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.

So one of my first jobs as part of the Paper Popsicles DT was to create a layout from the sketch done by the talented Lynda Lindley. Here is my interpretation. I used Crate Paper, Jillibean Soup journaling spots and some letters and embellies from the June Paper Popsicle kit and added a mix of other letters (on and Pop) from my stash. The title is a play on "Hop on Pop" of course by the wonderful Dr. Seuss. If you would like to participate in the challenge, head over via the link to the right.

Other than that, it has been a productive weekend. I completed two layouts for next month's kit, the above layout and a card. I plan on heading back into the Hole to create some more. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

I am terribly partial, but...

I think I have the cutest niece in the world. I have just returned from small town, Oregon visiting my family and was able to spend a lot of time with my niece. She is so adorable. I love going home, it is a totally different way of life. The fresh air, the dirt, the quiet, I spent as much time outside as I possibly could soaking it in. My mom has beautiful flowers on her deck and the wind through the trees made it a small piece of heaven.

luv, Lora

Coming up for air

Here is a quick layout I recently finished. For some reason, July was one of those months that I just couldn't hit my stride. I have done a few things here and there and as soon as I get photos, I will post.

Something outside of scrapping

Today I just felt the need to do something other than scrap, so I made two necklaces. I had purchased these super cute bottle caps with owl pictures and little owl beads from my friend, Daniela Costa over at The Art Life, http://www.theartlife.typepad.com/, and wanted to make them into something I could see more often than a scrap page. I drug out my beads and played with them for the first time since Christmas. It is a pathetic collection I will admit. Here is the outcome of my labors.

There is something cathartic about beading for the most part. Almost like coloring, it is very relaxing. I don't do it often enough, but who has enough time these days?

On a scrapping note, I did finish this cute LO of my niece last night. I used one of the June kits from Paper Popsicles for the patterned paper, rub ons and most of the flowers and bling. There are a few things that are from my own stash. I had to scrap this picture, look at that grin!

Another Lo for the ScrapandStamp Challenge

I was so inspired by the sketch over at ScrapandStamp blog that I had to create another LO based on it. I told you to stay tuned for a really funny story, so here it is. These pictures are from a day when I had taken my siblings to have professional photos taken and my sisters were lined up on the hearth in red, white, red. I grabbed my camera to take this first shot. A few moments later, Hailey was holding one of the kittens and it was struggling to get away. Well, apparently the kitty really needed to go potty and since she wasn't letting loose, the kitty couldn't hold it anymore. It went. On Hailey. As gross as it was, it was a funny situation and I HAD to take photos. The story was so long that I had to hide the journaling under the photos.

First Crop

I love crops! I went to my first one yesterday and am pretty happy with the outcome. I was able to get two layouts completed from start to finish, another page in a mini book finished and a third layout polished. I think I am going to have to go to these more often.

Graduation

So one of the challenges over at Paper Popsicles was to scrap the theme of graduation and use school colors. I honestly had no immediate plans to do this, but when the challenge was issued, I thought, why not? This page came together in a matter of moments, so it must have been meant to be. Love when it happens like that.

LO for a challenge

I have been very into challenges lately. They have helped keep my creativity flowing. Here is a LO that I did for a challenge at http://scrapandstampsaturday.blogspot.com/ Alex, one of the hosts of this blog,  is on another board I am on and she is uber-talented. Loved this sketch and have another LO planned using it as well. Stay tuned for that one, it has an interesting story behind it.

Round #3 of Tim Holtz Ideaology

Here is the third project from the class. *Please note, if I am not clear on something or you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask. 

Supplies:

Ball chain

small swivel clasp

4 small jump rings

Muse Token

mini safety pin

long fastener

washer

game spinner

large sprocket gear

small sprocket gear

1. Attach 2 small jump rings to Muse Token.

2. Pinch swivel clasp and swivel open.

3. Slide Muse Token onto swivel clasp and secure clasp closed.

4. Insert mini safety pin through prongs of long fastener.

5. Insert long fastener through washer so that the mini pin is sitting on top of the washer.

6. Insert game spinner on long fastener.

7. Insert large sp

rocket gear on long fastener.

8. Insert small sprocket gear on long fastener.

9. Insert through hole at the "bottom" of the swivel clasp and secure closed.

10. Attach 2 small jump rings to the large sprocket gear.

11. Thread ball chain through jump rings.

Voila! Super cute necklace!