Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Paper Poppy July Sneak Peeks

Shhhhhhhh -don't tell Aphra I told you that the July kit totally rocks with some serious Cosmo Cricket goodness. All of the elements in this kit flow together in such a perfect way, just like that little hot air balloon. OMG - is it too cute or what???? Take a look at these little sneaks to see what I mean.
Can you say Ready, Set, Chip??? Well....I sure can and I am having the absolute best time with these precious embellishments. Is that bus just the most adorable thing you have ever seen... I just want to eat it up, but thank goodness I already stuck it to my page so it is safe for now.
I am seriously going to miss Scenic Route when everything is REALLY gone-gone, but a big thanks to Aphra for including some of the favorites in her kits and add ons. These orange alphas totally rock and they are a perfect match for this kit. Wait until you see all of it - it's going to knock your socks off...

Remember - don't tell Aphra, I told you a little bit about the kit. It's a SECRET for one more day....

Visit the Paper Poppy blog tomorrow for the July Kit Reveal and come back again on Friday to see some sneaks from our fabulous guest designer this month. Guess we'll keep that a secret for just a tad bit longer too...

Thank you so much for stopping by -

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

June Bonus Sketch

This sketch was created for Pebbles Sketchy Thursdays.  You can visit the Pebbles blog to see some of the examples from the Pebbles Design Team.  This sketch is also eligible for my June Sketch Challenge.  I'll be drawing for a winner on Monday, July 5th.

Thank you for stopping by -

Monday, June 28, 2010

Pebbles Design Team Call

Pebbles is looking for a talented group of designers to join the 2010-11 team. If you are interested in working with a wonderful manufacturer like Pebbles, please click here for more information or visit the blog.

Good luck -

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sunday Sketch and Guest Designers

This week's sketch is based on layers and is easily modified. Turn it or tilt it for a different effect. This sketch is also eligible for this month's challenge, please click here to enter your work.
Sandie Vincent joins us from the UK this week. She has such a fresh style that is eye catching. Here is a little bit about her, "I'm a 30 something Mum of 3 children and have been married to Rich for 14 years. I live in the South West of England in a town called Swindon. I work as a freelance scrapbook teacher, and teach at my LSS 4 times a month as well as at a local crop once a month. I've just recently taught at a retreat which was a wonderful experience."
Here is what Sandie had to say about working with the sketch, "I loved the sketch that Liz sent to me, but had to adapt it to suit my photograph, which I rotated it 90 degrees. I've used some beautiful Prima papers and embellishments and replaced the hearts with a journaling spot and a flourish. I followed this theme by adding in a flower and more flourishes. I created my layered edges by using the Martha Stewart Loopy Punch. The photo is of my daughter eating the biggest cookie she'd ever seen, and the journaling reads - "We were waiting for Daddy to have his hair cut, a coffee for me and a giant cookie for you"
Some close ups of Sandie's work.
A bit more about Sandie, "I have been scrapbooking since July 2005 after a friend showed me her albums. I was making cards at the time and was adamant that I wasn't going to get into another craft, but she convinced me that I should take a class and try it out. Well I obviously did, and I never looked back, and absolutely love my hobby. What could be better than getting to play with all those pretty papers and embellishments?? And now I get to share my love of scrapbooking with others through teaching, which I adore doing."

Please visit Sandie's blog All Scrapped Out for more information about her and details about her work.

Angela Lenssen has created another wonderful design for us this week. Here is what she had to say about working with the sketch this week, "I love the scallops along the side, but when I thought about grass, flowers and houses, they seemed like three perfect layers to use in place of the scallops. It just fit this layout! I'll definitely use the sketch again with the actual scallops along the side. :)"
Please visit Angela's blog Mom-e-Memoirs for more information about her and details about her work.

Monica Goswick is also back again for her second post. Here is what she had to say about working with the sketch this week, "I loved this sketch this week, I knew as soon as I saw the sketch which photos I would be using. I tried not to change the sketch too much, I just switched the hearts with word strips instead. I think I finished this page in about 20 minutes, it was quick and easy. That is what Liz’s sketches do, make it easy to scrap!"
Please visit Monica's blog Our Family Life for more information about her and details about her work.

