Ally and I have created some back-to-school themed projects to share with you today!

I have a dirty little secret to share – and I’m sure many of you can relate … I HATE packing lunches!  Most of the time, my kids bring home half of what I sent with them!  So I had an idea…

We sat down and made a list of their favourite foods (Mom-approved, of course!) from four basic food groups:  Grains, Protein, Dairy and Fruits/Vegetables.  Once we had about 8-10 items in each category (or more or less, if your children are more/less fussy than mine), I sat down and created this:

It’s a menu planner!  So, how does it work, you ask?

Well, when you were younger, did you ever have one of those books where each page was cut into three or four sections and you could mix and match the girl’s clothes and shoes?  Same idea!  The album, made from 6×6 pieces of chipboard, was decorated using patterned paper, cardstock and of course, myStamp BOX stamps, Funky Circles and Lots of Dots Alphas.  I then printed all of the foods from our list onto cardstock and trimmed them to 1.5″ x 6″.  A small strip of patterned paper, a stamp of colour and a quick punch with my Crop-o-dile, and voila!

Each child plans their lunch by mixing and matching the cards, ensuring a well-balanced lunch that they will eat, because they are in control of the situation!  I will also add some milk or water, and a small treat or extra snack to round out the lunch!

To add a little sunshine to their day, I created a little envelope from kraft paper and attached it to the inside cover:

Inside, I tucked teeny note cards that I created, using the Seal It and Itty Bittys stamp sets.

I will slip one into each of their lunches every day, to remind them how much I love them!

And here’s Ally…

Hello!  In order to get ready for a new grade, I thought I’d better complete a layout about my son’s first and last day of Kindergarten from last year so that’s what I did.  The journaling boxes from the “Your Story” stamp set worked perfectly to journal the details of each of my photos.

Stamp Sets Used:  Letterboxes, Mini Alpha, Fleurishing Punctuation, Your Story, Neighborhoods, & Mini Pennants

Thanks for visiting – and Happy Back-To-School!

and

It’s Wednesday today, which means it’s challenge day! I’ve been trying to use perfect pearls lately and I really love the shiny effect they bring to a layout. So here’s the challenge: make something shiny with stamps of course!

Here’s my layout:

I’ve put pearls to add to the shiny effect.

And for the ones wondering how to use perfect pearls, here’s a step by step (which shows one of the many ways to use them):

You need an ink, i’m using versamark.

Ink your stamp.

Stamp on paper.

Dip your brush in the perfect pearls, and lightly brush on the stamped image.

Spray a fixative, and there you have it!!

Good luck!

You participate in the blog hop by leaving a comment on each and every participating myStamp BOX designer’s blog and all of our partner companies’ blogs as well. myStamp BOX is offering a Road Trip stamp set as a prize among the participants who visit all blogs. The winner will be announced next Monday on this blog. Our partner companies will offer up a prize as well, you will find the prizes and details when you get to their blogs. So leave a comment on all the blog posts and then return to the mSB blog and tell us what your favourite project was along the way for a chance to win! Have fun!

The challenge for the participants of this Blog Hop was to take anything that makes you think of Summer and create a project that fits the inspiration. This could be a colour scheme, a pool party, a trip, the possibilities are endless.

For my project I made a mini album for a travel log. Since we do a lot of travelling in the summer, and need to bring a lot of stuff with us, I prepared a full album and only need to fill it with pictures, travel memorabilia and notes. The fun thing is that I can finish it along the way and keep my creative luggage small.

I love pinks, reds and oranges (colours of the Summer heat) and decided to create my album with these colours. I chose papers from our partner companies Kiki Art (patterned paper from Family Collection) and Core’dinations (solid cardstock from Black Magic Collection). To make the Black Magic collection shine, I carefully tore each page on the outside. It is a pretty effect when the book is closed, as you can glimpse at the colours inside.

The pages were cut to 12″ x 6″and then folded. I used 4 papers to the book. I chose the black side of my paper to make the cover. Since the colours are very vibrant inside, I wanted the outside to be more muted. Three things hint at the colours inside: the orange thread that I used to bind the booklet, the pink arrow and the torn purple cover page edge.

For the title I used Versamark ink and stamped a suitcase in the middle of the page, then embossed with black embossing powder from PK Glitz. The word “Trip” is also taken from the Road Trip stamp and embossed with white powder from PK Glitz. The arrow is embossed onto pink paper, then cut out and attached with a blob of Professional Acid Free Glue from Helmar.

The binding has been done in a pamphlet-stitch.

