A mixed media canvas....and a challenge winner!

Did I let a whole week go by without sharing a canvas? *winks*

Here's one I did for Cindy [who won my personalized canvas giveaway]. 

Lots of paint, Golden mediums and rub-ons! 

I won't lie. This one took a really long time. Seriously. I asked Cindy what her fave colour was and she gave me a list of colours she didn't like...so I had to improvise with my limited paint colours and mists. Let's just say gesso came to the rescue many many times. *LOL*

Supplies: 6x6 canvas, Golden fiber paste, coarse molding paste, crackle paste, fine purmice paste, Daley-Rowney acrylic colours and gesso, Maya mists, Graphic 45 patterned paper - butterfly, Ranger stickles in rock candy, Prima canvas letters, Basic Grey rub-ons, Craft Affair rub-ons, Crafter's Workshop stencils, trim.

Playing along with the Mixed Media Madness challenge at Berry71bleu.

_____________________________________________

A big "thank you" to those who played along with my guest Colleen's challenge. She picked a winner randomly  and it's 

Hussena!

Congratulations Hussena! Please email me your mailing details so that I can arrange for your RAK to be sent out to you! :)

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Meet Pink Ribbon Emily.

Hello friends. October is breast cancer awareness month and Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps has this special release- Pink Ribbon Emily. Isn't she a sweetie? You have a chance to win her for your stamp collection by leaving a comment on each design team member's blog [list below].

Supplies: Bazzill patterned paper and cardstock, Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps image - Pink Ribbon Emily, Copics, Ranger stickles, crochet doiley, pearls, corner rounder.

Be sure to visit all rest of the SCRS designers for more peeks of Pink Ribbon Emily. Sparkle will be giving away Pink Ribbon Emily to one lucky person! For a chance to win, you need to comment on all of the designer's blogs (list below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Pink Ribbon Emilypost. You have until midnight EST each day to comment. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday!


Danielle Lounds Joni Wilson Kim Dellow - October Guest Designer Kim Yu Piali Biswas Shaela Odd Simonne Clay Sparkle Smith Stephanie Kraft Yvonne Yam 

From Release Day through Halloween, all Emily stamps will be on sale for $6.  This will be for Breast Cancer Awareness month and Sparkle will be donating the money made to the American Cancer Society.  Moneytree (Sparkle's day job) will match the amount she donate, so she'll be able to double our contribution. :)  

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Come chit chat with Lucy!

Despite all the new ways to keep in touch with friends, sometimes all I want to do is the old-fashioned chit-chat on the phone. :) Which is why I love this new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps release - Chit-chat Lucy. Doesn't she look happy gossiping with her friend on the other end of the line? As always with new releases, you get to snag your own Chit-chat Lucy just by leaving a comment at each of the design team blogs listed below.

Supplies: American Crafts patterned paper and thickers, SRM stickers, Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps image - Chit-chat Lucy, Copics, Bazzill kraft cardstock, Fiskars square scallop punch.

Be sure to visit all rest of the SCRS designers for more peeks of Chit Chat Lucy. Sparkle will be giving awayChit Chat Lucy to one lucky person! For a chance to win, you need to comment on all of the designer's blogs (list below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Chit Chat Lucy post. You have until midnight EST each day to comment. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday!

Danielle Lounds Joni Wilson Kim Dellow - October Guest Designer Kim Yu Piali Biswas Shaela Odd Simonne Clay Sparkle Smith Stephanie Kraft Yvonne Yam

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The magic of the Happy Birthday song...

Ever notice how a child's face just lights up when you sing Happy Birthday to them?

As you all know, nephew #2 has been a challenge for me to photograph because he

1. Likes to look away from the camera.
2. Tends to smile awkwardly.

But he started smiling so sweetly when we sang Happy Birthday to him. Why it's the magic of the Happy Birthday song! *LOL* Yes, he's still not very good at posing for the camera but you got to give him credit for trying. Making a kid look forward to eating something sweet after hard work [posing for photos] tends to do the trick! *winks*

Supplies: American Crafts patterned papers and thickers, Far Flung Craft patterned paper, Ranger distress ink, Crafter's Workshop template, Maya mists,  7 Gypsies sticker and photo turn, brads, buttons, black pen, felt, ribbon, lace.

Playing along with the challenge at Once Upon a Sketch.

