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 4^th of July!

God Bless America!

~Kelly

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

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.

whatever gives thanks...

I was at a Fiskateer event earlier this week, and we got to play with Fiskars' new die-cutting and letterpress machine, The Fuse.  I was impressed with how easily it cut through all different material including grunge board and 10 sheets of paper at one time!  People were lining up to make mini-books!

Speaking of Fiskateers, it is time for a change of leadership.  Angela, Cheryl, Tami, and Rebecca will achieve "Legend" status and Tania and Emma take over the orange helm.  This weekend, it is a "Weekend of a Million Thank Yous" as we wish the "retirees" well in their new endeavors.  I'm getting ready early and using some of the shapes I cut out with the Fuse to make "thank you" cards. 

I'm going to make one card for each of the leads, and  I thought this card with the "Fused" clock and doilies, pearls, butterflies, tags, bird, acrylic, eyelet, burlap, and tulle was just Cheryl's style.  A littel bit of everything!

Lead Fiskateer, Tami, is a stamper, so this card with the stamped sentiments, distress inks, and buttons will make her smile.  This oval die cut with the embossed chair is also one that I cut from the Fuse.

I even stamped the inside!

I'll post again when I get the other 2 cards done...silly and sewing!

~Kelly

whatever is the best...

The best dads become grandpas...

just the like best cream becomes frozen custard. 

Don't you wish this was a REAL frozen treat? 

With rich, cool, creamy sensations and sweet little sprinkles?

Well, I can't give you a real treat, but I can help you make this one!

I cut a triangle for a cone and embossed it with a Sizzix texture plate that has a waffle pattern.  The ice cream (or rather, frozen custard) is Fiskars circle squeeze punches ran through the Sizzix Big Shot with a swirly pattern texture plate.  I followed the swirly pattern with Glossy Accents and threw on a mixture of tiny seed beads while it was still wet.  It's as pretty as a REAL frozen treat!

My dad LOVES frozen custard.  And in Florida, where he lives now, it is hard to find!  On his summer trip up toWisconsin, he tries to get his fill. That's why I included a gift card to his favorite frozen custard stand (Kopp's) in the card. 

                                                         

THIS will make him smile!

Happy Father’s Day

to the best Dad!

(mine!)

~Kelly

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