Christmas ATC's

I've completed two more ATC's for Flying Unicorn's Chrismtas ATC Swap. I have had so much fun creating these and I do believe I'm now addicted! It is so much fun to branch out of your usual scrappy style and just create something totally different! I'm now so hooked I've been shopping for ATC supplies! lol...poor hubby! He has a hard time keeping up with my scrapbooking and card making supplies..now he has to support (money wise) my new ATC craze! so so laughing! The first ATC is created with the Father Christmas Clear stamp by Bo Bunny..you girls know how I adore Bo Bunny!

The second is my favorite!! I covered a dress form chipboard with glitter using a mask. It is so so shimmery!

You should branch out and try new things..who knows..you might become addicted like I have!

Lisa Vollrath's & Ten Two Studios 6th Annual Original Printables Holiday Countdown!

Lisa Vollrath and Ten Two Studio's have paired up to give you free images every day in December. And man..are they gorgeous! Gorgeous and Free!

Here is the link:o)

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/

Core'dinations Design Team Favorite Things - Win the Designer's Favorite Lines!

Core'dinations is hosting a Design Team Favorite Things Give-a-way!

Go to their blog for your chance to win!

Here is the details from their Blog:

From now until Christmas Eve we are showcasing our Design Team’s Favorite cardstock. Each designer picked a few of their favorite lines and created some gorgeous projects for you showcasing why they love it so much.

Then, on that day, just by commenting on that post, you have the chance to win! AND some days we might be showcasing more than one line … like today! ;)

Here is how it works:

1.) We post every day. The following day we pick a winner and then start over so keep coming back!

2.) You have all day and night to post. Yes, you heard me! You can win up until the next day when I pick a winner when I get up. We want our international fans to be able to win and they are normally sleeping now ;)

3.) Want additional chances to win? Comment on Facebook and share the excitement on your blogs! If you share on your blog, come back here and link us up. Remember, you can do it every day for more chances to win!

4.) Please note: we will not be shipping to winners until the January due to the Holidays.

Here is a link to the Core'dinations blog:

http://www.coredinations.com/index.php/category/scrapbook-blog/

Here is a link to their facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coredinations-ColorCore-Cardstock-Paper-for-Scrapbooking/187498550362

Flying Unicorn's Glam it up Challenge and Tim Holtz tag day 2

I have been wanting to do some of Tim Holtz Tags...let's be honest..who hasn't? :o). I also have a goal to do every challenge at Flying Unicorn this month. So I decided to combine a TH tag and one of the Challenges.

The Glam it Up Challenge was to use at least 3 different kinds of sparkle.
Here was the list to choose from:
Glimmer Mist
Glimmer Glam
Glimmer Glaze
Stickles
Glitter
Shiny metallic pieces
Rhinestones (pearls do not count)
Anything else that has sparkle and glam
Metallic rubs
Perfect pearls
Smooch Mist or paint

This was easy peasy! I used:
1. Smooch Spritz Vanilla, splattered on tag to create a snow like effect
2. Martha Stewart Gold Metallic Paint - painted the border on the bottom of the tag
3. Tim Holtz/Ranger Acohol Ink - Bronze metallic - used it to change my silver brads to bronze
4. Tattered Angels Candy Apple Red - used it to add a red tint to the gold bell on the deer's neck
.....
In making Tim's tag I didn't have the deer die cut or the grungeboard he used. So I cut out a deer from my silhouette from Coordinations and sanded it to give it some texture. I just love how this tag turned out!

Remember the Days - Challenge of Challenges

One of Flying Unicorn's Novembers Challenges has a prize where you can win the kit of the month. Since I buy their kit every month this is huge!!!!

The challenge is to incorporate 5 of their challenges into a layout. You can find their Nov. Challenges here:http://flying-unicorn.socialgo.com/forum/top/7


I incorporated the following challenges into my layout:
1) Photo Inspiration (use red, yellow and green) I used lots of yellow as you can see, the green is the vines I made, the red is in the stars, and I also inked red on top of the brown on the cardboard base.
2) My Myself and I - The layout is of me :o)
3) Extreme and Intense Colors & Extreme Element - The bright yellow is the extreme color, all cardstock and cardboard were distressed (one extreme element), I also handmade the little brown flower from cardboard, and made a distressed cardboard frame (extreme cardboard) and I added another extreme element - stitching :o)
4) Heavy Metal - Handmake a metal embellie - I made the metal flower by embossing it with a flower embossing folder, cut it out, then inked it using TH Oregano and Red Pepper alcohol inks, added some yellow with a copic marker then added distress stickeles to the center.
5) Take a note - include a handwritten note, The rolled up piece of cardstock has a note in it saying: Mystic Villiage, 2010. I also added Journaling under the picture :o)



Be sure to head over to Flying Unicorn starting Dec. 1st! They are having daily tutorials and prizes! oh yeah!

