A Weekend Away

I am not spending the weekend at home.  I am hanging out at tigardlilly's house all weekend, mostly scrapping and a little cleaning.  I am enjoying NOT being at home.

Since I am scrapping, I made these Friday night for tigardlilly's kids.  They got music download cards for Vday, and I saw these on someone else's blog and thought what a perfect way to give the boys thier cards!  I  found these on familyfun.com.  I sort of just used the idea, but didn't use thier template, we lacked the neccessary candy, so I winged it.  I think they turned out pretty cute!!  Of course the boys only really cared about the card inside, lol! 

I got some more Valentine's Day cards from the AMR swap...

This is from Scrappy Girl.   I spy lots of Stampin' Up punches here!!

Julia, aka Grettasgranddaughter sent me this one, but it isn't part of the swap.  She was the person I was paired up with for the music ATC swap, where I made the Bon Jovi ATC.  She sent me her ATC and a Vday card, how sweet was that?!

Here's her music ATC!

Remember the "M" ATC I made last post for the partner's name swap on AMR?  Cliff is doing the swap too, and got paired up with tigardlilly!  Here are the ATCs he made!  The only thing I did was tell him her favorite colors of Bazzill cs, run the Silhouette, and give a few ideas on how to use the ribbon.  He decided on everything and did everything!  She loved them!

I loved them too, so he made me one, with the first letter of the nickname he gave me.  Don't ask, I am not telling!! LOL

This is AMR's Thursday Scraplift Challenge 2/12

First off, I don't know why the colors are so bright, they aren't in real life.  With that said, I used Bazzill cs and Dream Street papers.  I cut out the border, birdies/branch, and conversation bubbles.  The letters are cut with tigardlilly's scraps, her Sizzlets letters, and QK Bracket die.

AMR's Friday Team Challenge 2/13: Button Butterfly+Jewels & Flowers

The challenge was to use buttons and make a butterfly, plust use some flowers and jewels.  I cut the butterfly on my Silhouette, glued on buttons and jewels then outlined it in Black Diamond Stickles.  I used one of my monthly BG kist I got at AMR which included the buttons, all the pp, and the rubon.  I also used more jewels on the little butterflies, added some flowers and brads.

AMR's Card Challenge 2/14: Whitespace

The requirement was to try to leave 2/3 of the card as whitespace.  I used Core'dinations cs, embossed it with the CB Argyle embossing folder, and sanded it down.  I also used Bazzill cs, stamped the Studio G (wood-mounted) shamrock, lightly colored it in with my SU Blender Pen, stamped the sentiment with QK Sophisticate letter stamps, used the SU Ticket Corner Punch, and added a misc ribbon scrap.  I put the whole thing on more Bazzill cs.

I have 2 more Valentine's Day cards on thier way, as well as the winter ATCs.  I will share those when I get them, as well as more challenges from AMR and Scrapbook Challenges, plus my DT layout for SBC.

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More To Share

I got a few more Valentine's Day Cards this week, all from the AMR swap.
This one is from jfrank

From Cheeky
From Haapyhrt
I also got the AMR Valentine ATCs back today, look at all this love!!!
For another ATC swap at AMR, we got paired up with a partner, and are supposed to make an ATC for each letter of thier first name. My partner likes red and has 5 letters in her name. Since I MUST make one for my own set, I made an M, but hers all look like this. Of course her's looks a little better because her letters are skinnier and don't clash with the buttons.
I used Bazzill cs, BG Boxer pp, misc buttons, embroidery floss, Technique Tuesday Big Timber Meadow Tall stamps, and Stickles.

Tuesday Font/Title challenge at AMR for 2/10: Handcut Title
I used Jenni Bowlin pp, Bazzill Just the edge which I chalked to mute the white, I traced and cut the letters after printing from the printer then covered in Glossy Accents, die cut flowers that I took from Cliff's RAK which I Stickled, and died "skittles". Jason wasn't even upset that I used "girlie" papers!!

