Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Be mixed up...



 
I'm learning it's ok to be "mixed-up".  At least in the sense of artwork.  I'm finding mixed-media to be very freeing.  No rules, no set structure, no boundaries, just playing.
 
 
Last Friday, I got to play with Linda Barutha at her store, Linnie Blooms (in Mukwonago, WI if you want to visit).  You can find her online store here at http://lindabarutha.com/shop/
She is selling lots of fun canvas shapes that are perfect for so many projects...like these long rectangular "blanks" and the fun sunflower/sun shape.  The possibilities are endless! 

First, I colored the background and flower shapes with Faber-Castell gelatos (and water) and stenciled on more designs with ink. I'm resisting the temptation to buy every gelato in every color!

Then it got even more fun as I continued to add more dimension by placing and squishing the flower shapes into one corner and adding some of Linnie Bloom textures (the cotton netting) that I had inked.  I also used some of that texture to make a little butterfly by folding it into a mini clothespin and adding wire antennae.  Finally, I added some ribbon and twine--twisting and stapling them onto the canvas to create grass, stems, and leaves.  The cute vintage hanger is from Melissa Frances.  For the sentiment, "everything grows better with love"...I  painted Modge Podge onto a piece of grid paper and after it dried I ran it through my printer.  I had to use a heat gun to get the ink to dry (after I learned how wet it stays on my first attempt---oops).


 
So, are you feeling mixed-up?  It's ok.  Embrace the craziness and create.  That's what I'm going to do.  Creating seems to mask the "crazy" pretty well.

~Kelly




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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Be a participant...



You still have a little time to join in the "Red, White, and Blue" Challenge over at Scrap It Girl.  I created this card with some Sizzix Sizzlits strip dies (Groovy Girl alphabet, Strips, and Tim Holtz Mini Snowflake Rosette--who said you couldn't use snowflakes for 4th of July?).

You can find inspiration and more information at the Scrap It Girl website, found HERE.


 
So, are you a participant?  Are you really participating in your life?  Or are you more of a "parade watcher"?  Viewing it all go by but not joining in.  Going through the motions of the day to day and not living life by it's depth. 
 
It's time--I often need to tell myself too.  It's time. 
~Kelly
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Monday, July 29, 2013

Be out of the ordinary...


Sometimes I like to think that I'm a little more "out of the ordinary" than I really am.  I like to think that I'm more creative and artsy than the "average Jo(sie)", but then I look out at the internet world of blogs, and Pinterest, and Facebook and I feel very ordinary.


Mixing and matching is about as "wacky" as I get.  This probably pleases my children immensely as they think the fewer times that I embarass them, the better.

So, who says monsters are just for boys?  I used the "Claire" paper from Close to My Heart to create these girly birthday cards--complete with monsters.

Did you know that the label of CTMH papers has a pattern on the other side?  It's perfect for borders and trims, like how I used it on these cards.
 
Another thank you to Lori Brown, Close to My Heart consultant, for sending those of us who design for Chicagoland Scrapbooker these wonderful papers to play with. 
You can visit Lori's website at http://loribrown.ctmh.com/
 
and Chicagoland Scrapbooker HERE
~Kelly
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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Be scrappy...


I mean "be scrappy" in the paper sense of the word.  I've never been scrappy in the "kick someone's butt" sense of the word.

One more card here highlighting Close to My Heart paper.  This paper is from the "Tommy" collection.  I punched a bunch of the scraps into circles and used both sides of this 2-sided paper to create a whole new look. This is always a great way to use up some scraps or to break up a busy pattern.  I added some CTMH Glitz Glitter Gel for some sparkle,  and the "Irresistable" brackets and celebration stamp are all from CTMH also.

Chicagoland Scrapbooker is having a give-away of CTMH items this week, generously donated by Close to My Heart consultant, Lori Brown.  Check it out!

Chicagoland Scrapbooker

Lori Brown~Close to My Heart

Go~ be scrappy.


~Kelly

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Be open...


I've been trying to "be" a lot of different things this year on my blog.  And one thing that I wanted when I started this blog was for it to push me, expand me, "open" me.  To new ideas, new people, new techniques, and new projects.  It has done that and I want it to continue.  So, I am expanding into some mixed media projects.  I have decided to try and keep up with this home decor project for each month that I started last month (see July project here). 


 
Chevron background stamp=CTMH Who's Your Valentine
Bicycle, Sentiment, and Clock=CTMH Enjoy Life
Paper=For Always and Surfs Up
Canvas Flower=Linnie Blooms (http://lindabarutha.com/shop/)
 
 
Lori Brown, a Close to My Heart consultant, sent the Chicagoland Scrapbooker Design Team some papers to play with, and "oh my flowers" did I play! For this project I used papers from "For Always", "Buzz and Bumble", and "Surf''s Up".
 

 
Flowers=CTMH Just for You stamped on pages from an old book
August background=CTMH Cherish the Day stamp
Paper=For Always
Canvas Butterfly= Linnie Blooms (www.lindabarutha.com/shop)
 
 
 
 
 
You might have noticed those cute canvas shapes (flower and butterflies) that I used too. More focus on those coming soon, but you can check out those and more shapes at Linnie Blooms.
 
Hexagons=CTMH Honeycomb Flair, then cut with Fiskars Hexagon large squeeze punch
Paper=Buzz and Bumble
 
 

All this week, you can also see what the other Chicagoland Scrapbooker Design Team members did with all of the CTMH papers.  Check it out at the Chicagoland Scrapbooker blog (there is a CONTEST too).