Antiquated Collection at Pink Persimmon!

I have been waiting for the release of a new stamp collection that Pink Persimmon is going to carry. The collection is the Antiquated Collection by Lisa M. Pace. Lisa's blog is here http://lisapace.com/.
Her new line is so beautiful I want everyone of them! Let me show you a few of the stamps...








Now do you see why I'm so so excited about this collection. I am drooling! Needless to say each and everyone is going to the top of my Christmas List!
Pink Persimmon is giving away an some of these stamps on their blog! Yep, I have my fingers crossed! lol..I am dying to get these stamps!

You can find the give-a-way post here!
http://pinkpersimmon.typepad.com/pinkpersimmon/2011/11/antiquated-collection.html

You can thank me later, better yet, if you win..you should share! lol

She's Like Lighting in a Bottle

Flying Unicorn's She's Like Lighting in a Bottle challenge is to use a bottle, vase or vial in your creation.
I have been planning to alter a Kaisercraft Chest of Drawers for awhile. Plus, I had some Tim Holtz Vials so I decided to enter this challenge.

I needed something to store my baggies of goodies that come with our Flying Unicorn Kits..I always missplace them or forget about them after I've put up the previous months kit. So I decided to alter a Kaiser Craft Chest of Drawers. It will be perfect to store all the little things I tend to misplace and forget about.

I used the Riddersholm Design's Chantilly Dawn papers that came with the Flying Unicorn's November kit..(adore these papers!!!). Riddersholm Designs is a company from Denmark and their lines are to die for! I think Flying Unicorn is one of the very few..if not..the only US store to carry this line. The vials are from Tim Holtz. One is holding watch parts..(Yep I completely forgot I had those too!) lol..the tall vial is holding some hat pins, and I added a few purple beads in the small one to complete the look :o). I just love this Chest!! And..now I have something to store all my tiny treasures!

Lights-Camera-Action!

I have been creating this layout for the Boys II Men Challenge at Flying Unicorn.

Have you ever had a layout that just wouldn't come together no matter what you did? This was one of those layouts. I had everything planned in my head but when it came to gluing it down I couldn't get the design I was looking for.
So after struggling for a few days, walking away from it several times, and throwing out a few cuss words I decided to seek help.

I posted a pic of what I was working on and the embellishments I was planning to use on the "Ask The Designers" topic in the Flying Unicorn Forum. What a great help they turned out to be! The Solution...put the picture in the middle, add a title and then build around it. So so simple..now why didn't I think of that?!!

I love the final piece! It has the mood I wanted and I think it turned out great!



The pictures are of my grandson's first trip to Disney World. I loved the picture of the movie reels in the background and wanted to make that my theme.

The frame is a Petaloo Color Me Crazy frame. I inked it with Tattered Angels Coffee Shop Glimmer Mist and then embossed it several time with Utee.
I cut the film projector out with my silhouette, colored it with the same Coffee Shop glimmer mist and then used the same embossing technique as I did with the frame. After it had cooled, I added Tim Holtz gears to the reels and dry brushed it with a little of Ranger's Adirondack Copper Mixative.

The film strips with the pictures and the Title were also cut out with my Silhouette.

My journay into collage

Awhile back I said I was going to start a creative journal. I spend hours each week looking at mixed media art. I have fallen in love with collages of quirky images, steampunk, and Victorian pieces . I have been playing around but I never seem to capture the moods I see other artists create. I needed instruction..how do they create those cool backgrounds??? So, I started looking for tutorials and books.

After a lot of researching I decided on a collage book and ordered it. I choose:
Collage Lab: Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects (Lab Series) by Bee Shay.
This book is designed to take you through a year of collage labs. There are 52 different labs in the book. One for each week.

When I was reading the overview of this book this sentence caught my eye..
"Seeing, Doing, Learning is the key to keeping the knowledge and information that has been acquired along the way"

I learn by doing..I can watch someone do something a million times, but, If I do not do it myself I remember nothing :o) I was really intrigued by the thought of collage labs.

