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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Creating Keepsakes "Fast and Fresh Scrapbooks" special issue

Back by popular demand! Creating Keepsakes magazine is re-releasing one of their popular special issues: Fast & Fresh Scrapbooks

Whether you just got back from a trip and are itching to get those photos into an album or want to make a gift for a loved one, the useful ideas in Fast & Fresh Scrapbooks will help you scrapbook all of those photos in no time. Featuring 100's of time- and budget-saving tips, product highlights, journaling solutions, design shortcuts, and more, the inspiring ideas in this issue will help you scrapbook more of your photos into beautiful albums quickly and easily.

Here are the links to the print and digital issues, the bonus content, and a little sneak peek:

I'm giving away a copy of this special issue to one lucky blog reader!!  To be entered to win, simply leave a comment here before the end of the day on Tuesday, December 23rd.  I'll announce the winner shortly after that. 

Head on over to these blogs on the blog hop for more chances to win!

Friday, December 14, 2012

My Mind's Eye -- Hanukkah projects

As I mentioned yesterday, I had the great pleasure of guest designing for My Mind's Eye and creating some Hanukkah layouts and a card.  I thought I would share my projects here before Hanukkah ends this weekend.

A very special part of our Hanukkah celebration is lighting the menorah.  I created a layout showcasing candle-lighting pictures from last Hanukkah.  I used the stunning Lost & Found 3 - Oliver collection.  The gorgeous blues and golds are absolutely perfect for Hanukkah photos.

Supplies: Lost & Found 3 - Oliver: patterned paper, chipboard elements, enamel dots, decorative buttons, decorative brads.

I created the rays using a mix of the lovely Oliver patterned papers, then I cut out Jewish stars and raised them with pop dots.  This popped up shapes technique was inspired by a gorgeous layout by Emily Spahn ('JustEm') that I first saw in the Club CK gallery.

Our Hanukkah celebration wouldn’t be complete without some lively rounds of dreidel.  It’s basically a spinning top game where the participants play to win “gelt” (chocolate coins).  Because it's never too early to teach our kids how to gamble, right?  Kidding. ;-)

As you can see from this layout, when we don’t have enough gelt on hand, we simply substitute Hershey’s kisses.  I used the doily stickers to represent the round-and-round spinning motion of the dreidel. 

Supplies: Lost & Found 3 - Oliver: patterned paper, stickers (doilies), enamel dots, decorative buttons, decorative brads, adornements (lace).

I also got to play with the beautiful My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland collection.  This collection isn’t just for Christmas!  I used the papers to make this Hanukkah card.

Supplies: Winter Wonderland: patterned paper and twine, Lost & Found 3 - Oliver: enamel dots and decorative buttons.

Thank you, MME, for having me as your guest! 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

My Mind's Eye -- Guest Designer

I'm honored to be the Guest Designer for My Mind's Eye today!! I've always loved MME, so this was a big thrill for me!  I wrote a Hanukkah blog post and created a couple Hanukkah layouts and a card for MME using their gorgeous products.  I'll be posting my projects here in the next couple of days, but in the meantime, here's a little sneak:


Head on over to the MME blog and check it all out! 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Hanukkah Layout

I've been very busy with Hanukkah preparations and celebrations, so I apologize for the delay in announcing the giveaway winner of the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooking Babies and Toddlers special issue.  I used a random number generator to choose the winner, and it is . . . Virginia L.  Congrats Virginia!! I will contact you to get your mailing info.

Since we're celebrating Hanukkah this week, it's a good time to share a Hanukkah page I created for Creating Keepsakes magazine.  This is a "clean and simple" page that I did for the Fast Pages article (pages that can be done in 45 minutes or less).

As seen in the November/December 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

I used Webster's Pages patterned papers, trim and alphabet stickers, plus my old faithful Thickers.  I handcut and glittered the Stars of David.

To all my Jewish friends and blog readers, I wish you and your family a very Happy Hanukkah!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Creating Keepsakes Dream Team 2013

I'm thrilled and honored that I have been asked back for another year on the Creating Keepsakes Dream Team!!


