Wednesday, December 27, 2017

PDE Linky Challenge: New York City

Hello and welcome! Today's challenge at PDE Linky Party is "Anything Goes"!!!

Without further ado, here is my card. My BFF requested a special card
with a New York city theme.

Thanks for stopping by today!


Supplies:

Paper: MME - Follow Your Heart
Ribbon
Washi Tape from Michael's
Silouhette cut of New York City
Prima Color Bloom - Summer Sky

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

PDE: Reindeer

Today's challenge at PDE Linky party is 'Reindeer'.

I made this card using Doodlebug's "Here Comes Santa Claus" 
collection.



THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

ISBG: Apothecary

Hello there! Today is a new project using the Spider's Web kit from

I bought a wooden plaque from Michael's for this project. If I were to make a 
card like this, I just know I would never be giving it away. So,
I made a plaque as home decor piece instead.


I'm beginning to think that mixed media was "invented" around Halloween.
What other time of year can you bring so many wonderful techniques
and array of colors together?


Call me sinister and creepy . . . but I just love that skull!


The twine is from my own stash and the leaves are Spellbinders'
die cuts, with Tidy Widy scattered around them.
 I layered a tree, flower, leaves, twine and phrases.


I did use my own stencil to create the layered effect
on the background. There is tree covered in the Tidy Widy,
from the mixed media kit, as the bottom layer.


Yep, those are bones tucked in behind the flower!

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Studio Challenges: Fa La La (sketch challenge)

Hello there! Today is new challenge day at Studio Challenges.


I followed the clustering of photos and embellishments on the sketch.
I reached for some rather "old" paper by Echo Park's 'Dear Santa' line.
I also used up stickers from the Bella Blvd. line 'Holly Jolly Christmas'.



I didn't want to get complicated with this layout, but I did add stitching
for texture and affect.


I used a few embellishments found at Hobby Lobby several years
ago. They go great with bright layouts!


Close-up photo of the sticker embellishments.


THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Friday, December 1, 2017

GDT ScrapTheBoys: Jingle Bells

Hello there! Today I'm excited to share with you that I am guest
designing for ScrapTheBoys this month.

This photo is this month's theme and inspiration.


I decided that the "tree" was my inspiration, rather than
the colors. Maybe because I really wanted to work with this 
paper line, which has a lot of pink? Who knows, right?

I know you are thinking... "pink and boys" don't mix. At one point
I would have agreed with you. But I don't know, this layout just works
for me. It's my 7 year old son kissing his daddy on the nose.

It's a sweet, cuddly and soft moment. Shhh . . . don't tell my kid.

I really wanted to work with the large cut file of trees from Silhouette's
Online store as well. I had this "whole vision" thing going on and I was not to be 
derailed by the "pink"!


I used a wide range of products on this layout. The papers are from Studio
Calico's - 'Magical' line. Everything else is from "here and there".

My sister got me those Scrabble block letters. Aren't they awesome?!

Everything here is from random things in my stash. I have a three large
boxes in my craft room dedicated to Christmas stuff.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Supplies:

Paper:
--Studio Calico - Magical
Santa Sticker - Echo Park "dear Santa"
Twine
Block letters from . . . ?
Poinsettias, candy cane and buttons from Hobby Lobby




Thursday, November 30, 2017

Give a Crafter a Cookie: Merry Christmas

New challenge up today at Give A Crafter a Cookie.


I decided to make this box card by SVGCuts using Echo Park's
Merry Christmas line.


THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!!


Wednesday, November 29, 2017

PDE: Penguin Treat Box


Hey there! It's new challenge time at Pause Dream Enjoy!

Today's challenge is "winter weather".

P.S. Sorry for the crappy photo . . . things just weren't going right for me
that day.

Treat box is from Treasure Box Designs.


Thanks for stopping by today!

Friday, November 24, 2017

ISBG: October 31st

Hello there! I'm Vivian Lake and today I would like to share a layout using the Toolshed Kit "Spider's Web". I actually used elements from all the bonus kits on this layout. The only item I used from my own stash is machine stitching . . . . which is just something I LOVE to do.

