MyMadkow

Deep In Thought

Do you remember how excited I was that a Joann's was opening nearby? I was giddy, and just couldn't wait for their opening day!! Well, the day finally came, and I went to the store. What a big let down. My problem is not with Joann's, the problem is with the size of the store, and what they carry for us scrappers. Which pretty much amounts to very little! The store is soooo small, and the majority of their product is sewing related. That's a BIG plus, as there really  is no other place to purchase fabric and or sewing related products in a 40 mile radius. So I'm pleased with that. But that leaves very little room for scrappy stuff, or anything else.

I've been there twice in the last 3 weeks. Once for their opening day, and the second time, to purchase fabrics. I'm going to make some covers for my Expression and my Big Shot Pro......I'm tired of dusting them off every time I want to use these tools!

Anyways, this is going to be a short post....gotta get ready for work!

Deep In Thought

Made with my Swirlydoos kit, and some older products from my stash!

I love how the flourishes turned out. Very simply made with the Flourish and Leaf die from Sizzix, and then stamped with DI in Gathered Twigs with a Timmy stamp from Holiday Wishes.

A K&Co bird diecut, overlayered with Glimmer Glass from Tattered Angels.

Alphas are a mix of American Crafts and October Afternoon. Some fussy cutting of the Glitz paper.

The Kaisercraft chippy flower is slathered in LSG embossing powders and topped with a Glitz rhinestone.

 You can see that I've been using lots of older products.....trying to make room, and keep my New Year's resolution from 2011 going!! So far, so good!

Hope you enjoyed!

Lynne

White Sands

If you read my last blog post, you'll remember that I mentioned I'd been re-organizing. I also said that I wasn't ready to take everything out and start over again. Well........right after I posted that, I started looking around my studio.......and........of course.....I had to figure out a way to make it work. At least make it work better, and still have some floor space! LOL It took me a full day of playing with graph paper and little furniture cut-outs, before I came up with a grand plan.

The very next morning around 6am, I started moving everything out!! It took about 8 hours, not counting breakfast & lunch, to get it all moved around. And now I just love it!! It's got a better layout, and there's floor space! I'm missing one small table that I want to use as part of my L-shaped desk. I actually ordered it from Target, got my confirmation, etc. and 3 days later, I got an email from them saying they'd cancelled my order! Ugh!!! Apparently they were out of stock. Really? They weren't out of stock when I ordered it!!!! I'm pretty bummed about it. So I'll keep looking around, and see what else I can find.

Anyways.......here's another LO that I completed right after Christmas. Yeah, I'm behind in posting!

White Sands

Paper is Prima and Webster's Pages, with lots of distressing and layering. Cardstock is from Bazzill. Doily is, of course from Wilton!

Not a great pic, but, the chippie is from Kaisercraft. It's slathered in Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays (Cosmopolitan Pink & A Bit 'o Bubbly) and T!m's Distress Inks  in Antique Linen and Tattered Rose, some Halo Pink-Gold Lumiere paint, Espresso Dimensional Pearls from Ranger and Stickles in Fruit Punch. I typed up my Title and glued it behind the chippy, after spraying with LSG Sprays.

I've used a Prima Antique Mirror over a Prima Flocked Rubon, and a K&Co diecut under the mat.

 

The
The floral spray is from Recollections. The newspaper leaves are also from Recollections, misted with My Mojito Green from LSG. The large white bloom is handmade from an old curtain, a scrap and a button cover, and one Prima flower center. I love that the fabric is fraying, it just adds to the overall effect. The pink ledger paper (Prima) doily was cut with the Floral Doily Motif from Spellbinders.

Here's a closeup of the flower. You can also see a bit of the stamping I've done with a Hampton Arts stamp, and Memento ink in Rich Cocoa. Pink roses are Prima. The little red blossoms were in one of my Swirlydoos Kits. The small green leaves are I Am Roses.

One more for the road.....................Applause

The birthday card I made for my oldest, Kevin.  Pretty simple. Lots of T!m products and a pleasant surprise! The red on the clock face is not intentional......it's a by-product of painting over black chipboard!!! Love it!!!!

