DYSU CHallenge #54

Those who know me, will probably say that PINK is the last color they expected to see on any project I make.  Actually, just like the bling, I'm warming up to it! 

A year or so ago, I did not see the reason to put rhinestones, or even pearls, on my cards or layouts. Now, I LOVE THEM! Still used in moderation, of course...

Our challenge this week is to use

Our sponsor this week is The Stamps of Life!

I have no granddaughters, and my own daughter is grown and married.

My friends are, like me, getting older and past the "pink" phases of a

young woman's life.

But, occassionally, a bit of pink splashes it's way into my life.

I can't explain it, but I actually find it, well, FUN!!!  LOL!

Here is my FUN card for the challenge this week.

I used the "hip2be..." stamp set from

The (Stamps) of Life

by Stephanie Barnard

As always, please join as a follower, if you haven't already.  And I always read and appreciate the comments left by those sweet enough to leave one!

And JOIN IN THE FUN at DYSU!!!

The January Stampendous Challenge is here!

I love Stampendous and all of their luscious glitter, mica flakes, embossing powders, and stamps!  I can let my vintage style run wild with a bit of bling added in!

Speaking of which, this month's challenge is to add

Bling!

   I started out by using a black card base.  I love throwing in a colored base on occasion to give my cards that glamorous look.

   I chose my background paper and cut 1/2" smaller than the front of my card.

   Then I decided what type of paper I wanted to stamp my image onto.  In this case, I chose a textured Bazzill cardstock in an ecru.  I cut that just 1/2" smaller than my previous background paper.

   The stamping was the best part! I stamped "Songbird" onto the cardstock in "Bamboo Leaves" by Momento, applying clear embossing afterward.  It looked very pretty at that point. But I needed more pop and bling.

   So, I touched the areas of the bird that I wanted glitter to adhere to with just a tiny bit of glue. Sprinkled it with blue glitter, and then a bit of Stampendous' magical Frantage "Shabby White Embossing Powder". This is, by far, my favorite of all the powders!  It was set by heating from the underside of my cardstock. This is Fran's Encrusted Jewel Technique. Watch the video here!  I also added it to the bottom 1 inch of my black card base.

   I added the "hello" from the Stampendous "Happy Messages" set.

   Now my card is ready to asssemble. No, not quite yet!  I needed a border at the bottom. I cut a 1 1/2" strip of musical note paper that would extend to the edge of my card base and scallop punched it.

   I then used my Zutter Dis-Strezz It All to rough up all the sides of my background paper and stamped image. 

   NOW it was ready to assemble!  I glued down the background paper, then the musical note strip. Then added the finished image.  I carefully placed little rhinestones along the border strip and added the little black double-bow ribbon and rhinestone.

P.S.  The card details are all straight.  When photographed, the bottom appeared crooked, but it was due to the slight warping of the cardstock when I applied the heat.  It will flatten as it sits.

I hope you have enjoyed walking through the steps of how I made my card. I know it got a bit lengthy, but the actual production is much simpler than it sounds!

This card will be posted on the Stampendous Photo Gallery, too! 

Go there to see more fantastic ideas!

Quick Quotes Trio!

They're having a Design Team call at

Quick Quotes,

and wouldn't that be a great team to be on!!!

I am definately crossing my fingers for that one! Those delicious papers and wonderful Powder Puff inks...yummy!

It would make my project creativity go up by leaps and bounds!

I have a layout that I created yesterday for the call...

Even though Quick Quote products were not required, I wanted to demonstrate how I would use their great paper colors and kit embellishments.

This layout was made from a kit I purchased some time back at an Expo.

I love that little garnet plastic grommet and those brads. I didn't use them the way the kit showed. Instead, I went with my own idea of gluing the brads to the grommet and hanging that gorgeous ribbon tie off of it. 

And those layered vellum letters were perfect! It's difficult to see in the picture, but the little ribbon piece under the photo matches the pattern in my grandson's shirt perfectly!

My second project was an accordian album that I have been wanting to make for a very long time.  I was very close to my maternal grandmother. So much so that I find myself patterning my entire life after her. She was a loving, but opionated, outspoken individual with a passion for enjoying life. Unfortunately, she passed away from cancer about 20 years ago...I miss her very much.

I left the cover fairly simple because the inside was going to contain so many details. 

Her name was added to the front after this was photographed. 

Much of the journaling was personal, and was also added after these photos were taken.

I love the way all of these "French Quarter" papers from Quick Quotes worked so beautifully together.  I inked all of the edges throughout the album with the

"Powder Puff, Midnight Confession" inks.

My mother has more pictures of my grandmother that I can add to these little pockets later. 

My grandmother was a hard worker.  This is her school ID photo from when she was an employee for the local school district.

When she was dressed up to go out, she reminded me a bit of Liz Taylor...

but then, I'm a bit biased.  (lol!) 

Don't these papers look gorgeous?

Loving to travel, my grandmother visited almost every state in the U.S.  And in her later years, enjoyed the occasional trip to Vegas!  Go, Grandma!!!

