Design Team Call

The Paper Mixing Bowl is having a Design Team Call - click here for details! 

Paper Mixing Bowl November Challenge

The November Recipe, Thanksgiving Leftovers,  is out for The Paper Mixing Bowl, and it is yummy!  Mashed potatoes and gravy were always my favorite at Thanksgiving.  

I met the challenge fairly well this month.  I used the colors white and brown.  Most of the color is from my photo.  For the Recycled Elements/Found Objects, I used the reddish birdie.  I have been trying to get that bird onto something for months. I think the bird has 4 coats of paint on him.  My Elements from Nature are the pieces of grape vine that  I stole from a small grape vine wreath.  As for the back ground, I did not create my own, but I used a Mask.  I Stamped all of those leaves.  Oops.  Use Fiber.  Ok, I missed one!  Wait, paper is a fiber!  I used a poem about trees for the journalling. 

Give me a land of boughs in leaf,
A land of trees that stand;
Where trees are fallen there is grief;
I love no leafless land."
- A.E. Housman

 



Now it's your turn to cook.  Show us at The Paper Mixing Bowl what you can make with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.

Don't Let Daughters Grow Up to be Demons

I made a LO for the "Bring on the Darkness" challenge sponsored by the monthly scrapbooking kit that I subscribe to, Scraps of Darkness.  The kits are always amazing.  It's like having my own personal shopper.  By the Kit Club's name, yes, Halloween is a big day on the site.  Here is my entry:

Detailed photos.  I enjoyed drowning that mouse.

Here is the photoshopping process:  The original image came from The Graphics Fairy Blog.  She collects amazing images and shares.  I gave the girl demon black eyes, cracked skin that is actually a photo of dried mud and took away her greenery and gave her a scary doll instead.  The doll is made up of three other dolls that I found online.  I added fish teeth and one human eye to the doll to up the creep factor.  How'd I do?

Punky Scraps Challenge #55

Here are the rules for Punky Scraps Challenge #55!  Use everything listed!

1.   3 different punches

2. staples          

3. masking

4. chevrons

5. 2 patterned papers

6. 1 photo

I used every challenge item on this LO.  The middle paper layer was punched with a Lucky 8 punch and the others are Martha Stewart. The punched strip along the bottom has been stapled on with tiny staples.  I combined the masking and the chevrons.  I used three patterned papers and one photo. This was a great challenge!   

I photoshopped the globe with these layers of the Earth and this compass from the Mr. Whisker's Air Pirate Digital Kit.

Most of the paper elements came from the September Scraps of Darkness Kit, "My Guy."  The chipboard compass is from Dutsy Attic.  The star on the compass came from Bath and Body Works.  ;)

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it very much!

Punky Scraps Design Team Debut!

A few months ago, I won a spot on the Punky Scraps' Design Team.  It's another web based challenge site, and there are two challenges a month.  Stop by the site and check us out.

Here is the photo that I was supposed to draw my inspiration from:

Between the makeup and the little ribbons, it reminded me of the point in life where my daughter is now.  She's shedding the last bit of childhood, turning into  a lovely young woman.  But she still plays and does silly things.  The picture is from her shooting a "music video" that she took of herself with an app called "Video Star."  It has every video trick that we saw on MTV in the early 80s.

"Somewhere in Between" Punky Scraps Challenge 54

For the flower centers I used peace sign and zebra brads.  I had picked them up to do a LO about my daughter, and this was the first chance that I have had to use them.

Thanks for stopping by!

October at The Paper Mixing Bowl

It seems to have been a long month for me!  But I should be putting up more on my blog in the near future.  I seem to be keeping up with school, life, scrappy things and even had the time to catch a cold.  I'm a great multitasker!  Here is the October Recipe Card for October's Paper Mixing Bowl Challenge.

Here's my take on the recipe.  I didn't use much orange.  One of the gears is orange, so orange is included.  

I did fussy cut the skeleton, my pretty little zombie and my version of the deaths head moth.  Thanks to "Reneabouquets" at my kit club for showing her glittered edges.  I used this on my moth to give the wings a bit of emphasis.  I used embossing powder on the wings.  The moth it's self covers two utensils, it was fussy cut and disguised with paint and embossing powder.  I caught the whole lay out in a web, with the inked and tattered gauze.

I tried to stamp on some bats, but wound up painting them out.  They just didn't look right.

