An Album for Malachi

My friends Wes and Rachel had a little boy, Malachi, who was battling a form of leukemia. Almost three weeks ago he quietly passed from his mother's arms into the arms of Jesus. He had a wonderful smile and his mom posted so many adorable pictures of his happy face on her blog that I really wanted to make an album for Malachi and Wes and Rachel so that they could cherish the wonderful memories they had with him. This was a task I knew I could never complete alone, so I called on my scrapbooking friends, some of whom called on their scrapbooking friends, and together, we made this album of memories for Kai's family.

Many thanks to the ladies who contributed pages to this album.
Sandy Kim Tiffany Noli Janice R Suzy
Janice L Susan Sue Colleen Dawn Alisa
Linda Allison Brenda Jan Terry Heather

Kai had an amazing way of affecting people he never even met with his sweet spirit, and Wes and Rachel touched many people they never met with their strength and courage. If you would like to read more about Kai and his journey, please visit their Caring Bridge site and follow their story there.

More Halloween!

I am always so inspired by Disneyland's Halloween Time decorations, especially the ones on Main Street, that I took lots of pictures last year and decided that I wanted to try and replicate some of them in my own home. I had several parties planned for different things here at my house, so I figured that this was the best year to give it a try!

Not only did I decorate for Halloween, but I made name plates, a mini book and some treat giveaways that I learned to make from a friend who has a CTMH business. (Thanks Janice!)

First, here is the mini book I made using Tim Holtz Distress inks and crackle paints, QuicKutz dies and Teresa Collins bracket book covers and Halloween die cut pages. It was such fun to make and we even used the Bind-it-All to put it together.



I made place cards for everyone with the QuicKutz Haunted House die and Haunted alpha, abd my friend Noli made the treat bags.


I learned to make these adorable treats from my CTMH friend and consultant, Janice. Rather than stamping, I added the vintage postcard to the front of the treat (I used several different styles of postcards) and then in various spots, for a little shine, I added some Rock Candy Distress Stickles. It looks like that old glass glitter.



When you open the folder, the treat pops out! So cute and fun!



Now for the decorations. I wanted to keep that vintage Halloween feel, so i continued with the antique postcard theme, just like Disneyland.
Here is this year's front door wreath....but I already have plans to change it for next year.


This is the wall over the entrance table as you come in the door.


Coffee table in the living room.


And I didn't make this, but I found this adorable pumpkin at Vons! Couldn't pass it up, so I included it here b/c it is just so darn cute!


Well, that was it for my Halloween decor for this year -- but you know me, I'll be adding to it next year!

Disney's Halloween Time!

I decided that I needed to plan some Halloween Time Disney pages because I have so many Halloween Time pictures, so here are two I finished this month. I had a couple of problems, one being that some of the paper I ordered from this Making Memories Spooktacular Halloween line didn't come in, so I had to come up with an alternative for it. I have the techniques I used at the end of this post, but for now, here are the two layouts I came up with.




For this layout, I borrowed the tag design from Tim Holtz's Technique Challenge for October 2008.


I didn't want to use ribbon for the tag, so I dyed some cheesecloth using Ranger products. I also got inspiration from a funny layout by my friend Susan Stringfellow. She used google eyes in a circle on her layout about antique fake eyeballs. I loved it and wanted to used it on a Halloween layout, so here is my version of her google eye circle.




The second layout uses some of the new Halloween QuicKutz. The title and adorable curved swirly border and from QK. The rest of the embellishments are either stamped, or the ticket I created on my computer using Microsoft Word.



The medallions on both pages were made by adhering circles to colored paper clips and then tying some dyed cheese cloth to the tops of each.





Because part of my paper didn't come in, I had to adapt. So, I ran to JoAnn's and found this wedding paper. I got out my Ranger Distress Inks and inked the paper so that it looked dramatically different once I was finished.



And just like that, wedding paper becomes Halloween paper!



Then I needed some colored cheese cloth for my tags on both pages. I used Adirondack ColorWash to dye the white cheese cloth, then as I dried it with a heating tool, I spritzed it with Ranger Distress Re-inkers to add depth to the color and to make them look a little more uneven. I loved how they turned out.




Supplies:
Making Memories, Ranger Distress Inks, Adirondack Color Wash, QuicKutz, Cricut (Arrr Matey font), Martha Stewart edge punch, Stamps - Close to My Heart, Inque Boutique - Darice, Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous, cheese cloth, paper clips, google eyes

A Very Merry UnBirthday to YOU!

I put some of my QuicKutz to use and made this fun pull out card. I learned how to make this card several years ago when I was in Not Your Ordinary Bookclub.



It's a pop up card, so when you pull the bottom of the navy strip, the top pops up to reveal this candle with the tag that reads "Wishing you a..."


then the inside of the card finishes the sentiment with "...Happy Birthday."