You can see the complete announcement on the CK blogGiveaway alert: Do you want to be entered to win a box of scrapbooking goodies? Leave a comment on the CK blog post for a chance to win.  Three winners will be chosen!

I've thoroughly enjoyed being on this amazing team for the past two years, and I'm looking forward to another year of fun!  There are some old and new faces on the 2103 Dream Team.  I'm sure you will agree that this is a very talented group of scrapbookers . . . 

Creating Keepsakes Dream Team, Contributing Editor and Contributing Writer 2013:

Thank you, Creating Keepsakes, for inviting me back for another year! 



Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooking Baby & Toddlers - Blog Hop and Giveaway!!-

Creating Keepsakes' newest special issue is hitting the newsstands!!  Check out Scrapbooking Babies & Toddlers 2012.

With all the photos you take of your darling baby, there are lots of layouts you can create! Get your scrapbooking done in a snap with the ideas for scrapbooking babies in this special issue from Creating Keepsakes. You'll find plenty of ideas for scrapbooking your busy toddler as well, making this issue an indispensible scrapbooking resource for the first years of your precious child's life.

You can purchase the issue by following these links: Print Issue and Digital Issue.  And here is the link to the extra online content: Online freebies.

This issue is chock full of ideas for scrapping not only babies and toddlers, but also children of all ages!  I'm proud to say that I have four of my layouts plus a handmade embellishment in this special issue.  Here is one of my layouts in this issue:

As seen in the Creating Keepsakes special issue: Scrapbooking Babies and Toddlers 2012.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group.  Posted with prior permission from the publisher. 

That's me on the left holding my favorite baby doll when I was a girlIt was a "Drowsy" doll.  I loved my Drowsy, and I carried here everywhere with me (and I vaguely remember that I used to chew on her cheeks).  I found a new Drowsy doll on Ebay several years ago, so I got it for my little girls.  Of course I had to take a photo of my daughter holding Drowsy like I did many years ago.

I get to give away one copy of this fabulous special issue to one lucky blog reader!  To be entered to win, simply leave a comment here before next Tuesday, December 4th and I will choose a random winner.

For more chances to win a copy, follow along the blog hop and leave comments for these talented ladies:
Autumn Baldwin
Deena Boese
Gretchen McElveen
Jana Morton
Joey Manwarren
Kim Watson
Laina Lamb
Laura Vegas
Mou Saha
Piradee Talvanna

Good luck!!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Scrapbooking Class at Treasured Memories This Saturday

Hey Los Angeles scrapbookers!  I still have a few spots left in my classes at Treasured Memories scrapbook store this Saturday, November 17th.  I'll be teaching two, 2-page layout classes that day.  The first class features Prima's beautiful new Romance Novel collection, and it includes an array of flowers, chipboard, crystals, pearls, lace, ribbon, washi tape, cardstock doilies and more!  Here's a the completed layout:


The second layout features products from Making Memorie's gorgeous Modern Millinery line, and it includes a mix of feminine embellishments, bling, gorgeous trim and doilies. All of the paper doilies in this kit will be individually die-cut by me using acid free cardstock.  Here are a couple snippets from the layout:


Whew!!!!  I spent a lot of time cutting doilies for these classes -- over 300 of 'em! But I just love to use doilies on my pages and I wanted to share them with everyone.

If you can't attend the classes, both can be purchased as kits. Photos and detailed instructions included! 

There are more details about the classes (i.e., times, cost, etc.) on the Treasured Memories Blog and the Class Calendar.  You can sign up for one or both of the classes by calling Treasured Memories or by using the Paypal links on the blog (just scroll down and find my classes). 

I hope to see you there!!!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

So Thankful + a quick altered flower tutorial

Thanksgiving is next week, and it’s the time of year when we’re reminded to be thankful for all the positive things in our lives. In honor of the holiday, I created a project and wrote this blog post for the Creating Keepsakes blog last week.

