Halloween Costume Ideas

It's time once again for your weekly dose of SP Color Challenge!!  This week's combo:

I think I've figured out when the color combos most often trip me up...when there's 1 or more pastels in the bunch.  I could've rocked out a layout with Green Galore, Close To Cocoa, and Taken With Teal in a heartbeat!  But then Sam has to go and throw in a pastel and foomph! the creative blinders snap in place. 

Got that cotton-pickin' pastel in there, though!  The Basic Grey paper had a very close Almost Amethyst fade in this patterened paper.  Woohoo!  Leave it to Basic Grey to bail me out!!! 

Of course, couldn't get through a layout without my paint splatters.  Had an epiphany on this one that if you add A LOT of water to the paint, not only does it splatter well and "bigger", but it leaves a cool multi-colored, water stain-looking mark, too. 

I really used to despise when people used staples on their layouts.  I thought it looked cheap.  Now I LOVE it!!  I think they're a cool looking embellie AND they're very useful.  Funny how tastes change.

So, this was my daughter's first snow encounter and I'm surprised we've ever gotten her back into it for all the trauma this snow suit caused.  She HATED it.  Poor thing looked just like the kid in A Christmas Story, her little arms wouldn't lay flat at her sides. 

The journaling tag says, "Observations > Halloween Costume Ideas:  Michelin Man, Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man, Sumo Wrestler."  All NOT good ideas for her!

Details:  Paper - Basic Grey, The Paper Co.; Making Memories paint & clip; Prima ribbon; Zig Milennium pen; Creative Chaos journaling tag.

Be sure to head on over to SPCC to check out what the Design Team has in store for your inspiration this week.  Gorgeous stuff!! 

And be sure to link up your creation to Mr. Linky for your chance to win this week's prize from the fabulous Miss Susan Zuzarte!!

Susan is the sweetest, most generous person!!  Be sure to check out her blog and give her some love!

TFL!!

Heidi

Life Lesson #42: Sometimes Mommy Laughs AT You

I know.  I know.  As mommies, we're supposed to protect our children, both physically and emotionally.  That we're to assure them we're always their champions.  That we are to teach them the "right" way to treat each other and that it's rude to laugh AT other people.    But come on!  Sometimes they do things that are just so positively, insanely hilarious that we can't help but laugh AT them.  Mommies are human, too!

Yes, this is my SON.  He did this himself. 

And one day this will be a cornerstone in my blackmail arsenal. 

I made this layout for this week's prompt on Spunky Scrappers: Confessions of a Real Mommy.  Be sure to head on over there to check out what the rest of the DT made.  Very "enlightening".  LOL!! 

Incidentally, there's an informal contest going on over there on Spunky...let's see who can bring in the most new members.  So, hey, if you feel so inclined, head on over and sign up.  Be sure to let them know on THIS POST that Heidi sent ya!  ;oD  Seriously, we have had and will have some great, SUPER FUN prompts for your scrapping inspiration.  You'll be glad you checked us out!

This layout also satisfies all the challenges from the first week on the Design Dollies site!  Three forms of bling, check!  (Rhinestones, mini mirrors, Ting A Ling Sparkles glitter glue.) 

Color combo, check! (Royal blue, white, black.)

Sketch, check!

Whew!

Head on over to check out the new Design Dollies website!  What an amazing amalgamation of talent!!  You'll love it.

Aaaaaaaand, I also incorporated the prompt on Category Stories:  Laugh.  I'm really enjoying their prompts.  I've played the last couple months and there's just something so non-confrontational about their prompts.  Somehow that doesn't sound like a compliment but it is.  It really is!!  Their prompts are just easy to slip into. 

(Incidentally, I also included the Pile It On 3D challenge but couldn't post it before that one closed.  Oh, well.  LOL!  I'm so addicted to combining challenges!)

I think I better go kiss my son.  I have a feeling I'm going to get it one of these days for sharing this pic.  LOL!

Have a great Monday!!

Heidi

Sapphire & Witches

Happy Unity Friday Friends With Flair!!

Hope you are enjoying your Unity Stamp Company followers blog hop. 

Let's begin our morning with a nice, fortifying drinky-drink!  Ah, c'mon!  "It's 5 o'clock somewhere." 

