Saturday, December 31, 2011

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas

Made a digital layout for a Challenge at Club Scrap. It was challenging, to be sure. And I doubt I will ever print it. But at least I now have the photos formatted and ready to print the old-fashioned way for a “real” layout. These photos were all taken during the holiday season in Gold River, Folsom, Elk Grove, Sonoma, Reno, Chico and Auburn.

CSSketchRelayFL

All items from Club Scrap’s December Aurora Borealis digi kit. Thanks for looking.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Happy Hanukkah

Just a little greeting for those of you celebrating the Festival of Lights.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Happy Birthday, Mark

This is the card I created for the Club Scrap December Card Sketch Challenge. I wanted to make a masculine card for the DH of my friend Squirrely Nancy. All supplies are Club Scrap including a card base from Farmers Market. Panels are from Destination. Stamps are from Haberdashery and Dashing. Brads from stash. All edges inked with Black Soot Distress Ink.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Refuge

This layout was created for the Monthly Sketch Relay Challenge for Club Scrap. It depicts a recent ride my hubby and I took up the 5 to the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge in Glenn County. We visit this refuge about once a year to see the waterfowl. We were a bit too early this year (Halloween weekend) but still saw some activity. Base is the green print from the Lodge collection. The light green is from LMCTW. Cream strips from Henna. Thickers from Comfort Zone. The copper metallic is from my growing DCWV stash. All edges inked with Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink. Using my old stuff here: pulled out the decorative edge scissors. I'm gonna use those things, dangit.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Happy Birthday

Just a card I made for my stepson Scott who turns 48 today. All components from Club Scrap. Cardstock from the Henna kit. Digital images from Orient Express. Eyelets from my ancient stash (use your stash, use your stash). All edges inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. Simple but effective.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Gobble Gobble

All month, I’ve been wanting to paper-piece a turkey using a Cuttlebug die I’ve had forever and never used. What’s new?

So I gathered a bunch of Club Scrap autumnal-colored scraps and started cranking away on the Cuttlebug. Got the idea for this particular turkey from Cocoa Daisy. Used scraps from numerous Club Scrap kits, including but not limited to, Apothecary, Henna, Collections, Gramma’s Attic, Chocolate Shoppe, Sonoma, Freedom and on and on…..

The eyes are Enamel Accents. The background panel was another challenge to myself. Young Nancy introduced me to a new technique this morning, called Retiform, using Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon and Antique Linen on a piece of Bristol Smooth. Card base is Apothecary. The amazing thing is: I learned about a technique and jumped right in to do it, without mulling it over for several years. It’s a new era. Thanks to Nancy and my sister Chrissie for inspiring me to create in this way.

So without further ado, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Enjoy your feast but not too much.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Princess Promenade

PrincessPromenade

The left half of this layout fulfilled my October/November Scraplift challenge at PaperArtistsOnline. I'm using the right half as my submission for their November Bling challenge.

It's a layout about a "girls" bike ride I took with my sister Chrissie a few years ago. Mostly females, many in costume and jewelry. We only wore fun foam crowns with bling and feather boas but we were WAAAAY underdressed. This layout is about the cute kids we saw that day with their Moms.


Base is purple Bazzil, the pattern paper is called Fairy Tale by Creative Imaginations, the boa and bling were purchased at Michaels. The photo looks blitzed out. The pattern paper is actually a nice lavender color as are the squares and journaling block. Just making excuses.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Brayered Embossed Backgrounds

Continuing with the Croptoberfest Challenges over at PaperArtistsOnline, I made a set of three similar cards, challenging myself to use a brayer and embossing folder to get different looks with each one. For the first one, I brayered Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink over the embossed image after running it through the Cuttlebug. This results in a Letterpress look which I really like.

BrayerEmbImage

For the next one, I brayered the Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink over the embossing folder before running it through the Cuttlebug. I call this a Letterpress effect but I'm not sure I'm correct. Is it the positive or the negative? Whatever. I like it.

