My Mind's Eye Blog

December Sketch Challenge

It's sketch time again! On this month's sketch, we are using strips of patterned paper to anchor a photo in the bottom right corner. I stacked the title up at the top between the journaling and surrounded it with little accident pieces. I added more embellishments near the photo including the big flair. 

Remember...you are interpreting the sketch so feel free to rotate the sketch or change out the one photo for multiple photos.  Envision the pieces and see how you can make the sketch your own with embellishments, paint, patterned paper, and other wonderful My Mind's Eye products. 

Supplies: Now & Then: Izzy - Smile 'Bloom' Paper, Izzy - Smile Flair; Izzy - Happenings Mixed Bag; Izzy - Happenings Enamel Dots; Izzy - Good Times 'Range' Paper; Milo - Friends 'Field' Paper, Izzy - Boys Brads; Izzy - Dream Big Buttons; Other: Stencil: TCW Stencils, Ranger Ink: Archival Ink, Distress Ink; Maya Road Twine; Uniball Vision Ball roller

I started this layout by selecting a fun patterned paper background from the Now & Then line. I let the colors guide my layout and used the same colors to stencil some designs on the background. Next I added some splatters of black paint before adding in the strips of patterned papers. 

Next I pulled out some leftover strips of patterened paper to create my base for my photo. I absolutely love using up scraps on my layouts. I find strips of paper very grounding and my go to design. I ripped one of them and stacked them together. I find it easy to combine bold patterns together in small strips. I added also black ink around the starts to give them a little more pop. 

Here I inked the edges and stitched them to the background. I also added a sub-title next to my picture using a die cut from the mixed bag.  After I glued the photo I added the baker's twine on top. 

I love making my title as part of my design. I started with lines drawn in pencil on the top of the page. I started by placing the title down first and then added the journaling all around the title. It really draws the eye to the top of the page and adds a cool element to the page. 

Okay. Now it's your turn.

A random winner will be chosen and shared on January 2  . You have until the end of the day on January 1  to share your project.

Please link your sketch via the InLinkz tool at the bottom of this post. Your layout must feature MME products. Only one entry per participant, please. The prize is any MME collection.

Have fun and good luck!

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

December Challenge

 

Hi everyone Laurel here.  It's time for the December challenge!

 

This month we are challenging you to make small gifts/stocking stuffers with MME products.

I'm so excited to share my take on the challenge with you!

 

I like to give little gifts to our mailman and newspaper boy.  This year I decided to alter some tins with the Sleigh Bells Ring collection.  I love the rustic feel with the touch of black, I can see so many fun projects with this.

 

 

 

These were such easy projects to create and at this time of year, quick and easy is what I need, especially this year since I have a 2 month old grand daughter that I just can’t get enough of!

 

 

I just trimmed, layered and stitched some of the pattern paper then adhered it to the top of the tins. I then added some glitter to the edges of the tags, to add a bit of interest.

 

Finally I topped them off with some of the fun Bows that are so easy to assemble!

 

 

I will fill the tins with some chocolates and a Starbucks or Tim Horton’s gift card. 

 

Now it's your turn! What quick little gifts and stocking stuffers are you making this year?

 

Here are the rules:

1. You can submit a layout,card,album,altered item,etc.

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must "look" like a MME project. :) It must fit the theme.

3. The project must be created new for this challenge. You may only submit one project.

4. Upload the project to the InLinkz link tool at the end of this post by the end of the day on Sunday, December 14

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the December sketch challenge on December 15. The prize is any MME collection- the choice is yours.

Check back later for the November sketch winner!

Thanks so much for stopping by today- Can't wait to see what you create!

laurel

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

November Sketch Challenge

 

It's sketch time again! I am here today to share with you a fun layout with many tiny layers. There are two photos but turn that one larger photo into two smallers ones.  There's a large circle underneath the photo which could be patterned paper, paint, ink, etc!  

I added lots of little layers, like triangles, arrows, circles, and banners.  The important thing about adding little layers is grouping them together, overlapping on occassion. 

Remember...you are interpreting the sketch so feel free to rotate the sketch or change out the one photo for multiple photos.  Envision the pieces and see how you can make the sketch your own with embellishments, paint, patterned paper, and other wonderful My Mind's Eye products. 

