That Day at the Beach

While at Archiver's last weekend, I said that i wasn't going to buy anything...but then I saw the So Sophie papers on display and fell in love.  I bought some because I want to use the in some upcoming classes at me LSS. 

So when I got home I went to the My Minds Eye blog to get some inspiration I saw that there was a sketch challenge going on and had the perfect photo for these papers!

My favorite paper is the yellowish/sandy color lined paper, and it reminded me of sand, so I used it for my background.  And the blue swirl paper was perfect to simulate waves and a breeze!

I did a lot of hand stitching and some stamping.  These flouishes reminded me of birds so I misted them and crackled them.

The large blue flourish on the bottom and added some sand and some tiny shells that we had picked up at the beach that day!  :)

The theme for the challenge is "I remember" and there were so many details about our first trip to the beach that I wanted to remember...

TFL!

When I Watch You

Another challenge for American Crafts Studio blog!  I also used this weeks sketch at Sketchy Thursdays!

This week was to use "details".  I love the color of the I Do collection, and picked up these paper and details at my LSS and have been meaning to use them.  So I used the whole package of flowers!  :)

For the CS background, I stamped with this script stamp with watermark ink.  The middle blue border I added some American Crafts rubons. The papers are all American Crafts. For the photo frame, I stamped the swirls with a stamp from Sassafrass Lass onto white cardstock and then embossed with white American Crafts embossing powder.  I then misted it with some "cinder" Glimmer Mist and wiped it down so the white would show through.

I punched a label from some paper and added so BG letters for the title, and stamped some lines with white ink for the journaling area.

This next week is going to be Thicker Accents which I am very excited about!  :)

TFL!

A Bucket of Fun for everyone...

Charlotte loves to get into the cupboard and try to "drink" out of every container she can lift to her face.  Well, while we were at the beach a few weeks ago, she tried to drink a bucket full of sandy water.  I could have stopped her...but then I wouldn't have gotten the photo....

actually, there was not much in it and she didn't get anything in her mouth except a few grains of sand...:)

I created this sketch for the June Sketch at Challenge Masters!!!  If you complete the sketch, you could be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to the online store of your choice!!  That is a GREAT prize!  :)

My class at my Lonestar Scrapbook Company is coming up next  Tues. the 29th, and I ordered some of the Pink Paislee BayBerry Cottage paper for us to work with.  This is the 2 pager that we will be doing in class!

I am also going to be doing a special Flower Tutorial class on August 21 and you can learn how to make this flower below.  We will be doing 8-10 flowers total and it is only $15!!!!!  AND Lonestar is having a 15% discount on all the classes right now, so really it is only $12.75!  That is such a great price!

TFL and have a nice week!!!

Land of the Free

Memorable Seasons is having the Last Scrapper Standing contest for the next few weeks and this is week 1!  This weeks challenge was to use the phrase "An American Girl" as inspiration, and the LO also had to include stars and stripes.

The other night the three of us went to the park to swing and play.  There was no one there, and it was a beautiful evening.  We took Charlotte to a grassy area to try and get her to walk a bit.  I got some fantastic shots of her alone, and of her interacting with her Daddy, which are going to be perfect for Father's Day LO's!  But I loved how open and "free" it was out there, and that's where the title came from, too.

Anyway, when I was thinking of stars and stripes, what came to mind were the half circle red white and blue banners that people hang for decoration (I'm sure they have a name, but I just can't think of it).  That is what inspired the half pleated flowers.  I also wanted to keep with the red white and blue theme, which wasn't a requirement, but I just felt it.

The stars I cut with my cricut from Core'Dinations CS and embossed and sanded and inked it.  There was a tutorial posted at Scrapbook & Cards Today for the folding of these stars and I love the way they came out.


Well I am super excited because I am going to Archiver's tomorrow night with Heather and have LOTS to get done!!!!  So I will be posting lots next week!

As always, TFL!

The Birthday Dress...

How convinient is it that last month was Charlotte's birthday, and I have tons of photos, and this weeks challenge at Candy Shoppe Designs to to do a LO based on a BIRTHDAY!?

One of my favorite things about Charlotte's birthday was the dress that my mom bought her.  It had these little balloons on it with some curly ribbons for strings, and a little number "1"!

I had these chipboard balloon pieces in my stash from FOREVER ago, and decided to use them up!  I had to alter the colors a bit by painting and inking, but they came out perfect.

Most of the paper on here is the Dear Lizzy fabric paper.  For the two flowers on the bottom left, I used some fabric paper which I ripped off the adhesive backing, straight stitched up the side, and turned into a cute little flower!  I also added some circles of tulle under these, which is hard to tell from these photos.

So be sure to join us for this challenge at Candy Shoppe Designs this month to be eligible to win THIS PRIZE: 

Good Luck!!!

The Girls are Back in Town and Shoes for All Times....

I got a kit from Citrus Tree Studio this month because I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Bella Blvd Man of the House line.  I wanted to show that you could use it to make girly things, too!

This line fit perfect with the color combo this week at The Color Room: Sand, sky blue, a mustard-y yellow, and a red-orange.

I also used a sketch by Liz at the Scrappiest.