Thank you so much for stopping by -

Thursday, June 24, 2010

More from Adornit

The Adornit Destination collection is another of my favorites. I love the earthy colors and the versatility of this line. The simple lines on this card pop against the brown background and the Zoom paper from the Rumble collection adds some nice grounding to the blue and green. The die cut cardstock sticker is the perfect sentiment to send to a friend or relative who is about to embark on a trip or a new leaf on life.
This card was made with the Bug Buddies collection. I got such a kick out of the bright fun colors and coordinating cardstock stickers. Again I added some of the clear sticker flourishes to ground the punched flowers and to add some flair to the design.
I cannot get enough of the Bee Happy collection and had to include the Buzz paper on this card. Those bees are just darling. I also added the Refined Brown clear sticker flourishes to back the flower that I cut with a punch. Then I added some ribbon leaves and a complimentary cardstock sticker to finish the sentiment.

Thank you so much for stopping by -

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Sweet Peach Sketch

 
Would you like to win a RAK for creating something with this sketch???  Maybe something like this...
All you have to do is go HERE to the Sweet Peach blog and link your layout to my blog post over there and then you are automatically entered into a drawing for this RAK.  You don't even have to be a member of the club and can use whatever materials you would like to create your layout.  We would just love to have you come check the blog and hang around a bit.

Thanks so much and hope to see you there.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Guest Blogging at Adornit

I'm very excited to be a Guest Designer at Adornit, Carolee's Creations this week!  They sent me a few of their newest collections to play with and oh what how fun they are...  I am totally smitten with the Bee Happy Collection! Red and blue are two of my favorite colors to scrap and this line has the best color palette of each. My daughter loves to play at our local park and she is only too happy to show how much fun she is having. I thought it would be a great idea to create some movement in the layout by cutting swirls into the corners of the paper and then backing it with another pattern. Then I shadowed one of the swirls with little banners made from cardstock. Finally, I used a large circle to shadow the journal card sticker as a way to add interest and accent. There is also a sketch of this layout to share with all of you, but you have to visit the Adornit site to see it!
I cut these little banner flags from cardstock and then used a marker to create the little "clips" that hold them to the line.  I also used the banner to accentuate the swirl I cut to bring out the other patterned paper.  The effect is quite nice.

For the title, I used some of the Bee Happy A paper to make the letters with my Cricut Story Book cartridge. Then I pop dotted them to add some dimension and lift. The round bee and heart are coordinating cardstock stickers are a wonderful part of the collection and adds just the right touch of embellishment for my simple design..
Since I did a layout with my daughter above, I had to create one with my son too.  He is such a little ham. He loves to get out the mixing bowls and wear them on his head – thus the title Bowl Me Over. I really love that Kraft paper is back in style and how awesome it looks with just about anything. For this layout I used the Boy Jamboree collection combined with some Snapshot paper. It’s fun to play with papers made from text. I’ve been working on overlapping photos and lifting them off the page by adding different heights of chipboard to the backs. I also matted the smallest photo with Kraft paper to draw more attention to it. The circle elements are to break up the squared look of the layout.
I find that papers with text make excellent alphabets. I used the Boys Toys paper and my Cricut Blackletter cartridge to cut par t of the title. Then I shadowed the letters with black to make them stand out more and to compliment the black text on the Snapshot paper. The other sticker letters blend perfectly into the Snapshot paper, but stand out enough to finish the title.
Don’t you just love journal tags? I totally dig the journal tag stickers that compliment each of the Adornit collections and this one from the Destination collection called Journey made a nice contrast to the blues and browns in the layout. The red buttons add contrast and more dimension to the project.
Thank you so much for stopping by -

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday Sketch and Guest Designers

