From one holiday to the next

It seems like it was just Christmas! I hope that everyone has a fabulous and safe New Year's Eve. This is a little mini that I made for my sister for Christmas. Leslee loves flamingoes, so when I saw the metal flamingo business card holder, I knew I had to do something with it for her, even though she doesn't have business cards. She also loves the song/spoken poetry, "Wear Sunscreen" by Baz Luhrmann, so I put the two together and made her a very simple mini book that features the lyrics and uses the card holder as a stand for the book. I used manila file folders for the base of each page and broke the song up per page, adding a few tropical colored flower embellishments along on each page. She LOVED it!

One more mini down!

So I have finished* the third mini I planned to make for a Christmas gift. There is a very special lady in my family, one who is not blood or even marriage related to any of us, but she still loves us like we are. I wanted to let her know how much I really appreciate her choosing my family to share her beauty with. I used a kit from my incredibly talented friend, Daniela, at The Art Life. The kit was full of Jenni Bowlin papers and one of my favorite Maya Road albums. The brown, red, yellow, and green color scheme is perfect.

I wanted each member of the family to have a message in the book, so I created separate 2 part tags for each one of us. The first part is a place where we will write what our special family member means to us and the second part is a photo of the author, which I laminated and put together with a bad so it could spin in case the person's message needed to be carried over to the back.

I used the pages of the album to either be a pocket to hold the personalized tags or to be a full picture of the family. 

Hopefully on Christmas morning, she will have a small idea just how important she is to everyone of us and that without her our lives wouldn't be as beautiful.


*it still needs the messages added, but technically speaking, it is finished. ;P

On the cover...

As promised, here is the cover for my 25 Days of Christmas album. For those of you who had this done in November, shush! ;-P Yes, this is as far as I have got, but I have quite a bit of down time this week and I am pretty sure I will get caught up. I am planning to use the KISS rule for the inside pages, hoping that will help the flow.

Call me slow, but I also realized this morning that the perfect place to photograph things is placed on a package in front of the Christmas tree! 

Inside of the Mini

Here are the remaining pages of the gift mini book. I am still really happy how this turned out. The blank book had mini file folder shaped pages, so I used the tabs to distinguish words that I consider going with the family theme. The recipients of this book have had a blessed year, getting married last October and then welcoming a beautiful baby girl in July, so I made sure to make pages for both of them and one for their baby. I pre-matted all the photo spots for either 3"x3" or 2"x3" photos and included two templates, one for each size. I wanted to make adding photos super easy. I also added a page with two removable tags in a pocket for journaling memories and on the back cover, I used a die cut scroll to feature the last name of the family and the year they were married.

I will be back later with the cover of my "25 Days of Christmas" album and hopefully the majority of the second mini I am making for a very special person in my family.

Loving the minis!!!

I have really been into the mini books lately. They are fairly quick, fun, and give a sense of completion. I did this one for a friend for Christmas. I started by staining the wood covers and letting it take shape from there. I am really happy with how it turned out. These photos are of the cover and the first inside page. I will post the rest of the photos tomorrow, but for now, it is back to the studio where I have three projects on my desk that must be finished by Thursday when we leave for Oregon.

I also just realized that I forgot to add the middle ring to this book! Sometimes I do not fire on all cylinders. Oops, I will have to send it to my friend.

Finally broke through!

In case you haven't noticed with all the silence, I have been mojo-less. Not sure if it was the traveling, the illness, the end of the term, or all the above, but I was like a creek bed in the dead of an Arizona summer for about the last month and a half. Then I did make two gifts for friends and completely forgot to photograph them. But I think I have broke through to the other side. I made 20 Christmas cards, a mini book, and covered my 25 Days of Christmas album all in the last two days! Not too shabby, I would say. So here is the cover of the Christmas card. Can't show the inside yet because it is a surprise to those getting these in the mail.

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of the mini, but not too many because it is a gift too, though I don't think the recipient peeks in on me here.

Monochromatic

Happy first day of December, everyone!! So I can finally post this layout. I have been hanging onto it for almost two months, but it was created for a challenge over at Scrap Street magazine and I didn't want to publish it until I was sure they weren't going to pick it up. They didn't, so here it is. The challenge was to create a layout that was monochromatic and I instantly went to all white. I pictured the top of Grandma's dresser, with lace and sparklies, and pearls. In the center is my beautiful niece, Cadence, looking like the angel she is. (Yes, I am partial, but look at the picture. You can see why I am partial.) I added the little gossamer bag at the bottom which contains charms such as a music note and a ring. I journaled why each charm is included and what I feel it represents to Cadence, such as the music note- I hope that she always has music in her life and dance in her step.

This has to be one of my favorite layouts ever. I love the layering, the details, and the essence of colors, or lack of in this case. Thanks for looking!

