Easter House Box

March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 ~ dddesignz ~ Leave a comment

Giuly from Les Pensées en Papier has done it again! I recently made this Easter House Box for my grandchildren to enjoy this coming weekend. At first glance, you may think it’s just another explosion box – but look again, and you’ll see that it is much more than that! This incredible project is an explosion box and a game all rolled into one pretty package! https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/976845153/easter-house-box-svg-easter-eggs-hunt?ref=shop_home_active_2&crt=1

Giuly put a very high level of thought, detail, and organization into this project. Her sample and instructions are all made from cardstock. You will find each of the cut files labeled by colour, making this a very simple project to cut and prepare for assembly. I chose to swap out some of the cardstock with patterned paper. This did slow my overall process down, but I feel the final result made it well worth the investment in time and preparation. I worked with Doodlebug Designs Inc., Hippity Hoppity paper pack, and the coordinating Spring Solid Assortment of cardstock. I also used 3 sheets of Bazzill’s Artesian Pool cardstock for the house base. Aside from the paper, the only other main supplies utilized were coordinating Spring Assortment Sprinkles, also from Doodlebug Designs Inc., and some small foam dots.

Each piece of the project fits beautifully in place. The supporting video is clear, and easy to follow, making the construction of this project seamless.

From start to finish the detail in this project is outstanding. The view of the front of the house highlights several of the intricate details put into this finished project. Not only do you have a layered door and windows, but you can also see the picket fence with grass, and the lovely window box above with more foliage and decorated Easter eggs. This detail follows through the entire house and inside the house as well.

The roof of the house is equally detailed with a “thatched” roof, gingerbread gable, and ivy hanging from the edges. Small foam dots in strategic places add more texture to the thatched roof.

When the roof is lifted from the house, it reveals a hidden game. Inside the house lay 6 Easter eggs with hidden clues, the Easter Bunny, 2 Easter baskets, game instructions, and a lock and key. The game participants must work their way through 6 clues, gathering hidden carrots along the way. Once all 6 carrots are collected, they’ve won the key and can open the lock to discover where their surprises are hidden. Nine clues are included with the purchase of this project, making it easy to print and select the ones that best suit you. There is also a template to make your own clues if you wish to fully customize this part of the game.

House Explosion
Game Instructions
Easter Basket to Collect Carrots
First Clue
Easter Bunny with Lock and Key
Opened Lock

I can’t wait to watch my grandchildren have fun with this! I highly recommend this project and know that you’ll be amazed at the thought and detail that went into designing it. Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you’ve enjoyed my take on the Easter House Box. Wishing you all a lovely Easter Weekend! Until next time, stay safe, well, and Happy Scrapping!

ScrapFest Connect – Challenge #3!

March 27, 2021March 26, 2021 ~ dddesignz ~ Leave a comment

It’s my pleasure to host one of the challenges at the ScrapFest Connect event today! Challenge number 3 revolves around a mood board. Mood boards can be very inspiring and can often spark some creativity when you feel you’re in a rut. With Spring finally here and winter on it’s way out, I chose the following mood board that highlights the beautiful earth tones that come with the onset of Spring.

Image courtesy of Taryn Whiteaker Designs @ tidbits-cami.com
1. Natural Dyed Eggs 2. Orchard 3. Bunny Pillows 4. Flower Girl 5. Eggs 6. White Tulips 7. Wheat Grass in Egg Shells 8. Path 9. Farm Fresh Eggs

Your challenge is to reflect on the images in this mood board, pull the elements that speak to you, and get creating! You may choose to create a scrapbook layout, a card, an art journal page, mixed media or other creative project. You may enter more than once, but any entry in this challenge may not be entered in any of the other challenges today. Two Scrapbook Friends has kindly sponsored this challenge and just look at the amazing prize pack the winner will receive!

