Where's MY Inspiration?

What's my inspiration??  What inspires ME?  Oh loaded question because.. I don't know until the challenge is presented.. be it a layout, a card, a canvas.  It comes from all venues and all sources.  My favorite form of inspiration is mobile.  My magazines.  First and foremost is  Somerset Publications,

 

Stampers' Sampler, Memories, Apprentice and Take Ten are a few of their many publications.  All filled with incredible work from incredible artists out there.  Including, fellow DT members Tina Walker and Wendy Kwok.  To me, to put yourself out there for submission to these types of publication takes talent but a quiet assurance and self confidence in their own ability.  So not only do these artists inspire me creatively, but also as a woman, a person and the type of character I wish to be.
From the print material I move to the internet for inspiration.  Blogs are an awesome creation and tool of the internet.  My blog list is lengthy to say the least but a few are in my sidebar and some more I'll share here..

"Miss You Shaunery!"

WHO'D YOU THING I'D START WITH??  Yes, I follow/stalk Tim Holtz!  I've been watching this man since he would guest appear on the Carol Duvall (one of the HGTV/DIY original craft shows) show back ages ago.  He made GRUNGE groovy and titled my "style" before I knew I had a style or "look".  So yes, I'm visiting his blog at LEAST once a week for the latest and greatest in grunge, vintage, steam-punk and ink.
Some of my other favorite bloggy places to visit are:

Susan Stringfellow  (yes, she IS a fellow DT) Susan creates fun and 'Savvy" sketches to play with.  It's also the most flattering thing to be told "Oh btw I linked your layout to my page, your version of my sketch rocks"  Um okay!!
Terry's Cards & Creativity  This is a site sponsored by Simon Says Stamp.  I love it here, lots of TH examples and many more to be inspired by.  Also loads of opportunities to play and receive RAKS.
Tammy Tutterow Now this woman is Tim Holtz's  ying to yang.  The feminine side of grunge. It's called Shabby Chic.  Oddly, I found her on Etsy first, and now she has a second Etsy shop HERE   But I'll forewarn you, she's on "vacation" and catching up in life.
Scrapbook.com  We all have a favorite online gallery/store.  I think I like Scrapbook.com the most, and love their deals.  The gallery is FULL of fabulous creators on ALL scales of talent and in all STAGES of talent.  From newbies to masters.   Yes, even the most brand new of all scrappers INSPIRE me.  For it's my opinion that the newbies are touching on the purest form of scrapping.  We all start there.  Simple, paper, adhesive, photo and scissors.  Seeing these layouts humble me and remind me where I started.  I see an "unfinished" or a layout yet to be "realized" and I'll take and put my spin on it later.  I use to be a newbie and I'd look at the masters and say "wow, I want to scrap like that"  and these "masters" would leave kind words and encouragement on my layouts and such inspired me to be the type of DT I hope I have achieved.  I'm still learning and improving and STILL look to the masters.
Sherry Cheever aka Bad Sherry This is a fabulous woman who creates without apology but with style and flair too.  She is what she is and I adore her for this.  She often goes "old school" exploring old techniques with new product.  Or swings from left field and creates something so incredible you're left with your jaw wide open.

There are also some great CHALLENGE blogs out there.. I first stumbled upon one two years ago.  At first my motivation was my pages look the same and they're boring.  The challenges pushed me.  Then the RAKS! Come on FREE stuff.  Then I started meeting people thru chats and from the "luv" left on the gallery walls.  It's like a rush of "feel good" to go to my page and read the kindness left by strangers.  A sense of accomplishment washed over me when I completed another layout for my kids albums.  I mean lets face it.. if we're playing at challenges... we're looking for some "validation", it feels good to receive a compliment.  It's like a hug and it encourages us to scrap some more!

These blogs are just the tip of the iceberg.. inspiration lies around us everywhere!!  My own creative mess occasionally inspires me... remember this?

Cleaning and sorting my stash... reminds me of what I own.  What colors I have and what products I can use to alter or tweak them.  So tidy up occasionally, and don't be scared of using your product!  Where there's a will there's a way!

Lastly, my favorite form of inspiration.. fellowship.  Be it "Live" at a retreat or a crop, skype or in a chat.  I love communicating with my fellow scrappers out there.  Those I am fortunate enough to call friends, share with me, let me know if my layout isn't balanced, do I have too many embellishments or yes, they tell me my colors are off or spot on.   Those who are "online friends"  some of us are still at the "GOOD JOB" stage, we're not sure how in depth of help or constructive criticism is wanted, but as time passes that will change.  We all strive to be honest with each other but I love that my friends provide honesty with tact and love.  We've learned honesty doesn't have to be painful and we've bloomed due to it. 

So, go out there and GET inspired.  Go out there and BE creative.  Stand up for your layouts, leave a little luv and ENJOY your craft!  :D

10 Cloud 9

Before

AFTER

Another awesome challenge over at CSI this week!  YOU have to play along!!  I've had these pics of my dh for quite a while.  No, he's NOT a pilot but in civilian terms his title was Airframe Mechanic.  He made sure our pilots were safe in the Navy.  Our squadron was slatted for closure, so we had news reporters on base and they're getting rides... and next thing David learns, he has paperwork to go to school so HE can take a ride!  He got to ride in a FA-18 Hornet!  (TOP GUN FOLKS)  I was invited along to photograph and share his memory.  I have a slew of photo's but these are some of my faves!  (Que soundtrack now..)  I pulled my sketch inspiration from Liz Qualman at her blog, My Little Sketch Blook dated 2010.

