Working With a Kit

I won the new Cosmo Cricket Material Girl line last month, and I've been itching to use it! I've never worked with a kit before -- bought one once and then used it for cards, not scrapbooking. So this was totally different for me. Honestly, I think I'd rather buy papers and embellishments separately -- kits are definitely not my thing! There's too much stuff that I don't really like in them...

But here's what I came up with.

I used a few papers from my stash...and the rub-ons weren't a part of the kit either. But I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. It was the first time I used cardboard embellishments. Let's just say this layout was definitely interesting as far as creating goes. TFL :)

Do What You Feel Now

I found a fun challenge blog --  Candy Shoppe Designs. If you have a few minutes to spare, go check it out -- I'm sure you'll also be impressed! Right now they have a challenge called "Do What You Feel Now". Basically the challenge is to create something of your choice -- something you want to create with no rules, except the ones you make for yourself! Sounds like fun right???

Here's my project for the challenge:

I'm bling happy right now! :) LOL I bought three or four different bling designs...and have been using them everywhere! The original design had a flower in the center with the swirls coming out in different directions. But I couldn't see it fitting in with what I had in mind for this page -- I really wanted to use the purple and white flowers I'd punched out. So I cut the bling design up a bit. It's great that it's possible to take them apart -- and then use them however you have in mind! I love that! :)

The butterflies I printed and cut out myself...so basically everything on this page I either made myself or altered! :) But that's what I love about scrapping -- things hardly ever stay like you buy them -- I love altering things to make them unique for my layouts and cards! :)

Now it's your turn -- get your creative juices flowing...and start crafting! :) TFL

Love is in the Air!

It's that time of year again -- summertime..with lots of people getting married. I made a batch of wedding cards yesterday -- and I must say they turned out so much better than I had hoped! These are my first attempts (ever!) at wedding cards, so I'm very impressed! Gotta love the butterflies -- somehow they make even the boring-est looking cards look amazing! :) TFL

Some challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar: Good luck / Best Wishes
ABC Challenge: X-tra Dimension
S2G Challenges: Something New (used my new papers)
Cowgirls Sunday Challenge: Anything Goes
Creative Craft World: Wedding
Gingersnap Creations: Wings

Butterfly fly away!

Hi there! As you might have noticed (due to my lack of posting recently) I've been taking a bit of a break from card making. Except of course to make some last-second cards for events that are happening, but other than that I've found other things to do. :) Plus, it's summer time...and when the sun is shining it's more fun to spend time outdoors (suntanning or something! LOL) than inside making cards.

I few friends of mine are getting married in the next few months, and I need to get started on making some wedding cards. I saw some fabulous ones in the fiskateer gallery and decided to try lifting one.

I don't have a butterfly punch -- haven't seen one I like...but hopefully next Wpg trip I'll actually find something! But I really love the various butterflies people are constantly adding to their cards. So I found some online...and printed them out. Cutting them out was a bit tricky at times, but I managed.

I also created the word art on my computer and printed it out...and then used fiskar fancy-edge-sciccors to cut out the scalloped look. Added some bling...and I have one card all finished!!! I must say, I'm impressed with how well it turned out!!! :) TFL

 Some challenges I found to enter:
Crafty Calender Challenge: Bugs & Beasties
Paper Playtime Challenge #4: Bugs, Bees, Ants & Ladybugs
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Cute as a bug!
I did it Creations Challenge: Be Creative (open)
Freshly Brewed Challenge: Anything Goes!
Anya Ink: Add Some Bling!

Happy Father's Day!

I got the card done in time -- total me fashion too!!! LOL

It turned out a lot plainer-looking than I wanted -- but I'm thinking it's got something to do with the plain dark brown paper on all the layers. Oh well -- it's still beautiful! :) I dry embossed the leaf with a Fiskars shapeboss -- that is seriously one amazing tool to have! I've seen people adding these dry embossed cutouts to cards, and I've really liked the look. Thought I'd give it a try as well. And this may just be the first of many!  I found the message online -- it's totally perfect!

 Well, everyone is into Father's Day challenges on the blogs. Here's just a few I've found to enter this card in:

Pear Tree Designs: Father's Day
Crafty Cardmakers: Cards for Men
Totally Stamalicious: Celebrating Dads
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: A Tribute to all Fathers

Cap's Off To You!

As you might have noticed from all my recent posts, I've been putting all my time into scrapping layouts. It's not that I didn't have any cards to make -- I still have a list of cards I need to make...including one for Father's Day!!! Yes, I'm the queen of procrastinating!!! But honestly, I think I create my best work when I'm  under pressure! LOL If I have a deadline...that's usually when the ideas fly!!! Go figure!!!