This is for The Pink Ninja's prompt "drink of choice".  The thing I love about our prompts is there really is no deadline for entry.  We're all about the inspiration and whenever it grabs you is OK by us!  Just get 'er linked up because we want you to inspire us!!!

It's really hard to see on the full layout, but I've got the {good times} stamp from the October '08 KOTM on there in all it's sparkly glory.  Truth be told, I got this kit FOR this stamp.  L-O-V-E it!! 

So, once again I had a blast splattering my layout.  Got paint EVERYWHERE in my dining room, but that's OK.  My kids thought it was a "good time".   It's also really hard to see in the pics, but in addition to the paint splatters, the background is also misted with pearl Glimmer Mist and hit with a sprinkling of that gorgeous Martha Stewart glitter.  (Can someone please tell me the best way to photograph glittery elements while maintaining the overall integrity of the picture??)

My background was inspired by this Basic Grey print ad for their Lime Rickey line:

I had such a "good time" (Ok, too far, huh?  I'll stop.) staging my little Sapphire photo shoot.  No other gin will do me.  It's so luscious with some tonic (diet if you have it) and lime.  Mm mm good! 

And can I say I am lovin' Picnik??  They make it so easy to play with your photos.  I used the neon option for this layout:

But played a bit before I chose it:

"Lomo-ish"

Orton-ish with Matte

Helga-ish

So much fun!!!

Details:  Paper - Stampin' Up!, Basic Grey; Making Memories paint; Prima rhinestone flourish; Stampin' Up! heat & stick powder; Martha Stewart glitter; Glimmer Mist; Picnik photo editing. 

OK, enough with the tantalizing drinks...how about some Halloween fun??

My inspiration for this card is THIS ONE made by the fabulous Leah the Orange for Humble Pie Stamps.  They are currently having a challenge (ending tonight, Friday 10/9, at midnight EST) to lift any of their DT's cards on THIS POST.   I pretty much straight lifted Leah's card.  But, remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right??!!  If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

I am sooooo happy with the way this card came out.  I love Halloween with all its black and orange.  Super fun!!  And this little rag dollie from the September KOTM is just perfectly creepy enough (in a totally adorable way) for Halloween. 

How cute are those heidi grace pumpkin and spiderweb rub ons?!! 

I love the way the spiderweb stamp looks embossed.  So creepy. 

Details:  Paper - Stampin' Up!, The Paper Company; Stamps - Unity Stamp Co., Studio g; Ink - VersaMark, ColorBox; Stampendous embossing powder; Brads - Making Memories, Stampin' Up!; heidi grace rub ons; Fibers - Stampin' Up!, EK Success; Punches - Fiskars, Stampin' Up!.

Have fun perusing the rest of the blogs on the hop! 

Happy Friday!! 

Heidi

Digital Sketchy Thursdays

It's time once again for your Sketchy Thursdays fix. 

This week's sponsor is Sassy Designs, Ltd.  They designed a digital kit  for Sketchy Thursdays and it's up for grabs for this week's drawing!  How cool is that??!! 

It's such a beautiful kit complete with distressed solids and patterned papers, frames, ribbons, a distressed card, and a gorgeous brad.  Sassy Designs, Ltd. made the kit available early for the Sketchy Thursdays Design Team to play with.  Hop on over to the blog to see what they made for your inspiration.  You'll note it was used both strictly digitally and hybrid!

So, this was my first attempt ever at a digital layout:

Whadaya think?  Pretty cool, eh?  It's so nice working with such a gorgeous, coordinated kit with lots of elements. 

We had a great turnout for last week's challenge!  47 participants.  I'm hoping we break 50 this week!!!  Hope to see YOUR creation among them!!

Happy Thursday!!

Heidi

Chameleon Ninja

Yea!  My first official Pink Ninjas layout!!!! 

Prompt this week:  What kind of Ninja are you??

I think I'm pretty good at being who I need to be for whatever group I'm interacting.  So, with the school/mommies group I'm the "good", sweet, censored, carefully-placed Heidi...

(That little green button at the end of the polka dot ribbon says, "good".)

