Swinging Together ~ Scrapping Stamper Reveal

Shannon gave us two sketches to choose from this month. I created a layout with a flowering dogwood tree earlier this year, so decided to go a different direction from the tree. I've been wanting to extend an element on out of a photo for a while, and this photo worked perfectly. Grace is pushing Maria on our wooden swing set back in North Carolina. The set is not in the photo, so I extended the swing chains and recreated the wooden structure. I told my wonderful engineer husband that I felt like I was doing an engineering project creating the swing set - LOL!

My title was inspired by the Bird is the Word "Together" Challenge.

 

Here is the fabulous October Scrapping Stamper Sketch that I chose to work with:

Be sure to head over to The Scrapping Stamper to see Shannon's other great sketch for October and to see the inspiring layouts created by her DT!!

Techniques:

Chain: I purchased some chain from the jewelry department at JoAnn's and applied the blue alcohol ink with a fine paintbrush. I mixed a couple colors of alcohol ink on my craft mat to get a color that would match the blue chain in the photo. I cut small pieces of glue dots to adhere the chain to the page. The chain eyelets were formed with craft wire wrapped once around a round tip plier and then twisted. I made the two pieces and then cut part of the twisted section off with wire cutters so they would be the same length.

Swing set: This was a fairly simple project. I located a photo of a swing set similar to the one this swing had hung from and recreated it in a wood-like paper. I cut strips of the paper and inked the edges before assembling my swing set. I alcohol inked the screw brads before adding to strategic spots.

Butterflies: These little butterflies started out as simple punched cut-outs. I brushed coordinating stickles across the wings, and Black Diamond Stickles over the bodies. When dry, I curled the wings over a round bar to add dimension. Such sweet little butterflies for pennies.

Title Letters: These letters were plain white. First I took the letters for my title and stuck them down on my non-stick craft mat. I rubbed distress ink over them then painted a thin later of stickles.  When dry the adhesive backed letters peel right off of the mat, and are ready to apply  to my project. This is a great way to get sparkly letters that coordinate perfectly without the cost of expensive glitter letters or attempting to cut glitter paper, which can be a challenge and may not be just the right color.

Paper:

Bo Bunny Fusion ~ Tangerine, Free Spirit, Mesmerize, Love Me Tender

Pixie Press Memories ~ Crackle Mustard

Letters

Embellishments:

Chain ~ Stash

Screw Brads ~ Stash

Technique Products:

Ranger Alcohol ink

Tombo ~ ABT N15

Zig Textile Marker ~ Brown

Stickles

Distress Ink

Tools:

Martha Steward Circle Cutter

Martha Stewart ~ Ruler

Fiskars Softgrip Craft Knife

Fiskars 14 in Self-Healing Rotating Mat

I'm participating with this LO in the Cuttin' Up with class Show and Tell

Thanks for stopping by. I treasure your comments! 

~ Blessings ~

You and Me

For the past several years we've made our annual trek to Knoebels Phall Phun Phest. Last year, our daughter, Elizabeth, came with us. My sister, Terry, likes to ride the Fandango, but it's a bit much for the rest of us. (I can't do spinning rides - bummer) It was so much fun for Terry to have a flying companion!!

I like the challenge of designing layouts around several challenges. This page incorporates the Layout Friday Challenge over at Bo Bunny ~ dimension, Bird is the Word ~ "You and Me," along with the sketch from Punky Scraps.

Here is my layout:

I've been wanting to touch base with my distressed/funky style and complete a

challenge over at Punky Scraps, and am finally joining in on their fun by

using this fabulous challenge sketch by their talented Marie:

Techniques:

Dimensional Ribbon: The Pink Punch ribbon was a little brighter than the pink in the photo, so I toned it down by using a sponge applicator to rub Pumice Stone Distress Ink onto the ribbon. When dry I randomly twisted and scrunched the ribbon across the page and used mini staples to secure it to the page.

Dimensional Border: I went to my stash to find beads and wire jewelry findings. I used alcohol ink to color the wire pieces and alter the color on the flower eyelet blending the inks to get pink and dark teal. I adhered the pieces by stitching through them into a variety of patterns that I randomly created with my piercing tool. I also used my handy dandy Big Bite to set the snaps.

Chipboard: One of the things I enjoy about the Naked Chipboard, is that I can alter it to go with any layout. Here I painted it pink, then sprayed the back of the punchinella with temporary adhesive and stuck it to the chipboard, which I then painted with brown metallic paint. In removing the punchinella from the larger chipboard it peeled off some of the paint down to the raw chipboard. (I had made a mistake and put a couple extra coats of pink paint on the larger chipboard, making it softer and easier to "damage.") This was a happy mistake that I liked since I was going for a distressed look. I took my piercing tool to the arrow pieces and exposed portions of raw chipboard on these pieces as well.

Punchinella Texture: I cut a 12 inch length of the round punchinella and adhered it across my page with temporary adhesive and used a creamy yellow paint to add this distressed texture to my LO. I did not paint all the way to the edge so the dots would fade out in a distressed kind of way.

