Cranking out Christmas

With little time left before the holidays, all my "free" time is spent working on my Christmas Cards.  I can not tell you how I've enjoyed the creative process... it's like free style time for me.  Last week my dd  Erin stayed home with the stomach crudes.  So I pulled her into the creative process, she was my design consultant.  (She spent most of the day in bed, her input was like, "Yes that looks good together, no those colors suck, now good night".) 
The "Master Card" has been created and now it's mass production time.  So I thought I'd share a little sampling of what I'm up to.

 

I've taken white card stock and cut 25 scalloped ovals with my Big Shot and Spellbinder dies.  Then I embossed half with my Tim Holtz snowflake embossing folder and embossed the other half with my Basic Gray fern embossing folder.   

I am now taking my TH Distress Inks and shading the edges in either Antique Linen or Bundled Sage.  I putting the techniques Nanci taught us over at Cat's during our Tag Classes... Once I finish inking and shading these panels, I'll take my dry Perfect Pearls in Biscotti & Green Patina and dry brush the entire panel.  This will give it a nice pearl shimmer effect.

Stay tuned and see what I do next!  Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season.  Stay safe on your travels, hold your loved ones close and may everyone be filled with the Spirit of Christmas now and thru out the years to come.

Happiness is.......

 It's OCTOBER over a CSI and we have a month full of wonderful TREATS for you!  For starters this month's special sponsor is a fabulous kit club.  They pack all kinds of wonderful dreamy papers and elements into their kits and their DT always are creating the most incredible layouts to inspire you!  Please welcome,  Scraps of Elegance!

Please visit their site and view the wonderful creations by their fabulous DT, who are also playing along with us at CSI!

Also please welcome our full time sponsors:  Flying Unicorn  and Scrapbook Fantasies.   Every month you too can be entered into a random drawing just by playing along over at CSI.  Each layout submission, throws your name into the pot for a chance!

This week my evidence for Casefile #40 includes:
polka dots/stripes - 7 Gypsies tape, stripes of scrap papers, and stripes of scalloped papers
ribbons - ribbon banner w/ paper and fabric ribbons
scallops - favorite border punches used to create the flip book journaling and trim
circular elements - the background paper, punched circles
banners - a fussy cut image from some Carta Belle "Beautiful Moments by Carina Gardner/ Chickadee and my ribbon banner
numbers - #5

My layout is inspired by a sketch from Sketch Inspiration#340

My journal prompt is to list 9 things that make you happy.   I didn't list 9 things but I did share the things that make Sarah a happy girl on her birthday.  The simplest things are usually what makes her beam. And I included inspiration word "Happy" into my title.  

Well that's all for this week.  I hope you enjoyed this and I hope you join us in a fun month of Casefiles over at CSI.  We would love to see what you create and how you "solve" the casefiles!  As always, your comments are welcome and I enjoy reading each and everyone!  Until later!

***Footnote:  I'm sharing this post over at Cat's blog for her Wow Wednesday blog hop.   Sinus bleck and volunteering at the school this past week has prevented me from creating anything new for this weeks reveal.  But I wanted to share the "spin" I put on Trish's sketch over at SI.  Also I picked up 90% of my paper supplies at Cat's.   This was a fun way to use up those beloved scraps of your favorite papers.  

Don't forget to start back at Cat's and check out ALL the beautiful creations being shared.  Leave a comment (aka LUV) on each and then come back and comment on Cat's blog.  You will be entered in a random drawing from some fabulous blog candy!!  (It really IS great stuff!) 

Well these sinus meds are really kicking in... feeling bit down the rabbit hole if you catch my drift.  So, I'm off to see if any good creativity can be made from this floating bliss...

WOW Wednesday, (Sorta more like Thursday..)

 Okay, I'm all out of wack here... Two weeks ago I had the most wonderful pleasure of cropping out at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks out in Mineral Wells.  It had been so long since I cropped, I forgot how to pack up my gear!  So I threw all kinds of crazy madness into my totes and left creativeness in the hands of the Gods.  Half way thru the day I got my MOJO on and it was a GREAT day!!

