Happy Hump Day!!

It is Wednesday, the middle of the week and the day I think that is hardest for me to get through. Monday I know I have 5 days of work to go but Wednesdays just seem to drag even though I know I am am half way to the weekends. I miss my summer days of just doing anything I wanted! (But I don't miss not getting a check!!)

In honor of my lazy days of summer, I thought I would post four layouts that I created with a summer theme. The photos are from summer 2010 but the pages are ones that I created in July.

The first page I created was for Scrapjazz.com. I decided to play around with using mist for a title. I die cut letters out, stuck them to the page with temporary adhesive and then misted blue around them. I lifted the letters off after they dried and this is what was left. I love the effect and will be doing this again. I mixed goodies from Echo Park and Jillibean Soup to complete this page.

(If you want to know the specificsupplies I used, see this link. I was too lazy to list them all out today!)

The next two pages I created for an article over at Scrapjazz.com that reviewed the Splash Collection by Echo Park. These photos were taken on our vacation with my family in PA. Excuse the scan. I couldn't

get the blues to match on top no matter how I tried.

This page was really simple and fun to make. The papers were perfect for this photo of Charlotte and her cousins.

The last page is about how my two nephews loved to be buried in the sand. How cute are they? Again I had fun mixing Jillibean Soup products and Echo Park goodies. It is a bit bright but I like it!!

(Again, I am too lazy to post the supplies. If you want specifics, go to this link which will bring you to this page at Scrapjazz.com. All the supplies are listed there with links.)

I hope these bright and cheerful layouts will make you have a Happy Hump Day!!

Nora

Painting Our Room and Being a Horrible Aunt

I love summer. It isn't the weather, because I prefer color over heat, but the free time I have to do things that I don't have time to do in the summer. One of the big projects we tried to get done this summer was to paint our bedroom. It was the first room we redecorated when we moved into our house 14 years ago but we haven't redone it because we knew getting the crackle paint of the trim was going to be a nightmare. Yes, you read it right. I was in my faux finishing stage when we first bought the house and crackle painted my bedroom trim under protestation from Chris. He gave in and 14 years later, he was cursing me for it. Partly because I only partially stripped one window, which took 4 1/2 hours to do!!

My bum shoulder kicked in so Chris wound up having to strip it all. In frustration, he started ripping trim off rather then stripping it. I don't blame him either. Par for the course, we still are not done with the room but I thought I would post my hard work that I did one afternoon.  (I actually like this look but knew that it would never fly with Chris so I didn't mention it!!) Learn from my mistake-if you ever want a piece of furniture to be painted a different color, don't crackle paint it because it is not fun to strip!!

As for the bad Aunt part...I made this card 2 weeks ago for my nephew's birthday, and I still haven't sent it out. I have even had the present since the beginning of August! For some reason, I have trouble sending Birthday cards out on time. I make them on time, waiting to be filled out and then I never send them. Now I have a stack of extra cards.

Supplies: Paper-Diecuts with a View, Basic Grey and Creative Imaginations, Stamps-Paper Trey Ink, Embossing Folder-Cuttlebug, Punches- ALL byEK Success, Inks-Stampin Up!, Dies-Paper Trey Ink and Glitter Glue-Stickles.

This card is exactly like the card I created in Stamp-Affaire-Challenge #2 Post. I just changed the colors to make it more masculine. I tend to design cards and then create them over and over using different products once I find a design I like.

So that is my post for today. I hope you have a great Monday!!

Nora

September 10, 2011

I seem to have really dropped the ball on my blog. It isn't even that I am not creating projects but it takes so much time to write and upload them. I need to make a pact with myself to blog at least two entries a week. What keeps you motivated?

For this post, I want to focus on the circle journal pages that I scrapped two weeks ago during Hurricane Irene-before we lost our power for SIX days!! I finally finished them and will be sending them on their way on Monday.