The book was affordable (15.97 at Amazon) I read several reviews of the book. All were good reviews and I even found a blog that was doing her labs and posting their results. After they completed the labs they removed them from the blog and wanted you to pay 25.00 for the cd..

That is crazy I thought! They are making money off of someone's book. I bought the book for 15~ lol

Bee Shay also started a blog called Collage Lab Companion where she adds more content and takes you along the labs in her book. I don't know why, but she stopped posting after 3 months. But, I adored pouring over those three months of content..so check it out!

Waiting for the book to come, I started gathering supplies that I thought I might need. Gesso, modeling paste, canvas, acrylic paint, etc...poor hubby has been dragged to Michaels and forced to use a coupon..so I could get 40% off of two things! lol..I even signed him up for Michael's rewards! poor poor man!

Finally, yesterday the postman brought me Collage Lab (plus a few new "artsy" stamps I thought I had to have :o)..I poured over the pages and fell in love!
Each lab is clearly outlined...easy to follow, calls for reasonable (inexpensive) materials, and gives great examples!

I finished one lab this week..Basic Gesso Surface..all I can say is Wow...I can already create 9 different collage foundations!

I decided to create a collage for the Lift the AOW (Artist of the Week) challenge at Flying Unicorn. Bitsy had created a darling dress out of paper.
I had just bought the Material Girl Stamp from Crafty Secrets..so this challenge was calling my name! Here is my creation.



The background was made with acrylic paint, I used some gel medium to add an old pattern, and I added some texture with bubble wrap I drew the lines in the dress with a charcoal pencil and also outlined the dress with a little more shading.
The stamp holder is a stamp from Crafty Secrets that I stamped and then wound some yellow thread around it. I cut some ruler tape ribbon, added a little paint to it and also outlined it with charcoal to make it stand out a little more :o)

Check out the book..it's amazing!

Don't Look Now

I made this card for the Flying Unicorn's Scrap-O-Ween Scary Movie Title Challenge. I am having so much fun this month at Flying Unicorn! They are having so many challenges and give-a-ways all month long for the Scrap-O-Ween celebration.
You should check it out and join in the fun!

The challenge was to create something using the title of a Halloween (Scary) (Horror) movie! I decided to make a card.

I choose the movie Don't Look Now that was released in 1973.

I choose to use a paper from the PinkPaislee's Hocus Pocus line. The paper pack was included in the October Kit from Flying Unicorn. Their kits always include an "off the page project also and..get this...at no extra charge!! yep!!!
The hocus pocus paper pak was part of the "off the page" kit.
The image is from Graphic 45.


I adore Flying Unicorn's kits! Here is a link to their kit of the month.
http://flyingunicornllc.com/kit-of-the-month.html
Anyway..here is the card :o)

Mannequin Pin Holder

I was watching a video on "My Craft Channel" on how to make a Mannequin Pin Holder. It was cute as good be and I had some extra fabric stashed from some pillows I made to go in the bay window in my craft room. So...I decided to give it a go! You can find the video here http://www.mycraftchannel.com/Shows/The-DIY-Dish/?omedia_id=185

It was super easy to make and this my friends is coming from someone who can barely sew a straight line! :o)

Here is my new creation!



If you have any extra fabric laying around this would make a great Christmas gift for a friend. My daughter has already asked for one to go in her room :o)

Two more Christmas ATC's for Flying Unicorn

I've completed two more ATC's for Flying Unicorn's Chrismtas ATC Swap. I have had so much fun creating these and I do believe I'm now addicted! It is so much fun to branch out of your usual scrappy style and just create something totally different! I'm now so hooked I've been shopping for ATC supplies! lol...poor hubby! He has a hard time keeping up with my scrapbooking and card making supplies..now he has to support (money wise) my new ATC craze! so so laughing! The first ATC is created with the Father Christmas Clear stamp by Bo Bunny..you girls know how I adore Bo Bunny!

The second is my favorite!! I covered a dress form chipboard with glitter using a mask. It is so so shimmery!

You should branch out and try new things..who knows..you might become addicted like I have!

Another ATC For Flying Unicorns Christmas ATC Swap

I've finished another ATC for the Christmas ATC swap. I had so much fun making this ATC!

