GCD Studios Frame It Challenge

On the GCD Studios blog this week they have a challenge going on.

 It was posted on Friday and it goes like this:

"Create a layout about "what I've learned in 2009" (this does not have to be the title, but it has to be the theme). You have until Feb 25th (Midnight) to enter this challenge and need to have at least 25% of GCD on it :) The winner of this challenge will win our new Ava papers"

I thought this sounded like a fun challenge since it's something I've never done before.  It was fun to do and I can see myself using more frames in the future now!  Go ahead, try it, you'll like it!  This is what I created for their challenge. 

Project 12-January

Have you heard of Project 12?  It's a monthly challenge sponsored by Scrapbook Cards and Today.  It's very simple.  All you have to do is create a layout each month that recaps what happened in your life that month and follow a wonderful sketch created by Becky Fleck.  By the end of 2010 you'll have 12 two page layouts and a whole year already scrapped.  It's sort of like the 365 challenge, but on a much smaller and much more manageable scale.  Each month the previous month's sketch is due by the 20th.  That means that January's layout is due today, February 20th.  I know, I know, I'm cutting it seriously close here!  Hopefully my entry still counts.  Procrastination can nip you in the butt, yet on the other hand I've found that I do some of my best work under pressure.  I was able to knock out my layout yesterday and get it finished bit by bit in between taking care of the family, making dinner, bath time, bed time, and so on.  I used practically all Webster's Pages products and I love the final result and hopefully you will too!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Got Sketch #98

Hey gals, sketch #98 is up on the Got Sketch? blog today.  Come check out my sketch along with all the other greats ones that are posted today!  In case you're feeling lazy though I'll show you my layout here.  I used Kiki-Art products which include papers from the lines China and Jardin.  I also used Kiki-Art glittery chipboard hearts and fun tape.  Thanks for stopping by and happy hump day =)

Smitten With Sassafras!

Sassafras is one of my favorite scrapbook companies and I've been holding onto my stash for far too long.  Now that CHA has come and gone and I'm anxiously waiting for my chance to get my little paws on some new scrappy diggs I thought it was time to use up some of my old stash to make room for new product!  It also helps that Sassafras has a challenge on their blog this week to use up your products and make room for new goodies by making a Valentine project. So I made this sassy little Valentine tub which would be perfect for holding treats to pass out and or valentine cards that are meant to give and recieve!  I made this using a recycled Twizzler tub ;)

XOXO

Puppy Love!

Happy almost Valentine’s Day from yours truly! Did you know that Kiki-Art has a fantastic paper line called Amor?

This year a new love walked into my life and his photos are a perfect match for these glittery fun papers that are chock full of darling hearts.

Mi Amor’s name is Jerry, he’s about 50lbs and as soft and cuddly as a teddy bear! He’s our new German Shepherd puppy. He was love at first sight, yet completely unexpected. It was the day before Thanksgiving when we arrived in California to spend the holiday with family. Not long after hoping out of the car and receiving hugs and kisses, we were told about a litter of puppies two houses down. You have to understand how excited I was. You should know that we have had two other German Shepherds in our life. The first one sadly died of a blood disorder after a simple routine spaying surgery. Her name was Jasmine and she was my first puppy love. She was my constant companion and got me through many of my husband’s Navy deployments. When we lost her, I was heartbroken.

About a year later we were given the gift of a new German Shepherd puppy. Unfortunately she didn’t work out for us, her temperament didn’t jive with our then one-year-old daughter. So here, we find ourselves two years later facing the possibility of getting another puppy. We were nervous that it might not work out again, but we took the risk of looking at the puppies. It was love at first lick and we knew instantly that Jerry was the one for us. We were so right, and he is perfect for our family and we couldn’t be happier with the new love of our life! Because he gives me the warm and fuzzies, I thought the Kiki-Art heart shaped chipboard album would be perfect for his puppy photos. As he gets older I’ll add more pages, but for now, I have six pages of adorable puppy love to share with you!

Supplies:

Kiki-Art papers: Amor, Familia, Jardin

Kiki-Art Amor heart bling

Kiki-Art Amor Chipboard album, heart shape

Kiki-Art fun tape

Kiki Art AMOR Chipboard Corazón

MAGICA Rainbow chipboards

FAMILIA Chipboard colores grande

FAMILIA Chipboard white big

Happy Valentines Day!

Webster's Pages + Tattered Angels = True Love!!!

Just wanted to share some love for two of my favorite companies, Webster's Pages and Tattered Angels.  They've teamed up together this month and both of their design teams have made some absolutely, fantabulous, gorgeous creations!!  If you go here, and leave some love for the design team of Webster's Pages and then spread the word, you could win some of their new products.  How fantastic is that?!  I know I'm a big fan of theirs and now you can be one too if you aren't already!  Good luck on winning the prize pack, I'm sure crossing my fingers!

Make Your Own Faux Prima's

Today I have a little tutorial for you on how to make your own faux Primas. They can be pretty spendy so this is a way to save a few bucks. You can use fabric that you may have in your stash, or you can do like I did and re-purpose an old shirt that is ripped or worn. I used a Prima flower that I had on hand as my inspiration, but feel free to try and recreate any other types of Primas you might have on hand or see online. You are going to need your fabric of choice, chipboard or cardboard, beads, and basic supplies.

Start with cutting a circle out of your chipboard to use as a base. Take a strip of fabric and staple the end down to the center of the circle to hold it in place while you glue.

Spiral your fabric to form the center of your flower.

When the glue is dry you can move onto the outer portion of the flower. Here I twisted the fabric strip, starting at the outer edge, as I glued.

Here is what your flower will look like when it's all glued down. 

Try experimenting with different types of fabrics.

Once dry, you can add some misting, fringe in the center, and beads. My white flower became pink, and I made a second one with gray fabric. In the picture below, the flowers on the left are original Primas and the one's on the right are my version.

Now, on to how to make the beige colored flower in the picture. You will need some fabric such as organza, silk, tulle, or anything that can be melted. I created this one with an old shirt as well.

You're going to need your fabric, a candle, and some thread to sew on the center beads. These are so simple to make, but I can't take credit for them. I discovered this technique online at http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-make-pretty-organza-flowers.html


Step 1: cut out 3-4 layers of fabric in either a circle shape or a flower shape and they need not be perfect.

Step 2: This is the fun part, but watch your fingers! Hold the layers of fabric, one by one, over the candle flame until you see the edges curl. Do this for each layer.  Then stitch together and either sew on your beads or glue them into place.

And there you have some very inexpensive, practically free, Faux Prima flowers!  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial!  Happy Crafting!