Winner Week #3

Was it week three last week?  I can't remember.  Anyway, it was the week with the Scenic Route goodie package.

The winner is:  Kimberly C.  Please send me your contact information to lori@apronstringsdesigns.com

If you haven't clicked the links to see the layouts and cards created . . . you need to.  They are just wonderful and make my fingers itch to mess with my own stash.

Pinterest Challenge #22

Uh. . .it's Sneak Peek time.  August kits are looking refreshing.  A break from the heat, since it seems no matter where you go in the US, it's an issue. If you can't get a real break, maybe a virtual break with your August kits will do the trick.  You can also load up on some extras for August - pick up some more Summer kits or extra embellishments (psst. . .and save!).

You know it's bad when you hear it won't be above 90 degrees until after 2:00 pm and you get a little thrill of excitement in that!

Today's Pin-spiration is from Apron Strings' Scrappin' Ideas board.  First I love the colors - crisp, fresh, chillin'.  I love the cute little flowers using the ever popular stick pins (can you see how the sharp tips are wrapped in a pop-dot. . .genius.)  The snippet of the two different fonts makes me want to change up the font on a layout or card, instead of sticking with just one as I normally do.  The ribbon has that great, and popular, chevron design.  The little stick-pin flowers themselves remind me I can make my own embellishments.  And the Cream as a background is a nice change from the Kraft or White cardstock - softens the pops of colors.

In my rush to get the post up, I didn't mention anything about this week's prize or deadline.  The prize, I'm thinking a goodie bag from Pink Paislee, let me see what the name of it is and what's in it.  Layouts are due on Sunday evening.

Happy Tuesday.

Pinterest Challenge #21

I started to write this while waiting in the doctor's office for my daughter . . . gone are the days when I'm in the room, I'm relegated to watching Ratatouille and the fish tank filled with "Nemos."  On the plus side, I started the blog post for today and caught up on my email when it was just too hard to type on my phone.


Hot weekend, broken with sporadic storms - lots of clouds and some rain, but not near enough to say we are now drought-free.  Enjoyed watching the Olympics - I feel like we need three screens just to watch the sports we all want to watch:  soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, diving, shooting...the list goes on.

Pinterest showed me I could do more with my mantle during the year.  I'm not a fan of our mantle/fireplace, it's nondescript and has no character, so anything I can do to change that I'm all for.  Using this Pin-spiration, from the Apron Strings Home for the Holidays board, for cards and layouts is easy; the white really pops those glorious fall colors.  The plaid is a no-brainer (which on a Monday, no-brainers are a good thing.)  I love the shapes and sizes of the pumpkins and squash; reminds me to change up the sizes of embellishments.  I'll look for leaves - chipboard, silk, paper.

Gotta dash to meet Jennifer for lunch. . .er to give her her kit ;D

Happy Monday!

Pinterest Challenge #20

Hot day coming and much to do.  Our weekly Friday dinner with the in-laws; already dessert, Lemon Cheese Bars, is smelling good in the oven - trying to beat the heat.  This is our last weekend before the start of three consecutive weekends of soccer tournaments and then we roll right into the start of school.  NOOOOO!!

Sometimes I can't decide when I pick colors for my boards, like this one from Apron Strings' Color Theory, if it's the colors or the photo.  I'm tending to lean toward photo on this one.  It's raw.  It's fierce.  It's powerful.  I struggle with using monochromatic colors, but I love these.  Combined with White cardstock and embellishments I can see it working.  I think these would be great for masculine pages.  The froth of the waves actually makes me think of lace or sheer ribbon and I could easily translate this to a baby layout or card as well.

Remember, layouts and cards are due Sunday evening to be eligible for the drawing - one gets you in, more better your odds.  This week's treat is Scenic Route Liberty.

Happy Friday!

Pinterest Challenge #19

I love these colors.  They're so fresh.  So vibrant.  I love the idea of using Grey as the neutral instead of White or Kraft.  I love the round shapes.  The vintage, tarnished silver makes me think of looking for items with that feel, or maybe distressing items on the page or card.  I like the filigree on the silverware and think of the rub-ons, transparencies and patterned paper that I could incorporate.  The layout of the platter makes me want to try this with photos (or elements on a card) - a large anchor of paper, the photos (or sentiment) on top, then putting title, embellishments and journaling below (where the onion, the peas in the spoon and the garlic are.)  Lots of texture, lots of fun shapes to play with in this one.  Shoot, I could use the food to have me looking for Thanksgiving or other family meals, or even recipes to document.  This color palate is found in both kits this month - in the Fancy Pants Wave Searcher and in the Basic Grey PB&J (though PB&J has a decent amount of blue, but still.)

Who will win this week?  Are you playing?  One entry equals one chance at winning the Scenic Route (loved this company) Liberty line.  Complete more layouts or cards and increase your chances.  It's really that easy.

Happy Thursday,

Pinterest Challenge #18

First things first - come shop Apron Strings Christmas in July Sale.  Save 25% on all things Christmas/Holiday/Winter.  Shop in the Blue Plate Special aisle to find:  past December kits, TV Dinners, Second Helpings and glittery, shiny and pearly things - all the things that say "holiday layouts and cards!"

In keeping with that Holiday - Christmas theme is today's Pin-spiration found on the Apron Strings Scrappin' Ideas board.  Seriously, how quick and easy would this card be for this year's Christmas cards?  That little tree would be adorable on a layout - even several of them along the bottom of a page.  The baker's twine reminds me to do more than just tie buttons on my layouts.  Speaking of buttons, I love how they go together without matching.  Kraft cardstock makes colors just pop without going for White.

Layouts or cards are due on Sunday evening.  Just one entry gets you into the drawing - completing more not only improves your odds for this week's Scenic Route Liberty (I checked on the name) group of goodies (paper, stickers, chipboard, probably stamps in there and stickers) but gives you that many more completed pages and/or cards.

Happy Wednesday,

Pinterest Challenge #17

I got up this morning feeling good about getting things done yesterday, though none of my accomplishments were from my mental to-do list.  I did manage to get my laundry going, my floors vacuumed, swept and mopped.  I cleaned one of four bathrooms (two of them are up in hell's heat on the second floor, so I need to mentally prepare myself for the sweating off 5 pounds during a 20 minute bathroom cleaning session.  I made chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream - the dough too!  I packaged up four pounds of blueberries that I set to freeze over the weekend - nope didn't pick these, they were just a good price at the store.  Had dinner in the slow cooker by 9:00 am.  I was on a roll. 

And now we have today...ah-huh.

So, we're just gonna move on to today's Pinterest Challenge from Apron Strings' Color Theory board.  I love these colors - they are one of my favorite combos.  They make me think of water.  Cool.  Breezes.  Lemonade.  From there I go to pictures of the kids playing in the overflowing gutters after a rain (clearly not from this year).  I see digging out photos from a lemonade stand they had a few years ago.  The Lily Bee Buttercup, which was in the April Bigger kit, line has these great colors.  The lemon's rind makes me think texture.  The lemon pulp makes me think of sheer things.  I might look for organic shapes, twigs, branches, leaves, even fruits, for my layout or card.

Layouts or cards from this week's challenges are due just before midnight MDT on Sunday.  Scenic Route is on the table.


Winner of the My Mind's Eye Market Street Collection is:  Francesca!  Congratulations.  Please send me your contact information to lori@ApronStringsDesigns.com


Happy Tuesday.