Christmas Colors at CCC

Holy smokes! December is certainly whipping right along!!!

 

It's tag reveal day over at CATHERINE AND CATHY CREATE and in keeping with the holiday season our color challenge this month is........

 

Red, Green and White!

Be sure to play along with our color challenge and our other monthly challenges to win a wonderful prize!

 

Today I am sharing my little holly jolly Christmas tag!!!

 

 

 

My Christmas tag actually has a split personality though.....

 

 

It opens up into a Christmas card!

 

 I think I'll add this to my gift at my work Christmas party this coming weekend.

 

Supplies used in making this tag/card combo include:

 

Old Olive  card stock and ink

Cherry cobbler card stock and ink

Versamark ink

Heat and Stick emboss powder

Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Natural trim

ticket corner punch

Patterned Pines{ a Hostess set from a couple of years ago]

Yuletide Christmas stamp set

 

So head on over to CCC to join in our Christmas fun!

 Thanks for popping by today...Toodles!

Stripes Anyone?

Good morning Bloggerworld!

 

It's revel day over at CCC and this month's tag challenge is....

 STRIPES!

 

Here's my tag in all it's stripey goodness!

 

 

 

So nice to see bright colors on this snow filled morning...I'm trying to convince myself that spring is just around the corner and not months away yet. {Can you tell I'm not really a winter person...soooo in denial already ! :) }

 

For my tag, I used the following Stampin' Up products:

 

Pumpkin pie card stock and ink

doily and striped paper are older SU product from my stash

Designer vintage faceted button #127555

God's Beauty stamp set {retired}

Best of Greetings  stamp set #133485

SU Pearls  #119247

Dazzling Diamonds powder

Ticket corner punch

twine from my stash that I dyed with Pumpkin Pie ink

 

Hop on over to CATHY AND CATHERINE CREATE and check out the awesome projects by my fellow DT members , CATHY CAINES and RHEA SKOMOROSKI .

 

Thanks for popping by today ! Toodles!

Spring Double the Fun Sketch at CS

Good snowy day ladies { see... I AM trying to appreciate the snow ..BLECH! }.

 

Just to let you know ...there are still two days left to get your submissions submitted to

CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER

for their spring submissions call...so get scrappin'!

 

I'm sharing KELLY KLAPSTEIN'S Double the Fun spring sketch challenge with you today and not one, but TWO versions I did of this awesome sketch. I have to say, I'm really on a roll with doubles lately {mostly thanks to KELLY }. I was, in a previous scrappy life, a double page scrapper, but then sort of drifted into the single page LO's. I'm happy to be back doing doubles!

 

So here's Kelly's sketch:

 

 

 Here's my first take on the sketch:

 

OUR SUMMER BABIES

 

 

I used a combo of Basic Grey papers for this layout...mostly from the Serenade and Capella lines.

 

We have had robins nesting in our honeysuckle vine on the front veranda for several summers now, but usually the nests are buried too deep for me to get any photos. I was thrilled this year when she moved her nest to a more accessible location. Still not the most perfect, in-focus shots but beggars can't be choosers. I'm sure the neighbors thought I was nuts when they'd see me out there balanced on a lawn chair with my hand extended up through the honeysuckle!

 

And here's my second version of this great sketch:

 

A DATE NIGHT WITH OUR BOYS

 

 

I really needed to scrap this night's events. Not just because it was a fun night, but because it was so unique. I don't think my sister, Cathy, and I have ever just been together with our sons. Usually we both have our daughters tagging along too.

 But as it happened, my daughter, Chelsea, was back in Corner Brook working, and Cathy's daughter, Savannah, was gone camping with a friend.

It was a great opportunity to just do something with the boys.

We all enjoyed the glow-in-the-dark mini-golf !