BrayerEmbFolder
 
For the last one, I glued strips of contrasting cardstock to the panel before running it through the Cuttlebug. The photo may not illustrate it very well other than the word Blessings, but there are also strips on the words November and Autumn. After embossing, I also ran a brayer over the image with Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink.
 
BrayerEmbImageStrips
 
Supplies Used:
All Cardstock from Club Scrap
Henna card base
Cruising black panel
Apothecary or Gramma’s Attic embossed panel
Flowers from Comfort Zone unmounteds
Rosette made from Wordsworth Tangerine Wash paper
Bling brad from my stash
Ranger Distress inks used on flower images
Tim Holtz Sizzix Thankful Background embossing folder
 
Thanks for looking. Which one is your favorite technique?
 

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Club Scrap October Sketch Relay

OurBBallPlayerBlog

This layout was created for Club Scrap's October Sketch Relay Challenge and features my niece Lexi at a basketball game I was lucky enough to attend.

Supplies used:
Club Scrap Scholarship cardstock
Basketball embellishment cut on Silhouette Digital cutter
Karen Foster Basketball stickers
Journaling computer generated
Sketch used: Steppin' Out sketch - November 2004

Double Take Sketches

I recently participated in an online class called Double Take at Big Picture Classes along with my friend and fellow Squirrely Girl Nancy. The class started before my trip to Kentucky but I wasn’t really able to participate until it was completely over and I had returned to my scrap cave. These first two layouts were created with the Double Take sketches. As always, I was multi-tasking and made them to suit some other challenges at PaperArtistsOnline.
CAPBLog
This first one is from Week One, Sketch 1. It covers a recent visit to Lancaster, Ky, where I spent my first summer out of high school volunteering for three months with the Christian Appalachian Project. I was a tender eighteen year old and stopping by this place where I spent so much time was a touching experience for me. So much had changed and yet so little. It's a small town of 4,000 now so it was probably a lot smaller in 1972.
Supplies used:
Cardstock: DCWV from Mariposa and Immortal Love stacks
Flower cut with Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die on Cuttlebug
Tape strips from Heidi Swapp
Butterfly border strip from Martha Stewart Punch
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Garden Fairy
Button from Eddie Bauer
Doily and twine from Michaels
Computer generated journaling
CAP title is Ranger Distress Ink over a sticker which is then removed
LeveeBlog
This second layout is about visiting the levee in Newport, Ky, where I grew up and taking in the view of majestic Cincinnati across the river. My sister Chrissie and I are pointing at the buildings where we work/worked (I left in 1974).
So with the PAO Croptoberfest Challenges, I have been inspired to get out my sprays which I love collecting but rarely use. On this one I went crazy by spraying just about everything in sight. The page on the left was yellow American Crafts cardstock when I started. Love that Orange Juice. There wasn't a cloud in the sky that day but I added a few to fit the challenge on PAO. I think it works.
Supplies used:
Cardstock: American Crafts yellow, Wordsworth Tangerine Wash patterned paper
Cloud shapes and letter circles cut on Silhouette digital cutter; inked with Weathered Wood Distress Ink
Memories Mist Orange Juice used on white cardstock along with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink
Computer generated journaling

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Hell Raisers

HellRiders Sketch

Layout created for Club Scrap’s September Sketch Relay Challenge using a sketch from the Old South kit of July 2002. Layout describes the bike ride I took in July with Mallory and Bob.


