Old Skool

Hey there!
I'm starting to create more layouts just for me and a lot of the prompt challenges I like to frequent work just as well for "me" layouts as the traditional family, kids, vacations, etc. layouts. So, when I saw the prompt on The Pink Ninjas this week, "Old Skool", I immediately thought of MY o-o-o-o-l-l-l-l-d school pics.

This is my FIRST GRADE class picture! Aaaaaaah!!! In the pic I'm only 6 months older than my son is now!!! Wow, really puts things into perspective. This is one of the last school pics until late Jr. High that I think I look cute because I got glasses in second grade and you know how those early 80s HUMUNGO, plastic kids' glasses looked! (Got contacts when I was 13!)

I'm soooo loving the color scheme on this layout, too. It's this week's SPCC color combo:

AND, I used this week's Sketchy Thursday sketch:

(Have I MENTIONED I absolutely L-O-V-E the Sketchy Thursday challenge site???!!!)

And how perfect are the school and bicycle stamps from this month's KOTM from Unity Stamp Co?!!

And, boy, when I started piling on the challenges for this layout, I REALLY PILED ON the challenges.

There's hand stitching for the Memories Always-Forever Stitching Challenge. And there are flipped letters in my title ("o", "d", "k", and "l") for the MAF Wacky Wednesday Challenge. I intended to also get the MAF Stamp Your Layout Challenge in on this, too, but realized 2 of my 3 stamped images are in black ink. Oh, well. I'll try for that one again later!

And, I was FINALLY able to complete a SPCC Finally Friday Challenge - fancy borders. (LOVE these Doodlebug borders, just don't use them that often, go figure.) I've fully intended to participate in the Finally Friday challenge each week as they've all been AWESOME but for some reason they never seem to make it on my layouts in time.

And, since I was already piling the challenges on, OF COURSE, I had to get Pile It On's challenge in there, too!! "Good Things Come in 3s." There are 3 rhinestones in my flower border, the 3 main colors (orange, hot pink, and turquoise) are repeated several times throughout, three wavy lines on the left border, and there are 3 stamped images (school, bike, flourish). Three is such a magic number when it comes to design.

Whew! That's SEVEN challenges in one layout! I'm kinda impressed with myself. Tee hee!

Details: Paper - We R Memory Keepers, Stampin' Up!, The Paper Co.; Stamps - Unity Stamp Co., Autumn Leaves; StazOn ink; Stampendous embossing powder; Pressed Petals chip chatter chipboard alpha; Doodlebug Design Inc. paper frills; K&Company rhinestones; Making Memories clip; We R Memory Keepers cardstock shapes; Ranger Stickles; Zig Milennium pen; Bic Mark It! marker; DMC floss.

Of course, I can't forget to mention (ahem) the AWE-HA-HAWSOME sponsor and prize for this week's SPCC Color Challenge. Once again, iCopic.com has GENEROUSLY donated another AMAZING Copics prize:

Copic Ciao - Set of 8 Craft Manga Muted Colors Marker Kit + 1 Multiliner Pen. This set retails for nearly $40!!

OK, off to reorganize my craft area. I've been negligent in cleaning up after every project this week so the room looks like it exploded. I have soooooo many stamps to clean, too, mostly from my "I Adore You" collage layout. You can kinda see on this layout the price you pay if you don't clean your stamps as you go...there's some black ink mixed in with the orange on the flourish. Shame on me!!

Have a great Tuesday!

Heidi

My HEART Just Walked Through That Door

My firstborn just started Kindergarten this past week. I know many of you know exactly what I'm talking about when I say that it was bittersweet. On the one hand, I'm excited for him to be starting that next phase of his life...his academic career. On the other hand, this new page in his life reiterates that he is quickly growing up and isn't so much my BABY anymore.

As I watched him line up with his class before school and walk into the school building I thought, "My heart just walked through that door." Needless to say, I was surreptitiously bawling. I didn't want him to see Mommy crying when he was trying so very hard to be brave.

The design of this layout is inspired by this WONDERFUL sketch created by my super-talented friend Diana for her Sketchy Thursdays challenge over on her blog Design by Diana:

The embellishment of this layout is inspired by this week's prompt over on The Pink Ninjas: stripes or polka dots?

I created the polka dots on the base sheet with some bubblewrap and paint. (Can you say, "technique a la mode in Heidiville"?) You can't see it very well on the full page picture but as you can see by the detail above, there are manilla polka dots all over the base page in addition to the blue ones.

I'm linking this baby up to my Finally Friday challenge on SPCC...use household items to embellish your creation! Have you joined me in the fun on this challenge yet??!!

I am McLovin' the new DCWV The Mod-Retro Stack!!! I included a sheet from the 8x8 stack on this layout. It's hard to see in the pics but the entire orange-y polka dot area is glazed. It's sooooo pretty.

~main part detail pic~

Well, I have A LOT more pics from the first day of school I need to get scrapped. I'll share as they materialize.

Details: Paper - DCWV, The Paper Co.; Making Memories paint; Joanns letter stickers; Zig Millenium pen; bubblewrap; unknown twine and heart charm.

Be sure to hop on over, support, and participate in these AWESOME challenges:

Design by Diana - Sketchy Thursday

The Pink Ninjas - prompt: stripes or polka dots?

SPCC Finally Friday challenge - use household items as embellishments

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

Heidi

p.s. I'm so excited!! This Saturday, August 1, we're hosting an inaugural BLOG HOP to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Memories Always-Forever site. Please join me for the hop to get acquainted with the new Design Team members, learn a bit about all the fun monthly challenges we'll be hosting, and possibly win some awesome blog candy!!

Card Tag Memories Always-Forever

Happy Sunday Afternoon!!!

