Welcome to our Blog Hop!

Hello everyone and welcome to the C'est Magnifique Blog Hop!! Spring is definitely in the air and what better way to celebrate its arrival than with the reveal of a kit filled with as much freshness and beauty as the season itself? We are offering so many opportunities to win some truly amazing prizes, and have stops along the way that include our participating manufacturers (Les Papiers de Pandore, Webster's Pages, and Blue Fern Studios), our own sketch designer Michele Singh, our May guest designer, Stacey Young, and of course our incredible design team who have created plenty of inspiration to keep you moving through the hop!

But before we get you on your way, let's take a look at our May Kit and Add-Ons:

"Spring's Portrait"

Patterned Paper
Les Papiers de Pandore: Invitation: Card (Cartes)
Les Papiers de Pandore: Invitation: A Dream (a rever)
Les Papiers de Pandore: Invitation: A Love (a l'amour)
Les Papiers de Pandore: Invitation: A Dance (a danser)
Les Papiers de Pandore: Invitation: A Dinner (a diner)
Les Papiers de Pandore: Invitation: A Stroll (a flaner)
Webster's Pages: Modern Romance: From Me to You
Webster's Pages: Modern Romance: Everlasting Love
Webster's Pages: Modern Romance: Love Defined

Kit Embellishments
Prima: Lifetime: Canvas Covered Wood Clips
Prima: Lifetime: Cardstock Stickers: Tiny Alphabets
Prima: Lifetime: Vine
Prima: Ingvild Bolme: Chalk Fluid Edger: Turquoise Stone
Webster's Pages: Modern Romance: Trim Pack
KaiserCraft: Marigold: Diecut Cardstock Pieces
Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard: Double-Dutch Flourish Set

Our Flower Add-on:

Green Tara: Camellia: Peach
Manor House: Winters Song: White
Webster's Pages: Perfect Petals: Park Drive
Prima: Lifetime: Fabric Flowers: Green
Prima: Lifetime: Mini Stem Roses
Prima: Lifetime: Roses

  

 Our Embellishment Add-on:

Pink Paislee: Artisan Chipboard: Stars
Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam: Smooches
Pandore: Clear Stamp: Wrought Iron Frame
Webster's Pages: Perfect Accents: Nesting Birds
Webster's Pages: Modern Romance: Alphabet Stickers
Zva: Double Flourishes: Champagne & Chocolate
Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard: Gabrielle Butterflies
Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard: Lattice Fence

Our Blog Hop Prizes

C'est Magnifique will be giving away prize packages (valued at more than $40 each) to three randomly-drawn winners.  All you need to do is make sure you're a follower of our blog and complete the hop according to the guidelines below- that's it!

So let's get started, shall we? Here is what you will need to do:

1. Visit each blog listed below.
2. Leave a comment on each blog (and become a follower, if required).
3. Return here and leave a comment letting us know you completed the hop.

You have until midnight US EST on April 28th to complete our hop. The winners will be posted shortly thereafter.

The Blog Hop order is as follows:

Brit Sviggum  
Les Papiers de Pandore   
Camilla Ekman  
Webster's Pages   
Erin Blegen  
Keren Tamir  
Larissa Albernaz  
Blue Fern Studios   
Michele Singh  
Stacey Young   
Valerie Serfozo  
{back to} C'est Magnifique Kits  

Good luck...have fun...see you when you get back here!

It's Erin and Keren's Turn to WOW You!

Happy Monday everyone.  I hope your week is getting off to a good start.  Today it's Erin and Keren's turn to show you how they have used our awesome May Kit!  If you're not getting our monthly kits, you are missing out on some wonderful goodness delivered to your door each month.  Our kits sell out each month and we've even increased the number of kits.  For more information, visit the Join the Club/FAQ's tab or take a look at our past kits.

