Menagerie

My favorite part about the circus has always been the elephants. Imagine my delight when my scrappy sister, Kendra, took these stunning photos of her sweetie all dressed for Halloween! I begged hard-copy from her and embellished at will.

 

 

 

 

 

These four pages are from the Circus Tent mini-album posted last week on SWAT. Stop by today to see circus themed cards from the DT and four more pages from this mini!

 

~charity~

 

 

 

 

 



Summer Girls

Enough with winter already!!! How about a little summer in you life? These happy little faces should just about convince you the flowers truly are blooming!

~ Summer Girls ~

This is my weekly post up at the Just Imagine/Kreaxions blog. Check it out and skim thru the other posts from this week! It's been a stunner for sure.

Supplies:

Paper:DCWV

Vellum:CTMH

Trim:Creative Charms

Brads:Recollections

Punches:Kreaxions, Fiskars, Uchida

Sketch Amber #5a:

Michelle King for Scrapbook Steals

 

~charity~

Escape

Practical Scrappers Monthly Sketch for you today and it's another stunner by Liz. Just for the fun of it I decided to combine the sketch with inspiration from this photo. I challenged two of my fellow Practical Scrappers to join me.

 I can't wait for this summer so I can take photos like this with my kids. But till then I used a more winter-appropriate subject...Christmas photos. We seem to have TONZ of photos of the kids unwrapping gifts. I chose 3 poses, cut out my image, then added variations of the same theme to each photo frame. (Which of course I made with my brand new Kreaxions Circle Cutter!)

 ~ help your dreams ~
~ESCAPE~

I did not follow Liz's sketch exactly, but took a more fluid approach. I flipped the sketch, then used the same photo placement and number as well as the repetition of lines.

Just a few close-ups of the netting bag holding the butterflies.

I laced the twine through the netting to bunch it up.

For this frame I used beads of hot glue to hold the netting and twine in place.

Supplies:

Paper:Ruby-Rock-It and LYB

Rub-ons:Kaiser Craft and Daisy D's

Netting:Webster's Pages

Tiny Type:Glitz Design

Alpha:American Crafts

Twine:My Minds Eye

 

~charity~

 



Backstage

Practical Scrapper's is featuring stamping today.

There is nothing I like better for my detailed stamps then white pigment ink! Just love that amazing look on dark paper. I took cues from my photo when deciding which stamps to use for this layout.

~Backstage~

...and being backstage with December Radio was fully awesome!!!

 

Supplies:

Paper:WeRMrK

Ink:CTMH

Alpha:American Crafts

Enamel Accents:Ranger

Tiny Type:Making Memories and Girls Paperie

Stamps:CTMH, Glitz, MME,Pink Paislee, Sandy Lion

 

~charity~



On & On & On

 

 Nuts About Sketches: Week # 258
Stop by the blog to see the full design team reveal and then create and share a project of your own.
I chose pictures from last summers cross country trip for this sketch. There are parts of North Dakota that seem to stretch forever, no matter how exciting the scenery. To down play the uniformity of these photos I chose bright colors and multiple graphic prints.

 ~ Where the road goes on & on & on ~

Supplies:

Paper:Pink Paislee, DCWV, and MME

Alpha:Girls Paperie and American Crafts 

Chipboard:MME and Pink Paislee

Punch 901 Insert A:Kreaxions

 

~charity~



Ringmaster For a Day

My second Special-Ops Training is up on the SWAT blog and here's a preview!

 

When: I actually started this project back in December but decided to go easy on everyone for the first ever Special-Ops. Besides, the Scrap-O-Luck was just too beautiful not to share as soon as I got it done!

 

Why: My scrappy sister, Kendra sent me these adorable photos of her sweet little girl dressed in an elephant costume for Halloween. I specifically requested them to make into an album and dreamt up the circus theme after they arrived.

