Maybe it’s not having a patio in the backyard or the fact that our patio table rotted over the winter and we “donated” it to the neighborhood clean up instead of bringing it to the house when we moved.  Or the fact that the only way I can leisurely enjoy an evening meal out doors is on folding chairs with paper plates in laps.  But, I have been dreaming of romantic summer night dinners with Chinese lanterns hanging from a pergola.

I decided a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to decorate some rice paper Chinese lanterns with the My Mind’s Eye Indie Chic collections.  The papers are fabulously relaxed summer papers with a cool “Moroccan” summer feel to them.  And, they are perfect for patio décor.

Back up a bit… while talking with my Sister-in-law a couple of weeks ago to find out what I could do to help her get ready for my niece’s upcoming “landmark” birthday party, I asked her if I could do a trial run of the lanterns to add to the decorations.  I knew the Miss Caroline – Dolled Up collection would match her color scheme perfectly.  My niece was thrilled with the lanterns and even asked if she got to keep them and, of course, she did!

Here is how they turned out:

I tied some shimmery bridal “fabric” around the center, clustered the flowers around and added some Teresa Collins “bling” to make them even more feminine.  (My sister-in-law bought the gorgeous fabric to drape behind them.  The whole food table was gorgeous!)

It was great to have a trial run to learn from and tweak slightly.  Here’s how the Indie Chic lanterns turned out.  Aren’t they beautiful?  (I just love this collection)

For the Indie Chic lanterns, I mixed things up a bit:

• I decided these lanterns didn’t need the bling (shocking, I know *wink*).  Instead of dangling the crystals from the bottom, I cut the shimmery “bridal” fabric and tied it to the bar a the bottom. 
• Instead of clustering the flowers in the center, I swept them across the lanterns in a gorgeous diagonal line.  I made sure one of the lanterns was angled a different way.
• I also tied the lanterns together in a lantern “bouquet” and dangled them from the chandelier over my kitchen table.  There are so many cute ways you can display these lanterns (on a curtain rod (like we did for the Baptism, from a chandelier, an outdoor pergola, tree or from the ceiling in a bedroom – use your imagination).
• Indie Chic has gorgeous buttons, chipboard and brads.  They make fabulous centers to the flowers, so I mixed them up in the centers of the flowers and used the flower centers as “buds” on the lanterns.

As always, I’ve created instructions for you.  You can download them here:  Download 2012_06_29_MME_Chinese Lanterns

I’ll upload the segment here when it is available.

I had such a fun time creating these.  I have another niece that wants me to make some for her in the future and I look forward to making them for her.

Have a fabulous day!

Maybe it’s not having a patio in the backyard or the fact that our patio table rotted over the winter and we “donated” it to the neighborhood clean up instead of bringing it to the house when we moved.  Or the fact that the only way I can leisurely enjoy an evening meal out doors is on folding chairs with paper plates in laps.  But, I have been dreaming of romantic summer night dinners with Chinese lanterns hanging from a pergola.

I decided a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to decorate some rice paper Chinese lanterns with the My Mind’s Eye Indie Chic collections.  The papers are fabulously relaxed summer papers with a cool “Moroccan” summer feel to them.  And, they are perfect for patio décor.

Back up a bit… while talking with my Sister-in-law a couple of weeks ago to find out what I could do to help her get ready for my niece’s upcoming “landmark” birthday party, I asked her if I could do a trial run of the lanterns to add to the decorations.  I knew the Miss Caroline – Dolled Up collection would match her color scheme perfectly.  My niece was thrilled with the lanterns and even asked if she got to keep them and, of course, she did!

Here is how they turned out:

I tied some shimmery bridal “fabric” around the center, clustered the flowers around and added some Teresa Collins “bling” to make them even more feminine.  (My sister-in-law bought the gorgeous fabric to drape behind them.  The whole food table was gorgeous!)

It was great to have a trial run to learn from and tweak slightly.  Here’s how the Indie Chic lanterns turned out.  Aren’t they beautiful?  (I just love this collection)

For the Indie Chic lanterns, I mixed things up a bit:

• I decided these lanterns didn’t need the bling (shocking, I know *wink*).  Instead of dangling the crystals from the bottom, I cut the shimmery “bridal” fabric and tied it to the bar a the bottom. 
• Instead of clustering the flowers in the center, I swept them across the lanterns in a gorgeous diagonal line.  I made sure one of the lanterns was angled a different way.
• I also tied the lanterns together in a lantern “bouquet” and dangled them from the chandelier over my kitchen table.  There are so many cute ways you can display these lanterns (on a curtain rod (like we did for the Baptism, from a chandelier, an outdoor pergola, tree or from the ceiling in a bedroom – use your imagination).
• Indie Chic has gorgeous buttons, chipboard and brads.  They make fabulous centers to the flowers, so I mixed them up in the centers of the flowers and used the flower centers as “buds” on the lanterns.

As always, I’ve created instructions for you.  You can download them here:  Download 2012_06_29_MME_Chinese Lanterns

I’ll upload the segment here when it is available.

I had such a fun time creating these.  I have another niece that wants me to make some for her in the future and I look forward to making them for her.

Have a fabulous day!

We are so sad to say goodbye to Anam Stubbington. Over the years she has meant so much to MME. From her flawless sketches to her beautiful layouts, Anam has shared her heart and her soul with us...not to mention her endless talent and passion.Her love for My Mind's Eye has been very apparent over the years that she has been with us.

Anam, thank you so much for your devotion to MME. We will miss you greatly, but we know that you will do wonderful things! - xoxo Stephanie

Anam has been part of the design team since before we officially had a design team.  Anam's talent is endless.  I love the way she uses products in unexpected ways.  If you'd like an example, just look at the "Family" layout Anam created featuring our twine. It amazes me how perfectly Anam's free-form style comes together. Anam has such a tender heart and truly cares about others.  I am grateful to call her my friend and will miss working with her- Amber

I have loved working with Anam on the MME design team for the last few years. I am always amazed by her creativity, fresh ideas, and thinking out of the box. She creates fabulous sketches for cards and layouts too (she even has created an app for them, perfect for crops). She is also the "Queen of Stamping". Some of my favorite stamping projects of hers: 

I will miss Anam tremendously on the MME team. Her creative sketches were always my favorite to turn to when I was in a creative slump.