And, a BIG "thank you" to Lori Brown for letting us play with these beautiful papers. Don't forget to visit her site too, right here.



By the way, just because I am posting an "August" project does not mean I am ready for August.  I'm going to hold onto July real tight for as long as I can.

~Kelly


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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Be transported...


We had a wonderful time in Florida at SeaWorld and at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal.  It's so hard to believe that was 2 years ago.  I used these papers and accessories from Creative Imaginations.  Makes a page come together so easily.

 
Then, when you add a clever sketch for inspiration...like this one from Scrapbook Challenges #351, it's even EASIER! 
 
As you can see, my layout is a loose interpretation of the sketch.  I liked the idea of all of those tags tucked behind the photos and I used the assortment of frames that came with the HP kit.  Sometimes, all I need is a little kick to get started.
 
 
Today, it is HOT, HOT, HOT.  Just like yesterday, the day before, and tomorrow.  I could go for a cool, foamy, refreshing Butterbeer. I wish I could hop on Harry's Firebolt and be transported anywhere a little cooler than here.   But, it's a good reason to go play in the cool scrap dungeon!
 

~Kelly



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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Be prepared...


I'm finding it funny that I called this post "Be prepared", because I wasn't.  Two weddings this month kind of snuck up on me.  I know that's crazy--I've known about the weddings for months, but with school ending and summer starting and baseball, and dance recitals, and blah, blah, blah.  I was NOT prepared. 


I had wanted to make 8x8 albums as presents for the bride and groom and needed to do them fast.  So, once again I turned to my Fiskateer friends.  I used layouts chosen by our Lead Liftateer, Groovy Deb to help inspire me to make pages.


All I needed was a little inspiration to get me going and I was able to make each album in an afternoon.  I used each layout as inspiration for 2 pages (each album was 20 pages) and then repeated them in the other album (well, actually, my very helpful, creative daughter helped too).

You would probably have a difficult time seeing similarities between my layouts and the ones I lifted---sometimes I lift the whole layout, but often it's just one or two elements that really give me inspiration.  It could be like the circles above (they were actually colorful circles about the game Twister on the original) or flower and lace placement like on the top one (which was actually part of one couple's wedding invitation).

I loved the way these turned out--I actually found metal flip frames at Michaels and decided to use those rather than putting the pages in an album.  I have a 12x12 one that I LOVE!  I'll post it next time.



It's actually very helpful and easy to make pages without pictures.  Sometimes, when I'm in a rut and just want to scrap but don't feel like being restricted, or I don't have any pictures printed out---I just create blank pages that I can pop pictures into later.

Or, I can use them as a gift.  Maybe next time, I WILL be prepared.

~Kelly


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Monday, July 15, 2013

Be excited!

An announcement...
 
I am now on the blog design team for Linnie Blooms.  Linda, the owner, has a store in Mukwonago, WI and specializes in mixed media design.  I can't wait to show you my creations with her products.

Blog Designers:
 
1. Kelly Hoernig
 
2. Kelly Starsky (that's me!!)
 

3. Kimberly Seldomridge

4. Kimberly Congdon

5. Rochelle Spears

6. Eve Tzortzis

7. Sandra Ghidara

8. Jessica Kephart

9. Cristal Hobbs (Pinky)

10. Sher Brown

11. Joan Olk

12. Julie Kraling



Video Designers:
1. Kisha Norfleet-Walton

2. Shanna Shands

3. Tina Phillips

4. Shirley Stark

5. Marfa Otano


Guest Designers:

1. Linda Kinnaman
2. Teresa Cash

3. Baerbel Born

4. Cheryl Dossey

5. Karen Crossen

6. Penny Arnold

7. Laura Cox

8. Jill Bauschek

9. Sue Hunt

 

 
More info and creations coming soon!

~Kelly


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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Be red, white, and blue

We are just going to skip right over the fact that I have been neglecting my blog. I know it. You know it. There. We are done talking about it.
It is a new month. And that new month is July, so we need to start off the month with RED, WHITE, and BLUE.  July is a month dedicated to those who have so bravely dedicated their lives to our country so that we may all experience freedom.  If you ask me, every day should be dedicated to them.
 
 
RED, WHITE, and BLUE is the challenge of the month over at Scrap It Girl. I found this simple wood divided frame at Michaels, and thought it would be perfect to make something for my home. I painted it white and then randomly distressed it with some ink and paint in a gray/blue color. 
 
In one square, I placed a ATC that I had made a long time ago...it was just sitting in a container with other ATCs collecting dust, so perfect to use it now (one less square to think about). For the upper right square, I rolled paper around a marker, sealed it with hot glue, and gently slid it off the marker to make these rolls.  I love the dimension they add.  The banner is made with Unity banner stamps-I distressed the edges and glued them onto a lace strips to hang. 
On another square, I used assorted buttons (I layered felt underneath so the buttons wouldn't be set in so deep). Another square is filled with patriotic pinwheels. In this big square above, I stamped a background using a chevron image and then painted or inked, or papered some flat wooden stars. The bottom right square is filled with flowers, some made and some bought. A red or blue bling dot in the middle of each is a simple addition.
 
Please play along with Scrap It Girl this month...we want to see you get your red, white, and blue on!


~Kelly


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