Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas Cards and the start of something....

Believe it or not, even though I haven't been posting, I have been creating (which can be attested to by the ginormous pile of half finished scrap pages hoevering over me at the moment). My Christmas cards are done although I don't think I ever shared them, here's a random sampling of what might show up in your mailbox if you are on my nice list ;)



And a tag I just made, forgive her lips, I just don't quite know how to erase copics and my hand slipped...I'm on a mission to use up my scraps and collaging them to make tags seems like a darn good way to do so! This little lady is one of my fave stamps currently, she's from the CTMH set Ms Holiday Cheer ansd seriously, I cannot get enough of her! And bling, always the bling!

Trim a Tree

One of our favourite places is Wolf Creek Environmental Center. It is part of the Medina County Parks and they do awesome programs! Sunday was their Trim a Tree Open House and the girls were so excited! They love creating (hmmmm....wonder where they get that?!) and there is cocoa and cookies for after plus a visit with Santa (which Trin decided she is too big for...silly girl!)





I love the inspiration I get here, they put out tons off all natural products....chinese lanterns, pinecones, dried flowers, cedar snippings, shells, buckeyes and so forth and then let you have at it with the hot glue gun. This year I attempted an angel, she is actually quite pretty, but she doesn't photograph well.


Hope you can get some inspiration as well....go out and take a wander in the woods and see what you can find! I'd love to see!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Origami Wreath

Okay, so how cute it this? I have had so many people ask me for the directions for these, here it is (I know, FINALLY! LOL)

I can't get it to link directly, but if you go to the link before, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on CHristmas crafts it will be on the second page.

http://www.activitytv.com/default.aspx

Hope you have as much fun making these as I have been! This one is made using Creative Basics paper from CTMH from the Boom di Ada and the Christmas collection fromm 3 years ago (totally blanking on what it is called) then some cranberry grosgrain ribbon and the connection club pearls that I coloured with my copic in red.




And a HUGE thanks to my upline Tina Sutton for passing this on!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Scrapbook Day at Mapleton

Gather your pictures, memories and creative ideas and join us for a fun filled day of scrapbooking and senior memorabilia projects!

Sponsored by the Mapleton Girls Basketball and Swim Team

Date: Saturday, November 21

Place: Mapleton High School Commons

Time: 9 am to 9 pm

Cost: $15 and a covered dish to share (snacks and drinks provided)

Reserve your seat by calling:
Tammy Pelton (419.651.9236) tammypelton@clearchannel.com
Denise Patterson (419.651.1612)

Monday, November 2, 2009

Scrapbooking and Treats Party

For all you local gals!

This will be a great time, Karen is a fellow homeschooler and avid scrapper and cook. She decorates her house beautifully for the holidays and there will lots of specials, fun and great people!

I'll also have lots of new ideas for you and previews of my upcoming card workshop at the Medina County Park in December!

Please feel free to pass the invite along to anyone you know might be interested!

Looking forward to seeing you!
Lissa


You are Invited to a Scrapbooking and Treat Party


Please be my guest at my Scrapbooking and Treat Party

On Saturday, November 7, 2009

4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

At Karen Gower’s Home

6622 Cobblefield Drive in Medina





Come and learn new scrapbooking techniques and test new products.

Also sample some food from our food vendors and test new gadgets made for the kitchen!



Close to My Heart

Make and take a Christmas card and learn how to make your own glitter mist at the same time!

~ Book a party and get a FREE gift

~ 10% off Idea Books

~ FREE Shipping on all orders

~ Make it Shine package special

~Stampzganza

~Stamp of the Month - find out how to get it free!



Creative Memories

~ FREE Shipping on all orders

~ 20% OFF your total purchase when you book a party



The Scrap Queen (www.theScrapQueen.com)

~ FREE Gift with any $25 or more order

~ FREE Shipping on all orders



Stampin’ Up

~ Spend $30 or more get a FREE bottle of “Shimmer Paint” from the Holiday Mini Catalog

~ Learn how to add a touch of elegance to your holiday projects with glimmer paint!