We wish you the absolute best in the future,Anam. We know you will do beautiful things and find much happiness.

Welcome to day two of our travel layout series. Today Tamara is here to quickly share a travel themed layout she made using Indie Chic. Thanks Tamara!

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger:Chevron patterned paper,Bouquet patterned paper,Spice patterned paper,Flourish patterned paper,Damask patterned paper,die cut,layered stickers,garland,layered chipboard;Indie Chic-Saffron:Filligree patterned paper;Indie Chic-Citron:brads

Tamara says:The patterns and colors of the Indie Chic Ginger collection have a great Spanish style that I wanted for this layout of our adventurous cruise to Mexico.  The embellishments and titles coordinated perfectly with this photo of my kids holding a giant iguana in Puetro Villarta, Mexico.  We especially got a kick out of his little sombrero!

Welcome to day two of our travel layout series. Today Tamara is here to quickly share a travel themed layout she made using Indie Chic. Thanks Tamara!

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger:Chevron patterned paper,Bouquet patterned paper,Spice patterned paper,Flourish patterned paper,Damask patterned paper,die cut,layered stickers,garland,layered chipboard;Indie Chic-Saffron:Filligree patterned paper;Indie Chic-Citron:brads

Tamara says:The patterns and colors of the Indie Chic Ginger collection have a great Spanish style that I wanted for this layout of our adventurous cruise to Mexico.  The embellishments and titles coordinated perfectly with this photo of my kids holding a giant iguana in Puetro Villarta, Mexico.  We especially got a kick out of his little sombrero!

Take it away Jana!

One of the places we discovered was beautiful Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho. The most amazing thing about the falls is what a hidden treasure they are. From the freeway, Twin Falls looks like any other town, but as you drive into the city you discover that it is actually nestled against a stunning valley gorge containing rivers and waterfalls. It's amazing!

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger:Spice patterned paper,Bouquet patterned paper, Stripes patterned paper,Damask patterned paper,Brocade patterned paper,6x6 paper pad,die cuts,decorative tape,buttons,layered chipboard,twine;Misc-cardstock,ink,stamp,paper piercer,needle and floss,scissors and trimmer,adhesives

I used the Indie Chic Ginger patterned papers and embellishments on this page. There are so many great travel elements within this collection which makes it quick and easy to scrap those vacation memories.

I created a large banner mat for the photo of my family by cutting a wide strip on my trimmer and then using my scissors to add a dovetail to the end. I wrapped a length of twine around the banner and then accented my photo with a few of the layered chipboard elements.

 

See you next time!

We are so sad to say goodbye to Anam Stubbington. Over the years she has meant so much to MME. From her flawless sketches to her beautiful layouts, Anam has shared her heart and her soul with us...not to mention her endless talent and passion.Her love for My Mind's Eye has been very apparent over the years that she has been with us.

Anam, thank you so much for your devotion to MME. We will miss you greatly, but we know that you will do wonderful things! - xoxo Stephanie

Anam has been part of the design team since before we officially had a design team.  Anam's talent is endless.  I love the way she uses products in unexpected ways.  If you'd like an example, just look at the "Family" layout Anam created featuring our twine. It amazes me how perfectly Anam's free-form style comes together. Anam has such a tender heart and truly cares about others.  I am grateful to call her my friend and will miss working with her- Amber

I have loved working with Anam on the MME design team for the last few years. I am always amazed by her creativity, fresh ideas, and thinking out of the box. She creates fabulous sketches for cards and layouts too (she even has created an app for them, perfect for crops). She is also the "Queen of Stamping". Some of my favorite stamping projects of hers: 

I will miss Anam tremendously on the MME team. Her creative sketches were always my favorite to turn to when I was in a creative slump.

We wish you the absolute best in the future,Anam. We know you will do beautiful things and find much happiness.

What's not to love about MME die cuts? We have it all! From accents to titles to journaling cards...there's a die cut for everything and everyone.

Would you like to see how to make die cuts the focus of your layout? We asked Tamara to do just that and today she is here to share!

Supplies: Indie Chic-Saffron:Daisy patterned paper,Chevron patterned paper,Lattice patterned paper,Ornament patterned paper,title die cut,journaling die cut,die cut frame,brads,border stickers,decorative stickers,layered chipboard,layered stickers,trim;Indie Chic-Ginger:Mellow patterned paper;Misc-pen,sewing machine and thread,adhesive,black ink

Tamara says:Some of my favorite products from My Mind’s Eye are the die cut journaling cards, frames, and titles.  Their unique shapes add such personality to my pages and the titles always compliment my photos perfectly.  I used five die cuts on this layout – they are so fun to layer!  Try using them in different ways: the orange scalloped journaling card made the perfect frame for the photo of my daughter reading. 

The bright orange, gold and pinks of the Indie Chic Ginger collection went perfectly with these photos I took of my daughter 3 summers ago. I love how all of the embellishments coordinate perfectly together and add such fabulous dimension to my pages.

Tamara has such a gift for sharing layouts that showcase MME in such a lovely and timeless way.

Thanks for sharing today Tamara!

Thanks for stopping by on this fine Monday,MME fans. Hope your day is wonderful and that you have time to do something creative!

What's not to love about MME die cuts? We have it all! From accents to titles to journaling cards...there's a die cut for everything and everyone.

Would you like to see how to make die cuts the focus of your layout? We asked Tamara to do just that and today she is here to share!

Supplies: Indie Chic-Saffron:Daisy patterned paper,Chevron patterned paper,Lattice patterned paper,Ornament patterned paper,title die cut,journaling die cut,die cut frame,brads,border stickers,decorative stickers,layered chipboard,layered stickers,trim;Indie Chic-Ginger:Mellow patterned paper;Misc-pen,sewing machine and thread,adhesive,black ink

Tamara says:Some of my favorite products from My Mind’s Eye are the die cut journaling cards, frames, and titles.  Their unique shapes add such personality to my pages and the titles always compliment my photos perfectly.  I used five die cuts on this layout – they are so fun to layer!  Try using them in different ways: the orange scalloped journaling card made the perfect frame for the photo of my daughter reading. 

