Free Spirit -- Scrapbooking m.m.

Earlier this year I was honored when the editor of Scrapbooking m.m., a beautiful Swedish publication, contacted me and asked me to do a few assignments for the magazine.  Here is one of my layouts that was just published in the March/April 2010 issue.  I created it for an article about symmetry and balance on your scrapbook pages.  I used Webster's Pages papers and a sprinkling of Prima goodies, and I added some crocheting for good measure:

 

I was even more honored when I got my copy of the magazine and saw what good company I was in . . . some of my favorite scrappers were in there too!!  If you can get your hands on a copy of this magazine, you  should definitely take a peek because there's SO much inspiration in this magazine (even if you don't speak Swedish!).

On another note, we're having a fun NSD crop party at A Million Memories this weekend. Even though I just stepped down from the AMM Design Team (last month was my last month), I'm still going to be actively involved with the site. . . 'cause I just love all my peeps over there!!  In fact, I'm hosting a sketch challenge for the crop this weekend. Come join the fun here: AMM NSD crop.

Prima and a gauze technique tutorial

I have another family photo layout to share today.  This one features lots of Prima goodies:

One of my favorite non-scrapbooking products to use on my scrapbook layouts is gauze. You can either use regular gauze or cheesecloth material (I found some cheesecloth-like material at a local specialty fabric/upholstery store).  I used Shimmerz Spritz and gauze to create the ethereal-looking background here:

I put together a little tutorial for the A Million Memories blog a couple months ago.  Here's a recap of the step-by-step:

1. First prepare your background. Start with a piece of heavy cardboard and coat it with gesso:

2. Once the gesso is dry, brush/spray on Shimmerz paints and Spritz:

3. Spray your gauze or mesh with Spritz (I used two different colors here). I like to spray on waxed paper so that I can mop up every last drop of the Spritz:

4. Once the gauze is dry, adhere it to your cardboard with Mod Podge:

And there you go!!

Lily Bee Time!

I recently received a big box of all the new Lily Bee products and WOW . . . everything is just GORGEOUS!!   Here's a layout I made with the new Hello Sunshine line:

I often frame my layouts with patterned paper, and this beautiful Lily Bee paper was perfectly suited for a family photo frame.   I simply cut out the inside piece, machine-stitched around the inside and outside edges, and then I adhered two different types of lace trim to the back of the frame to give it some dimension:

And a close up of the various flowers and glittered leaves:

  I'm lovin' all these Lily Bee goodies!

Prima Masquerade Ball Masks

I was asked to make a couple creative projects for Prima a while back, and here is one of the things I came up with.  I made these Prima-adorned masks:

If I ever get invited to a fancy masquerade ball, I'll be set!

Cosmo Cricket layouts and A Million Memories DT news

Thank you Cosmo Cricket for sponsoring the A Million Memories DT again!   Here are a few of the projects I created:

I cut out a dress form and used it as a mask with Shimmerz Spritz:

Yes, that is my hand in a turkey's butt:  I had to call my mom halfway through the process because at first I couldn't find the bag of turkey parts you're supposed to take out before you bake the turkey.  She told me to try the other end. :)  The turkey turned out great, if I do say so myself!  The paper strips on this page were inspired by Jen Jockisch's style.  And here's a little card:

Thanks, Cosmo Cricket!

Also, A Million Memories is currently having a Design Team call!! You can check out all the details here:  A Million Memories DT call.  

That leads me to my next bit of news . . . this will be my last month on the AMM Design Team.  I've been on the team for a year now, and I've had a blast creating with Michelle's beautiful kits and working alongside some amazingly talented and super sweet ladies.  Thank you SO much for the opportunity, Michelle!  I love AMM and it's become my scrappy home, so I'm still going to be an active member of the boards there.  I can't wait to see who makes the new team!

Ole!

