MyMadkow

Life Is ......

Hi everyone,

I know it's been a while, since I last posted. Situation normal.......you know the rest!! Aside from my daughter & grand-son being here, and computer issues a while back, my camera went nuts!! Long story! Suffice it to say, that whenever I would try to upload the umpteen million (exagerating!) pics to my computer, I would be told that there were NO pics on my camera!! Ugh!!!!!! This has happened at least 3 times!! On the last go round, I had about 150 pics, that just disappeared right into thin air. Needless to say, I really got upset about it, and vowed that I was done with it!! So I went and bought me a new toy!!! Although I would love to get a really fancy pro or semi-pro camera....I decided to stick with a point & shoot.......a Nikon Coolpix S4100. 14 Megapixels, 3.0 LCD Screen, Wide 5X Zoom, Touch Screen, HD Movie capability & the MOST important feature......Vibration Reduction!!  LOLOLOL

And of course, with all of the fun I've been having...if that's what you want to call 'fun'...I haven't been playing along with Linda at Studio L3, for Grungy Monday!! Wow I can't believe how time flies. It just feels like it was yesterday when I made the first tag. Hopefully, I am done with fixing &/or replacing equipment and tools!

Life Is......

The technique we're using this week is from Tim's Blog, January 2008. Check it out!!

 
A little different, but it is my grungy chic style! All supplies used are all things Tim, of course!! The Distress Inks I chose, were Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed & Shabby Shutters.

I think it turned out pretty cool, and it matches perfectly with a mini album I'm working on!! More on that in another post!

And I also decided that I need to get back into doing more challenges, especially of the layout kind. And what's the best place to do that at? The Color Room!! So I gave it a go, and made this LO of my DGS for their Palette #62.

Genuine U

 
I love the color Orange, but it's definitely a challenging one to scrap with!! I adore how this one turned out!!

Papers are from Glitz Design....GORGEOUS!!!! Main frame is punched with Martha Stewart's Large Punch Set - Wild Flowers. Sooooo glad I got this one at Mike's, with a 40% off coupon!!

Here's a few closeups....

 
I used Wild Honey DI on the Tim pre cut grungeboard and added some Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals in Cocoa Bean Copper over top. Some Ranger Crackle Accents and heat set right away to get that aged bubble effect. Some hemp cord around a Tim pin, glued over a spinner, and a large flat back pearl for the head.

 
I handmade the orange flowers with the pearl centers. More Lindy's ....mist this time, in Tiger Lily Red Orange. The orange Rose & the small Cherry Blossoms are from I Am Roses.

 
Love these leaves!! Cardstock is Bazzill, cut with Tattered Flowers die, misted with LSG Opal Sea Oats. Then embossed with Starry Night from Sizzix. A little DI over top and voila.....gorgeous leaves!

 
The alpha 'U' is from Tattered Angels....more misting and distressing. I had a leftover chipboard flower that I had used some flocking on...orange...how cool is that!! (yep, still using up my older stash!!) And a chipboard piece I diecut with Tim/Sizzix's Hardware Findings. There's sooooo many layers on that piece, that I can't remember all of the products I used. Def Tim's DI and LSG's Starburst Sprays & Magicals. Some crackle medium, and then more of everything on top!!

Well, that's it for today!! So glad I finally got to play along with both of these challenges!! Now I'm off to upload them!! Oh I alsmost forgot to tell you......I got those gorgeous papers in my Swirlydoos kit!! Gotta check them out too!!

Happy scrapping!!

Lynne

Blogoversary RAK

About time don't you think....it's only been 2 months since my Blogoversary!!!! Lots of things have happened since then. Including a trip to Vermont, a major move, my scrap stuff in total disarray after the move, a family emergency and then there is work!!

But....here it is, my 1st Blogoversary RAK!!!!

 
Contents include the following:

~  Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante Collection

~  Cosmo Cricket Alphas -- Iron Port

~  Prima Say It In Pearls -- Swirls Black

~  One metal dress form -- aprrox 15 1/2 inches tall -- cream

 ~  Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ornate Plates

~  Tim Holtz Idea-ology Baubles

~  Prima Flowers -- Sugar Plum Roses Cinnamon

~  Prima Flowers -- Tea Roses Santa Rosa

~  G45 Staples -- Trim

~  Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists -- Turquoise

~  Plus.....a few more surprise goodies!!

 

Here's the low-down on how you can win:

~  Be or become a follower -- one chance

~  Comment on this post -- one chance

~  Post this RAK on your blog, FaceBook, etc (let me know by linking) -- one chance

~  For every person that you told, that leaves me a comment, and leaves your name -- one chance

 

I will choose a winner via Random.org on December 15th! RAK is open to everyone, inc International.

 

Easy peasy, right?!!!! Okay...........go!!!

Love ya,

Lynne

 

 

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Okay, so I watch too much Food Channel!! LOL I know you're all wondering if I forgot about my Etsy RAk....I didn't!! I just forgot I ended it on Friday. For some reason, I thought I ended it on Sunday the 17th. Thank you all for playing along, and for checking out my Etsy Shop. Here's the winner......

There were 7 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Ilene
2. MMM1027
3. Denise

Timestamp: 2010-10-18 10:57:29 UTC

Congrats Ilene!!! Send me your addy at mymadkow@live.com, and I will mail your goodies out, asap!!

Thanks for playing!!

Lynne

MyMadkow Designs on Etsy!!!

This post will stay at the top of my blog. Please scroll down for newer posts.

Well....it's about time don't you think?!!! I've had the shop opened for about 3 months now, kinda useless without products, though!! So I finally got items listed tonight!!! Yeah!!! BTW, I'm patting myself on the back right now......yep, I did good.

Should you decide to visit my little store, well......MyMadkowDesigns or click on the Etsy box, in the top left corner.

And what types of products do I have in the shop? A little bit of Halloween....an eerie Tombstone, some spooky Dead Heads, a few Shabby Birds, and more. Lots more coming soon too!!

I'm thinking, that if you are kind enough to visit my shop, then you deserve a chance to win a prize. This prize is not to be confused with my Blogoversary RAK, which is coming soon (still waiting on bits & pieces). Anyways.....leave me a comment, telling me which of my new items is your fave, and why. On October 15th, I will choose a winner, via Random.org. Winner will receive a variety of Halloween items, available in the shop. Easy peasy, right? So what are you waiting for? Go check it out!!

Want a peek?

 
 
Thanks for stopping by the shop,

Lynne

 

Dream For Snobby Walrus

So, here I am in the midst of packing & cleaning......yep....moving...on the 25th, no less!! Ugh!! Anyways, I just realized that I haven't posted the rest of my September DT projects for Snobby Walrus.  

Dream

I love how this turned out!! And apparently so did my DD...she snagged it before moving to Texas!!!

The paper mache letters are from a kit that I purchased at Wal-Mart!! They had several other words, but I thought that 'Dream' was just perfect for these papers. Papers are My Mind's Eye & Jenni Bowlin. The gorgeous vintage images are by DT Keri Babbitt....I was looking for something special to showcase these on!! Here's a few closeups....

Flourishes are cut with Tim Holtz/Sizzix die 'Elegant Flourishes' on my Cuttlebug. I've painted them in assorted metallic & pearl acrylic paints from Folkart & Decoart. Lace here is Prima, as is the inner bloom.

Butterflies are Jenni Bowlin. Pin is MyMadkow Design. Small leaves are Prima, which I've misted with various shades of Glimmer Mist. More Prima Lace & flower.

I've distressed the edges of the paper, before gluing to paper mache form. I then inked all of the edges with Distress Inks. Key & Keyhole are from TH's Ideology line. Little bird is MyMadkow Design.....once I've moved, I will post a tut, on this little guy.

I added a bit of Distress Stickles to the Prima Flower center....I just wanted a bit more bling! 

I wanted to add a bit of purple, to match the MME paper, so I made a flower out of ribbon.....but, it was just a little too big, to just add some bling to the center.....hence the Prima bloom over top. 

Pals

Believe it or not...I actually wanted to redo this LO....not one of my faves...or better pieces....but, I ran out of time......so.....it is what it is!! Actually, the part that I don't like is the flowers...I feel like they're a bit dis-jointed, and not a part of the LO. There's another Vintage Image from Keri (1 + 1), I added a sticker apple from BG (stash) and then slathered on the Stickles & Pink Paislee glitter.

