Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Bless his little heart

After seeing beautiful layouts created by fellow scrappers using the perfectly grungy papers in the Prima Timeless Memories collection, I had to have them!  They are exactly what I’ve been looking for!  I’ve wanted to scrap my Dad as an infant for quite a long time, but held off, waiting for the right papers to come along.

This is the first of two layouts I’m creating of 1927 photos taken of my Dad before he was a year old. Here he is holding on and drinking from the water faucet outside. 
 
I decided to leave the photo in its original color, but distressed the edges with a wire brush.  The title is what Dad’s sister, Mamie, wrote on the bottom of the original photo. Dad was the last born of seven children, weighing 1-1/2 pounds at birth and having a shoe box as his first bed.  Can you imagine?!  Dad lived until age 84, just missing his 85th birthday, and was 6 feet tall.  Amazing! 
I played around with the background quite a bit.  Clocks were stenciled in three ways.  The first ones to the left of the photo were stenciled with Prima Clear Crackle, followed by Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mists Golden Doubloons & Mystic Malachite.   

The clock on the right of the photo was stenciled by painting it with LSG Moon Shadow Mist Gossamer Gold.  I LOVE this look!


The three rusty colored clocks in the layout were Distressed inked with Rusty Hinge color.  Then the layout was stamped, sprayed and splattered.
 
Since I stenciled clocks onto the paper, I decided to use The Dusty Attic Roman numeral skeleton clock chipboard to place behind the photo.  It was one that I had previously painted but never used, so I heat embossed it with Distress colors Old Paper & Frayed Burlap.  Not quite satisfied, I added Distress ink Vintage Photo and misted it with water; allowed it to dry and then added Distress Stickles color Antique Bronze.  It was quite a bit of work to transform it to my liking.
A cluster of flowers, bow tie (sprayed with LSG MS Buccaneer Bronze-my most fave Moon Shadow Mist!) & an actual vintage safety pin from Mom’s sewing stash looked nice with the colors in the clock and just fit the 'little man' in the photo wearing his cloth diaper.  : )


I cut a piece from The Dusty Attic number panel, Distress inked with colors Antique Linen, Vintage Photo & Rusty Hinge; then lightly added Distress Stickles in Rusty Hinge color.  I outlined the outer edge of the number cluster with Distress ink Black Soot using a craft nib ~ something I picked up from my good friend and talented artist, Tracy Funk : )

The Dusty Attic Water Pump was colored with Distress inks Antique Linen, then Rusty Hinge; misted with water to activate the colors so they could be rolled around and mixed.   The grass on this chippie was heat embossed with Distress color Shabby Shutters.  The Dusty Attic Grass clusters on this layout were also heat embossed with the same color.
After the water pump was completely dry, I added a generous amount of Prima Clear Crackle and let it air dry.  Finally, a light topping of Distress Stickles in Rusty Hinge color was added to a few spots.


Here is the other flower arrangement with the small grass cluster.  The flowers were sprayed with LSG SB Saxifrage Olive Green & Canna Lily Burnt Orange.
The last technique I used was rough distressing along the edge of the layout so it would appear old and like crumpled paper.

Thanks so much for viewing my layout and reading the processes I used. 
I appreciate your visit and hope you have a wonderful day!  Lisa : )

Products used:
Prima – Timeless Memories collection
Kaisercraft clear stamp – Rocks
The Crafters Workshop 6x6 template – Time Travel
The Dusty Attic – Skeleton Clock Faces #DA043
                          Small Number Panel #DA1051
                          Grass Clusters #2  #DA0866
                          Water Pumps #DA0695
Prima Flowers – Parchment Petals "Scroll"
Wild Orchid Crafts flowers – Olive Green Open Rose & White Aster Daisies (sprayed with LSG SB retired color Saxifrage Olive Copper)
Petaloo – Chantilly velvet leaves (sprayed with LSG SB color My Mojito Green)
Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mists:
   ~Golden Doubloons
   ~Mystic Malachite
   ~Gossamer Gold
   ~Buccaneer Bronze
Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starbursts:
   ~Saxifrage Olive Copper (retired)
   ~My Mojito Green
   ~Canna Lily Burnt Orange
Ranger Tim Holtz -
* Distress inks:
   ~Vintage Photo
   ~Antique Linen
   ~Rusty Hinge
   ~Black Soot
*Distress Stickles:
   ~Antique Bronze
   ~Rusty Hinge
*Distress Embossing powders:
   ~Shabby Shutters
   ~Old Paper
   ~Frayed Burlap
Prima Finnabair artExtravagance Texture Paste – Clear Crackle
Misc –
Mom’s stash - Vintage safety pin
Michael’s - fabric bow tie 
Hobby Lobby - fabric ribbon & metal clock face

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Natural Beauty ~ A layout of Texas wildflowers

This may be the last layout I create of the stunning wildflowers that I photographed in April 2012 along a farm road in Texas Hill Country. I’ve mentioned before that there were hundreds of tiny butterflies among the flowers. When I took this photo, I was focused on the pretty white butterfly atop the gorgeous wildflower called Firewheel.

