Wax-resist vs. Enamel Accents

Last week I shared my Snowman Gift Tags.  As you'll recall, I used black Enamel Accents for the face (a success) and initially used white Enamel Accents on the hats (definite failure).  For the final product, I switched to Decorative Snow for the hats.

This led me thinking- how can I use white Enamel Accents?  How about as snow?  Worth a try!  

I took a plain white tag and put little dots of white Enamel Accents all over it, then set it aside to dry.  Once the tag was dry, I rubbed blue ink over the top, then used sandpaper to reveal the white dots.  Cute!  I handcut an itty-bitty snow drift and snowman and glued them on.  The finished tag:

From Flamingo Scraps: Ranger Ink
Other: Bazzill cardstock, Enamel Accents, American Crafts pens

I love everything about it except for the long drying time.  I thought I might be able to achieve the same look using wax resist, which would have no drying time.  I took a white crayon and put little dots all over a plain white tag.  I covered it with blue ink and then scratched off the wax to reveal the white snow.  I cut out another snowman and added it to the tag.  Here's the wax-resist version:

Still cute, but not nearly as nice as the Enamel Accents.  The 'snow' is quite irregular and I missed a bunch of spots.  While it was easy to see the little dots of Enamel Accents while I was working, it was very difficult to see where I'd dotted the crayon.  And it was impossible to make consistently round dots.
 
If I were in a hurry, I'd definitely use the crayon version, but I think the Enamel Accents is the winner!

Christmas Cards

I thought I would share with you a card that I created using Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium, and Spellbinder's Poinsettia die.



I rounded the corners of the wreath patterned paper from the collection, and sewed around the edges for a clean looking backdrop. The Santa Clause photo was a panel on the paper and I thought the stamp was a nice touch. The stamp is from Studio G.

I have a YouTube video on how I made the Poinsettias. To me they look so realistic.

I love making Holiday cards for those extra special gifts.

Thanks for stoppping in today.

Fun with Enamel Accents and more

Back in September, Tonya challenged me to make something from Glossy Accents (which had been sitting on my shelf untouched, as I didn't really know what I could do with it).  I made some acorn napkin rings and in the process I fell in love with Glossy Accents.  I've used it a couple of times since then.  As I was putting it back on the shelf, I noticed the untouched Enamel Accents sitting nearby.  Time to experiment!

I decided to make some snowman gift tags.  My plan was to use black Enamel Accents for the face and white Enamel Accents for the fur of hat.  I was half successful- the face worked perfectly, while the fur looked lousy.  I ended up redoing it with Decorative Snow, which looks a zillion times better.

Here are my finished tags:  

From Flamingo Scraps: Stickles

Other: Enamel Accents, Marvy punches + pens, Delta Decorative Snow, 
Pop Dots, and unknown cording.

And the side view:

I clearly need to do more experimentation with Enamel Accents!  How have you used it, especially the white?

Greatful for Family

This weekend we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States, and I know our friends abroad have a similar day in their countries. For me, Thanksgiving is a time to slow down, reflect on my life and give thanks for the blessings that God has given me.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a strong family unit. My kids and husband are the BEST! We are all so close. Do we argue and fuss? Absolutely, we are "Real, but we also laugh and play together. My husband Kenny and I have been together since high school. We married 21 years ago, and have two AMAZING children, Brittany 17 and Brighton 15.

I wanted to create a layout that shows my gratitude to them and reflect how blessed I feel. Webster's Pages' Sweet Cherry Pie Fly A Kite Paper was the perfect setting for this layout.

From Flamingo Scraps: Webster's Pages: Sweet Cherry Pie - Fly A Kite paper, Lace; Ranger: Picket Fence Crackle Medium; Maya Road: Love Mini Chipbaord Pieces, Rosette Trim; Prima: Fairy Tale Roses, Mini Roses, and Brown Trim 2

Other: I Am Roses: Sunflowers, and Wild Roses; Doily, Antique Book pages, Flower pearls; Sizzix: Tim Holtz Caged Bird Die; Felt birds.

Scattered around the paper are quotes that depict family. Like "The Secret Ingredient to good living is Family", "Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds" and "Embrace Time with the People That You Love"

I accented the photo with layers of lace and trims from some of my favorite companys, Prima and Maya Road. I scattered lots of mulberry flowers in Sunflowers, Roses and some fabric roses too. I aslo included some Prima packaging for a photo matt, Doilees, Antique book pages, Tim Holtz caged bird die from Sizzix, felt birds, and Maya Road Chipboard pieces.

I hope you have an amazing weekend and you find time to be with the people you love!

Thanks for stopping in today,

December Daily

Ali Edwards started this holiday journaling concept a few years ago called a December Daily. The idea is to create a journal documenting every day in December. You don't have to write a lot, a simple quote is enough. Just jot down things that represent the holiday season to you. I have been wanting to join in for a few years, but the holidays always get here before I can blink. This year I got my game plan started early, and made my December Daily in Nov. so that I would be armed and ready for action.

I decided to use the Webster's Pages Wonderfall, Waiting for Santa and Sweet Seasons collections for my Journal pages. I used my bind it all to bind it, and printed some digital images on transparencies that I created from digital brushes available at Webster's Pages Website.

I wanted my book to start with the Thanksgiving and run through New Years.



Are you planning to do a December Daily. If so comment below with a link to your journal. I would love to see it.

Thanks for stopping in,

Steampunk Mini Album

One of my dear friends, Amy Rodriguez, designs unique mini album dies and has shared her Hot Air Balloon and Dress Form Dies with me. I was so excited to get the opportunity to play with these dies. I wanted to share with you guys today the mini that I created.