Flowers are Prima. The scalloped ribbon stems (stash) which I Glimmer Misted.

PPs are Jenni Bowlin, Sassafras Lass & Onirie. The papers in this kit, were def faves!! I loved the combo that we had to work with. Very Elegant to Girlie Girl to Vintage Office to just plain Fun!! One of my other faves is the Hambly Screen Print (yellow frames) which I've used whole on this LO. The little heart leaves are also BG (stash) which I stickled.

All of the embellies in the top right corner, are bits & pieces that were leftover from past kits.....love the JB button!! The pompom trim is from Fancy Pants.

Alphas are Sassafras Lass (August kit), which I stickled......the original color was orange, and it was just too much for this LO!! 

I had a lot of fun with this kit! And the variety of papers & embellies......well, let's just say I LOVE MY SNOBBY WALRUS !!! So, go check them out, you can even see past kits (though, past kits are not kept in the store)!!

So, I guess I need to go pack some more crap!!! I have only been in this house for seven years.....I started with nothing, as I sold everything up north except about 10 boxes that we shipped and what clothes we could bring in our suitcases, and OH MY GOD!! I am amazed at all of the s--t, that we've accumulated!! So much crap....and I sold & gave away a lot of it!! 

My mom was over to help out, and she was packing some of my scrappy goodies....."you must have thousands of dollars invested in this stuff!" "It's everywhere!" "Do you need this much stuff?" "Can't you get rid of some of it?" "Are you planning on buying more?" "How many ink pads does one person need?" she says. She just doesn't get it!!!

But, you do!!!

Love ya,

Lynne
 

You Give Me Wings ~ Snobby Walrus

September Kit is up at Snobby Walrus!! You're gonna LOVE this kit!! Lots of beautiful papers, and embellies, that you probably wouldn't have thought to put together yourself....but it works!!

Pic is a little blurry, but you get the idea!! Go check it out at Snobby Walrus!! And here's a couple of my projects......

You Give Me Wings

My DD & grandson, playing with her camera, this past spring. Love the gorgeous Sassafras Lass paper that I chose for my backgrounds!! I did use Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the edges. The pink SL was sprayed with water, scrunched up, dried, and then inked with more Distress Inks. Don't you love the juxtaposition of naked cardboard against the vintagey papers? It's def one of my fave techniques.

I matted my pic on Chiyogami paper (August kit) & a scrap which I punched with Martha Stewart lace punch. Here's a closeup of the title.....

Alphas are October Afternoon, and the little bird is my design, made from recycled & new products (more on that later in the week). 

Lace is Prima. Alphas are My Mind's Eye (stash) which I stamped with a script Hampton Art Stamp & Staz On. I then added some gorgeous Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Tide Pool over the top.....LOVE this look!!!!

I added a few Tim Holtz grungeboard embellies (stash) which I painted with Folk Art Metallic & Pearl paints. Wire is from Darice, and the crystal is Heidi Swapp. Twisted burlap is from May Arts (August kit). Flower is Prima, which I purchased at the SW store. I almost forgot the journal card from My Mind's Eye, which I also applied Glimmer Glam to. This product is soooo cool. One coat and you can barely see it, if you want a more intense color, just add more coats. This product dries matte, with bits of glitter in it....so cool!! Also, be sure to use a misting mat underneath your work while using this product....it's def sticky, and will adhere to just about anything!! 

Life @ 55 MPH

This pic of my son Kevin & grand-son Mason, is another in our Family Photo Shoot Series from this past January. I love these pics sooo much, that I have been scrapping ALL of them!! BTW, this series was shot by Kevin!!!

Love the Sassafras background paper!! And don't you just love that each of the pps, come with a bonus scalloped selvage!!! Love using these as frames for the pics, or border for flower clusters!! I also added a piece of Onirie pp in middle of the page, and bordered the top with a bit of Jillibean soup kraft paper which I punched with MS punch.

Tickets are My Mind's Eye. Alphas are Pink Paislee. Now, these were white, but I grunged them up with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Little felt stickers (tow truck & car) are Sassafras Lass, and they are on a huge SALE at SW, 99 cents per package!!!! How awesome is that!! 

I just love this little dude!! He is cut from the Onirie paper, and Glimmer Glammed!! I used a very small paintbrush to get into the little areas that I wanted colored. I also misted the Prima lace with TA Dragonfly, and then brushed the Tidepool Glimmer Glam over top.

I first used a piece from Jillibean Soup 'Diced Bacon' as a mat, and then added the @, which I cut using Cricut & Lyrical Letters cart. I grunged up the leftover JBS (turned a piece over) with TH Distress Ink, and then added Ranger Glossy Accents over top. 

That's the first 2 projects for the month.....I will probably add the next 2, at the beginning of next week. I've got lots to do for the rest of the month......I'm moving!!! And somewhere in there, I need to get my SW projects for October done, as well as post some products to my Etsy store......later in the week. I'm def going to need a vaca after this month is over!!!

Happy scrapping!!

Lynne

 

Snobby Walrus Sneak....Sort Of & Denise's Blog Candy!

Short post today......I have re-typed this post & lost both copies, twice already, due to technical difficulties with Typepad!! This time, I can honestly say that, 'I didn't do it'!!!!

Check out JJ Sobey's blog, one of my DT sisters, at Snobby Walrus, she just posted a sneak peek of the September Kit!! Awesome LO!!  Needless to say, I thought that I should post one too!! But.............I'm posting an LO that I made with the scraps & leftovers from the kit!! Papers are October Afternoon, Onirie, Sassafras Lass & My Mind's Eye. Tickets are My Mind's Eye, Alphas by Cosmo Cricket & American Crafts. Pompon fringe by Fancy Pants Design, and Flowers by Prima & moi.

I cannot remember where I got the idea for the chipboard flowers.....but thank you to that person!! I love this technique!! Please let me know who you are, so I can give you proper credit for it!!

I had some old Basic Grey naked chipboard, and I covered it with My Mind's Eye 'Regal' scraps. Huge distressing with an emery board, and then I added some embroidery floss from DMC, between the petals. Stacked 2 of them together, added a brad & voila....flowers! Here's a closeup......
Did I mention, that I LOVE this technique!!!! BTW, Typepad does NOT like small pics......everytime I try to resize them smaller than a 4" width or height, it goes beserk!!! Ugh!!!

On to the fun!!!!!!!!!

Check out my scrappy pal, Denise's blog candy!!!! Awesome!!! You know, she can count me in!!!!! Love it!! Soooo many embellies, soooo much fun!! What are you waiting for.....go enter!!

BTW, September 9th is my First Blogoversary....sooooo come back & check out my RAK!!

Love ya,

Lynne

 

So, You Call This A Vacation?!! And More Snobby Walrus

WARNING   WARNING   WARNING

Very Long Post Ahead

So, grab a cuppa, you'll be here for a bit!!

So obviously, I'm going on vacation! Actually, I am on vaca right now.....it's 2:30 am, I just got home from work, and here I sit typing, when I should be sleeping!! I was on the schedule to work, and was planning on doing the normal 8pm to 8am, but getting a little concerned that my peer would/would not be there for his scheduled day on --> we had our yearly inventory this week, so schedules were messed up. Anyways, my manager told me to come in, see if the other Assistant showed up, do some evals and then leave -----> He showed up!!! S W E E T!!!!!! Sooooo, I'm just not tired right now.

So here's my plans for the next 22 1/2 hours.....shop for clothes to take on vaca, take pics of September DT projects for Snobby Walrus, upload and PhotoShop all of the pics, write up my blurb about each project, send to the OverLord, do my QOTD & SQOTD for Posh, do laundry, pack, get AAA for DD & SIL, get & print directions & maps from MapQuest, and sleep!! All before 1 am Sunday!!

Wait....it gets better......wait for my parents to pick me up....3:30am and drive me to Orlando airport about an hour and a half away (you haven't had to drive with them, and in the middle of the night too!!), go through the normal airport security & airline procedures, and get on the plane. Fly to Burlington, Vermont......meet DD Ashley & DGS Mason, and drive to St. Albans, VT. Then visit with SIL's family for a day or so.

