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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Long Term Project: A first


I promise that I did not drop off the face of the earth!  I normally try to post a few projects a week, but that has definitely been a challenge this week. I've been doing a lot of design work for a few of the scrappin' companies that I work for, and since I obviously can't post all of that on my blog, that only leaves personal work to share.

I thought I could have my very first chipboard mini album finished in time to share this weekend, but holy-smokes these take a while! I took photos of what I have so far...it isn't much :) I can't wait to show all of you when it's done!

Here's your sneak peek!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Scrapp'n Savvy - Page of the Week






Hello, and happy Monday!

I am so excited to announce that today, my very first page of the week that I designed for Scrapp'n Savvy is up for sale! If you don't live in the north Houston area, Karrie, the wonderful owner of Scrapp'n Savvy offers shipping!

The kits comes complete with all of the Bazzill card stock you'll need, as well as printed paper, tags, flowers, embroidery floss, Tim Holtz goodies, and printed instructions!

If you're interested in purchasing this kit or taking classes, hop over to Scrapp'n Savvy's website to learn more!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tattered Florals - A Grunge Flower Tutorial

Tim Holtz's Grunge Roses are popping up on blogs and projects everywhere, so I thought I'd give you all a Courtney style tutorial on how they're made. I first made these during Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas, and absolutely fell in love with the technique...but some how managed to forget to make them for a few months. They look beautiful when they are made from Grunge Paper, as they were on my Christmas tags, but this time, I chose to use a heavy card stock.



I used the following supplies on my roses:


  • Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Die - Tattered Florals
  • Recollections Card Stock
  • Prima Clear Stamp - Music Notes
  • Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain
  • Shimmer Color Spray
  • Ranger's Glossy Accents

Begin by cutting out three of one of the 6 petal flowers on the Tattered Florals die. 

Cut one petal off of one flower, cut 2 petals off of another, and on the third, just cut between 2 petals to the center.

Ink the edges of the flowers with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, and stamp the Music Notes stamp with Vintage Photo.

Spray the flowers with your choice of a shimmery color spray.

Be creative with this part! I made my own spray using Tim Holtz's Distress Ink Re-inker in Vintage Photo, Forever Red Perfect Pearls, and water! You can watch my video on making your own mist on my YouTube Channel.


Apply Glossy Accents to one petal, and adhere the flower to itself in a cone shape. You may have to hold it for a few seconds to help the glue set.






Use a pencil, or the like, to roll the petals on all the flowers.

Try varying the way in which you roll the petals - some tight and some loose.






From largest to smallest, stack and glue the flowers together.




You may have to snip 1/8 inch or so off of the ends in order for them to sit nicely together. Trimming the end off of the smallest piece is definitely essential.




Ta-dah! You have a beautiful rose!





Use a heavy does of Glossy Accents, hot glue, or even glue dots to adhere this beautiful creation to a card, scrapbook layout, or even some sort of home accent :)

I'd love to see the awesome roses you all come up with! Send photos :)

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Ms Bright Side Award!

My wonderful friend, Bonnie, gave me this awesome award the other day! Her blog is so amazing, which matches her personality to a T! She updates daily with great projects, so I always have something to read. I love getting these things! It reminds me that there are people out there actually looking at my work, and getting to know me! I do have to say though...the picture reminded me of one of the characters in that creepy movie, Coraline :)




Now it's my turn to share 10 things that make me happy, 5 pieces of trivia about myself, and pass this on to 5 other bloggers!

10 things that make me happy:
  1. My husband
  2. My Mom and Dad
  3. My dog, Rose
  4. My Macbook Pro :)
  5. Inky Fingers and a finished project
  6. Shopping, not necessarily spending money though
  7. All 7 of my jobs
  8. Coffee
  9. A good song on the radio
  10. Living life - I am so blessed to wake up each day to the life I have!

5 facts about me:
  1. I've only been paper crafting for about 10 months.
  2. I have a condition called Gilbert's Syndrome that makes it difficult to consume spicy foods or beer - which I can't stand any way. My real dad's name is Gilbert.
  3. I am, and always will be, a musician. I was a drum line captain in high school.
  4. During my entire 21st year, including a honeymoon in Vegas, I can count on one hand how many times I've been carded for alcohol/gambling.
  5. There is a news reporter in my town with the same first and last name. Since my wedding last year, I've been asked if I had heard of her about two hundred times.

5 Blogger friends - I don't know many bloggers personally, but I'm going to award this to bloggers that brighten my day when I read their posts!

  1. Rosie - It's All Rosie
  2. Jillian - Inspired By
  3. Nicole - Nic's Nook
  4. Jin - Under a Cherry Tree
  5. Bona - Keep on Scrappin'


Sunday, April 11, 2010

First Anniversary - A Rose for my Hubby


Today is mine and my husband's first wedding anniversary, and this is the card that I made for him! He got an Apple Ipad as his 'anniversary gift', but I had to at least make him a card to give him today. 

