whatever is original...

I was hoping to get some "original" designs posted soon, and I am happy to announce that I have one for you TODAY!  This simple leafy stamp from Hampton Art was perfect to begin my attempt to watercolor with ink.

I used StazOn black ink on regular cardstock to stamp the background image.  I gave my Distress Inks a squeeze (Peeled Paint and Evergreen Bough) to put a little color on the lid of the inks.  With my waterbrush I just sloppily, randomly colored over the stamped image.  When it was dry (with the assistance of my handy, dandy heat gun--because I'm an impatient artist), I colored some of the leaves with a Gelly Roll pen (by Sakura) in "clear star".  The photos don't show the glimpses of sparkle that this adds to the card--it's really a dazzly delight!

Once I added the sticker sentiment, I was "rejoicing" that I have a "Kelly original" to send to a friend who needs some happy mail. 

As summer begins (last day of school/work is tomorrow), it's time to play in the water...

                                       watercolor that is!

~Kelly

whatever is cherished...

Contrary to what I have been posting on my blog lately, I do create my own original layouts.  It's not all about "lifting" others work.  It's just lately, I've needed an extra kick in the pants to be creative.

So, today...

you get another idea inspired by someone else. 

I'm still following along on Smitha Katti's "Quilt Block of the Month" over on Fiskars.  You can also see it at Smitha's blog.

This is a simple design that she used for May, but as you can see, it works perfectly as a scrapbook page background.

I've had this picture of my daughter and my grandma for quite awhile and I just didn't know how to scrap it because of the bright colors in my grandma's shirt.  No matter what cardstock color or patterned paper I brought out, it was just too much.  Using this patchwork background allowed me to use the LOUD colors of her shirt and add in the light pink from my daughter's dress.  Somehow, it works.

Here is a picture of the squares all laid out before I added the photo, title, etc. 

It's a great way to use up some scraps too!

Ok, wait... here is one thing that is original.  These cute rounded doily-like squares are what you get when you use Fiskars Peacock Corner Lever Punch on a 1 1/2 inch square (punching all 4 corners).

I'm finishing up the school year this week and here's hoping that I'll be posting some original designs real soon!

~Kelly

whatever is my style...

10 things about my scrapbooking...

I am a simple scrapbooker.

I tend to use lots of photos on my page.

I like bold, vibrant colors.

I prefer solids and textures over patterns.

I like to mix and match alphabet stickers.

I don't buy a lot of embellshments; I'd rather make them myself.

I like my pages "flat"; 3D and bulky aren't for me.

I scrap in 12x12 size.

I prefer to buy paper in stores rather than online;

I like to touch and see it.

I am inspired by everyday things...

shower curtain patterns, song lyrics, artwork, recipe photos.

I tell you these things, because as much as I love to read about new scrapbook trends, I don't easily jump on the bandwagon. 

However, I must say that I have been admiring  

all of the designs with chevrons.

So, I wanted to share with you a SIMPLE way to

create your own chevrons.

I started with a 4x12 sheet of paper and scored it at 1 inch increments.

I've found that by pulling the cutting bar off my paper trimmer, I can make great score lines by following the groove with a stylus (a pencil works too if you remember to do it on the backside of your paper).

Fold the paper in half, and then in half again along the score lines.

Place the long twice-folded strip into your paper crimper on a slant.

Squeeze hard as you crank the paper through

 (remember you are crimping four layers of paper)

Open up your paper and you've got CHEVRONS!

Add some painted doilies, paint splotches, photos, bright paper (dug out the Paper Edgers to make the edges "fancy"), and

alpha stickers to create one hip and trendy page.

So what is your scrapbook style? 

Are you hip and trendy?

~Kelly

whatever is orange...

                

Yes, I like orange sherbet.  Yes, I have been known to eat a Dreamsicle or two.  I'm a fan of orange juice.  But orange just used to be another color to me.  Something changed in 2009.  I found the Fiskateers.  Fiskateers is an online site full of challenges, inspiration, sneak peaks, leaders, and friends.  We all share an admiration for the Fiskars company (think orange-handled scissors) and all of their crafty tools and stamps.  Once I joined this site, I found "virtual" friends who had a passion for paper and crafting that my "real" friends can't understand.  I have met amazing people through this site and have seen my creativity grow ten-fold.  I've entered a whole new world and learned a lot about myself.  I follow lots of blogs and sites, but Fiskateers has a special place in my heart.  Click here if you'd like to join or learn more about Fiskateers.

Ok, enough gushing.

This week, Lead Fiskateer Tami is hosting a Spring Stamp Out...just another chance to inspire each other and get our fingers inky.

This layout was for a challenge, "Orange goes with Everything".  I discovered that orange DOESN'T go with everything and have declared orange and gray a DUD color combo.

This card was for the "Wallflower" challenge (stamp some spring flowers and use them in a layout or card).  Somewhere along the way, I got lost and this flower (a Close to My Heart stamp) definitely has more of an autumn feel to it.  Oh well.

But, I learned an important tip...Glossy Accents does not dry faster with a heat gun--it just boils.  Hence, the brown embossed dot covering the center of the flower (oh year, I meant to do that).

And these cute chicks below are for the challenge asking us to use "vibrant" colors...I guess I took vibrant to mean "BRIGHT".  These are some cute chicks (a Unity stamp).

So hopefully you have now been distracted enough by all of these projects to ignore the fact that I've been slacking a bit in the blog department.  I knew I was in trouble when I managed to get posts up 4 days in a row back in April...it's been all downhill since then.

~ Kelly

whatever means a party

Just to clarify from the start,
THERE IS NOT A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE!
Repeat...THERE IS NOT A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE!

I made this card for a challenge and knew that I had this cute Unity house stamp...it just made me think of a party. 

Repeat...THERE IS NOT A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE!

I colored this house "funky" with my Copic markers and used another Unity stamp (argyle pattern) with white ink for the background.

One last time...THERE IS NOT A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE!

However, when there is a party at our house, I already have an invite ready, and I will be sure to let you know.

Oh, and if you are looking for my house, it's not really neon blue and green.

~kelly

Whatever is read...

The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you'll go.~ Dr. Seuss

Books are great not only for learning, but for inspiration too! For the next issue of Scrapstreet, Graffiti is looking for your creations based on a book cover.

The cover of Dr. Seuss' book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" was the motivation for this layout, both in color and shape. Using paper from October Afternoon (Schoolhouse) and patterned paper from Colorbok, I re-created the swirly patterns found on Dr. Seuss' book--which also happens to be a popular read around Graduation time--a perfect match! One only gets to wear a graduation gown so many times in their life (unless you are my husband, he's worn one a few more times than the average).

Now it's your turn, "grab your jacket". A book jacket that is! I'm looking for your projects inspired by book cover art and there is a whole load of other submission calls for the next issue of Scrapstreet, just click right here to check them out. You, yes you (well, actually, your project) could be in the next issue coming out July 1st. Get going! Deadline for submission is May 19th.


~Kelly

whatever is out of this world...

Another bright layout...this time with my new Spellbinders Lotus Pendant dies.  A fabulous find ($10) at the Scrapbook Expo that was in Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago.  I love these dies--so elegant and delicate...they will be great on cards too.   The layout design comes from Scrapbook Challenges, sketch 292.  I used hot glue to create those  multiple circles.

I find the dies and this sketch--OUT OF THIS WORLD!

~Kelly