I participated in my first ever card tag hosted by my fellow Memories Always-Forever DT Member Kim. What fun! It starts with an inspiration card which is passed to the first person who makes their take on the card. Then they pass it to the next person on the list, who makes their take, and then so on and so on. The transformation from start to finish is quite striking! It's neat to see different styles feeding off one another.

I was 4th in the line up of 10 and here's where I took it:

In the spirit of my SPCC Finally Friday challenge this week, I made my background paper using bubblewrap as a stamp with paint.

The circle the Unity Stamp Co. lollipops are on is a Sprite coaster I found in the Target $1 section. This also served as my color inspiration for the whole card. (OK. Do you have the "Lollipop, Lollipop" song in your head now? How about NOW? Tee hee! Ooooh, that darn Dell commercial!)

You can see the entire tag from start to finish over on Memories Always-Forever in the challenge section or on Kim's blog HERE.

Details: Paper - Stampin' Up!, The Paper Co.; Stamps - Unity Stamp Co. June & July KOTM; Ink - Stampin' Up!, StazOn; Making Memories paint; Ranger Stickles; Stampin' Up! punches; Joann ribbon; Target coaster; foam squares; bubblewrap.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Heidi

P.S. There's still time to get your SPCC#7 creation in (due tonight - Sunday). Upload HERE.

Did you SEE this week's awesome prize from Elmers Crafts? I'm so jealous I can't play for it!!

P.P.S. Please join me for my SPCC Finally Friday challenge...make your embellishments with household items! Already lots of great ideas posted!!

It's the Finally Friday Challenge on SPCC!!

If you're here for this week's Unity Hip Hop Hangover post...scroll down to the next one!!!

Woohoo!

It's finally Friday which means it's time for the next installment of the Finally Friday Challenge on SPCC! This week's challenge brought to you by...ME!!!

This week's challenge: Make your own embellishments using household items.

There are so many gorgeous embellishments available for purchase out there nowadays. But in these hard economic times, saving a buck here or there doesn't hurt. And the handmade look is so IN! So why not use some everyday household items to embellish your creations?

On my layout "It's a Dogs' Life" my "ribbon" and butterfly accents are made of items you probably have laying around. (Did you also notice the color combo is SPCC #7??!!)

The "ribbon" is made of popped bubblewrap custom colored with alcohol inks. I love the way it kind of looks like grass which mimics an element in two of my photos.

And, after cleaning the alcohol inks off my craft mat, I realized I had another great piece of embellishment fodder on my hands - the used paper towel. I simply cut a butterfly shape out of a nicely mottled area, folded it up a bit at the body, and then doodled on it with some Stickles. Voila!

But wait! There's more! I didn't just stop with these 2 embellishments while I had my inks and my creativity whipped out! I also made these:

Another piece of alcohol-inked bubblewrap (which I think will lend itself nicely to a water-themed project), a dye-inked dryer sheet flower blossom, and yes, what household project would be complete without some good old duct tape? This time it's colored with alcohol inks and fashioned into a flower and a pinwheel. (I'm feeling that pinwheel on a boy-themed layout!)

You could even take any of these items one step further by stamping on them with StazOn. (I can tell you there will definitely be some stamped duct tape embellies on some of my upcoming projects REAL soon!! So cute!)

There are so many possibilities of things you can make with household items. Here are a few more examples I've made recently (click link for original post with details):

Hostess CupCake box flower:

Disposable aluminum serving tray rocket:

Well, as you can see, I had a lot of fun trying to come up with innovative and cost-effective handmade embellishments.

So, come on! Let's see that CREATIVITY!! Link your projects up with Mr. Linky HERE. Even though this challenge is just for fun, we're all dying for you to show us what you've come up with!

And, of course, I hope you're participating in this week's Color Combo Challenge!

Happy Friday!!

SP Diva Heidi

Details: American Craft & Sassafras Lass paper; Ranger alcohol inks & Stickles; Making Memories journaling sheet; Pink Paislee alpha stickers; My Mind's Eye button; DMC floss; Around the Block brads; Quickutz Silhouette die cut; Scrappy Cat alpha stamps; Heidi Swapp stamp; Stampendous embossing powder; Making Memories paint; Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects; Bounce dryer sheet; 3M duct tape; Bounty paper towel; Hostess CupCakes box; unknown bubblewrap & aluminum serving tray.

I feel I would be remiss without mentioning and cautioning that many of these items may not be acid-free or "scrapbook safe". So use caution when attaching them to your projects. If you're concerned, there are some sprays available on the market that de-acidify...although they're quite pricey. In my case, I felt OK about attaching my embellishements to this layout because both are so far away from any actual photographs.

Hip Hop Hangover - Unity, You Inspire Me!

Happy Hip Hop Hangover!!

Hope you all are coming off great weeks and going into even better weekends!

Here's my little ol' Unity offering for the day. I'm sure you all agree with me: "Unity, You Inspire Me." Don't their KOTM's just keep getting better and better??!!

The colors in this card also go with this week's Color Combo Challenge over on SPCC. Come check us out and play along!! (And pop on over today for a fun embellishment challenge by yours truly!)

Details: Unity Stamp Co. July KOTM; DCWV Green Stack paper; StazOn ink; Stampin' Up! ribbon.

And here's my Unity review for the week:

You Are My Sunshine

And, two sneaky peeks of items with Unity that can't fully be revealed yet:

Be sure to check back sometime in the next week for the reveals of both of those.

Thank you so much for stopping by my corner of the blogerverse!

Don't forget to jump on over to the Unity site for this weekend's amazing deals.

Heidi

p.s. If you happen to be lucky enough to be going to CHA next week, pay a visit to my Future Fashionista layout in the Unity booth! (Maybe even snap a photo for me and shoot it on over? I'd be forever indebted!)