It's Okay to Give Them Away...Cards That Is!

After taking about six hours to make one card, I decided that I wouldn't give my handmade cards to just anybody. (You know that feeling. You send the card to the person, they look at it, maybe display for a few days and then throw it in the trash.) It would have to be someone who would truly appreciate the time and craftsmanship that went into making the card, someone who would save it forever and ever; usually those are select family members and other paper crafters. But then I found myself participating in Friday Night Challenges over at Scraps of Color and developing a stockpile of handmade cards that I didn't want to give away.

A few weeks ago, I had an "ah ha" moment. When I was spending $5+ for a greeting card, I didn't care what the recipient did with it. When I was taking the time to design and print them with my computer software, I didn't care what the recipients did with them. If the joy comes from the crafting, why stress over what happens to the card once its sent? Just a thought.... So here are just a few that I've been hoarding that I vow to send out in the next couple of months.

 

Thanks for looking!!!!

Step Away From Your Cricut, or...Use Clip Art!

I wanted/needed a staircase with graduated steps for a scrapbook page I was doing for my sorority scrapbook. Mind you, I was working on page 2 of 10 pages that I needed to have finished within four days. The titles for each page were done, but I was having trouble coming up with a concept for each page. I searched and searched my over 100 Cricut cartridges via my Gypsy, Design Studio, Cricut Cheat Sheets, and MyCutSearch.com. The only image I found was on A Child’s Year and it wasn’t what wanted.

I then opened an MS Word document and went searching through the clip art. I found exactly what I was looking for but I didn't like the colors.

So, I hit upon the idea of printing it in grayscale. I would have loved to print it in black and white but in two years I haven’t figured out how, or if I even can, print in B/W with my printer. So…grayscale it was! Before printing though…I enlarged the clip art, added some titles to the steps and did a little cropping. Then I printed the image using the fast/draft setting so the gray wouldn’t come out so dark.

I colored the steps with my Copics. I’m still learning how to use them so it took me quite awhile just to color some danged steps! I wanted to make the titles pop out a little so I came up with the bright idea of using my glaze pens over the titles, sprinkling them with green embossing powder, and heat embossing. I tested the idea with different colored glaze pens and embossing powders (including clear) on a piece of the image I had trimmed off and it looked like it would work out okay. Turns out the idea was not so bright….*sigh.* The first title didn’t come out too badly, but for some reason with each title it got increasingly worse. The embossing bubbled and the letters kind of ran together. It could have been that I was holding my heat gun too close or it could have been the glaze pen, the embossing powder, or both, reacting with my Copics. In any event, I had messed up and I flat out refused to print out another image and go through the task of coloring again…especially with a looming deadline. So I tried different black pens on top of my sample embossing, none of which worked very well. Then I tried my Smooch ink which although not perfect, worked much better. So trace over the letters I did. I also added a little Smooch ink at the top where you could see the white cardstock, and wouldn’t you know it…I made a smudge…..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……

So…I added some bling to the top. (Makes it look kinda like a cake don’t’cha think??) I then cut an image from Forever Young (I plumped her up a bit!) to place at the bottom of the steps, and several smaller silhouettes to place on the steps from the same cartridge.  Here is the finished project…

While not my best work, it worked for me!

If you’ve made it this far in my blog post, I thank you! And since you HAVE read this far, you might as well finish up and take note of the lesson for today.

So what I’ve learned is this:

…If you can’t find it on one of your Cricut cartridges or draw/create an image yourself, check your word processing program for clip art, or any clip art program for that matter. There are many ways to make creative changes to clip art so that it works for what you want it to!

…Don’t, I repeat DON’T, experiment with new techniques on your project when you’re playing beat the clock. Save experimentation for those times when you can afford to mess up because you have time for do-overs!

…Don’t take short cuts either! I was too danged lazy to get my ink pad and so used my Smooch ink (which was at hand) and wouldn’t ya know it…I messed up.

Thank you for stopping by. 

**I have TWO more days of school left and then it's on and croppin' (and bloggin')!

Turn Your Camera!

So...I realize that it has been SOME time since I've blogged. My intentions are really good, but life seems to really get in the way sometimes. The good news is, I HAVE been creating and continuing to learn by trial and error; the bad news is, I haven't posted anything here in a long time, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a blog, don't cha think?

I have 21 days until [in my best rock & roll voice] SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER! In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with a short little lesson today.

Turn your camera!!!! What do I mean "turn your camera?" I mean, make sure you take pictures both in landscape (horizontal) AND portrait (vertical) orientation.