For those of you who don't know what a circle journal is I will try to explain it. Usually you have a group of friends that you are doing it with. You each create a journal with a specific theme. You send your journal to one of your friends, they create a scrapbook page (or art journal page) using your theme and then send it on to the next person on their list. You get another members journal as well and do the same thing. It is really fun when it works but we had a little glitch with our group, part of me being sick for 2 months and getting three at the same time!! I am very excited that I finished the pages and will be happy to forward them on to the next member. Look out Lin!!

The first theme I completed was "A Typical Week in My Life." Since I don't take photos every day, I chose a week in July and used photos from that. However, it really couldn't be considered "typical" because I have summers off and my days are filled with a different kind of "busy" then when I work.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzil Cardstock, Pink Paislee (Think Big), Studio Calico (Pie Contest), Echo Park (Big Stripes) Alphabet Stickers-Paper Studio, Cosmo Cricket, Doodlebug Design, and Basic Grey, Stickers-Crate Paper, Stamps and Die Cuts-Paper Trey Ink, Ink-Stampin Up!


The next journal I conquered had an astrology theme. We were to create a page about our astrological sign. I am an Aquarian and it was fun to see what "typical" traits I show that are Aquarian in nature and others that I don't. The best thing about this page is that I used mostly scraps or older products that I was thinking of throwing away.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill, Basic Grey, Ruby Rocket, Alphabet Stickers-Creative Imaginations, Borders-Paper Frills by Doodlebug Design, Ink-Tim Holtz Vintage Photo by Ranger Industries, Punch-EK Success.


The last theme that I had to create a layout for was  "My Dirty Little Secret." We had to use black and white papers/embellishments with a "splash" of any color we wanted. The instructions also stated that we had to use only a photo of ourselves, with the journaling being the primary attraction to the page.

Supplies: Paper-My Minds Eye (Meadow Lark Collection-"Dawn" White Polka Dot), Ink-Memento, Blue Border-Bazzil, Flowers-Prima, Brad-Doodlebug Design, Corner Rounder-EK Success, Alphabet Stickers-Scenic Route Paper Company and Cosmo Cricket.

My "secret" isn't really dirty in nature but is about how I love books, movies and television shows about vampires, witches and magic. I also used the same photo that I used on the astrology page that Charlotte took of me a few years ago. Wish I looked that good in real life!!

If you ever have a chance to be part of a circe journal, take it. It is a lot of fun to find out random things about your friends!!

Nora

Paper Trey Ink July Blog Hop

I have never had time to complete one of these challenges but I was home without Charlotte today and was able to play. The challenge was to use the photo below as inspiration for a card.

I would love to have a room this color!! My favorite are the red/orange curtains. I wonder if Chris would let me get away with something like this? Here is the card I created:

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey (Dark Aqua and Red), We R Memory Keepers (Green), Lemon Tart and Aqua Mist Cardstock by Paper Trey Ink, Ink-Versamark Embossing Powder: Personal Stamp Exchange-Holographic Powder, Stamps-Mehndi Medallion by Paper Trey Ink, Punches- Circle Punches by EK Success, Martha Stewart Butterflies, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Dies-Paper Trey Ink Victorian Lace Border and Love Lives Here, Gem-Basic Grey

The first thing I did was die cut the border out of different colored patterned papers with a PTI border die. I then stamped the Mehndi Medallion stamp with Versamark Ink onto a Lemon Tart Card. I embossed the image using holographic embossing powder. I had to blow the dust off my embossing tool it had been so long since I used it!! I repeated this process on the blue and red paper and punched the circles. I layered the borders onto the side, added the butterflies and I was done!! Hmm, it all sounds so simple but it took me a long time!!

Thank you for visiting!!

Nora

A Little Springtime in Summer!!

We have been busy this weekend trying to stay cool. Once again I am uploading layouts to this blog that I have created over the last few months. This post will be all about "spring." Each page contains something to do with spring.