The bright orange, gold and pinks of the Indie Chic Ginger collection went perfectly with these photos I took of my daughter 3 summers ago. I love how all of the embellishments coordinate perfectly together and add such fabulous dimension to my pages.

Tamara has such a gift for sharing layouts that showcase MME in such a lovely and timeless way.

Thanks for sharing today Tamara!

Thanks for stopping by on this fine Monday,MME fans. Hope your day is wonderful and that you have time to do something creative!

Today Danni and Anam are sharing some brand new projects using twine. Who doesn't love twine? We love the playful vibe that twine can add to any layout or card. We love to tie it,twist it,cut it,knot it, and loop it.

What is your favorite thing to do with MME twine? If you have a project highlighting twine that you want to share...make sure to link it in the comment section,we'd love to see!

Family layout by Anam

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger: Flourish patterned paper,Tulips patterned paper,metal flowers,chipboard,camera die cut,buttons,twine,journal spot;Follow Your Heart-twine

Anam says:I covered a piece of flexible wire in the grey/white twine and then formed it into the word 'family'.

Next I outlined a heart on the paper and stitched it across to make a large statement with a backing image.

The Perfect Day card by Danni

Supplies: Indie Chic-Ginger:6x6 pad,layered stickers,twine,designer tapes;Misc-Cuttlebug butterfly die,hole puncher

Danni says:I really wanted to play with the twine as an accent embellishment on this card.  I began the card with a triangle patterned paper design, using the Indie Chic Ginger line, stitched the triangles and then punched three butterflies.  I punched holes in one of the butterflies using my hole punch and then adhered twine to the backside to “peek through” the holes.

I stitched the top butterfly to the other two and adhered the butterfly to the triangles.

Hello card by Danni

Supplies: Indie Chic-Ginger: 6x6 pad,designer tapes,twine;Stella and Rose-stamps;Misc-Papertrey Ink stamps

Danni says:I began this card by stitching the gorgeous MME doily stamps onto kraft cardstock.  I then used a hole piercer and pierced holes around the circles.  I threaded my twine through one of my larger needles and stitched the circles, tying off the backs and taping down.

I adhered two strips of the designer tape to the bottom.  I punched the “hello sentiment” and adhered using 3-D mounting tape.  I like that these could be mass-produced and mailed.

Wonderful Things card by Danni

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger:6x6 pad,twine,button;Misc-Papertrey Ink sentiment

Danni says:I was really excited when I came across this pp in my 6 x6 Ginger pad.  I loved the large floral pattern and I really wanted to stitch the large flower and created centers for the two smaller ones.  I paper-pierced the large flower, stitched the flower with my twine and adhered a button to the center. 

To create the floral centers, I used a q-tip and applied tacky glue to the centers and rolled the twine.

Hope all of you found some new uses for twine today...Have a beautiful and blessed weekend!

Today Danni and Anam are sharing some brand new projects using twine. Who doesn't love twine? We love the playful vibe that twine can add to any layout or card. We love to tie it,twist it,cut it,knot it, and loop it.

What is your favorite thing to do with MME twine? If you have a project highlighting twine that you want to share...make sure to link it in the comment section,we'd love to see!

Family layout by Anam

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger: Flourish patterned paper,Tulips patterned paper,metal flowers,chipboard,camera die cut,buttons,twine,journal spot;Follow Your Heart-twine

Anam says:I covered a piece of flexible wire in the grey/white twine and then formed it into the word 'family'.

Next I outlined a heart on the paper and stitched it across to make a large statement with a backing image.

The Perfect Day card by Danni

Supplies: Indie Chic-Ginger:6x6 pad,layered stickers,twine,designer tapes;Misc-Cuttlebug butterfly die,hole puncher

Danni says:I really wanted to play with the twine as an accent embellishment on this card.  I began the card with a triangle patterned paper design, using the Indie Chic Ginger line, stitched the triangles and then punched three butterflies.  I punched holes in one of the butterflies using my hole punch and then adhered twine to the backside to “peek through” the holes.

I stitched the top butterfly to the other two and adhered the butterfly to the triangles.

Hello card by Danni

Supplies: Indie Chic-Ginger: 6x6 pad,designer tapes,twine;Stella and Rose-stamps;Misc-Papertrey Ink stamps

Danni says:I began this card by stitching the gorgeous MME doily stamps onto kraft cardstock.  I then used a hole piercer and pierced holes around the circles.  I threaded my twine through one of my larger needles and stitched the circles, tying off the backs and taping down.

I adhered two strips of the designer tape to the bottom.  I punched the “hello sentiment” and adhered using 3-D mounting tape.  I like that these could be mass-produced and mailed.

Wonderful Things card by Danni

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger:6x6 pad,twine,button;Misc-Papertrey Ink sentiment

Danni says:I was really excited when I came across this pp in my 6 x6 Ginger pad.  I loved the large floral pattern and I really wanted to stitch the large flower and created centers for the two smaller ones.  I paper-pierced the large flower, stitched the flower with my twine and adhered a button to the center. 

To create the floral centers, I used a q-tip and applied tacky glue to the centers and rolled the twine.

Hope all of you found some new uses for twine today...Have a beautiful and blessed weekend!

Happy Thursday folks! We are so glad you stopped by today!

Today our blog topic is using 6x6 paper pads on your layouts. Many of you have mentioned that our 6x6 pads are perfect for cardmaking. We agree wholeheartedly,but don't discount them for your layouts!

Today Jana and Tina are here to show you fresh ways to incorporate our 6x6 pads on your layouts.

Long Beach Skyline by Tina

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger: Mellow patterned paper,Stripes patterned paper,Ric Rac patterned paper,Tulips patterned paper,6x6 paper pad,twine,layered chipboard,stickers,layered stickers,decorative tape;Misc-Lily Bee alphabet stickers,American Crafts thickers,Studio Calico Mister Huey's,adhesive,sewing machine,thread

Tina says: Frequently, when you see the cute little 6x6 pads of patterned paper in the store, you immediately think 'cards'.  Well, those cute little pads of paper aren't just for cards, they are actually perfect for your scrapbook layouts. 

What I like most about the 6x6 pads is the cute, smaller pattern on the paper. 

