Monday, August 31, 2009

Gotta love some Vintage!!

Have you seen all the great vintage papers from Graphic 45? A couple of weeks ago, I created this "Namesake" layout for a class at Porter's. It sold out in no time as well as half of the paper we had in stock. I have so many projects I want to make with this stuff, and not enough time! Here are a couple more I did manage to complete this weekend:


This started out as a wooden 12x12 alterable picture frame. To make one like it, brush Mod Podge on the surface and place a sheet of patterned paper over it. (Mod Podge dries very quickly, so you have to work fast). After smoothing out any bubbles, flip the frame over so you are looking at the back. Use a craft knife to cut the paper away from the photo opening. Embellish with stickers, flowers, ribbons, a quote or anything else you would like.


To create the paper flowers, cut various sizes of circles using a die cut machine or paper punches. Cut around each circle with decorative scissors (or use a scalloped punch). Ink the edges with a warm brown color (I love "Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Tim Holtz). Lightly spritz each circle with water. Crinkle them up and shape them to form a 3-dimensional layer. Once dry, layer two or three circles and attach them together with glue dots or a decorative brad to create a lovely, one-of-a-kind flower.

This layout was created using the "Baby 2 Bride" collection. Since the white velvet stickers didn't show up on the page, I altered the color of them with some chalks to better match the layout.


Incorporate hidden journaling into a cluster of elements to create a unique photo corner. The metal key by Tim Holtz really adds to the vintage feel of the layout as well as the crackle paint used to alter the chipboard flourish.


Create a simple flower by gathering a bit of sheer ribbon and topping it with a punched circle and a pretty pearl brad.

I must say that the beautiful photograph of the baby shoes was done by Margaret Moore Woods. Here is her Flickr page. Thank you so much for the use of your photo!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Back to School

The saddest time of the year for me...back to school! Call me strange, but I really don't like the end of summer vacation. Now we are back to early morning schedules, homework, after school activities, homework, cooler weather, and did I mention homework? The kids were SO not ready to go back! So although I'm digging in my heels and trying hard not to believe that the start of the new school year has arrived, I created this layout in honor of the annual event:


This layout was based on an idea out of the new Close to my Heart catalog. I die cut the leaves from felt because I love the added texture and dimension it gives to a project. I also used lots of QuicKutz dies along with papers from the new Abbey Road collection from My Mind's Eye. You can check out this fun new line here.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Flutter Butter Anyone?

As promised, here's some projects using the new Flutter Butter collection from Bo Bunny. This line is one of my favorites by far (probably since I love blue the best). :)

While the kids were as swimming lessons last week, I had plenty of time to flip through all the new scrapbooking magazines. I saw the cutest idea in Scrapbooks Etc. using this song by Trace Adkins, "You're Gonna Miss This." I loved the theme and decided to use it on a page of my own. Since school is just around the corner, and it seems impossible that summer is over, and I'm sad that the kids are growing and growing, and I know that time flies WAY too fast...(whew!) this song seemed fitting.

Paper: Bo Bunny, Chipboard: DCWV and Pebbles, Alpha Stickers: Doodlebug, Journaling Spots: Heidi Swapp, Font: Susie's Hand, Paint: Delta



Recently, some of the store employees got to go to a Paper Party sponsored in part by Bo Bunny. Leticia brought back these cute ideas and I made them for the store:

Here's a 12x12 layout in a shadow box frame. This is my friend, Angie, and her son...

Paper: Bo Bunny, Flowers: Bazzill and Petaloo, Chipboard: Heidi Swapp andScenic Route


And I LOVE this 12x12 canvas to hang in my scrapping corner...

Paper, Rub-ons, Brads: Bo Bunny, Flowers: Prima, Chipboard: Scenic Route

To see more great ideas, visit the Bo Bunny gallery.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Another great Vintage website

While browsing through the Simply Handmade magazine the other day, I ran across a cool website that has vintage images and project ideas available. The Vintage Workshop has downloadable images for a small fee that you can use on jewelry, altered items, clothing, scrapbooking...you name it!


Their blog has some great ideas and step-by-step instructions for completing some cute and innovative projects like a framed chalkboard to give as a teacher gift or to use as a kitchen message board:
...and look at this pretty vintage pendant:



How about a fabric postcard you can actually send in the mail:



I love looking at pretty things. Although I don't create a lot of altered items, vintage art, photographs, and home decor inspire me.

Monday, August 17, 2009

I'M BEGGING YOU!!!

