New Websters Pages 'All About Me' Collection

So today was the day I did my first blogpost for Websters Pages blogsite!  I was asked to create a page using the new All About Me collection and to consider the theme 'Legacies'.  Well, I totally LOVE this paper collection, I've actually made up 2 other layouts with this collection already but both of these are for magazine articals coming up in the new few months (and into the new year).  So this is my first layout that I've posted for this collection.    One of the things I love about Websters Pages is that it's not just about beautiful pages but about meaningful pages too.  The word 'Legacies' brought to mind something that occurred to me a few days ago.

I had picked up one of Chloe's new books and started reading the first book in the series. (She is presently reading 'The Hunger Games' trilogy by Suzanne Collins) From the first few words I found myself unable to put down the book! Chloe is now on book 2 of this collection. Well, Chloe comes home from school (without one of her friends for a change :) and see's that I'm reading her book. She immediately runs to her backpack to get her own book and her warm Sherpa wool blanket and snuggles up beside me to read. We sit in companionable silence just reading and once in a while commenting to each other on what is happening in the books. I strikes me that I am so pleased that I have passed down this legacy to my girls....the love of reading.

I created the above layout as a keepsake about how my girls enjoy reading as much as I do (I can devour books like candy) I thought I'd do a little interview with each of them on the subject of reading. I gave them 3 questions and asked if they would give me their answers. Chloe (she's 13 years old), of course neatly writes her answers out on paper for me.....but Meagan? (she's 10 years old) Now she's whole other ballgame....this is how I got her answers (pencil and paper won't do for her **roll eyes**)....

1. What are your 3 favourite books at the moment (and their authors)?
Chloe's Answer: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Parvanna's Journey by Deborah Ellis and A Dogs Life: An Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin.
Meagan's Answer: Narnia:Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, Jack Russell Mysteries: The Lying Postman by Darrell & Sally Odgers and Junie B. Jones is a Party Animal by Barbara Parks.

2. What are your favourite subjects/genres to read?
Chloe's Answer: I love mysteries and books about survival skills.
Meagan's Answer: I love books about pets and animals, I like funny books too.

3. When do you like to read? (time of day)?
Chloe's Answer: ALL the time! Well, mostly before I go sleep and especially on weekends. Sometimes when I have a reading break at school.
Meagan's Answer: When I go to sleep and when Mommy makes me! (you can see what I'm dealing with in my youngest! Lol!)

I put the little pocket on the back of my layout so I could add the questions and answers for my interview with the girls into it....they always love pulling out these little gems years later. Here is a picture of the back of the layout with the pocket.

I used the beautiful new Websters Pages collection called 'All About Me' for this page, I thought the collection was just perfect for this type of theme. Just a NOTE: I created the postage stamp edge on the regular 12x12 All About Me paper by using the die cut paper from the WP Western Romance collection as a template. I just slightly shifted the first few sections from each corner when tracing the design (making them slightly smaller) so that I could then cut out the edge design and lay it on a 12x12 piece of cardstock to create a mat for the patterned paper. Also, I gave myself some extra blue forget-me-not blooms to cut out as embellishments by printing off one of the designs from the Digi Motifs from the All About Me collection on some plain white glossy cardstock paper. You can find them HERE.  Here are a few close-ups of the page...

WP Supplies used for this page:
Patterned Paper; All about Me (Looking Ahead..I used the Western Romance Die cut paper as a template to give the AAB paper the postage stamp edge), AAB Love the Journey
Petite Paper Pad; All About Me (behind photos, & pocket behind layout)
Dazzle Me Gems; All About Me collection pack.
Journaling Cards; All About Me
Alpha Stickers; All About Me
Cut blooms: printed from WP All About Me Digi Elements, then cut out
Butterflies; Botanical Christmas
Bloomers; Bloomers Deluxe Card (blue)
Lace Trim: Winter Fairy Tales Trim Card #13f
WP Cameo Push Pins
 
If you have a moment come check out the Websters Pages blog for today, I'd love to hear what you thought of it! xx WEBSTERS PAGES BLOG ....Thanks for stopping by!
 