My first page is about how coloring Easter eggs is always an after thought in our house. I can buy a die kit months in advance like I did this year and we still wind up coloring eggs in the late afternoon of Holy Saturday. (Please excuse the scan. For some reason I have a difficult time getting both sides of a Kraft Cardstock background to meet up!!) I created this page for a challenge over at Scrapjazz.com this month. If you want, come on over and join us. If you create a layout and upload it, you will be entered into a random drawing for a prize pack from Scrapbook.com.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Basic Grey Sweet Threads-Boutique Shopping, Drapery Top, Knotted Shirt and Weekend Look, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup-Dutch Mustard Soup Pea Pod Shapes and Watermelon Gazpacho Pea Pod Shapes, Paper Trey Ink border and banner die,  Stickers-My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Sunrise and Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Cardstock stickers Punches-EK Success Whale of a Punch Circle, Ink-Vintage Photo Ink , Pens-Zig Writer.


The next page is a simple page of Charlotte and her cousins on Easter. I love the striped border on this and the butterfly.

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park Splash Collection-Fish and Journaling, Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho 6" by 6" paper pad, Borders-Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Pea Pod Shapes and Bazzill Just the Edge French Vanilla Border, Stickers-Jillibean Soup-Glazed Green Cardstock Alphabet, My Little Shoebox Carnation Glitter Alphabet, American Crafts Thickers, and Heidi Swapp Bling, Pens-Zig Writer.


The last Spring page I designed I emphasized the white space. The photo was taken of Charlotte in Boston in a plaza by the Old North Church.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup 6" by 6" Paper Pad, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Pea Pod Parts and Journaling Spots, Punches-Marvy Uchida Extra Large Scallop Punch, and Stickers-My Little Shoebox Glitter Alphabet-Ruby and Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Cardstock Stickers.

Thank you for perusing my blog. I hope you have a great week!!

Nora

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #8!!

I left for a while and Nicole Heady put five more challenges up on her blog while I was gone!! I decided to complete only one more for the night. Challenge #8 was to create a card where the front cover was cut back by an inch or two. On this lip, you could put a sentiment, glitter, whatever you want.

The inspiration for this card was the positive piece I cut out of the card for challenge #3. I loved how it looked so I decided to carry on with the kraft/melon mambo/chocolate brown color scheme. The "edge" was decorated with a PTI border die cut out of melon mambo.

I think this is my favorite of all the cards I made today. I will definitely use this design again on some future cards.

Nora

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #3!!

For Paper Trey Ink's Challenge #3 we were supposed to create a window card and tie a piece of ribbon or twine from the window to the edge of the card.

I chose to use the hot pink color again for this card. I stamped with Stampin Up!'s Melon Mambo ink and used PTI's Flower Fusion #1 stamp set and Polka Dot Basics #2. I used Mat Stack #3 die by PTI to create the window for the flower to peek out of. I apologize for the photo but I didn't realize how blurry the image was when I took it. I like how this card came out but I think I will rethink the punched borders if I use this design again.

Nora

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #2!

I am back again with my take on Paper Trey Ink's challenge #2. The challenge was to create a card using a hot pink, like PTI's Raspberry Fizz and pair it with a charcoal grey. For some reason, I only saw the "grey" part in the challenge and so I used the ONLY grey I have in my thousands of pieces of paper. It was a light grey, almost white. Guess what color cardstock I will be buying next? I used what I had and created a birthday card that I will send to my friend next month.

For this card, I used Paper Trey Ink's Cupcake Collection stamp set and die cut. I stamped it with Stampin Up! die ink in Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink. I used Raspberry Fizz paper from PTI, Pretty in Pink from Stampin Up! and the gray is unknown. I had fun embossing various textures for this card and layering them over each other. All in all, I really like the way this card came out. I think I will be making a few more to go in my stash!!

Nora

Paper Trey Ink Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #1

I had a fun time playing along with Paper Trey Ink today and doing some of their Stamp-A-Faire challenges. I would have loved to go to their fun convention but alas, it was too far and not a great time to take off and go to Ohio. Instead, I played along for a while completing a few challenges.


