Sunday, April 29, 2012

Skissedilla #161 & {ScrapFX}

Happy Sunday Everyone!!  Hoping this weekend has allowed you some time to relax and create amongst all the busyness a weekend can bring!

Skissedilla sketch #161 is up - this week Nabon made a crazy cool sketch to work with AND this was my week to post the blog -  that means I get to give away the prize there!!!

Lots of texture and boingin' color this week!! Ink and paint through stencils - stamping - doodle lines - and of course some ScrapFX choipboard along with some tape - gotta have a bit of tape on everything these days it seems, teehee.  
Deet shot with my phone - not too shabby - wishing well and duck chipboard pieces from ScrapFX - added fine pumice gel to the wishing well bottom to give a realistic stone effect to the piece - took a long time to do I'm not going to lie, but oh so worth it!!!  The rest of the piece was colored with inks and paint - sprayed with a sparkle mist to finish off - duck was coated with white opaque flakes to give a feathery look - painted over with pearl paint - added bits of orange paint for beak and feet
Someday I hope to have a few trees like these beautifying our yard - I love the delicate little flowers and the sweet smell given off!!

Another phone shot - better look at texture built up on base patterned paper - don't be afraid to change up your patterned paper - its fun to make what everyone else is using/has used look a bit different - rather freeing I think - the sun stamp is my own lil' design - nothing fancy but I use it a ton!!!  Its perfectly sunny and simple. =0)
Here's a gander at the prize I'm offering up so be sure to head over to Skissedilla, check out the sketch, and get scrappin'!!!

ScrapFX chipboard wordlet & tags, Maya Road canvas dress form piece & pins, Laliberi flowers, Webster's flower trim, Martha Stewart doilies, and some mesh (great for layering!)
Take care and enjoy the rest of your days!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

AJ Page & a Chance To Win A $150 Shopping Spree!

Hi Friends!  I'm here to try and make another post because I have all sorts of things that I just gotta share with you (like that chance to win a $150 shopping spree....did I mention its to any scrappy store of your choice!!)!!  So I will muddle through my computer issues and keep trying to post stuff.

First up a quick and easy art journal page I did for the April 15th Whatever and Whatnot prompt at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal.

I used mists, acrylic paint, stamps, washi tape (of course!!!), Pan Pastels, a Crafter's Workshop stencil, a Crayola neon gel crayon, punches, ink, and an OA wildcard along with my pictures.
It had been so long since I art journaled I couldn't find the last one I was working in!!  If you're curious about all the deets of the prompt you should follow the above link and check it out - really great way to jump start some playtime - I was feeling stuck in a rut so this fit the bill to get my creative juices flowing again - plus I have some fav photos placed in a new aj - you'll be seeing them on a LO or two as well - hope you don't get bored by them. ;0)

So - you wanna know how you can be entered to win a $150 shopping spree to your favorite scrappy spot??!!!


Just fill out a survey and get entered into a drawing for the chance to win a $150 gift certificate to the online scrapbook store of your choice. (It has to be some sort of paper crafting place so we can support the industry!) We'll soon release information on our new virtual classroom (coming soon!). In order to make sure we meet your needs and give you the best experience possible, we'd love to hear from you.
Also, if you become a friend of our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter, you'll get extra chances to win. Please note, you must register on our site or it won't let you take the survey. That's the only way we can make sure we have an accurate e-mail address to reach you should you win. By the way, you can only complete the survey once.


So yeah, pretty simple and the survey is real quick and easy - BTW did you see the sentence I made bold??!!!  Yeah, I'll have some REAL exciting news to share with you soon!!!  Eeek!  Can't wait!!  In the meantime follow he above links to get yourself entered for some scrappy cash!


Oh the damage I could do with $150 to a scrappy spot!!!  What about you? What would you pick out if you won??

