Quick Card

I'm off to go do a little scrapping, but I thought I'd stop in here first and post a card that you can check out at A Walk Down Memory Lane in person (if you live in the area). If you don't live close, you'll just have to take my word for how sparkly it is.



This card was made with the Cosmo Cricket/Unity Delovely Whimsy stamp set. I love stamping on kraft card stock, there's just something lovely about it to me. The pear is also from that set. After stamping the pear I colored it in, put Score-tape over it, and covered it in Glitter Ritz warm highlight glitter. Finally, I cut the pear out and attached it to the card with foam dimensional adhesive. It sounds like a lot of steps, but it's actually a really fast, easy process...and totally worth the end result. Not only is the pear super pretty in person, it hast this great velvety texture, and the glitter doesn't rub off when you touch it.


Alright, I'm off to be creative for a little while. Have a lovely weekend!

Altered Art Challenge

This month Glue Dots® challenged its Dottesses to create some altered art. Well, I just happened to have a frame sitting around...I decided to make this piece of altered art. This is going to my (adult) sister who we've always referred to as princess. She also works and volunteers for Make-a-Wish, so it works perfectly for her. However, I'm thinking it would be a fun craft for little girls, too.


I started by gathering up the stuff I figured I would need...usually I miss a thing or 2 and end up grabbing a few things I won't need...but here's the official list of what I actually used to make the frame:


Frame
Glue Dots® (Micro, Mini, Memory Book)
Patterned Paper (Pebbles Ever After)
Rhinestones
Other Embellishments (SRM Stickers Princess)



Often, when altering art, I find that I must destroy it just a little to ready it for alteration. Here I used a butter knife to pry the back (which had been glued on) off of the frame.


When "artfully" destroying something, it's best to decide ahead of time where it is acceptable to have damage, and where it isn't. For example, I tried to avoid damaging the frame, but it was okay if the backing was torn up a bit, as my plan was to paper over it anyways.

I used Memory Book Glue Dots® to attach a new piece of paper to the back of the frame.

Then I used more Memory Book Glue Dots® to attach some more layers to the back.

After putting the back of the frame back onto the frame, I used Micro and Mini Glue Dots® to adhere rhinestones to the outside of the frame. I also used Mini Glue Dots® to attach the S monogram to the outside glass of the frame.

I decided to use my leftovers to create the matching wand. The plastic wand itself is from SRM Stickers. If you'd like learn how I made the top (folded) part of the wand, you can find a tutorial on my blog here.

I wrote this post while participating on the Glue Dots® Design Team.

Authentique Layouts

I have 2 layouts I would like to share today. I have so much I want to say about them, so I'll try not to jump around too much, but I'm not making any promises. First let me say, the second I saw Authentique's lines, I knew I had to have them. On the up side, A Walk Down Memory Lane ordered them right away. On the down side, I think the owner, Lisa, is enabling my paper addiction :-) If you haven't laid eyes or hands on this paper yet, let me tell you, you're going to love the look AND feel of this paper. The texture is nice and thick (think My Mind's Eye). I bought 2 of the lines and have them stashed for use on my Italy scrapbook (when I get as far as my Rome photos). However I had to buy some to use right away, and since I hadn't picked up any of the Splendid line, I grabbed that.
Okay, now to actually show you a layout:This line is really a "Jack of all trades". It lends itself nicely to distressing, and this rough style of layout, but it would be just as lovely used on a pretty, frilly layout or card as well. Kind of fun to think of all the possibilities.
I feel like this layout is really "me". I'm sort of in love with using photo collages lately. I tend to scrap with layers, and like to mix and match lots of patterned papers. I tried to make the journaling stand out a bit by adding word stickers into it. I like the effect, and it was kind of fun to do, too. I should mention the photos were all taken at the beginning of July when my boys, my husband, and I went for a ride on my grandparents' golf carts. Such great memories!


