'Twas the Day Before Christmas...

And all through Flamingo Scraps, the Flockinstas were working on holiday greetings!

Genie Smith

Erin Reed

Suzanne Pickens

Cheryl Arbo

Special Guest, Cooper Alsabrook

Donna Sullivan

Kathleen Natale

Luann Ostrom

Melissa Williams

Ramona Downing

Tonya Gibbs

Have a safe and happy holiday, from our flock to yours!

My Little Love

Hi, Flock, Genie here, today!
I recently received part of a Hey Kid kre8v Kit by Pink Paislee.  It is so much fun!  There are so many cute pieces, and the patterns are so bright and trendy.  It's perfect for my little girls!
I chose a photo of my littlest imp; it's one of my favorites because it just captured her 2-year-old self perfectly.  She's sweet and sassy, and the mischevious little grin says it all.  A complete list of supplies can be found at the end of the post.

I wanted a neutral base because the colors and patterns were so bright, but white, black, and kraft didn't seem right.  I finally found this bluish-grey, and I think it's perfect.  I fussy-cut along a line of circles in one of the sheets of patterned paper and layered cardstock stickers, another fussy-cut border, and some transparent arrow stickers over that.  I didn't like the unrelieved grey, so I splattered a big of gesso on the left of the page.  I love how gesso dries; it's solid white, like paint, but it maintains some dimension.
On the top left, I used more cardstock stickers, one of the cute chipboard pieces, and a cardstock speech bubble.  I wanted a bit more dimension, so I added some stars and arrows from the Wood Charms by Cosmo Cricket and the Cork Shapes (Hearts & Stars, Arrows) by Fancy Pants.
Thanks for looking, and I can't wait to see you next time!

Products used:
Fancy Pants Cork Shapes, Hearts & Stars
Fancy Pants Cork Shapes, Arrows
Cosmo Cricket Wood Charms
Pink Paislee Hey Kid kre8v Kit
cardstock, gesso, and adhesive from my stash

Mixed Media Gifting

Hey, Flock!  Genie here, and I'm starting to think about making Christmas gifts for my friends and family.  I probably should have started months ago, but I guess I'm just not that prepared.  ;)

If I can bear to part with it, this mixed media wood block will go to one of my aunts.  I come from a very crafty family, and we have quite a few talented sewists.  This idea has been bouncing around in my skull for a while, and the lovely colors in the Webster's Pages Spring Garden collection that came in my Flamingo Scraps Combination Warehouse Box were just what I needed to bring it to life.  A complete list of products used will follow.

 

 

I started with a 12x12 wood block and haphazardly placed a few pieces of an old pattern on it with Mod Podge (when I use a pattern up, or lose pieces, or whatever, they go into a drawer to be used in mixed media--I love the look!).  I tore a few pieces of the Webster's Pages and added those right on top, working them into the patterns for a lovely blend.

 

 

I mixed some teal Color Shine mist with some of the Mustard to make green, which I splattered on the Maya Road chipboard pieces with a paintbrush and then spritzed lightly on the surface of the patterns and papers.

 

 

It took some work to get the gorgeous, amazing, lovely, fabulous...(Oh, how I love those Webster's Trims!!) on the page, but with time and a LOT of Mod Podge, they stuck.  ;)  I wrapped some twine around my chipboard spools, stuck those down, added my text, and a Webster's fabric flower, and I was done.  I really love the simplicity and muted color palette of this one!  Thanks for looking, and I'll see you soon.  :)

 

Items used:

Warehouse Sale Box--Combination Box

From the box, I used some lovely Webster's Pages papers, trims and twine, from the Spring Market collection.

Maya Road Chipboard Sew Cute Mini

Heidi Swapp Color Shine Tropicana Teal

Heidi Swapp Color Shine Mustard

From my stash:  alphabets, wood block, pattern pieces, and art mediums.