The things I’m thankful for in my life fall into two major categories: the “Big Things” and the “Little Things”. Some of the Big Things I’m thankful for include my wonderful family, our good health (knock on wood), and the roof over our heads. Some of the Little Things I’m thankful for include my morning latte and newspaper ritual, the sweet purring of my cats, and the rare moments when every piece of clothing in our house is laundered, folded and put away. I find that when I’m mindful of these big and little blessings in my life, the not-so-perfect aspects of my life don’t seem to matter much at all.

Two of the things I am MOST thankful for are my darling daughters. I count my blessings for them every single day.


For this layout I wanted to create a blank canvas to which I could add splashes of happy colors. Here's a little tutorial on how I altered the paper flowers, roses, etc.:

1. I started with a swatch of burlap and some leftover patterned flowers and wood embellishments.


2. I grabbed some gesso and a paintbrush, then I coated the burlap and flowers with the gesso. I gave the wood pieces a subtle white-wash.


3. I coated all the flowers completely, but I let a little bit of the natural color of the wood and burlap to show through.


4. Once the gesso was dry, I sprayed the flowers with spray ink. I sprayed them right over the painted burlap so that it would also soak up the pretty colors. The water-based spray ink beaded up on the gesso and resisted it a bit, but after a couple coats of spray ink, I was able to get a nice color. You just have to let the gesso and spray ink dry in between coats.


5. I added some smaller white roses that I spray-inked to match the rest of the bunch. The spray ink on the plain white roses appears much more vibrant than it does on the gesso/sprayed flowers, but I kind of like the mix of vibrant and more subtle hues. For a little extra sparkle, I coated a few of the flowers and some tiny white roses with glitter.


This is a great way to alter some of those patterned embellishments (flowers, chipboard embellishments, alphabets, etc.) that don’t quite fit your taste or match your other page elements. Just paint over them with gesso (white paint will also work in most cases), then spray, paint or ink them whatever color you want!

I have a challenge for you for the rest of this month. At the end of each day, think of THREE things you are thankful for that day. It can be Big Things or Little Things. Either way, the process of ending the day with gratitude is sure to brighten your outlook and lift your spirits!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!  We're gearing up for a fun night of trick or treating tonight.  My 10-year-old is going as a devil, and my 8-year-old is going as an adorable 50's style car hop waitress.  I plan to take a lot of photos!

Here's a Halloween layout I created for Creating Keepsakes magazine.

As seen in the September/October 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes. Copyright Creative Crafts Group.  Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

I used micro beads to create a sparkly title (the word "witch").


To make the micro bead title, I used the negative portion of individual chipboard letters as the stencils.  I simply positioned each letter on the paper, filled the empty space with white glue, then I poured micro beads over the glue to fill the space. Once dry, I removed the chipboard negative and was left with a beautiful sparkly letter.  I did this technique one letter at a time.  When they were all done, I outlined the letters with a gold paint pen.

Have a spooooooooooooooooooooky Halloween!

Friday, October 26, 2012

The November/December issue of Creating Keepsakes is out!

The November/December 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes is out, and it's an awesome issue!
The gorgeous mini album on the cover was done by the very talented Suzy Plantamura

I'm excited to share that I wrote the Supply Savvy article for this issue!!  It's about creative ways to use doilies on your layouts. Inside this issue you will also find:
  • creative ways to photograph and scrapbook the holidays.
  • clever ideas for using tags and bags on your layouts.
  • impressive tips for incorporating subway and word art into your layouts.
  • festive, helpful hints for keeping your holiday memories alive in your scrapbook pages.
Would you like to win a free copy of this issue PLUS a free one-year subscription to Creating Keepsakes magazine? Go to the Creating Keepsakes Blog and leave a comment there for a chance to win! 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Queen & Co. -- Fun with washi tape and twine

Washi tape and bakers twine are hot, hot, hot right now in the scrapbooking and cardmaking worlds.  Queen & Co. has a HUGE selection of both these popular items.  Check out Queen & Co.'s Trendy Tape and Twine Twist.  I recently had the pleasure of designing some projects with Queen & Co's newest tapes, twine, and rhinestones.

First up is a layout I created. I cut out stars in varying sizes, then I placed the Trendy Tape (aka washi tape) on another sheet of cardstock behind the openings. 


