PreCamporee

Here is my little camper, loaded up for his first overnighter without dad.
For this page, I took a couple of sheets of scouting paper and used Old Olive and Certainly Celery cardstock to mat photos. I also used the marker to journal on the tent.

Color combos

There are colors that I would never think to put together. That is why I rely on my Color Coach so much. But, I noticed that my Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo looks just like the color combos from Cirque de Soleil's Kooza.
I will need to take more time and look for more color combos that are out there for inspiration.

Melon Mambo cards

When it comes to papercrafting, I am not really a "Pink" person.
Scrapping mostly boys, scouting, and camping trips, there isn't much call for pink. But if I did play with pink, I think I'd play with Melon Mambo.
This color seems so fun!

I used the Movers and Shapers to punch out the heart. I stamped with Circle Circus and used a marker to shade a flower from the Pretties Kit.
The Eyelet Punch makes a frilly border and I colored white Grosgrain ribbon with a Melon Marker to create a new accessory.

Where does the time go?

Whoa! Its been a month! What happened?
I remember starting to prep for my class, scrambling to be ready, the kids showing up... Somewhere I lost a bunch of time. But I have been making some projects along the way, I just forget to publish them. So...

Let's start with some Circle Circus cards.

I love the new In Colors (like I always do) The picture doesn't do the Bermuda Bay justice. I double stamped the background with Circle stamps. In double stamping, you ink the stamp and stamp it multiple times. Each time, the image becomes lighter. I like double stamping for a background since it gives it more interest than if all the images were stamped in full ink. The eyelet punch was used to make a border and the Polka dot ribbon added an accent. A pearl from the Pretties finishes it off in the medallion center.

The Razzleberry card is very similar. The ribbon is different since I used White grosgrain. It doesn't look white because I used a marker to turn the ribbon into Razzleberry ribbon. Gotta love those markers!

Zoo

The new Tall Tales DSP seemed a good choice for doing my pictures of our over night stay at the zoo.

Although Tall Tales uses the 48 colors, I added some of the In Colors that are similar, which worked fine. I used Crushed Curry, which layers very well with So Saffron as you can see in the bottom spread. I journaled on vellum, and layered that on the Curry. I also added Designer Brads to hold the vellum without showing a bunch of adhesive. I stamped the animals on textured white cardstock. I like the "textured" look it gives them, without the hassle of the kissing technique.

On the layout, I wanted to have a bunch of the critter pictures from the day without making a whole book. So, I printed the pictures smaller and made a squared pattern of 3 x 3 pictures. This also helps balance against the large picture of the whole pack. Being our last event with Pack 224, I definitely wanted a group shot.

State Fair

I love the new In Colors! When I first saw them, I knew that there bright, but earthy tones would be perfect for the my State Fair spread.

For my first pair of pages, I used Crushed Curry for my main color.

For the first page, I added a touch of Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo. To add a touch of texture, I colored plain Grosgrain Ribbon with a marker.

For the second page, I used Dusty Durango and Soft Suede highlights. I used the Arrow Punch for my journaling points.

Although the third set of pages was also at the State Fair, the focus on the concert and I used colors that matched the colors from Smash Mouth's autograph sheet. The main color is Bermuda Bay with Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo highlights.

For each of the pages, I was able to journal in the same color as the pages. I love having In Color markers!

Robots

A new Stampin year means new stamp sets. Yeah!
One of the fun new sets is Lots of Bots.


My son was invited to a friends birthday party and he asked me to make a card (How sweet! He appreciates me!) He wanted me to make a stand up card like the ones I made for his birthday invitations. Well, I had to try my new stamps!

The base of the card is made with Brilliant Blue and the tag is made with Brushed Silver. The base is stamped all over with nuts and bolts in Brilliant Blue ink. I water colored the image with Going Grey and Brilliant Blue.

Daniel loves the interaction of the card. He likes how it is opened in a different way and it stands itself. I think this is quickly becoming one of my favorite designs.

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

Before I share all the new projects from new goodies, I want to showcase one more old set, just for today. I made these cards as thank you to some of my fellow Navy moms using the Free and the Brave set. I used Brilliant Blue, Real Red, and Brushed Gold papers. I watercolored the image on Whisper White.

Today is a day not just for celebrating and shooting fireworks, but also to remember what it took to get here and the cost of having this celebration. Too often, people forget that "Freedom isn't Free". We have our freedoms because of those that have been willing to fight for it. And its a battle that we must continue to stand up for. Everyday, I think about our military and the sacrifices they make. I hope everyone at least thinks about them today.

In the meantime, I'll just keep waiting for my new military stamps set from the new catalog!

