Easter cards for the grands

It appears that over the years I have used up most

of my Easter stuff for cards.

Since I have limited space I try real hard to 

use what I have differently.

Below is actually a stamp set for a birthday card

yet there's a bunny in the basket.

So for the older kidlets - I used some QK dies,

fussy cut the stamps

and made backgrounds from distressed inks.

And the inside - A cover up was necessary since I

somehow got ink all over the green part.

So white dots from those little black daubers

and the bunny ears from TH.

I had leftover clouds sooo.....

Then the little guy needed a card his age and

fortunately for me I had leftover Easter

papers from last year.

Had some fussy cutting going on.

Violet designs (papers)

And I made the inside sort of the same w/o the background

fiasco - Love those painted dots.

Some more fussy cutting and some bunny ears.

Who doesn't love bunny ears.

 

Homemade project life cards

 I love making my own project life cards.

They are so much fun when Tim Holtz and his oxides and distress inks 

are at your fingertips.

I added the coffee cup which I drew was added.  I

fussy cut that adorable house from one 

of those embellishments from the Pink Fresh paper pad

which I have to admit that all the cards came from there.

Finally used some really really old Studio Calico washi tape

and that stamp on the circle where I attempted a

concentina fold with tissue paper.

The butterflies are a Michael's stamp - like in the $1 bin

and that card was made with shimmer powders.

Love them.

Also just between you me that circle with the conentina fold

is covering up and hole that said Good times.

I thought if I cut it out I'd like that "look" and

because the card I used it on had journaling and those

itty bitty grey dots covered the writing 

AND

therefore a repurpose of that premade acrylic card that

I whacked up because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

The struggle was real.

3x4 size

New Album in the works

 

This album is from Hobby Lobby and 6x8 comes with a

variety of inserts.

I decided not to do matchy matchy from the 

outside to the inside.  

Used a combo of stamps and stencils.

 

It's not required is it???

 

It's kind of fun, yet I feel sort of boxed in with the different

project life pages because I feel it's like

a one trick pony

 

plus  I have limited supplies.

FUNNY THING - I had to whittle down and kept what I

thought would be used for everything

and it fits "my style" (snort)

 

However, when I go to scrap it feels like nothing works.

Seriously.

 What else is fun is that the towns, even the little ones

have their own stickers which of course

I totally needed, however, they ain't cheap.

LOL.

 

So I try to work with what I have and in fact,

I have started doodling - we'll call -

because I.am.not.a.good.draw-er.

 

However, that minion is mine. 

It appears I'm a really good copy-cat 

LOL.

So above it appears I did all my journaling

on the page before and it's sorta/kinda a 2 page

spread.

 

Did a bit of Tim magic and made my own PL cards.

WouldYouBelieveI'mRunningOut

gaspfaintthud

Having a tough time with mojo.

 

I feel because of space I need to make albums smaller

but I am so used to working in any size

and somehow I can't convince my bad self to  just break out.

My new 6x8 Chipboard album

I decided that after doing Traveler's Notebooks

in a homemade chipboard album 

using rings I wanted to do something a bit different.

I LOVE them don't get me wrong but I have concerns.

There are no page protectors and because

it's on rings I was also concerned about storage.

Tossing them in a box and hoping for the best without proection

SOOOOO

hunting around there are 6x8 albums

(I know where have I been)

with page protectors.

So I found an album and it's chipboard which means

DECORATING.

So technically this is still a Traveler's Notebook.

So I gessoed the album which kind of gave me choices,

inks, oxides and alcohol, oh my.

In addition to paint. 

Therefore, I found a tag I liked that had these colors

on it and I really really really liked it.

Of course it's not EXACTLY the same but I 

love how it came out all the same.

Inside.

I used Rustic Wilderness-ink and Blue Lagoon and 

Pickled Raspberry Oxides.

Then I dithered about the rest of it and decided on

these awesome stamps that I used before

on an album.

Why yes, yes I'm a copy cat. LOL.

I used this stencil on the inside of the book along with some stamps.

Love how it turned out.

And the rest of the stamps.

I just love this and yeah it's been done a bazillion times.

But I love it.

Oh and the page protectors are on the project life size.

Pockets. 

So that'll be fun to do on this trip which is called

Over the COVID Tour

😂

 

Traveler's Notebook - Adding tags and cards

I have been making tags like a maniac and

found I LOVE making tags.

Seriously, love building a "scene". 

Then, what to do with them is the $64 question of the day

,so I have been doing filler pages,

 because why not.

It's my book.

Also, I have been totally slacking in the picture taking

department.

I created a "page" on the backside of the card because

who really needs to read it's from Hallmark.

I went into great depth about being 67.

Not.

We have also been going to a local grove

where they make the best homemae

creamsycles or dreamsycles.

Sooooo good.

It's a great special treat.