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Exploring styles: The Minimalist

Whether you have been crafting for a long time or are still a newbie, one question often comes to mind:" What is my style?" Oh well, I still don't know my style. You know I seem to like to dabble in everything...*LOL* Shall we explore the minimalist style?

Minimalist: Person who favours using less. "White space" is often the main design element. Embellishments are added in small doses and often to enhance brevity of thought and draw the eye to the photo/s.

The traditional minimalist.

Three strips of patterned paper serve as the mat for the two photos.
The title is the journaling.
The strip of ribbon help guide the eye from left to right.
The two flowers reflect the two people in the photos.
The tulle reflects the bride's veil.
The buckle and bling add a little bit of sparkle.


 

The mixed media minimalist.

A focal point characterized by one colour palette.
A single photo. In black and white.
Subtle textures: the sanded background on the photo, the texture paste on the base, tulle and trim.
Few embellishments: a silver ribbon tab, a date sticker, a button, canvas letters, stickers.

                   


The neutral minimalist.

A mainly neutral colour palette enhanced by pops of red to guide the eye around the page.
Design elements like the circular motif and rectangle are repeated in a small doses.
The subtle chevron motif helps to "frame" the layout.
White space represented by the kraft cardstock.






The fussy-cutter minimalist.

Fussy-cut elements. Semi-adhered to create texture without bulkiness.
Pops of coloured single-layer embellishments keep focus on photos.
Lots of white space.

So, what do you think? Are you a minimalist? Am I a minimalist? Let me know in the comments section. :)

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Do blondes have more fun?

I have thought of going blonde on more than one occasion. Just for fun. But my hairstylist said that it's not for lazy people like me. *LOL* I'm a wash-and-go kind of girl. No blow-drying or styling. I even skip highlights because I would need to go for touch-ups. Vanity and laziness are not mutually exclusive though...*winks* 

Oh well, the images on my card can be blondes. *winks*

Just sharing my card for the latest challenge at Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps. :)
Also linking to the World Card Making Day Week at Moxie Fab World.

Supplies: American Crafts patterned papers, Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps image - Autumn Rin, EAD Designs sentiment sticker, Ranger stickles, Copics, leather tag, twine, button, washi tape.

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For the love of breakfast...

Are you a day person or a night person? I am so a day person. When night falls, I get sleepy. *LOL* So breakfast is the most important meal of the day for me. I love a hearty breakfast. :) Try making me skip it....see how cranky I get...*winks* [Yeah....I have to eat something before brunch...]

This layout features the yummy breakfast I had in Melbourne. N°35 serves a great Eggs Benedict and blueberry pancakes. :)

Playing along with the anything goes challenge over at Challenge Me Happy.

Supplies: My Mind's Eye patterned papers, Crafter's Workshop template, Maya mists, American Crafts thickers, crochet blooms, brown pen, brads.

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How to create quick and stylish scrapbook pages.

I know it's hard to find a huge junk of time to scrapbook. The thought of pulling out supplies, sitting down to create and then cleaning up after can be a pain. Sometimes I'd rather do something else...or nothing at all. *LOL*  That said, I do have a system for creating quick and stylish [by my standards...hehe] scrapbook pages [without the need for a major cleanup *winks*].

1. Stick to what has worked before.

Go ahead. Scraplift yourself. The scrapbook police aren't going to slap you with a fine! *LOL*
These 3 pages use the same cute fussy-cut critters from Imaginisce. My background style has evolved but I still like to have my critters sit on a horizontal line. :)
Cute elements work well on pages featuring kids. So use them again [and again.].




2. Keep it simple.

Forget the over-styled and over-layered look that manufacturers like because it means more product sales. Stick to basic things that are always in style....a little texture, pops of colour and cute photos.




3. When in doubt, go with a grid.

A grid format is great way to achieve balance. You can have imaginary grid lines and place your elements within those grids. It always works.

 

4. Use patterned papers with built-in designs.

I love patterned papers with built-in designs like journal blocks. All I need to do is "play" up those designs with dimensional elements like brads, buttons, flowers and ribbons.


 

5. Embrace "white space" as a design element.

There's a reason why we feel claustrophobic in a small and cluttered space...your eyes don't know where to rest. Same thing when it comes to layout design. "White space" helps to guide your eye to the main elements on your project. A great way to style your layout without the need for a lot of embellishments.

There you have it. 5 ways to create quick and stylish pages. What do you think?

P/s: Check out the Tips tab for more scrapbooking ideas. :)

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I love cute little things.

 

I love cute little things.

