Inspiration can change

It all started with this gorgeous paper from Studio Calico

and those two bows.

Until a photo came my way.

 It's okay to kick off from an inspiration piece and

let things go and make changes that are even better than the original.

I loved those two bows on the green strip but

they were too much and I wanted to bring out the yellow in the photo.

I also wanted it to be a bit girly so break out the flowers.
I haven't done real flowers in like forever.

I am also trying the tissue paper backing that Missy Whidden

loves to do and it does make it a bit airy and girly too.

 I was also having issues because there's a bit of

blue-green in the photo that I was originally gonna roll with

 but I loved this paper so I decided no one will notice.

So.....don't notice. LOL.

I also thought about using some mixed media

but.....I just couldn't do it.
I know!!!!

I love all the "white space" that makes you concentrate on the photo

which is totally adorable Annie.

Some prima, Maggie Holmes, Heidi Swapp and EK success.

Different font alphas and a mix of colors

 I used watercolors on this mixed media page

and didn't use any gesso because

it sometimes leaves an outline that annoys me.

I pulled the colors from Sam's shirt

and also used watercolor to make a border around the page

because when I roll on something you see it a 

couple of times. 

And it needed it to not be so bare.

 Instead of journaling I decided to make the title

swing both ways.

And I love how it turned out.

Then there's that cluster which is totally adorable

moved around the page a few million times.

 I love the simplicity that focuses on the

photo and his intense concentration.

I'm so glad to see Thomas the Tank Engine is still around

they were fun books and did you know that 

George Carlin played the conductor in the Saturday series?

It was also my favorite youngest son's books and TV show when

he was that age and I still have his favorite book "Catch Me Catch Me" memorized. 

LOL.

Pop art background

LOVE this paper when it came in my May Studio Calico kit.

I have nearly busted out April & May kits

that were waiting for me when I returned from

The Southern Route Tour.

AND I did mention you'd be seeing a lot of this bird.

He is soooo stinkin' cute.

 Because of the busy background I kept things simple.
I really wanted the pop art to pop.

Nothing says manly like metal.

 I also did a screen shot of this FB post

that I thought was hysterical

and fun of my favorite eldest son having some fun.

Love his smile.

I did use a sharpie to outline the page

because it just needed that

little something something extra.

Little bits and pieces scattered about

One of my favorite follows is Soaphouse Mama and I

love her style so every now and then (or really a lot often)

when I get stuck its fun to "lift" or incorporate 

someone else's style.

However, Ashli does a lot of white and soft colors-

I use wild papers still, but she has a way

of using bits and pieces on her pages that have no

theme or reason to be there except they're adorable, fun and

her words "unexpected."

And this page is that.

See that adorable bunny peeking out - he's just ridiculously cute.

And that bow - I have this cute punch.

I made that tag - and it was fun using those green hole punch

fixers because you can't just buy the few

that I needed to

fix some punched holes that are falling apart

on the pages in my latest travel album .

 Same with the bicycle - no reason for that to be there either

except I really like it.

I find myself wanting to use more stamps (I have a ton)

and do-dads - (more tons).

 I love those stars and dots sprinkled about and

some negative and positive punches.

Studio Calico, Dear Lizzy, Basic Grey, Tim Holtz, Stickos,
Paper Issues

Reworking a cork embellishment

TGIF Everyone!!!

This baby came in the April kit and there was a photo

that I knew would be perfect with it.

However, its a huge embellishment that I had to

figure out how to work in.

First it was naked cork, I love naked cork but it

didn't seem to go with the page I was putting together.

So I decided to shabby chic it up with white paint.

That didn't work either.

So I have some Inka gold paint - Not the same paint as Adele (Inky Quill)

but its gold and it works so.....

I slapped it over the white paint.

Cork sucks a lot of paint.

Just sayin.....

I kept the mats and embellies simple.

Actually I chose this paper because it totally rocked the photo

and using any kind of mat would've taken that away.

So gasp - I left it bare except for the doily that

actually anchors the huge title.

 Broke out some more punches, and gold dots and stars

and some messy stitching.

Studio Calico, except for the punch and EK Success stickers.

Did a smidge of mixed media with some water colors.
Fussy cut the flower from a PL card.
I love that flower.

Another "steal" from Inky Quill is that I purchased a sheet of gold/glittery paper

and with a heart punch - well, totally adorable inexpensive

GOLD hearts to scatter about the page and make it girly.

Paper with writing on it

and a new cute bird stamp.

What a great combo and reason to do a page.

I've been using more scraps and

punches lately in case you haven't noticed.

 And there he is. Is that bird too stinkin' cute.

WARNING.....

You'll be seeing him a lot.

 I kind of kept the design simple using vellum and
black with just a bit of pink because

of the busy-ness of the background

paper and wanted the photo to be front and center.

Broke out the die cuts which I'm hoping 

to not be lazy and do more often.

Love that photo and when I saw that card -

wa-la the perfect title.

Studio Calico papers and dies, EK success.

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.