Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Lawnscaping Challenge # 58

After seeing many of my friends' creations, especially those of my "Wonky" friend Jen, I decided to purchase my own Lawn Fawn stamps. I snagged the Gnome Sweet Gnome and Happy Summer sets over Artco.

Seeing my peers use their LF for the Lawnscaping Challenge, I wanted to try it out for myself. I'm trying to be a better stamper, and I have just gotten some markers for coloring... So, here goes.

 
I loved this little bee. I just had to use it. And there you go :) Pin It

Monday, May 27, 2013

MWAH! - Scrapbook Steals MWM Peridot 4

I am loving this month's Gossamer Blue box. And my May Elle's Studio kit... SWOON!!!! Seriously. The two combined are even better. In love. I cannot wait to see what is available next month!!!

In this layout, I wanted to use bright colors. I loved the Echo Park woodgrain. I had to use it for my "solid" background. In love!! The Fancy Pants Down By the Shore anchors were adorable. And that Jillibean Soup green pattern was fantastic. All of the embellishments were just too fun.
I loved the "Book Report" journaling tag. It's going to be quite awhile before Isla is actually reading, so I just used it for my journaling.

I used the ScrapbookSteals.com Mid-Week Mojo for the sketch. I love using sketches!! Melodee's are pretty darn fun too!! Check them out every Wednesday at 9 am MST. Pin It

Saturday, May 25, 2013

I Love Long (Productive) Weekends!!

It's Memorial Day weekend. Yeah!! This means, a four day weekend spent hanging with family and friends, crafting, having a few beverages, and generally preparing for summer. I spent some time crafting with my wonderful Gossamer Blue May kit. I really loved all of the bright colors. And I have to admit... I seriously considered getting my girls matching sailor type outfits to go with the anchors. I looked... Then walked away.

The first layout is a cute sketch that was on the Elle's Studio blog. I really loved the triangles, and wanted to use my Silhouette to cut out the triangles out of the main paper. This way, they would be perfectly spaced out. I'm such a Seattle girl. I love me some Starbucks. And sadly, they coffee co. plays a part in quite a few of my layouts... This one is focused on the new Clover Machine. If you haven't had a Clover coffee, you really need to try. It is the most perfectly brewed cup of coffee ever. They brew them singly. AMAZING!
As you can see, I used quite a few things from my ever-growing stash of Elle's Studio products. Love local (they are a Washington company!!)

For the second, I was inspired by this blog post on the Gossamer Blue blog. Unfortunately, my layout sat unfinished for over a week. I finally had enough time to finish it. I also really wanted to put a song phrase as my title. I kind of love this one. The little BG envelope has some hidden journalling. And those enamel dots... SWOON!
Lastly, I really liked this paper. It's Echo Park from their new line All About a Boy. I really wanted to focus on the color, as it is Miss I's favorite. And it also matched the wonderful quilt that my aunt made for me. And again... Elle's Studio and enamel dots. LOVE!
I don't think I'm done crafting. Seriously... I have a few more things up my sleeve :) Pin It

Friday, May 24, 2013

Pretty Pink Posh Craft Dash Marathon

Seriously... These Pretty Pink Posh Craft Dash cardmaking challenges are a serious blast. One day, I'm going to have to attempt a layout using the same idea. Today, I have three challenges that I completed both last night and today. SO much fun!!

This card uses a My Mind's Eye card base, some Simple Stories Sn@p paper, a few sequins, some misting, and a May Arts ribbon. I pop dotted that bicycle image to make it more dimensional. I loved the bright colors on this card, and I know of a few people that would love having this sent to them.

Time to complete this card, including cutting the pieces, etc. 9:20 min.

I knew when I saw this color palette, I knew that I wanted to create a cute birthday card using the fun pink, aqua and brown. I also had a perfect set of Thickers that I was planning on using. On this card I used some Core'dinations paper, Echo Park and MME patterned papers, a few Studio Calico chipboard pieces, fabulous brown Thickers, and a cute teal sequin. I really love those sequins. I also used my Silhouette and a Project Life cut for part of the sentiment.

Time to complete this card, including cutting the pieces, etc. 8:38 min.
To be honest, (and I think I've said this before...) I'm not a stamper. Not really. I try... I'm getting better. And I really have paid attention to a few of my fellow crafters who are MUCH better at stamping than I. I'm actually pretty proud of this little card. It uses some Crate Paper patterned paper, and MME and Studio Calico stamps. The inks are all from Memento (ImagineCrafts).
 
Time to complete this card, including cutting the pieces, etc. 8:13 min.

Seriously fun!!! Pin It

Monday, May 20, 2013

Pretty Pink Posh Challenge #18: Green, Yellow & Violet


I'm really loving the challenges from Pretty Pink Posh. This week's challenge was combining green, yellow and violet. I never knew how many companies shy away from violet until I really started looking for the color in all of my stash.

I remember chatting with Samanatha over at Authentique about this over a year ago. And she created a fantastic line that includes a deeper violet than I could use for this project in her Remembrance line. However, for this card, I used a combination of Cosmo Cricket, Crate Paper (Maggie Holmes) and Simple Stories. For all of my embellishments: MME enamel dots, May Arts ribbon and some sequins from JoAnns.
This one uses a few layers of dimensional adhesive. I now know why the ladies at PPP suggest tape. It ate up quite a bit of time to take off the plastic off of each piece of adhesive. And my ribbon was too big for the sentiment tag. So I made a knot. Love it!!

Time to complete this card, including cutting the pieces, etc.