The Color Room Palette #75

This was a special milestone for The Color Room....their Palette #75....Congrats ladies!!  And I was so thrilled when I saw the palette! Such a pretty one, colors that speak to me!  Here is the Palette...

I always have fun digging through my new & old stash picking papers and embellishments to fit the palette!  If I don't have matching patterned paper then there is always cardstock, paints and ink.  I fortunately had the colors I needed in my stash.  I had some paper from My Minds Eye (29th Street Market) and some BasicGrey 'Kioshi', I found the perfect shade of teal in a Prima butterfly in my stash.  And of course I couldn't make a page without including a bit of my favourite chipboard from Dusty Attic.  I wanted to give it a lacey look so I painted the piece white and then used a Prima lace stamp (from one of their 'Frame It' stamp collections).  The blooms are all Prima and the pearl flourish is Zva Creative.   I want to thank my dear friend Romy Veul for the pretty teal & purple bloom centers, she sent me such a lovely surprise pack a little while back, I was so happy to have these to add to my page...Thank-you Romy! xx    Here are a few close-up pics...

But this is not all The Color Room has going this month!!  Two of the TCR girlies (Lydell Quinn & Emma Starfrace) created this amazing Digital kit especially for this palette!  They allowed the DT to have some fun with this digi kit, so some of us created a digi page too and some created Hybrid pages combining 'real' paper with digital images they printed out and used on their page.  Here is the digi kit....

......and here is the digital page I created using this pretty kit of papers, embellishments, alpha's and phrases.  The photo is one that I recently took of my nephew Jared & his wife Danielle (they are the parents of those cute little babies I've been scrapping lately).....

Believe me, I am no digi expert but this kit was easy and fun to use...I managed this page in under a half hour.  Got to say digi sure is fast!  It's a fun change of pace, but still, when it comes down to it I'm still a paper girl, I love the cutting paper cutting and getting my hands dirty :)  If you are interested in this kit, come check out The Color Room this week, you'll find more information HERE

More New Webster's Pages & some Dusty Attic

I made this layout using the new Webster's Pages Winter Fairytales collection. The die cut paper, the netting (butterfly design netting), the bloomers, the new trims (pink velvet/sheer ruffle), the gold lace trim, the Gems (beside the journaling) and the alpha's are all from the Webster's Pages new releases from this summer's CHA.   Every month Websters Pages picks a person to feature their body of work, this month it is Nerrida Mitchell, and the design team is asked to make a project up that is inspired by the designers work. The above page is my l/o inspired by Nerrida, I like the use of bloomers and bloom/butterfly embellishments on her page.  If you would like to see more of Nerrida's beautiful work and the rest of the DT's take on her work you can find the forum thread HERE.

I also used one of Dusty Attic's Ornate frames on this layout and thought I would try to get a the look of a carved or molded frame on it by adding some pearl white 3D paint.  Here are a few easy steps in achieving this look.

Step 1 ~ Paint entire frame with a base coat of white craft paint.

Step 2 ~ Following the design of the laser cut piece, add swirls of white/or pearly white 3D paint (I used a brand I bought at Michaels Craft shop called 'Scribbles', you can find it in the T-shirt section of the store)

Step 3 ~ I added a touch of Colorbox brown chalk ink to the edges of the frame. Done!

Here's a close-up look at the embellishments on my layout....

I want to take a second to thank you all for your thoughtful and kind comments here at my blog and I want you to know that I read your comments and would like to answer some of your questions.  Tracy asked in the last blog post how I made the cardstock design around my layout called 'Natural Beauty'?  The postage stamp design is actually the shape of the die-cut from Websters Pages.  I simply matted the die cut paper with some darker pink cardstock and trimmed the cardstock following the design of the die cut with a pair of regular scissors.  Sometimes you can get away with using just one sheet of cardstock if the die fits within the perameters of the 12 x 12 cardstock.  In this case I had to do it in 2 pieces to fit around it. (I cut out the center of the cardstock behind the piece and use it to matt photo's etc. I don't like to waste)    Tracy also asked about my layout in the post before that one called "Chloe & Zoe' , she wanted to know how I made the wavey edge on the patterned paper.  Super easy Tracy, it's just a wavey edged scissor that I got at my local craft shop.  I find myself using decorative scissor's a lot lately.  They are inexpensive ($2-$3.00 at Michaels) and can add an easy and interesting edge to a page.  Hope this answers your questions.  If anyone ever has questions that about any of my layouts, don't hesitate to ask and I'll do my best to give you a clear answer. :)