I outlined the stars with the twine. 


When I finished the layout, I had the cut-out stars left over.  I didn't want them to go to waste, so I used them to make a card.  I covered them with strips of Queen & Co's Trendy Tapes, then I matted each star on black cardstock. I added a rainbow of twine and rhinestones.


These bright colors make me very happy! 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Upcoming Classes at Treasured Memories Scrapbook Store

Hey all you Southern California scrapbookers!  I want to let you know about a couple upcoming scrapbook classes I'll be teaching at Treasured Memories scrapbook store in Oak Park, CA on Saturday November 17th.  I'll be teaching two, 2-page layout classes that day.  The first class features Prima's beautiful new Romance Novel collection, and it includes an array of flowers, chipboard, crystals, pearls, lace, ribbon, washi tape, cardstock doilies and more!  Here's a little sneak peek:


The second layout features products from Making Memorie's gorgeous Modern Millinery line, and it includes a mix of feminine embellishments, bling, gorgeous trim and doilies. All of the paper doilies in this kit will be individually die-cut by me using acid free cardstock.  Here are a couple snippets from the layout:


If you can't attend the classes, both can be purchased as kits. Photos and detailed instructions included! 

There are more details about the classes (i.e., times, cost, etc.) on the Treasured Memories Blog and the Class Calendar.  You can sign up for one or both of the classes by calling Treasured Memories.

I hope to see you there!!!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Role Model

Hi everyone! Today I want to share a layout I did for a Creating Keepsakes article about "Role Models." My page features my wonderful, kind-hearted, and incredibly loving mom. She is such an extraordinary person, and I am very blessed to be her daughter.

As seen in Creating Keepsakes magazine.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group.  Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

The journaling says:

Dear Mom,
I thank my lucky stars every day that I’ve been blessed with a mother like you.  Besides being the best mother and friend a girl could ever ask for, you are also my role model.  You have completely shaped the person I am today.  Through your actions I have learned compassion, kindness, integrity, responsibility and generosity.  You have also shown me that it’s possible to possess all of these wonderful qualities and still be able to be assertive and stand up for myself . . . in a nice way.  From the example you set, I am continually learning how to be a better wife and mother.  When I see how kind and patient you are with Rebecca and Danielle, it reminds me to take a breath and be more kind and patient with them myself.  You have become an important role model for them by teaching them how to handle situations with grace and integrity.  Someday I will have grandchildren of my own, and I aspire to be the kind of loving and generous grandma you are.  Honestly, I have never known anyone who has a bigger heart than you.  You always set a good example for all of us. Everyone whose life you touch is richer for the experience. I thank you for all the guidance (spoken and unspoken) you have given me throughout my life.  I’m so very grateful to have you as my mother.  I love you with all my heart.

Love,
Your Darling Daughter (as you affectionately call me)

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Now that my kiddos are back in school, I'm going to try and start blogging on a (slightly) more frequent basis.  I have a couple dozen projects that I've haven't shared yet.  Here's a project I did for Creating Keepsake's blog a few weeks ago.

Over the summer my family took a wonderful trip to Hawaii.  Because this was our first big family vacation, I went a little overboard with the picture-taking. I took hundreds of photos. Obviously I can't scrap them all, so I wanted to maximize the number of photos I can get on a single page.

One way to get a lot of photos on a page is to create a mini flip book on a layout. The beauty of this is that you can use standard full-size photos (i.e., 4″ x 6″ or 3″ x 5″). 


I got this fabulous flip book idea from a layout made by Joannie McBride in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.

I created a vertical stack of tabbed layers that can be lifted up to reveal the photo underneath.



My flip book has six layers. This is enough for six or seven photos, depending on whether you place a picture directly on the paper underneath the bottom tab. You could easily add more photo layers to your page by placing each layer closer together, and you can double the number of photographs by attaching a photo to both sides of each layer. Another variation is to create a horizontal flip book going across the page.

I hope you've been inspired to create your own flip book!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

CK Special Issue Giveaway Winner!

