Card Making Weekend

Two weekends ago I made a bunch of cards for Cards for Soldiers. This is always a fun thing to do as I can be a little wilder with the cards - it is okay if they have a different personallity then me - I'm not sending them. :)

Here are my creations:

Products:

• Dotted Swiss Cardstock - black
• Lt-green cardstock
• American Crafts patterned paper - both yellow and pink
• Med button - Drk green
• American Crafts Rhinestones - Lt-green
• Butterfly - handmade from patterned paper (October Afternoon, Night Light: Charles), Sharpie Paint-Pen - Silver, and silver 32 gauge wire
• Signo pen - white

Products:

• Dr-Navy cardstock
• Lt-Pink cardstock
• Raw cardboard-colored cardstock - Fiskers Star punch
• American Crafts patterned paper (pink)
• 7 random buttons (Dr-blue and red/pink in color)
• Butterfly - handmade from patterned paper (October Afternoon, Night Light: Charles), Sharpie Paint-Pen - Silver, and silver 32 gauge wire
• American Crafts, Holiday House felt shape
  
• American Crafts Flair Character - Question
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black

Products:

• Lt-blue cardstock
• Bazzil silver cardstock
• 2" orange lace ribbon
• Staple
• Handmade paper ribbon - Orange/Silver
• Rhinestones
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black

Products:

• Green cardstock
• Gray cardstock
• Raw cardboard-colored cardstock - Fiskers Star punch
• 5 1/2" each: yellow ribbon, navy sm ribbon, brown ribbon
• 2" navy sm ribbon
• 2 stables
• Navy/star patterned paper (unknown manufacturer)
• Raindrops
• Flourish stamp - unknown manufacture
• Stays-on ink - drk brown
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black

Products:

• Black cardstock
• Drk-red cardstock
• Lt-blue cardstock
• DCWV Tahiti Stack patterned paper
• Fiskers Star punch
• Lrg yellow ribbon
• Sm orange ribbon
• Red button
• Yellow button
• Lt-blue button brads
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black

Products:

• Blue cardstock
• Drk-purple cardstock
• Rhinestones - purple
• Lace ribbon - white
• Unknown manufacturer patterned paper
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black

Products:

• Blue cardstock
• Lt-blue cardstock
• Green coordinations cardstock
• Unknown manufacture green patterned paper
• Lrg blue ribbon
• Lrg green button
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black

Products:

• Blue cardstock
• Drk-purple cardstock
• Yellow cardstock
• Red cardstock
• Fiskers star Punch
• Unknown manufacturer patterned paper
• Rhinestones - purple
• Sm orange ribbon

Products:

• Blue cardstock
• Dotted Swiss Cardstock - black
• Lt pink cardstock
• Lace ribbon - white
• Rhinestones - pink
• American Crafts patterned paper (pink)
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black

Challenge to the Power of Two

I've gone for a challenge to the power to two this weekend with my layout!

1st power: The Page Maps Blog BasicGrey Double Header Sketch Contest - which inspires the layout with this sketch. I just love Becky Fleck's Page Maps -- I use the site ALL THE TIME! It's fun to actually do a contest with one of her layouts.

2nd power: This is a Fave Color Color Combo Challenge from the Design Dollies Blog with inspiration from the following three colors: TURQUOISE, WHITE, and LIME GREEN.

I just love these colors and didn't have a problem at all working with them.

I think the layout turned out quite nice!

Products:

• Making Memories, Embellishment Paper, Funky Vintage ~ Ruby Collection 6"x6" pack
• Fancy Pants Transparencies, Vertical Jump
• Creative Imaginations, Narratives by Keran Russell
• American Crafts, Thickers, Daiquiri, white
• Turquoise cardstock
• White cardstock
• Lime green cardstock
• Zig Calligraphy pen - black
• Sm-rick-rack ribbon - black
• Lt-green pom-pom ribbon

Mojo Monday Week 122 Challenge

Here is a fun card I put together for the Mojo Monday Week 122 Challenge.

I decided to have a bit of an Asian feel to the card. Also, I used two contrasting colors - purple and yellow. I think it came up pretty nice. :D

Here is a image of the original sketch that inspired this creation.

