Vero- Sneak Peeks June Elite Kit !

Wowwww I have been so glad to scrap this kit... colors were perfect for me, and I could create exactly what I wished....
I am SURE you will love this new kit ... have a look on this ;-)

Michelle's May Challenge

So last week I found this cool video of Janna Werner creating a page:

Instant inspiration, right?!

So my challenge to you this month is to watch the video and create a page inspired from it.  You can use some of her fabulous techniques: spreading gesso/acrylic paint onto your page, dripping ink, stamping, layering, embossing; or use some of the same supplies: fabric, notebook paper, thread, sequins, washi tape.

I pretty much copied her whole darn thing because I loved it so much! 

Here's mine:

Hope you will play along.  Link up your inspired creation in the Linky over there by Wednesday, June 6th.

Strawberry Box Tutorial

Hello Papercraftanistas!

Today I have a fun little strawberry shaped box tutorial for you.  

I, of course, found this idea on Pinterest a while back: 

Source: erinlincoln.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

and when I saw the red polk-a-dot paper in the May kit, I knew it would be perfect for this project.

So I started with a little search for a template (the box above is created with an MFT die) and came up with THIS ONE--just perfect!.

1. Enlarge the template a bit.  I did this by opening the PDF in Photoshop, creating a new canvas sized 8.5 x 11 300dpi, drag the PDF to the new canvas, and stretch the corners while constraining the proportions until the template portion fills most of the canvas.
2. Print onto card stock, cut out, trace onto the back of your patterned paper, and cut out.
3. Punch holes in the top center of each side and the center of the leaf cluster.
4. Apply adhesive to the tab and glue to the inside edge of next side to form a five-sided box.

Now you're ready to stitch it closed.  Thread a needle with floss, string, twine, ribbon, whatever you like and leaving a long tail, stitch through the top of the leaf and then through each top side from the inside out {see third photo above}.  After last side, go back through the leaf from bottom up. You should now have two ends sticking out of the leaf on top.

Pull gently to cinch the top closed--don't forget to add your goodies if you're using this as gift packaging.  Thread each end of the string through a large button and tie a bow.   Add a little sentiment pennant and you're done.  How cute is that?!


If you give this a try, we would love to see your creations.  Be sure to share yours in the comments!

Meet the SH Design Team: Michelle Neddo

Who is Michelle Neddo?

I'm a mom to 3 boys and wife to my high school sweetheart.  I have been creative for as long as I can remember: watching my mother sew and paint, learning to knit from my grandmother when I was 8, cutting up magazines to create collage posters as a teenager.  In my life prior to children, I was a teacher.  And now, well, I'm wondering what I will be when I grow up {but I hope it will be something creative}.  I blog at lifemadecreations.blogspot.com

Tell us about your early beginnings in scrapbooking?

I was actually reluctant to start scrapbooking.  My sister was having a home party and begged me to come.  I had just started quilting and already had a large collection of rubber stamps; I SO did not need another crafty hobby.  I went to support her, made my page and was totally hooked!  The next day we headed to the craft store and began our stash.

Why do you scrapbook?

This page I created a couple of years ago sums up what I love about scrapbooking.  I love that scrapbooking gives me a creative outlet to play with all sorts of materials {paper, fabric, ribbon, buttons, paint, pens} to create something that records the stories of our life--who we are and how we live--so that we can remember a moment in time that might otherwise have been forgotten.  When you really think about it, when a day is over sometimes all you have left are the memories.  Scrapbooking cements those memories into permanence.

What inspires you/motivates you to create?

My children are definitely my biggest source of motivation.  I want to record their childhoods for them so that they can remember who they are and where they came from.  My mother kept a baby book of me, but I was the youngest of 4 so it was a teense bit sparse.  In late high school and early college, I went through a bit of an obsession with AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh books (and Disney's rendition of him, too).  My mom gave me my baby book when I moved out on my own and right there on the line next to "Favorite Toy" were the words "Pooh Bear."  And with that I was able to justify my obsession.  I love that she had recorded that for me, and I'm grateful to be recording memories for my children.

