Creative Chaos

Attitude

2012-01-22T16:53:00.000-06:00

It's week three over at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration, so it's time for a new CHALLENGE! Continuing with our nod to Lewis Carrol and everything Wonderland... Debbie found us inspiration with this BEAUTIFUL photo (tea cups!) and "drink me" tags.

This week we had lovely colors of lilac, cream, dusty pink brown and a pinkish grey... all beautiful and Alice-like. Last week Debbi submitted a layout with NINE pictures on an 8x8 page..this inspired me to use four pictures from a series of pictures I took of my dd over Thanksgiving weekend. We visited a nature reserve in McKinney, TX, where she and her brother posed for various shots. These were her "out takes" but in my opinion, a truer reflection of her everyday self...

My evidence included: tags, sheer ribbon, gold details, & circular elements. From the testimony I drew upon the prompt of "repetition" with the title Attitude on my layout. I also used it thru out my journaling. I'm not sure my journaling is from a second person point of view but I tried to journal "outside" of myself. Not so much a mother to a daughter but from another perspective..

95% of this layout has a Tim Holtz/Ranger product on it. I used Distress Inks, Grungeboard, embossing powders, tapes and techniques. My gold touches are shown on the bicycle and on the sheer ribbon. While my unknowing "doily" was reflected in the punch I used to create some borders. It wasn't until I was finished and had photographed this did I notice!

Other items included scraps of Heidi Grace, a note pad from Michael's, rub on's by Making Memories and left over faux brads. I hope you like this, as this was a layout that flowed from my heart and hope my daughter appreciates as she grows older.

What is Your design process??

2012-01-18T10:09:00.000-06:00

Debbi over at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration Oh what an interesting and thought provoking question.. “What is your particular process to scrapping a challenge?” BEFORE I became familiar with these challenges, the picture was always my launching point. However that doesn't always work for challenges.
Now.. it's different. The colors and the inspiration photo are my new launching point. I, personally, like to print out the colors in the challenge. Taking a tip from Debbi, I now print onto photo quality paper for truer colors. But here's where I take a left turn... I print the colors AND the inspiration photo. THEN I actually tape them into my journal. It's a little book I have and in it I write down the prompts, the "recipe" or "ingredients" of a challenge.

There's more to read... interested??? Come on over to CSI, investigate the clues, view the gallery and play along.. hope to see you there! :)

Case File #2 ~ Lilly's Garden

2012-01-13T18:01:00.000-06:00

CSI: Colour, Stories, Inspiration is IN the house this week! Week 2 and it's amazing seeing the layouts the members are creating. For the month of January, Dusty Attic will be our sponsor and at the end of the month a lucky member will be receiving an awesome RAK from the ladies "down under". If you're falling in love with their products like I am, check out their website for links to your closets retailer. (America's list is finally growing!!)

The clear flower is NOT my original idea. It was inspired by a tutorial I watched last year by one of my favorite crafters, Tammy Tutterow To view her tutorial, click HERE and enjoy. Her flower is more involved than mine. I simply took my die cut and draped it on a thimble.. There are so many applications for Wendy Vecchi's Clearly For Art Moldeling Film.. We used Tim Holtz Alcohol inks to color the film.. but Copics work very well on this as well. I stamped my image with Stazon on one side, and inked the other.

My layout ran away from me... I used my favorites! Tim Holtz Brick Embossing folder, my TH Holly Die (branches only), Tim Holtz rubber stamps, Tim Holtz flower die, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Rangers Stickles, Stazon and Perfect Pearls just to name a few products.

This picture was taken of my gf daughter Lilly. Sweet little Pixie Lilly, we took her to the local gardens for some fun with our cameras. Dee and I would wander about taking pictures, snapping shot's of her daughter and we spent the entire day in utter bliss. Little pixie, wandered with us.. pointing out the "giant" gold fish, the fairy steps in the water, talked to dwarf and stared at waterfalls. A truly wonderful day... but by the end, she grew tired and weary of our camera's and just wanted to go home...

Creative Chaos - CSI1

2012-01-06T17:01:00.000-06:00

It's official!! CSI has officially launched and here's MY DT submission for the first challenge! The minute I saw the inspiration picture, I was hooked. And this month's theme.. how can you not love the author Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland??
My "elements" are numbers as seen in the background paper, major distressing!, my chester cat is repeated on my tag and my circle is influenced by the rim of a tea-cup. I used chaos as my journaling prompt and in my titling. Why? ASD is chaos in a bottle sometimes, controlled chaos defines our Sarah pretty well.
My product lines include, Sandy Lion, Little Yellow Bicycle, My Minds Eye, Basic Grey, Bazzil, Ranger & Tim Holtz (surprise!)

I invite you to come over and play along at CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration.. you'll "meet" some great artists and find loads of inspiration prompts!

Wacky December!!

2011-12-21T12:02:00.001-06:00

Well this has been a wacky December in a way...for the second year in a row I found myself on the wrong side of the calendar, behind the 8 ball, looking at the calendar and exclaiming, "WHERE did my time go??" So before the New Year even kicks in this year, I solemnly swear to focus on the family, house and my personal commitments FIRST, then the volunteer work can be fit in.
Over at How Much is Too Much things are winding down. :( This is the next to the last challenge for the year and then the site will be going on a hiatus. I've discovered this site too late, but have LOVED the challenges to use my STASH! It's awesome. I read a catty remark on some blog that "Using my stash for the sake of using it" wasn't something that appealed to the reader. I was bewildered..Using MY stash for the sake of SCRAPPING is what appealed to ME! This has been a wonderful journey of opening boxes, pulling drawers and seeing just what I've accumulated. And I've been scrapping for 17 years. We all go thru the trends and phases, buying up everything we can get our hands on, only to find... yeah that wasn't our thing after all. But we invested our hard earned money, (Or our husbands hard earned money, as he'd moan) so we won't throw things away. HMITM has allowed me to dig into the button stash, the clips, the ribbons...papers I forgot I owned.
Debbi's Wacky December challenge consisted of the following items...
A Bingo card - I used my TH embossing folder
Something you can tie - I used twine, and left over bits of ribbon
Minimum of 5 stars - three wire clip stars, that I encrusted with glitter (another huge stash), and two stamped star images.
Use punches, cutters, or shape templates - I used my Quick Cuts die for my banner and my circle punches
Use bubbles somewhere - my "bubbles" are inspired by the Bingo markers. I PUNCHed my bubbles from TH Tape covered scraps. Then covered in Glossy Accents. Before they dried, I spritzed with TA Pearl Mist.
An uncanny coincidence my papers are Christmas papers... MME - Oh La La for the base. And BG - Figgy Pudding (front and back) for the banner, and embellishments.
It's not too late to play at HMITM. There's one last challenge for December!! Come on, you wanna play, so jump on board and come visit the gang! You'll have fun!

SNEAK PEEK!

2011-12-14T11:19:00.001-06:00

I have news! But I can't tell... oh well I can tell, can't I? No, yes.. Oh I'm gonna spill the beans! I've been asked to be on the design team of a new site! It's called CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration! My friend Debbi is embarking on a new adventure and I'm so tickled to included!! The official launch is on January 6th, so be sure to come check it out!! It's gonna be such fun!

So here's a little sneak peak of what I'm doing. I zoomed way in...can you see?? I hope you come and play with us over at CSI. I think you'll have lots of fun and think of all the scrapping you'll accomplish! Think of all the creativity you'll invoke... fun fun fun!

Thankful 185

2011-11-21T16:06:00.001-06:00

Finishing up my "stint" over at How Much is Too Much this month and what better way to reflect on Thankful? Since I started the month with non-traditional colors for the holiday themes, I wanted to finish on the same note. This weeks challenge calls for the follow recipe:

A layout based on Thankfulness and..
3 foam embellishments
4 colors of cardstock
5 buttons
6 stickers (non-alphabet)

My four colors of cardstock came from the scrap box again. I used three border punches and created a layered "embossed" look with my 10" x 2" strips. I highlighted the edges with my white gel pen. The three foam embellishments was a stretch for me. I don't own any foam... or did I? I found some foam craft blocks in my craft closet from ages ago. I ran two thru my die cutter using my Sizzix Florish die. The third piece, I painted in white gesso. Then I stamped with Lime Chalk Ink and lastly touched up with my Copic brown marker. The five buttons came from the button stash. The 6 stickers are also from my age old stash.. two border stickers by Creative Imaginations, both since long retired. Then some vellum hearts that I colored with Copics and enhanced with liquid pearls..

I shared my list of thankfulness on a small tag tucked in. While I'm very thankful for many things, I'm also thankful for the friends I've met thru this creative journey called Scrapbooking. I'm grateful to those fabulous friends and family who'll tease me for my inability to spell "Thankful", not once but TWICE on this layout. Thank YOU for viewing and sharing. While we in America celebrate and share our thanks, I'd like to share my thanks with everyone around the globe for how you've inspired me and cheered me on. I'm grateful to have you in my life, regardless of how. :D

HMITM Challenge 184

2011-11-07T10:28:00.001-06:00

Life in the Wharton household has been crazy choatic and hectic and it doesn't look to be easing up anytime soon. So imagine my shock, delight and panic when I open my email on Friday asking if I'd like to GD on How Much Is Too Much. Of COURSE I want to play along!!! Hmmm but how am I going to manage?? Simply by putting everything else on the back burner until Monday morning!
This challenge recipe was FUN and in theory, SIMPLE.
Use ONE holiday photo - This was taken 12.30.09 during a visit home for the holidays
Use 8 patterned papers but none can be holiday specific to my photo- I used patterns by Basic Grey, CratePaper, Bo Bunny, MME, Creative Imaginations, & Teresa Collins. All of mine were scraps and some were double sided. For example, on of the BG papers was Figgy Pudding (no no no) but the back side was black and white stripes!
Incorporate the word Happy - 2" chipboard letters covered in Basic Grey ~ Nook&Pantry
Holiday embellishments - Santa image by Tim Holtz, metal embellishments by Making Memories, altered snowflakes, holly die by QuikCutz.
Other supplies used are: Stickles, Distress Inks by Ranger, Orange Pearl Pen by Viva and misc. ribbon. My garland was created by punching 1 3/8" circle and folding in half off center. Then I distressed the edges. With a white gel pen, I traced an extra circle scallop below my "garland" and then added sparkling Stickles "beads".

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Hope you enjoyed!

#80 Trend Setter

2011-10-23T17:07:00.001-05:00

I'm late in getting this posted, but I DID finish it by the deadline. Although, in all honesty, I'm happy it's done! This week I played over at TCR and their color palette #80. I twisted their sketch up on it's side (seems I don't take too many vertical pics!). I used papers from DCWV, Websters, Prima, Creative Imaginations, Core'dinations, and CratePaper. My buttons and Prima rhinestones have been colored with Staz-On inks. I'm tickled that my Webster paper unknowingly tied in with my daughter. She's my "No. 1" daughter (first born), she loves style and design, 12 represents her age, and the paper that was covered, read "Trendsetter"...
Hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by! :D

White w/ One

2011-10-23T16:41:00.001-05:00

Not sure how well this photographed, but here's my first attempt at White w/ One. This month the "one" was the color black. I used Bazzil, Tim Holtz Grunge elements, die cut some TH Grunge board w/ TH bird cage & bird, Claudine Hellmuth Studio Sticky Back Canvas, felt bird by ColorBok, metal numbers TH, Thickers and white corrugated cardboard. I also used my Tattered Angels flourish mask and TA mists. Thanks for viewing and hope you enjoyed. :D

Johnny Appleseed

2011-10-09T20:47:00.003-05:00

This layout has been finished for several days, I was just hoping for a nice enough day to photograph it. It didn't happen.. LOL This is for a challenge over at How Much is Too Much.. posted as the Johnny Appleseed Challenge. The recipe called for the following:
Three apples - one large chipboard apple by BoBunny, one apple on my chalkboard print paper in the upper right corner that is painted with Smooches, and the third printed on my G45 alphabet strip on the left upper corner.
Three Red
Three Yellow
Three Green, embelishments This is where I was fuzzy and unclear. So here's my rendering:

Red ribbon, Red chipboard "a", Red titling "THIRD"
Yellow chipboard "b" (used crackle paint), Yellow pencil, Yellow ruler paper
Green chipboard flourish, Green chipboard "c", altered Green metal .

I also used red, yellow and green papers just to be sure.
For my sketchy inspiration, I used a very loose interpretation of Creative Scrappers sketch #175. I turned it on side and used one picture instead of two. If you haven't yet played over at Creative Scrappers or at How Much is Too Much go give 'em a whirl. They're quite inspiring!

78 Mending

2011-10-05T17:06:00.002-05:00

Okay back in the groove..I was getting nervous, thought life was going to get too busy to allow creativity. Ahh I managed though. This week I'm playing over at The Color Room. I am really digging that there's a sketch already included in the challenge and since I enjoy combining sketches w/ colors challenges, well who could ask for more? This weeks colors are shown below.

I had a tough time with the putty color and ended using a very light tan. I hoped that the pink tones would distort the color just enough to fool the eye. I used papers from Echo Park, Crate Paper and Bazzil. I used my Tim Holtz stamps and my Spellbinder dies to create the diamonds.

This layout is about my youngest DD and her experience with her first broken arm. Now many already know she has ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) and that she's already had a ride on Life Flight and a trip in an ambulance when she was suffering from grand maul seizures back in the first grade. I get a little jumpy when the school nurse calls me, if you know what I mean? When the school nurse called me that day, she was distressed and apologetic.. so imagine her surprise when I was like "ONLY a broken arm? Great, I'll be right there to pick her up!"

And since I had a simalur experience when I was four.. I totally could empathize with what she had to endure. She was a brave trooper and I'm very proud of her. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed the layout. I know I had fun working on this.

Advancement!!

2011-10-05T10:25:00.002-05:00

I'd like to take a momentary station break from the usual scheduled scrappy post. I have news I want to share. As many of you know, Taylor is in the Mixed Varsity Choir this year. He's auditioned the last two years for All State Choir. Last year, he advanced to All Region. This year... He advanced to All Region AGAIN!! It seems this year the competition is steeper and the judging is harder so I was so happy and relieved to hear his name called out for Bass 1. He's now practicing the new music and his site reading (he was told it needs work and he's like YEAH)
To give you an idea how tough competition is, last year we advanced like seven young ladies AND Taylor.. This year, we're advancing ONE young lady and TWO gentlemen. OMG so these kids really have their work cut out for them. Nonetheless, I am so proud of ALL of our kids for their dedication, discipline, hard work and commitment. Even though they may not have advanced, they're all winners to me. I've heard them sing and they're beautiful. I'm privileged to hang out with them as "Choir Mama" and get to know them and chat. I don't just have a son, I have a slew of sons. I don't just have two daughters, but a gaggle of young ladies. And all call me "Mama Wharton"
Taylor, I'm so very especially proud of you. You've grown up before my eyes and I have to remember you're not that chubby cheeked little boy any more. And to my choir kids, I've known most of you for almost 4/5 years, watching you grow up has also been rewarding. Thanks for sharing with me.

Tradition

2011-09-28T21:21:00.002-05:00

It's another page layout... well yeah, that's what my blog has become. This week is CCG's combo #210, using colors like, Lavish Brown, Urban Appeal, Sophisticated Amber and Wordly Goods. To see the color challenge for yourself be sure to click HERE. The designer's challenge this week was "Focus on Pattern" and create a project using architectural, ledger, wood-grain or geometric patterns.
I don't know about you, but when I see the word "architectural", my mind immediately turned to vintage doors, Arts & Crafts movement, Stickley, Mission, Frank Lloyd Wright...good lord this wasn't going to work. It was going to get "difficult and timely" QUICK.. step back, refocus. ReFOCUS.. I went back to pattern... I pulled my school ledger paper out, polka dots, florals, actual wood grain veneer paper and even a tone on tone plaid/check. I layered, tore, inked and distressed until I came up with this. My papers are everything, MME, EP, Crate Paper, BG, CI. I created my own "library" book pocket to tuck some private journaling in. One tag shares the history and tradition of Homecoming and the other a mom's thoughts to her 17 yr. old son.

Taylor & Madison shared a old "Southern" tradition that's mostly recognized only in Oklahoma and Texas. The giving of the "Homecoming Mum, originating at college homecomings, now recognized and practiced by both colleges and high schools.. Long story short, Mum's originally where an expensive seasonal flower and to receive one was a great honor. Mum corsages use to be presented to the date or the mother of the Homecoming Queen. But the garter version for the gentlemen was quickly adapted. As time and supplies changed, the mum became a silk flower and the sky became the limit when it came to the size and extravagance of the corsage. The "bigger the better" is norm here in Texas, and the bigger also showed how LOVED and popular you may be. These days Mums can weigh up to 12lbs, have LED lights and are loaded with trinkets, noise makers and can be personalized in all manners. Taylor and Madison are, thankfully, two level headed teens, who chose taste and function over extravagance. Each was personalized and reflected the thought and time they took to choose the "right" memento's to share.

So there you have it... the making of a layout and the story of a mum........ Happy Homecoming folks!

Homecoming

2011-09-27T17:49:00.000-05:00

It's Black w/ 2!! How fun is this??? Black w/ blue and yellow. The moment I read the challenge/recipe I was IN. I had just finished a challenge using a teal blue and had LOADS of scraps. So I gathered up my supplies, left over teal blue, "About a Boy" Fancy Pants. It had this mustardy yellow running thru it.. and it matched fabulously with scraps of "Anthentique's collection: Blissful, "Prosperity" two sided paper. So I built up from Swiss Dots Bazzil cardstock, and scrap of black chipboard. I used my versa mark ink pad with my embossing powders to build up the colors and to edge the chipboard. My layout was "inspired" by Sketchy Thursdays . I kept to it this week... wanting it sweet and simple.

