whatever is bright...

Neon colors are HOT right now!  They remind me of the 80's...banana clips, pin-stripe jeans, friendship pins, and a neon "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" t-shirt...all owned by me!

I created this "chalk artista" layout with my new Stitched Together stamps from Close to My Heart.  I'm letting these bright colors and simple shapes lead this simple scrapbook page-and they match perfectly with the "chalk artista's" drive-way creation!

I don't have my neon Wham t-shirt anymore. I remember reading somewhere that you should only wear the same fashion fad once in your lifetime, so I think I will let the neon pass me by this time.  I'll just scrap the colors instead of wearing them.

What is your favorite 80's fashion memory?

~Kelly

whatever is a surprise...

Laser cut paper is SO pretty, but so expensive. So, I rarely buy it, and then when I do, I try to save it for something special. It's silly, I know, but I bet I'm not the only one who is saving a pretty paper (or 2 or 3 or 12) for some "special" occasion.

Enter, a possible solution...

My mom surprised me with two new LUCKY 8 punches from We R Memory Keepers for my birthday. Actually, she is a HSN-aholic, and ordered them not really expecting them to be so big and heavy. She told me she had ordered some punches, but was going to send them back if I didn't want them. When I saw them, I swooned.  I had been secretly wanting to see, try, and buy these.  It was kismet. They became my birthday present!

The one that I used on this layout and card is called Lace Kerchief (I'll save the other one for another post). With 8 or less punches, I got the look of laser cut and shaped paper with paper I already had. For the layout about "my track star",  I used just the outer cut on a 12x12 sheet of cardstock.  I made a punch in each corner, then flipped the paper over and punched the opposite four corners.  For the card, I used both the inner and outer cut combined on a 7x7 sheet (no need to flip for this size, just four quick punches and I was done). 

 Now, if I'm going to be picky (which I have a tendency to do), my only complaint is that I would have liked a crisper cut on my paper.  I used a cardstock with a slight woven texture from American Crafts for both the layout and the card, and I can see some fray on both.  Can I live with it?  Yes.  Should it happen? I don't think so. 

Is it worth it to be able to create all of these paper shapes from a few punches?...I think yes.  Is it a good birthday surprise?...I think yes.  I'd like to hear your review if you've tried the Lucky 8 punches, and do you have a favorite?


~Kelly

whatever is sweet...

Just a quick card to complete my "flip your lid" promise that I would have a post 3 days in a row. This is the first time it is happened, and I don't think it's going to happen again anytime soon.

I used to be part of the Liftateers over at Fiskateers.  Each week, Groovy Deb highlights a page layout and the Liftateers all "lift" it with their own spins.  Now, she leads the Card-lifters too.  This week she is inviting all the Fiskateer to join in the fun.  I decided to join the Card-lifters this week since they are lifting fellow Wisconsinite Vicky's sweet card.   This card gave me a chance to work on my Copic marker skills (the ice cream cone), but I know I need to work on "faces" now--that smile is a little wonky!

~Kelly

Whatever is cold...

Yesterday I was sharing spring...today it is back to winter!  I'm back with another of Smitha Katti's  Quilt Blocks of the Month over at Fiskars.  This is Quilt Block #4 if you are counting.  These are papers from Close to My Heart, Colorbok, and other mish-mashes.  My favorite paper is the lavendar paper that I embossed with a Swiss Dots folder (from Cuttlebug).  It's hard to tell in the picture, but I ran a silver mettalic ink pad over the tops of the dots and it looks really "cool".

Now depending on how much I choose to ignore my children (who are off from school with me all week), I may just have another new post tomorrow---that will really cause some lids to flip!  Three days in a row--I don't know if I can do it!

~Kelly

Whatever is sparkly...

It's spring, and spring means blooming flowers, tree buds, and riding bikes.  This layout (created mostly with  papers from We R Memory Keepers and other bits and pieces from my stash) is part of my project to keep up with Smitha Katti's Quilt Block of the Month over on the Fiskars site.  This is quilt block #3, and stay tuned for quilt block #4 coming at you tomorrow!  I know you are freaking out right now that I may have a new blog post 2 days in a row...so am I.

whatever is blessed...

There is a part of me that is sad today.  I just finished these invitations to my daughter's First Communion.  She is my youngest child, and  I'm feeling like it was just yesterday that I made her birth announcements.  In the blink of an eye, I'll be doing my oldest daughter's wedding invitations---ok, now I'm being pathetic (she is only 14).  Maybe not pathetic, just reminiscent.

I just adore these papers from Basic Grey's Little Black Dress collection.  They are so beautiful, I don't want to use them.  I make very little sense when I am being pathetic.  But, these designs are so pretty AND two-sided, which makes it even more difficult to part with them (it's like using twice as much paper that I don't want to use up).  I have a "thing" for polka dots and toile and lace. 

The crosses are from Jolee's/EK Success and the ribbon is from the $1 spot at Michaels (I should have bought more).

It will be a blessed day...just like the day she was born.

~Kelly

Whatever makes you giggle...

In this age of technology, with all of the communication we can send via emails and texts, the only things found in the mailbox lately are bills, flyers, and credit card offers.  Happy mail is a rare treat!  This card might not only elicit a smile, but maybe a giggle too!

I used the Fiskars "snip snip" Squeeze punch and a hole punch to create these colorful scissors and a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background dots. 

If only paper cutting REALLY counted as aerobic exercise...
I can wish!


And it's April...no fooling! 
That means it's time for a new issue of Scrapstreet!

you can read the magazine hereyou can read my feature article, Graffiti, here
you can see my layout, Blue Bips, here  AND
you can see my hoppy interactive card here

Thanks for hopping on by...~Kelly