I am taking a great online class over at My Creative Classroom on using sketches (if you've been following me, you know how I feel about those!). Lots and lots of the sketches contain lots and lots of 4 x 6 photos that have a portrait orientation. In looking for groups of photos to use with the sketches, I had trouble finding good photos that were portrait-oriented. That's when it hit me...I hardly ever TURN MY CAMERA!

In this day and age of digital photography, most of us have abandoned film cameras which are quickly going the way of the dinosaur and 8-track tape. So...there's no excuse not to take lots and lots of pictures of your subjects with the camera turned both vertically and horizontally. You can always save and print the very best one, and delete the bad ones. Why save all fifty of the shots you took [trying to get the perfect picture] of the same statue or flower pot? Upload the pics to your computer, be ruthless in narrowing the collection down to a very select few (in both orientations of course!) and delete the rest!

So..our lesson for today people is this...(repeat after me)...TURN YOUR CAMERA!
And... for all you digital camera people, purge, purge, purge and keep only the very best pictures.

Thanks for stopping by!

Digi-stamps and Old Embellies on Layouts - Real Cats Scrap!

Digi-stamps are often sent out early in the week to Friday Night Challenge participants over at Scraps of Color. I received one such digi-stamp of a kitty going after a goldfish. Normally, I take the digi-stamps, color them with Copics (I'm a Copic newbie) and try to use them on cards, but for this one I couldn't for the life of me decide what kind of card to put it on.

Then I thought about the fact that I have a cat, and some pretty cool pictures of that cat, and that just maybe I could use that digi-stamp on a layout about my cat. While I know that people often use sentiment and other kinds of image stamps on layouts, I don't know that I've seen too many Copic-colored image stamps on a layout. Not saying that they're not out there...I just haven't seen any. So I decided to treat that image as a third photo to go along with the two photos of Isis I had chosen.

Pulled out my trusty "Page Patterns - Just Plain Simplicity" book and found a simple sketch using three photos. Found some paper, ribbon, a chipboard tag, small journaling tag, and some old, old, old embellishments (now that they're all organized) and got to work. I purchased the stainless steel scrapbooking embellishments years and years ago at a LSS that was going out of business in L.A. (Yes, they are real stainless steel, and yes they are sharp! I know...because I cut myself with one of them!) I think I found the other embellies that they're sitting on at a Big Lots in L.A. years ago. I have no clue where the chipboard tag came from but once I covered it with the coordinating patterned paper and inked the edges, I was pleased with the results. The letters of the title came from the Don Juan Cricut cartridge. Once I got all of my supplies together, the layout came together fairly quickly.

Going Fishing is So Played Out! Real Cats Scrap!

So this is what I learned...

1. It's okay to color a stamp (digi or rubber) to use on a layout.
2. Having your scrap stuff organized (I feel another post coming!) really helps you to find the perfect embellishments to use on a project.
3. Be careful...stainless steel embellishments are sharp!
4. Get those old embellishments out and use them! You might be surprised at the results...

Thanks for checking me out!

Those Pesky Twisted Rhinestone Flourishes

So....I don't know about all of you, but whenever...and I mean WHENEVER....I try to adhere one of those rhinestone flourishes to a card or layout, they get all twisted on themselves and I usually end up accidentally tearing off pieces while trying to get them untangled (especially when I'm under the gun doing a 30 minute card challenge!). Do you know what I'm talking about? Witness some of those pesky flourishes below...

One night it occurred to me, if transfer tape (or painter's tape) can be used to transfer vinyl, why can't it be used to transfer these lovely embellishments that add "bling" to our projects?

So...I pulled out my wide roll of blue painter's tape, tore off a piece, stuck it on top of the flourish, smoothed it down to make sure it stuck well, and removed the plastic that the flourish was attached to. I placed the tape with the flourish on my project, rubbed it well, slowly removed the tape...and voila! The rhinestone flourish went onto my project without a twist or a turn! The only thing that would have made it easier would have been if I had used clear transfer tape...so I will be placing an order soon.

So...today's lesson is this: when trying to put a rhinestone flourish (or other similar types of embellishment) on a project, try blue painter's tape or clear transfer tape, then embellies attach in a jiffy!

Thanks for checking in!

Extreme Makeover: Scrapbook Style - Mr. President

Last week I took part in another Friday Night Challenge over at Scraps of Color. Most of the time we do cards, however this particular Friday night included a 45-minute layout challenge. You got it...45 minutes to do a layout! Me...the slowest scrapper in the land... the scrapper who takes hours and sometimes days to design and create a two-page layout. Not only were we to do the layout it 45 minutes, but we also had to follow certain parameters: Create a two-page 24x12 LO of President Obama.  Your color scheme is Red, Black, ONE PAPER MUST BE PATTERNED and a color of your choice as an accent. Your design must use a "star". It must have a minimum of 4 photos. One photo must include show "Black Love."  There must be bling. There must be the words "OBAMA" and "44." There must be a space for journaling. Let me repeat...this had to be done in 45 minutes. I really didn't think I could do it, but I was determined to try. Thankfully we had been told earlier in the week that we needed to have several Obama photos so in that regard I was prepared.

