Sleeping In the Dog's Butt...Priceless!

Yeah, you heard me.  When you see the pic, you'll understand. 

I have been waiting for ages for the perfect inspiration to scrap this priceless moment!  Is it bad that I find this so hilarious?  You see, our dog has gotten very crotchety (is that a word?) in her advanced years and she will plop down wherever the hell she damn well wants to with blatant disregard for anyone else occupying said space.  My son's such a deep sleeper, he didn't even notice that the dog was practically sitting on his face while he was napping.  So, do you think I should've removed the dog from the situation like a good mommy or do you feel me that I ran for the camera instead??!!! 

Enter today's Pink Ninjas challenge:

Prompt - Priceless
Technique - Distress it!
Pink Twist - Paint

Oooooooh....this one's right up my alley!!

As seen in the August 2010 issue of Scrapbook News and Review magazine.

Gotta say, I'm likin this one very much if I may say so myself! 

1 impromptu nap on the couch by a heavy sleeping boy...

(Yum!  Loving those Prima flower centers!)

Plus, 1 stubborn dog with a favorite spot on said couch...

 

(Aren't those Basic Grey doggies just stinkin adorable??!!  And have you noticed my yellow paint's been getting a workout lately.  Not generally a yellow person except when it comes to the paint.  Hmmmm.  Notice I've swished in just enough pink paint to satisfy the challenge?  LOL.) 

Plus, 1 mom with a twisted sense of humor and a camera...

Priceless.  (Spelled out next to the cameras...I know it's hard to see in this tiny picture.)

Cuttlebugged the pic and then distressed it as directed. 

Been lovin all the ruler action Diana's been rockin lately so snuck in a ruler transparancy for good measure.  (Oh, REALLY!!  Seriously, I did not "pun" on purpose!  It just came out.  But I'm leaving it because it works.  And it's funny.  I crack myself up.)

Jump on over to the Pink Ninjas blog to see what the amazing Design Team made for your inspiration.  Awesome stuff!!!  You're going to love it! 

Please, please, pretty please come play along with us!  One lucky player will win something uber cool from Jennifer Priest of Hydrangea Hippo!!! 

/>

Check out her blog and etsy store!!!  And, Jennifer's just THAT cool that she's also offering all Ninja players free shipping for this entire month!!!!!  Check out THIS POST for details and your coupon code. 

Hope you have a cool day!

Heidi

Details:  Paper - My Mind's Eye, Imaginesce, Basic Grey; Teresa Collins transparency; Alpha Stickers - Cosmo Cricket, Making Memories; Prima flower centers; K&Company rhinestones; Making Memories paint; Zig Millennium pen; Cuttlebug embossing folder; sandpaper. 

p.s.  Don't forget that the Pink Ninja Addicts are sponsoring Sketchy Thursday's Guest Design Team Challenge this month!!!  Check out THIS POST for details.  (The "Three Little Birds" kit is up for grabs!!!)

p.p.s.  I'm so excited!!!  Lawn Fawn Stamps is officially open for business!!!!!!!  I can't wait for my "Sew Lovely" stamps to arrive!!!

p.p.p.s.  Didja notice that adorable cassette tape blinkie in my sidebar??  Just had to point it out because it's just so stinkin cute!!!  I want a cool blinkie for people to rock in their sidebars.  Go on!  Click it!  Check out Miss Allyson Joy!!!! 

p.p.p.p.s   (OK, yes, I'm quitting after this one!)  Check out this month's guest artist on the Pink Ninja Addicts, Kara Haupt.  This chick is wicked talented AND A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT!  She is going to be one artistic force to be reckoned with, this one! 

~ fin

Valentine's Day 2006

Man, I have sooooooooooooooo many pics the are so scrapworthy and I'm never going to get to them all.   You, too?  When looking through a box of "BK" pics (before kids) I came across a bunch of duplicate pics of the kids much younger made presumably for grandparents.  Pics I'd forgotten about.  Not sure why they were tucked into that box.  In there were these 2 gems staged for a VDay card for my hubby:

January 2011 issue

We all joke that that's the boy's "heartthrob" photo.  Just look at that adorable expression.  Can't you just see that on the cover of Teen Beat (or whatever THE teen heartthrob magazine is these days)? 

I made this layout for this week's SPCC color challenge:

I had this leftover piece of the yellow & white paper already trimmed up like that and thought it looked pretty cool so I left it as is.  To make it a neat rectangle I backed the one side with some yummy leftover Basic Grey.  Ever since spying the gorgeous turquoise and red hot air balloon and birds paper by My Minds Eye on a layout by Tessa I just HAD to have it.  Isn't it just so stinkin adorable??!! 