My clouds are sticky back canvas that I colored with water color pencils.  I then debossed with my favorite embossing folder and then painted with TH Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  I also backed with Basic Grey, Infuse and added faux stitching.  I had some Quick Quotes chipboard that I covered with BG and some Dusty Attic leaves I covered with metal tape. (not for the faint of heart or tender fingered)  The tape I stained with TH Alcohol stains!  LOVE.

 I had a random chipboard frame that I coated in Bronze crackle paint and some canvas Thickers that I colored with Distress Inks and my markers.  I covered the 9 with more metal tape and colored again with alcohol inks.  I'll admit, I didn't finish my journaling for this challenge.  But I'm gonna borrow another members idea and create a pull tab to place behind the layout and type my journaling, include his paperwork for the school and some of the snapshots taken by his squadron.

Again, a joy to be playing and designing for CSI: Color, Stories and Inspiration.  If you ever get the chance, stop by, browse and we'd love to have you play along!  Until next time!  TFL!

Design Team Call : CSI Color, Stories, Inspiration

I Can't Smile....

Showing off my son and him having fun at the talent show today at the high school..  So proud of you and am so happy you're having fun! 

9 Sarah's Journey

I'm a little late getting my "reveal" up for CSI  this week.  But it's been a bit busy is my excuse.  This was a fun case file and it's still early enough for you to play along! 

Last week we had so many of our members play along with Case File No. 8 and one stood out for me.  And lent inspiration to THIS weeks layout for me.  Michelle Grant, Design Team member for Dusty Attic, created this awesome layout, and then posted a tutorial for her technique on her blog, For the Love Art.  So I had to try it and I did on a very small scale.

Hmmm blogger keeps rotating this picture!  This isn't right!

For my mask I used a Dusty Attic Wrought Iron Fence, and the only thing different I did, was seal my Dusty Attic piece with some Super Seal.  It waterproofs the chipboard so it doesn't absorb my medium.  I also mix my thick gesso w/ texturing gel, which created a great marble effect once it all dried.  This was my interpretation of striped paper for evidence.

I framed Sarah's picture with an Art Deco clipart frame I found on the net.  I went back and colored with my Faber-Castell pencils and then misted the whole thing with Tattered Angels Glimmer mist for some shimmer and sparkle.

Lastly I took a Teresa Collins tag and covered it with some 7 Gypsies papers, and a scrap of muslin, splattered with some more Tattered Angles and some old rub-ons.  I printed my journaling onto a transparency, and covered the edges with some torn dictionary scraps and then stapled it to the tag.

Journey of Special Ed.

"Since Sarah is in Special Education classes, we are required to have annual meetings, called ARD's.  It's meant to discuss and figure out the game plan for Sarah's education next year.  but you have to be a bit Thick Skinned when you walk into these meetings.  They've run tests and evaluations and their findings I'm not always in agreement with or even thing they are valid.  To be told her IQ is grossly below average...you really have to let it roll off your back, like water off a duck.  But you sit down, roll up your sleeves, and prepare for 'battle', going back and forth fighting for her needs and abilities.  Both sides are stubborn like goats but in the end, we all shake hands and leave the room.  Content, knowing I've stood up for my daughter and her continuing journey thru school."

I hope you like it.  Please visit Michelle for her tutorial on texture as it's FABULOUS.  Thanks again for stopping by.

Happy Findings!

Not long back, I was enjoying a blog hop hosted by Frosted Designs.  My girlfriend, Jenny is on their design team so I had to check it out.  The blog hop combined efforts with another fun site, Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits who also is our sponsor for February over at CSI!  Well long story short, I was snooping around Melissa's blog, Mels Happy Scrappy Place, playing around, leaving blog luv and the like.  I didn't even realized I had entered a contest.  So imagine my surprise to learn I WON.   Melissa was offering a RAK and I was the lucky recipient.
So, THANK YOU Melissa.  And to my fellow bloggers, you outta check out her blog..it's a cutie, filled with goodies and inspiration!

Pleated Flower Tutorial

I have received the most positive and supportive feed back since I shared my layout over at CSI with my transparency pleated flowers.  So, I thought I'd share how I made them with you.  Now first and foremost, I am not the original brain child of this, there is some mad genius of a crafter out there that brainstormed this fabulous creations.  I HAVE see tutorials all over the net and my inspiration came from, The PaperLife by Amy Coon,  Tammy Tutterow, and Tim Holtz (you're just gonna have to browse all over his site)

So lets start with the tools...

You can score and create your own pleated flower with a score pad... (I have, it's not bad, and it's great if you want big flowers...you just have to use longer strips of paper depending on the width)  OR you could
use a die.  I'm using my Tim Holtz Alterations long die.

 

 

 

Once you pleat your strip of paper, you'll need to adhere the ends.  If you are making a paper flower, a good strong tape works, a staple if you desire the look or even liquid glue.  Just make sure the glue is completely dry.  IF you are using a transparency, hot glue or staples are your "quickest" choice.  Once you've adhered the edges..

You'll need to punch some circles for the center of the flower.  I run them thru my little Xyron for extra adhesiveness.. but then used liquid glue to set the center.  You'll need to be patient to get it to set up.  (or you can use the hot glue here) Then I stack some weight on my flowers and let them dry...

And then before you know it, you have a pleated flower for your layouts!!  :D