Thursday, May 28, 2015

My Daffodils

I really love to scrap my garden flowers! This is a layout of my tiny 1” to 1-1/2” sized daffodils.  I always keep my flower layouts very simple because for me, it’s truly about the photos. 

These little beauties were bought on sale many years ago in the florist section of the grocery store.  They have since multiplied fabulously in my front garden by the boulder (apparently the perfect spot for them).  Who would have ever guessed?!  Since they are a bulb plant, I get to enjoy them every year in early Spring!
 

WOW! Bo Bunny’s Country Garden collection fits perfectly!!!  Rather than coat the paper with gesso to tone down the orange color, I decided instead to glue down some torn coordinating paper from the same Bo Bunny collection.  It seems to have helped the photos to ‘pop’ and be more easily seen.

Besides the photos, the other best part of this layout is the little mulberry yellow & orange daffodils from Wild Orchid Crafts!!!  They are ADORABLE!!!  I bought them specifically to scrap my daffs : )  How awesomely perfect the colors are in comparison to the real ones!!   It makes me feel like screaming…I’m so giddy.  Hee hee   The green long grass, also from WOC, closely resembles the leaves of the daffodil plant! 
 


 
Since the page had some really nice muted print on it already, I decided to take that inspiration and simply added chipboard chicken wire to go with the chicken wire print already on the paper.  I inked it with jet black archival ink and glued it on.  The butterflies are all K&Company Susan Winget.  I made the wire antennae on them.  I love Susan Winget’s art.  Her art is in two bedrooms of my home.  : )
 
Hope you enjoyed viewing my bright, springtime daffodil page.  Of course, the daffodils bloom here (way down south in Louisiana) in March.  They are all gone now, but that’s what beautiful photos are for – to help us remember the sights, fragrances & feelings we had in that moment.     

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day!  Lisa : )  ^..^
 
Products used:
Bo Bunny collection - Country Garden (page names:  Country Garden & Dot)
Wild Orchid Crafts - Yellow/Orange Daffodils & Green Long Grass
The Dusty Attic - Chicken Wire Panel
K&Company - Susan Winget butterflies
Momenta - Bronze bottlecap
Misc:
Ranger Archival ink - Jet Black
ColorBox Pigment ink - Picante
Distress Stickles - Tea Dye
1" Circle Punch
 

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

You were the best

Here is a tribute layout of Greta with photos taken in June 2011.  I've mentioned before that Greta loved to run and fetch tennis balls in our backyard.  So, what is more fitting than photos of her taking breaks in the cool grass - one with a tennis ball in her mouth!

I so loved to kiss the jet black part of her muzzle right above her mouth.  I swear to God it felt just like velvet.  I was never ever even a tiny bit afraid of those massive jaws and huge teeth.  I totally & completely trusted her.  My kissing would sometimes get on her nerves & she would give me a big wet lick in the face and then run off - LOL!  Sure miss that Greta!
 
A fellow scrapper gave me some Prima Color Bloom sprays!!!!!  I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous purple color Pressed Petal.  I chose the perfect papers in the Kaisercraft Botanical Odyssey collection that has the same deep plum colors!  WOW the colors match astonishingly close!   Because this collection has a pretty blue in it, I also used the Prima spray Summer Sky.  Purples & blues are my most fave colors!  Thanks to my wonderful gift of gorgeous Prima sprays, I am very pleased with how this layout turned out!!  This is the first time I have ever used these sprays and I absolutely LOVE them!  Thank you dear, sweet friend : ) 

Using the Tim Holtz round blending tool, I inked the edges of the entire layout with Distress ink Broken China (blue color) to form a 'smoky like' perimeter frame.  Then I misted & splattered with the Summer Sky blue spray and added splatters of Pressed Petal color too.
The deep plum colored flowers were doused in the Pressed Petal spray.  WOWZA!  Aren't they gorgeous!?!  The blue one with plum color in its center and on the petals was covered in Summer Sky blue and then paint brushed with Pressed Petal plum.
 
 
The title is custom cut chipboard from Want2Scrap.  At first I heat embossed the tops of the letters with Lindy's Stamp Gang Morning Glory Azure and the bottoms with LSG Royal Burgundy Blue.  Although they were unique and cool looking, they just didn't look right on the layout, so I re-heat embossed over the blue using the Royal Burgundy Blue (rich burgundy with a blue shimmer).  Here is a close up:


I chose pieces from the Kaisercraft Collectables - leafy stems; words & tags; and the tiny word "June" at the top of the LO among the flowers to signify the month these photos were taken.  All of the butterflies are from the collection that I scanned & enlarged and then fussy cut.
 
