GOPHER

This weeks sketch at The Scrappiest is #57 and here it is:
I actually did 2 layouts with this sketch...one is posted below and the second I cannot post since I fulfilled a Design Team requirement with it and it'll post in April....too late for the March deadline at The Scrappiest, but I LOVE that second layout....coming soon.   Also, I'm rather fond of this one too...although I followed the sketch pretty loosely.  And this layout is pretty "simple"....but the journaling is long, so it's all good.....it's really ALL about the story on this one!!!   Double click on the layout to enlarge it and read the journaling, if you care to read about silly little boys!!

Outtakes

This weeks challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use Rub-ons. 
A few weeks ago, John was cleaning off the computer desk and found this 8x10 sheet of "proofs" from an old photo shoot w/ G-ma & G-pa.  So, I cut it into strips and used lots of rub-ons in lines to maintain the horizontal flow of the layout.  All the white is Rub-ons except for the date.  The black words are 7Gypsies stickers.

Happy Go Lucky

This week at Frosted Designs our challenge is to use a transparancy, acrylic or vellum.

So, I used a strip from a Hambly transparancy (Red Houndstooth) as the left edge of my layout.  The "lucky" journal spot is a 7Gypsies Transparancy.  The circles, flowers, swirls & brackets are acrylic.  I hand stitched the xxx's, which are both decorative and functional (they are holding on the transparancy).

Family Patchwork

Sketch #56 at The Scrappiest is shown below.  I flipped it, so I also am showing that so you can see how easy/versitle is is to use Liz's sketches!!  I used Cosmo's new Material Girl line and some Jenni Bowlin buttons.  Glimmer mist on the cut-out flower helped it to curl up and add some dimension.  I also popped dotted 2 other cut out flowers in the center.  TFL!!

One Crazy Chick

This week at Practical Scrappers our challenge is to use something from our stash that is over 1 year old.  So for this layout EVERYTHING is over 1 year old (except the chick digi stamp).  Joseph took this picture of me when we were messing in the back yard and I was trying to get him to laugh.  Anyway, the chick is a digi stamp from The Stamping Boutique.  I flipped the image so that it was facing the other way and lined them up and printed them to make the border.  I printed it twice....cut out one set and used removable adhesive to adhere the "cut out" chicks over the other strip....Basically, I made a mask (or 5 little ones)...   Then I used Glimmer mists to spray the chicks.  Then I removed the chick masks.  Then I actually used one of the cut-out masked ones in the journal box at the top.

U - Umbrella

I found a new challenge blog and I've been lurking over there for a few weeks, and this week I finally got their challenge done.  The blog is Alphabet Challenge Blog and each week they pick a letter of the alphabet and a word and that is your inspiration.  So this week it is....U for Umbrella. 

So here is my layout...U is for Umbrella & Underwear!!!!

Easy Going

This weekends sketch at Your Scrapbook Stash was done by Liz, who has her own blog called The Scrappiest -- she always has the most "useable" sketches.  So here it is:

And I just got a box on Friday and it had the new Bo Bunny line called Flower Power...OMG...when Joseph saw it, HE even went ..."ooohhh".
Yea...so I used it here....

You Love Apples (SOS DT - Old/New challenge)

This month at Scrap Our Stash the challenge is to use something OLD and something NEW.  So here's my third layout for the DT for this month.   Get your project done...get over there and get it entered....how hard is that??



New: Tim Holtz Crackle paint (red - used on letters & apple edge)
Old: "LOVE" chipboard frame-y thing.... I can't even tell you how old that is? Everlasting Keepsakes
Other items are "medium old" (not old, but not the newest stuff either): PP is October Afternoon, Chipboard apple is Maya Road, Chipboard alphas Thickers. Plain strips of chipboard to frame the PP & a Bazzill Just the Edge strip. Journal spot & accent are Jillibean Soup. I used "Teardrop Raindrops" by Cloud 9 for the seeds in the apple.

Another Prima Giveaway... wow!!

I'm totally in love with Prima stuff.  They are having another giveaway...and while there is not a chance in all heck that I would win (since I won their stuff last month), I wanted to be sure to spread the love.  So, go....enter..... you never know.  I never thought I'd win and then I did and got this really cool box full of AWESEOME Prima goodies!!!

Here's the post from Prima's blog... and click HERE to go to their blog and check it out yourself!!!

