Scrapbooking the scrapbook!

All the kids love looking through the scrapbooks. I don't scrap chronologically but my albums are mostly in chrono order so they have to go through every page to find the new ones. Here are Olivia and Grace browsing one of Gracie's books. I think they read every single word of journaling on every single page!

Title in Blossom Classic

Butterfly embellishments by K&Co. For the nesting flower shapes I used the cardboard insert that came in the butterfly packaging. I love that the shade of blue matches the pattern paper from My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary line, Jack & Jill collection.

Cute paper collection

My Mind's Eye, Quite Contrary line - Jack and Jill collection. These are such cute papers I had a hard time deciding which to use for this page. But I think I picked the right ones. :) Aren't they great color combos.

Simple cluster of flowers inked a bit, doodled a bit, popped with foam tape and buttons. Makes a great journaling spot.

For this page I used this sketch from the Practical Scrappers blog. Love the simplicity of the sketch and how quick and easy to use scraps from your stash to make the backdrop or mat for your photo.

I used some Basic Grey rubons that I've had in my stash for ages and a rubber stamp for the journaling lines.

At the last minute I added some bling to the rubon flowers to give it a little extra punch. I love bling and sometimes forget to use it.

More than cousins

Grace and Olivia are 6 months apart in age. They love spending time together and are the best of friends. The girls spent the weekend with us for the first time together and we all had a great time.

For this page I used this adorable paper from the KaZoo line by K&Co.


A fun way to add dimension is to cut individual shapes from pattern paper and layer them using foam tape or pop dots. I also added a little belly bling to these popped robots. Aren't they cute.


Not the best outlining job, but I'm learning (well, being forced to learn LOL) to accept imperfection as my hand heals and I'm still struggling to hold a pen. I will call it "character" and leave it at that. ;)

Card challenge - you've got till Sunday midnight!!

Challenge: Make a card using either of these sketches, and actually send it to someone!
I confess, even when I do make cards, I rarely send them. Mostly because I don't like the finished product. Silly, isn't it. This one WILL be mailed out. :) Thanks for the challenge, Robin. I know my mother-in-law will like this.

If you'd like to participate in this challenge, check it out on Robin's blog.

Another flower technique!! Fun and easy to do. This one is by Lisa Spiegel of the Scrapbook Express Design Team. These flowers also start with a scalloped circle. Check out her tutorial and make some flowers. It's spring! We can always use more flowers. :)

Hike

I used one of my paper flowers on this page so it's too lumpy to scan. LOL The photo isn't the best either, but you get the idea. I haven't tried smashing it into a page protector yet. Hmm. Wonder how that's going to work. But I digress....

For the border, I used my new Martha punch, scallops and circles. A little bolder and less dainty than the doily lace punch I love. Between the two, I'm not sure not which is my fave. I really love this one too. In addition to the dies listed below, I've used Basic Grey rubons, Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels, and Heidi Swapp chipboard letters.


The flower actually looks more brown in this poor lighting, but it really is green, Olive Vine green to be exact. Glimmer mist just doesn't photograph well, so sorry. If you haven't tried it, you really should -- but I recommend waiting for a sale. It's a little on the spendy side. So pretty though on your finished project! It looks gorgeous on these leaves too. Wish you could see them in person. Dies used on this page are QK nesting flower, scalloped circle, windows, and fall leaves.

I want a.....

MUSTACHE! What 8 year old girl doesn't want a mustache?? Well, pretty much every one I have ever known actually....until Olivia. LOL

Journaling reads:

Olivia: I want a mustache.

Sally: But you're a girl. Why do you want a mustache?

Olivia: Because they're awesome!

So Olivia bought a fuzzy fake mustache from a vending machine and wore it happily. Then Mila and Feliciano wanted mustaches too, so they made their own from scraps of paper.

Green/white polka dot paper is American Crafts, other pattern papers are Pink Paislee, cardstock is Bazzill, bling is Martha Stewart and ribbon is Offray. Banner and flourish shapes, Roxy and Oatmeal alphabets are QuicKutz.

Music on blogs............

Disclaimer: This post is NOT a complaint about music on blogs.

