Beautiful Life - Bo Bunny July Layout Challenge and Scrapping Stamper July Sketch

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I'm busy getting ready to go on a trip to the New Jersey Shore and Baltimore with my husband. He has a business trip scheduled and asked me to come along. I've never traveled on one of his business trips before, so thought I'd give it a try. Besides we'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary on Monday. Of course, I'll be taking some scrapping supplies with me for the down time while he's working.

Our precious Ellie left this world earlier this year. The Lord gave us nearly 13 wonderful years with her. My brother gave her to Grace as a 4-H project back in 2000 when we moved back to Ohio. Ellie was 15 months old with no training, and Grace was a mere 11 years old. What a team they made. Grace ended up capturing every UKC obedience title with her. She also captured 2 National Junior wins and was nationally ranked among the adults for several years. In their final year of competition, they placed third in the county at the UKC National Invitational among some of the best dog handler teams in the country. 

I don't normally create many white space pages, but when I saw the challenge to use White Space for the July Bo Bunny challenge, I knew this Beautiful Life paper would be so perfect for this photo and for a white space design. I glittered up the letters on the word beautiful by painting some stickles on certain parts of the letters. It doesn't show up real well in the photo, but adds so much sparkle in person. I also highlighted the flower on the left side of the paper by stitching around the printed image. 

I used Shannon's gorgeous July sketch for design inspiration.

Here is Shannon's amazing sketch:

Be sure to stop by The Scrapping Stamper (Shannon) to see what her talented DT created with this beautiful sketch.

Techniques:

Stacked Trinkets ~ for my large flower I Misted a Petaloo flower for the base, removed the center, then layered on one of my twine flowers. For the center, I glued the Forever Fall oval trinket piece over top of the square piece. 

Leaves ~ The leaves where cut with my Donna Salazar Rose Creations Die, then shaped and inked. 

Misting ~ I misted several of the flower pieces and the larger chipboard border with Donna Salazar Smooch Spritz in Caramel Latte, and for the rust colored flower I also used her Woodgrain Smooch. 

Inking ~ I used several chipboard pieces from the Bo Bunny Et Cetera collection. I modified the colors to go with the Beautiful Life papers by inking them with several colors of distress ink. Isn't my butterfly so pretty resting atop this Et Cetera chippie!! 

Corrugated Butterfly ~ I've created this butterfly using Donna Salazar Corrugated Board, distress ink, and lots of luscious Caramel Latte Smooch!! I really inked this one up more than I normally do to give a more distressed look to go with these gorgeous papers. 

Stitching ~ These delicate flowers got lost into the background, so I decided to accent them with some hand stitching. Yes, I know, quite time consuming but worth the effort, don't you think? 

Bling ~ The chipboard border needed just a touch of sparkle, so I added the Bo Bunny icandy rhinestones across the top, and the Smooch Spritz gives a bit of shimmer as well. 

Twine Frame ~ I've seen these twine frame starting to pop up and knew that this photo would be a perfect one to frame up this way. 

Doily ~ The gorgeous doily was cut from the Beautiful Life Dots paper using my Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. 

Distressing ~ Of course I used my DSD Distrezz-It-All for all of the straight edges, and my Prima Distressing tool for the little flags. 

Products Used

Paper

Bo Bunny Beautiful Life, Beautiful Life Dots, Olivia Dot

Embellishments

Bo Bunny Et Cetera Chipboard

Bo Bunny Trinkets Forever Fall

Bo Bunny Cardstock Stickers Country Garden Tiny Type

Bo Bunny iCandy Jewels Touch of Spice

Queen & Company Adhesive Pearls - Chocolate Delight

Donna Salazar Zutter Corrugated Board

Petaloo Floral Embelishments: Canterbury Rose - Paprika; Darjeling Collection - Poppy Mix, Mini Mix Black/Cream/Brown

Technique Products

DMC Embroidery Floss #3776

Donna Salazar Smooch Spritz - Caramel Latte; Woodgrain

Distress Ink - multiple colors

Ranger Stickles Diamond

Adhesives

Helmar V2 Vellum Adhesive (spray)

