Sketchabilities #110 DT Reveal!

Time for the reveal of Sketchabilities sketch challenge #110!  It's a gorgeous sketch and was a total challenge for me.  I am finding that these sketches all seem to "feel" like they're meant for mixed media layouts, so I am continuing to branch out and try different mixed media techniques.

Definitely come play along with us by CLICKING HERE because we've got great sponsors and giveaways for this reveal...how about a $25 gift certificate to the Silhouette online store?  Or a $25 gift certificate to Creative Embellishments? Keep reading to the bottom of this post to enter the giveaways!

So here's my layout.  And yes, you aren't imagining it.  I did scrap another photograph of a latte.  But this one has a leaf swirled into the foam, so it's different.  So there.  Hehe

I used a lot of "stuff" on this page...toilet paper roll and paper cups for the coffee rings, Tim Holtz bronze disress ink for some splats, some antique gel for the tags, a stencil, and bits and pieces of different embellies and papers from my stash.  The border is washi tape (sorry it's a little crooked).  Here are a couple of closeups. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Please stop back tonight as I reveal CSI's latest case file and a pretty little layout of my mini as a newborn.  Have a great Friday!!

xoxo,

Shawna

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CSI Case File #111 - Friend

Finally sitting down after a busy week and realized I hadn't yet posted CSI's latest case file reveal!  Here it is...and it's a yummy one!  CLICK HERE to play along!

No closeups this week because, well, I just sat down...and realized I never took any.  Did I mention I just sat down?  And I'm too lazy to get back up and photograph the details?  Anyway it's dark out.  And it's Sunday!  LOL  Anyway, I hope you enjoy and that you will come play along with us at CSI!

xoxo,

Shawna

Tuesday Tutorial Time at Citrus Twist Kits!

Hi there!  I'm up on the Citrus Twist Kits blog today sharing a tutorial on adding typewrite to your paper crafts.  Come visit me by CLICKING HERE and see a bit about how I put this layout together using Citrus Twist Kits' Main Kit for February.  Have a fabulous day!!

xoxo,

Shawna

Coffee, anyone? ;)

Late night post to share my layout I created for the current sketch and journaling challenge at Once Upon a Sketch.  This is my first time playing along with the girls over at OUAS but I have been seeing their name all over blog posts so I had to go over and check it out.  I love it!  Although you are given a sketch and a journaling theme, there is so much room for interpretation.  Definitely check them out if you haven't already.  Here is the sketch.  The journaling prompt is "Totally addicted to _____."  And yeah.  Lattes.  Sweet, delicious, lattes.  Yummmmmmo!

This layout is another "a little bit of everything" layout.  I started out with black cardstock, and misted the Heidi Swapp sunburst stencil with Plain Jane Baseboard semi-matte mist in Ivory.  Then I just started layering a bunch of scraps-paper, cardboard, burlap.  The heart and arrow wooden piece is a Citrus Twist Kit exclusive, and there is some random Studio Calico ephemera, and two Recollections buttons.  I LOVE thew chalkboard one with the cardboard circle around it.  I stamped one of my favorite Citrus Twist Kits stamps (cutest little steaming cup of joe ever!) on the chalkboard circle and wrote "Latte Love" using a white gel pen (also used for journaling).  Up at the top, the cork board exclamation point is Studio Calico and the "Ultimate" is Heidi Swapp.  And I think that's it!  I hope you enjoy the closeups below.  Thanks so much for stopping by!


xoxo,

Shawna

Fierce...

What can I say?  It's been a productive couple of days in the scrapbooking department!  LOL  I'm double-posting again today...I hope that you checked out my mixed media layout!

For this post, I'm sharing a layout I made for my first try on one of the awesome challenges over at Scrap Around the World.  I love that they give you a mood board that you can interpret in any way you wish.  The only requirement?  Be inspired by something on the board.  Here is the board I worked off of.

I was inspired by the awesome paint/gelato look in the chevron image on the top left, and the quote on the bottom left.  Had a blast putting this one together.  The great thing about working with gelatos and wet backgrounds is that you don't have to pile on the embellishments.  Here is what I came up with.

As always, I am appreciative of the feedback and comments.  Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo,

Shawna

My first TRUE mixed media layout...

