Do What You Love

Sweet Caroline, do-do-do!

2012-02-19T16:31:00.000-05:00

I'll say it. I know you are all thinking it. New product is AWESOME! I love the newness of all the colours and designs and when they come into the store en masse, I get GIDDY! Friday night, I was into my favourite store, Two Scrapbook Friends and what did I see? My Mind's Eye overflowing the racks! I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Miss Caroline. The wood grains, and muted melon and lilac, the florals and plaids. I chose a few papers (I need to pace myself here!) and when I got home I went right to work.

When I was a kid my aunt and uncle had a farm and I remember the worn grey boards of their old old barn. I remember the feel of the wood; warm from the sunshine. This wood grain paper brought back all those happy memories. I splattered white acrylic paint on the back ground and dried it with the heat gun. I layered the patterns and inked the edges. I loved the floral pattern and fussy cut them out.

I layered a duplicate rose on top of some of the flowers and popped them up with foam squares. I layered the cluster over a doilie and added a few pins, some grosgrain ribbon and green crocheted trim.

I hope you'll find some new product at Two Scrapbook Friends that lights the fire under your creativity!
Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

Take a LEAP with the Lipstick Chicks at the XOXO blog

2012-02-17T11:53:00.000-05:00

Today the chicks at the XOXO Blog have decided to challenge and inspire you to design your own LEAP layouts. This February is a Leap Year, a mathematical calendar alteration that means there are 29 days instead of February!

For this challenge I found a photo of Adriane leaping off a tree stump at a local park into the leaves. The Momenta Great Outdoors line is perfect for this design.

The wood grain is super trendy right now and this paper actually feels a bit like vinyl! The texture is very wood-like! Such cool texture. I splattered some white paint for visual interest and used to reversed pennant shapes. The fussy cut leaves and the yellow font embellished the design just to my liking.

I hope you'll visit the XOXO blog and be challenged by their mid month LEAP challenge. Check out what my fellow designers have accomplished too!

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do,

Christa

Simple Stories Year-o-graphy and Two Scrapbook Friends

2012-02-14T20:59:00.000-05:00

Hello! I am excited to share with you my first design team assignment in 2012 for Two Scrapbook Friends. When I was asked to work with Simple Stories Year-o-graphy, I jumped at the chance! I love Simple Stories lines and they make designing "wow" layouts really easy.
I first created this layout about my daughter. The papers made me think of that old song "Calendar Girl"..you know the one: "I love, I love, I love, my little calendar girl, every day of the year!"

The background paper does alot of the work here. I layered the months of the year border strip and the hearts and circles. I also mounted the banner on card stock (thanks Ann!)to give it more stability.

I used the lyrics from the song as my journalling.

My next design was one of my son and I at a local hiking spot. I just love spending time with him doing something we both like. The day was perfect.

I had intended to use that square brown piece un-wrinkled but it fell under the wheels of my office chair! Imagine my distress! However I decided (in frustration?) to crumple it up and when I smoother it out I found it added lots of great texture to the design.

My final design is one of my sweet, tolerant husband Richard.

I used my circle cutter and cut out the circles which I embellished individually. Watercolour paints in matching colours added texture and dimension in the lower right. This layout makes me smile.

Thank you for sharing this with me. I loved this line and hope you do too.

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do.

Christa

Twinery/ Momenta Blog Hop!

2012-02-13T07:56:00.046-05:00

Welcome to the Twinery and Momenta blog hop!

The designers of The Twinery and Momenta have created some wonderful projects to inspire your creativity! There are also some wonderful prizes to be won. There are 14 stops along the way and you will be inspired every step of the way!

Jen Carter
Christa Uttley

I was so excited to hear we were hopping with the Twinery! I adore their cotton twine and the variegated colour twists come in a multitude of inspiring colours. It wasn't hard to pair up some great Momenta papers and Twinery twine!

Here is a layout I made of my daughter this past summer. We were on vacation at the lake and she had just woken up. Her sun-kissed skin and crazy hair; her big smile and sleepy face were huge inspirations for this design.

I chose a white background and layered some of the Momenta Kaleidoscope pyramid pad (PA-2383) in green and floral patterns. I used the Twinery twine in honeydew and laid down a zig zag stitch.

I then used a chipboard circle and covered it in cantaloupe twine; wrapping it very closely. I then used a circle template and laid out a sunburst pattern and stitched the rays to match.

I finally chose the vibrant puffy alpha in pink (ST-25574-VIB) and a cute little birdie from the cleared layered sticker sheet (ST-3838 EMG). I finished by tying his tail with a bow in Caribbean twine. I was very happy with the final result..and my daughter loved adding it to her book of summer memories!

How to WIN!

These great prizes are being offered by Moment and the Twinery:

For a chance to win leave a comment on each designer's blog and on The Twinery and The Momenta blogs. To win the Momenta prize pack you must also leave a comment on the Momenta Facebook page.

Comments must be left on each participating blog to be eligible for prizes and will remain open until 11:59pm EST, Friday February 17th. Drawing will be done by respective companies and announced on their blogs Monday, February 20th. Additional rules to win are detailed on the Twinery and Momenta blogs!

Next is TIFFANY!

Thanks for joining me and until next time, keep doing what you love!

Christa

Supplies:

Momenta Puffy Alpha ST-2557 vibrant

Momenta Clear Layered Sticker ST-3838

Momenta Kaleidoscope Pyramid Pad PA-2383

Twinery Twine in Cantaloupe, Caribbean and Honeydew

Other supplies:

American Crafts Thickers

LD Lollihop cursive font cut with Silhouette

Harmonie Crafts chipboard circle

Valentine Blog Hop

2012-02-10T07:28:00.003-05:00

Are you in the mood for some scrappy love? Are you craving design inspiration for your Valentine's Day projects? What better way to 'feel the love' than to spend some time with your friends at Two Scrapbook Friends and be inspired in the process!

You will begin the hop at the Two Scrapbook Friends Blog and travel from blog to blog leaving a comment on each one. If you comment on each blog, you will qualify to be in a draw for a special prize from Two Scrapbook Friends! Also, you will find a RED HIGHLIGHTED word on each blog which will make a phrase at the end of the Blog Hop! Once you have completed the hop to all our designers blogs, leave a comment on the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and email the phrase to us and we will enter your name for a second chance to win!

The hop will remain open from February 10th to February 13th at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on February 14th in the Two Scrapbook Friends' Blog. So, be sure to stop back at the Two Scrapbook Friends Blog and check to see if you are the winner of a fabulous prize from Two Scrapbook Friends.

So remember, in order to be entered to win:
1. Leave a comment on all the blogs as you go and then come back to the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and leave a final comment there.
2. To have a second chance to win, keep track of the HIGHLIGHTED WORDS from each blog and email the phrase to 2friends@execulink.com. Put "Blog Contest" in your subject line.
3. Check back at the Two Scrapbook Friends blog on February 14th to see if you are the winner. (Winners will not be contacted personally.)

Here are the featured blogs in our Valentine's Blog Hop:

Christa (that's me!)

Thanks for joining me today! I was inspired by the We R Memory Keepers like Love Struck line to make this mini album for my daughter, Adriane for Valentine's Day. I actually made the album bases out of two 12x12 cardboard inserts I got with an album I purchased.

I hope you'll be inspired and fall in love with all the projects the Two Scrapbook Friends have created for you.

I will be giving away a small PRIZE to one lucky follower/commenter on this blog hop. Check back on Valentine's Day to see who the big winner is!

Thanks for joining ME. Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

Friendzy Friday with Two Scrapbook Friends

2012-02-10T04:38:00.003-05:00

It's Friendzy Friday again and I am happy to share with you this cute rolled candle technique. I love the way it adds dimension and texture to my cards or layouts. It could be that "special something" on your design too.

Let's begin! Here's what you'll need:

1. A fun patterned paper scrap cut into 2.5 x 3.5 inch pieces (this is old Bo Bunny)
2. A flower you can shade with ink and whose petals look like the flames of a candle (I used Prima)
3. An orange ink and a yellow ink
4. A wooden skewer
5. Fast drying glue (I used Beacon's 3n1)

Step 1:
Trim your scrap into 2.5 x 3.5 inch pieces (one each for every candle you will need).

Step 2: Roll the paper around the wooden skewer.

Step 3: Add quick drying glue along the open edge and roll tightly.

Step 4: Add inks to the petals of the flowers in varying shades of yellow and orange to mimic

Step 5: Add glue to the tiny end of the petal.

Step 6: Insert the petal into the rolled paper.

When you are done, you can add them a layout or card .

Here's a layout I made for my son's twelfth birthday! I can't believe he is growing up so quickly!

I hope you'll give this a try and light up your birthday designs and share them with us in the forum and gallery.

Keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

Scrapbooking with Meaning (Part 1)

2012-02-09T11:19:00.002-05:00

Hello! Two Scrapbook Friends is encourageing it's designers to develop features where we can speak in-depth about something that we feel passionate about. Today, I want to share with you Scrapbooking With Meaning (part one). "Scrapbooking with Meaning" has been my philosophy for over a year now and it truly helps me to create cohesive designs that have meaning and tell a story. Sounds good, right? But what does it MEAN?!

Last year, while experiencing a period of growth in my own scrapbooking, I realized that when the papers, embellishments, titles and EVERYTHING I put on my layout had meaning and was releavant to my photos, it was easier to create with them and the finished product looked better too! I began to think about what I was choosing and WHY it fit on the page. I began connecting the elements of my design and making connections in my craft!

During this three part series, I would like to share that discovery with you. Perhaps YOU will find that this idea works for you!

Let's begin!

Step 1: Picture Perfect!
Everything begins and ends with your photos. They tell a story that you want to preserve for generations to come. They are the reason we do this and they should shine when we reveal our finished product.

I should first say, that I love to work with different sizes of photos for visual variety in my scrapbooks and sometimes I only have ONE photo of a special event and making it larger helps to fill more of the page and make it a larger focal point. Sometimes, I have 20 photos of an event that I need to get onto one double page layout! Different sizes can help you do that. So give some thought to printing your photos in different sizes to better tell your story, it provides a foundation of visual interest on which you can build your designs.

For example, with this design I used smaller photos from my iPhone to create a fun photo strip feel. It allows me to get lots of similar photos in one place.

On this design, I have used a 5x7 and some smaller photos to create flow and visual interest.

Close-ups and panoramic views will also, help you tell the whole story. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words. Be sure you are tell your whole story in a variety of ways.

To recap: photos of different size creates a foundation of visual interest on which to build your design.

Step 2: Discovering elements in your photos
COLOUR
When I begin a project I take a close look at the photos I am working with. I want to choose colours that make my photo stand out. I do this is several ways.

Usually, I choose a shade from my photo and use that to make my choices in a colour palette. For example, here's a layout I made using a pink shade to make my daughter's cheeks and lips seem rosy.

Secondly, I sometimes apply basic colour theory in choosing colours. The theory of colour could fill volumes so for our purposes, I will refer you to this link where they discuss (quite simply) Basic Colour Theory using a colour wheel like this one.

In colour theory you can learn that sometimes using a colour from the photo is not the best way to make that photo stand out. For example, I chose browns and orange to contrast the navy in my son's sweater.

If your photos are black and white or sepia, you can still use colour to create a feeling. For example, for this layout of my daughter, I chose a sophisticated palette of black and yellow to express how I felt about Adriane growing up. In this way, colour has helped me tell a story.

To recap: Use colours from your pictures or ones that compliment them. You can also use colour to tell a story.

THEMATIC ELEMENTS AND FOCUS
Our photos and their story are our focus in scrapbooking. Often these pictures have elements in the that we can use to determine a "theme". Using elements from our photos or the story we want to tell can provide cohesion and meaning to our designs. If we work WITH these elements rather than ignore them, the design will be easier to create and look better when we are finished.

For example, I created a design about our trip to Busch Gardens where we went on Safari to get up close and personal with the Giraffes. I chose an animal print line and made the focal pattern the Giraffe patterned paper. The colour palette and the patterns and the THEME made this design meaningful. What if I had chose a light, floral pattern and put rosettes and lace on this design? YIKES!

OK, so what if your photos don't have obvious thematic elements ( like safaris, or birthdays, Christmas, and Easter)?

In this design of my son, I chose to use a cool wintry palette, pulling white from the snow and the aqua complements his hat/coat and skin tone. Since my story is about him lying in the snow, I used SNOW as my thematic focus.

When thematic elements are even less evident in the photo, the STORY would direct me in my choices. In this design, my kids were celebrating with their Dad. It was summer and he seemed to lift their spirits. I chose brightly coloured paper, a kite and some summery clouds to reflect these feelings. This layout came together in an hour because these colours and thematic elements had MEANING.

To recap: Use your photos to determine thematic elements to help you make paper, embellishment, and title choices, and to develop MEANING in your layouts.

Here ends part one! In the next two parts of this series, I plan to talk more about choosing patterns, embellishments, fonts, titles and taking our designs to the next level. Please let me know what you think!

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do and do it with MEANING!

