YMBD Contest for this Summer

Hi all you scrappers and stampers!

I thought I'd take a break from my fence construction to post the 2 layouta I have completed for YMBD's 92 Days of Summer Contest.

This is the sketch inspiration for Week 2 (June 8-14). I just love this design.

This is the two page layout that I completed. It's about our need for PRIVACY hence the fence theme :-) I used lots of goodies on this layout. I made my own chipboard flowers with my Big Kick, stamped a design with Rangers Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. I added small twine bows with a small button for the center. A few photo mat corner details and embellishing with ink and a nice simple title that I also used my Big Kick alpa die cuts for. I used the YMBD inspiration suggestion to paint on my picture and I just love how it looks. The center pic is of one of our dogs who fell asleep on the top of the wood pile while we were making a panel in the garage. Awwwww.... she was soooo tired.

A closeup of my chipboard flower creations....

I used my stash for this great metal embellishment. It's all about summer you know!

Another closer view of the title and ivory acrylic paint edging for the center photo.

I added some journaling complimenting the shape of the paper border.

All my small pics across the layout are pictures of our building permit, my hubby loading wood in the parking lot at Lowe's, stained 4x4's drying on saw horses, a wet stained panel, the corner template design on the fence panel and finally my hubby leveling and installing the first panel at the back corner of our yard.


This is the sketch inspiration for Week 1 (June 1-7).

I decided to make this layout about all my June blooming flowers in my gardens and containers.
I just love all the pretty colors.

I tore and distressed some of the paper edges and then used a few inks to add some color. I just love that turquoise grosgrain ribbon accent.

I journaled at the bottom of the circle.

I used a 3D glue dot to add dimension to my Bloom with Abandon circle here.

TFL everyone. I'll be back soon for more layouts and interesting events.

Enjoy !!!!

Darlene

A Fun Packed Weekend

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your family and this weekend. My hubby and I were upnorth this weekend taking care of our home up there. We had grass a foot long!!! YIKES We usually get up there (after a long harsh winter) in the first week of April. I like to start feeding our little hummingbirds but we didn't make it up that early this year. There was way too much going on this spring. Everything is all back to normal and wow was it wonderful to have peace and quiet and birds chirping. We just love it there.

Now that I'm home I'm catching up on everything here now. I have two new wooden stamps I purchased that I am looking forward to playing with asap. First I need to do a scrapbook layout for YMBD. They are having an awesome 92 Days of Summer contest. The concept is to take 1 picture a day for the next 13 weeks. Each week they give you tips and a great sketch to use all 7 pics for each week. Wow it will be great to get pics printed and scrapped. I'm lovin' this idea and I don't even care about the great prizes that are being given away.

Isn't this little guy adorable?

See you later stampers and scrappers!

Darlene

Jada Layout

I did this layout of my grandaughter Jada for a challenge on YMBD. We took a trip to the Detroit zoo (Jada, Aunt Heather, Grandpa Tom and Grandma Darlene). There was this beautiful metal butterfly chair right outside the butterfly house so of course we had a perfect background for a picture. Jada couldn't wait to just hop on up and pretend she was this graceful, beautiful butterfly!

On YMBD the challenge was to use "texture" on a LO. Here's link to the actual challenge

http://yourmemoriesbydesign.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1802

Give it a try!!!!

I used grungeboard for the butterflies and inked them and blinged them with Ranger distress inks, glitter and rhinestones. I even stamped a butterfly on a transparency for a different texture.

I added a bit of blue Stickles to the patterned paper and also stamped a butterfly cardstock and bentd it for dimension. I added some thin silver wire and ribbon to the Lo and picture corners and glued alot of beads for the flower centers. MORE texture :-}

A little foam leaf or two and...

It was done! I really like the blues and greens together.

TFL!!!! Have a super day :-}

A GREAT recipe

My husband and I agreed last night to set the alarm for 4:30 a.m. We weren't sure how long the voting lines would be since Michigan is a swing state. We showered, had our coffee and headed off to our precinct. We arrived at 6:15 a.m. with no lines outside. A few people were lined up inside the building and everyone was cheery and very polite. We were number 16 and 17 and our experience was the best we have ever had. I don't know if that means we were super early or if that means that the voters figured it would be a mad house early so they are going tonight. Anyway....





and now I can play with all my scrappin' goodies and paint the WHOLE day...woohoo!

I have felt like making some peanut butter cookies too and I remembered that I did this LO a few years ago. I'd like to share this recipe with you....it was a favorite of mine as a little girl.

I scanned the original recipe (with my mother's writing on it) so I had a memory of her too! I always have a hot cup of tea with these cookies in my English bone china cup and saucer. I hope you like the recipe. You may want to make a double batch!


Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup Crisco
1/2 cup Jif creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cup sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Cream shortening and peanut butter together until light; add sugars gradually and blend well. Beat in vanilla and egg. Sift flour with soda and salt and blend into the first mixture. Shape dough into small ball and place approximately 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten the top of each dough ball with the tines of a fork dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. Makes 4 dozen.