I've been wanting to to try an art journal type of mixed media page for quite some time, but was never really sure how the heck they actually came together...enter Sanna Lippert's tutorial for Scrap Around the World...I love Sanna's tutorials.  I always learn something from them and they inspire me to try new things and grow my technique arsenal.  Of course, I sit there and watch and think to myself "How the hell does she make it look so EASY?!"  Here is her tutorial which inspired me to try a page of my own.

And here is my first attempt at a real mixed media (as in, I pulled every wet and dry medium I own out of my stash lol) layout.  There is gesso, modeling paste (light and regular), stamps, sprays, ink, rub-ons, acrylic paint, cardboard, burlap, washi tape, scrap paper, etc., etc.  If you can name it, it's stuck on this page. ;) I am absolutely thrilled with the end result.

Here is my base layer, over gesso and adhered with Mod Podge.  I just gathered up a bunch of random scraps and stuck them on there.

Then I just started layering.  And layering.  And misting.  And layering.  And stenciling.  And layering.   Oh...and did I mention the layering? LOL

Definitely going to try this type of a layout more often.  This one will go up on the wall in my craft area, to remind me to try new things.  Thanks for looking.  I hope this will inspire some of you to give this type of layout a go too!  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

xoxo,

Shawna

Double Post featuring CSI #110 and Page Drafts (doing double duty!)

Here's a 2-for-1 post featuring the fabulous sketches created by Page Drafts!  First up is CSI Case File #110.  CLICK HERE to play along.  Every 2nd week of the month the case files over at CSI feature an exclusive sketch from the oh so fabulous Em Straface.  Here is the file and sketch:

And here's my layout featuring the Beaubster.  My evidence is a pet accent (the paw brad) and solid background.  Another fun little tidbit is that the black yarn in the layout is a piece of his woven slipper, which had fallen off.  My testimony is on the white tag behind the photo and basically tells a shortened version of the story below:

Beau has a thing for shoes.  And socks.  And gutting stuffed toys with squeakers in them.  When he's done gutting a toy, there is stuffing everywhere, and the toy usually looks like a limp carcass.  It's gross.  Oddly, he has never unstuffed the head of any of his stuffed toys-he collects the empty shell (which is currently in goose form) and his slipper and gets on his bed and sucks on them.  Yes you heard right.  He sucks on them.  Like a pacifier.  LOL  He has been doing this since he was a puppy and it seems to calm him down and comfort him or something...just like a binky or paci to a baby.  Bizarre and hilarious because it's not something you'd expect to see a 100 lb dog doing!

Here are a couple of closeups.  I used cotton balls to simulate the stuffing that he pulls from the toys, and a bunch of leftover odds and ends I had in my stash.  I am not even going to attempt to tell you who made what.  LOL

Then my second layout is based on a sketch that is running on Page Drafts right now as part of their "Love is Everywhere" February challenge.  You have to get over there and see the list of sponsors that are providing the prizes for this challenge.  Let's just say its pretty amazing...like, a grand prize of $150 to buy scrappy supplies with amazing.  Seriously.  CLICK HERE to check it out.

Here is the challenge sketch I chose to work with.

Being Valentine's Day I thought it'd be nice to do a page about my honey and me.  I started out by layering some washi tape under the photo and then used a lot of mists and some gelatos on the background.  For the hearts, I misted a 12x12 Heidi Swapp hearts stencil with 3 shades of reds, from brick red to light pink, cut them out, and mod podged and glittered a few of them.  Used the DIYS Thickers again and this time colored them with silver Perfect Pearls. My little Valentine's Day shout out to the hubs. :)

Here are a couple of closeups.  Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo,

Shawna

My 1st DT Reveal for Sketchabilities!

So excited that this day has finally arrived!  I am so proud to be a member of the fabulous design team at Sketchabilities and am looking forward to challenging myself and growing as a crafter through these amazing sketches.  Today I am sharing Sketch #109 and my take on it.  I am finding, already, that these sketches are a challenge to me and I am thankful for that challenge!  Here is the sketch.  You have 2 weeks to upload your take on it to the Sketchabilities blog for a chance to win some fabulous prizes from this month's sponsor, Chapel Road Stamps.