Last Friday, I was so fortunate enough to be featured on Cat's blog, Feature Friday!  Okay, how cool is that??  There are so many wonderful talented people over there!  Her team is inspiring and talented.  I strongly encourage you to check it out for fun, inspiration and BLOG CANDY!!

Okay so life got crazy, school preparations, school STARTING, school volunteering... it's THAT time again!  I do enjoy and love volunteering for my kids, but still working on balance.  Today, is finish the project you started.. and this is it!    I was inspired to use Sketch Inspirations sketch #334.  These fabulous strips of paper allowed me to dig into the scraps bucket and use those beautiful bits of paper I couldn't yet part with.
These papers are from some of my favorite lines, MME, Authentique, BG, and Yellow Bicycle.

This simple sketch was so appealing because I could play and use different techniques with my SCRAPS!  The most common thing I hear is "I'd love to try new techniques, but I don't want to ruin the paper!  I spend so much on it".  This excuse can now be swept under the table, debunked, and the coughed (bullS*#T) expressed.  I used a fabulous crackle product on one scrap.  I played with embossing powders on another and enjoyed distressing on ALL of them.  I fiddled, spritzed, doodled and inked until I was pleased with the outcome.  SOME of these papers didn't start out in these colors!

I found this picture of my DD#1 befitting as this is the first week of school here.  This is her 7th grade picture from last year.  So, pull out your scraps, grab a picture and go play!  I challenge you to share your WONDERFUL creation over at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks Blog on her WOW Wednesday!  Reward yourself with another finished page and be eligible to win a reward too!

Thanks for stopping by and I so enjoy reading your comments! 

Down By the Sea

Here it is!  This weeks reveal over at CSI! Totally loving this Case File, but it's probably due to they're right in my comfort zone.  Let's get to it shall we?

I used the following evidence:
Stars - I used stars in the form of punched vellum and then stitched into a chain, a left over felt star from Creative Imagination Station,  and some left over bling sticker stars from Paper Studio.

Something translucent - I spritzed just about every sheet of paper w/ Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  I also used a circle of self stick glitter paper, which I learned is opaque/translucent.
Wet Medium - smears of white gesso
Something grainy - smears of "Sand Effects" in sand gold.  I also dropped seed pearls into the wet gesso, and the glitter paper has a gritty texture.

Textured paper - I created texture by coating a piece of Basic Grey with crackle medium.  I brushed it on one direction and allowed to dry.  Then I brushed it on again across the "grain" I had created.  Once it dried and crackled, I applied my TH Distress Stain in Broken China.   I also dragged gesso across another piece of BG to knock down the brightness of the pp.

Vellum - I punched stars from vellum and stitched together to create a chain.  I also ran a scrap thru my printer to create my title block, "Down by the Sea".  While the ink was still wet, I sprinkled clear embossing powders and set w/ my heat gun.

Dots - pp by Basic Grey
Soften the edges of my papers - using a distressing tool, I distressed all the edges of my block papers.

For my testimony, I documented a beach trip from our time up in Maine.  I created two journal tags to slip under the paper blocks.  One from TH kraft glassine paper & a 7 Gypsies tab.  Another from the kraft glassine and a tag by Creative Imagination Station. 

Tag #1 reads:

Beach Adventures

Amanda:  "Shaunery, you want to come with us to the beach?"

Me: "Sure!"

An hour long drive later, a wagon, a stroller, a cooler, an umbrella,

beach chairs, a gold retriever, loads of sun block, multiple

diaper bags...

Her two boys, Cobie & Casie

My two girls, Erin & Sarah

Another handful of her daycare kids, all toddlers, all in swim diapers.

We are finally unloaded and enjoying a day at the beach!

Absolute chaos, but so much fun!

