Leaky Shed Studio DT Announcement.

Leaky Shed Studio has announced their new design team and I'm so excited to share that I will be returning for a second term. 

~ Blessings ~

"Crazy for You" Layout for Donna Salazar

I have a layout to share with you today created with

gorgeous Donna Salazar Products.

This is an engagement shot of Joseph and Rachel. They're happily married now,

but I still enjoy going back and creating pages for these fun photos.

"Crazy for You"

Mistra Hoolahan provides a gorgeous sketch each month

designed to work with Donna's products and signature colors.

I've used her sketch as inspiration for my layout.

Tips and Techniques

These blossoms are created with Donna's Bitty Blossoms Dies.

My tutorial can be found here.

I handcrafted the larger Open Lace Rose but used stamen for the center rather than a decorative brad. My tutorial for these flowers can be found here. 

The background is stamped with Donna's Art Gone Wild stamps and inked with Mix'd Media Inx in the colors featured on the April Sketch: Pewter, Peridot, and Patina.

The page edges are also inked and stamped.

The bird and love sentiment are fussy cut from the

Natural Beauty embossed image page.

The bling is from Donna's Want2Scrap Build Your Own Bling.

Embroidery thread is tucked around the clusters for added texture.

I hope you've been inspired to grab some inky, girly Donna Salazar products

and create a page for some of your favorite photos!

Donna Salazar Products

GCD Studios ~ Natural Beauty Collection

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Patina

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Peridot

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Pewter

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Stormy

Want2Scrap ~ Build Your Own Bling 1

Spellbinders ~ Bitty Blossoms

Spellbinders ~ Grand Peony

Spellbinders ~ Rose Creations

Art Gone Wild ~ Dear Sir

Art Gone Wild ~ Crackle

Art Gone Wild ~ Vine

Art Gone Wild ~ Woodgrain

Other Products

MME ~ Lost and Found Record It - Antique Alpha and Word Stickers

DCWV ~ Stencil

Want2Scrap ~ Frilly Flourish - Silver Rhinestons

Lace ~ Stash

Stamins ~ Stash

DMC ~ Embroidery Floss - 648

Golden ~ Light Molding Paste

Liquitex ~ Gesso

Helmar Adhesives ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Helmar Adhesives ~ Liquid Scrap Dots

Helmar Adhesives ~ Zapdots

EK Success ~ Honey Bee Scissors

I've entered this layout in the April Berry71Bleu Challenge to use handmade flowers. All 17 of my dimensional flowers are handcrafted. 

~ Blessings ~

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

Happy Easter

Wishing you each a lovely and blessed Easter,

celebrating our risen Savior.

~ Blessings ~

Easter Cross for Helmar

Easter is just around the corner. It holds special meaning and great joy for me.

Our Savior overcame the cross for our sins to be forgiven.

I've created a special Easter decor project to help celebrate this year.
I've covered a resin cross with lovely spring colored flowers

using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

Easter Cross

Tips and Techniques

I started out with a resin cross and adhered a variety of Wild Orchid Craft Mulberry flowers with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. As you can see in the photo, I placed a generous squeeze of adhesive on the back of this white rose, then adhered it to the cross. I placed all the flowers and Scripture to get an attractive arrangement, then started adhering. This is the last flower to go on the cross.

Although I mostly used the 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, I also placed a few of the flowers at an angle using Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots. 

I selected this Easter Scripture stamp to use and die cut a tag to fit the size of my stamp. I stamped in a coordinating color and heat embossed with clear embossing powder for extra dimension. The tag is adhered with 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

Helmar Products

450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Liquid Scrap Dots

Other Products

Resin Cross

Wild Orchid Crafts (Available at Really Reasonable Ribbon)
~ 15mm Open Roses: White
~ 20mm Open Roses: Ivory/Pale Pink; White
~ 25mm Cottage Rose: Mixed White/Cream; Mixed Pink; Mixed Purple/Lilac
~ 35mm Trellis Roses: Mixed Pink Tones
~ Cherry Blossoms ~ Mixed Pinks
~ Chrysanthemums: Mixed Pink/White
~ Cosmos Daisy Stem Flowers: Pink/White, Purple
~ Large Wild Rosebuds: 2-Tone Pink
~ Sweetheart Blossoms: 2-Tone Baby Pink; White

