My Darling Daughers

Way back in the day, when my two sweet little girls were
young and little and, well, sweet, I got this really nice photo of them.
Strictly gimmicky portrait studio photo, but I love it none the less.
Look how cute and innocent they were!!
Then they grew up. If you have little ones, enjoy them while you can.
Remember: they are not resting, they are recharging!

Anyhoo, today I have a layout I made with said photo of my two cuties. This layout was
a DT assignment for The Crafty Scrapper using some fabby new papers that Carolyn got in.
I have used the very fun sketch over at Sketchabilities for my inspiration. 
   The papers are FabScraps and 7 Gypsies, as well as Bazzill cardstock. I have also used Maya Road, Websters, Prima, Ranger, Tattered Angels, May Arts and Offray, along with some other 
random stuff from my stash.


Here is the wonderful sketch I used 

Be sure to check out the BLOG over at Sketchabilities, they always have great
things going on over there.

And if you are in the North Texas are, be sure to stop by The Crafty Scrapper , Carolyn has everything 
you need to make fabulous pages, altered art and more. Be sure to check out the class calendar.

Thanks for stopping by today. It is spring and I have been so busy in the yard!
Sorry it has been so long since I posted!
I will be back tomorrow with a fabulous mini-book I made for DD1
Anita

You Are Such A Joy

Happy Friday Bloggers!
Whew - the weekend is almost here!
It's Friday so it is time for the Fabulous Friday Challenge at Frosted Designs 
This week we are Hexagon Happy over at the blog! 
Here is my take on the challenge
I have used MME papers from the Follow Your Heart line. I am so loving these papers, and they fit right in
because they were so kind to make an entire page of hexagons! And id you'll notice, the center background paper is printed with hexagons too.Thank you MME!
I have also used Prima, Dusty Attic, Enamelz embossing powder from Shimmerz, 
Kaiser Kraft pearls, and Inka Gold. 
This is a gift for someone to be framed, so I haven't done the journaling yet.

Be sure to hop on over to Frosted Designs and join us in the 
Fabulous Friday Challenge. Each we our challenge is about
using stuff we already have. And who can't use some help with that???
The other ladies on the Design Team have made some fabulous 
projects, so be sure to leave them some love!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!
Anita

Down By The Sea

Good morning all my blogging friends!
We are having beautiful spring weather here in Dallas.
How is it where you are? I hope you are having a wonderful week so far and
are getting ready for the weekend!

Today I have a layout from my recent vacation. We were on top of a "mountain" in Jamaica
and had the most beautiful views of the ocean. This layout is one of my Design Team assignments for
The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie. They just celebrated their 7th Birthday!!!
Yeah!!! Congratulations Carolyn!

We were at an old homestead taking a tour and I was able to get some really nice shots. 
I have used papers from Cosmo Cricket, 7Gypsies,  Bazzill and Co'ordinations.
Also included are Bo Bunny die cut stickers, Maya Road, Prima, Tim Holtz, Offray, 
Tattered Angels, Twinery,  and a few others.

I glued the envelope from Maya Road onto the page backwards and tucked a couple of tags into
it for journaling. The stamp on the larger tag is Tim Holtz - it is a truly divine set and I think I saw it in the store last time I was down - if not I am sure Carolyn will get it in for you. 
The brown flower is rolled from Maya Road pleated trim. The die cut stickers are from Bo Bunny.
Inks are ClearSnap and Tsukineko.

I used the sketch from Sketchabilities for this layout.

Instead of the layered die cuts at the bottom of my picture, I let the framing elements of my shot stand out.
I wanted those old bamboo pieces to stand out in the photo against the clear blues of the sea and skies, so
I didn't want to cover them up with anything else!

You have until April 28th to hop on over to Sketchabilities and join in on the fun.

Be sure to check out The Crafty Scrapper on the Facebook Page the girls post all the newest 
products coming in. You will be the first to know when new products hit the shelves. 
They will ship it out to you if you do not live in the area!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Anita

A burrito??? In your PURSE???

