1 More Day

Glittery Goodness

Another project done...oh how I love glitter

2 more days until reveal and you can see this guy and all of his friends in all their glory.

Another sneak

Just a quickie(get your mind out of the gutter) to show off a couple of goodies you haven't seen in my stuff yet.
I've finished 'the required elements', so I'll have one more peek tomorrow or maybe I'll keep you in suspense. The whole shebang 'goes live' on August 1, I can't wait for you to see it and I can't wait to see what goodness the rest of the DT has whipped up.

In other news, you no doubt have noticed the Back to School supplies at your local Target, it's not too far off...13 work days before my school opens the doors to 2009-2010...who am I kidding even the weekends will be work days from here until mid September. I just have to remember to breathe and try not to cry in public. Savor the last bits of summer for me...

Sometimes...

Cleaning is a good thing, I was organizing my scraps last week and putting some pics away and came across these goodies...any chance of continued cleaning and organizing was out the window and instead my body found itself at the desk, when the mojo starts to roll, you've just got to go with it...I have the rest of my life to clean.

I think I may be the last scrapper on the planet to buy the Martha butterfly punch, I really don't know why I resisted so long...


Supplies: Pretty much everything from the BG Wisteria collection, ribbon from god knows where? and the aforementioned Martha punches.

Sneak Peeps...

Quick name your top five favorite scrappy manufactures...

Did you happen to name: American Crafts? Jenni Bowlin? Sassafrass? Crate Paper? Maya Road? Pink Paislee? Hambly? Prima? I bet you named at least a couple from this list which is why you're going to love the August KGK kit...They're ALL in there, yes there is a little treasure from each of these manufactures in that box of love...now you can understand why I held up traffic just a bit.

Here are some sneaks from my second layout, turned out a little different than my norm, but definitely some Christyn touches, can't wait to show you the whole thing Aug. 1.

The xacto knife jumped into my hand...

and cried out for help from his buddy the bottle of glassy accents... Clue #2 this little guy peeps and has several friends from a couple of different manufactures.and the quickutz didn't want to miss out on the party...


Can't get enough sneaks, be sure to check out the main KGK blog and the other team members...great stuff, I can't wait to see their layouts/projects.

Late Night F.U.N

Stick of butter: .75 cents (or so, not really sure since I buy butter in large quantities @ Costco)

Visit w/xrays to Doggie Er to make sure wrapper from said butter is not stuck in dog's throat: $256
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Living 5 minutes away from said ER, happy healthy dog who throw-up said wrapper at ER and a restful sleep: Priceless.

And so it came to be after 2.5 hours we're home, he's asleep already and I'm trying to wind down from my second wind.

It took so long because there were a few other animals who weren't quite as lucky as us tonight(although I think their ok too) and that's something to be thankful for...the staff at the Animal ER are truly wonderful...even though it was really just an upset tummy(ok a VERY upset tummy) they treated me and Tanner with the same compassion and care. Lots to be said for that!

Sneaky Peak Part 1

ooh, I got my first Kraft Girls kit in the mail today...I had it delivered to work so I knew it would get delivered, only downside...I wanted to leave and play and it was only 1pm so that wasn't a choice(drat!). I snuck a couple of peaks in the office and a closer look on the way home (sorry to the drivers behind me @ the Holly light).

Finally, I got home and busted it all out and started to plan, I think some fun and a little different for me layouts are in store.

Here's a couple of sneaks from my first layout... Clue #1 the kit includes some 'elusive' letters from a favorite company, in a favorite color, in a favorite 'material'.

and flowers, you can never have enough flowers...especially whimsical ones.
Start saving your lunch money kids, you're going to want this kit...

80's classic reborn

I know it's been a bit since I showed a video here, just waiting for the perfect one to cross my path. Special thanks to my brother, John, for sending this one my way.



Don't you just love how they mimic the sounds of a thunderstorm so perfectly...

More Jessica Sprague Fun

The class ended today, and as usual, I'm a few days behind...which is better than months ala the 'Stories in Hand' class. Even better, I'm using the techniques and having fun with them.

First up a couple of different variations of this cute photo of Sienna, both apply a sepia color tone and frames. Easy peasey....


Next up, some colorization and applying texture and a frame, you can't beat bare toes for a quintessential summer shot.
Finally, a technique I was so happy to learn and master... using layer masks to a pop of color on a black and white photo. Way easier that the old method of layers and erasers. A little edge burn and a quick frame on this one too.

Now I'm off to learn about storyboards, yay!

Where oh where did my slick writer go?

Yay, I don't think there is a better feeling to finish with a project that has been in the works for a prolonged period of time. I started this little layout before my trip to Ak. I think I could have played it safe and mounted it on kraft or natural smooth and be done before I went to AK, but I really wanted to challenge myself to use a color background. Unfortunately the photos don't quite do it justice, so you may be saying 'she should have stuck with the kraft'...irl the cardstock is hot pink, super fun for summer.

This photo cracks me up, this is what Sienna's hair looks like post nap/pebbles styling when she manages to get the barrette or elastic out of her hair. I would journal all about it, if I could find my slick writer, off to buy a new one today, which is pretty much a guarantee I'll find my old one tomorrow. I have a couple of other 'favorite things' about this layout. First the butterfly, I used a spellbinder die to cut the butterfly and then dipped it in misted distress inks...want to do it yourself? Check out Jen McQuire's how-to video...careful it's addicting. Then I added glitter and sealed with super seal so the glitter would stay put. A little bling and some wire (salvaged from a bind it all project that went wrong) and this cutie comes to life. And just to show you how the ticket obsession is coming along, I layered the butterfly on top of a new SEI ticket that's glued to a Collage Press die cut ticket (it's a sickness, I tell you)


Speaking of things I can't get enough of...there's a Jenni Bowlin button in butterfly land, but was that enough...heck no! I cut three in half and used them along with small buttons to make a scallop border along the photo. Love how it turned out, no doubt this technique will show up on another layout at some point.


