Little bit of fussy cutting

Love the banner paper and

and as you can see its have the paper it used to be.

I decided it would be fun to fussy cut the

little banners.

And it was.

I also used a circle punch to cut out the adorable

critters to use an embellishment.

I whacked out 3 only 2 made it on the page.

The camera is a fussy cut as well from Shimelle's collection.

Some strips of paper and an adorable bow

that was glued to the page prior to picking out a photo

of fun on the playground.

My bad.

Used some pop dots on the banners and camera to give them a lift.

This was a fun page to do and I love how it turned out.

It was a great time with grandkids on the monkey bars

on the playground, at the campground

from the broken foot tour.

Lawn Fawn, Shimelle, Authentique.

I'll be out of pocket for a few days.

Miss me :)

Floaty as opposed to Floating embellishments

And doesn't that capture your attention.

In full disclosure this page is a jack from Soaphouse Mama or Ashli.

I love her stuff,

I stalk her stuff,

and whenever I need a shot of mojo 

I jack her stuff.

Thank you Ashli!

As you can see there are adorable little clusters of embellishments

in really fun layers.

These were very fun to do.

 tons of layering fun.....

 lots of scraps being used.....

And then I began putting the page together with the clusers.

And a "grid" happened.

I love the layers and the little clusters. The majority of the papers is Echo Park,

with some of my diecuts and Paper Issues Swag bag.

(AND...I used Ashli's idea of using writing paper as mats-love the soft and etheral look).

Anyhoo, in yapping with my pal April, I was pointing out that:

a. its a new look for me

b. it was fun to do

c. the clusters appear to be floating (not grounded) and

they're driving me nuts

My pal pointed out that while they weren't grounded they were "floaty" which

is completely different than "floating."

This was my face :|

I love this and Ashli can pull it totally off - where I'm in love and

when I try it maybe because its just me

I feel like they're floating.

You tell me - floaty or floating.........

Circled it!!!

and please feel free to use a singsong voice.

Kinda like when you say "nailed it."

Now that the important stuff is out of the way...

I cut and 8 inch circle because I was tired of being square. (Yunk yunk)

And I broke out the sewing machine.

If you look close I'm having issues with the stitching

and I've tried everything to fix it.

If you know HOW PLEASE put me out of my misery and tell me!!

 It started out not being gesso'd, watercolored or stamped.

And somewhere along the line, things started happening on their own.

I'm finding I love my diecut goody box - just to have little things

already at the tip of your fingers without having to:

a. figure what die.

b. drag out the die for a one time deal.

c. obsessing over the paper/color.

Because I'm not obsessed with any of things anymore.

It's rather freeing.

So What we have here is Studio Calico (natch) Paper Issues Swag Bag 

which are totally the bomb.

Love the little clusters and mom can just journal wherever she wants.

Crazy Horse Monument

I'd love to see it completed.

They still have a long way to go.

Working with some really wild papers

This was actually the first try on working with the Graphic 45 papers

for my project over at OTR. I just wasn't feeling it and that's when I scrapped

this page and then created this page.

I do scrap by the seat of my pants, however, I beginning to love the 

challenge of reviving train wrecks.

Since I've been resusitating train wreck pages I figured I'd give this a go.

Especially since I had already had the mists and paints on the page by 

trying to add some texture with an onion bag and drips.

 Since there's so much drama in the background I decided 

some neutrality was called for.

I just couldn't decide how I wanted it to go.

I love rick rack and I love white. 

But...............

 I also decided that making my own die cuts was the way to go as well.

 What you don't see is that I did die cut some white

because the palette seriously needed a break in the color action.

 I also broke out some punches as well because it was fun

and fussy cut some big flowers for "filler."

I did add some liquid pearl that I'm still thinking about.

Love the pops of white and it was totally fun making my own embellishments.

Reminded me of the "old" days. LOL!

The doilies are Studio Calico and alphas - Basic Grey

the rest is Bohemian Bazaar.

And I have more where that came from.

The photo is of my gram and grandpop back in the day when 

they were dating - maybe. 

I'm just guessing its about 1927 because they were older (29) when they married.

Here they look young and in love.

And it lasted a long long time.

Some really old rubons

The build up to the really OLD reubons.

I love this paper and I don't know why I ignored it until now.

 I added some gesso.

 And some of my new watercolors.

And changed the orientation.

 Added some layers and decided that something else was needed.

So I found some really OLD Basic Grey rubons

and I used it all. (WholyCow!)

I did have to split it up and I did in 3 ways so it could

be seen once I added the matting layers.