Helmar Zap Dots 1/4" clear squares

Hercules Tape

Scotch ATG

Scotch Acid Free Quick Dry Adhesive

Tools

Donna Salazar Distrezz-It-All

Donna Salazar Rose Creations Die Set

Art Philosophy Cartridge

Cricut Expression 2

Tonic Studios Piercing Tool

Prima Distressing Tool

Bazzill In Stitch'z Foam Mat

I also entered this at:

Stampin' Sisters in Christ as a second entry in Challenge #148 to add sparkle to your project - Rhinestones and Smooch Spritz. **

Word Art Wednesday - Use an encouraging sentiment. **

Scrapping Everyday Miracles - Challenge #18 Created Beauty/twist - use stitching - This LO celebrates the beautiful life our Lord gave us with Ellie - friend and companion to our daughter, Grace. I stitched around the flowers. **

Scrapbook Sisters - Spring or Summer challenge - Spring photo of Ellie. (July 31)

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~ 

Happy Birthday Joseph ~ ScrapFIT Workout #70 - Polaroids

This is our son Joseph at his 5th birthday party nearly 20 years ago. Yes, as the journaling says, I baked and decorated the cake. What a fun challenge at ScrapFIT to create your own polaroids. 

Workout #70 ~ Develop Your Own Polaroid!

Do you remember when Polaroid photos were the hot new way to take photos! Well, this workout is a tribute to the Polaroid! We want to see a  layout with a Polaroid photo. Don't have a Polaroid photo, don't worry you can create a fake Polaroid just like in my layout below. 

The winner of this Workout will receive a $25.00 Gift Certificate from 

My Favorite Things

http://www.mftstamps.com/

Be sure to head on over to ScrapFIT to see the rest of the fab Polaroid projects posted by our talented DT, and to link up your very own Polaroid project by June 30.

Techniques:

1. Focal paper ~ I used this gorgeous paper from the Pink Paisley Mistables Pack. I tore about 1/4 inch off all around the edge and then used random punches, tearing between the punched areas. I used a corner punch in each corner. I didn't have quite the right color of mist, so I mixed some acrylic paint with water to mist. It was the perfect color, but kind of an oops. The paint didn't resist, so I ended up scraping the thin layer of paint off of the resist sections. A bit tedious, but it sure looks pretty. Regular glimmer mist, or home mist with a water soluble product like distress reinkers would have worked fine and wiped right off the shiny resist areas. Don't you just love how hind sight is 20/20!! 

The rest of the papers are Authetique blue/cream Journey Fold Over Solids and white cardstock colored with Distress Ink. I used gesso to soften the darker blue paper behind the photos and the Donna Salazar Distrezz-It-All to distress all the edges. The ironwork shapes are cut from my CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. I won a Cricut last fall and this is the only cartridge I have bought. It has some amazing images, and if you are looking for a CTMH consultant, Mandy will be glad to help you. 

2. Flower Cluster ~ The flowers were created by layering, inking and adding gesso to several different Prima flowers. I wanted to stay with a blue/white color scheme, so I die cut the leaves using my Spellbinder Foliage and Donna Salazar Rose Creations dies. I then creased/shaped, then inked and painted with spots of gesso. A little note here. I blended on two colors of Distress Ink - broken china and stormy sky. Both here and on the flowers, the color was a bit bolder and brighter than I wanted, so I spritzed with water and that blended and softened the color quite nicely. I dried using a heat tool before adding the gesso. I finished up by added a couple Zva pearl flourishes which I cut apart. as well as placing some on the bottoms of my faux Polaroids. 

3. Polaroids ~ I found the dimensions of a Polaroid and cut some glossy paper that I had laying around to size. I actually cut it twice as long plus an extra half inch on the bottom front and used my Martha Stewart Cutting Board to score the fold lines so I could tuck my photo in like a real Polaroid. So there are three layers, The front with the cutout, the photo, and a solid back. 

4. Flags ~ I used a set of CTMH stamps for "Happy" and "Birthday" using the same colors of distress inks, then hand cut the flags, distressing the edges. I painted two toothpicks white for the flag "poles."

