"Explore" mini album by Cari Fennell

I'm always amazed at what our fabulous guest designers at AllyScraps can do with a mini album!! Such creativity and inspiration. Check out Cari Fennell's mini album, titled let's go EXPLORE, it's so shabby, light hearted and FUN.



Cari's Instructions
I painted the album covers in green and set aside to dry. Then I cut larger rectangles from the OA papers-using random patterned papers from the Fly A Kite and Thrift Shop lines. Then I punched the edges of all the cut rectanlge pieces. I glued the flash cards to the papers and then ran them through my sewing machine to create pockets. I used a straight sticth with black thread. All of the paper edges were distressed and inked. I tucked some tags, envelopes and journal card in the pockets randomly. Then I layered the punched circles, journal cards and paper strips to embellish the pages. Each page is unique and offers lots of areas to place photos, journaling and little trinkets from your explorations.







Supplies
October Afternoon Fly A Kite and Thrift Shop papers
October Afternoon Thrift Shop Flashcard book
October Afternoon Mini Letter Alpha in green
Ocotber Afternoon Journal Cards, Fly A Kite
Maya Road Kraft Envelopes
Other supplies - Ribbons, Buttons, Sewing Machine, American Crafts thickers, Acrylic Paint-Adirondack Lettuce by Ranger, Distress Ink-Vintage Photo, scallop edge punch, circle punch, Shipping Tags by Avery and Bling.

Wow, wow, wow! This is so darn cute. Hope you will create one too. :)

~ Dana

Fall mini book by Melissa Phillips

Today, my daughter and I visited the local "applefest". The apples were amazing, the leaves are just turning to their beautiful fall hues... and I'm feeling all autumny. :) Seems like Melissa Phillips is too, because doesn't her fall mini book make you feel all warm and cozy??




Instructions:
1. Paint the top coaster of the chipboard leaf set with off-white acrylic paint. Let dry, sand lightly, and coat with white glitter. Set aside.
2. Trace the punched out leaf from the top coaster onto the paper that resembles the map. Cut out, adhere to the chipboard leaf, sand, and ink.
3. Adhere this leaf to a larger leaf coaster that has been traced and cut out from dark red paper. Sand the edges and ink to distress.
4. Embellish the layered leaves with a stamp die cut.
5. Embellish the top glittered coaster with a satin posy and metal rimmed tag with alphabet stickers spelling out “Fall”. Thread these two layers together using ribbon or twill.
6. Thread on a mini envelope with brown crocheted trim attached along the bottom edge, a folded over die cut tag, chipboard button, and resin flower.
7. Trace a chipboard pumpkin coaster onto patterned paper, cut out, adhere, sand and ink the edges.
8. Trace the bottom of the pumpkin coaster onto coordinating green paper and repeat the distressing techniques.
9. Attach a strip of trim across pumpkin, clear calendar, die cut, and pleated flower. Thread this coaster on next.
10. Trace a leaf coaster onto striped paper. Cut out, adhere, sand, and ink to distress.
11. Embellish the leaf with a clear calendar, vintage trim, pleated flower, and die cut tag. Thread this coaster on next.
12. To finish, thread on another mini envelope with a die cut tag folded over the center and embellished with a chipboard button and resin flower.
13. Apply rubons to accent each coaster.
14. Secure coaster and envelopes together by tying a bow at the top.









Supplies
Maya Road Chipboard Coaster, leaf
Maya Road Chipboard Coaster, pumpkin
Maya Road Satin Posies, cream and brown
Maya Road Resin Blossoms, cream
Maya Road Velvet Pleats, pumpkin & latte
Maya Road Crochet Trim, brown
Maya Road Vintage Crochet Trim, white lace
Maya Road Mini Sheer Set, Calendars Black & White
Graphic 45 Renaissance Fair Collection, Bona Fide Paper
Graphic 45 Renaissance Fair Collection, Triumphant Paper
Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland Collection, Alice’s Tea Party Paper
Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland Collection, Die Cut Tags
Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante Collection, Die Cut Tags
Graphic 45 Staples, Chipboard Buttons
Advantus Girls Paperie, On Holiday Collection, Paper Cuts
October Afternoon Thrift Shop Collection, Mini Market Stickers, Ledger
Pink Paislee Starlight Collection, Glow Paper
Melissa Frances Transfers, Months

Other supplies
Off-white acrylic paint
White glitter
Melissa Frances rubons
Vintage buttons
Tea stained envelopes, twill, and metal rimmed tag
Button twine
Vintage trim

Thanks so much Melissa, this is just gorgeous, and we enjoy your monthly project for AllyScraps SO much. By the way, I asked Melissa if she'd do a bow tying tutorial for us on the blog... and she said that YES, she would. :) Don't forget about our October sketch contest, posted over at the Page Maps blog, you still have time to do a layout based on this awesome sketch and the prize is just awesome.

Have a terrific weekend, we'll be back soon, with even more inspiration. Dana

OMG! (I need to do this layout!)

This layout by Becky Fleck is just TOO funny. I need to do one of these, because this is taking place in my house as we speak! :) I love the simple lines of this page, but with PLENTY to catch your eye and keep the focus on the fun picture at the same time.