The first challenge was  create a project featuring patterned strips that were created with some of of my favorite decorative elements. Since I am limited in the amount of PTI stamp sets that I own, I chose to stamp my background with PTI's Label Basics and sea spray chalk ink. I then distressed the edges with a tonic distress tool and inked with Vintage Photo Ink.


For the focal point of the card, I chose to use the PTI's stamp set Gracious Vases.  Again, I used chalk various colors of chalk ink. I punched the images into a circle and then inked with Vintage Photo Ink. 

I used my Big Shot to cut out some die cuts and layered the stamped images over them to make them pop. I wasn't sure how this was going to come out but am pretty pleased with the results. If you have time, go over to Nicole Heady's Blog and have some fun!!

Nora

Another Long Hot Day!!!

I cannot wait for this weather to break. As my husband will tell you, I am AWFUL in the heat. I get ugly and complain a lot. Don't hate me but I really prefer the cold. I very rarely complain about winter, unless we have TOO MUCH snow. It sure beats being hot in my book!

Today I am  uploading some layouts that I have created over the last few months. There is not particular rhyme or reason to them. I just create what photos strike me at the moment.

The first page is a rare 8 1/2" by 11" creation for my "Book of Me." My mother LOVED butterflies so every time I see one, I think of her. Charlotte and I scout butterflies out and she says "Grandma Mary Ann is watching out for us today" when we do see one. This photo was taken at Wickham Park in Manchester last year.

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Lauderdale-Rose Colored Glasses and Clam Bake, and Basic Grey Gypsy Collection (background Green), Bazzill Brown Cardstock Punches-Matha Stewart 3-in-1 Classic Butterfly and Fiskars Apron Lace Border, Stickers-Basic Grey LilyKate Alphabet Stickers, Font-Lucida Handwriting, Other-Jillibean Soup Journal Spots 


The next page I created is all about Charlotte's "rivalry" with our dog Zack. They literally fight over me. It can be funny but it usually winds up with the dog being yelled at and Charlotte running to her room crying. I guess I should have had another child and then maybe this wouldn't happen!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzil Frosted Yellow Cardstock, Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Wavelength, SPF, Bikini Time, Coastline and Clear Water, Punches-Fiskars Scallop Sentiment Border,  Paper Shaper Medium Circle Punch, and EK Success Bracket Edger Punch, Stickers- Basic Grey Lauderdale Alphabet and My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Indigo, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup Die Cut Pieces, Christmas Red Stickles, Stamp-Unity Stamp Bella Blvd Collection Family Tree, Zig Pen and various colored inks.


The next layout is Charlotte swinging at the park last summer. I had fun distressing the edges of all the papers on this page and then "messed it up" using Stickles like a paint to "splatter" in strategic areas on the layout. It was an experiment that I will be repeating because it was so fun.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill White, Basic Grey Lauderdale-Bikini Time, Coastline and Cut Offs, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup Die Cut Pieces, Stickers-Basic Grey Lauderdale Alphabet Stickers,  My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Sky and Glitter Alphabet, Sassafras Lass Cherry Delicious Collection Alphabet Stickers, Fontwerks Label, Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly, Stickles-True Blue and Orange Peel, Zutter Distress It All Machine, Stamps-Stampin Up! Chicken Wire Stamp and Paper Trey Ink's Basic Label Die and Stamp, Black Zig Writer and Memento Orange Ink.


The last page I created is going to be framed for my friend. I caught her son dancing on film when we went to the park one day last year. I used spray mists on this to get the effects I wanted. I had never used them before and had a lot of fun!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Smooth White, Doodlebug Design and Bo Bunny Press, Mist Sprays-Tattered Angels Sweet Clover, Jazz Blue and Electric Blue, Punches-Paper Shaper Small Circle and 7/8" nesting punch, Silhouette Die Cut Machine.