The new catalog is here

Yipee! Its time for a new catalog!
Watch for projects with the new In Colors and stamp sets all this week.

Hunting

For this spread, I used a standard scrapbook paper and SU'd it with ink. I sponged the paper to make it look more earthy, as well as sponging the letters. It does appear dark in the photo, but it is much easier to see in person.
Being outdoor photos, I had to include the bear for Under the Stars, one of my favorite sets of late.

State Capitol

Since I discovered that Western style, like in Round Up, work great for historical trips, I used some more stuff for our trip to the State Capitol. Again I sponged the paper to give it that grungy, aged look. I also sponged all the die cuts.
And I still have tons of stickers and paper. Guess I better go look for some other photos... or maybe we need to take a trip. Its been a long time since I have been to Bodie....

Humboldt Redwoods 2

For the pages for our adventures on the trail, I wanted to create some consistency, so I made all the trail pictures in Rust.

Again, I used the Out and About Simply Scrappin Kit and the Under the Stars stamp set to create this set of pages. On the first page, I have the types of things we encountered on the trail... plants, animals, bridges, tunnels... I didn't want to overwhelm the page with critters, but wanted so show several examples, so I made the smaller prints for along the bottom. Each is raised with a dimensional and are connected with hemp twine.

The second page shows use exploring the forest. From the analysis of tree rings, photographing the trees, or just playing around, its all about us in the forest. Besides the supplies in the kit, I used the Photo Corner Punch to make the layered corners for the large photo. If a kit has small stickers, I like to use those on the corners of of the corners (if that makes sense). That is on the page below.

The third page tries to capture the majesty of the trees. It is hard to convey the size of redwoods to those that have never encountered them. The view looking up the Founders Tree, where you can see the twist to the growth helps give a more personal view, where the picture of us in front of the tree gives some size and scope to the size of the tree. Rather than journalling, I used the signs from the trees. I took pictures of the signs with the boys beyond to give interest to the photo at both levels of depth.

Humboldt Redwoods 1

Pulling out old Simply Scrappin Kits, I also found Out and About which I had purchased for our camping trips.

I pulled out our photos from our Humboldt Redwoods camping trip for these photos. One of the nice things about SS Kits, the stickers and papers are all coordinated. Although this is true for all SU stuff, where everything matches and goes together, there are color combos I would never think to use, even with my color wheel. Some colors just don't seem to get my attention. Pulling out these kits drew my attention to a forgotten color - Sage Shadow.

Now, Sage Shadow is not new, but it is one I never seem to use. But I discovered it looks so nice with Navy and the Chocolate. I will definitely need to use it more. I also added some touches to my pages with the Under the Stars set. I love this bear! Plus it has S'mores!
On a side note... When scrapbooking, its sometimes hard to journal. I know many of my friends will avoid journalling, but that is an important part of the story unless the pictures tell the story in and of themselves. The bottom page doesn't need anything... the pictures say it all. I really like the photos, since I felt it captured that special relationship... and I planned the photos so the pictures would be climbing up as well.

Coloma

Well, one of the lessons I have learned is "get it while you can". Fads come and go, stock changes frequently, especially in scrapbooking. I don't need to use it today. Afterall, if its archival safe, it won't go bad... I can use it later. I practiced this with a couple of the cutest Simply Scrappin Kits that retired last year. Round Up was an earth tones, western set. I thought "what would I use it for... we don't do too much western stuff". But I knew I would find a use later.
And I did! I was sitting with a friend at a local scrapbook store looking at my son's field trip pictures to historical sites wondering what I should do. She said "old west stuff would work". I searched the store and they had nothing! Its no longer vogue. But, I knew I had this at home, so I set it aside to come home to work on and.... here is the first one!

To make it have an older look, I sponged the paper irregularly with Chocolate Chip ink. I also tore the edges of the papers to help the worn look. Since I was digging out old stuff, I found one of my favorite stamp sets Frames and Flourishes (I think). I loved the old frame sets and collected all of them. To add to the frame, I lightly watercolored with the ink as well.
And its not the only field trip... more to come soon!

Rockabilly Pirates

Oh, I so hate saying goodbye to papers. The Rockabilly paper is going away and I love those skulls and crossbones. It is great "pirate" paper which I used for these pages of summer camp which had the theme "Pirate of Lassen". But, it has to go because it has the Kiwi Kiss, which is the color I used to cut out the swords and the skull and crossbones.

I used a computer image of the scroll and printed it on vellum card stock. I filled in the info by hand with a calligraphy pen for my journalling.

