(Erin) Scrap FX #3

Good morning. I'm still quite sick with strep throat and, honestly, sitting here at the computer is torture, lol! But I saw that my 3rd project this month for Scrap FX went up over at their blog (here) so I figured I better get on here and post to my blog as well! So here goes...

"Rural Treat"

Scrap FX Chipboard used on this layout:

Rural Retreat title

Post & Rail Fence, woodgrain

 

Rooster

Rope Rings 

~Each chipboard piece was treated w/a combination of gesso and sandy-colored ink to create a uniformly rustic look.

~For my title, I simply took the "Rural Retreat" chipboard title and clipped the "Re" from "Retreat" :). Almost looks like it was meant to say "treat" instead!

Additional Supplies Used:

~Bo Bunny "Country Garden" & "Ambrosia" papers

~Prima, Manorhouse Creations, & Flying Unicorn flowers

~Prima leaves

~Prima Chalk Fluid Edger Pad "Shabby Tote"

~Martha Stewart border punches: Garden Rail, Optic Dot, & Eyelet Lace

~Martha Stewart butterfly punch

~doilies, burlap, lace, gesso

Thanks for stopping by this morning- I'm off to hit the couch with my little Gunner- who loves to get me up every morning @ 6:00 AM!

Stay well (trust me, you want to!)!

xErin

(Kelly) Sketchabilities #72!!!

Good morning! Wow, I am just shocked that we are at the end of May already..my goodness. I go back to work in just a couple of days..it's sure been a nice long break! I go back for two days, then I don't really go back until the 18th, so I will get another two weeks off! I'm actually a little excited about it!
Anyway, sketch reveal time over at Sketchabilities, and as always, this is an awesome one!!! I hope you love it, too, and go play along. Isn't it a beauty?!?!

Here's what I came up with. This is one of my favorite recent photos of Lilah:

I'm really into using up my scraps lately!! It's amazing what you can do with all of those bits and pieces that you hang onto, isn't it? Have a great day!!

(Kelly) Stars In Their Eyes week 3

Good afternoon!! I just wanted to quickly share (so I can get back to scrapping..it's nap time here).. a layout I made for the 3rd round in the STARS In Their Eyes challenge at Scrappin' Patch!
This week's Star was Jessy Christopher. I was blown away by Jessy's awesome work, her style is very much her own, and quite unique. It was tough for me to really pin down what I needed to do for this one. So, I just chose a few things that I saw again and again on Jessy's layouts, including: Digital frames applied to photos, odd sized/shaped photos (square), banners, doilies/other circular elements, layering of pp and tags behind photos, stamping, misting/splattering, etc. Here is what I came up with! I'm not too sure if I mirrored her as well as I did for the last two challenges, but I still like what I came up with.
I got to play with some of my new Studio Calico Take Note collection, love this stuff!

Have a great day!!!

(Erin) C'est Magnifique June Kit Sneak!!

Good morning! I hope you've all survived the holiday and are getting back into the swing of things. I seem to have come down with strep throat again, so I'm struggling a bit- but I wanted to make sure I got on here and shared with you my first layout using the June kit over at C'est Magnifique! The full kit has not yet been revealed, but will be very shortly! If interested in getting your hands on some of the add-ons and/or extras, visit the June section of the C'est Magnifique store here!

"Ick."

I have a favorite place right by my house where I like to take the kids on the 4-wheeler. It's a pond way back in the woods and on a recent beautiful spring day we ventured back there and the boys enjoyed throwing rocks in the water. My little Aspen, however, didn't quite know what to think about her first real outing. Since finally learning to sit, I can actually place her on the ground and she can explore her surroundings. I took several pictures, and they all look pretty similar- my dainty sweetheart with a look of disgust on her face. I've always been quite the tomboy, so seeing my daughter already acting like a "girly girl"...well, it was a bit disheartening! But they all find their own way in this world, don't they?
 

