Winners and painted canvas

I decided to give an inro pendant to all who commented in the last post. Look for it in the mail!

I have ventured into mixed media canvas art. This is the first week of the She Art Workshop. Here is my first canvas I created. I used pattern paper, SEI cardstock (Bridgeport), DCWV cardstock, acrylic paints, water color (wax pastel) crayons, Staz On inks, Glitz Girls stamps, Pink Paislee and BoBunny rubons, Making Memories trim, Glimmer Mist , American Crafts brad, Tattered Angels mask.

The hardest part of this was painting the hair. Then next toning down the green in the DCWV music note cardstock I used for the face and neck. We'll see how the next comes out. It actually was a lot of fun to create. Riley wants to do one and I'm sure hers will be better than mine.

XOXO Challege #15

This month's XOXO challenge has gone live. The sponsor is Sweet Peach Crop Shop who offers 3 different kits each month.

My layout for January consists of SEI's Bridgeport papers and a bunch of Prima and SEI flowers. There are elements from Creative Imaginations, chipboard stickers from Making Memories and pearls from KaiserCraft.  Letters are from American Craft. Also I used a Brother label maker to create the text. To pull it together, I inked the label with the blue color to match the layout. If you ink a label, let it dry for a few minutes before handling. Even if you are impatient like me, you actually won't pull a lot of ink onto your fingers while peeling off the backing. And if you do, just smudge a little around to cover up. It won't look like a mistake. . . I promise.

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.

Canvas layout

You know I've taken a few classes from Donna Downey and haven't done a ton with what I learned. So here I am again taking her class at Big Picture Classes.  I took a piece of duck cloth I purchased from Joann's at 50% (can't help but love coupons) and a sheet of diecut paper and created the shape. I wet the canvas and blended three colors of paint. Next I impatiently dried the piece with a heat gun which I felt took forever to dry. I stitched around the sheet (which did shrink by the way) with brown thread around the edges and then created the stitching for the banner. Next I took a scrap from October's The Sampler kit (Echo Park) and cut out the little banner pieces and glued them to the canvas. From there it was a decision on what to do with the piece. I contemplated using an iron on, a mask, flocking and glitter. I hadn't yet scrapbooked riley's birthday party photos (probably didn't do last year's party either. . .hmmm and quite possibly the year before) so I was checking to see if I had balloon brads. Well I didn't have that but I had a few button embellishments which I have probably had for 4 years now. So I got to gluing. I tried to take a bit of the crazy color-ness (I know not a word) out of it so I added a black and white photo underneath the popped color image. Anyways, here is what I ended up with. I think really what took the most time was waiting for my canvas to dry.

The first project for the class was to paint a point and shoot camera bag. If you've seen my every day setup, you'd know that even the Prima DSLR camera bag is too small. So I opted to make a quick coffee cozy because I had Halloween iron ons from SEI.

I probably would make it differently the next time around. But who knows, I may not make another because I don't drink coffee. It was a shame that the end result was so small because there were some awesome iron ons from the same sheet. Riley gave the cozy to her teacher. . . I don't think she liked it. Plus when I made her a "Back to school" tin with cookies. . . I don't think she appreciates much. So I guess we'll stick to making teacher gifts for her dance and swimming teachers who LOVE Riley's gifts.

House of 3 book

I really didn't think much of this House of 3 book I made in the Heidi Swapp class on Saturday with what we were given. I came home and I really had to add a lot to the book to liven it up since it's a hybrid mini. Luckily I had a ton of puffy and epoxy stickers from Creative Imaginations that went along with the spring color scheme. I also had a ton of SEI chipboard, puffy stickers, and rubons that I got from Scrapdaddy at the latest show. So I really stash busted. There's even an entire sheet of Crate Paper rubons.

I think I'm good with the book now that it weighs a pound. . .

ClaraBelle SEI layout

Here's a layout using the scraps I had left over from the SEI class Expanding Album at Scrapbook Expo this weekend. I also used the Bridgeport rubon they had in the kit. The layout is primarily the stickers left over with some Prima.

Tutus on my mind

I can't seem to get making tutus off my mind. The other day Riley and I went to Capezios and we purchased a fuchsia tutu. I had already figured out how to make it but knew my mom would tell me how I could do it better. So we bought it anyhow especially because Riley loved it. My next step is to make tutus for her in probably every possible color. I was told I should sell them at the dance school. 