I also wanted a bit for the banner in the left corner.

I must admit after all this time they rubbed off really nicely

and didn't stick or clump.

Love how this came together with Studio Calico

(I almost have all the papers used).

Some Paper Issues swag bag, Shimelle, Recollections, Crate paper.

After I put it all together I realized I didn't have a "journaling spot"

until I looked to the right and found that the gesso

and watercolors made a perfect place.

Another heritage photo, my great grandmother Ida and her sister 

(sadly no name for her) and my 2 cousins that were Ida's 

first great grand children.

Using smaller photos as one big one

And don't these tell a story of Mz. Amelia.

From frowning, to handrubbing, to smirking.

Beware the thoughts of a baby!!!

I love that arrow paper and all I had remaining was enough for

an 8x8 page. However, It needed breaking up.

More scraps and scraps.

Love that they are going down and down.

Bits and pieces come together.

Love that the bits and pieces are going down.

Studio Calico is rocking the page all over the place 

with a side of Paper Issues swag bag goodies and those diecuts

I cranked out a few months ago.

Also don't those Spare Parts hearts make you swoon.

I just ran out.

Check out my sort of tutorial on OTR

This tutorial is about vellum, diecuts and microbeads- oh my.

Its happening at Off the Rails Scrapbooking.

Using some stash and more stash!

I'm totally diggin' the October Studio Calico kit.

I've used every bit of pattern paper and most of the embellishments.

 Now if I can only use the remaining stash.

Of which I have a lot of.

 I decided to dominate this page with green

as Q has beautiful red hair and it just works with this paper.

I found some "word" paper to mat the photo with

to bring in black to pull the page together.

 Because the color black is cool that way.

I tossed bits of black to bring your eye around the page.

I did use bits and pieces from the stash baskets 

that I have way too many of.

Mostly to keep the mfg's separate and indentifiable.

Studio Calico, Shimelle, and thickers.

So now that I've used my October SC kit, I have a lot of 

Shimelle, Echo Park and Graphic 45 waiting for some photos.

I have also found I love using bits and pieces.

I also found I don't care if the colors really match

because it all seems to come together in the final version.

AND I seriously have issues with titles -

 on pages, on blogs, on subject lines. 

Which is beyond annoying.

I don't know how I missed the Woodn't you know its fall at Paper Issues.
Thanks Lisa!!!

Clusters of embellishment goodies

I'm having title issues.

Really.

 However, with some help from my awesome DH

I have one out of two.

 I started the layers with the honeycomb stencil and watercolors.

I love watercolors.

They're your friend.

 Then I piled on the goodies - mostly Studio Calico stuff

with some extra goodies from my stash.

 and more goodies. - I used the entire package of stars.

They look terrific scattered about.

And those Evalicious arrows. 

Using up my October Studio Calico kit papers. 

Love them.

And wa-la my DH's awesome title, which seriously

should be a head slapping doh on me.

Artist Loft pearlesence watercolors

picked them up at M's the other day and

just look how pretty they are.

I also have the regular watercolors by Artist Loft

though they look like they've seen better days.

These are almost too pretty to dip into.

Almost.............

 Didn't have a photo in mind but I love this paper

and decided the paints would look very pretty together.

Tossed some gesso on and then the paint. 

And I was right. Its pretty and pearly.

I used the pink, gold and green.

 I really love these paints.  

The colors rolled on pretty and easily.

 As I added layers I softened them with gesso and watercolors.

I also inked around the edges with vintage photo ink by ranger.

 And then back to the wayback box for a photo.

There were two.

However, I felt drawn to this one and it just works

with the embellishments.

Mrs. Schneider (Hilda) was great grandmom.

Mrs. Schneider was written on the back of the photo-nothing more.

I'm thinking someone other than family took the photo

and gave it to her or family.

I wish I knew more.

Studio Calico, Kaiser Kraft and my HOMEMADE TAG!!!

Woohooo another one down!

Rehabbing our rental into a cute bungalow

Before

After- totally gutted and all new fixtures - removed tub and installed a shower only.

before - pink countertops!

After - adding backsplash - new paint, countertops & sink, new windows and mini blinds.

not very well lit.

new light fixtures, fans in every room.

We had the terazzo flooring buffed up. This is bedroom with new miniblinds and rods.

We cleaned, stained the cabinets and added new hardware.

This is a huge window 73x110 and is going to be replaced to be more cost efficient - it has jalousies now
- added the veriticals

A new slim jim air conditioner in the living room.