All cardstock from Club Scrap. Layout base pages are from the Wheel & Sprocket Design Classic on Paisley cardstock. The sprockets were cut on my Silhouette from Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper, sprayed with Smooch and touched up with Pewter Metallic Rub-ons. Title was created using sticker letters from Fiesta, also on Bristol and sprayed, then the stickers were removed leaving the letter negative space. Photos were matted with blue from Solstice. Journalling note on Solstice also using rubber stamp from stash. Chain sticker from stash is from a Karen Burniston sticker set. Thanks for looking.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Squirrely Challenge – Embossed Glossy

Head Squirrel Nancy has resumed our Squirrely Challenges with one called Embossed Glossy. As usual, I am multi-tasking with my crafting. DH required a birthday card for his good buddy. As I’ve mentioned, I’m taking an online class from Jennifer McGuire (see sidebar) so I’ve combined all challenges into one with this card. It’s a fairly simple technique and the look of it doesn’t really come across too well in my photo but, trust me, it looks like suede. Hubby requested a card with “No Tarting Up” but amazingly asked for glitter. Go figure. So I suppose I should give him Art Director credit on this as I’m sure I would have put more embellishment on it if left to my own devices.

Squirrely Challenge

The card base is from Club Scrap’s All That Jazz kit as was the glossy cardstock used for the technique. I used Colorbox Chestnut Roan Chalk ink for the brown color after running the cardstock through my Cuttlebug using an embossing folder. The sevens were cut on my Silhouette layering four cuts for each one to give some dimension. I used Tiara Stickles to give the glitter look requested by Hubby. The greeting was stamped and cut out with my own hand. Unbelievable.

Thanks for looking. Feels good to be back at my craft table.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Inspiration Showcase–Row Two

I’m not moving too quickly on this class but have finished Row Two. I think our instructor Jennifer McGuire is up to Row Four. Oh, well, the class is available forever so I can work at my own pace. Crazy thing is, I’m also signed up for another scrapbook layout class which starts this week also. What was I thinking?

Butterflies Row Two

My colors don’t necessarily match up to Jen’s but I am following along on her techniques. This Row was all about die cuts and Cuttlebug embossing. Love those techniques and will be using most of them again in the future on cards and layouts. No stamps used on these butterflies. Only ink and embossing folders. Thanks for looking.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Inspiration Showcase – Row One

I am taking an online class from Jennifer McGuire, creating a 12x12 canvas displaying shapes using various inking and stamping techniques. Jennifer's canvas uses hearts. I chose to create mine with butterflies. You all know I love my butterflies. I have finished the first row which involved various forms of resist techniques.
Butterflies Row One
Most butterflies were inked with various Distress Inks using Versamark ink as a resist. The red one with the button uses a heat embossed image for the resist. All stamps used are from my Club Scrap collection. Kits used are Be Wonderful, Arts 'n Crafts, Retro, Poetic, Haberdashery and Papillon (big surprise there!).
 
But haven't been able to complete any of the Bonus cards before turning out the lights tonight. Maybe tomorrow night? Stay tuned. Thanks for looking.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Lucy’s Tea House

Our hostesses made a personalized house for each of us as a goodie. Lucy’s was too precious to go unnoted. It’s a Tea House. Perfect for Lucy.

0911111447 LucyTea

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Terri from Vacaville

It was good to see one of my scrappin' pals from Green Tangerines. Posted via cell phone.

The Instructor

Holding the collage piece she inspired me to create. Thanks so much for the guidance, Mary Jo.

One of our Camp Hostesses

Before the paint, Stickles and glitter started flying. Posted via cell phone.

The Paper Ho

Diane, on Paper Probation. Posted via cell phone.

Gee No

Miss Lucy is making swap cards. Posted via cell phone.

Lucy and Me

Lucy is my West Coast Scrap angel and sponsor. Posted via cell phone.

My Collage Piece

May add a photo of little Roy in his sailor suit. Posted via cell phone.

Teacher

Adding color to mesh collage components. Posted via cell phone.

Collage Class with Mary Jo McGraw

Out of my comfort zone. Posted via cell phone.

Connie and Eggs

Why is her cup glowing?

Mary Jo and Me

Breakfast with a celebrity! Posted via cell phone.

Extreme Close Up

No one should be this close to my face.

Freaky Friday

It never rains in California. But the sky does get freaky. And, yes, it does rain on Scramp Camp.

Twizzlers

Snacktime.

The Ranch House

Great venue for this event. Posted via cell phone.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Lovely backgrounds.

Lovely backgrounds.

