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Monday, October 29, 2012

Creative Scrappers Sketch #229

As soon as I spotted this sketch, I knew I wanted to use some spray ink. 


 I have had this pattern paper for a while.  Unfortunately, I don't remember who makes it.  Pink Paislee or Fancy Pants Maybe????


I started by cutting out a doily shape from the CTMH Artiste cartridge.  Then mixed up a little Cotton Candy shimmer spray using the Create - A - Shade Pearl paint and re-inker.  Love having 40 shades of shimmer spray at my fingertips without needing to buy bottles of each color.  

After spraying the background paper, there just wasn't enough contrast for my liking, so I outlined the details and sponged a little Cashmere ink on to add a little color contrast.  


I also felt the title banner needed a little texture, so I pulled out a SU embossing folder that reminded me of the plaid pattern paper.  


We couldn't have blank square openings, so quickly stamped some accents to fill them in.  

This was a great sketch to work with.  Love the movement across the page from corner to corner. 

You can find the Creative Scrappers sketch site HERE

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Missed the deadline :(

oops! Looking through my stash of layouts to post, I realized I missed the deadline on this one for the Basic Grey sketch challenge.  Due 10/14, cough, cough.......  Wow! I wasn't even close :)


I pulled out some Dotty For You papers from a few months ago.  The background cardstock was sanded, inked, and stamped to add a little texture. Of course I had to add some faux stitching and pen work.

Products used (all ctmh unless otherwise noted)
Ink: Topiary, Sweet Leaf
Cardstock: Sweet Leaf, Black, White Daisy
Pattern Paper: Dotty For You
Stamp Sets: Artiste bundle set, Little reminder (retired)
Artiste CTMH cricut cartridge
Other: Black Sharpie, CTMH stitching ruler, Sandpaper, cardboard for distressing texture
Alphabet stickers : Prima

We have the first band concert of the year tonight and off to get a sports PE for Emily today.  Cheerleading is starting soon.  This is a first for her, unless you count the one football season when she was 5.  I think this is the only sport she has yet to try, always up for something new, that girl!

Tyler has a girlfriend...... EEEEK!!!  She was over Saturday and Sunday for the better part of the day.  We nearly made her leave when she was rooting for Michigan State during the Michigan / State game Saturday.  By the end of the game, I was actually rooting for State with her.  She and Tyler had a haircut bet riding on the game.  If State won, she was going to give him a haircut.  But, Michigan prevailed with 18 seconds left.

Happy Crafting :)


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Oh My......

I am so sorry for the long lapse in blog postings.  So much has been going on in our lives, something had to go for a while.  Between the CTMH convention, football, the new school year, a new dog, and many other events we have been busy, busy, busy! 

The good news is I do have plenty of pages to share with you over the next few days.  Yee Haw!

This one was inspired by the October sketch over on the once upon a sketch blog. You know me always up for a challenge!


A lot of layering and dimension went into this one.  There is a pullout under the picture to hide some personal journaling.  The picture is of my mom before I came along during a rough time in her life.  I thought the title was very fitting.

Products used: All Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted.
Pattern Paper: Fancy Pants
Cardstock: Sorbet, Gypsy, Colonial White
Stamps: Potential (retired SOTM), A Typeset, Classmate Alpha
Embellishments: Canvas Badge buttons, Flutter paper Shapes, Black & Grey Sparkles
Ink: Saddle, Sorbet, Champagne, Smokey Plum
CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge
Houndstooth Alpha
Other: Black Sharpie, Vintage lace, Floss

Thank you for stopping by, off to mop the floor.  Fun :(

Monday, June 11, 2012

July Workshop Projects sneak peek

I finished up the pages for the Lucy option for July's workshop.  I used the Workshop On The Go layouts for inspiration, but added my own twist on them to fill in some of the white space.  There is lots of Cricut AP cutting on these layouts. Here is a little sneak peek.....