I hope you enjoyed my pages and are keeping cool!!

Nora

Very hot outside and what to do?

We have had record highs outside the past few days. I have wanted to make cards and scrap but my scrap room does not have air conditioning and the room was too hot to even think. What is a girl to do? I decided to update my blog!! I promised in June to update regularly but as you can see, I have not done so. I plan to do a few entries ahead to get it back in gear, though.

For this entry, I want to concentrate on some cards I have created.

The first two cards I created I used a Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and paper from Basic Grey's Lauderdale collection. They are simple but I love how they came out!

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Bikini Time and Coastline, Card stock-Hero Arts- Kraft Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly Stamps-Hero Arts Things Ink-Vintage Photo Ink .


The second card I added a couple Jillibean Soup products. I just love quick cards!!

Supplies: Paper-Hero Arts Kraft Cardstock, Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Wavelength, Jillibean Soup- 6" by 6" Dutch Mustard Soup Paper Pad and Dutch Mustard Soup Die Cuts, Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly.

The next card I created for an article I wrote to review Martha Stewarts Punch Around the Page punches. You can view that here. The punch had holes around the heart that were prefect for stitching. I also raised the front of the card with pop dots to give it some dimension.  I think it is one of my favorite cards that I have created in a long time!!

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park-Gingham Gabby and Jody's Stripe, Bazzill White Cardstock, Punches-Martha Stewart Studded Heart Punch and Classic Butterfly, EK Success Large Corner Rounder, Stickers-Echo Park Little Girl Alphabet and Hero Arts Diamond Bling, Other-DMC Floss, Stampin Up! Cameo Coral Ink, Stamps from Stamps by Judith.


The last card was a quick card I created for my nephew's birthday. It is very simple as I always have a difficult time coming up with ideas for masculine birthday cards. Maybe if I had them in my stash, I wouldn't miss so many birthdays!!

Supplies: Paper-Jillibean Soup-Watermelon Gazpacho Collection, Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Ink-Stampin Up! Navy, Tsuekineko Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Stamps-Paper Trey Ink 2011 Birthday Tags, Birthday Bash Sentiments and Label Basics, Die Cuts-Paper Trey Ink Label Basics and Banner Die, Other-Red Ribbon from Michaels


That is all for now. Tune in tomorrow for some layouts!! Try to keep cool!!

Nora

Happy Father's Day and a few projects.

     Happy Father's Day everyone!! Chris, Charlotte and I started off the day with a nice breakfast to celebrate the day with my father and stepmother. Later on just the three of us will be going to J Gilberts for a late lunch to commemorate the day for Chris.

     I haven't updated this blog in a long time so I have a ton of projects waiting to be posted. I am going to try to post a few each day to try to get up to date. To start with, here are a few projects that I completed in April. Most of the photos I chose to scrap were from last summer. I didn't take a ton of pictures but it seems like I have a lot to scrap!

     The first layout is of Charlotte and her cousins on vacation in PA. There was a brook across the street from where my family was staying and the kids all had a blast playing in it. Brings me back to when I was a child playing in the "frog pond" across the street from one of the houses I grew up in. I used mostly Jillibean Soup products on this page. Jillibean Soup and Echo Park have been my go to companies for scrapbook products lately. I LOVE their lines and the fun embellishments that go with their papers.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup-Baked Brown Alphabet Stickers, Mustard Soup Collection- Pea Pods-Shapes, Dutch Mustard Soup 6"X 6" paper pad, Wholegrain patterned paper from Dutch Mustard Soup Collection, Hearts Corrugated Shapes Markers-Zig Writers Stickers-Doodlebug Design Simply Sweet Alphabet Stickers Punches-Paper Shaper Medium Circle and Small Circle punch Other-Big Shot Machine

     The next page is a beach page. Charlotte had fun in the sand at Watch Hill Beach in RI. I had fun using Sassafras Lass products, as well as some Jillibean Soup accents.