The Gourmet Cupboard (www.TheGourmetCupboard.com)

~ Book a show and receive a FREE mix (value $5) at your show.



Pampered Chef

~ Take 20% OFF of all the Simple Additions Collection




Tastefully Simple

~ FREE Bountiful Beer Bread with any $50 order

~ FREE Bucket Drink when you book a party

Saturday, October 31, 2009

24 Ways to Use Reinkers

For those of you coming to the Scrapbook and Treats party next week, a preview of what I am featuring....this will come in handy!

1. Re-ink your stamp pads. (The obvious one)

2. Shaving Cream Technique: This requires shaving cream and reinkers. It is a bit messy, wearing rubber gloves and putting down newspaper is a good idea.
-Spread the bottom of a shallow 9x12 pan with a layer of shaving cream. Spread it out with a spatula to about 3 / 4 inch thick
-Take a couple of coordinating reinkers and put a couple drops in a random pattern all over the shaving cream.
- Use something like a chopstick, knife or pencil to swirl the shaving cream around until you get a nice swirl effect.
- Now press a piece of cardstock down into the shaving cream. Press from the center and be sure all is touching.
- Gently peel up scrap off excess shaving cream with a clean paper towel.
- You can reuse the shaving cream several times. When the cardstock is dry, the surface will have a velvety feel.

3. Paintbrush technique: Select a paintbrush and palette. You will actually paint with the reinkers. This method adds more vibrancy to your finished project and you have the ability to apply undertones and highlights right where you want them. It works best to first emboss your image. Embossing gives a nice edge for the ink to blend to. You can also mix the reinkers and come up with your own designer colour.

4. Christmas ornaments: Take clear glass ball ornaments and remove the top. You will need to put about 10 drops of one colour into each ornie. (Add only one colour or you will have sludge) When you are done, turn the bulb upside down and let the excess ink drain off into a paper cup. Pour approx. 1 / 2 tsp of glitter into the bulk. QUICKLY SHAKE! (This needs to be done quickly so as not to form a big glob) Pour excess dyed glitter into a container (you can reuse). Put top back on ornament and tie on an organdy ribbon! These are beautiful!

5. Paper clay and reinkers: Mist to make your own specialty colours. Will leave a swirl pattern.

6. Liquid Glass and reinkers: Add a drop or 2 of reinker to liquid glass. Use it to give a raised effect. Add a bit of prisma glitter for extra wow factor!

7. Easter Egg background: Use a paper towel that you have wadded, dip in ink and pounce all over white cardstock. Use 2 or 3 colours and you will have cardstock that looks like dyed Easter eggs.

8. Resist technique: There are several products you can use to do this technique: waxed paper, white crayon, rubber cement, versa mark with clear embossing powder, white daisy ink. The results are pretty much the same regardless of medium. After stamping your image on paper, use an eyedropper to put some drops on the page. Hold the paper slanted down and let the ink run across the page. The ink is resisted in the areas that you have placed your wax or other resist product. You can also use your brayer to place re-inkers on your cardstock.

9. Batik: Use the reinkers to create cards that will have the look of this ancient art form. There are two methods to batiking that use reinkers.
- -Mulberry Batik Method: Emboss on mulberry paper using solid bold stamps, a resist pap, clear embossing powder and heat tool just until the image is clear. Then crunch the paper into a ball to crack the embossing. (ßOptional step) Place on one side of a newsprint and spritz with water until it is soaked but not drippy. Drop reinker of one colour in several places. Using brush dribble more water on to spread the colour. Clean the brush. Now drop another color and repeat process. Carefully unfold and transfer to a couple of clean sheets of newsprint in a flip-flop fashion. Fold the newsprint over and with an iron set on medium press for about one minute.
- Tissue paper batik method: Stamp a pattern using versa mark ink and a bold stamp onto tissue paper. Emboss with clear powder. Use reinkers and drop ink onto the tissue paper. Ink will absorb into the paper where there is no embossing.

10. Watercolor Brayer: Drop several reinkers onto a piece of plastic wrap. Fold wrap in half to spread ink around. Then unfold and ink your brayer by rolling it across the newly created palette. Spritz with a water bottle and roll out onto your card for a pretty watercolor look.