Yes, that is exactly what my DD1 found in her purse one day while we were having
lunch. She stuck her hand in her purse for something and said
"HEY! I was wondering where I put that!"
Seriously. You can't make this kind of stuff up.
I should introduce this kid to Jeff Foxworthy. He could 
get a years' worth of material form her.

It is Tuesday so it is time for a new palette from ColourQ
Here is my take on it
I have used papers from MME, Graphic 45, Echo Park, and Bazzill. 
My embellies are Prima, Glitz, Authentique, The Girls Paperie, Kaiser Kraft, Basic Grey, and some 
things from my stash. I have also used Fiskars and EK Success punches.

Here is the palette this week
I did not have a single thing in my supply that was More Mustard, so I used a 
Yellow that was a little brighter.

Please stop by the BLOG and play along.
The Royal Court has done some beautiful samples this week
so be sure to hop around and leave them some love!

I have also used the sketch from Sketches in Thyme
 You have until April 20th to play along with this sketch, which is also
a DT call for them. BE sure to check it out!

Thanks for stopping by today.
Anita

Watercolor Resist Stamping

Howdy blogging friends!
I hope your weekend was sensational!

This is a super easy and quick way to make a pretty background using products you
already have in your stash. 
Here is what you need.
Clear Stamps and block
Watermark ink
background paper of your choice
 Chalk Inks - Any will work, Powder Puff, VersaMagic, or Cat Eye
I used the Cat Eye because I had them in the colors I needed.
A spray mister with water
an empty plastic container
A stipple brush
Smooch Spritz - Gold is my very fave!
a towel for blotting

So here is how to get started.
 I like to take my clear stamps and make a collage of them on my big block. Here I used two sets of Basic Grey stamps and really wedged them on there to make a nice design. And, yes, I am bad about not cleaning my stamps. 

I like to mark off on my paper about where I am going to put my photo. This helps me when I am stamping, so I get the designs right where I want them. I am so sorry about the shadow on the photo!
Then I just stamp my images on my background page using watermark ink where I need them to be. For this project, I wanted my embossing to be pretty much everywhere that the photo wasn't. So I stamped in straight rows across the page, leaving a blank space where I marked out for the photo.
After stamping, I sprinkled with clear embossing powder and then hit it with a heat gun. 
Does it drive you nuts (like it does me) when you use your heat gun on your
pages that they curl up on you? Good news!!
When you heat the whole page, the paper just gives up and lays back down again!!
So,, the paper is looking pretty nice now, we have embossed it and have a great design.
But lets add a little color to it, shall we?

This is where the real fun starts. What color inks you use is up to you. I went with greens and blues, to work with my paper and photos. This is the same principal as resist embossing, but with the watered down inks, and the stipple brush, you get a watercolor effect. I really like the way it looks!

Spray a little bit of water into a plastic container, then dip the stipple brush in the water. 
Now pounce the brush up and down a couple of times on the ink pad. To mix the color together, 
I swirl the brush in the lid of the container before I swirl it around on the paper. I start with my lighter colors, working around the page in two or three areas, then go back and add the darker shades.

Got a little too much color or water on your page? No problem! Grab your towel and rub it around. This will spread the color out and blend it in. Some of the color will also soak into the towel.
 See how colorful mine is? The more dense your stamped pattern was,
 the better the contrast will be when you color. And , of course, darker inks will
 produce more dramatic effects than lighter inks. When you are done with the colors,, add
a couple of sprays of the Gold randomly and rub with the towel. That's it!

Grab yourself some scrap paper and play around with this technique. I promise you will love it.
Here is how my background page turned out.
Now that you have a glorious piece of paper, you just need to add photos and a couple of 
embellishments. (I bumped the contrast on this photo to really show the embossing)


I have used the new Pink Paisley papers and Journal cards for this layout, along with some Bazzill Raven cardstock, a few buttons from the dollar bin, some old sheet music and some seam binding.
The inks I used were ClearSnap Cat Eye inks in Cyan, Baby Blue, Lime Pastel, Lime, and Creamy Brown.