I grabbed one of my trusty sketches books, "Page Patterns...Just Plain Simplicity," found a simple sketch that contained four photos and got to work. Pulled out some cardstock and found some OLD 4th of July patterned paper that contained stars and the word FREEDOM at the bottom (I cut that off)! In the middle of working my ATG ran out of adhesive...grrrrrrrrrrrr....!!! So I had to make do with some Zots and other things in the meantime. I didn't quite make the 45 minutes; I think it took me between 50 and 55 minutes and I wasn't quite thrilled with the layout that resulted. But I posted it to the gallery anyway.

Two days later, I decided to change up some things. I found some old chipboard letters (with a design on them) and numbers and covered them with glitter using the technique you can find here. Since I used red glitter I changed the color of the background they were on from the red patterned paper to blue. I added some more rhinestone flourishes (stay tuned for my next post about a great way to adhere them without having them tangle) using them to cover some of the punching mistakes on the blue frame. I added a star made from the red patterned paper and a couple of blue stars with some added bling. Finally, I added some typed journaling.  I tried to write on the American Crafts transparent journaling box but none of the pens I had would write well on it, so I ended up printing it on cardstock and adhering it over the journaling box. What you see below is the result.

So, today's lessons are these:

1. If you aren't pleased with a layout that you did, let it sit and "marinate" for a bit, and then come back to it. Taking a break from it and coming back to it with fresh eyes, may help you see where you can add some improvements.
2. If nothing about the layout pleases you, don't be afraid to go back to the drawing board and start over.
3. This one bears repeating yet again...try sketches!
4. Find a way to fix or cover little "boo boos." You really don't have to start over or re-cut something just because it has a flaw in it.
5. Setting a time limit for creating a layout will force you to think quickly and you may be surprised by the results.

Hope you enjoyed my musings for today. Thanks for looking!

Making Progress When Challenged - Some Cards

I've recently begun taking part in Friday Night Chat Challenges over at Scraps of Color. A different member hosts each week. A digital image is sent out at the beginning of the week and we use it to make a project of our choice that has to be posted on Friday evening. During the chat on Friday evenings, we are presented with challenges that almost always involve making a card (according to certain parameters) AND posting it within 30 minutes. And...we usually do that THREE times during the course of the evening. That is part of what has gotten me in organization mode here in my scrap space...simply so that I can put my hands on tools and supplies quickly. Since I'm also still fairly new to cardmaking, the entire process forces me to think and move quickly...and if you've been following me for awhile, you know that I am very slow when it comes to papercrafting. It takes me an hour just to choose paper sometimes.

So I'd like to share a few of the cards I've completed and share what I've learned through the process of creating them.

This card was created with the image that was sent to us at the beginning of the week. I'm very new to the world of Copics though I've acquired quite a collection. My coloring leaves a lot to be desired but that's okay because I am a work in progress and have long ago given up on being perfect.

For this card, the instructions were to make a two-layer all-white card with just one small pop of color. I had a great idea in mind and intended to put a layout on there using one of my Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page punches. Only problem was, since acquiring all seven or eight of them (I bought them when Oprah gave out the 50% coupon) I had never used one. I chose to test it out during a 30-minute challenge. Not too smart. I should have tried them out AND learned how to use them as soon as I brought them home. As you can see, I had some issues with the corner punch. (Which reminds me; my Cinch and Creatopia arrived last week. Better take them out of the box and try them out!)

For this card...we were given a sketch to follow and instructed to make it monochromatic (shades of one color). You know me...I love sketches! Not quite monochromatic, but almost!....

For my last card, we were supposed to create a card using stamp of our choice, rhinestones or pearls, fringe and a sentiment. I kind of misread the directions and used the stamp as my sentiment. I also didn't have any fringe in my stash. I suppose I could of made some fringe out of paper but I didn't want to since I was in a time crunch. I found some fiber stuff in my stash that I had forgotten I had. Decided to use that instead.

So here is what I've learned going through this process...

1. Progress, not perfection, is the name of the game.
2. When you go out and spend your hard-earned money on new scrapping tools, get them out and learn how to use them as soon as possible. You've spent the money; no use having them just sit there. You might just be surprised at what you can create with your new toys.
3. This one bears repeating...when you've lost your mojo or are in a creative rut, use a sketch!
4. Don't be afraid to substitute one product for another.

