I decided to play around with the adorable Keepsake line from My Little Shoebox.  The pinks, turquoise, yellow, orange and grey are a beautiful, spring-y palette and the flowers, musical notes and birds are irresistably cute!

 I used a Chipboard
scalloped page from Trunk Punky and misted the scalloped edge with
Starburst spray in Cattail Copper Brown.  I layered 2 papers from
Keepsake (Razzleberry & Garden Delight) for the background, with the
print over the solid, distressing the edges of both and folding over
one corner of the cute floral print for interest.  I used another
subtle print for the chipboard bird and used a small Lil' Blossom
(parchment) folded for the bird's wing over a small piece of Lacy
Blossom.  For the inspirational quote I printed the saying off on my
printer, then adhered a Journaling tag (Simple Treasures) which I
taped over the first paper and then printed it again. This was adhered
over a small Lil' Lacy Blossom sprayed with Hottie Patottie Pink
Starburst.  I used a twig I found outside for the bird perch.  For the
nest I scrunched together some crinkled Kraft packing material with
tulle and twine.  I used more tulle for the hanger. Fun & simple!

VEGAS ON THE HORIZON!

Be a Rebel with Punky Sprouts  (Pelican Bay) Sponsor: Punky Sprouts Using the Rebel Sprout Mini Album (each page is a different size & shape) you will make an amazing layered album like you've never seen before! You will complete the album using an adorable line of Kraft & Black graphic designs with polka dots, houndstooth, diamonds, stripes & damask. This album also has plenty of Vegas Glitz & Glam with glitter & rhinestones, Starburst Sprays, tulle & ribbons. Embellished with Punky Sprouts' Lil' Blossoms and Lil' Stems, learn the NEW & UNIQUE flower-making techniques!! This album has texture-galore with layers of paper, cork, canvas, twine, tags, envelopes, pockets & pleated papers. As always, you will have a Punky FUN time in a fast-paced class which will take STRESS out of producing a beautiful album you'll treasure! Come on - take the plunge!!! What you’ll make: A complete & versatile Rebel Sprout mixed media mini album! While the class sample is made using pics of my dog - this book can work for anybody's "Perfect 10!" The neutral Kraft line of papers used allow for ANY photos to POP! What you should bring: Basic supplies plus a Crop-a-dile; Fabri-Tac adhesive; needle large enough to thread twine; brayer (optional) What products you’ll play with: Punky Sprouts' Rebel Sprout album, with multiple-sized layers of chipboard, canvas and acrylic; Punky Sprouts embellishments in cork, parchment, canvas, corrugated board and twine; an adorable line of Kraft papers by Paper Trunk; misting sprays, alphabets, doilies, bling, ribbons, tulle, tags, and more! What techniques you’ll try: Two NEW flower-making designs; texturing and layering of oodles of mixed media; misting What scrapping skill level is best: Intermediate to Advanced (fast-paced) How long class lasts: 2 hours Class price: $40.00 PRE-REGISTRATION, $42.00 AT EVENT

Peace. Love. Art.

Today I made a wall hanging for my scrap room using the gorgeous papers from Robin's Nest "Classified"  collection.  I used 1/2 of a scalloped Punky Playground for my plaque and inked it all black with a Staz-On inkpad.  Next I cut squares of 5 different papers and placed them in rows, adhering with Collage Pauge.  To add a bit of subtle texture, I traced around each square with a black pigment pen.  I used a strip of Smash tape in b & w polka dots for embellishment along the top of the plaque and as "ribbon" in corners.  I attached silver & black mini Dew Drops on the scallops and in the centers of some flowers, as well as on the fancy filigrees in the word "art."  I added the lettering (also with Collage Pauge) for my Title "peace, love, art." Using a Copic marker RV17, I colored multiple Lil' Blossoms for a pop of PINK, layering them over Lil' Lacey Blossom and b&w polka dot cupcake holders.  For the blossom centers I used multiple mini dew drops or giant rhinestones by Marc Jacobs.  Lastly, I added pink tulle to hang!  This paper collection has many different patterns, from dog paw prints to beautiful Fleur di Lis. Most have glitter in the pattern, so even on the small squares I cut there is plenty of sparkle!  