"Hello Gorgeous" by Erin Blegen

This gorgeous "model-esque" photo of my daughter could not have been more perfect a match for this kit! Between both the stunning Pandore and Webster's papers, I easily pulled each of the bright colors out of my photo and onto my layout. Also, I'm a huge fan of fussy cutting, and there's just a ton of opportunity for that with the May kit! I love that just a few clippings here and there can really bring some body to my clusters, while adding interest and detail.

From the Flower Add-On:
Webster's Pages: Perfect Petals: Park Drive
Prima: Lifetime: Fabric Flowers: Green
Prima: Lifetime: Mini Stem Roses
Prima: Lifetime: Roses

From the Embellishment Add-On:
Pink Paislee: Artisan Chipboard: Stars

*************************************************************************

"Beleive" by Keren Tamir

This is a layout with a couple of pictures of me by the beach in Florida this past winter. I really wanted to fit a couple of pictures in those Kaisercraft frames so I tried to find photos that had the subject further away so I could fit it in the frames.

From the Flower Add-on:
Webster's Pages: Perfect Petals: Park Drive
Prima: Lifetime: Fabric Flowers: Green
Prima: Lifetime: Mini Stem Roses

From the Embellishment Add-on:
Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard: Lattice Fence

From my stash:
Textured paste
Gesso
Cheese cloth
Viva decor orange crackle paint
Prima fluid chalk ink dark bark
black micron pen

Just a reminder to check back April 26, 27, 28 for our 

Blog Hop.  See you there!

 

Need a Little Inspiration?

Hi everyone!  We are here today with a little inspiration from our design team.  It's Brit and Valerie's turn to give you another peek at our upcoming May Kit.  Enjoy!

"You are my Sunshine" by Brit Sviggum

Tuva is a very happy girl, and I love looking at her playing. 

Always this cute little smile while she`s talking to her dolls. 

Yes, she really is my sunshine!

From the Embellishment add-on:
Webster's Pages: Perfect Accents: Nesting Birds
Webster's Pages: Modern Romance: Alphabet Stickers
Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard: Lattice Fence

**********************************************************************************

"Believe" by Valerie Serfozo

This layout went in a totally different direction than I had planned. I'm sure that has happened to many of you, as well. My intention was to use the back side of the top paper, which was a soft yellow. I punched my border, then flipped it over to apply the adhesive - that's when I saw this beautiful floral paper on the back. I just had to use it, so I pushed aside what I had planned to use, and started over. 

 From the Flower Add-on:
Webster's Pages: Perfect Petals: Park Drive
Prima: Lifetime: Mini Stem Roses
Prima: Lifetime: Roses

From the Embellishment Add-on:
Webster's Pages: Perfect Accents: Nesting Birds

Other:
Martha Stewart Vintage Floral Punch
Gesso

First Look at May

In the United States, April 15th is known as tax day.  But here at C'est Magnifique Kits, it's a good day, because we're here to give you a look at our May Kit paper and the Add-ons.  In May, our kit will feature the beautiful Invitation collection from Les Papiers de Pandore, a French manufacturer.  To round out the paper in our kit, we've added three sheets of paper from the Webster's Pages Modern Romance collection.  These two lines of paper compliment each other so well.  

As always, we have also put together two beautiful add-ons.  If you like a little a little extra with your kit, you will love what we have for you this month.

Our Flower Add-on features flowers from  Webster's Pages, Prima, Manor House Creations and Green Tara.  Several of these flowers are also available individually in our Store.

We have also put together a beautiful collection of embellishments to create a our Embellishment Add-on.  It includes items from Tattered Angels, Blue Fern Studios, Webster's Pages, Les Papiers de Pandore, Zva Creative and Pink Paislee.  Several of the Embellishment Add-on items are also available in our Store.

Now we'd like to show you a couple of sneak peeks from Designers Camilla and Larissa.

"Treasured" by Camilla Ekman

I have made a layout centering the embellishments around the photo leaving much white space. The chipboards are just partly covered in white gesso. I love the raw look. 