Funky Title: To go with the distressed look, I wanted a bold and funky title. I simply used a pencil to sketch out the title on my layout. I used two shades of copics markers to color the letters. Since I only have 6 copics, the color wasn't quite right, so I went over the letters with a teal Prismacolor pencil and blending pencil giving them just the right color. One of our daughter's enjoys art and discovered the Moo Eraser. It erases pencil marks without any damage to the paper. If you like to sketch things out on your layouts, and have trouble removing the tell tale signs, this is a product you will want to try. They are available in art supply stores.

Misting: I had fun misting and ink dropping on this page. For the larger drops I removed the sprayer from the bottle and flicked ink from the bottom of the sprayer onto the layout. Thanks Amanda for sharing the ink flicking technique with me!

Paper

Bo Bunny Et Cetera ~ Geography

Bo Bunny Time Piece Collection ~ Note Worthy Journal Card

Embellishments

Bo Bunny ~ Double Dot Ribbon ~ Pink Punch

Bo Bunny ~ Double Dot Chipboard ~ Bare Naked

Beads and Ribbon Slide ~ stash

Technique Products

Copic Sketch markers ~ B34 Manganese Blue, B 37 Antwerp Blue

Prismacolor Pencils and Blending Pencil

Punchinella ~ Squares - a gift from my scrappy friend, Mandy

Punchinella ~ Round - a gift from my scrappy friend, Robin

Zig Millennium 05 ~ Pure Blue

Zig Writer ~ Pure Blue

DMC Embroidery Floss #3808

Glimmer Mist ~ Turquoise Blue

Smooch Spritz ~ Log Cabin

DecoArt Acrylic Paint ~ Buttercream

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics ~ Renaissance Brown

Making Memories Scrapbook Colors ~ Fresh Anthology Deep Coral

Ranger Alcohol Ink ~ Snow Cap, Pink Sherbet, Denim, Pool

Ranger Distress Ink ~ Pumice Stone

Tools

Idea-ology ~ Mini Stapler and Staples

Crop-A-Dile II ~ Big Bite

In Stitch'z Piercing tool and mat

Tonic Studios Scissors

Fiskars ~ Softgrip Craft Knife

Fiskars ~ Self Healing Rotating Mat

Moo Eraser

I've also entered this layout in the following:

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge#6 - Shapes - Using circles ~ Photo, Journal spot, paint strip, snaps (November 6)

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

18 Years Later ~ ScrapFIT Reveal for Workout #54

I just knew when I came across this old photo of the girls with their cousin, Connie, I had to take a current shot and scrap them together. ScrapFIT Workout #54 was a perfect fit for these photos.

ScrapFIT Workout #54 ~ It All Adds Up

Numbers, numbers, and more numbers! Let's see a layout or card with lots and lots of numbers. Can you use them in your title? Can you add them as an embellishment? Can you stamp them? YES you can do all of those and more! Show us how your numbers add up!

Here is my example for you. I even used the numbers zero and one along with the negatives from the zeros to create my flowers:

I hope you are inspired to join us for this fun Workout!!

The winner of this Workout will receive this fabulous prize from The Paper Bakery Kit Club:

Be sure to head on over to ScrapFIT to be inspired by the work of our fabulous DT!

Techniques:

Masking

This paper came with a sticker sheet that had flowers in two sizes that coordinate with the flowers on the paper. I stuck them on the paper and spritzed glimmer mist over them as a mask. I used a few drops of Un-Du adhesive remover to get them off without damaging the page or the stickers. The funny think is that I blotted with a paper towel and since the stickers were shiny, the glimmer mist wiped right off, so I'll be able to use the stickers on another page.

Flowers

I looked through my fonts to find 0's and 1's that looked similar to flower petals, and cut out bunches of them on my Gazelle. The o's were placed on a larger circle of kraft and once adhered, I trimmed around the petals. The ones and negatives from the zeros where inked then adhered to a small circle of kraft then shaped and curled, then a rhinestone placed in the center of each.

Stitching

Because the girls were so young in the older photo, and down the road it might be hard to remember who each one is in the photo, I drew lines connecting the girls between the photos and hand stitched the lines to write the girls' names on.

Supplies:

Paper:

Simple Stories - 100 Days of Summer ~ 100% Summer Fun

Simple Stories - 100 Days of Summer ~ Flash Cards

Simple Stories - 100 Days of Summer ~ Sweet Memories

Simple Stories - 100 Days of Summer ~ Cardstock Stickers Fundamentals

Simple Stories - 100 Days of Summer ~ Cardstock Stickers Expressions

Kraft Paper ~ Stash

Embellishments:

Scrap-Friendzy Kit ~ Pom Pom Lace

Darice ~ Jute

Rhinestones ~ Stash

Stickers ~ Stash

Technique Items:

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist ~ Simply Khaki

Tombo ABT #993

Zig Millennium 05 ~ Pure Black

Ranger Distress Ink ~ Pine Needles, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade

Ranger Alcohol Ink ~ Terra Cotta

DMC Thread ~ Stash

Black Thread ~ Stash

Tools:

Fiskars ~ Softgrip Craft Knife

Fiskars ~ Self-healing Mat

Gazelle

EK Success Punch

Sewing Machine

Thanks for stopping by. I treasure your comments!

~ Blessings ~

Share the Future Together ~ ScrapFIT Workout #53 Reveal

It's reveal day at ScrapFIT for workout #53 The Journaling Goes Round and Round.

