Rolling with another 4x4 photo on 6x6

I also rolled with the splattering of white paint

while I had it out and ready to go.

I actually splattered it before I added anything on the page.

I also rolled with basically the same design.

I'm okay with that.

I picked a card stock base mostly because of indecision

and the fact I didn't wanted want to whack down a 12x12

I wanted it to be a leftover scrap.

This card stock worked perfectly because it had

been whacked into previously.

 So I layered the photo and this top left corner made

me crazy because the layers were out of control so I made

this cluster to make myself happy about those goofy layers.

 I also sort of got the background idea from Inky Quill

but mine didn't work out as cool as hers #1.

and #2 I used a photo with lots of layers that I

put together before I came up with the layering strips.

Her's was not perfectly straight -but because the offset of the

strips with the gaps made me crazy -

 I whacked the strips sort of straight on each side.

Also because of the white space in the photo

to the left that's where all the embellishments were going.

I hadn't planned on that goofy corner so

everything lined up right down the left side

so in the spirit of the triangle

I added some enamel dots to the right.

The title came from a die cut from HL I got on sale
that's actually for a planner and didn't
it fit in the space quite nicely.

Sweet Lou - love that hat.

Wordy background paper

I really loved this paper and it really rocks the photo I chose

 but its wordy.

So in looking at the photo which is adorable by the way,

I went through and squared (instead of circling LOL) phrases

that I loved and work with the photo 

down the left side of the page.

Because of the circled phrases to the left I put my cluster to the right.

 I wanted to use that "oh boy" because it just fit-especially the colors.

 I scattered some stars about and really kept things simple.

So when I finally got passed the adorable faces and really

looked at the photo - Sam and Lou have

paint brushes in the hands - and look like they're on a mission 

which should put fear in any adults heart LOL.

Studio Calico again- using the August and September kits up.

Handmade tag, Basic Grey and Pink Paisley.

Studio Calico, Basic Grey, Pink Paislee.

2nd to last one for the binge!!!

I know you're excited!!

Me too.

This was from another Studio Calico kit.

Now if I can do this with all the Basic Grey I've acquired.

Was able to finally use that lovely leaf

and did a bit of misting.

I do love a banner and twine.

 A banner on a toothpick.

How doable - and next time I'll try this at home LOL.

That big acorn was around for a long time - I believe from Paper Issues.

I watercolored those pumpkins because they were

tooooo pinky-orange.

 A bit of twine and love those circles

that were languishing in my die cut box.

And that great label.

Used up some of my magic mesh too.

Bye bye to some stash.

Another 8x8 for Jill's album.

She sends the best pix!

Enter at your own risk....

Welcome to my world of creating a page....

It started with this beautiful Crate Paper.

 I decided that some texture might be in order so

I broke out the modeling cream, gel medium and some Mist.

I threw in the gel medium because it has a shiney almost enamel texture.

 I smooshed them all together and was kind of

disappointed that the gold did not come out as gold.

 I persevered because I figured I could change it up later

if it didn't turn out the way I liked.

 I broke out my 6x6 stencil from The Crafters Workshop of 

bird cages hanging from a tree.

I love this stencil and I do use it quite a bit.

Its good for girly and heritage pages.

 I put the an abbreviated version of the stencil in the bottom left corner.

 Doesn't that dimension rock and the gel medium gives it that shiney look.

 I also decided I loved the color as it matched grey color on the page 

which was a total accident.

And that is mostly how I roll.

As you will see.

 Pulled out a bunch of papers.

And pink washi tape.

 Pulled out a bunch of Kaiser craft and Studio Calico

embellishments and patiently plowed through them all.

 Laid it out and decided......

 to chuck it all and start again - especially after I 

pulled this photo from the wayback box.

It seriously needed saving and I have scrapped this one before

many times.

I decided a simpler approach was needed.

 I took all the flowers away and fell in love with bikes only

the white was kind of stark - so I broke

out my watercolors.

 and attempted to make them similar to the other

elements from that pack.

It wasn't until I completed the page that I decided that

a border was required - the page just seemed too plain without it.

 Tossed some sequins and thread about.

 Stuck some birds in a cage.

Added some washi and butterflies and went with

the tag as the title.

I really really love how it came out and its way different

from anything I've done.

Was that painful or what. LOL!!

Thankfully it doesn't happen often - but enough for

me to not even try to video my approach.

It would make us both nuts.

On an ancestry note - that is my great grandmother and there

about 5 kids piled on the horse.

There are 4 sets of legs, 3 heads and one popped up in the back.

I have tried to blow it up and identify said kidlets.
I think its my uncle albert, aunt Toot, aunt Ruthie,

and aunt Sue.

I adore this photo.

