Just Add Naked Flea

The prompt this week on The Pink Ninjas is "concerts".  "Well, damn!" I thought.  I'm going to have to skip a week because I have not been to a concert in so long, at least not one with pics and paraphernalia.  (I'm guessing Beatlemania at the Indian casino isn't exactly THE COOLEST concert to document and even so, I do not have any goodies to show for my attendance.)   I've just not been much of a concert-goer in recent years.  (I blame my husband...)

However, my youth was peppered with lots of fun concerts, so I began digging for evidence, and came across this:

October/November 2010 issue

Apparently, I attempted a "scrapbook" several years ago (I'm guessing this is cira 1992 or earlier)!   And this page is where I documented the first concert/date I went to with my husband.  I love that I wrote on it that this was the first time I'd asked anyone out on a date, too!  How funny!! 

But would you LOOK at that scrapbook page??!!  (And the DATE on that ticket??  1990!!!  AND THE PRICE??!!  $17.50!  Man, I feel old!!)  I seriously did not remember making this book (granted it's only got 4 pages made), although I now have vague memories of sitting on the floor in our apartment with my new Michaels stamps feeling very artistic and proud of myself. 

So I photographed this page to preserve its memory because I'm now going to scavenge the ephemera off it and retell the stories it told, but hopefully a little more artistically.  (Yes, I know!  There are some of you out there just screaming indignantly that I shouldn't ever change early pages...shush!)

So, now I give you, "Just Add Naked Flea":

October/November 2010 issue

(Hopefully my hubby won't notice the liner notes for the CD are AWOL...)

And, yes, Flea wore his sock outfit for the concert...ya know what i mean?  LOL!

Do you remember the whole torn, holey, "runned" black nylons craze?  OK, so maybe it was an 80s thing, but still, I thought it went well with this layout. 

And the safety pin thing, too.  I have vivid memories of sitting in a class in Jr. High (I think) watching a boy nonchalantly safety pin his cheek.  {shudder} 

My Tuesday Techniques challenge on Memories Always-Forever this month is to use paint on your layout.  I had a blast "painting" the base paper.  The lines are "stamped" with cardboard, the edges are swiped, and I had the best time splatter painting. 

The splatter painting was so much fun my daughter also got in on the fun on her own project:

And then SHE became the project...

But I digress. 

Details:  American Craft paper; Prima Marketing rhinestone stickers; Michaels paint; Barbara Trombley's art glitter; Dymo label; Target feather trim and $1 spot flair pin; unknown flower; nylons, safety pins, RHCP CD liner notes, cardboard.

Be sure to check in on The Pink Ninjas on Wednesday for their next prompt!!  Always soooo much fun!

And, join me on MAF for the Tuesday Techniques paint challenge!

Heidi

Dude! Masks!

Welcome to the next installment of Tuesday Techniques on Memories Always-Forever. My technique challenge to you this time around: Make a layout using masks.

Now, mind you, I'm not talking about party masks or facial masques. I'm referring to those items which, when placed on your layout, will mask off an area, leaving it untouched by whatever medium you layer over it.

October/November 2010 issue

Note, the theme of this layout was inspired by The Pink Ninjas prompt this week: "Dudes!".

There are several great masking products on the market these days including those by Tim Holtz and Heidi Swapp (of which I used for this layout). You can also create your own masks by temporarily adhering a die cut, sticker, or other object to your layout.

You can layer several medium over masks, too: Glimmer Mist, paint, adhesive and glitter or beads, ink, etc. You are only limited by your imagination.

Here you can see what the applied flames mask looks like before I've layered Glimmer Mist and glitter over it.

And the after:

I'm going to show you how I used the Heidi Swapp letters masks. First, the letter masks are applied to my layout in their desired position. The great thing about these types of masks is they hold onto your layout with a repositionable adhesive backing.

Once you've applied your medium (in this case, paint) you simply peel off the mask and return it to its backing sheet. There's no need to clean off the mask front for medium can be layered over and over again on it without interfering with the results. Should you get something on the adhesive backing you only need to wash quickly in mild soap and water and then dry the mask upside down.

Here's a little tip I learned the hard way: do not allow the masks to fall upon lightweight, fiberous paper (such as newspaper) for it will adhere itself to the adhesive and prove quite difficult to remove.

So, let's see what you've got! Don't hide your masks! Display them proudly over on Memories Always-Forever.

This installment of the challenge ends Monday, August 31.

Details: Autumn Leaves paper; Heidi Swapp masks; Glimmer Mist; Making Memories paint & letter stickers; Martha Stewart glitter; Stickles; Stampin' Up! circle punch.

Thanks for looking and for playing along with me!

Heidi

I Love This Craft!

