CLOSER - Scrap Our Stash April Sketch Challenge { & Video! }

Guess What Day It is....?? Hump Day...woot, woot!Sorry, that is what my kids say every Wednesday morning...they love that crazy camel.

This is the LO I did for the latest Scrap Our Stash Sketch Challenge on their Blog!

This is the sketch which I stuck too pretty closely,
although it may be hard to see since I had so many patterns going on!

I also made a video showing my process from Start to Finish.

You can check it out here by clicking the video above...or on my YouTube Channel HERE.

For the stash part my papers included the large background piece fromDear Lizzy, the piece of striped paper from Amy Tangerine that I stampedon and the 6x6 My Mind's Eye behind the photo.

For embellishments I used several pieces of ephemera from Heidi Swapp,

the vellum hearts slide frames from Crate Paper and the gold banner flag from Studio Calico.

I used a couple chalkboard labels from American Crafts to help make my title pop!

The title letters are with the awesome gold foil alphas from Pinkfresh Studio...

my DT reveal for the Pinkfresh Blog is in a couple weeks!  Very excited!

Check out the Challenge specifics and Rules on the Scrap Our Stash Blog.

You have until April 29th to link up your entry to be eligible for the prize!

Thanks for stopping by!

FRESHFULLY - Be Real at Scrapbook Circle

This is a page I shared on the Scrapbook Circle Blog last week.  I am sharing a page I created using some of my recent Instagrams and the April kit, Bucket List.  I don’t do Project Life, not yet anyway, but love Instagram!  I love my DSLR camera and admit I should carry it with me more, but my phone hardly leaves my side.  So, I use Instagram a lot and love all the apps and filters too.

These photos were great because it was the first piece of Spring from our garden that I cut and brought into our house.  I love going to a florist shop or getting flowers from my sweet husband, but there is nothing like growing your own blooms to enjoy!

I knew I wanted to use these photos and the piece of Amy Tangerine paper, that has some watercolor like areas on the corner in a green and yellow.  I tried to add onto that and match the colors by watercoloring yellow up the paper.  I wanted to keep the page light and crisp, so I kept the colors to white & grey, yellow and a bit of green.  I wanted to use one other color to really give an impact and chose the bright pink to help tie in the acetate letters.  I wanted just a touch of the hot pink, so little punched butterflies were the perfect amount.

Finally, I stamped one of the phrases in the roller stamp, part of the ‘Places To Go’ Add-on kit several times under the photos.Thanks for stopping by!

TREAT? - Scrapbook Circle Recipe Challenge #73

Scrapbook Circle has a new challenge!  It is a Recipe Challenge where the

'ingredient' amounts are the part of the challenge to meet...so much fun and a great jumping

off point for a layout!  This was my take for the DT Gallery using the April 'Bucket List' kit.

The"recipe" for the Challenge is  large photo 3 patterned papers a pinch

of wood veneer a dash of die-cuts!  There are so many fabulous patterned papers 

included in this months kit.  It was hard to choose, and at first, I was afraid it 

might be too much!  I do think the larger picture and printing in black and white was the

right mix for the page...I used the 3rd patterned paper to make the paper flower.

I cut out a large circle from vellum and added the wood veneer on top of it to point

towards the photo.  And I really had to hold back from adding more die-cuts...

I maybe had more than a dash, but there are so many lovely choices!  I love the way it

turned out and the fact that Lola actually "posed" and held still long enough is a miracle!

One of my favorite parts of the kit are the acetate letters...I love the font and the colors and

the package comes with so many in each color,it was perfect for making an ombre title!

  

Check out the original post on the Scrapbook Circle Blog and all the details about the Challenge!

You have until April 30th to enter your project to be eligible for the prize.

I can't wait to see the creations that come out of this fun idea!

you make me HAPPY - Kreative Koncepts April Color Challenge

The 15th of the month marks a new color challenge up at Kreative Koncepts/Scrap Friends!