After fussy cutting out the birds and balloons, I used the leftover red background pieces to cut the hearts.  As you can see from the pic above, there's lots of dimension on this layout.  Of course, had fun with the sewing machine again (the thread is hot pink despite looking red in the pics). 

Can't seem to leave my Dymo alone, either.  Ran some pinkish Basic Grey thru and sanded the raised letters to make them stand out. 

Be sure to head on over to the SPCC blog to check out what the Design Team made for your inspiration.  This was such a fun color combo and you will not be disappointed with the samples.  Be sure to hook up your project to Mr. Linky for your chance to win an awesome prize from Miss Sam herself!

Busy, busy blogging day today.  The first day of the month AND a Monday so lots of fun business to attend to.  Off to make something for the Dollies and then SLEEP!!!  Hopefully I'll actually get some tonight. 

Thanks for stopping by!

- Heidi

Y{ippity} Sk{ippity} It's H[ippity} Hop Monday!!

Happy H[ippity} Hop Monday!!! 

Here's a fun little card I made using the {ippity} set Because of You. 

I used MY (~beam~) sketch for the Sketchy Thursdays Copics Giveaway card sketch challenge:

You have until Tuesday night at 11:59pm EST to post your card or layout based on MY (~beam~) sketch to the comments on THIS POST for your chance to win a COPICS set! 

Can you tell I'm proud of my first ever sketch??  tee hee 

I also used this week's Design Dollies' color challenge colors - fushia and light yellow.  Be sure to check out the site for the fabulous prize to be won for this challenge and play along with us!!!!

Hope you are having a great Monday so far!  Today was my son's first day back to school from winter break.  Whoopee!!!!  Gettin' a bit stir crazy there after 3 weeks off. 

Hope to see you playing along!

Heidi

Details - Images from {ippity} Because of You stamp set; Stampin' Up! ink & cardstock; Basic Grey paper & cardstock tag; SEI rhinestone brad; thread; unknown trim.

Bucket List

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  My kids had one heck of a great time. 

But, as much fun as Christmas was I'm relieved to kiss the stress of the last couple weeks goodbye.  Looking forward to the new year.  2010!  Wow.  Of course, this time of year always begs musings and ponderings about life.  Which brings me to this week's Spunky Scrappers prompt:

Yep, the prompt is to make a bucket list, a list of things you want to do before you die. 

I realized while making my list that there aren't a lot of crazy, daring things on my list.  But I think that's because I don't feel I need to make some death-defying grand gesture to make my life feel complete.  I think that's a good thing, right? 

I didn't count how many items I managed to include.  I basically just started writing.  But I feel like I've got a pretty good list going.  I'm really liking this layout, despite its lack of embellishments.  It's basically paper, pen, and stitching.  Lots of stitching.  It's hard to see on the darker paper just how much stitching there is but just look at the back of the paper:

Hilarious, eh?

So anyway, what's on YOUR bucket list.  Show us.  Join in on the fun on Spunky Scrappers.

Have a great Monday!

Heidi

Details:  Basic Grey paper, Zig Millennium pen, thread.

Love At First Sight

Happy Monday!! 

Time for another installment of SPCC:

Such a pretty combo this week. 

I haven't scrapped any baby pics of my daughter yet and this color combo seemed just perfect.  She's 15 days in this pic and it's one of my all time faves.  (She's only turning 4 years old this week so I'm not that far behind, LOL!) 

The design of this layout is this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch:

I love how the Basic Grey papers coordinate despite being from different collections.  And I promise that the background paper is very close to the Creamy Caramel color even though it looks closer to a white in the picture.

Have I mentioned how much I love ribbon and trim?  I hoard it!  I especially love grabbing all the yumminess that comes out at winter holiday time. 

It's hard to see the complete subtitle in the full picture, too,because it gets swallowed by the dark shading of the paper. 

Details: Basic Grey paper, cardstock alpha, & trim; Trim/Ribbon - Michaels, EK Success; Prima flowers; American Crafts rub on alpha; unknown pearls.



Be sure to check out what gorgeous creations the SP Divas made for your inspiration.  Hook up your own entry with Mr. Linky for your chance to win these adorable items from Sammye Jo from 62 Cards:

So stinkin' cute!!! 

Hope you are having a great Monday! 