I will have the pages available in person at our workshop on the 15th.  If you would like to do this workshop from afar, the details will be added to the Kits tab soon. 

Now I have to take a minute to brag.  I am so proud of Emily!!!  She received her Argument Essay back today and she was the only student in the entire 7th. grade to get a 100%.  Her teacher asked her if she could keep a copy and use it for the example next year.  The topic she chose was school uniforms, very interesting statistics and studies out there on this topic. 

I Hope to be back tomorrow with a peek at the second Lucy layout. 

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Fish On, ScrapFIT sketch challenge

Yay!  I finally finished the page I have been working on.  This was a fun family outing a couple weeks ago.  Emily was so surprised when she caught a fish.  She decided that the fishing thing isn't so bad after all.

My page was inspired by this sketch challenge over on the ScrapFIT blog .




Papers are from The Paper Loft Hooked on Fishing Line.  To bring attention to the little fish I added some stitched circles around the little guy.  Of course I had to use the AP cartridge for the journaling label.  I don't know how I  scrapped before this cartridge.  I hardly ever use my spellbinders anymore.


I added a little fishing line to my homemade wooden dowel fishing pole with a hook constructed from the spiral wire from a notebook.  Notice Murphy in the background.  He really wanted to have a little fish snack.

Posterboard was my goto alpha for this one.  This is one of my favorite alpha set.  The letters are nice and chunky to give them presence on the page and super easy to handcut because of their size and sharp edges.  Nearly every layer was outlined with my trusty black sharpy to give separation to the layers.

Off to enjoy the day at a cookout and beach with the family!  The temperature is supposed to hit 90 today.  Since we don't have AC, it is the perfect day to head to the lake.

Have a happy Sunday!!!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

It's Stampaganza time!!!!

I have waited and waited for this promotion to come around!  I am not sure when the last time Close To My Heart did this special, I know it has been at least 3 years. 


Drumroll............




Purchase any two stamp sets (sizes A, B, C, D, or E) at full retail price and receive a third stamp set of your choice FREE (of equal or lesser value)—a savings of up to $29.95!
Stamp sets that count toward the qualifying purchase include full-priced A, B, C, D, and E sets only. Stamps that do not count toward a qualifying purchase include customizable (K), Workshops on the Go™, Cricut® collection, and Stamp of the Month (both discounted and full-priced) sets.
Dates: Offer valid June 1 (9:00 am MDT) – June 30 (11:59 pm MD

This is an amazing special!  A perfect time to grab up them stamp sets before the launch of the new catalog in August. 

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A Tough Night Part Two.....

Thank you all for your very kind responses, I surely needed them.  My MIL said this is the "empty nest" feelings becoming a reality.  Things are much better this week. 

Tyler, Zane and I did a lot of talking and have agreed that he would go for 2 weeks then come home for 1 week.  I would never consider this option if I didn't like Bio Dad's girlfriend.  She has a daughter in College and the other will be a senior next year.  We had a long talk mom to mom about my concerns.  She reassured me that Tyler will not have free reign, and that he will have the same curfews and rules she enforces with her girls. The door is open for me to stop by anytime.  I also had a great talk with Tyler about his why's and my concerns.  I didn't sugar coat anything and told him exactly why I am hesitant.  I feel our good heart to heart talk actually made us closer and we both understand each others feelings. 

As the day gets closer for him to go for his extended stay, he keeps making little comments like....  "You know, I was thinking, on the days I don't have to work, maybe I will come home during the day while my dad and Mary are at work".  Then he thought he was going to take the dog, that's a negative.  Last night he said "you know, just because I am going to be there 2 weeks straight, doesn't mean I can't stop by, it's only a couple miles."  

These little comments are all indicators to me that now that this is reality, he is thinking a bit more about it.  I have just been reassuring him that he can come home anytime.  This is his home, he should never feel like he is "visiting".  I also reinforced that just because he is not staying here for a couple weeks at a time, doesn't mean I don't need to know whats going on in his day to day life, not because I don't trust him, but because I care and want to know what he's up to.  It is important to me.  He laughed and said "so I will still be getting them daily calls while your at work?".  I said of course, it's a mom thing, something I just gotta do. 