I will confess that yours truly had the most pitiful score out of us all ,but.... I WAS the only one to score a hole in one that night { do NOT ask me how..ahem, fluke I guess!}. So of course that photo had to be front and center ! LOL

I was racking my brains trying to figure out what kind of masculine element I could use on this layout and then it came to me! I made a bunch of 'planets' to pick up on the theme that was painted on the walls at the mini- golf building! I simply used different size circle punches and scraps of corresponding papers.

 

Thanks for popping by today and remember, you still have two days to get your submissions in to CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER

for a chance to be published in the upcoming spring issue.

 Toodles!

Catching Up On Some Sketchy Challenges

Oops... I forgot to post my Sketchy challenge from CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER  from October and now November's is upon us!

 

So without further ado here are my latest sketchy challenge LOs.

 

Here's October's sketch by the talented SUE SYKES :

 

 

and here's my take on it....

 

 

I replaced the banners with hexagons. Little story to that ... I loved that Pink Paislee "Cottage Farms" from the moment I saw it but was having a hard time getting any. I managed to snag the frames and a pack of matching rub ons from the collection while I was in Phoenix in Sept with KELLY but couldn't find any paper. I used a Bo Bunny Gabrielle paper for the soft green and some Bazzill card stock for the dark gold color but couldn't find a pink to match. I improvised by punching pink hexagons from the packaging that the frames came in! Perfect match. This of course is a LO of my dear daughter, Chelsea, who recently turned twenty!!! GULP! I find that hard to believe as I'm sure I'm only about 28 ! LOL

 

On to November's Sketchy challenge. Here's Sue's sketch...

 

and here's my page...

 

 

 

I replaced the circular background with this Crafter's Companion stencil and some molding paste tinted with some  Vintage Photo Distress Ink refiller. Chelsea looked so cute in her Pebbles costume! The title font was free hand cut . I googled the Flintstones font and just eyeballed it when I drew it out...easy enough with a font that's supposed to look kinda rough anyway. My 'bones' were also hand drawn . I drew them on a piece of chipboard {from old packaging} then traced the shape onto ivory cs. I inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and with a little distress ink on the pad of a Q-Tip I smudged in the shading at the rounded ends of the bones. I finished it with a smear of white paint up through the center of the bone for a little high lightening.

 

Head on over to CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER and upload your take on their November Sketchy Challenge for a chance to be published!

 

Thanks for popping by today. Happy scrapping! Toodles!

 

 

 

A Puzzling Situation!

 

 

I've been working on a new art project! A bunch of my scrappy peeps over at CropCircles  and I are doing a puzzle piece swap. We each purchased a puzzle and sent a piece to each of the members in our group. We then alter each others piece in whatever way we wish and send them back to the owner . The altered pieces are then reassembled and Viola! We all end up with a unique piece of art filled with lovely little messages from our friends. Warning: LOTS of photos!

 

So here are the pieces that I have done so far....

 

 A pink Paislee rub on over Heartfelt Creation paper.

 

Heartfelt Creation paper and Studio Calico stars painted with Smooch

 

 

Awesome Stampendous metallic embossing powder { my new addiction thanks to KELLY KLAPSTEIN }on a wood piece.

 

Awesome paint splatter stamp colored with Smooch instead of inks.

 

 

 

Heartfelt Creation paper and Martha Stewart butterfly punch

 

 

Stampin 'Up embosslit butterfly

 

 

More Studio Calico wooden stars painted with Smooch

 

 Prima dancer charm and music note rub-ons by ?????

 

 

  Gabriella papers from Bo Bunny

 

 

More Bo Bunny papers

 

 

Can you guess that I did these three pieces at the same sitting? lol Bo Bunny again!

 

Lots of clock stamps...largest one stamped using the Stampendous emboss powder again.

 



 

This is one of the shabby colors in this line of Stampendous powders. Isn't it gorgeous???

 

 

Another in the metallic line of embossing powders...this one is called Hunter green

 

  

And this is the last one that I have done so far... I looooove the pink shabby embossing powder...soooo pretty!

 

 

I used a variety of stamped verses from several different sets including Unity Stamps, Inkadinkadoo,Tim Holtz and Maya Road.

