Nicole Martel

November 12, 2018

CARDS FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Hi everyone. I decided to mix things up a bit by creating some cards. I rarely make cards, but every now and then, I make a bunch at one time because I refuse to pay $5 for a card that doesn't say what I want it to say inside... And honestly, I have so many scraps and embellishments that could be used in a good way. Last month, I made lots of cards for a fundraiser at work to raise money for cancer. I made almost 70 cards and they were flying off the table quicker than I could make them. This made me so happy! I sold each 3x4 card for $1 each and all proceeds went towards the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It made me feel good to be able to give back to the community.

For these cards, I used 4x6 journaling cards and folded them in half for the base. Then I added embellishments and stamps to decorate each card. This snowman was a 3x4 card. I added a little pink jewel to the hat, a cork heart embellishment and stamped "smile" on the card. It was my favorite until it went to a good home.

The XOXO was a 4x6 journaling card that I folded in half. Then I added the two tags and stapled the cork heart onto the card to add dimension to the card.

For this card, I splattered ink onto white cardstock. Once the ink dried, I used foam squares to mount the sentiment die cut onto the card. Then I used markers to color in the hearts.

Here's another 4x6 journaling card that I folded in half. Then I added the Casual-Friday stamps and colored them in using markers. I stapled the cork heart at the bottom for fun and added another stamp sentiment. Then I used a ruler and black pen to draw a border around the card.

For this card, I mounted the adorable Owl die cut to the card. Then I adhered the tags, jewel and heart.

This is another quick and simple card I created using journaling cards, stamps and a cork heart embellishment.

Pretty Little Studio Journaling Cards, Tags, Cork Heart Embellishments, Stamps: Casual-Friday Stamps, Technique Tuesday, Pinkfresh Studio.

What do you think? Are you ready to put those journaling cards and embellishments to good use to support a wonderful cause? Thanks for stopping by today!

November 5, 2018

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Good morning friends and family! Today, I am sharing a layout I created using Paper House's Color Washed Paper and their 3D Yoga Stickers. I snapped this photo of me last week before I worked out to Zumba Step for an hour. I am so proud of myself for sticking to Zumba on and off for the past year and a half. I feel so much better when I work out 3-4 days per week. And the hours I spent sweating my butt off shows. I've lost 8 pounds since April this year. That might not sound like a lot, but it is when all I've been doing is working out 3-4 days a week and not dieting... I still eat what I want.

For the background, I used a silicone brush and Bad Girls Couture's white premium gesso to alter the background a little. I wanted to break up the gold and blue a bit with some white to tone it down a bit.

I cut the purple paint splash and butterfly from patterned paper then used Yes Paste to glue them down.

I used a pen and ruler to journal within the purple splashed paper. Then added the little die cut embellishment.

Even though the 3D Stickers are Yoga and not Zumba themed, I made it work for my layout. The papers really helped pull this together with the stickers. I love it...

I pulled the "INHALE, EXHALE" die cut apart so I could use just a small piece of it below the photo.

I added the gold thickers from my stash for the title.

I tucked the "make it happen" square of paper that I cut from a cut-apart sheet to help frame the photo then added the 3D sticker next to it.

Do you have any hobbies such as working out? What do you like to do to get into shape? I would love to hear what you've been doing. I like to mix things up a bit so I do not get bored with my workout routine.

Thanks for visiting today!

November 4, 2018

I'M A SUCCA FOR YOU

Good morning friends! I'm back with a fun layout I created using lots of ink, stamps and tags. I love this color combination. Isn't it beautiful?

I used random items from different collection for this layout since I was looking for specific colored embellishments. Love the tags layered together on the left side of the photo with the acrylic word. It was just what I needed to complete the layout.

I stamped the floral stamp onto white cardstock then did some fussy cutting to shape up the image. Once the stamp image was cut, I used markers to color in the images. This layout was very therapeutic for me. I had a blast coloring...and just going with the flow.

Here is a closer look at the stamp. Isn't it gorgeous? I think I am going to try to stamp more often because I love how much impact they add to any project.

I added a piece of blue ribbon from my stash to add some texture and dimension to the layout.

What do you think? Are you ready to color now?!

Pretty Little Studio Tags/Tales & Dreams/Dreams, Grossgrain Tag/Heart Tag (retired), Die Cuts/Love Word Flags, Acrylic: Hello Word (retired), Stickers/Romantic Words, Acrylic Stamps: Trinity Stamps, Jewels: Doodlebug, Ribbon: May Arts Ribbon, Mist: Shimmerz Paints, Ranger, Tattered Angels

Thanks for visiting today!

October 30, 2018

Spooky

Good morning!! It's hard to believe that Halloween is tomorrow! This year has flown by so fast it's scary. It feels like just yesterday, I was celebrating with these clowns. Last year, these two creeped everyone out in our neighborhood, including the adults. They were quite the pair. LOL

The Goosebumps collection was perfect for scrapping this layout. The die cuts made this layout super simple to create. Love when that happens.

I framed the photos using the die cut frames. Then I used foam squares to mount a few die cuts to add dimension to the layout.

