Distress Stain Samples

Please excuse the lighting in this photo. I tried many times to get it just right, but for some reason, the colors just are not as vibrant as they are in real life.

The photo below showcases the colors Spiced Marmalade, Bundled Sage, and Broken China. The first sample is white twill tape. The second is white grosgrain ribbon. Third is white lace and the last is white rose trim. Just for fun, I decided to try it on these little wooden clothespins.

I found that each material took the stain really well. The clothespins are coated, so the ink varied by color. The darker colors seem to have taken better, but if you sand that coating off, it would be fine. Also, some ribbons and trims have the same coating on them. These did not take the stain well. It seemed to puddle and become splotchy.

I also found that the stain came off of my hands really easy. Under my nails took a little work, but you could always wear gloves if this is a concern for you.

Well, I hope this encourages you to give theses a try. If you do, come back and tell me what items you have stained with them.

Photo Shoot

I have been admiring Nichol Magouirk's style of scrapbooking for some time now. I finally figured out (I know, me and technology don't get along so well) how to make those photo collages that she uses in her layouts.

A few weeks ago, my daughter came to me and said, "Mom, let take some pictures". Of course, I jumped at the chance. We took a ton and these are just a few of my favorites.

I decided that these pictures would be perfect to attempt one of Nichol's layouts. So, I embarked on a journey to find software and figure out how to use it to make a collage. Accomplished, thanks to Picasa. I designed and printed out a 6 x 11 inch photo. All I have left to do is chose my layout and papers. Stay tuned!

If Loving You Is Wrong

...then I don't wanna be right. OK, so now I am probably giving away my age, but I can't help it. These just make me so happy, right now. And to think, I didn't even think that I needed them, but after seeing Tim's video, I decided to try one or two. As you can see, a monster was created. I just "heart" these!

I stamped the top of address labels with each color, punched them out, and stuck them to the tops of each bottle so that I can see what each color looks like when I am creating. Doesn't it just make you smile?

Have you tried these yet? If so, what techniques have you done and/or what projects have you made? Link them up in my comment section. I would love to see.

Cosmo Cricket Card

One of the things I decided to do, when I was getting back into the creative swing of things, was to push myself by working on some challenges. I actually have a stack of them sitting on my desk so that I can remember details and deadlines.

The first one is from Cosmo Cricket and Cards magazine. This sketch was created by Debbie Olson.

And this is my take on the sketch. I wasn't quite sure how accurately I needed to follow the sketch, but I am happy with the results.

I used the Odds and Ends Collection. Those little vintage children just melt my heart. They are so adorable! The buttons were picked from my button jar. I punched small tags to make my border. And I used distressed ink to accent all of my edges. The sentiment letters are also from the Odds and Ends collage pack. I tied it all together with a cute little red bow. Done!

So, what challenges have you been playing along with lately?

Birthday Girl Layout

I really can't believe she is already 17! Actually, that was six months ago, so now, she is 17 1/2. WOW!!! Time sure flies.

I had these photos sitting on my desk for some time now. Instead of going to Hobby Lobby on Tuesday, I decided to stick around and scrap with a few of the "Peas". (thanks for the inspiration)

Today, I decided to try something different and used a background that was already pre-embellished. While these paper are beautiful, I usually tend to stay clear of them because I find it a little difficult knowing how to place my photos, and the end results look kinda flat to me. This one from Sassafras came in a kit and I was determined to use it.

 I first tossed, yes, tossed my photos down to try and find the right placement. Next, I cut off the cute little border bar code that Sassafras puts on the bottom of their paper. I always consider this piece lagniappe and I love to use it on my pages. I added a couple of other borders. One a sticker and one a piece of trim. This also helps add some texture to the page. Then, I raided my stash to see what items I had on hand that resembled the pre-embellished paper.