 

I am soooo anxious to get my puzzle pieces back from the girls! Can't wait to get my puzzle re- assembled  and hanging on my craft room wall. I'll share that with you when it gets completed. Thanks for popping by today. Happy scrapping!

 

 

 

DT Post for CCC { Monograms!}

                  It's DT revel day at Catherine and Cathy Create and our tag challenge for October is

MONOGRAMS!

 

Here's my tag and I figured if I was making a pretty monogrammed tag to go up on my wall then I might as well use my own monogram, right?

 

 

 

Well I must confess that I don't actually own an alphabet set from Stampin' Up...yet! So I had to do a little improvising. I dug through my stamp sets and came up with a lovely Christmas stamp from two years ago called Christmas Postcard and by using my SU marker was able to color in just the "M" and stamp it onto white card stock.{ Perhaps I could suggest the alphabet stamp set to Santa? If anyone sees him could you pass that along ?}

 

Stampin' Up supplies for this project include:

 

Everyday Enchantment papers  126154

Christmas Postcard stamp 121428

Baja Breeze ink

Cherry cobbler ink and marker

Mambo melon card stock

white card stock

Dazzling Diamonds

Curly Label punch 119851

1 3/8" circle punch 119680

1" circle punch 118861

corner ticket punch

Natural Trim 129287

 

In case you are wondering where I used the circle punches.... I used them to make those paper flowers on my tag! Cute eh?

 

Thanks for dropping by today. Happy stamping! Toodles!

 



Black and Orange Challenge

 

 

Hard to believe it's October already! {well almost !}Time for sweaters and socks and everything cozy.

 

In keeping with the fall theme, there's a black and orange challenge going on over at CCC !

 

I immediately thought "Halloween" when I heard the color challenge but then I thought "No! " and decided to challenge myself to come up with a  non Halloween project using black and orange .

 

This is what I came up with :

 

.

My supplies included:

 

Sweet Little sentiment stamp

Butterfly stamp from "God's Beauty"

Pumpkin pie card stock

black card stock and ink

Dimensionals

Dazzling Diamonds

Labels Collection dies # 125598

Wood Grain Embossing folder #127821

 

  Head on over to  the CCC blog and check out the awesome creations of my fellow DT members.

Thanks for popping by today and Happy Fall! Toodles!

 

 

Sparkles!!!!

Well, it's a well known fact that a girl can NEVER have too much bling and sparkle in her life!

 

It's challenge #2 up at Catherine and Cathy Create and it's ...you guessed it SPARKLES!!!!

 

 

Here's my pretty little tag in all it's sparkly goodness:

 

 

 

I know, I know ...what the heck am I doing with a Christmas tag already????

 I used the following Stampin' Up products for this tag:

SU inks: Cherry Cobbler
       Old Olive
           Basic Black
              Staz On Black

Cherry Cobbler card stock
Stamp set "Bells and Boughs" #121142
Clear Embossing powder
Dazzling Diamonds
Silver Glass Glitter #120995
Cherry Cobbler Baker's twine #123125
Blender pen
 

 

 Pop on over to the CCC blog and check out all the beautiful creations of my fellow DT members.

And don't forget to participate in all three challenges this month for your chance to win some awesome blog candy! Toodles!

 

Chevrons!!!

 Good morning blog world! It's Chevron Day over at CATHERINE AND CATHY CREATE !

 

Chevron is the first monthly challenge at CCC for September. Play along with all three and you could win some blog candy!

 

My project is actually a birthday card for my oldest and dearest friend, Cynthia. { shhh...don't tell her!}. Cynthia hates it when I use that term...she says it makes her feel old lol . We have been friends for over 40 years having grown up across the street from each other...and that's the closest hint I'll give to our age!

 

 Here's a photo of Cynthia and I taken last week when hubby and I went out east for a few days.

It was nice to finally get to see her new house {which I'm ashamed to admit she and her hubby have been in for almost two years!!!}. Gosh I wish we lived closer to each other!