 Supplies: Jubilee: Tangerine - Adventure 'Be Daring' Paper; Tangerine - Awesome Mixed Bag, Tangerine - Story: Journal Cards; Wildberry - Today: Flair; Wildberry - Life: Mixed Bag, Enamel Dots; Wildberry - Hey You:  Rubons; Wildberry - Wonder: Chipboard; Other: Stencil: TCW And So On & Positive, Ranger Ink: Archival Ink, Distress Ink;

I had a lot of fun creating this layout! I started with the big circle on the background. I used a variety of distress inks and archival inks with the stencil. I added another stencil layer over top using black ink.  I then layered the patterned paper on the background and placed my photos on top. I cut the background and layered it on the patterned paper to have that pop of woodgrain at the top.  

I then began all the small layers on top of the photos.  First i placed the "hello" journal card over the top of the photo of my darling grandbaby. I like the layers to touch to ground them.  

Repeating elements are also a good design element. I repeated elements like triangles, arrows, circles, and banners.  Here you can see the circles overlapping.  

I also repeated colors around my page using the "flair" as my inspiration. Black is also grounding so you can see it scattered around my page.  I love the big bold title of "1 2 3 Love" around the page.  I finished my page with a little journaling around the title! 

Okay. Now it's your turn.

A random winner will be chosen and shared with our December challenge on Monday, December 1 . You have until the end of the day on Sunday, November 30 to share your project.

Please link your sketch via the InLinkz tool at the bottom of this post. Your layout must feature MME products. Only one entry per participant, please. The prize is any MME collection.

Have fun and good luck!

 

An InLinkz Link-up

November Challenge - Gratitude

For several years our November Challenge has always been us asking you to share your gratitude. This year is the same. We believe in grateful hearts and we love celebrating gratitude year round...but especially in November.

Valerie is here with you guys this month. Here's what she came up with!

 

Hello! It’s Valerie and I’m here to introduce the November challenge to you. This month the challenge is “Gratitude.” Document a single thing you’re grateful for or document a whole list—whatever! Simple right!?

 

There’s almost an infinite list of things I’m grateful for, but there’s one big thing I wanted to reflect on and document my gratitude for this year that I’m sharing with you today in layout form. I really wanted this layout to be about the words and the story and I think I accomplished that fairly well.

 

 

My time as a foster mom has been life changing in such an amazing, unexpected way. Emotionally, it’s both the hardest and greatest thing I’ve ever done. When my husband and i began this foster care journey, we had dreams and hopes of adoption while being well aware that the goal of foster care is to return children to their family.

 

God obviously had other plans for us…better plans, we just didn’t know it yet. He changed our hearts and opened our minds. Foster care is not about me, it’s not about us, it’s about the child—she needed us, she needed a family, she needed to be showered with love. I had to stop worrying about what would happen to me—the heartbreak, if I had to give her back.

 

Someday, I still hope adoption is in our future, but for now we’re joyously content sharing our home, our family, and unconditional love with these children for however long (or short) they need it. 

I wrote my journaling first on a separate sheet of paper, then decided what words or sentences I wanted to stand out.

I used the Silhouette Studio software to plan out this layout. The spacing of the handwritten journaling took a little more planning and a little trial and error. Instead of penciling in the journaling lines with a ruler, I inserted dashed lines on the Silhouette document so the machine drew/cut these lines for me.  

I used tracing paper to ensure i had enough lines between my key phrases. I did a test cut on white cardstock to make sure everything was spaced and aligned correctly before loading the beautiful ombre Jubilee patterned paper onto my cutting mat for the final cut. The last step consisted of added a cluster of embellishments and a photo.

 

SUPPLIES:My Mind’s Eye Jubilee Sherbet: “Pretty” Bubbly paper, “Peace” chipboard elements, “Happy” mixed bag, “Happy” enamel dots, “Pretty” enamel shapes, “Enjoy” decorative brads. Jubilee Mint Julep “Wild” enamel shapes and “Beautiful” mixed bag. Jubilee Tangerine “Awesome” mixed bag. Other: Silhouette Cameo (font: Pea Devon Caps http://www.kevinandamanda.com), Creative Memories pen.

 

Now it’s YOUR turn!

 

The rules (as always) are simple:

1. You can submit a layout, card, album, altered item, etc.

 

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must “look” like a MME project. It must fit the theme.

 

3. The project must be created new for this challenge. You may only submit one project.

 

4. Upload the project to the InLinkz link tool at the end of this post by the end of the day on Sunday, November 16. 

 

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the November Sketch challenge on Monday, November 17.

 

Good luck and have FUN!

