Friday, July 27, 2012

whatever I love and whatever I don't...


Things I love about this layout...

-these patterned papers from Authentique's line, Genuine.  I could wallpaper my house in these papers--and I don't usually love a whole collection, but with this one, every sheet makes me happy. 
So, Authentique, if you are listening (or watching or looking or reading), how about starting a line of wallpaper?

-the yellow polka dot paper from Close to My Heart...
polka dots make me happy too

-the sandpaper I used to cut out the letters in BEACH. 
Guess what they remind me of?  SAND, sandpaper, get it?

-the pattern from this grid stamp (from Stampin' Up) that I stamped with clear embossing ink under the glitter

-the triangle banners at the top of the layout, with the twine underneath. The shape is from Fiskars new XXXXL "Banner Year" Lever Punch. I had previously questioned why I would need a punch that makes triangles when they really aren't that difficult to hand cut, but let me tell you...pop, pop, pop--3 triangles all the same size in 3 seconds, I was wrong...I LIKE it!

-the white lacy leaf from Kaisercraft tucked under the right side of the photo

-this cute photo of my son sitting in one of the many holes in the sand that he made that day

-the mini alphabet, Tiny Type, stickers from Cosmo Cricket--
I could collect these in every color!

-the compass overlay from Me and My Big Ideas that is to the right of the photo

-that this "Quilt Block of the Month", it's #7, from Smitha Katti over at the Fiskars site is much easier to replicate in paper than #6 that had me tearing up over triangle cutting and placement. (I'm exagerrating a little...but just a little).

-did I mention the papers from Authentique? 
Oh, so worth mentioning again.

-the sparkly gold glitter, with that grid pattern, ooh la la!
In Florida, the sand really is sparkly!




OK, now things I don't like about this layout...

there is just one...

-the sparkly gold glitter

Oh, did you notice the sparkly gold glitter ended up on both lists?
(I bolded it for you just in case you didn't notice). 

Actually, that sparkly gold glitter ended up on my barefeet, on the photo, on my fingers, on my clothes, in my hair, all over my scrap dungeon, on my camera, on the front porch (where I took the photo of the layout), do you get the idea? 

I am reminded why I don't like glitter and why I don't use glitter.  I tried that old high school art class trick of spraying hair spray over the glitter to help it set--didn't work.  Maybe I need to use super duper Aqua Net, circa 1987?


Oh well, this layout is one of my favorites. 
So much so, I could almost forgive and forget about the glitter. 

Almost.

Hope you have a sparkly day!

~Kelly

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

whatever is chosen..

I’m so excited!
 
Now do you have that Pointer Sisters song in your head?

My layout of me and my Grammy--you know, that multi-purpose LO that was a challenge for Scrapping the Music, Fiskateers on line crop/crop about a relationship, Smitha Katti's Fiskars Quilt block of the month, and a layout that included me...

was chosen as



 (sign up as a member if you aren't yet)
and you could win a prize if you lift my layout.


~Kelly
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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

whatever is flowered...





You'd think that with only 1 of my 4 children home this week that I'd be getting TONS of scrapping done.  Wrong!  Fiskateers was having an online crop (for those of us sad folks who didn't go to CHA) and I only completed 4 challenges.  But, better than none.  The first challenge done was yesterday's post, the "bushel and a peck" layout of me and my Grammy.  The card above was for the "you spin me round challenge".  I was able to use LOTS of scraps...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE when I can do that.


Next challenge, lift a project from the 7th person on your friend list.  Mine was Amy E., and she had made the most adorable paper wrist corsages.  I thought these would be perfect pony tail holders too...this one has already been swept up by the only child home this week.



Lastly, watercolored background challenge.  Made kind of a blobby mess, but still working on my techniques.  Speaking of watercolors, don't forget that my Graffiti call for Scrapstreet this issue is for cards, layouts, etc. created with watercolors.  You can read the call here

Send in your submissions to editors@scrapstreet.com before August 19th.  Don't you think it is time to see your work published?  I do!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Whatever is sung...





What is my scrapbooking world coming to? 
First, my husband gets a scrapbook page to himself,
now it's me (and my grammy)! 
Wow!...I don't know what could be next!


This page is doing multiple duties for me--
One, as mentioned, it's a page that includes pictures of me...
that RARELY happens.

