Scrap Your Mama Never Taught You

Friday, February 7, 2014

CF#109 - The Book Adventure

If you like vibrant colors and books, you're going to LOVE this week's case file over at CSI. CLICK HERE to play along! Gorgeous red and blue and yellow and green....and journaling prompts and a scene that challenge you to talk about books...glorious books. :)

Here's the case file:

And here's my take on it. The good old gelatos and some green acrylic paint set the backdrop for this page, which once again features a good amount of Citrus Twist Kits product.

For my evidence, I used a book page (behind the photo) and heat...and here's where I reveal a little gelato secret. If you use gelatos, you're probably familiar with the little chunky flecks you get when you try to smush the gelatos and mix them with water to use in liquid/pour form. Well, if you stick your chunk o'gelato in the microwave with some water for about 5-10 seconds, you get silky smooth, perfectly pourable, paintable sprayable gelato. (NOTE: stand watch...I left mine in a bit too long - like 5 SECONDS too long - and bam. It exploded and I had a lovely blue gelato covered microwave to clean.) You're welcome. ;-)

For my testimony, used a Roald Dahl quote about books. I love this quote so much...it is truth.

Here are some closeups:

And there you have it. Now come play along! :)

xoxo,

Shawna

LOVE is in the air over at Challenge YOUrself!!

Today is the reveal of our next challenge over at Challenge YOUrself! Since it's February, the month of L.O.V.E., we are challenging you to scrap about someone you love. As always, you need to scrap a photo of YOU...but this time, scrap a photo of you with your love bug. :) We also have this fabulous color palette to challenge you even more!

Here's my layout, featuring one of the loves of my life, my mini. Lots of bits and pieces from past months' Citrus Twist Kits here, with my usual splash of gesso and acrylic to tone down the patterned background a bit. I absolutely loved working with this beautiful color scheme! Hope to see your work throughout the month over at Challenge YOUrself! Enjoy the weekend!

xoxo,

Shawna

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Special CSI Case File with Scrap365!

Happy Sunday (and Happy Super Bowl day for my US friends)! I personally don't care much about the Super Bowl this year because our house is a Patriots House. ;-) Anyway, today I am sharing a layout made for the latest collaboration between CSI and Scrap365...be sure to CLICK HERE and play along. This challenge runs all month so you have plenty of time...AND one lucky winner will win a copy of the latest issue of Scrap365 magazine!

Here is the case file and the layout I created from it.

The scene is stunningly rich and gorgeous with its blues and browns and jewels and I thought it went really nicely with this photo taken in my backyard on Thanksgiving Day. For my evidence, I used flowers, jewels, fabric (in the layers behind the photo), and textured paper. I used the inspiration word "love" and added some words of the fabulous Lewis Carroll.

I started out with textured watercolor paper and added mists, masks with modeling paste, and more masking using a great tree stencil I have,. Then I tore it and distressed the edges with sepia ink and black chalk.

I also added a splash of blue gelato to draw the eye to the Lewis Carroll lines.

Lots of layers of torn paper scraps under the photo and then framed my photo with one of the white Recollections photo frames. I love these frames. $2 for 6 of them and they are fabulously useful, either white or colored or stamped.

Finally I added a Crate Paper (I think it is Crate Paper...I threw away the packaging!) jeweled pin, some $1 flowers from Michael's, and some glass beads scattered about.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see your work in the CSI gallery in the coming weeks! :)

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Citrus Twist Kits Guest Designer for February!

Hope you are all enjoying the Citrus Twist Kit blog hop! As you've probably figured out by now, I have the honor of guest designing for Citrus Twist Kits this month! Here are some closeups of my first layout - featured in my Q&A/Intro post, which you can read by CLICKING HERE. February's kit is fantastic and so versatile...the colors and products are perfect for so many different kinds of layouts and I'm excited to share with you throughout the month all of the layouts I made from the kit. Anyway, here's my first page showcasing one of many reasons my hubby is awesome. :) Hope you enjoy!

xoxo,

Shawna

Citrus Twist Kits Organizing Blog Hop!

Hello, hello! I hope you are enjoying the Citrus Twist Kits Organizing Blog Hop!! This hop is full of fun inspiration, great organizational ideas & awesome prizes! I will be sharing a couple of organizing tips with you to help you get your crafty space organized and more functional, then you can hop to the next designer's page for more awesome tips.

Before I get started though, I just want to let you know about the awesome deal Citrus Twist is running for new subscribers. Starting today, anyone who signs up for a 3- or 6-month main kit subscription (or for subscribers who refer someone who signs up for a 3- or 6-month subscription and that someone mentions the subscriber's name in the comments section at checkout), Citrus Twist will throw in a FREE 6x6 Studio Calico Printshop paper pad, as long as supplies last. If you want to sign up before the 5th, leave me a message below and I will let you know how to do it during the pre-sale period.

Now back to the hop! Here are the prizes: Two lucky commenters who hop to ALL design team blogs will be entered to win a $10 GC to the Citrus Twist Store...plus we are giving away one Main scrapbooking kit to a third winner!

You just need to leave a comment on EVERY designer's blog to be entered to win. Come back to the main Blog Hop blog post over at Citrus Twist and comment that you hopped to each blog and we will pick a winner from those that commented. CLICK HERE to go to the Citrus Twist Kits blog! Comments end Tuesday February 4th. Winners will be announced on the main Citrus Twist Kits blog by Friday February 7th. Good luck!

Here are a couple of organizational tips from my scrappy space.

Now, I am not one to spend a fortune on storage and organizational supplies...in fact, I put my scrap space together (including desk and shelving) for less than $100 at good old Target. I do like to re-purpose common household items to work for storing my supplies, and I have a thing for tiffany blue mason jars, so storing items in mason jars is a no-brainer for me. I have 2 jars that hold all of my gelatos and it's easy to see what colors I have to work with because they're in clear (well, blue) jars. I also have a larger jar that I use to store my washi tape. Works great and looks decent, too.

I have to give another Target shout out for this cute little desktop organizer. The spaces are large enough to fit all of my mists nicely, and they're right within an arm's reach, which is great because I use them so frequently.

Finally, if you have kids you are probably familiar with Melissa & Doug toys and products. Often their products come packaged in this great wooden packaging with compartments. We have a ton of these floating around so I snagged one and put it on my desk to hold whatever bits and pieces of paper and embellies I am using on current layouts. It's great because the compartments are different sizes, and you can lay everything out and see it all very easily. Beats digging through my actual storage bins, that's for sure!