Christa

My Funny Valentine with Momenta

2012-02-06T09:42:00.000-05:00

Today, I wanted to share with you a layout I made using Momenta's Super Pad (PA-2263). I am in love with this whole line of co-ordinating designs! This time I chose a teal, lime and yellow mix of papers..which happen to be my daughter's favourite colours. They really reflect her off-beat sense of humour and the ease in which she smiles.

I cut several sizes of hearts from three designs. I popped up a few with foam dots and put glossy accents on a few others.(the photo doesn't do the glossy accents justice). I then added a Dymo tape title and some stitching. I hope you are inspired to create a Funny Valentine design of your own!

Until next time, keep doing what you love!
Christa

Crafty Challenge: Colour Challenge

2012-01-30T05:53:00.001-05:00

Good morning scrappy friends! Today's Crafty Challenge in the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum is to be inspired by the following palette to create a layout, card or other crafty item. These colours are very hot this spring and we are seeing them pop up all over in different shades at CHA.

Here's a layout I made using a large photo of my daughter and me. I have chosen to mix a few paper lines, Echo Park and some Prima. I also incorporated an old charm and some great letters from Momenta and Glitz Design.

If you choose to play along with us this month, be sure to upload it to our gallery and forum. We are looking forward to meeting you and seeing what you create.

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!

Sympatico

2012-01-23T06:46:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to receive my design goodies and the 12x12 Super pad caught my creative eye right away; so many options! I chose some black background text and a hot pink polka dot patterned paper as the foundation for this design. I had taken some great pictures with my iPhone of my daughter and her friend. Those smaller photos are a great way to get more photos on a page.

The papers in this pack are perfect for a project about two girls having fun and hanging out. For my title, I chose the word sympatico which means: to share a mental connection or bond with someone, or to have a lot in common. These girls definately have that!

In creating the design, I made two focal points and I wanted to create a feeling of cohesion between them. To do so, I trimmed down some of the puffy borders to add pieces in both points.

To finish things off, I used a black polka dot ribbon, pink trim, stitching and some buttons tied with twine. My Dymo labeller is a cool way to add their names alongs side the cluster.

The purple alphas in the contemporary font are some of my favourite letters ever. Momenta includes them with a lime and pink selection in the Vibrant Alphas package.

I am thrilled to be starting this new journey with Momenta and I hope you too, will be inspired to try something new this week!

Momenta Products:
12X12 Super Pad PA-2263

Vibrant Puffy Alpha Stickers ST-2557

FTBM Puffy Borders ST-4761

Kalidescope Puffy Borders ST-4071

Additional Products:
Dymo Label

Doodle Bug - Twine

Ribbon

Trim

Buttons

Bazzill Basics - cardstock
Sewing machine/thread
Martha Stewart Punches- Tri Butterfly

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

My Very First

2012-01-22T15:42:00.000-05:00

Saturday marked the first my posts for Momenta! I had been inspired by several pins on Pinterest to create these really cute favours...Papervinez Blog is a mecca for us paper crafters. So I decided to jump on it right away when my Momenta products arrived. Even though it's a bit early, these Valentine's favours are fun to make with your kids and the Momenta Super Pad (PA-2263) gives you lots of options.

This is what you'll need to begin!

- 3 sheets of 12x12 co-ordinating patterned paper (Momenta Super Pad)
- one sheet of white cardstock for your sentiments
- twine or ribbon for embellishing (I used the TWINERY twine in Charcoal)
- ink and a distress inking tool (I used Tim Holtz)
- pre-printed or a stamp sentiment that fits on your:
- heart punch (I used a Martha Stewart punch)
- a fast drying liquid glue (I used Beacon's 3 in 1)
- (not pictured) wrapped Valentine's Candy (I used Hershey's Kisses)

Let's begin:

1. Begin by trimming each 12x12 patterned paper into 4 inch by 5 inch rectangles.

2. Add fast drying liquid glue to the SHORT (4 inch) side in a thin stream.

3. Roll the paper and press that seam firmly.

4. Once dry put a small stream of glue at one end. I turn the tube so the seam is slightly off to the side. (At Papervinez they used a crimper to set the bottoms but I didn't like how it looked so I left that step out.)

5. Once these are dry fill them with wrappped candy.

6. Add a small stream of glue on the opening and press closed IN THE OPPOSITE direction of the first opening. It will create a three dimensional triangular shape. Practice before gluing if you need to!

7. Using a co-ordinating twine wrap a length around and tie in a bow.

8. Using you heart punch, punch out the Valentine's Day sentiments. (You Rock and Be My Friend are the two my daughter chose).

9. Using your ink and inker tool ink the edges of the hearts.

10. Add some fast drying glue to the back of the heart and adhere it to the favour.

Repeat. Repeat and Repeat again! My daughter loves the bright colours of the papers we chose. The Super Pad (PA-2263) has so many great patterns to choose from too. I have really loved working with Momenta on this project and spending time with my daughter during the process!

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

Trendy Technique with Practical Scrappers!

2012-01-19T06:35:00.004-05:00

Good day! Today at Practical Scrappers we are talking about machine sewing on layouts. For those of you who follow me regularly, you know I sew on almost ALL my layouts. I love the rough, messy look and I love the straight edges and zig zags. But for this challenge I wanted to try something new!

About a year ago, I invested in a sewing machine that did lots and lots of different stitches. For this design, I chose a leaf and vine pattern.

I fussy cut Basic Grey's Out of Print flowers and curled their edges with a pencil for added dimension.

I hope you'll stop by and see all the projects at Practical Scrappers. Did you know they have design calls every day? and challenges every week? It's a great place to inspire and be inspired! I'd love to see you there.

Until then, keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

1.

Hot Hot Chocolate!

2012-01-16T14:45:00.000-05:00

Well, it may appear that I have not been very crafty lately, but that couldn`t be farther from the truth! I have been creating, but most of it is for future release dates and I can`t wait to blog about it all! Until then, I am happy to share a design I created about my son, Max.

Max has made a winter habit out of asking me for hot chocolate when he comes home from school. I love to make it for him with real cream, whipped cream and lots of gooey marshmallows.

I received the Winter Park line by Echo Park as part of my design opportunities at Two Scrapbook Friends. I used my Silhouette to cut the mug and whipped cream on top. I added liquid applique to give the whipped cream texture. The acrylic swirl is from Harmonie and I added white ink to make it steamy looking.

I hope it inspires you to design some warm and toasty pages of your own.
Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

A Momenta-ous Opportunity

2012-01-10T13:25:00.000-05:00

This January I began the first in what I hope is long journey of growth in 2012... and beyond! What is this MOMENTA-OUS change? I was asked to join the Design Team for Momenta, a manufacturer of scrapbooking supplies. This group of crafters are extremely talented and the Momenta product is great too!

For this project I used Momenta's Family Outings Paper line and a great photo of my hubby an Max from almost 10 years ago.

The stars are Studio Calico and the twine is from the Twinery. I love that the bright orange colours remind me of Max's little boys days. My hubby looks so young and they both are so happy together.

I hope you'll come back and see more of Momenta's great products and a bit of my creativity.

Until then, keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

Friendzy Friday: Butterfly Trim (for cards or layouts)

2012-01-06T05:16:00.003-05:00

Hello Friends! Welcome to Friendzy Friday with Christa! Today, we are going to make a great banner for your scrapbooking pages or to highlight a card.

Here's what you need:

Wax paper

Double sided tape (I used a minimum width of 1 inch)

A Butterfly punch with different sized shaped butterflies (mine is a Martha Stewart tri-butterfly punch)

Variety of paint chips in colours that match your layout

Let's begin:

1. Take your butterfly punch and your paint chips and begin punching. Punch lots and lots of butterflies.

3. Take a piece of wax paper and lay it flat. Then adhere a piece of double sided tape in the length you require.

4. Begin adding your butterflies randomly, one at a time. Press them on firmly to begin.

5. Once your tape is mostly covered take a few butterflies and gently pinch them so they appear to be taking flight and add them. If you don't have any sticky part of the tape left, add a bit of glue (Beacon's 3 in 1 for example) and add them on top.

6. Afterwards, gently peel the banner up from the wax paper.

7. Adhere to your project immediately. You could make this ahead of time and save for a future project. Just fold the was paper over your banner.

Here is what my finished product looks like!

I hope you have enjoyed this technique. I hope you'll give it a try! We would love to see your creations in our online gallery and hear about them in our forum.

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

The First of Many

2012-01-05T17:14:00.000-05:00

Many of you who know me may recall that my scrappy goals for 2012 included GROWTH. This translates to trying new things and learning new techniques. I wanted to share a project I made at the end of 2011 for my pals at TWO SCRAPBOOK FRIENDS with the wonderful Echo Park Winter Park line.
It is a mini album; a first for me.
The biggest thing I needed to learn with this smaller more compact piece was that each page need not be a masterpiece. That it is the WHOLE of the thing that works together to be a work of art. I hope this will be the first of many mini albums to come!

I hope you enjoy my first foray into minis..I think my son will find a special spot for it in his room!
Until next time, I hope you are doing what you love to do.
Christa

One, Singular Sensation!

2012-01-02T11:37:00.000-05:00

2012 is proving to be a productive year already! I am excited to be part of a few new scrappy endeavours. One of them is the True XOXO challenge blog where I am now considered a LIPSTICK CHICK!

Our challenge this month was to use ONE in the title an as many 'ones' as we can handle! The song from A Chorus Line called: "One", inspired me to scrapbook this series of pictures of Adriane. The lyrics are perfect! She is a singular sensation, one smile from her and no one else will do! Here is a YouTube link so you can get a feel for the song if you don't know it!

This design used Pink Paislee's Snowy Day line which inspires me with it's blues and reds and pinks. The colours make her cheeks and lips rosy and her smile 'pop'.

I hope you'll pop over and see me and my fellow designers at the True XOXO blog! They are super talented and the challenges really stretch your imagination and creativity.

Til tomorrow, keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

My 2011 Scrapbooking Top Ten

2011-12-31T15:35:00.001-05:00

2011 was a year of unprecedented growth for me in my scrapbooking art. I have learned much and I hope my designs reflect those new skills and my journey. My BFF Ann has inspired me with her annual tradition of choosing a TOP TEN of my favourite designs of 2011.

Number 10: NATURAL BEAUTY¸
This is my very first Design Team project and I made it for Two Scrapbook Friends in January 2011. It was also my first published design for a print magazine, Canadian Scrapbooker. It will always have a special place in my heart.

Number 9: MY DUDE
This design of my son Max was in response to challenge issued by my friend Bev Code at My Sketch World. I created the layout and it sat for several months. In September, I got it back out and added and altered it until it suited the lovely pictures I`d used. It`s still true to her challenge too!

Number 8: YOU AND ME
A design I made of my daughter and her BFF. This picture makes me smile and while I made it in July during my Layout A Day (LOAD) process, is till one of my favs from this year.

Number 7: FALLING FOR YOU
This photo was taken by my darling Adriane when she was 4 years old while we were on a hike. I like the distressed feel of the design and the altered chipboard. It just makes me feel happy.

Number 6: HOLE LOTTA SWEET
This design is based on a sketch from Lucy Chesna at My Sketch World. I am not a huge fan of double layouts in my own work..but this design is a favourite. It colourful and the photos of my daughter eating a donut are some favs. The title work and water colours are cool too!

Number 5: YOU ARE MY HAPPY DAY
I created this design for a Friendzy Friday at Two Scrapbook Friends. The ribbon circle is of my own design and I think as a frame it really draws attention to the great photo of Adriane.

Number 4: EPCOT
I created this using Simple Stories Destinations line and an assignment from Two Scrapbook Friends. The smaller photos allow me to capture some of my favourite places in the World Showcase. I like the distressed feel and bits of metal.

Number 3: Beautiful Beach Hair
As my third choice for 2011, I chose this great picture of my daughter Adriane as we returned from our summer vacation. She thought she was being silly but I captured this moment of beauty with Instagram and my iPhone. The design uses We R Memory Makers and some miscellaneous flowers and buttons from my stash. This design never fails to bring back that wonderful moment of summer joy.

Number 2: Friends are Cool
As my second favourite, I chose this design based on a sketch created by my super talented friend Laura Whitaker. The smaller photos and bright colours in the Bella Blvd. paper steal my heart. My daughter is so lucky to have a great group of friends!

Number One: Finding You

My number one design of 2011, is created using Authentique`s Blissful line for a Practical Scrapper`s challenge. The yellow, grey and black reflect my daughter`s maturity. The picture is of her on her first day of grade three and she was so grown-up. She has settled into her style with a confidence that I had to envy. I wanted to capture it in a design that mirrored this stage of her life.

I hope you have enjoyed this look through 2011 with me.

I hope you will do the same! It`s fun to see the growth and change over the past year. I am looking froward to a new year of creating and doing what I love!

Christa

PS: If you haven`t seen the Sunday Picnic line from Webster`s pages, you really should! It`s divine and they are giving it away if you win! Check it out here.

Beauty: Inside and Out

2011-12-19T10:44:00.000-05:00

Many of you will recall that I won some Authentique goodies a few weeks ago. I decided to get out the 6x6 paper pad from the FREE BIRD collection. The pads are surprisingly easy to use when scrapbooking a 12x12 design. I chose to leave them in their square shapes but trim them down. I hand cut a flower too for the design focal point. It is a simple design but it focuses the design on the photo of my daughter. I hope you enjoy!

Keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

Friendzy Friday With Two Scrapbook Friends: Snowy Snow!

2011-12-16T06:26:00.002-05:00

Happy December!

This Friday I wanted to share with you a simple but lovely technique I used to make these snowy letters.

You will need:

Letters in the word of your choice. (Mine are cut with my Silhouette and the LD Boogie Down Font)

A Xyron Sticker Maker (you can use a strong fast drying glue but it is messier and dry time increases accordingly)

Chunky Glitter (I used some I have had lying around for a few Christmases now)

Glitter tray

Let's begin:

1. Take your word of choice and place the letters into the sticker make BACKWARDS. This way the adhesive is on the front of the letter.

3. Taking the glitter tray apply glitter to the adhesive side.

4. Do all the letters so they look like this!

I used them on a design using Echo Park Winter Park Line. These pictures of my son Max were taken so long ago. Makes me nostalgic.

I hope you will give this technique a try on your holiday cards or layouts. Until next time keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

12 Days of Christmas Creations Blog Hop

2011-12-13T05:00:00.004-05:00

The countdown to Christmas is here and with that in mind, your friends at Two Scrapbook Friends invite you to countdown the 12 Days of Christmas Creations with them. Each day a member of the Two Scrapbook Friends team and a few special friends will share with you some of the projects and inspiration that they have created to celebrate the Season.

Beginning on December 10th at 8 am, you can begin the hop at the first Friend's blog where you can be inspired and leave a comment. That blog will then tell you where you need to hop to on the next day!

You will need to hop from blog to blog leaving a comment on each in order to qualify to be in a draw for a special prize from Two Scrapbook Friends! Also, you will find a SECRET word on each blog which will make a special phrase at the end of the Blog Hop! Once the 12 days of hopping are complete you can email the phrase to us and we will enter you for another ballot to win! My secret word is CHRISTMAS.

The hop will remain open from December 10th to December 22nd at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on December 23rd in the Two Scrapbook Friends' blog.

1st Day of Christmas: Joanne (10th)
2nd Day of Christmas: Audrey (11th)
3rd Day of Christmas: Avril (12th)
4th Day of Christmas: Christa (13th)
5th Day of Christmas: Dee (14th)
Have fun celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas Creations with the Two Scrapbook Friends team!

For me, the celebration of the holidays is better since I was blessed with my children. When the Two Scrapbook Friends challenged us to design a holiday project and I chose a layout with a gorgeous folded tree created by the talented Connie Babbert. This cute tree symbolizes the happy joy of Christmas. I hope you will join me as I highlight how you too can make these cute trees for your layouts or cards this season!

I found at Two Scrapbook Friends:

Bo Bunny Dot Green cardstock

Miscellaneous buttons

White Pom Pom Trim

Jilly Bean Soup Corrugated letters (the #1)

My design uses the Bella Blvd. Christmas Wishes line

1. Using this link, open and print the template from Connie's blog. It appears along the right hand side but looks like this:

2. After I printed the template, I cut it out and practiced folding along the lines. It does take some finesse to get the folds right and I encourage you to do so before using your intended card stock or patterned paper.

3. I then chose my card stock and cut a larger circle and cut in half. You will get two trees out of your circle.

4. The best part is that no matter the size of tree/circle you need the angles are the same! I placed the template with its folds on top and along the straight edge and used my pencil and ruler to firmly press the lines into the paper below. The pencil lines are scored into the card stock below. Fold along the lines.

5. After I folded the tree I inked the edges and then used foam squares to adhere the tree's layers.

6. After getting the tree into its tree shape I used a Jillybean Soup corrugated #1 for the trunk of the tree and adhered it with my Beacon's 3 in 1.

7. After the trunk was attached, I used buttons and trim to match my paper choices and decorate the tree. I added a tiny yellow paper star at the top.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. Here are some other things I did you finish my design and take it to the next level.

I sewed a few machine stitches and some hand stitching too.

I also used some two sided tape to adhere some pleated ribbon.

After I decided on a title..which seems to be the last piece of my scrappy puzzle...I made sure to journal about why my daughter is so happy. Can you see why?

Here is the finished product with all the finishing touches!

and a cute card:

A Prize, you say!?

I am offering this little prize pack of Authentique paper for those wonderful folks who leave a comment here on my blog. If you also tell me in your comment what my daughter received that made her so excited I will give you another entry. Finally, if you become a follower of my blog and say you did, I will give you a third chance to win! If you already are..thank you so much! I will be sure to enter your name again too.

Thanks to all who stopped by to say hello! I hope you will continue on tomorrow and check out Dee`s blog. The 5th of Christmas is amazing!

I hope the holidays find you happy, healthy and CREATIVE!

Christa

More Everyday

2011-12-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

This weekend I was lucky to have my daughter, Adriane, all to myself for a mother-daughter day on Friday (and most of Saturday too!) What I realized is how lucky I am to have such a great daughter. I love spending time with her; she's funny and silly and smart too. A few weeks ago I made this layout for a challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends during an online crop. I loved the colourful paper from Echo Park and the silk ribbons. Although the picture is blurry, I loved the sweet look on her face, and the soft blonde hair framing her face.
I hope you like! I do.

Keep doing what you love!
Christa

Countdown to the 12 Days of Christmas Creations and a WINNER!!

2011-12-06T09:40:00.000-05:00

The countdown to Christmas is here and with that in mind, your friends at Two Scrapbook Friends invite you to countdown the 12 Days of Christmas Creations with them! Each day, for 12 days, a member of the Two Scrapbook Friends team, and a few special friends, will share some of the projects and inspiration that they have created to celebrate the Season.

Beginning on Saturday, December 10th, at 8:00 am, you can begin the hop at the first Friend's blog, where you will be sure to be inspired in your paper crafting! That blog will then tell you where you need to hop to on the next day!

You will need to hop from blog to blog, leaving a comment on each in order to quality to be in a draw for a special prize from Two Scrapbook Friends! Also, you will find a SECRET WORD on each blog which, when they are unscrambled, will make a special phrase at the end of the Blog Hop! Once the 12 days of hopping are complete you can email the phrase to us and we will enter your name in for another chance to win the draw!

The Hop will remain open from December 10th to December 22nd at midnight (EST). You can join in at any time. Winners will be announced on December 23rd on the Two Scrapbook Friends' blog.

Watch the Two Scrapbook Friend's blog on Saturday, December 10th, so you will know where to begin!

In the meantime, be sure to stop by our Forum for some fun Blog Hop Games! You will have an opportunity to win some Forum Buttons and Buttons mean Gift Certificates at Two Scrapbook Friends! See you there!

Now I would like to thank everyone who ame by my blog to say hello and leave a comment. It really makes my day when you take time out of your busy day to do so. The winner of my My Sketch World prize pack from Authentique is TAMMY FRAYNE! Congrats Tammy!

Until next time, keep doing what you love!
Christa

Welcome to the My Sketch World Blog Hop

2011-12-03T00:01:00.006-05:00

Calling all layout sketch lovers! We’ve asked our designers to choose their favourite layout sketch and challenge their partner to show you ways to create fabulous layouts, each with their very own a twist! Our international designers on this hop are:

My Sketch World

Ann Jobes

Bev Code

Christa Uttley (you are here)

Cindy Noesen (go here next)

Deb Long

Ginni Gass

Joan Borgelt

Malin Rimby

The MSW details:

1. Visit each blog and leave a comment. Read carefully, there may be individual requirements as some designers are offering little prizes of their own!

2. After you have visited each Designer's blog come back to My Sketch World blog and let us know what you thought. Part One of the hop ends Monday, December 5th, 11:59 EST.

3. Everyone who posts a comment on each blog will be entered to win! Winners will be randomly chosen.

4. To receive an additional entry, scraplift a layout and link it back to the My Sketch World blog (in your comment) and tell us what inspired you!

5. Have fun! Be inspired! Part Two of this hop begins December 10,2011.

My challenge partner Joan gave me this gorgeous sketch:

Joan challenged me to distress and distress and distress; as we all like to do. I DO like to distress and I must admit that I have made two attempts at this challenge. I used the same photo but with two sets of paper. My first attempt I chose Fancy Pants St. Nick paper and a photo of my son and my Mom. The St. Nick paper is gorgeous and really lent itself to the distressing but I must admit I couldn't get the layout to come together. I actually deliberated for THREE WEEKS after I got the paper down!

In fact, it was THURSDAY this week and I still didn't have my post ready! I decided to start from scratch. So I threw out the Fancy Pants! The design you see below does not include much distressing except some inking of edges. I have failed miserably in Joan's challenge to me but this attempt came together in in under an hour and I really am happy with it. I hope you'll be inspired to distress and try this sketch.

Here's the final design:

I had some beautiful Bella Blvd. Christmas Wishes paper and added some doodle bug twine in a pattern around the outside of the large circle.

I also used my Silhouette to cut a funky Christmas tree and heart. I added some Liquid Applique to the branches and heat it with the heat tool so it looked like snow.

Here is the completed little Christmas tree.

I also chose two kinds of red glittery letters (Thickers and MMBI) as well as these awesome little letters from Lily Bee in black for my title. I really like how they flow together with the different fonts.

I hope you let this design and the process inspire you. Remember: if something isn't working, don't be afraid to start again til you get it right!

A Prize you say?

In addition to the prize offered at My Sketch World, of a $10 to A Walk Down Memory Lane, I am offering this gorgeous prize pack from Authentique to inspire you! If you would like to win, just leave me a comment and if you become a follower and let me know you did, I will give you another entry! If you are already a follower (Thanks So Very MUCH!) let me know that too! I will choose a random entry from all comments left here and announce it on my blog Tuesday, December 6th. Be sure to leave me an email address or blog address so I can contact and thank the winner!

Go and see my friend Cindy next!

Keep doing what you love!

Christa

A "Hole Lotta Fun" and MSW December Reveal

2011-12-02T13:09:00.000-05:00

This month, Lucy challenged her designers with a double page design. I chose some Echo Park paper and pictures of my daughter eating a donut.

Started with a white background and splattered some multi coloured water colours. I love this transparent colour awash on the page. I then added the patterned paper sections and used the Silhouette to cut the title (except "Sweet", which are Thickers), and the large donut shapes.

The "o" in HOLE and the the other donut shape have beads that I added to mimic the sprinkles on Adriane's donuts. I added some Beacon's 3-in-1 glue and the beads and pressed them down gently. Here's a close-up:

I thought the beads added visual interest and texture to the page. Overall I am very pleased with the design and I hope you like it too! Be sure to stop by the MSW blog and see what everyone else is creating!

I hope too to see you here tomorrow for the start of the My Sketch World Blog Hop!

Til next time keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

Friends Are Cool

2011-11-29T10:47:00.000-05:00

My daughter is blessed with many great friends. Her two best friends live two doors down on either side of us and her dance troop is filled with wonderful, polite and enthusiastic friends. This past fall my daughter's very cool friend, Lauren came over and we went to the mall for some girl fun and snacks! Lauren is such a delightful girl with wonderful manners and similar interests as Adriane. When I asked Adriane recently what she really liked about Lauren she said, "Mom, Lauren is so nice. She never says anything bad about ANYBODY ever...and she likes the same things I do..Disney and the mall and dance and stuff."

Well, that says it all doesn't it. I am grateful she has wonderful friends and proud that she appreciates them.

Here's the layout I made to remember that day based on a sketch from my talented friend, Laura Whitaker.

And here is the sketch:

Thanks for a wonderful sketch Laura! I used the Christmas line from Bella Blvd in a non-Christmas-y way. and I paired it up with an older yellowswirl from Stampin UP!, Swiss Dot white and Bazzil pom pom trim.
I hope you are getting in some creative time!

I also wanted to mention some upcoming events you should be sure to check out"

We Scrap has their 12 Days of Christmas Event at their blog beginning December 1.
My Sketch World has two blog hops one beginning December 3 and the other on December 10th.
Finally, Two Scrapbook Friends blog hop begins December 10th!
So much Holiday fun. just around the corner.

Hope to see you here for the Two Scrapbook Friends and My Sketch World Blog hops.
Keep doing what you love!
Christa

We Scrap Sketchy Saturdays

2011-11-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Every Saturday the Inspiration Team at We Scrap posts a wonderfully creative sketch. This weeks sketch by the very talented Sarah Nolan, featured a single photo and lots of room for creative licence!
Here's the Sketch:

And here's what I made:

I used some of my recently received contest goodies from Two Peas and Authentique. I layered the Splendid collection and sewed like crazy in a contrasting thread. I added a large flourish from American Crafts after sanding it and inking it. I did the same with the title which are some older blue letters. The frame around the photo is also American Crafts and I thought it matched their eyes! A few Martha Stewart punched butterflies and VOILA!

I should mention that I put the cream piece with the journalling through my printer and added the text in brown. I did a few practice sheets for placement. I hope you'll let me know what you think!

