Monday, May 27, 2013

A little weekend fun!

We had a fun filled family weekend, but I was determined to get some creating done.  Well, what I did manage to do, at least, was get my kits put back into my stash and make a new kit for myself to use this week.  (Goal:  1 layout and 2 cards from it...I'm sure it will make more, but I am trying to be realistic)

I headed over to CSI to see what case file is up.  I am in at the tail end, but put together a kit because I really loved the color combo.  Hopefully I can be much earlier with my next kit.

Here is what their inspiration was:



The blues and orange are so much fun!  I really like the grey they threw in, too.


I was happy to pull some buttons I had made way back when for another kit...and some wood vaneers to play with.  (I have been collecting them, but have not used them yet.  SHOCKING!)

I can't wait to play with it and share some more things with you.  Wish me luck!  It is the last week of school and we are BUSY!  I will need to carve some time for myself!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Jennifer's Free as a Bird Challenge!

This is my final challenge for Jennifer's weekend  event!  Whew!  Still lots of inspiration on her blog, though...I took notes.

Jennifer's Challenge (found here) is to be inspired by birds and the freedom they represent.

I don't use many birds in my creations, but easily found some printable ones online to use on this card:



I used some of my scraps to create a fun background.  I was excited to use some burlap and cork, too!  Look at me go!

A BIG thanks to Jennifer for a wonderful weekend.  I haven't had this much fun in AGES.

AND.....

I won a prize from one of her sponsors: Digital Paper!!!  You really should check out her shop...so many pretty things!  It will be hard to choose!

Jennifer's Onwards Recipe Challenge!

I happily followed Jennifer's blog event last weekend.  It was so much fun!  Lots of inspiration and challenges!

One of the challenges was a recipe challenge...a list of things to use to make a layout.  Challenge accepted!

Here is the list and the link to the CHALLENGE:

Here’s the recipe:

1 small square photo (you can crop down a larger photo) or square element
Something shiny or sparkly
Some encouraging / uplifting / happy words
At least one sticker (alphas don’t count for this)
At least 3 stars
Some yellow!
One stamp.

I made a little kit to go with this challenge to make sure I had everything I needed.  And apparently can't find where the picture of my kit downloaded.  Love it when that happens!

Anyway, here is my layout:


My square photo is of Isabel at Kings Island with her fake mustache.
Something shiney or sparkly?  I used a lot of mist and some gems.
Something encouraging/uplifting/happy words:  I love the chipboard piece that says "a good laugh is sunshine in the home"
At least one sticker:  I used several!  A sticker banner, sticker measuring tape, tab, cutie pie, mustache and I would also count the washi
At least 3 stars:  I stamped and misted the back of a tag (it had dots on it, but they didn't work)
Some yellow: there is yellow in the heart die cut and some of the gems are yellow
One Stamp: I stamped the camera and die cut it...I also stamped the stars on the tag

So here it is!  This was fun to put together!

Crafter's ADD

I am ready to share that I struggle with a little known condition...Crafter's ADD.  LOL  I get SO distracted when I sit down to craft (and not just kids...you tube, facebook, 2 Peas...).  I enjoy doing personal challenges with friends.  It helps me focus and keeps me on track to actually finish something.

Generally I do challenges with my friend Pam, but I have added a new Crafty Challenger to my arsenal...Sherri!

I am super late posting (sorry, Sherri...she posted at the beginning of May), but we did a CSI challenge.

Here is the case file we picked:


and my kit...


I picked the testimony "something silly" to inspire my layout...


I was excited to use those fun photo strips, even as just background embellishments!  

See, I finished something....hey, look...something shiny....

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Finally a scrappy weekend

I will promise you nothing!  LOL  When I promise that you will be seeing more posts, it generally does not happen.  So if you see a lot from me in the next few days, shhhh...don't make a big deal out of it and jinx it.

One of my Design Team members from Counterfeit Kit Challenge does these wonderful blog events!  Lots of inspiration, ideas, challenges and even prizes.  Head on over to Jennifer Grace Creates to take a look.

