Traveler's Notebook - Yosemite part 2

I couldn't just have lame photos of Tom and I

when there are soooo many pretty scenes

in the park to behold.

Plus I bought the Yosemite stickers at the ranger station

and 2 came in the pack.

So of course they both had to be used.

When I purchased the MS punch I also picked

up a Tim Holtz stencil and stamp set.

You will be seeing a lot of this set.

Just sayin......

Using the new set along with TH distress ink

stormy sky, peeled paint and faded jeans.

It sortof, well okay, it did end up more or less 

monochromatic.

I'm down with that AND I got to use

some Pinkfresh wooden embellies, and momenta 

wooden stickers. 

And the adorable big eared bunny is Technique Tuesday.

And the cute stamp in blue in Studio Calico.

Stamping with frenzy

LOL!

AS if I can do it any other way.

These are really really really old Technique Tuesday stamps.

And all these stamps come on a 3x4 on clear plastic.

So I liked all the words and decided to just ink that baby up

and stamp away.

I need to work on my technique, but in my defense

it sort of worked out.

Reality and mind really need to work better together.

Anyhoo, since it was wild on the left side I kept it

simple on the right side and the photo

was soooooo cool it didn't need much.

So the grands - Cavin is quite the football player

and Quintin and Amelia quite the cheerleaders.

Studio Calico, Technique Tuesday

Different/Not Different

in a layout/design perspective but once it was completed

it looks like all my other pages.

 Shocking right?

I actually follow a bunch of designers that make beautiful

pages that are really really different from my pages.

I admire those that a. rock the mixed media, b. rock the minimalist look

with few well placed embellishments c. rock the layering.

 However, I do love the outcome.

Studio Calico mostly.

Family photo that is so adorable. 

Love August and I'm betting she was the best behaved too.

Lines and clusters

I had a vision when I started this page and

at the end I really didn't realize the vision but I still love the page.

I stamped the line across and used ribbon

and washi tape for this sequence of photos wanting to use

the lines as a "movement" and grounding.

 I kept the clusters really similar and near the photos
again to help in the grounding
especially since the lines aren't too straight.
I also wanted to use a lot of textures - thread, ribbon, washi
to work with the stamping.

 Using smaller photos they were able to be nestled in between
the lines with the clusters.

Since I had my QK emily out, I again, used this font

for the title using this green vellum

as well as for the photo mats.

I sewed around the edges and my machine

was totally wonky - so once I started I had to finish.

Sigh.

I added the journaling along the lines

and I think that pulls it altogether. It may not have

turned out to be my 'vision' but I like the end result.

Stamped clusters

I love making clusters - some work out

some don't.

These worked out and came out very fun.

I started with two stencils - Tim Holtz and Jenni Bowlin

circles - using black and gold ink.

Then using my favorite creative cafe stamps, roller

stamp from Studio Calico and hero arts and then, well stamped.

 I also misted with some Tim Holtz

and because I didn't have white mist - I used

white enamel paint to add to the fun.

 Because I only had one fussy cut cat, I used

a stamp to bring the cat around the page from Technique Tuesday.

And yes, the tags continue.

 Miss Amelia being fashion forward and

looking mighty lovely.

Dotted some stars and enamel dots around.

Love how it turned out.

An apple a day

Love this paper the moment I saw it but honestly, I

didn't know what to do with it.

I also whacked a strip off  the top to use on another page

that didn't quite make the cut.

Yunk Yunk.

Therefore, I whacked it down to 8.5x11 in order to use it as a page 

and it worked out perfectly.

 I also love the transparent mason jar.

I finally purchased some staz on - so no more smears.

And that apple I had FOREVER - in a chipboard ring

with other fruit that was just too cute to either use or break up.

Well....I wanted an apple.

 The apple had to sort of match the tags/tabs so

Using some really old enamel craftsmart paint I mixed
some red/orange and a bit o'white.

Love the tags too.

They make me swoon.

Okay so tell me does that apple paper rock with the photo or what.

Love - Studio Calico, inkadoo and technique tuesday stamps, 

unknown chipboard apple (and there'll be more fruit).

I'm on a roll with titles on the photo.

Does that happen to you?

You roll with a thing when you do "batch" layouts.

Rocking the birthdays this year

ONLY because I have them on my calendar and

set a week ahead and its also set to nag me until I get the card

done and then turn the nagger off. 

Whatever it takes LOL.

Now I need to start the same for holidays.

They are sooooo sneaky.

Anyhoo, this card was inspired again by Soaphouse Mama.

She should be filing papers soon for stalking.

