Out now!

If you have a subscription, check out the newest issue of
Scrapbook News and Review!

This issue is their biggest issue ever and I am proud to be a part of it !
If you don't have a current subscription, I would suggest checking it out!  It has tons of ideas and tutorials, along with  hints and tips on so many products!

And I guess, most importantly, this issue has one of my cards published in it!

Enjoy the Journey!

The Hero Arts blog had a wonderful tutorial regarding watercoloring with Distress Paints. I have never tried actually "painting" with them... spritzing, stamping, and antiquing with them, yes...but to actually use a brush to paint an image, no.  So, I decided to go one step further, and try to make a stained glass effect on vellum with them. It worked pretty well!

Here's the Skipping Stones sketch for this week!

Skipping Stones also makes the perfect dragonfly image for me to practice with!  I stamped onto vellum with Staz-On and let it dry thoroughly. Then I simply applied a tiny bit of Distress Ink to the wings, and took my finger and spread it around a bit.  ( Yes, my fingers are 3 shades of reds, blues, and greens now!)  But I really like the effect! Oh, and I also spritzed the final result with the tiniest amount of gold Glimmer Mist.
   It made the wings curl just slightly, and added the delicate look to the wings of the dragonfly.

Join Hero Arts for their monthly challenges! 

 I am going to be entering this one for sure!

Supplies:
Cardstock; Bazzill
Paper: DCWV, Doodlin'
Stamps:  Skipping Stones,  and Hero Arts (Travel Journal)
Distress Inks; Tim Holtz
French Velvet ribbon

Button Boutique!

I love these dies and stamps!  When Papertrey Ink revealed these several months ago, I went completely mad for them! And my good friend, Liz,who is a real sweetie, decided to get them for me!  We have BIG future plans for these little babies... (sorry, details down the road).  But in the meantime, I am having the time of my life playing with them! I have always been a seamstress, of sorts. I loved Clothing 101 in school, and made many of my kids clothes when they were young.  Halloween was just another excuse for me to get out the Singer! 
Anything to do with the hobby of sewing interests me. But at this point in time, the small projects are much more appealing to me!

Between the great retro papers that are out there, and all the cool trims available, these projects are bound to be a favorite with cardmakers! 

To start with, I wanted to try the "Make it Monday" technique at Papertrey Ink's blog, Capture the Moment.  This week it was tissue texturing...very reminescent of the old tissue paper layering with the Mod Podge. And surprisingly, after trying several types of adhesive, that's what actually worked best!  I love the way it softens the colors of your papers.  I HAD to use my pattern paper with and without tissue so that the card would reflect both contrasting versions.  I even tissued the sentiment tag...and pulled out the old sewing machine to stitch around the edge.

Then I used the button card and the button dies from the Button Boutique Collection. Too easy! 

Lastly, I dug into my sewing stash for some mini ric-rak. I topped it off with an actual OLD safety pin.

                   I LOVE THIS TECHNIQUE!

Supplies:
Paper: DCWV, Lady Couture
Stamps and Dies: Papertrey Ink, Button Boutique
Ric-Rac from my stash
Mod Podge Matte Adhesive
Helmar 450 Quick Dry

Challenges:
Papertrey Ink, (Make it Monday)
Moxie Fab World (Sewing)



Grow where you are planted...

---Scroll down to read about the great
Blog Hop that Elmer's and X-Acto
are sponsoring tomorrow!---

I know you see this quote often and everywhere, and it does have a sweet ring to it. But, I have to say, I disagree with the belief that you grow best where you are "planted".  I think you have to "uproot"  yourself from familiar settings and experience many different places and many various things in order to reach your full potential. Of course, in that regard, I should be a friggin' genius!

But I willingly admit that I'm no philosopher...so here's my take on it.

I was totally inspired by the Stamping Background Color Trends Challenge at     Embellish.  

I loved what the Design Team did with the vivid teal and red.

My little card:

Not only did I stamp the background mesh fence, but I heat embossed it in silver to look just like wire.  I really love the way it turned out!
And I was able to practice with my Copics a bit on the veggies!  Sorry about the shadows. It is really hard to take pictures this late at night, even with the best of lighting in my "studio". (Otherwise known as my converted bathroom corner vanity! LOL!)

Can't wait to make more of those little folded seed packets! 


Supplies:
Bazzill Cardstock
Chicken Wire Stamp: Stampin' Up
Seed Packets and Tomatoes: TPC, Victory Garden Stamps
Copics Markers
Spellbinders, Nestie:  Large Deckled Rectangle
Stock teal ribbon
Zutter Distrezz-It-All

                   Join the Blog hop !
Click here to go to  Elmer’s {Craft & Tell} on
June 11th & 12th!!!   Check out how you can win a huge prize from Elmer's and X-Acto!
There's a great line-up of designers with some terrific projects!  I can't wait to see the fantastic ideas!

