2:00 a.m.

2:00 am. When was the last time you stayed up till 2:00 am? Are you able to stay up till 2:00 am? I didn't think I was capable of staying up this late anymore, but last night, I finally retreated from my desk at around 2:00am to go to bed. I gave myself permission to spend some late evening hours scrapbooking. I spent the earlier part of the evening working. I recently accepted a new position with Crate Paper. I can't share the full details just yet, but I'm excited for change. I'll share a little bit more about that later. So, after enlisting in a few hours of work, it felt appropriate to sit and create late into the evening. I pulled out some Prima product along with some Amy Butler stickers, and the new Fancy Pant's transparent die-cuts. I kept it simple. One pattern piece of paper, a couple photos, and one small section of embellishments. I also went with soft, muted colors; Mint Green, Yellow, and Bird's Egg Blue. Here's a close-up of the layout:

Most of the layouts I create have at least one or two flowers on them. Flowers lend texture and dimension to a page. They can be used in a multitude of ways and can be further embellished with buttons, rhinestones, ink, paint, rub-ons, and more. They're extremely versatile in nature. At Winter CHA, 2008, Prima released these gorgeous, silk flowers called "Belle Fleurs". I've been using them a lot lately on my projects (including on that mini album I just posted a few weeks ago). They're shiny and have a nice reflective quality about them. They combine well with matte paper flowers and rhinestones.  I combined the silk flowers above with a light green paper flower and a fabric rhinestone embellished brad. I surrounded it with white rhinestone swirls and a few other embellishments.

There's been one technique I've been wanting to try these last few weeks. It's a simple graphic design technique where two elements of the same color are combined to create a design. Above, I combined two pieces of ivory cardstock and sat them side by side on the layout. Even though they're identical in color, because one sits higher than the other, they feel separate. This technique is  a crisp, clean & subtle way to create layers on a layout . This same technique can be applied with letters, flowers, borders, shapes, and more.

On the Prima Blog, you'll find a host of beautiful Mother's Day cards on display. You can see them Here. I contributed a card to the collection. I've posted it below:

Thank you to everyone that left me a link to their favorite inspirational blog (or their own blog). I've been looking at them today and adding new blogs to my faves list.  Feel free to keep sharing. :)

Comments

[jessica barnett]

My blog is a little wacky in that you never know what I'm going to talk about :)
Have been reading yours since someone shared your acrylic album tutorial with me.
Congrats on the new position with Crate Paper! I am hoping that one day I can get on another manufacturer DT. (just on the Xyron DT right now)

[Aleida Franklin]

Girl I was up till 2:00 in the morning last night working on an assignment for my DT gig. I feel ya. I'm spent and I made a card today for the SC challenge. Beautiful layouts, you are Queen Supreme in the layering dept. that's for sure. I see you have the Heather Bailey link, love her, love her studio even though my tastes are more modern in nature. ;) Congrats on the Crate Paper gig. You must be super excited.

[Denise Morgan]

It is nice to be able to stay up late on occassion. I find that it's so quiet and there are generally no interuptions. You can most times get alot accomplished too.
I'll share my blog that I've been working on. Just wanted to get some pictures of my work and home up first.
And congratulations on the Crate Paper job. They are lucky to have you!
Hope your enjoying the weekend,
Denise

[Denise Morgan]

I almost forgot Christine, Happy Mother's Day! It's officially sunday here in CT!

[Lisa King]

Congrats on the new position with Crate Paper! You must be so excited! Happy Mother's Day. :)

[angela]

to answer your question...it's 2am now, lol. :) i find it's the only way i get stuff done! the bad thing is though, i am SO not a morning person, so the late nights make for a grumpy mommy...so i try not to do it too often anymore!

congrats on the new position! beautiful art, as always...and great tip too :)

[christina]

Lovely projects!

[Janine Langer (Aline)]

Wonderful layout and card, Christine! :)
I find myself more often than I'd love to sitting at my table in the middle of the night. For me it's at the moment also the only way I get my stuff done.
Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

[Nathalie (brn2scrp)]

Gorgeous layout and gorgeous card. The patterned paper on the LO looks a bit like a sheet of MM paper I'm currently working with (from the Chelsea's paper line). Reminds me of the wallpaper in my childhood home, lol.

Feel free to visit my blog, but you won't see anything scrappy on it, at least not in the last few entries. My scrappin' mojo has been on vacation and there hasn't been much time to coax it back!

[Christi]

This layout is so serene feeling...I love it! I am so excited to hear that you are working with Crate Paper! They are one of my favorite companies and you are one of my favorite scrapbookers.... I can't wait to hear more details of what you are doing!!! smiles...

[wendy vecchi]

As ALWAYS...Your art is VERY inspiring!!
LOVE your attention to the details.
wendy

[KIP]

Love your card. Happy Mother's Day!

[Suzan Tiemroth-Zavala]

Beautiful layout as usual. Happy Mother's Day to you!!! I admire your strength and am always inspired by you (Not just about scrapbooking!!!) Enjoy your day with that beautiful boy of yours.

[Sue]

Hi! I love your layouts and how generous you are with sharing your techniques. I too love to work with flowers and layering them. Congrats on your new position with Crate Paper! Love their new Blue Hill range as well as their b/w range. Happy Mother's Day! Sue. :)

[Elizabeth]

What a beautiful cat, so photogenic. Is she/he one of yours? It was good to run into you and Ethan on Friday. Panera is number one in my book for a quick, healthy lunch.

[Aleida Franklin]

Happy Mother's Day!

[Janine]

Congrats on the gig Christine!

And I want to wish you a Happy Mother's Day! You completely deserve it and have shown us the important role we have.

Thank you for having such grace and strength.

[Karen]

Beautiful layout and card!

Happy Mother's Day to you!

[Colleen]

Happy Mother's Day and Congrats on the new position with Crate paper!

Lovely layout and card and I hope I too can one day figure out how to make flowers look as gorgeous on a layout for a boy as you do!!

[Julie]

I hope you are having a wonderful Mother's Day. Congrats on working with Crate Paper. I love their stuff and can't wait to see what you create:)Love your new LO's.

[Heather H.]

I stayed up until 4 AM the other day but that was just because I couldn't sleep.

But I wanted to say that I've been reading your blog for a little while now, and your layouts are so inspiring. Your work is just sooo pretty! :)

-Heather
http://heatherhatanpa.blogspot.com/

[Sophie]

Congrats on the new DT Christine !!

I'm a night scrapbooker, so it's not unusual for me to go to bed at 3:00 !

I love your last LO's, those kitties are cute !

xx from France
Sophie

[Kim]

Hi Christine,

I've been following your blog for several months now via Jodi Ferlaak's blog. I just wanted to drop you a quick line to say "Hello." Your work is so beautiful and inspiring (not sure if I spelled that right!!) and you are a true inspiration as a mom too. I have 2 children of my own and my husband travels quite often. I know how difficult it is when he is away just a few days but to do it on a daily basis is amazing. I love to check in on your blog every day and am always happy to see an update from you. Please keep sharing your wonderful work with us and I hope you had a lovely, relaxing Mother's Day.

Best wishes,
Kim

[Kirsty]

Happy mothers day! That is a beautiful LO, well worth staying up until 2am I think!
http://kirstypiper.blogspot.com/

[Deanna]

Christine -

Love your Lo and Card posted today as well as all your work. thanks for all the wonderful tips and details you post. I am a fellow layerer so I really enjoy seeing what you create. Come visit me sometime at http://finallymedee.blogspot.com Thanks for all the inspiration.