My Top Faves for 2017

Can you believe that yet another year has almost passed?!

Time for my personal picks of favorite creations this year!
A lucky baker's dozen ended up being the magic number. 
I liked everything I created this year, but
I loved each of these the most for different reasons.
Here they are in alphabetical order........

1976 Stylish -

I love this fabulous photo of my beautiful Mom!

This layout was really enjoyable to create - 

Color experimenting on the chipboard pieces, spraying the background to give shading, 

layering tags & cut outs and making flower arrangements.

The hummingbirds added a very special touch since Mom favored these little birds.

I couldn't wait to use them after I received them from my sweet friend, Mary!

A daughter is a gift from Heaven - 

I don't do splatters often so I love how this one turned out! 

Purple is my favorite color and 2nd is blue.

Mostly though, the photo captures my heart and reminds me of how lucky I am.

Beautiful - 

I absolutely love the simplicity of this one!

I love the feminine feel and especially how my beautiful daughter rocks those jeans!

Best Friends - 

I love my bestfriend, Carmel.

I'm so happy that I created two virtually identical layouts so we both could have one.

Jane Belaire - 

I adore this 'sassy' photo of my gorgeous mother at age 17.

Her hair is fabulous!!

I love the gorgeous chipboard and the flower arrangements, as well as the photo strip!

Of course I love the purples....did you think I'd not mention that? ha!

Lucy's Beloved String - 

Need I write one word?  This is just so self explanatory!  

Lucy is a stealer of hearts!  💗💜💚💙💗

M is for Marvelous!! - 

This is the first time that I've used various layered die cuts as the design and I just love how it turned out!

The vibrant colors with Brianne's fabulous photo really make the whole layout look amazing!

Mardi Gras Paisley - 

Here I am again loving all of the purple tones!!

I love this one not only for the colors, but that fabulous paisley chipboard! WOW!

BTW, Paisley is a favorite shape of mine.

I love all of the flowers, including the ones printed on the paper, but what makes it extra special are those luscious deep purple beauties handmade by my special friend Carrie!

Pop & Grandma's House - 

This one appeals to me because I've never made a layout like this before....

Meaning that I didn't use a photo as the focal point. 
Also, I don't journal, but I did on this one!
A document of my wonderful childhood memories visiting my Grandparents.

Pretty as a Picture - 

I love, love, love this photo of my Mom. 

This gorgeous paper blows me away too!

Tranquil - 

The teal color with the oranges & yellows are so beautiful together.

My daughter's photo is so serene and breathtaking!
Angling the chipboard to be parallel with Brianne's back was the right thing to do.

I'm really excited how the wood grain stencil looks like water!

The Gali Girl - 

Miss Gali is an exceptionally gorgeous Birman girl.

I LOVE this photo of her!

I'm so pleased with the daintiness of this layout because The Gali Girl is so dainty.

I just love the combination of flowers & especially those adorable spiral stamens.

I'm so very happy how the inking of the brick chipboard turned out too!

Unconditional Love - 

Last, but not least by any means is my precious Pepper.

I love the purples in this layout, especially the plums.

Pepper has brought a huge piece of my heart with her to The Rainbow Bridge and I know that we will meet again.  I also know that she is very happy & healthy and enjoying being with her Pop & Mom once again....

and this brings comfort to my heart.

Thank you so much for taking time to view my personal faves for 2017. 

I wish you all a very healthy, happy & prosperous 2018!

Lisa : )

The Gali Girl

Time for me to show off the gorgeous Miss Gali!

I was so lucky to be able to capture this gorgeous photo of her in late August.

She's on the fireplace hearth with the 'snacky bowl'.

The layout page is from the Blue Fern Studios Happy Accident collection.

I really liked the touches of blue and tea stained splotches in the paper.

I used Tim Holtz's stencil Splatters with a perfect color match of Distress Ink Tea Dye 

to make additional splotches on the page. 

(just a tidbit of info for those that might be a little curious....the doors of the fireplace insert remain open at all times due to one 'LUCY THE BAD' who absolutely demands and insists that it be this way!  LOL!  Otherwise, she will proceed to scratch the glass in a very annoying rhythmic motion! LOL!)

A piece from The Dusty Attic chipboard Brick Walls was used to mimic bricks inside the fireplace. 

