Joyland!

It's live! It's time to race to Studio Calico and pick up the April kit, Joyland. There are also three add-ons available with this kit this month; Skycoaster, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Whacky Shack. Skycoaster sold out this morning on presale (I think it was because of the stamp and this Jillibean Soup corrugated alphas), so if that is the add-on you are interested in, I'd race there first.
Many of the punches are also sold out but will be restocked next week in time for shipping, so you will get a second chance at those if you missed out on them this morning.
There are pink slipped stamps in the shop too, so if there is a stamp you've been coveting, you might want to check that out. The tree stamp is one of them and I think it would be super cute beside that house stamp in Whacky Shack!
Project 12 friends, I also saw that the month stamps are back in stock. I use these for my Project 12 layouts and they are handy to have around.

Anyway, the kit:


And this is what I came up with. As soon as I saw Skycoaster and that Sassafras paper, as well as that MME die cut sentiment, I knew I had to do a layout about my girls and Dr Seuss' birthday.

The micro mini BG alphas were the same size as the font in the die cut so I was able to add an "s" for things and you can't even tell. I just inked over the top of the letter to change the color.

I used Claudine Hellmuth's green paint for my chipboard banner. I also wrapped jute several times around my layout and through the banner pieces, tying a bow over the title. I LOVE jute and have been using it on everything lately. It's *almost* more fun than ribbon.
New to the shop this month is twisted burlap, and I'm telling you right now, I ordered it all and can't wait to wrap it around everything as well. It's like two pieces of jute wrapped together.

I wanted to play with the different patterns in the kit for this next layout:

I had the paper strips in mind from the beginning, and the rest of the layout came together after that. Originally I was going to do the whole thing on kraft but in the end decided to add more color by layering it over the die cut paper from Crate.

To keep it from being too simple, I decided to cut out the image of the flowers I wanted to use, a wee bit larger than the size of the chipboard. I simply laid out my papers, placed everything where I wanted it, traced over it with a pen, removed the chipboard, trimmed it out and then pieced it back together again.

Adding to the design element of doing this, I made one flower and left it blank to add some interest and show more of the kraft.

If there is one shop item I would encourage you to add to your kit, it would have to be the Brook chipboard pieces from Crate paper. There are 49 pieces! AND you will have no trouble using them with upcoming kits (hint, hint).

I wanted to have an 8.5 x 11 layout this month, so decided to do Morgan in the springtime:

To make it fun, I trimmed a photo in half and used each in one of the K&Co. frames, with a chipboard branch in the middle.

I still had time so I had fun with this last layout, simply because the photos were so fun:

LOVE the hydrangea punch!

I just had fun with this one, using bits and pieces. I need to do that more often. My clouds make me happy too.

I then finished up the kit with cards.

I have a two pager to share too, but it needs it's own post. I have a LOT to say about it. Suffice it to say, it has changed me as a scrapbooker.

Have a good night! Davinie

P.S. Did Whacky Shack sell out, or are you just unable to justify the money for an add-on this month? Maybe you just like the stamps. Either way, if you are looking to add to your collection, check out this post. I am giving away a super cute house stamp set!