Lessons learned & Scraptivity sneaks...

I have finished my first official design team assignment last night and learned a lot!
1. Stick to the assignment first and don't get side-tracked by complimentary projects!
2. Give yourself all the time you have to work. Get done early, in case you need a redo.
3. Take lots of photos of the work in progress,....it will help later in the explanations.
4. Make notes of each step while you are doing it!

I had so much fun creating for Scraptivity, and LOVE that I get products that are not mainstream. For me, that's awesome because it makes me stretch my creativity. I was always afraid that I did not have enough originality because I cannot seem to find my style. But, the good thing about not having a niche is being able to do anything I want! So, I think I came up with a couple original ideas,...yeah!!

But, the downside is that I would have spent a lot more time on at least one of my projects to make myself 100% happy with it. Sorry to ramble, I hope you like my peaks! Sunday will be the reveal of the November kits:



I hope that I'm not giving away too much! ;)

Winner and Pencil Lines Sketch # 157

Kurt collected hundreds of snails while we were in Nova Scotia. I did, however, convince him to return them to the ocean, before they met their demise in a cramped cup of sea water. In this photo, he is "snail hunting". Papers are, Jillibean Soup White Bean. The sketch is Pencil Lines . I drew and cut the flowers and stitched around the inside cut flowered patterned paper.

But, I know this is why you are really here:
The drawing is closed & I have a winner,..
Congrats Beth Warren
random numbers:63
Timestamp: 2009-10-21 12:59:16 UTC

Thanks to everyone who left comments, became a follower or participated in any of the other chance opportunities. And thanks for coming by today! Have a marvelous day!

Home Sweet Blog Candy

When I first strayed from my 'Creative Memories only' scrapbooking roots, I was eager to learn about all the current manufacturer's, products, styles and techniques. As I was looking for resources, I found Scraptivity, a kit club that focus' each month on learning a new technique with some of the industry's cutting edge products. It was a fabulous find!

How exciting it is now that I will be able to share my find with you in a HUGE way! Talk about blog candy! I am offering up a free Scraptivity kit to celebrate that I will be designing for them. I want everyone to see what I am so charged up about. This is what Scraptivity offers up each month in their kits:
*a copy of their Notions™ newsletter which contains layout samples, sketches, how-to techniques plus other items of inspiration to help you scrapbook your memories
*a minimum of 14 sheets of paper including cardstock from companies such as Bazzill and Prism, patterned paper from various companies and, at times, specialty paper
embellishments such as fiber, ribbon, buttons, eyelets, hardware, slide mounts, wire – always an assortment of items from the traditional to what’s new on the market
*Scraptivity™ clear rubber stamps that cling to an acrylic block. New members receive a complementary stamp block with their first kit

Just look at their October Kit!!

Each month they provide a sketch for inspiration here.

While your busy checking links, here is one more to check out. It is the sneak peak for November's kit,....and I can hardly believe what is coming my way in this kit. But, if you study the sneak, you can figure out two awesome products in it.

So, here's the deal.

1 chance for each:
---leave a comment on this post
---become a follower of my blog, or be an already existing one
---share a link to this post with other scrapbookers and tell me where
---sign up for Scraptivity's newsletter
---register to the Scraptivity forum
---check out the four links included in this post
---guess what technique might be introduced in Scraptivity's November kit and tell me what you would do with it (I will award 2 chances for this)

Reply letting me know how many chances I shall include for you, and sharing your ideas about what you would do with the November kit. I will draw a winner on Wednesday morning.

And, here is a recent layout that I created using some Bo Bunny papers and cardstock stickers that I had been hoarding:
The background black was made tracing a My Mind's Eye die cut sheet and cutting the outline.

And, I still love a good, warm pair of socks too!!!

Lifted Melanie Stanczyk

Been busy

I've completed quite a few layouts since my last post. The following three are my favorites:
Webkinz

I started with making a template with some paper scraps, and placed it over the die cut sheet:



Then, I painted the white areas using the template as a stencil: I then used green paint on the edge of cardstock to add journal lines. I took the painted journal box idea from artist, Kristen Fougeron, and tweaked her artsy style to make something more fitting for my more structured style. :) My original plan with this one, was to be clean and graphic, but since I smeared the green paint onto the right margin, I needed to distract the attention and added all the trees,...one was designed and paper pieced by me to match the design in the paper. The other three were part of MME's embellishments, one cut from acrylic, one chipboard and one die cut.

My Brave Super Hero
The second layout was completed for a Willow Trader's challenge to use twelve of something,...I chose paper patterns, but I happened to include twelve lines of journaling, as well... What I LOVE about this layout, is to be able to recognize how I have grown from my need for a "garanimal" package of papers to complete something that I like. Do you remember "Garanimals"? They were clothing pieces that were labeled with animals to mix and match coordinated pieces. Anyway, I really enjoyed picking out such a variety of papers that I find pleasing all mixed together. The manufacturers represented in here are: Collage Press, MME, Sassafras Lass, Creative Memories, Dream Street, Chatterbox, October Afternoon, and We aRe Memory Keepers. The circle border idea was taken from Susan Stringfellow, to cut and assemble pieces from a border punch:

Journaling reads:
Look at him in his superhero cape!
Look how cute my son is.
All the super powers of the world
He now believes are his!

He holds out his hands and parts the
sky, making room for the wind to blow.
He tilts his head and lowers his sights
To focus on the stars below!

His cape flows out from behind him
As he soars so fast and free.
He is a super duper hero...
And he belongs to me! (author unknown)

Where To?
My last layout was created with Creative Scrapper's Sketch #72:
The papers are mostly MME Abbey Road.
Thank you so very much for coming by!!! I hope that you have a marvelous rest of the weekend!!!

A B C, as easy as ....

This layout uses Basic Grey papers, Pink Paislee rub-ons and a Prima owl. Jason's Second grade class last year did a study on owls, dissecting their pellets. The mood was set with a reading of "Owl Moon".

"He did it all just for you"...and I am in awe of our Creator!!! These photos were taken in Nova Scotia. Papers are Daisy Bucket, MME & Pink Paislee, sketch by Susan Stringfellow. The bottom right circle uses a scalloped punch that was cut and reassembled around the circle,....another inspiration from Susan. TF coming by!

Happy as a Pig in Mud

Yep, that's Kurt! Not a care in the world about what anyone else thinks! THIS is what he wanted, (no scratch that), it is what he insisted on wearing last Halloween! I'm wondering who he received his independent spirit from! ;)
The page was created to use "sweets". Lots of different manufacturers in here. The base is Basic Grey & I penned the stitching. Then, there is some Prima, Pink Paislee and Fancy Pants. The cupcakes are cut from American Crafts paper, and touched up with stickles. The chipboard is Heidi Grace. Also, a Fancy Pants journal sheet, and Prima & Basic Grey rub-ons are in there. I believe that the large brad is Making Memories.
I made the flower with circles cut from the Fancy Pants paper:
1. Cut circles:



2. Fold over in back:





3. Arrange under brad:








Here is a close-up of the flower:











Have a marvelous & blessed weekend!!!