There's just something appealing about mini things that make you go, "Awwww......".
Yeah, I love hanging around those stationery stores that sell cute things.
I never buy anything because, you know, I'm a grown woman..*winks*[but I'm secretly happy when people give me cute stuff *LOL*]

Found a little kraft notepad and decorated it with some scrap paper and trim. :)

Supplies: My Mind's Eye patterned paper and ric rac, Maya Road trim, Jenni Bowlin button, crochet bloom, pearls.

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An upcycled compact mirror case...

 

I admit. I'm lazy. I may have a ton of things in my handbag but they don't include makeup. I do have a lipstick in there somewhere...I'm sure. *winks* I always marvel at ladies who bring an arsenal of makeup out and do touch-ups in the ladies' room. That takes dedication. *LOL* 

Since I only apply my makeup once in the morning, it takes me a really really long time to finish a standard size compact before it expires. I thought I could put one to good use with a little patterned paper, washi tape, button and stickles....

Then I added some beads and photo of my nephews....and now it is grandma's little brag book. She whips it out when she reapplies her lipstick...:)

Supplies: American Crafts patterned papers, Ranger stickles and glossy accents, Fancy Pants star felt, washi tape, corrugated cardstock, button, plastic embellishment, compact mirror case.

P/s: If you have some fun ideas for using mirrors, come join in the fun at LESSology Challenge #19: Mirror, mirror on the wall! :)

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Inside the mind of a mixed media wannabe-artist...

Ever wonder what really goes on inside the mind of a mixed media wannabe-artist?? *winks*

"Okay. Blank canvas. What shall I do with you?" 

"Hmmm...some wrapping tissue?"

[Starts scrunching and adhering wrapping tissue with gel medium to base of canvas]

"Okay, let's bring out the paints for a party!" [Imaginary party music plays in head as she mixes her paints with glaze]

[5 minutes later] 

"Uh oh...too many paints came to the party. It looks like a crazy person did this."

Urgh! What can I do to save this?" [Drums fingers on desk, may start biting nails any minute now]

[Lightbulb comes on!] 

"Templates and mediums!" [Dramatic music plays in the background....]

"Okay, now it doesn't look so terrible."

"I so want to use this number template...maybe with some mist?"

[Sprays some black mist.]

"Not bad, not bad. Looking pretty good now."

"Maybe just a wee bit more colour..." [Adds paint to canvas enthusiastically.]

"Shit! Now it's looking like crap again! Come on woman, think! What can you do, what can you do?" 

[5 minutes and 2 cookies later...]

"Gesso to the rescue!" [Applies gesso to palm of hand and starts putting it randomly on canvas...]

"Phew! Good save! No more paint!"

"It's missing something though...a focal point. Maybe some flowers. I so need to use up those paper blooms. Maybe a pop of bright colour..." 

"Now it looks like the flowers are just floating...hmmmm...what can I do? Paint some stems!"

[Paints stems with a paintbrush] 

"Now it's ruined again! What did I say? No more paint! Okay, cover it up with a little gesso."

"Much better now." 

"Rub-ons! I can try rub-ons!" [Applies rub-ons...]

"Looking good...looking good" [Bruno Mars croons, "Girl, you're amazing...just the way you are...."]

"Now, I just have to add the name and I'm all done..." 

Supplies: Crafter's Workshop templates, Golden coarse molding paste and fiber paste, Maya mists, Daley Rowney acrylic paints, Basic Grey rub-ons and brads, Prima canvas letters, wrapping tissue, gesso, 6x6 canvas.

P/s: I made this canvas for my bloggy pal Lavina. Come play along with my guest Colleen's shabby chic challenge...it ends on Friday! :)

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The story of the flustered aunt...

So last Saturday was an aunt's worst nightmare [okay...I have been known to exaggerate a wee bit...*LOL*]. 

3 nephews + 1 niece + super crowded playground with 15 other kids = 1 flustered aunt! 

It was so hard to keep track of my gangster gang! *winks*

But smiling faces like this one makes it all worthwhile. [This layout features nephew #2 back in July. ] 

Playing along with Bird is the word and OUAS + CSI. My evidence: bird, leaves, star, rub-ons. My testimony: Journal on photo.

Supplies: American Crafts patterned papers and thickers, Crafter's Workshop template, Maya mists, SRM sticker, Unity stamp, washi tape, buttons, ribbon, rub-ons, felt embellishments, black pen, white pen.

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