Fall cards with Basic Grey Persimmon

Good morning, Flock!  Genie here, and today I have a trio of fall-themed cards using the new Basic Grey Persimmon.

For the first, I used a sheet from the Basic Grey Persimmon 6x6 Paper Pad.  I chalked the edges and added a sticker.  I used a piece from the Basic Grey Persimmon Die Cuts and Transparencies pack for my sentiment, and finished it off with a couple of houses from my Prima Wood Icons Sampler and Jenni Bowlin Vintage Feather Tags.

My next card uses several scraps from the 6x6 Paper Pad, some old bling and letters from my stash, another piece from the Die Cuts & Transparencies pack, and a heart from Fancy Pants Cork Shapes, Hearts and Stars (there are also arrows!).



Finally, I made a cute thank you card, using another sheet of the Persimmon 6x6 paper and some Tim Holtz Distress Ink.  I chalked the edges of the wooden Studio Calico Wood Veneers -- Triangles and added a Maya Road flower from my stash.

Thanks for looking, and I'll see you soon!

Fabulous Fall Fun with Persimmon

Hello Flock! Genie here today with a super cute layout of my littlest niece. :) I played some more with the new Basic Grey Persimmon collection--I really love these patterns and bits and pieces. I love the color combo best, I think--that blue is such a great accent for all these lovely fall colors.

I started with a metallic copper sheet of cardstock that has, literally, been in my stash for EIGHT YEARS.  Talk about hoarding! I used some chalk ink and a Heidi Swapp mask to put a little fun on the background (Flamingo Scraps can special order a lot of these masks that I love to use--just ask!). I cut strips from the 6x6 Paper Pad and turned those into arrows. Then I mixed in a border sticker and a die cut from the Die Cuts and Transparencies. 

 I used a couple more pieces from the Die Cuts and Transparencies package in the bottom left, and then used a piece from the 6x6 Paper Pad to mat my two photos.  Finally, atop the bottom, I added a couple of Maya Road Burlap Roses in Lemon and Sunset and tucked in a few leaves from the Prima Wood Icons collections--you can find them in Leaves and Mushrooms or get a variety of all the wood icons in the Sampler.  All of the leaves were inked with chalk ink (the Prima Chalk Ink Edgers would be great for this!!)

I hope you enjoyed my cute niece...erm....I mean my cute fall layout.  Until next time, Flock...thanks for looking!

New Basic Grey Christmas Dress-up Glamour!

Hi Flock!  It's Genie here today, and I've been playing with the new Basic Grey 25th and Pine!  I love all the little extras that you can get for this collection.  The wood veneers and the wax seals are super fun!

I started with a piece of Heidi Swapp color resist paper (that you may find in your Flamingo Scraps Warehouse combination box!) splattered with some Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Sweet Cherry.  I started layering some of the Die Cuts & Transparencies with the Printed Chipboard Shapes and Wood Veneer Ornaments.

I scattered a few more of the elements about the page, added some bling and some old Basic Grey chipboard letters. 

Last, I added a wood veneer piece to add the date, and colored one of the nifty Wax Seals with plain old markers.

Thanks for visiting!

Trick or Treat!

Hi, Flock, Genie here, and I'm so excited!!  It's fall again!  Cooler temperatures, bonfires, pumpkin patches, cider, hot cocoa, colorful leaves, and, best of all...it's almost Halloween!

Flamingo Scraps is carrying the new Basic Grey Persimmon collection, and the fun fall colors and Halloween embellishments inspired me to finally scrap my girls' Trick or Treat photos from two years ago.  I went for a simple layout with a fun banner and a cluster based on a journal spot. 

The banner was made from 1/2" strips cut from several different Persimmon patterned papers, from the 6x6 Paper Pad, which I cut into triangles.  I played with a few different layouts before I decided on the triple-tier banner.  I doodled around the edges of each triangle, added a doodled line, and then a few Prima Wood Icons.