I kept to the natural elements in this kit- the burlap buttons, grassy bits, brown and beige tones- with just a splash of color.

From the Flower Add-On:
Petaloo: Canterbury Glittered Roses
Petaloo: Forget Me Nots
Manor House Creations: Marguerite/Sugar & Spice Combo
Prima: Buckskin Laredo Flowers

From the Embellishment Add-On:
American Crafts: Chestnut Thickers
Prima: Large Window Closers

From My Stash:
Bazzil Basics white cardstock
Tattered Angels "Rum Punch" & "Pink Taffy" Glimmer Mists
Maya Road "Blue Hydrangea" mist
Mister Huey's "Pickle" mist
Tim Holtz "Frayed Burlap" Distress Ink
gesso
cardboard
jute cord

These kits fly out the door, so if you're interested in grabbing one for yourself, don't hesitate!

Hope you all have a great day/night, and take care of yourselves :).

xErin

(Erin) Scrap FX #2

Hi there- and Happy Memorial Day!! I hope (for those of you who celebrate) the long holiday weekend has been treating you well :). We've had a busy one here, but today is definitely the busiest. Lots of grilling and baking to do- but I'm excited to eventually sit down and relax and enjoy it all.

I'm here to share with you my second project this month for Scrap FX. This time I've created a recipe booklet which I've been wanting to get done for some time now. When I found out that the theme this month for Scrap FX was "Farm & Country", I just knew that this project would be perfect for it. So I gathered up five of my most favorite (and most often used) recipes to start my book, making them easily accessible to me rather than having to dig through my various recipe books to find them.

Let's have a look...

"Recipe Booklet"

Scrap FX Chipboard used in this booklet:

Victorian Frame

Chain Frame

Curly Bird

Twigs- Woodgrain

Forest Tree

Tags, mixed white

Acorns & Leaves

 

~I definitely like to get the most out of my chipboard, and so on small projects like this I will use just portions of some pieces. For example, on my "Chili" recipe card I've used just a portion of the chain frame, on the "Bkd Spaghetti" card I've snipped the branch from the Curly Bird, on the "Meat Balls" card I've used just a section of one of the twigs, and on the "Tator Tot Hotdish" card I've taken the top section of the Forest Tree. 

~As you can see, the beautiful Victorian Frame can be used to frame things other than photos. It was perfect for setting the stage for my first card in the recipe booklet. 

Additional Supplies Used:

~Prima "Almanac" papers

~Prima & Wild Orchid flowers

~Prima Chalk Fluid Edger Pad "Dry Sand"

~lace, doilies, misc trims, burlap twine, gesso

Thanks for stopping over for a visit :). Have a great rest of your day!!

xErin

(Kelly) My Creative Sketches challenge

Good evening! Kind of weird doing an evening post, but I just realized we hadn't posted anything today, and that I hadn't shared this one yet, even though I made it a week ago! This one is for the May sketch over at My Creative Sketches. It really is a lovely sketch, you should go check it out!
I also wanted to share that my "Goin' on 2" layout was featured in the Gallery Highlights over at Scrapbook Update, here's the link: http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2012/05/26/gallery-highlights-5-25-2012/. I thought that was kinda neat. :)
I really struggled with this one, and I think it's because of the papers I chose..the colors are just so, pastel! I really really wanted this Teresa Collins collection (Sweet Afternoon), but once I got it, I was so stumped on how to use these super light, soft colors! I really had a tough time with it, and I'm not in love with the way it turned out...oh, well. I do love the photo, though!!

(Erin) Scrappin' Patch Webster's Pages Inspiration!

Good afternoon! I'm here to share with you my last layout I created for Scrappin' Patch using the Webster's Pages Sunday Picnic collection. In my Design Team kit this month I was also sent a few sheets of the Western Romance range, which I put to work in this piece as well :). I love how the browns from the two older lines really complemented the yellows & greens in Sunday Picnic, and I am pleased with the soft, yet masculine result...