**Two Photoplay Paper packs, stamp/die & ephemera + $25 Gift Certificate!!!! Free shipping in Canada! WOW!!!!!**

In addition to this amazing prize package, Two Scrapbook Friends is offering all participants of ScrapFest Connect a 20% discount to shop in their online store! To receive this discount, simply enter the coupon code SCRAPFESTROCKS21 at checkout. This offer is available now and runs until March 31st. Orders may be picked up at their new location (550 Parkside Drive, Unit B6, Waterloo, ON) or shipped. PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID in-store shopping is not available at this time.

My interpretation of the Spring Earth Tones mood board focused on images 1 – 6.

I always start the creative process around a photo and image number 4 (Flower Girl) was the inspiration to use the photo of my granddaughter from a couple of years ago. Not only did she have beautiful white spring flowers in her hands (which fit with images 2 and 6), the colours in the rest of the photo just fit so well with the spring earth tones of the mood board. Lucky for me, even her t-shirt fit the colour scheme.

I loved the soft hues of the naturally dyed eggs in image number 1. This inspired me to pick coordinating papers from Carta Bella’s Flora No 3 collection. Three of the patterned papers from this paper collection formed the background and borders of the layout. To create the top border, I trimmed the patterned paper at 1/2″ inside all four sides. The border below followed the same process by trimming the paper at 1″ from the edge of the paper on each side. These borders were set aside until the rest of the page was put in place.

The cut file for this project is called Lilly of the Valley and it comes from COAPA (Confessions of a Paper Addict). You can find this cut file here https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/736576883/lilly-of-the-valley-cut-file-svg-png-pdf?ref=hp_opfy-1&pro=1.

I cut this beautiful cut file from American Crafts Precision White Cardstock. The lilies were back filled with white cardstock and the leaves were back filled with coordinating green leafy patterned paper from the Carta Bella Flora No 3 paper pack. I didn’t want the outline of the leaves and flower stems to remain white, so I inked them with Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters Distress Ink before adding the back fill pieces.

The bunny was inspired by image number 3. I used the “Cottontail” Whispers die from Die-Versions. (I’m not sure if it’s still available, as I’ve owned it for quite some time.) I cut the bunny from white cardstock and layered it on fun foam that was also cut with the die. Once the bunny was completed and adhered to the layout, I added a small white pom-pom to create a fun tail and to add some dimension.

As I started to put the elements of the page together, I was unhappy with the background and felt it was a bit too much of the same colour. To lighten the look and feel of the overall layout, I used a Taylored Expressions stencil (Pretty Petals) and applied Vicki Boutin Molding Paste to different sections of the background. This added in more texture and the white brightened the layout considerably.

The earth tones found in images 5 and 6 were the inspiration to add the natural hemp cord to the lower portion of the photo. I adhered fun foam to the back of the photo to raise it slightly and to provide a nice smooth foundation. To achieve a smooth uniform finish for the photo, I cut out a small channel of fun foam that allowed the hemp to fill this space without adding further bulkiness.

Before adhering anything to my base page, I placed all of the completed elements on the page to determine where I would stamp the title phrase. Once this decision was made, I removed everything but the stamp from the page and placed it in my 12″ x 12″ Misti to complete the stamping. The”Make today the best day ever” stamp has been in my collection for well over a decade and is from Daisy Bucket. Once the stamping was completed, all the elements were secured to the layout. The final touch was to add a few coordinating shape sprinkles from Doodlebug Designs from the Peppermint Twist line. These aqua elements were a perfect match for this layout.

I hope my layout inspires you to create a project or two for this challenge. Post your creations in the associated challenge on the Scrapbook Connect Facebook page to enter the competition. Include a few quick comments or points that tell others what part(s) of the mood board inspired you. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, March 28th at 9:00 pm. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks for playing along with me today. Stay safe, stay well and Happy Scrapping!

