American Crafts Signature Style Guest Designer

Hello and happy Wednesday everyone! I am excited to share I am the Guest Designer over on the American Crafts blog this week. Here is a little sneak of what I have created:

 A Project Life layout created with American Crafts products and Design A Page Protectors.

This layout documents my youngest son's final week of Alice In Wonderland, Jr. We weren't allowed to take photos during the performance, so I added what I could take photos of for now and will add more photos from the purchased CD on another design later.

I have several more designs in my gallery including a fun home decor project that can be done with the help of your kiddos! So hop on over to the American Crafts blog to see the rest of my gallery created with Amy Tangerine, Dear Lizzy, DIY SHOP and more fabulous and fun American Crafts products!

     Anddddd....***A special shout out to Paige Evans for the invitation to guest! Thank you so much Paige! ***

** Chic Tags- delightful paper tag **: Pocket Page Scrapbooking | 4th of July Week

Hello there and happy Saturday! Sharing my Pocket Page layout for June 30 through July 6th today.

I personally have found (over the many ...

The View from @Cocoadaisykits

Hi all! Stopping by today to share a few images from my July @cocoadaisykits Design Team gallery! This kit was so fun to create with! I wish I could find more time to play with it as I have so much more I want to use including more of the exclusive stamp sets!

Here is the Main Kit; Viewfinder:

Some favorites from the main? Too many to count, but to highlight a few: the viewfinder die cut paper, grey woodgrain card stock, Jillibean Soup yellow alphabets, Sew Easy stitching template, and exclusive patterned papers used in this layout sneak: 

And here is a bit of the DITL kit: 

 Exclusive stamps from the Main and DITL kits-swooning!!

And I have serious love for the exclusive wood veneer viewfinders as well as the Papermania "All Aboard" flags and clips included in the Scenic Route add-on. I spy lots of October Afternoon Daily Flash and Crate Paper's The Open Road here too!

See all of the rest of my gallery designs here along with the rest of the design team's for more inspiration on how we designed with these kits here:

Kits are available for sale to subscriber's now and to the general public here in the Cocoa Daisy Store tomorrow at 12PM EST!

Happy shopping!

Suz

A Very Chic and Totally Odd Hop

HELLO!

We are VERY pleased to welcome you to A Very Chic and Totally Odd Hop!

Chic Tags and Some Odd Girl have partnered up to show you some magic that combines our products into BEAUTIFUL paper crafting projects! We're so glad you're here!

Now through Sunday at midnight EDT, you can enjoy some gorgeous inspiration from the Chic Tags Creative Team and the Odd Girls, leaving your comments at each stop along the way, and on Tuesday, July 1st, a winner will be announced at each blog... Both winners will get $15 to spend at EACH of the Chic Tags and Some Odd Girl shops!

You should have arrived from Melissa's blog; there are 11 stops in total. As you make your way around to each of the blogs, we are QUITE sure your head will be spinning with ideas! The Chic Tags Creative Team was certainly inspired by the fun Some Odd Girl stamps they received, and we think you're going to like what's in store.

I was so inspired by the "Make A Statement" stamp set from Some Odd Girl Stamps (in the shop here) as it is such a versatile collection! I decided to use a few of the stamps to create part of my title work: ("enjoy" and the ">>>>>>"). I also used the "awesome" and "dude" on this design.

I loved using the chevron stamp to represent tire tracks across the page and to draw one's eye into the main portion of my title. The layout celebrates my oldest son turning 16 and his birthday surprise to find keys to a used car he will have the privilege of using given great grades, attitude, work ethic,  clean driving record and contributing to gas and insurance premiums. (I'm still in denial that he is even old enough to drive! Ack!) 

I also created an anniversary card using the SOG "Make a Statement" stamp set and Chic Tags Cloud 9 Label Stickers and Schoolhouse "Lessons" patterned paper.

From here, you're heading over to visit Angie!
Be sure to comment on ALL posts, and you'll be eligible to win!

