Butterfly Suncatchers

It finally seems that the rainy days are over and the sun is shining!

I thought I'd make some pretty suncatchers to make the most of the sunlight.  These can be placed in plant or flower pots either indoors or out, but they are partly paper, so they are not 'rain friendly' ! 

All the crafty instructions on how to make these are up on the Crafty Power blog today.  They are really easy to put together....even kids could make them!  There is also a video, so stop by there and take a look.  Click HERE to find the butterflies!

Hope you are enjoying the weekend and catching some sun wherever you are! 

January Sketchy Challenge

On January 5, DramaQueen turned 16! 

 Sorry...I just couldn't resist posting her "hand" photo! ha ha ha!

For those of you who are new to following or reading my blog, I should let you know that I refer to my children here using affectionate nicknames. My husband started calling our daughter Drama Queen quite a long time ago although she has been the easiest child to raise thus far and thinks it's pretty funny that we call her this.

Here is Sue Sykes' sketch for January over at the Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Gallery...

This sketch was perfect to feature a group of photos taken on DQ's birthday...

"Sweet Sixteen"

I took a risk with this layout...is it too cute for a 16-year-old?  Actually DQ told me that she didn't like ANY of her birthday photos, so I was NOT allowed to scrapbook them.  [oops]

These papers are from a couple of My Little Shoebox collections, along with the stickers and alphabets.

The title is all MLS stickers, plus I add Crystal Stickles to the number 16.

I drew a balloon template and then traced and cut out three.  I outlined them with a white pen and then Crystal Stickles.  They are tied with white embroidery thread.

These Peel-off adhesive flowers from Harmonie are so cool!  They are clear stickers with sticky tops that you can cover with glitter, microbeads, flocking, etc.  I used black Craft&Glitz microfine glitter.

This white flower frame is cut with my Cricut.

A journaling spot. [Dang! I wrote 2012, not 13!]

These 6 cards are cut right from one piece of My Little Shoebox patterned paper....an easy way to create a grid and mat photos!

How about starting the New Year off with a challenge?  Join the Sketchy Gallery and design a page based on Sue's sketch, then upload it to the Canadian Scrapbooker website HERE.

I'll see you over there!

Graphic 45 Happy Haunting Mini Album

I have waited awhile to post this Halloween Mini album on my blog after teaching it at the Canadian Scrapbooker Carnival in September and then another version of it at The Urban Scrapbook last weekend. A big thank you and shout out to Graphic 45 for sponsoring my class at the Carnival!  Everyone really enjoyed making the album.

Lots of photos coming up...so grab your pillowcase filled with candy, munch away...and enjoy :)

The full moon is embossed with a Tim Holtz Sizzix folder and then lightly inked with Vintage Photo Distress ink.

  The bats are cut from Clearly For Art black modeling film, using a Sizzix die.  When you heat the bats with a heat gun, you can curve their plastic wings.

The cheesecloth fabric clouds are coloured with Black Soot Distress Ink (you can also use Stain)

Now let's look inside... 

I cut the stars with a Sizzix die and also embossed them.  The Oct. 31 is a Graphic 45 stamp.

This pocket insert has a fussy cut moon tab.

 Each page is made from a 6" x 12" piece of black cardstock folded in half into a pocket.  The pages alternate pockets opening at the top and at the side in the album.  A big thanks to Michelle who advised me how to make these pages!  Click HERE to visit Michelle's blog, where you will find more fabulous mini albums! One of my favourites is her travel mini album designed with Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue.

Pages 2 and 3

Page 2 has a slide out pocket as well.

A paper pieced pumpkin I designed using Bazzill cardstock in Raven and Marigold

Space for photo and journaling

Page 3 side pocket has this clock pull-out

Pages 4 and 5

The clock is also a Sizzix die and the corner webs were stamped with an Inkadinkado set called "All Hallow's Eve" (and embossed with Clearsnap)

The clock is on a paper hinge and flips up.

The page 5 pocket has a tag with stamping on it.

 The black manila tag is stamped with more Graphic 45 stamps, pumpkin and vine border.  Then I used Clearsnap Donna Salazar Mixed Media Inx in "Leather" to achieve this copper effect.

The reverse side also has Graphic 45 stamping.

Pages 6 and 7

The spider web is cut with my Cricut from the Teresa Collins Halloween cartridge "Chic & Scary"

The web flap lifts for more photos.

The doors open with paper hinges.

I used Black Soot Distressed card stock and embossed it with a Sizzix wood grain Tim Holtz folder.  Then I sanded it and lightly inked with brown.  

The door knobs are Graphic 45 brads glued onto grunge board pieces that are painted with metallic Gold Adirondack dabber by Ranger.  I clipped the corners of the grungeboard piece with a hole punch and inked a little with black.

Page 8 and the inside back cover

The fence is a pocket, and this page is a side pocket that holds 2 tags.

 The tags are tied with black ribbon and black tulle.

I cut some words from one of the patterned papers to add to both tags.

The crescent moon is cut freehand and then embossed in a Sizzix folder and lightly inked.

 This beautiful black cat is another Graphic 45 stamp.  Did you know that this Happy Haunting Halloween collection has THREE amazing stamps sets?  Beautiful images and all rubber cling mount!