11. Liquid applique: Use white Liquid Applique. Squeeze a bit and mix with your choice of reinkers. Air-dry or puff up.

12. Soused suede: Taking 11 a step further. Squeeze applique on your cardstock. Now take a used gift card and scrape over cardstock like you are spackling. Randomly add drops off reinker and tilt card so that it spreads. Heat the liquid applique for a truly unique look (I LOVE this technique!)

13. Dye mulberry: Use the reinkers to change white mulberry into any colour!

14. Bubble background: Add reinkers to dishwashing soap and water in a 9x12 shallow pan. Take a straw and blow bubbles (don’t inhale!) Quick dip the surface of your cardstock into the bubbles.

15. Dye Ribbon

16. Foil paper technique: Emboss an open image without a lot of detail onto front of card. Use black ink and clear embossing powder. Stamp the same image onto plain foiled holiday gift wrap and colour in using reinkers. You can cut the whole image or parts of it…depending on the look you want to achieve. Cut the inside line of the image. Glue the foiled pieces inside the embossed image on the card.

17. Paper casting: Place stamp with image side up on table. Select up to 8 squares of toilet tissue and stack them. Dampen them with water and lay them over the stamp. Place a hand towel on top and gently press down expelling some of the water from the tissue and molding it to the stamp image. Now paint on the colour you want using your reinkers and a paintbrush. Carefully remove all the tissue at one time from the stamp and lay it aside to dry. The image will appear similar to paper casting!

18. Tissue paper/Window Sheets: On a sheet of window sheeting, squeeze out a blob of liquid glass. Spread around with your finger and leave it fairly thick. Drop a few different colours of reinkers on glass and spread around. Add more drops to achieve a marbled look as desired. Cut a piece of white tissue slightly larger than the glue/ink and set aside to dry (peel back a corner to check that ink is dry) when dry, peel tissue away from window sheet and use whole or in pieces for a cool background. Finished paper has the look of stained glass. (I have also used transparencies and page protectors)

19. Aluminum Foil: Fold a piece in half and reopen it. Squirt some of your reinkers on the foil. Fold the foil in half again pressing together (with hand or brayer) allowing the ink to mix around. Open up and lay a blank card in the inked foil. Fold the foil over the card. Smooth your hand over the foil allowing the ink to get on the card. Open the foil and look to see if you need to add any more, if so, repeat process.

20. Reinkers and Glue with tissue paper: Stamp all images on transparencies. Colour stamped images on reverse side of tissue paper. TO highlight use metallic markers. Put drops of white glue on reverse side (once marker is dry); add drops of reinkers. Use your fingers to smear glue and colour as desired. (Work carefully over marker as it will flake off – it is worth the effort as the metallic markers are what really make this pop!) Crumple white tissue paper and adhere to the glue to seal. Layer with background papers onto card.

21. Caught in crystal: This is a very clever use of an ordinary household cleaning product, clear acrylic floor finish (I use Future) Stamp the design of your choice onto a transparency (or page protector) with staz on ink. Heat fix. Spray with clear gloss fixative and heat to dry. Tape transparency, stamped side down onto a sheet of paint white paper. The tape will act as a barrier to keep the inks and future from seeping under the front of the transparency. Pour a puddle of future on the transparency and spread evenly over background. Add a light sprinkle of glitter. Tear a piece of tissue paper a little larger than your transparency. Crumple, open and smooth onto transparency. Add more future-you want the surface wet so the dyes flow easily. Add drops of dye from reinkers. Blend edges of colours together using a soft paint brush. Blot with a paper towel. You control how deep the colours will be at this step. If the tissue tears, don’t panic! Tear off a small piece of tissue and patch with more floor finish. Heat to dry. Hold the heat fun about 6-8 inches from the transparency- you don’t want it to melt! Add another layer of future0this is what will turn the piece crystal clear. Again, heat to dry. Cut out the inside of the taped area. The finished piece is now ready to be applied to your project.