It's important to add journaling to our layouts so generations after us will know the details and feelings of the pictures. For this Workout I want your journaling to "go around" the outside of something. It can go around the outside of your page, around your photo or even around an embellishment. Show us how you journal around!

For this challenge, I created from Joseph and Rachels engagement photo shoot. This is Rachel's favorite photo taken that day.

I was so excited to see this challenge, since I enjoy journaling around things. Like many of you, I'm not a huge fan of my own hand writing, but it doesn't seem to bother me so much when I write around things in a small hand. I wrote out the love verses from 1 Corinthians 13 around the heart. I actually fit most of them in before running out of room. I tucked the reference into the bottom inside of the heart. To do this, I traced the heart onto my layout in light pencil, marking my photo placement. I used this line to write my journaling, then erased the line before adhering the heart.

Click on photo and then click again to view close-up.

I hope you have been inspired to join us at ScrapFIT for this fabulous journaling workout!! Once you complete your project go here to link it up. You'll want to see the fabulous projects created by our design team posted at ScrapFIT as well.

The lucky winner of Workout #53 will receive this lovely kit by The Paper Bakery Kit Club:

The Paper Bakery is offering a special discount to ScrapFIT followers this month. See the Workout #53 description at ScrapFIT for details. Be sure to drop by The Paper Bakery to see their gorgeous kits, full of wonderful goodies!!

Techniques:

Cardboard Heart:

I was inspired to create this heart by the wonderful work of Marilyn Rivera. First I drew a heart on a large scrap of card stock, then took a piece of cardboard box to size and stripped the front layer off. I used the heart template I drew to cut out the cardboard shape, then spritzed it with an acid neutralizing spray front and back. I used three shades of distress ink to get the color and shading I desired for this particular LO. Finally I wrapped some red DMC embroidery floss around the top right part of the heart in a repeated V shape for some added texture.

Masking:

Before masking, I spritzed the area with some mist for some extra visual texture. I recently purchased several stencils. The shape on the right side of the heart was created by rubbing distress ink over a portion of one of the stencils. I then added some rhinestones for some extra bling.

Embossing Metal/Alcohol Ink

This technique can be done with colored or plain aluminum sheet metal. Cut the desired shape with some old scissors (I have a pair of old kitchen shears I reserve for my sheet metal so I don't dull my good scissors.) You can also cut a shape with a die cut machine like a Big Shot. Once you get your shape cut, place it in an embossing folder and run it through the machine again to emboss. If you don't have access to embossing folders/machine. You could also free hand emboss your metal. I chose three alcohol inks to get the colors I wanted for my layout, and used a felt applicator and dabbed it on until I got the texture I was looking for. The longer you dab at alcohol ink, the smaller the "blotches" become. They are quite large at first, but as the ink starts to dry some they become smaller and smaller. It might take a couple of minutes, so be patient if you want smaller separations between your colors.

Altered Chipboard:

The chipboard swirl was coated with a very thick coat of white puffy paint. After applying the puffy paint, you really need to set it aside for at least an hour. Then use a heat tool to make the paint bubble and puff up. Once it cools down a bit, you can paint it in the color of your choice. I mixed a couple different metalic paints together for this swirl. If you have a variety of paint colors, you only need to purchase puffy paint in white, and perhaps black.

Altered Brad Flower:

The pink flower was a white brad that I painted with metalic paint. The clear rhinestone in the center was altered with alcohol ink. The rhinestones attached to the chipboard swirl and masked area were also colored with alcohol ink. No need to purchase rhinestones in a bunch of colors if you have alcohol ink. I've even mixed drops of different alcohol inks on my craft mat to get the shade I'm looking for.

Altered Tissue Tape/Paper

I cut a rectangle of chipboard to place behind my embossed metal and covered it with tissue tape. To get the desired color, I rubbed it with distress ink. The tissue tape has a shiny texture, so I rubbed it with some paper towel after inking to remove any excess ink so it wouldn't smear onto other parts of my LO as I was working on it. I don't need to do that when working with regular paper/cardstock. The little hearts, title letters/word blocks started out as a scrap of of the MME paper that I cut the postage images from. I just took plain sections of that scrap and rubbed them with several colors of distress ink until I got the desired look, then printed my word blocks and cut the letters and shapes. I had some coordinating paper that would have worked, but I didn't want to cut into it for the little pieces that I needed for this layout. (Yes, I use my distress inks a lot and own all the colors including the gorgeous new fall limited edition ink pads.)

Stitching:

I got away from hand stitching on this page and went with a couple rows of straight machine stitching around the border of the page.