Heidi

p.s.  Today's the last day to vote for my sushi roll card (see card in sidebar) in Round 2 of Torendi's People's Choice competition.  Thank you so much to all that have already voted!  I would really love to have the opportunity to show you my card for round 3!!  Voting for Round 3 begins Tuesday evening!!!!  The 3rd round is the last round and only the top 2 vote-getters get Design Team positions so I really appreciate every single vote!

SPCC #9 - Live Out Loud!

It's Monday so that means another AWESOME color combo from SPCC!!

April 2011 issue

When I first saw this week's colors I have to admit I was a little thrown...they seemed so babyish to me. Basic Grey to the rescue!!! The colors practically match the scheme in BG's Lily Kate collection.

Nothing babyish about this layout!! My daughter was having a little fun with the air purifier and her hair was whipping around everywhere. That girl has the best time doing everything. I'm so afraid she's going to be a *ahem* "spirited" teenager. I'm scared. Anyway, she never misses an opportunity to "Live Out Loud".

Props for the design go out to my bud Diana over on Design by Diana. This was a Sketchy Thursday sketch from mid-July. I, regrettably, had to miss that week but couldn't pass up the chance to still work with it. Make sure you check out this week's sketch. I can't wait to play with that one, too!!

I love the way backstitching looks when you do it slower than I think the machine wants to go on paper...it sort of pulls up a few of the stitches into uneven loops.

Now, come on over to SPCC and show us what you can do with these colors! This week's challenge is sponsored by Whimsy Stamps and they've so generously donated this week's prize:

PLUS, there are TWO chances to win some gorgeous blog candy this week, also donated by Whimsy Stamps!!

Here's how you can win. . . simply play along this week with SPCC #9. If you are entered into Mr. Linky, you are entered to win!! Very easy! You can get an additional entry by becoming a follower on SPCC or becoming a Friend of SPCC (by adding our SPCC button to your blog and then emailing Sam!). That is three chances to win!

During the week, we will also have a couple of projects showcasing this gorgeous wedding stamp so stay tuned this week!

Now hop on over and check out what the SPCC Divas did for you with this color combo. Remember, this week we're introducing the second half of the Diva team to you. I have to say that I am so proud to be part of this amazing group of crafters!!

AND, today we're also welcoming our August Guest Designer, Susan Zuzarte. If you haven't ever seen her work you really must come take a look and also hop on over to her blog. She's great!!

Thanks for checking me out today!!

Heidi

Details: Paper - Basic Grey, Stampin' Up!; Cricut Storybook Font; Basic Grey letter stickers; Stampin' Up! punch; Plaid bird form; Ranger Stickles; thread.

Live the Life You've Imagined...Happy

Happy Hump Day!

I've recently discovered a great new website called Memories Always-Forever. It's full of fun challenges (you know I can't pass that up!), a place to upload your projects and peruse those of other majorly talented contributors, and connect with other crafty people.

They just had a card sketch challenge using this sketch:

Aaaaaaand, here's where I took it:

I had so much fun making this. It's seriously much more impressive IRL. I hate how the camera flattens an image. You know, I've been holding on to that Basic Grey Obscure 6x6 pad forever but just recently discovered how so "me" it is. I L-O-V-E it!

For the two framed areas on the sketch I scribbled/scratched frame outlines. Then I went over them with an embossing pen and then covered them with UTEE a couple of times so there are clear, bubbley, melty, raised frames. The sentiment is stamped on a transparency and then I plopped it on top of the UTEE while it was still hot to "glue" the transparency down. (Here's a little tip...molten UTEE is H-O-T! Use tweezers if you're going to set something down into it. Don't learn the hard way like I did. Trust me, you won't do it twice.) I also "glued" down in the UTEE a couple of transistors. I've been holding on to those babies for ages, too. It's fun discovering the treasures you have organized away over the years. I have some really cool stuff.

~title detail~

For the scalloped area I created a frame with some old Heidi Swapp printed tape - this one is some sort of measuring device. Unfortunately, I have no idea where I got the camera eyelet but I'm glad I discovered those in my stash, too.

The tickets, sentiment, and the umbrella man (notice he's shadow stamped, too?) are all Tim Holtz stamps. That man is wicked talented, eh?

~stamps detail~

Details: Basic Grey paper; Tim Holtz stamps; JudiKins transparency; StazOn & VersaMark ink; Zig Millenium pen & Emboss Writer; Ranger UTEE; Heidi Swapp tape; unknown transistors & eyelet.