Finally, I put a journal spot down from the Basic Grey Persimmon Die Cuts and Transparencies pack and added a banner from the same package and a couple of Basic Grey Persimmon Mixed Brads.

Thanks for looking, and I can't wait to see your fall and Halloween themed projects!

Crisp and Fun Fall Projects From the F4 Team

Every month when I look at the F4 projects I think, "Oh! That's cool, I would have done this or that. Hmmm..I could have done that but put this this on it". It's a lot like watching a game show at home and getting all the answers right, but when you actually get onto the show, your brain goes somewhere else.

These are the materials our beloved flock leader gave us to create with this month:

• A 12x12 piece of double sided  paper,
• A chipboard truck,
• A glittery pumpkin,
• A price tag embellishment.

I am always amazed at what everyone comes up with. Here are the ideas from four of our flock members. Enjoy, and I hope we were able to inspire you as well.

GENIE'S PROJECT :

My 10-year-old daughter's best friend actually gave me this idea. Holding the little pumpkin, she said "You should make a little fall centerpiece!" The idea stuck with me, but I wasn't sure how to incorporate the truck chipboard. Suddenly, inspiration hit. It'll be a pumpkin truck, and I'll fill it full of candy!

It took some trimming and re-trimming, but I finally got a little box made to attach to the truck, using the backing from an old paper stack. I used the truck as a model to cut wheels so it could stand up, and then made a strip to fit the length of the truck. I measured 2" on each side of the "body," scored the corners and then 1/4" in from the sides to make tabs to attach to the truck. I cut a bottom the same way, and then taped and glued it in. I covered my little truck in paper, doodled the window, door, and bumpers, and added a few buttons for wheels and lights. Finally, I thought the 5 cent flair was the perfect finishing touch, attached to a Popsicle stick on the back of the truck.

 RAMONA'S PROJECT :

"Wow!" was all I could say when I saw this month's Flamingo 4 products. Yes, I started out in one direction, but ended up going another.That's what I love about doing F4 projects. You end up creating things with items you would never think about putting together. I am into altering things and junkin' it up a bit, so I made a tag. I'm really happy about how it turned out.

I used my Cameo to make the quote, cut my pumpkin in half so it would fit the length of the truck, and yes, I did jack the truck up a bit. LOL! I used Cream Seam Binding , Vintage Photo Distress Stain, and Tim Holtz Distress Paint in Spiced Marmalade for the bow on the tag. Follow the links below to locate these fab products to add to your next creative project !

Claudine Hellmuth Mediums   http://flamingoscraps.com/product/claudine-hellmuth-studio-kit-mediums/

Heidi Swapp Color Shine http://flamingoscraps.com/product/heidi-swapp-color-shine-georgia-peach/

Seam Binding - Cream  http://flamingoscraps.com/product/seam-binding-cream/



KATHLEEN'S PROJECT :

Every year, when we visit our local pumpkin patch, I always complain that I don't have a frame to put the best photo into and display during the fall season. This challenge was just the answer! I had a cheap unfinished wooden frame that I paid less than $1.00 for in my stash, so the transformation began. I covered the frame with the paper in the kit and TRIED to make the truck look realistic with multiple fall colors of Tim Holtz paints. I cut my pumpkin in half to be able to have two. We've been bringing my grandson to the pumpkin patch since he was six months old, so we established "Pete's Pumpkins" for that year.  I used my chalkboard and gel pens for the writing on the truck. The "Fall" title is from my stash and the sign post is nothing more than a painted toothpick. The orange paper in the photo slot is actually the reverse side of the plaid paper, and it will make a perfect mat for my photo.

Being a true scrapper, I hate to toss out scraps, so I used some of my leftovers to make a group invitation to put onto a bulletin board. I reversed my truck and repainted it, and used one of the pumpkin halves from my frame temporarily. The Trick or Treat bag and the bats are made from paper punches using the reverse side of the plaid paper. My date and journal tag are from my FlamingoScraps Warehouse box.