Brayer Technique Class

Faux Sanding with Nancy. Posted via cell phone.

Puzzle pieces

Everywhere I look... Posted via cell phone.

Delivery of the ATCs

0909111510 ATC

JJ receives the goods. Posted via cell phone.

Maison des Artes

We all got personalized houses. Nancy's theme is l'oiseau and mine is des bicyclette. Posted via cell phone.

Max's

KJ and her gigantic sandwich. Posted via cell phone.

Second Stop

Lathrop. Well, I can have a treat once in awhile. Right? Posted via cell phone.

First Stop

Farley in the Pocket for ATC pick up. Posted via cell phone.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Club Scrap Card Sketch Challenge

It’s a new month and a new sketch. Here is the sketch I have posted at Club Scrap to provide a challenge for my friends over there.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I created three samples of cards using paint chips and faux paint chips to give the gals a push. The first card was created for our good neighbors, Myron and Irene. We learned yesterday that their Welsh Terrier Cardi had passed on. Having lost our beloved Cairn in January, we know well the pain they are going through right now. I didn't have an image of a Welsh Terrier so I used a Club Scrap image of a Cairn on our sympathy card. This card uses paper scraps to create the idea of paint chips. Inside I have told them that Cardi and Denni are now playing together again along with a heartbreaking poem which appeared on several cards we received in January.

Cardi Sketch

They are gone
from our sight...
but never our memory,
gone from our hearing...
but never our hearts,
gone from our touch...
but their presence is felt,
and the love that they gave us
never departs.

The next card uses faux paint chips which were included in a Club Scrap kit from several years ago called Hearth and Home.

Flutterbye Sketch

And the last one uses actual paint chips from the hardware store. Back on my task of trying to create a few Christmas cards each month so I don’t have a lot of them to make in December.

SnowflakeSKETCH

All supplies are from Club Scrap except for snowflake brads. Thanks for looking.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

August Challenges

Can you smell the burning rubber as my wheels screech into the closing moments of the month? I told my friends at Club Scrap that I would be arriving, hair on fire, at the last minute to submit my Challenge layouts for the month of August. Here they are, not a moment too soon.

This first one was created for Christine's Monthly Challenge, a repeat of the Friendship theme. It’s a layout about me and my sister and BFF Chrissie. In 2008, when she visited me in California, we had the opportunity to ride in a "girls" bike event called Princess Promenade. It was a bike ride of a lifetime for me. Not often I get to ride with my little sis.

This layout was created with all Wheel and Sprocket cardstock, fibers and tag, with the exception of pink mats from Dream in Color and some bling from Michaels bought especially for the event. 

BikerChicksBL

This next layout is about FINALLY, after passing this copper statue for 36 years, stopping to photograph it last month while on a trip to the wine country with my good friend Teresa and her daughter Mallory, who is like a daughter to me. Oh, and by the way, there is a photo of me with the statue, too, which I don't yet have from Mal, so once I do get a copy, I will replace one of the repetitive photos of the Grape Crusher with it. Just to keep me in my scrapbooks.

GrapeCrusherBL 2

For this last layout tonight, I used the same Club Scrap sketch from To You With Love as the one used for the Grape Crusher layout above. The first one is created with all Club Scrap materials.

I then challenged myself to utilize the same sketch for another layout, but using materials from my non-CS stash for a challenge at Paper Artists Online. Perfect challenge for it as I have a Karen Foster school paper pad and happened to recently take some photos of Mallory when we visited the campus of her high school in July when she was home on Summer Break (she's now doing her post grad work at ASU). 

So the papers are Karen Foster with a kraft base, stamps from Club Scrap on each side and ribbon from CS on right side. My school/office supplies are the ribbon which simulates a ruler (thanks for that inspiration, Chrissie) and manila folders used for the stamped bases. Title was cut with white cardstock on the Silhouette and then colored with Distress Inks. All edges also inked with Distress Ink. 

BackToSchoolBL

Thanks for looking.