Life Book Lesson 8

 

I confess that I'm a little behind with the Life Book lessons.  I was having a hard time getting my head around lesson 7...had a thought on how I wanted to approach the lesson and then things didn't turn out the way I wanted so this piece of background, shown above, sat on my studio table for a week.  When the lesson 8 class rolled around I realized that my background would be perfect for my boat!  I momentarily let go of #7 and fully embraced #8!

I'm a big fan of designer paper and love the idea of using collage to create a picture.  I was a bit rushed on this project, but it's something I've experimented with before and would like to explore in greater depth in the future.

My background was created by using a brayer to apply a few layers of acrylic paint.  Once the paint was dry, I added the fun clouds, which were created by hand cutting a cloud stencil and then using a make-up sponge and white acrylic paint to add the design.  I also added some white paint speckles all over the entire page.

For the water, I mixed Wendy Vecchi's Crackle Paste with some Tim Holtz Distress Paint and applied the mixture to the bottom of the page with a palette knife.  When it was dry I added a hint of aging around the edges, using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

  I hand cut a boat shape and sails from designer paper.  Added some more aging on the edges of each piece and glued my boat to the background.  The mast is a painted wood stick that I used to adhere all of my Tim Holtz rub ons.  I used a white gel pen to add a bit of design.

 I also added some stenciling, using black Archival Ink and a TCW stencil, to the background (before applying the boat), and added a bit more paint over the bottom of the boat so it was in the water instead of on top of the water.  This was a super easy project and "boat" loads of fun to create! **giggle**  The week 9 project looks promising so here's hoping I find some time to play this week!

Family Outing

It's another scrapook page from the "seriously, I scrapbooked?!" series!  This page features photos from a trip that we took as a family.  We ended up finding this great walking/biking trail through the woods and along a river. If I lived in this part of CT, I'd be using this trail every day...it was a great walk and featured tons of fishing spots.  When you have two boys...you have to spend time in the woods so this was a really fun part of our trip (and a great way to let two little boys run for a while!)  After dinner, we hit a mini golf spot and indulged in ice cream.  Perfect end to a perfect day!  I do love the memory keeping part of scrapbooking...maybe I should do it more often...I confess I even purchased a scrapbook album...Humm...

Life Book Week 6

 

Sharing my latest Life Book project for week 6.  This was a super fun project, taught by Tamara Laporte, even if it made me realize that I'm not a doodler! LOL!  I know some find it relaxing, but I'm far too Type A personality to sit still for long enough to doodle.  So...my piece has the basic outline of some flowers, with minimal doodling.  What I did adore about this piece was the color blocking.  Oh man, those areas of bold, bright colors is just amazing.  I liked the color blocking so much that I created some new journal pages incorporating this idea...will share those once that project is completed.  The one thing I would change about this page is that my black lines need to be thicker.  Time to go on the hunt for a thicker black marker...Hello, Fude Ball?  We need a wider marker tip! (Fude Ball pens really are the bomb for writing over paint...perfection!)

Sweet 'n Sassy Release Day

Hello, sweet friends!   Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps February 2015 Release Day Blog Hop! Baby…it's cold out there, but our February release is sure to warm your heart so grab your favorite hot beverage and get ready to be inspired by the projects created for you by the talented Design Divas!

Release Giveaway!
As part of our release day fun, one random commenter from one of the DT blogs will be selected to win a $10 Gift Code for  the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store.  You have until Thursday, February 12th at midnight EST to leave your comments.  The winner will be posted on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog on Friday, February 13th!

Below are the cards I created with February's new sets!  First up, Winter with Winnie (how hysterical is that sentiment!)

 Next is another Winnie set, Winnie's Warm Wishes.  This card also features the new Keep in Touch stamp set (the background features many of the sentiments included in the set).

My favorite this month, Get Well Critters.  Feeling fowl?  Snicker...

Loved this set so much...had to make a second card!

One more thing before we let you go...

We can't forget our fun Release Day Challenge!
Since the cold winter month of February often brings with it a case of the sniffles, create a warm get well card and join our...

"Warm Get Well Wishes Challenge"   

Just a few guidelines to remember as you play:
            

- You don't have to use a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps image to enter (although we sure love when you do!)
- Please create a NEW card (no back linking)
- We ask that you enter your card in no more than 3 challenges
 - You'll have until Thursday, February 12th at midnight EST to enter
- We'll draw 1 winner from this week's challenge to receive a $10 credit to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store!  
If there are 25 participants, (not including the DT), we'll draw 2 winners!
- Please use code SNSFEB2015RC when uploading to Splitcoaststampers or other galleries 

To enter simply share a link to your creation below!

Thanks for joining us today!  Be sure to join us again on Friday, February 13th to see if you've won!

 Now it's time to see what the DT has created with these fabulous products!

February Make ART Challenge - Hearts

 

Hi folks!  I'm back with a project created for the latest Wendy Vecchi Make ART Challenge!  This month's challenge is to use hearts on a project...you know, to celebrate LOVE!

I started my card by created all of the individual pieces....(All of the images are from the My Kind of Art stamp set).  The pitcher is embossed with Cornflower Blue embossing powder; Gathered Twigs has been added to the edges.  The heart is a mix of Dina Wakley acrylic paint and Wendy's Crackle Paste.  (Isn't that crackle delish?!)  The flower was stamped twice and colored with watercolors.  I cut out one entire flower and then a portion of the second flower, to create multiple flower layers.  A button with twine finished the flower.

My card background is a piece of vintage book text, covered with a bit of Gathered Twigs ink and Wendy's tiny cross stencil.  I then layered a piece of designer paper, with an oval die cut, on top of the text paper and then added a black frame, created using two Spellbinder oval dies.  Each little scallop on the frame got a silver dot, thanks to a gel pen.  I also added Gathered Twigs over the edge of the entire card and added some faux stitching, from Wendy's Just Sew Artsy stamp set.  Finally, I added the sentiment and a star (from the Little Bits stencil).  Viola!  Hope you enjoyed today's card and be sure to check out this month's challenge!

 

You Have My Heart

 

That's right...I made a scrapbook page!  I actually made four pages a few weeks ago, after spending an evening with some fellow crafters, aka scrapbookers.  I came home with a fun little kit full of paper and embellishments that was begging to be used.

I have a great frame hanging in my living room, which is made to showcase 12x12 scrapbook pages.  It's a great way to easily change your artwork!  I figured it was about time for me to create a few new pages for my frame, featuring my kids now vs. them four years ago!

Here are a few more shots of this page....super easy to create, just a bunch of layering of papers and adding embellishments.  A whole lotta love...just in time for Valentines!

Enjoy!

  Aren't those sweet tart brads to die for?!

 The chipboard pieces are super beefy...really thick.  I love them.  And I thought the paint swatch paper was so clever.  And those two cute boys...they're a-ok too...I think I'll keep 'em!