So sorry for the delay in announcing the winner of the giveaway for Creating Keepsakes' new special issue: Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking.  As always I used a random number generator to pick the winning commenter, and the winner is . . . Kait!!   

Congrats, Kait!  I will try and contact you to let you know you've won and to get your mailing address, or feel free to email me at the address on my sidebar.  

Monday, September 10, 2012

Another year older

Yep, I'm turning another year older today.  So far it's been a great birthday morning, with my husband and my girls spoiling me rotten.  They gave me quite a chuckle by waking me up all wearing Groucho Marx style fake glasses, noses and mustaches.  I'm so grateful for my wonderful and wacky family!

As I'm getting older, my birthday becomes less significant to me and I really like to keep the celebration low key.   Though I do milk my "my birthday week" (yes, birthday WEEK!) for all it's worth, and I get my hubby to do all sorts of nice things around the house.   He even -- *gasp* -- cleaned out the litter box last night and again this morning!  

I'm going out for a nice lunch and dinner later, then after dinner I get to have birthday cake from my very favorite bakery: Hansen's Cakes (seriously the BEST cake place in Los Angeles).  Yummo! Here's a birthday layout I made a few years ago.  The girls always help me blow out the candles on my cake.


Thank you for allowing me this somewhat self-indulgent post!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Creating Keepsakes' Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking -- Blog Hop and GIVEAWAY

Creating Keepsakes' newest special issue is out! Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking:


Increase your photography and photo-editing skills and discover new ideas for sharing your photos with the tips, tricks, and tutorials in Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking, a special issue from Creating Keepsakes. Whether you're a traditional scrapbooker or prefer to create pages digitally, you'll love how this issue will help you better capture your family's stories. Whether you use a point-and-shoot, a DSLR, a cell phone camera or a mixture of these, you won't want to miss out on this essential photography and scrapbooking guide!

Here's a sneak peak at a photography tip I contributed to this special issue.  When taking portraits outdoors, try to avoid the harsh midday sunlight.  A great time to take outdoor portraits is just after sunrise or right before sunset.  To illustrate this point, I took photos of my daughter at different times of the day.  This first photo was taken in the early afternoon when the sun was shining brightly.  The sun caused my daughter to squint, and it also cast some shadows on her face.


This next photo was taken of my daughter in the same spot just after sunrise.  Her skin looks evenly toned and nicely lit.  You can see the beautiful color and detail of her eyes.


If you happen to be photographing your subject in the midday sun, there are some things you can do to minimize the negative effects of the harsh sun.  Try to find a partially shaded area where the sun's bright rays are blocked by a tree, a wall, etc.  Or position your subject so that the sun is shining down from the side of you both (rather than behind your subject or behind you).  This will avoid squinting and unflattering shadows.

Here's the link to the paper edition: Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking - Paper Edition
Here's the link to the digital edition: Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking - Digital Edition
And as always, I get to giveaway a copy of this special issue to one lucky blog reader!  To be entered to win, simply leave a comment here before the end of the day on Tuesday, September 11th.

For more chances to win a copy of the great special issue, be sure and visit the other blogs on this blog hop:

Autumn Baldwin - http://itsalwaysautumn.com
Joey Manwarren - http://everydayimagination.blogspot.com/
Laina Lamb - http://www.lifeonthelamb.blogspot.com/
Adele Beck http://dleebug.wordpress.com/ 
Erika Hayes http://www.thinkingthroughdesign.typepad.com
Jana Morton http://janamorton.blogspot.com/
Mou Saha http://collagecollagecollage.blogspot.com/
Gretchen McElveen http://www.gretchenmac.blogspot.com
Iris Uy http://www.irisbabaouy.typepad.com/
Ashley Harris (The Scrap Review) http://www.thescrapreview.com
Lain Ehmann http://www.layoutaday.com
Susan Mintmire http://www.designteamcalls.com
Patty Cieri http://thegreenhouseonthehill.blogspot.com/
Ashley Horton http://ashleyspaperdoll.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Paper Shoes

First off, I drew a winner for last week's Creating Keepsakes' September/October 2012 issue giveaway.   The winner is . . . Cyndee K.  Please email me with your full name and address (my email is on the right sidebar).  Congrats Cyndee!!