Generally, the pattern on a full 12x12 sheet of patterned paper is large and works well for a larger impact.  But if you are looking for a new and different way to add color, dimension, and fun style to a layout, try one of these 6x6 pads.

The other reason I love these smaller pads of paper is that you don't feel guilty when you cutting into a small piece of paper.  If you only use 12x12 sheets of paper, you might feel guilty for cutting a small section and not be able to use the rest of the paper.  With the smaller size, you can use smaller pieces for your layout and still have your 12x12 sheets for background use.

For my layout, I wanted to create a quilt like pattern for my background.  I cut random sized squares and adhered them to my background sheet.  I added some decorative tape framing each square and stitched the entire background, resembling a quilt.

I then used each square as a mini canvas, adding embellishments, layered stickers, banners, and my title. 

This grid design is a design I go back to frequently, as it is so versatile to your photo and product choice, and it just looks great!

Toothless by Jana

Supplies-Nostalgia:6x6 paper pad,brads,chipboard elements;Follow Your Heart-Be Amazing:stamps;Misc-cardstock,spray mist,letter stickers,Cricut and cartridges,inks,pen,sewing machine and thread,adhesives

Jana says:Lately I have been using 6 x 6 paper pads on my layouts a lot! The smaller scale is perfect with the smaller size photos I like to work with and they work beautifully with my electronic die cutting machine.

I even used the 6 x 6 ledger paper as a journaling block. I added a few Follow Your Heart "Be Amazing" stamps as some decoration to the corner of the block.

Next time you are at the scrapbook store, pick yourself up a 6 x 6 paper pad by My Mind's Eye and give it a try on your next scrapbook page. You will be thrilled at how fun and easy they are to work with!

Happy Thursday folks! We are so glad you stopped by today!

Today our blog topic is using 6x6 paper pads on your layouts. Many of you have mentioned that our 6x6 pads are perfect for cardmaking. We agree wholeheartedly,but don't discount them for your layouts!

Today Jana and Tina are here to show you fresh ways to incorporate our 6x6 pads on your layouts.

Long Beach Skyline by Tina

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger: Mellow patterned paper,Stripes patterned paper,Ric Rac patterned paper,Tulips patterned paper,6x6 paper pad,twine,layered chipboard,stickers,layered stickers,decorative tape;Misc-Lily Bee alphabet stickers,American Crafts thickers,Studio Calico Mister Huey's,adhesive,sewing machine,thread

Tina says: Frequently, when you see the cute little 6x6 pads of patterned paper in the store, you immediately think 'cards'.  Well, those cute little pads of paper aren't just for cards, they are actually perfect for your scrapbook layouts. 

What I like most about the 6x6 pads is the cute, smaller pattern on the paper. 

Generally, the pattern on a full 12x12 sheet of patterned paper is large and works well for a larger impact.  But if you are looking for a new and different way to add color, dimension, and fun style to a layout, try one of these 6x6 pads.

The other reason I love these smaller pads of paper is that you don't feel guilty when you cutting into a small piece of paper.  If you only use 12x12 sheets of paper, you might feel guilty for cutting a small section and not be able to use the rest of the paper.  With the smaller size, you can use smaller pieces for your layout and still have your 12x12 sheets for background use.

For my layout, I wanted to create a quilt like pattern for my background.  I cut random sized squares and adhered them to my background sheet.  I added some decorative tape framing each square and stitched the entire background, resembling a quilt.

I then used each square as a mini canvas, adding embellishments, layered stickers, banners, and my title. 

This grid design is a design I go back to frequently, as it is so versatile to your photo and product choice, and it just looks great!

Toothless by Jana

Supplies-Nostalgia:6x6 paper pad,brads,chipboard elements;Follow Your Heart-Be Amazing:stamps;Misc-cardstock,spray mist,letter stickers,Cricut and cartridges,inks,pen,sewing machine and thread,adhesives

Jana says:Lately I have been using 6 x 6 paper pads on my layouts a lot! The smaller scale is perfect with the smaller size photos I like to work with and they work beautifully with my electronic die cutting machine.

I even used the 6 x 6 ledger paper as a journaling block. I added a few Follow Your Heart "Be Amazing" stamps as some decoration to the corner of the block.

Next time you are at the scrapbook store, pick yourself up a 6 x 6 paper pad by My Mind's Eye and give it a try on your next scrapbook page. You will be thrilled at how fun and easy they are to work with!

Today we are back with the remainder of Wendy Sue Anderson's June guest design projects!

Time Together bookmark

Supplies:Indie Chic-Citron:packaging from pearl accents,Sherbet patterned paper,die cut title,twine

Wendy Sue says:Don’t forget to use the packaging from some of these great embellishments!  My kids and I have decided to read some books together this summer – I thought this title block that reads, “Nothing is better than TIME together,” was the perfect sentiment for this simple bookmark.

The base of my bookmark is actually the cardboard piece from the pearl décor embellishment.  The pattern is subtle, and the weight is perfect for a bookmark!

Hike layout:

Indie Chic-Ginger:Spice patterned paper,Tulips patterned paper,Stripes patterned paper,Bejewel patterned paper,garland,layered stickers,chipboard stickers,stamps,border stickers,buttons,Misc-thread,ink,letter stickers

Wendy Sue says: thought the colors as well as the themes in this collection worked perfectly with the reds and oranges of these photos of our family embarking on a little hike in Southern Utah.  The title block worked perfectly tucked underneath the top paper strip.  Oh, wait, it’s not tucked…I cut it off to use on another project!

Don’t you love when you can stretch your supplies?  Check out the bottom portion of the title block on the gift bag project! 

Gift Bag:

Indie Chic-Ginger:Bejewel patterned paper,Mellow patterned paper,die cut title,buttons,label stickers;Misc-label stickers,border punch

Wendy Sue says:Here’s the other piece of the title block – right on the top of this super simple little gift bag!  I love how it looks with the wooden button in the middle – now it’s just waiting to be filled with a treat to share with someone special!

Thank you so much for making such stunning projects,Wendy Sue. We are in love with every single thing you created!

See all of you tomorrow!

