I Love You This Much

Originally published in Scrapbook News and Review January 2011

I love everything about this layout.

First and foremost I love the picture. 

I love the pinks and reds and chocolate browns. 

I love the block format.

I love all the texture - the glitter and foiled papers, a yummy Precocious Paper satin bridal bloom (my faves!), the crepe paper pleat, the stitching, the metal gromlets, the ruffly ribbon.

And I love the heart punched border.

This layout has hung in my family room since the day I made it. 

****

A few announcements:

Sketchy Thursdays is holding a Design Team call for our April - September term.  All crafters - traditional, digi, and cardmakers - are encouraged to apply.  See this post for details.

Precocious Paper is hold a DT call for the April - September term.  See this post for details.  I will GREATLY miss being on this amazing team and have been honored to be on her inaugural DT. 

Want to get published?  See here for the calls for the April issue of Scrapbook News and Review.  The call is open through March 12.

Sketchy Thursdays Design Team Call

It's RAINING right now!  I mean thunder, lightening, and hard enough wind to blow the rain up to my windows on the back patio which are at least 15 feet under the patio roof!!! 

Woohoo!!!!

I tried to take a picture of it but you can't really see the rain very well. 

I did get blasted by a gust of rain when I first tried to take a picture, though.

OK, enough about my glorious weather.  ;oD

Yep, you read the title right.  We're having a Design Team Call on Sketchy Thursdays!!!

Check out the details HERE.

C'mon!  You know you wanna!!!! 

Sketchy Thursdays GDT & DT Call

I've just posted the April Guest Design Team Challenge over on Sketchy Thursdays. 

This month's challenge is sponsored by my rad Ninja Chickies over on the Pink Ninja Addicts so I honored them with a Ninja-inspired challenge:

Prompt - Fill in the blanks: "If I could __________, I would ________."


Technique - Mist or paint IN PINK.

Sketchy Twist - Use this sketch:
 

 
Yep!  It's another "Heidi" sketch!!!  (I bet you've figured out how to tell the difference between Heidi & Diana sketches at this point, huh?   Diana's are so pretty and clean and bright and mine are all dark and grungy!!  LOL!!!!  That's why we're so good together.)
 
We'd love for you to pop on over and play along with us.  Not only will the lucky winner get to be an honorary Sketchy Chick for the entire month of April, but she'll also win the Pink Ninja Addicts' debut kit "Three Little Birds".
 

 
You know how much I ~heart~ this kit...come play along with us and you could win one of your very own!!!  You have until 11:59pm EST Saturday 3/20 to hook your layout up to the comments on THIS POST over on the Sketchy blog.
 
(And, alas, if you don't...you can pick it up over in the Pink Ninja Addicts' etsy store. Plus, really, you need to just run on over there to check out all their kits. Mm mm goooooooooood! My "Carousel" kit just arrived this weekend and I can't wait to get to tearin' into that bad girl to play!)


And don't forget we still have our Sketchy Thursdays Design Team Call still going on.  If you wanna be a Sketchy Chick you have only one more week, until next Monday 3/15, to contact us.  See THIS POST for the details. 

Have a GREAT Monday!!! 

Heidi

Sleeping Babies & Cowboys

This week has just flown by!  (I say that a lot, don't I?)

It's already time again for our Sketchy Thursdays challenge!!! 

This week's sketch is sponsor by Pixie Cottage Stamps and our DT were lucky enough to get to try some of the HUGE, suitable-for-layouts PCS stamps. 

To give you an idea just how huge this particular stamp is, this is a 4-1/4" circle and I still had to cut some of the image off!!  Isn't it just darling???  I love the pouty baby lips!  I colored both the image and the Prima flowers with oil pastels using my fingers.  When it comes to shading I'm so not good with tools.  Gotta go with the hands. 

Isn't this paper GORJUS?????  Is a new DCWV Stack called Vintage.  There are some awesome images in there including a few Anne Taintor-like gems.  Lots of yummy sparkle, too. 

