August Leftovers

I had a little self conflict yesterday posting sneaks, knowing full well that I had several layouts done in August that I haven't posted, some of you who know me well know I am all about order and routine, so you understand the inner conflict. Certainly not all are post worthy, but there were a few that I absolutely loved and felt they needed a little room in the spotlight. So since there is one more day left in the month I thought I'd squeeze them in...

The first one was for the August sketch...contest ends TONIGHT, just in case you're incredibly motivated...


Playing around with scraps...look out...if something is standing still I might just hit it with some metallic mist as is what happened with the thickers and flowers in this layout...


The 'rule follower' in me says I should teach her now that slides aren't for going up and that's dangerous, but the 'embrace the cuteness' me trumped that voice...


Hard to believe it's been almost a year...

September Sneaks

Where did August go? Birthday fun, crops with friends, unexpected vet visits and school starting made for an exhausting month. Even though the kit arrived early in the week, exhaustion from long work days trumped any motivation/inspiration that might have been fostering when I opened the box of crafty goodness. Once the weekend hit, I've been scrapping away...


This kit is totally fabulous, there's a little something for everyone with great products from Cosmo, October Afternoon, Jillibean Soup and Jenni Bowlin to name a few, perfect for back to school, summer, or just 'cause layouts. I sat next to the amazing Rhonda at a crop in Ft. Collins last week and you can tell some of her influence rubbed of on me and ended up on these pages.

Sunday Scraps

pigtails

Now you know I don't really do New Year's resolutions, but I love my friend Arleigh's idea of monthly resolutions. A few months ago I decided that Sunday's would be my day to sort my scraps from projects created over the week. It's my one small step to keeping my scrappy studio in order. Occasionally, as was the case a couple of weeks ago before life got totally crazy, in the process I get inspired by combinations of papers in their color family. The papers in this fun layout all came out of the blue bag and I love the combo. I also love that this page came together in under an hour(super fast for me), of course this cutie pic of the little one doesn't hurt.

Hope you have a great week!

2 days in

to the school year and I am...

image via visualthesaurus.com...love this site!

Now watching the Broncos first season game, I've keep repeating to myself 'building year', 'low expectations', etc. Yet still upset that the defense on first possession gave up 15 yards on a 3rd down and don't even get me started about an interception in the red zone on the offense's first possession...so much for the 'new Broncos', it's going to be a long year.

Calling Louisiana, W. Virginia and Delaware

You may remember my 100th post from a few months ago when I posted a map of the my visitors from around the US...At that time I was missing 7 or 8 states from acheiving my goal. I haven't quite made it, but...I'm so close I can almost taste it. 3 more to go...

I could make sassy jokes about each of the missing states, but I'm afraid that might keep people away so I'll let you make them up in your head, or if you so desire you can leave it in the comments.

So here's the deal, I have some goodies to give away from my stash (a little Cosmo early bird perhaps) to either a. someone from one of the missing states or b. a friend of someone from one of those states that gets their person to come visit. Desperate much? You might call it that, but a girl has got to meet her goals and keep moving don't you think. So the nitty gritty, come visit, LEAVE a comment with either where your from or name of friend from one of those states. Friend must also comment. Picky, Picky I know...if this actually works and I have multiple people to choose from I will use the handy dandy random number generator to choose.

So we're looking for folks from Louisiana, West Virginia, and Delaware.

Thanks for your help!

Video Fun

but not the usual kind you find here in Christyn land, but instead one made by me! Today is my first day to host the blog in kraft girl land and I wanted to do something special. The aha moment occurred about 8 am on Sunday...make a video... So, I sat down on Sunday and was determined to master iMovie and while 'master' might be a stretch at this point, I'm pretty happy with the results, happy enough to show off in two places...

This a 'not so' quick tutorial on making lace edges with various border punches. Hope you find it helpful.

Altered Journal Goodness

Have you noticed the school supplies everywhere you go, I love all of them...crayons, binders, and especially composition books on sale for 50 cents. I usually stock up and by 10 or so. Then I have them on hand when the inspiration hits...and hit it did. I gave this birdy a glitter bath thinking he would go on one of the layouts I posted yesterday, but then he just turned out so wonderful I thought he needed a project where he could really be the star.

I built up his nest with other goodies and adhered them all to the front on a composition book, I know this glittery friend with the cheery yellow will bring a smile to my face on those stressful days that the start of the school year brings.

More Kraft Girls Fun

I have a couple more Kraft Girl Kit layouts to share with you...

A little hybrid action on this layout...I added the frames in PSE and then printed and cut out the frames and the 'memories' quote. As if that wasn't enough newness, how bout a little mist action on the birdy. The kit only comes with 2 birds, but 2 wasn't enough(ok really, I was planning on using the second bird here, but after it got a glitter bath it needed a project by itself) so I traced and cut another bird and then hit it with some Archival Mists. Then...I wanted a little more shimmer so I rubbed some liquid pearl on the wing and on the flowers. I distressed the tag too, just for fun, the white seemed a little too white.



No fancy techniques on this one, who doesn't love black and white polka dots?

If only

all weddings started this way, I wouldn't avoid going to them...



Thanks to coworker Kim J. for posting it on facebook.

It's Reveal Day

(in my head I can hear an HGTV host saying the title)

anyway...

If you've been visiting my blog over the past week, you know that I am over the moon with the August kit from Kraft Girls Kits . From the moment I peeked in the box through 4 layouts(yes 4! and to think usually I do 4 layouts in a month) and a special project, I cherished each element.

You can see all my projects along with others from the rest of the ubertalented design team on the KGK blog or our super duper brand new flicker group. We want to see your kit work there too!

Here's the first of my layouts, I think it's my favorite, but then again I still have lots of goodies to play with...

Be sure to check the main site, there's lots of goodies to come including...

• Instructions for this layout and projects from the other DT members (they might not be up yet, but will be very soon I'm sure)
  

• A chance to win a free kit! KGK will be sponsoring 52 weeks 52 Sketches the week of August 9^th and will be giving away one of the August Kits. (Although I would say you should plan on buying one too, really I could use two and I'm sure you could too. )
  

• There's will be a sketch contest for August, another chance to win goodies

• Plus there will be a chance to win a little goodie on the blog this weekend.

Seriously 3 chances for free goodies, who else does that?

But wait there's more...The November and December 2008 kits are 50% off and the March kit is 25% off. What are you waiting for, jump on over to the KGK site right now.

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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!