1. First item of business-I made a mistake and forgot to put up the second June challenge. The sketch should have been a challenge but somehow I forgot to make it one. With that being said, there will only be one challenge this month. So sorry! I will make up for it with a fun surprise challenge or contest. Keep your eyes peeled!!

2. Second item of business- WINNERS!!!

* Noel Mignon gift card winner- Denise Parcells

* Ideal World winner- Karen

* Challenge winner (fussy cutting)- Leslee Barrow

Way to go ladies! Please email me at stephanie(at)mymindseye(dot)com so we can get you hooked up. Karen and Lesley, make sure you tell me your MME collection choice.

See you all tomorrow!

1. First item of business-I made a mistake and forgot to put up the second June challenge. The sketch should have been a challenge but somehow I forgot to make it one. With that being said, there will only be one challenge this month. So sorry! I will make up for it with a fun surprise challenge or contest. Keep your eyes peeled!!

2. Second item of business- WINNERS!!!

* Noel Mignon gift card winner- Denise Parcells

* Ideal World winner- Karen

* Challenge winner (fussy cutting)- Leslee Barrow

Way to go ladies! Please email me at stephanie(at)mymindseye(dot)com so we can get you hooked up. Karen and Lesley, make sure you tell me your MME collection choice.

See you all tomorrow!

Today we are back with the remainder of Wendy Sue Anderson's June guest design projects!

Time Together bookmark

Supplies:Indie Chic-Citron:packaging from pearl accents,Sherbet patterned paper,die cut title,twine

Wendy Sue says:Don’t forget to use the packaging from some of these great embellishments!  My kids and I have decided to read some books together this summer – I thought this title block that reads, “Nothing is better than TIME together,” was the perfect sentiment for this simple bookmark.

The base of my bookmark is actually the cardboard piece from the pearl décor embellishment.  The pattern is subtle, and the weight is perfect for a bookmark!

Hike layout:

Indie Chic-Ginger:Spice patterned paper,Tulips patterned paper,Stripes patterned paper,Bejewel patterned paper,garland,layered stickers,chipboard stickers,stamps,border stickers,buttons,Misc-thread,ink,letter stickers

Wendy Sue says: thought the colors as well as the themes in this collection worked perfectly with the reds and oranges of these photos of our family embarking on a little hike in Southern Utah.  The title block worked perfectly tucked underneath the top paper strip.  Oh, wait, it’s not tucked…I cut it off to use on another project!

Don’t you love when you can stretch your supplies?  Check out the bottom portion of the title block on the gift bag project! 

Gift Bag:

Indie Chic-Ginger:Bejewel patterned paper,Mellow patterned paper,die cut title,buttons,label stickers;Misc-label stickers,border punch

Wendy Sue says:Here’s the other piece of the title block – right on the top of this super simple little gift bag!  I love how it looks with the wooden button in the middle – now it’s just waiting to be filled with a treat to share with someone special!

Thank you so much for making such stunning projects,Wendy Sue. We are in love with every single thing you created!

See all of you tomorrow!

Please help us extend a warm welcome to the crazy talented Wendy Sue Anderson!

We couldn't be more excited to have Wendy Sue with us this week. We love what she does with MME!

I asked Wendy Sue to share a little bit about herself and here's what she had to say:

Hi!  I'm Wendy Sue Anderson and I am so excited to be joining you here on the My Mind's Eye blog as a guest designer!  I live in a little mountain valley in Utah with my sweet husband and our four fun kiddos. We've been married for almost 19 years, and our oldest child (our daughter) just turned 15 on Father's Day.

Our boys are 12, 8, and 6.  The kids keep me pretty busy, but I always find time for scrapbooking and paper crafting - it truly is my passion.  I am lucky enough to work as a contributing editor for Scrapbook Trends magazine and the Create: Idea book series.  I am also blessed to be on some great manufacturer design teams. 

I love recording stories and memories made as a family!  I also enjoy reading (when I can really delve into a book - usually when we're on vacation), early morning walks, and watching movies with the family.  I am addicted to Diet Coke.  I hate having cold feet.  I love sharing my hobby with others - and I am looking forward to seeing all the fun new products that are on tap for summer CHA!  Thanks for inviting me to be a part of your MME family for a few days!

You can learn more about Wendy Sue and follow her on her blog.

What did you have the most fun working with?  I truly enjoyed working with all of the collections I received, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be the "On the Sunny Side" collection - the colors and designs are just my style and they make me happy just to look at them!

Here are three of the amazing projects that Wendy Sue came up with...we will share the other three tomorrow, so make sure to check back then!

Bear Park layout:

Supplies:On The Sunny Side-Parade patterned paper,Playdate patterned paper,The Sweet Life patterned paper,layered stickers,chipboard elements;Indie Chic-Ginger:twine;Misc-cardstock,letter stickers,adhesive

We were eating lunch at a park when an ice cream truck pulled into the parking lot.  It didn’t matter that it was rather chilly, the boys asked their daddy…and of course daddy agreed to buy them a frozen treat.  I love when I come across a scrapbook paper or embellishment that works perfectly with a photo!

Supplies:On the Sunny Side-Simple Stripe patterned paper,Happy Go Lucky patterned paper,brads,accessory sheet;Indie Chic-Ginger:twine;Misc-pop dots,cardstock

 Supplies: Indie Chic-Citron:Festive patterned paper,Hibiscus patterned paper,Forest patterned paper,Honeydew patterned paper,journal card,garland,layered chipboard,decorative stickers,brads,label stickers,layered stickers,title;Indie Chic-Saffron:trim

I also used foam dots in abundance…behind the banner trim on the top, behind the title block, and even behind some of the stickers – I love the subtle dimension foam dots add!

Wow Wendy Sue- you really knocked it out of the park! Thank you so much for sharing these projects with us- they are a treat!

Happy Monday MME fans! This is Tamara and today I'm here to share a layout I made using one of today's biggest trends...chevrons!

Supplies:Indie Chic-Citron: Forest patterned paper,Sherbet patterned paper,6x6 pad,brads,journal card,label stickers,layered stickers,wood label;Indie Chic-Nutmeg:Southwest patterned paper

The fresh summery colors of the Indie Chic Citron collection were perfect for these photos of my son’s 6th birthday party at a splash park.  I used two 12x12 papers for my background.  The other five patterned papers I used were from the coordinating 6x6 pad.  I love how the patterns are a little smaller and can have a more subtle effect on the page.

