Skissedilla #179 and a Winner!!!

Hey Friends!  Haven't been spending much time on the computer - creating like mad for upcoming things - including a huge craft show in my area I was accepted to (<--- more on this later) - tutorials galore - class content - and oh yeah some videos!!!! : O (<---- that is my shocked face LOL) Throw in running the daily haps for Salamone Kennels plus kid pick-ups and I'm officially busy.... so busy I forgot to post my winner and LO for this week's Skissedilla sketch.  On with the show!

I had so much fun playing with the sketch this week!

 

I find joy spending time in prayer each day.  Its a peace and escape like no other!  I'm trying to become more attuned with finding little reasons to give praise throughout my days - it truly reminds me of how blessed I am no matter what storm I feel I may be facing.  I also find joy in playing with words, puns, and pretty much anything that has to do with letters - this title fit my playful, praiseful side perfectly!

Playing with words......

Isn't that lil' lady pretty??  I actually think it was probably a male but it could have been a young female so we'll go with it!! I was so elated when my daughter came to tell me we had a praying mantis (my favorite!) on our window!!!  I immediately grabbed my phone, went outside, gave praise, and started snapping away!! I kind of have a thing for bugaboos - also have a thing for making my own stamps - the cloud and sun in this shot are my own designs (i use that term loosely) and I'm forever using them - oh and that woodgrain??!  Its wrapping paper from the dollar section at Target - run, don't walk people to grab some - they have other really cool patterns as well.

 .....different textures, hand carved stamps, and new mists....

New stencil alert - love the arrows and know this will become a well loved stencil - here I used molding paste through it and let it dry - cut my flowers out while waiting - then went back and sprayed over the arrows with some Heidi Swapp ColorShine - wiped away some of the mist from arrows in spots and built up from there - the chipboard flourish is ScrapFX and I'm so tickled at how it worked out as a tree

....ScrapFX chipboard, sequins, tapes, and more!!  All to create this crazily busy page....

Ahh, beautiful chaos!!  Just how I like it - I've finally embraced the fact I'm not a white space gal (just take a look at the sketch below and my page and you'll see what I mean ROFL)- God gave me creative gifts and this is what I envision so it must be all good - even if its not the trend - yep, guess we still have to take our lessons of not always following the crowd as adults and being okay with it

......from this rocking sketch my sweet friend Brit made!!

Does this or does this not make you wanna go out and take a photo of yourself or someone else jumping??!  Aaahh  so am going to try and do that before the weather gets to bad around here.  Wouldn't it be great for a jumping in leaves picture (if you're in the Northern Hemi that is)??

Alright next item to attend to is the winner of the Laura Childs book Postcards From the Dead - such a fun read!  I used random.org and was even able to get a screen shot (alright so it took me a few tries LOL)!!!  My winner is.....

 .... Ann!!! Yay Ann!!  Send me your mailing info and I will forward it on so you can receive your copy of the book!!

Thanks so much for dropping by - it really makes my day when I know I've had visitors!!  Take care and be blessed!

Skissedilla #178 - Num, Num!

Hello.  As I sit here I have a nice warm cup of tea, the window is open just a tiny crack to let in some cool autumn air, and I can hear the sound of the combines taking down the corn for the season.  Ahhh, I love this time of year with the exception of the cold winter it eludes to.  However I'm still hanging on to summer by scrapping some of those last moments - shucks who I am kidding - I have a ton of summer photos from who knows when til now that need to be scrapped, LOL.

The Everyday Eclectic line by Echo Park was the perfect set of papers to document these fun photos. I added a bit of subtle stenciling with some gesso and then swiped over it with some ink - I love this chevron pattern but it needed to be broken up a bit.

 Fair time is always my favorite!!!  I love the animals, food, atmosphere - oh I love it all.  My boys really love the State Fair because it has the infamous cream puffs - people are serious 'bout their cream puffs around here, LOL!