I used my Tim Holtz stamps to create the zig zag stitching and the ruler. I also used my TH Tiny Tags die. Then I started twisting and rolling my scraps to create the random "branches", that I tied together with some scrap silk died yellow. I also pulled out my favorites... Stickles and Liquid Pearls to build and enhance.

This layout is built around pictures of my ds before heading out to pick up his date for his senior homecoming. Senior?? Oh good grief, I'm not really ready for this am I? I hope you enjoyed this and thanks for letting my play and share!

Shaun Denver!!

2011-09-21T21:47:00.001-05:00

Whoot whoot this was a fast and furious layout but fun.

To start off I grabbed my colors from the tried and true Color Combos Galore. This week, we're like Yeowza, big bold colors in She's Terrific Teal, Orange Scent, Blushing Melon and Clean Canvas.. BOLD BRIGHT.. IN YOUR FACE!! But the challenge was to use ONE photograph. Hmmm that's a stretch. (insert sarcasm here)

I like book cases and the stacked photo's, books and what-nots stacked up.. so I thought I need to stack stuff.. Then I found Susan Stringfellow's sketch #66 on her site Sketch Savy... I knew I had to use it. I just started playing and manipulating and here's the finished product.

My photo is ME from the 1970's. I'm not sure why I'm fascinated with other peoples glasses but every kid has to try 'em on. And any good parent has to take a picture. I grew up listening to the Beatles, the Stones, Simon and Garfunkle and of course John Denver.. thus my title. LOL Far out man! Hope you enjoyed.

Snow For Christmas

2011-09-21T21:27:00.001-05:00

I'm so late getting this up on my blog, but the internet has not been cooperating. But at last we're up and functioning again!! This last week at CCG we were working with the colors "Mulberry Tea, Porcelain Pearl, Sugared Lilac and Blue Fairy Dust"... easy enough you might think. But MULBERRY doesn't seem to exist at all out there.. so I started digging out my bazzil. To create this color, I spritz my paper w/ scarlet Glimmer Mist. The rest of the papers came for the dusty depths of my stash.

This weeks inspiration picture included pearls, tea cups and a stack of books. Two of my favorite things! And I wanted to reflect this imagery into my layout. So I stamped onto pearl finish Bazzil with my tea cup stamps. I stamped and created my own Fairy and set her on a clip art tea cup. I have a stash of Flower Soft in the colors of Heather. I never used this before and it was kinda fun and funky...I had it flowing from the teacups.. Above under the teacups I used pearl micro beads to continue the pearl theme and inspiration. Keeping with the book theme this month, I shared a poem from a favorite, Emily Dickinson.

The photo is my dd Sarah enjoying the snow falling on Christmas Eve... Okay the snow was BLOWING but we had SNOW for Santa and that's all that matters.

Well it's the end of the day and my brain is fried... I should stop typing. Have an awesome day folks!

Junior Year

2011-09-11T12:31:00.001-05:00

Oooh another color love moment! This week I had time to get two challenges done. This time I played at The Color Room using their Palette #74. TCR provides a sketch for their challenges but I'll be honest.. It didn't "speak" to me. But sketch #62 over at Sketch Savvy spoke volumes AND it mirrored TCR's sketch. It was a win, win situation. I'm desperately trying to compile and "finish" scrapping Taylors scrapbook since he's a SENIOR this year. This page highlights some of his "big" moments in choir his Junior year. I'm so proud of Taylor and his willingness to step out of his comfort zone. He competed in All State this year and made it to Region. It's been a VERY LONG time since any of our male choir members reached this achievement. He had a great time that weekend in November. In December the mixed choir performed at the Springtown War Memorial Association's fund raiser and those kids stood out in the cold singing carol after carol. UIL Solo Competition came around in Feb/March and for the first time reached a 2 (That's a GOOD thing, in years past allergies, colds and not being prepared hindered his efforts), we did have our first male soloist make a 1 and he went on to state! AWESOME. To round out the year, Taylor performed in a spring recital hosted in Aledo with his vocal coach. He performed "If I Can't Love Her" from the broadway musical "Beauty and the Beast". What better compliment and praise than to be asked by another choir if you'd come and be in THEIR choir??
Okay, I've rambled on and on about my son. (Yes, I am proud of him!) But back to the layout. In this layout I used the following products: Bazzil Swiss Dot, DCWV Mariposa, Authentique, TPC Studio, Crate Paper, 7 Gypsies gaffer tape, TH Distress reinkers & TH Adirondack Alcohol inks, punches by EK Success, stamp phrases by 7 Gypsies, Cherry Wood "paper" by Creative Imaginations, Sizzix, Making Memories and jewelry findings from clearance at Michaels.

So enjoyed playing this week, last week.. oh I get the days confused sometimes. I hope you enjoy and thanks for putting up with my rambling. Have a great week! :D

Book Lover

2011-09-06T14:31:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen... are you up for a scrappy challenge? No seriously, a REAL challenge? Head over to CCG for this weeks color combo. Want a fun sketch challenge? Then head over to Creative Scrappers for their challenge!

There are colors like Brown Nosed Professor, although Professor Tweed would have been a good name for this brown, a challenging mauve. Yes I'm calling it mauve, not lilac. Because when you start looking for this color... it's not out there!! You will need to dig thru your stash, pull out your paints, inks, daubers and implements of scrappy creations to "get" this color. OR you might have a stash of Heidi Grace, Cherry Lane from 2007 hoarded in your paper cupboard. Thank goodness I DID. If you don't know me, you'll quickly learn I can be 'anal" about color challenges. Purple means purple, not fuchsia. Navy mean dark blue not turquoise. It's just me folks, it's the websites integrity on how they choose winners for contests and such, so don't go crazy on them. This is just one of my "pet peeves"... I'm challenging MYSELF and my abilities as a creative person. Anywhoo.. THIS was challenging and I'm so glad to have a challenge. If it were easy, then well...why "challenge" myself? Part of the challenge was to "use a dictionary or text pattern" within the layout. This part was the easy part. I had paper pads containing paper with print on them. Because I HOARD that type of paper, I LOVE that type of paper. I layered two papers on one another, tearing one edge. Then taking the scraps, I cut out a panel and "popped" it up. I also cut out the woman and "popped" her up too. I continued with the text theme, using my Tim Holtz tissue tapes (LOVE) and a Library panel from an estate sale (You know the label for your books, "This Book Belongs to the Library of..") and added a quote from Mark Twain. Since this is ANOTHER picture from Hannibal, Missouri.

Well there you have it. I hope you enjoyed it. Since we're on the topic of books, go pick one up. Find a corner and read. If not for yourself, go read to your children. Need a title? Might I suggest grabbing a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain? Or ANY of his works..they are such fun getting lost in.

Choir

2011-09-02T17:07:00.000-05:00

Playing again over at How Much is Too Much? This week was a very simple straight forward recipe.
Lined paper - I used some ancient Basic Grey (check)
7 paper clips - I used a combination of stickers, by Bo Bunny and a few "real ones". (check)
9 staples - I used Tim Holtz mini stapler and my mini Fastenater. And I'll admit, I went a little over board on staples.
Use primary colored papers, red, blue & yellow - I used Bo Bunny from last year along with coordinating stickers.
I also used used sketch #64 from Sketch Savvy as my jumping building spot.

I kept everything fairly simple this time around. But these are pictures from Taylor's Mens Choir his Junior Year at SHS. I'm probably pushing the limit with ribbon. Sorry boys, you'll just have to deal. This was a fun challenge and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to play along!

Sonday

2011-08-30T13:51:00.000-05:00

A lull has settled over the challenge sites... I'm in between challenges and there are no creative obligations looming in front of me. Hmmm what should I do? I did some surfing, I needed some colors and I found a site... I really dug their challenge this week. Probably because I don't find these colors challenge, as much as I find them comforting and welcoming. These are FAVORITES and I've stepped away from my old color friends for so long I felt compelled to work with them again. No, sorry no free plug just yet. I'm not sure if this site is for me, but I will say it's intriguing. It combines colors and a sketch. I usually use a color challenge and combine it with another sketch challenge so this was a good thing.
I took this picture of Taylor in Nauvoo, IL. It was the most beautiful of Sunday mornings I've seen for a long time. The community was very quiet, but everyone was at church. (Yeah, we didn't visit Nauvoo for spiritual reason's..we came for the family reunion) So we wandered the streets, did some window shopping and explored the historical community set-up. There's a blacksmith shop, general store..you get the vibe right? I played with my camera and then grabbed my kids for subject matter!!! :D I told Taylor he might as well get use to this, he's a senior and he'll be doing senior pics very soon.

This was one of those layouts where once you get rolling, you're grabbing stuff left and right. This just snowballed and I was so tickled with it's simple but effective results. I didn't feel confined with the colors or the sketch, instead more inspired and motivated.

I had so much fun with the tag element. It allowed me some creative freedom with out deviating from my "plan" for the layout. It's one large element that contains all kinds of fun creative elements. I inked, distressed, sanded and used crackle medium. I have twine, metal and fussy cutting. All in one convenient tag.
I hope you enjoy this. I know I found it very enjoyable and relaxing creating this week. Now back to the "grind" and gearing up for Taylor's choir year. I intend to do better balancing these endeavors in life and be able to continue constructive productive scrapping AND school mom things.

Black With Two

2011-08-28T16:24:00.000-05:00

Oh I'm in whole new element.... BLACK! I have a load of friends playing at a website called Black with Two. So I had to check it out and giver a whirl. I'm so lucky to have stumbled into this months challenge!
Black, green & NO flowers. What more could a scrapper want!! I LUV green and NOT a huge lover of flowers... *weg* I also did my own personal challenge. I only allowed myself to use what was in my scrap bin for green papers. Not a single brand new sheet was cut. There's MME, G45, Creative Imaginations, & Bazzil.

I also kept it simple. I used gesso mixed w/ Making Memories paints Celery & Chartreuse, Tattered Angels Mists and some Luminart mists, Smooches, Dew Drops, rub-ons, ribbons.... what ever I can dig out of the stash. I found it hard stopping, I wanted to pull out every "green" color tool I owned, I have distress ink, alcohol inks, stickles... the list goes on and on. But I finally stopped.

This is Sarah after a day at school last spring. She had a "good day" and was able to shop in the reward box... This was her choice of rewards!! Gotta luv her. I chose the title "Make Em Laugh" from my favorite movie "Singing in the Rain". Haven't seen it..go rent it. Thanks for letting me play along and hope you enjoyed!

206 Haunted Hannibal

2011-08-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

It's such fun being a featured member over Color Combo's Galore. I discovered CCG a year ago in July so this almost feels like a birthday for me! I've made some great friends thru this website and I'm so very glad they're parts of my life. When I initially looked at the inspiration picture and the colors for this challenge, I first thought. Easy peasy! My favorite time of tones!! But when it came down to finding the actual colors to "match" the challenge. Oh THAT was the challenge. We're mixing blue grey tones w/ brown grey tones..then black and then a subtle shade of off grey white. Umm BAZZIL, we need to talk.
Prompts in this challenge were wood, ledge, capital letter title and transparencies.... Instead of going light with this, I was compelled to go dark but not black. I really like the brownish grey tones. The circles represent the softness and curves of the couch. My tree made of twisted up grey card stock, was inspired by the driftwood walking stick, I created a "ledge" from leftover wood-grain paper and corrugated cardboard and set my pictures like I would on a shelf.
The transparencies were my biggest challenge. I found a stash of Colorblok transparencies I've had and began layering them. Using a Cricket I made my title of capital letters and adhered them directly to the transparency. Still wanting another layer, using my computer & printer, I printed the word Hannibal on some transparency, cut and adhered ON TOP of the title..

From there the layout just kinda fell together. It was fun doing this and sharing this everyone. I hope you had fun too!

Adore

2011-08-25T12:11:00.000-05:00

Getting back into the stride of things now. While the desk still looks like a hurricane hit it, I still managed to complete this weeks Color Combo Galore challenge. What I liked most about the challenge was there wasn't a single speck of white, black, brown or grey as one of the four colors. THAT can be very challenging. Throw in red, pink & peach... I'm now perplexed and intrigued. Can I do this? Not a huge fan of pink and peach???
I decided to use my stash of Graphic 45 papers, these came from the Steampunk Debutante collect. Found a page of Basic Grey - basic collection and at the time it "appeared" to be peach.. just to be certain, I also used a piece of Color Core'dinations, that I dry embossed with a basket weave plate from Tim Holtz.

Since I'm shamelessy promoting and drooling over Tim Holtz, I also used my TH dress form die for my Big Shot. I then "enhanced" it with some vintage ribbon I bought while visiting Hannibal, MO. I used my Tattered Angels mask as a template and traced onto some Prima paper. After some fussy cutting and tracing I layered them all together.

Did some more fussy cutting and then started digging thru my stash.. I have TH tissue tape, American Crafts rub-on's, Glizt Rub-on's, ancient Making Memories metal and 7 Gypsie hardware. I also piddled with some Twinkling H2o's and Perfect Pearls for some random touches.

Erin in Nauvoo, IL

Erin, my daughter, was patient enough to pose and let me piddle around Sunday morning while exploring Nauvoo, IL. We had traveled all the way to partake in the annual Family Reunion, that we haven't been able to attend for years. I think it made my MIL happy to have her son & family there. I know I enjoyed the time with my husbands cousins that we rarely get to see. I certainly enjoyed the beautiful area and the time w/ the extended family.

MARK TWAIN

2011-08-23T07:22:00.000-05:00

Where are the scrappy pages? Where are the journal entries. Well, they've all been on hold for VACATION. For the first time in AGES our family of 5 took a trip, that wasn't related to the holidays w/ family, a wedding, a funeral..well you get the idea. Just the FIVE of us...and where did we go? Way off the beaten track to a small town...Hannibal, Missouri. (Okay, our trip was slightly related to family, we were gong to Nauvoo, IL for a family reunion.) But along the way, we stopped for three fabulous days in Hannibal.
This is our first Morning on the Mississippi. Looking out across the big muddy to the Illinois banks. I'm actually standing on what is left of an old bridge that spanned the river. You can even see the "avenue" on the other side where the bridge "landed"

We walked around the river front that morning and decided to climb up some 200 odd stairs to the Memorial Lighthouse. There's a story behind it. Much of Hannibal is back filled with stories and history. Storytelling is in their blood...and rightly so. We found the statue of Tom Sawyer and his companion and partner in "crime" Huck Finn. You know I had to take the tourist shot!

The kids and I were very excited to go on the cave tours. We visited one of two local caves, Mark Twain's Cave. I was kind of concerned how Sarah would do but to my delight and surprise, she enjoyed it more than I gave her credit! She did AWESOME when they turned out the light! Words 'nor pictures do the tour justice. All I can say is GO!! Enjoy. The groups are small, people are friendly and the tour guides are colorful experienced storytellers. Grab yourself a copy of Tom Sawyer and refresh yourself with the story, as there are LOADS of references to it and Mark's childhood.

One of the reason's OUR family enjoyed the cave tours... well let me put it to you this way.... a constant, consistent temperature of 52 degree's. ALL YEAR LONG.   And we've been experiencing what kind of temps down here in Texas?   'Nuff said!
Another thing much enjoyed was the River Boat tour.... a lazy hour chugging around the Mississippi and an awesome Riverboat Capt' who again was a great storyteller.   But not just stories, he threw in facts and info and you were actually LEARNING something and having fun. If I home-schooled, this would have been a JACKPOT.. but I don't and we still walked way relaxed, refreshed, inspired and just a wee bit smarter.

Since we've been home, we've been gearing up for school and it's finally here!   We're into day two and I'm happily sitting in my "studio" catching up on challenges, finishing some unfinished projects and working on little things. I'll soon be posting some of these, along w/ more pics from our adventures with Tom & Huck along the Mighty Mississip'.   Dave & I have vowed to go back to this little big town and enjoy the Bed & Breakfast Hotels, the walking tours, the arts and some more caves. The town holds festivals and art shows and it's a photographers dream..... until then. One last parting pic.

Taylor

2011-08-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

Another week, another challenge. CCG encouranged/challenged us to use vellum in this weeks color combo. Vellum??? Seriously, who owns vellum anymore? Apparently, I had just enough of a stash tuck WAY away for this. (probably felt I spent too much money on it to toss)
So the vellum is "star" patterend and then I scallop punched the bottom and distressed wit Chipped China TH Distress Pad. When I adhered it to the paper, it curled. I left it and tucked another torn sheet vellum under the roll. I used Perfect Pearls and Sticklkes dragged together for the mottled paint effect. While wet, I tossed in some micro-beads too.

I took papers from BoBunny, DCWV and MME along with Kraft paper, that I misted, tore and then used edge punches. I layered w/ some Prima rhinestones, a old rub on (that was too faint, so I then embossed) to build dimension. I continued smearing paints, pearls & stickles on some tags and some more micro beads.

And there you have it. Hope you like! :D

Musical Memories

2011-08-03T17:51:00.000-05:00

Oh boy oh boy. This was actually a very fun Color Combo Challenge. The colors were Bing Cherry, White-Washed Wood, Key Lime & Lime Ice...the twist on this was use a woodgrain pattern within the project.