The little "Tattered Angel" tranparencies really look great on these papers, too!

This album will hold treasured memories for me for years to come.

My third project is a card that includes the adorable vellum dragonfly from

Quick Quotes.

Here's to a New Year, and the beginning of new memories!

Thanks for reading!

DCWV Layout Challenge

I am starting out the New Year by making more layouts. This past year, I've been concentrating more on cards, and less on scrapbooking my grandson. Not a bad thing, but I have a huge number of photos on my computer that need to be purged or scrapped!

So, for inspiration, I have decided to make a page using some of my many older DCWV papers. And, let's face it, who doesn't like winning NEW products?! 

The Stack-aholic Template sketch challenge at DCWV Diary :

It encouraged me to get out more of my elements and embellishments for a BOY page!

Papers used:  DCWV,  "Fall" Stack and "Linen Closet" cardstock.

Taking photos of a six year old can ALWAYS be challenging, but try taking them during a holiday?  (Family gathering, lots of sugar, an uncle who adds to the chaos...) Oh my....    Hayden's a character and cracks us up most of the time.  On this particular day, he had decided that he would push "Grandma's" buttons to the max! I finally got a really nice picture, but only after about a dozen like these!

I really wanted to add a masculine feel to the layout, so I pulled out these metal sprockets and the mesh ribbon.  I love using jute on my pages, so they became my banner.

The large blue "washer" is from Bazzill.  I rarely remember that I have a ton of these, so using one is a great accomplishment. (One down, about 100 more to go!  LOL!)  The title is a chipboard piece from Maya Road. The belt is an actual one that I found in the Dollar Spot at Target about three years ago!  Who knew that someday it would match the colors in my layout perfectly!

Here's a peek at the new DCWV paper packs at JoAnn's!

Anyone who knows me and my style, know they have my name written all over them!

And there are even more new stacks at Michael's!

Thanks for letting me share one of my first pages for the year with you! 

Wish me luck!

DYSU Challenge #53

   
Hey everyone! Welcome to a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?! This week we want to LET IT SNOW!!  So grab a cup of your favorite hot drink and join us in the fun of creating some snowy fun project.

Meljen's Designs Winner Choice of 4 Images

Robyn's Fetish Winner's Choice of either 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 paper pack

The Crafter's Companion The Boxer and Envelobox Creator Bundle with Advanced Techniques DVD

I used the Robyn's Fetish image "In the Cold", and since one of my New Year's resolutions is to start trying to incorporate my DT and challenge cards with donating more cards to charity, this image brought to mind a very thoughtful sentiment, no matter what your daily challenges may be.

I wanted to make it just as appealing to a young person

as to an adult.

I pulled out my Cuttlebug embossing folders, my die cuts, my Stickles, and my Copics and decided that my scrap room could be cleaned and re-organized another day...lol!

The inside sentiment completes the quote.

I love to take a digital image and crop around a focal point for the inside of my card.

Sometimes, it brings out the little details of that image that you wouldn't normally notice.

Challenge entered: Creative Card Crew

Thanks for looking at my project today, and please, go by the "Do You Stack Up" blog and see what the other members have created. They're alway so much fun!

And make your own card to enter and win some fantastic prizes from our sponsors.

The best giveaway EVER!

Check out Melissa's blog at:

http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/

to see how you can win some AMAZING prizes!

Who wouldn't want these??? 

Nope, not gonna tell you what it is, you'll have to look for yourself!!

And if you don't want to win these great goodies,

then just cross your fingers for ME!!

LOL!

New Year's Resolution

MY SCRAP SPACE

I feel that having posted this on my blog, I will feel much more inclined and responsible to carry out my 2012 plans for my scrap space.

This is an especially long post for me, and I thank anyone who makes it through the entire thing!

I am very fortunate to have a large area (well, actually 3 areas) in which to extend my passion and express myself.

My main space is my Scrap Room (AKA, the upstairs den)

It gets a lot of natural light during the day, and we installed an overhead ceiling fan/light fixture with great bulbs for evening work.  As you can see, I decided to hang most of my cards that have NOT been mailed out, on twine that hangs from one corner to the other. I found that if I SEE the cards on regular basis, I am more inclined to send them to people as hear someone is sick, or has a birthday, or just because....  I'm going to need more twine! (lol)  The storage cubes from Michael's holds all of my papers and a lot of my company stamps. Love those little drawers!  Oh yes, and I have a little TV in the corner for those evenings I can't miss CSI, or the Mentalist!

This space also has my computer (desk is IKEA), printer, and scanner tucked in the corner. I've found that the pegboard is pretty useless for what I need. It's slated to be removed.  The wipe-off board is priceless!  If I didn't write all my bill-pay  and DT deadlines on that, I would be lost! 

The last wall in my room holds my IKEA Expedit unit.  The boxes and spaces have been labeled and re-arranged so many times, but it holds all of my little embellishments, Copics, paints, and Xyron adhesive machines. (Which I will admit, I do not use as often as I should)

Note the corner paper storage rack...

I bought that at the Bazzill sale several years ago for $40!!!

I think "someone" needs to go back for another!