AMR's Wednesday Product Challenge 2/10: Make a Calendar

I used a Maya Road Accordian Book that came with the rings already. The chipboard measures 3.75x5.75. I used We R Memory Keepers White Out Hoopla pp, misc ribbon, I made the calendar as a table in Word, and the highlighted dates are skittles and represent either holidays, birthdays, other special occasions, and events. I really love how this turned out. Do you notice May 2? That is National Scrapbooking Day people!!

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That is all I have for now. I am looking forward to a scrap-filled day tomorrow, YAHOO!!! Although, that isn't different than most days lately :)

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Better Late Than Never...

...That's what I alway say. I have been busy scrapping, as usual! That is why I haven't updated since a week ago. I was gone for a couple days, then had some family stuff over the weekend.

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I am organizing another card swap over on AMR, this one for Valentine's Day. There were only a few people signed up, but it will be fun none-the-less. This is the card I made. I used plain brown cs, American Crafts Romance line pp, cheapo ribbon, Cuttlebug nesting hearts, Nestabilities oval, Bazzill scraps, and a Technique Tuesday stamp.

Got this one from Tigardlilly in the AMR swap. Isn't it just the cutest? And NO, it is not a "flying monkey", it is a cherub or cupid monkey!
Got this from Bren/grammy-b at AMR.
Mary/scrapamac sent me this card, just because. It is one of her first cards, and I think she did a fabulous job!!

I hope to have more cards soon to share with you, so keep a look out!!

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This is my take of Sketch 129 at Scrapbook Challenges. Pamela makes the sketches herself and does a great job! I used Bazzill cs, October Afternoon pp, eyelets, MM tiny letters, MM canvas letters, Target Dollar Spot ribbon, unknown chipboard flourish inked and cut in half to make a new shape, Prima and Kaiser Crafts flowers, and Kaiser Crafts Pearls.

Onto AMR Challenges.

Wednesday's Product Challenge 2/7: Emboss and Color Acrylic Packaging.

I actually procrastinated on posting some layouts, so I didn't get this one in on time. Oh well, at least I really like it! For the acrylic/plastic, I embossed in with the D'Vine Swirls CB folder, used my felt applicator and put Alcohol ink on the back, then used Brown Staz On to color the embossing. Everything is from my Basic Grey kit, except for flowers which are mostly Prima, and the journaling sheet is MM Paperie.

Thursday's Scraplift Challenge 2/5

I used Bazzill cs, Hambly screen print which I used my Fiskars Threading Water Punch all around, Magic Mesh, inked Felt Fusion, Bazzill cb arrow inked and Stickled, Bazzill Just The Edge strips, inked and Stickled, Scrapworks cb flower, inked scalloped circle with Stickles and a MM journal stamp, and Thickers.

Friday Team Challenge 2/6: Sequins

I rounded up 63 cents to get some sequins for this one. I used Bazzill cs, all pp is BG Oh Baby Girl, MM Journal sheet (line unknown, no packaging), die cut flowers from Cliff's RAK from the crop, buttons, and Target Dollar Spot letters. Sequins are hard to glue down, FYI, LOL!

Card Challenge 2/7: Masking

I used Bazzill cs, Maya Road cb key, 2 Glimmer Mists, Technique Tuesday and Inkadinkado stamps, Bazzill ribbon scraps, Cloud Nine raindrop flowers, Glaze pen, and misc buttons.

Monday Color Challenge 2/9: Red Background and 2+ Red PP

I used Bazzill cs, BG Boxer pp, October Afternoon pp, misc ribbon, MM Love Notes journaling sheet, dyed skittles, Felt Fusion, silk flower, button, Thickers, and Glossy Accents as a border and on the MM sheet.

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More Layouts & A Brief Pause

I have just been scrappin' away lately, and am totally loving it! Whether I am scrapping for fun, for challenges, or for DT stuff, I have a blast! I am so glad I found this hobby, it is so therapeutic for me! It may actually be more of an obsession, but I don't really care. I do have to say, that scrapbooking is an expensive hobby, and in our current financial situation, it makes things even harder! I am down to having to use glue sticks, and I hate it! Oh well, it is better to be responsible right? Good thing I have so much stuff in my stash, but you might be seeing a lot of stuff used over and over again, as time goes on. I am still amazed sometimes when I think about how much time I spend scrapping, lol!!

