Stories

I've always been a fan of Simple Stories. The "I Am" Collection is focusing on getting more of "you" (aka as the memory keeper of everything and everyone) in the story. If you're already a pocket scrapper (aka Project Life to some), this whole line makes it easy. It's only available in real, touchable paper products for now, but I'm hoping they'll come out with the digital version soon! In any case, the idea is good, especially since many of us scrappers are always capturing events and lives of other family members and/or friends, but lack any real stories about ourselves. Incidentally, SS just released a free idea e-book and Sn@pbooking Guide using the "I Am" line!

Courtesy of Quirky Heart

Speaking of pocket scrapping and Project Life, there is a great article by Quirky Heart on how she has changed up Project Life for 2015. Not only did she change the size of album she is using, but Michelle is also eschewing the conventional chronological structure - yikes! I swear it's a good read, and it certainly makes you think about a new approach to Project Life, especially if you are having trouble keeping up with the traditional approach.

I am one of those that has issues with keeping up on Project Life. The last couple of years I've "failed" at it (i.e. not completed a full year), so I've been deliberating on what to do about 2015. Digital or continue hybrid? 6"x8" or 12"x12"? Less embellishments? Less journaling? The jury is still out, but I'm at least capturing notes in my day planner and in a special notebook designated to plan out my Project Life pages. This notebook is a new thing for me. I used to keep my notes in a Word doc, but I find that I don't always have my computer on when I think of something. It's easier to just be able to grab the notebook and jot a reminder down. Yes, it's old school, but I've always been better with paper and pen, lol!

That's it for today! I'm hoping to start my Project Life 2015 sometime soon - maybe March? Wish me luck. ;)

Template Challenge with ninigoesdigi

Templates are my saving grace these days! With the demands of my full-time job, I've been having issues with creativity. So I turn to templates to help jumpstart my layouts.

This month, ninigoesdigi is holding her first ever Template Challenge on her blog! The challenge runs until March 20. All you have to do is use the free template and at least 75% of ninigoesdigi goodies. The prize? A $10 gift certificate! However, all entrants will receive a coupon for 25% off ninigoesdigi products, so no one is a loser!

Here's the template:

Courtesy of ninigoesdigi

Using the Streets of Kyoto collab (with Blue Flower Art), shown below, I chose to capture one of my experiences using the subway during my visit to Japan.

Courtesy of ninigoesdigi

The result...

Ginza Station by cyranoscrap

So join in on the fun! After all, what have you got to lose? ;)

50% Off Messy Art

It's Wednesday! (Well, maybe not yet where I am, but it is somewhere! LOL) Over at MScraps, the Wonderful Wednesday sale is in full swing. This week, Pretty Dutch Designs has put the entire Messy Art Collection on sale at 50% off every pack! These packs help make the whole art journaling process easier while making your creations look stunning! Check out these Messy Art basics:

Messy Art Elements, Courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

Messy Art Papers, courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

Messy Art Journal Cards, courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

Messy Art AJ Papers, courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

Messy Art Masks, courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

Messy Art White Papers, courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

As you can see, all of these packs are super versatile, so they're not just for art journaling! Be sure to grab these basics at 50% off on Wednesday only!

New Artist Loft Collection

I admire art journalists. They are so free and expressive on their pages - something I have yet to achieve effortlessly. However, with the help of basics like the new Artist Loft Collection from Crafty Button Designs, anyone can make an art journaling page without too much stress!

Look at the new packs released on Friday:

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

I especially LOVE the Grungy Letters and Numbers pack! I can't wait to try it all out. But, take a look at what the Crafty CT members created with these packs! (Note: Some of these creations may include other Crafty Button Designs' products.)

by Trista for Crafty Button Designs

by Chiara for Crafty Button Designs

by Beth for Crafty Button Designs

by Cindy for Crafty Button Designs

You can get the Artist Loft packs today for 20% off!

Tween Times

Do you remember being a teenager? Unfortunately, I do, even though it was {cough, cough} many years ago. ;)  I certainly don't want to repeat those years, although a few memories might be worth it!