This weekend is her Onwards and Upwards Blog Event!  This is also the weekend that Billy has offered to do all housework and cooking and just let me relax and do whatever I want.  What I want is to scrapbook, so here I am.

Jennifer has issued some challenges this weekend that I have been working through.  I thought I would share some with you...

A Challenge to go Up, Up, Up!
I am a roller coaster junkie and have high hopes that my kids will be the same.  We have a good start with Collin, but Isabel is like her dad and prefers her feet on the ground.  This was their first fair ride.  It only went up a little ways, but it was HUGE to them.  They ended up loving it.


To Be Inspired
I am a very visual person, so pinterest is ideal for me.  I love all of Jennifer's boards on pinterest and while I was browsing, I spied this sketch on someone else's board.  That inspired this layout (and the picture...an older one I found stuck in a drawer).  The photo isn't great...and Collin's head is cut off, but I love the look on his face.


Today is Beautiful
I loved Jennifer's notebook project.  Yellow has been very prominent in her blog this weekend and it looks great!  She did great with all of the layering without adding too much dimension.  I did quite a bit of layering on this card, but it is still very flat and easy to mail.


I'm off to see what else I can make.  I'm on a roll!  LOL

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Scene of the Crime: My Scrapbook Studio

It has been a while, hasn't it?  My other blog (The Counterfeit Kit Challenge) takes up all of my time, but I am really anxious to get back to posting here.  And my first post back is a DOOZY!  You know how when someone has a new baby you are subjected to a bunch of photos?  Or the friend that just came back from a great vacation and documented every second?  Yep.  You got it.  I have an annoyingly long post today with photos of my scrap room.  I have recently upgraded it, so I have a lot to share!  Get ready...get set...


 Here is a shot from the doorway.  My scrap room is on the side of the house by the kid's bedrooms, which makes it the perfect room to get interrupted in.  Many times.  Daily.  Forever.  LOL  It doubles as a guest room, but luckily, we don't have many people visit.  HA!  So this room is mine all mine!  Billy upgraded me with new to me furniture (thanks to my friend Alyssa who is moving and needed to sell her lovely my favorite color of green furniture) and replaced my carpet with laminate wood.  LOVE IT!

This is the guest bed.  Also known as the place the cats like to hang out while I am working/creating.  I keep that extra blanket on it to make it easier to contain the cat hair.  My stuffed animals have sort of grown...my kids find it a great go to gift for mommy.  Especially if they find an owl, monster or starwars character.  LOL  Above the bed I have hung some of my favorite scrapbook papers.  The movie/night stand next to the bed is my next project.  I will be painting it green to match the rest of the furniture.


Here is my lovely first piece of furniture.  It is fantastic for displaying my little collections and pretty supplies.


Here is one of my collections...owls.  I love them.  I have no idea how it started, but you will find them in various places throughout my room.  Lucky for me, my friend, Pam, is happy to help me with my collection.


Here are my stickles, pearl type paints and mists.  The jars in the front are full of pearls, wood vaneers, flair and brads.


My bling is in this green gardening container.  I love the owl picture behind it that my daughter painted.


Here are all of my buttons and little flowers.  See the gnome in the corner?  I also collect Tom Clark Gnomes.  They are so sweet!


This flip photo holder is full of cards that some of my favorite people have sent me.


This basket is near capacity with my layering pieces.  I have started hoarding die cuts...can you tell?


I have found some cute owl and flower containers to help store the embellishments I am currently using for my kits.  It seems a shame to cover up those cute faces!  The container behind it was made for me by Pam (her presentation of gifts is just as fabulous as the gifts she sends) and keeps a stash of chocolate in it for emergencies.

This end has a few buckets I found at the dollar store to hold some finished cards that I am wanting to mail and some embellishments that I do not want to forget about.


Yet another collection...of glitters, embossing powders and flock.  So messy, but fun to use!


Almost all of my ink pads are from Close to My Heart and they have been with me for YEARS!  The best part is that they are still good and juicy!  My basic stamping supplies are in this drawer, too.