I love using chevrons on my layouts. You have to be careful, so that the patterns don’t compete with each other. But with a little planning, you can combine many on a page – I used five different chevron papers on this one layout!

Chevrons make the perfect banners because they already have the fish tale pattern in them.  I used the 12x12 Grow Sherbet Chevron for the banner under the wood label.  I used the same pattern from the 6x6 pad for the banner across the bottom right side of the page.

It's that time again...here are two more lovely sketches by Anam Stubbington!

This month the sketches are "just for fun"...not one of our bimonthly challenges. But we really hope that if you use these sketches you will share what you have made, either here or on Facebook.

We are astounded each and every day by your creativity, so please keep sharing!

Here is the June layout sketch:

Together by Tina Walker

Supplies: Indie Chic-Ginger:Brocade patterned paper,Bejewel patterned paper,Stripes patterned paper,Mellow patterned paper,Relax patterned paper,twine,stickers,layered chipboard stickers,tape,decorative buttons,wood label,stamps;Misc-chipboard title (Creating Keepsakes),safety pin,EK Success punch,inks,paint,spray mist,adhesive,pen,sewing machine and thread

Tina says:I really 'expanded' the sketch idea, and used one of my favorite MME collections, Indie Chic Ginger.  The colors and design of this collection is so perfect for many types of layouts, and to add more interest, I used the stamp from the collection to add my own personal touch.

Using the solid background of 'Relax' I created my own unique stamped design, using a lovely shade of pink distress ink that matched the pink in this collection perfectly.

I clustered several regular and chipboard buttons on the right side, and used a wooden title for my left cluster. **Special tip - the wood color didn't match my color palette as well as I liked, so I changed the color with white distress stain!**

I made a small banner for under the photo, and created a cute 'decorative tape banner' using an industrial sized safety pin, decorative tape, and  twine.

Lastly, I moved my title down below the photo, instead of on the side.  Since I used a smaller photo than the sketch suggested, I wanted to keep the focus on the photo and not overpower it with the title.

And here is the June card sketch:

Smile Card by Danni Reid

Supplies: Indie Chic-Ginger:6x6 paper pad,layered stickers,buttons;Misc-Martha Stewart doily,twine,machine stitching

Danni says:I loved layering the gorgeous papers from the Indie Chic Ginger 6 x 6 pad for the strips of paper in this sketch.  These papers are so gorgeous by themselves, I love the patterns and colors, but layering them together truly made me giddy.  I adhered the strips together and then stitched the edges.

I have been waiting to use this Martha Stewart doily and the layered flower in the sketch allowed me to pair the gorgeous doily and papers together.

Wonderful Day Card by Anam Stubbington

Supplies:Indie Chic-Citron:What a Day patterned paper,banner,layered stickers;Misc-sewing machine,thread,adhesives

Anam says:I went for subtle strips to allow the middle medallion to stand out. Also I cut up and layered the banner to keep the color scheme going and to give it more texture.

Thanks so much ladies-your interpretations of the sketches are absolutely stunning.

Can't wait to see what all of you MME fans do! Happy crafting-have a beautiful weekend!

Our June kit club spotlight is the wonderful Noel Mignon. 

I asked the club to send us a little blurb explaining who they are and what they are all about and here it is:

• (5) Cardstock sheets
• Minimum of (20) twenty patterned papers
• Minimum of (2) sets of alphabets
• (1) Sheet of rub-ons
• (1) Sheet of labels, borders or fabric
• Trims, Buttons, Brads, Chipboard, ink/pens
• Additional unique items
• Discount Kit Price ($54.99 vs $58.99 non sub)

Noel Mignon is this month's choice because of the MME heavy Summer Wind kit.

Summer Wind:

Includes LOTS of MME: Nostalgia(Scallop, Chevron, Random, Classic, Jacks); 1 Sheet My Minds Eye Nostalgia layered stickers; 1 package My Minds Eye Nostalgia decorative brads; and 1 Sheet My Minds Eye Nostalgia die cut accessories

You can find Noel on Facebook here and on Twitter here. You can also follow their blog.

Here are some examples of layouts the amazing Noel Mignon DT came up with this month. Holy smokes...they are gorgeous!

Kim Neddo:

Lisa Day:

Gretchen McElveen:

Virginia Tillery:

Jana Eubank:

Talk about eye candy!

Thanks so much for making MME look so lovely, ladies! And thank you to Noel Mignon!

If you would like a chance to win a $25 gift card to the Noel Mignon shop, leave a comment here by Sunday night (June 17). One winner will be chosen and announced on Monday the 18th. Good luck!

Supplies: Indie Chic-Citron: What a Day patterned paper,die cut title,chipboard,banner,label stickers;Indie Chic-Ginger:chipboard;Indie Chic-Saffron:chipboard

Anam says:I wanted something small and pretty for Ian’s desk at work where It would allow the photo to change throughout the year .

Don’t forget that you can remove parts from the layered stickers and the chipboard elements to make new embellishments – i did this with the banner from “Ginger” Travel and replaced the top part with the word “inspire” from a piece on the “Saffron” Birds set.

Have a great day!

Hello to our favorite UK ladies and gentlemen! We have some exciting news for you. Teresa Collins will be on Ideal World tomorrow sharing some amazing MME products and projects.

Schedule (UK times):

Tamara and Amber made some lovely projects that you will see on television,here are a few samples by Tamara- I'll share Amber's soon!

Good morning everyone! This is Karen :).With Father's Day coming up, I thought I'd share a layout (with a twist!) that I did about the daddy in our lives.

Supplies:Nostalgia-Vintage patterned paper,Scallop patterned paper,brads,12x12 chipboard,layered stickers,accessories sheet;misc-thread,sewing machine,adhesives,pen,border punch

Journaling: There are many wonderful things in our lives but the very best part of
our days is when you are with us. The way you are so joyous and happy and how your light shines so bright makes our lives so much better and so full of happiness. Daddy we are all so very grateful for you. For making life brighter. For adding laughter. For making all of us feel deeply loved. We love and adore you so very much.