22. Other objects for crating backgrounds:
Kooshballs: dab in reinker and pounce.
Marbles: put in a shallow dish and roll
Rubber ball: bounce it in reinker and then on cardstock
Piece of mesh: dye it or use a sponge and reinker to create a cool grid on cardstock
Bubble Wrap: dab in reinker and press into cardstock
Sandwich baggie: crumple and pounce
Sponges
Try any household object!

23. Reinker plus Pearl Paint makes a wonderful custom shimmer paint.

24. Add reinker to homemade glitter mist (this takes a lot equal amounts of reinker to alcohol so unless you want a specific custom colour, I honestly think it is just as cost effective to buy glimmer mist)

Happy Halloween!

Wow! I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged (well, yes I do, it comes from a slightly new time sucker called facebook lol, but realized it was the end of October and I couldn't let a month go by with NO posts!

We are off tonight to trick or treat for the second time, the girls went to Norwalk Thursday night to T or T with their cousin and tonight he is coming to return the favour.

They also costumed up last weekend for Pumpkin Palooza at the Milan Historical Museum and had lots of fun...this year the costumes have definitely gotten their monies worth out of them!

The girls...Iron Man and my Punk Vampire



And Andrew as Scooby Doo

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Thorns in my side

Hey, I didn't pick the title! My friend Linda did! Yes, I caved to peer pressure! lol ALthough, there are days...... My little beauties can try the patience of a 1000 saints, but then again, they can also be the sweetest most considerate children in the world as well. I just have the advantage of having mine with me 24/7 since I homeschool them and with that much togetherness there are days that make me question my sanity about that decision.

ANyway....again with the Cosmo Cricket papers....I really do love this cherry paper. Seems so summery and yummy!

Home Suite Home

Judy at Simply Scrapping sent the design team an awesome pack at the beginning of summer. I LOVE getting her goodie boxes and I went crazy using up most of it right away. The Cosmo Cricket Early Riser papers (or something like that, totally blanking on the lines name right now) were a bit cutesy for my taste and I had a heck of a time using them.

See, we are SO not morning people here. Actually, as I type it is 11 am and I am still in my jamas and Livy just rolled out of bed about 15 minutes ago. Early Riser? There are NO morning pics or breakfasty kinda things in our world. And like I said, a bit cutesy and well, I'm not really a cute kinda gal.

But, they did have a fun homey feel and I decided they were perfect for our hotel pics from vacation. We got a suite and the girls never wanted to leave...they loved the little kitchen, having cable (major novelty in our world) and that said cable was on a tv inches from their sofabed.

You Enchant Me

I'm not totally sure if I am done with this page...something is just off (suggestions are welcome). I took some June Bug papers and teemed them up with this great Glitz Designs cardstock sticker from Simply Scrapping. I LOVE these colours....the purple and orange just look so exotic yet fallish and fun.

I Ain't Mis'bee'havin'

Okay, seriously, how freakin' cute is my nephew?! Livy snapped this pic of him getting into my purse one day when we were out shopping. I found it on my camera and laughed. My purse is a hugely fascinating place to the little guy, prolly because there is always some little goodie that I picked up for him stashed away in there (currently there are 2 sesame street figures and 4 mini Elmo board books, just goes to show)

Beauty Seen

Another layout using the BG June bug papers...these are so fun! I did 4 different layouts using these papers and they all have a really different feel! Love when you can do that! This paper was a bit busy though (I LOVE the patterned papers that have these kinds of designs, but they are soo hard to use as you don't want to cover anything!) so I just doodled a bit where I covered the design and then threw on a huge chipboard butterfly. A bit of liquid pearls to show his path and it was done.

Just my youngest chickeepoo with her puppy in front of the roses

Monday, September 7, 2009

Focus!

There is a new look over at "Shoe" blog but the challenges are just as awesome as ever! The current Fashionista Friday challenge is to use the colours Red, Yellow and Orange in your layout.

Here's my take, the BG June Bug papers that are part of The Scrap Queens June Bug kit fit the bill perfect along with the matching stickers. I didn't have any yellow flowers...but no worries, I did have some light tan ones and my sunflower glimmer mist! A bit of spraying and the problem was not only solved, but I got a bit of shimmer to brighten my day as well!

