Had this Lawn Fawn paper forever

Love using stash and I have 

way too much.

This adorable paper was perfect for this photo.

Got a little cluster going on - love those little critters

tucked into the photo.

Fussy cut that arrow out and using up the enamel stuff.

 Kept the title low key and since this is going

to Jill I left alot of room for journaling.

Love these transparency stars from Studio Calico.

And more fussy cut arrows.

 That bow diecut was the best purchase ever.

I cut and build them ahead of time and

even though the papers and colors are random 

they seem to fit in wherever I need them.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Is the weather crazy where you are??? Hot/Cold - Damp/Rainy???

Very bipolar LOL.

Falling into Autumn

However, I live in Florida and

we don't have trees turning glorious riots of colors.

We have school buses appearing. LOL.

Therefore, I had to scramble when I saw this awesome

photo of my Amelia playing hookie.

 I did a bunch of layers using Basic Grey papers, stickers and kraft.

With some Studio Calico goodies that I had forever,

my homemade enamel dots and We R Memory keepers enamel triangles and

hearts that I scattered about in the clusters.

 I also got use the last Lawn Fawn badge I had forever as well.

I did use my rolling heart stamp to add a bit more texture

because really it wasn't busy enough.

Also I made that "photo frame" too. 

I knooooww.

Surprised me too.

I took this punch and made a square in a rectangle piece

of patterned paper. Then used the trimmer and made it look like a photo frame. I will be doing that again for sure.

Changing course when you're not feeling the love

I love this sassy photo of Ms. Annie-girl and of course it was for

Memorial Day that just happened to be a pretty day in the

northern tundra.

I chose those papers and just wasn't feeling it.

Red, white and blue - don't get me wrong - I love the colors, I love

our flag and I'm as patriotic as the next.

But it was just too much.

And remember these papers were chosen for another project here that 

was kitted for a crop I attended and it didn't feel right then either.

I'm really really sure they'll get used someday. However,

that paper is gonna get its feelings hurt soon. LOL.

Rejected once again.

I decided to take matters in my own hands and

 make my own background paper starting with

some white bazzil cardstock.

I misted with red Heidi Swapp and then decided that it needed a bit more dimension

 which required a trip to Hobby Lobby because I did not

have a star stencil.

Starstencil Starstencil Starstencil (say that 3x's fast)

And of course they didn't have THE star stencil I wanted, however,

I found this Jenni Bowlin stencil that assured me it was a star BURST.

I could work with that.

And I needed navy blue ink of course.

Then I found the most adorable film strip stamp for under $2.

(that wasn't used here-but coming soon).

 I also ordered from Paper Issues - those adorable stars and arrows -

a cupid collection - that works soooooo well.

 And my homemade enamel dots - I know you'll be surprised

that I'm running out of some colors.
I'm debating as to whether I want to bake up more or just buy some.

Another Lawn Fawn badge purchase made it to the page and

I used up some old Authentique stickers by placing them around
in key places saying awesome things.

Of course I did dither around with the title
and you know how well I do titles.

I didn't want it to be real obvious and then decided

why not??

Bella Blvd stash was perfect along with some navy Jillybean

Soup alphas I purchased forever ago and never used.

Bought those adorable striped envelopes in different colors from HL

and it seriously worked very well with the doily.

Alot of new and old stash getting used.

Gotta love that.

I'm really quite happy that I changed directions because using that

other paper when I wasn't "feeling" it would've made

me crazy.

Short trip I know - but this is supposed

to be fun and how much more fun can it be doing it from scratch

getting all inky and misty

and then getting a Hobby Lobby run out of it to boot :D

There is a dog in the photo

Truly.

Which is why the title is "these 4".

Thought I'd lay that out right out of the gate.

Love that they're all piled up.

 Therefore I piled all my embellies up.

 Using paper from my new Studio Calico kit.

 Along with some stash.

Is that clock not adorable?

And its 8x8 page.

A kitted page that wasn't completed til after the crop

If you read my previous post on the crop

And I know you did.

You'd know that I had an album to do - and its ta-done.

So I challenged myself to do the pages as I kitted after the crop.

Well.........

right out of the gate - the papers I originally kitted did

 not work out for this page.

While the those papers looked good,

they didn't look terrific with these 2 great photos.

So being the decisive person I am,

I changed my mind.

And as you'll see it worked out perfectly.

 Broke out some Basic Grey - actually boy papers 

but the papers had a fall/autumn color theme going on

and wa-la - there was some popping of the photos going on AND

ding ding I got to use that Autumn die cut

that had been rolling around in my die cut bucket for so

long - I thought it would get damaged.

And the Lawn Fawn badge - not much call for fall in Florida
but for kidlets from NJ - shazam.

 Some die cuts I pre-cut and of course I had the pick of the goodies

from the Paper Issues Swag Bag and darn

if it didn't look like fall.

Or sweater weather.
Sweater weather, sweater weather, sweater weather.
Say that 3x's fast :)

Went a bit old school in the design - such as matting the photos on
one mat, dividing up the photos with strips, and
crinkling the edges of the paper.

Used up some stash that I had laying around forever
such as the autumn flair badges - that took awhile.

The page worked out perfectly!!!
Love it when a plan comes through.
AS if.....

Watercolor run amok

I'm still battling these rotten sinuses.

