Great challenge site with LOW entries

You may have caught that I've done several layouts for challenges over at Better Living Through Scrapbooking.  What I didn't mention is that I've randomly won 2 of the 4 monthly prizes given out this year and I only entered 3 of them.  Unfortunately, last month, I was the only entry and as of midnight last night, I believe I had the only entry for May.  Seriously folks.  Go check it out!  The challenges are a lot of fun and usually out-of-the-box.

Martha Stewart does NOT live here! layout

Better Living Through Scrapbooking had a fun challenge for May- scrap something that shows you're not June Cleaver/Martha Stewart.  No matter how much work goes into it, our house just never really seems clean.  I yanked some contrasting photos from MSL magazines just to rub my nose in it.  :)  I'll try to get a better photo in the morning when there's a bit of sunlight happening (never heard THAT before have you!?)

Ingredients:

Paper: October Afternoon (Charles), White paper from Michaels, notebook paper

Accent pieces and cards: October Afternoon

Other: Pastel chalk, Workable Fixative (chalks smear too much not to seal them up!)

Challenges:

Better Living Through Scrapbooking: May #1: “So NOT June Cleaver”.  Do at least two of:

1. Letter the title by hand.

2. Use notebook paper somewhere on the project.
3. Use packaging from a scrapbooking or crafting product.
4. Use chalk on your project (I simply chalked the title).

October Afternoon: Magazine Inspiration Sketch

Meet Me on Monday

1. Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Crunchy.  All the way.  Can you believe it?  A straight answer!  From me... just wait!  There's more!!

2. What is your favorite color Rose?
I love those steely blue ones though I'm not sure I've ever seen one in person.  If you've ever seen "Bed of Roses," you'll know the ones I mean.  As for one in person, we had the most gorgeous white with blushy pink highlights at our old house... until the deer chomped it to the ground one too many times and it went the way of the dodo.

3. Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home?
First things off.  Seriously.  Usually even before a coat.

4. What is your favorite season?
Fall.  End of story.  I hated TX for that reason.  The leaves didn't change.  The weather was either hot, humid and miserable, or cold, humid and miserable.

5. Approximately how many hours a day do you spend blogging?
Actually putting things on my blog, less than an hour.  Reading other folks' blog entries... hahahaha!  I don't know.  I don't want to know.  Plase don't approach me with that number because then I'll truly have to face how addicted to it I am.

The first of the "Movers" pages

We went and caught the Imagination Movers last month and while it's going to take a while to get all of the pages done, I've at least gotten started.

Bloody thing took about 3hrs to do but there's a lot of shrink film involved.  All of the gears were cut from shrink film on my Big Shot, colored (I tried Sharpies, craft ink and colored pencils- the blue were done with colored pencils (my Brilliant Blue Craft Spot is more of a Night of Navy!!) and the red is craft ink.  The title is done from rub ons on a transparency and I colored the white "MOVER!!" yellow with a Sharpie.  I wanted to put gears subtley on the blue paper so I cut some Cricut stamp "film" and mounting foam with the same die on my Big Shot and voila, now I have gear stamps.

Ingredients:
Paper: SU: Brilliant Blue, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow
Ink: VersaMark, SU: Real Red craft ink
Other: Sharpies, Clear matte shrink film, Sizzix: Tim Holtz Gears die, October Afternoon: Rubon letters, Crayola: Colored pencils

Challenges:
Scrapbooker's Paradise #15: Use 3 OLD things: I won't admit to how long the shrink film has been in my stuff unused.  I'd say I found it at Michaels about 6 yrs ago and HAD to have it.  I opened the pkg. last night.  The Cricut stamp material was given to me with the Cricut as a birthday gift 2yrs ago.  I opened it last night for the first time.  The colored pencils I used have been used a bit over the years but I use watercolor pencils a LOT more and I got these pencils back in college if I recall... they may actually go back to high school.  Ouch.

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays: Use old supplies

DCWV/May Arts: I kinda blew it on this one... maybe.  Since my laptop is still a dead thing, I now check out challenges in the basement, copy the sketches and challenges I want to try out onto paper or just copy the sketches onto a single image and print them out on one page, then run up to the 2nd floor to do the work.  That means I sometimes miss details about WHOSE sketch I'm doing.  So I LOVED the sketch for these photos, got it done, and then realized I had no idea whose it was.  I'd given up on it when I was cleaning out my Reader docs tonight and stumbled on it.  Of course, it means that I have piece for DCWV/May Arts with none of their products on it.  However, I don't see that as a requirement and I really like the layout so I'll send it in anyway.  What's the worst that can happen- they say "thanks but no?"  I think I can survive that.

