So this has just been the best month, Guesting here at My Mind's Eye..I feel so honored and blessed to be amongst the "regular" designers at MME, who are nothing but EXTRAordinary!  I have loved each challenge and post and the chance to work with all the beautiful new products fresh off the press was a dream come true!  So now, I'm here at my last post of the month and I'm to define "my style".  I do find that hard to do as I tend to evolve with the trends and my interests, but I think what comes to mind, if I had to choose a couple of words, it would be "Simply Embellished".  More than anything, my memory keeping is about the photos and the memories so I do like to keep the focus there...but then, the artist in me jumps in and says "now make it pretty!"  And that is what I do!  I start with the photos and then make them pretty.  I spend most of my scrappy time creating layouts for our family scrapbooks, and I'm highly motivated by a great photo.  This one was taken just yesterday and the minute I took it I literally ran in the house to upload it and get started scrapping it as I knew exactly what papers I wanted to use. My daughter and husband came home a couple hours later from the dance and handed me this pin so of course I had to add it to the layout, too, and it was the finishing touch to their memory.

(Miss Caroline Dilly Dally- Best, Hello and Curious lines)

I also love to give (and my family loves to receive) home made gifts, so I alter things quite frequently for my family and you will see my projects tucked into all the corners of my home (and my extended family's homes as well!).  I created this shadowbox frame for my Mom for Mother's Day (getting a little head start!) I used a white framed Shadowbox from Michael's for this one and just layered in the papers on the inside and the embellishments on the outside.  Not too fancy, but I didn't want to take away from that cute picture of me as a baby. :) Of course my parent's nickname for me was Princess, too..so the die cut worked perfectly for me.

(Featuring Miss Caroline- Dolled Up Princess and Cute Lines)

And lastly, a typical altered project from me...this was a box that previously held scrappy products.  I've been hoarding it for a couple of years and thought my daughter would love a little box for her upcoming birthday.  She is a collector (takes after her mommy) and needed someplace special to keep her little trinkets so I created this box for her. MME products are so amazing for altered projects..everything works together so beautifully to create that layered look that I love...from the bling to the paper, to the rub ons to the embellished brads and twine, the coordination of the products makes it foolproof to create beautiful keepsakes, be they scrapbook pages or altered items.

(Featured products- Miss Caroline Lovely, Happy, Beautiful and Like)

I'd like to thank Amber and all the folks at My Mind's Eye for allowing me to design for and with you this month, and to all the wonderful blog readers for all their sweet comments!  It's been a blast and I hope to be back soon!

Lisa Spiegel 

The UK seems to already be into Springtime with tons of bulbs coming through into such pretty blooms and nice weather nearly warm enough for shorts!

Around the corner from my In-Law's is a huge Hawthorne tree that just bursts into an amazing amount of blossoms in the spring - I love watching the tiny buds grow and open and show off their delicate petals in clusters of wonderfulness.

I wanted to bring out the delicate white and yellow in the flowers and started with the awesome twine from the Funday Kraft - Everyday Fun.  I then added a tiny mat of white to my papers to lighten the kraft papers away from the black tones.

I used the Everyday Fun Kraft Funday papers as they have a subtle yellow in their colours and teamed them up with the lovely buttons from the Lost & Found 2 Sunshine release.

I used the sweet wood banners and some of the trim and chipboard embellishments to give it some extra interest as I went with a star theme.

and half way through this layout, I was inspired to make a second one along the same paper layers going with the theme "growing" but using blue as the highlight colour.

Every mother has one of these sheets or pieces of wall where the kids are measured and compared to the previous one. something so simple that shows just how quickly time is passing by as my kids grow tall.

I used the same cluster style of embellishments using the fantastic new My Minds Eye Jewels along with the brads and chipboard buttons from the Funday Kraft release. 

I hope you are inspired to create something to celebrate Spring.

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

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!

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 

There are many different types of love and relationships to be grateful for.  We wanted to share a few of our “loves” with you.