Note: To keep cookies crisp store in a loosely covered container. If they absorb moisture from the air you can crisp them again in a 300 degree oven for 5 minutes.

ENJOY!!!!

It's BOO-tiful because it's finished!

As promised...here are the final steps to completing this Halloween altered item. Thanks to The Paper Store for their original design.

The beginning steps for this project are listed in the previous blog posting :-)

Step 6: I made my own fence out of chipboard. You can also buy this fence at a local craft store if you so choose. The fence slats measure 3/8" wide by 2 1/4" tall. I just made a pattern and traced 12 slats for the front and cut them out individually. Wrap pieces of thin wire around each slat for desired effect. You can also make some slats a bit crooked for a spooky look if you prefer.

Step 7: Paint the front of each fence set (4 slats per set) and let dry. I only did one coat because I wanted to distress it and make it look old.
Step 8: I also added a bit of silver/blue metallic wax to certain areas of the fence for an aged look.
Step 9: Use your sandpaper and distress some areas so it looks weathered.
This is the final result.
Step 10: Glue your chipboard letters spelling BOO onto a patterned paper of your choice. Let dry, cut out and distress the edges with sandpaper and Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger.

Step 11: Choose a scroll or flourish stamp and stamp areas of each letter with black ink.

Step 12: Cut raffia and ribbon to size (leave enough to tie a knot at each end when dry). Put glue across the BACK center line of the front 3 pieces of cardstock. Press down and then apply glue to the remaining pieces of cardstock and attach. You are basically sandwiching the raffia/ribbon between those cardstock pieces. Leave about 1/2" in between each square. Weight down with a cool iron or other heavy object and let dry.

The final arrangement should look like this. Just a reminder.....remember if you have the center pattern reversed as I did then make sure you have kept the same arrangement when you glue.

Step 13: Once your "sandwich" has totally dried, sand the edges a bit to give it a rustic look. I also tore a few top layers of the chipboard to really grunge it up. Glue your fence and any embellishments you have made onto each of the 3 sections of the FRONT of this project. I made a small pumpkin by embossing and chalking some color onto the origial stamped image. I glued him onto the center section.

The final project looks like this....

This is what I did with the back center section....

This is a closeup of the left panel.

I hope you enjoy making one of these for your home. I plan on changing the look for the Christmas holiday too. I think this can be a very versatile little project. Use it for baby, pets, birthdays or even add a few more panels to spell out a longer word.

Have a great day!

Halloween Home Decor Project

I decided to finally sit down and do a little home decor project for this Halloween season. I'm long overdue to get my creative juices flowing. I should be finished with the entire project tomorrow and I will post ALL the steps I used. Here's a peek at my start...

Step 1: Gather all your supplies. I used the following supplies for this project:

6 pieces of chipboard ( cut into 2 1/2" x 3 1/2")
White acrylic paint
Assorted stamps (Halloween theme and scrolls/flourishes)
Embossing Ink and black embossing powder
Heat Tool
Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Tea Dye
Pigment Ink- Black
Archival Ink - Black
14" pieces of raffia
14" piece of 3/8" black satin ribbon
Blending tool - Tim Holtz
Thin silver wire
Chipboard Letters apprpxomately 2-2 1/2" tall (1 B, 2 O's)
Pumpkin Brass Stencil
Embossing styllus and chalk
Scissors
White Picket Fence available at craft stores
(I used chipboard strips I cut and twistied wire around each picket then painted it white)
Sandpaper for distressing
Piece of brown cardstock (scrap)
Piece of scrapbook paper to cover chipboard letters
Metallic wax
Tacky Glue

Step 2: Paint the six chipboard squares with white acrylic paint. I left a few thick edges for effect.

All six chipboard pieces should look like this when dry.

Step 3: Use the blending tool and ink the edges of all the pieces with Vintage Photo ink and touches of Frayed Burlap and Tea Dye. Vary the depth of the color (some areas heavy some a bit lighter). I like to move from the outside in toward the piece instead of reverse. You get a softer look that way.

Step 4: Stamp an image on each edge of each painted and inked piece with the Vintage Photo ink. I alternated the direction of the image for the center pieces. Please refer to the last photo.



Step 5: Add a few Halloween "scary" stamps on upper edges and upper corners of a few squares with black ink. Use your creativity!



Final steps will be posted early this week :-)

Darlene

Having fun creating these...

Since the weather has turned a bit chilly the last few days here in Michigan I decided to make some additions to the Etsy shop and also for ME as well! I am hoping to participate in the weekend crop at YMBD's blog. I have some 2007 Halloween pics that I would love to do a layout with and also some pics of our grandson and granddaughter. Let's see if I can actually accomplish a layout or two.

I hand stamp these bats onto heavy cardstock and emboss with black embossing powder. I love the texture on these. I would like to use them on my Halloween cards this year.

I can do alot with these journaling blocks. I would love to make an acrylic album with a Halloween theme.

Well off to create a few flowers too. Of course I HAVE to have flowers when I scrapbook!!!

TFL :-)