Not so bad right? W R O N G!!! Drive 1900 miles back to Florida, in one overpacked car with DD & DGS, who by the way is 22 months old and can put the Energizer Bunny to shame, and two cats!!! Ugh!!!!!!! All so she can meet hubby and spend a bit of time with the rest of the family, before they drive another 2000 miles to El Paso, Texas, by September 5th, where SIL is being stationed!!

Sooooo, would you call this a vacation? Me neither!! BUT, I do call it love, and I would do it everytime and anytime for any one of my kids! Even if it means that they have to leave me, to live their lives. They are and will always be my most prized possessions!!

Wait......and then, DS Kevin is moving......he's going to San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 5th, to be with the love of his life!!!

Sooo, that leaves DS Dan & DIL Carol, who have just bought their new house!!! They will moving at the beginning of September as well.

September is turning out to be the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. Will it be easy, NO! Will we like being apart from each other, NO! Will we get to see each other often, NO! Am I sad, NO! ....wait ....really, I'm not. I am very thankful, that we've had all of these years together, and I will cherish all of those memories. But it's time for all of us to move on and get on with our lives.

Why? I'm 50 years old, for crying out loud.......I want my own place....alone!!!! With a scrap/craft room!!!! Without having to clean up after anyone but myself!! Without having to remind anyone that it's time to pay the rent!! Without having to ask someone to move their car, so I can go to work! It's about time don't you think?!!! LOL

NOTE: If you are reading this, and are one of my children, please disregard the above paragraph!! It was never intended to offend you, just to smack you right dab in the middle of the face!!!!! 

Really, you think I hate my kids? Not!! But, I am looking forward to this change.

And this story, really does get stranger & stranger......I will leave the rest of it for another post!

BTW, did I tell you the deal I made with DD? I told her, that I would do all of this with and for her, but, that we HAVE TO STOP at, at least one good SCRAP STORE on the way back to Florida...that's the way it is!!!!!! There, I put my foot down, didn't I? As if....she loves those places as much as I do!!

Okay, enough of that, onto Snobby Walrus...........

6 mos.

DD at about  5 1/2 to 6 mos pregnant, a nice little stroll on the beach. Another beach goer, actually asked her 'if she was trying to bake that kid'. It must have been 90 degrees in the shade that day, and we were taking it all in!! Love this pic!! And the look of printing it on a subtle pretty paper by Fancy Pants. Here's a closeup......

You can see the various floral patterns, as well as the writing on the paper, it does give it a bit of a vintage look. Flowers and starfish pendant are all Prima. Alphas are American Crafts. Diecut images are Graphic 45 from the 'On the Boardwalk' collection.

Stickers are EK Success, and shell beads are from my stash. 

I used a Martha Stewart punch on the white cardstock, and then Glimmer Misted over a Glimmer Screen...all Tattered Angels. Lace is May Arts.

Sea horse is from EK Success, which I also Glimmer Misted with several colors. The journal card is Webster's Pages. A little bit of TH Distress Ink around the edges. 

Notes To Self

A very inexpensive (25 cents at Wal-Mart) composition book is covered in Glitz paper. Slathered in Prima, May Arts, and handmade flowers from various scraps.

Bits of Tim Holtz Ideology findings, buttons from my stash, alphas from Cosmo Cricket and a handmade bird.

This is another sneak at what's coming in my Etsy shop (more on that in a later post). Beautiful trim from Webster's Pages, which I Glimmer Misted. A bit of bling from Michaels, and a sticker (ornate frame) from Hambly Screen Prints. Large orange sticker alphas are from Sassafras. 

About the Etsy shop......I have a lot of product already made, my shop is actually open, though there is nothing to purchase at the moment. So, what's the problem, why haven't I stocked my shop yet? Uh, hello, vaca....and no one here to send out the lovelies!!! Can't really ask anyone to take over right now, as they are all moving!!! I promise, it will be stocked as soon as I can after my little trip to Vermont!!

And so, I will leave you with this question........Would you move back in with your parents?

Love ya,

Lynne

 

Family For Snobby Walrus

Today I'm sharing the last of my July DT projects for Snobby Walrus, entitled 'Family'. I'm trying very hard to space out my SW projects over the course of the month, as they are very photo intensive. And you know that I tend to have long post, and it takes longer to download.

For the bad news.....I just spent 45 minutes doing this post, and having issues with trying to upload pics.I was at the very end, and had to fix a minor mistake, when I lost the whole thing!! Ugh!!!! Unfortunately, that means, that I've forgotten what I actually wrote. Sooooo, I'll make it short with the words, and post the pics........

This pic is of my SIL Mike, and his sister Meghan at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. My DD & DGS along with DD's MIL & SIL visited Mike for his BT graduation, this past spring.

Butterfly is from Michael's floral department, covered slathered in Smooch Spritz.

Gorgeous Webster's Pages fussy cut and layered over Sassafras Lass paper. 

Brown flowers are made a la Tim Holtz, and grunged up with Distress Ink, Distress Stickles and more Smooch Spritz. Flourishes are alcohol inked transparencies, diecut with TH/Sizzix Elegant Flourishes die.

Ribbon is woven through paper, a la Gabrielle Pollaco. If you never visited her blog....you def need to!! Gabrielle has some amazing LOs and techniques !!

I had a lot of fun making this LO, with the variety of products in the Snobby Walrus kit. This is def what I love about their kits.....they are not matchy-matchy!! I have to admit, that there are times, when it's a real 'challenge' to come up with an idea for a project......but I love it, cause it's definitely stretching me to come up with new and interesting ideas and combinations!!

Paper  -  Webster’s Pages, Sassafras Lass, Jenni Bowlin & scraps

Brads – Upsy Daisy Designs

Rubons – K&Co and Fancy Pants

Flowers – Prima & MyMadkow

Pebbles – Prima

Flourish – MyMadkow

Alcohol Ink, Distress Ink, Distress Stickles – Tim Holtz

Glimmer Spray – Smooch

Punch – Martha Stewart

Lace, Ribbon - Stash

Thanks for stopping in, and happy scrapping to you!!

Love ya,

Lynne

 
 

Hope ~ Challenge #13 at My Mind's Eye

As you know, I love to blog hop. And I def have some fave sites, which I try to visit daily. Well.......this one got me DOING!! I stopped by the My Mind's Eye blog and saw their newest challenge!! I was def inspired to actually work on a project. I see so many challenges, on many different blogs, but, I usually tend to put it off until it's too late! Hence my issue with The Color Room, Graphic 45 &Webster's Pages. I love each of these blogs, and their respective products and/or their inspiring ideas, but I just have not been able to actually get off my butt, and get some stuff done for their challenges.

Well, MME changed it for me. Here's the premise of the challenge:

• Design a layout or project based on their sketch
• You must use the word HOPE
• Use any MME product...past or present
• Must be 80% MME products

Easy, right......let me tell you, it was a challenge!! So here's my LO.....

My grand-son Mason, at Fort Sill, in Oklahoma, this past spring!! He, Mom, Moomah & Meghan were visiting my SIL Mike, for his Basic Training Graduation. I love this pic of Mason....he is looking so grown up! I know, he's only 20 mos old...LOL!  Ugh....I just spent a couple of weeks with him & Ashley (DD), and I miss them both again!! Double ugh!!

Back to the LO.....So I just love the background paper 'Botanical Blue' which I purchased at the Snobby Walrus store......if you haven't already, you need to shop there!! Check it out!! Anyways, I was trying to figure out how I could still use the sketch and cover as little of the background as possible!! No easy feat, let me tell you. Well those of you who love G45, Webster's Pages & Prima papers....you understand!! The papers are soooo gorgeous, that you don't want to cover them up! That was def my issue with this paper!!!

I decided that I needed to make my circles smaller....that was the only way it was going to work. And I chose to dig through my scrap box to find co-ordinating papers for the mat & circles!! I was amazed to find how much MME paper I actually own and use!! Really, I shouldn't be so surprised! After all, isn't that why we keep turning to the same companies over & over again...........for their beautiful products!!

