Mixed Media Fun - I'm NOT cold!

One of my favorite things to do is to have morning coffee on the porch sitting in the swing while talking with my husband.  While the morning sun can get to be a bit much once it pops over the tree line each morning, it sure is nice.  I try to extend the "swing season" as long as I can.  "Swing season" currently encompasses "daylight savings time".  So, yeah, as I write this, my swing has just begun hibernation and my outdoor living area is prepped for late fall / early winter.  

It's cold now.  Like 32 degrees cold.  But just three weeks ago, it was 50 degrees in the morning.  And that was a tad chilly.  It's all relative.  Come January, 32 degrees is no longer gonna be "cold".  

So, here I am, sitting on the porch, waiting on my husband.  

 

What you cannot see is the blanket I've used to wrap my legs.  LOL.  My husband, walking up the sidewalk, got a chuckle.  I'm not cold, I said.  And really, I wasn't - under the housecoat and blanket. 

The background on which the page is built is a mixed media piece featuring a technique called "Drunken Acrylic Reveal".  It uses layers of watered down acrylic paint with drops of alcohol to reveal previous layers.  The effect can be quite dramatic, depending on the colors chosen and the order in which they are applied.  My results were subtle and not at all what I was expecting.  I attribute some of that to the brand of acrylic paints I chose to use - as these just don't mix well water water and the lighter colors tend to be transparent rather than opaque when layered over darker colors.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

DTGD17 - MSM's Minion Fun

Back in August, Splitcoaststampers held a Fan Club event called Dare To Get Dirty.  This is a annual event held for Fan Club members, with challenges thrown out by the current and past Dirty Dozen.  The Dirty Dozen is a rotating 12 member creative team for SCS.  The challenge details are secret - you have to be a Fan Club Member to know the detail - but we can share our projects.  

There are anywhere from 40 - 50 challenges over a 7 day period.  Queen status is obtained by completing every project by the deadline and uploading to the proper SCS gallery.  The deadline is just a few days after the event ends.   To make Queen status, a participant must complete one project for each challenge.  I call it the "iron man of papercrafting".  

So, each year I participate.  Each year, I make Queen status.  Not this year.  It was a "people over paper year".  And I'm totally OK with that.  

Ah, those cute Minions.  One night Phillip is playing around with photo filters on his iPhone and says, hey mom!  We also like to "talk to Siri" - this has resulted in tons of laughter.  But I digress.  This time it was photo filters.  

In creating this page, I mixed and matched products from my stash.  I really do like the look of navy as a neutral.  It's always fun to revisit old favorites - the Tasteful Trim die (the scallop strip), the Target washi tape (the hot pink striped strip), the silver sequins, the puffy pink hearts and the triangle punch.   And those navy letters!

It's not just the big things that make life grand, it's those random moments that warm the heart.  It's not just what the photo shows, but it's the story behind the photo and all the thoughts and feelings it creates in your heart.  Yes, this is a photo of me, taken by my son, with a fun filter - that's a great photo.  It's also a remind of those small random moments of happiness where we just share and laugh.  Those are the moments that warm the heart and make life grand. 

On another note, today marks the day Phillip starts a new journey in his life.  I wish him all the best as he embarks on a new adventure.  Love that kid! 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day.

VSBN September 2017 - Labor Day

What does Labor Day mean to you?  How do you celebrate Labor Day?  For some, it's summer's last hooray.  When I was growing up, we went to the lake for swimming and a picnic.  In my early 20's, it was the last of the summer boating season on the lake.  Today, it's the day my husband says I can get out the Halloween decorations!  I don't actually decorate on Labor Day, but that holiday marks the starting point of when I CAN decorate for Halloween.  I usually do it the following weekend.  With that in mind...

G - Labor Day.  The challenge is to scrap what Labor Day means to you.  I could be how you celebrate Labor Day.  Cookout, swimming, decorating, reading, napping, working - whatever you do to celebrate Labor Day.  And put away your whites, you cannot use white on your layout.

And not a stitch of white.  OK.  The labels have white letters.   

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day.

VSBN September 2017 - Back to School

Back to school - nothing screams fall like back to school time.  School supplies.  New clothes.  This was my favorite time of the year.  Mom would take us to Roses for back to school clothes.  This was before the time of the Towne Mall, which was built around 1986, and all the clothing stores that now populate the city.  It's been quite a few years since I have shopped at Roses, but back then, they had quality clothing.  We would try on the new fall fashions and put them on layaway.  It was still a tad early (warm) to be wearing fall clothes when school actually started.  We purchased school supplies at TG&Y, which was our "Wal-mart" without the grocery section in those days.  Every year, I always got a new themed metal lunchbox, with a thermos, and a book bag.  Little House on the Prairie.  Wonder Woman.  SuperFriends.   Those are just a few that come to mind.

