Happy Halloween!

I love creating anything with paper and stamps. So you know I had to create something using My Minds Eye Halloween Collection. It was vintage and beautiful. Hubby asked me if I would make treat bags for his team at work. Of course I would! ha ha
Here is what I made using My Minds Eye Halloween Collection. I used the stamp set, the papers, and the chipboard.

and here is the back of the treat bags:

I cut the bags  and tags out of kraft paper using my Silhouette Cameo..Easy Peasy!

There was always love in Daddy's Hands

I used the lyrics and title of Holly Dunn's song for this layout I created using the gorgeous Swirlydoos Antiquities Kit for Swirlydoos October Round Robin Challenge.

I have several pictures of my husband I need to create and this kit was perfect for masculine pages! It was filled with Bo Bunny's Weekend Market papers and goodies, and even had some Tim Holtz goodies too! Now you guys know how much I love Bo Bunny and that I adore and collect anything and everything TH puts out! he he ..so when I say this kit was gorgeous and had me ohhhing and awwwing when I opened it.....you know I'm speaking the truth! :o)

Here are a few details on how I created this layout.

Tag:

 I took a manilla tag and covered it with Ranger's Antiqued Bronze Distress Crackle Paint (This was in the Swirlydoos Antiquities Embellishment Add On). I then let it dry and after it was dry and cracked I rubbed in Ultramarine Blue Shade Pan Pastels. I got it really well into the cracks and then buffed the blue off. For the typewriter,  I used the Prima Almanac Clear Stamp that was included in the Swirlydoos Antiquities kit. I stamped it on a manilla scrap, cut it out, covered it in black ink and then heat embossed it with Utee. I printed out the words "There was always love in" on a piece of paper and then I tore it to distress the edges, I wadded it up, dabbed on some Walnut Stain Distress Ink, spritzed it with water and then covered it with Fiber Scraps Walnut Ink Tintz. I then inked the edges with Colorbox Chestnut Roan chalk and Inquild Bolme's Black Coal Chalk ink.  I got the paper idea from Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012 - September. He used one of his die cuts on grungeboard. I tweaked it to use what I had on hand :o).

Father and Child Silhouette:

This was so simple! I simply cut the file from my Silhouette Cameo and inked it with black ink, covered it with Utee and glued it on top of some burlap! Simple!

I am now working on another wedding layout of another daughter, a card for Swirlydoos Round Robin Card Challenge, and my Halloween cards also! I should be posting something else soon!

You should come and join our Round Robin Card Challenge at Swirlydoos. You can use anything product for the challenge. It doesn't have to be from a Swirlydoo kit so it is open to everyone and is so much fun!

Beautiful

I am so far behind in posting photo's of my layouts! I finished this one last week.It's a picture of my gorgeous daughter at her wedding.

I used some of the papers from the Scraps of Darkness July Kit (True Romance). Included in the kit were papers from Carta Bella's Beautiful Moments Collection. This was one gorgeous kit!

I do believe this is my favorite layout that I've created to date! Here are a few details I used in creating this layout.


I made the frame by cutting out a frame set on my Silhouette Cameo, I then inked the edges with Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink and coated it with Utee Embossing Powder. It gave it beautiful texture!

The flowers were created by me by again cutting out some flower dies on my Silhouette Cameo and then I soaked them with water, wrinkled them up, dried them, unwrinkled them and then inked the edges, after that I just layered them on top of each other..easy peasy!

The butterflies were easy also! I got the image from the famous Lisa Gregory! (I called her my Butterfly and Flower Queen!) Anyway,  I printed out the butterfly images. Cut them out, Then I just added a little glitter and some antenna's!

The sprigs on the right were again..cut out on my Cameo..(can you tell I adore my Cameo?). I then added some dollops of Pastel Rasberry Liquid Pearls and sprinkled some Diamond Dust on top of that..

I really had a fun time creating this layout!

What's on your workdesk Wednesday

I have two projects going on. I have so many things going they all will not fit on my desk.
Here are the two things I have in progress!

And here is what is on my craft desk!

Both are layouts of my Daughter's Weddings!
I am trying to make 3 Layout Books for each of my Daughter's! Lot's and Lot's of love :o)

Shimmerz New Campaige - Simplfy! And...a tutorial!

I love Shimmerz...and love tutorials. Shimmerz has started a new campaign called Simplify on their Shimmerz Education Vlog. It is all about bringing you back to simple steps. Breaking down techniques so you can master them easily. I think it's a great idea and I'm following their blog everyday!

