ACHIEVING GOALS

In cleaning up my craft space, I came across a photograph I had recently printed of a very young lady that I have known since she was about 3 years old.  She was one of the first neighbors to visit our campsite when we moved our travel trailer to a "seasonal" site in New Hampshire.  Liz and her sister Emma (a toddler then) became frequent visitors to our campsite over the next few years, and my husband and I had the privilege of watching these two sisters grow.  Sadly, Liz and Emma's family moved away from our campground a few years ago, but we have "tracked" the girls' activities, not to mention growth, over these past few years through Facebook!  One of my favorite photos is of Liz in her equestrian clothing!  Not wanting to lose this photo, I took time today to document Liz's great accomplishments in horseback riding!  Here's to you, Liz!

Thanks for stopping by today to visit my scrapbooking blog!  Please take just a moment to join and/or leave a message to let me know you were here.  You might also like to visit my art journaling blog by clicking here.

Cheers!

MAKING AN EASEL CARD (directions)

Recently, my husband and I have been guests at social functions which definitely needed a "thank you" card!  The first card (below) was into the mail before I thought of photographing the steps I used to create it.  For the second, I took photos as I went along to augment the directions and measurements.

The card we are creating is called an "easel card" and is mailed flat, but propped up by the buttons for display.  The inspiration for the design of this card came from card sketch artist DebbyD on the Let's Scrap website.

Here are the tools and supplies you'll need to create this card:

• trimmer to cut your papers to the right dimensions
• paper scraps (no 12x12 papers were harmed in the creation of this card!)
• Scor-Pal or scoring blade for your trimmer
• tacky glue or other adhesive to layer your papers and affix the button(s)
• one large or two or more smaller buttons
• twine
• rub-on sentiment

Let's begin!  Using a paper trimmer, cut your base paper 5" x 9".  You will want to use a sturdy paper for your base.

Next, you will place your paper face up and score at 5" and 7".

The next step is to cut your smaller pieces of paper (use scraps!!).  Here are the measurements of the papers you will cut:

• 5" x 5" 
• 4-7/8" x 4-7/8"
• 4-1/4" x 2-1/4"
• 4-1/2" x 1-1/2" (you will need two of this size)
• 3" x 3"
• 2-7/8" x 2-7/8"

Here are the cut scraps and their approximate placement before adhering anything:

A quick "aside" here.  I have always saved my larger "scraps" of paper and just threw them all in a box--but, sadly, never thought to use them and/or didn't want to take the time to find the right color for my projects.  On the Let's Scrap website, there was a forum discussion about scraps, and one of the members shared that she stored her scraps by color.  Well, that motivated me.  It literally took hours for me to separate all my scraps by color, but now I actually use them.  In this case, I was able to pull all these "blues" together in just a few seconds!

I find it easiest to assemble the smaller pieces, then attach that to the card base.  You can arrange the pieces any way you chose, but the square block on top is where your sentiment will go.  I always look for the easy way, so used a rub-on here, then added some twine:

I love using pop dots to raise up elements to add a bit of "dimension" to my projects, so have done this with the sentiment square:

The next step is to attach what you have just created to your card base.  I have marked it here with a red "x" so you know that it goes on the end of the base that has been scored at that 7" mark.

Here is what your card should look like.  The scissors are holding the card in its "easel" position before we add those buttons!

I found two heart-shaped buttons and adhered them to the card base using tacky glue:

And here is the completed card with the buttons holding it in the easel position.

Since the celebration for which I am sending this "thank you" was centered on a baby, I wanted to add additional baby embellishments.

Lastly, when you lift up the front of the card, there is a place for you to sign you name or leave an additional comment:

The outside sentiment is "thank you" and the inside reads "~ for including us in your celebration!"

This is actually quite an easy card to make but packs a big "WOW" factor.  I hope you will try it.

Thanks for coming by to view my blog!  Please leave a comment so that I know you were here.  Also, let me know if you made the easel card.

Cheers!

