What is PageMaps?

Pagemaps.com is a free online sketch resource for both scrapbookers & cardmakers.  Crafters will find an extensive collection of sketches that are free to download for personal use.  From graphic & shabby to linear & simple, there's sure to be a sketch that fits your style. 

Coming October 1st: The Paper House DT will reveal their layouts using Pagemaps sketches combined with Paper House products. 

        Visit www.Pagemaps.blogspot.com for the big DT reveal.

Simple & Quick Halloween cards

Here are some super easy Halloween cards that were really fast to create. These cards have just the right amount of spooky while still remaining cute.

Framed Jack O' Lanterns

Directions:
1. Apply Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink to ColorWays Ironworks paper. Using a sponge applicator, begin at the edge of the paper and rub lightly in a circular motion to blend the ink. Always start at the edge and gradually move towards the center of the paper so that the intensity of color fades to a lighter shade. Your goal is to achieve a gradient of color.
2. Attach your inked paper to the card base and then trim away any excess overhanging paper. Adhere a die cut frame to the middle of the card using foam tape and add the puffy Jack O' Lantern trio to the center.
3. Finally, embellish the layout with a Halloween sentiment on the bottom of the frame.
(TIP: If you are new to inking, build your confidence by trying this technique on a scrap bit of paper so that you can practice the ink application method.)

Framed Jack O' Lanterns Supplies: ColorWays Noir Accent Pack (Paper House), ColorWays Noir Ironworks 12' scrapbook paper (Paper House), Jack O' Lanterns Puffy Stickers (Paper House), Distress Ink (Ranger: Spiced Marmalade), sponge applicator, sentiment

A few more cards...

Spooky Spider

TIP: Attach the spider to a piece of string so that it can swing freely.
Spooky Spider Supplies: ColorWays Noir Trim Cards 12"scrapbook paper (Paper House), Halloween Die Cuts (Paper House), Spooky Halloween Puffy Stickers (Paper House), ribbon, orange & black cardstock, embossed zig zag edge punch (Martha Stewart), 3" scalloped circle punch (Marvy Uchida), gems

Fancy Gold Skull

TIP: Alter store bought embellishments by giving them some extra bling by applying tiny gems onto the design.
Fancy Gold Skull Supplies: ColorWays Noir Accent Pack (Paper House), Skeleton Puffy Stickers (Paper House), gems, scalloped matte, gold glitter cardstock, gold mirror board, 3' scalloped square punch (Marvy Uchida), Inkssentials Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Ghostly Greetings Gate

TIP: A torn and distressed edge matting is the perfect way to accentuate the spooky Halloween theme.

Ghostly Greetings Gate Supplies: Halloween Die Cut Pack (Paper House), ColorWays Noir Trimmings/Ironworks/Trim Cards 12' scrapbook paper (Paper House), door lock embellishment (Ranger)

Faber-Castell & Linnie Blooms Blog Hop

Faber-Castell & Linnie Blooms

Faber-Castell & Linnie Blooms products are a mixed media match made in heaven!  So we decided to swap products and spend the week sharing all of the great items the Design Teams have created! Please be sure to follow both company’s blogs so that you don’t miss a thing! Go HERE for a complete list of participating Designers.

My project is a mini layout of my little nephew, Colin.

Faber-Castell Supplies:

Directions:
1. Before you begin, protect your work surface or work on a craft mat. Apply two shades of blue gelatos (Elderberry & Acqua Dolce) randomly across the entire canvas page. Use a wet paint brush to spread and blend the colors adding more water as needed. Continue adding color until you are pleased with intensity. Dry with a heat gun. Using permanent ink, randomly stamp newsprint definitions around the entire background. Place a stencil onto the background and while holding it firmly, apply texture paste through three distinct and separate areas. Set the canvas aside to dry.

2. Apply Elderberry Gelato to the edge of each pennant flag. Blend towards the center with a wet paint brush so that the color is more intense on the edge and gradually lightens in the center. Set aside to dry or dry the flags with a heat gun. Poke two holes in the top corner of each pennant and set an eyelet in each hole. Apply adhesive letters to the flags and then thread the pennant flags unto a piece of baker's twine.