Spellbinders ~ Opulent Ovals

White Cardstock

Clearsnap ~ Donna Salazar - Mix'd Media Inx - Wisteria

Clearsnap ~ Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Faith Hope Love Layout for Leaky Shed Studio and Guest Designing for SEM

I'm so honored to have been asked to guest design for
Scrapping Everyday Miracles this month.

SEM has three challenges this month to choose from.
#1 Theme Challenge - Faith, Hope, Love (One or more of these)
#2 Card Sketch Challenge
#3 Layout Sketch Challenge

For all the details, stop by the SEM blog.

I've combined the theme and layout sketch challenges for my page
and feature beautiful Leaky Shed Studio Chipboard.

Weddings are such special days. Those of you who follow my blog know that Elizabeth and Andrew's relationship is centered around a love for our Lord. When I see this photo of the two of them, I sense that they looking forward to a life of  . . . 

Faith . . . Hope . . . Love

I flipped the SEM sketch as shown.

Tips and Techniques

The photo is framed with large Clock #2. I created texture with extra thick gesso that I tamped with a stencil brush. Once dry I painted with metallic gold paint. The sentiment is cut from coordinating paper using a Cameo Silhouette file.

I clustered with flowers, Prima heart gears, bling, and die cut leaves. I've also added some stamping and stenciled molding paste to the background.

The Leaky Shed Studio Butterfly on Garden Spring fits this background design on the gorgeous BoBunny paper so perfectly!!

I heat embossed the flourish with red and green Fran-tage Embossing powder, then embellished with self-adhesive pearls.

The Leaky Shed Studio Heart Key and Fancy Keyhole represent how these two hold the key to the other's heart. A simply coat of gold metallic paint gives them an easy gilded finish.

I fussy cut these pieces from coordinating paper to created this layered medallion. The layout edges are distressed and the bottom corner has some machine stitching.

Leaky Shed Studio Products

Butterfly on Garden Sprig

Clock #2 ~ Large

Heart Key

Key Hole Fancy

Other Products
BoBunny ~ Autumn Song - Melody, Beautiful
BoBunny ~ Time Piece - Home
BoBunny ~ The Avenues - Shutters
Prima ~ Junkyard Findings - Heart Gears
BoBunny ~ Brads - Autumn Song
BoBunny ~ Licorice Jewels
BoBunny ~ Blossoms - Natural Earth Daisy; Wildberry Daisy
Petaloo ~ Beaded Peonies, Small Plum
Want2Scrap ~ Say it with Pearls - White
Queen & Co. Pearls - Pearl
Close to My Heart ~ Timeless Charms
Memory Box Die ~ Norwich Corner
Lumiere Paint ~ Brass
Liquitex ~ Flexible Modeling Paste
Fran-tage Embossing Enamel - Aged Hunter; Aged Scarlett
Ranger ~ Perfect Medium Pad
Ranger ~ Inkssentials Embossing Pen, Clear
Ranger ~ Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy, Seedless Preserves
Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx CHOX - Sage
Art Gone Wild Stamps ~ Donna Salazar - Dear Sir; Stanza
Prima Stencil ~ Flourish 6" x 6"
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue
Helmar ~ Liquid Scrap Dots
Zutter ~ Donna Salazar - Distrezz-it-All
Darice ~ Heat Tool

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Helmar Design Team Announcement

I'm so excited to share that I've been asked to stay for a second term at Helmar.

Stop by the Helmar blog to check out the talented new design team.

~ Blessings ~

Butterfly Card and Tutorial for Donna Salazar

Spring is finally in the air here in Ohio!! The crocuses are blossoming and the breezes are starting to warm. 

I enjoy creating cards with the warmth of a personal touch, both in times of celebration and in times of loss as the case is for this card. 