I also created this layout with the current These Are a Few of My Favorite Things challenge in mind:  "these are a few of my favorite memories".  My daughter was not a quiet baby.  For her first 6 months she cried ALL THE TIME and pretty much refused to go to anyone other than mommy.  So some of my fondest memories of this time are when she slept, LOL!!!!! 

Did you notice the flower centers??  I just can't keep away from those Martha Stewart microbeads!!!!!  There are gold and kelly green ones on the flowers to mimic the flowers on the paper. 

Hop on over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog to check out what the rest of the DT made for your inspiration and play along with us for a chance to win some tasty goodness from Pixie Cottage Stamps.  

I have to make special mention of the layout this month's Guest Design Team Member, Sandra made for this sketch.  OMG - you MUST simply go over and take a look.  It's freakin' awesome!!!!!  The woman QUILLED a ton of flowers for Pete's sake!  I now MUST learn to quill, LOL! 

Details:  Paper - DCWV, Stampin' Up!; Stamps - Pixie Cottage Stamps, EK Success, Karen Foster; Ink - StazOn, Colorbox; Prima flowers; Martha Stewart microbeads; Stickles; oil pastels, thread; unknown ribbon.

Thursdays are also host to a sketch challenge on the Design Dollies.

I am so loving Kristy's sketches this month in particular.  I love all the fun fonts she's included for the titles. 

I started out going in a totally different direction for this sketch and as I was looking through a box of pics I came across these of my son circa 1-year-old in his adorable cowboy costume.  I loved this costume and was sad to see him outgrow it.  It was so plush and soft and just stinkin cute. 

I mean, seriously, is this just about the cutest cowboy ever????? 

Jump on over to the Design Dollies blog, too, to check out what the rest of the DT made for you. 

While you're over there, be sure to check out the DT Call!!!!  I can't believe I'm already almost 2/3 of the way thru my term.  Three months goes FAST.   I have been so lucky to work with this amazing group of gals, both the Founding Dollies (Adina, Kristy, and Leah) and the DT (Ellen & Nicole) and I'll be sad to see the term end.  This site has some of the most amazing challenges out there and the prizes are killer!!! 

Details:  Paper - DCWV, K&Co; Flair Designs vellum quote; Deluxe Designs word tag; Petals & Possibilities metal star; unknown star brads and grommets; twine.

Well, there you have it...two sketchy inspiration possibilities. 

Hope to see you play along!

Heidi

p.s.  Probably by the time you read this post my counter will have tipped over the top of 20,000 hits!!!!  I am so completely honored that you all stop by and thank each and every one of you!!!!!  Virtual hugs!!!

Robot Love, Fan Love, & DT Love

Yea!  We're back from the snow.  So happy to be home to our (tee hee) 77 degree weather.  Yes, I know I'll be lamenting and whining about the 110+ degrees in just a few months' time but this time of year is why I suppose we stick it out the rest of the year. 

Gotta share the cute little card I made for the hubs for V-Day:

Have I mentioned I love the BamPop!???  Any BamPop!  This cutie-patootie robot was snipped off of one of the new papers in the BamPop! Vol. 2 Collection available on Torendi. 

And, of course we have our perennial fave Cosmo Cricket Earth Love background.  This is one of the possible designs available in the Torendi "Joy" kit now on sale and supplies are going fast! 

Details:  Paper - BamPop! Vol. 2 Collection, Cosmo Cricket as found in the Torendi "Joy" kit; Colorbok heart; Dymo labels. 

And speaking of love, have you heard??!!  Sketchy Thursdays has gone Facebook on ya!!  In just 4 days we have over 250 fans!!!!!!!!!!!!   I'm blown away!  We'll be posting more of our fave layouts throughout the week for all to enjoy and doing extra giveaways over there.  Sheesh!  We just can't stop showering our followers/fans with goodies, huh?!!  Not a bad thing at all.