I found the tags and buttons and placed them exactly where they already were on the page. I added a Martha Stewart doily over the one in the bottom right corner. Then I cut the larger doily on the Silhouette using the Dear Lizzy design.

Once I had all of my embellishments glued down, I added my title which was also cut on the Silhouette using a sentiment bought from the online site. The flower was handmade. My first attempt; definitely won't be my last. I love how it came out, though, I would recommend a second set of hands to help shape and hold while gluing.

Lastly, I added some stamped sentiments along with a date. The small sticker text is from the Girl's Paperie. I really love those things!

I really like how this page turned out. It was quick and easy and the design provided for some guidance when it came to laying out the embellishments. Almost like using a sketch. I hope this helps you see pre-embellished papers in a whole new light. I know that I will now look at them differently and I see more of them in my creative future.

Turtle Surprise

Since school has been back in session here for a few weeks, I have been trying to get into some sort of routine. I am an avid baker and I have recently let my stash of baked goodies and other treats get surprisingly low.

Well, in the past two weeks, this has changed. I have made 3 kinds of crunchy granola, 7 loaves of pumpkin cranberry bread, and 3 loaves of banana pecan bread. I also made this:

Now, those of you that are familiar with the process of turning condensed milk into caramel might be trying to think of new ways to use up these little babies?  Well, let me introduce you to these.

Turtle Cupcakes!

I took my Triple Chocolate Cake recipe, baked them as cupcakes, filled them with the caramel, topped them with chocolate ganache, then frosted them with homemade cream cheese frosting. I added a few toasted pecans, and finally, drizzled them with more caramel. Whew! All of this for a little dessert you ask? Yes. And, oh my, so worth it!

I know that they may sound sweet, but they are not. The cake and ganache are rich in chocolate flavor. The sweetness comes from the frosting and the caramel. It is the perfect balance in every bite. And my mouth is watering just typing about them. Good thing I had my hubby take them all to work. After I had one, of course!









A Simple Card

I have been so inspired by all of the silhouettes I have seen lately. When I saw this shape on clearance in the Silhouette Studio, I knew just what I wanted to do with it.

My Mom's 62nd birthday was coming up, and I wanted to make her card using the young girl. I had some of the Echo Park, For the Record collection left over from a kit club, that was just perfect for this project.

I used my Spellbinder's die to cut and emboss the oval backing for my shape. I then trimmed one edge of my border strip with a punch. I inked everything with a bit of distress inks. The silhouette is pop dotted for some added dimension. The ribbon was also a leftover piece from the kit.

The saying on the front was typed in Word, printed, then punched with an EK Success tag punch.

We are a family who jokes around a lot, so the sentiment on the inside is appropriate for us. While the front says, Remember when..., the inside reads: Really?! You can remember that long ago?. It suites my Mom perfectly.

A Fresh Start

After a five month hiatus, I have slowly been getting ready to join back the blogging world. Those who know me, know what I have been through these past few months, so I won't get into those details again. However, I would like to thank those of you whose prayers and e-mails were well received during these trying times. My family has appreciated them.

So, to start off new, I have decided that I needed a clean slate. After months of my scraproom collecting dust, and being the catch-all room, I knew that I needed to clean it up in order to be creative.

This weekend was spent cleaning up the table, closet, and floor. As you can see, I was only brave enough to show you what the table looked like after I had cleaned the floor around it. I may have been on a creative hiatus, but sure not a shopping one. lol...

While this might not look bad to some of you, to me, this is total choas. There are actually three kit clubs, a Silhoutte order, photos and photo papers, tons of bottles of paint and glues are under that mat, and other bits and pieces are on the back side of the tool organizer. Sadly, this table is 36 x 40, and not an inch is available for use. On the bright side, while cleaning it up, I did find my missing camera lens cover. YAH!!!

Now that it is clean, I have no reason not to get back to crafting. Especially, with the holidays fast approaching, I need to get busy. So, what are your plans for upcoming projects?

Be Back Soon