Happy Sunday! Hope everyone's having a great weekend!!

Have you checked out all the super fun and inspiring challenges over on Memories Always-Forever yet?? Why not???!!!

I made this layout for the Funday Monday Bubblewrap challenge brought to you by the lovely and talented Miss Theresa! Of course you're supposed to use bubblewrap in some way on the layout but with the twist of a prompt...complete this sentence: I Love This...

I used my bubblewrap as a ribbon of sorts, intertwining sequined trim throughout. I have to give BIG PROPS to the gorgeous Miss Ally for this awesome idea on THIS LAYOUT. Have I told you I want to be just like Ally when I grow up?? {grin} (And, incidentally, today is Ally's birthday!! Happy Birthday Ally!!!)

I also made this layout for another MAF challenge: The August 7 Scraplift Challenge. Besides lifting the design of Nicole's adorable layout, you have to have a one-word title, journaling, and use bling. I really like the design of this layout. I foresee using it again.

My bling are some clear rhinestones I colored with terra cotta alcohol ink.

Details: We R Memory Keepers paper and chipboard letters; Joann's sequins trim; Fastenator staples; Jewelry Essentials rhinestones; Ranger alcohol ink; Zig Milennium pen.

Speaking of MAF challenges, my Tuesday Techniques Eyelets Challenge will be coming to a close Monday night. I KNOW you have a huge stash of eyelets just begging to be used. Why not join me for the challenge tonight?

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I have at least 2 fun posts waiting for you tomorrow! Can't wait!

Heidi

Think Outside the Box

I made this wall hanging for my daughter's room. I want her to always realize that she can do anything she sets her mind to and to always think outside the box.

The inspiration for the theme is a challenge posted on Spunky Scrappers.

The bird is a transparency cut with my Cricut Indie Arts cartridge. Notice how the pointing hand (pointing at the box) also serves as the bird's eye?

I had a really hard time getting the color on my pics to be true to life. The orange and acid green show up pretty well but the pinks and browns in the hearts look washed out. And for some reason, in every shot I took of the piece against a white background (to show the details better) the white paper ended up looking blueish. Oh, well. Aren't things always better looking IRL? (Guess that doesn't really help you all reading my blog in the virtual world, though, huh? Sorry!)

I also used a few eyelets on this hanging (to thread the fibers through) so I'm going to post it for my Tuesday Techniques challenge I have going over on Memories Always-Forever. This time I'm challenging you to get reacquainted with your huge stash of eyelets. (Oh, come on! You know you have them!!) Have you played along yet? Why not??!!





And, while I'm at it, I might as well throw this into the ring over on Pile It On. Their challenge this week is no patterned paper (and, of course, to also use at least one other current challenge). When I first saw that challenge I thought, oh well, I'll try another week. I mean, really, how often do I NOT use patterned paper? Um, like never! But, lo and behold, ta da! This project doesn't had a speck of PP on it.

Aaaaand, the colors happen to also work with If the Shoe Fits...Scrap It's color challenge this week! As mentioned, the colors on my hearts don't show up well in the pics, but there are some brown and some pink ones in there. Whoa, I really am "piling it on"! It's just so much fun, though, huh??

Details: Autumn Leaves die cuts; Maya Road fibers; K&Company pillow stickers; Li'l Davis rub on alpha; American Crafts rub on swirls; Making Memories paint; Cricut die cut; unknown eyelets & rope.

Well, I'm so glad to finally have had a new creation to post for you! Hope you liked it.

Heidi

Memories Always-Forever Tuesday Techniques Challenge

Today I am hosting my first Tuesday Techniques Challenge over on Memories Always-Forever.

I thought I'd start out easy and pose a challenge to get reacquainted with your eyelets.

You know you have them! They're just stashed somewhere deep within your scrap area having been given up on a while back. The excuses? They're hard to set. The setter is too loud. They just plain fell out of vogue.

Well, thanks to the Crop-a-dile that so many of us have, eyelets are back IN, Baby, and they're easier than ever to set! (Yes, it's not just a great big hole punch!!!!)

Now, if you're not entirely familiar or comfortable with using your Crop-a-dile for eyelet setting, have no fear! I have a quick tutorial for you below. (And, note, for the challenge you don't have to use a Crop-a-dile to set your eyelets...any method is fine. Of course, you have to have SOMETHING to set your eyelets with...LOL! You know who you are, Miss D!!!)

Plus, there are so many cute, shaped eyelets out there on the market now, too, how can you resist them?? (Remember these cute camera eyelets I had on THIS CARD and THIS LAYOUT?)

For this layout, I've set quite a few traditional eyelets and a couple of star-shaped ones.

