xoxo layout - breaking the law!

it's saturday, and i have a fun layout to share of my oldest, little mann, when he was still little! :) ha!

i saw this technique done by PurpleMailbox (you can see the AWESOME video here) onto a canvas, and i thought it would translate wonderfully onto a scrapbook page! :)

i have never used embossing paste NOT with a stencil...so this was definitely a new technique for me!
and in that spirit, i'm entering it as a last minute entry into the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge! 

and because i LOOOOOOOOVED that mood board on Butterfly Reflections Ink's blog, i'll go ahead and link it up there too! i mean, come on!! that mood board was INSANE. i loved it so much, i pinned it! ha ha! :D

ok, so onto my layout!

i created those little roses or rosettes by taking a scoop of modelling paste and moving my palette knife in a circular motion until i liked the shape of the flowers! once it was dry (read: the next day!), i added the color with distress inks (worn lipstick and spun sugar) and a gold mist spray by putting the ink pad and mist onto my kraft mat, and using a paint brush apply the color! 

i had to let THAT dry again...ha! so i added lots of layers to the photo (my little mann is 3 and 1/2 there, so cute!) and adding lots of dimension and vellum.
i stitched on the title, added embellishments and black mist drops. 

i LOVE this! i totally broke the rules and used pinks and golds for my boy page! and i don't care! lol! i LOVE pink and gold, and i love my little mann, so there you go! :)

thanks for stopping by!
let me know if you have any questions about how i made the background...i'm dabbling with the idea of making a video...but i'm super nervous. so i'll only do it, if you want to see! no need to, otherwise! :)
enjoy!

i'm here for you sunshine

**this is my 2nd post of the day! if you're looking for my Butterfly Reflections Ink post, please scroll down, or click here!**

hi again!
so today, i'm ALSO on the Create a Smile blog with a super fun, watercolor card!

there's texture, dimension and color all on one card! 
check out the post on the Create a Smile blog if you want to read all about it! :) it was a TON of fun to make! i just LOVE watercoloring with my distress markers and inks! 

thanks again for stopping by!
enjoy!

daddy's little ducklings layout sneak peek

hey you guys!!
(feel free to read that either as Chunk from The Goonies, or just as a regular, chipper greeting! your choice!)

today i have a layout up on the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog! holla!!
here's a little peek at what you'll find if you jump over there! :)

i have been wanting to make this layout since the summer, and i just LOVE it! totally captures this memory! 
so hop over to the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog, read about my super awesome layout, if you please, and then go shopping! it's so easy and so fun! 

...i heard Vanessa just got a bunch of new My Favorite Things stuff in...run! :D
enjoy!

you're my brightest star

hello there!

it's been quiet on my blog this week...weird!
well that's about to change! 
today i have a card that i created for the current Runway Inspired Challenge! 

so FUN! and totally a challenge for me! these aren't my usual colors, and i was up for the challenge! 
i also thought to myself...hey...i'm already challenging myself, why not use some acrylic paints?! also new to me!

so i took my inspiration from the panels in the top of the shirt, and that's what i did:

i used some navy paint and quickly brushed it on to my card front. once that was dry, i used some orange and red acrylic paint to create loose 'stars'! i really like how it came out! 

i colored that little lion from Mama Elephant's Carnival Cupcakes with copics, and then popped him up over that lovely, so sweet, sentiment from Shooting Star.

what do you think? have you ever used acrylic paint? it was FUN!! 
thanks for stopping by!
enjoy!

coffee can fix that!

**this is my 2nd post today! to see my Inky Paws Challenge card for Newton's Nook Designs, please scroll down, or click here**

hello again!! 

today i also have a card on the Create a Smile blog! 

i really like how this card turned out! it's so fun! lol!

head over to the Create a Smile blog to read all about how this card came to be, the inspiration and the products! :)

thanks again!

enjoy!

