Trying something new...

A lot of my scrappy friends have been using watercolors lately on their projects and I have to admit that I love the look of it.  I've said before that I am not an artist.  My 6 year old is better at drawing than I am.  And I have used watercolors in the past...in coloring books when I'm coloring with my girls.  :)

When I saw this weeks Pinspired Challenge, I decided to grab my biggie's watercolor set (she doesn't turn every color black like my youngest does) and try my hand at some boldly-colored ombre designs. I love how both of them turned out!  Here is the challenge picture:

And here are the cards I made:

For this first card, I stamped the watercolor paper with a fun new background stamp I recently got using Versamark, then used clear embossing powder to create a resist for the watercolors.  I brushed the watercolors on from the bottom to the top, so the bulk of the color would be at the bottom of the card.  I added the sentiment with dimensional adhesive to make it stand out.  I like how the ombre effect adds something extra to this simple card.  

Update:  The first card helped me win the challenge!  :)

For my second card, which ironically I made first and didn't realize I was going to be making two cards with such similar-colored backgrounds, I used some washi tape to mask off the edges to create a border.  Once the paint was dry, I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and then used white embossing powder to make the sentiment look crisp against the colored background.
    
 That is all for today!  Until next time...

ATC Swap

I recently participated in an ATC swap with some crafty friends.  The challenge was to create something that represented you or showed your favorite theme, color, etc.  This is what I made:

I tend to scrap a bit shabby chic, as I've mentioned on my blog before.  I created a card a while ago that looked very similar to my ATCs.  I loved that card so much that I never ended up sending it to the person I made it for.  (hehe)  I thought I'd shrink the idea and turn it into an ATC.


I used paper from the 6x6 My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose Hazel collection pad that I've been hoarding for years.  That collection has to be one of my favorites.  It works well with my shabby chic style.  

The only thing I would have changed would have been to leave off the stamping, which says "a little {hello}."  First, I stamped it in a too-light brown that ended up blending with the paper too much.  Then, after I white washed the wood grain with acrylic paint, I ended up stamping the sentiment again with a blue ink.  Next time, I'm ditching the stamping all together.

Have you ever participated in an ATC swap before?  This is the fourth one I've participated in.  I generally don't like doing them because I always seem to choose tedious designs that have a lot of steps or just generally take forever, but I always like the outcome.  Maybe that's why I keep doing them.  Kind of like how a woman forgets the pain of childbirth the second she meets her child.  Yeah, I feel the same way about ATCs.  :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Until next time...

Still feeling challenged...

But in a GOOD way!  I have to say, after only doing a layout or two in the past six months, the fact that I've done three in the past month is HUGE!  Over at Mojo Mama's Creative Corner ("Mojo Mama" being the fabulous Kristy Lee), a new weekly challenge was issued by Erin Colby.  Her stuff blows me away, so to even consider doing something that she issued was kind of intimidating.  :)  Her challenge was to do a take on the "Something old, something new..." phrase.

This is what I came up with:

Something old:  The blue acrylic paint I used was so old that it had globs in it.  Grody.  Something new:  I have never scrapped an Instagram picture before, so that was new to me.  This was also the first time I had cut my title into my background paper.  Something borrowed:  I used a sharp knife from the kitchen to distress the papers.  Something blue:  I used various inks, papers and embellishments with my favorite hue.  :)  

It is so fun to be scrapping again and in a way that I am not used to.  I'm branching out more into the trendy stuff and I'm loving how it's turning out! 

That's all for now!  Until next time...

I've been Challenged...

If one thing is for sure, it's that there are MANY amazingly talented paper crafters in this world.  Luckily for me, I get to call many of them my friend.  The one and only Kristy Lee (formerly of Scrapbook Steals mojo-creating fame) was feeling creative enough to dish out challenges to some scrappy friends.  I decided I needed to be challenged, especially since I hadn't made a layout in what seems like forever.

This was the challenge Kristy gave me: 

• 1 page, three pictures (filmstrip style),
• manufacturer starting with "c" because your name does,
• misting
• chevrons

Well that was just the kick I needed to get scrapping again.  This is what I came up with:

I am in love with this layout.  I used Echo Park's Everyday Ecclectic collection, some MME washi and enamel dots, Mister Huey's mist and, most importantly, Bazzil cardstock with a core that was a bit lighter than the outside.  I used a doily mask below the paper, pressed hard on the paper, then sanded the impression it left.  I love that it turned out more subtle than using a white doily would.

Another friend, Venetia Holbrook, issued her own challenge.  This one was for anyone who wanted to do it.  I jumped on this one.

Here was her challenge:

This girl is on FIRE... 
This one's all about you. We all avoid it. Find that fabulous picture of you, not from 5 years ago, but of you now.  You are outstanding and unapologetic. You are awesome, you know it. You're living your best life. Now scrap that picture and celebrate you!
Journaling- must celebrate you as an individual.
Color- include your favorite color.
Embellishments- include one embellishment that represents something you love.

Scrapping about yourself is hard for some reason.  Raise your hand if I'm not alone.  :)  I had intended to scrap totally and completely about myself, but when I went to pick up the pictures I had printed for these layouts, the one I wanted wasn't there.  So, I chose another picture that depicts me as a mother.  This is what I came up with:

I hid my journaling because I really wanted the picture and the title to tell the bulk of the story. But if you pull out the tag, it talks about how I am human and I make mistakes.  I might bark at my girls too much or feel way too overwhelmed I get at times.  But what it really boils down to is that I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up other than knowing I wanted to be a mother.  I'm not perfect, but I'm trying the best I can.  And hopefully I'm not screwing up two gorgeous girls along the way.  :)

As for the rest of the challenge requirements, I dyed the seam binding my favorite color (any flavor of aqua, turqoise, etc.).  And for the embellishment, I chose some of my favorites:  flowers, flair buttons and enamel dots.  Oh, and the MME Collections paper is a fave, too.