They also said I could probably do some fund raising with making these canvas tutus. Now that I know how to make a "practice tutu" I think I might attempt it with the canvas. Here I used the Pazzles, Basic Grey papers along with SEI Chocolat stickers, rubons and diecuts. 

 

I have a boat load of Joann's coupons and I have not gone there in the past week. Yes, I let the rain stop me from going today. But I did manage to spin out two layouts. Here's the latest using a few scraps from Sassafras Lass and We R Memory Keepers. I used the Pazzles to cut the scallop circle out of sheets I really didn't like of DCWV. The background and metal slide letters are Making Memories. Butterflies were Papyrus and the white letters Basic Grey.

Let's use up the brad and eyelet stash!

I am taking the Something for Almost Nothing class which started yesterday at Shimelle.com in an attempt to use up that old stash that keeps getting buried underneath all the new stuff. So the prompt yesterday was to use metal in a layout. I think I do best when there's some sort of challenge issued to me (like at work) than to just pull something out of the air. 

For this I stitched on a piece of wide ribbon (should have been longer) but we all know I don't measure anything. Then I used one sheet of Sassafras Bungle Jungle and a scrap of K&Co.  from the Valentine's collection I had laying on my table from making those little mailboxes. Then from there I used brads from BoBunny and eyelets from Oriental Trading and Making Memories. The metal letters are from We R Memory Keepers and the little "chick" is Meri Meri accents.

As for the SEI challenge this month, so far I made a simple bracelet out of twill and an acrylic heart from Prima. The line from SEI is Doodle Girl and I used Zip Dry glue and the iron ons from SEI as well that belong to the same collection.

And now for giant cupcakes. . . my favorite gluten free HoHos with lots of butter! Secret to my taking over the world, is that I feed them one cupcake but it's actually the size of two! Bwhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahaha!

SEI Lifestyle Blog

I made the SEI Lifestyle blog again today. . . with my layout for the February Challenge using Chocolat.

SEI Jolie Chocolat layout

Here's a layout I did for the February layout challenge at the SEI Lifestyle blog. I used their Jolie Chocolat line of products. The base was done on DCWV's metallic cardstock which was distressed with Heidi Swapp's distresser and distress Inks. Then I cut the large butterflies on the Pazzles and shot them with two colors of Glimmer Mist. From there I layered SEI's coaster tags, stickers, and rub-ons. The layout was then finished off with Prima flowers and the pearl accents. . . oh plus the SEI ribbon. BTW if you can't tell Riley is doing a saute and flying like the graceful little butterfly she is. 

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.

SEI inspired magnets

I sped through and did three more magnets using SEI's Auntie Gertie's Garden. I knew that using the resin would darken the papers but I hadn't used Prima flowers under the resin before to know that they would turn translucent. 

Since I had the rest of my SEI collection out, I did a quick layout using the Chick-a-doo line and American Crafts Thickers.

And finally a little bit of Fancy Pants. I find myself putting layouts together a lot of the times without a photo or a theme because I don't want to edit or print photos. So that is why I have about 40 layouts unfinished. Since I can't explain why I do the things I do (it's probably OCD), the habit will continue on. . . .

Organization and pieces of scraps

I've proven over and over again that I am not good with storing scraps. No matter now I store them (each time I have a mass dumping I come up with a new way), they continue to get bent and thrown out. So I've come to the realization that I really need to do an OOIN (also knows at out with the old and in with the new). I know I don't need more stuff because if you have seen my scrap room, I have more than a lifetime of paper. But we'll move on from that addiction and off the topic.

So I've been making magnets for the SEI challenge so I've seen that I have a ton of big sheets of scraps with holes in the middle as a result of die cutting. So I've found a way to make them work for me. There's really a different sense of freedom working with all the older SEI papers because they seem to have been less bold and simplistic than the papers today. These two layouts have moved from one clutter pile and into a new clutter pile of albums. Guess it's a much happier place, right?

First layout in what feels like a year

I feel so out of things. Just got off the phone with insurance and the claim should be completely settled next week. I took a picture of my layout and it wasn't the same without the trusty Mark II but rest assured (for my own sanity) I will have a new one shortly.

Our back door will be replaced and it's kind of a weird feeling. But everything should be all right.