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Skissedilla #160 - The Promise {ScrapFX}


Skissedilla sketch #160 is up and its another fun one!  I am always so inspired by the sketches the Dilla gals create.  This week Carrin gave us another terrific 8.5 x 11 sketch to work with!  When I started my page I had no good clue where exactly it would take me.  All I knew was I wanted to use this piece of ScrapFX chipboard:

My computer hasn't been playing nice - can't give you the details of product #, etc. right now - can tell you I gessoed the chipboard - painted with yellow glitter glue - brushed on gold mica flakes - and painted the ring - the diamond has some sparkly Goosebumps texture spray over it
and this picture I staged of my engagement ring:

Chip Chop Shop doily, washi tape roll, Prima flower (old school Prima, LOL), and my ring on top.
I brought them together, along with the sketch, to create my page:

Tad funky and eclectic - wasn't sure I was diggin' it at first - but it showcases the beautiful ring my hubbie picked out for me - has all sorts of snibbles of things I love - and I managed to use some of the mini heart confetti I've had hanging out in my stash for quite some time.
Sketch #160 - tons of possibilities!!!  Play along!!
Gel medium through a Crafter's workshop stencil - colored over with black gesso and Pan Pastels - doodled over with paint through a stencil and Caran D'Ache NeoColors II - heart confetti adhered with spray adhesive and some gel medium - lots of layers - cutie lil ScrapFX fairy - so sparkly misted with Psst! Shimmer spray (Tsukineko).

That is all for tonight - already took foreva' to try to get this post up - silly computer - fingers crossed for a new one or somthin'! ;0P

Have great starts to your week!



Monday, April 16, 2012

Skissedilla #159 - Adventure

Hey there everybody!!!  How's your Monday?  Ours is windy, windy, windy!  I can't wait until the crops get growing around here so the fields aren't quite as open.

Well Sketch #159 is up at Skissedilla and it is a fantastic one!! - Carrin created it and I fell in love with the fact it was an 8.5 x11 sketch - that never happens - I'm always trying to downsize, LOL.

Lots of ScrapFX chippies used on this page - so much fun altering them up - I'm not going to share too many deets because I'm thinking I'll post all that juicy info on the ScrapFX blog - teehee - such a tease I am because I'm thinking you may want to know how I did some of what I did - but alas I'm going to make you wait!!!  I can tell you I used up some of my large October Afternoon Thrift Shop stash - seriously crushed on that line!
See what I mean about the sketch being super cool!!  I love the whole office/clipboard feel I got from it before starting my page - I stayed pretty true to it as well with the exception of adding a picture and bellies where the big ol' ink splat is - not that I don't love a big ol' ink splat ;0) - just felt moved to add a photo instead.
So I won't be totally sassy - there are a couple detail shots I've got to show you all!

These are hands down my new favorite go to alpha!!!  They're called Itty Bitty Bets "Groovy" (2005104) made by ScrapFX and you NEED them - seriously they are the perfect size for any project - you'll be seeing them lots more in the future from me for shiggity!
This is a shot of my hand carved stamps - the hot air balloon and hexagons are my own design! - I'm really hooked on carving and could spend a lot of time thinking up designs!!  Have you tried carving your own stamps?
I've also linked this LO up at MSW for Ann's hexagon challenge - even though the page doesn't scream hexagon - they are still there. ;0)  Speaking of MSW if you're looking to participate in the hop going on until the end of tonight you can go here.

Have a wonderful rest of your day!!  Have you gotten those submissions ready for Scrapbook News and Review yet??!  If not you should totally put that on your to do list - just sayin'.  You never know unless you try!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

MSW Card Designer Blog Hop


Welcome to the My Sketch World Blog Hop!

Sketches, sketches oh how I love sketches. Well let me tell you how excited I am that today to we're going to show off the incredibly talented designers for our next term.

Join us now on our blog hop!

Here’s the skinny on how it works. Stop by each designers blog to see what fantabulous creations they’ve made using the My Sketch World April 15th sketch and get to know them. Be sure to leave a comment at each stop along the way because we're going to draw, at random, from the comments left on all 9 blogs (including the MSW blog posting), to receive a $20 GC to Scrapbook.com!