3. Color and shade the canvas star yellow using Stamper's Big Brush Pens. Paint the inside of the star with Light Yellow and apply the darker shade Cadmium Yellow only along the edges. When the star has thoroughly dried, apply Glass Bead Glitter Gel along the edge.  Next, cut out a small heart from white cardstock and apply Glass Bead Glitter Gel to it. Set aside to dry. 

4. Attach the photo inside a chipboard frame and hang the string of flags along the lower edge by adhering the twine to the back of the frame. Embellish the layout with arrows, a large tag, a heart & a small duckie. Attach four buttons in the corners of the page and tie ribbons at the ends of the string of flags.

Linnie Blooms Supplies:
canvas mini mixed stitch book, canvas large star, canvas small pennants
Faber-Castell Supplies:
Gelatos (Elderberry, Acqua Dolce), Glass Bead Glitter Gel, Stencil 101 Collection (chevron), Stamper's Big Brush Pens (Light Yellow 104, Cadmium Yellow 107), 
Other Supplies:
Stazon black ink (Tsukineko), Love & Joy definition clear stamp (Handcrafted Card Co), Colorways Sapphire Trimmings 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), water, paintbrush, texture paste, organza ribbon, eyelets, eyelet setter, baker's twine, chipboard frame, tag, buttons
                                              Visit the Linnie Blooms shop HERE.
                                       Visit the Faber-Castell shop HERE.
 Make sure to leave your comments as you hop so that you are sure to be entered in the drawing for some fantastic Faber-Castell & Linnie Blooms products!

• Ann
• Noe
• Gail
• Karen (you are here!)
• Rochelle
• Mayoori
• Dawn
• Faber-Castell Design Team

A Closer Look:

Thanks for visiting!

Coming Up Next Week...Blog Hop!

Baby Lion New Arrival Card

Welcome a new arrival with this cute canvas lion card.

From a tree and sunflower...to a little lion!

Directions:
1. Use the Linnie Blooms canvas tree to make the head, body, ears, & muzzle. Use the canvas sunflower for the lion's mane. Cut the shapes needed and color the canvas pieces using a sponge applicator and Distress Inks.

2. Assemble the lion and add button eyes & a ribbon tail. Use chalk to give the lion pink cheeks and inner ears. Add facial details using a pigment ink pen and also add faux stitching by drawing dashed lines around the lion's mane.

3. Next, select four coordinating patterned papers and create a pedestal for the lion using two of them. Stamp the word "baby" on the third patterned paper and add highlights using a white gel pen. Cut out the letters and attach them to the base of the pedestal along with two strips of scalloped edging.

4. Mount the lion cluster on the fourth paper and lastly mount everything to a scallop edged greeting card. Finally, embellish the card: add a flag, hearts, a ribbon bow, and faux stitching around the edge of the card using a white gel pen.

Let's Take A Closer Look:

Linnie Blooms Supplies: canvas sunflower, canvas tree
Other Supplies: ColorWays Emerald Mini Trim Cards 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Little Man 8" paper pad (Paper House), Distress Inks - Mustard Seed/Vintage Photo/Antique Linen (Ranger), sponge ink applicator (Ranger), chalk (Inkadinkado), pigment ink pen - Coffee (Zig Memory Systems), Stazon ink -Timber Brown (Tsukineko), Baby Blocks rubber stamp (Kolette Hall), scallop edge scissors, buttons, ribbon, white gel pen (Sakura­)

Visit the Linnie Blooms Shop to see all of their canvas shapes.

Wedding Cards

There are so many beautiful Paper House wedding products to use, I had a hard time choosing but once I got started I couldn't stop making wedding cards. I used their new ColorWays Noir papers and the "To Have & Hold" Collection for these cards. As glitter runs in my veins, it is no surprise that I love to add a bit of sparkle to nearly everything. The papers & die cuts alone are beautiful but with some carefully placed glitter glue, they are simply magnificent.

