SPREAD THE MAGIC! IT'S A CONTEST! WIN YOUR OWN CUSTOMIZED BUTTON OR BLINKIE!

I am back from vacation - Las Vegas was great (excluding the fractured foot! That`s a story..) but I am in love with my new blog and ready to share the magic!


Grab either my Maximum Embellishment button or blinkie (or both!) and post it on your own blog and then leave me a comment on this post with your blog address.  Sign up as a follower for an additional chance.  (Already a follower - you are in the running!) On August 8, 15, 22 and 29 I will draw (using the Random Generator) from all (no need to comment twice or each week) of the comments and followers.  There will be 1 winner each week of a custom (customized for you!) button or blinkie from Susie Jefferson of Blog-Ology  (http://www.1stfloorflatblogology.blogspot.com/)

My first contest so please e-mail me if you have questions!

I`m looking forward to hearing from you!  Good luck!!

EAT SOMETHING CUTE - AN OFF THE PAGE PROJECT

You are What You Eat So Eat Something Cute".  This is my response to the July 18th challenge at "The Studio" to use your scrapbooking supplies to make something "off the page".  Double click on this post title to go to "The Studio" or see my Challenge Site links below. 

This is inspired by an e-zine I took from Teresa McFayden some time ago.  Love the saying!  This wall hanging is perfect for a bit of summer in the kitchen.  I used a 12x12 chipboard sheet covered with the word patterned paper, layered that with a chipboard frame (acu cut) covered in a matching pattern for a sturdy background .

I treated the "cupcake" like a picture with several mats - including one glittered using DST (double sided tape).  Tiny alpha beads comprise the title on a paper banner.  A bit of inking and faux stitching for added dimension.   Wire on a fork (this one I used Stazon ink in brown to antique) and add a ribbon to hang! 

Another great variation on this one would be with a baby picture...

CONTEST!  Spread the magic.  For a chance to win your own customized button or blinkie please see my contest post of July 31!  Good luck!

AMAZING - A CHILDHOOD SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

This is my response to the July 25th challenge at "The Studio" (double click on the post title to go there or see my Challenge Sites link at the bottom).  The challenge was to use both old and new items in your stash on your project.  The new items I used are a Krylon silver leaf pen which I used on the edges of both the scalloped photo corner and each of the butterflies and  "Worn Lipstick" Tim Holtz Distress Ink which I also used on the butterflies and the date tag at the left bottom corner.  Everything else I have had for sometime - the main papers are from "upsy daisy Designs" their Ice Cream Shoppe line.  The butterflies I traced using the chipboard negative (Heidi Swapp), popped up with foam bits.  The bright pink dimensionals are "DewDrops". 

While there is a fair amount happening on this layout, the contrast between the deep saturated colors of the photo background and the faded, lighter treatment of the layout itself are easy on the eye.

CONTEST!  Spread the magic.  For a chance to win your own customized button or blinkie please see my contest post of July 31.  Good luck! 

ATCs - THE THEME IS "ALICE"

Last week was the regular monthly meeting of my ATC Social group.   We all have so much fun - trading our cards, talking about how and what we did, ohhing and ahhing and then just as much time catching up with each other and sharing our stories.  It is so interesting to see what everyone comes up - and just when you think you know someone's style they change it up on you.

The Artists are:  Angie Miller (3), Marilyn McIldoon, Marlene LeTendre, Terry Logue, Marlene LeTendre and Kay Zywicki. 

CHRISTMAS IN JULY - A SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

Who doesn't love "Christmas in July"?   This will be another entry into The Shabby Tea Room challenge.  If you double click on this post title it will take you directly to The Shabby Tea Room (also see links below).

Allison with McLean and Lucy visiting from Sechelt.  A different color combo for me - trying to do a muted look.  I think the brown ric rac, green gingham ribbon and gingerbread kids (Martha Stewart) work pretty well.

I've matted the picture onto a piece of glittery green felt.  The red felt Joy - along with a few bits on this page - I have had for quite sometime.

Love those bingo cards - I really have to hang back, it is hard not to put one on just about everything I do.

I might have a bit more Christmas to catch up on :)

CHRISTMAS IN JULY - A VINTAGE HOLIDAY PROJECT

This is an entry to the "Christmas in July" challenge at The Shabby Tea Room (see links at bottom of blog) and if you click on the title of this post it will take you directly.

The photo from 1949 is of my husband Bob on Santa's lap at the Woodwards Department Store in Vancouver BC.  I used some vintage music from a Children's Song Parade book as part of the background and scraps from my Christmas papers.  Lots of big mica flake glitter surrounds the entire piece.