I pulled my papers from Graphic 45 Times Nouveau Collection. It has several sheets full of these cute cherries and the greens were PERFECT! The next thing I used were several wood grained patterned papers. One is from DCWV's Green Stack. I used watered down gesso and wiped it on with a sponge.

My other woodgrain paper is some old Paper Studio. I took my Color Box White Pigment ink and stamped onto my craft mat. Then I gave it a quick spritz with some water...with this thinned out solution, I wiped it "with the grain" of my paper with my TH Ranger ink applicator w/ the sponge . Before it even dried, I painted with a coat of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint and set in my garage to 'bake'. Since yesterdays high was around 110.. it was ready to use pretty quickly. I then wiped it with some Walnut Distress Ink and a little more of the left over white ink. Once the inks dried, I went back over w/ a fine tip brown marker and "enhanced" the lines and the nail heads of the paper.

For embellishments, I built up coordinating tags from Graphic 45, stickers from forever ago..some fussy cutting of the cherries from scraps, rub on's and a mirrored bird from Heidi Swapp. Some metal embellishments from Tim Holtz and even a hinge I borrowed from a df helped to build things up. And some altered grunge paper hinges by Tim Holtz. Being a stickler for these color challenges, I also altered my papers...

The Graphic 45 has lots of cream and golds in it. The creams I could deal with but the golds, well there was so much it looked orange. my solution?? Markers...copic, sharpie and some SU that I've had forever...

Original Paper

After coloring over the gold with my markers...

There you have it folks. Well I'm off to play a bit. I have several challenges I'd like to finish and post. I'm so behind on my journal. Been busy getting my dd off to Missouri for some time w/ her grandparents, running ds to choir clinics and choir sectional practice and spending some quality time w/ dd #2 while the siblings are out of our hair for a wee bit. Lots of drive time involved, but we've been having some fun! Hope to get caught up over the weekend!! :D Wish me luck.

How Much is Too Much? #176

2011-07-29T20:32:00.000-05:00

It's Christmas in JULY!! It's popular, you see sales, craft fairs and now scrappy site How Much Is Too Much has jumped on board... Seriously?? Dang. I don't do well with Christmas layouts. First my pictures only reflect the chaos that commences every Christmas morn. Poof done in thirty minutes, can we go back to bed? So when DT member Fi challenges us with this... I thought crap. But then after chatting with several participants... guess what? I'm not the only one who has crappy Christmas pics. Then I thought of ALL the shots I took to get ONE... A layout was born!
The challenge recipe called for the following to be incorporated into the layout:

2 + photos [at least 2]
1 x Christmas tree image, any size
5 x patterned papers, i.e., Christmas patterns,
5 x metal embellishments, and any other embellishment in increments of 5

The two COLOR shots are my pictures... After MUCH editing and photo-shopping. (sigh)

Five patterned papers... four torn and rolled and mounted on the background patterned paper.

Five... I used five "out-takes" in a faux film strip. I used five "ornaments" with 5 patterened papers from scraps. One contained my 1 Christmas Tree. 4 metal snow flake brads & 1 metal corner mount = 5 metal embellies. And 5 clear acrylic snow flakes. A touch of journaling and I called it DONE.

Whew....

201 Icee

2011-07-27T20:12:00.000-05:00

Heheheehe... this turned out to be much more challenging than I thought! But it would have helped if I really read the details of the challenge. I was suppose to use THREE circles... (umm oops), fabric, metal, leaves, polka dots..
So, here's what I did instead... I first used a product called Fabric Stiffener. It does what the title implies. You smear it on your fabric (on that craft mat!) and allow it to dry. If you smooth it out, you can use circle cutters, punches.. and depending on the thickness of fabric..you can cut and run thru your CRICUT. (thanks Stephanie for letting me use yours as a guinea pig!) If you don't, you get a textured, wobbley fabric. All the white circles are fabric (polka dot fabric in fact). I also took some ribbon and lightly colored with my mists. Once it was dry, I twisted it into a rosette. (hmm it's okay) My metal are two copper leaves made from a heart punch. Not satisfied, I took too crystal floral pics, wrapped them around a paint brush and bling!! Done.

After that, I took a step away from my usual "style" and started to heap the flower on. I used Prima, Petaloo, Kaiser and punches from CM. Threw on some "Dew Drops" some Perfect Pearls... and stepped away.

I Do July Challenge #2

2011-07-21T14:53:00.000-05:00

Oooh another page for my Creative Personal Art Journal thingamajig... I'm so enjoying the prompts for journaling and sharing. The design challenge was: create and innovative bridal bouquet from the materials in your kit! I took the scraps and used my floral punch.. and I took the net from the ribbon and made rosettes.. not very creative. But I had some left over Sassafras that tied in nicely, so I took scraps for the borders, and the large rose. I also used some left over rub-ons. AND some little florets I bought ages ago for another project.. :D

The weeks theme was "Single" or what I miss from the "Single life" The "Best and Worse" things of being married, being single... interesting prompts to explore and journal.....

Sisters

2011-07-18T19:57:00.000-05:00

Oooh what a fun color challenge AND sketch challenge this week! Over at CCG our four challenging colors were: Creamsicle Orange, Vanilla White, Cool Blue and Ice Blue... pop over if you'd like a peek! (You have until Midnight Wednesday to play along) The designer challenge was to add a dripping element to the page! That drippy ice cream inspired me (as well as the many submissions that are already up for viewing, I'll admit I gleamed an idea or two). Many used paints and used a direct to paper approach for their drips... I was wanting something much more dimensional..

I started playing right away.. (spent most of my weekend experimenting!) This is what I came up with. Take a clean craft mat (You know the one you get from Ranger or Tattered Angels, the one nothing STICKS to), your favorite clear dimensional medium. I experimented with Mod Podge's Dimensional Magic and Ranger's Glossy Accents. My first attempt was to mix the DM with some blue Perfect Pearls, I poured a thread of this directly onto my craft-mat. Then I picked up the edge of the craft-mat and let it drip and run. Once satisfied with the "drippiness" lay flat and allow to dry. In Texas in my garage... about 12 hours. Mod Podge turned yellowish hue after drying..making my drips too golden/yellow for my project. I made a second attempt w/ my Ranger's Glossy Accents and Glimmer Mists ... MUCH HAPPIER results and after a good drying I adhered to my layout with clear liquid adhesive. (non yellowing)

After that and LOVING the effect.. I started playing with other "liquids" in my arsenal. I've seen acrylic paint dry on my craft mat and in the can (for proper trash disposal...) and another light bulb lite up! Taking my CLEAN craft-mat, I squeezed a huge blob of white acrylic paint onto the mat and let is spread out. Then taking Ranger's Stickles and Liquid Pearls.. I dripped directly into the wet paint. Then taking a stick pen, I start to swirl and drag the paint around. Then take it out to the garage and let bake for 24 hours. Don't attempt to dry with an embossing gun. It just doesn't work. As it dries, it may crack (it's paint) or shrink.. no worries. After it was completely dry, I cut out two "splats" and adhered to my layout. Once adhered, I coated with Clear Glossy Accents and a few more Stickles, and swirling with a stick pin. The orange really "bled out" while the blue stayed separate for some reason...

Lastly I played with ribbon. I was inspired by a jute/hemp piece in one submission and some pretty charms hanging from another.. so I tore up some cotton muslin in very thin strips and colors w/ my Tattered Angels. I pulled out my 'baubles' by Theresa Collins... a touch of watercolor here and there. And finished.

Thanks for stopping by! Liked the layout? Head over to Sketch Inspiration and play along. Who knows, you might win a prize... I did! That's where I got these lovely papers from! My prize package included blues from Making Memories! My orange Theresa Collins I grabbed up from Cat's Creations out in Mineral Wells. (And a frequent sponsor at SI!)

July Challenge #1

2011-07-13T20:13:00.000-05:00

This is such a GREAT month! I was so fortunate to win a Blog Hop by Scrapbooking From the Inside Out and I chose the current kit, July - Independence for my "PRIZE". It has so many papers that are in my comfort zone but SO many that AREN'T. Big jump.
This weeks challenge in relation to Independence is to create a layout reflecting your relationship to money. So many wonderful prompts and leaping off points to go with this. I'm actually looking forward to sitting down and journaling about my "relationship" with money. (or lack of most of the time!)

One part of the challenge was to incorporate a change purse/purse image into the layout. Hey the paper had purses printed on it...Not good enough for me. So I searched for a change purse template on the internet and found one at Split Coast Stampers. I printed and created my change purse with papers in the kit, the bling and scraps I started creating from the kit.

I really like the lyrics to Annie Lennox's song "Money Can't Buy It" from her album Totally Diva.
"Money Can't Buy It... baby.... Sex Can't Buy it... baby, Drugs Can't Buy it.....baby... You Can't Buy it.. baby.. I believe that love alone might do these things for you... I believe in love alone yeah, yeah."

Yeah yeah, you better stay tuned. There's more coming from this months Inspiration from SBFTIO and I'm really loving the theme INDEPENDENCE!

Dreams

2011-07-13T12:13:00.000-05:00

Do you listen to your dreams? Can you remember what you dreamed? Are they crazy imaginative nonsense things or are they friends, family and loved ones. Are you acting out scenes in life, reliving events? Or are you watching a movie in your sleep of something/someone you'll never see or speak to again?

I dream. I use to dream A WHOLE LOT when I was younger. STRONG dreams too. I'd dream one night and the next this eery sense of De Je Vu would settle on my shoulders.. Yep, use to do that alot in high school. When my brother passed... the year after was an endless stream of dreams of Aaron. Living breathing flesh reality dreams, waking with this feeling tremendous loss. (I call those, the goodbye dreams)

This week I had one of those dreams. The person in my dream was so incredibly real. And this dream showed me all the wonderful positive changes that this person was trying to achieve when our paths turned in different directions. Without going into all the details of this dream..I'll just say it left me with a strong sense of "I need to do something" when I awoke. But what? After a phone call to a girlfriend, and status update on my FB... the response was.. YES do SOMETHING. This is what I did...

It's just a card. But it made me feel pro-active. That I was acknowledging the dream and the path it was taking me down. It will be out of my hands the moment I put the flag up on the mail box and when the mail carrier takes this to it's destination.

I took a piece of mica and stamped my image w/ StazOn in black. I flipped the mica over and used my Twinkling H2O's, Perfect Pearls and my Smooch paints to color the image. I stitched on my background paper, hand stitched the mica to the card front, using the stitches to hold a spray of pearl beads. My paper Prima flowers hid some of the ickness. Using StazOn I also stamped the word Dream to the front of the mica.

Birthday Girl

2011-07-10T12:20:00.000-05:00

This is page two to Erin's 10 year birthday layout. It too was inspired by Sketch Inspirations #227. I missed the deadline by FOUR minutes! LOL That's okay, the true prize is getting a finished layout for my daughters scrapbook. If you ever are stumped for a layout idea...may I suggest Sketch Inspirations? Free plug, I receive nothing for sharing!
The colors for my layout are also inspired by another favorite site, Color Combos Galore. I can't believe I've been using their challenges for just over a year now. I love having so many wonderful layouts finished for my children and for my personal gratification.

My layout was inspired by this month's "theme" National Ice Cream month. What better representation that photo's from a birthday?!

I'm currently hooked on stitching. I'm not really sure how my husband would feel about me using my new sewing machine to stitch on paper but considering what I've been doing over the past year... I feel stitching is very befitting to my regular evolution of scrapping. I went back to the stashes and found OLD ColorBok papers... I mean, ancient Walmart stuff. I was actually on the verge of donating it to the kids or another worthy scrapper out there. But it had YELLOW in the pad. So, I started tearing and stitching it. After "enhancing" it with Tattered Angels glimmer mists in Daffodil yellow and Pink Bubblegum.

Since I was working on white Bazzil card stock, I took a Tattered Angels mask (some of you may remember this! Multipurpose!) layed it down and spritz with my Angel mists... while it was still wet with mist, I gently picked it up, flipped it over and dropped it right on the lower right corner of the page.. (see below) and I also stitched on a circle over and over and over...

It's a reverse stamped mask in a sense. No, not my original idea. I got it from Sally McDonald when she came to teach at Cat's Creations out in Mineral Wells. She taught a class on Copics, Tattered Angels Mists and Prima products at the time last year. It was fun and I learned something new!
Another detail element from the sketch challenge was three photo boxes running down the length of the page. I had cut my photo's too large, and I didn't feel like re-cutting, re-matting, re-distressing. The witching hour was upon me so I set those aside for later. Instead I used three jewelry tags that I covered with sticky back canvas and Bazzil papers. I added my texts and used a fun product I've had stashed forever...

You might remember it... It's called Foil, Glitter, Flock Adhesive Rub On Kit by We R Memory Keepers... It's actually really fun. The rub on's are the adhesive and then you rub the foil, glitter or flock onto the adhesive.

I enhanced flower stickers from K&Company, a surfboard from MME, found OLD Doodlebug alpha stickers, rub on's from god knows where and used H2O's to touch things up. Over all a very satisfying creation. I'm very content and happy if I'm ripping, staining, spritzing and altering objects to meet my creative needs. This challenge fit the bill!

Clear Snaps Blog

2011-07-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

Happy 3rd of July! Yeah I know but I think many folks are enjoying kicking off the celebrations today. I know we are! It's been good and busy here. Spent a wonderful Friday night w/ my sister. We celebrated her "40th" birthday in grand style at Chuy's in Ft. Worth. Zek, our FABOO waiter, was tremendous and a patient patient man. Saturday, my AWESOME husband, finished the LAST of the trim work on house and painted the garage door!! Then he started on the shed in the back yard... bless his heart, it was 103 out there! But it's lookin good. Today, we're getting the truck loaded with the cooler, homemade pasta salad, lawn chairs, towels and all the fixin's you need for fun at the pool. Been invited to share the festivities with friends. Then tomorrow we're heading on base for some FABULOUS FIREWORKS hosted by MWR and the Carswell JRB Base in Ft. Worth.

Another way of joining the celebrating and festivities are some of my favorite blogs and sites online. Everyone is sharing what they're up to, having blog hops, contests and give-aways. Ah now you see where we're going with this!!! Pinky aka Crystal Hobbs over at Much Ado About Nothing is sharing an opportunity to win a free Cricut Cartridge AND an acrylic butterfly album from Clear Scraps. I figured some of my crafty friends might like a chance at this opportunity, so I wanted to share this with you. Head over to Much Ado About Nothing for all the nitty gritty details. Make sure you say "Hi" and let her know that I sent you over! :D Check out Clear Scraps, their blog, their store and their upcoming events.

Hope everyone has a safe and fabulous Fourth of July! Thanks for stopping by!! :D

#162 Circa 1941

2011-07-01T10:21:00.000-05:00

Well turns out the color challenge is the same colors used for the DT Call at the other site. So hmmmm what to do? AH I'll head over to Creative Scrappers and see what their challenge is. It's pretty darn cute. I love diamonds and I had to give this a whirl.

Sweet and simple. And FAST. Okay, it's a little wonky but I'll fix the border before sliding it into the album sleeve. I stuck to the actual sketch for the most part. I did also challenge myself by using scraps from my scrap drawer. So what you're seeing is some scraps from G45 (red stripes & very old Christmas), Some vintage Daisy D, Bo Bunny, Bazzil and TH Grunge . I used three border punches and layered all three to create one wide border.

And lastly.. I just did a wee bit of journaling at the top. This is my great grandmother Vena Gilman. This was taken at Horseshoe Skyline, Colorado on July 4, 1941 Pretty darn cool I though...

This was a satisfying little bit of scrapping. But the Big Weekend is before us and there's plenty to be done before we can relax and enjoy it. You all have a great weekend, and a SAFE weekend. Keep those burn bans in mind when blowing up your fireworks, make sure you have your designated driver and have a HAPPY 4th of July America!!

Color Combo Galore - DT Challenge

2011-06-30T19:26:00.002-05:00

There wasn't a actually CCG Challenge this last week. Instead the site was working on their design team call. I played along with the colors and this was my take.

I was inspired by the cafe sign, the woody in the mural and the vintage parked Chevy. I dug out old pictures of my grandfather, his mother-in-law (my great grandmother) and her husband. I have hidden journaling under the bottom picture and did loads of layering with the Life is Good. I was very tickled w/ my layout and please with the outcome.

Congratulations to all the new members of CCG Design Team. Looking forward to your inspirational layouts.

June Challenge #2 Idealist/Halo

2011-06-30T14:12:00.000-05:00

Very very interesting challenge... as I explored the word, meaning and image of "Idealist" two images immediately come to mind. My father and myself. I didn't realize but to certain degree's we are "Idealist". I AM a person who cherishes, embraces and likes to believe in a higher principles and purposes. I like to believe that ALL people share the same philosophy of good over evil, "doing the right thing" and putting others before yourself. And when following this train of thought...ACTING on it as well. Practicing it in daily life.

This would probably explain why I'm so easily shocked and surprised when the outcome of certain scenarios and peoples behavior totally reflect the opposite. So after repeatedly being shocked and disappointed it was no surprise that my "idealism" began to fade. I was - am becoming more cynical, more sarcastic and viewed life with the perspective of low expectations. Not only of MYSELF, but very low expectations of others. BUT there's a problem with that outlook in life. I CAN'T BLAME OTHERS FOR MEETING MY LOW EXPECTATIONS. I CAN'T BLAME OTHERS FOR NOT REACHING MY IDEALIST VIEWS. I was doing that. So I'm looking back at the definition of IDEALISM...and realistic or not... I am embracing those thoughts and views.

i·de·al·ist

2011-06-30T10:19:00.000-05:00

–noun

1. a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.

2. a visionary or impractical person.

