it's a Heatwave!

Well we have been experiencing milder temperatures with loads of snow, but I'm talking about American Crafts new line "Heatwave". I love bright primary colours, and these papers are right up my alley! The basics in this collection can be used for anything- not necessarily a summer theme.

Here's the page I did with a great sketch from fellow DT member Heidi from Practical Scrappers.
The sketch challenge is on now at PS if you want to join in!

 

I love the title!- My friend Claude helped me with this one- she's such a whiz with titles!

All product is American crafts except for the striped border strip- which is Sassafras. All Patterned paper is from the Heatwave collection except for the red one which is from the new Abode line.

Dust off your stamps!

Yes I'm talking to you!  When is the last time you used a stamp other than to make a card? what did you use it for? can you honestly say you've made good use of all the stamps you own?

I sometimes use my stamps, although there are still loads in my collection that have never met an inkpad.
Now that I have a huge investment in stamps, and  now a new investment of markers, I am trying to dig out my stamps more often. How else can I justify buying new ones, if I'm not using the ones I have?!

This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers helped me think of a few new uses for my stamps, and hopefully will inspire you to dig yours out as well.

This is such a different page for me, but It felt good to push the envelope a bit.
 I started by stamping the large star shape using the negative from a star cut using my Cricut. I  simply laid it over my background paper, and secured with a bit of masking tape, them stamped until it was filled in using a texture stamp. I then added green and blue star stamps before lifting the stencil off.
I stamped the cute little Dragon boy and coloured him using my Copics, as well as the small stars to which I added a bit of diamond glaze. My title was also cut using my Cricut, but I used Prima Simply smooth for the lettering, and then stamped and coloured again with copics. Although the image stamp I used isn't really recognizable, I kind of like the effect it gives, and how it ties in with the other stamp.

5 things on this page that are strange for me:
- a photo of my husband ( I know he doesn't like being in my layouts online, so I don't often include him in photos- sad I know!)
- Copic coloured stamps
- a diecut title
- Whitespace!!
- brads

If you're looking for a little change of pace, check out the design team's ideas at Practical Scrappers, and join us in the Stamp challenge!

Materials:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Prism Simply Smooth
Pp: Scenic Route
Stamps: Prima, Stampin' Bella, Fancy Pants, Sandylion
Ink: Staz On, Memento
Brads: Doodlebug Design Inc.
Pen: Copic Multiliner SP 0.5
Markers: Copic

Scrappy extremes

Last Saturday, I created 3 layouts. I can't share 2 of them with you yet because they are for Design team projects. What I can tell you, is that one was for a sketch challenge, and I used the new Heat Wave line from American Crafts. In the manner of Ren and Stimpy I sing:  " HAPPY! HAPPY! JOY! JOY!"
A new favorite! I love the bright colours paired with that clean AC style!
anyhoo- I'm just posting today to tell how the same papers can be used to create very different moods.
I also created this layout with the happy papers- although I was going for a sad feel.
Makes ya just want to give him a hug doesn't it?

 

You'll see the difference when I post the other page on Friday.

Tomorrow is my day at Practical Scrappers, and this week we've dug out our stamps!

It's worth checking out the fun ideas and techniques posted so far this week!

Erin

Zombies can't scrapbook

Or at least I don't think they can. Yes it's past midnight and I'm up. What you don't know, (and now will) is that I've only been up for a half hour. We got the kids to bed by 7:30 today as usual, as soon as I closed the door to my 3 year old's room, I crawled into our room and into bed fully clothed. I heard my husband ask incredulously "You going to sleep?" and remember muttering something like " "just for a little minute" as if I was already halfway to dreamland, and not able to speak coherently anymore.

I haven't been sleeping much lately, and was wondering why my creative drive suddenly vanished. no warning just *pooF* gone. Well duh! I'm going back to bed after this post, and hopefully Mr. Mojo will be waiting for me tomorrow when I wake up. ( Hopefully Mrs. Patience is there too, my kids miss her horribly!)

This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use flowers. Using flowers isn't really a challenge for most people, but if you're like me, you've got tons of them, and no reason to get them on a layout. While I'm not at all opposed to putting flowers on boy pages, it's not something I do all the time.

