Fare Thee Well Google Reader...

So. If you haven't heard, Google Reader is going to RIP tomorrow. Yup. It's been widely talked about, but I haven't really blogged about it yet. So here goes.

I have two new apps (iPhone) that I've imported my Google Reader into. Feedly and Bloglovin'. I haven't really used either extensively (translation: I just downloaded both of them and I will check them more out tonight...) I was using Flipboard for my blog reading, but I'm not sure how that will work with the non-existent Google Reader.

Here's what I know for sure. Feedly was easier to both import my blogs, and login. And I like their graphics a little more.

Bloglovin' was a little more difficult to get to the login screen. I had to actually grab the laptop to get it to login. And took a few more moments to actually connect with the blogs I follow. Or I follow too many. Anyway... That's my rundown for now.

Right now though, I don't have a frontrunner. I do know that people like to follow blogs how they like to follow, and have created a few ways for you to follow me: Twitter, by Email, Bloglovin' or Feedly.

I have created buttons for all of these on the sidebar ------------------------------------------->

Good luck with your blog following!!

Two Summery Sketches (Paper Bakery & ScrapbookSteals)

I love sketches. I know I've said it before, but I do. They let me not overthink projects, which for me and Summer... Totally a good thing.

My first project is using the Paper Bakery Sketch Challenge #6. I used some of my Echo Park Everyday Eclectic products. I got the entire set last summer... And then never did much with it. My bad. Those darn new babies ;)  I really loved using it this summer, as the colors are just perfect with bright pictures.

I did snag a little bit of fun from the new Paper Bakery Sketch Challenge 7. DOODLES!! I loved how they were used on Juliana's version, so snagged the idea for myself. 

My second project for your enjoyment today is using Melodee's sketch over at ScrapbookSteals.com. I love this page. There is a second sketch for the entire two pager, but I used pics of Miss I's birthday with her friends. I'll save that for my own album.

It's not completely noticeable, but there is a hint of vellum underneath the photos. I just loved how subtle this was. I used one of the "life cards", and just blew it up as large as I could. Again though... The Cameo just doesn't like the vellum. I think I just need a stickier mat. Oh well... I'll restick it this week. And the Crate Paper The Pier from the June Gossamer Blue kit... Swoon!! I just loved all of the bits and pieces.

This week is supposed to be a scorcher. In the 80's. Don't laugh... It usually rains (no joke!) in the Pacific Northwest over the Fourth of July weekend. Thank goodness for the heat pump! I'll be prepping for CHA and Authentique over this week as well. Maybe I'll post a few sneaky peeks.... Just maybe...

Ro's Birthday: Pretty Little Studio Sketches

I finally found them! I had purchased a set of the Word Flashcards forever ago (when we lived in our last house...) and promptly lost them in the sea of randomness that is my craft room. I searched, and searched and FOUND THEM!! Woot!!

So, here is this week's fabulous Pretty Little Studio sketch. I even got my pics for it this week!! I used a piece of woodgrain Crate Paper that I've been hoarding saving. Seriously though, this IS my favorite woodgrain so far. I also am trying to use up some of the more theme-based papers that I have and used my October Afternoon Cakewalk paper set that I got from Scrapbooksteals.com awhile ago.

I loved how I could use all of those patterned papers, and not have it be too busy. Isn't she just a funny monkey? Love that little scrunchy face. It's her happy face!

This is the Pretty Little Studio sketch from last week. I had it all completed and sitting on my craft table... yet hadn't stopped by Costco to snag the pics. Oh well. It's another cute layout for Ro's book. I used all Cakewalk papers, then used a Distress Ink to antique them a little further.

I loved the Silhouette cutouts. Although I found out that vellum is harder to cut on a large scale than I thought. I tried to make a Birthday cut, but It kept ripping. I kind of hid the crunched part with a button.

You can't tell all that much, right?

Supplies Used:
October Afternoon papers, Word Stickers, Sticky Keys, Little Flyers, buttons, Tidbits
Pretty Little Studio Word Flashcards, Distress Ink, Crate Paper woodgrain paper, Heidi Swapp Gold Shine, Silhouette cuts: birthday, chevrons, life cards, circle hearts

You Are the Sweetest Adventure!! Gossamer Blue June

I always seem to get challenge projects completed by the deadlines, but cannot seem to get them photographed and posted in time. Such is the life of a busy mom :)

Here is my Peridot 7. I really wanted to use this fantastic fun photograph that I took at the park of my little monkey. I then used my A Beautiful Mess app to add the fun filter and phrase on it. The "Adventure" made a perfect title that I then used pieces of my June Gossamer Blue kit on. I just love all of the Crate Paper Pier papers that came with it, along with the ephemera pack. And sequins. Adorbs!!