Inky Paws Challenge - Use a Heart Shape

hey there! me again! :)

it's a new Inky Paws Challenge day! i love these challenges! all of the details can be found on the Newton's Nook Designs blog! 

this month, we're looking for you to use a heart shape! easy, right? :D

for my card, i used a heart stencil for the background and some modelling paste. i added some white glitter embossing powder on top, and when it was dry, i heat embossed it! all the fun of glitter, with no mess! ha!

i used that adorable doxie in a tutu from the Boo Crew stamp set! (LOVE that set!). i colored her with copics and popped her up! for the sentiment, i combined phrases from the Flirty Flamingos stamp set, Love a la Carte and Magical Dreams! 

the speech bubble is from Newton's Day Dream, and i layered a bunch of patterned papers and then popped up the top one! oh, and i added some shading with copics to the speech bubble papers, as well.

so that's my card! a little non traditional, valentine's perhaps, but still FUN! 

i hope you can play along with the Inky Paws Challenge!

enjoy!

cat puns - here's one for you right meow!

hello!!

today i'm sharing a card that is also on the Newton's Nook blog! and, people, i just LOVE this one! ha ha! i laughed the whole time i made it! :) it involves a pun...a cat related pun!

so, to start off, are you familiar with the song "How You Like Me Now?" by the Heavy? it's awesome! and it i totally punned this song for my card. you can listen to the song and get your funk on here!

see? ha ha ha ha!! i LOVE it! it's like newton is giving the mouse some cheese and thinking, see? i'm cool. let's be friends! ha!
ok, so moving past the pun, that i stitched on with my sewing machine, i colored the images with copics! :) i used that new Newton Dreams of Paris stamp set and combined it with 2 older stamp sets - Newton's Daydream and Say Cheese! :)

I popped up Newton and the little mouse, and added a little texture with some modeling paste and a chevron stencil! :) oh, and last minute, i added some pink splatters! i couldn't resist! 

so, i hope this made you smile! please stop by the Newton's Nook Designs blog and leave some love, if you feel so inclined! :)
enjoy!

lawnscaping challenge #98 - create a background (with stamps!)

hello again! 
that weekend FLEW by for me..sigh. but that's ok, because today is monday! and that means a brand new lawnscaping challenge! and this time, we want to see you create you own background with stamps!

what a great idea and AWESOME way to stretch your stamps, right?
for today's project, i created a layout!

i must say, this came out pretty close to what i had in mind! :)
my little mann was an angel in his 3 year old preschool program, and it was SO adorable! (even more so, since he's really a big stinker! lol!). 

i used the monster with wings from Monster Mash and the squirrel dressed up as an angel from Critters in Costume and heat embossed them in white on the background of my white cardstock. then i watercolored on some soft scattered straw distress ink over the heat embossing subtle addition of color! i love that it's almost a soft, gold color! 

i die cut lots of snowflakes from the Stitched Snowflakes Lawn Cuts out of white cardstock, patterned paper and vellum to ground the photo! then i stitched on the sentiment and snowflakes - those babies aren't going anywhere! lol!

lastly, i added some watercolored tags, with the date (Violet's ABC's), some gold glitter tape and a little sub-title in gold (also using Violet's ABC's) at the bottom! 


so yes...that's my layout! are you ready to play along?
for even more inspiration (if you can stand it!), check out the lawnscaping facebook page! we're dedicated to keeping your creative juices flowing! :)

this week we're sponsored by lawn fawn! so get your card making on, and you could win a stamp set of your choice! :)

hello world!

hi there!
it's sunday afternoon! my little menn are outside playing in the beautiful weather with my husband, and i'm getting some crafty time in! it's win-win! :)

i have a fun card i created for the Little Tangles Challenge going on now!

yep! "hello", now that's a theme i can get into! ha! :)

here's my card:

i used some distress inks (worn lipstick, spiced marmalade, and mustard seed) and smooshed them on my craft mat. then i sprayed it with water and laid my card base on top - love that background! i stamped the world image from the Origami Map stamp set over it! 