And then there's the "bad", sparkly, salty, throw-some-paint-on-it Heidi. 

I'm not saying one is more "me", nor do I like one side better than the other, because they're both totally, unequivocally me.  Hence, chameleon. 

I made the pic by Photoshopping my Pink Ninja pic as a rubber stamp at 25% opacity, and then printed it on a transparency. 

So, tell us, WHAT KIND OF NINJA ARE YOU??  Show us over on The Pink Ninjas!!  And then comment back here...I am dying to know "you". 

And take a peek at what kind of ninjas the rest of the Pink Ninjas are.  Soooo much fun!!!

Heidi

Not Always Playing With a Full Deck

Happy Tuesday everyone!

We just spent the (entire) morning at the Toy Story/ Toy Story 2 3D Double Feature.  It was soooooo cool.  I mean, I've seen the movies countless times, even at the movie theatre, but it was just so much different in 3D.  And, I SWEAR there were some changes.  I guess if you're going to re-engineer an entire film, you can tweak it a bit while you're in there, huh?

This week over on Spunky Scrappers the prompt is "games". 

March 2011 issue

I've never made a 6 x 12 layout before but I think I'm likin' it!  It worked out well for this layout because I only had one pic, the cards are actually mini cards, I didn't want any additional embellishment, and when I laid it out on a 12 x 12 sheet, the patterened paper was overwhelming. 

When my son saw this he said, "Oh, man, Mah-ah-ahm!  Now you're cutting into the mini cards??!!"  I assure you we have several decks of mini cards, in addition to SEVERAL decks of regular sized cards and a few larger ones, a good majority of which probably aren't full decks any longer anyway.  So I don't feel bad at all for it!!  Pthttttt!

Have you checked out the Spunky Scrappers site yet?  It really is quite a fun site and Brianna comes up with such fun weekly prompts.  Ah, come on!  Join in on the fun this week!!  We've got a great group of super talented ladies on the design team that bring you awesome inspiration every week and would LOVE to see what YOU can upload to inspire us!!!

Hope to see you over there! 

Heidi

charity:water

Meet charity: water.

Have a good look around, get to know them. They are doing wonders in areas that don’t have what most of us take for granted - clean water. Just think about it for a minute… imagine what it would be like to be without this necessity. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? It’s hard to imagine being without something that is always there. Something you never have to think or worry about. But a lot of people do worry. One billion people do, in fact. They face every day without that life giving luxury that we throw around like, um, water.

Now meet Amanda from The Studio.  She started talking to everyone she knew. And everyone she didn’t really know. And everyone they knew. Soon she had something incredible going on. And now, SHE NEEDS YOU!

Starting at 7pm (GMT) on Friday 13th November they will be hosting a BIG scrapbooking event. It will last for 48 hours and there will be games, challenges, special guests and PRIZES! A new challenge will be posted every 2 hours for the whole weekend! And there's an unbelievable grand finale:  Cathy Zielske will be setting the final challenge!!!! 

For a while now Cathy Z has used her online voice to reach the thousands of scrapbookers who frequent her website and started this pretty cool campaign: Scrapbookers for clean water. Her campaign supports charity: water.

There will be a prize for each and every challenge they post over the weekend and a prize for the overall winner of the event! More details will follow on how it will all work. For now, they need to get everyone signed up and ready to go! Of course, they are starting off as they mean to continue – with some prizes! Everyone who signs up to play and makes a donation before 20th October will be entered into a random draw to win one of five of these cool kits from Cosmo Cricket!

Now you’re paying attention!!  ;o)

Here’s what you need to do to play:

1. To sign up for the event click here. You need to register and then join the charity: water event to start the ball rolling. If you’re playing for fun, that’s all you need to do.

2. If you want to be in to win the prizes you need to make a donation. Whatever you can spare. They aren’t into pressure at all. There are 2 ways to donate, here on Cathy’s page OR here to The Studio's charity: water Paypal address. If you donate directly to Cathy’s page you MUST enter the following into the comments box: “My donation for thestudio.scrapbook-101.com charity: extravaganza” so they know you’ve donated and can include you in the prize drawings.

