2011 Layout Challenge #6

I don't know, you guys, this one's a little out there, even for me! I was inspired to create it first of all by the collage at NVS. It is very pale, with a B&W focal photo, some pops of colour, and the title "New Perspective". So that got the gears turning, and I came up with the idea for the photo and basic layout. Then at Candy Shoppe Designs, one of their challenges this month calls for an all-white layout. Whoah, I know I've never done all white! I don't think I would have even considered it! Then Twisted Sketches had a beautiful sketch with the twist "white", which I missed the deadline for, of course (you hush, Jenn!) I used some white mulberry paper, ruffled up some ribbon using my trusty sewing machine and a basting stitch, some corrugated cardboard painted white, and an old library card (I didn't steal it, honest! It must've fallen out of a book!) The butterflies are cut from some clothing tags I hoarded for years, and the hearts are hand drawn and cut from the same mulberry paper misted with Glimmer Mist. I also had to mist up the background cardstock, I just couldn't stand to have it so white!

Now the journaling was even trickier. I was going to get all philosophical on my battles with depression, but I have a hard time talking about that, and I guess I'm not ready to lay it all out there on a scrapbook page. Maybe one day I will open up in an art journal, which is something I've been thinking about starting (if anyone else is interested in doing this, I found a cool site called A Year in the Life of an Art Journal). Or maybe not. It's a mystery right now! I ended up just writing:

"Is the glass half full, or half empty? Usually, it depends on my mood. But this year, 2011, I need a new perspective. This year, I'm only going to focus on whether or not the glass has baked on crud from the dishwasher!"

Yep, for now I'm keeping it lighthearted! Hope everyone has a great weekend! Hugs, Roxy!

Supplies: CTMH White Daisy cardstock, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Creative Memories pens, DecoArt paint, unknown mulberry paper and ribbon, salvaged clothing tags and library card

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Rock On!

This is my 2nd post for the day, so make sure you scroll down to check out my card! Dang it, I missed the deadline for CPS on that one, so I'm just kicking myself...

I loved the colours over at Design Dollies this week (they've got a new format for challenges this year, so make sure you check it out!) so I went through my stash of photos to see which ones would go with Kraft, Blue, White and Red. I had a few options, but I chose these ones from almost 12 years ago because they would work with the sketch this week from Sketchy Thursdays. My friends and I went to a large outdoor concert, and every time I look at these photos, I laugh - what dorks we were/are! Anyhoo, I really like how this one turned out, even though it is very busy. It features tons of machine stitching, some fussy cut bits, some ribbon photo corners, and I was able to use scraps from 3 different paper packs. See the chipboard journaling spot there? It was the wrong colour, so I inked it up with a sponge to get the two-toned effect.

Well, that will be it for crafting/blogging today. I've got my mom here, and my hubby's uncle is going to show up in a couple of hours to stay over on his way through town, so I've got mega clean-up to do. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Supplies (all CTMH): Colonial White cardstock, patterned paper from Zippidee, Blue Ribbon, and Rough and Tumble paper packs, Outdoor Denim, Indian Corn Blue, and Cranberry stamp pads

Other: Creative Memories pen, Top Line Creations tags and letter stickers, unknown ribbon

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Card for TPE, Dutch Dare, and CPS 200

While I had my pink, aqua, and orange scraps out for the last Pink Elephant layout I did, I decided I should make a card with the same colours. I didn't have any suitable orange patterned paper, so I used some bubble wrap and some Sunset ink from Close to My Heart to make the card background - pretty cool, eh? I found a sketch I liked at CPS, flipped it a bit, then added some machine stitching on my papers to go along with the challenge at Dutch Dare this week. The image is from Some Odd Girl, and she's a freebie over there right now, soooooo cute! I only have 8 Copic markers, so her dress, socks and headband are coloured with a CTMH blender pen dipped in Juniper ink, and I think this works pretty well, especially when I need to match something up to CTMH paper. My question to you Copic experts out there is this: What kind of paper do you print your digi stamps on? I've been using CTMH cardstock, because that's what I have available to me, and I'm having a hard time getting my markers to blend. I'd appreciate any opinions you have!

Supplies: CTMH Colonial White cardstock, Sunset and Juniper ink, blender pen, and patterned paper, Some Odd Girl digital image, Copic markers, Basic Grey patterned paper, unknown trim

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Little Girl Card For JUGS and Scrap-tures

I started to make this card for Some Odd Girl's Digi Day Challenge, but I guess I didn't read all the fine print and missed the deadline. Woops! I used a sketch from Just Us Girls, and I used lace for Scrap-tures January 8th challenge, although you can't really see the lace that well in the photo. I really like how this card turned out, and I think it will make a great b-day card for some little girl. Do you like my machine-stitched photo corners? This image is Star-Bright Tia, and she's a freebie from Some Odd Girl. You should definitely snatch her up this month! I think she is so adorable, and very fun to colour!

Supplies (all CTMH): You Rock Level 2 paper pack, Shining Star My Acrylix stamp set, White Daisy and Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks stamp pad, blending pen

Other: unknown lace, Some Odd Girl image, Ranger Distress Stickles, Copic markers

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First Layout of the Year and My First Blogger Award!

