My Mind's Eye Blog

motherhood mini album by suzanne

Happy Friday friends! This is Suzanne and I am here to share a very special mini album with you.

This mini album was going in a different direction when I first sat down to create. After looking at a few of the photos of my children, I decided to create a mini reflecting how lucky I am to be their mother.

I included pictures of them today, and journaling pockets detailing their personal traits.

I used the Follow Your Heart Collection designed by Rhonna Farrer. I fell in love with this collection the first time I saw it. The patterns are modern, and the graphics are gorgeous.I decided to combine both of her collections, Be Happy & Follow Your Heart.

I did noticed that a certain someone does not always appear in front of the camera. It seems I am the one always behind the lens. This definitely made me more aware that I need to get in the photos a bit more often. With Mother's Day around the corner, it will be the perfect opportunity, and i can add more photos to my book.

I used premade chipboard covers, and cut the chipboard to fit inside. I used a photo of all three of my children on the first page. It is very rare that I get them all together, and was so happy to see this most recent one of them.

Then I created pages of each of my children, and the recurring word that kept popping into my head was "Lucky." I am so lucky to be their Mother, so I included this word underneath each of their photos. I also added their age that they are today.

I love using glassine bags in my mini albums. They are perfect for tucking in journaling, or extra photos. I love adding extra texture to them by running them through an embossing folder.

It is very rare that I will create something without turning to my embossing folders. They are so simple to use, and they add such beautiful detail.

Another item I love to use is vellum. Love that it adds an extra subtle layer. Right after my embossing folders, vellum is a close second!

After the photo of the individual photo, I added a small journaling pocket. Inside, I wrote down a few of their personality traits, and how special they make me feel to be their Mom.

I did add this to my other two children's pages, but forgot to include them as I was assembling my book. I made sure to hand write this information for each of them. I normally do not like my handwriting, but felt it was important that I include it in this mini book.

Today I still have a handwritten letter from my Mother, and I value it dearly. I felt it would be nice for my children to see my handwriting.

I think this will be one of my favorite mini albums to pull from the shelf and when I do I will count my blessings and reflect on how lucky I am to be the mother of these precious children.

I hope you enjoyed my mini today...and a Happy (early)  Mother's Day to all of you

Supply List: Follow Your Heart: Ephemera patterned paper, Honey Pink patterned paper,Doily patterned paper, Geo Star patterned paper,Fly and Soar patterned paper,Kraft Unique patterned paper,Honey Blue patterned paper,Blue Doily patterned paper,Soulful patterned paper,Adorable patterned paper,Never Forget patterned paper,layered stickers,buttons,paper clips,twine,decorative brads,chipboard elements,stamps; Miss Caroline:stickers,pins&buttons,layered stickers; Kraft FunDay-stamps;misc:embossing folders,canvas butterflies,vellum,cardstock,flower,album covers,glassline envelopes,adhesive,pen

Share Your Wealth by Anam

In our culture, Friday the 13^th is a date with Karma attached to it. A day when good Karma or Bad will come your way based on your actions.

To avoid any bad karma, we pay it forward by sharing what we have – be it goods, foods or actual money. We’ve had parties to share food or given away clothes we’ve outgrown.

We often try to share what little we have to help others realize their dreams and one of the ways we do that is through Kickstarter which is a US based crowd funding platform where a little goes a long way. It is full of Geek Nerd love which is a bonus for our family. In my opinion, making something positive out of a negatively viewed thing is always good!

Here's a layout about how we celebrate Friday the 13th:

Supply List: Miss Caroline - ‘DillyDally’ – “Celebrate”: Token Paper (front & reverse);Miss Caroline - ‘Dolled Up’ – “Living”: Blooms Paper (reverse);Follow your Heart – ‘Be Amazing’ – “Emphemera” Paper (reverse);Follow your Heart – ‘Be Amazing’ – “Wander” Paper (front);Miss Caroline - ‘FiddleSticks’ – “Home”: Diecut Title;Miss Caroline - ‘DillyDally’ – “Hello”:  Rubons;Miss Caroline - ‘DillyDally’ – “Adventures”: Sticker Tags;Miss Caroline - ‘DillyDally’ – “Curious”: Layered Cardstock Stickers;Miss Caroline - ‘DillyDally’ – “Celebrate”: Brads;Follow your Heart – ‘Be Amazing’ – Chipboard DieCuts;Follow your Heart – ‘Be Amazing’ – Metal Bookmarks; (Photo is of http://www.advancedterrain.com/ products)