And finally...HAVE YOU HEARD??!!!!!!!  Sketchy Thursdays is having our next Design Team Call!!!!!  I so can't believe it's been 6 months already since Diana and I were picking our inaugural DT and wondering if we'd get a few followers.  Now we're up to 540 followers and Amanda, Tessa, and Jennifer have been a DREAM DT.  We'll be sad to see them off.  But I'm so excited also to see what amazingness we'll uncover with the call.  Interested in joining our team?  The call will run until 3/15.  Click on the link above for all the details. 

Are you like me?  Any slight bump in your routine and it takes ages to recover and get back into the swing of things.  I'm just soooo not feeling the mojo right now.  4 days off scrappin and I'm not ready to dive back in yet.  I think I'll just veg a little while longer tonight and jump back in it tomorrow.  There are quite a few new (new to me) challenges I'd love to start working into my routine.  The wheels are turning on how to incorporate one into my ST layout for this week...stay tuned.

Off to bed!

Heidi

Not Always So Sweet

The prompt this week over on Spunky Scrappers is Things Only a Mother Could Love.  The timing of this prompt was serendipitous because I'd just come across a picture of my daughter that I knew I wanted to scrap but I didn't have a "direction" for it yet.

April 2011 issue

Take a closer look at the actual picture...

That was a common pose whilst around my daughter in her first few months of life.  That girl was STINKY with a capital STINKY!!  I mean it was foul.  It was embarrassing.  It was so much worse than normal baby stink.  But it was hilarious!!!  We were choking trying to shield our noses from the assault while laughing hysterically.  And let me tell you, that girl is still the gassiest little thing, too!  I'm just waiting for the day she burps her ABCs.  LOL!

So, I hadn't done a sweet, "girly" layout in a while and thought it was perfect for this one.  Lots of fun with floss and buttons.

I have a huge supply of buttons that I rarely use. 

Details - DCWV paper; K&Company chipboard alpha; DMC floss; unknown buttons.

Be sure to jump on over to the Spunky Scrappers site to check out what the fabulous and talented ladies on the Design Team made for your inspiration.  You will not be disappointed!! 

And, did you know there's a Design Team Call going on at this very moment??!!  We're looking to add 4 to 6 more team members and a couple sketch artists!!  So, if you think you're a Spunky Scrapper, you have until the end of the week to submit your name, blogsite, and 3 layouts to creativedesignsbybrianna@gmail.com. 

Spunky Scrappers is also in the midst of changing from a ning to a blogspot site!!!!  Such exciting changes going on!! 

Hope you had a great Monday and are on to a great week!

Heidi

Sketchy Thursdays Design Team Call

Happy Hump Day to you all!!

You know how much I love my Sketchy Thursdays challenges, right? I mean, have you SEEN the gorgeous sketches that the talented Miss Diana graciously blesses us with every week??!!!! Just LOOK at this week's sketch, for instance:

Sheer genious! Every week Diana's sketches are clean, accessible, interpretable, and just so much FUN!! And, to top it all off, there's a PRIZE every week for a randomly drawn participant so EVERYONE has a chance - everyone can get in on the fun! Are you playing along??

Come on! I CHALLENGE YOU! Let's see your entry this week!! (due tonight by midnight)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddd...

Did you know Sketchy Thursdays is currently having a Design Team Call??!!!!!

O. M. G.!!!!!

The deets:

Beginning Aug. 14 through Sept. 5, submit your entry to join the Sketchy Thursdays Design Team.

3 Sketchy Players will be chosen to serve a 6-month term beginning Sept. 12.

Sketchy Players will receive a small RAK as a thank you, as well as the sketches for the month in advance. Potential for further RAKs may arise with continued sponsor support.

Sketchy Thursdays is a weekly sketch challenge. Winners are chosen randomly and given a prize by a sponsor. Sketches are posted on Thursdays.