I loosely followed a sketch from my pinterest board for this layout. Overall, it went together pretty easily. I did like how I added fussy cut butterflies to the web. You know, spiders do need to eat. Bleh!



I loosely used mixed media here. Probably did not need gesso, but I'm still
learning. The title is Kaiser Craft spray ink 'Charcoal' and Texturez 'Tidy Widy'.


The web and title are part of the chipboard bonus kit. The web is covered 
in Texturez 'Tidy Widy'. 


Isn't this spider awesome!? Although the paper came with printed splatters,
I wanted a little more color so I added Lindy's Starburst spray 'Amethyst'
from the bonus media kit.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

International Scrapbook Garden: Vanishing Visitors

When I received this awesome new Halloween kit by International Scrapbook Garden, I KNEW I would be making at least one large 3-D project.

I was greatly inspired by Patricia Hugs Vintage Halloween Art Tag project from a few years ago. I do not have my own process video, but just watch hers. Hint: It's a very large tag that she makes. You'll want to play all day like I did.

I did follow her closely as far as technique, but this project took a life of it's own. I really had so much fun putting it together. Patricia Hugs uses much more dimensional objects for her project, which I simply did not have. But that's OK, I was looking for inspiration and not necessarily wanting to copycat.

When I started this project, I wasn't sure what the overall theme was going to be. As I was building this and playing around - skeletons, poison and graveyards became the theme.

There are a few minor things not found in the kit, like the apothecary jars, but over all I tried really hard to stay within the kit.


The great thing about making stuff like this is that you are practically encouraged
to jumble and layer stuff together.  
A photo of some of the products available through the kits.
Aren't they awesome?!

What other time of year does purple, orange, black and white go together?
Halloween and Fall are my favorite time of the year to be creative. I did
discover that the dimensional paint, Paste-Eez Lava Flow, "bubbles" when over heated.
I loved the effect.

I think my favorite embellishments were the skulls and the broomsticks.
The tree, bat and headstone are part of the chipboard extras. 

I did add a few things from Hobby Lobby, like the leaves and
Fall plants. I knew this project would need a "filler" like that to bring it
all together. 

I simply love the Dazzlerz "Dreamscicle" color, which is what I used for the
writing. The splotches are white acrylic paint. However, when I was first working
with the background I wanted the black bricks to be less "black". So I went
over them with the Texturez Tidy Widy. Love that stuff!

Look closely! The items are sitting on a toilet paper roll covered
in burlap. Both are your average household items.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Supplies:
International Scrapbook Garden Toolshed Kit Paper - Spider's Web
ISG Toolshed Kit - Spider's Web Embellishment Bonus kit
ISG Toolshed kit - Spider's Web Mixed Media kit
ISG Toolshed kit - Spider's Web Bonus Chipboard

Supplies from my stash:

Label Chipboard from Hobby Lobby
Stencil backgrounds - brick and words
SVGCuts file - fence
Apothecary jars
Scrap paper with words (needed this to be thin and easy to work with)
Hobby Lobby - Leaves and feathers (they were 90% off)
Burlap
Dyson label - poison
White and Black Acrylic Paint
Tim Holtz Distress ink - Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain
Black Archival Ink

KaiserCraft iridescent spray ink - Charcoal (from last month's kit)

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Studio Challenges: Fall

Today is new challenge day at Studio Challenges. 
The challenge is - make your own background. It can be die cuts
or mixed media, or some variation.

Die cuts for the win!
File found at the Silhouette Online store.


Machine stitching of course

AC cardstock behind flower and leaves. Some little flowers from
my stash for extra dimension.

Using pop dots, I clustered stickers from the Carta Bella line.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Supplies:

--Paper:
--Carta Bella - Autumn paper and stickers
--Simple Stories - SN@P Basics
--AC Cardstock (behind flower and leaves)
Wooden embellishments
Machine Stitching
Prima Botanical mix flowers
Brads

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Give a Crafter a Cookie: Oh Happy Day

Hello there! It's new challenge time at 'Give a Crafter a Cookie'.


I made this paper piecing quite a while ago, from Scrapping 
Bug Designs. I thought it was perfect for this challenge.

I thought I throw in a little humor with the phrase
"Oh Happy Day". Sorry, you do have to squint
to see it.


