Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Swap-Bot ATC Swap "Wizard of Oz"

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This is a card I created for an ATC swap on swap-bot.com. I have recently rediscovered my love for these miniature pieces of art, and have signed up for quite a few swaps on the bot. I created another Oz themed card to send to my swap partner as an added goody. I hope she likes the cards as much as I liked making them!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

New In Color Club Forming Now!!!


Hey Stampers!
It's time for FIVE New Stampin' Up! In Colors!
Stampin' Up! Has really outdone themselves with the 2011-2013 collection of 5 NEW In Colors-you will be delighted with all the creative possibilities these fabulous new hues give you!

Even their names are gorgeous!
-Calypso Coral
-Island Indigo
-Pool Party
-Lucky Limeade
-Wisteria Wonder



Don't they just take you away to some amazing places in your imagination? Here is one of my favorites-Lucky Limeade-in the NEW Ruffled Edge Grosgrain Ribbon. Simply gorgeous!

So, now that I have you drooling, want to know some details on my In Colors Clubs? Great!

Here's how it works:
Every month for the next 5 months(August through December)you will receive the following products in ONE of the 5 new In Colors. A different Color Collection each month until you have collected them all!

-In Color Ink Pad
-In Color Classic Ink Refill
-In Color 8 1/2x11" Cardstock (20 sheets)
-In Color 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (10 yards)
-In Color Designer Series Paper (8 full sheets)
-In Color Stampin' Write Marker
-In Color Designer Printed Brads (8 Brads)

And ONCE during the 5 month club period, each club member will be able to choose an additional $25 in FREE product from ANY Current Stampin' Up! Catalog-including Hostess Stamp Sets!

Does this sound like a fun way to build your color collection?
I'm sure you are wondering just how much it will cost you each month. I mean, that is a ton of products each and every month! Seven different products every month for five months!
What if I told you it was only $38.00 each month?! Yes! Just $38.00 per month for five months for all of the products listed above, in EACH of the five new In Colors!

I also have a few extra goodies for my club members as well. Each club member will receive their own copy of the brand new Idea Book and Catalog-a $10 value-absolutely free as my gift to you!
Each club member will also receive a free full color tutorial for two projects using your New In Colors! Tutorials include photos and step by step instructions, just for you. Tutorials can be emailed to you in a Word Document so you can save to a file and print at your leisure, or you may arrange for a color printed copy to be delivered to you with your monthly club kit (local customers only).
And don't forget-once during your 5 month club commitment YOU will receive an additional $25 in FREE product of YOUR CHOICE from any current Stampin' Up! Catalog.

So...how do I join, you ask?
It's as easy as sending me an email at ravenrt@gmail.com and tell me that you want to be an In Color Clubber. I will group you up with 4 other Clubbers (5 total per club)and you will be randomly assigned your color of the month and the month in which you will receive your FREE $25 product bonus.

Each month you will forward your payment to me with either personal check, credit card or PayPal, no later than the 10th of each month. During the month in which you receive your additional $25 in product, I will need your selections at the time of payment. You may also order additional items with your club order at any time for an additional fee. If you are local to me, there will be no additional shipping fee. Non-local club members will need to pay shipping to the delivery address of their choice. Once you have been assigned a Club Group, you will receive a club group confirmation email from me, as well as my PayPal info if you choose to use that method of payment.

Clubs forming now will be closed August 5th. Do not wait! Contact me now, to be In Color!

Ravenrt@gmail.com

I just know you are going to love all of the NEW In Colors as much as I do, and I can not wait to get them in y our inky fingers so you can start creating!

Deadline to join is August 5th!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

2page layout from kit

This two-page layout was created using a Scrapper's Edge "Get the Edge" monthly kit.  I paired up some of my Stampin' Up! card stock and punches on this layout too.
I have some really cute pictures of Estella from Easter that I want to print out and put on this layout.  Once I actually do that, I will edit and update this post with new pics.
 Here is a closer shot of the Left side page.  I added a bunch of extra bling that did not come in the kit.  I also used some Bermuda Bay card stock from Stampin' Up!

