Back to Scrap!

Do any of you get stumped when it comes to scrapbooking, the thing you love the most?

Scrapbooking is what really opened the major door to crafting for me, in 2003, when I was 17 (!). Since then, I've run into some major scrap-roadblocks, mostly due to my fear of lack of organization. Confession: I can't stand the thought of completing a page or Scrapbook, only to discover later that I documented something inaccurately or in the wrong order. I mean, I obsess over the order of photos down to the week, day, even hour and minute as far as sequence. It's ridiculous. This has become a huge creative handicap for me, causing me to never really finish my scrapbooks.

Is that crazy? 10 years and not one real finished album to show for it. Oy. :(

We got married last October, and I told myself that day would be the official end to me putting off documenting because of this fear. I'm struggling with it for sure, but I am also getting back into scrapping (both 6x6 and 12x12) and I could not be more thrilled! I am happy to report that I had a day free from work the other day and had a scrapbook marathon day.. I completed quite a few pages, both large and mini, and even tried some new techniques! Here are some peeks at my 12x12 pages, complete with a technique I finally got brave enough to try: ink misting/masking!

Thanks so much for reading along. I hope I can be of some help or inspiration to someone else who struggles with the business end of scrapbooking, too. Just try to remember it doesn't have to be perfect (perfect is such a terrible word). At the end of the day, if you enjoy looking at the art you've created - and at least know the people in the photos and a rough year ;) - you've accomplished great things! Until next time..

HAPPY SCRAPPING!!
Emily

Everyday Card using Watercolor Technique

Hey there! Tonight I was inspired to pull out some products/techniques I haven't used in awhile. Here is a card I made this evening using some oldies but goodies!

I began by choosing some nice solid image rubber stamps - in this case, Three Silhouettes by Hero Arts. I mixed some inks (wild honey, milled lavender and victorian velvet) with some water from a mini mister. I stamped all three stamps in a random pattern onto smooth white cardstock cut to 3.75 x 5.25". Once I covered the entire paper, I used a paintbrush to splatter the  three ink mixtures from my craft mat. When I was finished, it looked like this:

I used an ink blending tool to cover the entire paper with antique linen distress ink. I LOVE the look of this ink blended over the light lavender color!

Next, to add the dramatic flair I wanted to acheive, I pulled some HUGE Heidi Swapp flowers out of my stash. I've had them for awhile - checked the copyright date to find 2002. :) About time I put them to use! Though I was seeking drama, the flower was actually TOO large to fit, so I trimmed it in have with some precision scissors. I adhered it down smoothly using my ATG. The flower was the perfect addition to my feminine card...it's so fun pulling out older products and putting them to use! I added some Rock Candy distress stickles to the petals for a muted sparkle.

On top of the flower I wanted a sentiment. I chose "lovely" from Hero Arts' Heyday Sentiments. I stamped it  on white cardstock using Jenni Bowlin's Malted Milk ink. I trimmed it into a half banner and blended some more antique linen ink on top. Finally, I used some Buttercup Liquid Pearls to make random and various sized pearls around the sentiment and center of the flower.

I had a lot of fun working with the watercolor technique I hadn't tried in awhile, and some products that had gotten dusty. Thank you so much for reading along with me!

Happy crafting! I hope you create something beautiful today.
xoxo
Emily

some updates :)

Hello my bloggy friends! I hope everyone is keeping warm in this blizzard that seems to be sweeping the nation. It's a mess here! I had the flu last week, and immediately following my recovery, I began my new job. :) I've been working LOTS, and loving it. Not much craft time (as in none), but good things come to those who wait..

During the new year, there was an amazing sale on cartridges at www.cricutmachine.com. (If you're not signed up already, you'll want to get their e-mails. ..Rumor has it that this, along with other sites and eBay accounts are run by ProvoCraft. This may seem sketchy, but...I'm not sure I care, haha. I have ordered from all 3 rumored sellers, each time with great success.) At any rate, there were loads of cartridges for $14.95, so I got 3. :) One of these was Happily Ever After. WHAT?!, you may be saying, how did Emily, the world's biggest Cinderella fan not have the cartridge where Cinderella and Cricut collide? The answer is I do not know. But I have it now. ;) Of course, I couldn't wait to play, so during a mini-visit to Archiver's I picked up the bazzill colors I would need to create the princess, Gus, and Jaq.

loooove this cardstock!

These are not, I repeat, not easy! But very fun if you have the time. The results are adorable, and I can't wait to make projects out of these. :)

I also got a new HA stamp set, Just My Type, that has been on my wishlist - this vintage typewriter comes with 3 type font phrases that fit in the page space. Love!

Also got a fun tutorial for these hearts!! Hellllo, valentines for my students! :)

I didn't exactly *JUST* go to Archivers... :) This is how we spent our Saturday:

Sadly, we did not bring much luck to the COLTS with our mere presence. But we had a BLAST! :)

Thanks to my new Followers - I'm so happy to have you! :)

xoxo

Emily

Bon Voyage cards

As this school semester comes to an end, our school will say "see you soon" to 2 sweetheart students and their mom - they will be living in another country next term. They are special to me, and I'm making them cards before they go.

* This is a white 4x4 (fits A2 envelope!), with a grey 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" mat.

* The grey mat is stamped with Hero Arts Friend Definition in Milled Lavender, and the edges are ink blended with the same.

* The pearls in the upper corners are self-adhesive & lavender, from Recollections.

* The ribbon was sheer white, but I inked it with Dusty Concord. I hadn't yet done this with ribbon - love it!

* And last but not least, this chandelier, which I am in love with, is cut at 3" from the Summer in Paris cartridge. Cut out of DCWV paper from Pocket full of Posies stack.

^ Close-up of ribbon detail. I love this - I bet I will rarely use ribbon now, without inking it!

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2 of these -- one for each girl:

* This is a white 4x4. The bottom is punched with a fiskars border punch (sorry, I don't know the name).

* The rainbow heart and all its layers are cut from the Create a Critter cartridge, at 2.5" (+ shadow). Glitter paper is DCWV.

* Coordinating eyelets are The Paper Studio and I love them.

* Purple scrap inside card to emphasize border punch, and edges are blended with Tumbled Glass.

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I'd like to take a sec to talk about the cartridges I used for these cards, because they're 2 of my favorites.

First, Summer in Paris is one I bought back before I really got into using my Cricut. I think it was my third cart. ever - found it on sale at Archiver's. This cartridge is SO GORGEOUS, and semi- hard to find. All of the images are VERY intricate (so I wouldn't advise very small cuts). There are options for several 3d projects as well - this chandelier is one of them. The images are actually pretty versatile - there is a phone, hot air balloon, male & female silhouettes, bike, car, perfume, phrases, several Parisian landmarks, and more. It's not everyone's style, but if it's yours, I'd get it while you can. I love mine! You can read more and see the images here.

Second, how about that Create a Critter? This is BY FAR my favorite cart of my collection. It is filled with adorable animals, phrases, accesories and more. The card I've made here shows that there is a lot more than just critter layers on it. In fact, I love this cartridge so much, I'm tempted to write Provo Craft and suggest/ask if they have thought of coming out with a second one. I'm just sayin', if they can make a second Paper Dolls, there are tons more critters they could give us to create...You know it would sell like hot cakes.

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I want to give a big friendly THANK YOU to Sammye Jo at 62 Cards. She put a link of my blog on hers to get some followers for me. :) She does the most beautiful work - and right now she's doing 12 Days of Giveaways! You've gotta see her. :)

Gotta get to work now. Many thanks for reading!!

xoxo