Here is my take on it.  I thought it was a perfect chance to showcase the little lady's stint as Rapunzel this past Halloween. :)  Lots of background work here.  First I muted the background patterened paper hue by putting a diluted layer of gesso over it.  Then I used my Tim Holtz stamps to add some brown text stamping.  Then I used a script stencil and modeling paste to add some more lettering, which I then painted over with some diluted purple gelatos.  While I am not much of a vintage scrapper, I am really happy with the fairytale vibe of this layout.  Thank you for having a look!  I hope to see you play along with us at Sketchabilities this month!

xoxo,

Shawna

Gentle...

It's almost FRIDAY!!  Hope you are having a fabulous Thursday (or for my overseas friends, for whom it IS Friday...HAPPY FRIDAY!) :)

Just a quick post to share a layout I did just for fun to showcase one of Jillibean Soup's great new embellishments.  This is a fairly new brand (to me, at least) and I have just recently seen it popping up on the shelves at Michael's Craft Store. Click here to stop by their blog and store and check them out!  I haven't been super impressed by the latest chalkboard craze, but when I saw these little tiny chalkboards (at a great price!), I had to have them.  They even come with a couple of little chalk sticks. :)  Click here to grab some for yourself!

Here is my layout and a couple of closeups.  I love this photo because it is so rare that our kiddo can get close enough to Lenny long enough for me to get a shot of her with him.  She moved super slowly and carefully and was so happy to give him a hug.  All of the sudden I heard a whisper..."Mama! Quick, take a picture!"  When I looked over, this is what I saw.

Awww.  <3

So instead of using chalk on the chalkboards, I used a Heidi Swapp stencil and a white gel pen to put some hearts on the board.  I kept the layout and embellishments fairly simple because I wanted the photo and the chalkboards to be the main focus.  For my title, I grabbed some DIYS Thickers (the ones that you can peel the paper off and decorate with glitter, etc.), and dusted on some gold Perfect Pearls.  The arrow is from a Studio Calico ephemera pack and the envelope comes from a great little pack that I *think* is made by DCWV.  I will check and update, I swear.  (I am the worst at listing products.  I am working on it though! LOL)  **Edit.  That's right, I'm updating my products used.  LOL  The envelopes are from Me and My Big Ideas.**

The paper and vellum come from the fabulous Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper and I am getting a ton of use out of this line!  TRIPLE love it.  You will be seeing more layouts featuring these gorgeous papers soon!  Finally, the little drops of blue are my tried and true teal Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

I hope you like what you see!  Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,

Shawna

Thumbs Up (dude). Citrus Twist Sunday sketch!

Happy Sunday!  It's Sunday Sketch time over at Citrus Twist Kits and I'm sharing a layout I made using the sketch and February's main kit.

To play along with our sketch challenge, upload your layouts to the gallery by Feb. 15th to get your name in a drawing to win a $5 gift certificate to the Citrus Twist Kits store. When uploading to the gallery you can name it as you would normally but please include "Sketch 02/09" so we know which drawing to put your name into.

Here is the sketch:  

First I laid out the October Afternoon frame chippies (which were perfect to highlight a few shots of my daughter giving her famous "thumbs up" sign).  The one on the bottom left was the tealish colored frame, which I painted using some navy acrylic paint.  Then I marked a grid around the frames, added a doodled border with my Sharpie, colored in with some red, green, and yellow markers. (The "gold" star and the numbers are from my stash.)

Then I added some fussy cut conversation bubbles, and outlined and colored them as well (popping some up and leaving some flush with the paper).

Then I worked in some of the wooden bits from the kit, and the denim fabric as well.  Added my title (Thickers from a prior month's kit), a few splashes of navy Heidi Swapp Color Shine from my kit, and my journaling.  Voila! Layout complete.  I literally used every bit of February's main kit on my projects this month - all which are completely different from the others.  LOVED this kit!

The Sweetest Soul - Guest Designer layout for Citrus Twist Kits

Hey there! Hope your Saturday has been relaxing and fabulous.  Sharing another layout today that I created as February's Guest Designer for Citrus Twist Kits.  I love this page and all of the elements, which are a mix of January and February's main kits (with the exception of the Studio Calico sticker on the far right side, about halfway down).  One of my favorite things about February's main kit is how well it mixes with past months' kits. On the subject of favorites, one of my favorite things about my daughter's beautiful face is her eyes, which are truly a window to her soul.  Love this kid so much. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,

Shawna