However in my defense I did take her #embellishmentdiyclass

so whats a jack or two.

 It was a lot of fun to make and using scraps.

Win-win.

I get soooo caught up in not having the "right" things

when all it takes is someone else's ingenuity, LOL.

At least that's how I roll.

Every now and then I get a notion and you'll be the

first to know.

 The Studio Calico has these fun stamps in the June kit

and doesn't that work out well.

I did some glitter on the stars, fussy cut and watercolored the candles

and made a banner.

Turned out quite cute and fun.

Only downside I wasn't quite sure how to get the prize

ribbon off the card if the recipient wants to

wear it.

I did use one of those zots to attach it so maybe it'll come off.

Reworking a PL card and blog technical difficulties

Somehow in the creation of this page it
was published without me being aware of it until
I saw it in google+ that linked to nowhere.
I couldn't find it anywhere in/on or around my blog.
Which was very weird.
So I removed it from google+ and am now
reposting - so my apologies if you've seen it before and
went nowhere.
I am baffled as to how it happened, however, we all know
that technology works in mysterious ways.


So here is another page done in Soaphouse Mama style with

lots of bits and pieces with some mixed

media tossed in because why not. 

Is that owl not adorable?
Its and old Technique Tuesday stamp that I've had forever.

Below is the card I wanted to use originally,

however, I felt the color wasn't quite right.

As if, when you look - the colors aren't exactly matchy-matchy.

So......

 Using some bazzill cardstock, a star die cut from my

die cut box and a white pen.

Wa-la!

(I know....me and a white pen, drawing lines just boggles the minds

doesn't it LOL).

 The the collage photo - showing from birth to 8.
This page is a bit chaotic and I'm finding I like it.

Studio Calico, dies, stamps, and another non-themed paper

rocks the birthday world.

Mixed media birthday page

Another birthday celebration and again, in Soaphouse Mama style.

Bits and pieces, with scraps and some mixed media

tossed in because I could.

 Isn't that owl adorable. 

A Technique Tuesday stamp I had forever.

 The card with the star is homemade and I lifted the

idea from this PL card and using bazzil cardstock and

a star from my die cut box - well it worked out

really well when the 

colors on the card below wasn't quite right.

I did pop up the star and used my white pen (I know) to give some dimension

and added more bits and pieces.

 Laid down some gesso (which I need to get some clear 

it appears) and used the packaging technique

to lay on the mists.

The blues aren't quite right but I like the

bright fun colors so its all good.

I love the collage photo - again the same as Amelia's

from birth to 8 and another birthday page

not using "themed" papers.

Its kinda of wild-I like that.

Do dates ever sneak up on you??

And I'm talking big ones, Flag day (JK)

Birthdays, Holidays, etc.

You know when they are and the date comes 

right out of the blue and 

you are so not prepared. At.All.

So.....

On my computer calendar I have them all

warning me at least a week ahead of time.

However, that's not what happened here.

I got my February Paper Issues Swag Bag and that adorable

little Valentine card was in it.

BUT they only sent one.

I have 9 grand kids and therein was the dilemma.

So I set out to make cards using that one as that as an inspiration. 

right away, immediately even and

BAM!

I have had that owl stamp forever from Technique 

Tuesday and it comes in an entire sheet of animals.

I typed the sentiment in pages using the

schoolhouse rock font and printed it out.

Raise your hand if you remember schoolhouse rock.

Using my new water paint set and painted the word valentine.

The stars balance it out because everything ended

up on the lefthand side.

I did sign up for soaphousemama's new class Embellish DIY Style

and she showed some cards. This qualifies I believe however,

I'm still not as brave as her in some homemade things.

Now that the cards out of the way -  I need to remember

to actually mail them.

A mix of stamping and handwriting in my Bible Journaling

Another amazing quote from Oswald Chambers that

just cuts to the chase and says it all.

Isaiah 26:3

We all have imaginations - some better than others.
Mine has its moments for sure.
Its wonderful to know the source which was
an ah ha moment for me because it never occurred to me
that God would be imagination.

I used enamel paints - 3 shades yellow, orange, green and

tried mellowing them out. I really love how it

turned out and I used yellow to highlight the verse.

Transparent alphas were the perfect size to highlight imagination

and did you know that if you use glossy accents to glue

the transparency letters on - you can't see the glue behind it.

I stamped the first part and then I realized I was running out of room

and handwrote the rest of the quote in order to make it fit.

I've come to like how it turned out.

Studio Calico, thickers, technique tuesday.

A 6x12 just to change things up

Actually I also practiced my stamping

and stitching and came to the conclusion that

both need work.