Once the background and mat were placed on the paper, I needed some embellies. I chose to keep it simple.....yep, this is my simple version!! I used some more MME products....the gorgeous  green velvet ribbon, the vintagey rubons (MME started my rubon craze!), the cut of the alphas, and the bright blue rhinestones! But I still needed something else. Of course Prima flowers.....

I wanted to use the Prima 'Calcutta Mini Seashells', because they are white, but the centers were pink. So I thought that I would Glimmer Mist them a bit to take the edge off.......that did not turn out at all!! Now I was stuck...I had no other white flowers. What to do? Well I went to my stash again, and found some gorgeous lace that DD found for me, and I cut circles to fit over top. Now, I needed a center. I couldn't use more bling, as there was already too much. So.....back to the stash I went.

Have you ever been to the Flights of Fancy Boutique? Check it out!! I subbed their 'trim & treasure club' a month ago. Love their products. A bit pricey......but OMG!!!! Anyways, I cut some wee flowers off of a piece of trim, and voila, flower centers!! Then I added a few more blingy Prima flowers in the perfect green! The little bird, is my latest creation, 'Upcycled Bird'.....what do you think? I may start my Etsy shop off with these! Next, I added a couple of Making Memories flourishes, and a MyMadkow pin.

What about the lace?

More gorgeous lace from Flights of Fancy Boutique!!!!!! Yummmmmmy!!!! You have got to check them out....gorgeous products, and you can purchase by the yard, if you don't want a sub. See the bracket at the top of the page? Well, I cut that off of the selvage edge of MME paper!! How cool is that....and why waste any of it?

One last thing, I knew that I wanted to do some journaling on this LO (which I never do enough of!), but I didn't want to take anymore space from the background paper. Well, the next best thing......write around the edge of the paper!! I have not done this often enough, and I gotta tell you...I love the way it turned out!! 

So, that's my entry into the MME challenge. I'm very excited about it, and can't wait to do more!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lynne

 

Oh My God! What Did I Do?

What did I do? Well, I was uploading some pics for the July DT at Snobby Walrus, and I have NO idea what I did, except that all of a sudden ALL of my pics were gone!!! I mean GONE! Yep, every single one of them!! All the Family pics, all of the pics of Mason, all of my LO pics, my project pics, my downloads, my new pics of Mason (taken yesterday), the new July DT pics for SW ----- EVERYTHING WAS GONE!!!

I just about died! Yeah, I have them, on discs as well......but can you imagine trying to upload all 5675 of them! Plus all of the pics (150 of them) that I just took of Mason.....there was no way to recapture those -----yep, I uploaded and erased the SD card!! I knew that I could retake the SW pics...but what was I going to do about those cute shots I got yesterday?

So, after searching the recycle bin...I was able to restore all of them!! Except that, I still couldn't find the Mason pics!! Ugh!!!!! I went through every folder, every sub-folder, etc.....and lo and behold, in some obscure sub-sub-folder, I found them!!! I have not been this happy in a while!!!! LOL

Needless to say, after I get done with this post, I will def save all of the new stuff to disc.....asap!

BTW, this will probably be a long post! Now there's a surprise!

More June DT projects for Snobby Walrus

Captured Heart

DS & DIL at their wedding reception. Love that Pink Paislee (green) & My Mind's Eye (black) paper. I layered the pic over a doily, and added a golden frame over top ... I really have no idea who made it, but I've owned it for about 5 years! Fom Marks Paper, I fussy cut the large flowers, and added a bit of Distress Stickles to the center & the edges. Here's a closeup.......

The dark red flowers are TH Alcohol Inked transparencies, glued over TH Grungeboard, then die cut with TH/Sizzix Tattered Florals. Bling is from stash. All diecuts are from Graphic 45.

The cream ribbon was woven through the paper using Angelica's tutorial. The green ribbon from Webster's Pages, was then butted up against it, and I added a pearl string (stash) over top. The little bird, is cut from TH/Sizzix with 7 Gypsies paper layered over grungeboard. I then added a bit of Distress Inks to the body & wing to give it some substance.

The cage is my fave......I got this idea from  Tim Holtz and I just love it. I gotta tell you, that it was fairly easy to get the cage to stay in that position while the glue dried, thankfully I used Glossy Accents from Ranger, and that stuff dries pretty quick. I had a harder time adding the beads and misc TH tags, mostly because I had to make my own jump rings, as mine were not big enough! The layered hearts were cut from TH/Sizzix Heart Wings, using more 7 Gypsies paper & alcohol inked transparency. More woven ribbon & G45 diecuts.

Hugs From Dad

This is one of my faves! I just love that pic! Background paper is from Jenni Bowlin. I layered my pic over a Prima package, which incidentally was already die cut!! The pic fit in that frame perfectly!

And I had to add some TH tickets...they're just perfect for this LO. The whole thing was then layered over scaps from my stash. I love the Lollipop flowers from Prima, but they needed something to bring them out a bit, so I used some ladybug buttons (stash) and a bit of plaid rick-rack (stash). I hand cut my leaves from more leftover bits, and added some Dimensional Pearls from Ranger.

Here's another closeup.....

The title is a fancy end of paper from Sassafras Lass; and I layered a die cut from Crate Paper over top. Added a few buttons from my stash & SW. The red & white twine is from Martha Stewart. Alphas are from American Crafts & Cosmo Cricket.

That's it for today......I will be showing you a tease of the July Kit and a few of my projects, as soon as it comes up at Snobby Walrus. Until then....happy scrapping!!

Love ya,

Lynne
  
 

If All Else Fails.....Re-read the Damned Instructions Before You Start!!

I was soooo proud of myself. I tell you, it was just one of those things, you know the kind.....everything works perfectly...no issues.....no problems.....just smooth sailing all the way. Yeah...okay!!! Not this time!

If you read my last post, then you know that Lynnette Davis is now the Official Challenge Host at Snobby Walrus, and she has issued her first challenge....

Love those colors together!! Well challenge #2 is now up at SW with Tracy Cave the "Walrus Overlord", that's DT Co-ordinator to you, taking on the lead. Here's the stipulations.....

buttons
a handmade embellishment
polka dot patterned paper
journaling
color photo(s)

 

Doesn't sound too difficult, now does it? No, I didn't think so either. And I had such grand plans, all I had to do was morph the two challenges together, and enter my LO into both challenges!!! As a DT, I can't win, so I'm really playing for the fun of it, and to enable my challenge hostesses!! I figured with Ashley & Mason coming next Tuesday (YEAH!!), and all of the preparations I have to do, that I only had time to make one LO. This way, I could still play! Easy peasy, right?! NOT.  Before I even try to explain....let me just show you.....

Do you see it? Do you see the problem with this LO?

I have all of the right colors, light pink, pale yellow, white & grey. Right? Yep, check!

I have the buttons. Yep...that big old yellow thing in the top right corner...that's my button, which I covered with a Prima flower center. Check!

I have a handmade embellishment. The big polka dot flower, which I edged in TH distress inks 'worn lipstick', and sprayed with Tattered Angels 'tattered rose' Glimmer Mist. Check!

I have polka dot patterned paper from My Mind's Eye. The big old flower, and the bottom petals on the Prima Belle Arte 'poetry' flowers. Check!

I have journaling. Yep, right next to the pic of Ashley...something I probably don't do enough of. Check!

I have color photo(s). Check! Wait, that's a black & white pic.....ooops, this is where it all went wrong. And do you know when this happened. No it wasn't while I was choosing the papers, embellies & pic. It wasn't even when I was working on the LO. And not even when I was taking the pic of the LO. So when did it happen......when I decided to just double check & make sure I had everything I needed to have on there, before I put up this post & linked it back to the challenges!! Ugh!! Tooooooo late!!

So, if I go ahead and link this LO to both challenges, do you think anyone will notice? After all it doesn't matter, since I can't win anyways, right? Who's going to notice? And are they going to tell the Challenge Police? And what will they do, force me to make individual LOs for each challenge? Or worse, ban me from entering any challenges? OMG, you don't think that they would......NO!! Tell me it's not true, they really can't force me to use 'no name brand papers, & embellies', right? Argh!!!! Shoot me now!!

LOL........gotta laugh.....yep, I'm having toooo much fun with this! Anyways, let me show you some closeups.......