 

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

October Challenge | Rub-Ons

Hi, I'm Monika and today I'm sharing the October challenge with all of you- Rub-Ons!

I'd love to show you how I used the new rub-ons from the Jubilee collection to create some darling home decor. Now that I've tried it, I just want to go around and add a rub-on to anything and everything in our home.


And why stop at just plates? Because I have two daughters, I knew that I had to find a way to spice up something in the younger daughter's room, too. If you have more than one kid, you'll know where I'm going with this. Keeping the peace, keeping the peace.


SUPPLIES USED
Jubilee Wild Berry "Hey You" Rub-Ons Item #J81069

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
Before beginning, I suggest giving your plate or mirror or other object a quick swipe with some window cleaner and allowing it to dry before adhering your rub-ons.

I tested the rub-on's on the back of the plate first, just to see if it would work...and it did! I worked from above as the plates rested on my work table. I had little luck using this same technique on a curved glass vase, but I'm not giving up and will try again. I'll use smaller images, rather than the reallllly long string of hearts I originally tested with. The mirror, for some reason, was harder to do than the plates, which could have been because I was too lazy to pull it off the wall and was adhering the rub-on's at an odd angle while it was still hanging on the wall.


Now it's YOUR turn!

The rules (as always) are simple:

1. You can submit a layout,card,album,altered item,etc.

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must "look" like a MME project. :) It must fit the theme.

3. The project must be created new for this challenge. You may only submit one project.

4. Upload the project to the InLinkz link tool at the end of this post by the end of the day on Tuesday, October 14.

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the October sketch challenge on Wednesday,October 15.

Good luck and have FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

September Challenge

Hey there, MME fans, and welcome to September!  This month’s challenge is so much fun, and I am so excited to bring it to you today!  The challenge is to use GLITTER on your projects…one of my favorite things!  There are so many glittery MME products to choose from…papers, embellishments, tapes…you name it!  I used the new Just Sayin’ collection, which has lots of fun gold glitter.  I used glitter patterned paper, glitter die-cuts, glitter chipboard and glitter enamel shapes.  It really sparkles when it hits the light!

 

I wanted to create a photo strip with my three photos, so I started with a vertical design.  I went through my goodies and picked out lots of glittery pieces, including this beautiful gold and white striped paper.  I adhered that to some white cardstock and then used watercolor to add in some messy aqua color.  The rest was embellishing and adding dimension.  All the bits and pieces make it easy to add them in.  I think that’s one of my favorite parts of creating.

 

Supplies : Just Sayin’ “Garden Party” paper, “Belong” paper, “Posies” paper, 6x6 paper pad, Chipboard Elements, Alpha & Word Stickers, Mixed Bag, Enamel Dots & Shapes, Decorative Brads; Jubilee Wild Berry “Hey You” Rub Ons; My Girl Decorative Tapes; cardstock, watercolors, black Sharpie pen, black Crayola marker, black thread, India Ink, Stampendous Ink.

 

Aren’t these enamel arrows adorable?  I love that the glitter is “built-in” so to speak.  It’s not going to flake off or make a mess.

 

Here’s a great close up of the glitter paper!  It really shines and sparkles and is just so pretty.  I love that the gold color really matches almost any other color, so you can use this with just about any color scheme you want.

 

 

Tonya is also joining in on this challenge.  Here’s her take and thoughts on the challenge!

 

 

Happy Monday guys!

 

I am a die hard glitter fan. It's the one thing for me that gives all of my cards that "finished" look. I don't care how messy it is. Walking around with a little bit of extra sparkle works just fine for me! Fortunately for all of you out there that are not fans of the mess My Mind's Eye make it really clean and easy for you! These two cards both have touches of glitter that required no clean up!

 

This first card used two different colors of glitter tape that came with the Necessities lines. The alpha stickers and chipboard are from Rhonna Farrer's new line Just Sayin'.

 

Supplies: Just Sayin'- 6x6 Designer Paper Pad, Alpha & Word Stickers, Enamel Dots and Shapes, 12x12 Chipboard Elements, Decorative Brads Necessities: Metallic and Teal Decorative Tapes

 

This second card features more of the glitter alphas, a glitter die cut from the mixed bag and a glitter embellishment from the decorative brads.

 

 Supplies: Just Sayin'- 6x6 Designer Paper Pad, Decorative Brads, Alpha & Word Stickers, Enamel Dots & Shapes, Mixed Bag die cut

 

 

See, super easy to get your sparkle on without literally getting your sparkle on you!

