Signs of Spring

The weather here is finally starting to warm up and although it is a bit rainy today the temperature has actually hit 61F. Its soon time for me to go shopping for some much needed spring clothes.

So in honor of spring on the horizon I made this quick but oh so cute “bouquet” to brighten up my desk at work. I used large flat silk flowers and folded them in half about four times and attached a green pipe cleaner as a stem. For the vase I wrapped a piece of ribbon around the middle, attached three of the folded flowers to the front and added another piece of matching ribbon. Voilà…instant spring for any space.

Getting Better at Jounaling

The March kit at Scrapbook Takeout is called "Tell Your Story" and it has inspired me to really take a look at my journaling and try to do more of it on my layouts beyond the who, what, where, and why?

This layout I did for a 'make n take" for the special area on our forum that is for kit buyers.

The journaling reads:

10 Things...I don't leave home without
1. Cell Phone My life line to the outside world. I am not a big cell phone but I just like to know that I have it with me in case I need to make a call or someone needs to reach me. I hate being out of touch. 2. Sunglasses I used to buy expensive sunglasses and they kept breaking in my handbag. Since I started buying the cheaper ones they last forever and guess what - they work just as well 3. Lip balm I hate dry lips and with the winters that we have here in MA lip balm is a must. Who wants to walk around with dry cracked or peeling lips? I Know I don't. My favorite one at the moment Blistex Lip Infusion, Cherry Splash 4. Lip gloss I am not a lipstick person so I was very happy when tinted lip-gloss became a big thing. I wear it over my lip balm as you just can't have enough moisture for your lips. These days I am loving Hi Shine Lip Treatment from the Body Shop. 5. Notebook I am a scrapper and a writer of lists so I never leave home without a note book in my bag. You never know when that next great idea or inspiration will jump out at you and I am forever writing lists of things to do, to buy, etc. 6. Pen well you can't have a note book without something to write in it with now can you. 7. Wallet I hate purses so I carry a wallet in stead. I like that it is small and compact but holds everything that I need. 8. Watch I just like to know what time it is. It probably is a bad thing to be constantly checking your watch and I have been trying to go without it on weekends when I run out to do stuff. After all the weekend is the time to relax. 9. Jewelry I have to confess that if I don't have on my jewelry when I go out that I feel naked. It's funny though because its also the first thing I take off when I get home (well except for wedding rings.), 10. I-Pod I love my new I Pod that Sheldon got for me for Christmas. It is so small that it can fit in my pocket. Much better than the one that it replaced. I carry it with me just in case I have down time somewhere so I can listen to music.

Supplies:
From Kit: Jenni Bowling Die Cut paper - Red, Collage Press - Grayson Hall - World Travel Paper; SBTO Stamp by Chrissy (add-on set);Other: American Crafts Thickers - Foam, Making Memories Boho Stickers; KI Memories alha Stickers; Stampin Up Dye Ink; Computer Journaling

On another note my sister just opened her Etsy Store - Callaloo Soup Designs Store! A collection of handmade items and vintage goodies for your crafting pleasure! Check it out - she has some pretty cool stuff including some awesome lace and trim from a French flea market (yes she lives in France).

Canvas Collage

I did my first canvas last week for my Ranger Inkling and I have to say I was very pleased with the out come. I used some Tim Holtz grungeboard and the "ghost" shapes are made from the plastic packaging that products come in that I used my Cuttlebug to die cut and colored with Alcohol Inks.

Supplies
Ranger: Adirondack Paint Dabbers, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks, Inkssentials Blending Tool & Foam, Inkssentials Mini Mister (with water),

Other: Tim Holtz Ideology Grungeboard, Blank Canvas, Foam Brushes, Stamp, Plastic Packaging (what some acrylic stamps and other products come in), Die Cutter or Scissors, Clothing or other tags, Lace or Vintage Ribbon, Dew Drops or other “jewels”

Playing with Paints

Here is the inkling that I did for February for my Ranger Inkling Group.

Supplies
Adirondack Paint Dabbers
Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint
Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Stickles (optional)
Ghost Shape/Stencil - Bird
Time Card or Shipping Label
Card form or cardstock to make your own card
Chipboard
Rub-ons
Ribbon

Method:
1. Cover time card and chipboard hearts with Paint Dabber and let dry completely.

2. Attach ghost shape to painted time card. Paint entire card (paitning around the ghost shape) with Crackle Paint. Let dry completely. Then remove the ghost shape.

3. Ink edges of card form with Distress Ink. Attach painted time card to front of card form. Embellish with chipboard hearts and ribbon. Apply rub-ons. Add sparkle to your hearts and bird shape with the Stickles (optional).

4. Present card to a loved one.

RAK Winner!!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments that were posted. I did a ramdom drawing and the winner of the RAK is:

Cheryl KDV - Congrats to you.

I hope that you will all come back and keep posting comments and please feel free to ask questions about any of my work.

New crafty post coming tomrrow!!!

A Year of My Life in Books

I love to read. I can spend hours in a book store just browsing books. I love how they smell, and how they look all together on the shelves and the feel of new pages. Ok so I may be a little weird LOL!!! My bookshelves at home have run out of room to the point where I am stacking books on top of each other. Last year my reading had declined somewhat but it has picked up again in the last couple months so I decided to document a year of my life by using the books I read. Here is the mini album (thanks sis for the album) that I altered to keep track of it all. I will post the pages as I fill them in. Of course I am already behind by two months but I think I can catch up. So look for the January and February pages coming soon.



Don't forget to post a comment on Thursday post for a chance to win a RAK. I'll be drawing the winner tomorrow evening.