In case you get lost along the way, here is your full hop list:

Some Odd Girl blog

Mary Ann Jenkins

Mary Pat Siehl

Jennifer Haggerty

Kristy Dalman

Amy Coose

Melissa Oeters

***YOU ARE HERE>>  Suz Mannecke
Up Next on the hop >>> Angie Boutiller

Mandy Kay Starner

Chic Tags blog

Thank you SO MUCH to Some Odd Girl for partnering up with us for this fun event, and to all of you joining us, happy hopping! 

Cocoa Daisy New Site Celebration and Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways!!

Happy Tuesday all! Stopping by to alert you to some fun and exciting things happening over at Cocoa Daisy.

First up, @cocoadaisykits (Instagram ID) has a fresh new, clean and graphic site. It was revealed on Friday evening and here is a link to get you started viewing all of the wonderful changes happening there. Here is just a little peek:

Secondly, they are having a contest where you could win a chance to Guest Design for Cocoa Daisy during the month of September! How cool is that?!!! 

                                                                                             Read here for more details and information.

Thirdly, Cocoa Daisy is having an Instagram giveaway where you AND a tagged friend can win a DITL kit!!! The information and details on this giveaway can be found here.

And lastly, I am having an Instagram/blog giveaway to celebrate too! I will be giving away this "Here I Am" stamp set (from the now sold out May Kit) and this stamp set (to a "tagged" friend) from the June DITL Kit along with a few other Cocoa Daisy goodies.

Cocoa Daisy exclusive "HERE I AM" Stamp Set:

Cocoa Daisy Exclusive "Whimsy Borders" stamp set:

>>>>>TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment here or on my Instagram feed (look for my post with the hashtag on my #CDnewsitegiveaway.  

       2. Follow @cocoadaisykits and me @SuzMannecke here on my blog and/or Instagram

3. Tag a friend 

Entries will close on Sunday, June 29. I will post a winner by 9AM CST Monday June 30th here and on my Instagram feed. For new followers, my Instagram ID is SuzMannecke (no spaces). Good luck and happy celebrating!! :)

Suz

Sketch Challenge With Shimelle

Last fall I was invited to contribute to Shimelle's blog with a sketch challenge. I recently received word the post was going to go live and can now share:

Here was the sketch I was given to interpret:

And here is the end result along with my thoughts on my take on the sketch:

I decided not to rotate the design for my take on this sketch but did opt for a two by three grid collage photo arrangement instead of the row of three photos. I placed the triangle wood veneer clips where the stars were surrounding the photo arrangement. In place of the journaling at the bottom right of sketch, I grouped a large cluster of sequins and trim to mimic the gorgeous Florida Emerald Coast. For the outline around the photos, I initially thought I would machine or hand stitch this area, but instead used hemp cord which I think added to the organic feel of my design. I placed my journaling in a “flip up” located beneath my main photo which I adhered with pop dots for added dimension. As for my title work, I applied a wet embossing ombre technique using several Zing powders and then created a handwritten Silhouette cut ‘coast’ which I colored with metallic watercolors and watercolor pencils. I enjoyed creating with this sketch and hope you do too! -Suz

To see all of the other sketch designs and the challenges that are now going on, head over here. Happy Tuesday!

In the News: Friday Faves | The One With Come On Get Crafty, Cocoa Daisy, and a GIVEAWAY

Well, hello there! Happy Friday to you!

I am dropping in to share a few newsworthy Friday Faves!

 First up, I have been creating with some Studio Calico wood veneers over on the @ComeOnGetCrafty blog today and you can see more details and the rest of my designs here: http://comeongetcrafty.com/blogs/craftiness/14529317-studio-calico-wood-veneers

Another fave of mine? @cocoadaisykits has launched an inaugural mini online magazine/ezine issue!

I have two layouts highlighted in it and I am so excited to have a little part in it all. Super stoked to see all of the fun, exciting, and fresh changes happening over at Cocoa Daisy. 

Be sure to check it all out here: http://issuu.com/marykayseckinger/docs/cocoa_daisy_magazine_-_june_2014?e=12105873/8319841

And...lastly, THE MOST EXCITING NEWS of the day/week/month (*NOTE: The little brown banner at the top of the screenshot above).  ;)

Yes! You read it right! COCOA Daisy is getting a fresh and fun, clean and simple new look. Lots of great new features and an awesome new look! Be sure to check it all out tonight and leave a comment for a chance to win some Cocoa Daisy goodies from me!

