BOO - Altered Wood Decoration for the house

Finally something other than a word book! lol.

I bought these giant letters that are made of fake wood at the Dream last year for about 19 bucks. Well, this summer I spotted them in my craft closet and knew I wanted to get into the "FALL" mood and alter them. I bought the Halloween papers from the Imaginisce line and used them to cover the wooden letters. I used Making Memories black scrapbook colors paint to outline the letters and get inside the holes. I also used a messy brush stroke to create a black painted goth look. For the middle "o" I used purple making memories scrapbook paint and my daughters thick paintbrush. This morning when I woke up they were dry and I added the embellies. I bought the spiders at the dream which I used SMALL DOTZ to adhere them to the letter. I first used foam dots but I could see them and it didn't sit right with me so I ripped them all off and re stuck them with the glue dots. I bought the Halloween bottle cap at Building 19 1/2 last summer. The Happy Halloween Glitter words are from the dream, as are the Boo, trick or treat and pumpkins. Cloud 9 was used for the cool little bat people, ghosts and the non glitter Boo word. Added some ribbon and called it a day. A really easy project and fun to do. A REAL THROW DOWN! In the first picture you can see the spider that fell off in all the other pictures. After I took the pictures I added another glue dot. Alicia found it hysterical that one spider would not stick. lol. Thanks for looking!

Happy 30th Birthday Kristie Rose

So, all of you must be scratching your heads saying, ANOTHER WORD BOOK! Good God, I know, I have been doing that myself. You see, it is an easy project for me to throw together for a gift. I made this one for my brothers wife. My sister in law turned 3o this month. While they were in Vegas celebrating, I decided to throw this down for when she got back. I left the last two pages open for her to add pictures from her actual birthday while they were in Vegas. The other pages are full with pictures I had and some I got from her Myspace page of her and her close friends and family! I used the junkitz papers from back in the day that I have had and loved for so long. I never wanted to part with them, but they are prefect for a 3o year old because it says, just be you, be true to yourself. I used a lot of scraps and stickers, letters and numbers I have had. I only had a few hours to get this done because I was heading to Hampton Beach and they were coming home from Vegas the same day. I left her gift on my kitchen table as I knew they would be over cause they were going to be watching my dog. She loved it! Junktz papers, fancy pants rub ons, Making Memories tiny lil aphas, numbers, birthday rub ons and much more. In one of the pictures my husband was being NAUGHTY so I had to black out what he was doing! =) MEN!!!!!!!!

Design Team Project

I have no idea why this pic is sideways......

Today I had to turn in my DT project at The Dream. Great minds think alike - because no sooner had I arrived than my design pals, L and J were in the door as well. Everyone had come to turn in their latest and greatest.

Every single one of us were chosen for distinct talents. One gal for her Quick cuts and her masterful ability to work with the smallest of details. Another for her clean lines and use of paper in her layouts.

L of course is the layout DIVA - as she proved once again by coordinating yellows with pinks and browns. And when given the challenge of making her page "interactive" she used a chord, traditionally used for shoe laces, to hang three chipboard cupcakes which could be flipped over for journaling. WHO THINKS LIKE THAT? asked Laurie.

Next in the door is J, who brings an incredible acrylic book she's entering into the Zutter DT contest. Along with her mini album - every page simple and clean. The pictures are the clear stand-outs. Hers is the kind of work you look at and then want to scoop up all the product to try it at home. Minimal journaling. It's all about the pictures.

So, there were three of the team-member's projects I got to feast my eyes on today. I had to pick Shay up so I didn't stick around for the love-fest over my project (ha ha). But I included pics for you below. Let me warn you. It's a throw down unlike anything you've seen before. In fact, I don't think the pics convey all the throw-down-ness.

I was given a 6 page acrylic album (12 pages front and back). TWELVE - as opposed to the 2 page layouts a few of my team mates had. What-EV!!!

I was also given a stencil, two galaxy markers - blue/silver and white. Some white jumbo buttons. Two pages with a winter scene and two diff. colors of bling card stock. No WAY could I make 12 pages out of that alone. That was like giving a starving person a cup of chicken broth for dinner.

So I figuratively put on a mask and snorkel gear and went scuba-diving through my goods.
Fished out every monochromatic bit my little fingers could find. Ribbons, acrylic tags and embellishments, bling of course, inks in the whole range of winter blue and white. And of course, my sense of humor.

