Create for a family connected...

Literally...for a family connected.  Connected with a bit of hot glue.  

I have totally been neglecting my scrapbooking, because I keep playing with these wood shapes from Unique Laser Designs.  Being on their Design Team is awesome, but they keep adding new items to their inventory and I keep adding to my very long wish list!   Every time I think I am ready to sit down and get some serious scrapping done, I think of something new to do with these shapes. As soon as I saw these frames, I knew I wanted to connect them for a collage.

Even though I think they would be spectacular unpainted, I decided to add some vibrant hues with acrylic paint and turn my photos to black and white. 

Connecting these intricate frames was a bit tricky, but after some experimentation, I found that hot glue covered with some acrylic packaging scraps seemed to be the best way to go. You can see a close-up on this picture above.

You know Mother's Day is right around the corner...

I'm giving this to myself!

~Kelly

Be thankful...

Sometimes, a simple "thank you" isn't enough. 
Sometimes, a paper "thank you" isn't enough. 
Sometimes, any  kind of "thank you" isn't enough, but something will have to do.
This is one of those times.

I'm playing with Linnie Blooms shapes again, and this time it is the new canvas pocket (available soon).  It's the perfect size for a gift card or...

a pull-out message.

I stamped the pocket with Distress Inks (I love that they don't bleed on the canvas) and then added some Distress Stain color on the flap along with some washi tape and some buttons.  Inside, I used more Linnie Blooms shapes (pockets, pennants, and hearts) to make a mini banner.  I used acrylic paint, Copic markers, and more Distress Stains along with more washi tape to complete the banner.

Wondering how I got those letters on there?  I laid down some alpha stickers and painted right over them.  When the paint was dry, I lifted the stickers off and a perfect stencil remained (no seepage). 

 

 

 

 

It may be small on size but it represents a BIG, heart-felt thank you for a dear friend (hope she's not reading this before I send it to her).

 

And, it's the gift that keeps on giving because it can be passed on and on and on to new recipients.

 

Spread the love.

 

~Kelly

whatever is saved...

Once again I am guilty of not being able to part with a piece of paper.  The problems are:

• I only have one sheet of this paper left
• It is double sided, and I LOVE both sides
• I only have ONE sheet of this paper left

Now, you may think, "Why doesnt' she just go buy more of that paper?".  You see, I'm trying to be a good girl and use my stash. 

So, what is one to do?  This one, that's me, decided to try and re-create the pattern of the paper with paint.  You can see the original here, on the Authentique website.  It's called "Friendship" from the "Genuine" line.  You may remember that this is the line  that I wanted to wallpaper my house in (seen here).  While I do LOVE the chevron side, it's the B side that I wanted to re-create for my layout seen above.  It was just the right shade of blue to complement the gym floor in the photo.  It's sort of a wispy denim.  Oooh, that could be a new Crayola crayon color! 

So, I started with navy blue cardstock and poured some "denim" acrylic paint onto the paper.  And, I do mean poured, the cap came flying off!  I add some dark blue paint, then some white.  I was messy and careless.  It was wonderful!  I swiped the paint around with a paper towel and a dry paint brush, and then dabbed with the paper towel again.  I made the paper a little too wet with paint, but the sun is a natural dryer, so I set it out on the porch for awhile.  With some volleyball paper, alpha stickers, and a volleyball die-cut...the layout "Volleyball, Brownies, and an Eagle" was complete.


So, my precious paper is saved for another day. 
So much for using my stash.

~Kelly

whatever gets in the way...

Just 2 quick pics to let you know that I'm still here, but have been busy doing a kitchen makeover.  Painting the cabinets-going from sage green to Kermit the Frog green (but I do LOVE it), painting the trim black, and the walls will be a light khaki.  Finally cool enough to paint and have the windows open.  That doesn't leave much time for crafty endeavors, but  it's crafty in its own way.  Back tomorrow with "real" crafty stuff.

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