then i stamped just North America out onto some patterned paper popped it up over some loose string. i stamped the label sentiment and hearts from the Everyday Labels in versmark ink on some scrap white cardstock, heat embossed it all in clear, and then stitched them onto my card front!

i stached some coordinating patterned papers (which i cut by hand) behind the map and it was done! :)
hope it makes you smile and a big, "happy hello" to everyone who stopped by! :D
enjoy!

wishing you more sunshine than rain

hello!
today i have a card on the Create a Smile blog! and it really makes me happy! (hopefully it does the same to you!)
'

you can read all about my card, and see a close up, on the Create a Smile blog! 
but here are some fun facts:

*embossing paste - NO stencil (gasp!)
*dimension
*stitching
*4 stamp sets!

have i piqued your interest? if so, head over to the Create a Smile blog to read all about it! :)

thanks for stopping by!
enjoy!

Newton's Nook Designs January Release - Newton Dreams of Paris

good morning! it's day 2 for the Newton's Nook's January Release!

today, the whole DT is showcasing the new, super FUN, playful and sweet, Newton Dreams of Paris Stamp set!! i just love Newton in his Parisian outfits and those hot air balloons - SO FUN!! they are perfect for scrapbooking your winter memories, doing a project life type spread, gift tags and, of course, cards (especially Vanetine's Day cards!)!! all of the new sets will be available for purchase on January 16th, right here!

ok, here's first card :

i watercolored the background (by spraying some mist onto recycled packaging, and then smooshing the packaging onto the card base). LOOOOVE that sky blue color! then i heat embossed the sentiment in white and framed out the scene with a frame from my stash!

I colored the clouds from Winged Wishes and added them to the frame and right above the trio of hot air balloons! i LOOOOVE those little guys!! and i love how colorful and happy this card turned out! :)

for my next project, i made a layout!

i LOVE that little newton with the beret!! and all those little mustaches made me think of an artist!

i colored him with copics, and added one of the sentiments to my layers of papers under the picture! the mustache was stamped directly onto the wood veneer polaroid frame, too!

i added watercolor splotches to the background (since my little Mann is watercoloring!), and then stitched on the sentiment with my sewing machine! :)
a few touches of dark teal, finished the page! :)

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Would you like to win “Newton Dreams of Paris”?
This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, January 15th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 16th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Tracy Mae (Guest Designer)

Newton's Nook Designs January Release - Wild About Zoo

hello! what better pick me up could you need in the middle of the week, than Newton's Nook's January Release?!

today, the whole DT is showcasing the new, super FUN, playful and sweet, Wild About Zoo Stamp set!! i just LOVE these little critters, and the super sweet, coordinating puns! ha ha!! they are perfect for scrapbooking your winter memories, doing a project life type spread, gift tags and, of course, cards (especially Vanetine's Day cards!)!! all of the new sets will be available for purchase on January 16th, right here!

ok, here's my first card :

i created the background with distress inks, and it just came out SO well! i LOOOOVE those pinks, yellows and oranges!! 
i colored the elephant with copics and then popped him up over some crumpled up vellum! i also stamped the sentiment onto the other half of that crumpled vellum, and then embellished the card with lots of wood veneers and enamel dots! 

i added stitching to adhere the vellum and to the vellum heart sticker too! LOVE this card!

my second card was also lots of fun to make, too! and it's another favorite!

a lemur!!!  i LOOOOVE that little lemur! i colored him with copics and then popped him up over that night sky!
to create the night sky i used some watercoloring with some black/really really dark grey mists and recycled packaging! once that was dry, i used a star stencil and some embossing paste to add the stars to the 'night sky'.

I also added that heart washi and some stitching! LOVE it!