Detail shot of the fabulous butterfly embellishment that came in the kit.  I love the way these look on a page.  
Here is a detail shot of the Right hand page.  Another fun butterfly embellishment and lots more bling and sparkly buttons.

Here is a detail shot of the Stampin' Up! border punch I used and dressed up with even more bling.  A girl can never have too much sparkle, you know!



Stampin' Up! cards

"I recently attended a business meeting at my Upline's house to discuss business matters pertaining to my Stampin' Up! business.  I love these meetings because not only do we get to swap ideas and inspiration, but a couple of us usually have a card or project to share as well.
This card was designed by a fellow demonstrator.  The card stock colors used were Basic Black, Whisper White, and Cherry Cobbler and Glossy.  The Inks used were Black Staz-On and Cherry Cobbler.  The stamp sets are Circle Circus, and Curly Cute.  The fun buttons were created by brayering Cherry Cobbler ink onto glossy card stock.  That was then run through the Big Shot with the buttons galore embosslet. Then it was finished off with a Stampin' Up! adhesive pearl.

This is one of the cards that I made for the meeting.  I love the look of this faux quilting technique.  I even purchased the Square Lattice embossing folder from Stampin' Up!  for the sole purpose of creating quilted cards.  This card uses Old Olive and Very Vanilla card stock and Vintage Garden DSP.  I also used the Square Lattice embossing folder and the ribbon is also Old Olive.
Here is a second version of the card using the same supplies, as above, but I did some stamping on this one.  I used the Curly Cute stamp set with some Chocolate Chip ink.  In this card there was no spaces between the DSP squares.  I think I like this look a little better than the spaces.  It is easier to do, and has a much more finished look.

Now, this adorable card was not one that we made at our meeting.  It is one my Upline made for a graduate that she knows.  I just thought it was too cute not to share!  I just love the owl punch from Stampin' Up! b If you would like to purchase any of these supplies for your own creative works, and you do not have your own STampin' Up! Demonstrator, feel free to email me to place an order.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Vogue Layout

I have been trying to scrap some of my older photos that I had developed.  The photos on the layout below were taken on October 25th, 2009.  It was Estella's 4th Birthday, and I snapped these pictures when I was taking her to preschool.  She was such a little diva-even back then!  These are still some of her favorite poses whenever I break out the camera.

All of the patterned papers used on this layout are from the April "Get The Edge Kit" from my local scrapbooking store, Scrapper's Edge.  I added a few things to the kit because I was actually using the "leftovers"  after I made the two page layout example that comes with the kit.  I love these kits because there is so much value to them, and I always have enough goodies for five or six layouts as well as a handful of cards.
The teal colored cardstock I used for my journal strips and photo mat, is Stampin' Up! cardstock in Bermuda Bay.  It goes with the fun colors in he patterned papers, well.  The letters and number 4 I used are Thickers alphabet stickers, that are glittery white.  The large bling is from my stash I found at the dollar tree a couple months ago.
More awesome dollar tree bling.
 This is the sketch that I used for this layout.  I love looking at a sketch and deciding on the kind of layout I want to create with it.  Sometimes I am inspired by the patterned papers I have in mind to use.  I though this sketch called for some fun colors and patterns, and that is just what I had in my "leftovers".

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Family Layout using Cricut

I used some of my favorite photos of Estella and Oren n this layout.  
My brother and my daughter have a very special relationship. There is no doubt in my mind that they love each other dearly.  In March of 2008, my little brother became the daddy to his own little girl when my niece Taylor was born.   I have to admit I was a little worried about Estella's feelings about "sharing" her favorite uncle with his new baby.  Thankfully, there was nothing to worry about.  Estella adores her cousin, and she and her uncle still have a very special bond, as you can see in these photos.

This layout was created with the DCWV  Garden Party stack.  The cardstock is Bazzill in Pinecone (my fave brown to use.  I should seriously buy it in bulk!)  The flowers were cut from more Garden Party patterned paper and Pinecone cardstock.  The gems in the centers are from Hero Arts.  The punched border of my hidden journaling was done with my Fiskars Effervescence Border Punch.  I love this punch, and it is still one of my favorites among my growing collection of punches.


