Avery Elle - June Challenge!!

Hey Everyone,

Yikes!

It's the last day of June (ALREADY!!!)  Tomorrow is Canada Day and I'm looking forward to some family time celebrating this great country's birthday!  146 Years!  Waaaahooooo, Canada!

I'm coming in under the wire for this next challenge (as seems to be the trend this month!)  The folks over at Avery Elle have their monthly AEI<3U Challenge!  This month the challenge is based on a sketch.  Check it out here!  The winner gets to be a guest designer for August!  AWESOME!!!

Here is my take on the sketch.  I used clear acetate as the front cover and affixed the tag to the acetate.  I die cut hexagons from patterned paper and attached to to the inside and atop the acetate to add dimension.  I used a mask to spray a hexagon pattern on the acetate.

Here is the sketch inspiration:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Wish me luck!

Liz

Anyone for Anya Sketch Challenge!

Hey Blogworld!

I'm back!  C3 is down with a fever today.  Throwing up and a temp of 102F.  She's sleeping now (yay!) thanks to the children's Advil.  She's a non-stop chatterbox and seeing her being so quiet while she's not well, eyes glassed over just breaks my heart!  Feel better my sweetie pie!

I'm dropping by to share with you a quickie for the folks over at Anyone For Anya.  There is a sketch challenge over there that I'd like to share with you all!  This is the only CC Designs stamp I have.  I had to get it as it reminded me of my family.  4 girls and 1 guy.  I just couldn't pass it up!  I think this is the first time I've ever used it!

Sentiment stamp: Technique Tuesday; Image: CC Designs; Patterned Paper: Recollections; metal corner: Making Memories; Colouring Media: Copic Markers

Add caption

Here's the sketch inspiration:

I'd like to share this at the following blog:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Chalkboard technique at Technique Time Tuesday!

Hey Everyone,

Summer has officially arrived in the form of school summer holidays!  This weekend is a long weekend in my neck of the woods and I'm looking forward to a week off with the whole family (and some added out of town guests!) this upcoming week!  Yay!

Coming in under the wire for this challenge but better late than never!  The technique for June over at Technique Time Tuesday is the Chalkboard Technique and you can check it out here!  What better a theme for this technique than school (or lack thereof...at least for a couple months)!  The report cards for my 2 bigger girlies were impressive (always room for improvement) but really...they did great.  This card is for them!  Great job C1 and C2!

Here is what my mind came up with.

Sentiment stamp is from See D's, the patterned paper is from Heidi Swapp and DCWV.  Ribbon is from Recollections.  Image Stamp from Hampton Arts/Graphc 45.

I coloured her dress using Derwent Watercoloured Pencils and a water brush.

I would also like to submit this to the following blog:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Liz

Trigger Tuesday and Some Sunny Inspiration

Hey Everyone,

It's official...School is out for summer!  Woohooo!  (of course I say that now but we'll see how I feel after spending some 'quality time' with all three of my girlies this summer....hopefully I'll still be exclaiming the sentiment throughout the summer!  Wish me luck!)
The summer is off to a great start as all three of my girlies are having a sleepover at the grandparents tonight!  (Double WOOOHOOOO!!!)
Lately I find my scrapbooking photo inspiration coming from the digital frame that is in our family room.  It has a timer in it and it goes on and off a regular intervals and allows me to take a gander at photos of memories of yore.  I dare say it is in need of a refreshment of newer photos but I'm loving seeing all the older photos and remembering.  I'm not much of a chronological scrapbooker so I'm very content to dig up these memories and reliving them as I create a home for them amoung my scrapbook pages (*sigh*).
This next layout came from a couple of challenge blog inspirations and I think it came together nicely.  Memories of Central Park, NYC when my older girlies were little.  NYC has become an annual event since but these early trips are always a treasure!

Not sure where the paper is from.  The ledger stamp is from Autumn Leaves.  The 'perk' die cut letters are from Sizzix and the 'central' letters are from Quickutz.  

