Monday, August 30, 2010

Canvas Scrapbook Layout

I made my first layout using canvas! I picked up some canvas - Painters Canvas Drop Cloth from Lowe's last week. This one was thicker and better than the one I got at Home Depot and it didn't have the protective plastic back like the HD one.

I cut a piece and ironed it, then glued the edges for a clean look. The other day I told my DH that I don't iron so be sure your pants don't wrinkle. Then he came out to find me with iron in hand ironing my canvas! LOL!

I picked up some beautiful Prima flowers from Michael's and the other embellishments I already had in my stash. But these flowers I love them and thought they would pair nice with my wedding picture! I will be celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary next week so I thought this would be a really nice project to work on right now.




I took a view different pictures trying to get a nice one. If anyone has suggestions on getting a good shot of a 12x12 page let me know! But here are a few more shots and close ups:









I primed the canvas with Gesso, then used a light pink mixed with white acrylic paints for paint the background. I tried some "dry brushing" in there for an effect. This piece is inspired by the lovely Donna Downey and her "You" Fabric Layout, video found HERE.

The "LOVE" sentiment is from the Sept Unity KOTM. And my other embellishments are chip board pieces, that pink mesh and some pretty ribbon. All of which I found in my stash of stuff.

Let me know what you think good or bad I want to hear it!

This was alot of fun putting together now I should get a frame for it. I thought I had a 12 x 12 scrapbook frame but didn't.

Well that's it for now!

Thanks for stopping by!


Saturday, August 28, 2010

Just Us Girls Challenge

It's Saturday and time for another fun Just Us Girls Challenge. This week we have an awesome sponsor - Clear & Simple Stamps.

The challenge is a template challenge. Pick your own template or Clear & Simple Stamps has a bunch of fun free templates on their blog sidebar for you to use if you choose.

I hope you will come play along with us as we have some prizes to go along with this challenge donated by Clear & Simple Stamps. A randomly selected player of the template challenge will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Clear & Simple Stamps store. The chic of the week this week will receive their own "Spooky Treats" set!


Here is what I did:






Be sure to swing on by the
JUGS Blog for fabulous inspiration and to link your project. You just may be this week's Chic of the Week!!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Jo - Featured Designer for the month
Andrea
Kathryn
Pam


Well that's it for now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Unity Friends with Flair Friday

Unity Stamp Company


Welcome to Friday and another Friends with Flair Unity Style. Be sure to swing by the Unity Blog for a full list of Friends participating today!

This week I worked on another page from my inspiration journal. This is one of the smaller pages I put in my book:




I have to say I've been having fun just messing around with this journal idea and I got some new different canvas this week from Lowes this time to play around with that again. On this page I used an idea from Donna Downey from one of her Wednesday inspiration videos. In it she used a page from an old book as the background for the page, then put a white wash over it. So, here I used a striped piece of pattern paper and "washed" over it. I used regular white acyclic paint and watered it down. You might be able to see the stripes in the background.




My flower this time is made using my nesties and some fabric. The brad is one of the SU antique brads.


That's it for now!

Till later....

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Treehouse Thursday Challenge and Sneak Peek



It's Thursday and time for another Treehouse Stamps Challenge! This week our fabulous DT Coordinator Miss Neva picked our fabulous challenge and it is to use Fall Colors! AHHH, fall it's my favorite season. I just love that cool crispness in the air!

Here is what I did and it's a fun sneak peek for you as to what is coming next week Sept 1 for the new release!


Bountiful Blessings, you are going to love this one!


Be sure to swing on by the TREEHOUSE BLOG for lots of fall inspiration today.


Thanks for stopping by!


Till later....

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Unity Addicts Challenge Wednesday

It's Wednesday and time for another Unity Addicts Challenge!! This week Anne is our guest and she picked a fun challenge: Black and White with a POP of color!



Here is what I came up with:





Be sure to swing on by the Unity Challenge forum to play along as there will be a cool UNITY Prize up for grabs this week!

Till later...

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Treehouse Stamps SNEAKY PEEK

You will go "bananas" for the new Treehouse Stamps release coming up, September 1!

Here is a sneak peek at a fun new digi set:


Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to swing on by the Treehouse blog for ongoing inspiration of the new releases!


Monday, August 23, 2010

SCS Sunday Featured Stamper

This week's Sunday Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast is my fellow DT member at Treehouse Stamps: Heather Prince! Horray Heather!

I played along this week. I picked Heather's card called "Back to School" to case. I used the same image, layout and tried to keep with the same colors. My pattern paper is different, I didn't use the google eyes, the shape I used for the main image is different and I used a different colored clip.


Here is what I came up with:


I used the Back to School digi set by Treehouse Stamps.

Well that's all for now!

Tomorrow I will be back with a sneak peek at the September Treehouse Stamps release. In the mean time hop over to the Treehouse Blog for some peeks!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Just Us Girls Saturday Challenge

It's Saturday again and time for another JUST US GIRLS challenge. This week is a color challenge: Hot Pink, Teal and Lime Green. WOW, those are some fun colors.

