No new layouts for today. I've been working on a very different "Halloween" page and it has me stumped. It might be finished or it might not. Maybe if I look at it for a couple more days, I'll figure out what to do. I also started putting together a page for Shimelle's 4 Square Challenge...a fun way to use those 6x6 paper pads! Meanwhile, I have a little "Right Now" list for you (courtesy of a fellow blogger). Tell me what YOU are listening to, eating, drinking, thinking or wanting!
listening: to the upstairs A/C compressor humming. Yes, it's going to be hot again today.
eating: cinnamon toast for breakfast.
drinking: orange/pineapple/banana juice
wearing: blue jeans, white T, orange sweatshirt (It was a bit chillier when I brought carpool at 7 am.)
weather: sun's out and it's already 74 degrees.
wanting: a big fat check from the IRS (not going to happen, but it's what I want)
needing: (see above)
thinking: I'd better get busy with those income taxes in case we get something back!
enjoying: having time to create today.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Picture Perfect Day
Ahhh...the beautiful blue waters of Bermuda! Did you know that there's actually a scientific reason that the that these waters are such a pretty deep shade of blue? They appear bluer than the water in many other locales due to the low levels of phytoplankton in the waters surrounding the island. Whatever the reason, it looks so inviting and I really wanted to get those delightful colors onto my page. I tried to do just that in a couple of different ways. First, I lightly sprayed my kraft cardstock background with Glimmer Mist (Lake), a beautiful blue-green color that approximated the ocean hues. Next, I chose various papers in shades of blue or blue print. I cut, inked and layered them on the page, adding a cluster of embellishments and my title. The ocean's colors were picked up perfectly in the paper that is placed directly behind my photo!
What is also amazing and unusual about this day, is that Tommy and I are in the photo together, thanks to whoever took the camera from me and snapped this pic! And that thought brought about the idea of placing a camera embellishment on my page. I found this camera clip art image in the public domain and free for personal use, cut it out with my die-cutting machine, matted it on white paper, cut again by hand and added a little heart. Fun!
Aside from the tiny letter stickers, everything on this page came from the beautiful Be Amazing Kit, one of two March selections from Scraptastic Club!
Supplies: Patterned paper-My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon. Kraft cardstock-Bazzill. Layered stickers-My Mind's Eye. Twine-My Mind's Eye. Chipboard clouds-Studio Calico. Chipboard letter stickers-Jellibean Soup. Tiny letter stickers-Making Memories. Large butterfly- Small butterfly stickers-Studio Calico.
Aside from the tiny letter stickers, everything on this page came from the beautiful Be Amazing Kit, one of two March selections from Scraptastic Club!
Supplies: Patterned paper-My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon. Kraft cardstock-Bazzill. Layered stickers-My Mind's Eye. Twine-My Mind's Eye. Chipboard clouds-Studio Calico. Chipboard letter stickers-Jellibean Soup. Tiny letter stickers-Making Memories. Large butterfly- Small butterfly stickers-Studio Calico.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sand & Sun
The Be Amazing Kit from Scraptastic Club has the most beautiful blue hues, that immediately brought to my mind the clear water of the Florida panhandle and our vacations to the beach. I was thus inspired to pull out this picture of my youngest and his cousin from one such joyous week of relaxation. The two boys are such good buddies now. Their backs are to the camera, but you can see that one is leaning over to talk to the other, probably saying something like "Did you see that wave I caught!" or "Let's go inside and get a snack!" They always have so much to say to each other, and my journaling expresses the desire of mine to be that "fly on the wall" or "crab in the sand", listening in on their conversation.
Two of the white tags from the kit highlight a horizon scene. Don't you just love those chipboard clouds?! The long over-sized banner on the left side of the page holds the title and gives me more room to play. A simply pieced sailboat fills up the spot.
Whenever I scrap pictures of our days at the beach, I begin to dream about our next vacation. Can't wait for those lazy days to be here!
Supplies: Patterned paper-My Mind's Eye, Studio Calico. Cardstock-Bazzill, Chipboard clouds-Studio Calico. Chipboard Letters-Jillibean Soup. Shipping tags-Ranger. Pigment ink-Tsukineko. Twine-My Mind's Eye. Border punch-Martha Stewart.
Two of the white tags from the kit highlight a horizon scene. Don't you just love those chipboard clouds?! The long over-sized banner on the left side of the page holds the title and gives me more room to play. A simply pieced sailboat fills up the spot.
