Lilacs - Scrapbook Page

Wow, I did't realize it would be so difficult to get back in the saddle.  It is hard to find your scrapbooking mojo when you've been away from it for so long (or crafting in general!).

 

Been spending time reconnecting with the scrapbooking world over on 2peas in a bucket. 

I started out making a sketch ... but you'll notice I strayed a bit.

Here is my page.  Took me way too long!  LOL!

 

And the details.  Note that I made the tags myself.  Other than the letters and the bird, all of the embellishments were handmade.  If I am not able to buy all the goodies in the world, I will need to make them.  This is something I find fulfilling ... like old fashion scrapbooking before there were so many dies and pemade embellies to buy.  You'll be seeing a lot of homemade stuff on my pages. 

 

 

I will be entering it in the last Memory Keeping Monday Challenge (2peas is changing a bunch of the weekly challenges/video topics) which was to use any of the challenges covered in 2012's MKM challenges.  I chose the chipboard challenge posted 07/16/12.  I used the chipboard frame and bird.

 

Supplies: Papers - Reindeer Fly Paper (Holly Jolly - My Mind's Eye), Origins Collection (BasicGrey), papers from my stash; Ink - Walnut Stain (Ranger); Stamp - Designer Woodgrain (Hero Arts); Ribbon - Plum Pudding twill (Papertrey Ink); Punches/Diecuts - leaves (Stampin' Up!), burst (Martha Stewart) 1/4" and 1/2" circle punches (Stampin' Up!), Labels 8 (Spellbinders); Letters from Blush collection (BasicGrey); Chipboard - bird (Megenta), frame (unknown); Other - packaging (K&Co.), linen thread (Papertrey Ink), brown acrylic paint, vellum (blue and white). 

 

I hope you like and maybe get inspired by my page today.

Thanks for visiting.

Donelda

Arnold's 50th

Well, it finally happened ... my big bro turned 50!!!  I love to tease him becuase he is quite a bit older than I am.  I do have to be careful though becuase he can always get me back!  LOL.


Here is the card I created for him.  The numbers are chipboard that are painted yellow and then covered with gold glitter.  The owl (Nature Graceful Journey,  Tattered Angels) was colored with my Copic markers. The letters are from Fresh Alphabet (Papertrey Ink), a perfect size for this kind of thing. 


Well, I'd better go and get ready for work.  Enjoy your week.

Donelda

Loonie Stamper's Challenge - Past Due!

That's right, this card was based on a Loonie Stamper's Challenge from a loooooong time ago!!  You know me, making cards but never getting them posted!! 

The actual challenge was to use animals on your card.  I knew I had a package of animal chipboards from Martha Stewart so I pulled them out and looked to see what I had left.  There were 3 cows and they matched.  So, I decided to pull them together on this card.  I couldn't find a plade where I liked the sentiment so I put it inside.  It says ........

                                  udderly cool

hehehehehe!!  I don't generally like those play on words but I think it fits (even thought I'm pretty sure all those cows on the front might not necessarily have udders!)

Thanks for joining me again this week!  I hope you find time to stamp a little today!
Donelda

Kitty Card

Made this for my friend's birthday (Hi Trudy if you are visiting!). We both love cats so I know it will bring a smile to her face.

Traced the one and only cat die cut from the Martha Stewart pack of chipboard die cuts that I got at Michaels. What's that all about...there were 3 goats in there but only 1 cat!!

I followed Mary K's Casual Mid-Week Challenge over on the Papertrey Ink threads where she had a color combo for us to use -- Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Poppy Red, and Aqua Mist! I had already covered the cat with the red paper so I knew I would be able to make this color combo work!!

Supplies: Paper-Kraft, Chocloate Chip (Stampin' Up!), Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink), red (maybe Bazzill), designer paper (old stuff from my scrap bin); Ink - Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla craft, Close To Cocoa (all SU!); Stamps-Faux Ribbon (Papertrey Ink); Other - Chipboard Animals used as a template (Martha Stewart - I got them at Michaels), scallop scissors (Provo Craft), coluzzle (what would I do without it??!!), hobby knife, sponge.

Thanks for visiting.

Donelda

February 26 - Design Basics Lesson #8

Hello and welcome. This is my 8th lesson in my own exploration of design basics. I am using a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. You can explore the earlier lessons by clicking on the links on the right side of my blog if you are interested!! Enjoy.

Today's lesson is on Hierarchy. Defined as "a system of graded ranks".

Jim expalins that when looking at something, we will naturally be drawn to the item at the top of this "visual hierarchy". Sometimes it is the largest item, a well placed item, or because of the color of the item, or even because it is the most conceptually intriguing element. Then, our eye should follow a "visual pathway" of supporting elements.

