Sunday Prepping! (ScrapbookSteals Sketch)

While the subject of this layout isn't exciting, or interesting, or even beautiful, it's what happens on a weekly basis. I try to keep organized. It's the thought that counts, right? I simplified this layout, layering all of the extra patterns, and made sure to pull colors that were located in the set of my favorite markers. All of the paper and embellishments are from my October Shop Your Stash kit that I created. 

I totally changed this sketch up, but I'm really pleased with the results. The sketch is the Gardenia #7 from ScrapbookSteals.com.

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Scrapping Along with My Scrappy Sisters (From Afar)...

Last weekend was a little rough for me as I had a ton of scrappy friends all congregate at the fabulous ScrapbookSteals Mad Scrapper Retreat. This year, I had a perfect storm of personal and work obligations that just made it really difficult to sneak away and play with all of them. There's always next year, and I know that it will be even bigger and better than before! If you haven't checked them out, make sure that you do.

Anyway, since I couldn't join my crafty pals... I figured I would at least pretend. I grabbed my little girls, let them play upstairs with me, and crafted the day away. I found myself drawn to a really vertical aesthetic, and just played with my September Homemade "Counterfeit" Kit which I'm now going to rename "Shop Your Stash Kits". The reality is, I don't want to step on anyone's toes and call them something that has already been taken. Totally proactive, I swear.

This layout used a lot of inspiration from Audrey Yeager's version of this PageMaps sketch.

For my second layout, I started with using some Golden Light Molding Paste with a Silhouette Online Studio cut. Once that was dry, I took a couple of inks that I had, and blended them together to add some color onto the dried paste. I didn't want all of the white to go away, so made sure that a little still showed. Then layered on a photo and a few embellishments. The veneer butterfly was inked to match the enamel dots.

The last of the three was really fun. The Sassafras Lass paper that I used is one of my favorites, and I'm glad that I finally used it. To be honest, I think I've had it in my stash now for over five years. That's a long time to not use something pretty.

I used one of the September PageMaps sketch for this one, and really liked it. I moved up the bottom border to better frame the photograph.

These last two were created sometime in September, but I wanted to finish sharing my wonderful September projects that were created using my September Homemade "Counterfeit" Kit. I really loved the yellow and all of the bright colors in this layout. I didn't want to make a matchy-matchy pink layout just because both of the girls were wearing pink. I did love the small pops of blue in Miss I's shirt, and the yellow in Ro's, so wanted to highlight those colors. I love using my Silhouette to make die cut shapes from small remnants of my favorite papers, so used the last of some Crate Paper to make this ampersand.

This last piece really didn't have a story... Just a sweet, lazy dog. I wanted to keep the colors fairly muted, so grabbed a couple of light patterns and created a large background cut. The original layout of the cut is pretty vertical, so I squared it out to mimic my photograph and paper. I couldn't resist adding a couple of Lawn Fawn stamps to the mix however.

Hope you enjoy the works of September! I already have my October Homemade "Counterfeit" Kit created... Hopefully I will share this with you tomorrow! Pin It

Back to Scrapping, and My One Little Word

The past few weeks have been extremely busy, although I'm not sure I did much at all. Christmas was a blur, we hosted for the very first time. I made an amazing dinner of turkey, all of the traditional sides, and multiple deserts including Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls and a Yule log. Seriously, an amazing feast.

Regardless, I've had a thought throughout this season that I was overdoing it. So my word* for this year is Simplify. I really want to focus on what is really important, for myself, my family, my work, and my life. I feel that although I like to take on the world, I don't need to in order to prove that I am good enough.

Part of Simplying my life was upholding the promise that I made to myself concerning my wonderful Gossamer Blue  kits. I had to cancel my Monthly Main Kit. I had made a deal with myself that I was going to participate each month in their Album Challenge and create at least for layouts by the 14th. Come December 14th, I hadn't finished my four layouts and honored my word. I didn't want to give up completely (mainly because Gossamer Blue puts out some amazing kits, and one day I would like to re-sub again!!!), and instead joined Gossamer Blue's Life Pages kit. I wanted a Simple way to document life, and wanted unique products to create with still. I will still create layouts, just by using my large stash of awesome products.