I will be quite surprised if he stays the entire summer. My gut tells me he will go for a couple weeks, then that's it. Time will tell. 

When we told Emily, her response was....  "If Tyler thinks he is taking the laptop charger for the summer, he has another thing coming" (they share a charger, since one is broken).  Typical teenage sister!  She did say she will miss him, but only because now she will need to let the dog out all the time.  Gotta love her.  I am sure she will miss him more than she thinks.  After all who will she have to argue with?

Holy cow!!! I almost have a page done, just a couple little finishing touches.  Hopefully tomorrow I can wrap it up.  Emily's softball games started today, so we have a few weeks of that consuming our evenings.  Fun times though, wouldn't trade them for the world!

Monday, May 28, 2012

A tough evening......

So as you know, I like to use my blog as a journal as well as a place to share my crafty inspirations.  This post is just because I need to vent, so bear with me. 

I sit here with tears rolling down my face wondering why, why, why?   Tyler came to me this evening and told me he has been thinking, and he wants to go live with his dad for the summer.  I know the answer to the why, and it is so unfair!  I just want to shake him and make him see things clearly, but I can't. 

Backtracking to the beginning....... When Tyler was born, his dad and I agreed that he would pay $35 a week in child support and he would stay with him every other weekend.  We have never gone through the courts and just worked things out between us.  Mind you, I have had to bust my butt to provide everything for my kids.  I have never put up a fuss if his dad didn't pay his child support, sometimes for months on end.  Since I grew up without a dad in my life, it was more important to me that he spend time with Tyler. 

We have always told Tyler that he is "lucky" to have 2 dads.  My husband has been there since he was a baby, loves him and treats him no differently than Emily.  

His bio dad is a decent guy, just very irresponsible and a "weekend dad".  Sometimes he has a job, sometimes he doesn't.   He never calls in between weekends just to say Hi to Tyler or find out or how his week has been.  Heck, on his 16th birthday, he didn't even call until the next day.

On the flipside, when Tyler goes there for the weekend, they do lots of fun things.  So, it's all fun and games while he is there.  His dad doesn't have to teach him responsibility, punish, or any of the other not so fun things that being a parent involves.  That has always been the job of my husband and I.  I have always felt that as Tyler gets older and more mature, he will come to his own conclusions. 

I know it is only 5 miles away, but how do we give the okay for this?  How can we say no?  He is 16 and this is what he wants to do.  Do I put my foot down and cause tension between everyone, possibly have to deal with the courts, only for them to say at 16, he can choose where he wants to live. 

Tyler assures me it is just for the summer, but what if he wants to stay?  How can I possibly come home everyday and he not be here?  I can't be a "weekend mom".  I feel like I have failed, because he wants to leave. 

He is such a good kid, he doesn't drink or do drugs, he has a good head on his shoulders.  How can I let him do this in hopes that he will continue on the straight and narrow?   How can I take the chance?  I feel like his future is riding on this.  I know in my heart I have raised him well, and that I have to trust that the morals instilled will carry him through.  But, he is just 16, such an impressionable age. 

I want to shake Tyler and say, don't you think if he wanted you to live with him, he would have fought me in the courts way back when.  Whenever you are sick, need a ride, need money, or need to talk, who is it you come to?  Its my husband and I.  We have been given the role of the responsible parents, no its not all fun and games, but it is reality.  It is our job to help you become a self sufficient adult, which means we can't always be your "friend". 

I want to scream at his dad and say why?  Why all of a sudden are you okay with this?  He is 16, he needs structure and guidelines which I am afraid you will not enforce.  Oh yeah, and if you think I will continue paying the high insurance premiums, your flipping crazy!  Living with you, you get it all.  The medical bills, the health insurance premium, school clothes, all of it!  I will give you $35 a week if I feel like it and see how far that gets you!