I made this card using the Give a Hoot Cricut Cartridge, The DCWV Green Stack, Recollections Card Stock, Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain, and the Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Dies- Baroque, and Tattered Florals.

Rigo and I have a pet hedgehog, named Hedgie, that he absolutely adores. When I saw this cute little guy on the Give a Hoot cartridge, I knew that I had to get that cartridge! I made the rose using the Tim Holtz Grunge Rose technique. I did a short tutorial on that technique that I will post later this week.



Rigo and I met in high school, and were meant in heaven to be friends forever. Though today is only our first wedding anniversary, we've spent many years together. A good friends of mine from high school will tell you that when Rigo and I first started dating, I told her that I was going to marry him one day. I did. In the past 8 years, we've watched, and helped, each other grow. Through tough times and good times, we've always been there for each other. Our love for each other is so special. He's my very best friend, number one supporter, and my rock. He keeps me grounded when I need to be held down, and gives me the boost I need when it's time to fly. I strive to be the best wife and friend that I can for him.

Happy Anniversary, Rigo!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Organized Distress

Today, I am celebrating my birthday (WOO! 22!), but I thought I'd share with all of you a quick fix that I am now utilizing in my craft room!

Between my mom and I, we have just about every color of the Tim Holtz Distress Inks. I use them in almost every single project that I do, so you can image what it's like to look at this:

and have to guess where a certain color might be hiding - then, digging through all of them only to realize that the color I wanted is actually on my mom's desk behind me....ugh.

So, I took a few minutes to remedy the problem :)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Sunshine Award!



Hello, hello! I am so pleased to tell you all that I was given the Sunshine Award from Cheryl at Cheryl's Window. I was so surprised to find that she had chosen me as one of the recipients for this award! My goal, when starting this blog, was to inspired and teach people by sharing what I know, and I love knowing that someone out there appreciates it. Thank you Cheryl!

I believe it is now my duty to pass this award to more people. Here goes!

1) Nancy - Loves to Create
2) Bonnie - A Life Unrehearsed
3) Wendy (my mom!) - Wendy's Crafty Ways
4) Judit - Blooming Crafts
5) Jen - Jen With Sprinkles
6) Nilda - Paper Creations
7) Amy - Prairie Paper and Ink
8) Aymee - A Scraphappy Southernbelle
9) Emily - Emmie Lou Who Stamps and You
10) Stephanie - Handmade Creations by Stephanie

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Escape - late night inspiration



This tag is what happens when I decide to stay up to the wee hours of the morning in my craft room, drinking Red Bull and listening to my Darius Rucker radio station on Pandora.

A few weeks ago, I purchased about a yard of butterfly fabric from the Hobby Lobby remnants section. It had been sitting on my desk since, due to a lack of inspiration on my part. It suddenly hit me that maybe, just maybe, Distress Inks would blend well on the khaki colored fabric, and give life to one of those Monarch Butterflies. Sure enough, they did! I had one problem though...The fabric was fraying every where! It isn't apparent in the photos, but Distress Stickles saved the day! I applied coordinating Distress Stickles over various sections of color, and voila! the fabric no longer frayed and my butterfly was glistening in the sun light Ott-Lite.

Once I held in my hand this awesome creation, I couldn't just throw him in a drawer, and crack open another energy drink! I pulled out one of my tags, that I purchased from Tim Holtz during the 12 Tags of Christmas), a few of my new Tim Holtz stamp sets, Distress Inks - of course, some 7 gypsies Paper Tape, and some wire. I am in l-o-v-e with what I came up with. I hope you like it too!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Non Functional, but Cute!

First of all - Happy Easter! I hope everyone is enjoying time with their family, hunting for eggs, or doing what ever it is that is special to them.

This weekend has been a little tough for my family. My parents made the tough decision to put down our family pet of 7 years (she was about 9), Phoebe. She developed a spine conditioned that prevented her from walking, and she was a lot of pain. We know she is in a much better place now, but Mom definitely needed some cheering up...so we spent a LOT of time in our craft room this weekend :)

This was my very first altered clipboard! My mom has made them before, as well as a few ladies from work, but I hadn't ever felt the inspiration to make one, until now!






Products used:

  • Paper - My Mind's Eye
  • Flowers - Prima and Bazzill Basics
  • Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Rusty Hinge, Stormy Sky, Dusty Concord, Aged Mahogony, Walnut Stain
  • Lace Trim
  • Bazzill Jewels
  • Mod Podge - Matte
  • Clip board
This was such a relaxing project to work on. The paper from My Mind's Eye is glittered and embossed, so when inked with Distress Ink, you get a really neat effect! I just HAD to add the jewels on the damask design, which I cut out of My Mind's Eye paper as well, so the clip board really won't function for the purpose it's meant for. I bet it will make an excellent wall decoration and note holder :)