My table is a 6 foot antique library table that came out of St. Genevieve, Missouri, a long time ago. It has seen many dining rooms along the way, but has finally found it's way into my scrap space.  The top is always cluttered and messy, but I truly know what's on there! And since I've kept my sewing machine out, I use it!

Now I know you're saying, "Where's her Cricut and Cuttlebug kept? "  Well, what does a person really use a "master retreat" for anyway?  In our house, it houses the TV at one end for watching our shows at night (yes, we are one of those couples who watches tv in the bedroom!  Shame, oh shame...) and the treadmill.  On the opposite wall, I have the walnut storage that is from a large local grocery store chain that sells about everything (Fry's Marketplace)  The white bookcases hold all of my back issues of scrapbook/card making magazines from the last 4-5 years. I keep them arranged by month so that I can pull 10-12 issues from a particular month at a time.  Where the photographs are on the wall will be some shelves I just purchased and need to paint. They will hold the many jars of Prima flowers that a friend (Thanks, Jenn) just recycled to me!  If I see them out, I will use them more!

Last, but probably most important, is my little niche in my master bath that I refer to as my "Photo Studio"...lol!  It is tucked under the window at the far end of the bathroom where I get tons of natural light, and what would I use that counter top for anyway?  I hear many bloggers asking about taking their pictures and needing a space.  This works perfectly for me. As long as the sun is shining (and in Arizona, that's most of the time) I can usually get a fairly good photo of a card.  For me, layouts work better outside, laying flat on a posterboard, in the light.  You can see I have black cardstock ready for a dark background, if needed.  And props come from all over our home.  I have "borrowed" western/cowboy items from my husband's den, and Southwest decor from the loft. I've even nabbed Tuscan decor from downstairs! 

If you haved made it this far, you have a very good idea of where I spend much of my day. (well, when I'm not doing housework or cooking, Larry!)  I'm very lucky to have the time and space these days to play. 

My New Year's resolution is to get better organized and to learn to sit back and appreciate what I DO have. Many changes have happened over the last 2 years, but we are in a better place than some and looking forward to retirement. It may not look as great as it did 5 years ago, but we'll figure it out.  And for now, these rooms are my refuge and I am glad to have friends both in my daily life and online, my health, and my very understanding and enabling husband.

Happy 2012 to everyone! 

DYSU Challenge #52 - Rainbow Colors!

This week we have a huge celebration in store! Do You Stack Up?! has made it a whole year and we are ready to party! For this challenge, we want to see a
Rainbow of Colors!
On your project, use at least 3 colors from the Inspiration Photo below.

This week's Sponsors:

Do You Stack Up?! Surprise Package	Stitchy Bear Designs $10 Gift Voucher
Bugaboo Stamps Winner’s Choice of 7 Digis	Dearie Dolls Winner’s Choice of 4 Digis
The Paper Shelter $20 Gift Certificate	Pink Cat Studios Winner’s Choice of 5 Digis
Amber Ink $10 gift certificate	Little Claire Designs Two Clear Stamp Sets

Hope Jacare
Winner’s Choice of 3 Images




I just had to get silly, with the holiday stress and all! 

With this post post falling after Christmas, but before New Year's,

I thought it needed to fit both.

Bugaboo's "Ruby" has had quite a week of parties!

From her sequined hot pink shoes to her gold globe earrings, she's quite the catch!

(Come on, we all know someone like this!)

Inside of the card:

Stamp - "Ruby Xmas Drink" (Bugaboo)

Paper -  "Hog Heaven" (Sassafras Lass)

Copics Markers

Stickles

I hope everyone has enjoyed seeing all of the creations and joining in the challenges at "Do You Stack Up" over the past year!  I know I have enjoyed every assignment with the gals on the Design Team and look forward to the next term! 

Whee!  More fun to come!

Happy, Happy New Year to you all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

  ((hugs))

Jan

Off to a New Year with Imaginisce!

I decided that one of my New Year's resolutions was to start doing more layouts, and not concentrating completely on cards! I have really slacked off journaling my life around me, and have perhaps escaped into cardmaking for everyone else.
So, when I saw the monthly color challenge at Imaginisce, I "challenged" myself. I have little of their DP left at this point, so it was really interesting seeing what I could come up with using only Imaginisce products!

"Hayden in Scottsdale"

I combined several collections-Polar Expressions, "Frosted Forest", and "Fun Drops", with Apple Cider (where I inked the brown woodgrain leaves).
I used my I-Top and covered four Braddies, two with denim, and two with holiday fabric.
I also used the "Tickets" stamp from the Snag "Em line and heat embossed them in red.
Blue cardstock is Bazzill Basics, and the rub-ons are some very old Making Memories.

And, yep, that's our winter!  The temps will dip down in the low 40's some nights, but basically, the days will recover and reach the high to mid 60's.
It sounds great now, but ask me how I feel about it in the summer when we're seeing 110 degrees for the 30th day in a row! LOL!

I am submitting this layout at Imaginisce Monthly Challenge for December! as I can really use some newer Imaginisce papers!