Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #18 and Sweet Deals at FD!!!!

Hello all and happy 'hump' day!!! I have been super busy lately creating all kinds of fabulous projects for February!!!  I can't wait to share them with you!!!  I may also have a giveaway on my blog next month (*wink) so stay tuned :-)

I'm here with a quick post today to share a card for Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #18. 

Here is a look at the sketch:

I made a clean and simple card here which is pretty unusual for me!!!! Here's a look:

I used the Fancy Pants "Timbergrove" 6x6 paper pad to create the card and feathers.  I cut the feathers on my Cricut Expression 2 using the Thanksgiving cartridge and inked the edges for contrast!!!

I finished it with a doily and sentiment by Stampin Up!

I have recently started designing for Frosted Designs Online Scrapbook store and Kit Club.  You guys HAVE to check out their AMAZING kits!!!!  Everything just flows together so nicely... All you need is the kit to create tons of fabulous projects!!!!  If you shop before Monday, you'll get 50% off any one kit!!!  Just use KIT50 at checkout and let them know I sent you :-)

Elle's Studio has arrived!!!!!!!!

  

Elle's Studio has arrived!!!!  The NEW "Love You More" Collection is in store and ON SALE!!!!  That's right... 10% off all Elle's Studio products!!! NO CODE REQUIRED!!!

Well gang...  Thanks sooo much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

Spookiness Galore at Sketches4All!!!

Happy October all!!!! As most of you know, Halloween is just around the corner... Which means we're seeing tons of ghouls and ghosts all over the scrapbooking community!!! Well, there's no shortage here either!!!! Sketches4All is getting a little "scary" this month and I've been quite busy creating some very "spooky" projects!!!  

(If you're here for the GIVEAWAY, please click HERE!!!!!)

"Lady of the Garden": Halloween Layout using K&Company Papers

This is a layout I created for the DT's October Challenge  over at Sketches4All.  The challenge is for you to create a Halloween or Fall themed layout using the following sketch by Brenda Ragsdale:

Here is my "spooky" page:

These are pictures taken from the annual "Howl O Scream" at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay two years ago.  They pretty much set the entire park up as a giant haunted house, scaring the life out of you at every opportunity!!! It's a BLAST!!!!

I picked up these papers last year made by K&Company and I just LOVE them!!!!  It's actually from two different K&Company Halloween themed paper pads and they are both pretty amazing!!!  I followed the sketch quite literally, adding various K&Company embellies also.  I created the "Lady" title and creepy frame using my Cricut Expression 2.  The rest of the title was created using Thickers and chipboard letters by MME that were colored and coated with clear glitter glue.  

"Enter at Your Own Risk": Spooky Handmade Halloween Invitation

Every year, I host an annual Halloween Party at my house!  It's my FAV party of the year because I totally get carried away with all the spooky decor!!!  I also enjoy making the invitations and seeing how creative I can get.  This year, this is what I sent out:

I started by using my Cricut Expression 2 and "A Frightful Affair" Halloween cartridge to cut out the door frame in a burnt orange cardstock.  Then, I used my "distress" stamp and some Timber Brown Staz On ink to create the distress look on the front.  I took a piece of vellum and stamped several "spooky" images on it and positioned the "door" on top of it.  I finished this part by adhering them both to the top of a pre-cut card made with Coordinations "Black Magic" cardstock so that the outside of the card is black and the inside is red.  AWESOME!!!!

The "caution" tape was created in Powerpoint and printed using bright yellow cardstock.  I topped it off with a small dot of black puffy paint to serve as the "door knob" and inked all the edges.  Then I did this 29 more times!!!! Hahahaha!!!!!  I really like how these came out and it really didn't take all that long :-)

"Danger! Beware!": Creepy Handmade Halloween Card

Our DT team over at Sketches4All is also hosting a "Scariest Card Contest" this month in which the winner will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to A Cherry On Top.  The rules are simple.... Just create the scariest card!!!!  (Guess the name kind of gives it away, huh?!?  Hahahaha) 
Any who....  I had a scrap from my Handmade Halloween Invitations lying around but it was cut with Coordinations Whitewash cardstock.   So, I decided to put it to work!!!!  Here's a look:

I'm sure you can see the similarities!!!  I did make quite a few changes to this one though (Since I didn't have to make 30 of them I could get a lot more creative!!!).  I used my "tree bark" embossing folder and embossed the door frame, then went over the raised areas with "Walnut Stain" Distress Ink.  I again stamped some creepy images on vellum and laid the door on top.  I added trim to the top and bottom, cutting up the edges of it to make it look "scraggly" (is that a word?!?) and added a few embellies by Martha Stewart (skeleton brad) and Jolees (White Pumpkin and skeleton key).  

