Monday, February 28, 2011

March Madness and Wplus9 Design Studio!



It's madness, I tell you! These stamps are TOO much fun.... Dawn's designs,
and in my sample for today, Kerrianne's signature line....,
the girls have done it - AGAIN! Check out "Retro Girly" getting some celebration - ON!
Kerrianne is back with her second action figure - Retro Girly is bearing presents!





Ooooooow, she's DARLING! And I got all paper-piecy for the occasion!
Transparency was calling my name again, so I did some more
"old school animation" style color work on the back side of this
transparency, stamped with brown Staz-On... I added acrylic paint AND paper
to make Retro Girly come to life! I created the frame with Dawn's new die,
All Occasion Label, THROUGH chipboard - it worked pretty nicely, don't you think?






Oh, and check out my SUPER Springy color inspiration!

I am SO excited to be playing along with CR84FN!
{FOR the first TIME! Yipeeeee!}



JUST the graphics alone have been enticing me to get some color going for
this fun & inspiring challenge destination!!! Never mind that they have some
super AMAZING designers on their team, and that I have admired Mona's work
forEVER! {In my blog years, that is.. heh heh} I'm just excited by the mojo! Colorful mojo!

Oh, and SPEAKING of mojo... heh heh
- HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT THESE GIRLS HAVE DONE!?
Say HELLO to inspiration! CHECK out the Wplus9 girls!

Dawn
Savitri
Maile
Ginny
Kerrianne
Hannah






So, poof up your hair, climb in to some fancy shoes and clip clop your way into your
craft room - IT'S TIME TO PLAY! {Isn't that what you USUALLY wear to stamp?} hee hee
Okay, if your don't want to do ALL that, just break out some plastic and get ready to order
up some fun - Wplus9 STYLE! Dawn's stamps will be available tonight at midnight so,
GIDDY UP! And don't forget: YEEEE HAWWWWWW!

Thanks for toddlin' on by!


Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - Basic Grey
Stamps - Wplus9 Design Studio
Ink - Stampin' Up! & Staz On
Die Cuts - Sizzix {Circle and large circle scallop}; PTI {Scallop Border};
Die Cuts - Wplus9 {All Occasion Label}
Bling - Heidi Swapp
Transparency - Hambly
Ribbon - Recollections

Sunday, February 27, 2011

NEW release time... MARCH style!


Once, again... Fasten your seat belts - GOODNESS abounds!




We've got two, STELLAR, new sets to share with you, this month...
AND, the unveiling of Wplus9Design Studio's first ever paper cutting DIE! {It's to DIE for!}

I'm soooooooooo excited! I have to confess that I've LITERALLY been sitting on my
creative impulses ... for a WHILE..... We've known about these little gems for quite a bit,
but FINALLY, we're trotting out ALL kinds of goodness for the marvelous month of March!






I'm playing with "Brother's & Sisters", which has extraordinary label images to go with this
fantastic and totally current and HOT die-cut shape.... *SWOON!* {I'm in LOVE!}

Check out Dawn's site for all of the details on this fabby set and matching die!
No doubt, she'll have you floating with creative joy over her use and suggestions
for these images and tools! In fact, while you're at it, I hope you'll visit
the rest of the Wplus9 Design Studio's fine team of crafty experts....

Dawn
While we're DELIGHTED with the new releases at the mighty and talented hands
of Dawn and Kerrianne, we have a small bit of melancholia ... as we enjoy the last
month of having our darling and EVER so talented, Maile. She will be leaving us for
some WONDERFULLY creative opportunities, and for THAT we're delighted,
but we shall miss her flawless, bold and stunning use of Wplus9 stamps.... *sniff!*

We wish her ALL THE BEST!

And also, a quick thanks for Sarah Martina, our guest designer for February -
It was SUCH a blast, Sarah - THANK YOU for the fun & inspiration! {XOXO!}

THANK you, YOU, for visiting! Hope you'll check back tomorrow for MORE newness
and fabulousness from Wplus9 Design Studio....! Yipeeee!



Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - October Afternoon
Stamps - Wplus9DesignStudio
Ink - Stampin' Up!
Craft Ink & Embossing Powder - Stampin' Up!
Die-Cut Label Shape - Wplus9DesignStudio
Border Punch - Fiskars
Buttons - Making Memories
Baker's Twine - Paper Treats & Jillibean Soup
Seam Bias Tape - My STASH!
Glimmer Mist - Ranger/Perfect Pearls

Friday, February 25, 2011

Just ME & JUST US GIRLS!


It's time for a new challenge, babies! Just Us Girls has a FUN and super useful,
all-purpose template for us to play with! Let me just say this about that

.... POSSIBILITIES.... the possibilities are ENDLESS!





Did I say the possibilities are endless? They are .... EGGCELENT!






For your ..... p l e a s u r e....
We are playing with a SUPER cool, super EASY, super useful 3D template
to make a gift box, card folio, YOU NAME IT!
It was SO easy - "I" did it! {Seriously!}

Check out this fabulous tutorial!


I had a ball with this fun and easily constructed box...

Customizing this great design and adding my own touches was FUN, fun, fun!






I extended the top flap with my designer paper and scallop edge, just because I liked the idea of the opening being completely covered... Here's a shot of the inside of the opening flap...




I added one of my WONDERFUL Basic Grey magnets to create a "snap" tight closure....





{I LOVE these things...!}


What do you think is inside....?



Woopsie! Sorry, not tellin'! I'm saving THAT for ANOTHER day! Yipeeee!

Meanwhile....
check out what my lovely and talented sisters -o- the craft,
my fellow JUG-HEADS have done...



And, also, the lovely guest designer for February, Lori!


Speaking of FEBRUARY.... What HAPPENED to the month? Sheesh!
I know it's short and all, but SERIOUSLY - where'd it go?

Well, regardless of the swiftly passing days, I say GRAB YOUR SCISSORS, some stamps
glue, ribbon, and your mojo... and MAKE the day count! Join Just Us Girls for some super
FABULOUS crafty fun! I can't WAIT to see what YOU make! Yeee HAW!
Thank you SO much for stopping by!
If you haven't checked out my give-away,
I hope you'll give it a peek!

Thanks, AGAIN, for stopping by!




Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - Jillibean Soup
Stamps - Jillibean Soup
Ink - Colorbox & Staz On
Die Cut Shape - Spellbinders
Scallop Edge Punch - Fiskars
Feathers - Michael's

My GIVEAWAY - details and dates!



Hey, friends!

If you haven't had a chance to visit my recent tutorial on the Want2Scrap blog, I hope you will!

In fact, I'm so excited about it, I'm giving away this little gem from the wonderfully scrap-minded, creatively thinking folks at The Original Scrap Box! All you have to do is leave me a little love on this post, and then just a tad bit more on THIS post {Want2Scrap} ...
All fine friends who comment on BOTH blogs, will be eligible to win THIS:










Isn't THAT delicious! And USEFUL! {Yieeee! Ribbon ORGANIZATION on steroids! I love it!}
You've probably seen the ads for The Original Scrap Box and
MAYBE, you're lucky enough to own one of their complete systems... {*sigh*}
BUT HAVING HAD THE PLEASURE of meeting these fine people and
contemplating their intuitive products IRL at CHA last month -
I'm HOOKED! Love, love, love their beautiful organization systems and accessories!
AND...., I'm sharing!


Leave your comments on my posts, mentioned above, here & here,
by 12:01 am, Monday, and you will be eligible to win this ribbon organizer,
via random generator! A winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 2nd...

Hope you can take a quick second to play along!

THANK YOU!




Sunday, February 20, 2011

It's my VERY first time...





I have a tutorial on the Want2Scrap blog! I'm SO very excited... I could LEAP for joy!




*For my All Eyes On... YOU! project, click here!
*For my JUGS card, click here!









What do you think? Are you seeing a little green?
Do you want to know what's on the menu?


It's CRAFTILICIOUS, babies - I promise!