Where would I be without that?????????

I had to be resourceful when putting this together because I had NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING to print out for a winter album.

Gulp.

No snowmen/women, no sledding, no snowball fights?

Double gulp.

No pristine pics of snow falling even? Not even deer tracks on my back porch or the dog leaving his fresh, yellow imprint in the snow?

Triple gulp.

I went through my catalogue of winter-y pics. Until finally settling on a singular moment. One moment I took pictures of over and over again because it made me laugh. The subject: my husband. Every year, on his birthday, it snows. Some years, worse than others. This particular year, he was plowing the driveway and not making much progress when he notices our neighbors bring in this super jaxxed up snow removal truck. Poor Rick. And so the theme took on a life of it's own.

Initially, you'd look at the cover and think the book will be about all things white and fluffy and sweet about winter. But it's about my poor husband struggling in the snow. On his birthday. While Shayna and Caesar look on from the warm comfort of their home.

Now, I'm trying an experiment. Because Blogger keeps booting me anytime I upload more than 4 pics, I've started a shutterfly web thingy. Click on it and let me know what you think. Yes, I noticed that some pics uploaded sideways. I'm just not savvy enough to correct it at the moment.

Hopefully, this will work. The name of this is titled "Insomniac Studio" because it's my reserved name on Etsy, should/when I open my online store. So, Click on this linky and tell me what you thinky:

http://insomniacstudio.shutterfly.com/

Door Hanger and Word Book

Here is one of the Christmas Presents that I was working on for this holiday season. Because I will be having a baby around that time, I thought I had best get with the shopping and the making of things now. Needless to say, I am well on my way - all the in-laws out of state are done! This number here is for my Grandmother. She lives in a retirement community and loves to post notes on her door when she heads out so people don't worry or wonder where she is. I thought that this would be a better alternative than the scraps of paper that she writes her love notes on. :)
The door hanger is from Creative Imaginations? I think. I know that's terrible, but in the process of re-doing my scrap space, my information for this number was, well, tossed. AHHH!! Anyway, I covered it with some pretty flowered paper and then used an assortment of ribbons to decorate the top of it.

The first picture is of the back side...I found these little round dry erase magnetic boards for lockers in Target and thought that it would be a great solution for this project! I just went around the sides with stickles to decorate it up a bit. The front says "Welcome Friends" I stamped the letters using CTMH stamps and inks, then I drew around the letters in pink just to make them stand out a little more. I then used CTMH liquid glass to fill in the letters, then cut them out using my trusty Crayola cutter. The flowers are from K&Company.

OK - Now, onto the FINALLY FINISHED word book!!! Just to note that I blacked out the kids that I don't have permission to post on line. I am really happy with the way the book turned out. If you remember, I used the Cricut Design Center to do this book. It's the first one I cute out, and all in all, I am really pleased with the way it turned out. I learned a lot by playing with the software, and am now working on a few more word book ideas. I am, however, waiting for the new blades to come out so I can cut on thicker paper to make this process easier...






oops, that airplane shouldn't be on this page, I will have to correct that, must've gotten stuck when I was turning pages. I wish I could have found better embellishments for this project, but this is what I was dealing with. I am happy I did it and can't wait to try another one. Someday, I hope to make these babies beauties like Miss. Nicole's! LOL

HAPPY Bo Bunny word book for my daughters BFF

Well, my daughter's best friend Cameron had a birthday in July. They are 10 days apart in age. I made Cam this book so he can look back when they are in college and see how close they were as toddlers. They are together just about everyday for the most part and when they aren't together I hear all day and night about her BFF! =)

You know I love to gift give, you know I love to make things to give to my family and friends. This book was created using the Happy, Bo Bunny Word Album. Another known fact is that I am addicted to the Bo Bunny word albums. They make the best gifts!

I used Fancy Pants & October Afternoon papers. I used a ton of rub ons from all different companies. Some die cuts I bought at the Dream's Yard Sale way back before the lady that ruins the the yard sales was a customer lol. I used left over sticker letters, buttons, ribbons, bling, chipboard and flowers.

a mini mini book pour moi

Hey! I'm finally updating! WOO!