I've featured Donna Salazar's Spellbinders Wonderful Wings Dies and Tinkle Dust Glitter to create these lovely Twinkling Butterflies and have included a photo tutorial.

Butterfly Card

Tips and Techniques

Here's a close-up of the Twinkling Butterflies. Please scroll down to find my tutorial.

I've embellished with one of my Open Lace Roses using Donna's Spellbinders Grand Peony and Rose Creation Dies. My tutorial for these flowers can be found here. (Please note, even the largest of the "Grand" Peony dies fit in regular size die cut machines.) 

Below the rose, I've layered Spellbinders Foliage leaves cut from Donna's Mix'd Media Stax 2 Mulberry paper. Some are lightly inked and some left in the natural color.

Another view of the butterflies and flower.

I've stamped the sentiment with Donna's Mix'd Media Inx, then heat embossed with Clearsnap clear embossing powder. 

Edges of the card and sentiment flag are distressed with Donna's Zutter Distrezz-it-All and I've machine stitched around the card edge. 

I've used the same techniques for the sentiment inside the card. 

A side view.

Twinkling Butterfly Tutorial

Supply List

Donna Salazar Products

Spellbinders ~ Wonderful Wings Dies

Clearsnap ~ Twinkle Dust Glitter - Mixed Berries

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Denim

Other Products

Cardstock

Clearsnap ~ Glue Gloss

Want2Scrap ~ Say It with Pearls Baby Bling - White

Want2Scrap ~ Say It with Pearls - Tear Drop Pearls - White

Spellbinders ~ Artisan X-plorer

Step 1. Select one of the Wonderful Wings Butterflies and cut from a scrap of white or light cream cardstock. 

***Hint*** To more easily remove the intricately cut paper from the die, layer two sheets of wax paper between the die and the paper when cutting.

Step 2. Lightly rub Denim Mix'd Media Inx across the edges of the wings as shown.

Step 3. Brush Glue Gloss across the wings in the areas you have inked. 

Step 4. Sprinkle the wet glue with Donna's Twinkle Dust Glitter in Mixed Berries. (Donna's Fairy Dust Glitter has been renamed to Twinkle Dust Glitter.)

Step 5. Add pearls for the body of the butterfly.

Donna Salazar Products

GCD Studio ~ Natural Beauty Collection

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Denim

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Stormy

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx CHOX - Bluejay

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx Embossing Powder - Jasmine

Clearsnap ~ Twinkle Dust Glitter (Formerly Fairy Dust Glitter)

Spellbinders ~ Wonderful Wings

Spellbinders ~ Grand Peony

Spellbinders ~ Rose Creations

Zutter ~ Distrezz-it-All

Other Products

We R Memory Keepers ~ Storytime Cloud Cardstock

Want2Scrap ~ TearDrop Pearls, white

Want2Scrap ~ Baby Bling Pearls, white

Want2Scrap ~ Beautiful Bling Border

Darice ~ Finishing Accent Brads 12mm Crystal AB

Organza Ribbon ~ Stash

Lace ~ Stash

Doily ~ Stash

White Thread ~ Stash

Clearsnap ~ Clear Embossing Powder

Spellbinders ~ Foliage; Pendants in Spades; Opulent Ovals

Close to My Heart ~ Sincere Expressions; Look to the Light

Clearsnap ~ Glue Gloss

Helmar ~ Craft and Hobby PVA Glue; 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Spellbinders ~ Artisan X-plorer

Sewing Machine

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Published at Scrapbook.com Magazine

I'm so delighted to share that two of my layouts have been published

in the April issue of Scrapbooking.com Magazine! 

Words to Live By ~ Featured Article 

In the Garden - Papercrafting Department

Stop on over to check out all the inspiration in the

FREE April Issue of Scrapbooking.com Magazine.

~ Blessings ~

"First Day" April OUAS Reveal Featuring Leaky Shed Studio Chipboard

It's reveal day for the April Once Upon A...Sketch Challenge. Nadia has another gorgeous sketch for us to work with this month. My mixed media layout features Leaky Shed Studio Chipboard.