And here is my LO:

I had intended to breast feed for at least 6 weeks to see how it went.  I ended up doing it for a whole year!  I realyl surpirsed myself by doing this, but it was so much easier since I was staying home with her.  But by the time 10-11-12 months rolled around, I was SOOOOO ready to be done!  I was pumping 1-2 times a day and nursing her in the am.  How I longed to sleep without a nursing bra!

It felt SOOOOO good to be done and have the girls be free again!  Although, they aren't as "perky" (or as big) as they used to be!  :)

This next LO is for a challenge at one of my new favorites blogs: "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things".  I plan on putting all LO's directly related ot my in my own album.  This challenge was to do your favorite shoes.  It was hard for me to decide because it is different at different times of the year and for different occasions.

I really don't know where this LO came from, creatively.  I knew that I wanted to use the black BoBunny background paper from the Mamma Razzi line, but all the other tidbits came from my scrap pile.  Except for the circle border strip, which is K& Co. Handmade that I got on clearance at Michaels.

 I also have been loving me some crackle paint and crackle accents, which I put on the photo frame.  I cut the photo frame myself from some chipboard after some carefully measuring, misted it, then crackled it.

I have a few more challenges that I am working on that I hope to get done in time!!!  TFL!

Happy Birthday Charlotte!

Well Charlotte's first birthday was almost a month ago already!!!!  My gosh how time FLIES!

This was my favorite photo of the day of her!  I got so emotional as I brought her that cupcake...I couldn't believe she was one already.  I'm sure it is going to be like that every year!

This big chipboard #1 I have had in my stash for a LONG time, and I always knew I was going to use it for ny child's first birthday!

I covered it with some Bella Blvd paper and wrapped some ribbon and some beaded wire around it.

I was inspired to make the cupcake by this weeks Candy Shoppe Designs challenge (see previous post).  I cut a cupcake shape out of chipboard, pleated some paper for the liner, and then twisted some tulle for the frosting.  I added some tiny beads for sprinkles and a button for a cherry!

For the banner, I used some scraps of fabric, cut into pennant shapes, and glued some ric rac to the top to hold them together.

I was inspired by the color combo at The Color Room and the sketch that goes with it!

I also did this for the challenge this week at Snobby Walrus to use:

-buttons (on the cupcake)

-a handmade embellishment (the cupcake)
-polka dot patterned paper (pleated under the #1)
-journaling (strips under the photo)
-color photo(s) (obvious)
 
I have a lot more birthday photos to scrap, so be on the look out!  :)

Hey Cupcake!!!

This week's challenge at Candy Shoppe Designs is all about cupcakes!

Today is Cherry Lolita's (Lynettes) birthday!  So in her honor, this challenge is to make a paper cupcake!  Check out the Candy Shoppe Designs blog to watch this cute video by Yatie Tajudin on how to make these adorable treats!

You could be in the running to win this awesome kit by Color Me Miki!

Here is my cute cupcake!  I used a styrofoam ball and a plastic solo cup.  I cut the cup down and glued the ball into it.  Then I twisted and glued white tulle on top for the frosting.  I pleated a paper circle for the liner, added some red pins for "sprinkles" and some beaded wire for deco!  These make cute decorations for a birthday party!

So hop on over to check out the video and the other challenges this month!!

More Magpie!

Well I have used just about every bit of the June Magpie Club kit, where I am the guest designer this month.  I had so so much fun with this kit! 

I am a bit behind on my Project 12 pages, but I am trying to catch up.  Here is the LO for March.  I used the sketch for Project 12 by Becky Fleck.

I was also inspired by the color combo challenge for the first week in June at ScrapDango.  When I first thought of red and green together, I thought Christmas, but I just love how the colors on this page turned out.  I hadn't intended for this to happen, but so far my months are following the color theme for the month: Jan has blues, Feb. had pinks and reds, and now March has green!  I guesss I will have to keep going with that theme.

This next LO I did using a sketch by Julie Bonner for Magpie Club, which should be up on the blog, soon! 

I actually glued the twine to the banner and then zig zag stitched over the twine!  I love how it came out.

I have a lot more journaling to add to this story, so I think I am just going to tuck a pocket on the back or something.  As I started to write the story, I decided that I wanted a lot more details, and it didn't all fit on the tag!  Oh well!

Well I have no more left of the kit!  So I am off to browse through my stash!

A Snobby Walrus and some Sketch Inspirations

A few LO's to share.  The first is kind of a combo of two challenges.  I was inspired by the color combo challenge posted at The Snobby Walrus.

I loved the grey with the yellow and blush colors.  I had this photo from Mother's Day already printed out when I saw this color combo, and all these colors are in the photo, so I decided to use it!

Inside the pocket at the top is the card that was on my flowers from Keith and Charlotte.

I also used a sketch by Julie Bonner at Citrus Tree Studios this month for their June sketch contest.

Next up is my interpretaion of a sketch at Sketch Inspiration this week. 

I took this photo of my dad when he and mom were down visiting in early May.  I love it.  I was also inspired by a challenge at Scrapdango to use up some buttons on your LO, so I did!

I took the colors from the papers to choose the colors of my buttons.  I misted the background slightly with red mist, and masked some areas with some circle.

I tied some twine around these letter from Jillibean Soup.

And lastly, this LO is WAY overdue.  I never posted it!  It was for the sketch challenge last month at Challenge Masters.  The whole idea behind the sketch was to be simple, and sometimes that is hard for me!  Anyway, here it is!  TFL!