I added the die cut words and the heart acrylic at the bottom to kind of pull the journaling together.

I stapled two stars together using a mini stapler, then I used a foam square to mount it between the two photos with another tiny star.

I cut the clown image from one of the photos I had and made it so it would peek above the "Spooky" die cut. HAHA, I was cracking myself up as I was creating this layout.

Pretty Little Studio Goosebumps Paper/Candy Corn, Pumpkin Spice, Die Cuts/Thriller, Costume Party/Words, Acrylic Shapes/Love Fall

Thanks for visiting today!! Hope you have a fabulous Halloween tomorrow! Be safe and take lots of creepy photos.

October 24, 2018

FLY FREE

Hi everybody. I'm back with another layout I created using the Savannah Dreams collection. I couldn't help myself. Really, I told myself I needed to create something with a different collection, but I couldn't. LOL. I just love this collection so much. The colors and patterns make me so happy. To begin, I sprayed orange mist onto the white cardstock and then I smeared pink paint around the edges.

I drew my inspiration from the "everyday fun and little delights" stickers... And I love the pink, white and orange color combination with the touch of blue.

I cut the speech bubbles from the 4x6 journaling card and then I embellished the bubbles using die cuts and stickers.

Doesn't it look fun? I love how it turned out. I used foam squares to pop the speech bubbles off the page a bit.

I used the cut-apart word banner at the bottom to pull the layout together. I added a few gems for fun

Pretty Little Studio Journaling Cards/Remember This, Cherish Today, Die Cuts/Frolic Words, Happy Place, Stickers/All Together, Word Flags/Happiness

Thanks for visiting today!

October 22, 2018

CELEBRATE

Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! As promised, I am back with another layout using Bramble Fox's October Fox Box. I finally used those gorgeous balloon perspextives on a layout. And I had fun altering them a bit with a variety of embellishments.

For the background, I sprayed a 6x6 stencil then I flipped it over so it would lay ink side down on white cardstock. Then I painted around the stencil square using a paint brush and lime mist. Although the image did not turn out great on the stencil, I love the effect of the mist and stencil.

I embellished the perspextives using enamel stickers and a cork heart. I used a black sharpie to outline the pink hard with dots.

I backed the white "celebrate" perspextive with black cardstock so the letters would not get lost with the photo.

I used a variety of 3x4 journaling cards and placed them vertically down the page.

To complete the layout, I added a strip of washi and photos. This was such a simple layout to create. And sooooo much fun!

What do you think of the balloon perspextives? Aren't they gorgeous. I think I need another set. :) Thanks for visiting today! Hope you have a wonderful week.

October 15, 2018

BEGINNERS SCRAPBOOKING: MAKING YOUR FIRST LAYOUT

Hi everyone! I am back today with a pretty lengthy post for those of you who are new to scrapbooking and wanting to learn how to scrapbook a page! Whenever I am about to create a page, I start with the photos first. The photos are what inspires me to scrapbook, not the products. Once I have the photos selected, I look through my patterned papers to find patterns that goes well with the photos. You want to make sure the pictures flow nicely with the patterns. Most of the time, if I am planning on using lots of colors on my layout, I will use a black and white photo or two. That way the photos do not clash with the papers and embellishments.

Here's the layout I am going to share with you, step-by-step on how I created it.

Since I am more of a simple scrapbooker, I tend to use white cardstock as my base. I don't know what it is...but I love how much impact white cardstock can add to a layout. The first thing I do to prepare the layout is I use a ruler and a pen to draw a 1/4" border around the cardstock.

I loved this journaling card with the books so I decided to list my favorite books I've read so far this year!

Then I grab smaller scraps of patterned papers and a few journaling cards to decorate the layout. Normally, the design of a layout takes me longer than the actual time it takes me to complete the layout!

I moved the journaling cards around the page and the scrap of paper until I was satisfied with the placement.

Then I used my tape runner to mount the pieces to the base. A little bit of adhesive goes a long way. Just be sure to add on the back of each card and a small amount in the center of the cards before adhering them down on the paper.

Then I look through my die cuts to see what I'd like to use. I use foam squares to pop them up off the page a little to add dimension. That way the layout doesn't look too flat.

I used foam squares to adhere the "my favorite and my best" die cut label beneath the Journaling card title. Love it!

And since I can never get enough of die cuts... I added this adorable die cut to the side of the yellow frame where I plan on adding the photo. I use PicMonkey to create a collage of photos and then I print it out on 4x6 photo paper to get the photos small enough to add into the frames.

I played with more die cuts for the bottom right-side of the journaling mat. I decided to cluster these three together.

The bottom of the frame seemed too plain so I decided to add the "tea and books" banner.

Here is what the layout looks like so far! Simple, right?! You can use the same format on a 12"x12" layout.

I cut a vellum tape strip in half to add at the top of the frame to make it more interesting.

And since I felt like the top had too much white space, I added the "quiet moment" die cut using foam squares. I cut the foam squares in half so they would not show at the sides of the embellishment.

I didn't plan on using this kitty, but he was too cute not to... and since my kitties are normally in bed with me when I read, I decided to use him to help share my story.