together - introspective sappines (& start to finish video)

Hi guys and Happy Monday!  

Today I am sharing a scrapbook layout I created using lots of items I had been hoarding or hiding by accident.  I recently did a massive clean out of my craft room and came across so many of my favorite papers and embellishments.  I also came across lots of printed photos.  Some of these have been previously scrapped as single photos, but I loved seeing these all together.

To watch my process video, click below or HERE to go directly to my YouTube Channel

P

I also came across lots of printed photos.  Some of these have been scrapped before, mostly as single photos , but I loved seeing them all together.  This layout was inspired solely by the need to see my children's faces together.

I tried to balance out the reds, yellows and blues of the photos and papers, using the embellishments and tags I had gathered.  I added some washi and a chipboard photo frame strip over part of the photo collage.

Not sure about you guys, but I am totally one of those people that when I bought some new products or got a new kit, I did one of two things.  I either used my favs immediately or set them aside for the perfect project.  Then they inevitably become buried and forgotten.  In my personal life, we have have a challenging few months...

and I’ve been saying that for a few months.

I’ve also come to the conclusion, in this crazy time we live in, that we shouldn’t keep things to use for that “perfect project.”  Life is fragile and tumultuous and precious...even for something as seemingly insignificant as scrapbook products, why wait, why save them for some other day??   Shouldn’t we use them now, today, whether it be paper, formal dinnerware, a fancy pair of earrings or calling that friend to reconnect with??  In other words,  Carpe Diem!!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have a wonderful day and an amazing week and remember, even in the smallest of things, live in the moment!

'happy AUTUMN' Card for Tonic Studios

Hello!!  I am so excited today to share my first Tonic Studios USA Design Team project!

I loved this whimsical tree metal die from Tonic Studios and decided to use that as my inspiration for a Fall card.  Starting in October, I have an overwhelming need to use glitter paper and glittery embellishments, from Halloween through Valentines!  So, I grabbed this taupe-ish glitter paper.

Tonic Studios provided me with some product to create this project.  The opinions I share are solely my own.

You can click on the video below o see my process or HERE to go directly to my YouTube Channel.

I had originally planned to to use the die cut and have the glitter paper as the shadowed paper behind the face of the card.  I began by watercoloring a light wash of warm colors on some watercolor paper.  After cutting the face out of that paper, I decided it might be interesting to use the glitter paper as an inlay instead.

 

After cutting the same piece of glitter cardstock with this Dot & Drop Die from Tonic Studios, I decided to inlay the pieces.  I used several of the new Nuvo Vintage Drops in the places that the die embosses for them.  It is perfect for a newbie to these drops like I am.  The new Vintage Drops are all matte and are in the loveliest  soft colors.

I finished the card off by using some off the Nuvo Embossing Powder in Copper Blush, along with the Nuvo Embossing Ink Pad, to heat emboss a sentiment on vellum.  I added it under the tree panel that I mounted onto a layer of brown cardstock and then the heavy card base.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you check out the video and subscribe for new content and inspiration!  A complete list of linked supplies from Tonic Studios is listed below.

I hope you all have an amazing weekend and are inspired to create a little bit of Fall in a project too!

Supplies Used:

Tonic Studios Time Holtz - East Clean Mat

Tonic Studios Tim Holtz- Retractable Craft Pic

Tonic Studios Dot & Drop Die - Twirling Branches

Tonic Studios - Funky Tape Runner

Nuvo Fine Detail Embossing Powder - Copper Blush

Nuvo Vintage Drops - Chocolate Chip

Nuvo Vintage Drops – Postbox Red

Nuvo Vintage Drops - Saddle Bag

Tonic Studios Tim Holtz - 12.25" Maxi Guillotine

Nuvo Embossing Pad

Lesson Obsession - Part 4 - with Danielle Donaldson

Sharing the 4th post in my work inspired by workshops and/or books by Danielle Donaldson, today is all about imitating style, trying to find your own and of course lots of color.

