Little Darling...

I got a really pretty kit today from Faith True at Scrap Orchard called Ugly Duckling...It is anything BUT that! Check this out...I found this page practically made itself!

ADSR wrapping up

Between participating in the silliness currently going on in the Scrap Orchard forums (some of you know EXACTLY what I am talking about), getting my first tutorial off the ground over at Ziggles Peeps CT blog (and here) AND keeping up with the race, I have neglected to post my layouts here from the race. Each example had to be made per specific instructions. Here are just a few of my favorites that I made. All of the layouts are visible in this gallery (as are all the credits per layout in order to keep this post a bit shorter).

This is my absolute favorite. I confess...I spent the most time ever on a layout with this monster. Challenge required showing as many generations as possible in your layout. I recently thought of another photo (too late) that shows three, but I had already had this finished. This tested my use of perspective more than anything. I am proudest of making a flat sheet of paper look like it does here. (Some of these techniques will be future tuts so bookmark me!)


This one was simply asking a question where the answer is obvious in a single photo. The day of this carnival, Nat got on that bull over and over and over again! Photos of her ended up featured in two local papers.


A challenge to scraplift yourself using a layout that was the first uploaded to any of your own galleries. The original (which I still like alot) follows.



Had to scraplift someone else you feel is inspiring. Mine is nowhere nearly as good as the original, but I think I was sick that week...Yeah, that's it...thats my story and I'm sticking with it! (photo of this stunning butterfly always draws me to it because of its gorgeous tiny details.)


No photos allowed, but had to use at least 3 different frames.


Interview your racing partner. When I first saw this kit from Ziska, I yelled WOW! More to come using this baby!


The first challenge and one of my all-time favorite pages. We had to tear photo in at least 3 pieces. I taped mine back together. I like the flow your eye takes in this one.


There is one more challenge left to go and then they draw the grand prize winners. Apparently in past years the winners got mountains of freebies from all over digiland, so I am hoping for a miracle!

Til next time...

Scrappin fool that I am...

I am getting past a dry spell, creatively speaking. I did alot of pages in the last couple days, with more on the way! This is one of my favorite photos in it's significance. The two girls you see often in my pages have been BFFs for 5 years, but their very first meeting was at ages 3 and 4, respectively.

KIT CREDITS: June Bugs collab from the Scrap Orchard designers


KIT CREDITS: Gathering Leaves by Ziggle Designs


KIT CREDITS: Efflorescence - Collab by Ziggle Designs and Studio Ziska


KIT CREDITS: Efflorescence - Collab by Ziggle Designs and Studio Ziska

White Space LO

Yesterday, I found a scraplift challenge at Oscraps that was definitely inspiring. I have been wanting to do a white/negative space layout for a while and I still tend to go overboard...this is the closest I've come so far.


KIT CREDITS: Everything from Oscraps Oktober Collab, except knotted clip line is from Cloud 9 by mgl Scraps

Experimenting with Illustrator

Back in 2003 right after Nat finished 1st grade I took the photo here and around that time I had seen a tutorial somewhere about how to make the type drawing that is so popular now...kinda like the "Talk to Chuck" commercials. This was done purely by redrawing and not a shortcut action. It's not so bad, but I will have to work at it to get better.


KIT CREDIT: Cloud9 addon by mgl Scraps

I saw a neat designer challenge on Oscraps and came up with this. You had to follow a recipe:
1- Alpha
2 -Photos
3 -Papers
4- Lines of Journaling
5- Elements

KIT CREDIT: Spotlight Sampler by Annie Manning-Paint The Moon

Becky and Kami have outdone themselves!

Take a look at this bit of gorgeousness! Kami at Ziggle Designs and Becky of B-Creative Designs just released this beauty called Feels Like Home available here. (or click the preview)

My first LO with it:

KIT CREDITS Feels Like Home Collab by B~Creative Designs and Ziggle Designs

Got a few more kits to play with

I have been busy playing with my two newest kits. First off, take a look at this stunner... Chilled Wine from mgl Scraps and Sugarplum Paperie. I am imagining a ton of possibilities with this one. The preview shows it all...it's a must have! Get it here.



Here is my first LO featuring it...it got a blog award for Layout of the Day on Sunshine Studios.




KIT CREDITS: Paper, frame and leaves (recolored) from Chilled Wine by mgl Scraps and Sugarplum Paperie; clear alpha which is from Free Spirit by Franziska Altmann and MGL Scraps collab.; wings from Kit Asas de Anjo by Scrapsuper; "stamped" type is directly from the dictionary.



Free Spirit is another collab of mgl Scraps and Franziska Altmann. Give this kit a real close look...it comes with plenty of papers pre-layered with cardboard or curling edges. Plus a gorgeous acrylic alpha! This is one you will go back to again and again. Get it here. My first LO with it is below.


KIT CREDITS: Free Spirit by mgl Scraps and Franziska Altmann collab.; Sand- Patchwork by Amelie Scrap

Nat's contribution...

KIT CREDITS: Toxic Pop by mgl Scraps and MB Designs

I am on a scrapping tear! It is better than eating everything in sight and constantly staring at the Weather Channel. Oh, I learned a new effect..I can make stickers from shaped elements and text:

KIT CREDITS: Toxic Pop by mgl Scraps and MB Designs

Busy week!