We did take a ride through Babcock - Webb a great

wildlife management area that can

always toss out a critter or two.

They were quite friendly on this ride.

There is a blog post all about it here.

I made that window at my pal Holli's on one 

of our playdates.

And love those birds.

Swoon.

Again, we were at the fishery with my

favorite sister-in-law and her hubby.

The food and ambiance was excellent as always.

Sissix die cuts.

Dina Whakely stamps

Tim Holtz

Quickutz dies,

Stencils

Studio Calico

 

Traveler's Notebook - a couple of entries

I have been working in my TN making some fun pages,

I have been slacking in getting them on the blog.

However, I have some right here.

Our favorite eatery is the Fishery - if you live

in Florida near Bradenton (it's in Cortez) you really need

to go. 

Best seafood with a view ever.

Hanging out with our gang at the Boca Lupo

best pizza in town.

We had a great time and it was good seeing

all them at once we settled in.

Hubby and I dined at Carrabba's another favorite

and of course, no photo, but I did get

in the habit of picking up business cards, menus and

keeping those envelops they put the cutlery in.

Fun stuff for scrapbooks.

So it was during this time, my macpro of 8 years was

getting quite cranky so I was fortunate

enough to be able to replace it.

Tucked my journaling in a pocket behind that PL card.

I love doing that.

Of course Apple decals. 

Gotta do something with them.

And wa-la my lovely new computer.

It's amazing, however, none of the slots are the same.

Surprise!

I use a lot of die cuts - sissix and quikutz.

The apples are from Illustraited Faith,

Tim Holtz of course.

Studio Calico.

 

A challenge among friends!!! Oh what FUN!!

So my pal Brooke and I did a thing.

We challenged each other.

Goodbye comfort zones.

Here we go.

The challenge was to provide a sketch - 

and 5 things to incorporate in

said sketch.

My challenge to Brooke.

I love this sketch I found on Page Maps. 

No sense in drawing when you can get one from the best.

Her 5 things:

Mixed Media background

Work in the tag I gave her.

Thread or Twine.

Fussy cut something

Use her new TH alphas - the skinny ones that I love.

AND WA-LA!!!

Brooke totally rocked it!!!

Using stencils and inks in her background.

I LOVE how she did the title.

She rocked my tag - changed it up a bit and love it.

And fussy cut the butterflies.

Twine behind the tag.

She did work in 8x8 page.

A beautiful photo of her mom rounds it out.

Love love love how it turned out.

And we're so gonna do it again.

I need to get to pondering.

Again.

My challenge from Brooke went down like this.

A sketch she found on pinterest.

3 arrows 

(I struggle with arrows)

Nuvo drops

3 pattern papers

staples

paint

I work in 8.5x5 in my traveler's notebook so I took

it right down the middle.

I managed to work in 4 arrows - using pattern paper

and my arrows were PP but the anchors didn't come through LOL

however the tiny flowers are heart PP.

I did use 2 photos because I didn't want to

waste - I used 2 different sizes which worked out great

because it highlighted the 'rentz.

I used a doily as the "round" thing

The nuvo drops are in the flowers I drew and

on the tag.

The paint is on the homemade washi tape because

I really couldn't think of another way to

work it in.

So I made my own washi tape using Studio Calico

blush crush and arrow stamps with

versifine black ink.

Splattered some watered down paint.

I love how BOTH turned out.

It was sooooo much fun we're gonna do it again.

I'll keep you posted.

 

Traveler's Notebook - Some new pages and Gertrude

 

As you can see I'm rocking the TH animal die cuts.

Meet Gertrude, you all know Theodore and Arthur.

I'm missing a lot of pieces on this one. 

I'll take it on one day and figure it out - but she would've

looked adorable with a Santa hat.

So this is a page of Holli and I rocking the s/b table

at her place - which is soooo much fun to "shop."

Anyway we try to get together as much as possible while I'm in town. 

Actually, we are bad at getting the photo in because we're too busy creating. The title is from a cutup Studio Calico project life card and some of them were cut a little too close but i worked. I drew those straight lines with a T-square. I know right.

 

This one was fun and using TH oxides and dies with bright colors was

made to celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary.

However, did I think to take a picture on our anniversary when we

went out to dinner. Why no, no I didn't.

Therefore this was the next day.

 

So here's Theodore because I did so well with Arthur 🙄👀🥰

 

Love these dies but the layers make me totally nuts.

My first experience was with Arthur (click link) and 

it was annoying because I'm not real good at looking

at puzzles so it takes me awhile.

(Don't let me discourage you - but it's how I roll)

My amazing friend Holli gifted me both actually and even

though it makes me totally nuts I couldn't wait to use it. 

Because there are different colors for different parts I decided

to make TWO.

Because why not.

Well....I put them both together and managed to leave

out the same piece for both of them.

It goes on the snout - more or less.

