Tag: scrapbooking

Revisiting Project Life – Because Memory Planning Is NOT My Jam!

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So, a few months ago during one of my YouTube Livestream sessions, I share that I was attempting to try memory planning, which is essentially scrapbooking in a planner. I was intrigued by this format of storytelling, mainly because I wanted to find an easier way to document my everyday stories.

Armed with tons of ideas and creative inspiration, I created two spreads in my memory planner. But, after making those two pages, I quickly realized: MEMORY PLANNING IS NOT MY JAM!

What I discovered is that I need more space for documenting my stories and I really enjoy the Project Life format of pocket pages and simple embellishing. So, I ditched my memory planner and decided to use a 9×12 inch pocket format instead.

In the past, I’ve used a 12×12 inch format for my Project Life spreads. I have found this size to be too big for my everyday scrapbooking. However, I also found that the 6×8 inch format is too small. After making a few 9×12 inch pocket layouts, I am happy to report that I have found Project Life peace!

I also decided to adopt a very flexible approach to documenting my everyday stories. First, I am not putting pressure on myself to do weekly spreads. If I feel like documenting my weekly activities, I will make a page. If not, then I won’t…it’s that simple.

Second, I want my Project Life pages to be simple – photos, words, and a few embellishments. My focus is to get my stories told…period. In my opinion, scrapbooking should not be stressful. It’s okay to adopt processes that make storytelling easy, simple, but most of all…FUN!

To check out the process video for this spread, click on the video below. A list of products featured in this video are posted below. Enjoy!

Products Featured (subject to availability, no affiliate links provided):

Ali Edwards 9×12 Gray Linen Album
LINK: https://bit.ly/3ISmH4a

Ali Edwards Page Protectors
LINK: https://bit.ly/3IVf2SP

Elle’s Studio Everyday Tabs Stamp Set
LINK: https://bit.ly/3cwxgh9

Citrus Twist Stamp Sets
LINK: https://citrustwistkits.com/collections/stamps

Citrus Twist Die Cuts and Ephemera
LINK: https://citrustwistkits.com/collections/embellishments

Paper Person Shop
LINK: https://paperperson.shop/

NEW Scrapbook Process Video – Let’s Make a Layout! Cheers Year 41!

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Happy Friday! Let’s kickoff the weekend with a fun scrapbook process video, now available on the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel!

Today, I am making my annual birthday layout called Cheers! Year 41, using goodies from the January 2022 Hip Kit Club Scrapbook Kit and Embellishment Kit. This 12 x 12 inch layout features a photo collage, simple embellishing, and a bit of hand stitching.

Every year, I create a scrapbook page to celebrate my birthday. In March of this year, I celebrated my 41st trip around the sun! I love celebrating my birthday and documenting how much I have changed, my current interests, and my hopes for the future.

To see this layout come together, check out the following process video!

This project was so much fun to make! The photos take center stage while the pattern paper and embellishments complete the overlook of this design.

This layout features a layered photo collage. Each photo was resized to 3×3 inches and printed with a white border. TIP: Reducing the size of your photos makes it easier to create a single page multi-photo layout.

To flank the photos, I created small clusters of layered embellishments that feature floral die cuts, wood veneer elements, and tiny chipboard flowers. The title was created using a combination of a word die cut (Cheers!) and chipboard letters from the January 2022 Hip Kit Club Kit. I love coordinating die cuts with letter stickers to create unique title designs!

This layout also features hand stitching! I paired two colors of DMC embroidery floss (#165 and #162) to create a layered stitched look. It’s hard to see the delineation on video and in the photo. But, in-person, this technique offers a really cool effect!

I hope you are inspired to create a layout to celebrate a special occasion in your life! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Product Review! Tres Jolie Kit Club and Chipboard! Support Small Business!

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If you are in the market for shabby chic and elegant scrapbooking and mixed media kits, look no further! I am so excited to introduce you to Tres Jolie Kit Club and Chipboard! Today, on the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel, I’m doing a full review and unboxing of the Tres Jolie April 2022 Scrapbooking Kit and I will use this stunning kit to make a 12 x 12 shabby chic mixed media scrapbook layout!

Tres Jolie Kit and Chipboard

Meet the Owner!

Kimberly Heard, owner of Tres Jolie Kit Club and Chipboard, was inspired to scrapbook in 2001 after the death of her mother. According to Kimberly, she would spend countless hours going through photos and creating scrapbook layouts. This activity turned out to be therapeutic for her and she realized that she had a real love for scrapbooking. As her skills evolved, she developed a love for products that spoke to her shabby chic, romantic, elegant style. This led her to open Tres Jolie Kit Club and Chipboard!

I had the pleasure of meeting Kimberly at the 2022 Creativation Trade Show where we talked about her kits and how she found if difficult to find kit clubs that catered to her style of crafting. Now, she is filling a hole in the market with the Tres Jolie Kit Club!