BTW, just a tidbit to share.  I keep all of the sticky foam pieces that once had foam dots in them.  They still have the wax paper covering just like the dots had.  I can cut pieces from it in the sizes needed.  These pieces work especially well for tiny things, like the butterflies on this layout : )
 
For a subtle plum-ish color, the beaded ribbon surrounding Greta's gorgeous photo was sprayed with LSG Starburst Bodacious Blush.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by and hope you have a wonderful day!  Lisa : )  ^..^

Products used:
Kaisercraft collection - Botanical Odyssey
DCWV – The Gauze Paper Stack
Prima Color Bloom sprays – Pressed Petal & Summer Sky
Tim Holtz Distress ink – Broken China
Want2Scrap – custom chipboard title words
Lindy’s Stamp Gang – embossing powder Royal Burgundy Blue; Starburst spray Bodacious Blush
Martha Stewart punch – Double Arches
Fiskars corner punch – Scallop
Flowers – Prima Annette collection (Belina); Recollections; The Paper Studio; Wild Orchid Crafts
Hobby Lobby – beaded lace ribbon
Creative Charms – Vintage Pink brad
VersaMagic chalk ink – Perfect Plumeria

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Gorgeous & more Gorgeous

Another layout of my gorgeous Miss Gali!   Because of her show cat status & quality markings, check out the bottom photo that shows her back legs!  Doesn't it look like someone used painter's tape to spray paint her white paws?!  WOW!  This has always astounded me so much!  Such a perfectly straight line!
Just a tidbit of info:  one of Miss Gali's nicknames is "Gorgeous & more Gorgeous" - hee hee  ^..^


 
I started with coordinating papers in the Kaisercraft Remember Me collection.  I punched the outer bottom piece all around the edge and then cut the center out (so I can use it in the future on another layout).  I stenciled the main page with copper crackle in a pattern to match what is printed on the paper.  Then 1/2" was cut from all sides and the edges inked with Distressed ink Vintage Photo.  The two pages were adhered together with double sided tape.
The title is custom cut by Want2Scrap.  After a gesso prep, I heat embossed the words with Tim Holtz Distressed Embossing Powder Frayed Burlap.  Then each piece was sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang retired Starburst color Saxifrage Olive Copper.  It's really a beautiful olive green color with copper shimmer.  Super stunning!  I also used it to splatter the background : )
Here is a couple of title close ups:

 
A few flower embellishments in coordinating colors were added.  I enhanced the large one at the top of the page by rubbing copper wax on its petals and the bead center.  The same copper wax helped tone down the red roses.  Adding a bit of reddish/natural hemp added a little rustic look.


 
The Dusty Attic small filmstrip chipboard piece is precious!  I decided to add photos of Miss Gali inside four of the open sections.  I simply inked this chippie with Distress ink Vintage Photo, lightly spritzed it with LSG Starburst retired Saxifrage Olive Copper and then added archival jet black ink to the edges.
 
Thanks so much for having a look and I hope that you have a very nice day!  Lisa :) ^..^
Products used:
Kaisercraft collection - Remember Me
Martha Stewart punch – Swirling Lace & Rose Leaf
Heidi Swapp 6x6 stencil - Lattice
Prima Texture Paste – Copper Crackle
Want2Scrap – custom cut chipboard (title)
Tim Holtz Distressed embossing powder – Frayed Burlap
Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst – (retired) Saxifrage Olive Copper
The Dusty Attic – Small Filmstrip
Michaels – large flower & metal filigree bead cap
Wild Orchid Crafts – mulberry roses (red rosebuds; open red roses; olive green cottage rose)
Little Yellow Bicycle – wood shapes
Tim Holtz Distressed ink – Vintage Photo
Ranger Archival ink – Jet Black
Viva Décor Inka Gold – Copper
Hemp – burnt red/natural
Cardstock - copper colored

 

Sunday, May 10, 2015

little beauty

My layout today is a July 2010 photo showing just how fabulously gorgeous my Grand-kitty Marcy is.  As you can see, she closely resembles a Great Horned owl (LOL) because she is doing exactly the norm for a cat - listening on all sides and behind.  I LOVE this photo because it shows off her vivid colors!
To show Marcy's girly side, I incorporated pinks, purples and greens to the color theme.

 
Here's a pic from the internet of a Great Horned owl ~ told you!!!  LOL!!
 