 

How: I hear this question the most often. I can only say that I am a problem solver by nature and my brain needs to be constantly busy. I was looking at my Kiwi Lane Design Templates one day and thought, "If I take this triangle (Celebrate 6), trace it several times and then sew those pieces together I'd have a tent roof." I do recall promising myself NEVER AGAIN to sew scrapbooking paper together into a 3-D project after finishing the Lyndy Bear. Just call me a gluten for punishment cause I did it AGAIN! However, for this project stapling or instant lock adhesive would have worked just as well.

 

Where: The instructions for the box car are fairly easy, but you will not find them included in this months Special Ops Training. I have grand visions of an entire train, just the right size for beanie babies, made from Celestial Seasonings herbal tea boxes. Get started saving!!!

 

 

~charity~

 

 



Retake

I don't attempt a Clean and Simple style very often...but I wanted to illustrate how easy it is for ANY scrapping style to use these awesome punches. Zip over to the Just Imagine/Kreaxions blog for a quick tutorial and tool list.

~ Retake ~

Supplies:

Paper:Glitz Design and Prima

Mist:Tattered Angels

Alpha and Felt Corner:Making Memories

Embossing Powder:Zing

Stickles and Ink:Ranger

Tiny Type:Glitz Design

Punch #919:Kreaxions

Sketch:Amber 2

Kerys Sharrock for Scrapbook Steals

 

~charity~

 

 

 

 



Let's Chat

Practical Scrappers card sketch today! Run by the blog for a little inspiration and then get started on your own rendition of Patty's sketch.

~ Let's Chat ~

Now that I have the Kreaxions Circle Cutter I am finding MANY excuses to play with it. I especially like the look of multiple rings rather than full circles.

Supplies:

Paper, Trim, Chipboard:Pink Paislee

Tiny Type:Authentique

Circle Cutter:Kreaxions

Ink:CTMH

 

~charity~

 



Tranquil

Practical Scrappers:10 Things Buttons

For my project I decided to use button stamps. I masked the stamps and carefully applied my embossing powder till it looked like I had layered buttons on my project. I love how the pastel tones show up against the riot of color!

~ Tranquil ~

Supplies:

Paper:Kaiser Craft

Washi:Michael's

Gems:Zva Creative

Candy Dots:Pebbles

Die Cuts:K and Company

Stamps:CTMH

Ink:Ranger

Brad:MME

Flower:Stash

Chipboard:Petaloo

Alpha:American Crafts

Embossing Powder:Stampendous and WoW

 

~charity~



Change is Good

 Double feature today!!!
It's my day to host at The Paper Girls Challenge and I choose a photo inspiration. I decided to use the colors for my project...rather heavy on the gold. Stop by the blog and see the photo and what our designers did with it!
~ Change is good ~

My double page layout is also up on Nuts About Sketches today, #257. Hop over to the blog and see how the team has illustrated this fabulous sketch.

My daughter was more excited about her "first change of earrings" then she was about getting her ears pierced. She made such a big deal of it that we did a full on photo shoot to commemorate the event. 

 I used lots of stickles to detail the centers of the embossed sun burst designs. And multiple 1/4 inch rings to frame the photos.

Supplies:

Paper:DCWV

Alpha:MME

Stickles:Ranger

Tiny Type:Girls Paperie and EK Success

Toola:EK Success and Martha Stewart

 

~charity~

 

 

 



Happy Go Lucky

Just Imagine Crafts/Kreaxions Punches monthly DT reveal

 and this time it is all about green!!!

I love to contrast my colors so I framed my pleated green trim with navy blue and topped it with violet. To make the pleated trim I used punch #919 and insert A. After punching a strip of paper repeatedly I cut the designs apart into 1 inch tabs and inked the edges. I adhered the circle to the center of my page, slipped the green tabs under the edge in a staggered, stacked pattern, then stitched both the circle and the pleated ruffle.