All comments must be made by midnight PST on April 16th. Tune into the MSW blog on April 17th to see if you are one of the lucky winners.

So without further adieu here’s the line up:

MSW BLog http://www.mysketchworld.com

Nicole Wise http://www.fourwiseguys.blogspot.com/
Suzann Jones http://suzannssmallworld.blogspot.com/
Jan Tatomir http://www.jantatomir.blogspot.com/
Majo Wybranietz http://majos-art.blogspot.com/
Lisa Moen http://lisasscrappyhideaway.blogspot.com/
Karen Zabuska http://www.calmcreations.blogspot.com/
Scarlett Salamone http://scarlettsscrapoirs.blogspot.com/
Stacey Wright http://spaceystaceyscrappygoodness.blogspot.com/
Lucy Chesna http://scrapperqueen.blogspot.com/

Back to MSW Blog http://www.mysketchworld.com



Hello my name is Scarlett and I am so excited to part of the team as Card Designer. I'm a former inner city teacher gone country.  I know reside on lots of land and stay home to tend to our family's kennel business where we raise and train German Shepherds.  When I'm not doing chores or watching my kids do their things, I love to create, create, create.  I fancy mixed media, bright colors, and cards packed with lots of little details.  I look forward to inspiring you and hope to see you at MSW playing along!

Here is the April 15th sketch from My Sketch World (link: http://www.mysketchworld.com )



Here is my example using the sketch:
I decided to rotate the sketch 90 degrees and from there I stuck with it pretty well - I misted, stenciled, and stamped on some dictionary PP - I used one piece as a layer and then cut out some clouds and the stamped sun - the rainbow piece behind the banners is actually duct tape covered with vellum - yep duct tape - love - the chipboard hearts (ScrapFX) are covered with a light layer of gesso and glitter glue

Thanks for being here and now its time to head to Stacey's blog to check out her creation.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Dreaming of the Beach

Hey there!  How's your weekend going??  Its been a whirlwind of a week around here preparing for the GSDCA-WDA National competition (Schutzhund Dog Sport)(hubbie is there now competing in the tracking phase today), start of the softball season for baby girl(two scrimmages+practice this week and an all day tourney about an hour away tomorrow), and cheering on my boy at track - whew!

All this running around has left me dreaming of the summer days to come when time on the beach relaxing can be spent!  Then this thought sparked the notion in my head I'd yet to share the LO I created for the Skissedilla DT call!!!  

I had a blast creating this page!! Tons of bits and pieces that have been in my stash for years were used on this page - Cosmo Cricket's Snorkel line is what I used for paper - loved this line soo much!!
I so wish my youngest was still this size!!!  I cannot believe how much she has grown in 6 years.... she is just about as tall as I am!!

I spread on some paint with a credit card and then added droplets of paint -  I loaded up a foam stamp with heavy gesso and stamped the waves - really like how this looked with no color - really subtle but still adding to the overall look and texture of the page - I need to do this more
I used a paper doily as a mask for the sun to sit on - layered a doily from The Chip Chop Shop over some mist dyed cheescloth and under a Maya Road bottle cap that was painted yellow (although you can't really teall) - and filled with sunshine!  Added layers of paper bits, photos, cheescloth, stickers, mini paper bags to finish off the page.
What are you dreaming of today?  I shouldn't complain too much - its lovely here today and I'm about to go outside to enjoy it!

Be back tomorrow with some super fun stuff for you!  Til' then have really terrific days!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Wanna Be Published??

Hey Friends!  This badge could be yours!:


Wanna know how??  All you have to do is head on over to SNR Magazine and check out the April calls.  To submit projects proceed to follow the links for online submission - then cross your fingers, toes, and anything else that tickles your fancy - maybe you'll be the next SNR pubbed creator!

If you've got any questions about how to submit - or are doubting your own greatness - leave me a note in the comments - I'll help the best I can!  I know I've got some amazingly talented readers so I hope to see your projects in the April issue!! 