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Here is my total scrapbook production count for January. I did...

45 layouts, all 12x12

37 cards (20 are for Vday)

119 ATCs (6 swaps)

4 altered items

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This is Sketch 128 at SBC:

I used Bazzill cs, Cloud Nine pp, Bazzill Just The Edge which I inked, Thickers, my blender pen for outlining, and Kitchen Sink Stamps-this month's sponsor at SBC.

A challenge at SBC this week, Use Fabric:

I used Crate Paper pp, a piece of fabric that was on the top of a brownie mix jar my Mom got for Christmas, stripped Target Dollar Spot chipboard letters, K & Co Blue Awning rub ons, Prima flowers, misc flower, misc buttons, MM Noteworthy journal sheet, and Tim Holtz ticket.
Another challenge at SBC, Create A Cluster:
I used Stampin' Up textured cs, October Afternoon pp, Crate Paper pp, and We R Memory Keepers pp, Thickers (the L is pieced together), Cosmo Cricket rubons, Scrapworks chipboard flowers, Bazzill chipboard swirl (inked and Stickled), Heidi Swapp (I think) ghost heart (inked with alcohol ink), Prima and misc flowers, Kaiser Crafts rubon and pearls.
This is an AMR challenge, Friday Team Challenge-Life is____ When ____:
I used my Basic Grey kit I bought from AMR (a monthly kit straight from BG). This is from the February kit, featuring Bittersweet. All the pp, buttons, ribbon, chipboard letters are from the kit. I added some CB die cut hearts, and Technique Tuesday Wayfarer stamps.

This is the newest card Challenge at AMR-Paper Piecing:

I used Bazzill cs, Cosmo Cricket Cogsmo pp, Stampin' Up Sock Monkey stamps, Stampin' Up Ticket Punch, Inkadinkado birthday stamp, misc buttons, and Bazzill ribbon. The paper piecing was to be done using a stamp used multiple times on different patterned papers.

AMR's Monday Color Challenge-White Background and White Space:

I used Bazzill cs, BG Euphoria pp, stickers, and letters-kinda went a little sticker crazy, lol!

AMR's Tuesday Font/Title Challenge-One Word, Non-Noun Title:

I used January's BG kit from AMR featuring Ambrosia. Everything on this page is from that kit.

I got this RAK the other day, but wasn't home to post it or blog. This is from Scrappin{jewelz} from AMR. I won one of her challenges at the anniversary crop. Thank you so much Julie, I love it!

I sent out the prize for my crop challenge, and received this card in return, thanks Tiffanybrat!

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I won a couple challenges at AMR so far. I won the Friday Team Challenge from 1/23, Team Mascot. It is a random challenge, so it doesn't count toward the Royal Challenge (Winners, aka princesses, will be chosen each week for the M-Th challenges by the Challenge team. The layout will be judged based on how you nail the challenge. You will be crowned princess for that week. The person crowned princess most weeks in the year for each of the four challenges will be crowned QUEEN of that challenge at next year’s anniversary crop! We will end up with 4 queens!). BUT the Font/Title challenge from 1/27 , Hand Write Part Of Title, does go toward the Royal challenge! I am just waiting to receive my blinkie!! See both the layouts here!

That is all I have to share for now, but I will have more after the weekend. I am going to Kay's house today, to help her out with some scrappy things, and won't be home till Sunday evening. We will be cropping some too, so there is bound to be something to share, lol! Look for a new blog post on Monday, maybe Tuesday so I can share the newest SBC stuff!

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A Few, Random Things I Have Been Doing

You still checking to see if I updated??? Lucky you, 3 days in a row!!!

Straight to business, shall we?

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This is a prize/RAK I got for one of the AMR challenges I did at the crop. I am LOVING those stamps!! Thanks Gayle!

I caught the ATC fever!!! There are so many great ATC swaps going on at AMR! By the time this round of swaps is over, I will need another spinner, the one I have is already full, and that doesn't even count the grungeboard or Christmas ones I have gotten! I am actually thinking of doing the 3-ring binder and baseball card sleeves for them instead, especially since my 7-Gypsies ATC punch broke, again-piece of junk!