Yummy Basic Grey Cards

I must confess that although I love Basic Grey paper that I am a slightly intimated by it, that is until last week when I threw caution to the wind and decided to just drive in. I made one card and was so pleased with it that I made two more and even a layout. Here for your viewing pleasure are the cards. The first one is based on a design that my sister Francine used to make a Valentine's card.

Don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's post for a chance to win a RAK!!

Welcome Back RAK

Its been way too long since I posted to my blog but now that I have started back creating more consistently I want to get back to sharing some of my stuff. So as a welcome back to my blog I will draw one name from all who post a comment (please leave an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win) here by Sunday!

You can win these goodies:

And stay tuned for some new crafty inspiration.

Oh Christmas Tree

I finally got my tree decorated. It has been sitting in its stand in my living room since last Wednesday. I put the lights on this weekend but did not get around to the decorations till last night. Here are some photos for your enjoyment. Last year I did all blue and sliver this year I added some pink handmade decorations to the blue ones I did last year. Oh also check out two of the mini paper trees I made for under the tree.

A different type of creating

So I had my yearly cookie making marathon this weekend. I think I out did myself this year making more cookies than the last years I have done this. I approximate that I did at least 30 dozen cookies not counting the ones I ate or the not so attractive looking ones LOL!!! Here are some photos for your drooling pleasure.

Altering Chipboard with Bees Wax and Paint Dabbers

Here is the latest inkling that I did for my Ranger Inkling yahoo group.

Supplies

Melt Art Bees Wax – White
Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Copper
Cut n’ Dry Foam
Raw Chipboard
Cardstock and Patterned Paper
Melting Pot
Melting Pot Project Pan
Melt Art Tools
Non stick craft sheet/mat
Embellishments of your choice (ribbon, flowers, brads etc.)

Optional:
Pre-made blank card

Method:
1. Following directions for melting bees wax melt some in melting pot using melting pot project pan. You can find tips for melting bees wax on the Ranger site.

2. Place chipboard into melted wax. Use melt art tools to remove chipboard from wax and place on non stick craft sheet to cool (be careful not to get hot wax on you). Once cooled use a paint brush or sponge to brush more wax onto the chipboard. Let wax cool.

3. Dab on copper paint and then use a piece of cut and dry foam to remove excess paint and blend.

4. Make card using cardstock and patterned paper (or use pre-made blank card). :”Ink” the edges of the card with the paint dabber. Decorate with wax covered chipboard and other embellishments.

Blog Bash & New Card

Scrapbook Takeout is having a week long Blog Bash starting tomorrow (9/25). Chances to win some awesome prizes. Check it out if you have some time.

In other news its been forever since I posted a new creation. Here is a card a did for my Ranger Yahoo Group earlier this month. I used Ranger's Distress Embossing Powders for the flowers.

Thank U Card

WOW, I can’t believe I have not updated in so long and I was doing so good too. Oh well time to get back on track.

Card I made for the Label Tulip DT call, which unfortunately I did not get picked for. Oh well, pick myself up and dust myself off and onto the next one LOL!!!

Paper: A2Z and Prima; Flower: Petaloo; Tag: Every Jot and Title; Chipboard: Provo Craft; Ric rac: May Arts

"Junk Bowl" Challenge

So Caardvarks posted a micro challenge based on this tutorial by Lauren (one of the Caardvarks designers).

I don't really have a junk bowl (but will from today LOL) but I found these odds and ends on my desk.

And here is the card that I created using some of the stuff in my junk pile. Still deciding if I like it but at least it got my creative jucies flowing.

Use your scraps!!!

I know that this “hobby” of ours is called SCRAPbooking but I always seem to forget to use my scraps (LOL). So I have been trying to dig into my every multiplying pile of scraps before they spill out of the storage container. Here are a few cards I made all made from my scraps. These are for the July "Wub Cwub" on the Scrapbook Takeout forum.







Supplies:
Paper: K&I Memories, Pink Martini
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Stamps: Studio G
Chipboard Buttons & Textured Tape: Making Memories
Other Chipboard: K&I Memories
Ink: Ranger
Jewels: Heidi Swapp
Ribbon: SEI
Other: Ranger Stickles and pipe cleaner

Me in a nutshell

I have been meaning to post this for the longest time. Francine did this mini book class for our customers who bought the June Scrapbook Takeout kit.








Supplies: Stickers, Rub-ons, Ribbon, Fabric paper - Love Elsie; Felt alpha and shapes, buttons, and Marker - American Crafts; Paint - Li'l Davis; Shaped buttons - Queen & Co; Stamps - Firecracker Designs; (all the previous are from the Scrapbook Takeout kits) Ink - Stazon and Colorbox; Stickers - Making Memories

I won!! I won!!!

Label Tulip a new kit club that launched this week had a contest to win a RAK if you posted a comment on their blog and my name was the lucky one pulled. I am so excited. I know everyone says this but I hardly ever win anything. This must be my lucky week. Here's hoping.

Made it to Challenge #10

Well here we are the finaly of the 10 days of challenges from Caardvarks. I am sorry to see the end but I an also thrilled with how many cards I have done. I think going forth I will challenge myself to do at least one card a day and post it here to my blog. So stay tuned for more cards from me. Here is my entry for today. We had to scrap lift a card from the Club Scrap gallery. the card was done by Jen using the Club Scrap "Fizz" kit.





Supplies: Paper/Cardstock: K & I Memories, Heidi Grace, Bazzill and Bazill Bling; Chipboard: Heidi Swapp (SBTO Kit); Ribbon: American Crafts; Flowers: Prima; Pen: Sakura Souffle.

On a personal note, went to see the new Harry Potter movie today with some friends. It was great. I was going to hold off on getting book seven but now I think I may get it sooner than I had planned to. I want to know how this saga will end. Think I will re-read book six as well.