So in typical "me fashion", I only started looking for ideas for a grad card on Thursday -- the card was delivered to the recipient on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL  But once again...I got it done in time. In fact, while I was at it, I made a couple...for next time. Back-ups do come in handy!!! :)

My photo doesn't do the card much justice -- it actually has dry embossing on the white squares. And the "grad cap" is 2D as I lifted it. I made the tassel myself -- for this card I simply went with gold, as it works for everyone! But for the next ones I make, I'll probably make the tassels the school colour. TFL

Sweet Stamping Challenge: Clean & Simple
Cuttle Bug: Use Embossing
My Time to Craft Challenge: Xtra Special 

It's a Dream

Coming up with the background for my layouts is one of my biggest challenges when I'm scrapping. I love using circles...and I tend to try using some in every layout I create -- and then getting frustrated when it doesn't work out! LOL

I tried something new with this layout -- simply using two different papers. I love the look of the darker border blending in with the paper on one side...and then standing out on the light paper! I was going for simple...yet different -- I think I accomplished it! :) Added a little bling...and a quote with letters from my stash and it was done! I especially love the way the "dream" stands out! TFL

Special Moments

My grandmother passed away a year ago next month. It was a hard time for all of us...she was such a remarkable and wonderful woman. For the past year I've been working on creating a layout in remembrance of her. But it's been a challenge...

During the funeral, the minister read an eulogy written by family and friends. Basically it was compiled of various memories people had of my grandmother...through the years. I knew I definitely wanted that as part of the layout -- and of course there was the remembrance card. But other than that, I had no idea what I wanted.

I printed the eulogy out on two smaller sheets of paper...trying to get them to fit in my layout. But even then, I realized I'd have to create a two-page layout 'cause there wasn't enough space! That just complicated things even more!

Then there was the layout itself. It ha to be extra special -- I guess that's why it took a whole year to come up with anything! Every idea I had, "wasn't good enough!" and I didn't even know what I wanted the final layout to be like! It was frustrating...but slowly the ideas came...and I just added what I liked...and set it aside until I came up with the next thing! LOL Talk about a process!!!

I was trying to find some rub-ons -- some extra bigs ones -- with a "remember" or "memories" theme. No such luck! Then I found some smaller memories themed rub-ons in the Dollarama. They weren't exactly what I had in mind...I was thinking BIGGER...but I moved on.

I chose to spell out some words with letters I had in my stash...just to give the page some dimension instead of just having rub-ons.

I have this picture frame with the quote "Remember the moments...the laughter, the happiness, & good times." I've always loved the quote -- it made me think of my grandma -- especially this past year. She's gone...and we can't bring her back, but we can remember the moments! I have such wonderful memories of her.. they're what I hold on to. So I thought I'd add the quote -- 'cause that's what she would want us to do. To remember her...but not to give up living. Life goes on...and so will grandma's legacy!

So I guess this project is now over! TFL

Gotta think outside the box!

My printer is still out!!! UGH!!! And unfortunately there's not a whole lot I actually do without it!!! I'm constantly printing one thing or another for both my cards...and my layouts as well!!!

So I had to find other means...to get some scrappin' done!

My sister found a great stamp set while garage sale-ing last week. And yes, she bought it just for me -- sometimes it's really nice to be the only one in the family that actually scraps and stuff!!! LOL Everyone is constantly thinking of me when it comes to the good stuff!!! :)

So, my sister brings home a "Stampin' Up!" baby stamp set.  Man, was I impressed!!!

I've had a baby picture of my best friend's baby on my "to scrap" pile for a long time. And after trying to make the printer work for like 2 + hours this afternoon, I finally just gave up on it...and decided to try something new.


I stamped the "quote" from my new stamp set...and embossed it with gold embossing powder.

....then I copied and cut out some letters...and lifted them...to give them a 2D look...

I also bought some more fabulous rub-ons yesterday, and found a few that fit...



Finally I added some punched flowers I made with my Fiskars daisy punch...and some buttons I won in a blog candy. :) The layout is still missing the birthdate, weight and length...but that'll have to wait for the printere! I'm thinking of writing it in brown...along the left-side of the photo -- strip journaling style.

It's amazing what you can do without a printer!!! TFL :)

A bargain indeed!!! :)

Well, my printer has decided it's gonna be a burden..and isn't working!!! So I can't finish off the scrapbook layout I've been working on since yesterday!!! Technology is so stressful!!!!!!!

I was in Wpg yesterday -- and man did I ever find some awesome stuff!!! A friend mentioned she's found some great papers in the Dollarama...so I went to check it out -- and WOW!!!! They have pack of 10 papers for $1.00!!!!!!!! They've always had 6 packs for $1.00, but for the most part I didn't like all the papers. And probably only used like 40% of what I bought! But it's just a buck...so not really that much of a biggie -- considering the Michaels sells their papers for $1.00 EACH!!! Like OUCH!!!

Just thought I'd post some pics...aren't these papers absolutely GORGEOUS!!! And there's not one in each of the packs that I don't like! Just beautiful!

(**Btw, the brownish paper pack is missing two papers, 'cause I had taken them out to scrap a layout)

An Update

Hi guys! No, I have not disappeared off the face of the earth...but this week has been soooooooo busy that I just haven't taken the time to update. I've not been doing a  lot of crafting -- hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things next week. Until then...have a great weekend! :)