Thanks for stopping by....

Sketches and Boo-Boos! - Route 66

I'm here watching the Superbowl (just for the commercials and Black-Eyed Peas at halftime) and have been working diligently to update my blog. I've actually gotten several things done in the last few weeks but have been too busy to work on my blog. I've been inundated at work and busy [re]organizing my scrap space. So, since my DS is at his friend's house watching the game and I'm here in peace and solitude I figured I'd take the time to add some new things. Starting with this layout:

This layout was done for a challenge over at the Library of Memories Community at BigPictureClasses.com. We were supposed to create a Storage Binder layout of an event with more than 10 photos. Use only four on your page. Triage the remaining six photos behind at least three different tabs in your category drawers. I cheated a little and used seven photos. I figured it was okay since I was doing a two-page spread. I began with this sketch from Page Patterns: Just Plain Simplicity.

Sketches are a great starting point for me and my final product usually looks very little like the original sketch. Remember that when starting as a sketch, you don't have to use it as is. You can rotate one or both pages four different ways. I turned the entire sketch upside down to accommodate the orientation of my pictures and the sequential order in which I wanted them to appear.  

As I was attempting to adhere one of the 6's onto the Route 66 embellishment, it fell onto the white portion adhesive side down. I picked it up quickly and swiped at the glue with my finger. It left a a very visible black smudge. I thought about re-cutting it and decided I didn't feel like being bothered and would use it as is. As I was finishing up, inspiration struck and I decided to cover the entire embellishment with Distress Stickles in Rock Candy. So I just squirted some on and smeared it all over with my finger. Not only did it diminish the look of the smearing, but it kind of gave the sign that old dirty road sign look. It added that certain somethin' somethin' to the page. I love how it turned out!

So...today's lessons are:

1. Begin with a sketch but feel free to manipulate it so that it works for you, your photos and your design process.
2. Also, don't despair if you make a mistake or drip glue or something else on your layout. Look around your scrap space and find a little-used product that you have and use it to help you fix the problem.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Blog's Got Attitude!

My dear friend Helen was sweet enough to bless me with the "My Blog's Got Attitude Award!" I feel so honored...this is my third award and three is my lucky number! But before I forget, I must tell you, Helen's work is out of this world, and she is what I strive to be in my crafting endeavors. If I can create just one-fourth of what she does with her flair for creativity, I will have done a good job. So please, when you are finished browsing here, take a peek at her blog A Taste of DC and leave her some love.

This award requires me to tell three things that make me different from other people.

1.  I was a late bloomer in the motherhood department. I had my only child, "Skootch!", when 

I was 41. He is now in the 4th grade, so you do the math!

2.  I can organize the heck out of anything, hence the reason I don't create as much as I'd like to. I come in my craft space to make something and then see something that I would have better access to if it were in a different place. This usually leads to a complete overhaul in one or more sections of my craft space and crafting during that set aside time.

3.  I was once photographed by Annie Leibovitz. At the time, I didn't realize what a celebrity she was. Her sister, Barbara Leibovitz, was making a documentary movie called "Salvaged Lives." I was there with one of the people who was being profiled for the movie and Annie was doing the photo stills for the promotional posters and what-not, and took several pictures of the two of us together.

Now I have to pay it forward and nominate five bloggers for the award who have A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E. So, here are the five bloggers who I am nominating for this blog award.

1. Trell is fairly new to the Sistas Scrap Too! message board over at Cricut.com. His work is phenomenal and is going to probably necessitate our changing the name to Sistas AND Brothas Scrap Too! Please check him out at Polka Dots, Paint and Cake Batter. Even the name of his blog denotes fun and creativity!
2. BDMommy is another one of my sisters over at the SST message board. She is all kinds of creative and posts something new almost everyday. I can't imagine with her job and her little one when she finds time to create, but somehow she does and everything she makes is stunning! Go visit her at Riley's Custom Creations.
3. YayaPhilly is also on SST. She creates some AMAZING dimensional projects and is the master at handmade flowers. You can see her beautiful work over at YaYaPhilly Scrap Spot.
4. Michelle is on SST as well and is all kinds of talented. Plus she has the cutest blog. You must go see it at Now Stamp This!
5. Sanura is another one of my friends over at SST and SOC. This sister has cardmaking on lockdown! She said that one of her New Year's Resolutions is to keep her blog updated. Maybe if she knows people are coming to see her over at SanuraScraps she will. Frankly, I don't know how she has time to create the beautiful cards that she does considering she's a mom with three children AND a teacher, just like I am!

