Using other mediums in my "watercolor" album

Because of limited space in my area I ditched

a lot of other mediums I had but

thankfully I didn't ditch the gelatoes.

Mind you, I didn't use them much before but they

are small enough to tuck them in somewhere and in

binge watching Missy Whidden (who's u-tube as hacked

and finally restored) uses gelatoes quite liberally

so therefore I had to be a copy cat.

Love the results.

Bold and fun, though if I need them softer, gesso to the rescue.

 Back to watercolors here, but I did purchase a new

stencial prior to all the stores closing down and

I love the "fireworks".

 AND then I had also kept a small stash of mists.

Mostly Studio Calico Mr. Huey

and THAT was to spray and let run.

AND THEN, I remember stickles from Studio G.

They were really popular back in the day and sort of

went out of vogue but I had some silver and

doesn't it look really cool.

 And picked up this cute butterfly stamp in the same

shopping spree and love how they're

watercolored randomly around the page.

They'll be easy if fussy cutting is on the agenda.

 This is kind of a stencil fail. 

It was too watery and leaked about but I learned

about "pencil" lines and one does not need to be

an artist to slap some pencil marks around.

AND there's always gesso to cover up and get a do-over.

Or just plop a photo there.

 AND then, I decided that the cover needed to be jazzed up.

Enter dylusions.

It's loud and psychedelic.

And then the title - I embraced my inner Lisa Fonseca

(check her out on u-tube) she handcuts everything.

From scratch.

Sigh.

She can handcut perfect alphas like nobody's business

without drawing them out first.

I drew out my letters first - and I love how they

work with the wildness.

I do not remember the mfg for the other dodads on there

except for the bird - that is a fussy cut stamp.

I'm likin' the bigger size because the TN is kinda restrictive

so we'll see how this one rolls.

Out of the mists arises a page

 You may remember this disaster from last week....when I dumped a half bottle of Mr. Huey all over my desk. I did have the presence of mind to clean up before more damage was done and then take the photo.

I did post this on Scrapaholics Anonymous for some well deserved sympathy and while not exactly a challenge, someone mentioned seeing the final product if I ever used the paper.

And I did.

After I completed the page I flipped it over to add all the goodies as I always do and it was hot pink and polka dots with a green blob.. which would've looked cool too but honestly where's the challenge in hot pink and green LOL.

So I decided to make another green "blob" on the other

side of the paper to balance it so to speak

and tossed some more of the mist about. 

I really like the color so I need to think about ordering more.

 I wanted to keep it kind of light and airy so 

I used those QK squares with some small accents

again, keeping to the green.

 The green was kind of getting carried away

so I found some cardstock really close

to the color of the page and added them as "filler."

I really love how it turned out and in hindsight

I would never have thought of using green.

Got to use some Heidi Swapp hearts and finally that

enamel flower. 

I had a blast taking these photos of these two favorite nieces

and at first they were 

all about the posing and then Caralynn decided

she was basically done when I was taking this one. When

I saw her "look" as I was taking it, it has

become my total favorite out of the bunch because it was so natural.

So that look was aimed at me and I was totally cracking up

behind the camera.

The journaling is also on the back because did I remember

to make a spot on the page. 

UH No......

Celebrating Five!

A milestone birthday to be sure.

Going to real school - kindergarten!

Miss Annie seemed to rock all the parties.

There were several.

So lets start out with the fact that her birthday is in July.

Did I think of using "July" paper.

Not until now LOL.

And there you have it.

However, I do love the papers I picked out.

 Used a couple of PL cards by cutting out the

necessary sentiments - 

 Then there's that ticket with the 5 on it.

I picked that ticket up a bazillion times when I didn't need it

and could I find it when I needed it for this page?

NO.

I dumped the entire die cut box out to search - which turned out

to be a win-win because I culled through and

tossed a bunch out - 

mostly bent, broken or partials were picked out

and there were a bunch.

This is also the page in which I uncapped the Mr. Huey's garden mist

to toss about on the page and ended up spilling

the mist all over my desk and on 

papers and embellies that I just unboxed from

Studio Calico July kit.

There's gonna be some creative scrapping going on to save them.

I'm totally open to suggestions LOL.

Well it started out as cloud paper

But you can't tell it now. 

LOL.

I used every stamp in the pack this time.

It was themed and seemed a good idea.

 Along with mists using the packaging technique.

 And some fun stickers from a Basic Grey sheet.

I printed the photos in "sequence" and for some

reason felt compelled to cut them up and

rearrange them a few 944759242740248 times.

And then, put them right back where it all started.

Love it when a plan comes through.

