Brave

Have you seen the trailers for the upcoming Disney-Pixar movie called Brave? Oh – I really want to see this. [with or without children!]

 

[link to youtube video]

You know I love a strong heroine – and this looks like another winner! [really, has Pixar ever let us down?!]

Now, we just need June 22 to get here…

vacation week | a look back

We’re almost to the end of vacation scrapbooking week… but a few things still left to share! Remember to visit www.scrappyjedi.com and see what Melissa has posted too – she’s been focused on her vacation scrapbooking and posting some awesome stuff…

I have scrapbooked a LOT of Disney in my time, and I see a lot more in my future. I adore my Disney layouts – from the awesome fashion choices J and I made when we were dating to the more recent years and seeing how much our girls have grown between visits. Today I want to re-visit some of those layouts and share some that are still favorite layouts.

We have to start with  Adventure land. (layout circa 2004)

I tea dyed the material under the title. Hand set all those title eyelets. Used walnut ink on handmade paper that I’d printed my journaling out on and hand tore it too.

This page took about a WEEK of daily work, lots of thinking, and decisions to make. It’s still one of my favorites because I love that I was trying new things, that the focus manages to still be on a good story + photo (RARE in those days of my scrapbooking!) and while not my “best” by any stretch at the time it was.

On the flip side, made around the same time let’s talk about one that didn’t work…

I was beading and wiring up a storm, using a QuicKutz to make my fancy title…. and what’s the point? I didn’t successfully tie in any of the elements though to this day I do LOVE a green + brown + copper color scheme!

There is no story here when there could have been, my title is floating around and taking over, and while I still love the beaded elements on the photo (anybody remember those doodlebug charms? (brown mountain) LOVED those!) – this page isn’t complete, it doesn’t add anything to the album or my vacation story and it could have.

Ah but here’s one that does add to the album! (circa 2007)  The look of this page i was going for was as if my memorabilia and photos had been scattered across the surface. Seemingly random – and yet not. Post card, collected bits from our vacation, a photo with fancy frame – it’s all good and oh how I love it. It will be a favorite for many years to come.

.

[Read more...]

Title 101

Back in my early days a die cut machine was something only the scrapbook store had… And it wasn’t that great. Letter stickers were limited and rub-ons weren’t yet on the scene. If you wanted something special, you did it yourself and by hand.

Sometimes, I just like to kick it old school. Print out a title backwards and go to town with my craft knife. It’s good to keep this skill, and to remember creative cheap alternatives are out there.

20110516-082549.jpg

Now my break is over and I’m back to work… Enjoying my creative play and making something by hand.

Tim Holtz project: Pirate Love

This was the first project I made for CHA (for Tim), and to say it took forever would be an understatement. It took 2 days!! But in truth that isn’t because the page is especially hard, it’s just because I was being ultra careful not to ruin any of the beautiful new goodies. Today I’m going to walk you through the page.

I started by misting the fabulous kraft resist paper background with Adirondack color washes, then Perfect Pearls mist in heirloom gold. (the stamp behind them in photo has nothing to do with it – it’s just keeping paper from curling). When I was done I washed the paper (yeah, really) in the sink, crumpled it all up, then put it under some heavy items to dry.

The next step involves the grungeboard accent. Now – you need to do a few steps and it’s easier explained in video… so here you go:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V4enqGlFRw]

My video skills are lame and I have no editing - but at least I tried! Here’s the finished page:

the photos are a 4×6 and 4×4 print (4×4 is a hipstamatic from iPhone). Now let me tell you more about the details:

I adhered (with glossy accents) a facet to a sticker (shown above) and adhered it along with a button and scrap of tissue tape. My photos are stitched down (machine) since the background is pretty wild and I didn’t want photos falling off. I also did some hand stitching up the left and across the right (on ruler sticker, seen above) by using my Tim Holtz design ruler to measure and punch holes, then embroidery floss and needle to stitch it. LOVE the texture + detail this adds.

I used a journaling ticket (LOVE THESE!) for my notes, and I did add some gold UTEE (embossing enamel) here and there to add specks of golden lovliness. I figured pirates like gold.

Now it gets real funky. I die cut flourishes from the new kraft glassine material that Tim has, dabbed distress stickles on them, and glued them to my layout (by the grungeboard accent)

I also adhered my letters to the surface (see video for details) with a mix of distress stickles and liquid adhesive.

I’m having such a good time maybe I haven’t mentioned it… but I *LOVE* the new stuff Tim came out with. It’s fantastic!! ALL OF IT!

I hope you enjoyed my up close look at this project!

I will continue to share the up close looks at them here on my blog. If you have any questions – please do feel free to comment here or email me. I’d love to hear what you think!

little bit ‘o tink

Elizabeth insists we go to pixie hollow 5x the next time we’re in Disneyland. HA! She wouldn’t even go near a fairy, but she says next time maybe she will. In the meantime, I’ve scrapbooked our photos + the autographs Rebecca got…

tink-2

Hmmm… how to fit it all in? (I love ‘in progress’ photos)…

tink

It’s simple but used up some old EK Success tink stickers, a clothing tag, and of course the autographs themselves!

placing blame

My absence has been due to a surge in creativity since coming home. I blame these guys.

blame-1

For me, Disneyland is a magical place. The amount of creativity that goes into making such a place, the caring that goes into the level of detail… my creative side is always happy there. Seeing all the beautiful flowers, the detailed EVERYTHING, and visiting my favorite characters and attractions too all was just wonderful.

When I arrived back home (after laundry and unpacking…) I found myself with a new surge in creativity. Something that was very SORELY missing in the month of February for me.

blame-2

Yes, I thank Disneyland for renewing inspiration in my crafting… and therefore blame it for my absence here on my blog.

A wonderful thing, in my opinion.