One of the best things about a color challenge like this one for April, is that you can decide how

much of each color to use, which will dominate the page, etc.  I think this is a great way

to make a powerful statement with one of the colors...

That is how I tried to use the purple color from the color chart, as a punch for the hearts and raindrops.

Click HERE for the original Blog post with the Challenge details and all the other DT takes on the challenge

I had decided at the beginning of this DT that all my color challenges would be using a black and white photo...that makes it easier to me to not be limited by pattern or colors in the photo.  In a way, this background paper is a bit of a cheat since it has 3 of the colors in the pattern itself.  I wouldn't normally do

that, but I love the way the colors are washed together and it felt Spring-ish too.

I was inspired to use the clouds and raindrops from this Pink Paislee stamp set.

I chose the phrase "you make me happy..." and I heat embossed it in white in the middle of the page.

I used other hints of the blue, green and yellow in the cluster of chipboard frames under the photo.

I didn't want this to be sad because obviously, my son brings so much sunshine into my life,
so I decided on purple raindrops...they would provide that punch from the one strong color
and something a little unexpected.  I also wanted to add the hearts like it was raining love...
sappy, I know.  That is what my little man does to me.

Go check out the BLOG and be sure to link up your project for everyone to see and to enter the challenge!
Thanks for stopping by today!

#insta love - Mixed Media Studio Calico class

I have been taking the Mixed Media class going on now at Studio Calico and it has been very inspirational...

I love to play with medias on my pages anyway, but a fresh outlook is always welcome...

and some of the colors combos the girls use are just divine...

 

This is an instagram photo of this giant bucket we keep outside of soccer balls, footballs, tennis balls for the dog, lots of outside stuff at the ready!  Which is a sure sign of Spring!  Finally, thank goodness!

 

I love all the hand stitching, but haven't done too much of it before, I loved the pop of black in this

tag to go with the die cut from my Silhouette and the blacks in the photos.  I used the technique that

Anna Maria teaches int he class to apply a thin layer of gesso on your cardstock, then wet it and

drop watercolors or mist onto the wet paper, adding a second color when the first is almost dried.

 

I think it will take lots of practice, but I loved the colors with the striped paper from
Studio Calico.  More than anything, it is fun to play, no pressure, just playing with
papers and paint and some fabulous embellishments!

 

Thanks for checking it out!  Happy Monday!

FIND SOMETHING - Scrapbook Circle DT Choice April

This is a fun layout I did for my DT Choice using the Scrapbook Circle Bucket List-April kit!

I used this framed pattern paper basically as a sketch and cut photos and pieces of the kit to fit into

different frames of the background paper. 

I painted behind the 'framed' pieces that I wanted to highlight with the vellum journal cards I cut

into pieces.  I used lots of pieces of the kit and cut them to fit into various frames, stickers, alphas,

stamps, etc.  I love the way it turned out...I think the subtle colors are still the highlight while

the black and white photos stand out and draw your eye to the right side of the page.

I had to use this die cut vellum card, but I didn't want to take away from the pattern in the

framed paper, so I cut it into strips and glued or sewed it to various frames in the pattern.

So much of the kit is a really vibrant mix of hot colors, pinks and greens and then there is

also a bit of it that is the same color wave, but muted, subtle and these are those colors...

so lovely and pretty.  One of my favorite aspects of Scrapbook Circle kits, such a variety.

 Thanks for stopping by and if you want to see the original post at Scrapbook Circle,

check it out HERE, and make sure you check out the other DT members pages in the Idea Gallery.

Happy Saturday and weekend!

CELEBRATE - Scrapbook Circle April Sketch!

Awesome sketch from Diana Fisher this month at Scrapbook Circle!

And the prize, even more awesome...check it out HERE!

Obviously, the rest of the DT was loving this sketch too, so many cool interpretations!

Diana also made a free cut file of these circle for the Silhouette.

You can download it HERE.