Patterned papers from Fancy Pants 'Golden Days'.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

PDE: Thinking of You

Hello there!! It's new challenge time at PDE Linky Party.
The theme this week is 'Clean and Simple'.

I really did put this card together in record time. Die cut pieces are all
by DoodleBug Designs: Flea Market.

Bow is handmade by me. I did pre-make a bunch of bows
a while back so I just have to reach for what I want.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!!


Saturday, November 11, 2017

Spooky 2017

Hello everyone! Can you believe this page is NOT for a DT project.

Yeah . . . me either.

But I did make this page for a variety of challenges, including the mood
board challenge at Scrap The Boys.

The photo is of my son, his best friend and his little brother. The
three of them together can be quite the whirlwind!!!

This page was not my usual "let's take hours to make it" page. 
Sometimes, a crafter just wants to be simple . . . it's like going back in time!

I did manage to make the title on my Silhouette and add machine stitching.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I did journal on the side of page but cropped it off for privacy. 
The chipboard piece on the left is from Creative Embellishments.
I sprayed Kaiser Craft Mists - charcoal on it for color.


Supplies:
--BoBunny - 'Wonderfully Wicked' line (paper, ephemera, and embellishments)
Creative Embellishments - chipboard piece
Kaiser Craft - Mists 'charcoal'
Silhouette Cameo - title
Machine stitching

Thursday, November 9, 2017

International Scrapbook Garden: Boys 2 MEN

Hello there!! I'm here today to show you a another page I made using the 

This layout came together in steps.
Step one: Find a sketch I thought I could be happy with (by Par Victor).
Step two: I practiced several times mixing various mediums and colors before
committing to a style I liked. I think I practiced on 4 art journal pages.
Step three: Hold my breath as I got started. I love the Aria Story line that is 
in the kit, but you only get one of each. Didn't want to mess it up.
Step four: Use at least four different glues.

I am really happy with how this turned out. The photo is from 2.5 years
ago of my former German exchange student and son.

The little goofball is my kid. I could have chosen a less goofy photo,
but then we all wouldn't get a good laugh. Boyhood is all about
being weird when mom has the camera pointed at you.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!


I layered several items here. Modeling paste using a brick stencil, two chipboard
items from the kit, twine and wooden cogs. The title is layered on top of all that.

I used the last of the flowers here. The chicken wire is a Tim Holtz stamp
from my stash. The stars are punched using another paper from kit.

I made the title myself on my Silhouette using SCAL4. I layered it several
times to make sure it was sturdy.

I have a dry sense of humor and sometimes add humor to my pages.
Can you guess why I added "admit one" here?

Brothers at heart.

Supplies:

International Scrapbook Garden ' Toolshed Kit'
International Scrapbook Garden 'Mixed Media Kit'
International Scrapbook Garden 'Bonus Chipboard' Kit
International Scrapbook Garden 'Embellishment Bonus' Kit

From my stash:
Brick stencil and paste
Chicken wire stamp by Tim Holtz
Silhouette Cameo - title

Glues:
Glossy Accents
Mod Podge Matte
Glue Gun - low heat
Permanent Tacky Glue



Sunday, November 5, 2017

Studio Challenges: XoXo

Hello there! Today is a new challenge for the next two weeks at Studio Challenges.

The theme is 'Mirror Image'.

I did use a bit of creative liberties as mine is not exactly a mirror image.
However, whatever I did on one side of the photo, I did on the other side.
Since it's also a mixed media layout, it's not 'spot-on' exact.

I'm having a lot of fun playing around with Gelatos, stamping and stenciling. Who knew,
as I have always avoided stamping in the past.

I also ended up making my own circle background on SCAL4. Everything I found from
different sources were not mirror images.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!




Some minor amount of clustering here using a mix of wooden
and Pretty Little Studio embellishments.


I'm still learning a lot about mixed media. The lettering is white
acrylic paint and maybe next time, I will use something (color)
that stands out a bit more.

Supplies:
Pretty Little Studio: Woodland paper and embellishments
Gelato: pastels
Background stamps and stencils
Machine Stitching
Wooden Embellishments