Pop-Dot Porcupine

Ten Step Tango with the Nook

2012-01-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

Over at the Scrapbook Nook, they are running a New Year's Crop over ten weeks. Two challenges each week. One Friday and one Saturday, this one is from the first week (since I just found the site the day this one ended). I decided to play along after the fact!

The details from the challenge are...

Supplies:
Cardstock 12*12 (edit!!: you may use any other size if you don't scrap 12*12)
3 different patterned papers a tag or journalling card.
Ribbon (edit: place where you like)
a chipboard embellishment (edit: place where you like)
a sticker
banners (ready made or you can make them yourself)
flowers
thickers / alphabet
border punch
pen for journalling
photo (no larger than 4''*3'')

Step 1: In patterned paper (pp) 1 cut out two small strips measuring 12''x 1/4'' and adhere to 2 of the four borders (you choose!!)
Step 2: In pp 2 cut out two other small strips measuring 12''x 1/4'' and adhere to 2 of the 4 borders (you choose!!)
Step 3: In pp 3 : cut out a rectangle measuring 5''x 3.5'', place on your cardstock (don't stick it down just yet).
Step 4: Add your journalling card / tag to the rectangle.
Step 5: Cut out 2 strips of pp (which ever you like) size: 3.5''*1'' (you can use your border punch on them!) and add them by slipping them underneath the rectangle. You can glue everything down now!
Step 6: Place your photo on the cluster element rectangle-journalling card/tag-border strips.
Step 7: Add your banners (I made three tiny ones)
Step 8: Add your sticker
Step 9: Add your flowers
Step 10: Add your title
The only additional things you may add are: journalling and mists/inks!
Have fun and can't wait to see what you create!

The same instructions get so many different results!

I will be posting other challenges from their crop as I catch up! I hope you'll join me along the way!

Challenge 1: 10 Steps
Challenge 2: Top 10
Challenge 3: Sweets for My Sweet
Challenge 4: Scraplift Yourself
Challenge 5: Journalling Your Resolutions - OPEN until January 28th 12 noon PST!!!
Challenge 6: Embellish It OPEN until January 29th 12 noon PST!!!

CSI: Case File 2

2012-01-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

The other site (where fellow Serendipity friend Susan is on the DT) I found when I was up in the middle of the night, and piddling around on the laptop is CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration. The first case file was already over, but the second was up and running. I have finished up my LO today and wanted to post it now that the stickles are dry.

So the scene looks like this...

COLOR DETAILS & RGB CODES

Absolem blue - (blue with a VERY slight touch of green) - 104.164.185 - dress
raspberry reverie - 152.45.75 - flower to the left of Alice
lost in lavender - 186.189.220 -purple flowers
wonderland yellow - 242.235.132 - yellow flowers
untamed teal - 72.178.175 - big leaf on the right (just under the curvy swirly plant)

JOURNALING DETAILS

Choose one (or more) of the following to inspire your journaling:

Look at your photo and journal in a stream-of-consciousness way (free-writing).
Document an adventure.
Use this quote as inspiration: "Good advice. If I listened earlier, I wouldn't be here. But that's just the trouble with me. I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it." -- and journal as advice
Inspiration Words: dream, journey, subconscious

EVIDENCE DETAILS

Choose two (or more)of the following elements to include on your layout:

flowers
architectural elements (e.g., gates, fence, windows, bricks, etc.)
sheer elements
swirls/flourishes
something stone-like (interpret that any way you wish!)

My LO solves this case!

Their third case just hit the top of my desk,and I hope you join me in the quest to solve for beauty!

Sweetheart Tag

2012-01-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

I used to LOVE a site called Serendipity and participated in their online crops/challenges. Then... they closed down, which made me really sad. BUT, last weekend when I needed to kill some time and was wide awake at 3am, I came across two other sites that are awesome!

I joined My Scrapbook Nook and started participating in challenges for their New Year Crop. The first one I had time to get in, before the deadline was this adorable little tag. The details of the challenge are HERE, but the gist of it is...

Ten total products
embossing/stickles
1 die cut/punch
ribbon
2 pattern papers
all on a sweetheart tag

Here is mine:

The little bubble reads:
"Luv, Doctor's say an apple a day.. but I just need you!"

I used October Afternoon's pp with ads for the couple advertisement and then a Jillibean Soup scrap of green stripe from their Summer line for the tag itself. I added die cut apple, some jute, a slide with most wanted, a ticket, a tiny tag that says "Hot, Hot, Hot", firecracker red embossing powder, a bubble to write on and ribbon.

I will post more from the New Year's Crop over the next few days.. I have a LO sitting in the approved stickles drying area as I type!

The Approved Stickles Drying Area

2012-01-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read that right... I am a stickles addict and have been setting LO's aside to dry since I started scrapping! My first 'stickle' was a pair of lips about 3"x4" for the 'K' page in my daughter's Disney album. The lips were purple, and those cropping at The Barn that night were laughing because I had the never to stickle them! I still love those lips and the story behind the 'Kissed' photo of my daughter wearing a day old lip-print from Cinderella. How happy she was that I did not make her wash it off.

As for the name of the drying location, well THAT my friends is the product of a zillion crops with my SASSY friends! We all began calling it that, and what can I say, even when I crop at home, I use it. So, some 5 years later, I have stickled so many things that I can't even count them all! I love the touch of sparkle that it gets from a swirl of dots in the perfect color. This is a shot of a LO drying that just needed that something extra. I added the swirls and it just pulled it all together.

Have you found a classy way to jazz up a BOY LO with them? I love to use the darker colors like gunmetal and copper, or orange and green to add some bling without it being too girly. What is the oddest thing you have stickled? What item was your favorite? Do you like the perfect pearls line, as well?

This is one of the many LO's in my Scrap Your Year class at Scrapville at the end of the month. Each month of this calendar has a theme and is finding a uniquely clever way to jazz up the most basic of layouts! If you are a beginner, plan on staying for the crop after the class, since getting all twelve months done in those few hours will be hard, and I will be there through the evening to help as you need it.

Here are a few more LO's I had in my stash of pics with the added swirl.

Glitzy Flakes

2011-12-31T22:33:00.001-08:00

I spent my NYE putting the finishing touches on this album class I am teaching at Scrapville in January! I knew I was going to LIKE this, but it ended up being so cute I might just make a few to give a few friends who never seem to have the time to create and need to just plop in a few pics and make a few journals about the day.

This album will be perfect if we end up with some of the pretty snowfall that we got the past few years. Those are rare for Texas, but in the past two we have had at least one good storm and several inches all at once. I love Texas, but snow is just nor normal, now ice and nasty weather yes, but beautiful snow is nice to get!

I picked up this Bo Bunny Snowflake line on one of my recent trips to Scrapville and have truly enjoyed using a handful of supplies to make this album! I love how some chocolate ink, light blue paint, a little copper embossing powder, some ribbon and a few sheets of paper can become such a gorgeous little treasure! Just think of the pics of the kids sledding or the dogs romping in the snow, and how you could make a few of these for the grands to enjoy the grand kids and brag about them!

I am trying not to give it all away since it is a class, so shoot me a message or comment if you want more details!

Texas State Fair time is almost here!!

2011-09-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

Since I was a kid I have loved the fair. My mom may not have done many things right for me along the way, but making sure we had a good time at the fair was always one. She always filled us up with JUNK, and we loved every minute of it!

I try to carry on that tradition and spend time at the fair every year, remembering the fun and feeling like my sister is there with us in spirit. So, last year during the fair and while the FFA kids were all there busy showing goats, we decided to share our traditions with the group. After lunch we returned to the barn and handed out funnel cakes for the kids to all share. Rachel, a senior and one of the nicest kids ever, had never had one.. we made sure she got one all to herself!!! You'll notice my red head has that 'mom stop taking pictures' face.. I will have you know it did not stop me, and one day when she is grown and can share these memories with her kids, she will thank me. However, she threatened me with my life if I take any more while she is chewing, I might consider the request!

Fletcher's corny dogs, corn on the cob cooked in butter instead of water (horribly bad for you but soooo good!) and yes, even cotton candy, frozen lemonade and funnel cakes! We rode all the rides we wanted, saw a ton of concerts, shopped and looked in through all the booths and were even there for one of the most tragic events that will always be in my brain. the Texas State Fair has had it's impression on me, and I can not wait to try a few of the fried foods that are new this year... the fair opens the last week in September, will you be there?

Flower Explosion!!

2011-09-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

So here is another LO using a Page Maps sketch... and a BAZILLION flowers!! This one is one of my favorites and will be lighting up my home eventually in a brightly colored frame!

So, I used the June 2006 sketch page (second row down, right hand side)for this LO, and again some of Jillibean Soup's paper! I just love their paper, punch outs and spots! Oh, and in case you missed it, you will definitely see why I call myself a sticklethickerflowerholic!!!

Those letters are Queen & Co. white letters (SUPER inexpensive version of a thicker!!) and I simply added lime stickles to them to get that look! I added a journaling spot and used the butterflies and buttons from the punch out page I got with my Jillibean Soup paper a few weeks ago!!!

I also found the perfect addition to the LO by using a crocheted flower a friend sent me! I have been hoarding these for the perfect addition to special LO's!

This is a pic of my girlie when she brought home ribbons from the livestock show for showing her bunnies back in the spring of 2010. I love how a portrait can be so fun in front of a cool door!

Sketch Use

2011-09-09T20:29:00.000-07:00

I recently learned that many avoid scrapbookers have no idea what a sketch is or how to use them. So, I thought I would take some time to show how I use them, sometimes very closely to the sketch and sometimes just as a starting point.

My favorite site to get sketches from is Page Maps! This site has tons of free content! I typically print the page each month and add it to my stack. That way when I am out at a crop I can easily reference them. I don't use a sketch every time, but I do like to glance through them for ideas and sometimes use them for challenges on other sites/blogs.

For this post I am using two sketches from the October 2006 Side Maps sketch page. One sketch (bottom left corner of the page) I decided to stretch into a double 12x12 LO. I am not crazy happy about it, and may end up adding a bit more to it, to make it less 'minimal' or it may just be one I hand over to my kiddo, since that was the original thought.

The second LO I did from that sheet of sketches is done using the top row center sketch. I really like how this one turned out using some scraps of Jillibean Soup paper/journaling block/spot, a sheet of Co'ordinations canvas texture paper, a scrap from a die cut page, ink, ribbon, blackboard letters, stickles, one 5x7 pic. I like the clean look of it all, very classy! Planning on framing this one and several others from that trip to Nashville!

I really like the way the blackboard letters turned out with the titanium stickles edging them!

I'll post a few more LO's with their sketch start in the next few days... I know they help when I get scrapper's block!

Sticklethickerflowerholic?

2011-09-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am a Sticklethickerflowerholic. Yes, you heard that right! I am at rehab-needing levels of thicker, stickles and flower addictions. BUT, I love it and while I know I have these issues, I am CHOOSING to ignore the need for help! I love how adding a little sparkle or a few flowers can turn a layout from bland to blamm-o-rific, and of course it only gets better when I can use one of my favorite letter stickers from American Crafts for my title!

This layout has it all! I even altered paper flowers to match my LO because some how I was out of all red flowers except the one huge one? How does that happen, and WHY are there not red flowers available to buy at my fav LSS Scrapville at 11:30pm on a holiday? Seriously, I would have gone and bought them, IN MY PAJAMAS, because those ladies are super sweet and are ok with scrapping in comfort! So to alter the paper flowers I used my versamark cartridge in my stamp roller, rolled across the two paper flowers, quickly dusted them with firecracker red glittery EP, and heated 'em up. Snazzy! I love them! Then I wanted a bit of charcoal swirls so I inked up a different roller and rolled it over my fabric flowers. I took a Timmy-tool with the velcro pads and added some red ink to two of those, and edged my snow colored calendar paper lightly.

