Sketchy Thursday... 9/28

So... In my personal teaching career, this has never happened: a Teacher's Strike. I'm not going to go into details, and not give my personal opinion... As this is neither the time, nor the place to do so. I am going to say only this... It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do for, or because of work. It was mentally stressful, physically taxing (we logged 70+ miles in the first four days), and just emotionally draining.

My friend, and talented artist, Lynn Eisenhauer came up with this painting. She's a fellow arts lover, and educator, and an all-around lovely lady.

I figure, something beautiful had to come out of the mess.

I used Sketchy Thursday's sketch for this layout. I've been playing around with the layout in my head all week, and when I sat down to actually do it, it went really quickly. Probably also, because I only used my CounterfeitKit! Okay, and some additional Thickers... But they were necessary for this powerful of a statement.

Topaz 9: Friends (w/ Counterfeit Kit)

For this project, I wanted to use a few photos of my lovely Miss I, and her two best friends! I love how the natural light on these photographs just picked up the cutest expressions on each of the girls. I also really wanted to keep using my fantastic Counterfeit Kit that I made for September. I still have SO much paper and supplies, that it might just run me into October as well! Or, I could just find more time and keep crafting away...

I decided to finally use the elusive Crate Paper Bouquet paper. I'm not one for using a ton of florals in my projects, so this was kind of a stretch for me. I loved the flowers, and the colors, but just do not choose them everytime. I also used Kristy's fantastic Mid-Week Mojo for Topaz #9. I loved the idea of using photographs more than once, and so mirror the larger photos with the same photos in wallet size.

Instead of another journaling area, I decided to use some Glue Dots (I couldn't find my Glubers, homemade or otherwise) and a piece of kraft scrap to make this muslin flower. Super easy!!! I then adorned it with a Studio Calico butterfly that I had sprayed with Lunchtray Mr. Huey, then adorned with my MME bling.

I mirrored the small butterfly, with a larger one that was created in the same way. I just adore how the Mr. Huey's is SO bright. And it matched my color palette perfectly!

After piling all the pieces together, I realized that the blues needed something to 'pop' against, so used the reddish paper to make the polka dots stand out. I didn't want to waste paper, so strategically pieced together a border in reverse. All of the seams are hidden behind the flower, bracket or butterfly (you didn't notice, did you???!). I also added a small kraft scalloped edge to reflect the journaling box. Lastly, foam Thickers made up the title.

All in all, I think it went just well! I'm sad to see most of the inspiration paper from my Counterfeit Kit gone, but I have enough to make a card or two...

AUTHENTIQUE: Beautiful Girl

From the AUTHENTIQUE BLOG...

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Hello Authentique fans,  it's Heather again!

I have to start this post with a confession: I love my Hipstamatic photo app. When I printed this photograph, I knew that I wanted to use some of the pink colors from the Uncommon line that Authentique sent, to showcase my little munchkin off. 

I started by using the back of the Gifted paper from the Uncommon line. I really liked how the text, and simplicity allowed for more color in the embellishments. Rather than using a bold mist, or a liberal swipe of acrylic paint, I made a simple solution of white acrylic and water. Instead of spraying, I just splattered some on for interest.

 (Supplies Used: AUTHENTIQUE patterned papers, Uncommon Gifted (back), Uncommon Foundations (back); AUTHENTIQUE die cuts Uncommon Icons, Splendid Icons, Splendid Tabloids, Journey Classic Type)

(Other Supplies: Basic Grey buttons, Twinery twine-Lilac, American Crafts brads, Sassafras Lass Vintage Brooch, Glossy Accents, homemade white acrylic spray)

I really enjoyed how the Uncommon papers worked against the Journey stickers and Splendid die cuts. I used some of the buttons, brads, and a metal flower that I had in my stash.

I also stitched a contrasting color of twine on one of the die cuts. I haven't really quite decided if I really want to add any journaling onto the tabs. So far... I've decided against it.

On one of the die cuts, I used a little bit of Glossy Accents to make the sentiment stand out.

Rather than keep the title straight, I used a piece of circle paper to position the letters in the right spot. I also reflected the circle in the metal flower and the curves in the stitching.

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I also created a card with some of my scraps. This one is for a lovely scrappy friend who just had her fourth baby, a little girl!!

  (Supplies Used: AUTHENTIQUE patterned papers, Blissful 6x6; AUTHENTIQUE die cuts Blissful Icons and Excerpts)

(Other Supplies: American Craft buttons, Hero Arts stamp, Twinery twine)

I hope you enjoy! ~Heather

First Take on AUTHENTIQUE'S Free Bird

When Authentique sent me their new series, Free Bird... I was in love! They are a set of 32 6x6 papers that are all sold individually. The really neat part, is that they are in groups of four mix-and-match patterns, with coordinating solids on the reverse. You can also purchase them in "Nests" or groups of patterns... But I kind of like the idea of mixing and matching as I see fit.