This month's Guest Design Team challenge for Unity Stamp Co. was to use a stamp from either the May or June Kit of the Month and this sketch:

I felt like stepping out of the box, so to speak, so I went round instead with a paper mache round hanger:

I thought I'd like to do something really playful so I grabbed my current go-to fun papers from the American Craft Teen collection. It's hard to see in the pic but some of the hearts are glazed and a little bit sparkly. I used a checkerboard pattern for the wide horizontal band on the sketch and cut out a squiggle for the smaller band bisecting it.

The Unity stamp I used was the June KOTM "happy" banner.

I told you you'd be seeing the fan fold flowers again soon! These are also made with the AC Teen papers and are topped off with some Around the Block brads. I backed them with some turquoise floss to make them seem just that much more festive.

And now, of course, I must address the pink elephant in the room - the fuschia feather trim. Oh. My. Gawd. It was like some exotic bird exploded when I cut that trim! There were fuschia feathers floating in the air for hours! I attached it to the hanger with Sticky Strips.

Details - American Craft paper; Unity Stamp Co. stamp; Ink - StazOn, Stampin' Up!; Brads - Around the Block, Stampin' Up!; Stickles; DMC floss; MSI paper mache hanger; Target boa trim; Offray ribbon; Sticky Strips tape.

Hope you enjoyed my creations for the day.

Stay tuned tomorrow for some possibly exciting news.

Have a good evening!

Heidi

2 New Layouts

A while back a friend sent me a few pics of his adorable daughter so I could make a few layouts for him. I posted the first layout HERE.

I can FINALLY report that I've finished the other two!! I think I put too much stress on myself for these since they are going to someone else. Something that I'm pretty proud of on both these layouts is the pictures themselves. I finally figured out how to use the clone stamp feature in Photoshop Elements and was able to remove distracting background elements in each picture. Yea me!

This first one is based on the amazing sketch done by Diana a couple weeks ago over on her Sketchy Thursdays challenge blog:

I'm telling you - this woman has some mad sketchin' skillz!! (You know she's good when I whip out the "z". Hee hee.) Head on over to her site (Designs by Diana) to join in on the challenge fun every Thursday. Layouts for this week's sketch are due tomorrow (Wednesday 7/8) if you want to play along.

I had a bit of fun with the ribbon on this one. Note how I paired all the ribbons and trims with black accents, too. I wanted to reinforce the touches of black found in this awesome Basic Grey paper.

I made a few more of my crackle, distressed flowers and shaded the title with ink, reminiscent of a couple of my earlier layouts.

Details: Paper - Basic Grey, The Paper Co.; Ink - StazOn, Stampin' Up!; Cricut die cuts; Autumn Leaves stamp; Stampendous embossing powder; Ranger Crackle Medium; Stickles; Joanns ribbon; trim unknown.

This one's been practically done for a couple weeks now:

I just had to finish up the right side. I used the multi-embossing powder technique demonstrated by Jennifer McGuire over on her Thinking Inking series on the 2Peas site for the dandilion. The distressed frame is also embossed with copper powder.

I got the inspiration for the butterflies from a layout done by Cathy Blackstone in the July issue of Scrapbooks Etc. Each butterfly body is handstitched, too. The idea for the embedded border punch was also inspired by a layout in the July Scrapbooks Etc. by Mellette Berezoski.

The color scheme on this layout fits in nicely with this week's Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Challenge blog:

Aren't those colors positively yummy??!! The butterflies and dandilion have the turquoise and pink colors and the frame closely matches the suede color. I can't wait to get my hands on some of these new Stampin' Up! In Color inks.

Details: Paper - DCWV, The Paper Company; Ink - VersaMark, StazOn; Embossing Powder - Ink It!, Top Boss, Stampendous, Joanns; Stamps - Unity Stamp Co., Autumn Leaves, Sassafras Lass; Cricut diecuts; Stampin' Up! brads; Fiskars border punch; unknown eyelets, thread.

Had a bit of excitement in the ol' household today. I have lived in the suburban Phoenix area for 38 years and have NEVER encountered a scorpion. I know this area is known for them (housing developments in former desert and orange grove areas) but I have been lucky enough to have never seen one IRL, save for the odd paperweight. But lo and behold today there was one of the little buggers in my hallway. Not only did the fact that there was one in my house freak me out, but he was just about as far away from any doorway or window as he could get so he managed to scuttle through my house for a while. Luckily, I happened to notice him before I (or my kids or dogs) could step on him. I just feel so violated. Weird how such a little creature can have that effect on you. I hope this was an isolated incident! I walk around all day long (and at night in darkness) in bare feet.

