Black and Gold

Here's the Dynamic Duo challenge for the week:



I had big plans, but then a little thing called life happens so you only get one page instead of two this week.  Hopefully the second filled with concert photos will get done after Christmas and I can share it later.  Until then,  here is my layout:

This was L's second time seeing Taylor Swift, and K's first.  A fun night with my girls.

I ended up making my background paper.  I have my music note wheel taken off and stamped it with Versa Mark and then heat embossed the gold on.  I included a copy of the ticket, thought it would be fun to see what a concert goes for in 2011.

Be sure to head over and check out the other designers.  I am digging their projects, they make it look so easy.

Big Thanks!

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we are giving Thanks. 

 

With Christmas right around the corner...which I am really not prepared for yet, I decided to do a layout of a really great gift.  Check it out:

This is from 2009 when my 3 year old decided she wanted a Pink iPod for Christmas, even asking Santa.  It had been our policy that Santa doesn't "make" tech gifts so Nana to the rescue!  My brothers added the arm bands and iTunes gift cards.

I ended up using the colors from a challenge blog of fellow HSS designer Mindy Backes called Fab Friday.  If you haven't checked it out, you really should!  I love, love, love these colors!



oops, I just noticed I used Garden Green instead of Gumball-guess that's what happens when you abbreviate and forget about that new color.  Anyways.

I ended up "making" my own DSP.  I stared with a piece of White 12 X 12 and stamped it with the Distressed Dots using Primrose ink.  Next I took my old Crumb Cake ink pad and stamped it directly on the paper making the lines you see.  From there, I mixed up some Crumb Cake reinker, Champagne shimmer paint, and rubbing alcohol in one of our fabulous spritzer bottles and sprayed it onto the paper....at which time the girls walked in and told me my room smelled like the doctor's office.  Because of the busy paper and the good story behind the photo, I ended up making a pocket on the back of the photo to add a journalling card.  I found various ribbons to tie on. 

Now you have two blogs to go over and check out!  Trust me, it's worth it!

Hearts, Brackets, and Bows

It's another monotone project!  This week at Dynamic Duos we have two shades of pink...should be easy right?!?!



I found photos from Linnea's Valentine's Day program last February and that they were perfect for the challenge. I had 4 horizontal photos and 1 vertical....time for a block layout.  I loved the layout of the last one I did which you can see here, and since it was for the other daughter I went for it.  Here's the final layout:

I adore how it turned out!  Here's some closer views:

This is the left side.  I paired Chocolate Chip with the pinks and backed the blocks on Very Vanilla.  I had lots of retired patterns in these colors, got to love using old to make room for new!  I love the pearls on the Greeting Card kid image.  In order to make them Rose Red, I put a small amount of Crystal Effects on a paper plate, and dropped in a drop of Rose Red reinker. A paint brush, some drying time and they matched perfectly!

Here is the right side.  It's hard to see but the journal spot has brackets on each side.  It is an embossing folder that is non-SU but there were too many other brackets on the pages not to use it!

Now head over and see what the other ladies have designed and play along with us!

Going Green

It's color week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments and this week you get some choice in the matter.

 

I have to apologize that I have two Kitty and button layouts in a row, I didn't plan it that way.   I really wasn't sure what photo I was going to go with for this project but then I stumbled on this one and I knew right away this was the one.  I'm not sure if I love her face or the shorts/boots combo more?!?!

You see, I don't use the color green often and thought it might even be more of a challenge using green.  But it wasn't, because again Stampin' Up makes it sooo simple.  I found the Wild Wasabi polka print paper in an old DSP folder and thought I'd pair it with Garden Green..and it turns out I have a ton of those buttons.  I dusted off the Letter It set and found  a retired set to stamp have and will.  I layered them and cut them apart to look like those letter stickers you find at the box stores.  The banners are a mix of current and retired papers. 

Now be sure to head over and see what the rest of the designers have created for your viewing pleasure, and with this much creative room we'd love for you to play along!

Kitty Love

It's Bold and Sassy week over at Dynamic Duos and I'm not sure if it gets more bold than this pairing...



In my ordinary craft world, I would have never paired these colors together....which is why I *love* being on this design team, it forces me out of my comfort zone.  Here's what I created:

I stumbled across this photo taken in April at my husband's aunt and uncle's home.  Our girls love to go there because they have horses...and barn kitties.  Most of the time we can't catch any, but this one was more than happy to come out and get loved on.  In fact, we'd have a dozen kitties if it was up to my girls.

The hay in the photo was just enough green to tie in the Celery.  (I can't remember the last time this color was used as the retired Pear was my go-to light green.)  I had a ton of red buttons from last year's Holiday mini so I just used them to create a heart around one of the photos.  Simple layout but I love how it turned out....

that is until I posted my photo and took a look at what the other *uber* talented ladies created.  Be sure to head over and check them out and give them some blog love!