I was trying to move photos around on the page and came up with this sketch. I can see how it might be challenging to pull it all together and that the "right" photos are necessary, but I think it has a fun and clean feeling to it. Remember that you can use this sketch in the June Challenge. Click here for more details about it.
Tracy Gardiner is one of my fellow DT mates at Imaginisce and such a sweetheart, not to mention talented. Here is a little bit more about her, "My name is Tracy Gardiner. I am a 30-something (ok, ok, closer to 40) SAHM of a 13-year old boy, Bryce. I have been married to my childhood sweetheart for 16 years and I live on the East Coast of South Africa in a City called Durban, which has basically two seasons … Summer … and Summer … We are presently hosting the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup in our Country and, although I am so not a Soccer fan, the vibe and buzz has definitely hit our shores and I find myself singing along to the Soccer songs, dancing the Diski (which is the official WC dance) and watching more than a game or two … I love how our Country is pulling together as a Nation for the first time in a very long time … it is indeed a good sign for the people of South Africa."
Here is what Tracy had to say about working with the sketch, "I pretty much used the sketch as is … I journaled on one of the “blocks” and used a flower on the circle where you indicated journaling. I stamped lines onto plain cardstock for the journaling and for accents on the other two “blocks”. I also brought my TITLE to below and alongside the photos as opposed to above and below. I also used pretty bold papers so did not want to make the LO too busy by adding too many embellishments ….The Title of my LO is “Born to crop not to mop” and the journaling reads as follows: - “Sophs and I enjoyed a girly weekend at Emperor’s Palace – 2 whole days of scrapping – no worries – no responsibilities – until we saw the mop!! Grrrr – back to reality with a THUMP!! I am indeed honoured to be providing a Layout for Liz’s awesome sketches and I hope you like what I’ve designed for you …
Some close ups of Tracy's work.

A few more words from Tracy, "I have been scrapping for about 12 years, pretty much since scrapbooking first came into our country. Of course, the beginnings of scrapbooking were very basic here and I stopped scrapping until about 7 or 8 years ago when more product made its way into our eager little paws. Now we get just about everything that is available, albeit a little later than its release in the States. But, of course, there is always online shopping … Bless the Internet …I have a simple and neat style of scrapping and I HAVE TO include more than a few words of journaling on my LO’s."

Please visit Tracy's blog I Am Here to Live Out Loud for more information about her and details about her work.

Sandi Clarkson is back again this week with an amazing patriotic tribute to her her dad, which is perfect or Father's day.
Here is what she had to say about working with the sketch, "I have to be honest that my first reaction to the sketch was to question it. I was concerned that my 3 photos would be kind of floating around and looking somewhat disjointed. And for someone who likes balanced asymmetry, this was definitely outside my comfort zone. However, I decided to go ahead and be true to the sketch (although I thought of a few really good variations) and am pleased with the outcome. After choosing my photos, I studied the elements of the sketch beside and between the photos and thought of the good ole Red, White and Blue. So, my color scheme was chosen and the rest is history as they say! I think I will repeat this sketch soon, doing some photos of my daughters when they were young. I think it would be great for those profile shots you get at the studio."

Please visit Sandi's blog Soft Side of Sandi for more information about her and details about her work.

Diana Gonzalez is also designing again this week and I really love her wonderful color scheme and photos. She did such a fabulous job of pulling everything together.
Here is what she had to say about the sketch this week, "This was a fun sketch to work with. I love circles and this one gave me two well position ones. I used stitching to make a more subtle circle. I also use scraps to give it the strip look."

Please visit Diana's blog All the Days of Our Lives for more information about her and details about her work.

Thank you so much for stopping by -

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Happy as a Clam

I love the versatility of the Imaginisce Splash Dance collection. You can go totally beach with it, or you can use the papers and embellishments for other things. I love this beautiful scalloped paper and decided to keep the card simple by cutting and inking along the edges of the scallops. Next I added a bit of ribbon and finished it off by placing a rub-on inside a circle I punched for the sentiment. The "marker" stitching adds a little interest and grounding to the die cut. Simple but effective - that's how I like to make cards.

Thank you for stopping by -

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Introducing Sweet Peach

Just wanted to let you all know that I am sketch designing for a new kit club called Sweet Peach Crop Shop which is owned by a very sweet woman named Corrie Jones. Each month I will post a sketch and challenge at the Sweet Peach blog along with some example layouts from the Design Team. Click here to see the sketch from this month.  There is also a pretty cool RAK to be won by random drawing.  Hope to see a few of you sketchy girls playing along this month.  You can use any materials you choose.
The club offers a featured kit and a themed kit. This layout was created with the Juicy Kit which featured Lily Bee Designs Hello Sunshine mixed with Jillibean Soup.
I absolutely love these adorable little velvet butterflies from Petaloo, which are also part of the Juicy Kit. There is a whole package and they come in 5 different colors.