Two, over at Scrapping the Music, the prompt this week is to scrap using a song that your mom or other family member sang to you, or one you sing/sang to your children. 

"I Love You a Bushel and a Peck", which I just found out is from the musical "Guys and Dolls", is an old song that I remember my grandma sang to me.  I had just heard it playing in grocery store the other day, so it was serendipitous (oooh, my word of the day) that this challenge came up this week.  I filled a big photo album with pictures for my Grandma's 80th birthday a few years ago, so I knew right where I had these photos.  The first one is me and her circa 1969 and the second is from just a couple of years ago.  We both look the same, don't you think?

The other challenge at Scrapping the Music this week is to scrap using the song "Over the Rainbow" as inspiration.  I'm hoping to get his one done too because it is one of my favorite songs (especially the version by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, which was used in the episode of ER where Dr. Mark Greene dies of a brain tumor--saddest episode EVER--cried buckets, sorry I'm digressing).

Third, there is a CHA "in spirit" on-line crop going on over at Fiskateers, and Challenge #9 is "Who's Who"--challenging us to scrap about a special relationship...enter me and my Grammy!

Lastly, I'm still following along with Smitha Katti's Quilt Block of the Month (ala scrapbook page) over on the Fiskars site.  We are on block #6 and I must say this one was a little more challenging in the "cutting and measuring" department.  Paper is much more forgiving than material, which is why I don't quilt.


I wanted to share with you the method to my madness when I copy, I mean am inspired by these quilt blocks. I make a rough sketch, and I do mean "rough" (as seen above). I number the different patterns that she uses and their placement in the block. Then, I start picking papers. For this one, I knew I was going to go with colors in the brown family so as to not overwhelm the muted colors in the photos. I picked a hodge-podge of papers from My Mind's Eye, Close to My Heart, and DCWV, then started cutting. 




Once cut, I laid the triangles onto a base paper (yes, I know, you can see a little peek of coral cardstock on the right side of the page--refer to above statement/mantra, "paper is more forgiving than material").  Once glued down, I started arranging and planning for my photo placement (definitely over that smidge of coral cardstock peeking through), embellishments, and title.


I added some twine, flowers from Kaisercraft, bling from My Mind's Eye, and a layered flower that I created a base for using the Threading Water Fiskars border punch.


 My Grammy lives in Florida, so I don't get to wrap my arms around her neck too often, but I'll send this page to her and it will remind her how often I would like to.

As for me, I'm liking that with one page I crossed off a bunch of challenges on my scrap list.  A "picture" of efficiency!

~Kelly
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Friday, July 20, 2012

Whatever is loud...



For me, scrapbooking is not just about scrapping the major events in our lives.  It is about capturing the quiet moments, the silly moments, the everyday moments, the "live out loud" moments.  I captured this guy living out loud...making silly faces and crazy hair styles in the bathroom when he thought I wasn't looking.  Once he saw that I was looking, he just continued being silly.


The design was a lift of Jenny over at Scrapbook Challenges, she was Brynn's Pick of the Week, you can see her layout here .  I love this little camera stamp from ImaginisceThe patterned papers are from Close to My Heart and the adorable black and white camera paper is from American Crafts/Amy Tangerine.  It is so adorable that I might have to get some more of that paper...what was I thinking only buying 1 sheet?!




I love these pictures. 
I love the rainbow of colors.
I love the confetti burst.
  I love that this layout let me use a bunch of scraps...
cuz' I have a few.


~Kelly
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

whatever is my favorite...



Still trying to "think cool" while we plod through this heat and drought.  For me, that means using winter pics on my layouts.  These are two of my FAVORITE photos of this guy.  I love that I can see his freckles.  One day those may fade (and so may my memory) so at least I have them captured on this page.


Always being inspired by everyday things, I knew I wanted to use twine because I was inspired by the yarn stitching on his hat, but my goodness, I traced and cut this snowflake out 3 times before I was happy with the result. 

First time I tried stitching an outline of the snowflake with the twine---fail.

Second time tried wrapping the twine all along the edge---fail. 

Third time, tried gluing twine along the edge---fail.

Fourth time (ooh, I guess I traced and cut 4 times), I Stickled the edge and wrapped the stems with the twine--finally, I'm happy. 