Supplies: Paper-Sasafrass Lass Sweetly Smitten Collection Heartly and Wee Bundle 6" X 6" paper pad, Bazzill Basics-Vanilla Cream Card stock Die Cut Shapes-Jillibean Soup-Blossom Soup Collection-Pea Pod Shapes Markers-Zig Writers Ink-Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink-Walnut Stain Stickers-Making Memories  Teal Ledger Alphabet Border-Doodlebug Design


     The last page I created was of some photos I took at one of our local farm stands. One think I LOVE about our town is you can drive a mile anywhere and find farm fresh fruits and vegetables. Again, I used some fun Jillibean Soup products to create this page.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Kraft Card stock, Jillibean Soup Spotted Owl Collection-6 Silly Owls, Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup Collection-6" by 6" Paper Pad and Pea Pod Shapes, Sassafras Lass-Sweetly Smitten 6" by 6" paper pad  Alphabet Stickers-Jenni Bowlin Studio Tiny Round Revers Alphabet-Reverse Brown and My Little Shoebox Glitter Alphabet-Ruby Ink-Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries-Walnut Stain Markers-Zig Writers Die Cut Shapes-Jillibean Soup Corrugate Shapes-Hearts Other-Martha Stewart Twine, Scotch Dot Roller Adhesive, ATG Adhesive

     That is all for today. I hope everyone has a fabulous Father's Day!!!
                                                             Nora

Practicing with Copic Markers

     I have to admit that I have quite a few Copic Markers. I don't use them that much, though, because I have not perfected my technique. I took a class a few months ago to make me feel more comfortable creating with these alcohol based markers but didn't pick them up again until a couple weeks ago in an attempt to practice. I cannot say that I love how both these cards came out but I did learn a few things.

     For the first card, I was happy with the way I colored in the nest and the bird but I definitely need practice with the background. You cannot tell by the picture but I die cut a circle in the patterned paper and pop dotted it over the bird image so that it "peeks" out at the viewer. I finished it off by die cutting a scalloped circle and placing it around the hole.

Supplies: Paper-Paper Trey Ink White Paper, Bazzill Kraft, My Little Shoebox Made with Love and Hand Made Die Cuts-Nestabilities Small Standard Circle and Scalloped Circles Die Cut Machine-Big Shot Stamps-My Little Shoebox Home Tweet Home Ink-Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa Stickles-Diamond Adhesive Foam-EK Success Markers-Copic G94, B91, B93, E25, E31, E34, E37, G40, G82, R22, R24, R27, YR07

     The second card I created came out better then the first. Instead of coloring in the background with the Copics, I chose to wipe the marker a few times on a sponge to pick up some color and then used blending solution on top of the marker. I then sponged the combination over the entire image. This technique looks better but I had to wipe the marker on the sponge a lot to get a deep color. I think if I had the refill of the blue I used to squirt on the sponge it would have been a little easier.

Supplies: Paper-Kraft Cardstock, My Little Shoebox Made with Love and Fields A Bloom, Die Cuts-Nestabilities Small Standard Circles and Scalloped Circle Die Cut Machine-Big Shot Stamps-My Little Shoebox Home Tweet Home Ink-Tsukineko Memento-Rich Cocoa Punches-Martha Stewart Markers-Copic BG10, BG11, BG13, BG18, E31, E34, E37, E44, RV10, RV13, RV14, Y11, Y15, Y17, YG17, YG21, YG23, YR68 Paper Frills-Bumblebee


     The last card I am posting today is another simple card. I needed simple after all the coloring I did on the last two cards!! I just embossed a piece of white cardstock for the background and attached three round stickers with pop dots to complete the card. Anyone can do something like this!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill White Smooth Cardstock Stickers-My Little Shoebox Garden Party Sticker Collection Embossing Folder-Cuttlebug Love Language Die Cut Machine-Big Shot Pop Dots


     Creating anything worth while takes a lot of hard work and practice. I know that I will keep plugging away at my Copic marker technique until I get it perfect. Have a great day everyone!!