Snort.

Going for a bit of whimsey

My first idea was to make my own cutfile type "stencil"

for lack of a better word by using those spellbinder diecuts

gluing them together and then back them

using the Sassafrass Lass paper.

I wasn't crazy about the outcome when I backed a couple.

It just looked too heavy for the page.

However they are cute to use somewhere else.

However, I did like the bird and those wheel thingies or slices and hearts

so I began fussy cutting, punching, and tossing them about on the page

using the die cuts separately and not backed.

 There are clusters and then some tight clusters going on.

 Sadly that is the end of the Sassafrass Lass paper. I really love it-because its fun.

I'm not sure why I added pink and orange either except I liked it.

I think it plays off the whimsey I was going for

and then I tossed some Heidi shine and Mr Huey mists about.

And that is a sequence of photos of Amelia playing.

I didn't catch that at first when I first saw the photo....that I've had for awhile.

The rest is Studio Calico of course, and that adorable bow punch.

Creating a background

I really wanted to use these veggies again from Basic Grey

and I fussy cut them out from remaining scraps

and I also wanted them to pop.

So I used a small circle stencil and some

modeling paste on a white background.

 I used the packaging technique to add the mists.

They say you can't screw it up.

Well....LOL.

I don't feel like I screwed it up but I also don't

think it "went on" like those experts in the video showed.

However in the end I did like the result.

 The packaging technique is when you take some mists

and either drop it on or mist it on the plastic

packaging from embellishments - then you smoosh it around

on the packaging and then dab/smear/smoosh

around your page.

It is pretty cool and easy actually.

I seem to make things harder than I have to LOL.

I wanted those veggies as an accent because its a photo

of a veggie - zucchini actually.

Tom's daughter gifted us a spirilizer for Christmas and

we finally got to use it when we

defrosted some homemade spaghetti sauce

in the crockpot this past nippy Sunday - and decided

to forgo the pasta.

We substitued zucchini and spaghetti squash 

and they were both a delicious- my favorite

was the zuchini which was sauteed really really quickly

in oil and garlic so it wouldn't get soggy.

As a result, it had a bit of crunch and we found you need

to make a lot of zucchini to have enough.

It was fun to do and I'll be using that spirilizer more.

Basic Grey with some Mr. Huey mists and some jute because I liked

the rustic-ness of it with the veggies.
I heard Basic Grey is going out of business.
Very sad if true.

Another homemade tag makes the page

These tags have been gracing my ledge since they were made

and I've been trying to work them in since I made them about a month ago.

The one that made the page this time is

the Dare to Dream in the upper left corner.

So that's 4 down!!!!

Go meeeee!!!

 I built the page again without a photo in mind and pulled it altogether

by tucking the tag into the side of the mats.

I added extra layers and butterflies because I could.

In the spirit of May Flaum's Use your Stash - I used mist, mist and more mist.

Mr. Huey and Heidi Swapp.

The next was to look for the photo that would fit into the mats.

And a trimmed 4x4 made the cut. (yunk yunk)

I also wanted it to be black and white.

I changed this photo up and I love it because it fits into

the "Dare to Dream" theme.

Climb it, be strong, believe.

New Studio calico paper, Basic Grey, the homemade tag and other

embellies (that match) K&Co. Martha Stewart butterflies because I love them

and used some pearls up from the stash. 

Going girly

Finally, the great thing about having granddaughters 

is being able to go girly. 

Love the boys but there is something about pearls,

bows and flowers.

Although I must admit I love boys, I love girly too.

So here we have new Studio Calico paper, my go-to doily heart,

October Afternoon card, Paper Studio pearls, prima flowers

of which I have an entire super satchel full.

(I've been slowly working my way through and not purchasing

any more flowers). Yay!

And those adorable little bows with pearls I found in the

wedding aisle at Michael's.

I did mist with my new Heidi Swapp and Mr. Huey and

it appears I managed to cover some of it up.

Ms. Amelia is at the beach, but since the background is artfully

blurred out, I went with the paper since it works

with the artfully blurred background.

Stay tuned for my tutorial on using household goods in scrapbooking.
Coming March 19th at Off the Rails Scrapbooking!

Series of photos that tell a story

Cousins are a different lot. 

They're friends, they're related, they fight and then friends again
 and they get to go back to their separate corners

at the end of the day.

Thanksgiving 2013 was different.

 Missing the family matriarch - the family is shrinking.

So I decided to get a photo of the young cousins that were there.

The next next generation.

It was like herding cats in getting them all situated.

I figured the stairs was a good start - it kept them contained

for the most part which was key.