How the Grinch Stole St. Patrick's Day

You may remember (or not) that I made a St. Patty's Day tie for my son and it didn't go over so well.  Yeah.  I know.  Oh WHAT a surprise.  Shocker.  Blah blah blah.  I had to try ya know!  So, here's the page that goes with it.

 

The sketch was from a challenge over at Big Picture Classes this past weekend.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Ornamassortment: SU, St. Patty's Day: Studio G
Ink: Green Galore: SU
Misc: Grinch stickers: EK Success (I've had these hanging around for a few years... happy to use them but didn't think this is how they'd go down.), Journalling card: October Afternoon
Paper: Michaels

Challenge:
Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Childhood Memories

I've been published!!

It's not Paper Crafts or Creating Keepsakes or anything like that but I've been published in a way! I submitted my Mother's Day card to Consumer Crafts and they asked if they could include it in their Mother's Day email. Of course I has to think about it... NOT! I'd put a picture of the blast here but I'm still sans laptop and have some limited abilities. In any case, it's a start!

Graduation card

I found out on Friday that a neighbor was graduating with her Master's degree so I wanted to make her a card. I'm embarassed to say that I don't remember where she's been going so I didn't want to try to mess with school colors and a master's is usually just black anyway so I went with classic black.

The stamp is from studio g and the 2 glitter papers from Michaels and Target. I used watercolor crayons to color the caps and made the tassel on the 3rd from a bit of black and golden yellow embroidery floss.

I'm entering this into
Tip Top Tuesday #32: Anything goes

What the Boy Likes layout

I did this layout for a National Scrapbooking Day challenge over at Big Picture Classes. The challenge was called 10-10-10 and the intent was to write 10 words about someone, use 10 techniques and 10 different materials. I wanted to capture things Boy likes right now (and some he doesn't) rather than 10 words though I think I'll do that at a later date. I'm not 100% thrilled with the layout but I feel like I essentially met the challenge what accomplishing something that I wanted so I'm satisfied.

Techniques
Punches
Listing
Stitching
Stapling
Paper piecing
Altering
Misting
Distressing
Changing the challenge

Materials
Print paper
Card stock
Watercolor pencils
Photo
Ink/stamp
Journal cards
Feature cards
Thickers
Vellum
Distress ink

I'm also entering this is the
Sweet Stampin Challenge: Childhood Memories

I swear! It jumped!

I maybe quiet for a bit as one of my best friends was badly injured today. That's right. My laptop slid right out of my hands this afternoon and landed on a hardwood floor about 4' down and as flat as possible- probably the worst way it could have hit. If you tilt the hard drive, it sounds like it's full of sand- generally not a good thing. I ordered a new drive tonight and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there was no damage to the motherboard. Time will tell but hopefully things will be back to norm in less than a week.

Teacher appreciation gift

I was then I wasn't then I was then I wasn't then I knew I should.  Yep.  Teacher appreciation gifts.  I know Beastlet has given his preschool teacher a run for her money so I decided I really REALLY should. The school is celebrating teacher appreciation next week and has asked the parents to do certain things through the week but I just thought we should recognize her during the "real" week.  However, I didn't want to spend a fortune on something, would like it to be somewhat practical and would like it to look like a preschool present.  Then I saw this frame

on Tip Junkie.  I have some paper mache frames I won from Consumer Crafts this winter that I was saving for a rainy day to make something out of with Boy.  PERFECT.  So I had him pick out crayons he wanted to use, buttons he liked and then he grouped them up and I glued them on.  I kinda like the all-crayon frame more but I think Miss Lindsey will like this just as well.

Fish card

Very simple but I like it.  I stamped the inside with individual letters so it's a bit rough and off-centered, "Just keep swimming". 

If anyone knows a good way to keep the tape from showing through vellum, let me know.  I've tried actual vellum tapes with the same success as normal Tombow seen here.  I know you can strategically put bows and things on them but I just wanted this plain and clean.

