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 Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Easy Vintage
When I was starting to scrapbook, I had always been intimidated with vintage looking layouts. But I loved the look so much. I later on realized that with the right materials used and the right color tone for pictures (even if you use a recent picture of your family member), one can easily pull it off. The picture I used here was taken on an early morning. I turned off my flash and took advantage of the natural light and the shadows. I liked the outcome and even without much photo editing, it came out perfect for a vintage looking page.

Materials: Websters Pages, chipboard from Scrapping Outback, chipboard letters Creative Imagination, Background CS Basic Grey, 7 Gypsies rub-ons, Hambly Transparency.




Have a great day!

Iris


7/9/2008 9:30:25 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [1] 
 Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Charm Bracelets
I love charm bracelets. My most prized charm bracelet is my grandmothers. Each time I wear it, it reminds me of when I was small and would hear her coming into a room. To me no noise is as quite as special as that of a charm bracelet.

This bright and cheery charm bracelet is super easy to make and is going to be my summer charm bracelet. It takes less than 30 minutes to create from start to finish.



Products Used:
Maya Road Trinket Beads Birds of a Feather
Maya Road Trinket Beads Hearts and Butterflies
Maya Road Trinket Beads Tutti Fruity
Maya Road Trinkets Ribbon Marigold
Jump Rings
7" Bracelet

I hope you give this a try... it will make you smile each time you wear it.
Lisa


7/8/2008 7:13:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2] 
 Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Birthday Tags are fun!
Here are a few tags I created for two special people... my mom and my niece. I can't stand the thought of buying a $5. card. To me they seem to not have as much sentimental meaning... it does have some because you did pick it out, sign it and send it off but I feel something handmade has so much more... so instead of sending cards I like to make tags and write my sentiment on the back. This way the recipient can use the tag as a bookmark or just hang it someplace special. The great thing here is tags are fast and if you are like me... someone who seems to always be in a hurry to catch up... tags are perfect.



Supplies Used:
Office Supply Tags, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink (Dark Peony), Pink Paislee Royal Crown Clear Stamp, Kimberly Poloson Flourishes Clear Stamps, Maya Road Philadelphia-Uppercase Alphabet, Ranger Silver Acrylic Paint, Fine Silver Glass Glitter, Koh-I-Noor Black Pen, MM Ledger Paper

Wishing you a wonderful day.
Lisa



7/2/2008 1:54:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [1] 
 Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Today's my day off, so I just had to come over here and post some layouts and stuff. :) Oh, I didn't tell you guys!! I got a real life job. (what, no applause?) ;) Okay, it's minimum wage and it's only for the summer, but it's my very first job. Exciting stuff. BUSY stuff. I really, really appreciate the time I get to scrap now!! lol. Here are some of my recent layouts.



Layout of my little bro. Love this dude. He just turned four so we can't call him a baby anymore. sniff.




Me and my little sister. We totally *get* each other. Love that girl. :)

Thanks for letting me share. I'll try to make more layouts this week so I can share them with you...life has gotten really busy in the Laakkonen house.

(: Brittany


7/1/2008 10:23:08 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2] 
Fun with Papa
Hello everyone! Just sharing a layout I made for DH. Used Fancy Pants "Papa" line, Maya Road Chipboard, Karen Foster Metal, Fancy Pants and MAMBI rub-ons.




Iris


7/1/2008 9:24:41 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2] 
 Monday, June 30, 2008
Love it when...
I get whole bunch of new goodies to play with! :)
Confession: I'm not really a scrap shopper. I'm a scrap browser. I have a *very* limited scrap budget per month so I have to really love something to pull out greenbacks for it. LOL :)

So this month, some yummies that I've been lusting for finally arrived...October Afternoon!!! Woo-de-hoooooo! :)

And I'm no longer a scrap kit virgin. Yeah, I know I was on the MFM team and *LOVED* Shari's kits, but I had never actually bought a kit before. Till I saw the Q-Tea (http://www.qteakits.blogspot.com/) June "Oh Deer" kit. Deer? You know I had to have it! :)

And last but certainly not least...remember when I was gone to GASC a couple of weeks ago? There was a booth there that had something totally unique and different going on...very cool niche stuff. What is it? Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Collection (http://www.craftysecrets.com/). I'd never heard of it but the dt stuff they had floating about pulled my tired self right in there and perked me right up! Sooo cute and cool! :) I got a couple of the little journal pads and have fallen in love! Need to get some of the little sticker goodness they have next! LOL :)

So, I actually had time to play with these yummy new goodies this weekend and this is what I came up with... ;)

So what are y'all lovin' on lately product-wise, kit-wise, trend-wise? What do I need to see so that I can set aside my July budget to get my hot little hands on? ;) XOXO...Stac :)


