Back covers of the new 7x10 album

I used the same colors as I used on the front and it 

really worked well as it looks pretty similar to the cover which is pretty

cool since all the blowing makes it random.

Here's the link 

Since I'm in a campground in a small town

with NOOOOO craft stores in sight

I used my aspirator or baby snot remover.

Again, it does get the job done, however, watching the vids

the actual tool I'm thinking it would work awhole lot better.

Go figure actually using the right tool.

LOL.

The alcohol inks are raspberry, pebble, clover, butterscotch 💓

wild plum and stream.

On the inside cover I used the oxides and not the sprays

and those really cool Inkadinkadoo stamps.

Added a couple of TH phrases and a stamped "frame"

that went sort of out of control.

It wasn't big enough to go around the entire saying

so I had to do it in increments.

Chaos results. 

I'm not sure if I'm going to fill the guts with papers or just

wait and make the paper decision as I go.

I kinda like that - however, even if I fill it - I can and do 

change and rearrange the papers sooooo....

if I neeeeeed something to do - I could whack some papers.

The colors are salty ocean, pine needles, festive berries and dusty concord.

Homemade Traveler's Notebook

It's not fancy - Very basic.

It all started because the TN I already had

had flamingos everywhere.

I live in Florida, I like Flamingoes and usually I don't

have a problem with "makin' do" but I

couldn't get past the Flamingos as a TN for

our trip to Alaska.

Well it was raining, and I was being lazy, so I checked

the TN and decided it can't be that difficult.

Welp....

 I then measured (I know right) anyway I have a ton

of recollections 8.5x11 white cardstock and decided why not.

 I whacked it down to 8.5x8.5  and folded them in half.

My flamingo book had 15 pages so I rolled with that.

But it needed something else - like a cover.
So using black recollections cardstock - I whacked it down
a bit bigger than the pages and glued to the
front and back of the pack.

 The hardest part was actually stapling the pages together.

I had a small stapler that could be opened (you know what I mean)

so I had a brilliant idea to split the papers in fives and

wa-la semi easy stapling.

I had a ton of Basic Grey stickers that I wanted to use up

and Also some Studio Calico and Inkadinkado stamps that I thought would be cool too.

 And just started decorating the pages randomly.

 I'll be taking photos on this trip of course, but I

won't be printing any, and because CRS (can't remember stuff)

has kicked in, I needed a journal, if you will, to document

our days so I can remember later when I actually scrap the pix.

FULL DISCLAIMER - The black and white striped cover for the journals 

was made by my pal Nat. The cover actually houses our women's devotional study 

and well it totally works for my Alaska stuff.

So now I'm gonna see if she has extras - because 

I need one for my devotionals.

Recollections cardstock, Basic Grey, Studio Calico

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.

Off the rails scrapbooking challenge - Up up & Away

Its a challenge that covers anything that flies.

I chose my hot ballon stamp.

And a mixed media format inspired by Soaphousemama once again.

It just seemed to fit, although when I was working on the page I didn't have any photos 

much less all the putting pix of all grandkids in mind, 

however, it was awesome the way it worked out.

 I chose the colors from a sunset perspective and once completed I decided

that B&W photos was the only way to go.

It was a fun page to do, AND in full disclosure once again,

 this was my second attempt page-the first page

ended up in the garbage.

I did rescue it and have been die cutting shapes out of it.

(We'll see what happens with them).

I used 2 pieces of kraft paper glued together because I didn't have canvas.

The colors are a mix of gesso, paint, and watercolors and alcohol

ink that has been more or less covered 

because that resulted in disaster

in my mind.

The stamp is from inkadinkado and the alphas are Tim Holtz grungeboard

that I've had forever.

Head on over to Off the rails scrappbooking and checkout the team's projects.

Watercolors, stamping, and paint, oh my

And here's Amelia - the wild child. She's sooo funny and serious. We had a great time on the playground, and being basically grounded by the boot , I thought I was pretty fast in getting some photos. Amelia can be loud and demanding. Knows what she wants and goes after. She can be sweet and also talks in a demonic voice. Her personality blows me away.

So this photo was perfect for a page of its own.

