Just Add Water

Today, I created a two-page layout using a sketch from one of the Scrapbook Generations sketchbooks. I don't normally do two-pagers anymore, but I had more photos than usual that I wanted to include. I followed this sketch pretty closely because I really liked the clean lines of the design. I used Thickers for half the title and stamped the rest. I added the tag to give the journaling a place to rest and I embellished it with a bit of washi tape from my fast growing collection. I wasn't even sure how to photograph a layout this wide. lol...

While I was taking the above photo, I noticed how well the design of the first page would lend itself to a card. So, while the supplies were still out, I created this Celebrate card. Cute, huh? I substituted the sentiment for the photos in the sketch. And, of course, I had to add some stitching. The stamp was from the $1 bin at Wal-mart. I just cut out the parts I didn't want to give me a stamp that I liked. I actually do that quite often with cheaper stamps. It doesn't bother me to cut them up since I didn't spend a lot of money on them to begin with. Great way to build a collection of sentiments!

Card #16

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

WOYWW 151 *Updated with Cupcake Photo

So, this isn't my usual workspace, but for today, this is it. I have to bake turtle cupcakes for my daughter's work and I need to get an early start since I have a doctor's appointment at 10:00. Besides, the cakes have to cool so that I can fill them with caramel when I get home.

It is a dark chocolate cupcake filled with homemade caramel sauce. It is then topped with chocolate ganache, a caramel buttercream, toasted pecans, and just a drizzle of caramel for more decadence. Like it needed it, because this thing is really rich.

And if you remember the jar that was on my desk last week, this is it. I turned it into a simple vase for my kitchen. The tag can be changed, but since I like love coffee, this is it for now. I can't wait for the tulips to fall over in a day or two.

Thanks for visiting!

Happy WOYWW! Hop on over to the Stamping Ground to see what this is all about.

Dani

Baby Goodness

Morning, I mean, good afternoon fellow blog readers. I hope your weekend was great. Ours was fantastic. We had beautiful weather, surrounded by wonderful family, and babysat the new baby to boot. What could be better than that? Since her Mom would rather not have the babies photo all over the net for now, I am posting this cuteness below.

This is why I do not have any new projects or pages to show you. I didn't even finish my glass jar from last week. I was too busy playing with, holding, loving, taking photos, and generally spoiling this little princess. I forgot how little they can be. And bath time was a blast. She just loves the water. Okay, enough baby goodness, for now.

I hope to get in the studio today, in between the laundry and the cooking, and finish that jar and a few other things that are in the works.

Have a blessed week!

Dani

Cousins

Yeah!! It's Friday and I actually made it through this week. We have a busy weekend ahead, with the baptism of little Sophia, and some other family obligations. I can't wait to hold the baby and see her wearing the same christening gown that all of the other 5 children have worn over the past 21 years. I hope you have some fun weekend plans and beautiful weather to boot.

My last project for this week is the Cousins layout below. I used a sketch from Kristine Davidson, The Creative Scrapper's sketchbook that I bought from here and printed out. This is the first one that I used and I followed it without much change. It did use a lot of pattern paper, which is good and bad, depending on how you look at it. I did miss the measurements that I usually get from the Sketch Support sketches, but I figured it out well enough. The ebook itself is nice if you do one page layouts and you don't mind printing it out yourself. Or I guess you can just save it to your computer, but I like to have a hard copy available when I need it. It also gave a variety of samples from different scrappers, which was good. I am sure I will be using it again, soon.

Have a good weekend!

Dani

WOYWW 150

After skipping the blogosphere all together last week, this week I am back up and running. Well, maybe not running, since what had me out of commission was my back. Since getting off of the couch, my desk has been busy with one project after another. This morning, it is holding two in progress. One is a scrapbook layout and the other is a gessoed jar waiting for it's coat of yellow spray paint. I am hoping to get both finished today. If the weather permits on the jar. If you are new here and wondering why I am showing you my desk, hop on over to Julia's to find out what this craze is all about and maybe show us your's too!

After playing around with ink splotches and splatters over the weekend, I decided to do something a little more subtle and inked a doily to go with my card. I used Faded Denim Distress ink and a foam pad to color in the surface until the desired results were achieved. I then painted chipboard silhouette pieces and layered them together. The card came together rather quickly which is good because I need quite a few birthday cards these next few weeks.

Card #15

Happy WOYWW!!
Thanks for visiting-

Dani

More Play

Today's cards were also made while I was playing with ink. The first card was created with the smoosh technique. I simply splatted, such technical terms, the distress stamper quickly to the card stock and let it dry. Once dry, I added my sticker tags, a quick punched border strip, and some stitching.