The Kit

After learning more about Tres Jolie, I was super excited to purchase a kit! In fact, Tres Jolie offers a variety of kits to include scrapbooking, mixed media, and card kits. I purchased the April 2022 Scrapbooking Kit and upon opening the kit, I knew I was in for a treat!

Tres Jolie offers a monthly kit subscription starting at $40.00 USD (plus shipping). This is a very reasonable price based on the products that are include in the kit.

The kit I purchased includes:

  • Exclusive Tres Jolie Chipboard Frame
  • Small Wood Clip
  • 49th and Market Artoptions Avesta 12 x 12 Collection Pack
  • 49th and Market Artoptions Avesta Laser Cut Elements
  • 49th and Market Enchanted Petals Homemade Flowers
  • Tim Holtz (Ranger) Mini Distress Ink Pad – Dried Marigold

To shop Tres Jolie, click HERE and be sure to use discount code VICTORIASCRAPS to receive 20% off your purchase until May 31, 2022!

The Tres Jolie April Scrapbooking Kit is very high quality and features name brand products that are great for any project. Also, I was able to use items from my stash that coordinated perfectly with the style and color scheme of the kit.

Additionally, the Tres Jolie Design Team shares creative inspiration on the Tres Jolie Kit Club YouTube Channel using the monthly kits. To check out the videos, click HERE!

Also, Tres Jolie offers custom chipboard elements that are designed and cut onsite. These elements can be used for a variety of crafty projects. To learn more, click HERE!

Here’s the project I created using the kit!

It has been a very long time since I’ve created a shabby chic scrapbook layout and I had a BLAST! To see this project come together, head to the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel or check out the video below.

Shop TODAY and Save 20% off Your Tres Jolie Purchase!

To shop Tres Jolie, click HERE!

Until May 31, 2022, use coupon code VICTORIASCRAPS to save 20% off your Tres Jolie purchase! This is a great opportunity to try a Tres Jolie Kit and to support a woman-owned small business!

A big THANKS to Kimberly Heard for sharing Tres Jolie with the world! Be sure to grab a Tres Jolie Kit today!

*Products Used –Tres Jolie April 2022 Scrapbook Kit:

  • Exclusive Tres Jolie Chipboard Frame
  • Small Chalk Board Clip
  • 49th and Market Artoptions Avesta 12 x 12 Collection Pack
  • 49th and Market Artoptions Avesta Laser Cut Elements
  • 49th and Market Enchanted Petals Homemade Flowers
  • Tim Holtz (Ranger) Mini Distress Ink Pad – Dried Marigold

From My Stash:

  • Tim Holtz (Ranger) Mini Distress Ink Pad – Pumice Stone
  • Tim Holtz (Ranger) Mini Distress Ink Pad – Scattered Straw
  • Simple Stories Posh Enamel Dots
  • Hero Arts Petals Stencil Pair
  • Bo Bunny It is Written Stamp Set
  • Bo Bunny Distressed Textured Stamp Set
  • Altenew Feeling Dotty Stencil

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*Disclaimer: Products featured in this product review were purchased by Victoria Calvin, Victoria Marie Designs, include products from the Tres Jolie Kit Club. No affiliate links were provided in this post.

Check Me Out On A Storyteller’s Podcast with Veronica Milan!

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Hello friends! If you are looking for a some podcast entertainment as you are going about your busy day, check out A Storyteller’s Podcast, hosted by Veronica Milan! This week on the podcast, Veronica is continuing a series that features storytelling mamas from all walks of life.

I was recently invited to be a guest on the show and it was such a treat to chat with Veronica about scrapbooking, balancing life as a busy entrepreneur, being a parent, and everything in between.

To listen to the episode, click HERE or find A Storyteller’s Podcast wherever you listen to podcast! Also, don’t forget to leave a comment, rate the show, and share this podcast with a friend!

Enjoy!

Registration is Now Open! May 2022 Rock Your Stash Online Virtual Crop!

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Registration is now open for the May 2022 Rock Your Stash Online Virtual Crop, hosted by Victoria Marie Designs! This event is scheduled for May 20-22, 2022.

The theme for the May 2022 crop is: Embellishment Lovers. All of the scrapbook challenges for this crop are based on using embellishments from your stash to create scrapbook projects!

The May 2022 online virtual crop includes:

  • Fun Scrapbook Challenges!
  • Super Cool Prizes!
  • Fun Giveaways!
  • 5 Live Zoom Scrap and Chat Sessions, one session includes a 45-minute Mini Workshop: Embellishment Inspiration
  • The crop is hosted in a private Facebook Group!
  • Only $9.99 USD!

And the best part? You will have 3 WEEKS to finish the challenges in order to be eligible for prizes! So there is NO RUSH for you to finish the challenges during the crop weekend!