This time around, I actually cut out the strips of caution tape, and made them into "washi tape" for a different look.  I added a brad for the door knob and finished it with "fake blood" left over from last Halloween!!!  And there you have it... A scary, creepy, Halloweenie card!!!! 

"Eager Eyes": Handmade Halloween Altered Tag

As most of you know, I host a monthly "Tag" challenge over at Sketches4All.  Unfortunately, I've seen little participation the last few months and decided to change it up a bit!!!!   Staring in October, my challenge is now called "Once Upon A Theme...".

Instead of creating a tag, members can submit ANY TYPE OF PROJECT (layout, card, tag, altered items, mixed media, etc...).   The challenge will be based on a "theme" each month (adventure, travel, seasonal, etc...).  Since we are in October, this month's theme is "Spooky"!!!!!!   All you have to do is submit a "Spooky" project and you're in it to win it!!!  
Since I do like making tags (and what better tag to make than a Halloween one) I decided to go ahead with my tag mojo for this month.  Here's a look:

I started with a standard tag and inked it up with various Distress Inks.  I found some checkered pattern paper and cut out all the diamonds in it and then adhered it on top.  I took some Tim Holtz sandable paper, embossed it, sanded it a bit, and layered it on.  I used a thick black Sharpie to outline certain areas as well.  The frame was cut on the Cricut Expression 2 using the "Happy Hauntings" Cartridge, and then I heat embossed the spooky tree in the center.  I finished it with several Martha Stewart chipboard embellies, a skeleton key by Jolees, and Tim Holtz crinkle ribbon that was inked and stained.  Voila!!! Another one bites the dust!!!! 


ALSO~~~~~  Sketch N Scrap will be hosting a Holiday Blog Hop staring October 21st so be sure to put it on your calendar and then stop in and check out the details!!! There will be lots of inspiration and TONS of prizes along the way!!!!  

Well my friends, thanks soooo much for stopping in... Have a LUCKY day :-)

New Scrap Your Story Challenge and more!!!

Happy Friday everyone!!!! It's been SUPER hot here in Florida lately!!! We're already breaking the 100's and it's not even July!!!! It's gonna be a hot one :-)

You Brighten My Days!

Well, I'm not just here to blab... As much as I LOVE to!!! It's Friday which means another wonderful challenge over at Scrap Your Story!! 

This week's challenge is to create a page using polaroids.  That's it!!! Just use them somewhere on your page and you're in it to win it!!! Hahaha!!!  I also used the second monthly sketch over at Sketch N Scrap to complete the layout.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my example:

This is my youngest daughter on Easter of this year.  I just LOVE these photos!!! Any who, I decided to keep this page very simple.  Which is pretty hard for me to do!!! I always want to add more and more and more until the page no longer fits in the scrapbook sleeve!!! Hahaha!!!!

The papers are Martha Stewart and an unknown brand behind the photos.  I created the polaroids using grungepaper and black paint.  Then I just added green polka dot rub-ons from October Afternoon to add detail.  I also used rub-ons to add detail to the balloon strings!  And that's all!! Another one bites the dust :-)

Take Your Place, Make Your Mark, Live Your Life

I'd also like to share with you a page I created for my Father In Law.  This was included into an altered frame where I used coordinating papers and metal corner pieces to finish it.  I used a sketch by 2 Broke Girls and papers by Recollections (which I am in LOVE with, by the way!!!).   Here is the sketch:

And my creation:

Isn't it fabulous?!?!?  This is my Father In Law with all four of his sons on my wedding day!!! They all look so wonderful!!!! 

I used various embellies by Tim Holtz (compass, gears, photo tape, and "spinners?!?"), label by K&Company, and unknown metal letters.  For the photo tape, I actually printed photos at 3/4 of an inch and inserted them on the back using double sided tape by Martha Stewart.  I also used Liquid Pearls by Ranger to "frame" the photo.  Love, love, LOVE this one!!!!