Whenever I scrap pictures of our days at the beach, I begin to dream about our next vacation. Can't wait for those lazy days to be here!
Supplies: Patterned paper-My Mind's Eye, Studio Calico. Cardstock-Bazzill, Chipboard clouds-Studio Calico. Chipboard Letters-Jillibean Soup. Shipping tags-Ranger. Pigment ink-Tsukineko. Twine-My Mind's Eye. Border punch-Martha Stewart.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Be Amazing
Yesterday I wrote about the DIY chevron stamp made from priority box corrugated cardboard. Today, I'm showing off the page created with it, probably my favorite thus far with the Be Amazing Kit from Scraptastic Club.
I love using kraft cardstock as a background, but wanted to liven it up a bit. First it was splattered with a little yellow and black paint, but it needed more. After an unsuccessful search around the house for bubble wrap, I came upon the idea for a chevron design and made my own stamp. Here are the results:
My love for banners continues! Circles cut from the patterned paper were folded in half over the twine and strung across the page twice.
The chipboard letters were sanded down in preparation for an application of paint, but once sanded, I LOVED the look and left them alone. Scanning and printing the boarding pass/tickets accomplished two things. I was able to fiddle with the color and turn the bright Christmas green tickets into ones that better matched the colors of my layout. And now that they are printed on acid-free paper, they are archival and safe for my scrapbook.
Thanks for looking!
I love using kraft cardstock as a background, but wanted to liven it up a bit. First it was splattered with a little yellow and black paint, but it needed more. After an unsuccessful search around the house for bubble wrap, I came upon the idea for a chevron design and made my own stamp. Here are the results:
My love for banners continues! Circles cut from the patterned paper were folded in half over the twine and strung across the page twice.
The chipboard letters were sanded down in preparation for an application of paint, but once sanded, I LOVED the look and left them alone. Scanning and printing the boarding pass/tickets accomplished two things. I was able to fiddle with the color and turn the bright Christmas green tickets into ones that better matched the colors of my layout. And now that they are printed on acid-free paper, they are archival and safe for my scrapbook.
Thanks for looking!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
DIY Chevron Stamp
Chevrons are everywhere these days! Did you know you can make your very own chevron stamp to use with acrylic paint? When I needed a little something to add interest to my kraft background paper, I originally went looking for bubble wrap, but when I couldn't find it, the chevron stamp idea was born.
A recent Scraptastic kit came in the priority box that was sitting right beside my workspace. I tore off one flap and peeled back the inside layer of paper to reveal the corrugated surface underneath. Oh yeah...that would be perfect!
Using a trimmer, I cut two pieces from the flap at opposite angles and trimmed them to the same length with my scissors. Placed together, glued to a separate sheet of cardboard, they would form my "stamp". A loop of paper adhered to the top would make lifting the painted stamp off the paper that I was stamping a bit easier...with less mess to my fingers...and less likely to be dropped back onto my page in an unwanted position!
To use, brush a generous amount of acrylic paint onto the stamp and press onto your background paper. Repeat as desired. Here's how it looks on my practice piece of cardstock:
Obviously, these "stamps" can't be washed off. When finished, dab excess onto a paper towel and let the remaining paint dry on the cardboard. It might be good for a couple of uses, but we know where to find more of the raw materials used to make another. Stay tuned for a look at my finished page in tomorrow's post!
A recent Scraptastic kit came in the priority box that was sitting right beside my workspace. I tore off one flap and peeled back the inside layer of paper to reveal the corrugated surface underneath. Oh yeah...that would be perfect!
Using a trimmer, I cut two pieces from the flap at opposite angles and trimmed them to the same length with my scissors. Placed together, glued to a separate sheet of cardboard, they would form my "stamp". A loop of paper adhered to the top would make lifting the painted stamp off the paper that I was stamping a bit easier...with less mess to my fingers...and less likely to be dropped back onto my page in an unwanted position!
To use, brush a generous amount of acrylic paint onto the stamp and press onto your background paper. Repeat as desired. Here's how it looks on my practice piece of cardstock:
Obviously, these "stamps" can't be washed off. When finished, dab excess onto a paper towel and let the remaining paint dry on the cardboard. It might be good for a couple of uses, but we know where to find more of the raw materials used to make another. Stay tuned for a look at my finished page in tomorrow's post!
