March Sketch from the Cutting Garden~

As always I try to take part in The Cutting Garden's monthly sketch challenge. I loved this month's sketch! So here is the layout that I came up with.

The patterned papers and coordinating embellishments are from the Memories Collection by Teresa Collins. The sweet peach buttons are from Buttons Galore & More.

So stop by The Cutting Garden and take the sketch challenge yourself. You could win a great prize!

Photos on the layout by Wonkyeye Photography.

Simple and Elegant Invite~

I was asked to create wedding invitations for a friend of Sean's family. When I met the bride and groom, they were up for almost anything. What they did know is that they liked blues for the colors and the bride LOVES whales. It took me a little while to come up with something to incorporate anything whale into a bridal invite without it looking like a child's birthday invite with a the whale spouting water.

So here is where it started for me. I wanted an image of a whale's tail. I looked up images of different tails and sketched some. Once I found the image I wanted to use, I created a template.

Then using sponges and ink I started to add color. Almost like silk screening, I added one color at a time. In this case I started with the darker color first. I used pigment inks, so they react a little more like paint when you mix colors.

Then I added the lighter blue. When they mix, it gives an almost watercolor look.

Final image when matted and ready for delivery. The final product looked simple and elegant.

The inks I used were:

Light Blue~ "Ice Blue" from the Misty Meadow, Color Box Cat's Eye Collection

Dark Blue~ "Blue Iris" from the Chocolates & Blueberries Color Box Cat's Eye Collection

Back Porch Sketch~

One of my assignments as Guest Designer for Back Porch Memories was to use some of the monthly kit to create a layout based on a sketch. I really loved this sketch, but as you can see I changed it up a little as usual.

Patterned papers the Collectable Collection by My Mind's Eye.

Here is the sketch I went from.

http://www.backporchmemories.com/

Pretty Pick-Me-Up~

The winter months can be long, dreary and very cold depending on where you live. Here on the east coast of Canada it has been one wicked winter so far. Sometimes you just want to create something to brighten someone's day, or even your own day. So that is what I did one afternoon. I created this sweet and simple little bouquet of paper flowers in quirky and bright tones. Sure to brighten anyone's spirits. It's amazing what a simple crafted surprise can do for a person in the hectic world we live in.

To see a step by step tutorial on how to craft these sweet little flowers, check out the full Buttons Galore post here:

http://buttonsgaloreandmore.net/paper-flower-tutorial-flower-pick-me-up/

Use It Tuesday #51: Die Cuts, Punches and Cut Outs

I must say this one was a tough challenge for me, as EVERYONE knows how much I LOVE my punches. So I went on the hunt and found a punch that indeed I have not used for at least a couple of years, and that is the label punch from Stampin' Up that I made the mini border up the side with.

Also from my stash of goodies I found the patterned papers by Authentique's Peaceful Collection. The ribbon came from the bottom of my ribbon scrap bag. The buttons are from my collection.

http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/

I did use some of my more well used punches on this layout. They include: 7/8" and 1" Circle punches, Inverted Corner punch, also known as the Ticket punch, and a 1/8" circle punch.

So check out the challenge at Use It Tuesday and join in the fun! I hope to see what everyone creates very soon.

http://useittuesday.blogspot.ca/2013/03/challenge-52-diecuts-punches-and-cutouts.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+UseItTuesday+(Use+it+Tuesday)&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

Back Porch Memories~

I recently accepted the position as March's Guest Design Team Member for Back Porch Memories. I was so excited when I got my page kits in the mail to work with. Here is some of what I came up with while attending a crop at The Cutting Garden... amongst all the laughter.

www.thecutttinggarden.ca

This first layout was created using patterned papers by We R Memory Keepers, the For the Record Collection. I also had the coordinating cardstock stickers to work with.

The large letter stickers that I used for "SEAN" are by Fancy Pants and came on a sheet with 2 colors of the same letters. So I decided to layer them and make a shadowed effect.

This second layout was created using patterned papers by Bazzill, their Ambrosia Collection. The flowers are punched out of the leftover patterns and coordinating cardstock. 

I Love to Design~

2013 has brought me so much so far. That being said I have more great news! A small Saskatchewan scrapbook store put out their first Design Team Call looking for 2 crafty people that would work with their product to help it fly off their shelves. I applied and you guessed it, I am one of Down a Dirt Road Scrapbooking's new Design Team. I look forward to doing what I can to create and inspire!

http://www.downadirtroadscrapbooking.com/

On It's Way~

I have another layout On It's Way to Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine. So be sure to check out the Summer 2013 issue to see if you can find it. There are some of you out there that may be surprised to see your faces on the layout!

Zeus~

Just a simple post of one of my favorite photos of Zeus. I am using this layout as a sample for a challenge for members of Back Porch Memories. In Like a Lion, I challenge members to create layouts using images of their pets, a day at the zoo or wildlife park or even their family acting like animals!

Patterned papers are by Echo Park, For the Record Collection

Who's Having a Baby?

This is the sweet little Baby Shower invite that I created for Lisa's upcoming event. They have decided not to find out whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. So I wanted to keep the invite rather neutral.

I drew the template for the little owl myself and simply cut all the pieces for the invites out by hand. Then if you have scrapbooked with me before, you will recognize that I also did the writing by hand as well.

Stay crafty people.