Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Oops, almost missed getting this one up in time... I have a backlog of layouts to share and not enough time to blog. Somedays, the blog post creating feels like it takes longer than the creating of the layout.

Pennants, per the twist! I mixed and matched some of the Basic Grey collections older and new and threw in some other goodies for good measure.

I did up the brown paper with a Julie Fei Fan Balazar stamp by stamping at various angles for some added interest. A sublte effect that you may not notice unless you saw the close up or knew the paper line really well.

This silly cat LOVES herself a box! I can't get pictures of it because she's too black and too fast (nor is the camera ever in the right place at the right time) but her favorite boxes are Nikolas' Lego boxes. Now, she's not a big cat... But she's definitely bigger than the Lego box!!

I think the new Studio Calico wood veneers might look good on this layout... Need to order some of those.

Another tutorial?! Yup, you saw that correctly! Two tutorials in a week!! Imaginisce is has been featuring the iTop for the past week and a half and it's my turn up on the blog today. Today's fun activity is using the iTop to make a tulle and fabric covered button to glam up a felt flower. Doesn't have to go on a headband, could be a brooch, a bag decoration, you name it!

Supplies needed:

Felt Squares

Template (available at end of tutorial)

Fabric

Tulle

Fabric Scissors

Needle

Thread

iTop and medium button templates

Medium Button

1 3/4 inch Circle Punch

iBond

1. Using the petal template, cut out five petals from a felt square.

2. Using
either the inner circle of the iTop sizing template (for a medium
button) or a 1 3/4 inch circle punch to create a template, cut out (a.) a
contrasting color felt to create the flower center, (b.) coordinating
fabric and (c.) tulle.

3. Using your fabric scissors, snip around the outer edge of the flower center

4. Pinch
the end of each of the petals at the base to create a gathered effect
and secure with a few stitches. Assemble the flower by sewing all the
petals together at the base. Sew the flower center in position.

5. Assemble
into the "cup" of the iTop the following in order from bottom to top;
tulle, fabric, button top. Complete button making process.

Monday, 25 February 2013

Sigh... I wish I were somewhere warm right now. With sand between my toes, the hot sun beating down... A drink with an umbrella side me as I watch the kids splash in the waves...

This layout is the closest I'm going to get to that today!! The sun is shining here in Virignia but it ain't that warm!! And, there isn't a fleck of sand about. Thank goodness... The days of having half the sand pit come home in somebody's socks and shoes are behind us.

When this Sand & Surf collection by Bella Blvd was released I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!! With two swimmers, that wave patterned paper is going to feature highly in my scrappy diet!! Check out that little pudgy bottom!! All that toddler chub, and an innocent, adorable sassiness.

Lots of fussy cutting on this layout! Layers and layers of waves! I love those little sandcastles. I almost covered them in distress Stickles but am glad that I didn't.

Love the chipboard and coordinating stickers that accompany this collection!

Imaginisce's iBond is the deal of the day over at Scrapbook Steals. What is an iBond you ask? Well, it is a CORDLESS hot glue gun! You know when you are working on a project how incredibly annoying it is to work around the cord? Well fret no more! The iBond is your solution!

You can create your own stencils using the iBond! They are amazing to use on layouts and in art journals!

1. Gather
your supplies

- iBond hot glue gun

- iBond glue sticks

- wax paper

2. Turn on
iBond and allow it to warm up, approximately 2 minutes.

3. Draw out
letters (or shapes) using the iBond onto wax paper. I had a layout in mind so
used the word "Dad" underneath the wax paper to trace. Enjoy the
freedom of moving the iBond around and NOT being tethered to the cord!!

4. Once the
word/shape has cooled, carefully peel it from the wax paper.

NOTE: if you would like a "cleaner" look for your
stencil, gently mist with water and you can remove the wax paper residue. As I
was going for a grungier look, I was happy with mine as is.

5. Lay on
top of the surface you wish to mist and have at it!! I ultimately used two
layers of mist.

6. Step back
and admire your handiwork!!

After relishing in your amazing creativity, set to work and
take it a step further. Like creating that scrapbook layout of the picture of
Dad reading to your daughter…

Or an art journal page! Or a canvas! Hmm… Think of the
possibilities!

I had a blast creating and playing with these stencils! I hope you do too! Let me know what you did with yours, I'd love to see!

Saturday, 23 February 2013

I haven't had a chance to play along over at CSI for a L O N G time now... I love the challenges, I just haven't had the time. But I found some recently and this is what I came up with! It's not often that I scrap pictures of Michael and myself. Partly because there aren't many... But now that I have an iPhone and it has that nifty flip option, there are a few more. Likely even more to come now that I have PhotoBooth (my latest favorite photography app!).

Testimony includes; documenting Valentine's day. Ah hem... More like documenting that we don't celebrate Valentine's Day. I told Michael ages ago that I don't expect flowers or chocolate or anything else on Febuary 14th. Just randonly through out the year!!

Some new Elle's Studio goodness mixed in with a diverse range of manufacturers. It's interesting after you've designed for a manufacturer and use exclusivity for that company how difficult it is to widen the horizons again. I love mixing and matching and creating my own kits for layouts. But I love the design team work and thrill of encouraging people to see how product can be used too! I'm lucky to have the opportunity to do both!

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

I almost feel like I need the Uncle Sam "I Want You" poster with a title like that...