3. a person who represents things as they might or should be rather than as they are.

June Challenge #1 Voice/Chatter Bubble Optimism

2011-06-29T13:04:00.000-05:00

Self talk... you know the voices IN your head. The ones that either lift you up or slam you down. We all have an inner voice. Mine talks ALL the time. I think it's a reflection of my personality, you think?? I'm still learning how to shut her up sometime. During the day, the voice reminds me of things to do, goals to accomplish, gives me "Atta Girls" and gives me a pep talk to get thru situations. That voice is MINE.

At night my voice usually sleeps. Unfortunately as I lie there..others awaken. They have names; Self Doubt, Negativity, Suspicion, Fear..to name a few. They bring up past experiences where I stumbled, releiving painful parts of my life. Other voices talk about my image and body. When life is out of control they take the form of mini-movies of me flying out of control, clinging to shreds of reality. Or running in circles trying to find solutions for problems in the daytime. Occasional night or day, the voice is my mothers. I think ALL us has our mother's or father's voice in our head. I'm not saying our mothers or fathers are bad. It's just they are such a ingrained part of us, we can't help it when their voice speaks..
This challenge is giving a great jumping point to explore these voices and how they affect my optimism. Because I'll admit these voices can be very pessimistic, but then when Freud looks at me and my family well... We are very sarcastic, cynical and at times negative. (Again not a blame game. just stating a fact) But when do I shake those negative influences and adopt my own? So I'll be exploring this venue in my journal and maybe quiet some of those voices. Except the one that tells me where the car keys are and the grocery list running in the back of my head.....

Island Girl

2011-06-29T08:26:00.001-05:00

Aloha! Since this week at CCG there isn't a color challenge... GASPS... I'm posting a new creation for Sketch Inspiration! (Don't worry I'll be post a CCG Challenge by Friday...there's an open call for DT members! Wish me luck!) Okay..onward!
On Sketch #226 I had to turn mine around all wonky. For some reason, I'm loving on the circles. Dunno why as usually I'm fighting and combating circles on my layouts. I've never really liked them. But this year and in recent months..BOOM we've had a truce.

I took my favorite circle cutter and cut one solid circle. Then I cut a smaller circle frame. (I had two sided paper and it made coordinating a snap) I then placed the frame on the circle and STITCHED them together. I gave the whole thing a generous spritz with plain ol' water and started rubbing and rolling the edges. I was shooting for an worn, chenille, beached out effect. You know those quilts with the reverse seams that give the impression of a chenille quilt? Sadly due to the size of my photo's you can barely see the second circle, but I assure you it's there.

I used ribbons from Websters (I think from last year..but a df swapped me these ribbons and I've been dying to use these!) and layered them with my title "Island Girl" using another df's Cricut and my cartridge, Life's a Beach. I also used the same cartridge and cut the flower border and the tikki dude. The tikki dude is made from Creative Imaginations thin veneer wood. Scared of messing up the Cricut, I first cut the image on scrap paper then used as a template to cut from the wood. I did use the scrap "details" for the face. I rubbed Vintage Photo Distress Ink by TH over it to bring out the grain of the wood. I DIG it!! The flowers, I just distressed the edges w/ my Xacto blade and hit with Stickles!

Lastly using scraps I made my journal tags and added Stickles to my daughters lei. All my papers are Creative Imaginations that I've been hoarding. With the exception of the yellow palm tree paper, it's MME. I love how quickly this fell together! And I was able to start pulling pictures that I've needed to crop. This is my dd's 10th birthday.... she's turning 12 THIS year. But hey, I'm getting there right??

op·ti·mism

2011-06-24T00:29:00.000-05:00

–noun

a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.

the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.

the belief that goodness pervades reality.

Look no cynical side remark!!! :D

How Much is Too Much?

2011-06-23T22:35:00.000-05:00

Where should I start? I've always enjoyed viewing others creative art journals.. they're small albums/books of crafty wonderfulness. Perfect if you don't have photo's to scrapbook, or you want to just be creative. But they've always seemed a bit intimidating. My crafty/scrappy fb friends and friends from blogs appear to work on their DAILY.   Daily?? Oh no way.   You see, I love the idea of journaling, writing my "story" for future generations, a treasure to find long after I'm gone. It's a great concept. Then I read what I wrote in a past entry.... seriously? I suck.
Another concept hit the scrappy/crafty world.. "ME" kits and Me albums.... monthly pages about yourself. Yeah, I never jumped on that.. I don't get in front of the camera much to start with. And I use to think, "Wow, you must really be stuck on yourself!" to do these... UNTIL I stumbled across a blog titled...
Scrapbooking From the Inside Out It's a blog, it's a monthly kit... it's a cool concept. Emotional Scrapbooking. They say keeping a journal is therapeutic, scraping can be too. I really like this concept they present, but I'm too cheap to buy the kits. (But a friend DOES and they ARE fabulous.)
I do own LOTS of journals. I'm addicted to them like scrapbooking, stamping, photography, books and pens... I even have a cool METAL journal (the cover is metal) and had once attempted a circle album with some friends. (oops that BOMBED) so I have this journal...   jump forward now.

I recently learned of another fabulous blog... How Much is Too Much It encourages your creativity and encourages you to use your STASH. I have to online friends who participate regularly and are even DT members (you guys ROCK). I had to start following. Then I did my first challenge.. and now taking my cues from this weeks challenge #174... I've done something I think is COOL.   I took this weeks challenge, combined it with SFTIO's monthly inspiration "Optimism" and created an art journal page!!! Cool huh?? I figured I can journal in between challenges, giving me almost an entire month to ponder Optimism and two weeks to work on the stuff challenge! So here's the scoop, what I used and etc.   I'm sorry this IS a long post but I'm jazzed on this!!

- Using mainly light colours, and it must include at least a bit of yellow (for the summer solstice)
- 1 circle (for the sun)
- 7 different types of flowers (if you want to, try making one or more handmade flowers)
- 7 rub-ons or stamped images
- 24 other items

My light colored papers were scraps of Basic Grey. One was my base and the second I tore, inked the edges w/ TA Mists and STITCHED to the base.

My circle was a doily, but I accidentally covered it entirely.. so one of my rub-on's play double duty, being a circle too.

The 7 flowers were one left over creation from a previous challenge, one ancient Prima, one chipboard element, one tiny sticker, one STAMPED image on muslin colored w/ watercolors, one green MM floral brad, and one Heidi Grace sticker.

My 7 rub-on/stamps were a huge black rub-on placed on the base paper, one corner border on my inked stitched paper (but again covered up), one numerical rub-on placed on the muslin tag, one STAMPED image of the flower, one partial quote (Memory is a way...), two CIRCLE rub-on's and one more corner rub-on the corner of the stitched paper & photo. Oh almost forgot, one "stitched" rub-on.

My 24 items are a combination of 11 green epoxy Pebbles, two brads, one hat pin, one muslin tag, one rhinestone embellishment, one floral tab, 6 staples, one "schmear" of gesso, three pink "Dew Drops", one scrap of paper w/ Optimism printed on it.. totaling technically 28 items... WHEW!!

ALL of this crammed onto my journal page measuring 8 3/4 tall x 5 1/2 w..... So I'm ready for the next challenge!!! LOL

Reflections

2011-06-23T12:52:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been a long time since I've mused, ranted or anything besides scrapbook. I'm sure it must be very disappointing for some, thinking my life revolved around them and that their actions and events effected me. Hmmm sorry.

People move in and out of our lives..it's a fact. Sometime it's due to distance, a move, simple daily living. Your children go one direction, mine the other. Sometimes folks don't see eye to eye anymore, or no long enrich and uplift each others lives. Others, you have to step back and watch someone you love hit "self destruct" over and over until they need you there to stand by them while they put their lives back together, but until that moment you're apart for days, weeks or even years. Sometime, you step away and sequester yourself from everyone, put on a protective coat to shield yourself from the nasty, hurtful, belittling remarks one human can make. Hope that while you're gone, your friends see you for who you really are. Who are willing to ignore the ugliness and want to be YOUR friend.

For two years, I've stayed on my side of the fence. I declined invites, public socialization to prevent any major boat rocking. It's not fun getting caught in the tidal wave when women fall apart. And it's now that I look back and look at those caught in the mess and realize... I owe you an apology. Sorry that you got sucked into this mess. Sorry that you may have felt a need to choose sides or to turn away because you didn't want to chose. I've never asked, demanded or wanted to make anyone feel that they had to. I also owe you my gratitude. Thank you for STILL inviting me out even when you knew it could "rock the boat". Thank you for your phone calls, your emails, txts and social network comments. Your friendships mean the world to me.

Two years have passed and I've taken a good long hard look at myself. And I like what I see. Worked on some self improvement projects, in a matter of speaking and it's time to start stepping out again. It's time to say yes to invites and putting myself out there. I've learned to volunteer for what I LOVE and not for neediness. I've learned to set boundaries, learned to say "No", gently but firmly. I've learned I can give of myself with out demeaning or sacrificing myself. And I've learned that friendship is based on COMPLETE HONESTY and if you're unable to handle that from me.... it's OKAY. And that honesty does come with a price..sometimes it hurts. So I've also learned tact, consideration and gentleness.

Friendship is also not based on what you do for me or what I do for you. I've always "done" for my friends because I wanted to. It made ME feel good. It's wasn't a laundry list of accomplishments to throw in a friends face..."I've done ALL these things for you!" I never like seeing a friend down or suffer and if I was able to help..awesome. I'm sorry I didn't praise you for all the wonderful things you did for me. I didn't think we were keeping daily charts w/ stars and smiley stickers. I DID appreciate it, but I didn't realize I was suppose to praise you daily and praise you to others daily.

I'm ready to live again. I'm ready to be with friends again. I'm open to exploring old friendships and I'm always eager to meet new friends. Some friends, I'm content with passing out of my life. I have no need for you. But don't worry, I also feel no need to discuss, name call, point fingers...I feel no need to acknowledge that time in my life anymore. Those bridges are burned and now even the ashes have blown away into nothing...

I'm smiling now and it's a beautiful day. Time to enjoy it, enjoy being creative, enjoy being a mother, a wife and a friend... I hope you have a wonderful day too. You are wonderful, you deserve the best in life and no one can tell you otherwise! :D

My Girl

2011-06-22T11:19:00.003-05:00

This week was fun, fun, fun! And I'm going to go on and on and on about it!

I keep going back to these two sites and the creativity of the women here. Color Combos Galore & Sketch Inspiration. When armed with inspiration like this, you can't go wrong.

I pulled papers from Autumn Leaves (2003) & Prima, Strawberry Kisses Collection ~ Summer Picnic and Pastiche Collection ~ Vintage Garden. Last sheet of each that again been hoarding forever. I also used stamps by Outlines Rubber Stamp Co that I happily bought at my fss, Cat's Creations Scrapbooks.

I stamped, embossed, colored and slathered on Glossy Accents, Dimensional Magic, Perfect Pearls, H2O's, rhinestones to these little petals. Layering and using "snot" dots to add depth and texture. It's quit addicting and I still have blooms I didn't use on the layout. How ever I did learn that Dimensional Magic can and will change the tones and colors of your water color pencils AND copic markers. I have some orange~coral blooms in my stash now. My favorite was stamping on black cardstock and embossing with white embossing powder. The POP was faboo!

I ran a piece of Strawberry Kisses all the way across the page. Loved the colors and tones as they matched so well with the challenge! But I couldn't leave well enough alone. I cut out the striped arches, edged w/ black. Then I layered back into place again using dimensional "snot" dots. I did the same w/ the flower cut outs. Using my computer, I matched my challenge colors and created the journal blocks. I also free handed outlined each block w/ my vellum writer pen. (works great on photo paper!)

I stamped "Count the Happies" on creamy cardstock with my TH Worn Lipstick Distress Pad and continued stamping until the ink faded. Matted it on black cardstock and topped with a wonderful bloom. Then I used my circle cutters and cut one black and one cream circle frame, adhered the black to the cream and the whole thing directly to the paper. Topped off with "My Girl" with some Thickers and I was good to go!

I digitally "altered" my picture of Sarah using both Picnik for the frame and water mark. I also added flourishes using my Microsoft Publishing software. I was even able to match the flourish with the Red Riding Hood color. This was a fun set of challenges..I like the sketch so much, I'm off to work on another of my older dear daughter, or may my dear son... who knows!

Summer Lovin' Had Me a Blast

2011-06-15T10:36:00.000-05:00

Fun days at Sandy Beach..Sandy Lake? I'm always confused with it's name... oh well. This weeks challenge was brought to us by Grease! Sandy & Danny holding hands on the beach..Summer Lovin' rocking the speakers.. Deb & Janet picked awesome colors and a great inspiration photo for us to work on. I took it another step and headed to Sketch Savvy to check out Susan's sketches. They rock too! I choose current sketch #59. I'm no where as awesome as she..but here's my take. Honestly, I want to continue building and adding to it, but I so wanted to share before the deadline. At least I got to rephotograph it in the daylight.

Including some journaling was part of the challenge and for me I love journaling. But I didn't want it out for all to see. So I mounted my photo on black chipboard and popped it up on the corners using what my friends & I call "snot dots". This created enough space for me to tuck a couple of altered manilla tags that I journaled on. I added some scraps of ribbon, pieces of TH tissue tape and distressed the entire tag w/ inks and glimmer mists.

Susan's sketch used three manilla tags above the picture block and I liked my twist on her design. The next set of elements were some paper ribbon, paper strips running across the page. I used three..the first being simple patterned paper, that I wadded it up and then smoothed it flat. The next I took a piece of vellum and covered it w/ TH tissue tape. I then used a border punch . Lastly, I ran some ME Lost & Found thru my Big Shot w/ TH film die.

I dug thru the stash and we have a jar full of shells and sand dollars we've collected over many summers. Some are from Maine and some are from west Florida. The sand dollar was broken, chipped and didn't "bleach" out after drying. So, I spritzed it with some more glimmer mist! It looked cool! I also took a doily and layered it on some sandy pearl cardstock. Taking my cue from Lost & Found I add a bit of glitter around the edge.

I used canvas to mat my photo and lastly I used a Tattered Angels mask to build dimension. I smeared on some molding paste onto some vellum. Before it dried, I spritzed with glimmer mist. After it dried, I cut out and layered onto my layout. Last where the chipboard thickers for the title....
Thanks for the summer fun!

The Days are Numbered

2011-06-10T11:07:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh, our days truely are numbered. I had actually finished a challenge on time so I thought, let's grab last weeks and maybe I'll get an entire month of challenges completed, DURING the actual month! Challenge 194 focus was on numbers... okay sure numbers are easy. What I didn't expect was the challenge of the colors. Daffodil Yellow, Leaves of Green, Krafty & Tulip Red... easy right? Oddly enough, no.
For those of you who know me, I'm anal regarding the color matches. And the red was kicking my butt. After tearing into ALL of my paper reserves and going back and forth several times, I finally chose BG Obscure. I still was drawing a blank, how on earth am I gonna make this work? Thank goodness the internet is right here to I started browsing for inspiration... and it was very close to home.
A former sponsor of CCG, I headed to Pencil Lines to check out their challenge. I was in luck, I jumped on current challenge #241 and before I knew it, my layout was finished! But I'll admit to a new twist! I scanned my page and then added digital elements on top! I've been curious if it could be done and I did it!

I had fun using my TH embossing folders and even broke out my gf Cricket. It wasn't near as intimidating as I thought it would be. I'll admit I will go back and do some hidden journaling on this. This picture of my dd Erin has me wanting to remind myself that these days are numbered. She's 11 going on 21. A 6th grader wanting to be a freshman. A little girl desperately reading to be a full blown teen and no longer a "tween". Next fall she'll be a 7th grader...Jr. High! And from her perspective, she'll be running w/ the big dogs like older brother (who'll be a senior). Advanced classes, after school practice w/ band, and FINALLY group movie nights, bowling weekends and all the "fun" stuff brother has been doing since 8th grade, all will be hers!! Thanks goodness I'm getting to pick up my "new" mini-van this weekend, looks like 2011-12 will be a busy year for me!!

Hot Lazy Days

2011-06-08T12:06:00.000-05:00

Ever look at a creative challenge and think to yourself.. "EASY PEASY".. I initially had the same thought for this one. I started at my favorite color combo challenge site, Color Combos Galore and jumped on board for the weeks challenge. Bright summery colors, bold...then I started pulling papers..then I read the challenge details a bit more...The inspiration picture shows water and beach/pool things. The inspiration dialogue suggests incorporating hot air balloons.. !?! Huh? Well I did it. This is my take on CCG#195.

I also took my cues from another creative website. Instead of a layout challenge, this one encourages you to use masses of stuff!! I used six different patterns, old MME, BoBunny, and G45. I enhanced with my Tattered Angles to make their colors vibrant but then knocked it back down w/ some Distress Ink (TH!). Even found some Three Bugs in A Rub textured border stickers that I enhanced.

Keeping in a circle theme I pulled some 7 Gypsies goodies and arranged on my six circles. Loving the steam
punk look, I did another first, I used a digital down load from an Etsy shop MonBonBon. I printed two of her vintage hot air balloons, distressed them and layered them.

Lastly, I added my title and scrounged around for my six embellishments.. (yeah it's was a challenge thing)

however, after finding my embellishment and after staring some time at my balloon image and another idea began to develop. I used 14 of these fabulous little lacing brads that I've had FOREVER and some waxed floss and mimicked the ropes on my balloon. I know the challenge said six but really How Much is Too Much?

