Paris Acrylic Album

I have been hoarding a few acrylic albums and pieces since when they first came out (um, okay, maybe a bit more than just a few -lol) Anyway, I decided to do a mini album on our trip to Paris and I wanted to use one of my Acrylic Albums. This is the very first one that came out from PageFrames! I used mostly just primas, some cardstock journaling strips, bling and stamps with brown stazon. Oh, and I had bought a Paris chipboard pack, so of course I had to break those out!

Oh, and the pictures suck. One, because its really hard to photograph something clear, and I realized when I uploaded they looked blurry. So I looked at my camera and there was a tiny fingerprint right over the lense!! AGGHH! Oh well, I'm too lazy to take the pics again, so this is what you get. Be sure to click on the picture to get a larger pic to see the detail. Thanks for looking!

Happy Easter!!!

I almost forgot!!! The tutorial for the Easter Card and Jelly Bean Box is up over at MBI! Enjoy!

You can also find Beate's Milk Carton tutorial here.

New Kit to Check Out

A friend from ScrapGoods has started her own kit club. Commit2Paper looks yummy - I know I got my order in for the first kit!! Go check her out!

Some New Layouts

It seems these days that I only do layouts for challenges! LOL! Sometimes I have so many challenges 'due' that I combine them when I can! I'm not complaining, challenges spark creativity in me, but the other day I sat down to do a layout and was totally uninspired. I think I'm going to make a challenge jar up for myself and just pick a challenge when I need a starting point!!

This one was done for a sketch challenge and a 'around tuit' challenge over at Memory Book Inspirations. We were supposed to pick something to do that we've had on our 'to do' list and never got 'around tuit.' I stuck pretty much to the sketch. Pics are of Ruby-Roo! And I added hambly rubons because I messed up the pic on the bottom one and needed a rub to cover it! LOL!This is another two-fer! LOL! I combined a the two page layout challenge for Tuesday's Mini Crop over at Memory Book Inspirations and the Ad/Art challenge at From Here 2 Scrapternity. The splotches are emboss resisted flourishes... didn't quite turn out how I imagined, but you CAN see the splotches in real life.
Sketch Challenge Layout for Gettin' Sketchy and the Color challenge at From Here 2 Scrapternity. We were supposed to pick 2-3 main colors and a 'splash' of a contrasting color!

Caard{varks} Challenge

Its been awhile since I've done a Caard{varks} challenge. I am subscribed to their blog, but for some reason I haven't been receiving the updates... hmm... Oh, and did you know that Caard{varks} and Itty Bitty Scrap Shack are teaming up to offer a monthly Caard kit!!! Check it out on their site! COOL!

Anyway, this week's challenge is to make a card with a transportation theme. Um, I own exactly ZERO things with cars, planes, trains, buses, etc on it!!! GRRR!! But you can 'transport' things in a wheelbarrow! Hey, it works, right! LOL! So here is my card for their Transportation Theme. Thanks for peeking!

Craft Fair This Weekend

Here is what I made for the craft fair this weekend:

8x8 black and white and pink girly album - 10 pages total - GONE

8x8 Disney Princess Album - 20 pages total - GONE

Some mini books, from left to right:
Friends
Happy Birthday
Minnie Mouse
BG Brag
Friends/Family: GONE
Matchbook w/flower: GONE

2 Accordion albums, one is 6x6, the other 4x6 - GONE
This one is my favorite and I'm secretly hoping it doesn't sell so I can keep it!! I used the MM Noteworthy journal book pages and made a cover of transparencies - GONE

13 12x12 Layouts complete and ready to add pictures. Click on pic to view larger
Ariel
Vacation - GONE
Pooh - GONE
Butterfly - GONE
Blue and Green stripe
Birthday - GONE
Love
Boy Star
Love this face
Purple and green flower
Belle
Pink and Yellow
Blue and Green swirl

3 5x7 altered frames

2 Altered clip boards - GONE

5 altered mini books for notes

IBSS So You Think You Can Scrap Contest update

This last weeks entries were awesome!! So awesome that I didn't make it to the next round :( Oh well, I got some awesome layouts out of it and can't wait to see what the wonderful ladies come up with next!!! To see all the rounds (trust me, some great inspiration there!) visit the gallery!

Now I'm going to work on getting mini books and layouts ready for the Craft Fair this weekend... why do I always wait until the last minute!!! LOL! I've made 4 mini books and 8 layouts since Saturday though!

More Layouts!!!

Here is my Round 3 entry for the So You Think You Can Scrap contest over at Itty Bitty Scrap Shack. The challenge this week was to use fabric, doodling, handwritten title and journaling and a two page layout. Here is mine, wish me luck!
This LO was for the Birthday Challenge over at Scrapbook Takeout. They are celebrating their 1 year anniversary this month :D
This LO was done using the January ScrapBook Takeout kit. Just a fun pic of me and my sister.

Emboss Resist and Tone on Tone Designs

Our very first MBI Embossing Party is up over at Memory Book Inspirations!!! Join us over there to learn two different heat embossing techniques. I am offering RAKs to everyone who posts both techniques in the Embossing Party thread over there. So sign up for some scrappy goodness!!!!
Here are some examples:
Emboss Resist with white EP


Emboss Resist with clear EP on patterned paper


Tone on Tone Embossing


and the finished LO

I love Challenges

Challenges really get my mojo going. They are tons of fun and I love doing them! So here are a few that I've done recently:

YAY! I made it to the next round of the 'So You Think You Can Scrap' contest over at Itty Bitty Scrap Shack. The challenge was to use: 4 photos, rubons, bling, 3 pieces of PP and ribbon in a creative way (the ribbon is the cut scallops framing the sides of the main pic). Here is my entry this week! Hope I make it to the next round!