Then is was keeping their focus maintained.

Snort. as if.

So, once I had their attention, which took awhile,

  I said let's get ONE good one and then......

you can be goofy.

I love the series - they focused, they goofed, and they high-fived.

Totally made me laugh.

So there's some Authentique going on, with a bit of Mr. Huey and Heidi Swapp misting, as well as some stamping from Deadbeat designs. Basic Grey,  and Studio Calico of course.

On a side note - this made me feel really dumb.
It's life altering according to my pal Jill.
I just wanted to hear him say get Moose and Squirrel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGiPh_UPzEw&feature=youtu.be

Finally got that title....whew!

Most of you that know me, always know I'm

usually in search of a title.

April is my go to as well as my pal Holli, 

my husband and and a title book that has 

come through in a pinch.

This time I asked my blog buddies and you came through.

Thank you!

Pointing out Amelia's pretty red lips I came up with

"Sugar Lips".

And that brought me to remember a bouncy tune from Al Hirt

(a trumpet player) called Sugar Lips.

And didn't that just date me. 

 So I got my Wilna from in the mood to scrap from 2peas on. 

I love her stuff.

There are mists, inks, stamping, glitter and paper tearing going on.

A lot of fun.

The thickers are the ones that you can "customize". 

ooooooooooooo

 So I did with Martha Stewart's glitter. Her glitter

isn't scary - because its like a salt shaker.

Just shake it on out and it mostly goes

where you shake it.

I designed this page and put it all together then

I needed to search for a photo.

And because of the pre-done mat I needed

a 2.5x4 photo. 

I love the runs and dots of the ink amongst the

generous misting and stamping as an additional layer.

I also broke out the sewing machine to give

it a finishing touch.

Bazzill, Paper Studio, Primas, Ranger alcohol inks, Heidi Swapp & Mr. Huey mists, Abbey Road brads, MAMBI hearts, Thickers, Inkadoo stamp, Studio Calico do-dads & pattern papers.

Pssstt...you may need

a bigger moat. 

Way too much fun - Cavin and Amelia sharing secrets on the beach. So this is the paper that was ditched and replaced - referencing that on this post.

I resurrected it from the trash can and decided it would be perfect for this photo along with some kaiser craft goodies. Its the perfect companion page for this page.

Studio calico papers & Mr. Huey mist, a grass punch that makes great splats. 

Poptarts and camping

And even blowing kisses  (I actually noted that on the back of the photo) at his favorite sweet momma who actually remembered to pack the pop tarts.

I know, blow me down.

Anyway that's my Nick. And we went camping. And never did it again.

First off, I managed to get 2 ear aches on that trip and had to break camp early. Ah gee.

I also never understood the appeal of packing a bunch of things that required a lot of unpacking later and doing things like cooking, washing and clean up that takes twice or maybe three times as long to do out in the wilds as it does at home. I also hated not having access to creature comforts such as air conditioning and especially indoor plumbing.

Especially indoor plumbing.

Anyway Nick was way too cute not to document & I had this photo floating about for awhile so another one vacates the wayback box for a snappy new home that includes a story.

I used Studio Calico base paper (shocking I know-at least I'm off the Authentique kick for a bit - I do a lot of kicks-eh) as well as for the wood veneers, thickers (kit), vellum die cuts and then simple stories for the remaining. To get the faux coffee rings, I sprayed some Mr. Huey-shell on the bottom of a coaster and stamped it on. I also splattered some patina glimmermist about.

The adventure begins

And wasn't this page an adventure, which shocks you I know.

It started out on different background paper that is now in the trash because I got clever and drew some lines around it with mist.  (actually felt sorry for it and pulled it out). Its pretty paper and maybe able to be saved but I didn't like the look of it after it was done. Maybe it'll work for the next layout.

I also had another circle too well the circle accent that was a different shade of blue/green and had a saying on it that I liked. Well I painted mist around the edge of the paper of the circle. And it looked stupid. And there was no fixing it. I also didn't like the other colors on there either - it was all very jarring. I broke out the pinking shears to give the mat a different look.

So I tossed everything and started again.

Of course this next set of papers came from Studio Calico kits, as well as the stars, stamp, mist, and the wooden conversation bubble. AND I didn't MESS with anything. The edges are inked some really light prima ink that blends in and added some Mr. Huey copper mist splatters about and called it a day before I could be aggravated again by goofing something else up.

For some reason this day was just one of those days. I managed to power through it by knowing when to quit. LOL!!!

I love this photo and tried to keep this one simple as well with the focus on the two brothers embracing each other. I just love their affection for one another and photos like this are priceless.