Feeling Better

So last week's ho hum projects are in the past and I am digging this layout.  It's an inspiration photo week at Hand Stamped Sentiments and at first sight I was panicking again.

 

I ended up heading to my Pinterest scrapbook layout board first and found this sketch and the light bulb came on! (So happy when that happens.) I went looking for some tree decorating photos and a few hours later I had these pages:

Remember when I said I keep it simple when I have to do two...well that went out the window this week. 

Pre-kids I always put up a beautiful tree with breakable ornaments that are perfectly spaced.  Well, I'm a bit OCD and didn't want to give that up when kids came along...so, we have two trees.  (My) tree is in our upstairs living room and that is where we place gifts from us.  (Their) tree is downstairs, by the fireplace so Santa can leave his gifts.  It's full of ornaments that are stuffed from when they were itty bitties, and all of the ones Saint Nick leaves in their shoes every year.  It has been fun to photo them every year next to the tree and see how much they have changed. 

I ended up making 34 ornaments using my 1 1/4" and 1/2" circle punches.  I don't own the ornament punch or the new framelits :/  I pulled colors from the photos:  Primrose Petals, Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue (can't remember the last time I used that color), Gumball Green, and Starfruit...I actually had pulled Daffodil but didn't like it and thought Starfruit looked better--maybe I'm warming to it after all!  From there I just went crazy.  I heat embossed the snowflake from Jolly Bingo Bits, I inked embossed with the stripe folder, I pulled out Circle Circus, I went digging in the button drawer, I even made a little window bulb.  I wrote most of the title with the new gold pen-I'm loving these pens, also comes in Silver.  Here are a couple of closer views:

I had a roll of thin wire I used for the hooks, but you could use paper clips.  Now be sure to head over and see what the rest of the team has designed.

On a personal note, I started this blog in March of 2011 not knowing if anyone but my mom would ever look at it.  When I went to write this I noticed I went over 10,000 views sometime this weekend.  Thank you, thank you.  Please know I love to read your comments as they warm my heart, and if you are only a stalker that's okay too..as I stalked many of my HSS friends for years. :)

Silver Needed



As I went to create this week's Dynamic Duo's challenge, I discovered I was lacking in the silver department and being a holiday week here in the US, I went the card route.  Here is this week's challenge:  (And I just noticed that I used Night of Navy....oops! sorry gals.)

 

 

 

Please be kind... 

 

I've seen these cute banner Christmas trees on Pinterest and thought I'd try my hand.  The only silver I could find was our glimmer paper so I thought I'd make the tree with this, as it reminded me of those fancy trees at the nursery's.  I embossed and inked the woodgrain folder for the tree trunk and cut the Jolly Bits star from Soft Suede.  The heart goes along with the sentiment found on the inside.  It's alright :/  Be sure to head over to and check out the other designers and we'd love for you to play along!

 

Not Feeling It...

Someone once asked me if scrapbooking comes easy for me.  Like anything I think sometimes yes and sometimes no, and this week it didn't.  It's Technique week at Hand Stamped Sentiments:

I really wanted to find something I could incorporate on a scrap page so I went digging on Splitcoaststampers.  I found this Diagonal Double Pocket Card that I thought would be perfect for a journaling spot.  Here is my page:

The good thing is that my girls keep saying they like it because they can tell by my face I'm not happy with it. (LOVE THEM!)

I started with a (OLD...like really old) retired DSP.  It kind of reminded me of old wallpaper.  I added Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake and then layered on my photo and pocket spot.  I LOVE this pocket, it really let me journal my thoughts of how lucky I think my girls are to have a photo like this.  I used the argyle embossing folder as I thought it worked off her afghan, which I also pulled the colors from.  I got stuck on the title placement, the 4 is cut from my electronic die cutting system.  :(

Again, I have to remember some you love, and some you just think at least it's not stuck in a box.  I'm so excited to see the creations of the design team, make sure you hop over and check them out!

Melting Heart

It's dessert week with the Dynamic Duos and I'm over the moon with this page!  Take a look at the challenge colors:



I found the perfect photo, but it was a bit busy color-wise.   I edited it to black and white but then I thought I lost the moment of the photo...so with my little editing paintbrush I colored in the nose and hat.  (Hope that doesn't get me in trouble.)  Here's my layout:

I hope you're beginning to learn who I am if you are new to my blog.  Yes I love a CAS layout...and a banner! 

This is a photo of my youngest last March.  You would think being in Minnesota we would have lots of snow, but last year just wasn't our year.  We did get a good snow fall late February and it was perfect snowman snow.  Slowly he began to melt, and she just kept trying to add his pieces back onto him.  She really is a caring sole!