Ingredients:
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Vellum: SU,  Light Blue: Michaels
Ink: Basic Black: SU,  Tuxedo Black: Momento
Stamps: On the Beach, Just Beachy: SU  Alphabet: Studio G
Misc: Copics, Joann's Glitter

Challenges:
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge #7: Let's make a splash
Here Come the Boys #1: Anything Goes

I made this card to send to Dustin Pike who will be giving it to a sick boy named Dylan. Have a look at Dustin's site for more info.

Meet Me on Monday

1. What is your favorite kind of muffin?

Oh jeez.  This is like so many other questions- there's no picking one.  There's raspberry muffins with ginger streusel, apple, great strawberry muffins, chocolate w/ chocolate chips...


2. What was the first car you ever owned?

A Bimini Blue Ford Tempo.  (That's not it in the photo but it's the exact same thing.)

3. Which TV Show were you sad to see end?

Hmm. There aren't a lot of shows I get into that last and I don't get tired of before they go the way of the dodo. The only one I can think of that I would have liked to have seen more of is "Dead Like Me." It was quirky, well cast, and had Mandy Patinkin going for it.  "Pushing Daisies" was also another fun one I was sorry to see go.

4. What is your lucky number?

13

I love Friday the 13ths.

5. Pretzels or Potato Chips?

No-buttered, lightly salted soft pretzels (though I like hard pretzels too) and potato chips (mmm... occasional crab chips.)  Side notes: My husband always says junk food from PA tastes the best.  When I was in elementary school, we took a field trip to the UTZ potato chip and Snyders' pretzel plants in Hanover, PA.  Watching that machine wrap the pretzels was pretty darn cool.

Latest Tim Holtz tag

We only made one tag this month.  It wasn't that it was hard but it was a bit tedious and time-consuming.  I kind of wish the 2nd row of petals came out further- it doesn't scream "poinsettia" to me right now- more like "red summer flower" but that's why I'm taking the class- to figure out how to use the materials and do things like this the way I'd like.

Mother's Day card

I'm REALLY happy with this card I made for my MIL for Mother's Day (next week?!  Seriously!?)

Ingredients:

Paper: Floral: My Mind's Eye stack, Whisper White, Rose Romance (?), Regal Rose (?): Stampin' Up

Stamps: Vintage Labels (?), A Touch of Nature, Bliss: Stampin' Up

Ink: True Thyme, Rose Romance: Stampin' Up

Etc: Pearls, White grosgrain ribbon, Alene's Tacky Glue

Challenges:
GAB #13: Any 3D Project
Verve Apr. Challenge: Flowers
Sarah Hurley #39: Butterflies/Things with Wings
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #76: Flowers
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday #30: Mother's Day
Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Try something new (the roses and a 2-layer butterfly are new to me)
Paper Craft Planet: 3d Roses (the instructions for the roses are here.  I stamped flowers from A Touch of Nature and used these instructions to make them into roses)
Emerald Faerie Challenge Blog #1: Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #162: Any sketch... from Card Positioning System #119:

DIY Baker's Twine

You've GOT to check this one out- I saw it yesterday on UCreate.  Lindsay at the Frugal Crafter has some quick and easy instructions on how to make your own Baker's Twine and it looks GOOD!

I saw a sale last week for baker's twine and I was tempted to get some but $8.99 per color is still a lot since I want 3 or 4 colors and what do I need a ridiculous amount like 250yds for?!  I need like 3 or 4yds!  Seriously!  This thing Lindsay has come up with is easy, BRILLIANT, scalable, BRILLIANT, color-customizable, and did I mention BRILLIANT?!

Decorated Altoids box

I've been wanting to do one of these but just hadn't gotten to it.  It wasn't quite as easy as I'd been led to believe- the inner papers weren't able to cut to fit well and I struggled with the ModPodge around the hinges.  However, for a first go, I'm pretty happy with it. 

I started with the flowers keeping their chipboard centers but took them back out and replaced them with pearls.