**NEW** Websters Pages!! & A Card for a Special Girl...

This is my first page working with the new Webster's Pages 'Western Romance' Collection!!  I got my design team package last week in the mail and was just giddy pulling out all the beautiful products that have just come out!  Yep! new cameo's (Silhouettes), GORGEOUS laces and trims! Soft and pretty bloomers and the cutest cameo pins!  If you like collection packs you are going to LOVE these new ones that Brandin has put together, this time around she has put in 2 of every patterned paper, 1 Die Cut paper (the one in the photo above is from the Western Romance collection), the alpha stickers (my Favourite scripted font!!), a sampling of the new WP Bling!, 2 x 12" strips of Bloomers, and some coordinating Fabric tickets!) I think these collection packs are a great bargin and give you a taste of so many of the pretty things Websters Pages makes. 

  I made this page up for my oldest daughter Chloe, she recently turned 13 and although I don't like to put a lot of emphasis on 'outward' beauty when dealing with my children, I had to make up this page because as I was looking at these pic's I recently took of her, it dawned on me how Chloe doesn't follow the trend of so many of her classmates in wearing heavy eyeshadow and liner, dark lipstick and a lot of makeup.....yep, so many of the 13 year olds I'm seeing are just over the top with trying to look older.  I'm grateful that Chloe is happy to just put on a little lip balm and off she goes.  The emphasis of the title is not so much the 'beauty' but the 'natural' part.  To me her beauty comes from her inner self, the kindness she shows to others and how she applies herself to her schooling and studies.

Supplies used on this page:

Webster's Pages papers (Western Romance Collection), WP alphas, WP Silhouettes, WP Bloomers, WP Trim (gold lace along bottom edge and gathered to make bloom in top right corner), Dusty Attic Chipboard (circle frame), Baroque corners (framing the cameo piece), cardstock.

Here are a few close-ups...

I have one more project to share with you and that is a card I made for a very special little girl.  Olivia is a little girl who would be starting kindergarten in a few days but is presently in the hospital undergoing surgery for a brain tumor in a very critical part of her brain.  Her family has asked if we would be kind enough to send her some cards to cheer her up.  Here is a link to her story Olivia  Here is the card I made for her and will be sending off in the morning...

If you would like to join in and send this sweet child a card you can send it to this address:

Cards For Olivia

c/o Stacy Rodriguez

3122 9 1/2 Street

Rock Island, Illinois

61201

Thanks for stopping by! And a big thank-you for all the kind comments, I love to hear your feed back on the work I share!

Scrap That! Exclusive Pion Design “Birdsong” Kit

As I mentioned a few days ago, I was thrilled to be asked to be Guest Designer this month over at Scrap That! Kit club for their exclusive September Pion Design "Birdsong Kit"!!

If you have just arrived here from The Dusty Attic Ning site you are in the correct place! If not, head back to the Scrap That! blog for the blog hop order and links, the hop begins at noon EST. (this will start you at the beginning and will help you with the secret words you'll need to collect)

First off before I give you all the blog hop deets I thought I'd share a few of the projects I made with the GORGEOUS kit!!  First off I was so excited to get this beautiful kit from a Canadian kit company!  Lori Brown (the owner) has AMAZING taste in product, it was such a pleaure working with all the lovely things in this kit....elegant papers by Pion Designs, LOADS of Prima blooms and embellishments (lovely pearl/rhinstone flourish too!)  And I love that she always includes a creative medium in her kits, this month, there is a 3D pearl paint.  The above layout is one I made of Chloe with our pup Zoe, this is a very recent photo, she has gotten HUGE in the past few weeks (and she's still only about 4 months old!)  ...The butterflies were cut from one of the papers, the frame is actually part of the paper design.  I simply added some of the blooms in the kit, a little lace (also from the kit), a little corset stitching...done! (note: the diamond design is one you've seen a few times before on my layouts, it's a small stamp by Prima) Here are a few close-ups...