Until next time, be sure to stop in say "Hi!" at the WeScrap forum and pop in on Sarah..you will be inspired!

Keep doing what you love!
Christa

Family

2011-11-21T12:20:00.005-05:00

While my friends in the U.S. are gearing up for their Thanksgiving and Christmas prep is well on its way here in Canada, it gets me to thinking about family. Through the good and the bad and the ugly..family sees you through. For me, family has come to include my very bestest bud, Carey and her beautiful children. You may have heard me tell of our weirdly symbiotic relationship before, but very recently Practical Scrappers asked us to create a layout especially for them using old Christmas lines in a new way. I chose a gorgeous photo from the talented photographer, Angela Smith of Waterloo.

I distressed the edges here quite a bit in keeping with the background and feel of the paper. I added brown and black inks together to tone down the white core-edges. I also sanded the large Bo Bunny Chipboard letters and added the brown and black ink to distress them and make them less shiny. The flourish is Bo Bunny too and was originally black so I sanded it down and added the black/brown ink. I also tied the black twine around the lower title area to create focus on the title and anchor the page.

The large circle and the two smaller ones are from Harmonie and are inked and sewn to the page! It's quite easy to get your needle to go over those larger elements on the machine. I had tea dyed a Fancy Pants doilie and placed it underneath too.

A final note, is the fussy cut white flower (a poinsettia!) added the acrylic bud and a gorgeous jewelled pin.

I am in love with the photo and I hope the layout does it justice. Carey really liked it and truth be told, that's why I did it.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday preparations whatever they may be,

Christa

Thank You Two Peas In A Bucket

2011-11-17T10:07:00.001-05:00

Hello!
You may remember that a few weeks ago I mentioned that I won a contest at Two Peas In A Bucket. Every month they have a challenge sponsored by a manufacturer. I entered a few entries in the challenge using Authentique product. Included in the box were TWO lines!
Here is what Two Peas sent me (and so quickly too!):

I love the paper, of course, but the cardstock stickers and tags are gorgeous. Here's a few close ups:

I wanted to thank Authentique and Two Peas for their generous prizes. I will be playing along this month again!

I love this company so much I will be giving away some as a prize for a blog hop in December!

Thanks for helping me do what I love to do!
Christa

More Monday!

2011-11-14T10:48:00.000-05:00

Howdy fellow blogophiles! I am thinking that this Monday I am going to share with you a layout I made from the Authentique sketch challenge posted first Saturday of the month. If you have read my blog of late, you will know I am a big fan of this fledgling company with big ideas and a heart of gold.

I decided to use some more of my Journey collection to make this layout about my Bo-Bo and my parents 'shug' Bella. Bo is very young here and Bella is being very tolerant!

First, I turned the sketch on it's side. Then I machine stitched the outside and the margins between the patterns. I also placed a rounded corner piece under each photo to seperate it from the pattern visually.

I also made this card to go with the card sketch! Same collection , who can blame me?!

The nice thing about sketches is that they can be used as a jump off point for your creativity. You can stick as close to the sketch as you like or use elements of it for your design.

Thanks Authentique! I look forward to MORE of your inspiration next week with the colour challenge!

Til then keep doing what you love!

Christa

Friendzy Friday with Two Scrapbook Friends: Crash Your Stash of Ribbon Tutorial

2011-11-11T09:31:00.001-05:00

Have you been to the back of the Two Scrapbook Friends Store? A huge rack of ribbon on rolls! Wow! I love seeing what they have out and what's in the cool glass jars all over the store? There are treasures to be found! I buy lots and I buy often. So..that means I have tons of it that never seems to get on pages or little bits left over.

Today, I wanted to share with you a ribbon technique I used to create a sunshine element from a ribbon circle. It is deceptively complicated looking but in fact took very little time. and it helps use up all those little bits!

Supplies:

1 sheet yellow Bo Bunny Double Dot paper

5-7 pieces of yellow ribbon approximately 6-10 inches. This varies with how big your circle is and is up to you.

Fast drying glue

scissors

yellow rhinestones

Process:

1. I cut a circle in a piece of Bo Bunny Double Dot Yellow. It should form a rim and be fairly narrow. Mine is approximately 1/2 and inch.

2. I chose 6 or 7 different yellow ribbons and cut them in odd lengths ranging from 2 inches to 3 inches in length. The number of lengths will depend on how much of the circle you want to cover and how large it is. Test these lengths for yourself. After I adhered them I actually trimmed a few for effect.

3. I then folded the ribbon pieces around the edges of half of the circle. I used my Beacons' 3 in 1 glue to do it quickly and with minimal fuss. I didn't follow a pattern really and alternated between thicker/thinner and patterns.

4. Afterwards I adhered the bling on each strand.

Here it is again!

Another layout I used a larger circle as a fringed frame.

Finally, a wreath element on this Christmas card.

I hope you'll dig into your stash of ribbon (I know you have one!) and give this a try. Til next time, keep doing what you love!

Christa

Think About it Thursday

2011-11-10T15:59:00.001-05:00

Howdy! I wanted to share with you an idea I have been thinking about lately. It came to me when my friend Carey asked me how I put together a page the other day and why it all seems to fit together. It got me thinking that good layouts are good but there is something that makes takes a layout to the next level.

Now, as most of you know I don't claim to be Becky Fleck or Becky Higgins or any other famous Becky! But I do know what I like and after 17 years of scrapbooking I have had lots of time to think about what's what and how it goes from being good to great.

I think I'd like to start a feature each Thursday where I tackle an element of my design philosophy. Exciting? probably not, intriguing, maybe.

So here's today's item to think about:

Repeating elements provide cohesion and harmony. Those elements should have meaning to the story you are telling. Cool eh? Here's what I mean:

This layout of my daughter and her BFF in their Halloween costumes shows that their shirts had a skull and cross bones on it. When I chose a feature embellishment, I chose an enamel sticker with the same skull shape on it. I also added a wooden button with a 31 (for Halloween) on it. Finally I chose three (this is a magic number in scrapbooking which we will tackle another day!) stars because we all know cheerleaders are about winning and rah-rah-rah! Repetition and meaning. Voila!

Here's it is close up too:

Here is another example where I chose a watermelon or two (you can see why) and a sunshine element. The watermelons repeat the patterned paper strip and the sunshine represents the summer in my title. Repetition and meaning. I didn't choose and ice cream die cut or use a princess patterned paper. I chose carefully so that all the elements told the story I wanted to tell.

So it's short and sweet. Try it or look at your own fabulous pages to see if you are applying the Repetition and Meaning idea!

Keep doing what you love!
Christa

A Glossy Challenge, a Studio Calico contest and chasing away the pre-winter blues online crop! Whew!

2011-11-10T10:05:00.001-05:00

My dear friend Ann challenged us to use glossy accents this month over at My Sketch World. I chose the great Amy Tangerine line form American crafts for this fab shot of my son 5 years ago. He is eating Watermelon!

I used a plain white background here and layered the pink and the olive paper which is a very cool wood grain. American Crafts is thinking ahead for added value and the camera strip came off the bottom barcode piece. The white scallop is from a package of Bazzill strips which I trimmed to fit. I then inked the edges of all the papers and distressed them too. One of my favourite things American crafts is doing lately is making matching fabric!

It's stunning and so versatile! I used the fabric paper to hand cut a banner, which I machine sewed and hand sewed the banner strip of twine. It's so exciting that The Twinery has tons of gorgeous cotton twine to choose from.

Finally, I used watercolour paints to make this sun out of Punky Sprouts canvas. Canvas adds depth and texture. Here, I wet the canvas and then used 4-5 watercolour yellows to shade the sun. After it dried, I glued it down and used the sewing machine to create the stitched corona.

The clouds are where I met Ann's challenge. I used the glossy accents here to trace the outside of the cloud to mimic the look of water.

I hope you'll enjoy meeting the challenges over at My Sketch World!

I also wanted to share with you a feature going on today over at Practical Scrappers. Our founder, Christine Meyer has created a set of beautiful designs from the Studio Calico kit. Pop over and say hi and you could win a kit of your own. (By November 15th..don't wait!)

Finally, this weekend begins the week long online crop at Two Scrapbook Friends. Chase away the pre-winter blues and join in these colour based challenges. I have posted one of my own, and it's sure to brighten your day!

So, as you can see there is lots to inspire you and lots of ways to do what you love to do!

Christa

Oh, Lily Bee, how lovely thou art!

2011-11-09T10:16:00.000-05:00

Recently, my Two Scrapbook Friends design assignment was to create with two collections from Lily Bee: The Harvest Market and the Memorandum collection. I love the rustic small patterns and they make it so easy to create non-themed layouts.

The first layout I created features a favourite picture I took of my daughter's BFF when she was 3 years old. She is wearing a life jacket in red and yellow, so I flipped the photo to black and white.

I made a crinkled lollipop flower added some distressed edges with ink too. The flourish is from Bo Bunny and the balloon stamp is from MME. The flower buttons are CTMH and the large letters are Thickers.

The small letters come right from the Lily Bee Collections and have become a staple in my kit. They come in 6 different colours in EACH collection.

I love the black and red and the rounded corners. The stitching is designed to add weight and flow around that title.

My second layout features those great family pictures from Angela Smith Photography in Waterloo. These photos of my husband and my son warm my heart and I didn't want to overwhelm them with lots of pattern. I chose a soft background from the Memorandum collection and added the blues and greens.

I also added some old rubons from Bo Bunny and inked some wheels/cogs from Maya Road. The wooden clock element provides an anchor for my cluster and meaning for my title. The canvas banner pieces are from Punky Sprouts and I used Stampin Up! ink on them.

You can see the background stamp here quite well and it is called French Script and is an old favourite from Stampin Up! The stitching anchors the upper cluster as well as the main patterned paper strips.

My final layout is called Family Style and includes and another favourite photo taken in 2009 by Angela Smith. I used many of the patterned papers from both collections. It is a simple central design and shows of those great letters again.

I hope you will find some time for a Lily Bee design in your scrappy future and keep doing what YOU love to do!
Christa

November Reveal for My Sketch World (and I was a double winner!)

2011-11-07T10:45:00.001-05:00

This month's sketch crom My Sketch World was a wonderful whimsical sketch. It incorporated a banner and three horizontal strips to create flow. Here it is:

I am working with some family pictures taken by Angela Smith Photography in Waterloo. I chose two of my darling son, Max and me. I know the time is coming when he won't think I am the best girl in the world, and I think these pictures capture the love we still have for each other (and that he can still show me!)

I have gotten used to using a complete "line" from a manufacturer, which is so very easy! But this time I challenged myself to mix it up a bit. I pulled some old favourites from Crate Paper, My Minds Eye, and Glitz Design. I also inked some chipboard phrases and letters from Maya Road.

The heart is a chipboard piece from Maya Road. I inked it brown and added miscellaneous buttons in the colours from the main piece from Crate paper. After I added the buttons I quickly added the beads from Stampin Up! to fill in the spaces. It has to be a quick process since the glue dries quickly.

Lots of stitching later, and VOILA! I hope you'll head over and see what everyone is doing at My Sketch World! The takes on this sketch are fabulous as usual!

I also wanted to share with you that I recently played along with a manufacturer challenge at Two Peas in a Bucket! I was one of three winners chosen to win $35 in Authentique product. Those of you who know me well know I am in love with this new mover and shaker on the scrapbooking scene. I also visit their blog regularly and play along with their challenges. I played along with their colour challenge and won! I will receive a paper pack from them directly! I can't tell you how excited I am. Please drop in and say hi and play along with their monthly challenges..you could win too!

I hope you are getting some creative time in this month too. Til next time, keep doing what you love!
Christa

Good Morning!

2011-11-03T15:10:00.001-04:00

September marked the beginning of Adriane's second year of competetive dance. It's an exciting time of year with discussions of new costumes and music and lots of new choreography. It always gets me thinking about scrapbooking the dance photos from last year. The best part is that we see the costumes early in the year and we can spend all year finding the best possible paper and embellishments for each costume!
I was very lucky to find the Echo Park Springtime line and the Bo Bunny lace to complete Adriane's ballet layout. They danced to a beautiful song called Morning On Boston Common from the film Leap Year.

The letters are Thickers from American Crafts. I fussy cut the flowers and used a die to cut the flourish.

I really love this layout (and I aologize for the poor picture editing!) as far as dance layouts are concerned. We are always challenged with a portrait and a landscape everytime!

Let me know what you think! Do you ever have this challenge? If so send me a link and we can share ideas!

Keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

A Delicious Challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends!

2011-11-02T07:44:00.001-04:00

My friends at Two Scrapbook Friends let me offer a challenge at their forum during the last half of October. It was based on a Thanksgiving menu and each person chose food items from a list to fill their 'plate'. Once everyone had chosen their items I revealed the co-ordinating scrappy items. All of those who played along were entered to win "buttons' in the forum and an RAK from me!
The random winner was Ann Jobes! Her layout shows her lovely daughter enjoying her birthday tickets to see So You Think You Can Dance in Toronto. I love how she caught her hubby's and her daughter's faces!

I hope you'll pop over to the gallery and see all the other entries. Thanks to all for playing along and I hope to see YOU there!