 Cooling off in the splash pad and gigantic giggles on the swings...bring on the summer and sunshine I say!  The flowered paper in this layout is from one of the first pads of paper I ever purchased (dare I say  a decade ago!).  The 'friends' ledger stamp is also at least 5 years old.  The die cut letters are also at least 5 years old as well.  Forgot all about the Quickutz font I had!  Love to be able to put all these to good use again!  I got the colour inspiration from this week's Trigger Tuesday: Scene in Tangerine over at Moxie Fab World.

I would like to submit this to the following blogs:
Trigger Tuesday: Scene in Tangerine
Use it Tuesday: #58-Bring on the Sunshine
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

PTI Blog Hop!!! It's Golden!!

Hey Everyone!

I'm back with a project inspired by the folks over at Paper Trey Ink.  They're having a blog hop today and the challenge this month is.... (*drum roll*)

Great challenge and what a cool trend these days!  Gold is totally in!  Love it!  Here is what I conjured up!

The gold dancers are Peel Offs that were coloured in using Glitter Ritz glitters.  The sentiment stamp is from PTI embossed with gold powder.

 I made this card with my hubby in mind as the sentiment is totally for him...but realistically, there's only so many lovey-dovey cards I can give him that I know won't either find its way back into my collection or lost to the male-sentimental gods (or lack there of!).  I know he'll appreciate it but I also know that he doesn't keep secret stash of cards I give to him in a shoebox tucked away for prosperity.
Soooooo...I decided to transform this card to a scrapbook layout as I KNOW these get cherished and looked at regularly and often get displayed in the house every now and then!  Here is the converted version:

I added patterned paper from DCWV and some trim from Recollections as well as some gold heart brads and pearls.  The flourish stamps are from PTI.

Thanks PTI for the challenge and inpiration.  I'm glad I got the chance to play along this month!  Can't wait to see what everyone else has in store!

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #52: Sailing the 7 Seas...

Hey Everyone!

Yay!  Another challenge to get those creative juices flowing over at Twisted Tuesday!  The DT have some wonderful inspiration to share with you all!
The theme this fortnight is "Sailing the 7 Seas..." (i.e. make a nautical themed project and the twist is use at least 7 embellies!)  Cool!  Time to dive into your stash and play!  Check us out over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges for all the deets and the fabulous prize to be won!
Here is my project.  I really hope to inspire you and please linky up your creation over at Twisted Tuesday once I have!  I can't wait to see what you create!

The patterned papers are from DCWV.  The striped ribbon is from Ikea.  The corrugated letters are from Jillibean Soup.  The anchor, stars and boat steering wheel are stickers from Recollections.  The knotted cord is from the Dollar Store.  The camera sticker is from KC Company.  The embossing folder is from Sizzix.

I embossed the compass on patterned paper the same as the background.  Cut off the excess (it actually tore off accidentally but then worked out as intended in the end...YAY!) and adhered it to the background.
The (at least) 7 embellishes (aside from the patterned paper and the photos) are as follows:
1) anchor sticker
2) boat steering wheel
3) knotted chord
4) red stars (x3)
5) striped ribbon
6) camera sticker
7) patterned paper cut into banners/flags
8) tall ship stamp and globe stamp
9) scalloped border trim
10) embossed compass (background)
11) corrugated letters and letter stickers
(Phew!)

Thanks soooo much for dropping by!

Liz

Going (More) Places!

Hey Everyone!

Just a quick layout to share with you all.  I originally created this layout as inspired by the last Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Transport - to coincide with the layout I made for my other daughter, C2.  But alas, time has forsaken me and I missed the deadline to post this for the goodies but at least it's done and ready for memory lane perusal!  Love it!
I used a lot of older stuff for this layout as well.  I really need to consume all these consumables before I become buried....and how else am I supposed to justify new stuff, eh?

So here is my other transport layout of daughter C1 and her first time on an airplane!

A whole lot of old stuff here that I don't really know where from.  I believe the globe and plane stamps are from Hampton Arts and the word stickers are from KC company.  The distance scale stamp is from Technique Tuesday and the tag is from MME (I think).