I used a cutie patootie ScrapFX chipboard cupcake - I know the were eating cream puffs but this is close enough for me.  I altered the piece with some pens and had to add some little sprinkles to finish it off.  The doily is made from a glittering technique I tried out using some spray adhesive and Crafter's Workshop stencils - I really like this doily but really prolly won't repeat the technique in the manner I went about it - I like fairly clean, unsticky stencils when all is said and done. ; )

 My daughter however could care less about a cream puff - the little note speech bubbe sticker was perfect to - well - note this! : )

More fussy cut balloons outlined with some pens to make them pop and unique to the page - wonder how hubbie will feel about his cheesy mug being plastered here front and center, LOL!

 Love hot air balloons to go with a fair theme - so reminds of Old World Fairs.

One final close peek - the mist splatters are from Heidi Swapp's new Colorshine mists!!! Oh dear me are they fabulous!  I'm planning on doing a bunch of playing with them real soon so I will share some new tag play soon - its been a while.

 I've very much fallen for the Studio Calico little wood veneer pieces - really excited for my order of stars to come in - I've wanted them for soo long and just when I get them ordered they go on back order, LOL.  Soon......

I love Skissedilla sketches so much!  Have you checked them out yet and what the rest of the amazing DT has to offer??  If not you're certainly missing out and if you have - YAY!!  Happy to have you playing along with us - I know I've seen a few scrappy peeps I know adding a link - so cool and really hope you all keep playing along!

With that I bid you all adieu for tonight - I've got a billion things on my creative do list and feel the itch to get going!  Take care.

Calling All Scrappy Readers - A Fun Giveaway!!

Hey there sweet peeps!  I'm so excited to kick off the month with a super special and fun giveaway!!!

A couple months ago I was contacted by Laura Childs - she writes mysteries and is a New York Times bestselling author - inquiring if I'd be interested in reading an upcoming novel to be released this week!! and writing a review.  I love to read so I was intrigued but she really roped me in when she said the novel she'd like me to read was also related to scrapbooking!! 

The following blurb is my review.  I was sent a complimentary copy of the book - my review is completely based upon my own personal opinion of the book.

I began reading Postcards From the Dead with a bit of apprehension, mysteries have never been my first choice in genres so I was nervous about how official giving a review sounded, but anything with scrappy tips included had to be good.  I dove in.  

The book takes place in New Orleans right in the midst of Mardi Gras and lemme tell you, Laura Childs paints a great picture for her readers!  I felt as though I was there.  Carmela is the main character and she is a scrappy shop owner - cool.  In her attempts to get some extra publicity for her shop she finds herself amidst a murder scene.  As the book unfolded I traveled along with Carmela throughout her day to day in the shop, preparations for Mardi Gras, and some murder investigation.  Numerous times I thought I had it all figured out but in the end my socks were blown right off!  Wow.  My friends I can say I told all in my family I was now a fan of not only Laura Childs but mysteries?!  How could I have not realized what a fun genre it could be to read?  If you love to read - mysteries or not - you will enjoy this book.  Its well written and left me wanting to read another. 

Throughout the book there are scrappy tips and project ideas (really fun ones) - I believe Carmela's shop would be delightful to visit.  -I was inspired to create this postcard in honor of my review - not that the book takes place anytime around Halloween - but spooky all the same and people do dress up for Mardi Gras, right? ;)

What fun I had doing this and now it gets even better..... I get to give away one copy of this book to one of my blog readers - Yay!!  Here's what you need to do to win:

- Leave me a comment sharing what types of books you like to read or a good book you've just read.

- Please share this giveaway at (at least) one other spot.

I will announce the winner on Monday and then will request mailing info to forward to the author - she will be sending the copy out - Eeek! so fun to receive a book from the author - am I geek or what??!  I don't care - it was cool. :) 

That's it. I can't wait to read your responses but in the meantime I get to dive in to my next Laura Child's book - oh yes Stake and Eggs here I come!!!  I'll have a new review for you all in a few weeks as well as another giveaway to share!

Take care!