I think I've been challenged......by PJ, to actually make some videos. Go check out her new blog, and watch some interesting AND funny vids!!! So.......I'm going to attempt it next week when I'm off. We'll see how it works with a point-and-shoot camera! Hahahahaha

Til next time,

Lynne

Apple of His Eye for Scrapbudz

Ack!! I'm having PC issues again!!! This time.....it's leaving comments on other blogs!! Ugh, need Dan my computer guru to help assist, okay, so I need him to fix it!! And to make matters worse, of course it's happening on some of my fave blogs!!

Which I'm sure begs the question 'Do you (as in me) really, actually leave comments on other blogs?' Yeah, I admit it, I am awful about doing it!! But, I'm trying to change!!! Call this my 4th quarter resolution!!

And by the way, if I can't leave you a comment (see above), I'll send you an email via mine (mymadkow@live.com) so that you know I'm trying!! LOL  

On to the good stuff!!!!

So this is our October challenge at Scrapbudz

 
How yummy looking is that!!

And here is my take.....

 
I kinda got carried away with the theme, but it works! Love this papers from Prima. Cardstock is Bazzill. I felt that the pic needed some matting, so I found an old transparency (unkown) to layer on top of it, and then I layed the whole thing over some BoBunny cardstock, which I promptly punched the edges of....Martha Stewart, of course. Really, is there any other punch that compares?

 
All of that gorgeous lace (unkown) is little leftover bits that I saved from other projects. I did color the darker piece with Distress Stains in Vintage Photo!!! So love that stuff!! I can't believe that I put off buying any because I thought that it was redundant to have the inks and the stains!! The grungeboard wing is Tim Holtz, slathered in Distress Inks and Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray in Dark Chocolate Truffle. Oh, and my pic is definitely NOT capturing all of the shimmer from the spray!!

It's not very often that I recommend products, but if you haven't tried the LSG sprays, you are SO missing out!! Gorgeous colors, full of shimmery goodness!! And awesome prices too!!! Check them out here. I promise if you try these, you'll never look back at the others!! I actually gave all of my other mists to my DD & my DIL.

I took a Glitzer (transparent sticker) from Glitz Designs, and adhered it to a small piece of packaging. I wanted to be able to use it without having to stick it down. The My Mind's Eye alphas were painted with Lumiere paint in Halo Pink Gold and then sprayed with Ramblin' Rose Red from LSG.

Other products include a Tattered Angels alpha frame, and a BoBunny butterfly trinket. The gorgeous flower is Prima, the mini roses are Recollections, sprayed with LSG, and the tiny alphas are Cosmo Cricket.

So that's my project for Scrapbudz. Do check out the blog, and play along!!

Thanks for stopping by!! And leaving a comment!! (Really, I'll respond in kind, I Promise!!)

Lynne

 

A Few Projects & A Design Team

A few days ago, I received an email from Eve the owner of Black With 2. She had already chosen the new DTs for this blog. Was I disappointed....yes, but not for long!! Why? Well, Eve asked me to DT for her other blog, Scrapbudz Scrapbook Boutique. How awesome is that!!! I am honored to be part of the team!! And I'm definitely joining a very talented group of ladies!!  Thanks Eve!!!!!!

My new position starts on April 1st! It's been a while since I've been on a 'creative' deadline. But I'm totally looking forward to it, and I can't wait to get started!!

I did update my blog, with all of the new team info and blog links. Check out the <----- sidebar. And I will also post the new blinky, as soon as I can get it to work......technologically challenged here!! Please do take some time, and visit the Scrapbudz blogs. I also made some other changes (minor), and I'm planning on changing up my gallery......sometime in the near future.

So, I am going to share the projects that I submitted to Eve.....I'll keep the wordiness short!! LOL as if I can do that!! But I will keep the closeups to a minimum.

Tranquillite

 
Gorgeous papers!!!! The Moonrise Collection....this is one of my fave collections from SEI!!! LOVE IT!! I actually 'saved' it for months, before I finally decided to cut into it!!! How crazy is that? I just thought it was too beautiful to use up! The pic of my DIL, Carol, was printed in sepia on watercolor paper, and then distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The little black velvet leaves......were flowers from Heidi Swapp......I just cut them apart into sections of two. The filagree butterfly is also SEI. Lace trim is Prima, felt trim is Recollections (see note), the foil border strip is Jolee's & the vintage whatnot is from Glitz.