So, lesson learned today--
if at first you don't succeed,
cut, cut, cut, and cut again. 


~Kelly
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Monday, July 16, 2012

whatever is lucky...


A recent trip to Archiver's found me feeling lucky. Lucky to find this great page kit from Echo Park called Grand Slam. I knew it would be perfect for scrapping some baseball pictures from last season. Sometimes a kit is just what I need to give me some quick and easy layouts. This kit, with it's double-sided, baseball-themed papers and large cardstock sheet of stickers is a home run!



You know with this heat, sometimes the creativity brainwaves are a little sluggish.  With a twist on the sketch idea from my ScrapClub Leader Gina (Hi Gina!), some stamps from Close to My Heart, and the "Ticket Please" Fiskars border punch, this layout came together with minimal brainwaves needed.  The journaling under the photos describes how my son was lucky to end up on the championship team his first season of playing Little League.  We are both lucky!

Stay cool!


~Kelly

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Saturday, July 7, 2012

whatever is cold...


Usually, I would not be singing the praises of anything cold.  But, in my attempt to stay cool, I have resorted to imagery.  Scrapping pictures of a snowy New Years Day has fooled me into thinking that it is NOT 106 degrees outside.  Actually, it's not working, but it is cooler in my scrap dungeon than it is anywhere else around here.  I'm using this hot spell as an excuse to scrap--not that I ever need one!  This page was inspired by Sketch 302 over at Scrapbook Challenges.  I love sketches that allow me to use a pile of photos!

Speaking of Scrapbook Challenges...my last posted layout (the "Grill Master") was chosen as a Gallery Gem!  How exciting!  My husband insists it was because the layout was one highlighting him---hmm!  You can see it again HERE...and go check out the other gems too--SC is a fabulous, inspiring site!

Stay cool!

~Kelly

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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

whatever is mastered

Second only to me, my husband gets in the least amount of scrapbook pages I make.  Poor dear, seems to lose out to the kids and the dogs most of the time.  BUT, this time....it's all about him!  He is the grill master at our house, and in these photos he's showing off the fabulous Father's Day apron that the kids created for him (it says "King of the Grill").

My dear Fiskateer friend, Groovy Deb, has taken over the challenge blog, Scrap Our Stash (as if she wasn't already SO groovy)!  The July challenge is "stars and stripes" and I knew that these pictures of the grill master would be perfect.  These fabulous 2-sided, red/white/blue patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye and I am so proud of myself for not hiding them away to save for "something special".  I have a tendency to do that with papers I love---I know it makes no sense, it's just silly ol' me.




And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE making pinwheels!
I could put them on everything I make right now I think they are so cool!  Maybe, because it reminds me of the 4th of July parades when I was little...my dad would attach metallic red, silver, and blue pinwheels to my handlebars and they would spin while I would ride.  I couldn't find a picture that had those pinwheels on it, but I did dig up an old 4th of July picture of me and one of my brothers.  In this picture (I think it is 1976), I had decided to decorate my doll buggy rather than a bike.  I am groovy! (just like Deb)

Happy 4th of July!


God Bless America!

~Kelly

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

whatever is funny...


Continuing my "thank yous" to the retiring (now "Legends") Lead Fiskateers...this one is for Angela.  Punny, funny, and a little quirky...that's Angela!  The banana stamp is from Fiskars and the "space cadets" are a clip art image I found on the internet, printed, and then colored with Copics.  If you ever need a laugh, head over to Angela's blog http://angeladaniels.squarespace.com/  She's also going to be on an upcoming episode of TLC's "Craft Wars"...can't wait to see what she will do next!  Thank you for all the laughs, giggles, and inspiration!


~Kelly

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Monday, July 2, 2012

whatever is purple...

I couldn't let a whole year of "whatevers" go by without including purple.  Since 1978 when a  deep purple shag rug and lavendar gingham bedset were part of my bedroom decor, purple has been my color.  Any chance I get, I buy purple for my daughters (the boys kind of shy away from purple---makes them think "Viking" colors). 

This page is all purple...purple cardstock...purple alpha stickers...purple stain on the wood chips...purple twine...purple stamped ink...and a purple swimsuit.   Too much purple?  NEVER!

~Kelly
 
Oh, the next issue of Scrapstreet is out too... and it's a FABULOUS one... see if you can find my creations.

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