Of course, I guess I can accept the loss of the Rockabilly, having seen the sneak peek of the new pirate sets in the catalog. I may need to change some of my embellishments to add the new pirate sets images. My hand cut skull and crossbones has nothing on the new stamp sets!

Pacific Point Pages

One of the difficulties of June is saying goodbye to In Colors. I will truly miss Pacific Point. This color is just gorgeous and seemed so appropriate for my pictures of Twilight Camp, themed Cub Scouts in the Pacific.

For these pages, I used the Just Beachy set. The fish were stamped on Whisper White and colored with reinkers using a watercolor brush, in Summer Sun and Tango Tangerine.

For journaling, I used old retired stamp sets. Big tip... when you like a set, get it! These stamps do not expire, but they do retire. I am so glad I picked up these journaling sets years ago. I have never seen anything like them since!

To make the waves, I used the scallop punch in thin layers to make waves and also sponged the look of waves along a scallop punched mask edge in Pacific Point ink. I also used the ink on large white grommets. I wiped off the excess and added clear embossing powder to hold the ink on.
This was really a fun set of pages to make. Unfortunately, they aren't quite done. My son made a little fish at camp that I saved for this page. But, I can't find it now. So, I left a spare space, hoping that I find the fish soon.

Faux Leather Wallet

One of the coolest projects we learned at the Luv2Stamp meeting was how to make Faux Leather Wallets.

The outside of the wallet has a faux leather finish. This is achieved through heat embossing clear embossing powder after drawing lines in the embossing powder.

The wallet has pockets on the left for gift cards and a clear window (like a drivers license window) on the right. The wallet doesn't hold much, but is perfect for gift cards.
I made mine for my Secret Pal for his end of the year gift. I think it worked out quite well.

To learn how to do this, come to my workshop or you can purchase the pattern at Patty's website. The pattern includes an 18 page tutorial with over 70 photos and step by step instructions for only $10 !!
http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2009/05/fabulous-wallets-tutorial-available.html

Brayered Manhattan Rose

We also brayered these roses. These are so gorgeous and easy.
Start by embossing the Manhattan Flower on Shimmery White paper. Using the lightest color first, brayer irregularly on the non-raised side of the paper. Remember to move lightly and shift directions/angles as you move the brayer to prevent lines. Change to a slightly darker color and continue with irregular layers.
After brayering layers of color, cut out the brayered image and mount.
So easy, so cool!

Brayered projects

Also at our Luv2Stamp meeting, we worked on brayered cards. These are my cards.
To create these cards, first stamp the image. Mask off the area that is not going to be brayered. (the snow, the water/sky). Brayer in layers, starting from the lightest color and working towards darker colors. Keep a light touch and move in a curved, irregular pattern. If you go back and forth, ridges tend to appear. Irregular, curved movements create a blended, even appearance.
The mountains were created by using a mask and sponged.

After all the brayering is done to create the blended backgrounds, white gel pen was used to add the highlights in the water and the snow.
It was amazingly easy to make such beautiful cards.
Patty is the best!

My Swap

For our last Luv2Stamp meeting, I decided to try out the Butterfly Die for the Big Shot. I used Textured Neutral cardstock - Going Grey and Basic Grey. I also used the Walk in the Park DSP and ribbon.

To make the butterfly, I first cut the butterfly out of Vellum Cardstock. I then ran it through again to emboss it. The middle of the butterfly still needed something, so I ran a line of Crystal Effects and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I was still stuck for antenna, so I cut a strip of vellum, folded it in half and curled it. I then used a silver brad to make the head of the butterfly.

One warning, the antenna can get twisted when curled, so I do not recommend having much of a curl and expecting it to travel well in the mail. This does much better hand delivered.

Sorry I have been away for awhile. I was very busy with all that end of the school year stuff. We are almost done, but I have it all under control.
One of the things that I wanted to share was all the great projects from my Luv2Stamp meeting with Patty Bennett. Check these out!

This card is made with the fabulous DSP, Pretties and buttons. It is amazingly easy. There is a square of DSP on the front of the card with strips of complimentary DSP across it. Ribbon is tied across the front and a the flowers are sponged in coordinating ink. So bright and such fun!

This card was also made from our DSP with the use of punches. The eyelet scallop punch and the scalloped oval punch go so well with the classy Bella papers.

Both cards are so simple, but convey very different looks.

Grease

Some events are harder to scrap than others.

