Changes in Life, and Shaping Paper

Life brings us seasons. I had a wonderful season of about 2-3 years, as an orchidist. I met monthly with great educated and astute orchid bloomers at SEPOS, (SouthEastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society), meetings. And, in my relatively short season, I bloomed one orchid from it's original form. I will have to share that story some day,...it's very funny, but ended in catastrophe for my poor exotic plant. Anyhoo,...when I married and became pregnant, I knew that the orchid season was ending, (for now). Needy plants with a needy family were going to be too much for me. So, I gave all my orchids and supplies to a fellow SEPOS member.
That is the heart story behind today's highlighted paper and photo creation.

However, I wanted to share a little about a recent discovery about scrapbooking paper,...well, I should have thought about it much sooner,... ya know, with having probably learned it as I mouthed paper in toodlerhood! But, alas, as I started scrapbooking, I created a paradigm of working with dry paper as the way to shape my paper. Not anymore!!

Scrapbooking paper wet for about five seconds with water molds and shapes wonderfully! Please let me share these three projects to convince you, if you weren't already.

The first, highlighted above, was created by cutting five 2&1/4"x12" strips of patterned paper:

Punching one edge with a decorative border:

Soaking it in water for 5 seconds:

Blotting it dry with a paper towel:

And, folding it around the perimeter of a circle:


The second project was an extra project that I created for February's Scraptiv!ty kit. I took fifteen assorted strips of 2&1/2"x5" patterned paper, wet them as in the previous project:

And, rolled them into hollow cyclinders.

I created this layout with my rolled paper strips, (all elements except the 3 pearls and thickers were included in the February Scraptiv!ty kit, including the awesome stamp):

My third method of molding wet paper used a complete 12x12" sheet from a beautiful Webster's Pages patterned paper included in the Scraptiv!ty kit. I wet the whole sheet as before, for 5 seconds, patted it dry and shaped it around the bottom of a piece of tubberware. Unfortunately, I did not photograph this project in process. After I formed the edges up around the sides of my tubberware, I folded them down and scrunched them in for the inside sheet of patterned paper on this project, (all elements are from the Scraptiv!ty kit, except the ribbon and bling, and, the base is from the Scraptiv!ty packaging. The cardboard packaging was ink distressed and then embossed with gold embossing powder):
Have a marvelous and blessed day!

S is for Silly

Jason has always had a great sense of humor. And, with his fabulous dimples, it has been an extra bonus! I had been able to get many a genuine full dimpled smile from him when he was younger. This layout was created for this week's challenge at Sketches! {by tamara} - a Journaling Challenge. Make a Layout and use this for your Journaling: Journal about an interesting characteristic or trait of someone you love.

The patterned papers are October Afternoon, mostly from the Farm Fresh line. I made the award ribbon by cutting little cone shapes from a dotted, (older OA line), paper and rolling the thinner end of the cone on the handle of my paper piercer, and layering them in a circle. The center is an American crafts epoxy button.

I did a bit of paper manipulation in a couple of my February Scraptiv!ty projects, with the Thanksgiving layout paper rolls, and the wall hanging. I experimented with wetting the paper, and it worked very well. I hope to share a little more about this over this upcoming weekend. Please check back if that interests you.

Have a marvelous week! Tomorrow, my dear seven year old is going to be put under anesthesia to remove eraser from his ear,....and I thought he was my careful one!! I'm still not sure he is giving me the full story about how this happened at school. But, the doctor says this type of thing is pretty common with children and their ears.

Be blessed!

Sketching with Cosmo Cricket and Loving Memories

Life without Nana, the matriarch, just isn't the same. This layout moves me tremendously,....

I really like how these elements fit together. I used some Storytime, Nutmeg and Girl Friday on this Cosmo Cricket sketch challenge. The boys have been home almost a week now from school,...this morning, they scrapbooked with me. Now we are off to pick up a few groceries before the next snow...

Be warm....

Belated Valentine Post with a My Mind's Eye Sketch

This is Jason. In the past, when I posted a layout with pink and red with him, I received compliments on my daughter,....so, I thought it appropriate to clarify it right away. If I only used pink for girl layouts, I would rarely have the opportunity. So, I fit it in when the theme works. :)

Here is a link to the awesome My Mind's Eye sketch challenge. I used a variety of older and newer papers by them,...Abbey Road, Bella Bella, Signature Life and Tres Jolie. Have a marvelous day!!! Be blessed!

Scraptiv!ty's February Sketch

If it were too much to have good looks and good temperament, I'm afraid that Baxter was gifted in the looks department. Isn't he beautiful!?! But, so high-maintenance!

This was my month to design the sketch at Scraptiv!ty. I need to refine my sketch making skills. Here is the link of Scraptiv!ty's February Sketch with my unpolished sketch. The elements used here are predominantly from Prima's Animal Bash line.

A Matriarch

And that just might be an understatement....

Although her family is very small, this powerful lady cannot ever be forgotten. I know in my heart that it is greatly through her stamina and perserverence that her two grandchildren, (myself included), are alive and well today. She served for years in the New York fashion industry, working for Lisanne, a lingerie design company. Thus, the theme. I thought the shoe button found in Scraptiv!ty's vintage findings was the perfect final touch. The papers are Graphic 45: Renaissance Faire Masterpiece and Webster’s Pages: Nature’s Storybook collection Nature’s Manuscript, Plant & Nurture, and Wishes Come True. I only cut a couple accents for this out of the Plant & Nurture, and Wishes Come True papers, (the green and white elements). The large flourish came from a Little Yellow Bicycle Die Cut package that was found in the Scraptiv!ty store. I covered it with the glitters from the kit. I love matting my photos. This is matted with complimentary cardstock found in the kit and I used a little ink to blend the photo into the background.