So, a couple months before we moved, like around April or so, I ordered this really cute chipboard bird keychain thing from Two Peas. (All My Memories makes the chipboard bird keychain though.) I thought I might separate the pieces and use them as accents on separate pages, but also kept in mind it might be nice to use as a whole, like a mini photo album to carry with me in my bag. Because my wallet has NO photo insert at all, and I never have any pictures of Eleana when I'm out.

A couple nights ago I caught the bug to scrap, but didn't want to commit to a 12x12 project. I've kept this blank chipboard bird thing hanging around the desk on purpose ever since I bought it because I've been needing/wanting to use it so badly, and finally decided to just work it out.

So, here are mostly the final results. I still need to add one or two photos to the blank birds you see, but other than that it's pretty much done. I used all Sasafrass Lass papers (from the Dearest line), some Hambly, some Basic Gray rubs, and other rub-ons as well.


Finished product, including ribbon, hanging on "my" pegboard (it's only mine as long as I live here, so I'll have to say goodbye to it when I move.)

Recycling with gift wrapping

We have a birthday party this afternoon. And instead of running out and spending gas and MORE money on gift wrap and cards, I took a cue from Jenn and used some of my scrappy-scraps. Why not? Most people think it's so inventive ;)

And actually, it's quite fun!

Below, I finished up some Happy Birthday wrap I had on hand. I then used some ribbon I'd had in stock (what? did I say in stock? what am I, a warehouse?) and used that to bind the two gifts together. Sure, it doesn't match. But does it really have to? Kids love wild crazy, mis-matched stuff. Especially when you walk into a party with a big ol, big ol thing wrapped all
ca-ra-zzzzzyyyyy. Can I get a woop, woop on that, ladies???

Next, I used a left over Popsicle chipboard from the accucut project (Popsicle banner). I covered it front and back with scrappy paper and then embellished away with stickers and such.

But I didn't stop there. Oh no. I didn't. I couldn't. You know me. I got out my punches and used the flower and the circle (above) and cut into both the birthday paper and the leftover Popsicle paper. I used the circles in the Popsicle paper for the "i" in birthday. See below.


Some may think it's extra work for a gift that's gonna be ripped open. But it's all worth it to put a great, big smile on a child's face. There's nothing better than the anticipation of opening a nicely wrapped gift. Oh, and also it stands out on the gift table. Mismatched or not!!!

Woop, woop! Off to eat some birthday caaaaaaaaaaaaake!!!!!!

Playin' catch up!

Whoa, Nelly! I can't believe the amazing scrap-a-rama ya'll have posted so far! I've been concentrating on merchandising over the summer. And more on altered gifts. Less on the actual page. However before Shay's birthday party we did a massive overhaul in the house. You know, for all the people that would be walking through and such. Had to make it the showplace...

So with new coats of paint in the kitchen and in the living room. I had nothing on the walls. What was a girl to do??? I got out my scrap frames and went to work! The results are below:

1. (Below) This was a new line that Laurie brought back for me from CHA Chicago. I don't think she's getting this in the store. But the various lines of design made it fantastic for a layout, to cover a TIN (which of course I did), and for cards. This was framed and hung in the kitchen so guests saw it as soon as they came inside. It's still on the wall actually! The only thing I updated it with after this pic was I framed the pic in turquoise loopy ribbon. The lettering was on clearance at Marshalls. They have tons of scrappy stuff on clearance now!

2. The pic below was from a post I wrote on "Brown" called Melon Party. You may recognize this Daisy D paper from the Christmas tree store. I just loved it. The dots echoed the silliness of the pic, as did the chipboard swirls which I chose to leave bare. GASP. That's right. It took A LOT, and I mean A LOT to walk away from that one. The fish stickers we got in Chinatown because Shay wanted a Pokemon/animae party and these were some of the leftover favors. They have nothing to do with Melon. I just thought they added to the absurdity of the picture.

3. I've no idea why the pic below is sideways. I uploaded it twice. This was from a Pokemon photo shoot we did for Shay's party invitations. Here, she's holding Pikachu her favorite character. The paper that backs the photo was from a scrap pile at The Paper Source. I was in a rush and just wanted to get something up on the wall, so I did just a minimal layout. I can hear your jaws dropping. I know. I didn't even have time to rip it up and start over. I love the little red jewel I got last year at one of the stops on the bus tour.