Here are the different pages clearly visible. The torn edge adds a bit of texture.

To pre-decorate the book, I used a tape roller from Kiki Art from the Family Collection and added fake stitches on most pages, like on the pink one in the centre.

To finish everything off, I stamped many designs from the Road Trip, Just add Notes and Your Story stamp sets in black onto pink and white paper and embossed some of them in black. If I need to add anything to my pages, I will use it from this stash.

This summer I can pack light, I will just need to bring my mini album, the Mini Alpha stamp set with a small block and black ink, a small bottle of Helmar Glue, my prepared journaling blocks and embellishments and a fun tape roller from Kiki Art and I will be able to finish the album on the go!

AND NOW, please hop along to the next blog of our designer VIRGINIE and check out her Summery inspiration!

Here is our Summer Blog Hop schedule just in case you miss anyone:

myStamp BOX Blog http://www.mystampbox.com/blog
Virginie http://lescrapdenovalen.canalblog.com
Tracey http://tailoredpages.blogspot.com
Cherie http://cherie-inked.blogspot.com
Helmar Adhesives http://helmarusa.typepad.com
Jing-Jing http://thislittleartofmine.blogspot.com/
Jolene http://jolenejohnston.blogspot.com
Monique http://moniquesscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Eva http://www.evascrap.blogspot.com
PK Glitz http://www.pkglitz.com/blog/
Ellen http://closeyourears.blogspot.com
Maryfrances http://maryfrancesfabbri.blogspot.com/
Gudrun http://papirbloggen.blogspot.com
Lynda http://positive-force.blogspot.com/
Jill http://www.fromthefarm-jill.blogspot.com/
Kiki Art http://www.kiki-art.com/blog_en/
Agata http://underconstruction-agata.blogspot.com
Ally http://yourmemoriescanada.blogspot.com
back to the myStamp BOX blog

Have Fun!

Bettina

One of my greatest joys in life is walking into the Kindergarten classroom and all the kids running up to me to give me hugs.  There’s no better feeling on a Monday morning, I’ll tell ya’.  And one of the best parts of the Kindergarten day is “Show & Tell”……..always an interesting part of the day.  So…….it’s only fitting that this Kindergarten substitute has the privilege of sharing my “Show & Tell” with you.

For all three of the layouts I’ll be sharing today, I used the Mini Letters stamp set AND the Your Story stamp set (with a few additions of other mSB stamp sets).

Crazy Kids: 8 x 11 inch single-page layout

mSB stamps used:  Mini Letters, Your Story, Borderlines, Bold Blocks.

To create the “Crazy Kids” title on this layout, I carefully inked the stamp from the Bold Blocks set, making sure I didn’t get any ink on the word “STUFF”.  Then I hand wrote the word “kids” to create the title.  I doodled around the whole thing to make it stand out.

Happiness: 8 x 11 inch double-page layout

mSB stamp sets used: Mini Letters, Your Story.

Using the Mini Letters set, I stamped the word “run” three times on a dictionary paper heart and then stitched under each word with my sewing machine.

Finders Keepers: 12 x 12 inch single-page layout

mSB stamp sets used: Mini Letters, Your Story, What’s your Numbers?

If you look closely, I used the number “1″ stamp from the What’s your Number? set to create the turquoise rectangles and the little yellow squares for “check marking”.  I stamped only the outside border of the journaling block from the Your Story set around the rectangles, making my own personalized journaling tag.

Hope you’ve enjoyed a journey back to Kindergarten this morning with a little “Show & Tell”.

smiles,  jill

I’m not one to read high-fashion mags or watch all the FashionTelevision shows on TV.  I do, however, catch the odd episode of America’s Next Top Model or Project Runway.  I think if I wasn’t a farm-wife, mother-of-three & teacher……I would have been a home decorator or fashion designer.  Oh, you laugh, but I know I could have made it {so easy to say while I sit here in my butterfly pajama pants sipping a diet pepsi — lol).

So…it is only fitting that I created some layouts for this month’s post that were totally inspired by the colours & textures of the fashion industry.

Layout #1 was inspired by this 1960’s number — I can just imagine my mother & aunts in this outfit.

And here is the layout:  “LIVE”  –  this layout has a clean & crisp look with a retro feel.  I used the colours RED, WHITE & a touch of BLACK; all inspired by the photo.   I used the myStampBOX stamp sets: Your Story & Border Lines.

Layout #2 was inspired by the colour & textures of this photo.  Notice how the outfit is somewhat monochromatic, with lots of layers and dimension.