I cannot wait to fill up this album with photos of Halloween....I was able to snap pics of all 3 teenagers before they left for school this morning in their costumes.  

BabyOfTheFamily is a 1950's Diner Waitress...

Serving up a bloody finger hot dog...

DramaQueen is Annie....well, a more "grown up" version of Annie

She spent ALOT of time curling her hair

And BoyGenius...uh oh.  Please don't judge me as a mother for his politically incorrect costume [or send me hate mail].  

Oh look. It's Bob Marley.  [eek]

Happy Halloween!

Making Time for an Art Journal

Lately, mixed media has become a hot trend in the scrapbooking world.  Ironically, most layouts are actually mixed media projects because our pages are collages of papers, and collage is one form of mixed media art.


I think the big boom in stencils, masks and sprays has helped generate pages that use more mediums, like gesso, paint, molding/modeling paste and so on.  This has also led to an escalating interest in Art Journals, a freestyle expression of creativity and playfulness using mixed media.  


Just Google Art Journals and mixed media and you'll discover an exciting artistic world!  A friend of mine, Limor Webber, creates wonderful art journal pages and mixed media scrapbook layouts on YouTube and also has a Facebook Mixed Media group, where everyone shares their projects.  


Another amazing art journaling phenom is Christy Riopel, who designs for Canadian Scrapbooker magazine.  Click HERE to visit her blog and see an awesome video of her artistic creations.


In the summer issue of Canadian Scrapbooker, Karen Ellis has a fantastic article on how to make your own art journals.  Here is a sample of her work on the magazine's blog post last month for "Tuesday with the Team", and you can click HERE to visit Karen's website and see the art journal tutorial.


Lots of inspiration online!


I thought I'd share one of my recent art journal pages....basically using just a bunch of "stuff" that was on my desk at the time...

The base of the page is Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap pieces and scrap notebook paper adhered with Ranger's Glue N Seal (similar to Mod Podge). I've shown this technique HERE to create a sun on a scrapbook page on a blog post from last month. 

The sun is a collage of tissue wrap strips, then inked with different shades of yellow Distress Ink

The brown leaves were just lying on my desk, extras left over from another project....and they were cut with my Cricut from brown patterned paper.  The clock is a Tim Holtz Sizzix die cut and the text "68 pages of freedom" was cut right from the front page cover of this blank art journal.  

Clearsnap Smooch is a great way to add some metallic colour....I coloured the text piece and hand with gold and dark teal.

I wrote the title and text below with Faber-Castell Pitt pens....they are awesome India ink pens that write on pretty much everything!

I picked up this package at Michaels that has a variety of nib sizes.

I grabbed a few different types of paint and some Clearsnap Smooch (painted the Wendy Vecchi Art Parts chipboard hand with Smooch)...

My page in progress...

Keep in mind that playing with mixed media usually involves messy hands...

I have a good set of brushes, but sometimes I'll use a cheap children's plastic brush.

If you haven't ventured into the world of Art Journaling, I suggest you give it a try.  It's so much fun to experiment with colours, new techniques and let the artist inside explore freely. You have all the supplies to use on hand if you scrapbook, aside from the mat medium (Mod Podge) maybe. 


Click HERE to see the journal I purchased at a local art store, but I believe Michaels carries them:  Strathmore Visual Art Mixed Media Journal

The paper is 90 lb medium weight to handle the wet mediums you might use.  

What really excites me about mixed media is that I am adding a dimension of originality to my projects.  The results are uniquely mine, and I experience a sense of artistic and creative freedom that is fulfilling and liberating!


Be Yourself...and start an Art Journal!

DOUBLE the Fun!

I'm very excited to announce my upcoming first feature article in Canadian Scrapbooker magazine!

In the Winter 2012 issue [ yeah, I know .... I shouldn't say the "W" word at this time of year] I will write an article called "Double the Fun" that showcases a 2-page layout sketch I designed.


Here is the sketch....

And here is the sample layout I created for the Canadian Scrapbooker online Submissions web page...

All papers are Glitz Design "Pretty in Pink" collection. Die cuts were cut with my Cricut.

BabyOfTheFamily is a happy crafty girl and is taking a series of cake decorating classes at Michaels.  Yay for her....Boo for my expanding waistline!  {By the way, fondant isn't as yummy as it looks.  Sigh}


Some close ups....

Cricut cupcake, swirls and title.  Fiskars Scallop Border punch.  Sprinkles (aka sequins and beads) from the Dollar Store.

I just love the empowering quotes that are on these Glitz stickers!

One of my new favourite Spellbinders die:  Donna Salazar "Bitty Blossoms."

If you haven't submitted any of your scrapbook pages before, let me tell you, it's super simple and easy.  Just click HERE and you'll find the Call for Submissions, along with my sketch and this same sample layout.  Just take a photo of your layout and follow the upload prompts on the Submissions web page.


It's always fun to see your own layouts in print, so give it a try and submit your double page layouts!


My sweet scrappy friend Michelle (from Newfoundland) designed a wonderful layout using my sketch....click HERE to see it on her blog!  Beautiful work, as always, Michelle!


The deadline is July 15....and remember:  2-page layouts are not Double the Trouble....they are Double the FUN :)