I like this concept!! I'm thinking back to some of my favorite cards from people like Nichole Heady, Lisa Johnson, Sharon Johnson, and Debbie Olson and I can clearly find the eye-catching element or "the element that is the highest on the visual hierarchy". Cool!!

Now my turn!! Here are some cards that I made in the past where you can (or at least I can) clearly see my eye doing that...finding the element that is at the "top of the visual hierarchy" and then moving down the elements:

See this page from the valentine I sent my parents ---->

When I look at this, I totally look at the photo first (a good sign since it is a mini scrapbook) and then I find I move to the cluster of the flowers and heart in the bottom right, then up to the word angel and finally to the vertical red ribbon.... wow!! When I made this bage back in January, I didn't realize this but I keep opening and closing this image and every time I open it, my eyes do the same thing!! Did that happen to you when you looked at it???

<--------------

And here is another card where I can really see the visual heirarchy when I look at it. I totally look at the wire swirly charm. Then I look at the tiny sentiment and then the bold black bow. I keep thinking that I would move to the bow second becasue it is so much more intense...but I don't seem to. What does your eye do with this card???

Last card ------->

When I look at this card, I instantly go to the middle of the leaves, where there is more white inside the rectangle. Then I move out to that dark brown strip and finally on to the sentiment. Maybe not the best route (shouldn't the sentiment be more important than the strip???) But that is what my eye tends to do. Does that happen to you too??

Supplies:

Angel Valentine: Paper-Blush (Basic Grey), Ribbon (Making Memories- red, Michaels dollar bin - ivory), Flowers (Primas), Buttons (sm. heart - Teresa's Hand Dyed Buttons, brown - grandma Mary's stash), letters (Blush by Basic Grey), photo corners (dollar store), dauber (Stampin' Up!), Close to Cocoa Ink (SU!) sponged around edge. Note-the red outlined heart is cut from cardboard and covered with basic grey paper.

Wire Pendent Charm Card: Paper-Tempting Turquoise, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black (all Stampin' UP), Ink-Basic Black (SU!), Versamark (Tsukineko), Stamps-Deligt in Life, Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU!), Accessories-oval chipboard(Fancy Pants), Black organdy ribbon (Michaels), Hobby knife, wire (Michaels). Note - this pendent was made based on a website that made wire pendents and the wire pendent I made by hand. I can't find the link but if I do find it, I'll edit it in here.

Masking Card: Cardstock-Whisper White (SU!), Ink-Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Stamps-Beautiful Blooms, Paper Tray (Papertrey Ink), Dauber (SU!), Post It notes (3M). Note - this card is all masked -- it is a one layer card !!

Thanks for visiting. Let me know what you think about the lesson!

Donelda

A Few Challenge Items

I've been working on some of my favorite challenges today. I am going to up load them so people can link to my blog and see them.

Here is an altered frame for Caardvarks (see link on right). I love the designer paper!! Not so keen on how the swirl turned out!! Chipboard and I don't seem to get along. It never ends up looking like I want it to look!!

Supplies: Designer paper is Overton House Designs by EK Success, Cardstock is So Saffrom by SU!, Ink is Barely Banana and Close to Cocoa (SU!), Stamps-Delight in Life (SU!) and Beautiful Blossoms (Papertrey Ink); Accessories-Taffeta Ribbon(SU!), Chipboard swirl (fancy Pants)

Next up is this cute little baby card to show the baby love for Caardvarks (see link on right). Very little stamping on this card but I love that pieced bunny!!

Supplies: Paper-background is from K&Company, blues are from We R Memories; Ink-basic black (SU!); stamps-just one of the Studio g stamps from Michael's; Accessories-black pen(zig), white gel pen (Marvy), buttons and ribbon (unknown).

Thanks for dropping by tonight. Donelda

Challenge to make a TEEN BOY's VALENTINE!!

A co-worker asked if I could make some valentines for her to give to her teen sons!! Yikes!! But of coures, it was a challenge so I definantly said "sure, I'll give it a try!!". So, tonight I made a few. he only needs 2 but I wanted to make a few so she could choose, that is, if she likes any of them. I kept them all pretty clean and simple!! What do you think??? Supplies: Paper-Kraft, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip (all SU), designer papers- black encorce (the Paper Company), Pirate Bandana (Sandy Lion), Creative Imaginations; Ink-Basic Black, Versamark; Stamps-Everyday Flexible Phrases (SU); Accessories-corregated cardboard(unknown), wire (Michaels), rub-ons (Dee's Designs), Braiding Cord (Bead Party), rhinstones (unknown).

Thanks for visiting!!

Donelda

Happily Ever After

I was checking out the most recent Card Positioning System #39 and really liked the layout! Over the last few days, I worked on this card and got it finished late last night.