Here is how I created it. I cut out a Christmas Tree from the Simple Stories 25 Days of Christmas Accessory Collection. Inked the tree with Color Box Chestnut ink and Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Ink. I then made the snow with Flower Soft. I added sparkles to the tree with TH's Rock Candy Stickles. The presents were made with cardboard and then covered with Tim Hotz Tissue Tape and inked with the Walnut Stain. The "C" was cut out from TH's Kraft Resist and then inked with Fired Brick Distress Stain. I covered it with Ranger's Crackle Paint and then inked it again using the Walnut Stain! The Merry Christmas was cut out from Webster Pages and of course inked! The Picture does not do this justice..it's so shimmery and sparkly!

Christmas ATC Swap at Flying Unicorn

Flying Unicorn is having a Halloween and Christmas Swap. I signed up for the Christmas one. Here is my first ATC for the swap and it is also the very first ATC I've ever made! So much fun!

You should check out the beautiful ATC's the girls have been creating. Such inspiration! Here is the link: http://flying-unicorn.socialgo.com/forum/topic/306

Paper Traders Autumn Banner Swap

I participated in an Autumn Banner Swap in the Paper Traders Yahoo Group. The details of the swap were to use a template as the base and use fall colors.
This was my very first swap ever! There are a few things I've learned...number one...never wait until the last minute because the unforeseen will happen! And the second..it's so much fun to get something in the mail that someone else has created!


Let me say..I've never created a banner before and this tried my patience! To say the least! lol...I had to make two attempts because the first attempt looked pathetic! I wouldn't have hung the 1st one on my wall and would be damned if I'd send it to someone else to hang on theirs. I finally gave up on the first one and just started all over.

Because I started over I ended up being late in mailing mine out. But..Beckie was an angel in understanding and told me not to stress. I will remember how kind she was and make sure that in future swaps I have the same patients with others that she had with me.

Here is the Autumn Banner I received from Beckie. It is to die for and I've proudly hung it up in my craft room. Every time I look at it I just smile. She is a very talented crafter! Her blog address is http://artbeckons.blogspot.com/






I'm proud of my second attempt. Which goes to show..you never should give up and say I can't do this..just try something else and in the long run..you'll get where you wanted to go :o)

Here is the Banner I made:




If you've never done a swap before I hope you'll take a chance and try one. It is so much fun!

Using a Mask as a Stamp

Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium's Yahoo Group are having an August Masking Challenge. I decided to go a different route than usual masking.
I took a mask and used it as a stamp. It's really simple and easy to do. It also gives you the advantage of having your masks do more than normal masking.
All you do is ink the mask and place it on your project. You need to make sure it is getting contact everywhere. I usually just press lightly around the mask with my fingers.
I used Tattered Angels Dark Denim Glimmer mist on mine.
The background was created using Tattered Angels also.
Leaving the mask still in place I took a fan brush and lightly brushed the tag with Organic Garden Glimmer Glam. I then inked the edges of the tag with Pewter Glimmer Glaze. Once that was done I removed the mask and sprayed the whole tag with Aquamarine Glimmer Mist.
The Glimmer Glam and Glimmer Glaze acts as a resist and the Glimmer Mist does not cover it up.
I love playing around with different colors and seeing what I end up with. It's so much fun!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

I love going to Stamping Ground and seeing what is on everyone's work desk on Wednesdays. It's so neat to see what everyone is up to and see art in progress!

Here is what is on mine this Wednesday.



It's the start of paper roses. I'm making some roses to go on a scrapbook page I'm making from my August Swirlydoos Kit,
"Poetry In Prose".

I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it again. I do not know how Krissy at Swirlydoos does it but she packs one awesome kit after another. I've never, ever, not liked a kit. Her kits are to die for! I'll be a member of this kit club till death do us part :o)

Trying my hand at Tags

I have the hardest time making "artsy" pieces. I always end up quitting because I can't get the look I see on other peoples blogs. Well, no more!

I have decided that instead of trying to be someone else or having my "art" like someone's. I am just going to be me. Boring creations and all :o)

I will never learn to create if I'm constantly quitting. As they say, practice makes perfect! And Art should be enjoyable.

There are 2 craft websites I look at almost everyday but...I have never participated. They are..

1) Studio L3 - Grungy Monday Challenges and Balzar Designs

My new goal....Instead of looking and ohhhing and awwwing..I'm going to DO IT!

Grungy Monday - This weekly challenge blog focuses on the products and techniques of Tim Holz. There are so many creative people entering these challenges that I can look and ohhh and awww for hours!

