adventure... 35

Hi there! Are you ready for the weekend? I'm so excited because I had a chance to create just for fun so I joined along with the Prima: April Build-A-Page sketch challenge.

I created a layout featuring a photo of Scott that I took while we were on vacation in Rome. I started by layering various papers from the fabulous Cartographer Collection which screams an old world style, coordinating perfectly with my photo and theme I was trying to capture. One of the rules is that you need to use at least 90% Prima products (which I did with no trouble).

I stamped a variety of clocks from Timeless as well as one of the fun images from Collage Backgrounds followed with randomly stenciled on circles using various mediums from my stash:

Once I had the background completed, I stitched on the photo after cutting it into thirds:

I had loads of fun embellishing with an assortment of awesome Prima metal trinkets and of course beautiful blooms:

For the sentiment, I stamped the word exploring using a fun set of Prima typewriter font stamps:

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you have a great weekend!
Be Sweet ;)

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dare to Dream...MFT April Creative Challenge and a tutorial 40

Hi there! Welcome to the MFT DT April Creative Challenge! Just in case you are not familiar, the MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to "Jazz up our blooms with pattern". 

I painted a sweet owl on a canvas then embellished her with a variety of jazzed up die cut canvas blooms and leaves:

Shown below is a die cut canvas Pretty Posie featuring a star pattern which was made using the Graduated Stars Stencil then colored using the new Hybrid Razzle Berry ink pad and topped off with a Razzle Berry button:

I also jazzed up several die cut canvas Splendid Sunflower leaves (steps shown below):

I couldn't stop at just one ~ I embellished her with an additional trio of jazzed up die cut canvas blooms (steps shown below):

For the title, I stamped / heat embossed a sentiment from Dandelion Wishes then randomly added texture and design using the Damask Stencil:

For color inspiration, I joined along with the current MFT Color Palette Challenge which is to use: Natural, Razzle Berry, Blu Raspberry and Gumdrop Green. You still have time to play!

In case you are curious about how I made today's project, I took some step shots along the way:

I started with a blank 11" x 7" canvas board which I randomly applied acrylic paints that coordinated with the colors featured in the MFT Color Palette Challenge to create the background. I painted the owl, stamped a sentiment, stenciled on detail then embellished with my homemade jazzed up blooms.

To create the blooms, I die cut canvas using the following fabulous Die-namics dies: Die-namics Flower Medley, Die-namics Botanical Beauty, Die-namics Pretty Posies and Die-namics Perfect Petal Trio:

I added texture and design using the various stencils along with Gel Medium. Shown below is the Checkerboard Stencil. I repeated this step using the various stencils adding texture and design to the other die cut flowers: Graduated Stars Stencil, Swiss Dots, Graduated Diamonds,  

I jazzed up the Splendid Sunflower leaves by using the emboss / resist technique. I stamped / heat embossed the text image from Collage Backgrounds:

Lastly, I colorized the leaves and blooms using the following MFT inks: Hybrid Gumdrop Green, Hybrid Razzle Berry, Hybrid Blu Raspberry,  and Natural then adhered a coordinating button to each layered bloom:

Thanks so much for visiting! Please be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all the designers who will be joining along.
Be Sweet ;)

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Add a Splash of Color... 48

Hi there! Hope you are having a great weekend! Last night, Scott and I had the pleasure of attending the High School musical, It's A Wonderful Life. Meredith, (on the right), was in charge of operating the stage lights and my Great Niece, Madison (on the left) who is in 6th grade, was singing in the chorus:

Here's another photo of Madison that was taken while standing in the reception line :)

I had some me time so I made this layout featuring a photo of Scott, Meredith and Connor that was taken several years ago while we were visiting the San Diego Zoo Safari Park which is an incredible 1,800 acre zoo. 

Lots of white space and brighter colors are quite challenging for me to work with but I'm trying to get over those fears. I was inspired to do so by a few of Anna's layouts that may be found here. I started with 2 pieces of stitched together white cardstock then I combined various colors of Distress inks to create the rainbow of color. I added texture using the Square Tiles Stencil. 