ALTERING A TIN BOX

Sources of Inspiration

Your source(s) of inspiration can be obvious, or, sometimes, surprising!  There were two sources of inspiration for my project today.  The first came from an obvious source, a scrapbooking blog!  I daily follow a blog of a very dear friend of mine, Roni Johnson.  You can find Roni here, and I would heartily recommend that you visit her blog.  Recently, Roni has been showing followers how to alter a tin box for a Mother's Day gift, even showing us how to create backgrounds for ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) to include in the tin.  You can see this post here.

My second source of inspiration came from my brother!  Although I had all the supplies to follow Roni's directions and alter my Altoid box, I had not yet started.  As I sat talking with my brother (visiting from the Dominican Republic), he opened a metal box and took out a cigar cutter that he had ordered online.  He was about to discard the metal box, when I said, "Hey!  I'll take that!"  And the rest is now history.

Today is National Scrapbooking Day, so I wanted to do something creative.  When I arrived in my scrap loft (that's fancy for 3rd floor), there was that metal box!  I didn't really need to do much with the tin because it was already beautiful with its mesh sides (lacking on that Altoid box!).  According to Roni's directions, I did sand the top, bottom and insides of the lid and base so that it would  greedily absorb the coat of Mod Podge (adhesive) I was about to apply.

Next, I went to my scrap drawer and found 4 different patterned papers.  Using the top of the lid, I traced around it on each sheet of paper (making minor "fitting" adjustments as I progressed).  Although I generally tease you with the details, today, I will show you the (almost) finished project first.  This is the top and bottom of the tin (note that stylin' mesh).  After applying my adhesive to the outside of the lid, I attached my first piece of patterned paper.  I sanded the sides of the paper so that they conformed perfectly to the edges of the lid.  I then used a black ink pad to add a bit of color and "aging" to the sides.  After adhering the paper to the inside of the lid, I added a ribbon around both the outside and inside of the lid.  Then, I embellished the outside with a butterfly.  I then added the patterned paper to the bottom.

Once inside the tin, I added an ATC made by Karen Ladd (received in an ATC swap many years ago on the About.com: Scrapbooking website).  To add dimension, I used pop dots underneath it.

Next, I added the fourth patterned paper to the bottom of the base.

I liked Roni's idea of filling this tin with ATCs, but, by now, time is running short.  I remembered my 3-ring binder of ATCs in which I keep both ATCs made by me and those traded or given to me.  Perhaps I should have mentioned this before, but I did not create this tin for a Mother's Day gift, but for my sister Sandy's 70th birthday being celebrated by family next weekend.  As I looked through my binder, I found 9 ATC's that immediately reminded me of Sandy for one reason or another.

I cut strips of black card stock on which to mount the 9 ATCs.  I scored these strips so that they would fold easily into an accordian.  I allowed for a "tab" so that I could join the strips together.  On the back of each of the folds, I adhered paper cut from a lined index card for ease in writing on them.

Each of these ATCs will certainly jog a memory for my sister, and I am hoping she will write down that memory.  The first, "Sister," was made by me and will definitely arouse all kinds of memories; the 3rd, "Eiffel Tower," would be her year of studying abroad; and, so on.  Here are a couple more ATCs I used made by special people in my life.  The first ("Juice of the Gods") by Roni Johnson, the second ("YADDA YADDA YADDA") by Tammy Birkhead, both crafters that continue to inspire me!

Now, all put together and back in the tin:

I thoroughly enjoyed making this project and thank both Roni and my brother for my National Scrapbooking Day adventure into the arts!  Happy 70th birthday, Sandy!!

Please leave a comment to let me know you were here!

Cheers!

PARENTS REMAIN IN US

Working with The Past

My husband's sister recently gave my husband a photo of their mother taken on May 11, 1958.  That's almost 54 years ago, and most definitely deserving of a vintage background and similar ephemera to showcase it.  

I have chosen a card sketch from the Let's Scrap sketch site for my inspiration.  It can sometimes be difficult to convert a card sketch to a layout because of the amount of "white space" that remains.  However, in this instance, it was exactly what I wanted.  The original photo was *so* small that all my attempts to enlarge it were fraught with blur.  I knew that I would be forced to use no larger than a 3x4 photo.  If I had created a very busy page, the small photo would have become lost.  Using this white space to my advantage allowed the small photo to remain the focal point!  