Here is a closer look at my zombie.  The husband said that my zombie looked fake.  I told him that I worked hard on my zombie!  I even steampunked her up a bit for this challenge.  Yes, that is a drop of ink on the wing of the moth.  I forgot to photoshop that one out of the picture.  

The little skull sticker conceals my journaling.  I journaled my Halloween secret in a scroll.  The scroll is the next picture down. I cut up rub-on words and some stickers to do the journaling.  I wanted to give it that Ransom note effect.

 

 Thanks for taking a look! Stop by The Paper Mixing Bowl and play along!  Have a great Halloween!

The Paper Mixing Bowl September Recipe

Today is the reveal of The Paper Mixing Bowl September Recipe Challenge.

Here is my take on the sketch.  Yes, I was a bit naughty.  I did use my yellow and my neutrals, but I could also mimic the game board, which has white and colored squares surrounded by red.  I mimicked the game board by recreating my own with 1" punched and inked squares.

My repetitive shapes were the chevrons and squares.  The yellow card stock has chevrons printed on it, so I used another paper with chevrons to mount the photo and the journaling spot.  I tried to add more neutrals with the black and white stitching around the "fun" tag, and then I tied more of the black and white baker's twine to the stitches.

I made my own tiles. I didn't want to sacrifice my real Scrabble tiles to stick on the page. I did a bit of "doodling" around the board, reporting on my highest game score (488 points) and my best bingo word  (earwaxes).  

If you ever want to play a game with me, just leave me a comment and we can get a game started.  I'll take all challengers!

Even cats like Scrabble!

Back to School Supply Tutorial

I faintly remember using college ruled filler paper in school.  I remember that the ink of the lines would run when the paper got wet.  But since it has been a few (cough) years since I have been out of school, I had forgotten this property of paper.

I had forgotten, that is, until I rediscovered runny,  wet lines on accident.  Yes, through accident and laziness, I discovered how to transfer lines onto a Snoopy card that I made for my niece's birthday.  I had inked the edges of the card with Distress Ink, but I thought that the green turned out too dark.  I didn't want to start over, so I spritzed the card with water and stuck it between the pages of a notebook for a quick dry while I worked on something else.

Well, when I pulled the card out of the notebook, there was some green left, but I had also added blue lines.  I apologize, but I did not snap a pic of the card, but I have made this tutorial for you.

I made some journaling cards, inked with Distress Ink, then spritzed with water.

 I then applied the journaling cards to various back-to-school supplies.

This is my notebook which led me to my happy accident.

Sorry for opening your graph paper, dear daughter. Not really, because I bought it and promise to buy you more when you begin doing rise over run in math.

The Graph Composition notebook was a transfer loser!

Here is a peek at how my final journaling card looked.

It's not a very bold technique, but I think it adds a bit of depth to the journaling card.  Come back tomorrow to see my reveal for The Paper Mixing Bowl!  Until tomorrow!

Star in Her Eye

Playing around with the new August Scraps of Darkness kit, pairing it with the Punky Scraps sketch.

Give Away of Awesomeness

The amazing artist Ingvild Bolme is having a give-a-way to celebrate her new blog.  It is a mountain of Prima yumminess!  The contest is open until the end of August, so fellow blogging scrappers, follow directions, and maybe you can win a MOUNTAIN OF PRIMA!  Or, don't, which would increase my odds of winning.  ;)

August Challenge at The Paper Mixing Bowl

It's August and the new recipe is ready at The Paper Mixing Bowl!  It's time to check out the challenge and see what you can whip up for this month!

The inspiration for the recipe was lime margaritas!  Which took me back to a birthday.  I can't remember which 29th birthday it was, but I got to go to one of my favorite restaurants back home, and all of my favorite people were there.  Well, except for my husband. He got to go to Iraq for his second time.

Here is my version of the recipe:

I used the Main Ingredient: lime.  The paper is Prima, which I used gesso on and then inked with Dylusions Cut Grass and Fresh Lime and Fresh Cut Grass Distress Ink. I stamped and embossed some compasses on the paper.  I think I have the Main Ingredient covered.

I used four of the Utensils: A postcard, torn paper, something transparent and cheesecloth.

Finally, for the Directions, I journaled about my favorite vacation...which my favorite vacations are the ones that I have taken with my friend or have gone to visit her while on vacation.

My friend is the tall one.  All my friends are the "tall one."  I miss you, my tall friend!  Until next time!

Make sure you enter your August Recipe at The Paper Mixing Bowl.  You've got the whole month to get your entry done!

Pssst!