Til then, keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

Instagram Delight!

2011-10-31T20:36:00.001-04:00

I adore the Instagram App on my Iphone. I use it all the time to create cool effects on my photos. This month I was Challenged to create an Instagram layout inspired by the ladies at XOXO blog.
Here's what I made using Bazzil Divine Delight. My daughter and her glorius hair!
The ladies at XOXO had many layouts with bright coulours, a centre photo design, and flowers galore.

Let me know if you were inspired!
Christa

Hi!

2011-10-31T12:03:00.002-04:00

This weekend has been a wonderful exercise in scrappy flow! I attended the Fall Retreat at the Oakwood Inn in Grand Bend with my friend Carla and the Two Scrapbook Friends. We scrapped and ate and scrapped and ate some more! I made some new friends (Hi to Paula and Judy!)
I also created 6 layouts and a card. The card is in response to the colour challenge issued by Authentique.

Those of you who read my blog or know me well know I am in love with this new company. Paper quality and designs are top of my reasons why. The card uses the Wonder line (you can't see that underneath the black flower is a bit of red since it is a Christmas line!) and the green letters are Authentique too.

How do you think I did with the challenge! I hope you'll play along each month too. It really gets your mojo flowing and you could even WIN! Til next time, keep doing what you love..and if you can do it while on Retreat with Two Scrapbook Friends!

Christa

Authentique Challenge at Two Peas!

2011-10-27T16:54:00.001-04:00

Two Peas In A Bucket has a challenge sponsored by Authentique. I have entered three designs and the gallery is filled with wonderful entries. Here's my first one:

And this one of my hubby as baby:

and this card:

Patterned papers are by Authentique. I also used a chipboard gate from Dusty Attic and inked in dark brown. The rosettes are freehand cut and rolled with my Imaginesce petal roller. The two borders along the bottom are Martha Stewart and the wire is from the hardware store.

If you get the chance to head over to Two Peas and check out the contest I hope you'll let me know! Good luck! Til then, keep doing what you love.

Christa

Boy Meets Dog

2011-10-25T01:43:00.002-04:00

Recently I was lucky to get a great picture of my darling son and our delicious Boston Terrier Bo-Bo. Bo and Max have not always been the best of friends since Max is often too busy. Most recently though, Max and Bo-Bo have been enjoying sometime to themselves and a wonderful relationship has developed. Here is a layout I designed for Practical Scrappers Challenge Me Tuesday feature.

Max's shirt has that horizontal stripe which, as part of a design, is a strong visual element. I didn't attempt to use a stripe in my design but rather used dots and a chevron to balance out that stripe. The patterned paper is from my stash of scraps so I am unsure of the manufacturers! The letters are American Crafts.

I love this picture and the resulting layout too. I hope you are creating things you love too!
Christa

It's Pugg-a-licious!

2011-10-24T15:44:00.001-04:00

My daughter's BFF JJ has a stuffed pal who has seen her through tough times. Puggy is made of fabric and stuffing but that stuffing is a core of steel! Her Mom had this photo taken by Angela Smith to commemorate JJ's relationship with Puggy and I wanted to be sure she had a chance to remember it too. I have encouraged JJ to write something special to Puggy which we have adhered it to the back side of the layout. Those words will help her remember how Puggy made her feel even when she has grown.

I used the American Crafts fall line and a great Thickers font. I sanded the orange felt chipboard (it used to say Thanks) and added some letters form Lily Bee. There is wood and wire, which I think represents the solidness of JJ's relationship with her Puggy.

I love you JJ and I am glad you loved this layout of you and Puggy. It's Puggalicious!
Christa

In My Eyes You Are Tall

2011-10-21T14:42:00.000-04:00

I adore fall. Not only does it mean the end of the hectic summer months, it means cooler temps, routines and of course, gorgeous colourful scenery (and pictures!) Recently, I created a layout for Practical Scrappers to showcase these wonderful pictures of my son and my Dad from 2003. Although he looks a bit 'grumpy', so my Mom tells me, he is actually thinking about something he and my son were talking about and investigating. I love how they seem interested in the same thing and have such similar expressions! My son looked up to his Poppa and still does even though he is now 12 years old.

I used Best Creations fall line and added lots of machine stitching and distressing. The punched border is Martha Stewart and the leaves are felt from the bulk bin at my LSS. The letters are Kaisercraft (small) and American Crafts (large).

I hope you'll head over to Practical Scrappers and check out all the other fall inspiration. It's obvious the designers there are doing what they love to do, are you?
Christa

KAPOW!

2011-10-19T16:44:00.000-04:00

Halloween is almost upon us and I must admit to not paying too much attention to the season except for frantically searching for a costume for my daughter (my son has decided he is too old!) and buying candy for the hundred or so children who will ring my doorbell!

But recently Practical Scrappers challenged us to create a Halloween layout. I was a bit panicked since my Halloween pictures are usually taken on the fly and the lighting is bad and the kids have little (or No) patience with the camera. I did find one lonely picture of my son when he was four years old. I had made a Batman costume out of a black turtle neck, a mask, a balaclava, felt and some yellow foam. EVen his treat bag had the Batman logo on it!He was so happy that I made his costume...Go, Mommy!

I used Best Creations and old Stampin Up! paper and some great letters from Pink Paislee, American Crafts and Me and My Big Ideas. The colours are traditional but I love all the circles and how it sets off his little costume. I am hoping to get some great pictures this Halloween...cross your fingers!

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what I am up to! I hope you're doing what you love to do too!
Christa

I Had A Dream

2011-10-17T11:36:00.000-04:00

Really..I dream often. I hear some people don't but my head is always filled with dreams...sometimes even when I am sleeping! My Hubby says it's an overactive imagination and I don't suppose he's wrong, but the other night I was perusing the Canadian Scrapbooker website and enjoying the Sketchy Challenge sketch.

That night a layout came to me (hokey I know!) and when I awoke I knew the pictures and papers and design I wanted. Here is in all it's glory!

This is the Maragrita Line from American Crafts. I love the bright colours and the stripes and little buildings. I began with a splattered watercolour palette in the shades of the paper. I went heavier on the pink to better set of the photo. I layered a few strips of paper and added two circles of paper and edged in pink ric rac. I then fussy cut the buildings and built a layered look on that lower left side. I mounted the photo and cut the palm tree (Silhouette image). The title took the longest and I was determined to find the right balance in the fonts. Did you notice how I used the two "8's" to make a Mickey head? The orange brackets helped tie it all together! I stitched on those journalling strips and added a (not-so) hidden Mickey.

I hope you like it as it came together just as I imagined. Thanks for stopping in and joining me for this dreamy layout! I am doing what I love and dreaming about it too! Are you?

Christa

Putting on the "Glitz"

2011-10-13T15:20:00.000-04:00

This week I was fortunate enough to work with all three of the gorgeous Glitz Design papers that Two Scrapbook Friends has to offer. My Glitz-y story begins with an email and a photo to one the "friends" Carolyn, who was on her way to CHA this past summer. I begged her tot get a close up look at the Dance in the Sunshine line. There was something about it's lavenders and aquas that made me want to CREATE!!!
Carolyn ordered all three lines and called me when they came in. She had piles of paper and trims and some stickers laid out when I arrived and she said (every scrapbooker's dream) : "Take what you need!"

My favourite of the layouts is using that Dance line that had caught my eye. I had taken a few shots of my Dolly at a park in spring a few years ago and caught her beautiful toddler face.

I fussy cut the birds and the branch is from a Silhouette design. The little leaves are crinkled and inked and those sparkly letters are all American Crafts Thicker goodness! The design, though simple, allowed me to splash watercolours on the background and ink and distress the edges of the layers. I also used the wonderful Epoxy stickers to create a sun. Here's a closeup:

I used this same line to create a another design focusing on a photo taken the same day. It's title is another nick name we had for her when she was this age and constantly giving anyone who stood still, slobbery kisses.

The design features epoxy stickers made using my Epiphany epoxy maker. It is a wonderful thing!

I used a grey background and sewed larger circles on with matching aqua thread. They have been crinkled and the edges folded up for lots of dimension. The letters are American Crafts (aqua) but the tiny ones are Glitz. Here's a closeup:

The next line was the Vintage Blue. It had wonderful navy, which is hard to find in scrappy papers, plus my favourite: yellow! I made the following layout to celebrate a family friend who is a wonderful "Grandma" to my kids. She is a seamstress and still finds time to create wedding dresses for friends and family. We were headed to Walt Disney World to have tea with Princess Aurora on our very first visit to the WORLD. It needed a very special dress and my Dolly knew who to ask! No store bought dress for this special occasion! Dolly and Grandma Sharon hit the fabric stores and bought everything she needed from trim to underskirts; from lace to satin. It was gorgeous. Here's my small attempt at payion homage.

I used a Maya Road dress form chipboard and inked it. I then pleated paper and sewed the top together in an accordion pattern and adhered the skirt with glue. I traced the bodice and added My Mind's Eye bling for buttons. The lace sleeves are Glitz Trim pinched and sewn into circles. Prima roses, Clost to My Heart flower buttons and some Me and My Big Ideas gold letters finishe it off nicely. I am not normally a bling-y gal but this layout called for it by the bucket load!

Here's a close up:

My final layout uses the Beautiful Dreamer line and features an old photo of my dolly in the field of Queen Anne's Lace near our home.

This line is gorgeous in it's romanticism. I heavily distressed and tore the edges of the pink and layered it on the cardstock. That image in the lower left is on the patterned paper and does wonder to anchor the design. I cut flourishes with my Silhouette and the title "dreamer" is also Silhouette. The smaller roses are Prima but the larger is Recollections. I layered a few matching papers and machine sewed. I finished with a few punched butterflies, a metal frame from Stampin Up! and a "Beautiful" sticker from Glitz.

Here's a close-up:

I hope you have enjoyed puttin' on the "Glitz" with me! I adored this collection and hope you'll get a chance to see it at Two Scrapbook Friends. Once again, Carolyn, thanks for taking a chance on me and buying the Glitz! I have heard it's a hit!

Keep doing what YOU love to do.

Christa

More "Soup" for You!

2011-10-10T10:36:00.000-04:00

My dear friends at Two Scrapbook Friends asked me to design some projects with the Christmas Chowder line from Jillybean Soup. I am not sure what it is about "the SOUP" but I like to get out my kraft cardstock and paint when creating. Jillybean does great repetitive patterns and the colour scheme is often very versatile.
To get my mojo flowing, I began with an SRM tube and created a place card for "Aunt Sue" filled with Skittles. I used the cardstock stickers and a scalloped punch to add to the cute little tube.

I then created a few layouts; two Christmas-y ones and another Summer-y layout. The first Christmas layout called Cool You-le, shows a splatter paint technique in red with some random button placement. The buttons are actually sewn on the background rather than glued on. I used the Jillybean corrugated letters and tons of machine and hand stitching for texture. Rounded corners and sideways journalling finish it up.

My next Christmas layout is a Disney Layout. I love the trees at WDW and used these happy papers to show off my favourite tree at Hollywood Studios. I used rounded corners again and popped up some of the trees for dimension. More stitching and buttons too. I loved the many font title and the hidden Mickey. Can you find it?

My last layout was a non-Christmas layout. Jillybean's colour choices really allow for your to create non traditional layouts with a Christmas line. Here is my daughter in her swim suit acting silly. The browns, pinks and blues are perfect for this design.

I used a chipboard title and inked it. The flowers and butterflies and stitching give it lots of texture and dimension.

I also made two cards and a banner! The cards are very simple and incorporate the Jillybean stickers.

The Banner is created by fussy cutting the trees and penguins. I used glitter and liquid applique for the snow and added googley eyes and buttons. I have never created anything like it before and I hope you like it!

Wow! I loved working with this line and am so grateful to Two Scrapbook Friends for giving me the chance to create for them! Be sure to check out their blog and see what everyone else is creating. It's amazing!

Thanks gals, for letting me Do What I Love to Do!
Christa

Friendzy Friday with Two Scrapbook Friends and Jillybean Christmas Chowder

2011-10-07T00:55:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday! Welcome to Friendzy Friday with Two Scrapbook Friends. Today I wanted to share two products I adore; especially at this time of year when we are getting a head start on our Christmas Cards.
Liquid Applique and Glitter Ritz MicroFine glitter.

I also wanted to share my video that I made showing how to use these two great products to make a really cute penguin cards.

You'll need the following supplies (Plus your basic trimmer, scissors, glue and tape runner):
1. Liquid Applique
2. Micro fine glitter in white
3. Three sheets from the Jillybean Christmas Chowder line
(Snowflake,penguin and christmas tree)
4. An adhesive sheet (Scrapbooks Adhesives is what I used)
5. White Cardstock (1 12x12 sheet)
6. A Cool sentiment (I used my computer and chose "Hope Your Yule is Cool")
7. Twine (I used aqua twine from the Twinery)
9. Teeny Tiny googley eyes (I got mine from the dollar store)

I have used this technique to make a banner too! Watch for it soon at Two Scrapbook friends! I hope you enjoyed this technique.
Keep doing what YOU love to do!
Christa

Face Time at MSW

2011-10-04T14:43:00.003-04:00

This month Lucy produced a fabulous sketch for us to work with! It inspired me to get out some old pictures of my daughter and use some new Fancy Pants Designs for my design team submission.
Here's the sketch from Lucy:

Here's what I did with it. I layered the wild flower pattern over the black background. I chose it because it mirrors A's nature as being a bit "wild". The little embellishments (arrow, heart, stamps) and the circular flower at the top and bottom of the focal photo is are from a Fancy Pants embellishments pack. I added some messy machine stitching and some rough baker's twine. I even adhered the journalling strip with a few staples.