So, then I added rhinestones for the small flowers and a couple swirls, but here I was again.. out of something! I need stock in black rhinestones, I swear! So, I grabbed my Gunmetal stickles and went to town, making centers for the two big flowers and swirly-dotted lines.

I love this LO and the red-head on it! That is my kiddo who headed to London with school for a spring break trip last year, and I wanted a LO I could frame that had a few shots from her heading out and a few more of her coming home... this one did the trick!

Glitter-atti?

2011-08-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

So I love the super fine glitter that PK Glitz has! It is like a powder it is so fine and super sparkly! I picked up this fab little color back in June to go on a LO for design team and have found a few ways to work it in and thought I would share! I have a billion little arrow stickers and they never seem to be the right colors. Annoying? YES! Fixable? YES!

I grabbed an arrow sticker, carefully cutting out the full sticker and a small border around it. The first process of glit-ifying the sticker was to put the sticker in my tray sticky side UP! I poured on the super fine glitter from PK Glitz and then used a burnished glitter technique to be sure it stuck well. Burninshing is super easy, and requires a single tool.. a finger!!! Rubbing in a small circular motion, I worked from one end of the arrow to the other pressing the glitter into the adhesive on the back of the sticker. If I found a spot to have too thin of a coat, I simply added more glitter from the pile around it. I used tweezers, picked up the sticker and tapped on the back until the clumps were gone.

Using the remnant of the sticker sheet, my two way adhesive pen, a bone folder and the same burnishing technique, I did double duty and ended up with an arrow directly on my cs! To do that peel the sticker part of the remnant off the coated paper. Do this carefully! Place it on your cs (I would suggest the LEAST textured cs you have) just as you would if you were using the actual sticker. Once in place, press around the edges of the remnant with the bone folder to be sure you get a good seal. Apply your two way adhesive (I prefer the wedge tipped pen) and allow to dry to clear, for permanent use. Using a splat mat or a tray, sprinkle the glitter and burnish it with your finger like before. Once done burnishing, tap off the extra glitter, and yes the little clumps will separate (once back in the jar). Carefully peel off the sticker remnant and your glittery arrow will remain on your cs!

The darker arrow is the result of direct application on the cs, the lighter arrow is the back of the sticker which happened to be on white paper, and the remnant is there, as well.

Now, for another use of the two-way pen and the glitter with the burnishing technique! I used blackboard letters and my two way pen, along with the same color of PK Glitz glitter. I popped the letter out, coated it in two-way adhesive, waited for it to dry clear and poured on the glitter. Burnished with my finger, tapped it and voila... glit-a-fied chipboard letter!

Now for the use of the cs arrow and the letter...

If you'd like to learn one of these glittery processes, I will be at the September 17th Make 'N Take at Scrapville! Come see me!

Utee Explosion!

2011-08-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

So when wondering around in scrap-video land the other day I came across a cool technique. They combined Utee with 3D fabric paint for a different look. So I decided to try it out in a few different combinations myself. Now, to get you there!

I grabbed some random raw chipboard from my stash and got to work. I grabbed my Adirondak acrylic paint dauber, utee, 3D fabric paint, and even some glimmer mist. Basically a few things that were wet to 'hold' the utee until it could be heated and set.

I took two pieces of my chipboard shapes and covered one completely with 3D fabric paint. I made polka dots on the other with the same 3D paint. (note: this purple chipboard was covered with a layer of colored paper, but not a shiny finished look.)

While STILL WET I covered with utee lightly.

The second process...
I grabbed the paint dauber and covered another piece of chipboard generously with it. While it was still wet, I covered it in utee. Work quickly, that paint dries fast. I would suggest yo have your utee already open and your tray ready to go. I also just coated the edges of a piece of colored chipboard with paint and coated it with utee, as well!

For a final test, I picked up the glimmer mist and working super-uber-fast I spritzed, moved it to my tray and sprinkled on the utee. I pressed down lightly on the pile of utee a bit to be sure some stuck!

Then came the waiting... that 3D paint had to dry COMPLETELY before you can heat that utee up! So I set all the pieces aside and waited until I was back at my scrap table a few days later, though overnight would have probably done it. I had my set of chipboard ready to heat...

This is the final look. The polka dots are super shiny and the purple base color of the chipboard is a flat color which made for a super nice little combo. And the solid covered piece was shiny too, but not like the video I watched, which I can not seem to find again, sorry.

The glimmer mist did not work, but the paint dauber DID and turned out more like the video!

I loved the 'raindrop' look of the utee on the flat finish of the paint! AND it didn't take overnight to dry, just about ten minutes!!! So here were my three favorites.. One polka dot with 3D paint, one fully coated in paint from the dauber and one edged with the dauber.

If you live in the Scrapville area, and want a hands on with the dauber/utee process come see me at the Make 'n Take day the 17th of September. There will be lots of things to do! Come hang out on facebook with Scrapville as well to hear about all the weekly specials and new arrivals!

The GOOD stuff

2011-08-10T14:32:00.001-07:00

Hey, sorry for being gone so long, but man o man it was a rough 8 months or so. I am finally out of the house and all moved, but the paper work of divorce is still waiting. Hate that! I got most things I wanted, except my sweet doggies, but life goes on... right? Sad about that, but so glad to be moving on.

So to catch you all up on the GOOD stuff...

I have been spending my time with an old friend, who after almost two decades, has been a soft spot to land emotionally. He is a rock and my best friend. I am one lucky chica to have him around on the tough days ad an even luckier one to have him one the good days, too!!

My kiddo is about to enter her Junior year in high school, and with the fall also comes another season of HS football games and band stuff, along with the FFA and Ag commitments of a goat.. and probably soon to be pig, as well!! I am gonna be a busy Mama! As for the rest of the fam, well they are about the same... mostly sweet with a few nuts!

Creatively, I hit a wall at the end of last year. I was so emotionally frustrated at home that I couldn't find the peace in creating that I used to... now my peace is back! So, I am slowly getting back to my scrap-habit, and doing pretty well considering over half my stuff is in storage! (WEEP!!!) But, it will be okay, and I can limp along until I am back in a place where I can have it all organized and available at every creative whim.

I am back in the swing of things with the new term of Design Team-ers over at Scrapville (my FAVE DFW LSS) and will be putting up projects along the way. I have done a bunch of technique video cruising recently, and have some cool ideas I will share once they are tried and true. Along with DT, I committed to teaching some classes at Scrapville again and can't wait for the first two! Card class is on the 20th from 2-4 and then that night from 5-7 I am hosting a Technique crop with another DT'er Jenn from 5-7. The card class has a variety of using your pp for creating embellies and in ways not at the front of everyone's brain. The technique crop will have a handful of product demos where you walk away with small embellies or items where you have learned to use a product/technique from 5-7 and then its a full-on crop til midnight... maybe later if Lindy gets Amp'ed up!!!

The September class calendar is not out yet, but I can tell you that some of the projects I have seen from the DT and Scrapville ladies are AWESOME-TASTIC! Make sure if you are local that you check it out! Also, if you want/need specific techniques or types of classes that we listen.. so shoot me a comment and we will get right on that!

I have a few projects in the works and will try to get pics and a how to up later this week... but, for now, find me and Scrapville on facebook and check out the home page at Scrapville online to see their new product (they will ship it to you, just call)!

I am glad to be back in blog-land! Have a great one!

December Challenge

2010-12-04T10:08:00.001-08:00

Check out the layers of creation and inspiration! This month I am challenging you to show me your 5, check it out here!

There are examples from the cruise!

Stamp-Off Wreath

2010-11-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

I got this idea from Dawn's blog and the THREE versions of the technique (Thanksgiving version with two-tone ink, a lovely less 'busy' version, and yet another version with a holiday theme. I love how you can take a basic, non-seasonal stamp and really make it pop!

I Used red cs with white core, and hit the edges with a nail file, edged my white cs with the same green ink, a leaf stamp from Studio G and the sentiment from SU!. The berries on the wreath were made by flipping over the nib on my two way (wedge tip) adhesive pen and using the circle to dot on the adhesive. I sprinkled on some glittery red ep and heat set.

In a matter of moments, with few supplies... lovely card! Thanks Dawn for the inspiration!

Quick Fire Card

2010-11-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

This card is one more that can be done in moments!

I love pre cut/folded cards with the envies, and when I ran into one of my local big box I found a bunch for A BUCK! They are Studio G and have 8 cards/8 envies in each pack.

So, I decided I wanted to work with the window in this card and use it to 'hang' an ornament. I looped a ribbon through the window and up over the top edge of the card, tied a cute bow around both sides and tucked the tails beneath my ornament.

The ornament itself is actaully from Basic Gray, but was originally a journaling shape out of chipboard. I covered it with my Versamark pad and coated it in the red glittery EP from Adirondak, heat set and tada! Then I decided it needed a bit of something to separate it from the ribbon, so I added the black stickles.

The sentiment is from SU!

Embelished Embossing

2010-11-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

Today's bit of inspiration is a simple holiday card I made for embossing day over at CropStop, literally made in FIVE MINUTES! Check out our forum and see how to do this one and to be inspired in so many other ways!

Die Cut Doozie

2010-10-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

Today is Die Cut day over at CropStop and I am filling in with short notice. So! Time to improvise, right, people.. we all know when you are in a crunch you can take something that is basic and make it, well for lack of a better word... WOW!

I was lucky enough to come across a sheet of die cut ornament pieces from Little Yellow Bicycle called The Sharon Ann Christmas Magic Collection (Retired, Winter 2008). This happened to be in my stash, and I thought with it being October, if you considered changing up your theme/colors for Christmas, now would be the time to plant that idea. This particular set has enough to make 3 ornaments, and even comes all glittered up!

The instructions are basic and include the measurements make your own without the die cut page!

1. Fold each 3" square at the score lines. (four corners in to the middle)like this:

2. Feed a looped length of ribbon (about 10") through the hole in the top piece, and knot on the underside to secure. if desired, add ribbon or tassel through the hole in the bottom piece.
3. Adhere the corners of the pieces together.

4. trim edges with scissors if making a rounded edge ornament. (Or use a corner punch to make it snazzy!)
5. Trim photos to 1 1/2" squares, and attach in the center of the sides if desired.

I made the 3 ornaments per their instructions (minus the photos) and then created one more out of 1 3/4" squares that they provided to use as mats for the photos. This project is easy enough to recreate for any holiday! (Can you imagine a BIG branch with these hangin off of it for little goodie boxes for your halloween party, or as a holiday decoration holding an advent calender-style countdown?) Mine may be ornaments but they are FULL of possibilities! Using a CORNER PUNCH would be A-D-O-R-E-Able!

Make sure you pop on over to CropStop to check out the newest items in the store! They have the tons of new stuff!

CropStop's "Around the World" Card Making Blog Hop!

2010-10-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are doing it again! If you just came to visit me and found about the blog hop in this stop, please start at the beginning at the CropStop's blog.

In honor of World Card Making day, CropStop is hosting a progressive blog hop! Starting with the Cropstop Blog, you will visit each of the Cropstop Crew Member Blogs listed below and leave a comment on their creative project. Then, you will have one week to complete a project of your own, using one or more of the products featured in the CropStop Crew Member Blogs and link it in a reply box on the Cropstop Blog. Show us how you can mix and match the products the team is using in your project and if you don't have an item then show us your inventive side with a smart substitution. You do not have to use all the items the ladies are using but show us how creative you can be.
Deadline for linking to the CropStop's "Around the World" Card Making Blog Hop POST is Saturday, October 9th, at midnight Eastern time.

