Brrrrrr it is cold outside!

It's been so cold outside that I have buried myself in my scrap cave with a heater. It's kind of funny how time flies as I scrap and watch Days of Our Lives and reruns of Grey's Anatomy and Law and Order all afternoon. Here are the results of my seclusion.

His layout used the present fabric which comes in the December The Sampler kit. I didn't have stabilizer on hand so I starched the fabric to death. Then I tucked the edges under and gave it a 1/4" seam allowance (using a 1/4" foot). I am horrible with the straight lines without a guide. My new sewing machine actually sews itself in a straight line thanks to good feed dogs. Anyways, if I would have used stabilizer, I could have just cut the edges on my paper trimmer and they would not have frayed and it would have been a very clean cut without the need to turn the edges down.  Again, spray starch at Dollar Tree is a lot cheaper than stabilizer from the fabric store and goes a lot further.

Next up is another really quick layout from The Sampler kit. I used straps from the November and December kits. Thanks to my mom we get free tickets every year to San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker. As a former professional ballet dancer, it was good and clean but nothing technically difficult. I guess that goes the same for this layout.

And now a layout that is not from The Sampler. I used Bizou Zoo paper. Actually I only used one sheet of cardstock. The paper is so beautiful in itself that I did not want to cover anything up with additional paper. I added Stickles to elements and embellished this like crazy. This truly was a fun stash buster using Prima flowers and Say it with Pearls, Creative Imaginations epoxy stickers SEI brads and buttons (I cut off the shanks).  Since I already had started embellishing, I could not put the sheet through the printer so I used my Brother label maker for part of the title. I just love the Bizou Zoo papers. . . yes I bought more so you'll see additional one sheet layouts soon.

She's gone country!

I bought a Simplicity pattern a few months ago because I thought that Riley would look cute in one of the costumes. Actually I thought she would select the fairy version but she chose to be the cowgirl. I sewed the skirt and had my mom finish the top because I have issues reading the patterns from the company. I have no problem reading boutique or patterns from Amy Butler. My mom has issues reading those because she says they aren't written by pattern makers. Sorry but they are in English and I completely get what they are saying. This on the other hand. . .I have found that any pattern that comes with that brown tissue paper is hard to figure out. So now my mom has inherited the Dorothy costume as well.

Riley had to wear the costume yesterday to Musical Theater class. Here's how she looked.

I used Prima's pearlescent cardstock (base and balck) with Making Memories gingham, Martha Stewart bandana paper. I cut the title and cowgirl with the Pazzles. The pink letters are Colorbok and the epoxy embellishments are Creative Imaginations with Stickles. 

Disney altered book

I did a Disneyland book this afternoon for my mom's friend who lives in SoCal. We met her (and her daughter and grandson) on the last day at the park. I used Sandy Lion and Pinecone Press paper. Chipboard is also Sandy Lion. There's Stickles, Maya Road Ribbon, K & Company glitter chipboard, 7Gypsies knob, The Cat's Pajamas dew drops, Heidi Swapp stamps, Momento inks, and Lil' Davis chipboard. I used star Christmas tree trim I picked up years ago at Big Lots as well.

I didn't want to fill up the book with photos but put a few inside. Because I won't be completing the book, I didn't want to print up or adhere the photos to a mini album (contained inside the drawer) because you never know how much paper would be needed.

One thing I've learned is that I really need to practice making things for boys or not to want to use flowers. I didn't want to use bling or glitter but I couldn't resist the glitter. Michael says boys don't want to look at this type of stuff but Tony has a sister too. They can share.

Crazy Silly Girl layout

Here's a layout that has been sitting on my scrap table for a little while. It's one of those late night, de-stashing sessions. I just about did everything I dread. . . used Rusty Pickle chipboard, punched shapes, used acrylic letters, cut out patterned paper. I don't hate those things. . . .I'm just usually not in the mood to cut paper and glue it onto chipboard out of laziness and not wanting to use up my stash. Totally defeats the purpose of having and buying more things, huh? SEI paper from when I first started scrapping. Oh touch of Stickles and plastic brads from Oriental Trading.

Not a vintage girl

I'm sure not a vintage style anything girl. But all of the sudden, I've had a craving for vintage papers. A few months ago I had won a Sassafras Lass pack from the company for the blinkie on my blog. I finally got around to pulling it out to create this layout.

I used two additional borders that come with the papers. That's one of the best parts about Sassafras in my opinion. Popped the one one top. Then I used some Fancy Pants to make the photo mat and I used the Making Memories tag maker for the other photos. Then I grabbed some flower brads and bling out of my stash. Some of the elements on the page I cut and placed over other elements like the little blue banner and insertion of the big title clip. I placed that over a portion of another sheet's edge. It all kind of looks like it had belonged on the background sheet to begin with. I added Stickles to each of the rays and around the large photo mat. This paper sure seemed like it was easy to mix and match things from other lines and companies, something I am horrible at. It's done and actually I'm quite happy with it.

Tweetie Pie

Since I'm on a roll with these shaped layouts, here's one that hides the photo. I used my trusty Pazzles of course to develop a bird. It was taken after a card I came up with a few years ago. Thought it would make an interesting layout. My vintage Cosmo Cricket paper. . .Jitterbug. And distress stickles, Making Memories snaps, Fancy Pants stamps.

A different take

Ok I still feel horrible; and think I need an IV of antibiotics. With feeling so bad, I think I've unleashed a whole new side of creativity. As I was going through some photos I never downloaded on my photo backup, I found one shot of myself taken in a mirror. Realizing that Riley would question one day why I'm never in any of the shots, I scrapped the photo. I had a difficult time trying to figure out the look and feel I wanted. But I stuck with the paper I originally pulled out. . .Cosmo Cricket's Hello Sunshine. After using Distress Inks, I played around with Cosmo's ribbon scrap, Prima Marketing flowers (from Peaches' line) and Distress Stickles. Anyways, here's this morning's creation.

Sorry been MIA

Ok sorry I've been MIA. Just got laid off at Yahoo! No that's not excitement. . . part of the name. Anyhow. . . I've officially kicked off my 12 days of layoffs.

On the first day of layoffs Jerry (Yang) gave to me, my pay and some scrapbook cre-a-tiv-ity.

I picked up a box of My Mind's Eye warehouse sale in June ready to design Christmas cards while in Layton, UT for Memory Works and well. . . could not think of what to do with it. So late last night I got to stickin'. Made tag for each "pocket" and soon to rock it with some photos. Didn't know what to do with it because it was already pre-folded and white inside. . . only thing that made sense were pockets. Cosmo Cricket ribbon, Fancy Pants stamps & Distress Stickles.

Tomorrow a new adventure. . . . (including the transition meeting with all the poor unfortunate souls who got laid off yesterday-- Could Jerry be my Ursula? Sorry too much Little Mermaid)