I just LOVE that Prima branch in the kit! ....so much so, that I thought I would try an imitate it in the next layout.  I had some loose blooms from an old floral arrangement that I mixed with some wiring and leaves, it's not exactly the same but I was happy with it.....

This was kind of a 'tongue in cheek' joke at getting older...."I'm not 40 Something, I'm 39.95 plus shipping & handling"  :)    I used a Dusty Attic scroll piece (top right corner) and a couple of pieces of the DA chicken wire (love this stuff!)  here are a few close-ups of this page (the finish I gave the chippie is the same as the one I used on the layout below, I shared a tutorial on how I did this at the ScrapThat! blog)....

....And the last page I made using this beautiful kit was one I made about Chloe and her wish for a shabby-chic bedroom.  She has been collection these photos on Pinterest to show me what she likes and this is one of them, her Dream Closet.

I just love those pretty white fabric blooms by Prima (also in the kit), they have such a wonderful vintage look IRL.   The Dusty Attic Music Notes chipboard is included in this kit, as are those pretty pearl/rhinstone flourishes!  For a little tutorial on how to do the shabby-chic finish on the chipboard, you can find it at the Scrapthat blog today!

So those are my projects (and I still have plenty more goodies to work with from this kit...just need some extra time....can anyone spare some? lol!)   Okay, now for the blog hop deets (I've copied and pasted the details, so you may have read this at the other blogs aleady)....

**Remember, that there are FOUR prizes to win, and FOUR ways for you to enter.

1) First of all, you will need to visit all TWELVE blogs :) **This is important** Each blog will have a special word. As you hop be sure and write down the special word from each blog. Once you have all the special words they will make a sentence. You will need to email the SECRET SENTENCE to friends@scrapthat.ca. All correct sentences received will be entered in a draw to win the Dusty Attic Prize Pack. (Please note: Dusty Attic does not have a blog but just follow the link leave a comment on the forum thread in their community.)

2) Everyone who emails us with the correct secret sentence will be sent a short marketing survey. Once you have completed the survey you will be entered to win a Scrap That! Exclusive Pion Design “Birdsong” Kit.

3) If you want to enter to win the Grand Prize of a Pion Design Prize Pack, then head over to our COMMUNITY for details on our monthly challenge. The challenge will run from August 26th to September 14th so you have LOTS of time to post your creations. You can enter as many times as you like. You do not need to be a subscriber to participate. The more entries, the more chances you have to win!

4) Finally, if you post our blinkie on your blog you will be entered to win a Scrap That! Gift Certificate - super easy right? Just post a link to your blog in the comments the Scrap That! Blog so we can come visit :).

We hope you all had good fun hopping with us today, thank you so much for playing along! Watch the Scrap That! newsletter on September 22nd to see if you are one of the lucky winners!

......okay, so one more thing you need to know.......My SECRET word is .... CANADA'S

....Now hop on over to the next stop on this fun little hop and check out the gorgeous designs of Ivana

Happy Hopping!!

I'm a Guest Designer for Scrap That! Kit Club!!

I was asked to be a Guest Designer for Scrap That kit Club for their September kit!  And let me tell you, this kit is Spectacular!!!  If you love Shabby-Chic style, this one is for you!!  I just had so much fun working with this kit...I won't say too much more till Friday (their reveal day) but above is a little sneak peek of their kit for September!  

On Friday August 26th starting at noon EST they will be kicking off their reveal with a fun little blog hop!  There are a number of amazing prizes up for grabs (including some....yep! Dusty Attic! for all you DA lovers out there! ...Scrap That now carries Dusty Attic products in their store and have DA in all their kits!)  