The Grungy Monday Challenge this week is Grungy Monday 18

The challenge is to use the Tim Holtz Technique in his 12 Tags of Christmas 2009, Day 8

Here is my tag using the technique of turning vellum into parchment paper.




The tag background was cut from Pink Paislee's Nature Sanctuary paper called Butterfly Garden.

I used a vintage pocket book stamp from Anna Griffin and a text stamp from Tattered Angels for the parchment and inked it with Tim Holtz's Distress Ink.

The bird is a Tattered Angel Glimmer Chip I sprayed with Tattered Angels Coffee Shop Glimmer Mist.

I made the hat pin using a clear hat pin and inking it with a Copic Marker. The pearl came from my stash of old jewlery.

The chain is from Prima.

The 37 cents I cut from my Silhouette, inked it with Distress Ink, and used Rangers Utee several times to give it a glossy finish. I love playing with Utee!

The hole reinforcer is of course Tim Holtz! :o)

Balzer Designs - Julie Fei-Fan Balzer writes a journaling blog called Art Journal Everyday. She asks that you spend 10 minutes everyday journaling. This is a year long project but anyone can start it at anytime.
It can be painting, drawing, writing, lists, etc...She gives such wonderful examples and her blog is loaded with ideas and YouTube tutorials!

I do not have anything to show for this yet because I'm waiting for my gesso to arrive so I can prep my very first journal! I plan to spend 10 minutes everyday and I'll post this even if it's dog gone ugly! :o)

Stayed tuned for my "Artsy Experiments"!

Flying Unicorn Aug. Die Cut Challenge

Flying Unicorn has monthly challenges ranging from stamping, mixed media, cards, layouts, etc...They have great prizes and best of all they draw random winners. I love the fact that everyone has a chance to win!

One of the August Challenges at Flying Unicorn is to use at least 3 die cuts and alter at least one of those. I have been planning on using the gears die cut on my silhouette for a layout of my grandson. This die cut went perfectly with the Bo Bunny Grease Monkey collection I have in my scrapbooking stash. As everyone knows, I adore Bo Bunny. I have a whole cabinet filled with nothing but Bo Bunny!


I babysit my grandchildren during the time we were planting grass. We had a huge pile of top soil in our driveway. What boy doesn't love to play in dirt. So I have the boys some bowls, the water hose and just let them have at that huge pile of dirt.
My layout is using one of the pictures I took. How cute!



I altered 6 die cuts..










I cut the gear die cuts out using my Silhouette SD. I used Copic markers, Tim Hotz Distress ink and Tim Holtz Adirondac Ink to color the die cut gears.

I then embossed them several times using Utee Ultra Thick Melt Art Embossing Enamel. The first coat will give you a rough look. Such as this....






If you emboss it several times it will give you a a smooth glossy finish like this one...





I love playing with Utee! If you haven't tried this technique..be careful and do not touch it on the second and third coats until it dries..it's super hot!

After the die cuts were cooled and dried I added a few watch parts to the gears to give my altered die cuts a little more interest and texture.

Swirlydoos - Swirlygirls challenge - Match your style

For this Swirlydoo's challenge we were to take a photo of something in our home and use that photo as an inspiration for a layout.

Here is the photo I used:



As most of you know we purchased a house last year for cash. We have been slowly redoing it pay check by pay check because we do not want to get a loan and end up owing money for the house.
Hubby thinks is so funny that this lamp is my most prized purchase. He laughs that it's not the hardwood floors we saved for 6 months for, not the fountain outside that I begged for weeks for, not even the paint in the kitchen that I took back 3 times and then finally ended up mixing myself because I couldn't get the color I wanted from the store.
Nope, it was this little lamp!
I smile everytime I see it lit up.
See, we had a list a mile long for the electrican to repair, important things like the dryer outlet, ( I hung clothes out on the line for 9 month!) yep, even in the winter..that sucked! lol
anyway, we had a list that was long and the outlet for a pendant lamp over that sink was at the bottom of the list. Hubby made sure that it was worked into the estimate as a suprise for me. He called me and told me to go and pick out what I wanted. I was so touched! He is the sweetest! So everytime I turn on this lamp to do the dishes, I think of how pretty it is and how sweet he is...