Paper:

Cosmo Cricket ~ Fleuriste - Flora Bella

MME Lost and Found ~ Portobella Road "Family" First Class

Embellishments:

Idea-ology ~ Mini Paper Clips

Deluxe Designs ~ Freeze Frames - Natural Wood

Darice ~ Rhinestones

Creative Imaginations ~ Love Bird Metal Flower Brads

Idea-ology ~ Swivel Clasps

Technique Products:

Ranger Distress Ink ~ multiple colors

Ranger Alcohol Ink ~ multiple colors

Tombo ABT ~ N15

Zig Millennium 05 ~ Pure Violet

Moo Eraser

Recollections Stamp ~ Script

Idea-ology Tissue Tape ~ Sketch Pad

Jacquard Lumiere ~ Metallic Acrylic Paints - multiple colors

Delta Stencil Magic ~ Elegant Fleur-De-Lis

DecoArt Paint ~ Dazzling Metallics - Renaissance Brown

TPC Studio ~ Clearly Better Ink - Chocolate

Smooch Spritz ~ Log Cabin

DMC # 902

Walnut Hollow Colored Metal ~ Light Blue Aluminum

Tools:

Boss Kut Gazelle

Font ~ Pieces of Eight - from the internet

Big Shot

Darice Embossing Folder

Make It Acid Free Spray

I've entered this in the Bird is the Word "Share" Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by. I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Beautiful Memories ~ The Scraping Stamper September Reveal

I combined the September Scrapping Stamper Sketch with the Bird is the Word challenge to use the word "memory" for this LO of my parents taken at Biltmore Gardens in NC. (Click on photo and then click again to enlarge.)

Here is Shannon's gorgeous sketch:

Shannon is offering a new opportunity this month. If you created a LO using this sketch before the October 15 Sketch Reveal you can link it up on her site to share with her followers.

Techniques:

1) Alcohol Ink

Alcohol Ink is a great tool to modify your stash to coordinate with your layout. I took rhinestones and chandelier beads in different shades of light purples and applied alcohol ink to give them the same bright fuchsia color. Since none of my alcohol inks were the color I wanted, I put a drop each of two different colors on my nonstick craft mat and mixed them with a very fine tip paint brush, then "painted" the alcohol ink onto the rhinestones. I also used alcohol ink to color the wire coil and wires holding the chandelier beads. It can be used on any NONporous surface.

2) Beads

Don't overlook the jewelry section of your craft store. The oval beads and chandelier beads came from the jewelry section.

3) Craft Wire

I have been using craft wire more these days. The oval beads were connected using a fine craft wire and then the ends wrapped around a slim metal bar (for making jewelry coils) to secure the ends.

4) Glitter Letters

Glitter paper can be hard to cut on a Cricut or other cutting machine. For my "glitter": paper title letters, I cut them from cardstock weight pattern paper, then ran them through my Xron to apply adhesive the the back and finished up by using a fine tip paint brush to apply stickles. Stickles that have been painted on in a thin layer dry much faster than dots of stickles. The letters look like they have been cut from glitter paper. I also brushed some stickles across the butterfly wings for some extra shimmer.

5) Scalloped Photo Mat

This technique is inspired by the work of Gabrielle Pollacco. Simply cut your mat using scalloped deco scissors and put a dot of white ink in each scallop.

6) Cutting Lace

I like to cut lace on the pattern repeat and to keep it from unraveling, I put a tiny drop of Ranger Glossy Accents where I plan to cut and rub it into the fabric, give it a couple minutes to dry, then cut. Fray check would work as well, but while I don't keep this product in my scrappy supplies, I always have some Glossy Accents on hand, which has worked pretty well for me so far.

7) Misting

I mentioned in my last post how to back your pp onto chipboard before misting and to dry between each spritz. I did a lot more misting on this LO, and with this technique, and it did not warp at all. This is the first time I have misted this much without getting any warping.

Paper:

Die Cut ~ MME ~ Portobello Road "Boy" Dapper Dots (Scrap-Friendzy June Kit)

K & Company ~ Brenda Walton - Celest Paper Pad

Bo Bunny ~ Gabrielle Dot

Scrap-Friendzy June Kit Embellishments:

Cream Ribbon Flowers

Brad Flower Center

Burlap

Vintage Lace

Other Embellishments:

Fabric Flower Petals ~ Stash

Rhinestones ~ Stash

PLAID Inspired Classics Jewelry Collection ~ Charms, Pink Gem Drops (Chandelier Beads)

Darice ~ Flat Oval Bead Strand - Iced Lilac 12x9 mm

Technique Products:

Ranger Distress Ink ~ Faded Jeans, Broken China, Pumice Stone, Black Soot, Forest Moss, Frayed Burlap

Ranger Alcohol Ink ~ Purple Twilight, Raspberry, Pink Sherbet, Wild Plumb

Ranger Stickles ~ Black diamond, Paina, Mermaid

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

Sakura Gelly Roll Glaze Pen ~ White

Darice ~ 24 guage craft wire

Tools:

Tonic Studios Paper distresser

In Stitchz ~ Piercing Tool

Jellyka Delicious Cake Font

Cricut

If anyone knows how I can make my photos larger using this new blogger interface, I'd appreciate the help. I selected large, but I used the extra large size before and don't see that as an option now. ~ Thanks so much!!

Special Request. ~ My sweet and talented friend, Susie, is looking for a few more followers to push her over the 100 mark for a DT requirement where she would like to apply. You would be doing me a wonderful favor if you would hop over there and let her know I sent you to be a new follower.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I treasure your comments!

~ Blessings ~

ScrapFIT & Sketchy Thursday Blog Hop ~ My Sister My Friend ~ ScrapFIT Workout #52 Reveal

Welcome to the ScrapFIT & Sketchy Thursday Blog Hop!  

We have joined up with Sketchy Thursday this week to offer you a Workout with a sketchy twist!  

Here is my example combining the fabulous Sketchy Thursdays Sketch with the fun ScrapFIT Workout #52.

