Mari Clarke Creations

There are those times as a parent that you just “hold your breath”…you know what I mean if you are a parent.  When our children are little, we worry about so many things…will they reach all of those developmental markers, will they get invited to the birthday parties, will they learn to read with ease, will they be able to do math at school…the list is soooo long.  For a year and a half, we “held our breath”, hoping that Bailey’s big day would be all that she had dreamed of.  I feel like she just loved her wedding day so much…she was just so happy and so was her very handsome groom.  It was a beautiful day!

This layout, “Love at the Thorv”, is one of my favorites! The soft tones in the “Auburn Lane” collection from Pink Paislee are just perfect for the romantic elegance that was the theme for the day!

One of the things that was on my wish list for the wedding was a string quartet.  The musicians played before, during and after the ceremony and it was just so lovely; this just set the tone from the beginning of the day.  They played Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” for the processional…this mama’s heart was bursting!

 

I added some Distress Oxide Inks (Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, Aged Mahogany and Bundled Sage) to my white card stock with a distress tool.  I added some Ranger Texture Paste over the inked areas with a script stencil from my stash (The Crafter’s Workshop). The floral pieces are fussy cut from a piece of patterned paper from Auburn Lane.  There are a few floral die cut pieces from the collection layered over the larger pieces with foam adhesive.

I continue to be a fan of soft and elegant layouts with white space.  I think this style complements this photo so well.  I added a delicate doily as a layer behind my photo and finished the side of the layout with a floral branding strip from one of the patterned papers from Auburn Lane.  A little bit of white stitching with my sewing machine completed the side piece. The title piece “love” is a foam phrase from Felicity Jane and then the gold foam alphas are part of the Auburn Lane collection.  This photo on the steps of the Thorvaldson building on the University of Saskatchewan campus could not be more fitting for this day; these two both took classes on this campus, attained their degrees here, and met in this city!

A perfect photo for a perfect day…I can breathe a little easier knowing that this girl of mine has married the love of her life!

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  Here is a link to the process video for this layout:

 

xx Mari

Yes, it’s true…I absolutely admit that I am a lover of all things Mama Elephant!  I was looking at my IG feed today and was very excited to see the guest designer call for this amazing company!

I have been a stamper for a looooong time…so many stamps….so little time, lol.  And Mama Elephant has been a favorite for me, for sure!  I have lots of Mama Elephant product, but I seem to have more Christmas stamps and dies in my collection than other themes.  This is one of my all time favorite sets and this card is one of my faves, too!

The background is water colored to create the impression of a night sky of wonderment (not sure if that’s a word)…and then I heat embossed the sentiment across that purple, snowy background.  What can I say about these little bears from “A Beary Christmas”! They are just so adorable.

Here are a few photos of this card:

The “season’s greetings” sentiment is from the “Season’s Wishes” stamp set, also from Mama Elephant.  I love the large, scripty sentiments that are a signature Mama Elephant stamp.

I love how this card turned out!

Here is a link to the process video over on YouTube if you would like to see how I created all of the details for this card!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!  Have an amazing day!

xxMari

Hey everyone, welcome to my blog today! I have a color challenge layout to share with you that was created for Scrapbook Nerd.

One of the ephemera pieces in the Pink Fresh collections I used for my project says “plot twist”…that could not be more perfect for this layout about Kingston and my son’s past year.

When he moved to Kingston a year ago, the move was part of a long-term plan as part of a relationship he was in at the time.  Things didn’t work out (plot twist), but I know that what happened is definitely for the best.  Now that he has gone through all of the “stuff”, he is doing so well.  In fact, much better than ever.

The Scrapbook Nerd Creative Team worked with a color palette inspiration this week.

These colors are so pretty…the colors I have chosen for my layout are my favorite colors to scrap with.  The photo I have used is out of our hotel window down by the lake.  The photo captures a bit of downtown Kingston.  It is a pretty cool city!

I printed a map of the Kingston area on vellum to use on the layout.  I added some watercolor to the background amd added some hidden journaling behind the vellum map piece (the vellum is attached with washi).  The die cuts/embellishments and alphas are all from Pink Fresh.

I like how this layout came together!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

xxMari

 

 

How often do you get to have a big party in a swanky penthouse?  If you are like me, the answer to that question is “not often”.  On July 7, we had a bridal shower for my daughter and the location was off the charts amazing.  The James Hotel in Saskatoon is just the perfect venue for a private girls get together.  The wine and delicious foods were flowing as we celebrated my girl;  so much fun was had…and I had to scrapbook the event, of course!!

I created the layout using a photo that was snapped by a friend of mine with her phone.  The products I have used for the layout are from Felicity Jane Brie and Alexis.  Gosh I love the kits from this company…there is nothing quite like them out there.

The layout is super simple, light and airy with tons of white space!  I love this sort of layout.

I hope your are inspired by my layout!  Here is a link to the process video if you would like to see how I created it!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!

Have an amazing day!

xxMari

All scrapbookers unite on this day every year to celebrate a craft that is so much fun!  iNSD means that so many of us who scrapbook are involved in crops and fun events that bring us all together.  I can remember the first year I started participating and just could not believe all of the things planned for this day.