I hope that you enjoy a little more details about my layouts from this month's kit designs. I have just a few more to come.

Have a lovely Valentine's Day,...you are "sew" cute! ;)

Tamara's February Card Sketch

Tamara posted the card sketch today, over at Sketches!{by tamara}. I used Basic Grey's Bittersweet collection. The butterflies are made from cut flowers and dew drops. Have a Happy Valentine's Day! Be loved!!!

Sassy Lil' Sketches -- February 7th Sketch

Sassy Lil' Sketches -- February 7th Sketch
My beloved and beautiful mother, who died at the ripe age of 42 from cancer in 1984.
Here she is with her boyriend, Pete. The papers are Crate Avenue Collection, 7 Gysies Barcelona: Manresa, and the circles are cut from Collage Press World Travelor.

CPS Sketch 153

I used Crate Papers and a Creative Memories letter sticker. The lace frame came in February's Scraptiv!ty kit. As I have recently begun to make cards, I need all the help that I can get.....sketches are VERY helpful. Card Positioning Systems posted this weekly sketch that Papertrey Ink is sponsoring.

But, also, I LOVE to check out what some of my favorite card makers are doing. Dawn McVey, a Papertrey Ink designer, is one of them. When I saw her card here, I knew that this design would be perfect for the February stamps that came in my Scraptiv!ty kit.

Sparkle N Sprinkle stamp used from Scraptiv!ty February kit – Lacy Medallion and Chrysanthemum Medallion
Vintage Findings & Lace from kit
Trims - Noteworthy - Hillary from Scraptiv!ty store
Graphic 45 Masterpiece

Wishes Come True

Mine did! And, what awesome and adorable children we have! This is our younger son, Kurt, who born at almost ten pounds, never really looked like a newborn.

Today, I will show two uses of the gorgeous Webster's Pages Wishes Come True paper. One of which comes in the Scraptiv!ty February kit. The other Webster's Page that I used in this layout is Plant and Nurture. It, also, is included the kit. I handcut wavy edges into about a 10" square out of the Plant and Nurture sheet, added ink, a rip and some stitching for more visual interest. The die cut is from an assortment put out by Little Yellow Bicycle and was a kit add-on. The ovals were cut with a Creative Memories cutting system from Graphic 45 Masterpiece, (kit paper). I love how the kit papers all look so fabulous together!
I used the Scraptiv!ty monthly newsletter sketch. I, also, used copics for the first time to give the flowers more depth. This is what I started with:
I used these:



....to make these:

The copics were perfect as they spread out, (or bled) into the porous texture of the flowers. I, then, added some stickles for the bling.

Then, with a second sheet of "Wishes Come True", I created this card:

The vintage findings are the perfect compliment that is included in the kit. I also used the lacey trim that came as an add-on with a plain paper doily cut with a Creative Memories punch.

Have a marvelous week! We are enjoying a snowstorm here in the lower Northeast. Be blessed!

A Tutorial, a Promotion and a Prize

Scraptiv!ty's February kit is the best EVAH!!! Scraptiv!ty mixes up different styles and techniques into their kits every month. They, TOTALLY, (said in my best interpretation of a Valley Girl voice), challenge me, (in an awesome way!!). BUT, February's kit completely rocked my world, sent me to the moon and kept me awake on adrenaline just to get out some of my ideas!

I want to spend a little time on each one this month. But, if you want more great ideas, including step-by-step instructions to several projects in a newsletter, please, grab a kit, in the Scraptiv!ty store, FAST!
(I'm pretty sure this one is going to sell out quickly.)

While you are there, you might want to pick up January's, as well. It is awesome and includes a 7 gypsies stamp that could win you "a 7gypsies prize package that includes Venice paper, paper tape - patterned and naked, chipboard letters/numbers and more." See here.

Then, I will select a random person from commenters here who leave a link to their entry another set of metallic pens. Nathalie will be receiving a set for her guess in a prior post.

Today, I would like to show you how I made the fan from
Scraptiv!ty's February kit. You need naked chipboard, (AKA cardboard :) ), two sheets of Graphic 45 Renaissance Faire Venetian Lace, some off-white string, ribbon and/or fibers, and a couple vintage buttons that match. This is the type of step-by-step that you will find in each monthly newsletter put out with every Scraptiv!ty kit that you order.

First, I created a template in a cone shape with a rounded bottom to be 6&3/4" and traced it 8 times for the fan blades onto the chipboard.








Then, I lined them up and traced each individually to a scalloped edge of the patterned paper. I like to keep each one separate as each blade may have a little discrepancy from the others from the initially tracing. This way, any imperfection copies onto the patterned paper for each piece and will adhere to the chipboard with complete coverage. IMPORTANT:You will need to use three smooth rounded scalloped edges on one side of each sheet of Venetian Lace. On one of those sheets of Venetian Lace, you will trace and cut your cone onto two of the scallops that have the five points on them, from the opposite edge, leaving the fancy five pointed edge to hand cut around. These last two pieces will serve as the end pieces of the fan.






Then, adhere the papers to their respective chipboard. And, put an eyelet approximately 1/4" from the narrow edge on each piece.







Arrange in order the blades as you will want to stack them for the fan.

Adhere them on the right edge overlapping as shown, saving the last one for ribbon.

Pull ribbon approximately 7" long through the eyelet. Tie buttons onto the two ends. Make a little bow from another piece of the ribbon and glue it on top. Adhere the final cone.

I, also, wanted to add this week's challenge from Sketches! {by tamara}. It was a sketch. I created this layout using a couple photos from my In-Laws Golden Anniversary. The patterned papers are from Basic Grey's Bittersweet collection.

Be blessed!