Thank You "berry" much!

I love these cute fruit and veggie papers that are so popular right now!  I may have made this card for a challenge or two, but I had so much fun working with the cherry print!

  A shaped card just seemed right for this sentiment and image....

Supplies:
Paper:  DCWV, Farmers Market
Dies: Papertrey Ink, Danity Doily and Button Boutique
Stamp:  Papertrey Ink, Think Big #1
White paper doily, Wilton

Challenges:
Simon Says (Go Fruity!)

Too Kind...

On this project, I chose to use a more subtle group of embellies, and a soft ribbon and lace to highlight up the side.

Plus this card utilizes the whole tissue texturing that I really enjoy doing!

It adds a real vintage look to the card!

My other embellishments are the ribbon flower with the gold and pearl button accent, and the little pearl bling running down the lace.  I gold embossed the feather image onto the dark brown cardstock to add some glamour without too much bling.

Just enough, not too much, I hope.

Supplies:
Sentiment Stamp: Papertrey Ink, Think Big #1
Feather Stamp: Inkadinkado
Punch: Martha Stewart
Pearl Accents: Recollections
Button: Dress It Up!

Challenges entered:
Papertrey Ink (Make it Monday)

Imaginisce, Pulling out all the old collections!

For this one, I had to root through all of my Imaginisce papers to get just the right rainbow of colors.  A lot of what I have is Christmas....not working so much for this card.

I followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday and had already decided on a BEACH theme.  The chipboard shapes made it so simple to put together a fast and cheerful card!  So glad Summer's here, but it's gonna get blazing hot here in the desert very soon!

Supplies:
Imaginisce papers from Teacher's Pet, Garden Party, Spooky Town, and Wild Things  (I told you I had to root!)
Stamps: Studio G
Copics Markers

Card entered in challenges at:

Imaginisce (Color and Lyrics challenge)
PaperCutz (Beach/Travel)
Sketch Saturday

Mad Hatter Party!

You're invited to join me at "The Altered Alice" challenge blog  for an Un-Birthday Party!   Those of you familiar with Alice in Wonderland, know that nothing is what it appears to be there!
Here is my invitation made just for the occasion.
Mad Hatter Day is celebrated either on the 6th of October, or on the 10th of June, depending on where you live. (See explanation here.) 

Also, part of the celebration is to bring something to the party! Well, those who know me also know that I go nowhere without my tea!  And would I ever be on time without my pocket watch? LOL!

Note that the tag on his tag reads, "10/6"...which is the size.

 But in different parts of the world,

"Mad Hatter Day" is celebrated either on

October 6th, or June 10th! Cool, eh?

My tiny teabags...

Everyone, please, join me in a cup of tea on Friday!

I'll be sitting back and relaxing and having a few myself!

And check out the party!

Have a Hot, Hot Birthday!

Hot Pink, that is!  Yep, that's pink on one of my cards!  I'm not much of a pink person, but paired with black?  Now you're talkin'! 
The color challenge at Stamptacular Sunday called for Black, Hot Pink, and Tan, so I went for it! 
And I certainly couldn't resist the sketch challenge at Waltzing Mouse this week, because, well, I love WM!  I haven't received my recent order yet so I'm working off the one and only set I own...so...

Have a Hot, Hot, Happy Birthday!

The sentiment is from my WM Bountiful Baskets set, and I heat embossed the silhouettes onto the pattern paper. 

Note to self: Heat embossing on paper is quite different from embossing on cardstock...

For whatever reason, the frame took on a pinkish tint when I photographed it, but it is pale tan....
I have to admit that I really like working with the PINK paper! 


Bazzill Black cardstock
My Mind's Eye pattern paper
Stamps:   Sentiment, Waltzing Mouse
              Silhouettes, Hero Arts
Zva rhinestones
Nestabilities, Labels Nine

This card is entered at the challenges linked above and at:
2 Sisters Challenge ( Silhouettes)



Say Happy Father's Day with Tim Holtz!

I just loved that the challenge this week at Simon Says Stamps was to make a "Masculine" card and if you have 'em, use Tim's products! Well, I have a few of those that have been needing some love for a while!  

So, it was a no-brainer to use Tim's  "Journey" stamp set, and pair it with this terrific paper bit I had left from a Graphic 45 pack!    And one of the products I'd had for a long time, but never used was the idea-ology Mask image, Time Works.  It worked SO well. I love the way they barely stick to your project, but manage to keep out all the spray mist.  I chose the clock face image to add a little dimension to my pattern paper.