So grab yourself a cup of coffee (or tea if that is your preference) and enjoy a fun little blog hop where you will see the work of each of the design team members revealed and have a chance at winning some wonderful goodies!  See you then! xx

The Color Room ~ Palette #72 & Some Dusty Attic & Websters Pages

I made the above  DT layout for this weeks new color palette over at The Color Room ~ Palette #72.  This is such a pretty palette, I concentrated on the greys and soft mauve/pink for my layout with touches of the aqua and green/gold.  Here is the inspiration photo for Color Palette #72

Lately my girls have been after me to redecorate their bedrooms and Chloe is all about shabby-chic design for her room.  I came across this photo of a shabby-chic bedroom and was just so charmed by it.....hence the title 'wish'  (my youngest took that photo of me!.....not bad job aye?) 

I used cardstock and Websters Pages Country Estate papers and bloom designs cut from Websters Pages Let's Celebrate  to make up this layout.  The large grey bloom, the cameo (Silhouettes), the sheer white/gold trim and the white lace butterfly netting are all by Websters Pages.  The chandelier, Baroque corners (around the cameo piece) and leafy vine are all from Dusty Attic (the vine is one of the new summer releases)  The finish I gave the chipboard pieces is simply painted white and edged with a little brown chalk ink.  I added some Tim Holtz Rock Candy to add crackle to it (Rock Candy is really cool, not a lot of steps needed, just paint it on and it cracks as it dries! ...the thicker you apply it the bigger the crackle)  Here are a few close-up pics..... 

I made the pink roses using simple cardstock and the Spellbinders Rose Creations die cuts, you can find my tutorial for these in my sidebar here at my blog.

If you like this palette, come join in the fun and post your project made with these colors over at The Color Palette!  Each week the some of the design team members are given the fun task of browsing the gallery and choosing some of the work to feature in the newsletter.....maybe this will be your week!  And while you are there have a peek at the work of the other design team members with this palette, they are spectacular!

I'm off to make my girls and their friends a really fun salty/sweet pretzel peanut butter treat that I saw on Pinterest!  I'll let you know how they turn out!  (I'll be posting a little post tomorrow to announce who won my little giveaway from yesterday!) ....Thankyou EVERYONE for the very sweet comments you all left me here and at Bo Bunny, I've read every single post and am so touched by your words! xx

Tutorial: Creating Polymer Clay Tile Embellishments!!

I'm so excited because Bo Bunny is doing a feature on each of their design team members this month and today it's my turn!!  I thought I would do something a little fun for my spotlight day and share a tutorial with you all.  I made the above polymer clay tile emellishments using some Bo Bunny Stamps and little paint and for the colorful tiles some Bo Bunny stickers.  Here is the layout I made using these tiles as embellishments (see video clip below for my tutorial on these!)......

Here are some close-ups of the embellishments on this page (I used the beautiful new collection by Bo Bunny called "Welcome Home"....I just LOVE this new collection, so pretty!!  The large cream bloom is a Bo Bunny bloom from the ETC. collection.  The chipboard pieces I mounted the tiles on are from Dusty Attic.

The branch of blooms are again handmade using some of the paper in the Welcome Home collection and the Spellbinders 'Rose Collections' die cuts. You can find a tutorial for these blooms HERE. (I varied the blooms on this branch by lightly misting them and crinkling them up first). 

And now for my tutorial on making tiles....hope you enjoy (sorry about the color variations in the flow of the video, we seemed to have a bit of a lighting issue)...

I've shared a little more about myself and my projects at the Bo Bunny Blogsite so please go have a looksee and while you are there leave a comment and you will be eligible for an awesome prize from Bo Bunny!  They will randomly pick one person that leaves a comment on the blog spotlight and will announce a winner at the end of the month!  BUT!! DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT HERE FOR ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN!!  Leave a comment here on this blogpost and one at the Bo Bunny Spotlight and I will pick a person to receive the blog candy seen below! :)  I will announce the winner on Saturday August 20.

 My little prize pack contains: a Bo Bunny 'Vicki B' Card Kit (this kit includes: 8 die cut cards, 8 envelopes, 2 - 6x12" die cut elements(40 pieces), 1- 6x12" adhesive chipboard elements(20 pieces), 1 rub-on includes 23 optional greetings & shapes, 1 instruction sheet).....I will also add a pack of Vicki B rub-on's, and 2 packs of adhesive pearls (60 pearls per package) and a Dusty Attic Frame and scrolls package and a bunch of sweet blooms to add to your projects.