I am entering this layout at:

Once Upon A Sketch ~ Using the June sketch, Birthday Theme, with journaling **

Scrapbook Sisters ~ Use three colors - Blue, white, cream (pearls). **

SJ Crafts ~ Challenge #5 "All About the Boy" and something old from my stash. Glossy paper used for Polaroids - 4 years old. **

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~ 

Our Future Forever Linked ~ DT Reveal for ScrapFIT Workout #67 - Doilies

Our son was married to his beautiful bride, Rachel, in December. One of my favorite photos was this wonderful shot of their wedding rings placed on the open pages of Scripture. 

The gorgeous Prima paper and embellishments were a perfect backdrop for my photos.

ScrapFIT Workout #67 - Decorate with a Doily!

My mother used to have a doily under every plant, picture frame and nicknack in our house! Doilies are back and being put to good use on our scrapbook layouts and paper crafts! Show us fun and unique ways to use a doily! It can be a pre-made or home made doily. 

Our Sponsor this Month is:

Vicky's Etsy shop has an amazing selection of gorgeous Dusty Attic Chipboard. She is also a very talented scrap artist and you can see her gorgeous work at her personal blog, Simply Paper and Creativity.

I hope you have been inspired to create a layout using those doilies you've had stashed away for that special project. So head on over to ScrapFIT to see the doily inspired layouts by our talented design team and to link up your project. 

Techniques:

Doily Flower ~ I created this flower using vintage dictionary pages, a vintage map page, kraft tissue paper, a doily and layers of tulle. Because these materials would not cut well on my Cricut, I cut a 6 inch scalloped circle from my Art Philosophy cartridge to use as a template to hand cut each layer. I misted the papers with water and scrunched them, then dried them with my heat tool to give the lovely distressed wrinkled look. I then misted all of the layers except the white tulle with brown and green Tattered Angels glimmer mists. I used a small brad to hold the layers together so that I could scrunch and arrange my layers and then added the gorgeous Prima pebble to the center. I surrounded my flower with a Prima Say it with Pearls flourish that I cut into two pieces to use on either side of the flower. I also fussy cut some white lace pieces for the corner. 

I used a tutorial by our oh so talented sponsor, Vicki Alberto, along with a video tutorial at this link from the Donna Salazar blog by Leah's Scrapbook Room as my inspiration for this flower. If you have access to a 6 inch scalloped circle die for the Accucut machine, like in the video, that would make these flowers a breeze to put together. 

Masking with Flexible Modeling Paste ~ I was so excited to find the Crafter's Workshop chicken wire mask on a recent trip to Archivers that I had to use it on my next layout. I sprayed the back of the mask with Krylon Easy-Tack and let it dry, then placed it on my paper where I wanted the mask. I spread a thin layer of flexible modeling paste over a portion of the mask where the design fit nicely with my patterned paper. My paper looked kind of warped, but as it dried, it flattened back out again. It did take a long time to dry - over night. Once dry, I rubbed some coordinating Distress Ink over top and used the Prima Screen stamp behind where I planned to place my larger flower. Oh, and I also used the Prima  Moulin Rouge stamp behind the locket. 

Photo Mat ~ I found a box that had this tiny corrugation and quickly nabbed it for my scrapbook stash. I peeled the top layer off to expose the corrugation - leaving some bits and pieces behind for texture. I used a foam brush to paint the edges with antique white (I wanted the natural color to show in the grooves and a regular paint brush got paint down in those grooves while the foam brush did a nice job of applying paint just to the top edges.), then highlighted with some pink and brown distress ink. The lovely Prima Resin corners were painted and then I rubbed off some of the paint for a distressed look. The locket and gorgeous gems on my banner flowers are also by Prima. I had a tiny ball chain in my stash that I rubbed some black paint into, ran through the locket and wound across the flower banner.

Flower Banner ~ this was so easy peasy. I simply took Prima flowers, folded them in half and ran a Martha Stewart satin cord across the page along the branch in the paper and used jump rings to hang the gems in the center of each flower. 

Butterflies ~ I cut these butterflies with the Alterations Butterflies Movers die, then used the same techniques described for my photo mat. I fashioned the antennae using wrapped wire from the floral department and added adhesive pearls for the body. 

Title ~ I painted and inked a Want2Scrap Nestaboard Fancy Tag, cut letters from grungepaper and painted them with metallic paint before adhering to the tag. 