Supplies
Bella Blvd. Midterm, text me
Bella Blvd. Midterm, physics
Bella Blvd. Midterm, borders and blocks
Bella Blvd. Midterm, Steve's keys
Maya Road envelopes

Thanks so much Becky!! Awesome layout.

~ Dana

Birdhouse card set by Roree Rumph

Wow, these birdhouse cards are ADORABLE!! A big thank you to Roree Rumph for her awesome designs and inspiration this month at AllyScraps. We're so sad that this is her last project for now... but we've already asked her to come back, and she's agreed. :) Be sure to check out Roree's blog for even more inspiration.



Home
1. Cut the yellow patterned paper to 7 1/2 x 4". From the top center of the panel, cut over to the left and right sides of the paper (about 2" down). From that point, taper in to the bottom of the panel (about 3/4" in) on each side. This will give you an elongated pentgon shape. Make a card using the panel as a template. Adhere the panel to the card.
2. Cut two strips of brown patterned paper to 3/4 x 4". Adhere the strips to the top of the card for the roof line, and trim off the excess.
3. Cut out a 2" scalloped circle from blue patterned paper and a 1 5/8" circle from graph patterned paper. Layer and adhere the circles, chipboard heart, flower (hand cut from floral patterned paper), and brad to the card front.
4. Paint the chipboard letters with acrylic paint, 2-3 coats, and let dry.
5. Adhere the bird die-cut to the card. Adhere the chipboard letters and button for the sentiment, and hand sew cross stitches at opposite corners of the die-cut with brown embroidery thread.




Sweet Home
1. Cut the graph patterned paper to 6" square. From the top center of the panel, cut over to the left and right sides of the paper (about 3 1/4" down). From that point, taper in to the bottom of the panel (about 3/4" in) on each side. This will give you an pentgon shape. Make a card using the panel as a template. Adhere the panel to the card.
2. Cut two strips of blue patterned paper to 1 x 5 1/2", using decorative scissors to scallop one edge of each. Hand sew cross stitches on each scallop with brown embroidery thread. Adhere the strips to the top of the card for the roof line, and trim off the excess.
3. Cut a 3/4 x 5 1/2" strip from the brown patterned paper, round the corners, and adhere the strip to the bottom of the card.
4. Cut out a 2 3/8" scalloped circle from gingham die-cut. Layer and adhere the circle and cardstock sticker to the card front.
5. Paint the chipboard letters with acrylic paint, 2-3 coats, and let dry.
6. Apply the rub-on and adhere the chipboard letters and button for the sentiment.
7. Hand cut two flowers from the floral patterned paper. Hand cut four leaf shapes from green patterned paper. Layer and adhere the leaves, flowers, and brads under the sentiment.




Supplies
October Afternoon Thrift Shop Collection, The Great Find
October Afternoon Fly A Kite Collection, Picnic Table
October Afternoon Fly A Kite Collection, Lemonade
October Afternoon Fly A Kite Collection, Garden
October Afternoon Fly A Kite Collection, Dandelions
October Afternoon Fly A Kite Collection Journaling Cards
October Afternoon Fly A Kite Collection Word Stickers
Maya Road Mini Chipboard Set, Bethany Alphabet

We're looking forward to a busy month here at AllyScraps. We have layouts from Becky Fleck (as well as her sketch contest), projects from Melissa Phillips and Linda Albrecht and another awesome NEW designer to our blog. Hope you'll check back on Wednesday and all week. Oh, and don't forget, we're still awarding scrappy prizes just for commenting on the blog... so don't forget to say hello!

~ Dana

A big AllyScraps welcome to Becky Fleck, and a new sketch contest too!

It's October 1st, a new scrappy month and time for an awesome new sketch contest at AllyScraps. First of all, let me introduct Becky Fleck, wonderful sketch artist and an awesome scrapbooker too!



Becky Fleck is the owner of the PageMaps web site, which provides scrapbook layout and greeting card sketches to over 20,000 readers each month. She is also the author of the best-selling book Scrapbook PageMaps and Scrapbook PageMaps 2 (available October 2010). Becky is a professional graphic illustrator, freelancing for several scrapbook and stamp manufacturers. She teaches extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally at expos, scrapbook stores and conventions. She lives in the beautiful Stillwater Valley of southeast Montana with her husband and furry retrievers.



A big, big welcome to Becky, we're so glad to have you here at AllyScraps.

We're doing the sketch contest a little differently this month. It will be run from Becky's sketch site, Pagemaps. To enter the contest this month, create a layout based on this sketch,any size, any orientation, any way you want to interpret it,using any products you would like. Post a link to your entry in the comments section of the Pagemaps blog and you're entered!

The contest starts today and ends at midnight, Sunday, October 24th (MST). This contest is open to everyone, everywhere. Here's Becky's sketch, LOVE IT!



And the prize, you ask??? It's a biggie, one I think you're really going to enjoy! A $35!!! dollar gift certificate to the AllyScraps store. Woweeee.



Best of luck with this contest, and HAVE FUN! Don't forget to submit based on the Pagemaps guidelines. Can't wait to see your layouts. :)

Have a great weekend and be sure to check back soon, more projects from Cari Fennell, Roree Rumph and Becky Fleck to be posted very soon! Dana