You don't want that, but THIS you do want. I promise you!

I have been on the Creative Scrappers team and designing with these sketches for a few months now and they are AWESOME! Absolutely amazing. A few of the layouts I've created with them have been picked up for publication, feature, etc.. You cannot go wrong with Kristine's sketches. I highly recommend a preorder/purchase. You can head to the site HERE for preorder!

You won't regret it, not for a minute! I promise! It's a worthwhile purchase.

Sunday, 17 February 2013

Another Sunday?!! Seriously?!... Time is zipping by and my term with Creative Scrappers is just zipping along. Another reveal Sunday today and yet another amazing reveal. You have GOT to check out this sketch with speech bubbles by Nicole Nowosad, it's fantastic!

I love this picture of my Nephew from my trip to Paris. When I saw this sketch in my deadline pile, I immediately thought of this picture! The kid talks! And talks! And talks! Perfect for the speech bubbles. I had thought of recording a conversation between the two of us. But other than our teasing banter back and forth about the "r" in Tristan, I couldn't remember a particular conversation... I'm not good at that kind of thing.

I can't resist the bright colors of this collection from Imaginisce! I am such a fan!! I think you might know that by now. I had fun with the tone on tone between the green chevron and the polka dots down at the bottom of the page. For a little added emphasis, I used a pen to add some dots to the chevron.

A little close up of how well the papers coordinate. A Smash label from K&Co also paired up perfectly.

Can't scrap without my Cameo and washi anymore... Love the wood veneer from Studio Calico and was only too happy to find one suitable for this project.

I hope you had a smashing weekend! We have! Smashed some PB's at the pool and have added more state champ events to our roster. Mia is just churning out amazing results in the pool despite her proclamation that she doesn't like swimming. Tribe (Nikolas' basketball team) has moved another rung up the ladder despite not having one of their best players; a tribute to the boys' ability to play together and the amazing coaching. Nikolas shot a basket!! He's finding his comfort on the court!

Thursday, 14 February 2013

For the past eight days, Imaginisce has been celebrating love with the collection Love You More. Sara and I hold up the rear with the final projects today. Be sure to check out the blog and see what all the members created if you haven't already. There are some amazing projects.

I am against providing more sugar/candy that the kids aren't allowed to eat and just sits in the cupboard tempting me for this Hallmark holiday... (Yes, a bit of a Grinch I am!) So instead I adorned the soda bottle carrier and the bottles for the kids this year. They aren't allowed soda either so this is a very special treat made even more special with the personal touch from Mum.

The flag banners made the perfect little straw flags. I used circle punches and some of the round letter stickers to decorate the bottle caps. And those adorable little birds instead of cupids on the heart!!

Mia and I repurposed a giant bag of crayons that we had saved away for a rainy day to make Valentine's treats (of the non-edible varitey) for friends. This paper and sticker collection is perfect for goodie bags, don't you think?

A little bit of love for Valetine's day. Here's wishing you and yours a love-ly day!!

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Sigh... This collection from My Mind's Eye, Boy Crazy, makes my heart go pitter, patter! I bought a generous amount of the goodness but I have an order in for more. I did sprinkle in some other goodness too.

Some of the Elle's Studio Valentine's spots worked perfectly with the teal in the vibrant color scheme. I used my pinking shears to fussy cut the "joy" from the patterned paper with the journal spots on it.

I mixed and matched some older My Mind's Eye in with the new; those letter stickers and the photo corner. I love the distress of the Basic Grey paper and gave it an extra touch by daubing the odd touch of teal paint here and there.

Smashing! Some handsome little fellows, don't you think? I can't believe how much these two have grown since I took that picture this past summer... They are really growing into young men. It's amazing! They have grown not only as individuals but as friends too. Fantastic friends. Here's hoping that you too have fantastic friends who are there for you when you need them! ;)

Monday, 11 February 2013

I don't usually partake much in regards to art and therapy. Just the process of creating my art is often therapy enough for me that I don't need to delve into the "topics". I can scrap my kids, my life, my family, our moments and that process is sufficient therapy for me. Not the case in regards to death... Last week, after attening my third memorial service in a month, a dark, grey cloud found it's way smack above me and I couldn't shake it. I created this layout to find a way out. To open a path thus enabling me to travel along that journey of reconciliation. Reconciling life and death and how 3 young, wonderful, good women are now seated in heaven instead of here with their families and friends where I think they ought to be...

Each of the three women in a picture that reflected who they were or how they were "related" to me. Katie, the daughter of my friend and ex-patient Jean. Cathy, the mother of Caleigh, who was my scrapbooking friend and, in many ways, the person who lead me down the design path I walk today. Molly, my Physical Therapy friend who I went to all the dry needling courses with, who shared her love of horses with my daughter.

Cry. Tears. There are lots of tears on this page literally and metaphorically... This card from Jenni Bowlin says it all... The symbolic birds and butterflies are there too.

There is an immense amount of journaling hidden underneath the picture. It is not visible in the main picture, I see now as I look at it, sorry. There are printed copies of exchanges with Jean and Debra, a dear friend of Cathy's, and my own thoughts attached to that "ruler" paper tab that slide under the picture.

Each woman's name and a heart are beside their respective pictures. And why. Why is found multiple times around the page and that is the resounding thought that sits beside the grief and tears...

I don't think I need say more about this page. It speaks for itself...