 
The peach and the black & white flowers were cut from the pp. I made itty bitty flowers with the buttons & sequins that were included in the SEI kit. The bling is also Recollections and the larger leaves are made from one of my fave 7Gypsies paper. I love it so much, that I buy a few sheets everytime I see it!!

Remember

 
I punched a bunch of circles and layered them under the punched (Martha Stewart) circle mat.  You can see the Heidi Swapp black velvet flowers peaking out from under the glimmer misted Prima flowers. I used Basic Gray & Graphic 45 papers. I added a few K&Co and G45 diecuts, as well as some October Afternoon stickers.

 
My title is also stickers from OA. The seam binding is from Bluebird Lane Etsy.  And there's a few odds & ends everywhere.

Forever Happy

 
Love this pic of my DD Ashley....I think my DGS Mason took this pic, when they were at the airport waiting to go back home. I sanded part of the background because I really didn't want suitcases & stuff showing. I then stamped all over the sanded parts, with various Inkadinkado & Anna Griffin stamps. This LO is a bit different then what I usually do. I kept everything in the center to keep the background cleaner. More SEI papers. I used Lumiere paints on the title, which is a piece cut from a Dusty Attic chippy, another from K&Co, and on the the Tim/Sizzix birdcage & bird. 
I love how these handmade flowers turned out. I used more SEI papers....double sided cardstock, and I love the bits of green peaking out. I used a bit of broken china Distress Ink and some Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist, and added Recollections mini roses, also misted, to the centers. The leaves and bling are Prima. Bits of Tim Holtz, Martha Stewart pearls, Glitz sticker, and Tattered Angels.

Waiting

 
Pics of Mason are also at the airport...he was totally mesmerized by all of the hoopla outside of the window. I used My Mind's Eye, Prima, Onirie & SEI papers. Bits from Heidi Swapp, 7Gypsies, Sandylion, Martha Stewart, Greenbrier Intl. Distress Inks from Tim & paints from Folk Art

So here's my note...... 

Have you noticed how much more Recollections stuff there is at Michaels now? I was really getting frustrated with this, cause they were replacing the higher end products, such as Prima, with their own brand. Well, about a month ago, I was in there shopping, and they had lots more new stuff from Recollections. Not only more, but better quality, and much, much prettier than what they started with. I really didn't think I would ever say this, but I'm impresssed!! I'll still buy Prima, ZVA, etc, but I'll also get Recollections!! Bonus is that their stuff, is definitely less expensive!! Have you experienced the same thing? And are you buying the Recollections products? Nope, not getting any $$ from Michaels, just wondering if I'm the only one who feels this way.

That's all I have for today....and now it's time for me to go play some more!!

Happy scrapping,

Lynne 

Quilted Family For Let's Get Shabby

I'm playing again!! With Let's Get Shabby, that is. Challenge #17, which is all about 'Raiding Your Sewing Boxes'. Here's my take on this challenge........

 
Lots & lots of scraps here!! From Graphic 45, K&Co, 7 Gypsies, My Mind's Eye, Tim Holtz, BoBunny, Webster's Pages, Basic Grey, Onirie, and many more gorgeous papers! I also decided to use up some 'older' embellies from my stash. I only used two new items on this LO. Here's a few closeups.....

 
One Prima bloom, sits next to two gorgeous handmade flowers from Angelica Franssen. Check out her Etsy shop, you'll love all of her handmade beauties!! Awesome prices too! Here's a closeup of one of the flowers, as well as the other 'new item'...........

 
See the Maple Leaf? It's metal!! This set of SEI embellies, is just stunning!! This is by far, one of my faves from this company!!

So, what did I use from my sewing box? Lace, of course, a few buttons and some pins, which I gussied up with some beads.

 
And I did some faux stitching.....would have stitched around the LO, but my sewing machine is in storage! So, I did the next best thing.......

 
I even faux stitched on the Making Memories alphas. Had a lot of fun doing this LO, especially playing around with the square scraps. Trying to position my faves around the edge, and still be able to represent everyone in the family. Everyone's got their own style, from trucks, to mellow vintage, to bright modern, and eclectic. From subdued to high intensity colors. Each one is totally different, and yet they all work together beautifully.

