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!

Lost my mojo

When Spring came I was super busy planting the veggie garden, the herb garden, and of course my flowers in the yard. After that was done I started creating again but found that whatever I created I hated..didn't finish..somehow during the break I lost my way. Now, I love turning on the music, going to my craft room and creating. But then I started dreading it..because I couldn't create a thing I liked! So..here was my idea...why not go to the master's and copy them. I would be creating but I wouldn't keep failing. After all, if you see the project already done..it's pretty simple right? So as you all know. I never ...EVER!!...copy someone's work without giving that person credit. I just do not believe that you should take credit for someone's creative ideal. So let me show you where I got my inspiration for my latest projects. First off was one of my idols Ronda Palazzari I love this woman! She doesn't have a Copyright law on her page..which always confuses me..what does it mean..does it mean you can't copy..or does it mean you can but you have to get credit? Confusing!! Anyway, Ronda does not do this..so I was good to go. She's one of the most talented creators out there in the papercraft world. And..she give her secrets away freely! I always hit her blog the minute she posts something because I am never disappointed. I was in love with a graffiti style canvas she did. You can see it here! http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com/helpmeronda/2012/06/beauty-everywhere-mini-canvas-tutorial.html Here was her canvas:

Beautiful right? I just love it! I didn't have the stamp she used so I used one I had for the graffiti...I also changed the words. Here was my take

I love it and it is now proudly hanging in my craft room. Ronda has just published a new book. Art of Layers: Simple Techniques, Inventive Scrapbook Pages, Imaginative Papercrafts I plan to buy this. I looked at a few sample of Amazon and from what I can see..it looks fantasic! I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Happy Birthday Card using Flying Unicorn's June Kit

My daughter's birthday is today. I was thinking I needed to make a card the other day and in came my Flying Unicorn June kit filled with gorgeous papers and embellies! Yes, I do believe it was just what I needed. Then as I am thinking of how to create it. I of course go to the web for some inspiration. As I am browsing Flying Unicorn..lol..shhh..don't tell but I do this on a daily basis! I see the "Build a Page" tutorial for a layout by the very talented Shona Keehn! Hey I thought, I can turn this around and do a card instead of a layout. Which is exactly what I did! Now, you know me..I like playing around and experimenting. So I decided to tweek her tutorial a little and use molding paste instead of gesso. I took some molding paste and mixed in a little of Jenni Bowling's Speckled Egg paint. I just love the color of this paint!!! I cut out the flower vines with my Silhouette and then used the negative space to apply the molding paste. Once I had it down I thought why not make a little space for the center of the flower. I grabbed a straight pin and used the end of it to make a hole. When it had dried I added a little orange paint. I just love the way this card turned out! And of course I needed an envelope to mail the card :o)

What's on your work desk Wednesday

Wow. I can't believe I haven't posted on the blog since February! As soon as the warm weather hit I was super busy planting the summer flowers, planting the veggie garden and this year I even created my own herb garden. We aren't talking a few pots of herbs here...we're talking an actual herb garden! I have planted every herb I thought I'd ever use..hubby's finished our patio, and we remodeled our bedroom. I should take pictures and post..you'd be amazed! Now that all the spring chores are done it's time to get back to my other passion. Crafting! I have so many projects I'm working on..lol..yes I'm in crafting overload! I bought Suzi Blu's new book..Amazing! and yes, I'm still in the face obsession! lol..I was so inspired by her book that I am working on two projects for the art in our bedroom. And then my nephew just bought his first house so I'm making him a card.. Here is what's on my workdesk this wednesday! The girl is a practice canvas I want to do...I'm woking out all the kinks on bristol board before I actually do a Canvas, the journal page should end up being a mermaid painting..lol we see..I'm having so much trouble drawing the mermaid..so I think it's going to take a lot of practice before she gets onto the page. The house is going to be a congrat's on your new home card..lot of projects going on this Wed!

What's on your Work Desk Wednesday

I have several things on my work desk. Though you can only see one. The one you can see is the start of a Layout. I'm trying a new technique. Well, a new technique to me that is. Using Multi Medium as a resist. Plus I've never created my own layout background using Glimmer Mist! It's a little scary, but then I thought....hey it's only a 70 cent piece of paper...what is to be scared of? Duh!!
I'm also working on a tag, a canvas, and trying another new technique, aluminum foil resist! We'll see how everything turns out!

Playing in my journal

As you know I started a new Art Journal in Jan. I have been keeping up with it pretty well. I play in it most days. I have found that I'm growing in the art world because of this journal. Oh I'll never be at the "Artist" stage but I'm learning and can see that my creations are getting better as I go.
I have found that once I had a certain place to play and not worry about messing up a creation that I explore a lot more and try new things. If I mess it up it's fine that is what the journal is for!
Here I was playing with PanPastels, a new Crafters Workshop Template and trying my hand at creative lettering. I need a little practice in the lettering part! lol
I need to add some interest in the corners and didn't want to use the usual bubble wrap. So I started thinking....and looking around...I thought I wonder if this left over piece of Dusty Attic Chicken Wire could be used as a stamp? Yep, it could! ha! I love it!!! And..if I never decide that I need that Chicken wire in an LO I now already have the white base on it! Cool huh?
The girl is a Crafters Workshop Template designed by Julie Balzer. I didn't want my girl to look like everyone's so I used the face and tried to create my own hair..not bad for a beginner :o)..ps..Love Love Julie's templates, I'm going to collect every single one!

Valentines card for hubby

In the previous post I showed a tag I had created for a challenge. I needed a card for hubby on Valentines and had completely let it slip my mind that I needed to create one. So I grabbed the tag and made a quick card :o)...easy peasy!