Last tidbit, the pictures are my youngest daughter. Yes, I'll be the first to admit it, she's a cutie. But for those of you who don't know it, Sarah is on the Autistic Spectrum. She's a very high functioning little girl but suffers from severe anxiety disorder and loads of little symptoms all over the scale. This particular summer Sarah CHOOSE to have me photograph her after some fun in the sprinkler. She had fun posing for me and smiling and I was so tickled to get to play behind the camera. Moments like this don't happen often, and those out there with Autistic children know it's sometimes very difficult to even get their child to look AT them, let alone at a camera... so a true treasure. :D

#190 Brother Sister Family Siblings

2011-06-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

Layout #190 from Color Combos Galore. I finished a current challenge on time, as a matter of fact with time to spare...what should I do? Why CATCH UP some more. So I picked this color combo challenge because the inspiration picture was fabulous. I pulled papers from Creative Imagination IOD line, a sheet of Cosmo Cricket from a friend (thanks Steph for the YELLOW) and pulled out my Tim Holtz Grundge papers. I was out of sticky back canvas, so I stamped on muslin instead.

The challenge was to incorporate/use siblings or pets in the layout. (Do children count as pets?) I had this darling rubber stamp that I used my water color pencils on for that soft dreamy look. Water coloring became my "theme" from that point on... I water colored onto stamped images on muslin, I highlighted the diamonds on the paper & grunge board butterfly wings..if it didn't move I water-colored it.

I also pulled out my Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint for the butterfly wings and a flower. I used Stickles to fill in the centers of the flowers and to add random dimension thru out the layout.

Lastly I pulled out chipboard letters B - Brother Best S- Sibling Sister F- Friends Family which I covered with scraps of paper, coated w/ dimensional magic, distressed and water colored. I also pulled out acrylic letters e-erin t-taylor & s-sarah.
I took pictures of my layout outside both in the shade and in the sun. The sun created too much glare and the shade cast a blue hue..I hope I was able to represent the inspiration colors as closely as possible.

Catching Up

2011-05-24T18:26:00.000-05:00

Life is slowly returning to normal. While the world around us is topsy turvy, things begin to settle here. Not much journaling to go with these but my more recent scrappy pages to share with you.

Enjoy

178 Sweet Cheeks

2011-02-05T21:27:00.001-06:00

Talk about a challenge! This one kicks of February with sweets in mind. We were challenged to "frost" our layout. Oddly, I took this a completely different way than the suggested frosting. CCG suggested using rubber stamping or rub on's as frosting to our layouts. I do that a lot anyway so I took one of my Tattered Angels Masks and used it as a resist. I smeared simple gesso over it allowing my chocolate brown paper to peak thru. FROSTING! Then the petite fours also inspired me, so after rummaging around the stash I pulled papers from Basic Grey's Porcelain/Chintz & Arabella, Two Scoops/ Swirl & Dreamsicle and made a large mat. I even machine stitched around each square and then machine stitched around the entire "whole" square. I was so proud of that!! The sewing machine didn't even EAT my layout. That alone made me do a happy dance! After that I began layering and I mean LAYERING!

The Basic Grey had a sticker sheet so I used elements from it. And to FROST my page even more.. I used Stickles to enhance the flowers, I also used my dimensional pearls to add more depth.
I ran ribbon across the page, another element inspired by the challenge. Those little petite fours had cute little frosting ribbon piped on.
I also used a sketch from PageMaps to jump from... with MANY liberties. But the concept is still there.

I took Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels #17 and cut it in half. I added another BG rub on to it and doodled on some green ink that I watered down with my water pen. I stitched on a small doily and added some sparkle on top of that. I had the good fortune to have enough Thickers to spell "Sweet Cheeks" to describe my youngest chubby little cheeks.

I had loads of fun working on this layout. I don't normally have this many layers going on. I'm even glad I mis-read the initial challenges with-in the challenge.

365 Meet 177

2011-02-02T15:53:00.000-06:00

Snow days mean staying in, getting cozy, reading a book, watching a movie..or scrapbooking! We are home for day two after ice/sleet hit us Monday morning. I took this opportunity to work on my CCG challenge using "Hot Cup of Teal", "White Tea", "Chamomile Tea" and "Black Tea".... we were also challenged to use a flower element, metal and lace.

These are some Target clearance chipboard flowers that I had to alter w/ my copic markers.. the blue wasn't right and there was some purple that I covered up with some Smooches. The green, well I'll just call it "green tea", and it's good for you!

My metal was a Basic Grey rub on that I placed on some Ten Second Studio metal. Then colored with copics... I also added a key tag with "365" rub ons.

Some simple white lace from the stash some left white and some I "dyed" with my Tattered Angels to get my "teal"..I layered them and layered another rub on from the stash.

This is the finished result and when my 365Project meets my CCGC #177. I took alternate pictures from my 365 stash and combined with my layout challenge. All pictures were taken in or around cemeteries. I have a messed up attraction to them, dunno why. But I like the effects and the finished project.

Snow.........

2011-01-25T22:38:00.000-06:00

Tickled happy.. finished yet another layout challenge. I know, this may be boring to most, but I'm very happy to complete another page for Taylor's album. And I am catching up on past challenges I missed during the holidays. This time I banged out my layout with help from a fun little site called, Sassy Lil' Sketches it's their January 7th sketch. So with the help of some Basic Grey (Figgy Pudding) and some My Minds Eye and a piece of snow embossed cardstock I've hoarded for the past umpteen years.. SEE I do use OLD stuff, I came up with this.

The challenge encouraged you to incorporate sheer ribbon... huh seems I don't own any that coordinated with this color combo..BUT had some awesome snowflake ribbon I used instead. I did draw my inspiration from the snow flakes piped on the confections in the inspiration photo... I happened to own some rubber stamps that mimicked this design. I stamped on some "Iced Cafe Au Lait" pearl cardstock and used some Martha Stewart glitters. I dug out my punches for the borders and even found some MAMBI rub-on's. (Note, rub-on's DO have a shelf life..do not HOARD these..use 'em up!) Since my rub-on's kept flaking off, I touched them up with STICKLES (you know I had to sneak some Tim Holtz/Ranger in)

I finished with some glittery white Thickers, more stamping and glitter (which is freakin' everywhere now.) and journaling in white and "Arctic Aqua".

Finished!! Done!! Happy..... (and I know, the color is "off" in this last shot. Didn't quit have camera settings
where they should be..and didn't quit fix in my software..)

Cloudbusting

2011-01-24T22:53:00.000-06:00

Weekly challenge!!!! This one incorporated "clouds" into the inspiration.... and quite frankly I'm not a huge fan of die cut clouds, stencils or stickers.... they're too (sorry) cute and kiddie. I know, the layout features my youngest KIDDIE. But the photo did inspire me. This was taken wwaaaaay back, David took the girls to fly kites at our new park. Erin quickly took off on her own. Daddy & Sarah were having different adventures with her kite. I had fun photographing them. I love this shot of Sarah.
I see her looking up at the kite on what happened to be a beautiful, blue sky, puffy cloud day... and the song by Kate Bush ~ Cloud Busting came to mind.

Taking my cue, I pulled out papers from Bo Bunny, My Minds Eye, White Bazzil, Grey Bazzil and even some very opaque vellum. I printed some of the lyrics onto vellum and then adhered to the grey, then adhered to the white. I used my stitching tool to pierce the edges all around (can't see well here),

Imagery from the video kept coming to mind (keep in mind, I haven't seen the video since the 90's and it never occurred to me until AFTER I finished to find on You Tube.) But grabbed me some gears and copied the definiation of clouds from an old dictionary..

Printed Cloudbusting out after editing in my publishing software (matching my colors of course) and printing

onto the vellum. Since it takes forever for ink to dry on vellum, I dusted w/ clear embossing powder and set w/ heat.

Dug thru my leftover embellishment stash... found bits & pieces of lace trip, laser cut flourishes and a
My Minds Eye piece that I enhanced with Smooches and water to add depth to the blue, white Smooches to knock down the green... and spritzed the whole thing with Tattered Angels.. Oh and dry embossed that little piece of vellum with a Cuttle-bug embossing folder..and That's my finished challenge!

#175 Comfort

2011-01-17T19:17:00.000-06:00

It's Monday, the kids vegged most of the day...I cropped. And I'm finished with ANOTHER layout and I have to say, I LOVE this layout. It took a few steps away from my vision but it's close enough... This weeks theme we were to use COMFORT in our layout.. My pictures represent what give me comfort; the wonderful memories of my brother, my husbands love & kisses, my husbands patience and willingness to be an active parent and father (I'm reminded everyday, just how many fathers out there are schleps) my children inspire me to comfort them and to provide comfort in our home, my comfort in our nations service men & women and for the dedication my husband had for his Navy career when he was still active reserve, comfort in the simple luxuries such as a creamy latte.

I used Fancy's "About a Boy" paper line and I had it's coordinating sheet of titles and tags. From it I "built" the butterfly. I traced the wings onto a piece of Mica and cut them out. The nice thing about Mica is I can split and peel off layers. Using a dimensional "snot dot" I built the mica wings up, then enhanced with Stickles.

I used a stencil and pounced the white flowers directly onto the paper, not satisfied I outlined with a white journaling pen. Still not satisfied, I traced onto sticky back canvas and cut out and layered onto the background. Further enhancing with a blender pen, Distress Inks, two Sharpies, Dimensional Pearls...and I stopped and said enough. My white pigment ink just isn't giving me the pop I wanted.

One thing that happened while playing... I had white Thickers, I wanted them green. So I inked and embossed, but it didn't work! It literally shrunk the ink/embossing powder and pealed off. So, I peeled off all the green and this shot happened. I'm also doing Project365 and this was the perfect picture for today! I went back with Staz-On and the ink stuck... and after running thru the Xyron the letters stuck too!

167 Challenge!

2011-01-14T22:15:00.000-06:00

Catching up is hard to do! But I'm diligently working at it. Tonight I finished Challenge 167 and I'm quit pleased with the finished result. I did forget to leave room for my jounaling, but I'll fix that later. I was just excited that it turned out how I pictured in my head!
This is Sarah on a trip to the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens... this would be "pre-diagnosed" when we weren't sure there was anything "wrong" with Sarah. I love this picture of her, you said cheese and she "CHEESED" right up for you! Those little cheeks and that big grin.... A time when I still picked her outfits and she tolerated me doing her hair. Yep, those days are pretty much over. But she'll still do the CHEESE smile....

TTV for my new friend Catherine

2011-01-13T20:15:00.001-06:00

I recently joined a new site called 365Project.org. It's an awesome site that encourages photography for all levels of photographers and the concept is quite simple. Take one photo a day & post for 365 days. A journey of your life, a dairy of your continuing development of your photo taking skills. A another great social network to meet and view others work.
Inevitably, you take more than one picture. Or want to share more than your daily allotted shot, so we create a 2nd album, share on Face book or our favorite photo sharing website. Inevitably, you meet people and become online friends... Catherine & I have been sharing about the technique referred to "Thru the Viewfinder". A very simple concept. Take an old camera such as a Kodak Dualflex or Argus 40, the kind where you look down thru the viewfinder via a mirror in the camera. The kind, that by now should have grim, lint and grunge in edges of the glass lens and mirror because THAT's what you want to show up on your picture. In order to line up your digital camera with the hand held camera, you have to build a light blocking tube or as it's affectionately called by fellow TTV'ers, a Contraption. Here's what I used to build mine...found in the plumbing aisle of my super home improvement store...

Both my Argus and Kodak came with a protective metal hinged lens cover... remove it. It was a matter of unscrewing just a few screws and poof done. I screwed the screws back in, and tucked the hinge away incase I'd like to reattach it later.

I next traced the shape of my camera onto some foam board, cut it out and then peeled of one side of the foam board backing, thus exposing the foam. I then took the camera and pressed it viewfinder down, to create an impression of the frame. Using as a guide, I then cut the interior of the foamboard, creating a frame. This I taped directly to my camera. Then I took my flexible rubber plumbing gizmo, not sure of the technical term for it.. but I set it down onto the camera and traced where the viewing lens was blocked..and cut it out.

Still following me? Good. The reason I created the foam board frame, was to keep this rubber tubing to set level atop the camera. I want it level so when I point my digital camera down thru the tube, my lens is at a 90 degree angle..I found if it's not quite level, it's difficult to get my camera to focus and to keep the shot square in MY camera's viewfinder. This is what you'll end up with..

Now, here's where you may need to play a little. The distance between your digital camera's lens and the handheld camera's view finder...it will depend on your macro settings..sometimes you need to be up close or have a bit of distance... for me the next fitting was JUST right...

The little clamps were already attached/preassembled so no extra cost. However you're looking at about $1.50 each, still cheap. Place one top of the tubing...

Here's the finished "contraption" In total, I spent about $8.00 on the whole thing. For me it was worth it. Others like recycling and cutting old cereal boxes, cardboard or foamboard to create their contraption..

Be sure to grab a roll of black duct tape and some electrical tape too. I still like the foam frame for the top of my camera to seal out light. However, you may need to create "telescoping" effect to get the tube to fit the end of your digital camera, block as much light as possible. For me, this was too much effort and thinking.

So, there you have it. My view of how to create a light blocking contraption for your Thru the Viewfinder technique. I like mounting my whole mess to a tripod, so I have both hands free to hold, focus and adjust my digital camera. After some playing, you get fun shots like this. Also keep in mind, a mirror IS used to create this affect, all printed images will come out backwards and you'll view it backwards while focusing...so play!!

174 Butterfly Girl

2011-01-11T18:38:00.001-06:00

I finished a challenge ON TIME! With one day to spare too! Pink should be an easy challenge, but I don't "do" a lot of pink, let alone girly. Odd, considering, I have two girls. This picture was taken back in 2005 during blue bonnet season, however our blue bonnet patch came up wildflowers instead. So, Erin & I took pictures anyway. Here she's sitting here singing to herself while waiting for me to frame up the picture, instead of getting her attention, I just took the picture.

The challenge called for four colors... Pink Flutter, Delicate Rose, White Whisper &; Plum Petals. The plum was the most difficult to "find". I finally took some BoBunny paper and sprayed the entire sheet with some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Wild Currant. My butterflies are from K&Co., and my punched butterflies are EK Success/Martha Stewart punch. My "lace" trim is paper I punched on both sides creating a ribbon, in Pink Flutter and White Whisper, with pink pearls creating the center.

#173 Greek Goddess

2011-01-07T15:05:00.002-06:00

If you read the previous post..you already know I'm grossly behind on my CCG challenges that I so love to do. I'm really trying to catch up! I actually was only a day behind on the deadline for this challenge! Never mind the missing 167-171 in between. Here are some close up shots of the mesh screen I stamped on (I did stamp onto the layout too and layered to intensify the stamped image.) Also some close ups of the stamped, cut, rolled and glued petals...

Since my gf cricuit is sitting here in my dining room, I'm thinking I may need to make some official titles for this layout... but as I'm feeling like total crud at the moment...maybe later... now off to catch up on the CCG challenges!

#168 Hatter

2011-01-07T14:57:00.000-06:00

I'm so behind...it's not funny at all! It took way to long to finish this layout..but I kept fiddling with it. Couldn't leave well enough alone. The center photo are some mushrooms growing in my yard, I tweaked in my photo editing software, added the poem Jabberwocky from Alice and the Looking Glass. From there I kept layering..pictures of Taylor from Halloween, the birds, the swirls the yellow roses... the rad bottle ...
Finally it was good enough for me to upload to CCG... But like the White Rabbit..I'm late, I'm late!

Featured Member!

2010-11-04T23:09:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. I'm so behind on blogging and uploading pics. I should be sharing Halloween but I have to toot my own horn first! Last week I received a message from Design Team Member,
Debbi Tehrani at Color Combos Galore asking if I'd like to be this weeks Featured Member. Oh wow, for me this is big. It's one thing to enter challenge after challenge for my own personal satisfaction. It's also very flattering and uplifting to be chosen for Gallery Fave twice. But to be ASKED to design a layout for specific combo..was very ego boosting, very flattering and VERY VERY NICE. It's like, VALIDATION!
I said, YES. So Debbie emailed me the color combo....can you guess what the colors were?

Yellow? There's YELLOW... that's okay, I ran with this challenge. Part of the challenge was to focus on DISTRESSING and well if you know me... I absolutely LOVE to distress things. It's therapy, it's messy, it's just happiness for me. Wanna see what I made?

My inspiration came from several items of the photo...1st the quilt. Love it.. the blocks of fabrics, the stitching that quilting embodies... I used QuickCut diamond die for my "quilt pieces", distressing each and everyone. Around the entire page, I faux stitched. After drawing in my stitches, I went back over with my water pen and caused the stitches to run and smear a bit. If there was an edge to distress, I either inked with my FAVORITE Distress Inks by Tim Holtz aka "God".

My 2nd inspiration were the shutters. I love shutters, so with that I pulled out my favorite scoring tool (you know the one from that woman, "it's a good thing") and scored a two inch wide stripe of paper every quarter inch. Then I folded a box pleat. It's easy, really, you just have to pay attention to the direction of the folds. Do not multi-task during this, you will goof it up. Once my folds were pressed and established, I sanded all edges and adhered.