My Sister My Friend:

I hope you've been inspired to create a project, so here are the details:

You'll need to use this sketch from Sketchy Thursday:

combined with our ScrapFIT Workout #52 - F is for Friendship -Friends are the family members we pick out by hand. Let's dedicate this weeks layout to a special friend(s).  

Since this is a special joint Workout there are a few prizes up for grabs!  

You can win this Halloween kit full of goodies from our ScrapFIT sponsor, Paper Issues, by linking your layout to the Mr Linky on the ScrapFIT blog.

Be sure to visit each of the FITgirls blogs and comment on their Workouts because one lucky random winner that leaves a comment on every FITgirls blog will be get this prize kit! 

You can get to each girl's blog by clicking on their photo at ScrapFIT.  

Once you do that be sure to head on over to Sketchy Thursday for a chance at winning a prize from their sponsor and another chance at a prize by commenting on their Design Team blogs! 

This Workout (#52) will end on Wednesday 9/21 (this is earlier than our normal end of the month project completion date), and the winners will be announced on Thursday 9/22. We hope you will play along and remember you still have until the end of the month to play along with Workout #51.  

Now for some project details.

Techniques:
1) Flowers:

I took a sheet of coordinating paper with glitter embossed flowers in various sizes and fussy cut out the flowers. For the dimensional flowers, I inked the edges of each flower. (Because the flowers were embossed the ink only showed on the cut edges. Using a darker ink gave extra dimension.) I curled the petals around a toothpick and skewer to shape before adhering the layers together with adhesive dots, then placed a pearl in the center of each flower. The flat flowers were inked and cut, but not curled or layered.

2) Stitching: 
I used the Tim Holtz ruler to pierce holes spaced 1/4 inch apart down the center of each of the lighter color rays for stitching. I wanted a heavier stitching line than I usually use, so I used 6 strands of embroidery floss in place of the 2 strands I generally use. 

3) Ribbon: 

I received this ribbon wrapped around a gift. After removing the edge wires, I tied a length of jute around the ribbon every couple inches, wrapping the ends of the ribbon around to the back of the page. To curl the jute, I wrapped each end around a small metal bar pressing on it with my fingers for about 30 seconds or so until it was set into the curl shape. 

4) Leaves: 
The Martha Stewart rose leaf punch makes sweet little leaves. After punching the leaves from pale green card stock, I rubbed them with distress ink to get the color I wanted. I then folded the leaf in half lengthwise, where the natural vein would be in a leaf. Then I scrunched up each side where the smaller veins would be. Once I had the creases where I wanted them, I inked again in a darker green so the "veins" would be more visible.

5) Wire Mesh: 

The wavy mesh on the tag is some wire mesh tubing I purchased in the jewelry department. It is a very fine woven wire that holds the shape I molded with my fingers. I attached it with double sided tape (the red backed type).

6) Journaling: 
If you are hesitant to use your own handwriting, I learned this tip from my scrappy friend, Tiffany ~ use pencil with a light hand to write your journaling, then when you're happy with the way it looks, go over it with a fine tip marker. This has made such a big difference for me. For my title, I found a font I liked and used it as a guide to write it out, the rest of the journaling is in my own hand.

7) Punched Border:
When punching a 12 inch border, it does not automatically come out equally spaced on the ends, so I punch the border on a scrap to figure out where I need to start so the spacing will come out the same on both ends before punching the border on my project paper.

8) Misting:
I have always liked the look of misting, but not how it warps the paper. To reduce or even eliminate warping, spray a 12 x 12 or slightly larger piece of chipboard with temporary spray adhesive. (The back cardboard from a paper stack works perfectly for this.) Once the adhesive is dry, place your project paper on the chipboard (right side up). Mist in light coats, allowing to dry between each misting. If you want more intense color, used several light mistings, being sure to dry between each spritz. (If you are impatient like me, you can use a light hand with the heat tool to dry it faster. Don't get too close with the heat tool, as this can also warp your paper.) One you are done misting, and your project is completely dry, you can carefully remove it from the chipboard backing. 

9) Stamping:
You have probably discovered that Distress Ink does not create a crisp stamped image when using clear stamps. However, when I'm using a grungy stamp like the Forever Friends image in this layout, I didn't want a perfect, crisp image and the distress ink provided the type of image I was looking for. When in doubt, try it out on a scrap with a similar texture to your project paper.

Paper

DCWV ~ The Rustic Stack

Bazzill Smoothies ~ Chocolate Cream

Green CS ~ Scrap From Stash

Embellishments

US Art Quest ~ Mica Tiles, Medium

Vaessen Creative (Darice) ~ Mesh Ribbon, 6 mm Chestnut

Want 2 Scrap ~ Say it with Pearls - Red

Ribbon ~ From Stash

Jute ~ From Stash

Technique Products

7gypsies Clear Stamps ~ Ink - Friends

Tombo ABT #757, #993, #N15

Zig Millenium Marker ~ Pure Brown

Color Box Chalk Ink ~ Chestnut Roan

Distress Ink ~ Walnut Stain, Bundled Sage, Pine Needles

Smooch Spritz ~ Log Cabin

Glimmer Mist ~ Simply Khaki

DMC Embroidery Floss ~ #3776

Wire Leaf Stems ~ From Stash

Tools

EK Sucess ~ Honey Bee Scissors

EK Success Punch ~ Morocco Lace Edger

Martha Stewart Punch ~ Rose Leaf

Don't forget, over at Scrap-Freindzy, It's Design Star Month. Come join us for a month of fun design related challenges. I completed this LO for Kathy's Inquiring Minds journal challenge.