If you are in a creative rut, ask a scrappy friend to challenge you.  You just might pop out of your creative coma to create something you're really proud of, like I did.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Until next time...

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there!  I hope you all are having a blessed day with your families!  I wanted to show off what I was up until 11:15pm last night making made for my mom and my MIL. :)

Here are the cards I made:

I stamped these flower stamps in grey ink and then used colored pencils to color them in.  I even tried something new (to me) - shading!!  I am in no way, shape or form an artist so this was pretty big for me.  :)  Once I was done coloring in the images, I used mineral spirits and a paper pencil to blend them in.  This smooths out the lines and evens up the color. 

Here is what I made for my MIL:

Other than putting pictures in a big album for her, I've never really made anything for my MIL before.  I wanted to take the picture I took of her and her kids at Mother's Day last year and make it into a nice framed piece.  I took a piece of 8x8 chipboard and sprayed it with adhesive.  Then I placed a piece of burlap over it.  I just layered everything else on top and this is how it turned out.  I'm proud of it, so I hope she liked it!  (I was home with a sickie today, so I didn't get to see her reaction.)

This is what I made for my mom:

My mom goes by Mimi and I'm sad to say that there is not a lot of Mimi-personalized things out there.  I thought I'd take some vinyl that I just got and make her a frame of her own.  I used my Silhouette to cut out the sentiment.  It was super easy and fast to make.  My kind of project!  

That is all for now! Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday afternoon!

Until next time...

Occasions...

Happy Friday!  I've been promising new stuff for a while now so I figured it was high time I got my rear in gear and show off some of what I have been working on lately.  It seems like I have had to make a lot of occasion cards lately, for specific birthdays, weddings, etc.

This first card was made for a friend of mine who just celebrated the big 4-0.  She looks amazing and not a day over 30, so I wanted her to know that she makes 40 look amazing.  Here's what I came up with:

    
I thought the card turned out fun and sassy, just like my friend.  I printed the sentiment on a piece of kraft paper, then used my Silhouette to cut out the 40.  Added some washi tape and it was done!  Super fun and easy!

The next card I made is for a wedding that we are going to later this month.  My husband's cousin is getting married and I've been around long enough to remember when she was in her teens.  To be a bit floored that she is now old enough to get married (I'm not old, right?!?), is an understatement.  Here is what I made for her:

 
I decided to go simple with this card.  I used the potty people stamp from Amy Tangerine's Hey There set and then punched a red heart to put over the heart image.  Then I used Lawn Fawn's Sally's ABC's to write the sentiment.  I added red burlap twine and a red button and that's it!  Another fast and easy card.

I made this last card for my Dad, who recently celebrated turning 67 years young.  My Dad is the greatest, and I don't just say that because I'm his daughter.  :)  Here is the card I made for him:

Excuse the crappy picture.  It was snowing (?!?) the day I took it.

I used some My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose papers and some My Thoughts Exactly stamps.  It's been a while since I expressed my love for Pinterest, so I thought I would show you the inspiration for this card:

Sometimes I am lost without inspiration, so Pinterest definitely pulls me out of my creative rut when all I'm seeing is an empty thought bubble above my head.  Especially on days like May 3rd...when it was SNOWING for Pete's sake!  I still can't get over that one.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed taking a look at my cards today!  I'll be back with more soon!

Until next time...

Teacher Appreciation Week

Today I am back (finally) with some new goodies to show off!  I've been busy this week making things for my girlies' teachers and I am excited to show you what I've made!

First up is the card I made for my biggie's Kindergarten teacher:

I saw a youtube video earlier this week which Kelly Marie created for a new release preview - which I plan on buying, btw.  :)  I loved the idea of creating a chalkboard to write on, so I made my own version of the stamp she used.  I also used my Paper Smooches Smarty Pants set and then made my own little piece of chalk to finish it all off.  I think it turned out super cute!

This is the gift my daughter and I decided to give her teacher.  Her teacher loves the color green.  What's more green than bamboo?  We thought it would be fun to give her a card saying that we feel lucky to have her as our daughter's teacher.  That's exactly what I did:

I used a piece of paper stamp that I found on clearance (nice!) and then used my Lawn Fawn Sally's ABC's set for the sentiment.  Then I wrapped the pot with some green washi tape and it was finished.  My biggie thought it turned out perfectly!

For my youngest daughter's teachers, I decided to something a bit more special.  My oldest had them for her teachers two years ago, so we feel especially blessed that they are in our lives for another year.  These are the cards I made for them, which you may have seen previously for a tutorial I did for Scrapbook Steals. 

I thought I'd use another tutorial that I did for Scrapbook Steals and make them both beaded necklaces.  One of the teachers loves the color pink and the other is a K-State grad and fan, so I hope they enjoy what I made for them:

 
I decided to pull out my Smarty Pants stamp set again to make personalized and embellished gift bags, in lieu of making a gift tag.  Here is how they turned out:

Didn't these turn out fun!?  This is the first year that I've gone all out for Teacher's Appreciation week and I'm so pleased with the way everything turned out. 

I hope you enjoyed my post today!  I'll be back soon with more to show off!

Until next time...