I'm no longer in school and my kiddo graduated from high school a few years back.  So, a twist is in order - let's not take this theme so literally.  

F - Back to School.  We learn something new every day.  The challenge is to scrap something educational or demonstrate / share something learned in a paper crafting class (a tip or a technique).  Alternatively, back to school photos could be scrapped.

My page focuses on the GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE.  Included on the page is a demonstration of how the moon eclipsed the sun from OUR point of view using punched circles.  While the sun / moon pairing actually moved in an upward diagonal across the sky, I chose to show this in a soft arrow that provides movement around the page.  This page will function as a title page for a series of pages (maybe four) about that day.  The idea for this page was developed during the many breaks that were taken during the viewing of the eclipse.  I wanted to remember how the moon crossed the sun at 1 and exited at 9.  I had this page done very quickly that evening - in under an hour.

We had a lot of fun with the solar eclipse glasses and the pinhole viewer.   I did not take any photos of the eclipse itself, instead, choosing to enjoy the experience.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

VSBN September 2017 - Pumpkins

Pumpkins are the ultimate fall "thing".  It's not fall without pumpkins.  Everything is pumpkin.  Sometimes it's a bit too much.  Pumpkin spice in chocolate?  That's a crime.  Pumpkin spice creamer, on the other hand, is something I look forward to every year!  I buy it by the case!  Cause it keeps until late December, even into January!  I check the expiration dates.  And stockpile it in the shop fridge and the house fridge and the work fridge. 

Whether we eat, decorate or carve pumpkins, nothing screams fall like pumpkins.  Of course, there are the changing leaves, but we don't have one tree on our farm.  Truth.  I don't miss picking up limbs or raking leaves.  I had enough of that sort of thing growing up.  I get to enjoy the change of the leaves around the country side.  I digress.  Pumpkins make me smile.  

Now on to the challenge.

B - Pumpkins.  How about those beautiful shades of orange with pops of green?  What about those white Cinderella pumpkins?  Beautiful.  This challenge is to create a page featuring pumpkins or a page inspired by pumpkins.  It can be the item itself, a pumpkin recipe or the colors.  Moo've out of your comfort zone by going BIG with the photo or title or both!  

So many things I love about this page!  The memories of that visit, the colors, the title, those gold foam Thickers.  (sigh)

This could be a Halloween moon.  Another demonstration of how to go BIG and create a great statement page for display.   Look at all the gold!  I love those gold chipboard letters!  There were only 26.  LOL.  How many words can we make out of just 26 letters.  Pat, I need to buy a vowel pack.  (wink)  Plus the R, S, T, L and N.  I've learned to enjoy those products of which I have limited amounts, rather than purchase more, wish I had more or "save for that special project".  

Going BIG with the photo or title is one of my favorite ways to create a statement page.  These pages usually find a place to hang on the salon wall in my living room.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

VSBN September 2017 - Festivals

Hello there!  It is my pleasure to serve as the hostess for SplitCoastStampers' September 2017 VSBN.  For 2017, VSBN (Virtual ScrapBooking Night) consists of a series of monthly challenges, rather than a series of quarterly virtual scrap nights.  The challenges for this month's VSBN revolves around the theme "It's FALL y'all!" The focus of each challenge will be on events that occur primarily during the fall months of August, September, October and November. But, that's too easy.  The challenges presented for September (hopefully) introduced participants to new ideas and maybe helped push the limits of their scrapping comfort zone. This is how we grow.  Yep, each challenge had a twist to moo've us out of our comfort zone.

There were nine challenges in all, posted three daily challenges on Labor Day weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and two daily challenges on each weekend thereafter (Friday and Saturday). The final weekend of the month will be "ketchup" time!  (And yep, I have one on which to "ketchup'.)

Ready for the first challenge?

A - Festivals.  Fall begins the festival season! In our rural corner of the country, there's one in every small town every single weekend. This doesn't include the local school fall festivals. 

The challenge is to scrap a series of photos taken at a fall festival event using a grid format. The grid does not have to consist only of square photos. You can change it up and use circles. Or you can mix it up and use both! Not all grids have to contain a photo. Substitute a journaling block or a cluster of embellishments or use one large cool embellishment.

Once I discovered grids, I found I like them.  My greatest challenges with a grid is getting the photos on evenly distributed and straight!  LOL.  

My first page features the fire trucks from last year's Rineyville Days parade with square photos. The middle grid contains the title work. 