I had to include a chevron. I was working for Authentique a few days ago, and Dan and I got into a conversation about chevrons, and whether or not they are called zigzags instead. Made me laugh.

Isn't that title just too perfect? Yeah, I think so too!

Here is the linked MWM Peridot 7 sketch. I really loved the Lawn Fawn line that was for sale that day also. One day... :)

Better Late Than Never... ScrapbookSteals.com Peridot #5

Better late than never... Right?? This is actually my layout from ScrapbookSteals.com's MWM Peridot 5. It has been siting in my craft room for a few weeks now, waiting to be photographed. For this layout, I used my Gossamer Blue May 2013 kit. I just loved all of the bright colors that were in this kit. And those anchors... Adorbs! I also used one of my Silhouette cuts on this one. I just had to. The clouds that were from the Life card set. I just used the clouds all over the rest of the layout. I also added some sequins from my local craft store. I couldn't resist.

And just in case you were wondering... Yes, my daughter drew on my layout. It was funny, and I just had to leave it. Real life at it's finest.

If you want to play along, here is the linked sketch. I really loved how Melodee played with all of the layers. 

Supplies Used: 

Gossamer Blue May 2013 kit, sequins, Silhouette Cameo, white cardstock

Playing Around with Elle's Studio June 2013 Kit

I am loving the Elle's Studio Kits. So far, I have gotten both the May and June kits. I'm finding that they are perfect additions for layering on both layouts and cards. I haven't made too many cards using the pieces, but this week's sketch was too perfect that I couldn't resist. And of course, I changed it up just a tad bit.

I also used my new Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine. I have been looking for this for a couple of months now... And until last week, couldn't find it anywhere. I happened to go to Olympia this last week, and on the return trip, stopped at one of the box stores. WOOT! It was there. I also found a sweet sale on a bunch of Silhouette stuff (I have to make and blog some projects using my new toys later!!)

I started by just dripping the Color Shine in random spots all over a card base (it's super sparkly, but hard to capture on film). I then used a piece of Maggie Holmes Crate Paper 6x6, and then layered various pieces of my June Elle's Studio kit. The banner is reflected with a piece of white cardstock and Simple Stories alphas from my Gossamer Blue May kit.

Supplies Used: 
Elle's Studio June 2013 kit, Maggie Holmes Crate Paper 6x6, Heidi Swapp Color Shine Gold, Studio Calico stars, Simple Stories Urban Traveler alphas

A Daddy's Love (ScrapbookSteals' MWM Peridot 8)

I love sketches. And I love Elle's Studio. Combining the two was pretty fun. I even broke out part of my Gossamer Blue March kit and one of my sacred (okay... I'm trying to use my Sass stash more!) Sassafras Lass Starters papers as my background paper. There's even a tiny bit of plain paper in there. And slightly hidden journaling behind the Elle's vellum heart paper from the May 2013 kit.

If you would like to play along (and I suggest that you do!!) Here is the linked sketch.

Supplies Used: 
Elle's Studio: Day To Day Paper, Good Morning, Lil' Snippets (Day to Day & Days of the Week), Serendipity Tiny Tags, You and Me Note Tags, June 2013 & May 2013 kits.


Other Supplies: MME enamel dots, Sassafras Lass Starters, Studio Calico heart, Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine, AC cardstock, MME patterned paper, LillyBee alphabet stickers

AUTHENTIQUE PAPER: Be(You)tiful Baby!

I love the time between Spring and Summer. In the Pacific Northwest, we finally have some sunny weather, perfect for going to the park and swinging. In this instance, it's Miss Ro's second time ever on a swing. She's just the funniest little thing.

I wanted to play off of the playful nature of the photos, so included a lot of the Be(You)tiful patterns and colors. I especially love the coral color that is scattered throughout the patterns.