And here’s the layout:  “DISTANCE”  –  by using vintage lace, a handmade fabric flower & jewel accents, I created a monochromatic layout, much like the inspiring outfit.  I stamped the title “DISTANCE” multiple times down the centre of the layout in both white and brown ink.  I used the stamp sets: Tall Solids I and Tall Solids II.  I outlined the title in black marker to give it definition.

My 3rd layout was definitely inspired by the colours & incredible patterns of this next runway outfit:

If anyone knows me, I love pattern paper — really… anything goes … any colour, any pattern, any paper.  I love mixing bold colours together and all kinds of patterns in my layouts & projects.  So… you can only imagine how this outfit inspired the bold colours of this next layout:  “I love 35″.

I chose four {quite} different pattern papers — in colour & design — and used them on this layout.  The three circles are hand-cut from bold floral prints and the square border, from a more whimsical print.  I used the Wishing you Sunshine stamp set to create flowers, adding Ranger’s glossy accents for dimension.  I created part of the title using the What’s you number? stamp set.

And, lastly, who couldn’t be inspired by this incredibly beautiful dress?

I was instantly drawn to the gorgeous, pink, flowing fabric on the bottom of this dress and the tailored, silver lines of the top.  I wanted to create a “pretty”, soft layout that was airy & fresh.

The Sigh Gush Gasp stamp set was the perfect choice for creating this layout.  I added hand-journalled writing inbetween for some interest.  The shiny,  silver pearls and vintage, grey paper & ribbon really pick up the colours of the fashionable top; while the pink, tulle flowers are a great addition for a soft look.

I hope you have enjoyed MY TAKE on creating layouts inspired by yesterday & today’s fashion-on-the-runway.  You can visit the myStampBOX gallery to see more close-up photos of these layouts.

I challenge YOU to dive into your own closet to find inspiration for your next layout.

smiles,

jill

It’s fun to mix and match stamp sets. Here’s a closer look at where I used each stamp set:

Across the top of the layout I stamped the colon from the Oversized set of punctuation stamps. This set has a slightly distressed look, so it was perfect for creating a border for my rugged layout. I even copied the dot idea by using three black brads that were nearly the same size as my stamped dots.

The journaling spot from the Your Story set was an easy one to include. I stamped it onto coordinating woodgrain paper and added my details.

The title used two sets of stamps. I stamped out the first few words using the Mini Alpha set on more woodgrain paper. Then I gave my chipboard word some extra TLC with the arrow and postage cancellation from the Road Trip set of stamps.

We’d love to see how you get wild with your stamps on layouts. Happy stamping!     - Jolene

Supplies: Oversized stamps, Your Story stamps, Mini Alpha stamps, Road Trip stamps, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink, Scrap FX chipboard, American Crafts cardstock, The Paper Studio cardstock, twine, Crate paper, Cosmo Cricket Paper, Deja Views paper, American Crafts Slick Writer, 7 Gypsies brads

If there’s one thing that 99% of the time ends up on my scrapbook pages, it’s stamps. That’s one of the many reasons I love designing for myStampBOX. The stamps are so versatile and can look new again on each and every layout. Here are some recent layouts created with my myStampBOX Stamps.

Stamps Used: Seal It and Just Add Words

Stamps Used: Your Story and Rough Copy

Stamps Used: Seal It and Your Story

Happy Stamping!
Cherie

Today I would Love to share  my excitement for the wonderful mSB sets with labels and textboxes. I  really love textboxes, it allways brings some little extra to my LOs and cards   and the “your story” and “just add notes” set are some of my favorites. Even if I’ve owned these set for a long time I still reach for these stamps over and over again. They are so versatile and fun.

This time I have created 2 LOs and one card.

The LOs are totally different both in style and colors – but I used the textboxes to make a special design-element and to capture the story on both of them.

On this LO I wanted a light, happy and whimsical “patchwork”-look. And the textboxes helped me to add dimension and make room for my journaling. I didn’t need a lot of journaling here, just the most important things: who, what where, when… And the text “memory” in the set was perfect as a part of the title.

I wanted to capture the story behind the pictures on this LO, and I decided to use lots of textboxes to make room for my journaling, and to add a fun, whimsical element to my LO. I used the text “the story” from the stamp set as a “under title” on this LO as the story is a important part of this LO.

A little “just because” card. I used the textboxes to make a fun design-element on my card, and it also gave plenty of room for my title “for you”.

Hope you feel inspired.