K, now, don't get me wrong, I love music. I like pretty much every genre except rap and opera, but when I'm reading blogs, I'm there to read and/or look at pretty pictures, not to listen to music. I don't listen to music when I read a book, so when I read a blog, well , naturally, tunes are not on my mind. Now before you go getting all uppity, people who put music on your blogs, let me finish. I have never yet heard music on a blog that I don't like--that's not the problem. What I don't like is not realizing that said blog even HAS music until it blasts through my speakers that I accidentally forgot to turn down after viewing something on youtube subsequently scaring the crap outta me, making me jump out of my skin and causing me to very nearly wet my pants!!

And no. There is no remedy for this, as I will most likely not remember to turn my speakers down or off the next time I read a blog any more than I remembered this time. :{

Altered book box

First it was the old dictionary to make Donna Salazar's layered paper flowers. But when I saw Angela Daniels' booksafe project on Fiskars TV (episode 110) I knew immediately I had to make it. I've sent the hubster to the thrift store for books and he's come through for me with awesome choices. Thanks, hon.

Here's my take on Angela's booksafe -- I made it instead into a keepsake box. Lots of ephemera cuts, rubons, pearls, metal pieces and inking for a vintage look.

Paper flower made of the cuts from the inside of the box (see next pic), layered, sprayed with glimmer mist and adorned in the center with pearl brads and beads.

I decided the inside needed a little uplifting as well so I added this rubon to the center of the cut out portion then sprayed the entire inside with vintage pink glimmer mist.

Love this project!!! It's so much fun I have another one in progress as we speak. :)

Glimmer mist flowers

First, I want to share a couple of the flowers I did using the glimmer mist. They really don't photograph well, I must say. They are so much prettier in real life -- I used suede and vintage pink for the one with the button center and suede and olive vine for the smaller flower. They photograph better on an actual project--see below.

I love the way this card turned out! Again, my photography doesn't do it justice. I used Basic Grey Origins for this one. The flower is on the inside of the card with a circular window cut from the front. Pearl beads and organza bow, and more pearls on the envelope. The flower is sprayed with suede and olive vine glimmer mist.

This one is a mini card made from small scraps and pieces I didn't use on other cards.

Couple more fun shaped cards from the Wild Card cartridge for the Cricut.

This one is for my dad's birthday. Hard to see the message in the photo. It says, "greetings, wise one". Cute huh.

YUMMY!

Another addition: Check out the Tattered Angels website for techniques on how to use these, a printable color chart and other great info.

Added: In case you missed my flower post below, I've linked a great tutorial by Donna Salazar where she used the glimmer mist on her paper flowers. You can use glimmer mist on anything you want to, really. It just adds a shimmery sheen to your design unlike, a sparkly glitter. I'll post pics later when I've had a chance to use it.

Glimmer mist is here!!!! along with a few other goodies. Check it!

A few cards

With QuicKutz releases being delayed (again! ugh) I took the time to get better acquainted with my Cricut Expression. Thanks, Holly, for lending me a couple of your carts. :)

I used Wild Card for all of these cards. I love the envelopes that match the cards, and the envelope liners are cool too, though I didn't need them on the ones where I used double sided paper. Some of these incorporate a few QK dies as well. This could make me change my mind about my card making skills. :)

TFL! And if you'd like specifics about any of these, post a comment and I'll help where I can.

P.S. - do you have any idea how hard it is to tie a bow with broken fingers? Holy cow, did I feel like a spaz. Took forever too, but I finally got it. LOL

Birthday cupcake

Martini party

Round scallop

Butterfly gatefold

Sunshine Blog Award

How exciting! I'm honored to have been chosen by Jenn of Jenn's Scrapbook Nook as a recipient of the Sunshine Blog Award. Thank you so much, Jenn. :)

There are a few rules that come along with this award:

1.Place the award in your post or within your blog

2.Pass this award on to six crafty bloggers

3.Link the nominees to your post
4.Let the nominees know they have received the award by commenting on their blog

I now pass along this award to these worthy crafty bloggers! Enjoy ladies. :)

Emily Canney Aase - ScrapbookFool
Jayma Malme - Playing With Paper
Michele Hamby - Simply Shell
Vicki Perry - Variations of Vicki
Cynthia Baula Roybal - I am a coconut
Lorna May - Scrapping and Chatting