I love Lucy's sketches and I hope you'll pop over to the MSW blog to see what my fellow designers have done with it too...especially my BFF Ann..she had a surprise for me this month! Stop in at her blog and say hi!

Til then, keep doing what you love!
Christa

CraftGossips.com chose my layout "Finding You" as Inspiration Du Jour!

2011-09-27T15:03:00.000-04:00

Imagine my surprise when I received a note from Two Peas in A Bucket gallery asking if Craftgossips.com could publish my Finding You layout. I had created it using Authentique for a Practical Scrappers Design Team assignment. I am honoured to be featured there and hope you'll all pop over for some crafty inspiration! There is always something new to learn there! Be sure to leave a comment too!

Thank you Craft Gossips.com! I am thrilled with your post! It's nice to be able to DO WHAT I LOVE!
Christa

It's Time! It's Here!

2011-09-23T14:56:00.000-04:00

Well, tomorrow is the big day. NO, I am already married and I already had my kids..tomorrow is the BIG Scrapbooking Fundraiser for Encore Dance. Ann has been madly getting organized and administrating and I have been..running around in a circle squawking like a chicken! Really. She is the mastermind behind the great things in store for our attendees and in fact she is out there right now getting food and doing last minute things. I am grateful for all her hard work and I know we will have a super entertaining day tomorrow.

It will be the best fundraiser we have organized to-date with over $1500 in prizes and raffle items. We are serving a lovely lunch with the help of Sysco foods (thanks Brian), Sobeys and No Frills. The dinner, catered by Bon Choix in Kitchener, includes Lasagna, Caesar Salad, and garlic toast; not to mention gourmet cakes!We have a total of 42 paid attendees tomorrow who will go home with wonderful grab bags, full tummies and loads of creative projects!

We even had the local newspaper pop by and interview us earlier this week. Check out the article here. Here is the photo from the newspaper, I think we look divine!

So, if you haven't signed up..we have one or two spots left..be sure to check the blog for last minute information and fun news.

Looking forward to seeing you! You KNOW I'll be doing what I love!

Christa

It's On Page 55!!!

2011-09-19T11:40:00.000-04:00

Wow! Several months ago Canadian Scrapbooker asked if they could publish one of my layouts in their Fall edition. In spite of the postal strike, my layout was received, photographed and the final copy received in my mailbox around the first of this month. Ann brought her copy down and insisted I autograph it (Such a loyal friend, she is). But in all seriousness, I am proud of my efforts and honoured to be amongst some other great scrappers in that edition.

Here is the layout they chose (and they gave it a full page in their CANVAS feature!)

Thanks to my dear friends at Two Scrapbook Friends for giving me the courage to submit, guru Sue Sykes for telling me to give them all I had, and for my BFF Ann for believing in me ALL THE TIME.

On another exciting note, the Encore Dance Crop is going on this weekend in Elmira at the Curling Club we have been the recipients of so many wonderful prizes it was difficult to think of creative ways to give them all away! If you are planning to come out, we are looking forward to seeing you...if you haven't got a ticket..I ask you WHY NOT??? Check us out and hope to see you there!

Dow what you love (and as a wise friend said to me this weekend: Love what you do!)
Christa

Simple Stories and some Crop time!

2011-09-08T12:30:00.000-04:00

This month I was fortunate to be given the Simple Stories Destinations line by my pals at Two Scrapbook Friends. I must say I ADORE this collection. Here are three layouts I made using this versatile line.

First (and my favourite!) is called EPCOT.

I printed the photos using Picasa and was able to get so many more pictures of my favourite places on a one page layout. I also used some twine and some hardware I had in my stash from Stampin Up! I fussy cut the airplane, cut some circles with my CM circle cutters (still a fav tool after 15 years!) and applied some vinyl letters from American Crafts.

Secondly was a layout featuring my son. We went to Discovery Cove this past May. The weather was hot and this attraction is like nothing I had ever seen before. My hubby and my daughter swam with the dolphins but Max and I were content to swim in the warm pool and play in the sand..(at least he played..I sat and read!)

I used the tiny words on one sheet of the patterned paper and cut them out to form a border after layering a slice of navy, yellow and the designed pattern on the left. I popped the largest sentiment up. A bit of stitching for my journalling and some ribbon. The title is chipboard is Chipboard letters from Tim Holz. I painted them added crackle paint for some texture and glaze. I rubbed the dry letters with a bit of ink and VOLIA!

Lastly is a layout I did for my daughter's dance memory album. She and her BFF (and one of MY BFF's) went to Niagara Falls for a Dance Competition. After the awards, we went for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe and then down to the falls for an up close view.

This layout included some more of that Stampin Up! hardware, and more American Crafts Vinly letters in a different font. I used cream thread against the black for my stitching, as well as some twine and charms.

I also wanted to share my first layout for the My Sketch World of this term. I showed you a sneal peek but here is the finished layout! I used My Minds Eye Lime Twist and some funky enamel brads. The photo is by the incompareable Angela Smith Photography.

Last but not least I encourage you to pop over to Practical Scrappers and check out their feature today called Update Your Stash. My layout called I Love To See You Blossom is featured there in addition to lots of other great ways to use up the flowers in your stash.

Wow, such great things going on with all my scrappy friends! I hope you'll pop over to the links and let them know you were there!

Watch out too for the Back To School Online Crop beginning September 9th at the Two Scrapbook Friends forum as well as the month long ABC crop going on at My Sketch World..(more on those to come very soon!)

Til next time, keep doing what YOU love to do!
Christa

Two Scrapbook Friends: Friendzy Friday Tie Dye Paper

2011-09-02T05:00:00.001-04:00

Recently I was cruising the blogs in my spare time (ha ha!) and I saw a great article by the scrappy rockstar, Becky Fleck. I loved the look of the tie dye paper but thought I would try my own take on it. Here's a layout I made called EIGHT (BTW I took this picture just yesterday!)

I used:

3 different but complimentary colours of mist. Only the pink has glitter.

A large piece of paper (I didn't use cardstock but instead used paper I had a roll from an seamstress friend)

Some newspaper for misting this large piece of paper

Scissors for cutting if you need them

Here's how I did it:

1. I crumpled the paper up in a tight ball and sprayed the mists on the ball, turning as I needed to to cover the white surface of the paper. Don't be afraid to get close. Splatters are cool!

2. I then spread it out a bit to be sure it looked like I wanted it too. If you need to add a final spritz now's the time to do it!

4. I then spread it out a bit more to dry. This speeds the drying considerably.

Once the paper is dry feel free to cut it or punch it or fold it into anything you want. I used my paper cutter to cut a mat and them punch colourful tiny butterflies for my layout. Here's a close-up:

I think the mist captures my DD's funky cool age of Eight and the freezie idea too. I used the colored dots and jewels to bring out the colours in the mist. I also used a monotone white letters so I didn't detract from the colours but it also adds texture and makes the title POP.

I hope you'll try this technique and let me know what you come up with. Be sure to upload your layouts or cards in the TSF gallery too!

Keep doing what YOU love to do!

Christa

September Design Sneak Peeks

2011-08-28T20:48:00.001-04:00

September 1st is right around the corner and that means the release of lots of new design team creations.
I was fortunate to be given the Simple Stories travel line by Two Scrapbook Friends and here are just TWO of the sneak peeks !

I also created a My Mind's Eye Lime Twist layout for My Sketch World to begin my second term with Lucy and her great team.

Be sure to stop by both sites to see what my fellow designers are up to. I've been fortunate enough to get a backstage glimpse of a few and they are amazing!

Finally, my fellow designers at Practical Scrappers have some awesome features set up for the next few weeks. If you are in need of some fabulous inspiration, stop over and check it out.

Here's hoping your last week of summer is a warm one and that you can find time to do what YOU love to do!
Christa

Lucy's Sketches

2011-08-25T09:24:00.001-04:00

I mentioned in my last post that I have begun my second term with My Sketch World using the wonderfully verstaile sketches of Lucy Chesna. I am so fortunate to be a part of that wonderfully supportive and encouraging forum and gallery. As part of my Design Team application I submitted a never-before-been- seen layout called Live The Everyday Moments based on one of Lucy's sketches.

I used some old Basic Grey I had in my stash and stitched the outside. I used my Martha Stewart border punch and butterflies too. I added some chipboard, rub-ons, Fancy Pants coffee filters and a few word brads. The crowning glory, though, is the coffee filter flower I made with the Rollie Rosie on top. I have attached my Two Scrapbook Friends You Tube Video Tutorial here for your interest!
Here's a close up of the flower too!

The flower petals are punched with a scallop punch and folded for depth and fluffi-ness. The rollie rosie is twirled with the Imaginesce petal roller tool; a new favourite of mine!

I hope you will check out Lucy's sketches and join in the forum. We have a wonderful "ABC" contest going on for the entire month of September. Pop on over and get your spot to play along and be entered to win the big prizes!

See you there!
Christa

Summer Scrooge gets a taste of the summer good life!

2011-08-17T10:37:00.000-04:00

Wow! For those of you who know me well, you know I am not a huge fan of summer...the heat, the lack or routine..how busy we are..I am actually a bit of a summer Scrooge! I look forward to school starting and I count down the days..but this month has brought me some new surprises and some great scrappy times.

I heard that I was to be published in Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine's spring 2012 issue this month. I do have a layout coming out in the September 2011 issue and couldn't believe they chose my work AGAIN! Print publishing is one of my scrappy goals that I strive for every time I create something.

I also happened to be asked to join Practical Scrappers Design Team. They are a wonderful source of talented designers who provide inspiration EVERYDAY!

I also heard from Scrapbooking News and Review and they asked for 5 of my layouts for their most recent edition! What an honour.

Finally, Mys Sketch World had a design team call and I was chosen to be a part of their layout design team.

Can you say WOW? I am so lucky to have these great opportunities and to be part of great teams. I continue to love my Two Scrapbook Friends design team work and this month I am working with Simple Stories kit. It;s is gorgeous and versatile and can hardly wait to show you on September first!

So...I guess summer isn't too bad after all...and I won't be so quick to tell you there are only 20 days til school starts!

Still doing what I love (and so lucky to have people believing in my art!)
Christa

PS: I wanted to share with you a layout I made while scrapping a few weekends ago. I used Little Yellow Bicycle's Tiny Princess Line. Lots of strips and a canvas banner, a little chipboard wand and some purple polka dot ribbon. Lots of butterflies and buttons and finally, some stitching!

Anyone for a Margarita?

2011-08-11T13:32:00.000-04:00

Anyone for a Margarita?
Margarita Paper by American Crafts, that is! This past weekend I was fortunate to be able to find time to celebrate my BFF's Ann's birthday in scrappy style. We attended the FREE anniversary crop for our friends Elaine, Anita and Laura at ScrapMuch? and had a wonderful time. I even won some lovely American Crafts Campy Trails! (thank you very much!)

But best of all, I got some layouts created. For this one I chose some old pics of my dolly from about 5 years ago. I always wondered what was going through her mind when I took the one with her big big eyes and goofy smile.

I cut some different sized circles and machine sewed them to the background and added strips along the bottom . Two of those strips came of the BOTTOM of the 12 x12 patterned papers! I love papers that do this; it's an added bonus every time I buy something new! I also cut a few circles and made my own version of a lollipop/pom pom flower. I crumpled the circles and then cut them in towards the centre without cutting all the way through. I added a few buttons and fussy cut some flowers from the patterned paper. I edged the journalling in orange and titled it in some Thickers!

This layout is a new favourite of mine. Do you have layouts that you are working on lately that YOU love?
Keep doing what you love!
Christa

The Reason Why

2011-08-08T14:21:00.000-04:00

In 1996, I was invited to a friends house on evening to learn about a new hobby that was sweeping the world: Scrapbooking, of course! From that minute I was hooked and over the past 15 years I have seen so many new trends, purchased some truly wonderful products and met the most amazing people. I have created lots of pages that I adore and a few (ha ha) that I wish I'd done differently, but the one thing that hasn't changed in all that time is the main reason WHY I scrapbook.

In recent years, I have found my desire to become a cutting edge (pardon the pun!) scrapbooker, using the most current products, teaching and inspiring others. I have even been fortunate (and blessed) to become a DESIGNER for Two Scrapbook Friends my local scrapbook store, a fabulous sketch site called My Sketch World and most recently, an inspiration blog, called Practical Scrappers. While all this challenges me and inspires me to be better and grow as a scrapbooker, the main reason I scrapbook is to preserve memories for my family and create ART of which I am proud.