Thanks as always for the inspiration ladies!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

New Fall Idea Book is online and products are available!

I have to tell you, I have been waiting for today! Not only is the fall idea book ready for you to order from, but there is a gorgeous new stamp of the month and we are in the midst of our national stamping month celebration!

Want to see the goodies? Click on the catalogue picture to the right. You'll be drooling, I promise! My personal favourite paper pack is Twitterpated, but Jingle, Grace and Sweet Home are beautiful as well! And the new bag line is very cool and the new embellishments and well, just sign me up for one of everything! The fall catalogue is always my favourite and this one did NOT disappoint!

Want more info on our current special? It is awesome! If you spend $60 on stamps, you will get it free! This uber cute kit makes 16 cards and everything is included...a stamp set, inks, paper, card flats, embellishments...it's a $39.95 value. You can also get it free if you become a consultant this month or have a qualifying gathering. I have one spot open, email or call if you want it!

More info on it can be found here:
http://www.closetomyheart.com/PDF/0909_ContantCampaign_Flyer.pdf

And didn't I promise a super gorgeous stamp of the month?
Check this out! I LOVE it!


Have fun exploring all the new goodies, looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Now for something glam!

My friend Lisa is a HUGE Adam Lambert fan. Which totally cracks me up. When my daughter saw this, she said "THAT is for Miss Lisa? Wow! That doesn't seem like her at all!" Which just goes to show that my nature loving, straightforward, sensible, station wagon driving friend has a dark side! lol

She went to the recent AI concert and snapped these photos and they totally inspired me! I don't get to play with concert pics, so I totally jumped on this and made her a mini album out of altered CDs and lots of bling! It was so much fun to make and it went together so fast! (Of course, I love any excuse to throw alcohol inks on things and the glimmer mist on mulberry shines soo cool...love my black gold!)

Hope you like it Lisa!

(And my 9 fell off, I have another but wanted to get this up, I'll dig for it in my huge mess later. SO just ignore that for now)








Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Just some quick cards

I needed a card this morning, for some reason I really don't enjoy making cards. I'm the worlds WORST card sender so that is probably the reason why...instead of sharing them, I have a HUGE pile of cards that I made and do nothing with. Of course, since I made them, most likely they have been posted and when I do need one, I have to make a new one, since I feel like if I send one someone might have seen, then they feel like I didn't care enough to make them one that was new.

Anyway, that was more than you needed to know, right?

What I do love are my glimmer mists and screens. When I need a card, these are the QUICKEST way to get a something uber fun looking quick. And they look so impressive. Not like something it took seconds to create.

I grabbed 4 card flats this morning that I had sitting here, my basket of glimmer mists (yes, I have a basket full of them) and my pile of glimmer screens and a tattered angels stamp set (they only have a handful of designs but what they do have I LOVE) and 5 minutes later, I had not only these 4 cards, but everything was put back away.

Awesome, quick and easy and they turned out quite pretty, imho!

I finally scrapped!!!!

Yesterday was literally the first day I had scrapped in over 2 months. Wow! For me that is unheard of. But, I was too busy making memories this summer to preserve them. So, now I have a HUGE pile of photos to scrap!

This was a quick page to get me started. Just some pics from a park in downtown Sandusky on the Lake Erie shore.



Then, yesterday I got my CTMH card kit. The papers are sooo cute! I'm not a card maker for the most part, but I loved the papers so I used them to make this page. The card kit is a special this month, it makes 16 cards, comes with a stamp set, papers and everything you need for embellishing plus 2 mini inks in two of my fave colours dutch blue and chocolate. If you spend $60 on stamps, you get it free or you can earn it by hostessing a show through the end of September or signing up to become a consultant during this time. Contact me if you want more info!

In the meantime, here is my family at Tofts ice cream at their factory shop....it's sooo good! Ice cream is a major no no for me, but this stuff is soo worth the pain I suffer!

Altered Book - Fairy Theme

Well, it's been a busy summer, so that's why I haven't posted much.

