Friday, April 26, 2013

Highs and Lows

I'll get to the highs and lows in a minute, but first lets check out this week's Dynamic Duo challenge...and it's a good one!

 
I don't know about you, but I was doing a happy dance when I saw these two in the color refresh.  I know I've said I'm not a pink girl, but I loved this shade and was sad to see it go.  Thankfully, it's back and will be around for some time!  While frantically looking through photos, I found this oldie but a goodie.  Here's my layout: 

My oldest loved, LOVED to play dress up.  My youngest, not so much. Sometimes she would make her sister happy, but often times this was the result.  A dressed up frowning bride or princess.

I went and used my electronic cutter...I know, but I love a hexagon of late and I had a vision.  I used all sorts of DSP and even did some stamping and then cutting to get the polka dot and chevron patterns.  I used 'little" from the Fabulous Phrase set just above the Doll.  I always told the oldest that her sister wasn't her doll.

When the retired list came out this week, I was most devastated about the Color Spritzer.  I love that thing and will keep mine forever!  For this layout, I mixed up some reinker in my spray bottle, shook it, then carefully took the spray end out and gave it a little tap while holding it above my paper.  I love how the page turned out.

Okay, onto the Highs and Lows. 

My high this week is I want to give a big shout out to Vicki Burdick.  She is a fellow DD designer and if you haven't seen her blog I have no idea what rock you are hiding under!  It was her birthday this week and I so wanted to participate in her birthday hop!....but, onto the Lows.

One low is this has been a week of Technology H-E-Double Hockey Sticks!  My *new* computer and camera have both given me quite the run around. In fact, you'll notice my watermark isn't the typical because I can't use my new computer I normal edit on because it has a connection issue, and the old computer I'm using now won't read my camera :/  Instead my card is on it's way to Vicki, and hopefully soon I'll share it on here when the computers are all fixed and happy again!  

and sadly, this is my final project as a Dynamic Duo Designer.  I can't begin to explain how much Leslie and Anne Marie have given me by selecting me.  I'm biggest critic...and thankfully I've learned that we all are!  I was BEYOND fearful of putting my creations out there.  I scrap my girls and they mean the world to me and to have the thought of someone saying something negative about a layout scared me.  Through this blog, I've "met" really great TALENTED people who I was able to call my fellow designers.  They have inspired me, and have shared the most kindest words.  Thank you all ladies!  

So next week I'll be back on the other side, anticipating the two colors.  I so look forward to seeing the new team!  




Saturday, April 20, 2013

Team Greyhounds

Quick post today.  I'm busy trying to prepare the best at home Spa...ahhh party for my oldest who turns NINE!  Just typing that it doesn't seem right, how can I be old enough to have a nine year old...oh, but sadly I am!  She is such a girlie girl and mom is so not.  It will be a fun day of nails, masks, and make up...and some cake!  Hopefully I survive the 5 of them.

Take a look at this week's colors the Dynamic Duos have for you:



Okay I skipped dessert...which in real life is really me!  I'd much rather have the main course.

Now I pinned this layout a while pack and knew exactly the photos I had in order to recreate my version...thanks to the Duos, I had my color scheme.  These photos are of L's softball team after their end of the year touney last year.  It was such a fun team!

The layout is mostly non-SU.  I found this fab gray chevron paper at my local craft store some time ago.  Gray + Chevron = Bobbie can't leave it there!  I trimmed it down and rounded the corners.  The team card is from my stash, not sure the maker.  I noticed the six on it, which was her number, and went and found these great number embellishments also in my neglected bin.  I made some flags with some DSP from the paper pack and a piece of retired SU gray paper...I'm giddy to see the new gray!, and used my date stamp.  I jumped on this prior to SU coming out with there's :/  The twine is also from my stash, I have quite a few colors as that is my favorite embellishment.  The letters are retired SU, still my favorite dies-just the perfect size.