I wanted to make the color a focal point for this layout, so went searching for the perfect embellishment. I didn't have anything, but my lovely friend Misty Buck has a great video on creating your own enamel-style dots. I snagged a bottle of matching nail polish and went to work. I didn't have any of the plastic beads that she has, but did have some Want2Scrap pearls.

Misty's technique is much cleaner than mine (I get a little messy when I create). Once they were dry, I used them on my layout. 

I then continued to find pieces within the line that were also coral toned and used them throughout the layout as well. 

And for a happy coincidence, I used silvery cardstock for the title which matches the slight sparkle in the Details stickers. Added a couple of the fun Statements cardstock die cut paper accents, and done!

 All put together, the coral tones just pop.

Just in case you wanted to make your own, I simplified the layout into a sketch. Have fun creating!

Scrapbook Steals DIY Thickers Blog Hop!!

Hello fellow Scrapbooksteals.com fans!! Today we are featuring American Crafts' DIY Thickers. You can either read ahead, or start from the beginning! I know that there is both a prize from Scrapbooksteals, and many of the blog hop participants (including me!!), so you will want to stop by each blog!

Here is the Blog Hop order:

1. ScrapbookSteals Blog
2. Lanette Erickson - Stacks of Scraps  
3. Teresa Fenstermacher - Teresa Jaye Is Here to Play 
4. Candace Zentner - Scrappin 2 Little Princesses  
5. Misty Buck - Lil Buck's Creations   
6. Jennifer McDermott - Wonky Wares  
7. Brenda Smith - The Imperfect Scrapper  
8. Heather Conklin - Goldiecar Designs <-------you are="" font="" here="">

For my first project, I created a layout using mostly products from American Crafts' lines. Mostly this is from the Maggie Holmes Crate Paper line, with a little bit of Dear Lizzy and Amy Tangerine tossed in for good measure. I hand cut the clouds, then used a water soluble marker to add some blue detail on the white cardstock. 

The fantastic DIY Thickers that you see are two sets: Poolside and Shoebox. For the Poolside DIY Thickers, I used a fine pink glitter from Hampton Arts. On the Shoebox DIY Thickers, I used Hampton Arts flocking. I really loved how both of these Thickers turned out.

I did find that the glitter did come off a little bit, but I used some Blick Matte Fixative that I have for charcoal drawings. Hairspray would also do the trick!!

Aren't those just too cute?!?!?!

I really like how that flocked set looks like grass. And just in case you want to play along, I made a sketch for my layout. Feel free to take it and use it! Let me know what you create with it.

My second project used a different kind of glitter, thick, chunky glitter! There is a trick to this one too! I covered the entire DIY Thicker first in Stephanie Barnard glitter, then in Glossy Accents. The Glossy Accents made the glitter on the Thickers stay put. I needed a card for one of my seniors this year, and I knew that pink was not his favorite color, so I kept with the white glitter.

The DIY Thickers were so changeable, I was able to make three variations. And this is only the beginning!! I know that I will grab these sets and play more this summer!

Now for the fun part: PRIZES!! I love followers, and I know that Google Reader is going away soon... I have two ways for you to stay in touch. Become one of my Blog Followers, and/or also follow me on Twitter (@goldiecar). You can do one or both (comment once for each) to be put into the drawing for this set of a Crate Paper Pier 6x6 pad, and 15 (I know it says 33... misprint) cardstock stickers from their Darling Dear line. They are both perfect for summer cards or Project Life! 

Just make your comment, then fill in the Rafflecopter information! So much fun!! I will notify the winner on Monday morning!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sneak Peek...

Here's a little sneak peek into my process for a little blog hop that I'm participating in for tomorrow! I am letting you glance at my starting sketch for one of tomorrow's projects. 

I don't always have a sketch in mind, but for this project... I really wanted to have a starting point. 

See you tomorrow! 

(PS. I have a giveaway on tomorrow's hop that is pretty darn good, and perfect for summer projects!)

The Pink Paint of Doom...

When we moved into our house, the living room was painted an odd salmon color with a lighter pink, and burgundy trim. It had to go. I chose Edgecomb Grey (a Benjamin Moore color, that I had made out of Behr Premium Plus), a wonderful taupey grey that I just loved. It was warm enough for our oak floors, but cool enough to go with our furniture. I had started painting awhile ago, but hasn't finished. Well, this weekend I had had it with the pink.

Isn't it just divine? I seriously love it.