I didn't use Diana's studio file but used some of the cut files that are part of the April kit-Bucket List instead.
These numbers and the circle with the heart.  I made them all different sizes and cut them out of some
of the grey cardstock in the kit.  I also used the exclusive April stamp and stamped it repeatedly in
lots of aquas and greens.  I also used another cool cut file of this chevron pattern and matted
my photos to it instead of using patterned paper.

My favorite part of the kit this month...no surprise, it is the gold hearts from 

Studio Calico and the gold arrows from Freckled Fawn.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you will check out the sketch and participate!
Upload your LO to the Scrapbook Circle Facebook page or to the comment part of the blog post.
You have until April 23rd and the prize is fabulous!

Have a great weekend!

10. A Mini Album Cover & Video - kreative koncepts / Scrap Friends

Hi everyone!  This is the tutorial process video I am sharing on the kreative koncepts/Scrap Friends blog today!

I decided to do something a little different.  Instead of a scrapbook layout, I

decorated a piece of thin canvas for a mini album cover.  My daughter recently

turned 10 years old and I wanted to do something to document it!  I want to

make a page for each birthday or just one from each month of her 9th year...

Either way, I knew I wanted to do a cover piece & play with some stamps and stencils.

I used several papers with text or subtle patterns to make a collage background.

Then I did some stamping and used a 6x6 stencil with this lovely iridescent

modeling cream on top of the collage.  I added more layers including a doily

underneath a scalloped wood veneer that I embossed with gold.  I wanted to

make the cover really layered and full of texture, but simple at the same time!

The video below shows a sped up version of my process and the products I used!  

These are a couple close up photos to show the details.

I hope you enjoy the video and are inspired to try a little something

different for your next mini album, canvas, or even on a layout!

Check out the kreative koncepts Blog for all the fun videos and tutorials!

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my process,

and the chatting that went along with it! :)

make your own RAINBOW - Scrap Our Stash April Stash Challenge!

It's beginning to look like Spring!...uh, sort of.

Here in the South, April certainly has been full of showers...more like torrential downpours!

So, to put some sunshine in this gloomy day, I am sharing the LO that I did for the April

Stash Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.  The challenge is to do a Spring LO, using Spring colors

and to also include a journaling card, a paper clip and some sort of 3D embellishment.

Here is what I came up with!

I wanted to scrap this series of photos of my daughter running with her ribbon twirler from last summer.

I couldn't quite think if how I had wanted to scrap them, but this paper from the 

Wanderlust collection from Studio Calico inspired me!  I love the colors and thought they contrasted

well with the vibrant green of the grass.  And since it was lots of loose, overlapping circles,

I thought that would work with the pictures.  I also punched them out with a large circle punch.

I used my gelatos in matching colors to make the circles of paint from the paper tie in with the

background by repeating the size and shapes...I mounted one photo to the pocketed journaling

card I used and clipped the speech bubble paper clip to it.  I used as many 3D embellishments

I could find in coordinating colors and shapes that went with my theme.

I cannot get enough of these acrylic letters from Crate Paper.  They were part

of the Scrapbook Circle April kit and I know I will use every last one!  

I had lots of fun playing with shapes and media on this layout and hope you will

do the same, or at least get inspired to make your own Spring page for the challenge!

Check out the challenge detail on the blog HERE and the challenge rules and guidelines HERE!

Make sure to check out the other DT takes on this challenge while you are at the SOS Blog...

it is full of joyful, happy layouts, even if the weather isn't!

Thanks for stopping by...have an amazing day!

* WINNER! * Scrapbook Circle April kit!

And the winner is.........................

AnelsieApril 3, 2014 at 8:26 PM

Your layout is stunning!!! Thanks for the inspiration!
For me it is so hard to find balance these days...there is a lot on my plate!!! I try to take things one at a time and prioritize. Family always comes first but I try to find some time, at least once a month, to meet with my scrappy friends and enjoy some scrapbooking time with them (and a few glasses of wine!). That renergizes me! :)
Thanks for the chance!

Congratulations Anelsie!

Bucket List is an awesome kit!  You'll love it!
Send me an email (thru the Contact Me Banner on my blog) and give me your address and info!





