Cut files and Storyline

I love scrapbooking , you all know that but what I love even more is fast scrapbooking. Being a busy mum, teacher, wife and more sometimes it is hard to find the time to memory keep. That's my I love the Heidi Swapp Storyline collection found at your local Michaels.  It really makes creating pages so easy and quick. Today I want to share a new layout and a process video with you to share just how easy it is!

I began with that fun cut file that I cut on my Silhouette Cameo.

I then created my own pattern paper with the  Adventure and Wedding Deck of Days cards and layered it under my cut file.

I added my photos and strip journalling to complete.

Once my cut file was cut the layout came together in less than  20 minutes. Isn't that amazing!

Don't forget you can find the Storyline collection at your local Michaels!

Heidi Swapp Storyline collection

Hands up if you, like me love Memory Keeping! Keep your hand raised if you love it to be quick and easy!
I am excited to share that Heidi Swapp has a new collection of Storyline goodies  arriving today in Michaels stores.  What makes this collection so special is that it is as easy as 1,2,3 to get a layout done and placed into an album pronto!

The beautiful collection is filled with albums, both 81/2 x 11 ring albums and 12 inch  post bound albums that invite you to tell your story.

 This one below is my favourite. I love the soft pretty floral and it is going to sit perfectly in my storage album set of shelves.

I wanted to share a layout I created using the new collection and as a bonus I have a sketch below that you can use to create your own page as well. I used the gorgeous Adventure Deck Of Days cards to create my layout.

Here is my sketch that you can use to create your own layout.

One fun thing I have been doing lately is punching my photos into circles. It is then easy to add the Deck of Days cards and photo corners in and around for easy embellishing.

I added some hidden journaling under one of the Deck of Days cards that I attached with a brad from my stash. Its always fun to have hidden surprises for the viewer of your page.

I love this Storyline concept. In our busy lives we quite often can forget how important Memory Keeping is. Heidi's Storyline collection is the perfect solution. Quick, easy and pretty all at the same time.

The other girls on the team have created layouts and sketches too, be sure to drop by and be inspired by how simple this collection can be!

Jamie Pate

Maggie Massey

Lindsay Bateman

Jennifer Evans

Don't forget you can find this collection at Michaels stores now!

DIY laminated pocket for your planner

I love my  Heidi Swapp Memory Planner. It's a place when I can record the everyday moments of my family. Sometimes I have a few bits and pieces of memorabilia I want to add into my planner so I wanted to come up with a way to create a little DIY pocket.
Today I want to share a fun idea for creating your own pocket, its  super easy and super fun!

As you can see  below I have a place to store some bits and pieces in a clear pocket that is surprisingly easy to make with a couple of laminating sheets, your Minc machine and one of the new Fresh Start list books.

Let me show you how easy it is to make.

Step 1. Grab one of the List books that come in the Fresh Start collection or you could use a piece of cardstock trimmed to suit the size of your planner. Also trim a laminating pouch to fit just smaller than the list book cover. 

step 2. Turn the two pieces of laminating sheets the opposite direction so the shiny sides are now facing each other. ( this is the trick to creating the pocket. the shiny sides together do not  fuse  together when  run through the Minc machine. )

Step 3. Using a craft knife trim the cover off the List book.

Step 4. Turn the cover over and carefully lay the trimmed laminating sheets onto the cover. Be sure to leave an edge on the two sides and bottom, but line up  the top of the laminating sheets and the top of the cover. Now lay the whole piece inside another laminating pouch.

Step 5.  Run the pouch through your Mic machine.

Step 6 Using a paper trimmer or scissors trim around the edge of the laminating pouch ensuring there is a small border around the two sides and bottom to make sure there is no gaps in the laminating .

Step 7. Trim along the top edge of the laminated pouch/ cover , trimming off the laminated edge therefore opening up the pouch. 

  

     Step 8 Punch holes and slip it into your planner.

I cannot tell you how excited I am for this new technique, as  a teacher I am always using laminating sheets and have used this technique in the classroom before but I am thrilled to now use it in my Memory Planner.

letterbox and lightbox Winter Games fun!

With the Winter games starting today I wanted to set up a little display in my classroom for my kindergarten class to follow our Australian team. I cleared a shelf in my  classroom and got to work.
Of course I looked no further than the Heidi Swapp Lightbox and Letterboard.
I started with my base, my Australian flag and then layered the Lightbox shelf and the regular lightbox on top.

I used a variety of fonts and icons to add to the fun of it for my kindergarten students.  The icons come from the Hobby Lightbox icon set. They are perfect for the Winter games theme. 

I then grabbed my medium black Letterboard and spelt out the words Gold, Silver and Bronze using the 2 inch letters. I had previously spray painted some of my white 2 inch letters yellow. My plan is to add the small 1 inch letters to the Medal tally as the days go by.

My kindergarteners loved the little set up this morning as they came in to class. We will be learning about the different events as they are shown on the television as well.

 GO AUSSIES GO!

Storyline and National Handwriting day!

I have never been a fan of my handwriting, especially in my scrapbooks but I lately I have come to the conclusion that using my handwriting shows a little about me!
Today as we celebrate National Handwriting Day I want to share a recent page  I created using the Heidi Swapp Storyline collection....and let me tell you a little secret the whole page took me less than 20 minutes to put together! The secret....using my handwriting to add my journaling! It saves so much time rather than getting out my type writer or printing it out on my computer.

I started with one of the 8x11 pages and created my design around the three round photos. I added some of the Deck of Days cards and the stickers that come in the sticker kit to embellish my page.

I then went a head and added my journaling around the photos. The one thing that helped me was to first write my journaling in lead pencil and then trace over it with the pen. It allowed me to play with the spacing and layout of the journaling.

To add a touch of fun to my page I hand drew some boxes around a couple of the words and then used some coloured pencils to colour in the boxes. It really finishes off the page well!

Once completed I added it into my 8x11 album that I had previously completed all about my sons' birthday parties!

December Memory Planner pages!

Can you believe we are at the end of 2017! I am thrilled that I have captured all  my family's memories in my Heidi Swapp Time Flies Memory Planner!

Today I want to share my December pages with you ...

My prompts page celebrates the Christmas season!

Lots of photos around our home and special visits fill the first pocket page.

Turning the page, more special photos from Christmas Day!

Finally the calendar page is filled with all the important dates we celebrated this month!

I am so happy to have a planner full to the brim of 2017 memories and cannot wait tp see what happens in 2018! 

November Memory Planner pages

Welcome to November in my Heidi Swapp Memory Planner. With only days till the end of 2017 I love that I have a whole years worth of memories filled in my planner!

The prompt page introduces my birthday month!

The pocket pages are filled with photos and memories , complemented with journaling using my We R memory Keepers typecast typewriter.

Forever memories of my youngest!

Since November was my birthday month I created a fun interactive element using a clear acetate sheet I adhered with washi to the calendar page!

I love the way it lifts to reveal the page underneath.

Finally my calendar page  filled with tiny snippets of journaling, photos and most of all memories!