Love those Prima flowers!! Don't forget to check them out, and be entered for your chance to win a prize pack!! All I did was to add a medium sized petal to the bottoms of each, to make them stand out just a bit more. Everything was layered over Prima & Webster's Pages papers. I used 7 Gypsies paper for the leaves. And my picture is matted with glittery SEI paper.

Diecuts are from K&Co. Dew Drops, unknown, but courtesy of my good friend Charlene from POSH. Thank you Charlene!! Here's another closeup......

Bling & brads are from Prima & Michaels. Rubons from Kaiser, Pink Paislee, and Me & My Big Ideas. The resin flower (white) and the elephant are by Jolees. Alphas by Making Memories. Button, ribbon & lace are from my stash.

So what do you think? Should I or shouldn't I? My inner voice is telling me, go ahead and do it....but that could be just cause that's what I want to do!!! LOL ~~~~~ whatever!

Okay, so did I tell you that this was going to be a long post? No? Well....it is! So get a cup, and have a sit......you're in for a while longer.......

I totally forgot to put up the pics from my last POSH blog post. Def not good!! Sorry Nini!!!

I chose to name this post, 'Bling It On!' And you guessed it, it's all about adding some glimmer, and glitter, to your projects. Which I did, but I had one special way to 'bling' up your projects..... with Sharpie or Copic markers!! Hey, you gotta read the post, to find out how!!! Here's the LO.......

So, can you spot where I used the Sharpie......I have a few Copics, not the right colors, and they are mucho $$$$$, so I am making do with what I have!!! Wow, I can't believe I just said that. Cause normally I am def OCD when it comes to scrap stuff. Actually, I am OCD when ever I get into something new......I just have to have everything!!!

Got a little side-tracked there, sorry about that. And please keep the OCD stuff to yourself.....I don't want anyone to know!!! Especially the scrap stores!! LOL   Here's a few closeups.....

I actually dyed the lace with Glimmer Mist!!! Here's another closeup.....

Loooove the Hambly Screen Print frame!!!! TH Distress Stickles on the handmade leaves & flowers, and on the Michaels butterfly. Here's another closeup.......

Better view of the lace & the stickles! One last one......

I actually bought the title from the dollar bins, at Michaels. Of course, it didn't look like that!!! I used some Martha Stewart glitter to cover it....it was bare chipboard. I think it turned out pretty good. Actually, I'm a bit impressed, cause I really haven't had good luck with using glitter!! Somehow, I just get it everywhere except where it really needs to go. Wish I had taken the time to write down, excatly what I did, and which glue I used!!!

Oh yeah....before I forget......if you shop at Michaels, (if you don't, either there isn't one close by, or you must be the only one that doesn't go in there...they're always busy!!).....make sure you check out the $ bins....they always have some great items that you can use for scrapping!

Okay.......paper by Marks Paper, K&Co and 7 Gypsies. Vintage book page from Snobby Walrus. Flower center & large purple flower by Prima. Die cuts by Graphic 45 (love).  Journal tag by K& Co. Brad by My Mind's Eye. Tim Holtz Distress Ink & Distress Stickles. Rhinestone Flourish by Michaels. StazOn Ink. Lace is from stash.

So are you ready for this to end? Yeah, me too!!! I've gotta take pics of my RAK, so I can post tomorrow! Plus pay the bills, and then get some sleep before I have to go to Mom's for dinner, and then go work a 12 hour shift! So, I will leave you with the thought for the day........

"Read the title to this post!"

Happy Scrapping!!!

Love ya,

Lynne

 

 
 

 

 

  

Who Loves You, Baby?

Do you remember that famous line? No? Not as old as the hills? How about Telly Savalas, do you remember him? No? Kojak? 

Okay, if you weren't around to see the TV show 'Kojak', let me clue you in. Telly Savalas played the bald, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant title character in the show. Say that 3 times fast!! So, it was a cop show that ran from 1973 to 1978 on CBS. Kojak, was a stubborn, and tenacious investigator of crimes...he was fond of lollipops, and his catchphrase was 'Who loves you, baby?' - thank you Wikipedia for the stuff I forgot!

Anyways......that's where the title for this LO came from! No real story behind 'why' I chose the title, except that it just sounded cool!! And naturally, I do love my daughter Ashley, and somehow the pic, just dictated the title.

This layout was made using the June 2010 Kit from Snobby Walrus. I had so much fun with this kit!! I actually ended up making 6 LO's & 1 mini album with it --- way too many for the DT gallery!! There was so much stuff in the kit, that I still have a bunch of embellies & 1 1/2 sheets of paper left!! How awesome is that! You should see what I got in the July Kit!!!!! Wait....you can't see that for a month...June Kits just came out!

Okay.....here's the first pic.....

Handmade roses a la Timmy!! That beautiful frame is from Hambly Screen Prints.....if you haven't seen their products, you gotta check out their site!! Hinges & hearts made with TH Grungeboard Diecuts & dies from his Alterations Collection. I embossed the grungeboard with my Cuttlebug  & Allegro folder, and then painted them with FolkArt metallic  & pearl paints from Plaid. Here's a closeup....

I Glimmer Misted some of the roses and then added a bit more sparkle with Distress Stickles. Then I added curlicues made with 7 Gypsies paper....leftovers from the May Kit. All was layered over a TH flourish painted matte black.

Are you wondering where I got the Bingo card? I made it. Actually I designed it for the Valentine RAK I had, and decided it was perfect for this LO. I had placed my pic on a piece of Coredinations cardstock, but found that it was missing something, that's when I decided to use the Hambly frame, yes, it's in the kit. I also felt that I needed a bit more color around the pic, so I added pieces of inked transparencies which I die cut along the edge using, what else but Timmy dies.

Here's another closeup....

The American Crafts glittered alphas are layered over a piece of scrap lace....sooooo wish I had more of this lace!!!! It's just gorgeous!

Here's one more closeup.....

You can see a bit of pearlescence on the hinges in this pic, which I held in place with My Mind's Eye brads.

Papers are Glitz, My Mind's Eye, 7 Gypsies & Coredinations.

Since I started this post, by hinting to my age.....this next LO title, will really take you back......

It's My Party

sung by  Lesly Gore, released in 1963

 

The chorus to this song is basically, 'It's my party & I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, you would cry too if it happened to you'

Well, everytime I saw this pic of my grand-son Mason at his 1st Birthday party, I thought of this song. His b-day is October 27, and this past year, we celebrated it on October 31st...Halloween Day. This turned out to be a really long day for him. What with the party preparations, the party, the dinner, the trick-or-treating and then the big finish.....pictionary! No wonder the kid was crying!!! Take a look...

This LO was made using the Vintage Splurge Kit from Snobby Walrus. I actually purchased this kit to get that Hambly Screen Print's record paper!! It's gorgeous.....the aqua background has a glimmered sheen to it, which unfortunately, I didn't capture with my pics.

The pic, however, did not go well with the paper...so I changed the color to Sepia in Photoshop. It was a bonus that by doing this, I instantly added more vintageness (word?) to this LO. I then matted in on white & then black cardstock, and then layered it over a vintage dicitionary page. The rubon photo corners are from Crate Paper. I added a 7 Gypsies strip, more leftovers from May Kit, and layered a scrap of polka dot paper from Basic Grey, over that. I also made the '1' from the BG paper using my Cricut. Next, I dug out my Ranger Inkssentials Opaque White Pen and wrote the chorus around the outer edges of the 'record', and the date of this celebration on the inner edges. I also created the 'year' Flag with the pen & a DaisyD rubon. The cupcake sticker is from Martha Stewart. Brad is My Mind's Eye. Vintage stamps and Prima flowers (all from Vintage Splurge Kit), complete the page.

BTW the black dots on the BG paper are not original to it. I thought it needed something to brighten it a bit, so I used my hole punch to created itty bitty circles out of black cardstock, and then I glued them over some of the white dots on the paper. Easy peasy! I going to leave you with two closeups...thanks for stopping by.....don't forget to leave a comment!!!

Love ya,

Lynne

PS   I just received my order with the rest of the goodies for the 'June Bride' RAK....so I will be posting pics & rules in the next couple of days.