It's hard to believe that this little less-than-1-year-old (in these photos) just turned 9 years old last weekend!  (*sigh*).  Time sure flies!

I'd like to submit this to the following blog:
A Blog Named Hero Challenge #25: Tags

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Going Places!

Hey Everyone,

Today is my amazing, brilliant, beautiful C1's birthday!  I can't believe she's almost double digits!  Holy cow!!!  She had a really fun birthday party yesterday with her friends at a pottery place in the downtown area of our town where her and her friends got to paint glaze their own little ceramic sculpture that that chose!  To our (slight) detriment, there was also a Farmer's Market and Father's Day Festival happening in the downtown area also that made from some challenges for parking, and pizza and cake delivery.  This resulted in some delays getting the kids their food but all in all my daughter said she had a great time and that's what matters!  Happy Birthday my wonderful C1.  Love you lots!

Another scrapbook page for you all today.  Gosh I'm on a roll!  (and I'm quite impressed to have completed so many!)
This next page was inspired by this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Transport.  I finally used up some papers that have been burning a hole in my drawers for quite some time.  This is a layout about my daughter's first time on an airplane.  Looking forward to more plane trips for sure!

I wish I knew where alot of these supplies came from.  Alas, all of the patterned paper is from garage sales and thus I do not know who the manufacturer is.  The white rub ons are unknown as well.  The dicut letters are from Sizzix (Playground) and Quickutz (Diesel), the aiplane stamp is from Hampton Arts.  I'm not sure where the plane tag is from.  The bottom border stamp is from Hero Arts.

We were on our way to California in these photos.  Some great memories to be had there!  Can't wait to go back!

I'd also like to submit this to the following blog:
A Blog Named Hero: Tags

Thanks for dropping by!
Liz

Wahoo!...and another Scrappy Stash Raid!

Hey Everyone!

I'm sooooo stoked to have received a shout out over at "Use it Tuesday" for challenge #56 "Anything Goes!"  I stumbled upon their great little challenge blog upon perusing all the inspiration out there and what a cool concept!  The biggest challenge?...using up those hoarded supplies!  I know I'm guilty for such an act...but I'm not sorry...I just need a push to get them shining as they should and this challenge is just the motivation!  Yay!

With that in mind, their challenge this fortnight is "Masculine".  I've been not so experienced in this department in my repertoire but this month has really got my creativity flowing!

Here is a layout I did of my hubby!

The gear die cuts are from Sizzix.  I used spellbinders dies to cut gear masks out of scrap paper and went over each mask with white paint from Making Memories.  The mesh was from a net-type container holding oranges from the grocery store,  I painted it at stamped it on the page.  The "awesome" stamp and chevron stamp is from See D's.  The "love" is from a rub-on set by Making Memories as are all the metal embellies. 

Every single item in this layout is at least a couple years old.  The white paint is at least 5 years old.  It was a little dry and settled in the bottle but with a touch of water and a whole lot of shaking I was able to get it ready to use again.  The See D's stamp is from more than a couple years ago.  I got a whole bunch of these brand stamps because their designs were really cool.  I'm glad I got to use them after all this time.  

I'd also like to submit this to following blogs:

Use It Tuesday: Challenge #57-Masculine

Papertake Weekly: Hello Boys!

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Man of the Hour...or should I say Month...

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday C2 had a soccer game and despite all the pouring rain, they still played!  Such troopers!  Water dripping off their eye lashes it was so wet!  At least there were smiles all around!  C2's BFF was on the other team and they were quite entertaining when they were both playing goalie on opposite sides of the field, full body communicating and dancing to eachother.  Unfortunately , this little distraction created opportunity for the other team to score a goal (or 2) on my little one (I'm sure the distraction was strategic! ;)).  Good times!

One more quicky creation for you today.  As I mentioned previously, June seems to be a manly month.  Father's day right around the corner and definitely some lovin' should be sent to those special men.  I know I've got one of them!  Luv ya, Hun!

Here's a card I made using the trendy omber colouring technique.  There is a neat little technique tutorial over at the Papertrey Ink blog for some inspiration!