3. Once you’re signed up and have made your donation leave a comment on the wall in the event area letting them know that you’re ready to play! If you are unable to donate they’d still love to have you play along anyway but, sorry, the prizes will be off limits! There is a chat group set up here for you to start getting to know your fellow players!

4. Sit back and watch the fun unfold. The Studio will be having prize giveaways leading up to the event and then the real excitement begins at 7pm (GMT) on 13th November! It’s going to be fabulous!

Be sure to check out the list of sponsors so far that are donating for this wonderful event for this wonder cause.  It's a very impressive list and it's only going to get longer!!  Be sure to keep checking back for updates!!  (I'm guessing you'll see a sponsor close to my heart showing up soon.  I'm just sayin'...Stay tuned!)  If you would like the opportunity to sponsor this amazing event The Studio would love to hear from you!  Drop them an email to Amanda@scrapbook-101.com and do something great today!

So now, go forth, tell everyone you know. And everyone you don’t know. Just like I did!

 

Happy World Card Making Day!

Scroll down one post for Unity Friends with Flair.

I've come to realize over the last few months that cards aren't exactly my forte'.  I mean, I there are a couple that I'm pretty proud of but mostly more duds than studs. 

Live the Life You've Imagined

Let's Hang Out

I'm starting to get into making ATCs, which are "sorta" cards, right?  I mean, look at my two fave cards...they're more little art canvases than what most people make for cards with all the layering and mats and ribbon, etc. 

So I'm gonna show you my two most recent ATCs (and I hope Ally doesn't kill me because they haven't been distributed yet).  (SOOOO, if you are a member of either Ally's Kawaii or Halloween ATC swap, CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW!!  Go to another blog.  GO HERE.  Or HERE.  Just DON'T PEEK!)

I already gave you a peek at my Kawaii swap:

My original intention was to base this tuff little ninja grrrrl on my daughter, but I didn't have a marker that did her rootbeer-colored eyes justice so I went with turquoise instead.  She's loosely based on a Power Puff girl, too.  Since I had to make so many ATCs, I cheated and just made one drawing and then photocopied them and colored them in.  That's why the eyes aren't black but copier grey.  I ran out of time getting them sent out so my compromise was to not color in all the eyes and mouths so they all have that Turner Classic Movie colorization going for them. 

The background is alcohol inks with a pearl mixative, which, of course does not translate well to photo, so you'll just have to imagine the luminescent quality of the background.  I masked off a part, sprayed it with Glimmer Mist and hit it with a bit of the Martha Stewart dust glitter, too. 

As mentioned, the kanji is a my crude attempt at the word "bad".  I apologize profusely to those who can actually read kanji and realize how miffed up it is. 

Details:  Stampin' Up! glossy paper; Ranger alcohol inks; Martha Stewart glitter; Glimmer Mist; Markers - Stampin' Up, Marvy, Sharpie; Zig Milennium pen; unknown stars.

My Halloween ATC:

I am lovin' this baby!  The background is made with purple and black alcohol inks with a silver mixative but, again, the pearlescent quality of it is lost in digital translation.   This one shows it a little bit:

I used Stampin' Up! heat & stick powder to adhere the glitter to the skull.  And the spiderweb, BOO, and edges of the card all embossed in black. 

Details:  Stampin' Up! glossy paper, heat & stick powder; Stamps - Inkadinkado, Making Memories; Ink - StazOn, VersaMark, Stampendous embossing powder, Ranger alcohol inks; Martha Stewart glitter. 

Hope you enjoyed my ode to World Card Making Day today.   Have fun creating!!

Heidi

Dear Long and Winding Road

Howdy Unity Friday Friends with Flair!! 

I've been hoarding this pic for a while, not knowing how to scrap it.  It's so pretty.  I took it while driving down the road between nowhere and somewhere.  Yes, I know, bad Heidi!

Then Get Meaningful comes along this week with the prompt "Dear...", to write a letter. 

Dear long and winding road,

Thank you for stretching into the horizon.  For offering discovery just around the bend.  For never making the journey too easy.  You demand creativity.  I'd expect no less.

Details:  Basic Grey paper; Stamps - Unity Stamp Company, Technique Tuesday, Autumn Leaves; StazOn ink; Zig Milennium pen; Making Memories paint; staples.