In that vein, I created this layout using SEI's Corrine line. I really liked the idea of a centrally located photos and the papers really allowed me to highlight the melon and blue in the photos. The background papers are machine stitched to the kraft base. I have inked the edges and added some rub ons (Daisy Bucket) along the right side in the exact melon shade.

Finally once I added the pictures I fussy cut the Flowers from patterned paper and popped them up on the edge of the chipboard trim (MME). I added the diecuts, also from Corrine and some taupe ribbon from Stampin Up! The added touch of the scalloped border punch and butterflies are all from Martha Stewart.

The title (in American Craft Thickers) came to me while listening to my Scrappy Playlist on my iTouch. The song The Reason Why (hee hee) by Little Big Town got me thinking about what I do and why I do it with such passion. So, if you're feeling a creative slump or feeling the pressures to produce the perfect page, just remember your REASON WHY. I hope that it helps you get back to the beginning of your creative journey, where the passion and excitement for this wonderful craft set you on the journey you are on today.

More than ever: keep doing what you love to do! (and remember why you do it!)

August Design Team Reveal!

2011-08-02T14:35:00.000-04:00

I love the first of every month, when I can peruse my fellow designers galleries and see what they have created for the new month. This month at Two Scrapbook Friends I was given the Yankee Doodles line by We R Memory Keepers. I adored the bright red, white and blue designs. I created these three designs:

I added yellow to the Beach Hair yellow and the other colours just POP! BE sure to check out the gallery at Two Scrapbook Friends for my fellow DT wonderful creations!

August 1st was also the release of My Sketch World's August sketch. Lucy Chesna's sketches are so versatile. Here's August's:

and here's what I did with it!

I loved these pics of my family on Father's Day and a little bit of Lime Rickey from MME and some We R Memory Maker's scraps!

Let me know what you think! Til then, keep doing what you love!
Christa

SEI Lifestyle Inspiration

2011-07-31T09:21:00.000-04:00

There are so many ways to be inspired in the world of Scrapbooking. I have said before that great photos are my source of inspiration here at home but when I am out in cyberspace waiting for inspiration to strike, I go the Manufacturer blogs and one of my favourites is the SEI Lifestyle blog. I love the SEI lines and their Design Team members are very talented and innovative. They also produce sketches every month. This month SEI sketch by Julie Bonner.

I used SEI's Chocolat line to create this design of my DD this past Canada Day. I adore this photo and even though her shirt is actually white and red, the shading here lends itself to this line perfectly.

I centered the photo a bit more than what's in the sketch and omitted the journalling portion (I tried to add it here and wasn't satisfied with the results).

Let me know what you think and be sure to Head on over to SEI Lifestyle blog and play along in August!

I also wanted to be sure to tell about a giveaway from the wonderfully creative Gabrielle. Check out her blog and the pictures of her giveaway here. Here are some of the wonderful things she is paying forward from her own stash!

Keep doing what you love!

Christa

Have you ever been Stuck?!

2011-07-22T08:43:00.001-04:00

Hello scrappy friends! I hope you are enjoying July and if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer! I mentioned in my previous post that I enjoyed a full 12 hours of scrapbooking at Two Scrapbook Friends last Saturday. I had a wonderful time and I can't remember 12 hours going by so quickly. I was productive and managed to get 4 layouts completed! Three singles and one double (Safari So Good) which you may have seen in my last post. Here are two more.

The first is based on a sketch my friend Sharon and fellow DT member posted as our sketch challenge for July. There is a wonderful contest so check our our forum and play along. She got it from a super cool site called Stuck?!.

I made this:

The final layout I made to play along with the BINGO challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends. I used a wave, sunshine, stitching, a fish and the colour blue. It came together nicely!

I had the best time and I can hardly wait for the Fall Retreat in October. No one puts on a scrapbooking event like they do! Unless of course it's my friend Ann and I! Don't forget to pop over to the Encore Dance Crop blog and see what donations and giveaways we have this week!
Til next time, keep doing what you love!
Christa

Safari So Good

2011-07-20T12:01:00.000-04:00

I must say that I read that title and I chuckle to myself. I felt I was pretty clever with it and, much to my hubby's chagrin, I laugh myself silly everytime I say it. I think one reason this layout makes me feel so good is that it was the title of a layout I did using Bo Bunny's Zoology line which is a personal favourite of mine this spring. I used it to create a layout of our Safari at Busch Gardens in Tampa this past May; a wonderful family vacation. I also have a soft spot for giraffes and they are such majestic and intelligent creatures. (They even have freckles like me!) Also, this layout was the first 2 page layout I have created in the past 6 months! I am very proud that I was able to break the creative block I had around the 12x24 space. In fact, I have included a 2 pager in my August Design Team work for the first time ever. The final reason is that I even completed this layout at the All Day Summer Crop held at my favourite store, Two Scrapbook Friends. Such a super time and I was very productive.

I love the large diecut and the Punky Sprouts canvas tape that I frayed to give it a wild look. I also distressed with my sanding block some chunky chipboard letters in black. I then added brown ink. The effect matches the black outline on the diecut perfectly.

Please let me know what you think! I would also love to see if you have used Zoology to create any masterpieces too!

Keep doing what you love (and laugh a bit while you do!)
Christa xo

Cool Things for a Hot Summer Week!

2011-07-12T14:01:00.000-04:00

Well we are into the thick of the summer heat here in Ontario, Canada. I can happily justify spending the hot evenings in my cool basement or living room making scrapbook layouts or cruising scrappy blogs for inspiration. CHA is around the corner and almost every manufacturer is getting ready for their Winter/Fall reveals. Some faves are from Glitz Design and of course, Bo Bunny. I can hardly wait to see that at Two Scrapbook Friends! Do you have a fave release at CHA?

Summer also means summer dance camp at Encore Studios. Our new director Chrystal Mazzota has brought some very cool choreographers in to teach the kids. This week my DD is learning hip hop from the fabulous MsToya Robinson! We are so excited for the fall too and can't wait for our Encore Dance Fundraiser. This week we are offering a sampling of some twine from the Twinery for the first 5 paid registrations. Check this blog post out for more details.

Finally, I am in the thick of my summer class from BPC. I am taking it with Ann and Carla two of my bestest scrappy pals. We are receiving challenges via email from Elizabeth Dillow. The first was to use a familiar object as inspiration for our layout. I used a scrappy magazine cover from Scrapbooks etc.

I created this page by mimicing the tilted focal photo and the three other vertical photos. I also added rub on text to those vertical photos. I also added a small object in the upper left and an image or cluster iin the lower left to represent the barcode. Lots of other little tidbits. Let me know if you think I met the challenge!

The second challenge was to use a photo as the canvas for the layout. To be honest this felt very digi-scrappy and I know it got in the way of me being able to approach this task. I finally chose a photo of me taken this spring my by photographer friend Angela Smith. She is a genius (as I have said before) and it really did provide me with room to play. I didn't use any patterned paper her; only a square punch, a duplicate photo, some old rub-ons from MME and cardstock from American Crafts. I am ultimately happy with the result but certainly didn't feel I had really CREATED here. HAve you done something like this before? Share your results in a link with me below. I'd love to see them!

Thanks for sharing your scrappy thoughts with me and I look forward to hearing about all your adventures too. Til then, keep doing what you love to do.

Christa

It's CHA sneak peeks!

2011-07-06T14:30:00.000-04:00

I am stunned that is its CHA time once again. It means that Manufacturers are set to release sneak peeks of their new products and stores are ordering like crazy! I recently saw this new line on Glitz Design and I loved the colours (mauve and gold and aqua) and the fonts. Even the name Dance in the Sunshine, was a thrill! Of course the awesome bling and vintage-y feel didn't hurt either!
So, I encourage you to check it out for yourself and enter their contest to win the whole line!
Here's a sneak peek I'll share with you!

I also wanted to share you a personal triumph! My dear BFF Carey has admitted to being a scarpbook-aphobic, but this year when our DD's decided to dance competitively I convinced her that she should document this journey for her daughter. She said she would try if I designed the page and made them fairly simple; she would copy my page! I was so excited. So this past weekend we met for a few hours and here she is with her very first page! I am so proud of her and I LOVE the time we spend together. Congrats Carey!

I am also starting a new Challenge course at Big Picture Classes Today with my other BFF Ann. Stay tuned! I am still trying to do a LO EOD (LayOut Every Other Day!) and will post more of those soon too.

Until next time...keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

July 1st is more than just Canada's Birthday!

2011-07-01T20:41:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to the best country in the world! Not only am I celebrating with fireworks and BBQ's, I am celebrating some scrapbooking thrills!

Today is the July release at Two Scrapbook Friends. I was given the really retro feeling Cosmo Cricket Upcycle line. Here are three layouts I put together as part of my LOAD process where I enjoyed working with some older photos, especially one of my mother when she was a young teen.

Please let me know what you think!

I also wanted to share with you a video I made for Two Scrapbook Friends using Cosmo's Glubers to make a Pleated Ribbon Flower. I love making these videos, even though I need more practice! Keep watching for more in the future.

Finally, my friends at My Sketch World have released their July 1 sketch layouts. I made one of my daughter using Graphic 45 and a wonderful sketch by Lucy Chesna. I love this line and the sketch is so versatile.

For my Canadian Friends, I hope you are as proud to be Canadian as I am! I hope you are enjoying your families and friends on this special day.
Also, happy 4th of July to my American friends! Hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.
Keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

Day 11 on the LOAD

2011-06-23T09:28:00.000-04:00

I am still enjoying the LOAD process and have discovered a few things that really "work" for me. I also discovered things that DON'T! I will share a few of these insights very soon. I hope to do it at the 15 day LOAD mark! I have also experimented with some new techniques and have become better at living with my mistakes. Here is #11 in the LOAD process where I used the printer to print my title and journalling right on the background paper. I also adhered the buttons to the card stock UNDER the top layer and popped up the entire top layer so it was flush with the buttons.

I wanted to note that I used Scriptina and a basic Teletype font in my title work. I love the flowy fee of the Scriptina and FYI..IT'S A FREE FONT!

So I challenge you to do a few things your don't usually dot his week in your scrapbooking! Try to print your title right on the back ground, Use some new and exciting fonts to create a feeling..do something NEW on your pages and you may be surprised how it gets your creativity flowing!

Let it FLY FREE!

Til then, do what you love to do!
Christa

See? I do scrapbook my boy!

2011-06-18T19:17:00.000-04:00

Recently, my dear friend Carey asked why I had so many layouts about my DD and hardly any of my DS? My LOAD projects certainly reflected this bias...but the reality is my dolly likes having her photo taken. I also spent 4 years of scrapbooking SOLELY my DS. But she had a point. I was using those soft girlie papers, ribbons and butterflies and sweet girlie photos to create my LOAD masterpieces (ha ha). I decided today to put some effort into scrapping my DS. Before the details of those memories faded, I wanted to be sure to include them.

So here we are on a hike this past spring. We walked and talked and explored. It was Heaven to have him interested in us and being outside. I love this layout and I am grateful to Carey for making me aware that I was missing out on preserving these memories.

Let me know what you think of how I am progressing. This is #10 and I have held a few back since they are DT layouts and bound for a July 1 release.

Until next time, keep doing what you love to do!

Christa

I'm On A Roll Now!

2011-06-17T07:31:00.000-04:00

June is flying by! I am still managing to find my flow with LOAD and wanted to continue to share with you how I am doing.
Here is a layout I did for a Picasso art project my DD did. It was so well done I didn't want it to get lost or ruined. It also had a neat little story that I wanted to share too.

One night she climbed into bed with me. She held my hand and snuggled close.

A few minutes later she asked me: "Mom? Do you know about Picasso's Blue Period?"

I said" Um...no."

She said: "He painted these pictures when his friend died and blue is a sad colour."

I said, wisely: "Oh."

She added: "As opposed to his Rose Period when he was happy and in love."

I said: "Oh." (Again)

I couldn't believe it! She was so knowledgeable. So enthusiastic! I needed to be sure we preserved that memory forever!

Lastly I wanted to share a layout I loved. It felt good making it and as soon as I was done I started a new one, since my mojo was flowing. This layout of my DD when she was just 20 months old and fresh from her sleep. So sweet and warm. A memory I wanted to remember too.

Let me know your thoughts! It really helps with my LOAD process!

Keep doing what you love!
Christa

June is all about the LOAD!

2011-06-13T10:27:00.000-04:00

Last week I posted my first two layouts in my LayOut A Day process that I am doing with my BFF Ann Jobes. The process was inspired by a Big Pictures classes class I took last month. My realistic goal is to get one layout done a day but have forgiven myself 1 day if life gets to be too much. Since last Monday, I managed to complete 6 layouts! I have shared 1 and 2 already and #3 is a layout I have completed for my Two Scrapbook Friends Design Team so any reveal will have to wait til July 1. But I wanted to share #4 and #5. I love to See You Blossom is something I have been wanting to try since I bought my tube of Prima flowers. The most challenging part was filling in the centres of those blooms. It's surprising what you can find in your stash! The photo was originally a colour one. My DD was in a black dress with a yellow Hawaiian garland in her hair. We we at the Luau at Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World. I adore the way her hair is blowing and her head is tilted. So whimsical it called for her very own garland of flowers!