I've entered this at Paper Compulsions Link Up Party. Hop on over there to Show and Tell one of you projects.

Thanks for joining our Blog Hop and stopping by my blog. I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

True Love ~ ScrapFIT Reveal

We have a new daughter in our family. Joseph recently asked Rachel to be his bride. I created this layout with one of their engagement photos for ScrapFIT Workout #51 Salt and Pepper.

Workout #51 Salt & Pepper

It's time to show some Salt & Pepper on your layout or card!  By this I mean Black & White as your main colors. You can use all ranges of Black & White and only 1 other color (in as many hues as you want).  Do you like a little salt or are more of a pepper fan – lets see your tastes!

Look at the gorgeous prize being sponsered by ScrapFIT for this challenge:

I hope I've inspired you to workout with us and create your own project for this challenge. You have until Setptember 30 to link your project to Mr. Linky at the bottom of the Workout #51 post at ScrapFIT for a chance to win.

I want to let you in on a little secret. Be sure to stop by ScrapFIT on September 15 to see an extra special twist on our Workout #52. I'm so excited and hope you will be too!

Be sure to head on over to ScrapFIT and check out the inspiring work by the DT.

Techniques:

1) Masking:
To create a mask template, I cut a ring of cardstock and punched the inside edge with a corner punch all the way around. Don't worry if it doesn't match perfectly at the end, since you can cover that spot with some kind of embellishment. Spray the back with temporary adhesive and place on the background paper. Use a foam applicator to rub distress ink of your choice across both sides being sure to cover all of the design as well, then remove the mask. It can be saved for another project.

2) Stitching:
Mark a stitching pattern around the outside edge of the masked circle. Pierce stitching holes, then stitch with 2 strands of embroidery floss.

3) Stamping:
I used a darker green distress ink across the top using Bo Bunny stamps. Under the special day sticker and the scroll box around "True Love"I used 7 Gypsies stamps using the same ink for my stamping that I used for the masking.

4) Flowers:
I cut cardstock circles every 1/4 inch from 1 to 3 inches, then used them as templates to cut circles from this beautiful cream crinkled voile. For the small and medium flowers I eliminated some of the larger circles depending on the size. I melted the edges with a tea light then glued them together using Fabri-Tac. I put another dab of Fabri-Tac glue in the center of each flower and sprinkled microbeads in each. I wanted them to look natural, so I deliberately made the glue spots uneven. (Not perfect circle dabs of glue.)

5) Wrapped/twisted wire with gems:
I wrapped thin craft wire with floral tape, then curled it around a small dowel or metal rod. Once you take it off the rod, you can gently bend to give a more natural look. The chandelier beads or drops are acrylic and found in the jewelry department at JoAnns. The holes were large enough to run the wrapped wire through. Then I twisted the wires to hole the beads in place and twisted the curled wire around this twisted wire to make the clusters.

6) Feather:
I attached the feather with a couple glue dots. Here's what NOT to do to attach a feather. Fortunately the feathers came 2 to a package!! Spray adhesive does not work. My first feather got all matted up when I sprayed the adhesive on the back of it and it lost it's fluffy appearance.

7) Leaves:
Funny story here. We needed a trash can for our scrapping area one evening at the craft store where I like to scrap. The craft coordinator nabbed the one from the floral department. You guessed ~ it was full of flower stems loaded with leaves. We stripped the leaves off the stems, and I added a pack to my stash. These lovely leaves came from that stash, just the right shade of green for this page!!

Paper:

Teresa Collins ~ World Traveler – Filmstrip

Teresa Collins ~ World Traveler – Luggage Tags

Embellishments:

Silk Flower Leaves – rescued from the floral department trash where I scrap

Plaid ~ Inspired Classics Jewelry Collection - Green Gem Drops (Chandelier beads)

Special Day Sticker – Stash

Darice ~ Ostritch Feather

Technique Products:

7gypsies ~ Clear Stamps ~ INK Naked

Bo Bunny ~ Stamp and Store – Ornamental

Ranger Distress Ink ~ Bundled Sage

Cream crinkled voile fabric

Tea light

Martha Stewart Metallic Glass Microbeads ~ Green Agate

Darice ~ 24 Gage Craft Wire

Pale Green Floral Tape

Ink Jet Transparency Paper ~ Stash

Bazzill ~ In Stitch’z Floss – Black

Tools:

Bazzill ~ In Stitch’z Piercing tool

Scriptina Font – Internet (True Love)

Martha Stewart Corner Punch - Swirling Lace

Martha Stewart ~ Large Circle Punch

I have entered this at
Bird is the Word in the "Love" challenge.
Scrapbook Sisters ~ Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by. I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

RAK

Dont' forget that you have until tomorrow - Wednesday to head on over to ScrapFIT and enter a challenge to have your name put into the hat for my RAK, these cute little flowers I crocheted:

You can leave a comment here letting me know which Workouts or Warm Ups you entered and you'll get one entry for each.