 

 

 

May Projects for Snobby Walrus

You know, I was so excited when I got the May kit from Snobby Walrus, that I just couldn't wait to get sarted on my projects!! The papers & embellies in this kit are just gorgeous, sooooo, if you haven't checked them out yet....you def need to do that now!!

BTW, I'll keep this post short!!! LOL

Without further ado, here they are, my May projects:

So Happy Together

 
Love You

I Will Follow You

Vroom Vroom

Joy

 
Since I'm having issues uploading pics again, I'll leave the closeups for the SW photo album, and the Snobby Walrus DT Gallery. Thanks for stopping by!!

PS, Don't forget about the RAK....will update tomorrow!! If you don't know about it, check out the National Scrapbook Day & A Mini post (below).

Love ya,

Lynne

   

National Scrapbook Day & A Mini

Have I got a lot of to share with you today!!!

First, it's National Scrapbook Day. Wait....isn't that everyday?!!!! LOL  Needless to say, the whole scrap blog world is agog with giveaways, prizes, challenges, & RAKs.  Where do you ask? Well, here's two:

Snobby Walrus will be hosting all kinds of silly shenanigans!! Check out the forum, and while you're there, don't forget that it's not too late to enter the His giveaway, you have til May 2nd to enter!!! Here's what you can win.......

Plus Timeless Daydreams, is also hosting challenges all weekend, as well as 3 Prima  Flower giveaways.

And, POSH is also doing a sketch challenge, ends May 4th!! Go check out the cool prize, it's paper packs from Sassafrass Lass & Pink Paislee.

Second, if you've visited my blog before, you'll notice that I put the Follow Me button back at the top of the left sidebar.....why? Well, I'm working on another giveaway! I haven't done one in a while, soooo... it's time to do it again. In honor of National Scrapbook Day, of course. I still think that it should be everyday!

All you have to do is become a follower and leave a comment on any post beginning with this one and going forward. I will end the contest on May 31st, and the winner will be determined by Random.org. So, I know you are wondering what you can win. Well, I haven't determined precisely what that will be yet, so......I'm thinking that for every new follower to my blog, I will add something very scrappy cool. But let's start with Prima Flowers, and some G45 papers.......who doesn't love those!! As I figure out exactly what I plan on giving away, I will post a pick. Meanwhile.....tell everybody!!!!!! I will post more info in the next couple of days.

Third, I just received the June Kit from Snobby Walrus.....OMG, you won't believe how gorgeous it is. If you haven't been over there to check them out, even for the NSD & His Giveaways, you need to check out the kits. June? Yep, that is the great advantage to being a DT....you get your kits way ahead of everyone else!!!! Love, love, love this kit!!!! There is sooooo much stuff in it, that I'm not exactly sure where to start!! Plus, the price is awesome! And, I also ordered one of the many splurge kits......more scrappy goodness!

BTW, did I mention that this was going to be a long post? No, okay, well it is!!! Go potty, get a cup of coffee  & get comfy, cause you'll be here a while!!

Fourth, I actually got my first 'real' mini album finished this morning!!!! Can't believe it...so proud of myself!!! Okay, I started this last month......knowing it would take me a while.....it doesn't have to be finished til August!!! LOL  I know myself too well...these things tend to get put on the back burner, and then I forget about it, or I don't have time, or I just plain don't want to do it anymore. But I actually got it done!! And three months ahead of time....you see it's for Arelys, Kevin's girlfriend, for her birthday!!!

I think that she'll like it, well, I hope that she'll like it. Anyways, now I have to figure out where to put it without forgetting all about it!! LOL

I had it 98% done last night, it just needed the closure attached and a bit of TH Stickles added here & there, and then all I had to do was take the pics. I figured that would take me a couple of hours.......no, no, no!!! I just got done about an hour ago, and that makes it 4 hours!! Ugh!!! I had such a hard time getting good pics. I kept having to move around to different areas of the house. First there was too much light, then not enough light, then glare, then it was on my large woven basket, then on the floor on black poster board, then back to the basket.....ugh, very frustrating!!! But it's done, and I've got pics! Some of them are not so great, but after doing this for 3 hours, I just gave up!!! So pardon the bad pics, and enjoy......

The Front Cover

Okay, I'm having issues trying to upload the pics, so I will save the closeups for my Photo Album, entitled Arelys' Album......

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Page 10

Page 11

Page 12

 
Page 13

Page 14

Page 15

Page 16

Page 17

Page 18

Page 19

and the Back Cover

Now that I think about it, it really isn't that mini, is it?!! LOL I don't think that I was planning on it having that many pages, and I certainly didn't realize it until I had to upload all of the pics!! And I didn;t even upload the closeups!!! 

Materials used........I'm sure I'll forget a bunch, but here goes:

• Webster's Pages
• My Mind's Eye
• Basic Grey
• Pink Paislee
• Prima
• SEI
• Teresa Collins
• K&Co
• Little Yellow Bicycle
• Graphic 45
• Tim Holtz
• DCWV
• Cosmo Cricket
• BoBunny
• Martha Stewart
• Making Memories
• Me & My Big Ideas
• Offray
• MyMadkow Designs

Well, it's been a while since I had a long post. I'm sure it'll happen again soon!!!Hope you enjoyed the mini, as much as I enjoyed making it!! And don't forget, check out the challenges & giveaways, tell everyone about my RAK, and make sure you enter as well. I will update the info by Monday.

Happy Scrapping!!

Love ya,

Lynne

   
  

Recipe Album

Have you been wondering where I've been? Or what I've been up to?  Yeah, me too!!! LOL.  Actually, I've been reorganizing my craft space. It was a mess, and it was getting to the point where I couldn't find anything. So now everything has a place and a label!!! So much easier now!!

I finished and sent off my Snobby Walrus LOs & project.......like 3 days before it was due!!! Ugh!! I hate it when I do that!! I like to get things done early!! But for some reason, I had a hard time with my project, I just couldn't get anything to work out the way I wanted it...so, I finally decided to make a card!! Not that I have anything against cards, but I just thought that, that was the easy way out!! In my defense, I was just totally out of ideas!! 

Also I've been working on projects for the May DT Challenge at Posh!!! Nini has now added LOs to the challenge. So, we can do a card and/or an LO!!!! Love it......I actually got both done and 6 days ahead of time!!!

And I have been working on my DDs Recipe Album. This was what she wanted for Easter....problem is that she told me like 4 days before!!! Soooooo, I've been scrambling to get it done asap!! Plus I made a few Mother's Day cards!!!

Good thing I'm on vacation, right!!! It's been nice being home!! I'm trying to get my sleeping or lack their off, fixed. It's been an issue since I worked 2 hours away during the Holidays. I have finally given up, and am now taking sleeping pills to try and get my self regulated and on a set sleep schedule!! Hopefully when I go back to work, I'll be okay.

Soooo, I thought that I would share the recipe pages I made with you. Since there's like 6 of them (that I actually took pics of), I will limit the closeups.....else you'll be here til tomorrow, just reading this!!

So here goes.......

 
 
 

and my fave......

My ex-MIL's Banana Bread recipe......it just might be the only good thing that happened in that marriage!!! Everybody loves it, and it always comes out great...moist and tasty!! Naturally everyone always wants more!! I have a co-worker friend who loves this bread so much, that if I make some for him, I have to make two. One to eat at work, and the other to bring home and share with his wife!!!

I really had to work at not over-embellishing these pages, so that Ashley's album could lie flat!!! So these are very simple LOs....not my usual style!! That's okay, it forces me out of my comfort zone....kind of like doing Mason pages.....it's so hard to not put flowers on those LOs!!!! Well, sometimes I do, but I try to limit it, so that his pages actually look like boy pages!!!

I used some Cosmo Cricket & Basic Grey papers on these, with a bit of K&Co & DCWV thrown in. I'm also trying to use up some older embellies that I have in my stash. Gotta make room for more scrappy goodies!!!! LOL......I just ordered some Timmy stuff again!!! Now I want some Dew Drops!! Ouch....... my wallet is hurting!!!

Here's the card I made dor DD...... 

Love this collection from Webster's Pages!!! I ordered this set about a month ago, and it took almost that long before I got it!! That's how backed up they are!! Anyways, I did a bit of fussy cutting & layering of pp, added a Prima flower, which is just too perfect for this paper! And the 'daughter' chipboard embellie from K&Co, again, it's perfect with this paper!!