After I finished the above layout, I had another golf layout to do. I decided I would step (way, way) outside my comfort zone and try some different things on my layout. I'm not sure I love it, but I like it well enough, and I figure you'll never grow if you don't try. So, here it is:

It's definitely a bit grungier and more free form than what I usually do. I did do a fair bit of hand stitching to ground the different elements and tie them together. One of my favorite things about this layout is where I ripped it out to reveal a different paper underneath. It was a little scary to rip up my layout, but it was fun too. One other note: don't be afraid to change pre-made titles and stickers to say what you want them to say. For example, the strip beneath the center photo says, "a wonderful moment". Originally it said, "a majestic moment". While I liked that saying, it didn't really work for this layout, so I used a word sticker to change it. To make it look intentional, I added other similar word stickers to the layout in other places.

Alright, I think that's everything. Thanks for hanging in there through a post that's a little on the long side.

I'd Rather Be Fishing

The title says it all for me on this one. My oldest was especially excited about fishing, and pretty patient about it, too. He caught his first fish this year, which was quickly followed by his 2nd and 3rd fish. My youngest, who isn't quiet as patient still managed to catch his first fish shortly after his brother did. I used what was left of my American Crafts' Campy Trails line on this layout. I really didn't want to "waste" any of this line by letting my leftovers just sit on my paper shelf. I used my We R Memory Keeper's Sew Easy tool to speed along the stitching around the edge. The fabric brads are from American Crafts' Hello Sunshine line, but just happened to work well with this layout. If you haven't used these brads before, I'd just like to point out that they're flat instead of rounded on top. It makes them lie much nicer inside of a page protector or in an envelope if you use them on a card.

Magical Moments

As you know, it's not too often that I get to scrap "girlie" things, but when I do I like to make sure I do it up right. For example, what 's girlier than princess crowns, Cinderella castles, and lots of pink?

I stumbled across this photo of my sister and me in front of Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World (my parents instilled a love of Disney in us at a very early age), and I knew that Pebbles Ever After line would be perfect for scrapping it. Add a butterfly, some flowers, and a few rhinestones, and you have a perfectly girlie layout.

A little knitting

Paper crafting takes up most of my allotted "craft time". However, once in a while I get the itch to bust out the knitting needles or spinning wheel just to make sure I haven't forgotten. You see, back in college, I thought it would be fun to learn how to knit, so my Grandma taught me (she learned how to knit from her mother). Not too long after that, I stumbled across this amazing yarn and fiber shop in Fort Collins, CO (where we used to live). There I learned how to spin. Then I had a baby, and as he grew, he thought the spinning wheel seemed like a very fun toy, so the spinning wheel was relegated to a dark corner of my bedroom to be taken out again, "some day." Then I had baby #2 and decided scrapbooking would be fun. Little did I know I would fall head over heals in love with it...which would take up most of my crafting time. But, like I said, once in a while I like to take out the spinning wheel or my knitting needles just to make sure I still remember how to spin and knit, because some day I'll have more time...right?


I'm thinking about making a few of these for Christmas presents. It's about 5 1/2" across from point to point. I've made it into a pin so it can be fastened onto a coat. I'm just picturing it on my grey wool winter jacket. I also have this picture in my head of it attached to a fabulous wool purse...maybe I'll just have to take out my needles again some time soon to knit one.

Here's hoping you find time today to indulge in a little creative time of your own.

How to Eat a Marshmallow

Some things you just have your camera ready for. My youngest has eaten his fair share of s'mores, but this was first time he ate a good 'ole fashioned toasted marshmallow. While he ate, I stood there snapping away.


I used American Crafts Campy Trails for this layout. I had the papers and ribbon left over from this pop up mini album I created for A Walk Down Memory Lane. However, I had to run to the store to pick up that fun "so stinkin' cute" badge. My layout definitely would not have been complete without it.
I took close up of the badge and stitching, so you can get a better look at that part of the layout. The twine is from May Arts (I believe they call it twisted burlap). It's a little bit harder to stitch with than thread, but totally worth it for a rustic layout like this. I just wanted to mention, that if you're thinking about trying it, make sure to pierce your holes a bit bigger than normal, and use a thicker needle (with a large eye for threading) than usual. It also works best if you work with shorter strands. I used a strand that was about the length of my arm from my shoulder to my wrist. If you use too long a piece, the twine will start to gather and bunch in weird places.


Tomorrow I'll be back to mix things up with a knitted craft instead of a paper craft.