Silver thread, glittery brads, a rosette also made from scraps tops a K&Co red glittered snow flake.  The hanger was fashioned from a wire clothes hanger.  This is inspired by a project I did on a Teresa McFayden e-zine sometime ago.  I used a 4x6 copy of the photo to make this a reasonable size.

TRADITION - A SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

Our granddaughter Tiffany (Brandon's sister) - they are all in Jamaica for a family wedding.  I did say I was catching up this summer!

This is my response to the "by the numbers" challenge at Scrapbook Challenges (see links).  The criteria:  0 - (no) patterned paper, 1 - stamp, 2 - photos, 3 - ribbons, 4 - alphas/fonts.  And then use only orange and yellow!

The background cardstock is WhiteWash from Core'Dinations, the scalloped cardstock is DCWV.  I used the cover of the DCWV pad as a mask and sprayed Glimmer Mist (Mimosa) in some areas and then used a brocade background stamp around the bottom and right edges and on that cover to create patterned paper (Spiced Marigold).  The masked off areas are outlined with a Krylon (yellow!) gold pen.  Originally I had used an orange marker but it turned out looking more pink than orange.

The three ribbon tabs are cream ribbon edged in orange.  I stapled them on with yellow staples - didn't look great so I covered those with my trusty Krylon pen also.

I dug through my boxes of K&Co chipboard alphas (bought when I first started papercrafting - it felt good to use them!) and came up with 3 different ones, the fourth I can't identify the maker.  I painted these with gesso, then Picket Fence (TH) crackle paint.  I used Tim Holtz Distress inks in Spiced Marigold and Mustard Seed and then ran them through the Big Shot using one of the new (TH) embossing folders in a brocade/tapestry pattern.  The embossing looks much like the henna pattern on Tif's hands.  I then distressed them with Distress Ink in Honey.  

NOTE:  I've now started resizing my scrap page photos.  It's easier to upload for the posts, to challenge sites and quicker to download the blog but doesn't provide the sharpest details on the layouts.  If you have questions or want a clearer image just contact me - happy to provide those for you.

FASHION CRAFT - A VINTAGE IMAGE

This is on the back of a playing card - another little goody Bob picked up for me this morning.  I was feeling a bit neglectful in posting images but I've made up for that today with two great ones!

BINGO CARD AND NUMBERS! - VINTAGE IMAGES

How much fun are these?  I've seen a number of different bingo card images but hey what about the numbers!  Bob picked these up this morning at a local flea market.  If you are looking for a certain number contact me - I likely have it.

Click on the image and save the larger image for the best resolution - have fun!

A LOOK - A SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

This is my response to the Sunday, July 11th challenge at The Studio (see links).  The challenge was use only cardstock, patterned paper and alphabet stickers - done!  I love this picture and I think the simple layout, sticking with just 3 colors works.

The patterned paper is from "Quick Quotes Paper" in Chehalis WA ( have I told you that is where I grew up?), the colored cardstock is Core'Dinations, the title alpha is from a Thickers set and the name alpha is from Paper Crate.  I tore the paper under the name and used a little ink (VersaFine).  The journaling I did on the computor and changed the ink to a medium brown to match the name alpha.

BLUE MOON SCRAPBOOKING CONTEST

As you have noticed I've been busy seeking out different challenge sites.  Hope you are inspired to try one out!  Besides loving this badge - one of the DT members at Blue Moon Scrapbooking has made posting the badge part of her own contest efforts.  Check 'em out!

(Click on the title of this post, it will take you directly to Blue Moon Scrapbooking)

A FRIEND DISCOVERED - CARD

You know "I don't do cards" !  Took my scrap box and a few stamps (this one is from Cornish Heritage) to crop night Friday.  I've had bits of this Jenny Bowlin paperline stashed for awhile - love shades of organge and turquoise.  Borrowed a Cuttlebug folder that had the diecut for the butterfly and 4 embossing folders.

Easy!   Made six cards!

The cardstocks are Core'Dinations, left the blue alone but used my edge distresser on both the orange pieces.  Inked the patterned paper, around the verse and the embossed butterflies.

I placed the butterflies and verse on each card dependent on the patterned paper scraps.  The small blue gem draws your eye across the card.  The butterflies are popped up with one wing glued down to create a bit more dimension (thanks for the tip Marianne!).

I am going to enter this into the Blue Moon contest (see links).  This isn't a "best card" winner but maybe I will inspire other beginner card enthusiasts?

A SISTER SHARES - A HERITAGE LAYOUT (GRAPHIC 45 FASHIONISTA)

This two page layout is my response to two challenges:

    The Pink Elephant (http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/) - challenge #15 "do a heritage     layout" and,

    Blue Moon Scrapbooking (http://bluemoonscrapbooking.blogspot.com/) - "use the color blue"

Best guess this picture of Bob's mum Jean and her sister Betty is approximately 1949. This is possibly my favorite line from graphic 45 (whichever one I'm working with is usually my fav).  The layout itself is quite simple.