Big Comfy Couch

March 21, 2021March 21, 2021 ~ dddesignz ~ 7 Comments

Isn’t it funny, that as adults we are always hoping we might just squeeze in a nap or two when the weekend comes, yet children are the exact opposite? They like to keep going, and going until they drop! Our youngest grandson Ben is at that tender age when he’s almost ready to completely give up the afternoon nap. He’ll go for days without one, and then his body gets the best of him and he’s down whether he likes it or not!

My daughter captured this beautiful photo of Ben in early February. He was playing in the den after lunch on a cold winter day. The fireplace was warming the room and the big comfy couch beckoned Ben to take a rest. He looks so relaxed and comfortable in this photo, it certainly looks ideal for a wonderful afternoon nap.

The star background paper for this layout came from Echo Park Paper Company’s Little Dreamer Boy paper collection pack. The specific paper was the back side of the Planes Palooza paper. When I saw this photo I knew right away I wanted to crop and enlarge it. I think the big photo helps draw you into the mood of the photo and layout. My March 2021 Pearscription with Peartree Cutfiles provided the perfect cut files to complement this photo and document this moment. I choose 2 of the 3 cut files that came with the Wish cut file. You can find Peartree Cutfiles here https://www.peartreecutfiles.co.uk/, but know that the file used is an exclusive file that came with the March Pearscription. I highly recommend the Pearscription, the files are just wonderful!

The stars on the cut files were backed with silver and gold glitter cardstock and the clouds were backed with vellum for a light and airy feel. I also found some acrylic shapes in my scrapbooking stash from Shimelle. They fit in perfectly and also complemented the light and airy feel I was looking for. I usually look for ways of adding a title in an unusual way to a layout. The large 12′ x 6″ photo provided the perfect opportunity to place a title. With the photo occupying centre stage on the layout, I wanted something subdued for the title. Pinkfresh Studio’s Mimi Puffy Alpha Stickers in grey were exactly what I needed to achieve this effect. Here are a few closeups of this project.

Thanks for stopping by today, and if I’ve enticed you to take a quick Sunday afternoon nap, don’t worry, it will be our little secret! Until next time, stay safe, well and Happy Scrapping!

Star Explosion Box

March 17, 2021March 18, 2021 ~ dddesignz ~ 2 Comments

I’m back with another wonderful project from Les Pensées en Papier called the Star Explosion Box. This project was made for my grandson Owen, who turned 8 yesterday! We did our best to make this a special birthday for Owen – his second year in a row without a “kids” party. I’m glad to say, he had a lovely birthday, and I was touched when he asked me if I made him a special box for his birthday.

As with all of Giuly’s amazing projects, the purchase of this project will provide you will a full supply list and all the necessary cut files for both Cricut and Silhouette users. It is also supported by a clear, easy to follow YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm59Kwl_iH8. If you feel the previous Tower Explosion Box might be a bit intimidating to start with, I highly recommend the Star Explosion Box as a first project. It will introduce you to concepts you will utilize in other projects by LPPSVP.

To complete this project I used 4 sheets of 12″ x 12″ black Precision Cardstock from American Crafts, the Birthday Boy Wishes paper collection pack by Becky Fleck from Photoplay Paper, and 1 sheet of 12″ x 12″ coordinating cardstock to create the bows on the top of the boxes. The paper pack includes twelve double-sided papers and a full coordinating element sticker sheet. I used three of the patterned papers and approximately 1/2 of the sticker sheet to decorate the project. To create the fun stars found in the corner of each explosion level, I used Lawn Fundamentals Metallic Cardstock in “Holographic 2.0” by lawn fawn. Glossy Accents by Ranger Ink was used to construct and attach the bows seen in this project. I have always found it a reliable, strong bond for projects like this.

The bottom layer of this project creates a large box that conceals all the other hidden layers, or explosions. The following pictures provide examples of the detail found in the large box.

Once the lid is removed three explosion levels and a small independent box is revealed.