Please enjoy your blog awards. With this award, you are now entitled to enjoy a $5 gift certificate from the  Digi's With Attitude store.

NO CRAFT SHOPPING FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY!!!

I know...long time, no post. I've been much too busy organizing my craft space (yet again!) so that I can put my hands on something and make the time spent in my craft space more productive. Just in time too!!! 


Over at Scraps of Color, folks LOVE to issue challenges! A "No Craft Spending" challenge was issued as a result of many members viewing this video.

The rules are: 

*No shopping in any store-Michael's, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, Archivers, etc. 

*No online shopping

*No window shopping

*No HSN shopping

ONLY USE WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR SUPPLIES!!!!!

Remind yourself with a note on your page, ask a family member to help you to not to shop, check in with your SOC friends by saying "NO SHOPPING TODAY!"

The "no window shopping" part is fairly easy since my nearest M's is starting to bore me and my nearest J's is over twelve miles away. The online shopping part...not so easy since I am on so many mailing lists and message boards that are full of enablers. My dear son was THRILLED to hear that we would not be going to any craft stores in February since he would much rather play outside than ride with mom on yet another browsing expedition in a craft store. 


I confess that I placed quite a few online orders towards the end of January, so withdrawal hasn't set in yet because yesterday my Cinch arrived in the mail, and the day before my Creatopia (both from HSN) came a knockin'.

So...we'll see how this plays out. It's Day Four and so far I'm not tempted! Since this blog is about what I learn through my crafting experiences, I hope there is a lesson here! Stay tuned....

Stylish Blogger Award

Normea over at M.M. DeZigns was kind enough to present me with a blog award - the Stylish Blogger Award. Me, who is having trouble keeping her blog current. Thank's Normea! Normea is one of the most talented card-makers I know. Please stop by her blog and take a look at her awesome work. When you do, let her know that I sent you. I am grateful she thinks so highly of my l'il 'ole blog! Hope I can live up to the hype!

This is a pay-it-forward style award. Here are the rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards.

So here are 8 things about myself:
1. I have one son affectionately known as "Skootch!"
2. I am the only person I know who can "phutz" away more time and then look up and not be able to say what I did for the last several hours.
3. Being a middle-school teacher is hard work.
4. I love the color orange!
5. I recently realized that even though I began scrapbooking in 2000, I was making all kinds for craft items back when I was much younger.
6. I buy and collect more than I scrap. Hoping to change that in 2011.
7. I could eat some good Thai food everyy day of the week.
8. I eat just about the same thing for lunch at work everyday. It's easier, and doing so has helped me shed quite a few pounds.

Here are the 8 bloggers I would like to share this award with (and it was so very hard to choose only eight): 

1. My {Life}, My {Blog}
2. Nubian Crafter
3. Scrap InnoVations
4. Divine Scrapper
5. Treva's Craft Corner
6. Stamping on the Road
7. Now Stamp This
8. StampinDymonz

Scrapbookers Can Etch Too - Etched Glass Mugs

I continue to work on my creativity, and since this is a year to frugally gift, I decided to try my hand at etching some glass mugs for my parents. Many of my sisters on the Cricut messageboard have been doing glass etching for awhile and I was intrigued. Last month, my interest was peaked again when I went to visit my aunt and uncle's new store The Caribbean Experience at Barnaby Street Shoppes (at Bell Mar Shops) in Surprise, AZ. While there, I visited the store, B & B Etching Products, of a lovely lady named Barb who was offering "make and takes" using her Etch-All Etching cream. Both my son and I etched a cute little hummingbird on a glass tile. The process was much easier than I thought it was.

So a week or two ago, I went back and purchased her kit which included the etching cream, a tool to use for weeding, a stencil of the hummingbird, and explicit directions on how to do the etching. I also purchased a pack of her Etchmask Stencil Vinyl which came packaged with the needed transfer sheets. I visited Dollar Tree and purchased two of the glass mugs for $1 each.

I used my Cricut to cut out the stencils. It took me a minute to figure out what to do with the transfer paper and how to put the stencil on the glass, but once I remembered I was good to go. After cutting the vinyl, I weeded it, and then put the transfer paper on top of the vinyl. I removed the backing from the vinyl and then placed the vinyl (with its transfer paper) on the glass mug. I removed the transfer paper and then I was ready to use the etching cream. What you see below is the result. If you are interested in my observations and what I learned, you will find those below my pics.