 From the Flower Add-on
Manor House: Winters Song: White
Webster's Pages: Perfect Petals: Park Drive
Prima: Lifetime: Mini Stem Roses

From the Embellishment Add-on
Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard: Gabrielle Butterflies
Blue Fern Studios: Chipboard: Lattice Fence

Other: dies, stamp, leaves

******************************************************************* 

"La vie est un poème" (Life is a Poem) by Larissa Albernaz

I started creating this layout by adding a touch of red to its background by simply spraying some glimmer mists over a Prima mask to it. I love how this kit has wonderful flowers, so I couldn´t resist adding a lot of cutouts in a design that could give me a beautiful movement like the wind touching my hair in this nostalgic picture. A few layers more, the addition of some gorgeous flowers and it was done!

 From the Flower Add-on
Prima: Lifetime: Mini Stem Roses

From the Embellishment Add-on
Webster's Pages: Perfect Accents: Nesting Birds
Zva: Double Flourishes: Champagne & Chocolate

From my stash:
Gesso
Prima Mask
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Candy Apple
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Peach Delight
Kesi´Art Clear Stamp Collection A Bicyclette
Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen Black "S"

Thanks for stopping by.  We will have more sneak peeks for you in the next week, leading up to our full reveal and Blog Hop later this month.

We Have a Lot to Announce!

First of all, we want to let you know that we are behind the scenes preparing for our upcoming Blog Hop.  Please be sure to mark your calendars for April 26-28.  As always, there will be lots inspiration and prizes along the way!

Our second item of business is to announce the winner of our April Bits & Pieces Giveaway.  A big thanks to all of you who entered and helped spread the word by sharing it on your blogs.  The winner is entry #114, which belongs to Sonja.  Congratulations!  Sonja, please send an e-mail to: Leslie[at]Cestmagnifiquekits.com and give her your mailing address.

Lastly, we are just about ready to say goodbye to our April kit, but before we do that, we want to thank the awesome Michelle Frisby for being our Guest Designer for April.  She has been getting our kits for quite some time, so she was totally in her comfort zone working with the Design Team.   We loved having you Michelle! 

Most of the time we feature scrapbook layouts on our blog, but Michelle has created some other amazing projects using our April kit. 

"Easel Card" by Michelle Frisby

It's no secret that I love making easel cards. I've made a card with a cardstock base which I've then covered using the gorgeous Pion Designs papers. I've layered, and layered and layered some more. I've used a lace doily edge punch on a strip of paper to make the bodice peeking out on the Blue Fern Studios mini dress form - how cute is that, and then I've popped a flower on the top to form the dress shall we say.

I didn't want this card covered in flowers [just for a change] and got my thinking cap on, on how I would have it held up ... so I've grabbed my hot glue gun, used one of the vintage wood mini rulers, glued it down along with a selection of buttons which I've dribbled dimensional magic on to and then sprinkled with seed beads. I've also made a dummy cotton spool by cutting a strip of paper, rolling it and putting an occasional dab of glue to hold it together, then I've glued two buttons, one either end, wound some twine around the spool itself and added a few seed beads to this as well.

"A Little Treasure Box" by Michelle Frisby

 A little something to tuck away a wee treasure to send to a friend to put a smile on their face.

This is a little 2 inch box, so definitely not very big. I've used the Pion Designs Purple Room paper, cut two inch squares, don't forget one for the bottom of box. I've run my sandpaper stick around the paper edges to slightly soften the edges and then very roughly inked the edges before adhering to my wee box.

Hot glue to the ready and then I've layered muslin, scrunched up Tim Holtz tissue paper and embellished with leaves and Prima flowers, seed beads and you might see a wee string of pearls tucked in there as well which I have looped over the Prima chipboard key. I have also cut off two stems from the Prima Lifetime Flower Stems and twisted the stem around my paper piercer to curl it and I've tucked two wee pieces under my roses.