This year I am part of the Scrapbook Nerd online crop.  We have planned a bunch of different challenges for the crop this weekend.  I will leave a link to the Scrapbook Nerd Girls Fan page on Facebook so that you have a chance to play along. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1981015531957642&type=3

My challenge will be in the challenge album on Facebook during the crop.  The challenge I have issued is, of course, one that involves mixed media.  I used a bunch of Vicki Boutin mixed media products on my project to create the layout.  Here are some photos and the process video.  Be sure to check out all of the fun this weekend!

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by my blog today!  It is a great day to be indoors here in Saskatchewan since we are getting yet another winter storm this weekend.  Hopefully spring will soon be here for real.

I have a layout to share with you today, emphasizing a few tips to help keep scrapbooking simple.  One thing I always do when I need to save time is to use a design that I love and am comfortable with.  The design I am using today is one you will see me used often.  I find that starting with a white background takes a lot of the guesswork out of creating a page.  I love patterned paper, don’t get me wrong, and I use lots of it; however, I find that sometimes if I need to put something together quickly, I will go with a white background.

I also find using a black and white photo helps uncomplicate the process as well.  There are no competing colors with the photo and if it is a good photo, the lack of color won’t make a huge difference.

I like to create my photo mat and layers as one unit so that I can move the entire mat around the layout for easy placement.

These are just a few tips and tricks for simple scrapbooking!

Here is a link to the process video:

Thanks so much for stopping at my blog!

xxMari

The color challenge 88 over at MFT Stamps includes Tickled Pink, Wild Cherry, Summer Splash and Black Licorice.  These colors are some of my faves, and I had so much fun creating this little “love” card using a bunch of products from MFT Stamps.

These little love raccoons are just adorable!!

 

Here is a list of MFT products used on this project:

Raving Raccoons stamp and die set

From the Heart sentiment stamps

Cloud stencil

Black and White Stripes 6×6 pad

Cloud 9 dies

Essential Speech Bubbles dies

Extreme Black ink pad

I love all things MFT…a favorite company for me!!

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!!

xxMari

 

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!  I have had a rough week, battling this nasty flu bug that’s been going around…my students told me on Thursday they were worried that I was going to pass out in class while I was talking in front of them…thankfully that didn’t happen 🙂  Could have been a little awkward.  I am happy to say that I am on the mend…and had some time today to make some fun stuff.

I created this fun little Valentine’s card using mostly My Favorite Things products.  I love everything that MFT does!  They are definitely one of my faves in the industry.  For this card, I used the Marble Background stamp, Hexagon Shaker Pouch, Stitched Sentiment Dies, Raving Raccoons Stamps and Dies, Extreme Black Hybrid Ink, and Hearts in a Row Dies.

I also used SSS Doll Pink ink, Newton’s Nook Frames and Flags Dies, Nuvo Gold Gilding Flakes, Wow Opaque White embossing powder, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen, clear Wink of Stella, Copics (C3, C5, C7, RV00, RV04, R20, E0000), Little Things From Lucy’s Cards sequins (Chunky Gold Glitter, Ice Cube Mix and Kiss Me mixe), Pretty Pink Posh Marshmallow Seed Beads, vellum, and Strathmore Bristol Smooth card stock.

 

Here is a link to the process video:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

xxMari

Alcohol Ink has been around for a while and it seems to be making a comeback.  I had so much fun playing today with the inks I have.  I used some Ranger Yupo paper to create this fun little, colorful Valentine’s card.

The first photo shows the Yupo paper before I die cut it with a Neat and Tangled scalloped die.  I used a variety of colors of ink including raspberry, pool and  sunshine yellow.  I also used the Alcohol Blending Solution and some plain rubbing alcohol to help move the ink on the paper.  I used a straw to blow the inks around.  I added some silver Mixative as well to add some extra depth.

The MFT Mesmerizing Mandela die and some silver glitter paper are perfect accents for the front of the card.  My sentiment inside is stamped using a stamp from the Hero Arts You Are Loved Messages stamp set.  I love that stamp set!

There are so many supplies for projects using alcohol inks over in the Scrapbook Nerd online shop.  Be sure to check the store out!

Here is a link to the process video where you can watch me create this card:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xxMari

I had so much fun making this sweet little Valentine’s card for my son and his gf.  The kitty is supposed to look like their little calico, Katie.  I stamped out the MFT images from the “You Melt My Heart” stamp set using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  Then I colored the images using Faber Castell Polychromos.

Once I had the images colored, I used Distress Oxide inks in Cracked Pistachio and Salty Ocean to create the ground and sky. I added some drops of water to create the water droplet effect on the inked areas. I die cut the images using the MFT matching dies. I also used the Newton’s Nook Frames and Flags die to create the scallped edge on my front panel.  Sadly, when I pulled up my micropore tape from the die, it took some of the paper with it.  I attempted to camouflage that with more Salty Ocean and some water.  I stamped my sentiment onto some white card stock and then die cut the sentiment using the MFT Essential Speech Bubbles die.

I stamped the squiggly heart at the top with some Versamark clear ink, and then added some Wow Pearl Gold Sparkle embossing powder.

I added some Gold Stickles, Glossy Accents and Perfect Pearls for a little extra pizazz!

Here is a link to the process video:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

XX Mari