Register TODAY!

To learn more and to register for this event, click HERE! Registration ends on May 21, 2022 at 11:59 pm CST.

I hope to see you there…and be sure to tell a friend!

Happy National (International) Scrapbook Day! Let’s Make a Layout!

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Happy National (International) Scrapbook Day! I hope you are taking a little time this weekend to relax and to enjoy our amazing storytelling hobby! If you are looking for a bit of creative inspiration, check out my latest scrapbook process video, now available on the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel!

In this video, I am documenting my second year on the Scrapbook and Cards Today Magazine Design Team. I love scrapbooking about my creative adventures and my opportunities to work as a professional designer in this industry. Designing for Scrapbook and Cards Today has been a dream and I’m so proud to work with some of the best designers in the industry. To learn more about Scrapbook and Cards Today and to subscribe to the awesome publication, click HERE!

For this project, I used items from the Paige Evans Wonders Collection and the Hip Kit Club March 2021 Embellishment Kit, along with an electronic cut file by Paige Evans called Create (available products listed below). I wanted to make a clean, bright, and whimsical layout with layered floral clusters and a delicate title.

I used my Cricut Explore Air 2 to cut the Create electronic cut file out of American Crafts White Textured Cardstock. The letters were shaded with Distress Oxide Ink by Tim Holtz and popped up on foam squares for added dimension.

Clusters of die cut florals and accents create a frame around the 5×5 inch photo. I love how the vellum butterflies appear as though they are floating around the layout!

To see this project come together, head on over to the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel. And if you are a Victoria Marie Patreon, be sure to check out the Bonus Content for this video, now available on the Victoria Marie Patreon site!

If you are not a patron, what are you waiting for?! Get access to exclusive behind the scenes video content, process videos, exclusive scrapbook sketches, monthly creative workshops and more! Click HERE to learn more and to join! Memberships start at $5.00 USD per month!

Happy National (International) Scrapbook Day! I hope you are enjoying a full weekend of fun, relaxation, and tons of creating!

*Available Products Used:

Other Products:
Create Cut File by Paige Evans – https://etsy.me/3sf7DGD

The Ink Stand – https://inkstandshop.com/

Barely Art Precision Craft Glue – https://bearly.art/products/bearly-art-precision-craft-glue-4-fl-oz

Hip Kit Club – https://www.hipkitclub.net/

Product list made with LinkDeli – https://linkdeli.com/e/m9ey7d

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Disclaimer: Affiliate links are provided above. These links are free for you to use. Victoria Marie Designs receives a small commission anytime product is purchased using these links. Thanks so much for your support!

Victoria Marie Designs Merch is HERE! Save 10% off Until May 15th!

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Happy National Scrapbook Day!!!!

I am so excited to announce the launch of my first ever line of Victoria Marie Designs Merch, now available through Teespring! This initial launch includes t-shirts, hoodies, a coffee mug, a die cut sticker, and a tote bag!

Available Products…Grab Yours Today and Save 10% Off Your Purchase!

Purchase Victoria Marie Designs Merch starting today and save 10% off your purchase until May 15th! Use coupon code VICTORIA10 at check out!

*Be sure to read A Note About the Promo Code at the bottom of this post BEFORE you shop!*

SHOP TODAY! To shop Victoria Marie Designs Merch, click HERE or click on Shop Merch at the top of the page!

Apparel: For this initial launch, I’m offering t-shirts in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors that feature the Scrapbook Like a Boss and Live To Craft designs. Styles include comfort t-shirts, women’s comfort t-shirts, and v-neck options (long and short sleeve available in some styles), in addition to a hoodie and sweat shirt (non-hooded) option (sizes and colors vary based on shirt style). Be sure to check individual product listings for available colors, styles, and sizes!

Accessories: In addition to apparel, we have a Scrapbook Like a Boss and Live to Craft tote bag and a Scrapbook Like a Boss die cut sticker, the perfect accessories for any scrapper!


Drinkware: Sip your coffee (or tea) out of a Scrapbook Like a Boss or Live to Craft coffee mug! Be sure to check the product listings for available colors!

Coming Soon…Scrapbook Like a A Boss Apron

If you like wearing an apron while you craft, no worries! The Scrapbook Like a Boss Apron will be available soon! Look for more details to come!

Shop TODAY and Save 10% Off Your Purchase!

Head to the Victoria Marie Designs Merch Shop today! Be sure to use code VICTORIA10 during checkout to save 10% off your order, valid until May 15th!

A Note About the Promo Code:

If using a desktop or laptop computer when ordering, be sure to enter the Promo Code on the right side of the screen during check out. This can be easily missed so look carefully.

If using a mobile device (phone, tablet) when ordering, scroll to the BOTTOM of the check out screen, past the Place Order button, to enter the Promo Code.