Well, anyway...thanks for stopping by! Hope you (and my friend) like the layouts.

Heidi

Card-a-palooza!

I was in a card making mood today! So, let's get right to it...

This first one includes the colors from this week's Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Challenge #4:

The color squares are made by directly dabbing the Stampin' Up! color spots to the paper. This look could also be achieved by using a distressed square stamp. Then, I machine stitched between the lines. I was going for a kind of quilted look.

The star image is stamped with StazOn onto a transparent sheet and then stapled into place.

(There's another SPCC card at the end of the post, too.)

Details: Ink: Stampin' Up!, StazOn; The Paper Company paper; My Mind's Eye stamp; JudiKins transparent sheet; Making Memories colored staples; thread.

The next four (yes, four) cards are what I'm considering "art cards", which I made for the Vintage Plum weekly challenge.

I used a fun technique that I learned over on the 2Peas website in Jennifer McGuire's Thinking Inking series: heating up the paint from a Ranger Paint Dabber. I have been holding on to a copper dabber for a loooong time but just had never gotten around to using it.

Published in Scrapbook News and Review Magazine August 2010

What's so cool is that the Ranger paint will bubble up when heated (and it crackles, too, which adds to the fun factor). I also like the circular effect the dabber left on my little tree, too. The tree is a Quickutz Silhouette die cut. I had so much fun with this technique that I colored a bunch of other die cuts at the same time.

I stamped a world map onto the teal woodgrain paper from the DCWV Green Stack and a script image on the brown mat. I drew a little border all around the mat and distressed the blue piece to give the card a finished feel.

Details: Paper - DCWV, Bazzill, The Paper Company; Stampin' Up! ink; Inkadinkado stamps; Ranger paint dabber; Quickutz Silhouette die cut; Zig Millenium pen; Stampin' Up! brads.

I was going for the look of a clipboard on this next card. It's supposed to look like the clipboard is overflowing with papers but then this calming little image sits on top.

April 2011 issue

I absolutely LOVE this birds on a wire stamp from Tim Holtz. I love that, even though they are a silhouette, you can still pick up the personalities of each little bird. The pretty little tree is an Imaginisce stamp. Both the birds and the tree are heat embossed in black. The background is that Inkadinkado world map stamp again, stamped in VersaMark and clear embossed. Then I sponged Ranger distress inks over the top to make the background pop.

Details: The Paper Company paper; Ink - StazOn, VersaMark, Ranger Distress Inks; Stamps - Tim Holtz, Imaginisce, Inkadinkado; Making Memories clip; Zig Millenium pen; corner rounder; misc. papers, receipts, and ticket stubs.

March 2011 issue

I had fun making this whimsical little card. Something about that adorable little Unity Stamp Company quail screamed "riding a bike" to me. And, of course, since he's a bird, he had to be riding on a tightrope. Yeah - I don't know where these ideas come from, either. The bike, umbrella, base paper, and scrap paper used to stamp the quail and the sentiment are all from the K & Co. Daydreams collection. The little buildings from We R Memory Keepers are stamped on a vintage dictionary page.

Details: K & Co. paper; Stampin' Up! ink; Stamps - Unity Stamp Company, We R Memory Keepers; Zig Millenium pen (corner doodles); vintage dictionary; unknown mini clothes pins and twine.

I saved the best for last, in my humble opinion. I had soooooo much fun making this last card. It's just so grungy and busy and wonderful.

And, wouldn't you know it, the card contains the SPCC Week #4 colors (Summer Sun, Garden Green, & Pink Passion - see above for swatch)!

The butterfly (a Quickutz Silhouette die cut) was also made using the paint dabber heating technique. The GORGEOUS patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Obscure collection. The butterfly's trail is mini circular mirrors. A couple of them are grunged up a bit with a rub on. There's a bit of Magic Mesh on here, too, (remember that stuff?) and some velvet ribbon and sparkly fibers that look like a raggedy crow molted on my card.

The black base is stamped with an Autumn Leaves flourish stamp and heat embossed with a yummy "Black Opal" embossing powder by JudiKins.

Details: Paper - Basic Grey, The Paper Company; Autumn Leaves stamps; Ink - VersaMark, Colorbox; JudiKins embossing powder; Magic Mesh; Darice mirrors; Stampin' Up! ribbon; Adornaments fiber; Quickutz Silhouette die cut; unknown rub ons.

Thanks for sticking with me through this marathon post! Thanks for looking. Let me know what you think!

Heidi