Leave me some love on this post with a creative guess on WHAT kind of tutorial
you think I'm up to.... THEN..., go over to Want2Scrap and READ the recipe...


PLEASE leave some love over there, and let Want2Scrap know
what you thought of my instructions!

Everyone who leaves me some "magic" at BOTH posts will be eligible to
WIN, some SERIOUSLY cool swag from me & my CHA excursion
and a little {!} company that makes REALLY cool stuff for your craft room!

Stay tuned for a swagalicious photo and more info THIS week!



I can't wait to hear your guesses!

Thanks for playing!




Saturday, February 19, 2011

All Eyes On... YOU!

You... Wonderful YOU! All of you lovely folks who take the time to post your dazzling creations made with Wplus9 design studio stamps on our terrific gallery page, here! I am BEYOND impressed by the breadth and overall creative FABULOUSNESS collected on this site, so it was such an amazing concept for this month's All Eyes On segment, when the fabulous Madame W {Dawn! - Sorry, I get so goofy....!} suggested this!





As designers, we had the privilege of exploring the plethora of GORGEOUS samples, shared by Dawn's customers and let me tell ya: it was a beautiful drive....! Pop the top off the old convertible {and pretend it's NOT winter!} and enjoy the view! But like ANY kid in a candy shop: how was I to pick ONE? {Ack!} Well, it WAS NOT EASY! But I finally settled on a most delightful and unique piece by the lovely and amazing Karen Baker! This card BLEW MY MIND! I had to keep staring at it. I had to know WHAT she did and HOW! {Luckily, there is a link to her actual blog post, {which I SOMEHOW missed, originally!} where many details are shared! I encourage you to check it out - YOWZA! - Am I right?

So here's MY little exploration, based on the divine influence of the mighty talented Madame Dragonfly....
{What's with my use of Madame tonight? Too many paint fumes? BUT IT'S ALLL GOOD!}
Here's what I got myself into:





Stamping AND painting on acetate! One of my fave techniques for years, but I haven't dragged it out to play, in sometime! Karen, brilliant and technical whiz that I'm thinking she is.... PRINTED her image directly onto the card stock: FANTASTIC! .... Especially, if you have a printer that has a nice relationship with card stock.. Uh, mine doesn't. BUT THAT'S OKAY! That's why, for my card, I stamped directly onto acetate, and painted BEHIND {think old school animation cell!}...


I started by stamping this gorgeous Cardinal, from Flora & Fauna 1,
with Timber Brown Staz On, direct to the front of the acetate...



This is the ultimate "paint between the lines"! Using acrylic paint, I just go for it!
Turn the piece OVER and add the paint to the backside!
Mistakes? No worries, if you act quickly, you can work off excess paint with your fingernail!
Don't try to wipe the acetate with anything until you are completely done painting.
It's kind of a magnet for fluff. I don't lie. But if you have one of those great pounce talc bags,
meant for printing on plastic, you should be golden... {For me: next time I see one - BUY! BUY! BUY!}
I've heard that a used dryer sheet works okay for this, too.
For now, I'm going to live with the results... Let's move on!



Pretty? Are you being polite?
DON'T WORRY, THIS IS THE BACK!
Dawn's beautiful stamps will take care of all of the detail work - Lookeee!





Since the Cardinal and flowers are stamped to the panel, I decided to
stamp this great sentiment on the INSIDE:




I adore this sentiment, and I love how it fit, SO WELL,
right in that little window... in the WINDOW!

And if you're wondering WHERE or WHERE I came up with these glorious colors...?


How 'bout a little OTWC - Challenge #46!




I took some license with the colors because I don't have a lot of my acrylic paint in Scrapland right now... but here's proof of why I felt I could get away with the green leaves....



What? My blue and yellow paint MADE green - I HAD to! hee hee
{I sure hope the color police don't bust me!}

I have one more shot of the INSIDE of the card.
Since my sewing won't be earning ME any 4H badges anytime soon...



... I made an duplicate panel when I die-cut my circle for the window.
Once the sewing work was done, I just fit the panel to match so
no one has to see my nasty stitch work! ACK!