I started with Marina Mist card stock layered with the yummy First Edition DSP.  The letters are from an old alphabet set that I stamped onto Vanilla card stock.  I love the look of not perfect sizes.  The "heart" banner is from the Timeless Type dies that are also retired.   I added some Silver Dazzling Details.  The space of the Marina Mist polka dot DSP threw me a bit, so I just added another banner with a heart, pin and ribbon.  I had planned on using a Snowman stamp set in the lower right corner, but then decided to let the photo snowman steal the show.  I found the heart and the sentiment on the photo in a retired, but loved, Valentines set.    I finished by stitching with my sewing machine just to add some flair. 

Be sure to head over and see what the rest of the team has designed for your viewing pleasure.  We'd love for you to play along!

Snow...flakes

I made a (bit) of a mistake this week.  For some reason I was thinking it was an Inspiration week at Hand Stamped Sentiments and had written down snow....only to find out it is Theme week and it's snowFLAKES.  Ooops.  You'll notice the flakes are a bit of an afterthought.

 

Here is my layout:

It's Pinterst-inspired, my go-to when the spark isn't there.  I started with Raspberry Ribble and layered on Crumb Cake, which is sprayed with a Champagne shimmer paint/alcohol mix to make it sparkle.  The banners are a mix of DSP, some retired, the Core paper that I embossed with the Snow Burst folder, and ribbon.  The title is cut from the Champagne glimmer paper...love that stuff!  I paper pierced the snowball image in the corner.  I was going to stamp some snowflakes in the empty spaces, but was really wishing I had a snowflake punch/die...only to find these retired felt snowflakes, bonus. 

Again, a pretty simple layout, but when I have to make two that's what they get!  Be sure to head over and see the stunning snowFLAKE projects the rest of the team have created for your enjoyment.

Dynamic Layouts

well that may be my opinion.  I thought I would quickly share the two layouts I made when I submitted my tryout for the Dynamic Duo design team.  We had to pick colors from two past challenges

For this one I chose the challenge colors of Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive.  I'm really not a Razzleberry person, so challenge accepted.   I found this photo of Kendall at our school dance last year.  I started with a Crumb Cake 12 X 12 and sprayed it with an Old Olive/alcohol mix using our spritzer bottles.  From there, I just created a bunch of circles.  The larger ones on each end are fabric which I stitched on using dyed Razzleberry bakers twine.

For my second layout, I chose the challenge Crumb Cake and then pick your own second color.  I found this photo of us taken this Easter and chose Raspberry Ripple as my other color taken from my shirt.  I love a banner...I'm sure you'll soon notice this if you haven't already.  I ended up creating many of the Crumb Cake banners with an inked up embossing folder, as I didn't think the DSP from the packs looked as nice.  My chip board letters are inked up and then covered with a layer of Crystal Effects, another thing I do often. 

Thanks for stopping by and looking!

K.I.S. Page

Keep It Simple...we don't say the second "S" word in our house, so KIS is all you get. It's my second week as a Dynamic Duo designer and this week my layout is quite simple...but still better than a photo sitting in a box!  Here are this week's colors:



I was instantly giddy because I LOVE Sahara Sand, and I knew I had the perfect photo for the challenge.  Take a look at my page:

I told you it was Simple!...there are more pieces lying on my desk, but I just didn't like them so here is the finished result.  I also create a book for each girl, so when I have to make double pages it helps that they aren't over the top!

I started by layering the card stock...which was sort of hard since Stampin' Up retired my Sahara 12 X 12 packs.  Yes, I admit I hoard paper!  The 'on the way to see" are resist letter stickers.  I generally don't buy a lot of "contraband" but I love how I can use my inks with a sponge and match any color I want!  "Santa" is from a retired die set that last I checked was on the Clearance Rack, and is the perfect size for scrap pages.  My main element is made up of two Window dies that I pierced and then a tree cut from the Silver Glimmer Paper.  (I don't have this die, but I do have tracing paper :)....it's now on my want list.)  I journaled with my Sahara marker, which is hard to see in the photo, but sometimes I just don't want my handwriting to be the focal point so in person it's readable, just not in your face.

This past week was so fun looking at all the wonderful creations linked to Dynamic Duos. When I started this blog, I never dreamed that I would get so much back from it.  Thanks for the wonderful comments, they really do mean a lot as sometimes it's hard to share what you love in fear others may not think the same.  Now head over and see what the rest of the ladies have come up with...I'm telling you-it's amazing what they create!

