BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

I signed up for a contest at Scrap-Tastic.com for a little fun!  This week, we had a sketch to work with, needed to use 2 patterned papers, and write about what we love about summer.  I happen to love summer because it provides great opportunities for us to get to know our family better (I mean outside our immediate family).  I love fishing in the middle of the lake and having great conversation.  It's amazing what you find out about people when you're stuck together for hours!

I am also trying VERY hard to scrap layouts that are boyish....it's really hard because I am a flower and lace kind of girl!  But the men in my life are feeling a little left out, so as it was my goal for 2010 to scrap more of my boys, this is another one to check off.

Signing out!

The End of the World - and a New Reveal!

When my little muffin doesn't get what she wants, we all know it, it sounds like it's the end of the world.  If you read my little asterisk, it says *occurs when Little Miss Sophie fails to obtain that which she wants at any given time.

This layout was inspired by this week's color palette (revealed July 22, 2010), Inspiration Board #152.  The designer challenge is to use ruffles or pleating.  Feel free to come and hang out with us at Color Combos Galore for this week's gorgeous color palette.  I found the perfect colors in that Map paper, and the story developed from there....working in WORLD in the title.  Pretty clever of me, isn't it!  :)  For a while there, I just threw together layouts, now I try really hard to make it cohesive to ensure that most things are deliberate and have meaning.

Bye for now!

I AM PassionART...

I am passionate about ART.  Always have been.  Before I found scrapbooking, I was writing music, playing guitar, painting canvas, creating wall art, baking and packaging presents, crafting with wood, sewing, etc... I even made my own PROM dress!  I was terrible on hemming, and it just kept getting shorter and shorter.  OOPS!  My Mother is directly responsible for my craftiness, she was always visiting White Rose and taking me along, inspiring me to create art at a young age.

I created this layout for a contest Beauty Pagent at Scrap-Tastic.com.  The challenge was to use fabric on your layout and the topic was to be themed "what you are passionate about".  I hope it comes across that I am passionate about all things ARTSY.  I do have a picture on there, it's a recent layout close-up that I muted in colour so that it would match my layout.

I love challenges that allow me to use up old stash and just go crazy with embellishments.  I used up some old rub-ons and letters, used some stamps and my glossy accents to make the scissors glossy.  I also added a recent ATC card that I made for a swap.

I hope you can see the fabric above for the pennants, it was white fabric, sprayed with several colours of Glimmer Mist and then stamped with CHF's Vintage Text stamp.  The numbers are PRIMA chipboard.

I picked up these new reinforcers by 7 Gypsies, which I added to the tag - it has a sticky backing, so very easy to apply.  I used the Maya Road SEW CUTE MINI CHIPBOARD SET that I picked up from Scrapbook Star (spool, sewing machine, scissors).  I coloured the chipboard pieces with COPIC markers, then applied Glossy Accents.

Here you can see the glossy scissors, and some beautiful PRIMA trim, Queen & Co. pearls, Evalicious felt/left embellishment, Melissa Frances keyhole, Prima flower and leaves, and a UNITY paper pad journal stamp.

Happy Monday!

TIME FLIES - The Greeting Farm Digi

I recently purchased some digital stamps from The Greeting Farm.  I wanted to see how they worked, printed and how my Copics would react with the ink jet printer ink.  Well...good news...ALL IS WELL!  It's actually nice to be able to print the image in a row and have it be straight - a hard thing to accomplish with rubber stamps!  The stamp below is WS Dressy Edward.

  

So here is my take on a challenge they have going on to use a TIME theme in your layout.  I also had a goal to scrap more BOYish layouts this year as my poor son probably has a complex by now, that most my pages have been of my daughter.  I can't help my affection for all things pink!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Laurie & Me - Color Combos Galore #150

It's that time of the week when we have another reveal at Color Combos Galore.  This time, some beautiful blues and a bit of red and ivory.  Here is my take...a layout of my bigger sister Laurie & Me in 1977, while we were both taking a nap.  Look at that floral bed cover!  YUCK!  We loved each other's company growing up and we REALLY enjoy each other now in our thirties.

 

 

Here is a fabric flower that I rolled up and hot glued to paper, then sprayed with some Glimmer Mist.  I hot glued a button in the middle, then treated it with Stickles.

Most papers are My Mind's Eye (So Sophie).  The stamp is from a UNITY Stamp Co. set I picked up at ScrapFest in Kitchener this year.  It also deserved to be dressed up with Stickles.  That cute little gem button is Jenni Bowlin.  She is the queen of this color palette!

Lots to do, too little time...hope you can play along with us for #150!

LIFE Changing....and Pictures of My Baby

I have joined up for a contest at Scrap-Tastic for their Beauty Pageant that lasts throughout the summer.  I just can't help myself, I love jumping into challenges!  Some of my best work comes from being challenged.  Here is my first layout for Round #1 to use a 3 color combination of Magenta, Chartreuse, and Slate.