I was very pleased with the way these turned out and the quality of the etching. I did realize the following though:

1. I had trouble seeing where the designs were going to fall on the glass and so they ended up being placed too low and in one case, slightly crooked. My thinking was that if I left a wide margin all the way around the stencil, then there would be less covering needed of the parts I didn't want etched. I should have trimmed the stencils to about 1/2" to 1" all the way around so that placement would have been easier.
2. Barb suggested that when etching on a curved surface that one should use white contact paper to put around the stencil to make a sort of well to catch the etching cream as it dripped a little. I decided to use blue painters tape instead which worked okay, but the contact paper would have done a better job of catching the drips. While the cream was setting, I had to be mindful of the dripping and often had to wipe away cream as it dripped towards areas that I didn't want etched.
3. My designs probably could have been made a little smaller.

I enjoyed doing this much more than I thought I would and may end up becoming a "mad etch artist!" With my Cricut to cut stencils, the sky is the limit! Thanks for looking and Happy New Year to all of my followers!

Scraps of Color Kwanzaa Giveaway

One of my favorite websites, Scraps of Color is doing a FABULOUS weeklong Kwanzaa Giveaway.  You can check it out right here. Check in each day because you won't know what the challenge is or the prize.  You've got to play to win.  Please note: all prizes will be mailed at the end of the giveaway, because each day you enter you could win and I just want to send 1 package to each winner!  Also, due to the cost of shipping, this giveaway is limited to US & Canada Residents only.)  

BONUS!!!  Create a card, layout or altered project with Kwanzaa as your inspiration/subject and be entered to win an additional prize!  That's right at the end of the week someone will win a wonderful prize just for getting crafty!  Just share a link to your creation below and you are entered.  Entries must be shared by Saturday, January 1, 2011 11:59pm eastern time.  

Make Time for Peace and Relaxation - Pat and Cali Card

I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated my blog. But then, I guess it would make sense since it's been about that long since I've done any kind of papercrafting. Finally though, I sat down to complete a request that my aunt made to me in August. Some of you may remember me going on and on about a class called "52 Card Pick-Up" over at BigPictureClasses (formerly BigPictureScrapbooking.com). In this blog entry, I shared some of the techniques I had learned. One of them involved placing a photo with high contrast into a Word document, converting it to black and white, and then adjusting the contrast to create this kind of retro Andy Warhol look. I sent a picture of the original project to my dear aunty and she fell in love with it requesting approximately 25 note cards made with the same picture. That request was made in August. I FINALLY finished the cards during Thanksgiving weekend and you can see a couple of pics below. Life (and the need for printer ink cartridges) basically got in the way. I hate it when that happens. Sometimes it's just stuff you have to do and other times when there's no stuff to do, the mojo's not there. I've missed my mojo and have to constantly remind myself that I must make time to do those things that restore peace and relaxation to my life, like papercrafting. So that's the lesson for today...if you really do enjoy papercrafting, make time for it, everyday if possible. You don't have to devote hours and hours at a time. Sometimes, all that's needed is a 30-minute session to remove the stress of the day and get those creative juices flowing. Hope I take my own advice! Thanks for looking!

There's Hope for Unfinished Layouts - Standing Tall Together

This is the last layout I completed at the Crop Re-tweet. Believe it or not this layout has been sitting in my unfinished pile for well over three years. My best friend sent me these pictures and I just knew that I had to create a layout. So...I turned to my Pagemaps binder found a sketch for a two-page layout and got busy during a crop I attended when I was a CM consultant. From the start, I had trouble pulling it together, and over the years pulled it out over and over again, only to put it back in it's protective envelope. I couldn't figure out why it wasn't coming together, especially since I was starting out with a trusty sketch, which as we know can be turned and tweaked to make it fit your pictures and ideas.

Well while pondering this layout yet again last weekend, my friend and co-cropper said to me, maybe you should try a one-page layout instead, because it seems that you have too much space to make it a two-page layout. Light bulb moment and a big 'ole duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Why didn't I think of that? It's just been in the last couple of years that I've actually done one-page layouts, having always done full albums or at least two-page spreads. So why NOT do a one-page layout instead? Permission was all that was needed for me to move in a different direction, permission that I could have granted to myself had I been thinking outside of the box.

The layout is very simple and in my opinion it doesn't need lots of "stuff" because the pictures tell a story all by themselves. I am so glad that pictures are finally seeing the light of day on scrapbook page. The lesson learned was of course "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"

P.S. As I look at this layout onscreen, I am contemplating changing the journaling box from pink to same color used in the photo mat and then matting that with the pink. But...if I don't ever get around to doing it, that's okay too.