 

 

 

Here's my chevron project :

 

 

{ Little secret: I actually didn't have any chevron patterned paper so I made some!}

 

I simply punched out several rows of ivory card stock with an EK Success punch {called Zig Zag} and glued them down to a strip of Bermuda Bay cardstock. When it dried, I trimmed off the overhang, cut a "V" in the bottom of the strip and inked all edges with Soft Suede ink.

 

Stampin' Up supplies used in this project include:

 

Soft Suede , Bermuda Bay and Ivory card stock

 

Soft Suede ink

Bermuda Bay ink

Coastal Cabana ink

 

Apothecary Art stamp set { #125527}

Stampin ' Up Blender pen

 

Attic Boutique paper {#125407}

 

Please pop by CCC to check out the chevron projects by my fellow DT members. We'd love for you to share your chevron projects via the link up tool. Don't forget to participate in all three Sept challenges for a chance to win some yummy blog candy! Toodles!

 

G45 French Country Birdhouse

I've been playing with birdhouses again!

 

When I was shopping at Michael's during a trip to the east coast last week I stumbled across this adorable barn shaped birdhouse  and immediately thought " Ooooo...this would be gorgeous all dolled up with  G45  French Country papers!".

And it was!
What do you think?

 

and a side view...

 

 

The little cupola on top wasn't part of the original birdhouse. I created it from card stock and glued it to the top... What's a barn without a cupola , right?

 Here's a couple of more photos:

 

 

 

 

To view a couple of other birdhouses I've done 

with some other awesome G45 papers click HERE.

 

Thanks for popping by today! Toodles!

 

 

My Adorable nephews { and a Sketchy Challenge! }

Rob and I went to St John's / Mt. Pearl last week to visit my sister and her family. I'm sad to say we hardly ever see each other being on the opposite sides of the island. I'm ashamed to say that this was the first time we have been to her house in TWO years!!! 

I really enjoyed getting to spend some time with my two nephews. It saddens me that we are missing them growing up. We enjoyed Nathan's baseball game and taking them for little walks/bike rides around the neighborhood {and stopping into the corner store for treats of course!}.
Here's a few LOs I did using pics I took last week.

This first Lo is based on SUE SYKES August sketchy challenge at CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER.

 

and here's my take on it..... 

 

 

Annette and I had such a laugh when we reviewed all the baseball photos I took , because Nathan looks so darn serious in this one. He was a man on a mission stepping up to that plate! lol {and yes he did get a hit!}

 

While Nathan was playing ball, his younger brother Brady was busy doing his own thing. Brady has high functioning autism. Actually the kid is brilliant...just turned five, and reads on a Jr high grade level...yes , I said reads! and amazingly taught himself to read! 

But like all autistic kids, he has his quirks and one involves his hair! He simply refuses to get it cut ! Believe me, my sister has tried !!! And he just does NOT care that people think he's a girl.

I took these photos of him while he was running around while Nathan played ball. He is such a free spirit and I think I captured it in these photos!

 

 

My fav is the photo of him with his hair streaming behind him and back lit with the sun !

Thanks for popping by today. Maybe you can pop back tomorrow when I'll be sharing a new birdhouse I've done with G45 French Country papers. Toodles!

 

 



Polka Dots with Tutorial

Hey there! It's polka dot day over at CCC ! Ya gotta love polka dots! They are always so cheery!

 

I decided to play with the polka dot theme and make a mess...errr... create something rather than just use polka dot paper. I made my own polka dot stencil !

 

First I tried it with just card stock as my stencil base but that was sort of flimsy and truthfully was a bit too messy.

 

So then I fished out a scrap of acetate that I had lying around and proceeded to punch random holes in it with my Stampin' Up 1/2" circle punch and also the larger circle punch on my crop-a-dile. I  had to slit the acetate partially through the middle to add a few holes in there. I just had to be really careful when I added the temporary adhesive on the back, to cover the slit well so it wouldn't leak through. You can see the slit on this photo....