My second page is not fall themed; however, I share it to give you an idea of how a grid of circles would appear on a layout.  I made this page several years ago, one day when we were snowed in!  

There were gorgeous pages submitted for this challenge.  I enjoyed looking at them all.   You can see them here:  Festivals Gallery on SCS.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

Ice Storm 2009 - Day 1, Venturing Out

I felt like scrapping a series of photos that tell a story.  

It's time for a double page spread!

I love the reflection of my husband's work gloves in the windshield of the truck.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

MSM's T-2 Cat

More stashbusters!  For this one, I dug into my stash for a cat scrapbook kit I knew I had. I wanted to do a cat themed layout with a grid of circles.  

Here's the challenge:  Stashbusters - February, Week 1

1.Dry emboss and distress an accent. WHAT I DID: The gray circle at the upper right is dry embossed and covered with Prima chalk ink. I also rubbed distress ink on the die cut cat in the lower right.

 

2. Use a shaped photo. WHAT I DID: I die cut two photos into circles. The one of my cat (in the middle) and the one of the ball of twine. I wrapped some twine around a die cut circle, photographed that and die cut the photo. 

3. Ribbon. WHAT I DID: I tied ribbon around the neck of the wood veneer cat and attached ribbon to the paper clip for a flag.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

SUPPLIES

Paper: SU! Basic Gray; Karen Foster Cat Scrapbook Kit; PTI White

Ink: Prima Chalk Edger Old Road; SU! Distress Ink Tea Stain 

Accessories: from Studio Calico - Wood Veneer Cat (Sandlot Card Kit), Small Cat Veneer (Here & There Collection), Large Black Letters (Cirque Scrapbook Kit); from SU! - Gray Satin Ribbon, Circles Framelits, Square Lattice Embossing Folder; other - Gold Paper Clip (Staples), Thickers Good Tidings Gray, Pop Dots

Ice Storm 2009 - Day 8

Using the stashbusters challenge, I'm scrapping another set of photos from the Ice Storm of 2009. These photos are from Day 8, which was a mild day.  I was cooking supper outside on the picnic table, using the generator for electricity, watching Dale & Phillip haul water to the cattle in the barn.

Here's the challenge:  Stashbusters - February, Week 2

1.Use Red as your main color.  

2. Incorporate parentheses or brackets in your layout. 

3. Photo Corners. 

Well, other than missing the red as the main vs accent, I still pulled items from my stash in addition to attempting to use up the Cirque SB kit.  I doubt I've used photo corners for a while and the brackets are from this cute set of chipboard alpha / numbers I have yet to use.  This is probably the first time I can remember using a PL card on a SB page.  Note the mix of rounded and square corners.  I really do love the bold black letters form the Cirque SB kit.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

MSM's amazing GLAZE - Ice Storm of 2009

We're snowed in with about 10" of snow and 10 - 15" snowdrifts, so I thought I would scrap the photos from the 2009 Ice Storm.  LOL.  I probably should be documenting the Big Snow and Deep Freeze of 2015.  We, in Kentucky, were in negative double digits - air temp - overnight.  At midday, it's warmed up to 4 degrees.  With a minus 8 windchill. OY!    

My scrappy mojo has been gone for a little while; I found it over the course of a few days looking at the scrapbooking challenges over on SCS.  Finally, last night, WHAM! it hit me!  whoo whoo!  The stashbusters challenge speaks to my counterfeit loving heart.  My stash is fairly current, so I found myself substituting for the older items we are challenged to use.  This is ok, as it's also in the spirit of stashbusters - use what you have - don't go out and buy it!

Here's the challenge:

1. Create a border of the oldest metallic accents you've got in your stash! You should use a minimum of 6 items but feel free to use more. These can be brads, eyelets, rivets, clips, or metallic words. You can also create a border around a photo, a journal block, or the entire page. 

2. Use at least 2 different ribbons. 

Here's my page:

WHAT I DID: I created a border using the SU! Tasteful Trim die - I love that die, I don't use it enough. I did not have any suitable metallics in my stash and I purged most of those types of embellishments long ago. My substitute was those chipboard circles from Studio Calico's Copper Mountain scrapbook kit and some mini clothes pins from my stash. These are things I don't usually reach for - I was happy to find a use for them.

I didn't have any ribbons that would look good with ice glazed farm equipment and corn fodder! So, looking into my stash for two similar use items, I found some black / white baker's twine and a roll of American Craft's silver glitter tape. I have several rolls of that glitter tape in various widths & colors. I like it; I need to use it. However, I don't want it on every. single. layout. I thought it provided a nice metallic pop along the border of the main photo.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

MSM's Green Goblin

Virtual Scrapbooking Night challenges are happening over on SCS.  

