SOCIAL MEDIA

Mixing it Up...

7.25.2008
a bit for this week's challenge over at 4SS. The idea was to create a layout using products from 5 different manufacturer's on the same page. I love mixing my stuff anyways and this was a fun way to get motivated to do so. My product listing is as follows: Basic Grey - pp, Collage Press - pp, Cosmo Cricket - letters, Making Memories - paint and small notebook paper, 7gypsies - small cardstock sticker (tag).

To create the base for this layout I did some painting with a dry brush on my 12 x 12 sheet to wash out a bit of the crazy pattern a bit before placing my papers and other elements down.

I also let some of my drips run by holding my paper verticly for a bit (until paint was dry). I then just added my layers of papers and did some random stitching with my sewing machine. The narrow strip of patterned paper over my journaling is actually a flap that can lift up so that the reader can than read my journaling in it's entirety.

The photo challenge this week was to capture something that's from your hometown. I'm still thinking about what it is that I'll be doing for this one. I have a couple of ideas but haven't settled on anything just yet. Will share when I do though, assuming that I'll get the chance to get out and get some shots within the next couple of days.

This summer has been flying by ridiculously fast it seems. There has been a part of me that has been itching to get back to something that was more creatively me again. If that makes any sense.
Last year's Mini Art Journal challenges with Emily were so inspiring and really made me take the time to spend on creating something that was just mine, I think that this series of prompts may just be the thing that I have been itching to get back to. I've been toying with the idea of starting my own series of prompts as well...we'll see if that actually comes to fruitation though. Sometimes a creative nudge is all that you need to get back to where you need (or want) to be.

Meet Butterscotch...

7.21.2008
the pony that is! A couple days ago Zoey was invited by her friend Daniel to go ride ponies to celebrate his birthday. Ethan and I both went along as it would have been her first time riding and we just wanted to make sure she was going to be alright with it...boy, was she ever! She got to choose her pick of all the ponies there (of course she chose the blonde one named Butterscotch - Daniel chose one named Avalanche!) and then we led the ponies around a well groomed trail that was safe yet made you still feel as though you were on a little adventure out in the middle of nowhere. It was so much fun and it was such a special little outing for all of us. We will definitely be doing this again. Thank goodness for little boys and their birthdays! Seriously, thank you Daniel (and Betsy!) for the fun afternoon outing!

Eye Candy...

7.18.2008

Love some bling on your scrapbook layouts and altered projects? I do! Here is a sneak of a project that I did for Creative Imaginations using Christine Adolph's, Felicity Collection, the BE Danelle Box w/12 Books and lots of the Eye Candy Crystallized – Swarovski gemstones. Be sure to check out all the colors offered...the opportunities to brighten and glamorize your projects are endless! Also, be sure to stop over often at the CI blog for more sneak peeks!

I know that another favorite new collection of mine was posted just days ago and is by Melange - A new Creative Imaginations brand created by well loved artists, Christine Adolph and Marah Johnson! The first Melange Collection to be released in August 08 will be Fright Night! This collection features glitter papers, glitter layered stickers and rhinestone metal cast brads...can't wait to create some fun halloween layouts with this hauntingly, beautiful collection!
7.17.2008
This week's challenge over at 4SS was to choose some lyrics from the song I'm Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli and create a layout around it. I chose "this is a giant leap of faith" from the song for mine and journaled a bit about how it is that I've chosen to live my life on a daily basis (and trust me there are times I fail to honor this choice!) and how to make a conscious decision to do so sometimes truly feels as though it is a giant leap of faith. For so many reasons. The photo challenge this week was to take a photo of something that's special to us. I really had to think about this one...I thought of my grandmother's quilts that she's made me, a picture I have of my mom and I after I was just born, an old secretary desk that my dad gave me that was brought over by his grandfather from India.

The one thing though that I ended up taking a photo of was a book that I have titled Worldwide Laws of Life by Sir John Templeton which was given to me by my dad when I graduated high school. It's moved with me now close to a dozen times, it's been through many relationships, friendships, job changes. It's been a guide, a point of reference, a tool. It's been lent out to the people that I care about the most. It's been returned. It has notes written in the margins and entire pages turned down. Somewhere along the way I lost the glossy, pretty book cover that adorned it's binding when I first recieved it. It is an amazing book and when I'm sad, when I feel lost, when I need inspiration or when I just need to sit down and take a moment to think or reflect, this is the book that I pick up. The inscription that my dad wrote on the inside cover reads: Here are some rules for the road...not to live by...but to compare your own rules of the road that are springing now from your own heart - I love you! Dad

Loved this challenge, love this book, love my dad.

A Couple Things...