Please help bail me out of jail! I mean, really, look how sad I am...
Believe me, I wouldn't post this silly photo of me for all of cyberspace to see if this wasn't for a good cause!


So, here's the scoop...

SET ME FREE! …and help the March of Dimes arrest the rising rate of premature birth. 1 in 8 babies is born to soon, and often too small. These tiniest babies struggle to survive, and too often many don’t.

I will soon be incarcerated in the March of Dimes Jail & Bail where I will be served only the finest bread and water (okay, maybe lunch!) You can help ensure my good behavior through your contribution. My hard earned bail will aid and abet the March of Dimes in funding lifesaving programs of research, education and community services. Programs that will save babies’ lives.

You can donate here at the March of Dimes. Remember, even the smallest donation helps!


Thank you!

p.s. I really have collected more money than the little ticker line shows on the March of Dimes website. It doesn't account for the many people who have given me cash donations in person. I really want to say "Thank You" to all you generous people! I still have a long way to go, however, so any donation would be greatly appreciated!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Another Heritage Page

I've been wanting to create this layout for awhile now, and finally found the perfect papers to do it with. This is the first time I've worked with Graphic 45 products, and I couldn't quit layering all those pretty papers! I love that you can easily intermix papers from many different collections. I really, really like this stuff!!

To create the flowers, I die cut and punched different sizes of circles from double-sided paper. Then I lightly spritzed each circle with water and carefully munched them up. I let them dry while they were still slightly crumpled, then layered them together and attached a pretty pearl brad in the center. For the leaves, I cut them out of green paper and basically followed the same procedure as the flowers.


Papers: Graphic 45 and 7 Gypsies; Die Cuts: QuicKutz; Font: Adler, Punches: EK Success; Digital Photo Frame: Jessica Sprague; Brads: Making Memories


Here's a little info about this layout...

The man on the left is Charles Coulson Rich. In 1863, he led a party of pioneers to the Bear Lake Valley and settled in what is now Paris, Idaho. This was the beginning of a 20-year struggle to maintain the colony in the face of severe winters, poor harvest, delicate Indian relations, and isolation. Rich County, Utah and St. Charles, Idaho are named after him.

My great-great-grandparents were among the first group of settlers in the Bear Lake Valley. They named their son (who was the first white boy born there) Charles Coulson Shirley.

His son (my grandfather) was named Arthur Coulson Shirley.

Then my brother, Arthur, is in the 4th photo.

And last is my nephew, Coulson.


I love creating heritage pages! They are often a challenge, but it's so rewarding to tell the stories of my ancestors through scrapbooking.

Monday, August 10, 2009

New Bo Bunny

Although I'm in denial about it, it's starting to feel like Autumn is on the way. The one good thing about that is all the pretty fall collections rolling into the store. We received some new lines from Bo Bunny last week and I got to play!

Here's the Delilah collection...



and the Kitchen Spice Collection...


These photos are all of my nieces and nephews. They just seemed to go with these papers so well!

I wish I would have had more time to make more projects. I still want to do a canvas and a cute recipe block. And I didn't even get to touch the Flutter Butter collection which is my favorite. I decided I needed to devote a whole slew of projects to those papers. If only there were more hours in the day to scrap!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Watch out for Teeter Totters

Life has been pretty crazy around our house lately trying to squeeze in every last possible thing before school starts. (Ugh! I'm soooo not ready for that yet!) We've gone to summer movies, family reunions, scout camp, the lake, 4-H, Grandma & Grandpa's house, and swimming lessons. Oh, and the dentist. Did I mention the dentist?

Last year about this time, Taylor was playing on a teeter totter at a scout activity and had a little accident. His front tooth got broken off almost at the gumline. He was such a trooper and even managed a smile for the camera a couple of days later. The dentist fashioned him a temporary fake tooth until he gets older and can have a permanent one. All was fine and good until last week when we discovered Taylor needed a root canal. Oh no! Once again, he was a trooper and came through with flying colors.

The experience prompted a photo shoot with the teeter totter and this "owie" page.


Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Papers and Stamps: Bo Bunny; Die Cuts: QuicKutz; Ticket: My Mind's Eye

My next layout might be about Cameron losing his glasses in the lake. What fun!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Help! I've been arrested!


I need your help! I've been "arrested" as part of the March of Dimes jail and bail campaign and need to raise $1000 by August 18th. Any donation large or small is greatly appreciated! You can safely donate on the March of Dimes website.

Please help me! I don't want to stay in jail forever! Thank you, thank you for your donations!