  I also used a key and some hinges from Tim's Grungeboard, Elements. This stuff literally absorbs the ink so well, and in this case, the embossing ink. All I had to do was ink the pieces with Black pigment ink, apply the embossing ink, and clear powder. They now have the appearance of actual metal.  I love it!

Last, but not least, I stopped thinking that a card for a holiday had to be the typical one with the greeting clearly on the front.  This card IS for my Dad, and it IS for Father's Day, but I prefer to write my own personal message on the inside. I'm pretty sure he'll know what day it is!!!! LOL!

The tag on the card reads, CG 1. (The key chain salvaged from a kitchen drawer, managed to hang directly over the number 1 in every picture I took!)  Meant to replicate the letters and number on a license plate, these are my dad's initials and I DO feel that he's #1!

Inside of card:

Paper:  Graphic 45, Curtain Call
Embellies: Tim Holtz, idea-ology Grungeboard and Mask
Embossing Ink and powder: Stampendous
Adhesive: Helmar 450


Also, timing was perfect to enter this in the challenge at:
Easy Craft Projects (Father's day)
Woodware USA (Masculine and a GDT call!)
The Crazy Challenge (Father's Day)

All-Time Faves!

I was asked recently to pick out some of my favorite scrapbook layouts I've done over the last year.  Wow, that covers a whole lotta pages! But going through them really had me recalling good times and fun days!  And since I usually only post cards I make on this blog, I thought it would be nice to share some of my layouts.

Some of the pages I chose because the subject, time, or place was very special. Others because the layouts themselves just seemed special to me, whether due to the photo or the techniques I used. For whatever the reason, these are the ones that I picked. 
        Please enjoy, or bare with me,
                         on my trip down
                         Memory Lane!

Journaling pocket showing....

And one of my two-pagers:

 This has "noodles" made out of rolled/baked Fimo Clay!

And I DO use more than one photo on many of my layouts!

I just have no fear of using my large prints,

sometimes as big as trimmed down 11 X 14's!

Note the real shoelace threaded onto this page! Fun!

Ok, this was just the best photo EVER!  LOL!

In case you noticed a common theme here, Yes, that's my grandson, Hayden.

I have since realized that there do exist other things in

life to scrap about! 

But he's still my favorite thing!

Skipping Stones Sketch Challenge

I love the sketch this week at Skipping Stones! It demonstrates how even a very simple layout can lead to so very many different interpretations!

        Mine?  Well, here's a sneak peak!

and my card, "Hangin"...

It's a bit difficult to see my "clothesline" in the photo,

but it shows up much better IRL!

There's a great stamp set up for grabs in this challenge, and I'm all about using my Skipping Stones Stamps!  Love 'em!

While I'm at it, I entered this card in the :
"Anything Goes"Challenge at Card Makin Mamas
"For a Diva" Challenge at Creative Card Crew
"What'eva" Challenge at FabnFunky

First Day!

It took me forever to finish this layout of my grandson's first day of school!  Considering the year has ended and he is now a BIG first grader! 
Anyway, love my Cosmo Cricket papers and used several old collections on these pages. My daughter hated that I put a butterfly on it, but hey, he's 5. I felt as though he was venturing out like a butterfly coming out of its' cocoon. She just doesn't get it. Boys (including my grandson) love butterflies. He liked the layout....

I apologize for the terrible photography. Still using my little Nikon, and hate it. Hoping to be able to post someday that I have a decent Canon for my pictures!

Thanks, Papercutz Challenge for the inspiration to "get 'er done"!  Great banner challenge!

June Cardabilities Reveal!

I love trying new techniques and this month I'm

 experimenting with the pleated flowers with punch edges! So very feminine!

Inside of card:

They worked great with my Verve Leaves and Cricut butterflies!

Thanks for looking today! Please leave a comment !

Entered at:

Paper Sundaes (Vintage or Shabby)

Hero Arts and Embellish toss down the gauntlet!

I love it when two great companies come together and offer fantastic prizes for amazing challenges! Here's one I particularly enjoyed!

The Embellish Color Challenge added the fun of Hero Arts



I used the colors shown and even had more fun using one of my Hero Arts stamps! I love the fun, easy way this card came together!

Tag stamp was made with Hero Arts, Travel Journal Stamp set, and heat embossed in Stampendous Pearl Sapphire. The map was stamped with StampinUp and heat embossed with black.

Try your own hand at joining the challenge to win a cool Hero Arts prize!

Embellish Magazine (Text Color Trend Challange)
Saturday Challenge (Clean and Simple)