7.14.2008

Recently found this website and am enjoying the weekly challenges that they have going on. Every week they post a photo challenge (this past week's photo challenge was to take a self-portrait - see mine below) and a scrap challenge (this past week's was a sketch that was a layout that was in the shape of a circle w/specific photo dimensions, pp dimensions, etc. - see mine in this post). Really enjoy being pushed to think outside the box sometimes. I find that challenges push me creatively to think differently about my pages and they definitely help me when I feel that I am in a creative rut (which I've been feeling lately). The message board over there is a joy to be a part of as well. I was thrilled to see some familiar faces once I joined and am excited to make some new scrappy friends as well.


I love how there is such a sense of community in the scrappy world through utilizing the Internet. So awesome that I've been able to make all these little connections through this hobby/craft and this avenue of communication and sharing and that this world gets bigger and bigger as I go on creating.

Wishing you a creative day!


Creative Imaginations CHA Sneaks are Starting!

7.10.2008
Be sure to check out the Creative Imaginations blog for sneak peeks of what new goodies are going to be released at the upcoming Summer Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show. Also, check out what Karen Russell has in store for you all by checking out her newest Bloom Collection...I am in absolute heaven! Be sure to check out her new acrylic stamps by CI as well!

July Monthly Kit Reveal for Scrapcakes!

7.09.2008
It's available now here! I can't even tell you how much I love this kit. Such bright colors and fun patterns, including papers and rub-ons from KI Memories (Bloom Collection), papers from My Mind's Eye (Garden Party) and some luscious papers from Luxe Designs featuring some deep blues and orange (a favorite color combo right now for some reason!) and even some delish patterned papers from Basic Grey (Periphery Collection). So many looks can be achieved with this collection and to think that it's all included in one kit! The alphabet stickers are by Making Memories and they coordinate perfectly with every single one of the patterned papers. Throw in some brads and buttons, some more rub-ons (this time by Luxe Designs) and some awesome die-cuts by My Mind's Eye and you've just scored yourself one jam packed kit that will allow for several, if not more layouts, cards and projects. If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for the Scrapcakes newsletter (by entering your address in the "sign-up" field) on the main page of the Scrapcakes website for great project ideas, contest, information on upcoming sales, what's new in the store and more!



It Was From You

Supply List: (All items included in July Scrapcakes Kit w/exception of white cardstock)

1 - 12 x 12 piece of patterned paper Clear Skies, by My Minds Eye
4 - 3 x 3 inch squares of Happy Days patterned paper, by My Minds Eye
4 - 3 x 3 inch squares of Bloom Greenhouse patterned paper (3 using the green side and the other using the orange), by KI Memories
Making Memories Glitter Alpha Stickers
2 - Flower Die-Cuts by My Minds Eye
2 - white brads (1 large and 1 small)
Misc: white cardstock



Instructions: (for creating above layout)

Adhere squares to your 12 x 12 piece of patterned paper so that the patterns alternate in design (I placed my 4 MME pp's in each corner and the orange in the center). Use your sewing machine (or hand stitch w/embroidery floss) some messy stitches in-between your rows of squares. Attach your title-work (MM Alpha Stickers) to the top left, top right and center square. Adhere photos cut to 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches to the top middle and middle right (green) squares. Adhere a flower die-cut to the middle left square and add one of the MM Glitter Flower Stickers. Stitch some messy stitches on one of your larger MME florals, attach a MM Glitter Decorative Circle Sticker to the center and adhere large floral die-cut to your bottom left square of patterned paper. Choose two of your smaller MM Glitter Flower Stickers and adhere one on your remaining empty square on the bottom right and to the left of your top left square of patterned paper. Place a brad in the middle of each. Write your journaling on white cardstock, cut out and doodle around each word and adhere below your middle (orange) square. Place MM Glitter Photo Corner Stickers on middle (orange) square.



In Fashion, Supplies Include: Basic Grey pp, Luxe Designs rub-ons, My Minds Eye die-cut journaling spot and file tab, Making Memories buttons and brads and colored cardstock.



Precious Little Girl, Supplies Include: Bazzill Cardstock, My Minds Eye pp and die-cuts, Making Memories letter stickers and brads.



Just Because, Supplies Include: Basic Grey pp, KI Memories pp and rub-ons, My Minds Eye die-cuts and brads.



July, Supplies Include: Bazzill Cardstock, Luxe Designs pp, My Minds Eye tag and die-cuts, Making Memories letter stickers and brads.

Huge Independance Day Sale at Scrapcakes!

7.04.2008
On Saturday, July 5th be sure to check out the awesome sale going on over at Scrapcakes! Quickutz will be 40%off, Technique Tuesday merchandise will be 50% off and other Misc. Items will be 50% off. It's CRAZY (in a very good way)...hope you stop by!

*Sneak Peek* for Scrapcakes July!

7.01.2008

I've already gotten my hands on this kit for July from Scrapcakes and just let me say that while this photo is great...it doesn't do justice to what is all in this months kit! It's packed with so many yummy patterned papers (Can you say KI, Bloom anyone?) and embellishments I hardly knew where to start once I recieved my box of goodies. Rest assured, I've since remedied the situation and will share with you my creations as soon as the kits are up and available (which is this Thursday by the way!).