 

                                                                                                                 

 DONNA'S PROJECT:

                                  

Recipe Mini Album Cover
I first cut my recycled card board (orange packaging) to 5 x 7. It was not perfectly covered. Leaving the bare white core showing, I inked the white portions with TH distress inks, Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint, distressed the edges and inked again with with Peeled Paint, then sprayed with Apple Glimmer Mist. 

Next, my patterned paper was cut to 4.5 x 6.5. I distressed the edges and inked with the Peeled Paint ink, again sprayed with the Apple Glimmer Mist and layered over the orange chip board base. I traced the chip board truck onto the orange packaging, layering it behind to add dimension to the Maya Road truck piece.

I painted the bare truck chipboard first with Wild Honey, then around the edges with Spiced Marmalade, allowing each to dry first. I then inked the edges with Spiced Marmalade. In order to use the pumpkin on my cover so it was not just one round piece, I first cut it in half and adhered the flat back to the cover. I took the remaining half and cut that in half, giving me two pieces, which I glued together to resemble a pumpkin pie.

Using the Maya Road stick pins, I inserted the large green as a stem for my pumpkin (I had to trim the pin down with wire cutters, as it was too long for the pumpkin). I added three flowers flower stick pins to the bed of the pick up truck for added interest. The recipe book is bound together using two book rings, allowing me to open and add pages as I collect my pumpkin recipes

The final addition was adding the 45 cent self adhesive price button. 

MAYA ROAD FLOWER TRINKET PINS  http://flamingoscraps.com/product/maya-road-flower-trinket-pins-pearl/

PAINTS, MISTS, AND MEDIUMS  http://flamingoscraps.com/product-category/inks-mists-mediums/

Well, that's it for another Fabulous Flamingo Four! It just goes to show that you can create wonderful projects using minimal supplies. Join us next month when Melissa, Erin, and Luanne, and Cheryl with get creative with four more mystery items from our Great and Wonderful Flock Leader. Just a reminder, all of the newest and yummiest of CHA products are now in the store from Cosmo Cricket,  Fancy Pants,   as well as the  Basic Grey 25th and Pine. So many new items I can't list them all here!!

Be sure to tune in to Ustream for another great tutorial from our very own Tonya Gibbs, on October 8th, at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gibbst.  Broadcasts are the first Monday of each month at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

Warehouse box, texture, and baby...Oh my!

Hello, Flock!  Genie here today, with my first official Design Team post.  Squee!!!

When my warehouse box arrived, these Pink Paislee Portfolio papers and embellishments begged me to use them to scrap this photo I had just received of my cousin's new baby boy.

The soft ivories and blue, with touches of mustard, really worked with this gorgeous black and white photo.

I started out by laying down some texture using light modelling paste and a Heidi Swapp mask.  While that dried, I fussy cut some elements from the Portfolio papers.  I knew I wanted to go with lots of layers and a few banners, and I really loved the play of zig zags and stripes in the papers.  I love how the light modelling paste is only semi-opaque when used in a thin layer.  It adds such amazing texture without feeling thick and heavy.  I also used some of the new Cosmo Cricket Glitter Sheets in my layering here.  They are self-adhesive, very easy to cut, VERY glittery, and there is no fallout from the glitter (yay for not having glitter all over my desk!).

I used one of the Pink Paislee Artisan Elements Borders with a little ink on top of some of my fussy cutting.  I layered in a little washi tape from my stash, a Pink Paislee tag from my warehouse box (did I mention that not only can you get a combination box, but also a paper box or embellishment box?)  The chipboard and wooden stars came from the box and from my stash.

Last (but not least!), I had to come up with a title.  Something about this photo made me think of the lullabye from "Lady and the Tramp."  I think it was the stars I was adding left and right.  Anyway, "Little Star Sweeper" sounded just right, and I hand-wrote "la la lu" above.  My final touch was a piece of twine with a bow around the photo.

Thanks for looking!