The small box in the centre is concealing a little surprise for Owen. I’ve been reading Harry Potter to both Owen and Maddie for years now. I found a small Lego figure that fit perfectly inside this small box. When the small box was opened it revealed “Ron Weasley”. Owen was thrilled to add this little surprise to his Lego collection!

I hope I’ve encouraged you to try an Explosion Box. Les Pensées en Papier has so many options to choose from https://www.etsy.com/shop/LesPenseesenPapier. They are as much fun to make, as they are to give! Until next time, stay safe, well and Happy Scrapping!

Oh So Special

March 4, 2021 ~ dddesignz ~ Leave a comment

What greater gift in life, than to love, and be loved! It’s what gets us up in the morning and keeps us going throughout the day, even on the toughest days, weeks, or months of our lives. This layout features my son, Sean, and his beautiful fiance Tanis. They know first hand how love can be exhilarating, and heartbreaking. Sean is committed to his military career, which means there are days, weeks and often months when he is away from the love of his life. He was on deployment overseas January – July 2020, right when Covid hit the world. I can’t imagine how tough it was for this incredible, and loving couple to be separated at a time of worldwide crisis.

Sean and Tanis met after he returned from his first deployment in 2017 (and boy, are we glad they did!). Tanis is a huge pet lover, and she had a cat, Stella, and a dog, Lillie when they met. Sean had to win over more than Tanis in this relationship! As you can see from the pictures in the layout, he had no trouble doing so. Lillie is a gentle, loving animal, and I think she loves Sean now as much as she loves Tanis! She is a mix of Siberian Husky/Malamute and Maremma Sheepdog. Tanis shared “She liked him right away, but when we first started dating, every time we hugged she would stand beside us and whine or groan or grumble, and when we walked she would always try to walk between us. That’s the Maremma in her, guarding me, but Sean won her over with treats, hugs and chasing her in the backyard and the arena; she learned the sound of his car and loses her mind when she hears it up the street. One time, he drove by us while we were walking back to his apartment, so she (and in turn, I) chased his car back because she was so excited. Now she guards both of us and whines, groans and grumbles when we’re not in the same room together.” Lillie is such a big part of their lives, she needed to be part of their formal engagement photos. While I’ve scrapped several of the engagement photos already, I wanted to make sure that Lillie had her spotlight as well. This layout helped me achieve this.

Before I provide details on the products used in this project, I would like to give Tessa Wright (@tw829) credit for the beautiful engagement photos you see on the layout. Tessa is a talented photographer, and Sean and Tanis have lots of beautiful engagement photos from their photo session. I love how she ensured Lillie was well represented on this special occasion!

The papers and embellishments for this layout come from the Storyteller line by Vicki Boutin. This included patterned papers (background papers, and backing for the cut files), stickers and Gold Foil Chipboard Stickers from the coordinating chipboard sheets, Tell Your Story, by Thickers. As I planned this layout, I knew I wanted a grid pattern that would allow me to use multiple cut files. Each of the green square sections that make up the grid measure 5″ x 5″. I distressed the edges of the paper squares to give them more dimension and definition on the blue patterned paper used as the background. Here are some closeups showing the background papers.

There are 4 cut files used in this layout, and they were each sized to fit within the green squares. They all come from Peartree Cutfiles https://www.peartreecutfiles.co.uk/, however, a couple of these files (Love and String of Hearts), are exclusive files from my Peartree monthly subscription https://www.peartreecutfiles.co.uk/pearscription/. The monthly subscription is an excellent value and you’ll receive 5 exclusive cut files that will never be available in the shop. Additionally, you also receive the free cut file of the month, for a total of 6 cut files. The Oh So Special cut file was the free cut file of the month in February, you can now purchase it in the shop. The fourth file used is called Shelf of Hearts and is also available for purchase in the shop. Each of the cut files was backed with patterned papers from Vicki’s Storyteller collection. Here are pictures of the cut files used.