I tried to mimic the stained glass effect using the chicken wire from Dusty Attic that Jen convinced me I needed.. I did need it!
I glued a piece of plastic to the chicken wire and then colored that plastic with copic markers that matched the colors in my lamp, I then poured glossy accents on top and let it dry. It really looks like stained glass! so so cool!!




Everything in the LO (excep the twig)either came from Swirlydoos kits, made with things from the kits and/or Swirlydoos store. I know you guys are probably getting tired of my raves about Swirlydoos but girls...this kit club rocks!

Once Upon A Springtime Altered Canvas

My craft room walls are so bare. I finally have everything organized and now I need to start working on art for the walls.
Hubby is supposed to hang the TV on the wall for me. Which I may add hasn't been done yet! I decided to create an Altered Canvas to go on another wall.

I used Graphic 45's Once Upon A Springtime because it has the same colors as my craft room and I just love this line! The colors aren't showing as good as they should. It's been cloudy and gloomy here for the last 4 days!



The small Butterflies are from Maya Road. I misted them with Sunkissed Peach Glimmer Mist and Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls Mist. Then I added a little bit of copper glitter glue to the edges.



For the leaves, I cut them out on the Silhouette. Then I outlined them with a Copic Marker, added some veins on the inside with a watercolor pencil and used a little of Ranger's Crackle Accents on the top.

Swirlydoos - February Round Robin Challenge

I decided to play in the Feb. Round Robin Challenge at Swirlydoos. The kit this month is "Things Remembered" and it's so beautiful! I don't know how Krissy does it but her kits are to die! She has a knack of picking things out that coordinate beautifully and always has the latest "must have" trends!

John's mother died last year and I thought this was the perfect papers and embellies to do a page of her. You always here horror stories of Mother-in-laws but this woman was like no other. She was the sweetest woman I've ever known. I do not believe I've ever heard her say a bad word about anyone. I loved her dearly.

The Round Robin Challenge is a 4 tiered scraplift. One person makes a scrapbook page, then the other person scraplifts it, then the next scraplifts that last person and so on.

Here was my take:



I hand made the flowers using paper from the kit and the brown ones were made from the add on cardstock from the kit. You can find the instructions for these flowers Here (in the tutorial section at Swirlydoos).
I added a little Diamond Dust to make them sparkley :o). The centers were brads from the previous Swirlydoo kit "Retro Tapestry).



The Dusty Attic chipboard was a part of the Feb. Things Remembered Swirlydoo kit. I misted it with Tattered Angels "Sunkissed Peach" glimmer mist which also came with the kit and also some Tattered Angels "Robins Egg" Glimmer mist I had on hand. I also toped that off with a coat of Glossy Accents by Ranger. The dots I made with Liquid Pearls "Ocean Mist" which came with the Jan. Retro Tapestry Swirlydoos Kit and then I added a metal charm and a dot of "Bisque" Liquid Pearls I had in my stash.



The bird was a stamp I bought from Basic Grey, I stamped it on some chipboard and cut it out. I used the same glimmer mists that I used on the key and then I smeared a little of the Ocean Blue Liquid Pears on top of that. The feathers behind the bird came from the Feb. Swirlydoos kit also!




My Swirlydoos March kit is on it's way and I can't wait to see the goodies that are in this one! Stay tuned!

U and I - First Layout using Swirlydoos to die for Jan Kit!

I have joined kit clubs in the past and was disappointed every single time. You'd always get pieces of this and pieces of that and the quality of the items were terrible!I swore off ever joining one again and haven't for years. That is until I saw Swirlydoos kits on another blogger's site.
I went to the Swirlydoos site and looked at past kits and was just wow'd over at how beautiful they were. So..being the lover of beautiful things I decided to give a kit club one more chance and joined Swirlydoos.
I was still a little skeptical until the mail lady dropped my Jan kit off at my door.
Talk about stunned! The kit was drop dead gorgeous! These kits are not the regular...waste of my money kits! There was not one thing in the kit that I did not love! Full 12x12 beautiful papers, to die for embellishments (hat pins, awesome red flowers, journaling tags, beautiful chipboard, even liquid pearls)! Every thing in the kit coordinated together beautifully! You get enough items to create several layouts and still have some left!

Here is a picture of the Jan kit.


I do believe this is the best money I have ever spent on my crafts and I see myself being a member for a very long time!
They even have a forum where you can talk to the other members. I have spent hours there looking at tutorials, you really should check out the tutorials on making your own flowers! AMAZING!!! I can spend hours on end looking at the talented work of the other members, and they share their knowledge freely, telling everyone some new trick or technique they've tried. I could be wrong but I do not think you have to be a member of the kit club to be in the forum.
So here is my first layout using some of the Jan Swirlydoo Kit.