Ok, so I have to admit this week has been busy. My husband took off and we have been doing stuff with the kids all week and I ran out of time to make something for today :-(

But I wanted to be sure to share this fun challenge with you as I'm sure you will want to play along! :=)

Be sure to swing on by the JUGS Blog for fabulous inspiration and to link your project. You just may be this week's Chic of the Week!!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Jo - Featured Designer for the month
Andrea
Kathryn
Pam



That's it for now!

Thanks for stopping by!


Friday, August 20, 2010

Unity Friends with Flair Friday

Unity Stamp Company



It's Friday again and time for Unity Friends with Flair! This week I have my first page of my inspiration journal to show you. Last week I made my own inspired by the fabulous Donna Downey! The whole idea is a bit out of my element but I love that, very excited to be working on something new and different.


So I used the Donna Downey set by Unity called "She"....




My first page came out pretty simple, not over the top artistic or anything but nonetheless I like how it turned out. I want to get all cool and funky but that will probably take practice :-)

The background is just a simple yellow with some blue added. I inked the edges in the new SU blue called Pacific Point. The sentiment BELIEVE is a piece of chipboard which I covered with Glimmer Mists and added Ranger Distress Crackle Paint - Rock Candy Clear. The flowers in the lower right corner was me wondering if my canvas (the canvas dropcloth material from Home Depot) will cut using my nesties and cuttlebug! Guess what it worked! :-) I colored the fabric with inks. I stamped the girl in Stazon black and used water color crayons to color the hair. (the water color crayons, other first for me!) I'm going to show some close ups below but I used Spica Pens to add glitz to her hair and stickles to her red lips.

Closeups:







Well that's it for now. Any suggestions or places of inspiration you can suggest I would love to hear!

Be sure to swing on by the UNITY BLOG for a full list of FWF participants! You will want to hop along to all their blogs as one person is hiding the FWF Blinkie and if you find it and leave that person a comment you will be in the running for some Unity stamps which is picked randomly.

Thanks so much for stopping by!


Till later...

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Treehouse Stamps Challenge Thursday


Welcome to another Treehouse Stamps Thursday Challenge!!!! Be sure to swing on by the Treehouse Blog for fabulous creations by the entire Design Team! And this month our guest designer is Julie Hoffman.

This week our fearless leader Ashley has issued an "Under the Sea" challenge. Here is what I came up with:

For this card I used the digi set called Bubbles.

Swing by the Treehouse Blog for all the details on how to play along. Also be sure to visit the members of the Design Team all their links are on the blog as well.



Well that's it for now!


Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Unity Addicts Challenge Wednesday

Welcome to Wednesday and a new Unity Addicts Challenge!!! I just posted the new challenge in the Unity Challenge forum HERE! This week Angie is our guest and she picked a fabulous challenge for us! To stamp on anything but paper!! I have totally been into this type of stamping lately, especially trying canvas etc. Love Donna Downey's inspiration video's and work. And today is Wednesday which means Donna Downey may have a new inspiration video! FUN STUFF!

Anyhow, here is what I came up with for the Unity Addicts Challenge!



For these I stamped on canvas. Ok so I didn't use any fancy artist canvas. My Unity Addict Guest and friend Angie is the one who told me about this canvas! It's a cotton canvas drop cloth from the Home Depot! NO JOKE! I just went with it, didn't' prime it first or anything. I used some Tim Holtz Distress inks to ink the background. Then I stamped the flowers (Donna Downey for Unity) in Stazon as well as the sentiments in black stazon. I mounted it on cardstock and finished off the card.

Here are a few close up views:






I suppose it looks a little raw but I thought it came out rather neat. This type of stamping and creating is taking my stamping to a different level. I also finished one page of my inspiration journal which I will share soon as well!

That's it for now! I'll be back tomorrow with a fun new Treehouse Challenge!

Till later!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Just Us Girls Saturday Challenge






This week is technique week with JUST US GIRLS but instead of picking a specific technique we are going with a "THEME" and for a very good reason! Our theme this week is to make a "Wild Wild West" themed project. This is in honor of the rodeo that our dear DT member Alicia is organizing in memory of her son Ethan. All the proceeds to this fabulous event will go to benefit neuroblastoma research. If you want to check it out here is a link to the website for the event: http://www.ethansrodeo.com/

This week we also have a very special guest designer with us the fabulous Theresa Momber from Gina K Designs! If you are not familiar with this fabulous girlie you MUST check out her work. She can create scenes using a craft sponge like no one's business! She is so inspiring it's fantastic! For our challenge this week Theresa is giving away one of the sets she designed (yes she is a stamp designer as well) for Gina K called Out West.

Here is what I came up with using the digi set from Treehouse Stamps called Quiet Moments.



We are also CELEBRATING this week because our fabulous DT member PAM is celebrating a birthday!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Pam I hope you have a fabulous BIRTHDAY WEEKEND! Party like a rock star girlie!!!!!!

Now be sure to swing on by the JUGS DT for lots of fabulous inspiration!


♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Theresea - Special Guest

Jo - Featured Designer for the month
Andrea
Kathryn
Pam



That's it for now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Inspiration Journal

I've been inspired lately by Donna Downey and her videos/products. You may know she designs images for my favorite stamp company Unity!

