Playing more in the backgrounds

Because I have rolling stamps and they're a lot of fun

especially on ledger paper

and heaven forbid you leave the background blank.

My problem is getting the stamping all around so you can actually see the lovely goodness

after piling on all the layers and papers.

 I have been getting into the cookie cutter die cuts because
they can add alot of interest without covering up the ole background.

Look at that adorable brown paper bag I finally got in there.

Its been around awhile.

 And another wooden tag going the right way.

I absolutely love the feather die cut and it has been
 worth the purchase because I use it alot.
Here I stamped the music on cream paper and then
whacked it out.

Love them an how adorable did they turn out.

And do you seeeeeeeeee my homemade flair badge I worked in there.

 This cluster is way adorable - the Evalicious camera rocks.

Did you notice the itty bitty stamp sayin' there

and the one on the tab?

Its new in the Studio Calico kit this month and I can actually work it!

Go Me !!!

And here are the grandsons unleased.

I had to frankenstein the letters but it all worked out well because

I really wanted to use up the green letters
as I've have them laying around for awhile.
And I got enough of the background in there to really peek out.

Basic Grey, Studio Calico, Hero Arts stamp, Evalicious,

American Crafts rolling stamps.

Have a great weekend!!!

Sometimes simple helps with the mojo

Love the banner and glasses which I made

into sunglasses by using

watercolors - sort of like a "mirrored" sunglass color.

I thought black would be too harsh.

Check out that homemade enamel dot too.

 Love the pinwheel and replaced the pearl with *anyone*???

A homemade enamel dot LOL.

 Premade titles say it all and say it all 

really well.

 I layered in some triangles with my rolling stamp.

Then added papers I thought might work.

and wa-la.

Great photo (as always) of my favorite eldest son.

Who needs front teeth.

At the beach.

Smiling.

Crate paper, Studio Calico stuff, Lawn Fawn, American Crafts and Paper Issues Swag Bag.

A bit of whimsey and play on diecuts

Remember these diecuts from this post ?

Well I finally decided that they needed to be on a page.

When I started this page I wasn't going with this photo but

it just works.

More or less.

 You'll also spot my homemade enamel dots.

Loving all the colors.

I also used that negative space of the bee added one on the top.

Because I could.

It was looking kinda plain so I went nuts with

a Hero Arts stamp I had laying around with some grey ink.

Love it. 

We don't normally take good pix so you gotta roll

with it when it happens.

Love this one of Tom and his new hat.

He's manly enough to be roll with the flowers.

And the bees are fun whimsey.

Be Mine.

bwahahaha - he has no choice really.

Because that's how we roll.

Working some layers

I find it easier to pile on the layers when

you have them right at hand.

And it was alot of fun to add them on.

Actually I find it hard to stop.

Scary, huh.

 Not only did I use my diecuts but I also have subscribed

twice now to Paper Issues goody bags.

And they are chockful of goodies.

I used a mix of course, and I'm trying to get stamps in there as well.

They do add a little something something but

I have a hard time with them.

Therefore I decided to do obvious at first while

I get comfy with it and then let'r rip.

Lou

loves to swing

Lou

loves to go high

Lou 

loves to fly.

Lou

is two.

Used a mess of stuff from Studio Calico, Quikutz, and Paper Issues.

Documenting a not so great photo

My mom loved this photo as its her sitting with her favorite doll. If she told me the house - sadly I've forgotten as I had more pressing things on my mind.

The pressing matter was how to save the photo. This photo was in a glass frame and sat for years in a window or near a window. One day the glass broke and being the keeper of all things past I was on a mission to save it.

Sadly because of "said years" in a glass frame, the photo was stuck to the glass and no amount of undu, dental floss or coaxing could get it out. And if it was to come out - it wouldn't be in one piece.

Therefore, I took a picture of it as it was and tried to photoshop - all to no avail. So I decided since my mom adored the photo - just scrap it as it is. And note in the journaling.

You may also noticed that the flowers I handcrafted here - are being used on this page. Love it bunches. LOL.

Of course some of you will know what a "stoop is". Its a sort of porch or top of stairs where you can sit and while the hours away visiting neighbors.

Moving right aloing, I put a strip across the bottom and tossed and glued the flowers on - because I'm brave that way. Then I had to figure out how to use the rest of the space. And a circle worked. Stamping some Heidi Swapp clocks on the dictionary paper was fun - and Miss Connie over at Crafty Goodies does it a lot. I found a journaling page from Creative Imaginations - really old stash, and split it up (since flowers were already in the way). And a tiny American Crafts label for fun as well as some feathers and birds.

Jumped right into my new kit--Labor day...

I KNOW. Another page with me and Tom in it.

I used some stuff from other kits as I couldn't bring myself to cut into virgin paper when I already had some cut up that matched.

Anyway, Labor Day this year was bittersweet as we lost Tom's sister and our reason for heading up this year was to say goodbye. Labor day had evolved into family get together time that we spent down at the shore, allowing for a time of relaxing and visiting. As you know, the shore was hit by Sandy so there are major renno's going on and there was no relaxing there.

Fortunately, we were able to hang out at Tom's sister's house in Red Bank and all the kidlets came and brought the littles with them. And littles have a way of making all things good again. It was good to tickle and cuddle. My new camera was passed about and played with - and that was a good thing, because my favorite SIL fixed the focus that was driving me nuts. AND they got pix of us. Total win-win.

Its good to be home, even with laundry and RV cleaning to do. Although we had a really great time. I'm dithering about what photos to print and do which is why I plunged in with the grands. Of course my dithering involves, do I do pages, albums, mini....what???? 

It was a start. And then another one - on scraps started. And hopefully more will flow.

Studio Calico- Sept KIT - on which I need to hurry and use as Oct is right around the corner.
AND DIDN'T THIS YEAR GO FAST. AND I have the Learn Something New from Shimelle waiting in the wings. I may wait and do it in November.

My Mind's Eye, Amy Tangerine thickers & rubons, American crafts labels and twine, Studio Calico paper and wooden embellies.

3 of us...

This was another page in a series of picking out the papers

and putting the page together and then picking

out the photo to go with.

And it has been a blast because I did what I wanted.

I'm very good at that. 

I got out some Anthropology spritz from Tim Holtz

and some cranberry glimmermist which

isn't quite red or pinky.

OH WELL.

I also broke out the pinking shears.

That's a photo of me, mom and brother Billy.

The decor slays me.

I think where are at friends of my parents (because I KNOW its not our house)

Don and Blanche Remaley on Berwick St.

except I did get confused by the lamp - it was popular.

Love how turned out. 

Another Heritage page bites the dust!!!

Although hmm...we still need to define heritage.

I mean come on. Moi???