I used a dauber to color the grout in Distress Ink Black Soot,

while Distress Ink Pumice Stone was paint brushed on the bricks.
Inking was done directly to the bare chipboard.

The photo is adhered to a piece of cardboard for dimension.

The distressed paper under it is adhered to cardboard as well, 

so that the whole piece sits higher than the chipboard brick wall.

I placed the custom cut chipboard title below the photo.

(You can order custom cut high quality chipboard words at Want2Scrap).

The Dusty Attic's Upper & Lowercase ABCs (word 'The') are lightly inked in Creamy Brown.

'Gali Girl' is inked in Dark Brown.

Great match with Miss Gali's beautiful hair colors.

I finished with some dainty flower arrangements on each side of the photo.

The arrangement to the right of the photo is larger to help balance the look of the layout.

Tattered Lace dies were used for the leafy die cuts.

Here are some flower close ups.

I just LOVE these spiral stamens from Wild Orchid Crafts!

It's so difficult to get good photos of Miss Gali

 so I'm definitely framing this layout!

Thank you very much for your visit and please come again!

Have a wonderful week,

Lisa : )

Products used:

Blue Fern Studios - Happy Accident collection

"Blessing" page - backside for main layout

Blue Fern Studios - Sanctuary collection

"Birdsong Melody" - backside for Fern Die cuts

Maja Design - Denim & Friends collection

"Stonewashed" - for under photo

K&Company - Susan Winget collection (for green leaf die cuts)

Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Stencil

"Splatters"

The Dusty Attic Chipboard

UPPER ABCs

Lower ABCs

Brick Wall Panel

Tattered Lace Dies

Ferns

Ornate Leaves

Want2Scrap - custom cut chipboard words "Gali Girl" (Title)

Ranger - Tim Holtz - Distress Inks

ColorBox - Fluid Chalk Inks

Creamy Brown & Dark Brown
"Nightfall" Petal Point set

Prima Roses - Melbourne

Harbour

Petaloo - The Penny Lane collection

Antique Peach Mixed Blossoms

Antique Peach Mini Petites

Wild Orchid Crafts 

Baby Blue Spiral Stamens

Sizzix

Big Shot machine

Magnetic Platform

Adhesives

Beacon 3-in-1 (for flowers, die cuts & brick chipboard)

Tombow Mono Liquid Glue (for Title)

Tutorial - Magnetic Flap Envelope

Hi everyone!  This is my tutorial on how to make a magnetic flap closure envelope!

First, I made a pocket envelope. 

Very simple.

Step #1

(These are the same basic steps as shown in my pocket envelope tutorial).

First, decide the size of your pocket envelope and then cut it accordingly.

Step #2

Determine the 'thickness' of your pocket envelope and score according to size.

Step #3 

Burnish all scored lines.

Step #4

Snip the 'tabs' that will be folded & hidden inside the envelope.

Step #5

Make sure that everything folds and fits properly together.

Step #6

Now, Scor-Tape all of the edges.

Step #7
Now measure, cut & score your envelope flap closure.
You will need part of it to be adhered to the back of the envelope 
with the 'flap' being in the front.
Leave enough in the measurement to be able to score it to match the thickness of the pocket envelope.  
In my example, that is 3/4".

Step #8
Now you need to decide where the magnets will be placed on both the flap & the envelope.
I placed the un-adhered flap over the envelope and then marked where 
the magnets would be placed by puncturing a small hole with a die pick. 

Be careful not to poke through all the way to the other side of the envelope.

Step #9
Now I glued the magnet that goes on the inside of the envelope.
This is done BEFORE you adhere the envelope sides together.

Step #10
Now you can adhere the envelope sides together to form the pocket envelope.

Step #11
Now glue the flap magnet in place right over where you punctured the small hole.

Step #12
Now you can adhere a decorative piece on the flap magnet to cover up the hole.  

Step #13
Scor-Tape the backside of the flap that will be placed on the BACK of your envelope.

Step #14
Lastly, adhere the flap to the envelope!

Now you can decorate to your heart's content!
This is my completed pocket envelope with magnetic flap closure.

Thanks so much for viewing my tutorial!
I hope you've learned something new today and hope you can come back again!
Have a great week!
Lisa : )