I thought of using flowers this week as a base for my layout, instead of just as icing for it.  I had seen a really cool layout ( can't seem to find it again-sorry!) with layered circles behind the main photo. I thought- hey why not use flowers instead?

 

You may recognize the photos of my doggy nephew Winston from a post a few weeks back. He visited again this past week end, and although he's much bigger already, he's still just as cute!

I added Glimmer mist to all my flowers, and an assortment of bling.

Materials: 

Pp: Bella Blvd, Pebbles, Jillibean Soup

Flowers: Prima 

Glimmer mist: Tattered Angels ( Raven, Tattered Leather, Coffee House, Pumkin)

Letters: American Crafts, My Little Shoebox

Bling: Martha Stewart, Mark Richards

The dogs were cut using my Cricut ( a Child's Year) and embossed with the swiss dot Cuttlebug folder.

they are cut from kraft paper sprayed with Glimmer mist.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I must say I've been spoiled yet again this year by my Husband. He arrived Friday night with the most beautiful roses, chocolates and a silver cherub/heart charm for my charm bracelet. He told me he wanted to be sure he covered all the bases! It's been a rough few weeks for me, and he's been right there helping me through it with small and large gestures of his love. I am so grateful I took a chance and started dating my best friend 13 years ago.

Oh enough with the sappy stuff already, and just post a layout Erin!

I was a little giddy Friday night at crop, as my pal Claude had shopped through my stash and photos, and created a kit for me to use. It was fun to change it up a bit, and I loved working on the layout, even if I'm not so happy with the lackluster journaling.

Although I used the new Valentines line from My Mind's Eye, the photo is actually from last Canada day. I'm seriously thinking I'll go back and change the journaling when I'm not so emotionally drained. but if I don't get to it, I think we'll all survive :)

Materials used
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
PP: My Mind's Eye- Love Me Do, Fancy Pants- Splendid
Felt: Fancy Pants
Chipboard: Fancy Pants, Colorbok
Transparency: MME
Die cuts: MME, Cricut-Going Places
brads: Doodlebug Design Inc.
letters: Kaiser Craft

Brad Challenged !

I must admit, I'm not a lover of brads. I think it may be partly due to the fact that I move stuff around constantly on my page, and well...once you've got a hole in your layout your options are kinda limited. I collected all kinds of brads when I first started scrapbooking and was trying to find my groove. Now like many other scrapbookers, I have tons of brads- in different shapes, sizes and colours that i'm not using. They'd probably be great as flower centers, but then that would mean I was actually using my flowers too!

Well as part of this week's Brad Challenge at Practical Scrappers I stepped out of my comfort zone, and created 3 cards using brads.Who knows...maybe, just maybe, I'll start to love them again.

 

  

  

Happy Thursday!

Erin

the blind leading the blind...

This is my first real tutorial, so bear with me! If anything is unclear ( there is a huge possibiity that that will happen) just let me know.

I will say this is to make a valentine, but the truth is, I'm still not sure what I'll be doing with mine. It may end up framed as a V-day decoration.

Begin by cutting the "leading" from the  Valentine Cricut cartridge-  Lovestruck.
I'm pretty sure I cut this at 6 in.

 

I used Coredinations cardstock for this, because I love the deep grey, but I don't suggest this for this cut, as the layers of the cardstock tend to tear apart easily. 

Mist the shape using silver  Glimmer mist. I found it helped to press it under newsprint and some heavy books to keep it flat while it dried.

**The next step is to cut a background using a good marker paper ON YOUR CRICUT. I use Prism simply smooth with my copics. **( I'm not used to my cricut yet, and forgot I could easily cut the blackout shape to go behind my lace cut, so I cut my paper to fit by hand after colouring)

Apply a bit of temporary adhesive to the back of the cherub piece to glue it to the backing. ( I used a Zig pen and let it dry before sticking it to the backing.)

 

Trace each opening with a light pencil, then remove the cherub to begin colouring.