Nora

Some new layouts!!

     I am taking a break from posting cards today to show you some of the layouts I have been creating. Lately I have been trying to stretch my creativity by buying supplies I wouldn't normally buy and using techniques that I haven't tried before. I have to admit that sometimes it can be a trial and error method of creating. I also do not love all the pages I have made by using some of the products I have chosen. However, it has put the fun back into scrapbooking again-something it has been sorely lacking.

     The first page I created by using mist sprays and layering paper. I started with the lightest color and sprayed in stages, letting it dry in between each mist. I really like how it came out and I think it enhanced this photo of Charlotte and her cousins.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill-Red Devil, Aqua Fourz and Wedding Butterfly, Echo Park-Gingham Gabby, Sally Stitches, Cindy Circles Mist Sprays-Tattered Angels Marmalade, Jazz Blue and Lavender Fields Punches-Martha Stewart Himalayan Snowflake and Glacial Snowflake, Fiskars Apron Lace and EK Success Donut Chain Ink-Inkadinkadoo Red and Pink Chalk Ink Stickles-Lavender Stamps-Basic Grey Basic Notes, Letter Stickers-American Crafts


     My next layout I experimented with using a kit. I tend to buy papers and embellishments by the same company but I rarely buy kits because I don't tend to love all the papers that come with it. Echo Park's Little Girl Collection was an exception. I loved all the papers that came with it and so I decided to try using only products that came in the kit, with the exception of cardstock and some punches. I have to admit that this isn't my favorite page because of the bright colors but the colors went with the photos.

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park Cupcake Casey, Gingham Gabby, Cindy Circles. Journaling Cards, Bazzill Precious (Pink) and Wedding White Punches-Fiskars Scallop Sentiment and EK Success Small Corner Rounder, Scallop Circle Punch Stickers-Echo Park Little Girl Element Stickers and Little Girl Alphabet Markers-Zig Writers

     The last page in this post was also created with the Echo Park Little Girl Collection. The only thing I   added to the kit was cardstock, the use of a circle punch and ink, and journal strips. I cannot believe how young Charlotte looks in these photos!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Iced Pink and White, Echo Park Betty Bird and Madison Plaid Stickers-Echo Park Element Stickers  Punches-Paper Shapers Photo Labels and Marvy Uchida 2" Circle Ink-Vintage Photo Ink by Ranger Ink

     I hope you enjoy my creations and they inspire you to challenge yourself to use techniques you never thought you would try.

Nora

A Long Hiatus!!

     I cannot believe I haven't posted here in so long. Life got a little busy and my ability to create was sacrificed. I am back on track and will be posting some new creations over the next few days. Some you might have seen over at Scrapjazz.com but I thought I would post it here too.

     The first couple cards I created with some stickers from Echo Park's Little Girl Line. I chose to do a "Birthday Theme" so that I would have a few cards on hand for some upcoming celebrations.

     I was in a "purple" mood when I created this card. The rich color makes the cupcakes POP!

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park Cindy Circles and Double Sided Journaling Cards, Bazzill White Dot, and Bazzill Purple Cardstock Stickers-from the Echo Park Little Girl Collection, Punches-Corner Rounder Stickles-Lime Green, Yellow, Orange Peel and Turquoise Ink-Vintage Photo by Ranger Ink Ribbon


     The next card was one of the easiest cards I have ever created. A sticker, two stamps, cardstock and simple embellishments was all it took.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Brown and Pink Cardstock,  Echo Park Gingham Gabby Stamps-Hero Arts Dictionary Greeting and Wish Stamp, Punches-Stampin Up! Slot Punch,  Marvy Uchida Scalloped Square and EK Success Large Corner Rounder Ink-Vintage Photo Ink by Ranger Ink and Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa Ink Floss-We R Memory Keepers, Brown Button

     This last card is my favorite of the three, though. Again, all I used was patterned paper, a stamp and a sticker.

