Sweet & Kelster Challenge: Using the Same Products-Treat Bags!

Hello lovely readers!  Welcome to another Sweet & Kelster Blog Challenge!  Congratulations to Heather Adams on winning the Halloween challenge.  Kelly will contact you about your $5 gift certificate to Two Peas in a Bucket!

Are you guys ready for this challenge round?  This time, Kelly and I decided to create something using the same product!  We both had different takes on this challenge, but that's the beauty of a challenge!  Kelly sent me these adorable treat bags she had purchased from The Plaid Barn I believe last year.  This site is one of those daily deal websites for crafty stuff!  Can't go wrong there!  Anyways, she mailed me 9 treat bags:  5 orange and white striped glassine bags and 4 brown and white striped glassine bags.  

I got these cute babies in the mail Saturday afternoon.  I was already holed up in my scrap room and my mojo was high.  As soon as I opened the package and saw these treat bags, I knew what I was going to do with them.  It was really a spontaneous idea:  a "Thankful" mini album!  The colors were screaming autumn/Thanksgiving, so it was perfect.  And, I save all my paper treat bags from kits, so I definitely had enough bags to cover the 30 days of gratitude.  Now, I didn't plan to make a gratitude album this season.  I get a little overwhelmed with mini albums (I still have one that I've cut the paper for and printed the pictures and haven't done anything since), but I was already feeling the craft-high, so I just went with it.  I was definitely going to journal daily about my gratitude, but a project was not an intention.

So, here's the finished project...

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to hand-paint my title, like in this layout by Garden Girl Kristina Nicolai-White.  And, if you read my post yesterday, you know that I've been obsessed with gold! I just had to try this technique and I love how it turned out.  

I really wanted to challenge myself beyond using these treat bags, which was to use my stash for embellishing my mini album.  I wanted to stay with the traditional autumn color scheme of burnt orange, deep red, darker/mustard yellow, deep green, and brown.  I pulled everything in that color scheme from my stash.  And let me tell you, there wasn't much.

I do have to let you guys know that I cheated a little.  You see that cute felt leaf, the green sequin leaf, and the fall-themed stickers?  I got those from Michael's Saturday night.  Again, not intentionally.  Michael and I went to get him some sketchbooks and I happened to see a display of fall-themed craft stuff for 80% off!  I got felt leaves, sequin leaves, and fall-themed stickers each under $1! I couldn't say no.  So, I was able to add some fall-themed embellishments to my mini album.  Something I am thankful for!

I had a lot of fun putting this mini album together.  It's simple, but cute and all I have to do is write down what I'm thankful for each day on the piece of cardstock in the pocket and slap a photo on the bag side of each day.  As you guys were hopefully able to see in the tutorial, each treat bag was folded in half to make 2 pockets.  Each pocket will represent a day.  Journaling goes on the pull-out cardstock and a photo will go on the back of the day.  I'm doing a photo daily journal #mythankful30 using a list from @lilgik at feedyourcraft.com.  I am not documenting every photo on Instagram, only because some photos I'll have to pull from my photo library because some of the prompts may not match up to the day (i.e. a bright sunshiny day on November 23rd may not be sunshiny).  

Here's a picture of some of the plain paper bags I used in my mini album as well.  

I still haven't decided how I'm going to bind it.  I did punch small holes in everything, but it's really thick, so I don't know if rings would be a good idea.  Right now I have it all bound with twine, but I don't know if I'll like it.  

Now, it's your turn!  Share a project of yours and someone else's using the same products or kit. Make sure to include the link to your project and the other project in the comments section or Kelly's comments section for a chance at the prize.  Remember, the prize is a $5 gift certificate to Two Peas in a Bucket!  You have until Wednesday, November 20th to link up your project!  Now, go check out Kelly's take on our challenge.  You won't be disappointed; it's super cute!

xoxo,

Heather

Sweet & Kelster Challenge: Halloween!

Happy Thursday lovely readers!  It's time for another challenge with my dear friend Kelly over at Things About Stuff!  We only had one person link up their take on our watercolor challenge:  Mandi.  Gorgeous Mandi!  You guys should check them out here, here and here.  Mandi, please email me at heather.sweet12@gmail.com to talk about your prize!  

If it isn't obvious enough from our title, our challenge this time was Halloween-themed!  Kelly and I both love Halloween scrappy products, but neither of do much for the actual holiday.  We decided that we'd take advantage of our challenges and create something with Halloween products.

Aren't these treat bags just the cutest things EVER?!  I've never made anything besides PL spreads, cards, tags, or layouts, so this was definitely different for me. As you guys know, my sister is in college.  When I was in college, I always loved getting happy mail, cards, and packages.  It didn't happen often, but it was awesome when it did happen.  I want to make sure my sister gets lots of happy mail.  So, Hollie, I know you're reading this and these treat bags are coming your way!

This treat bag was inspired by a Simon Says Stamp YouTube video recently posted.  It was so easy to make too.  The only thing that took a little time was die cutting those different colored circles.  I used my Cuddlebug, so I had to run the different colored paper through 4 times.  But after that, it came together so easily.  

You can see more of the decoration on the back of the bag.  You could also make these treat bags with any holiday theme.  With Christmas coming up, I just may be making more of these...

The other 2 treats bags are more of a bag topper.  I used the Creepy paper from the We R Memory Keepers Bewitched line. The washi tape is from Queen and Co.  The "trick or treat" is from the Treat or Treat Lawn Fawn stamp set.  