Products:

• DCWV The Far East - 8"x8" stack
• Black cardstock
• Yellow-gold cardstock
• Silver cardstock
• NRN Designs Vellum Stickers, Asian Text and Coins
• American Crafts, MiniMarks - Salutations Phrases Multi
• Zig Calligraphy pen - black
• Matt-silver mini brad
• Lt-purple small ribbon

Challenge, Challenge, Challenge!

This weekend I decided to take on three different challenges from three different blog sites!

1st: American Crafts MiniMarks Week Challenge. I actually used 3 different MiniMarks and actually several other American Crafts products!

2nd: Creative Scrappers blog Sketch # 86 Challenge. This was a fun sketch to work with. I was even able to work in the paint splatter at the top right of the layout.

3rd: Challenge Seven from the Lets Get Shabby blog, with some Summer Influence. The paper creation needs to be inspired by this image:

I decided to use the color combos on the image and also took a little inspiration from the summer feel.

Products:

• My Minds Eye, Breaking Free Collection
  
• October Afternoon, Night Light: Charles
• Bo-Bunny Press, Summer Cottage Flourish
• Drk-brown cardstock
• White cardstock
• American Crafts, Thickers, Chit Chat, Puffy, white
• American Crafts, MiniMarks - Summer (promotional book)
• American Crafts, MiniMarks - Calendar Kit, Ned Jr - Black
• American Crafts, MiniMarks - Ned Jr - Black
• American Crafts, Holiday House - Chipboard Summer
• Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist - Pearl
• Lt-green acrylic paint
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Chocolate

Design Dollies Triple Threat Challenge

I decided to take on a Design Dollies Triple Threat Challenge - so, this means I used three of the Design Dollies three different challenge and combined them all into one layout -- whew!

This weeks challenges included:

1. Sketchiness Sketch - okay I think I got this one down!
   
   
2. Color Challenge - FUSCHIA AND PALE YELLOW! - I think i did pretty good!! Yeah, even thought I think fuschia is a little too close to pink for Rebeca ;) .
   
   
3. Your most wintry project yet! - Well, I think I might be able to queeze by with this one -- the layout is about my "winter eyes" and also has small fuschia snowflakes on it. I'll totally understand if I miss out on this third piece however.

Products:

• Memory Box Flirt Collection, Buttons
• DCWV Taj Mahal Stack
• My Minds Eye, Breaking Free Collection
  
• Lt-yellow cardstock
• Drk-blue cardstock
• Fuschia cardstock
• Snowflake brads and eyelets from the Eyelet Outlet
• Various flowers
• 24 gauge gold wire
• Queen & Co Felt Fusion
• Sm Fuschia ribbon
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - black
• American Crafts - Puffy Rainboots - Daisy

XOXO Girls Challenge #1

Another challenge - this time I took on the XOXO Girls Blog Challenge #1.

This is my take on the layout by XOXO Girl Lynnette Davis.

I decided to do several layers for this layout - yellow cardstock, drk-brown cardstock on top, then the patterned paper, then I started to layer the photo, ribbons/fibers, etc. This image of my cat "Skitty-Kitty" I felt really showed his beautiful yellow eyes. I wanted to bring that color out even more in this photo with the highlights of yellow.

I didn't want to make the photo too "heavy" with a large mat so I just sanded the edges of the photo to give a think white outline, then I took brown paint and did a quick faux frame on the left side of the photo. Some people might not even notice it, but it brings emphasis to the main photo.

I roughed up the drk-brown cardstock quite a bit on this layout - first with distressing (literally ripping the paper edge) then with distress inking the paper before layering on the pattered paper.

The strip of Provo Craft handmade paper (the drk-brown almost brick pattern behind the photo) is actually flocked. Between flocked paper, dew-drop pebbles, and the fiber on the page - you just want to reach out and touch it!

Here is a bit more detail for the Tim Holtz Grungeboard hinges:

Product used:

• Drk-brown cardstock
• Yellow cardstock
• Cosmo Cricket, Haunted: Ominous
• Provo Crafts, Handmade Paper
• KI Memories Alphabet Soup Acrylic letters - Mac-n-Cheese
• Tim Holtz Grungeboard, plain elements
• The Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Cowboy
• Ranger, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Vintage Photo
• 24 gauge gold wire
• Mini brads, gold mat
• Lace, off white
• Fiber, drk-brown
• Ribbon, yellow
• Zig Calligraphy Pen, Black
• Kaiser Colour, Crafters Acrylic paint, Raw Umber

Here is Lynnette's original layout:

1.07 Sketchy Thursday Challenge

This layout is for the 1.07 Sketchy Thursday layout challenge. I think this came out pretty good. I really like the colors and how they compliment the image.