Well, gang, thanks so much for listening to me blab!!! Have a LUCKY day :-)

Scrap Your Story Challenge #10~ A little of this and that!

Happy May everyone!!!! It's been a super busy week since coming back from vacation... I'm trying to play catch up on everything and it's keeping me moving!!!

It's time for another weekly challenge over at Scrap Your Story and this week the challenge is to scrap about your "favorite" anything.  This could be your favorite picture, person, place, food, etc.  I chose to scrap my favorite picture of my oldest daughter and me that was taken about four years ago.  She was constantly taking her hair out her ponytails and letting it go crazy!!!! So here we are... with her crazy hair and all!!!!! Hahahaha!!!!  I was actually able to combine TWO sketches to make this page: The first one is  sketch #7 by 2 Broke Scrap Girls for their National Scrapbooking Day mini Sketch-A-Thon.  Stop in and check out all the wonderful sketches for some creative inspiration!!!!  I also used Sketches With Color May 1st Sketch Challenge.  I turned their sketch a quarter turn clockwise to accomodate my page.  The challenge also requires the use of THREE colors from the following color palette:

I decided to use "Poppy Red", "Nectarine", "Sunflower", and "Alloy".  

I used papers from the Simple Stories "Oh Snap" collection.  This page is a very busy page and something I don't usually do but I just kept going and going and well... you get the idea!!!!  I also used papers by American Crafts "Dear Lizzy" collection, and embellies by K&Company.  I got the idea for the clothesline at the top after browsing Google for something entirely different!!!!

Doesn't she just look soooo stinkin cute?!?!?

Next on the list is a keepsake box that I am making for my Mother-In-Law.  I've only finished the top so far but you're sure to see more throughout the month!!! I completed the top using Sketch #5 by 2 Broke Girls for their National Scrapbooking Day mini Sketch-A-Thon.   This is also my inspiration piece for my Twisted Thursday Weekly Challenge over at Sketches 4 All.  This week's challenge is to create a project using wood... and there's plenty here!!!! Here is what I've done so far:

I received the Pink Paislee "Secret Crush" paper collection as a prize last month and couldn't wait to dive in!!! The papers and embellies are oh so beautiful!!!  I also used a wooden frame I found at Michaels and various embellies by American Crafts.  

Last month, I was also completely SWAMPED working on 80 wedding invitations for a client.  The invites are very detailed and it took me FOREVER to finish all of them!!! I also made the envelopes, Save The Dates,  and return cards.  It was a very busy month!!!!! The colors for the wedding are purple, black and white.  Here is the invitation they requested (it's actually the same I made for a bridal shower in the past!!):

There are several pieces to make this come together and a lot of detailed work involved.  I started by cutting and scoring 80 A2 cards, then embossing them with the "Swiss Dots" embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  I also had to cut all three layers of the bride silhouette  embossed the top piece (80 times!!!!), then added a small piece of black ribbon and a rhinestone.  I cut and rounded the purple cardstock and outlined it with a silver sharpie for more contrast.  I stamped the sentiment on the top right and the stars on the bottom left in Ranger Archival Ink, then added three rhinestones to the center of the stars.  The ribbon was added last and simply wrapped the cardstock and tied a bow!!!! And voila... There you have it :-)

I was also asked by my Brother-In-Law to make a Spiderman Birthday card for a seven year old.  Not really something I would normally do but he's family!!!! I've been wanting to try more "boyish" stuff also because most of my things are very girly!!! After looking at TONS of images online and on Pinterest, this is what I came up with:

I started by heat embossing the spiderwebs on the blue cardstock with white embossing powder.  I also used a roll on spider stamp I had in my stash and rolled it across the top with Versamark ink.  The image was something I came across online and I just matted it with red cardstock, then outlined it in black.  The titles were also printed using PowerPoint.  This card was SOOOOO simple to make and it actually came out pretty well!!! 

Also, DON'T FORGET..... Colorful Creations is having a month long Sketch-A-Thon with a new sketch every day so go check it out!!!!

Well gang.. I think that's all for today!!! Stay tuned for more details about SketchNScrap's month long Birthday Bash!!!! TONS of chances to win fabulous goodies!!!!!! Thanks for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)