From day one I knew I would use the Steampunk Debutant Line from Graphic 45 that I got from Flamingo on this mini. I wanted it to be tiered so that behind every dressform there was a hot air balloon. I also wanted the pages to be vibrant, elegant, but most of all interactive!




















Here is a video with a complete walk through of the concepts and details on each page.

Thanks for stoping by today,

Cards From Scraps

It is time to filter out the scraps again, and I wanted to share with you some of the cards that I have been creating.


I used half inch strips of scrap paper in random pastel colors to create the background of this card. It has a Pink Paislee frame on top, and the logo for my Secret Squirrel Swap that I colored with my Copic markers.



This card has a piece of scrap white card stock that was embossed with a sizzix folder. The wreath is made with crape paper, and of course MY Favorite Prima roses of all time, finish off the look of the wreath. The happy holidays is a metal brad from Making Memories (been in the stash for AGES).



This card is made similar to the wreath. For the tree, I made a huge ruffle from crape paper and snaked it around to form the shape of a Christmas tree, then added some bling rhinestones, and finished it with the Tim Holtz banner from the Regal Crest die.



This card is a nice size 6x6 card with an image from "Some Odd Girl" that I colored with my Copics. The stamp on the tag was from Stampendous.

Thanks for stopping in,

Themed Patterned Paper

I have a problem with themed patterned paper.  No matter how cute it is, I rarely end up using it.  Either my pictures end up clashing with it, or it is too theme-y for the layout, or it just doesn't work for some other reason.  And it ends up sitting in my pile of unused paper.  But there's hope for that unused themed paper!

This layout uses paper from Pink Paislee's 'Old School' line.  I wouldn't normally go for school-themed paper for a layout about a boy and his pet bunny, but the B-side worked perfectly.

From Flamingo Scraps: Pink Paislee patterned paper

Other: Bazzill cardstock, Scenic Route stickers, ColorBox ink

Check out the B-side of some of your unused patterned paper- you might find a way to use it that is much different than the intended theme!

October Cigar Box

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and this month's cigar box swap's theme is "Pink It Up".

Last year, during Flamingo Scraps Anniversary month, I won the Pink Paislee Sweetness collection. I love the warm pinks, and clusters of flowers. It reminded me of a garden view outside window. I knew this paper was perfect for the top of the box.



I removed the glass from an ornate frame and add a wedding dress applique. This offered the perfect setting for the hand painted cameo. I created a lovely pink satin dress adorned with a blingy collar for the Tim Holtz sewing room dress form. I then added clusters of Prima roses, and lots of Prima Say It in Lace bling. I think this box screams I'm a woman!


I crackeled the side of the box in small areas and framed the top in layers of lace, ribbon and pearls.



I hope my box reminds my partner to always take care of her monthly checks, and to get her Mammograms regularly.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Stash Diet

A friend of mine on Youtube, Jan - Whatyoumakeit1, has started a challenge called the Stash Diet. I thought I would try it out. Here is how it works. You list 6 things that are in your stash. for example:

• Ribbon/Trim
• Vintage Flowers
• Purple Bling
• charms
• Beads
• Scrap Paper

Then make a project using at least 3 items from the list, but for every item you use on the list, you must replace that item with something new for the next project.

I managed to use all six items on this layout of my Niece Averie. Here is the project that I created:

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima: Daisies (vintage Prima), Say It in Pearls Purple, Paper "Talavera" from the Reflections Collection, Prima Baby blue Trim; Maya Road: Journal Spot (vintage product)

Other: Lace, Ribbon, Charm, Butterflies, Die Cut.

I used some vintage Prima Daisies, Purple/Pink Pearls from Prima, A Metal Charm, Pearls on a stick pin, Maya Road Journal card (hidden behind the photo), Patterened paper from Prima, and lace/trims that I have had for a while.

The object of this game is to use up product that is sitting around, and save your shopping money for new releases. It was so nice being able to remove items from my stash, and at the same time, produce a nice layout. I am going to try this for a month and see if my stash starts to shrink!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Upcycled Packaging

I think we have a huge responsibility to protect our environment as much as possible. When I first saw Marion Smith from Prima Marketing, Inc. use packaging in her mini albums and as journal spots on her layouts a few years ago, I began saving mine for the same purpose. I want to share with you today how I have been "upcycling" my packaging in scrappy projects.

In this example I made a mini album using 4x6 photo sleeves as sheet protectors and the Prima packaging was used for photo mats.



Here I used my Tim Holtz & Nestabilities dies to turn Prima's beautiful inserts into embelishments.



Here is a photo showing one of these cuts used on a card:

I also used the blister packaging from Tim Holtz embelishments as a shaker box card.

Watch video on how I made this card

I hope this gives you plenty of ideas on how to turn your trash into keepsakes.

Thanks for stopping by today,

Lucky 7

At any given time, I usually have 4 or 5 layouts in progress.  I go through phases where I am very inspired by certain aspects of scrapbooking and not others.  This doesn't bother me- I just set the partially completed layouts aside and come back to them when inspiration strikes.  A few days ago, I counted the growing pile of incomplete layouts- there were 18.  Yikes!  It was definitely time to finish some of them.

Here's my latest layout.  Steve and I celebrated our 7th anniversary with a stay in Benicia, CA at the wonderful Inn at Benicia Bay. 

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima & Fancy Pants patterned paper, grungeboard 7

Other: Bazzill cardstock, Cloud 9 letter stickers, Folk Art paint, ColorBox ink

I'm pleased that I managed to get 12 photos on there without it looking crowded, though I do have to admit that it bothered me a tiny bit to cover up part of three photos with the focal photo!  I don't think I've ever done that before.  I like the way it turned out though.