If you've been following my blog, you know I'm addicted to making paper shoes.  I created a couple pairs with Making Memories' Modern Millinery line for their booth at CHA last month.  Pair #1 . . .


I used my Slice to cut the layers for the roses.  

Pair #2 . . .



Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Creating Keepsakes September/October 2012 issue -- GIVEAWAY!

The September/October 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine is hitting the newsstands!


In addition to back-to-school scrapbook pages, crisp fall layouts, and spooky Halloween inspiration, the September/October 2012 issue is also Creating Keepsakes' Top 10 issue! This issue offers 30 extra pages of top-ten goodness, including:
  • 10 ways to use itty bitty scrap supplies
  • 10 new tips and techniques
  • 10 fresh journaling ideas
  • 10 ways to breathe new life into your supplies
  • 10 layouts from first-time contributors
  • 10 trendy product combos
You can purchase a copy of this jam-packed issue from Creating Keepsakes' online store or at your local newsstand.  But as usual, CK is generously allowing me to give away a copy of this issue to one lucky blog reader!  To be entered to win, simply leave a comment on this post before Sunday night, August 18th.  Just for fun, tell me what you look forward to the most about the fall season.  I'll draw a random winner and announce it next week!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Back home

After several days and nights at the animal hospital, our sweet kitty, Smokey, is back home and he seems to be doing better.  We're so happy to have him home and I can tell that he's happy to be home. We're keeping a very close eye on him.  Fingers crossed that he stays healthy.  I really appreciate the supportive comments to my last blog post and the good wishes.  Thank you!!!

I have a layout to share today.  This was something I created for the "Kitchen-Inspired Scrapbooking" feature in the May/June 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes.  I used a paper doily as a template for hand-stitching.

As seen in the May/June 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group.  Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Worried

Today I'm worried about this little guy . . .


Our sweet boy, Smokey, had a urinary blockage yesterday (an emergency situation), and he had to have a procedure to have the blockage removed.  He has to stay at the animal hospital for a few days with a catheter and IV in him.  I just went to visit him and he seems to be doing okay.  But I'm very worried about him.  We'll find out tomorrow if he gets to come home or if further treatment will be necessary.  I'm also worried because apparently this problem can reoccur, and it can be life-threatening if not caught and treated immediately.  Do any of you cat people have experience with feline urinary tract problems or obstructions?

Good thoughts and prayers for our beloved Smokey would be much appreciated!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Giveway winners!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!  I posted two giveaways on my blog last week: one for Creating Keepsakes' Mixed Media Scrapbooking special issue and the other for Making Memories Modern Millinery products.  I used a random number generator to pick the winners.

The winner of Creating Keepsakes new Mixed Media Scrapbooking special issue is: Valerie
Congrats, Valerie!!

The winner of the Modern Millinery products is: Kris BercCongrats Kris!

I'll contact you both to get your mailing addresses.  Thanks for playing along everyone!

I also want to let you know that CK Summer Camp 2012 is happening this week on Club CK and the CK blog! The theme is mixed media, and today the focus is Markers and Pens.   I created a fun page for a coloring challenge today on Club CK:    Markers & Pens: Coloring Challenge plus a free printable coloring page    There's a great prize package being offered!!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Making Memories GIVEAWAY -- Modern Millinery!!

**GIVEAWAY ENDED last Sunday.  Thanks!

I shared one of my "Modern Millinery" projects a couple blog posts ago and I told you how much I absolutely LOVE this entire collection.  Well today Making Memories is allowing me to giveaway some Modern Millinery products to one lucky blog reader!!  Before I tell you how you can win these goodies, I want to share a 6x6 mini layout I made with this gorgeous collection.


And now for the fun giveaway part!  Would you like to win some beautiful Modern Millinery products?


To be entered to win, simply leave a comment on this blog post before Sunday night telling me your favorite Modern Millinery Product. I'll draw a random winner and announce it next week!    Please note that the giveaway ended last Sunday.  Thanks!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Creating Keepsakes Mixed Media Special Issue BLOG HOP and a GIVEAWAY!

