Kiwi Lane DT Doodles Sketch - Week 38 (Plus a Giveaway!)

I'm so very happy to be showcasing a layout I made for Kiwi Lane for their weekly blog feature DT Doodles Sketch. And I'm giving away an awesome set of Kiwi Lane border templates to celebrate...check out the end of this post to find out how to enter.

Just like all of the layouts I scrap with Kiwi Lane templates, I'm in love with this one. I really enjoyed using this week's sketch to create the layout.

I used the Carta Bella Rough & Tumble collection for the papers, embellishments, and accents, with Delight Thickers for the red letters. For the Kiwi Lane designer templates, I used the Madison Avenue and Strips border templates, Photos and Photo Mats, and accessory templates from Adventure, Playtime, Journey, and Accents.

You can see that I changed up the sketch just a bit to fit my photos. I love how playful and fun everything looks. It's definitely fitting for our day at Grandpa's house.

I cut the "BOYS" with the Yogurt alpha die set and then pop-dotted them up from the page. I also added pop-dots behind the circles on the gears. The embellishments and stickers from Carta Bella included a few layered elements as well, and I love the dimension this gives to the page.

I sewed on the chipboard buttons and then tied the strings behind the page. I love to stitch the buttons on to add even more texture.

To learn more, and to get tons of sketches to use with Kiwi Lane templates, visit Kiwi Lane's blog. They have so much there to help you get the most out of your templates.

And you can win your very own set of Kiwi Lane templates! I'm giving away a set of Madison Avenue border templates (shipped to the US only). These border templates are super versatile (just like all Kiwi Lane templates). You will love using them on your pages. You can enter the giveaway starting today through Thursday, October 3. Good luck to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Epic Birthday

Birthday photos can be hard to scrapbook. There's just so many of them. To help with this, I do a Shutterfly photobook to showcase all of the photos, just dropping them into ready-made templates to make it easy. Then, I use just the best photos to create a few layouts per year.

So today, I'm sharing a birthday layout that's not-your-typical birthday layout. I used the Heidi Swapp No Limits collection and my beloved Kiwi Lane designer templates. The end result is a fun layout showcasing lots of birthday photos.

For the borders and background, I used Kiwi Lane's Spook Alley, Strips, Abbie Road, and Photo Blocks.

 
I have always loved Heidi's handwritten embellishments (who else remembers all those rub-ons??). I bought the "epic" shape from Heidi Swapp's website and then traced it with my Silhouette to create the perfect matching title.

For the accents, I used Kiwi Lane's accessory templates in Adventure, Journey, Playtime, and Accents.

I printed the journaling onto a shield shape I cut out with the Kiwi Lane Journey accessory set. Perfect for boy layouts. Love how it looks (font is Typewriter Scribbled). It takes some fiddling to get your printer to print where you want it, but it's so worth it. I think next time, I'll just print it onto the paper and then cut out the shape. (Seriously, why didn't I think of that before right now. Duh.)

I'm seriously in love with this layout. It helps that the collection has my favorite color combo right now -- blue and orange. Total boy colors.

Have you created any unusual birthday layouts lately? Please share...

Fall Porch

Today, I'm sharing our fall porch. Fall is definitely my favorite time of the year. With that, I love to add autumn touches to our decor to highlight the season.

I wish I could say I made the wreath -- it's beautiful -- but it's a pre-made one. Love it.

I still love my shabby blue chair. It goes with everything -- which I never would have guessed when I chose this color.

And my $5 garage sale bench is always a staple on our porch...

Nothing else new on my porch this year, but it looks perfect for fall for our neck of the woods.

Have you decorated for fall yet? Please share it here...I would love to see your projects.

Kiwi Lane Designer Team!

I've been dying to share this news -- and now it's finally time. I'm so honored and excited to announce that I've been selected to join the amazing Kiwi Lane designer team!

I first discovered Kiwi Lane about a year ago at the Denver Scrapbook Expo. As soon as I started using their designer templates, I have been hooked. I use their border templates and accessory sets on nearly every scrapbook layout I create. The templates and the framing process make creating scrapbook layouts fun and easy. A few of my favorites...

Now, I'll be creating special projects and layouts just for Kiwi Lane. If you haven't checked them out yet, go now and follow their blog and like them on Facebook. You can even follow the Kiwi Lane channel on YouTube. I promise, you will love what you see and learn so much.

I'm so excited about this -- I'll be sharing more on my blog very soon...thank you Kiwi Lane!

Fall Home Tour

Today, I'm so happy to be sharing some fall decor ideas. I was somewhat on the ball this year and got my fall decor put up before it was time for Halloween. It gives us some time to enjoy the changing of the season, even if it is still so hot here in Colorado.

In the foyer, I put up my favorite fall wreath and few cute fall decorative items, including a framed stitching piece I made.

In the living room, I have a beautiful new ruffled burlap table runner that I just love (with a matching mini one in foyer).

In the family room, I added fall decor to the sofa table, along with a new chevron table runner and the Give Thanks plaque I made a few years ago.

And finally, I decorated our mantel and above the entertainment center. It's a little different than last year, because I found that a garland didn't work so great when we actually wanted to use the fireplace. So I have to sacrifice style a bit for safety.

 

So that's our home decorated for fall. It's amazing how it puts me in the mood for cooler weather. Hoping it will be coming soon...

Vintage Photo Layout

Today, I'm sharing a layout made with vintage photos -- at least, vintage 1980s. I took inspiration from a layout by Two Peas Garden Girl Wilna Furstenberg. I love the layered look she creates, and I wanted to create something in her style.

I used three large blue tags to create a solid background for the photos, then I layered together papers from a few Studio Calico kits. I just tucked various patterns together until I created a look I liked.

I added in a few random embellishments from my stash to complete the layout.

This was a departure from my usual style, but I had fun creating it. I'll be trying it again soon, I'm sure.

Have you created anything using the layered look? Please share it...

Cut Outs from Background Paper

Today, I'm sharing a technique for your background paper. I've been seeing this technique done around the blog-o-sphere, and I wanted to try it out for myself.

I created this layout with the Sock Hop kit from Studio Calico. Love the bright colors. If you look closely, you can see that I've cut the star shapes out of the background paper with my Silhouette. I then put the patterned paper on the back of the layout, to show through the shape to the front.
 

 It's a subtle technique but it adds so much texture and dimension. It works well for intricate shapes that would be difficult to piece together as a shape -- as this star would, with its strips and pieces.

If you have a Silhouette, this is a very easy technique to try out. If you don't, you can handcut a shape from the paper or use your punches to shape the background paper.

Give it a try - I think you'll love the results.

Handmade Flowers

I blogged a few days ago about how awesome Glubers are. I'm back today with another layout where I created a handmade flower embellishment with a Gluber.

This layout is about one of my most favorite people. :) The background is a very large cut file from my Silhouette -- a welded leaf pattern I made in one of Kerri Bradford's awesome Silhouette classes (love her classes!). 

And here is the flower I made, with a bit of grey tulle and a fun stacked embellishment for the center.

I love the texture the handmade flower gives to the page. I can't wait to make more.

Have you used Glubers yet?