Don't forget YOU in your pages! - Back to School, Old School

Another layout I completed last weekend was based on the September Challenge over at Scraps of Color.  The challenge was to scrap BACK TO SCHOOL...OLD SCHOOL!   And...we don't mean your kids...we mean YOU!  The layout was to include: one or more of my school pictures from any grade, have at least one cardstock and two patterned papers, a journaling block, and shabby chic techniques (anything to age the layout...inking, tattered edges, old lace, etc.). The layout had to be new as of September 8th. This is the first time in ten years of scrapbooking that I did a layout containing old photos of me.

If you've been following my blog (and thank you to all of you who do!) you know that I am "patterned-paper challenged." So, I turned to my recently acquired DCWV Hittin' the Books stack. Using the stack made matching up pattern-paper easy peasy! For my shabby chic technique, no exciting stuff there...I just inked around the edges of my paper. I originally numbered my photos with glaze pens, using white on the dark corners, and black on the light corners. I didn't like the way it looked...kind of after-thought looking....so I found some stickers, punched some small circles and adhered them to my pictures.

Lessons learned this time around? DCWV paper stacks and other coordinating paper lines are a must have for those who are patterned-paper challenged! They are on sale at Joann's at 40% to 50% off more often than not. Boo boo's can always be fixed...just think outside the box! And finally, when scrapbooking, don't forget to capture your "early years" in your pages. Your family will love looking at them and seeing what you were like way back when. Thanks for looking!

Stuck Ideas - The Polar Express

The next thing I worked on at the retreat was a layout I began in June while taking SDU at Joann's. If memory serves me correctly, we chose the pictures first and were then instructed to do a split complementary color scheme layout. As they are Christmas photos I was glad not to be doing the traditional red-green color combination. I chose blue-green cardstock for my background, and the split complementary colors for that are red and orange. I seem to remember having trouble weaving in the orange and changing my color scheme. I went with a red/yellow-green/blue-green combo which are also split complementary colors.

This layout sat for awhile because I had envisioned something totally different with respect to the title and embellishments, but couldn't translate what was in my head to my Gypsy and Cricut. I originally intended to have one letter per train car for the title, but size-wise it wasn't working for me. So the letters ended up by themselves on the train track. I also envisioned an entire Santa's Village scene on the right side of the page, but that didn't come together either so I settled for the gingerbread house. I hadn't brought anything to color my embellishments with and so borrowed my friend's Smooch inks to color in the different elements on the house. They never dried. When I came home, I had the bright idea to use my Stickles and what a difference they made.

So this is what I learned...if an idea gets stuck in your head and won't come out, it's okay to make a shift and try something else. Also, Smooch inks don't dry on DCWV glitter cardstock. I probably could have set it with a heat gun, but I didn't have one with me at the time. Chances are, they won't dry on any other kind of slick cardstock either. And now on to the layout! Thanks for looking!

Preserving the Past - Grandma and Grandpa

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a weekend crop retreat in Tucson, my very first! I was invited by my friend Helen, whom I met through the Sistas Scrap Too MB over at cricut.com. To say that I had a wonderful time with the Scrapbook Chicks at their inaugural Crop Re-Tweet is an understatement. Had I not had a child and a job to return to, I might not have come home at all. Scrapbooking really is cheaper than therapy, but I digress.

I took everything with me, including the kitchen sink, and yet only got six or seven pages done. I have to do better. I'm on a quest to organize all of my embellies so that they're accessible at home, yet easy to grab for a crop. So yesterday, I purchased one of these at Michael's (with a 50% off Joann's coupon) in pink and purple. But again I digress because this is not the reason for my post.

I decided to pack layouts that had been in various stages of completion and work on those first. I began with two pictures of my grandparents and a sketch that was posted in April over at the SST Cricut MB. You can see the sketch here. So I got paper and embellies together and took them to a crop I went to in May I think it was. That kit never got touched, so I brought it with me to the retreat and am quite pleased with the results. This is the first time I have EVER done a layout about my grandparents and I have been scrapbooking for ten years.

I made an unintended slice through my grandmother's photo but was able to cover it with the embellishment and journaling tag. I was also drinking a bottle of water that had begun to sweat and a drop or two fell on my grandfather's photo. I decided that it didn't show and made the decision not to reprint the photo.

So before I end this post and share my pictures, let me tell you what I learned this time around. First, while it is important to scrap the everyday moments and events, it is equally important to preserve your history. Don't forget to tell those stories from the past. Second, if you make a mistake on a layout or damage a picture, it can often be repaired or disguised. Take this opportunity to see where your creativity will lead you. And finally, don't drink water over your layouts! Thanks for looking!