Now we all know those memories can be good or bad, and Design by Heather T. created a vibrant kit to scrap both! Introducing Tween Times, for those teen and in-between years!

Courtesy of Design by Heather T.

There is also a set of black and white papers that are free when you purchase the Tween Times kit:

Courtesy of Design by Heather T.

Frankly, I think the whole Tween Times collection is great for almost any memory you want to capture, not just the teenage years. The whole Tween Times collection (with free black and white papers) is on sale today!

Love at First Sight

With Valentine's Day around the corner, it's hard to go into almost any store without running into some reminder of this unofficial holiday. Likewise, I've seen a bunch of digiscrap kits that I absolutely love and have to remind myself that I can only make so many pages, lol!

However, I did make one page with one of these "love" kits. Using The Years Together elements and papers from ninigoesdigi, I made a layout with one of my all-time favorite photos:

love at first sight by cyranoscrap

CREDITS
The Years Together elements and papers (ninigoesdigi)
Template #38 (ninigoesdigi)
Font: PW01 Script

The Years Together elements and papers happen to be on sale for 50% off today for Wonderful Wednesday, so be sure to grab them before the one-day sale ends! Here's a better look at the collection:

Courtesy of ninigoesdigi

Courtesy of ninigoesdigi

Find Joy

Crazy, busy week work-wise = slow scrapping. It's amazing how work has a way of making it harder to get the creativity flowing. But, I still got my page done...just a little later than I anticipated!

Find Joy by cyranoscrap

CREDITS

Kits: More Than All the Stars, First Snow (Two More Days)

Pocket Cards: Truth and Beauty (Two More Days

Font: Stampin’ Pete (title), Shelter Me (caption, date)

Template: Cutie Patootie (Our Misadventures)

I love the new Truth and Beauty Pocket Cards. Obviously, I didn't use them in pockets, but I felt they were perfect for my layout. Here's a view of the whole pack, which is currently on sale now:

Courtesy of Two More Days

I can't wait to use the other cards in my Project Life album!

Make Memories

It's a new month, which means there's a new Scrap Pack at Scrap Stacks. The February Scrap Pack includes five different designers, and the whole pack is only $5! This month, Two More Days has a new kit called Small Batch. Here's a peek:

Small Batch, courtesy of Two More Days

Using this sweet kit, I was able to scrap a memory from December:

Make Memories. Repeat. by cyranoscrap

CREDITS

Kit: Small Batch (Two More Days)

Font: Shelter Me

Template: These Memories (Our Misadventures)

Want to see the whole February Scrap Pack? Here ya go:

February Scrap Pack, courtesy of Scrap Stacks

$5 is a great deal for these new releases, but it's only good for the month of February!

It's Groundhog Day...

...and I always think of the infamous movie of the same name - none other than Groundhog Day! Unfortunately, I didn't watch the movie today since I didn't have time. Oh well, there's always tomorrow, unless like in the movie, there is no tomorrow...

Phil: Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today. 

Of course, I'm going to choose to believe there is a tomorrow. :D

Aside from not watching the movie, I also spent most of my morning in conference calls so that I was brain dead by lunch. Fortunately, I was revived enough this evening in order to do a little scrapping! Here is one of my new favorite photos, finally scrapped!

So Happy by cyranoscrap

CREDITS

Kit: Honey, Honey (Blue Flower Art) - also used edge overlays, paint overlays and journaling cards 

Font: The Great Escape

Template: Oh Snap (Our Misadventures)

The collection I used, Honey, Honey from Blue Flower Art, had the perfect colors for this photo. Here's the collection up close:

Honey, Honey Kit, courtesy of Blue Flower Art

Honey, Honey Paint Overlays, courtesy of Blue Flower Art

Honey, Honey Journaling Cards, courtesy of Blue Flower Art

Honey, Honey Edge Overlays, courtesy of Blue Flower Art

The overlays are so much fun and add so much depth and texture to the layout. And I feel like my page looks much more artsy without having to do all the work! :) The Honey, Honey collection was just released today - you can grab each of the packs at 20% off each or the whole collection is over 50% off! Go get a little artsy with this fun collection!