~ Happy Go Lucky ~

Supplies:

Paper:Little Yellow Bicycle and Glitz Design

Buttons, Title, Stickers:Little Yellow Bicycle

Twine:The Twinery

Brads and Ink:CTMH

Photo Turns and Felt Birds:Stash

Purple Heart:Webster's Pages

Tools:Kreaxions Punch #919 and Circle Cutter

Sketch:

Bev Code for Scrapbook Steals

 

~charity~

 



Precious Perfect Princess

SWAT: Drill #4 is up today. This time we've got a color challenge for you. Stop by the blog and get the details. Our team has some beautiful work on display!

~ precious PERFECT princess ~

Supplies:

Paper, Stickers, Alpha:Webster's Pages

Trim:Webster's Pages and May Arts

Gems:CTMH

Ink:Colorbox and Prima

Brads:Recollections

Flowers:Petaloo

 

~charity~



Old School Entertainment

I have gotten SO much use out of the kit that Paper Secrets sent me for my Guest Design spot. These Farmhouse Papers are perfect for SO many themes. Todays reveal and sketch challenge at Paper Secrets is no exception. Stop by the blog and see the amazing work on display then play along with us!!!

~ Old School Entertainment ~

Supplies:

Farmhouse Papers kit from Paper Secrets

Alpha:American Crafts

Sketch:

Liz Chidester

 

 

~charity~

 



Rejoice

So excited to finally get this project up on the Just Imagine/Kreaxions blog. Don't you just love that 3-Dimensional butterfly? I've loaded a quick tutorial and tool list onto the Just Imagine blog. Head over there and take a look!!!

~ rejoice ~

Supplies:

Cardstock:Bazill

Vellum:CTMH

Twine:The Twinery

Punch and Die:Kreaxions

 

~charity~

 



I LOVE this girl

Practical Scrappers: 10 Things Tuesday...and we've got zippers on display.
I love adding house-hold items to my layouts. I had this lovely orange zipper and with some corresponding buttons and alpha this project came together quickly. My Kiwi Lane Design Template made the zipper tree a SNAP!

~ I LOVE this girl ~

Supplies:

Paper and Chipboard:Farmhous Papers

Alpha and Tiny Type:Authentique

Other Items:Stash and unspecified kit embellies

Acrylic Template:Kiwi Lane Designs

Sketch:

Kerys Sharrock for Scrapbook Steals

 I flipped the sketch and used a circle instead of heart shape.

 

~charity~

one TOOTH after another

 

Nuts About Sketches reveal day!!! 

Stop by the blog for a prefiew of the sketch and have a look at what the other designers have come up with.

The photos for this L/O are from a May Arts challenge

I did last year. See that blog post HERE.

Supplies:

Paper:DCWV

Trim:May Arts

Stamp:Inkadinkado

Buttons:Basic Grey

Numbers:EK Success

Twine and Alpha:MME

Tiny Type:Cosmo Cricket

Ink:CTMH and Ranger

 

~charity~

 



Spring ATC's:Back

For the backs of my ATC's I did a bird theme. Birds herald the change of seasons and are such perky, curious little things!!! They seem a perfect symbol for the growth that follows a major change in life.

The set of bird cage cards are my favorites of this side.
The inked bird silhouette is a close second.

Lots of twine and washi make these cards all kinds of fun and quick!

Supplies:

Paper:7-Gypsies and MME

Twine:The Twinery, Target, and MME

Ink:Prima, CTMH, and Ranger

Punches:Martha Stewart and McGill

Washi Tape:MME, Target, and Michael's

Alpha:Making Memories, The Paper Studio, and Creative Memories

Tiny Type:Making Memories, Girls Paperie, and Authentique

 

~charity~

Spring ATC's:Front

This time our group went without a theme for the seasonal ATC swap. I chose butterflies as symbols of the changes that can take place in life. As I head towards graduation (Associate of Arts) I definately have changes on my mind.

 

I chose four different butterfly designs. The large butterfly punch-out turned out to be my favorite. I enjoyed finding items to "fill" them with.

I used bits and pieces of a 7-Gypsies ATC kit, but had to come up with extra pieces to complete the 17 cards.