Punky Sprouts products used: Punky Playground, Lil' Blossoms Parchment and Lil' Blossoms Lacey

Robin's Nest products used:  Classified papers, Black, Silver & White mini Dew Drops

Other products:  Collage Pauge, Therm-o-Web Tiny Dots (to adhere dew drops), Cricut "Sophisticated" cartridge for the word "art," Staz-On ink, My Little Shoebox mini alphabet, cupcake holders, tulle, Micron pen, rhinestones by Marc Jacobs, Polka-dot Smash tape, Crop-a-dile to punch holes.

Crafterminds Trends Challenge - Throwdown!

When I read this challenge posted over at Scrapchallenge.com I knew I had to create a layout immediately!  So, here goes - the most fun layout I've ever made....(speaking as a mini-album, altered-item creator). http://scrapchallenge.com/hilarious-crafterminds-trends-challenge/

You can view the crafterminds blog here: http://crafterminds.com/2012/02/crafterminds-trends-challenge-2/#comment-62436
The objective of this challenge is to include in one layout/project as many current trends as possible and to poke a little fun at the same time.  Here are the trends I incorporated:
1) Pennant banners
2) Chevron pattern
3) Mustard/Gray color combo
4) Baker's Twine
5) Sheet Music
6) Any reference to "keep calm and carry on"
7) Geometric patterns
8) Using a bird
9) Quatrefoil designs
10) Bunting
11) Canvas
12) Hat Pins
13) Sewing
14) Mist Spray with mask
15) Doilies
16) Animal prints

Products used:  PP - My Mind's Eye, My Little Shoebox, Robin's Nest; Cardstock Stickers - My Little Shoebox (music/birds); Doilies, Cork Banners, Canvas, Twine - Punky Sprouts; Chevron pattern mask - Crafter's Workshop; Mist Spray in Gray by Lindy's Stamp Gang; Bunting rosette - Girls' Paperie; Charcoal Chalk ink - Colorbox.

Thanks for looking - I hope this made you chuckle! wink-wink.

My Little Shoebox Sweetheart Sketch Challenge

On Friday I received a box FULL of My Little Shoebox goodies!  Unfortunately, it is not all for me....!  I could not wait to get my hands on it, so I divided up to distribute as fast as I could....then on to create!  I love the sketch challenge posted on the MLS blog, so here is what I made ~ -

It's called "Little Sailor Girl" and it is a picture of me at 6 years old.  Products used:  All patterned cardstock, round alpha's & die-cut clouds from MLS lines of Aiko and Up in the Trees; Punky Sprouts Lil' Lacey Blossom misted with Rudolph's Nose Red Starburst Spray, Red button by Jenni Bowlin, star charm I found in my old stash and Color Box Chalk ink in charcoal and stitched with white thread throughout.

http://mylittleshoebox.typepad.com/my-little-shoebox/

A shabby chic Valentine's Wreath

So, I was bored today waiting for a package to arrive.  Every time I thought about leaving to run errands I was sure that Fed-ex would arrive while I was gone, so I decided to sit tight.  Naturally, this meant creating....and this is what I came up with:  I am pretty happy with how it turned out!  I wanted to use only items I had on hand - a heart-shaped grapevine wreath, some Punky Sprouts Lil' Blossoms, burlap, tulle, Starburst mists in various shades of pink/coral, a paper mache bird and white distress crackle paint.  In no time at all, it was done! I hope you like it...

Punky Sprouts Challenge!

Today I finally finished my first Challenge project EVER!  I have never been a SAHM like most of the lucky scrappers and stampers in the world.  I have to say, this was really fun!  I felt like I was playing hooky--lounging and scrapping in my jammies and eating bon-bons while I scrapped - okay THAT detail is not true...lol!  Here are the details: http://getpunkysprouts.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-monthly-challenge.html

I used the corrugated Punky Playground for the base, painting the outer inch or so with Picket Fence Distress crackle paint.  I used 2 pieces of cardstock in gray prints by DCWV, Broken China Distress Ink around the border of the gray paper and misted a Punky Sprouts Lil' Stem Canvas with Turquoise Glimmer Mist.  I used red thread to stitch all the papers and canvas and even used it to sew a border around my photo.  I made a red flower out of a small scrap of fabric torn into a strip, added a home-made faux metal bracket in pewter, some black glitter chipboard letters from Recollections and a "Beautiful" stamp by CTMH for the title.  Finishing touches were adding the bling by Want2Scrap and a decorative pin in the flower then a quick application of Charcoal chalk ink around the outer border.  I hope you like it!

My beautiful storm, Lilley, during adolescence... need I say more?