Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Three Time UKC Champions/Perfect Summer Day

Those of you familiar with our family know that our girls are involved in United Kennel Club obedience with their dogs. We got back last week from the UKC National Invitational where Maria and her Australian Shepherd, Tori participated in the National Junior Top 10 Obedience invitational. They captured 1st place honors for the third year in a row. Here is the page I created for this accomplishment:


Here is a close-up of the flower that I created using the patterned paper 
I trimmed out from behind the other layers and a scrap of black cardstock. 
I cut a flourish into three pieces to spread out around the flower 
(and still have some left for another project):

For the embellishment cluster, I used one of my new Jenni Bowlin 
buttons. Normally I use vintage buttons from my stash, 
but these were so pretty, I had to have them. 
The medallion behind the button was stamped with a 
MME stamp in black on white cardstock and 
certain areas colored in with red marker:

I created this layout for the Tic Tac Toe challenge at From Here 2 Scrapternity First Summer Crop using Flowers, Red, One Large Photo, and Paint (on the brad - it just wasn't quite the right color, so I painted it black and rubbed off a bit so the bronze paint underneath would show through just a little). 

I also had in mind the Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge! Black & White + 1! The challenge is to create a LO or card using b/w plus one other color - red for this layout.

Techniques/Tips:

When using a sewing machine on your page, use a small diameter needle designed for lingerie, and use a stitch length that does not put the stitches too close together, so your paper does not perforate and tear. For this layout, I stitched on the red paper before adhering to the black backing paper. You can stitch through multiple pages as well. 

Prepackaged rhinestone flourishes can be cut apart and to spread out and sometimes there is enough to use on multiple projects. 

If a piece of ribbon is not quite the right color, you can dab a bit of distress ink onto the ribbon to alter the color. The red ribbon in the cluster was too light and bright, so I used a paint brush to add some pumice stone distress ink to tone it down a bit. 

Paper punched flowers can be spritzed with water and crumpled to add a more realistic texture to your paper flowers. Just be sure they are completely dry before opening them up because damp paper tears easily. They can air dry over night, or with a heat tool if you need them faster. 

Products used to create this layout:
Papers:
Basic Grey Boxer ~ Long Underwear
Basic Grey Granola ~ Brown Sugar
Imaginisce To Love & Cherish ~ Diana
K&Company ~ Love's Journey pad
Paper Pizazz ~ Black/Gray Stripe
DCWV from stash
Black Cardstock ~ scrap
White Cardstock ~ scrap
Other:
Tim Holtz Idea-ology ~ Muse Token, Excellence
Jenni Bowlin Studio ~ Vintage Style Buttons, Black
Want 2 Scrap Bling ~ black rhinestone flourish
Queen & Company Pearls ~ Classy Red
Marvy le Plume Marker ~ #65 Cherry
Tombo NIS Marker ~ Black
Ranger Distress Ink ~ Black Soot, Pumice Stone
DecoArt Crafter Acrylic Paint ~ Black
Ribbons in Red/Black/Gold ~ Stash
Black linked crystals ~ stash
DMC Embroidery Floss ~ stash
Tools:
My Mind's Eye ~ Stella Rose stamp
Martha Stewart Punch ~ Cornflower
EK Success XLarge Punch ~ Daisy Flower
EK Success Edger Punch ~ Dotted Wave
Tim Holtz ~ Distress Tool
Sewing Machine & Thread
Gazelle to cut title

Perfect Summer Day:

This next layout is of my niece relaxing by the lake at my parents' home last Labor Day with her dog, Nitro.


Here is a close up of some of the journaling around the cutout photo mat circle:

I created this layout for the From Here 2 Scrapternity First Summer Crop Journaling Challenge to use the title "Perfect Summer Day" and use at least 10 words of journaling. I also had in mind the Scrap-Friendzy Day at the Spa Challenge #13 to create a layout having anything to do with water when I selected this photo by the lake. I used this lovely sketch from City Crafter Challenge Blog Week #63 (CCCB#63):

Techniques/Tips:

I enjoy using Ranger Alcohol Inks. They can be used to alter the color of metal, glass, plastic - any hard surface item you use in scrapping. 

On this page, I altered the clear glass pebbles which can be found in the floral department of most craft stores. To alter small items like this, place the object(s) in a zip baggie with a few drops of alcohol ink and swish them around. In seconds you have colored objects you can use on your projects. If you don't have the exact color you want, you can try mixing two or more colors to get the color you desire.

For larger items like the die cut sun, swirl, and hello brad, I used the Ranger alcohol ink applicator and felt pad. (You can use a block of wood with a strip of velcro and cut felt sheets or felt by the yard to size.) Just squeeze a few drops of alcohol ink into the felt in whatever color combination you like and dab onto your surface.  The more you dab, the smaller the ink splotches become, so you can get a lot of different looks depending on the colors you choose and the amount of dabbing you do. 

The wonderful think about alcohol ink is that if you don't like it, wipe your surface off with some blending solution and you have a clean slate to try again. The other nice thing about alcohol ink is that it dries so fast you can use your altered supplies right away.

Alcohol ink does stain, so be sure to work on a craft mat, glass, or throw away surface like wax paper or aluminum foil. You might also want to wear rubber gloves, unless you don't mind ink stained fingers. 

