Loves Tea & Paper

Playing along at Let's Get Sketchy!

I played along with the most recent sketch at Let's Get Sketchy and this is how it turned out! It's the first Disney layout I've done in a long time and I'm happy with it. I will be back to share a little more detail about the layout soon!

 

 

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Happy Trails: Your Next Stamp

I was thrilled and excited when Karen of Your Next Stamp asked if I could show how her stamps can be used on scrapbook pages. I was familiar with her stamps and knew I could work with them with ease! Here is the second layout I created:

This time, I worked with Fhiona and Her Pony to accent my double layout. The stamped image is coloured with watercolour pencils and layered on patterned paper and a diecut cardstock.

I love the coordinating dies and stamps available at YNS, and this CrissCross Border die and stamp were a perfect way to trim my page and create continuity across both pages. Stitching the pieces together I think adds to the western feel I was trying to achieve on this page.

I did not want to add a journaling block because I like the placement of the elements already, so I lightly brushed gesso over the patterned paper to fade it out enough to journal right on top. A few western charms further accent the page.

Do you see those 3-D star embellishments? Here's how to make them:

Thank you, Karen, for allowing me to work (who's kidding who, it's play!) with your fabulously fun and whimsical stamps. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and hope you feel inspired to use Your Next Stamps on your next layout!

 

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More Sprinkles than Cupcake: Your Next Stamp

I was thrilled and excited when Karen of Your Next Stamp asked if I could show how her stamps can be used on scrapbook pages. I was familiar with her stamps and knew I could work with them with ease!

The Cupcake Cutie Fhiona stamp was perfect for these photos from my daughter's 10th birthday.

To highlight and frame the stamped image, I painted a chipboard circle orange and once it was dry, stamped the star cluster from Cupcake Cutie Accessories all around the circle, using VersaMark ink. Glittery embossing powder was sprinkled on top and heat set, to add a touch of sparkle to the festive page.

The greeting from the Cupcake Cutie Accessories was a fun way to add just a little journaling sentiment to the page.

One of my favourite things about this page is the vertical row of pennants layered up the right side of the page. I struggle with achieving uniformity, so here, in my first video tutorial, I explain how I made this nice, neat row of pennants:

I have another page to show you and another tutorial, so come on back soon!



 

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Initial inspiration for this layout comes from a sketch by Lucy Chesna.

ScrapFest is coming, are you going?

ScrapFest is on this weekend at the Kitchener Auditorium this weekend, offering lots of exciting ideas to cardmakers and scrapbookers through the fabulous booths, crops, and classes. I am thrilled to be participating by being a TA in a class on Friday! I will be assisting in Sue Syke's Picture Imperfect class. I believe there are still a few spots available, so I'm sharing the class deets here:

Date:	Friday, Apr 13th, 2012
Time:	1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (3.0 hours)
Location:	Subscribers Lounge
Skill Level:	Beginner
Focus:	Photography, Technique
Price:	$55 + HST (This DOES NOT include your Marketplace pass!)

 

If you wish to take this class but do not have a VIP Marketplace Pass please
contact Lisa at (905) 895-1821 or lisa@scrapfest.ca for more details.

Class Description

It's a common misconception that to get great photos, you need a big, fancy camera. I'm here to tell you that while those big fancy cameras can offer you more options, you can also capture beautiful, meaningful photos with a compact or point and shoot camera. Taking striking photos depends on several things and in this class, the main focus will be on using your camera properly and how to set up your shot, using creative photography guidelines and some tips on how to further create unique and interesting photos.

With the techniques that you learn in the first part of the class, you should be well on your way to creating beautiful photos. But what if you have photos that are "(im)Perfect" - precious moments in time that are slightly out of focus? In the second part of this class, we'll look at breathing new life to these photos using a technique to create a beautiful canvas.

In addition to your art piece, you'll also receive a yummy goody bag that includes a class handout with the photography information discussed. And to make it even more fun, we'll have some great giveaways!

Please note: This class is open to photographers with compact, point-and-shoot, SLR and DSLR cameras. We will be focussing on proper technique on camera handling and photo composition rather than the technical side of f/stops and shutter speeds.

What You'll Need for the Class:

Camera (don't forget to charge your batteries!)