Current ScrapFIT

Workouts:

#49 Put A Banner On It ~ Enter by August 31

#50 Be Inspired by a Book ~ Enter by August 31

Weekend Warm Up:

#12 Scallops ~ Enter by September 2

I have been asked to give a pattern for my little flowers. I will start by saying I just dabble in very simple crochet. I actually took a couple different patterns and played around with them to get these flowers. Here is my attempt to give you a pattern for them.

I used size 10 bamboo crochet thread and a size 3 (2.10 mm) crochet hook.

Crochet Flower Pattern:

Start with a Base Adjustable Ring (directions below)

Make 2 more chain stitches, then into your ring,: 5(1Hdc, 2 ch) Now pull your base adjustable ring to take up all the slack, then slip stitch into first set of chain stitches you started with.  (second chain from the top) This connects your first row, making a little ring.

Then for next row:

Around first set of chain stitches (Don’t stitch into the threads of the chains, but all the way around the entire chain.) 1 Hdc, 2Dc, 1Hdc, then Sc into Hdc from first row, repeat around the circle to make your 6 petal daisy. 

These instructions for the base adjustable ring came from Applehead.

If anyone is a master crochet artist and you have ideas for better wording in my pattern, please let me know. :-)

~ Blessings ~

Rollicking Fun Memories ~ Reveal Day at The Stamping Scrapper

These photos of Elizabeth and Maria pushing each other around in a barrel are so much fun! I haven't had the time to write up my normal blog notes, but hopefully can have more details and a flower tutorial posted by Monday.


It's reveal day at The Scrapping Stamper. Here is my take on Shannon's fun and fabulous sketch:

Now for Shannon's Sketch, which I turned on its side:

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Blessings~

L'entree ~ ScrapFIT Reveal Workout #50 Book Cover Inspiration

It's reveal day at ScrapFIT for Workout #50 ~ book cover inspiration.

After the 9/11 tragedy, our home education was modified to accomodate our children's interest in New York. Because both sets of Gary's grandparents had immigrated through Ellis Island, that became a focal point of our studies. In June of 2002, we had the opportunity to take the ferry through New York Harbor and toured Ellis Island in person. This layout includes some photos taken that day. 

Now that you've seen my layout, here is the challenge:

Workout #50 - Be Inspired By A Book!

I love books, especially kids books! They are great for little minds and they can also be great to spark your crafty creativity! Use the book cover below to inspire your next layout! Use the design of the cover, the color, or the vintage vibe - be creative!

In all honesty, I was a bit perplexed when I first saw this book cover. But, the more I look, the more inspiration I see. I decided to go with the ironwork light pole and French as my inspiration. Thus the ironwork light pole and French title. If you look closely, the background paper's script is in French as well. 

Just look at all the different types of inspiration here: Retro, Color, Fire Truck, Couple holding hands, City Life, City Sky Scape, Layout Design, Cafe, and I'm sure you can find more. Pick an inspiration and have fun joining the ScrapFIT Workout.

The winner of this challenge will receive this gorgeous prize sponsored by Precocious Paper ~ Summer Twilight Sampler a fabulous selection of handcrafted goodies. Click on the photo for more wonderful details:

Now head on over to ScrapFIT to see the fabulous inspiration layouts put together by our design team!

Techniques:

1) Rub a bit of Pitch Black alcohol ink onto metal embellishments to give them some age.

2) I found out that grungepaper does NOT hold up to a heat tool - it warps and shrinks, but you can give it some texture by applying a thick coat of gesso before painting. Be sure the gesso is dry before painting.

3) To dress up lace, add some hand stitching. I added a small french knot to the center of each flower on the lace.

Chipboard Close-ups:

Bronzed Chipboard and Crackle Chipboard tutorial:

Here are the supplies you will need for this technique:

~ Chipboard

~ Gesso

~ Brown Metallic or Bronze Metallic Paint

~ Perfect Pearls in Perfect Bronze, Cappuccino, and Biscotti (Optional)

~ Crackle Accents (Sorry I just noticed that I put glossy accents in the photo.)

Studio G or other black glitter glue (Clear glue with black glitter) I wouldn't use black diamond stickles for this because it has silver glitter mixed in. I don't have black soot stick distress stickles, but if the glitter is only black, that would work. I have Walnut Stain distress stickles, and that looks like it would work as well.

~ Distress Ink in Black Soot, Walnut Stain, and Pumice Stone with foam applicators (I used make up wedges.)

~ Assorted paint brushes

~ Heat Tool

~ Tweezers (optional)

~ Misting bottle (only needed if you use Perfect Pearls)

~ Not Pictured - glass or other heat resistant surface

Step 1:

Paint the chipboard you will be finishing in bronze with a thick coat of gesso, in this case, the flourish. I applied the gesso with a paint brush in one coat - very thick and kind of gloppy. 

The butterfly will be finished with crackle, so I painted a thinner smooth coat of gesso ~ it may take two coats to get full coverage.

Set aside your crackle piece to dry.

Step 2:

While the gesso is still wet, use your heat tool to heat the piece(s) or portion of chipboard that you want in a bronze finish. If your crackle and bronze is all part of one piece, just heat the portion that will be bronze, being careful not to heat the portion you will be applying crackle medium to.

