distress tag

Here's a tag I made awhile ago. I started with an ordinary shipping tag. I dripped alcohol inks on my craft sheet, spritzed water on it and laid the tag into the ink, a la Tim Holtz. I also crumpled up the tag and once I was happy with the inked background I started adding layers. There are some cutouts from collage papers(clock, dress form, ladies in hats), torn word from ad(chocolate) and then I added sepia accents to the dress form and glossy accents to the little pin on the dress form. I cut two flowers from a sizzex die and painted one with distress crackle paint. The second was inked, then dry embossed with a cuttlebug folder and inked again. They were combined with an ornate button I dug up somewhere. The elements were adhered with Mod Podge, a collage/altered artist's best friend. I love the way it all turned out.

Enjoy!

Altered Art

On vacation this summer I had a chance to finally try out a kayak and I am sold! I have wanted a canoe forever but now a kayak has hit the top of my list. I went shopping yesterday to look at some basic recreational kayaks and hope to field test a couple soon.



Meanwhile, I have been working on a few projects. This is an altered art tabletop or desk "frame" that I made using an old game board as as a base. I dropped alcohol inks to create the splotches, tore ads from an old Life magazine and some paper scraps that were hanging around in my basket. On the "kiki" side I used felt Thickers alphas; distress crackle paint which I then dabbed over; crackle effects on the journal tag and an "idea-ology" pin. I made this into a two-sided piece by then decorating the opposite side with more ads, papers and inks. This time I used sepia accents around a couple of the photos; "idea-ology" fragments with alcohol inks and an arrow made from grungeboard which I painted with dabbers and wrote on with a white pen. I really like how it all turned out.


I've also used stamps, "idea-ology" adage tags and laid a thin coat of crackle effects over the distress crackle paint to sort of seal it without adding shine. Yes, I really do love my Tim Holtz supplies. These two events are my daughter's move-in day at college, her sophmore year, and Labor day with my niece, nephew and granddaughter.

Enjoy!

Today

I had lots of fun today. I went on a mini road trip with two friends to a couple of local scrapbooking stores. One, Memory Lane or "mlpa" had ordered a mask I was interested in and it was available for me to pick up. I also picked up some Making Memories Christmas papers and sticker alphabets, some Scenic Route papers and another stencil. Mlpa has the newest stuff and plenty of it. From my home to Quakertown is about an hour. From there we headed over to Gilbertsville to Inspired Treasures. They had some of Tim Holtz' "idea'ology" items that I was missing. They said they'd be getting some of his new stuff in later this month or early next month. I also picked up some great "Thickers"--I love their alphas. Inspired Treasures has some really great project samples, new and different from the same-old. I went shopping, not really needing anything and somehow managing to spend about $75 between the two stores. Hmm. I finally made it home late this afternoon, ready for another dose of Tylenol and lunch/dinner. I really had to do some straightening around the house before delving into my new goodies. Now I'm feeling my 5:15am wake up and wanting to sleep and wanting to play all the same. It's too early to tell which will win.

Yeah, I was able to get my projects posted! Here is a small table or desk "frame" with a photo on one side and stamped sentiment on the other. This is Erik playing around at the beach. The chipboard is covered, both sides with coordinating papers and held together with ribbon. I made this as a sample for my Etsy shop which I haven't done much with yet either. This would make a great favor for a shower--think pink or blue papers, baby sentiment and a photo of the newborn, or a space for that photo. It would also be a great favor with just the mat for the photo for any event--ladies luncheon or banquet, holiday dinner place-card or birthday party. Yes, the plan is to offer them, custom made in my Etsy shop so stop by if you're interested.

These two photos showcase a cover for post-it pads. They look stylish on your desk, by the phone or in your pocketbook. These too make great small gifts or favors for many occassions and can be customized.
This "Family" pocket and tag album is one I created with We'R double sided papers. A kit will be available in my Etsy shop so you can recreate this mini-album. Each pocket has a tag that you can decorate on both sides and makes a great mini memory book from a recent vacation or event.