6/30/2008 11:53:01 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [0] 
 Friday, June 27, 2008
Photos of my cutie

I am suffering from mother's guilt.  I can't remember the last time I took photos of the kids!  I tried fooling myself by telling myself if I had a digital camera, I would be apt to take more photographs.  But, that's not entirely true.  Indeed I might take more, but more than likely not do a darn thing with those images.  So, yesterday I stopped formulating tiresome excuses for my inactivity and shot some photos of my daughter before we headed out to the store.  (Pig tails lasted a whole 5 minutes in the car ride.  Oh well...at least they are documented at least once;)  I developed the negatives when we returned home and printed them in the darkroom last night.  I think I am going to set up a photo a day challenge for myself.

Photos were taken on our front porch which faces north and both my daughter and myself were in the shade cast by the house.  f/5.6 with a ss 125 using my 50mm lens.

This photo is a scan of an 8x10 that will be framed...and apparently hung in my daughter's room as she won't let me have it...vain child of mine!

 

 

 

Now go forth and photograph those loved ones!

Love, Tracy Austin



6/27/2008 3:56:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [3] 
 Thursday, June 26, 2008
Christmas in July... well almost!
I made this ornament to hang on a tree in Maya Road's booth at CHA-S in Chicago. I think my Dad is the best Santa ever! This is such a simple ornament to create I thought I would share a little tutorial with you.





Supplies Needed:
Maya Road Scroll Frames
Maya Road Snowflakes
Stickles (Platinum)
Paint (Gold, Red, Silver)
DecoArt Crackling Medium
Chestnut Roan Fluid Chalk Ink
Crystal Lacquer
Strong Adhesive
Silver Glass Glitter
Buttons
Twine
Jingle Bell
Jump Rings (3)
Page from a book
Ledger Paper
Floss (white for tag)
Seam Binding (white)
Gold Eyelets (2)
Chain of Beads
Rhinestones

Instructions:
  • Paint two Maya Road Scrolls Frames Gold, allow to dry
  • Apply crackling medium over painted Scrolls Frames, allow to dry
  • Paint over dried crackling medium with red paint, allow to dry
  • Paint two snowflakes silver, allow to dry
  • Cover snowflake with crstal lacquer and apply Silver Glass Glitter, allow to dry
  • Adhere buttons to center of dried snowflakes
  • Adhere portion of a page from a book to the center portion of Scrolls Frame, allow to dry
  • Ink edges using Chestnut Roan place back inside painted Scrolls Frame
  • Adhere photo to Scrolls Frame, adhere Scrolls Frame with book page to back (photo will be sandwiched in the middle of both Scroll Frames)
  • Punch hole on top and bottom of Scrolls Frame, attach eyelet
  • Adhere altered Snowflake to front and back of ornament
  • Attach jump rings through eyelets, attach chain of beads for hanger at the top
  • Attach a small portin of chain with beads at the bottom, using a jump ring attach a jingle bell to the bead of chain
  • Tie a bow using red and white twine onto the bottom jump ring
  • Tie to pieces of white seam binding to the hanger and attach a little tag saying Believe
I hope you give this a try.
Lisa




6/26/2008 3:42:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2] 
I Inspire Me
Need a little creative boost? Check out this blog. I Inspire Me. What? I Inspire Me? Yup! That means you can inspire you just by looking around your home. Your home decor, your clothing, the foods you buy ... all of the things you are drawn to, can be a source of creative inspiration. I am honored to have been asked to join in on this week's post (thanks Lana!). I had a BLAST creating a layout based on some items found in my kitchen! You are just going to have to check it out to see what I came up with and while you are there you'll be amazed by the work of the oh-so fabulous I Inspire Me design girls.

Amy



6/26/2008 10:08:35 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2] 
 Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Back from GASC
A quick note to express great gratitude to everyone who attended and participated in my workshops this past weekend. It was so very enjoyable for me to spend a weekend away with a bunch of lovely women who share the same passion in this hobby as I do.  The private blog with all step-by-step instructions, all class images, and all example layouts is up and ready for viewing.  Sorry...only for class participants;)
 
And to Suzanne and Cheryl, my two volunteers, I GREATLY appreciate all that you did for me. It goes without saying there was no way I could have done it without you! Many, many thanks!
 
After my last class I had to quickly pack up to head back to the airport to catch my flight.  Only to arrive and discover my flight was delayed.  Once I finally arrived in Memphis for my connecting flight, the airport was closed.  Lovely.  Frugal as I am I seriously contemplated sleeping in the airport.  But...I just couldn't do it.  Sensiblity won over my cheap tendancies as my head hurt so badly my vision was blurring and the next flight out of Memphis wasn't until 10 am. 
 