So... {pant*pant - It's been a CRAFTY night!}...
If you have the means, I'd love for you to visit my fine and super fabulous friends
from Wplus9... THEY are DIVINE! I'm just sayin'... I'm too tired to rhyme...
...cause, I'm out of time.... So I wont act like a mime... I'll just say ...
CHECK 'EM OUT!


Dawn
Savitri
Maile
Hannah
Jinny
Kerrianne

&

the AMAZING

Sarah Martina


I hope you enjoyed this crazy romp through crafty fabulousness!
I have to admit, I had kind of forgotten about the Wplus9 gallery, so I have
to get busy with some uploading, myself! Meanwhile, if you haven't shared your
beautiful creations there in a while - GIDDY UP! You never know WHO might
get their next heaping cup of mojo from YOUR amazing work! Yee Haw!



Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Wplus9 design studio
Ink - Staz On; Stampin' Up!
Acetate - Stampin' Up!
Pearls - Want2Scrap
Vintage Seam Binding - MIL's stash!
Acrylic Paint - Liquitex
Thread - Gutermann

Friday, February 18, 2011

JUST US GIRLS has a new designer....





... It's ME!

I am humbled and delighted and CARTWHEELING, all at the same time! {Thank goodness I didn't hit the video button, huh? - YOUR WELCOME...!} But SERIOUSLY, I'm thrilled! It's an honor to be working alongside of some of my MOST favorite crafters - I have been a huge supporter, and fan of the Just Us Girls Challenges since they first began, so THIS is quite a treat. I love the diversity of their creative styles, AND their warmth and generosity of spirit... To be helping to create some of the craftilicious inspiration of this lovely challenge site, feels like I've been offered a permanent chair at the Sunday night dinner table with DEAR, dear friends....

{Thank you, ladies! I am, BEYOND delighted!}


I am "sew" excited by my first OFFICIAL Just Us Girl's Challenge premise!






C - O - L - O - R !!!!!!

How nice of Kathryn to provide a GORGEOUS color challenge,
ideal for me to take a glorious stroll through neglected paper and some
WONDERFUL vintage sewing materials that a DEAR, dear, IRL friend
{who happens to be an ORIGINAL Jughead!!!! ~and who's blog rhymes with Dayper Paydream}
Heh heh... {Thanks for the GOODIES, darlin'!}





Anywhoo, as you can see from this fabulous graphic that Kristin made,
these colors are ......purrrrrrrr*purrrrrrr*puuuurrrrrrfect for super crafty fun!

BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT! {!} Check out my NEWEST creative sisters!




And, also, the lovely guest designer for February, Lori!






I feel so warm and colorful, all of a sudden! I would be, somehow, even MORE delighted, if you
would be so kind as to join me and my fellow Just Us GALS, with this wonderful, wonderful challenge, this week! You can find out all of the details at the Just Us Girls site, for joining in the fun, but just in case you've never partaken, it's a weekly challenge. You have until Thursday, February 24th at 9pm EST, to upload your project. {I sure hope you'll join the fun!}


Thank you for sharing your much deserved blog time with me... I'm SO happy you visited!


Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up! & PTI
D/P - October Afternoon & Cosmo Cricket
Index Card - October Afternoon
Stamps - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up!/ Distress {Ranger/Tim Holtz}
Edge Punch - Stampin' Up!
Grunge Flower Materials - Old Sewing Pattern Paper/Stickles/Vanilla Cardstock
Measuring Tape Leaves - Hand cut from old measuring tape
Stickles - Ranger/Tim Holtz
Metal Clip - My STASH!


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Dad & Me...



I am thinking of my Dad today...





Dad.... and me...





Last year I finally made my first truly altered book ~







I had wanted to make a "traditional" altered book, for many years!






Inside is a collection of some VERY precious photos of dad, when he was very young.





In a window created in the front cover, I applied a transparency of pictures that had been turned into a mosaic by my local Walgreen's photo department. This is a feature offered whenever I develop pictures there, but I never opted to buy the montage. THIS time I did and I'm THRILLED with the results. I copied the original onto transparency and then glued it to some Hambly - CLEARLY HEAVY transparency to create a hard window, framed by the large bookplate, which secures the entire window on the cover of the book.