Wasn't quite sure how I was going to achieve the box closure, but I worked around that by stamping the Prima Washi Tape wood stamp onto an off-cut of the paper, folded it in half and glued the top half to the top of the box under all the layering and voila.

"Birthday Tag" by Michelle Frisby

Whilst clearing away, I thought to myself I will make a quick birthday tag with bits and pieces from the kit that were left sitting in my craft space. I have to say it really was quick, I just kept adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I had already covered and sanded one of the mini dress forms with Tim Holtz tissue paper and painted over it with the Lindy's Stamp Gang mist ... I had discarded it from another creation, but thought that I would make use of it on my birthday tag.

Tag has now been popped into an envelope and will be winging its way to one of my scrapping friends.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  We will be back in a couple of days to show you the paper we'll be using in our May kit, as well as the add-ons.  See you then!

Larissa, Brit, and Our April Kit

Hi everyone!  Today we bring you layouts from Brazil (Larissa) and Norway (Brit).  I love the diversity we have on our design team, not only in styles, but we also have designers from all over the world.  Our April kit is sold out, but we can't help showing off what a beautiful kit it is!

Reminder:  If you haven't yet entered our Bits & Pieces Giveaway, you still have until midnight tomorrow (April 12th) to add your name to the list. 

"Sweet Dreams" by Larissa Albernaz

This layout portrays an adorable moment of my daughter´s life when she was trying to take a nap. Wishing her sweet dreams, I created this layout by working with some layers of beautiful pieces of this months paper kit combined with gorgeous embellishments that C'est Magnifique Kits has put together this month.

"Together" by Larissa Albernaz

 What can be more fun than a page that reproduces the idea of birdies flying and sewing friendship with love? That´s what I did by using a few layers, embellishments and cutouts. 

 "Just Sitting Here Waiting for Summer" by Brit Sviggum

My son looks a bit sad on this photo, so I thought it would be great for a layout about longing for summer Because we REALLY long for summer now!!!

"What Time" by Brit Sviggum

Tuva is always climbing all over the place. She can never sit still. So I guess this is the way she would tell you what time it is. 

We will be back over the weekend to announce the winner of our Bits & Pieces Giveaway, and to share a couple more layouts by our April Guest Designer.

Inspiration from Camilla and Valerie

Wow, it's so exciting to see all your smiling faces below in our Bits & Pieces Giveaway!  We have such a great group of blog readers, and we appreciate all of you stopping by to see what we're up to at C'est Magnifique Kits.  If you haven't yet entered our Giveaway, see the post below this (or click on the photo at the top of our left sidebar).

We would like to share with you a few layouts from design team members Camilla and Valerie.  Enjoy!

"Time Flies" by Camilla Ekman

I can't believe how time flies. My children are getting so big. It seems like yesterday they started school, but now they are 12 and 14. Creating this layout I used lots of layers, using punches and dies. 

"Arga ogon" by Camilla Ekman

How can someone so angry look so cute? Yes, this young lady is sitting under a table, angry at her mother. She has her angry eyes on. LOL. The layout is made with the fabulous April kit from C'est Magnifique. I have played with some mists, some masks and some texture paste to create more patterns to the background.

"Easter" by Valerie Serfozo

 I just had hundreds of old photos and slides scanned and I'm so happy to have some digital photos of my family when I was younger. I have fond memories of Easter when my mother would dress all 4 of us in new dresses, shoes, socks, gloves, and hats. It was quite a special day. My mother always wore a corsage on Easter (you can just faintly see it on her left shoulder), so I tried to make my flower cluster look somewhat like a corsage. I didn't want the title to stand out too much, so I chose to leave the canvas alphabet its natural color.

"Love" by Valerie Serfozo

 I have always had a fondness for ledger paper, and was so glad this month's kit included a sheet of it. I chose to use a lot of the Prima chipboard pieces on this layout of my nephew, Keegan. I like the contrast between his sweet skin and the black in both the ledger paper and the chipboard.