Month: September 2010

Miss Preppy {as seen in Sept 2010 Ella Ezine}

 I was asked to contribute a layout to this article in the September Ella E-Zine

yeah, you say “do something girly with ___” to me and I am all for it. LOVE my girly girls!

Oh and that outfit?! It’s my favorite. I normally don’t buy clothes for the kids at the ‘real’ gymboree (we have an outlet one too) but I could NOT help myself. Loved it – and she does too. Becca + Preppy = fabulous.

Mostly used girls paperie + tim holtz goods on this page. LOVE that the two go together so well.

PS that Tim Holtz ribbon – inked up? TOTAL favorite!! You can check out the article + more about my page here: http://www.ellapublishing.com/ezine/2010-sep/girly-guaranteed (and get more info, see more pages, etc). Also don’t forget Mondays on the Ella blog = prizes!!

Of course, for more girly-fab you can check out the e-book!

{project time} grow layout

Can you use grungeboard or chipboard plain? OF COURSE! It was a subject brought up over at the UYS classroom, and it inspired me to get creative…

Last night I found this photo of Elizabeth + newborn Rebecca (yeah, my kids are born with load of hair + huge) and got the idea to do a ‘then & now’ page about growth. I have been dying to use the floral paper you see (it’s by Tim) but it was just too overpowering in large quantities so I used a little bit and both inked edges (with forest moss) and rounded the outside corners. I decided to set up the page with loads of journaling room in case I got going too…

supplies:
Tim Holtz patterned paper (lost & found)
Tim Holtz stickles in Stormy Sky, Victorian Velvet, Pumice Stone, and Forest Moss
Tim Holtz distress ink in Forest Moss, Black Soot and Spun Sugar
Tim Holtz (for Sizzix) heart die
Tim Holtz idea-ology ribbon, letter stickers, grungeboard letters, journaling ticket, metal frame, flowers, leaf, brads, staples, and tissue tape
Tim Holtz flourish stamp
Jenni Bowlin chipboard butterflies
unknown: thread and cardstock

I love how the tissue tape (seen above) is a bit sheer so it adds such a soft touch of color. I also like adding bits of both the distress stickles and distress ink here and there. Makes me feel good to use it plus I love the added layer of color and interest. On the ribbon I rubbed it (it was white) all over my spun sugar ink pad before stitching down.

I stamped the flourish stamp over the title letters (before they were on layout) then adhered… but it didn’t work. SO I stitched them down, then added on a bunch of stickles because I’m so in love with that stuff these days! It’s still a bit wet in the photos.

I know a lot of my stuff looks random… but it’s SO not. It’s all planned out to fit just so, not make trapped white space, etc. One of my favorite things to do with tickets and journaling tags and such is to use them as a base to layer things on as I’ve done above.

My assistant is not impressed. Or is she? That’s how she always looks so who knows. I just know I had one good time this morning and I’m off to do more!

last chance!

Adventures in Scrapbooking: Use Your Stash is well underway – already way more than 200 layouts/projects in gallery! Everyone in class is AWESOME- I’m having such a great time already with skype 1-on-1 calls, . If you are on the fence, it’s your last chance to join in. Registration closes Wednesday night. (Info here: http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/useyourstash.php )

Speaking of stash, as I clean up after my create-a-thon from the Scarlet Lime kits I started to put away the left overs. Since I used so much of the kits I was going to put the things I didn’t use straight into my stash (vs leaving separated by kit)… but then I had a thought…  what if I shared instead? NO! I couldn’t share… this stuff is TOO good… but… well…

what if I was nice and gave the stickers and embellishments I have left over to one of you? I decided that would be both fun + good so I packed an envelope with the goodies you see above (plus a few more) and I’m sharing. If you’d like to win leave a comment here by Wednesday night (comments will be closed when it’s over) and I’ll pick a winner…

Scarlet Lime September

Red Baker’s Twine + needle + Tim Holtz Ruler & paper piercer + Scarlet Lime September Kit =

FUN. I had a blast pulling all kinds of bits and pieces together for this page. I loved the creamy colored floral trim in this kit. FABULOUS!

I especially loved putting jewel and pearl brads in it…

It’s hard to tell, but the white-ish areas and on the title there is some glimmery/sparkly stuff. Looks better in person. 🙂

What a fun September kit. I always love the mix of stuff she’s got – and I always end up surprised by what I end up loving + using up like crazy. To see more you can check out www.scarletlime.com

PS – if you want to know how/why I am loving that ruler and how it helped me to punch perfect holes for my stitching, check out Tim’s video:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_16A-PuJRGE&feature=related]

Haunted House how-to

September is here, and in my house that means gearing up for fall decorations. When I received the Scarlet Lime Halloween kit last week I was noticing all the ghosts and spooky stuff that might just make an awesome haunted house! So I grabbed one on sale at the craft store and got to work.

Supplies:
Scarlet Lime Halloween kit
double sided tape
glitter + liquid adhesive
white paint
a wood birdhouse (craft stores have them from $1 – $10 depending on size)
optional: ink, glossy accents

note about this project: It works best to work in small increments. Do one step, leave it until dry. Know what that means? I did this over about 2 days… but total time was only about 45 minutes!!! It’s a great one if you only have a few minutes here & there to spare.

1. Put strips of double-sided tape all over roof, make sure edges are covered. Then take a piece of patterned paper that is at least 1″ wider than the roof, and long enough to fully cover it and fold in half. Then place on roof with the crease (where you folded in 1/2) at top.

2. Tear (use downward motion) the excess off of the sides revealing a torn edge along both the front and back. Repeat along the bottom edges. Then paint the four sides of the house with white acrylic paint and let dry before continuing.

note: I grabbed some pliers from the garage and ripped the bird ‘perch’ off the front. You could also cover the hole in your design if desired making it a haunted house – not haunted bird house) 

3. Apply liquid adhesive along the thin edge to the front (along roof line) and add glitter. I used coarse German Glass glitter, but any kind or color will work. Allow to dry (leave it laying down so glue & glitter doesn’t run off) and repeat on back.

5. Cut out a door for the front. Don’t worry about getting it just right  – crooked is good! Adhere to front and line with black pen, thin line of ink, or enamel accents like I did.

6. Now it’s going to get even easier! Just keep adding stickers all around. If any part of the sticker is exposed (not glued down) then just dab some liquid adhesive on the back. When it dries it will no longer be sticky! I coated all the stickers and surfaces with a sealant (PPA by USArt Quest) just to make sure this lasts for years to come.

7. To finish I bordered the front and two sides with some fun detail. I used both double sided tape and liquid adhesive on the buttons, while I just added a bit of liquid adhesive to the stickers on the front (candy) to help them be extra stuck-down.

8. fancify the roof (optional): I put glossy accents on some of the white squares. Then once they were dry I used my finger to rub a TINY amount of water all over the roof, and then I used distress ink (wild honey) all over it and then wiped with paper towel to get rid of any excess.

I’m off to make more spooky houses! I love that I can do so much, and with birdhouses that are on clearance right now at the craft store!!