9:02 min.
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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Pretty Pink Posh Challenge #17

I love a challenge. I recently found the Pretty Pink Posh blog from the Gossamer Blue blog. It was a fun challenge that I participated in a few weeks ago. Since then, I've signed up for their emails to remind me when their next challenge is, and I'm working on a few past ones to sharpen my skills (and build up my card stash...)

This challenge was from a few weeks ago, but I really loved the color palette. Kraft, melon and aqua... Who wouldn't love that?

I will admit that I was playing around on my Silhouette awhile ago, and made a card cut file for this adorable envelope card. Well... I gathered a bunch of elements that I liked, placed them all on the same "page" and realized that I could cut them out and layer them later.
A few things about this card... I used spray glue. YUP! Spray glue!! You'll notice that the sentiment went a little wonky. Oh well. Don't care. It works. I also used ink to color the arrow. And everything is not quite perfect. And my response... I don't think the recipient will care one iota.
It is a pretty cute little card, is it not? Play with Pretty Pink Posh soon!! It really is a fun challenge.

Time to complete this card, including cutting the pieces, etc.
8:43 min.
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Monday, May 6, 2013

Winner Winner!!!! Maria & Her New Card Kit!

Congratulations Maria!!!! You were commenter Number 4, and you have won the mini card kit. I will contact you later today and get mailing info.

And yes, sadly I went old school with my number drawing system. My computer has been loading documents/photos/etc. for days...

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Friday, May 3, 2013

Lots and Lots of Scallops!! Kiwi Lane Designs May Blog Hop

Welcome to the Kiwi Lane Designs May Blog Hop!
You should be coming from Venetia's blog. If you are just stopping by, make sure that you start from the beginning to see all of the fun projects we are sharing today. If you have been hopping, you'll know that Kiwi Lane Designs is giving away a $25 gift certificate to the Kiwi Lane Shop, for leaving a comment at one of the blogs

1.      Kiwi Lane: 
http://kiwilane.com/here/blog/
2.      Venetia Holbrook: www.atomicvenetia.blogspot.com
3.      Heather Conklin: http://goldiecar.blogspot.com  (YOU ARE HERE!)
4.      Jana Eubank:
http://www.janaeubank.wordpress.com
5.      Jen McDermott: http://wonkywares.blogspot.com
6.      Jennifer Budge: http://www.thingsthaticreate.wordpress.com
7.      Catherine Povec: www.tybearsmom.blogspot.com
8.      Gail Owens: www.glowormdesigns.blogspot.com
9.      Erin Schultz: www.trailofscraps.blogspot.com
10.  Jenn Nicholes: http://craftingmoments.wordpress.com/

*******

Today's blog hop couldn't have come at a better time. My computer actually had to go into the shop, and I was electronic cutter-less. Time to pull out my
Kiwi Lane Designs Templates in Scallops and get to work.

For this first project, I created a banner for my littlest. I used pieces from my April Gossamer Blue kit, some additional white cardstock, Thickers, wood veneer and ric rac from the fabric section of the store.

To start the entire project, I cut triangles of thin chipboard. Then I used the templates at the top of each triangle to trace the pattern of the scallop. I then spray glued each triangle, attached it to the paper. Then cut around the triangle with a kraft knife.
Since I used fairly thin chipboard, I cut through both the paper and the chipboard simultaneously. I then used my Crop-O-Dile to pop out the holes, then strung the banner on the ric rac.
For the decorations on each banner piece, I layered two circles with a Thicker letter. Each is using dimensional adhesive to make it more interesting. The ends have more interesting wood veneer butterflies and some of those adorable Maggie Holmes die cuts.
Doesn't it just look perfect in her room?!?!?! I may have to steal it from her bedroom for her first birthday party.
For my second project, I wanted to cover a Moleskine notebook. My oldest wants to read at three years old. So far, she's memorized two children's books. Not exactly there yet, but we are going to spend the summer working on it. For her notebook, I covered the entire thing in one paper.
Then I layered the Medium Scallop Template in 2A in various papers. Inked them all with ImagineCrafts VersaMagic ink, then glued each layer down in alternating rows.
Lastly I placed a straight piece of paper, with a cute title in Thickers and October Afternoon alphas. Miss I is super proud of her book, and cannot wait to start her lessons. (Ignore the messy room behind her!!)
I loved working with the Scallops Designer Templates. I'm actually trying to figure out how else I can incorporate them into my projects. It was nice not having to depend on my machine!!
Just because I want to share some scrappy love, I have created a cute little card kit to give away to one lovely commenter. I would LOVE if you became a follower, and will give you an extra entry if you follow my blog (LET ME KNOW YOU ARE A FOLLOWER!)! I will draw a name for my personal giveaway on Sunday, May 5th.
Make sure that you check out the KLD blog later today. They are going to post some National Scrapbooking Day challenges later this afternoon!! http://wp.me/p2NTHK-12V

NOW... Head on to JANA EUBANK's blog!!
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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Sisters: And Best Friends... MWM: Amber 6

I love my little monkeys. They really are pretty darn funny. This was created before my computer went all wonky... Hence the Silhouette file. I actually used an older Gossamer Blue kit (August '12) for this layout. I really liked all of the yellow that was in this kit. Yellow isn't a normal color that I go to, but because it was tempered with aqua and pink... It was perfect.
For this layout, I used the Amber 6 MWM from Scrapbook Steals as my sketch. Rather than the separate photos, I combined them into a collage. I really liked using the three photos. So cute!! Pin It