Winner will be chosen by random draw of all that participate and link to the CropStop Blog.
First prize is a $25.00 Gift Certificate to the CropStop Store.
Second and Third prizes will be a $10.00 Gift Certificate to the CropStop Store.

1. CropStop Blog - rules and guidelines
2. Veronica/Tattered Angels
3. Dalis/Cricut
4. Lori/Sizzix
5. Gloria/Tim Holtz
6. Lisa/Quickutz <------YOU ARE HERE!
7. Anneliese/ Cuttlebug
8. Vicki/Spellbinder

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY...

World Card Making Day began in 2006 as National Card Making Day. Founded by Paper Crafts magazine to bring card makers together at the beginning of the busiest card-making season of the year, it was first held on October 7, 2006. The initial celebration involved the Paper Crafts magazine audience only; however, due to the positive response it received and the worldwide popularity of card making, the holiday became known as World Card Making Day from then on.

Celebrating its fifth year in 2010, World Card Making Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in October. It's a day for the card-making community -- hobbyists, retailers, and manufacturers -- to unite and celebrate the connection and creativity that is the heart of card making.

I love my Quickutz Embossing Folders, and I am always looking for ways to use them! So, for this hop I chose to use one of my favorites... the Retro Squares folder!

I sanded the negative side of the embossed image a bit to give it a more worn look. The stamp is from Stampin' Up Full of Life set.

Make sure that you are part of this "Around the World" card making day by taking part in our CropStop, "Around the World" Blog Hop!!

Hopping Good Times

2010-10-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are doing it again! Visit the CropStop Blog tomorrow to begin a hop with tons of inspiration for Worls Card Making Day!

High Explosives...

2010-09-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

So today is the Fall Frolic Make ‘n Take over at CropStop! I am excited about this one! But before I get started, are you inspired by all the amazing examples? I had the luck of finding some fabulous new fall papers for my explosion box, but you can make this from any color/pattern that you’d like. You’ll need the following before you get started:

3- 12x12 sheets of cs or pp and one piece that is at least 8 ¼” square. (The outside of the box is the only one that HAS to be a 12x12, the others may be one of those lines that has that funky size after you trim off the white strip or missing a small piece in a corner)
Bone folder or scoring blade
Paper trimmer
Glue dots & liquid adhesive or redline tape (ATG works fine, too)
You may choose to use some embossing folders like I did, but they are NOT required!
Here is the finished product closed:

So to get started you’ll be scoring three of the 12x12 sheets in the same grid pattern with slightly different measurements. BEFORE you start you should decide which piece will be the outside of your box, and which order the other two will be in inside. If it helps you may want to number the 3 sheets with one being the outside and 3 being the smallest section on the inside. The 4th sheet will become the lid. I chose to use a solid cs for the outside of the box and patterns for the inner two and lid.

Take the sheet you will use for the outside of the box trim off the white tab if need be and then score at 4” and 8”, turn the paper and score again at 4”and 8”. This will section your page into 9 equal 4x4 squares and will look like a tic tac toe board. You may trim off the ‘corner sections’ of the tic tac toe board. After doing that it will look like a large plus sign. The two inner sheets of your explosion box will be scored and cut in the same manner, just in different proportions.

The sheet that is second will be scored at 3 ¾”, at 7 ½” and at 11 ¼”, turn paper ¼ turn, score at the same measurements. Trim off corner sections and the extra strips off the two sides.

The third will be scored at 3 ½”, 7 ¼” and 11”, turn ¼ turn trim extra strips off two sides and corner sections.

Stack the three layers and secure with either redline tape, glue dots or liquid adhesive. I would not recommend the tape runner for this as it is handled too much and I have had bad luck with it sticking long term.

Now for the lid!
Score that remaining piece of paper at 1”, 2”, 6 ¼”, 7 ¼”, then CUT on 8 ¼”. Turn ¼ turn and score on the same measurements.

You should have a 8 ¼” square. The remaining and it will look like this:

You will need to trim off the 3 1” squares on each corner as well as trimming down and separating to create a ‘tab’ with the 4th 1” square as shown below:

Now that you have it trimmed each corner should look like this:

On the top and bottom sections you will want to go ahead and fold over the outermost rectangle section and adhere it to the innermost rectangle. Remember, this is on the 2 sides between the tabs, not on the sides without the tabs. This gives you a finished edge on the lid. Before you fold over the right and left sides you will need to attach the tabs. Please a glue dot on the outside of the tab and attaché forming a 90 degree angle like a pizza box corner. Once you’ve done that then the remaining flaps may be adhered to cover the tabs and create the same finished edges on the other two sides.

For the flowers, I used the corner squares that were trimmed off of the inside sections of the box. I rounded the corners by hand, ran them through with an embossing folder (argyle & swiss dot from Sizzix, nad that dot has been rubbed with a gold acrylic paint Dabber to give it a sparkle!) and cut them into a spiral. Rolling from the outside edge, creates a rosette and I used glue dots to hold in place and attach to the lid. I used the same folders to create mats for the inside of the box to place pictures on.

And here’s another one I made a few weeks ago:

For those of you who like FREE STUFF... check out the Steal The RAK Game that Vicki is running!

Embossing Bonanza!

2010-09-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

So, I finally finished up the two albums I have been working on for the LSS Scrapville team I am on. They'll be a class on 10/2 from 1-4 and are using the newest fall line and a patriotic line. We'll be using the Techinque Boutique with Timmy's Bingo & Patchwork folders and the Sizzix folders. Alcohol inks, Adirondak Dabbers, Cricut, Double embossing.. and the list goes on. Here are some pics of the projects.

The fall explosion box... I realized as I cropped these pics of the box, that this paper is not doen justice. It has a sparkle and is very very pretty!

And the patriotic paper bag...

Don't forget about the CropStop Fall Frolic... it is running through the end of the month with new things posted every day through the 22nd!

Finding Fun

2010-09-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

As you all know, the CropStop Fall Frolic is in full swing, and now that we are ten days in we are giving your scrap mojo a break and your searching ability a workout! The game for today is Find It, and if you check out the list here you'll be pleasantly surprised how easily you could find yourself a winner! The CropStop store has a nice prize in store for the winner, and EVERY correct answer gets you into the drawing!

There are clues, some easy, some difficult and even a few items that are hidden along the way. You'll have until Sunday night at 10 pm PST to get your entries into my box over at CropStop so get to it!

BTW, if you are catching up on the challenge from 9/7, scroll down the info on my RAK is just below this post!

Oh, and just because I'd rather not have a project free post... here are a few that are in my folder of favorites!

and a few non-scrappy shots that are in my pile of to scrap...

the fourth M (you saw M's 1,2 & 3 above, and that last one is my girlie as a little girl.. she's almost 16, sniff sniff, how did we get to 16!)

(she's on her Great Gramma's lap and lovin' it, so!)

and this is a huge mess that is currently a transition room in our house, and now for the piece of my heart & soul that live outside my body... the sweetness that was my girlie, and is now a very sweet young lady and being quite the 'mama' to her Ag project goat 'Marissa Love'... I am a sucker for a red headed, curly locked kiddo, she melts me!

I am knee deep in the final touches on a super cute set of mini albums using Paper Loft paper!

Embossing Excitement & a Fall Frolic!

2010-09-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

The Fall Frolic is going on over at CropStop, and I am hoping those of you who haven't joined in (or are just lurking around) will hop on over and check out the challenges! There is a NEW challenge every day until the 22nd and if you like PRIZES (who doesn't, right?) you have until the 30th to load your projects in the gallery.

So as it happens, my challenge is due up today... and the first half of it is here. This blog picks up where that left off...

The second of my projects is below, and it is definitely one of my favorite techniques! I used the Timmy Bingo Embossing folder, copper embossing powder and versamark on blue cs. Using a brayer, inked up with the versamark, I rolled it over the EF on the side WITHOUT the Sizzix logo.(THAT part is important, if you want it to look like this!) Once you've run it through the 'press' (press= texture boutique or big shot or big kick or whatever you have, even a rolling pin will work in a pinch!)... Anyways, sprinkle on the embossing powder and HEAT... IT... UP! Now, you've JUST double embossed!

You may double emboss several ways like the CropStop team has done here, here...

(Thanks for such a fabulous example, Elisabeth!)
or here! Or if you liked the tree card you've seen on the previous post (and on the challenge for today), follow the process below...

Using that handy brayer, inked with versamark (yes, again) roll it over the Leafy Tree folder on the side WITHOUT the logo (Crafts,Too folders are DIFFERENT than Timmy's, so be sure you are considering the side you'd like to heat emboss after using the folder. It can be a bit confusing, when in doubt do a practice run on scraps!)

Once your done 'pressing' it with the folder sprinkle on the embossing powder, and turn on the heat gun. When I was done with the heat embossing, I added a mix of Sparkle N Sprinkle's red, green & gold glitter by dabbing a bit of my fave liquid adhesive over the leaves on the tree then adding the glitter. This is very simple, and the photo does NOT do it justice!

I really hope you'll catch up with the Frolic... there are lots prizes at stake from the CropStop Store and a RAK from me if you follow the steps below! (BTW, if you follow along and hop around during the Frolic to the OTHER DT member blogs, you might find more RAKs waiting for you!)

1. Participate in at least 3 Challenges from the Fall Frolic (including loading them in the gallery by the 30th!

2. Follow my blog.

3. Send me (Lisanj_2003) a PM (no later than 10/1 10am CST)on the CropStop Board and include the link to ALL of your projects and your snail mail address.

Extra Credit!!! IF you choose to complete 5 projects you'll get 2 entries, 8 projects = 3 entries and 10 projects = 4 entries. (WOWZERS!!)

Once I have checked out the links and verified who is IN I will randomly assign a number to each entry, and using Random.org we'll end up with 3 winners! They will be announced in the CropStop forum on the 5th of October!

...and it begins!

2010-09-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

Cropstop is doing it again! Please join us for our annual "Fall Frolic" online crop and blog hop! The crop will begin on September 1st and go through September 22nd with daily challenges posted by our Creative Team. Participants will have till September 30th to complete and upload their projects in the "Fall Frolic" album in the CropStop Gallery.
Our Creative Team will be offering great challenges, games, a make n' take and prizes!! Visit their blogs during the crop and you'll have a chance to win additional blog candy! Please visit and register on the CropStop Message Board/Forum and in our CropStop gallery so you can participate in our "Fall Frolic" crop.

REMEMBER to register for both, you can use the same user name and password but you must register in both the message board and gallery separately.

All guidelines and info can be found in the "Fall Frolic" Online Crop thread on the CropStop forum!!

Don't forget to leave comments and follow us. Want to chat about what you are up to? Join us in the Message Board.

Here is the FIRST challenge! It's a sketch challenge!

Don't forget, you can use the code LisasBlog for 10% off the purchase of $30 in the CropStop Store!

Sparkles!

2010-08-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

I am quite happy today, CropStop (my fav!) has stocked up on glitter and embossing powders by Sprinkle & Sparkle! (If you have visited an Hierloom Rubber Stamp & Scrpbooking show you may have seen them there! I used their stuff at a make n take night in Grapevine, TX in Jan. '10 and LOVED it so much I stocked up back then!)

Check out what I did with an acrylic butterfly that I hated the color on...

The butterfly was originally a faded blue and yellow one with a brown body... can we say bland.. and wanted to use it on this multi-pink and green butterfly print card. So I pulled out my Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive (my fave!) and outlined and filled in the blue section with a thin layer of the adhesive. I poured the Burgandy Glitter on, tapped off the excess and let dry. I added Diamond Stickles to the yellow sections and rhinestones to the body. I bent the wings up and glue dotted just the body on.

This one is brand new... never seen before... glitter-rama! I will be doing a tut on HOW soon, but wanted to show you another look using the fab glitter while I was posting about it!!