Called for more drugs.

I'll keep you posted.

Which could have a teensy weensy impact on the mojo.

So in looking for inspiration I had a look at

one of Wilna's videos - don't think about it - just do it.

So I did. 

She also mentioned that there is an "art" in knowing

when to stop.

Obviously, as you shall see, that's a skill I need to work on.

As.......

I love watercolors.

They're fun, forgiving and frugal.

And because they're so many colors its an easy match.

 If you're into matching.

 These are the rest of the rubons you saw from my tag post.

And again, with the watercolors acted like a resist.

I got a tad messy with this.

 The white seemed.....welllll

too white.

Therefore - bring on the color.

 You can also fling watercolors about like mist too.

And then things got out of control.

But 'tis done. 

And hopefully jumpstarted the ole creativity.

Studio Calico, Paper Issues Swag Bag, Dear Lizzy rubons, 

Lawn Fawn leaves die, and Spellbinder tree die.

And doesn't this photo go way back. 

It went by so fast.
And big hair - the only bonus was that we all looked alike.
LOL.

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 page with my homemade enamel dots.

I did a tutorial over at Off the Rails on homemade enamel dots.

Mostly its a here's what I did and what 

could possibly go wrong.

So after slaving over a hot stove - I think these dots came out pretty good.

 So here's one of my pages using the dots.

 In several places.

 I love the assortment of colors I now have.

And there are about 1,000 now give or take.

 If you look back over the last few blog posts - you'll find more.

There's a bit of everything going on here.

Some Shimelle, Studio Calico, Lawn Fawn, Simple Stories.

Little bit of fussy cutting

Love the banner paper and

and as you can see its have the paper it used to be.

I decided it would be fun to fussy cut the

little banners.

And it was.

I also used a circle punch to cut out the adorable

critters to use an embellishment.

I whacked out 3 only 2 made it on the page.

The camera is a fussy cut as well from Shimelle's collection.

Some strips of paper and an adorable bow

that was glued to the page prior to picking out a photo

of fun on the playground.

My bad.

Used some pop dots on the banners and camera to give them a lift.

This was a fun page to do and I love how it turned out.

It was a great time with grandkids on the monkey bars

on the playground, at the campground

from the broken foot tour.

Lawn Fawn, Shimelle, Authentique.

I'll be out of pocket for a few days.

Miss me :)

Using some stash and more stash!

I'm totally diggin' the October Studio Calico kit.

I've used every bit of pattern paper and most of the embellishments.

 Now if I can only use the remaining stash.

Of which I have a lot of.

 I decided to dominate this page with green

as Q has beautiful red hair and it just works with this paper.

I found some "word" paper to mat the photo with

to bring in black to pull the page together.

 Because the color black is cool that way.

I tossed bits of black to bring your eye around the page.

I did use bits and pieces from the stash baskets 

that I have way too many of.

Mostly to keep the mfg's separate and indentifiable.

Studio Calico, Shimelle, and thickers.

So now that I've used my October SC kit, I have a lot of 

Shimelle, Echo Park and Graphic 45 waiting for some photos.

I have also found I love using bits and pieces.

I also found I don't care if the colors really match

because it all seems to come together in the final version.

AND I seriously have issues with titles -

 on pages, on blogs, on subject lines. 

Which is beyond annoying.

I don't know how I missed the Woodn't you know its fall at Paper Issues.
Thanks Lisa!!!

A Cutout title can totally work

First off are those bows and the instagram camera just the cutest ever?

Now that that's out of the way - this page was the easiest I've ever done.

I started with the base and pulled out papers and

just went with it. 

I wasn't concerned with matchy matchy or colors.

Totally fun!

AND I'm gonna do it again.

So Tom and I hanging with the grands. 

I thought putting the photo near the cutout title would hide all my sins

but noooooooo and Sam ain't doin' his part either. LOL!

So the cutout Title kinda looks like a ticket,

has a cute sentiment on it,

and for once I didn't overthink or ponder or anything goofy like that.

I just used it.

And it all worked.

And see there are times I fret over nothing.

New challenge at Off the Rails Scrapbooking

And you too can join in the fun!!!

Here's the color pallette and the sketch.

Here's my version......

which was by the seat of my pants and you can read the

rest of the story here

which I hope you do because it was an adventure.

I sometimes have the strangest adventures in scrapbooking.

Also you'll get a look at my pal Erin's take!!!

Awesome!

Making a page with a 5x7 Photo collage

This is a great photo collage of the lil Miss

eating a donut.

And enjoying the donut.

Becoming one with the donut.

I love the everday moment.

And a sweet treat.

Its an instagram collage that I printed out on my canon printer as a 5x7.

I wanted all of the pictures in the collage to be seen and with

 a 4x6 you'd be getting eye strain.

There's doilies and a frame peeking from behind the photo

and I just started layering on the gesso and watercolors.

Then Kaiser Craft bits and pieces, that I gessoed over to tone down 

the black and beige. 

Broke out my lil girlie stamp and painted her up. 

Thanks to soaphouse mama I'm getting the hang of incorporating

those kind of stamps on my pages.

 I love all the layering and even managed

to work in the very girly ribbony crepe paper

that can be very trying with sticky fingers.

And doesn't the adorable bow in the corner make you swoon.