I had an eventful week to say the least. I was approached by the local community college library (actually not so local- Key West which is 100 miles away!) to give another scrap seminar in a couple months, and I got a call tonight to give a newspaper interview on the subject of blogging and digiscrap. Ah, gee!

I held on to this photo waiting for JUST the RIGHT KIT, glad I did! Becky at B-Creative Designs gave me a free coupon to pick a kit from her store; thanks Becky! If you look really close it almost looks like the pattern in her dress is the same as the paper!

I know my daughter will probably never forgive me for this outfit, so shhhh!


CREDITS: Blueberry Fields Forever by B-Creative Designs and a stamped heart.

Also, I have had an extremely frustrating last few days, due to printer shopping. I made the error of buying a floor model color laser at a huge price cut. Turned out to have cost me much more in the end...my time! I had to deal with customer service several times only to find I had to return the huge behemoth. You should have seen us trying to get it out and into the car. I had to use my rolling desk chair! LOL. Poor Nat ended up with this thing on her lap with me teetering to keep it off her. We managed. I was never so glad to be rid of something! I ended up getting a little Canon to tide me over for a while. Can't beat the price and it actually had better color results. But bottom line is---you can't duplicate the richness of color as shown on a properly calibrated screen. Guess that's why I love doing this!

Here is the first for week 3 for Ziska over at the Orchard, DST and Sunshine. I have a lot of catching up to do!
I liked this particular kit alot...you can visit Ziska's store here.


CREDITS: Sunken Garden Add-on by Franziska Altmann

Til next time...

My first LOs as a CT member!

I got exciting news this week...I was selected to be a member of Franziska Altmann's Creative Team! She is a designer of some of the most gorgeous scrap kits I've seen. Here's her site. Go check out some terrific stuff there. To be asked to do layouts for her is a big honor! I had a busy week and was DYIN' to get going when this all occurred, so I threw this together pretty fast. But it's amazing what you can do when you have to dash out the door...


CREDITS Paper Garden Kit by Franziska Altmann and Sugarplum Paperie

Here is LO #2

CREDITS Paper Garden Kit by Franziska Altmann and Sugarplum Paperie

More to come. Til then...

New Scrap and Cooking Lessons With Mom

Combined a few kits and came up with this. This little cutie was on her way to go swimming and was decked out completely.


Credits: Paper and Staples from Joyful by Choukette; Checkered Bracket from American Kit by Redju; Green Bracket recolored from brown bracket in Neon Tantrum Kit by mgl Scraps; Notepaper from Apple Cart Challenge #2 by Ellie Lash; Font is Lindsay Snicker Doodle


My 11-year old has been watching the Food Network chefs lately and got into a baking kick on Friday. She saw Paula Deen make this version of Chocolate Chip Pie and decided to make one. This was a great time for kitchen bonding. I didn't think she ever would get an interest in it. If you know me, you know I love to cook and I glad my daughter also enjoys it. Here is the link to their recipe if you want to make one (or two)!

Click photo to enlarge and prepare to drool. It WAS very good!

Til next time...

First "Dive" plus my "favorite" photo

Nat got to experience using a dive tank last week for the first time. She and her two best friends had a blast that day.


CREDITS Blue Paper Unda-da-Sea by Kim Broedelet (KimB's designs); Wood paper and frame from Sea by Happy Scrap; Alpha by Inna Kanwe Scrap; "Journaling" is a stamp

Love this photo! You can see the anticipation still in her eyes before we left for the rodeo that day. Plus I have been dying for an excuse to use this paper! Isn't it the best!?


CREDITS Leather Paper by Laurinda; Brown paper from Wild Sorbet by Michelle Coleman of LittleDreamerDesigns.com; Frame and checked ribbon from Romantic by Paula Design; Tag from Daisy by Designs by Krista

July desktop

Here is a desktop for July that I had a great time making.


CREDITS Paper, poppies and white dandelions: Summerfield by Aprilmouse/ Hanulienka; Text overlay and yellow dandelions: Botanicals by Donna Rafferty; Grasses by Simka, Journal box: Spice by Happy Scrap; Alpha- Copper Penny by Tina Chambers

May desktop...

April Showers Bring May Flowers...


Credits: Main portion merged kits"Berlingo" and "Picoti" by ImaginebyFran; Striped paper: "Sunshine Sweets" by Franziska Altmann; Ribbon: "Sunshine Sweets" by Trish Heffner; and "Calendar box" by Elena Pahl

I really liked the combination of colors from an earlier layout that I had to make it as a desktop.

Til next time...

Some new layouts...

Inspiration struck today...
Click on each image to see detail better...this doesn't do justice.


Art Gallery
This LO took alot of time and layers...the background is repeated 4 times. Some details painted on. This remains my favorite to date.

Paper: "Moments" by Summer Driggs; Med Frame: "The Blues" by
Kim B's designs; Gold Frames: :"Fall Sampler" by Shabby Princess;
Small White frame and fairy by Kubivet; Cartoon headpieces:
"Dress me up" by Vanilla Hush; All other by Christina Renee Designs



Aboard Nirvana
I LOVE this one for the details like sand thrown on top as well as the soft colors.

Curled paper: "Tout Simplement" created by Le scrap de Joey;
Floral paper and flower: "Here Comes the Sun" by Fernanda
Marini Designs; Hanging tag frame by Foxy designs; Larger
frame by Sirscrapalot; Old paper: Benthai; Sand: "Patchwork"
by AmelieScrap; Stitched Alpha by Dnadyrad

Til next time...