Keeping it simple, I stenciled mini Tile Texture with pigment ink color "Fresh Green" onto the main page.  The pretty green grass and Marcy's lovely green eyes were accentuated by adding a few green flowers.
To focus on Marcy's beautiful colors, I tore jet black cardstock and distressed a piece of white corrugated cardstock to go under her photo.  The addition of white lace and a white crackled fence helped tone down the richness of colors around the photo.
 
What better to go with green than pinks & purples?!  I'm very pleased with the outcome.  Marcy looks ravishing!!
 
A couple of close ups:
 
 
Have a great day!  Lisa : )
 

Products used:

 
Hobby Lobby - The Paper Studio "Flourish Fusion" collection
Black cardstock; White corrugated cardstock
TCW 6x6 mini stencil - Tile Texture
Want2Scrap - chipboard fence
Prima Texture Paste - White Crackle
Martha Stewart circle punch - Doily
Momenta - stick on puffy letters
Mark Richards Crystal Stickers - purple-pink color
Wild Orchid Crafts & Recollections - flowers
Petaloo - velvet leaves
WalMart - lace
Pigment ink - Fresh Green; Black


Thursday, May 7, 2015

forever friends

Hi everyone!  This is a layout of my favorite photos of Greta and Marcy - together as 'sisters'. This isn't a layout that I tried to be artistic with fancy techniques.  It is just for my memory - to enjoy looking at it in the years to come.  To remember these moments.  I wrote a caption under each photo with a date.  Close ups of each are below.
The very most saddest part of this story is that Greta passed away.  Marcy lost the only sister that she ever knew.  Poor Marcy!  After a bout with depression, Marcy is now happy to have Harvey (her kitty brother) in her life.   
 
I chose to use this beautiful, dainty page by Maja Design in the Crea Diem collection because the translation to English of 'Verae amicitae sempiternae sunt' is "True friendships last forever".  This is definitely the case with Marcy & Greta.  If Greta walked through the door today, Marcy would be overjoyed!
The pink paper under each photo is from a very old collection by My Mind's Eye named "Totally Girl" that I have had since I started scrapping in 2010.  It is a perfect match to the pink on the main page! : )
The metal title by Momenta is exactly what Greta & Marcy still are today - "forever friends", even though Greta isn't here.  This was a bond unlike any I've ever seen with a dog and cat.  Marcy would grab Greta's muzzle with her little paws and Greta being SO SWEET and patient as she always was with Marcy, would allow to be 'cleaned' and licked to death! 
They even played chase in the house!  We have a ranch style home with a very long main hallway. Picture this: an 85 lb. German Shepherd chasing a tee tiny Calico cat; then the tiny cat turning and chasing the huge dog!  OMG!  It was HILARIOUS and gave us the best, most WONDERFUL memories!
Here is the title close up:
 
I used Want2Scrap stick-on pearls, cutting and dividing the pieces; placing them where I wanted them.  I had the perfect color pink flowers that I bought from Hobby Lobby in the wedding section!  I formed two little hearts in the center of the layout with the extra stick-on pearls.
Finally, here are close ups of each photo on the layout:


 
Thanks so much for stopping by for a quick view  : )
I hope that you have a beautiful day!  Lisa : )
 
 
Products used:

Maja Design - Crea Diem collection
My Mind's Eye - Totally Girl collection
Momenta metal - title words
Martha Stewart punches - Cherish & Doily Lace
Want2Scrap - stick on pearls
Hobby Lobby - pink wedding flowers

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Greta

This is the first layout I've created of my wonderful Grand-dog, Greta, since she passed away a couple of years ago.  She was the love of my daughter's life.....and ours too.  She was the sweetest, most patient dog I've ever known.  We all miss her very much. 

I wanted to keep this layout simple, but definitely girly.  The gorgeous Bo Bunny Madeleine collection had the right colors needed to showcase this perfect beauty.
 
Using the Bo Bunny page named "Stripe", I punched the scroll heart pattern on one edge and then glued this 3-1/2" piece to one side of the layout.
Since the main layout page has a damask design on it (stunning), I chose to carefully stencil individual damask designs strategically placed on both the main page and the striped piece.  I was able to get to an exact color match to that in the paper by mixing acrylic paints in mustard & fawn colors with the white texture paste.  I am quite pleased with the result!


The custom ordered chipboard title by Want2Scrap was heat embossed with Lindy's Stamp Gang color Queen Sheba's Silver.  Then the tops of the letters were embossed in the color Chateau Rosé.  A few touches of baby pink colored Stickles added some glimmer.