This is just a card I made using stamps, paper and ribbon. I stamped two different flower images from Stampin' Up sets in black ink on blue paper. I then outlined them in white pen to create a "bandana" effect. The light blue and white striped paper is from Laura Ashley and is stamped with another Stampin' Up stamp. The blue ribbon on the side just finishes off the panel which is then adhered to a pale blue card. This is an easy technique and makes a great looking background.

So I'm feeling guilty that I don't update this more often. I have even begun avoiding my computer because I feel like I need to stop by and say hi, and post projects that I'm working on. I am in the middle of a couple right now.

Let's see if I can get this to work, a few things that have come out of the studio lately. Nope, my images will not upload. I'll try again soon.

Life comes at you crazy sometimes...well it has, really it has but the real reason I don't update daily is I just don't have lots to say...aloud. Here are some new layouts. This first set started at Creating Keepsakes Convention (CKC) in the embellish It! Latest and Greatest with Basic Grey class. We did the right side of the layout in the class. We had the remainder of the scalloped circle and a piece of brown Bazzill left. This paper is from their Sultry line. I had a pack of the paper so I took it from there. This layout utilizes the technique of continuing intersection. In other words, the layout continues across both pages(the scallop circle, green houndstooth strip) but is intersected, or cut down through the elements. The stickers are also from the Sultry line. Below is a close up detail of the intersection.
This set of layouts is utilizes the same concept of intersecting a continuous page. Rather than looking at a set of pages as two 12x12" layouts that coordinate or spread across two pages this layout should be seen as one 12x24" layout. The paper here is from Scrapbook Walls--the stripe, argyle and solid blue which is the flip side of the patterned paper and brown scallop-edged paper from DCWV. After trimming the edges for borders I used the inside for the title strip and die cut the letters for "world" and half a scallop-edged circle. No mats here just 4x6" photos from our Colorado trip in '05. Buttons bring the colors from the right side photos into the left side. Grunge board quotes are painted with a pearl dabber from Ranger. Again, there is a closer shot of part of the layout below.

Lastly, a layout where I used scissors only to cut the "j's" and only on small dab of adhesive. Everything else is stapled, pinned or clipped to the layout. This uses papers from Quick Quotes--the starburst and polkadot; the script is the flipside of the polkadot. The ledger paper I had in my stash, don't quite recall where it came from. Everything was inked. The journal tickets are all from Tim Holtz' idea-ology line, along with the charm, chain and pin. The little clip is from 7 Gypsies and the twine I had hanging around. The "j's" were traced from the negative of a chipboard letter onto grunge board that I then cut, painted with butterscotch dabber and when that dried I used a velvet effect marker from Marvy Uchida which becomes fuzzy and velvety when you heat it. I dotted some Crystal Effects(Stampin'Up!) in the centers of some of the starbursts for a little pop of texture.
That's all for now. I took a Jen Starr class this past weekend and the bandana technique that she taught us is something I want to spend lots of time playing with. I'll show samples soon.

Enjoy!

one of My Favorite scrapping subjects...

Four years ago I joined a special club: Women who are far too young to be Grandmothers: or in other word the WAFTYBiGs. Since becoming a member I have a new subject to scrapbook about and my layouts feature my adorable granddaughter. I've decided to share a few with you. First out are layouts of Eden's 2nd birthday party.



These layouts feature papers from K&Co.'s Margo line. The chipboard embellishments are from that line too. Then there is lined, scalloped paper, rub-on stitching, letters and lots of rhinestone accents.

Eden is clowning around here, wearing the rainbow-fro. I've layered papers from Martha Stewart as well as others I don't know who manufactures. Except for the background paper, all the layered papers were scraps or leftovers that I ripped to create the layers. Ribbons, rhinestones and letter stickers are from my personal stash. The big heart brad is from Around the Block and has a bling accents, as does the title.


This last layout is one of my daughters, Jess. The journaling is on a hand-cut star tag and reads: Sometimes sweet; sometimes sassy, always complicated; at a crossroads; smart, beautiful, talented. The papers are Basic Grey Sultry, with sticker letters and fibers from the line; Thickers foam letters, and some chipboard accents and layered flower. The felt butterfly is from Oriental Trading. There is a swirl stenciled on that I sprayed with Olive Vine Glimmer Mist.