Weddings are special days and life changing events.

This is our daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Andrew, on their special day.

"First Day of Forever"

I've included the following journaling on the back of my page.

"Elizabeth, when you met Andrew you sensed that he was your soul mate. How thrilled you were to find that he felt the same for you. Your wedding day was the first day of your lives together as husband and wife, an event that changed both of your lives forever. I pray that you will have many happy years together."

Journaling Theme: "An event that changed my life..." 

You are free to interpret our theme ANY WAY you like. It is for your inspiration and this theme word DOES NOT need to be part of your title or journaling. But please make sure your layout is based on the sketch below and includes journaling (hidden journaling is fine). Acceptable journaling is MORE than just a sentence, or generic writing such as date/place etc. It needs to be present and at least 3 lines long. Remember, hidden journaling (under a photo/tag or behind your page) is perfectly fine but please DO let us know in your post where your journaling is! 

OUAS April Sketch

Tips and Techniques

I cut apart a Leaky Shed Studio French Oval Frame and tucked the top portion under my photo for a decorative accent in the side cluster along with Prima Flowers and die cuts. 

The white zinnia is a fashion accessory piece that comes from my stash. I've collected numerous non-traditional supplies for my paper crafting and have set a goal to do a better job of using them up!! 

This bottom cluster features one of the Leaky Shed Studio Springtime Flowers. I painted it with Brass Lumiere metallic paint, then shaded with Halo Pink Gold. The etched lines are darkened with a distress marker, which adds color, but is transparent so the shimmer from the paint is still visible, an easy way to highlight these etched pieces without using a detail brush to paint in the fine lines.

For the left cluster I've layered a large Prima daisy with more die cuts and another of the Leaky Shed Studio Springtime Flowers painted as above. 

I attended a Scrapbook Expo recently with some friends and picked up some lovely dies I've been wanting. I've layered die cuts using my new dies into the clusters. 

Another shot of this cluster that better shows my LSS chipboard piece. You can also see the splatter above the photo I created using the new Distress Marker Spritzer tool.

This 7 Dots Studio Messy Head paper is so perfect for this layout, both the color and design.

This final shot is of a retired LSS Flower Leaf Border. I'm thinking this piece should come out of retirement!! I painted it with more of the same Lumiere paints and added paper flowers. 

I created a lighter ink splatter here below the photos, then applied molding paste over top with my Jacobean Floral stencil 

My layout is also posted on the Leaky Shed Studio blog today. Thanks for taking the time to stop over there if you have a chance to leave some love.

Leaky Shed Studio Products
French Oval Frame
Springtime Flowers
Flower Leaf Border (Retired)

Other Products
7 Dots Studio ~ Messy Head - Just Saying
White Cardstock - stash
Fancy Pants ~ Road Show 12" x 12" pad
Basic Grey ~ Alphabet Stickers - White, bas 3984
Prima ~ Parisa Mayfair Mix
Prima ~ Melisse Belle
Prima ~ Candies Flower Bucket
Prima ~ Tea Roses, Latte
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Wild Open Roses 15mm, Ivory (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Darice Accessories ~ Zinnia, white
Lace ~ stash
Ranger ~ Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Dried Marigold, Tea Dye, Weathered Wood
Ranger ~ Distress Marker - Dried Marigold
Liquitex ~ Gesso
Golden - Light Molding Paste
Lumiere Paint ~ Halo Pink Gold, Brass
DecoArt ~ Americana Classic Stencil - Jacobean Floral
Tim Holtz ~ Stampers Anonymous - Seamless Experience Set
Spellbinders ~ Flourish Trim
Memory Box ~ Quinn Flourish Die
Memory Box ~ Norwich Corner Die
Memory Box ~ Leafy Branch Die
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue
Helmar ~ Liquid Scrap Dots
Ranger ~ Distress Marker Spritzer Tool
Tonic ~ Tim Holtz - Paper Distresser

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments
~ Blessings ~