"Picnic Day"

This photo is a bit of an enthusiastic one of my oldest, Wyatt. I recently took all the kids out to our remote little spot on the lake by our house for a picnic, our first trip out there this year. It was incredible to think that it was just over 8 months ago that I was last there- when I was just about due with Aspen and I took one last ride out there with the boys before leaving to go and stay with Kelly to wait to go into labor. Bringing Aspen to this special place for the first time was a bit surreal- it was almost as if she'd already seen it, since she'd "been" there so many times before :). It was nice to be able to watch her sit on the rocks by the lake (putting every one of them in her mouth of course!), while her brothers had the greatest time throwing stones into the water.

 I've used a couple Webster's Pages "Florettes" on my layout. This one I've dressed up a bit by layering a small paper Prima flower, topped off by a button from the Webster's Pages Sparklers "Vintage II Buttons" pack. I've also tucked a few in with my florals.

I love all of the fussy cutting opportunities that Webster's provides! I cut the dog from a sheet of Western Romance paper, and the hammock on which he sits from a Seaside Retreat paper.

And of course my hidden journaling- can't forget the story! I generally have a lot to say, so hidden journaling is something I include on almost every one of my layouts :). I've also used my sewing machine to stitch around the balloons and "picnic invite" card, just to add a hint of texture and to draw in some more brown coloring into the page.

Products Used (linked to their location in the Scrappin' Patch store):

• Webster'sPages Seaside Retreat "Reader's Paradise" paper
• Webster'sPages Western Romance "Gratitude" paper
• Webster'sPages Western Romance "Date Night" paper
• Webster'sPages Sunday Picnic "Picnic Basket" paper
• Webster'sPages Sunday Picnic "Rainbow Sky" paper
• Webster'sPages Let's Celebrate Sparklers "Vintage II Buttons"
• Webster'sPages "Florettes"

Other:

• Prima flowers
• American Crafts Thickers
• 7 Dots Studio mini alpha stickers
• doilies
• trim

(Kelly) Stuck?! May 15th sketches

Good Morning!!! It's a super dreary, thunder-stormy day here, and it looks like it wont let up for the next week or more :( I really hate thunderstorms..
Anyway, I have another layout to share, this one is for the May 15th sketch at Stuck?!. I'm really loving their sketches lately. I definitely did my own thing with this one, but I'm hoping the sketch is still visible in there, somewhere!
I did lots of misting, painting, splattering, and stamping on this one, it was so fun!! I'm really finally starting to get more comfortable with these techniques, and I'm loving it!! Thanks for looking!

(Kelly) C'est Magnifique Sketch + The Paper Variety

Good morning!!! The week is halfway through, and I couldn't be more happy..it's been a rough one around here. I won't get into it, but let's just say, my easy sleepy baby is not so easy, or sleepy, these days. Add in a "spirited" toddler (putting it nicely..) and well, we're adjusting. I hope...
Anyway! This post is going to be quite long, I apologize! I have two layouts to share in this post, so I just wanna cut right to it. The first one, I made using the May C'est Magnifique sketch..one of Nadia's gorgeous creations.
 This layout is very special, because it is a gift for someone. It is not only a gift, but an apology gift. This is for my younger sister, Audrey, who is 14 years old. I don't want to go too far into it in a public post, but I have been less than a good sister to Audrey, and I have finally realized this, and it is time to be humble, apologize, and ask Audrey for forgiveness..I know from experience (it wasn't that long ago that I was a teenager, ya know..) that it can be extremely difficult being 14 years old. But without a big sister to turn to for advice, support, and friendship,  I can't even imagine what it must be like..and it is SO unfair to Audrey that I have not been there for her as I should. So, I'm hoping that with my apology, and this layout I've made (I'd like to frame it for her) that she will forgive me and we can begin to rebuild a relationship.
So, here is my beautiful little sister..