As you can see in the photo, the background is full of incredible bluebonnets!
 
I used beautiful Bo Bunny papers from two collections ~ Country Garden & Rose Café.  I love to mix & match to get the right feel for my photo and it’s so easy to do with Bo Bunny collections!  Before adding the flowers and other embellishments, I punched the edges of the main page & then stamped in several places using a detailed butterfly applied with Warm White acrylic paint. 
When I want a ‘ghostly’ kind of white, I always use acrylic paint to get this effect. 
 
I used a variety of flowers that coordinated well with the photo.  Tiny brown buttons, topped with Flower Soft Sunshine Yellow color, were glued to the centers of small red aster daisy flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. 
Buttons, stickers & tags were placed in this small flower cluster:
 
The butterfly chippie from Wild Orchid Crafts was heat embossed in white. I clipped it to fit my liking, removing some of its leafy sections.  Since the photo is raised up higher than the main page, I decided to place part of the chippie directly on the photo and then cut it in half and continue it onto the LO.
 
I’m quite happy that I was able to get such a great photo of the this little butterfly because they seem to be constantly flitting around and it's hard to catch them being still.

Here is a close up of the photo I took. 
 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I appreciate your visit and hope you have a nice day!  Lisa : )

Products used:
 
Bo Bunny - Rose Café collection: (page named Fresco); Stamp Stickers; Buttons; Combo Stickers
Country Garden collection: (page named Garden Dot)
Martha Stewart punches – Wildflowers & Lace Flowers
Wild Orchid Crafts – Wycinanka Louvre Borders Cutout Set; Red Aster Daisy
Webster’s Pages alpha stickers – All About Me collection
Flower Soft – Sunshine Yellow
Michael’s – 
 ~Wood mounted butterfly stamp 
 ~embossing powder “Snow
 ~blue rhinestones    
 ~burlap leaves (sprayed with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist Bucket o’ Blood Red)
 ~blue flowers
 ~brown tiny buttons
 ~Wilton 4” paper doily
Prima flowers – Lil Missy (light blue); Bel Canto (Orange)

Sunday, June 14, 2015

I'm innocent ~ I didn't do a thing

Now wouldn't you say that face has 'guilt' written all over it?  LOL!  Sitting like a little statue.  That's our precious Lucy!  Full of mischief & always getting into something.  I have to "Lucy Proof" our home - no kidding!

I chose the Bo Bunny Garden Journal collection because of its pastel colors.  I thought it might help Lucy's chances at looking more 'innocent' - tee hee hee.  When I started this layout, I decided to use as many embellishments as I could from the collection.  I fussy cut; punched; used stickers, buttons & brads.
I started by mixing Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical mica powder Blue Hawaiian Blue with gesso and water.  Then I paint brushed this subtle blue in the center of the main page.  Once it dried, I sprayed Prima Color Bloom mists in colors Summer Sky and Lime Wedge.  LOVE how this turned out!

I also used only Wild Orchid Crafts mulberry flowers. 
They are so beautiful!  Best in the business!

I cut the wires off of some pretty pink gypsophila flowers and glued them to a ready-made berry stem.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Here's a close up of "Lucy the Bad"  hee hee  ^..^
Have a wonderful day!  Lisa : )

Products used:
Bo Bunny Garden Journal collection - main page name: Post Card
Bo Bunny Garden Journal collection - 6x6 paper pad; Combo Stickers; Brads; Buttons: page name: Freehand (fussy cuts)
EK Success punch - Round Binding Edge
Fiskars punch - Rounded Corner
Lindy's Stamp Gang magical - Blue Hawaiian Blue in the Drink Me Silly set
Prima Color Bloom mists - Summer Sky & Lime Wedge
7 Gypsies - Vintage wooden clips
Martha Stewart punch - Cherish
Wild Orchid Crafts mulberry flowers - Large Gardenia; Gypsophila in 2-tone Antique Blue & Baby Pink
Michaels - Ashland berry stems
Pigment inks - Chestnut Roan; Pink Sky; Olive Pastel; Cyan

Friday, June 12, 2015

Color my world with flowers

All I could think about as I looked at four very pretty photos that I took in late April/early May were the words 'color my world with flowers'. So, I stamped a 12x12 piece of textured white cardstock with archival black ink; glued the four photos on the page; added some black pearls...and that's it. Simple as simple can be. Just a page for me to look at in the years ahead...to remember these beauties, knowing that Dad would be so proud that one of his children had the same interest in flowers as he did & to reminisce about the wonderful exhilaration of my senses.

Here is the layout, followed by the photos up close:
 




Have a beautiful day! Lisa ^..^

Products used:
White textured cardstock
Inkadinkado clear stamps - Foliage Trails
Ranger archival ink - Jet Black
Want2Scrap pearls - black

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Calla Lilies

Here is the next in a series of flower layouts that I have been scrapping lately. 