My flowers presented another opportunity to distress! Using my favorite layered flower die (psst. guess who? Yep, TH!) I cut all my flowers. Before assembling, I coated some petals with crackle medium, others I crumbled and inked, some were sanded and inked. I also used a new medium, a product called, Modeling Film by Wendy Veah. It's an acrylic you can stamp on, use alcohol inks or copic markers on, then you HEAT it with an embossing tool to cause it to warp and bed. It's cool, cause if you don't like the shape, reheat it and try again, and again, and again until you are happy with it! It's COOL! (And I'll be the first to admit, I totally stole this technique from Tammy Hall Tutterow, check out her blog!)
Throw in some stickles, dimensional pearls, glimmer mists, a touch of ribbon, a touch of grunge board and embossing powders...then it's done.
Thank you CCG for inviting me to play with the Design Team this week. It's been fun and a joy.

Double Wammy Challenge

2010-10-20T15:54:00.000-05:00

This was a fun fast layout. I used TWO, yes read correctly, TWO Challenges. The first challenge is from my all time favorite site, Color Combos Galore. As many of you may already know, I've been hooked on these for a bit now. I'm like totally committed to participating in the weekly challenge. The second challenge is from my next favorite site, Sketch Inspiration. I knew I wouldn't have loads of time to come up with a fabulous layout design. So I let the fabulous design team at SI inspire me. And they did! I've been doing quite a few pages with Taylor (more to post later) so I thought I need to focus on dd Erin.

This layout fell together. Literally. When I saw the color challenge for this week...Relaxing Blue, Energizing Orange, Calming White & Cherry Red... Bo Bunny popped into my head. Yeah, I know, they're old but a while back my favorite LSS had a FABULOUS blow out sale on paper... I grabbed me heaps. Sketch Inspirations guided me on my journaling. I used the definition of GIFT on the right side of the page and used chipboard letters painted red to bring attention to it. On the lower right, I used the song lyrics "I'm with the Band" by Little Big Town. I also journaled about how Erin chose the trombone.

I'll be posting some layouts I completed earlier in the month for "The Boy's" scrapbook. I'm slowly catching up..maybe, sorta, okay kinda...

Fall Blog Hop

2010-10-07T00:01:00.002-05:00

Yeah it's my very first Blog Hop. Please be patient with me, I'm a newbie at this concept. So.... hopefully you came here from the Nancy Yankowsi's blog. If not, go back and love on Nancy's creation then come on back here. If you've stumbled up on me and are wondering what is a Blog Hop, go back and start here at, Queen Kat Designs. For this hop we were asked to make a Fall themed HAND STAMPED card or TAG.

This being my very first blog, I kept the card simple.

The background I first spritzed my favorite mists, Tattered Angels in Scarlett & Golden Terracota, and Luminarte Autumn Leaf. Then taking my favorite leaf stamp, I randomly stamped using my VersaMark pad. After brushing on some Perfect Pearls while the VersaMark was still wet, I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo.
I used my Spellbinders Labels #17 for the panel. I stamped my sentiment and finished it off w/ my own handwritting. Using the same leaf stamp and VersaMark I stamped on the smaller of the two labels for a watermark effect. I also stamped onto some Grunge Paper, that I then cut out and embossed w/ my favorite embossing folder and Cuttlebug.
I assembled my panels and then adhered the entire panel to the left half of the card. On the inside, I kept it very simple. Spritzed the inside with glimmer mists and stamped one leaf in the upper right corner w/ the VersaMark and dusting with Perfect Pearls.
Thanks for HOPPING in, please feel free to browse and if I pique your interest, please feel free to "follow" me! Now head on over to Terri's blog to see her fabulous creation.

Old School

2010-09-28T16:18:00.001-05:00

I love these colors. They spoke to me the minute I saw them...I already envisioned the papers to use on the layout...but what inspired me? It took a bit of studying and letting the creative juice flow....I sat and doodled and I started writing "one two buckle my shoe"....images of jump rope and playing on a school ground w/ metal slides and monkey bars came to mind. So I have an idea but no photo... then I remembered receiving an email from a family member with geneolgy notes. There was a cool picture of family children playing... pictures chosen.

Tim Holtz grunge paper was perfect for this project. I stamped three flower images from some Heidi Grace stamps I owned. Cut out, pierced and then layered. A good spritz of Tattered Angels completed the look. Worn shoe leather. I then took a sheet of sticky back canvas and punched several maple leaves with my EK Success punch. If you own dies I suggest using them, they'll cut cleaner than a punch. I then spritzed with Tattered Angels mist in a variety of reds & browns until I was satisfied. Once dry I edged with chalk ink and outlined with a white pencil. Taking a scrap of grunge, I stamped a smaller maple leaf with white pigment ink, sprinkled on some white embossing powder and got this funky surfaced maple leaf. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Punched another scrap of grunge with a large maple leaf punch, then ran thru my cuttlebug embossing folders, inked and lastly added a nice thick coat of crackle medium. It crackled PERFECTLY and it shimmers! My title is more grunge paper, embossed and then touched with my versa mark marker to enhance the swirls. A little ink, piercing and stickers, the label was finished.

My border on the block of brown is a simple border stamped in white pigment and embossed with white embossing powder. Because it's textured cardstock it's a muddled aged look. I liked it.

The last embellishment, was another stamp but this time onto the sticky back canvas. I then traced with a cocoa brown marker and then cut out leaving a border on purpose. Of course it needed something more. Yep, more Tattered Angels mist. It made the marker and ink bleed ever so slightly and it was fabulous. Very happy with the overall effect I must say!

Lastly was the journaling. I won't bore you with the whole thing. And a piece of vintage lace that needed a home..more tearing, more distressing and finish. After working on this, I'm getting the itch to pull out the genealogy, print some of the old photo's and work on it... hmm maybe we'll see.

A moment of silence......

2010-09-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

No scrappy post right now.... just a quiet moment to reflect, remember. I received a phone call last night. A dear friend who'd I affectionately called Aunt was diagnosed with liver cancer a year and a half ago has passed. I cried more learning her diagnoses than at learning of her passing... but knowing the odds, it seemed like a hopeless struggle.
But she fought a good fight, she did everything "right" and followed the rules. And did it without complaint, with a strong dignity and firm resolve. With her background and knowledge in the field, she knew her odds.
She & my mother first introduced me to rubber stamping... she was a fabulously talented creative woman. I once believed her to be a master of ink, but I was wrong. I learned her passion was sewing and embroidery. She was a sewing goddess. Making beautiful garments, snugglies for babies and lingerie. And not ugly cotton utility underwear either, gorgeous Victoria Secret detailed finery.
Jean died quietly back in June. No fan fare..just quietly. She kept her pain and the knowledge of her impending death buried. She remained strong for her family, children and grandchildren. Knowing Jean, not wanting to burden others with her problems. For she was the ultimate problem solver, the pillar of strength, whom others turned to in times of need. I respect her wishes but am saddened. Jean, I would have liked to help you carry this pain. I would have liked to share how much I respected and admired you. I will try to live by your example, calm dignified strength. And I will never forget you.

Color Combo Galore Challenge #160

2010-09-23T17:39:00.000-05:00

Finished! Finally! Oh my goodness. Who'd ever thought one my favorite colors would be so difficult? Actually it wasn't, maybe one would say the applications? were difficult... I dunno but frustrations were high.
For this challenge I incorporated several things... first from CCG there was a challenge for a dangling element. I was inspired by my son's costume. He played the Baron Elberfeld in The Sound of Music. So he had on some "royal" medal/jewelry. But I didn't want to take his souvenir from the play, so I found clip art, printed and adhered to some Tim Holtz Grunge board. Did some tweeking with some Sage Glimmer Mist, some Smooches, and Stickles. Dangling element #1 complete!

For the second dangling element, I took my cue from CCG's design class,"Focus on Technique - Faux Stitches" I haven't stitched on my layouts for the longest time. While I like the look, I now remember why I don't stitch very often. My machine will eat paper if I try sewing, so I have to hand stitch or faux stitch..

Another thing I did was draw my inspiration for the entire layout from Sketch Inspiration. I noticed I was getting into a rut with my layouts. And there are several sites I enjoy visiting for inspiration. SI is the newest on my list.
There you have it... my latest entry. OH wait, where IS the finished layout? Come see over at CCG or SI. I think you'll be happy you did!!.

Sticking to It

2010-09-21T09:04:00.000-05:00

If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit obsessed with challenges lately. The UP side is, I'm getting pages done for the kids scrapbooks. I challenged myself at the beginning of the school year to focus more on Taylor's scrapbook. He's a junior this year and the most scrapbooking of just him....is his first year baby album. It's massive, but I have all his milestones, holidays, family...I mean IT's in there! Fast forward to his current album, I swear it creaks and groans when you open the album. There's probably even cobwebs if you look hard enough.

So, using some challenge websites is a good idea for a jumping point for page layout ideas. But I have one wee problem. I obsess over the challenge, a good example is the color combo shown above. Those are beautiful shades of purple. PURPLE a fabulous color. Not fuchsia, not raspberry, not pink.. PURPLE. These purples have wonderful cool undertones of grey and tan..leaning back on the blue side of purple. Now my stubbornness kicks in, the challenge shows these four colors...no green, no blue, no pink....I'm a purist I'm sticking' to the challenge. My paper stash taunts me, laughing almost. The papers are filled with these "complimentary" colors!! NO. I want PURPLE. The Lilac Locker shade is the most elusive of the colors...technically it's a creamy purple tinged ivory. White, white, white keeps popping up....

I've ranted, I've rambled... I think I got it out of my system. I have thirteen sheets of "purple" pulled from my stash. I'm diving in for one more sheet then no more obsessing. I'll find my "perfect" picture, grab those papers and stick to the "plan".

Sketch Inspiration

2010-09-18T00:48:00.000-05:00

Finished another challenge, but this time I visited a site called "Sketch Inspiration". Friend and owner of Cat's Creations in Mineral Wells recommended the site as it's headed up by a "local". And Cat IS one of their sponsors.... it's cool. This was a very simple sketch, it's the paper that makes the layout and of course my cool grandparents. I used Graphic 45 papers, rub ons by Me and My Big Ideas, a vintage button and vintage lace, some polka dot tape from 7 Gypsies and crackle accents by Ranger Products...

Working on this page has my genealogy juices pumping and churning. I don't have too much on my maternal grandparents but I think they're a good jumping point and a good place to "experiment" how I'd like to archive and document what I have learned. It's motivated me to write down some of the stories my grandfather has told me (and hope I get them right) and the few cloudy memories I still have of my grandmother.

Here I printed the title "Timeless" and then cut out each letter. (I'm outta stickers, thickers and rub on's that size!!) Did a bit of distressing, then coated with Crackle Accent. Once dry, I rubbed distress ink over the top to enhance the cracks and then coated with Crystal Accent. The lace is vintage I found at an antique mall, and the vintage button from a jar full of old buttons I found in our basement while living in Brunswick, Maine. (Guess renting isn't that bad, huh?)

Here I took a cream rub on from Me and My Big Ideas. I wasn't completely happy, so I took the Crackle Accent and went over the top of the rub on... unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice. The crackle is subtle and lends just the right touch. I'm happy so I called it done.

Color Combo Galore Challenge #159

2010-09-14T09:50:00.001-05:00

Finito! I'm not sure how you spell it, but I'm finished with this weeks layout from Color Combo Galore! Technically speaking, if you read below, I was finished on Saturday the 11th. But my tag and polka dot flowers weren't quite finished. The pictures are kindergarten pics of my brother & I, I also used our senior pictures as well...

This weeks challenge colors were; Yellow School Bus, Uniform White, Grade School Grey & Goodbye Blue. The blue is so deep and dark it photographs black. My "jumping" point were these fabric tulle and ribbon flowers I found at my super craft store in the T-Shirt embellishment department. Problem, wrong color. I whipped out my Tattered Angels Glimmer mist and gave them a good dousing in Daffodil and Lemon Meringue, poof Yellow School Bus!

Layered it with some fabulous yellow bling I found, along with my Prima swirl bling and some yellow hem ribbon...The flowers came in white, so I sprayed them with several shades of blue by TA Glimmer mist until I was happy. Sprayed my polka dot ribbon, frayed then gathered into pom pom like flowers. Some of my bling I colored over with my Copic markers in Y38 Honey and Y17 Golden Yellow. Tickled to use a technique I learned at a Copic class this summer by Sally McDonald.. Weee!

Then cutting a frame out from some Theresa Collins papers, I covered it with Mod Podges Dimensional Magic. Been wanting to play with for so long! While still wet, I spritzed on some more TA Glimmer Mists for some hints of color and shimmer. Once dry, I when back over with Stickles Frosted Lace for some intended depth. To my surprise it "melted" into the Dimensional Magic. The effect is awesome! Lastly I covered a tag with white pigment ink, once dry I added my rub ons. Then I pounced over the rub ons with more white pigment ink. Topped with a butterfly sticker and finished.

September 11; Oh so many emotions, so many representations...

2010-09-13T22:57:00.000-05:00

Last week I started my weekly challenge. It was no different from any other, it has a theme, it includes yellow... (those that know me will chuckle.) I pulled out papers, I started sorting thru pictures. I FOUND the perfect pictures, right off the top. It was a creative frenzy, the layout just flowed and at 12:30something am Saturday, September 11th, I stopped.

September 11th.. Saturday was a very full day, not so much personally for me, but for everyone I think. September 11th always and foremost in my mind will represent life. The birth of my brother Aaron, the baby brother I wanted to trade for another pet. (We already had a dog and a cat...so no go on that wish) Ours was not the perfect brother/sister relationship, hell we were two kids that argued and fought quit a bit. But all in all, Aaron was a good brother too. He had a heart of gold, smart as a whip, & cute as a button. Did I tell him? Good God no, who admits these things to siblings during adolescence? We share when become adults, parents, Aunts, Uncles..... Oh yeah, we didn't get to do that. Life, God, Karma...had different plans. Twenty years ago, in June 1990...Aaron's world came to a sudden stop. My life and the life of my parents fell into a chaotic free fall of emotions and pain. In twenty years, I've learned much from my brothers death. Some that took me years to realize, others in a split second.
On September 11, Aaron would have been 38. On September 11, his class celebrated their 20 year class reunion. On September 11, Dave's uncle celebrated his birthday. On September 11, 2001 the world came crashing down.... Nine years ago. It doesn't seem terribly long ago, but yet..it seems ages ago. We have soldiers over seas fighting for something that, for some, barely remember if they're 19 this year. Nine years...loved ones lost, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles..growing up without. Nine years trying to heal, but wounds opened with new current events. Nine years of the realization hitting; they're not coming back.
Today, I read a face-book entry of a friend. She just had one of those moments when she realizes her beloved father isn't coming back. She'll never see him again. Yeah, I'm familiar with those moments. Have had them for twenty years. It stops you cold, mid breathe, frozen in time. At first it left me sad and full of despair. But then I looked at from another view... I started talking to Aaron when those moment hit me. In the car, doing dishes, in the shower... didn't matter where; I just talked. About what ever, life, the kids... After reading fb friends entry I realize that I've had "that moment" every single year on the exact same date. I kept a journal for a couple of years after Aaron died... I checked... I wrote about the "kick in the gut" feeling. I may have to redefine that "He's not coming back" thought... because it seems...He does.

Pencil Line Sketch 202

2010-09-02T22:09:00.001-05:00

Finished another layout this week. This time it's for another website called Pencil Lines. Here they provide a page sketch to inspire and guide your layout. I'm all for sketches, I follow several blogs and sites for their creativity. But this month, Pencil Lines invited Janet Perafan-Babar, the founder of Color Combos Galore
and you all know how I feel about CCG! I'm not sure if I made it in time for this challenge but here's the sketch and the color combo...

Not sure if I made the deadline or not... I went ahead and took some enormous liberties with the challenge. First, I didn't use an oval as shown in the sketch, I used a rectangle. Secondly, I'm pretty darn sure the colors don't match exactly...

These pictures are of my oldest daughter back when she was in PeeWee CheerLeading. The angled picture is one of my favorites (taken by another Cheer Dad, Aaron) Erin is just pouring out her heart and soul into that cheer. And it was a hot miserable Texas "fall" day. Temps up around 100, humidity in the 90's and the heat index, well..you can imagine! Add those wonderful black uniforms and camp them kids out on the black tar mat of the track... These girls drank their weight in water that day. But everyone stuck it out and cheered their team on.
I dug out some OLD Basic Grey.... like 2005/2006 old... for the "oval" I used a scrap of Ten Second Studio Copper metal. I used a tabbed edge punch down the left side. For my Corn Yellow, I painted on some Mustard Seed Distressed Crackle Paint... There's Distress Ink on the edges of the papers, and TH tissue tape on the ribbon and by the title.

Well, I'm gonna clean up this desk. Color Combos Galore is due to release this weeks challenge tonight...wonder what we'll create next week!!

Color Combo Gallore Challenge #157

2010-08-30T23:20:00.001-05:00

I'm hooked on challenges. Stuck. This week's challenge was delayed due to "Life Happens, Deal with It", but I was checking every couple of hours until it WAS posted. Ladies, it was worth the wait. This weeks colors are; Girly Pink, Calming Kraft, Tranquil White and Soft black.... Check out the link and see the reveal and the inspiration board. This is my take.