I thought that Prima's Doodle Deux range was perfect for a fun, teenage girl layout. It's funny, when I first saw this collection, I hated it! Then, I decided I loved it, and bought the whole thing! I'm so glad I did, it's really been fun to work with.

Ok, on to the next thing...

Last week, I shared my first layout for the STARS In Their Eyes competition over at Scrappin' Patch. Well, week 2 has just been completed, and I'm so excited to say that I won this week, too!!! That's two weeks in a row!! I seriously don't mean to come off as bragging, I am just so thrilled with this. I worked really hard on both of the challenges, agonizing over every detail...and well, I'm just so excited!! Ok, thanks for letting me share :) On to my layout...the Star this week, was the amazing awesomely talented Missy Whidden...yep, I'm sure you know her, and know her super fun style!! If not, head over to Missy's blog and check her out, you'll be blown away!!! I really had fun interpreting her style. I used the sketch over at The Paper Variety, from Diana Fisher for this one. I love Diana's sketches, and have really been missing Sketchy Thursdays..so it was a real treat to work with this one.

Ok, thanks for putting up with my SUPER long post, very unlike me, I know!! We just have such a busy week here, I need to cram as much in where I can! Thanks for taking the time to look!! Have a great day.

(Erin) Scrap Africa Sketch #5

Hi there. I'm here to share with you a layout I completed this weekend using the latest sketch (#5) over @ Scrap Africa. Amidst kids and DH needing my help with paneling the ceiling in our new living room- amazing I even got it done. But - I did eventually, and so here we are!!

I created this layout for my oldest son, Wyatt. He's 4 1/2 years old now and FINALLY- he has learned how to give me that great smile/pose within the first couple shots when I pull out my camera. Here he was playing at the park and I got this photo on the second try. I just tell him to smile and he knows what to do! SO nice, especially when I have two other children who are currently not so cooperative. Gunner has his days when he "feels" like giving up a grin to the camera, and Aspen- she's so busy discovering the world around her she won't look at me hardly at all!

SO- it's nice to have one child who can make my "mamarazzi" life a little easier! Lol!

"They Learn"

Since Kaiser Craft is sponsoring Scrap Africa for this challenge, I thought it fitting to use some Kaiser Craft papers on this one :). A few months back I won the KC Saturday Sketch Challenge and was able to choose a complete collection as my prize. After discovering the (then) new Tiger Lily range was sold out, I went to an old favorite- Sweet Nothings. But I haven't used it since I got it- until now. I've been working with blues and greens a lot lately it seems- probably since I've been doing boy layouts. The colors of these papers are perfect for my oldest son- and I had plenty of coordinating floral goodness to turn to as well!

Here is Sketch #5 from Scrap Africa...

And here are a few details for you...

 The fence is Scrap FX, one of their new releases this month...

Okay! So you can see I love closeups, I always include probably way too many but I know that when I go to scrappy blogs, I love studying the closeups when they're included...so for those of you who don't like them- I apologize!

I'm going to warn you, it'll be quite a busy week on our blog. I know Kelly has a lot to share this week and I've been a scrapping machine myself lately- so let me just say "I'm sorry" ahead of time if we're eating up your blog roll, Lol!!

Have a great day :D- see you real soon!
xErin

(Kelly) "So Pretty, So Happy"

Good afternoon!!! I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful (here, anyways) afternoon!! It's just gorgeous here, and we've been outside all day..love it! Actually, that is how we have been spending all of our days, lately, and that results in the happy girl you see in the photo below...she just loves it!
I made this layout for two challenges. The first, Creative Scrappers #207..I started with this sketch, and really, the layout looks nothing like it..but hey, it was my jump off point, and those things just happen sometimes!! The second, is the Fabulous Friday challenge at Frosted Designs, to use quilting on your layout. I thought the Handmade Collection from Lily Bee was perfect for this challenge, with the quilt-like patterns..I just added a little stitching with my machine, and there's my quilt pattern.
Thanks so much for taking a look!!