For this card, I chose to use the Familiar line. I have a thank you card for a fellow staff member, and I figured that he may like something that wasn't so girly.

I'm not usually one to gush, but I really liked these! I tried to mimic the pattern that was on the tan and aqua paper, by using my new Corner Chomper that I just got from ScrapbookSteals. It was pretty fun using the Chomper in three ways, the stub cut (sentiment), the deco cut (brown polka dot), and using both of them together (tan/aqua paper)!

I also used an American Crafts stamp, with Chalk Ink and some of the May Arts ribbon that I won last year!

If you are interested in getting some of your own Free Bird papers from Authentique... Ask your LSS! Or, you can order them from here.

Isla's First Slurpee: Topaz #7

When I saw the Topaz #7 from ScrapbookSteals.com's MWMs... I knew the photos I was going to use. Charissa did a great job with her Guest Designer sketch, and the whole thing just fell into place.

I decided to use a couple of Hipstamatic photos that I had printed using my great tutorial that I had created for ScrapbookSteals. I chose to use the bright colors that were located in the Slurpee cup (it was a sugar-free Slurpee!) to highlight the photos. I love bright colors, but even this layout was SUPER bright for me! I used a few papers from the Emma's Shoppe collection by Crate Paper, and a piece of red woodgrain paper from Basic Grey's Life of the Party.

The lettering was Cosmo Cricket's Tiny Type and Studio Calico's wood veneer, that I used a stamp pad to change the color. 

I added some Sassafras Lass In-a-Stitch-Blooms, an American Crafts tag, and a random supply of brads, buttons, and ring brads. 

I strung a piece of Twinery twine along the top. 

Just fun and bright!

This is a super bright and fun layout, but it was SUPER easy to make.

My Mustache Man: Topaz #6

When I saw the lovely photos that Kristy over at ScrapbookSteals had taken of her adorable JM... I had to scrap them! I asked her, and she was lovely enough to oblige me!

Topaz 6 was a lovely layout, but didn't quite allow me to really put in all of the photos that I saw! I change a few things up, and ended up with...

This! I really liked how the fantastic American Crafts cardstock popped against the fun Sassafras Lass papers! I used quite a bit of Sassafras papers, and embellishments! I also used those fantastic yellow Thickers that my friend Karen over at PaperHeartCrafts snagged for me at Big Lots.

I loved using a ton of those fantastic elements that I got in this year's Sassafras $50 box.

The Entwined Blooms and Paper Whimsies are just too fun!

I'm not a huge fussy-cutter, but I really enjoyed how the "scalloped" circles looked after cutting them out. I also used a lot of various buttons and brads.

I also used a stamp on the back of the black paper, then cut it out for the mustache! I made sure that the little Sass creatures were showing off their mustache.

Kristy gave me some great journaling to write out for her. I broke out my Signo pen and got to work!

I also used the same stamp for my die cut to actually stamp the top of the journaling.

This layout was SOOO much fun to make! And I know that Kristy enjoyed it.

This is the Life... Topaz 8

I got to use my Counterfeit Kit for the first time this week! (Remember the Counterfeit Kit Challenge??) It was a lot nicer than I realized. Not because I am the most fantastic at making kits, more because there was no time spent figuring out which papers to blend... What to use... Which embellishments to find...

I just got to SCRAP! {PS. Cleanup is SOOO much easier BTW!!}

This layout did end up completely flat. Which is odd for me. I usually use more dimension, add pop-dots, make things shiny, ribbon, twine, etc. It was a total throwback to some of my first pages. And you know what, I love it!

Here is Kristy Lee's sketch for Topaz #8:

And here is my interpretation! I used kraft for the base, then layered it with Crate Paper and Kaisercraft strips from the same piece of patterned paper. I just cut the strips apart, so that it looked like I used different pieces of paper. I love how the simplicity of the background works with the variations in polka dots and other patterns.

I layered a rose colored cardstock circle with a Sassafras Lass Mix and Mend sticker, then added white pen accents.

For the title, I kept things really small so that they didn't compete with the photos. I used Echo Park Springtime small letters in two colors. 

I really like how the colors from my main Crate Paper paper and my Pinterest pin really work in this layout!

AUTHENTIQUE: September Color Challenge

From the AUTHENTIQUE BLOG:

We will have two challenges per month:

• Sketch Challenge - The Sketch Challenge will be posted on the first Saturday of each month. There will be two sketches posted {one card sketch and one layout sketch} for you to use as inspiration.
• Color Challenge - The Color Challenge will be posted on the third Saturday of each month. There will be a color palette posted for you to use as inspiration.