It also looks like it was glued by a 3 year old.

Sheesh!

Ole Theo actually turned out really cute so now I just need to hone my gluing and layering skills.

 

Mounted on a piece of TH paper and I got to use

my dragon fly punch on a neon green card.

 

I hope this encouraging.

And the dog tag too was just fun and I love that mutt.

Travelers Notebook as in the "pre-made" booklets.

I found a traveler's notebook - with faux leather cover 

and blank inserts and since I had nothing going on at the moment 

I decided to play around and decorate the covers. 

Front and Back - mostly the same. 

Using a stencil and stamps

 I also wanted the challenge of using this more or less 

as a diary and to not use dimension 

- or just a tiny bit.

  LOL! 

As if, however, I'm gonna roll with that - 

so the first page I decided to make a "filler" page to get things rolling, 

using a roller stamp 

I hadn't used it like forever, and that library card..... 

Swoon. 

Remember when they were really popular? I was all over them.

Except for the buttons, there is noooooo dimension going on.

However, there are still a bunch of pages that are

waiting to be made. 

I want to try and do better on the journaling instead of the

fluffy stuff I add now. 

I used to have a bit of "color" in my journaling and somehow

I got away from it soooo...maybe if I practice

where no one is looking......

 

Travelers Notebook - New book/New covers

I had the best time making these covers. 

                                                  Using a bunch of TH papers, stamps, washi tape.

Lots of different stamps.

                                                                        It'll be bound with rings.

                        I love using the rings since it seems I can't seem to stop with the dimension.

                                                                                    LOL.

Traveler's Notebook update - Maine

This little album is getting quite full and I since we are

heading to our winter home I'd like to 

finish it in this album.

It's gonna be tight because I can't seem to be able to do this

without dimension.

Love my bags and tucking in journaling and since

we stayed 2 weeks in Maine - I decided to condense the journaling

on one tag.

I was quite chatty.

Also using up fun PL cards that I had forever and this

adorable one is from Paper Issues.

It was quite nippy in Maine going down to the 30's

and we were more or less getting over it.

        Because of COVID restrictions (or maybe not) we need to make a reservation to ride up to Cadillac Mountain. Which we did. It was cold up there, lots of wind and not a lot of parking which also may be the cause of reservations.

I also kept the check from "The Traveling Lobster" roadside eatery which was totally delicious. We finally got to go - the crowd was always around the block and it was quite nippy to stand outside and wait. We found that timing is everything and having an early dinner helped. We also took it to go. We were quite bummed because we didn't have a good experience with other restaurants - food just wasn't up to the expensive pricing in a few we did try and because of that experience we didn't eat out much.

Of course we found some lighthouses in our ride about the harbors.

Bass Harbor, Egg Rock and Prospect Harbor.

Love how the embellishment fit into that doily. I do adore doilies and decided that it was simple enough to highlight and trying to avoid dimension - I may go back and splatter some mist around or not.

I did find a tiny scrapbook shop in Bar Harbor inside a fabric store and was really delighted. There wasn't a big selection but I did find this cute Little Yellow Bicycle embellishments. Above is our run from Maine to Pennsylvania. We watch the weather closely and about the time we were leaving Maine - high wind warnings were coming and we wanted to get ahead and not have to drive through them. We hit PA and then headed back to our friends in NJ since high winds and storms were coming down the line. We are now heading back to Florida - taking the long way.  Currently, we are in a lovely camp in South Carolina where were gonna hunker down for about a week and then stroll on into Florida to vote.
 

Traveler's Notebook - Love this life!

I decided, based on past TN's that it's not a good idea

for me to have photos on both sides.

Therefore, in the midst of the this TN that has been

going on for awhile, I'm changing

it up to have embellishments on the left, photos on the right.

And shake it all around.

😂

Also, I have run out of 4x6 photo paper (gasp I know)

BUT I have a ton of 5x7 so......

It's been interesting working with that size.

Below is a series of fun photos that me and my pal Christine

did looking for that ONE photo that doesn't make

one look goofy.

As you can see it took awhile and since we look goofy

anyway, why not roll with it.

I printed the photos 1.9 square to get them all in and

really like how the series turned out.

You can almost see the fun transparency which says Seriously LOL.

Using up my stash of project life cards is going really well. 

Love the sentiment on this card and the old fashioned lady

and her little bouquet and buttons I fussy cut from a tag. 

We had a lovely Labor Day with family at Ocean Beach. 

Good food and lots of fun.    

Of course one can't be in NJ without having pizza - like a lot.

Nobody does it better.

Love the thin cracker like crust - one can eat more. 

Project life card fussy cut to the rescue again.

We didn't do much sightseeing but we did get to Twin Lights.

Very cool. 

Studio Calico PL, QK spicy chicken, TH PL cards, 

embellies and papers,

thickers.