Tag #2 reads:

Beach Activites

 ~ Explore tidal poos.  The kids always

were excited and fascinated!

~ Create sandcastles and dig moats

~ Devour Amanda's peanut butter &

fluff sandwiches

~ Splash, crawl, float and soak in the water

I took my sketch inspiration this week from, yup Sketch Inspiration!   I used this weeks sketch #332, however I did flip my title around.  Thanks Trisha for the motivator!  :D
That's all for this week, I hope you enjoyed!   Looking for colorful challenges and product prompts?  Come visit us at CSI!  Need a good sketch challenge?  Head over to see Trisha over at Sketch Inspiration!

Thespian

I stepped out of my box.  I did another challenge over at a site called Colorful Creations, I've been absent for so long, I actually wondered if I still had a membership there!  But thank goodness it's still valid, because my gf Kristie Taylor, is on the DT over there and she has a great recipe challenge up for this month.
I won't reveal too many details, go on over and check it out for yourself!  Play along if you can, this was fun..
I think the biggest challenge for me was the chipboard.  None of my chipboard matched the colors of my layout, so I had to cover it all in patterned paper.  So lots of cutting, sanding and finessing these little buggars.  The first chipboard is the frame around Miss Madison and Taylor, the second is the flourish on the lower left, it's by Pebbles - Chips and the last is the flower in the lower right by Pebbles.

The rest just fell into place after that.  Thanks again Kristie for the inspiration and the giving me something new to "chew on"... Here are a few more pics for you.

These are pictures from the Thespian Banquet.  My son was inducted that night and received his letter for drama as well.  His date Madison also received recognition One Act Play, received her letter amongst other achievements that night.  The kids were encouraged to dress as silver screen actors, Madison chose Lauren Bacall and Taylor chose Humphrey Bogart.  Loved their choices!!    Thanks for viewing and browsing around! :D

 

Brother & Sister

IT'S FRIDAY!!  And it's reveal day... YEAH!!   I had too much fun with this Case File.  One of my favorite colors are in it.  But I praddle on.. let's get to it! This weeks colors are:

Pale blue, golden yellow, pale green, teal & olive green.  Guess which is my favorite??  OLIVE green.

This is also my last nod  to our Sponsor:  Boys Rule Scrapbook Kits .    One random player over at CSI will be the lucky recipient of one of their fabby kits!!  You still have time to play!  So head on over!
I am using a combination of sketches for my layout this week.  The first is February 17 Sketch by Jenny Evans and the second is from Creative Scrappers # 196.   If you're scratching your head and going "Huh?"  please know that I saw both of the sketches and my creative juices started flowing.  And I have to give credit where credit is due, thank you for the inspiration!!

One of the challenge elements was glass or transparent element.  I was thumping my head on my desk wondering HOW to fulfill this challenge!  I've been admiring a blog post from Amy Coon, titled "Wishes Do Come True"  She had created these beautiful wishing wands, you MUST go see.  She is dear friends with the one and only Teresa Collins and between the two of them.  WOW.  So I pulled out my Tim Holtz accordion flower die and started messing around.  THEN, I pulled out my box of transparencies.  (I bought a box on clearance somewhere, but the ink jet printer HATES this brand) and behold!  Transparent accordion flowers with glitter stars!  Photo's don't do them justice.

Another challenge element was a liquid medium.  Grrrhhh this was hard.. then I remembered a jar of Structure Gel by Winsor & Newton Galeria.  This stuff rocks!  Grabbed a star stencil and a putty knife and poof!!

The picture is of my father and his older sister, Arleen.  I remember this picture sitting on the book shelf as a child and always liked it.  (I have an old soul)  But I remember my dad's story telling.  He is a GREAT story teller. And many of his stories include his brothers and sister.  Many of my childhood stories hold memories of my aunt and mostly her children. And we have a few of our own now that we share with our children.... Thanks for the story dad. ;)

HMITM Challenge 184

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!

Adore

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.