Don't worry about perfect colouring, the cherub overlay will cover all the lines later, along with the messy bits. The goal is to create a darker rim around each piece with a lighter center. I kept the darker colours toward the bottom edges of each area. I can't list the colours I used, because I'm all over the place when I colour, but you don't need my list anyway. Try different lights and medium darks, and add in darker colours until you get a look you like. Remember to get the best effect, you want to work on a small area at a time, while your ink is still wet. I had a bit of an accident with a brown marker on the cherub's arm, but I managed to clean it up fairly well with my blender.

It'll look really messy and you'll be doubting me by this point, but trust me, it'll come together when you add back on the overlay. 

Reapply a permanent glue this time to the back of the cherub shape. ( I used the zig pen again, but stuck it down while it was still wet.)

This is where I cut my white paper to match the grey cardstock shape. (You will have been wiser, and cut yours in the beginning with the cricut!) 

You could stop here, but I decided to add a frame on mine using the From My Kitchen cartridge.  I cut 2 ovals from patterned paper. ( p68 Ovals Shadow)the black one at 5 1/2" and the pink  at 6". layer these, and glue on your masterpiece. 

Now for the surprise... ( this is especially for Bella!)

I decided to try the trial version of SCAL that I had on my computer with my Cricut the other night. I didn't have any SVG files, so I decided to import an image and trace the outline for fun.

The result?

Yep- that's using an outline cut from a digital  The Greeting Farm stamp. ( Her head is 5 1/2" across ladies!!)

I can't share the file with you, because of copyright issues, but if you have any of these digis, it was super easy to create! If you don't have any, they are only 3$ and an be found at the link above. 

Thanks for making it to the end of this very long post!

Erin

Soup-er post!

Hiya!

I'm excited to have 2 layouts featured on the Jillibean Soup Blog today for their Soup spotting Wednesday! The last few times I've been to check out the blog, there have been girls from the Mix it Up DT that I was part of -the very talented Juliana Michaels and Melanie Blackburn. It feels good to be in such great company!

The 2 layouts are older ones, but I love the Jillibean product combos still!

 

I'm also working on a tutorial that I promised for a stained glass look- valentine. I got a little overzealous and also discovered another little surprise that I'll share a little later today ( if the kids permit!)

Thanks!

Erin

free digis- for a special Valentine...

Hi,
 I just wanted to let you know that one of my new favorite stamp designers- Dustin Pike is giving away 3 sweet Owl Digi stamps. All you have to do is make a valentine for a special girl who is battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia. ( and brighten the day of a little girl)
Go check it out at here.
Let me know if you decide to participate...

 

Here's my card. I couldn't wait for Dustin's stamps, ( which I received before I was even done scanning this!)so I used a Stampin' Bella Owl. I know it looks like he's floating, so after I scanned the card, I drew in some flutter lines under his wings.

Thanks,
Erin

Dying to die cut

I've been easing into using my new Cricut. I must admit, I'm still not sure how it's going to fit into my scrapbooking style. I know it will, but I'm still trying it on for size. One thing I know, is that I'm not feeling the lettering for use on pages. I love my Thickers and letter stickers so much, I just can't envision replacing them. What I did discover while I was doing this page for the die cut challenge at Practical Scrappers is that die cuts can be a fun way to add oomph to my titles without sacrificing those yummy stickers.

Materials:
cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
pp: Basic Grey
buttons: American Crafts
chipboard: Maya Road
letter stickers: Basic Grey, Kaiser Craft
ribbon: American Crafts
Ink: Colorbox
Cloud shapes and Eyes from Cricut Graphically Speaking Cartridge

Valentine's Decor?!

I'm not usually one to make altered items, but when I saw this little mailbox last night at Walmart for 4 dollars, I couldn't help it. I tossed the premade valentines that were inside, and dug out my favorite Valentine papers from my stash. ( These were  from Fancy Pants' Splendid line).
A little ribbon from Bo bunny, a Doodlebug Frill and lots of glittered chipboard ( American Crafts, Scrapworks) and voila!
What I love most about this are the LED's that go on when the door is opened. I  punched holes in the pp to make room for them, then added some large eyelets to frame them. I hope this holds up to the abuse of my boys for at least a couple of years!

I'm sure gonna have fun filling this up with love notes for my guys!