And here are some WONDERFUL pictures that my sister took tonight of my 3rd baby, Will.  She was babysitting, and she couldn't resist trying out her new backdrops of William.  They're pretty awesome, and I know she will do fantastic things with them!  My sister is a photographer and has an AMAZING blog with tons of pictures...visit her if you have a moment.  You will be impressed!  I promise!  She took that pregnancy shot of me 8 years ago!

Going to get some shut eye.....

40% Off Sale AND I Adore You

I just read Simply Renee's blog and they are having a 40% deal on select products throughout July to celebrate 4 years of business....see here for details.  I personally want the Jumbo Clip It Up for all my papers.  I would organize them by manufacturer.


Just a reminder, you still have time to play at both Scrapbook Star's summer camp (July and August) and Color Combos Galore this week.

So since I like to share photos, I found this photo of a card I made recently, using UNITY stamps and Kaisercraft patterned paper.  The brad is My Mind's Eye.  Stickles made the card too!  I love working with KRAFT paper for the cardstock because it can pretty much go with anything, it can be dressy or dressed down.

Happy Monday!

A STAR IS BORN - My Number Three

My Dad calls me Number 3....I phone him and he addresses me as Number Three....sometimes I think he forgets my name...:)   I actually think it's cute and now I have my own Number 3.  That is what this layout is about!

I also used a challenge to get my mojo going....here it is...

CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS CHALLENGE: Diamonds & Pearls - Create using anything but patterned paper, flowers and bling.

I used older product to get this one done.  Heidi Swapp tapes, Prima felt, Lil Davis Numbers, Close To My Heart Library Stamps, and Fontwerks Alpha Stamps, 7 Gypsies stamp Limited Edition. As you will see - NO PATTERNED PAPER, NO FLOWERS, and NO BLING!

Here is a cute little arrangement of info....the title some stamping, and some Prima Packaging.  I love that you can use these instead of just recycling them to the plant.

I bought those alpha stamps a long time ago and they are AWESOME. I think I will be playing with them some more.  (Fontwerks).

That brick wall is a PRIMA stamp, stamped over and over again!  All those tapes came together in a Heidi Swapp set.

Here is the candy you can win from CSD's sponsor this month, Ann Lenth.  I believe you have all month to play in the various challenges.

On another topic, I just got my newsletter from Cornish Heritage Farms, that they are closing their doors as they are moving.  I believe the business is for sale, but if you want stamps, you have to get them now!  They are a wonderful couple and have always operated with high integrity.  It's sad that there will be no more CHF stamps, but maybe someone will buy it and keep them coming.  Best of luck Richard & Liz!

Bye for now!   Have a great Saturday.

Third Baby

I was at a coffee shop with my sister-in-law, my friend Jen, and all of our babies.  Since I hardly have any pictures of myself, I asked Jen to snap a shot of me and my third baby!  He is an angel.

Through the process of building this layout, I discovered a NEW favourite Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist....are you ready for it.....FROZEN LAKE.   It is a phenomenal colour!!!  Move over Patina, I found a new colour to love.

Here is a close up of the layers under the photo....paper, crocheted lace from Fancy Pants (sprayed with Frozen Lake), some Maya Road ribbon and a honkin' Prima flower. 

The scallops are actually a circle stamp by UNITY Stamp Co. (LeChic Vintage Kit), as well as the journaling blocks to the left.

This nice polka dot paper is My Mind's Eye and it is felt!  So soft to touch, don't know why you ever would, but what the hay!  The flower paper is KaiserCraft and the letters are American Crafts.  I am just loving how I am using up STASH that has been lying around for eons!

And more of the same.  ;)  You can see a close up of my little handsome baby.

Have a wonderful weekend!

SCRAPBOOK STAR'S SUMMER CAMP

I have to tell you about the Summer Camp that just started at Scrapbook Star....and the good news is, it won't cost you a thing!  In fact, you could end up winning STUFF!  More STUFF than you already own!  How about that?

Here is the link "SCRAPBOOK STAR SUMMER CAMP".  Anyone can join in.  I believe MOST of the challenges have RAKs from the design team members and there are some pretty awesome BIG prizes to be won at the end of camp.

And since I love to share pictures of my creations....here is a LOOT BAG idea for a princess party.  Instead of Dollar Store stuff, I went and bought nice hair clips and fancy elastics, some candies, and girly smelling chap stick and filled these little Chinese food boxes.  I die cut hearts and embossed red powder onto the smaller one.  The girls LOVED these little presents, especially because it came with a tiara.  :) 

Bye for now....

Color Combos Galore #149

A new color palette has been revealed today at Color Combos Galore and it is YUMMY, I could eat it!  Literally, it's a cupcake photo.  Now I want to go make some.  But it is CANADA DAY and we are off very soon to go see fireworks by the lake!  Yay!!!

Here is my take on the color palette:

And here is the color palette itself. Click here to go to the site and see all the DT takes on the colors and then play yourself!

Here is a close up of my Basic Grey stamping with pink Staz-on onto a clear acrylic sheet.  I love this result,so soft and airy and SEE THROUGH.