Here is a little more detail of the Tim Holtz grungeboard inked and a little distressed.

Products/Tools used:

• Lt-Green cardstock
• Black cardstock
• Drk-Green Swiss-Dot cardstock
• Zig Calligraphy pen - black
• Zig Writer Chalk Collection pen - white
• Color Box Cat's Eye ink pad - copper
• Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
• American Crafts Thickers - Patchwork, fabric
• Wild Asparagus patterned paper - "Mother" striped
  
• Sandylion - Fine Designs, Rougte De Garance Inspirations precision cut cardstock paper - "Love in Bloom"
• Tim HoltzGrungeboard, plain elements
• Strip of lace
  

Here is the original sketch:

Sketchy Thursdays - Second Chance Challenge Card

I've recently joined a new Flickr group and started following a blog for Sketchy Thursdays. Here is my card creation for the Second Chance Challenge Card sketch.

My version of this pretty sketch:


Products used:

• Black cardstock
• Lt-Blue cardstock
• Blue Swiss-Dott cardstock
  
• Pink Paislee, Vintage Moon Collection, Moon Glade pattered paper
• Quartet Cork Craft Sheets
• Starform Stickers - small silver butterflies
  
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black
• 32 Gauge silver wire
  

Original Sketch:

Wired!

Oh I'm wired! This is a pretty basic layout -- except -- did you see!? The Wire!? I actually added this wire on the advice of a fellow cropper buddy. Why? Well, because my silly letter would not stay stuck! HAHA! I'm not kidding. These acrylic letters would not seem to stay put when traditional liquid glue. I didn't want to use glue dots because I felt that the dots would show too much. So, when in doubt -- use wire! I actually really like the added touch to the layout. Here is a close up.


Also, I've decide that I'm going to try and start listing all the products - or at least those of note - in the blog. I hope this will help with any layouts that I want to submit to challenges or for those reading to know what materials I used.

Products/Tools:

• Blue pattered paper - DCWV, Tahiti Beach Stack
• Drk-brown dotted pattered paper - My Minds Eye, Breaking Free Collection
  
• Brown-rusty colored pattered paper - Dream Street Papers LLC, Remember The Moments - Christian
• Cardstock - WorldWin Papers - Double Mates
• Circles cut with EK Success 1 1/2 " circle punch
• Random ribon
• Unknown acrylic alpha
• Gold 24 gauge wire
• Zig Memory System - Calligraphy - Chocolate pen
  

4 of us

I really really like this layout! Not only is it featuring my favorite subject (my family) but it also have gorgeous colors, butterflies, and I think it just looks stunning! I hand cut the butterfly patterned paper (some paper I'd been saving from S.E.I.- Bridgeport collection) to shape, then cut it to flow onto and off the page. The rest of the layout just came together after that. With B&W photos it is so easy to really focus on the layout color combos. In this case - sea foam green, charcoal, black, and off-white. The butterfly papered paper had a slight sheen to it, so I followed that when I choose my buttons to add to the layout. Also, did you see my little birdie? How cute, right?! I just couldn't help myself -- I've had some flocked lace type ribbon for some time with these little birds and flowers -- I trimmed the birds and flowers off to use just a strip down the page. But, I decided last minute to add just one little birdie. The title of course is using my favorite letters -- American Craft Thickers -- two different fonts and mediums. I just love mixing these up for my titles.

Vroom Vroom

This layout is definitely inspired by a little fun side of me. I don't get to do very many whimsical layouts since I don't have kids, but, I do have young family members and some sometimes silly adults! Thus this "vroom vroom" layout came to be. Who doesn't love Go-Carts! I got to use some of my masses of ribbon on the layout - fun stapling (although I hid the staples with more ribbon on top) to create a pleated ribbon look. Additionally, I was please to use up some of the road trip candied brads - "nice ride" and "lets GO!" The color combo is okay. I think the purple background paper is getting a little too close to a color I don't like - it's like the other other pink. Arge I hate pink...