Journaling:“For us, we make sure we celebrate on Friday the 13^th by sharing our wealth, even as small as we have, because by sharing what we have means we avoid any bad luck. Kickstarter is one of our favourite ways to share and keeps our geeky nerd side happy while making other’s dreams come true. These gaming terrain pieces were one of the first projects we were part of. It is amazing to see the end results of us sparing our ten or twenty pounds with others”

I used most of the embellishments as they came except I made a new word from one of the layered cardstock stickers – I changed “friend” into “nerd” because it worked for my layout – remember to always looks outside the box with your supplies for those hidden gems.

Another tip is to cut your paper to emphasize any images or sayings on it – one of our favorites is the JRR Tolkien one on this sheet.

Hope you've enjoyed my perspective on this day and how we celebrate it!

 

Rhonna+MME

Rhonna Farrer sent us some beautiful spring crafts to share. Aren't these stunning?

These projects are some beautiful examples of how to use the Follow Your Heart stamps and 6x6 papers!

For specific directions and supply lists, head on over to Rhonna's blog. Thank you for sharing your art, Rhonna!

Happy Tuesday friends!

Blog Challenge 33 winners!

WOW!  What a fabulous response we have had this month!  You created and entered 109 beautiful layouts and 59 gorgeous cards!  Thank you for sharing your talents with us.

We are pleased to announce this month’s winners!

Layout Winner: Marcia Dehn-Nix

 

Layout Honorable Mention: Missy Widden

 

Card Winner: Shilo Miles

 

Congratulations, ladies!  Please email your shipping information to amber@mymindseye.com.

Be sure to check out all the amazing layout and card entries in this month’s challenge.

We look forward to seeing what you will create for our next challenge!

Karen's Project Life

Hi everyone!

As many of you might have already noticed, Project Life is really popular this year. One of the greatest things about this project is that it can be interpreted and executed many different ways. My word for this year is savor. And as part of my goal to savor my life as it happens, I decided to use the Project Life system to highlight four to six stories a week. You can read more about my project here <http://www.karenika.com/archives/21354>.

I create mini scrap pages 6x8 scrap pages and then cut and put them into my pockets. For this week's layout, I decided to use a lot of my new My Mind's Eye products and walk you through my process.

The first thing I did was grab my 6x6 pads. Since I make small pages, I prefer the smaller patterns.

I picked a bunch of papers I liked and cut them off. I don't care if they are all from the same line. I like to mix and match. I also make sure to pick some papers with lines or graph paper on them so I have some journaling space.

The next thing I did was to cut and layer them, and use punches to create strips and interest, so that I had four 8x6 sheets.

Then, I stitched on them for fun and cut them into two so they created eight 4x6 pieces.

And here's a closeup. You'll see my stitching is far from perfect. Especially since my sewing machine was being extra-uncooperative this time.

Then, at the end of the week, I printed photos of the stories I wanted to tell for that week. I use a small Polaroid printer for this project. It prints small photos that are also stickers. I printed them and organized them by story. For this week, I had five stories.

After that, I stuck the photos to the 4x6s and wrote all my journaling by hand. I also added a few embellishments but kept it pretty simple. Here's the final set:

And a close up of each:

This first one tells a story of my son putting grass seeds in our backyard:

The next one is both my boys coloring paper airplanes we created during family night.

This one is two different stories. On top is my youngest looking at his Legos using the binoculars and having fun. On the bottom is a soul-exercise I did for my Body Restoration class. It involved writing a letter and burying it in my backyard.

And then the final one is about my older son learning how to tie his shoe laces.

You can see that most of my imperfect stitching is covered up. And you can also see that I keep the embellishments to a minimum. This project, for me, is about the photos and stories.
And here it is in my actual Project Savor binder:

The stories occupy the big 4x6 inserts and I use the bottom part to display the art I created that week and for the family photo we take each week.
That's it. Thank you for letting me share my process and project. I hope you liked seeing how it works. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask and I will do my best to respond.

Karen Grunberg

Blog Challenge 33: Layout

It’s one of our favorite times of each month and we are pleased to announce this month’s blog challenge!