Supplies:
Basic Gray Lime Rickey (and a strip of Two Scoops)
Martha Stewart white opaque pen
Fun Foam
QuicKutz used:
CARD:
Cake REV-0159-S
Candles REV-0156-S
Happy Birthday REV-0157-S
QuicKutz Club Tab - QC-0015
QuicKutz Club Tag - QC-0016

Hello Friend - Basic Grey Challenge #1

Okay, unlike my last post, this is the real deal! I actually used Basic Grey paper and a Basic Grey Brad for this card so it fits the challenge.

We were to make a card using mostly Basic Grey product and we were to follow this sketch.

I used Basic Grey Eve Collection for my paper and an Eve brad in the middle of the flower.



The flower is cut from actual sewing patterns using 3 different sized scalloped circles. I attached them through the center and then crinkled them and spritzed them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Sherbet and Scarlet. I got the idea from Annabelle at Bits and Pieces.

I also spritzed the BG pink paper with some glimmer mist so it coordinated with the flower. The BG letters, flourishes and the leaf were all covered with Ranger Crackle Glossy Accents.



Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey Eve
Cardstock Base: Bazzill
Brad: Basic Grey Eve
Letters and Flourish: Basic Grey Eve
Ribbon: May Arts
Flower: Sewing Pattern, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

How Oar You? and Happy Camper

I decided I wanted to try and do the new and improved Basic Grey Challenge. They posted this sketch for us to follow for this week. The only rules are that it needs to be a majority of BG product.



Well, somewhere between me printing off the sketch last night and waking up this morning, it took on a life of its own. I ordered a bunch of Cosmo Cricket paper a few months ago and they sent me some fun little packets of paper scraps, ribbon scraps, and a few chipboard elements. I already used the Halloween stuff in a card in an earlier post, but I had a packet left with camping stuff from their Mr. Campy line. I was baffled by this packet as I couldn't think of what kind of card you would give to someone who was going camping. And on top of it, one that uses chipboard oars. Who uses chipboard oars?

I went to bed with this sketch in mind and that packet of goodies (even though I knew it was supposed to be a Basic Grey card, I couldn't get that little packet of CC camping stuff out of my head.) Guess what? Sleeping on a problem sometimes works out! I woke up this morning with a card all worked out that I can give to anyone, anytime!

Here it is!



For the wood grain (it's hard to see in the picture) on the oars, I stamped the black chipboard with clear embossing ink, then embossed with clear embossing powder, then covered with paint and once it was partially dry, I wiped the paint off the embossed areas, leaving the paint in the areas that were raw chipboard. I learned this technique from Tim Holtz, but saw my friend Susan use it on these very same oars on a layout she did.

Now, I have to go back to my room and make a Basic Grey card to fit the challenge so I'm in the running to win some prizes.

Awhile back I also decided to copy an adorable camper that my friend Susan made. When I say copy, I mean! Mine is almost exactly like hers, so click the link and check it out! But I love it.

Here is my Happy Camper birdhouse made with Mr. Campy and a camper birdhouse from Michael's.




Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket "Mr. Campy"
Cardstock: Bazzill
Ribbon: Cosmo Cricket
Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket
Font: QK Chicken Noodle (limited edition)
Stamp: Hero Arts Wood Grain
Ink: Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Paint: Adirondack Paint Dabbers (Espresso and Butternut)

Soarin' Over California

This one I think I'm just going to leave as is. It turned out a little busier than I was planning, but I was having so much fun making propellers and cutting arrows that I just couldn't stop.



All the pictures here were taken without a flash, and the CM said I could take them (unlike the first time I rode the darn ride and they chastised me for taking pictures without a flash.)



The tag, gears, and propellers were cut with QuicKutz dies using QK self adhesive metal and painted with Ranger crackle paint in Shabby Shutters and Fired Brick colors.


The small propeller is a QK flower and the large propeller is the handle of the hammer (cut 3x) I made the centers by punching circles from the metal and cutting to the center, then folding it back on itself to form a cone.




Supplies:
Paper - Cosmo Cricket "Get Happy"
Ranger Crackle Paint - Shabby Shutters, Fired Brick
QuicKutz-
Metal Sheets
Gears 0340
Hammer 0443
Flower 0376
Tag REV 0015
Embossing Folder GBP-REV-003
Arrows (Archiver's Exclusive) C-0049
Dots Border CC-BDR-007
Squares & Dots Border CC-BDR-013

Ticket 2 Drive

These are some pages I have in the works. I usually don't post them in this state as I like to go ponder them, then go back and add some additional embellishments or things I have from my stash, but sometimes you just have to call it done, you know?

I was inspired by this layout from Two Peas in a Bucket and turned it into a two page layout with a different theme. After it is all said and done, I like the original better than mine, but it was fun to take something and try to change up the theme a little!

Anyway - here is one two-page layout that I just finished for Autopia.




I wrapped metal wire around the circles instead of the string in the inspiration piece.


