The great BLOGCATION Starts March 7th!!!!

Are you ready?

Before we get started - you can get ready by doing two things

1 - get registered over at Scrapbooking Fun (Blogcation rules/requirements will be posted later this week)

2 - Our Blogcation will have a monochromatic theme (this should eliminate the need for anyone to purchase any special products). Since we are using a monochromatic theme, I am looking for more suggestions regarding how to make your stash work. So far, I have the following (the examples are all using green as the base color)

Ideas to alter plain green (or your own color – please change ink and other colors to match) paper to make it work in a monochromatic layout

1. Take a green inkpad (different shade than paper) and lightly brush over the top – gives a worn look
2. Lightly dampen your green – then wad it into a ball. Get lots of wrinkles in there and then lay it out flat to dry
3. Take a stamp – use green ink and stamp it all over your piece of paper
4. Take your paper and a piece of sandpaper. Lightly sand the page in various locations
5. Use a versamark pad to stamp something all over the background
6. Use a stamp and green embossing powder to make your paper have a different pattern
7. Use some texture plates to dry emboss something throughout your paper
8. Check for all green shades of patterned papers – use one of those if you need to (no other colors if at all possible for true monochromatic s)
9. Use some green thread and stitch some patterns onto your paper (straight, zig zag, whatever)
10. Use green colored pencils to draw various shades of green in some type of pattern onto your paper
11. Grab some green acrylic paint and paint a thin layer on your paper. Then add some white and paint some more sheets. Then add some black or blue or whatever and paint some more sheets. This method works great if you start with white and paint the shades you desire. Be sure to make about 4 of each if you choose this one.
12. Use scraps of green, from your stash, and piece them together to make and entirely new sheet of paper!

I will try to come up with some samples - they will be posted over at Scrapbooking Fun

One last thing- finished my layout for Friday's Sketch challenge over at Practical Scrappers. Mine is more simplistic, but when I tried adding more "zing", I just wasn't happy - took the focus from the pictures too much. So, not sure I followed the sketch completely, but this is my take.

Don't forget!

We are taking off on a Blog-Cation starting the 2nd week of March! We will be making various stops (creating scrapbook items) each week, and winding up our trip on NSD over at Scrapbooking Fun! You need to join there and post what you create to be eligible for the grand prize (a scrapbooking kit with a vacation theme - contents are still being added, but so far there are many items - mini album, paper, stamps, rub-ons, etc.). The Blog-cation will start there and who knows where all we will head? It may only be one stop, it may be many - you will have to wait to find out.

Another "preview" of one of the prizes:

a few layouts for challenges over at
Sketches 4 All

Sports Paper Piecing Swap

Still working on trying to hold the camera still - the white is just for stability - once a photo is inserted (from sides) the frames work great

Keeping busy, so just posting some swap items for swaps over at Scrapbooking Fun. I am still working on my photography techniques - so please bear with me - eventually they will get better.








One thing I noticed - I forgot to ink the edges on a few projects (can't believe it - again. I think it is time to put my ink pads back where they were). I don't know if pieces will come apart to allow, so these may change a bit.

Scrapbooking Fun Online Crop Starts Friday!!

I am so excited. I can't wait! Still finishing up my class samples (yes, I know kind of last minute). There will be a bunch of great classes.

A few challenges have been completed. The one below is for the Flower Challenge at Practical Scrappers as well as a White space challenge over at Sketchs 4 You and my 2nd week of February challenge over at Scrapbooking Fun



It was kind of fun to use this piece in so many challenges. However, the white space one presented the greatest challenge - I am not good with leaving so much space around my photos. I couldn't leave it all blank, so added the fence and rub-ons at the bottom of the layout.

Scrappy Fun

I am working on finishing a book that I will be teaching over at Scrapbooking Fun during their three day crop. It looks like there will be at least 8 different classes going on - I can't wait!! From the sounds of it, there will be a few new techniques taught!!

Anyway - so far, my mini-book/album is only in the initial stages - the front cover section is shown below:



Now - for another Sketch-a-Thon layout from Scrap-Friendzy. It is the #7 layout for January.

My supply list was as follows – all from my stash or scrap bins – always a plus: Pink Paislee Hearts Bloom Cupid Collection, Pink Cardstock – no idea of line, The Paper Loft Winter Wonderland, Flocked paper – no idea of line, Ribbons and Paper Clip – Cloud 9 Design Be Loved Collection, Chipboard words – from a Walmart Chipboard Block – pastels, Pink Chipboard Flower – Around the Block, Cricut Cartridge – Storybook

I didn't get my layout submitted for the Die Cut Shapes over at Practical Scrappers on time, however, that doesn't matter - my goal is to get things completed :)

A few things are going on over at Scrapbooking Fun right now:

As usual - I do have a monthly contest
The Saturday Sketch Challenge
The 240 or more Scrapbook Page challenge for 2010
and don't forget - the Blog-Cation will begin in March - you will need to start from Scrapbooking Fun and follow the links to qualify for prizes and drawings

Peanut Update - She loves living outside - much happier than indoors. The cats visit her often and she likes being in the barn. She eats her calf starter on her own now and also enjoys hay. She still gets three bottles a day and will continue to do so until she is older. Her extra small little blanket still fits, but will need to be replaced soon as she is growing well.

Izzy is still inside, and will be until spring. She is getting stronger and gaining weight, but we are pretty sure she is a dwarf. We purchased a medium sized dog harness for her that allows us to remove the various gates, yet keep her contained. Her climbing ability has really blossomed the past few weeks and keeping her off furniture items is important for many reasons. The kids found a fun drink called Izze, so of course, we have some, are washing out the can, and I plan to create a scrapbook page with her picture and the part of the can that says Izze.

Have a great Sunday!

Monday Morning

Last night I finished up some fun little journal spots for a swap over at Sketches for You. They are fairly simple and made completely from my stash, but will work great for pages.


Supplies:
Top Tag - AC Cardstock - Earthtones, DCWV Green Stack, Pink Paislee Stamp, chatterbox fiber, eyelets, Prima flower and bling

Bottom Tag - K & Company Marcella K Paper pad, Making Memories Passport Papers, skittles, bling and Prima Espirit Flowers

Over at Scrapbooking Fun, I am trying out something a bit new. Asking if people want to submit their own sketches or what they use as a sketch plus the final layout. It is pretty simple. You will notice that I have a few sketches loaded to the site, but not the final layout yet. The final layout will be posted later this week. I do ask that you be sure your final results are posted within a week up uploading your sketch and that they are posted in the same reply.

The Week Two challenge posted proved to be the most difficult for me to complete, until, I found the right photograph!! Below are my results:

I tend to keep my scrapping fairly simple and straightforward and love the way this piece came out. Making Memories Passport paper, Crocheted flower (purchased), brads and a piece of ribbon that is actually Easter grass, but was the look I was going for :)

Also - Don't forget the first Blog-cation is coming the first part of March to Scrapbooking Fun! Below is another brief preview of a piece of the grand prize package to be awarded when the 6 week long blog-cation wraps up with its final "stop" on NSD!



Below is my entry for Sketch 13 over at Scrap-Friendzy. It is one of those layouts where I love scraps!!! I did use new from the DCWV Green Stack, however, everything else was from my stash (as was stack) or my scrap bin. Scraps were from AC Cardstock Earthtones and Paper Loft's Winter Wonderland line. It is wonderful when you can use up what is on hand and has been used for other purposes!


Well - off to get some errands completed, then onto die cuts for this weeks challenge over at Practical Scrappers.

New challenges and swaps are posted at Sketches for You and Scrapbooking Fun and I want to check those out as well!

Have a great Monday!