I randomly sprinkled green, gold and burgandy glitter over leaves that were coated in the Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive. The tree itself is copper embossing powder, the sentiment is from Vintage Vogue by SU! in green embossing powder.

Don't forget to stop by the CropStop forum and get registerd for the Fall Frolic! Challenges every day, games, prizes and even a few RAKs from the DT on their own blogs (HINT! HINT!)

Fall Frolic Crop Starts September 1st!

2010-08-29T18:26:00.002-07:00

It's a FULL House!

2010-08-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

I am not usually the "vintage-y" type, but this line is FABULOUS!

This weekend I finished up a project for my LSS Scrapville in Greenville, TX. They had gotten in the Hallowe'en in Wonderland line from Graphic 45 when I dropped by earlier in the month, and after seeing what my fellow CropStop DT bud Gloria did with it, I had to beg to do the display. Especially, after I saw her fabulous work and noticed that Timmy himself had even dropped her a bit of love, when she posted such fabulous cards (1 & 2).

I used the card print paper, cut it up into playing cards. Then distressed them (Thanks, Scrap Mom, for the use of the distress it all!)and really wrinkled them up. They are pop-dotted (of course!), as are the stickled letters, the little "make your own embellie" hats and cheshire cat.

Alice is cut out of the "ad" style creme pp and colored in with sharpies and a sponge using my SU! ink pads. The edge of the LO, the title (cut using the George Cricut cart.) and the green paper under the cards are all altered using the Adirondak Dabber in Lettuce.

The bling flourishes add that little lift and flash to the Mad Hatter's hats... because, after all he is flashy! Thanks for dropping by and be sure to drop by Gloria's blog to see her fabulous Graphic 45 Design Team creations and leave her some love!

This is the first of the two LO's that will be up over at Scrapville, but you'll have to visit Scrapville or the CropStop forum to see the others in September! While you're there, pick up the G45 paper, Stickles, Dabber or grab them online at CropStop!

Shake Up a Punch

2010-08-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

So, for a card class this coming weekend, I wanted to create a shaker card, but was not wanting the typical glitter/sand filler. I wanted something that was a bit bigger and could be in the color I wanted. So I located a baby bottle punch and filled the shaker with that!

It made the perfect Baby Shower card when combined with some umbrella print paper and the SU! sentiment with the umbrella saying "for your shower". Then I realized I dropped off the card to the store without a final picture. imagine a ribbon (green with white polkas) tied around the bottom of the shaker with the sentiment popped off of it. Will try to get a final shot loaded soon.

Here's a quick glance at the cards for the class at Scrapville on Sunday (two of them, this shaker and the glimmer mist card weren't finished when I snapped this, you'll have to come to class to see the final results!)

Trash to Treasure

2010-08-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

How many of you take the sticker paper off the back of a self-stick chipboard embellishment and toss it in the trash? I know I used to, but not very often anymore, especially when the piece is so classic! This stalk of leaves has to be one of my favorites, and check out the way I used the sticker paper to make my own pp.

When I peeled off the sticker paper, I set the chipboard shape to the side (and upside down) then used a sponge with my black and brown ink pads to make some “shadows” of the branch on crème paper. I carefully edged that crème paper with the black ink, without giving it that ‘inked’ look, and mounted it on the speckled rust cs. I quickly stamped the sentiment (from SP!) with the same black, on crème and matted it on black. Tied a sprig of crème chiffon ribbon on the chipboard and stuck it on!

Head on over to CropStop to check out what else is being created!

Using Part of an Embossing Folder

2010-08-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to use one of Tim's EFs and my scrap box.

The little tag is made using the Tim Holtz Texture Fade folder and a square of white chipboard. I embossed the "gauge" section and then ran a bit of acrylic paint over the edges. I whipped up a card from my scraps and tied the little embossed tag on and wah-la... card done!

So drag out your folders and that bin of leftovers you've been hoarding, and create away!

Ink & Stamp Spot with CropStop

2010-07-15T01:27:00.000-07:00

How-do-ya-do... welcome to another Ink & Stamp Spot with CropStop!

This LO looks like I used screens and Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist, but I did not. This is very basic, no spray bottle needed!

I used some swirls from a Bo Bunny pack of acrylic (came with a sheet of swirls and a sheet of concentric bractes, not sure where I bought it) for the "mask", but you could cut swirls from a Cricut cartridge, die cut or even free hand draw/cut some out. I decided the basic placement of the photo, die cut circle from DCWV and the swirls. The slid the photo and ring off the background kraft paper and pulled out my SU! Soft Suede ink pad and sponge. I held each swilr in place and dabbed inink over it until I was happy with the amount of shadow, I then added some of the same shadowing around the edges of the 12x12 kraft paper to give it a bit more depth.

Once I got that all done I attached my pp ring and photo & flowers. I used same large multi-swirl and a large single swirl for both the masks and as a guide when placing the Queen & Co. Pearls (their packagin is more for your money & I think they stick better than the Kaiser pearls!)but I almost used dew drops instead!(dew drops and stickles work in place of pearls). I added a few Chatterbox butterflies and, of course, I had to add some American Crafts Thickers!

Imagine with me for a moment how cut a halloween party invite would be with a pumkin or scarecrow sponged on! Even a vacation layout with the car/camper in the background... subtle additions are easy, fill "blank space" and add that last little oomph that it needs to be amazing!

Summer Challenge

2010-07-08T01:54:00.000-07:00

It's my week for the Challenge over at CropStop and so I am pulling together two things I love... cooler temperatures of fall and summer colors! I know it sounds odd, especially when you consider I live in Texas and it is H-freakin-O-T here in July and August. So, my challenge is this to use some definitely summer colors, and throw in an embossed element in a fall color.

For my example LO, I used the Leafy Tree EF on a piece of Core'dinations paper (I used their Chocolate Box in Amaretto, but that didn't photograph very well)

Make sure you get your creation loaded up in the gallery for a chance at the quarterly prize!

Die'ing for you Tuesday at CropStop

2010-07-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

I used 6x6 die cut paper on a 12x12 LO. In this one, I cut around the bottom of the leaves in two spots and slid the photo under the edge.

In this one I used as a “shadow” behind the photo.

This would work beautifully with the Independence Day Cricut Cartridge hat or flag at 6” or how fun would it be with the big castle waterslide from the H2O Cartridge!

Don't forget to check out the forum over at CropStop for never ending ideas and chatter!

Saying Farewell

2010-06-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

I am officially in a funk... Serendipity closes today, and I am quite sad. I have loved the DT and te way Kristen ran the show around there and will miss it. The challenges and ideas the members and DT offered were top notch and they will be greatly missed! Ladies, you streched my creativity and were the perfect cure when I was in a rut! Thanks for it all, it has been a blast and I hope to find you again out there in scrap world.

These are just some of my favorite creations based on their challenges and crop themes...some brand new from my creating this week!

So, to all the Serendipity ladies out there... YOU ROCK! If you are looking for a home and want friendly faces & amazing customer service join me over at www.CropStop.com feel freel to use LisasBlog in the coupon code box to get 10% off any $30 or more purchase with them.

Scared of Misting?

2010-06-17T12:55:00.001-07:00

Are you are scared of Glimmer Mist....Don't be! I was once you, and reluctantly spritzed layouts and hesitantly bought colors of mist that I thought I might use a squirt of. I have since begun using more and more Glimmer Mist and my absolute favorite color is the Haunted Shadow! It's a great shade of almost maroon, almost purple with a gold sparkle. I use it to mist on layouts randomly, but I also like the idea of controlling the area that is misted.

Here I used it for a random spritz or two AFTER I had the whole thing together... I like the un-misted space below the flowers that can be seen, I think it gives it some depth.

For this LO, I was playing with my new butterfly embossing folder/cutting die set, and decided to use the negative to bring in the design on the corner of the page and allow for a grouping of butterflies without them all being 3D. I added a half pearl to the misted butterfly for the head, just as I did on the die cut/embossed butterflies.

Ink & Stamp Spot over at CropStop

2010-06-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

Today is my day for the Ink & Stamp Spot over at CropStop and I hope that you will join me!

I created a red, white & blue card to showcase how different the same stamp set can look just using different ink!

Here is the newest look... scroll down to the previous post for other uses for the same set!

Join me at CropStop so you don't miss out on the newest sales and goodies! Details on a Sale-a-bra-tion follow! As always, you may use the code "LisasBlog" for 10% off a purchase of $30 or more!

Now for the SALE-A-BRA-TION...

Don't wait! Only limited supplies available, coupon expires on Sunday at 6pm EST. Want to shop quickly? Follow these links -

European Embossing Folders

Martha Stewart Punches

Tim Holtz Dies & Embossing Folders

New Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

Spellbinders

Heartfelt Stamps (they match Spellbinders!)

Cri-Kits (the newest pens for the Cricut machine!) (don't just cut out those cuties... DRAW them!

Save 20%
Use coupon code 'TWENTY' before finishing your CropStop purchase. Don't delay and save 20% on your total CropStop purchase, today!
WWW.CROPSTOP.COM
*Excludes Scor-Pal, only on instock items.

Card-fest!

2010-06-02T11:03:00.001-07:00

So, over the Memorial Day weekend, I rocked the cards! I made a TON! Most of which got sent this morning to some of our finest military service members! CHeck out the cards and then check the next post down (from last Friday) and see how you can support our troops through Soldiers Angels!

They have an amazing list of ways to serve those who serve our country:
Adopt a Soldier - Individualized support throughout deployment
Angel Bakers - Homemade treats for the deployed
Blankets of Belief - Showing deployed troops, "We believe in you!"
Blankets of Gratitude - Handcrafted love for hospitalized veterans
Blankets of Hope - Handcrafted comfort for the wounded
Cards Plus Team - Extra TLC for soldiers & families
Chaplain Support Team - Help chaplains support the troops
Community Team Leaders (CTLs) - Representing Soldiers' Angels at home
Eagle Cane Project - Handmade canes for the wounded
First Response Backpacks - Supplies for wounded in-country
Hero Packs - Care packages
Ladies of Liberty - Extra TLC for deployed females
Letter Writing Team - Personal letters for the deployed
Living Legends - Remembering the fallen and their families
Memorial Portraits - Drawings for families of the fallen
Operation Birthday Cake - Sending gourmet birthday cakes to deployed troops
Operation Outreach - Supporting families waiting at home
Operation Phone Home - Calling cards
Operation Top Knot - Handmade gifts & virtual baby showers
Scarves - Handmade heat and sand protection
SA Germany - Supporting medevac'd wounded/ill and medical staff at Landstuhl
S.A.V.E. - Supporting the employment of veterans through the Angel warehouse
SOS:Kids - Helping deployed soldiers help local kids
Tank Support - Helping Veterans Travel to Medical Appointments
Valour-IT - Adaptive laptops for the wounded
VA Crochet & Craft - Handmade comfort & dignity for hospitalized Vets
Veterans Support - Assisting veterans facilities
Wounded TLC - Letters and care packages for the wounded

Now that you have seen all the options... take a look at some of the cards I have made for my work with the Cards Plus Team!

Now, scroll down to last Friday's post and check out how to get free music for ONE LETTER to a SOLDIER!

Memorial Day

2010-05-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

I hope each of you has time planned for hanging out with the fam and scrapping over this holiday weekend here in the states. I am planning to make a ton of cards for a unit serving outside of Kandahar, Iraq, so that everyone gets a card on the same day at mail call! Just a little way of saying thanks to all the men & women who serve or have served to allow our freedoms to remain intact and it's because of their sacrifice that I would like to challenge you all to remember your military on Monday.