 

 

 I adhered my stencil to a piece of white card stock.

 

Now comes the fun messy part! I blotted my Strawberry Slush ink pad onto my non stick craft sheet a few times { I LOOOOVE those new pads ...they are sooo juicy!}.

 

 

 

Then I scooped a blob of model paste onto the nonstick sheet and proceeded to stir it up until it took on this yummy pink color! It looks like icing!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Next, using my palette knife {but an old credit card works well too!}, I spread a layer of that yummy pink goo over my stencil.

 

 

I let it dry slightly and then carefully pulled off my stencil and this is what I got!

 

 

Pretty, eh?

 My dots might not be perfect but I love the subtle dimension it added to my tag.

 

 Here's my finished tag...

 

Supplies for my project include:

 

SU Ink and card stock in

Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush and Baked Brown Sugar

1/2" circle  punch

Su ticket corner punch

Crop-a-dile

SU Embosslits Butterflies

SU Labels die

Sentiment stamp is "Feels Good" #129684

SU Dazzling Diamonds

Golden Model Paste

 

Thanks for popping by today...now head on over to CATHERINE AND CATHY CREATE and check out the polka dot projects created by my cohorts! Toodles!

 

PS: Did you notice that some of my butterflies even have polka dots on them??? I love that butterfly Embosslit!

A Few Graduation LOs and Kelly's Double the Fun Sketch

I'd like to share a few graduation LOs with you today. {WARNING! WARNING!! This post is photo heavy!} I've been busy as a beaver working on them and am finally getting around to posting a few. I've gone with two really different looks with these LOs. The school colors are black and gold and as all the 'Cap and Gown' day photos are of Scott and his buddies, I've stuck to a more neutral palette and a masculine feel.

 

My first LO is a 2 pager that I made based on KELLY'S awesome sketch for CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER 's Double the Fun challenge. There's still time for you to do a LO based on this great sketch and submit it to Canadian Scrapbooker before the August 15th deadline! You never know...you just might get published!

 

So here is Kelly's great sketch:

 

 ...and here's my take on it!

 



 

These guys have been best buds for many years and have had a lot of fun {and only a little trouble lol} together!

 

Here's a few more of the more masculine LOs. I really love this one ! It is so much simpler {read less cluttered haha} than my usual LOs. I find it hard to leave negative space so this is a breakthrough for me!

 

 



 

 

and a LO with the grandparents...

 

 

Check out these cool dudes heading off to graduation in fine style!

 

 

 

 I think this may be one of my favs!

 Little story behind it ...as you can see, there are photos of three of these guys on their first day of Junior high back in 2007. I had done a LO of them at that time and for some reason that LO popped into my mind on Graduation Day and I ran into the house, grabbed my old scrapbook and got the guys to do the same poses. I thought it made for a really sweet now and then type of LO. Don't you agree?

 

 

 

This next LO is based on the June Sketchy challenge over at CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER by SUE SYKES

 

 

Here's my interpretation...

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day of Graduation was the Grand March/dance day. Scott's date wore a beautiful fuchsia gown and this allowed me to play with more color and to make these LOs a little more feminine! I couldn't wait to use the BO BUNNY 'Prairie Chic' papers for these LOs. The colors in this collection were perfect! I've only done a couple of LOs of this more formal day {yet!. There'll be more I can assure you! :) }.
This first LO is based on the July Sketchy challenge at CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER ....another design by the talented SUE SYKES .

and my take on it...

 

 

Another LO using those gorgeous Bo Bunny Prairie Chic papers....

Last one I PROMISE!!!!! Look at those gorgeous eyes!

 

 

 

 So there you have it. This is what I've been up to the last two months. Hope you've enjoyed looking at my "baby's" grad LOs. I'm sure I'll squeeze out a few more ...grand march, dancing with his momma,...yup. ...definitely can come up with a few more yet! Thanks for stopping by today! Toodles!