Soooo, that's about it for now. Will be back in the next few, with my Snobby Walrus & Posh projects.

Happy scrappin'

Love ya,

Lynne

It's Wonderful

Feeling like I've been neglecting my poor little blog!! Probably have. Been real busy. Trying to get my posts for Posh done. Working on a mini album for Kevin's girlfriend.  Have another commitment, that I've been working on, remember my little secret? Ashley wants a recipe album. For Easter, no less!!! That's probably NOT going to happen!!! LOL. At least she realizes that, but I will get started on it. Got a great idea to use the cover of a vintage book, and add a binder mechanism to make the album. I love the idea of doing this!! But then I love vintage, soooo....hopefully, Ashley will love it too, providing I can find the right album cover!!!

I added a few more blogs to my faves:

Much Ado About Nothing with Pinky. I thought for sure that I had this one up; my bad!! I have her other blog Dirty Scraps up.

Snobby Walrus You gotta check this one out!!!

The Graphics Fairy This one's a no brainer!! I just keep forgetting to put it in my list...in my defense, I do have their blinkie up!!!

Wendela this one replaces her old blog Creawen, which is still up & running. Lots of great stuff here.  

Plus......I joined another NING site!! Like I need more to do!!! I love it! It's called Scrappers of the Brier. It's soooo new, that there are only five of us as members!!! But, this one was founded by Angela Holt. Some of you know her from Pages In Time. That girl is soooo talented!!! You should see some of the blog headers, blinkies and avatars, that she has made. She also has quite a few videos & her LO's & projects are gorgeous!!

Also been thinking about doing my own blinkie. I've got an idea about what to do (pic, that is)....I just have to get it done!! No wonder, I've neglected the 'kow!! Been way too busy. The upside (well, for me anyways), is that tomorrow, I'm off shopping with DIL!! You know we're going to hit the craft stores!!! Esp the scrap stores! Soooooo...........

Here's an LO of my DD Ashley. Did this one for my DT post at Posh.

I always loved these pics that Kev took!! But, they are Polaroid shots!! Finally figured out that you can still scrap them. You just have to be careful to NOT cut or tear them. Cause the insides will ooze out onto your LO/project, and that will most def ruin your work!!

Just love the Cosmo Cricket paper!!! That company's scrappy stuff is sooo under-rated!!! I've passed them up soo many times, cause I was thinking, it's kids stuff. Wrong!!! Okay, some of it is. But a lot can be used for adult LOs too!! Check out my Warning! Warning!! Warning!!! post. Or, how about the Don't Try This At Home  post!!!!

Loving their scrappy stuff more and more every day!!!! I think my style is evolving too!! As much as I love vintage, I've been finding myself doing a lot more 'bright colored' pages.

Okay....I also used bits of K&Co paper & lots of their die-cuts (love!), and a Pink Paisley rubon. A few Prima flowers & some glimmer mist on the rolled fabric flower.

Got the flower idea from Rhonna Farrer at House of 3. Oh yeah!!! Almost forgot to tell you....I've also added a new list to the left sidebar, appropriately titled 'Tutorials'. I will add new and informative links to these great videos, as I find them, or in my case, re-find them!! I am soo bad at remembering where I got ideas/stuff from....so, this will be good for me!!!

I used home-made glitter mist on the rolled flower, and added a brad from Michaels (legs cut off) to the center. Here's another look.....

Home-Made Glitter Spray Recipe

 

You will need the following:

• Small spray bottle, travel size is best (I got mine at Wal-Mart)
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Alcohol Inks
• Perfect Pearls or Pearl Ex powders.

Open your spray bottle and pour rubbing alcohol into it, filling it about 3/4 of the way up.
Add three to five drops (you can use more to get a deeper color) of alcohol ink, in your choice of color.
I used two different greens to get the color I wanted.
Add about 1/2 teaspoon of pearl powder into bottle. Replace cap, and shake sideways!!!

Tip: If you shake it in an up and down motion, the pearl powders will clog the little tube in the sprayer, so make sure to always shake sideways!

This is definitely not an exact science. Okay, maybe for some of you!! LOL!! Just experiment with different colors & amounts of ink & pearl powders. You'll be amazed at the results!!! And you'll save lots of $$$.

Okay....one more pic...........

That little flourish, is a K&Co acrylic die-cut!! I layered it over packaging from Prima flowers, and then cut around it!!! Colors were perfect...the packaging really brings out the green in the die-cut!! Then I added 3 Martha Stewart black pearls to finish it off.

I've got a few more LOs in the works, plus.....all of the other stuff!! Hoping to be able to share my little secret soon!!! Meanwhile, I'll see you on your blogs!! Happy scrappin!!!

Love ya,

Lynne
 
 
 

Journey

Today is a good day!!! LOL, I guess you don't hear me say that too often!! I just got some good news.....and can't wait to share it with you. But,................I can't right now!!!! Maybe in the next couple of weeks, I'll be able to let you in on my little secret! But, until then.....

I have been shopping!!! Lots & lots of shopping. Online of course. And a lot of it was 'windows' shopping (get it?), but it's still shopping. I actually have a bunch of stuff coming soon. Am trying to figure out what I really want!! There's lots of new Cricut cartridges, all the new Tim Holtz stuff, all the new Prima, I want some Copic markers. Then there's all the new Webster's Pages, & Graphic 45!! Ugh, I could spend thousands...hence the 'windows' shopping!! Been thinking about a video camera, and a Big Shot Pro. Haven't quite decided on either yet.

Okay, so your probably wondering if I'm independently wealthy...I'm not! I just got my yearly bonus (not that great & taxes ate half!), and I decided that I needed to splurge a little! Will def put most $$ in savings, but have allowed myself a small chunk for scrappy goodness. So, you're probably also wondering why I'm spending $$ if I have to move. Well, I am not moving!! At least not til August & most likely not til the new year!!!!

Dan & Carol have also made some big decisions in their life!! And part of that is staying with me at least til August, possibly January!!! Think engineering!!!

Kevin's girlfriend, Arelys was here with us for a few days. It was real good to see her again!! She's almost done with studies, and will begin her 'internship' in the summer. Yep, she's going to be a doctor!! Kevin will probably be going to Puerto Rico soon! He's got a few jobs lined up....I know it will be totally different for him (& us), but this will be good for both of them!!

That's some of the big news in my little world! So on with the pics.......

Here's a card I made for the PDSS Sketch Challenge #11....

Papers, ribbon & lace are from my scrap stash. Flourishes are from Making Memories. I used Marvy-Uchida punches for the plain & scalloped circles. Philosophy tag is from Tim Holtz, & butterfly from Heidi Swapp.

Here's a close-up....

The smaller circle was clear embossed (TH stamp) on white cardstock. Then I stamped some distress inks on my non-stick craft sheet, spritz the ink with water & then swiped my circle through them.  

I used alcohol inks on a blending tool and stamped on the backside of the butterfly. I then glued it down on a vintage dictionary page with Glossy Accents (Ranger). Next I cut around the butterfly, and used a metallic silver pen around the edge. Easy to do!!! Just more involved. Love the alcohol inks on clear acrylic...def have to do more of that!!!

Next, I have another LO, in the "Family Photo Shoot" series......be warned.....pics are not that great!! I must have tried a dozen different times, in different lighting to get these. No matter what I did, the colors were off!! Tried to fix in Photoshop, but totally unsuccessful, as pics actually looked black & white!! So, I didn't get many 'decent' shots, and def fewer close-ups!!

The aqua is def more pronounced in reality!!!

Just so you can put faces to the names, here's the who's who of our family:

From left to right in the Back Row: Kevin (oldest son) & Mike (son-in-law).

Again from left to right in the Front Row: Grand-pa Moe (my Dad), Grand-ma Pete (my Mom), Ashley (daughter), holding Mason (grand-son), me, Carol (daughter-in-law) & Dan (youngest son). Are we cute or what?!!! LOL  Can you believe what Kevin had to do to take these pics?!! See the Don't Try This At Home post for more!! 