Color Blocks

I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVE today's layout...especially when I was dreading this challenge for weeks!  Take a look at the colors for this week's color challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments:



I kept seeing this challenge creep closer on my calendar, and I kept scratching my head.  Individually, I love them all...together I had no idea what to do.  I went to my photos thinking I'd be changing them to black or white or a sepia tone, until I hit the jackpot.  I found five photos that I took in March that fit the bill to a T!  Then I went to find a layout and stumbled on a block layout that I loved.  The only problem is I love block layouts, dislike math, so after some pretty please help from the husband, it was off to the craft room.  Take a look at the finished project:

THIS is why I love Stampin' Up.  These pages were so easy because everything coordinates beautifully.  Truth is before I was introduced to Stampin' Up, I was a scrapbook product collector.  I struggled to produce a page because nothing really "went together."

Here are some closer views and details:

The top corner is a piece of the Core card stock, and was perfect for my tree theme.  I broke into my Regal DSP pack...which I've had since they introduced them, I'm telling you Regals just aren't my colors.  The sets Family Reunion and Fabulous Phrases are great additions for scrapbookers.  Since I didn't have very many Eggplant patterns, I used my embossing folders to give plain card stock some great patterns.  A few of these DSP blocks are retired, another reason I love block layouts---using up scraps!, even that retired piece of Olive ribbon and the Crochet trim it's layered on were finds in my "piece" drawer.

I wanted to add to the blocks, but yet not go overboard.  If you look, I added to 2/3 of the blocks in each of the areas.

So after being nervous for this week, I am pleasantly happy with these pages.  I can't wait to see what the other ladies on the team have created, they are crazy talented and I'm always amazed what they come up with!

Thanks for looking!

YIPPEE!

I can't tell you how excited I am about today's post!  The Dynamic Duos blog is one I've followed since day one as I love the idea behind it's challenge:  use ONLY two colors in your project.  To be chosen as a designer for the next six months is such an honor!  Here is this week's color combination:



I LOVED it instantly and I was excited to find some photos that coordinated with them...be it they are from 2009.

And you're in for a treat...I have THREE pages to share.  I had all of these photos of my oldest playing in the sprinkler and I just couldn't leave some out.

Here is a closer view of the left side:

Here is a closer up of the right side:

I only had the In Color paper pack to use so I had to get creative.  I took out my ink pads along with my embossing folder and created my own designs.  This is a great way to stretch what you have. 

Be sure to hop over and see what the rest of the team has created, as there is some MEGA talent on this team, and join us in playing along.

Halloween Chaos!

Halloween is the same day each year but every year I feel like I'm behind :/  I'm sure it doesn't help that Kendall's birthday is seven days before, so needless to say it's a busy time of year.  Our theme at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week is Tags and I may have made a few this weekend.

Oh, and throw in pumpkin carving....that's "my" pumpkin.  The girls insist that Erik and I also carve a pumpkin and it's just not my favorite thing, it's messy, slimy... so I wrapped mine in gauze and of course it needed a little banner.  On to my projects:

I made two of these for each of their teachers.  Afterwards, I didn't like the shiny jar tops so I hit them up with some chalk spray paint.  The tag is not at all what I envisioned but some times that's how the ball rolls.

These are the treats the girls will hand out to their classmates.  I had to make 60 of them :/  My husband thought I was crazy, but I know my crafty friends will agree that you can't just hand out a plain sucker.  I found the idea over at My Chic N Scratch.  I changed the tag a bit, as I just bought this boot set and wanted to use it...plus I'm sure the kids will get a kick..hee hee..out of the saying.

So on top of these projects, here are a couple of pictures of more Halloween craftiness...yes my craft room looks like it has seen a Hurricane.  (If you are reading this from the East Coast, we are thinking of you!)

Here is my Kendall.  She had a costume birthday party to attend.  She's going to be a witch for Trick or Treating and we made her little Tutu ....because....

Mom made herself a Tutu for a Halloween 5K she ran on Saturday.  I also sewed my double sided, scalloped cape...not a great first sewing project but it worked!

Now I only have one more Tutu left to make on the Halloween to do list.  Be sure to head over and see what the rest of the team has created.  I'm secretly hoping there is some Christmas tags as I need to start on that holiday next or I'll be feeling the same way again :/

Fall Fun

It's theme week at Hand Stamped Sentiments and one I love!  FALL.  It's my favorite season and being a Midwest girl, we really experience the changing of seasons.



I went to my photos and found a couple that I hadn't scrapped yet....

These pictures were taken last fall when we were visiting my husband's aunt and uncle.  My nephews were also there and while the dads were hunting, I took these photos of them on the gravel road.  If you haven't noticed, I'm a sucker for hand holding, butt photos.

It's a simple layout: 12 X 12 is from the Harvest DSP (Cajun is going to grow on my yet!), Lucky Lime DSP is actually from one of the Christmas collections.  I used the cotton ribbon to make a couple of flowers.  Some left over chipboard letters are colored with my cajun marker then covered with Crystal Effects to give them luster.

Now head over and see how the rest of the team interpreted the photo.