Please give this a try! I would love it if you stopped by and left me a comment to
 let me see what you created. This is a really fun and easy technique. You will be hooked!
Happy inking!
Anita


blogger - it is a love/hate relationship somedays!

Can anyone explain to me PLEASE why my footer has suddenly decided 
to take up residence in the sidebar of my blog????? Anyone at all???
I would love you if you could. 
It was very happy in it's own little world down there at the bottom of the page.
It had lots of room. 
The picture was sized exactly so - and specifically for that spot I might add.
And just yesterday I was scanning thru my blog and what did I see?
Why it was my footer - IN MY SIDE BAR!
But not all of my footer mind you,,, oh no. 
Only part of it. Did I mention above that the photo was sized just right for
the space at the bottom of the page.
Even in Bloggers evil status, it still knows this.
How can I tell???? I am glad you asked.
I know this because Blogger is only showing about one quarter 
of the photo!!!!!
So off to my layout I go to correct this misbegotten error.
And what to my wondering eyes should appear???
Why it is my footer, right at the BOTTOM of my template - 
exactly where it should be!!!
So why, oh why,,, I ask you, is it showing up in the side bar!!!!
It is the conundrum of this century. 
I tried moving it around.
No luck.
I tried installing a new footer.
Guess where that one went?
You got it baby!!!!
Right on the side bar - even though in my layout diagram it shows
it right there at the bottom of the page!!!
Did someone say Jack Daniels?? 
Why thank you, I believe I will have some. 
How very kind of you to think of me in my time of need.
I tried to delete and re-install the footer.
Right back into the side-bar it went.
Another shot of Jack? Why, Honey I love you!

Dear Blogger - I realize that you are free for me to use, but that doesn't mean
that I don't have other options. Even if it means I have to pay for them. 
Could you please get it together?
Thank you.

My Birthday Girl - CSI #14

Howdy fellow bloggers!
How is everything in your world?
Spring is whizzing by where we are - I so love spring. 
The spring flowers are the most beautiful in my opinion.
I love the roses in the summer, but the peonies and the irises in the spring
are pretty hard to beat~! I want to share with you a couple of photos of my
German Irises - these are just about the most glorious of all the irises.

I got these from my moms old house many years ago. They grow without fail every year.
A spectacular display. I have them all over the yard, front and back.
Just to give you an idea of how big these really are - I do not by any means have dainty hands!
These things are HUGE flowers. Sadly they do not make very good cut flowers, so I have to make
do with enjoying them in the yard. 

Sooo, onto my layout. Today I have one I made using the Bo Bunny Friday sketch. If you haven't 
given them a try over there, they are lots of fun. 
I have used Bo Bunny papers for this - I have had these Timepieces papers a while - I swear I am going to use up the stuff in this room!!!!!
I also use a few flowers, some Tattered Angels spray inks, some random chipboards, the little swirl on the paper strip to the upper left was made using VersaMark and my Pebbles Chalk. I have also used Tsukineko inks and my sewing machine. 

Here is the sketch


For my color inspiration, I used  the palette and prompts over at CSI
If you haven't given them a try over there - lots of cool happenings going on.
You need to join up ASAP!
There is a Box in my sidebar that will take you straight there.

Thanks so much for stopping in today.
Hope you are having a great week and looking forward to the weekend.
If you get a minute - stop by the Maya Road Facebook Page - they have a mini album of mine featured!
Anita

Reasons I love you - Maya Road mini

Happy Hump Day fellow bloggers!!
Hope you are having a fabulous week so far :o)
We are sunshiny and wonderful here in Big D. I love Spring -
the flowers are in bloom, the birds and squirrels are out. 
Next month the babies will be all over the back yard. 
All is right with the world!!!

Today I have a mini-album that I made for The Crafty Scrapper 
the Best Little Scrapbook Store in Texas don't 'cha kno!