Supplies:

Paper:7-Gypsies and MME

Twine:The Twinery, Target, and MME

Ink:Prima, CTMH, and Ranger

Punches:Martha Stewart and McGill

Washi Tape:MME, Target, and Michael's

Alpha:Making Memories, The Paper Studio, and Creative Memories

Tiny Type:Making Memories, Girls Paperie, and Authentique

 

~charity~

 



Bliss

As this post goes live I am blissfully riding Amtrak right out of the frozen north and into the sunlit west!!! My brother is getting married and I can't wait to be a part of this family event. Of course I had to make a card and only the best will do for Peter and Hillary.

~ bliss ~

I used vellum as my card base, which presented some photo challenges. Here is a second photo that displays the sheer nature of the project.

Supplies:

Paper:Ruby-Rock-It

Vellum, Ink, and Metal tags:CTMH

Brads:Recollections
Tiny Type:Glitz Design

Rub-ons:U.S. Stamp and Sign

Floss:WeRMemory Keepers

 

~charity~



Meet-Up

 

 Scrapfest 2012 was a great experience. I got to hang out with my sweet friend Judy and take a class from my Authentique hero: Melodee Liddell Cloud!!! I just can't wait for next year.

Supplies:

Paper:Pink Paislee, Echo Park, DCWV

Twine:MME, The Twinery

Eyelets:Recollections

Alpha:Creative Memories

Tiny Type:Authentique

Gems:Mark Richards

Ink and Ribbon:CTMH

Buttons:Basic Gray

Black Diamond Stickles:Ranger

Sketch:

Shawn Lahr for Nuts About Sketches



She Loves Making New Friends

 Todays Practical Scrappers 10 Things post is all about vellum! I got out my trusty border punches and made the vellum fly! Adhering is ALWAYS a problem with vellum, but I tacked it under the ribbon and also with a stitch along the top and sides of the layout. I don't make sunburst layouts too often, but they always turn out so nice.

~ She Loves Making New Friends ~

Supplies:Paper:WeRMrk

Trim:WeRMrk and May Arts

Flowers:Making Memories and Prima

Chipboard and Alpha:American Crafts

Small Alpha:Creative Memories
Gems:Creative Charms and Glitz Design

Punches:EK Success, Marth Stewart, and Fiskars

Sketch:

Kerys Sharrock for Scrapbook Steals

~charity~

Snow Blessed

Today's challenge from the Paper Girls is to use snowflakes on a project. I have this photo the school used on a bulletin board and really no background information to journal about. I just know it was taken during my daughter's 3rd grade year. With our 9 months of winter, though, I knew it fit the snowflake theme!

~ Snow Blessed ~

Supplies:

Sew-Easy, Paper and Diecut:WeRMrk

Punch:Martha Stewart

Alpha:American Crafts

Twine:The Twinery

Brads:MME

Enamel Accents:Ranger

Tiny Type:Cosmo Cricket

 

~charity~

 



Drill #3: Beach Boys

 

S.W.A.T. would like to invite you back today to check out Drill #3. This time we just want you to fit 4 photos (any size) on one page. 3 Scrappy Boys is sponsoring Drill #3 with a $20 gift card!
Stop by the blog to get the details then link up your project for a chance to win!!!
~ Beach Boys ~

I used 3 4x6 photos and 1 3x4. To position my letters BEFORE I stuck them across the photo I laid them on strips of clear packaging.

Supplies:

Paper and Chipboard:Farmhouse Paper Company

Alpha:American Crafts

Punch:EKSuccess

Ink:Prima

 

~charity~



Lady Divine

You know that fluttery feeling you get when a hot guy asks for your phone number? That's exactly how I felt when Paper Secrets contacted me about being the March Guest Designer. But I was OVER THE TOP excited when I received my packet of Farmhouse Goodies. Now this is the way to start out a new month!!!

~ Lady Divine ~

Supplies:

Paper:Farmhouse Paper Company

Trim:Paper Secrets Kit

Alpha:American Crafts

Punch:Martha Stewart

Sketch:

Page Maps

~charity~