The last layout is my DD at her final recital of the 2011 dance season. They danced to the song from Cinderella and the costumes were shiny and pink! (Much to her chagrin!) I used Kaiser Craft Easter paper and a Prima Fairy Flora Paper too. Overall very simple but my DD loved it. I even made an extra (my 6th layout) for her BFF who dances too!

Let me know what you think! This is a growth process and I am experimenting while getting caught up on some of those layouts that I have been wanting to do. Looking forward to hearing from you!

(PS. I haven't forgotten My Wednesday challenge at all..just getting my mojo going again but I promise it'll be soon!)

Keep doing what you love!
Christa

My First two LOADs..which one do you like better?

2011-06-08T11:14:00.000-04:00

Wow! I can't believe I have managed to creat 2 layouts for my LayOut-A-Day! I am excited to be doing this with my BFF Ann. Our intent is to try to stremline out creative process, and highlight those things that help us be creative. We are also hoping to indentify those things that we like to do on our creations and which can be identified as "Christa" things; things that make me happy.

Here is the first layout. I used MME's This and That patterned paper line and embellies. The design is linear and uses lots of patterns.

Then on my second layout I chose a plain white background and used red acrylic paint to create a frame for my photos. I added some punched butterflies and buttons. I stitched my journalling lines (thanks Ann!) in yellow/orange and hand wrote the words.

So, two different layouts in two different styles...Which one do you like better? Please comment and let me know your thoughts!
Doing what I love!
Christa

My Sketch World June Sketch REVEAL!

2011-06-03T09:59:00.000-04:00

It's June! And those of us who live in SOuthern Ontario are so happy the warmer weather has returned. June has also brought the June sketch from Lucy at My Sketch World!

Here it is:

Here's what I did with it!

I used some of myold stash from Stampin Up! and some new techniques on layering I am learning from Nic Howard at Big Picture Classes. The photos are of my DD on her 7th birthday. She is wearing the outfit Grandma and Papa bought her and she loved hamming it up for the camera.
Please head over to the MSW gallery and check out all the other June sketch layouts!

Finally, I know Wednesday has come and gone and I have yet to post my "Wednesday is a day for Change" layout. I began work on it last Wednesday and planned to finish it in time for this weeks posts, but sadly we have had a sadness in our family and I haven't been motivated to scrap at all this week. I promise I will get it on here as soon as possible! Thanks for your understanding and prayers.

Keep doing what you love (and remember why you're doing it!)
Christa

Wednesdays are a day for change!

2011-05-25T07:25:00.000-04:00

Ok..maybe not..but 'hump' day could use a new moniker don't you think? Instead of being a day whose only claim to fame is being in the exact middle of the week, it could be THE DAY FOR CHANGE..(hear thunder and ominous lightening here). So what's this all about? I know you're thinking it.

I awoke this morning (like any other morning) and thought about the day. I took a minute and prayed for many things. I always turn my laptop on and see what everyone is doing on FB and any new emails I get from those up later than 9 pm! And there it was. An email from Big Picture Classes talking about a small class on mini books. Not interested. Me and the small scrapbooking format have never seen eye to eye creatively. But it was the subject of this mini book that was the message. Scrapbook a week in your life in this mini book. Hmmmm.

I have seen a few bloggers doing a daily list. My dear friend Sue Sykes does a grateful blog on Sundays. The brilliant and prolific Becky Higgins has been doing something like this for years. But it seemed too much a committment. So this morning I decided to CHANGE my way of thinking I decided to document things that were important about one day in my life, once a week for a year. So I picked Wednesday; the date who had never know any 'liking' during my previous weeks, will now be my day for change. I will change the fact that I rarely scrapbook about ME. I will document my day and preserve it with photos of things that I was doing or thinking about or loving that day. I will reserve that evening to scrapbook about ME.

I know what you are thinking. Self centred? Uninteresting? Maybe. But I am told (by at least 3 people everyday) that I am THE best ever. So maybe they will be grateful I took the time to preserve ME in a scrapbook for them to see and think about and remember.

So here's my list of 10 for today. I am handwriting it and plan to include it in my scrapbooking endeavour. I will try to post this weeks list on a layout NEXT Wednesday with next Wednesday's list.

listening: to excited kids with spring here
eating: way too much..time for salad
wearing: jeans/shorts/jeans/shorts..man! the weather is confusing
weather: confusing (cold then hot, cold then hot)
feeling: sore. My wrist is broken and I do too much
needing: another holiday to Florida. I am at peace there
thinking: about a trip to Disney in the fall...
praying: for a miracle for Larry and Wendy
learning: about my scrapbooking style
enjoying: that my computer mouse now works perfectly. (I removed the truck sticker stuck partially over the laser eye on the bottom!)

So I challenge you to make Wednesday (or any other day) your day to CHANGE the way you scrapbook about YOU. Make a list or use mine. Do it once a week or everyday or once a month. Do it and scrap it and leave these bits of you to your children and family for years to come.
Please let me know your thoughts and please drop me a line if you take up my challenge, I'd love to see what you're up to!
Here's to doing what you love to do (on WEDNESDAYS!)
Christa

Spring and other wonderful things!

2011-05-17T15:07:00.000-04:00

It has been far too long since I have posted in my blog and the only excuse I can provide is time. It seems to slip away from me and here I am..one month later and finally updating my blog.

Spring is finally upon southern Ontario even it does translate to rainy days and muddy puddles. I had a lovely vacation to warm Orlando and took lots of pictures. This one of my dear son having the time of his life at Discovery Cove makes me happy and glad we take time out of our schedules to vacation.

I have also been working on my May 15th reveal at My Sketch World. Lucy's fabulous sketch helped me create this lovely layout of my daughter's Tea with Princess Aurora at the Grand Floridian in Walt Disney World. I love the bright colours and that 'melon' colour especially makes me happy. The back ground is a die cut paper from Best Creations Easter line.
I hope you'll pop over to the gallery and check out the releases of all my design team members for this month!

Keep doing what you love to do!
Christa

What inspires you?

2011-04-17T19:32:00.000-04:00

To some scrapbookers, the story that they tell is the most important part of their scrapbooking legacy. But, I must admit to being someone who loves great photos. If my photos don't inspire me then I have a hard time choosing the papers and embellishments let alone feel I have made a layout to stand the test of time. You might say that for me they are the foundation of all that I create. This past weekend my friend Angela Smith (whom I like to call the extremely talented-ever visionary- super photographer) met with my husband's extened family for some family photos. It was cold and the on the verge of raining, but she managed to take gorgeous photos. Now, she is away for a bit for a well-deserved vacation, but she did have time to send me a few photos.

I truly love it when she 'finds her light' as she likes to say. It is truly her gift and I am always inspired to scrapbook these moments once I see her beautiful photos. Thank you Angela for sharing your gift and inspiring me. What inspires you?

Drop me a line and let me know what keeps you going creatively?

Finally, last week my fav store Two Scrapbook Friends had an Easter Blog hop and as promised those who commented and are a follower, were entered in a draw to win a small little gift from me! Well, the winner was a fellow Designer at My Sketch World known as LisaM. Congrats and thank you for following my blog!

Keep doing what you love!
Christa

Hippity Hop! It's an Easter blog hop!

2011-04-11T21:00:00.000-04:00

Happy spring! We are starting to see some of the signs of spring and I must say: It's About Time! I love spring and with it comes thoughts of Easter. To me Easter is one of the most important times of the year. It gets me to thinking of all the blessings that fill my life everyday. A few of things I am blessed with is having great scrappy friends and the gift of creating scrapbook pages that represent the moments in my family's life.

My lovely pals at Two Scrapbook Friends decided we could do a Blog Hop to celebrate this wonderful occasion. You will need to 'hop' from blog to blog leaving a comment on each and then a final comment on the blog thread in the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum to say you have completed the hop! Start at the Two Scrapbook Friends blog and progress to the following. (Be sure to leave comments at each stop!)

Here are the blogs of my fellow "Friends":

Here's my lovely daughter when she is two years old, colouring eggs. I remember her joy and being able to handle the 'tough' job like her big brother. She felt like a big girl and couldn't help but have Big Easter Laughs!

I used a KI Memories calendar page and added Best Creations glittery Bunny Love line patterned paper. I added a pink frame from MME and pink letters from Paper Studio. I added Smooch and Tattered Angels glimmer spray to two acrylic butterflies and finished off with some stitching and various misc. buttons/ribbon.

The hop will be open until April 14th at 8 pm and then we will have a random drawn for a prize for those who completed the hop. For added excitement, those who leave a comment on my blog and become a follower, I will randomly award a small brand new prize to one lucky a commenter, from my own stash! I will announce the winner on my blog Monday, April 18th.

Also... if you create an Easter theme project in this week, please link up on the participation thread for some bonus buttons at Two Scrapbook Friends! (Not sure what buttons are, check it out on the forum!)

Any questions just ask! In the meantime, keep doing what you love!

Christa

Learning to "feed" my Creativity for a Lifetime!

2011-04-05T10:34:00.001-04:00

I remember an old English proverb: Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; teach him to fish and he can feed himself for a lifetime. It came to me yesterday that my journey of discovery with Karen Grunberg and her class Finding Your Way was much the same as this proverb. I had for years taken classes that I truly enjoyed, bought magazines and products, but I was never very sure of what to do afterwards. Sometimes I was satisfied with my finished layout but when I was, I couldn't tell you why any more than I could if I didn't like it. I was "fed" for a day..a few days...but then my BFF Ann Jobes mentioned Karen's class. It has truly taught me "how to fish" my own. I have learned about the fundamental aspects of scrapbooking creative waters; how to tap into what I am creating and what it is I like or need to be creative at my best. I now know "how to fish". The course is 3/4 of the was completed and we have covered a great many of the aspects of design and colour and organization. It is thrilling to learn things about myself I never knew!

Last week I mentioned we had a reveal for my Design Team at Two Scrapbook Friends. I was so excited to take in my completed projects and when I did my dear friend Joanne (one of the "Friends") was totally wow'd. I even heard from their in store designer, Shelby, yesterday. She took a moment out of her crazy day to drop me a line to let me know she loved this months work too. My fellow DT members have always been kind in their words, but this month I feel great about my finished products. I am over the moon!

Here's the three layouts I produced for Two Scrapbook Friends. Drop me a line here or at their gallery and let me know if you like them.

Here's the first called "GO"

The second Called "Oh baby baby"

and my favourite (an experiment in Kraft paper, paint and sewing a banner!) called "Happy".

I have been telling anyone who will listen (and who is a scrapbooker) to check out Karen's class at Big Picture Classes, but it has come to my attention that registration is closed. I am sad to hear this but suggest for you to visit Karen's blog or contact Big Picture Classes to see when it might be offered again. After all, why not learn to find your way and 'feed' your creative soul for a lifetime of great scrapbooking and creating.

In addition, check out the April 1st release of My Sketch World's April 1st sketch. I too will have something to reveal on April 15th, but until then there is lots of inspiring and wonderful layouts to be seen in the gallery there. My BFF Ann has one up on her blog as we speak!

This weekend I will be at Scrapfest in Kitchener on Friday night helping out my Two Scrapbook Friends from 4pm until 10pm. Pop by and say "Hi!".

Doing what love EVERY SINGLE DAY! Hope you are too.
Muah!
Christa

Friendzy Friday with Two Scrapbook Friends: Canvas Leaves

2011-04-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

Helloooooo Friday!
I am exciting to share with you my first technique at Two Scrapbook Friends Friendzy Friday . A few weeks ago, my friend Avril Tanner shared how to make a beautiful canvas flower. This week I am showing you how to turn plain old canvas triangles into gorgeous leaves.

For this project you'll need the following:

- canvas triangles like these Lil' Petals

- ink and a brayer. I chose green (or shades of green). For fall you might chose reds and yellow and orange. You can also use glimmer mist too.

- matching thread and a sharp needle

- stickles or crystal effects for finishing touches

- safe surface for inking or misting

- running water and a paper towel (not shown)

- gloves if you don't like to get messy (not used! I'm a crafty gal!)

1. Rinse the sizing out of the triangles. This allows the ink to settle right into the fabric and frays the edges a bit. Blot the water on a paper towel.

2. On your ink safe surface, brayer the ink on the triangles. I use a few shades of green to obtain the coloration I prefer.

3. Thread your sharp needle and tie off the end. You'll need it ready . Then, the tricky part. Fold the wide end of the triangle into a 'w' or an 'm' shape. It should look something like this when you have it right:

4. Using the sharp needle pass the thread through the end a few times until it is secure. Tie the ends tightly.

5. Now the finishing touches. Add some stickles (I used my finger to 'paint' them on) or add a few drops of crystal effects to look like dew. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly before adding them to your pages.

6. Now, get scrappy! Add them to your pages with those gorgeous canvas flowers Avril showed you. Your scrappy friends won't believe how easy it was!

Please share with what you've created! Head over to the Two Scrapbook Friends Gallery and show us what you've done! We love to see how we've inspired you.

Keep Doing What You Love!

Christa