Where does your long and winding road lead?

Have a good Friday!!

Heidi

p.s.  Didja see my wicked news??  I'm a PINK NINJA baby!  Check out the next post!!!

Hi-Ya!

I am so flippin' excited!!!!

I am a PINK NINJA!!!!!!

How freakin' COOL is that??!!  I'm so excited!!!  (Can you tell?)

I can't believe the AMAZING team they've put together!  Check it out!!  And they're letting me be a part of it!! 

So, do you think this is "Ninja" enough?

I also had this next one, but went with the one above as my "official" Ninja headshot.

Yeah, not sure what's going on with the whole shushing thing.  Oh, well.   I think the pics are like "Sweet Goth Cheerleader Ninja" vs "Bad Cougar Ninja".  (Oh, yes, there was a fair amount of Photoshopping the wrinkles out of my pics.  Really messes with a girl's ego, ya know?)

So, ya gotta hit The Pink Ninjas site next Wednesday to see the first Design Team layouts reveal.  It is going to be so much fun!!!

In the meantime, come play along with us on this week's prompt - Drink of Choice.  I've got my layout all up in my head...just gotta get me a pic of my drinky-drink and thrown that puppy down on some bad ass paper!  (Wow, being a Ninja makes a girl feel powerful and B.A.D.!!!  Gotta slap that paper around, show it who's boss!  Tee hee!)

So, although I'm not supposed to reveal this yet (please forgive me Ally!) this is just too perfect to pass up this occassion.  (If you are a participant in Ally's Kawaii ATC swap CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW!  Don't peek.  ATC spoiler ahead!) 

I thought this little missy was just so Pink Ninjas:

My sweet little Ninja is a combination of a Powerpuff Girl and my daughter.  And she's holding my Ninja weapon of choice, the nunchuckas, because, as her dress says, she can "...kick your ass".  The kanji is my crude rendition of "bad".  (I apologize deeply to anyone who can read kanji and can see just how pathetically I miffed it.)

So, please, head on over to The Pink Ninjas site and give the new Pink Ninjas team lots of LOVE!!!

Ninja Heidi

Car Pool

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttt's Thurrrrrrssssssday!!

Time for your weekly installment of Sketchy Thursdays!!

Another rockin' sketch by the talented and beautiful Miss Diana:

Slowly but surely I WILL finish up scrapping my son's first day of Kindergarten.

This layout depicts the now daily routine of the carpool lane. 

~title detail pic~

Really wanted to use these acrylic alphas but had run out of o's so like my improvisation?  The journaling says, "The daily routine:  Mrs. Kenyon walks you out "airplane style", you cross the road, then run/walk to me. 

I'm usually the first if not second car in line.  I like to get there early and use the time to catch up on my addiction of choice. (Right now it's the Twilight series again...I've abandoned Harry mid-way through the third reading of that series to revisit the Edward yumminess.  Don't fret Harry, I'll be back in your arms shortly.  Sometimes you just gotta let another hero drive for a while.)

~border detail pic~

Nowadays, what Heidi layout is complete without a little fun machine stitching? 

Details:  Colorbok papers; Heidi Grace acrylic alpha; Zig Milennium pen; thread.

And, of course, what Sketchy Thursdays challenge is complete without a rockin' prize??

This week's winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Scrap Freak, a wonderful, online scrapbook store that also happens to have a fabulous forum, gallery and challenge site.

Be sure to head on over to the Sketchy Thursdays site to check out what our AMAZINGLY TALENTED Design Team made for your inspiration this week.  We really hit the jackpot with Tessa, Jennifer, and Amanda!!  AND we're also sooooo lucky to have Mo as our Guest DT this month!!!  Oh, and have I mentioned how UBER TALENTED Miss Diana is??!!  You won't be disappointed with this week's samples.
 
Hope you have a cool Thursday.  I know I am!!  (Literally!  It's forecasted to be ONLY 89 today!  It's a virtual cold snap.  Seriously, there will be yahoos wearing long sleeves today, I kid you not!  Arizonans can't drive in the rain and freeze to death under 95 degrees, LOL.)
 
Heidi