The first tutorial I tried was by one of my Swirlydoo sisters, the awesome Heidi Kelley who is the Ed. Team Coordinator for Shimmerz! Talk about one talented lady!

Let me start my story at the beginning. My sister comes and spends the weekend with me about once a month. I love this time as it is nothing but scrapping and shopping! During her last visit I told her that I had a project I wanted us to try. I had everything we needed to do it with.

Here is Heidi's tutorial that we attempted.  http://shimmerzpaintsed.blogspot.com/2012/09/strikingly-simple-free-mini-class.html

Now let me tell you ...we had a ball! Not only did we learn new techniques, we laughed, scrapped, and ended up with an awesome finished project! Thanks to Shimmerz's and Heidi's tutorial we have decided to attempt a new project each time she visits! She is going to pick out a tutorial/project she wants us to try and get all the items we need to complete it. And...I am going to do the same.

This means we will be learning new techniques, having great scrapping and sister time, and have 2 finished projects .....All at the same time!

I would like to thank Shimmerz and Heidi for such a great tutorial. And for making it easy to learn and follow along! I think what the Shimmerz Education Team are doing is a great thing for all crafter's! New and Experienced!

Here is my finished layout that I created from Heidi's tutorial! I will try to add a picture of my Sister's finished layout if she ever uploads it so I can get a pic!

Layout for Swirlydoos Round Robin

The theme for this months Round Robin Challenge at Swirlydoos was Grandparents. Since I do not have a picture of my grandparents, I created a layout of my Grandson and I. The layout was made using the Swirlydoos June Antiquites Kit.  Creating a layout using Swirlydoos kits are so easy! Everything is coordinated and they always have to latest and greatest products in their kits!

What's on your work desk Wednesday?

I actually have 5 different projects going but today I'm only working on two!

This is a layout of my daughter's wedding day.

And this is going to be a layout of my husband and his daughter :o)

My diy clip up system

I have so many craft/scrapbooking items that my floors can not hold more shelfs, bookcases, etc...there isn't room! But..I had plenty of room on my walls. So, I decided to create my own DIY Clip Up System!

I purchased cafe rods at Walmart for 2.97 each...measurements are 28 to 48 inches..you could buy an extender if your wall is longer. The hooks were 84 cents for 14.

Total cost per roll...$3.81! Yep ...you heard right 3 dollars and 81 cents a roll!
I love this! Best organazion I've ever had..whatever I'm working on I just walk to the wall and take off what I need. No more digging through drawers!
In fact, I love it so much I want to do a wall for my flowers and another for my bling :o)...

Scrapping Vacation

I am still trying to finish scrapbooking the pictures we took on our 2011 vacation :o).. When I saw Graphic 45's Tropical Traveloque collection I knew this what what I wanted to use.

To make the water I tore 2 different shades of blue Bazzill paper (one light and one a little darker). I misted them lightly with water and bended them in the shape I wanted then heat dried to hold the folds. I then spritzed with Tattered Angel glimmer mists. (DazzlingDiamonds and Robin's Egg). While they were still wet I sprinkled Sea Salt on them and let them dry. The sea salt makes the darker color speckles and also gives it texture.

I cut the Seaweed out on my Silhouette SD. Inked it with TH Distress inks and then covered it with Utee several times heating each time.

The bank was made with molding paste. I mixed some Moleding Paste with Acrylic paints until I had the color I wanted and applied with a spatula to give it texture. While it was still wet I placed some sea shells into it and let it dry.

Easy Peasy!

Book Review - Creative Foundations by Vicki Boutin

 http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foundations-Mixed-Media-Techniques-ebook/dp/B0062ACQ0E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342824147&sr=8-2&keywords=creative+foundations




I am way behind in reviewing this book. So I thought no time better than the present.

This book is loaded with techniques and I do mean loaded! I think there are around 40 different techniques.

Vicki has a great way of instructing! She's down to earth..easy to follow and offers additional ways of using the techniques.

For anyone who is a beginner scrapper I would say this is the first book you should buy! Even an old scrapper (over 10 years) like me learned new things!

She guides you through every step of the way. And when I say guides you...I mean guides you..she has a project for each and every technique!

 She starts off by explaining about the technique and then tells you what you'll need. She includes step by step pictures and also adds little details or tells you how to achieve other looks using the same techniques. All the projects in her book have a materials list so you'll know exactly what she used to create them.

She has the book broken up into parts. Foundations, techniques, and layering. Then at the end of the book she has a whole chapter showing other well known paper crafter's projects and what techniques the used..

It is a very inspirational book and I would highly recommend it to everyone. New and old crafters!

And for you kindle lovers out there..They even have a kindle version!