 

Monday, May 23, 2011

Scrapping With Cricut

I made this layout in 2009, using my cricut to cut out all of the circles and scallops.  I used a DCWV pattern paper stack and Bazzill card stock.  The bling I used is from Doodlebug.  I love their bling!  The cricut cartridge I used was a solutions cartridge called Stamping.  It is still one of my favorites to use.

The journaling strips on this page read:
My name is 
NO, NO
but grandma calls me
PRECIOUS

Sunday, May 22, 2011

For the Record...

 I am trying to get all of my layouts scanned and in one place.  This is not an easy task, to say the least.  Thankfully, I have some tech savvy friends I can ask(whine to)for help when I need it.  Also, I am lucky that my LSS has a great large scale scanner for customer use, so I can get the entire layouts without bothering with the hassles of tying images together.
 I made this layout a few years ago.  It was from our first annual trip to the local pumpkin patch.  Estella was almost 3.  The photo was taken in October of 2008.  My ribbon was a $1 spool from Scrapper's Edge, and the paper was from a seasons pack of DCWV.  I love scrapbooking fall.  The colors are some of my favorites!

Here is another layout featuring my favorite subject to scrap-Miss Estella.  This photo was taken in March of 2008, so that would make Estella 2.  The photos were taken on a blustery day at Samoa Beach.  We took Estella to fly kites and we had a blast.  I love the pinkness in her cheeks in this photo.  I used my Cricut Expression with the Stamped mini cartridge to cut out all of the shapes and the word "imagine" on this layout.  My card stock is bazzill and the patterned papers are DCWV.  The fabulous bling id from doodlebug.

Thanks so much for taking a peek.  I will have more to post soon!
Raven





Thursday, April 7, 2011

Those Eyes

This is one of my favorite photos of Estella.  I just love lighting and the sweet expression on her face.  I love it so much, that I can even ignore the fact that her face is less than totally clean (I think that might be chocolate around her mouth) and she is wearing a winter hat of her grandma's.

I used Bazzil textured cardstock in pine cone for my background paper for this layout.  All of the other elements I used were leftovers from one of my monthly "Get the Edge" kits from Scrapper's Edge.  I wanted the focus to remain on my photograph, so I used minimal patterns with subtle color schemes.  I even kept my embellishments flat and just went with some rub ons and letter stickers for my title.  I also used my glaze gel pen to create some shiny faux stitching.


In this photo of my layout, I used the flash setting on my camera because I thought it represented the true colors of the page, but the flash did create a large glare over my photo.  So I have included a second photo of the layout below, so you can all see the photograph I used.  I am sure there are ways around this problem with the photography, and I would love to hear any tips and tricks that you may have to offer.
Thanks so much for looking, and any comments you leave.

Remember-use those scraps!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Family Tree Page in progress...

I  am terrible about making layouts and not adding my photos.  I know!  Some people can not even begin to scrap without having their photos in hand.  I have a good memory and I can create a layout with the photos I intend to use in mind.  I have even scrapped a layout before I have taken photos, and then staged the photos so they coordinate the layout.  Am I the only person (wierd-o) who does this?

In December, Nick's grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary!  What an amazing milestone, indeed.  So I had the idea to have all of their children (spouses included), grandchildren, and great-grandchild get together and have a family portrait shot with the grandparents.  Grandma was thrilled!  Grandpa does what grandma says, so it went off well.  Now we all have these amazing family portraits for our homes.  Well, I scrapped this layout with the intention of adding a cut-up version of the family portrait to it.
I was thrilled when I realized that this family tree printed paper had the exact number of spaces for photos that I need to put everyone on the page.  How cool is that?  Now, all I have to do is print out an 8x10 copy of our portrait and start cutting it up.  I have not decided whether I should print the photos in color, black and white, or sepia tones.  Any thoughts?