• Camera Manual

Your smile - you may be your neighbour's model!

** Please be prepared to go outdoors (weather permitting) for a hands-on learning session**

What You'll Need for Your Canvas:

1. 8x10 laser copy of your favourite {im}perfect photo †
2. Paint brush (approx. 1")
3. Brown or black acrylic paint (to coordinate with your photo) ‡
4. Matte gel medium §
5. Foam brush
6. Spray bottle (for water)
7. Scissors or paper trimmer
8. Heat tool (optional)
9. Apron (optional)

NOTES

† Must be laser copy - no ink jet prints, please! Staples offers 8.5 x 11 prints in b&w for just $0.10 and colour for $0.39 - go into any store or just upload from your computer (Staples Copy and Print) and pick up in 6 hrs!

‡ Does NOT need to be an expensive paint - DecoArt or Americana works great!

§ I use Golden Soft Gel (matte) - check with your Local Scrapbook or Arts & Crafts Store. It can be a bit pricey but will last you a long time - or you can share with a friend for this class!

Sponsors: Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine

 

Happy Bird-Day!

My bff, Joyce, is celebrating her birthday today. She is such a blessing in my life and I look forward to having tea and a visit with her soon to celebrate and catch up! Here's the card I will give her when I see her. I made it as part of a 5 for 5 challenge hosted by Jayne at Two Scrapbook Friends' forum, where she supplied 5 of us with 5 identical items and challenged us to create something. 4 out of 5 of use chose to make cards, but they are all quite different, even though we all started out with the same items: dotted patterned paper, chipboard flourish, 3 dew drops, a pin, and a felt bird. I went elegant with mine. I love the look of white cards these days, so I layered onto a dry embossed white cardbase. I used the computer to create the sentiment, which says, "I heard it's your bird-day" - a little pun to play on the bird theme of the card.

Happy Birthday, my friend!

 

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Winner winner but not a chicken dinner!

LOL!

I had my sweet hubby do the draw for the little RAK I have for the MSW blog hop and the winner is...

...

...

SUZANN!

Yeah!

To everyone else, thank you so very much for visiting during the blog hop and I do hope you liked what you saw and will come back regularly!

 

Welcome to the My Sketch World Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog! I'm so glad you are here! 
 Hello my name is Ann. I am so excited to part of the My Sketch World team as a Layout Designer. I've been scrapbooking off and on since 2004, and it's definitely turned into a passion in the last 2 years. I love to stretch myself with challenges and new techniques, while staying true to my purpose, which is to create scrapbook pages that are meaningful. Here is the April 1st sketch from My Sketch World:

Here is my example using the sketch:

You can see that I kept fairly close to the sketch. The things I changed were the orientation of my photo, and using pompoms rather than butterflies. My title placement, while still on the left side of the layout, is not on the circle element. I used it for jounaling instead.

The photo isn't perfect because the lighting was poor, so even with editing software, the background is dark. I chose white paper layered onto pink patterned paper to de-emphasize the dark background (imagine if I had chosen a blue patterned paper to place under the photo?) I think the pink brings out some nice skintones and her lovely pink lips.

 Yes, I made real pompoms for my embellishing, using embroidery floss and baker's twine. These play on the cheerleading pompoms we put my daughter's curly pigtails for crazy hair day. If I recall, we had glitter in there, too.

For my banners, I fussy cut some of the gridded, flowered paper. The blue worked well with the blue shirt she's wearing, especially with the white flowers with the yellow centers, since those are also on the shirt. I chose the red gingham paper and turned it on a tilt to play on the diamond pattern across her top. I used yellow flocking on the flower centers to add some fun texture. The banner is strung across rickrack.

Remember to leave a comment on each blog in today's hop to be entered into the draw at the My Sketch World. If you become a follower here during the blog hop, I will also enter you in a draw for a little RAK - a 6x6 pad! The winner will be announced on April 3rd.

Thanks so much for being here and now its time to head to Sweden to visit the wonderfully talented Malin's blog and check out her creation.

 

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Supplies: Echo Park pp; DMC floss; The Twinery baker's twine; rickrack unknown; ink, marker, punch, Stampin' Up; gesso; alphas are AC Thickers, Making Memories, Lily Bee, Authentique and Echo Park