Enjoy!

All camp all the time

I've spent most of my time lately creating layouts for camp challenges. I did want to scrap these photos of a recent trip to the zoo with my granddaughter so I guess it worked out for the best.

Outside of the studio I've made time to see Mama Mia, which I loved on Broadway and read Me & Mr. Darcy, a Jane Austen spin off. I guess I should mention that I am a big Austen fan. How coincidental that I should start Me & Mr. Darcy just before the movie version of Mama Mia, in which the most famous of the Mr. Darcy's happens to star as one of Sophie's potential dads. He was totally believable, Pierce Brosnan, eh, not so much. Didn't matter, the music is the fun part of the film.

Enjoy the zoo layouts.

I have conquered technology!

It is no secret that technology and I are not on great speaking terms. Awhile ago my photo-printer stopped talking to my computer and I haven't been able to retrieve photos from my camera. I have been able to print which was good enough up to a point. I spent more hours than I should admit making the interface work again. Yeah, I can now upload photos, tweak them a bit, post here and there as well as save them on my computer and on disk. I should have been cleaning my pantry but this was more important.

I've still managed to be creative. I am a member of Club Scrap and am currently in the Camp Yah- Hey-n-So, cabin three. Each week we are given a challenge and create layouts using primarily Club Scrap supplies. Each cabin posts their layouts, points are calculated and winning cabins receive discounts from Club Scrap. I put together 3 two-page layouts for this week's before and after challenge. My subjects were strawberries turned into jam and the "jam-isms" that we came up with as we got tired of looking at strawberries; Christmas before the opening and after the opening of gifts-even with only four kids at the time we still made a mess; and before and after my brother had a meal at Texas Roadhouse.















In addition to the challenge layouts we can post any layouts for single points. This week we also had an Arts & Crafts challenge and made cards. I made about 15 so far, I'll post some of my favorites. Then I really need to get to my pantry so I can play guilt-free some more with my paper.

This card is Club Scrap paper from the Matrix collection with Stampin' Up stamps.
Many thanks is another Stampin' Up stamp on Sparkle and Ivory Elegance papers.









For you is on Chapter One papers with Clear Stamps (flower and sentiment) and hardware from Stampin' Up. Thank You is on A Study in Red papers with Stampin' Up flowers. All inks are from Stampin' Up. Enjoy!

Brand New Blog/Brand New Blogger

Here goes folks. I have been looking for an avenue to share my love of paper-crafting, scrap-booking, card-making, collage, and book-making for some time and I've finally taken this very first baby step. It feels more like a giant leap off a tall building without a safety net anywhere in sight. This is nothing new to those of you who have been blogging for awhile, give me time to get my feet wet and feel comfortable jumping in.

As to creativity today, there basically was none other than the choices needed for this blog. I did take my twin teen sons and myself out for hair styling(me) and cutting(them). We went to a local tech school and I got my long, wavy hair washed, cut, styled, dried, straightened and a facial for $2.; son got a cut & highlights for $8; the other a buzz cut for $1. Not bad. More money for paper. We also had lunch, then off to music lessons and errands. Now it's time to make a nice dinner for my husband who celebrates his birthday today.

For those in the Philadelphia area who may see this today or tomorrow, I'm teaching Technique Tags at Stacie and Gracie's Scrapbook Shoppe all day Friday; 12:30-7:00. It takes about 30 minutes to learn several new techniques and only costs $5.00 for all the materials. You don't bring a thing. For the month of July we're going grungy, the techniques will all revolve around the use of grunge board. S&G's is located on Bethlehem Pike in Erdenheim(between Chestnut Hill and Flourtown). You can check out the website: http://www.stacieandgracies.com/
If you come and mention this blog, I'll be thrilled. Might even share a whole untouched piece of grunge board with you. This will repeat every Friday in July. Check out the other classes S&G has to offer.

It's off to make that birthday dinner. Happy Birthday Honey.