Be sure to head over and see the other projects...seriously these ladies amaze me!  So.darn.good!  Have a great weekend!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Traditional Duos

Happy Saturday!  It seems like it has been a very long week.  We got snow in MN this week and it's put me in a funk.  In fact I'm running my first "spring" 10 mile race this morning with a day high of 38 degrees.  Someone please tell Mother Nature it's spring!

but....The Dynamic Duos have a color combo that will put you in a good mood though! At least these colors make me think happy.



Like many weeks I was stumped!  This is why I love being a scrapper and not necessarily a card maker because I often look to my photos for inspiration.  While I have a traditional layout, the occasion doesn't lend itself to one of these colors.  Take a look:

I apologize for the fuzziness of the left side.  I take my photos outside by our front door...and this was one of our snowy mornings while the wind was blowing.  Typically a great spot, rain or snow...but not combined with wind.  It was hurry and take the photo.

Anyways, I found these photos from when we carved pumpkins in 2010 and L had on a T that had some blue in it.  PERFECT!

You'll find lots of retired product.  I have started the color change in my room, and am quite embarrassed with how much stuff I have.  The Pumpkin DSP and the Bashful Blue wide ribbon were a couple of my first SU purchases in 2008 (yep, I was late to the game.)  I also used old dies, but they are such a great scrapbook size.  With my oval punch, I recreated her pumpkins.  Again, super traditional, but super fun to use blue on a Pumpkin page.  

Here are a couple of closer views!  Be sure to head over and see what the ladies have created.  There was some buzz about a few making a second project, so visit the designer's page to find any "bonus" projects!




Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Special Someone

edited:  Sorry if you came and nothing was here!  Blogger and I weren't getting along yesterday, and my post disappeared.


It's a color challenge double week (remember you have two weeks to play with us!) at Hand Stamped Sentiments it's a super fun one! 



Did you see the color refresh?  I'm a bit sad for Lucky Limeade.

So I had to have a card for a gift I was giving and used these colors.  Take a look:

The sentiment is an oldie but a goodie so it has hung around.  I used Circle Circus for the bottom, I love this set but sadly it hasn't been inked much.  The "ribbon" is again fabric.  I did some cleaning/reorganizing and found my (rather large) stash of SU fabric. I thought this pattern on the fabric when well with the circles.  I tied on a wood button with Indigo twine since I knew it wasn't being mailed. 

Super easy, but I love giving a hand made card!  Remember, it doesn't have to be a masterpiece to warm someone's heart.

Now hop over and see what the other ladies have come up with.  I'm always giddy when I link up my project. 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Polka Dot Hello

We have a super fun color combo at Dynamic Duos this week, take a look:



I hope you've heard by now that Pool Party will be sticking around.  This has to be my favorite color of all time.  Cherry, on the other hand?!?!  Let's just say it's in the Regals, and I don't use that collection much, but I think I've made a cute card with them. 

I had the Oh, Hello set on my desk--okay, it really hasn't left--and pondered how I could use it. I've used that oval so many times, I had to go with something new.  I recently ordered some of the single stamps for SU and this frame is one of them.  It's a perfect combination for the framelit!  It's hard to see, but I used Pool Party emboss powder to make the frame stick out more.  Originally, I had stamped it directly onto my card, but then I decided to cut it out and pop it up with some dimensionals.  I used some of the Essentials Designer Fabric as my "ribbon."  I laid it all out, and decided to pull out my Distressed Dots background stamp to add some more cute polka dots.  That stamp is one of my favorite, must haves.

Now be sure to head over and see what the other ladies have created this week!  This marks our last month as designers.  I can't believe it's almost been six months since I started this fun.  Leslie and Anne Marie are taking applications for the next team.  Check out the details in this post!  If you love color challenges and creating you really should think about applying.  I can't tell you how much it has pushed me, how much it has made me feel like I don't craft alone in my little room, and the friendships I've made.  Who knew....all from color!

Have a great Saturday!  I'm having girl time with a friend and doing some scrapping.  I'll have to come back and share my layouts....if we don't just chat the entire time!