I took and desaturated Riley's hula picture and gave it a hand tinted feeling. DCWV amazingly was the only sheet of cardstock used. I am not a one sheeter. Picked up some Fancy Pants stamps at the Scrapbook Expo on Friday and wanted to use them. I just started stamping and went with whatever was happening. Used Heidi Swapp, SEI, Stickles, Autumn Leaves inks. Oh the saying means I love you.

Cupcake shaped layout

Here's my day 2 shaped layout. It's a cupcake. . . we love cupcakes around here! I created the Pazzles file off of the Maya Road chipboard mini album. So if you are interested in a JPG template or the WPC file, let me know. . . . SEI papers, Pixstix (embossed puffy paints), Colorbok, Oriental Trading.

I also wanted to show you the hanging canvas panels I made for Riley's preschool teachers. I'm starting to think I have a style with these photo extraction type of layouts. Paper layouts the sun goes on the left. The digital layouts I put the sun on the right. Kind of weird. . . I used Prima (of course) paper and flowers, Hampton Arts stamps, school house from ScrapbookGraphics.com, Fancy Pants trim, Glimmer Mist, May Arts ribbons. Panels from Dick Blick. Using my stash baby!

The green layout is Rusty Pickle with Prisma Color markers. And the other one is Prima Marketing papers and flowers, Rusty Pickle chipboard, Fancy Pants stamps, Autumn Leaves stamps.

Mix and Match layout

I am horrible at mixing and matching papers and manufacturers. I don't think it's a matter of patterns but a need to feel a little OCD about it. The prompt for Day 19 of LOAD was to create a list of what you wouldn't do. Well, I don't do lists for one. Seriously it gets me nowhere.

As I was cleaning up my stuff yesterday and feeling a bit behind on the layouts (it is Day 21 you know) I went and grabbed a bunch of stuff that was all the same color. Scenic Route was all about left overs from last year's Memory Works Retreat. I got a ton of stuff there. In the end I used. . .
Sandy Lion paper, Scenic Route diecuts, CTMH, bling, popsicle sticks, SEI stickers, DCWV, Fiskars chipboard, and Oriental Trading chipboard. So this lead me to my "I won't. . . " topic for the day.

Altered We R Memory Keepers book

So the past few days I've been working on an altered book. I used We R Memory Keepers Nonsense papers, ribbons and rubons. Yes you've seen me use bits and pieces in the layouts recently. I told you I'm horrible at putting stuff away. And rather than do that, I just use it then. Also I used Glimmer Mist to color the sides, Golden acrylic, Tsukineko chalk ink, Maya Road rubons and the tin it came in on the cover and as the drawer, SEI left over rubons from a class, 7 Gypsies handle and knob.

Can't wait to start the next one. I'm using old text books that my mother-in-law never threw out from Michael's courses. This next one is a huge literature book. Going to put several tiny drawers to try to lighten up the weight. Oh and I used Fancy Pants ribbon. Also added a bunch of photos from that same morning into the drawer.

LOAD Day 1 layout

I'm taking an online "class" of sort. It's pretty much 28 layouts in 28 days with a challenge. Today's challenge was something that makes me happy. I know I'm not that positive or happy all the time. So it's simple. Yeah it's predictable. . . Riley. Got the idea from a lift idea on a digital site. Glad to have less SEI paper (still on my mission to use the old stuff up in new ways).

Rainy morning layouts

I wanted to do some quick layouts before I pick Riley up from school. The Halloween photo is from 2007 and the other is her first day (second year) of preschool (she has an apple shirt on which goes with the theme). I used Prima Marketing Little Boo papers and DCWV. Used Pazzles to cut and pen outline letters and apple core and random SEI and Oriental Trading brads. Be back in a bit hopefully to show you the Valentine's clear album.

Just an average day

I think I'm getting really used to staying at home. Can't say I like it much. Anyways, right now I sure don't know why I didn't plan on going to CHA. I guess it was procrastination. I RSVPed to the SEI party and got a few calls from a few manufacturers asking if I was going to attend but now I have to go to a birthday party for a family member; would have gotten the new lines of papers free. Oh well. You know I just don't know what it is with people who give invites days before an event. I could go on but won't. Or more like I shouldn't.

Just quick layouts today. . . one really simple with a hidden journaling card using K&Company. And the other is SEI's Cupid's Candy Shop with Oriental Trading eyelets, Basic Grey fibers, May Arts ribbons and a Maya Road chipboard heart from their heart book.