The metal pieces were found in Michael's bargain bins. They both have significant meaning....the 'Love' safety pin is because we love Greta SO MUCH and the heart lock is because Greta holds the key to our hearts.
I made a flag and placed a word sticker 'my happy place' on it. These words are so fitting because Greta's favorite place at our house was the backyard (photo taken there) where she could run and play fetch.  We had to use a "Chuck It" because I sure didn't have the strength to throw a tennis ball over and over again.  This neat thing can 'chuck' a ball very far.  We have a very large backyard where Greta loved to run and play fetch.  So this was always fun time, play time, happy time and exercise time. 
Adding dainty baby pink lace, a white paper doily, beautiful flowers, berry stems and some jute string finished the layout.

Here is our gorgeous, sweet Greta:

Thank you for visiting and hope you have a wonderful day!  Lisa : )

Products used:
 
Bo Bunny Madeleine collection - pages named "Madeleine" & "Stripe"
Bo Bunny - small paper doily
Want2Scrap - custom chipboard title
Martha Stewart punch - Scroll Heart
TCW 12x12 stencil - Damask
Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powders - Queen Sheba's Silver & Chateau Rosé
Michael's - berry stem, jute string, mustard colored flower, metal heart lock & 'Love' safety pin
Wild Orchid Crafts - roses & cosmos daisies
Pigment inks - Amber Clay, Pink Sky, Peony
Stickles - Cotton Candy
 

Monday, April 27, 2015

Cherished Moments

A recent photo taken with my iphone6 of my sweet baby, Lucy, came out fabulous!  All I had to do was crop it.
Lucy & I were in the bedroom together and she was on her little cat tree looking absolutely adorable...but my camera was on the other side of the house (yikes!), so I reached into my pocket for my cell phone and took a few pics of her.  OMG!  I'm so proud to show off her stunning beauty!  WOW! 
Don't let the dainty colors of this layout 'fool' you though.  Lucy is really a tomboy and loves adventure & mischief (LOL!).  She keeps both of her MaMas (me-the human one; Gali-her birth mother) on our toes!
 
Lucy's outstanding beauty with her captivating eyes looked great on the new Bo Bunny Garden Journal collection papers!  I also used stickers, a brad, a button and a tag from this collection.  Prima's white crackle texture paste was used to stencil a rose border design onto the page in several areas.  Pigment ink on the roses make them stand out. 
Here are a couple of close ups:
 

 
I'll say it once again....never leave Michael's until you have gone through the bargain bins!  I found this precious white painted heart!  I distressed it with an ordinary sanding block (one that is used to sand walls) and I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out!
 
I glued an eyelet to the page (so it would not be flat on the page) and then I placed a brad in it.  I was able to simply loop the jute string onto the eyelet and 'hang' the heart!
 
Using papers from this gorgeous, girly Bo Bunny collection, I was able to frame Lucy's photo, die cut part of the title & punch out rose leaves to go with the adorable pale pink rosebuds by Wild Orchid Crafts.

Thank you so very much for stopping by today!  Hope you have a great week, Lisa : )

Products used:
 
Bo Bunny Garden Journal collection:
    ~pages named Bloom & Notebook
    ~6x6 paper pad
    ~stickers
    ~Brads
    ~Buttons
Sizzix BigZ Die Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers - Moments
    ~used with Sizzix BigZ Base Tray
Martha Stewart punches: 3-dot Scallop & Rose Leaf
Webster's Pages alpha stickers - "In Love" collection
Prima Finnabair ArtExtravagance Texture Paste - White Crackle
Wild Orchid Crafts - pale pink rosebuds
The Dusty Attic chipboard - Heart Arrows #2
Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powder - Chateau Rosé
Hobby Lobby - Burlap-Lace trim; Rose border stencil
Michael's - white painted metal heart
ColorBox Pigment inks - Pink Sky, Cyan, Charcoal
Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder – Chateau Rosé

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Beauty ~ a layout of Brianne

When my daughter, Brianne, was acquiring her Masters Degree in Chicago, she worked with a group of ladies that decided to do their own private photo shoot. 

This one is my favorite of Brianne from that photography session. 
 
The beautiful black feather boa that Brianne is wrapped in and the natural rosy color of her lips made these the base colors for the layout.  Since the Art-I-Cake rose piece is encased in gold color, I decided that this would be the metallic color to use. I enhanced the rose by rubbing Oldgold colored wax on it.  I replaced what was dangling from this pendant by using Prima wire thread in ink black to strand beads from my own stash that were more fitting for this LO. The wax also brought out the detailed design in the metal heart bead!  