WARNING: Lots of photos.......
I used a Maya Road canvas album as my base, but I can never leave well enough alone, so I 
always have to add a bunch of extra stuff to them. This little heart here is an acrylic piece that
I picked up somewhere- not sure where. The zipper trim is Maya Road, lace is from Offray I think. Papers are Amy Tangerine, inks are ClearSnap - Cat Eyes mostly.
My embellies are from Amy Tangerine and I have used my Thickers for titles through out.

Here I opened the seam on one page and folded the two edges back to make a pocket. I made a tag for some hidden journaling.
On each page I sprayed with a variety of ink mists- Smooch Spritz, Tattered Angels and Ditto to name a few, then I used my Pearlescent Liquid Acrylics to splatter them with.
More Maya Road chippies here, and I used my Inka Gold colors to paint them with.
Here I added another acrylic page into the album. The flower is made with Basic Grey papers and Cyan Cat Eye ink. On top of the acrylic I glued
a page from a different Maya Road chipboard album.
I love lots of different textures in my albums.
For the back page I used some Bazzill chippies, covered them in paper and sanded them off.
The flower is one I bought eons ago out of the M's dollar bin. I used more Thickers to finish it off.

I hope you enjoyed my album.
I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Have a wonderful rest of your week!!
Anita

Bubble Fun

Happy Easter everyone!
I hope you got lots of eggs :o)

Today I have a layout I made with the great colors over at 
CSI , which is a really fun challenge site. If you haven't been over there to check it
out you should go.

I used Prima papers. I was shopping one day and there was this stack and I just had to have it right now,
you know how that goes! Anyway, that was months ago and I have just now got around to using it.
I sure did need it bad, didn't I????
I have also used some Prima flowers, Websters medallions, some twine 
and a few things from my stash. The journal page is from Making Memories. 
I did some embossing and spraying, but it is so dark here and you can't see it in the photo :o(

Here was the Challenge I used
This site is a lot of fun, not only is it a color challenge, but there is other criteria to
along with each week too. Be sure to check it out HERE

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great week
Anita

Pop! - ColourQ #131

Good morning fellow bloggers!
hope you week is going fabulous so far!
Today I have a layout made with some super scrumptious
My Minds Eye papers to go with the ColourQ #131 palette

All my papers except that orange print are MME - the orange print is Basic Grey. I
have used Judikins, Stampers Anonymous and other stamps on the background. I stamped with
VersaMark ink then went over with my iridescent chalks from Pebbles Inc. I added a couple of pearls
and some flowers from Prima. The title is made with Thickers.

Here is another shot in different lighting to show the shine of the chalk. 
In real life if has the color shown in the photo on top, with the sheen
 shown on this picture. Love these chalks!!

I have uses a great sketch from Scrapbooks Etc.
 I have flipped it on it's side to fit my photos. 
Thanks for stopping by today!
Later in the week I will be posting a mini album that I made for the 
Crafty Scrapper that my DH was not happy with :o)
Anita

Little Miss Sunshine

Wow! Where did my week go????
I have been in internet h##l since last Thursday, it has been coming and going
and I have spent hours on the phone with TWC. They swear they have it fixed now, so maybe
I can get on with my life!!!

Tonight I have a layout made with the new Amy Tangerine Sketchbook paper
that I got from The Crafty Scrapper - I think this is the 4th project I have done
with this line and I am not tired of them yet - that says a lot!!


 How fabulous are these papers???? I did use a little bit of Basic Grey for the little pennants at the bottom, but other than that it is all Amy Tangerine. LOVE THEM!!!
The flowers are Websters and Prima, the ribbon is Offray and Maya Road I believe,
twine is from The Twinery.

I have used the sketch from Creative Scrappers
Love it, yes?? You have plenty of time to play along!!
You have until April 30th to get your entry in over at the blog,
what are you waiting for???

I am also linking up over at Paper Issues = Chevrons

Stop back by tomorrow - it is ColourQ day and I have 
a super cute layout with MME papers to share with you.
Thanks!!
Anita