As you participate in the blog challenge, please keep in mind a few items:

1. We only have three guidelines for you to follow:

• Use the theme “your choice” (any theme you’d like).
• Use this month’s sketch by Anam Stubbington as your starting point.
• Use 80% My Mind’s Eye products. That means our products will be the main focus (besides the photo and story you share).

**Remember that you must adhere to all three guidelines in order to win. A beautiful entry that does not follow the guidelines will not be eligible to win.**

2. We are not looking for a particular style. Be yourself – create what you like and enjoy the process. The main goal is to document your memories.

3. Have fun and be positive.

The challenge: Design a layout based on this fabulous sketch and use the theme “your choice” (yes, you can choose any theme you’d like) on the card (sketch by Anam Stubbington).

The rules: Use ANY My Mind’s Eye products (current or past) as long as your project has at least 80% My Mind’s Eye products.

The deadline: Add a link to your project to the bottom of this post using inlinkz by Sunday, March 25, 2012 (midnight, MST). Please include your first and last name and project name when uploading. (a photo of your layout or project will show directly in the post)

(For tips on how to best photograph your entry, click here)

The PRIZE: The winner will receive the collection of their choice and will be featured in a blog post and have bragging rights!

Anam Stubbington and Suzanne Sergi have created these beautiful samples to help you get your creative juices going!

 

Adventure by Suzanne Sergi

Featured Collection: Miss Caroline

I can tell you that hands down the Dilly Dally Collection may be my all time favorite! I love the colors, and the carnival feel to the papers! I used the sketch as a starting point of the layering of my papers. I did use a horizontal photo of my children. So glad to see a nice photo of all three of them at one time. I did change the color to black, and white. I thought it paired better with the Dilly Dally Curious plank paper. To follow the scallops borders on the sketch, I used a ticket die to create ticket borders. I tend to like clean lines when I am scrapbooking ,but love the creating the angels to further create movement onto my page.

So many possibilities with this collection. Just in time for summer!

Perfect the way as you are by Anam Stubbington

Featured Products: Follow your Heart ‘Be Happy’ 6x6 paper pad, chipboard, brads, layers cardstock stickers and two of the clips from the ‘Be Amazing’ range.

“Fay and Lily – my beautiful amazing girls – playing with their shadows during the summer of 2011 – I am constantly humbled by the fact they are my own wonderful daughters. I hope they always remember that I love them very much. March 2012”

Instructions: just trim the 6x6” paper and distress the edges. I used just one sheet of each design from the pad. I also cut the chipboard so I could use the rest on other projects to make the most of the chipboard.

We can’t wait to see what you create! Good luck!

Please upload your project here:

Blog Challenge 33: Card

It’s one of our favorite times of each month and we are pleased to announce this month’s blog challenge! 

As you participate in the blog challenge, please keep in mind a few items:

1. We only have three guidelines for you to follow:

• Use the theme “your choice” (any theme you’d like).
• Use this month’s sketch by Anam Stubbington as your starting point.
• Use 80% My Mind’s Eye products.  That means our products will be the main focus (besides the photo and story you share).

**Remember that you must adhere to all three guidelines in order to win.  A beautiful entry that does not follow the guidelines will not be eligible to win.**

2. We are not looking for a particular style.  Be yourself – create what you like and enjoy the process.  The main goal is to document your memories.

3. Have fun and be positive.

The challenge: Design a card based on this fabulous sketch and use the theme “your choice” (yes, you can choose any theme you’d like) on the card (sketch by Anam Stubbington).

The rules: Use ANY My Mind’s Eye products (current or past) as long as your project has at least 80% My Mind’s Eye products.

The deadline: Add a link to your project to the bottom of this post using inlinkz by Sunday, March 25, 2012 (midnight, MST). Please include your first and last name and project name when uploading. (a photo of your layout or project will show directly in the post)

(For tips on how to best photograph your entry, click here)

The PRIZE: The winner will receive the collection of their choice and will be featured in a blog post and have bragging rights!

Anam Stubbington and Suzanne Sergi have created these beautiful samples to help you get your creative juices going!

Lucky to know you by Suzanne Sergi 

Featured Collection: Miss Caroline

On this card, I used the ticket borders in place of the scallop borders on the sketch. The ticket background paper is perfect in creating a card for that "lucky" person in your life! Again, the Dilly Dally collection is all about having fun, and I tried to create a card that reflected that emotion!