We've been camping, to fairs, I don't know how many museums, played with my nephew, been town saling...you name it, seems like I crammed it in somehow. And in the midst of all that, my mom came to visit and I got my upcoming class/event schedule done along with my curriculum for this year.

Oh yes, I also joined an altered book group.

THis is an ongoing project and the group meets monthly so hopefully you'll keep seeing more and more of them.

I had never done an altered book and wondered if there was some special trick to them...for some reason they intimidated me. So, I figured the class was a great place to start.

Guess what? They are just like altering anything else. You just need to take into account that paper buckles a bit more than wood or chipboard or so forth.

I was trying to think what to work on and I have a small collection of fairy stamps and ephemera. With the fairy garden workshop I had taken as inspiration and a pile of Cecily M Barker books to spur me on further plus a nice pile of glimmer mist for sparkle (must have the sparkle and I so love my glimmer mist!) I got started!


Materials: CTMH Paper Garden papers, ephemera, Tattered Leather Glimmer Mist (for making ephemera aged), CTMH stamp, sticker hinges, grungeboard, copper adirondack dabber, DCWV chipboard, random flowers, lace doily, dusty concord distress ink, ctmh black archival ink, K& Co sticker


Materials: Juneberry Wine and Patina glimmer mists, glimmer screens, Tattered Angels stamp, K& CO stickers, Cecily M Barker colouring page, Tim Holt tag, Smooch ink, CTMH rub on


Materials: Sunflower and Juneberry Wine glimmer mists, felt lace, ephemera, Darice flowers, CTMH sparkles, Coffee filter flower I made covered with oriental poppy glimmer mist

Blog Candy....we have a winner!

Okay, so I'm a little late! Sooo sorry!

Using a randomizer, the number picked was.....

6!

That made me smile, as it is always fun when someone you know wins! Congratulations Adina! I know I had your address at one point, but if you can send that to me, I'll get your goodies out to you.

And, for all you others, be on the lookout...I have a brand new set of CTMH stamps here that need a home and I'll be posting another blog candy soon!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

A Perfect Day

Yesterday was my birthday!

Aside from the present the dog left me in the morning (he threw up on the carpet) I had the best day. The girls got up and we headed to my sisters house, I opened my presents from her (she spoiled me rotten...a new swimsuit, umbrella, scrap supplies, burts bees, chocolate and a shoe bookmark...all the things I love or needed) and then we loaded up the car and took off.

First stop, the Merry Go Round Museum in Sandusky. The kids LOVED doing the rubbings and riding the merry go round (my nephew is into Toads, so he picked the frog to ride).





Then we headed over to the shoreline to see Lake Erie and wander around a bit at the park. Livy loved that Cedar Point could be seen...she cannot wait to go back there!




After that, the girls were after ice cream (they are ALWAYS after ice cream. I'm not a huge ice cream fan so was trying to find Trin's logic for saying it was a birthday present for ME). Amyway, we were headed to Port CLinton on Route 6 we passed Toft's so we had to stop! Omgosh, they have lots of choices and a small cone is like 4 scoops!



Happily sated, we got in the car and drove the rest of the way to the Great Lakes Popcorn Company in Port Clinton:

http://www.greatlakespopcorn.com/

We tired lots of flavours at their tasting station and came up with a few favourites. Trin was all about the Columbus mix and Livy the jellybean, but Mindy and I both went crazy over the salt and vinegar. Omgosh, it is awesome!!! I think I found a new favourite junk food!

Afterwards, we headed back to my sisters, where my BIL made us dinner on the grill and the kids played in the sandbox. Then, we went over to Big Lots where I found the much sought after thickers for $2 a pack!

When we left, standing by the road across the street, we saw her...she was nice enough to stand still and pose for me. We looked at each other awhile and then she went back to eating and we drove back to Min's.



My mom called as we were leaving, so I talked to her on the way home and Stan was waiting here at home for me with tiramisu! The best birthday cake ever! And a great way to end a perfect day!