This drawer has a hodge podge of things in it that I need or want to keep, but don't want out right now. Thank goodness for extra drawers!


This was the perfect place for my magazines and sketch books.  Billy finds it interesting that I insist on having them turned so you can't see the clutter.  LOL


I live in constant dread that I will run out of card bases.  That explains the drawer full.


This drawer has some of my tools for inking things and stuff I want to try (like making my own molds).


Here are my mini albums and coasters that I use for all sorts of games for the kids.



Next to that is my rolly cart.  I have a good start on Washi tape, but look at how much more room I have!


This basket holds my alphabets an my current kits that I have put together.  I usually only keep my kits together for a month or two.  Then I purge them back into my stash.


The top drawer has dimentional stickers and adhesive backed embellishments...so much fun to dig through!


This is regular stickers...and look at the sheets of washi on top!!  What should I make with those?


Die cut sheets and chipboard shapes finish out the last drawer.  Another fun drawer to dig through!


The bottom of the cart has a cubby that holds some trays I want to make, random paper an some finished layouts.


Look at this beautiful piece of furniture!!  I love the details on it!


The super cute owl boxes are a "countdown calendar" of sorts...each box holds a paper with a challenge written on it.  Pam and I do the challenges through out the year so we can do some long distance scrapping.  My 6x6 paper pads are stored in the photo box.  The CD box is holding scrap paper that I cut down to 6x6, 4x6 an 3x2.  I have tamed my paper scraps at last!


These are my blocks for stamping, small embellishments and boxes of flowers, trims and other bits.


I am anxious to play with the chip board, cork, vaneer sheets and adhesive backed linen.  It has been awhile since I have even looked at those.  Hmmmm...I feel a challenge coming on...


My punches are a mess aren't they?  I tend to dig a lot!


My holiday embellishments are stored here...along with some miscellaneous things like mini bags and some templates.


I LOVE my cuddlebug and book binding machines!  I am a sucker for die cutting!


My 7 foot desk used to be brown, but I sanded and painted it to match.  (And am pretty proud of myself for how it came out!).  Can you believe those paper trays?  We got them for a steal from a scrapbook store that closed down.  I love looking like a store.  LOL  And yes, those are a lot of cricut carts.  I have gotten a lot as gifts...and the others on sale.


This may be my best tool of all...I adore watching Glitter Girl while I scrap.  What on earth did we do before computers?


No zooming in and peeking at the challenges coming up for next month!


I have quite a bit of twine and other fun bits in these baskets from the Target Dollar spot.    My latest fine was a whale tape dispenser (for smash books).  It fits washi perfectly and is SO cute!


Ah...my Cricut Imagine.  My hubby bought it used for me for Christmas and I have been having lots of fun with it.  Such a great machine (even if I don't love the company).  I will use it until it dies and then move onto a Cameo, hopefully.


Favorite paper companies:  October Afternoon, Echo Park, and Cosmo Cricket.  I have plenty of DCWV and K and Co, too.


This drawer was much neater earlier.  Honest.  My kids get into it for office supplies and are not very neat about it.


Lots of glues for every type of occasion...my ATG lives on my desk, though.


I love that my printing supplies can be tucked away.  I hated having them out before...it looked too sloppy for me.


The last spot in my room is my closet.  Billy took the door off to make it more accessible, but I didn't like it, so he hung a curtain instead.  As long as it is covered up, I am good.


These are MOST of my stamps.  I have them categorized and stored in these shoe boxes.  I am a bit of a hoarder with these.


I'm not sure when the last time I used ribbon was.  Oh, well.  It is here when I want it.  LOL


Okay, Okay, I have several die cut machines.  It is my husbands go to gift for me.  The top basket has mini albums I have made and the clear box next to it stores finished cards to mail.

So this is my room.  I love it!  I think I spend more time staring at it then getting things done.

Thanks for checking it out!  Here is the rest of the hop list so you can see the other Crime Scenes.