SOOO excited!!

As I was scrolling through the new posts on my Blogger dashboard, I saw one of my layouts on someone else's blog. My first thought was, "why would someone else post one of my layouts?" A second later I realized it meant that my submission for the "Watch Your Language" challenge at Candy Shoppe Designs had been chosen!!! I love Candy Shoppe Designs and was excited when they issued this challenge because I actually didn't think I would ever be able to show this potty mouthed layout to anyone, let alone enter it in a contest. So, thank you ladies of C.S.D. for the honor!

Some of you showed us your potty mouths and some of you sugar coated it, but all in all the Lollipop Girls and I thought those of you who stood up to this particular challenge had a lot of balls and we give you all much props for participating. There can only be 1 Winner and for this challenge that would be Lora Oliver. Excuse my language but we Lollipop Girls thought her layout kicked a$$! Check it out for yourselves!

Been a busy bee today.

I created a card for the Paper Popsicles Wacky Wednesday challenge, I created a layout for the Therapeutic Thursday sketch at Paper Popsicles, and finished a home decor project. Whew! No wonder I am yawning. Oh, and possibly because it is after midnight. I used Cosmo Cricket's fantabulous new "Nutmeg" line for two of these projects and some older Cosmo and Making Memories paper for the card. All of this yummy paper is available at Paper Popsicles of course. Boy, I love that place. And just a little secret, Melissa just posted the November kits for sale in the store. Shh...I wasn't supposed to say anything, but that is too good to keep to myself.

I have a challenge for you and finally a project.

Today is the first day of my new challenge on Paper Popsicles. It is called the Fortune of Color and will be a weekly challenge started on every Sunday with the deadline being midnight (PST) on Saturday night to post your creation on the Paper Popsicles forum. I will announce the winner of the challenge when I announce the new fortune of color on the following Sunday.

This is an open challenge. You can create a layout, a card, an altered item, whatever the color inspires you to make. All that is required is that you use the color in the fortune for the largest part of your art. So the first fortune is:

"FOCUS ON THE COLOR PURPLE THIS WEEK TO BRING YOU LUCK."

Okay, get started!! Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Now, for the project. Here is a layout I created for Challenge #4 on All About Me blog. It is about a turning point in your life. For me, when I turned 30 this year was a big turning point. A lot had happened right before I turned 30, got married, was laid off, lost our family pet to cancer. I had actually journaled about these feelings the night before my birthday, so I typed that up and went from there.

New camera= New photos!

So I took the digital SLR out this morning for some practice. I am making a mini album called Signs of Fall and needed some photos to coordinate. This is what fall looks like in Walnut Creek, CA.

As you can tell, I am loving the new camera. There are some features that I want to read more about, but to be brutally honest, my head starts buzzing when I pick up the manual. I just printed these plus some out for the albums and I am happy with the results. Now I am off to finish the books!!

Another Freebie Friday!!

And another one of my all time favorites from the Paper Popsicles store, the shaped card template in the Witch's Boot!! I LOVE this card and couldn't wait to get my grubby little paws on it, but you can have yours for FREE!! But, only if you go and order it from the Paper Popsicles store today by midnight CST. This boot has infinite possibilities.

I have posted this before, but since you can get this template for FREE, I figured I would post it again.

Also, may I remind you that the November Guest Designer call is still going strong. If you haven't entered yet, you should consider doing so. It is a great group of people and great products. Go to the Paper Popsicles blog to learn more about the freebie and the DT call. http://www.paperpopsicles.blogspot.com/

Just a quick LO before I go play

I am spending the day in the real Squirrel Hole (a.k.a. my scrap room) so I will hopefully have many more creations to share with you in the next few days. Here is a quick one that I did using the Monstrosity from Sassafras Lass and the adorable picture of my niece trying to attack an unopened candy bar! Love that kid.

The porch light is ON!!!

Welcome to Paper Popsicles' second blog hop, our CREEPY, CRAWLY, Blog STOMP! Today, we hope that as you go around to each of our creative team member blogs, you will find inspiration, some tricks, and perhaps some TREATS! If you stumbled upon my blog from Valerie's blog GREAT!!! you are on the right track! If you have stumbled upon my blog or this is your first stop, please start at Tricia's blog here and follow the treat road from there.

The costumes are in place and we have turned on the porch lights. As you move from one blog to the next, you will collect a TREAT (a word).

Gather all the treats to make a spirited saying and email your phrase to Melissa at melissa@paperpopsicles.com.