Monday, April 9, 2012

Confetti Card

Monday has blown in around here - literally!!  I've been chasing things around the yard throughout the morning - even trying to anticipate what may be next and loading it down with weight - not really helping but that's okay.

I've got a card to share today - I know, I know - a card??  Yep - its been a while - other than my tape card challenge here - card mojo was hanging out elsewhere - but I found it - being under the pressure of needing a birthday card in about 30 minutes or less had nothing to do with - promise. ;0)

I added some stars to the background grid paper using VersaColor and a Crafter's Workshop stencil - these inks are really juicy and colorful - then I layered on stickers and paper.
Confetti is all over the place right now - I liked what I saw some people doing - didn't really think it was my thing though - Suzann's Confetti card challenge at MSW put me over the edge however.  I had to play along since I'd been collecting a bucket of punched out circles long before confetti was considered cool - no seriously - I was - I'll even admit I wasn't the brains behind saving it all - my hubbie was!!! - He's so great - love him to pieces!

Here I used a ScrapFX frame (Decorative Frame C Classic 2012046) to hold my sentiment and confetti - I stamped the frame with VersaMark, sprinkled silver Zing! embossing powder on it, and heated away - then I used an ink pad to color the rest of the frame - a baby wipe was used to wipe away ink from the embossed areas - frame was backed with stamped journal block - then sprayed with adhesive - confetti sprinkled on - I was able to move the confetti a bit to my liking before it dried - once it did - it was stuck for real!
If you have a fun project using confetti or any great tips I'd love to see/read them!!  Link me up - I'll stop by and let you know I saw it! 

Have a really fantabulous day and thanks so much for stopping by!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter, a New Sketch, and ScrapFX Chippies

Happy Easter Friends!  What a special day this is.  We'll be heading to my sister-in-laws house in a bit - for now enjoying a peaceful, beautiful start to the day.

After all the eggs are found - kids crashed from sugar - you may want to scrap.  If you do, head over to Skissedilla where Sketch #158 is posted and ready to inspire you. 

Nabon created this sketch and I love all the texture she created just in the sketch alone! 
As I was going through pictures one of my daughter on Cinderella's Carousel in Disney stood out to me - the orientation of the photo didn't go with the sketch's so I flipped the sketch 90 degrees and this is what happened:

Instead of using a large embellie where the car image is on the sketch I went with a photo of the ride sign - the ScrapFX chippies I was sent were perfect for this LO and I had a grand ol' time making them my own!!
I was kind of disappointed I couldn't work in any drips - but alas I couldn't see how they would enhance the look of the LO I had going - I'll be using this sketch again me thinks in order to get a little drippy - its so much to watch ink/paint run down a page - discover where its trail will lead.

This Carriage & Horse (2012034) chippie is so intricate and detailed!!  I was nervous I would wreck all the tremendous laser cut lines - I didn't and it was actually easier to paint up than I thought it'd be - bonus!! - did take a bit of patience though - I used Lumiere paints, watercolors, and gesso - the opening was backed with patterned paper and then filled with some glass beads gel - love how this turned out!
I'm an alphabet fanatic through and through - must be why I decided Early Childhood-First Grade were the levels I wanted to teach when I was still in the classroom - when I received my package from ScrapFX I was thrilled to find so many cool alphas to play with - the kicker is there are sooooo many more I NEED - seriously - you do too - I'm sure of it - not convinced??  Check it:

See what I mean???  Aren't these Freestyle Uppercase chippie alphas (2008006) terrific!!  I've got the lowercase set as well and can't wait to bust those out too!  I painted these pieces with gold Lumiere paint to match the carriage - then coated them with Diamond Glaze so they had a lacquer look to them.
Well, its time to get ready here and I hope you all have a really blessed day with your loved ones! 

Saturday, April 7, 2012

I Challenge You To Embrace and Tape

Hey, Hey, Hey....Its Saturday!!!  