Creating Keepsakes' newest special issue is out: Mixed Media Scrapbooking.  This special issue of FULL of wonderful ideas for getting a little messy with paint, sprays, art mediums, fabric, metal . . . you name it!!  Best of all, there are easy to follow instructions for most of the techniques in the issue.

Check out this link for the bonus online content: Mixed Media Scrapbooking

Here is one of the projects I did for this issue.  It's a mixed media canvas using a plethora of mist, paint, gesso, embossing powder, ink, etc.

Published in Creating Keepsakes' special Mixed Media Issue.  Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

One of the fun techniques I did for this canvas project was heat embossing metal.  I used a variety of metal keys, watch parts and a bookplate that were originally a more antique-looking metal.  I wanted to give the project a bright, modern look, so I decided to coat all the metal pieces in shiny silver.  To do that, I simply embossed each metal piece using silver embossing powder.  The Mixed Media special issue shows the step shot tutorial:

Just dip in embossing ink, pour on embossing powder, then heat emboss.  Easy peasy!

You can purchase a copy of this fabulous special issue in the CK Store.  As always, Creating Keepsakes is allowing me to give away a copy of this issue to one lucky blog reader. To be eligible to win, simply leave a comment on this post before the end of the day on Sunday, July 22nd.  I will draw a random winner.

And now for the blog hop part!  Go to each of the blogs listed a below and leave a comment on each one for even more chances to win.

Mou Saha                   
Laina Lamb                 
Joey Manwarren    
Ashley Horton            
Iris Uy                         
Maggie Holmes                       
The Scrap Review       
Piradee Talvanna        
Adele Beck                 
Kim Watson        
Kim Jackson       
Patty Cieri                               
Erika Hayes                 

Good luck!      

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Making Memories -- Modern Millinery

Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately!  I decided to cut back on my scrapbooking and blogging this summer so I could enjoy more time with my kiddos.  But a couple weeks ago I got a great offer that I couldn't refuse.  I was asked to design for Making Memories!!  Since the time I started scrapbooking in 2004, Making Memories has always been one of my favorite companies.  I love their papers, I love their embellies, and I love their tools (I cannot scrap without my Making Memories trimmer!).  As most people know, they have been going through a transition (you can read about it here), but now Making Memories is back in the groove and they are releasing more of the awesome and inspiring products they're known for. 

They showcased Modern Millinery and Sarah Jane at Winter CHA, and these will be shipping in August (the release was delayed because of the acquisition, but these lines are definitely worth waiting for!!).  They are releasing a new Christmas line at Summer CHA called Believe.

I fell in love with the Modern Millinery line the first time I saw it.  In fact, it was my Winter CHA "Product Pick" on the Creating Keepsakes blog.  What first caught my eye were the beautiful color combinations and the elegant paper designs (they had me at the rose paper!!). Then when I saw the gorgeous flowers, embellishments, and trims, my heart skipped a beat. I thought it was one of the most stunning scrapbooking collections I had ever seen. I was excited to get my hands on Modern Millinery, and I had an absolute ball playing with it!  Here's a Modern Millinery layout I created for Summer CHA next week:


I used the beautiful Modern Millinery "Net Mini Dot Black" Textile paper as the background for this layout. It's real lace sewn onto cardstock. How cool is that?!? I created two separate photo circles, then I handcut the roses and leaves out of the Statement Floral paper and used them to embellish the circles.


These gorgeous flowers, the pearl/rhinestone button, and the rhinestone trim are all part of this collection too!  You can see the full collection here.  

Be sure and check back later in the week because I'll be doing a  GIVEWAY for some of these beautiful Modern Millinery products!!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends!  I wrote today's blog post on the Creating Keepsakes' blog. They are doing an Independence Day giveaway, so go take a little look-see and leave a comment there for a chance to win the 4th of July prize package!  You can also see some inspirational red, white and blue Pinterest images/links.

Here's the layout I created for my post on the CK blog:


Have a happy and safe 4th everyone!