After a light coat of gesso on the page, I used jet black Archival ink to stamp a design & script from Bo Bunny's Powder Mountain collection.  I added a stencil in both white & colored modeling paste.  Lindy's Stamp Gang mica powder Ramblin' Rose Pink from the Victorian Bouquet Magicals Set was used to color the paste.
 
The layout also has splatters of black gesso; LSG Starburst spray Golden Lump o' Coal, now a retired color (the drips are also in this color); LSG Starburst spray Ramblin' Rose Pink; micro beads in black & champagne; and rhinestones in Rose Gold color.
 
Here are a few close ups showing all of these textures:
 
 
 
The chipboard title by Want2Scrap was prepped with black gesso and then heat embossed with LSG color Midnight Gold.  What an amazing color!!
 
I made a flower & feather arrangement using Wild Orchid Crafts roses that I rubbed with Oldgold colored wax.  White floral wire was recolored with Gold alcohol ink and then curled.
 
 
White roses & rosebuds from Wild Orchid Crafts were sprayed with LSG Starburst Ramblin' Rose Pink and then placed inside a tiny resin frame.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by and hope you have a great day!  Lisa : )
 
Products used:
DCWV - The Primrose Stack
Martha Stewart punch - French Scroll
TCW 6x6 stencil - Mini Damask
Bo Bunny clear stamps - Powder Mountain collection
Want2Scrap - chipboard title
Lindy's Stamp Gang
    ~Embossing Powder: Midnight Gold
    ~Starburst Sprays: Golden Lump o' Coal; Ramblin' Rose Pink
    ~Magicals: Victorian Bouquet set - Ramblin' Rose Pink
Resin pieces
    ~Chandelier (Hobby Lobby)
    ~Frame (Michael's bargain bin)
Wild Orchid Crafts - roses & rosebuds
Viva Décor Inka Gold - Oldgold
Spellbinders dies - Antique Tags One
Prima E.Line pearl sticker - rose outline
Michael's - Art-I-Cake framed rose pendant; metal feathers; micro beads-black & champagne; rhinestone stickers-Rose Gold

Monday, April 20, 2015

Purrfect Profile

I've mentioned before how hard it is to get good photos of my sweetie heart, Miss Gali (Galadrial).  Well, I'm so proud of this photo that was taken April 18th.  Gali has a favorite "look out" spot on the breakfast table where she can watch doves and sparrows feeding just outside the window.  I sat on the kitchen floor and started snapping away.  I LOVE her profile!
 
 
I chose to use an old collection by K&Company, Brenda Walton's Flora & Fauna.  Purple is my most favorite color and with the mix of greens, this paper was just perfect!
 
Quite a while back, I ordered custom made chipboard from Want2Scrap, just knowing that one day the right profile pic of Miss Gali Gorgeous would happen!  After a gesso prep, I heat embossed the chipboard title with Lindy's Stamp Gang color Hollyhock Scarlet Plum.  Beautiful color!

 
 
Using paper from the same collection as the main page, I created some unusual flowers with Sizzix BigZ die - Tim Holtz 'Tattered Florals'. 
 
Gali's buff color inspired me to use natural corrugated cardboard as the back drop for her gorgeous photo!
 
I used pieces from the Flora & Fauna collection to decorate the LO - egg cardstock pieces; paper punched to look like lace for the side of the LO; a vellum fern piece; the butterflies; and a wooden word banner.  I blinged up everything with purple toned rhinestones and some buttons & eyelets from my stash.
I'm so very happy with Gali's photo.  It really makes this LO!  I LOVE her SO much!
Have a great day!  Lisa : )
Products used:
 
K&Company - Brenda Walton's Flora & Fauna collection paper, adhesive chipboard (butterflies), wood art (Dreamer banner), Grand Adhesions (dimensional stickers - eggs), cardstock (egg; Discovery tag)
Martha Stewart punch - Lace Flowers
Want2Scrap - custom chipboard title
Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powder - Hollyhock Scarlet Plum
Sizzix BigZ die - Tim Holtz Tattered Florals & Garden Greens
WeRMemory Keepers eyelets - Pewter Press & Coppered Out
Hobby Lobby - tiny plum colored buttons
Michael's - purple tone rhinestones; rhinestone brads - purple & green
Inks - Dusty Plum, Spring Pansy, Purple Hydrangea, Olive, Chestnut Roan
Wire - 20 gauge copper colored (butterfly antennae)