That means my kids go back to school on Monday - YaHoo!! - Just playin' - well kinda - you know I swear the older they get the more needy they become - is that how its supposed to work??! - they were totally more competent as toddlers at doing things for themselves/helping out - tween/teen brains are in full effect leaving this mama ready for them to have more of their hours occupied away from - ;0)

This is what teen brain looks like - oh yes - the teen brain behind this photo is quite okay with the fact I'm posting it as well!

However I'm challenging myself (and you) to embrace them (your loved ones) today - not like I (you) don't now - but truly look at them and see who they are becoming - capture it -  because when it comes down to it they both do truly love their mama - share WAY more than I ever did at their ages - still like to hang out with me - Wow.

Her feet are the same size as mine now!

Before I get into all the details of my other challenge let me back the train up a bit - I received an email from my dear friend Lucy and it had a terrifically fabulous invitation in it - wanna know what?

She asked me to be a part of the MSW card design team again!!!!  What?!! What?!!  Of course I said for shiggity and there was no time to waste as April's month of activities had already started.



In an effort to create a card challenge I racked my brains - I needed something fun, quick, and easy - this is where the tapes come in - my obsession with tapes isn't new - oh no - this gal has been in love with office supplies since I was a lil' bit - its probably a larger factor than I'd care to admit in why I became a teacher - I figured I could whip something up with the three - yes three - pencil boxes full of tapes I've gathered - and those are only scrap mfg. ones - don't get me started on my box of hardware tapes - bowl of tapes from Target's office supply section - you get the idea.

These are the tapes from Target!  I totally can't get enough of them - perfect patterns - and fun colors - the yellow dots is my FAVORITE!!!  I think I may need more because I love the orange that came with it as well. ;0)  I see a LO in the future with this picture....
So grab YOUR favorite tape(s), use it(them) on a card in some way, and share your creation!

When I started on this card I challenged myself to only use tape for the main design - really out of my comfort zone - like how it came out - for the most part - I think the sentiment block should be a tad lower. - what do you think? Hambly, American Crafts, and Target's (shouldn't have tossed that packaging!!) tapes were used.
That's all I've got for now - off to hang with my kiddos - get a bit creative - play online - you know the good stuff!  Take good care and make today the best day ever - its the only one you'll get.
xx

Thursday, April 5, 2012

First ScrapFX DT Post is Live!!!!

What's shakin' bacons??  Guess what??!!  My first ScrapFX post is live!!!  I've had so much fun working with the ScrapFX chipboard pieces and I'm telling you run to your scrappy stores (or email if you shop online) and let people know you want this chipboard - because seriously - you do!  It is so versatile, durable, and there are a TON of designs.  

There are a couple stores in the states carrying them so if you're interested, email me by clicking on the big ol' envelope, and I'll hook you up with links.

A sneaky peek at my title work - these pieces held up to all the mediums I layered on!
So I really want you to check out my page on the ScrapFX blog - while you're there be sure to take a peek at the other DTs work and check out the store - need more convincing?  Here's one more teaser for you:

Lots of fun layers including a ScrapFX tag and tree piece.
So what are you waiting for??  Head over to ScrapFX and let me know what you think!
Thanks friends!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Neon!! + ScrapFX = FUN!!

Hey Friends!  I've been immersed in so many projects - its wonderful!  My table has been messed up and cleaned up numerous times today - so can't keep plowing through a mess - what about you?  Do you clean up after each project? Plow through?  Clean as you go??....gasp! (<---I've tried this one and it doesn't work well for me - I'm a go with the flow, pull everything you own out, kind of girl - yep, that's me!)

One of my favorite projects to work on was for Michelle's Neon Challenge being held on Yvonne Yam's blogMichelle has wonderful posts about her love of neon - you should totally check them out - and I have to say I've got a soft spot in my heart for the stuff as well - I loved getting decked out in all my gear when I was a tween - although I wasn't called a tween - we didn't have that label way back then - as my kids would say - for me, its like yesterday because everywhere I go in stores I see it!

