Fun with Viva Las VegaStamps, Tags, and Watercolor

I like to try new techniques using large shipping tags. I plan to art journal one day, but for now, I find the size and shape of shipping tags perfect for stamping, painting, and creating a small “canvas” that takes dampness without warping. Like my first try with watercolor below. I stamped the fun Viva Las VegaStamps “Steampunk Beaked Thingie”, and then watercolored a scene for him to live in.

Next, I watercolored a “rainbow ramp,” and then stamped the whimsical “Wheelie Monocle Face”
I also stamped a VLVS sentiment, and popped it up a bit, using Helmar Zap Dots, which added great dimension.

Finally, I created an “ocean” using a tag gently dragged through different colors of blue/aqua mist. With the left over mist, I covered a paintbrush, and flicked it on the upper part of the tag, and outlined a few of the “droplets” with a fineliner.

I stamped a gorgeous VLVS anchor and added 2 colors of embossing powder, and colored it quirky pink. After fussy cutting it, I added it to the page using Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots for the perfect amount “pop up.”

Thanks for stopping by today. Next time you want to give a technique a try, use an economical shipping tag and the “lift” of dimension with Helmar Zap and Scrap Dots!

Upcoming UStream {with Helmar and Viva Las VegaStamps!}

Tomorrow night, May 21st, at 7:00 Eastern time, I will be holding my second Helmar UStream class! I am so excited to be sharing a technique for creating a shabby chic/ distressed altered book (for a journal or mini album cover.) This class will be fun, engaging, and definitely fast paced (I’ve used this technique many times, so I’ve got it dowwwwwwwwwwn!)  If you’d like to create along with me grab the following supplies: book that can be completely deconstructed (the older the better), liquid white gesso, Helmar Decoupage Paste, Distress Inx or Brown/coffee colored ink, background stamps (preferably from VivaLasVegaStamps)!

Invite your friends, and I’ll see you there!  Click this link to join the class: http://ustream.tv/channel/helmarusainc

A Beautiful Mind {A ScrapFX Blog Hop}

Hello, and welcome to Sparkling Gnome Studios! If you’ve never visited before, and you’re here for the ScrapFX blog hop, have a seat in my Hobbit hole of a blog, and enjoy yourself today. I’m excited to share my project with you! Along with my photos, you’ll see my answers to the questions that we on the ScrapFX design team came up with for each other to answer. This is super fun, and helps you get to know us!

I created this “out of my comfort zone” layout using the ScrapFX Graphic Circles ,Graphic Frame and Graphic Corner. I love how it has a hip, intelligent look, but it is also a bit “Game of Thrones” intro. For your entertainment, here’s what I’m talking about:

I’m not much of a graphic scrapper, but these were fantastic to adapt to my style, and look fantastic paired with the 7 Dots and 7 Gypsies patterned papers, for a grungy or steampunk touch.

Now for some questions!

Michelle Logan: What is your scrapbook “kryptonite”? (what style/colour/etc will people never see on your creations because you cannot deal with it???):
For a long time it was chevron, but I got past that; I pretty much will never use lots of yellow, no matter how trendy it is.

Michelle Hernandez: What do you listen to or watch while your scrap and WHY?: Depending on my mood, I either listen to Pandora stations I created (trance, classical, rock, etc)..or watch a movie/TV series. I’m currently re-watching Six Feet Under.  With music, it helps set my mood, tv/movie helps when I need a bit of a break here and there, because my creativity isn’t flowing right.

Klere: Do you snack or drink while scrapping? What?:
I do eat/drink. Usually coffee, Diet Coke, tea, or *ahem* an alcoholic libation; foods are non-greasy snacks, usually chocolate.

Adrienne: How do you jump start your creativity when you find that it is missing? 
I usually look through my favorite print publications, and books of sketches; or I go thrifting…the quirkiness of junking gets my creativity moving.
Scarlett: What is your favorite technique(s) to use right now and why? What are some tried and true techniques you love to use?
Well, I love to use paint, my favorite technique right now, is dots of paint and a brayer; and stamping with my ScrapFX chippies. Layering would be the other.