Supplies:
Patterned Paper: OA (stripe and polka dot), Studio Calico (Newsprint)
Embellies: Heidi Grace(pink journal square), SEI (bus ticket), Collage Press(blue ticket), Jenni Bowlin (buttons), AC (ribbon), Fancy Pants (colored buttons), Spellbinder(butterfly die cut), Kaiser (pink bling)

Hope your weekend was fantastic!

Oh Jen...

I love altering wooden letters and monograms, so when Jen asked if I would do a set for her little guy I was happy to do so. It took a bit(ok 6 weeks) for the inspiration to strike, I realized that all of the letters I done in the past were for girls...easy to add flowers and sparkle, but a growing boy? I was at a loss until I really looked at the paper Jen gave me.

A little fussy cutting and some rub-ons and voila. I'm in love with the 'waves' on the E, it's my favorite of the set.

Now to make a plan to deliver them and I'm on to the next project.

A little bird told me...

I should share this sneaky peek for August Kraft Girls Kit with you. He said I would love it and he was right, now I'll just count the minutes until it arrives on my doorstep next week.


So happy to see such fun stuff, especially tickets...if receipts from latest supply shopping are to be believed I'm developing a little addiction to them.

Stay tuned for layouts with these goodies and while you're waiting check out the work of some of my team mates, links to the left. :)

Great News!

sometimes life brings you good things and happy news via emails like this...

"After going through all the fabulous submissions for the... the design team call, yours was one of the entries that really stood out!"

So I'm a little late in posting this here, but better late than never. I considered writing a blog post and scheduling it to pop first thing in the morning, but I was afraid to jinx it...

So get the the news already, right? Little old me was chosen to be part of the Kraft Girls Kits design team. I've been stalking the kits for some time and they are filled with delicious scrapbooking goodies...I can't wait to get me hands on my first one.

Let me tell you, this is one talented team! I'm thrilled to be included along with these fab ladies, I've been blown away by my quick peeks at there blogs. I hope to have everyone linked up here in the next few days.

And as if it couldn't get any better, So You Think You Can Dance is on and I'm tuning in. Have a great night!

Fun w/Photos

If you didn't sign up for the free class on photo editing at Jessica Sprague's site you are missing out my friend...then again if you're a digi wizard or inclined to spend hours playing in photo shop you just might be ok. For the rest of us, I'm glad peeps like Jessica lead the way.

Of course I am a little behind and will spend some time this weekend to catch up on a couple more lessons.

Lesson 1...Add a frame and word art --- basic I know but a little review never hurt anyone


Lesson 2...Brushes --- I'll admit that even though I knew how before, I didn't really play with brushes on photos until now. I had plenty to play with, but did that stop me from searching the web for more? heck no...which might explain why I'm a couple of days behind. I gave myself bonus points on figuring out how to have to colors on the same brush image.

Lesson 3...Blending modes and hand tinting ***swoon*** again lots of playing, I'm so in love with how this turned out it motivated me to finally make a copyright stamp, lest cute baby girl end up as a poster in Uzbekistan or something. (yes, I know if they want to steal it, they will, but let me be an ostrich with her head in the sand for just a second)


Off to play more, hope you have a great weekend!

Let's pretend for a second that instead of the fabulous weather in Ak last week, it actually rained like I thought it would...I had planned to share these layouts, better late than never, right?

This one I did for Houston's birthday, I feel so blessed to have her as a friend.
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico, October Afternoon, Collage Press
Alphas: QK BeautyQueen, others hand cut from SC paper
Embellies: Making Memories, Collage Press, Jenni Bowlin


This layout is all about Sienna showing off her body parts...




Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants
Journaling Spot: Ali E brush from Designer Digitals printed on Kraft, Making Memories tiny alphas
Embellies: Fancy Pants Buttons, Bazzill Flower


She loves stuffed animals, so when I found these barrettes at a gift shop I knew they would be perfect, good thing I didn't expect them to stay in her hair very long...


Patterned Paper: Sassafrass
Alphas: American Crafts thickers
Journaling: Ali E. for Designer Digitals printed on kraft
Embellies: Tim Holtz tickets




This pic is actually from a few years ago, but it could have easily been last week, in fact if I hadn't done this layout right before I left I probably would have come home with an identical photo. More cosmo early bird, I love this paper, it makes me so happy every time I look at it, in this one I fussy cut the pinwheel paper to make it eyelet like.



Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Embellies: October Afternoon stickers, Making Memories frame and buttons, AC ribbon
Journaling Spot: Collage Press

Unplugged

I had great intentions of spending my week updating the blog and working on other inside stuff, assuming it would be typical Alaskan summer weather and rain for the majority of our trip, instead something quite miraculous happened...7 days of near cloudless skies and warm(hot by Alaskan standards) temps.

I spent as much time outside as possible and in the land of the midnight sun(photo above is Denali aka Mt. McKinley around midnight) that's a lot of time...on the boat, in a lounge chair, even on the grass playing with S. No wifi, no cell reception, just the sounds of the wind, water fowl, voices of family and a few books to fill the time made for the perfect break.

It's hard to adjust back into a life where I actually need to do something, I'm trying to look a the bright side and be thankful I have a job and a life that affords such luxuries as a week away doing nothing but reading...trying really hard. I have a few (ok, 190 or so) pics and a rosy tan from the week to remind me of days left behind.

Here are a couple of my favorites...

Hope your summer is going well, hard to believe it's July already.