We had our first big "Renaissance Rally" to reward students at our school. Our theme was "Grease". Not an easy topic. I have no stamp sets that really work. Big Shot dies... no. I fell back on stickers, a media I seldom use. But even with stickers, the pink paper still needed something. To give it a bit of a retro look, I pulled out my circles and squares stamps and used VersaMark to create a randomized retro background in the pink. The VersaMark keeps it subtle as a watermark but still adds a little something to break up the flat tone.

Scouting pages

And I am still wading through more scouting photos.

These use some of the scouting specialty paper and my favorite Cub Scout colors:
Night of Navy with So Saffron and Not quite Navy with More Mustard.
For the Cub Scouts in the Future page, I had the one sheet of specialty paper cut in the diagonal. Its a busy pattern, so I hoped a large photo block would work - not showing bit of pattern here and there.

I also used a photo block layout for the Space Derby. Since the paper is quarter blocked, this was a natural fit. I even left space on the block for the ribbon. Always put realia when possible.

Retired DSP for Orlando

With each catalog, Designer papers come and go. Unfortunately, I can't let go.

I always keep a stock of papers so I can finish projects because styles and colors change faster than I can complete projects. In this case, I started but didn't finish my Orlando pictures. I have had this Polka Dot and Paisley paper set aside for these pages for some time, but finally caught up on these.

On the first page, the cover page for the albun, I went with the Tempting Turquoise/Cool Caribbean look. I used the Arrow Punch to punch out turquoise arrows for the main stops featured in the album. I wrote the name of each place I scrapped on the trip using the white gel pen.

For my intro to Epcot pictures, I picked up a Mickey punch to use with my SU cardstock. I also cut out my titles using my Big Shot and one of my alphabets.

Like with all my scrapbooks, I tried to include some memorabilia. I included my badge and ticket to the layout. I also printed out a map that could fit on the page. It all comes together to as part of telling the story.

Blast from the past

OK, its hard to find a good stamp set for boys. It can't be too cutesy. It should be related to what they do. Its tough.

Well, for my son's birthday, I tried to think of something that wouldn't offend him, be interesting, and connect thematically to his party. Yeah, right....

Well, since his party is a Golfland Sunsplash, the big castle, I thought to use my "Dreams and Dragons" set. Now, this set is my reminder to myself and everyone else... If you like a set BUY IT! Don't worry about it being retired and you aren't sure if you would use it enough or whatever excuse you give yourself to pass on it. Just buy it. Or five years later you find yourself paying three times (or more) than it is worth on EBay. Like I did with this set.



Anyway, I used the trophy card/stand up card design for this. I wasn't too sure I wanted to go through all the effort to make these cards, but once I was started, I found it was really quite easy.

The real test was showing the invitation to my son. He looked at and seemed mildly interested (now that is a really good sign!) We took the invitation to his patrol meeting and the boys were also mildly interested. They liked being able to pull on it and peeked through the stand. Hey, they didn't laugh or get indignant! Yeah!



I will post all the directions on how to do these in the next few days. If you just can't wait, there is an excellent tutorial on Split Coast Stampers.

Nature with a Top Note

I wanted to try the new "Walk in the Park" DSP.

Since I am in a monochromatic trend, I decided to try out my Textured Kiwi Kiss paper with the matching DSP. I tore the DSP with a curve to soften the lines. I tried to create balance by using symmetry in the DSP creating the valley between the two hills.

I used Whisper White and Kiwi Kiss with the Big Shot and the Top Note Die. I also used the top note on two pictures that I wanted to showcase. I trimmed the pictures down so they could fit in the die as a frame. I took a die "left-over" to frame the boys, another picture I wanted to showcase.
As accents, I used the White/Kiwi ribbon along the bottom and on the top corners with the bow. I am pretty bow impaired, so tying it with the white on the outside and the green know was quite the challenge, but fully planned.

I also tried out the new large grommets.
And of course lets not forget those little Forest Friends in Close to Cocoa.
The trick with the trees, since I do not have a Kiwi Kiss marker: I inked the pad with Kiwi Kiss, used a blender pen to remove the Kiwi ink that didn't belong on the trunk and then colored with a Close to Cocoa marker.

More Tailor Made

Using the Tailor Made Simply Scrappin Kit, I also scrapbooked my husband's woodworking photos.

For these pictures, I went with the Chocolate Chip as the main color, since I was using wood based photos. Since he likes darker oak finishes, the darker Chocolate Chip seemed better than Close to Cocoa too. Again I used the textured cardstock.

Using Sahara Sand kept it Monochromatic (I am partial to monochromatic pages) and I kept to the earth tones. There is also a hint of Always Artichoke in some of the embellishments.
Tailor Made has nature and classic look and feel. Lots of leaves, realistic art styles, dark earthy colors. I like it!