Memories...OUAS July 44

Hi there! It's time for a new sketch to play with at Once Upon A Sketch. This month, we ask you to focus on the Journalling Theme: "Grow". Refer to the photo shown below for inspiration.

Here's the fun sketch we will be playing with:

I scrapped a layout featuring a photo of my two girls: Angie (on the left) and Meredith (on the right) that was taken 10 years ago. Needless to say, they both have really grown and have blossomed into beautiful young women. My journaling is quite lengthy and is written on the back of the page.

I heat embossed various chipboard pieces including the little butterfly and hearts from Imaginarium Designs.

and added lots of pretty manufactured flowers that I have been hoarding. 

Here are recent photos of the girls ~ how time flies! 

Angie (23 years old)

Meredith (16 years old)

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you liked my layout. Please be sure to visit the Once Upon A Sketch site to see what the participating DT members have created.

Be Sweet ;)

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Live...A Mixed Media Color Challenge 2 51

Hi there! I'm so happy the weekend is here! My sweet sister Tina has returned home from an extended work trip out of town and we have a lot of fun activities planned :)

I'm also excited because there were so many beautiful projects in the gallery for the first Mixed Media Color Challenge! Thanks to all who took the time to play along and thanks to those who left encouraging comments. Today I'm here with Mixed Media Color Challenge 2. For complete details and for more inspiration, please be sure to visit A Mixed Media Color Challenge.  

I made a layout featuring a photo of Meredith, (taken several years ago), saddling up her horse.

To create this layout, I first used the Gelli Arts plate along with acrylic paints to make the background.

Then I added lots of texture using MPD Graduated Diamonds stencil along with fiber paste.

and randomly stamped the polka dot image from MPD Distressed Background Blocks using Bubblegum ink. 

Once the background was complete, I was ready to embellish with lots of goodies! Layered behind the photo of Meredith is a BINGO card that was stamped with the BINGO card image from LLD Document It - Bingo on a coordinating die cut that was made using Die-namics LLD Insert It - 3x4 Insert.

I added a trio of heat embossed chipboard decorative pieces as well as a painted chipboard sentiment.

For sketch inspiration, I played along with sketchabilities:

I was having fun playing around with this color combination so I pulled out my art journal and created a page that is QUITE different than my layout. It's a bit abstract and not so organized which I find very challenging. One of my personal goals is to conquer the abstract, graffiti journaled look. 

I combined lots of stamps from the following sets: MPD Blooming Roses, MPD Distressed Background Blocks

The sentiment is from Clearly Sentimental about Art and is layered on top of a die cut heart that was made using Die-namics Layered Heart.

To add texture, I used the MPD Stone Wall stencil along with fiber paste:

The circles were made using Die-namics Circle STAX Set 1 and Die-namics Circle STAX Set 2. The little flowers and flourish were stamped using images from Pretty Pocket.

I smudged on yellow oil pastel around the circles and heart then randomly flicked on black acrylic paint.

Here are a few steps taken along the way as I created in my art journal. First I painted two pages using the same colors as used to make my layout.

Then I randomly added interest to one of the pages using the following stencils: MPD Rose Builder, MPD Graduated Dots, MPD Stone Wall and MPD Delicate Doily.  

I felt as though the black designs were screaming at me so I simply dry brushed on white acrylic paint to tone it down. 

That's all from me today. I hope you find the step shot photos helpful ~ any feedback would be greatly appreciated. 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.

Be Sweet ;)

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My Thoughts and Prayers...MFTWSC130 32

Happy Wednesday! It's time for an all new My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge! For additional inspiration from participating DT members, please be sure to visit the MFT Blog.

Here's the fun sketch for this week:

I stayed true to the sketch and featured the pretty Die-namics Heirloom Label die. I filled the open real estate with a delicate scalloped oval image from Vintage Cameo Sentiments followed by with a  stamped sentiment from Inspired by Flowers Set #1.

The flower was made using the flower die from Die-namics Blueprints 3 then topped with a Pink Lemonade button. 

Many thanks for stopping by ~ I hope you join in the fun!
Be Sweet ;)

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on my mind...MFT June Creative Challenge 35

Hi there! Welcome to the June MFT Design Team 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're all Making it Masculine. 

Masculine projects are not my area of expertise so needless to say, this challenge was quite the challenge for me! I made three masculine cards to have on hand to mail to my son Jerry. I think he will be pleasantly surprised to receive a card that does not feature flowers, bows and butterflies once in awhile :)

To conquer this challenge, I turned to some of my favorite MFT products. For my first card, I used many dies from the Blueprints 1 die set to cut all the various cardstock layers. For sketch inspiration, I referred to one of the variety of sketches using this die set that may be found HERE. 

I stamped the ship image from Inspired by the Sea using Hot Fudge ink on the Primitive Cream cs layer followed with the "you've been on my mind" sentiment from Just My Type. 

The next card was made using a combination of dies from Die-namics Blueprints 2. For sketch inspiration, I referred to one of the variety of sketches using this die set that may be found HERE.  

I stamped the beautiful sailboat image from Inspired by the Sea using Hot Fudge ink followed by the "thinking of you" sentiment from  Just My Type using Black Licorice ink then finished it off with a few Kraft die cut tabs. 

My last card was made using various Die-namics Blueprints 3 dies ~ you can find a variety of sketches using this die set HERE.

I stamped the beautiful Vintage card image from Inspired by Travel using Steel Blue ink and finished the card with a Kraft button.

Thanks so much for visiting! Please be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all the designers who have Masculine themed projects to share with you today.

Be Sweet ;)

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Dare to Dream 34

Hi there! I hope you are having a great weekend! We are just relaxing at home, enjoying the air conditioning. Tonight, Scott and I are going to a retirement party for one of our colleagues. Are you doing anything exciting?

I have a mixed media canvas to share that features lots of texture, stamps and die cuts. I collaged the canvas with printed tissue paper, randomly stamped dandelion images from MPD Dandelion Wishes, then added lots of paint, sprays and fiber paste. I also stamped the checkerboard image from MPD Distressed Background Blocks. 

On the right hand side, you can some of the design that was made using the MPD Delicate Doily stencil and modeling paste. I die cut a variety of flowers using the following Die-namics: Die-namics Layered Rose and Die-namics Mini Rolled Roses.

Thanks so much for visiting!
Be Sweet ;)

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Live in the sunshine... 43

Hi there! Summertime is in full swing here in my household. Connor and Meri have a variety of summer camps scheduled and we have a few fun vacations planned with them :) They are on a "year round" school calendar so summer vacation is only lasts for 8 weeks so the time seems to fly by! Speaking of summertime, I'm here today hoppin' along with the Mixed Up Media Chix / Art Journal Girlz and the theme happens to be "Summertime".

I made this page in the smaller of my two art journals (approx 5" x 7") for today's hop:

After painting the background with a variety of acrylic paints, I stamped a sentiment from MFT Inspired by the Beach

as well as the pretty palm trees and hammock image (also from MFT Inspired by the Beach). I randomly stamped the checkerboard image from MPD Distressed Background Blocks and finished it with stenciled dots using MPD Graduated Dots stencil along with white acrylic paint.

Below is a photo of Scott that I took on Wednesday while we were chillaxin' on Coronado Beach, California :) 

Thanks so much for visiting! For some awesome inspiration, please be sure to visit the other Mixed Up Media Chix who are participating in today's hop:

Maria Levine

Rebecca Daniels

Tracy

Tameko Mays

Angeline

Be Sweet ;)

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