Okay....papers are K&Co, Bazzill Cardstock & Coredinations. Die-cuts are from G45, K&Co, & Making Memories. Bling from Martha Stewart, My Mind's Eye & Prima. Chipboard & Glimmer Mist are from Tattered Angels. Alphas are from MME. Flowers are from K&Co & MyMadkow. Distress Inks & Distress Stickles are from Tim Holtz.

Here's a close-up.......

Flower is made by following Rhonna Farrer's technique on House of 3. These are easy to do!!! Love them!!! Still working on which glues work best, but so far, I have to say Aleene's Tacky is the best!! Rhonna used Fantastic Fabric Tack....have to find some!! I used a button cover kit with a different fabric, for the middle of the flower, and then added some Prima bling to the top of it.

I have decided that I would start adding some of these great tutorials on my blog...I will link them in the sidebar under Tutorials, for you to check out! I figured, that some tutorials are harder to find (well, for me anyways!), and I'm always going back the different sites & You Tube to find them. This will def be easier for me!!

Hope you enjoyed these. Thanks for stopping by!!

Love ya,

Lynne
 

 

Warning! Warning!! Warning!!!

I'm back with one more LO from our annual 'Family Photo' shoot. This one is, well....a bit different!! And when I say different, I mean......okay......my kids are crazy!! It's a bit difficult to explain, you'd really have to be there to understand! Every family has their normal sibling rivalry, and 'dysfunctional-ness' (is that word?), and I'm sure that your family has that one kid, that just 'has to' show his feelings. Well, mine is no different. On the plus side, when this happens at a family photo shoot, while the photographer is taking pics, you really get 'reality'!! I love those pics!! It's not just posed, it's real...more normal.....well, if you consider some of these normal!.....and this year I got some doozies!!

So, here we go...............

 
Okay......I warned you!!!!

That's Dan, my youngest son......he's my brat, my troublemaker, and one of the best kids you could ever have!! He has such a big heart, and he can be sooooo sweet, but he's def got his moments. And this was one of them!!!!

I'm quite sure that Kevin (my oldest & the photographer) was prodding him, soooo, he told him off! I found it funny to see that Carol (DIL) & Mason (grand-son), just happened to stick their arms out at the same time! Almost like they were planning on doing the same thing!! And the looks on their faces......well, what can I say? I love this pic!!! I HAD to do an LO of it!! And Dan thought that it was just 'awesome'!! He doesn't say that too often!!

Here's a closeup........

Lots, and lots of Tim Holtz (love, love, love) products!! There's grungeboard (hearts, hinges, flourish, and skull & crossbones), distress inks, philosophy tag, clear acrylic fragment, alcohol inks, and Ranger Glossy Accents.

Papers are Me & My Big Ideas (blue pola dot) & K&Co (floral). Diecuts are from Graphic 45, Me & My Big Ideas and Cosmo Cricket (sentiment). Frame & key are from K&Co. Chain, wire & beads are from my stash. Leaves are from Prima, and wax & seal from 7 Gypsies.

I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist over the blue polka dot paper, and then distressed the torn edges. Then layered the pic over 2 pieces from my stash. The alphas are naked chipboard from Basic Grey, which I stamped with Staz-On inks, and then embossed with UTEE (3 times). The grungeboard was 'painted' using distress inks, Staz-On ink, acrylic paints and Adirondak paint dabbers.

The flowers were handmade using a paper bag. I got the idea from Rosanne at roxycar11. Love these!!!

Here's her You Tube video tutorial........

 

Sooooo easy to make!!! Love these!!! Check out more video's from Rosanne on  You Tube.

Well, that's about it for now. I was actually thinking that I would do a 'Resolution' review along with this post, but I have been having so many issues with Typepad (I've re-started a dozen times), that I think I will do it later!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Love ya,

Lynne

Don't Try This At Home!!

Every year, around Christmas, we get together and do a Family Photo Shoot. My son Kevin is the photographer, and we are his cast!! Grand-ma Pete & Grand-pa Moe (my parents), Ashley (DD), Mike (SIL), Mason (grand-son), Dan (DS), Carol (DIL) and myself. It's quite the production......just getting everybody's schedule to work is a feat!!!  

Since Kevin is doing the shoot, he has to get everything ready. He has to do some test pics, get us all together in the right place, set the timer, and run to his spot, tell us all to smile, and run back & check the pic, and then do it all over again. We always do a 'family' portrait, and each couple, and usually one with me & my folks, and one with me & my kids. This usually takes about 1 1/2 hours. Not too bad!! And then we get take-out or head out to a restaurant. Fun!!

Well, this year was a bit different. First, we all knew that Mike was going to Basic & Specialty Training in mid-January, and that Ashley & Mason were going to Vermont to be with Mike's Mom. Second, I'm back to working overnight. Third.......Mason!!! He is a bundle of energy!! That kid never stops......really he doesn't!! I'm sure that if he didn't need to sleep, he certainly wouldn't!! He loves playing and walking, and walking, and looking at everything, and more walking!! And then there's the picking up of anything that suits his fancy....leaves, flowers, rocks, keys, any little bit that he sees!! He has more energy than the Energizer Bunny!!! No joke!!

This year, we decided that each couple and myself, would have pics taken with Mason, plus the usual 'Family' portrait. Can you just imagine how difficult that was!! There was just no way that, that kid wanted to be held, and forced to smile!! We took turns standing behind Kevin and waving, & shouting 'peek-a-boo', etc. to get him to smile!! We even tickled him, as we were holding him. He just didn't want to do this!! Well, the shoot ended up taking almost 4 hours to get done!!!

The up-side to this, is that we def got more 'natural' looking pics, than normal.....with the exception of the 'Family" portrait. Our smiles looked less 'forced', and we were being ourselves!! We didn't get too many shots with Mason smiling, but that's okay. Our photos showed more of the love that we have for each other!! Def better pics!!! We also ended up getting some funny and goofy pics!!!

The LO that I'm going to show you today, is def a funny one!! You see, Kevin was holding Mason, & Dan was taking the pics. Mason is still teething, so he keeps putting his hand in his mouth.......well, he decided that he needed to put his wet fingers in Kevin's ear, just a moment before Dan snapped the pic!!! It was hilarious....Kevin trying to maintain his composure, and still wipe his ear. Mason had this impish look like he thought that he had just gotten even with Kevin!

Yep, he gave Kevin a 'wet willy'!!! Look at that face, doesn't it look like he actually knew what he just did?!!! LOL   I love this pic!!!!

I used a lot of different papers on this LO. There's Webster's Pages, K&Co, Graphic 45, Tim Holtz & Pink Paislee. The bright fun colors look great against the WP balloon paper!! I don't usually do bright LOs, but I think that this one has me hooked!!! This LO is def one of my top 3 faves!!!!

It's also the the LO that got me doing punched circle flowers......sooooo easy to do!!! I used 3 different sized circle punches, edged the circles with TH Distress Ink in Walnut Stain, and added a Pink Paislee brad. Here's a closeup......

I also added leaves made with Cricut and Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. I folded the leaves to make veining, and then edged each fold with distress ink & then topped it with Distress Stickles, all in Peeled Paint. I also used up some K&Co & EK Success flowers that I had leftover from another project, and I added some dimensional paint (TH & Polymark) to the centers. Here's another with the bear....

I bought that cute little bear (Jolee's) about 1 year ago; it had a bright red bow on it, before I changed it to blue (stash). I just couldn't come up with a way to use it on a LO.....until now. I think he looks so cute!!! The chipboard ladybug on the right side is from Colorbok, part of a 'wild 'animal' collection (see 'Are You Lion' post).

I did a bunch of distressing on this LO...unfortunately it was a rainy day when I took the pics, & the colors are a little off....that is TH Distress Ink in Walnut Stain around the edges.

And another....

And another......

I also used Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick & Peeled Paint around the edges of the layered papers. The chipboard is from K&Co & Colorbok. The burlap under the sentiment was in my stash. Alphas are also K& CO, and the sentiment (which I love) is from Cosmo Cricket!!! I wadded it up many times to get the wrinkled look, and then used TH Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the edge.

I had a lot of fun doing this LO....mostly, I just kept laughing at the pic!!!! As much as I love the 'Vintage Romantc Chic' look, I will def do more 'bright' LOs.

Hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did making it!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Love ya,

Lynne