I absolutely ADORE you

by Lisa Spiegel 

Featured collection: Follow Your Heart – be happy

I added the "You are my Sunshine" banner from the "Follow Your Heart- be amazing" line because it's "our song". :)  This photo made me think of our song because the sky was a little grey that day...and they make me happy when skies are grey. :)

I sewed a pocket for my photo behind the transparency...the journaling is hidden behind the photo and visible when the photo is pulled out. :)

You are the one Constant in my Life

by Karen Grunberg

Featured Collection: Love Me

A Half Dozen Roses by Jana Eubank 

Featured Collection: Love Me 

This year was an eventful Valentine's Day at our house. My daughter received her first roses from a boy as part of a Valentine's fund raiser at her school. Instead of sending my daughter just one rose with a card, her crush bought her six! She was beaming for the rest of the day! Her dad wasn't too keen on the idea and vowed to keep "those boys" at bay for a few more years by guarding the house with a shotgun. LOL! I used the Love Me collection for this page. I love it's soft hues and the way the bright red roses pop off the muted colors, allowing this memory to become center stage. The die cut bingo number border anchors my photos. I added a pink, glitter bookplate from my stash to highlight the date on the border and added a hand cut doily from one of the patterned papers. The rhinestone brads are from the Lush 2 collection and add just the right amount of sparkle. My journaling becomes more interesting with the addition of a couple of stamped chandeliers in light gray ink (Lost & Found stamps).

Family Love by Anam Stubbington 

Featured Collection: Lost & Found Christmas 

As I have already done a Love Me Layout for myself and Ian, I went with a Family photograph to celebrate love. 

I loved the Lost & Found Christmas colors but wanted to use them for a non-Christmas layout as the combination of the browns and golds just inspired me to do a love layout. It took a little fiddling with placements but I think I made it work like it looked in my head.

Supplies:

Lost & Found Christmas Papers: Bright, Boughs, Holly

Lost & Found Christmas chipboard

Lost & Found 2: Sunshine Burlap Trim

Other: Heart Punch, Foam Adhesive, Distress tool.

Love your Smile by Amber Packer 

Featured Collection: On The Bright Side – TWO

My Riley’s smile can light up a room.  It brings joy to my life and melts my heart!

What a fantastic show we had this year!  The excitement in the convention center was palpable.

In our booth vendors could see, touch and feel our newest collections along with our newest releases through Riley Blake Designs (purse kits)!

We were excited to show off our new booth!  We had such a fun time freshening our beautiful booth up.  We have added wood floors, birdcages, suitcases, antique typewriters and beautiful décor using our newest collections!

Our Design Team created beautiful projects using our new collections!

Most of all, we had a great time visiting with our valued clients and friends!

We’ll see you next show!

I couldn’t resist making a few cute Valentine’s.  All papers and die cuts are "Love Me".  So so perfect for Valentines!!

Card #1 is a spinner card.  I’ve included two pictures so you can see the fun you can have with a card like this.

I added Miss Caroline "Dolled Up-Cute" twine, Miss Caroline Layered Stickers and Follow Your Heart "Be Happy" Gems to this one as well as a little lace from my stash.

Card #2 I sliced open the mail box to insert a little extra love note and the hearts.

I added a bit of stickles to the hearts and a little pink doily to the background.

Card #3 I punched the hearts out of the paper, stitched around the hearts, then popped up that top layer of paper. I punched hearts from different paper for the background making the 3D effect. :)

I added Miss Caroline "Howdy Doody-Lovely" Heart button and some lace from my stash.

I can't wait to give these cards to my three sweeties...it was hard to hide them while I created!!

Lisa Spiegel 

p.s. You can still leave a comment on Lisa’s welcome blog post by Feb. 12, 2012 and be entered to win (link here) Lisa’s favorite My Mind’s Eye things!

We are pleased to announce this month’s blog challenge! Our blog challenges are one of the things we look forward to each month. We have so many talented blog readers.

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 “YOU”.
• 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 no matter how beautiful your entry is**

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 “YOU” on the layout (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, February 19, 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 three ENTIRE collections of their choice! We will also award an honorable mention winner with one collection of their choice! All winners will be featured in a blog post and have bragging rights!

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

Lovely “YOU” by Lisa Spiegel

Featured Collection: Follow Your Heart – Be Happy

"Jillian, you are such a beautiful dancer, always follow the song in your heart!  That song will carry you and make each day lovely, just like YOU!"

(I love the "Follow Your Heart" line...it is so perfect for encouraging layouts and so many themes!  The products all coordinate so well and layer together like a dream!!)

“YOU” make me smile by Anam Stubbington

Featured Products: Love Me Paper Pack and Kraft Funday Bright Day felt trim & Jewels.

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

Please upload your project here: