iluvcats and scraps

Monday, December 9, 2019

2019 Top Favorite Creations

It's that time again....end of year
to select my favorite personal creations in 2019!

In ALPHA order, here they are.

Each has a link to the original blog post.

1947 Gueydan Classy
Having this wonderful photo of my beautiful mother from 1947, when she was having fun at age 17, really is so endearing to me. This is the 2nd time I've created a layout with it and it may not be the last. Purple is my favorite color and with having just received the newest Blue Fern Studios collection "Eclectic Charm", as well as a new haul from ReneaBouquets, everything just fell into place! This is one of my most favorite creations!

Carmel's Bestfriend Tag
I think the Fabscraps 'French Heritage' papers are just gorgeous! The sentiment, which is an excerpt from Elton John's beautiful song "Your Song" has very special heartfelt meaning for how I feel about my very Best Friend. Carmel is the greatest BFF and I'm more than blessed to have her in my life. Making a shaker with the letter 'O' containing a homemade mix and making the word YOU stand out couldn't have been more perfect!

K&Company Flora & Fauna Triple Tag
I designed this tag in my thoughts one night as I was falling asleep. I wanted to do something different than the standard tag. Since a triple tag is a first for me, it's naturally a favorite pick. Even older stash can be made beautiful! I always loved K&Company's papers, especially the nature ones by Brenda Walton & Susan Winget.

Friendship Shaker Tag for Rocky
I just LOVE Maja Design's 'Enjoying Outdoors' collection! I'm a purple-holic and this collection is ALL about purple! I loved how the shaker turned out and I was very happy to send this to my dear friend, Rocky, who I love very much. I don't use dimensional stickers very often, but they really made a pretty design on the back of the tag.

Happiness Tag for Kay
I must admit that this is by far at the top of my most favorite tags that I've ever made!
I included special sentiments that have special meaning just for Kay. I love how ReneaBouquets Beautiful Board added an extra special look to this tag! All of the colors, flowers, butterflies & embellishments truly make this a happy tag!

Lucy's Beautiful Colors
This is the 2nd time that I've scrapped this stunning photo of Lucy's gorgeous legs!
I loved the daintiness of the Maja Design's 'Denim & Girls' paper collection that was just perfect to show off my little beauty! ReneaBouquets beautiful butterflies always spruce up my projects!

my baby
This photo was taken of Lucy in 2018. I was literally waiting for the perfect papers to place it on!
Maja Design's new 'Denim & Girls' are just that - perfect! Lucy is so stunning!
She always just melts my heart with that precious look she gives me!
Paper tearing and making Blue Fern Studios' Damask Panel look like tattered lace helped make this page have a bit of a shabby chic/distressed look.

My One and Only

This memorial tribute to my dear husband needs little explanation why I've chosen it as one of my favorite creations this year. The colors of the paper and flowers and beautiful ReneaBouquets butterflies were all perfect for each other. The tag, given to me by a sweet friend, started the whole design and color palette for the page. The tag sentiment says it perfectly!

Nugg
I LOVE this photo of Nugget taken by her owner! I decided to create a layout just for ME. Little Nugg looks great on 49 and Market's 'Bold & Beautiful' collection page "Whispers". She is very smart and listens so well. She's nearly blind, but is the sweetest and happiest little dog! This was so enjoyable creating, especially layering the punched hydrangeas.

Nugget's Bliss
This photo of little Nugget is so irresistible!!! I created this layout for her owner, Frances. I was quite pleased with the way the chipboard underneath Nugget's photo turned out. After practicing on scrap chipboard, I knew this was the perfect technique to use!

Purrfect

Miss Gali is truly a gorgeous and perfect Birman cat. She's Lucy's beautiful mother. It's hard to catch her with her eyes open enough to capture their stunning blue because of her timid nature. She looks like she posed for the camera, but I caught her off-guard! The gorgeous blue of her eyes and the tan & brown of her hair; as well as the golden tone of the flooring were what set the color palette for this Purrfect layout of Gali Gorgeous! Blue Fern Studios 'Eclectic Charm' paper and ephemera matched perfectly!

Zeus' Perpetual Smile
The Zeus-Meister is so adorable! He's a French Bulldog - ALL that and more! He's a hand full but I just LOVE him to death! I was babysitting him and he flopped down on my couch, cocked his head and I snapped the photo! ha! He has a perpetual smile with those big jaws! I loved how my drawn thread edge came out, as well as perfectly matching the chipboard color with Zeus' color! Beautiful ReneaBouquets butterflies really brought this layout over the top!

Thanks for visiting!

Have a great ending to this year

and blessed holidays.

Lisa

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Comparing Clays for use in moulds

There have been many experiments & YouTube videos

comparing different types and brands of clay, that are used in moulds.

I gained really good information but decided to do a test of my own, using the clays I have.
I'm working on a project that I want to use a mould to label 6 pieces that are on it.
I have a multitude of mostly Prima moulds but became discouraged with using clay.

For my test, I had two different types of clays,
but I also bought a new clay that I was curious about, even though it had bad reviews.

Well to my delight, the new clay is FANTASTIC!

This is the Prima Vintage IOD Moulds "Object Labels 1" that I used.

I chose the mould at the top.
NOTE: I dusted the mould each time with Corn Starch using a paintbrush.

Here are the best samples from each type of clay used.
Note: I was testing the pliability and the Prima one is rigid, so it snapped.

Starting with Prima re-design Paper Clay

Prima's Paper Clay is my least favorite.

In fact, I do not like it at all and won't use it again.

I've actually thrown it away.

NOTE: this product may have been discontinued & replaced with another one. I can't find it available on the internet. Perhaps they have improved the product, but this one pictured above (in my opinion) is horrible.