Therefore, continuing in the mode of actually pulling together the stuff I used, but NOT telling how I used it - here ya go! I used the watercolors with my watercolor pen - which I love. (Its filled with water with a brush on the end and you just squeeze the water through). I also mixed and mushed the colors around til I got colors I wanted. I KNOW. Surprised me toooo....

I used a charcol color ink to stamp with and then colored in the flowers. I drew the colors from the photo; the pink and teal/blue. The Yellow background just made the photo pop and some pink enamel puffy dots.

I used a sissix die for the branches that I jazzed up with watercolors as well. Yellow washi.

Studio Calico of course.

OH OH and you can barely seeeee but there is pencil doodling above the photo on the left.

I didn't do that.

What I did do was doodle with a pencil on the left toward the bottom and also from the branches down to the flowers in the corner on the right.

Swoon.

Using my new stamp in combo with my new punch

I did get quite carried away punching out doilies.

Which means I have lots to use.

Therefore, be warned, you shall be seeing them for awhile because that's how I roll. Sadly. It was 50% off at Hobby Lobby who could resist? Not me.

 Yanking out my stuff from new and old Studio Calico, I 

just started to play. Stamping and misting.

Lots of fun. Then laid out the paper strips and doilies and went to hunt down a photo. B&W pix on aqua just rocks. You can't beat that combo. I totally adore ledger pages too. What is the attraction. I had some Tim Holtz sprockets laying around and decided that would be neat - balancing out the clock in the corner. Love that the photo had space where I could start the title.

Little Miss Annie on a mission to find those Easter eggs and it appears she wasn't messing around.

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.

My entries for the Avacado Design Team tryouts

I didn't make it. And its all good. Win some-lose some.

So here's my card using their stamp sets.

There stamp sets are adorable by the way.

 I have trouble with cards. I don't know why but they baffle me and now I have to work on that skill.

I used the jar stamp from inkadinkadoo - and embossed the edges. And fussy cut the flowers for a bit of dimension.

I kept the inside simple.

Whooooooooo doesn't love owls.

I cut out and chopped down the tree from quickutz for it to fit and added some leaves from mulberry papers. Got carried away with the mists.

On the inside I used the mulberry paper and didn't like it - so I ripped it out and thought it added some texture along with more mists. Of course when I saw the word who - I went straight to the Who's song, "Who are you? who who who who." It really couldn't be helped.

And this sweet tea set worked totally perfect with this photo.

Love the Studio Calico papers and envelop and Dear Lizzy frames.

Anyway it was fun to do the challenges and work the stamps in. 

It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I love the outcome. 

I want to thank my pal Connie, check her blog out, she rocks the vintage and all

things country at Crafty Goodies for giving me a heads up.

Off the Rails Scrapbooking Challenge Revealed

A sketch and color challenge combo...

by Diana Gonzalez

AND ta - da 

my version

You are my sunshine.....

I concentrated more on the orange with some stamping

and more on the pink with some flowers from spare parts.

The doilies are the gold ones that I used in a previous

page here and I used some MM paint - manila

to change up the color to match the challenge.

I also changed up the elements at the bottome of the

sketch - using the flower to emulate the same kind of design

as in the top.

Brought in some green because I liked it.

Click here to see what the rest of the team created

and join in the fun!!!

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.

I just had to use my new stamp....

And that's where it all started.  (In full disclosure I got the stamp before the crop - just in case.)

The cool jar stamp is from Inkadinkado (I love how that rolls off the tongue). 

I grabbed some grey Recollections cardstock and went to town stamping. Had I thought of it I would've taken some photos after I stamped it and when I whacked it out. Since I didn't you need to use your imagination.

Well as you well know I have some challenges, i.e. adhesive, scissors, cutting in a straight line, thickers, etc. so after I stamped I needed to cut it out, needless to say there were some questionable spots. 

I know you're really surprised.

Well, that's where the ole ink around the edges comes in and not only straightens out the unsightly spots but adds some depth and dare I say realism to the jar.

Anyway I popped everything on the page and then had to go in search of a photo. Two made the cut, however, I chose this one because of the way the jar was adhered on there and it really worked better with this photo.

Everything is Studio Calico except for Recollections c/s, PP-Basic Grey & Bo Bunny, thickers, twine, and unknown label.