{beka}

Ever have way too many flowers? A need to use up some of my flowers was definitely what inspired this layout (a perfect dozen in total were used on this layout). I think it came out pretty nice. I also use a lot of different techniques and tools on this layout -- Glimmer Mist is used on the lace paper toward the lower left hand corner, Stickles are used on the flower, flower centers, and to create a few flourishes around the flowers. Tearing/distressing of the main patterned paper is also used -- this is a lot of fun if you haven't tried it before. Also, you don't need those expensive tools everyone wants you to buy -- seriously you're taring paper. I just use the junction of my scissors and a little old fashion elbow grease for the tiny tares.

Oh, and the butterfly is very fun! It is made from a chipboard cutout of a butterfly which I painted and then added a butterfly sticker (applied to green velum) over the top and adhered with three brads for the "body" of the butterfly. I left the wings of the stickers slightly folded up to create the taking flight effect.

Yummy!

I'm still working through the images I took for the holidays. Here is another layout for the sugar cookie making -- and eating! This layout is pretty basic with lots of layers of paper to give the depth to it. My scrap buddy for the day mentioned she would never have thought to add orange to the color combo ... I kind of think of orange when ever I want to add a pop! Especially when working with any blues (as it is the contrasting color). This layout also allowed me to use up more of my millions of stickers that I have - yeah stickers.

Family Fun Layout

This "family fun" layout is actually quite similar to another layout I recently did of some pumpkin carving photos. Both layouts are based off of the same sketch. On this one I think the colors are wonderful (some of my favorite ones to do together).

I've added in some faux stitching to frame up the photos. One of these days I'll invest in a actual sewing machine instead of faux or hand stitching.

I used a library book card for the journaling on the layout... that was fun! I keep seeing people use the strangest of things - completely unrelated to the subject of the layout - as journaling or embellishments. I have had a whole stack of these card sitting around for a while and I think it works out well. Next time I think I'll try to include the little envelope sleeve I have for them to go into (wrong color for this layout so I left it off). Finally, I used stickers on the layout as well. I rarely use stickers because they are usually too, well, sticker-ish looking usually. But, these stickers you can barely see! YEAH!

Well, my winter holiday is just about over, I think this may be the last layout I get done before heading back to work. I'm actually excited to get back to work... I love my work!

Hopefully I can squeeze in a few more layouts -- and post them to the blog - if not, the next time I post may be after a crop night with the Meetup Group.

Cheers!

Carving Pumpkins

Well, I can't decide if this layout is done or not. I think it's starting to get a little too busy but I just feel like it might be missing something still. I used quite a few dimensional foam dots/squares on this layout to pop-up all sorts of pumpkins. I also decided to try and and use a little paint on the layout. This may have been a mistake as I didn't exactly fall in love with the result. But, with paint there really isn't any turning back... so it says unless I want to reprint and rip up half the layout -- I don't think so!

Let the Monkey Win

A little travel tip - #37:

Let the monkey win! HA HA

Well, I decided to go ahead and scrap this funny moment.

The layout has hidden journaling again as I did on another recent layout with images from my India 2008 trip. I also used glimmer mist on this layout -- but after looking at the completed project I covered most of it up! I doubt most people would even notice it. This product if fun, but I still struggle sometimes in the best way to use it. Of course I mixed up my Thickers title. I just love doing this to give the page a little more of a whimsical feel to it. I read somewhere that if you see a movie poster with a mixed color and font title -- you know it is a romantic chic flick. Maybe all my layouts are too!

On Pins and Needles!

I've been seeing a little trend lately where people are using decorative pins (usually close to a hat pin) on layout and cards. Well, I've been keeping an eye out for some in my local craft stores - both in the scrapbooking area and out. But when I find these fun pins they are just way to expensive or just not what I want for my layouts. Well, when I can't find something I want I usually go straight to the internet and get it there! However, I decided this was something I might actually be able to make easily and get exactly what I wanted. So I did! I made about a dozen of the "pins" by cracking out my stash of pretty glass beads and -- here is the fun part -- my jewelry supplies, specifically the head pins. Usually, these are used when making earrings... but I found they are pretty perfect for these little babies too! Quick instructions for anyone that wants to try -- you'll also need a strong wet glue (I used Diamond Glaze) and a foam to stick the pins in. I just coated the end of the head pin with glue, slid the bead on (some I did two beads to make little flowers!) and then suspend upside down by poking into the foam and hanging this off the edge of a surface. I let mine dry over night and bam! My own personal pins for crafting.

I used my first two on another layout for the various Christmas 2009 pictures. They are a small addition to the left of the page title. I think it looks pretty nice.