Monkeys at play

Hi there! Today I emerge from my sugar coma [the consequence of eating too many sweet treats in the last 4 days] to present three monkeys at play! *LOL* I have 700+ unread posts in my google reader so I have a lot to catch up on...scrolling the mouse and typing counts as cardio right?? *wink*

Outtakes from the posing game with my nephews. ;) I used the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays.

 Patterned papers and foam letters are from American Crafts. Stickers. Buttons. Paint splatters. Bottle cap. Distress inks. Embellishments are from Gauche Alchemy's Purple People Eater Mixed Media Color Kit.

P/s: Don't forget to play along with my guest Dana's Get more out of Patterned Paper challenge. It ends on Friday! There's another fabulous guest tomorrow and a brand new challenge! :)

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Love

Hi there friends! :) It's Friday and time for another Get Sketchy card! :)

The roses are from this American Crafts patterned paper...

 

Which I coloured with Copics and used glossy accents for some added dimension. I was inspired by my guest Dana's challenge to get more from your patterned paper. Hope you find time this weekend to play along! :)

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Ps... I love you

Ps...I love you. :)

Just sharing my last card for Some Odd Girl....using Sweet Kody and My Mind's Eye papers. Fancy Pants chipboard (misted), stickles, baker's twine, copics, googly eyes, Unity Co. sentiment stamp.

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When I see...a tribute to my grandfather

"When I see pics of you or anything relating to my childhood, I am reminded of those happy times we shared and how much I miss having you around.

I am the guest designer this month at Category Stories where the prompt is "Everytime I ...(see, touch, feel, smell, taste), I am reminded of..."

My layout is a tribute to the first man I've ever loved. My grandfather.

[a little teary-eyed now]

A little fun with Sassafras papers and embellishments! I cut the base paper into 2, regretted almost immediately and then thought to stitch the opposite ends together...mimicking the faux stitching design that was already on the patterned paper. Makes it a tad more interesting, right? *LOL* Some misting, a mix of beautiful trims (courtesy of Smita!), buttons, Cosmo Cricket letter stickers, American Crafts foam thickers, EK success bubble stickers and K & Co wood letters.

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My parents...on their wedding day

A quick layout to share today... a photo of my parents on their wedding day as inspired by the challenge at Let's Get Shabby.

Echo Park patterned papers. Ribbons. Trim. Buttons. Pearls. Crochet flowers. Yo-yo flower.

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Thanks to those who participated in my blogoversary giveaway! It was really lovely to read about how you found my blog. :) The winner who was chosen randomly is...

#7 Ujjwal!

Congratulations! :)

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A really pink card...and a winner! :)

 

Here's a really pink card. :) I really wanted to play along with the Moxie Fab World's Color Inspiration for Card Maker's Week - the monochromatics challenge. The pink on pink challenge....even though my patterned papers look a little peachy here..[I blame the gloomy weather].

Patterned papers are from Graphic 45. Ribbon. Trim. Fancy Pants felt heart. Paper rose. American Crafts foam thickers. Stickles in cotton candy. Tulle. Heidi Grace stick pin.

*Edited* This card was featured on the Create blog.

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A big "thank you" to the few who played along with my guest Mandy's Extending the Background challenge. I know it was a tough challenge but I'm so glad that those who played along had fun! The winner is....

Anita with this beauty...Check out how she extended her "scene" with paint! 

Congratulations Anita! :)

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The posing game

It's getting increasing harder to take decent pictures [eyes looking at camera, genuine smile] of my nephews so recently we've been playing The Posing Game. I get them to make funny faces at the camera and we laugh at what we've captured on the viewfinder...this makes them want to take more pictures and in the process, I sometimes capture some fleeting but true moments of fun and joy on their faces! Yay! :)

This layout was inspired by the new challenge at These Are a Few of My Favorite Things - Fave Game - where I'm guest-designing this month. :)

The base scalloped-edge paper is from October Afternoon. Misting on the cardstock. The edges were inked with distress inks. A little stamping...love the text...American Crafts banner and puffy stickers. SRM quote and year stickers. Buttons. Fancy Pants chipboard (misted).

P/s: Have you played along with my guest Dana's Get More from your Patterned Paper challenge yet?

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Captivating

Captivating: influencing and dominating by some special charm, art, or trait and with an irresistible appeal.

Just sharing this week's Get Sketchy card. :) Hope you find it captivating...*LOL*

The background cardstock was masked and misted lightly with glimmer mists to resemble vintage wallpaper. The wood frame was upcycled from packaging. Patterned papers are from Basic Grey Curio line. Gauche Alchemy punchinella. Tulle. Pearls. Trim. Button. An upcycled ice-cream stick (coloured with distress inks). Sticker sentiment is from Cosmo Cricket.