When I got it done, I browsed over to the CPS site just to make sure I had kept to the layout when I saw Sherry W's card called Forever Friends (she is one of the CPS design team members). When I saw it I went "oh, oh!". Unconsciously, I ended up copying her card! Obviously, I saw her card, loved it, and then as I started to decide what I wanted to do for my own card, her ideas came through...

Once I saw the CPS layout with the fancy swirly thing at the bottom, I knew I'd use these bits of chipboard I have had from Fancy Pants. I bought them forever ago and have only used one tiny piece from the package. Well, if you've been reading my blog, you would know that my challenge to myself is to start using up bits and pieces of stuff I alreay own. This was what started my card.

Once I had decided on the chipboard, I started to envision the card. I also had seen (apparently from Sherry W- hehehe, but others as well) some great designer papers where there was a big swirly patterened repeated. I didn't have any (and I can't buy any) so I decided to make my own designer paper like it. I used this Cool Carribean color which, sadly, is no longer available from Stampin' Up which is too bad because it is such a nice color. And, pairing it with black is a dream. I used the bigger stamp from my Gel-a-tins Build Your Own Flourish set. I think it turned out awesome!!!

Then, I knew I wanted to use one of the Borders & Corners from Papertrey Ink but I couldn't decide between the rectangle or the oval. I ultimatly decided on the rectangle because I don't have a convenient way to cut an oval shapped mat. I used some little swirls from my Gel-a-tins Build Your Own Flourish set and stamped them onto some white cardstock. In order to make sure they were where I wanted them, I actually laid the rectangle stamp on top of the swirl stamps. Then, I added black ink on the rectangle stamp just in the places where I wanted it (not under the swirls) and stamped.

Next was the sentiment to go inside the rectange. That was a bit frustrating. I really really wish someone would do some sentiments that are more vertical for vertical cards. You know what I mean??!! Have them read down instead of across. This is about the 3rd time I've really wanted something like that and have had nothing in my stash... well, I don't have a very lare stash of sentiments so maybe I just have to be on the lookout for them. I ended up picking this Happily Ever After sentiment which would make this card a wedding card or maybe I can use it as an anniversary card.

I covered the chipboard swirl with black ink, and then added some white around the edges to help it stand out a bit. Once I put the card together, I realized I needed some black behind the main panel and I liked it better off to the left...just seemed to balance the card better. I am learning about balance from a great stamper Kurtis -- you really have to see this guy's blog -- yes, I said guy!! He is a young fellow who is truely talented at this craft !!

Well, I pulled the whole card together and loved the end result. Then, like I had said, I went back to the CPS site and saw Sherry W's card... I clearly had used it for my inspiration, even if I had not realized it at the time. Sherry, your card is absolutely beautiful!! I hope she doesn't mind that I copied it !!

If you have a card where you made your own backgroud paper, please post a link in a comment so I can check it out!! Sue, I was thinking about our discussion the other night -- maybe try leaving a comment and clicking on Anonomous -- just make sure you add your name onto your comment so I know it's you :-) This might work until I figure out the subscription thing. Anyone who knows how to set up the ability for others to "subscribe" to my blog, I'd appreciate some guidance. Thanks.

Thanks for visiting.

Another Post Tonight

Well, I was playing some more tonight and I had to share my end result. I decided to pop over to Splitcoaststampers and check out the Ways To Use It Challenge (135) and found that Julia's computer is not working so jacksonbelle is filling in. Well, everyone knows that jacksonbelle loves bling so the challenge is to make cards using BLING. What fun!

So, I decided that I just had to try a Bety card. If you don't know who Bety is, you just have to go over to her blog iralamija. She makes the most elegant and beautiful cards imaginable!! In fact, they are so beautiful, she often has to remove them because they are being published somewhere!!

The strip of crocheting on this card actually comes from my husband's grandmother's sewing machine stash. You see, when she passed away, we were lucky enough to inherit her old sewing machine. When it arrived we were thrilled to see that the little drawers were filled with all kinds of goodies... buttons, ribbon, pins, and some crochet pieces. I have been able to work many of the items into cards which always adds a bit of "extra special" to them.

I started with a very vanilla card. I stamped the flower from Carte Postale on the top third of the card in Pixie Pink. There is just something awesome about pink and brown together! Then, I added some of the Au Chocolate designer paper (SU) and glued the crochet piece between the two. The most difficult part of this card was the sentiment which I added onto an oval of Bazzill Chip chipboard. I covered it with vanilla paper that I stamped with one more pink flower. Then I added "love" using the Fancy Flexible Phrases. Finally, I put on my BLING - all the way around the rest of the oval. The finishing touches were some sponging around the vanilla and some faux stitching in Chocolate Chip on the top third of the card.

Thanks for visiting!