I know it's bragging, but I currently have 5 LOs published in the online magazine Scrapbook News and Review!  But I had to share!

Summer is Time 4 Family Fun ~ CSI 29

Here is the LO that I completed for the challenge at CSI.  This is Case # 29 and here is what I had to investigate:

And here is how I solved the case:

This is a photo of one of my nieces.  She was the ultimate fisherwoman on our lake vacation in 2008.  I hadn't scrapped this photo yet, but I knew I must!  She wore those goggles all day and she was just too cute.

EVIDENCE: I used stripes ( the layered strips of paper in the background and the stripes on the journaling card), rolled paper, I placed the bag of fish and the journal spot at an angle, as well as I added the corner banner to the photo; a I had a pocket with elements sticking out of it, which was the bag of fish.  

TESTIMONY: I documented a summer story and I used the Inspiration Word "summer."

Curious and Curiouser

When I found the picture of my son that I used in "Jack of Spades," I also found a funny self portrait by my niece.  The June kit from my Kit of the Month Club, Scraps of Darkness, was called "White Rabbit."  Some of the papers, from 7 dots studio, came from a collection named "Wonderland."  I just had to turn my niece into Alice.

The hardest part of this LO was actually the leaves.  I used gesso, gel medium, Clear Rock Candy crackle paint, spray inks, glitter, and Crackle Accents.  It took me three day to layer up those vines, so please, if you're feeling motivated, take a close up look.

And, thanks, LGT, for leaving me such a fun picture to work with!

Wouldn't it Be Wonderful if We Were Always Naturally Nice to Each Other?

This is my take on Case File No. 27 over at CSI

     I seem to be worry about the relationship between my children, more right now than I ever have.  This summer has been the worst for the bickering and the petty comments and picking and whatever else that siblings naturally do to push each other's buttons.  This behavior has collateral damage; my sanity!
There are days when I wish I had put their butts in summer school!  But I don't want to get up early to get them there.... C'est la vie!

     So will they continue to get on each other's nerves for the rest of their lives? (Yup, chimes in my daughter as she nosily reads this over my shoulder.)   Will they still speak to each other after they turn 18 and I kick them out of my house?  (I don't know, daughter says.)  Do they really hate each other?  (It depends, she thinks.)

     But I want them to be there for each other later.  Maybe they can get over this mean, snarky, snippy stage.  I can only hope for a good future.  (But, secretly, they still love each other, my daughter says , anonymously.)  Good, I think, or I will cut them out of my will.  (I love you!  My daughter just gave me a hug!)  Suck up!  (Well, then!  She replies, I expect all of your money NOW!)
   

     I titled my Case File No. 27 "Wouldn't it Be Wonderful if We Were Naturally Always Nice to Each Other?"  The title meets the requirement for being LONG, as per the Evidence.  The other Evidence includes leaves, flowers, a tree (in my photo), woodland animals, sparkles and clouds.  I layed out the quote that I used in the shape of an arch (more or less) and this met the requirement of the Testimony.  I also tried to use the inspiration words, wonderful and natural in my journaling, but that wound up on my blog and not on the page.  I am working on my journaling!

Jack of Spades

Here is the LO that I made for the June Sketch Challenge over at Scraps of Darkness.  The June kit is called "White Rabbit," and it is just to die for!  Or at least stealing or begging or whining!  This is the kit that scrappers dream about, and I haven't used any of the flowers yet!

July 2012 Recipe Challenge - Strawberry Shortcake

It's time for the July 2012 Recipe Challenge at the Paper Mixing Bowl.  The Challenge recipe is for "Strawberry Shortcake."  The recipe card highlights the challenge.

Here is my debut LO as a member of the Design Team!  I used the red of strawberries as the Main Ingredient.  As for the Utensils, I think I managed to use most of them.  I've used the contrasting paper patterns (stripes and dots), the banner, the textured paper, and star shapes, of which one is a die cut.  In my Directions, I journaled about a summer tradition, using the Prompt "Summer," and I also included the use of color on my journaling.

Take the time out and visit the Paper Mixing Bowl.  The challenges are fun, I find that maintaining your creativity while following someone else's rules is interesting.  I enjoy comparing my results to what other's come up with on their LOs.

Scraps of Elegance June Sketch Challenge

This is a pic of my dear family on a weekend trip. I'm not sure how I got them all to pose together. I must really have threatened them with something nasty! 
For this sketch I used the Scraps of Elegance June Kit, called Country Charm. TFL!