Celebrate You

So I finally decided to try another challenge over at Scraps of Color. I decided that it was simple enough that I could get it done in one evening (remember...I am a very slowwww crafter). The challenge was to use kraft cardstock, eight squares of patterned paper, a verse/sentiment (stamped or rub-on), and a piece of ribbon (didn't specify how much). Easy enough, right? When I sat down to work, I actually had a totally different design in mind; one that came to me while I was on the freeway yesterday and which I sketched out on a piece of scratch paper in the parking lot at JoAnn's. When I got home and tried to make it work, I couldn't...so this is what I resorted to. For some reason in the scan, the colors don't look very true (or like they even go together) even though all of the paper came from one paper pack. I assure you that the colors are much more vibrant than what you see.

I had something totally different in mind with the ribbon that would have used much more of it, but the ribbon that I had in the right color was too wide and would have tampered with the balance of the card. So what I learned is that starting with a sketch or idea in mind is great, but it's okay to switch up in the middle of creating. The results just might surprise you. Oh yes...and that I also need to add more ribbon to my ribbon stash! TFL.

52 Card Pick-Up - The Last of My Favorite Techniques

So...here we are...the last of my favorites out of the 52 cards created during this class.

Used a strip of patterned paper to create a pleated border. Finished the look of with a white torn ruffle on the bottom and a strip of coordinating paper on the top. Buttons finished off the look. Yes, that little cool kid belongs to me. Ahhhh.....the baby days.....

Not too long ago, I saw a card that someone did using the following technique and wanted to learn how to do it. So it goes without saying that when Technique #52 arrived and this was it, I was thrilled! A series of "v's" were cut into two-sided patterned paper and then every other "v" was folded back. I decided rather than turn the card into a mini-layout, I would put both attempts on one card with notes about how to make it come out more uniform. This technique is very simple yet it makes a great impact.

Would you believe that the next card began as a piece of white cardstock? I love, love, love how this came out. Another easy peasy, lemon squeezy (in the words of my 7th graders) technique. A makeup sponge was used to sponge a coating of dye ink on the cardstock. Then I used my fingers to flick droplets of water onto the inked cardstock. Like I said, easy! I added the rubber stamp and journaling just so the card wouldn't be naked.

And finally.....placed a photo with high contrast into a Word document, converted it to black and white, and then adjusted the contrast to create this look. When I emailed this to my dear aunty, she loved it so much she asked me to make her 25 note cards using the same picture.

So there you have it. My favorites out of the 52 Card Technique class. If you are intrigued by this class, taught by Tena Sprenger, I encourage you to keep a look out for it at Big Picture Scrapbooking. Because it is one of their longer workshops, it probably won't return until sometime next year, although I hear tell she might be doing a sequel. If she does, I'm in!

If you've made it this far, I thank you so much for following my 52 Card journey. It is my hope that this will not be my last post for a long time. Although work and life sometimes get in the way, it is my goal to continue to carve out time each week to be creative and continue to share the things I learn along the way. TFL!

52 Card Pick Up - Even More Techniques

I'm back with a few more techniques to show you....

If you've been following my blog since I began this class, then you know that one of the earlier techniques called for the use of a Clorox Bleach pen! Well, our teacher had us pull it out again to alter photos. I attempted this technique twice with two different photos. I was too lazy to reprint the first one. The bleach pen was used to write on the darker area of the photo, and then removed with a damp paper towel. On my first attempt, things were going fine but then the pen started bubbling and coming out watery. (I probably should have re-shaken it a few times.) So I pulled out my trusty glaze pen and added the blue writing to the bleached out portion.

Here is my second attempt with the bleach pen. Almost made it again, but then the pen started coming out watery again. I know many would question using bleach on photos, as well as whether its acid-free and will affect the picture in years to come.   While I think it is a cool way to journal on photos, I'm not sure that I'd be brave enough to use this technique on a project that's going into an album.

This textured transparency frame was created by using Staz-on ink and embossing powder. I applied the ink (I used black) directly from the pad to the transparency. It was immediately covered with embossing powder (I decided to be brave and try blue) and then heated with an embossing gun. A window was then cut out so that the frame would fit around the picture.

And lastly...a photo mosaic. I was supposed to cut the photo into five equal vertical strips, and then cut each strip into five equal pieces. My photo was too small (I think it was 3 x 5) and I didn't want the pieces to come out too small. So I cut three horizontally instead of five. I really like this technique and have seen layouts where the results are stunning. I think though that this is best used for landscape or scenery shots. Not too sure how it would look with lots of people in the photo.

Thanks for checking out more cool techniques. Stay tuned...I think I'm going to put together one more techniques post!