Chalkboard Technique

The tutorial on SCS today was for the chalkboard technique...something I've wanted to do, but just never got around to trying...so today was the day. Here are the two cards I came up with. It's a quick & easy technique...the hardest part is figuring out which colours to use! PMS club members can expect to see this technique at the March parties.

Not a member of PMS? Why not book your own party to learn how to do this technique? Just leave me a comment, or send me an e-mail. Book before March 17th and you will be eligible for the Sale A Bration benefits as well!

Kits are the way to go!

I have decided that if I'm ever going to even think about catching up on my four years of scrapbooking that is sitting behind me I will have to start using more kits. I've got a few non-Stampin Up kits, but here's a couple from SU that got me going...they're just so easy...I mean they even give you a couple of layout ideas to copy. I can sit and do 4-6 pages in a morning. I can hear the men in our lives thinking "4-6 pages in three hours?" But, if you're a scrapper, you know that's not a bad ratio! So here's what I did with Crew Kids Girl and Summer Days recently.

A new layout...for me.

I'm getting kind of tired of the same old, same old folds for cards, so I'm on a new mission to try some of the unique openings that others are doing all the time...like this Joy Fold card. You have to open it twice...first the left side of the tulips lifts up, and then you open the flower-printed panel up like a regular card. I feel like this one is too blank on the right hand side...might have to add something there. What do you think?

Playing with the new goodies!

So here's my first project with the new Afternoon Tea paper and Live Your Dream stamp set...I love these colors, which will make my PMS ladies crack up since I recently told them how much I hate Groovy Guava...a person can change, can't she? I figure it's a woman's perogative to change her mind.

Very Happy Mail

YAY! The courier arrived a little while ago and LOOK at all of the goodies he brought me...just me...not for anyone else...YAY new rubber! And the best part, all of the new sets from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalogue (avail March 1) and are die cut...so it only took me about 20 minutes to mount all 4 sets! The two backgrounds are a bit older, but I'm just finally getting around to getting those. And did you see the beautiful new papers? The cherries matches the new set "Tart & Tangy" and the flowers, "Afternoon Tea" matches "Live Your Dream". There's also a new set of Hodgepodge Hardware in the mini, but I didn't get that yet, just some of the flower ribbon slides, so watch for those! Ok...off to play...check back later this week for some new creations!

MOJO26

Well...whilst I sit and wait for the courier again (a big box o' stuff for me today), I thought I'd try another MOJO sketch from Poetic Artistry. Here's my submission...even though it's a bit off centre (the main panel should have been up a bit higher, but it was glued down too hard to move). I've been doing a lot of dotting and doodling on my cards lately. It really adds a bit of color and texture to cards...just seems to be the finishing touch sometimes. I love how the doodles frame the main image. This card was made with Wild Wasabi paper, Porcelain Prints designer paper and the flower image is from Simply Said...still one of my favourite sets.

The base of the card is 5 inches square and it opens between the flower image and the 4 squares on the side...a little different opening. I might try this sketch again when the delivery guy gets here with my new stuff. >)

MOJO25

It took me two tries on today's MOJO sketch...the first one just didn't work out because my main image was too big. So I started over with a tried & true comob: red & black. Works every time! Embrace life just looks so beautiful in these colors.

Check out MOJO Monday's over at Poetic Artistry. Sketch challenges are a great way to get your creativity flowing!

MOJO24 Sketch Challenge

I found another great sketch challenge to play each week...YAY! These sketches really help me design something more on my own rather than caseing every little detail. I feel much more creative this way. Check out the MOJO Mondays at Poetic Artristry...link to the right.

Here's my card for MOJO 24. I used Ginger Blossom designer paper for the panels, and the little birdies...they're so cute. These paper flowers I actually picked up at the local dollar store for $2.50 a bottle! They're not quite as nice as Primas, but these ones match this paper perfectly.

Another Color Challenge from SCS

This week's color challenge over on SCS was Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise and Kraft...I was all over this because I love the Bold Brights, but...Kraft??? I'm still not convinced on the Kraft in this combo, so I just used it as a base. I LOVE the first card I did. It took me all morning, but I think it was worth it! Problem is, I don't think I'll want to part with it anytime soon...so nobody do anything nice for me in the next little while :P

Just as I was sitting down to do this challenge today, the Sameday courier arrived with my last club order, so I had a brand spankin new "Priceless" to play with...I loved that set from the very beginning and I can't understand why I waited so long to get it. Add a little bit 'o white gel pen and a few contrasting dots with a marker and you've got a very textured, intricate background. As Jan Tink would say over on her blog (really, you need to read her blog just for kicks...and ideas) isn't it GOJUS? Then I did two more tonight that are...well...not GOJUS...but nice :)

I am so glad I found Sharon Johnson's blog...now I've got tons of ideas for the Cuttlebug...Like adding just a hint of embossing on the thanks card...so quick & easy!

Stampin Up! a storm!!!

Seriously...I can't stop stamping! That and Frenchy's shopping :) I bought another bag full of clothes for the girls this morning... three dresses for Samantha for the summer, jeans for Elizabeth to grow into (with adjustable waists, thank goodness), and tank tops for Samantha for the summer, too...she loves those. I'm learning why everyone loves shopping there...not having much luck for myself tho :(

Back to stamping. After I get home from Frenchy's, I start stamping...look what I accomplished today! The three matching cards are made to match Flower Fusion, Stampin Up!'s new felt flowers which only come in Old Olive, Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie...so I was on a bit of a kick with those colors today. They make great accents to cards and add a whole new look from the punched flowers I'm used to. I can't believe I waited so long to get some!

SCS Color Combo Challenge

So now that I've got some "free" time on my hands, I've had time to participate in a few SCS challenges...today's color combo challenge was Apricot Appeal, Real Red and Ballet Blue...not something I would have chosen, but, ok...let's see what I can do...and here's what I came up with. I used Garden Whimsy for the butterflies and Baroque Motifs for the red swirlys. Then I added more detail to the swirlys with red, black & white dots done with markers & a gel pen. This techinique I'm stealing from another SCS'er Markie's Mom...you can see her blog by clicking on the link at the right...she does amazing stuff...and she even left a comment on my submission to the challenge...oh...I think I might faint :)

Sunday night it is!

Well, it just seems that Sunday night is when I have a chance to post things here... Would you belive that on Friday I actually spent the morning scrapbooking? Yikes...I'm so far behind in my scrapbooking that I'm sure I'll never get caught up. It took me nearly 3 hours, but I did 4 whole pages! I decided to try the Scrapbook Sketch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.com and wow...it worked. Both of these layouts came from recent challenges there and I'm quite happy with how they turned out.

The top one is Elizabeth's 4th birthday party...using mostly Stampin Up products. The right page is just a pocket for the cards I kept. The bottom one is "The Summer of Horses"...the three ponies that Elizabeth got to ride on two summers ago...man, we went the whole summer this year without getting that poor girl on a horse. Bad parents...shame! Shame! This paper came from a K&Co pad I picked up at Winners.