Challenge 1: Celebrating babies in our lives:  Babies have many different definitions in my mind. I immediately think of newborns. But babies include infants, toddlers, young children, grandbabies, friend’s kids, and even heritage baby pictures. So many of us consider our pets as our babies. I still consider my 25 and 28 year old as my babies. So, your Babies Challenge, is open to include all that you consider your babies.

Challenge 1 Rules: 

• Use monochromatic colors for this page. (All shades of one color such as all blues or pinks, or greens, reds, or blacks.)

• Label the names of the people in your pictures. This can be a title, journal box, label strips, or other creative idea.

• Complete a one or two page layout.

• Add two additional embellishments. 

Here is my interpretation:

The monochromatic orange color scheme with pops of black looks wonderful with the Green Goblin!  My two additional embellishments were the black grid that I cut into three pieces and the black sequins.  In this project, the orange washi tape serves as an paper element, rather than as an embellishment. The "make magic" panel is a silkscreened acrylic paint on watercolor paper.  

It's been quite a while since I have played in VSBN.  I hope to create some more pages.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

Paper: Basic Grey for Studio Calico x 2; ProvoCraft Jack O Lantern Spooks; Canson Watercolor Paper

Accessories: Accessories: Studio Calico - (from The Underground kits: black grid, "make magic" silkscreen), CT acrylic paint (Orange County), CT alpha (Inky Black), Sequins (black); Target - orange washi tape; Tim & Beck for SC - Tiny Alpha Stickers; Thickers Sotheby's Charcoal

Techniques: Silkscreen

MSM's Garfield's Bright Idea

Halloween 2014.  Garfield decides to play a trick.  At first I thought it was Dale playing a trick.  It all started when he announced that Garfield caught a mouse.  

I looked at my husband in disbelief.  This is Garfield we're taking about.  Garfield, whose hunting skills would put him in the "starve to death" category if there were to be no Purina Cat Chow being served.  

Yeah, right, I said.  He probably picked up something Princess or Freddy left. 

Oh no, Dale said.  It's alive.  

Garfield caught a mouse.

That's what I said hon.

Later, Dale goes outside and Garfield runs inside.  With the mouse in his mouth!  He drops it and it hops along the wall of the shop!  

OMG!  AAAAHHHHHHH!  I have on rubber rain boots, shorts and no socks.  Those suckers jump! AUGH!  Garfield and Lincoln are hiding under the table, peeking out, because I am screaming.  

Later, as I stop by the shop to get my hug & kiss before I head off to work, Dale is so proud.  He moved the extra flooring and out hops the mouse.  Garfield caught it.  Dale proceeds to show me some gnawed up carcass in the cat yard.  Um, Dale, that's not the mouse.  Where's the mouse?

Yes it is; that's the mouse.  Garfield caught the mouse.

It's awfully small.

Garfield's been chewing on it.

Okey-dokey.  You want a picture of that hon?

Garfield.  What a cat.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

MSM's Jubilee - Laundry Boy

Here's another layout created using the Jubilee ebook kit.  I created five 12 x 12 layouts and 4 project life spreads with this kit, supplemented with items from my stash.  You can find other Jubilee ebook projects here:  Other Jubilee Projects

The boy was set to go to State Fire School.  He was afraid I would not get his laundry done in time.  (rolling eyes)  So, he announced he was going to learn to do laundry.  I was impressed.

It was quite an adventure using burlap on a layout.  Dale is right, it has a smell.  LOL.  AND, nothing sticks to it.  But I already figured the lack of stickiness part before I got started.  **wink**  The smell started to get to me after a while tho.  

Stitching was oh so fun.  **wink**  Burlap is full of holes.  And I needed to punch the paper.  In a straight line, in the form of a square, from the backside, making sure the stuff that would not stick on while I stitched would fit in AFTER I stitched.  I had way too many tabs open in my mind while I stitched this.  LOL.  But, I got it and it was OK.  Nothing like a good challenge.

I'm so glad the stitching turned out so well.  I stitched down all the veneer that is on the burlap.  Other things were taped to paper that was stapled through all layers.