I added texture using the Square Tiles Stencil. Once dry, I randomly stamped doodled like flowers and foliage from Pretty Pocket and splashes of ink from Jumbo Abstract Art. For the title, I stamped one of the sentiments from Clearly Sentimental About Art:

I embellished a few die cut doilies, hearts, a Hybrid Camellia Flower and Layered Leaves:

For color inspiration, I joined along with the Scrap Around The World November challenge:

and for sketch inspiration, I joined along with the current Skissedilla challenge:

Thank you for stopping by. Hope you have a great day!
Be Sweet ;)

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Happy Times... 50

Hi there! Are you ready for the weekend? I know I am! It's time for an all new Mixed Media Color Challenge! Thanks to all who took the time to play along and thanks to those who left encouraging comments. The talented Papercraft Star Design Team will be joining Sue and I for this challenge! For complete details and for more inspiration, please be sure to visit A Mixed Media Color Challenge.

For nearly the next two weeks, we will be playing with the following colors: peach, brown and tan

For my sample, I created a layout featuring a photo of Meredith and Connor that was taken years ago while on vacation on Maui:

After creating the background with a variety of patterned papers from my stash, I added lots of texture:

The diamond pattern was created using the Graduated Diamonds Stencil. I randomly stamped the text image from Collage Backgrounds and stamped a sentiment for the title from Timeless:

For sketch inspiration, I joined along with the Keeping the best sketch challenge:

Thank you for stopping by! Please be sure to visit the Mixed Media Color Challenge site for some fab inspiration from Sue and for complete details on how to join along.

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Explore 40

Hello there! Hope you are having a great weekend! I had some "me" time tonight so I made a layout featuring a photo of Scott and I standing in front of THE St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing the inside is! 

I made a trio of flowers using the following Die-namics: Large Royal Rose, Upsy-Daisy and a Mini Royal Roses die.

I added a Fancy butterfly then for added interest to the background, I randomly stamped the polka dot image from Distressed Background Blocks and the text image from Collage Backgrounds:

I've never made an exclusively black and white layout so I took on the September Scrap Around The World Challenge for "color" inspiration:

and for sketch inspiration, I joined along with Keeping the best sketch challenge:

Thank you for stopping by ~ I hope you are inspired to create!
Be Sweet ;)

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Bucket List...MFT September NPT 35

Hi there!  Welcome to the MFT September NPT where you'll get a look at ALL the new stamp sets one more time. You can finalize your wish list and head over to the MFT Boutique to SHOP until your hearts content! All the new products are available NOW, right HERE! Thanks to all those who took the time to leave such kind and encouraging comments over the past week. I am very grateful for your time! I hope you like all the new MFT products as much as I do!

***WARNING ~ this post contains MANY  photos!***

Tonight I have a variety of projects to share focusing on my newest products: Winged Beauties stamp set, Die-namics Winged Beauties, the Winged Beauties Stencil, the Scallops Stencil, the Checkerboard Stencil and the Houndstooth Stencil while of course including many other fab products included in the new release.

First up is a layout featuring a photo of me taking my sweet Westies: Gretchen and Griffin for a stroll :)

To create this layout, I stitched a piece of paper that I made using the Gelli Arts plate onto a piece of card stock then using the Winged Beauties Stencil, I added a trail of fluttering butterflies. 

I embellished it with Contemporary Roses:

and various sized Winged Beauties:

Layered behind the photo is pretty die cut paper that was created using the Die-namics Fancy Butterflies die and I stamped a few sentiments using LLD Journal It - Take Note then adorned each sentiment with small butterflies made using Die-namics Winged Beauties:

Next up is another layout featuring a photo of Meredith feeding the giraffes at the San Diego Wild Animal Park several years ago:

Using the Houndstooth Stencil, I added a lot of texture and design to the background then embellished with various butterflies made using Winged Beauties 

as well as the Die-namics Fancy Butterflies die:

I also embellished with stamped / die cut Contemporary Roses along with a variety of handmade rolled roses:

I journaled on a die cut piece of notebook paper that was made using a Die-namics Mini Album Torn Notebook STAX die. I stamped the paper lines, checkmark and title using images from LLD Journal It - Take Note and also added a clock made using MPD Timeless. 

Last but not least is a card featuring a back ground that was stenciled using the Scallops Stencil and topped off with a butterfly and sentiment from the Winged Beauties stamp set

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you enjoyed my projects today!

It's time to head over to the MFT Blog to see what the rest of the team is up to. Be sure to check out all the designers' creations to get one last look at every stamp set releasing 
tonight.
Be Sweet ;)
Mona

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