On the left hand page I covered the main background with a piece of vintage lacy netting to subdue it, let the picture take center stage and age it a bit.  The picture which I "framed" in the blue chintz pattern, I adhered with pop dots onto a double mat in two maroon papers. The tag/title I used a dictionary page from the turn of the century (sister definition).  I've used vintage seam binding for the most part (on both pages), a bit of double sided satin ribbon in cream and gold and a vintage pearl button on the frame.  The stick on pearls I colored with a Copic marker to "age" them.  Lots of ink all around.

The right hand page is a scrapbooking version of a French Memo Board - love this!  This is great for tucking in additional small pictures, letters, momentos or other ephemera.  Easy, easy and makes the most of the full page patterned papers.

AH - A BABY SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

My response to The Studio (see links) challenge for Wednesday July 7th.  These are all Anna Griffin papers - pink and orange is always an ah! for me.  The challenge was a sketch based on the FIFA 2010 poster.  Did my own take on the streamers - the big "commas" match the paisley paper.  I backed these with the plain orange to make them stand out a bit - then faux stitched in black all around them.  The alpha is Chip Chatter, the flowers from PetaLoo and the gems I bought in bulk off the internet.  Faux stitching on this one - a black Sharpie!

ONE PICTURE TWO WAYS - A LAYOUT AND A WALL HANGING

Another ready made layout!  Out of the frame and into the album.  This is just the very sweetest photo.  I used the same in the project below, atually it was the inspiration!

It was Allison who put me to thinking about how to use/frame pictures in a different way for hanging.  This was a project class I did for Scrappers' Anonymous. 

The background is two pieces of chipboard, the very back covered in one sheet of patterned paper and then heavily shadowed with Espresso and Fired Brick paint  dabbers.  The front has been cut on AcuCut with the Antique Frame die.  All of the edges are antiqued with the Espresso paint dabber and then this is adhered to the 12x12 piece.  The scrolls, commas and diamonds are all from one FTI chipboard package - again colored with paint dabbers and laid out in a pleasing (to me!) pattern.

The picture was matted twice.  I laid down a 1/4 strip of double sided taple all around the inside mat and covered that with copper micro beads.  Punch two holes in the top, string with a nice ribbon and hang!  Even with drying time for the paint - a simple two hour project!

A SIMPLE WEDDING THEMED SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

What no title?  Really don't think this needs one. Thought it was time for me to get back to "catching up"..  Got a few pics which have been favorites but are getting replaced so in they go to the scrapbooks. 

And I actually had this layout on hand.  My LSS has had a series of day long classes where you just keep doing  layouts.  I keep them in a craft envelope along with any scraps that were left - ready to use.

Lots of the magazines have ideas for quick and simple - get together with a couple of friends and spend an afternoon doing the samething.  Fill those albums in no time - or like me keep stackin em up!

IMAGES OF BRITISH BUS TICKETS - HOW FUN!

MS. CHIEF - A SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

If I can get it entered - this is my response to the "Inked" challenge at The EveryDay Scrapper (see links).  Though it was blurry I loved the picture of Lucy dipping her hand into the birdbath (you can't see it but I have a stoneware birdbath with bird on my coffee table, wound inside is a garland of twig and tiny flowers).  Cutting it out was just the answer.

The patterned papers are again a mix from the scrapbox - Kaiser, Chatterbox, My Minds Eye and Basic Grey.  The background is a sheet of WhiteWash from Core'Dinations - sanded and inked up.  The title was originally a sweet pea green (Thickers) which I inked brown, then black, then gold and finally blue with various layers of sanding inbetween - sturdy is the description for these chipboard alphas!

HALLOWEEN IN JULY ! - A SIMPLE HOLIDAY CARD

It`s been a productive few days!  I`ve just finished my Halloween cards (Marianne, I`m working towards Christmas!).  I am a beginner with cards!  So nothing too complicated for me at this point.  So this post is for those other scrapbookers who also need simple cards to do! 

This is also my entry for a challenge at the Shabby Tea Room  http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/  to use embossing.  I've embossed the entire card - that means I will insert a plain white sheet to write on but the entire card is in theme!

I started with 3.5 x 5 cards and envelopes from Soiree in a pearly pea green.  I embossed the cards with a Sizzix texture plate (spider web and yes I used my Big Shot!) and inked the raised web with black StaZon.