I called for a hotel shuttle and headed up to get my new boarding pass for the next day.  It was late.  I was obscenely exhausted.  There was an older woman standing at the counter and although she was obviously losing her mind with the situation, I couldn't help but notice her beautiful complexion and how well the gold shirt was wearing complemented her beauty.  So risking annoying this woman even more than she already was...I offered up the complement.  You could see her tumbling mind screech to a halt as her face brightened.  She was so sweet and really appreciated the off-handed complement.  As we sat and talked for just a bit, she asked if I received my hotel voucher?  WHAT??????????  A voucher???  They're giving out vouchers?????  I almost piddled myself right then and there with excitement!!!!  Not only did they give a hotel voucher...but $20 food voucher!  I was beside myself with excitement!  That's like winning $100!  Karma baby!!!  Had I not taken the time to offer a genuine complement to a stranger, I would have never known about the vouchers and stayed the night at some roach motel! 
 
Anywho...I'm now home and now starting to prep materials for GASC in Tennessee in September.  Here's a sneak peek of just one of the classes I'm teaching there:: 7gypsies Purse Album.  Registration for GASC Chatanooga starts in about a week:)
 
 

 

Thank you again to everyone in attendance!  I'm looking forward to the next convention!

Love, Tracy Austin



6/25/2008 4:25:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [1] 
 Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thank you's...

I'm not usually a card maker, but lately I've been full of thanks. ;) And I have to admit that its been fun! Here's a couple of cuties from this week...


Supplies: Adhesive (Adhesive Technologies, Provocraft), Buttons (Autumn Leaves), Chipboard (Glitz Designs), Fiber (Martha Stewart Crafts), Patterned paper (Dream Street Papers, My Mind's Eye, Scenic Route), Stickers (Scenic Route), Misc.: staples


Lovin' the little birdie hollarin' out big love! Just makes me smile a bit. :)

Supplies: Adhesive (Adhesive Technologies, Provocraft), Chipboard (BamPop), Fabric paper (Love Elsie), Label tape (DYMO), Patterned paper (Imagination Project), Pen (Uniball), Rub-on (Hambly Screenprints), Misc.: staples

Hope everyone is having a great summer! We celebrated Summer Solstice by taking a jog to the park for a picnic. Well, Bob and I jogged, the kids scootered and rode in the stroller. LOL ;) But it was nice to hang out outside as a family. We've been doing a lot more of that lately and its sooooo lovely! :) May all your summer days and nights be just as sweet. :) ...Stac :)



6/24/2008 12:16:37 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2] 
 Wednesday, June 11, 2008
I'm Baaaaaaaaaaack! :)
* Back from GASC.
* Recovery in progress.
* Voice returning. Actually it held out until the very end. Started sounding like Frogger in the truck on the way home, as I sang (screeched) my heart out! ;)
* Boxes stacked up for *Michigan* next month.
* Lessons learned, fun had, great people met, more fun had.
* Scared some folks with my hyperactivity. Other folks were okay with it. Other folks loved it. No worries, I made sure that I sugared everyone up so they were hyperactive with me. ;) Lots of "energetic instructor" reviews. I'm taking that as a positive...better than being a drone. Bwhahahahah! :)
Yep...that was my GASC weekend!! :)
Wanna see a couple of the projects from a couple of the classes? :) Of course ya do! ;)

Here's the Magic Mesh Mania project...


This class is FULL of stampy/painty fun and mess (wet wipes included). You end up with a cute "pieces of me" layout with lil bits of your personality displayed. And then you have an inspiration "list" of techniques to play with Magic Mesh too. :) Double bonus! :) :)

Here's the one of the projects from the KI Memories class...


This one has fingerpainting fun (wet wipes again), stamping with household objects (a fave for this budget conscious girl! LOL), and maybe scariest of all...doodling! LOL Everyone did really great...dove right in to the fingerpainting, and either doing or promising to do the doodley scallops & title! :) Out of the box for some folks but I loved how everyone jumped in with both feet and eyes wide open.

One more share. This is one of the projects from the Vintage Hip class (Jenni Bowlin goodies).


This was a TOTAL feel good class. Everyone really responded to this one...the products, the projects, and the vintage vibe. Some folks had heritage pic copies that they were using and the projects went from great to WOW with that touch!

If you were there, I'd love to hear about your weekend too! Fave class (mine or someone else's), projects to share, crop stories to laugh at, pics to love, etc. Seemed like a great weekend was had by all! :) ...Stac :)



6/11/2008 10:05:47 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2]