Hi everyone!  I have a festive layout to share today.   It features pictures of my girls during a little shopping trip while we were in Mexico a few years ago.  Oh how they LOVE to shop!  Yes, I know I'm going to be in big trouble when they get older.

I created a little fringed edge on the background cardstock and painted it with Shimmerz Glimmer Blingz.  Love that stuff!

This page was featured in the February 2010 issue of Scrapbooks, Etc.:

And I'm tickled pink to say that I also have my work published in the current issues of these fabulous magazines -- Creating Keepsakes (March/April), Scrapbooks & Cards Today (Spring), Somerset Memories (Spring),  the GORGEOUS Swedish magazine, Scrapbooking m.m. (March/April), and Scrapbook Trends (April):

Thanks for letting me share!

One of a Kind

My share for the day . . . a layout using Shimmerz Vibez and paint:

It's fun to see the different effects you can get by using Shimmerz products on different types of paper. For the background on this layout, I started with a sheet of kraft cardstock and cut out a decorative shape, then I sprayed it with Hermit the Frog Vibez.  I love how the Kraft cardstock absorbs the Vibez color.  It almost makes the cardstock look like soft suede or velvet, don't ya think?  I used Tickle-Me-Turquoise Shimmerz on the chipboard alphas.  For the patchwork I used scraps of fabric.  And of course no layout would be complete without some Prima goodies.

Happy Birthday to my not-so-little girl and some AMM kit layouts to share

Today is my oldest daughter's 8th birthday.  Seriously?  I'm saying this in the same intonation as my now 8-going-on-15-year-old daughter would say it (with a little bit of teen-like attitude thrown in):  SERIOUSLY??  Where in the world does the time go??   This morning as we were standing side-by-side in front of the bathroom mirror getting ready together (I swear she grew another inch last night while she slept!), I remembered our morning routine when she was a little baby . . . I used to set up a soft blanket and baby toys on the bathroom rug next to me, and she would happily play alongside me while I got ready.  Time flies!  Before I know it she'll be off to college.  *sigh*   In any event, it's shaping up to be a nice birthday for her.  We made her breakfast in bed, and then I'm bringing donuts to school for her class birthday celebration.   We'll have a nice birthday dinner tonight, and then I need to start preparing myself for her slumber party this coming weekend.  Happy Birthday, my sweet girl!

Turning to scrappy stuff, here are the layouts I made with the A Million Memories March kit:

I added some Prima flowers and colored them with Shimmerz paint and Spritz.

This next layout features pictures of my younger daughter on the day before her 6th birthday last year:

The journaling on this "Stay 5" layout says:  I took these photos of you on the day before your sixth birthday. I must have taken at least 50 photos that day. I think it was my feeble attempt to try and freeze time. It’s not that I don’t enjoy watching you grow into a lovely little lady, it’s just that I wish you would slow down a bit. As I was snapping all those photos I kept thinking, “Can’t you please stay five for just one more day?” 

This last one was based on the monthly sketch created by the very talented Rachel Hall:

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

A Million Memories March Kit mini album

I've been playing with my AMM March kit this past week.  Here's a little mini album I made with the Maya Road chipboard album that comes with the kit.  It's so TINY!  I love how it fits in the palm of your hand.

This mini album features pictures of our family photos from 2005 to 2009.

The last three photos (from 2007 to 2009) were taken by a fantastic photographer here in Los Angeles, Melissa Walker-Scott.

I made this for my husband for our anniversary next week, so I had to keep it hidden from him while I was working on it.   And Robert, if you decided to pop on my blog this week, then you've discovered my little anniversary surprise for you. Darn it! Well, I hope you like it!  Mwah!!  Happy "saversy" (that's a word my hubby and I made up).

I'll be posting my AMM kit layouts here tomorrow!

Lily Bee!!!!!

I'm so excited . . . I made the new Lily Bee Design Team!! I just ADORE Lily Bee's gorgeous collections so I'm over the moon!.  Thank you so much, Kristen!   And look at this amazing team: Lily Bee Design Team. I'm honored to be working with such an incredibly talented group of girls!