 However, no guts - no glory and I persevered.

Found another big tag.

I adore those big tags.
Each time I think I've used the last one - I find another.
Big tag win!

 They are the perfect mat for a 4x4 photo.

I used a transparency over the photo and also stamped

on said transparency. Love how it looks.

Very simple and easy.

Studio Calico pp and stamp.

Technique Tuesday stamps.

Shimelle date stamp.

Echo Park pp.

Taking my devotions to the next level

If you have not yet found Shanna Noel at Illustrated Faith.com, you need

to check it out. I found her by following Amy Tangerine

another talented scrapper, both on many design teams.

Shanna and her team takes devotions and Bible studies 

to a whole new level in using their  "journaling Bible".

I had no idea journaling Bibles even existed - I just wrote in the

itty bitty margins hesitantly or an everyday spiral bound notebook.

Not a whole lot of creative juice going on there.

Although if you guys think about it - you know from previous posts

that I have issues ripping out pages from an 

out of date dictionary so to actually do something in a Bible

wouldn't even cross my mind.

Until now.

Please check out the illustrated faith blog because they can explain

it way better than I can since I have only progressed

to the point of getting the cover done.

So I purchased the NIV journaling Bible - it also comes in ESV version

however, I have mostly used NIV so I stuck with that.

The difference is there are lines in NIV for journaling and on in ESV.

I ordered it from Amazon and danced around for weeks

waiting for it to arrive.

Once I had it clutched in my grubby little mitts,

and after days of waiting for the inspiration and guts to start, last night

 I daintily began to spread some gesso on the front cover.

My thoughts were to keep the cover minimal

so that it wouldn't get too torn and trashed.

I also had the mindset that if I really screwed it up with the paints

 I could cover it up with paper. 

Plan A and Plan B.

 I then spread some watercolors on and after letting it sit overnight

decided that they were a bit bold.

 I became braver and added some white enamel paint to mute

the colors and decided that doing the entire front

looked better than just a colorful blob

in the middle of page.

 As you may have noticed in the past I have trouble stopping,

so adopting a somewhat cautious mindset

I decided to stop here because I can still see the

polka dots, which I like, and the colors seemed somewhat less wild.

 I broke out my Technique Tuesday stamps - that I had forever

and they had a goofy unused quality to them.

In fact, my "g" fell apart. Sigh.

I went with stamps because as you know, my handwriting caves

under pressure - and the pressure would be unbearable.

Although if you peek at the top I did feel brave enough to actually

write the verse there.

I will be using them a bit more - love the fonts I have on hand. However,

when I purchased them years ago I was in my

eecummings phase - where I wasn't using capital letters.

I did find one set that thankfully was all caps because 

I didn't feel right using a lower case "g" for God. 

I kept the cover simple because I'm brave that way.

I picked this verse because I loved singing it in church for the Offertory and 

it just seems right for the start of devotions.

As I progress, which is being even more brave, as I actually 

pu my thoughts creatively on the inside pages.

When the mojo is still on the lam

Scrap lift, hi jack or just try someone's style....

In my case I stalk er, hang about Soaphouse Mama aka Ashli Oliver's blog

and videos and I love her style.

And while I adore her style, its a challenge for me to do.

She uses a lot of pastels and white.

Dainty stuff. 

(side note: I'm so not dainty) LOL.

In addition, she also flings things on a page and makes them look awesome.

This page is not exactly a lift-lift - just more like her style.

As you will go see.

 So above is my version of flinging - and for the most part

I'm really really happy with it.

Although there is some part of me screaming they neeeeed to be anchored.

Its just my way.

However, I'm slowly getting over it....

 Ashli also uses dainty papers- and this one had pretty colored

really tiny hash tags on it.

I couldn't help myself, I had to fling some mist on there.

After the page was completed-mist and all,

 it still looked too white to me --so......

I broke out some Technique Tuesday stamps (I think) for faux sewing

and buttons. I don't stamp well - but that doesn't stop me.

And you shouldn't let it stop you.

Just sayin...

 And soft buttons, tags and die cuts.

And lots and lots of layers.

Looking at it now I could've used more layers behind the

photo, however, I'm down with what I have.

Notice I used a hashtag in the title that goes with the paper.

I love this page!!!

Random flinging and all.

It really was a lot of fun, and with my sense of alignment

 thrown to the wind, I just may do it again.

Studio Calico, Authentique, Shimelle, Echo Park, Recollections.

The aftermath of a series of disasters

I hate this stencil and why I continue to use it 

totally baffles me.

It has never worked out from Day 1

 though I might be leaning toward operator error I'm still not convinced it isn't evil.