I adore heritage pages.

Would you like to see the other page???

Me too - as its been awhile.

Wow have styles changed or what.

Handwritten titles - go for it

I had a lack of mojo yesterday and was frustrated.

I forgot all about this page as I try to add them to my album immediately.

When I was adding another page to the album I found this one.

Geez. Talk about oldheimers. 

Love this photo of Connor and Christopher and wanted to make it special.

It was also Christopher's birthday on the 30th and wasn't I surprised.

Even after I had been warned by my calendar notifications for a few days in advance.

Sigh. 

Heavy Sigh.

Love the Studio Calico and bits and pieces of Basic Grey

and Pink Paislee AND Simple Stories.

I wanted the title to be simple so I handwrote their names and

called it a day.

I have a love/hate relationship with my handwriting.

When its not important - my writing rocks (say that 3 times fast)

and when I put it on a page - my writing stinks.

I decided to roll with it anyway.

Whenever I find handwriting from my ancestors, the first thing I do is swoon.

And then I felt so thrilled to have that connection.

Back in the snail mail day, I couldn't wait to get mail from family

and friends and I would always recognize their handwriting

without looking at the return address.

Always and it never failed to thrill.

NOT ONCE, NO NEVER have I ever said 

OMG...their handwriting stinks.

It never occurred to me. 

Because to me it was beautiful. 

So I decided to throw caution to the wind and hope somewhere

down the line, my kids will recognize my writing and be 

thrilled too. Not only that it totally worked on this page.

Therefore, in addition to handwriting your journaling as much as you can,

-----go for the title as well.

Printed a tri-photo photo

And say that 3 times fast. 

Instagram photo.

In the print section in Aperture, there is a choice to do 3 photos

in sequence that I thought was cool. 

It kind of gives you a taste of the photos or in my case 

actually focuses on the best part of the photo.

I printed it on 8.5x11 photo paper and trimmed the sides evenly

since one was wonkier than the other.

Yes, Nick I used Aperture because Lightroom is making me crazy.

I wanted a page that was a bit different than what I posted on my blog 

earlier on boondockin' and use some of the landscape

photos that I take in abundance but don't scrap much.

Why? I don't know.

If you've never been to the Great Smokey Mtns - you really need to

put it on your to do list.

October Afternoon is the background paper from my Studio Calico kit

as well as that tree trunk bole. I'm kinda proud how I worked that in.

Scraps of simple stories made it in there.

The alpha is deja view with some quickutz going on.

I used a background stamp that came out kindof lame and

covered most up.

And I made that tag. I KNOW. 

It's the little things.

AND WEDNESDAY IS THE BIG DAY - I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.

This is a title + photo that'll make you sing...

In your best Mighty Mouse voice.

HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!!!

Miss Amelia as her alter ego HulkSmash, sortof like

dressed as Capt. America.

She also knows how to rock a faser.

I have really lost track of superheroes and I obviously

need to bone up. This is serious stuff.

When I saw the photo I knew

what my title would be immediately.

You just can't help it. I know I couldn't.

And I couldn't wait to scrap it - and this paper just bounced

into my hand - it was green. 

It made the photo POP.

And then I saw the "life is beautiful" paper and I 

knew I just had to reconcile the green

and black in my head.

Why? 

I don't know.

It seemed weird which is weird because the coolest

Halloween papers are black and green.

However, I think I used every

green thing I had regardless of shade or tone.

And didn't it work.

Well it worked for me LOL!!! 

And the pops of red - taken from the photo.

AND ON WEDNESDAY - 

KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED THE BOOT COMES OFF!

A straw and a lift

My pal April and I were cyberscraping and she chose the page we should lift. She got it from pintrest and I traced it back to this blog; Teacher Jessy's blog. 

I took liberties of course to make it my own. I broke out the gelatos and went to town. I love the background which is a Studio Calico geometric pattern. I pulled out some old Basic Grey tags from all their collections -not worrying too much about colors since all BG's collections work together and the gelato colors I picked were sort of neutral. I love the whimsey of the straw and the pop of color. It brings your eye right to the title and photo and also the emblishment to the left of it. I believe I jacked the straw idea from Ashli over at Purplemailbox - she used one awhile ago.

I had to plant a flower over to the side because somehow I managed to put an inky fingerprint over there and there was no covering or cleaning it up.

Miss Amelia came to Florida to visit me and of course lil miss was photographed much to her annoyance I'm sure. She shouldn't be too traumatized since she's still being photographed. This is totally a flash from the past and she needs to visit again.

Parents optional :)

Family pets are people too

The latest addition to my kidlets family.

August the Vizsla.

He's very pretty and photogenic. 

So of course he gets his own page in the family album.

I want to pet him and keep him and love him.