What got me to make this inspiration journal was from watching Donna's Inspiration Wednesday videos. She makes a new page in her inspiration journal each week. There is something so cool about it that I wanted one. She actually sells these fabulous blank journals which I was going to buy, but then thought perhaps I can make one. With the push of a fabulous "cyber" friend, thanks Lisa!! :-)

First of all you need to know I don't sew, this is the 2nd time I used a sewing machine ever no joke! I have the little Singer Pixie but never used it except for once on a scrapbook page. SO, I pulled out this pretty yellow and blue material I had saved for such an occasion. Ok really, I like to hoard crap! LOL! But what crafter doesn't? I think I got this fabric at Walmart at some point. It was a square piece probably about 18 inches around. I'm guessing going off another piece I have. hey I don't usually measure stuff ! My finished book is approx 8 3/4 x 9 ish.

ANYHOW, this piece already had edges that were sewn. What I did was fold it in half length wise and then in half to make a book. I ironed all the creases to make them nice. Then I pulled out two cling foam stamp storage boards and cut them to fit the book. These plastic pieces make a nice support inside (for the front and back of the book). I then sewed up all the edges to close it up. I decided what the heck and left the edges that were already sewn, you can see those "raw" edges in my photo. The funky cool stitching along the top and right. My actual stitches are underneath and next to that! I kind of like the look. Now I had a book with no pages.

Here are the photos I took:



I left the outside simple for now. I couldn't find anything in my stash yet to add to it. But that twill ribbon I used I thought was perfect! It says "create, enjoy, laugh".

Here is the inside with the pages that I made and sewed it by hand with floss:
I tried to be cool and use different sized pages like Donna did in her album. I love how this turned out I was quite impressed with myself! I wish I can show you in person because pictures don't work that well sometimes.

NOW, to get inspired to start painting and embellishing all those white pages......

Need to watch more Donna Videos! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Unity Friends with Flair Friday

Unity Stamp Company


TGIF!! It's Friday and that means UNITY FRIENDS WITH FLAIR FRIDAY! Be sure to swing on by the Unity Blog today for the full list of those participating!

This week I'm sharing an "altered" piece using the Donna Downey kit called "She". I used a small wooden frame from Michael's. These are great unfinished frames for $1, so perfect for our stamping craft. I sprayed Glimmer Mists and some Ranger colors on them. Then stamped using a Donna Downey flower in black stazon. You'll notice my flowers are not straight up and down? Well, after I stamped them all nice nice I realized that I didn't have the frame facing the right way, you know I didn't have the top (where the hanging piece is on back) at the top! OH WELL I said, and just went with it. I think it's ok though.




Close up of the fabulous quote:


Well that's it for now!


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Treehouse Stamps Challenge Thursday


Welcome to another Treehouse Stamps Thursday Challenge!!!! Be sure to swing on by the Treehouse Blog for fabulous creations by the entire Design Team! And this month our guest designer is Julie Hoffman.

This week we have a sketch challenge for you:


Swing by the Treehouse Blog for all the details on how to play along. Also be sure to visit the members of the Design Team all their links are on the blog as well.
Here is what I came up with using images from the August release (Spooky House and Ghost Kid)



Well that's it for now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Unity Addicts Challenge Wednesday

A new Unity Addicts challenge is up and ready! This week you have a chance to win a fun Unity Kit called Tree-mendous Love.

This week our Guest Host is Kary Lim and she picked the diaper fold card. You can find a tutorial HERE. This is sooo easy and quick to do and with beautiful results.


Here is what I came up with:








Come swing on by the challenge forum to play along! And if you have a challenge idea and want to be a guest come on by THIS forum to share that idea!

Thanks for stopping by!

Till later....

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Just Us Girls Saturday Challenge



This week is Sketch challenge week at JUST US GIRLS! Check out the awesome sketch we have by our DT Host Kathryn.

Here is what I did using Unity Stamps it's never too early to be thinking about Christmas right? This is one of the new Itty Bittys by Unity.



Now be sure to swing on by the JUGS Blog for all the fabulous creations by the entire DT and swing by their blogs.

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Jo- Featured Designer for the month
Andrea
Kathryn
Pam


Be sure to come on by the JUGS blog and play along!


That's it for now!

Thanks for stopping by!


Friday, August 6, 2010

Unity Friends with Flair Friday

TGIF!! It's Friday and that means UNITY FRIENDS WITH FLAIR FRIDAY! Be sure to swing on by the Unity Blog today for the full list of those participating!


I was working on my card late Wednesday night so I decided to use the current week's Hip Hop Sketch #18. By the time I got my photo and everything it was just recently so I didn't post it for the challenge. But I did enjoy the sketch. Here is what I did using the July KOTM!




The new Unity Addicts Challenge was posted on Wednesday if you are interested swing by the thread HERE. If you have an idea for a challenge we would love to hear it and maybe you will be our guest! Come by HERE to leave your ideas!

Well that's all for now!

Till Later!


Unity Stamp Co Tuesday Inspiration!

  I'm up on the UNITY BLOG today sharing some cards I made using 2 stamp sets! I used the February background of the month called   as...