Of course, screaming and shaking will get me nowhere.  So, I won't really do that.  It sure felt good for a minute though. 

Hopefully, I can get a little sleep now.  I hope to have some new crafty inspiration soon, there hasn't been much time for creating over this past week.

Monday, May 21, 2012

June Workshop Projects

It's time for another workshop reveal. 

 If you are attending one of my local workshops in June, we will be working with the Cruisin and Florentine paper lines. 

Muskegon workshop is June 15th at Scrapbook 101, 6pm.  Workshop at my place is June 18th, 5pm.  Supplies must be ordered by June 4th, unless you would like your order to count for hostess club, then that's today.  Of course, you already know that :).

 If you are unable to attend a local workshop but would like to do the projects, you can find the full information and purchase the kits under the workshop kits / events tab at the top.

Florentine Projects


Cruisin' Projects

 
Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Crafty day!!!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Still Around

Hello faithful blog followers,  A quick note saying sorry I haven't had a post in the last few days.  I am nearly finished preparing the projects for June's workshop.  It seems these days, we have been running to Baseball games and band concerts nearly every night of the week.  Spring time is always the busiest time of year for us.

Now, it is 1:22 am and I really do not want to go to bed.   Simply because when I wake up, my son will be 16! YIKES!!!  In my mind the new day hasn't started until I sleep, so he is still 15.   HaHa!   I only bought 15 balloons too.  I am going to number them all, then hang a sign that says "Sorry, I am just not ready for 16, so you only get 15 balloons.  Actually the ones I bought only come 15 to a pack and I was to cheap to buy 2 packages for 1 balloon.  So, I had to get a little creative as to why he was shorted one balloon, you know in case at 16 he is concerned about that sort of thing. 

Anyways blog friends, I should really head off to bed, have a wonderful day :).

Friday, May 11, 2012

Stock Your Stash Card Workshop


Spring into Summer with this 50 card workshop kit
only available until May 31st or until the Dotty For You paper packet sells out, whichever happens first.

Depending on the option you choose, you will have nearly everything except basic tools to make 50 cards including envelopes.

There are 16 designs - 3 cards each, and 2 bonus surprise cards revealed when you receive your workshop guide.  That's only $1.30 a card, plus you will have left over paper and 3 stamp sets for other projects.
The workshop guide is full color, includes cutting diagrams for each paper, layout sketch and picture for each card, and assembly instructions. The cards are all 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.



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 What you get with the Main kit - $65.00
    There are 2 options for your workshop guide.  
    • Email - within 3 days of purchasing your workshop I will email you the full guide in Pdf. format
    • Hard Copy - If you would like me to print and mail you a color copy, the cost is just $3 to cover printing and postage. 
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    Main Kit + Ink Add on - $99.00

     

    The colors of the Paradise twine match perfectly with the Dotty For You papers.  Use the twine to add a little extra flair to your cards. 
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    The Whole Kit and Caboodle - $188.00

    Tired of hand cutting your stamped images?  Many of the Close To My Heart stamp sets coordinate with the Art Philosophy cartridge, including the Hooray Bouquet set used in the cards.



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    Consultant option - $21.00

    This option is only available to Close To My Heart Consultants.  You will receive the 50 pack of card bases and envelopes and workshop guide.
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    Get Your Kit




    Dotty for You Card Kit with Email Guide







    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 


    FAQ

    How will I receive my supplies? - The items will be shipped directly to you from Close To My Heart.  To save on shipping and keep your cost down, they will be shipped by Fed Ex Smart post.  Depending on where you live, it generally takes 1 to 2 weeks for delivery.

    I already have some of the supplies, can I substitute items? - No problem!  You are welcome to swap out an item for another item that is the same price.  Just browse the idea book on my Close To My Heart website, and include a message with your payment indicating which items you would like to swap out. 