Whether here in the states, or in another country, we all have a military that is full of young men and women that are giving up a normal life. So... I challenge each of you to be the one who speaks up on Monday, at whatever event or gathering you attend. Be the one who reminds everyone what Memorial Day is really for. Be the one who says no matter what your opinion of the war efforts, today is for supporting our troops and their sacrifice... keep the protests and the discouraging remarks for another day, today is to remember that we are all here because of the lives they graciously give up to serve. May our vets, active duty and reserves be held in the hand of God on each and every day.

If you feel drawn to support the US soldiers, consider joining me at Soldiers Angels . They offer support services on many fronts, from sending care packages and cards to providing soldiers for adoption and more one on one support, and the vets and wounded are never left out of their services either! Their work is a blessing to the men & women in uniform, and they could use our help. Here is what the Dodge dealers, Zac brown Band and Soldiers Angels are doing together to support our troops...

If you'd like to help by donating cards of encouragement to the unit in Kandahar, send them to me, leave me a comment and I will get you my address. Then I'll add your cards to the package I am sending!

Coming from a family with a military background, I am even more blessed to have heard first hand and seen the sacrifice of a soldier. As I get older I realize that the freedoms of belief that I am afforded are primarily becasue soemone fought for them. The reason I can vote, worship, think, speak and live on a daily basis is because a soldier wrote a check for an amount "up to an including their life". Thanks to those I know who serve, have served or have given the ultimate gift to the freedoms my daughter has. It is because of you that she is allowed to dream as big as she can, and do so while believing in the Trinity, speaking her peace and living each day without fear while she gets an education she would not be afforded in many countries. I love each of you for your sacrifice.

Happy Memorial Day, now go, thank a soldier!

Color Challenge

2010-05-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

These cards are for the Color Challenge over at Scrapmaster's Paradise! I needed some thank you cards, and this was just the push I needed to make them!

Now, what will you do with that? Don't forget to put your link in to be eligible for the prize!

CropStops Die'ing for You

2010-05-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

For today's Die'ing for you over at CropStop I am encouraging you to use those BIG die cut papers with some smaller hand cut shapes, and do that on a two-pager!

Challenge #20 for CropStop- Dress it up!

2010-05-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

This week's challenge over at CropStop is to dress up a very casual paper with a really nice paper. I used a bird print by Senic Route that has a light grid print behind the birds with a tone on tone velevt print paper (I forget who created this lovliness, though!) and some vinyl flowers from AC with the paper flowers that match the bird paper and a few primas, and a dressy trim (thanks Vicki, love it).

I also challenge you to use those pics that are not perfect, especially when they are all you have from a specific event.

So go forth and put the pearls on with denim...

I have a bit more for you... if you participate in this challenge, or in another weekly challenge from the month of May, upload your creation to the CropStop Gallery, link it back to this post... I will draw for a prize the first week of June. It'll be a good one too, since the scrappy convention is here that weekend!

Up to the Challenge

2010-05-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

So I really enjoy finding challenges and creating LO's and cards for them. So, I hope you join me in visiting some of the forums who run challenges and get active. They are definitely a fun way to "scrap out of the box" and to find creative ways to use things that you might not have thought of before!

Here are a few of my recent challenge creations...

The Gilligan challenge was to alter a frame with a summer/beach/tropical theme, use some sort of fiber/ribbon/rope and have a bit of red (for Gilligan's shirt)
They started looking like this

This was the finished look

The Fairy Tale Challenge is for DT at the LSS and we were given a half sheet of the forest paper, one brown 12x12, then about half the stickers on one of those sheets, a length of ribbon and 4 brads. I added paper from my scrap pile, Sparkly fluff and a bit more ribbon.

The Denim is Not Just for Wearing Challenge was to use denim on your LO, and I combined it with a challenge to use at least 3 pictures and put them on a slant.

The Altered Recipe Jar Challenge was to alter a jar, add the recipe for what was inside and create a card to go with it.

There are a TON of places to find challenges out there! My favorites are:

CropStop- They have challenges and projects each week that range from embossing to copics. They are friendly and fun and have great products in their store. (some Blog Candy just for you... use code LisasBlog to save 10% on $30+ purchase)

Serendipity- They are really busy and could overwhelm you if you are new or prefer not being hit with so much all at once. They run a daily challenge, a few weekly challenges and more.

If you are looking for random other places for challenges, blog hops, online crops and such visit this site. That is where I found them both and more!

Here are a few more of the projects from this last week of creating...

a display title for CropStop

the left...

and the right of a Christmas '09 DLO for a scraplift challenge

A few birthday cards

Hope you will all join me tomorrow over at CropStop when I post the Challenge for the week and hang around for more every day after that!

Winning is AWESOME!

2010-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have really been CRAZY! A big hop with CropStop for National Scrapbook Day, a big hop with Just My Sketches for Mother's Day... WHEW! There were lots of hoppers and tons of inspiration! Thanks to all the organizers & blogs that participated! Now to get on with it... here are the random number assignments and the winners that Random.org picked.....

Followers:
1 Helen
2 Elaine K
3 Shalini
4 Vicki
5 Angela Khan
6 Nicole
7 goatesgirl -----> Winner!
8 Stephanie
9 Lynn M
10 Anneliese
11 Sandy

NSD with CropStop Comments:
1 Linda
2 Tante Käthe
3 Anneliese
4 Rose
5 JulieAK
6 Rebecca -----> Winner!
7 newfiecrafter
8 jennifer
9 Kim
10 Beedoodle
11 Vicki
12 Nicole
13 Elaine K

Double Hopper:
1 Vicki
2 Angela Khan
3 Nicole -----> Winner!

JMS Mother's Day Hop Comments:
1 Helen
2 Beedoodle
3 Shalini
4 Vicki
5 Angela Khan
6 goatesgirl
7 Nicole
8 Stephanie
9 Sherri
10 Carla -----> Winner!
11 Lynn M
12 Gramjak
13 anazelia
14 Julie
15 Jean Marie
16 Sandy
17 Julie

BONUS Prizes!!! One entry for each commentor:
Name
1 goatesgirl
2 Carla
3 Sherri -----> Winner!
4 Vicki -----> Winner!
5 Jean Marie
6 Sandy
7 Helen
8 Shalini
9 Gramjak
10 Julie -----> Winner!
11 Stephanie
12 Lynn M
13 Angela Khan
14 Julie
15 anazelia
16 Nicole
17 Beedoodle
18 Rebecca
19 JulieAK
20 Elaine K
21 newfiecrafter -----> Winner!
22 Anneliese
23 jennifer
24 Rose
25 Kim
26 Linda
27 Tante Käthe -----> Winner!

Then just because i know how much work it takes to put one of these hops on I wanted to add a few prizes for the hop-stops during the CropStop & JMS hops:

1 Zarna
2 Vicki ---> Winner!
3 Veronica
4 Stephanie
5 Stacy
6 Spharda
7 HJ ---> Winner!
8 Annmaree
9 Anneliese
10 Ann
11 Ana ---> Winner!
12 Monique
13 Melanie
14 Margie
15 Lynn ---> Winner!
16 Lesley
17 Julie
18 Jessica ---> Winner!
19 Janice
20 Gloria
21 Elisabeth
22 Deanne
23 Dalis
24 HJ

Now that the winners are all picked I will be trying to contact each of you... but if you find that I have not found you, feel free to PM me with your address on CropStop or Serendipity (I am Lisanj_2003 on both or email me with that name and an at sign then yahoo period com). Have a fabulous Day and join me tomorrow where I will post what i worked on over the weekend! TTFN!

(The random order of numbers is based on a random sort using excel filters on comments, dates, names and the winner picked using the number each person was assigned was done by Random.org. Any prizes not claimed will automatically go back into my prize box for the next round--- Complaints may be filed with your local trash collection department. Ha!)

Spring Photos

2010-05-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a few spring photos that I have taken...

Orchids at the Junior Livestock & Plant Show

the snow on the blooms the second day of spring

The Whirlyball game at a birthday party

and a few LOs that I have done...

Hard to believe this little one is finishing up her freshman year!

My question for you is do you pull inspiration on the colors fo your LOs from the pictures? Do you scrap non-people pics?

HAVE YOU HOPPED with JMS yet? If not see the details in my post from 5/9 (just scroll down one)!

Celebrating Mothers Blog Hop

2010-05-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

At JMS the DT love our mums/moms and to show our appreciation for everything mothers do we are celebrating mothers in our blog hop this week.
The hop officially kicks off at 9 am (NFLD time zone), and ends at Midnight (NFLD time zone).

There are 18 stops along the way, some have blog candy up for grabs (but you'll have to find them for yourselves we don't want to ruin the fun!). In your travels don't forget to collect the words to complete the quote and take it back to Just My Sketches & the Blend to enter the major prize drawing worth $30!

If you have only just found the blog hop, go back to JMS to the start. If you have been hopping along you will have come from Lynn M and your next stop will be Lesley.The words you need to collect from me are:

SONG

Now for my Mother's Day JMS Hop RAK, leave a comment on this post to tell me you are a follower for 1 entry! If you post your creation over at the CropStop Gallery by the deadline with "Mom Hop" in the title you'll get another entry! I will draw for the prize on Monday the 17th and post the winners here that evening!

If you hopped with CropStop & I on NSD, then you are eligible for a chance to win THAT hop's RAK, a special "Double HOP" RAK and the one for the Mother's Day HOP! To get in on the Double Hop Rak, add a comment with "Double Hopper" in it. Those winners will also be posted here on the 17th!

Here is my creation, I chose Baby Mine as my inspiration

and am using the words Never to Part as part of my title:

If the papers, flowers and punched border look familiar, they are! This is the right page in a two page spread combined with the LO I created for the NSD hop with CropStop

Don't forget your next stop is Lesley.

2010-05-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

Today is the 7th... and time for my big reveal! The blog hop for NSD is almost over and you should be sure to link your creation back to the CropStop NSD post before the deadline!

You could win this fab prize pack...

Also be sure to join me back here on Sunday for another hop with an awesome grand prize and RAK's along the way!

Ink & Stamp Spot

2010-05-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

The Ink & Stamp Spot for CropStop is all about using your stamps to enhance a LO! I was the lucky recipient of a whole ton of unmounted stamps and in that there were a few postage stamp and telegram stamps that I have been waiting to use. So when I came across the shaped paper that is all stamps I knew I had a winning combination!

In my sneak peek you saw the stamp of the truck, hand cut out, colored in with a white, black and silver Signo pen and "loaded" with buttons and two of the postage stamp images. The large blue telegram image was hand cut, and the smaller was crumpled several times to give it a bit of age and dimension. I added a postage stamp image with the telegram, but turned it, so that the same portion of the image was not seen there as in the truck. I also turned one that is in the upper right grouping. The added touches of those stamps make the LO really come together.

On the tag (I couldn't get a great pic of it) there is a haiku that reads:

God packed a big box,
then He sent it out next day.
The clouds unpacked snow.

I challenge you to dig through your stamp and paper collections and find something that you can tie together with pictures and a title. Stamp on cardstock, or on patterned paper, trim out or cut it out by hand and add it to the LO! That should save you some green on embelishments!

Here is the sneek peek for the hop today...

If you have not hopped with us for NSD, make sure you check it out here and be sure to post your creation back on the NSD Hop post Cropstop blog by the deadline. (also, be sure you check out the details at every stop, you could win a RAK from the stop host! Here you could win TWO!

Don't forget that we are hoping again on Sunday!

Have you hopped?

2010-05-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

So with all the hopping going on, I am curious. Have you hopped?

Have you visited every stop and collected the items you need to include in your LO? If you have have you posted the link to your creation at the CropStop blog on the NSD post? Have you commented here on my original post?

If not... WHY? You could WIN this fab prize and a RAK or TWO from me!!

So get hoppin' and come back here tomorrow for a stamped creation and on Friday to see my hop creation!

And don't forget...

