Woodgrain Mustache: Color Challenge!!

I am in charge of today's post for Woodgrain Mustache! Check out the color challenge here:

(Design Seeds)

And a sneak peek of how I used these colors!!

Go check out the site and play along!! Pin It

Topaz #10: Grumpy Monkey Face

Another 10 weeks down, and another 10+ layouts done... 

This week's Topaz #10 signifies the end of another gemstone over at ScrapbookSteals. I am continuing to use my lovely Counterfeit Kit (I cannot wait to get this month over and create another one this week!!! Seriously, they are that fun!!)

For this week's Mid-Week Mojo, I used a couple of funny photos that I had of Miss I. Seriously, she does make the silliest of faces. 

 

The sketch was one of Kristy's fantastic MWM's!! I loved all of the layers, and was able to mix up a ton of the different patterns and styles of my Counterfeit Kit. Of course, I added some green woodgrain, kraft, clouds and a felt ribbon!

Rather than go with the more traditional circles or flowers... I went with stars, and pop-dotted them to make them stand out more.

I also did the same to the cloud... Before I used the sticker, I fastened it to kraft paper first.

Rather than using the standard Thickers, I used the smaller Echo Park letters to create my "Grumpy Monkey Face" title.

 

All in all, this was a great way to end my Topaz career. Loved the last 10 weeks!!

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World Card Making Day!!

Today is World Card Making Day... and I am off to make some cards!! I will be uploading what I made today to this post!!

 

I created quite a few cards over the weekend!! The first four use pieces of my Counterfeit Kit!! I have gotten SO much use from that little kit!! This one uses Becky Fleck's sketch for World Card Making Day.

Two cards for anniversary's...

 

 And another to apologize that we weren't able to visit with a family friend...

This card was a Becky Fleck sketch for the Scrapbook&Cards Call. I used Authentique on it. I just loved have at least one Christmas card down... Only about 100 more to go!

 And last, but not least... A lovely card for a fall wedding!!

I really hope that you had as much fun making cards over the weekend!

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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.

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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...

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AUTHENTIQUE: Beautiful Girl

From the AUTHENTIQUE BLOG...

*****

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.

*****

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

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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.

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