P/s: I hope you can find time this weekend to play along with my guest Dana's challenge to get more out of your patterned papers.:)

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Make a wish...a little upcycled project

If I could make a wish, it would be for better weather...it's been so gloomy and wet....

Just sharing a really sweet and pink upcycled project. :) The round tin was upcycled from American Crafts packaging! :) A little misting on the background and doiley and wrinkle ribbon...

Mostly American Crafts scraps...some Gauche Alchemy punchinella....stickers...Fancy Pants felt (heart), SRM sticker sentiment, distress stickles in rock candy, stickles in cotton candy, buttons, Heidi Grace pin, American Crafts floral badge and ribbon.

I was inspired by Card Patterns  [even though I simplified it a wee bit] and the Tuesday Trigger: Sweets for the sweet over at Moxie Fab World. Love that the stickles in rock candy looks like icing sugar...yummy! :)

Creamy fudge hearts from Martha Stewart Living via Moxie Fab World.

P/s: I really hope you come play along with my guest Mandy's Extending the Background challenge...pretty please?

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The 3rd one is a real charmer

Most of you know that I have three nephews...the 3rd one is a real charmer...:) And an attention-seeker. If I'm reading a book to his brothers, he would push his brothers away and find some way to climb on my lap, put his hand in mine, making sure our fingers are intertwined....and then give me THE look... that says "you're mine now"...[Everyone now...."awww"...]:)

I love this Sassafras paper....I just added a little misting and some distressing. A little trim, ribbon, bits of Sassafras scraps and buttons. I was inspired by the sketch at Sketchy Thursdays.:)

P/s: Have you played along with my guest Mandy's Extending The Background challenge? It ends this Friday.

*Edited* This layout was a Sketchy Thursdays Fave! :)

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Get more from your patterned paper with Dana Seymour! :)

My guest today is the talented Dana Seymour of Kismet, Art & Life. I actually got to know of her last year when my friend Karen Baker was a guest here and I returned her comment with a blog visit. But I really took a good look at her work again this year and boy have I been missing out! Dana combines patterned paper and stamping with her unique style to create incredible textures and layers. Her cards are always unexpectedly fresh and lively. She shares her "secrets" in a tutorial on how to get more from your patterned paper and is issuing a challenge with a chance to win a gift certificate to one of her fave online stores! :)

Let's have a look at her awesome gallery!

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"I was so honored and excited when Yvonne asked me to be a guest blogger on Do More With Less! Not only is she incredibly talented, but she's a sweetheart to boot, and her blog is full of amazing inspiration. I love to peruse her older posts just for eye candy!"Do more with less" is a really important concept not only in my personal lifestyle, but in how I craft too. So I thought I'd issue a small challenge by way of using some of that Patterned Paper we all have hidden away. *wink*

Here's how I get more out of my PP.

1. I stamp on it.

If the pattern is boring, I add to it with my stamps.

2. I color it.

If the colors don't match my cardstock perfectly, I alter it by coloring over those parts with markers.

Here are some PPs that I will be working with for today's tutorial:

  

You can see that I already stamped on the last PP (I forgot to take a photo of it before I began!)

Then I choose some stamps and get started.

For an example of how I alter PP with markers, you can see below that the PP I wanted to use had ivory stripes. Well my finished project would be utilizing white CS, so I colored those ivory stripes with a Copic Marker to match another color of CS I was using.

And here are the finished products with all those unique stamped/altered patterned papers on display!

Not only am I using up PP that might otherwise not match or "fit the theme", but I have created something unique in the process! And by altering the PP I already have, I'm not out purchasing more to find that perfect piece that works with my intended project...I'm making it myself with supplies I already have!

Here are several other cards I've created where I use patterned paper that I stamped on or colored over.

Here's where the challenge comes in!

I want to see patterned paper that YOU stamp on or alter in some way. Link up your project below for a chance to win a fabulous prize...a $10 gift Certificate to an online stamp store from the options below!

Practicing Creativity Designs

WPLus9

Papertrey Ink

Denami Design

Lawn Fawn

Let's DO MORE WITH LESS!

*mwah*

Dana"

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 Doesn't Dana make you look at your patterned paper differently now? I think my stack of  "buyer's remorse" patterned papers need a revisit...*wink*..So, are you ready to play along? Link up your creations using Inlinkz (located at the end of the post) by Friday, February 11.

As always, please leave a little love for my guest Dana. :)

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