Summer Guest Designer: Carrie Elias

I'm so excited to introduce our Summer Week Guest Designer: Carrie Elias (Blog: Blume and Grow | Instagram: @carrieelias | Pinterest: @carrieelias | Twitter: @carrieelias | YouTube: Carrie Elias)

Bio: Hello everybody! My name is Carrie Elias and I am a YouTuber and Blogger who loves to take photos and create little pieces of art with pretty paper. I adore my family, am a new mom to our sweet daughter, and believe where I live in the Pacific Northwest to be breathtakingly beautiful. When it comes to memory keeping my imagination usually takes over and helps me see outside the box. I also enjoy having blue mermaid hair, think that rain smells sweet, and still have a crush on my husband of 20 years.

How did you get started scrapbooking? I've always been crafty, but about 7 years ago I joined a scrapbook club at my local store in San Diego and that's when my love for scrapbooking took hold. I quickly realized it was a very fulfilling and creative outlet, ended up joining a couple design teams, and even started teaching scrapbook classes due to all the wonderful friends I found. Scrapbooking perfectly combines my love of photography with all the wonderful (and real life) memories I treasure.

What is your favorite American Crafts Product? I think my favorite product has to be all the pretty paper. It's so versatile as backgrounds, for fussy cutting (or running through my Silhouette Cameo), as scraps, and even to use in altered projects. Plus it's so lovely to look at!

 

SUMMER SNAPSHOTS BOX by Carrie Elias

Tip: Try using a pretty combination of papers from the same collection in place of the exact papers used in another example. The Fine & Dandy papers have such a great summertime feel I chose to use them over the traditional Instagram logo colors for the front (and base) of the box I assembled to hold my summer Instagram photos.

Supplies: Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370076) - Oh Joy, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370071) - Let's Party, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370085) - 6x6 Paper Pad, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Foiled Patterned Paper (370072) - Fine & Dandy

I LOVE SUMMER by Carrie Elias

Tip: Try fussy cutting (or using your die cutting machine in my case) to cut up the background of a busy patterned paper and then re-assembling it in a slightly different design on top of another background paper. You can even add dimension in the process if you like.

Supplies: Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370080) - Cheerful Chatter, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370066) - Peonies, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Thickers (370086) - Woodland/Black Foam, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Thickers Shape Stickers (370087) - Accents & Phrases/Gold Foiled Chipboard, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Sticker Book (370094) - Gold Foil Numbers, Hearts & Circles, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370095) - Acrylic Shapes, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Cardstock Die-Cuts (370099) - Ephemera With Gold Foil, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Stickers (370101) - Gold Foil Hearts 3"

THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS by Carrie Elias

Tip: Try using an exacto knife to follow a line in your paper and create a "lip". Here I have a point overlapping my photo but this idea would also look great cut from the side of a flower or other design element.

Supplies: Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370079) - Elated, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370071) - Let's Party, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Glittered Die-Cut Foam (370060) - Gold Hearts, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Thickers Shape Stickers (370087) - Accents & Phrases/Gold Foiled Chipboard, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Cardstock Die-Cuts (370099) - Ephemera With Gold Foil, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370109) - Metal Rimmed Tags 1.25"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUNSHINE by Carrie Elias

Tip: Try considering the shape of one of your supplies over its intended purpose in your project design. For example, I used one of the honeycomb paper balls as the base of my sun to give a summer theme to my birthday card.

Supplies: Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Foiled Vellum (370068) - Hooray w/ Gold, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370069) - Make A Wish, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Thickers Shape Stickers (370087) - Accents & Phrases/Gold Foiled Chipboard, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370102) - Honeycomb Paper Balls 3", Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370065) - Shenanigans, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370085) - 6x6 Paper Pad

PONYO'S SUMMER FAVORITES by Carrie Elias

Tip: Try using a photo behind a die-cut to add more flow with the main photo element on your project. In this pocket page spread I used a piece of a cropped 4x6 photo and placed it behind the lower half of my die cut title to add a bit of color blocking and texture.

Supplies: Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Patterned Paper (370062) - Love Fest, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370085) - 6x6 Paper Pad, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Acetate Transparency (370077) - Dazzling, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Thickers Shape Stickers (370087) - Accents & Phrases/Gold Foiled Chipboard, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370095) - Acrylic Shapes, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Cardstock Die-Cuts (370099) - Ephemera With Gold Foil, Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Stickers (370101) - Gold Foil Hearts 3", Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy Shaped Paper Clips (370103) - Gold Numbers

Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us Carrie! (Blog: Blume and Grow | Instagram: @carrieelias | Pinterest: @carrieelias | Twitter: @carrieelias | YouTube: Carrie Elias)

Comments

[Amanda O'Banion]

Love, love, LOVE this! I always love anything that Carrie does! This totally motivates me to get to scrapping some more of my summer photos and make a mini!

[serena]

Carrie, what can i say, I freakin ADORE you and i am so proud, congrats on such a great opportunity. I love every single project, how could i just pick one?! But your instagram camera box is top! Love you girl!

Serena Bee

[Bunny Dobbie]

The box is so stinking cute! Really makes you want to print out those photos.

[Rachel Blume]

My sister is one of the most amazingly creative people I know. She inspires so many with her beautiful and extra ordinary creations and I always enjoy seeing what new thing she has put together! I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do! Lots of love, Rachel

[Bonnie]

Love the box! Very easy to follow, creative and inspiring!

[Val]

Wow Carrie you've outdone yourself in this post! But I'm not surprised your crazy talented! I can't wait to try my hand at a few of these!!! I especially love the card and Instagram type box! Thanks for sharing your projects lady!!!

[Nely]

I love, love, love the IG box! So creative and fun!! And such a neat way to store your Instagram photos! I also love all the different textures used in the layouts! Something so simple like popping up an element can make such a difference!! XO

[Melanie christie]

I love this and all the creative colors!!!!! Carrie has such a wonderful eye and love all the projects she comes up with!!!!

[Brittany]

OMG love all of it and so so happy to see you make something again! Thanks so much for sharing! :)

[Sarah B]

Very cool stuff! All super adorable and creative!

[Andrea]

Wow!!!! I love the Dear Lizzy Fine and Dandy line and Carrie just made it really come to life and shine with all the projects she made using the collection!!! I love the 12x12 I love summer layout and the sweet happy birthday sunshine card and the Summer snapshot box especially!!! Carrie always amazes me with her talent and creativity and her ability to fuse a modern scrapbook aesthetic with such whimsy and charm! Super inspired and excited to start some scrap-lifting!!!! 😀

[Stephanie Kelley]

I love everything! !! So bright and fun. Carrie always inspires me.