H-O-P

2010-05-04T06:06:00.000-07:00

H is for the happiness that scrapping, stamping and overall creating brings me!
O is for the out-of-this world fabulous peeps I have found through scrapping!
P is for the perfect time to hop from blog to blog!

So, if you are here to hop, click HERE. The NSD blog hop for CropStop is still open for entries, but be sure you link it to the CropStop blog hop post is midnight, Saturday, May 8, 2010, DST. All you have to do is post a link here to be eligible for this fab prize:

My creation is not up and I have been posting sneak peeks, so be sure you come back on the 7th to see the full LO! Then on Sunday, I will be posting the creation for the Mother's Day blog hop. I used the sketch and items from the CropStop hop for the left side and the Sketch and quote for the JMS Mother's Day hop for the right side. Today's peek is from the LO on the right

don't forget...

Hop, Hop, Hop... Day 3

2010-05-03T05:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! Wow, how can it be that we are already to May 3rd, when yesterday it seems we were still in March? Hopefully, most of you have hopped on through, and are working on your creations for the CropStop NSD Blog Hop. If you are looking for those details click HERE and don't forget to jot down the code to save you BIG on all the shopping over at the CropStop Store! Don't forget, Mother's Day is Sunday, and with that coupon code the fam could treat mom well!!

Here is another sneak peek of my creation...this page goes on the left...

and since we are hopping again next weekend, here is a peek of THAT creation, (which just happens to go on the right)!

I have a 3rd peek, just for you blurfers (that'd be a blog surfer) out there! On Thursday, the full LO and the challenge will go up!

(sorry for the awful resolution on that one though, my camera has bit the dust and I had to snap it with the phone! BUT, since I am frugal (no, I am flat out cheap)I rarely buy my "dream model" of camera/applicance until I truly NEED it, I am hoping that my hubs will take me camera shopping for my birthday! I told him about the camera and he commented that I was not allowed to buy one! I guess I should decide what I really want in an SLR and give him specifics!

So, I must run, time to work... but don't forget...

Day 2 of the National Scrapbook Day Hop!

2010-05-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

If you are stopping by to hop along the CropStop trail then scroll down to the post from yesterday! The details are all there and there are details on the HUGE prize pack and the RAKs you could possible win!

I don't know about you but I LOVE prizes!) There is also a code for those of you who who love to SHOP! Be sure to read all the info on how to be included in the drawings!Don't forget to stop back by on the 7th for a full reveal of my creation!

Here another peek!

and some more of my recent work!

Next Sunday I will be hopping again... join me!

Happy National Scrapbook Day 2010!

2010-04-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Scrapbook Day, CropStop is hosting a week long, progressive blog hop! Starting with the Cropstop Blog, you will visit each of the Cropstop Crew Member Blogs listed below to grab the items for your creative project. Then you will have one week to complete your project and link it back to the Cropstop Blog in a reply box. Deadline for linking is midnight, Saturday, May 8, 2010, DST. A great prize is being offered by the Cropstop store!

Prize will be awarded by random draw from projects linked to the Cropstop blog by the deadline above.

Make sure to visit every blog and gather all of the items you will need for your LO/Card creation!

For stopping by my blog and and leaving a comment to this post, you could win a RAK from me! Make sure you comment here no later than midnight, Saturday, May 8, 2010, DST.

You will find one of the creative elements here...but remember to visit each blog along the way to gather everything that you will need for your LO/Card creation!

This stop will add a punch to your creation!

From here you will visit 7. Stacy
Here are a sneak peek at my complete project! You'll have to check back here on the 7th for my reveal!

Here is the full list of stops in case you missed one!
1.Cropstop
2. Jessica
3. Veronica- You may visit her blog but there is not a specific item and that makes this YOUR Choice! It's a FREE Space!
4. Elisabeth
5. Anneliese
6. Lisa - You Are Here (this should be the 6th item on your list)
7. Stacy- Your Next Stop
8. Dalis
9. Vicki
10. Gloria

Now that you have all 10 items, go forth and create! BUT be sure to link it back to the Cropstop blog by the deadline above!

Have fun on our Cropstop Hop!

If you are looking for a sketch blog come on over to JMS! The may first reveal and sketch is up!

If you feel like hopping again next weekend! Visit me again on th 9th for a Mother's Day Hop that will blend your love for mom and a harmony! I will be gigving away another RAK, as well!(By the way, if you comment on BOTH this hop post AND the hop post for the 9th, you will be eligible to win a RAK over and above the other TWO I am giving away!
Happy Hopping! and remember if you head on over to CropStop to SHOP the Blog Hop discount code is MAGIC for 10% off your total purchase of $30 or more!

Things to do...

2010-04-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

I got the perfect opportunity to make my list!

I finished up these last night...

5/1 Reveal LO for JMS

5/1 Blog Hop LO for the NSD Blog Hop over at CropStop where they are offering a Fabulous prize (like normal, thanks HJ)

5/9 Blog Hop LO for the Mother's Day Blog Hop over at JMS and their Grand Prize is fabulous (Thanks HJ/CropStop and Dawn!)

and I still need to....

send 5/1 reveal LO for JMS over to Deanne

type up and schedule post for NSD (5/1) Blog hop for CropStop this blog

type up and schedule the reveal post for the 5/1 LO for JMS for this blog

type up and schedule the post for the Blog Hop for JMS for CropStop who contributed to the Grand Prize

finish project for the 5/6 Ink & Stamp Spot over at CropStop

finish the challenge for the end of May and Die'ing for You over at CropStop

Pull together RAKs for both blog hops and another for a giveaway the end of May I am planning on for this blog..

get my April work uploaded and totals posted by 5/1 for the team challenge on Serendipity

figure out when we are doing stamp camp at my house in May and get it on the calendar

get my LO for Scrapville in Greenville on the new Reminisce Little Red Riding Hood paper done

but, I have every evening this week FREE!!!!! and I am only working 2 hours Friday morning (from home) before I head off to crop at Scrapville in Greenville, plus I have Saturday's NSD crop to work on it all! I found my mojo last night though... it was hiding the last few weeks...

here are a few sneak peeks, and a few of the LO's I finished recently...

Windows from Die Cuts and Embossing Folders

2010-04-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

This week's Die'ing for You over at CropStop is inspired by this LO I did in a class at CKC Houston '09 by GCD.It has a cute little pocket to tuck in extra picture or a playbill, stub, etc... and the little transparency cut out is super cute! They used the edge of one of those fab shaped papers to trace the bracket shape, cut out that section and attached a transparency in it's place. Trimmed the paper to about 5"x12" and adhere to the LO by only putting adhesive on the 3 edges leaving the transparency as the top of the pocket. This could be done with the "window" anywhere on the pocket, by tracing a die cut or shape and replacing that section with acetate or transparency.

I decided to make a mini album with a transparent section on the cover using a precut journaling block from my stash and a tag card. I used the journaling block to trace the curvy shape about an inch up on the bottom of the front cover, cut along the line and made sure to erase it. Then attach a strip of polkadot printed acetate cut to fit the section I removed from the card with a few glue dots.

From here you have two options. You can use this as a card, and stamp and embelish, or you can turn it into a mini album. I cut the front/back of the card apart along the fold, then cut some colorful pages (from my scrap stash) the same size and punched a hole int the top to mirror the one in the front. (I used the back of the card as my template.) I added a piece of cord from my stash and a few embellishments. I will be adding pics from a birthday party and giving it to my niece (who is 10). These little albums are lightweight enough to mail and quick and easy enough to make while watching your fav show, all while the cost is minimal and the stash of scraps you've been hoarding is proven to be a good thing!

I have also used an embossing folder as a guide to create a window on a card:

Make sure you visit us over on the forum at CropStop for fun chit chat and sharing as we scrap our way through each day! Oh, and don't forget we have a hop coming up for National Scrapbook Day May 1st over at CropStop and a hop for Mother's Day over at JustMySketches... so stay tuned for details!

Caution: I have gone Card Crazy!

2010-04-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

I have been creating cards for the last few weeks for Spirit Jump's Cards for Cancer Day. I roped in some friends in my scrapbook group and when one of the ladies at work got wind of it, they pitched in, too! So here are just a few of the cards I have made...

and a pic of the entire donation!

Holy Cow! These should really bless the staff and patients at Baylor's Cancer Center here in Dallas!

I have also been knee deep in a puzzle swap and am really excited to see the finished puzzles once everyone gets all their pieces back! Here are the ones I created.

Some of the themes were: teapots, Hawaian flowers, Americana, hot air balloons, vintage inital, polka dots & flowers (my theme), anything crafty, my favorite embelishment

I have also been working on a bunch of cards using my QuicKutz Embossing folders that CropStop sent me. I love them! Here are the latest...

2010-04-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

Happy April Fools Day... let’s fool around with some ink and stamps! This week I created two cards, one with a technique that is tried and true, and one that I just thought might work (IT DID!).

For the tried and true, I used the ink & salt technique to make a background for a stamp that I love! (I have found I have an addiction to all things trees!)

I used glossy/photo paper and with the baby wipe swipe technique, I put on 3 colors of green. I then misted it with water and sprinkled on salt. (The video in the link below used Kosher salt and for bigger "pores" in your ink, you should. I wanted smaller "pores" so I used table salt.) You may also use glimmer mist for this instead of the baby wipe swipe & a mister. Just spray on your glimmer mist and while it is still wet sprinkle on the salt. The salt/paper needs to fully dry before it is moved, and the heat tool will only blow off the salt, so be patient and let it sit for a few hours. The salt will absorb all the moisture and some of the ink, too! If you like salt art, save the salt, it works well for that. You may also choose to use plain cardstock for this, but the result will be a much more muted color with a very subtle "pore" texture.

Once dry, wipe off the salt and stamp your image.

If you'd like to see it in action check this out.

Now for the second project I did. I STAMPED WITH GLIMMER MIST! Yes, that is right!

To do this you will need one baby wipe folded in 1/2 twice. I then sprayed my glimmer mist very close to the wipe to keep a high concentration of the ink in one place. Then I just used a basic flower stamp and stamped it several times.

Then to not waste all the remaining in on that wipe, I grabbed a piece of white cardstock and made several "ink spots".

on the left side I wrapped the wipe around my finger and dabbed, it made longer oval spots that over lapped all in one direction (you could do this and turn it into a bunch of lavender or other "cone" shaped flowers, just add a few stems & leaves!) The far right (you can barely see it, sorry) I just used the standard baby wipe technique and got a "striped" effect. Third, in the middle, I did a circular motion swipe and got a more concentrated color spot. I punched out flowers from these spots. (I also did the swipe technique for the leaves on the finished product out of green ink from a Timmy distressed ink reinker.) I then spritzed about half my punched flowers with the same color of glimmer mist to use as the "front" flowers in the pot.

The "pot" is made using a 3"x6" strip of paper folded in half lengthwise, and then folded again 1/2" in from each end. You will then cut at an angle from one fold to another to create the tapered look of the flower pot. I used a dot of adhesive under that small flap to hold it down and used a ribbon to hold the "pot" front & back together. I then just cut a strip of paper from the glimmer mist stamping I did, attached my punched flowers to one end and tucked the other into the pot. depending on how you attach your flowers you will need to trim the bottom of that strip so that it looks as if the flowers are growing in the pot. I like to stamp a short greeting on the rim of the pot, then write on the inside slip.

How SWEET it was!

2010-03-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend I participated in the Sweet Taste of Serendipity Crop (Here)over the weekend and man o' man, was it sweet! I had a blast and really enjoyed getting out of my "cropping box" on several challenges. My creations are up above but here are a few of my faves!

Int his challenge we had to make/alter 75% of the things we included...