I'll start with the back ground paper, it's MME from the Meadow Lark Collection by Carina Gardner. I love birds and I've been saving this paper.
Top Left: Stamp bird image onto pink paper with VersaMark ink, sprinkle with white embossing powder and set with your favorite embossing gun or pop into your toaster (that's a little joke). Tag (MME) traced with white opaque Inkssentials pen, and some Tim Holtz tissue tape. Enhanced background paper with my Liquid Pearls.
Top Right: Take scrap of ledge paper, spritz with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, in Rose Tea, Cherry Blossom and Sand...I went heavy on the Rose Tea & Cherry Blossom. The paper was soaked thru. While wet, I rolled the edges. Once dry I distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen. Stamped an swirl image in Versa Mark, sprinkled with white embossing powder and set. Stapled in place with... Tim Holtz Mini Stapler.
Bottom Left: Took a 1 1/2" x 12" strip of pink paper, punched with my Martha Stewart punch (Hint lady, print the name of the punch on IT for these purposes!) Took a 2" x 12" strip of polka dot paper from Meadow Lark line and punched both edges with same punch. Distress with more Antique Linen. Then using ribbon gathering technique (see previous posts for tutorial) adhere white grosgrain ribbon with adhesive and Tim Holtz stapler.
Bottom Right: Take metal embellishment (mine happens to be..what's that? TIM HOLTZ) and dab with white Stazon pad. Thread some pink ribbon thru and adhere. Stamp another bird image, this time on kraft paper, with VersaMark and emboss in white. Take key hole metal embellishement, this time by Paper Studios, and dab with the white Stazon pad.

On the back ground paper itself. I used my favorite pink water color pencil and added where I liked. Then using Making Memories rub on's ( Heidi UC White, this is like ancient don't even bother looking for them!) I spelled out STILL LIFE. From a page kit, I stole these black/grey clear epoxy stickers and spelled it out again. Did a little enhancing with a favorite grey/black marker and my pink water color pencil.

My other metal embellishment was a little more work was involved. I took a piece of Ten Second Studio metal and embossed with a favorite Cuttlebug folder. I then painted it with Rose Petal Pink by Making Memories (good luck finding this too!). I did two pieces of metal, the second painted in Shopping Bag by MM. Once dry, I sanded OFF the paint revealing the metal beneath. Then came back over with white Stazon ink. Using my EK Success scalloped border punch, I created two strips of "metal ribbon".

Want to see the finished project? Oh then you need to visit here. Thanks for visiting! :)

Color Combo Gallore Challenge 156 Card

2010-08-20T14:05:00.002-05:00

Another challenge inspired creation. Yep, it's from CCGC #156. This was a layout sketch challenge, but after finishing I did have scraps left over and I DID need to make a card for a birthday. (It's my dsl's birthday today! Happy Birthday Marcy!) So, why not? Right?
The difference, I didn't put myself on a time limit. I DID use my Liquid Pearls to enhance the design printed on the paper. I did use a ribbon technique I learned online by Ashley Cannon Newell It's awesome and now I'm ruffling, gathering and placing ribbon whenever possible! Check out her tutorial!

Now you might ask, where did CCG come up with this challenge? Oh well that's easy. You can view it online at Scrapbooks etc. Or see it in their November Issue!

Any who. There it is.. my finished project. I hope you like it. Enjoy!

Color Combo Gallore #156

2010-08-20T10:30:00.000-05:00

Taken at 10:42 pm w/ i-phone inside (bluck)

Taken at 9:30 am, outside w/ my "good" camera

After a wild and wacky reveal at Color Combo Galore, I had cut my creativity time down to 1 1/2 hours until deadline.. although technically, I only had ONE hour to actually create the layout for this weeks challenge. I fully intended to shop for my paper this Saturday. But nooooo I'm suppose to shop from my stash! After much laughing and grumbling (that was on my part), I thought "Okay, these other women are also probably doing the same" So I start digging. I was very happy to find I still had two sheets of Primary Stripes, Out & About by MME and two sheets of Floral Stripes, Out & About by MME. I'm out of yellow card stock (WHY IS THAT? OH that's another grumble for another post), and I'm out of white card stock (don't use it much)...hmmm now what to use for background. Oh look a stack of kraft, okay use what you got.

Following the directions, instruction and guidelines this is what I came up with. My yellow accents are some stickyback canvas sprayed with Daffodill TA Glimmer Mists. I dug thru my ribbon stash..and LO and BEHOLD I found this lone roll of yellow paisley ribbon from HL. Forgot why I had it, may have been an intentional gift for a yellow loving friend, but.... Metal is from Making Memories and Tim Holtz..

Mark Montano!!!!!

2010-08-19T10:25:00.000-05:00

If you haven't noticed, I really like challenges and contests lately. The challenges are more for personal and creative growth but contests... it's for FREE stuff! COOL free stuff, you know what I mean?? I know, there are some folks out there who sit around all day and do nothing but enter contests, regardless of the prizes. (What would I do w/ fishing gear from the Bass Pro Shop if I won something like that??) Where's the sense, right?

Anyone remember "While You Were Out" Remember Mark Montano? The man is a SCREAM! I mean that in a GREAT way, his designs and ideas are off the charts! My husband would look at me like I was some sort of dork when I gushed over something Mark designed or created. THAT is a sign that the design or creation is GREAT. David has zero fashion sense or craftiness... :) (Love you hubby)

Mark is currently GIVING away a copy of his book on his FB page. Yes, I'm a "friend" of his, "wink". I've already shared the contest details on MY fb page, and I'm following the contest rules.. this is the last request he makes. Share on a blog. I thought I'd share on my blog, cause I can say ANYTHING I want w/o the moderator/ adminstrator approving or removing it. :) I've previewed this book and from what I'm able to view..it's full of awesomeness. Chock full of crafty creativeness and anyone out there with an inkling of crafty in their blood can pull off these projects. For those advanced creative guroos, taking it to the next level will be childs play.

So go out and grab yourself a copy. Or play along w/ Mark and stalk (I meant follow!) him on his blog or "friend" him on Face Book. Tell him Shaunery sent you.

Fall Surprises

2010-08-18T10:29:00.000-05:00

August is a busy month in this house. We've been getting ready for school. Shopping for clothes, band instruments, scrapbook supplies. Oh wait scrapbook supplies. Yes, you read correctly. Taylor is a Junior this year and his scrapbook album is a little bare.. you open in and it squeaks like an unoiled hinge. I swear there are cobwebs hanging on the d-rings. Poor kid, he'll graduate next year and have nothing to look back on! I'm trying to dedicate time every week once school starts to work on just his album.
Since I'm privileged to be a stay at home mom. Yes, privileged. I am also taking the opportunity to enter more challenges and contests. I'm curious, "Do I have what it takes?" "Am I crafty enough?" I'll also be volunteering time with Taylor's choir. There's a whole lotta choir dresses that need pressing, hemming and tacking. The tuxes need hemming too and the dress shirts need a washing like you wouldn't believe! We're going to attempt to organize a kick ass Booster Club, so expect to see some fund raising here. Somewhere, I'll be sewing our Halloween costumes too. Yep, the season is coming upon us quickly! And there's a lot to do.
One thing I'm happy to say is finished. I volunteered to do something. Again, the question was "Can I hack it? Can I run with the big dogs (or should I say Cat's?)" We'll see. I'll be taking my finished project to Cat sometime this week or next for her to photograph and to get up on her site. So, look for it. She get's the pleasure of my grand reveal. Wish me luck. In the meantime...I hope you enjoy the sneak peaks up above.

Color Combo Gallore Challenge #155

2010-08-14T13:05:00.001-05:00

Another challenge! This week has colors I LOVE and happily, stashed in my collection of papers. The inspiration above is our guide, our MAP you might say that will point us in the creative direction. This is where I ended.

This was fun! I used my Creative Imaginations papers that I've been hoarding (ehum, I mean saving) for such the occasion. These pictures so fell into the crop challenge theme. Get Away and Grids. Taylor's first visit to Maine. He really thought March in Maine would be warm sunny days. Yeah, not so much. Instead grey skys, grass ready to burst but still yellow from the winter. The Atlantic wasn't ready to give up it's winter and even it's waters reflected it, dark, greanish blues, washing onto the grey granite of the coast.

For this project, I used my Tim Holtz Distress Crackle medium in Rock Candy on my map paper. To enhance the crackle I used my sage Distress Ink pad. I edged all my photo's in a pewter grey from ColorBox. I also thinned some Platinum Liquid Pearls with some clear acrylic medium for a transparent wash. My rub on are Creative Imaginations again, but they're getting old and a little difficult to rub on. Note: DON'T STASH RUB ONS! USE THEM UP! :)

I also used Google to look up the Longitude and Latitude of Bailey's Island! It's a pretty cool feature. You can select an exact point on the Google Map, click on it..poof exact coordinates. I thought that was cool. Using Bleeding Cowboy font I printed my titles and then drew grids onto them.. Well that's my page submission, hope you all like it!

Forgiveness

2010-08-12T12:06:00.000-05:00

Dear Incredible Girl,

Forgiveness is a hard one. What is it about forgiveness that is
so difficult, even when holding a grudge, or holding on to hurt,
or holding yucky old memories makes us feel so rotten. What is it
that makes it so hard to let go?

Forgiving someone does not mean that you have to have them in your life.
Forgiving is not "giving up" or "giving in", forgiveness does not mean
that you are saying that an injustice has not been done, or that you
agree with what happened. Forgiveness is a magic little decision that
you make to free YOURSELF.

Bad feelings, horrid memories and grudges are little daggers that carve away
at your soul day after day. Those daggers come with handcuffs and chains and
one of those big metal balls latched to your ankle. Who wants to live like
that? Who CAN live life like that without it completely holding us back from
everything that is meant for us ?

You are worth EVERYTHING it will take to forgive someone. YOU are worth it. YOUR

LIFE is worth it. Give yourself a deadline to let it go...then scream at the top
of your lungs, write down everything that bothers you, get ALL of it out...then
when the deadline is up...let it go...forgive.....

It's time to move forward, sweet friend. You can't move forward when you are
chained to all of that yucky stuff.

YOU CAN DO THIS. You can fully forgive. You can.
xoxo

This is not as easy as it sounds...although I totally see the importance of doing so. It's just so hard seeing or hearing the people who made me feel so miserable, laugh and carry on without me. It only tells me that I meant so little to YOU in our relationship. Actions only proved that our friendship wasn't worth fighting for or standing up for. It hurt that I was accused of being unsupported, it hurt that a friendship meant so little that ultimatums were thrown down, I had the "definition" of friendship thrown in my face, yet never saw others practice what they preached. One dare mentioned "All the things we've done for YOU"... Really? I did nothing for YOU? All the unfinished projects, crazy craft deadlines, babysitting, emotional support....those little things didn't mean anything or add up to anything? Some say they won't chose sides, yet they did... I've been lectured on "Fences" and staying on the right side of them. Then later criticized for staying on my side of the fence too much.
I've removed myself from social events, so I don't create tension or awkwardness at said event for the other guests.
When accused and attacked in sneaky underhanded ways I reacted. Probably poorly. I should have slowed down. I shouldn't have allowed myself to be goaded and baited. Friends SPEAK to one another and discuss things... that never happened.
Yet, I should forgive. I can forgive the actions and thoughtlessness of these women. I can forgive the pain they caused me. I can forgive the relationships lost due to them. I'll forgive, because I've also learn much from the experience. I'll never trust so quickly or so deeply. I'll never volunteer so much to be taken advantage of. I'll work harder on the existing friendships I have and value them all that much more. I'll focus on my family and their needs.
I FORGIVE and release you ladies. I have feelings too, and by releasing you; you can't hurt me anymore. You've unknowingly made me a better person. You made me a better friend. You made me a better woman...
You are forgiven...but I will not give you absolution...you still need to be responsible for your actions, past, present and future. You'll have to learn for yourself. However, I doubt you're capable of such feats.
I'm really moving forward now.... :)

Color Combo Gallore Challenge #154 ~ Card~

2010-08-12T09:23:00.000-05:00

Here's a quickie I slammed together last night. I had finally finished my layout for the CCGC and had it submitted. I so needed to make a card for an upcoming anniversary....and looking at my desk and the destruction from creating the layout. I almost threw in the towel. But instead fueled by the challenge and the mess, I whipped this card together. The panel and the flowers are sticky back canvas. I think it may become a new favorite craft medium. Okay, need to get this into the mail.

Color Combo Gallore Challenge #154

2010-08-11T18:52:00.000-05:00

Yep, I've entered another challenge. This time it's at Color Combo Gallore (I highly recommend this site and not just to suck up either!) I usually let my pictures guide me in choosing my colors for a layout. And looking thru my collection of papers, inks, mists and etc...I found I have a few favorite color combos. The above combo, isn't anywhere in my "favorites". It's like WAAAAY faraway from my usual color choices and comfort zone.
CCG challenges are posted every Thursday. But since my internet was down for a whole week, I didn't get online until Monday. I have until Wedsnday midnight to complete the challenge and upload it for judging. Cutting it close would be an understatement. So, here's what I came up with. Hope you like.

Dutch Dare Card Challenge

2010-07-30T15:40:00.001-05:00

I made this card for a birthday. I used stamps from C.C. Designs, Daricies, & StampingBella. I also used dies by Spellbinders. For color, I love my Faber Castell Aqua Water Color pencils. For some extra dimension Liquid Pearls and Glossy Accents by Ranger Inc.
I learned of a new blog today; Dutch Dare Card Challenges via one of my favorite blogs Simon Says Stamp. It hosts wonderful challenges! I'm a gal who likes challenges and this one happens to be sponsored by no other... Simon Says Stamps! So.. I had to enter. Wish me luck... actually wish EVERYONE luck. There are some awesome talent out there.

Have a Great Day.

Giggle

2010-06-30T14:25:00.000-05:00

Ever have a page layout that you've started and didn't like. So, you Un-Du'd the page and start over. I've been doing that with this page since February. I found some great papers at my favorite scrappy store Cat's Creations, by Daisy Bucket Designs. I'm cutting circles, making mats...but it's not flowing. You know the feeling when something crafty isn't in the groove. So, I put it away. A couple months ago, I was out cropping at Cat's. Pulled out the page. Decided it's the paper that's not making me happy. Un-du the entire page (yes I saved the cut paper for another project or card), BoBunny had just released "Sophia" and it seemed so appropriate for the photo I was cropping. Bought me some Sophia and started on the page. Again, still not flowing..crop is over, packed it up and put it away.
Yesterday, I pulled out the page again and yes; un-du'd it AGAIN. Started tweeking, cut this, turned that and stepped away for the evening. Picked up where I left of this morning..AHHA! Muse filled me with creative inspiration, that and some rockin' blogs and some crafty friends (I luuuv you!). I had my glossy accents, stickles,by Ranger, my Prima flowers, my Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists, my Tim Holtz Distressed Sizzix Die..I was on a ROLL. And this is my finished product.
Hopefully I'll get some more pages uploaded. My goal is to get the kids studio pictures scrapped for their albums. Then I'll start to work on their projects, plays, music recitals and etc...

Gesso...

2010-06-17T11:25:00.001-05:00

Ohhh the sweet lovely smell of gesso...it's becoming a crafty favorite here! Been reading and re-reading my lovely magazines again and was literally picking apart the newest Stampington Publication, The Stamper's Sampler. I love seeing what folks out there are creating. I drool, I bend page corners, I circle images, and take note of what stamps are being used.. I first browse quickly thru the magazine, speed reading type of thing. Then I go back article by article, savoring the words, instructions and supply lists. After I finish the articles, I head to the back of the magazine..there the "Challenges" are posted for upcoming publications. I also say to myself, "I'm going to enter one of these!" I then get to the deadline date and say "There's no freakin' way I can get this done in time, I'm the worlds best procrastinator." But I don't let the deadlines stop me from "participating" in these challenges. They just don't get submitted! Oh!

In this month's issue of TSS AND Take Ten there are several challenges that intrigue me. The first article was on paint. Yeah, good ol' fashion acrylic paint. You remember when Making Memories was churning out those cute little bottles of paint and ladies were bonkers making sure they got every color... (if you want more info, pick up your Jun/July issue of The Stamper's Sampler at your favorite store)

The next article was is from the Take Ten publication, it's on fabric backgrounds..and lastly another article on Tags..simple manila shipping tags. WOW. Fast forward to the back of the magazine to the CHALLENGES...and look one on paint, another on fabric and another on tags...three separate challenges...what can I do with that????

Taking my cue from the fabric article, I went down to my favorite superstore (NOT) and bought me some unbleached muslin. I tore mine into card size panels, next I grabbed my acrylic gesso...(two challenges combined into one!!

Grabbed my Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, I'm using four colors. Scarlet, Sand, Olive and English Ivy. Hmmm a pattern perhaps? In retrospect, a resist or a stencil might have been fun in creating this background, but I digress. Spritzed away..in the next batch I'll probably saturate the color a bit more.

The next step, I grabbed my acrylic stamp with a sheet music background and I put it on my Mega Mount. It's 6x6 block slightly curved for larger backgrounds. (I bought mine at Cat's Creations, out in Mineral Wells.) I love it! Stamped the image off center or actually off in the upper left corner somewhere...it's not an exact science.

Spritzed some more Glimmer Mist on it, this time wanting a more splattered pattern and used the color "Coral". Looks like rust got on there some how. After drying, I'll adhere to a card, layer with a tag I've stamped, colored, Stickled, distressed, and glimmered.

My Christmas card will be done! And I will have met all three challenges at the same time. Well, I like it and think it's cool..;) Oooh, I think the first batch of muslim is dry..time to start stampin'!

I'm a Lame Blogger

2010-06-15T12:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's been a little bit since I've blogged. But let's face it, I'm not a gushy, "I Love Parenthood" type of mom. DON'T get me wrong, I LOVE my kids, but Brady Bunch we are not. I mean we lead a very normal basic life. I think my kids are fabulous but don't feel the need to justify or shout it from the highest mountain.