Happy shopping and thanks for supporting Victoria Marie Designs! Have a happy scrappy iNSD weekend!

Changing the Format of My Wednesday Livestreams!

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So, I’m changing the format of my Wednesday Livestreams!

But, before I tell you more about these changes, be sure to mark your calendars for this week’s Wednesday Live, starting at 2:00 pm CST! During tomorrow’s livestream, I will be using my Cricut to upload and cut electronic cut files.

As many of you know, I recently purchased a Cricut Explore Air 2 electronic cutting machine and I am slowly learning how to use it. The last Cricut I owned was the Cricut Personal Cutter that required cartridges. To be honest, while I enjoyed using the Cricut Personal Cutter, I found it difficult to figure out how to use some of the cartridge designs. Depending on the design, there were several elements to size and cut…it proved to be too much so I let my Cricut go.

Flash forward, after spending many years using a Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine, I decided to give Cricut another try; not because I need a new cutting machine…simply because the mint colored Cricut is pretty and I was curious about it’s functionality!

(All good reasons, right?)

Now, on to the changes…

I have been going live on the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel at least once per week (give or take a few weeks) for over 2 years. I amped up my livestreams in response to the pandemic as a way to connect with the Victoria Marie Scrap Boss Community.

During the livestreams, I typically create scrapbook layouts, which is fun. However, I’ve been challenging myself to try new techniques, products, and devices and thought it would be cool to share my learning and experimentation process.

So, during my upcoming Wednesday Livestream sessions, you will get to see me play and experiment in real-time! Personally, I love watching my favorite designers explore new concepts and techniques. I am interested in learning more about their creative processes and seeing them work through challenging design issues. If this is something that you enjoy, then joined me on Wednesdays as I play, explore, and tinker!

If you are not able to join me live, no worries! All of my livestreams are recorded and available for playback on the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel. Also, if you want to see my previous livestream sessions, check out my YouTube Livestream Playlist.

I hope you will join me on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm CST!

Wednesday LIVE! Let’s Play With The New Pink and Main Flock!

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Come join me today at 2:00 pm CST on the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel for Wednesday LIVE! During today’s live stream, I will be playing with the new Pink and Main Flock, an awesome product that adds a fuzzy texture to any craft project!

I had the pleasure of meeting Pink and Main owner Michelle Currie at the 2022 Creativation Trade Show in Orlando, FL and filmed a quick Facebook Live for Scrapbook and Cards Today that featured some of Pink and Main’s new products. To see the recorded live, click HERE!

On display were several stunning projects that featured the Pink and Main Flock. I love anything that is textured and couldn’t get enough of the flock material! It’s like running your fingers over crushed velvet! Of course, pictures don’t do it justice!

During today’s live stream, I’m going to play with the Flock using Pink and Main Double-Sided adhesive, stencils, and gloss gel.

To learn more about this product and more, head to the Pink and Main website!

And, a special thank you to Michelle Currie for sending me these awesome goodies!

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Disclaimer: The products featured were provided by Pink and Main. Victoria Marie Designs only reviews high quality products from trusted craft and hobby companies. This is not an affiliate post.

Reminder! April 2022 Rock Your Stash Online Virtual Crop is Coming This Weekend!

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The April 2022 Rock Your Stash Online Virtual Crop is just around the corner! Come join us on April 22nd -24th for this fun and relaxing online crop event! The theme for this month’s crop is: Old Stash + New Product!

This Crop Event Includes:

  • Stash Themed Challenges – All of the challenges for this crop are based on our theme, Old Stash + New Product! You will be challenged to make scrapbook projects (any format) using items from your stash and newly acquired scrappy goodies!
  • Live Zoom Scrap and Chat Sessions where you can hangout via Zoom with like-minded scrapbookers!
  • One (1) Live 45-minute Mini Class based on the monthly crop theme. This workshop is offered during one of the Live Zoom Scrap and Chat Sessions.
  • Fun Prizes and Giveaways!
  • Price: $9.99 USD per crop!

No Rush to Participate! You are welcome to come and go as you please during this crop event; or access the crop content at another time if you are not available during the crop weekend!

All of the crop content including the challenges and the recordings of the Live Zoom Scrap and Chat Sessions and mini classes will be available for 3 weeks after the scheduled crop weekend! After the 3 week period expires, the crop Facebook group for the scheduled event will be archived.

And the BEST part? Each crop is hosted 100% online in a private Facebook Group! You can enjoy the crops from the comfort of your home!

REGISTRATION: To learn more and to register for the April 2022 Rock Your Stash Online Virtual Crop, click HERE!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: To see the April 2022 Rock Your Stash Online Virtual Crop Schedule of Events, click HERE!

Note: Challenge descriptions are provided immediately upon registration.

Registration ends on April 23rd at 11:59 pm CST.

I hope to see you there!