These are my calla lilies.  I’ve had them for years and they grow so well in a planter on my porch, shaded from the hot sun.  I photographed them just the other day.  I am especially proud of the center photo!  Through the lens, I didn’t “see it” the way it actually came out.  I was concentrating so much on the flower itself, that I didn’t realize the way the leaves were circling it!  This is one photo that I have to pat myself and my Konica Minolta camera on the back for!  WOW!
I chose beautiful paper from the Kaisercraft Be-You-tiful collection because the shade and tone of pink really matched the pink in my calla lilies : )
 
I used one of my most favorite stencils by Prima named Décor 2 and I used Prima White Crackle.
I stamped a very intricately detailed butterfly & hummingbird with VersaMark watermark ink and then heat embossed with a gorgeous Sterling Silver powder by Recollections.  I dressed them up a bit with tiny rhinestones by Recollections.

White cheesecloth helped to frame the main photo and pretty lace sprayed with Lindy’s Starburst color Salt Water Taffy created a nice area for the other two photos.   A small resin frame was perfect for the Wild Orchid Crafts calla lilies that I painted on the edges with LSG Salt Water Taffy and then sprayed the whole flower with Twinkling Tinsel.
Thanks for dropping by!  Have a wonderful day!  Lisa : )
 
Products used:
Kaisercraft Be-You-tiful collection – page name: Captivating
Prima 6x6 stencil – Décor 2
Prima Texture Paste – White Crackle
Inkadinkado wood mounted stamps – butterfly & hummingbird
Recollections embossing powder – Sterling Silver
Recollections tiny rhinestones – blue, purple, red, clear
Mark Richards – silver metallic pearls
Hobby Lobby – laceWild Orchid Crafts – Calla Lily
Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst – Salt Water Taffy & Twinkling Tinsel
Michael’s bargain bin – resin frame
Zva Creative – clear rhinestone floral sticker CRB-05CB-101
Tim Holtz Adironack alcohol inks – Shell Pink & Meadow
Recollections pigment ink – Chestnut Roan
 
 
 
 

Thursday, June 4, 2015

White Prickly Poppy

Today I’m sharing another layout of a close up photo I took during a visit to Texas hill country in April 2012.  These beautiful wildflowers are named White Prickly Poppy.  The plant itself leaves a lot to be desired though.  It is tall with prickly stems and minimal leaves….but at the very top of what would otherwise pass as a weed are these gorgeous pure white beauties!
 
I decided to keep things simple and try to really focus on the photo, making it front & center on the page.  After tossing around several of the usual ideas for a border, I settled on a distressed look with corrugated cardboard sprayed in beautiful coordinating colors to go with the papers.  I love how it turned out!  I call this technique the Lisa Nazario-Gregory Effect” (hee hee).  She has been so inspirational with her work using corrugated cardboard.     
 
I first sprayed the outer edges of the cardboard with water; peeled off the top layer to expose the corrugate; distressed & tore; and then liberally sprayed with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst color Heliotrope Purple Plum (now a retired color-Raspberry Plum with a purple shimmer).  Quite stunning!  To tone it down a bit, I spritzed with LSG Moon Shadow Mist Buccaneer Bronze, which is my most favorite of all of the Moon Shadow Mists.
 
To give the photo some dimension, it was placed using foam strips.  The intricately detailed cut outs on each corner of the photo are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Each was heat embossed in pure white.  For added support, since only a tiny part is glued onto the photo, foam pieces were placed directly across on the point.
 
Check out the intricate details of the cutout piece.
And how about that prickly bud…Yikes!    
 
Butterflies were die cut & randomly placed on the page.  After all, there are hundreds of tiny butterflies fluttering among the wildflowers. : )
Thanks so much for taking a quick peek and I hope your day is wonderful!  Lisa : )  ^..^
 
Products used:
 
Kaisercraft Be-You-tiful collection: Pages named Sweet (main page) & Amazing (under photo & butterflies)
Martha Stewart punch – Lace Flowers
Wild Orchid Crafts – Wycinanka Trio Collection-Corners cutout set GST-075
Recollections embossing powder – Snow
Sizzix Tim Holtz decorative strip die – Butterfly Frenzy
Corrugated cardboard
LSG Starburst – Heliotrope Purple Plum (now retired)
LSG Moon Shadow Mist – Buccaneer Bronze
Recollections – golden yellow stick on pearls

Monday, June 1, 2015

My Texas wildflower layout made the Paper People cover photo 6-1-15

I'm so honored and happy that my Texas wildflower layout made the cover photo on Paper People!  This wonderful FaceBook site recognizes everyone's talents no matter what level you are artistically.  I think highly of a site that acknowledges that everyone has creativity.  Even if it's only for a day, it still feels great that something you created caught their eye!