4. BANNER MOMENT - This was a Popsicle banner I made from Laurie's new accucut (spell?) machine. I cut the original pieces on chipboard. Cut the covering pieces with colored card stock so I wouldn't have to trace and cut. The PARTY letters were stickers I found at Michael's. The pics were a series we took on July 4th when Shay was using sparklers for the first time.

I cut holes on each side and tied it with ribbon so after the party, it collapses into a board book! I KNOW, how cool! Thank you, I'm here all week.

On the back, I used party rub-ons from the dollar store and put additional party pics (not shown).

5. Photo cube. These were all the rage over the summer. I used scrap paper from PS and covered all the sides. I loved this little fish, another party bag remnant. The bottom third had different coordinating paper and double ribbon separating it from the top. Felt and other cool textures that Shay would enjoy when I added her birthday pics to them.

One day shortly after the party, I decided I didn't really like it that much and have since ripped it BALD. Go ahead, laugh. Laugh beeyotches. I'll bounce back. You'll see.

6. The layout below would have driven even the mild-mannered Nichole P to the loony bin. This started out as a summer layout, using the sunburst stencil on the black card stock. What's the name of it? The stuff you tear and it has color that shows through? Yeah. Not a big fan. If you do anything other than rip it, the color is everywhere.

Not good...not good at all....

I added grommets and bling and then hated the middle picture. So I cast it aside. Shortly before Shay's party, I exhumed it and used this great candid shot Rick got of Shay, leaning against a checkered table cloth.

I tore the paper - big woop - and used the X-mas tree Daisy D paper behind it. I also cut out flowers and butterflies in the corners to let the paper show through. And yes, that would be the Martha Stewart butterfly punch, thank you very much. I use it often. I love it so.

So up close this looks like something you might heave up after disembarking off the tilt-a-whirl. But it's on the wall in Shay's room and as you're coming down the hallway it's...intriguing and kinda draws you into her room...which, now that it's all Pokemon, is an adventure in itself.

7. Saving the best for last... I was inspired to make this next piece by Etsy artist Pugnotes

Her version:

Mine: I drew the pug freehand in pencil on canvas. Then came the task of accurately fitting paper in the right spaces! I tried to contrast light and dark papers in each shape. I held the canvas up to the sun so I could TRACE the shape I needed onto each individual paper. Why yes, a light board would have worked brilliantly. Had I had one. I used scraps of paper from the workshop in PS.

I wanted to put a red bandanna on the pug since we usually put one on Caesar. I made the leash out of ribbon I got at Michaels. And the tag is his first rabies shot tag. Awwwwww. The butterfly is from some sticker set I got. It's still not completed. Honestly, I'm afraid to make another move. I really don't want to rip this up and start over.

Lo's & altered art I created within the last month

I am now adding the last few things I have access to update at my moms house. I have another two mini albums at home to post tomorrow. So, let's begin shall we???? lol

I created this layout with scraps from the Friends mini album in my previous post. This was the kids doing the pinata at Alicia's luau birthday party! I love using scraps. I call this Pinata Fun! I cut HAPPY out of a piece of scrap birthday paper I had. I added some leftover rubons and a piece of bling in the middle of the flower rubons. I inked all the sides of the papers. I added a few cool sparkle brads from Bo Bunny that I bought at the dream. The little stickers that I am addicted to these days are Making Memories tiny little alpha stickers. I use them on everything these days.

A time to honor using my close to my heart star stamps. I used Reminisce sticker letters that have stars all over them. Stickles were used to add some sparkle to the word TO, which was also created using Stickles. I cut the strip of stars off of a piece of paper I got at the dream. Can't remember who makes it but I added a sticker strip on each side of the star paper. The bottom was also created using stickers.
The Halloween layout was created for a challenge I participated in on SB.com. It was a to use multiple pictures of anything other than summer things. I loved this Halloween Paper that I bought last year and used it, Like Jenn, I should be using my old stuff but she is better than me because I continue to keep buying spending lots of MULA at the dream, week after week! hehehe. I bought the rubber stickers at the dream for 2.99 for a set of like 5 they are really cool. Had trouble with the stickers they had on it and had to put additional adhesive on it. A friend of mine on Scrapbook.com had sent me a message saying she makes them at her job in NH. How cool is that. The lil' bat and stars are Cloud9 Designs. The papers are Making Memories as are the tiny alpha. Told you I love um!