Thank you for stopping by -

Monday, June 14, 2010

Nikki + Me = Willie Bee's DT

I am so thankful and excited to be joining the amazing and talented group of Divas at Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker. I just adore her products and am looking forward to a year of fun designing with the other girls on the team. My official thank you card was made with the AWESOME My Sweet Cherry Pie Collection - which is my favorite to date. But...check out Nikki's new collection Blue Berry Hill. It is absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to get my hands on these little gems. You can find a lot of Nikki's products at A Cherry On Top.
Take a gander at this formidable talent bank of designers and be sure to come visit Nikki's site for some inspiration.

Domestic DT:

International DT:

Card DT:

My Local DT:

Thank you so much for stopping by -

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sunday Sketch and Guest Designers

What are you doing with all of those scalloped circle die cuts you have lying around your scraproom??? Well, I think this sketch might give you a few ideas for cutting them up and adding some details. This sketch is also eligible for the June Sketch Challenge. Click here to enter any work done this month.
Melinda Spinks is such an amazing talent! I am always so excited about what she creates and a little jealous about how her brain works - LOL. I tease her that I am going to go to Australia just so I can rub her belly to see if some of her talent will wear off on me :) Here is a little bit about her, "I live on a farm with my husband The Farmer and my two precious wee-ones Georgia (10) and Benjamin (4). My world revolves around my family, the farm, my garden, spending time in my kitchen and my new hobby in the paper-world. I started scrapping in February last year after a friend gave me a magazine and I thought 'gee, I would love to try that'. It has been a whirl-wind 16 months and I'm loving this new addition to my life, especially the amazing people I have met along the way. Liz just happens to be one of those incredible people!"
Here is what Melinda had to say about working with the sketch this week, "When I received the sketch I had immediate plans... then I changed my mind, again and again! The sketch was open to so many possibilities that I didn't know which direction I would take until I stumbled across this photo of my daughter and I knew it would be perfect, especially with the MLSB papers I'd recently acquired. Although it was a three pic sketch, I decided that the photo lent itself to being sectioned off which would still create the same effect. I didn't stray too much from the original design as it was perfectly balanced and I didn't want to detract from what Liz's original intentions were. Thank you Liz for entrusting me with one of your amazing designs!"
Close up of Melinda's work...
Please visit Melinda's blog The Scrap Farm for more information about her and details about her work.

Pearl Liu is treating us to another week of her wonderful creations and I am so excited about what she did with my sketch this week. She said, "I kept as close to the sketch as possible as was inspired to try cutting up a circular die cut, using the sketch as a guide. I've definitely tried out a lot of techniques in my scrappy adventures but , this is probably the first time I'm doing something like that. I used a sequence of my DD & friends on their first time out kite flying together at a rather iconic landmark in our city. We have such a panaromic view of our new city skyline here."
Please visit Pearl's blog Pearl's Paperfections for more information about her and details about her work.

Marisol Valencia has been working with my sketches for a while and she always has such a lovely interpretation to share. Here is what she had to say about working with the sketch, "When I received Liz's sketch, I noticed the butterflies immediately. I love butterflies! I decided on some family photos, as my family is the protagonist in the better part of my scrapbooking projects. My sons and my husband are the source of my inspiration. Without realizing, I chose these lovely patterned papers from Making Memories and Adornit. The circles that Liz had drawn in her project I made by cutting, distressing and sewing the paper again. I love the effect of seams on the paper...and in the photos! The page is very true to Liz's sketch (since as soon as I saw it I thought it was precious) although I have added some other elements along side of the big butterfly. I cannot avoide it! I'm partial to adorning my pages!"
Please visit Marisol's blog Un Universo con Fotos, Scrap y Mas... for more information about her and details about her work.

Thank you so much for stopping by -