Amy: At what time of day are you most creative, or do you prefer to create?:
I always thought I was a “night owl,” but I was lying to myself, because I thought that was cool. I am really at my most creative in the morning, early morning scrapping is the best for me!

Cindy: What makes your heart race?
Well, in a good way? My husband’s eyes when he’s had a beer or two.   In a bad way? Spiders for certain, and sometimes the phone. I really dislike/have developed an anxiety about talking on the phone. Weird, I know.

Elisabeth: If you were to describe one emotion while scrapbooking, what would it be?
Joy and Freedom (I guess that’s two, ha!)
Misty: What are you afraid of?
Failure, and not being able to accomplish all I dream of in this one lifetime.

Maria: If you could choose a talent/gift what would it be?
Innate confidence.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Keep hopping to see the fantastic projects my teamies at ScrapFX have to offer…AND to win a fantabulous prize (follow the path from the ScrapFX blog to see…it’s so awesome)!

Guinea Pig Geek

So, Ivy’s guinea pig, Sheldon Cooper (yes, from Big Bang Theory, our family are big fans of the show) and Haley’s new GP Cosette, are the apples of my eye lately. Actually, I think my husband may love them even more…he loves to cuddle them. I took this funny photo one day while Sheldon was wandering around on our kitchen counter (yes, very hygienic, but I do clean it afterward). I scrapped this the next day. I tried to take this back to basics, less paint, less time, less thought…just fun. Isn’t that what scrapping is all about anyway? I love to be super creative and innovative, but darn it, throwing together a cute page is entertaining and relaxing.

I got to use the funky, more “boyish” style papers,from the “Swagger” collection by Fancy Pants, which was a thrill…I mean, I don’t have many boys in my life. I have to settle for scrapping a male guinea pig to use them for their intended purpose.

I did the “rad pig” and “splendid” flair together on purpose, as a nod to Charlotte’s Web.

If you are a subscriber to Gauche Alchemy’s newsletter…….you got to see this layout first. For some really inspiring stuff, you should sign up…it’s cheap and easy (Hey, get your mind out of the gutter!) It’s on the right side of the page HERE.

Happy Tuesday. I’m all a stress mess….my 13 year old had 8th grade graduation yesterday, and my Haley graduates on Sunday. Parties, emotions, happiness, sadness…sigh, a Momma’s world.

Hope Chest {Paper Issues blog hop featuring Pink Paislee}

Welcome to the Paper Issues “Hope Chest” Blog Hop!! I’m so excited to be participating, and to share my design using this absolutely beautiful collection by Pink Paislee.

You should have arrived here from Amy Coose’s lovely blog.  If this is your first stop, please be sure to head over to Paper Issues to start at the beginning!

Here’s my project share today, a layout featuring a photo of my daughter Haley, and her senior prom date TJ, before the event.

Here are some close ups of the mixed media style project. The “hope chest” papers are so beautiful, that I decided to use them to make a ruffle along the side of a fussy cut paper.

The gold alpha stickers in the collection are so stunning. I paired them with silver alphas from the “secret crush” collection I was blessed to work with in a UStream for Helmar a month or so ago.

The sentiment stickers in “Hope Chest” are wonderful, and this one was perfect for my layout:

I added lots of my favorite vintage gold cord that inherited from my grandma. It works fabulously with the gold tones in the butterflies and alphas….and leads the eye around to the details on the page. I also used a gorgeous scroll chippie from ScrapFX, that I painted, cut, and added in two places.

These butterflies make me swoon. I added a little bit of edge inking, and a few feathers, and stood back happily wanting to hug them.

And finally, I must mention that these papers are fabulous for adding layers of paint, ink, and dampening with water. They didn’t warp, and were the best patterned paper I’ve ever used to add the mixed media bottom layers to (as well as having amazing designs).