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This is my Valentine's Day ATC. Used Bazzill cs, CB Swiss Dots, Studio G stamps, Target Dollar Spot ribbon, and lots of Stickles. The scalloped rectangle is a nestability, borrowed from Tigardlilly.

AMR has a weekly chat called Scrap Chat Hour (SCH). Last week was all about the music. We get paired up with people to swap an ATC, this is what I did. I used DCWV glitter cs, DCWV Rockstar guitar pp, I cut out the letters on my Silhouette with this super cool Bon Jovi Font I found online, then used my embossing label maker for the "journaling". The oh-so-important guitar is on loan from kaydrenth, thanks!

This is the last one in a series of 4, the Four Seasons swap. When Tigardlilly bought this BG Ambrosia butterfly stamp, I immediately had plans for it...The Spring ATC! It has developed over time, and I am pleased with the results. I also borrowed her SU Top Note die, cut it in half, stamped half of the butterfly with Versamark, embossed it with heat and embossing powder, used some Tim Holtz Foam Ink appliators, borrowed from Tigardlilly, and sponged ink all over the die cut, then wiped the ink off the embossing. I used just plain, cheapo white cs underneath to really show the stamped image. I put that on some BG Euphoria, and used some DCWV glitter cs and Tigardlilly's Martha Stewart butterfly punch, then topped it all of with some Stickled dots. Can I just say this ATC wouldn't be possible without Tigardlilly??? Thanks!!!!

My word for 2009, Endure. I used Around The Block pp, American Crafts ribbon, CB border die, Quikutz alphas, Studio G stamp, Stickles, and a button. All the dies used are, again, borrowed from Tigardlilly.

Ahhh, one of my all time favorites!!! The tree swap! I used my new SU Season of Frienship tree, but had to trim it up a bit to make it fit, used (guess who) Tigardlilly's CB Textile die and since I was at her house, her Silhouette to make the scalloped circles. I put it all on some Scrapworks pp, and stamped beautiful with Technique Tuesday stamps.

The woodland creature swap, I knew exactly what I was going to use for this one! I won't reveal my source for these diecuts, but let me just say they match my paper perfectly!!! I used October Afternoon pp, DCWV glitter cs for the punched flower, a brad, "homemade" die cuts, and NOT Bazzill cs, lol!

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I have discovered Stampin' Up, if you couldn't tell. Lately, I got the blender pens! I don't have any SU ink yet, but my demo told me how to use them with regular ink...just stamp some acrylic, and pull the ink into the pen from that. Worked great, except, don't use it with Technique Tuesday inks, it stains the brush of the pen. The ink isn't coloring anymore, it is perfectly clean, but it's stained. Oh well! I decided to play with one of the stamped images I received in an AMR swap. I think it turned out ok! I am showing you the stained pen as well, lol!

Do you remember when I won the RAK on Kelly Goree's Blog and received this Creative Escape kit??? Well I finally got around to working with this kit. The kit was designed to do the layouts exactly, with the pieces already precut, so I followed her examples exactly. I got more of an idea of what goes on in the Basic Grey designer's mind and how she creates! I like how they turned out, being exact replicas of her's!! All the BG supplies are from the Sultry collection.

I made a card for my nephew's 16th birthday, we needed some way to send him his gift! I used all scraps on this, Sassafras Lass pp, the blue w/circles is unknown, and of course, Bazzill. I used Technique Tuesday stamps and a couple buttons.

This is called a "secret keeper" card, and is put out by Urban Lily. The card pulls open, but they are kinda ugly. I gently tore it apart, recovered it, put it back together, and VOILA, a super cute way to give a card! I used BG Ambrosia, with a couple butterflies cut out and covered in Glossy Accents, Cuttlekids Tadpole alphabet, BG Blush scraps, Black Market Paper Society scraps, and an Inkadinkado stamp.

Whew, I am caught up for now! Come Monday, there will be more to share, I promise! I am feeling quite a bit LESS overwhelmed with life right now, even though it is still stressful (does that even make sense?). I am enjoying blogging again, and can't wait to have more to share with you all! Thanks for checking back in, after my absense!! Till next time friends!!

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