Not entirely pleased with my neon selection I ran to the store - scored some terrifically fun neon gel crayons (Crayola) - colored through circle stencil (Crafter's Workshop) to create first layer - these crayons are COOL! - they glided across the cardstock like butter - left cool chunky rings around the edges - stenciled again using black ink to create arrows - this was cumbersome - worth it - but cumbersome!!! -  the black tag is from ScrapFX - more on those in a different post because I REALLY like them!
My daughter is all all over the neon craze right now - I was informed its very fashionable right now - she about dropped her jaw when I said I used to wear stuff that pretty much looked just like what she wants - oh the horror!!!! - Nah, its all good, baby girl says I look cute in ev'rything - she's the sweetest girl in the world!!!

Do you see that title??!!  Oh how it sparkles and shines - photos just don't do it justice - that's a ScrapFX wordlet chippie!!  Keep your eyes peeled on the ScrapFX blog this month because I'll be posting a quick and easy tutorial on how to create this look - there are even tiny confetti star pieces on it!!  Do you spy the other ScrapFX tag I used?? - the circle edge - love!
It felt good to knock out another LO from our Disney trip in 2006 - the album will be done in true freestyle/eclectic fashion - just the way I like it - ready for the full page?

So while I was at the Do More With Less blog checking out the neon challenge, I read post after post - Yvonne has an amazing amount of tips and beautiful projects to share - one tip I used and will be adding to my arsenal was using bubble wrap as a layer - I use it all the time to stamp - why hadn't I thought about layering it???! - Thanks Yvonne!!  Such a happy person I was - this totally toned down my background enough to let the rest of the layers shine! - And of course thanks Michelle for the super fun challenge!
I'll let you all know when my ScrapFX post with the tutorial goes live - in the meantime go leave my fellow teamies love - they are knockin' it outta the park!!!



Sunday, April 1, 2012

Skissedilla #157

Hey there and happy Sunday to you all.  Its dreary and cold here - one would think I'd be bummin' about that - actually rather glad.  I've got a couple projects in the works I want to finish - plenty more I want to start.  My first box of chipboard from ScrapFX arrived!!!!! and I so cannot wait to get started playing with some of that as well.  What about you?  Any scrappy plans for the day?

If you're finding yourself with a lack of mojo - or adore sketches as a launching pad - head over to Skissedilla to check out sketch #157 created by Nabon.

This week I stuck pretty close to the sketch - rearranged my photos a bit so I could fit all 5 - I think that's probably close to a record of some sort for me since I'm typically a 1-2 photo scrapper - oh how my iPhone has changed all that!
The stamped image on my LO replaces the tractor - you can see I took inspiration from the squares for the background I created
Letters are from Crate Paper and October Afternoon - I ran the woodgrain OA letters through my Cuttlebug and embossed them with a woodgrain folder - outlined them with a Sharpie - the other letters were outlined with a white Sakura gel pen - some bits of tape, journaling, and a stamped doodled border made this little corner feel complete.  The journaling reads: its always been a struggle for me to celebrate myself.  I'm a people pleaser through and through.  At 35....
...I want more.  I want to learn how to truly embrace who I am.  I also used the quote from the book "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett to go with my pictures - although I modified it a bit - "You is Kind, Smart, Important" - I believe every girl and woman should be told this repeatedly every day - for real.  The stamped image was colored with mica powders and a waterpen - love this technique and use it most often for my stamps.
Background was created with colored gel medium rubbed through a Crafter's Workshop stencil with my finger - allowed it to dry completely then added the ink splots through another CW stencil and Tsukineko VersaColor ink - the grid paper is actual grid paper from the office supply store.
That's it for now friends.  Hope you play along at Skissedilla this week.  We've got a new Selected Scrapper for the month and a fun RAK up for grabs.  

On the pneumonia front - thank you all who've prayed and offered special thoughts - I feel much better and am hoping the last of this garbage will be out of my system for good.  Again, thank you.

Have delightful days - See you soon.