Card #13

This next card was stitched around the edge. I then put some distress ink on to a craft sheet, spritzed it with water, then used a fine detail brush to pick up the color. I tapped the brush to let droplets of ink fall on my paper. I pop dotted the Happy sticker for a little dimension. About as simple as it can get.

Card #14

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

Best Buds

Well, I didn't mean to take a blog break last week, but before I knew it, the week was up. I did play around a bit with inks, specifically, Distress Stains. I smooshed, splattered, and stained until my hands were covered in color.

On the layout below, I used the smooshed technique that I read about here. If you have never checked out Ashli's blog, aka soapHOUSEmama, you should. She is so inspirational and her tutorials are amazing! I stamped down my distress stamper and this is what happens. It splatters out across the page. I love it, but be warned, you will have little specks of ink on your work surface, hands, and even clothes. Messy, but oh so fun! I even shook out a few extra droplets on to my page, by gently squeezing the bottle, while giving a good hard shake towards the paper. I love getting dual uses from one product.

Have a good week!

Dani

Random Blathering +

Yesterday, when I said it had been raining for days and the weather was only good for scrapping and baking, I meant it. Below is the layout that was on my desk that I finished. Someone asked about the sketch I was using, so here is the link to it.

Once I finished the page, I baked for the rest of the afternoon. I did 4 dozen nutter butters, 8 dozen monster cookies, and 2 dozen banana cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I only kept a handful. The rest went to my neighbor and to my husband's office.

Someone also asked me about my lighting on the WOYWW post. It is a photography lamp that goes with my photo studio set up. I use it because it is off of my desk, it provides natural light, and it does double duty when I need more lighting for portraits.

Well, there you have it. Hopes this answers your questions.

Have a blessed Easter! I will be back next week.

Dani

WOYWW 148

I really didn't think that I would have a chance to play along today, but here I am. We have been having some pretty bad weather here the past two days, so what better thing to do then stay in and scrap. And bake.

On my desk this morning is a layout that I have just started; nothing is glued down yet. I am working with a sketch that I have used before from Allison Davis. I like that it lends itself to 4 nice sized photos.

Okay, I know that was quick and some of you might be wondering why I showed you a picture of my desk. Hop on over to Stamping Ground to find out what it is all about.

Happy Humpday!

Dani

Room Makeover

I want to thank you all so much for your very kind words on yesterday's blog post. I know leaving her to do it on her own was best. She is my only baby and sometimes it is hard to let go.

Today, I wanted to share the re-do of my room. I finished it this past weekend so here is a (very) quick tour of each space and what I use it for.

First up is yellow desk, at 4 ft. long, which I love. I do most of my scrapping and card making on this desk. The long drawer up front holds all of my hand tools, glues, and pens. It also houses my twine and washi tape collections. Next to it is my best craft organizer. It holds all of my cardstock, embellishments, and such. On top, is my ink pad holder and my pattern paper kits and collections.

This next corner is where I do all of my computer work, photo editing,printing, and cutting, and where I keep my Silhouette ready for use. I just need to get in the habit of using it more than I do. Behind the trimmer, I have two desk organizers filled with blank cards and their matching envelopes ready to go. When I run low, I sit and cut a batch in different sizes. This assures that I always have the right size envelope for the card I have made. Too many times I have finished a card only to realize that I do not have the correct size envelope to mail it. This eliminates that problem.

On the far left, is my tiny die cut and embossing center. It also holds some fabric for my sewing. In the center is my sewing closet. My dh removed the doors and installed a table height shelf for my machine. I also store punches and other mixed media things in this closet. I have two three drawer bins under the table for storing things such as extra adhesives, packing supplies, and items meant for altering. Stella, my dress form, holds my sewing scissors, tape measure, and a few other odds and ends on her. She is named after my great-grandmother who was the most creative person I knew.

To the far right, is my cubby stand. Actually, it is two stacked together. The bins hold things such as containers, tins, yarn, jars, and such. The boxes keep my inks, stamp making supplies, brayers, etc. out of sight, but because everything is labeled I can find what I need with just a quick glance.

Well, there you have it. Any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

I am SO not ready for this...

Okay, I know I joke about getting my daughter through college and out of this house. My husband and I whine, when is it our time? But this morning, she asked me to drop her off for orientation, something about not wanting to find a place to park. So I did, not dressed in my Sunday best, and she saw that some parents were staying. She looked at me and said, "Good going, Mom." She was just joking, but my heart sank. As I pulled away, I was holding back tears and trying to rationalized that she is 18 and needs to start doing these things on her own. It took all for me not to go home, get dressed properly, and drive back. (We only live 5 minutes from college) But I didn't. So for those of you who have gone through it, how do you do it? My heart aches every time I look at this picture.

Hope you have a blessed week!

Dani