First, let me introduce you to Florence Harriet Berry Wallace, always know as Harriet (I just love that she used her middle name, as I do)!  She is on the far right, pictured here with her six siblings.

Next, let me share the sketch with you, created by Debby de Wilde, card sketch artist and part owner (along with Betty Anne Orr) of the Let's Scrap website:

One of the super things about the Let's Scrap website is that the sketches provided are for inspiration.  You can duplicate them exactly as shown, rotate them, flip them, reverse them or just see where they lead you as the artist.  You will see all the elements of this sketch--two ribbons, a bird, a ticket, and a photo (I will admit to omitting the clouds)--in my layout, but you will also notice that some have been moved!  First, the detail:

And, now, the finished layout:

This is the perfect time to visit the Let's Scrap website!  They are celebrating INSM (Inter)National Scrapbooking Month.  There are sketches, challenges, games and prizes!  Did I say PRIZES???  Come join almost 4,000 other scrappers and cardmakers from all around the world!  Quick and easy to join, and, it's free!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please do take a moment to leave a message, as it makes me feel that all this is worthwhile!

Cheers!

LET'S SCRAP DESIGN TEAM ANNOUNCED!

The Design Team (DT) for the next term, April 1 through July 31, 2012, has been announced at Let's Scrap!  Following is the list of those talented scrapbook artists who will inspire us over the next 4 months.  By clicking on an individual's name, you will be taken to their blogs--where "inside secrets" are sometimes known to be shared!  You can also see the details of their Let's Scrap DT posts.  Please visit each of their blogs and sign up to be a follower!  Tell them "Kay sent me"!  

Congratulations to each of the new DT members!

Michelle van Wyk    
Denise van Deventer          
Judy Rakes                    
Jennifer Russell             
Shirley Bergsma                             
Kristine Ponte                    
Eniko DeLisle                     
Asmah Zainal Abidin          
Laura Alberts                  
Valerie Thorpe                    
Cathy van der Bruinhorst

Susanna Granroth

Mindi Brown                   
Elizna Parsons 


Cheers!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

I just couldn't pass up sharing a bit of the green with you on such a day as this!  However, rather than share a layout of my creation, I want to share one made by Kristine Ponte, another member of the Let's Scrap family of artists.  Kristine created this layout for the Let's Scrap month-long color challenge.  The challenge has several components (put together by Design Team member Elizna Parsons), but, the focus is on creating a monochromatic layout!  How appropriate that this one is all about green.  


Below is Kristine's layout.  I will direct you to Kristine's blog for the detail.  I hope you will visit her there, join as a follower, and leave a comment telling Kristine "Kay sent me!"  

Enjoy your day!  REMEMBER, if you will be drinking, your ride home should be with your "designated driver" (a member of the group who abstains from alcohol in order to drive the others safely)! I want to see you back here tomorrow!!


Please take a moment to leave a comment and let me know you were here!  Thanks for coming by!


Cheers!

WEDNESDAY BIG REVEAL ON LET'S SCRAP

Wednesday is always the big reveal on the Let's Scrap website!  The new sketch challenge of the week is posted along with "inspiration" layouts (or cards) created by the Let's Scrap Design Team (DT).  This week is especially great because all of the DT's are at the top of their game and their creations are exceptional!  Be sure to check out the site--right after you check out this blog!

Usually, I show you the sketch and then show you my layout or card.  This week, I will reverse that because I have made some significant changes in both the sketch and one of the photos to accommodate the orientation and size of my photos.

Meet the Gosky Family!  It was actually Molly's senior photo shoot, but Mom decided to take advantage of the opportunity to have the family photographed, as well!

The left half of the sketch as been rotated 90 degrees to the right to accommodate the landscape photos--necessary to accommodate a family of 6!!  Even with this sketch, I had to cut the focal photo on the right into 3 "slices."

You can now more easily see the "liberties" I took in adapting the sketch:

And, now, each side alone so that you can see the detail:

Glad you came by!  Please do leave a comment to let me know you were here--and because it makes me feel what I do is worthwhile!

Cheers!