Although, it feels a long way from completion, I have REALLY enjoyed having a place to
preserve special moments, thoughts and memorabilia....





There's my DARLING mom and cutie pie brothers.... {back when they WERE cutie pies!}





Being a total ham comes easily to members of my family. This picture of Dad, serenading me, is one of my VERY favorites! I also LOVE that slice of 1960's Americana - Dad, living the American dream, posing with his brood in front of the "first" family home,
back in the Wonder Years...





My love of all things horse, comes directly from my Pop. The base of this altered book was an actual horse racing guide, given to him by his favorite secretary. I haven't really begun to embellish the HORSE part of this book, but in this section, I had removed some key illustrations and photos from other sections that were covered with glue. {Thankfully, I have ANOTHER copy of this book - it was actually a bit distracting, as I made my plan, what to use and what to sacrifice!}
My advice here: either DON'T use a book that has sentimental subject, or make sure you use it in it's best light!
I'm feeling pretty good about the latter...
but it was touch and go for a while!





I ABSOLUTELY love these pictures of "the dad"....




Our shared love of the equine is a treasure!




I said we were "hams"... AND we survived 80's fashion!





Husband and I eloped to Lake Tahoe to get married. It was small, but PERFECT for us.
The following Spring, my folks threw us a wedding reception, anyway. My, not so secret, hope for my children is that when the time comes for them,
THE MARRIAGE will matter much more than the party!





My Dad and Brothers looked so handsome at my brother Gary's {pictured in the middle} wedding ....





Here's a slightly clearer shot, just so you can really see what I mean...
{What? A girl can brag on her big bros & Dad!}



First time I left home was ...a challenge for Dad and Me. Having my very own street
made it a little easier, though... hee hee





I loved being able to showcase these photos of my brothers as lil' guys,
and Dad holding his lil' grandsons...
{That's my nephew on the left and my boy on the right..., sleeping!}




My FAVORITE, favorite, favorite picture of my Dad in the hospital after I gave birth to my girl...
Feast your eyes on my first transition to DIGITAL photography {right}... ACK!
I was SO impressed, because it saved the pictures DIRECT to floppy disk..... {Oh, dear...}




Now, back to truly VINTAGE {holy CRACKERS - I'm old!} photography, this great black and white of us, in some kind of a beach hut, in Florida. Mom reminds me I was petrified of the sand, so I would only stand on dad.... Do I remember this? Or is it the memory of mom telling the story.... I hope it's both. I know I remember loving this man with every part of my heart. Especially when I was young enough to see only his strengths, humor and unconditional love.





Today would have been his 81st birthday, but he left us, suddenly, just a few days after we celebrated his 72nd birthday.
I've spent the better part of this last 9 years, broken-hearted and a little cheated.
But there is truly something AMAZING about presiding over memorabilia, pictures and artifacts.
There is something TRULY therapeutic about scrapping
memories of a loved one, who is no longer with us. It's NOT EASY... but it's empowering.

For me, it truly eased some of the pain, and helped reconnect me to parts of my father,
that I may have never experienced.

In this, fitting, picture of Dad in college, BEFORE he knew my mom, WAY before his kids roamed the earth....




he wrote this tiny note on the back:






I wonder why he did that? I wonder whom it was meant for. A college sweetie, I suspect?
I won't really know for sure, but I like to think, he wrote it for all of us.

I remember him... I love him.

I always will....


Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.

If you are blessed to have your dad in your life - I hope you love him to the very best of your ability. I hope you tell him you love him every chance you get. I hope you are not a member of "this club", but if you are, I hope time quickly brings you the BEST memories, most often. And if you think your not ready, then don't rush to scrap your loss. But when the time begins to feel right - just DO it. You'll cry {A LOT!}, but you'll be okay.
And THEN, you'll have a new piece, of that life and those memories, to treasure.

I hope so.