I love the Signo white gel pen.  Just don't stock up on them.  Get a couple and use them, because they are so nice and smooth when they are fresh.  I purchased these two using a subscriber special / discount during subscriber reveal over at Studio Calico a couple of months ago.  It is the best white gel pen I have used.  Stampin' Up! sells these as well.  A fresh white gel pen is like fresh bread or fresh chips, fresh tomatoes or strawberries or blueberries....can't beat 'em.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

SUPPLIES
Stamps: Jubilee ebook kit stamps, date stamper
Paper: SU! Soft Suede, Groovy Guava, Pear Pizzaz; burlap; Jubilee ebook kit papers
Ink: Hero Arts Chalkboard, HA Dauber Cup-O-Joe, Tim Holtz Distress Paint Black Soot
Accessories: SC South of Market Kraft Thickers; DMC floss (black); Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher; Signo Uniball White Gel Pen; Jubilee ebook kit & printables, SC sequins

MSM's You Make Life Sparkle

July 4, 2006 - I love these photos of Phillip with the sparklers!  

Technique: 12 x 12 watercolor paper was painted with SC Color Theory Deja Blue acrylic paint - I love this stuff! It is a nice thick acrylic paint that dries with a wonderfully rich sheen. It comes in these super cool silver tubes.  I think I'm in love.  With 10 tubes of acrylic paint.

When the paint dried, I flung some drops of Mister Huey Inky Black and added a couple of spritzes.

This is a favorite layout!  Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'vlaous day!

SUPPLIES
Paper: SU! Basic Black, SC Brighton Pier Wonder Wheel (Side B)

Accessories: SC Color Theory Deja Blue Acrylic Paint; SC Brighton Pier Tiny Type Stickers, Silver Stars Rub-ons, Bucakroo Silver Thickers; Transparency Diamonds (Penny Arcade SB Kit); Silver Foil Labels (Penny Arcade Pinball Card Add On Kit); Basic Grey white letters; Mister Huey Inky Black.

Jubilee - SMILE!

During June's "last call" over at Studio Calico, there it was:  the Jubilee e-book & kit, regularly $39.99 on special for $9.99.  EEK!  I snatched it up!  When it was all said and done, I have 5 12 x 12 layouts and 4 weekly project life spreads.  Not too shabby for a $9.99 kit.  The e-book is pretty cool also.  AND, (I know...there's more) the kit & kaboodle came with digital cut files & printables! 

Okey dokey.  Project!  And I'm posting these backwards!  LOL.  So, up first is the last project I made, with the remaining scraps.  heeee!  I didn't waste nuthin!  I squeezed every.  last.  penny.  out of that kit!  I really enjoyed this kit!  I had been eyeing it for quite some time and a couple times almost bought it.  I'm glad I waited. 

I don't normally scrap purple.  But, I had scraps to use up & they were purple.  LOL.  I supplemented the e-book kit items with Studio Calico 12 x 12 paper from the Color Theory collection and some basic Studio Calico grid design 12 x 12 paper; some other color theory items (buttons, sequins, enamel dots); and items from past Studio Calico kits (Thickers & washi tape).

I do love these colors!  Purple was Grandma's favorite; green has always been mine!  And silver...I just love it!  

That's me, back in February 2014, showing off a new haircut.  Danielle is a whiz with the flat-iron! Me, not so much.  And I love my hair flat-ironed!

This makes me smile!  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

Phillip is FOUR

The birthday boy is FOUR!

This is my second layout in recent days using Studio Calico's 2013 Atlantic Collection.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

almost THREE

Is she cute or what?  

I prepped my paper with gesso.  Then I fussy cut a sheet of patterned paper from the SC Atlantic Collection, a sheet with all those circles.  I adhered the cut out with gel medium and outlined the circles with Neocolor ii crayons.  Using a watercolor brush, blended the color.  I misted the with Mr. Huey, added my photo and embellished with items from the Atlantic Collection.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a moo'valous day!

SUPPLIES:
Paper: SC Atlantic Collection
ccessories: SC Atlantic Collection, Neocolors ii, gesso, gel medium

@ the NOZZLE

This particular mixed media project involved colorizing photos using Neocolors ii.  It was an interesting experience and I'm quite pleased with the results.  I know, **gasp**, mutilating photos.  LOL.  That's why we digitize our photos.   I will most likely scrap this photo again for the boy's book.  And I will "leave it alone".  LOL.

I do like this.  A lot.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a moo'valous day!

SUPPLIES:

Paper: Papers from various past Studio Calico kits

Accessories: Neocolors ii, gel medium, SC (shop items: Color Theory black alpha & yellow/orange enamel dots, cobalt square sequin, wood veneer speech bubble; past kit items: die cuts & flair, chalkboard tape & marker, Amy Tan vinyl letters, speech bubble)

MSM's FAMILY

MSM's son-shine rules

(Participating in this sketch challenge:  http://www.lifepaperscrapbook.com.au/2014/03/march-sketch-challenge.html#comment-form)