I think the only thing I DIDN't make/aler is the blus paper behind the circle and the pictures! From piling up all the ribbon/trim and scrinching it with paint cover fingers to stickles and shimmer pant... I LOVE it! I am NEVER this "busy" on a layout, but the results were so amazing the pic does not do it justice!

These were "Throw Downs" and we had like and hour and a half to do BOTH and I saw them about 30 mins AFTER the time limit started! EEK! That limit included the time it took to upload it and link it, too!

I challenge you to get out of your "cropping box" and create a LO with things altered/created by YOU!

Heads up: JMS reveal on 4/1

POP-Dot: Too Pretty to Use

2010-03-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

I am horrible about buying beautiful paper and then not using it because I don't want to "cover up" the pretty part! I am also guilty of having paper I am "saving" for just the right picture! But, last night, in the process of creating a page for a contest, I used just that. A beautiful pair of pattern papers that I had been saving for just the right thing.

So, I challenge you to get your pictures off your camera and onto photo paper. Dig through that "on hold" stack where you hide all those papers waiting for perfection and get to creating!

Here is my creation

Here's another that includes a few pics from the recent snow in Dallas... who knew we'd have snow on day 2 of Spring! That never happens here, as in it has been 40 years, so I have never seen snow this late in the season.

Thursday Challenge @ CropStop & the JMS Sketch

2010-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

We all have them. We all avoid them. Most of all we probably will always refuse to use them as the most prominent in our creations.

What are they you ask.... they are those colors we dislike.

For me it's orange and yellow, not a fan of either and with a red-headed daughter with fair skin, they are not my friend. However, I do find my self using them in small doses. So, this week, I challenge you to use one of yours for the main colors in your LO. I did and found that I really liked the results!

If you like the sketch, check out mine and other examples at the Just My Sketches blog. Deanne puts up a new reveal every 1st and 15th!

Die'ing for You by me for CropStop.com

2010-03-16T00:32:00.000-07:00

This week’s Die’ing For You is a bit off kilter….

I used a Cricut to create a shirt! You will need:

A shirt
Fabric Paint
a paint brush
Freezer Paper
Iron
Cricut, cartridge and mat

Suggestion: The first time you try this, I suggest you try a simple shape.

If you are using letters on your shirt, you must use the ‘flip’ feature on your Cricut. (You can use regular die cuts for this, but need to be sure that when you cut it the shape will be shiny side down on the finished paper.)

Step 1- Place the freezer paper shiny side up on your Cricut mat.
Step 2- Cut design out
Step 3- Iron the freezer paper negative onto your shirt by placing the shiny side down and using the hottest setting possible for the fabric.
Step 4- Fill in your image with paint. Allow to dry.
Step 5- Paint any “highlights” on your painted image by placing the largest section shiny side down onto the shirt (on top of the paint). (I did not iron on top of the paint, I held the paper and used it like a stencil.) Allow to dry.
Step 6- Carefully peel the freezer paper off the shirt.

If you’d like to see this process in motion, I found this youtube video to be very helpful! I figured if this 13 year old girl can do this, I could, too!

Blog Hop RAK Winners!

2010-03-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

So now that life has gotten a bit back to normal at my house, I have some winners to announce!

Lyn

stamprgrl

Brenda

So, everyone send PM your addresses on CropStop user name lisanj_2003 and I will get your prozes out!

(Brenda, I will see you on Friday so I will just bring yours then.)

Out of Pocket...

2010-03-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry to have been out of pocket the last few days. I have been out of town working remotely on a limited internet connection and visiting my Dad, Stepmom and his parents, who are not doing so well.

Yesterday was a good day for my Gramma, and a rough day for me as I had to head home knowing things will never be the same for them and the life they once had. I pray they are able to find consisitent help and that the doctors can get my Gramma's confusions treated. They are both such amazing people and their lives are an inspiration. He has been plagued with manacular degeration for years and has very little sight left, and she was his eyes. Now she is having episodes where she can't communicate what she want or needs to and has decided she can no longer drive, which is rough since their 2 sons both live about 40 miles away from the very small town they live in.

All very sad and heartbreaking for them and those that know how "together" they were.

A Hop Along Hollywood Boulevard... visits Elle from Legally Blonde

2010-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

We are so close to Oscar time that we decided to do a themed blog hop to present to you our new design team members. This blog hop will have 9 stops in total and in all those stops our design team members will be sharing with you a tip or giving you a challenge. There will be prizes drawn from those that submit their entries to the blog hop challenges by midnight Monday CST. You NEED to submit your entry for the blog challenge as a comment to the design team blog post in her own blog. (example: If you are doing Vicki's challenge then you need to leave Vicki a comment on her blog post with a link to your project) Sign up to "follow" our blog and you might win a prize. Our red carpet order is as follows:

1. CropStop's BLOG - http://www.cropstop.blogspot.com/

2. Vicki - http://validationofvicki.blogspot.com/

3. Elisabeth - http://paperart.wordpress.com/

4. Jessica - http://blogg.coffeeaddicted.se/#home

5. Gloria - http://www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com/

6. Lisa - http://pop-dot-porcupine.blogspot.com/***YOU ARE HERE***

7. Stacy - http://stacystampinscrappin.blogspot.com/

8. Anneliese - http://www.queen-of-the-crop.blogspot.com/

9. Dalis' BLOG - http://www.stampergirl.com/

This stop is a take off Elle Woods and her devotion to the color pink and all things fashionable. The little mini Clutch that you see is not only PINK but it is adorable!

You'll find the tutorial and step by step instructions HERE! If you'd prefer to do somthing a bit different here is one more project (Imagine Bill & Ted yelling "Bonus!" in your head)!

The tutorial for the Emvelope Mini Album is HERE.

Now for the RAKS! Click on follow and comment on this post with a link to YOUR creation by Midnight CST on Monday 3/8 and have 3 ways to WIN just here on MY blog, not to mention the Hop prizes that CropStop is offering! I have several things including some embellishments from Scenic Route & Thickers from American Crafts.

Sign up to follow me and your name will go int the hat!

Do one or both of the projects and I will randomly select winners using Random.org!

Or you could do all of the above and have a chance to win a GRAND RAK given away for anyone who does both projects and follows my blog!

One last thing... would you like a coupon to enjoy a discount on your order of $20 or more. (coupon code: OSCAR) expires March 10th

Don't forget the next stop...

7. Stacy - http://stacystampinscrappin.blogspot.com/

and if you need to find the begining...

1. CropStop's BLOG - http://www.cropstop.blogspot.com/

RE-Do On Those OLD Wood-Block Stamps!

2010-03-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

So after a short discussion over at CropStop I decided that not only did I want to SHARE my decision to move to a streamlined storage, but also to reduce the space my stamps took up and re-use those bulky wood blocks!

Yes, I know! "Crazy Lisa is at that recycling bin again!" But, you know you want to get that space filled with NEW and FUN embellishments and tools! Plus, if you think about it, what MOM doesn't need adorable art on her fridge held up by fabulously scrappy magnets!

So, the instructions are simple..

1. Drag out those wood mounted stamps.
2. Un-Mount them either by using a regular hairdryer to warm them and soften the adhesive, popping them in the microwave for a FEW seconds or by using that enormous bottle of UNDO we all love!
3. CAREFULLY remove the rubber from the mounting it is currently on.
4. Follow the instruction on the EZ-Mount package (they are super easy- like stick & trim)
5. Ta-Da You have rubber stamps that you can use with a clear block.

Storage options for those NEWLY mounted stamps are varied. I like the DVD size cases that Stampin' Up! sells. (If you are in need of a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, then contact my friend, cl.earley@yahoo.com, Candiece is ready to help you and can even SAVE you 10% off the web price.)

I have friends who swear by the little CD size cases. Others might find the binders with organizser sheets more to their liking.

NOW for the REUSE portion...

Grab the acrylic paint, stamps, embossing powder... anything goes.. a few ideas is all the direction I will offer...

Think about gifting a set of magnets to a mom with a little one headed for a first day at school, or for a mom who might want to "label" the art with one of their kiddos names. ME? I wanted to match my decor in my ktichen.

I do have a bit of advice. Use REALLY STRONG magnents. Mine are the nickle size from walmart and cost about 2.15, but I am swapping those out for a bigger size that is about the size of the block from a "sheet" of magnents.

Oscars Have Me hopping

2010-03-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

The Oscars are Sunday and with that in mind the theme for the blog hop is "A Stroll Down Hollywood Blvd." I am so excited! This is my first blog hop, EVER! The DT over at CropStop are working hard to bring you loads of FUN! Make sure you sign up now, and don't miss out on the prizes and projects! Now, we all know that CropStop is offering prizes, but the individual blogs along the way, may as well! I can tell you that I WILL! I am offering a RAK that I just know you'll love, so be sure you join me!

Okay, now that my little info-mercial of the day is over, I will get on with it! I have been slaving over my paper trimmer, and can't show you what I have created until the hop, challenges and crops that all happen next week, so today I wanted to share something else... a blog and and awesome stamper's creation! Dawn, a Stampin' Up! demonstrator has a fabulous blog and amazing ideas! The link for this project is actually a couple weeks old, but I wanted to share it now! Make sure you check out her current stuff, and if you like tutorials and pdf's she is the go to gal! Some are inexpensive and some are FREE! Yep, this one if FREE! Check Dawn out here!

Just My Sketches & The Blend Reveal

2010-03-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

So, I like to wait a day or two after the reveal to post the Just My Sketches LO and likely, you have seen them there... but just in case you didn't, here it is:

a href="http://s973.photobucket.com/albums/ae215/Pop-DotPorcupine/?action=view¤t=JMSlosketchDEANNEBURTONmar1-10.jpg" target="_blank">

The LO design team over at JMS really did a bang up job on this one! CHeck out the Card Team's creations as well! WOWZER! Now, it's your turn! Create a LO/card or BOTH and enter to win prizes! Yes, I said prizes! So... hurry off to create your masterpiece, then snap a pic and link it back to JMS for a chance to win.

Songlist consists of:
~One Heartbeat
Smokey Robinson
~Amazed
Lonestar
~The Motown Song
Rod Stewart
~Chances
Five For Fighting
~Sweet Child o' Mine
Guns N' Roses

The next reveal will be on 3/15 so you have plenty of time to make this one happen!

B-Lurking Around

2010-03-03T06:19:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am a BLurker. I love to lurk around the blog world and see what everyone is up to creatively, and see how my friends are all faring. It lets me connect with others on a creative level, as well as a fun way to catch up with some friends that I do not see so often. (KMac & Steph, I miss you, both!)

Anyways, I occassionally come across so GEMS and follow or "favorite" them so I can check back in to see new creativity in motion, but this past week I found one that is a keeper, and wanted to share. Work for Scraps is not only a blog full of creativity and freebies, but full of inspiration. Chrispea is battling breast cancer and is constantly telling you to, "Feel your boobies!" and today is her last day of chemo. So, take 10 seconds and say a prayer for her, for you, for every woman out there, that this battle will find a cure. That we will all get to hang around and scrap a little longer.

I hope she feels the love and is touched by the hands of God today. If you'd like her to know she is in your thoughts, hop on over and give her some love! She has beautiful work and if you scroll down, you may find that you LOVE her freebies, too! That dressform is too cute!

So, FEEL YOUR BOOBIES and get creative... after all a life without creativity has got to be boring!

Reminders:
The "Stroll Down Hollywood Blvd." blog hop is on SUNDAY sign up HERE and their Crop on the 13th is sure to be awesome as well!

March reveals are up at Just My Sketches go check mine and the other Design Team creations!

A Stroll Down Hollywood Blvd

2010-03-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

I am hoping you will all join me for the blog hop! Everything is looking amazing behind the camera as the crew plans and preps for hopping! There are challenges and altered items, trivia, cards and layouts in the works so plan to join us for a fabulous hop with PRIZES... HOP to see you there and here... I'll be a stop in the hop and am off to finish up the project for my protion!