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park Suzy Stripe, The Girls Paperie-Shabby Flower, My Little Shoebox-Made With Love Sticker-Echo Park Little Girl Element Stickers Ink-Vintage Photo by Ranger Ink and Tsukineko Memento-Tuxedo Black Punches-EK Success Large Corner Rounder, Stamps-Stampin Up! Stickles-Diamond Pink Ribbon

     I have to admit, I have never been a big fan of stickers. However, I will be taking a second look to use on my cards. Adding a little glitter glue kicks the stickers up a notch!!

     Have a great night!!

Nora

Happy Almost Valentines Day!!!

     I have been very busy the last two days making my Valentines Day treats. I used stamps, my die cut machine and a ton of scraps to make cards and create candy pillows that I intend to give to my co-workers today. They were a lot of fun and very easy to make.

     I was inspired by a Target Ad to create the Valentines card that I made for this year. The card in the ad had 5 felt hearts and a sentiment that said "from the bottom of my heart." I took that sentiment and made the card my own. Instead of making 5 hearts and using felt, I punched 3 hearts out of patterned paper scraps and used pop dots to give them some dimension. I like my version better then the Target cards!!

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey (Green at Heart), Bazzill Cardstock, KI Memories, Crate Paper, Ribbon-Basic Narrows (Michael's) Ink-Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries (Vintage Photo), Buttons, Floss-DMC and Martha Stewart Twine, Font-Chatter Box (Oh Goody!), Marvy Heart Punch, Scrapbook Adhsive 3D foam squares 


     I played around with various package ideas for my Valentines treats. At first, I was going to use a pillow box tied with ribbon and a punched heart. However, the boxes took up too much paper and were not staying together all that well even using my ATG permanent adhesive. I only created about 5 of these and moved on to the next idea.

Supplies: Paper-Making Memories and Bazzill, Ink-Stampin Up! (Real Red), Ribbon-Michael's Basics.


     The second type of packaging I made were little packets filled with nugget treats. I cut out 3" by 6 1/2" strips of cardstock, scored them at the 3" mark and 6" mark,  and adhered 2 nuggets inside. I then folded them and stapled them to keep them closed. I decorated the outside with a die cut, stamped label and a punched heart.

Supplies: Paper-Stampin Up! (Real Red and Pink), Bazzill Pink, Fancy Pants, Crate Paper, Ink-Stampin Up! (Real Red), Vintage Photo Ink, Die Cut-Spellbinders Nestabilities, Font-Chatterbox (Oh Goody!) Hersey Nuggets, Marvy heart punch.


     The last treat packaging I made are for my two bosses and the secretary at work. I bought 3 colored, heart cookie cutters, filled them with Dove dark chocolate hearts and wrapped them in pink tulle. I finished them off with a ribbon and a tag I created using die cuts, a punched heart and a stamp.

Supplies: Paper-Stampin Up! (Real Red, Pink and White), Basic Grey (Green at Heart), Punch-Marvy Heart, Dies-Paper Trey Ink's Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circles, $1 stamp from Michael's.


     I am glad that Valentines Day is finally here so I can move on and create some other projects that do not have to do with hearts!! Have a great Valentines Day!!

Nora

Paper Trey Ink's Making a Tag that Incorporates a Frame Challenge

     As part of their 4th Anniversary, Paper Trey Ink has been having fun challenges all week. Today's challenge was to make a tag that incorporates a frame. I used PTI's Mat Stack 1 die and the Fillable Frames #1 to complete this challenge. This was quick and easy and I love how it turned out!!

     Supplies: Stamps-Paper Trey Ink's-Fillable Frames #1, Dies-Fillable Frames #1 Die, Mat Stack 1 Die, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circle Collection Dies, Paper-Paper Trey Ink Aqua Mist, Stampin Up! Real Red, Bazzill Kraft, Ink-Stampin Up! Real Red


     Thank you for looking. I hope you all have a great Friday night!!

Nora