This was my first layout in awhile not using a pre-fabbed kit. I used my Crate Paper DIY Shop kit that I snagged from ScrapbookSteals right before September's Crop in Utah. I loved pairing the soft hues with these beautiful pics of my girls. I even used the Iolite #6 sketch from ScrapbookSteals.

 

*The One Little Word is part of the Ali Edwards brand and philosophy. While I am not currently doing her class, I am taking a personal look at life using a bit of this philosophy. I'm not sure yet if adding another project within this would truly Simplify my life right now... Maybe in Summer! If you want more information on both Ali's classes and information, please see her 2014 post on her blog. Thanks!

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ScrapbookSteals My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack BLOG HOP!!! [Giveaway CLOSED]

Good Morning ScrapbookSteals Hoppers!! Heather here sharing with you my inspiration using the My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack from ScrapbookSteals.com. I hope that you got here from the fabulous Staci Jones, and if not... Make sure that you start at ScrapbookSteals' Blog to hit all of the stops along the way! There is a $20 Gift Card to ScrapbookSteals for one of the lucky hoppers!!

ScrapbookSteals

Kristina MacKeen

Charissa Miller 

Staci Jones 

Heather Conklin  (You're here!!)

Erin Shultz

I was so happy to spend time with my lovely ScrapbookSteals ladies last weekend, and really wanted to create some cards that I could just send to both the women that I was lucky to see, and those that were not able to make it this time. (If you get a card, just pretend you never saw it!)

The My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack was a bit of perfection, as I was able to start making easy cards for everyone by using the die cuts in the pack. If you are not a big layout person, or do not usually reach for your die cuts, you really need to. If it weren't for all those responsibilities, I would have busted out SO many more of these!

Aren't these just too much fun? Super easy too. Grab a 6x6, your My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack, your Mega Runner, and go for it!!

Make sure that you comment, I have a 6x6 pad of Christmas papers waiting upstairs for one lucky person!! 

Supplies Used: 
My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack, Coredinations Gemstones, MyMindsEye Twine, MyMind'sEye Life of the Party 6x6, Echo Park 6x6 Dots and Stripes, Signo white pen, Teresa Collins washi & sequins, Fancy Pants cork pieces, Xyron Mega Runner Pin It

WINNER WINNER (Chicken Dinner!) [Happy Birthday ScrapbookSteals BlogHop!]

II got a late start this morning. And especially late start, as one of the mini-me's were up between 2 and 4 am. Bah. Anyway... I downloaded a Random Number Generator (Random #) off of the app store and hit comment #15: Jill. Congratulations Jill! I'll try to get ahold of you at some point today!!

 

Jill: July 12, 2013 at 8:43 PM

Ummm....SANUK'S ARE MY FAVORITE EVER! Love that layout :)

Thank you for all of your kind words, I love the Steals Network, and was so happy to be a part of their birthday celebration!

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Happy Birthday ScrapbookSteals! It's a July Blog Hop

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCRAPBOOKSTEALS! I seriously love both the Steals Network, and the community that they have built. I consider many of the ladies that I met through ScrapbookSteals as some of my absolute closest friends. When Melodee asked if I would help to celebrate ScrapbookSteal's 4th birthday, I jumped at the chance.

You should be here from Cyndee's blog. I love her work.

If you want to start from the beginning:
ScrapbookSteals: http://scrapbook.steals.com/wp/?p=18660
Cathy Caines: www.inthecatcave.com
Cristine Redmond: http://onescrappynovice.blogspot.com
Venetia Holbrook: www.atomicvenetia.blogspot.com
Cyndee Kawa: http://scrappydaylily.blogspot.com
Heather Conklin: http://goldiecar.blogspot.com   (You are HERE!)
Van Nguyen: http://likethecar.blogspot.com
Staci Jones: http://scrapbookingischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com
Charissa Miller: http://www.akihasmommascraps.com
Brenda Smith: http://theimperfectscrapper.blogspot.com
Erin Colby: http://oursliceofcheese.blogspot.com
Erica Bass: http://stampingstarlette.blogspot.com
Kristy Lee: http://lifescrapped.blogspot.com

Challenge #1: Use 4 types of products
For this challenge, I used patterned paper, stickers, Elle's Studio tags and flair. I LOVE Sanuks, and have too many pairs!! They are super comfy.