Go Fish

The girls went to Columbia Reservation earlier in the month and heard a talk on fish and they also took fish molds and covered them in fabric paint and made decorated shirts. They got very creative!

Challenge was from Adina, who wanted us to take our scraps and use them in a new way. I made a bunch of prima flowers out of mine (about 30 of them actually, this was my favourite)

Scraplift Challenge

I took the inspiration from this card from another posted by Tamara and knocked it off using a rub on and some stickles. If you don't know what a scraplift challenge is, it's where you take someone elses work and duplicate it, putting on your own spin.

Childhood

Tanisha posted this challenge...you had a use a Michael Jackson song title.

I watched my nephew last week and he is soo fun to have! I really enjoy seeing how easily amused he is and how everything is new to him since my girls at, 8 and 9, are pretty blase about common things these days.

It's a Midwest Thing

This one if for my friend Stacie who is THE BIGGEST polar pop junkie I know!

For those of you NOT from the midwest, soft drinks are called pop in our neck of the woods. Not cokes, not soda, no fizzy drinks....POP! And if you get it from a fountain they are sublime.

THis is a sketch that was posted for the crop this weekend.

U Rock card

This was a color challege from Lesley...to go with the vampy theme, the colours were black and white and one item of red.

Here's my card....



I need to play with this one a bit, I'm not real happy with it, I found some vintage film images that I want to try and work in somehow and some black and white ribbon.

A Year of Cards

This was Lesley's challenge...to create a year of cards in one weekend, you had prompts to use for each month.

January: CELEBRATE good times...C'MON! A celebration card


February: Let's Get it ON....Valentine's card


March: a little bit louder now...JUMP! A jump into SPRING card...Spring themed card


April: In the Easter parade! Easter card with the color yellow
May: Mama...something something something...Mama! Mother's Day card with the color purple
June: Poppa was a rollin stone! Father's Day card with the color brown



July: Born on the 4th of July: Patriotic Card with a heart on the card somewhere
August: Sittin on the dock of the bay....end of SUMMER...so a peaceful Summer card...with a piece of yellow ribbon
September: We don't need no education! Back to School Card with an apple on the card



October: We did the Mash...the MOnster Mash: Halloween Card using orange and black ribbon
November: ummmm....ok...how about a Thank y ou card of some sort including three flowers
December: O Christmas Tree! Christmas (or Hanukah) card featuring at least 2 circles and something with polka dots

Race Challenge Cards

Tracey is doing her famous race challenge...I love that challenge and omgosh, her commentary gets SOOO hilarious. The girl cracks me up! I dropped out awhile back as I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up since I had errands to run and would be gone most of yesterday (all day it turned out). But, I did the first few.

Here's some cards I made for various laps:


4H Public Speaking Competition

Livy participated in the Cloverbud category of the 'speech meet' last week. Her group did so great and despite being hugely nervous, she delivered her line perfectly and loud enough we could hear her from where we were sitting in the back! Yay Livy!

She was soo excited about getting her ribbons and presidential gold dollar. But, the best part was at the end of all the awards they had prize drawings and Livy won $20! She was thrilled!

This page was done for the Simplify challenge, where we were to try and use only a third of our page and leave the rest of the space empty!

Cigar Box Purse

Karmyn was responsible for this challenge...it was called Busy, Busy, Busy! The point was to make something and have NO negative space left. Fill the entire thing up. So, I had gotten this cigar box at a garage sale a week ago and decided since I hadn't made a new purse in awhile, this was a great way to answer this challenge.

THen, I went crazy with the flowers. I used the chipboard (that I had been hoarding for years) as a starting point (and yep, it is shoe themed, I'm a suck up! lol)and then threw in stickles and bling and a few other odds and ends. THere are primas, just blooms, crocheted flowers, a big grungepaper one I made...if I could find it in my hoard and it was black, pink or white, on it went! (consequently, I'm now completely out of flowers in all those colours...this is a great way to use things up!)

Here she is, I just need to add a beaded handle. THe other sides are covered in a black dewdrop print handmade paper that has a swirl pattern on it in silver. (I guess I should probably take a pic of that too...oh well, another day)