Who are your scrapbooking idols?

So many scrapbook artists inspire me, and it changes as I go through different scrapbooking phases.  One of my first and most influential idols was Rebecca Sower.  She changed the way I looked at scrapbooking and inspired me to create my own embellishments and to use them to help tell my story.  My current loves include Maggie Holmes, Wilna Furstenberg, Amy Tan{gerine}, Celine Navarro, Ania Maria Wolniak, Magda Bolinska {mumkaa}, Marcy Penner.  Ok, I'll stop there.  Seriously, I could list a dozen more.

Tell us a little-known fact about yourself.

When I was about 3, I ran across my backyard with a pen in my mouth.  Yup, tripped and fell and got it lodged in the roof of my mouth.  Yikes!  That little story came in quite handy when I was a teacher; I would show my scar to whomever I saw with a pen or pencil in their mouth.

What kind of music do you enjoy?

I love music.  When I'm creating, tunes are always playing--loudly if I'm in the house alone.  Mostly my playlist includes Indie Pop/Adult Alternative artists like Lenka, Jason Mraz, Ingrid Michaelson, Katie Herzig, Jess Penner, Matt Nathanson.  Music often inspires my creations and I have a hard time creating without it.

How do you find time to scrapbook?

Umm, lots of late nights.  I never used to be a night owl until I had children.  I quickly realized if I was ever going to get anything done for myself, I would have to stay up past their bedtimes to do it.

What's the hardest thing for you to scrapbook?

Hmm, I guess I would say our wedding photos.  I just haven't been inspired to create an entire album of our wedding.  I would feel like I had to copy all the professional photos (and that's just a lot of work!).  I would feel the need to have to coordinate everything--paper, embellies, style--for the entire book and am afraid that by the end I would be so sick of  looking at and working with all the same stuff.  Guess they'll just sit in the albums they came in.

What's your go-to embellishment?

Flowers.  With three boys, I sometimes have to restrain myself from using flowers on all their pages.  I love to make my own out of paper, fabric, yarn, thread, ribbon or anything else I can possibly turn into  flower.  

What is your favorite color for scrapbooking?  Which color do you rarely use?

I am very drawn to blues and greens--soft ocean hues, bright lime and turquoise, and most every shade in between.  I love brights (though not neon), pastels, and primary tones.  I tend to stay away from the earthy, jewel tones (hunter green, burgundy, navy)--they just seem dark and depressing.  

What made you happy today?

Watching a turtle crossing the road to go lay her eggs in the yard across the street, and my oldest son following on her tail so she made it safely before a car came along.

May Challenge #3!

I'm on this week with the challenge! 

It is not a hard one but it is different!  I've noticed a few layouts with edges that are border punched but NOT all the way around!  Just a little here and a little there....so I thought I'd give it a try.  Here is what I came up with.

It is a little hard to tell that there is nothing behind the punch (looks like white cardstock) but there isn't!  I love how it looks in real life!  Even when my hubby saw it he commented on how he loved the little bits punched out!  So, I DARE you, challenge you or just ask if that is how you see it to give it a try!  I think you will like it!

By the way, this layout is my oldest son and his sweet wife while they were on a little vaca this year!  I think it is so neat how my older kids are now asking, bringing and requesting that I do layouts for them!  I guess it is one of the perks from this awesome hobby!  AND one more thing, I used the May Elite kit to create this one!  I'll be sharing a few more layouts in the next few days from this awesome kit!  It rocks!  Don't wait because they will NOT last!

Link up your creation is the sidebar by June 5 to win a Scrapbook Heaven prize!

Michelle P May Elite Reveal

The May Elite Kit is a fabulous steal at $24.99. I was able to create 2 layouts, 3 cards and a mini album and still have more supplies leftover. And yes-the actual Pink Paislee Artisan Album comes in the kit!

 And the layouts and cards I made :

2 cards with the Petite !

I am back here to show you 2 cards I've done with the Petite Kit of May ! After 4 layouts ! Not so "Petite", isn't it ? ;-)

Have a great sunday !!