I have entered this at:
Bird is the Word ~ Future Challenge
City Crafter Challenge Blog ~ Week 107 Text and Tulle: Text - dictionary page in flower, text on focal paper, and in the photo itself; Tulle - in large layered flower. **
Timeless Tuesday ~ #167 Use Butterflies **
Use it Tuesday ~ Challenge #30 April Showers: I used spring flowers, The pink flowers and adhesive pearls are at least 2 years in my stash, the dictionary pages come from a dictionary I've had for 18 years and the map pages 10 years, the cardboard isn't new, but rescued from the recycling bin. **
Scrapbook Sisters ~ Stamped Background: I stamped the backgrounds behind the flower with a screen mesh stamp, and behind the locket with a lace stamp. **
Scrap It Girl ~ April Showers Bring the "May Flowers" Challenge: I created the layered flower using a template from my Art Philosophy cartridge, and Prima flowers for my banner/trinket flowers. **

Thanks for dropping by. I treasure your comments!

~ Blessings ~

Kennedy House ~ ScrapFIT Reveal Workout #66

What a gorgeous color combination for our Workout challenge at ScrapFIT!! I had so much fun working with these luscious colors ~ sand, mint, and cherry. 

When all the children were still at home we made an annual trip to Salt Fort State Park. While Gary and Joseph would go out fishing, the girls and I would take to the trails. One of the trails leads to the beautiful old stone Kennedy House. There is no road to the house, so the only way to get there was by the trails.

Here is my inspiration layout for you:

Workout #66 ~ Color/Photo Inspiration

Diana, our Creative Trainer, has put together this rigorous workout just for you! Let this color inspiration direct your Layout/Card/Paper Craft project! These colors are a beautiful combo of soft and subtle with a pop! Be sure to join us and stay on your FIT track with our Creative Trainer!

Our Sponsor for this Workout is My Divine Inspiration Etsy Shop

The prize is this wonderful embellishment package:

Be sure to drop by her Etsy shop to see all the wonderful goodies she sells. 

Techniques:

Layered Flower ~ I've enjoyed making these layered flowers lately. The bottom layer is a woven fabric cut on the Tattered Floral Die and inked with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. The next layer ~ the daisy-like green leaves were cut from a kraft color coffee filter. I love the texture in this paper with the miniature dots. They were inked with Iced Spruce Distress Ink. Next comes one of my hand crafted twine flowers created with a thinner hemp cord using my Twine Flower Tutorial. I topped that with two layers of red pearlized paper cut from the Donna Salazar Carnation Creations Spellbinder die set.  I wet the paper and pleated the petals. Then finally the center is a Petaloo flower center.  I cut this gorgeous mint Prima Pearl and Crystal flourish to use part of it here.

Carnation Flower ~ Again I used Red Pearl paper to cut a single flower with the Donna Salazar Carnation Creations die, wet the paper and pleated the petals. Once dry, I inked the edges with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. then folded it in half and in half again to form this carnation shape and layered the piece of Prima mint  pearl/crystal flourish over the folded edge. 

Sign ~ I cut the sign post from a very heavy cardstock using the Spellbinder Elegant Posts die. I painted it with a heavy coat of Gesso, then while wet applied the heat tool until it bubbled up. If the gesso doesn't bubble as much as you want, add more gesso and continue to heat. I tinted the gesso with some brown paint and also applied some Vintage Photo Distress Ink. A photo tutorial for this technique in a darker color can be found here.  I use mini 1/16 inch eyelets in the sign to hang it with chain from my stash. 

Doily ~ My doily was cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. Thanks for loaning me your cart, Mandy!! I then cut a circle of paper for the inside of the doily and distressed, inked and hand stitched the edges. Finally, I applied a couple layers of ATG adhesive on the back edge of the circle and then carefully applied the lace to the edge. 

Tag ~ I used the Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 April technique to create my tag using the reflections stamps and an embossing folder.  I created the stick pin with beads from my stash, and the crinkle ribbon was dyed with Distress Stain. I painted the word trinket with red paint and wiped it off leaving the word "Wander" much more visible. 

I hope you have been inspired to join us at ScrapFIT for this fabulous color challenge. Be sure to head over and check out the DT examples and link up your paper crafted project. 

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments

~ Blessing ~