This last treat bag uses stamps from a Fiskars set.  Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of this particular stamp set.  I had a lot of fun making these bags.  It makes me want to want to create more papercraft products outside of my usual box.

Now, go check out Kelly's blog to see what Halloween goodness she created!  Since Halloween is a week from today and more than likely you guys may be creating Halloween layouts or mini albums or PL spreads after Halloween, we're going to give you TWO weeks to link up your projects in either my comments section or Kelly's comments section.  So, you guys have until Wednesday, November 7th to play along.  And there is a scrappy product prize involved: a $5 gift card to Two Peas in a Bucket!

xoxo,

Heather

Project Lifein' It Tuesday

And another week has come and gone.  Oh boy, I cannot believe it's the end of October...and I'm just starting the month of September in my Project Life album!  At least I am continuing to document our lives.  

Side note:  I finally made a decision on my December Daily (TM) 2013!  Back in this post, I talked a little about Christmas-themed lines and kits.  I went a little overboard though... I pre-ordered the Citrus Twist Kits Christmas Daily Pocket Life kit AND the Christmas Daily Main Kit.  I couldn't help myself!  I loved the color scheme in the Pocket Life kit, but I loved so many pieces from the Main kit too.  I don't get add-ons with my monthly scrapbook kit and I've been pretty good lately about not buying scrappy stuff I'm not going to immediately use, so I thought it was okay if I overloaded on Christmas stuff.  Plus, I don't have any Christmas papers. The only bad thing is I won't get these kits until the middle of November.  But I'm excited nonetheless!

Back to Project Life...I have a spread from the beginning of September.  This is honestly just a bunch of random stuff that happened.  I don't think there is any particular story I have to tell.  

  
I used Simple Stories original SN@P! line.  That line is so much fun!  And it really made it easy to complete this spread.

I have been obsessed with sewing small banner clusters on my PL cards.  It's easy, but adds a lot of personality and texture to a spread.  Also, I am loving these Jillibean Soup Alphabeans.  I bought 5 different colors the last time I was at Archiver's.  

 

This is a fun technique I tried for the first time.  I've written on photos before, but never with white ink!  I love it!  I like the look, even better than black ink.  I actually got the idea from my dear friend Kelly.  I remember reading a post on her blog about writing on a photo with a white pen.  Unfortunately, I can't remember the exact post, but it was definitely her blog!  She has lots of fun techniques; you all should check it out.

If you didn't notice, I'm also digging printing on my PL cards.  But I ALWAYS recommend printing out your text first to make sure it fits in your designated text area.  You guys should try it!

Okay, that's it for me today. I'll be back tomorrow with some wishlist favorites.  And on Thursday, Kelly and I will be posting another challenge!  Don't forget, you guys have until Thursday, October 24th to link up your take on our watercolor challenge.  There is a prize involved that will consist of a scrappy product(s)...Just sayin' *wink, wink*

xoxo,
Heather

Sweet & Kelster Challenge: What's Trendy...Watercolors!

And finally, the day our readers have been waiting for:  the first Sweet & Kelster challenge (still the unofficial name)!  Kelly and I have a long list of challenges and projects we are excited to complete.  Our first challenge we thought to take on would be something that's very trendy in the scrapbook world.  If you're not living under a rock, you know that watercolors are super, super cool right now.  And I'm pretty sure Kelly and I purchased our first watercolor set around the same time.  It's like, we're meant to be crafty friends!  So, here's my take on our challenge:

Products Used:  Citrus Twist Kits September Main Scrapbook Kit;
Loew-Cornell Watercolor Set, Jillibean Soup Alphabeans in Whipped White,
scraps from Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic, scraps from Glitz Wild & Free,
 Prima Chalk Ink in Rock Moss,  Stampin' UP! ink in Crisp Cantaloupe, enamel dots

This layout just makes me extremely happy!  And, let me tell you, it was a challenge for me.  This is definitely not my norm for creating a scrapbook layout, but it was oh so fun!  If you've been following me or have seen any of my projects in my 2Peas gallery, you will notice that I don't use solid color cardstock as a background, like, ever.  I just really love patterned paper.  My inspiration came from Garden Girl, Corrie Jones.  I love everything she's ever created.  You should definitely check out her gallery.  Her techniques are just so inspirational.  I thought I've seen a video where she creates a layout like this with watercolor "sun rays."  Unfortunately, I cannot find it, but when I do, I'll link it up.


Back to why this was a bit of a challenge for me...my first cardstock I actually threw out because it was just horrible.  I've never completely thrown out the foundation of a layout, but I just had to this time around.  I ended up with too much gelatos on my page (this is the first layout that I've made with watercolors as the main technique) and it was a mess and not in a good way.  Luckily, I was only working on the background, so it was only paper I threw out.  Then I remembered my inspirational scrapbooker, and then everything shot off from there.  

Now, if you want to play along with Kelly and I in our trendy challenge featuring watercolors, please link of your project in the comments section.  You can link up in my comments or hers.  We'll be giving away a small prize (to be updated on this post later, so please come back) to a reader that plays along! You have until next Thursday, October 17th to link your project up. 

Okay, now go check out Kelly's take on the challenge.  I love that she didn't make a traditional layout, but more of an inspirational piece to hang in her scrap room.  Love it!  I actually don't have anything hanging in my scrap area, so Kelly's definitely inspired me to create something!

If you want to see more of this layout, check out my gallery at 2Peas.

xoxo,
Heather