Thanks so much to all of you for commenting and sharing your key to balance!
I appreciate all the support, happy Monday and have a great week!

**GIVEAWAY** - balance & Believe...Scrapbook Circle April Kit!

This is such an exciting post!  I get to give away one of the new April kits from Scrapbook Circle!

It is called Bucket List and is FULL of so many gorgeous, richly colored papers that are bound to inspire.

 

I thought as my Giveaway I would make you work for it a little! :)  For my layout I wanted

to highlight some things in my personal "bucket list."  A combination Bucket List / New Year's

Resolution / Lentil sacrifice page to remind me of my hopes and goals for myself.

 

Soooooo...for the giveaway, you need to be a Follower!  If you aren't already, go the right

side bar and "Join Me," so you can get future posts and I can return the favor and give you love!

 

Next, comment on this post by giving an example of how you help bring balance to your

own life!  If you are a new follower, list that too, but I will select a winner from the comments

submitted and lucky person will get the fabulous April kit from Scrapbook Circle!

 

I did use the "Places To Go" Add-On for April which has these awesome gold arrows from Freckle Fawn!
I loved all the inspirational quotes and phrases in this Fancy Pants collection.  Not to get too symbolic,
but so many of these phrases were appropriate to inspire me to make this page about myself...

I also used the Scrapbook Circle stencil from the October kit to highlight a few clusters of die-cuts.

I tried to keep with that shape of divided circles...that led me to the pie chart.  I starting thinking

that maybe our lives are one big pie chart, and knowingly or not, we compartmentalize and

allocate pieces of our life into sections...I know I do!

 

 

So, again, my challenge to you...write a quick comment about how you help yourself  balance

your  life.  Scrapbooking, art, yoga, ice cream, silly movies, I want to know!  Comment

back here before April 6th 11:59pm!  I will announce the winner here a few days after that!

 

If you don't win the random drawing, never fear...you can get your own free stuff!  If you are

not a current subscriber, this is the prefect time...become a new sub now and you can choose a

previous kit to be sent along with the April kit for free!  The details are in the SBC Newsletter HERE!

 

Thanks for stopping by and DON'T FORGET to comment for your chance to win!!

 

live fresh - kreative koncepts / Scrap Friends April Sketch Challenge #24

I am so excited to share the new April Sketch Challenge #24 at Kreative Koncepts/ScrapFriends!

I had so much fun playing with gelatos and masks and just got messy and sparkly...and pink!

This is the sketch below and as you can see, I turned it 90 degrees so that the triangles would be on the top edge.  I love the sketches that Zeneva does because they are inspiring with lots left up to interpretation!

This was an instagram of these gorgeous roses I bought for a little party we had for my daughter's birthday.

We combined it with my neices too, who's birthday is a week eaerlier.  The roses were so

vibrant and they lasted nine days before they really started to look too bad.  I always buy roses

since my daughter's middle name is Rose and these were so so vivid they almost looked unreal.

I started out misting the background with Color Shine in Chartreuse on a triangle mask.  

Then I layered a pale pink wash of watercolors on top pf that.  After that all dried, I used

another text mask and some metallic gold embossing paste from Dreamweaver.

It is so lusious and easy to work with.  A little goes a long way too. 

I layered lots of ephemera from Heidi Swapp that I misted as well as layers of 6x6, a paint swatch,

gold metallic wood grain paper and lots of other odds and ends.  

For the triangle I wanted to give them lots and lots of texture to go along with the layers

of flowers and flower petals.  I took several colors of pinks, peach and orange gelatos

and covered these pleated print strips from dark to light.  There are several different

patterns, text, ledger, etc. and they are pleated and stitched at the top.

After they dried I cut them into to triangle and stitched them to the page.  

I wasn't sure how it would look but am pleased with the result!  You can see the original

 post with all the DT and Guest DT members interpretations of the sketch HERE.

As usual, the variety and inspiration is boundless!  I can't wait to see what everyone

submits for this sketch!  You can enter until April 30th to enter the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!