Here are a couple detail shots to show off some of the buttons and patterned papers and textured card-stock I used.  You can see also, where I have penciled in the names of the family members who's photos will go in what places.  This was fun and easy to do.  I will post a finished product when I add my photos.






Monday, March 28, 2011

Summer Time and a sketch

This layout uses more of my awesome stash of  kit remnants.  I have a ton of candid shots of Estella, and these were fun and made me think of Summer because she got a hold of her Uncle's sunglasses and was hamming it up for the camera.

I used my copic markers to color some clear bling to coordinate with the colors I used in my layout:
I love the way they turned out.  I have been doing this a lot.  Coloring my embellishments to match.  It's pretty crafty, and stretches that dollar.  Who doesn't need that?  I would love to hear any crafty tips and tricks you all have to share!

 This is the sketch I started out with for the layout above.  Would love to see your interpretation.  If you decide to play along, please send me a link.  I love seeing other people's work.

Thanks so much for visiting!













Sunday, March 27, 2011

Old + New = CUTENESS!

Here is yet another layout using some leftovers from my collection of "Get the Edge" kits.  I have paired an older photograph of Estella (circa. January 2007) with the newer papers and embellishments from a kit from late 2010.  I am digging the end result.


The journaling reads:  "She is our Joy and our heart's Delight".

Here is a detail shot to show the depth added by popping up the heart shapes.  The heart shapes are actually the "waste" from a giant Martha Stewart Valentine border punch.  I was pretty pleased with myself for thinking of using them!

I love these plastic letter stickers. Too cute!

Thanks for visiting!!










Ruth Lake and a Sketch

More Scraps!  I have been using up the leftovers from my kits and have been quite pleased with the cute layouts I have been turning out.  I am notorious for having a ton of layouts with NO PHOTOS on them (I know!) and so I have been printing out a bunch of photos that have been lying in wait on my hard drive.  The photos from this layout are more taken from our trip to Ruth Lake a couple years ago.  I used this SKETCH:


I created this layout above.  I have been using a lot of sketches lately and find that it is very easy to use them as a springboard for my creativity.  I have even started out with a sketch, and then the process of my layout turns into a finished product that looks nothing like the sketch I started out with.

Here, I used my trusty signo white gel pen from Stampin' Up!  I probably have at least five of these amongst all of my scrappy supplies.  I love how consistent and smooth they write.  I used it to create the faux stitching around the banner embellishment.
More signo used here to outline my photos and add definition and fun to the page.  Don't you just love these puffy stickers?  Too cute!
More details:  Signo detailing, check out the awesome tone-on-tone patterns in these papers.  I love that fresh look it gives.

Thanks so much for stopping by!







Saturday, March 26, 2011

Something Fishy...

I am steadily working through my kit leftovers and was able to make this cute layout from some of the extra bits and pieces.  I love the colors and the fun-ness of this layout. 


This photo was taken in 2009 at Ruth Lake.  Nick and I took Estella to the lake for a day of fun, fishing and swimming.

Here is a detail shot of the photo and title of the layout.  I used a pencil to draw the fishing line beyond Estella's pole, and down the page...


...to this cute little detail.  

Thanks for stopping by and looking!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Using Up Those SCRAPS

 I LOVE the "Get The Edge" monthly kits from my LSS, Scrapper's Edge.  These kits are always overflowing with tons of awesome new products.  Papers, ribbons, stickers, chipboard and die cuts are often found within the bag I grab each month.  Each kit comes with an inspiration sheet, showing at least one-if not two-12x12 two page layout diagrams and two card diagrams made from the contents of the kit.

Everything coordinates so well, that I store all of my leftovers in their bag until I find a way to use it.  Well, I have been reorganizing my scrap area, and I came across a huge stockpile of kit remnants.  I made it a point to use these up.  This is a layout using scraps and extras from my kits.  I hope you like them half as much as I liked putting them together!





This is one of my favorite photos of Estella.  I took this picture at the mall when she was laying on the platform of the play structure and peeking out at me.  The Photo was taken in 2008.  Journaling and layout were done in March, 2011.