Challenge #2: 2009
I found a photo that was taken just a few months after Miss I was born. It was a rough time. Babies are a whole lot of work, and I know that we had idealized what real life with babies was all about. And now she's four and has a little sister. A lot has happened in four years.

Challenge #3: Favorite Vendor
I chose to spotlight this fantastic photo of my oldest with some of my lovely SS purchases. I chose to use the now defunct (BOO!) Sassafras Lass. My first "real" purchase of scrapbook paper was Sass, so I knew that it would be a personal thing for me to include the company that got me out of the Target scrap aisle and using really quality products, alongside the wonderful company that helped me to develop into the crafter I am today. 

Challenge #4: Washi Fever
I had this cute little notebook lying around, that I wanted to spruce up. What's better than to decorate it with a little bit of washi. 

If you leave a comment on how you follow my blog. Email, Twitter, Bloglovin', Feedly, or Google Friend Connect, I will put you in a drawing for a 6x6 card kit that I will be making this weekend. I usually combine 15 or so papers, with stickers, wood veneers, ribbon and other embellishments. All in matching color combos, so it's easy to mix and match. You can even choose the color or color combo that you would like it to be, just make sure you note it on your comment!

Leave a comment by Midnight, Wednesday (July 17th) for the card kit. Check back to see if you are a winner!! And make sure that you link up your projects to the ScrapbookSteals blog by the same time for some great prizes from the Steals Network!!

Now, head onto one of my favorite people ever: Van Nguyen!! Pin It

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... :)

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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 Pin It

More Gossamer Blue Cards... MCM #102

I really do love the Gossamer Blue kit that I received from The Scrap Review last month. I'm still using it. There was SOOO much stuff! I loved the feminine touches to both of these cards. I even know the recipients :)

I used Kristy's MCM (Monday Card Madness) Sketch #102 for both of these. Of course, I had to change it up though.

Thanks for stopping by!! I'm on post 197... Almost 200! I'm going to have a little giveaway when I hit the big 2-0-0!! Pin It

ScrapbookSteals' MWM: Pearl 8

I'm finally getting to the bottom of my Summer of '69 Counterfeit Kit. I loved making the kit, and have enjoyed playing with a mixture of colors and patterns that I may not have normally chosen on my own.

This layout is a lovely moment caught with my two daughters. They are fascinated with one another. It's pretty funny to watch. I loved the frame, and have been wanting to use it forever. In this case, I just decided to use it and not think too much about it.

I also used these fun little people that create a heart in the negative space.

I usually write my journaling, but decided to type this out instead. Sometimes I really love just the simplicity of typed writing, and this font was perfect.

I loved using all of these details. The heart, the button, the feather cut, and all of the little features. I'm glad that I used the little features that I haven't used before. Pin It

Attack of the 10-Minute Layout

Yes. Seriously. This layout was designed in 10 minutes. I was bound and determined to actually get all of the Scrapbooksteals.com MWM's done on time. And this one had escaped all that I was working on this week (cards, stuff for the kids, preparing for the start of the school year, etc.) When 10:48 rolled around, I panicked. Kind of.

In reality, I just grabbed my SC Summer of '69 Counterfeit Kit that I made earlier in the month and pulled this baby together. The Sassafras Paper provided a fantastic background that didn't need a ton of embellishments to make it pop. Plus, it played off of the sunny picture that Miss I's school had left for me.

I added the chevron paper strip to ground the photo and embellishments, and it plays off of the chevron banner. Then I added the doilies, the Sass August detail and the chevron bitty bag (it holds the journaling!) There's also a cute banner made from wood!

The title is not as straight as I usually make it, which adds to the charm of this layout. I did sew the button onto the paper, and added a few Sass button flowers.

The best part of this layout is that I couldn't second guess myself. I sprayed a doily, realized I hated it, so just used the other plain one that I had. And because I used my kit, everything went together! I just love when that happens!

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Pearl 6: Life is Pretty Amazing

I have to say that with two little girls, there is no end to the amount of the color pink, flowers, or butterflies. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

This picture was taken just a few days after Miss R was born. Miss I was so excited when we let her "hold" the baby. Of course she was propped up with pillows, but it didn't matter one bit.

I used mainly Echo Park's This and That, with just a sprinkling of Basic Grey's Life of the Party leftover pieces. They matched so nicely, I just had to use them. Also, I used Kristy Lee's fantastic MWM sketch for Pearl 6.

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