The only items that were not in the kit were the flowers, butterflies and the swirl. I am saving the beautiful red flowers for a layout of me and my sweet hubby! he he he

The flowers are prima, I added some of the fiber in the Swirlydoos kit and added a dew drop.


The little butterflies I made myself (cut out on my silhouette, added glitter, and a few jewels).


The butterfly on the left I printed from a whole sheet of butterflies submitted on the swirlydoos forum by Lisa. Oh my goodness, she has pages and pages of the most beautiful butterflies! Even birds! All for free, just print and cut! I just printed it, cut it out, added a little glitter and of course a few jewels.



Now, I'm off to create another page using my kit!

I won the Bo Bunny Lottery!

During Christmas, Scrapbook and Cards Today blog was having a give a way every day for 10 days. I entered day 4. Bo Bunny's! I'm sure your not surprised because you guys know how I adore Bo Bunny! he he
Well I won..yep!
So I was thinking this morning that it should be about time to receive my prize, then I was thinking.. well.. they are probably getting ready for the huge scrapbooking convention..
UPS pulls up and wow it came today! Talk about esp!
Anyway, so I open the box and ohhhhhhhhhh my goodness!
This is what they sent!

ok I'm squealing right?? well that wasn't all..
They sent me a leather purse also! B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!!!

We are fashioned by what we love - Webster's Pages Hollywood Vouge

I just received my order of the Webster's Pages Hollywood Voque set. Oh talk about beautiful papers!
I'm trying to go from my simple scrapbooking style to a Vintage style. With Webster's Pages amazing papers and embellishments it was a breeze!



Here is a close up of the darling silhouette I just had to dress up :o)

Scrapbook Stamping with Nichol Magouirk

My New Years Resolution is to scrap all the pictures I have saved from 2009 and 2010 for scrapping..yes, I know bad huh?

At 2 Peas in a Bucket they are hosting a free scrapbooking class by Nichol Magouirk for 2011~ Yes, you read that right I said free!! The class is called Scrapbook Stamping with Nichol Magouirk. What a great way to jump start my creativity!

She is posting monthly lessons for the entire year! You can even print out a pdf of each lesson which includes a sketch, tips and techniques along with a monthly challenge.

I have been scrapbooking for years! But the first lesson I learned something I didn't know....be sure to check out her class!

January's Lesson features simple stamping: adding words - phrases to journaling blocks, title or sub-titles.

The challenge this month was to to add stamping in the form of a stamped title, sub-title, text stamped border, etc on a layout.

Here is my creation:




I created the title using the Letter Stamp Kit by Words & Crafts and the sub-title with Close to my Heart clear stamps - "So Sweet"

The scanner kept mis-alinging when I tried to stitch so the left is cropped off a little more than it should be!

One layout down....only 72 more to go! :o)

Bo Bunny's Card Challenge Tuesday

I have been absent a long time. We bought a new home, a complete "do it yourself-er...and believe me...we've been doing it our selves! Oh, the stories I could tell!

Now, I finally have my scrap room painted, cushions and pillows completed, new floor down, and I'm almost finished organizing!

Need I say Love it?! So back to crafting it is! Oh yeah!

My first card of the year is for the Bo Bunny Card Challenge Tuesday at Bo Bunny's Blog. Everyone knows how much I adore the Bo Bunny lines!

This challenge was to use the sketch below.



I am starting on my Valentine cards so I decided to use the Bo Bunny Crazy Love line that I just purchased and have been dying to play with!

I made this for my husband who I can honestly say is still my very best friend! It is a little dark because we haven't seen the sunshine in 2 days..I'm so ready for spring!




Card Details:

Designer Paper:
Bo Bunny - Crazy Love Stripe and Crazy Love Kisses

Cardstock:
Bo Bunny - Blush Dot
Bazzill Basics - Candy Apple

Embellishments:
Bo Bunny - Crazy Love Jewels, Crazy Love Brads, Glitter Crazy Love Dimensional Stickers

The key hole I cut out using my silhouette and decorated with some old ribbon and crazy love jewels. The key was from my stash and I don't remember the manufacturer.

Stamp: Bo Bunny Crazy Love Stamp