I wasn't quite ready to put away my Christmas papers, especially the new ones I won in Roz's blog candy, plus I really needed to scrap this photo from last year. I remember the kids posing for their photo, and everyone milling around the craft fair saying a collective, "Aaaaawww!" They both looked so adorable with their biggest smiles on! The process of making this page was quite involved, but I love the result, with the Glimmer Mist, sewing, felt, ribbon and twine, buttons...really, what more could you stick on a page? I'll be entering this page is three different challenges:

1. Creative Scrappers - used sketch #137
2. Scrapbooker's Anonymous - use 17 buttons (count 'em!)
3. Scrap-tures is having a month-long challenge for their anniversary - challenge #2 is to have Santa or someone in a Santa hat featured in your project

Supplies: patterned paper by Little Yellow Bicycle and unknown, Close to My Heart ink, stamps, pen, and felt, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, unknown ribbon, twine, buttons, and journaling spot
I "met" Carole from England through the December Daily album process, and it was really nice to get to know her and see how her family celebrates December across the world. Some similarities, but many differences! The other day, Carole nominated me for this "Stylish Blogger Award", and I'm so excited because this is my first award! Thank you so much, Carole!!! The rules of this award are to tell everyone 8 things about myself, and then pass it on to 4 other people. So, 8 things, hmmmmm, I'll try to make it interesting:



1. I have dual Canadian/Australian citizenship, and I'd love to try living in Australia one day.


2. My baby teeth were riddled with cavities and fillings, but my adult teeth don't have any (knock on wood)!


3. I was a competitive gymnast for 9 years. As a kid, I was known to flip whenever I saw wide open spaces, like fields, parks, or grocery store aisles. My poor unsuspecting mom was kicked in the stomach a couple of times, and I drove her bonkers rolling onto and off of the couch compulsively! I still want to do handstands when I see a grassy field, but if I follow that urge, it really hurts (and it's kind of embarassing)!


4. I had hernia repair surgery when I was 13. The doctor was shocked: he'd never seen a hernia that large in a young girl before. I blame it on lifting heavy gymnastics equipment.


5. For the longest time, I wanted to be a stuntperson in Hollywood!

6. My first scrapbook was created with only photos, one pair of decorative edge scissors, and a box of felt pens. It is very funny to look at now!

7. I usually have 2 or 3 books on the go. Right now I'm reading Play Dead by Harlan Coben, Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, and A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul. I have a bad habit of reading ahead (my dirty little secret!) that I'm trying to quit. So far, I'm not succeeding!

8. I think if I had to, I could live off of peanut butter toast. That, or pizza!

And now, I'm sending this award on to Jenn, Roz, Alison (who I also "met" through the December Daily album), and Karen B way over in Australia. I think you all rock, and I hope you enjoy your Stylish Bloggger Award! I can't wait to read your 8 interesting tidbits!

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December Daily Day 24 and Some Goals for the New Year!

Happy New Year, and a Happy New You! Isn't that what they say when they're talking about New Year's Resolutions? Well, along with the "New You" philosophy, I tried changing up my blog background and added a new playlist. I'm not entirely happy with the background, or lack thereof, so be prepared to see some changes there as I experiment. Be prepared also if you decide to listen to my music - some of the songs are pretty rowdy, but then again, so am I!!!

This little three page Christmas Eve spread is going to be the last installment of my December Daily album. I had planned to take this project to January 1st, but my printer ran out of ink and my book will be too big for its rings anyway. So once I run off a couple Christmas photos, I will finish with Christmas day and that will be it until December 2011, if I decide to do this again. If I do take the plunge again, I will definitely be making up my foundation pages beforehand, as that will save me a lot of agony! I will also make sure I have plenty of printer ink, and I might go with a larger format. We shall see... Anyway, I'm glad to be moving on to other things, although I've been feeling a little...not uninspired, but maybe...unfocused. Is that a word? If it is, that's what I am, until today, that is! I've found a couple of sketches and challenges that I want to take on, and I should have something to post very soon.

I have joined up with my good friends Jenn and Roz again in a challenge group for 2011. Each member states how many layouts, cards, whatever that they want to create this year, and we support each other with comments, suggestions and tips. These two ladies are awesome, they were my constant cheerleaders throughout 2010, and we're going to have even more fun this year. If you would like to join us, just visit Jenn's blog and we'll link you up! So, my goal for 2010 was to do 120 layouts, which turned out to be a bit much, so this year, I'm aiming for 1 a week. 52 is the magic number, and that will allow me to make some cards, (oh, how about 2 a month, so 24) and finish some mini albums as well. That should be doable and I can't wait to get started!

Now as far as personal goals, I have a bunch, so maybe I'll take a moment to put them in writing, if just for myself. I'm going to compete at Femsport on April 2nd, and training for that will get me in shape and help me lose the last of the baby weight. (Check my sidebar for my fitness blog link if you're interested.) I'm going to give the once-a-month cooking plan another go. Our meals have been pretty blah lately, and this will make it easier if I'm going back to work in a month. I'm going to use my stuff, be it scrapbooking supplies or shampoo stockpiled in the hall closet, and if it's not something I'm going to use, I will get rid of it. I'm going to stick to my cleaning/laundry schedule I worked out in the spring and make it a habit. And finally, my motto this year is going to be, "Don't worry 'bout it!" You have to say it in a New Yawk accent, too. I could've said, "Don't worry, be happy", but I hate that song! I wouldn't say I'm a worry wart, exactly, but I do worry about things that I can't change, like what people think of me or my kids, and why bother. Life's too short to get worked up about things you can't change!

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