 

Now it's your turn!

 

The rules (as always) are simple:

1. You can submit a layout,card,album,altered item,etc.

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must "look" like a MME project. :) It must fit the theme.

3. The project must be created new for this challenge. You may only submit one project.

4. Upload the project to the InLinkz link tool at the end of this post by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 16.

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the September sketch challenge on Wednesday, September 17.

 

Good luck and have FUN!

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

July Sketch Challenge

 

Hi, it's Ronda here today!  For this month's sketch, we are using lots of white space with small strips to create a striking page.   By adding these little strips down to the left side we lead the eye right to our main photo.

These little rectangles and circles can be whatever YOU imagine them to be...pieces of patterned paper, brads, sticker strips, chipboard, etc.  You know with MME products you have a world of possibilities.  

Remember...you are interpreting the sketch so feel free to rotate the sketch or change out the one photo for multiple photos.  Envision the pieces and see how you can make the sketch your own with embellishments, paint, patterned paper, and other wonderful My Mind's Eye products. 

Supplies:  Now & Then: Izzy - Smile: Flair; Izzy - Good Times: 'Range' Paper; Chalk Studio 2: "Word Soup" Paper; Record it! Pretty Things Journaling Kit;  Market Street: Nob Hill - 'Stripes' Paper,  Decorative Brads, Decorative Stickers, Chipboard Buttons; Other: The Crafter's Workshop Chrysanthemum Stencil; Ranger lnk: Distress Ink; Watercolors, Black Pen, Fiskars Corner Punch, DMC floss.

I love Colorado sunsets.  There is something so magical about the way they blaze across the mountains. This photo is untouched and absolutely perfect.  While I picked watercolor as my background, you can always choose a patterned paper.  I added some watercolors to my background and layered a stencil design over top.  

I then layered bits of patterned paper with the Pretty Things Journaling Kit card to create the backdrop and title for my page. I love the way the pinky red paper really complements the photo and the aqua background.  

To really accent the title, i outlined it with a black pen and backed it with the fabulous striped paper.  I love the chipboard pieces as an accent and that flair was the perfect choice for the page!  I also added a stitched edge the journaling card to give it a pop of color.

I liked using the chipboard buttons & pennants as my accents near the top of the page.  The blue stitch again adds that pop of color.  I used the brad journaling piece and another brad as my rectangle strip and circle accent.  Love those little touches.

On the bottom of the page i used another brad and sticker strip for my accents.  Did you notice the stitches in the sticker strip? Now i have three sets of stitches around my page. 

 

 

This month Laurel is joining me and she created a card using the sketch.

Here's what she came up with:

Supplies:Record It Pretty Things: 6 X 6 pad, journaling cards, washi tape, Enamel Dots

Laurel Says I just can’t get enough of the Record It Pretty Things, so I had to play with it again. A little tip... to cut down on bulk, I only used half of the clothes pin and adhered it with some Glue Dots!

 

 

 

 

Okay. Now it's your turn.

A random winner will be chosen and shared with our next sketch challenge on Friday, August 15  . You have until the end of the day on Thursday, August 14  to share your project.

Please link your sketch via the InLinkz tool at the bottom of this post. Your layout must feature MME products. Only one entry per participant, please. The prize is any MME collection.

Have fun and good luck!

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

July Challenge

This month's challenge topic = Let Freedom Ring

Hi!  Tina here today with our July Challenge, ‘Let Freedom Ring’.  The 4^th of July holiday is one of my favorites!  It is an annual reminder and celebration honoring the birth of our nation, but it also brings out patriotism and gratitude for the military personnel who sacrifice their lives so that we can continue to be Free.

  Supplies: Necessities-Reds: Confetti Vellum, Monogram Alphas, Enamel Shapes; Necessities- Blues: Triangle Paper, 6x6 Paper Pad, Decorative Shapes, Enamel Shapes; Necessities-Woods: Dots, Wood Shapes; Misc: Cardstock:  American Crafts Vellum: Clearprint Twine:  American Crafts Letters: Heidi Swapp Adhesive: Tombow Punch: EK Success

Instead of creating a project sharing memories of July 4^th celebrations, I pulled out some of my pictures of a trip to Philadelphia where my family and I where we visited the very sites where our Nation’s history began.  I thought these images reflected the July theme perfectly.