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Would you like to win “Wild About Zoo”?
This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, January 15th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 16th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Tracy Mae (Guest Designer)

xoxo for you

today i'm sharing a card i made for the current Runway Inspired Challenge! i just LOVE the photo - i just can't resist using pinks and yellows! 

see? awesome - and look how VIBRANT that pink is!! LOVE!

ok, so for my card, i used some Mama Elephant stamps! i was inspired by the bright pop of pink of the dress (obviously! ha!), the yellow dress walking back on the right and the white dress walking back on the top right of the photo! 

yes. you love it, i can tell already (ha!!)! 
the background was created by watercoloring with pinks a piece of white cardstock. then i took my Triangle Background Hero Arts die and then on a separate card base, i re-attached (most) of the pink triangles. i'm not explaining it completely, but hopefully it's easy to see what i did!

then i stamped the cute as can be puppy (he's a british bulldog in my mind! lol!) and speech bubble heart from the Origami stamp set onto some vellum (to represent the white dress walking away). but the vellum was TOO see through, so i took some white ink and lightly colored the back of the vellum pieces. PERFECT! it was still see through but not completely! 

i used some old thickers for the sentiment and stitched them on, and added a stripe of yellow washi, to represent the yellow dress walking away! LOVE it!

thank you for stopping by!
enjoy!

an Inky Paws FLASH challenge!

good morning! i can only assume is COLD by you, if you live in the states. it seems like everywhere is getting hit with a cold front, and for once, SC is part of the COLD! it's 18 here!!!! what now?! lol!! but i'm not complaining, i LOVE cuddling under blankets! ha!

anyway, Newton's Nook is having a fun little FLASH challenge on their blog! they even have a FREE digi available! you don't have to use NND stamps, but of course we LOVE to see them in action! :D the challenge is only 3 days long, so hop to it, and you could be the random winner! :D

it's a PERFECT time to make some thank you cards - so i couldn't wait to play along! and i used a TON of sets to create my card! 

i saw a design similar to this on one of the cut apart pieces from the new Amy Tangerine Stitched collection in a video, and i just NEW that i had to try to recreate it! :) (if you're wondering about my inspiration, it's in the last photo on this link here!)

first i lightly drew a heart onto some white cardstock. then i heat embossed in white (what felt like!) a MILLION little flowers and leaves! ha ha! once the shape was filled out, i added some watercoloring with my distress markers! 

the stamp sets i used are (deep breath):
Versatile Vases
Newton's Daydream
Easter Scramble
Basket of Wishes
Simply Sentimental
Winged Wishes

a little washi was adhered to the top of the card, and it was done. i LOOOOOOVE how it turned out! and i LOVE finding inspiration everywhere! :)
so what are you waiting for? please play along for your chance to win!
enjoy!

a love-y layout with joshua giraffe

well hello again!

today i have a little layout...that is pretty 'me-specific', lol! well, the title that is!

this layout is also up on the Newton's Nook Designs Blog, so be sure to check it out there! :)

ok, a little background info - my husband and i have been together since i was 16...so we have a lot of history! and part of that history is silly, and laughable and makes us smile and cringe at the same time to think of! for instance, does anyone know the song by Raffi - Joshua Giraffe? um...yes i used to work in daycares and nanny through high school and college, so i'm well versed in the world of Raffi! and my husband's name is Joshua...so... 

yes!! 

this layout is YEARS in the making! lol!

i used the cute little giraffes from the Wild Child stamp set! i LOVE them! they were watercolored and then fussy cut! i also used the leaf image from that set to emphasize the yellow-y watercolored areas on the background. 

when we went to the zoo last summer, i just knew i was going to scrap this picture! it's my hubby and i with the giraffes! so us! :)

i both like and don't like this layout! ha! the more i look at it, the more i like, it but it's...not quite 'perfect!' lol! i added the title (ha ha!) with thickers and some tiny type. i also layered lots of papers behind the photo and added some flair and washi too. i didn't want to go crazy! (i have been known when NOT to stop!)

be sure to check out the post on the Newton's Nook blog and leave some love, i would so excited if you did!! :)

enjoy!