Here's one of my Lily Bee layouts that was just published in the February issue of Creating Keepsakes:

I fell in love with Lily's Bee's newest collections at CHA.  Such a gorgeous mix of colors and patterns.  I can't wait to get started!!

Velvet pinwheel tutorial

I haven't blogged much lately because I've been busy working on some things that I can't post yet, so I thought I'd share a simple little tutorial I put together for A Million Memories last May.

Materials needed:

-velvet ribbon or fabric

-needle and thread

-embellishments for the center of the pinwheel (optional)

Start with a piece of velvet ribbon.  For this example, I used velvet ribbon that was about 3/4 of an inch wide and I cut a piece that was about 6 inches long.  The length you’ll need will depend on the width of the velvet and how tight you want your spiral to be. 

1.    Take the threaded needle and stitch along one edge of the velvet:

 

2.  After you’ve stitched along the entire edge of the ribbon (see the photo above), pull your thread to gather the velvet:

3.  Keep pulling the thread until the entire edge of the velvet is gathered as tight as it will go.    The gathered velvet will form a little pinwheel (see below).  Just stitch up the loose ends and tie a knot in the thread: 

You can also use velvet fabric, but you’ll probably want to cut it along the edge of the fabric so that you have a crisp edge (just stitch along the edge you’ve cut). 

Once you’ve finished the pinwheel, you can add anything you want to the center – rhinestones, pearls, buttons, a dab of Stickles, flowers, etc.  And there you go!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Prima Altered Doll

I was asked to create one of my altered doll forms for Prima (and you know how much I LOVE Prima).   Of course I jumped at the chance!!  Here's what I came up with:

I covered the bodice with crystals and pearls from the E. line and added layers of Prima goodies to the skirt.  I colored the Prima lace using Shimmerz Spritz.

I'm so honored that Prima displayed this doll in their booth at CHA and also used it for their retailer flier distributed to buyers at CHA:

 Thank you, Prima!!

Prima Valentine's Day candy box

Some sweets for my sweets . . .

I embellished a Valentine's Day heart box with all Prima products:

  

 

Don't the chocolates look real?  They're not . . . I made them out of Fimo clay.  Before I added the beads and gems, I had the Fimo "chocolates" sitting on my scrap table, and my husband and my daughters asked me if they could have a one.  They didn't believe me at first when I told them they were fake chocolate candies because they look so much like the real thing, even up close (and even I was tempted!).

I used Magenta Shimmerz paint on the paper ruffle, and I sprayed the large Prima flower with Ruby Spritz.  I also added a little Shimmerz paint to the flower petal tips.  

Have a wonderful, love-filled Valentine's Day!!

New Graphic 45

Happy Monday!  Today I'm sharing a layout I made using papers from Graphic 45's new Le' Romantique line.   I love these papers -- soft, vintagey colors mixed with black, and of course there are lots of great graphics to cut out.  This is a picture of my mom on her wedding day:

Of course I had to add some Prima flowers and leaves.  I used Shimmerz paint on the large white Prima flower to give it some shimmer and shine.

Have a wonderful week!!

Can you feel the VIBEZ????

I'm so excited about Shimmerz' newest product release!! Introducing VIBEZ....16 vibrant colors with intense shimmer and shine!! Watch the video announcement here: Vibez Video Announcment

In honor of this new release, Shimmerz is giving away a FULL collection set of Vibez Miniz to one lucky blog reader who makes a purchase from the Shimmerz Shop today! Check out the full details on the Shimmerz blog, and find out about some other chances to win.

Here's a layout I made with the new Vibez.  I used  papers from Graphic 45's fabulous new On the Boardwalk line:

I used Jeni B Bleu Vibez and Sea Foam Spritz on the white cardstock to create my splashed background.

Thanks for stopping by!