Shamrocks, leprechauns and Prima Products Picks...besides each having a magical touch, they also share that great color, GREEN! Just look at these gorgeous GREEN Prima products! There is everything from Lilliput flowers to Times Chipboard alphas to Say It In Pearls Ferns to Temple Leaves! We encourage you to pull out your lucky green Prima products just in time for St.Patrick's Day and have some fun!

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Want to win some of these? Here's what would we like you to do:

1. Post this Prima Pick photo or whole entry on your blog, Facebook or other online gallery/site. (Please follow each site's TOU.)
2. AND then post your link right here in the comment section.

The Sweet Spot - (Frosted Designs DT - Spring/Flowers)

This week over at Frosted Designs our challenge is to Think Spring and use flowers on your project.  So, having a boy....this used to be pretty tough for me.  But I've gotten much better at it. 

So here's the scoop for this layout.  We had gone to the Harlem Globetrotters basketball game on March 6th and as I'm in the stands watching (anyone else "see" inspiration in the weirdest places?), and I noticed this cool design on the back of their warm-up uniforms.  I replicated it pretty closely (from memory) on my layout, but I used flowers instead of stars.  So I had the idea, but then had to go find a photo that would work and so I found this one from a few years back.  This was a pic from a photo shoot we did and I just never scrapped this one of the back of his neck (which I think is just precious).  So then I search out coordinating flowers & used ric-rac to separate the sections.  I'm very happy with how this one turned out.  Double click to enlarge and read the journaling!
I went out to the Globetrotters website to try to find a photo of the "inspiration" warm-ups....this is the best photo I could find.

Coconut & Banana

Sketch 55 at The Scrappiest

Celebrate Today

Sketch 54 at The Scrappiest

I used my March kit from The Scrap Room

In the Pits

Sketch 54 at The Scrappiest is:

Peace Baby (Practical Scrappers DT - Chipboard)

This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use chipboard.

I used pre-printed chipboard shapes by Fancy Pants (Fishy, Swirly wave & border under the photo).  I used a scallop chipboard page from a chipboard album, mounted the photo & painted it white.  I also used raw chipboard letters & painted them to match.  I also used a chipboard rectangle, covered it with paper and used it for a journal box (lower right).  TFL!!  oh, notice those little dots in the black on my layout...well, it was sprinkling in Phoenix when I took the picture.  Didn't realize until I posted it here.  Extra fun, but they dried up!

2 Layouts - Background Stamping - Frosted Designs DT

 This week over at Frosted Designs our challenge is "Background Stamping".  Have you seen those really cool Donna Downey stamps that were just released at CHA?  Well, I had the "tree" on order and on it's way.  So when I got here, I was so excited to use it for this challenge.  Which is probably why I was really not thrilled with my layouts.  Too high expectations?  I mean, they're ok and all, just not what I had pictured in my head.  So here they are...   and I'll be trying that stamp again soon.

Up in the branches:  Stamped with Stampin Up Vanilla Kraft Ink.  PP is Sassafras Lass.

Jungle Love:  I stamped & cut out another tree on different paper, and used it as a mask (covering this tree) and then stamped a big "word" stamp on the background.  I had it in my head to use an old book on this layout, so I did that too.  PP is Sassafras Lass (again, I guess that's what I had out the day I did these)

Glow (SOS DT)

This month at Scrap our Stash the challenge is to use something OLD & something NEW. 

For the title, I used Heidi Swapp mask letters (medium old) and spritzed with Glimmer mists (new...the red color was just released at CHA Winter and I had won it as a prize). I used some really really old "mesh" and an old Queen & Co felt border . I found it really difficult to scrap this photo because of how dark it was. I struggled with it for a long time...I finally just added the journaling and called it done. As I look at it now, I'm glad I did. It's easy sometimes for me to want to "add more" but sometimes, simple is best.

Perfect Poses (Frosted Designs DT - Sketch)

Sketch time at Frosted Designs !!!  Get over there and see what the rest of the Design Team did....there are some great artists over there!!!    While you're at it....do a layout with the sketch and enter the challenge!!!

Here is the sketch:

And I don't know why, but I had quite a challenge with this sketch.  So here is what I ended up with.  I like that I used "not so great" photos and documented just that!!!

Zoom - (Practical Scrappers - White pen challenge)

This week at Practical Scrappers our challenge is WHITE PEN or MARKER.  Well, I use this a lot...so I wanted to "push" myself even further with this challenge. 
So, I took a class recently at The Craft Retreat -- my local lss & crafting store.  If you live in Phoenix, go see Susan and say hello!!  (59th Ave & Greenway).