For your efforts, you will be entered into a RAK to win a fantastic prize—The Loud Talker Kit from October, which I was honored to play with this month and have to tell you is AWESOME!! Full of Sassafras Lass. Before you go though, please remember to leave a comment on EVERY blog during our stomp....otherwise you might miss out on some other free treats!!!! (hint, hint)

AND!!! For even more of a treat, Paper Popsicles is screaming with great deals today. 25% off everything in the store and 50% off all clearance! October 10th only. www.paperpopsicles.com/store


And now I want to share with you MY wicked decoration for this haunted season using the shaped card templates resized for embellishments. While they are great as cards, the possibilities for them as embellishments is endless.

I used a Maya Road pre-made chipboard banner, but you could make your own from fabric or whatever patterned paper that you might prefer. I used the polka dot paper from Jenni Bowlin featured in the Worm has Turned kit from Paper Popsicles, (remember, 25% off in the store), and stamped a harlequin pattern in orange to create the back ground.

I sanded and inked the edges with black. Then I sized the shaped card template of the ghost, the bat, the witch hat, and the pumpkin small enough to fit on the pennants. I cut them from black card stock, glittered them in black and then stuck them behind or on the four centered letters.

Once I decorated the pennants, I strung the, on a ribbon and then tied 3"pieces of black and orange gingham ribbon between to keep the placing and for a finishing touch.

I guess you want your other treat too? The treat on my blog is:  A GOOD

STOMP ON with your goody bags, my friends. There are lots of goodies to be had.


Now that you have have gathered some treats and hopefully some inspiration, don’t forget to leave a comment, then head over to Carol's blog next where I am sure she will have something frighteningly good to share!
1. Tricia http://www.triciastreasures.blogspot.com/ First stop
2. Lynda http://www.positive-force.blogspot.com/ Second stop
3. Cassie http://www.fortheartofit.blogspot.com/ Third stop
4. Valerie http://www.allmyscrappin.blogspot.com/ Fourth stop
5. Lora http://www.singingsquirrel.blogspot.com/ ******YOU ARE HERE*******
6. Carol http://www.crazyforcrafting.blogspot.com/ <------GO HERE NEXT
7. Amy http://www.papertrailsleaver.blogspot.com/
8. Jen http://www.jensbrainthings.blogspot.com/
9. Robyn http://www.dreaminginscraps.blogspot.com/
If you get lost along the way, please head back to the main Paper Popsicles blog for assistance.


HAPPY STOMPING!

October Kit reveal at Paper Popsocles!!

So here is the full reveal, my friends! I got the "Loud Talker" kit this month, full of yummy Sassafras Lass, Pink Paislee, Jenni Bowlin and some bling, Shimmerz, felt flowers and chipboard. I LOVE the Amplify line from Sassafras! This paper speaks for itself, has so much vibrancy that you can add a photo, a few embellies and ta-da! A great layout. Head over to Paper Popsicles to see the full kit details, http://paperpopsicles.com/index.html, and scroll down for the projects I made from it.

Hope you have a great day!

They are out!

Paper Popsicles has released pictures of the October kits. This is the kit I have been lucky enough to play with for the last few weeks and let me tell you, I have had a blast with it! The kit is called Loud Talker, which I love too!

Lots of Sassafras goodness in there, with a perfect addition of Pink Paislee, ZVA, BG Bling It, Jenni Bowling and some Creative Cafe. Oh, and don't forget the Shimmerz and the fun Buzz and Bloom chipboard that I used for a very fun altered project as an extra idea.

The other kits are full of scrappy goodness too and I probably would have bought them all to add to my own stash, but after seeing what the fantabulous Design Team made with these kits, there is no doubt I will be purchasing them. Sigh. I really may have to get a part time job to support this habit.

Just for fun, here is one last sneak peek at one of the projects I made with the Loud Talker kit.

As promised!

Here is my version of this week's Paper Popsicles layout sketch. I HAD to do Halloween!! This LO is a combo actually. The sketch is Lynda's, the idea is from ScrapFit's workout #4, which is to use photos with no people in them and using some Cosmo Cricket. Here it is with one of my Halloween decorations and then without.

Oh! And didn't I promise something else yesterday? What was that again? Ugh, coffee hasn't kicked in yet. RIGHT!! A Paper Popsicles October kit sneak peek! How could I forget?

Head over to the Paper Popsicles blog to see more sneak peeks for the other wonderful kits Melissa has put together for October. http://www.paperpopsicles.blogspot.com/

"Plastic" flower how-to

First you will need Shimmerz paint, paper flowers, a watermark pad, Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel, (known from here on as UTEE) and a heat gun. I also use my craft sheet and a tin roasting pan from the dollar store.

Paint the flowers with the Shimmerz, adding as many coats as desired. Let dry or use your heat gun to speed up the drying time.

Press the face of the flowers into the watermark coating them completely with the ink. Then cover the flower with UTEE.

Heat the flower up until the UTEE is melted. Let cool. For a more plastic look, repeat the watermark, UTEE and heating up process.