    I would like to order additional items, can I do this and get the card kit? - Absolutely!  Just send me an email at angiehighland@gmail.com with what items you would like and I will send you an updated total.  You can also order the above items on my CTMH website and email me with the email or address you would like your guide sent to. (You will not be able to get the free ink pads or baker's twine unless I place the order).

    I am in the Hostess club, can I purchase the kit for my purchase this month? - Of course! Any purchase of $20 meets the minimum you need to move up on the list. 

    I received my kit and have a question, what do I do? - Just send me an email and I will answer any questions you have. 

    I am a consultant, can I use the designs / guides for my own workshop? - Yes, all I ask is that you give proper credit and limit the guides you hand out to 1 per person who purchases your workshop. 

    I do not live in the United States, can I purchase the card kit? - Sorry, I am unable to have the items shipped outside of the United States.  

    How do I know when my item has shipped? - You will receive an email with the tracking information.

    Monday, May 7, 2012

    Sneak Peak

    Here is a little sneak peak at what I have been working on the last couple of days. 


    Hold onto your adhesive ladies, a 50 card workshop is coming your way! This is going to be an amazing workshop, you will get everything you need for under $65 which includes bases, envelopes, 3 stamp sets plus more! Get ready to stock up your card stash for summer so you can go play in the flowers and sunshine! Stay tuned for the full details by the end of the week.

    Happy Crafting!

    Saturday, May 5, 2012

    Convention Postcard Layout part 2

    I finally finished the layout for the convention postcard challenge.  Of course, being true to my style there are a lot of layers.  I still need to add the journaling, which I will do before I submit it.  The picture spots will be filled in with photos from convention after the fact. 


    I will be back with a few more step by step photos on how I did the outer edges and stamped the background Autumn Terracota Cardstock.  Until then, off to enjoy a nice hot bath with a good book :). The house is quiet since both kids are at birthday sleepovers and Zane is somewhere.  Fishing maybe???  A quiet bath sounds great!!!


    Wednesday, May 2, 2012

    Stamp of the Month

    A new month means a NEW exclusive Stamp of the month.  The set available during the month of May is called Friendship Bouquet. 


    This is the perfect set for some fancy coloring techniques.


    During the month of May you can get this exclusive set for $17.95 or just $5 with any $50 order.

    In celebration of national scrapbooking month, the Dotty for You promotion is going on and can be combined with your stamp of the month purchase.  A stamp set and a paper packet for just $5 each!  That's a savings of over $27.00!!!

    Monday, April 30, 2012

    Convention Postcard contest Part 1

    Today was all about family.  I enjoyed lunch with Zane's Grandma.  My mom and I went grocery shopping then brought home take out.  Kind of ironic isn't it.  Buy a bunch of groceries, and pick up pizza on the way home.  Then again, cooking is not my thing and Monday is my day for dinner duty.

    Emily and I spent the evening at Zane's mom's.  Tyler and Zane didn't want to go, they must have had important boy things to do.

    I have been fretting a bit over what to wear to the CTMH convention in July.  When you work in scrubs, business casual clothes are not something I have a lot of.  I am a jeans and sweater or sweatshirt kind of girl.  Luckily, my MIL and I are pretty close in size and she is the queen of Goodwill finds.  Yup! Not above wearing hand me downs. 

    Typical visit to her house......
    MIL:  "I picked these up at GW Boutique the other day, I don't like the way they fit."
    ME: Try on clothes, pick put which ones I like.  Pay her for them and she takes back what neither one of us liked.  I always make sure I have a $20 in my pocket when we visit.  Now we joke that she is my personal shopper and she takes requests :).  Love my MIL!

    I did have a few minutes here and there in between running errands and visiting family to start working on my entry for the postcard contest at convention.  Everyone going to convention received this postcard in the mail, only we didn't know it was for a contest until a few weeks later.  Luckily, I like to "save" things and still had it tucked away.  You know me!  Love a good contest or challenge.  They push  my creative gears.