I used those concepts and doodled ALL THE WHITE on this layout with my Sakura Gelly Roll.  I masked the title and spritzed it all with Glimmer Mist (including the photo, which I only PARTIALLY masked as well when I sprayed, so it's got some drips on it - intentionally).  Scratched the border into the photo (a fun technique I like to do).  One sticker (speed limit) and a small strip of patterned paper.  Done! 
I like that this is different and fun and kinda grungy and really works for this photo of Joseph zooming down the street on his bike!!  TFL!!!

Ramp Up - Scratch your photos technique

This week at Frosted Designs we, the Design Team, are showcasing our favorite techniques.  (or at least something we do a lot).  I have a couple things I do "often" so I settled on one that seems to "scare" other scrappers when they see me do it or I get lots of comments on it. 
So here it is:
I really like to 'scratch' my photos around the edges. I think it adds just a little texture and can really make a photo pop. Sometimes I just scratch a line for a border and sometimes I scratch more elaborate borders, like the arrows on today's layout. I just use a seam ripper and go for it.   If you're scared to try it, start with a scrap that you've cut from a photo to try it out.  And don't forget, you can always print another picture!!!

Prima Giveaway---WOO HOO!!!

COPIED FROM PRIMA'S BLOG:

That's Right! Prima is giving away two more AMAZING prize packages in conjunction with our BIG SECRET!

We want EVERYONE to have a chance to win so we are changing the rules a bit.
Please copy this write-up and link us on your blog, Facebook, or any other site that you frequent (please follow their TOU).
Then post here with a link to your blog, Facebook or site post for your chance to win BIG with Prima!
One US and one International winner will be chosen on Thursday, March 4th, 2010.
And we are getting closer and closer to revealing our secret-it won't be long now!

More information about how to enter HERE

Love Grass - (SOS DT)

Scrap Our Stash  -- March challenge is is to do a project using something OLD (from your stash) and something NEW. This can be anything you want to do - just stick with the OLD / NEW prompt. Your project does not have to be a card or layout - it can be anything you want to create.   Go to the blog here for all the details!!

So here is my Design Team layout:  (see description below)


I love love love this picture of my son (isn't he cute?). But he's growing up way too fast!!

Anyway, this is all about grass, which we don't have much of here in Phoenix, hence the point when he gets to go into the Arizona Diamondbacks Bullpen, he love to roll around in the soft lush grass. For those not sports savvy, the Diamonbacks are our professional baseball team.

I used my February Scrapbook Circle kit, which had some of the new Cosmo Cricket Material Girl line and some of the recent Basic Grey Origins line. I also used some of the new Elle's Studio flashcards for my title. Now, for the old... those squares to the left of the photo are those Architexture pieces that EK Success put out a few years back. I loved them, and bought sooo many, but I hardly used them (maybe 1 or 2 layouts). So, it was my goal/plan to use those on this layout from the very beginning. I think it looks ok and doesn't look like they are an "old" product. So, don't tell anyone ok?
 
Also, this is my second post today...scroll down or navigate on the sidebar to CANVAS to see a really cool canvas that I inked up!!

Canvas (Practical DT - Ink/Chalk) & LSS in Glendale AZ

This week at Practical Scrappers our challenge is to use ink/chalks on your project.  I had this 11x14 canvas that was taking up too much space in my room, so I decided it was time to use it!!  I inked the background by just rubbing the whole ink pad (different colors) lightly back & forth until I got the color & texture I wanted (notice how much darker the edges are).  Then I cut out a bunch of papers from the Fancy Pants Whimsy line and inked those edges.  I played around with placement until this just seemed to work.  I couldn't think of a good title so I didn't use one....and there's no journaling either.  This is a project that will be documented on the back and just be something that hangs on the wall (or on Grandma's wall).
If you double click, you can see more detail.  Also notice my great "holder"...ha ha.

Oh...and if you live in the PHOENIX, GLENDALE, PEORIA (or other Valley of the Sun city)....please drop by this lss. It's called The Craft Retreat -- you can see this canvas on display there. They carry scrapbook & papercrafting supplies, have a Pottery painting area (so Joseph does that while I scrap)...and some really really cool classes. Check out the website here or visit them at the NW corner of 59th Ave & Greenway.