Sweet Friend 36

Hi there! Hope you are having a great week! Today I have the day off from work so I played around with some of my favorite paper crafting products. I scrapped a layout featuring my sweet little furry friend, Gretchen :)

To create the background, I layered the beautiful 13arts Spring Morning patterned paper then added texture and design using the Fleur-de-Lis stencil. I added color using my own mist made from Blu Raspberry ink then randomly stamped the text background from Collage Backgrounds. For the title, I stamped a sentiment from Tropical Sensations on a pretty label made using a Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags Two die.

I wanted Gretchen to be my focal point, so I trimmed around her photo, layered her on top of a die cut frame made using a Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight die from 13arts Cold Wall patterned paper:

For inspiration, I joined along with the 13arts October challenge focusing on the pretty color combination of blues and black and for symmetry ~ I gave Gretchen angelic metallic wings :)

Gretchen's angelic wings and all the flowers allowed me to join along with the ScrapMemory challenge:

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

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you enjoyed my layout!
Be Sweet ;)

Read More

Bookends 53

Hi there! I hope you are having a great week! I'm looking forward to the weekend ~ no big plans just some family time :) I have a layout to share featuring a photo of my sweet Westies ~ Gretchen (on the left) and Griffin (on the right). Scott snapped this photo of them while they were doing what they do best ~ lounging around. 

After layering a few pieces of patterned paper, I added texture using the Petal Pattern Stencil and molding paste. Once dry, I applied various colors of paint, sprays including MFT MIX-ables Steel Shimmer Mist. I embellished the layout with a stamped butterfly from Winged Beauties:

It's been awhile since I made a Large Hybrid Rose so I pulled out that die and put it to good use along with Die-namics Large Royal Rose and Die-namics Mini Royal Roses:

To add some additional interest to the background, I stamped the text sentiment from Collage Backgrounds and completed the layout with a stamped title made using Document It - Captured Memories:

For sketch inspiration, I joined along with the 13arts Challenge #10 where we are also to use at least 2 different medias (I used: Gesso, various colored paints, molding paste, various colored mists) and 2 different stamps (I used: Winged Beauties, Collage Backgrounds and Document It - Captured Memories).

I couldn't resist playing along with the pretty color combination at The Paper Players challenge:

Thanks so much for visiting! 
Be Sweet ;)

Read More

Live...AMMCC7 36

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by :) This afternoon, Scott and I drove Connor to Tuscon which is a 1 hour and 1/2 drive away, so he could attend a rock concert with a friend. While he was at the concert, we went to dinner and a movie. Just felt more comfortable doing that with him than him making that drive so late at night.

It's time for an all new Mixed Media Color Challenge! I'm so happy to see so many beautiful and inspiring projects in the gallery week after week. For nearly the next two weeks, we will be playing with the following color combination: Orange, Yellow and Kraft/Brown:

In all honesty, I can't even begin to tell you how difficult this color combination was for me to create with!!! The color orange is at the VERY bottom of the totem pole of my favorite colors. I love to see the color orange in use on others projects but I seem to have a creative block when it comes to using it. Once I got over the feelings of impending doom and knew I had to just get over my fears, I created this layout featuring a photo of Meredith and Connor that was taken several years ago while we were on Spring Break vacation visiting Disney's Wild Animal Park in Orlando, Florida. That mural painted on the wall behind the sweet photo is a real work of art!

I pulled out a piece of patterned paper, applied a coat of gesso then using the Brick Wall Stencil and modeling paste, I added some texture and design.  

I added a few flowers and chipboard pieces from my stash:

and for background color, I simply combined various colors of Distress Stains. When the ink was dry, I randomly stamped the text stamp from Collage Backgrounds:

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

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit ~ I hope I have inspired you to mix things up! Please hop on over to A Mixed Media Color Challenge for COMPLETE details on how to join in the fun and for some awesome inspiration from Sue!
Be Sweet ;)

Read More

Happy Times...MFT September Teasers Day 4 51

Hello dear stamping friends! Welcome to Day 4 of the MFT September Teasers! The new products will be available on Tuesday, September 3rd at 10 PM Eastern in the MFT Boutique. Be sure to hop over to the MFT Blog for a list of today's participating designers along with the amazing prize info!

Today I have a layout to share featuring MPD Contemporary Roses, the coordinating Die-namics MPD Contemporary Roses, MPD Winged Beauties, Die-namics Winged Beauties and the MPD Scallops Stencil along with many other fab MFT products. I scrapped a photo of Meredith, Connor and I that was taken while we were visiting the San Diego Zoo recently.

To create this layout, I started with a piece of paper that I made using acrylic paints and the Gelli Arts printing plate then using the Scallops Stencil, I added lots of texture and design. Once dry, I sprayed using various colored inks / mists and randomly doodled around a few of the scallops. I embellished using lots of flowers including a trio of Cotton Candy stamped larger Contemporary Roses and a duo of silver embossed smaller Contemporary Roses as well as Jellybean Green stamped leaves. 

I couldn't help adding several silver embossed stamped / die cut butterflies that were made using MPD Winged Beauties and Die-namics MPD Winged Beauties. 

Amongst the Contemporary Roses are a variety of rolled roses and Fancy die cut flourishes.