Here is my take:

I used Papertrey Ink stamps for the sentiment.  Distress Inks: Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean and Broken China were used for the background omber effect.  The patterned paper is from Chatterbox, the flower is from Prima and the grommet is from Making Memories.

This was inspired by the folks over at Papertrey Ink as well as a sketch #76 from Cardibilities.  I really dug into my stash for this card.  The grommet set is from a garage sale a while back and I don't think Chatterbox is around any more.  It's too bad as I really like their stuff!

Here's the sketch:

I'd like to link this card up to the following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp challenge: Masculine/Father's day
Use it Tuesday Challenge: #57 Masculine
Cardabilities Sketch Challenge: #76
MarkerPop Challenge #24: Loving You
Papertrey Ink-Make it Monday: #120 Overlapping Omber 
Papertake Weekly: Hello Boys!
Crazy 4 Challenges: Father's Day
Milk Coffee Challenge: Father's Day/Male Inspired

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Liz

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #52-Masculine with a Twist!

Hello Everyone!

It's that time of the month again!  WAAAAHOOOO!!!!  It's time for another Twisted Tuesday Challenge!  This fortnight the theme is Masculine and the Twist is: use clothes in the creation!  How fun is that?!  A nice little change from all the other manly-man themed challenges this month!  Head on over to Twisted Tuesday Challenges-#52 Clothes make the Man for all the details and be sure to linky up and join the fun!  Great things to be won not to mention bragging rights and a big SHOUT-OUT from the Twisted Tuesday Crew if your creation catches out eye!

To get those creative juices oozing...here is my creation.

The t-shirts were die cut from a MFT die and the patterned papers are from DCWV, Websters Pages and another manufacturer I unfortunately do not know.  The sentiment stamp in the label is from PTI.  The lables were die cut from a Spellbinders Nestabilities die.  The wood cameras are from Studio Calico.  The little people are a border punch from Martha Stewart.

Most of he patterned papers in this layout have been sitting in my stash for a long time (dare I say years!).  The kraft coloured T-Shirt at the bottom is actually packaging from a Prima stamp set a definately got years ago!  So fun digging all this up!

I'm hope I'm able to inspire you and I hope to see your creation over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges!

I would also like to link this up to the following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Masculine/Father's Day
Sister Act Anything Goes Challenge: #10
Use it Tuesday: #57 Masculine
Papertake Weekly: Hello Boys!
Crazy 4 Challenges: Father's Day
Crafty Creation Challenges: #225 One for the Boys
Milk Coffee Challenge: Father's Day/Male Inspired


Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Page Maps Revisited and Trigger Tuesday Combo!

Hey Everyone! Today is a beautiful day in my neck of the woods. Clear sky, sunshine, warmth. Not too hot. Perfect. Started the early afternoon dissecting an owl pellet (yes I wrote that correctly-OWL PELLET). It's pretty much a small ball of fur and stuff regurgitated by an owl. The "stuff" of this pellet consisted of various small animal bones, alot of fur and whiskers as well as small teeth and bug larvae. FUN! C2 had a doctor's appointment last week and thus missed this class project...but her thoughtful teacher decided she could bring one home to do herself (as requested by C2 as well). Despite what you may think this was actually a very cool exercise! I really enjoyed making the discoveries in this thing and watching the girlies do the same.

On the creative front, I did manage to get a layout or 2 completed.  This one was inspired from a couple of things:

1) A Sketch from PageMaps:

I originally used this sketch here but decided to girl-ify it and rotate it 90degrees to shake things up!

2) A colour scheme from this week's Trigger Tuesday over at Moxie Fab World

And here is the offspring:

I used patterned papers from Doodlebug and cup and cupcake stamps from Inkadinkado.  The coffee pot thingy stamp is from Impression Obsession.  The flourish die cuts are from Quickutz.

Thanks for stopping by!  Going to enjoy the sunshine.  I hope you can too!

Liz

Boy Crazy!

Hey Blogworld!