Happy creating!

gudrun

Today i wanted to show you a fun way to use glitter: i punched a few stars out of  double sided sellotape. Then i adhered one side of the star to cardstock and sprinkled glitter to the other sticky side. There you have it! The only little thing left to do is punch the star another time (trough cardstock). It’s really pretty and versatile, you can punch every shape you want, and it’s so easy!!

I used the “you name it” and “your story” stamp sets on this layout. The glitter (carnival) is from PK Glitz.

Have a nice day!

I’m here to share a layout with you today… And i wanted to show you a fun thing i like to do: glossy tone on tone borders. I love the effect and it’s so easy! All you have to do is stamp the border with versamark and then emboss it with clear embossing powder:

I used the “bits and pieces” stamp set and the “your story” stamp set.

And here are some close-ups:

I hope you like it and i’ll see you soon!

Brick Tutorial

Supplies:

Kraft cardstock, or other desired color

Ink

MyStampBox YOUR STORY stamp set

Acrylic block

brown/grey/black  colored pencil

scrap paper

This is the exact stamp that you need…

1. Take the strip of cardstock, the stamp on the acrylic block and the ink. Ink the stamp and stamp 1/2 of the stamp on the top left edge as shown… Use scrap paper to catch the estra stamping…

2. Repeat this step, except this time, stamp under this first image, and stamp the entire stamp… Then in row 3, repeat the 1/2 stamp… as shown in the photo…

3. Continue the stamping across to the right of the page. After these first 3 stamps in steps 1 and 2, each stamped image should be of the entire stamp, until you get to the right edge.

I did just 3 rows of bricks… but you can do as many as you wish.

I added some extra color and dimention using the colored pencil. Stickles, glitter, distressing or any other fun techniques may be applied at this time!

Don’t worry if things don’t exactly line up… you can fill in some blanks with the colored pencil or just leave it to add to the character of the brick look.

Now you’re ready to add your brick work to your project!! here are some detailed shots of my project…

So now dig out your set of YOUR STORY stamps and start laying the “brick work” for a new and fabulous project!! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!

I am in the process of putting together a fairly large album for a friend of mine. Actually, it’s a present from her to her mother on her mother’s 80th birthday and it’s an album incorporating tons of older pictures that her family had been holding on to. It’s been a fascinating process, fun to put someone else’s photos together for a change but more than that….it’s made me think a little…about whether I’ve been spending too much time on the “art” of scrapbooking and not enough time on the “memory-keeping” aspect of scrapbooking. I think I may be on the verge of changing how I scrapbook

Whatever the case, when I thought about how I wanted to scrap these photos, and that the mother for whom this book is being put together loves to write and journal, I immediately reached for 2 of my favourite  my Stamp BOX stamp sets: Just Add Notes and Your Story.
Between these 2 sets, there are 20 journaling-type stamps that are perfect for recording dates and times, short blurbs about what is happening in photos, titles and captions, and also frames for around sentiments if you’re just making cards.

I stamped a random assortment of these journaling stamps on plain, but textured cream-colored cardstock, in a brown ink.

sprayed the cardstock with brown (Coffee Shop) Glimmer Mist to tone down the brightness of it (the whole album is in neutral tones so it’s perfect this way).

And then I cut them out.

Now, as I go through the album and finish up the pages, I just paste a few of these near the pictures that need a little bit more explanation….and my friend’s mom has an easy way to record who’s in each picture, and when.

I can see these 2 stamp sets being in a LOT of my projects in the near future

Thanks!
Cathy

Have you ever tried stamping on felt? I enjoy texture on my projects and love to include elements that encourage people to touch and appreciate their handmade qualities. StazOn ink works perfectly with most types of non-paper stamping projects including felt. The key to getting sharp images is making sure you have plenty of ink on your stamp. Practice on a few pieces to see how your felt and inks work together. For my thank you card I stamped the flower outline from the Kind Flower set of myStampBOX stamps on oatmeal felt with Timber Brown StazOn ink.

I carefully trimmed out the flowers with very sharp scissors and added a flocked brad to the centers for extra softness. The sentiment was stamped inside the card so it would peek out of the window opening punched from the front panel.

Not a fussy cutter? Simply stamp onto a premade felt shape or one you die cut at home. I used a sentiment from the Your Story set of stamps stamped with Jet Black StazOn ink onto a precut Fancy Pants felt star. The clear nature of myStampBOX stamps allows you to accurately position your stamping wherever you want! Consider stamping a layout title onto felt or even a beautiful border. Be sure to stop by the myStampBOX store to see which stamps you’d like to try using with felt. Happy stamping!  – Jolene