My personal opinion of Prima re-design Paper Clay:

1. It takes a lot of kneading, even after adding some water, as directed.

2. It doesn't have a smooth texture, so it takes a lot of time to work with it.

3. It tends to rub off and stay on your fingers.

4. It dries very rigid....I chose to oven bake it for faster drying time and this may be the reason why. I don't know for sure????

5. Although it picks up details well, I noticed very small cracks in some areas, which may have been caused from me not kneading it enough. Again, I don't know for sure????

6. The finished color is a clean white.

7. Removing it from the mould took a bit of effort, with a lot of bending of the mould.

8. MADE IN CHINA for Prima Marketing (USA)

9. Size is 2.2 lbs and cost is $20-$25

Next is Sculpey Ultra Light Oven-Bake Clay

The Sculpey UltraLight is my 2nd choice and I would use it again.

My personal opinion of Sculpey UltraLight Oven-Bake Clay:

1. This clay takes some kneading, but not a whole lot.

2. The texture is very smooth, making it easy to work with.

3. My fingers remained fairly clean while working with it.

4. What I LOVE the most about this clay is that it dries pliable and it's very lightweight.

5. I don't find that this clay picks up details completely. Perhaps it would take more practice on my part. I never could make a piece with 100% details in it. I made TEN pieces and ZERO have 100% of the details of the mould.

6. The finished color of this clay tends to be more beige-pink toned, especially next to other white clays.

7. Removing it from the mould took a bit of effort and I was afraid it would rip or disfigure in the process.

8. MADE IN USA by Polyform Products (USA)

9. Size is 8 oz. and cost is $9 -$13 (making this price calculate to $36 - $52 for 2lbs)

Last is Polyform Model Air (air dry clay)

The Polyform Model Air is my #1 choice!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Note that there is some shrinkage that occurs during the drying process.

My personal opinion of Polyform Model Air Clay:

1. This clay barely needs kneading! You can basically pick off a piece and start immediately rolling it in your hands.

2. The texture is ultra smooth, making it the easiest clay to work with.

3. My fingers remained totally clean while working with it.

4. It dries semi-pliable and weighs the same as the Prima Paper Clay, which both are heavier than the Sculpey Ultra Light.

5. I find that this clay picks up details 100% completely without having cracks in it.

6. The finished color of this clay is a clean white.

7. Removing it from the mould was SUPER EASY! One bend of the mould and the very detailed clay piece came right out!

8. MADE IN HOLLAND for Polyform Products (USA)

9. Size is 2.2 lbs and cost is $5 -$12, making it the least expensive of the three I tested!

(I bought this at Michael's with a 50% off coupon and paid less than $6 incl tax)

A few other comments about this impressive Polyform Model Air Clay -

~~~There are many bad reviews about it online. I found out that this clay should be made in Holland in order for it to be the BEST one. If you see made in Thailand, it will NOT be the same quality product.

~~~The texture is so smooth that I simply pushed it into the mould with my thumb; took a palette knife and 'cut' across the top of it and the clay stayed inside the mould, while the excess came right off - first try every time!

~~~I made EIGHT moulds with this product in record time of 20 minutes!

So these are my personal opinions.

Hope they help!

Lisa

Friday, November 15, 2019

1947 Gueydan Classy

This is the second time I've created a layout with this photo
of my beautiful Mom with her sister and a friend.
She's the one on the right side.
Only 17 years old.

It's 1947 in rural Gueydan, Louisiana, where the roads are dirt
and chickens with coops are part of the front yard.
Can you just imagine getting dressed up with your high heels to sit atop a vehicle for a photo?

ReneaBouquet's November 2019 MoodBoard is my inspiration! WOW!
Look how gorgeous it is!!!!!!
They have a random draw each month and since I sooooo love her products
plus my love for the new Eclectic Charm collection by Blue Fern Studios, I couldn't resist joining in for the fun!

I began by coloring ReneaBouquet's Beautiful Board "Heart Lattice Elements".
I used Lindy's Gang Starbursts in two colors.
First was Passionate Plum, which has a silver shimmer to it.
Then I randomly sprayed & also dripped from the sprayer tube, Jazzy Jivin' Purple.
Look up close and see the difference in the two colors.
The 1947 is 100% Jazzy Jivin' Purple color.

To this same upper right corner, I added an Ephemera piece
"These ARE the GOOD OLD days"
and
ReneaBouquet's stunning Ethereal butterfly!

Since the 4 x 6 photo would hide most of the Beautiful Board,
I decided to cut it up and use the random pieces on my layout,
while giving a shabby chic look at the same time.

After adhering the two lattice pieces,
I glued down cardboard in the open space where the photo would go.
The photo was adhered and in place perfectly!
Now the creation began!!

I cut out, distressed & placed a calling card from BFS collection in the left corner, above the photo.
A beautiful flower arrangement with die cut leaves & stems,
as well as green Reindeer moss tucked in and ReneaBouquet's gorgeous Ethereal Butterfly flying above,
all came together to form a beautiful corner piece.

Note: When your layout or project seems to be 'missing' something,
try Reindeer Moss!!
It's a great filler and adds awesome texture.
It comes in green and natural. Buy it at a local craft store.

I placed the Ephemera cut out "Together" to complete the space.

The bottom left side of this GORGEOUS paper has stunning printed flowers.
I simplified the embellishing in this corner for that reason.
An Ephemera purple tag and a word "Remember", along with ReneaBouquet's butterfly were perfect.

The bottom right corner of the photo also has a beautiful flower arrangement
and an Ephemera die cut candy advertisement.

I couldn't resist taking close up photos of these magnificent butterflies!
Renea Harrison's art is phenomenal
and the quality she produces in her products is unmatched by anyone!
They are always so impressive!