Believe in Love

Directions:
1. Apply small dots of glitter glue over the wedding dress. After it has dried, mount the dress on black cardstock
2. Cover the card base with pattern paper and trim off any overhanging excess. Attach the wedding dress topper to a paper dolie that is partially visible. Then adhere a coordinating strip of pattern paper underneath.
3. Next, tie a gentle knot with a piece of sheer ribbon. Hand stitch a heart shaped charm to hang under the center of the knot. Use a craft knife to make a small slit in the crease of the card where the ribbon will lay. Thread the ribbon through the slit and attach it securely to the inside of the card. Fold the other end of the ribbon over the right edge of the card and neatly secure it to the inside with double sided tape.
4. Finally embellish the card by adding gems around the dolie and lastly adding a greeting.
                                     A Closer Look:

Supplies: ColorWays Noir Birchwood 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), ColorWays Noir Trimmings 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Dreams Come True 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Believe Puffy Stickers (Paper House), Stickles Star Dust glitter glue (Ranger), dolie, gems, organza ribbon, charm, needle & thread

Mister & Misses

Directions:
1. Emboss a white card base with a rose floral design. Apply light blue chalk around the edge of the sentiment. Use a white gel pen to add highlights and embellish it with gems. Mount the sentiment on silver mirror card using foam tape and attach to the top of the card base.
2. To create the appearance of a man's tuxedo, attach the bow tie die cut under the sentiment along with 2 small buttons and a lapel flower.
3. To create the lady's veil, sew a running stitch along one edge and gently gather the tulle netting. Knot off to secure it and then attach the veil above the sentiment. Next, glue a row of small roses along the top of the veil. Trim the netting to your preferred length.
                                    A Closer Look:

Supplies: To Have & To Hold 12x12 scrapbook paper pad (Paper House), Wedding Embellishment Pack (Paper House), chalk (Inkadinkado), Rosa Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), glitter tulle, needle & thread, paper flowers, gems, buttons

A few more cards...

Lace Rose

Tip: For a classic feminine touch, adhere a piece of lace fabric behind the opening of a frame and put a darker color behind it for contrast.
Supplies: To Have & To Hold 12x12 scrapbook paper pad (Paper House), Wedding Embellishment Pack (Paper House), lace fabric, half dome pearls, gold mirror card

Bride with Bouquet

Tip: Add an elegant sparkle to a plain embellishment by using a fine tip glitter glue and outlining parts of the design or adding small dots to create great texture. I outlined the delicate bouquet of roses on this card.

Supplies: To Have & To Hold 12x12 scrapbook paper pad (Paper House), Stickles Star Dust glitter glue (Ranger), Rosa Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), organza ribbon, heart charm

Visit the Paper House Shop HERE!

"School Days" Blog Hop

Welcome to the "School Days" Blog Hop hosted by Paper House.

                              If you would like the full list of designers, click HERE.
                   Here are my three jungle themed kids cards perfect for their first day of school.

Alligator Smile

TIP: Use your die cutting machine to cut jungle animals out of wild pattern paper.
Supplies: Alligator Smile
Into the Wild & Jungle Friends 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Little Man paper pad 8" (Paper House), Green Light 12" scrapbook paper (Basic Grey), gems, mini star punch, alphabet stickers

Monkey Dance

TIP: To make your jungle animals a little bit more friendly looking, make sure to use chalk to make their cheeks and inner ears blush pink.
Supplies: Monkey Dance
Little Animals 6" paper pad (Paper House), Little Man 8" paper pad (Paper House), ColorWays Emerald Leatherbound 12" paper (Paper House), Little Monkey 3D stickers (Paper House), pink chalk (Inkadinkado), paperclip

Spotty Jungle Lion

TIP: Stamp your jungle animal onto pattern paper to make it look like a soft toy.
Supplies: Spotty Jungle Lion
Jungle Friends 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Little Animals 6" paper pad (Paper House), ColorWays Emerald Mini Trim Cards 12" (Paper House), lion rubber stamp (Friends Stamps-Angie Bhatia), Tropical Leaves rubber stamp Z/138 (Posh Impressions), Copa Banana Leaves rubber stamp (Rubber Stampede), green pigment ink, Archival black ink (Ranger), pink chalk (Inkadinkado), white gel pen (Sakura)

"School Days" Blog Hop Designers

Giorgia Rossini

Bev Code

Laura Cox

Susie Bentz

Francesca Biancon

Erin Reed

Karen Sessions (you are here)

Irit Shalom 

Visit Paper House to see their whole range of papers & embellishments.

Coming Soon! School Days Blog Hop!

This weekend September 5th-6th, the Paper House Design Team has planned a "School Days" Blog Hop. You won't want to miss out on all the fantastic kid's projects. Best of all, Paper House is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to one lucky person. Come back on Saturday to learn how to enter.