I wanted to make a page that was about my husband but didn't have his photo on it. Instead of focusing on him, I wanted to focus on the rest of us who benefit so much from having him around. How lucky we feel. How much he brings into our lives.

So I took photos of each of us and wrote this story about how he makes all of our lives so much better.

Thanks so much for dropping by today- hope your Monday is fabulous!

Hi Everyone! Jana Eubank here.

Today I am playing with the gorgeous NEW decorative tape from the Indie Chic Ginger collection. I gotta say, this is the first time I have ever tried playing with decorative tape on a layout. It was so easy and so much fun!

Supplies:Indie Chic-Ginger:Mellow patterned paper,6x6 paper pad,decorative tapes,journal card,label stickers,buttons,layered stickers,stamps,metal medallions,layered chipboard,twine,border stickers;misc-sewing machine and thread,gray ink,trimmer,scissors,pen,letter stickers,black distress ink,adhesives 

I used a neutral colored patterned paper with a subtle pattern for my page background so that the decorative tape border wouldn't overpower the other page elements.

I tore each tape strip in varying lengths and then added stitching to a few of them for fun.

I loved using the decorative tapes on this scrapbook page and can't wait to try them again. There are so many things you can do with them! Here are a few more ideas I hope to try soon:

Welcome to the June edition of I Spy with My Mind's Eye! We have four beautiful projects to share with you this month!

We loved this beautiful layout by Sophie Crespy. Every single element works together perfectly to make one lovely layout that really showcases MME papers.

It  was just perfectly fit for this photo of my girl hidding in the trees. I thought she looked like a fairy of the forest. I loved that paper so much I didn't want to hide it. So I  used my Cameo to cut  butterflies and let the paper appear behind them. I am so in love with that paper I have 3 more sheets in my drawer right now  for future layouts!

This elegant and feminine card by   Laurel Seabrook caught our eye right away. We love the way the papers look so gorgeous combined with the floral/doily accent:

Laurel says:Although I usually lean towards Clean and Simple or Grahic cards, this Follow Your Heart collection made it so easy for me to create a card with a shabby feel to it.  I love how all the papers just work together and especially love the hexagons, text and music notes.

Miss Caroline really shines on this phenomenal layout by Treesa Young . The overall design is knock-your-socks-off stunning and the texture/layering makes it even more beautiful.

Treesa says:These pictures are of my gorgeous girl a year ago. We went for a walk through the bush near our home and along a boardwalk. She was leaning up against a old wood panel fence so I immediately thought of Miss caroline dolled up paper range with the wood panel look.I LOVE these papers and I had fun drawing and cutting out the Chevron pattern and then putting it onto white card and machine stitching.

And last,but certainly not least,we have this awesome page by  Kyoko Kobayashi . This page is just incredibly cool. Kyoko used Follow Your Heart to make one chic page.

Kyoko says:My son belongs to the soccer school. He got 3 goals in the game on this day! And his team was in third place. That's why I adopted  "3" in this layout.

I think the MME Follow Your Heart collection enhances a photograph because the color of this collection is not too strong. I love this collection very much!

We hope you are just as inspired by this month's projects as we are! Remember, share your projects in the comments section of these posts or on our Facebook page.We LOVE to see how you use MME.

Have a beautiful day!

Welcome to the second installment of our "Meet the DT" series! Today we are learning a little bit more about Tina Walker. :)

Q: What are your three favorite MME projects of all time and why?

The minute I saw this paper, I knew I had to create with it.  I already had the photo in mind and when I put the two together, voila - it was magic! 

They were perfect for each other.  Another reason I really love this layout is that the paper has a built in title.  I replicated the title for my layout.  I was also able to use some of my other favorite MME paper from 'Follow Your Heart' and 'Miss Caroline' to make the great little pinwheel circle, which was so fun and perfect for this project.


I love this layout because of the simple title, 'Enjoy Life'.  It's a feeling and philosophy I try to embrace every day.  The photo is such a typical 'self portrait' of myself.  Often times, when I'm in the car, sitting at red-lights, I often pull out my phone and start taking goofy pictures of myself.  It is just  small thing I do to try to embrace the everyday.

The second reason I really love this layout is the paper.  When 'Kraft Funday' first came out, I was like "OH My Gosh, I need EVERYTHING in that collection!".  I love the unique look and design of the collection which is why I instantly fell in love with it. 
This not only includes my all time favorite MME collection, but it includes my all time favorite holiday, Halloween.  When I created this last fall, it quickly became my favorite shadowbox .  MME always creates great fall/Halloween collections, but I really love the whimsy and retro feel of Mischievous.  I love creating shadowboxes, and this collection was perfect for the look I was going for.

Q: What is your favorite MME collection of all time? Why?

A:My favorite MME collection of all time is 'Mischievous'.  Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday EVER, so this makes perfect sense.  When Halloween comes, I don't hold back with decorations and fun little crafts.    I decorate my house more for Halloween than any other holiday.  'Mischievous' is so great, because it has the typical, standard Halloween colors of orange and black, but it also has a light baby blue, which is so amazing with the other colors in the collection.  I also completely adore the little pumpkins and witch that are part of the collection.  They are SO whimsical and cute!

Q: What is one MME item you find yourself reaching for over and over?

A:I constantly reach for MME chipboard embellishments.  I frequently double up on chipboard embellishment sheets for each collection, because I like to re-use them on separate projects.  They are so versatile and can  be intermixed between collections, so you can always create a new and different looks with them.  They are my absolute favorite item in each collection.

Q:What is your favorite thing about designing for MME?

A: The amazing product.  Sounds like a pre-recorded answer, doesn't it?  But is absolutely true!  The paper quality and the paper design are one of the best in the industry.  I also love that they are always creating fresh and new looks but still keep the 'MME design' principles in place.  Fantastic color palettes, fantastic new embellishments, and fantastic product!

Q:If you could design a MME collection what would it be called and what would it contain?

A:Hmmm..that is a really tough question.  I am a design chameleon, so my favorite look or color is constantly changing.  Some days I love clean and simple, and other days I love grungy and eclectic.  So if I had to create just ONE collection, and that collection was created TODAY, I would design a collection that would be bright yet muted at the same time (does that make sense?).  It would have lots of greens, oranges, and whites, with a little kraft thrown in.