Don't you love Prima.  I wish I was a millionaire, I would just stack up for 10 years!  And they just keep coming out with new stuff that calls my name.  That cute bird stamp is from UNITY Stamp Co.  I paper pieced it and colored it with a Copic marker.

Here is a Tattered Angels frame, misted with Glimmer Mist and chalk ink applied to make the embossed part stand out.  The UNIQUE is also a UNITY stamp.

Hope that you can find some time this week to play along!

Simply Renee and The Bride (Me)

So - I got a phone call from a very lovely woman named Renee and she was SO nice to ask me to be a part of her Design Team at Simply Renee!  I am so excited as I have long admired their organizational products and I am in desperate need of them as I build my new craft space!  

Congrats to the other gals, I look forward to seeing all your work in the upcoming months.

In other news, I have a new tutorial up today on Altering Kraft Envelopes....click here to travel to my other blog.

Candy Shoppe Designs has another challenge this month and they gave us permission to do what we wanted!  I LOVE this challenge!  People have a chance to win a kit from Color Me Miki.  I created this layout using tons of fun supplies that I scavenged here and there all over my scrap room.  And the inspiration was my NEW Crop-a-Dile BIG BITE.  I first created the lace-up and then it could only suit one subject - a wedding!  I have rarely scrapped about my wedding day, so here goes The Bride.

There is that lovely lace!

The lovely lace AGAIN and the Tattered Angels frames, a fave product of mine.

Bye for now - stay tuned for a tutorial based on this layout over at Color Combos Galore.

SCHOOL IS OUT!

Today was the last day of school for my kids and before we head out to Dairy Queen to celebrate, I thought I would show these journals that I made for the teachers.  These were made with spiral bound note books I found at HomeSense.  I painted around the edges and applied paper scraps.  I love using this & that supplies to make things come together.  For the left one, I used My Mind's Eye paper and American Crafts letters, a BIG Prima flower and some Maya Road Ribbon.  The journal in the middle is Webster's Pages paper, Prima felt, and pearl stud, American Crafts letters, and Stickles.  The journal on the right was made with Kaisercraft paper, and Webster's Pages paper, Prima Felt, and a Silhouette cut victorian chair.

And here are their Teacher's Cards.  The stamps are Making the Grade from Cornish Heritage Farms.

Have a great day!

Getting Messy - Falling Back Into OLD Habits!

I can't seem to self edit!!!  I know there is a lot going on here - and I couldn't stop myself!  I have a goal this year to create more GUYish layouts. My sons and husband feel a little left out of my scrapbooking just because I am drawn to PINK and FLOWERS.  This layout was created using colors from Palette #12 over at The Color Room.

I really fell in love with this picture for inspiration, although I think I want to take a second stab at it to make an elegant layout, that will match its beauty.  For now though, we have GRUNGE - my old habits of apply way too much ink and distressing.

I loved making these flowers (die cut from the Silhouette).  The paper is Basic Grey.  The GOOD letters are Pink Paislee, and the REALLY is American Crafts.

I adore these Tattered Angels frames - the package comes with so many that I can keep using them on layouts for a good year!  I applied Glimmer Mist, then Distress Ink (Mustard Seed).  The orange ink is Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink with drops of Glimmer Mist applied to make those blots.  The M & S are stamped letters.

Here is another flower, this time, combining in some of that gold paper!  Stickles add a little sparkle to them.

I do hope you'll head on over to either Color Combos Galore or The Color Room to play with awesome color combinations that will stretch your creativity.  I am just loving my new found appreciation for pre-determined color palettes!

BELIEVE in Fairy Tales - Color Combos Galore

Before I begin, I have some AWESOME news to share!  I have been playing at Color Combos Galore NING site for the past month and have been loving the color palettes and challenging myself to use color combinations that would not come naturally to me.  AND since I have been playing along, I got a nice pat on the back and was asked to become part of their amazing Design Team!  I am beyond excited to be a part of it!

Yesterday, a new color palette (#148) was revealed and here is my take:

Here is the Inspiration Board: Designer Challenge - scallops, borders, and trims.

I took some light blue stickles and dressed up the photo a bit to make it more fairy tale like.  Nothing screams fairy tales like SPARKLES!   I stamped the "Once upon a time" stamp from a CHF stamp set that I had designed a couple years ago.  That scallop is Cappella from Basic Grey.

I wanted to keep with the theme of fairy tales and PRINT, so I stamped some script on the lavender cardstock (Unity Stamp Co), and some Vintage Text from CHF on the BELIEVE.  Those cute brads are from The Paper Studio - aren't they adorable?  The flowers are an older set from PRIMA, and I applied some stickles to the leaves.

YEARS ago, I bought some hinges at Lee Valley for projects, and I never used them.  This project called for hinges!  I wanted to create that book feeling even more, so applied this HEAVY hinge, and applied some gold stickles for a nice whimsical effect.

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT weekend!