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.