Thank you very much for taking the time to stop by today ~ I hope you enjoyed my layout.

Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog to see what the rest of the team has created. You'll also read about some HUGE prizes being given away this week during Teaser Time that you won't want to miss! I'll be back tomorrow with more to share for Day 5. Hope to see you then!
Be Sweet :)

Read More

Road Trip 30

Hi there! I was thrilled to have been relieved of Jury Duty yesterday :) It's like clock work for me, every two years to the day I receive that little "love note" in the mail telling me it's my time to serve. According to the latest census bureau information, Phoenix, AZ ranks 6th in the nation for highest population ~ I find it hard to believe that the other millions of people served within that 2 year period?! Am I the only one who doesn't like to serve on a jury? Either way, I'm happy I didn't get stuck on a jury this time like 2 years prior.

I feel like I am all over the spectrum with my creating ~ I love to make all sorts of projects, love to try new techniques and play with a variety of products. I don't even know what my style is, sort of depends on my mood and what I'm making the project for. Are you the same way or do you have a clear cut style? I think one thing that I'm quite sure about is that I do love lots of layers and fluff! I pay the price for this at the post office when I mail a greeting card because even one little button jacks up the price.

Today I have a layout to share featuring lots of layers and embellishments. I scrapped a photo of Connor and Meredith that was taken years ago when we took a road trip to Southern California and spent the day on the Santa Monica Pier.

I combined several flowers with a few metal trinkets, including a metal rose and heart shaped lock.

Couldn't have a lock with a key right? :)

For added interest, I randomly stamped the polka dot image from Distressed Background Blocks and the gears image from Collage Backgrounds then layered a few metal gears and a fancy butterfly on top. 

I pulled out my vintage typewriter and used it to type my journaling on the die cut tag that was made using Die-namics Tag, You're It die which I topped it off with a Sno Cone button and hemp bow. 

 I was inspired to make this layout for the CSIS365 challenge:

The Scheme: Use all 5 colors: (done)

The Evidence: Use at least 2 clues:

Metal (metal trinkets), Circles (gears and polka dot stamp)

The Testimony: Tuck your story into something

Journaled on a tag and stuck it in a die cut pocket

Thank you for stopping by ~ I hope you are inspired to create.

Be Sweet ;)

Read More

imagine... 37

Hi there! Hope you are having a great weekend! All is well here :) I've sort of been in a blogging funk lately so I thought I would take a break from the computer. It was awesome! I was very productive and can't wait to share what I've been working on in a few weeks. 

Today I have a Finnabair mixed media inspired canvas featuring a photo of Meredith that was taken recently while she was at a riding lesson. 

I added lots of texture and interest using the Graduated Diamonds Stencil along with molding paste and randomly stamped the text stamp from Collage Backgrounds.

I combined a variety of metal trinkets from my stash ~ some are over 15 years old ~ I don't even think Making Memories sells them anymore! 

I'm so proud of the red hearts because I made them using my UTEE melting pot that I've had sitting on a shelf in my craft closet for probably a year! YIKES! Needless to say, I am addicted to creating my own embellishments now so you will most likely see them popping up here and there ;)

I played along with the fun Papercraft Star challenge which my dear friend Sue introduced me to. She recently joined their talented DT and has nothing but awesome things to say! I didn't know what I was missing! In support of her, my sweet blogging friend Ros and the talented DT, I joined along with their current challenge which has the beautiful photo shown below as a starting point for inspiration. I opted to focus on the color scheme.

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Be Sweet ;)

Read More

Release Rewind 42

 Hi there! Welcome to day two of the MFT August Release Rewind! Today, many of the MFT DT members will be sharing projects made using awesome products included in the August release! Be sure to visit the MFT blog for a complete list of designers who will be participating.

Today I have three cards to share featuring 3 of the 4 clocks from MPD Timeless combined with a variety of other fab stamps. I made the pink patterned paper using the gelli arts plate, various acrylic paints and the Mini Chicken Wire Stencil then die cut using dies from the Die-namics Blueprints 6 set.

I framed the clock face with an embossed overlay made using the coordinating Die-namics MPD Time Pieces die. The sentiment is from Sending Thanks.

The next card features another clock from MPD Timeless layered on a die cut made using a die from Die-namics First Place Award Ribbon. The colored papers were made using the gelli arts printing plate as well. I stamped the text stamp from MPD Collage Backgrounds using Black Licorice ink and die cut the paper using a Die-namics Fishtail Flags Layers STAX die. 

I surrounded the clock with a trio of glittered kissed flowers made using Die-namics Mini Royal Roses and Die-namics Mini Rolled Roses as well as a layered heart made using Die-namics Hearts a Plenty. 

Last but not least is another pretty clock from MPD Timeless which is layered on a doily made using a Die-namics Dainty Doily DUO die. The sentiment is from MPD Tropical Sensations ~ I love to mix and match my stamp sets ~ don't you? Provides endless opportunities.

I stamped the background using the gears stamp from MPD Collage Backgrounds using the brand spankin' new Sweet Tooth ink. 

Many thanks for visiting! Be sure to visit the MFT blog for a complete list of designers who will be participating.

Be Sweet ;)

Read More