Instead of the buttons used in the inspiration piece I used metal charms are from Karen Foster and I cut off the top loops and sanded down the edge so they didn't look like charms.


Journaling about our fun "Girl's Day" at Disneyland.



Supplies:
Cosmo Cricket - Get Happy paper
Karen Foster Charms
Tim Holtz Journaling Ticket
QuicKutz Zelda Grand for title
Black Soot Distress Ink

More Cards

I made these cards recently using a new nameplate die that I got.

The first card is inspired by Melissa Phillips I just love her style!



These are just a couple of simple cards using several different QuicKutz dies.





I enjoyed making these cards. It is actually fun to plan on a much smaller scale than 12x12 layouts. You might be seeing more cards from me in the future!

Supplies:
Paper: Anna Griffin
Trim and Ribbon (Westrim, Offray, Martha Stewart)
Flower Punches (EK Success)

Quickutz Dies Used:
Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01
Nesting Flowers CC-FLOWERS-01
Nesting Hearts CC-HEARTS-01
Nesting label CC-SHAPE-3-028
Basic Phrases CC-PHRASE-01
Leaves REV-0064
Blossom Mini Asterisk (for flower - retired)
Nameplate (exclusive club die)

Sympathy Card

This is a card I made for a colleague from our team at work who recently lost her father. Her dad planted roses for her, so we got her a rose tree for her garden. I thought roses on the card would be a nice touch, along with adding a copy of a hymn that was sung at both her parent's memorial services. It reminds her of a funny family memory.

I didn't want it to be too feminine since it was in memory of her dad, so I opted for some masculine stripes and roses.

A tutorial on these roses can be found on designer Nancy Burke's blog.

I pretty much followed the tutorial, except that once the roses were made and secured, I spritzed them with some Fired Brick Distress Ink with Red perfect pearls to give it a deep rich color and a sheen. I also spritzed the Prima leaves with Lettuce Color Wash from Ranger and a little gold Perfect Pearls. You may see the tiniest sheen of a swirl on the paper. I stamped a flourish from an Inque Boutique/Darice stamp set and covered it with gold perfect pearls for a hint of a glimmery pattern. Then I spritzed the whole thing with gold Perfect Pearls mixed in Water.

Thinking Inking Week 2 Part 1

This week we are focusing more on embossing powders than we are the inks, but that's okay, it was fun to try a few of these things. The main focus Jennifer had for this part was to have us experiment with embossing powders without using stamps.

There were several things she wanted us to do, so I made three cards with the different techniques.

This first project I made kind of cracks me up! I don't really celebrate Halloween, but I ordered a bunch of paper from Cosmo Cricket last week and they sent me a few little baggies with some of their paper pieces, chipboard and ribbon. Not a lot, but just enough to make a card. So since one of them had Halloween paper, and I had just bought a Tim Holtz Halloween stamp set for the barbed wire stamp (stay tuned for that card which is in progress!) I decided to give it a shot and I love it!


This technique we were to put clear embossing gel on the flower, and then cover the flower in clear embossing powder. When heated, it gives the flower a very shiny appearance. I also stamped the bats in Spiced Marmalade and embossed them with black embossing powder. The Happy Halloween is inked in Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and embossed with Concord Grape Distress Embossing Powder. Thanks Cosmo Cricket for the free stuff!



This technique we were supposed to use Utee on an embellishment to make it look like a faux acrylic embellishment. I bought the wrong kind of Utee - the pearlized instead of the clear (I didn't know there were different kinds!) I finished the technique anyway and it goes with the cream in the paper, so it's all good!



This last card is currently my favorite. I took some really old, cheesy paper I had and inked it all with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Then I copied an old vintage 4th postcard. I liked the way it said 4th of July already on the card, so I carefully went over it with an embossing ink pen and embossed it with antique gold embossing powder so it would stand out. Then we were to take a circle of paper and keep embossing it over and over with embossing powder until it was thick and gooey, then stamp an image in the center to make a faux wax seal. I used antique gold again and a star. For Week 2 part 3 we were to emboss on metal. I took three very bright metal stars and heated them and then dipped them in the antique gold embossing powder until they matched the seal.

I think I like this one so much that I may not be able to give it away.

Lots more fun projects from Jennifer and today begins week 3!

Thinking Inking Week 1 Part 3

Part three of week one was a little messy. You put ink from three different colored ink pads onto a nonstick craft mat, then spritz with water and carefully place your papers into the wet ink. This lightly colors your paper pieces and gives them an interesting look. We also did the water color stamping this week again.

Here is my take on this technique and my scraplift of Jennifer's card.


I made a celebrate card and used Scattered Straw, Faded Jeans, and Fired Brick Distress Inks to make make card and to stamp. I wanted it to have a fun, happy feel, and one that kind of fit with Disney's Celebrate theme this year, so that was my inspiration.

Only a couple more techniques and I will be caught up with the rest of the gang!