Yesterday I had the weirdest experience.  I took my youngest to the Early Years Center to play with other toddlers and new toys and have a sing-along.  There were about 8 other less than 3 year olds playing together at the play Kitchen area.  All was fine until my daughter picked up a set of toy keys that were just sitting on a bench (where no other kids were playing).  All the other toddlers decided at that moment that they too wanted those keys and well...you know the sharing, patience and reasoning abilities of a toddler....null and void.  Toddler chaos ensued with screaming and tantrums and parents having to remove their kids (kicking and screaming) from the area to calm them down.  My little C3 started crying more out of sheer fright I think since her back was turned to the kids for the most part but you could tell she was visibly startled by the outburst (as was I!).  After a few minutes all the children were calm and quiet and C3 has tossed those keys in my lap and went about her merry way (as did the others) as if nothing happened.  Here is what set off this toddler pandemonium....(and the buttons didn't even work!)

Anyhow!  As I mentioned in an earlier post, this month seems all about the boys in the challenge blogs.

Here is another concoction on said subject that stirred in my grey matter:

The manly silhouette is a stamp from The Greeting Farm that I stamped on black cardstock and fussy cut out.  I re-drew the arms slightly so that the elbows stuck out a bit more for effect.  The sentiment stamps are from an Autumn Leaves set.  The background mask is from The Crafter's Workshop and was sprayed with Electric Blue Glimmer mist.  The patterned paper is from MME.  The "s" (for Super) is was die cut from a Quickutz font (Rockstar).

I hand drew the cape shape (after several trials for the right look) and then curved fold lines were scored into it and then I wet the cardstock with water from a mister.  I then dried the paper with a heat tool and the cardstock bent and warped to look like a flowing cape.  I embossed the edges with clear pearlescent embossing powder (as I also did with the "S").  That Autumn Leaves stamp set where the sentiment is from  I seriously didn't even realize I had until I was on a mission to find all the masculine stuff in my stash.  Goodness knows how long I've had that!  Glad I could put it to good use!  I'm sure it'll have more opportunities to shine!

I think it turned out pretty much how I imagined it in my head.  Pretty cool!

I'd like to submit this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge-Masculine/Father's Day

The Greeting Farm Challenge Farm Fresh Friday-Oh Boy!

ABC Challenges-Masculine Cards

A Blog Named Hero-Masculine
Use it Tuesday-Challenge #56 Anything Goes

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Liz

The Greeting Farm-Boys!

Hey Everyone,

It never ceases to amaze me how life works out.  Anyone who knows me or has ever known me knows that I'm a tomboy through and through.  Since I was a kid I've always loved wearing boy clothes, playing sports, getting dirty, play-fighting and would ALWAYS choose cars and Star Wars stuff over dolls and princesses anyday!  VERY rarely would you ever catch me wearing a skirt or dress (usually only for a wedding-type event) and (up until recently) I steered clear of anything pink!  I relished in the times when I was the only girl hanging with/keeping up/sometimes surpassing all the boys and their "boy fun"

....and then life gives me 3 GIRLS!

Three incredibly smart, beautiful, sweet, thoughtful, creative, fun GIRLY GIRLS!  Complete with pink EVERYTHING, princess passion and an attraction for all things frilly, lacy, dressy, glittery, flowery and pretty.  Not much going on in the "boy theme" in our home (although hubby has managed to get the girls interested in F1 racing, home improvement shows and watching hockey!).  I am determined to get my girls involved in sports and my girls love soccer and baseball (complete with pink soccer shoes and ball, pink baseball shoes, pink bat and pink glove).  Admittedly, I'm not as adverse to pink anymore or frilly or wearing dresses and skirts.  I will watch princess shows and play princess dress up and buy pink Lego and I do actually enjoy it.  I guess it took giving birth to 3 girls to bump up the estrogen level in my body.  For the record,  I embrace it!  Life is full of change and change is GOOD. :D

As I'm perusing the inter -web these last few days I'm finding that there are many challenges online for the month of June themed towards those possessing the "Y" chromosome.  YAY!  Loving the inspiration (and the motivation) to create something the childhood me (and really still part of the real me) would LOVE.  Alot of ideas swimming in my head.  Let's hope I can find the time to get them out!