The DT will submit their weekly layouts no later than the Tuesday night before the Thursday posting for the reveal.

Please submit your application to dianadesigns@rochester.rr.com by Sept. 5.

• Include 3 layouts, cards or projects that best reflect your design style.

• Include your name, email address, links to any photo galleries, the link to your blog if you have one, and any other Design Teams you are currently on.

• Also, put in 3 sentences why you think you will be an asset to the Sketchy Thursdays weekly challenge.

Sketchy Players will be contacted by Sept. 12 by e-mail. The DT will be announced on the NEW Sketchy Thursdays site with the Sept. 24 sketch reveal.

Woot! Woot! How exciting is that??!!

SPREAD THE WORD!! The more talent that plays along on the site, the more inspiration for us all!!

I can't WAIT to see who gets on the new DT! (Me! Me!! Pick me!!!)

Heidi

SPCC Design Team Call!!

The Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Combos site is hosting an inaugural Design Team call.

The details:

Call ends July 17th.

Scrapmaster’s Paradise Color Combos is a brand new color combo challenge blog that is looking for its first ever design team. Design Team members will be called SP Divas. We want to become the hottest new challenge blog on the web and so we are looking for fresh, new faces to make up the team to help spread the word and get people excited about colors. We are looking for at least 10 SP Divas, possibly more.

What is in it for you?

*Your name and a link to your blog on the SPCC blog.
*Your projects featured on our blog.
*A welcome prize pack containing many goodies from me as well as from our sponsors.
*The possibility of sponsor gifts and RAKs from me during your term.

What we are looking for:

Scrapbookers: We need scrappers that like to work primarily in 12X12 format.
Cardmakers: We need cardmakers, specifically who use stamping on their cards.
Alterers: We need some scrappers who like to make 3D items and altered items.

*Past design team positions or publications are not required. We would like to see some new faces so if you have no previous experience, I highly encourage you to apply.
*Crafters who are active on their own blogs and at least one online community (SCS, a scrap forum, PCP, etc)

Responsibilities:

*Design Team term is 3 months with the possibility to be extended.
*Every other week, SP Divas will be required to complete a challenge in advance and send a photo of the finished project to my email. On your “off” week, you can still send me your project in advance and I will showcase it on the blog, but the off weeks are optional.
*Promote SPCC whenever and where ever possible in the online community.
*Post comments for the crafters who enter the challenges each week.
*Post the SPCC blinkie on your blog.
*Make a weekly post about that weeks’ SP Color Combo on your blog.

How to Apply:

Part 1: Play along with the SP Color Combos as much as possible from now until the end of the DT Call. I need to see your work with color combos in order to judge you as a candidate for the DT. AT VERY LEAST, participation in 2 of the challenges is required to be considered for the team. The more you play along, the better your chances will be. I WILL NOT even consider anyone who does not play along with at least two of the weekly challenges. This is the most important part of this DT Call. Also, help spread the word about SPCC. Show me that you are excited about SPCC!

Part 2:Send the following information to Samantha at scrapmastersparadise@yahoo.com:

*Name:
*Mailing address:
*Email address:
*Phone number:
*Link to your blog:
*List of online communities you are active in (and usernames):
*Past and current DT positions (past DT experience not required):
*Publications (publications not required):
*Are you a Stampin’ UP Demonstrator or consultant for any other direct sales scrap/stamp company (A Yes will not disqualify you):
*What is your favorite color or color combo?
*Why would you like to be a SP Diva?
*What would you like to see in the future at SPCC? What changes could be made?
*Do you know of any possible sponsors? Who?
*If you are not chosen as an SP Diva, would you be interested in being spotlighted as a guest designer in the future?

NOTES:

*International crafters may apply, but will have to pay for the difference in shipping for the welcome prize pack if asked to be on the team.

*Send questions to scrapmastersparadise@yahoo.com

So, who wants to be an SP Diva? Head on over to SPCC to check it out!!

Heidi