The last layout posted, "Life is Good" was created using an awesome find at the Christmas Tree store. I bought this lil' kit by Daisy D's for - 1.99! BARGAINS! I love them. It came with like 4-5 pieces of paper and a pack of rubons. Used my tiny lil' alpha stickers by Making Memories, two rubons that are on the side of the Making Memories Die cut paper are 7 gypsies. I bought those at the paper tree when we took the doodle class. THAT WAS A FUN NIGHT! Added some ribbon I bought while vacationing in Nantucket the beginning of the summer and added some buttons to it!
This is a KaiserCrafts Christmas Wall hanging tree I made Using Robin's Nest pebbles to look like Christmas lights strung on the tree. Used pop dots to cut out the Christmas circle papers and popped them up to look like ornaments. All papers were creative imaginisce new Christmas line papers. Imaginisce - Snowy Jo Winter Christmas Collection - 3 Dimensional Stickers - Tinsel Tags, BRAND NEW was used to journal on. An eyelet at the top for the string. Pic of my dd the first and only time on Santa's lap lol. The ribbon was a newer ribbon the dream put out! It is very thick Ric Rac!

Friends Mini Album

Happy Unofficial Fall. I love that it is getting darker sooner and that all the kids in the neighborhood are back to school. You can smell everyone cooking breakfast around the same time! We got our shipment of firewood for our fireplace. We have been having fires outside cause it is still warm out but gets cool at night! I just love it! Well enough of that let me share a few things I have been working on.

On each tab it says, I LOVE MY FRIENDS... I used a ton of scraps to create this and left over rubons and bling. You know I love ribbon and that is what really makes the book complete.

Things I used to creative this mini album for my niece who's birthday was in August!

Scotch - Adhesive Refill for the Applicator ATG 700 Gun - Three Fourth Inch Gold Tape 36 Yards ,
Scotch ATG 700 - Adhesive Applicator Gun - Uses One Half Inch OR Three Fourth Inch Adhesive (Purchase Separately),
Maya Road - Chipboard Album - 5 Ring - Skinny Round Tab
SEI - Doodley-Doo Girl - Rub Ons ,
SEI - Doodley-Doo Girl - Assortment Pack this is the papers that were used. They worked really well because where my niece is a TWEEN, doodles are her life. Plus the most fantastic part about this paper is I got it at Amandalinz yard sale that Jenn and I went to a lonnnnnnnnng time ago. I saved it waiting for the perfect project to use it for.

Also used were rubons, stickers, bling and ribbons. I was smart and printing off pictures of her and her friends through her myspace page. She was so excited and thrilled that I did my research to get the pics, she had no idea what I was up too. Her girlfriends got a kick of seeing themselves in Jessy's birthday gift!

Playing Catch Up

I have been scrapping away! Last week, I think I did about 7-10 LO's!!! Granted, they have been quickies, but I've needed to get things done with a baby on the way!
As I stated in my last posting, I am all about using up my older stash right now. I haven't even thought about going into the scrap store to check out the latest goodies...OK, so I am fibbing, I've thought about it, just haven't done it! I am determined to use up a good amount of what I have before I jump all over the new stuff!! And I am well on my way!

Anyway, here are a few of the LO's I've done in the last week...
This first one is from my DS's 3rd b-day a year ago!!! (I am so behind!) We just had a family only type of party and that made for easier scrapping! I kept things simple, just using a handful of photos and this is what I ended up with.











This second LO is of a photo that was taken in December when we had my neice's and C's picture done for my Mom's Christmas present. My little ham was playing around and this photo was snapped.
The paper and embellishments are My Mind's Eye 29th Street Market - Classic "unique" Spotlight/ Uniquely Blue paper
and Classic "unique" Shining star/Molding clay paper.




This last LO is a 2-pg one of a family gathering with my in-laws last November-ish. When we all get together, the kids (anyone under 18 and the Uncles), go wild. There is always lots of laughing and screaming good times!!!!
The materials here are left over cardstock paper, scraps for the mattings, making memories glitter embellishments, Cricut Design center for the lettering.