Here's one (with colours inspired by my front door)

The image is from the Greeting Farm, the sentiment is from Technique Tuesday and the frame is from PTI.

This card is all CAS.  Mostly 1 layer (not including the frame).  I masked the banner with a cut out sticky note and coloured the image with Copics.

For reference sake (and as requested by the folks over at Less is More this week) here is my front door.

I would like to submit it to the following challenges:

The Greeting Farm-Farm Fresh Friday-Oh Boy

Simon Says Stamp-Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge-Anything Goes #9

Whimsy Stamps Challenge-Anything Goes

CAS on Sunday-Challenge #9 Make it Masculine

Paper Crafting Journey-Masculine

Less is More: Week 122-Colour of your Front Door

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Liz

Page Maps and Trying Something New...

Hey Blog-world!

Quite the busy day today (yet again!).  C1 celebrated her First Communion along with about 10 other children in our church.  They all looked soooo amazing in their pretty dressing and dashing little suits.  Some of the little guys also dawned a fedora!  Adorable!  I'm very proud of my little girl's accomplishments.  She really does not cease to amaze me!  We headed to a massive Asian buffet restaurant with the whole family (grandparents, aunts, uncles).  This place actually had a map on the placemats to direct your palate.  That's how big it is!  And Yummy too of course!  Today is also my BFF's little guy's birthday!  The big whole hand birthday!  Happy 5th Birthday little man!

With that as a segue, and my current lack of experience making masculine creations in my scrapbook repertoire, I decided to spread my wings a little and make a boy-ish layout.
When I first saw this photo on my BFF's FB site I knew I had to scrapbook it!  These guys are so quickly growing into little men and this picture just seemed to emphasize it!

I've had this MME (L'il Robots) kit lying around for a while now (at least a couple years).  The colour pallet was inspired by the folks over at MME with this photo.

I'm glad I got to use it!  The kit came with 2 robot die cuts but the other robot was quite large and didn't quite fir the scale of the photo but I wanted 2 robots for the 2 boys so I used the Hero Arts stamp to accomplish this.  Perfect!  This layout was based off of a sketch from Becky Fleck over at the Page Maps Blog and the "Boy/Girl Challenge".  LOVE LOVE LOVE her maps and have gone to them many a time when the creative juices just aren't flowing so freely.  Here is the sketch:

I'd also like to submit this to the following blogs:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes
A Blog Named Hero: It's a Man's Man's Man's World
My Mind's Eye: June Challenge
Use it Tuesday: #56 Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey-Masculine

Thanks for dropping by!
Liz

Avery Elle May Challenge-Hat Trick!

Hey Everyone,

I've been stuck in the house today with the kidlets as we have a hat-trick of chicken pox this week!  Yay us!  Vaccinations did squat...although I must admit, their affliction is very mild with each girlie having only a couple handful of 'pox' and (keeping fingers crossed) they're not itchy.  The doc said this is quite typical and the vaccination keeps it from getting full blown.  Oh well.  They're all in good spirits and uber excited to do crafts and watch TV and dance around all day so no complaints here!   They even tidied up the main floor!  Awesome!  They were quite upset to miss a birthday party today but otherwise iz all good.  I even managed to pull together another card using my Avery Elle stamps for this month's AEI<3U Challenge!  (Here's hoping 3's a charm! ;))

The patterned paper is from DCWV, the embossing folder is from Lifestyle Crafts and the heart and sentiment stamps are from Avery Elle.  I used 3 different blue shades of Distress Inks for the inside of the frame and sprayed it with water laced with Perfect pearls to give it some watery shimmer and watery spots.  The chevron ribbon is from Michaels.

I'm quite happy how this turned out.  I kind of came to me in a semi-conscious state last night after watching "Safe Haven" with hubby.

Once again, here's the inspiration photo:

I'd also like to submit this to the following blog:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Liz