With pearls

With the chipboard centers:

I'd love to tell you more about the papers but I think they're ones I picked up loose at Michaels so all bets are off.  I think the chipboard shapes came from a K&Co. set I found at Walmart in the clearance area for $1.  I inked the chipboard with white craft ink, Rose Romance, Garden Green and Only Olive from SU and then used Crystal Effects on them.  It didn't work real well- the inks kept bleeding and moving around in the CE so it was a bit messy and they didn't color the way I would have liked.  I need to do more work with chipboard- not something I've used much until now.  I used TH's Walnut ink to age the papers a bit and used glossy ModPodge to put the papers on.

I think this will be used to house a gift card for my Mom for Mother's Day.

I'm entering this in
Craft Test Dummies Go Green Linky Party
Pear Tree Design's Challenge 46: Colourful

I'd love to talk to you when you talk to me but...

I saw this post this morning on The Pursuit of Happiness and decided I really wanted to repost it.  I try to respond to comments I receive here in blogland but frequently I'm responding to noreply@blogger.com which doesn't make for happy conversing.  Have a look at the quick walkthrough Lisa posted if you'd like to change your profile so someone can respond to your comments.  This could be important in the near future, say if there was a giveaway and you won and I needed to get in touch with you... hint hint!

Who Says it's Spring?!

You may (or may not) remember that I did a Winter layout back in Feb. for a Better Living Through Scrapbooking challenge.  At the time I said I wanted to do one for each season.  Well, it's time for spring... if that's what it's called here.

April's 2nd challenge is Spring In My Yard”

Take a photo of one or more signs that spring has arrived in your yard and build a layout or project around it.
Use at least two of the following criteria:
1. Use a monochromatic color scheme (green)
2. Include some ribbon (I almost added some leaf ribbon but it was a bit too yellow and a bit too much)
3. Use your printer to create one element on the layout other than the picture. (pix only)
4. Title your layout, but do not use the word “Spring.” Find some other word or words to get the point across.  (I frequently say, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas any more" and it just jumped at me for this project.)

I know this is a SUPER simple page but I just want to keep these 4 seasonal pages pretty clean so they can work with one another pretty easily.  I was going to use rubon letters but I didn't want white or black so I simply hand did them in a similar style.  I used a green Copic and Sharpie, print paper from an SU hostess 6x6, and generic green buttons with light green embroidery floss.

Getting back on track

Well, my MIL is gone so now I'm in recovery time.  Between the time we were at her house and she was here, it was 13 days and let's face it, when you travel and have company, normal chores and cleaning just don't happen so it's taking me a few days to get all of the cogs moving again.  I have some scrap and card projects I want and need (Mother's Day is WHEN?!!!) to get done but I think the earliest that will happen is tonight.  In the meantime, since there was no Meet Me on Monday this week, I thought I'd drop out "5 things you probably don't know about me" for giggles.

Let's see.
1. I have a master's degree in computer animation and graphics.  I have quite a few friends at little animation shops like Pixar and Dreamworks.  I never ended up getting into the field even after 4 years in grad school due to some bad timing, a few bad decisions and such.  In the end, I think I may be happy having a life instead.  :)

2. I HATE chocolate chips cookies... but love liver and tuna casserole.  Don't ask me.  I don't get it either. (Just to clarify, that's liver (no onions please) one night and tuna casserole a whole different evening.  I agree- the thought of a liver and tuna casserole turns my stomach too!)

3. I just can't give up my 80's music.

4. When I first saw stamped cards, I thought they were so disgustingly "country-cute" and couldn't figure out why anyone would spend time or money doing something so cheap looking.  Of course, I eventually learned there are LOTS of stamps out there there aren't country, cute or cheap.  We won't discuss how many of those stamps sets I have on my shelves.

5. I LOVE a cool, windy, fall day when I can wear shorts or jeans and a great big sweatshirt.  A day like that just has a unique feel to it.  I REALLY dislike hot days.  North Carolina living is going to be rough this summer.

Sorry to go dark for a while

I've mentioned before that my goal is to enter at least one challenge a week.  Unfortunately, I haven't gotten much done recently and have been dark for a bit.  Last Wed. we drove up to MD for an early Easter visit and to see the Imagination Movers in concert.  We came back on Sun. bringing my MIL with us.   She typically doesn't bring anything to do/read when she visits so my days are devoted to being entertainment director and company for her while my DH is at work.  The result is that my crafting time is sliced to what I have the umph to do come 10pm when everyone goes to bed and I'm fried... nada.  Hopefully I'll be back on track early next week when things return to whatever normal is.  :)