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!

Tailor Made

Ok, I bought this Simply Scrappin Kit because I thought it would be good for some more masculine pages. So, I looked for some of my husband's photos to work with.

I started with his 25 year High School Reunion. I hate working with photos of events that I was not at or I don't know all the people (this case is the latter). So, I kept journaling to a minimum hoping that the pictures will tell enough of the story.

I love textured paper. I was slow to warm up to the idea, being so much in love with the smooth card stock. Now I wish the new catalog carries more options for textured cardstock. At least all the SS kits have textured cardstock.

The Tailor Made colors I focused on were Not Quite Navy and Sahara Sand. I pulled in just a hint of the Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip in some accents. I also used the Vanilla Hodge Podge, since there was a die cut stickers that fit that shape. SInce I had one piece of Hodge Podge, why not throw in a second. I also used some of the fancy brads from the set.

Thank You cards

Our class received a grant to continue our field study programs. Although the district has been able to support field experiences in the past, our tight financial times are quite limiting.

To say "Thanks" to the support we received, I made some cards for the kids to record their thoughts and thanks.
Parents came along to chaperone our trip, so we had a card for each parent signed by the kids they worked with. The were really excited by these cards (made me feel pretty good to see they appreciated my time and didin't think they were hokey)

I made larger 6x6 cards with a picture of the kids on the trip for the foundation that made the generous donation that paid for our transportation. Each of the kids signed the card with a few words of thanks. They were really great!

Although I do like my cards, I think I am in a rut. I seem to be going through lots of Certainly Celery and So Saffron. Maybe because they go with the Delicate Dots DSP from SAB I have been collecting (I am sad to see it go) I also am using the SAB ribbon bundle. Hmm... same colors, no surprise with that. I also seem to find that everything suddenly needs eyelet trim. And I just living off of those embosslits. I just can't stop playing with that little Cherry Blossom!

But I did slip in some old Hodge Podge (antique Brass)
Yep. I am definitely in a rut. I need to pull out some new colors and sets (even if I am having fun!)

A Day in the Park

A little Sunshine Garden seemed perfect for scrapping a day in the park.
For Daniel's birthday, we went out to McKinley Park, not a common stop for us, but this park is special historically and socially. It has not only a very large play ground, but also other facilities like the duck pond. The boys had a great time playing here that day.

Although I rarely use flowery stuff (of course, I live in a house full of boys) the Sunshine Garden was perfect for these pages. The die cut flowers on the Saffron are not too "girly" and go well with the park theme.
The more rounded flowers reminded me of the scallop circles. So, I used the Scallop Circle die to frame all the duck pictures to create the same style.

Both pages were made from one sheet of Double Sided paper and one sheet of Self-Adhsive die cuts and Certainly Celery and So Saffron cardstock. And I still had stuff left over.