I will be back later with more information about the giveaway timeline and goodies.

Happy TGIF. Indeed!!

--COCOA DAISY is getting a fresh new look!

Cocoa Daisy June Kit; Boho Garden

Welcome, welcome June and welcome summer too! So excited that both of my boys are officially done with school and also that June's @cocoadaisykits is now available for purchase here(*while supplies last).

Here is the main kit in all of it's fun, mod, fresh glory:

 Love the Thicker alphabets from Amy Tangerine featuring Kal Barteski's script. And the stamps designed by Arleigh? =Awesome. They stamp fabulously with Cocoa Daisy Hybrid black ink which is available in the Daisy Boutique here.

                                          

The patterned papers that Stephanie designed this month are delightful and bright. I have used them on many of my creations as you will find in my designer gallery here.

Stop on by the Cocoa Daisy blog here tomorrow to join me as I am hosting the June Sketch Challenge where a $10 Daisy Boutique credit will go to one lucky participant! In the meantime, happy summer scrappy shopping! 

@ChicTags Pocket Page Scrapbooking | Celebrate Sweet 16 Week

Hi all! Suz back today with my pocket page layout for this week that celebrates my eldest son turning "Sweet 16." This week was crazy busy with the details leading up to his special birthday, party, and gift as well as his last week of school and some of the activities he participated in. I have used several items from the Let's Go & Cloud 9 collections as well as a few cards from past kits.

For my weekly title card I used a few cut-down-to-fit ("hello there" and "sweet") rub-ons as well as mini icon tags from the Cloud 9 collection. The patterned ombre paper is from the School House collection; "Lessons."

Left side of my pocket page spread:

I journaled about my eldest son's quest to "dunk the principal" (he happens to be my cousin's hubby and a dear friend of ours) beneath the "funny moment" tag that is from the Cloud 9 Clips tag collection.

The right side of my layout details much of my oldest's son's Sweet 16 birthday (as it was a big part of our week and a huge milestone in our lives). Below I added the car dealerships sticker that was in the windshield. I journaled more details about the vehicle beneath the red sticker.  The "Happy , happy, happy" is a cut down 4x6 card from a previous kit. I layered it with the "happy notes" tag from the Cloud 9 acetate tidbits and placed a Jillibean Soup placemat over it with stitching.

Lots of flair, tags, and wood veneer from both the Let's Go and Cloud 9 collection finished the layout off.

 And the full layout at a glance:

Here is a summary of Chic Tags items I used to create this pocket page spread:

Let's Go Collection: Cards, Label Stickers, Flair, Wood Veneer, Rub-ons, Tidbits 

Cloud 9: Acetate Tidbits, Clips, Mini Icons Squares

Past kit items: "Let's Do Something Fun" card, "Inventory" card, "Happy" card 

School House: "Lessons" patterned paper 

 I hope y'all have a lovely weekend! Enjoy what's left of May!

Let's Go! Destination Europe with Chic Tags

Destination Europe

Hi all! Suz back (barely) from a recent trip I took with my mom and sister to Europe. While we had a lovely time and memorable adventures,  after two weeks away from my "Blue-Eyed Boyz" I was ready to be home again and ready to create with paper and glue again!

This layout was created with lots of the newest Let's Go collection as well as the Good Tidings gold letter stickers. I really wanted to use some of that awesome "World Traveler" gold map vellum, and found that just a triangular corner of it highlighting where we would be traveling did the trick!

I cannot wait to create more with this collection! It is perfect for summer time travel (or anytime of the year travel really).

CHIC TAGS PRODUCTS USED:

Let's Go Collection

including mini tags, cards, flair buttons, rub-ons, label stickers, "Traveling" wood veneers, "World Traveler" Gold Foil Specialty Paper, "Destination" patterned paper

as well as: "Dreamy" Cloud 9 patterned paper (yellow sentiment stripes)

and gold foil letter stickers from the Good Tidings collection

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great Memorial Day weekend (to those celebrating it and a great weekend to all!) Thanks to all of our veterans and active duty troops(and their families) for their service and their sacrifice so that we may live in freedom.