I then used two stamps from Memory Box (the scroll is one stamp and the rest is another stamp).  I stamped the background on a very pumpkin orange cardstock (darker than photo), then stamped the scroll in the corner with embossing ink.  I used Distress Embossing powder in Peeled Paint on the scroll.  After that was heated and brushed off, I hit that corner  with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.  Mounted this first block on black cardstock and then to the card itself.  I used a Quickie glue pen and micro fine glitter in a bright orange on the spiders.   

You will have to wait until October to see what will go with the cards!  The fall is a really busy time at work for me so getting these done ahead of time - yahoo!

OUR FAMILY TOGETHER - A SUMMER SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT

My own challenge to myself!  Use only paper and ink and try to not cover the entire page :)

All of the patterned papers in this layout are from my scrapbox, a mix of K&Co, Kaiser, My Minds Eye and Prima that I can identify.  The title pieces were both sprayed with "Moonlight" Glimmer Mist (as is the masked off bit in the top right corner).  "Together" was cut on Basic George Cricut cartridge, "Our Family" is a bit from Tattered Angels. 

TIP:  You can create dimension with layering, inking, white space and tattering/curling edges.  I've still got a good deal of dimension without ribbon, brads, buttons etc.

When I looked at this picture I purposely didn't crop the left side - I wanted to leave the Arbutus trunk.  Those red trunks are so West Coast and part of our natural beauty (called Madrona on the US coast.)  I haven't got a date on this one - I'm thinking 1991.  I can usually tell by getting out the kids' pictures and comparing their hair cuts!  Allison will likely fill me in....

GRANVILLE ISLAND - A SUMMER SCRAPBOOKING LAYOUT (ORANGE & YELLOW)

My response to The Studio (see links) July 4th challenge - do something summery using orange and yellow as the main colors.

A couple of pics from this day of  Allison and Alex have long been favorites.  I think it may have been the first time either of them had their faces painted - you can see a wee bit of skepticism on Alex's face in the small picture.  We lived in Penticton and had come to Vancouver for a visit with Nanny and Papa.   Granville Island was having a "redo" - there was a public market, Kids World, restaurants and lots of outdoor entertainment - it was a favorite spot for a family afternoon.

I started out intending to do a layout in the "current mode" i.e. one picture, patterned papers and embellishments grouped together in one small area with lots of surrounding "white" space.  Not my style but I can change it up!  Sure I can - this still isn't my usual style so different for me and from everyone else..LOL.

The papers are mostly Sassafrass "Anthem", a bit of ribbon and 7 gypsies gaffer tape (black with dots), pleated paper with some turquoise staples to balance a 3rd color - all inked up with Rusty Hinge distress ink. The title was cut with Basic George on my Cricut.  The color theme was an opportunity to pull out some vintage hang tags I had.   You are supposed to ignore the fact that they say B.C. Fur Dressers!

ATCs - THE THEME IS "BAD GIRLS"

Despite nearly everyone groaning about the theme when it was announced - they all came up with some interesting takes.   None from me as I didn't expect to be attending the June Social - however I came with some vintage postcards to trade and this always generous group took me up on the offer!

From left to right the artists are:  Marlene LeTendre, Angie Miller (2), Marilyn McIldoon (2) and Nancy Longphee (2).   What fun!

If you go over to visit at "Busy Martha" (see links) she will tell you how she did her "Oz" girls.

HAPPY GIRL - JUNE LAYOUT OF THE MONTH BASIC GREY (CAPELLA)

The papers in this line are gorgeous - soft, sweet and elegant, of course perfect for a wedding but perfect for as much "shabbifiying" as you can pile on.  Perfect for these bw photos I've been saving.  This is the layout suggested with only a couple of papers turned to the other side, heavy distressing/inking  and I used a vertical instead of horizontal photo on the left page.   Again these kits give you plenty to play with -  check out your LSS (Scrappers' Anonymous for the Victoria folks) to see if they are carrying them.

FAMILY SHOWER - A SCRAPBOOKING BABY LAYOUT (2 PAGES)

Sometimes a "busy" layout just works.  For a baby shower - short of making a mini album - there are just too many things going on to cut the pics short!   What a lovely idea a Family Shower is when typically there are siblings that love to join the fun - and what about dad?  It was special that the "Houle girls" were over for a visit from Victoria and also joined in. 

The patterned papers are from the Posh Posies line, Daisy Bucket Designs.  The purple embossed background and the green frame are both Making Memories and the darker purple mats, arrows and journaling strips are from "Sally's Scraps".   The translucent green vinyl flowers - I think are Heidi Swapp.  The green alpha title is "Thickers". 

TIP:  While chipboard is one of the most economical embellishment still you can easily extend the lifetime of a piece by tracing it onto cardstock, cutting it out and then popping it up for dimension if you like.   I trace around my pieces many times before I actually use them.