Taylor is currently in California, visiting the male parental and his grandparents. He calls me almost everyday or texts. Just this morning I get a text "We felt an earthquake last night". I respond, "And HOW was that?" Taylor - "Ok, but it scared the crud out of me." It must not have been that big or my phone would be ringing..lol

Erin is at a friends house spending the night. Sarah is in her room playing. Soooo the house is VERY quiet right now. I've paid bills, and currently cleaning "the desk". A common blog entry huh? Eh, well.

Of late these days, my conventional cropping has been set aside. I've been stamping and coloring alot these days. I read a LOT of blogs too. These women who craft are truly inspirational. They, like me and you, juggle the responsibilities of being wife and mom. Then, they throw in designer for a company, or two, or three...they organize give-aways, projects...AND some will even get PERSONAL on their blog. Not the cute, my family is picture perfect, step ford stuff...I mean PERSONAL...husband are dorks, children have taped the cat to the wall, my childhood was a living nightmare..but here's the inspirational part. These woman have climbed to the top of all that CRAP, washed themselves of the BS and are working on being "normal" viable moms, wives, sisters, daughters of society.
We all strive to be the perfect woman, Barbie, Step ford wife...we all admire the woman next to us who has achieved that. (Oh you do too!) and I'm not slamming them. But we should also take time to admire the broken mom, the chipped and worn mom, the struggling wife and the not so perfect woman. They too have much to teach us..

I was gonna blog about my recent craftiness but...I think this is a good place to stop. Maybe I won't be so lame tomorrow and blog some more...

Creative Smiles

2010-06-04T15:16:00.001-05:00

Do you like inspiration? Do you find yourself often buying magazines and books on some form or another of creative inspiration and direction? I know I do. My all time favorite would be Somerset Studio, a publication of Stampington & Co. It's a magazine full of mix media art, techniques, how to's and inspiration. It's worth every cent of it's $8.99 news stand cover price. When I can't get enough inspiration from this magazine, I'll turn to it's sister publications: Stamper's Sampler, Somerset Memories and The Apprentice. And there are many MORE publications available in different media..check out the link.

My df also enjoys different publications and sources of inspiration..and her choice happened to be Cloth.Paper.Scissors another mixed media publication. Today, she brought me her copy to borrow and to gush over...(May/June 2010, Issue 30 incase you might be curious) She is so excited about the article on "a look at texture" a overview of different pastes and mediums available..she has that look in her eye, a look of excitement, inspiration..I know that look. I'm smiling to myself. I "know" what she's experiencing..it's a creative rapture. She quickly flips to another article on canvas. We're both familiar with altered canvas, we've both tried our hand at it... however this almost seems like new territory for df this article on collage canvas, layers of texture, mediums, paper and hardware. Although, it's totally up her ally. Abstract, random, art in chaos. I keep smiling. I can't wait to see what she'll come up with...will she release the creative chaos inside her? Or will she control the creativeness? Either way, I know she'll make something absolutely FABULOUS. Me, I've since pulled down a canvas, it's covered in super heavy gesso, and some generous spritzes of Tattered Angeles Glimmer Mist and it's drying in the Texas sun.. On Sunday, I'll pull out my scraps, my fibers, my paints and my Mod Podge mediums and we'll see where my creativity will lead me... all the while with a smile on my face..

Fly Away....

2010-06-04T10:57:00.000-05:00

Summer is here...literally. One day it's blue skies, comfortable temperatures, next it's hazy muggy skies and the thermometer reading 102! Holy Crap! With summer will come our usual antics, excursions and fun. Tomorrow Taylor will hop on a plane and fly to California for three weeks of fun with his grandparents, aunt & uncle and his father.

Saturday..ahhh oh no wait...Saturday, driving to DFW to drop Taylor off. Saturday, Indy Races at TMS (via the route I drive...) Saturday, Copic Classes and Tattered Angeles technique classes at Cat's Creations in Mineral Wells.. A morning full of driving. When I originally booked my place in the class, Taylor's travel dates hadn't yet been finalized. When we did finalize the dates, I quickly agreed not once looking at the calendar..then I LOOKED at the calendar. Oops. No problem, I'll just be late for the first class....

So David and I are talking about Saturday and how it will all hash out. (Like him informing me, no pizza Friday night..cuz he'll be providing pizza Saturday while I'm gone!) Taylor wanders in, listens for a moment and then adds to the conversation, "Mom, you know I'm 16. You can just drop me off at the airport.. I know what to do." Umm WHAAA??? DROP my son off at the airport??? David looks at me and shrugs, "He is growing up Shaunery, cut the strings.." WAIT a minute!! Then David smiles wickedly at me and includes, "You could be heading to Mineral Wells and miss less of your class.." Hmm, no I couldn't, could I, no that's wrong...leaving my darling boy at security...and racing to Mineral Wells..NO, no, maybe? (should have never mentioned the cost of those three classes..)

So, Taylor's packing his bag. I'm packing my tools...he's pretty comfortable with me "leaving" him. I'll check him in and get him past security..(He still doesn't have any photo id yet and don't start on me on that!) Then, deep breath...I'll leave. Before he boards...before witnessing him walking down the loading ramp...before going insane...

How's that line by Ron White? "Will there be anyone there to pick your son up?".. "No, I'll pin a $20 to his shirt and wish him the best of luck!!"

Genealogy

2010-05-18T11:31:00.000-05:00

I'm digging out the family pictures...when I say digging out, meaning I'm digging thru the hard drive looking for the pictures I've scanned or received via email over the years... The picture on the left is of my uncle Fred and my father Jerry. I remember the original being faded and yellowed but using Camera Bag software I was able to enhance and make the colors a bit more vibrant. The picture on the right is my father Jerry and my aunt Arleen. I remember this one in our bookcase when I was a kid. Not too sure where the original is...probably packed in my photo box, now that Dad has consolidated his possessions. (That means I get to store his junk and items held dear.) I hope I can find software that will allow me to edit the fold out of the picture. Maybe there's another copy out there that a family member has and would scan for me.... who knows.

I took on genealogy after Erin was born. Wanted Erin to know "where she came from" and who her family is and was...THAT'S Funny! Do you know what you start when you start family genealogy?? In some cases, no where. In others, mother load of information, family stories, sharing... I've heard of some cases where family fight over the information like it's a prized possession. The mentality being, I researched it, it's mine. I've been very lucky to have a family who values our history, story and pictures. David's family has been most forthcoming with pictures, documents and previous research done. (You ROCK) The Murray's, I'm learning has a mother load of info out there. And due to the annual Murray Reunion in the Wisconsin Dells every year, that info is constantly being revised, corrected, updated, shared and added to.

But, when do you stop? There are so many "branches" on a tree to follow...limbs, twigs, leaves and bud...I haven't yet stopped, but have been on sabbatical. But it's time I think to pull out the papers, fire up the scanner, and start reaching out to family again. The question is where did I put those notes, pictures, articles and such...I foresee another "cleaning" expedition in our future...

A Story by Sarah...

2010-05-04T17:36:00.000-05:00

Sarah brought home a story she wrote...thought I'd share. Pull up a chair and settle in.
(I'm typing Sarah's story as SHE wrote it...otherwise it wouldn't be so amusing)

I Went Bowing by Sarah Bing Wharton

Once a pond a time. Sarah Birthday is April 18/14, years ago the sun rice. The End.

I'm pretty sure it will become a classic. :)

Oopsie, I've Done it Again.......

2010-04-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

Looks like I managed to upset another friend out there.....not exactly sure how or why. Six months ago, I would been crushed.....instead I'll just post these quotes. I appreciate and love my friends who've stuck by me. Thank you for accepting me, my flaws, my screwy attitude in life, my sarcasm, my insecurities...and the few positive assets I may possess. For the others...why are you HERE? You've chosen to move out of my life, so move onto the next blog...
~ Enjoy.

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” ~ Tennessee Williams

“Much of the vitality in a friendship lies in the honouring of differences, not simply in the enjoyment of similarities.”

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
~ Walter Winchell

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."
~ Albert Schweitzer

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with."
~ Mark Twain

I have lost friends, some by death, others through sheer inability to cross the street.
~ Virginia Woolf

Spring has Sprung!

2010-04-28T09:07:00.000-05:00

Spring is here! Grass is growing like CRAZY. I looked out yesterday and mused outloud that we needed to get Taylor outsite to mow. David looked at me and reponded "I mowed Friday." ????? Wow, that was FAST. The upside is my iris's are blooming and not just blooming..The Siberian Iris's that I brought w/ me from Maine haven't really liked being in Texas. They haven't bloomed in three years. I was even considering pulling them out and replacing them. However with all the rain and quite possibliy the cold we had this winter..they're blooming. The Texas Sage is threatening to take over the driveway again too. Sadly, my new perinnials aren't farin' too well. They look sad and pathetic. So, I'm thinking I'm off to the nursery again this weekend and focusing back on Texas Bloomage..I must forget trying to create the English Garden I love so much.
While I'll be at the nursery, David will be at the home improvement store. He wants to create and pop-out our front patio a little. Our wonderful chairs fit so nicely, but in order to walk around them, you have to step out into the monkey grass..not digging that so much. So, a little bit of lumber, nails...moving the monkey grass and new potted flower to make everything look pretty....David & I will have a nice place to sit and muse this summer. I'm thinking a few outdoor pillows to make the chairs real comfy and a little table for a cold drink and I'll have a little book haven!! If Erin doesn't take it over.
Ahh speaking of Erin. She's finally been bit by the bookworm. She's devouring everything in the last 6-8 weeks. Her current fascination is the series called Pendragon. In an attempt to read this series she's checked out three of the series, trying to cram them into her head and any free time she has before school is out. Little does she know that since David works 2nd shift, we can now visit the library in the morning w/o dear little sister. And I'm sure Half Price Books will become a favoite haunt of ours too. (I love it and I'm sure T and E will too!)
Soon school will be out and the summer adventures will begin...not sure what's on the agenda yet. I'm hoping for some fun day trips with the kids, library visits of course, a friend has been very kind to invite us swimming occasionally at her pool, VBS and who knows what else life has in store. But I'm looking forward to it nontheless...a "normal" summer as a family. David is home working at a normal job...no detachments, no long distance jobs...normal stuff... ;)
Well as this contentment swells, I'll be off. Time to finish a little sewing project and maybe putter in flowerbeds some....big jar of sun tea sounds good too.....

Testing, one, two..Testing

2010-04-21T20:09:00.000-05:00

Hmmm... so day two of. Of what ever is going on this little girls head. Morning starts of okay, school rocky but survived by all. But all is not "well". Each evening this week Sarah has fallen apart for no real reason. Sarah is a strong willed child, but when she doesn't get to finish her task, if she's not done with playing..ugliness prevails. It wears you down, fighting with a child who you can't exactly ration with. Logic and reason don't exist with a child like Sarah.

Simple things like meal time are unimportant to Sarah. For her, it's daylight, time to play. Children are playing in the backyard, YAHOO. Children need to go home for dinner. Chaos, come back, Sarah wants to play. Dinner? Finished playing outside or made to come inside, okay fine lateral move. Let's play. No, it's dinner time, bath time, meds time..anytime but playtime. NO, I want to play! My temper is wearing thin, Sarah's is about to explode..one more time, Sarah eat your dinner. NOOOOO. She yells, I raise my voice, she yells and throws, I yell..it's aweful.

Another day, another test of my patience. I've lost both days. Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow another test. What will Sarah throw our way? What do I need to do or change to cope with Sarah's temperment. Her teacher has a three day theory. Every three days she's "fallen apart" since January....it's been awhile since the three day cycle was obvious. David & I have another theory based on weather patterns and fronts. When severe weather moves in or weather changes Sarah again "falls apart".... mix in the unpredictability of the Austistic Spectrum and Severe Anxiety Disorder. Yep, keeps us all scratching our heads and wondering.

Well, she's asleep. I'm winding down. Tomorrow will be another day. Tomorrow anothe test. I hope my test results are better than the last two days. It's just I keep studying the wrong material and I'm not prepared for these tests...

Mornings...

2010-04-20T09:03:00.000-05:00

Mornings..not a big morning person. Never was, never will be. However I do appreciate quiet, peaceful mornings when I do have to be up. Sadly, during the school year, there's no such thing. My mind thinks I should start a morning ritual, especially w/ summer approaching, school will be out, kids will be home and David will be sleeping. (He works second shift) My chairs are ready and waiting for me outside..I could sit and enjoy summer sunrise. I could sit at the craft desk and create...or maybe I'll just grab my favorite cup, make me a nice cup of tea, and read thru my blogs. I have quite the list of blogs that I'm following and marked favorites. Then of course my Facebook. My friend list is quickly growing, filling with creative inspirational women, who blog, create, teach and eek a living out of their artistic ability. Then I can grab my pad and start on my daily "to do" list. Not just your average chore list, but my creative "to do". There are alot of challenges floating out there on those blogs. Things to test my abilities, stretch my imagination and to use up my endless stash of scrappy supplies. Mmmm it's almost nine and morning is wasting away...I'll check my list...grocery shop? Hmm well I best get to it, so the creativity can flow later. After I finish my tea.

Autistic Journey...

2010-04-16T14:38:00.001-05:00

If you FaceBook, some of this may sound familiar. But I go into more detail and move on with other thoughts. Please bear with me. Sarah came home yesterday, smiles and cheers. She had a good day at school, earned more points and continues to climb her goal chart. We hug, she hoots, we enjoy a snack and she's to the backyard to play. Erin and Taylor come home, she shares the good news and she convinces brother and sister to play in the backyard with her. Finally, I grab her backpack and pull out her daily notes from her teacher. Confirmed the "good day" and catch a note, "Sarah said it hurts when she pees". Uh oh.

Now, you have to understand something about Sarah. She may be phobic about bleeding, hang nails (can't stand them) and needs a band aid for every little scratch, nick or bug bite. But she's not one to let on she's not feeling well, until she throws up on your feet. She'll display zero symptons but then poof she's SICK Erin has been known to do this on a Friday at 6:30 pm, after our Dr. has gone home for the evening...I quickly glance at the clock. It's 5:30pm crap. I now keep my eyes and ears open, watching Sarah for any indication of unwellness, pain or stress. Nothing, until she comes in to use the restroom. Yep, that sounds like a UTI. And of course it's also so Sarah in a manner of speaking. She dreads using the restroom, she wants to avoid the pain, she already quickly associated drinking fluids = bathroom later....it wasn't a fun evening or night for my little one.

Friday morning, I let Sarah sleep and stay home. Call Dr. first thing and we head out for her 10:45 appt. Nuts, our pediatrician is on maturnity leave. Our pediatrician rocks when it comes to strep throat, bronchitis, chronic ear infections. She doesn't believe in letting a child suffer while confirming symptons with lots of tests. If 95% of the kids at school suffer from strep and you think your child has it, she's presribing the RX and looking for the symptons. If your childs throat looks like a nuclear bomb went off in there, she's not torturing your child with a swab. Having ranted about this, we see our substitute Dr....explain Sarah's symptons, share that we suspect Sarah is suffering from a possible uti, and that I'm familiar w/ the symptons as I suffered from many as a child myself. Okay, here have her pee in this cup. WHHAAA? Did I mention Sarah has a severe adversion to public and "unknown" restrooms and it HURTS to pee? The first attempt results with Sarah nearly bolting out of the bathroom half dressed, knocking the sample cup INTO the toilet and me calming her for another 5-10 minutes. Dr. then tells Sarah she really needs to pee in the cup otherwise she may have to go to the hospital and have a tube inserted.....Sarah shuts down. Tunes him out. He looks at me, quizzically. Hmm Dr. did you read her chart? Severe Anxiety Disorder and Autistic Spectrum.. he has the nurse bring Sarah a cup of water. ARrghghgh. An hour later after finally convincing Sarah to pee in the cup, he comes into the room and tells us that the sample suggests that Sarah has an UTI. REALLY?

Sarah grabs herself a pencil AND a sticker, I get the RX and note for school and we're outta there. You want chicken nuggets? You got em! M&M's no problem.

Now after all this ranting and rambling...Sarah insists she goes to school (no problem), I'm here checking email, reading my FaceBook and some favorite blogs and comments. One blog in particular called ThePaperLife.com has recently sponsored a contest promoting Autisim Awareness this month. There was a contest, all you had to do was leave a comment. Today I spent time reading these comments because they were more than the typical "Great idea, hope to win your prize". A good majority of comments were made by women with children who are somewhere on the spectrum and they shared their appreciation. One woman referred to her daily life with her child as an "Autistic Journey". Autistic Journey, I like that. It made me realize that I might create a journal, a blog or something to record these moments, milestones and experiences for Sarah, for family and for people reaching out. So I'm brainstorming right now. Thoughts and comments are appreciated. And I'm gonna have to steal this woman's description..Autistic Journey as we've been on this journey for sometime and I see no end in site. But I do see adventure, heartache, thrills, joy...and there'll be so much to share.

Sharing

2010-04-14T19:58:00.000-05:00

It was a quiet evening. TV off but Erin decided she wanted to watch a movie so she pulled out the portable dvd player. Erin is so engrossed in her movie, she never noticed Sarah creep up next to her to watch the movie too. I glance up from reading and what do I see? These two sweet faces, deeply involved in their movie...no fighting, no squabbling, no fidgeting, just two sisters sharing a movie. This doesn't happen often in this house. Two sisters getting along. Two SIBLINGS getting along. There is usually some noise or conflict. This was very nice. I had to document this, I needed something to prove to the girls when they get older that they can get along. That sharing can be and is very pleasant. I needed to perserve this moment in time not only for them but for me. My girls are growing older everyday and soon won't be so little. This is my little effort to capture the moment, seal time in a bottle..