January 2011 issue

Details: Scenic Route paper; Heidi Swapp decorative tapes; Autumn Leaves alpha stamps; Stampin' Up! ink; Zig Milennium pen; Crop-a-dile Big Bite; unknown eyelets (See? They've been in my stash so long I have no idea where I got them! LOL); mesh vegetable sack.

Before I get to the Crop-a-dile tutorial let me talk a little bit about my layout.

Besides having made this for my MAF Tuesday Techniques Challenge, I also made it for a couple of other MAF challenges.

The design is based on a sketch challenge posed by LG HERE. The sketch:

And, many of the elements on the layout satisfy the parameters of Nicole's Use Your Stash Challenge HERE. You must complete your layout using the following things:

1. something found in nature - you can get creative with this one (mine is stars)

2. use the color orange somewhere on your LO (check!)

3. use something that is not typically used for scrapbooking (the red mesh is from a bag of tomatoes)

4. do some type of doodling on your page (I doodled a couple of swirls, in which I set some eyelets)

OK, so now I'm going to give you a mini-tutorial on how to set eyelets using your Crop-a-dile. I'm using the Big Bite in my sample but this works basically the same way with the original handheld version.

Here's the doodle I started out with.

For your punched holes, you want to start with the smallest setting, 1/8". If your eyelet doesn't fit through the hole you can always go back and punch it with the larger setting later.

(I apologize for the quality of my pics in this section. I just couldn't seem to get good close ups of the settings, but you can get the idea of what to use by the positioning of the slider.)

Positioning your punch over the area to punch is so easy with the Big Bite!

Next you want to move your slider all the way forward into the setting position:

And make sure the setter is on the right size settings. For the most part this is reasonably obvious...make sure the top setter is small (or big) enough to fit inside your eyelet and the bottom setter is also small (or big) enough to cradle and set it. If you go too big or too small, you risk smooshing or unevenly flattening your eyelet. For the standard size eyelet, the skinny top setting ("C") and the small bump on the bottom are best ("3"). (The letter and number refer to the miniscule character in the corner of each setter. They're practically impossible to read.) (Here's where I caution you to do a few practice runs before setting directly onto your project.)

Next you position your eyelet into your punched hole, guide it into the setter making sure it fits down into the eyelet hole, and then depress the handle firmly to set. Voila! Easy to set and virtually soundless.

To set eyelets that don't have holes (such as the star ones I used), change the top setting to the completely flat one ("B"). The bottom setting is determined by the size of the eyelet stem.

So, now, let me see your work! I'm looking for your best layouts containing eyelets. Get CREATIVE!!

Post them to the MAF gallery and then post your gallery pic HERE.

This challenge will run until 11:59 pm (EST) Monday, August 17. Then, join me on Tuesday, August 18 for the next installment of Tuesday Techniques. There will be a monthly prize for the Tuesday Techniques Challenge. To be eligible, you must have entered both of the month's challenges. (The challenge is open to everyone but regrettably at this time prizes cannot be shipped outside the contiguous 48 United States.)

Hope you enjoyed my tutorial and I hope to see you participate in my challenge!

Have a great Tuesday!!

Heidi

Memories Always-Forever Blog Hop Challenge Winner!!

Happy Sunday evening! Hope your weekend was great!

Thank you so much for all of you who participated in Memories Always-Forever first ever blog hop this weekend! We welcomed lots of new members and had lots of fun with a bunch of challenges set forth by the Design Team.

Thank you to all who participated in my mini challenge! The winner of my "alterable" blog candy is Karen M with THIS adorable layout.

Karen -- email me (or send me a MAF message) your snail mail addy so I can ship out your prize!

Be sure to check over on MAF throughout the month of August for our new line up of awesome challenges:

(8/1)Mini Album Challenge
(8/1) Sketch Challenge (layout)
(8/1) Use Your Stash (layout)
(8/2) "Use an Item" Challenge (card)
(8/3) Card Bingo
(8/4) Technique Tuesday (layout)
(8/6) Sketchy Thursday (layout)
(8/7) Scraplift Challenge (layout)
(8/8) Sketch Challenge (card)
(8/10) Monday Funday - Sketch or Themed Challenge (layout)
(8/10) Technique Challenge (card)
(8/12) Wacky Wednesay - Themed or Wacky Challenge (layout)
(8/13) Sketchy Thursday (layout)
(8/14) Stamp Your Layout Challenge
(8/15) Use Your Stash (layout)
(8/15) Card Tag
(8/17) Monday Funday - Stitching Challenge (layout)
(8/17) Card Bingo
(8/18) Technique Tuesday (layout)
(8/20) Sketchy Thursday (layout)
(8/21) Scraplift Challenge (layout)
(8/22) Sketch Challenge (card)
(8/24) Technique Challenge (card)
(8/26) Wacky Wednesday - Themed or Wacky Challenge (layout)
(8/27) Sketchy Thursday (layout)
(8/28) Photography Challenge (layout)
(8/29) Card Tag
(8/31) "Use an Item" Challenge (card)

Note: This Tuesday's Technique Tuesday Challenge is hosted by yours truly. Hope to see you all there!!!!