We would love for you to play along!
Just use the challenge inspiration to create as many projects as you'd like.
A winner will be randomly selected from all the qualified entries to receive an Authentique Paper prize pack!
{The more projects you create, the better your chances are of winning!}

*****

Here is the color palette for September 2011:

Here is my interpretation of the color options. I really wanted to focus on the Foundations paper, as well as use more of the Splendid that I received. I also used some of the Blissful papers and die cuts for the sentiment. The pink bow is actually paper rafia that I unwound and tied around the card.

 (Supplies Used AUTHENTIQUE: Journey Foundations Front, Splendid Renown, Blissful Prosperity, Splendid Icons; OTHER supplies: paper rafia, a•muse studio stamp, cardstock)

I used an a•muse studio stamp for the sentiment. I like how the script works really well with the Blissful die cut.

It's a brighter card, but I like the fact that it will help to brighten my friends day. 

*****

Make sure that you link your color challenge to the AUTHENTIQUE blog!! Also, check out the AUTHENTIQUE Facebook page for information on getting the new Free Bird loose 6x6 papers!!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge: Crate Paper "Bouquet"

Today, I am showing my Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I chose to use a piece of paper that was similar to this month's kit of choice, but different in color tones. I chose this piece of paper from Crate Paper's Portrait line called "Bouquet".

 

The colors for this paper were not the same as the Sassafras paper's blue and yellows... but I found a great pin off of Pinterest that held similar colors.

Since I don't use a ton of plain cardstock, I chose a few pieces that would be great for my uses. 

Kraft paper, reddish/pink Bazzill, Green Bazzill, Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe "Inventory", Little Yellow Bicycle Twig's "Fern", Prima Madeline Collection"Parfait"& Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe "Dolls".

My patterned paper included a few pieces (14)... Including a couple of half sheets...

American Crafts Peachy Keen in "Easy as Pie" and "Good Golly Gee", Basic Grey's Hello Luscious "Scrumptious", Crate Paper Portrait "Something Blue", Prima Madeline Collection "Skyward", Pebbles May Bouquet Collection "Front Porch", Pebbles Lil' Miss Collection "Sunshine", MyMindsEye So Sophie "Never Enough", Crate Paper Restoration "Refinish", Prima Coquette "Chemise", Hambly "Big Vintage Circle", Kaisercraft Lush Collection "Maple", Sassafras Lass Mix & Mend "Free Composition", Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe "Dresses", MyMindsEye Stella & Rose "Joy",

 

Embellishment Kit #1: AC Thickers in Dear Lizzy, and Honey puffy Thickers, Sassafras Lass stickers in Mix Sweet Treats, Studio Calico tickets, American Crafts rose ribbon, MME adhesive bling, hemp twine, BG Hello Luscious fabric flowers, MME Lime Twist cardstock embellishment, Echo Park mini type, YLB doilies, Studio Calico spray in Bluegrass

Embellishment Kit #2: aqua ribbon (unknown), AC Delights, AC tags, MarthaStewart kraft tags, AC Flair, MME Lime Twist stickers, MME Fine and Dandy ribbons, Studio Calico Mr. Huey Sunshine, CosmoCricket Tiny Type in Yellow and Top Secret, YLB dimensional embellishment Twig

 

Chipboard Kit: MME Fine and Dandy chipboard set, Studio Calico wood veneer butterflies, MarthaStewart adhesive ribbon, muslin, white and black paperclips, BG brads, CC Blackboard mini book

 

My goal is to use this kit all month. I hope to use more of my existing materials, and purchase less and less. That means that I can snag more tools when I see great deals!!

Snippet: Counterfeit Kit Challenge & Design Seeds Preview

My lovely friend Brenda over at The Imperfect Scrapper found a great blog called the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. The goal over at The Counterfeit Kit Challenge is to use your own supplies to create an amazing kit! Why buy more, when you have TONS of stuff already?

Their kit used a great kit from Sweet Peach Crop Shop's September 2011.

While it is completely cute and lovely... It's a lot of Sassafras Lass. Sass that I don't have. While I could just toss a bunch of Sass in and call it a day, I wouldn't go the easy route. When do I ever do that? So... I found a piece of paper that I love, but was challenging me... And was floral. Which I hardly EVER use!

(Crate Paper "Bouquet" from their Portrait line)

I then matched the colors with a great color palette from Design Seeds that I found on Pinterest.

I ended up including quite a bit of yellow and green. Again, colors I don't use a lot of. My kit includes 8 pieces of "cardstock", 14 pieces of patterned paper, a mini chipboard book that I have NO idea what to do with, 2 mists, a handful of ribbon, chipboards, alphas, twine, wood veneer, brads, tags, and a few more embellishments. Okay, so a couple of "add-on" kits...

I'll post my own pics tomorrow!!