Products used to create this layout:
Paper:
Basic Grey Wander ~ Lost Luggage
Basic Grey Wander ~ GPS
Basic Grey Hello Luscious ~ Dazzling
Basic Grey Lime Rickey ~ Rob Roy
Black Cardstock ~ Stash
Other:
Ranger Alcohol Ink ~ Sunshine Yellow, Sunset Orange, Caramel
Clear Gems ~ from floral department
Reflections ~ Rhinestone stickers
EK Success Fastenater ~ Basic Shapes
Around the Block ~ Flair Big Metal Brads
Versa Magic Chalk Ink ~ Midnight Black
Tombo Marker #346
Zig Millenium 05 ~ Pure Black
Blue Rhinestone from stash
Tools:
QuicKutz ~ Sunshine Alphabet Dies
QuicKutz ~ Revolution 
Gazelle to cut scalloped circle and title

Thanks for stopping by. I enjoy reading your comments!

~ Blessings ~

25 comments:

  1. wow Tracey.. Those are amazing, love the distressed flower..mine never seem to come out as good as yours..LOL
    I added a link on my blog post for a youtube video on how to make that faux metal look to your layout..
    hugs
    Nanné

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  2. WOnderful layouts with great texture, love how you used the sketch for that summer fun photo, lovely! Thanks for sharing it with us at CCCB!

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  3. Beautiful layouts Tracey......What a wonderful achievement for the 3rd year. I love the flower too!

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  4. Wow, two gorgeous layouts!! Congrats to your daughter, that is so exciting!

    I love how you framed the picture in the second layout and I love the flower in the first. Awesome work!!

    Laurie

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  5. These are fab LOs. I love the colors and that flower is amazing. Thanks so much for joining us this week at Frosted Designs.

    Hugs,
    Kristin

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  6. Tracey, these are beautiful projects and congrats to your daughter! I love how you give techniques with each project, and that flower you created is wonderful!!! :) I am now a follower and I would love for you to follow me too! :)
    Amy

    redheadedcrafter.blogspot.com

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  7. Hi, Tracey! Both of these layouts are gorgeous! I especially love the one of your daughter with her dog... how excited she must be to have been crowned champion for the third time! My parents raised German Shepherds and showed them in confirmation when I was very young and I remember going to the shows and watching the obedience trials. They were awesome and I still enjoy watching them on tv.

    Thanks so much for voting for my entry in the Oriental Trading Co. contest and for your continued support. You are such a wonderful person and I'm very pleased to have "met" you.

    Hugs,
    Anne

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  8. Oh! I forgot to thank you for the great tips for machine stitching on paper! I haven't tried it before but I will now, for sure!

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  9. Tracey, both of these layouts are stunning!!!! And a big congratulations to your DD and Tori!! What an accomplishment! And you've done a fantastic job preserving this special moment!!
    And the other layout is super cute!! Love the way you did your journaling and the photo is precious!!! TFS Hugs!!!

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  10. these are both gorgeous!! congrats on the award to your beautiful daughter and dog!! how much fun would that be!!!

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  11. Congratulations on your daughter's 1st place and you get a 1st place too for the layout. The dog is gorgeous. We had a mixed breed dog who very much resembled this breed--we called him Rudy. He was so sweet he "wouldn't bite his food hard". Glad you like the lace.

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  12. What a beautiful layout and quite the accomplishment! Thanks for playing along with us at Frosted Designs!
    Lydia

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  13. These LO's are great and I love those tips! Great flower too. (paper flowers are my current obcession :) BTW, I visited 3 more blogs this week and saw your beautiful profile picture in the followers section...LOL. Maybe you should just leave me a list so I can visit everywhere you go...haha. You just know where all the best projects are! :)

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  14. Wow! First place 3 time? That's awesome! i love your layouts! So jealous. Would love to make layouts like this! Thanks for stopping by my page. Isn't Jani great?

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  15. THis is lovely ... what a cute photograph!! ... thanks so much for playing along at CCCB

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  16. Love both LOs, especially that gorgeous sun you created!!!!

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  17. The rust red is a really great color along the b&w! Awesome lo! Thanks for being a part of the fun at FD this week! - Ashley, Guest Designer

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  18. Tracey, Your layouts are just Beautiful! I love all the textures to the champions page and that flower is so cool! I really love your stitching too! I don't have a machine that will make that cool stitch!
    The Layout at the lake I really love too! I love how you journaled around the edges and the colors you choose just POP!
    ~Kim

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  19. Tracey,
    Congrats, awesome lo...
    Don't forget to add it to our linking party for our readers to discover your blog at

    http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/06/2011-4th-of-july-celebration-menu-from.html
    Maggie
    http://passionatelyartistic.com

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  20. I love your project!! Great use of your colors!! Thanks for playing with us at Frosted Designs, i hope you can come back and play again soon!!

    Erin R.

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  21. I definitely love your projects, especially the wonderful embellishments ! Please stop at my blog. There's a well deserved award waiting for you :-D (I've seen that you have already got the award... but that's a good sign if you get it from several persons, so you REALLY deserve it :-))

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  22. Oh my Tracey,this layouts are AMAZING!I love both of them,the little pup is sooo sweet!All the details are just FANTASTIC!!:)

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  23. Such lovely los!! Thanks for joining us at CCCB!

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  24. Wow.. These are gorgeous and i love these. thanks for sharing with us.

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Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a message! I treasure your comments.