Dig out your scraps, and play......I know you'll love the outcome!

Love ya,

Lynne

 

 

 

Waiting For Ice Cream at Let's Get Shabby

I originally made this LO for the DT Call at Let's Get Shabby. I didn't make their new team :( but I did get a pretty nice LO for my DGS's Vermont album, out of it!

 
Paper is October Afternoon, 7 Gypsies & My Mind's Eye.

 
 
The alphas are MME & little wood ones are from EK Success. I place my letters over a glimmer misted doily (Wilton) that I cut the center out of.

 
Flowers are Prima & Heidi Swapp. Leaves were cut on Cricut with K&Co paper. The gingham ribbon is old outdoor ribbon from Floracraft. My daughter found this one, and a few others, at a thrift store in Vermont. They're a bit harder to work with, but I love their vintageness!! And since the call included that you make an LO with 'Ginham & Floral'......well that was just too perfect!!

I also added a bit of Adirondack Dimensional Pearls to the outer edge of the phot mat. And a bit of Tim Holtz Distress Inks to the edges. The lace is May Arts and the pearl brad is MME. Don't you just love that huge Prima butterfly?!!

So, I didn't make their team this time....but I'm gonna keep trying!!

Love ya,

Lynne

Sew Good for Let's Get Shabby

Have you visited the Let's Get Shabby site?? You really need to!! I love this challenge blog!! Although, I have to confess, that I spent a long time, just viewing at arms length, before taking the plunge, and trying some of their challenges. I haven't done too  many, but I certainly have enjoyed each one!!

This LO, is for Challenge #16, and it is a two part challenge. First you choose which kitchen's style & color combo, and then you add a piece of fabric, & two diecuts, along with visually representing you kitchen choice with 3 main colors. Not too hard, right? So, here's my take on it.......

 
I know, it really doesn't represent a kitchen or something, you would def do in a kitchen! But.....I sewed for a long time at my kitchen table!! And I really wanted to use these gorgeous Webster's Pages & Prima papers!! Why? These papers, & that kitchen, really reminds me of my grand-ma Jeanette's kitchen!! Shabby with well used & worn furnishings! Almost always painted green, with some pink glassware, on the shelves. I miss her very much!!

 
You can see, that I slathered on the Diamond Dust....on pretty much everything!! Love that stuff!!

 
Because this kitchen  reminds me of simpler days, and the love that I felt at Grand-ma's house, I wanted to incorporate a piece of dictionary page with 'love' on it. Plus it goes great the pic of my parents from about 8 years ago!!

 
I also added some Martha Stewart fine glitter, to the Tattered Angels chipboard....which was left in it's natural color!! I also stamped some G45 & MME scraps with heart & leaf stamps. The small velvety leaves, are scraps from SEI paper.

 
The little measuring tape & the butterflies, are diecuts from K&Co. I used Sweet Clover glimmer mist on the tape, it was originally yellow....def not one of my colors! The banner 'La vie est bonne', is a piece from WP papers, edged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

 
I thought that the mannequin was sooo cute, and of course, that's where my fabric went. A little skirt with a shabby train. I just snipped the fabric at 1/4 inch intervals. A little ribbon and a small bloom, finish it off.

Paper – Webster’s Pages, Prima, SEI, MME & Graphic 45   Diecuts - K&Co   Doily – Royal Lace   Chipboard & Glimmer Mist- Tattered Angels   Alphas – My Mind’s Eye   Glitter – Martha Stewart   Diamond Dust – Floracraft   Distress Ink – Tim Holtz   Flowers – Prima   Fabric & Vintage Dictionary Page – stash   Stamps – Craft Smart & Hampton Art   Ribbon - Michaels

BTW, things are going pretty good, at home!! Yeah, I'm a little surprised!! The big bonus....my Dad is easily bored, so he washed, waxed & cleaned the inside of my car!! How cool is that?!!

Also, I haven't forgotten about doing the Blogoversary RAK......I just ordered some stuff for it.....I'll post pics soon!!

Happy Scrapping!

Lynne