Do any of you remember Auggie Doggy and Doggy Daddy cartoon?

Yeah me too, only I remember it from TV Land. 

They debuted on the Quick Draw McGraw show and although

they were dauschands it still applies because

its all about the name.

I have a mix of papers going on - Studio Calico, stamps, punches, and thickers.
I stamped and used watercolors over the area as well as Heidi Swapp mists.
Layered papers - I love layered papers and some Scotch waship tape.

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.

Vellum paper

I tend to forget about vellum. 

It became somewhat of a trend midway in the scrapbooking phenomenom

and of course I and everyone else jumped on that bandwagon.

And then like all trends it tended to fall away.

Well I happen to have some leftover from that trend and am 

bringing it back. Why? 

Because it is very versatile with its sheer, opaque quality. 

It can add elegance, soften patterns and mute colors.

It also can be a pain to adhere because the adhesive can be seen.

Unless your very stealthy in applying it.

 For instance, the only adhesive on the vellum is hidden behind the photo 

with a couple pieces of the washi tape. 

The top is being held in place by the tag and cloud. 

Stamping and writing on it can be tricky.

I used Stazon ink which will dry quickly without smearing.

Everything Studio Calico except for the tag- old Basic Grey that worked perfectly.

I love their face masks and I'd pretend to snowboard just so I could wear one.

Or maybe for Halloween - that would work for me.

Lessens the capacity for impending disaster.

Join in the fun over at Off the Rails Scrapbooking's first blog hop.

Click here to begin.

Less is sometimes More

As in the little black dress sometimes a page is created

with just the pearls as an accent.

I started this page and was way over thinking it. I had

lots of stuff going on.

I wanted to use the background paper just as it is because it 

makes the photo pop.

Or the photo makes the paper pop.

Either way its a win.

Since I used part of the paper I whacked it down to 8.5x11.

Then I started packing on the stuff.

And it made me crazy.

I let it sit for a day and then approached it once again

with a different attitude.

I swished everything off and put most of it away and began again.

In wanting mostly the photo to shine and then the paper

because the sayings on it worked perfect with the photo.

I decided to keep the embellishments to a minimum

and I love it so much better.

K& Company which is probably older than I think 

with some old Basic Grey paper and new negative slide,

 prima, Creative Imaginations and Authentique.

With some new Studio Calico and twine.

Layers and layers

I love layers. 

There are times you wouldn't know it though.

Probably because I become baffled by layers.

Because you have to cover stuff up in order to layer and I have trouble covering

stuff up. Especially if its really cool stuff.

My mind just doesn't get it.

So now I try to layer things that aren't that cute if there going

to be on the bottom layer and/or covered up.

Problem semi-solved.

What you won't see is that I used modeling paste for

some honeycombs and the photo entirely covered it up.

The watercolors made it through. Sort of.

Heavy sigh.

The majority is studio calico - March kit with some old stuff.

Kaiser kraft, recollections, simple stories and twine.

Little Miss Amelia with her rosy cheeks and red nose and of course,

the princess wave - even in the midst of a snow flurry.

And doesn't she have a ton of layers going on.

JillyArt journal

And here it is....

My son's girl is not only an amazing photographer

and pretty

and a great mom 

she also draws.

I'm hoping it'll rub off on me. bwahahaha! How annoying that she's so talented and I'm totally jealous. 

She didn't get back to me on the title so I took the liberty. And I think it fits. I also went old school with foam stamps and it appears that I need to practice maybe. Or not. It kinda fits.

And now the pages. I added some colors and tags and buttons.

Mists and a Tim Holtz mask that I had forever and some avacado bag mesh.

Tried some stamping and had some issues where some white paint actually saved the day.

I had a great time smooshing and swishing.

Watercolors are very forgiving and I used a spider stencil, fern stamp and the flower stamps and some swirls.

I thought the white clever and pasted some snowflakes down and just smeared some color over them. Sort of an embossed look.

Tim Holtz gear masks, and love the drips. Don't the make you swoon. And of course the Tim Holtz die cut houses with a map stamp overtop.

I used some modeling paste and another stencil.And one of those gold doilies.

Another stencil with the bird cages that I really adore because its not perfect. And those clouds look better in the photo than in person. Maybe Jill can do something about them. I didn't let robin's red breast dry enough before I turned the page.

My bad.

More stamps and stencils.

Used these paintable butterflies with some gear mask and added some snowflakes and sequins. The swirls are all mine. 

More stencils and stamps and a cute Martha Stewart doily. 

And the back I added some stamps and a touch of white paint.

I'm hoping to get it out to her and I'm hoping she actually uses it and sends me photos so that I can update you with how it REALLY turned out in the end.

I'm really excited.