Cards by Anam Stubbington

Featured Products: Follow your Heart ‘Be Happy’ 6x6 paper pad, chipboard, brads, layers cardstock stickers and two of the clips from the ‘Be Amazing’ range.

We can’t wait to see what you create!  Good luck!

Please upload your project here:

Pretty pages

Hi, everyone! Suzanne here with a couple of scrapbook pages featuring My Mind's Eye's newest CHA releases. 

First page features the gorgeous range from Miss Caroline All Dolled up. The colors are so vibrant, and soft at the same time. I love the blue woodgrain paper found on the "B" side of the Favorite paper. It was perfect with this sweet photo of Macie I took while at a wedding rehearsal.

These papers have a soft pink mixed with patterns that are perfect for the sweet girl in your life.

Here I used the butterflies paper along the bottom of my page. I used one of the dimensional butterfly stickers as an embellishment along the lace cardstock border. I wanted this page to have soft layers, so I included vellum. One of my favorite paper that I used every time I scrapbook. I also love the premade titles you will find in all of the collections. Makes the designing part come together quickly.

A new item found in the collection are the wood diecuts. This butterfly is called Living, and I simply coated it with acrylic paint in antique white. I held it in place on top of another vellum circle, and used it at the top of my journaling tag.

The next page features the Follow Your Heart Collection. I cannot tell you how much I love this line. You will find sophisticated images throughout every paper, and element. A must have this CHA!

This page also came together quickly. I used the blocks on this page to create individual stories of embellishments, and layers of paper.

Here I created a border with paper, and a chipboard border. Of course, a white doily seemed only fitting on this page. I layered it again on top of vellum, and embellished the center with a chipboard sunburst. 

This collection is pure eye candy on every corner. The button embellishments are fabulous! Here you can see that I used portions of the patterned paper to "color" in the squares on the Be Happy 12x12 paper. 

Thank you for stopping by today, and we cannot wait to see your creations with these new collections!

Suzanne Sergi

Blog Challenge 32 Winners!

What amazing entries we had this month!  It was so much fun to see your take on our theme “YOU” and interpretations of Anam’s sketch.  We know how much time and effort was put into every entry.  Thank you for sharing your talent with us and enjoy your beautiful creations!

 

Let’s hear if for our winners!

Layout Winner: YOU are amazing by Abby Laubenstein!

We love Abby’s use of Kraft Funday and her attention to detail!

 

Honorable Mention Winner: YOU by Kellie Rabideau!

We love how Kellie took the sketch “off the page” for this framed layout about her daughter’s dog.  What a fun way to use the front of the mini album as part of the sketch!

 

Card Winner: YOU are so special by Scrapinka!

 

We love Scrapinka’s beautiful card and the hidden surprise that is in it!

Lisa’s Favorite Things Winner:

Thank you for your inspiration, Lisa. You have such beautiful layouts! I just love your style! Thanks for sharing with us!

Posted by: Tanya Thompson | February 03, 2012 at 08:55 AM

Congratulations to our winners!  Please email amber@mymindseye.com your shipping address and what you would like for your prize!

Jewelry Box

The Follow Your Heart collection designed by Rhonna Farrer is so soft and beautifully romantic and all the beautiful embellishments are like jewelry for your scrapbook pages and projects.  I guess that’s why when I saw this cute, plain jewelry box on clearance at Target I thought of Follow Your Heart. 

Many of you know of my love for mod podge and wood.  When I want to really be creative, I turn to projects like that.  For some reason, I chose to use double stick tape for this project.  I guess I thought that mod podge is permanent and if I ever wanted to change up the colors in my room that I may want to change the jewelry box.

I would suggest that if you are creating this for a younger girl that you use mod podge.  Isn’t it fun to have choices!  *wink*

I used the Follow Your Heart – Be Happy color scheme.  The soft colors blend so well together that you can really play with mixing patterns.

If you can’t get to a jewelry box from Target, you can pick up one from a thrift store.  Most craft stores have paper mache or raw wood boxes.  That’s another good place to check.

I had a lot of fun with this project.  You will too.  After you get the papers on the box, play around all the fun embellishments.  Remember – you are adding jewelry to your jewelry box!

What a great time I had on Good Things Utah today.  As usual, I have included instructions which you can download here:  Download 2012_02_16_MME_Jewelry Box

When the video is ready to go, I’ll add it here.

Have a happy time creating!

Amber Packer