Friday, March 2, 2012
School Dance Photos
Why don't I scrap these dance pics more often? I usually send the kids off with money for the picture package taken AT the dance...and I ALWAYS try to get a photo BEFORE the dance, but then they sit in envelopes. This photo of Brendan with his date is a favorite of mine and yet it's been drifting around my scrap desk for a couple of years! I came across it again this week and was determined to get it in an album. I picked up some of my favorite things to add to the page, and hoped I did it justice.
Thanks to Denise for the gorgeous lace and pretty buttons. They were perfect accents for my page!
Supplies: Patterned paper-BasicGrey (Picadilly and Out of Print), Collage Press, and October Afternoon. Tag-Daisy D. Chipboard letter stickers-American Crafts, Ephemera pieces-7 gypsies, My Mind's Eye. Other-lace, buttons, envelope, corner rounder and border punch.
Thanks to Denise for the gorgeous lace and pretty buttons. They were perfect accents for my page!
Supplies: Patterned paper-BasicGrey (Picadilly and Out of Print), Collage Press, and October Afternoon. Tag-Daisy D. Chipboard letter stickers-American Crafts, Ephemera pieces-7 gypsies, My Mind's Eye. Other-lace, buttons, envelope, corner rounder and border punch.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
My Dad
Hi everyone! Today I’d like to share my first project with Scraptastic Club's Be Amazing Kit, along with a couple of techniques that I used in its creation. The photo was taken a few months ago at my niece's wedding. It's a sweet picture, my dad with his spiffy suspenders and boutonniere, so I wanted to do something special.
First off, I was thrilled to see 2 sheets of Kraft cardstock included with this kit. A favorite product of mine, it makes a great background paper, combining easily with just about any color scheme. BUT, I thought I’d do something different with one of the sheets, and cut a few shapes...birds and leaves, elements that would work well for the page(s) I was planning.
The swallow image is a free printable from the Graphics Fairy. The birds on a line are a free download from Michelle. Free Honeycomb svg file can be found on Heather's blog, Miracles Momma Designs. (Source info for the leaf cluster is unavailable.)
NOTE: You don’t have to own a die-cutting machine to make use of these images. Simply print in draft mode (or using a light color of ink) in reverse on the kraft cardstock, cut out with scissors, then flip for use on your project.
After cutting out my images I inked them all over with Nick Bantock Van Dyke Brown and a Tim Holtz blending pad. This helped them contrast with the My Mind’s Eye Kraft Unique patterned paper. Here’s my before, after, and how they look with the patterned paper. Sweet!
You will notice on the finished page that I rethought the swallows, deciding to print them on the grey/white houndstooth pattern, ink, and pop-dot them on top of the kraft for added dimension… like the layered stickers that came with the kit! Yep…I like that much better.
Fiber Flowers: Here’s a fun little technique for making flowers out of baker's twine. Cut out small circles from adhesive backed paper. (I recycled the leftover packaging from the kit’s Follow Your Heart layered stickers.) Wind twine from the center out, until the entire circle is filled. Add a little additional liquid adhesive to secure the end and voila!
Check back later for more Be Amazing kit layouts. TFL!
First off, I was thrilled to see 2 sheets of Kraft cardstock included with this kit. A favorite product of mine, it makes a great background paper, combining easily with just about any color scheme. BUT, I thought I’d do something different with one of the sheets, and cut a few shapes...birds and leaves, elements that would work well for the page(s) I was planning.
The swallow image is a free printable from the Graphics Fairy. The birds on a line are a free download from Michelle. Free Honeycomb svg file can be found on Heather's blog, Miracles Momma Designs. (Source info for the leaf cluster is unavailable.)
NOTE: You don’t have to own a die-cutting machine to make use of these images. Simply print in draft mode (or using a light color of ink) in reverse on the kraft cardstock, cut out with scissors, then flip for use on your project.
After cutting out my images I inked them all over with Nick Bantock Van Dyke Brown and a Tim Holtz blending pad. This helped them contrast with the My Mind’s Eye Kraft Unique patterned paper. Here’s my before, after, and how they look with the patterned paper. Sweet!
You will notice on the finished page that I rethought the swallows, deciding to print them on the grey/white houndstooth pattern, ink, and pop-dot them on top of the kraft for added dimension… like the layered stickers that came with the kit! Yep…I like that much better.
Fiber Flowers: Here’s a fun little technique for making flowers out of baker's twine. Cut out small circles from adhesive backed paper. (I recycled the leftover packaging from the kit’s Follow Your Heart layered stickers.) Wind twine from the center out, until the entire circle is filled. Add a little additional liquid adhesive to secure the end and voila!
Check back later for more Be Amazing kit layouts. TFL!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)