So the last WEEK has been quite painful!

2010-02-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

You know me, I can't keep my mouth shut, especially when there is something fabulous going on! But, for the last 7 days I could not publicly say anything. =( A week ago I opened my email to find a reply to a creative team call I had applied for... It was an offer to join their team from March through August!WAHOOOOOOOOOO! I am SO excited!

They are planning an online crop, a blog hop, prizes and lots of challenges so be sure you join me at CropStop.com very soon! You'll find they have TONS of cool stuff including some exclusive items!

RAKing up Fun!

2010-02-13T06:20:00.001-08:00

RAK... yes you heard right... there is a RAK in the works and to have it hoping a ride on the pony express to your house is fairly simple, play along! Are you up to the challenge?

Pop-DOT

For this quick challenge I would like to see your non-smiling pictures! That is right, find one of those pictures that is not the typical smiley moment and scrap it! I will be working on a pic of my DD where she is not so happy... and I'd love some inspiration!

To be in the running for t he RAK you'll need to:
1. Become a follower
2. Comment on this with a link to your LO.

I can't wait to see your creations!

Snow-tastic!

2010-02-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Wow, the snow this morning was pretty, and it hasn't stopped since! We are expected to get about 8" today/tonight and into tomorrow, maybe more. I love snow, and just hope that if you are out in it, especially tomorrow morning when it will be the worst icy conditions after a full night below freezing, that you are careful... more pics to come once I am home.

So, I have been really busy creating over the last week and am having a blast with the challenges over at Serendipity! They have some very talented DT members that really make me stretch and tink about my creativity! Pop on over and take a look at the gallery or some of the challenge threads. I'm Lisanj_2003 around there, Melody's, Dixie and BPM make sure you check them all out for fun, challenges and beautiful galleries!

Don't forget the Just My Sketches reveal is on Monday so you'll want to be there to see the beautiful work that team does! The crop at Dixie this weekend was a hoot! I am still creating, as those aren't all due until mid-next-week.

Off to play in the snow and maybe get some awesome shots for a few pages... stay warm dear firends!

2010-02-05T06:48:00.000-08:00

Come on over to http://melodysscrapbookworld.smfforfree3.com/index.php and participate in the Challenges and Online Crop! The layout about is from my challenge: Surviving the Terrible Two's or Sailing Away? .

Also, don't forget Dixie Pieces is hosting their online crop this weekend, too! I will be hanging out there as well.

Serendipity is running several challenges... I will be using the Online Crop Challenges to compete in their Team Challenge and House of Serendipity Crop!

As for my challenges here.. don't forget about the Polka-DOT Photography Challenge...

A funny thing happened when you parked crazy...

2010-02-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

Visit this blog for all things passive aggressive and crazy parking lot notes... too funny!

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2010/01/

2010-02-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

So, I was toolin' around over at Dixie and found this awesome card technique... Stamping with bubble wrap... who knew how cute that would be! Check it out!

http://dixiepieces.com/v/2010/Bubblewrap1.jpg.html

Not to mention the fabulous crop they have running this weekend! Join us for fun, challenges, games and one heck of a prize pack... http://dixiepieces.com/forum/topic/6184?replies=21

Paw Print: Just My Sketches

2010-02-02T05:36:00.000-08:00

Hey there! As you know I am on the Just My Sketches Layout Design team and I wanted to let you all know that the Feb. 1st sketch it up! Hop on over to http://a-scrapaddicts-sketches.blogspot.com/ and check it out! There are some awesome examples and a card sketch, too! If you are inspired to create from one of the sketches, be sure to link them back here! I want to see you creations!

The rest of the Just My Sketches LO Design Team....

~Monique Fox: http://living-in-the-positive.blogspot.com/
~Zarna Gould: http://zarnasworld.blogspot.com/
~Melanie Jarocki: http://www.mjarphotos.blogspot.com/
~Ann Lenth: http://www.annlenth.blogspot.com/
~Michele Light: http://www.alighttouch.blogspot.com/
~Stephanie Puccini: http://stephieree80.blogspot.com/
~Julie Thornton: http://juliescraftyspot.blogspot.com/
~Ana White: http://anazelia-myscrapbookaddiction.blogspot.com/

All of our examples are here:
http://a-scrapaddicts-sketches.blogspot.com/

LONG weekend

2010-01-31T19:53:00.000-08:00

So, after cleaning up several puddles in my scrap room after over 2.5" rain Thursday night and into Friday, I was worn out. Josey helped but nothing cooperated with the process. The wetvac wouldn't hold suction, the regular vaccuum's bag was full, and no new ones here... ugh.

The SASSY's came over Saturday once Candiece finished up a fabulous Hostess Club meeting here at my house. (If you are in the Dallas area and would like to join us, let me know! The monthly order is $20 in Stampin' Up! products and we do several projects. Candiece's blog is linked... visit her!) I was officially the LEAST productive scrapper this week. THT NEVER HAPPENS but I was just out of it. So, today I scrapped and finished up the Layout for the Just My Sketches Design Team (http://a-scrapaddicts-sketches.blogspot.com/) and Deanne will post it when she puts up the sketch and songs! Plan to drop by and participate in the challenge, the sketch is really great! (http://a-scrapaddicts-sketches.blogspot.com/)

Also don't forget the online crop for Melody's Scrapbook World 2/4-11... I have some awesome challenges ready, as do my fellow designers, and Melody will be running games. I am planning to have a online crop party here at the house for a few friends this next weekend.. it should be fun!

Have a great week.. and I will get my challenge (the one I promised Thursday, before the monsoon began)tomorrow night.

'til then...

The Good, The Bad and The Friday Happy Dance

2010-01-29T08:58:00.001-08:00

So I have had a week full of things that created a full range of emothions! As you know last week I announced that I was asked to participate in the Melody'sScrapbookWorld Design Team as a Guest Designer for Feb-April. My hubs had to have 2 spots on his back removed (eek) and waiting for the pathology is just about to kill me. I participated in the Project Runway Crop at Serendipity Scrapbooks and had a blast creating and posting my take on their challenges. I even won a RAK for my Texture LO (the black & white on in the slide show above! I finished most of my challenges for the online crop for 2/4-11 for Melody and have a few challenges that I may add once I get an example done. It started raining yesterday and hasn't stopped, which created a mean looking PUDDLE in my scraproom from the sliding glass door leaking! But, today is Friday and the "weekend is here" happy dance was about to begin when I checked my spam folder in my email... I was offered a spot on the design team for the JustMySketches blog and it had been sitting there since SUNDAY! OMW! I typed a reply faster than I could even think and hit send......... waiting.....Inbox... new message... Yes, your spot is still available and the DANCING begins!!!! The rain has stopped, I got the sketch for Feb. for the newest spot and will work on it this weekend, the SASSY's are coming over tomorrow to crop the day away.... and all is right in my world... I am blessed! thank you Lord for being there, at my wits end, when I need you and thnk you for reminding me this week that YOU help me with the things I am given and I should lean on you more... after what's a Dad for?

I hope your weekend is fabulous and that you enjoy the challenge I will be posting later today and that you are planning to join me at MelodysScrapbookWorld from 2/4-11 for the online crop! The challenges I have are too cute, and the other ladies are quite fabulous at creating, so I can't wait to see their stuff!.... I am excited about it ALL!

Join Me for an Online Crop Feb. 4-11

2010-01-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Melody's Scrapbooking World will be hosting an online crop from Feb. 4th-11th and I hope you will sign up to join me there! I am a guest designer for Melody's forum for February, March and April and will be hosting some challenges during the crop. Please set some time aside to join me in the online crop fun during that week! It is sure to be an inspiring time!

http://melodysscrapbookworld.smfforfree3.com/index.php

Project Runway Crop: My Creations

2010-01-25T11:07:00.001-08:00

Candiece and I had so much fun during the online crop this past weekend! We were definitely challenged by fashion! Take a look at the slideshow above for shots of my creations. If you are ever in need of inspiration or fun, please visit http://www.serendipityscrapbooks.com/phpBB/index.php! They have a TON of idesa and some fabulous creators!

Thanks Serendipity for the inspiration, challenge, chance to win RAK's and fun! I had a blast!

Lisa

Project Runway Crop

2010-01-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

My friend Candiece and I are participating in the Project Runway Online Crop from 1/22-25/10 over at Serendipity Scrapbooks.

They have tons of challenges up and surely you'd be inspired by one of them. I will post my creations next week.

'til then...

Polka-DOT

2010-01-21T09:31:00.000-08:00

Do you DARE to do a long term challenge? If so, join me in this one. Plan to take 5-10 pictures each week for the next 6 weeks. Choose from this list each week (you do not have to set your choices in stone, go the extra mile by NOT doing the same selections each week!)

- Meal Time
- Weather
- Hands/Feet/Features that are NOT the typical "face" of a picture
- Pet peeves
- Favorite things
- Packages
- Over the shoulder or random shots without using the viewfinder on your camera
- Flowers
- Work
- Your view
- Silly moments
- Everyday Staples
- Pleasant Surprises
- Walking away
- Mirrored
- Shadows

SAVE your shots by week! Then at the end of the 6 weeks I will post the next portion of this Polka-DOT. This is not an excersise in planning, it is an excersise in spotanaity, and we all need a bit of a "different view" on our lives to really SEE them.

Enjoy yourself, feel free to show off some of your most unique and surprising shots along the way. I have added some of my favorite and surprising shots that thinking outside the box with my camera have gotten me. The one of my husband was actually taken over my shoulder and the one of the clouds was as I came out of the storm and under clear skies. If you look at my previous post you will see shots of meal time with friends. These have all become some of my favorits and had I stuck with the same ol', same ol', well I would be without them.

Tip: You are not expected to LOVE every shot, that is why we love digital cameras. The goal here is to end up with 3-10 shots to pick from each week.

'til then
Lisa

Pop-DOT: Color Challenge

2010-01-21T05:59:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my newest blurkers and followers, I hope you'll "follow" me so we can all see what you are up to. I also wanted to welcome all the members of Melody's Scrapbooking World to my blog! It is truly a joy to be called Guest Designer for the next three months and as a start to that I would like you all to join Melody in the January Color Challenge.

The details: do a layout using red, black and white
The challenge ends 1/31/10

I hope you will join me in posting your creations both here on the blog and on Melody's Scrapbooking World

A quick "How do ya do"

2010-01-20T10:35:00.000-08:00

My resolution for 2010 was to blog and get more of my creativy out there and after a short list of possible blog names (Thanks for being the backboard Steph & Amy!), here I am.

Most of you know that I am a serious scrapbook addict and there is nothing I love more than spending the day scrapbooking with my daughter and friends. I am an assistant organizer for the SASSY Scrappers of Dallas and truly enjoy being with these ladies. They are a random gathering of fabulous women who have been there for me both creativly and as true friends. They have accepted my daughter hangin' out with us on occassion and even my fur-kids Flash & Molly joining us. I love 80's music (that's just for you Brenda) and a varied mix of other genres and there is always a need for tunes in the background. I will intro some of the other SASSY ladies in the next few weeks, and may even have a few help me out with a few challenges.

On that note, I do love a good challenge, so without further delay... here's what will be coming in this blog:

Pop-DOT's: Short Challenges (Dare yourself to Organize a plan and Try this!)
Polka-DOTs: Long term Challenges
Quill's: Random Ideas and thoughts that are meant to make your wheels turn
Paw Prints: links to sketches that I think you might like
3-D Popper: A project challenge that is not meant to be "flat"

I will post one of each every month, and hope that you will join me in trying new things and getting out of those ruts. I will be posting one of them tomorrow... but you have to come back to see what the project will be!

'til then...
Lisa