Finally, here’s the final blog hop order. I promise you will not want to miss the beautiful inspiring work the other ladies have to share! :

Alex Gajji: http://colorsofalex.blogspot.com

Amy Coose: http://www.amycoose.blogspot.com

Amy Lassiter: http://www. sparklinggnome.com <———–You are here

Cassie Box: http://www.somethingfromcassie.com

DeeDee Catron: http://umwowstudio.blogspot.com

Patricia Roebuck: http://roebuck-adventures.blogspot.com

Next up on the hop is the fabulous  CASSIE: http://www.somethingfromcassie.com/

 Thanks for hopping with us today ! To be entered to win a fabulous prize (the entire Hope Chest collection, trust me, you need it) :

1. Like Pink Paislee on Facebook {tell them we sent you} 2. Like Paper Issues on Facebook   3. Leave a comment here!

Easy peasy! Good luck, and thanks SO much for visiting the gnomes and I today!

Librarian

So, while thinking of a project to create for Gauche Alchemy’s newsletter last month, I had two ideas. One….to use a goofy picture of me at work “librarianing” (yes, I know that’s not a word…librarian is not a verb, well sorta, but that’s another discussion), and the other to get back to a more “basic” scrapping approach. Actually, I was thinking I would try “clean and simple” because I have been trying to push myself out of the box a bit, to expand my creative horizons. Sorry, CAS cannot be done by this gal. Can. Not. Look at the above photo…..not clean and simple.

Usually, I just add things as I see them (all of my supplies are within arms reach), but in this case I gathered all things books, thought, library, dates, etc…prior to beginning. Also, out of my box, I did NOT start with paint. It kinda hurt my heart a little until I got moving.

If you have a look at the picture above, you will see the word library. Honest to goodness, I didn’t notice that until I had adhered it to the page. (Cue the twilight zone music).

You’ll notice this pic from my sneak peek…yeah…..now you can see what it fits with.

Actually, I enjoyed my little break from my excessive mixed media obsession   lately, to let my mind wander back to the days of scrapbook yore, when paint and stencils and such weren’t my main focus. Ahem, you *will* see I couldn’t help it, I had to add some paint flicks.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I realized when I saw the library cards, that I never completed my giveaway of the cards! So……as a special treat, I will be sending a set of cards to all who commented, to make up for my lack of brain power! If you are one of those gals that commented, look for an email from me, if I don’t already have your address!

Happy hump day!

Trail Tale {Mini Album}

Over a year ago, during the height of the stress of Haley’s illness, in a near complete fog of disconnection, fatigue, desperation and sadness…….I knew I needed to get out of the house, away from people, and into a place of solitude, to sort myself out. It was early morning, and I drove to a spot I’d never been before, a trail near our home, near a tree that used to be the largest Cottonwood in the US (it was chopped down for safety, several hundred years old, and only the stump remains). I got out of the car, walked over the bridge, and chose to go left down the trail. I walked through the heavy vegetation, the leaves, fairly aimlessly….for *four* hours. I cried, I stopped and drank in the silence, the sounds of the running water, birds, and rustling leaves. I was exhausted. I’m sure if a stranger had come upon me, they would have been afraid. I looked like hell. I felt like hell. When I returned home, my heart was lighter, my spirit headed toward repair. Now, that trail is a special place where I share walks with my daughters.

So, I made a mini album with all of the photos I have taken on the trail. Some are in spring, some are in autumn….whenever the grass isn’t too high (where it may conceal snakes, and for sure holds many ticks, some dangerous).

I love to wear my converse, how the blend in with the colors of nature. Well, really…I just love my converse.

The sunsets are amazing in the woods. The light filters in through the trees in the most sublime way.

We do ridiculous things like larping. Yeah. If you don’t know what it is..look it up. Yes, I am a dork. I love it.

There are actually many pages in this book (but they look similar). I created this whole album, again using the Heidi Swapp Memory File folders. I love them for minis….perfect size for multiple photos.


Thanks for stopping by today, and having a look at this little album that’s so special to me. Maybe some day a great-grandchild will stumble upon it, and they will know how healing I found the woods, how much joy they brought me..and how doggone strange I am.
Happy weekend, Gnomies!