Oh I spritsed, painted and daubed to no avail on other projects. I basically ended up deep sixing most of them. However, hope springs eternal.

I had this page almost done when I decided that it needed something more.

All due respect to the stupid stencil I laid against the page, it looked like it would fill the void because heaven forbid there be a couple of "blank spots on my page. In hindsight, I should've just stapled the stencil to the page. However, I would've needed two for balance you know. And in checking out the end result,  I thought the page looked really dumb and couldn't figure out how to fix it. 

Being in a really really annoyed mood didn't help.

So I plucked out some bazzil and stamped the brick because I liked that. I then proceeded to drop the newly stamped paper on the floor and rolled over it trying to retrieve it. Once retreived I managed to spill coffee all over it. 

 I really should've called it a day.

But I persevered.

 Because darnit I wanted to make a page and no scrapper worth his/her salt

tosses in the patterned paper.

In deference to all the manmade and natural disasters I had going on, I decided to keep it simple.

And it worked for the most part as I had bir, allowing me to complete the page

without anything untoward rearing its ugly head.

I did add the "celebrate" stamp this morning - erring on the side of caution and waiting

overnight to make sure the bad juju left the building.

I was going to add it to the other side of the long yellow card,

but I didn't want to press my luck. 

bwack bwack. 

LOL!!

Today I shall endeavor to create a page where disasters would not be noticeable.

My foot, is doing pretty good.

I need to learn to walk again - my gait is more like a waffling crab

than a, dare I say it, normal pace. 

Its weird when your brain has you muttering

"walk, walk, walk"

in a cadence.

Titling your scrapbook page

Titles are important if you want to draw a reader in. You want them to gaze upon the photos and read the journaling and as every scrapper knows everyone loves a snappy title. 

You also know I have a love/hate relationship with that aspect of scrapbooking. 

There are too many times when the ole brain goes on vacation and a title is sooooo elusive, thereby prompting me to call on my "go to April",  or hubby (who is quite good) and as a last resort

 looking it up in a book.

Also, when one is dealing with CRS on daily basis (can't remember stuff) as one thinks of a great title one will promptly forget said title while hunting for the perfect alphabet/type to complement the wonderful title you now can't remember. So writing it down or telling someone else is a good backup to have in place when dealing with the elusive title.

Since I stamped happy birthday all over the page it seemed kind of redundant to say it again. Since by now you've scrapped a gazillion pages in an album and most of the players are pretty well known so alot of "spelling things out" can also be redundant. 

Therefore I cleverly used the first name initial of the birthday boy - and all who gaze raptly upon the page will a. identify the birthday boy or b. figure it out as again, this will be the millionth page in several albums of said kidlet.

I also added his age next to the initial - which answers the question of which birthday and takes away  the pressure of doing any subtracting on the fly. Especially when candles aren't helping.

Recollections is the patterned paper and totally old stash. I love the stars because well Q is the star of this show. Simple Stories for the title and if Jill is in the mood she can pick her spot to journal. 

Technique Tuesday stamps. And twine - it was quite easy. OHHH and some subtle washi tape.

So I challenge you to do a "cryptic" title. 

Roll on over to Off the Rails Scrapbooking and check out the beautiful tag tutorial by Rose.

Faux stitch stamping

Say that 3 times fast. lol!!!

I did some stamping because I didn't want to break out the

ole sewing machine. And seriously why stamp 'm 

if you have them. And I have way too many.

I like how it looks - it ain't perfect but there's a lot of messy

stitching going on - so why not stamping.

Love the studio calico going on mixing new and old. 

And its all of it except

the stamp which I believe may be Technique Tuesday from back in the day.

I love Amelia cutting her teeth on a kettle ball.

She's a total crossfit baby.

Sandy toes....

This is an amazing photo technically. 

The colors are perfect and the composition is terrific.

 I want to take photos like that when I grow up.

And of course, those two kidlets are too cute for words.

 In fact Annie looks like a tiny animated doll with that sweet face and smile.

I like that Owen is messing with the sand and

both are enjoying the grit and cool of it on their feet.

I had some Authentique beachie papers left.

 (Shocking I know).

This page actually came together without a lot of castastrophe associated

with it - (another shock).

I also tilted the papers a bit behind the photo just because.

(will the shocks never end).

I broke out a swirly stamp from Technique Tuesday and used ranger -faded jeans ink.

Who knew beach papers could be so pretty and cool.

The only thing NOT Authentique is the title and the red

polka dotted paper.

Sassafrass Lass - the fit was perfect.

And the letters are kinda sparkly like sand. 

(8x8)