One of my favorite things Danielle does is to create an “inspiration block” on the sides of some of her pieces, using fabrics, patterned paper, ribbon and anything else to spark & encourage a layer of tactile brainstorming.

This green haired gal started out by just playing with watercolors and how they mixed.  Then she her skirt of giant, fluffy layer of tulle began to appear out of the paint.  I have painted several different girls with this technique but the first is still my fav!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Stitched Background - September 2018

Hello!  Before we get into too any fall colors and layouts, I had to use a few more bright colors for this late summer photo.  Thank you for letting me share this fun layout with you on this day!

I used a lovely Silhouette cut from Paige Evans, specifically made to be used as a pattern for hand stitching.  

 I also cut out this floral-leaf cut from Ashley Horton/Silhouette from a lightweight lb. watercolor paper.  I painted several layers on watercolors onto the floral cut file and then layered it under this black and white photo.  I also stacked several stickers, die cuts and other gold embellishments around the photo.

I layered this background stitched piece and photo cluster onto another piece of pink polka dot paper.  This was fun, easy page to create.  The pink and green embroidery thread I used makes this stitching look so much more dynamic with the thread pattern alone.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have great week!

Document & *Video* - The Crafter's Workshop September 2018

Hi friends!  I posted this video to The Crafter's Workshop YouTube channel a couple weeks ago, but wanted to share it here as well!  

You can click the process video below or HERE to go the The Crafter's Workshop YouTube Channel.

                                            

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project.  The opinions I share are solely my own.

This was a photo from my mother's birthday dinner and I loved the mosaic map behind us made entirely out of corks!  I thought the colors would look great with lots of metallics and a Fall/Leaf theme.

I used all of the Gold Metallic Modeling Pastes onto the 12x12 & 6x6 Leaf Stencils and then fussy cut them out.

I layered the leaves behind several scraps of wood grain patterned paper, wood veneer embellishments, sequins and added machine stitching.

I finished it up with a Gold Glittered Dimensional Foam title and some splattered gold ink.

I love the outcome and can't wait to add it to my birthday scrapbook!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you check out the video too...make sure to subscribe to The Crafter's Workshop Channel and to my YouTube Channel, if you haven't already!

Lots of new content coming!

Have a great weekend!

Lesson Obsession - Part 3 - with Danielle Donaldson

Sharing the 3rd post in my work inspired by workshops and/or books by Danielle Donaldson, today is all about florals and lots of color.

This piece was inspired by one of the lessons in the latest book, called Painted Peonies and I love the way it turned out!  I struggled with it after the painting part, because it really needed the texture of the ribbon & thread I eventually added, similar to Danielle's.

I tried so hard to keep the colors fresh and bright and changed my water often to help that...something I hardly ever do!

Next I tried out the Compass Hearts, featured in a mini-course 'Be Still.'  I absolutely loved this lesson!  It was SO calming, yet invigorating and I created so many pieces after watching it.  Below are the two I like most...

Although I felt the colors in this piece turned out much brighter than I would have liked, I still loved the movement and freshness.

This second Compass Heart, using more subtle, almost monochromatic colors, turned out completely different but I love it all the same.  The process is so relaxing and therapeutic!

Thanks for coming back to see more of the lessons I have been pursuing in my spare time!

I have one more post, for now, with recent inspired watercolor projects to post...

REACH for the stars - Shaker Card & *Video*

Hello!  I am sharing this video today on my YouTube channel.  This is a card I created for my Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/paperCARDinal using the WPlus9 'Little Dreamers' stamp & die set.

You can click the video below or HERE to go directly to my YouTube channel.

I think of this more as a baby card, but it could be an encouragement card for children or anyone.  I adore this stamp set and had so much fun coloring the bears!

I adore this stamp set but have only used the monkeys and bunnies, so it was so much fun coloring the bears!

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to check out the video!  
Have a great day!