Thanks for putting up with my pictureless post tonight!

Tomorrow will be at least one new sample!!

Have a great evening!

Heidi

Memories Always-Forever Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to our first Memories Always-Forever blog hop!! We are so excited to introduce our site and our Design Team to you!!

Memories Always-Forever (MAF) has been created as a place where members can rally together as a crafting community, showcase their crafting talents, share their ideas, learn, and participate in exciting challenges. Our Design Team is here for you - to provide inspiration, to answer questions, or even just chat!!

My name is Heidi and I am elated to be on MAF's inaugural Scrapbooking Design Team. In the coming months I hope to inspire you with my layouts (with a card or altered item thrown in there periodically, too!), tutorials, and challenges. For those of you who may not be familiar with me, I'm a challenge and technique junkie. I love the way a good challenge (or 2 or 3 or 4 or...you get the picture) pushes my creativity down paths I may not have trekked left to my own devices.

AND, I am a sucker for learning and sharing new ways to use all that wonderful papercrafting accoutrement we all collect but may not use often (such as embossing powders, paints, alcohol inks, etc.). Be sure to join me on the first and third Tuesday of every month in the MAF challenges forum for my Technique Tuesday Challenge. The first challenge begins this Tuesday, 8/4!!

You may already have been familiar with the projects I've shared thus far (you can click on any pic to see the original post), but this next one is new just for the Hop!

I thought it would be fun to make a layout using one of my all time favorite songs, "One Step Beyond" by Madness. If I could've figured out how to attach the song to this post I would've. It's just such a cool, get-off-your-butt-and-dance-already song!

I'm a big believer these days in making as many of your embellishments as you can out of what you already have. For this layout, I made the record by strategically brushing paper glass finish over some cardstock to imitate the grooves. (It's hard to see on the close up but the effect really shines through on the full layout pic above.)

And, since I didn't have any matte silver paper for the "hardcore" cross, I changed a black diecut to my desired color with some embossing powder.

This is a taste of the type of challenges I'll pose to you on MAF's Technique Tuesday Challenge.

Which brings me to my little blog hop mini challenge. Show me what you can do...alter the color of an embellishment on your layout or card. Get creative! Use embossing powder, paint, alcohol inks, whatever!

Then, go post your creation in the gallery at MAF with "Technique Tuesday Preview" in the title. Link your gallery post back to the comment section on this post by midnight EST Sunday night to win this blog hop candy!! (Be sure to leave me a way to contact you on Monday...an email or blog addy.)

Lots of yummy alterable goodies including some chipboard flowers, twill and ribbon, a complete die cut alphabet (Cricut Storybook Font) and a few shapes, some buttons (including some vintage ones), some aged dictionary pages, and a mini stamp set to aid in your altering endeavors.

BUT WAIT!! That's not all! The winning entry will be featured in MAF's FIRST Technique Tuesday Challenge coming to an internet near you this Tuesday!!

OK, I'm going to send you on your way now through the rest of the blog hop. There is some serious talent on this design team and you will not be disappointed. Be sure to make your way to the end of the hop where you will end up in a discussion on the MAF forums. Leave a comment about what you thought of the hop and you will be entered to win the BLOG HOP GRAND PRIZE:

Did you see ALL the stuff??!! AWESOME!

Thank you for starting your hop with me. If you weren't already a member on MAF, you will want to be after seeing all our Design Team has to offer you on this hop!

So, go! Hop on over to the next talented girlie on the list: the wonderful Miss Diana of Design by Diana!!

If at any point on the hop you happen to get lost or off track just check back on the MAF home page for the hop list.

Have a great weekend, a wonderful hop, and I hope to see all your amazing crafts linked up for my challenge!

Heidi

p.s. I promise not everyone in the hop is as chatty as me so don't let my long post keep you from hopping!!

Details: Paper - American Crafts, The Paper Co., Bazzill; Stamps - Technique Tuesday, Making Memories, Autumn Leaves, Studio g; Ink - StazOn, VersaMark, ColorBox, Zig Millenium pen, Marvy marker; Cricut Die Cuts; Creative Memories circle cutter; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist; Folk Art Papier Glass Finish; Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects; Embossing Powder - JudiKins, EK Success; Making Memories screw eyelets.