This card was done for a sketch challenge over at Memory Book Inspirations. There is a new card sketch posted every Friday - here is my take on this week's sketch:
This Layout is for the Telephone Scraplift Challenge at ScrapGoods. Our names are put on a list and the first person is emailed a layout, they lift it and mail to the next, and so on. Its neat to see how the layouts evolve from the original. Here is my entry for February:
Isn't this painting ADORABLE!!! I love it, it was the inspiration for the Ad/Art Challenge over at From Here 2 Scrapternity.
I loved the painting so much that I basically copied the owl and branch for my layout. Everything is paper pieced together (took me forever!) Pics are of me about 1990-92 being crazy:
This layout is for another Ad/Art Challenge at FH2S. It was a Gymboree (I think) Ad that I took my inspiration from. This is Karis at Halloween - note the candy stash in the bottom left corner of the picture. Title reads Every little girl is a PRINCESS at least one day a year.
This layout is the cover page of my BOM. This was done for the January Contest over at FH2S. What's in a name... yep - that ME!

Layouts using Making Memories Products

Easter Card and Jelly Bean Box

Just wanted to show you all the class I have planned over at Memory Book Inspirations. We will be making a coordinating card for Easter and Jelly Bean Box. The class will be held Saturday, March 15th, just in time to get a few of these made for your Easter Bunnies! Please join us over there next month. Registering is easy and FREE!

SYTYCS Round 1

Round One over at Itty Bitty Scrap Shack is closing Thursday Feb 14 at 8pm PST. The challenge was to use the following items - and NOTHING ELSE!!! It really was challenging, but I'm happy with what I came up with.

1 piece of cardstock
2 pieces of patterned paper
Any alphabet letters
buttons
handwritten journaling

yep, that's it, no ink, paint, doodling, etc! Jeez!!! Here is my entry:

How To: Heat Emboss Tutorial

YAY! My first tutorial is up over at MBI University! There was a lot of interest in learning how to Heat Emboss and other Heat Embossing techniques. I posted a basic tutorial and then I will be holding 'Embossing Parties' every month focusing on new embossing techniques! So head on over to Memory Book Inspirations and sign up for the forum to join us in the fun!! Here are some of the examples I posted.

TOOT!! and a Tag

Okay, so I am totally PSYCHED!!! on becoming a part of the 'Mod Squad' over at Memory Book Inspirations. Salina and Jennifer have asked me to moderate the MBI University forum over there!! I will be showcasing new techniques and how to classes. I have tons of ideas and fun things planned - can't wait! And they have monthly challenges and contests as well. So sign up on their forum and join me over there for some fun!

Oh, and Andrea tagged me!
al
FAVORITE SITES

I'm a message board addict! My favorites are linked in the sidebar ;-)

I'm also addicted to stamps... besides the obvious, here are a few of my favs:
Wildflower Stamps
Sideshow Stamps
Stampin Bella


CHALLENGE FAVES

{Caardvarks}
Gettin Sketchy


GUILTY PLEASURES

Sleeping in until my kids have dragged me out of bed (9:30-10 sometimes)

Pecan Cinnabons


CREATIVE FAVS

oh wow... I have TONS of blogs on my blog reader list

CLOTHING FAVS

jeans and t-shirts... although jamas are might comfortable too!


Now I will tag...
Tara
Marinka
Betsie

Valentine's Schmalentines!

So I have been making tons of Valentines!!! Challenges, Contests, Crops - its the month of love and they all want Valentine cards. LOL! Um... I only have one Valentine - looks like he's getting cards for a week straight ;-)

First, this card was made for the {Caardvarks} XOXO Lovefest Challenge. Used Love, Elsie PP, rubons and sticker. Some doodling and Queen&Co felt ribbon cut up for flowers.
This lovely Valentine was made for the Valentine Card Contest over at Happy N Scrappin' She has awesome deals in her online store. Make sure you sign up for the newsletter email list to be eligible to vote in the contest if you enter. SU red cardstock, Polar Bear Press black PP, some Heidi Swapp flowers and a white button I made black with embossing powder. Be Mine K&Co icicle and misc. ribbon.

This one was just because. LOL! Actually, Jen over at Itty Bitty Scrap Shack inspired me with her card based on the PageMaps sketch here. Stamped white CS with an Autumn Leaves flourish... red PP is leftover from my christmas layout I did... it has some glitter in it too. 3 Bugs in a Rug sticker and heart cut from cuttlebug.

And these last three were done as part of the challenges over at All Moments Remembered for the online crop last night. I got three challenges done before I hit the sack.

This one was to make a card using black CS as a base, 4 hearts, ribbon, buttons, and pink and white paper. I only had my scrap box and a few other things because Dustin was sleeping in my scraproom (our bedroom).

Mini warmup for the AMR crop last night. 4x4 card using scraps and a heart stamp from my new Fancy Pants Garden set.
And last but not least, this challenge was to make your own PP. FINALLY! I could do an un-valentine! LOL! Paper is stamped with cherry blossom stamp from Fancy Pants Garden set and colored in with Twinkling H2Os. Sentiment is on foil paper - this card is really shimmery and gorgeous in real life, I promise!

Thank you so much for looking and I appreciate all your comments!!