    .
     Postcard before.....


    Postcard meets exact-o knife.......
    (love cutting things apart, to make my own custom accents)


    A little more cutting and start layering........
    (first attempt)

    Scratch first attempt, moved elements to opposite sides.  
    Added a mock photo mat, since I don't know what picture I am using yet. 
    Used the CTMH stitching ruler and Legacy Writer to add some journaling lines to the journaling block.
    Then added some pen stitching and outlining around a couple areas.
    Nothing is glued down at this point.

    I will be back with an update as I continue to build and add to the layers of the page. 

    My work week starts tomorrow.  Ugh!!!  Really wish I could play with paper with my morning coffee.  Maybe I will get up early,  no probably not.


    Sunday, April 29, 2012

    A very productive day

    We had a very productive today in the Highland house today.   Emily and her friend spent a good part of the day working on a display board about Slave Trade for a school project.   I have been thinking a lot lately about how I don't seem to photograph the little details of our day to day lives anymore.  These are the things that make up who we are. 


    Emily's hands the way they are, this day, this moment in time.  

    I managed to revamp my crafty corner, and finish putting together 40 cards I had leftover from various home party projects.   Woo Hoo!  Granted I started them Friday evening and all the pieces were cut.  All I had to do was stamp and assemble. 



    But wait there's more!  After everyone headed to bed, the insomniac in me made a pot of coffee and finished the page I posted a couple days ago.  You know, the "thought process" one. 


    I added some flowers stamped with the Hooray Bouquet set, lace trim and the "Ivy" name block.  I really didn't know what else to add and didn't have any "carrots" laying around to go with the story.  

     
    How's this for a carrot top? Hijacked this picture from facebook today of Hazel.  Love it!

    Thursday, April 26, 2012

    My thought process.....

    As you develop your scrapbooking "style" you will notice you have a pattern in how you create. 
    I almost always start with a sketch or challenge. 
    This helps me get the gears turning.
    I then choose photos.  Sometimes I pull from my stash of pictures and sometimes I print off just the ones I want to use. 
    Next is paper, generally I use cardstock for the base.
    Lately, I have been pushing myself to step out of the box and use pattern as the base.
    I start layering, often adhering as I go.
    Once I have the bones of the page, I outline.
    Which means using my black fine and bullet point Sharpie to outline certain elements of the page that need a little extra "boost" to separate them from the other patterns, etc.
    Then comes the Title.  I like to layer the title over pictures and across the various patterns to help pull them all together.

    So I have this.............

    I really wanted the story to be a big part of the page.
    I decided to use a big journaling block to record the conversation behind the pictures. 
    I knew right away, I would need something along the top and bottom to "frame" the page, so I stamped a stitching line across the top and bottom.
    Notice the black sharpie work around the pictures and letters?
    Now, I need to add accents. 
    I haven't decided yet what I am going to use, so I will sleep on it and see what my brain comes up with tomorrow.

    I generally complete a page over several small increments of time.
    Adding little bits here and there until I am pleased with the results. 

    Recognize the papers?
    They are from the Dotty for You paper pack that is available as a special purchase this month. 

    I will be back with the finished result in a day or two. 
    Sweet Dreams!



    Monday, April 23, 2012

    Memory box continued........

    While Tyler and Emily were at school today,  I managed to finish up the CTMH memory game box I started on Saturday. 
    Then around 1:00 I heard my phone vibrating around on the counter.
    Emily wasn't feeling well and wanted to come home. 
    Picture this.... me standing in the craft corner, covered in ink, hair all astray, still in my pajamas, thinking "crap! I knew I should have showered this morning".
    I was in no shape to go walking into school.
    Emily would have been mortified!
    Good to know I can still shower and be out the door in 5 in the case of an emergency. 
    I am sure the secretary enjoyed my drowned rat appearance. Classy!


    Anyways, the product of my inkiness.........

     Since this is going to my Nephew in Afghanistan, I wanted it to be very inky and grungy looking.