Heat the gesso until it bubbles up as much as you want. If part of it doesn't bubble enough, just paint on some more gesso and heat again until you get the look you want. Once it cools down a little (make sure it is cool enough not to burn you, but still warm and pliable), with your fingers, pop down any bubbles that don't collapse on their own. If your gesso makes a kind of tunnel, just push it down as well, or break it off and push down the edges to smooth them out. This is a very forgiving technique. If you don't like a portion, just play with it until it looks right. You can see in my next photo that I did some more molding with my fingers before I painted the gesso chipboard.

For my sign, I heated just the ironwork portion - the sign I left unheated so it would be smooth for the crackle finish. I just didn't point the heat tool toward that part of the chipboard, and didn't worry if the "ironwork" was  bubbled all the way to the sign.

Step 3:

I'm not sure if it is clear in these photos, but the perfect pearls, add more of a metallic shine and shimmer to the chipboard. Totally optional. I first brushed on the Perfect Bronze, then over that brushed on some Cappuccino. Perfect pearls contains a binder that is activated by water, so once you have the perfect pearls brushed on, mist with some water - shown in the second photo. After spritzing, I blotted it dry with paper towels.

Step 4:

Use a foam applicator to rub Distress ink over the chipboard. First I rubbed on Walnut Stain, then followed that up with Black Soot. Don't try to cover the entire chipboard piece, because you want the bronze to come through. Just rub into the crevices and wipe off the excess. I'd say start with a light hand and then darken more a little at a time as desired. 

Step 5:

Now brush on some black glitter glue. I used Studio G, but any clear glue with black glitter will work. As mentioned in the supplies, I would NOT use black diamond stickles, because I don't want silver sparkle here, just some black to settle into the crevices to give some more age. The Black Soot Stickles might work. I haven't tried them, but if the glitter chunks are black in a clear glue medium, they should work.


This photo doesn't look a lot different from the previous one, but trust me, in peson the black glitter really adds a lot of age/grunge, that isn't showing up in this photo.

Step 6: 

Now let's finish up the crackle part.

Once the gesso is dry to the touch, paint the edges of the chipboard with the brown or bronze metallic paint, then with a nearly dry brush, pull some of the paint onto the edges of the gesso. Then when that is dry, rub some Pumice Stone Distress Ink around the edges for a shadow effect. If you happen to get some paint in the middle where it doesn't belong (Go ahead, ask me how I know?? :-) just paint some gesso over it.

I forgot one step that I did for my sign in the layout. I wanted an aged slightly yellowed look, so I rubbed Biscotti Perfect Pearls onto the gesso and then misted with water. I don't have a photo of this so you'll just have to use your imagination! :-) You could also use a pale yellow or cream paint over the gesso or rub a similar color ink over the gesso to get the color you are looking for. I wanted a bit of shimmer as well as the color, so that is why I chose the perfect pearls for my sign.

Step 7:

Once everything is dry to touch, squeeze a generous coat of Crackle Accents over the chipboard you want to crackle. I start at one side and carefully go back and forth until the entire piece is covered. If you get any bubbles, take the point of a needle and carefully draw the bubble to the edge where it can be eliminated. It will take several hours or over night for the Crackle Accents to fully dry. It cracks as it dries. You will see cracks forming at the edges at first, then slowly across the entire piece as it continues to dry. Cool isn't it?

RAK Opportunity:

Don't forget. If you a follower, complete a ScrapFIT Workout or Weekend Warm Up in August, and comment to let me know on my "Today" post, you'll get you're name in the hat for my RAK, a dozen of these little crocheted flowers that I made. I'll put your name in the hat for each project you complete, just be sure to leave a comment for each one. (Or one comment telling me all of the Workouts you completed.)

Paper:

My Mind's Eye ~ Lost and Found - Union Square "Beautiful Day: Paris

My Mind's Eye ~ Lost and Found - Union Square "Home Sweet Home: Collage

My Mind's Eye ~ Bella Bella - French Flea Market

Ellis Island Post Card and Ship Recored Images Printed from the Internet 

Idea-ology ~ Grungepaper

Embellishments:

Creek Bank Creations ~ chipboard sign post ~ 12 x 12 chipboard set - Light and Swirls

Creative Imaginations ~ Blank Chipboard Shapes ~ Marah Johnson (flourishes)

Vintage Sheet Music ~ From vintage hymn book in my stash

Idea-ology ~ Word Sticks

Idea-ology ~ Word Keys

Lace ~ from my stash

Metal Letters ~ from my stash

Queen and Co. ~ Chocoloate Delight Pearls

Floral Corner ~ Yard Sale Find

Technique Products:

Liquitex ~ Gesso

Ranger Distress Ink ~ Pumice Stone, Black Soot, Walnut Stain

Ranger Perfect Pearls ~ Perfect Bronze, Cappuccino, Biscotti

DMC Embroidery Floss ~ #931

Studio G Glitter Glue ~ Black

Ranger Inkssentials ~ Crackle Accents

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Paint - Metallic Glaze ~ Renaissance Brown

Tools:

Tonic Studios ~ Paper Distresser

Scotch Advanced Tape Glider

Darice ~ Heat Tool

Basic Grey ~ Precision File Set

Gazelle to cut Photo Mat, Thread Piercing Guide, and Title

I've entered this at:

Scrapbook Sisters ~ Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I so appreciate your feedback! Let me know what you think of my tutorial.

~ Blessings ~