I generally like color, but am normally drawn to the more muted, subtle colors.  {think white wash}.  If you could combine 'Follow Your Heart' (with the white theme), with 'Indie Chic' (oranges, greens, blues), and with a little retro (think 1970's), that would be my type of collection.  The design elements would include funkadelic and psychedelic patterns, with 'flower power' flowers and themes.  I would call it 'Retro Renovation' or 'Stuck in the 70s'.  :)

Q:If you could wallpaper a room in your home with one MME paper, what would it be?

A:It would be any of the papers in the 'Follow Your Heart' Be Amazing collection.  I could see ANY of the papers up on a wall, even the ones with honeycomb and stripe patterns.  I love the subtleness of the color palette, as well as the timeless design.  My favorite would be 'Societe', and I could see this on my bedroom wall.

Q: Last but not least, can you please share a photo of your craft area or room?

Thank you SO much, Tina! It's been a joy to get to know you today!

Hello everyone,  It’s Anam here on a very special weekend for us in Britain – and for everyone in the Commonwealth as it is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations!!  It has been 60 years that Queen Elizabeth the second has been the Queen of England and Britain. I am a big fan of the royal family – especially the Queen and Princess Anne. I believe Prince William and Prince Harry will go on and do many wonderful things as the top royals of the future.

To celebrate and acknowledge this special anniversary – given I am not likely to see another royal reach a  similar milestone – I made a few layouts.

I started by making a layout with a photograph of the Queen.This is one of my favourite sets of crown jewels as well. The journaling is about how this is an important anniversary and how much I admire the Queen and what she has done as part of her duties.

I went with a yellow (for Diamond) and Blue (for royalty) colour scheme with bunting!!

Supplies: Indie Chic-Nutmeg:Blooms patterned paper,Southwest patterned paper,Rainbow patterned paper,die cuts,chipboard accents,garland,6x6 paper pad

I then made a layout about how I am proud to be British. Even though I was born in Ireland, I travel under a British passport, have a British husband and have British kids ...and my dad and his family are British. I have lived in the UK for 14 years now so being British is a big part of my heart.


I went with a mix of green (for Irish) and blue (for British) for the colour scheme.

Supplies: Indie Chic-Citron:Hibiscus,Lovely,and Pizzazz patterned papers,pearls, die cuts,buttons,chipboard,trim

And this last layout is to acknowledge the fact that I have a commonwealth family – one child is English and one is Canadian – which we believe is the best of both worlds.  We are grateful to have experienced life in both places and we treasure our children’s heritage.

I went with greys to help the reds stand out (red being both an English and a Canadian colour).

Supplies:Indie Chic-Saffron:Chevron,Ornament,and Posy patterned papers,buttons,stickers;Indie Chic-Ginger: wood title

I hope you enjoy these layouts celebrating a big part of my life and that maybe you learned something new today.

Enjoy!

I am so excited to announce that we have asked the fabulously talented Shelly Jaquet to join the MME family.

Please join us in making Shelly feel right at home!  WELCOME SHELLY!

Shelly has a strong design sense with an eye for multi-photo double page layouts. She also makes beautiful cards and single page layouts.

We couldn't be more excited to see what you do with My Mind's Eye, Shelly! Thank you so much for joining the team. :)

A big congratulations to Rebecca Keppel! Rebecca, you are the winner of the May 15 layout challenge!

Is it really JUNE? Wow!!! I can't believe it's time for the June challenge already!

This one is a fun one...pull out a pair of scissors and get ready. We are asking you to show us your finest fussy cutting (hand cutting). Think detailed and creative!

MME has some great patterned papers for cutting. We'd love to see what you can come up with!

Here are a couple of examples for all of you.

First is an eye-catching layout by the fabulous Karen  Grunberg.

Supplies: Indie Chic-Saffron: Posy patterned paper;Indie Chic-Nutmeg:Laurel Burst patterned paper,Roses patterned paper,Tapestry patterned paper,Checker patterned paper,label stickers,layered stickers,buttons,die cut title,brads;Lush-alphabets

Thoughts from Karen:

One of my favorite parts of the new Indie Chic line is the large flowery papers and the beautiful, quieter toned colors.

The great thing about cutting the papers is that you can rearrange them however you like.I layered the flowers in two different lines so I could create the magenta/blue/yellow color combination on my flowers and lay it over the more subdued browns.I love how it's not overwhelming but still gives a pop of color and pattern to my page!

Tina Walker also came up with a beautifully layered design for this challenge:

Supplies: Indie Chic-Nutmeg:Tapestry patterned paper,Rainbow patterned paper, Laurel patterned paper,Blooms patterned paper,layered chipboard stickers,label stickers,decorative stickers,decorative tape;misc-Jenni Bowlin alphabet,American Crafts cardstock,sewing machine and thread,adhesive,pen
 

Tina says:

My Mind's Eye has great paper that is perfect for fussy cutting.  The heavier weight of the paper, combined with the awesome designs in the Indie Chic collections, makes it a perfect combination for intricate hand-cutting.

For my layout, I used an entire 6x6 sheet of the 'History' Blooms paper with the intricate spiral design of a flower burst.  I fussy cut each one out of the sheet and placed them on the edge of my layout so they framed the photos.  I also fussy cut several zigzags from the 'Hanging Out' Rainbow paper and stitched them in place.

I wanted to reflect alot of movement and play on the Zigzag theme, so besides the fussy cutting, I also used several of the Zigzag chipboard embellishments from the Nutmeg collection, the Zigzag decorative tape, and the Zigzag of the 'Memories' Tapestry paper.  I wanted to create movement both up and down, and sideways, so I used this paper both horizontally and vertically. 

Fussy cutting is a great way to use bits and pieces of your favorite paper in a new and different way.  It adds dimension and visual interest, and you can create a background completely unique to you.

Great examples ladies!

Now for the challenge 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 layout. :)

3. The project must be created new for this challenge.

4.Upload the layout to the comments by the end of the day on June 15. I have enabled InLinkz on this challenge so you can see all the entries.

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

Now get to cutting- can't wait to see what you creative souls come up with!!

Check back later today for the masculine/femininine May challenge winner.

TGIF! Hope your weekend is beautiful and blessed. :)