 

Our new necessities collections in Red and Blue are PERFECT for continuing the ‘Let Freedom Ring’ theme, so I layered vellum under vellum, over a sheet of the Blues Triangle Paper. 

Aren’t the extra large Monogram letters to die for?  I love using these for an extra large title with lots of impact! 

To keep the focus on the theme, I kept my embellishments to a minimum, just adding a few shapes, decorative tape, and twine. This is probably one of my most favorite layouts I’ve created recently.  Clean and simple.

We hope you will play along with us this month.  How will you capture and interpret  ‘Let Freedom Ring’? 

The rules (as always) are simple:

1. You can submit a layout,card,album,altered item,etc.

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must "look" like a MME project. :) It must fit the theme.

3. The project must be created new for this challenge. You may only submit one project.

4. Upload the project to the InLinkz link tool at the end of this post by the end of the day on Tuesday, July 15.

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the July sketch challenge on Wednesday, July 16.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a beautiful day!

Tina

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

June Sketch Challenge

 

Hi, it's Ronda here today!  For this month's sketch, i thought we'd go small.  3 small photos that is!  These photos really become the focal point when stacked on a large mat of patterned paper.  Use up your stash to create the banner floating across the photos!

Remember...you are interpreting the sketch so feel free to rotate the sketch or change out the small photos for one large photo.  Envision the pieces and see how you can make the sketch your own with embellishments, paint, patterned paper, and other wonderful My Mind's Eye products. Supplies:  Now & Then:  Dorothy - Wild & Free Mixed Bag, Enamel Dots; Dorothy - Lovely Day 'Play' Paper, Flair; Doroty - Celebrate Buttons, Alpha/Tiny Words Necessities: Teal - 6x6 Pad, Black & Grey - 'Confetti' Foiled Vellum;  Market Street: Nob Hill - Chipboard Buttons; Other: Ranger lnk: Dina Wakely Media Gesso & Heavy Body Paints, Golden Paints, Jillibean Soup Alpha, Black Pen, Fiskars Border Punch

The gray background paper is a lovely neutral paper for my vacation photos.  I've been thinking about this beach ever since i left it.  I am ready to go back there & stay a while.  I used the teal Necessities 6x6 paper pad and layered rows of the foiled vellum over the it.  I used a border punch along the edge of the vellum to give it texture.  

Got leftovers?  Line up little pieces of chipboard, patterned paper, buttons, die-cuts, and other items to make your own adorable banner.  I love the pop of color in the little banner, especially against my photos.

Did you know you can sew through the chipboard?  No needle change, just use a regular size need.  Because of the adhesive on the back of the chipboard, you should wipe the needle after sewing with alcohol.  It removes any sticky residue.  

Okay. Now it's your turn.

A random winner will be chosen and shared with our next challenge on   . You have until the end of the day on Monday, June 31  to share your project. The winner will be announced with the July challenge on July 1.

Please link your sketch via the InLinkz tool at the bottom of this post. Your layout must feature MME products. Only one entry per participant, please. The prize is any MME collection.

Have fun and good luck!

An InLinkz Link-up

June Challenge

Let's see what you can do with our FLAIR!

That's right. We want to see you rock MME flair on a layout or card. As always- the sky's the limit when it comes to what you can make and how you interpret it. We know you will inspire us, as always!

We asked Tonya to join in the challenge this month and here's what she came up with:

Supplies: Market Street-Ashbury Heights: Shine Paper, Flowers Paper, 6x6 Decorative Paper Pad, Decorative Tape, Chipboard Elements, Flair Pins, Decorative Stickers ;Necessities-Metallics:Stripe Foiled Vellum Paper

Tonya says: Flair are such a great way to add some dimension to your projects. Some have sentiments on them and would be great to use on the front of a card or as part of the title/journaling on a layout. I have chosen to use mine as accent pieces.

One of the nice unique things about the flair pins from My Mind's Eye is that they are not flat back. They actually have the closable pin on the backside so that you could use them to pin on clothing, hats, ribbons, scarves…you name it! If you don't want the pin then just use the dimensional foam tape that come with each one. 

 

 

Now it's your turn!

Here are the rules:

 

1. You can submit a layout,card,album,altered item,etc.

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must "look" like a MME project. :) It must fit the theme.

3. The project must be created new for this challenge. You may only submit one project.

4. Upload the project to the InLinkz link tool at the end of this post by the end of the day on Tuesday, June 17.

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the June sketch challenge on Wednesday, June 18.

Good Luck!

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up