    The memory box comes with 24 - 3 x 3 chipboard squares inside.  I added various pictures of family members on each one, then stamped random words on them.


    I used the same words on 2 of each tile.  Just in case he decides to play a little game of "memory" during some downtime.  Zane thinks I am crazy for that one, but you never know.  Big tough military guys like to play too. 


    On the backs of the tiles,  I put some bible verses and other inspirational quotes.  

    So Daniel, if you read my blog, make sure you are surprised when it comes in the mail.  We love and miss you.  I hope you like the memory box and enjoy the vernors :).

    That's all for now, have a great night!









    Saturday, April 21, 2012

    Memory Game

    Not much time to craft today,  I did manage to squeeze in 15 minutes to quickly cover the Memory Game box with some retired papers from the CTMH Lucky line and ink it up a bit.

    Am hoping to work on the innards tomorrow :). 

    Tuesday, April 17, 2012

    New Workshop Kit added and New special starts today!

    After much anticipation, the Dotty for You promotion starts today!  I love the colors in this paper pack. With every $35 purchase, you can get this paper pack for just $5.  For close ups of the paper designs, visit the "specials" tab above.


                          


    A new Workshop project / kit is available!  Perfect for the boys or military men in your lives.  If you live local and attending one of my workshops in May, you have a choice of the Victory or Pemberley layouts.  If you do not live local but would still like to complete the projects, visit the "workshop projects / kits" tab above for all the details.



    Happy Crafting :).



    Monday, April 16, 2012

    Holy Scrap Mess!

    I sat down to tidy up my little crafty corner and stumbled upon a little bit of inspiration.  A few weeks ago I was cutting a bunch of 1/2" circles on the Cricut.  The negative piece was so cool looking!  I found it last night and was totally inspired to create this.


    The design  was inspired by a sketch by Karan Gerber on the Sketchabilities blog HERE .  I used so many products for this page, hence the name of the title for today.  There are stamp sets and ink pads covering my work area.  I will spare you a picture :).

    I started with this.........


     Notice the head shadow?  That would be me.  Taking pictures at 1 in the morning is a bit tricky.   To mix the paint I used about a nickel size amount of Create - A - Shade  pearl paint and 8-10 drops of Black Re - Inker.  


    I used a sponge to spread the paint using the negative piece as a stencil.  This is my first time doing such a thing and love it!!! I am still trying to figure out how to get all the paint out from under my fingernails.  (Should have used a bigger sponge).


    To make the flower, I stamped the script stamp from the Universal Backgrounds set to make a "pattern paper".  Then punched 2 - 2" scallop circles and 1- 1 1/4 inch circle from the piece. 


    Cut about 1/2 inch at each scallop, then cute the smaller circle so you have a "pie" but be sure and leave the center intact.  Sponge on some ink and layer them up.  You then fluff the petals, some going up, some going down.  Super quick and easy!

    Supplies Used (all CTMH unless stated otherwise)
    Pattern Paper : Bo Bunny , CTMH retired Sweetheart
    Cardstock: Black, Vanilla Cream, Sky Blue, White
    Ink: Crystal Blue, Grey Wool, Black, Baby Pink, New England Ivy
    Stamp Sets: A Typeface, Stitched Together, Universal Backgrounds, Florentine WOTG set
    Embellishments: Retired Shimmer Brads, A Garden Color Ready wooden shapes, Banners DE, Mixed Shapes DE, Neutral Bakers Twine
    Cutting Tools: 2" Scallop circle punch,  1 1/4" Circle Punch, Quickutz alphabet / Cuttlebug
    Other: Create - A - Shade Paint, Black Re - Inker, Black Sharpie

    Off to the store to get the supplies for some Zuppa Toscana soup for dinner.  I stumbled upon the recipe on Pinterest and am so excited to try it.  Zane isn't a big fan of soup, so hopefully he likes it!  If not, I suppose he will have cereal :).